Page 39 of Discovery of the Vampire
Lizzy gave a quiet laugh, but the atmosphere was thick with tension. I turned to face the group who appraised and judged me as I stepped into their midst. I met their stares one by one, trying to project a calm I didn't quite feel. But I couldn't stop the racing of my heart, knowing that the next few minutes could change everything.
Lizzy made the introductions.
Judy, the High Priestess, stood with her arms crossed over her ample middle, her blue eyes sharp and assessing. This one took me by surprise, as she looked like a typical small-town aunt with short salt-and-pepper gray hair and clothes only found on the discount rack at Wal-mart. Never would I have guessed she was the most powerful witch in the city.
Next were the twins, Alex and Alice, who regarded me with curious expressions. Interestingly, their auras—like their sense of style—were complete opposites. Whereas Alex dressed in black jeans and a simple black T-shirt and was surrounded by a bright red aura reflected by the restlessness of his pose, Alice was swathed in all of the colors of the rainbow. Yet her aura was nearly pure white. Not quite enlightened, but she was well on her way. The goodness in her was very easy to see. It shined from within her like a beacon. But it didn’t hide what she was. Neither did her brother’s.
Their magic was different from the other witches. Different from mine. My breath froze in my lungs as I realized what it was…It was laced with something else. Something I knew well. It was the same magic I’d felt from the djinn. Not fully. Just a trace. But it was there.
I tore my eyes from them as Lizzy introduced me to the next witch. Angel didn't bother moving from where she leaned against the far wall, her red hair like a flame in the dimly lit space. It was only slightly more startling than the cost of the black chiffon blouse and baggy jacquard jeans she wore with platform sneakers. I knew the prices of this designer quite well myself. She gave me a nod, but her mouth was pulled tight and there was something in her hazel eyes that gave me pause. It wasn’t anger. Not fear either. I couldn't quite decipher it.
Last was Talin. Pierced eyebrow lifted slightly, she watched me with a mixture of curiosity and caution when I said hello, but her expression was open, if not exactly welcoming. She was stunningly pretty with green eyes and black hair, although I had the feeling from her toned down, nearly boyish clothes that she either didn't realize how gorgeous she was or didn't like to flaunt it.
"Thank you for meeting with me," I began, my voice sounding small. I cleared my throat. "I know my presence here is...unexpected, and I apologize for not warning you I was coming, but?—"
"Let's cut the crap, shall we?"
My eyes snapped to Judy in surprise. However, I didn't take offense. I appreciated people who didn't play games. "With what, exactly? I've barely said anything."
"For one," She took a step closer, her sharp blue eyes running over me from head to toe. I glanced down at my red sweater dress and black boots, wondering if something was askew, and straightened the long, silver chain that hung down the front self-consciously. "How about you release your power and stop hiding it. I want to know who I'm dealing with here."
Oh. That. I wasn't sure that was the best idea right now, but what could I do? Refuse? "Of course," I told her. With a breath of relief, I released the tight hold I'd kept on my magic. It felt like taking off a corset that had been laced too tight when it broke free, expanding and stretching over and through me until I once again felt like myself. The djinn had been right. Because of the toll it took, I didn’t like using my magic. But it was a part of me, nonetheless, as it had been my entire life. I wouldn’t be me without it.
A collective gasp sounded as the other witches felt it, especially from Lizzy, who still stood beside me. I nearly pulled it back. But the high priestess did nothing more than narrow her eyes and say, "Thank you."
"I wasn't trying to hide anything from you—" I started to explain, but she cut me off again.
"I know why you did it. But now that we know who—exactly—we're dealing with, we can talk." She paused, glancing at Lizzy, who stood to my right, still a little stunned. "My niece tells me you're here because you were running from the djinn, Marcus."
"Yes."
"What made you think you'd be safe from him here in New Orleans? Why didn't you run farther away?"
Wow. This one didn't waste time, did she? "Because I didn't know you were here—any of you—if that's what you're asking."
"Then why did you come here? Out of all the places in the world."
That was the question I'd been asking myself for days now. "I don't know," I told her honestly. “After my family was murdered, I flashed my passport, bought a ticket, and got on a bus heading north. This was one of my stops and I was tired and I…" I gave her a little shrug. "I thought I would just...get off the bus. And this is where I was." I glanced around at the room of witches, silently begging them to understand. "I honestly had no master plan. I was exhausted and mourning my family, and probably still in shock." I took a breath, collecting myself. "It was only by chance that I wandered into the vampire bar.”
I studied Judy’s cold features. "You don't believe me."
"No."
I flinched at her honesty, but forced myself to meet her gaze. "Everything I just said is the truth, I swear it to you. Marcus murdered my family. And now he's found me again, and he's threatening me and the people I care about here unless I help him find some book." Lacing my fingers together in front of me, I tried again to appeal to her. "It's the honest truth."
Alex and Alice exchanged a loaded glance, and Angel straightened off the wall, her eyes narrowing.
Lizzy grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her. “Wait. What?? He found you here?”
My cheeks heated with guilt and shame. “I’m sorry I haven’t told you.”
Her hand fell from my arm as she stared at me in shock. “What exactly happened, Esme?”
“He was waiting for me in my apartment. There was nothing I could do. He still thinks I can help him find the spell book he believed my family had.”
"What book?" Alex asked sharply.
"I don't know," I admitted with a small shake of my head. "He thinks it's here in the city. He's given me a week to find it."
