Blood Threads: The Star Seamstress Book One

by Noella Royce

  I slouched as I walked, ill-feeling and deflated. I really was just a broke twenty-seven-year-old woman with no friends, no purpose, and probably doomed to be killed by a bunch of hooded bastards sometime soon. Fuck my life.

  I went downstairs, feeling lower than a snake's belly, although the nausea began to subside. I couldn't believe it. Had everything that had happened with the skirt been in my head? No, that wasn't it. That skirt had been magic, and it had saved my butt more than once.

  How had I apparently had this power, this ability to create a fancy magic item, that was now gone?

  Amari looked at me with concern as I took his place behind the register. "You okay?" I was grateful that Frank hadn't told them anything. I didn't need my failure broadcast to this whole bonkers town.

  Unfortunately, neither of my coworkers were stupid. "Did your magic not work this time?" Kristen asked, and something about the look I gave her made her wince. "Shit, I'm so sorry, Veda. I'm not thinking." Her adorable face broke into a wide smile. "But hey, no matter what happened, I wouldn't worry about it! You're new to this, and maybe this is gonna take a few times to get right."

  I nodded and smiled, appreciating that she was trying to make me feel better, but feeling quite the opposite after what Frank had said.

  I really was a dud.

  My demeanor was so unwelcoming that they dropped the subject and were gently polite without pushing me to interact. I appreciated that, as the world was suddenly duller. The store, usually bright and full of wonderful things, suddenly seemed dusty, and a symbol of my dead-end future as a retail worker.

  My body itself felt heavy and useless, just like the body of a human woman who had nothing to offer this world. I certainly had nothing to offer poor Sun Ji or Kyle, sweet young men who might never be seen again, or at least not alive.

  It was about an hour and a half before my shift ended that Amari came up to me and put a comforting hand on my arm. "Hey, Veda, why don't you head on home?"

  I shook my head. "No, that's okay. I'd rather work. It keeps me busy. Also," I gave him the best smile I could manage, "I need the money."

  "Don't worry about it. We'll put on the timesheet that you worked your full shift."

  I shook my head, aghast. "I can't do that—that's fraud."

  "Seriously, don't worry about it, girl. Frank will understand. I'll take it out of my own paycheck if I have to. Go home. You look like death, and you need some rest."

  "Thank you," I said, and as I got my purse I was briefly grateful. It was true, I wasn't much of an employee today, and I couldn't get much enthusiasm for doing anything.

  On the other hand, I had nowhere to go. I mean, yes, I could head back to the apartment, but I couldn't go to my bedroom, of course. Breanna had texted and said that there'd be contractors there today and that they would, at the very least, be replacing the front door, so it's not like I'd be alone anyways.

  Where to go? Damn this stupid, scary town. My eyes fell upon the bright green sign of the Insane Sage, and I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to grab some of my favorite rice-infused green tea and wait for my stomach to completely settle. Screw it, who cared if Thalia was there? I could tell her she was right.

  I went into the store, gave a little smile to the young black woman behind the counter, and went upstairs. There were a few other people there, having snacks, or studying, or chatting. They looked happy, comfortable, and completely uncaring that this town appeared to have several paranormal issues and ate up young men like candy. Man, I should be so happy here, this wonderful college town with personality, charming quirk, and a beautiful river.

  Too bad that river also talked to me. Fucking Agrimony.

  "Can I help you, ma'am?"

  I jumped, found myself zoned out in front of the barista, and coughed.

  "Oh, yes. Some genmaicha tea, please. A pot."

  He nodded, giving me a side-eye look that made it clear he thought I was high. I wished.

  I went over to a corner table and sat down and stared at the New Age Today magazine in front of me, which boasted an array of multicolored crystals. Inside, it promised inner peace and focus, which made me laugh. So buying high-quality pretties would grant me inner peace and focus? More proof that happiness took a certain amount of money.

  Giving up on the magazine, I stared at the other patrons, wondering if their lives were normal, or full of magic and vampires and shambling ghouls. In Maywen, this was impossible to tell.

  Why the hell had I left LA? I could've sold my sordid tale of being pitted against my boss by her husband and lived a life of comfortable infamy. I would have used the money to become a full-time cosplayer, although I suppose focusing on the craft would be difficult when you're internationally famous for fucking up a superstar marriage. Or being accused of fucking up a superstar marriage, as I had honestly done nothing wrong.

  No, leaving LA was the right idea. But maybe I should've done it a little more carefully, instead of chasing a stupid trust without verifying what the money could be used for.

  "Your tea," a throaty voice said, and my teapot landed in front of me with a 'clink'. I looked up, surprised, into the intense glare of Thalia.

  "Thank you." Man, that was quite a look; I was tempted to crawl under the table to escape it.

  "What are you doing here, cursed woman?" Her tone rumbled with anger and several of the other patrons were staring at us. "Are you here to chortle over your victory? To gloat that I've allowed you to learn your cursed art? Do you think I could ever consider you one of us, just because you're allowed to use your power? Do not misunderstand me, Veda. I do not condone your education, and will be keeping a very close eye upon you."

  "Then why do it?"

  She wrinkled her nose as if smelling something foul. "Your powers are too strong and too useful to both the crows and the bats to go unchecked."

  "The Ashers and the vampires, the crows and the bats!" I snapped my fingers. "So that's what that weirdo professor was talking about." I'd forgotten about him in all the other crazy things going on, but now his meaning seemed obvious.

  "I will let you save those boys and operate freely for now, but after this business is done we will renegotiate the terms, and they shall not be in your favor."

  I chuckled, and her eyes widened with rage. "You don't have to worry about any of that, Thalia, I promise." I reached out and poured myself a cup of tea, pleased that my hands were barely shaking. "It appears I don't have any powers whatsoever. It was all a misunderstanding, and I'm not a Star Seamstress or whatever the hell it is. I'm just a failed woman, stuck in a crazy town full of magic that I can barely afford to leave. That's all I am, and I won't be causing any trouble between you and Frank any longer."

  I expected triumph, or laughter, or even a smirk.

  But instead, Thalia's brows furrowed and she sat down across from me and stared. There was a bit of a buzz of conversation around us and I could feel their staring eyes, then she swept her gaze around the room and everyone looked away. The woman really was commanding.

  She snapped her attention back to me, and I flinched. "That can't be. You have great power; I felt it. When you first touched that sewing machine and you let your ability free, it was like a volcano had exploded across the street. But," she leaned forward and her nostrils flared as if she was sniffing the air, "it's true. You smell different today, duller and less interesting. The power I've sensed on you is gone. What did you do to yourself?"

  I shook my head and fought back tears. "Nothing, I swear, although I did have a fight with one of the Ashers last night. I survived, but my dreams were gone, and I don't seem to have any powers today at all. Everything feels different, but I have no idea why."

  "That should not be. Skills like yours do not wax and wane; it is always there, steady, and honestly, growing."

  I shrugged, worn out. "I have no idea. All of this is new to me."

  "So either the Order or the vampires did something to you. No one else in Maywen not of my coven has
the ability." She leaned in. "Have you looked to your new friend for an answer? I know you're hanging around the First Changer, and I cannot repeat to you enough how stupid that is. He is of all but of none, and his secrets are his own. He offered me something I couldn't refuse, something powerful, to release Frank from his oath, but that does not mean I trust him, nor should you."

  I felt the small sense of gratitude I felt at Adin going to bat for me, which turned into guilt. Anything he did for me was ultimately useless. "I need more warning than that, Thalia. All he's done is help me, and he has been a helluva lot more forthright than anyone else. I mean, you just said yourself that he came to you on my behalf. What makes him so dangerous?"

  "He has no loyalty, and with someone so powerful, that makes him deadly. He destroys our balance, and believe me, girl, he only helps you for reasons of his own."

  "How is he powerful? Is it because he's both a mage and a vampire? And why is he the 'First Changer'?"

  Her eyes narrowed. "These are not things you need to know yet, especially if he hasn't seen fit to tell you. Judging by your smell you aren't exactly a neutral observer. You cannot be trusted any more than Adin can, if you're embroiled in an affair with him."

  "I wouldn't go so far as to call it an affair, no." I knew I was asking too much expecting her to answer me. "My smell? I thought you were a witch. Can witches smell hormones or something?"

  Suddenly the ground shook again and the lights flickered. Someone in the cafe cried out as it continued for several seconds, and I wrapped my hand around my tea. Thalia closed her eyes, muttered a few words, and I swear the earthquake reacted—I didn't know how I knew, but I sensed it somehow. She kept muttering, a sweat breaking out on her forehead, and finally, it stopped.

  When it did, she opened her eyes and continued the conversation as if it hadn't been interrupted by some sort of scary ground movement, although her skin was flushed and her eyes weary . "Yes, something was definitely done to you. Power does not just disappear, girl."

  "I'm twenty-seven years old, Thalia, not a girl. Come on."

  She ignored that. "Something has taken yours from you, and you need to find it. For the sake of Maywen."

  "We're not going to talk about the earthquakes? Are you taking care of it?"

  Her lips pursed. "We do not know what they're doing. The Ashers are planning something quite nefarious. They want something underground, but we don't know what yet."

  "But—"

  She interrupted me. "You must regain your powers. I will speak to both my tribes to see if we can find a solution to your problem."

  "Both your tribes?"

  "Don't pester me with questions. I won't answer them."

  Wow, she was a hard-ass. At least she wasn't working against me any longer. "Fair enough, it's not like anyone tells me jack, but why are you helping me? I thought you wanted me kept in the dark."

  She leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I did, yes, but Adin convinced me that we need all the help we can get, and the want he gave me could be helpful in this fight." She leaned forward again and pitched her voice low. "Veda, there's something very big brewing. The Ash Order would not risk discovery and the reputation of Maywen so blatantly with these kidnappings unless it was worth it. But they have purged all of our operatives from their operations, their usual complacent leadership has left the country, and they've closed ranks. No one knows what they're up to or why they need these boys, but whatever it is, it can't be good. We don't even know if the vampires care, and my witches aren't powerful enough to take on the necromancers alone. I may not trust your powers, but we need you, and maybe we can get some use out of you before they seduce you to their side."

  "I would never join the Ashers; never," I insisted. "From what I've seen of them, they're a bunch of chauvinistic, horrible bastards, and they've got nothing to offer me."

  "Oh, sweet summer child, how little you know. That is only one of their many faces, as they are as skilled with honey and manipulation as they are with wielding knives. Do not underestimate their subtleties." Without warning, she pushed her chair back and stood. "Keep yourself safe, and we will try to find a solution to your little problem. Tonight, I will send one of my boys to watch you and walk you home. We will keep you safe, or we will attempt to." She took out a cell phone. "Give me your number."

  I did so, and I felt a great sense of relief that she was now on my side.

  "Thank you," I said sincerely. "I appreciate you helping me."

  Thalia nodded shortly and then swept off, moving in a lioness stalk that was rather magnificent to behold.

  It was no exaggeration to say I was stunned, since Thalia offering to help me and being displeased that my powers had disappeared was the opposite of what I expected. Still, it was a comfort that she believed my gift still existed. And what did she mean by protection? Was I about to get a witch bodyguard?

  Feeling better, I left the Insane Sage and then headed onto the lush greenery of the Maywen University campus, listening to the chatter of young voices around me. I sat down on the bench near what appeared to be one of the smaller buildings, underneath some shady oaks, and watched humanity walk by in front of the Georgian reflecting pool. This was a big, round body of water that didn't appear to have a bottom and was undisturbed by the autumn wind that ruffled the still-green tree leaves. I needed to go home and start to get ready for my date with Jordan, but was having trouble caring about such mundane things what with everything else going on.

  Then someone else sat on my bench, far too close for comfort.

  I turned and looked out the corner of my eye and saw it was a woman, one with honeyed skin, curly black hair and a beautiful, patrician profile.

  She was also ramrod straight, and I couldn't see her eyes through the sunglasses. She was dressed in a long flowing red skirt and a soft long-sleeved black shirt, and looked like either a grad student or professor. I wondered if this was her favorite bench, and perhaps I needed to vacate it to give her space. I started to stand when a hand snaked out and wrapped itself around my hand, pulling me back down with disturbing strength.

  "That hurt!" I said, and pulled my hand back to rub it. "What the hell?"

  She turned to me. "We need to talk to you."

  My heart started to beat faster. "Why?" Were the Ashers after me again?

  "We would have words."

  "What type of words?" I inched away from her, but not too far, since I didn't want her to grab me again with those crazy strong hands. "Are you a necromancer?"

  Her snort was contemptuous. "No, and also, you shouldn't call them that. It's too conspicuous."

  "Sorry," I said through gritted teeth. "Who are you, then?"

  She took off her sunglasses and looked at me with dark brown eyes that actually had a spark in them, something red and feral. They reminded me of Adin's eyes. "I am Leslie's colleague. We won't hurt you."

  Oh shit, now I was being targeted by the bloodsuckers. What a way to improve my already shitty day.

  Still, maybe the vampires were easier to deal with than the brutish Ashers. Clearly, I needed help in all this, and perhaps this was a place I could find it. I nodded. "Fine, take me to your leaders... or whatever."

  The woman rolled her eyes, put her sunglasses back on, and stood. "My name is Lillian." I blinked; it was such an old-fashioned, gentle name for such a tough-seeming woman. "Follow me."

  She stood and gestured me forward. Since that was directly towards the pool, I hesitated, and with an annoyed sigh, she grabbed my wrist again and yanked me towards her into a crushing embrace.

  Then she jumped.

  14

  We passed through the water so fast my scream was cut short, although it escaped as we landed on a stone floor.

  "Do shut up," Lillian said, tone annoyed. She released me and I stumbled and looked down to see I was still bone-dry. Steadying myself, I swiveled my neck to see we were in a round stone room, and above was simply darkness. I gaped until she gave me a shove before brushing past
me. "Come on."

  "But, we, I... you jumped in the water, and..." She kept walking, and I gave up and followed her. The walls were stone, and while the fixtures were modern, the light was low and warm. The smell of some sort of complex, woodsy incense lingered in the air, and I wondered if we were in Maywen or if we'd been teleported elsewhere.

  "Is this where the dungeons are?" I asked my guide.

  Lillian looked over her shoulder at me. I think she was smiling. "When necessary."

  I really shouldn't keep verbally sparring with vampires, since I never came out ahead.

  Finally, after what felt like countless dark, stony corners, she opened a large wood door with carved motifs of screaming animals and indicated I should enter. Leslie was there, sitting at the head of a large black conference table, and the dark stone walls and those subtle lights gave the proceedings the air of a secret society meeting. There were shelves as well, holding stone and wooden statues of more animals and deities I didn't recognize. In the corner, on a dark brown couch, was a teenage woman with blonde hair, light brown skin, and a disturbingly intense gaze staring at me.

  The only anomaly was the whiteboard in the back, which was a startling contrast to everything else. There was what appeared to be formulas there and a note about project outlines being due the following Monday. What sort of class would be held in a place like this? Did students go through the pool as well?

  "Miss Geroux," a smooth voice said, and I saw a dark-haired Asian woman my eyes had skimmed over was actually Mrs. Kahm, Sun Ji's mother and the president of the university. Sitting at the head of the table opposite Leslie and looking very upset, she was not in the polished suit I had seen her in when visiting her house, but instead wore a long-sleeve cotton shirt, jeans, and her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail.

  "I'm sorry about your son," I said to her sincerely, clasping my hands. I didn't know what to do with them.

  She nodded shortly. "Thank you." She looked like she was going to say more, but Leslie, on the other side of the table, held up a hand. I saw in that one gesture that he was in control here, or was at least in charge of this meeting. Looking around the table, I noted that, except for the president, everyone had the same supernaturally still, slightly off quality that Leslie and Adin did.