Page 33 of The Elementalist (Four Elements #1)

Darth Grandma

Crystal approached her grandmother, standing a short distance in front of her as though she’d come to seek an audience with a queen.

“This better be good,” said the elder Bradbury.

I walked over to stand next to Crystal. Since she didn’t sit, I made no move to either.

The grandmother gave me the most casual of glances as if noting me a servant brought along for whatever purpose.

“Nigel Farrington is the reason Dana was killed.”

A small crack appeared in the old woman’s absolute lack of interest in being near Crystal. Her expression softened almost imperceptibly, eyebrows easing back from their furrow. “I trust you have something more than an accusation?”

“We do, but it’s not the sort of thing that would sway the police, nor would I be foolish enough to take it to them. Nigel sent two of his vampires to kill her knowing it would lure me back here from Ironside.”

Slight dimples formed on either side of Grandmother’s mouth, the most minimal of unimpressed smirks. “And why do you think you are significant enough for such a plot?”

Something about having the power of the elements at my disposal, daydreaming about this old bat’s reaction to me ripping down this whole house—or at least doing a ton of damage to it—allowed me to keep on a pleasant face.

All this wealth and fanciness didn’t mean a damn thing to nature.

In fact, the place stank of death. Not in the same way that coming within breathing range of a vampire did, but I didn’t doubt such creatures had been here, and often.

Mayor Bradbury hadn’t been one, but I had started wondering if referring to politicians as bloodsuckers might be more than metaphorical around here.

“The man is an arcanist,” said Crystal. “He wants to take my essence and use it to empower some sort of artifact. They almost succeeded in abducting me.” She held her hand out toward me. “We have video of him personally trying to kill us.”

I handed over my phone. Crystal played it, holding the phone up so the old woman could see.

“That is indeed Nigel. He seems rather perturbed,” said the grandmother. “Why are you pestering me with any of this?”

“He’s going to continue pursuing me until one of us is dead. I’d hoped you might have some leverage you could exploit to encourage him to forget about me.”

The old one nearly laughed. “Dana is already lost. Why would I even begin to consider acting on your behalf after what you’ve done?”

Crystal shivered, though I couldn’t quite tell if it came from rage, sadness, or fear.

“There’s also the matter of what this guy wants to do with it,” I said.

Grandmother looked up at me as astonished as if she’d witnessed a gorilla speak.

“He’s going to do one of three things with her essence: craft an item that allows him to control people’s minds or, create something that allows a person to become invisible.

Or, worse—and probably the one he’s thinking of—create a ring or amulet that gives him irresistible charm.

No matter what he does, anyone in his presence would find him wonderful and do whatever he asked of them.

Now, I’m no genius here, but who do you think this guy is going to turn such an item against?

Normal people?” I shook my head. “He’s going to use it to shift the balance of power among the families.

If you won’t act to protect your granddaughter, at least act out of self-interest.”

“She is most certainly not my granddaughter,” said the old woman.

A tall curtain to the left moved, revealing a man in his young twenties wearing a beige sweater, khakis, and dock shoes.

His neat brown hair looked so full of gel it would’ve stopped a bullet.

However, unlike the old one here, he didn’t regard Crystal with hostility.

“Grandmother, Dana loved Crystal like a sister even after Father cast her out. Dana’s dead because she wanted to protect her family. ”

“Arthur!” said the old one in a raised voice. “What are you doing? You know better to be in a room with... her. You know what will happen.”

Crystal shook her head. “I do not charm people in my family.”

The old woman scoffed.

I looked the young man over. Wow. Arthur Bradbury had been the twelve-year-old son that Sterling slapped all those years ago, back when the man had been mayor. I’d seen the pictures in the paper and on the Internet... the “Slap Heard Round the World.” Shit, I feel old now.

“I suppose there’s no making you hate me more than you already do. What your son told you was an absolute lie. The blonde girl that Mother caught him with was Brittany Anworth… not me.”

The old woman and Arthur gasped at the same time.

“Anworth?” blurted the old one.

Crystal looked up, making eye contact with her. “I’m not sure how to react to your being more horrified at the accusation he had an affair with an Anworth rather than believing I had seduced a man pretending to be my father when I was eighteen.”

It took the woman a few seconds to calm down enough to speak. “I-I find that difficult to believe. Why didn’t you ever say anything before?”

“For Mother. I didn’t want her to endure the grief of knowing he willingly betrayed her, especially with a girl young enough to be his daughter.

If she believed that my nature compelled him against his will, she would neither blame him for it nor become angry with me.

A wild dog, after all, cannot resist raw meat dangled in its face. ”

Arthur covered his mouth with a hand, staring at Crystal with an ‘I’m so sorry’ expression.

“Touching,” said Grandmother with a dismissive smirk. “You could still easily be lying. Sterling is dead, so he isn’t here to defend himself.”

Crystal locked gazes with him. “Wide angle picture from his funeral. Third row back, fifth person in from the left.”

After a momentary awkward silence, Arthur ran off, disappearing out another set of double doors.

Grandmother narrowed her eyes, though I got the feeling she suspected Crystal told the truth despite not wanting to believe her ears.

No woman likes to hear that her son cheated on his wife, especially with a girl much younger than him, though that’s still much less horrible than cheating with his stepdaughter.

Crystal had said she and Brittany were about a year apart in age, which…

ugh. Old Money had its sins, that’s for damn sure.

I’m guessing that woman had been around nineteen at the time, Crystal seventeen or eighteen, but took the blame to protect her mother’s marriage.

Arthur returned after about ten minutes, carrying a large, framed picture.

Wow… who keeps a picture of the attendees at a funeral at all, much less hangs it.

The photo showed five rows of people all dressed in black standing in what I assumed to either be another sitting room of the mansion or a funeral home.

Arthur traced his finger along the third row and tapped a black-haired young woman wearing a veil.

“Grandmother… she’s right. That’s Brittany Anworth in a black wig.” He tilted the frame so she could see.

“Why else would that girl be at the funeral?” asked Crystal.

“And crying. They were… much more discreet after I was ‘sent away for everyone’s protection.’ I am not incapable of controlling myself.

I can rein it in, so to speak.” She paused, leveled her stare at her one-time grandma.

“No, I did not seduce or feed from your son, or any other male in this family, nor would I want to.”

“But Father led us to believe you had tried to seduce him…” Arthur cringed. “Why would you let us all think that of you?”

“Mother fell victim to my actual father,” said Crystal.

“That is to say, the male version of what I am. In his case, he was called an incubus. Mother didn’t want to feed him, nor did she even remember it happened until I was born.

It was less painful to let her think I had no control of a ‘monster’ inside me than the man she loved so much had betrayed her for another woman of his own choosing. Really, it’s as simple as that.”

Grandmother fidgeted. Her eyes furrowed and relaxed a few times before she took on a visage of confused defeat. “You let us think the worst of you for eleven years…”

“For Mother’s benefit. I’m sorry your son wasn’t what she thought.”

“Oh, Sterling was no angel.” Grandmother frowned. “Far from it. I should have suspected something of the sort the way he ignored your mother over the past few years.”

“Grandmother… it isn’t right. Father never should have disowned Crystal. He’s the one who’s responsible for this mess.” Arthur set the picture on the nearest table. “You need to help her with Nigel Farrington. You must. It’s the very least that would be proper.”

The old one brushed at her dress for a moment or two in thought. “Very well. Crystal… I shall make sure Nigel leaves you alone. Also, you are, ah, welcome to return for holidays and events. Perhaps once I adjust to this new information, I would consider more than that…”

Crystal blinked, stunned. “Y-you’re not angry with me for what happened to Dana?” She choked up.

“No.” Arthur came over and embraced her. “You no more caused what happened to her than you asked to be born.”

“Would it be alright if I spoke with Mother?” asked Crystal in a small, vulnerable voice.

Grandmother nodded once. “Yes. But… only if you tell her the truth of this. I am certain she suspects already. And who is this?”

“His name is Max Long. He’s a private investigator helping me find out what happened to Dana.”

“Ahh.” The old woman changed the way she looked at me from ‘bit of refuse’ to ‘acceptable servant.’ She rang a small bell, which summoned Pierce.

The butler peered one eye around the door, as if afraid to walk into the room.

“Oh, knock that off,” snapped Grandmother. “Crystal is not going to devour your soul. There has been a misunderstanding. She is no longer persona non grata. Please, see her to Sophia’s study.”

As if the man had never once given her a sour look, he smiled, then turned on his heel. “This way, madam.”

Crystal glanced over at me with a ‘you should follow me’ stare.

So… I did.