Fire Storm (22 page)

Lilith was on her cell phone, searching the Internet for trolls in Germany.

Ari consulted her watch. A little after six, that would be eleven a.m. at home. The service should be over. How was Claris holding up? Should she call?

She compromised by calling Ryan. “Hi. How is she?”

“Hanging in there. Brando’s mother is a mess, and as you’d expect, Claris is trying to comfort her. We’re on our way to the cemetery, and she rode with his parents. Are you having any luck?”

“No, it just seems to go from bad to worse.” She told him about the foxes and her hopes of finding the troll. “But I’m at a loss.”

“Why aren’t you going after the warlock? Or his brother? Make them tell you what’s going on. Your witch friends must know where these guys live.”

“Geez, Ryan. You shouldn’t have to tell me that. I’m really am losing it.”

“Do I have to state the obvious? You’ve lost a close friend; you’re afraid of losing another. It can mess up your thinking.”

“Yeah.” She rubbed her temples. “I’m guessing the warlock we fought in Riverdale is hiding out inside the castle. He knows his cover is blown, but the brother might be a source of information. It’s worth a try. Thanks, and tell Claris…well, just tell her I’ll call later.”

“Will do. Good luck.”

Ari’s next call went to Greta for directions to the warlocks’ home. In addition to the directions, the German witch caught her up on the coven’s recovery efforts.

“Everyone except Sophistrina is out of the hospital, and we joined another coven that was hit hard three weeks ago. They lost their priestess. Right now we’re setting up a new camp.”

“Have you seen either of the warlocks?”

“No, why do you ask?”

“Sophie will be filling you in on the details, but I wouldn’t tell the brothers about your new camp.”

“Why?” Greta sounded astonished.

Ari hesitated. Sophie was their leader, and she'd had a history with Gerhard. The news of his treachery should come from her, not an outsider, but Ari couldn’t leave Greta without sufficient warning. “At least one of them is working with the O-Seven. You’ll have to trust me on this, Greta. And talk to Sophie as soon as you can.”

She hung up and sat for a moment, fighting back the anger and sadness that threatened to overwhelm her every time she thought about the warlock’s betrayal in Riverdale. If she didn’t find Andreas soon, she’d have too much grief to handle.

Lilith interrupted her grim thoughts. “Did you get the address?”

“Yeah, sorry. I was thinking about Brando…and Andreas.” She cleared her throat and turned the key in the engine. “Let’s go find some answers.”

After nearly an hour of driving the narrow, dirt roads, they located the Kirsch brothers’ home deep in the forest. Ari thought it was significant that they’d chosen to live outside any of the witch encampments, but it was hard to say whether it was personal preference or an attempt to conceal their activities. Gerhard didn’t seem like a recluse, although Warin fit the profile, but why weren’t they living with a coven for protection? Had one or both of them always been working for the vampires? Or was the betrayal recent, the final culmination of a detachment from their own kind? Warin had been reserved, and yes, both were supremely arrogant, but they’d been on decent terms with Sophie’s coven. That made the deceit by at least one of them even more depressing.

She parked the car on the side of the road. “Their house should be just round the corner, and someone’s home. I can sense the magic of brewing potions.”

Lilith pulled a gun from her holster.

“Good idea,” Ari said. “Whichever brother is home, we have to consider him hostile.”

Lilith shot her a smirk. “Just tell me when I can shoot him.”

“If he even looks funny, don’t wait for the go-ahead from me.” Ari wasn’t joking. “Nathan and Brando weren’t given any warning.” She slammed the car door and headed up the road.

It was at least a half mile, but finally the house came into view. A small, wooden chateau with a tile roof. Not as elaborate as she had expected, but a huge step up from the cabins that Sophie’s coven had used. Ari and Lilith cut through the woods, circling the house until they could see a small patio area in back. One of the Kirsch brothers was stretched out on a lounge chair reading a book.

As Ari started forward, he sat up. “Hello. I thought you went back to the States.” He pushed off the lounger and strolled toward them.

“Stop right there,” she advised. “No closer.”

He came to a halt and frowned, his eyes moving from her to the pistol in Lilith’s hand. “What’s going on? Why the gun?” He seemed genuinely taken aback, but Ari wasn’t ready to accept anything either of the Kirsch brothers said.

“Which brother are you?”

“Gerhard. What’s wrong with you?”

“Where’s your brother?”

The warlock’s face hardened. “Now I get it. Warin’s done something, like usual. Who did he piss off this time?” He looked at the gun again. “It must be serious.”

“Where is he? And where have you been the last twenty-four hours?”

Gerhard crossed his arms. “I’m not telling you anything until you explain why you’re asking.” He turned his back on her and walked toward the house. “I’m going to get a beer and check on my mixture. If you want to talk, come inside, but put the gun away.”

Ari lifted a brow at Lilith. “We can either shoot him or go have a drink.”

“He’s got balls. I’ll give him that.” Lilith took the second pistol out of its holster, holding one in each hand. “I’m not putting my guns away.”

“A compromise then.” Ari grinned. “Beer and guns.”

They entered the house and found the warlock stirring a pot on the stove. He turned the dial to off and set the potion aside. Three beers already stood on the table.

“I thought I said no guns.”

“She doesn’t take orders well, and never from traitors.”

Gerhard straightened. “Traitors? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Are you saying you don’t know?”

“Of course I don’t know,” he snapped, clearly losing patience. “Tell me what you think Warin has done.”

“I didn’t say it was Warin. You could be the freaking coward we’re looking for. So the guns stay.”

“Me?” He thrust out his jaw in angry defiance. “Are you crazy? I don’t even know what crime I’m supposed to have committed.”

“I’m trying to explain, but you need to stay cool and not make any sudden moves. Lilith has a very itchy trigger finger.” Ari stood in the doorway, waiting for him to come to a decision.

“You come in here making accusations and waving guns and expect me to stay cool?” He finally stepped back and relaxed his stiff shoulders. “OK. I want to know what’s happened, so we’ll talk.” He waved them toward the table. “Have a chair, and a beer.”

Ari sat down across from him but ignored the beer.

“You don’t drink?”

“Only with friends, and I’m not sure what you are yet.”

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Is your friend really going to stand there with those guns aimed at me?”

“Yes.”

He scowled. “Then let’s hear it.”

“A warlock attacked the vampire compound in my hometown of Riverdale. He admitted to being a Kirsch brother but refused to tell me which one. You’re very much alike, including your voices. That warlock was working for the O-Seven and was responsible for the murder of one of my best friends. Plus dozens of vampires, a police officer, and a scientist.” By the time she finished, her pulse pounded and energy sparked from her fingertips.

“Hell, no.” Gerhard shook his head in vigorous denial. “This can’t be true. Somebody fooled you. You’ve made a mistake.”

“I
talked
to one of you in Riverdale.”

Gerhard still shook his head, staring at the floor as if he couldn’t grasp what he’d heard. Ari was just cynical enough to think he was a damn good actor.

“Warin has always been difficult, but I never dreamed… Tell me all of it.” He frowned at her. “You can’t really think I’d be a part of this.”

“I don’t know you that well.” In fact, she didn’t even know if he was Gerhard. The more she looked at him she realized Sophie was right. The differences she’d seen were mostly based on the brothers’ behavior. If they’d been faking, she didn’t know who was who. She searched his face and hands for some distinguishing feature and noticed a tiny scar above his right eyebrow. It looked old.

She pulled out her cell phone and dialed the hospital, asking to be put through to Sophistrina. When the priestess answered, Ari asked her about the scar.

“It’s Gerhard all right. He got the scar in a fall when we were kids.”

“Thanks, that’s all I need for now. I’ll call you back when I can.” Ari hung up before the woman started asking questions.

“Satisfied?” Gerhard had regained his composure.

“For now.” She turned to Lilith. “You can put away the guns. At least I know who I’m talking to.” She cocked her head. “So where’s Warin?”

Gerhard waved a casual hand. “You seem to know more about his whereabouts than I do. He left here five days ago. Said he was making a short business trip. Didn’t say where, and I haven’t seen him since.”

She made a small disparaging noise in her throat.

“You think I’m lying? Why?” he protested. “Warin and I don’t report to each other. I almost wish we did. I might have some clue what he’s doing.”

“You didn’t know his loyalties had changed?”

“To the vampires?” He sat forward abruptly. “Hell, no. I’d have killed him myself.”

He sounded like he meant it, but was he a little too adamant? “Where have you been the last few days?”

“Right here. I was at a symposium in Frankfurt for a couple of days. You can check if you like.” He got up, retrieved a brochure from the kitchen counter, and threw it on the table.

Ari handed it to Lilith. “Can you check that out while we finish chatting?”

“Sure. The number’s right here, so it should be easy.” Lilith grabbed her cell phone and walked into the next room, keeping them in sight through the doorway.

Ari turned back to Gerhard. “And since the conference?”

“Here. Working on a paper for the Warlock Quarterly.”

“Alone, I assume. With no one to vouch for you.”

He snorted in derision. “Hardly enough time to get to the US and back.”

“Maybe.” Unless he’d teleported.

Lilith interrupted their conversation, waving her cell phone. “He was at the Frankfurt meeting. Both days.”

Gerhard’s gave her a smug look. “See? Now do you believe me?”

“I believe you were in Frankfurt.”

Gerhard shifted in his chair and rubbed his chin. “Tell me more about this incident in the States. I still can’t believe he would hurt people.”

Watching his face, she laid out some of the details. He denied knowing Bartole, gave all the appropriate answers, showed all the right reactions. She still wasn’t convinced.

When she finished, Gerhard stood and got another beer from the fridge. “My brother has been hiding his life from me. I never imagined he had that kind of power. I knew he’d dabbled in black magic, but teleportation…” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead briefly against his fist. “The spell, the killings. How could my brother be responsible for that? How could any single warlock have that kind of power? But you say you talked to him?”

“To one of you.”

He shot her a swift glance, but didn’t comment on her correction. “He’s got to be out of his mind.” He crossed to the window and gazed outside. “How can I help? He must be stopped.”

“I think he’s inside the vampire stronghold. Do you know a way to get inside?”

“I wish I did.” His focus remained on the scene outside. “These woods are filled with spies, and the numbers increase close to the castle. The gates are guarded at all hours.”

“I heard there’s a tunnel.”

“The troll tunnel?” He cut off a laugh. “A fairy tale. No one has ever found it.” He turned away from the window. “How’d you hear about it?”

“Sophistrina.”

“How is she? I heard about the attack and that she was injured.”

And conveniently he’d been out of town. “She’s doing OK, but it’s going to take the coven quite a while to recover.” She didn’t mention Sophie’s pending release. The less the warlock knew, the better.

“I should visit her.” He finished the beer and set the empty on the counter. “I could offer to help with the coven while she’s recuperating.”

Ari wasn’t so sure Sophie would welcome him, and she certainly wouldn’t want his help. Until they knew which brother was the traitor, each brother would be
persona non grata
. She brought the conversation back to the tunnel. “Who might know more about this underground passage?”

“I suppose you could check at the troll market. They don’t like strangers much, so don’t be surprised if they snub you. You’d be wasting your time, but I can take you.”

“Directions will do. There’s no need to take up your time.”

“Still don’t trust me, huh?” Gerhard shrugged. “Your choice. I have my own work to do.” He wrote down the directions, even drew a map, and handed Ari the paper. “If you locate my brother or a way to get into Castle Verdammung, you may want my help. Call me. I wouldn’t attempt to go alone.”

“Verdammung?”

“It’s the name locals call the stronghold. Loosely translated, it means damnation or doom.”

“That’s just creepy,” Lilith said.

Gerhard’s gave her a wry look. “You Americans are so prone to understatement.”

* * *

It was dark, much too late for an outdoor market to be open, so Ari and Lilith found a motel room and settled in for the night. While Lilith watched TV, Ari spent almost an hour talking with Claris by phone, reliving the memorial and the day’s events, and sharing silent tears. Steffan and Ryan had stayed by Claris’s side throughout the church and cemetery services. Ari didn’t know how she could ever thank them enough. Mangi had been a constant shadow that everyone had gradually accepted as a more or less permanent fixture.

Ari wiped her cheeks when they finally hung up and wandered over to peer out the window. A sliver of moon winked at her from a clear night sky. Was Brando up there somewhere? Could he still see the friends he’d left behind? She lifted a hand to still her trembling chin. Maybe he could watch over Andreas for her.