Forbidden Embrace (15 page)

“
Florence, don't worry, I have an idea that might work. I'll be back in a bit.” I hurry out of Danika's room, and once downstairs I run out the door and jump in my car. It should only take me a few minutes to get to the manor.

***

I call Ebony and fill her in on the situation as I drive over. As I pull up in front of the hundred year old manor both sisters, Ebony and Eliza, are on the front porch waiting for me. I bring the car to a screeching halt and slam the transmission into park, then race up to meet them; the sooner we can find Danika the less trouble she can and will get in.

“
Did you bring something of hers for us to use?” Eliza questions.

“
Yeah, I grabbed a scarf of hers as I ran out of her room; will it work?”

Eliza takes the multi colored fashion scarf, “It should…have you seen her use it before?”

“
It was one of her favorites; I’m actually surprised she didn’t take it. Obviously she didn’t plan this.”

Ms. Edwina walks up behind the girls. “Come in Sophia, I have everything set up. I created a circle already girls, just cleanse yourselves and cut a door.”

We enter the family room and the magic circle is obvious by the candles Ms. Edwina has placed around the scrying mat and map of Massachusetts. Once a circle is created a door must be cut to enter and exit, and always closed after doing so to ensure that no evil can enter the circle. The two girls take their wands and trace an outline of a door in the air before entering the circle. The wand leaves a pale green mark in the air momentarily as they work; this shows how powerful the two sisters are. To be able to see the magical energy coming from them is unusual for most
witches
, but it’s attached to The Magnificent Ones so strongly that we can see it with most of their magical work. I watch as Ebony and Eliza enter the sacred circle and the candles around them begin to glow bigger and brighter, feeding from their energy. The girls sit on opposite sides, one to the north and one to the south of the map, joining their hands over the area and closing their eyes. From what I've learned the girls have constant energy, to guarantee they get best results whenever needed. As the flames on the candles rise, both girls open their eyes slowly… almost as if they are in a trance. Ebony gently lifts the pendulum from the scrying mat as Eliza holds Danika scarf.

Together they begin to chant, “Show us where Danika is, show us where Danika is.”

The crystal quartz pendulum is oblong and comes to a point at the end; the stone is flawless and attached to a thin chain with a small moonstone ball at the top of the chain. The pendulum begins to circle and move around the map; I watch every move it makes to see if there is some hint as to where Danika may be. Right when the pendulum starts to slow and give us some indication of where to look, it speeds again to a different area.

Ms. Edwina pulls her chair next to the girls. “Let me try to help…maybe just an extra jolt of energy will help find this girl.”

The two girls and their Grams focus all the powers on Danika and her scarf that they hold. With one hand they each take hold of the scarf. Ebony holds the pendulum with her free hand, the small moonstone ball resting on the upper part of her hand as the chain hangs down secured between her index finger and middle finger. The other two
witches
place their free hands over Ebony’s so that their combined power can guide the pendulum. The magical tool begins to circle again, a large even circle around Wenham. The three women close their eyes and focus all their powers on Danika. The pendulum slows and traces a straight line between Wenham and Boston, without giving us a specific location.

“
I don’t understand why we can’t locate her,” Ebony says, flopping down her hands down to her lap.

“
Do we know what power Danika has yet?” Ms. Edwina questions with a look up at me.

Pacing back and forth on the outside of the sacred circle, I shake my head, “We aren’t even sure if she has one. It has been over a year and a half and not one of us has seen anything from her, nor has she mentioned anything.”

“
Well, my dear, I think we have figured it out. With the three of us scrying for her, we shouldn’t have even needed something belonging to her. The girls are so powerful, with my added power and experience we should not have any difficulty. Yet we are unable to get anything definite.”

“
So how does that tell you what her power is?”

“
Something is blocking her, or at least blocking us from finding her. I believe she has the power to shroud herself,” Ms. Edwina informs me as they release their circle. She goes to her office and returns with the
Book of Shadows
.

“
The
Book of Shadows
can’t possibly have much information on Danika. Wouldn’t you three be the only ones to make an entry about her? She is too new for any of your ancestors to have known of her.” I remember when Ms. Edwina presented the girls with the
Book of Shadows
, it was explained that the one who possesses it must enter any new supernaturals information they come across. Since Danika is so young only Ms. Edwina or the girls could have done so.

“
You are correct Sophia. But there is information on various powers our ancestors have come across as well. As you know powers are very much dependent on the person who holds them. We all know that even as a mortal Nathanial has the gift to get people talking, even if they don't want to. The
Book of Shadows
explains about a gift, called shrouding. This is the ability to hide from others. Those that possess this ability can also block other powers when it comes to them, such things as blocking Alexander from reading or seeing their thoughts, or even you from healing them,” she reads from the book.

“
Aw hell, why couldn’t I have that ability? I am so sick of my brother knowing everything I am thinking and even sharing it with others. I would love some privacy in my head,” I joke and add, “That actually makes sense, cause Alex never has anything interesting to share about Danika. I guess this explains why; she only shares what she wants to with him.”

“
Yes, this could explain it,” Ms. Edwina agrees.

“
Hey Sophia, speaking of powers, have you all figured out what powers you gained from the big fight?” Ebony wonders.

“
Yeah, there were a few, but mostly it was the
shifters
who fully destroyed the Cerberus. I think Elijah and Cato each got one, I don’t really remember. I stopped paying attention once they confirmed I got nothing.”

“
You can be so pouty some times,” Eliza teases.

“
Girls, pay attention here, we still need to find Danika,” Ms. Edwina interrupts.

After a little more discussion we decide to go back to my house and give the information to my family. It appears that Danika is somewhere between here and Boston. A bit of a big search area, but we can split up. In the car on the way back to my place Eliza calls Luke and tells him that Danika has run away, explaining that we have reason to believe she is heading to Boston. She asks if he could check out some of the hot spots for us and he agrees. Luke, Nathanial’s brother, and Eliza, have really built a solid foundation to their relationship since our party where they met. Matilda has even confirmed they are soul mates…of course we are all sworn to secrecy as she wants them to have a chance to let it all play out on their own.

Chapter 14

Searching

At the house, Elijah and the boys have returned from their search by the time I arrive back with The Magnificent Ones. The entire family is in the family room now, still obviously trying to calm Florence, and they barely notice us as Ebony, Eliza, Ms. Edwina and I enter. I clear my throat, yet they don’t even notice and continue with their conversation. Elijah is explaining that he and the boys found no trace of her; they weren’t even able to pick up her scent past the interstate during their initial search.

“
We have to assume she hitched a ride somewhere, knowing that we would find her if she stayed in town,” Elijah hypothesizes.

I never even thought to try to find her scent.
Why didn’t we do that on New Year’s when she took off?
I wonder to myself. I guess it’s only because they weren’t as worried then; we know she is gone this time and that raises the stakes.

“
Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt but we may have some interesting information for you,” Ms. Edwina politely announces.

“
Ladies, please come join us, I’m sorry we didn’t make note of your arrival.” Elijah helps Ms. Edwina to a chair. “So what information do you have?”

Ebony walks over and takes a seat on the sofa. “Sophia thought we should scry for Danika.”

“
And?” the family all asks in unison.

I go and sit on Nathanial’s lap as we discuss the details of the scrying session and the probability of Danika having the ability to shroud or block herself.

Alexander bursts out with a huge smile on his face. “I’m so glad you figured out what Danika’s power is. Here I was thinking I’m losing my touch.”

Matilda smacks him on the arm, “Not everything is your business or about you for that matter,” She leans over and gives Alexander a kiss. “Darn good thing you’re cute.”

“
Okay you two, can we please hear what else the sisters have to tell us?” Florence requests with despair.

“
Okay so as I was saying, we believe she is somewhere between here and Boston. Eliza called Luke already and he is going to keep an eye out for her, check out a few hot spots and such. We figure that he’s a good bet, since she knows no one else,” Ebony explains.

“
Well, we should head to Boston tonight then,” Florence pleads.

“
Florence my dear, I think we should search Danika’s room for clues as to where she might have gone. If she shows up anywhere near Luke he will let us know. I just think we are better off to go there prepared.”

Florence nods, “Come with me Constance, let’s start looking.” The two women leave the room and head up the grand staircase that circles around to the upper floor. I know Florence is hoping that Constance gets a vision of some sort.

Elijah leans forward and very quietly whispers, “Okay Alexander, now that Florence is gone, I want you to go online and use any other connections you may have to find out if there is any cult activity going on down in the Boston area. Check for businesses that look like they could be
vampire
owned. Let’s see if we can find where our baby girl has to go.”

***

Back in my room Nathanial, Ebony and I await for Matt’s arrival. I’m really starting to feel just awful about the way I’ve been treating Danika. She’s just a kid, after all, and has more to deal with than the average teen, and by average I am not including any of our teenage supernatural friends. Since Danika first came into our family 18 months ago, I have done nothing but make her life a living or eternal hell. I give her a hard time about every little thing and criticize her every move. How could she feel comfortable here with me always insisting she is going to fail in one way or another? Nathanial takes a few large strides to my stereo system and puts on the music, I assume in an attempt to calm me.

Before long there is a rap on the door, Matt enters and walks directly to Ebony to hold her tight in his arms. “Hey guys, so what can I do to help?”

“
Everyone else has tasks to do, but we are kinda just sitting here waiting for them to tell us what we need to do. I think we may get a trip to Boston out of this,” Nathanial responds.

“
So what happened to make Danika run away?”

Ebony smirks, “Sophia beat the crap out of her.”

“
What? You told her, didn’t you? I told you it was no big deal and to keep your mouth shut,” Matt lays in to Nathanial.

“
You know me; I couldn’t keep it from her.”

“
Okay, wait a second, you told Nate not to tell me? Do you need me to kick your butt too?”

“
Hell no, I’m good. I just didn’t think it mattered. It was a small kiss and he pushed her away so fast. She felt so bad and begged him not to tell you…I just didn’t think it was worth upsetting you over,” Matt defends. “But I guess if the situation was reversed, I wouldn’t be able to keep it from you either, Eb.”

“
You better not,” she playful pushes him.

We continue to goof around a little waiting for someone to come in with information; I only hope they find out something.

Chapter 15

Caspian’s Surprise

Tonight I’m heading back to Club VC; now that my estranged family beat the Cerberus in their fight I have to try and find out what other plans are brewing. With my leathers on I’m ready to fit into the scene. Walking in the club I notice its busy tonight, but I already spot Cyrus and Drake. I can zone in on those two within seconds of walking in. With a crowd like the one tonight I bet they’ll throw the sprinklers on. When it gets busy here I’ve heard they turn on a sprinkler system that sprays blood over the crowd. I think that would send most of these vamps into a feeding frenzy. Walking to the dance floor Cyrus stops me.