Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

I passed the scroll to Manu, and the ancient parchment crackled slightly as he gingerly brought it closer to his face.

His eyes moved over it eagerly and his pupils dilated as they roamed over the old script. "Rene, this is remarkable. It's hard to believe this was here all this time. Just steps from the mansion."

Rene nodded. "It is ingenious, really. We would never desecrate a vampire's resting place. We take our eternal rest... quite seriously."

Manu held up the scroll and flashed his light at the edges. "Let's take this back to the conference room. We have the other pages and can see if they reveal more information when brought together."

Rene moved to the door. "I agree. Dawn is almost upon us, and I wish to have Raven inside." I stepped out of the mausoleum and though it was still dark, there was a sliver of orange on the horizon and my skin prickled. The tingly sensation bordered on pain, but I waited patiently as Manu exited behind me and Rene closed the door to the mausoleum.

We walked back to the mansion in silence, and Manu had his eyes on the paper the entire time. He tripped on an exposed tree root and Rene grabbed him to avert him from falling.

"Thank you," Manu said absently as his eyes remained on the page.

We entered the foyer to find a trio of vampires standing by the stairs and the rest of the massive room empty. They nodded to Rene as we passed them and continued to the conference room.

Rene opened the door, and I scooted in, followed by Manu. He placed the newest page on the table, then grabbed the others from the shelf and put them together. As soon as the pieces touched one another, the lettering began to glow, and a secret passage lit up.

"What is that?" I asked.

Manu held his hands away from the pages. "I don't know. The scripture is distorted when I look at it. Perhaps a spell of some sort?"

Rene stared at the page. "It is the same for me."

I moved closer to Manu so I could stare at the writing. "That's strange. It looks fine to me."

"Read it to us," Rene said.

"When the undead witch walks the earth and the moon rises high, she will call upon the magic hidden inside. Unleash her power, make it dormant no more, bring it to the surface, and let it soar." As soon as the last word escaped my lips, my body began to heat. I released the page and touched my forehead.

"Raven, what is it?" Rene asked with concern.

"I am not sure, but I feel hot, and my skin is tingly." I backed away as a flame erupted in my palm."

"Raven?"

I flipped my palm up and down as the single flame moved over my skin without burning me. "I think this activated my fire magic, but I have no idea how to control it. My body feels like a pot about to boil over."

Manu stared at the page of the prophecy. "This passage was about Raven. She could see it because she was meant to read it. The script did something to her power. Made it more..."

Rene cursed under his breath. "She was bound. The spell released her latent magic. Her death started the process of magic regeneration, but this scroll removed any barriers left in place. I should have seen the signs."

I stared at the open flame in my hand. "You aren't a witch, Rene. You couldn't have known." The flame pulsed and engulfed my entire hand as Rene and Manu backed away from me.

Fire was one of the few ways to kill a vampire. Once the heart was incinerated, it was over for any creature, including the undead. "Can you rein your power in Raven?"

I focused on the flow of power within me, attempting to moderate the micro surges that pulsed within me.

"I am trying." The pulse felt strange, and I had read all of Magda's writings. This magic was unfamiliar. "This wasn't Magda. She could not have added this spell."

"Who was it?" Rene asked.

I concentrated on the magic I felt. It was powerful, and I had only come across one person who had that level of power. "It had to be the high priestess at the time. I am having trouble counteracting her spell."

Rene hissed. "The coven has been working on their own agenda this entire time. And it ends with the extinction of my species."

Manu frowned. "Why would they do this? Mass genocide is pretty dark, even for the coven."

Rene huffed. "They fear our evolution. The lycan king taught them that every being must eventually die. They are ensuring it happens sooner than later."

My stomach rolled at the implication of his words. "Do you think Ursula is responsible for the vampire murders?"

"Yes. As well as the multiple murder attempts on your life."

My heart squeezed, and the fire died in my hand. Apparently, complete despair was a mood killer that even my magic couldn't overcome. "Are we going to confront her?"

Rene nodded. "As soon as you rest. We will visit the coven building at dusk." He led me from the room and I walked like a wooden statue back to our suite.

I woke to Rene caressing my back. I remembered returning to the suite and him feeding me a glass of blood before removing my clothes and tucking me into bed. He sat on the side as I drifted off, and I was sure I heard him head to his office once I was close to succumbing to my slumber.

It was thoughtful of him to watch over me and I felt cared for when he should hate me for being a witch. My species was trying to eradicate him, and he held no animosity toward me. I wished I had given him the benefit of the doubt when the tables were reversed. Prior to my death, I would never have considered a vampire as anything but a plague. How ironic.

I rolled onto my back to find Rene lying on the covers in a fresh suit and I sighed in frustration.

"What is wrong, Raven?"

My hand slipped to his black silk tie, and I allowed the velvety material to slip through my fingers. "I am rocking total bed head while you look like you just finished a photo shoot."

He moved an errant strand of hair from my forehead with his fingers gently. "I assure you that you are the most beautiful creature in the world to me. There is nothing I value more. But I will inform my personal tailor you appreciate his effort in making me presentable."

I almost laughed at his use of the word presentable. Humans walked into things because they were busy staring at Rene when he was in public. But his words to describe me sunk in and I smiled at him. "I still don't know why you are so nice to me."

"Yes, you do; you just aren't ready to accept it. But I do not believe anyone has ever described me as... nice."

"Well, they haven't gotten to know you well enough then."

He stared at me for some time. "Most people are more interested in my power than in... getting to know me."

"I suppose that is accurate of many successful people. Regardless of species."

"I imagine that's true. Are you ready to head to the coven building? It is late in the afternoon and by the time you're ready, dusk will be upon us."

"Sounds good." I got up and ready quickly, and we were heading down the stairs in half an hour.

Cassara was in the foyer speaking to Val when we descended the steps, and she winked at me as we approached. While she always wore a similar leather outfit, this one was actual pants with a leather tank top. "Hey chickee."

"How do you get sexier every time I see you?" I asked.

"It's a gift. You thinking of swinging for the other team?"

I choked. "No, but thanks for the offer."

She laughed and headed for the door. "There is still a bit of sunlight, so stick to the canopy. It's going to prickle a bit until we get in the limo."

The door to the vehicle was already open, and the doorman stood with an umbrella over the back seat entrance. I nodded at him politely as I slid into the car, but Cass was right. My skin felt like I had a slight sunburn until she and Rene joined me, and the door slammed shut.

Cass and I chatted about training and how apologetic Kirnen was after he accidentally sliced me with his blade. The ride was so quick I was disappointed when the vehicle came to a stop and the coven building loomed outside.

"I will wait out here unless you need me, Rene?"

He nodded his head. "I would prefer you stand guard. We can handle Ursula. If any errant mercenaries show up, we all leave immediately."

We exited the vehicle and Rene held the umbrella over me as we walked to the entrance. Ursula surprised me by opening the door herself and backing away to let us enter.

We followed her to the table, and I had barely sat down before Rene spoke.

"We promised to keep you apprised of progress. We found another page of the prophecy. Once we fit some of the pages together, a passage was revealed."

Ursula leaned forward with an eager look on her withered face. It was the first time I had seen her without her full makeup and her black robe had a small stain. It was as if the strain of leadership was getting to her for the first time in her life. "What did it say?"

Rene explained the passage and the effect it had on me. "It was written by the high priestess of that era. Your kind seeks to destroy mine."

Ursula sucked in a breath. "That is not true. We may seek your destruction Rene, but no witch would want the burden of genocide."

I felt the familiar feel of the magical probe and a protection spell formed between Ursula and me. "Stop it. You are not testing my magic anymore and if you seek to assess Rene, you can fucking well ask him if he minds." I rarely swore, but how dare she try to probe Rene or me without consent?

Ursula tried to pierce my bubble with a sharp spike, but it glanced off and the sting of that failed attempt creased her brow. I had botched a spell enough times to know what felt like a slap in the face. "How dare you," she hissed.

"Back at you."

Brigid entered from the side door and paused when she saw Rene and me sitting at the table. It was obvious that Ursula had not informed her second-in-command that we were having a meeting. Her eyes turned from shock to complete outrage and her hands raised in the air before lightning arced from her fingers toward Rene.

I redirected my shield toward her and stood up so I could fight the attack on both fronts. "You bitch."

Ursula stood at the same time I did. While she had attempted to assess Rene, her magic was not intended to harm him. "Brigid. What are you doing? Stop this at once."

Brigid hissed at the high priestess. "You stupid old goat. I tried to lead you to the path of redemption, but you are determined to lead the coven to its destruction. You can die along with the vamp tramp witch and the mad overseer."

Rene stood and stared at Brigid as her electrical storm bounced off my shield. "You were undermining the coven and Ursula's position. You are the witch leading the dark faction."

Brigid hissed under the weight of her power as it flowed from her, usurping her energy. "You are doomed overseer, along with the unholy creatures you call clan."

I felt Ursula strengthen my magical shield, and I assumed that Brigid had no way to hurt us. But the second witch was far craftier than I expected and she grabbed at something from the pocket of her black robe before blowing it into the air. Sparkles glittered around us and I assumed the protection spell would block it.

There was a lesson in every mistake, and I should have known that non-magical dust particles could penetrate a magical shield. They flitted through like fairy wings and Rene hissed when they landed on his skin.

Flecks of gray marred his cheek as he attempted to wipe the offensive powder from his face.

Ursula stared at Rene's face in horror before turning to Brigid. "You have been murdering the vampires. How could you betray your coven in this way?"

Brigid huffed. "You were so bloated with your power you did not see what was happening right in front of you. I care nothing for this coven and will form my own. We will replace the false human leader and rid the diseased undead from the world."

Ursula hissed. "How dare you speak to me so? I trained you. Gave you every opportunity to be the next high priestess."

Brigid laughed and there was a twinkle of madness as the sound echoed around us. "The fact that you think so is proof of your idiocy. The overseer has been infected and the next stage of our evolution is at hand. It will not include the undead or you." Smoke rose from the floor as misty fingers wrapped around her body. The shroud I had seen on multiple occasions cocooned her before she seemed to vanish before our eyes.

My protection shield died off as I turned to Rene. His hand had several splotches of gray and he appeared to be in the process of turning to stone. "How do I stop it?"

Cass burst through the front door and her jaw dropped when she saw Rene's skin.

Rene held his hand up, and it made a grating sound as he clenched his fingers into a fist. "Strange. It does not hurt. But my body is shutting down." There was a hint of sadness, but none of the hysteria I would have had if I had been poisoned and knew I would die.

Ursula stepped toward Rene with betrayal in her eyes. "Allow me to try to help you."

Rene nodded, and she touched his skin lightly. I had no idea what spell she used, but I felt the power emanating from her, and she was expending a lot of it.

She swayed slightly when she opened her eyes and several wrinkles formed around her mouth. "I have halted the progression of the compound, but it is not a cure. You must find one soon."

Cassara's eye flickered red as her fangs lengthened. "Who did this?"

"Brigid. She is the witch behind the dark faction. We had it wrong, and Rene paid the price."

Ursula dropped her hand and stared at Cassara. "If he dies, it is war. The humans will side with the vampires under these circumstances. Brigid broke the conclave, and every witch will pay the price for her treachery." I wanted to mention that Ursula was okay with killing me at one time, but I was technically a witch then and a member of the coven, so she had some claim to me then.

Cassara's chest heaved. "Where is she, Ursula? I want her location and just so we are clear, you are giving me autonomy to kill her."

Ursula nodded sadly, but the pain in her eyes was real. Brigid had been like a daughter to her. "I don't know where she is. I doubt she will return to her residence, but her shroud is almost impenetrable. Brigid's actions warrant a death sentence. She and any who follow her are no longer under coven protection. I will inform William of this development and we will all work on a cure for Rene. She has no concept of what she has done."

Rene touched my shoulder gently. "Let's return to the mansion. We need to regroup."

Cass pointed at Ursula. "If you helped Brigid in any way, you are dead."

I shook my head. "She didn't Cass. Brigid told her she plans to kill her, too. The dark faction has declared war on basically everybody. I have no idea what they think they can gain under the circumstances."

Cass moved to the door and opened it. "Let's go."