by Aria Sparke
‘No, thanks, I always do my own. Of course it isn’t that I don’t trust you.’
I grinned. ‘I don’t blame you.’
After we had all prepared, Zamira left to wait for Tarek in Alexis’ office. He was coming later with some of the Ruberios who had stayed the night in the mansion.
I sat on the window seat with Anya.
‘Is Martin bringing anyone special?’ I asked.
‘No. He’ll flit around the ballroom and flirt and dance with every unattached girl. That’s his style and what he enjoys.’
‘And you?’
‘I’m sure I’ll have fun.’ She smoothed the silky fabric of her dress. ‘What’s eating you, Lily?’
I half smiled. ‘Is it that obvious?’
‘I know you now—the way you turn inward and your brow gets that funny furrowed look.’
‘Zamira.’
She raised her eyebrows.
‘I think Tarek has used his powers on her, and I feel terrible she’s marching to her fate and we’re doing nothing to help her. Look at her. She’s more slender than Bella was. How will she fare giving birth to dhampirs?’
‘You don’t know that. My mother was a skinny thing and easily birthed triplets. Bella’s death was terrible, but it was due to her being alone without medical help.’
‘But if Tarek has used his glamour to ensnare Zamira that’s wrong.’
‘I know what you’re saying, but we’re powerless to change the ways of vampires.’
‘Are we?’
‘Do you wish to follow in Bella and Zamira’s footsteps?’
I shuddered.
‘Then don’t go against him.’
‘I won’t,’ I assured her—not yet.
‘If it will make you feel better, why don’t you bring your bag of tricks? Better still, stick the contents in this.’ She rummaged through her bags and brought out a glittery clutch purse. ‘Is it big enough for your witchy things?’
‘I think so, but won’t you want it?’
‘I’ve a cupboard full of purses and bags of various designs and colors. I’ll manage.’
As I packed my chalk and candles in the purse, I felt ridiculous because in my heart I knew none of my witchcraft skills would change Tarek’s ways or protect anyone. I may as well have stuck a furry rabbit’s foot in my purse for the good it would do.
* * *
When Flynn came to my room to collect me before we left for the ball, he stood in the doorway and stared at me as though he had never cast eyes on me before. It made me feel warm and appreciated until I noticed him pause for a moment on my neck and shoulders. He quickly tore his eyes away to meet mine.
‘Wow! You look absolutely amazing, Lily.’
‘Thanks, and you’re incredibly handsome yourself.’ Flynn looked stylish and handsomely rugged in steel gray pants and a fitted waistcoat over a blue-gray shirt rolled to his elbows. With his jacket hooked over his shoulder he appeared as though he had wandered from a modeling shoot. As I examined his face though I thought he looked tired.
‘Are you feeling okay?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘Alexis said you would need more infusions to ward off infection. We could visit the clinic before the ball.’
‘Maybe tomorrow if I’m still off color.’
‘If you’re not taking blood regularly do you think it’s a good idea to be going on patrols or hunting?’ I didn’t want to tell him I’d talked to Alexis.
Flynn shrugged off my question.
Tomorrow after the ball was over I’d ask Alexis for his advice.
We walked together downstairs to wait for Martin and Anya in the foyer.
Anya emerged first in her stunning mermaid dress. Although it clung to her curves she managed to slink along as though she were wearing gym gear.
‘Elegant as always, Anya,’ Flynn said. ‘Where’s our brother?’
‘He said he’d be here soon.’
When Martin came running down the steps I didn’t know what to say. He was dressed in an entirely black suit, shirt and tie while his hair was teased and I swore he had applied dark eyeliner.
Flynn seemed stunned.
Anya clapped approvingly. ‘Are you trying to out-goth Father?’
He grinned. ‘You know he’ll be distracted by his latest bride-to-be and it’s the only time we get to have some fun with him.’
‘With him? I’d hardly call it that,’ Flynn said. ‘Be careful.’
‘You worry too much about our dear father,’ Martin said. ‘If we’re going to focus our concern we should spare a thought for Zamira.’
‘Poor thing.’ They all looked at me. ‘Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to say that aloud.’
‘It’s quite alright. You’re entitled to your opinion,’ Martin said. ‘The honesty is refreshing around here.’
‘Shall we go?’ Anya said as a group of dark gowned and suited people with severe expressions drifted past us from the front doorway and through the foyer.
‘Ah, family,’ Martin said. ‘What’s not to love?’
Everyone laughed.
We stepped out together into the clear, cool night, which was dark apart from the pinprick stars on the moonless expanse above. A red carpet had been laid on the walkway, and was brilliantly lit on either side by a myriad of tiny lanterns. The effect was dazzling like a scene from a fairytale. As we walked toward the entrance to the ball, I hoped I wouldn’t be seeing mice and pumpkins when midnight came.
Flynn put his arm around my shoulders and turned to me as Martin and Anya laughed and bantered ahead of us. ‘Everything okay?’
‘Fine, just a few jitters.’ I patted my purse for reassurance.
‘You know you’ve nothing to worry about now that Tarek has a new partner.’
‘I know.’ I wished Tarek wasn’t coming to the dinner, but being the head of the clan, I couldn’t really object.
When we reached the entrance to the dining hall, which had being transformed into a magnificent ball room, Alexis was greeting a couple ahead of us.
‘Welcome,’ he said and waved a hand at the dining hall. ‘What do you think of the transformation?’
I stared in amazement at the elegant stretches of fabric draping the ceiling under soft pink and gold lighting. White tables adorned with bowls of flowers, candles and silver settings covered the floor and between them Ruberios and other clan members attired in beautiful gowns and suits laughed and chatted over the music being played by a small band.
‘Stunning,’ I said. ‘You should be proud of yourself for organizing it.’
‘Thanks, Lily,’ said Alexis looking pleased. ‘Have any of you seen Cecilia? She was supposed to be part of this two-man welcoming committee.’
‘I can stand in for her until she arrives,’ Anya said. ‘It looks like fun.’
‘I can’t promise you that, but I’d be grateful.’
‘I could help too,’ Martin said.
Alexis eyed Martin’s outfit and eyeliner. ‘Thanks, Martin. Having Anya here will be sufficient. You go and enjoy yourself.’
‘Very well. Don’t say I didn’t offer. I’m going to mingle, so I’ll see you all later.’
‘Come on, let’s find a cozy vantage, so we can watch the family sideshow,’ Flynn whispered to me before he took my hand and glided between tables and through the growing crowd to the far side of the room. ‘Here.’ He pointed to a table where the dining hall met the gym area, close to the bar. ‘Best of both worlds—drinks and dance floor.’
The doors of the gym had been thrown open with small tables set on the lawn and strings of fairy lights strung overhead. Although Alexis had spent a good hour with Cecilia checking the extra protection wards around this area this morning, I couldn’t help but think about my strange dream. ‘There’s a quick escape through the gym too if we need it.’
Flynn looked into my eyes. ‘We won’t need an escape route, Lily. Everything’s going to be fine.’ He glanced at a waiter wandering through the crowd bearing a tray abo
ve his head. ‘Tell you what; I’ll get us each a drink and something to eat.’
‘That sounds delightful,’ said a woman behind us.
Flynn and I jumped. I was disappointed, hoping to have a few minutes with Flynn before our table filled with relatives.
She was gray-haired, over sixty but straight-backed and regal in bearing, and she spoke with an accent I didn’t recognize. Two elderly women with high cheekbones, who might have been sisters, stood behind her watching like birds almost perched on her shoulders.
‘I am Sylvia,’ the first woman said, ‘and these are my companions, Ebba and Rose.’
The three women arranged themselves at the table as we introduced ourselves.
Sylvia regarded Flynn with piercing eyes. ‘We would all enjoy a glass of champagne, very much, thank you.’
‘And some of those pastry tidbits and perhaps some chicken wings,’ Ebba added in an ancient voice. ‘I’m famished.’ She had one green and one blue eye that made her gaze unnerving.
‘How about you get the drinks and I’ll collect some food,’ I said to Flynn.
‘Nonsense,’ Rose said in a penetrating voice as she steepled her abnormally long fingers. ‘He is a strapping young man and I’m sure fully capable of foraging for our supper.’
The three women chuckled like fall leaves crackling underfoot.
‘Thank you, Flynn you’re a delight. We’ll keep your lovely friend company while we get to know each other.’
I winked at Flynn to let him know I was fine.
‘Very well, ladies,’ Flynn said, ‘but no talking about me when my back is turned.’
The trio cackled appreciatively.
When Flynn returned swiftly with the champagne, I was relieved, but the canapés proved more of a challenge. He distributed the glasses from a tray and after spying a waiter near the kitchen entrance on the far side of the room, he made a beeline for him.
Sylvia sipped her drink and looked at me curiously over the rim of her glass. ‘So, you are Lily?’
I nodded, tasted the champagne and hoped she wasn’t suffering from forgetfulness.
‘We have traveled a long way to meet you.’
Oh no, an ambush. Where was Flynn when I needed him? ‘I don’t understand.’
Sylvia must have caught my nervous glance in the direction Flynn had disappeared. ‘Don’t fret, my dear. You’re perfectly safe with us.’
Ebba gave me a knowing look. ‘We have no vampiric affiliation.’
I hoped I could believe them. ‘Who are you?’ I asked directly.
‘We’re your kind of people,’ said Rose and cackled in a rough voice.
‘Pardon?’
‘Rose means we are witches,’ Sylvia explained.
I gulped my champagne. I was outnumbered. There were three of them and they were old, which probably meant more skilled and experienced.
‘We’re on your side,’ Sylvia said. ‘We’ve come from Iceland to be here to meet you this evening under the guise of attending the ball.’
‘Me—but why?’
‘We were close friends of Leah and were distraught to hear of her passing. As you know she was one of us and dearly loved,’ Sylvia said. The other two witches closed their eyes and nodded their heads in silent agreement.
I looked around to check no one was listening. ‘You know what happened to Leah?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Rose said in a low and meaningful tone.
‘Indeed,’ said Ebba narrowing her odd eyes.
Now, if I could only trust them, they might actually provide promising allies. I waited for them to discuss Tarek’s crime, but they didn’t say a word about it.
‘Leah told us of your interest in the healing arts,’ said Sylvia, unexpectedly changing the subject.
‘Yes, I’d like to be a doctor.’
‘You could be so much more.’ Ebba smiled to reveal her yellow teeth.
‘Well, I do have a desire to specialize.’
Ebba chuckled again. She was becoming annoying.
‘We’re from The Galdrar Academy, a school that trains young dhampirs and witches near Iceland,’ Sylvia explained. ‘Here’s my card.’ She flicked a small gray business card to me, which I left on the table.
Suddenly I made the connection. Cecilia had mentioned that Avery had been sent to a school in Iceland. ‘Do you know Avery Ruberio then?’
‘Dear sweet little Avery,’ Ebba said.
Rose chuckled.
‘It was Leah who managed to spirit her out of the Ruberio mansion only hours before she died,’ said Sylvia in a solemn tone.
‘Leah got her away from that monster?’ I said in astonishment.
‘She was heroic.’ Rose brushed away a tear from her wrinkled face.
Sylvia put her fingers to her lips. ‘She dragged the child’s cot into the last of the daylight and called a friend who rescued the child and brought her to us.’
Ebba chuckled. ‘The monster, as you named him, couldn’t reach Avery in the sunlight and the child was rescued before dusk. He was so infuriated, he punished Leah.’
‘By taking her life,’ I said disgustedly.
‘Yes, but we will eventually have our revenge for dear sweet Leah,’ Ebba said with a wicked grin.
I felt heartened by the tone of her threat and wanted to hear more, but once again the conversation twisted rapidly leaving me in its wake.
‘Avery is a talented mite, but it’s to be expected with her parentage,’ Rose said.
‘You can tell she’s gifted already?’ I said. ‘I heard she has only begun nursery school.’
‘Then you must know a dhampir’s childhood is over in the blink of an eye? In a few months she will be starting high school. Unfortunately their teen years are more protracted and it will take her a couple of years or so to reach maturity,’ Sylvia said.
‘The tiresome years,’ said Ebba as she cracked her knuckles. ‘The teenage dhampir can be a force to be reckoned with, but they usually come good.’
‘We’ve yet to see if her witch genes will make these years more or less of a trial. We haven’t had the experience of educating a half-witch half vampire. She’ll be our first in the academy,’ Sylvia admitted.
I sighed. ‘I promised her mother, Bella on her deathbed I would take care of Avery’s witchcraft needs and teach her what she needs to know.’
Ebba and Rose gave me identical stares which made me feel as though I’d said something ridiculous.
Sylvia coughed. ‘That’s really very sweet, my dear, but you won’t need to help Avery because she’s at the finest establishment for teaching witchcraft in the world, which brings me to why we are here.’
I caught a glimpse of Flynn talking to a waiter bearing a tray on the other side of the room.
‘We want you to come to Galdrar and learn your witchcraft properly and in particular the healing arts,’ Sylvia said. ‘You’d be surrounded by supportive staff and students in a safe environment.’
‘So I could become a healing witch as well as a human doctor?’ I frowned. ‘Hmm, I suppose medicine and magic could go well together. How long would it take me?’
Ebba scoffed. ‘A human doctor?’ she muttered under her breath as though I’d made a joke.
‘No, instead of being a human doctor,’ Sylvia said. ‘What you would learn at Galdrar would take you far above and beyond what any human institution could teach you. If you were to come to us you would need to devote yourself to witchcraft. You would not have enough years to do both properly.’
‘I need to make a choice?’
Sylvia nodded. ‘You’ll never be an able witch if you don’t devote yourself to it properly. It’s an all or nothing prospect, I’m afraid.’
‘Without proper training you’ll only ever be able to dabble in the odd spell or two,’ Ebba said.
‘And probably maim or kill yourself in the process,’ Rose said over the top of Ebba before laughing loudly as though the prospect was hilarious.
‘At Galdrar you would learn your t
rue heritage and understand your place in the world,’ Sylvia said.
‘You could also learn about those witches you’ve loved and lost,’ Ebba said.
I raised my eyebrows.
‘Your mother, Leah and Bella,’ Rose said.
‘And grow to understand you’re no mere vampiric handmaiden,’ said Ebba with a hint of anger.
My head was spinning as I turned from one witch to the next listening to them. I had so many questions I couldn’t ask them quickly enough before they managed to throw another surprising revelation in my lap.
On the far side of the room, Flynn was walking toward us balancing the tray over his head.
‘How long would it take?’ I asked keeping my eyes on him.
‘You’d need to spend two years in Iceland learning the basics.’
‘Two years!’
‘The rest would be done in the field and would take you as long as it takes to be a human doctor,’ Sylvia said.
‘Could I bring a friend?’
‘Define friend,’ Ebba demanded.
Taken aback by her tone, I began cautiously. ‘A male friend.’
The witches were all ears as though tuning into a piece of juicy gossip.
Ebba regarded me suspiciously. ‘It’s the tray bearer isn’t it? I told you,’ she said to the others as she watched Flynn approaching three tables away.
‘Is he worthy?’ asked Rose while she perused him like a side of meat.
‘Absolutely,’ I said.
‘Is he a domineering type?’ Ebba asked looking at Flynn with narrowed eyes.
‘Never. He has given up taking blood for me.’
‘Intriguing,’ Rose said.
‘Indeed,’ Ebba echoed.
‘He can’t come with you, but we might permit visits,’ Sylvia said. ‘When you’re done training you can return to him—if you still desire it.’
Rose nodded enthusiastically. ‘Most don’t need it anymore. Full blown magic is a consuming and satisfying occupation—mentally and physically.’
‘It?’ I said.
Rose sighed. ‘A relationship with a partner, soulmate, boy or girl.’
‘What Rose meant is that you may not have the time and energy for distractions,’ Ebba said.