Chapter 22 Embry
EMbrY
Never in a thousand years would I have thought a short time ago that I could be this happy.
Corvinus is everything I could ever want, and now I have my friends back too.
The waitress brings us exactly what we ordered, and while not exactly fishbowls, the large handblown glasses are large enough to hold the slushy margaritas with crystalized salt and lime around the edges just the way we all like.
We wait until everyone has a drink and then Lucianna raises a glass in toast. “To celebrate Embry’s return. We have missed you so much. Life has not been the same without our fun-loving friend. We love you, Embry, and are so glad you’re back.”
“Here, here,” Descallia says, while everyone raises a glass and clinks with those around them before taking a large sip of their drink.
Raven, Willow, and Madria talk quietly amongst each other and then look up almost at the same time. “We have a thought,” Willow says as Master Campania places an arm around her.
Lucianna turns her full attention to the ladies. “What’s the idea?”
“Well,” Willow says. “We think that we’d all like to help with the shadow books.
We’ve all given it a lot of thought. Whatever is in the shadow books isn’t something that the witches want you to know, or that any of us knows exactly.
We do know that it has something to do with the land that the witches and vampires have been fighting over for centuries, and that it’s said to hold the secrets to finding out the truth.
None of us know what the truth is, but we’d like to help discover it.
We believe if we can do that, we may save the vampires and witches from potentially going to war. ”
Lucianna’s eyes begin to glow and the green hue floats over the table in the dimness of the room. “So you’re proposing we learn about it to keep us from fighting, not to get one over on the witches or take the land.”
Raven sighs. “It’s not black and white. Of course, we’ve always been taught that it was our land and the history behind it, but the vampires have been taught something completely different and believe their version of the story too.
“There has to be something special about the old, abandoned witch cavern that Embry was drawn to. There are quite a few around. They were meant to ensure that wherever witches roam, they have safe harbor nearby. It was necessary in the day and age of the burnings, and quite handy in times when the vampires in power would like nothing better than to catch and kill witches with their bare hands.”
Descallia scowls, but Raven is not to be dissuaded. “Both the witches and the vampires have done bad things in the past.”
He takes another drink and decides to hold his tongue but I’m not sure how long our fearless overmaster will do that. Patience is definitely not a virtue he owns. But Lucianna’s hand on his arm seems to keep him calm as the witches talk. She is good for our overmaster, of that, there is no doubt.
Willow takes a drink and gets the courage to speak her piece. “I personally think that going to that cavern managed to spark the interest of the witches. It’s just too close to the sacred land near the Carpathian Mountains that the witches have been safeguarding forever.
What if we find out both of us are wrong and it’s as simple as splitting it down the middle or something we haven’t even thought of? We believe keeping the truth a secret is far more detrimental than helping discover the truth. We want to help.”
Embry looks thoughtful and at first, I think she’s going to say something about Willow’s change of heart, but Embry is smart and she’s going to allow her friend grace when it comes to rethinking her position for the good of the groups.
She looks at Lucianna. “I think it’s a good idea.
I spent a little time skimming through the books before everyone arrived.
I learned a few things but have so many questions, and they can help answer them. ”
Lucianna is thoughtful, known for her powerful insight and visions. “It’s a great idea. We work as a collaborative team to learn the history and then use it to work toward a peaceful compromise with the witches.” She looks to Overmaster Descallia who is mulling it over but looks far from pleased.
He gives off a low growl under his breath.
“We make no promises. First, we learn the history. This I can get behind. History will tell the story of whether a compromise and peace are in the cards. Devora has had plenty of chances to tell us what’s in those shadow books herself.
Clearly, she’s known for centuries the secret that she holds and if she’s holding it this close to the vest, it’s probably not in the witches’ best interests to let it out.
” He gives the group of witches a stern look, his dark eyes darting from one to the other.
“Are you each sure you want to go against Devora in this manner? It can only bring trouble to your door.”
The witches do not hesitate, which surprises me a bit.
Raven shakes her head. “No, this fighting, it has to stop. Seriously, the tension is enough to drive me right up the wall,” she says dramatically, rolling her kaleidoscope-colored eyes.
Willow and Madria nod in agreement. “It’s time that it stops,” Willow says.
I personally agree with them. If we can get the information let’s do it, but I also agree with Descallia. How we use that information should be determined by what we learn. We simply don’t know what we don’t know.
The waitress returns and the ladies all animatedly order a second round of margaritas, causing some of the masters to smirk at their mates. Embry turns to me, and she doesn’t have to say a word out loud. One more drink and I’m going to climb you like a tree, vampire.
It’s good to see her having such a good time and working with the ladies on the shadow books will be good for her and them to rebuild their closeness and for her to want to stay in Chicago, because now that I have her, I’m not fucking letting her go.
The waitress has barely placed their drinks in front of them and they’re sipping at the mind-numbing liquid, getting glassy eyed and sassy the more that they drink. I don’t think one of the males at the table minds, all happy that they are having a good time and letting their hair down.
All of a sudden, the ladies begin to squeal, standing almost simultaneously. “It’s our song,” they say by way of explanation, joining arms as they leave us bewildered and head to the dance floor.