by Ally Shields
Finally, she wiped her cheek, then switched back to Samuel. “Lilith’s been to the compound, but no luck. I don’t know what to think. I just told her we might come home.”
A pause. “I thought you were all set to confront the O-Seven.”
This time Ari barely flinched at the implication. “There’s been a delay.” Her voice remained steady as she told him about the attack and Rebekah’s change of heart. “Tell Ramon I’ll call him as soon as I can, but ask his people to sit tight for at least several days. How soon could you have the plane ready to pick me up?”
“It’s ready now. I can be there in about two hours.”
“Good. Let me think this through, and I’ll call you right back.” She grabbed her bag and began to toss her belongings inside. After all, she had to go somewhere.
Sorting her scattered emotions, Ari bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. The thought of leaving Germany felt like she was deserting Andreas, but what else could she do? She wadded her pajamas and threw them into the bag. Maybe an idea would come to her if she gave herself some distance from the problem. Or was she just rationalizing, refusing to admit she couldn’t fix things this time? She slammed the lid and zipped it closed. Damn. Damn. Damn. She couldn’t do this. Ari clutched at the twist in her stomach. She couldn’t leave him. What if he was in pain? Wrapped in silver chains, tortured by withholding blood? She’d seen the mummified results of that kind of cruelty before. And the O-Seven must have a thousand awful things they knew how to do.
She dropped on the bed and grabbed her phone. It was the middle of the night in the States, but sometimes you just need your best friend.
“Is Andreas OK? Are you OK?” Claris’s first words brought Ari to tears.
“Oh, Clare, I don’t know.” She sniffed and pulled up her T-shirt to swipe at her wet chin. “It’s all a big mess.”
“Oh my God, Ari. Is it that bad? Tell me.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Ari wailed. She caught herself before she had a total meltdown. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have woken you just to cry on your shoulder.”
“Don’t be silly. Anytime. And you didn’t wake me, I was already up.”
“Why were you up at this time of night?” Ari was temporarily diverted by the unexpected answer.
“Um, I have this weird visitor.”
“What weird visitor? Are you in trouble, Claris?” Ari strangled the phone.
“No, everything’s fine. He says his name is Mangi. He’s really unusual, but I think he’s harmless. Tell me about Andreas.”
“Why’s Mangi there? What’s he doing outside the caverns? Is he being nasty?”
“You know this, uh, person?”
“Yes, but I can’t imagine what he’s doing at your place.”
“He pounded on the front door about two hours ago, until I finally answered. Now, he’s just sitting on the shop floor and won’t leave. Says Zylla sent him and that he’s protecting me, but he doesn’t seem to know from what. It’s all a big mistake, and I can’t convince him to go home. I talked with—”
“Claris, don’t go anywhere.” Ari’s heart was beating way too rapidly. There was only one reason Zylla would send Mangi to protect Claris. Another vision. Her best friend was in danger. “Keep the shop locked and wait until I get there. I’m coming home as quickly as I can.”
“But Ari—”
“Don’t argue. Call Brando. Have him stay with you. If Zylla thinks you’re in danger… Just be careful, hon. I’ll be there soon.” She disconnected without giving her friend a chance to argue or ask more questions. With shaking fingers, she keyed in Samuel’s number. “Let’s go home.”
They made arrangements to meet at the airport in Zurich, Switzerland. She hoped that Rebekah would keep her promise of transportation, but if not, Ari would find another way.
In fact it was Greta who volunteered for the three-hour drive there and back. They didn’t talk much during the trip, both women were lost in their own thoughts.
Ari’s temples throbbed; she was emotionally drained, yet strung too tight. The fighting, the deaths, the delays in the rescue attempt. And now trouble at home. Who or what was endangering Claris? And what had happened to Andreas’s vampires? What could have happened to cut them off? She tapped her fingers nervously on the door handle and pulled out her cell again.
Martin, the elf who served as Guardian for the modern part of Riverdale and the suburbs, was half-asleep from being woken in the middle of the night. He seemed reluctant to talk, and their discussion was brief, confined to answering her questions. Yes, the Magic Council was aware of a problem with the vampires, but no one knew what it was. Yes, they were working on it. Whatever that meant. No, the werewolves and the rest of the Otherworld community weren’t affected.
Ari hung up and slumped in her seat. What could happen in such secrecy, affect every vampire in town, yet leave no witnesses?
What about Zylla? Was she part of the vampire blackout? How could Ari find out about the latest vision? Even if the vampiress was still available, she spurned phones, and Ari might not find her way through the maze of tunnels without Gabriel’s help. She let out a deep sigh.
Greta gave her an appraising look, but Ari didn’t try to explain. She hadn’t mentioned why she was flying home so quickly. The witches had too many problems of their own, and Rebekah’s hostility had given her an easy excuse to leave without going into a gut wrenching explanation.
Upon arrival at the private traffic section of the Zurich airport, Greta handed her a large plastic bag. “You left these on your bed. I don’t know what you’re rushing home to, but I think you might need them. Consider it a gift, and a thank you.”
Ari opened the top. Obviously Greta hadn’t been fooled about the nature of her sudden trip home. The bag held the Walther PPS, its shoulder holster, a box of silver bullets, and extra clips.
“Thanks. I just might need these.”
Once they’d said their good-byes and Greta was on her way back to the coven, Ari made another call. This time the phone was answered immediately by Mike, Prince Daron’s security chief in Toronto, Canada.
She was too worried to waste time on pleasantries. “Have you talked with Gabriel or any of Andreas’s vampires today?”
“No, why?” The werewolf’s gruff voice sharpened. “Something wrong?”
“I can’t reach them. All the phones just ring or indicate no service. Samuel has tried for several hours, and Lilith went to the compound, but no one came to the door.”
“Not good. Where are you?”
“Zurich. We’re headed home. It feels like something bad has happened.”
“Let me ring the Riverdale blood bank. They make a daily pre-dawn delivery.” He clicked off and returned less than a minute later. “They couldn’t get in. You want us to send someone down there?”
She thought about it, and was tempted, but she hated to send someone else into an unknown situation. It was too much like asking them to enter a field of land mines. “No. Thanks for offering, but I’ll be there in a few hours. I’ll find backup and check it out. And let you know what we find.”
“OK, but I’ll keep trying to reach them in case it’s an electronic glitch.”
Ari had to be content with that. Samuel’s arrival with the jet interrupted her brooding, and they were airborne twenty minutes later, headed for—who knew what.
The flight was uneventful. She talked with Lilith long enough to let her know their approximate ETA, then she sat back and tried to relax. She closed her eyes. Sleep would be good, but she was wound too tight.
Mike called when they were two hours from touchdown. “Still nothing. I talked with a she-wolf I know. Her vampire mate told her he had to go to the compound, and he didn’t come home at dawn. You be careful, Ari. Sounds like an attack or a rebellion. I’ll talk with Daron soon when he wakes, and see what he thinks.”
“It feels bad.”
“Yeah.” The wolf didn’t waste any time trying to reassure her. “As I
said, be careful.”
She stared out the plane window, willing it to go faster. Finally, she reached under her seat and retrieved the bag from Greta, strapping on the shoulder holster and loading the Walther. She was used to trouble, but this situation was downright spooky. Where were all the vampires? Who or what had cut off communication? And was the same trouble after Claris?
Chapter Eight
At 2:56 in the afternoon, the Riverdale airport looked perfectly normal. Whatever was affecting the vampires had not changed everyday life in the city. As soon as the plane’s steps were secured in place, Ari bounded down with Samuel and his tigers close behind. She stopped abruptly as magical vibrations touched her skin, raising goose bumps on her arms.
“Do you feel that?” she asked Samuel.
He paused, then shook his head. “I don’t feel anything. What is it?”
“I’m not sure. If you can’t feel it, it must be spellcraft. Sorcery.” She scanned the horizon. Everything seemed fine, except for a dark haze near the river. She studied it a moment before she was certain it was hovering over the cliffs and the vampire compound. Crap! That was the last thing she wanted to see. But at least she might have some answers before the day was over.
She headed into the parking garage, and they retrieved Andreas’s Lexus. Samuel insisted on chauffeuring. “Where to first?” he asked.
“Home. I want to pick up Lilith, then see Claris and Ryan.”
“Works for me. I’ll feel better once I know everything is secure at the house.”
She understood. As head of household security, he’d be eager to secure his turf. She was too. Only her turf was all of Olde Town.
Lilith must have been watching for the Lexus to arrive. Samuel parked in front of the Victorian mansion they called home, and the lioness bounded out the door. Lilith was prepared for action; her two semi-automatic pistols were in their holsters, and an assault rifle hung over one shoulder.
“Damn I’m glad to see you.” Lilith awkwardly threw an arm around Ari for just a moment, before pulling back. “I’ve been going crazy not knowing what’s been happening to you.”
“I’m fine. And glad to be home, if only for a while. But what the hell’s going on in our town? First the vampires, now Claris.” She repeated her phone conversation with Claris. “I want you to come with me, but tell me about our family vamps.”
During his lifetime Andreas had been very selective and sired less than a dozen vampires, most of them during the early years. Five of his bloodline lived under his roof, along with a sixth vampire who’d been sired by the same vampiress who’d bitten and abandoned Andreas and Gabriel. They were family and would never just walk out on him.
“Nothing more to tell. They left in the middle of the night without a word to anyone, and they haven’t come home.”
“Same old story as we’ve already heard from others. What would keep them away after dawn? Without even calling?”
They were still standing on the front steps and had to move aside as the tigers carried in the luggage.
“Car empty?” she asked Samuel. She received a confirming nod. “I’ll take Lilith with me so you can take over the household again.”
His relieved smile proved she’d might the right choice. He’d be checking every inch of his domain to confirm it was ready for anything.
“Are we going to the compound?” Lilith asked once they were winding through the streets of Olde Town.
“Later, when Gabriel should be awake. Vulnerable human first.” Ari had taken over the driving and turned toward the market area where Claris had her shop. They had to park two blocks away. Tour buses were the only vehicles allowed on Market Street.
The bell tinkled when they entered the shop. Ari scowled at the javey sitting cross-legged on the shop floor, loudly chomping on a head of lettuce and scattering pieces around him. Lilith, who hadn’t seen Mangi before, stopped short to stare.
“Manners, Mangi.” Ari’s gaze flew to Claris, behind the counter. “Are you OK? Nothing’s happened since we talked?”
“Everything’s normal around here, except for him.” Claris’s eyes were big as if she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “He won’t leave, and I’m running out of food. I can’t believe I’m in any kind of danger. And before you ask why Brando isn’t here, I sent him to the store. He’s been in and out all day, but when he’s here he paces and mumbles. They’re both driving me crazy.”
Ari went behind the counter and hugged her friend. “Why don’t you fix us some coffee while I talk to Mangi?” Claris would do better if she had some activity to occupy her, and Ari desperately wanted to get that deer-in-the-headlights look off her friend’s face.
“Yes, I can do that.” Claris went through the beaded curtain to the kitchen in back.
Ari squatted in front of Mangi, who was picking at the mess on the floor and stuffing pieces in his mouth. “OK, now explain why you’re here.” She gripped his forearm to stop him from grabbing more food.
He swallowed the last mouthful. “Zylla told me to come and keep Claris safe. Zylla saw something.” The young werejavey wrinkled his snout; his eyes moving from her to Lilith, who had one hand on her pistol. “Did I do wrong? Are you angry with me?”
“Only about the mess you’re making.” She glanced at Lilith. “He’s not a threat to us.” As if to prove it, Ari laid a reassuring hand on the javey’s knee.
“If you say so.” Lilith gave her a doubtful frown but stepped back and leaned against the front wall, where she split her vigilance between the room and the street outside.
“You did the right thing in obeying Zylla,” Ari told the javey. “I just wish I knew why she sent you.”
“Trouble.” He gave her a thoughtful look that was wise beyond his years. “But her prophecies are not so clear anymore.”
“Yeah, she told me.” Ari stood and walked over to lean against the counter. “She must have seen enough to know Claris was involved.”
Mangi shrugged. “All Zylla told me was to keep her safe,” he repeated. “You want me to go home now?”
“No. Not if Zylla told you to stay.”
“Can he at least move to the kitchen?” The beads clattered as Claris came through the doorway carrying a tray with four mugs of coffee. “I’d like to keep the shop open, but I won’t sell anything if he looks at my customers as if they were edible.”
Ari glanced at the boy with his pig snout and hooves for feet. She gave her friend a brief grin. “I suppose we could arrange that. Now be honest, has anything else happened that bothered you? Any strangers hanging around?”
“Nothing.”
Claris set the tray on the counter, handed a mug to Lilith and two to Ari, who offered one to Mangi. She was surprised when he stopped eating long enough to accept it and thank her.
“Since you weren’t in town, I called Ryan when Mangi first appeared. Ryan reminded me who Zylla was and said she’d being having premonitions about someone in danger. You hadn’t said anything to me. Protecting me again?”
“Her premonition wasn’t specific, and I didn’t want to worry you. Zylla didn’t know who was at risk. We thought it was Andreas. Now, I’m not so sure.” She cocked her head. “So why’d you call Ryan instead of Brando?”
“I called them both. I guess I was kind of freaked.”
“I don’t see either of them here now. If Brando’s at the store, what happened to Ryan?”
“I don’t know.” Claris explained that both men came right away when she called them, but after talking with the javey, they decided he should stay. Brando had been around most of the time since then, but Ryan had been in and out. “Mangi is apparently my bodyguard until the risk is over.” Claris’s lower lip came out in a thoughtful pout. “So I was out-voted. I don’t know how we decide when he should leave, since we don’t know what the risk is.”
Ari noticed something missing from the story. Being full-blooded humans, Claris and Ryan couldn’t see or feel the magical vibrations in the city, but a
wizard could. Why hadn’t Brando mentioned it to his fiancé? Was he being protective too?
“How long ago did Brando go to the store?”
“Two hours. He must have stopped to talk with some of his wizard friends again. There’s some big problem they’ve been discussing. That’s why he’s been in and out so much.”
Ah-ha. So he was concerned about the magical vibes and probably working with others to determine their origin. She needed to have a private conversation with him ASAP.
After she convinced Mangi to continue his guard duties from the kitchen, where he was quickly emptying Claris’s fridge of the remaining leftovers, she and Lilith left to track down Brando.
As soon as they stepped onto the brick walkway outside the shop, Lilith nudged her. “Check out that shaded entry to the pastry shop. It’s Ryan. I’ve been watching him. Seems like he has Claris under surveillance.”
“Figures. I thought it was strange he’d just gone away.”
They cut across the street. Ryan came out from under the awning and walked away from them.
“What’s he doing?” Lilith asked.
“He knows we’ll follow him. I’d say he doesn’t want Claris to know he’s watching her.”
When he turned at the first corner, they hurried to catch him and found Ryan waiting.
“I’m relieved to see you.” His face revealed lines of tension and lack of sleep. “When did you get back?”
“Just now. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Where’s Andreas?”
Ari sighed. “Long story. You first.”
He frowned, searching her face, but nodded. “Let me buy you a cup of coffee while we talk.”
They headed down the street toward a small cafe. “I can’t explain why the kid’s in Claris’s shop—good thing you warned me he was staying with Zylla—but I’ve heard a little about the vampires from Steffan and Brando.” He stopped and opened the door for them to enter the shop. It was relatively deserted at this time of day. The main tourist season was over, and only locals were chatting over coffee and soda. The waitress showed them to a booth in the back. When she’d poured three mugs of coffee and left, Ryan started talking again.