Always the Vampire (20 page)

You might recall that my hair is a pain. It waves more than the royal family. It curls in random coils. It frizzes if the humidity hits 20 percent, and Florida humidity averages 60 percent.

So, if I gnashed my teeth as Triton wrapped the tall, gorgeous woman he’d introduced as Lynn Ann Heath in one of my beach towels, it wasn’t with jealousy over Triton. It was pure envy over the woman’s perfectly straight silver blond hair. Never mind her perfectly spaced, perfectly arched eyebrows that I’d swear had never seen tweezers.

With Lynn shivering in my one and only passenger seat, I cranked the heat up, flashed her a smile, and hopped out to confront Triton.

He met my gaze as he zipped his shorts.

“All the dolphins in all the seas of the world, and you have to find your mate now? Triton, this is the definition of poor timing.”

“Jealous?”

“Envious, and only of her hair.” I pushed him toward the end of the truck and spoke quietly. “Why did you bring her with you?”

“I tried to swim her home, but she lives in Daytona, and we were fishing up by Jax Beach when we felt the stirrings of the change. We barely made it this far, so get off my back.”

“Fine, then you explain her to you-know-who when we show up for you-know-what tonight.”

“Chill. I’ll drive Lynn home after we shower, then come back home and sleep.” He paused with his rain-wet T-shirt halfway over his head. “Damn. My apartment is wrecked.”

“Not so much. Remember the visitor flying in from France? She and I cleaned it for you.”

His head emerged from the neck hole. “You did?”

“Yeah, but I hope you have some powerful air freshener. The place may still smell fishy.”

“Is that a crack?”

“No, idiot, it’s a fact. The yahoos that, uh, visited you dumped your frozen fish along with a lot of other food.”

“Oh, well, thanks for cleaning.”

“You’re welcome. What’s with Lynn? She seems a little unsteady.”

He shrugged. “I don’t think she’s been a shifter more than a few years.”

“Just how many years past puberty is she? Is she of legal age?”

“I don’t know yet. Is the interrogation over? Can we go now?”

“You’ll have to ride with her on your lap.”

“No problem.”

And it wasn’t, except that Lynn’s teeth continued to chatter so much, it was difficult to make conversation. I gave up when she rested her head in the crook of Triton’s neck and closed her eyes.

Okay, so maybe she’d heard my exchange with Triton. Maybe I’d alienated my best friend’s new girl. I’d worry about that if she stuck around.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Triton tenderly brush a lock of hair from Lynn’s cheek. Who was I kidding? She’d be sticking around.

But I could and would insist on investigating her. I’d put Saber, Cosmil, Lia—hell, even Pinkertons—on the case of discovering who Lynn Ann Heath really was. I believe in synchronicity, but really. After all Triton’s years of searching for a mate, why had a human-dolphin shifter suddenly appeared on his sonar just as we prepared to fight Starrack and the Void?

If that wasn’t hinky, I’d eat a flip-flop.

 

 

Saber ferried Lia out to Cosmil’s on Tuesday evening so that I could do wedding errands. And, no, I hadn’t told Saber about Lynn. I wanted Triton to drop that bomb to the entire group tonight, and
then
I’d voice my concerns.

I met with Maggie in Wedding Central at five bearing the delayed but delightful tussie-mussie charms she’d ordered. The jeweler’s catalog photos hadn’t lied about the delicate filigree.

“They’re perfect.” She teared up as she let an ultrafine silver chain spill through her fingers. “Oh, Cesca, the wedding is in twelve days. This is really happening, isn’t it?”

“You’re just eager for the honeymoon.”

She gave me a watery grin. “That, too.”

“Let’s get these RSVPs recorded before Neil gets home.”

We did that and reviewed the plans for both the bridal and couples showers coming up on Saturday and Sunday, but I still changed into black cotton drawstring shorts and a workout T-shirt, and made it to Cosmil’s with ten minutes to spare.

Triton beat me to the shack, but I could tell he hadn’t spilled the Lynn bean the moment I joined the confab gathered at the coffee table. The warning glance he sent me as I sat on the floor at Saber’s feet said it all.

I won’t tattle,
I projected at Triton,
but you better fess up soon.

I rolled my eyes then jumped when Cosmil slapped the coffee table.

“Francesca, are you listening?”

Yikes, the reprimand reminded me of Mr. Genopoly, the first schoolmaster in St. Augustine. I hadn’t lied then and didn’t now.

“Actually, no, I wasn’t. Sorry.”

Saber squeezed my shoulder and winked when I looked up.

Cosmil puffed an exasperated breath and pulled on the sleeves of his wizard robe. Yes, he wore his uniform of white tunic and pants, but also sported a purple robe tonight. Lia was similarly dressed, but in what looked like light blue scrubs and a green sorceress robe.

“We will begin,” Cosmil said pointedly, “by evaluating your individual skills. After that, we will teach you an energy exercise to deepen your collective connection. Francesca, you will go with Lia, and I will coach the men.”

“We’re not working with the amulets?” I asked.

“Not tonight,” Lia said. “Come along.”

“No.” I folded my arms on the coffee table. “I’d like some answers first.”

Behind me, Saber snorted. Across from me, Triton shifted in his seat.

Guilty conscience?
I projected at him.

Lia looked from one to the other of us, genuine puzzlement on her face. “What answers do you seek?” she asked.

“For starters, did you find Starrack?.”

“Only two faint traces of him, and we estimate those are five to seven days old. It is apparent that the goblet is contaminated with other DNA. But come. I will demonstrate.”

Saber and I bolted in Lia’s wake as she crossed to the island, with Triton and Cosmil bringing up the rear.

“As you see, we’re using three maps. A detailed map of St. Augustine,” she said, pointing, “an area map of nearby counties and cities, and a world map. Simply put, we sprinkled a luminescent powder over the maps, added scraping from the wine goblet, and pushed our intention to find the DNA owner into the spell. The glowing green points indicate hits.”

I squinted at the city and area maps, each smudged with a single, barely-there glow. In contrast, bright dots on one section of the world map looked like an outbreak of green measles.

“I take it,” Saber said, “you don’t think Starrack is touring Western Europe.”

“Just one or more nymphs or other guests who used Starrack’s goblet. But look here and here.” She waved a hand, and the two local maps slowly magnified. “We are certain Starrack has been in these locations.”

“Daytona Beach,” I murmured to Saber. “You think he was hanging out near Ray and the crew?”

“It’s this King Street at US 1 hit that bothers me,” Saber said. “That intersection is a just a few miles from your cottage.”

“And not much farther,” Triton piped up, “from my place.”

“We don’t yet know,” Lia continued, “if our poor results are due to the diluted DNA, to time lapsing, or to the strong possibility Starrack is deliberately covering his tracks.”

“Why would he be covering his tracks?” I asked. “Does he know we’re looking for him?”

“If he has contacts on the Council, yes,” Cosmil replied. “I mentioned in my report that the Void needs to be found and destroyed.”

“Does Starrack know where you live, Cos?” Triton asked.

“And know Lia is here now, too?” I added.

“I do not know for certain, but we must presume he is aware on both counts.”

“Which is why Cosmil and I began casting protection spells over each of you today. We will tweak the location spell later tonight, but you must understand that the magick doesn’t give us real-time readings like a GPS tracker does. When Starrack is stationary for thirty minutes, the map flares to light his location and an alarm sounds.”

“And then you call us,” Saber said. “Day or night.”

“But of course.”

“What about other information on Starrack?” I asked. “His appearance, his personality.”

Lia stiffened so subtly that, had I not been standing beside here, I wouldn’t have noticed. I did catch the glance Cosmil gave her, though. One that spoke of shared history, shared secrets. Secrets that better not have squat to do with our search.

“When I knew Starrack, he fluctuated between being a free-spirited, charming rogue and an arrogant, devious SOB. He was more a wanderer than a man of home and hearth, and more a trickster than a fighter.”

“We think he’s behind the attack on Triton,” Saber said, “but why would he want the amulets?”

“Because they can destroy the Void, I suppose,” Lia replied. “He’d want to protect his creation. However, the amulets are also valuable artifacts, so perhaps he would sell them. Starrack was never easy to read, or to predict.”

“What does he look like, Lia? Cosmil said there is a family resemblance, but I could see this guy on a ghost tour and not know him. Maybe he was even in Triton’s store, casing the place.”

“Starrack and Cosmil looked a good deal alike when they were younger, but Starrack’s proclivity for spirits and general debauchery aged him rather severely in the last years I knew him.”

“Hold on,” Saber said. “Starrack drinks a lot?”

“He had that reputation.”

“He’s a boozer, yet he came up with the Void? Doesn’t that strike anyone but me as odd?”

“Not necessarily,” Triton put in. “Several men that history considers geniuses have been giant lushes or addicts. Poe, Hemingway, Fitzgerald.”

“I wouldn’t call Starrack a genius,” Lia said, “but he has a highenough tolerance for alcohol to make him quite functional.”

“Functional enough to create and control the Void,” Cosmil agreed.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Saber said. “What else can you tell us about his appearance? Does he use spells to change his looks?”

“If so, he made only minor changes. Much the way Cosmil does.”

Triton crossed his legs, ankle on his knee. “Too bad you can’t conjure up a photo so we can see him.”

“Such an image would be an old one from my memory, but I was rather a dab hand at sketching once. Perhaps I can draw a portrait that will project an aged Starrack. Would that do?”

“It’s better than operating blind like we are now,” I said.

“Very well, I will work on a sketch. Now, we really must proceed with your evaluations.”

Our tutors led the way, and Triton hustled after them. Saber helped me to my feet and gave me a hug. “Way to beard the lioness, honey.”

“You helped.”

He grinned. “Always.”

“Cesca, Saber, now,” Lia called.

We complied, Saber peeling off to join Triton and Cosmil, me following Lia to the far arc of the circle of trees.

“All right, Cesca, Cosmil tells me you are a master at draining life force energy, and that is excellent. But before I begin formally evaluating your other skills, a woman-to-woman talk is in order.”

My hackles rose. “I’ve had the sex talk, Lia. I think I’ll pass.”

“No you will not. Sit.”

Much as I wanted to rebel, I reluctantly dropped to the grass.

“Cosmil has sensed you fear your power, and I sense that fear stems from ignorance.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Cesca, listen to me. When a woman claims her sexuality, when intimacy is her choice rather than being coerced or outright forced, she claims a great fullness of her feminine power. In most cases, this relates to her body’s reproductive power. You being a vampire, that issue is moot, but the power is very real, and it is potent.”

“I know. I’m much better at flirting now.”

“Cesca.” She gave me an exasperated look then narrowed her eyes. “Normand didn’t allow a single male to touch you, correct?”

I squirmed. “He kept me fairly isolated.”

“Of course he did. Normand did not want you to come into your full powers until he deemed it time. He might have lost command of his own court.”

I snorted. “Not likely.”

“Perhaps not, but that was his fear. Legrand, the vampire killed in the Veil, inherited many of his sire’s powers and ultimately challenged Normand.”

“So Normand lost and hightailed it to the New World?”

“He did not lose. He left Legrand at the mercy of his loyal followers and brought those who sided with Legrand to America.”

“Huh.” No wonder there had been such an odd vibe in the nest. I thought the other vamps had resented me because Normand had proclaimed me his daughter and princess of his realm. Seems they’d hated Normand long before that.

“So you understand now,” Lia was saying. “Your powers—all of them—are natural and normal.”

Sure, yeah, whatever
, crossed my mind, but I wasn’t rude enough to speak the words aloud. Lia might be right about the natural and normal part, but I didn’t trust that embracing my powers wouldn’t destroy my soul.

“Up with you now, so I may assess your skills. First, I want you to fly over the cabin and back to me.”

“All right, but I have a little vertigo.”

“Then don’t look down.”

Easy for her to say. Sure I’d flown higher and farther, but not by much and not with an audience grading my performance. Still, off I went. I completed the circle and subsequently flew to the main road, but I looked down on the return run and dizziness hit. I lost altitude, coming in low over the trees. Lia made a moue of disappointment.

“You’ll need to work on distance flying,” she said, and I psychically saw her make a check minus on her mental list.