Kissed by Darkness (21 page)

“It would be,” he agreed. “Except that the Elemental Mages became addicted to the power and it was a power not meant for humans to wield, even those with magic in their veins. Eventually, it drove them insane as the craving for power overtook everything else. They nearly destroyed themselves, not to mention the people they were supposed to protect. They eventually had to be hunted down and killed.”

So, I was teetering on the edge of crazy. Fabulous. That explained a lot. “So my Darkness thing, it’s the same as what the Elementals could do?”

Eddie pulled at his lower lip again before readjusting his glasses. “I’m not entirely sure. You see the Elemental Mages worked and studied for
years
before they were able to channel even a small amount of their element. Only the most powerful of them could channel power the way I described, perhaps one in every thousand. Even then, it took many more years of practice to control the power to the point where it could be used as a weapon.”

“But this just happened to me. I didn’t try or practice or anything. One minute everything was fine and then … ” I shrugged.

“And you say that now you can control it?” He peered at me over the rim of his glasses.

“Well, sort of. I seem to be able to call it up now, at least when I’m fighting. I’ve done it a couple of times. The first time I actually called it on purpose it was just kind of, I don’t know, mild. It was there, but it didn’t really help much. Then again I only sort of half tried.”

I pulled out a stool from behind the counter and plopped my butt on it. “Last night, though, that was something else.” I frowned a little, trying to remember what exactly had happened. “To tell you the truth, I don’t think I really thought about it either time. It was just … there. At Pittock Mansion, I didn’t really need it. There were only two of them. Last night I definitely did.”

His fingers traced the flame along the edge of the page. “And it came when you called it.”

“Oh, yeah, in a big way. I can’t even remember a lot of what happened. But I’m not sure how much that had to do with me channeling the Darkness and how much was a result of whatever is going on with Inigo.” I shifted uncomfortably on the stool as fuzzy memories of Inigo and I together stirred in my mind.

“So, no actual control, but it comes when you need it?”

I thought about it. “Yeah, sounds right. I mean, I haven’t really
tried
to make it come during the day or when I’m not in a fight so I don’t know if it works when it’s not night time or when I’m not, you know, in mortal danger.”

“Probably best you don’t.” A little puff of dust danced in the air as he shut the book. “At least until we have a better idea what it is we’re dealing with. Or rather, what it is
you
are dealing with. If it’s anything like the Elemental Magic, then the more you use it, the more dangerous it becomes. Only … ” He hesitated, obviously wanting to say more, but not sure how.

“Only?”

He sighed, “There is no record of Elemental Mages attempting to channel any other power beyond the four physical elements. I suppose if one could channel air, one could also channel light, but there is no mention of anyone trying.”

He shook his head and started pacing back and forth and muttering to himself, the change in his pocket making a chinking sound as he walked. “But Darkness isn’t Light. Light is
something
. Darkness is not. It is the
absence
of light, not a thing in itself. How could one channel such a thing? Surely not. No, it can’t be Elemental Magic, something similar maybe?”

“Earth to Eddie!” I waved a hand in front of his face. “Still here.”

“My apologies, Morgan.” He stopped pacing and tapped a finger on the cover of the Book. “I have no idea what’s going on. I’m sorry. I wish I could be more helpful but this is so far beyond anything I’ve read about that I just don’t know.”

“No biggie.” I shrugged, hopping off the stool. My turn to pace. “We’ll figure it out somehow, right?”

His smile was a bit wobbly. He didn’t seem entirely convinced. “Of course. Of course. I will keep researching. Perhaps you should question the Sunwalker. Maybe it has something to do with him? Or possibly the amulet you mentioned. Though I don’t see how … ” he trailed off for a moment, lost in thought again, then shook himself. “In the meantime, let’s find out about your friend. I’m interested to see just what powers he might possess. What was his name?”

“Inigo. Inigo Jones.” I already knew Jack had no idea what my ability to channel the Darkness meant, but I didn’t mention it to Eddie. It was just one more mystery in a long line of them.

“Ah, yes. How interesting. I’ve heard of people naming their children after celebrities, but an architect?”

I must have looked baffled because he mumbled something about sixteenth century London and architecture. I swear, sometimes I was surrounded by craziness.

Eddie, intent on the Book, ignored me and flipped open the cover. He closed his eyes for a moment and then spoke Inigo’s name. We both watched as the pages riffled through of their own accord and then stopped about a third of the way through. We stared at the page, equally gob smacked.

“Uh, Eddie, that page is blank,” I said, stating the obvious.

“Yes it is. How odd.”

“Is it supposed to be blank?” The empty page seemed to taunt me.

He flipped the page over and revealed what looked to be some sort of recipe involving bat guano and tree sap. “The Book has a mind of its own.” He flipped back to the blank page.

Total non-answer. “So it’s done this before?”

He thought for a moment. “Yes. Once or twice I’ve asked it for something and it simply refused to answer for some reason known only to it.”

Great. A sentient book, just what I needed. “So it doesn’t know anything? Or maybe it does know what’s up with Inigo and just doesn’t want to tell us?”

“Most likely the later,” he nodded. “When it doesn’t have the information I need, it usually just flips all the way to the back cover and stops. I would imagine that a blank page means it knows, but isn’t telling.”

Even better a sentient book with attitude. Wonderful.

He closed the book and turned to me. “I’m sorry, Morgan. I wish I could have been of more help.” He looked crestfallen.

I reached out and squeezed his arm. “Eddie, you
have
helped. More than you know. I really needed someone to talk to who wouldn’t think I’m crazy.” I flashed a grin. “Much.”

He laughed at that. “At least we have some idea about your Darkness, if nothing else. Speak to your Sunwalker. Who knows? He has, after all, been around for a few years.”

I laughed. I already knew Jack couldn’t help and I had a feeling there was a lot more to this whole thing than either of us could imagine. Stranger things in heaven and earth and all that. Maybe Jack had heard of the Elemental Mages. That was something new, at least. “I’m off, Eddie. Take care, yeah?”

He squeezed my hand and went back to muttering over the Book while I headed for the front door. “Hey, Eddie,” I turned back, remembering something. “One thing before I go.”

“Yes, my dear?” He glanced up from the book.

“Lately I’ve been noticing something odd about the vampires I’ve been fighting.”

He frowned. “Odd?”

“Yeah, their eyes. All the vampires I’ve seen over the last few days have had these red, glowing eyes. I’d expect to see that on a demon, but a vampire?”

“How odd, indeed.” Eddie frowned even harder, if that was possible. “I only know of one way to make fundamental changes to vampire physiology and that is to change the power that controls them.”

Vampires were usually controlled by one of two things. They were either controlled by the one who turned them, or they were controlled by the most powerful vampire in their clan if their maker wasn’t strong enough to hold them. Since both types of masters controlled using vampiric powers, the physiology of the vampire being controlled wouldn’t change.

“What sort of change would have to happen to turn their eyes red? Would a demon do it?” The only time I’d ever heard of any creature-controlling vamp other than another more powerful vamp was the occasional demon.

“I suppose it might, depending on the type of demonic power used to control the vampires. But I’ve never heard of anything like it.” Eddie seemed unsure, but it was as good a theory as any.

“OK, thanks, Eddie. I really appreciate your help.”

I headed out to my car, my mind in a whirl. I was starting to feel a bit like Alice complete with rabbit hole. Curiouser and curiouser.

Chapter Seventeen

The sun was still up when I exited Eddie’s shop, leaving the bell above the door jangling merrily behind me, so I decided to swing by Cordelia’s. I thought for a minute about calling ahead then figured it was pointless since I apparently had some kind of psychic Bat Signal where she was concerned; either that, or Bastet told her. Gods knew that cat was a piece of weird. Cordelia had probably already put the teakettle on.

The traffic was unusually light for rush hour and I made it across town in record time, this time with The Who blaring loud enough to wake the neighborhood. Even more amazing was finding a parking space just around the corner from Cordelia’s building. How lucky. I frowned as I locked the car door. Somehow I didn’t think luck had anything to do with it. Call me skeptical, but finding a parking space anywhere near the Park Blocks during rush hour pretty much took an act of nature or a miracle of the gods.

“Hello, precious girl!” I was engulfed in a flurry of jade silk and floral perfume the minute I came through the door. I managed to extricate myself from Cordelia’s embrace before I completely suffocated. “Listen, I know you’re having a challenging time right now,” she said, patting me on the back, “but let’s have some tea and a chat. That always helps.”

She disappeared down the hall, her bright green robe billowing behind her. Force of nature, indeed. Seriously, who on earth wears a silk robe over blue jeans and a turtleneck sweater? Especially one with a Chinese dragon embroidered on the back? It was pretty, though.

“Come on in. Bastet’s really been looking forward to seeing you again.” Naturally, the cat wanted to see me. Who else? Rolling my eyes I stepped into the living room.

“We saw that.” There was laughter in her voice. “I know I sound like a crazy cat woman, but trust me. She’s talked about nothing else all week.”

I blinked. “Of course not. What else would she talk about?” Catnip? Seafood flavor versus chicken flavor kitty treats? Honestly, if Cordelia really did go ‘round the bend, who’d notice?

As usual, there was a steaming pot of tea and two teacups perched precariously on the coffee table. Cordelia had draped herself dramatically across an overstuffed chair, so I was left to shovel cushions around until I could find a spot on the couch large enough for my backside. Bastet glared at me from where she lounged on a particularly plush pillow dead in the center of the couch. Yep, she looked happy to see me all right.

“So, tell me, what’s been happening. I want all the gossip!” Her rings sparkled in the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. I was not really much of a jewelry person, so rings on every finger seemed like overkill, but they looked nice on her long, slender fingers.

“Um, I thought you already knew everything. You know psychic and all that.” I leaned forward to take the cup of tea she held out to me. The fragile blue and gold china made me slightly nervous. Handling delicate things freaked me out a little. I may have been hell on wheels when it came to killing monsters, but graceful I was not. I also recognized the pattern as a rather rare antique Wedgewood which I so did not want to have to find a replacement for if I broke it. It wasn’t the cost that worried me. It was the fact that it would be a major pain in the ass to try to find a new one.

“Oh, I don’t know
everything
,” she laughed lightly. “Just mostly everything. Bastet, now
she
knows everything.” She winked at the cat. Bastet just glowered and twitched her tail. I was sort of glad I wasn’t the only one she gave attitude. “So, come on Morgan. I want all the juicy details.”

I caught her up on the madness that had become my life. Up to and including the weirdness that was Inigo and the trouble both he and Jack gave my hormones, plus my nearly sleeping with Jack and the confusion I felt about the whole thing. Again, I avoided the whole Sunwalker scenario. It was just too much. Plus I figured that she might very well already know. If she didn’t, I wasn’t telling. Not yet.

Cordelia nodded sagely and delicately sipped at her tea. “Catnip.”

“What?” I blinked at her. Had she been listening in on my snarky thoughts about Bastet? Or maybe Bastet had tattled on me. With that cat anything was possible.

“Have you ever seen a cat on catnip? They go completely crazy and rub themselves all over everyone and everything like they want to soak up every bit of pleasure they can. Jack’s your catnip. Maybe Inigo, too. Oh, how nice! Two catnips!” She looked entirely too pleased about the prospect as she clapped her hands gleefully. She looked for all the world like a kid let loose in Disneyland.

“No. No, no, no! There is no catnip.” I shook my head most emphatically. “I do
not
rub myself all over them. Well, maybe a little. But that’s not my fault. There is no catnip!”

Cordelia just looked smug and her eyes twinkled with laughter. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”

I rolled my eyes. “Look, can we stay on topic? Forget about catnip, OK? I just want to know what is going on with Inigo. Heck, I’d love to know what’s going on with me.”

“And Jack?” She smiled altogether too much like that cat that stole the cream. I think I might have growled at her. She burst out in a rich belly laugh which made me think of Christmas pudding with rum sauce. Weird that her laughter always made me think of Christmas and food. Not sure what that meant. “All right,” she thrust her hand out. “Tea cup.”

I slurped the last of my tea, tipped the cup upside down on the saucer and handed it to her. I had no idea how on earth anyone read tea leaves. It looked like a bunch of brown gunk stuck on the bottom of a cup to me. I guess that was why Cordelia was the psychic clairvoyant, and I was the badass vampire Hunter.