Bitten By Magic (11 page)

“The Elder has existed for millennia. He, more than anyone else, could have discovered and hidden it here.”

“Right...” She folded her arms as she regarded him as if he’d lost his brain. “So, let’s say he has this mythical book. Why in the name of the Goddess would he keep it here in his library where anyone visiting the Hive could stumble upon it, or search for it as you clearly are?”

“The best way to hide something is to place it in plain sight.” Levi’s dumb look changed quickly as he swore loudly. His eyes turned to black as he thrust a hand out toward her. Alexa barely had time to react as he flung a curse at her. She quickly turned the fireball into a white dove that flew over her head as she returned the favor. Her spell meant to put him to sleep missed, bouncing off the walls.

“Your spells are weak, Keeper. Must be from letting the undead taint your aura. He clearly fed off you, too,” he sneered at her as he ducked her spell once more. “Wait until you see what he has planned for you. You’ll wish you hadn’t burned your bridges with me then.” He grinned as he countered her spell with a curse of blindness. Alexa dove to the side, coming up with a curse that hit him square in the chest. The little weasel really was a weasel. Alexa scurried to her feet, easily ducking her bouncing sleep spell as she walked to where the gray animal was searching frantically for a way to escape her.

“That’s what you get, you little weasel.” She bent to pick him up just as a blinding flash of light enveloped him. She was left staring at the empty space where the weasel had stood. Her spell blocking his escape had worn off at the wrong damn moment.

“Well, shit!” Her eyes widened as the dove flying up at the ceiling was hit by her sleep spell. She ran, diving onto the rug, barely catching the poor bird as it fell into her outstretched hands just before it would have fallen to its death. Staring down at the sleeping bird, Alexa sighed in defeat. She’d gotten her answers, but she didn’t like them. O’Mallery was her enemy, a fact that was easier to believe than the existence of The Book of Souls. And if the book did exist...? It didn’t bode well for any of them. She shook her head as she carefully got to her feet while cradling the sleeping bird in her hands. It couldn’t ever be an easy path for a Carver woman.

Chapter Seven

“Sleep well, little one.” Sighing loudly, she left the library in search of the conservatory to release the dove outside. At least she could give her creation the one thing she had never truly experienced...freedom.

She hadn’t gone far when she heard voices coming from a room to her right. Georgetta’s familiar laugh had her tensed shoulders relaxing. The young girl had seemed like a friendly sort. Alexa paused in the open doorway. The Goth girl was sitting in front of a massive screen displaying multiple videos. She recognized hallways that flashed into rooms of the mansion. Georgetta wore a high-tech headset, her eyes glued to the many screens. Her black painted fingernails tapped with an expert speed on the key pad before her. Her short black bob bounced against her cheeks as she laughed at something the young man sitting beside her was saying.

The young man was the first one to spot Alexa leaning against the door frame. He immediately got to his feet, his computer chair sliding back as he left it. Alexa tensed as his hand went for the lethal pistol strapped to his leg. Georgetta’s panicked look eased into a friendly smile as she also stood to face Alexa. Her hand covered his, stopping him from pulling the weapon out.

“Mistress Chambers, how may we be of service to you?” Georgetta bowed her head in what Alexa guessed was the proper show of respect for a higher member of the Hive. The young man automatically dropped his head as well. She almost looked behind her to see who they were nodding to, then realized with a resigned sigh that it was she.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”

“Oh, don’t you know? You are our Mistress, now. Our work is serving you.” Georgetta raised her face, a happy grin on her pink-painted lips. “What do you have there?”

“A dove. I was looking for the conservatory so I could set it free. I’d be grateful for directions. This place is a maze.” Alexa’s thumb rubbed against the dove’s soft breast as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other under Georgetta’s searching gaze.

“Henry, I’m taking a lunch break with our Mistress. Do you think you can hold the fort for a bit?” Georgetta landed a soft elbow to the poor guy’s gut when he continued to stare at Alexa.

“Ugh...uh...sure.” Henry’s dirty blond hair bounced over one gray eye as he rubbed his belly.

“I’ll take you to the conservatory and then we’ll get something to eat.” Georgetta wrapped a hand around Alexa’s elbow and steered her down the hallway. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Henry, but you look like the walking dead.” Georgetta stopped abruptly. “Oh, I didn’t mean...”

“Relax, I won’t send you to the dungeons.” Alexa smiled as she continued to walk. “I could use some food, I guess. What I’d really kill for is a hot cup of tea.” She hadn’t had a decent cup since the impromptu meeting with the Three Sisters of Fate. They had somehow known her penchant for peppermint tea. It had even tasted just like her homemade mixture crushed from the peppermint plants dried from her small herb garden.

“I think we can arrange some tea for you.” Georgetta laughed as she opened the glass door to the conservatory. “I have to ask. How did a dove get inside the building?”

“Long story.” Alexa rolled her eyes. “I still can’t believe Vampires have rooms with glass ceilings and windows. Aren’t they afraid someone will forget to close the blinds?”

“They seldom wake up during daylight hours. You don’t know much about the Hive’s schedule.” Georgetta unlocked and opened the sliding doors, letting a gust of summer heat into the room.

“I’m afraid I don’t. What I do know about this place and...them, I’ve found to be wrong and twisted. I’d appreciate being enlightened, if you wouldn’t mind?” Alexa held the dove carefully as she stepped out into a grassy courtyard, which was surrounded on all sides by the building. Small trees were surrounded by red mulch and colorful annuals in full bloom. Alexa saw several small lights artfully arranged to light the courtyard at night. A few picnic tables scattered here and there looked well used. She found it strange to see names in hearts carved into the wood.

“Well, the immortals waken around eight p.m. or dusk. They like to feed at ten p.m., which could take a few minutes or up to a few hours, depending on if the immortal and the feeder are...intimate.” Georgetta grinned. Her cheeks blushed as she studied Alexa. “As you probably already know, the immortals have an immense capacity and endurance in bed.”

“I take it you’re a feeder who is intimate with one of them.” Alexa raised a brow to which Georgetta giggled.

“He’s an Enforcer. One of the nicer ones.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke of him. “Anyways, there are two main meals served in the cafeteria, unless there’s a special occasion like weddings or guests. Breakfast foods are laid out for everyone from eight until eleven in the mornings. Lunch starts for Feeders at three o’clock with Poppets and the servants eating at four. Then there is dinner at ten for everyone. We have the Hive basically from five a.m. until dusk.”

“What do you do during the day while they are sleeping?”

“We clean the buildings, tend to the gardens, mow the yards, and work for the Master. There are plenty of things to keep us occupied.” Georgetta followed her to one of the tables, where they both sat down. “Is it dead?” She aimed a skeptical look of pity at the dove still sleeping in Alexa’s hand.

“No, just sleeping.” Alexa sighed. “I should wait until it wakes to release it.”

“Good idea,” Georgetta agreed as she sat across from Alexa. “Did you have a good rest? At least until he asked you to leave?”

“He didn’t ask me to leave. I couldn’t sleep. I guess switching my sleep schedule might be a little harder than I thought. Of course, I could always oversee the activities during the day and leave the nights for the Elder to handle. That would probably be for the best.”

“Do you really think the Master would like that? I don’t. He’s said to be a hands-on kind of guy.” Georgetta bit her lower lip as she stared at the dove. “I’m a little surprised he didn’t turn you last night.”

“Turn me? Oh, I’d prefer not to be turned.” Her words made Georgetta’s eyes widen.

“Are you kidding? There isn’t a Poppet in this place who wouldn’t give their right arm to be turned. You are wed to one of the strongest immortals of our time. Why wouldn’t you want to be like him? You’d be an immortal, to never die...”

“Never to walk in the sun, never to bear a child, to live beyond all those I love so dearly. Besides, a bloodsucking Witch does not sound like my idea of a good time. No, that life is not for me.”

“I see some of your points, but you would never be sick. Why wouldn’t he try to turn you, at least?”

“He has his reasons.” Like the fact he couldn’t stand her and probably had some evil end for her planned, if the weasel was to be believed.

“There is one very good reason for allowing him to turn you. Rosalyn. She argued a blue streak to Jaxson when he stopped her from trying to go to the Master’s quarters last night. Jaxson blocked her and Montgomery walked her back to her own room. If you were a full Vampire, you wouldn’t have to fear an attack from that she-devil.”

“You really don’t like her, do you?” Alexa saw the light of fire in Georgetta’s wide eyes.

“She has always acted like the queen bee, walking around bossing all of us around as if she was our superior. You know, I heard she has only been a member of the Hive for thirty years. She wouldn’t be here now if the Elder hadn’t taken her in. Rosalyn was hunting all by herself in a Las Vegas casino. They say the immortals can sense one another. He caught her and offered to bring her here to the Hive. She has had an eye on that ring you’re wearing ever since. Be warned, Mistress. She is your enemy, not to be trusted or ignored.” Serious concern had no business on the carefree face of the young woman sitting opposite her. Alexa felt real affection for the gothic Poppet. For the first time she took a good look at her wedding band. It was silver twined in a Celtic knot wrapped around a ruby. Gorgeous and powerful, an ancient ring worn by others in the distant past.

“Thank you, Georgetta.”

“Call me Georgie. I’d like to be your friend.” There was an honest longing in the girl’s expression.

“I’d like that. And you can call me Alexa. No more Mistress Chambers. That isn’t who I am.” She took a deep breath as the bird’s dark eyes popped open to stare up at her. “Ah, he’s awake.” She smiled as she gently rubbed the tiny bird with her thumb. “Time to fly, my lovely.”

Alexa stood up and gently tossed the dove into the air. It took off in flight, disappearing white wings sparkling pure and magical into the darkening blue sky. “I’m kind of jealous of that bird.” Alexa sighed.

“Me, too. Let’s go see what Theresa has planned for lunch.” Georgie just about danced for the glass doors. Alexa watched her with a feeling very close to the way she’d watched the bird. Had she ever danced so lightly with happiness bubbling up inside her? She knew she hadn’t, nor was she ever likely to.

Chapter Eight

The cafeteria was at the opposite end of the complex. Alexa found Theresa and a few others serving lunch buffet style. It reminded her of the hospital cafeteria she once had to eat from when her aunt and uncle had their fatal car accident. She experienced a shiver of dread as she followed Georgie to the small line waiting to be fed.

Looking around the white room, she noticed several things that made her want to ask questions about the Hive hierarchy. First of all, there were all ages of people eating together in smaller groups, like cliques in a high school with the cool kids, nerds, and bad boys. Were they all Poppets, serving the immortals in the hope of becoming one themselves some day? Somehow she didn’t think that was the case with most of these people.

Then there were the children. She didn’t recall hearing any stories of Vampires procreating. They were dead, right? They couldn’t have children, then. Or could they? She watched a little girl who sat apart from everyone. Her long blond hair hung loose and snarled, framing a thin elfin face. She kept her head down, concentrating on playing with half of a peanut butter sandwich on her plate.

Something about the little girl pulled at Alexa. There was a gray aura languishing around the child, a sign of sadness and desperation. She recognized that lost little girl look far too well. She reminded her of Allison just after she lost her parents. Deep in thought, she jumped as Georgie nudged her arm.

“We can move up, Mis...Alexa.”

“Oh, sorry.” Alexa moved to the end of the line.

“We missed the main crowd of feeders. These are servants and spares, mostly. Are you all right?” Georgie whispered.

“Yes. I just have some questions about... Wait, what’s a spare?”

“Mistress Alexa! You don’t need to stand in line here. Come with me and I will make you a special plate. I was wondering if we’d see you before supper. I couldn’t decide if I should send a plate to the Master’s chambers.” Theresa hurried forward, words flying from her like a bubbling stream.

“I’m fine here, Theresa. Thanks but I don’t mind waiting...” Alexa’s words died in her throat as every person in the line ahead of her dropped their heads in the familiar bow. Then they all hurried behind her to form the new line. She looked at Georgie, who smiled.

“You are the Mistress, Alexa. They respect you.”

“Respect is earned, not given because of a person’s status in life.” Alexa frowned as she searched the tables, finding the little girl no longer in the cafeteria. A sense of loss and guilt made her sigh as she followed Georgie to a table.

They were almost finished eating when she found a lapse in Georgie’s monologue to ask her question. “Georgie, the children? Do they belong to the household employees? I didn’t see them attend the wedding.”

“Most belong to the employees, some to Poppets who bring them here. They aren’t allowed to attend most of the Master’s festivities,” she said with a shrug.