“Most of my stuff’s still at Airlee,” she explained, “but I did bring a couple of suitcases home.”
“Girls,” said Lough. “They think they need all sorts of clothes that they’re never even going to wear.”
“You never know what you might want to do or what the weather will be like,” said Sip, sniffing again. “It’s good to be prepared.”
Lough had nothing to say to that.
Once we were ready we headed out to the Quests’ second car, in which Sip intended to drive us to the port. Looking around, I marveled at the jewel-like green of the grass; it had obviously been a good summer there. Trees and hills stretched for miles into the distance, and the sun shone brightly on all of it, with barely any wind to rustle the leaves. I felt no darkness anywhere near us. Sip, for her part, was quiet.
“I don’t know why we have to go to this meeting anyway,” Lough grumbled. “We’re just going to watch the adults make a few bad choices and then go home.”
“We’re going because they want to include us,” said Sip. “And it’s about time.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re thinking of speaking at this thing,” said Lough, with worry in his tone.
“I might,” said Sip. “As a founding member of the Sign of Six I feel it’s my right.”
“What exactly is the Sign of Six doing?” Lough asked. “And where’s Nolan these days?”
“The Sign of Six is attempting to find ways to bring the paranormal defenses up to standards that will repel demons. Barring that, we are fighting. Unlike Caid, who invites Malle to his summer home to try and talk her around to not killing us, we hold no delusions that we can talk Malle or the demons into or out of anything. We can only use force.”
“For such a smart girl I’m surprised you’ve decided that war is the only option,” said Lough skeptically.
“It’s not the only option,” Sip argued. “It’s just the only option left. I think losing Lisabelle proved that.”
“Lisabelle made a choice,” I said quietly.
“Yeah,” said Sip, her fingers gripping the steering wheel tighter, “and why? Because they took her friend. Why’d they do that? Partly because of the Sign of Six. They might have hoped that they’d also get Lisabelle out of the deal, but they’re afraid of the organization I’ve started, and that’s a good thing for the paranormals.”
“It’s a good thing that you’re at risk of getting killed?” Lough muttered. “News to me.”
“And Nolan went home for the summer,” said Sip. “He’s trying to work on things from his end, but they wouldn’t let him stay at Public either. He doesn’t really know what he can do since Golden Falls is no longer recognized as a paranormal university.”
“Why not? Because they’re a murdering bunch of kidnappers?” Lough demanded. “Or a kidnapping bunch of murderers?”
“Pretty much,” said Sip. She bounced up a little straighter in her seat. “Oh, we’re almost there.”
The wind had started to pick up, and I could feel that we were heading toward water. Then, all of a sudden, the ocean was right in front of us. As Sip rounded a bend in the road and we cleared the trees, it spread out in every direction in all its mid-morning, sparkling glory.
“Beautiful,” said Lough. “But where’s the ship?”
He had a point. We saw the water and the empty beach, with not another human or paranormal in view.
“Just be patient,” said Sip. She turned off the main road so that we were driving alongside the shoreline. Soon we made another turn, and there in front of us was a parking lot filled with cars. At the entrance was a roadblock, and in front of that stood a paranormal dressed just like Cale had been, all in black with colored stripes on the sleeves of his shirt.
“The Paranormal Police Academy,” I breathed. “This should be interesting.” We pulled up alongside the roadblock and the Police Academy graduate came to Sip’s window as she rolled it down.
“Morning,” he said, eyeing us. He did not look cheerful.
“Rings, please,” he said. It wasn’t a question. We each held out our rings for him to scan with his own. His was green, but he was bigger like Cale. The Academy probably didn’t take small pixies.
When he got to me I saw him start as my ring blazed blue, the pink demons around it lighting up. He glanced at me sharply but said nothing, and I tried hard to keep my composure. Even if I liked Cale and I had liked Kia at the end, it was hard for me not to resent the pixies.
“Continue,” he said, waving us through.
There were two cars waiting behind us as Sip slowly drove into the lot. Out of the gathering cars streamed paranormals. I didn’t recognize most of them, and there were many more than I had been expecting.
“Shouldn’t they be coming in via flying and brooms and whatnot?” Lough asked suspiciously.
“Many have,” said Sip. “These are the others. Besides, some, like me, chose to drive, maybe because of who they were coming with, or because they had luggage, or because driving draws less attention than flying on a broom.”
We parked at the end of the lot next to Helen and Hyder’s other car. They were nowhere in sight, so I decided that they must already be on the ship. Sip waved to a couple of the paranormals nearby, but I didn’t know them. I looked around for Professor Dacer, or Vanni, or Trafton and Rake, but I saw none of them.
“Are we early or late?” I asked.
Sip shrugged. “Paranormals have been arriving for the last twelve hours. My brothers stayed on the ship last night. I think Trafton and Rake are already there.”
“Hey,” a woman cried, glaring at us. “HEY! How dare you show your face here after what your friend did?”
We stared at the woman in surprise. She was short and plump, with wisps of gray hair and a blazing silver ring. “Get back to wherever you came from,” she yelled.
Then she started toward us, but the man she was with, taller and thinner and wearing spectacles that reminded me of Sigil’s, tugged her away, whispering frantically in her ear.
“What’s she talking about?” I asked, shocked. “Lisabelle?”
Sip nodded grimly. “Mound has been reporting for weeks, ever since Lisabelle traded for me, that she’s been leading the attacks on paranormals all along the East coast.”
“How would he know what she’s up to?” I demanded. “We didn’t know what she was up to when you lived with her and we saw her every day.”
Lough snorted. “So true.”
“I’d still like to know where this ship is,” I said. There was a long dock stretching into the water, but nothing at the end of it. Meanwhile, paranormals were gathering all along it, and we joined the waiting throng.
“Is it invisible or under the water?” Lough asked, squinting.
“Nope,” said Sip.
“There it is,” cried a paranormal child, pointing upward. We all craned our necks to look. Sure enough, a massive form was descending from the sky, slowly and with purpose, blotting out the sun.
“I hate heights,” I muttered. “I just hate them. Why does that have to go hand in hand with being a paranormal?”
Sip looked at me in amusement. “Don’t worry. Once we’re all on board we’re going to stay in the water.”
“Small blessings,” I muttered.
The other paranormals seemed to be just as impressed as we were, and many of them oohed and gasped appropriately. When the ship was about to land in the water, those closest to that side of the dock stepped back to give it room. I had thought there’d be a massive splash, but it set down on the surface without so much as disturbing the waves.
“Awesome,” said Lough.
“Isn’t it?” said Dobrov from behind us. He stood alone, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
We all turned around to stare at him in horror. His black hair and eyes looked gold in the sun. He wore a white shirt and jeans. I looked for Daisy, but I didn’t see her.
“How’d you get through the gates?” Sip demanded.
“I’m a paranormal,” Dobrov pointed out. “They have to let me through. The government insisted we all be here, after all.”
“They really don’t have to let you through,” Sip said bitterly. “You’re darkness.”
“Just show me to the water spirits,” said Dobrov, cocking his head to the side. “I’ve never met one before.”
“What makes you think they want to meet you?” Sip demanded.
Dobrov shrugged. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“That we know of,” said Lough.
“Yet,” I added. “Daisy?”
Dobrov shook his head. “She didn’t come. Something about a hostile environment.”
“But you’re going to report everything back to her?” Sip demanded. “Is she off with Faci?”
Dobrov shrugged. “I don’t keep tabs on my sister.”
“Nonsense,” Sip scoffed.
“Come along,” she said to Lough and me as she led us away.
I took a deep breath. The Conclave was about to start.
Chapter Seventeen
We followed Sip to the ship, and Dobrov didn’t try to follow us. But as we left him behind I found myself feeling almost bad for him. We had been friends once, and now he stood all alone, watching us leave.
The ship itself was almost too incredible to be believed. It was made all of dark wood, with silver masts that seemed to sway slightly in the ocean breeze. I turned my face up to the sun as I stepped onto the plank that would take me into the belly of the Conclave. Then, as if bringing myself back down to reality, I started to look around curiously at my fellow travelers. This was one of the few times, along with Lanca’s coronation, that I’d been around so many paranormals who weren’t of college age. Most of them didn’t look back at me.
If we’re not all together, what are we fighting for, anyway? I wondered. Maybe Caid would address that question once we were all on board.
“It’s a relief to know that Faci’s not here,” said Lough. “I’d hate to try and commit murder with so many witnesses.”
“He can’t possibly be returning to Public this fall, can he?” Sip asked worriedly.
Lough shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
“We just don’t know what they are,” I said dryly.
Inside, the ship was nothing like a ship. Entering it was like walking into a palace. There was a wide foyer with a spiraling staircase covered in plush gold carpet swooping upward from the middle of it.
“So, um, where are we?” Lough asked, looking around. Some of the other paranormals around us were filing to the many doors lining either side of the stairs, while others were trudging upward.
“We’re on the Conclave,” said Sip. “The safest place for paranormals.”
“Public is the safest place for paranormals,” I said. “I have a bad feeling about this place.”
“Come on,” said Sip. “It’s only for a night. Tomorrow we’ll be back at Public. Tonight we get to feast and listen to the Conclave.”
“That’s what we get to do,” said Lough, craning upward to stare at the massive chandelier in the middle of the foyer’s ceiling. “You’re going to start a fight with the President of the Paranormals.”
Sip shrugged. “Only if I don’t like what he has to say.”
“I’m sure he’ll find that to be a relief,” said Lough. “Meanwhile, how do we know where we’re staying?”
“We’re staying in the galley,” said Sip. “All the teenagers and college students are.”
“This place doesn’t have a galley,” said Lough. “It isn’t really a ship. What ship looks like this? It’s twice as big as it looks.”
“Actually, it’s three and a half,” said a voice to my left. I felt pinpricks of anger as I recognized it.
Suddenly standing next to us was Michael Mound, a short, plump pixie with a wide mouth and bright red cheeks that gave him a deceptively jovial air. He held a black cane and looked like he thought of himself as very important.
I reacted on instinct, grabbing Sip just as she lunged forward. Mound, who did not appear to be expecting so strong a reaction from a paranormal so small, took a quick step back, his eyes widening in surprise.
“You,” Sip snarled, clenching her hands at her sides. I held onto her upper arms as tightly as I could without hurting her.
Mound raised a quizzical eyebrow. “It is a mark of just how young and unformed you are that you would react so strongly to me. Shouldn’t we be able to have an honest and productive discourse?”
“Your discourse is neither of those things,” said Sip heatedly. “I’m fine, Charlotte. If I kill him I won’t do it when there are witnesses around.”
“That’s not really comforting,” said Lough, folding his arms and glaring at Mound.
Mound gave a small chuckle. “Such big words.”
“You must be Lough,” said Mound, extending his hand. “I don’t know that we’ve had a formal introduction.”
Lough stared at the outstretched hand, beefier than his own, and didn’t move.
Mound finally dropped it. “Very well,” he said.
Other paranormals were streaming past us, some looking at us curiously while others were too busy finding their way around. Mound held onto his cane more tightly.
“I had wished, Ms. Quest, that we could have a respectful discussion. I see that’s impossible.”
“Stop accusing Lisabelle of things she isn’t doing, and I’ll think about it,” said Sip through gritted teeth.
Mound shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m not wrong about the darkness mage. It’s a sad truth that her darkness is overwhelming. There’s just nothing else for it.”
“There’s no truth to that at all,” said Sip, sounding appalled, “which is exactly why we can’t have an honest discourse.”
Mound shook his head. “As the leader of the Sign of Six, a fledgling organization if ever there was one, you really should learn to treat your enemies better.”
“Are you my enemy?” Sip demanded.
“I assumed you thought of me as such,” said Mound, shrugging indelicately.
“Yes,” said Sip slowly, as she started to turn away. “I’m just surprised you noticed, buried under all the lies that you’ve heaped on top of yourself.”
With that the three of us walked away.
“I’d really like to run into some friends now,” said Lough. “First Dobrov and now Mound. Next thing we’ll see Camilla.”
“I would love to see Camilla right now,” said Sip, cracking her knuckles. “That would feel good.”
Lough and I raised our eyebrows at each other. I had never seen Sip get so angry, or react so strongly to being challenged. Lisabelle’s being gone was hard on me, and I knew it was hard on Lough, but I had to remember that Lisabelle was Sip’s roommate, and Sip had stayed in that room at Public all summer without her friend.
Now her shoulders were shaking with anger. “How dare he say such things about Lisabelle?” she demanded.
“Sip,” said Lough gently, “Lisabelle went over to darkness. It’s not something these paranormals can understand.”
Sip stuck out her chin. “I don’t need their understanding. I need their cooperation. And they’d better not hurt Lisabelle.”
“I think it’s pretty clear none of us can hurt Lisabelle,” I said. “That’s what has everyone so worried.”
Sip ignored me.
We went down to the galley, which was one massive room that looked the way the floor of Astra had when I arrived back after Golden Falls: covered in sleeping bags. Sip sighed, led us to an empty corner, and stared around darkly.
Trafton and Rake were already there, and they waved when they saw us.
“I’m going to go say hi,” said Lough. “I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll get stuff set up,” said Sip, sighing.
As I watched my friend, I could see the struggle clearly reflected on her face. The lines were etched in sadness.
“Are you okay?” I as
ked.
She didn’t answer, she just unpacked some objects that looked like miniature sleeping bags from a small sack and tossed a bit of dust on them. I had no idea what she was doing, but as I watched, the bags grew to normal size.
“Increase powder,” she said, seeing me looking. “It’s a pixie thing, usually used for tricks, but they figured out it was useful for packing too, so they make a mint selling it.”
“Cool, I’ll remember that.” Then I repeated my question: “Are you okay?”
Sip set down the bag she had been resizing. “I don’t know,” she said. “No, I guess I’m not.”
She sighed and took a deep breath before continuing. “I hate hearing all the bad things paranormals are saying about Lisabelle, and I hate that it’s my fault.” Her lower lip trembled and she busied herself again with the bags.
“Sip,” I whispered. “She made a choice. I was there when they took you. There was nothing you could do.”
Sip glared at me, but I knew she wasn’t angry with me. “I should have fought harder. Lisabelle shouldn’t have had to resort to . . . to . . . to that. To giving up her life. For me.”
“She prizes loyalty above everything,” I said. “She carried out her beliefs for her best friend. I’m sure there was nothing more she wanted.”
Sip just continued to shake her head.
“I miss her.” She hung her head.
I stepped forward and gave the little werewolf a hug. “I miss her too,” I whispered. “But we can’t fall apart. We’ll never get her back that way.”
“How are we going to get her back?” Sip said into my shoulder.
“We’re going to destroy them all,” I said. “Every last Nocturn.”
Chapter Eighteen
Dinner that night was not what I expected. I thought there would be a feast, and there was certainly more food than I had ever seen in one place before, but it was set up on the deck of the ship, on long picnic tables, sort of like a pot luck supper. There were so many paranormals in the room that it took me until halfway through the meal to find Dacer. It should have been easy, since he was sitting with President Caid, but maybe I just didn’t want to face that fact.
Elemental Darkness (Paranormal Public Series) Page 11