“Do the Triad know all this?” Lucien asked.
“Ten to one they do,” Gavril said. “I was with Gilly looking for Chenilles when she suddenly said, ‘Something’s come up. I’ve got to go.’”
“She didn’t tell you what the ‘up’ was?” Nikoli asked.
Gavril shook his head. “She just took off. Said we’d meet later at the docks when it’s time to take the ferry to the compound for feeding.”
Lucien got to his feet. “If the Triad know, surely they’re together right now. Probably going to see their Elders for help, call in reinforcements.”
Nikoli tapped the tips of his fingers together. “Maybe we should be doing the same thing.”
Lucien, Gavril, and Ronan looked at him in unison.
Nikoli held out his hands, palm up. “You know, call for backup.”
“Have you lost your—” Ronan began.
Gavril shook his head.
“I know, I know,” Nikoli said. “But hear me out. There comes a time when we’ve got to suck it up, put pride on the shelf and call in our own cavalry. I mean, really. Look at where we are, for heaven’s sake. I don’t know about you three, but I feel like we’ve achieved little to nothing. We’re being reactive instead of proactive.”
“Our setting up the electrical canopies to create safe places for the Originals was proactive,” Lucien said.
“True,” Nikoli agreed. “But you said it yourself. The scabior canopy at the catacombs had to be recharged. What if something happens to the other two? What if they go out? Humans died, Lucien. Police are going to start crawling all over this.”
Ronan rolled his left hand into a fist and punched it into the palm of his right. “No other Bender in our history has ever called for backup, and I, for one, am not about to start now. We’ve got to work the plans we’ve already set in motion.” He turned to Lucien. “No more splitting apart more than we already have. It was stupid to allow Evee to go off on her own.”
“Allow?” Lucien said with incredulity. “Evee is not a child. She’s a strong and intelligent woman with a mind of her own. Just like her sisters. I don’t believe any of them would allow anyone to force them in any given direction.”
“Including yours?” Ronan snapped.
“My what?” Lucien asked, taken aback by Ronan’s anger.
Without another word, Ronan stormed out of the hotel room.
Nikoli winced as the hotel door slammed behind his cousin.
“Who stuck a broom up his butt?” Gavril asked.
Lucien shook his head, indicating that he didn’t have a clue. But he knew. Ronan cared for Evee. Wanted to protect her at all costs. Lucien understood that all too well.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Lucien could do about Ronan’s feelings. He had given his cousin leeway to pursue his interest in her, and he planned to keep himself away until Evee either rebuffed Ronan or forced all of them out of New Orleans.
The only feelings Lucien had control over were his own. Whether he experienced guilt or fear, anger or frustration, the one thing he knew was that for now, he had to lay down what he felt for Evee and give Ronan space. Maybe even coach him a bit on how to approach Evee.
Even as he thought about it, Lucien looked down at the floor and shook his head slightly. Goddamn, he felt like an idiot. He wanted to be the one to pursue her, the one she’d run to whenever she was afraid or uncertain.
As stupid as it sounded, all he knew to do was play fair, help Ronan gain a bit of an edge and let nature take it course.
And for now, that had to be enough.
Chapter 7
It was nearing 10:00 p.m., and Arabella, Taka and Vanessa, the three Elders responsible for the Circle of Sisters and the Triad, were in their nightgowns huddled over cups of tea at the kitchen table. They lived in the Garden District of New Orleans, in an old Victorian about four or five blocks from the Triad.
“When did you hear about the humans being attacked, about the Nosferatu and the witnesses?” Taka asked. “Who told you?”
“Earlier,” Arabella said. “About an hour ago and then a half hour later from Brunedee, a Circle sister from Plaquemine.”
“Aw,” Taka said, waving a dismissive hand. “I wouldn’t lose sleep over that. Brunedee is a gossip magnet. Last I heard, she’d spread word that Brad Pitt met her at a gas station in Metairie, and he was so enamored with her, he up and left Angelina.”
“And you believed that?” Vanessa asked.
Taka gave her a stern look. “What do you think I am, brainless? No way Brad would leave Angelina and all their kids for Brunedee. Nicholas Cage, maybe. But Brad, uh-uh.”
“Everything, including the Nosferatu and witnesses, checks out,” Arabella said quietly. “It’s been confirmed twice.”
“How on earth did Brunedee hear about it before us, especially with her living almost a hundred miles away?” Vanessa asked.
Arabella shrugged. “You know how the Circle of Sisters works. News travels fast. And news like this...” She shook her head. “Sisters in Argentina are probably hearing about it by now.”
The Elders sat silent for a moment, each staring inside her teacup as if waiting for some apparition to appear.
“We lost three humans, too,” Arabella said. “In case you hadn’t heard.”
Vanessa and Taka drew in deep breaths in unison.
“When? Where?” Taka asked.
“One in the Quarter, earlier this evening. The other two in Chalmette.”
Taka gasped. “Chalmette? They’re out of the city? Mother Earth, that means the Originals can go anywhere!”
“I know,” Arabella said quietly.
“What happened to the human in the Quarter?” Vanessa asked.
“Word has it that a Nosferatu attacked her in some back alley. Two of the Benders were nearby, attempted to stop it.”
“Well, that was stupid,” Taka said.
“At least they tried,” Vanessa snapped.
Arabella kept staring at her tea. “Got the Nosferatu in the eyes. At least it served as a diversion. Too late for the poor woman, though.”
“Yeah,” Taka said, “but the Nosferatu heal themselves, like, super fast.”
Arabella nodded. “That’s what happened. Then it went after the Benders. Pierre had to take it down.”
“Evee’s lead guy at the catacombs?” Vanessa asked.
“Yes.”
Taka shook her head. “Had to be bad for him to kill one of his own.”
“Killing humans is serious business,” Arabella said. “Pierre did the right thing. If he couldn’t call the Nosferatu back into the fold, he had no other choice. That’s just how it goes.”
“Which Nosferatu got it?” Taka asked. “Sabrina? She’s always been a hardheaded Original. Always liked to stir up trouble.”
Arabella shook her head. “It was Chank.”
“Aw, man, the redheaded one?” Taka said. “I always thought he was a sweetheart. Had great hair. Good-looking, too.”
Vanessa gave Arabella an eye roll, which evidently wasn’t missed by Taka.
“Well, he was,” Taka said. With a look of frustration, she got up from the table and started to pace about the kitchen. Her open-back slippers slapped against her heels with each step.
“Arabella, you did contact everyone in the Circle about what’s been going on here, right?” Taka asked. “I don’t mean what just, just happened with the humans. I mean the deaths of Viv’s Loups, the missing Originals?”
“Of course I did. I’ve summoned the Triad, too, to come this evening so we can discuss all this mess.”
“And nothing’s happened? The entire clan gets involved and nothing? Why have we suddenly become so ineffective?” Taka demanded. “It’s as if we’ve become nothing more than three old ladies livi
ng in a shoe.”
“Stop talking like a nut job,” Vanessa said with a huff.
“Nut job, huh?” Taka retorted. “The cops have already been here twice, and twice we ignored them. With witnesses to the Nosferatu death and transformation, who do you think will be knocking on our door next? Probably the FBI. The CIA. The IRS. Who the heck knows? News might travel fast among the Circle, but it flies like lightning through New Orleans. The city is going to be in an uproar. We could be looking at lynchings, like they did way back in the day. Witch hangings, burnings.” The more Taka spoke the faster she walked, and the harder her slippers slapped against her heels.
“Stop being so melodramatic and working yourself up to a frenzy,” Vanessa said. “We need to quit speculating and come up with a better plan. Isn’t that right, Arabella?”
Arabella finally glanced up from her teacup, looked over at Taka, then Vanessa. “I’m concerned that Taka might not be exaggerating.”
Vanessa did a double take at Arabella, and her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Scratching the hives suddenly covering her arms, Arabella shook her head. “I’m concerned. Seriously concerned. If spells from the entire clan of the Circle of Sisters haven’t helped, I don’t know what else to do.”
“No ideas at all?” Taka asked, fear creasing her face.
Arabella looked back down at her teacup. “Well...okay, maybe one, but the two of you won’t like it.”
“Spill it,” Vanessa said. “We can’t afford for things to get any worse.”
Sighing, Arabella looked up. “You know how I said I’d heard about the recent event earlier, then again from Brunedee?”
“Yeah,” Taka said warily.
“Well, the first I heard of it was from Gunner Stern.”
Vanessa gasped. “What were you doing talking to that stupid sorcerer? You know the rules. No collaborating with those idiots.”
“Gunner isn’t an idiot,” Arabella said.
“He is if he hangs out with Trey Cottle and Shandor Black, the other two sorcerers in New Orleans,” Vanessa said. “You may be sweet on Gunner, but he’s still a sorcerer, and he may be a nice guy, but hanging out with those other two scumbags makes him a scumbag by association.”
“Yeah,” Taka said. “But he is a nice guy. I’ve got to admit, he’s not like the other two.”
“Oh, hush,” Vanessa said. “You don’t know any more about Gunner than you know where your reading glasses are right now.”
Taka tsked. “Do, too. They’re right here.” She patted the top of her head and frowned when she didn’t feel them perched there. She stuck her hands in her nightgown pockets. Empty. “Well, they’re somewhere.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
Arabella took a sip of tea, then said, “I happen to think that out of all three sorcerers in the city, Gunner is the most levelheaded. And for your information, I’m not sweet on him.”
“But he is on you,” Taka said.
“That’s for sure,” Vanessa agreed. “The way he looks at you...” She fanned her face with a hand. “Hot, hot, hot.”
“Oh, please,” Arabella said. “You’re acting like a pubescent teen. I think Gunner has integrity, that’s all. Now both of you stop with the attraction comments. We have to stay on track.”
The three Elders fell silent for a moment, Taka still pacing, Vanessa sipping tea.
Arabella thought about Gunner, who lived in New Orleans proper. He’d called her in confidence to tell her about the incident with the Nosferatu and the human witnesses. During their conversation, he’d said that Trey and Shandor were out having dinner with a client.
Out of all the sorcerers, Gunner was the one Arabella trusted. Trey Cottle was a sorcerer whose entire world revolved around him, and him alone. He was a selfish twit. Overweight, sweaty, plump-faced with a band of gray, thinning hair that wrapped around the back of his head. And he wore thick black glasses that constantly slid down the bridge of his nose. Arabella guessed him to be in his late sixties, early seventies.
Shandor Black was Trey’s partner at their law firm and his indomitable yes-man. He had a long, pinched face, a long beak of a nose, and if he ever had an opinion about any issue, he made sure it mirrored Trey’s.
Gunner, although often seen in Trey and Shandor’s company, carried himself quite differently. He appeared to be in his midsixties, had a strong, handsome face and blue eyes that twinkled whenever he spoke to Arabella.
When Gunner had called Arabella with the news, he’d offered to help in any way he could. And, oh, how she wanted to say yes. But keeping protocol in mind, especially being an Elder, she had to get a vote on the issue with the other two Elders and the Triad.
“It’s late,” Taka said, then yawned. “Are you sure the triplets are coming tonight? Can’t they come in the morning, and we can discuss everything then? It’s way past my bedtime. My brain works better in the morning.” She ran her hands through her short white hair, making it poke up in untidy spikes.
“They’ll be here,” Arabella said. “I’m sure with all that’s going on, they’re trying to get their ducks in a row before coming here and then heading out again to take care of their feeding.”
Taka suddenly stopped in midpace. “What if the cops come knocking at our door while the triplets are here?”
“Stop,” Vanessa said. “Don’t wind this up any tighter than it already is. We’ll deal with that issue if it comes up. Until then, don’t add it to our pile of worries.”
Arabella nodded in agreement and took another sip of tea, noticed the cup shaking slightly in her hand. Of course she was nervous, anxious. Who wouldn’t be under these conditions? Something was way off in their world of spells and ancient tried-and-true incantations. Most appeared to be useless. She had contacted each leader of the Circle of Sisters around the country and beyond, invoking their help. And for the first time ever, to Arabella’s knowledge anyway, their powers combined seemed to have little to no effect on the situation here, regarding the Cartesians or the missing Originals.
Taka suddenly walked over to the kitchen table and slapped a hand onto it. “I think Arabella’s right,” she blurted. “We need some serious backup. I vote we bring the sorcerers in on this deal.”
“Are you crazy?” Vanessa said. “The only thing they’ve ever provided us is trouble. They’re into their own incantations and spells, and they’re always having to do with benefiting themselves. When have you ever seen them use their powers for the good of others?”
“I think Gunner would,” Arabella said, seeing in Taka’s words an opportunity to create a slight opening in the door of impossibility. She had begun to give up hope that Gunner could ever be recruited in their mission. “He did offer to help.”
Vanessa snorted. “Get real, old girl. You’re only saying that because he’s sweet on—”
“Stop it,” Arabella said. “It’s not about that.”
“Bullshit it’s not,” Vanessa said.
Taka gasped. “You used the B word!”
“Oh, grow up,” Vanessa said to Taka, then turned to Arabella. “You want us to be realistic and get back on track, then you have to admit that Gunner’s got a thing for you. Whenever that man’s around you he smiles so big that if he wore false teeth, they’d fall out.”
“He’s the only one I’d really trust,” Arabella said. “Not only is he sensible, but I’ve seen him do good for others.”
“When and for whom?” Vanessa asked.
Now Arabella rolled her eyes. “I don’t remember the exact time, place or person, but he has helped.”
“But what could only one sorcerer do to assist us when the entire clan of Circle of Sisters can’t make a difference?” Taka asked. “I say we just roll the dice, bring all three in and make something serious happen. We can’t deny that’s something’s ou
t of alignment here. I don’t know if it’s the cosmos or something with the thinning ozone layer, whichever, whatever, we’re in serious trouble.”
Vanessa tsked. “Whether Gunner is sweet on you or not, Arabella, I seriously don’t think one sorcerer can do the trick. And I sure as hell don’t want those other two snot-ball sorcerers mixed up with us.”
“How do you know one wouldn’t make a difference?” Arabella said. “All you keep saying is, ‘no, no, no, don’t involve the sorcerers.’ But seriously, look how deep things have gotten. The Triad and Benders haven’t found any more missing Originals. Now humans are being attacked, they’ve witnessed the death of a Nosferatu, and more Cartesians are finding their way into our dimension. If we don’t do something, and quickly, things are just going to get worse. Missing Originals means more humans are in danger, especially now. Feeding time is coming soon. The missing ones will be hungry and look for the first source of food they can find. And in this city, you know what that’s going to be. Humans.”
Taka raised her right hand. “I vote we start with Gunner, see what happens. He might at least offer some advice. Maybe there’s a spell he can cast that is blocked from us.”
“I think the whole idea is stupid,” Vanessa said. “I understand the seriousness of this matter, but I think bringing in the sorcerers, even one, will only make things worse. That’s what happens when you bring the devil into your ranks.”
“Oh, for earth, water, air and fire’s sake,” Arabella said. “Gunner is not the devil.”
“Maybe not, but he hangs out with Trey and Shandor. And you know what they say—if you mess with crap, you’re going to get some on you.”
“That’s not true,” Taka said. “I’ve smelled Gunner before. He smells real good. Not like poop at all.”
“We’ll discuss this in more detail when the Triad arrive,” Arabella said. “I’m sure with all that’s been going on, they’ll have more to tell us. Once we get an update from them, we’ll fill them in on what we’ve heard from this end, then take a vote regarding the sorcerers. One or all three, it doesn’t matter. We just need everybody’s input and vote. Otherwise, things remain just as they are.”
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