"It did, but not in the way I thought it would."
"It's peculiar like that. Anyway, I'm really glad it was useful. I would have liked a heads up before it came back. I was at the desk, but what if I were in the shower?"
I laughed at her appalled expression. "I'm sorry. I left it in my room, and didn't even know it moved. I guess it decided for me."
"Just let me know if you need it again, okay?" Chyler checked her watch. "I have to go. I'm meeting my aunt in five minutes to start training. Can you believe I'm a witch again? All these years of being normal, and I was never normal at all!" She hurried off with a finger wave, leaving me no chance to congratulate her on rejoining the supernatural world, or warn her to get out while she still could. I was pleased, however, that she wasn't letting the earlier scare get to her. Instead, she seemed happy. I wished I shared it, but all I felt was confused. That, and relieved I wasn’t eaten by that spelled wolf. I hoped it was an awful illusion. Evan and Étoile would have to decide between them what to do about it.
Part of me ached to go after Evan. I wanted to tell him that my kissing him wasn't out of anger from seeing Gage fooling around with someone else. Kissing him again was merely confirmation of what I wanted. Unfortunately, it was just bad, damned timing that the two incidents happened within seconds of each other. A bigger part of me wondered if I should have been mad at Evan for assuming I wanted him because Gage didn't want me!
Pushing those thoughts aside, I headed to the room where Astra and I were holed up to read the research material she gleaned. I hadn't seen her all day, and I had good news for her. Plus, I wanted to know if we could work together to garner more answers from this new book. If she still didn't know where to find the three missing talismans, perhaps it would tell her. Without Evan on my team, I definitely needed Astra.
"I have called you and knocked on your door and hunted all over this building for you!" Astra looked up in surprise as I entered. "I thought you were avoiding me."
"I was on a secret mission," I told her as her eyes widened.
"For how long?"
"Just a couple of hours," I replied. Then I began filling her in on finding the new book and ended with The Brotherhood's attack. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers.
"But you're not hurt?" She turned me in a circle, sending her magic around me as I did. Apparently satisfied that I was fine, her magic retracted and she nodded.
"No, but I did freeze; and without Evan’s presence, they might have... I don't know. Anything could have happened if he hadn't shimmered us both out of there."
"I just saw Evan with Étoile. He looked angry. I can see why."
I nodded, not correcting her. Sure, The Brotherhood annoyed him with their ambush, but I was fairly sure I was the one who currently pissed him off the most. There were more pressing issues than my floundering love life; the survival of the supernatural race headed the top of the list.
"We went to retrieve this," I told her, directing our conversation to the book. "The horologican I borrowed said this one had answers, but I haven't gotten the chance to open it yet. Do you want to look?"
"I thought you'd never ask! This is so exciting. These books are hardly ever seen, and I've only seen one before. Now, we have two!"
"How rare are they?"
"I couldn't say, but they are all priceless as there's so few of them."
"I hoped it would tell us where the other talismans are. The ones belonging to the demons, the shapeshifters, and the vampires. Unless you already found them?"
"No, nothing. I even went to the archives and tried a spell to retrieve any information on the talisman. And you know what happened? I nearly got crushed by a thirty-foot totem pole someone stowed in there a hundred years ago."
"I don't think this building was around a hundred years ago."
"Tell that to the dust. I didn't stop sneezing for an hour!"
"So..." I started, staring down at the book in my palms. "This is our only hope."
"Yeah."
We pulled two chairs up to the table where I carefully lay it down, almost reverently. That was not entirely due to its apparently priceless status, but because I was so nervous about what it could, or would, tell us. Everything seemed to rely on my opening the book and finding the answers. I knew it wouldn't be as easy as flipping to the index, running my finger down to the entry for talisman and then picking out demon, shapeshifter, and vampire from the sub-headings. Instead, I might have to wait for the book to guide me towards whatever it knew. I hoped it realised we were on a deadline.
"Okay," I said, giving Astra what I hoped was a reassuring look.
"That wasn't reassuring at all," she said. "My heart is thumping."
"Sorry." I opened it, brushing the bare page with my thumb as calligraphic words flowed across the title page.
Mayweather Family Horologican.
Owned by Estrella Mayweather.
"How did it know?" I asked. "I mean, I found it in my house, but I don't own it."
"It belongs to your family. You're the heir," said Astra. "Don't ask me how it knows, it just does. Turn the page."
I turned the page, waiting breathlessly for more writing to appear across the blank sheet. Instead of writing, the ink began to bloom over the page like an ink spot, retracting and guiding itself as if by an invisible hand until I began to see the outline of three people. The middle one had long hair and a smile. The features on the two people flanking her also developed until I realised who they were. "They're my parents," I said, confused, "and that's me; but it's the me now, not the little girl whom they knew."
"I think it's lovely."
The ink began to fade. Placing my thumb on the page, I whispered, "Stay," and the ink returned more vibrantly, this time with little dots of colour. The book even added flowers to my hair. When I raised my thumb, the drawing stayed.
I turned the page, glad the book obeyed me. I saw that as a good sign. If I had to give the book an emotion, I would have to say it liked me. What I wanted was for it to like me enough to provide the answers I sought. Instead, the following pages contained a number of spells, with tips written in several different hands.
"Ohh, these must be your ancestors. How exciting," Astra breathed, reading along as I did.
"Why aren't these pages disappearing? Chyler's book did that too. Some things were fixed and some things appeared and then swiftly disappeared."
"I guess it's the magic that was used to create these books. They would be impossible to carry if they had too many pages, and since it has been continuously added to over centuries, there could be hundreds of pages."
I glanced up. "It's an old-fashioned tablet?" I asked, without concealing the scepticism in my voice.
"Yeah, but without any need for a charger. Try asking it something."
"Like what?"
"Like who the superwitch is."
Holding the book firmly in both hands, I looked down at the blank page before me. "Who is the superwitch?" I asked. But no writing appeared.
"Try again. Try asking it something else."
"Okay, fine, but I don't think this is going to work. So much for answers." I heaved out a frustrated breath and continued to fix my attention on the blank page. There were several things I wanted to ask, but it made sense to try for the most important information first. After all, Chyler's book said very succinctly: this was the book for answers. It had to know something. "Who has the witch-made vampire talisman?" I asked, waiting breathlessly for its response.
A small dot of ink appeared on the page, then a swoop before the book spelled out a name. Francis Hale.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"I have no idea," replied Astra, while the book ignored the question.
There was only one vampire I knew well enough to ask for help, and even then, I didn't know him on a very close personal level. But Étoile did. If she trusted him enough to watch over me, I hoped I could too. "We need to find Matthias," I told Astra.
"It's not sundown y
et."
"Then I guess I'll leave a message," I said, reaching for my phone.
~
Matthias found me shortly after sundown. He wore a simple black suit and an open-necked white shirt, looking as if it were casual day.
"Drinking alone?" he asked, his English accent very much evident as he signaled the barman.
"Not anymore." I raised my glass and smiled before taking a sip. I told him to meet me at the bar, situated on one side of the building's restaurant, and waited no longer than fifteen minutes after sundown for his arrival. His promptness was no surprise. I wondered where he was when I left a message. Étoile never told me if he slept in a coffin, or deep underground, away from sunlight, or was holed up somewhere in The Amethyst for his daylight rest. Truthfully, vampires remained a mystery to me. I'd only properly known one, a lady who turned when she was already elderly. I liked her.
"I'll have what she's having," Matthias said, nodding a finger at my drink as the barman approached. He was a shapeshifter, I could tell, but I wasn't sure what kind. He busied himself away from us, leaving us and our conversation in peace. "I was surprised to receive your message. It sounded like it might be urgent. How may I be of assistance?"
"You don't seem surprised."
Matthias smiled, apparently amused. "We are not exactly social buddies."
"No, we're not." I tried not to be anything but matter-of-fact about his assertion. It was true: we weren't exactly friends, although we socialised from time-to-time with Étoile. I was sure he visited my house in Wilding a number of times while she was there. Publicly, we were never more than polite to each other, but I knew I made him curious and his brethren were equally interested in me. I was never entirely sure why, so I simply put it down to the curiosity I felt from witches and other supernaturals. I was an enigma to them all, after a very public defeat over a powerful witch when I was little more than a neophyte. Plus, The Brotherhood made no attempt to disguise their hatred toward me. I couldn't blame anyone for their interest. "Why are the vampires interested in me?" I blurted, not thinking. "I mean, why are they so curious?"
"I don't think that's what you asked me here for," said Matthias, dropping money into the barman's tip dish, which he presented at the same time as his martini. He sipped, then caught my eye. "Yes, I can drink. I eat, too. Neither benefit me for anything more than enjoyment."
"Then why do it?"
"Sometimes enjoyment is plenty. As to your question, yes, my brethren find you interesting."
"But why? Because I killed Eleanor Bartholomew?" I asked, lowering my voice so as not to be overheard. Eleanor's name was not a popular one, but I didn't want to have to launch into another story about how I acted in self-defence.
"There's that..."
"It was self-defence," I said, beginning the story anyway.
Matthias held up a hand. "We are aware, as is everyone else, that you acted in a way any being would have when threatened. The power you hold casts an interesting shadow over you. We vampires that sense it even find it attractive."
"Eww." The feeling popped out before I could catch the insult. I hoped Matthias didn't take it that way.
"Not necessarily in that sense, Stella, but I've no doubt some do. You have your demon and werewolf admirers too," he pointed out.
The whisper of Evan's spine-tingling words, and then his anger, flashed into my mind, swiftly followed by a flashback of Gage pressed against the werewolf female. I wasn't sure I could count either of them as admirers at this moment. Evan hadn't contacted me since his rejection, and I figured Gage was probably too busy.
"But that's not what you wanted to ask, is it?"
"No, I'm looking for something and I think you can help me."
"You're looking for a talisman," he said.
I blinked. "Yes. How did you know?"
"Don't worry, I haven't been snooping. Étoile mentioned it two nights ago. She thought I might know of one, and I assured her that while I have heard of such a thing, I had no idea where to locate the item."
"So, it does exist?"
"I didn't say that. I said I’d heard of it, not that I'd seen it."
"I think I know where to find one." Matthias raised both eyebrows, but said nothing, waiting for me to continue. "Do you know where I can find Francis Hale?" I asked.
He paused, his face inscrutable as he stared at me. Finally, he said, "Yes."
"I was told he either knows where it is, or he actually possesses it."
"And who told you that?"
"I can't tell you."
"Hale is a dangerous vampire. He won't play your no-answer games, Stella."
"Will you take me to him?"
"I can't guarantee your protection."
"I can protect myself."
"Something only the foolhardy say. He is very old and a born killer. A master of my kind. You shouldn't forget that despite your interest in that thing you seek. I strongly suggest you think again before asking me to take you to him."
"It's vital I find the talisman. Étoile must have told you that."
"On the contrary, she said very little."
"I don't have a choice. I need it. Will you take me?"
"He is in the city. I can take you now, but like I said, I can't guarantee..."
"I know. You already said you can't guarantee my safety," I snapped. I relished the sudden thrill at knowing I might have another talisman in my hands shortly.
"But I'll try."
"I know you will. Étoile would never forgive you otherwise." I pushed off my chair, grabbing my jacket as I dropped to the floor. I slid my arms into the sleeves, wondering exactly what I was getting myself into before making my second breakout attempt from The Amethyst in one day. I was fairly sure I could trust Matthias, if only because Étoile would be furious if anything happened to me.
Matthias finally cracked a smile that revealed his very sharp teeth in a handsome mouth. "Very true."
Chapter Fourteen
Flying in the arms of a vampire is nothing like the movies. In a word, it is terrifying. And nothing like Superman effortlessly holding his girl as they soar through the clouds as while she gapes in silent admiration at the twinkling lights far below. Instead, it took a hell of a lot of pure effort not to swallow bugs while trying to breathe while having the air ripped from my lungs with the force of supernatural speed. I hoped Matthias would never ask me to fly with him again.
My knees shook as we touched down in a dark alleyway several miles from The Amethyst. I could just see the pointed top of the building through the alley before I had to bend down, grab my knees and suck in a lungful of garbage-tainted air. When I glanced up, Matthias looked amused. "Don't tell me Étoile enjoys this," I heaved, straightening to full height, my lungs slowly recovering from their ordeal.
"She loves flying."
"You're both nuts."
"It has been said before."
A rat scurried past my feet before disappearing under a dumpster, and I had to suppress a scream. I was pretty sure the rat would be the least of my worries today. "We're meeting him here?"
"No, in the park over there, but it's awkward to touch down in a park where humans might be watching. They don't take to flying vampires very well."
"I wonder why that is," I muttered under my breath, following Matthias as he turned on his heel, walking swiftly to the end of the alley. I had to hurry to keep up. When my boot squelched in something wet, I grimaced, but carried on.
The alley exited between two buildings. One housed a cafe — the sign on the door read “Closed” — and the other an Italian bakery. When I twisted my neck to look up, myriad apartments rose above me for five floors. The buildings were pretty and neatly kept, some lights on in intermittent windows, and I could hear a jazz tune playing somewhere. We crossed the road between parked cars, and walked into the park like two regular people. "Where are we?" I asked.
"Brooklyn."
"A master vampire lives in Brooklyn?"
"He has a vacati
on villa in Transylvania."
My eyes widened. "Really?"
Matthias laughed. "No. I wouldn't tell you where he lived even if I knew, but I do know he frequents this park in the early evenings, and I was told he would be here tonight."
"Is he going to be mad that we're surprising him?" I asked as I swallowed down a bitter gulp of fear. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea.
"He's expecting us."
"Oh." Matthias seemed to know his way around the park, and I followed him along several paths and around a small duck pond — no ducks to be seen — before passing a few chess tables. We only encountered one person riding a bike, but I had the distinct impression many eyes were on us, and had been since we entered the park.
"There," said Matthias softly as he tapped my arm and nodded towards a man sitting on a bench. "Remember what I told you."
"I will." I stepped forward. After a couple of paces, I realised Matthias hadn't moved. "Aren't you coming with me?" I asked, pausing for him to catch up.
"He prefers to speak with you alone. I will remain here."
"We're not alone, are we?" I asked, my voice as soft as his.
"No."
I turned, my eyes searching the park fruitlessly. Of course, I wouldn't see any vampires, not if they didn't want to be seen. They could be up in the trees, or the air, or moving so swiftly that my witch eyes couldn't track them. There were too few to comprise an army, I was sure of that, but too many to blindly assume this would be a simple meeting. I wondered why he thought he needed protection from me, or if that was how he always took his evening stroll.
"Miss Mayweather," he said when I reached him, as if he'd been waiting a long time. He moved his fingertips to the brim of his hat, tipping it towards me in an elegant, old-fashioned gesture. His suit was a three-piece, immaculate, expensive-looking, topped off with a silk pocket square in a blaze of pink.
"Mr. Hale," I replied, following his lead.
"You appear slightly ill-at-ease. Do I frighten you?"
Anyone whose first question is asking if he frightens me, should, reasonably, frighten me. However, I forced myself to glance casually toward the left and then the right as if I hadn't a care in the world. "Not at all," I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. Plus, I was bizarrely pleased to hear another English accent, although his had all the smoothness of an old-time movie star, which only added to his charm. "I was concerned that I might be upsetting your minions."
Endless Magic (Stella Mayweather Series Book 6) Page 14