Scarlet Mirror (Rise of the Vampire Princess Book 3), page 21
Valencia smiled. “As much as I would enjoy catching up with your recent escapades, we must get down to business. I fear that with your most recent news, you will need more powerful allies, and we cannot afford to waste time.”
I bristled at that thought. “Yes, news has really taken off.”
“Princess Abigail said you wished to exchange your alliance for us finding a warlock or a witch who could break the circle around your mansion?” Levi asked, moving us back on task.
Valencia nodded. “Yes. I would back you in the war that is coming, me and my fledglings.”
I raised a brow at that information. “You have fledglings?”
She chuckled and smiled at me. “Oh Abigail, of course I do. I haven’t spent centuries alone.”
That opened up a whole new line of questions I wanted to ask her. Like how that worked with her being a hybrid, but I squashed down the curiosity. “How many?”
“Three hundred.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a lot in terms of fledglings, but I looked at Levi.
“That’s a small army.” His voice was indifferent. “And they are all loyal to you?”
She nodded. “I haven’t given them any reason not to be.”
I frowned. “Then why have they not helped you?”
Valencia’s eyes flashed red for a moment, but she shrugged. “They can’t get in the circle. They have also gone and struck out on their own.”
I didn’t have an exact count on how many vampires were pledged to Levi, which meant I wasn’t sure if three hundred would help us or pose a threat if Valencia went against us.
“Abigail?” She asked. “What do you think?”
I hated questions like this. It made me think they were trick questions.
Levi put a hand on my knee. It was his way of telling me to keep my cool or to tread carefully.
“I think I’d rather speak to each one of them to see where their loyalties lie. They may remain loyal to you still, or they may not. They may be loyal to Levi, or they may hold Ivan and Samara above all. I’m here to negotiate your alliance and your freedom, not your fledglings’.”
She laughed. Not a malicious laugh, but a pleasant laugh like my answer surprised her.
“Oh Levi, she’s a joy. Smart with her words. Still thinks with her human heart. Very well, Abigail. I shall only pledge my loyalty and then make plans for you to meet my fledglings.”
Levi removed his hand, and I hoped that meant that I had met his approval with the answer. “Abigail is learning well what it means to deal with vampires. Thank you for the compliment.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. “There are a couple of people I have in mind to help you with the circle.”
“Your uncle has already refused to help. So, I hope you’re not counting on him.” The laughter in her voice died. “Or that wench of a wife.”
I didn’t know how she knew about Melisandra, but I was going to let the comment go. I currently didn’t know how I felt about my aunt at this moment anyway. “No, Oliver has made it very clear that he would like to stay out of vampire business as much as he can.”
Levi nodded. “We have a handful of talented people we work with. I would like to know, though, what your plans are when you gain your freedom.”
Valencia leaned back in her chair. “I owe a visit to a particular witch and warlock.”
“You may not kill them,” I said before thinking, and then paused as both vampires looked at me. “Whatever feuds you had are over a hundred years old. You will not cause further violence in this matter.”
She stared at me. “I thought you would understand, Abigail. The need to take down those who have wronged you. Your sense of justice is similar to mine.”
“I think you might have thought wrong. I don’t go out seeking to kill those who have wronged me. I defend myself when necessary.”
Levi nodded. “I agree with Abigail about this. Whatever feud you have, I am not helping free you if your only thought is of revenge.”
“Perhaps you are right. I have stewed in my anger for so long, I’ve forgotten what joys the world could bring me. Sasha tells me it has changed quite a bit.”
Levi nodded. “A lot in the last hundred years.” He smiled. “Just the technology is amazing. Never mind the strides we’ve made as a society.”
There was still room for improvement, but seeing as vampires and werewolves could walk around, most of the time, without being attacked, was probably an improvement. Especially since both were still hiding a hundred years ago.
Valencia was silent for a moment. “Very well. I will honor that. No revenge on the witch who did this to me.”
“Or the warlock you mentioned,” I added. I hadn’t forgotten about that.
She smiled. “My visit to him would not be for revenge, sweet Princess. But reconnection.”
I honestly didn’t know if that was any better, but I kept my mouth shut. We were making progress with this conversation, and I wanted to keep it that way.
“I would also like to advise Abigail about her new life,” Valencia stated, and both Levi and I seemed to jerk at that.
“Advise me how? The council is there to help guide me through politics and decisions.”
She smiled. “As a hybrid, how to navigate that part of your life. You’re surrounded by males. I think a princess needs another woman in her life.”
I was about to argue that I had Liz, but she wasn’t a vampire. Maybe she was right. I glanced at Levi.
He seemed lost in thought for a moment. “I appreciate the offer. I think it is something that Abigail can benefit from. There are no other true hybrids like you two.”
“Thank you, my king.”
“However,” Levi continued. “When the two of you are together, one of Abigail’s guards must be present. I’m sure you understand the risk of putting a newly pledged person so close to the princess.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” There was no lie in her voice. “I hope that Abigail and I might become friends through this as well.”
Still no lie. No doubt.
“Let us gather our sources and we will remove the circle around your mansion within the week.”
Valencia damn near glowed with her smile. “Thank you, my king. I look forward to it and to how I can help your power grow.”
Levi stood. “Abigail?”
I followed him. “It was great to see you again, Valencia. I look forward to your release.”
“So do I, Princess. So do I.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Oliver
Ilooked through the massive amount of information that Merick had forwarded to me. Years of Melisandra’s history that I had only known a part of.
I leaned back, looking at the painting of her and her brother in the fucking Renaissance. Not aging a day.
Maybe I should talk to Conrad about this after all. Maybe that’s what he’s been trying to tell me.
But the look of fear in Melisandra’s eyes when he was around was real. Tangible almost.
The type of fear that couldn’t be faked.
Melisandra walked into my office, a cup of tea in her hand. “What are you working on?”
I shut the computer down. “I was going over the emails from the safe house for elementals. Their numbers are growing. We’re looking for a bigger house that still allows them room to learn their abilities.” It wasn’t a lie. That’s what I had been looking at before Merick’s messages came through.
“Hm. Did you see the news?” she asked and sat down in the wingback chair I’d moved to the office for her.
I snorted. “I did. I’m surprised that Stephanie’s article has caused that much of a stir. She’s normally not taken that seriously.”
“I think we should take that trip soon. There’s going to be a lot of chaos surrounding this situation.” She sipped her tea. “It’ll be nice not to be in the epicenter of it.”
“I wanted to take Abigail on the trip.” I sighed. “She also needs a vacation.”
She let out a soft laugh. “I don’t think Levi is going to approve that right now.”
I rolled my eyes.
“There will be other trips, Oliver.” She stood and walked over to my desk. “Abigail’s not going anywhere. Just the two of us. It’ll also give us a break from my brother’s visits.”
That would be nice to have. “I’ll book the tickets.”
She leaned over the desk and gave me a quick kiss. “Thank you. I’d also like to spend some time on my property.”
Her place was incredibly peaceful. Healing.
I glanced at the computer, thinking about the things Merick had sent me, and then back to her.
People could change. Her aurora wasn’t nearly as corrupted as it should have been for someone who’d been playing with black magic for so long.
“Of course. When we get back from our trip, we’ll spend some time there.”
She smiled, spun on her heels, and walked out of the room.
I opened the computer again and closed the emails from Merick and pulled back up the one from the safe house. I had things I needed to focus on that were more important.
And if I wanted to take the trip, then I needed to make sure all my ducks were in a row.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Abigail
Merick and Liz both sat at the round table that we typically used for council meetings. “This is twofold,” Levi stated. “We need to speak to you about releasing the circle around Valencia’s mansion, and we need to talk about the new lab that we found.”
“I guess we start with letting out the ancient vampire?” Liz suggested.
I nursed my cup of coffee. “That sounds like a good starting point. I don’t know if it will take the two of you or not to take down the circle.” I looked at Merick. “You were there. What do you think?”
He crossed his arms and thought for a moment. “I would like to have backup, just in case there’s something stronger that I’m not sensing.”
I nodded. “Liz? Are you up for that?”
She nodded. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’d also feel better if you or Levi were there.”
“I will be there with Zayne. Levi thinks it’s a good show of trust for just me to be there.”
Zayne snorted behind me. “There’s also that slight chance that she attacks, and we can’t risk both Levi and Abigail being there.”
I rolled my eyes, but I knew that was one reason only I would be going.
“The sooner we can do it, the better. And since we’re at a standstill on the PIB case, I think we can take some time and go do it.”
Levi nodded. “We want to secure Valencia’s alliance as soon as we can. We don’t know what Ivan and Samara are planning. They’ve already tried to assassinate Abigail once.”
“Next time I see them, I’ll just shoot them,” I muttered, and Levi glared at me. “I’m kidding. I know better than that. They can move faster than I can shoot them.”
“Unless you surprise them.” Liz snorted.
“Pretty sure that’s why Grayson’s brains were all over the wall,” Mario added, and I looked back at him.
“No, Grayson doubted I would shoot him. That’s why.” I shook my head. “I know we have to handle this situation carefully or we’ll make a martyr out of them.”
Levi just stared at me for a moment.
“What?”
“That is the most princess thing you’ve said.” He smiled.
I shrugged. “I can learn. Anyway, we can go tomorrow night to let Valencia out.”
“Then tonight, I’d like to take you three to see the lab we just discovered. I’m hoping that Liz and Merick might shed some light on what happened there.”
I leaned back in my chair. I was going to feel completely useless at the lab. Unless we caught someone we could interrogate.
I glanced at Levi. Did he feel this way when I was always doing magical things? Like he had to just sit on the sidelines and wait?
Levi raised a brow. “Something on your mind?”
I shook my head. “No, just a new perspective on things.” I shrugged and sipped my coffee again. “If we’re going to go tonight, I’d like to feed first. I don’t want to chance getting hungry if I smell blood there.”
Levi nodded in agreement. “Zayne, take her to feed and then meet us at the location.”
Zayne nodded. “I’ll check the house really quick and send a text when it’s safe.” He disappeared, and I let out a long sigh.
“This is exhausting. I’d rather just go with him.”
“It’s his job to protect you, Abigail.” Levi shrugged. “I know that you’re capable of it, but it’s better for you to have extra protection. Especially while you’re still learning.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know.” My phone buzzed, and I checked it. “That’s my sign. I’ll see you guys in a bit.”
After feeding, Zayne took us to the lab, and we stood there. In the middle of a warehouse room with hospital beds laid out in neat rows, the IV bags still hanging on their hooks, with the tubes running down to the floor. Whatever was in them was long gone by now.
The smell of bleach and cleaner hanging in the air was almost enough to make me gag. The way the sheets were thrown off the bed, I could almost imagine everyone standing up and shouting ‘I’m healed!’ and walking out of the cold room.
I’d been in one much like this before. When Ira had me on a table because I’d exchanged myself for the safety of Simon’s wolves. Something that I would have done again in a heartbeat.
But something ate at the memory in my head. Trying to bring back that feeling of being drugged and trying to control a fire in order to get myself free.
“Abigail?” Levi’s voice cut through the hazy memories, and I looked at him.
“Sorry, I was deep in thought.”
He raised a brow. “You need to be more aware of your surroundings.”
Merick and Liz were drawing a circle on the ground, and I frowned. “I want to be in the circle to see.”
Liz shook her head. “No, not this time.”
I resisted stomping my foot like a toddler, but I had to listen to her. She was the witch in charge here. She and Merick. If they said I couldn’t be in the magic circle, then I couldn’t be in the magic circle.
Levi put a hand on my shoulder and guided me further away. “It’s okay, Abigail. Just watch them work.”
Something itched inside me as they closed the circle. Like something was crawling on the inside of my skin, increasing with each word they chanted.
I knew the spell. I’d performed it a few times to see glimpses of the past.
I wanted to see what they saw. I crossed my arms as the magic in the room increased. The blue and red circle crawled around Merick and Liz, their magic mixing.
I titled my head as the magic reached out to me. Snaking around my ankles, out of the circle’s bounds. Levi pulled me back, and I looked up to see Merick and Liz talking and pointing at things. Whatever was happening, they weren’t aware of it.
I glanced down as the magic wrapped around my ankle, the itching in my skin becoming worse.
Levi put a hand on my shoulder. “Abigail?”
I glanced up at him and then looked back down. The magic was gone, but the feeling inside me remained, like something was growing and wanted out.
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, trying to push the feeling away, but it did nothing. “I think I’m reacting to the magic.” I looked at the circle around Merick and Liz as they stood there with their lips pressed together, their eyes watching something we couldn’t see. The circle looked whole now, nothing reaching out from it toward me.
The circle came down, and the prickling sensations in my body went with it. I took a deep breath as my body felt cold suddenly. “Abigail?” Levi asked again.
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Nothing major.” I’d talk to Valencia about it later and see if she reacted that way when her magic returned. There was no way that I could explain it to Levi.
Liz and Merick walked up to us, and I dropped my arms. “What did you see?”
“The five vampires were here. They were talking with someone we don’t know. They moved their experiments to a location that Ivan and Samara secured for them.”
I wrinkled my nose. “There’s going to be an army of hybrids, isn’t there?”
“It didn’t look like they had much success. They were moving just as many bodies as they were living patients.” Merick crossed his arms. “I think it’s safe to say that they don’t have the correct spell.”
That was good, but it didn’t mean they were going to stop. “They have Ira’s notes, because of the doctor we have in custody.” I tapped my fingers against my leg. “I’d like to speak with him again.”
Levi shook his head. “It’s too dangerous to have you in the high security center when we know there’s someone in there working to get people out.”
He was probably right. “When things calm down, then. There’s nothing we can really do until we catch those five vampires. When we do, I want to be the one to interrogate them.”
Levi raised a brow. “Abigail, you’ve never truly seen a vampire interrogation.”
I wasn’t stupid. I knew they could be violent. “Once I’m done with questions, you and Mario can have at it. But I’m the one who can taste the lies.”
He was silent, like he couldn’t argue that fact.
Liz nodded. “Abigail is right. They’ll come to PIB first anyway. She can come in as your person and then once we release them to you, you and Mario can continue.”
“We still have to find them.” Levi pointed out, which was neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Almost a change of topic.
Merick nodded. “I’ll do a tracking spell and keep you updated. I’d rather these five not be on the streets to cause more attacks like the last one.”
That was something all of us could agree on.
“Please do.” Levi nodded. “Let’s get home. I know the spell takes a lot out of you. I’m sure you want to rest.”
Merick nodded. “I’m feeling a little more drained than normal,” he admitted and looked at Liz.
