Page 17 of The Rising Dark
“You’ve never told anyone you’re a vampire before?”
Lavinia smiled, and she was glad to see a lightening in Michelle’s countenance too.She didn’t like seeing her sad—much less so if she’d been the cause of it.“Not recently.It never really comes up.”
“But you do get out, right?Like, go into town and stuff.”
“Quite often.But then again, there is no need to tell the sales clerk, is there?”
“True.”Michelle closedOn the Origin of Speciesand slid it back onto the shelf, placed snugly between two other ancient volumes.“I guess I never really thought much about it either.That there might be vampires just strutting around.”
“I don’t strut.”
“Yes you do,” Michelle said with a furtive smile.She turned more fully towards Lavinia.“Is there anything else I should know?Any more revelations?”
Lavinia’s thoughts hurtled back to the meeting today with Arran and his acquaintances.At their insinuation that Michelle was a witch—or at least, had the potential to be one.That she had been targeted because of some latent power.Yet another piece of information that would slowly tear her away from the life of ignorance of the Other World she’d led so far.How much could she learn about the others that shared the earth with humans before she would no longer be able to fit in with her own kind?
Lavinia had heard stories of humans, particularly ones who hadn’t grown up with the knowledge like familiars did, that couldn’t handle it.Some would simply ignore anything that didn’t fit their worldview.In a way, they were the lucky ones.Others started to doubt their sanity, lost their grasp on reality, or became outcasts for their insistence on telling their friends and family about vampires and witches and demons.That couldn’t happen to Michelle—Lavinia wouldn’t let it.
But then, Luce had ordered the witches to be allowed to test her.And just now, she had been hurt that Lavinia had kept something from her.Not with any ill intent, of course, as she hadn’t really put much thought in it.Lavinia’s job was to protect, but she hadn’t considered how Michelle would experience that.Besides, even if she lied now, if she left her in the dark about the witches, it would only be a temporary respite.It wouldn’t be long before the witches renewed their request, and Luce would grant it.It would be best, then, to rip off the Band-Aid, as the humans so charmingly put it.
“Well,” Lavinia started.
“Should I sit down for this?I should sit down for this, shouldn’t I?”Michelle sat heavily into the sumptuously upholstered armchair that faced the fireplace.Lavinia followed but found that she couldn’t sit, restlessness spreading through her limbs.Instead, she clasped her hands behind her back, and paced back and forth along the length of the rug that delineated the seating area.
“Is it bad?”Michelle asked after watching Lavinia pace for a while.
“No, no,” Lavinia said, intending the words to be comforting, but clearly failing in their intent.
“Now you’re scaring me.Just tell me, please?”
Where to begin?“You should know that there are humans with…with a certain potential.”Stars, she was botching this.“Some humans are born with what is called a Mark of the Fates.It means they can manipulate currents that are all around us.”She gestured vaguely, then resumed her pacing.
“So it’s like…magic?Is that what you mean?”
“Yes!They are witches.And unlike vampires, who are always only ever born to other vampires, any human can be touched by the Fates, regardless of their parentage.While it often does run in certain bloodlines, it doesn’t have to, making it rather unpredictable at times.”
“Right.”
“And witches are governed by their own Council.They wish to examine you, to find out whether you are marked by the Fates.”
“Wait, what?They think I’m a witch?Why would they think that?”The incredulous outrage on Michelle’s face softened something within Lavinia.But that didn’t make the rest of what she had to tell her any easier.
“Because the warlock that set a demon loose on you was targeting witches.Only witches.”
Michelle leaned back into the armchair.“Then he must have made some sort of mistake.”
“I hope so,” Lavinia said softly, mostly to herself.
“And they want to…test me or something.”
“Yes.”
“Will it hurt?”
Lavinia frowned.“I don’t think so.I have never been present at one of their trials.”Noting Michelle’s alarm, she added, “They won’t harm you.They know you’re under our protection.”
Michelle took a deep breath.“Good.Will you be there?”
Lavinia’s heart jumped a little in her chest.“Of course.”She couldn’t imagine letting Michelle face a witch trial by herself regardless—but it felt wonderful to be needed.To be asked.To be wanted.
