I started to back away again.
The man stopped. "I see I have upset you, Katie."
"How do you know who I am?"
The man laughed. "We are better friends than you know. I am the one who dropped the photo on you in the Old Grove."
I blinked at him. "You did what?"
"I dropped the photo on you. I was trying to give you a clue without scaring you. I saw Gleb and his keeper out there on Sunday burning a huge fire – the one the two human boys were arrested for. That night the keeper was burning that particular photo from one of the stolen yearbooks – the photo with you in it."
"Why was he doing that?" I asked. I'd stopped backing away, but I was starting to feel shaky. I didn't understand what was going on.
"It was part of a ritual, to get Gleb to track you and catch you. Gleb and his keeper are the ones who burglarized your school. They stole the records to find a student with the last name 'Wickliff' who had a person with the last name 'Rost' as a guardian, and then they stole the yearbooks so that they could obtain a photo of you. The photo was then burned, and Gleb caught the scent of the people in it. But Gleb, being the poor old kost that he is, was terribly literal – he had to grab people in the order in which they appeared."
I remembered that there had been four people in the photo – and that I was the last.
"I've been following you ever since Galina and I came to your house," the man said. "I actually arrived a little before she did – that's how I got to see Gleb and his keeper get up to their hijinks. Not being human has its advantages. I don't need a plane to travel. I can take one, but I don't need it."
"So, if you aren't human," I said. "What are you?"
The green-bearded man smiled. "You haven't figured it out? Katie, I practically told you when you were sitting on the stairs eavesdropping."
He stopped as if he expected me to jump in with the right answer.
All I could do was stare at him.
He sighed. "Oh, very well. I am the Leshi."
He held his arms out and shimmered. He turned back into Aleksandr. Then he shimmered again, and the green-bearded man appeared.
"You are the Leshi," I said slowly. "The same creature I looked up on the Internet – the forest spirit who protects woodlands and animals and can shape shift."
He bowed. "I can be any shape I wish. I can be as small as a blade of grass or as tall as the tallest tree."
I glanced down at his feet. "The Internet said your shoes would be on backwards, but your shoes are on the right way."
The Leshi smiled. "Sorry to disappoint."
"So, there is a real Aleksandr somewhere, isn't there?" I asked.
"Yes," the Leshi said.
"And you've been impersonating him the whole time I've known you?" I asked.
"Yes," the Leshi replied.
"Does Galina know who you really are?"
"Yes," the Leshi said.
"She never told me that."
"There's a lot she hasn't told you."
I walked over to the altar and leaned against it weakly. "This is a lot for me to take, Aleksandr – Leshi – what do I call you exactly?"
"I understand how you feel," the Leshi said. "Encounters with the supernatural are often difficult for humans – even ones with your exotic background. And just call me 'Leshi,' although when we're back out in public it would be best to continue to call me 'Aleksandr.'"
I nodded feebly.
"I like Galina, I really do," the Leshi said. "But all the creatures in this area, including humans, mistrust her – even the vampires suspect her. I'd held out hope that they were wrong, but it looks like I was the one who was wrong."
"The vampires suspect Galina?" I said.
"Yes," the Leshi replied. "In an odd sort of way, they help to protect this region, though, of course they also prey on it. The situation is a little complex."
I nodded again.
"But it turns out they were right to be suspicious. I've been following you – keeping an eye on you, helping you as best I could in an unobtrusive way. As I said, you humans are a little fragile."
I realized now that my feelings of being watched weren't paranoia – someone had been following me, watching me – someone with green hair and a green beard.
The Leshi continued. "As I was saying, the vampires were right to be suspicious. After all Galina did send you here – right into a trap."
"A trap?"
"Yes, of course, what do you think all this was?"
I looked around, puzzled.
"Think about it," the Leshi said. "First, Galina banishes me from the house so I can't overhear your conversation or see what she does."
"When did she—"
"When she said 'leave' – it's a Leshi thing – trust me, it works on me.
"Then she takes you out to the Pure Woods and suggests that you visit the monastery and tells you how to find the tunnels – where you very quickly fall into a trap. It's lucky for you that I was able to pick up on you again in the woods and follow you."
I began to get a sinking feeling in my stomach. What the Leshi was saying made sense.
"Why would Galina send me into a trap?" I asked. "And what was down there in the tunnels?"
"What was in the tunnels, I do not know. But I am reasonably certain that it would not have been good for your health. As for Galina, I do know what could be motivating her – Gleb and his keeper took her son – the real Aleksandr."
"They what?"
"It's true," the Leshi said. "Before Gleb traveled to the U.S., he and his keeper kidnapped the real Aleksandr. They are using him as leverage – if Galina does what they want, Aleksandr will be returned unharmed. If not—" The Leshi shrugged. "There are few humans who can fight off a kost."
"What do they want Galina to do?" I asked.
"They want her to deliver you to Gleb." The Leshi smiled unpleasantly. "Galina herself told me. They approached her first, before she came to see you. They thought she would lure you to this country. She claimed she refused them, even though they had taken Aleksandr. And they kept him. It was insurance in case their work in Elspeth's Grove didn't go as planned. I think the keeper was the one who came up with the plan – Gleb doesn't do much these days but moan and following orders."
"Who is this 'keeper'?"
"There is someone with Gleb, who seems to be controlling him. He – I'm assuming it's a he, though I don't know for sure – is very clever. He has some kind of power to block me, so I can't see who it is. But someone is definitely working with him – engineering all this trouble."
I thought of the two men I had seen in the cave back in the Old Grove – one swathed in furs – probably Gleb – and the other whispering, weaving words that swirled around in the cave chamber. Surely, he was the one controlling the kost.
"I think I've seen them," I said. "The kost and the keeper together. But I didn't see the keeper's face."
"That's a pity," the Leshi said.
"So, what do we do now?" I asked.
The Leshi turned back into Aleksandr. Then he shot a nervous glance at the opening to the tunnel. "I don't know how long what is down in the tunnels will stay in down the tunnels." He quickly replaced the panel.
Then he held his arm out to me. "I think I should get you back to your grandmother."
Chapter 16.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
GM's voice was low and steady, but her eyes flashed fire. I could tell that she was furious, but she was making an effort to appear calm because we were in a public place.
GM, the-Leshi-as-Aleksandr, and I were all walking toward the shops near Odette's house. Back at the monastery, I had half expected Aleksandr to transform himself into some fabulous monster and fly us to safety. Instead, we had simply walked out of the monastery to Aleksandr's car, which was parked nearby. Then he had driven me back to GM.
GM had wanted to hear about Galina right away, but I had prevailed upon her to come out with us for a walk. I
didn't want Odette to overhear our conversation and think I was crazy. Luckily, GM had wanted to do some shopping and had agreed.
I had asked Aleksandr to stay for a little while – I still needed to talk to him.
I wasn't worried that Galina would come looking for me if I didn't return as she'd said she would. I had a feeling that she didn't actually expect me to return.
Aleksandr and I had agreed on the way over that we wouldn't reveal Galina's trap or who he really was to GM. Telling her about the clear fire would be hard enough.
I had actually just finished telling her about the clear – and about my Sídh ancestry.
"The most ridiculous," GM said again.
I waited patiently. I knew she had more to say.
"The nerve of that woman," GM said. "She actually told you that my husband wasn't human?"
I nodded.
"Unbelievable. Irresponsible. To tell a girl that her deceased grandfather is still alive. Katie, I am truly sorry that you had to hear that. Your poor grandfather has most definitely passed on. The whole family attended his funeral."
GM snorted. Then she turned to more practical matters for a moment. "Let's turn in here. I wanted to buy some of that alosa tea that your mother used to like."
We all went into the shop, and a little bell jingled.
"Ridiculous," GM hissed, as she walked down an aisle. "And as if insulting your grandfather's memory wasn't enough, the woman wants you to find a magic, glowing ball and attack a madman."
GM stopped and grabbed a box of tea violently. "If I ever see her again, I will skin her alive."
GM stormed up to the counter, and Aleksandr and I hurried after her.
GM released her grip on the tea, and the badly crumpled box landed on the counter in front of the rather surprised cashier.
"Just the tea, thank you," GM said.
Next we went to the butcher's so that GM could buy some lamb to cook for dinner. Then we went to the grocer's so she could buy vegetables. She continued to mutter imprecations against Galina the entire time.
"I will tell you this, Katie," GM said as we exited the grocer's. "Galina will never be permitted to darken our door again. I have decided. I will stop this Gleb – I will do it myself. Do you know – I do not believe he is undead. He did look horrible – that much I will grant him. But I do not believe any longer that he died. He's been hiding all these years, like I thought at first. And that ghastly, bloated face of his? Drugs. He's a horrible, crazy drug user."
GM paused on the street and turned. "If I recall correctly, the police station is that way." She gestured with her bags. "If I didn't have this lamb to get home, I would march down there and report Gleb right now."
"Mrs. Rost, if you will permit me," Aleksandr said, "I will see your granddaughter home and take your groceries with me. Then you will be free to go to the police."
"Why, thank you, Aleksandr," GM replied. "That is an excellent solution. You know, you are far more sensible than your mother is. Katie, I will see you back at the house."
GM handed Aleksandr her bags and then marched purposefully down the street.
I watched her as she stormed off. "Are you sure this is a good idea? Aren't the police going to laugh at GM when she tries to tell them that a dead man is trying to kill her granddaughter? There aren't even any disappearances here to investigate – except for Aleksandr's, and you took care of that one."
"I don't think it's such a terrible idea," Aleksandr said. "The police will likely not believe her story at first, but they probably will remember it. Then if something does go wrong – and I'm not saying it will – but if something does go wrong, the police will already have the idea planted in their minds that it could be Gleb. Even as an ordinary man he was quite a terror in these parts. Besides, your grandmother's mission gives us a chance to talk without fear of censure. I believe you had a few more questions for me?"
"Yes, I did."
We started to walk back toward the house.
"What I'm most worried about is Galina," I said.
"That's a good place to begin," Aleksandr replied, "especially since it's likely she tried to turn you over to Gleb and/or his people this morning."
"What I mean is, if I can't trust Galina, can I believe anything she has told me? About my background, about the clear fire, about the legend of the Little Sun? I find it far more believable that I'm just an ordinary high school student."
Aleksandr smiled wryly. "I'm afraid it's all true. You are everything Galina said. And the clear fire is real. I am very old, and the Pure Woods has been my home for a long time. I saw your mother and Galina working out there when they were children, and as they grew older, I actually introduced myself to them. I have personally seen your mother with the clear fire."
"Do you know where it is?" I asked hopefully.
"I believe it is in the stone ring in the Pure Woods," he replied. "But it's in a place I can't see. My powers are limited."
"I don't suppose it's simply buried in the ground?"
"Not a chance. Wherever it is within the ring, it can only be accessed through supernatural means."
"Could Galina help me to find it as she claims?"
"As our unlucky stars would have it, yes. Galina can genuinely help you to sharpen your powers, and if you went back to her, she would probably give you a story that would make her sound innocent. And then she would start to work with you again. But in the end she would betray you. She would give you up for Aleksandr. She loves her son as much as she despises me."
"She does seem to dislike you, doesn't she?" I said.
Aleksandr grinned. "Indeed she does. I actually find it very amusing."
"Why does she go along with the impersonation then?"
"I was the one who came up with the idea," Aleksandr said. "I wanted to keep an eye on her, and she wanted to keep the disappearance secret – she feared any interference from the police might cause Gleb to harm Aleksandr. He always was rather shy with authority figures."
"Can't you transform yourself into an elephant and just knock down the walls of the Mstislav mansion and get Aleksandr back?"
We were walking up to the house now, and we paused on the doorstep.
Aleksandr shook his head mournfully. "First of all, I don't know where Aleksandr is. I have searched the Mstislav mansion. He isn't there. And second, as I said, my powers are limited. I have the ability to disguise myself – I can make myself appear as an elephant – but I don't actually have the elephant's power. I only have the strength I have in my real form. I am no stronger than an average mortal man. And I can be bound. If someone sprinkles me with ashes formed from burning the petrified wood from my forest, then I will freeze up completely – like a statue. Burning petrified wood is not an easy task, mind you. It's basically stone. Such a thing must be done through supernatural methods."
We went into the house, and Aleksandr set GM's purchases down in the kitchen. I quickly put everything away.
"As a matter of fact, Katie," Aleksandr said, "since we are talking about my abilities, or in some cases, lack thereof, there is something I've been meaning to show you in the interests of full disclosure. Keep an eye out for Odette."
I glanced around quickly. Odette didn't appear to be on the first floor. I looked back at Aleksander.
He vanished.
I looked around, startled.
Suddenly, Aleksandr reappeared. "That's one of the ways I was able to follow you. I can make myself invisible. Here's the other way – the only problem is I have trouble getting the eye color just right. It's usually a little too bright."
As I watched, Aleksandr turned into a teenaged boy in a plain white T-shirt. I remembered seeing him at school one day when I'd been looking for Annamaria and Bryony – I realized now that Aleksandr, or rather the Leshi, was the one who had given me the addresses for Irina's parents' homes. Then he turned into the businessman in the gray suit that I had seen several times on the plane. Finally he was the little boy who had thrown the chunk
of metal at GM and me from the side of the road.
"You flattened our tire!" I said.
The little boy turned back into Aleksandr. He grinned mischievously. "Yes – it was regrettable but necessary."
"And the woman with you?"
"Was Galina. A kerchief makes a better disguise than you might think. Also, I have a little ability – a very little ability – to disguise the things around me. I was able to change the color of my car and tweak Galina's features just a bit."
"Then you and Odette didn't find us by accident."
"No. I had been following you and your GM for some time, but I wasn't entirely sure where you were going. I had to make sure you got to us. I thought bringing Odette along would make you less suspicious. She didn't know anything about it. I just wanted you to know all of this, so that you'd know you could trust me. I have tipped my hand to you completely. This town is my home, too. I have no desire to see Gleb destroy it. And I'm going to help you in any way I can."
"Thanks, Aleksandr – Leshi."
Aleksandr smiled and headed out of the kitchen. "I'd better be on my way."
"Where are you going?" I asked, following him.
"I'm going to explain to the untrustworthy Galina that she is to stay away from you. I'm sure Gleb and his people will tell her soon that her trap failed."
Aleksandr turned toward the door, and I was struck by a thought.
"Wait. Back at the monastery, you said not to eat or drink anything Galina gave me."
Aleksandr turned back. "Yes, I did say that. You probably don't need to worry about that now. I doubt you'll be seeing her."
"I've already had something to drink at her house," I said. "Before we went out to the Woods."
Alarm flickered in Aleksandr's eyes.
"What's wrong with drinking something at Galina's house?" I asked.
"To be honest, I don't know," Aleksandr replied. "It's a warning I was given by the vampires to give to the Little Sun. As I said they suspect her – they suspect her of duplicity in any matter that concerns Aleksandr, and they suspect her of something else, too, but they wouldn't tell me what it was. Vampires can be frustratingly enigmatic."
"Is there something I should do then? Some kind of herb I should take?"
Pure (Book 1, Pure Series) Page 20