Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 7

Ive been ciphering e very(prenominal)where for you, Blaise state. I had to invite Mrs. Ross to find forth you were here.Her black hair was wild and windbl take in, tumbling oer her shoulders. She had gestaten off her red bow tie and un excepttoned the moderate button of her array shirt. There was wring in her cheeks and dark human body down in her gray eyes. She looked extremely beautiful and very, very witchy.Thea and Eric had moved apart(predicate) and Thea had the feeling they were both blushing.We were that Eric express. Um. Heh. While Blaise scrutinized him, he picked up the no-account blanket and started refolding it. Uh, can I show you around?I dont occupy much for animals unless theyve been shish-kebabed. Blaise surveyed the room with one hand on her hip.Oh, shes in a terrific mood.Theas palms were getting damp. She wasnt for sure what Blaise thought of the embrace shed walked in on but Thea was supposed to be leading Eric on, wasnt she?Her eye fell on the Klee nex daubed with Erics tear. Unobtrusively, she reached for it and crumpled it in her hand.So you left the dance, she said to Blaise. Wheres Whod actu completely(prenominal)y been Blaises view tonight? Sergio? Kevin? Someone else?There is no dance, Blaise said. They shut it down. Leave it to Randy-he was ever so a royal pain. consequently her face changed she blinked and regorge on a sweet smile. And who are you, darling?In the entranceway to the corridor, Rosamund vertebral columned up, Madame curie clutched to her chest. She didnt formulate a word, but her hostile putting surface eyes never left Blaise.Uh, sorry, Eric said. Thats my child. Shes- shy.So this is a family affair, Blaise said. How nice.Thea said, I specify its time to be going home. She needed to talk to Eric, but alone, non with a dissatisfy munchkin and a suspicious witch smell on.She glanced at Eric, feeling a pocket-sized shy herself. He looked the same.Well- come over you at school.Yeah. Suddenly he smiled. You jockey, thats some occasion else I was going to mention. If youre even prizeing about going to Davis, you magnate penury to get into honors zoology. Its a good class.Um-well see. She was aware of Blaise watching her. exactly outside, all Blaise said was, Sorry if I was rude. But Ive been looking all all over for you, so I could tell you what a great time I wasnt having. And-she shook her midnight hair out with a charming smile-its so much fun to be a bitch when you deprivation to be.Thea sighed, indeed stop in her tracks. Blaise, the carKevins ash grey-gray Porsche looked as if it had been through a war. The depend bumper was caved in, the passenger introduction was mangled, and the windshield was cracked.I had a little trouble, Blaise said coolly. Its all right, though I met a guy tonight named Luke Price, whos got a Maserati. She looked at Thea, then loaned, You dont disapprove, do you? Of treating humans that way?No-of course not. I just dont want to get expelled again.Its not illegal to hand over an accident. Here, you have to get in through the drivers side straightway.She drove, not seeming to take each particular direction. Thea sat quietly, acutely aware of the probing glances cast her way every so often.So, Blaise said at dwell in her silkiest congresswoman, did you get it?What?Dont be funny.Thea held out her hand with the crumpled Kleenex on her palm. I didnt fill the vial that was ridiculous. But I used my ingenuity and got liberal.Hmm. Blaises fall fingers, tipped with blood-red nails, dosed delicately on the tissue. Startled, Thea snatched it back and the Kleenex tore. She finish up with only a corner.Hey-Whats the problem? I just want it for safekeeping, Blaise said smoothly. And so how did every affaire else go?Fine, Thea said. Her palms were getting damp, but she managed to keep her voice airy. I think hes hooked, she added, analyseing to imitate Blaises most languid and lordly tones.Oh, currently? They had ended up on the strip, which meant the car was this instant precedent crawl through traffic. Neon highlighted the curious half-smile on Blaises lips. And what was that about Davis?Nothing. Its where hes going to college, so of course hed equal me to be with him.Hes al empathisey thinking about the future. Well, that was tight work. Congratulations.Thea didnt like the way she said it. More than ever, she wanted to protect Eric from Blaise-but she wasnt sure how. It depended on how much Blaise suspected.You hump, I think its the pop thats the most fun, Blaise went on reminiscently. Human boys are all different-but in the end, theyre all the same. And when they give in completely, you can just about hear it. Theres a pop. Like a heave breaking.Thea swallowed, staring at the huge golden lion in front of the MGM Grand Hotel. Its green eyes reminded her of Eric. Really? Sounds interesting.Oh, it is. And aft(prenominal) the pop, they just benevolent of collapse, and everything t hey are, their whole self, just sort of pours out in this internal hemorrhage. And after that, of course, theyre useless. Like a stag thats withal old to mate. Theyre just-over.How nice.You know, I think Erics ready for that pop. Hes already in extol with you I could see that. I think its time.Thea just sat. A vampire girl, wearing a dress with a black rose bod, threaded her way through stopped traffic. Finally, Thea said, BlaiseWhat, is that a problem with you? Are you having difficulty with that? Are you a little soft on him, by chance? Are you a little too fond of him? Blaise-Are you in fill in with him? Shock waves went through Thea, and the last question seemed to vibrate in the air. At last she whispered, Dont be ridiculous. And dont you try to fool me. Remember who youre talking to. I know that dopey look you get when youre mooning over some animal. I saw the way you were dimension him.Thea felt desperate. It wasnt just Blaise she was afraid of here. Night World law cou ldnt be clearer about the penalty for loving a human. Death. Not only for her, but for Eric, too.There was only one thing Thea could do. She turned and looked at her cousin directly.All right, Blaise, you do know me. Weve always been like sisters, and I know that however you act sometimes, you passive love me-Of course I do, Blaise said impatiently, and Thea actualized that was part of the problem. In the changing light of the Bally hotels northeast pillars, she could see that Blaises eyes were wet. She was frightened for Thea-and angry at being frightened.Thea grabbed her cousins hand. and then you have to bear in mind to me. It was a naked plea. Blaise-when I first met Eric, something happened. I cant explain it-I cant even really describe it. But there was a connection. And I know this is going to sound insane, and I know youre not going to like it, but She had to stop to breathe. Blaise, what if you found your soulmate, and they were something that everybody said you shoul dnt love.She stopped again, this time because Blaise had frozen. For a moment they both just sat, and then, very slowly, Blaise withdrew her hand from Theas.Found your soulmate? she said.Warmth pooled in Theas eyes. She had never felt so alone. I think so, she whispered.Blaise turned to face the windshield. Purple light shone on her black hair. This is more serious than I thought.The tears overflowed. But bequeath you help me?Blaise tapped her slender fingers on the steering wheel a some times. Finally she said, Of course Illhelp you. I have to. Were like sisters-I would never abandon you when youre in trouble.Thea was so relieved she felt dizzy. Paradoxically, it make her holler out more. Ive just been so scared. Ever since it happened, Ive been trying to figure things out. She hiccupped. Blaise was looking at her again, smiling, gray eyes glittering oddly. Blaise? Im going to help you, Blaise said, still smiling, by getting him myself. And then Im going to kill him for putting my sister in danger.There was a moment when everything inside Thea seemed absolutely still-and the next instant it all exploded into chaos.Never, she said. Do you hear me, sister? Never.Blaise stayed calm, driving. I know you dont think its best-now. But one day youll thank me.Blaise, listen to me. If you do anything to him-ifyou hurt him-its me youre hurting.Youll get over it. In the rainbow light of the Riviera, Blaise looked like some ancient goddess of fate. Its better to hurt a little now than to be executed later.Thea was so angry she was shaking. So angry that she make a mistake. If shed kept on arguing the same points, she thought later, Blaise might eventually have started to listen. But she was furious and terrified and she blurted out, Well, I dont think you can do it. I dont think you could take him from me if you tried.Blaise stared, as if caught for at a time at a loss for words. Then she threw back her head and laughed.Thea, she said. I can take any boy from anybody .Any time, any place, any way I want to. Thats what I do.Not this time. Eric loves me, and you cant change that. You cant take him.Blaise was wearing a secret smile. But she said only twain words as she turned off the strip and onto darkened streets again. heart me.Thea didnt sleep well. She kept seeing Randy Mariks face, and when she dreamed, it turned into Erics face, blood-streaked and vacant-eyed.She woke up to see sunshine streaming in the room.It was a bedroom with a cave in personality. One side was fairly neat and decorated in nauseous blues and spring greens. The other side was messy and was decorated in the color, the primal color, the one that roused emotions, that meant passion and hatred both. Red.And usually Blaise was lying on that side underneath her red velvet Ralph Lauren bedspread, but this morning she was bypast already. A rotten omen. Blaise only got up early for a reason.Thea got togged up and went downstairs warily.The shop was empty except for Tobias si tting gloomily in his usual place beside the cash register. He grunted when Thea said hello and went on staring at the wall, one hand clutching his curly brown hair. Wishing, undoubtedly, to be outside on the weekend like other nineteen-year-old guys.Thea went into the workshop.Blaise was sitting at the long t able, wearing earphones and humming to herself. A project was spread in front of her. Thea stalked up close.She could see right away that it was beautiful. Blaise was a genius at creating jewelry, most of it based on ancient designs. She make necklaces of bees and butterflies, spiraling flowers, serpents, leaping dolphins. It was all alive, all joyous all magical. That was where the real genius came in. Blaise put each element of the piece together with a purpose in mind. The gems were chosen to enhance each other chromatic for desire, black opal for obsession, topaz for yearning, garnet for heat. And asteria, the smoke-gray form of sapphire with a six-pointed star. Blaises stone, just the color of her eyes.Blaise had them all laid out loose. But her magic wasnt just in the gems. Interwoven into every piece were herb caches, tiny compartments that could be fill with potions or powders. She could literally drench the jewelry in sorcery.Even the design itself could be a spell. Every line, every curve, every flower melodic theme could have a meaning, could make the eye follow a word form that was as powerful as any symbol delimitated on the plunge in chalk. Just looking at the piece could be enough to charm you.Right now Blaise was working on a necklace to joint you dead.Thea could see it taking shape. Blaise used the lost wax method of jewelry-making, which meant that she form out her pieces in stiff blue wax in the lead moulding them in silver or copper or gold. What she was carving now was breathtaking. Heart-stopping. An intricate masterpiece that was going to have roughly the same take as Aphrodites magic girdle- which meant no male was goin g to be able to look at it without falling under the spell.And she had some of Erics blood. The vital member that meant shed be able to personalize this spell for him.The one good thing was that it would take Blaise a few days to finish this piece. But erstwhile it was done.Eric didnt have a chance in Hades.Thea backed up, not knowing-and not caring- whether Blaise had noticed her. She headed blindly for her bedroom.She and Eric were soulmates. But Blaise was, in some ways, Aphrodite herself. And who could disapprove that?What am I going to do?She had a little of Erics blood herself on the corner of the tissue. But she could never outmatch Blaise in creating love spells. Blaise had old age of experience and a natural talent that left everyone else in the dust.So I have to think of something else. Something to keep her from getting to him in the first place. To protect himThea straightened up.I cant. Its too dangerous. The summoning spells arent for maidens. Even the inner(a) Ci rcle has to be careful with those.But Grandma has the materials. I know she does. Ive seen the box.It may kill me even to try.An odd serenity came over her. If she laborious on that-on the risk-she felt better than if she thought about what Gran would say if she found out. She wasnt afraid to face danger for Eric. And as long as she kept thinking about that, she could block out the thought that her mood was not only dangerous, but wrong.This time she went down the stairs almost as if she were sleepwalking. Calm and detached. Toby, wheres Gran?He lifted his head a bare inch. She went to see Thierry Descouedres, something about his land. Told me to come and pick her up tonight.Thierry was a vampire and a Night Lord. He owned a lot of the land northeast of Las Vegas-but what did Gran have to do with that?It didnt matter. The important thing was that Gran wouldnt be back all day.Well, then, why dont you go out and have some fun? I can watch the shop.Tobias looked at her with dazed bl ue eyes-and then his round face lit up. mischievously? Youd do that? I could kiss you. Lets see, Ill go visit Kishi no, maybe Zoe no, maybe Sheena.Like all boy witches, he was in tremendous implore with the girl witches in town.Still muttering, he checked his wallet, grabbed the car keys, and headed for the door as if Thea might change her mind any second. Ill be back in time topick her up, I promise, he said hastily and was out the door.The instant he was gone, Thea turned the sign on the door to closed, locked up, and tiptoed to the counter.It was in the locked lower shelf, an iron chest that looked five hundred years old. Thea picked it up with an effort-it was heavy. With her teeth gritted and her eyes on the bead curtain that disjunct the store from Grandmas workshop, she staggered up the stairs.She made two other trips downstairs to derive materials. The bead curtain never stirred.Last, she went to Grans bedroom. On a nail skilful the headboard was a heavy ring with dozen s of keys. Thea took it. Back in her own bedroom she shut the door and stuffed a towel underneath so Blaise wouldnt smell the smoke.Okay, now lets get this thing open.She sat crosslegged on the scandalise in front of the chest. It wasnt hard to find the key that would fit the lock-she just looked for the oldest and crudest iron key on the ring. It fit perfectly and the chest opened. inner was a bronze box, and inside that a silver box.And inside the silver box was an ancient book with yellowing, brittle pages, and a small green bottle with wax and ribbons securing its cork. There were also thirty or forty amulets. Thea picked one up and examined it.A lock of blond hair had been ill-shapen and woveninto a knot, and then sealed in that shape with a round piece of clay. The clay was dark earthy red, and Thea touched it reverently. It had been made with mud-and the blood of a witch. An entire Circle had probably worked on this for weeks charging the blood, chanting, conflate it with secret ingredients, baking it in a ritual incinerate.Im touching a witch, Thea thought. The very essence of somebody whos been dead hundreds of years. The cabalistic sign stamped on the front of the amulet was supposed to show who the witch was. But split up of the pieces of clay were so worn that Thea couldnt make out any trace of a symbol.Dont worry. Find a description of somebody in the book, and then match the amulet to them.She turned the fragile pages of the book carefully, trying to read the spidery, faded writing.Ix U Sihnal. Annie Butter, Markus Klingelsmith . .. no, they all sound too dangerous, hudo Cagliostro- maybe. But I dont really want an alchemist. Dm Ratih, Omiya Inoshishi wait a minute. fivesome Garner.She scanned the page on Phoebe eagerly. A gentle girl from England who had lived before the Burning Times and had kept familiars. Shed died young of tuberculosis, but had been considered a lenience by everyone whod known her-even humans, who appreciated her abil ity to deflect spells from her village. Human villagers had mourned at her grave.Perfect, Thea thought.Then, she began scrabbling through the amulets, looking for one with the same symbol impressed on the clay as the book showed by Phoebes name.There it was She cradled the amulet in ?her palm. Phoebes hair had been auburn and very fine.Okay. Now get the balefire ready.It had to be made from oak and ash, the two kinds of wood that had been burned to bake the clay. Thea put the dry sticks in her grandmothers largest bronze bowl and lit them.Now add quassia chips, blessed thistle, mandrake root. Those were just for general power raising. The real magic was in the tiny bottle that had been carved out of a single piece of malachite. It was the summoning potion, and Thea had no idea at all what was in it.She dug at the wax with her fingernails until the cork twisted freely. Then she paused, her hands shaking with every beat of her pulse.Up until now, shed only examined things she shouldnt bad but forgivable. New she was going to kindle a forbidden fire and that wasn t forgivable. If the elders discovered what shed doneShe pulled the cork out.