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They were interrupted by the server returning with bowls of steaming dumplings. Vladik gestured to her food. "Eat, and I will tell you. You'll need something in your stomach for this next part, puppy."
"Why are you being so bossy?" she grumbled, picking up her fork.
"Because I'm a gargoyle, and I'm meant to protect the swan wives of Morana."
Zori coughed as sour cream went down the wrong way. "I'm sorry, what? You think I can shift into a swan?"
"Your mother could, so yes, you can," Vladik replied.
Zori's shoulders curled inward as the night of her mother's suicide came back to her. The way she had been so sure that she could fly as she climbed up onto the balcony railing.
Mama's going to be okay because she's got magic wings of white and gold. She can fly, but don't tell anyone.
"She said that she could fly, but she didn't. She died by jumping off the building, Vladik," Zori said, her eyes filling with tears.
"I know. It's because Maxim took her cape that allowed her to shift. When swan wives go through puberty, they grow their feathers for the first time. After their first shift, they are left with a cape that they need in order to shift," Vladik explained. "When a woman is mated, they can shift at any time, and they keep the cape as a unique piece of their life. Your mother and two other unmated swan wives were kidnapped by a group ofvolhvbefore her mating ceremony to your father. She must have already been pregnant with you when she was taken to Maxim."
Zori wiped her tears away with her napkin. "Is my father dead too?"
"Yes. He died trying to save the women, but there were too many of Chernobog's followers, and they overpowered him."
Zori had expected it, but it still hurt. "Why would they kidnap my mother? Why are they still hunting them?"
"In a word? Magic. All women of our kind have magical abilities. It's in their bones, but mostly in their blood. Avolhvof Chernobog can use that blood to enhance their own spell work. Maxim and his inner circle are all blood mages, Zori."
"But that's impossible! He's a scientist. He's always, always said that magic isn't real. I wasn't even allowed to have fairytale books growing up because he said he didn't want my mind filled with nonsense," Zori argued. Maxim wasn't a perfect guardian, but he'd always taken care of her. Hadn't he?
"He's both scientist andvolhv,Zori. Why do you think he takes your blood every night?" Vladik asked. "For his tests to see if you're going crazy like your mother? No. She wasn't sick. She was a prisoner who was driven mad by whatever the fuck he was doing to her."
Zori shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. The medicine he gives me is to stop me from getting sick. What else would it be?"
"A blocker. I can smell it." Vladik touched his nose. "Your magic is being smothered. You also have a fog in your mind that prevents any kind of telepathy. You never grew your cape during puberty because he made sure to keep you drained of your magic. I know it seems like he's always taken care of you, but he's a fucking monster, Zori. I know that intimately."
"What do mean by that? How would you?" she demanded. She didn't know how to process all the things that she was feeling. She couldn't comprehend why Maxim would do such a thing.
Vladik's eyes went cold. "My brother and a group of other gargoyles clashed with Maxim and hisvolhva few years ago. Misha went into your tower and never came out again. It's why I'm in Moscow and not safe in our hidden city of Kitezh. I've been searching for a way into the tower in case he's still imprisoned there. Imprisoned like you are."
"I'm not imprisoned," Zori said meekly. But that wasn't true, was it? She'd felt like a prisoner more and more as she grew older. "Maxim's my guardian."
"You're his experiment, Zori. A fucking pet that has magical blood and trusts whatever bullshit he says," Vladik snapped, making her flinch back from him. "Shit, I'm sorry. I'm not angry at you. I want to tear that fucker's head off."
After the alley, Zori knew he meant it literally.
"So you're using me to get to Maxim, is that it?" she asked.
Vladik shook his head. "I wish I was that callous, but no. I'm under orders from your grandmother to get you out. I should be throwing you over my shoulder and flying you back to Kitezh this minute."
"Then why aren't you?" she demanded. She ate some more dumplings, which were as delicious as he’d claimed they were going to be.
"I don't want you to hate me. You need to see what Maxim is for yourself before I help you leave him. Otherwise, you will always doubt it. If you search his office, I know you'll find the proof of what I'm saying," Vladik replied. He leaned back in his chair. "I'm also hoping once you find that proof, you will help me so I can find out what happened to Misha. I'll get you both out, I promise."
Zori felt that promise hit her in the chest. He meant everything he was saying. "I don't know if I believe any of this."
"I know, but you will once you give yourself the time to consider it. If you can't get into his office, at least stop taking the poison he's feeding you. You will see for yourself it's harming you," Vladik replied. He looked her over, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "I can't wait to see what your magic can do. It must be amazing if I can feel the hum of it with all the drugs in your system."
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not some special magical person. I'm an orphan who has been told I'm sick and dying my entire life," Zori said, her heart racing too fast.
What if that was all bullshit? What if it was because Maxim just wanted her blood?
