Chapter 30

I held up an impatient hand to silence Phoebe, my insides churning with betrayal and frustration. Never ever trust a vampire for anything. “Where did this come from?”

“Daniels,” Allcot said, appearing unaffected by my disrespectful tone. “We found it in his office and confiscated it.”

“And you didn’t think to hand it over to me?” Of course he didn’t. Despite his platinum cufflinks and overpriced wardrobe, he was no better than a street thug.

He gave me an indulgent smile. “Do you honestly think any vampire would give up such a valuable resource?”

I stared at David. “An honorable one would.”

David averted his gaze and focused on something over my shoulder.

The look confirmed my suspicion. He’d known about it. What else was he keeping from me? I turned to Allcot and bit back the threat to turn him in for harboring illegal enhancements. My complaint would fall on deaf ears. The board enforcement practically worked for him.

“Let’s do this, Willow,” Phoebe said moving toward the cart.

“No!” I cried and jumped in front of her. “Don’t touch anything.” If this breach was somehow reported, I didn’t want her prints anywhere near it. It would be a lot easier to explain mine. The truth was we did need the Influence. There wasn’t any at my shop since I’d been too busy trying to stay alive to make any. The one piece I’d had at home, I’d used on Maude. “I’ll do it.”

I grabbed a chocolate wedge, and as I moved past Phoebe, I whispered, “Get Talisen here. Maude’s going to need him.” I knew I should call him myself after the way I’d run out on him. Especially since I wasn’t asking for a small favor. This would put him on Allcot’s radar. Who knew what consequences that would bring? But I couldn’t risk the possibility of him turning me down. If he was really pissed, he might do just that. He wouldn’t dare say no to Phoebe, though. If he did, she’d find some way to force his hand.

Please don’t let me have messed up so badly he ignores the request. We’d never be able to move Maude without his healing powers.

Leaving Eadric and David behind, Phoebe and I slipped back into the other room. I kneeled beside Nicola and heard Phoebe talking to Talisen, but she was too far away and I couldn’t make out the words. Judging by her tone, it wasn’t going well. Come on, Tal. Don’t let me down now.

Pandora stood behind the settee, smoothing back her sister’s light hair. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to settle down. The last thing I wanted was a vampire’s sister under my control. Hell, I didn’t want anyone under my control. Now I’d have two people.

Just get it over with.

“Nicola,” I said softly.

The witch looked up at me through dazed eyes.

“I need you to eat some of this.” I held a small chunk up to her lips.

She twisted in protest and strained to sit up. Her legs kicked out and one foot landed right in the middle of my chest.

“Oomph,” I cried and fell back on my ass, jarring my still-sore wing.

Pandora placed a firm hand on Nicola’s shoulder. “You have to do this, Nikki. It’ll help.”

Nicola started to mouth words, and I leaned closer, trying to hear.

But Phoebe jumped in front of me, her hands held in front of her, casting a protective circle. Whatever spell Nicola had conjured crashed into Phoebe’s barrier, shattering it. Both spells dissipated into the ether.

Phoebe fumed, her fists clenched in tight little balls.

Pandora clamped a hand around Nicola’s mouth and nodded to one of the other vampire lackeys to restrain Nicola’s hands.

I touched Phoebe’s arm. “It’s the spell she’s under. I don’t think she can control herself.”

My roommate narrowed her eyes, glaring at the other witch. “If she tries to cast that death spell one more time, I’m going to put her in a coma.”

“Death spell?” I whispered. Vampire balls. She’d tried to kill me. I glanced down at the ruby ring on her right hand. “I thought her ring was empty?”

Phoebe nodded. “It was. Maybe she has another spelled piece of jewelry.”

Pandora ripped the ring off Nicola’s hand and handed it to Phoebe.

“It’s empty,”‘ Phoebe said. “Totally useless.” She handed it back to Pandora and eyed Nicola. “I don’t see any other jewelry, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have another spell hidden.”

That was it. All my reservations about using the Influence vanished. “Forget it. Once she’s Influenced, it won’t matter anyway.” I took a place next to Pandora, gritting my teeth against the burning sensation when her shoulder rubbed mine. “We’re going to have to force-feed her.”

Pandora nodded once, her big round eyes conflicted with emotion. She shifted her hand from Nicola’s mouth to cover her nose. The second Nicola opened her mouth, I stuffed the Influence in. She began to spit, but Pandora clamped an iron hand over her mouth and waited for her to swallow.

We all stood there staring, not certain the Influence had worked.

“Say something,” Phoebe said to me.

“Right.” Crap. I was the inventor of the stuff. You’d think I’d remember I had to give her directions. “Let her go,” I said to Pandora. I wanted to see how she reacted before I gave instructions.

Pandora nodded to her lackey, and they both released her. Nicola slumped on the settee, sighing as the tension seemed to roll off her. She stared at her wrists, inspecting the fresh bruises.

Poor thing. Though that’s what happens when you go throwing death spells around.

“Nicola.” I waited for her to meet my eyes. “The only thing I want you to do is tell the truth. Other than that, you are under no one’s control.”

She nodded slowly, then reached out and grabbed my hand. “It wasn’t Eadric. He had nothing to do with what happened to me.”

I smiled reassuringly. “That’s what I thought. Can you tell us what did happen?”

She shuddered. “The director came to speak to me at home.”

“Maude?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“Yes.” She gulped. Then her voice hardened. “And she brought that traitor vampire.”

Pandora moved to sit next to her. She held out her hand and Nicola took it. “Who?”

Nicola shook her head. “I don’t know. She called him Beals, but I’d never heard of him before. He’s old, but I don’t think as old as Eadric. Old enough to block my defensive spells.”

I glanced at my roommate. I thought she’d said Nicola was powerful. Even more powerful than Phoebe.

She seemed to understand what I was asking and shook her head. “She doesn’t have Arcane knowledge.”

Ah, advanced spell knowledge. No matter how strong she was, Nicola’s spells wouldn’t be as powerful as a Void agent’s. Arcane spells were highly classified and in a league of their own. “What happened when they came to your house?”

Nicola glanced at Pandora, who nodded. I hadn’t commanded her to answer my questions, only to tell the truth. She’d already been through hell.

She closed her eyes. “He bit me. And drank enough blood I passed out.” Her eyes flew open and she stared hard at Phoebe. “He was too fast for me to defend myself. Your spells are so much stronger than mine. I want you to teach me.”

“Whoa,” Phoebe said. “One step at a time.”

“All I had with me were a few paid-for death spells.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out another ring. Dropping it on the table, she shuddered. “I was spelled to use those. I won’t be vulnerable again. Please. I’m a fast learner.”

Phoebe tilted her head, taking in the slight-framed woman. “If I can get it sanctioned, I’ll do what I can.”

“What does that mean, exactly?” Pandora wrapped an arm around her sister. “Sanctioned?”

“Arcane spells are confidential. But if I can get someone to sign off on training Nicola, I will.” Phoebe tucked a lock of black hair—her own this time—behind her ear. “Considering the Arcane has violated her rights, I should be able to negotiate the knowledge as payment.”

Pandora met Phoebe’s gaze. “Good. If not, they’ll have me to answer to.”

Phoebe shrugged. “That’s their problem.”

I cleared my throat and faced Nicola. “Can you tell us what happened after you woke up?”

Nicola huffed out a humorless laugh. “Yeah. They’d compelled me. I had to do everything they said. Spy on Eadric. Break into your house. Look for information I could never seem to find. And every few days, that vampire showed up in the middle of the night to give me a new assignment and force-feed me that awful chocolate with the acid aftertaste. By then, I wasn’t a threat. Every time I tried to protest or tell someone, my brain stalled and my mouth said something else. It was like I was programmed and I had no choice in the matter.”

“And Maude was the leader?” Pandora asked, her fingernails ripping a hole in the velvet settee.

I leaned back, afraid of what Nicola might say. If she confirmed Maude was in charge, Pandora would never believe my theory.

But Nicola shook her head. “I don’t think so. The first time she came over, she took direction over the phone. She’s working for someone.”

“Not for,” I said. “She was compelled, just like you were. But the real question is what were they looking for?”

“Information.” Nicola stared at me, her eyes full of pity. “They wanted to know more about your vampire abilities. They seemed to think you’re not being one hundred percent truthful.”

Pandora tensed, panic ringing in her voice. “What did you say? Do they know?”

“Know what?” I asked.

Nicola shook her head quickly and spoke to Pandora. “No. Nothing. They never asked the right questions.”

With a heavy sigh, Pandora sank back against the cushions. “Thank the Goddess.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” My pulse quickened as unease settled in my chest. I knew the Void wanted to study me, but I hadn’t realized they thought I was hiding anything. What were they looking for?

Nicola glanced at Pandora, silently asking a question.

Pandora held up a hand and pressed a button on her phone. A second later she said, “It’s time.”

I stood, and took a step back. “What’s going on?”

Pandora tossed her phone on a side table. “You’re about to get a piece of your puzzle.”

The double doors opened with a loud creak. I turned, expecting Eadric or even David, but it was Talisen, his face pinched in anger.

“Tal,” I breathed and ran to his side. “Thank you for coming.”

He gazed down at me, a hint of concern in his conflicted expression, but then he gave me an impatient nod and stalked to Phoebe. “Where is she?”

Phoebe, ignoring his surly demeanor, tucked her arm through his and led him toward the room where they’d kept Maude chained. “I’ll be right back.”

My blood rushed to my head just thinking about my aunt’s condition.

The doors swung open again, and this time Eadric glided in. He’d changed into faded jeans and a red silk shirt. Ugh, was he sharing a wardrobe with David or something? He didn’t acknowledge me as he made his way to Nicola’s side. He gently touched her cheek. “Better, love?”

She nodded. “I didn’t want to betray you.” Angry tears sprung to her eyes. “I’d never do such a thing.”

He held on to her gaze. “I believe you.” Pandora moved to his side, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The three of them looked very much the devoted family.

I felt like an intruder of the worst kind. I’d never given much thought to vampires having a family. But they clearly were. They weren’t just what they seemed on the surface: Lustful, greedy, self-serving. These two loved each other and Nicola. It was the first time I’d really seen the evidence.

Allcot stood and faced me. “Why didn’t your Influence neutralizer work?”

I frowned. It had. Sort of. But she’d been spelled as well. Or had she? What did she say? They’d forced her to eat chocolate with an acid aftertaste. My Influence didn’t have any unappealing flavor. I’d never sell something that wasn’t heaven on the taste buds. “I think I know the answer, but let me confirm first. I’ll be right back.”

I ran to the other room where Talisen was hovering over Maude. Her eyes were half-open as she murmured something to him.

The lights had been dimmed in the white room, but it was still entirely too harsh on my eyes. I shielded them and moved to stand on the other side of the reclining chair Maude now lay in.

“Not now, Willow,” Talisen said, running his healing stone over Maude’s raw wrists.

“I’m sorry,” I said to him, hoping he realized I was apologizing for more than just interrupting him. “Really sorry.”

He gave his head a tiny shake and went back to work.

“Maude?” I clasped her other hand gently.

Her eyelids fluttered and she focused on me. “Willow? Is that poor girl okay?”

“I think so. Listen, do you know what the vampire was feeding her? It doesn’t sound like the Influence I make.”

She gave me a tiny nod. “The lab-modified Influence.” Her breathing became heavy as she struggled to get the words out. “More powerful than yours. Harder to undo.”

“And that’s why you suggested my Influence. It cancels out the lab-modified version in a way my neutralizer can’t?”

“Yes. Sort of.” Her eyes closed and she gave a muffled groan.

“Willow.” Talisen’s harsh tone made me step back.

“What?” I asked.

“Go away. I need to concentrate.” He turned his back, rummaging through his healer bag.

“Sorry,” I said again, my voice so low I wasn’t sure he heard me. I left and Phoebe followed.

“He just needs time,” she said as we moved back into Eadric’s sitting room.

I hoped she was right. He’d come, hadn’t he? It was a start. I sat in a chair opposite Nicola. “They fed her modified Influence. The Arcane has had scientists working on duplicating it. None are sanctioned for use because they’re too dangerous. Though it’s not hard to see why someone in a position to abuse their power might prefer the more dangerous, illegal version.”

“Indeed.” Eadric stood. “It’s time I paid my part of the bargain, Ms. Rhoswen.”

I got to my feet. “Paid?”

“Information. Follow me.” He strode toward the double doors.

I signaled to Phoebe and we followed him out into the hall. A few doors down, he unlocked a nondescript oak door and held it open for us.

I hesitated, not at all sure I wanted to enter a room he kept locked.

“Trust me, Ms. Rhoswen, you want to see this.”

Phoebe brushed past me with her eyebrows raised. I steeled myself and followed her. The room was really a suite with two overstuffed chairs and a matching couch, not at all like Eadric’s private rooms with the fancy Louis XVI style furnishings.

A door slammed in another room, and a small strawberry-blond toddler came running out, holding a stuffed elk and shrieking with delight.

“Beau,” a female voice called from the other room. “Come back here, you monster.”

My heart skipped a beat, then pounded so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest. I knew that voice. And when she appeared in the doorway, she froze, staring at me with her mouth open.

“Carrie?” I looked from the small, curvy witch Beau had intended to marry to the little boy now clutching her leg.

“Willow.” She seemed to recover and smiled tentatively. Glancing down at the toddler, she put a hand on his head. “I guess it’s about time you met your nephew, Beau Junior.”