by Nadia Heaton
Barrett and Emily exchanged a surprised look, but Emily nodded slightly. She chivvied Lisette away. Mirabelle waited, and sure enough, she felt a listening spell cast over the lounge only moments later. So predictable.
She quickly neutralized the spell and put up powerful warding of her own. She needed to talk to Barrett alone without her nieces eavesdropping.
Mirabelle got straight down to business. “I want to take the girls away.”
“Away where?”
“Away from here. This has gone on long enough. I should have stepped in weeks ago, but I kept hoping you’d put a stop to it. When I heard that you had once more welcomed vampires into your home, I knew that my hopes wouldn’t be realized.”
Barrett frowned. “Bethany and Fleur are both adults. They may live with us, but that doesn’t mean I get to dictate who they date. They love Savion and Jermaine, and even I have to admit, those two are growing on me.”
Mirabelle worked to keep the disgust off her face. Her brother had been taken in just as surely as her nieces had. “You’re a father, Barrett! This is your responsibility. You’re letting your daughters drive themselves crazy over undead monsters, and you’re being taken in just as surely as they are.”
His frown turned into a glare. “Don’t you tell me how to parent my daughters, Mirabelle! I want them to be happy, which is more than I can say for you.”
“I want them to be safe! You may be their father, but I’m their coven leader, and when it comes to magical beings, I am the authority, not you.” She had him there, and he knew it. The two of them had drawn up clear lines of command before Lisette was born, knowing she would one day join Mirabelle’s coven. He had authority over everything non-magical. The supernatural world was Mirabelle’s domain.
“I don’t think you’re really thinking about what’s best for them. You’re just working off a grudge so old even you can’t remember where it came from.”
“You know it’s more than that. Vampires are dangerous and unnatural. They can be seductive when they want to be– that much has been proven already – but they are almost always involved in some kind of deception.”
“Are they, Mirabelle? Have you ever lived with one? I got to know Jermaine when he was staying here. He’s a good guy. He loves Bethany, and he’s never once given me reason to doubt him.”
Mirabelle ground her teeth. This wasn’t going like she’d planned. She knew Barrett tolerated the presence of vampires, but she hadn’t realized that they had started to win him over too. Her own brother.
Her thoughts went back to that terrible day when Rashid had captured her familiar. She still had no idea how he’d done it, but once the vampire had her, Mirabelle was trapped. She’d had to choose between giving up Lisette’s location and watching her familiar die before her eyes.
In the end, she’d counted on Lisette’s ability to protect herself – and Lisette had proven that faith true. She looked like she’d been through a lot, but she was unharmed, at least physically. Mirabelle still felt terrible about it, which was part of what had spurred this visit. She needed to cut the vampires out of their lives like the malignant tumor they were.
“I don’t want to pull rank, but I will do it, Barrett, if you make me. No one wants that. They’re my nieces and I love them. I would never hurt them. You know that. Let me take them away, talk to them away from the influence of the vampires. Call it a vacation, if you will.”
Some of the fight seemed to leave her brother. He was always one to know when to give in, a skill he’d said more than once that Mirabelle would do well to learn. “Where do you want to take the,?”
“To the Antarctic. They’ve never seen the eternal flame. I want them to see the source of the vampires’ power. They need to learn more about these creatures, their strengths and their place in the world.”
“And you think that learning the truth will drive them away from their vampire loves.”
“Naturally.”
“What if it doesn’t?”
Mirabelle knew that it would. Vampires were foul, and she would get her nieces to see it. She was counting on Barrett’s support, though, so she kept that particular thought to herself. “As you said, they are adults. They make their own decisions. I just want to make sure they have all the information and can see it with clear minds.”
That was true, but what she didn’t say was that if the vampires’ hold was strong enough that showing her nieces the truth didn’t help, Mirabelle wouldn’t hesitate to protect them, even from themselves.
Fortunately, she managed to keep any trace of these thoughts off her face, and Barrett nodded slowly.
“Alright, I’ll give you my support, but you have to convince the girls. I won’t have you dragging them away in chains. They choose to go, or they stay here.”
Mirabelle didn’t expect she’d have many problems there. She was their coven leader. She’d try to convince them of the value of the excursion, but if all else failed, she could simply give an order. Only Fleur had the authority to challenge her – or at least, Fleur once had that authority.
Since Fleur had become entangled with vampires, Mirabelle had suspended her place as coven leader in training. She’d named another second, which meant that her nieces would have to follow her orders or risk expulsion from the coven.
“Agreed. Shall I call them?”
“I’ll do it.” Barrett left and came back shortly followed by Bethany, Tristan, Fleur and Lisette. Bethany and Fleur were the ones in the most danger, but Mirabelle wanted to give them all a thorough education, just in case. There was no knowing how vampires might try to insert themselves into any of her nieces’ lives in future, and she wanted to be prepared.
“Hi, girls.” She smiled at them, but received only suspicious looks in return. Things between them had seriously deteriorated in the last few months, and it could all be traced back to vampires. Mirabelle intended to remedy that.
“Your father and I have been talking, and we think it would be nice for the five of us to go on a trip together.”
She waited, and it was Fleur who responded. “What kind of trip?”
“Well, you girls have heard all about the eternal flame in the Antarctic, but you’ve never seen it. It’s really quite beautiful, despite the foul beings it sustains. I thought this would be a good idea to teach you a bit more about vampires and their history.”
The looks of suspicion deepened. “How long would we be gone?” Bethany asked.
“No more than a few weeks, nothing that will derail your Olympic training.”
“Well, I’m in.” Lisette shrugged. “I could use a change of scenery.”
There was something seriously wrong with Lisette, and Mirabelle intended to find out what. It could very well be her fault – after all, she’d sent that vampire after her niece. It had been an awful decision, choosing between Lisette and her familiar, but a witch’s familiar was sacred, even more sacred than family.
Lisette may not be hurt, but she could easily be mentally scarred from a vampire attack, and Mirabelle would do whatever she could to help. She hated seeing her family suffer, especially when that suffering was needless. Once the vampires were out of their lives, everything would be fine.
“Excellent! Tristan?” She knew Tristan would be easier to convince than Bethany and Fleur. Both of them had vampire lovers, and would be reluctant to leave on what they had already probably worked out was a mission to rid them of vampire brainwashing.
“Sure, I guess, if I can get the time off from school.”
“It can be arranged. Bethany, Fleur?”
“I don’t know…” Fleur bit her lip. “Savion can’t come there, and I’m not sure I want to spend weeks away from him.”
Bethany nodded her agreement, and Mirabelle bit back an angry retort. This was exactly why they needed to spend a few weeks away from the vampires!
“This is for the best,” she said firmly. “I am still your coven leader, Fleur.”
Fleur’s face hardened a
t the subtle threat. Mirabelle could order her to come, and she knew it. It would be in her own best interests not to make this difficult.
“Fine, but I’m putting a cap of three weeks on it.”
“Of course.” Mirabelle would keep them there for as long as was needed, but they didn’t need to know that. “Bethany?”
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt. I know Jermaine would love to hear a description of the eternal flame. He’s never seen it, after all. He’ll be fascinated.”
It was for all the wrong reasons, but Mirabelle at least had their agreement. For now, it was the best she could hope for. Later, she would work on undoing the damage the vampires had done to her family.
19
She understood Bethany’s and Fleur’s reservations, but honestly, Lisette was glad to be leaving. She needed something to help her forget about Nobu. Of course, learning more about vampires may not be the best way to forget about him, but she’d take what she could get.
“It’s not going to work,” Fleur muttered as she packed a bag. “She wants us to leave Jermaine and Savion. Never going to happen.”
Lisette couldn’t deny that she agreed with Fleur’s assessment. Mirabelle quite obviously wanted to take them away to convince them of the evil of vampires. She needed no such convincing for herself, but she still worried for her sisters.
Once Mirabelle realized that Fleur and Bethany weren’t going to change their minds, things might get nasty. Lisette wondered if Jermaine and Savion had managed to contact Nobu yet. Her thoughts about him had been wavering recently.
Would it really be so bad to meet with Nobu, to get to know him as he was now? She shook her head, trying to shake the rebellious thoughts away. She missed him desperately, and needed to get him out of her head. Surely, this little holiday would do just that.
No sooner had they finished packing than Mirabelle started assembling the coven.
“We’re not flying?” Lisette asked, surprised. Traveling long distances by magic was possible, but it was most often easier to use human methods like planes, trains or boats.
“No, this will be quicker.” Mirabelle gestured for the rest of the coven to get set up for the spell. It would be quicker, but it would also take a lot of power; that’s why the whole coven was needed.”
“How are we going to get back?” Bethany was frowning at the forming circle of witches, and Lisette had to admit, it was a good point.
“I will contact the coven when we’re ready to return.”
Tristan spoke up. “I thought that the area around the eternal flame was immune to magic going in and out, for security reasons?”
“Yes, but coven leaders have exemptions.”
So basically, they wouldn’t be leaving until Mirabelle said they were leaving, not unless they wanted to wander through the Antarctic hoping they didn’t freeze. Lisette’s eagerness to get away ebbed slightly. Maybe Bethany and Fleur were right; maybe this was an awful idea.
“Hop inside, everyone, let’s go!”
Tristan stepped eagerly into the circle, but Lisette, Fleur and Bethany exchanged worried looks. Lisette quickly tried to weigh the options. Mirabelle could force them to go if she wanted to. It was best to pretend to cooperate for now. If things went badly on this ‘vacation’, they could probably work enough magic to keep themselves safe from the cold long enough to escape to civilization and catch a flight home.
Lisette nodded encouragingly and stepped into the circle. Bethany and Fleur followed rather reluctantly. Mirabelle didn’t waste a second. The moment Bethany’s foot had cleared the perimeter of the circle, she gave the command, and the coven started chanting.
The spell took less time than it usually would have, probably at an instruction from Mirabelle not to waste any time. A faint swooping sensation was all the warning she got before Lisette’s feet were slamming down onto ice.
She bent her knees and managed to keep her balance. Bethany flailed wildly, not being as used to traveling by magic as they were, but Lisette and Fleur managed to steady her. They all looked around. It was freezing, but not for long. Mirabelle spoke a quick warming spell, which rendered the temperature around them harmless.
“This way. It’s impossible to teleport directly into the chamber. We’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”
Lisette had to admit, it was beautiful. The sun shone off the ice and snow, which went on and on in smooth waves. Tristan stared around in awe, but Lisette was more reserved.
Bethany and Fleur didn’t seem that interested in the scenery either. Both of them were watching Mirabelle’s back as she led them through the snow. As much as she wanted this trip as a distraction, it was starting to feel increasingly dodgy to Lisette.
She was more worried about her sisters than herself, but a threat to her sisters was a threat to her. She may not quite understand their relationships with vampires, but she would fight to defend Fleur’s and Bethany’s rights to love who they wanted if Mirabelle initiated an attack.
Her worried thoughts were interrupted by a sheer wall of ice. It looked like there were no gaps, but at a word from Mirabelle, a ward dropped, revealing a large tunnel. Lisette was glad for the warming spell as they separated into single file, walking into the ice.
There were holes in the ceiling, letting sunlight in, so at least they could see. Rainbow colors shone through the ice as the sun was refracted, making the tunnel seem like some mythical realm.
Soon enough, they came upon guards, who Mirabelle seemed to recognize.
“Genevieve, sorry for not warning you. I thought it about time I brought my nieces to see this.”
“Of course. You’re always welcome here, as is your family. You can go on ahead.”
They encountered more guards as they progressed down the widening tunnel, but none of them stopped Mirabelle, merely greeting her politely. Lisette couldn’t help but be taken in by the beauty of this place. If Mirabelle was intending to convince them of the evils of vampires, this seemed a bad way to do it. Everything here was magical and enchanting, not as ugly and threatening as Mirabelle would have them believe vampires were.
Finally, the tunnel widened into a room. Guards converged on them, magic crackling at their fingertips, ready to defend what lay behind them.
“Peace, sisters.” Mirabelle held out her arms, letting the guards see her. After a moment, they relaxed, sure that they weren’t in the presence of enemies, and parted.
Lisette gasped as it came into sight. In the middle of the room was a huge, clear stalactite encasing a green flame as tall as three people. Though the flame was still, trapped in ice as it was, it looked so alive that Lisette half-expected it to start flickering at any moment.
The room was filled all around the edges with chests, out of which was spilling marvelous treasure – historical artifacts, rare herbs and magical supplies…
“It’s beautiful,” Tristan whispered, reaching out to touch it, but Mirabelle took her wrist, pulling her away.
“It is, and that’s the first thing you need to learn. You see, this flame represents vampires, and is similar to them in many ways. It is indeed beautiful, but also deadly. No witch can survive its touch. As of yet, we’ve found no cure to the poison it imparts upon contact.
“All we can do is leave powerful warding around it, to keep anyone from getting close enough to be harmed. Just like the flame, a vampire’s touch is poison, and the only cure is staying far away from them.”
“Really.” Bethany folded her arms, glaring at Mirabelle. “You know, that’s strange, considering all the places Jermaine has touched me – yet here I am, perfectly healthy. Or does taking in a vampire’s essence make you immune to their ‘poison’? Because Jermaine really likes it when I –”
“That’s enough,” Mirabelle snapped, while Fleur, Lisette and Tristan sniggered.
“You know, I don’t think that’s it,” Fleur went on, an impish smile on her face. Savion does love licking me. He’ll do it from head to foot –”
“ENOUGH
!” Sparks flew out of the ends of Mirabelle’s fingers. “I did not bring you here so that you could flaunt your perversions with vampires.”
“You brought us here knowing full well who we all are,” Lisette spoke up before either Fleur or Bethany could respond. “If you expect them to pretend otherwise, you have the wrong people.”
“She’s right,” Tristan said softly. “Jermaine and Savion love Bethany and Fleur. Why don’t you just let them be happy?”
Though Tristan was speaking to Mirabelle, she glanced at Lisette as she spoke. Lisette understood the meaning all too well. Here she was, defending her sisters’ relationships with vampires, and she wouldn’t let herself be happy by pursuing the same thing.
Mirabelle was breathing hard. “You’re missing the point. Vampires can’t come here for two reasons – one, the sun, when it’s shining, as it gets reflected off the ice and magnified. More important is the cold, which never fades.
“You all know that vampires can’t survive in extreme cold, which is why most of them live around the equator. However, with modern technology, I fear that they will soon find a way to take the flame for themselves, and then they will have no reason to continue to protect our own source of power. They could destroy us.”
Lisette didn’t know about other vampires, but she’d never gotten the impression from Savion or Jermaine that they wanted to destroy witches. Of course, convincing Mirabelle of this would be impossible. She sighed, wondering what argument her aunt would come up with next.
20
“Vampires don’t want to destroy witches,” Fleur said flatly. “Yes, there’s a lot of bad blood between our kinds, but no one wants war; it’ll be too costly on both sides. That’s what we’ve always been taught. It’s just you who suddenly wants to initiate a conflict that could end the world, Mirabelle.”
Instead of rising to the bait, Mirabelle gestured for them to follow. “Come, I have more to show you.”