Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1)

CHAPTER Five

Ari had lived in Riverdale most of her life. She grew up in the area, considered herself a river rat, and returned to town about two years ago after her witchcraft apprenticeship in St. Louis. Riverdale was home.

Geographically divided in half by the Oak River and built on the banks of the lesser stream and the high cliffs of the Mississippi River, Riverdale was also divided by cultures. The old and the new, the human and the magical.

According to Great-Gran and her never-ending history lessons as Ari was growing up, the original city was built entirely on the Mississippi bluffs with the docks on the lower banks of the Oak. Over time, the human population drifted inland on both sides of the smaller stream. New developments flourished, often referred to as suburbs, and a modern city center followed the migration. Olde Town took on an identity of its own. Riverdale’s 287,000 residents, sprawling across the countryside in haphazard fashion, didn’t fit well into any scheme for division. In spite of or maybe because of its differences, the city remained under one municipal government, a fact ignored by local vernacular. Olde Town, downtown Riverdale, and the suburbs all meant distinctly different places.

A year before Yana was unsworn as a Guardian, she moved to the suburbs. Not the far suburbs, but the land just east of Goshen Park. Her home was no more than fifteen minutes from Claris’s shop, and that afternoon Ari hardly had time to stretch her legs before she was climbing Yana’s front steps.

Yana spotted the young witch immediately. “Arianna! Come in and help me.”

Ari opened the screen door. Yana Montrey was struggling to move a six-foot-long bolt of fabric, a tough task given her four-foot stature. At 114 years old, Yana was well beyond middle age for a wood nymph but not yet considered an elder. Her naturally silver hair, wound around the crown of her head in the honeycomb style favored by her people, showed traces of white. As expected, she had aged rapidly since the unswearing ceremony in June and the associated loss of her guardian powers, especially the enhanced strength and the rapid self-healing. Her step was a little slower, but the yellow-green eyes still sparkled, and her smile was just as inviting.

Ari set the bag of seedlings next to the door, grabbed one end of the bolt, and they wrestled it down the hallway and onto the dining room table.

“What is this?” Ari asked.

“New drapes. Something much more cheerful.” Yana began to unfasten the bolt so Ari could see the colors, primarily white and sunshine yellow with what looked like red ribbons here and there.

Ari looked around the room, thinking Yana’s curtains were fine. They fit in with all the knick-knacks and the vivid splashes of color. Cozy and whimsical. But what did she know? Her own sparse apartment didn’t reflect any decorating skills.

Hernando chose that moment to swagger into the room. The snowy white Siamese paused to inspect Ari with huge, cornflower eyes. Yana adopted him as a kitten when she first bought the house. Now he owned it. After many twitches of the tail and a pointed stare, he wound around Ari’s ankles, purring. When she didn’t respond immediately, he began yowling as only the Siamese can do, until she gave in and picked him up.

Yana stood back and pointed to the new drapery material. “See? Cheery. I think it will look lovely.”

“Perfect,” Ari agreed, absently stroking the cat’s fur. “If you want to work on the drapes, I’ll help.” Ari wasn’t sure what she could do. Maybe cut something. But she was willing to try.

“Oh, goodness, no. I’ll sew later, after you’re gone. Time for everything these days. Let’s have tea. I made fresh scones,” Yana coaxed.

As if Ari needed encouragement. She grabbed two small plates and took a seat at the kitchen table. Yana’s kitchen owned a view of the back yard. Flower beds overflowed with late blooms visited by multi-colored butterflies and the occasional flash of garden fairy wings. Birds swooped, chitting and chirping around the three feeders.

“Do you ever regret it?” Ari asked, studying the peaceful scene. “Giving up the guardianship?”

Yana placed steaming cups of buttercup tea and a plate of scones on the table. The aroma made Ari’s mouth water.

“Not often,” Yana said. “It was exciting, but it’s a job for the young. My body grew weary. And my spirit too, I think. It was time.” She appeared lost in thought for a moment. She looked up, suddenly smiling. “Tell me all the news. When you visit me, it usually means something’s going on.”

“Yana,” Ari protested, “I don’t always bring my problems. Sorry if it feels that way.”

“Nonsense.” The wood nymph laughed. “Wasn’t meant as a criticism, only a reflection of the responsibilities you’ve accepted. But before we talk about that, tell me, how is Claris? When I spoke with her yesterday, she sounded tired. That girl doesn’t have our strength, and she works too hard.”

“Oops, thanks for reminding me. Claris is fine. She’s one of the reasons I’m here.” Ari got up and retrieved the bag from the front door. “She sent you these seedlings.”

They chatted for a while about Claris and Brando, the gardens, even the weather. Eventually, the conversation turned to Guardian business, and Ari detailed the girl’s murder, the murder scene, and the human boyfriend’s angry confrontation at Claris’s shop.

“When I leave here, I’m going after the other boyfriend, the unknown vamp. A more likely suspect. Ever hear of a Vince or Victor?”

“Doesn’t ring a bell. But I never knew many of them by name.” Yana frowned. “Take care. These domestic things are dangerous. All that raw emotion.”

“So you think it’s domestic? Maybe that’s it, but I haven’t told you what happened last Sunday. And, whether connected or not, I’ve had this weird foreboding.”

Ari described the werewolf’s attack on the teens in Goshen Park, especially the creepy way he looked at her, and the sudden appearance of the vampire. When Ari finished, Yana puckered her mouth in thought. Or maybe it was worry.

“Don’t like any of this,” she finally said. “If you hadn’t been there to protect those children… We haven’t seen such behavior around Riverdale in a long time. The local packs usually do a better job of policing their own. And no one’s seen the creature since?”

“Nope. The packs have looked, but so far nothing. No one can think of a likely redhead or anyone who turns into a reddish wolf. A loner, maybe. A transient. Maybe he’s gone.”

“What will you do with him, if you find him? Relocation wouldn’t be easy. Where would you put a predatory animal who can pass for and think like a human most of the time?”

“I don’t know,” Ari said, giving her an unhappy face. “Relocations are never easy. I helped Martin with one a month ago. Vampire bats that weren’t satisfied with cow blood. Have you ever tried to round up bats?”

Yana’s chuckle showed the dimples in her cheeks.

“How did you cover it all?” Ari asked. “Olde Town and the new city? I’m busy with just one district.”

“I had two apprentices. That’s why the Council has split the territory.”

“There’s still a lot to do, and a lot I don’t know. Like now. Something’s happening in Olde Town. I can feel it. At times, I can almost touch it, but I can’t figure it out.”

“You will. These things take time to sort through.” Yana paused. “You’re impatient, Arianna. Driven. Maybe too much so. Sometimes I wonder if Great-Gran and I did the right thing after your parents died. You were still so young, just starting school. Perhaps we should have suspended your training schedule. Broadened your experiences.”

“Like what? Sending me to boarding school or on a grand tour of Europe? In all my spare time.” Ari attempted to introduce a lighter note. When Yana frowned at her flippancy, Ari sighed. “What choice did you have? I was born with the crescent birthmark.” Ari reached down and patted the spot on her right ankle. “Marked by fate. All future guardians enter training as toddlers.”

“Yes, but your mother’s ways were…gentler, I think. And if you had remained with your grandparents and siblings, instead of only visiting on holidays, perhaps they would have balanced your education, made it less severe. But Great-Gran chose to push the guardian skills. The martial arts, the weaponry. And I went along with her wishes.” Yana peered at Ari anxiously. “Your witch skills suffered in the process. And maybe, so did the child inside. Did you feel cheated, my dear?”

“Oh, Yana. What’s brought this on?” Ari reached over and gave her a quick hug. “I never regretted the time I spent with you and Great-Gran.” Seeing Yana wasn’t satisfied with her quick reassurance, Ari drew back and tried to give her a better answer. “I felt cheated of my parents, sure. I was six, and I didn’t understand where they’d gone. And there were times when I’d rather be with Robbie or Sis or go fishing with Grandpa than training. Especially when I didn’t get it right the first time.” Ari remembered the long hours of repetitious practice. The perfection expected by her instructors. Lots of bumps and bruises along the way. Be tough, her Sensei said, and then, be tougher.

Why was Yana dredging up the past? Ari hadn’t thought about the early years and early losses in a long time. Many of those memories she’d rather leave buried.

“There were good things too,” Ari said, smiling now. “You and Great-Gran were always there when I needed you. Spoiled me, I think.” Ari pictured the long walks and the evenings of storytelling. The hugs. Making potions. Baking cookies, or if she remembered right, mostly eating cookies. “I’m surprised you think the witchcraft was neglected. Besides what I picked up from watching Great-Gran, I had four years of witchcraft training.”

“Yes, Moriana taught you the basic skills, but she couldn’t give you your heritage. You must learn to trust your magic, Arianna. Perhaps if you had the Book…” Yana wrinkled her brow, turned her gaze out the window.

Ari shifted, uncomfortable, wishing they’d get off this subject. The family Book of Shadows had been missing since her mother died. All the spells, potions, and magical rituals of generations of Calin witches resided in that one leather-bound volume. Ari had hoped it would return by her witch initiation at age eighteen, but that hadn’t happened. The Book’s absence was a sadness she couldn’t shake. Without it, her witch abilities would always be limited.

Ari returned her wandering thoughts to the conversation. Yana continued to reminisce. “Great-Gran was so happy when you were born. The family had blamed her for tainting the bloodlines by marrying a human. Then you came along with the birthmark, and she was determined to make you the best.”

“Why the walk through history, Yana?” Ari interrupted, growing increasingly edgy. “Is something bothering you?”

“No, dear.” Yana reached out and patted Ari’s hand. “Just the ramblings of an old woman. And you’re right, it is history. The past is behind us. We should leave it there.” She smiled and withdrew her hand. “Now tell me about this meeting with Andreas. That is most unusual. And hardly a coincidence, I think.”

Ari was taken aback. Not only by the abrupt shift in the conversation but by the certainty of Yana’s conclusion. “You think he planned it? I accused him of tracking one of us. But why would he follow me? It must have been the wolf. Of course he denied it. Claimed he’d come to help.”

“I didn’t mean to imply he was stalking you. But I do think it was more than just being in the area. He had some kind of hidden agenda.” Yana pursed her lips. “Talaitha wouldn’t like this.”

“What’s Great-Gran got to do with it? Did she know him? He mentioned her name.”

Yana shook her head. “She never told me. Only mentioned him once, a warning. There was something about his life before he became a vampire that worried her.”

Before? That was weird. Interesting even, but Ari was more concerned about this hidden agenda. Had she missed some obvious clue? As if she hadn’t already replayed the meeting with Andreas in her head a hundred times. “So, back to the park, are you thinking he was blood hunting?”

“No, no. Goodness, I would never suggest that.” Yana fluttered her hands in protest. “Andreas is much more in control of his actions. He simply wouldn’t do it. And if he did, he wouldn’t reveal himself to you.”

“Now you’re talking like you know him.” Ari’s face made it a question.

“Met him,” Yana corrected. “But I know quite a bit about him. Made it my business after your Great-Gran warned me off.” For an instant Yana’s face glowed with younger defiance, then she turned serious again. “You shouldn’t underestimate him. He is more dangerous than most of the vampires you’ve met. Maybe than any you’ve met.” Yana peered at her. “I don’t like that he sought you out. Make no mistake, he did just that by revealing himself. Even if he was in the park for unrelated reasons, introducing himself to you seems quite deliberate.” Yana tapped her chin with one finger as if sorting through some mental puzzle.

“I don’t understand. Why are you so worried?”

“Because I don’t understand his behavior. That’s what worries me. He contacted me once in the seven years he was in Riverdale.” She raised an eyebrow. “And you’ve met him in less than three months on the job. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?” Yana gave her a sly look. “I assume you noticed his charm. It’s hard not to notice. But there’s more to Andreas than a handsome face. How old do you think he is?” Yana leaned forward to make her point and didn’t wait for an answer. “Born to an Italian aristocrat in the late 1700s. Educated in Regency England.”

Ari stared at her, realized her mouth was hanging open, and closed it.

“That’s not all. Have you felt his energy? His power is advanced beyond his years. While rare vampires have inborn abilities, vampiric power is usually acquired through horrific acts of violence. I’m not saying that is Andreas’s history, but the suspicion is there. We see the charismatic facade. I suspect he is more, and possibly less, than he seems. Did you know he was a favorite of the vampire court? Arrived in Riverdale with the current prince nearly seven years ago.”

“I can’t believe this,” Ari protested. She was still stuck back on the age thing. “That makes him over 200 years old! Where’s the cold, creepy look? Instead, he’s got the laughter, the sexy eyes…” Ari stopped before she said too much.

“Proves my point. As long as I’ve known him, Andreas has moved among the human community. Perhaps he took care from the beginning to retain his human likeness. Or at some point he learned to mimic the behaviors of the living. In any case, it takes unusual ability that you cannot discount. He has all the cunning of two centuries of vampirism behind him.”

Ari struggled to take it in. Andreas acted so alive. Her instincts had tried to tell her the animation and the power were contradictions—but 200 years! No wonder she felt the almost irresistible pull of his magic.

“A favorite of the local vampire court,” Ari said, repeating Yana’s earlier words. “What does that mean? Is it a political position? Is he a guard? An heir to the throne?”

“Maybe all of those or none. He’s acted as a liaison to the Magic Council once or twice before Lucien was assigned. Some of the members trust him.”

“So where’s he been? Why am I just hearing about him?”

Yana gave her a shrewd look. “And how many vampires do you know?”

Ari counted them off on her fingers. “Lucien, Rita. I’ve seen Prince Daron on TV and several on the streets. Not many, I guess. Never thought about it before. Was he the vampire rep when you met him?”

Yana shook her head. “No. Before Lucien became the official representative to the Magic Council, Andreas approached me on behalf of Prince Daron. He offered to deliver a renegade vampire who had killed four humans. I accepted his offer, and the rogue was tried and executed.”

“Why would he do that? Andreas, I mean. The vamps must have wanted something.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought, but when I asked, he said Prince Daron believed in a different kind of vampire society, less autocratic, more cooperative.” Yana gave a dainty snort. “Maybe that was true, but they’re still secretive.”

“So, Andreas is some kind of spokesman.”

“His authority has never been clear. But enough talk of vampires.” Yana picked up the plate of scones, offered her the last one. “Let’s finish up, and we’ll go for a walk in the garden.”

Ari grabbed the last pastry. She vowed to make tomorrow morning’s run twice as long. As Yana puttered around the kitchen, Ari nibbled and considered everything she’d heard. A more detailed picture of the mysterious vampire was emerging—a picture with numerous warning flags. No matter how sexy or interesting he might be, Ari vowed to stay out of his way.

Besides, she had a murder to keep her busy.