Always the Vampire (6 page)

“You make it sound like a movie zombie,” Triton said.

“Except our zombie is a black blobby fog,” I mumbled.

“A zombie is a fitting comparison. To have this blob directed to do harm is bad, but it can get worse.”

“How much worse?” Saber pressed.

“It can become an independent entity. Go off the creator’s leash, as it were, and wreak its own havoc.”

“Shit.”

“Indeed, Saber, but there is good news of a sort.”

“Cosmil, don’t make us pry it out of you,” I warned.

He heaved a breath as if bracing to tell us the bad news. “Being in direct contact with the energy gave me a clue to its origin. I suspect the Void is being directed by a wizard named Starrack.”

“And who the heck is that?” I asked.

Cosmil’s blue gray eyes locked on my face.

“Starrack is my brother.”

“Your brother?” I echoed.

You could’ve knocked me over with a gull feather. I glanced at Triton’s stunned expression then at Saber’s grim one.

“Sadly, yes. We have been estranged for several centuries, and in fact, I thought him dead.”

“But why would he create a monster like the Void? What would he gain?”

“Money. Power. It might even be a whim. Starrack was an extraordinarily talented wizard. More talented than I. However, he lacked the level of discipline and the morals to be great. One could never be certain of his motives.”

“Then let’s deal in facts,” Saber said. “Do you know where Starrack is now? Know how to track him?”

“I would like nothing better than to say yes, but I do not know where he is, and I cannot track him at this time.”

“Why not?” Triton demanded. “Just cast a spell.”

“Loath as I am to admit a weakness, tracking spells are not my specialty. I might have been able to follow the Void back to Starrack through the Veil, but that is no longer an option. The Veil is temporarily closed.”

“Because it’s a crime scene?” Saber asked.

“Yes, there is a team investigating, but they are also searching for the body I found. It has gone missing, you see.”

I rubbed my forehead. “We don’t see, Cosmil. Explain.”

“Whereas the main portals are more or less static, the Veil is not. One does not step through a doorway to instantly arrive at one’s destination for the series of pathways in the Veil are in flux. The Veil may fold in on itself, directing and redirecting a traveler, especially when one is traversing long distances. Or when there is a disturbance within the Veil’s energy.”

“A disturbance such as a murder,” Saber said flatly.

“Are you sure this Legrand guy was dead, Cos? Maybe it was an illusion. Maybe he took off when you were being attacked.”

“Had I not touched the body and were it not for the ruby ring, I might agree with you, Triton. However, the ring was not merely Legrand’s affectation, it was his talisman. The stone is obscenely large, mounted in an ornate fifteenth-century gold setting, and was reputedly stolen from the true French royal line. It was one of a kind.”

“No, it wasn’t,” I said slowly, my psychic sense and my memory kicking in. I’d seen the same ring or an incredible facsimile of it. “Normand had one that fits that description. Don’t you remember, Triton?”

“Hell, no. I never got close enough to him to notice his jewelry. What do you remember?”

“That he had a honkin’-huge ruby ring, although . . .”

I lost track of what I was saying as I flashed into the past. The villagers and soldiers had come just at dawn to set fire to Normand’s stronghold and to slaughter Normand and every member of his nest, including the humans held captive. I’d waited underground for the mob to discover me, but they hadn’t. They’d been high on their victory, and the governor had come then to order that each body be stripped of its riches. The adornments and anything the soldiers gathered from the ashes of the house were claimed for Spain.

“Although what, Cesca?” Triton asked.

I shrugged. “The governor took possession of the loot from the bodies, so I suppose Normand’s ring is long gone.”

“Be that as it may,” Cosmil said, “Legrand would not have removed his ring. Not for any reason. When the body is located and forensic tests are conducted, I feel certain it will be Legrand.”

“Meantime, we have Starrack and the Void on the loose,” Saber said. “What can you tell us about him? Is he older? Younger? Do you look like brothers? Does he have known associates or hangouts?”

“Starrack is the younger by thirty-two years, and yes, there is a strong family resemblance. But, as I say, it was centuries ago when I last saw him. I know little of his more recent movements.”

More recent being how long? I might be over two hundred myself, but I thought in years more than centuries. And Cosmil was thirty-two years older than Starrack? Geez, how old did wizards live to be anyway? And how the hell long were they fertile? Talk about a late-in-life baby.

“I do have positive news, however,” Cosmil said to Saber. “After my cleanse, I phoned another Council member who will help us. Ancelia is a sorceress who had dealings with Starrack for decades.”

“When will you hear from her?” I asked.

“As soon as she has made her airline reservation.”

“The sorceress can’t conjure a plane ticket?”

Triton swore, either at me for being flippant or at the situation in general.

“Cos, we need answers, not another musketeer.”

“A Council of Ancients member has been murdered, Triton. We need every resource.”

“And this woman can’t pop in sooner because the Veil is closed,” Saber said flatly.

“Precisely. Ancelia—Lia—must arrive the mundane way. If she cannot locate Starrack on her own, we will work on a location spell together.”

“Great. Then you two can work your magick to bring him down,” I said.

“Not quite, Francesca. I told you weeks ago that you and Triton needed to train with me, to combine your powers to defeat the Void. Saber will join you as well, and Lia will assist me with the training.” He paused to give each of us a long, level stare. “We must be ready to act when we have the opportunity.”

I gritted my teeth. “Cosmil, I’m not saying no, but you have the whole Council of Ancients at your disposal. Why can’t your COA put a stop to Starrack and the Void?”

“There are too many factions, my dear. Besides vampires, wizards, and sorceresses, the thirteen Council members represent the various faerie realms, the merfolk, and the werecreatures. We even have a dragon member.”

Saber stiffened. “You have werewolves in Europe?”

“And in other countries. Werewolves are extinct only in the states, you see, because the drug introduced here to kill them was not widely used overseas. The population is controlled, they live in seclusion, and they are not allowed to immigrate.”

“I’ll have to let the VPA know about this,” Saber said.

“Do as you think best. And now,” Cosmil said, as he pushed to his feet, “I have kept you long enough. Saber mentioned that Francesca has a late ghost tour, and I must rest.”

“Will you be okay alone?” I asked.

“He won’t be alone,” Triton piped up. “I’ll stay with him tonight.”

Saber and I exchanged a glance, waiting for Cosmil to object. He didn’t so much as furrow his brow.

“I’ll come by tomorrow,” Saber offered, “while Cesca’s sacked out and Triton’s working. Maybe you’ll have news from Lia.”

The three men turned to me, but I threw up my hands.

“Hey, I have work tonight, and bridge club tomorrow night. I can’t cancel this late.”

“So your activities are more important than training with us?” Triton demanded. “It’s only all our lives on the line.”

“Don’t start with me, Triton. I can cancel some things, but not my maid of honor duties. Maggie’s wedding is two weeks and five days away. I can’t and won’t let her down. This Starrack jerk and the Void will have to take a number, and you can kiss my surfboard if you don’t like it.”

Cosmil laughed then, a deep, rich sound that washed through the room like a warm wave. “My dear, Lia will love you. Pandora, see them out. And Triton, retrieve your duffel and the amulets from your truck.”

Pandora took the lead, padding by my side while Saber fell back to have a word with Triton.

I did a double take at her unexpected question. “You mean Snowball? Probably still hiding in the laundry room.”

I’d found the pure white kitten in the parking garage at Saber’s old condo in Daytona Beach, before he bought Neil’s place in St. Augustine. Snowball liked me well enough, but she adored and had adopted Saber. When Saber moved in with me five days ago, Snowball came along.

“Okay, why?”

“You told me something like that before, but I think Snowball’s more into lizards and beetles.”

Pandora rolled her eyes.

We arrived at Saber’s SUV, and I leaned a hip against the door. “Okay, I give. Are there any particular times Snowball should be with me?”

Well, didn’t that sound nice and ominous? I have manners in spades, but the last two hours had frayed my nerves, and Pandora’s queen of cryptic act wasn’t scoring points with me.

She pinned me with reproachful amber eyes. Great. Pandora had read my mind, and now I was being scolded by a feline big enough to eat my face. I had to learn to guard my thoughts.

Yes, you do.
Pandora smirked, I swear, then she chuffed and trotted back to the cabin.

I climbed into the SUV, suddenly very tired and completely overwhelmed.

 

 

Much as I love interior design, I adore leading ghost tours.

While catching up to the twenty-first century, I had discovered an aptitude for history, studied hard, and passed the required licensing test to give tours. It helped in my job hunt that Maggie had contacts in the city’s tourist industry, but I’d earned my place at Old Coast Ghost Tours and took pride in my work as a ghost walk guide.

One of my guide friends calls me a ghost magnet, and I admit to an affinity with Oldest City’s ghosts. A few spirits aren’t Casper friendly, but the playful ones are always ready to
oooh
and awe the crowds.

I’d even begun flying to work occasionally, but only when I had the late tour at nine thirty, after dark when I wouldn’t spook anyone. And, okay, it wasn’t real vampire flying as much as it was puddle hopping. I’d take to the air long enough to clear a few houses at a time, using landmarks such as the numerous church spires and steeples and domes to track my location. Sooner or later, though, I had to look down to spot my landing, and the vertigo was murder. Heights are not my friend.

Since I didn’t need more stress tonight, I’d drive. That lifted my spirits, and my mood brightened even more when I stepped into my new silvery Cinderella dress. It didn’t have frou-frou trims and tucks, or a huge skirt to get in the way, but it was magical anyway. Shirley Thomas, costume genius for the Flagler College theater department, had created new tour-guide togs for me when my old ones had been shot up. I’d also hired Shirley to design and make Maggie’s Victorian wedding gown, and Shirley had later surprised me with this fairy tale inspired creation.

I felt like a Disney character as I drove my beloved aqua SSR downtown. Not that bluebirds and bunnies cavorted around my skirts. Not a single industrious dwarf fell into step with me as I hustled to the waterwheel near the Mill Top Tavern where I met my tour groups. Still, I felt happier than I had all day, more so when I caught sight of the waiting tourists.

Along with half-a-dozen couples and a smattering of teens, I spotted Millie Hayward and two of her Jag Queens friends chatting with three dapper older men.

“Millie,” I greeted as she enfolded me in a Shalimar-scented hug. “You and the Jag Queens looked great on TV this weekend!”

“You saw the Jacksonville game, then?” Grace Warner beamed. “I thought we looked pretty sharp myself, but my TiVo didn’t record.”

“Mine did,” Kay Sims chimed in. “We’re having a watch party tomorrow night, if you want to come, Cesca.”

I grinned, imagining the clothing and hair critique that would ensue. “I’d love to, but that’s my bridge night.”

“Maybelle Banks is back from her cruise?” Millie asked.

I nodded. “She showed us her pictures of Greece last week.”

I didn’t know how Millie and Maybelle had met, but Maybelle is sixty-something, wields a dry, sharp wit, and dabbles in astrology. She and Millie must make a pair.

So did Millie and—what was her swain’s name? I’d seen him once a few weeks ago but not met him.

When he cleared his throat, Millie took the hint and introduced the gentlemen.