The Burning Bush (49 page)

“What type of fruit is that?” I asked Vee, who began to move toward the tree.

“Whatever it is, it’s not a real fruit. Probably something the Witch Council specially created for this event,” Vee said as I stumbled after her.

These damn heels are ridiculous. Comfortable, but impossible to walk in soil with.
Sapphire strings dangled from Vee’s mask and ended at her bare shoulders.
I can’t believe Zulu let her buy that gown.

“The Masquerade Ball’s theme is the Enchanted Forest.” She picked up two berries and gave me one. “So nothing in this forest is going to be what it seems, just like the real enchanted forests outside Santeria. Although I doubt any of the old forests still exist.”

I ran my fingers over the skin of the fruit, enjoying its warmth and smooth texture. I bit into it. Strawberry-flavored gin poured into my mouth.

“Wow.” I coughed, my throat burning. I glanced back and saw five women circling around MeShack. They wore gold dresses, but the fabric varied from silk to satin. Their masks were gold as well, with ruby patterns at the edges.

“Looks like the Goddess Oshun is the favorite costume for women tonight.” Vee chomped into the fruit and gulped down the liquid. “Everybody wants to be the goddess of love and beauty. Can’t these women think outside the box? I mean, come on! It’s such an obvious choice.”

“Well, not everyone can afford a gown made out of sapphires.”

“Jealous, are we?” She laughed and snatched up two more fruits. “Don’t worry. Whenever your man isn’t thinking of killing this Vampire, he’s ogling you like a lovesick puppy.”

I twisted around but didn’t see Zulu. “Where is he, anyway?”

“He marched off that way.” She pointed to three trees coated in black-and-white-checkered bark. Tiny boxes wrapped in gold paper with ivory bows hung from the trees.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Vee.

“And I’ll be hanging out by this liquor tree,” Vee declared.

I headed that way, deeper into the forest. I wasn’t able to see more than five feet ahead of me due to the drifting fog, but I wasn’t scared. Laughter hovered over my head along with the sound of champagne glasses clinking and distant violins.

I strolled by a glass fountain as tall as I was with translucent, golden-feathered birds that splashed and chirped near its edge.
Goodness, the Witches really outdid themselves.
Supes chatted and lounged around the fountain in bushy couches made of leaves. They didn’t look comfortable, but the people leaned back, talking and hooting.

“Your date seems occupied with his fans,” Dante whispered in my ear. “Can I be your escort?”

Dropping the wine glass I was holding, I halted and spun around to face him. Dante wore a dark-chocolate brown suit with red sequins on the lapels and cuffs. His shirt was a mocha color. A mask carved from mahogany wood covered only the area around his eyes and forehead. Black horns hooked to the top of the mask curled back like the horns of a ram.

“Who are you supposed to be?” I forced myself not to show him that he’d completely unnerved me.
Although my dropped glass of wine is proof enough he’s gotten under my skin.

“Ambi, the Vampire God.” Dante stalked around me. I remained facing the same direction. Rage swam through my cords, and I knew Zulu had to be somewhere nearby, observing us.

“You look beautiful as the Goddess Oya.” Dante traced the edge of my mask, near my lips. “When I discovered that you had RSVP’d this morning, I had to come. I wanted to talk to you immediately.”

“You must have a pretty boring life,” I muttered, and moved deeper into the fogged forest, hoping to find a place where there would be no witnesses when Zulu or I killed him. There were no empty areas. Everywhere, people hung near trees and danced around rose bushes.

Dante’s cold hand gripped mine. “I’m serious. We need to talk. It was never my intention for Zulu or his sister to die in that bombing. I would never use a bomb of that magnitude.”

“Then why send the chess pieces?” I directed fire to his hand.

He jerked his hand away from me, shaking it. “What are you talking about? I sent no chess pieces.”

Trumpets blared, announcing something. A swarm of silver-feathered birds flew in the darkening sky above the trees. I ignored the noise and stomped farther into the enchanted forest, putting more distance between Dante and me. Suddenly, the whole forest transitioned from day to night. Pixies wearing lighted hats appeared everywhere, flying, playing, and dancing around the trees. Their little lights illuminated the ballroom. A hiss sounded to my right. I turned.

Dante’s fangs peeked out. “I understand that you are angry, but you do realize that if Zulu had simply given me my money, I would have left him alone.”

I stopped next to a turquoise mushroom and picked up a glass of bubbling blue liquid. “Zulu gave you money and a message saying he would rebuild everything. He was willing to—”

“I received no message or money.” Dante sneered and snatched up his own glass. “Let’s stop with these games. For once, I have no time for this.”

“You didn’t receive his message?” Smirking, I leaned my head to the side. “You say you don’t have time for games, but look at you standing right in front of me, spitting out lies.”

“You are beautiful, but very stupid and immature.” Dante shrugged and finished his glass in one swallow. “Zulu is dead. You fought with your Rebel allies on national television. Everyone knows you have power and that you’re a millionaire. Soon people will begin challenging you. I have no reason to lie to you right now. I’m holding the upper hand.”

“Oh really? Then why are you talking to me?” I moved on, trying to get away from the crowd.

“The Palero recommended I fix things with you soon and told me my path had shortened.”

I glanced over my shoulder at him. “That tends to happen when you kill people.”

Dante snatched at my arm again, but this time I was prepared for him and threw a fireball his way.

He dodged it. “I’m not shocked you figured out a way to cheat the ball’s protection spells.”

“And you have your fangs.”

“Nevertheless,” he said, “the bomb was solely to scare Zulu and show him I wanted what was owed me. It was supposed to set his living room on fire, not even the whole apartment.”

“Interesting, being that it blew up a whole building and destroyed most of the area around it.” I smirked. “Maybe you should teach your Vamps better bomb-making skills.”

“My guys didn’t do it. I ordered two Fairies to do it for me.”

My body stiffened. “Who?”

“Croy and Troy. I can’t even find them anymore. Somehow they’ve gone missing in this caged city, but when I do . . . their blood will fill my family’s bellies.” Dante tore off his mask, displaying the cross scar on the left side of his face. A crimson glow had replaced the usual pale green of his eyes. “I was set up.”

“Blah blah blah.” I walked away, pretending like this news didn’t affect me. I had to be careful. Dante had a hundred and more years over me and way more practice in deceit.

“Where are you going? The festivities are just beginning. No matter which way you walk, you’ll end up in the ballroom.”

I continued to storm off, sticking my middle finger up at him behind my back.

Thick trees opened in front of me to reveal a massive frozen lake. A full orchestra was positioned far behind it, making me think the lake served as a dance floor. But no one danced. Instead, everyone watched the spiritual reenactment of the Supe-Human Wars.

In the center of the frozen lake, twenty ghost-like Supes were lined up on the left, fighting twenty Human ghosts on the right. Transparent Earth Witches raised illusionary dirt in front of them. The Human soldiers sprayed the dirt with silver liquid. The entire area around the Humans was covered in the liquid, so that none of the Earth Witches could control it. Ghostly Air Witches raced to the front line and were shot down by Human soldiers. Transparent Witches collapsed to the ground. Translucent mucus-covered intestines poured out of their open wounds. Bile rose in my throat as I turned away from the reenactment.

“Why would they show this?” I said out loud, more to myself than the audience near me.

“It’s one of the Human government requirements for this ball.” Dante faced me, handing me a square silk cloth. “The Humans don’t want us to forget. They want us to remember our defeat, which is why the Palero thinks you and I should be working together instead of fighting each other.”

“You brought the fight to us.” I spat the words out, rage coursing through me. “And I don’t want your stupid handkerchief.”

“Zulu publicly destroyed my Blood Harvest Ball. I had to save face in front of the other families.”

“So that gave you every right to go off and kill innocent Vamp-owned Mixies?” I shook my head.

“I had to retaliate. Then you bombed my factory.”

Raising my voice higher than I wanted, I said, “Zulu was willing to rebuild the blood factory for you.”

“Again, I received no such message.” Dante stared at my arm cords as they brightened to white. “That Rebel Were-dog of his came to me saying that MFE and the Rebels do not compromise with blood exploiters. Then five of the Rebels killed several of my men. Vampires I had known for years. And when they tore open the last Vamp’s chest, I charged and they fled. As they ran, I told them I would bomb Zulu’s condo if he did not have my money to me by midnight.”

My mouth dropped open. I stared at him, studying his eyes as if I could discover the truth inside them.

“So, you’re trying to tell me that Nona and the Rebels knew you were planning to bomb Zulu’s condo?” I asked, forcing the shock from my face. Once again, I was glad my mask was on.

“You seem surprised.” Dante tilted his head to the right. “You truly believe Zulu intended to fix the factory?”

I need to think. Did Zulu lie to me about giving Dante that message? Did Nona know about the bombing? Because if she did, we should be killing her first.
I stepped around Dante.

He grabbed my arm. “I wasn’t finished.”

“You are for now,” I hissed. “Let go of me.”

He focused on my arm cords again. His fingers traced one of the cord’s outlines. “You have more of these.”

I nodded. “It’s a tribute. Would you like some cords done? We’re doing them for cheap at the Inked Guerilla in memory of Zulu.”

I’d been prepared with the lie just in case anyone asked. I just hadn’t figured Dante would have noticed I had cords on my arm before.

“I would like to finish our conversation tonight,” Dante said. “Neither of us is in control of these things happening around us.”

“I’m going to the ladies’ room. I’ll talk to you when I get out.”

Dante hesitated for a minute and placed his mask back on his face. “Please, Lanore. We must discuss this.”

“I said we’ll talk later.” I scowled at his hand on me.

He moved it away. His fingertips lingered on one cord, causing a tiny spark of white to burst into dust. His eyes were pale green once again, and they met mine. “Fine. But we settle this tonight.”

Dante’s lips formed into a smile. I rushed away. The sequin particles of my gown frantically swirled around me, rustling the petals on the ground.

“Excuse me.” Shoving through a group of teen Witches, I glanced back to see Dante’s eyes narrowed, focusing on my arms again. His hard gaze made me shiver with fear.
Why is he so focused on my cords?