Always the Vampire

“Yeah, in Chambery in the French Alps. The members stay there while they hold meetings, and an administrative and support staff of both supernaturals and mortals live there permanently. According to Cosmil, the compound was hit by the magical equivalent of a terrorist bomb.”


“Oh, God.” My heart clenched, and dread churned in my stomach. “Was anyone hurt? Lia?”

“Lia’s all right, but three humans are dead, and a fairy and werewolf are in critical condition.”

“Those poor souls. This is the work of Starrack and the Void, I take it.”

“Cosmil thinks so. Lia is staying over the weekend to help secure the place and unite the Council as much as she can. She’ll fly Air France to New York City on Monday and take a charter to the St. Augustine airport.”

The new moon was Monday. Or was it Sunday? Whenever, Triton shifted at the dark of the moon and usually needed a day to recuperate afterward. Or had in the old days.

“Triton will be shifting about then, so you and I will pick up Lia.”

I startled. “Reading my expression again?”

In the glare of a streetlight, I caught Saber’s grin. “No, Triton is the one who called about the attack. He mentioned shifting.”

“Ah. So what does Cosmil expect to accomplish in this mini council meeting with us?”

“Circling the wagons? Casting protection spells? Triton didn’t say, but whatever it is, it’s fine by me. I’m not taking any chances, especially with you leaving town.”





The dark of the moon might be only a few days away, but the area all around Cosmil’s shack was washed in an unearthly, dusky glow.

Which made it easy to see Triton where he stood sentry on Cosmil’s shabby porch. He was barefoot, had his arms folded, and wore cutoffs, a dark T-shirt, and a scowl. A lock of hair feathered over his forehead in the light night breeze, but it didn’t make him look less ticked.

I lifted the hem of my gown to avoid getting grass stains and opened my mouth to greet Triton. He riled me before I was halfway across the yard.

“You are not leaving for the weekend.”

“Hide and watch me, bub,” I tossed back.

“It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m a big, bad vampire, Triton. I’ll live.”

“Maybe, but what about Maggie and the other women?”

“I’m already the designated driver. I’ll take care of them.”

“You’re a pig-headed pain in the ass.”

“Only when you’re wrong.”

“Children!” Cosmil’s voice lashed from the far side of his shack.

I whirled to see the wizard wearing a royal blue robe over another outfit of white pants and a tunic. He must buy his duds in bulk.

“Ah, silence,” he said as he strode to meet me. “Now I may concentrate. Francesca, has Saber told you why you are here?”

“He said there was an attack on the COA and you’re concerned we’re the next target.”

“Protection spells are in order, yes, but you must also learn to use the amulet. In however rudimentary a manner.”

I stiffened, but not in revulsion or fear, not of the amulet itself anyway. I remembered the warm pulse of the amulet, how simply right it had felt in my hand. Problem was, I knew what the amulet could do, so it was like a loaded gun. One I didn’t want to aim, never mind fire.

“The amulet is a defensive tool as well as an offensive one, Francesca. It can hurt, but it can also heal. I would not put it in your hands if I thought you were not ready.”

I wasn’t surprised he’d read my thoughts. Annoyed, yes, but then it seemed every man in my life read me.

And, okay, I might’ve huffed a bit as I asked, “What if I learn just enough to be dangerous?”

“That shall not happen. The amulet responds to intent, you see.” He eyed me. “Or perhaps you do not, but you will. Now, come, all of you. Francesca and Saber, remove your shoes. We have a ceremony to conduct and spells to spin.”

“You need a ceremony to cast spells?”

“The ceremony is to bind our energies more tightly to one another.”

I thought I was already pretty darned bonded, except maybe to Cosmil, but I didn’t object. Saber took my hand as we trailed after Cosmil. Triton walked at my other side, and Pandora emerged from the tree line to our right. When we reached the center of the perfect circle of trees, Cosmil stopped beside a carved wooden box placed in the short, springy grass.

“Triton, you stand in the east,” Cosmil directed. “Pandora, the south. Francesca, Saber, take the west and north.”

We moved into the cardinal positions, me in the west, automatically adjusting our places to be equally distant from Cosmil in the center. Seven feet, I heard in my head and in my own voice. As if I’d been here, done this—or something like this—before.