by Cege Smith
“Yes, so hopefully you’ll understand why you found yourself in the position that you did,” Connor said. “That was by far the most efficient way to get the amount of blood we needed, and luckily you have the required healing abilities that will return you to full health in short order.”
“Who are you trying to contact?” she asked, dreading the answer.
“We need to speak to Alair Robart,” Connor said simply.
“Why would he help you or tell you anything?” she said, crossing her arms.
“He won’t. But we believe that he will tell you. To save your life,” Connor said. “We have to go back down to the clearing now. You have to remember that if he doesn’t help us, as soon as that barrier disappears those spirits are going to come for you. Wraith or not, what they do to you won’t heal.”
Angeline shivered and felt cold inside. The situation seemed impossible. But she nodded. The two of them stepped off the ledge and fell to the ground.
Caspian waited with the vampire who had accosted her in the cave. He was smiling at her in a way that made her extremely uncomfortable, like he knew something that she didn’t.
“Hello, Princess,” he said, stepping forward and taking her hand in his. His cool lips brushed the top of her hand and she almost jumped out of her skin when his tongue grazed the skin. “I see that you are as delicious as you are beautiful.”
Connor stepped in front of her forcing the other vampire to let go of her hand. “Searon, let’s get started. We don’t have any time to waste.”
Searon’s eyes narrowed but he said nothing. Angeline got the sense that he wasn’t used to being interrupted. She wasn’t sure what was going on between the three vampires, but Connor seemed to be trying to protect her without showing a preference for her. But he had already proved to her that he had his own interests that may or may not coincide with hers. She didn’t know if she could trust him.
She felt the beginning of a roar in the back of her mind. She was drained, both physically and mentally. And because she didn’t believe that Caspian had completely misled her in the pseudo training that he had offered, she knew what that meant. She was soon going to be battling her demon if she didn’t feed.
“Excuse me,” she said quietly. “I know that in order to leave, I need to help with this ceremony. But if I do not eat something in the very near future, we are all going to have a bigger issue to deal with.”
“Damn,” Caspian said. “Your control is so impressive. I forgot to factor in the fact that the blood loss would raise the blood thirst of the demon.”
Connor stepped close to her. “We are in a dangerous situation, Princess. Unfortunately, I don’t think we have time to be delicate about such things.”
Angeline raised her chin. It was time that these men remembered who they were dealing with, and it was beyond time that she took control where she could. Regardless of who they thought they served, they were of Altera, and Altera belonged to the rule of the Robarts. She cocked her head toward the mountain cat that seemed to be sleeping, but she knew better. Just like any predator, the cat was waiting for an opportunity to break free and escape. “If blood is what I need to remain in control, then blood I need to have.” She flung her hand without looking at the cat. “Since I am not some common wretch, you will bring me what I need and you will do it quickly.”
It unnerved her when Searon laughed and clapped his hands in delight. “You heard the princess. Bring her blood.”
Connor’s eyes bulged and Angeline could see his face flush with anger, but he stepped aside and grabbed Caspian’s arm, stalking away. Searon stepped into the space that Connor had vacated. “We haven’t been formally introduced. I am Searon, the Master’s son. We royalty really do need to stick together to keep the riffraff in line.”
Now things were falling into place; the way that Connor deferred to this man and that Caspian was jumping around trying to prove himself. She should have felt better being in the company of a “prince,” but she couldn’t shake the vibe that there was more, much more, to Searon than met the eye. The voice inside her head growled in agreement; reminding her that unless she hurried, she’d have a struggle on her hands soon.
Searon held out his arm and then gestured at two chairs that had been placed next to the fire. “Princess, please, let’s get you off your feet. You’ve been through a lot the last few days, and you need your strength.”
Angeline didn’t see any way she could avoid touching him. As lightly as she could, she put her fingertips on his arm and allowed him to guide her over to the chair. She felt the hard muscle even through the fabric of his coat, and she thought that many of the noblewomen in her father’s court would have found him handsome, even for a vampire.
Searon had dark brown hair that had a slight ruffle to it. He was tall, but not quite as tall as Connor. His clothes were well made, but had a look of age to them, as if their owner had fallen on hard times. She wished that she had more time to talk to Connor to find out more about Searon, because she sensed that he was very dangerous. There was a glint in his eyes that made her wary. But Angeline had been raised in a court of unscrupulous and devious people jockeying for every advantage that they could take. If anything, playing this game of intrigue made her feel more human than she had in days.
“Thank you,” she said, sighing heavily. “This experience has been most trying.” If her father had taught her anything, it was how to use her gender to her advantage. It was something that she had sworn never to do, but she was increasingly able to see the benefit. It was like a shiny ball of distraction, and a less clever man would lower his guard quickly. Malin would see right through this, she thought. She was surprised. It was the first time she had thought of her intended since she had become a wraith.
“I am sure.” Searon nodded. “What a buffoon! I want you to know, Princess, that my father will be most upset when he learns of your…condition. Such things are just not done in the coven any longer. When my father learns of this transgression, you can be sure that the miscreant will be dealt with.”
He helped her settle into the more comfortable chair next to the fire and then sat across from her. Angeline knew that what Connor had done was forbidden, but she hadn’t thought far enough in advance to when they would finally arrive in the audience with the Master. She saw that Searon was watching her reaction carefully.
“There was clearly a misunderstanding,” she said. “Of course, I had no idea of the consequences of my request when I made it. While unfortunate, Connor has been most helpful in attempting to help me gain control of my situation.” It was the wrong answer. She could see it as soon as she said it. This man didn’t like Connor, and to show him favor wasn’t going to do any favors for her. Connor was right; their current situation was tenuous. “But it would have been better to have never been in the situation to begin with,” she said quickly. “I do feel like he could have advised me so that I could have made a better decision.”
Searon rubbed his chin and fixed her in a long stare. She didn’t look away. She refused to be intimidated by this false prince. Then he smiled. “Well, try as his sire might, Connor refused to participate in the coven. He was never any good with advising on anything. This whole thing would have been quite outside his meager abilities,” he said. "I'm surprised that he was allowed to participate in the game at all."
Angeline tried to relax. The present crisis seemed to be averted, but she felt the next one becoming more urgent. As if he had read her mind, and perhaps he had, a cup appeared in front of her. While the part of her that still retained her human side was revolted at the thick, pungent red liquid that filled the cup, the other side swooned and she felt her taste buds begin to salivate.
“This should help take the edge off,” Connor said quietly.
She took the cup from his hands gingerly. “Thank you,” she said. Imagine it’s a cup of wine, she thought. Don’t think about what it really is. And with that she blanked her mind and took a sip. The warm rusty taste filled
her mouth again and then she tipped the cup and drank with a lusty fervor that scared her. The cup was empty moments later, and it took every ounce of control not to lick her lips.
She saw that Caspian was standing off to Searon’s left now with his little book out. All three were watching her. With the liquid in her stomach, the voice in her head was quieted. She didn’t look at Connor but simply handed him the cup. “More,” she commanded. The cat was still alive, and the voice whispered that the blood was so much better when it was still warm.
“Caspian, I think it’s time you told me about this ceremony. I’ve had enough of being in the dark. You will tell me every single detail of this ceremony and what is to be expected.” The blood made her bold. “And if you leave out one tiny detail, I will rip you limb from limb.”
Searon’s laugh told her that she had finally said the right thing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“I must say again how sorry I am about how rudely we were originally introduced, Princess. You are delightful company. I have no idea what the elders have been talking about all these years when they’ve forbidden wraith creation. Perhaps it’s just something that should be reserved for pure-blooded humans like yourself,” Searon said. He was sipping his own cup of blood. He told Angeline it was rude to make someone drink alone, even though he far preferred human blood over animal.
“The hybridization was less than pleasant, and it has been difficult to maintain control, regardless of how it appears,” Angeline agreed. “It isn’t helpful for my situation to wake up upside down with my blood being drained from my body.”
Searon waved his hand in the air. “You were never in any real danger. Your condition means you regenerate faster than your previous human form. It was necessary for the ceremony. I agree, though, that we could have presented that in a far better manner. I don’t think any of us realized how accommodating you would be to assisting the effort. Caspian clearly still has a lot to learn about your kind.”
“So you are sure that the ceremony is the only way to get out of the forest without harm, correct?” Angeline said. This time she was able to drink the blood slower, and if she didn’t think about it, her stomach didn’t roll.
She was very aware of Connor. He was standing just out of her periphery vision looking out at the trees while Caspian fussed with putting various herbs out and checking another book he had in his hands. She knew that Connor was trying to listen not only for what they said out loud, but for what she wasn’t saying. She only wished that she could communicate with him in such a way that he could talk back to her. But she didn’t want to risk anything with Caspian there.
“Yes, of course. The sooner we get you out of this filthy place the sooner we can present you to my father. You will be an honored guest of the coven,” Searon agreed. “Are you ready yet, Caspian? The princess wants to know about the ceremony.”
“It’s not like I’ve ever done it before,” Caspian grumbled, but he came closer. “It’s a complex spell to prepare and normally someone attempting to cast it would have days to do so as opposed to hours.”
Searon rolled his eyes. “You were the wisest vampire in the coven, Caspian. I have no concerns about your ability to prepare the spell.”
“I’m not the one who actually casts it though, I’ve explained that already,” Caspian said.
Connor was now just behind her. She recognized his smell as it wafted into her nostrils. She remembered that smell when he had carried her away from the cliffs of the Solera Valley. She hated the fact that it soothed her.
“I am the one that has to cast it,” Angeline said matter-of-factly. “I have a familiarity with the spell. It must be cast by the one who donates the blood, who must also be directly related to the one that is being called.”
Caspian’s head bobbed. “Yes. But given the complexity you are as likely to put yourself in danger as you are to actually draw up Alair’s spirit.”
Even though she knew what they were about to attempt, it finally sunk in that if the ceremony worked, Angeline was going to find herself face-to-face with her great-great-great-grandfather. The legendary Alair Robart. She wondered what he was really like, and she wondered if he would like her. She wondered if he would be as disappointed as her father that the Robart line had been reduced to just her. And now that she had become what she had become, the line would end with her. The thought made her want to weep, but she kept a tight rein on her emotions. She needed to maintain control.
“Tell me what I need to do,” she said. She stood up and set the cup on the seat behind her. She felt anxious; the sooner they got started the better.
“I’ve set up everything here.” Caspian pointed toward the tree that Angeline knew all too well.
She walked over toward the tree trunk and stopped. There was a circle beside it that was about ten feet in parameter and made up of small bowls. In between each bowl, a line had been drawn with a substance that looked like salt. The lines connected all of the bowls to each other. In each bowl there was a red liquid. Her blood. Then there was a large bowl in the middle of the circle. She tried not to think about how much of her blood she was looking at. She had no idea how someone could lose that much blood and still be alive, but then, she wasn’t quite alive anymore, was she?
Before she lost her nerve, she looked back over her shoulder. “What next?”
“You stand in the middle of the circle. Be very careful not to disturb the perimeter. I’ve written down here what you need to say. And again, you have to say it just perfectly. The inflections need to be accurate.” Caspian handed her a piece of paper.
She took it and looked down at it. It was in the old tongue. She said a small prayer of thanks that the nuns had thought mastery of the old tongue was a critical piece of her studies.
“What else?” she said. “What is supposed to happen?”
“If you do the spell perfectly, then he will appear,” Caspian said. “Like I said, I’ve never done this spell before. I’ve never seen it done before either. This is another one of those things that was lost during the war.”
Connor appeared at her side. “Let me help you into the circle, Princess,” he said.
Angeline took a deep breath and then she stepped forward to the edge. She turned and put her hands on Connor’s shoulders. She looked up into his eyes. Even though she had known him a short time, she recognized the expression on his face. He was worried. Connor put his hands around her waist and easily lifted her into the air. Then he set her down on the other side of the bowls.
Once inside the circle, Angeline could feel a weird energy pulsing. It was like little bursts of electricity were shooting all around her, in her, and through her.
“Are you all right, Princess?” Connor asked.
Angeline wondered if she was about to be turned into a divining rod. “Yes, I just feel a strange energy in here.”
Caspian and Searon had drawn closer. Angeline could see that Searon was watching Connor. It was like he was trying to see into Connor’s head. She hoped that Searon didn’t have a mind-reading talent, but if he did she thought that he would have been able to read her real thoughts long before now and called her out on them.
“It’s your blood calling out to you,” Caspian said. “And when you enact the spell, the blood will call to Alair.”
Angeline’s attention was drawn by a far-off shriek. “What was that?” she asked.
Caspian blanched. “You have to hurry, Princess. If the spirits have figured out that the way to break my barrier spell is to use blood, then we don’t have much longer before they will be here. I fear that their anger at being held at bay so long may mean some unpleasantness for all of us.”
This was the first time that there had been any mention that the vampires may also be in danger, and now she understood their urgency was being driven by their own self-interests. But she couldn’t let that thought disrupt her. She was anxious enough. She found Connor’s eyes again. The nod was slight, but she saw it. He was trying to re
assure her. She wondered why he felt such confidence in her. He barely knew her. But she had felt all along like he knew her in some ways better than she knew herself. How had he done that?
Angeline realized that she wanted to trust Connor. She wanted to be close to him. She wanted him to hold her close and tell her everything would be okay. Her eyes widened slightly. It was like a thunderbolt in her mind. She had feelings for him, feelings that felt very much like those feelings that she felt for Malin.
She didn’t read anything in Connor’s face that said he had heard her thoughts. She hoped that her demon was helping to shield her mind. She was confused and needed to think more about what this new revelation meant.
“Princess?” Searon said. “Everything okay? Again, don’t mean to rush you, but time’s a-ticking.”
“Sorry,” Angeline said. “I was going over the spell’s words in my mind. I also wanted to be sure I didn’t have any further questions.”
“You need to make the symbol at the top of the page on the ground in front of you,” Caspian said, pointing at the large bowl in front of her.
She was supposed to make the symbol with her blood. Angeline tried to detach herself from her body as much as possible as she knelt down and dipped her fingertip into the bowl. The blood had cooled and congealed just enough to have a thick consistency. She looked at the symbol again on the paper, and then slowly traced it in the dirt at her feet.
“Good,” Caspian called out. “Now find the bowl that is directly off the point of the symbol.”
Angeline looked at the symbol and then off to her left. She went to the bowl that most looked like the symbol was pointed toward.
“You are going to make an ‘X’ in front of that jar. That is where his spirit knows to enter the circle,” Caspian said.
Angeline made the “X” quickly, but then stepped back to the edge so that she could look Caspian in the eye. She hoped he didn't notice that she rubbed her fingertip clean against her skirt. “Alair’s spirit is going to enter the circle?”