Always the Vampire

“Then let’s deal in facts,” Saber said. “Do you know where Starrack is now? Know how to track him?”


“I would like nothing better than to say yes, but I do not know where he is, and I cannot track him at this time.”

“Why not?” Triton demanded. “Just cast a spell.”

“Loath as I am to admit a weakness, tracking spells are not my specialty. I might have been able to follow the Void back to Starrack through the Veil, but that is no longer an option. The Veil is temporarily closed.”

“Because it’s a crime scene?” Saber asked.

“Yes, there is a team investigating, but they are also searching for the body I found. It has gone missing, you see.”

I rubbed my forehead. “We don’t see, Cosmil. Explain.”

“Whereas the main portals are more or less static, the Veil is not. One does not step through a doorway to instantly arrive at one’s destination for the series of pathways in the Veil are in flux. The Veil may fold in on itself, directing and redirecting a traveler, especially when one is traversing long distances. Or when there is a disturbance within the Veil’s energy.”

“A disturbance such as a murder,” Saber said flatly.

“Are you sure this Legrand guy was dead, Cos? Maybe it was an illusion. Maybe he took off when you were being attacked.”

“Had I not touched the body and were it not for the ruby ring, I might agree with you, Triton. However, the ring was not merely Legrand’s affectation, it was his talisman. The stone is obscenely large, mounted in an ornate fifteenth-century gold setting, and was reputedly stolen from the true French royal line. It was one of a kind.”

“No, it wasn’t,” I said slowly, my psychic sense and my memory kicking in. I’d seen the same ring or an incredible facsimile of it. “Normand had one that fits that description. Don’t you remember, Triton?”

“Hell, no. I never got close enough to him to notice his jewelry. What do you remember?”

“That he had a honkin’-huge ruby ring, although . . .”

I lost track of what I was saying as I flashed into the past. The villagers and soldiers had come just at dawn to set fire to Normand’s stronghold and to slaughter Normand and every member of his nest, including the humans held captive. I’d waited underground for the mob to discover me, but they hadn’t. They’d been high on their victory, and the governor had come then to order that each body be stripped of its riches. The adornments and anything the soldiers gathered from the ashes of the house were claimed for Spain.

“Although what, Cesca?” Triton asked.

I shrugged. “The governor took possession of the loot from the bodies, so I suppose Normand’s ring is long gone.”

“Be that as it may,” Cosmil said, “Legrand would not have removed his ring. Not for any reason. When the body is located and forensic tests are conducted, I feel certain it will be Legrand.”

“Meantime, we have Starrack and the Void on the loose,” Saber said. “What can you tell us about him? Is he older? Younger? Do you look like brothers? Does he have known associates or hangouts?”

“Starrack is the younger by thirty-two years, and yes, there is a strong family resemblance. But, as I say, it was centuries ago when I last saw him. I know little of his more recent movements.”

More recent being how long? I might be over two hundred myself, but I thought in years more than centuries. And Cosmil was thirty-two years older than Starrack? Geez, how old did wizards live to be anyway? And how the hell long were they fertile? Talk about a late-in-life baby.

“I do have positive news, however,” Cosmil said to Saber. “After my cleanse, I phoned another Council member who will help us. Ancelia is a sorceress who had dealings with Starrack for decades.”

“When will you hear from her?” I asked.

“As soon as she has made her airline reservation.”

“The sorceress can’t conjure a plane ticket?”

Triton swore, either at me for being flippant or at the situation in general.

“Cos, we need answers, not another musketeer.”

“A Council of Ancients member has been murdered, Triton. We need every resource.”

“And this woman can’t pop in sooner because the Veil is closed,” Saber said flatly.

“Precisely. Ancelia—Lia—must arrive the mundane way. If she cannot locate Starrack on her own, we will work on a location spell together.”

“Great. Then you two can work your magick to bring him down,” I said.

“Not quite, Francesca. I told you weeks ago that you and Triton needed to train with me, to combine your powers to defeat the Void. Saber will join you as well, and Lia will assist me with the training.” He paused to give each of us a long, level stare. “We must be ready to act when we have the opportunity.”