Always the Vampire

“I had fears that Marco would go after Triton,” I admitted quietly.

“He did, my dear. Magick protected Triton, but it could not compel him to leave St. Augustine. It took your pleas to convince him to move away.”

“And afterward, you left me alone in that dank, smelly coffin.”

“Not quite alone, Francesca. Did you not feel another presence with you from time to time?”

“I felt Triton when we talked telepathically.”

“Think back. Did you ever smell this scent?”

The kitchen bloomed with the aroma of fresh rosemary, like the potted plants Maggie and I had given friends for my first Christmas last year. I inhaled deeply, let my eyes flutter shut, and allowed memories to wash over me. That scent had permeated the coffin more than once, as if it had wafted in on a fresh breeze. It had calmed me, it had relaxed me, it had filled me with peace.

I opened my eyes. “That was you?”

“Yes, dear girl. Just as I had foreseen that you would walk in the day, I foresaw an era in which vampires would not need to feed on the living. I bespelled your resting place to keep you safe until the right rescuer could release you at the perfect time.”

“That smacks of the sleeping beauty story.”

He merely smiled. And, okay, I had to admit that Maggie totally fit the bill of right rescuer, as well as mentor and friend. And since I’d gagged at the smell of blood since the moment I was Turned, I would have had a darned-hard time feeding before Starbloods was perfected.

“Francesca, I would not have left you buried if it had not been the wisest choice for the long term.”

I laid the comb on the table with a snap. “It was still a manipulative, sneaky thing to do. That doesn’t foster warm fuzzies.”

I rose and paced to the sink, then faced him again. “Listen, Cosmil, I know Triton thinks I’m not taking this whole Starrack and Void thing seriously, but I am. I would die to save Saber, and I just might take a bullet for Triton.”

“And me?” he asked with a quirk of his lips.

I gave him a level stare. “You need to earn my trust.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. What can I do?”

“No more manipulating. No more secrets. When we train, tell me what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and inform me of possible side effects.”

“I will do the same for Saber and Triton. Anything else?”

I hesitated, sorting my thoughts. Would he know about vampire ghosts? About boosting my supe-detecting radar? Maybe, but I had a more nagging question.

“What’s the real reason you’re relying on Saber and Triton and me to fight the Void? And don’t,” I said, shaking a finger at him, “give me that tripe about the COA squabbles. You must have other resources. Know people who know people. Heck, Saber could get you mercenaries who are already trained in combat with supernaturals.”

His expression clouded. “Mercenaries work for the highest bidder.”

“Then how about Marines? I met two vampires who’d be gung ho to help us. You know what they say on NCIS: ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine.’ ”

“You feel strongly about recruiting more help, don’t you?”

“You bet your crystal ball. Even with training, sending us into this battle is like sending—” I groped for a comparison, and a movie Saber had watched popped to mind. “It’s like sending the Three Stooges to take out a terrorist cell.”

He sat back and regarded me for a long moment. “The life of most wizards is solitary, meetings with the Council notwithstanding. You have doubts about me, but there are only four individuals I trust implicitly. You and Saber and Triton are three of them. Lia is the fourth.”

I sagged against the countertop. “Oh.”

“Remember, too, that I witnessed you drain a vampire nearly dry. I saw you and Saber and Triton work together at the comedy club without the benefit of training. With training, you will be formidable.”

“Those two nutso vampires weren’t in the same league as Starrack and the Void.”

“But Starrack and the Void can still be defeated. Lia and I will teach you and Saber and Triton to work in concert. We will prepare you as best we can.”

“And fight this battle with us? Call in help?”

“Indeed. If it appears we need more troops for our battle, I will talk with Saber about these mercenaries.”

I crossed to my seat. “You will? Promise?”

“I only promise to discuss it.”

“That’s a start.” I placed my hand over his. “Thank you.”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, well, in the meantime you must promise to cultivate more confidence in your own abilities and in the combined abilities you three can bring to bear. Truly, Francesca, your power is nothing to fear.”

Before I could respond, he rose. “And now, I shall leave you to help Saber through his nightmares.”

Nightmares?

I didn’t get the chance to ask, “What nightmares?”

Cosmil disappeared in a puff of rosemary-scented smoke just as Saber shouted agonized gibberish from the bedroom.





TWELVE