by Willow Cross
Liz quietly rocked back and forth in the old walnut rocking chair, pondering all these things. Angie went back to helping Jenna with her schoolwork. It was just too much, she was too young to be leading a group this size, not to mention age, not to mention vampires! Maybe the dream had meant that they should leave the castle and search for the others. Maybe they weren’t supposed to be hiding away in the Citadel waiting for the other shoe to drop. She was tired of doing nothing too. Everyone had things to do outside the Citadel, except her.
Gregorio, Athena, and Michael, were gone frequently, sometimes for days at a time, while she sat there handling the dreary day-to-day tasks, keeping everyone in check. It wasn’t a bad idea to get out in the world and see what was going on, was it? She was up for killing a few bad guys and making some wrongs right. She was up for just about anything that didn’t involve hearing Gen’s accounting of the daily tasks and who was bickering with whom about whatever. Of course getting Michael and the others to agree with her would be rather difficult, but they had put her in charge of the Council. She was the leader, wasn’t she? So as the leader, she ought to be able to do what she wanted or at least attempt it. “Oh for Pete’s sake.” she said.
“What?” asked Angie.
“Sorry, it’s nothing, I’m just thinking out loud I guess.”
“Spill it, Liz. I can see it’s not nothing. That nothing has been bothering you for days, and don’t tell me it’s just Council business either. I know it’s not just that.”
“I’m just tired of this. We are all tired of this. Doing nothing, hiding here, and letting the whole world pass us by. And all the while, Monroe and the others are out there hurting people and doing whatever they want. I’m sick of it. Don’t you ever wish you could go back to your old life at the fortress, Angie?”
“Are you serious? I’m mean really! Go back to that old musty place with nothing to do but clean silver and dust, and no one for company except old people and ghosts? Get a grip. Do you know that I can go out in the sun for almost two hours now if it’s not in the heat of the day? Do you have any idea how phenomenal that is? You’re just feeling sorry for yourself. I know all about that, I used to do it all the time.” Angie made a ticking noise with her mouth and shook her head as she finished.
She was right, she was just feeling sorry for herself. Liz smiled and shook her head thinking, I seriously suck at this whole leader/queen thing.
“What now?”
“You’re right. Thanks for being honest with me.” Liz patted her on the shoulder headed for the door.
“Of course, I’m right.” Angie called after her. I’m right more than anyone ever gives me credit for, she thought as the door closed.
Out in the corridor, the evening sun seeped in through the open windows, casting a pinkish purple glow along the stone tiles of the floors and walls.
The scents of the coming night were crisp and clean with the faint fragrance of green grass and flowers. Mother earth was waking from her winter nap and preparing to burst forth with life. She went over to the window to feel the last rays of the day on her skin and the rustle of the breeze in her hair. Bursts of purple and pink haloed in orange painted the western horizon. Many there that had grown immune enough to watch the sunset now. Some rose early and went to bed late, just to catch the sun rising and setting. Michael was one of them; she felt a mental nudge as he awoke, and smiled as reached out to her empty side of the bed. “Where are you?”
“I’m coming my love, I was just spending some time with the girls”
Michael stood at the window watching the last rays of light fall from the sky. When she entered their room, he smiled, and motioned for her to join him at the window. “I can’t get over how beautiful it all is. To think I have missed centuries of this magnificence astounds me.” He took her in his arms and kissed her.
“You’re so in love with the sun that I pale in comparison now, I’d guess.” Liz laughed.
Michael cocked an eyebrow and set his mouth in a wry grin. “Oh yes. I’m afraid that next to the sun you are very pale. Even the moon and the stars still have more beauty than you, little one. But on the upside…I don’t sleep with them do I?”
She pretended to be angry, before the serious look on her face burst into a smile; then disentangling herself from his arms, she moved to the wardrobe and began finding him something to wear.
“I am perfectly capable of doing that myself you know.” he told her.
“Yes, you are, but since I am playing wifey now, it is my duty to see that my man is dressed appropriately for Council meetings.”
“Liz, there’s no meeting tonight. What are you talking about?”
“Um…yes there is, I called one. Well I am going to call one as soon as we are dressed.”
“What’s up?” he asked as he pulled her onto the bed.
She pushed at him, trying to break free. “Nothing’s up. Well nothing I want to talk about now…and I can’t get you dressed if you insist on taking off my clothes!”
“Me thinks thou doest protest too much, my queen.” Michael laughed, still attempting to disrobe her.
“Geeze, I hate it when you call me that!”
Michael released her. He loved to look at her, as far as he was concerned, the sun did pale in comparison. He noticed the stress in her shoulders and the funny way she had of tilting her head to the side when she was deep in thought. He knew she was hiding something. But, he knew if she didn’t want to talk about it, no amount of coaxing would change her mind. He smiled to himself as he thought about her stubborn streak. They made a good match. Neither one would allow the other to push too hard, everything was fifty-fifty all the way.
Liz turned around just in time to see him smiling. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re funny.” He said.
“I am not.”
“Oh yes, darling you’re hysterical. You don’t even realize how funny you are. Why you could be a stand-up comedian and make millions.”
Liz chuckled and a pair of dress pants whizzed over his head. “Mister Sarcasm, you can kiss my ass.”
“Oh I’ll do more than that.” Michael grabbed her again, and pulled her back on the bed. Liz didn’t fidget or try to get away. She leaned into his kiss and slid her arms around him. His hands moved down her back sending chills throughout her. A low moan escaped her lips as his fangs sunk into her neck. For just a moment, the memory of the needed meeting flashed in her mind. Then her body took over, and the sweet taste of him sent her soaring into the heavens.
***
The Council had arrived, except for Tiberius, who was doing his best to infiltrate a renegade camp. They mingled, making small talk until Liz took her seat. The room quieted in anticipation.
Because Liz had called the meeting, it was her place to begin; she glanced at Michael, took a deep breath, and spoke. “I know that we had agreed that tonight would be a night for rest and recuperation, and I am very sorry to take you away from that, but I feel like this is important.”
Pausing to glance at Minerva, she continued, “I’ve had a dream.”
Soft murmurs fluttered around the room.
“In this dream, Michael and I were in a bar. We took out a clan of newly-made renegades.” She bit her lip and paused again.
Gregorio cleared his throat with impatience, wanting her to continue.
Liz sighed and went on with her tale. “We were there solely to take them out. After we killed them, the scene shifted to something completely different.” She rubbed the palms of her hands down her denim covered hips. The heel of her foot bounced against the floor.
Seeing her discomfort, Minerva said, “It’s all right, Liz, go on.”
Liz took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I hate this, so please understand that I—well…the dream shifted, and I was sitting on a throne with a crown on my head. Monroe was at my feet with two armed guards. On my order, they beheaded him.” Head down and eyes closed, she waite
d for a response.
Liz peaked out of the corner of her eye to gage Michael’s reaction to what she had told them. He was grinning ear to ear and staring right at her; it was definitely not the response she expected from him.
“What do you believe the dream meant Elizabeth?” Gregorio asked.
“Well, a couple different things, I think. I believe that it is partly an answer to a problem that has become pretty high on our list of issues. I think we’ve sat too long with nothing to do. So this is what I am proposing, we could have small groups go hunting. Small numbers wouldn’t be noticed, and we could take out the renegades a few at a time.”
“Yes, we have enough able fighters here to send fifty groups of say three, maybe five fighters.” Rene chimed in.
Liz nodded and gave him a grateful smile. “The thing is…they are not hiding. They are living in plain sight. That’s why we can’t find the whole group, it’s not whole anymore.”
“Brilliant.” Gregorio’s fist hit the table. A triumphant grin spread over his face. “Killing and feeding is what they do best. It is entirely possible that other than Monroe’s Council and a few followers, they have broken into smaller clans.”
“I say we take them out. I say we stop sitting here waiting and do something about what is going on out there.” Liz watched the faces of those around the Council table trying to judge how each would react to her statement. Michael was still grinning. Surprisingly, nothing she’d said made him mad. They were all smiling; every one of them had yearned to do something that had some kind of purpose.
“Bring it to a vote. I vote yes, it is the best idea we’ve heard since Tiberius left on his mission. Our people need something to do; they have too much time on their hands.” Minerva said.
“I agree.” said Rene.
“Call for a vote then. If we are going to put this into motion then let us do it correctly.” Gregorio gruffly ordered.
Liz stood and said, “I call for a vote on this proposal, all in favor say aye.”
Each Council member stood and in unison said, “Aye.”
“No’s?” Liz questioned.
Laughter reverberated as Gregorio said, “All right then. Take your seats.”
Michael only argued with Liz over one aspect of her idea; he did not want her to be part of the termination groups. Before they had time to get into a heated argument, Gregorio vetoed Michael and put him in his place. It had been Liz’s dream, and she was there fighting. If they were going to follow the guidance of the dream, they would do it in the manner set before them.
Word spread quickly of what was to be done, and by the time the Council recessed, vampires and witches lined the hall leading to the Council chambers. Fifty groups of four were chosen. Each group contained three vampires and one witch. Each time they exterminated a clan, they were to report to the Council any information obtained.
The teams received money and an address to one of Michael’s safe houses. They would start from there and work their way out to other areas of the country. With any luck, half of Monroe’s army would be obliterated before he could bring the war to their doorstep.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The Thin Line Between Right And Wrong
“I just can’t believe that you are going to leave me out of this!” Angie shouted for the seventh time.
Michael and Liz had been saying their goodbyes when she flew off the handle. “This is not fair. I worked hard to train, and I am just as good as any of the rest of them. I trained over half of them.” Angie paced the room in quick strides.
“I know that, but it’s beyond my control. You have to take this up with your mother.” Liz pleaded.
“Oh don’t blow that smoke up my ass. You’re the Council leader, or is that all just bullshit? How could you want to go out there without me to watch your back? I thought you were my best friend.” Angie threw herself in a chair. A deafening screech permeated the air as it skidded back, and banged against the wall. A puff of dust rose up and slowly settled on her. She sputtered as she wiped it from her face, glowering the entire time.
Fighting the urge to laugh, Liz kept her voice flat and even. “Now, Angie, you know we both want you there, but this is your mother we are talking about. She made the decision.”
Michael didn’t find her tantrum amusing. “Oh grow up, would you? Everyone does what they’re told around here, including me and you.” Michael turned to Liz, “Can we just go already?”
“Well, I oughta just go out there and do it by myself! I took out Sekhmet alone, or has everyone just forgotten about that?” Angie asked.
Liz gave Michael a mental eye roll. “Angie, please be reasonable.”
She would not be swayed.
She was not going to listen to reason or change her mind about going. Liz called Athena and asked for her assistance. Angie continued ranting and raving until Athena walked through the door. From the moment she entered, the girl focused her efforts on her mother.
“Mother, this is not fair! You know it’s not. We three have been together since the beginning of this, it’s not right that you separate us now. They only have three in their group and the Council said it should be four.”
“Yes dear, I understand why you are upset, but Michael is an assassin. There is no point in using valuable manpower when he can do the work alone. Even I am not leaving for these missions, Angel; I will be here with you as well.” Athena coaxed.
Angie stomped her foot in a fit of fury, and folded her arms across her chest. Michael looked askance at Athena. She nodded and pointedly glanced at the door. Michael and Liz told Angie goodbye and headed back to their room.
***
They returned to find Avery waiting by their door. She’d grown to be a thorn in the side of most of the witches and the vampires at the castle. Avery was large framed, not fat just a little pudgy, with darker skin and short hair dyed apple red. Her height, and the fact she towered over most of the castle occupants, caused her to be a bit of a bully. That coupled with an attitude that would offend even the sweetest of people, made it difficult for most to enjoy her company.
Avery had just turned eighteen when she moved into the Citadel, and like many others her age, thought she knew everything about everything. She didn’t take orders. Not from anyone, at any time. But she did seem to enjoy being with Michael and Liz.
Liz had learned from Genevieve, Avery’s coven leader, that she had no family. She’d moved from one foster home to another until emancipated at sixteen. According to Gen, Avery was a natural witch. Gen figured that the girl would be utilized best with Michael and Liz because there was at least half a chance she would obey.
“Avery.” Michael said as he nodded and went in to retrieve the bags.
“Hey Ave, sorry we’re late.” Liz said.
“No problem, I’ve only been here twenty minutes. I was going to give you another thirty before I left.” Avery answered.
Liz stifled the frustration that bloomed inside her and smiled again. “No need for that now, we’ll be out of here in a jiff.”
“Do we have to take her? I can‘t believe we’re stuck with her for a cover story. If we are careful, no one will know you can make portals. How are we going to blend into crowds? You plan on hanging out with a circus?” Michael shot from inside the room.
Liz pressed her lips together and pulled them between her teeth to keep from smiling. “Shut up.”
“She can’t hear me.”
“Well she can see me.”
Michael came out of the room with knives and swords strapped all over his body, and one small bag in his hand.
Liz shook her head. “Clothes?”
“Right here.” He said holding up the small bag, and grinning from ear to ear.
Shaking her head from side to side, she replied, “Think maybe you should put on a coat or something? If one human catches a glimpse of you, they’ll be calling the cops.”
Michael winked. “I’m good. There are no huma
ns where we’re going. I guarantee it.”
“Make the portal Ave. Let’s get moving.” Liz said.
Avery opened a portal to Michael’s cabin and one at a time, they entered.
***
The cabin was just as she remembered, with one minor difference; it was occupied by vampires. As Michael requested, Avery brought them out just behind the old garage. They felt the presence of the others immediately. This was not a small clan that inhabited the area. There were at least ten, possibly more vampires within just a few feet. Liz lightly scanned the renegade’s minds. “Still sleeping.”
“Good. We have a little time.” Michael answered.
He turned to Avery and motioned for her to create a portal and return to the castle. She looked terrified, but shook her head obstinately. Liz grabbed the girl’s arm and pulled her close enough to whisper in her ear. “You have to leave now, there are too many. Should any get past us, you would be in great danger. I’ll send for you when it is finished.”
Avery shook her head.
Michael was furious, but did not have time to deal with her. The others were waking and would soon sense their presence.
Liz opened her mind and let it stretch out into the woods around them, taking in the dilapidated garage and the house. She felt no one inside the garage, most were in the cabin or buried in the ground around front. She pushed Avery through the garage door. “Stay put,” she hissed.
Avery nodded once and began digging through her knapsack for charms and potions.
Michael and Liz pulled out their swords and crept to the back door of the house. It would be best if they could take those inside by surprise before dealing with the others in front. Before they could enter, the element of surprise was lost. Someone inside yelled in warning.
A loud boom resonated as Michael kicked in the back door. Splinters of wood flew in all directions. Michael and Liz entered with a fury. Keeping the leader for questioning was a good idea, but it not practical at this point; there were too many.
Three renegades crouched in the kitchen. Growling and hissing, two launched towards Michael. The other came at Liz. His head flew across the room and slammed into the wall before he could make contact. Michael dispatched the other two and went into the living room.