by Robin Roseau
"Shhh," Raelyn said into my ear. "She is very powerful, and it is very dangerous to be on her bad side. But she is good to those loyal to her."
"I want to go home."
"Do you want her to feel snubbed?"
"But-"
"If we leave before midnight, she'll know, and she'll feel snubbed."
"But-" I slumped further, not saying anything.
"Would you like to dance, Lyra?"
* * * *
We danced, and Raelyn worked at soothing me. I was so overwhelmed that I kept my second sight turned off and tried to pretend this was just a grand costume party. But I didn't feel soothed, and I was sure the woman who'd asked if she could bite me was following me around. I caught several glimpses of her, and once she smiled at me showing full fang.
I told Raelyn I was hungry, and we went in search of food. And that was where I received my next surprise of this very shocking evening.
"Oh, there's someone I want to introduce you to," Raelyn said. So instead of heading to the buffet table, we veered right, walking up to a small cluster of people.
"Verity," Raelyn said. And one of the people turned. I found myself staring at Verity Patrick.
"Raelyn Woods," Verity said, but she didn't take her eyes from me. "Lyra, what are you doing here?"
"Hello, Verity," I said.
"Oh," said Raelyn. "The two of you have met."
"Some time ago," Verity said. "You could say we're old friends."
"Old friends. Imagine that."
"What are you doing here, Lyra?"
"I-" I looked around the room a moment. "I'm here as Raelyn's date. We're. Um. Dating."
"Oh, I see. Congratulations." She leaned forward and kissed Raelyn's cheek, then mine. "We need to talk," she whispered. She stepped away, made small talk with Raelyn for a moment, then said to Raelyn, "Do you mind if I steal your date? It will only be a few minutes."
"Oh, but I promised I wouldn't leave her side."
"She knows she is safe with me." The two stared at each other, and I wondered if there was some sort of battle of wills going on. But I opened myself up to my second sight, and I didn't see either of them doing anything with their magic.
Then Raelyn turned to me. "It is, of course, Lyra's choice if she wishes to catch up with an old friend."
"Excellent," Verity said, acting as if I had given assent. She stepped forward and took my arm, and a moment later I found myself led away from Raelyn.
"I don't want to go anywhere with you," I said quietly.
"We're just stepping over here," she said with a gesture to the edge of the room. "Smile, Lyra. Act as if this is normal."
"But it's not normal," I said. "None of this is normal. Some vampire said she wanted to bite me."
"That is what vampires do," Verity replied. We came to a stop, and she turned me to face her. I found myself standing very close to her, looking over her shoulder while she looked over mine. She whispered into my ear. "What are you doing here?"
"I didn't want to come. Raelyn said I had to."
"Have you met our hostess?"
"She's- she's-"
"A death witch."
"What. Um. What does that mean?"
"It means she gains her power through misery, suffering, and death."
"She said my fear tasted wonderful. Divine. Something like that. What kind of witch are you?"
"I am, shall we say, a Jane of all trades."
"What does that mean?'
"It means I can take power from a great many sources. But you have seen my aura, and that gives you a pretty good indication of how I choose to take my power."
"I want to go home."
"I imagine you do. Lyra, Raelyn is looking at us, and she's not going to give us much longer. You need to listen to me. Think carefully before you agree to anything tonight. Anything. Do you understand me?"
"No."
"My spell is still active. You haven't declined my offer. You haven't accepted, either, but you haven't declined."
"No. I haven't had to. Raelyn has been teaching me."
"Teaching you?"
"I'm learning to stir Felicity's aura."
"Ah." She paused. "She's coming. Remember what I told you. I can protect you, Lyra. Remember that, too."
Then she pushed me away, and I felt Raelyn's hand on my back.
"The two of you looked so intense," Raelyn said. "Whatever were you discussing?"
"Vampires," I said. "Ones that offer to bite."
"Of course." She looked at Verity. "She found that quite startling."
"So she said. I'm sure you have more people to meet, but I wonder if I might ask. How are Felicity and Jaime?"
"They're good," I said. "You're not their favorite person."
Verity's smile faded for a moment. "Perhaps they just need a greater chance to get to know me."
"I didn't realize you knew them so well," Raelyn said.
"I don't, which is undoubtedly why they haven't grown to like me."
"Well, I promised Lyra more dancing. It was good to see you tonight, Verity." And with that, Raelyn pulled me away. We hadn't gotten very far before she asked me, "How do you know Verity?"
"Do you remember how afraid we were of you, and how much Felicity didn't care for you?"
"Yes."
"Verity is the reason why."
Raelyn stiffened. "Did she hurt you?"
"No, but she scared us. I'm upset enough, Raelyn. I don't want to talk about it. Please may we go home?"
"Not yet. You're safe, Lyra. Don't you trust me?"
I did. I wasn't sure I should anymore. "Of course," I said.
* * * *
We danced for a half hour then went in search of refreshment. True to her word, Raelyn stayed with me, but she made a point of introducing me to some of the other guests. Then, with me plastered to her side, Raelyn was drawn into a complicated conversation I didn't understand, and I found myself looking around. My eyes locked on the most amazing man I had ever seen, and he noticed me at the same time.
His costume was odd, or so I thought. He was dressed in a well-tailored business suit, an expensive pinstripe. But growing out of his head were two short horns, and he was carrying a pitchfork. To top it all off, there was a tail, an actual tail, sticking out of the back of his pants. The tail moved around. I really wanted to know how he did it.
He was tall, and broad, with chiseled, handsome, perfect features. And I imagined if I were into men, he would need to little more than snap his fingers, and I'd fall into bed for him.
He noticed me noticing him, smiled, and began walking closer. His movements were graceful, almost sinuous, and I openly watched him approach. He came to a stop well inside my personal space, and I found myself looking up into his eyes.
"Wow," I said.
He smiled and held out his hand. I offered mine, but instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips and kissed the back. "You are enchanting, my dear."
Beside me, Raelyn stiffened.
"Raelyn Woods, who is this sweet morsel?"
"Beelaad," Raelyn said with steel in her voice. "She is not for you." Raelyn pulled me against her then physically pushed me a little behind her. Raelyn hadn't gotten this protective around anyone else here, and so I decided to accept her hint. Whoever this was, he must be dangerous.
"But shouldn't that be her decision, Raelyn Woods?"
"Do you believe you will exert power over me by repeating my name?"
The man momentarily inclined his head. "Habits, you know. Would sharing her name with me be asking too much?"
"Yes."
"Then I ask again: should this not be her decision? Or perhaps she feels you own her?"
Raelyn froze for a moment then turned to me. "Do you wish a formal introduction to this demon?"
My eyes widened. Of course, I hadn't known. "No, thank you," I managed to say.
Raelyn turned back to face the demon, and I moved slightly more behind her, my hands on her shoulders now. I press
ed against her back.
"I will thank you to mind your own business," Raelyn told the demon.
"I did not instigate this meeting," he replied. "She captured my eyes with her own."
"She was undoubtedly seeking to determine what you are. But you are not her type. Enjoy the party, Beelaad." She began to back away from him, pushing me along behind her, the demon watching after us. Then he turned away, and a moment later, Raelyn turned away and began pulling me further through the crowd.
"What were you doing?" she asked me fiercely.
"I didn't know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
She glared for a minute, then her features softened. "You're right. I'm sorry. The attention of demons is dangerous."
"He would hurt me?"
"It's not that. But everyone has a price, and they are very good at determining what that is. It goes downhill from there."
"I would never-"
"Of course you would. We all would. Tell me. If Jaime were deathly ill, and the treatment was very expensive, but the insurance company wouldn't cover it, but a demon offered to pay for the treatment, what would you do?"
I stared into her eyes before lowering my gaze. "Almost anything."
"I imagine you would also do a great deal if you were promised enough power and knowledge to keep you and your friends safe."
"Probably," I agreed.
"You're not motivated by money, and while I am able to motivate you by your passions, you don't let your passions rule you. Those are the first prices a demon would offer to pay. But knowledge, power, and the ability to protect family and friends are obvious prices. It's not hard to guess these. The trick is using them for the greatest leverage."
I nodded weakly. "I didn't know what he was."
"No harm was done, Lyra. I am explaining my reaction, not chastising you for yours."
"Thank you for looking out for me. Does this mean we can go home now?
She chuckled. It sounded forced. But then she took my arm, and tugged me back towards the dance hall.
Offers
Midnight came and went, and still we didn't leave. We danced, we people watched, and we talked to some of the people Raelyn knew.
I noticed that when she introduced me, she provided my name. She might say a little bit about me. But not once did she refer to me as "my girlfriend" or even "my date". She might say "companion", but that was the closest she came to acknowledging any relationship at all. She didn't even refer to me as a friend.
I decided the party wasn't the right place to ask her about that, but it was certainly going to come up during the drive home.
If she ever let us leave.
I didn't immediately recognize when the pattern changed. We excused ourselves from another conversation, and like she had all night, she tugged me in a new direction. Together, we worked our way through the house, nodding hello here and there but not stopping to talk to anyone. But when we reached the main hall leading to the front door, I thought finally we were going home. I smiled in relief.
But instead of heading to the front door, we turned to the stairs. No one had been going up and down the stairs, and there were even two attendants standing at the base of them, presumably to discourage visitors from strolling through the more private places of the house.
I balked and came to a stop. Raelyn tugged on my arm, but I refused to budge.
"Come on," she encouraged.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Upstairs."
"I don't think we're allowed upstairs." I pointed with my nose. "I'm pretty sure those two are there to enforce that rule."
"They will allow us to pass."
"Why would they do that?"
"Because we're expected."
I turned my head to face her. My next words were cold. "Who exactly is expecting us?"
"Cybele wants a longer conversation with you."
"I'm not interested in a longer conversation with her. That woman frightens me."
Raelyn took a breath, held it for a moment, then let it out. "I know. She hasn't any intention of hurting you. She wants to talk to you."
"Not. Interested. Take me home."
"Lyra-"
"Now. Others have been leaving. We've stayed more than long enough to be considered polite. We didn't snub her party. Take me home."
"Lyra, listen to me. We are in Cybele's home, her base of power. If we try to leave before she's ready to let us leave, she can make it very... difficult for us. You are new. She wants to talk to you. I'll be there the entire time."
"I'm fairly certain you can't protect me from her, and I know I can't."
"All the more reason not to anger her."
"Take me home."
"Lyra, we aren't going to be able to leave this house until you've had this conversation with Cybele."
"The front door is right there," I said, pointing. "We can walk right out."
"We might, and I say might very cautiously, make it out the door," Raelyn replied. "But the attendants won't retrieve my car, and if we try to find it ourselves, we either will discover it's not parked with the other cars, or it is parked in. We might get out of the house, but there is no way we would make it off the property. Attempting to do so would annoy Cybele. We do not want to annoy her, Lyra."
I stared at her. "You suck. I told you I didn't want to come, but you forced me. You had no right to promise I'd come. You made all this far more difficult for me than it should have been."
"You're right." She looked down. "I thought you'd have a good time."
"You thought I'd have a good time surrounded by-" I almost said the word "monsters", but I held it back. Instead I said, "all these dangerous people?"
"Some of them are very nice people," she replied. "Some of them are my personal friends, people I have known for a long time. Most of them are very interesting people. You are an amazingly curious person, and I thought the opportunity to do something very, very few people do would intrigue you. I'm sorry I was wrong."
I thought about what she said before replying. "I was too scared to even consider enjoying it, Raelyn, and you know it."
"I'm sorry," she said again. "But now we're going to go upstairs and meet with Cybele. She's not going to hurt you."
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
"You suck." I turned away from her, scared, angry, and fairly certain we weren't going to be dating after tonight. I strode towards the stairs, but then Raelyn was at my side, taking my arm again.
As angry as I was with her, she was the only friend I had here, and I let her retain possession of my arm.
As Raelyn had predicted, the attendants at the stairs stepped aside as we approached. We passed between them and began climbing the stairs. After that, I let Raelyn steer us. We climbed to the second floor, turned right, and proceeded down a long hallway. We came to a stop before a double set of ornate, wood doors. Raelyn stepped in front of me and set her hands on my shoulders.
"I know you're mad. I know you're scared. I don't blame you, Lyra. But no one is going to hurt you."
"You suck," I repeated. "I thought you were my friend. I thought you liked me. I thought maybe-" I turned away. "Let's get this over with."
"She isn't going to be offended if you're afraid of her. But if you speak to her the way you just spoke to me, you will certainly offend her. You need to be very, very polite, Lyra."
"You suck."
"Did you hear what I said?"
"I heard you."
She took my arm and pulled me to the doors.
* * * *
The room was an office, but it was the most comfortable, well-apportioned office I'd ever seen. The far wall was all windows, although it was too dark to see the resulting view. To the left was a large, stone fireplace, and there was a fire burning. Cybele was seated when we entered, but she rose to her feet and turned to face us.
I couldn't help myself. I came to a stop, staring across the room at her.
She smiled. "Lyra." She held out a hand
to me, and I knew I was expected to step forward and take it. Instead, I remained frozen in place, still staring.
I was sure I must be insulting her. I knew I resembled a frightened rabbit, frozen in hopes the wolf wouldn't notice her.
But this wolf had definitely noticed me, and I knew it.
It was Raelyn that got me moving. She stepped in front of me, collecting both my hands. Then she began walking backwards slowly, pulling on my arms while also tugging on my aura.
I think I could have resisted, but I'm not sure. I let Raelyn lead me across the room until she placed one of my hands in Cybele's.
Her hand was cold, but it was soft, and the touch belied the danger this woman represented.
She pulled me closer and, like she had earlier, she kissed my cheeks, one and then the other. It wasn't the sort of greeting I normally experienced, but somehow she made it seem normal.
There was nothing about this situation that was normal, but Cybele's greeting seemed normal.
As she had earlier, she kept one hand on the back of my head, and I found myself looking down into her eyes. I was again struck at how beautiful she was. Her pale white skin positively cried out to be caressed. Her lips begged to be kissed. Her hair begged to be stroked, fingers tangling in the tresses.
"You don't know what to make of me, do you?"
"No," I said. It was my first word since entering the room.
"I frighten you."
"Yes."
"But you find me alluring at the same time, don't you?"
I didn't answer at first. She waited then said, "You do not answer? Perhaps you aren't ready to admit your feelings aloud. But I require an answer. Do you find me alluring, Lyra Lane?"
"Yes," I whispered.
She smiled. "That bodes well. Your fear is exquisite, but I find myself quite full. Really, dear, I intend you no harm, no harm at all. Come, sit with me."
She pulled me to the nearest sofa, and we sat, side-by-side, but angled to each other. She retained possession of my hand, now clasped in two of hers.
"Do you know why you're here, Lyra?"
"Raelyn said you wanted to talk to me." I glanced over at Raelyn, sitting quietly in another chair, watching both of us.
"Did she say why I wanted to speak with you?"
"No."
"It is quite simple. You are new. Raelyn has told me so much about you, but I wish to learn about you for myself."