* * *
"Dee, I imagined the worst," Gavril pulled the old vampire into an embrace the moment we arrived in the meeting room.
"Child, I have no idea why I was in the basement, but Breanne arrived and informed me that everyone was searching because I'd been missing several hours."
"Do you remember anything?"
"Not past having my lunch delivered," Dee observed the obsessed employee who'd brought his tray earlier.
"Breanne?"
"I found Dee in the basement, lying on the floor. I had to get him up—he wasn't moving when I found him." All my statements were true.
"How did you know to go there?"
"One of your employees knows more, but I'm not sure how much more," I hedged. "Astralan is holding him in the meeting room."
"I'll question him shortly. Dee, I'm so glad you're alive," Teeg slapped the old vampire on the shoulder. "From now on, too, at least one of the warlocks will be with you."
"What are you going to do with Mr. Obsession over there? He could be dangerous, you know." I nodded toward the employee in question.
"I'll have him locked up and guarded," Teeg replied, refusing to look at me. So much for any thanks that might come my way.
"I'd be careful around him—somebody may attempt to let your obsessed employee loose," I sighed, knowing that my words would only annoy Teeg. He didn't like taking orders or suggestions from anyone, and it was worse if either of those things came from me.
"I'll be careful. Go ask one of the warlocks to take you home." I was dismissed.
* * *
Astralan ferried me back to Le-Ath Veronis. I was grateful Gavin wasn't waiting for me inside the Queen's private study—I wasn't in any mood to see more of him or his asshole son. I also wondered whether I ought to sit down and parcel money to waiting comesuli, or take a chance on misting into Casino City to renew my search for Erithia Cordan.
* * *
"You come highly recommended from an associate," Erithia lifted a delicately pointed eyebrow at Riis, former ambassador to the Prince of Tyriss. Riis had been dismissed two days earlier, after the Crown discovered missing funds. The path those funds had taken led to Riis, who'd hoped to employ a warlock to help hide the money trail. When the King of Karathia failed to give permission for Riis to hire a warlock, Riis' world—and his plans—had crumbled.
"I thank you, Lady, for your consideration," Riis bowed in mock flattery.
"I hear you were recently on Karathia," Erithia continued, lifting a delicate cup to her lips and drinking tea a servant had brought. She sat comfortably behind her desk while forcing Riis to stand for his interview.
"I was. I spoke with the King and his father. Another was there, but she was never identified. I assumed she was someone the King's father might consider taking as another mate."
"Truly? How interesting. He already has several mates, however, so one more might not make any difference. Certainly nothing to report in order to distress the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis."
"You're looking to upset the Queen?"
"I'm looking to kill her," Erithia's voice became hard. "You will bring the money you stole from Tyriss to me and break ties with all your concubines. You will only serve me from now on." The obsession was placed and Riis dropped to his knees in reverence.
"I will do anything you ask of me," he whispered.
* * *
Kay's Journal
If Frank and Shane hadn't come to get me, I'm sure Kalia would have taken over again. Franklin settled on the side of my bed, hugged me, explained that someone was coming to NorthStar to visit and to cooperate as much as I could. Not trusting myself to speak, I'd nodded into piercing blue eyes that were so much like my own.
"That's my baby sis," Frank hugged me again. His scent was so good, and his lines so clear and pure that I couldn't help myself, I hugged him back. It surprised him, I know, because none of the others could get anything from me. Actually, they couldn't get anything from Kalia, but that was beside the point. I'd been buried in Kalia's fears for who knew how long, and I no longer knew what day it was. Only two people might approach me for any reason, and those two were Bill and Frank.
"You remember how we traveled last time?" Frank helped me dress.
I nodded, still not trusting my voice. We'd folded space—at least that's how it was described. No pain was involved and I trusted Frank as much as I'd ever trusted anyone, so I was willing to go with him.
"Sissy, if anybody makes you uncomfortable, just let me know," Frank held my face gently between his palms. "I can't blast anybody, but Mom and Dad can when they get back. I don't even want to know what Ashe might do, if they hurt you in any way."
"Frankie," I mumbled softly when he took his hands away.
"What is it, baby girl?" Frank was back immediately, his eyes worriedly gazing into mine.
"I'm scared," I whispered.
"Me too," he admitted.
"Ready?" Trace placed an arm on Frank's shoulder, pulling him away from me.
"I guess." Frank took my hand and pulled me off the bed.
* * *
Ashe is here, he's just shielded
, Trace sent mindspeech to Franklin.
If anybody tries to harm her, I wouldn't want to be them
, Trace added.
Yeah
, Frank agreed.
It's one thing to face the wrath of the Saa Thalarr. I don't even want to think about one of the Mighty
.
* * *
Kay's Journal
I didn't recognize the room where I was taken at NorthStar. Windows curved outward around us and gishi groves could be seen below the deck outside. It looked as if they stretched for miles, sinking into a greenish mist in the distance. I wanted to walk through them. They were the reason, after all, that I'd come to NorthStar in the beginning.
"Just sit here, our visitors should arrive in a few minutes," Frank and Shane made sure I was comfortable. "Want anything to eat or drink?"
"Gishi fruit?" My voice held hope. I knew the harvest was over and I'd likely not get any fruit at all.
"How about gishi fruit ice cream?" Shane asked.
I wanted to moan my acceptance to his offer. I'd never tasted that bit of heaven—I couldn't afford it. I realized that Cull's gambling debts still waited for me on Campiaa, and I moaned again in distress.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Frank was back and crouching before me.
"I owe so much money," my voice quavered.
"We've taken care of it," Frank brushed hair away from my face. "CSD pulled up a list of your obligations, so Shane and I took care of it."
"But you can't. You shouldn't. Those didn't belong to you," I said, becoming shakier than I already was.
"Sissy, it was our decision to make. We made it. Trust me; we can afford to do that."
"This is so awful," I rubbed my forehead.
"At least she's talking," Vice-Director Schaff walked into the room, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He was frightening enough, but the one who followed him brought Kalia to the surface in an instant, and I heard myself screaming hysterically as a light so bright enveloped the room it blinded all of us.
* * *
"Tell him every sordid detail," Ashe paced beside Q'And Ribalo's chair. Norian Keef and Ildevar Wyyld were seated nearby, watching as the Mighty Hand seethed, his power vibrating through Ildevar's private study.
"I w-work for Hordace Cayetes. As does my twin, Q'Ind," Q'And Ribalo quavered.
"Fuck me," Norian stood, anger in every line of his being. He was so close to becoming lion snake and biting Q'And that Ildevar had to hold him back.
"I believe Kay has seen his twin, and it sent her right back to the terror she experienced before," Ashe leveled star-filled eyes on Norian Keef. "How many criminals have you turned Director Keef away from?" Ashe went back to grilling Q'And Ribalo.
"Many, I don't keep count," Q'And shivered. Had he ever thought to come to the attention of a god? The simple answer was no.
"Tell me, what would you be doing now, if I hadn't intervened?"
"I'd be reporting Kalia's whereabouts to Hordace. He wants her dead."
"Why?"
"She can recognize him and many of his associates."
"Is that all? That she can point them out?"
"Yes."
"Has she ever engaged in criminal activity?"
"No. She and the others like her could only do as they were told or they were killed. There were always more available where she came from, after all."
"And where was that?" Ildevar asked.
"I was never told. My brother may know, but I didn't ask." Q'And cowered when Ashe's power rage ramped up a few notches.
"I can't interfere with this, Keef, for personal reasons." Ashe's eyes had gone as dark as they might go and stars exploded in their depths when he turned to Norian. "I suggest you get to the bottom of this. Quickly."
"I don't take orders from you," Norian began as Ashe took a step in his direction.
"All right, I'll work on that," Norian backed up.
* * *
"Right back where we started," Bill grumbled as he spooned oatmeal into a bowl for Kay. "All that work, gone, because that asshole Keef can't leave the innocent alone."
"Seems to be his modus operandi," Trace agreed, biting into a strip of bacon. "I'd like to beat him senseless. After I beat that Ribalo asshole senseless."
"You don't want to know what Ashe wants to do," Trajan flopped onto a barstool beside his brother.
"Where have you been?" Trace asked.
"Mom and Dad's. They're overseeing the pruning down on the south end."
"Had breakfast?" Bill asked.
"Not yet." Trajan reached out, lifted three strips of bacon off the platter on the island, stacked them together and bit off the ends.
"Wanted to talk about Breanne, didn't you?" Trace cut into the eggs on his plate.
"Yeah. Mom said if she's mine, things will come around. I don't know whether to believe that or not."
"I hope it's true," Bill set the bowl of oatmeal, a tiny bowl of brown sugar and a glass of milk on a tray for Kay.
"She seemed so happy that day, talking to Bill and me," Trajan growled before biting into his bacon again.
"You're not the only one who wants to see her again," Bill lifted the tray and stalked out of the kitchen.
"What the hell?" Trace stared at Trajan.
* * *
"I demand representation, Keef," Q'And Ribalo hissed as the door to his cage closed. Norian had ferried Q'And to Le-Ath Veronis, where Gavin, Tony and Aryn waited. All four men escorted Q'And to Lissa's dungeon.
"I'll allow you to send a message, but I warn you, vampires aren't easily swayed by lies or idiocy. Besides, did you not confess before Ildevar Wyyld? He says he'll be happy to provide testimony at your trial." Norian disliked many things, and betrayal by one of his own was high on that list.
"I still want representation. I'll be damned if I'm sentenced to death on that penal planet you call Evensun." Q'And clung to the bars of his cage and glared at Norian Keef.
"You should have thought of that before you fucked the ASD," Norian shot back. "We'll question you further when you get your representative lined up and arrange to have him present." Norian laughed as he stalked away from Q'And's cell.
* * *
"Rathik, my darling, what have you found for me?" Erithia smiled at Rathik's face on her comp-vid.
"My love, I am ready to return to you," Rathik cooed at Erithia's image. "I managed to learn everything we needed by merely placing compulsion on two royal servants."
"And what did you learn, my lover?" Erithia smiled.
"I'm unsure of the spelling of the word," Rathik began, "but both servants say the woman responsible for your brother's death, and it was vicious, that death, named herself van-uh-rash."
"What? Rathik, I didn't catch that phrase. Will you repeat it for me, please?"
"Van-uh-rash, my dearest. That's the closest I can get to what I was told."
"Vhanaraszh?" Erithia's voice had gone hard as flint.
"Perhaps. Yes—it did sound like that."
"Rathik my dear, I will send someone to bring you back to me. Did you get a description of this woman?"
"Yes. She has dark hair and is somewhat slight, according to my sources. Her eyes, they tell me, are what will identify her best, however. They said her eyes are an unusual blue, and they appear able to bore through anyone. I hear she not only saved a monarch long thought dead, but rescued Grey House in some obscure and extraordinary way."
"If this is the true Vhanaraszh, then that would not be out of the question," Erithia muttered to herself. "Was there any word on where this woman might be found?"
"None. They didn't know where she came from, only that she appeared with a handful of Grey House wizards."
"Striking at Grey Planet is ill-advised," Erithia considered the idea. "Rathik, my sweetest, we must contemplate this. If this woman is who they say she is, she is more than dangerous to us. We must locate her and determine how she might be killed."