Bitten By Magic (12 page)

“What is a Spare?” She jumped as Georgie knocked over her plastic cup of soda. She waited patiently as the girl made an extended show of cleaning up her mess.

“I’m so sorry, Mistress. I can’t seem to keep from being clumsy at times.”

“Call me Alexa. We are all clumsy at times. Now, tell me of the Spares.”

“If you are finished eating, we can go back to the security room and talk,” Georgie suggested in a whisper. Alexa wanted to point out that they were at a table far away from the others, who seemed content to stay out of their new Mistress’s way. Instead, she nodded and stood up.

Georgie waited until they sent Henry to his lunch. She shut and locked the heavy door behind him and sat down in front of the mass of monitors. “Come sit, Alexa. I’ll explain as much as I know.”

The next couple of hours flew by as Georgie told her all about the children of the Poppets and Vampires. It was a rare occurrence for a Human woman to be impregnated by a Vampire, but it had happened several times in the past few years. Alexa was horrified to learn that most Vampires terminated the children at birth. Then Georgie announced with pride that the Elder refused to do it. He stood up to the other Elders, risking the Shining for his belief that the Spares deserved to live. She was more than a little surprised by this and told Georgie so.

“Oh, the Master even went so far as to walk into the Hive of the High Elder and take one Spare. He brought her here to live.” A frown darkened her face as she turned her head to a monitor of a closed door.

“What is it?” Alexa felt her inner turmoil.

“No one is to speak with the Spares. The Immortals don’t all share the Master’s views. They suffer the Spares, but barely.”

“Who takes care of them? Do they go to school? Are they given foster parents within the Hive?”

“Perhaps you should ask the Master to explain things to you. I would not want to get in trouble by misinforming you, or having my views taint yours. Shall I give you a tour of the Hive via cameras?” Georgie’s lavish wave at the monitors signaled her readiness to avoid the topic further.

At seven-thirty they were excused by the next shift, consisting of two burly males. Alexa was about to head to the conservatory when Georgie invited her to an early dinner. The cafeteria was mostly abandoned at such an early hour with the wait staff just setting up for the meal.

“This is the best time to get a meal. Fresh food and not so crowded. What would you like to drink, Alexa?”

“Alexa?” Georgie jumped as Theresa came barreling up to them. “I suggest you use her title, Poppet.” The older woman’s scowl made Alexa want to cringe.

“I asked her to call me by my name.” Alexa saw the shock on Theresa’s face.

“Of course, Mistress. I just didn’t want you to feel disrespected.” Theresa nodded her head in salute. “Let me get you a plate, Mistress.”

“Oh, that isn’t necessary...” Alexa sighed as the woman hurried to toss a little bit of everything on her plate. “What would you like to drink, Mistress?” Theresa asked as she handed her the over-filled plate.

“Do you have tea?” Alexa asked.

“We have something just for you.” Theresa clapped her hands together happily as she spun on her heel and disappeared into the kitchen. “Go sit down and I’ll bring it out to you.”

“Thank you.” She turned and immediately spotted where she wished to sit. Alexa didn’t wait for Georgie as she moved through the tables. People stood up as she passed their tables, but she kept moving until she came to the farthest table and the little girl who sat there as if she were frozen in place. Her dirty blonde hair hid her face as she kept her head down.

“Would it be all right if I sat here with you?” Alexa asked the little girl. She kept her voice polite as she waited. The girl’s head rose slowly as she peeked up at Alexa through bangs in need of cutting. Alexa’s heart clenched as she looked into the girl’s piercing blue eyes. Shock and fear shook the little girl’s body as her mouth dropped open.

“We shouldn’t sit here...” Georgie hurried over to her, a warning in her voice. The little girl hunched lower in her seat, her hair again hiding her.

“Why not?” Alexa couldn’t understand the fear glittering in Georgie’s eyes.

“Please, before she comes... The sun is going down.” Georgie grabbed her by the arm and tugged.

“Georgie, what is it? Who is going to come? Wait!” Alexa reached out a hand but the little girl was fast. She scooted out of her chair and ran by in a blur. Alexa stared after the child, dumbfounded.

“Come, sit over here.” Georgie tugged her to another table and sat down across from her. Alexa dropped her plate on the table with a thump.

“What is the matter with you? She is just a child. And who is going to come? Who has you too scared to sit with a little four-year-old?” Alexa continued to stand with her tray in her hands.

“That isn’t a normal four-year-old, Alexa. Oh no. She’s here.” Alexa turned her head, following Georgie’s gaze to the door of the cafeteria. Standing in the doorway was Rosalyn, the bossy blonde immortal who hadn’t made her opinion of Alexa a secret. The blonde’s blue eyes zeroed in on their table as she shoved the sleeves of a lacy black shirt up over her elbows. Her black jeans and leather boots made her look like a fashion model rather than a bloodsucking diva.

“You should not be in here at this time of the evening.” Rosalyn stopped in front of Alexa with her arms crossed over her chest like a bully waiting for her victim to dig the milk money out of her pockets.

“Where else should I be?” Alexa forced her voice to remain calm even though she really wanted to cut into the arrogant bully.

“Wilhelm wanted you confined to your quarters. Not his, mind you, but yours.”

“Hmm... Wilhelm, my husband, did not mention anything about separate quarters to me. Nor am I a prisoner here. So, until he asks me to be elsewhere, this is where I plan to eat. Would you care to join us?” Alexa smiled as she lifted the tray a little. “Looks and smells good.”

“You may think you’re not a prisoner here, but you are. He doesn’t trust you enough to let you wander the Hive wherever you please. You are a Witch, after all,” Rosalyn sneered down at her.

“Yes, I’m a Witch.” She carefully placed her tray on the table, conscious that Georgie was staring up at them like a scared little mouse. She would not find any help from her. She was too intimidated by Rosalyn to move. Around them Poppets and servants alike were slowly making their way toward the door. “I’m also your Mistress, Rosalyn.” She met the angry blue eyes with a tilted chin and a superior look meant to affirm her position.

“Only for the moment, I assure you. Wilhelm has plans for you, Witch.” Rosalyn grinned viciously.

“If you aren’t joining us, you should probably go find someone else to bother. I’m tired of your silly attempts to bully me, Rosalyn. I’m not scared of you.”

“I’m not the one you should be scared of, Witch. Oh, no. You should be scared of your husband. You are nothing to him. Nothing, but a means to an end.” Secrets sparkled in the eyes of the Vampiress.

“Mistress Chambers, I had to let it steep, but here it is!” Theresa came out of the kitchen with a tray holding a teapot and a cup. She smiled and bowed her head to Rosalyn and then Alexa as she approached. “I only brought one cup, but I can go back for more. You’ll recognize the tea, Mistress. The Master had it delivered with all the other foods in your cupboards, in case you might miss them. So thoughtful of him, if you ask me.”

“No one asked,” Rosalyn snapped at her. Theresa took a quick step back. Her eyes rounded as she finally felt the tension between the two females.

“It was very thoughtful of Wilhelm to consider my needs. It is also nice of you to prepare it for me. I think a couple more cups would be great. Rosalyn looks like she could use a warm beverage.” Alexa smiled kindly at Theresa.

“Right away.” Theresa bowed her head and moved quickly for the kitchen.

“We have issues between us, I understand that. Unfortunately, I see no way to resolve them.” Alexa poured herself some tea. The fragrant steam hit her nose and made her insides quiver with a hunger for the taste. She loved her tea and rarely went without it at least once during the day.

“There’s only one solution,
Mistress.
” Rosalyn grabbed up the full cup of tea and took a healthy drink. Her blue eyes held a challenge as she drained the cup and slammed it back down on the tray. “Leave.”

“You are welcome to my tea, Rosalyn. However, my husband is a different matter. Don’t come to our chambers expecting to see him, because he’ll be occupied with me. And yes, I am a Witch. Don’t be surprised if I use my powers to protect what is mine.”

“He isn’t yours, Witch!” Rosalyn’s delicate pale cheeks turned red as her temper flared. “He will never be yours.”

“He kept me in his bed for most of the day. How long have you ever been in his bed?” Alexa heard Georgie’s sharp inhalation of air, but didn’t take her eyes off her incensed opponent. Rosalyn’s breathing quickened as her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her eyes even seemed to get bloodshot.

“You bitch!” Rosalyn moved with a speed Alexa anticipated. She used her momentum by grabbing one arm to pull her into a clothesline maneuver. Rosalyn fell into the chair Alexa hadn’t had the time to sit down in. Alexa held her hands out in front of her as she took a fighting stance. Rosalyn seemed slow to pull herself to her feet as she turned with her hand at her sore throat. White fangs gleamed over her blood red lips as a hiss issued from her throat. White spit oozed from between her fangs as Rosalyn huffed for air.

“What is the meaning of this?” Wilhelm’s booming voice had both women looking at him. Georgie had crawled beneath the next table in an effort to avoid the catfight.

“Wilhelm, help me!” Rosalyn’s hoarse voice had Alexa turning back toward her. The blonde diva was holding her throat and her stomach as she collapsed. Wilhelm was a flash of air as he caught Rosalyn before she hit the floor. He held her in his arms as her body began to convulse.

“What the hell have you done to her?” His eyes flashed red as he demanded an answer from Alexa.

“Nothing.” Alexa shook her head. She hadn’t used magic with Rosalyn. She was the Keeper of the Treaty. She, better than anyone, knew the consequences of using magic against another species. Death, plain and simple.

“Will, what is it?” Jaxson and two others came rushing into the cafeteria. “Shit! What happened?”

“Stop this!” Wilhelm commanded so harshly that Alexa took a step back away from them. White foam began to ooze faster from Rosalyn’s mouth as she shook in his arms. Her blue eyes rolled back into her head as her slim body shuddered.

“I can’t. I don’t know—” She held her hands up as if to prove her point.

“Take her! Take her down below! I’ll deal with her later. Just get her out of my damn sight.” Wilhelm spoke to Jaxson, his concern for Rosalyn apparent as he lifted her in his arms easily. Alexa saw him flip a headset down from his ear as he rose. “Grant, med room ASAP.” Then he was moving past her and out the cafeteria door with Rosalyn’s long blonde hair hanging over his arm.

Alexa went with Jaxson and the other two Enforcers without a complaint. She felt numb all over. What had happened? She hadn’t even really hit Rosalyn. Vampires were surely stronger than that? They were immortal for crying out loud! It had to be a trick. Rosalyn’s way of gaining the attention she so craved from Wilhelm. Boy, did she know how to get his attention. Alexa took a shaky breath as she allowed Jaxson to pull her along behind him.

Of all the ways she envisioned next seeing the Elder, this was way beyond her imagination. She thought he’d smile at least when he saw her. Hoped for some small gesture to set her at ease about their night together. Anger and accusations were all she’d gotten from her new husband. He thought her capable of harming one of his own. He didn’t know her at all.

Jaxson yanked her arm as she faltered at the stone stairway leading down into the dark. It smelled of mother earth down there. She could tell it was deep within the ground and though Witches gained their power from the soil, they didn’t live within the earth. Dark didn’t bother her, depth didn’t bother her, but the thought of being buried alone scared the hell out of her. She’d been alone before, locked in a little black box just big enough and tall enough for her to stand inside it. The memory had her digging her heels into the hard stone of the second step down. He swung back to glare at her.

“Don’t fight me on this, Mistress.” Jaxson’s threat sent a ripple of alarm down her spine. Gone was the friendly, polite jokester who had walked her to her doom the night before. This man was ruthless and not to be antagonized.

“I didn’t do anything to Rosalyn.” She held his gaze easily as he studied her with his superior night vision.

“Then you have nothing to fear. Come along.” His jaw clenched as he turned back around and pulled her behind him. At the fourth step down, a row of lights came on to illuminate the bend and the next flight of stairs leading down.

Alexa’s legs felt like jelly by the time they finally came to the bottom of the stairs. The hallway was long, with doors and entryways carved into the earth and stone. Her feet cramped at the feel of the cold stone floor. Jaxson led her through a series of turns and then brought her down yet another set of stairs. These ones seemed rougher, the edges cutting into the heels of her feet, so she took to stepping carefully on her toes.

“You’re bleeding.” Jaxson stopped so suddenly she ran into his solid back. “Where?”

“My feet. The stones are rough—” Before she could finish he swore and lifted her up over his shoulder to move quickly to a door at the end of the hallway. He let her down and opened the door.

“I suggest you go inside, now. Don’t try to escape, Mistress. Punishment will be so much worse for you.” He swung the door open and shoved her inside. “What the hell?”

“Oh, Goddess!” Alexa’s sore feet felt the thick rubber of the floor beneath them as she quickly took in her surroundings. Her knees felt weak as she recognized the room and the occupants inside it.

“Ah, Keeper. I’ve been waiting for you.” O’Mallery folded his hands in front of him as he nodded at her in a sick gesture of respect.