Blood, Smoke and Mirrors

Chapter Twenty-Two

There were vamps at every turn, sipping wine, discussing the artwork, exchanging polite conversation with one another. A sprinkling of shapeshifters was mixed in with the walking dead, as well as assorted magicians-necromancers mostly, with a few sorcerers and thankfully not a single witch in sight. It quickly became obvious to me that the safest place to be when surrounded by a roomful of vampires is on the arm of the richest and most powerful one. I’d wondered what the other vamps thought of Harrison. He was practically a baby, yet he ordered around one of the three members of the Midwestern vampire council like she was his bitch. What’s more, she actually allowed him to treat her that way. Considering that Lovely Laura Barrenheart was the only female vampire council member I’d heard of, she really ought to be one tough broad, because she’d beat out the old boys’ network. Or she was a turbo slut who’d slept her way to the top, but that was a very un-feminist thing for me to think. As a result, I’d figured Harrison had to be pretty powerful and well respected.

Boy, did I ever call that one.

The vampires were easy to spot. It’s the lack of sun that gives them away. Even in a world that believes in better living through chemistry old vamps don’t seem to have heard of a tan in a bottle. I thought they’d be snide to Zach, talk down to him like they were old money and he was nouveau riche, but they didn’t. The vampires liked him, and most were even happy to see him. They seemed to respect him, and I wasn’t sure if I should be impressed or terrified by that. Probably both. It was strange to me. When people reacted to Lex they feared or respected him for being a member of the magic police, but Zach they treated like their favorite politician, the one they not only voted for but were willing to donate to his campaign fund as well.

Me they treated like arm candy. I was on display as much as the artwork while Zach showed off that the new Titania was his pet. I wanted to strangle him for it. At least he was introducing me as Catherine Baker, the name I actually go by but virtually no one had used once since I’d been drawn into the crazy Titania drama. It was the polite thing to do-broadcasting a person’s True Name to the world is an enormous faux pas in magician society.

Slow and methodical, Harrison made the rounds of the gala, chatting with his guests, stopping to admire the artwork and explain to me each piece and its meaning and importance to the collection. Polite, attentive and witty, he was a perfect host. Were all vampire gatherings this calm and sophisticated? Even Laura was on her best behavior, keeping her distance and spending her time flirting with every male within ten feet of her. I wondered if she thought it would make Zach jealous? I doubted it, considering he was glued to my side and seemed to have eyes only for me. The flirtation was subtle-the light touch of his hand at the small of my back, a whispered comment in my ear.

“Would you like something to drink?” he asked as we stood studying a large bronze sculpture.

“Yes, I think so.” I nodded, glancing around. People were giving us space at the moment, and I didn’t feel quite as uncomfortable.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back. Don’t worry, no one would dare bother you. I’ll just be a moment.”

“All right.”

Zach kissed me on the cheek before walking away, and I felt my face burn with an embarrassed blush. Considering the thick layer of makeup I had spackled on my face, I doubt anyone noticed the expression. Left alone, I studied the sculpture with a critical eye. I didn’t understand it-it looked like a big misshapen lump to me.

“Good evening, Miss Morrow,” a voice behind me greeted. Turning toward the speaker, I frowned, and after a moment I recognized him as Simon St. Jerome. It was the outfit that threw me-he was wearing a simple black suit, and without his Dungeons and Dragons black wizard robes he really looked quite normal.

“Simon? What are you doing here?” The vampire hadn’t struck me as the social type, and this was definitely a social gathering.

“I could ask you the same question.”

I wondered what he must be thinking after seeing me on Harrison’s arm all night. “That’s a long story.”

The vampire tilted his head to the side, studying me. “I’m sure it is. I would like to hear it one day. Are you well?”

“Well enough, no thanks to Laura,” I replied with a grimace, reaching to ensure my throat was still in one piece.

“I take it she objects to your…new status?” Simon raised a finely drawn brow, and I frowned.

“What status?”

“As the Lady of Harrison Tower.”

“Huh. Yeah, I’m about as happy to be here as the Lady of Shallot,” I quipped. I knew he’d get the Tennyson reference, and Simon nodded in understanding. “You didn’t bring your friends? Mr. and Mrs. Black?”

“Actually they’re speaking with your associate Mr. MacInnes at the moment. Apparently he’s a fan of Emily’s writing.”

Glancing around for Mac, I instead spotted Zach returning, holding a white china cup and saucer.

“Here you are, my dear,” Zach said, handing me the cup.

“Thank you.” I smiled. Coffee, perfect. Powered by caffeine, I can survive anything.

“I see you’ve met Lord Wroth. I must admit I am surprised to see you here, you almost always decline my invitations,” Zach commented as he scrutinized him. Simon seemed nonplussed by the statement. I wondered if Wroth was his true name. If so, he was taking Harrison’s rudeness remarkably well.

“You’ve created quite a stir, Harrison. I thought this gathering would be well worth witnessing.”

“Really.”

The two vampires sized each other up for a tense moment as I drank my coffee, and I put a calming hand on Zach’s shoulder. The moment passed, and he smiled pleasantly at Simon. “Well, I hope you have a good view then.”

“I always do.” Simon smiled in return, and there was a sly edge to the expression. He nodded at me, and then bowed slightly to Harrison before walking away.

“I guess even the undead have paparazzi,” I joked, trying to put Zach at ease. “How much longer do I have to stay?”

“Are you tired?” Concern crossed his face, and I shook my head. “Just a bit longer then. We have a few more people to speak with.” He held his hand out to me, and I put my hand in his and let him lead me away to the next objet d’arte.

Everything was calm and quiet as we continued throughout the gallery. We met more people whose names I would never remember, and I saw more art I didn’t understand. Not my kind of party, but I’d take boring over potentially dangerous any day. Zach and I stood in the gallery’s main room, providing fodder for several groups of gossiping vamps around us. Then the conversation died as a commotion interrupted the polite mood.

Turning toward the noise, I saw the body of a member of the security team fly into the room, landing a few feet from the doorway he’d been thrown through. I couldn’t tell if the man was dead, but he was certainly not moving. Harrison took a step forward to shield me from whatever danger approached, and he turned to one of the vampire bodyguards that had been less than inconspicuously hovering around us all night.

“Get the civilians out,” he ordered. “Now.”

The vamp nodded in reply and began speaking into his sleeve like a Secret Service agent. I set my almost empty cup of coffee on the nearest table, which was probably inappropriate considering it displayed a piece of art, but I wanted my hands free to deal with whatever the problem was. A few more grunts and yelps were heard in the direction of the main entrance as the bulk of the crowd was herded out of the room, and then the instigator sauntered into view-a familiar figure in his black duster, T-shirt and jeans.

“Lex?” I gasped in disbelief. Stepping forward, I tried to move toward him, but was grabbed by Harrison and shoved behind him.

“I know you were not invited, Duquesne,” Zach warned.

The guardian glanced around the room and shook his head in disappointment. “It’s not my kind of party. I don’t mean to stay long.”

“You aren’t welcome here.”

Again I tried to step forward, but Harrison tightened his grip on my forearm, almost painfully so. I opened my mouth and prepared to tell him off, but I paused as I caught a hint of his true emotion. Despite the fact he looked outwardly calm and more than a little annoyed, Zach was worried. Afraid even, just as he’d been after Laura attacked me. I blinked as I digested this information, and in a surprising show of tact I kept my big mouth shut.

“I’m just here to collect my Titania, and then I’ll leave you to your soiree.”

“We’ve already proven that you have no grounds to remove her, since she willingly agreed to stay here as our guest,” Lovely Laura chimed in. With slow, echoing steps she crossed to stand near us. Yeah, Laura wanted me dead, but protecting the vampire turf was more important to her at the moment. We were in the middle of a room full of vamps Zach needed to impress-it would be an enormous sign of weakness on his part if he let me leave with Lex now.

“I’m takin’ her home.”

I felt Zach’s mood shift again. He was still afraid, but now he was angry as well. “Perhaps she doesn’t wish to leave with you.”

All eyes turned to me, and I wanted to sink right through the floor. “Umm, could we possibly discuss this in private?”

“There is nothing to discuss,” Zach countered, and then turned back to Lex. “I’ve kept my word. I haven’t forced her, nor harmed her. Catherine chose to be here. Now, you are trespassing, and I see no reason not to remove you from our territory.” He motioned to the crowd, and a sea of vamps surged forward to attack Lex.

“No!” I shouted, and was completely ignored. Turning on his heel, Harrison strode away from the fight, dragging me along behind him. “Damn it, Zach, don’t do this. Let me go,” I implored as I stumbled along. Determined, he continued through the now-empty gallery, headed toward the private entrance we’d arrived at. “Please, tell them to stop.”

“I can’t,” he replied. I tried to give him a magical shove, and it didn’t even muss his hair. I dug my heels in to slow him down, and one of the stilettos snapped beneath me, causing me to tumble to the ground. Zach stopped, an apologetic expression on his face as he looked down at me. “I’m sorry, Catherine, I truly am,” he said as he knelt beside me. “I can’t let you go with him.”

“Why not?” I asked, my voice tight with too much emotion. “You had to know I’d see him again when I left.” I fiddled with the strap of my broken shoe, my manicured nails making the process difficult.

“This is different. Let me do that.” Taking my foot in his hand, he started to undo the tiny buckles.

“How is it different?”

“It is,” he explained, his voice low enough to be a growl. “He picked this fight, now he’ll deal with the consequences.” Removing the broken shoe, Harrison paused and looked up at me. “Would you go with him and leave me standing here alone?”

“Yes. I have to help him.” Lex was facing a roomful of vampires, without his guardian magic to protect him. I had to get back there before they tore him apart.

Without another word Zach removed my other shoe, and then hauled me to my feet. Once again he tried to drag me along with him, but I put up a stronger fight now that I had more traction.

“Catherine, even if I could help him, I still would not let you leave with him, now walk.”

Unwilling to leave Lex to his fate, I switched tactics, snatching up the nearest piece of sculpture and hitting Zach with it as hard as I could. He staggered and dropped my arm, and the sculpture cracked and broke into several large pieces. Really, for a few grand you think it’d be more durable. An echo of pain shot through my skull as fragments of the piece fell from my hands. Cursing, I whirled and ran back toward the fray.

A circle of wary spectators had formed around Lex and Laura, and as I shoved my way through the onlookers it looked like she wasn’t doing very well. Wielding his two short swords, Lex kept her at bay. The blades were covered in a spiky sheen of ice, just as my rapier had been during the battle in the courtyard of Silverleaf castle. The two combatants were each cut up, but no major wounds. Damn impressive on Lex’s part.

Laura’s back was to me as she concentrated on Lex, and I paused, glancing around for a makeshift weapon. Snatching up a half-empty bottle of water, I whispered a quick spell as I formed a ball of ice in my hand. Winding up like a major league pitcher, I hurled it at her, hitting Lovely Laura in the back of her blonde head. The vampire stumbled, surprised, and turned to face me. She stepped toward me, hatred blazing in her pale eyes, and then those eyes widened in shock as the tip of one of Lex’s swords erupted from her chest. Laura let out a squeaky wail of disbelief.

“Give my regards to Dorian,” I said as I watched Lovely Laura Barrenheart crumple. The fiery hatred in her eyes faded as she collapsed, and I managed to get in one spiteful kick before I was shoved out of the way. I stumbled and fell, sprawled awkwardly on the floor.

“No!” Harrison’s anguished cry echoed through the gallery. With the councilwoman fallen, the surrounding minions scattered from the room like rats escaping a sinking ship. Someone tugged me to my feet, and I looked up to see Mac standing behind me. He dragged me off to the side, ducking behind the dubious protection of Simon St. Jerome and his vampire friend Michael Black, who stood watching the drama unfold like two critics observing a play. Aside from Zach and Lex, we were the only people left in the room.

Harrison stood over Laura’s body, torn between mourning her loss and keeping a wary eye on her killer. Lex circled him, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

“You have no idea what you’ve done,” Zach said quietly.

“True, I’m sure you know her crimes better than I do,” Lex agreed.

“What do you hope to accomplish here? Prove your devotion to your lady fair? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to ride to her rescue a bit sooner than the night before she was free to go?”

“I heard you were goin’ to show off Cat like the newest piece in your collection, so I wanted to make sure your vamp buddies didn’t get the wrong idea.”

“And you showed up to prove your ownership instead? How Cro-Magnon of you. Will you be dragging her back to your cave next?”

I hated to admit it, but the vampire had a point. “Will you both cut it out? The wicked witch is dead, she had it comin’, I say we call it a night.”

“No!” both men replied.

“Oh, for the love of-” I started, but was interrupted by the undead peanut gallery.

“Hmm. Harrison knows, and yet he’s still fighting it,” Simon commented to his companion. “I think that’s very interesting, don’t you?”

“Yes, quite,” Michael agreed.

“Knows what?” I asked.

“That you and Duquesne are soul mates, of course,” Simon answered.

“Well duh, apparently everyone knows that,” I muttered, grimacing in annoyance.

“Lord Wroth, Mr. Black. I take it you are enjoying your view,” Zach said dryly as he glanced at them.

“Indeed, though this is not terribly original of you, I have witnessed this sort of drama before,” Simon replied.

“You have?” I’d hate to think my adventure was just another day at the vampire office.

“My apologies, Miss Morrow. The drama in question is not an unfamiliar story: A newly made vampire so terrified at the thought of eternity alone that he is desperate to keep his stolen damsel with him, even as her knight is pounding down the doors to his lair.”

“I object to being accused of something so cliché. I think my reasoning is quite sound. I might add that you are treading perilously close to interfering, St. Jerome.”

“I’m merely having a talk with the new Titania.” Spreading his hands in a placating gesture, he smiled. “Though I should add that it is a rather despicable specimen who would knowingly keep a lady from her soul mate.”

“I need her,” Zach growled. A shiver ran down my spine, and I grabbed Mac’s hand.

“For what?” I asked. “You already put the necro-whammy on me. You said I could leave, and now none of your guests are here to witness whatever happens. Just let us go.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let a council member’s murderer waltz away from the scene of the crime,” Zach argued.

“Well, then you’ll just have to stop me,” Lex countered, and then lunged at him.

The two men moved with inhuman speed, a blur in the center of the room. With no weapon, Harrison fought with teeth and claws, and for the first time I was able to see him as a true monster. Lex caught him high across the chest, tearing a slash through Zach’s suit, and a line of pain seared me in the same place. Gasping, I fell to my knees, still clinging to Mac’s hand.

“Cat!” Mac exclaimed. “What’s wrong?”

I placed my hand above the plunging neckline of my dress, and slick, warm blood coated my fingers. Kneeling next to me, Simon drew my hand away and examined the wound.

“Of all the foolish, irresponsible-” he sputtered. “Idiot boy.” Rising to his feet, he turned to Michael. “Duquesne needs to be stopped, or he’ll kill her along with Harrison.”

Those were words I certainly didn’t want to hear-Lex was mad enough to send Harrison straight to hell, and I didn’t want to get dragged down with him. I watched as the two men continued to fight, two black-clad blurs that darted back and forth across the floor. I wasn’t sure if it was Harrison ’s blood in my veins or whatever attunement he said we shared, but I felt every scratch, every bruise, every wound that the vampire endured.

Lex’s blade cut a deep slash across Zach’s torso, and I doubled over in agony. A blast of arctic air crashed into Harrison, and the vampire tumbled backward. Clutching his stomach as he lay in a crumpled ball, Harrison seemed defeated, and Lex advanced to deliver a killing blow. Seeing an opening, I stumbled between them and threw my arms out wide.

“Stop it!” I shouted. “That’s enough!”

Lex tried to move around me, but I grabbed him. “Lord and Lady, will you stand still. You’re hitting me too, jackass.”

He frowned, noticing my bloodstained dress. “Cat…what happened?”

“You can’t kill him, apparently it’ll kill me too. He did some weird vampire wooj to me and now we’re stuck with each other.”

Lex shot a wary look at the fallen vampire, and then sheathed his weapons. I threw my arms around him and he held me close. I felt instantly better, as though Lex’s very presence chased away my aches and pains.

“It’s a spirit link, in fact,” Simon spoke up. “It’s really quite rare. I’ve never heard of it being cast on one who wasn’t a necromancer.”

“And I’m seriously not a necromancer.”

Harrison stirred, groaning as he slowly got to his feet. “You could be. You’d be powerful. It’s in your blood.”

“No. It’s not,” I said, shaking my head. “Okay, we’re going to leave now.”

“I can’t allow that,” Zach repeated.

“I’m takin’ her home,” Lex replied. “Just ’cause I can’t kill you doesn’t mean I won’t handcuff you to a sculpture so we can leave.”

“Try it,” Zach suggested. He grinned, flashing bright white fangs, and I shuddered. We were at a standoff-Lex couldn’t attack him, and he wouldn’t let us go.

There was a distinct sigh from the direction of our undead audience, and then a streak of motion darted from the shadows behind Harrison. He turned toward it, and a dull pain exploded in my head as Zach fell to the floor, unconscious. Lex held me tight, reacting to the sudden buckling of my knees. When I recovered I saw Mrs. Emily Black standing above Zach’s prone form. Emily wiped off the side of a leather handbag, appearing unaffected by her surroundings.

I blinked. “Did you just hit him in the head with your purse?”

“I thought it best. We’d better hurry before he wakes up.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. C’mon, sugar, let’s get out of here,” Lex said.

I hugged him, feeling a little steadier, and he brushed a kiss against my hair.

“Damn, broke another one,” Emily muttered. She upended the bag, and several broken pieces of brick tumbled out and fell to the floor. I peered incredulously at Emily-the woman was short and petite and certainly didn’t look like the sort to have a weapon in her evening bag, and definitely not a chunk of masonry. I turned toward Michael and Simon.

“Cracking your host in the head with a brick seems kinda like interfering in vamp politics to me. Isn’t that against your Order’s rules?”

“It is, but while Michael is in the Order, Emily isn’t. That is why she can aid in rescuing you while we are merely observing,” Simon explained. Dusting himself off, he attempted to put his black suit back into order. “We’ll have to use the stairs. The elevators are monitored and can be overridden by security.”

We ducked into an emergency stairwell and began making our way down to the parking structure. Thankfully the art gallery wasn’t as high up in the building as my suite was, and we didn’t have a ridiculously far distance to travel. Lex held my hand tightly as we walked, as though he worried I’d try to bolt and run back to Harrison. Or maybe he was just happy to see me. Either way, I knew we’d have an interesting conversation once we were rid of our vampire audience.

“So, if you’re not in the Order, aren’t you still going to get into trouble for assaulting Zach?” I asked Emily as we trudged down the stairs.

“Zach?” she said, an inquisitive note in her voice. “Hmm, just how familiar are you with young Mr. Harrison?”

“I tried to get familiar with him, but apparently I’m not his type,” Mac joked. My cheeks flushed and I whacked Mac in the ribs with my free hand. Lex made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a low growl, and I hoped he was just clearing his throat.

“You’re avoiding the question,” I said to Emily.

“So are you,” she replied, amused.

“You’ll have to forgive Emily, she’s an insufferable gossip.” Michael chuckled behind us. “The answer to your question is no, she won’t. Emily’s position is unique.”

“Unique?”

“Quite,” Simon chimed in. “I took Michael on as my student and inducted him into the Order. Since he and Emily are soul mates, we couldn’t separate them-it would be extremely cruel, so he turned her. She isn’t part of the Order, but she wasn’t a necromancer and therefore holds no allegiance to their society.”

“That’s why I volunteered when Alexander asked Simon for help sneaking him into the building,” Emily informed me. “I don’t often get to aid in the rescue of a damsel in distress.”

“My wife, the mighty heroine.” Michael affectionately mussed Emily’s hair.

Emily pushed open the door to their parking level, and we emerged from the stairwell. It wasn’t as pristine as the spot I’d arrived at in the limo, but I could still catch a faint smell of fresh, damp air through the exhaust and spilled oil-it was raining outside. The sound of shuffling feet and muffled conversation echoed through the concrete structure. We rounded a corner just in time to see a handful of security agents spill out of an elevator, and they didn’t look happy.

“Ah hell,” I sighed. “So much for avoiding the elevators.”

The men spotted us and ran in our direction, a few of them drawing guns. We dove behind the nearest cars for cover as shots exploded in a series of sharp pops.

“There’s only a few, we can take care of them,” Lex assured us, and I shook my head.

“‘We’? Some of us are a bit out of our league here,” Mac piped up, and I nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, and that’s a lot of bullets to dodge. I don’t suppose you had anything else besides a brick in your purse?” I asked Emily.

“Sorry, it was the only thing that got through the metal detectors.”

“Great. Ideas?”

“Hey, look up,” Mac said, pointing at the ceiling near our attackers. A bright red sprinkler head jutted from the bland concrete. Water. I could work with that.

Staring hard at the sprinkler, I reached out with my magic and yanked on the water in the pipes, which then erupted in a fine spray. I chanted the same spell that’d let me bean Laura with an iceball, and the water froze into sharp spikes, sending a hail of icicles in every direction.

“Nice.” Lex grinned, darting out from our cover.

Emily grabbed a hold of my hand and tugged me after her as she dashed back into the aisle. A few of the men were down, injured but alive, and the ones left standing looked bewildered by what attacked their friends. Lex engaged those closest to us, and drawing back her fist, Emily decked one and laid him out flat. Not bad for a little vamp in a cocktail dress.

Lex made quick work of the rest of them, but the last man standing turned toward us and aimed his gun at Emily. I stepped closer to her, and instead of throwing my shields out from within me I pictured a perfect sphere of water around us, drawing on energy from the gush spewing from the sprinkler. The energy pulsed bright blue around us a heartbeat before he pulled the trigger, and the bullet hit the barrier. For a moment it hung there, suspended in midair, and then slid slowly to the ground.

“Good work,” she said, impressed.

Before the gunman could fire again, a ball of ice the size of a grapefruit struck him in the side of the head and sent him sprawling. Emily and I turned to our vampire entourage, and Michael held out his hands, attempting to look innocent.

“Freak sprinkler accident,” he explained, pointing upwards.

“Of course it was, darling. Let’s hurry before it happens again, shall we?” Emily suggested.

Before I could manage to ask where exactly the car was, I felt a wave of white-hot anger thrum through me, and I collapsed in a pile of twitching, flailing limbs.