Elemental Dawn (Paranormal Public) Page 4

  “Um,” I started to say, but Dacer cut me off with a chuckle.

  “Of course I’m kidding. I wasn’t nineteen so long ago that I can’t remember what it was like. I expect you’ll work hard enough come the start of the semester that you don’t have to do so now.”

  I grinned. “How are you, Professor Dacer?”

  “I’m excellent-o,” he said. “Packing.” He stepped out of the way of the Contact Stone so that I could see his bed. It was strewn with brightly colored things that I supposed, when hung up or put on, were clothing.

  “I assume that’s what you’re calling about?” he questioned.

  “Yes,” I said. “We leave in the morning. We’re taking a car. I know we’re not supposed to travel by normal means, but there are too many of us, and there’s too much stuff. The werewolves don’t want to run.”

  Dacer nodded. “That’s understandable. We must all get used to traveling in packs now. Tonight the other vampires fly, and there will be just a skeleton crew left behind at Public.”

  “Will the campus be safe?” I asked, worrying for the place I now called home.

  “Oh, yes,” said Dacer cheerily, waving one perfectly manicured hand. “I’m sure it will.”

  “Have you had any contact with Lanca?” I asked. My heart ached for my friend. My first thought had been to use the Contact Stone to call her, but Sip and Lisabelle had said that she was busy, upset, and overwhelmed, and that she just wanted to see us.

  “No,” said Dacer, grimacing. “In fact, there has been a lot of infighting among the vampires, and I’m afraid that our Princess Lanca is at the center of it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Rapiers are extremely powerful. Her father was the most powerful of their kings,” Dacer explained. “Yes, there are two others, but they are from lesser families. “He held a position on the government council on top of ruling his vampires. Not only that, but it has been several generations since there was a vampire queen who ruled, and Princess Lanca is young. There are power struggles taking place left and right. One of the biggest, obviously, was whether or not to allow the darkness mages to attend. Mound, who I’m sure you remember, was in favor of their presence, while several other factions were opposed. But Mound won.”

  “How does he have so much influence?” I asked, wondering how the vile man who wrote horrible things about me could get permission for the darkness mages to attend Lanca’s coronation.

  “His brother sits on the government council, so he has his ear,” Dacer sighed. “And he is well respected. He’s not a stupid or foolish man, even if he sometimes does foolish things.”

  “Having the darkness mages at the coronation certainly sounds foolish,” I said, my voice rising.

  Dacer nodded sympathetically. “They’re trying to appease them. The ‘catch more flies with honey’ approach. Angering such a powerful sect of the paranormals will work out in no one’s favor.”

  “You know what else won’t work out? If we all end up dead.”

  “They won’t kill us at the coronation,” said Dacer with confidence. “At least not all of us.”

  “Dacer!” I exclaimed, trying not to laugh. “You’re awfully relaxed about all this.”

  He shrugged. “There’s nothing to be done. Many of these darkness mages were friends of mine back in the day,” he said, and his eyes turned sad, two dark pools of memory in his pale face. “They’re not my friends now. At least, I don’t think they are.”

  “Dacer,” I breathed, holding the Contact Stone closer, “I’m sorry.”

  Sometimes I forgot that these darkness mages were humans as well. They had lives and histories and maybe they had not always been evil. Dacer obviously had known some who were not.

  “It’s okay,” he said, smiling sadly. “That’s all in the past. The important thing is that we keep you safe.”

  “Thanks,” I said, “but I’m more worried about everyone else.”

  “Ah, yes,” said Dacer. “It’s why you are beloved.”

  I stared at my mentor. “I’m huh?”

  Dacer smiled. “Nothing at all. Some day you might understand, but not today.”

  “Whatever you say,” I muttered, confused by the compliment. “Anyway, you’re saying that it’s safe for us to go to Vampire Locke and to travel by car? Even if there is a darkness council now?”

  “Yes,” said Dacer, nodding. “I don’t know about safe, but you must attend. Lanca’s safety depends on your presence.”

  My ears perked up at that. “Will the Power of Five be enacted?”

  Dacer sighed and rubbed his forehead, suddenly looking tired. “It is a hope and a fear, my dear, but now, get some rest. Soon, there will be no time for sleep.”

  “A coronation? I didn’t know paranormals had coronations,” I said with surprise. I was perched on the edge of Sip’s kitchen table. Her parents, Hyder and Helen, were both in the room. Opposite me sat Lisabelle, impassive, her mind clearly far away.

  “Vampire royalty does,” said Hyder. His face was serious and his hands rested easily on his knees. “Lanca’s father lasted longer than anyone expected, but even vampires are no match for that many demons.”

  Christmas break had turned bloody among the paranormals. After two weeks at home with Ricky, I had returned to Sip’s house to find that demons had stopped slaughtering just a few fringe paranormals here and there. Something had set them off, and they had started to go after the senior paranormals, up to and including the vampire kings. Lanca and Dirr’s father had been among those targeted.

  As a Starter at Public, Princess Dirr had decided to stay at school over Christmas and apprentice with Professor Dacer. Her father was traveling back home after visiting her when he was attacked.

  Demons are nearly impossible to track, and though the Vampire King had other vampires with him for protection, his Power of Five spells weren’t strong enough.

  “What happened?” I murmured, my heart aching for my friend’s loss.

  Lisabelle started, as if coming out of a dream. “It was nighttime, which is when vampires normally travel, as you know from our sneaking around campus,” said Lisabelle in a clipped voice, not at all worried that Sip’s parents were right there. Helen shifted a little, but Hyder only smirked. He knew his daughter.

  Hyder took up the story from Lisabelle. “The king traveled with five vampires for protection. All were extremely capable fighters. They had chosen speed over numbers, assuming that a small group that could travel quickly was the best choice for maximum safety. They were a full day away from Public, probably because the demons waited to attack until King Daemon was far enough away that no professors could come to his aid. Then the killing started.”

  Hyder paused, clearly upset, but then cleared his throat and continued.

  “From the forensic examination it appears that there were eight or ten demons for every vampire. They knew who they were dealing with. Daemon was strong, the strongest. He gave that strength to his daughters.”

  “Why did they go after him?” I asked, appalled. “He’s darkness. Daemon basically means demon . . . ”

  “He wouldn’t join with the other darkness mages who are helping the demons,” Hyder explained quietly. “But that isn’t anything new. There are also rumors that some of the other vampires’ loyalties are shifting, that they’re starting to side with the demons.”

  “But what changed to make the demons escalate right now?”

  “We aren’t sure,” said Helen. “We only know that no paranormals are safe. It used to be that the king was sacred. King Daemon should never have been attacked.”

  “What are the other vampires thinking?” Sip asked, her eyes grave.

  Hyder shook his head. “I’ve never seen vampires frightened like this before.”

  “How is Lanca?” I asked Sip, worrying about the friend who had been so loyal to me. Sip had wanted to go to the vampire princess the second she heard about the king’s death, but her parents had refused to let her tr
avel. It was now too dangerous for anyone to travel alone.

  “I don’t know,” said Sip quietly, massaging her forehead with her fingertips. “She’s ignoring all my attempts at communication. Much like another darkness friend I know.” She gave Lisabelle her “Evil Eye,” as we had come to call the bone-chilling glare that Sip gave to anyone who displeased her.

  “You know I’m not a communicator,” said Lisabelle, casually waving her off. “We’ll find out how she’s doing at the coronation.”

  “Which is the day after tomorrow,” said Hyder, rising, “So, we had best clean up breakfast and get on the road. We won’t get in to Vampire Locke until late tonight even if we start right away.

  I sighed. The rest of this Christmas break was going to be anything but restful.

  I jumped off my perch on the table and started to help gather dishes. The far-off look had returned to Lisabelle’s face, but I knew better than to push her about what she was thinking; she would tell us all when she was ready. But I felt sure it would not be good news.

  This visit had been the Quests’ first experience with Lisabelle. As Sip had pointed out with a worried frown, she had tried to keep them apart, but finally her parents had told her that it was just plain strange that she lived with a girl they had never met. When she explained to her parents that Lisabelle had a singular temperament that tended to offend, well, everyone, her parents had informed her that they had been young once too, and that if anyone should be worried about anyone, Lisabelle should be worried about them. Sip had laughed and invited Lisabelle to visit over Christmas break.

  Our darkness friend was so desperate to get out of her own house that she agreed to make nice with Mr. and Mrs. Quest.

  To Sip’s total shock, the visit had turned out spectacularly well.

  Lisabelle had some of her uncle Risper’s grainy charm when she chose, and she instantly liked Mrs. Quest when the werewolf said she wouldn’t hug Lisabelle if she didn’t want to be hugged. Lisabelle had muttered something to me about how Mrs. Quest’s daughter could use some of the same restraint.

  “Is everyone ready?” Hyder asked after everything was cleaned up in the kitchen. “Then let’s go,” he said, having gotten nods from all of us. He grabbed his suitcase as we all gathered to leave, and I decided it was a good thing we were going by car. He was not a tall man and the suitcase was nearly half his height.

  I was nervous. Except for the Quests, I hadn’t visited any paranormals, or indeed been in the paranormal world at all. Now I was starting off with the coronation of a vampire queen, a new generation set to rule the most powerful vampire sect in the world.

  Our friend Lanca was the princess, soon to be the queen, of the Rapiers. They lived in a mountain called Locke, which I had only heard about, but which was legendary. Vampires rarely allowed visitors into their home, but for the coronation of a new queen they made an exception.

  “It will be alright,” said Sip, placing a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. “It’s long past time you were introduced to other senior paranormals.” I just wished that her eyes weren’t betraying so much worry.

  “Yeah, all of whom will be present,” I muttered. I wanted to feel good about this coronation, but there was a heavy and sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. There would have been no need for a coronation if Lanca’s father hadn’t been murdered by demons. That was not a comforting thought.

  “Not to mention the darkness mages,” said Lisabelle casually from the back of our little procession out the door.

  Mrs. Quest, walking in front of us in jeans and a black sweater, stumbled, but only for a second, then turned to Lisabelle with a horrified expression on her face. Hyder hid his horror a little better, but even he pursed his lips and stared at Lisabelle. There was an uncomfortable silence, then Sip’s father spoke.

  “The darkness mages are coming?” he asked, clearing his throat loudly.

  “Yes,” said Lisabelle serenely. “All of them. They’re not officially allied with the demons, and since darkness calls to darkness . . . and the vampire coronation will be the darkest ceremony paranormals will ever have that is still mixed with light . . . yes, they will all be there. Uncle Risper might even grace us with his crooked presence, though I doubt it.”

  We hadn’t told anyone that Uncle Risper was Elam, the most famous thief in the paranormal world and a man searching desperately for a group of ancient artifacts that would give their possessor ultimate power. The artifacts were known collectively as the Paranormal Wheel: the Mirror Arcane, which I had hidden, Fang First, which was supposedly in the hands of the Rapier vampires, the Globe White, which may or may not be with the fallen angels, the Pinion Wings, which of course the pixies had lost, and the Scepter Silver, which had been missing for centuries.

  “That can’t be,” Hyder croaked. “There will be war, slaughter, carnage.”

  “I do believe the second two are results of the first,” Lisabelle quibbled. Hyder was already used to Lisabelle’s overactive tongue and he just ignored her. “Bloodshed,” she added. “Let’s not forget bloodshed.”

  “It’s tradition,” said Helen sadly. “They can’t crown a queen without darkness present. To complete the ceremonies, they must allow the darkness mages to be there.”

  “Lisabelle will be present,” said Sip cheerfully. “She’s enough darkness for anyone.”

  “Thank you,” said Lisabelle, inclining her head.

  It was time to leave for Vampire Locke to watch Princess Lanca crowned ruler of the Blood Throne.

  Chapter Seven

  As we walked out of Sip’s house heading for the Quests’ car, Sip’s parents fell back. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I knew they were arguing about something.

  It was a cold and blustery day and I pulled my coat more firmly around my body. Sip ignored her parents, busying herself with the fasteners of her suitcase. While we waited, Lisabelle piled her stuff in the trunk of the car and then did the same with everyone else’s.

  The three of us stood and waited, Sip rubbing her hands together briskly. Though it was cold, there was no snow on the ground. It had only snowed once so far this winter, right at the end of the semester, and the ground was barren and dull, the color of wet tree bark and old leaves. The air was fragrant with the smell of ice and pine trees.

  “What do you think they’re talking about?” Sip asked, glaring at her parents, who were still standing in the open doorway.

  “They appear to be arguing,” said Lisabelle mildly, taking in Mrs. Quest’s flushed face and Mr. Quest’s wildly gesturing hands. The lights from the house spilled out, creating a cheery contrast to the dark day.

  “You don’t say,” Sip drawled sarcastically.

  “Me,” I said grimly, my eyes locked on the pair. “They’re arguing about me.”

  Sip gave me a startled look for just a second, then replaced it with a frown. Lisabelle didn’t look at all surprised, and I wondered if that’s what she had calculated earlier. “Well,” I said. “I’m going.”

  “My mom might have something to say about that,” Sip warned me. “Quests are famously hard to argue with.” I just shrugged.

  “None that I’ve met,” said Lisabelle smugly.

  I ignored my friends. All I knew was that I had to be there for Lanca. She was probably upset and overwhelmed and she had been nothing but kind to me. “I’m going,” I said again.

  Sip sighed. “I know. I just don’t want you in danger.”

  “I’m going to be in danger until I die,” I said softly. “I’ve accepted it. You might as well too.” And with that, I headed back to talk to Sip’s parents.

  “I accept nothing I don’t want to accept. Have you not met me?” Sip called after me. Lisabelle laughed.

  Mr. and Mrs. Quest didn’t even appear to notice me standing next to them, their argument was so heated. Up close I could hear what they were saying, and I was indeed right. They were arguing about me.

  During my whole visit Mr. and Mrs. Quest had appeared
entirely human, until now. Snapping jaws, flashing eyes, and deep growls showed me the animal within.

  “I am going to Lanca’s coronation,” I said. When they didn’t stop arguing I raised my voice.

  Louder: “I am going to Lanca’s coronation.”

  Now they both paused, but only momentarily. When they started fighting again I stepped between them.

  “Now look here,” Mr. Quest started sternly. “I know you’re Sip’s friend and you’ve been through a lot, but we’re not going to send an innocent child in to be slaughtered.”

  “None of us are kids anymore,” I said. I wasn’t going to argue about this. The truth was that I was no match for a couple of grown werewolves, but he needed to know that times had changed.

  “We might not be at war, but it’s only a matter of time,” I said, crossing my arms. Ever since I found had out who I was and where I came from the paranormals had been getting weaker, not stronger, and I didn’t do anyone any favors by appearing weak, even among my friends. I looked back and forth between Sip’s parents without budging. Helen worried her lower lip, while Hyder glowered down at me.

  Still, butterflies hammered around my gut. This whole brave thing bordered on stupid sometimes.

  A wind as crisp as Lisabelle’s voice carried my friend’s words to us, as if she was standing right behind me shouting. “Can we get this show on the road? The sun isn’t good for my complexion.”

  “Neither is frowning,” said Sip.

  “Whatever, furface.”

  “How original. Oh, no, wait, it wasn’t.”

  “You don’t need to be original when you’re right,” said Lisabelle sagely.

  “You don’t need to be right when you’re you,” said Sip. “You still feel the need to talk.”

  “Enough,” said Helen. She sighed, suddenly appearing tired, as if the weight of the whole paranormal world were suddenly pushing on her shoulders. “We’re going to go, but we’re going to be careful. Charlotte should be there for her friend.” She gave me a sympathetic look and patted me on the shoulder. Her touch surprised me, and though she was in human form and it was a hand that had touched me, somehow I felt claws.