Page 2 of Voyage of Magic and Malice (The Vampires of Charleston #3)

TWO

seriously?

Thorne pulls the rental car to a stop in front of the three-story home in the Garden District of New Orleans. The last time we were here, the windows were blown out, and most of the yard was destroyed. Sitting in front of the home now, there’s no evidence of the demigod Marnie’s path of destruction. In fact, the house looks better than I remember.

“I feel him,” I whisper.

“Aye, me, too. His energy feels different than before. Why isn’t he shielding it?”

I take a deep breath. “This is going to be a shit show.” My mind flashes back to Brayden, the human, and the special abilities he had even then. Without any effort, he was able to shield energy, meaning he could make anyone invisible—even the strongest of vampires. Along with being a human shield, he was able to strengthen other special vampire’s powers—special vampires like Alex and the girls. Those are just the two that we know about. Now that he’s a vampire, I have a feeling his power will be limitless.

The door opens before Thorne has the chance to knock. Standing in the doorframe is a boy who was human the last time I saw him. His skin is flawless, and his soft blonde hair is perfectly combed. “Hello, Captain Thorne.” He holds his hand toward Thorne, who shakes it, not sure what else to do. Brayden turns to me. “Hello, Elsbeth.”

“Hi, Brayden. How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you. Did you know I’m a vampire now?”

“We…we did.” I look past him, hoping to spot Fran, Celeste, or Amelia…someone—anyone.

“Amelia and Celeste went home. Fran is upstairs.”

“Did you read my mind, Brayden?”

He wrinkles his forehead. “I don’t think so. You thought it at me, and I heard it.”

“Elsie, Thorne!” Fran rushes down the stairs toward us. “Come in, please.”

Thorne follows me inside the flawlessly decorated home. My eyes find the spot where my friend took her last breath, where Luna sacrificed her life to save the immortal children. There are no remnants of her. Nothing to mark the spot where she died. It’s as if she never existed. Fran follows my line of sight. “I’m sorry, Elsie.”

“How is he?” I ask, pushing the thoughts of her death from my mind.

“I’m perfect, aren’t I, Fran?” Brayden answers the question for the older vampire.

“Yes, you are, dear,” she agrees, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

“How are you in control so quickly?” I ask whoever answers first.

Brayden shrugs. “It was easy.”

I share a look with Thorne. I’m not sure I’m buying his performance, but he seems more in control than I expected. “What are you eating, Brayden?”

“Goat’s blood,” he answers. “It’s not great, but it works.”

I laugh. “That, we can agree on.”

“I’m not complaining that you’re here, but to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit? Do you have any news of the children?” Fran asks, keeping her arm protectively around Brayden.

“They’re here because of me,” the boy answers. “They wanted to see if I was in control.”

“Are you?” Thorne asks.

“What do you think, Captain?”

“I think you seem in control, but the history of what you are says you’re not.”

Brayden crosses his arms in defiance. “I can assure you I am perfectly in control. I’m me but better.”

“I can see that,” Thorne answers, trying to keep the peace.

“Where are Amelia and Celeste?” I try changing the subject.

“Amelia has her own life to live. She and Topher are busy with pack affairs, and Celeste went back to Mississippi.”

“They felt safe leaving Brayden alone with you?”

“Why shouldn’t they?” the boy answers once again. His arrogance is off-putting. He is highly talented, but his body language and attitude are digging deep into my skin. Human Brayden was much easier to empathize with. Vampire Brayden is a little asshole.

“Brayden, would you excuse us for a minute?” Fran hugs his shoulders tightly, dismissing him to his room.

He glares at me, clearly reading my thoughts before sighing loudly and moving up the stairs, stopping where Luna took her last breath. For a brief moment, I swear he smirks at the memory of her death.

I stare at the blonde-haired immortal child until he makes his way completely up the stairs. Fran silently moves through the pocket door that leads to her office, returning seconds later carrying an electronic device that reminds me of a remote control. Placing it on the landing of the stairs, she pushes a button and moves in front of us.

“You can speak and think freely, now.”

Thorne shares the same look as I feel. “What are you talking about, Fran?”

“That device produces a shield. It scrambles brainwave frequencies, making it impossible to hear our conversations.”

“How is that possible?” Thorne asks.

“I started building it while Brayden was still in the hospital. It’s a simple device, really. It…”

“Fran,” I interrupt. “Why do you need to block him from hearing us? What aren’t you telling us?”

“He’s doing great, but he’s not ready to know everything.”

“The whole damn reason Celeste altered him was for him to help find the others. If you’re going to protect him, he might as well have died with his parents.” My words are cruel, and I immediately feel guilty.

Fran glances at the staircase, doubting her ingenuity. “We have bigger fish to fry than Brayden or the children at the moment.”

“What could be bigger than saving Alex and the girls?” Thorne asks the question of the day.

“I was contacted by the local coven.”

I feel my forehead wrinkle. “Coven? As in witches’ coven?”

“Yes. They had some concerns and contacted me.”

“Okay.” As far as I know, there are only two people who know I have Aaron’s grimoire—Thorne and Phyllis. Fran has no idea my youngest brother was a warlock, but I’ve learned over the years there are no coincidences.

“What were their concerns?” Thorne asks, sensing my turmoil.

“Brayden,” she answers. “They want him under protection.”

“Why would a coven of witches want an immortal vampire child under protection?” I ask.

“Because the power he holds can only have come from one place. His bloodline.”

“They think he’s a witch?” Thorne asks.

“That’s exactly what they think.”

“He’s a vampire, living with a vampire nanny. How much more protection does he need?” I don’t know why I’m annoyed.

“For now, that’s fine. However, in the future, there could be more needed.”

Thorne crosses his arms at his chest. “Nothing personal, Fran. But what the witches want or need isn’t our concern.”

“We came to check on Brayden, not to be involved in anything other than that.” My voice sounds tired, even for a vampire. My phone buzzes, drawing my attention.

Brayden’s still unconscious. I’ll let you know when he wakes.

I stare at my phone, confused by Celeste’s message. “What does this mean?” I flash the message at Thorne, who looks equally confused.

“I’m pleased to hear you’re not interested in being involved elsewhere.” Fran’s voice changes timbre as she stands a little taller.

“What are you talking about, Fran?” I stare at the elderly vampire. Her normally white hair begins to change hues, turning darker before my eyes.

“Fran?” Thorne asks, moving closer to my side. “What’s going on?”

Where Fran stood moments earlier, a much younger woman stands. Her hair is long and dark, and her copper eyes sparkle with mischief. “What the hell?” Thorne asks through my mind.

The woman turns toward Thorne. “Not hell, Mr. Rex—New Orleans.” The smile that covers her face reminds me of the Cat Alice met in Wonderland.

The house surrounding us begins to transform from the familiarity of Fran’s warm abode to a building resembling a warehouse. Warm colors and comfortable furniture are replaced with the cold steel of a metal building.

“What is this?” I ask the woman in front of me. “An illusion?”

“You could call it that. We prefer to use the term ‘veil of shadows.’”

“Whatever the hell you call it, what did you do to Fran and Brayden?” Anger fills my words.

“I can assure you, neither was harmed. We did nothing to them.”

“You know what we are. You know what we can do. You’re either dumb or want to die.” Energy forms in my core with my words.

“Elsbeth Abernathy, I am well aware of your abilities.” She glances at Thorne. “However, you hold no power here. You cannot harm me.”

I accept her invitation and stare at the woman in front of me. In an instant, I’m inches from her face, wearing the face of a monster. “We’re leaving.”

“You are free to leave anytime you choose.” The smug smile on her face makes me want to drain her blood. A desire I’ve kept at bay for months.

I turn, passing Thorne as the two of us move toward the exit. “Oh, one more thing.” We turn back, staring at the petite woman from across the warehouse. “If you want to see the boy or the old lady again, give me the grimoire.”

Hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. Shit. I work to keep my face neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t insult my intelligence, vampire. I know who you are. I know who your brother was, and I know what is now in your possession.”

“Then you should also know that I hold his power inside of me,” I lie.

The cackle from the witch reminds me of cartoons I’ve watched featuring the personification of a witch. “You don’t have the power to contain the grimoire. Whatever delusion led you to that belief is wrong.”

“We’re done here.” Thorne kicks the barred door, knocking it off its hinges and opening the door to the outside. Both of us stop in our tracks at the view on the other side.

“What is this?” Thorne asks out loud. “Are we in Charleston?”

“Aye,” I answer in confusion. The cityscape in front of us is full of steeples and the familiar landscape of our home.

“How is this possible?”

“Maybe you didn’t understand the first time. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and simplify it slightly.” The witch is in front of us from seemingly nowhere. “Veil of shadows,” she uses a darker woo-woo voice, wiggling her hands to the sides. “Does that help?”

“No,” I answer truthfully. “We flew on an airplane to New Orleans. How did you do this?”

“You never went anywhere,” she answers simply. “It was nothing more than…”

“A veil of shadows.” Thorne fills in the blanks.

“See, he gets it.”

“Who are you?” I ask for the first time.

“Who I am is of no concern. However, I’m feeling generous. You may call me Sable.”

“Like the color?” My smart mouth shows itself again.

“More like the animal.” She holds her hands in front of her body. “This is your last chance. The boy and the old woman will die. Give me the grimoire.”

“Do you think I have it in my pocket? I left it in the car,” I lie again. “Oops, that means it’s in New Orleans. Or maybe not, since we’re not in New Orleans. Shouldn’t you know the answer to that?”

My words anger Sable. She steps closer, holding her hands to the side. “If I snap my fingers, they will die.”

“Okay, Thanos,” I retort. “He’s a vampire and being protected by a vampire.”

She transforms into the image of Fran. “This is the woman protecting him? Were you curious how I was able to imitate her so easily?”

“Where is she?”

Sable sighs, clearly annoyed with my ignorance. Thorne takes advantage of her distraction, rushing toward her like a linebacker. He’s moving faster than human eyes can track, yet the witch moves at just the right time, stepping out of his way.

“I snap, and they’re dead,” Sable repeats.

A loud metal sound explodes through the Charleston cityscape. “Stop!” a deep voice echoes through the room. “Don’t listen to her. Fran and the child are safe.”

I turn, finding the source of the voice. A man stands not far behind Thorne and me. He’s at least a head taller than me, and lycanthrope energy pours from him.

“What are you doing here, wolf?” Sable asks.

“Leave before I make you leave, witch.”

A wicked grin covers her face. “You’re alone and na?ve. What can a wolf and two vamps do to me?”

“You’re about to find out,” he warns.

Sable smiles and disappears before my eyes, leaving the three of us staring at each other in confusion. “What was that?”

“That was Sable Arden, the leader of a rogue group of witches from New Orleans. They’ve been trying to gain power through the use of dark magic.”

“How are you involved?” Thorne asks.

“It’s my job. Some lycan get to be the alpha, some get to be the brains behind the alpha. I’ll let you figure out which I am.” He smiles, stepping closer and offering his hand to Thorne. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve heard so much about you. I feel like I already know you. I’m Cameron St. James. I believe you know my brother, Christopher, and his wife, Amelia.”