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"Then, we can safely assume that Myst and her people are the ones snatching the other magic-born, as well as the townspeople. They feed on both blood and energy, and they can turn the magic-born and use them for their own ends. A terrifying combination."
She turned to Rhiannon. "We have to talk to Geoffrey. The two factions are mortal--or rather, immortal--enemies. While the Indigo Court can't turn humans the same way a vampire can, they certainly can make a meal of them. We may have to ask the Vampire Nation for help."
I closed the book, staring out into the street. Everything looked so normal, but beneath the current of everyday life ran a dark river of energy. It's what I'd felt when I first looked out into the ravine next to Veil House, and it had followed us here. The thought of asking the vampires for help turned my stomach, after what had happened to my mother, but Anadey might be right. We needed help--we couldn't fight the entire Indigo Court by ourselves.
Without looking over my shoulder, I said, "So . . . I guess our next step is to talk to Geoffrey?"
Anadey's voice was soft but firm. "I'm sorry--but yes. I think we have to. The Society's fallen apart. We're on our own here. And regardless of our magic, we're no match for Myst and her people."
As I turned away from the window, I could feel someone from outside trying to peer in. Marta's wards were strong and whatever it was couldn't get past them. Yet. But I was certain that Myst's spies knew we were here.
After we loaded three boxes of books and four boxes of magical supplies into Favonis's trunk, we dropped Peyton and Anadey off at the diner again.
On the way home, I told Rhiannon, "I like them--especially Peyton. She's quiet and soft-spoken, but there's a strength behind her."
"She was always picked on when we were students in the conservatory," Rhiannon said. "So was I, but because I did so poorly. She was picked on because of her half-breed nature."
I nodded. "That had to be hard, growing up. At least she's half-werepuma and not werewolf--that would be far worse. We were chatting and discovered we both like sparring. We're meeting at the conservatory gym tomorrow morning to work out together. If we get along, I gather the fee's only twenty dollars a month. I can swing that."
"Sounds good. What about tonight?"
"I still need to unpack, and I think we should ward the house. We have to do something to protect ourselves."
Rhiannon nodded, slowly. "What would you say if I asked Leo to come stay for a while? I'd feel better with someone else in the house. Especially now, after what we've found out. And since he works for Geoffrey, and the vampires hate the Indigo Court . . ."
I picked up on her line of thought--if they knew one of their employees was living near danger, maybe they'd be apt to protect us. Trying to push my conflicted feelings over Grieve out of the way, I bit my lip and nodded. "Yeah. Why don't you call him now. See if he's home."
She put in the call and we lucked out. Leo had been given light duty for the evening and was hanging out at his apartment. We headed over there before going home, all too aware that dusk was falling.
Leo lived in an apartment smack in the middle of downtown New Forest, on the fourth floor. It was modern, but modest, and felt like just one of a dozen other buildings dotting the town.>I stopped, looking up. "Vampiric Fae?" The thought made me cringe. Somehow that just seemed . . . so wrong. "I've never heard of them before. Has Leo ever mentioned them? He works for the vampires."
Rhiannon shook her head.
"I've never heard of them either, but obviously Mother knew about them or she wouldn't have the book." Anadey leaned in to look over my shoulder.
"How did they start? How on earth could the vampires mix with the Fae? Did they turn them like they do humans?" Peyton looked as confused as I felt.
I skimmed through until I came to a passage that seemed to answer her question.
Some thousand years ago, a scouting group from the Vampire Nation led by Geoffrey the Great attempted a raid on the Unseelie Court. They took prisoners--a group of the bewitching dark Fae. Intent upon siring the women as vampires in order to infiltrate the Unseelie, they used the techniques that they'd always used successfully on humans.
What they did not expect was for the women--nearing death and forced to drink of the vampires' blood--to live and regain their strength at an alarming rate. But the vampire blood had changed their makeup.
First, the vampires quickly discovered their new daughters weren't bound to them the way humans would be. Second, the Unseelie women could still use most of their magic, as well as having the vampires' strength. But they'd shifted even further into the shadow realm.
The Vampiric Fae quickly took control of their captors, forcing them to bring in males of their race and turn them. Since the Vampiric Fae are alive, rather than undead, they can still mate. Their offspring keep all characteristics from their parents.
A war broke out within the Unseelie Court, who considered the tainted Fae to be abominations, and the Fallen Fae were cast out, pariah. These nests of living vampires--the Vampiric Fae--were driven off, but only due to their lack of numbers.
Ruthless, far more terrifying than either of their sires, they crossed an ocean and retreated into the dark forests to create their own social structure. The Indigo Court is ruled over by Queen Myst, the Mistress of Mayhem, the original Faerie who was turned by the vampires. She is awesome in her beauty, seducing before she strikes.
Over the years, the Indigo Court faded from view while growing in numbers and strength. The Vampire Nation has sworn they will gain revenge for their defeat and humiliation. A prophecy of theirs, first put forth by Crawl, the Blood Oracle, discusses the breakout of an eventual war between the two races.
"Holy fucking hell." I pushed the book back. "We're facing a group of living, breathing Vampiric Fae. And their mortal enemies are the . . . I guess you'd call them the true vampires."
The thought washed over me like a river of glacial water, as chilling as the huge mountains of ice they came down from. Queen Myst . . . Grieve had mentioned she now ruled the forest. We were living next to a nest of vipers, of hunters. Predators, first created by . . .
"I wonder, is that the Geoffrey that we know? Regent for this area?"
