by Evette Davis
I swallowed a pill and laid my head back to wait for sleep. William came and stretched out beside me on the bed, our faces a few inches apart. Despite the pain in my leg, I leaned in to kiss him, yearning to be close to him. He returned my kiss, gently touching his lips to mine.
“That was close, Olivia,” he said. “Too close. We have got to be careful until this is resolved.” I nodded, sliding my body closer to his. As the codeine began to take effect, it registered with me that we still were in grave danger.
****
CHAPTER 37
My name was being uttered in harsh tones in a room nearby. I struggled to regain consciousness, my head still fuzzy from all the painkillers. I looked down to find my boiled wool slippers, the pair from home. William must have brought them for me. Sliding my feet into their comforting softness, I set off toward the voices.
My body felt awkward as I tried to move without putting pressure on my wounded thigh. It was a slow process; even my uninjured leg was stiff from lack of activity. I nearly screamed in triumph after I reached the foot of the stairs without falling or knocking anything over. From the top of the staircase, I could hear the voices clearly.
“There is no evidence at the blast site, nothing to tie us to the bombing.” Gabriel said. “The police will learn nothing from the crime scene.”
“If you’re right, then Nikola will feel empowered to strike again,” William said. “He has zero risk of being linked to the bombing. And if you’re wrong, and we left something behind, a trace of clothing, a drop of blood, then it would be wise for us to leave town immediately.”
“We don’t know that it was Nikola,” Gabriel said, exasperation in his voice. “Aidan never had a chance to tell me about his investigation. We have no idea what he uncovered.”
“Even worse,” Josef said, inserting himself into the discussion. “Our enemies have no idea what we have, but whatever it is they fear we know, they were willing to incinerate all of us to keep it from being revealed.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” Gabriel said. “We don’t conduct criminal investigations at the Council. Whatever information Aidan found would only have come to me.”
“All the more reason for us to leave town,” William said. “Do you have access to a private jet? We’ll be more difficult to locate if we stay out of public terminals.”
I’d been slowly descending the stairs even as I eavesdropped on their conversation. By the time William asked about a private plane, I was standing in the doorway of his living room.
“So I gather we’re all going to Paris then,” I said, catching the three men by surprise.
“Olivia,” Gabriel said, jumping up to greet me. “Ça va? Are you OK? Je me suis inquiété de ton santé.”
“I’m OK,” I answered, reaching out to touch Gabriel’s face. His handsome lines had temporarily given way to dozens of small cuts. A small bandage crossed over one of his eyebrows, and a faint bruise clung to the side of his jaw. “How are you?”
“This?” he said, touching his face. “It is nothing, it will heal. It’s you I’m worried about, and your friend Lily, her arm.”
“Where is Lily,” I asked, directing my question to Josef.
“She left a few hours ago at daybreak,” he said. “She said she wanted to see her family. I expect you will hear from her when she is feeling better.”
When had Lily ever left without saying goodbye? She was no doubt horrified that I had nearly gotten her killed, thanks to my escapades. I hung my head for a moment, trying to absorb the magnitude of what had happened.
“I blame myself for all of this,” I blurted out. “Aidan’s death…if I hadn’t pressed him, pressed you about the robbery, none of this would have happened. Where is Elsa? I have to apologize.”
“Elsa’s gone,” Gabriel said. “I assume she jumped back into another time to escape all of this. If she were here, she would have shown up by now.”
“I think she and Aidan were in love,” I said, my voice very low. It was difficult to find the air to speak. My chest felt tight. “She told me they were going to Scotland. I thought maybe they would be married there.”
“Olivia,” Gabriel said sternly. “You must not blame yourself. Aidan was my deputy. I asked him to investigate; he acted on my orders. I have always regarded Nikola and Zoran as buffoons. That was my mistake. I was a fool to be so cavalier and now I have lost one of my greatest friends as punishment for my stupidity, and I put you in harm’s way. Please forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” I said, feeling too drained to say anything more.
I hobbled over to a chair and gently lowered myself into the seat. William came over and sat on the edge.
“I do have a question,” I said, addressing the three men in the room. “Was this about Aidan, or will Nikola try again? Are we in danger?”
“At this point, we don’t really know,” William said, placing his hand on mine. “We need a safe place where we can investigate and to decide what to do next.”
“Then I was right,” I said. “We need to go to Paris. It’s easy to disappear there. And besides, my mother is expecting me. If Nikola does find out, he’ll think I left to be with her.”
“We have a small office in Paris,” Gabriel said. “It will not look suspicious if I move my team there for a week or so. We have plenty of issues overseas to justify the trip.”
“How much time do you need to arrange for our transportation?” William asked.
“Not long, a few hours at the most. I will be back in touch shortly. In the meantime, keep Olivia in your sight at all times. She must not be left alone.”
William and Josef both nodded and I got the distinct impression that the conversation had started much the same way before I had entered the room.
****
CHAPTER 38
Later that evening, five of us—Josef, William, Gabriel, Madeline and I—set out for Paris. Gabriel sent a car for us at 10 pm, and by midnight we were in the air, traveling on Levi’s private plane, with one stop in New York for refueling. Levi was only too happy to send us on what he thought was a celebratory trip after a successful election.
The flight crew brought several newspapers onboard, giving me a chance to read about the bombing. The police, the news accounts said, were baffled by the explosions, which at this point they were labeling an act of terrorism against the museum. One journalist theorized that an animal rights group opposed to the Academy’s collection of reptiles and amphibians had set off the car bombs in protest. A special team had been brought in from the FBI. But so far, no human remains had been found, leading investigators to believe the bombs were detonated as a warning, a threat of further violence.
Did Aidan know what was coming, I wondered? Did he see the threat lurking? We’d never know. Hastily, I folded the newspaper against my chest and sat for a moment, my head down, contemplating the weight of what had transpired.
“Don’t, Olivia,” Gabriel said, as he sat down beside me. “This is my responsibility, you understand? Aidan was not an amateur. He didn’t put himself in harm’s way because of you.”
I nodded, trying hard to swallow his logic. I opened the paper back up and pointed to a story. “I lost a lot of blood at the scene,” I said. “Did you go back and bewitch the site?”
Gabriel nodded. “Bien sûr. Indeed, there was a lot of blood, and much of it was not human,” he said. “I cast a spell to hide the evidence. The police will look and look, but never find a trace of DNA.”
“How did you manage to get back there without being caught?”
“Magic, of course.” He said. “The fog came in thick that night, but you know how this works, why are you asking?”
“I guess I needed to hear you say it,” I said. “Since the moment we met, I’ve felt as if I’ve entered a world that seems to defy logic, or perhaps bend it a bit. I’m still absorbing it all. I should have died in the explosion. Instead I’m on a plane to Paris, my leg almost healed. The force of the car bombs c
ollapsed the front of a major American museum, but the police will never know why it happened. We, the Council, are a heavy, but invisible, set of hands.”
Gabriel regarded me for a moment after I finished speaking. He seemed poised to say something, but then merely put his hand on my knee, gave it a gentle squeeze and then got up and walked away. I watched him make his way to the other end of the plane, take a seat and close his eyes. Exactly, I thought. Cheating death, misleading a police investigation, the disappearance of Elsa and Lily. It was difficult to imagine more dramatic circumstances. It was enough to leave anyone speechless.
Hours later, the plane landed at a private terminal at Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Madeline was the first to depart, promising to quickly open the bureau and settle the staff. She wasn’t seriously injured in the blast, but her wounds were painful all the same. The rest of us walked off the plane a few minutes later in somber silence. As we descended the stairway, I picked up on the group’s feelings that we were missing part of our team. No Elsa, no Aidan, and no Lily. Their absence was palpable, but we had no choice but move forward.
I could think of little but justice, of catching Aidan’s murderer. I had intended to pressure Gabriel to develop a plan, but still feeling shell-shocked and grieving, I couldn’t find the courage to press him while we were in the air. Later, after a day or so had passed, I would ask what he intended to do to punish Nikola. All of my instincts told me he was the person responsible for this calamity.
Revenge fantasies occupied my thoughts during the drive into Paris. After making our way through the usual maze of landmarks, we arrived at the 10th arrondissement and the Rue du Faubourg Saint Martin, where William’s apartment is located. The driver removed our bags from the car, and we bade Gabriel á bientôt, promising to see him later that evening, perhaps for drinks.
While I marveled at the stark elegance of the nineteenth century buildings, Josef stepped under the building’s awning to punch in the security code. William and Josef’s apartment was just steps away from the Canal Saint Martin and the Quai de Valmy, an up-and-coming neighborhood where many of the city’s fashionable boutiques set up shop.
“Remind me again.” I asked. “What year did your father buy this apartment?”
“Nineteen thirty,” William said. “A broker, another vampire, found it for us. This neighborhood was not always so chic. We needed a place out of the spotlight.”
“Do you visit often?”
“I was here last spring,” he said. “I usually come in April and leave at the end of June before it gets too hot. Despite my Southern roots, I don’t care much for the heat. Explains why I like San Francisco. I’ve also visited in November and stayed through winter. The time I spend here hinges on where else I need to be.”
“Where else do you need to be?” I asked, curious, as we loaded some of our luggage into the tiny elevator inside the building. Josef had decided to take the stairs. The elevator door closed and William continued. “I own property in Paris, Zagreb, New Orleans and San Francisco,” he said. “Some are long-term rentals, others I advertise as short-term vacation places.”
“And this apartment?” I asked, as we stepped into the elevator.
“This is our family home,” he said. “No one else stays here.”
The family home occupied the top floor of a six-story building. I counted four bedrooms and three bathrooms on my tour, as well as a kitchen, a living room, a formal dining room and a terrace that wrapped around most of the apartment, giving each of the bedrooms a small veranda. Clearly, a caretaker or concierge helped maintain the apartment. Trees and plants on the deck were healthy and lush. The apartment itself was immaculate, free of any lingering odor that usually accompanies a home that has been abandoned or closed up for long periods of time. Freshly cut flowers had been placed in vases in every room.
The shell of the apartment maintained its nineteenth century bones through original moldings and wood floors. Beyond that, the space had recently been remodeled to include modern appliances and conveniences. A dizzying array of art lined the walls—paintings, sketches, and propaganda posters—all of it documenting the decades marking the dawn of modern Europe. Antiques and modern pieces of furniture were paired together in great harmony, achieving the perfect Parisian salon.
“It’s a magnificent home,” I said, standing in the living room. “I can see why you keep it private.”
William glanced over at Josef, who’d walked in with our remaining bags.
“It’s the last link we have to our father,” William said quietly. “We’ve maintained and updated the property as necessary to avoid attention from my neighbors. “This arrondissement wasn’t always so fashionable. But we wanted to be away from the center of the city to attend to our needs in private.”
“It’s beautiful,” I repeated.
“We can live here if you like,” William said, taking my hand. “At least part of the year. That is, if you don’t mind Josef popping in and out.”
“I would love to live here,” I said. “I’ll have to ask Gabriel. Since there is an office here, perhaps he won’t mind.”
“You don’t have to work,” he said. “Once we’re married, I mean. I have plenty of money and so do you. We could disappear and enjoy the surroundings.”
“Are you being romantic, or trying to protect me?”
“A little of both.”
I confess, it sounded splendid. Paris is a city of infinite diversions, not to mention a fabulous access point to the rest of Europe. Wouldn’t it be magical, I thought, to explore the world with William, lingering here and there as the mood struck us. It was an attractive offer, and I was giving it serious thought. That is, until current circumstances brought me back to reality in the form of a sore, tired leg. I shifted my weight off the wounded limb, leaning back and forth to reduce the discomfort. It seemed our long flight was finally catching up with me.
“I need a bath,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes. “Care to join me?”
“Darlin, it would be my pleasure,” William said. “But you go without me. I should pay a visit to our concierge to let her know we’re settled. I phoned her before we left, which is why we arrived to find things so civilized. When you’re finished, meet us on the deck for a drink.”
Before leaving, he walked me into the master bedroom. Spacious, its walls painted in royal blue, a wooden four-poster bed dominated the room, with a chandelier hanging above it. If Lily were here, she’d have said the room was something straight out of a romance novel. Too true, I agreed, as I gazed around at the antique chests along the wall, and then slowly I ran my fingers along the chocolate brown linen duvet and matching pillows that covered the bed. I was no stranger to money or elegance, but living for centuries seemed to provide an advantage when it came to meaningful, timeless décor.
I entered the bathroom and studied the porcelain knobs on the bath as I ran the hot water. While the tub was filling, I decided to call my mother’s hotel and let her know I was in town. Explanations would be in order for arriving early, but as I dialed her number at the Ritz, I decided that sticking with the truth—that we’d had an opportunity to come earlier by private plane—was the best idea. Any deviation, however small, and she would certainly detect it. I was spared putting my theory to the test, however, when I was informed that my mother was out at her gallery for the afternoon, so I left word with the front desk.
Near the tub was a large glass jar with bath salts. I removed the lid and inhaled, delighted by the scents of geranium and rose oil. I sent a generous scoop cascading into the steaming water and prepared to settle in. Once submerged, I let out a grateful sigh as the heat soaked through my bones and muscles, dissolving the stiffness brought on by travel and fatigue. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander, lulled by the quiet. I drifted away, pulled into a dreamlike state as I inhaled the perfumed oils. I would have gladly stayed that way were it not for Josef’s voice breaking the spell.
“Be careful now… you might drow
n,” he said, regarding me lazily from the doorway.
“Go away,” I said, sending him my fiercest gaze. “I would never have pegged you as a peeping tom. How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “I came in to check on you, it was so quiet. I feared you were about to fall asleep.”
“Unlikely, but thank you, mission accomplished,” I said. “It seems your work is done here.”
Josef didn’t budge. Instead he regarded me, and I mean all of me, silently, the two of us staring at each other. Locked in his gaze, it occurred to me that this was a test; it was always a test with him. For my part I refused to play the prude; showing any discomfort would only bring him pleasure.
“Out with you,” I said, my voice made of sterner stuff this time, while flicking water at him from the tub. “You may go and let your brother know I’ll join you both for drinks shortly.”
Josef grinned, amused at my firm rebuke. “As you wish, my lady,” he said bending at the waist, before turning out of the bathroom.
After he’d gone, I rose from the tub and wrapped a towel around myself. I dried off and returned to the bedroom to find my suitcase. As I crossed the room to get my things, I noticed that my leg felt much better, most of the stiffness gone. It was amazing that I could walk at all, and I marveled at how William’s blood had saved my life. My life was becoming more interesting than any science fiction novel I’d ever read.
I pulled on a black woolen sweater-dress and paired it with suede boots and a brown-and-black leopard print pashmina shawl. I’d vacillated about whether to bring the boots. Being in a hurry usually means packing light. But this was Paris, and I was loath to arrive underdressed for the most elegant city in the world.
I gave myself one last look in a small mirror on a table and went in search of William and Josef. As I progressed down the hallway I popped my head into each of the apartment’s rooms again, admiring the décor along the way. I found the two brothers seated outside on the terrace, a bottle of red wine decanting in a glass vessel on a table next to them. Next to the wine, apple slices, bread and a small selection of cheeses had been arranged on a wooden tray. Heaters were set up around the furniture, making the outside temperature comfortable. I looked up at William, who winked at me, “Bon appétit, ma chère.”