The Undead Pool (13 page)

“Now's good,” he said, and I glanced at Ellasbeth as she flipped her strawlike hair from her face. It looked fake next to Trent's and Lucy's transparent blond, and I knew it bothered her.

“I'd rather tell you in person,” I said, holding the woman's eyes. “Ah, Ellasbeth is standing in my kitchen.”

Ellasbeth lurched into motion, her thin hand reaching. “Give me the phone.”

Jenks darted down and away, coming to a sword-swinging halt by my ear. My pulse jumped, and Ivy jerked at the sudden smack of adrenaline. “Excuse me! I am
not
your employee,” I said, and she dropped back, shocked when she realized Jenks had scored on her and her knuckle was bleeding from a small scratch.

I backed up to put more space between us, phone at my ear. Lucy's voice was in the background, her words simple but clear, but on the chance Trent didn't want Ellasbeth to know where they were, I simply said, “She wants to know where the girls are.”

His sigh was a long exhalation. “I'm sorry. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.”

I glanced at the clock on the stove. It took longer than that for me to get out to his estate. “Really?”

“Quen didn't pack anything when she threatened to keep them, and they outgrew everything I have. We went shopping. The Hollows has had fewer misfires.”

My smile was unstoppable as I imagined the two of them handling the girls with grace, both of them proficient daddies. “Fifteen. See you then.”

Pleased at the chance to see the girls, I clicked off and shoved my phone into my back pocket. My smile faded as I realized everyone was staring at me. My finger was wound around a strand of hair. I didn't remember having done that, and I untangled it, embarrassed. “What?”

Jenks hummed his wings, and I didn't like that knowing look he and Ivy were sharing.

Ellasbeth shifted her shoulders, clearly uncomfortable for having crashed our church, but not willing to sit down until invited. “I wanted to talk to him,” she said, temper frayed.

“Well, he didn't want to talk to you.” I barely breathed the words, but I knew she heard me. “And lower your voice. Not everyone sleeps in four-hour naps. You want to sit down? He'll be here in fifteen minutes.”

Ellasbeth looked at my chair pulled up to Ivy's, then edged around it to sit at the far end of the table by the fridge. No one ever sat there, and she looked stiff. “I'm sorry for bursting in on you. I was understandably distressed.”

Distressed?
I glanced at the mostly full coffeepot.
And that makes it okay?
I thought, and Ivy shook her head, bringing up her computer's screen now that Ellasbeth couldn't see it. “No doubt,” I said, getting a mug from the cupboard.

“Yes, but if you don't start treating me with respect—”

I set the empty cup beside her, leaning in to cut her words off. That big honking engagement ring was still on her finger, catching the light like Jenks's wings.
Who in hell does she think she is?
“I'll start treating you with respect as soon as you give it, missy.”

“She called her missy,” Jenks said, and Ivy raised a finger to high-five him.

I pushed back, letting her breathe again. “You walked into my house uninvited. Threatened my roommate.”

“I did not!” she huffed, indignant as she looked at Ivy.

“I was talking about Jenks. You reneged on your agreement with Trent, and if he wanted to talk to you, he would've answered your calls. He's on his way here, and you're welcome to stay until he gets here because I heard the cabdriver dump your luggage and drive off right after you got out.”

Long face becoming longer, she sat stiffly, making me wonder if she was going to cry. I was trying to be calm, not only because it looked good but because an easily unbalanced vampire was sleeping in the next room over and Ellasbeth was kicking out enough anger to wake the dead.

“Now, would you like some coffee while you wait?”

“Yes, thank you.” Her voice was softer, not subdued, but it had lost that I-sneeze-sunshine lilt she had. “I've been up for hours.”

“Welcome to the club.” I took the pot to her and filled her mug. She made sure I saw that ring again, and Ivy quietly went back to work.

“Actually, I'm glad to have this time with you,” Ellasbeth said, and I leaned back against the counter. “May I be frank?”

You can be Frank, Paul, or Simon, I don't care,
I thought, and Jenks snickered as he sat at the window where he could watch his kids as he sharpened his sword. He knew the joke. “I wish you would.”

Ellasbeth eyed Ivy across the table. “Alone?”

Ivy's eyes met mine, and I sighed. “Sure. Garden okay?”

Again she looked at Ivy, as if wondering why the woman wasn't leaving. Grimacing, Ellasbeth stood. “That's fine.” Heels clacking and purse held tight to herself, she set her mug down and headed out, already knowing the way. She'd been here once before to pick up Lucy when I'd rescued her from Ku'Sox.

Jenks landed on my shoulder as I went to follow. “You want me to keep an eye on you?”

“No. Yes.” I hesitated. I'd likely be more vocal in my opinions if we were out of the church and away from Nina. “Eye, yes. Ears, no.”

He flew backward, out of my way. “You're no fun.”

Ivy took the pen from between her teeth. “Be nice,” she said, and I smiled, then hustled to catch the screen door before it slammed.

Ellasbeth was already outside, her cream heels looking odd in the sun-starved grass that eked out a living under the big tree. Her nose was wrinkled, and I could hear pixies in the branches. I hoped to God that they wouldn't start dropping things on us. “Okay, shoot,” I said as I came down the stairs, and she turned to me, that ring of hers sparkling even in the dim light.

“I'd like to ask you to stop confusing Trent.”

Tired, I sat down at the picnic table, the wood still slightly damp from the last rain. “No problem.” I'd missed a chip, and I flicked it off me.

“Stop being so flippant,” she said, frowning. “I'm not blind. You're confusing him. Making this harder than it needs to be.”

For who? You or him?
“Ellasbeth, Trent and I already had this talk.”
And then we went on a date.
“As long as Quen is making the trek out to your place every three months, I'm going to be doing security while he's gone. I know he's going to marry you, and quite frankly, I can't stomach the idea of being a mistress even if I did like him that way.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
“So as long as Quen keeps leaving, I'm the one for the job. And it is a job.”

She was eyeing me, looking for lies, her hat shading her face whereas it shone hot and full on mine. “Then you're not . . .”

Guilt tugged at me. Want was not an action. “I'm not sleeping with him, no.”
Damn fine kiss, though.
“Never have.” My gut hurt, and I looked out over the graveyard. The grass was long and needed cutting. Everything was going to hell with Jenks's kids leaving.

“Thank you,” she said, appearing to take that on faith.

Reclining against the damp wood, I looked at her. “But if I find out you're not treating him right, I'll make your life miserable.”

Her expression blanked, and I wondered if she was trying to figure out if it was a joke. Above us, the eavesdropping pixies shot out of the trees, arrowing for the chimney and vanishing down it as if someone had shouted “Honey!”

From inside, Ivy's voice rose. “Nina! No!”

I stood as the torn leaves drifted over us. “You had to wake her up,” I said bitterly, then strode to the steps. Ivy might need some help. “Stay out here!” I told Ellasbeth. “You're too angry to be around her right now.”

“Rache!” Jenks shouted from inside, and I took the stairs two at a time.

I yanked open the back door, reeling as the vampire pheromones hit me like a wall. My hand clamped to my neck and I staggered through the living room, other hand on the archway, to look into the kitchen. Ivy had Nina pinned front-first to the wall, Nina's head turned to me as Ivy wrenched the woman's arm up behind her. There was a huge knife in Nina's hand, and I felt myself pale. Both women's eyes were black, and Ivy looked scared that she might hurt Nina.

“It's okay, Nina. Breathe,” she said as she struggled to keep Nina unmoving. “Look at me. I'm not angry. Breathe.”

“Morgan,” Nina snarled, a heavy intelligence glittering in her eyes. “Tell Tamwood to let me go.”

“It's Felix,” Jenks said, and I pushed up from the archway and edged inside. My pulse pounded. The elegant, young Hispanic woman with her face pressed into the wall struggled, and Ivy slipped a foot between hers, ready to pull her down. I could see the sick master vampire in Nina's stance, belligerent and angry that Ivy, a living vampire, had managed to best him, even if he was in the body of a weaker, inexperienced woman. It had been weeks since the master vampire had taken Nina over. But how? All the undead vampires were sleeping!

“Let me go. I can help!” Nina shouted, the domination in her voice coming out in a frustrated howl. She wiggled again, and Ivy yanked her foot out from under her. They both hit the floor, chairs sliding out of the way as they fought for control of the knife.

“I'm sane, I tell you! I need Nina!” Nina screamed as Ivy got the knife. With a backward flip of the wrist, she flung it into the wall where it stuck, quivering. “Let me go! I am cognizant. I'm not ill!”

Tears fell freely from Ivy as she pinned Nina to the floor. “Fight him, Nina. You can do this. You can! You're stronger than him, and it pisses him off that you know it!”

“Get off!” she howled. “I'm no longer ill! I can help, but only if I'm in Nina!”

Hair falling to hide her face, Ivy leaned low over her. “I love you, Nina. Don't believe him. He lies. He can't hurt you if you push him out. I'll keep him away. I promise. I promise. Just get him out!”

The soft scuff behind me gave me warning, and I spun, trying to force Ellasbeth back. Any more fear in the air might give Felix the strength to completely break Nina's mind.

“I told you to stay out,” I hissed, pushing her into the hall.

“Oh my God!” Ellasbeth said as Nina bucked to get Ivy off her.

“I'm not sick! With Nina, I can help!”

Ellasbeth's face was white, and she looked into the kitchen as I shoved her into the living room. “This is a madhouse!”

Right now, I couldn't argue with her, but she'd caused the problem to begin with. “We told you not to wake her up,” I said as I finally got the woman into the living room. “Sit down and shut up.” I pointed to the couch, and she sat.

Shaking, I went back in case Ivy needed me. They'd sat up, Ivy's long legs wrapped around Nina as she held her unmoving before her in her lap. Nina's hair was everywhere, mixing with Ivy's, the ponytail long gone. I could tell just by Nina's snarl that Felix was still in her.

“Together,” Ivy breathed, the strain showing in her arms as she held Nina unmoving. Tears made her cheeks shine, and I ached for her. “I will let go of you as you let go of him. I know he fills you with power, but you have to let him go,” she demanded. It was an addiction on both ends, and Ivy had survived both its presence and absence.

“Ah, Ivy?” Jenks said, his dust a thick, dark green falling from the overhead rack. “Is that such a good idea?”

I looked at my shoulder bag. My splat ball gun was in it, but before I could move, Ivy whispered, “I trust you.” She kissed her, and then let her go.

“Wait!” I cried out, reaching to tap a line as Nina sprang from her, spinning into an ugly crouch.

Ivy reached out a trembling hand. “Nina. I love you. Leave him.”

“No!” Nina howled, the sound raging from her with the strength of the undead, and then her tension broke and she collapsed.

Ivy lurched forward. Catching Nina, she pulled the woman to her, rocking Nina, gentling her head to her shoulder and whispering. Nina stiffened, and then she began to cry in great gasping sobs.

“He came!” she cried, words hardly recognizable. “Ivy, he came in my dreams. I didn't even know. I can't do this anymore! I just want it to
stop
!”

I exhaled, shaking as I wiggled the knife out of the wall and set it lightly in the sink.

“You didn't hurt anyone,” Ivy was saying, holding her gently now. “It's okay.”

“He wanted me to kill you!”

Tears still spilling from her brown eyes, Ivy took Nina's face in her hands and smiled at her. “You didn't hurt me. Look at me. Look at me!” Nina's sobbing hiccups eased, and she blinked tearfully at Ivy. “It's okay,” Ivy said firmly, even as moisture shined her cheeks as well. “I'm so proud of you.”

It was over, and as Nina continued to cry, I went to get her a glass of water. “That was fun,” I said as the tap ran, then looked up as Ellasbeth was suddenly in the doorway, an unusual silence in her stance as she took everything in, the chairs knocked aside, the knife in the sink, the women sobbing on the floor—one in relief, one in love. Maybe now she understood. Maybe now she'd know Ivy was trying to save a strong, intelligent woman from a circular trap. And if she didn't, then the hell with her.

“I told you not to wake her up,” I said, fingers trembling as I turned off the water and took the glass to Nina.

Ivy slowly stood, extending a hand down to help Nina from the floor. “It wasn't her fault,” Ivy said, and Nina bobbed her head, thanking me as she took the water and gulped at it.

“Jenks, go open the front door,” I said as I shoved the window open all the way. “We need to air the place out.”

“Got it,” he said, then darted off to work the series of pulleys Ivy had come up with for him to open the heavy oak door.