Industrial Magic

by Kelly Armstrong

  "You won't," I said. "He's not going to that safe house any more than you are. We have to deal with it. Let's go talk to the others."

  ***

  As we walked back into the main room, Elena was talking.

  "Okay," she said. "This is dead obvious so, since no one else is bringing it up, I know I'm missing something. We're assuming that Edward wants to go back through the portal to get to Natasha. My question is: Why doesn't he just kill himself?"

  "I know that sounds easy, Elena, but for a vampire, it's more complicated than that." Cassandra's voice held none of the impatient snap she used with the rest of us. "The only way we can die is by being beheaded."

  "Not the easiest method of suicide. Okay, I get it. But why…" She hesitated, as if reluctant to question something if no one else was.

  "Why not get someone else to do it?" Clay said.

  Elena nodded. "Right."

  "Because he can't guarantee he'll end up with Natasha," I said as I took my place on the sofa. "We have no idea where she is, whether it was some kind of vampire afterlife, or a side effect of their immortality experiments. The best way for Edward to ensure he'd be with Natasha is to use the portal she opened. In the meantime, we have a new problem."

  I told them about Benicio's plan.

  "Maybe this is for the best," Cassandra said. "You've done your share-more than your share. Let the Cabals finish this. I would prefer to see Edward taken quietly and allowed a fair trial, but if he's killed while attempting to kidnap a Cabal CEO, there's little I can do about that."

  She glanced at Aaron as if for confirmation.

  He nodded. "Not much chance they'll behead the guy in the middle of a charity gala. They'll probably settle for taking him into custody; then we could intervene later. If not, well, Cassandra and I can deal with any fallout in the vampire community. Edward has committed enough crimes that I'm not going to put someone else in danger just to make sure he gets a fair trial."

  I looked at Lucas. Stone-faced, he was struggling not to argue, but I could see concern simmering in his eyes.

  "Your father invited us to the masquerade," I said softly. "Maybe we should go."

  "As backup, I hope," Clay said. "Because if you mean what I think you mean-"

  I lifted a hand. "Hear me out, okay? Yes, I mean Lucas and I go as guests, that we set ourselves up as bait."

  Clay's mouth opened, but Elena shushed him.

  "It makes sense, doesn't it?" I said. "Edward thinks we're dead. If he sees us there, it'll throw him off and divert his attention from Benicio. We'd be the easier targets-" I stopped and looked at Lucas. "Unless your dad finds out Edward can use our blood. Didn't he have his researchers looking into the ritual?"

  "They didn't find anything."

  "Good. So he might have a couple of guards tailing us, but he knows Edward's focus will be on opening that portal, not getting revenge by killing you. So he'd assume he's the main target. When Edward sees us, though, he'll realize we'd be easier to capture."

  "But you're only trading one decoy for another," Clay said.

  "True, but it's not an equal trade," Lucas said. "Paige and I know more about vampires than my father does. And we're certainly better equipped to deal with a direct threat than he is. It's been many years since he's needed to defend himself."

  "I can pull bodyguard duty," Aaron said. "Watch over you from the sidelines."

  Elena glanced over at Jeremy, who nodded.

  "Count me in," Elena said.

  "Us," Clay said.

  "Not sure what I can do, but I'm in, too," Jaime said.

  "I'll go as well," Cassandra said.

  "Cool," Savannah said. "Do I get to dress up in a costume, too? Or should I help Elena and Clay?"

  Everyone turned and looked at her. As her gaze went from my face to Lucas's to Jeremy's, her eyes narrowed.

  "No way," she said. "Uh-uh. I'm not staying behind. I can help out. I'm at least as good a spell-caster as Paige-"

  "Better," I said. "But you're also thirteen years old. No matter how good you are, I'm responsible for you. Not only might you get hurt by Edward, but you're still a prize for the Cabals."

  "You're special, remember?" Elena said, offering a smile. "Just like Jeremy. You two can keep each other company, man the control center, eat lots of pizza, and stay up really late."

  Savannah rolled her eyes at Jeremy. "Sucks being special sometimes, doesn't it?"

  "It certainly does," Jeremy said.

  ***

  Benicio was thrilled with our offer to attend the gala as backup for him, though I'm sure he had no intention of letting us watch his back. That was a job for a half-demon employee, not a sorcerer heir, but if it meant Lucas willingly appeared by his side at a public function, Benicio would humor us… especially if it also meant he could keep a closer eye on his son.

  We devoted the day to preparing for the night. Our first concern was costumes. Though it was by no means our primary concern, it did need to be attended to first. Since it wasn't safe for us to be combing costume shops, where Edward might see us, we accepted Benicio's offer to bring materials to us. We left the guys to work on something for Lucas, while Cassandra, Jaime, Elena, and Savannah helped me. Once we came up with an outfit that could be put together quickly, I called Benicio and gave him my material list.

  Next Lucas obtained blueprints for the hall and maps of the grounds. We used these to scope out routes Edward could take, plus the best places from which the others could hide and watch us. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon making plans.

  At five we started getting dressed. The basis of my costume was a green silk dress. I used the minimal dressmaking skills I'd learned from my mother to sew on scraps and strips of green and brown taffeta. Next, I added real leaves and feathers. Then onto grooming. Cassandra did my makeup in golds and browns. Savannah painted my nails a mossy green. Jaime styled my hair in a messy, upswept do, and added leaves and feathers. Elena held the mirror.

  Clayton flung open the bedroom door as Cassandra was zipping up my dress.

  "Closed door means knock," Elena said, shooing him out.

  "You've been in here for two hours," he said. "She can't need that much work," He frowned as he examined my outfit. "What the hell is she? A tree?"

  "A dryad," Elena said, cuffing him in the arm.

  "Oh, my god," Jaime said, surveying my outfit. "We forgot the bag!"

  "Bag?" Clay said. "What does a dryad need with-"

  "An evening bag," Cassandra said. "A purse."

  "She's got a purse. It's right there on the bed."

  "That's a day purse," Cassandra snapped.

  "What, do they expire when the sun goes down?"

  Elena pushed him out of the room. "Okay, do we still have time for someone to run out and buy something?"

  "No!" Clay called back through the closed door. "Car comes in fifteen minutes."

  "I'll have to skip the purse," I said. "I can slip my lipstick into Lucas's pocket. He's got his cell phone. That'll have to do."

  Jaime opened the door and announced me with due fanfare. I accepted the obligatory gracious compliments from Jeremy and Aaron. Lucas smiled, walked over, and offered his compliments privately into my ear.

  "Lucas!" Savannah cried. "Where's your costume?"

  "I'm wearing it."

  "That's not a costume, that's a suit! The same thing you wear almost every day."

  "It's a tux," I said. "And a very nice one."

  "But what are you supposed to be?" Cassandra said. "A cocktail waiter?"

  "I was going to say James Bond," Jaime said.

  "Don't look at me," Aaron said. "I was pushing for a knight costume, but these two"-he gestured at Lucas and Clay-"shut me down."

  "And I wisely decided to keep my mouth shut," Jeremy said.

  "If he doesn't want to wear a costume, he doesn't have to wear a costume," Clay said. "Hell, he's got a mask. Good enough."

  Lucas held up a plain black eye-mask.

  "The
y don't come in colors?" Savannah sighed. "At least you put in your contacts." She looked out the balcony window. "So do you get a limo?"

  Lucas shook his head. "A chauffeured car, but not a limousine. My father finds them too ostentatious, even for formal occasions."

  "Limos are for high school graduations," Cassandra said.

  "And weddings," Jaime said.

  "Not good ones," Cassandra said.

  "I like limos," Savannah said.

  "So do I," I said, sneaking a grin at Lucas. "Lots of room to… stretch out."

  He paused, then the corners of his mouth twitched and he reached for his cell phone. "I believe we still have time to request a change of vehicle."

  "Uh-uh," Jaime said. "I just spent an hour doing Paige's hair. No limos. Tell you what, though. You guys finish this and I'll rent you a limo for the whole trip back to Portland."

  "Cool," Savannah said.

  "Uh, right," Jaime said. "Okay, scrap that idea. How about a shorter limo ride and free baby-sitting?"

  "Car's here," Clay said from his spot at the window.

  "You guys scoot, then," Jaime said. "We'll meet you there."

  Masquerade

  The charity ball organizers had chosen a masquerade because of the event's timing-the night before Halloween. The party planners, though, had avoided the usual Halloween fare in favor of something more whimsical, accentuating the fantastical rather than the frightening. The ballroom was ringed with mannequins in incredibly elaborate costumes from children's fiction, from the Queen of Hearts to Puss-in-Boots to the Swan Princess. Paper dragons guarded the door, heads dipping and swaying in an invisible breeze. The buffet tables were floating magic carpets, the food forming the patterns of the rugs. Punch flowed from the mouth of an ice-sculpture phoenix, backlit by a small fire that melted the bird, only to have a fresh one arise from the bowl below. It was a glorious paean to everything magical, and I would have loved it… had I not spent every minute worrying about a certain murderous vampire. Mythical creatures make lovely ice sculptures, but far less enchanting enemies.

  Most people wore costumes even less definable than mine-rainbow-hued designer dresses and tuxes, intricate body makeup and gorgeous masks-that didn't transform them into any recognizable character or creature. But hey, they looked great, and that, I think, was the point.

  Like Lucas, Benicio had opted for the basic black tux. His mask, though, was anything but basic-it was an elaborate red hand-painted devil's face that extended to his upper lip, leaving only his mouth and chin bare. It was gorgeous, and the devil/CEO metaphor was wryly clever, but hardly matched Benicio's normal understated style. After a momentary burst of surprise, Lucas and I had to agree the disguise was good thinking on Benicio's part. Between the simple black tux and the brilliant red mask, there was little chance he'd get lost in the crowd tonight. Keeping an eye on him would be a snap.

  Of the Cortez family, the only other members in attendance were William and William's wife. I have no idea what William's wife's name was, because I never met her. From the time we arrived, William found it convenient to be elsewhere, and kept his wife with him, so I know only that she was short, plump, and Hispanic.

  As for Benicio's wife, Delores, our invitation apparently revoked hers. Delores was forbidden to attend any function where Lucas might be present. I bet that went over well, informing her this morning that she couldn't come to the event of the season. According to Lucas, Benicio and Delores's marriage had long since become a union of formality. Both lived in their own homes and appeared together only at public events. And if I felt sorry for Delores missing the charity gala, I only had to remind myself that Benicio had instituted the no-shared-events rule eight years ago when Delores tried to poison Lucas at his high school graduation dinner.

  Speaking of wishing Lucas dead, the eldest Cortez son, Hector, had been detained in New York, and was expected to miss tonight's event. A damned shame, really. I knew someday I'd have to face Hector but, in this case, sooner was definitely not better. I had enough to worry about without that.

  One thing we didn't need to worry about was letting Benicio out of our sight. As I expected, he wasn't letting Lucas out of his. We spent the first half hour being escorted around the room, introduced to what seemed like every politician and business leader in the state. I know I should have been impressed, but I couldn't help thinking that I was in the same room with quite possibly every person responsible for the Florida election snafu, and the subsequent election of George W. Bush, and somehow I couldn't muster a proper feeling of awe.

  As Benicio led us about the room, I kept sneaking glances at Lucas, knowing how much he must have hated this. Given the choice between facing down a gun-toting vampire again and attending a charity ball with his father, I suspect he'd pick the near-death experience. After roughly fifty rounds of being introduced as the next CEO of the Cortez Corporation, he was probably cursing me for bringing him back from the ghost world. Yet he never showed it. Instead he only deflected questions about his future with a smile and a deft change of subject. Finally, when the constant introductions threatened to start us both yawning, Lucas begged leave to take me onto the dance floor.

  "Thought you couldn't dance," I murmured as he led me out among the other couples.

  "I can't." A small smile. "But I can fake it for a few minutes."

  He positioned us where we could both see Benicio and could be easily seen by anyone watching the dance floor.

  "Seems you're learning the steps of another dance, too," I said.

  "Hmmm?"

  "With your father. I saw what you were doing. He introduces you as his heir, you say nothing. You don't deny it, but nor do you say anything that would confirm it."

  "I think I've realized that the harder I protest, the harder he pushes."

  "And while that might not wear down your resolve, it does wear you down."

  Lucas pulled me closer and brushed his lips across the top of my head. "Yes, I've noticed that. With you here, I've been seeing it though your eyes, imagining how it must look to you, and I haven't been too pleased with the image I saw reflected."

  "Well, the image I see is fine. Always has been."

  A soft laugh. "That's good to hear. But I can't continue that way, running away, avoiding him, hoping he'll leave me alone. He won't. I'm his son. He wants some kind of relationship with me, and I think I want the same thing. I need to learn to deal with him on his terms, because he isn't going to change. Yes, if I associate with my father, some people will take that as a sign of backsliding, but I can't worry about that. I know I'm not taking over the Cabal. And if you know it, too, then that's all that matters. Which leads me to another area of resolve. Regarding you. Or, I should say, us."

  "I hope it's along the same lines," I said. "Standing firm instead of running."

  "I've been resolved on that point for four months. Since the first flicker of interest on your part, I knew I wasn't going anywhere without a fight." He paused and frowned, eyes scanning the crowd.

  "Talking to two women near the bar," I said. "Can't miss that mask."

  "Ah, yes, I see him. Now, what was I…? Resolve. It relates to your participation in my investigations."

  "You don't want me there. I understand-"

  He pressed his forefinger to my lips. "No, my resolve is to see this conversation through to the end, saying what I want to say without backing down for fear of frightening you off with a proposal that may impose upon your need for independence."

  "Uh-huh. Once more, please… in translation."

  He leaned down to my ear. "I'd like… no, I would love for you to be my partner, Paige. In my work, in my life, everything. I know you have your own aspirations, and if you don't wish to share my life quite so completely, I understand. But if you do, you are more than welcome to play as large a role in my investigations as you want."

  I smiled up at him. "You may regret saying that."

  "No, I don't think I will. Is that a yes?"

  "
It's a 'we need to discuss this more, but I'm definitely interested.'"

  He grinned then, a grin so broad Benicio did a double take from across the room.

  Lucas noticed his father's reaction and laughed softly. "He probably thinks I just proposed."

  I tried to glance over at Benicio, but another couple blocked my view.

  "We'd better hurry over and set him straight," I said. "Before he has a coronary."

  "No, he looks quite pleased," Lucas said. "I believe he'll be disappointed when he learns I didn't propose. He'll have to wait for that. I know better than to push my luck. I'll give it some time before I take that plunge," His grin broadened. "At least a week."

  I laughed, but before I could respond, he checked his watch.

  "Speaking of time, we're late for our rendezvous with the others. We should go-"

  "I'll go. Your dad's not letting you out of his sight tonight. Don't worry, I'll be careful."

  "Then I'll track down a couple glasses of champagne for your return."

  We disengaged and I slipped from the dance floor.

  ***

  I found Jaime alone in our agreed meeting place, a nook between the kitchen and the bathroom hall.

  "Sorry I'm late," I said. "The others get tired of waiting?"

  "More worried than impatient," she said. "Elena didn't like us all hanging out here where we can't see what's going on, so I nominated myself for the job. Not like I can do much else. If I try following them around, I just get in the way. I've had stalkers, but never quite developed a talent for it myself, and all four of them are pros."

  "Hunters."

  She shivered. "Yeah, well, I try not to think about that. Werewolves, uh, they only hunt animals, right? The four-legged variety?"