RBC06.50 - Marcella, Vampire Mage (3 page)

She took her things and stomped past us. I chose a piece of chocolate cake and plopped down at the table.

“Good choice,” Sammy said, picking an identical piece and sitting down across from me.

I smiled as we scooped up the first bite together.

CHAPTER THREE

“What do you want to do this afternoon?” Sammy asked. “I brought some great books if you just want to hibernate in our room.”

“You know what, that sounds pretty good. We’ll take some more snacks and stay in.”

“More snacks? You may be able to burn all of this off, but I’m not that blessed.”

“You’re so thin, it would do you some good to gain a little weight,” I teased.

“True, if it’s in the right places.”

We giggled, and finished our cake.

“I’m stuffed. I think you’re right, we don’t need more snacks. I’ll just get some water.”

“I’ve never been around vampires, aren’t you supposed to kill something to eat?”

“We don’t need to do that anymore, if we don’t want to.”

“Oh, good.”

I mixed some crimson and drank it in private. Being the only vampire in the house made me a little self-conscious and I hated drawing too much attention.

Sammy was propped up on the bed, already reading.

“We don’t have to read about magic, so I have something special, books written by humans about fantasy creatures and beings like us.”

She handed me one. “Grimm’s Fairy Tales. This should be interesting.” We read for over an hour and then Sammy slammed her book closed.

“These are scary; are we that scary to people? Wicked witches, terrible stepmothers? It’s enough to scare children half to death!”

“You’re right, but I saw worse growing up. Maybe I am missing my calling. I should write Fairy Tales about Althar.”

“All right, why don’t you start with me? Tell me a story about the underworld. I’d love to hear about it.”

“Well, I really don’t want to talk about the scary things, but how about the handsome Demon Kings; Cathos and his brother Ceron?”

Sammy’s eyes were wide with wonder. “Handsome and Demon aren’t something I’m used to hearing in the same sentence. That sounds fantastic, go ahead.”

“Let me start by saying that Demon doesn’t mean evil. It means of the darkness, of fire. At least in Althar it does. Their kingdom, though full of evil of every kind, is peaceful, for the most part. My brother, Cain, saved King Cathos from the Dark Queen, who had deceived him, took his essence and was keeping it in a container by her bed, as a constant reminder of her victory.”

“Wait you know them, you’ve actually met them?”

“Oh yes,” I said. “They are considered dear friends of our family now. Cathos and Ceron are dark, yes, but reasonable and just. These men, bothers, are some of the most powerful beings in the underworld. Ceron’s palace has everything you could ever need. If you are an invited guest, you never want for anything. All you have to do is ask, and it will be magically provided.”

“Anything?”

“Well, I’m sure there are some limitations, but I’ve never been denied.”

Sammy sank deep into her pillow and sighed. “I would love to see it someday. I can’t believe what a great roommate I have. You know Kings, and the Five. Tell me about your brother, the one that is going to marry Katrina.”

“He’s our half-brother; his name is Damien. He’s from Austria. His father was High Regent for over a hundred years. Now Katrina’s father is High Regent. He’s great, too. Of course I never knew about Damien and he didn’t know about Cain and me, for all these years. Now that we have each other, I know we’ll never be apart again.”

“You sure have had an amazing life. I bet you can’t wait for the next adventure.”

I snickered. “Coming here
is
the next adventure, Sammy. I just want to be prepared to help in any way I can. Without Damien and Katrina, we would still be in Althar. There is no way I could ever repay them. But I am going to help in any way that I can.”

“So am I.”

“Tell me about your family, Sammy.”

Her expression soured. “They’re boring. We live in a very small village in northern England. My parents have an antique shop. Richard’s parents have a farm outside the same village. I have three older siblings; they are all a lot older than I am, married and have moved away. Because Richard and I are the same age, we spent a lot of time together when we were little. Now, however, we don’t have much in common, except for magic. And he’s been away at school.”

“There were so many times that I wished for your kind of family. Aren’t they proud you were invited to Nira’s?”

“I guess. They are so busy trying to mask who they are, I don’t think it matters.”

“Your skill must matter to someone, you were recommended.”

“That would be my teacher, well, our teacher; Richard’s and mine. He taught both of us at home in the early years.”

We heard someone in the hall, and a knock on the door.

“We’re going down to the lake for the bonfire. You coming?”

“Yes, we’re coming, Richard.”

“I’ll be along. I want to change.”

“So, change. I’m not letting you just sneak in unnoticed.”

“How did you know?”

“After what happened at lunch, are you kidding?”

Sammy closed her eyes and a light covered her from top to bottom, when it faded, she was refreshed and had a stylish new outfit on.

Feeling better, I followed with the same approach picturing what Katrina might wear to a gathering, and then giving it my personal touch.

“Nice,” Sammy said approvingly.

“Thanks, let’s go.”

To our surprise, Richard was waiting patiently downstairs.

“I guess Sabine is still primping,” Sammy mumbled.

“You both look lovely. Shall we?” he said gesturing to the door and offering an elbow to each of us.

I smiled shyly and laced my arm in his. My stomach fluttered; something I’d never experienced in my fifteen years.

I looked up at Richard, who just smiled.

The door opened and we walked down to the lake together.

“Everyone else is already down there. Faeries and Pixies are invited too.”

“That should be very interesting,” Sammy added.

“I love Faeries and Pixies. They’re fun.”

“I guess we are about to find out.”

“They’re magical beings, just like we are. They deserve respect,” I said, and pulled my arm away.

Everyone was gathered around the large bonfire and I could hear music. As I got closer I could see instruments; a mandolin, drum and fiddle were playing themselves a fine jig. Faeries and pixies were dancing and clapping. Even Georgia and Sabine were smiling and laughing.

Luke was dancing with an adorable Faerie maiden while Morna stood apart, watching the festivities with typical Elf reserve.

The surface of the lake was blanketed by a thin fog as the sun began to set. It was as if it was being doused by the lake, causing steam to rise from its cool surface.

“Let’s dance,” I heard Richard say.

As I turned to reply I saw him offer his hand to his cousin Sammy and her face beam with delight.

They danced the jig with glee, and I couldn’t help but laugh and clap along. I observed the crowd and noticed Kaer watching me. He nodded in my direction and smiled.

I smiled back and then noticed Nira. She was behind a table handing out sweets.

I walked over. “Is there anything that I can do?”

“Have some fun, Marcella. Go, have some fun,” she insisted shooing me away.

I was hoping to pour punch instead. I don’t dance, and I’d never really been very much fun.

I noticed Sabine glance over and then whisper something to Georgia, who glanced at me and then turned back to Sabine to continue their conversation.

I took a deep breath and strolled in Kaer’s direction.

He watched me approach and then started towards me. I could feel the quickening of my heartbeat and my mouth felt dry.

“I hope you will forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Kaer. Listen, why don’t we start over. Call me, Cella,” I said, and held out my hand.

He looked at me inquisitively for a moment and then smiled. Then he took my hand lightly in his, and raised it to his lips.

“Call me, whenever you need me. I promise to always be there for you.”

I thought that it was such a strange thing to say to someone he hardly knew.

“Dance with me.”

“Oh, I don’t…”

Before I could finish he scooped me into his arms and moved us around the fire with the others. I felt like I was floating, and when I looked down, I realized that that’s exactly what I was doing. I just relaxed and enjoyed every minute of it.

Soon the music stopped and we floated down to the ground.

“That was fun,” Sammy exclaimed as she joined us.

I pulled away from Kaer. “Yes it was.”

Richard and Luke approached us now, bearing cups of punch. Sabine and Georgia, not to be left out, walked over too.

Richard handed me a cup of punch and looked at Kaer.

“Kaer, this is my roommate Sammy, her cousin, Richard, Luke, Sabine and Georgia.”

“Good to meet you,” Kaer said. “If you’ll excuse me, I see my mother is speaking with Niranjana.”

He walked away and my gaze followed him. His mother was a female copy of Kaer, brown curly hair that perfectly framed her face. Some Fae had cat iris, but not these. Their large soulful green eyes were full of spirit.

She was petite and shapely, in a calf-length, silky, light teal dress and slippers. I strained my vampire hearing to try to see what they were talking about.

Kaer’s mother seemed agitated.

“I wonder what’s going on,” Sabine said, breaking my concentration.

“Shhh, I’m trying to hear what they’re saying.”

Before I could concentrate again, Kaer’s mother disappeared. Then all of the faeries took their tiny flying forms and did the same. Kaer turned to me, his face the picture of concern and he too, disappeared from sight.

The knee-high pixies were next to go.

“Nira, what’s going on?”

Nira waved her hand causing the instruments to disappear.

“The Faeries have detected evil. This land is protected by me. That means I have to find out what the evil is, and how it has gotten through the protections.”

“Did they say where?” Richard asked.

“Several areas along the border. It’s as if they’re testing the protections. I have to get back and see what I can do. Don’t worry, but maybe you should stay close to the cottage for now.”

Nira disappeared and the seven of us were suddenly alone.

Luke sat on a log next to the fire. “I don’t feel like going back right now.”

“Nira didn’t say we had to,” Morna said, as he too took a seat.

All the rest of us walked over and sat down.

“Who do you think it might be?” Georgia asked.

I looked around and no one seemed to have any answers.

“There are many in the underworld that draw power from others in order to support their magic,” I said.

“Are you talking about Dark Elves?” Morna wondered.

“Yes, along with the wizards and vampires who aid them.”

“Like you would know anything,” Sabine scoffed, her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“She knows more than any of us. Especially you, Sabine.”

Sabine’s face flashed anger as she stared at Sammy. She wasn’t used to being rebuked.

“So tell us all how you know of such things. Perhaps you’re a scholar?”

Now
I
was feeling anger. As much as I knew I didn’t need to defend myself, I wasn’t about to let her or anyone else belittle me.

“I know, because I grew up in Althar,” I pointed around the room. “Of all of you here, I’m the only one that has been really close to the evil. In fact I’ve seen things that would make a vulture wretch. I learned my magic from a dark wizard, not some teacher your parents hired for the purpose.”

This was technically not true, because I had hidden, watched my aunts’ lessons and then practiced on my own. Still, that was not something they needed to know.

“A dark wizard, next you’ll be telling us you personally know demons as well.”

“She does, the Demon Kings, Ceron and Cathos.”

Sabine and Georgia snickered. “Demon Kings. Well,” Sabine sneered, “you could tell us anything. How could we know?”

I bristled, working to a full rage. “I have no need to lie. And I don’t care if you believe me or not. You’re the one who was asking for an explanation. I only offered one.”