The Witch With No Name
Page 53

A truer word has not been spoken, Al said, reaching over his shoulder to take the new cup Mark was handing him.
Look, I said, and Al choked on his coffee.
Oh God. Shes got a list, the demon gasped, still coughing, and Jenks grinned, cup raised in a salute.
We cant allow the undead masters to die! I said, undeterred. It was crazy last spring. Vivian, the news you got on the West Coast was sugarcoated. Cincinnati almost collapsed under mob rule. All services were cut. People went hungry because they were afraid to go outside, and for good reason. Theyre still trying to repair the damage, and Im not talking about just the buildings.
Nodding, David ruefully rubbed his wrist, broken when hed tried to stop Nina from crashing the van she was driving into a train.
Rachel, Professor Anders said, making me jump. Can the demons do anything? Perhaps they have a charm to banish the undead souls again. Permanently.
I twirled my almost full cup of coffee around. Dont ask me. Ask the demon.
The woman leaned in across the table, reminding me of why I didnt like her. Apparently, I am, she said, and I gave her a fake smile.
Al could hardly stand being ignored by her, and with a loud harrumph, he broke the womans icy gaze on me. No. And whereas ending the ever-after would forever eliminate the possibility of us being trapped there again, the risk is too great that we might find our own existence ending with it. The demons vote no. We are going to do nothing.
Big surprise, I grumped, still watching my cup go around and around.
Doing nothing is a decision, Al said tightly. The old undead will die. The new undead will replace them, perhaps with souls, perhaps not. I cant wait to find out.
Sadist, Ivy snarled, and Jenks rose up, concerned that she might lose it. Its hard enough watching your mother slowly become insane, but to sit at a table with someone whod been around when the original curse had been woven was harder.
Okay, okay, I soothed, and Jenks quietly flew over to whisper calming things into Ivys ear. No one is going to advocate letting this run its course, I said, watching Ivy. Except the demons, who are a small but powerful and likely uncooperative faction.
Al inclined his head graciously, and Professor Anders sniffed at him.
So where do we stand? Trent looked at Vivians notes in envy as she collected them together and tapped the ends on the table.
I have yet to make my report to the coven, the woman said resolutely. Ill give a vote of no confidence in Landons plan, but theyre scared. Her attention shifted to Al. Scared of demons in reality, scared of vampires out of control, scared that humans will rise up against all of us when the vampires lose it again. I can almost guarantee they will vote to reinstate the Arizona lines and destroy the undead souls to save what they can of society.
That is not fair! Ivy exclaimed, and David nodded his agreement. I could see him already going over his resources, the worry pinching his brow.
Al, too, was glowering, but it was Professor Anders who said, The academic society will not go along with this. The lines cannot be reinstated. Dont expect any help from us.
Vivian smiled cattily. We never do.
The tension had risen, and I suddenly realized that Mark had quietly been getting people out the door over the last five minutes. Smart man.
David? Trent asked. What can we expect from the streets?
David started from his thoughts. Ah, Im not really a representative. I was there because they couldnt find anyone else on short notice.
The reality was that the Weres didnt have an overseeing board of individuals that governed the rest of their species, but if there was one, David was it, given the focus, and I touched his hand and motioned for him to be out with it.
Um, Ill talk to the packs I can reach, he said, but I can tell you right now, wed rather have the vampires freak out as they reorganize under fewer masters than risk not being able to shift. Weve hidden before, we can do it again. He glanced at Ivy. Im sorry.
But no one was sorry for Al, and he was under the same risk of extermination if the lines were destroyed.
Professor Anders let her clasped hands hit the table, clearly miffed. The vampires have been scared into following a voice promising salvation. If we give them an alternative, I think theyll take it. I say our focus should be on finding a way to capture and fix individual undead souls before they have a chance to rejoin their original bodies. If nothing else, it might calm the vampires enough to realize Landon is playing them for fools. They dont want a world without magic any more than we do. I would like to head that up if I may.
Trent and I had already figured out how to capture an undead soul, but before I could say anything, Ivy drummed her fingers, clearly ticked. Cormel wont go for individual collection. In fact, its worse knowing that your soul is on the shelf, able to complete you but will end your life if you join with it.
Im so sorry, Ivy. I keep trying to help you, and I only keep making things worse.
Rachel has already pioneered and patented the white curse needed to capture an undead soul, Al said, his expression almost beatific as he gazed at the uptight professor. Id be delighted to explain it to you. How are you at making coffee?
Professor Anders looked him over. I make excellent coffee, but youre making your own. She hesitated, shifting away from him for the very first time. I dont trust you.
Unperturbed, Al stood and extended a hand for her. That is what makes it interesting, he almost crooned. Shall we go to your lab? Or mine?
Al and Anders, sitting in a tree Jenks sang out, then yelped at the twin pops of magic exploding under him, one from Anders, one from Al.
Eyes squinted in mistrust, Professor Anders stood and placed her hand in Als. The demon beamed, and she gasped as they just . . . vanished. Both their coffees went with them.
Trent shook his head in disbelief. Okay, that was something I hadnt expected. Vivian, where are you staying?
It sounded like things were wrapping up, and thered been no decisions, just ideas that werent going to work. What about Landon? I asked.
Im staying downtown at the Cincinnatian, Vivian said, tucking her notes away in a tiny purse that had to be bigger on the inside than the out. Give me until noon. She hesitated as she stood. Ah, make that three. They might not be up yet. Ill have a better idea of what the coven will do.
But I already knew theyd back Landon, and I slumped.
Good. Trent leaned his chair back on twolegs with his hands clasped behind his head, looking pleased with what wed learned. Ive found a few pieces of support in the dewar. Perhaps we can pool our resources if you find enough dissent.
Ill see what I can do. Vivian gave me a nod. See you when its done, Rachel. Try not to destroy Cincinnati like you did San Francisco.
That was KuSox! I said as she nodded to Jenks and Ivy, both of whom looked as happy as I feltthat is, not at all.
David, you want a ride somewhere? Vivian asked, and David pulled himself out of his thoughts with a grunt and reached for his phone.
Sure. Thanks.
Trents chair came back down onto all fours. Actually, David, Id like to talk to you about something.
David perked up, hiding a sly smile that had Vivian putting a hand on her hip. What are you planning? she accused.
Ah, just the local distribution of the packs to minimize disruption to services, Trent lied, and Ivy sent Jenks to get a croissant. We might be here awhile. The same thing the packs did the last time the vampires panicked.
Yeah, okay, the smart woman said, and then seeing that no one was going to say anything more while she was standing there, she stomped out to the rental car shed driven them all here in. I dont want to know, anyway, do I! she called back over her shoulder before the door shut.
Excited, I sat up. All the busybodies were gone, leaving those who had the guts to actually do something. What are we going to do?
Trent smiled at my enthusiasm, then sobered at Ivys calm, deadly anticipation and Davids expectation. Outside, Vivian raced the cars engine and left. Vivian will try, but the coven is going to side with Landon to banish the undead souls and drain the ever-after for the energy to reinstate the lines, Trent said.
Its unethical, Ivy said bitterly, and I thought of the demons, facing their own maybe demise. It hurt that no one seemed to care.
I agree, Trent said in placation, but fear will convince the coven and the dewar to follow him. Our number one priority is to find Landon. Trent smiled at me, and finally my shoulders started to ease. We have until tomorrow at sunset.
Jenks made a burst of dust in worry. Whats to stop him from doing it tonight?
Its the equinox, I said, only now remembering it. Tomorrow, about an hour before sunset. If hes going to break the lines, thats when hes going to do it. All things will be equal.
Trent was nodding, and Ivy exhaled as she slumped back. At least we have some time to plan this one, she said sarcastically. Tomorrow?
Hell, I didnt need a plan, just a direction.
The thing about a collective curse is that it can be broken if the person orchestrating it is, ah . . . Trents voice trailed off as he searched for a word.
Killed? Jenks suggested, striking a pose and stabbing the sugar packets.
I was going to say distracted, Trent said, and Jenks held his cup under the tiny stream of sugar spilling out.
Killed works for me, David said. Im all for live and let live, but this guy is knowingly hurting too many people.
Take Landon out and theyll just find someone else to do it, Ivy said glumly.
Perhaps, but they will have to wait an entire six months. And if we cant convince Landon to cease, we might be able to work a clause into the curse that will shift it to our liking, but we have to find him first.
My eyebrows rose. You can do that?
Trent shifted uncomfortably. With some planning. Its how the elves originally turned the curse around and trapped the demons in the ever-after instead of us. Landon wont be looking for such subterfuge, but we have to physically be involved in the casting of the curse to break the lines, and for that, we need to find him.
Ivy, I can use your help with that, David said, and the despairing look Ivy had been wearing since I walked in finally eased.
Jenks can keep us clean, Trent said, and the pixys sparkles turned a bright silver. Which will leave you and me, Rachel, to twist the curse to our liking.
And maybe Mark to make us a couple more coffees while we figure out how to do all that, Jenks said.
I couldnt help my smile. That totally worked for me.
Chapter 24
This tastes like moldy mulch, I whispered as I set the tiny potion vial down and stifled a shudder at the gritty feel of it as I swallowed. The recipe made seven portions, and as I reached for another, I decided that Id leave the last four for Trent. Elves had an affinity for blending into shadows, but the spelled ability to become virtually invisible seemed prudent. I didnt know if elves could store potions like demons could, but we figured it was worth a try. I was finding out they were more alike than different, which was about par for the course. The more I knew, the more I realized everything Id been told was probably wrong.
Trents breathing was slow and even as he napped on the cot, the light blanket pulled up almost over his head. Hed once told me that he envied the way most people could stay awake through the entire day, but Id always thought it more effective to never need to sleep more than four hours at a go instead of an interminably long eight hours at a time. The world could end in eight hours and youd never know until it was too late.
I hadnt been surprised when Trent had suggested coming out here to spell. The hut was hard to find notwithstanding its being mere steps from his back office, even with the fire going and giving off a telltale thread of smoke. There was no running water or electricity, which made it a very secure place to spell, if a little small. The table I was working at was actually a fold-up job, slipped out from under the cot.
And I liked it here, away from the polished simplicity of most of Trents rooms. It was only here that I felt comfortable among the softer, earthy parts of Trents nature carefully hidden away from casual bruising. Here he kept his favorite booksthe ones that had helped shaped his ideas of right and wrong. A small shrine to his mother glowed with candlelight next to the summoning circle set within the ley line that nicked the inside corner of the building. Mementos from camp and college were cheek by jowl with scientific awards, the layer of dust an accurate determination of when hed won them. Thank-you letters and pictures from people he and his father had saved with illegal genetic medicines were shoved in drawers along with brochures of places hed never have time to go. The hut held everything that was dear to him, everything too precious to have where people could see it. That the mantel now held Mr. Fish and that black chrysalis from Al made me feel more than good; it made me feel like I belonged.