Obsidian Flame (44 page)

“But not with autonomy.”

Greaves shook his head. “No, my friend, not entirely. Those days are gone, I’m afraid. They ended last night and I know you understand because you do despair. But I would allow you autonomy within the various facilities.”

Stannett nodded. A little flame of hope began to burn within his mind. “Autonomy
in the facilities.
”

“Yes.” Greaves then set out to explain the creation of five major Seer palaces as well as his plan to bind the Seers together in order to achieve pure vision.

Stannett sat up straighter.
Seers bound together.
He liked the sound of it, the
feel
of it in his mind. He was a Seer of power and he could intuit that Greaves’s plan would work, perhaps in the same way that Marguerite, through joining with the other Seer, had achieved pure vision.

He also thought that he could continue his genetic experiment.

Greaves moved very close and settled his hand on Stannett’s shoulder. “You would certainly be
free
to continue your scientific experiments. And of course, as you already know, I always reward my servants. Amply.”

Yes, Stannett did know since a good deal of his personal wealth had come as Greaves had built up his fortune over the past century. “What would you have me do now, master?”

Greaves smiled, which gave those round eyes an even more youthful appearance. He removed his hand and took a slight step backward, turning in order to include Casimir in the discussion. “I think we need to shift our focus and put a rather large piece of bait into my now empty tiger’s cage. But in order to do that, the focus must be on the bait and not on our super-powerful Seer. Otherwise I’m convinced that she will know what the future holds.”

“And to what bait do you refer?” Stannett asked.

“To Thorne’s sister, of course.”

The mention of Grace, however, caused Casimir to emit a gasp, which turned into a ragged series of coughs.

*   *   *

Casimir had started feeling much better about the entire interview. He had not communicated with Stannett about the failed attack at the Convent because it hadn’t occurred to him that the failure had been a result of emerging Seer power. He had assumed that Warrior Thorne and his band of merry vampires had somehow discovered a clever way to breach a kind of mist that was supposedly impregnable.

But now it all made sense: the timing of the warriors’ arrival, that they knew where to battle the death vampires who should have overwhelmed Leto within the first fifteen seconds of the operation, even that Marguerite had found her way into the Convent at exactly the same time.

However, he couldn’t quite bring himself to give a rat’s ass about anything right now, except a certain scent that had bored a hole into his brain and kept his cock in an uproar. He hadn’t been able to face the men for a long time because his erection was throbbing. He had a perpetual hard-on. Even the memory of Grace’s meadow-wildflower scent was for him a triple dose of Viagra.

From the time that Marguerite had slammed that stool down on his head, then folded Grace out of the Convent, Casimir’s thoughts had been all about how to bring Grace under his control.

She was his. She belonged to no one else, despite some significant evidence that Leto was under the same weighty need and drive. Which begged the question: How the hell had the
breh-hedden
split off and decided that Grace was to have two
brehs
? That she felt an attraction to him was very clear. But she also had need of Leto.

The next question, however, was much more difficult to answer. What the hell was he supposed to do with this whole ridiculous situation? On a very deep level, he’d hoped that Grace would somehow end up dead; then he wouldn’t be faced with his need for her. That she had lived changed everything for him. With each minute that passed, his need to possess her grew stronger.

Worse, when Greaves discovered that she was obsidian flame, the third leg of the triad, he would stop at nothing to destroy her.

And that, he simply could not have.

Grace at all costs must live and he must complete the
breh-hedden
with her before Leto did, because she must come entirely under his control. Nothing else mattered.

Greaves addressed Stannett. “I want you to dip into the future streams right now and see if you can find Grace in the immediate future, within the next few hours.”

“As wish you, master.”

Stannett closed his eyes. Seers often did so.

Stannett’s eyes rolled back and forth beneath his eyelids. He was breathing hard, maybe even pushing into the future streams. He looked to be in pain.

Finally, his eyes popped open, and he stared at Greaves.

Casimir felt uneasy.

Stannett rose to his feet. He seemed calmer now, perhaps even hopeful. “I saw the devotiate, Grace, walking alone in the villa garden, in one of the garden rooms, the one with all the white blossoms. She was weeping.”

“Which day and at what hour?” Greaves asked.

“Tomorrow morning, at the villa, before dawn. And at that hour, this one arrives.” He jerked his thumb in Casimir’s direction.

Caz recoiled. He even took a step backward. He didn’t want Greaves to guess at what this was all about. He worked at calming his heart.

“And what does Casimir do?” Greaves asked.

“He holds her in his arms and comforts her. Then together they vanish.”

Greaves turned to Casimir and smiled. “You must be very good at what you do, since apparently in this vision you have the capacity to slip through Endelle’s mist, which still covers the villa. I am most impressed. It would also seem that our path is clear. You must abduct Thorne’s sister.”

“Yes.” The fewer words he spoke, the better.

“When you have her, you will fold her to me.”

Casimir turned toward Greaves. “I have a request, one that I insist must be fulfilled if you wish me to do as you’ve said.”

Greaves grew very still, but he said, “Go on.”

“I want the woman. I want her to live with me in Paris.”

“Indeed?”

“Yes. I’ve developed a
need
for her.”

Greaves remained still.

Casimir waited as the Commander searched his eyes. His shields were powerful enough to keep Greaves out, so he had that going in his favor.

Finally, Greaves smiled. “I suppose in your perverted world, taking a devotiate would be the ultimate adventure. Well, I see no harm in the plan. You have my … blessing.”

Casimir didn’t smile as he responded, “Thank you. I will do as you have said.”

Greaves turned toward Stannett. “Please return to Mexico City. I would ask only that you work in the future streams to conceal Casimir’s movements. That way, if the enemy should decide to look into our activities, at least we’ll have this layer of concealment. Even if Marguerite is able to achieve pure vision, let’s make her work for it.” He glanced from one to the other. “You may both leave now.”

Casimir didn’t need a second invitation. He lifted his arm and vanished.

A brotherhood forges a powerful foundation,

But a sisterhood pushes, with fervor and necessity, all outmoded boundaries.

—
Collected Proverbs,
Beatrice of Fourth

CHAPTER 19

At five o’clock, Thorne held Marguerite close as he folded them both to Medichi’s villa on the east side of the White Tank Mountains. As he touched down in the large central foyer and he gave Marguerite a one-armed hug, he wanted to feel at ease, but he couldn’t. So much had changed for him, as well as for the woman beside him, that coming back to Second Earth wasn’t going to be easy. Nor was it a plus that this was essentially a social evening with the warriors and with those women bonded to Kerrick, Marcus, Jean-Pierre, and Medichi. Marguerite was all but gritting her teeth.

She wasn’t happy about being here, but her situation was profoundly more complex than his. For one thing, she’d gotten into it with Medichi’s woman a few weeks ago. They’d almost come to blows and would have if Endelle hadn’t intervened, pulled a brief stasis stunt, and caught Parisa up beneath her arm. Parisa loved Medichi with a
breh
-based passion now and Marguerite’s flirtation with Antony had not been well received. Understatement.

For another thing, socializing gave Marguerite the scratch. He was hoping Alison would show up sooner rather than later to maybe take charge of Marguerite since he had business to take care of with his men in the next hour or so, like essentially how to disrupt a military review spectacle.

He stood near the large central table, the one with the seven-foot-tall floral arrangement and the living magnolia flowers. The estate had a formal garden, a large pool, a guest house, an olive grove and press, as well as a vineyard and winery.

Medichi had bucks. He owned several massive public gardens that apparently brought in sufficient revenue to support several estates this size.

Thorne glanced down at Marguerite. He took her hand and asked, “You ready to do this?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“Thorne, you’re here.”

Alison’s voice brought him turning around to face the north wing, which housed a number of communal rooms including the kitchen. She held a tray in her hands that supported several reddish drinks in martini glasses. Cosmos. Inside, he started to relax. Alison would have done this, would have made sure that Marguerite had her favorite drink at hand.

Maybe everything would be okay.

She set the tray down on the central foyer table and took his free hand. “I am so glad you’re back.” In a lower voice, she added, “You gave us a scare.”

“I know. Sorry about that. But I’m here now.”

“Yes, you are.”

She took a glass from the tray and handed it to Marguerite. “I’ve heard you prefer these. I hope I made them right.”

“Thank you.” She took a sip but wrinkled her nose.

“I knew it,” Alison cried. “I got the recipe wrong.”

“Actually, that’s not it.” She put her hand to her stomach. “I just haven’t been myself lately.”

Alison nodded. “Well, that happens when you go through hell.”

Thorne watched Marguerite grin. Alison took the drink back but continued, “So how are you? From everything Thorne has told me, you’re squat in the middle of it right now.”

He felt Marguerite’s hand tense within his.

Marguerite didn’t say anything for a long moment, just seemed to search Alison’s eyes. She finally released a sigh. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. I’m just really confused about everything that’s going on. You’ve heard about the hidden colony, right?”

“Shocked. We’re just shocked. Three thousand years. Inconceivable. I think it’s knocked Endelle a little out of stride as well.”

Thorne saw movement in the room opposite and Kerrick appeared, supporting baby Helena over his left shoulder and carrying a diaper bag in his free hand. The baby wore a halter in case she mounted her wings.

“Thorne, you made it.”

“Hell, yeah.”

Alison turned and took the baby from Kerrick. Thorne eyed the brother for a long moment then thought,
What the hell.
He moved into him and the men embraced. Dammit, it had only been a few weeks, but it felt like centuries. But then the brothers had been battling together for a long time. Being apart, even for short stretches, well, it just felt weird.

Thorne released him and once more turned to Marguerite. “I don’t know that you ever met Marguerite.”

“Don’t think I have. Nice to meet you. Heard you were in that shithole of a Convent in Prescott Two.”

Marguerite laughed. “I like you, Kerrick. And shithole is exactly right. If that building wasn’t made of stone, I’d say burn it to the ground.”

Kerrick smiled. “I never could understand the mind of the religious zealot.” He glanced at Thorne. “Even Grace. I mean I always knew that she had a more pronounced spiritual side than most.” He frowned suddenly. “I heard Leto will be here tonight as well.”

Thorne nodded. “In a bit. He’s in rough shape. Hasn’t taken … dying blood in a while. I wanted a chance to talk to everyone first. Grace is with him.”

Kerrick’s voice dropped. “Alison said it’s the
breh-hedden.
”

“It is.” He shook his head. “Jesus. Leto.”

The room got quiet.

Marguerite said, “Grace will adjust. I mean, the
breh-hedden
’s pleasant enough if you like a jackhammer to the center of your brain.”

Both men busted up. “Exactly,” Kerrick said.

Even Alison’s head wagged back and forth. “It is pretty bad,” she looked up at Kerrick, “at least in the beginning. But it’s amazing, too.” He slid his arm around her back and hugged her. He even leaned down and kissed her full on the lips. Helena had her head on Alison’s shoulder.