2 Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo

by Liz Schulte

  “About an hour ago. Oh my gosh, you should see the room Cheney put me in. Swank. I think I might be in love with him.”

  I laughed. “Good lord, don’t tell him that. That’s the last thing his ego needs.”

  “So why are you in bed?” she repeated. “Are you sick? Is that blood?” She leaned in closer, pointing at the left side of my mouth.

  I wiped my thumb across the corner of my lips. “Yeah. I had a memory.”

  Her eyebrows pulled together. “And you blacked out and hit your head?”

  “No. They just … some of them can be painful.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Then why the hell are we casting spells to make you remember?”

  I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. “I need to remember, Kat. There isn’t a choice.”

  “Sure there is. Who cares what happened? You have a nice, smoking hot husband who looks at you like you walk on water, you live in a freaking castle, and you have the greatest friends in the world. You don’t need to remember jack.”

  “I’m not trying to remember Jack. I am trying to remember Selene.”

  “Ha ha,” she said. “Funny.”

  I shrugged and nodded toward the door. “You want to see the castle?”

  “Hell yeah.” She followed me out of the room.

  I walked her through the wings I was familiar with, but the more we saw the quieter she became. “What’s wrong with you?” I said.

  “You’re too fancy for us now. I’m afraid to touch anything. I might break it and your husband will kick me out and then you’ll forget us little people.”

  I laughed. “I assure you I’m the same as I ever was. You’ve been here before.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t see the library or the billiard room or ballroom or–”

  I waved her off. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. That isn’t me though.” I slung my arm over her shoulder. “I think we could use a drink.”

  “Yes. Liquor me up and find a handsome elf to take advantage of me.”

  I laughed again.

  “The two of you are having far too much fun. Surely we can find work for you to do,” Sebastian said behind us.

  “Hey, Sebastian. How have you been?” Katrina gave him a half wave.

  He cleared his throat. “Very well, thank you.” Sebastian folded his hands behind his back then released them, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “I see our queen is doing much better with you here.”

  What on earth had gotten into Sebastian? “I’ve been perfectly fine.”

  His voice returned to normal when he looked at me. “If by ‘fine’ you mean sulking. I haven’t heard you laugh like that for—”

  “Weeks,” Cheney supplied, coming from the other direction. “I’m glad to see you arrived safely, Katrina.” He gave her a bow and ran his hand down my arm, twining his fingers with mine. “Where are the two of you headed?”

  “I’m about to get her liquored up and find her a–” Katrina stomped on my foot and I stifled a laugh.

  Sebastian and Cheney gave us odd looks.

  “Would the two of you be interested in dinner?” Sebastian said, his eyes lingering on Katrina.

  I glanced at Cheney and an almost imperceptible smile tilted his lips. “Dinner is a wonderful idea, Sebastian,” he said, tugging my hand, leading me down the hallway toward the dining room.

  “Sebastian is acting weird,” I said loud enough for only Cheney to hear.

  Cheney nodded. “You don’t think he likes …” He raised an eyebrow.

  I glanced behind us. Sebastian and Kat were walking side by side, and Kat was describing her favorite sitcom in detail and randomly tossing out quotes. Sebastian’s hands were once again folded behind his back, and his eyes were trained to the floor. “They have nothing in common.”

  Cheney shrugged. “I’ve known him a long time and I’ve never seen him invite anyone to dinner.”

  I smiled. “They’d be sort of cute together.”

  Cheney’s eyes flickered to mine. “Until she grows old and leaves him to carry on alone for thousands of years. It cannot work between humans and elves. It is best that races maintain some … distance.” There was an ever-so-slight disapproving tone to his voice.

  My smile melted away and I looked at my feet. My friends would all grow old and leave me. Was this Cheney’s way of telling me I should distance myself from them? It wasn’t going to happen. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I struggled to keep my voice relaxed.

  Cheney shook his head. “Just that Sebastian knows better than to set his sights on a human girl. Don’t get your hopes up—or hers.”

  I forced a smile. “Just like you knew better than to set your sights on a half-elf?”

  His chin lifted slightly. “That wasn’t meant to be a statement about us.”

  I pushed back my irritation. “Let me make one more point then I’ll drop it.” He watched me cautiously. “If elves and humans were never together, I wouldn’t be here.”

  He blinked a couple times, and I let go of his hand and took a seat at the huge table. We’d have to shout to talk to each other. I was about to say something when Sebastian seemed to arrive at the same conclusion.

  “Why don’t we sit in the garden?” he suggested.

  “Wonderful idea,” I said and smiled as I stood. Katrina and Sebastian headed out of the opulent room. Cheney caught my arm before I could make it to the door.

  “I didn’t think about it like that. It isn’t like I would prevent the romance if they chose it. It’s just—”

  I raised an eyebrow. “More trouble than it’s worth?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I can’t win this discussion with you, can I?”

  “Your actions have to reflect what you say you believe, or you’ll never unite the people. Sebastian’s your biggest supporter. You’ve sold him on this idea that all of us are the same. You can’t take it back just because he decides he likes a human.”

  “Maybe he’s just being polite. You may have started an argument for no reason.” He put his hand on my waist as we walked toward the door.

  “Or maybe Katrina has no interest in him.”

  “Now you just want to argue.”

  I laughed and he pulled me to a stop. “I’ll think about what you said—and you see? This is why I need you.” His lips brushed against mine. “Why we shouldn’t break the bond.”

  I pulled back. “But the bond was just a precaution. We were together before it. We’ll still be together after, right?”

  “Let’s hope we never have to find out. Come on. We’ve kept them waiting long enough.”

  “Tonight was fun,” Katrina said, stretching across her bed. “But you haven’t told me what’s happening. Why did I move to the castle? Why do the others have bodyguards? And what happened to your studio?”

  “Someone set it on fire.” I traced an invisible pattern on the comforter. “And took Michael.”

  “What?” She sat up, covering her mouth. “How do you know?”

  I told her what I knew to this point.

  “Well, you’ll find him. You must be so worried.” She squeezed my hand.

  “But now you see why I need to remember my past. Or things like this will keep happening.” I swallowed hard. I still hadn’t mentioned Jaron because I didn’t know what to say. “There’s more. I think I’m responsible for all of this.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I leaned in close to her. “I might have started the rebellion.”

  Her brown eyes met mine, wide and uncertain. “Does Cheney know?”

  “No.”

  She whistled and sat back. “Holy crap on cracker. We need to get the others here.”

  “No. They’re safer where they are.”

  “Not for them, silly. For you. You’ve been keeping far too many secrets for too long. If you ever needed us, it’s now.”

  I shook my head. “Not yet. We’ll visit Sy tomorrow after the coven goes home. Hopefully his friends have found something
. I don’t want to involve any of you further, until I know for certain where I stand.” Kat frowned and looked like she was going to object. “Don’t say anything to anyone.”

  She nodded. “Fine, but I don’t want to be a spectator in this. If you shut me out, I’ll start blabbing. And you know I like to talk.”

  I gave her a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  The next day all the girls came for our regular practice with Gram’s Book of Shadows. They distracted me from the worry that ate around the edge of my mind. After we finished, I showered and dressed, getting ready to make an excuse to Cheney about why I needed to see Sy.

  “Good, you’re ready.” Cheney pulled off his shirt as I walked out.

  “I am. Did we have plans?”

  “We’re meeting with Paolo tonight. I told you that, right?”

  I shook my head. Seeing Sy would have to wait. Paolo was the closest thing to a leader the vampires had. If he and Cheney had finally come to an agreement on a time and place to meet, I had to be there. Paolo’s second in command, Corbin, insisted—I may have flirted with him a bit the first time we met—that I attend all meetings with the vampires, and Paolo had held firm on that point. Sebastian’s intel said the rebels were trying to recruit the vampires by offering them a seat in the fae court, but Cheney didn’t think the vampires wanted that. What they really wanted was to be part of the Hunt—something only Cheney, as the new Erlking, could offer them. I was informed in no uncertain terms by Cheney and Sebastian that my part in this was to sit by Cheney and look pretty—not talk. They were afraid I would either irritate the vampires or draw too much interest. I seemed to have that way about me.

  I looked down at my jeans and hoodie, not exactly business appropriate. I turned back toward the closet.

  “Where are you going?” Cheney said.

  “I have to change,” I called back. I opted for black pants, a gold belted tank top, and a black blazer. I looked respectable and a bit queenlier. When I came out of our room, he was gone. I found him in the study talking with Katrina.

  Kat looked up when I entered. Then she glanced down at her own jeans and sweatshirt. “Do I need to change?” she asked.

  “No. We have to postpone tonight. I have a meeting to go to with Cheney. Is that okay?”

  “Sure. I’ll find Sebastian and see what he’s up to. Or maybe catch up on some reading.”

  “Do you remember where the library is?” I asked, coming to a stop in front of Cheney, so close that his legs touched mine. What can I say, I was an addict and he was my favorite drug. He was lucky I didn’t sit on his lap. “What were you two talking about?”

  “I was telling him about my new and improved abilities.”

  I smiled to cover the frown. All of my friends were slowly but surely changing, and it was my fault. I hated to see it happen. I didn’t want them to get hurt in any of this. Cheney stood up. “It was nice talking to you. I’m sure Sebastian will be more than happy to entertain you if you get bored.”

  I waved at her. “We have a date with some vampires.”

  The vampire lair was nothing like I imagined. I thought it would be dark and gothic with heavily draped walls, a chandelier perhaps, and candelabras … lots of candelabras actually. Oh, and a butler, too. So maybe I’d seen too many movies, because the “lair” was nothing like that. It wasn’t a gothic mansion, nothing had a grayish, cold tint, and there wasn’t a coffin in sight.

  The nest was a Cape Cod-style house with three perfect white dormer windows, a manicured lawn with a trellis of pink roses, and a large porch that begged to be sat on with an iced tea and a good book. Now this was a vampire I had to meet.

  Cheney’s knock was firm and quick. Almost instantly the door opened, revealing a tall, thin man with dark hair and a dignified posture. He smiled and his face lit up. “You must be the Erlking, and you must be Selene. Welcome to my home,” he said with a heavy English accent, which threw me for a loop. I expected him to be Spanish. He gave us a welcoming gesture.

  Cheney bowed and I smiled. “Thank you. It’s wonderful meeting you.”

  “And you, Selene. I’ve heard much of you from Corbin. He is quite besotted, though I fear his infatuation may be a hopeless cause.” He glanced to Cheney with an apologetic smile. “Corbin will behave himself. You have my word as a gentleman.”

  The last time I met Corbin he fed on me without my knowing it because Cheney had failed to mention that vampires could feed by touch. Now Cheney took exception to everything about Corbin where I was concerned, but I was more confident I could take care of myself this time.

  “Stealing her affections does not concern me. Feeding off of her is another story.”

  “Not even a taste,” our host said stoically. “Now please come in. Dinner is almost ready. It’s a rare pleasure to have guests who actually eat food, and yet I’ve developed a passion for cooking.” He ushered us to the dining room where the table was elaborately set with service for eight. When we were settled, Paolo excused himself and hurried to the kitchen.

  “This is weird, right?” I whispered.

  Cheney squeezed my hand. “It’s all new to me.”

  “He seems nice.”

  “Pay attention and tread lightly.”

  “Selene, love, how wonderful to see you again.” Corbin walked into the room with a smile, his eyes focused on me. “I would kiss your hand, but I’m not allowed to touch you.”

  I stifled a laugh, knowing Cheney wouldn’t appreciate it. “It’s nice seeing you again, too. You remember Cheney?”

  Corbin nodded to him. “You seemed a bit testy with our girl Selene when we last met. I hope you didn’t hurt her or we’ll have a problem, mate.”

  Cheney gave him a cold glare. “I would never hurt—or feed on—her.”

  Corbin turned his gaze back to me. “That was bad form. I apologize, love. But it did seem like you were offering.”

  “Yes, well, this isn’t an awkward subject at all.” I made a face at both of them. How was I supposed to explain why I didn’t know how vampires fed when I couldn’t tell anyone I didn’t have a memory? Cheney’s hand rested on my knee. He of all people should know better than to bring it up.

  “Selene’s quite right. We shouldn’t talk about anything that makes my guests uncomfortable,” Paolo said, walking in, balancing several dishes of food. Maybe it was just me, but I had the feeling he was either fattening us up like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, or he really wanted a non-vampire friend. Paolo disappeared back into the kitchen, only to return with even more food.

  “Tuck in. Help yourselves.” Everything smelled wonderful, but none of the men made a move toward the dishes, so I did. I took a small sample of everything, not wanting to be rude. Paolo smiled encouragingly and served himself, too. Did vampires eat real food? Cheney and Corbin followed suit reluctantly.

  “What do you do, Selene?” Paolo asked, watching every bite that entered my mouth, making me worry it was drugged or poisoned.

  “I own a yoga studio,” I said automatically, not thinking about the fact it had burned down or that I was now queen of the fae.

  “You say these things to torture me, don’t you, love?” Corbin said with a glint in his eyes.

  Cheney didn’t react, probably trying to think of how to cover up my faux pas rather than worrying about Corbin. However, Paolo gave Corbin a look that could have withered flowers. He was a scary, scary man underneath the warm and fuzzy exterior.

  “What about you, Paolo? What did you do before you were a vampire?” I asked. Cheney squeezed my leg in warning. I bit my lip. I forgot I wasn’t supposed to talk. “I’m sorry. Was that rude?” I asked immediately.

  “Not at all. Very few people ask me about my human days, but I quite enjoy talking about it. I was a carpenter. It was my passion.”

  “Do you still build?”

  “Actually, I do. If you come with me, I’ll show you.”

  “Oh …” I glanced at Cheney. I’d sworn I wouldn’t leave his si
de, but since I’d brought up the topic, it would be rude to say no. Political maneuvering was proving to be way too much for me to handle.

  Paolo noticed my hesitation. “I swear by my life, Erlking, no harm will come to her tonight in my home.”

  Cheney smiled diplomatically and nodded to me. I stood up from my chair, still not entirely certain this is what he had in mind. Paolo walked me to a guest bedroom and nodded toward the door. I went in, showing no fear or hesitation.

  “You’re not frightened of me, are you.” he said, but it was more a thoughtful statement than a question.

  “I have no doubt you’re very dangerous, but no, I’m not scared of you.”

  He leaned against the doorjamb. “Why not?”

  “I’ve done nothing to make you want to hurt me. You seem smarter than that.”

  “Vampires do not need reasons. We are barely above werewolves, are we not?”

  I pressed my lips together, then I took a breath before I spoke. “I guess that depends.”

  “On what?”

  “Your actions. Tonight you’ve been the perfect host. I would be far more nervous about being in a room alone with my human grandmother than you.”

  Paolo laughed loudly, looking pleased. “This is my latest project.” He vaguely gestured at nothing in particular.

  “Which piece?”

  “All of them.” I looked at the bedroom set. It was marvelous.

  “May I?” I asked, my hands hovering at the drawer of the dresser.

  “Please,” he said, nodding encouragingly. I opened the drawer smoothly. It was built with masterful precision.

  “This is beautiful.”

  “I would hope so. I’ve been doing this for around a thousand years.”

  I swallowed hard. I knew he was old, but that old never ever crossed my mind. I wasn’t sure what the appropriate response was. “I imagine the world has changed quite a bit in that time.”

  “If you don’t count technology, surprisingly little.”

  “How did you become a vampire?”

  “I was made by my lover.”

  Corbin had said Cheney was more his type than I was, so I took a chance. “And where is he?”