A text message arrived on Raven’s cell phone with an audible ping. Ian’s brows drew together. “Shut that off. We’ve got to put together a strategy.”
As Raven pulled the phone from his pocket to turn it off, he glanced at the message. His eyes widened. “I can’t believe it. Tori wants to meet me, right now.”
“Go. Bring her to Blackfriars. It’s time the three of us began working together as a team.”
“How am I supposed to get her to come with me?”
“Gerald and I used to have a password phrase, and I know he taught it to her. It’s ‘cabbages and kings.’”
“I’m to use a phrase from Alice in Wonderland to get Tori to trust me?”
“It’ll work.”
“Curiouser and curiouser.” Raven’s thumbs sped as he returned Tori’s text. “I’m telling her I’ll be right over.”
“I’ll get you the address.”
Minutes later, Raven was speeding through the night toward Sherman Oaks, wondering what had changed Tori’s mind about speaking to him. Maybe the shock of watching him slay a demon had worn off and she’d realized he was sincere. When Dad finally tells her the entire story of her birth, how will she react? Raven didn’t want to lose her friendship. How can I convince her she isn’t just an assignment? He sighed. To be honest, if I were in her shoes, it would be a pretty tough sell.
When he rolled up to the driveway of Tori’s house, he was impressed with the immense size of the property. Misty Savannah must have sold a great many records to afford this place. He parked in the paved motor court in front of the entrance. Tori must have heard him drive up because she appeared in the doorway, looking grim. She said not a word, but allowed him to step inside the house. After the door closed, Raven was shocked to find himself shoved against it with surprising strength. She’s Nephilim—what did I expect?
“Who the hell are you and what do you have to do with my parents?” she demanded.
“Whoa! I thought I was here to talk, not get attacked.”
Her face was a mask as she backed off. “Who is Ian Cassidy?”
“He’s my father.” Confused, he peered at her. “Hang on…how did you know his name?”
“I’m asking the questions, and if I don’t like what I hear, I’m calling the police. I might just call them anyway. I haven’t made up my mind yet. You’ve been lying to me.”
Steam was practically shooting out of her ears. What can I say to make her calm down?
“Look, I don’t blame you for being angry. There’s far more to your story you haven’t yet heard, but my father should be the one to tell you. He’d like you to come with me to our house to explain everything.”
“I’m not going anywhere!”
“My father said to say, ‘cabbages and kings.’”
Her jaw dropped. “What?”
“Cabbages and kings,” he repeated. “Does that mean anything to you?”
“My dad taught me those words a long time ago, as our secret password phrase.” She peered at him. “He said I should trust anyone who knew it…but in your case maybe I should make an exception.”
Despite her icy demeanor, Raven thought he detected a slight thaw.
“You’ve nothing to fear, I swear it.” He slid off his leather jacket. “Put this on for the ride. You’ll find weapons in the lining. If I give you any trouble, you can slice me open.”
She snatched the jacket away from him and slipped it on. “Don’t think I won’t.”
Chapter Nine
Moves and Countermoves
THIS IS SURREAL. Tori sat behind Raven on his motorcycle, wearing his jacket and helmet. The position—with her arms encircling his waist—felt uncomfortably intimate, given the unusual circumstances. In short order, he’d managed to slip past her defenses and talk her into going with him to meet a complete stranger. Have I totally lost my mind? On the other hand, he’d known her father’s password phrase…which she’d nearly forgotten until he said it. But the secret phrase was not the only reason she decided to climb onto Raven’s motorcycle and let him drive her away from home. It was him. Since her parents died, she hadn’t completely trusted anyone until Raven came into her life. Whether or not her trust was misplaced remained to be seen, but he’d certainly piqued her curiosity. What did he mean there was far more to my story I haven’t heard yet? Will Ian Cassidy tell me about my parents’ mysterious past?
Raven angled his cycle off Ventura Boulevard and headed into the Santa Monica mountains. The silky darkness formed a private cocoon as they left the city lights behind. She felt a shiver of apprehension when he turned off the main road and rolled up a long private driveway. A craggy castle-like edifice became visible, so very different from the Spanish architecture ubiquitous to Southern California. After Raven stopped the cycle, she dismounted and removed the helmet and jacket.
“You live in this place?” she asked, incredulous.
“It’s a former monastery, I’m told. We call it Blackfriars West.” He shrugged. “A bit out of the way, but there’s a lot of room.”
“It’s just you and your dad?”
“For now. We have staff coming over from England, but they have some immigration issues to work out first.”
“You couldn’t hire local employees?”
“Mrs. Turnbull and Quigley have worked for the Cassidys for generations. They’re part of the family, really.”
He beckoned her into the house, where she received another shock. Her social worker was waiting for her in the living room.
“Mr. Peabody? What on Earth are you doing here?”
“Actually, my name isn’t really Peabody. It’s Ian Cassidy.”
Gasp. “You have an English accent!”
“Yes. I apologize, but the American social worker guise was necessary to keep you safe.”
The room began to swirl. A pair of strong arms supported her, and led her to the sofa.
“I’ll get you a cup of tea.” Raven’s voice was soothing. “That always makes me feel a little steadier.”
“I put the kettle on just before you arrived,” Ian said. “Stay with Tori, and I’ll fetch the tray. Excuse me.”
While Ian was in the kitchen, Tori tried to regain her composure.
“Are you all right?” Raven asked.
She shook her head. “Everything is inside out and upside down. I always knew seeing demons was crazy, and now I find out it’s not. I thought I knew my parents, but I don’t. I’m not sure I even know who I am anymore.”
Raven knelt next to her. “I know this seems strange, but it’ll be better knowing the truth. For what it’s worth, you’re not alone.”
When he took her hand, it was as if his strength flowed through his touch. I wish I could trust him, but I don’t know what or whom to believe.
After Ian returned with a tea tray, Raven retreated to a wing chair next to the fireplace. His father poured Tori’s tea, took a seat opposite her, and cleared his throat.
“The first thing you should understand is that despite their best efforts, your parents violated one of the Shakespeare Institute’s most critical prohibitions. I helped them escape the consequences, which is why we find ourselves in our current predicament.”
He started at the beginning, detailing the nature of his childhood friendship with Tori’s father. To help him with the story, Ian produced his photo album and let her take the theater program featuring her mother. Raven was impressed with his father’s gentleness. He spoke to Tori like she was his daughter. After she heard about her Leap Day birth and her parents’ subsequent flight from England with fake passports, she gave a choked laugh.
“Everything about me is fiction! What’s my real name?”
“Elizabeth Hannah Austin.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Raven hastened to put a box of tissues within reach on the coffee table. While Ian continued to speak, she listened quietly, dabbing at the moisture which occasionally slipped from the corners of her eyes. When he finished, she took a deep breath.<
br />
“Why eighteen? Why not sacrifice me at sixteen or twenty-one?”
“It has to do with the Number of the Beast from the Book of Revelation. The sum of six plus six plus six is eighteen.”
“Does Misty know any of this?”
“She believes your parents were in a witness relocation program.”
“Does Birmingham have any idea who I am?”
“No. He’s coming to Los Angeles because he believes Raven and I can lead him to you. I told him Raven intends to pursue an acting career in Hollywood, but Birmingham most certainly knows that’s a smokescreen.”
Her lips tightened. “Mr. Peabody—I mean Mr. Cassidy—I thank you for helping me and my parents. I know your heart is in the right place. But had you and your son remained in London, I wouldn’t have to be afraid for my life right now. If you really want to protect me, the smartest thing for you to do is to leave me alone.” Her eyes slid to Raven. “Both of you.” She stood. “I’d like to go now.”
Raven lurched to his feet, but she shook her head. “Could you drive me home, Mr. Cassidy?”
“Of course.”
Ian escorted Tori from the room, and a few moments later Raven heard the faint sounds of his father’s car leaving the garage. With wooden movements, he cleaned up the tea cups in the living room and carried the tea tray into the kitchen. Afterward, he changed his clothes and headed into the gym to work his emotions out on the heavy bag. Everything he’d feared about losing Tori had just come true, but the worst part was in knowing she was right about the danger he and his father had inadvertently brought into her life. He wanted desperately to believe he could repair their relationship after her birthday passed, but in his heart, he feared she would never view him the same way again.
After putting in minimal effort on her homework, Tori went to bed. Although the hour was late, her scattered thoughts wouldn’t allow her to sleep. Raven had said it would be better for her to know the truth, but she could scarcely be glad for her enlightenment. Because of me, my parents fled the country of their birth and lived essentially in hiding for the next eight years. The guilt made her skin crawl so much that she slipped out of bed, ran a bath, and scrubbed her body until it was pink. Her feelings of blameworthiness were admittedly irrational, but she felt culpable all the same. Layered on top were other emotions woven so tightly together she almost couldn’t breathe. Fear at being hunted down by the Shakespeareans. Anger at Ian Cassidy for lying about his identity and deceiving her as Mr. Peabody. A crushing sense of loneliness. Envy toward Kirstin, Jenny, and Deborah. Self-pity. Anxiety about choosing a new career. As dawn approached, she crawled back into bed and tried to get a few minutes sleep before her alarm went off.
Because of Tori’s emotional turmoil, the next few days at school were miserable. To his credit, Raven made no attempt to speak with her other than the normal pleasantries. During movement and drama classes, he was as reserved as the first week she’d known him, and the circles under his eyes were as dark as her own. Despite the resulting tug at her heartstrings, her resolve was unwavering. I must protect myself—mind, body, and soul.
Evidently sensing a rift, Jenny and Deborah pumped her for information about Raven at lunch on Thursday. Feigning indifference, she shrugged and said she wasn’t interested in dating anybody for a while. “I’ve far too much on my mind. If I can’t be a classical ballerina, I have to figure out what I’m going to do after high school. It’s going to be a big adjustment.”
“With your height and looks, you can always be a fashion model,” Jenny said.
“I’m not sure my heart would be in it. I’ve never really been interested in fashion.”
“Are you still planning to audition for the showcase?” Deborah asked.
“I-I don’t know.”
Until Deborah reminded Tori of the showcase, she’d forgotten about it. If she decided to audition, it would have to be without Raven. I should tell him so he has time to get himself another scene partner.
“Deborah and I would have liked to try out, but our classes with SBT will overlap rehearsals,” Jenny said.
Deborah shot Jenny a quelling look, but Tori shook her head. “Please don’t think you have to walk on eggshells around me. I’m looking forward to hearing what it’s like to take class with the company.”
“I’m a little nervous, to be honest,” Jenny said.
“I would be too,” Tori said. “You’ll be dancing with the best of the best. It’s bound to be scary and exhilarating at the same time.”
“Kirstin said she’s been so anxious about it, she stopped eating,” Jenny said.
“That was last week,” Deborah said. “Yesterday, she told me her appetite had returned.”
Tori remembered Raven had killed Kirstin’s imp last week. “Maybe she got rid of whatever’s been bothering her.”
After school, Misty and Tori drove to an exclusive beauty salon in Beverly Hills. Although they were invisible to everyone else but Tori, packs of demons and imps were roaming the palm tree-lined streets. Helpless to do anything, she was obliged to avert her eyes. Her fingers itched to slay a few nevertheless.
“I love shopping in Beverly Hills,” Misty said. “It’s so glamorous.”
Tori had no intention of enlightening her foster mother about the occult denizens of the city. “There’s so much to see, I don’t even know where to look first.”
Inside the salon, she didn’t even flinch when the stylist lopped off nearly a foot of her hair. While Misty got a mani-pedi, Tori had highlights applied. As the stylist was blowing out her locks, he gave her a wink. “You walked in here a junior librarian, and now you’re looking like a cover girl. All your friends will be so envious, they’ll ask for my name!”
As she gazed at her reflection afterward, Tori was pleased with her new look. Misty had been right; she’d needed a change. The style fell just below the shoulders, and her hair’s natural curl gave it movement. Blond highlights lent subtle interest to her chestnut hair, and the layers framed her face beautifully.
To celebrate, Misty took her to a nearby boutique and bought her several new dresses with coordinating shoes. As the saleswoman rang up the purchases, Tori took Misty aside.
“Are you sure about this? I can’t afford to pay you back for a long time.”
“Consider it a gift, then. Or an early birthday present, if you like. I’m getting on in years, and who else do I have to spend money on except for myself?”
Tori gave the woman a hug. “Please tell me what I can do for you.”
Misty laughed. “When the time is right, I’ll think of something.”
Laden with shopping bags, Tori and her foster mother headed for the valet station. After Misty handed the uniformed valet her ticket, a sharp jolt from an earthquake nearly sent the older woman tumbling to the ground. The valet managed to steady her, fortunately, even as the tremor continued. Pedestrians stopped short in their high heels and business casual loafers, waiting for the vibrations to pass. Some people laughed, nervously, and others gasped with fear. The drivers inching past in the street didn’t seem to notice anything was amiss.
When the tremor subsided, the valet darted off to collect Misty’s car. As Tori glanced around, she was puzzled. The demon populace was reacting to the earthquake with unbridled euphoria. Lips pulled back over fangs in hideous smiles, and mocking laughter echoed in her ears. Their malicious exultation frightened her far more than the temblor had. Although Tori pretended nonchalance, Misty must have noticed a change of expression.
“Are you all right?”
“Just a sudden headache. Nothing to worry about.”
“These frequent quakes are extremely unsettling, aren’t they?”
“A little.”
A blob of purple ectoplasm began to ooze up from the storm drain a few feet away. Tori became increasingly anxious for the valet to bring the car around before the sinister mass took its final form. She cursed the fact she hadn’t slipped the silver dagger into her purse. Of course
, killing one demon when I’m surrounded by so many others probably wouldn’t be smart. Nevertheless, I should always have a silver weapon with me at all times—even if it’s just a pen like Raven’s.
The amorphous ectoplasm emerged fully from the drain, slid onto the sidewalk, and drew itself up into humanoid shape. To avoid making it obvious she could see the demon, Tori turned to watch its reflection in the beauty salon window. When the creature sauntered over to stand directly behind her, she gritted her teeth. Stay calm and don’t move! It bent closer, making purring noises deep within its throat.
“Pretty, pretty human.” Purple fingers caressed a lock of her hair, and she bit back a scream. Wait…I’m not completely without protection. She pulled her necklace from underneath her blouse.
“Tori, the car is here!” Misty said.
When she turned around, the demon was grinning—until it noticed the Celtic shield knot amulet now in plain view. It backed away with a hiss. Although she was trembling, Tori lifted her chin and strode past the creature.
“Eat dust, slimeball,” she murmured.
Raven woke up out of sorts Friday morning. Ever since the blowup with Tori, he’d been subdued and pensive. His father had advised him to give her a little time to adjust, but it was difficult to be patient. Pessimism wasn’t usually his most dominant personality trait, but it was hard to remain positive in the face of her cold shoulder. I’ve got to shake it off and keep going. Thankfully, I have the weekend to regroup.
A gleaming black limousine was parked diagonally in the parking lot when he arrived at school. The showy vehicle took up three spaces. Raven speculated that some bigwig or school trustee had come for a visit. He forgot about it until he entered his homeroom and the teacher directed him to the Head of School’s office.
Raven blanched. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not that I know of,” Mr. Rich replied. “Mr. Ashton just asked me to send you over.”
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