Under the Blood Moon

by Tracie Provost

  I was busy enough most of the time with warding and Gala planning that I didn’t dwell too much on losing both my sire and my best friend, but after I retired for the day and waited for the dawn to take me, I could not quell the thoughts. I missed Frederique terribly. While I’d found a friend in Sophie, she was steward of the city and I just didn’t know her well enough to share my most intimate thoughts with her, yet. My feelings about Andre were much more jumbled. He had treated me so oddly when I returned, running hot and cold, but I still vividly remembered the good times we’d had together. Andre had been an attentive lover and a strong partner.

  I knew I was developing feelings for Josh Bouchard and felt unfaithful to Andre. My sire had not been gone for very long, yet I wanted to be with Josh. I was grateful that vampire ‘sleep’ habits made it impossible to wrestle with these thoughts restlessly all day. Once the sun came up, I was comatose and my mind blissfully silent until sundown.

  MOST OF THE following week was taken up with warding. Even with our numerous precautions, there were several more attacks before the Museum Gala. All were quietly cleaned up by Vinny before they could be discovered by the human authorities. Everyone’s nerves were on edge, because no one could find the Strays.

  Josh escorted me every evening. When I asked him how he could take so much time away from his businesses, he shrugged, saying that he had competent managers who could be trusted to run things in the short term. It seemed that Sophie had managed to get me a bodyguard despite my protests. I was not angry. The fact was I needed someone with me while I warded, and Josh was a good companion.

  AS I PREPARED to ward a final bit of the matrix off the beaten path in the Quarter, I felt a prick of magic and stiffened. Josh did as well. As I looked around, I saw Jaime saunter down the sidewalk toward us.

  “Wondered when you’d show back up,” Josh said to the young woman.

  “Been a bit busy,” Jaime answered.

  “More demons?” I asked, pausing my task.

  “Tryin’ to track these damn werewolves. Seems like a whole pack is runnin’ amuck in the city,” she said.

  “There is a whole pack, about fifteen of them,” I said.

  “Good news is there’s only about a dozen now. Took out a few last night. Your wards came in handy. Bastards led me on a merry chase until they ran into an area you’d protected and couldn’t go any further.”

  “Glad to know they are working,” I said. “I don’t suppose you know how to ward?”

  “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to track you down to help, but things are kinda crazy at the Mother House right now. My master wasn’t happy to hear that I’d made contact with you and asked for a meeting with Gautier.”

  “By the way, Marc agreed,” Josh interrupted.

  “Great. Even though Master Remy wasn’t happy, he did see the point. When can I see Gautier?”

  “Let me give Sophie a call, but I think right away.” Josh stepped away to use the phone.

  “Can any of the other Gatekeepers ward?” I asked Jaime.

  She shrugged noncommittally. “Maybe. We got people who can ward against demons and vamps, but I don’t know if anyone can do werewolves. I ain’t even sure I can.”

  “I can teach you. And the others. It is just a small modification to the basic warding. If your people can help, this can all be done much quicker.”

  “I don’t know. I’m kinda off the reservation on this one. I mean, I’ll help, but I’m not sure if any of the others will work with you,” Jaime said.

  I ground my teeth in frustration although I understood. “What if I taught you and then you taught them?” I asked.

  Jaime thought and then nodded. “That’d work.”

  Josh came back saying, “Sophie is clearing Marc’s schedule for the evening. We can head over now.”

  THE MEETING WAS a complete waste of time from my point of view. Time I should have been out warding. I don’t think anything was really accomplished except Marc and Jaime meeting face to face and Gabe glowering menacingly at the Gatekeeper. I understood it had to take place—sizing up a potential ally or opponent was best done in person—but the timing could have been better.

  When I complained to Josh, he just laughed and said, “Darlin’, welcome to vampire politics. It’s all just a series of do-nothing meetings.”

  I groaned.

  Chapter 13

  TWO NIGHTS BEFORE the Gala, Josh arrived to pick me up for our warding marathon, carrying a large, gaily striped box and several smaller ones. I recognized the box design as one from a posh boutique in the Quarter. As I took the boxes from him to place on the whitewashed entry table, he gave a low whistle. “I like what you’ve done to the place. Much less bordello than before.”

  In the evenings when I had been out warding the city, workmen and a designer had been in trying to rectify the havoc Andre’s decorating had wrought. The gilt and murals had been stripped away, replaced by tasteful décor and comfortable furniture. The redecorating was by no means finished, but I could complete it as time allowed. Something elegant but homey was the look I was striving for. Most of the house had been redone in a neutral palate; a lot of beige, sand, and ivory with pops of color such as coral and teal on throw pillows and afghans. The furniture was, most importantly, comfortable.

  I took it as the compliment it was meant to be and said, “Thank you. What are these boxes?”

  “Gala dress. I knew you hadn’t had time to do any shopping, and Sophie would normally take care of something like this, but she’s as busy as you are, so I went ahead and arranged something for you.”

  “But you have been with me every evening,” I said.

  “Yeah, but I got a sister who loves to shop. I asked Emma to pick up a dress I saw. I hope you don’t mind,” Josh said.

  I probably should have minded, but I actually thought it was sweet. I certainly had not had time to give much thought as to what to wear, much less shop for it. I had given it the briefest of thoughts as I dug through my closet earlier in the evening for something suitable to wear to ward the museum itself. I could not go in what had become my normal warding outfit: jeans, a button-down blouse, and sneakers. Sophie had arranged for Josh and me to have full access to the museum and its grounds for the next two nights under the guise of last-minute Gala preparations. We would, unfortunately, not be alone. Some of the staff were vampires, but the majority were humans, so we would need to be very careful and appropriately dressed. I had found a long peach sundress and flat sandals that gave me the ease of movement I needed while being sophisticated. A rope of pearls around my neck completed the ensemble.

  I had only one dress even remotely suitable for the Gala, a little black cocktail dress, but even that, I thought, was probably not dressy enough for the occasion. Now at least I wouldn’t need to try to pull that look off.

  “This is incredibly thoughtful of you, Josh. And your sister, as well. I will be sure to send her a note of thanks,” I said as I opened the box. I had a moment of trepidation but was quickly delighted by what I found inside. The dress was a deep burgundy with sheer embroidered overlay.

  “It should be the right size. I had Emma call Sophie to get your size and make sure she hadn’t already gotten you something. Em said she bought everything you’d need. If something’s missin’, let me know and I’ll have Em grab it tonight,” Josh said.

  “Thank you,” I said, pulling the floor-length gown from the box. “It is exquisite.”

  Josh beamed. “I saw it in a boutique window down on Royal a few days ago when you were wardin’. I thought immediately of you. I meant to point it out, but Jaime showed up and I forgot. I thought about it again the other night when Em reminded me to check my tux.”

  The fact that he had picked out the dress, not his sister, gave me a warm feeling. My excitement was dampened by the realization that I could not accept this,
at least not as a gift. It would be highly inappropriate.

  Seeming to sense the change in my attitude, Josh said, “Before you go refusing this, I didn’t pay for it. I know it’s inappropriate for anyone but a husband or father to give a woman clothes. Em paid for everything, so you can work out repayment with her. If you want to return the gown ‘cause you don’t like it, that’s one thing, but don’t do it ‘cause you think I bought it. You ain’t no fancy lady, Juliette, and I won’t treat you like one.”

  “I love the dress. Thank you for suggesting your sister purchase it for me. I will call her later and make arrangements to repay her.”

  “You should probably check the other boxes and make sure you’ve got everything you need. Then we got to get to the museum.”

  The dress looked to be the correct size so I didn’t take the time to try it on. A quick look through the boxes revealed undergarments, hose, and shoes. Everything I needed to dress for the Gala had kindly been provided. “This was so kind of you and your sister,” I said.

  Josh grinned. “Heck, Em was ecstatic that she got to buy two dresses for the event.”

  I spent the entire night warding the museum and its grounds against werewolves. Since so many vampires, not to mention important humans, would be at the event, I also added protection against magical attacks. Anyone attempting to use offensive magic would be unable to do so. Any shield spells or amulets would not be affected. By three a.m., I was exhausted and Josh took me home.

  I DRESSED FOR THE Gala with care. The dress Josh had selected fit me perfectly. I could not believe my luck. The gown fell to the floor in a splash of deep-burgundy satin. The burgundy overlay was artfully embroidered with seed pearls and sequins that shimmered when the light hit them. It was sleeveless with a wide square neckline. I debated my pearls or the Grammont garnets set in black jet. I waffled back and forth for several minutes before settling on the garnets. While not the most expensive stone, the intricate setting was exquisite. My only problem was my shoes. The size printed on the inside matched all the other shoes in my closet, but these fit much smaller. I had to wedge my feet into their confines and was sure my feet would be killing me in a very short amount of time. I had thought to wear a different pair from my collection but found nothing else with a three-inch heel, and when I wore the lower height my gown dragged on the floor.

  When Josh arrived to pick me up, he did not do so in his customary red Mustang but in a chauffeured, silver Rolls Royce. “You need the legroom for your skirt,” he said. “Plus, I kinda like the idea of being driven around for a night.”

  Josh had put aside his normal jeans and Stetson for a black tuxedo. The cummerbund even matched my dress. He still wore cowboy boots, but these were fine black leather accented in silver. His shaggy hair had been pulled back and clubbed. Despite his complete change in appearance, Josh did not seem ill at ease or uncomfortable.

  He was the epitome of a gentleman as he helped me into the car. “You’re stunning tonight, Juliette. ‘Take my breath away’ beautiful,” Josh said.

  His compliment warmed me. “Thank you,” I said, slightly embarrassed. “You are very handsome, as well.”

  “I can clean up when I need to. Drag out the monkey suit and behave for an evening.”

  “Monkey suit?”

  “Tuxedo. No idea where the nickname came from other than I feel like a damned trained monkey when I’ve got one on,” Josh explained.

  “You do not seem uncomfortable,” I remarked.

  “Nah, they’re just clothes. Don’t change who I am. I’d rather been in jeans, but I can drink beer wearing anything,” Josh said. “I don’t mind schmoozing. It’s for a good cause.”

  It was only a short ride to the art museum, but early evening traffic delayed us. I began to fret about the time. Josh reached over and put a reassuring hand on mine. “Relax, you’ll be plenty early. I can’t believe you’re excited about standing in the receiving line,” Josh said.

  “I’m not looking forward to the receiving line, but it would look bad if I were to be late,” I said, but my nerves had calmed a bit.

  “You’re as bad as my sister,” Josh grumbled good naturedly. “Always insisting on getting to these things stupid early.”

  Despite his reassurances, I breathed a sigh of relief when we pulled up to the museum and there was not a throng of people waiting outside. Josh escorted me up the red carpeted steps, and the doorman let us into the vestibule. It was empty except for Marc, Sophie, Mike Angelletti, and Marc’s bodyguard, Bernard Lescaux.

  Marc greeted us as we approached.

  “Where’s Gabe?” Josh asked.

  “Last-minute perimeter check with Sara,” Mike answered. Sara Hamilton was Gabe’s new girlfriend.

  “So that’s what he’s calling it nowadays.” The remark earned him a chuckle from the group. “Somehow I just don’t think he’d appreciate my company, so I’m gonna mosey on over to the bar for a drink.”

  I HATED RECEIVING lines. I always have. They were the worst part of hosting a ball, or in this case, being the presumptive Aether leader. They were boring, tedious, and if my shoes were even a bit tight, they made my feet hurt. I was counting the minutes until Marc nodded and we all could go mingle with the guests. Josh caught my eye from across the room and winked. If my heart were still beating, I was pretty sure it would have flipped. I smiled back and greeted the next person in line. I had met a large number of people this evening, including the mayor, a senator, and several congressmen. Some guests I had already been introduced to by Josh while we were out and about.

  We were nearly forty minutes into the tedium of ‘How nice to make your acquaintance’ and ‘Frederique’s passing was such a tragedy’ when I felt the tang of Aether energy. A lot of Aether energy. A quick glance at Marc’s face told me he felt it too. I saw Josh quickly moving through the milling guests toward me. Other vampires in the room angled to get a look at who was walking through the door.

  I am not alone! I may not even be Coven Mistress. This is wonderful!

  My excitement, however, was short lived. Even before it opened, I knew some of those on the other side. Honore was there, along with Louis and Nadine. There were four more, all novices I did not recognize. I liked Louis and Nadine well enough. I had known them from when I was here before. We had always been cordial, if not friendly. It was Honore who worried me. We had hated each other even before I became a vampire and the hostilities had grown afterward. By my calculations, she should be the new Aether Mistress, and I was standing in her place in the receiving line.

  I gave myself a quick mental shake. No, I had every right to be here, just as I’d had every right to become Regent. I was a placeholder, nothing more. I was profoundly glad, not for the first time, that Marc and I had found a compromise in my coven position and had London’s blessing. Maybe now that Honore was here, I could get off this damn receiving line. I smiled and shook the next person’s hand.

  I shifted uncomfortably in my too-small shoes. My feet were killing me, and I dreaded the imminent meeting with Honore. My hope it would not be confrontational evaporated as Honore homed in on me. I could feel the anger, power, and magic pulsing off her. I was profoundly glad that I’d had the foresight to ward the museum against offensive magic. This could not get too out of hand at least. Marc, standing just before me in the line, also noticed and took steps to calm Honore. As she stood before him in the receiving line, Marc pressed his cheek to Honore’s and whispered something in her ear. He spoke so softly that I could only distinguish a few words, even with my enhanced vampire hearing. Whatever the Grandmaster said along with ‘presumed dead,’ ‘Juliette,’ and ‘Regent’ seemed to mollify her slightly. The magic, power, and anger emanating from her decreased but did not fully dissipate. Pasting a smile on my face, I held out my hand as Honore moved forward to ‘greet’ me. The older vampire did not shake my hand but glanced at it di
sdainfully, saying, “I do not pay homage to underlings.”

  So this was how it was going to be. Fine. Two could play at this game. My smile became sickly sweet as I said, “Perhaps if you had been on time or bothered to send word that you were back in the city, I would not have been needed as your substitute. Since you have finally deigned us with your presence, you can greet the rest of the guests.” Stepping out of line, I turned and nodded to Marc. “Monsieur Gautier.” I then spun on my heel and walked rapidly away.

  I felt the force of her renewed anger hit me in the back, but I did not turn around. I had lost sight of Josh during my altercation with Honore, so I made my way to one of the numerous bars set up throughout the museum. I was on my third scotch when my escort found me a few minutes later.

  “You got guts, I’ll give you that. Either that or a death wish. There ain’t many who will cross Honore Rochan,” Josh remarked.

  “Honore and I have a long history of animosity,” I said.

  “Yeah, but now you’re vying for the same leadership position.”

  I groaned. “She can have it.” It was probably not the smartest thing I could have done to insult her in front of a room full of people. It would have been less dangerous to wave a red cape in front of a bull, but it was done and there was no going back.

  Josh took the drink from my hand and placed it on the bar. “Why don’t we go dance?” he suggested.

  I smiled sadly. “Thank you, but I think I should go home.”

  “OK, if that’s what you want. Lemme just tell Emma I’m going and I’ll see you home.”

  “No. You should stay. I need some time alone.”

  “How’re you gonna get home? You wanna take the car?” Josh asked.

  “I will take a taxi. We arranged for several to be waiting to take those guests unable to drive home.”