The Witch With No Name
Page 52

I sat back, stunned. I had no idea that the demons believed in anything after death, but Al seemed genuinely appalled that Landon would destroy the vampires souls.
Lips curling, Al sneered at Trent. Any wonder we tried to kill you foul things?
Hey, thats enough, I said as Jenks rose up in agitation. Trent is on our side.
The door chimes jingled and Jenks darted to the door as David came in with two women, the first professionally dressed and having a sour expression, the second shorter, dressed in softer, flowing fabric that was no less professional. Both women moved with a grace born of responsibility, and I smiled when I recognized Vivian, the same woman from the witch coven whod traveled with Trent and me to the witch conference last summer. Vivian! I called, and she smiled, touching Davids shoulder as she pointed to us, then to the order window.
Give me a sec, she called out. Vampires cant make coffee to save their souls.
Jenks snickered. Dr. Anders, he added, and I jerked to a halt halfway to a stand. Crap, the woman was right beside me.
My old ley line instructor pulled her attention from the order line, her narrow face taking in Jenks hovering protectively close. Its professor now, she said to me as she took Trents hand as he extended it over the table. Kalamack, she said, adding, Ill be right back. Rachel, good to see you looking so well.
Somehow it sounded sarcastic. Ill, ah, get you a chair, I said, shifting to get out from beside her, grabbing one and setting it right next to Al and across from me. Jeez, the woman hadnt changed at all. Apart from the professor thing. No wonder Trent was so bummed about missing the meeting. This was big stuff and hed been sidelined.
Heels clacking, Professor Anders got in line behind Vivian. Trent and David were gathering more chairs, and Al slowly stood. Excuse me, he said softly, his eyes on Vivian.
Leave her alone, I warned him, remembering the demons liking for high-magic users. Al tugged his suit straight, smiling wickedly as he came up behind the two women. I took a breath to protest, distracted when David swung a chair around between mine and Als and plunked himself down.
Rachel, he said, squinting up at me with a decidedly attractive alpha-wolf stubble and confidence. Youre up early. How you doing?
I sat back down, enjoying the scent of good earth and spicy pine that came from him. I could see the power of the focus shimmering in the back of his eyes, and I figured he was channeling the demon curse strongly today, seeing that he was acting as a mouthpiece for Weres everywhere. Better than I thought I might, I said, glancing out the front window. Is someone getting you a drink?
Vivian. He twisted awkwardly to retrieve his phone from a back pocket. I hate meetings, he said as he set it on the table.
I totally understood, and I resettled myself. Hey, thanks again for helping get Ivy and Nina out of the square yesterday, I said, and Jenks snickered.
How is your jaw? Ivy asked, pulling my attention from Vivians giving Al the brush-off. His jaw? Why? What had happened?
Expression rueful, David felt his jaw, his eyes flicking to Ivy with more than a little respect. Fine, thanks, he grumbled, making Trent smile. Cormel is still trying to figure out how you two escaped.
Trent leaned forward over the table, eyes dancing. Her magic carpet, of course.
I am not a rug, Al said, and Trent jumped, unaware that the demon had been right behind him. Scowling, Al sat, pushing his chair so far back that he almost wasnt at the table.
Vivian and Professor Anders slowly made their way over, Vivian making a beeline for the free chair at the other end of the table to force Anders to take the chair between Trent and Al. Al smiled lasciviously at the older, uptight woman, surprise coloring his expression when the woman did nothing but give him a dry look and settle squarely in the space.
Ah, David, I said to distract the demon. Al brought up an interesting point; if Landon manages to destroy the undead souls, then it might negatively impact the undead, as their souls and consciousnesses might be forever divided. Is Cormel still buying into Landons lies, or is he just stringing Landon along hoping Ill come bail him out when it doesnt work?
David took the cup of straight black coffee that Vivian pushed to him. That wouldve been good to bring up. Why didnt you?
He was looking at Al, and from his distant inclusion at the end of the table, Al sipped his drink. Im not going to bandy about a questionable demon belief before six factions of Inderland society. And besides, I wasnt involved in the theoretical ramifications of the curse in question. I dont know how true it is.
Professor Anderss thin lips pressed into a line. Demon? she said in disbelief. Why werent you introduced as such?
Smiling wickedly, Al inclined his head. So as not to panic the leprechaun, my dear.
Who was? I asked, and then had to repeat the entire thing since no on was listening, captured by the emotions crossing through the tall woman. Who was involved in the theoretical studies?
Al pulled his gaze from Professor Anders. Newt. Dont ask her. She doesnt remember.
Professor Anders leaned distrustfully toward Al. You dont smell like a demon.
Hes a demon, Vivian said. Why do you think Im sitting way over here?
Lips parted, Professor Anders flushed, her gaze alternating between Al and me. Youre her instructor, she almost breathed. The one who taught her the curse to make a human a familiar.
Al grinned, taking her limp hand up and kissing the top of it. I am. Would you like to know it?
Oh God. He was doing it again. He used to be, I said loudly, leaning across the table to pull Professor Anderss hand from Al and making the woman start. He disowned me recently for dabbling in elven magic.
Dabbling? Al growled. Youre covered in it.
Professor Anderss eyes widened as she pulled up her second sight. Holy seraph spit, she said, blinking fast. Is that safe?
David sat up, gaze flicking from Trents proudly defiant expression and Als disgusted one. What? Whats wrong with Rachel?
Vivians whistle made me flush. Ah, that cant be healthy, the woman said, and Jenks went to sit on Davids shoulder and fill him in.
Can we get back to the topic, please? I said, flushing.
You look sparkly, Rache, Jenks said, wings clattering. You must have gotten some last night, eh?Matalina used to glow for hours after we
Shut up! I exclaimed, and even Mark, behind the counter, chuckled.
Fascinating, Professor Anders said, making me jerk back when she tried to touch my aura, apparently glowing from the mystics. You practice elf magic, too? This is what happens without formal instruction. Why dont elves glow?
Jenks rose up, clearly enjoying being the center of attention. Because elves dont have bits of the Goddess bonded to them like Rachel does.
I scrunched down when the narrow-faced woman pinned me under her stare. How does this impact your ability to do magic? Can you tap a line?
The rest of the table was beginning to stir uncomfortably, and I winced.
Im sorry, Professor, Trent said, interrupting. Im more than happy to take you and Rachel out to lunch to discuss this in further detail, but we need to come up with a course of action and I still dont know what was decided.
I touched his foot with mine in thanks, but I thought it was his desire to get on with this more than anything else. It had been awful watching him fidget this morning, excluded from what was once his domain. I think he missed this more than the money or the notoriety.
Jenks dipped a cup of coffee out of my own cup. Yeah, we have to save the world first before you can work on your next paperProfessor.
Okay. Trent scooted his chair up, hand touching his breast pocket as if looking for a pen. Landon is using the situation to try and kill the vampires through their lack of a soul. His method will further remove the source of magic so as to eliminate the threat of demons and witchesall to ensure elf survival. I simply fail to understand how Cormel can still believe Landon has his best interests in mind.
David pulled himself straight, his smile at my expense gone. I think everyone is more scared of a world without master vampires than one without magic.
Clearly used to running meetings, Vivian began taking notes. With the combined support of the coven and the enclave, the dewar can reinstate the Arizona lines with the energy from the shrinking ever-after.
Al lolled his head to the ceiling. Lie . . . , he drawled, and Vivian bristled.
It is not.
Als head dropped, and he found her eyes. You wish.
I agree, Professor Anders said, the sureness in her voice garnered from decades of arguing with know-it-all peers. The Arizona lines are dead. You cant reinstate them. Once gone, theyre gone. Its impossible to reverse a physical reaction like this; therefore, you cant reinstate lines. I dont care how big a collective, dewar, enclave, coven, or energy source you have.
Als attention slowly slid to her, taking in her stark lines, her pigheaded confidence, and her utter refusal to be afraid of him. My eyes narrowed as he stuck a finger into her aura.
It would be far safer to find a way to shove the undead souls back into the ever-after, the woman finished, shooting a withering look at Al.
The ever-after is a hell, Ivy spoke up, her voice ragged almost.
It wasnt when we made it, Al grumbled.
Professor Anders laced her hands before her as if there was nothing more to be said. Im sorry, Ms. Tamwood, but your kin is cursed. If its a choice between them or us living in hell, I pick them.
Jenkss wings clattered as Ivys eyes slowly blossomed into black. What did my mother do to deserve to be cursed? she said. What did I do? How many generations need to suffer for one man frightened of death!
Al shrugged, nonchalantly signaling Mark to make him another coffee. You could always end the curse by letting them die. Its what they want to do, apparently.
Jenkss wings drooped. And the world goes with them.
So what do we do? I said, keeping a tight watch on Ivy. We cant allow an end to the ever-after, even to prevent the undead souls from killing their, ah, own. I cant live in a world with no magic.
David tapped the table with a thick knuckle. His hands were looking rougher these days, and I wondered if he was embracing his wilder side more. Yes, I dont get that part. Why would Landon want an end to magic?
Wincing, Trent rubbed his forehead. Because elven magic isnt entirely dependent upon ley lines. We have an open forum through prayer and might be the only major magic users left if the lines go.
Might. He said might. As in demons might be able to use elf magic as well? Or might as in elves might not have magic either? The distinction was important.
What about Weres? David asked, understandably concerned.
I think youll be fine, Trent said, but David didnt look convinced. Weres and leprechauns also use the Goddesss energy to shift and perform magic. Id expect a slight reduction, but still functioning.
Not pleased, David slumped back. Its hard enough to shift already.
What about pixies? Jenks asked.
I think youll be okay, I said, but worry that he wouldnt made the coffee sit ill in me. Landon wouldnt care if the pixies died out in his bid for elven superiority. Hadnt he learned anything from the history texts?
Theres always the chance that if he cant reinvoke the Arizona lines
He cant, Professor Anders interrupted.
. . . that the Goddess will also lose her access to reality. Trents lips pressed together in thought. She wont be happy about that, he said, and Professor Anders drummed her fingers, clearly not believing in the Goddess at all.
Vivian set her pen down with a sharp snap. I was going to advise the coven to support Landon, but this changes things.
You believe in the Goddess? Professor Anders scoffed, and Trent bristled.
Vivian simply smiled. No. I was referring to the elves ability to draw on a separate band of energy not collected in a ley line to perform their magic, one that might still be available if the lines were dead. Calling it a deity is no skin off my nose, and I dont want any religious entity holding the rest of Inderland hostage. Once the lines end, everyone will panic. Theyll give the dewar anything and everything to reinstate them.
Eat that, Ms. Professor, Jenks said, darting to make the woman wave a hand at him.
Trent seemed mollified, but I knew it was only recently that hed begun believing in the Goddess himself. I know nothing for certain, he said, but Landon wouldnt risk losing the lines if he wasnt confident that hed be able to continue to perform magic.