The afternoon passed into shadows and faded away. Luna listened to our story and—after a few probing questions—accepted what we had to say.
“My grandmother warned me that one day something might happen. She was one of the historians who worked on writing The History of the Vampire Nation. At least, the condensed volume.”
I jerked my head up. “Condensed volume? You mean there’s more than one book?”
“Oh, yes. There’s a fifteen-volume encyclopedia that was written about their history. It’s under lock and key—only two copies of it still exist. My family owns one of them; the other is deep in the vaults.” She let out a little gasp and pressed her fingers to her lips.
“Vaults? Luna, you need to tell us what you’re talking about.”
Looking chastised, she grimaced. “I should never have mentioned them, but . . . given what you told me about Myst and the Indigo Court, it might become necessary for you to know this. I’ll tell you, but please, don’t let the vampires know . . . or Myst.”
Peyton and I gave our word.
“There’s a society, they keep track of all the goings-on in the world. A group of historians known as the Akazzani. They are magic-born and yummanii alike. And they watch. They are born nine to a generation, and they are taken when young and trained for their jobs. They live in a hidden fortress and from there observe the goings-on of the world. They are the preservers of knowledge, the guardians of the ages. They do not interfere, nor do they direct matters, but they record all that has gone on, and all that will be. My sister was chosen by them. I only remember her from when she was very small, before the Akazzani took her under their wing.”
“Does your family live in the area?” Peyton gave her a soft smile.
Luna shook her head. “No, they are originally from Ireland, though some of them migrated over toward the Italian shores. My own mother and father chose to come to the States when they were younger. I was born here.”
I made a snap decision, going on instinct. “You can stay here. I’ll have to ask my cousin, but I’m sure she won’t mind when we explain the situation. I’m glad you came to us today.”
If she had not, tonight she would die. Ulean swept through the room. She can hear me, if I choose for her to. Her voice sends magic through the slipstream when she sings. You can teach her to talk to the wind. It might be a handy skill for her to have.
You act as if she’s going to be around for a while.
Keep her away from Myst’s hunters and she will.
Luna glanced out the window. The clock was chiming six and dusk had fallen. She closed her eyes, then shuddered. “They are out there, aren’t they? Hunting for magic, hunting for people.”
“For blood and life force, yes. And they leave very little of their victims. They are killing machines—make no mistake and do not let them charm you, should you ever encounter them. Myst’s people are sharks of the land, and they do enjoy their carnage. They dance with death and deal it out by the handful.”
“I will stay, if you’ll put me up.”
I stretched. “Then welcome. Can you cook?”
“Can a bird sing?”
“Good, because we can manage, but it will be nice to have a change of pace.”
As Peyton led us out of the parlor, the doorbell rang. Rhia answered, glancing briefly at Luna, then came back from the door, an envelope in hand.
“For you, Cicely.”
I stared at it, recognizing the handwriting. After a moment, I ripped it open and pulled out the card.
“Your presence is requested at my home tomorrow night. Formal dress. A limousine will arrive for you at 8:00 P.M. Come alone. Geoffrey.”
I wondered if Leo knew about this, then silently slid the card back in the envelope. Best leave it for now. I shoved the summons in my pocket and, asking Peyton to take Luna in the kitchen for a snack, pulled Rhia into the living room and told her about the woman.
“We need her. Ulean is certain of it, and certain she will die if we let her take off again.”
Rhiannon peeked around the corner, then let out a long sigh. “We are gathering allies, you realize.”
“And losing some.” I thought of Anadey. “But Luna, she’s yummanii and a bard—with a touch of magic-born blood in her background.”
“She seems swathed in an aura of mist. There is more to her than meets the eye,” Rhia said. “You are sure of this?”
“Ulean is sure. And yes . . . when I think about it, it feels right that Luna join our group. That will be six. I must bring the group to a full thirteen—of that Ysandra was positive. I wonder who they’ll be.”
“Not Anadey.”
“No.”
“You aren’t telling me everything. I know that much, Cicely. But I won’t ask you what or why. You have your reasons, and I can only imagine what you must think of me, after Leo hit you like he did. I can’t ever apologize enough for his actions—”
I waved her words away. “It’s not up to you to apologize. He knew what he was doing.”
“I don’t know what to think. I’m second-guessing myself about him. Ever since he laid hands on you, I haven’t been able to let him touch me. The thought of him hurting a woman makes me sick to my stomach. It could have been me, Cicely.”
I bit my lip, not knowing what to say. The fact that Leo had found it acceptable to hit me bothered me, too, a hell of a lot. And I wondered: If he could hit me, could he beat my cousin, who couldn’t fight back easily? Or who might lash out with her fire and burn him terribly?
“I can’t give you an answer. All I know is that Ulean said we’d need him. So for now . . . we lead an uneasy truce because I know he’s still thinking I’m going to betray you all by bringing Grieve here.” At the mention of my love’s name, my wolf shifted and I forced myself to hold my hands steady.
“What happened with that? Why won’t you let Kaylin take you dreamwalking to look for the antidote?” Rhia pleaded with me, begging to understand. “I know I wasn’t going to ask questions, but I can’t help it. Talk to me, Cicely.”
“I cannot. I cannot speak, not now. Trust me, it’s for the best. As we descend further into war with Myst and her people, there will be more secrets and hidden agendas and we’ll have to get used to gathering our information in bits and pieces. For now, let’s make Luna welcome, and Leo better not frighten her off, is all I can say.”
Rhia followed me into the kitchen, where Peyton was starting dinner. Luna was helping her, dicing herbs and vegetables for soup as Peyton browned cubed beef.
“Did Peyton tell you I’m deathly allergic to fish?” I asked. “No fish at all—even shellfish—allowed. So never, ever bring any into the house, please.”
“Does that extend to never giving you a hug if I’ve just eaten a tuna sandwich?”
“If you give me a kiss I could go into anaphylactic shock. Hugs probably aren’t the best idea after a tuna sandwich or crab cake.” I pulled out my EpiPen. “I have to keep one of these around.”
“Then I’ll start eating chicken or egg salad.” She smiled, and I wanted to hug her for understanding. So many people acted like it was such a big hassle for them to skip eating tuna for the day when they wanted to see me. Over the years, I’d gotten used to snide comments about how I should just “get over it,” and I’d learned to just brush them off, but they still irritated me.
We cooked side by side, at first Peyton directing the preparation, the three of us punctuating the silence with get-to-know-you comments and questions.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” I asked, after a moment.
Luna paused, then shrugged. “No, not right now. I had a boyfriend, but he left me two years ago and I’ve been nervous about trying to meet someone new. I’m not quite what the fashion mags order up for a date, you know.”
“You’re gorgeous,” Rhiannon burst out. “I can’t believe you don’t see that. You look a lot like Jane Russell.”
Luna laughed then, her voice clear and ringing through the kitchen. “I’m about forty pounds heavier than she was, but yeah, I can see it.”
“You wear the weight well,” I said. “Here, the tomatoes are diced. What should I do with them?”
“Slide them into the skillet with the mushrooms, onion, and bacon. Then when they’ve sautéed we’ll put them into the soup base.” She stirred the broth containing the beef—already browned—and potatoes. A heavenly aroma rose from the pot and I found my stomach grumbling.
“How long till this is done?”
“About half an hour. Enough time for us to make biscuits.” Luna took over the kitchen the way Rhiannon took over the herb garden. We were suddenly at her bidding, fetching flour and butter and baking powder and greasing pans as she rolled out dough and cut it into rounds with a cookie cutter.
By the time Leo, Chatter, and Kaylin came trudging in, we’d found out that Luna had two sisters that she hadn’t seen in years, that her parents lived in New York, that she’d come to New Forest because of her love affair with West Coast culture and her ability to get a job teaching music at the New Forest Conservatory, and that she had once sung on stage at Carnegie Hall.
We also found out she hated living alone and that her roommate had recently vanished without a trace. She’d reported the incident, but the cops—as usual—had merely nodded, then said they’d take a look for the woman and never bothered to get back to her. When she called to check on the case, no reports had been filed, no action taken.
Leo greeted her politely enough, but I could tell he wasn’t all that delighted about another person in the house, although his interest picked up markedly when he smelled the soup and bread. But his possessiveness over this place was starting to get to me. The Veil House was Rhiannon’s—not his. And after Rhiannon, it would be mine. He was a guest here and it was time he started acting a little more gracious.
Kaylin, however, had noticeable eyes for Luna. From the moment he took her hand, I could see that he was attracted to her. She seemed to sense it, too, and I could almost see the sparks of interest flare between them.
As we sat down to dinner, I wondered if there was any way I could get away without Leo finding out about my impending visit to Geoffrey, but as always, he seemed two steps ahead of me when it concerned the vampires.
“I heard you’re due out at Geoffrey’s tomorrow night. You need a ride?” He glanced over at me, and for the first time in a couple of days, his voice sounded friendly.
I shook my head. “Thanks, but I’ve got one already.”
He shrugged. “Whatever, but if you want somebody to go with you, I’m there.”
I wanted to make some nasty retort, considering how he’d behaved lately, but then he pushed back his plate and gave me a soft smile.
“I really am sorry, Cicely. Geoffrey got wind of our argument. I don’t know how, but he swears it wasn’t you, and I have no choice but to believe him. He dressed me down something royal. I apologize for the way I’ve been acting, about you—and about Grieve.”
For a moment I panicked. “You didn’t tell him that I planned to break in and steal the antidote, did you? Because that plan has . . . gone by the wayside.”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t say a word.” He let out a long breath. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but damn it, I feel like I owe you one. I overheard Geoffrey and Lainule talking. They’re working on a plan to rescue Grieve.”
The light in his eyes didn’t look as friendly as the words falling out of his mouth, but I chose to let that go. His ego was probably still smarting from the dressing-down Geoffrey had given him.
“Thank you,” I said, feigning surprise. It occurred to me to warn Geoffrey to watch his back as far as eavesdroppers went . . . but then, if I did that, it would expose Leo to trouble. “That’s wonderful! But don’t let anybody else know—please. Not just yet.”
Leo gave me a sharp look. “You’re excited, right? Grieve will be back with you.”
If he’d been in on Anadey’s attack, he’d have to know that her spell hadn’t taken—I was still alive. Unless they really believed the connection could be broken without hurting either one of us. But the others would wonder if I didn’t show excitement. Feeling in a pickle, I opened my mouth, searching for something to say.
Peyton snapped around and interrupted. “So, Cicely, have you decided on a name for the new society yet?”
I flashed her a thank-you. “Yeah, I think I have. We’re fighting shadows. We’re fighting Myst. My thought is the Moon Spinners. Because the moon will expose them. The moonlight can ferret them out.”
“The Moon Spinners . . . I like it.” Rhiannon began serving the soup as Luna passed around the biscuits. Everything smelled warm and cozy and for a brief moment, I could almost pretend that we were just a group of friends, hanging out on a cold winter’s evening.
As I lay in bed that night, aware of the sounds of the house around me, I heard a whisper on the wind. I sat up, suddenly afraid, but Ulean seemed unperturbed.
Do you hear that? I hear something on the slipstream.
Ulean paused. You’re right, but I sense no danger. Only that someone is seeking your attention. It is not Myst, nor her kin. That much I can tell you.
Grieve?
No, or it would have Myst’s signature behind it.
I slipped out of bed and wandered over to the window, gazing out at the Golden Wood. The unhealthy glow that had settled over the forest remained, a thin green light that wavered and shimmered like an aurora. Only this aurora was sickly and felt infested with buzzing insects and rotting things that crawled out of the dark. I focused, turning my attention toward the energy emanating from the woodland, but the summons was not coming from there.