Insidious Whispers (The Hunter Diaries)

Arlen took a step towards her uncrossing his arms then stopped. “I see that you may need some time to get used to the idea. I’ll give you a moment to freshen up and then we’ll meet the Queen.” He glided to the door and glanced back one last time. “It was a pleasure meeting you Beth Stark. I’ll look forward to the next time.” He closed the bedroom door, and Beth heard a soft click.

She felt her heart racing. She had to find a way out of here. Frantically, she moved about the room searching for the tingling sensation that would tell her the Veil was near. No way would she let the queen have the Dark Tome. Beth had heard rumors about Queen Genevieve; bad rumors about having her heart broken and turning it to ice. The Faeland was covered in frost and snow just like her heart. If the rumors were true, then she was after the tome. It was Beth’s job - no - her sworn duty to protect it. She swore to her parents that she wouldn’t let the books fall into the wrong hands. Her parents had guarded the tomes before her, and their parents before that. She would not let them down.

The more she searched the more panic set in. There was no trace of the Veil. She would have to meet with the Queen, and she was afraid of what would happen when Queen Genevieve heard what she had to say. Beth sat heavily in one of two large chairs placed before a fireplace in the room. There was nothing to do but wait. She tried to breathe deeply and calm her racing heart.

Chapter 2

Phoenix entered the massive hall of the High Council. Three chairs - more like thrones -adorned the raised dais in which they sat. Each vampire gracing those chairs was more than a century old, Ancients. He was used to their solemn stares as he’d been called before them many times to deal with Council business. As an enforcer, it was his job to carry out their orders. He’d acted both as judge and executioner on their behalf.

He bent at the waist and bowed his head, refusing to kneel before them as others were want to do. In his own right, Phoenix was as ancient as any of them and refused to kneel before anyone. As he straightened, his eyes met and held those of Jean-Luc and he read the amusement in the Elder’s gaze.

Irritated, he squared his shoulders. “I’ve traveled a long way, and have business back in the Earthen Realm. What is it you need?”

Jean-Luc spoke, his voice raspy, he’d nearly been beheaded before he was turned and the damage was too extensive to heal all the way. Vampires rarely scarred, but at times there were things even vampire blood couldn’t fix. “We are concerned. There have been reports of vampires missing in your area of Seattle.”

Phoenix nodded. It was not news to him. He’d been researching the disappearances with the areas leader, Nicholas Solkav. So far they hadn’t unearthed what made the vampires disappear. “I am aware of the situation. We’re looking into it.”

Jean-Luc inclined his head towards Phoenix. “This must stop. You don’t believe the Wills are behind the disappearances do you?”

The question was an important one. The new treaty between the Wills family and the High Council was a new one. There was still a lot of distrust on both sides. The Wills family hunted vampires for years but when one of the daughters, Stephanie Wills, fell in love with Nicholas Solkav, and another, Chloe Wills, turned into a powerful witch, the High Council declared that a treaty must be made or they would seek out and destroy all those involved with the Wills family. The treaty stopped that from happening.

“No, we’ve been watching them for weeks. They are only going after those on the Rogue list as agreed.”

“It’s as we thought. There have been rumors of late. Rumors that Queen Genevieve is making her move on the vampire world, it was to be expected. The Fae Queen’s heart turned to ice when one of our own turned his back on her. Now, she wants revenge. We cannot let that happen.”  Jean-Luc stood as he spoke. His hands fisted and his eyes blazing red with the fires of Hell.

Phoenix stood his ground. “What do you want me to do about it?” His tone was almost belligerent. He might be an enforcer and an ancient, but one didn’t mess with the fairy queen and live to tell about it.

“We want you to recover and destroy the Dark Tome. It’s the only way she can have enough power to destroy all the vampires in the region she’s targeting. If she cannot access the spell in the book then she cannot get the power she needs. It’s as simple as that.” Jean-Luc placed his hands together in front of him looking as serene as a vampire could.

Phoenix wasn’t fooled. “It’s never that simple. What’s the catch?”

“Well, there may be one teensy little challenge to overcome. The book has a guardian. You’ll have to get past the guardian to get the book. But we’re in luck.”  Jean-Luc leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees and a benign smile on his face.

“How so?” Phoenix didn’t trust his smile for a second.

“The guardian is in the Other Realm right now according to our spies. If you can get to the Dark Tome before she returns…” he stood up and clasped his hands together like a happy child, “all will be well.”

“Fine, I’ll take the assignment, but once I’m done I am going to need some time off. I made a promise that I must fulfill.”

Jean-Luc raised an elegantly shaped brow. “Oh?”

“Yes. Now, if there’s nothing else, I need to get going. I take it there is a time restriction on this assignment.”

“Of course, we would like this completed as soon as possible. The safety of our race is at stake. If Queen Genevieve gets her hands on the Tome, there’s no telling what fury she will unleash.”

Phoenix started to turn from him. “Well, I’d best be going then.”

“Enforcer! There is no need to make the long trek back.” He held out a bag, “This contains enough Fae dust to get you through to the mortal world. You just have to think of where you are going.”

“But, I don’t know where I’m going.” Phoenix stepped up to the dais and held out his hand. 

Jean-Luc dropped the bag into his palm.

“Do you know where The Broom Closet is located in Seattle?”

Phoenix looked up from the bag surprised. “Yes, every Other Realm creature in Seattle knows where that shop is. It’s there?”

“Yes. It’s located in the back. Make sure you are in and out rapidly. Unfortunately, this is only enough Fae dust to get you there. You will have to find your own way back.”

The Broom Closet of all places. Phoenix shook his head.

“Just sprinkle the dust over your head and think of your destination; you’ll arrive in no time. Now, we’ve wasted enough time talking. Go.” Jean-Luc waved him away.

Phoenix strode through the hall and the giant double doors at the end. As they closed behind him, he picked up his weapons he’d left with the guard and equipped himself. Once his knives, stakes, and rifle were stored Phoenix took the little bag and poured the glittering dust into his hand.  He knew the shop all right; he’d watched several creatures he’d been keeping tabs on come and go from the place with regularity. Although he’d never entered, or met the proprietor, he knew it was special. Phoenix pictured the place in his mind envisioning himself inside the front door, just beyond the little wooden sign that declared the name of the shop and the proprietresses, Beth Stark and Ami Sherridon. He closed his eyes and felt himself pulled through space.

Phoenix grunted as his knee hit something. He opened his eyes, and he found that he was inside The Broom Closet. Shelves lined the shop with all sorts of magical ingredients. Most of them real, but some obvious tourist traps. His vision adjusted to the darkened interior. It was past midnight in Seattle, and he didn’t want to turn on any lights and alert the neighbors.  The back of the shop was a library of sorts. A sign hanging over the rail read, “please return when finished.” Damn. If the Dark Tome was in this part of the shop, anyone could have taken it. He started past the archway that led into the little library and felt a strange electric current shock him as he passed through. Weird. Shrugging off the feeling, he searched the shelves. The damn thing had to be here somewhere. Something whispered to him from his right. He couldn’t make out the sounds but he felt restless, and edgy, as though he needed to get the book and get out of there right now. He reached out a hand, and it fell on a large black leather tome on the shelf to his right. Power coursed up his arm as he started to pull it from its place.