Death be Charmed

by Epstein, Katie

  It was evident Mayra had been playing with magic for a while as her movements were more erratic. Her hair was sticking out all over the place, too. More than usual. And she started chattering on with little pause between her words. “Listen to this. I need you to listen. And watch. And learn,” she said to me. “Bernard. Bernard? Can you hear me?”

  Bernard, who’d casually followed us into the store, looked up from a spell book Mayra had on display. “Of course, my dear, Mayra. How can I assist you today?”

  Mayra then stepped back and stood next to me whispering, “Reseras silentium.”

  “What’s that mean?” I asked as a slight pressure weaved its way around us.

  “It means ‘unlock the silence’. It’s a spell key. Watch this … Bernard? Are you okay?”

  Bernard said nothing as he played around with a small, stone statue on the shelf of Mayra’s wares.

  “Bernard?” Mayra tried again. “I don’t think he can hear me. I wish he could. For I would like to kiss those delicious lips of his and lick honey off his biceps.”

  “Are you serious?” I whispered. Mayra laughed.

  “Try it,” she rushed on. “See what happens. Say something rude. Something he would react to without thinking.”

  “Alright …” I eyed her warily. “Bernard, you have a small penis.”

  Nothing. Nothing at all. Not a quiver of a reaction. I tried again. “Bernard. Come and have sex with us both. Right now.”

  Still nothing. “Wow. That spell is amazing.”

  Mayra shrugged off the compliment. “It’s a silence spell I’ve programmed into these stones. Look …” Following her pointed finger, I saw four small, aqua-colored stones surrounding us. “The key to engage the spell is silentium. When you get to wherever you’re staying at Darkwood, put them in the four corners of the room. Then say those words again to engage the spell. Try saying it.”

  “Rezaras silence something?”

  “Reseras silentium.”

  “Reseras silentium,” I tried again, and she smiled.

  “That’s the one. By doing that, it will lock out sound from any prying ears. You can be confident to discuss what you need about the case when that spell is engaged. But be sure to disengage it when you don’t need it as the energies in the crystals have only been charged to use for so long. Disengaging the spell will preserve the energy for longer.”

  “How to I disengage it?”

  “Just say, sonitus reserare. You’re basically asking for the sound to unlock. I’ll write the words down for you. But keep them hidden.”

  “Keep what hidden?” Bernard asked as he approached us, and I was in awe at how well the spell worked. I could find a few uses for those stones.

  “Magical crystals,” I explained as Mayra hurried to collect them from the floor.

  “The beauty of this is they clip into a bracelet you can wear on your person,” she told me as she picked them up. “That way, if you’re searched, no one should bat an eyelid.”

  “You’re aware of how Darkwood works?” Bernard asked inquisitively.

  “No,” Mayra replied as she studied him through slitted eyes. “I just know how sly, two-faced old vampires work.”

  Bernard laughed and I was glad he didn’t take offense. Mayra often had no filter, especially after she’d been dealing with magic. It took a while for her barriers of normality return.

  “Put it on,” she ordered me once she’d clipped the stones into a beautiful silver bracelet. They looked like pretty charms hanging from my wrist. Wrapping a matching necklace around my neck, she added, “The crystal in this one has been charmed with a protection spell. But I’ve had to be careful with it.”

  “Why?” I asked, but it was Bernard who answered.

  “A lot of things that deflect a vampire’s charms are things that can also harm a vampire. Mayra, I’m assuming, has been very careful to produce something that is benign, should they touch it or become curious, of course. Walking into a hive of vampires with a weapon wouldn’t exactly set you off on the right foot.”

  “Exactly,” agreed Mayra as she whispered some inaudible words. My skin felt hot to the touch as the necklace warmed up against me. And as quickly as it had heated up, it cooled again. “All done. Just don’t take it off, otherwise you’ll be vulnerable to their charms and they can lure you into letting them chomp on your neck.” She patted my shoulder then backed up a little. “That’s all I got.” She launched and gave me a quick hug. “Ooh. Wait a minute.” She then rushed off behind the counter returning with a box of blue velvet. She flicked it open and took out a simple band of gold. Yanking my left hand up, she pushed the ring onto my third finger. “I would have liked to have given you something a little more quirky and beautiful. A little more you. But then I remembered your story about getting married in Vegas. Even though I’m sure they have lovely rings there, it’s best to play it safe. You don’t want questions about any unique designs you can’t answer. We all know your fashion sense barely hangs by a thread. Any stammering about your ring may put them on edge. And don’t mention Bernard’s small penis again. They need to know you’re in love. Besotted.”

  “What?” Bernard asked in disbelief, and I narrowed my eyes in Mayra’s direction.

  “Mayra, go center yourself before you have no friends left.” I kissed her on the cheek then turned on Bernard. “And you, let’s go.”

  “What did you say about me having a small penis?” he demanded as I dragged him across Mayra’s shop.

  “It was nothing. We were just testing the stones.”

  “And you used my very large penis to do it?”

  “Bernard, you really don’t need me to make your ego any bigger.” I pushed him out the door, grateful for the morning light. Mayra’s incense candles had started to give me a headache. “Now let’s get the hell out of here and over to Darkwood before I change my damn mind.”

  “Don’t I get a ring?”

  “Any more jewelry on that hand and you’ll be dragging it along. I’m sure we’ll get by.”

  He chuckled as we reached the cool air of the outdoors. “Spoilsport.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  SINCE THE MONORAIL was central to the city only, Bernard told me we would head to Darkwood on foot. I was also told a solar car would pick us up at the border of the vampire lands to take us the rest of the way.

  Shrouded in permanent darkness due to the Weather Management System the Fey had created, Darkwood certainly lived up to its name. Fenced off on the outskirts of Portiside, it was eight hundred acres of secure estate with managed lands at its center. Within those managed lands there were five grand buildings representing each of the five vampire houses. Each house contained their own piece of land with separate accommodations for the staff, and a fancier set of apartment blocks called ‘Hives’ where the hive vampires lived. There were shops in Darkwood to suit the vampires’ needs, but it was more for necessities. Anything outside of those requirements and they either had to venture out to Portiside City or order in.

  Darkwood had huge reservoirs to draw on for all their plumbing needs. Crystal energy and water-powered electricity acted as their energy sources. Outside of that, sun crystals embedded into the ground allowed the nature around them to thrive despite the dark conditions.

  I’d never been there before personally, but I’d been told enough stories about the place. As we hiked toward our destination, I supposed I could use this time with Bernard to find out more.

  “Do you want to give me the low down on Darkwood then?” I asked as we walked through the grass plains of Portiside. The grass plains were dry, desolate land where nothing grew, and we had a clear stretch of pathway ahead of us before the forest of Darkwood began.

  “What do you know already?”

  “There’s five vampire houses. Each one is run by a Head of House. Each house has a bunch of Courtiers—whatever they are—and staff members. They have hives belonging to each house where the sycophant vampires can worship their beliefs. And t
hey have different roles in the community. Oh, and it’s in complete darkness. That’s pretty much it.”

  “There’s not much more to tell you from such a generalized point of view. But I can tell you a little bit about the individuals if you wish?”

  Noting his sarcasm I said, “Go on then. I know you want to. But please don’t bore me to death before we get there. I’d like to see the place before I croak.”

  He chuckled and grabbed my arm linking it through his. I didn’t resist. Why bother?

  “There are five vampire houses as you so eloquently put it. And each house believes that the vampires originated in different ways.”

  “Like the Osiris House?”

  “That’s right. Much of the history was left behind on Earthside and taken away with the flood all that time ago. They only brought the necessities over, and a lot of the rewritten history was manipulated by those it favored. That’s why a lot of it contradicts itself, and why there are five ruling houses in the vampire world with different beliefs. The Osiris House believe that they are descendants of Osiris himself. He was the son of a vampire from Ancient Egypt. Killed by his brother he was then raised from the dead by the sorcerer, Ra. Osiris, however, remained connected to the underworld and death itself. They also believe that the sorcerer put a curse on the vampire army Osiris’s brother raised, ensuring they could no longer walk around in the daylight. Thus allowing Osiris’s son, Horus, to take them out.”

  “And Ramses Delray is the Head of House for them?”

  “That’s right. One of my favorites out of them all. He’s a little conceited and a very proud vampire. But he has a good heart deep down.”

  “What about the others?”

  “The House of Sanguis are a tight-knitted lot. They believe they come from the Baobhan Sith: a blood-sucking fairy who preyed on lonely travelers. It annoys them that the Fey deny them but, at the same time, they’re also scared of the Fey. That’s why they keep the other part of their house name, Aos Sí, to themselves.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It’s Celtic for a supernatural race called the Sith, or the Sidhe. You may have heard of the latter moreso. And so the House of Sanguis hide their Fey history behind closed doors. They drink themselves into a stupor most nights. And they are, shall we say, less refined than their counterparts. They also like to sleep in coffins and perform blood moon rituals.”

  “Nice,” I retorted, but Bernard ignored me and continued.

  “The House of Atlantis is different. They believe they are descendants of an advanced race. One of Atlantis to be exact due to their superior strength, speed and ability to charm. They believe that when the Great Flood came on Earthside to ‘restart’ the world, the powers-that-be knew it would be more difficult for the vampires to drown. So instead, they poisoned their blood donors to corrupt the vampires with magic that made them unable to be touched by the sun. Therefore making it harder for them to immerse themselves into the new society to feed.”

  “Any evidence to that effect?”

  “They claim there is, but they never show it to anyone. I doubt any even exists.”

  “What about the other two?”

  “The House of Strix believe in the legend of the Strix. They honor the owl, the nocturnal bird the Strix were rumored to have been able to transform into, and they are envious of the shifters who can turn into animals. They believe they can no longer turn into a bird because they’re not allowed to feed on the magical blood from shifters and shamans anymore. And they take having an ego problem to the next level. I would warn you to watch your tongue around them as they like to cut people down publicly and with malice. Don’t give them reason to.”

  “Don’t piss off the owl-wannabes. Got it. And the last one?”

  “The House of Strigoi. Run by the only female Head of House, Lillith Arrosa.”

  “A female vampire called Lillith? Wow. That’s original.”

  Bernard smiled. “The House of Strigoi believe that they come from the dead who rose from the grave. But they also believe they only rise if chosen for the greatness of an immortal life. They don’t agree with all the folklore of the Strigoi from Earthside, but they do look up to Lillith – the vampire queen. They believe Lillith is their mother who used her magic to raise the most worthy and that she used the power of the demons to do so. That’s why they voted the current Head of House into the position. They took her name as a sign.”

  “Anything else I need to know?”

  “Not at the moment. But they’re always listening. Know that. Their hearing isn’t limitless, so if you need to tell me something you don’t want them to hear, make sure you whisper it. And I mean whisper. No lowered tones. But I would prefer to keep any important conversations for the privacy of our room. We will have the aid of the stones to help us there.”

  “You think they’ll be listening?”

  “I think many will be suspicious because of your job and because you’re human. If they dig deeper, they’ll also discover that you’re a Sapphire citizen. Not knowing what kind will make them wary.”

  “Okay. Got it. Vampires have trust issues.”

  “Don’t we all? But sometimes it’s the only way to survive in the vampire world. That’s why many vampires like Darkwood. They like having a place where structure and hierarchy defines who they are so they can all play by the same rules.”

  “And so that they can feel like they’re above everyone else.”

  “They’re not all bad, you know,” he replied with understanding. “Vampires love and hurt just like humans do. The way they live is a little different but it’s a compromise, rather than letting their true natures prevail. Just like the shifters. Sometimes we just have to do the best with what we have.”

  “So what about the Courtiers then?” I asked, changing the subject slightly. I was struggling with empathizing with the vampires but I didn’t want to offend Bernard either. “Who are they?”

  “The Courtiers are vampires who are either older than most or more skilled with their talents. They live in the houses and are there to give their groupies something to fawn over. The best part of being a Courtier is having the ear of the Head of House during their regular house meetings. They actually have a policy on how to become a Courtier, did you know?”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No. I’m not. I’ve seen it. It has bullet points and everything.” He smiled. “Only a proven, pure blood vampire can become a Courtier through a direct application. Others, whose blood lines are more diluted, must be recommended by a Head of House and undergo additional trials to prove their worth.”

  “What kind of trials?”

  “They differ, selected from the Chamber of Trials Scroll by the Head of Houses, depending on the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses. There will be trials to test their tenacity, bravery, intellect, and something you would never pass, etiquette.”

  “I can behave when I need to, even if I don’t believe in the pomposity of it all. But again, that’s my personal opinion so I won’t go there. It feels like I’m about to step into a whole different world.”

  “It is to a point. But they’re still Portiside citizens who must abide by Portiside law. That’s why it’s so important we sell the ‘we’re in love and just got married’ thing. But if we’re successful in convincing them, then they’ll treat you as one of their own. Or most of them will. It just means you’ll need to be committed. And we might need to do things in public that you’re not comfortable with.” He paused. “Are you sure Cole is going to be okay with that?”

  “What the hell do you mean?” I blurted out. “There’s nothing going on with me and Cole. Don’t be ridiculous. What made you say that?” I laughed, but even to my ears it sounded false.

  “It was something Kaleb said in passing. He worries about you.”

  “There is nothing between me and Cole,” I said through gritted teeth. I wanted to kill Kaleb. The stirrer. “You don’t need to worry. But on the subject of us being con
vincing, you need to promise me that it goes no further than a bit of handholding and a few kisses. If you think this is another way of getting into my pants then you are seriously deluded.”

  “Oh come on,” he replied, “we both know I could get into your pants if I really tried.”

  “Ego. There it goes. Bigger and bigger like a balloon. But you know what happens to a balloon when it gets too big, don’t you?”

  He laughed. “You can pop my balloon anytime, darling. All you have to do is ask.”

  “I’ll pop something alright,” I muttered under my breath.

  “No need to be so touchy. I can’t help it if I’m irresistible, charming, and a rocket in bed.”

  I stopped in my tracks and gave him a sweet smile. “So if I say ‘go screw yourself’ then you would be doing yourself a favor if you’re that irresistible?”

  “I’d prefer a partner with black and purple hair who used to ride me like a stallion. But I’ll self service if needed.”

  My cheeks reddened, but I couldn’t help it. The guy was funny. And deluded. But it drew a laugh out of me regardless. I carried on walking with him.

  “If we both survive this, Bernard, we need to go out for a victory drink. As friends.”

  “As long as you’re paying.”

  “Aren’t I already?”

  His smug grin said it all. I was paying all right. And it wasn’t with currency. If I had any ounce of sanity after all this I would be so damn lucky.

  CHAPTER TEN

  THE BLACK, METALLIC car sent to fetch us was ready and waiting, as promised, when we arrived at the border of Darkwood.

  A chauffeur, pale, short and wearing a dark suit with a peaked cap climbed out to greet us. He merely nodded, no words to be spoken, and opened the door for us. We followed his orders and climbed inside the luxurious vehicle.

  Once we were in, the silent chauffeur left us to our own company. He settled into the driver’s seat after closing the door behind us, and we waited patiently as the engine started up. We were on our way.