Blade on the Hunt (15 page)

Chapter Fifteen

From her place next to Rowan at the sidewalk café, her source, Donna Goldoni, Marcelo’s wife, murmured quietly, “Across the bridge, three down. That palazzo with the closed shutters.”

Rowan sipped her espresso as she looked the place over from behind her sunglasses.

She took note of the outside alarms as well as the cameras and every few minutes a human guard would patrol along a roof level walk. A lot of security for a random rich person. “Who owns it?”

“Here’s something you’ll find interesting. I started searching for the owners of each place I’d identified. That one over there took longer because it was a tangle. More than normal. Companies owned by trusts, owned by corporations, owned by, you get the idea. That palazzo? At the very end of that very long list of several other corporations remained Sangre International.”

Motherfucker.

“That’s some silence. It’s true then. Marcelo told me but I have to say I was skeptical.”

“What’s true?”

“You’re mated.”

Rowan allowed herself the small joy of showing the ring off. But just a moment before it got sappy.

“While you’re planning how to get in that palazzo, tell me about the Vampire.”

“I figured Marcelo would have given you a briefing.”

“He’s a man. He doesn’t listen seventy percent of the time, and even then only if it’s about food or fucking. I know there’s someone and that this Vampire of yours irons his boxers and had tailored shirts. It’s love.” Donna rolled her eyes.

Rowan laughed. “He’s the Scion of North America.”

Donna’s delighted exclamation loosened Rowan’s spine. “He’s the British one, right? I’ve seen some pictures of him. He looks quite nice in a suit. He should try Italian next time.”

“I’m sure he’d need medication and therapy to change tailors. He’s very...precise.”

“
Precise.
” Donna thought that was quite funny. “You must make him insane. This is good. Men love women who drive them crazy. You must make it into an art form.”

Rowan hid her smile as she thought about how she’d spent the first eighteen months she’d known Clive trying to provoke him into developing a neck tic. She hadn’t abandoned the plan entirely, but he was pretty nice to her most of the time so she kept that in reserve for when he really got on her nerves.

“When I’m doing my job right, yes. And you know how much I like a job well done,” Rowan said.

“Is it the sex? I hear things.” Donna waggled her eyebrows.

“The sex is quite fantastic. But...” Rowan paused as a platter of meat, cheese and eggs was brought out to them along with still-warm bread.

“But?”

“It’s more than the sex. I like him. Most of the time anyway. And he knows my family and is still around.”

“Of course he is! Your father is their First.” Always blunt, was Donna.

Considering how borderline violent and crazy Theo could get, it was a double-edged sword to be in a relationship with the one person he considered his child. There were times she felt like it was her who held him, kept him from setting everything aflame.

“He’s influential and powerful without me.” Rowan drew up one shoulder briefly. “And,” she blew out a quick breath, “we’re together. Like
together-together.
” She held up her right hand. “It goes on my right hand because that’s where I hold my blade.”

Donna’s eyebrows raised. “He said that?”

“He didn’t make it up. I mean, it’s customary in their world if one of the spouses is a warrior of some type.” It was that he’d put it there without hesitation. She wondered if he’d even noticed it when he’d given her the ring.
She
hadn’t really thought about it until several hours later.

“He accepts who and what you are. That’s a good sign.”

Which was exactly why it meant so much.

“Yes. Despite the whole Vampire thing, he’s...he’s nice. I mean, he’s still one of them so he’s arrogant and bossy and thinks he’s the only person capable of doing anything right. But I like him more than I want to kill him. Most days.”

“Considering what a wretched bitch you are, that’s not a bad thing.”

A laugh bubbled up from Rowan’s belly as a rush of gratitude hit her. She only saw Donna once a year, maybe two and yet, she was someone Rowan trusted. Trusted enough to give her admission to Rowan’s home, and to her life. It was good to be teased by a friend like her.

“I’ll probably tell him this story. If I’m feeling nice,” Rowan said.

“So maybe never?”

“You’re so mean,” Rowan said around a snicker.

“My ex said the same thing when I spelled him so that his butthole itched every three hours for six days. My mom taught me that spell.” Donna’s smile was proud.

“What?” Rowan had to put her espresso down because she shook so hard with laughter. “Man, I wish I knew that spell.”

They finished their breakfast as the city came alive all around them and then moved to stroll along the canal, over the footbridge and around the palazzo.

As they headed away from the area, back over Rialto and into Costello, where the Goldonis lived.

“Here’s what I know.” Donna spoke quickly as they weaved through the already growing crowds fresh off the cruise ships that docked nearby. “I started asking around about new long term tenants who may not have been human.”

“As you do.”

“What?”

“Sorry. Americanism. It was a way to comment on the absurdity of putting the word out for non-humans being totally normal for us. He—Clive—only gets about half the references.”

“Naturally you do it even more often.”

Rowan nodded, mock serious. “It’s like we’re sisters.”

Donna’s smile brightened. “I understand that one.”

“You’re quick that way.”

“I am. Which is why I had two suspects within three hours of finding out she was possibly coming here.”

“Also one of your finest qualities.”

Donna unlocked the main door to the building she and Marcelo lived in. Her parents lived down the hall and Marcelo’s brother lived a floor up. It was like a magical fortress in there. Whatever she had to say to Rowan, Donna wanted to be sure they weren’t overheard.

The entry to their flat welcomed Rowan with the scent of yeast and something fresh and green.

Window boxes lining the entire living room burst with all manner of living things. Herbs, flowers and vegetables filled the space with so much vitality Brigid approved as mightily as Rowan did.

They got morning sun but at the end of the day, when it was hottest, they got shade. It made their apartment even more soothing to be in. Rowan had spent hours in the kitchen with Donna and her mother the last time she’d been in Venice. Cooking. Drinking wine or tea. Rowan liked to watch Donna create the complicated potions she used for her magic. The energy of the flat embraced her, made her feel safe.

A conjuror worked magic through spellcraft. As they learned and their control grew, their ability to work more and more complicated and powerful spells also grew. Most never got past dabbler levels, but Donna and her mother were both fairly strong.

In fact, Donna led the gathering there in Venice. A gathering was a group of conjurors who worked together. She was sort of an ambassador, president, judge and teacher all at once.

“Sit. I think tea is in order for the rest of the telling.” Donna indicated the scarred kitchen table. Rowan did and after she set the water to boil, Donna joined her.

“I wanted to come here so that we could speak privately. There’s quite a bit of Vampire and magical power in my city that’s recently arrived from the outside. It makes everyone else nervous. The practitioners have been asking around but no one seems to know the source. Not for sure. But whatever is in that palazzo we were looking at is my guess.”

Rowan would have to take Donna’s word for it. She had her own sort of magic, but no talent for that sort of working.

“Shortly after learning Sangre International owned the property, my cousin had finally gotten back to me. He works for a security company. They got a service call for the system in that palazzo. One of the panels had water in it so he had to tear it out and put another in so he was there for several hours. He said there were three Vampires, one female. He told me she smelled like almonds.”

Rowan blew out a breath. The very oldest Vampires smelled like almonds. Enyo definitely fit that bill.

“Two human security. From dawn to twilight they patrol the exterior every hour at the quarter after. They’re not using any specialized equipment. No body armor though they’re carrying side arms. They also have food delivered to the outer gate. Idiots.” Donna got up to pour the hot water into teacups and bring them back to the table.

“It’s got to be her. We won’t know for sure until dark though. She’s bound to have a fortified resting chamber, so I can’t just go in and stake her while she’s at rest or even count on her dying if I burned the place to the ground. It’s such a beautiful building I’d hate to destroy it. And it belongs to the Vampire Nation so if I do destroy it they’d demand to be compensated for it. Even though it’s their property this woman is in to start with. This is the level of ridiculous my life has gone to.”

“Fire jumps from building to building too easily anyway.” Donna patted her hand with a smirk. “So when are you going in? I have some rudimentary plans for the building that should help us.”

Rowan shook her head. “I appreciate your help. I’ve already transferred your fee plus an additional fifty percent for the speed and thoroughness of your work. I’ll take over from here.”

Her friend’s amusement slid into hard lines. “My mistake. I shouldn’t have made that sound like a request. You’re family. There’s to be no argument.”

“It’s one thing to sneak around and gather intel for me. This is something else.” Enyo was the scariest thing she’d ever come up against other than Theo. Rowan was sure she’d kill Enyo or die trying. But the humans she cared for were fragile. So, so vulnerable.

“I’m not saying anything negative about your ability and power. You’re a badass. But she’s like nothing you’ve dealt with before. I can’t risk you.”

“Those of us in Venice who are practitioners have a loose organization. As I said, we’ve noted the rise of some new magical power. Poison on the breeze sometimes. We believe this is connected to your Vampire and as such, it concerns us. Today, while it’s daytime and safe,” she added before Rowan could argue, “at least let me walk with you back to your villa. We’ll take a small detour past that palazzo. Just so I can get a little closer. You’ll be with me. It’s daylight. I might be able to tell if it’s a Vampire working magics or if she’s got them with her as part of her retinue.”

Rowan groaned. “We can go now if you have the time. I appreciate your assistance.” Help freely offered was something sacred. While she wanted to keep them safe, she didn’t intend on insulting these women and the truth was, the expertise they had to offer would be valuable.

After tidying up the kitchen, they headed back out. The warmth of the earlier morning had gotten heavier as rain waited somewhere nearby. The scent of it, in Venice like nowhere else, already hung in the air.

Before they’d even crossed the footbridge to the other side of the canal, a faint hint of dark, sticky magic laid itself against the breeze for a brief moment. Donna’s muscles tightened up. Brigid, too, rose and her power unfurled slowly, filling the space in a warm wave.

Donna paused, turning to Rowan, looking her over carefully. “Well.”

“The last year has been intense.” Rowan turned her back, looking carefully at the rear corner of the building. It also helped not to look at Donna.

Each threat she’d faced had made her stronger. The distressing thing was that she kept having to tangle with super old Vampires who kicked her ass sideways, nearly killing her, before she’d been able to vanquish them.

It
hurt
to nearly die. But worse than embarrassment and all the pain, it filled her with outrage that she hadn’t vanquished Enyo.

Things wouldn’t be balanced until Rowan had erased the ancient Vamp from the earth. And it wasn’t only Rowan who burned with the need to end the Vampire. Enyo had killed the last Vessel who carried Brigid, which meant She hated Enyo as much as Rowan did.

The score to settle was one of those big, giant holy mission type things and Rowan was totally okay with that.

“Sometimes the path to greater power is a painful one,” Donna said, understanding in her tone.

There was always a balance to keep. It would never
not
be a part of her life. It hadn’t been a happy, bouncy road to get to that point where she’d not only accepted what it meant to be a Vessel, but she embraced it.

It was then, that moment where she accepted her path and took it up like a mantle, that she and Brigid had kicked open the last doors between their power and became something else. Something stronger and faster and ultimately more powerful and deadly.

But the path had been lit with a whole lot of pain and anguish. Donna was right about that.

As they circled around to stroll along the narrow walk at the front of the palazzo, that sticky energy nearly touched Rowan.

Donna spoke under her breath as she hustled Rowan along about three times as fast as they’d been moving before.

Down narrow alleys and through the tiniest of courtyards and Rowan realized they’d ended up at the canal her house looked on.

“I’ve never come home this way.”

“I know a thing or two.”

Rowan smirked at Donna. “I bet you do.”

Once they’d gotten inside her villa and the doors were locked behind them with the wards in place, Rowan finally asked, “Okay, mind telling me what just happened?”

Donna brought a bottle of red wine left over from the dinner the night before and poured them each a sizeable glass and nearly drained hers in a few swallows.

Well, that was alarming.

“I haven’t been that close to it before. I suppose I thought it was superstition but really it was most likely self preservation to keep my distance. There is something
profane
in that palazzo. Wrong. Yes, there are Vampires there. But I can’t say if it’s yours or another,” Donna said. “Whatever the case, it needs to be routed and driven from here. Even those who practice dark energy have lines they won’t cross. There are rules you don’t break without risking a great deal.” She made the evil eye with a nimble flick of her wrist.