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He gave that wonderful Gallic shrug that meant everything and nothing. "I know little of necromancy, ma petite. You would know if such a spell were possible more than I."
"It is not only your ability as a necromancer that has brought us to you," Dumare said. "You have also acted as a focus for at least two different animators, I believe that is the American word for what you do."
I nodded. "The word's right, but where did you hear I could act as a focus?"
"Come, Ms. Blake, the ability to combine another animator's powers with your own and thus magnify both powers is a rare talent."
"Can you act as a focus?" I asked.
He tried to look humble but actually looked pleased with himself. "I must confess, yes, I can act as a focus. Think of what the two of us could accomplish together."
"We could raise a hell of a lot of zombies, but that won't cure Sabin."
"True enough." Dumare leaned forward in his chair. His lean, handsome face flushed, eager, a true convert looking for disciples.
I wasn't much of a follower.
"I would offer to teach you true necromancy, not this voodoo dabbling that you've been doing."
Jean-Claude made a soft sound halfway between a laugh and a cough.
I glared at Jean-Claude's amused face but said, "I'm doing just fine with this voodoo dabbling."
"I meant no insult, Ms. Blake. You will need a teacher of some sort soon. If not me, then you must find someone else."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Control, Ms. Blake. Raw power, no matter how impressive, is not the same as power used with great care and great control."
I shook my head. "I'll help you if I can, Mr. Dumare. I'll even participate in a spell if I check it out with a local witch I know first."
"Afraid that I will try and steal your power?"
I smiled. "No, short of killing me, the best you or anyone else can do is borrow."
"You are wise beyond your years, Ms. Blake."
"You aren't that much older than I am," I said. Something crossed over his face, the faintest flicker, and I knew.
"You're his human servant, aren't you?"
Dominic smiled, spreading his hands. "Oui."
I sighed. "I thought you said you weren't trying to hide anything from me."
"A human servant's job is to be the daytime eyes and ears of his master. I am of no use to my master if vampire hunters can spot me for what I am."
"I spotted you."
"But in another situation, without Sabin at my side, would you have?"
I thought about that for a moment. "Maybe." I shook my head. "I don't know."
"Thank you for your honesty, Ms. Blake."
Sabin said, "I am sure our time is up. Jean-Claude said you had a pressing engagement, Ms. Blake. Much more important than my little problem." There was a little bite to that last.
"Ma petitehas a date with her other beau."
Sabin stared at Jean-Claude. "So you are truly allowing her to date another. I thought that at least must be rumor."
"Very little of what you hear about ma petiteis rumor. Believe all you hear."
Sabin chuckled, coughing, as if struggling to keep the laughter from spilling out his ruined mouth. "If I believed everything I heard, I would have come with an army."
"You came with one servant because I allowed you only one servant," Jean-Claude said.
Sabin smiled. "Too true. Come Dominic, we must not take more of Ms. Blake's so valuable time."
Dominic stood obediently, towering over us both. Sabin was around my height. Of course, I wasn't sure if his legs were still there. He might have been taller once.
"I don't like you, Sabin, but I would never willingly leave another being in the shape you're in. My plans tonight are important, but if I thought we could cure you immediately, I'd change them."
The vampire looked at me. His blue, blue eyes were like staring down into clear ocean water. There was no pull to them. Either he was behaving himself or, like most vampires, he couldn't roll me with his eyes anymore.
"Thank you, Ms. Blake. I believe you are sincere." He extended a gloved hand from the voluminous cloak.
I hesitated, then took it. His hand squished ever so slightly, and it took a lot not to jerk back. I forced myself to shake his hand, to smile, to let go, and not to rub my hand on my skirt.
Dominic shook my hand as well. His was cool and dry. "Thank you for your time, Ms. Blake. I will contact you tomorrow and we will discuss things."
"I'll be expecting your call, Mr. Dumare."
"Call me, Dominic, please."
I nodded. "Dominic. We can discuss it, but I hate to take your money when I'm not sure that I can help you."
"May I call you Anita?" he asked.
I hesitated and shrugged. "Why not."
"Don't worry about money," Sabin said, "I have plenty of that for all the good it has done me."
