Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Erasmus
“I did not think there were so many pine trees in Mississippi.” Leon was in the back seat, watching those pine trees roll by.
“There are certainly a lot, even after all the logging in the area.” It wasn’t just Mississippi. Alabama and surrounding states had a lot of them also.
“Hmm.” Leon became silent as we continued our path northeast.
“How much longer?” Phlox asked. He was in the back seat next to Leon. His wings were currently absent, which probably allowed a more comfortable ride. Having to look in the rearview mirror to see both of them made me feel like I was in Driving Miss Daisy.
“Another thirty, maybe forty minutes.”
Phlox’s fingers tapped along the back seat.
It was pretty evident just how bored he was.
Not for the first time, I really wished it were Franklin with me.
I hadn’t had the heart to discuss my little trip north with him last night.
Instead, I’d sent him a very lame text message less than thirty minutes before we set out.
While I always loved seeing Franklin, I wasn’t looking forward to the questions I was bound to get later.
Another heavy sigh filtered from the rear of the car. “I’m sorry you had to come along,” I offered.
“Don’t worry about it.” Phlox verbally and physically waved off my concerns. “I’m glad we’re here to keep an eye on you.”
Did I need someone to keep an eye on me? My hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. Phlox and Leon had been asleep all day and only woken a few moments before we left the house. The sun had just been setting. Two hours later, it was completely dark.
Anxiety crept through me, hastening my heartrate and making me feel constantly on edge. “Listen, I know you said you wanted to wait and talk when Franklin was around, but since I’m not really sure when that will be, maybe we could discuss why you’re here and I can fill him in later.”
“The necromancer has a point, beloved.” Leon’s voice was cool and with very little inflection. I didn’t know Leon well, not that I really knew Phlox that well either. What I did know was that there were times where he showed a bit more emotion. Typically, those occasions involved his beloved.
Phlox huffed. He was the complete opposite of his mate. “I’ve gotten some…disturbing intel.” Phlox’s tapping fingers increased their rhythm.
“Disturbing how?” I reached into my pocket, ready to activate one of Pops’s silencing charms, but Phlox beat me to it. Considering how well he knew Vander Kines, Phlox had his own charmed warlock supply.
The tapping stopped and Phlox settled his hands in his lap, picking at his blue nails. “It seems Director Huxley is…missing.”
My fingers tightened on the steering wheel, skin cold and clammy. “Define missing.”
“I wish I could.” Irritation washed through those few words. “I’ve got my sources within the Magical Usage Council.”
“My beloved is very well connected,” Leon proudly said.
“Yes… Well…” Phlox sounded flustered. “Honestly, I think it’s more that there have been concerns for years, concerns I’ve only recently learned about. I get the feeling that, individually, those concerns have been mounting but were only brought to the light when one of us spoke up.”
I was curious who that person might be, but considering I only personally knew of one other individual in the council—the medium, Tabitha Clark—I didn’t think a name would help much.
Instead I asked, “Can you clarify what these concerns have been?”
Phlox leaned forward, his petite body framed by the front two seats. Given his position, he’d obviously removed his seatbelt. His increased proximity made his voice louder. “It seems Director Huxley has become increasingly withdrawn over the years. He’s also developed some interesting pastimes.”
“Pastimes?” At this rate, I was going to wind up repeating all the vague words Phlox seemed intent on using.
“Mm-hmm. He’s been searching for something. At least, that’s what Elvira thinks.”
I racked my brain. I knew that name. “The ghost? The one Tabitha can communicate with over long distances?”
“One and the same.” Fondness suffused those few words. “Elvira is in a unique position. She can go anywhere—and when I say anywhere, I mean it. Tabitha and the other mediums have enough collective juice to make Elvira available to all of us.”
My eyebrows shot up at that. “You talk with her?”
“Not on the regular, but if need be, I can.” Phlox blew out a frustrated breath.
“It’s not easy from far away. Technically, Elvira can harness enough energy to work a phone, but electronics and ghosts don’t really mesh well.
Face-to-face, we can chat all day. From this far away, a middleman is required. ”
While interesting, what I really wanted to know was what Elvira had found. “Why does she think Huxley’s looking for something?”
“Elvira says when he’s alone, he’s preoccupied. Up until a few months ago, he kept asking Shadow if they’d found anything yet.”
Nausea swept through me, and the road momentarily blurred. I was beginning to think I should have pulled over to have this conversation. “Who’s Shadow?”
“An excellent question,” Leon answered instead of Phlox. He’d been silent, allowing Phlox to relate what he knew.
“It really is,” Phlox agreed. “As best we can tell, Shadow is an extension of Huxley.”
“So, not just Huxley using shadows, but an actual entity that bears that name?” Confusion unhelpfully added itself to the noxious soup churning my gut.
“So it seems.” I caught a shrug out of the corner of my eye. “Either that, or Huxley likes talking to himself and has given his imaginary friend a name.” Phlox sounded flippant and unconcerned. I wish I could emulate that sentiment.
“Gaia.” I scrubbed a hand over my face, futilely trying to erase the last few minutes of conversation. “I have no idea what to do with that information.”
Phlox grunted. “Join the club. There’s so much about Director Huxley that no one knows.”
Dismay filled me. “How did he even become the director?” I’d been wondering that for a while.
“Easy. He’s the one that formed the council,” Phlox answered.
“And when was this?” I asked.
“The Magical Usage Council is old—really old. From what I understand, it used to hold a lot more sway too.”
“Before Fairy Law?”
“That would be correct. At least from what I’ve heard. I was born after Fairy Law took effect. You have anything to add to that, Leon?”
I wasn’t sure how old Leon was, but he had to be at least two centuries, most likely more, if he was in a position to be the second to the Southeastern Vampire King.
“That is accurate and true of every governing body prior to Fairy intervention. The Vampire Council is no different.” There was no inflection in Leon’s voice, just a simple statement of fact.
Fairy intervention and their ensuing laws hadn’t just affected humans, although it was arguable that species lost the most individuals.
Then again, some species had been completely eradicated, so I suppose it was fair to say that humans didn’t have it as bad as others.
From what I understood, Fairy Queen Silvidia had been ruthless when she’d rooted out dissent.
Many argued the purge had been necessary in order to save Earth as a whole.
Others claimed the fairy queen was merciless and reviled her name.
Of course, those curses were said behind charmed and closed doors.
While I suspected the fairy queen was too busy to pay much heed to a few disenfranchised individuals, only a fool would test her wrath.
I’d never truly considered the impact implementation of Fairy Law had on the governing bodies previously in place. “Was Huxley upset?”
“When Fairy Law was implemented?” Phlox asked.
I nodded, and Phlox answered, “I’m not sure anyone knows for certain. Director Huxley isn’t someone that’s easy to read.”
“It could not have been easy,” Leon said. “Many crave power, and those who have it are loath to give it up. Fairy Law changed all our lives and how we lead them. Prior to Fairy Law, vampires were far less…civilized.”
“I suspect the same could be said for most species,” Phlox agreed.
“Some species definitely benefited more than others. Many would say the weaker species benefited the most. Pixies are a good example. Holding one against their will is strictly forbidden. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t still happen, only that if an ogre is caught doing it, the punishment can be severe, especially if it isn’t their first offense. ”
Phlox had a good point. Even necromancers had benefited in some small ways. Lawfully, discrimination against my species wasn’t tolerated. It was a lot more difficult to change someone’s mind, but at least I had some legal protections now. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to purchase my home.
The road stretched before me, headlights speeding by as we got closer to our destination. The silence permeating the inside of my car had nothing to do with the charm Phlox activated earlier.
Thoughts tumbled through my head as I wondered how to slot this new information into what I already thought I knew.
Could Fairy Law be the instigating factor behind Huxley’s demeanor change?
It was certainly possible, but if so, how did that relate to what was going on all these decades later?
And what did it have to do with Huxley’s interest in me?
Had Queen Silvidia dispatched someone important to Huxley?
Did he want me to bring their soul back?
That would make sense except he didn’t need all the cloak-and-dagger to accomplish that. All he needed to do was ask.
My head pounded, and I reached into my pocket, activating one of Pops’s pain charms. It did wonders for my headache. I just wished it would do the same for my heartache.
The sigh that flowed out of me was draining. “I still don’t understand why you’re here now. I mean, how long has Huxley been MIA?”
Phlox leaned back, and when I checked the review mirror, he was snuggled up next to Leon, the vampire’s arm protectively wrapped around him. “We’re not exactly certain, but at least five days. Most likely it is more.”
Five days didn’t really sound like all that much to me.
Afterall, he was the director. Couldn’t he take off when he wanted?
Did he never leave the building? I verbally asked the last and was surprised when Phlox answered, “Huxley hasn’t physically left the main compound since his private meeting with Queen Silvidia to discuss the terms of Fairy Law. ”
My eyes widened to the point of pain. “He hasn’t left? Are you certain?” How could anyone be 100 percent certain about something like that?
“We’re certain enough,” Phlox answered.
I couldn’t imagine that kind of lifestyle. Then again, I wasn’t shadow borne.
Leon’s cool voice echoed from the back seat. “And given his recent interest in you, it seemed prudent to make ourselves available.”
Available. I wanted to scoff. What did that really mean, and would it make a damn bit of difference?
I had a sickening feeling I knew the answer.
My hands were shaky as I pulled into the cemetery holding Opal Veronal’s remains.
Whispers of the disgruntled deceased pushed against my brain, jockeying for attention.
I pushed them away. I could never truly silence them, but what I could do was ignore their angst.
I couldn’t help everyone. That was a hard-earned lesson I’d learned years ago. The question now was, could I help myself?