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I waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. My unease increased, but I clenched against the responding sparks, hoping, somewhat futilely, to contain them. “Do you believe this person will cause any problems within the reservation?”
Her smile grew wider, colder. “If sheishere, she will indeed be a problem. I fear—” She stopped and shrugged. “Her presence will not bode well for any of us.”
If Maelle fears this other vamp or dark sorceress or whatever the hell else she might be,came Belle’s comment,then I am totally and utterly freaked out.
So was I. We’d dealt with a lot of truly evil beings over the last year, and in all that time, Maelle had shown no real concern, whether she deigned to help us or not. That this other woman was giving her reason to pause meant we were probably about to deal with the biggest, baddest bogeyman—woman—yet.
“I need some help here, Maelle. I’d rather intercept her than wait for her to become too big a problem.”
She sighed. “I cannot help you track her. Until she makes a move against me personally, I am unable to do anything to hinder her movements or to even hunt her. I can give you her name, though it is unlikely to mean anything, given there won’t be any existing records of her.”
Suggesting she’d probably come here illegally. I suspected that was the case for most vampires who’d immigrated here, as they generally weren’t welcome passengers on commercial planes or ships.
And with good reason, Belle said.Who hasn’t heard the story about the vamp going on a blood bender at thirty-five thousand feet above the Pacific?
That’s an urban myth. There’s never been any concrete evidence of it.
Because they never found the plane and the transit records mysteriously disappeared.
Planes can’t just disappear, Belle. Not without people knowing about it.
Maybe it hit the Pacific equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle. Maybe authorities don’t want us to know about it.
You and Monty have been watching old episodes ofUnsolved Mysteriesagain, haven’t you?
Her amusement drifted down the line.How did you guess?
I mentally snorted and returned my attention to Maelle. For the briefest moment, there was a glimpse of vulnerability—perhaps even uncertainty—in her expression.
Which only confirmed the growing tide of fear was justified.
“Her name is Marie Nicolete Bouchier.” She made an odd, almost involuntary movement with one hand. “She is my maker.”
Oh dear, Belle said.
Understatement of the year, I’m thinking. To Maelle, I added, “Why would your maker be here, let alone hunting you?”
“Presuming, of course, that is her reason for being here. It could be nothing more than coincidence.”
“You don’t believe that any more than I do.” After all, it wasn’t like vampires were well known for their cozy catch-ups with each other.
“In truth, I am unsure what to believe. I never thought she would venture beyond the remnants of our coven, let alone travel halfway around the world.”
Vampires have covens?Belle said.No wonder witch covens got such a bad fucking name.
There’re no vampire covens around today, I’m sure.
None thatweknow of, Belle corrected.The High Witch Council might be aware of them, but they’re unlikely to tell the rest of us.
And that makes it a question to ask either Monty or Ashworth, I’m thinking.
Ira Ashworth—who now lived in the reservation with his partner Eli, and who over the course of the last year had become a grandfather to me in all ways except blood—still worked for the Regional Witch Association. Like Monty, he had full access to the High Council’s main libraries and catalogues. If there was information to be had on vampire covens, one of them should be able to find it.
Why not just ask Maelle? Even if she refuses to answer, we’re no worse off.
True, but it’s still best if we check the archives, just in case Maelle is economical with the facts.Shedidhave a tendency toward that.
I returned my attention to her. “I wasn’t aware vampires had covens.”
