Bitten in Two

My hand stole to my neck, my fingers brushing the wounds that he’d reopened over the old scars. They wouldn’t be easy to hide from the rest of the crew. Should I get a scarf like Kyphas’s? And if I did, would I somehow manage to accidental y decapitate myself with it?

Vayl said, “Who I feed upon is none of your business.” Hafeza fluttered her lashes at him, like they both knew he was joshing. “What did you feel when you bit her?” she asked.

His lips pressed into one another. For a second I thought he wasn’t going to respond. And then he whispered, “Power.”

“That should prove to you she’s not who you think she is,” Hafeza told him. “But you can trust her. And for the same reason that you can trust me, even though I’m not who you thought I’d be.” She turned her hands over and let him see her empty palms. No weapon here.

He final y nodded and dropped his hands onto hers.

She closed her eyes. Nothing happened for so long that I started to get bored. I picked up a book and read the title.

How to Make Love to a Man by Alexandra Penney. Real y?

People needed directions? And if so, did that mean I was doing something wrong?

Vayl blew out a quick breath. I looked over to see Hafeza clutching at his fingers, her nails digging into his skin until drops of blood rose from the wounds. Her lips drew back and through her snarl I could see her molars grinding, as if she was trying to chew through ropes.

As quickly as it started it ended. She jerked her hands away and pressed them against her stomach. “You are in some deep shit, my friend.”

Vayl didn’t even glance at me. “I know.”

“No, you don’t. But I understand why, so I’l try to make this as clear as I can. You haven’t escaped Roldan yet, al right? The only way to make that happen is to accept the help of a warlock named Sterling.”

Vayl jerked, the blood from his hands splattering onto the counter tiles as he moved. “Warlocks are evil.”

“You should know better than to believe everything you hear,” said Hafeza.

Vayl dropped his eyes to his hands. “Al right, then, what about my sons? Did you… See anything about them?” Hafeza cocked her head sideways. “You’re something of a legend among my Sisters, Vasil. According to the Enkyklios files, this search of yours has been persistent, to say the least. And we’ve always given you the same answer. But you’ve changed. You’re more alive than dead now.” She glanced at me. “I think I know who to credit for that. And maybe that’s why the vision has changed.” Vayl’s fingers arched, the tips digging into the countertop so intensely they turned white.

“Um, Lord Brancoveanu?” I said. “You’ve already broken one of those in the past few weeks. Here.” I handed him the book. “Maybe you could work on this instead.” He curled his hands around the binding without replying or even looking at me. It was like, if he let his eyes waver from Hafeza, maybe she’d disappear, and then he’d never find out what she had to say. And then he’d surely die. He said, “What did you See?”

“You wil meet your sons again. Only this time the three of you won’t die together.” Vayl let out a breath I didn’t even realize he was holding. Hafeza went on. “But I stil see death stalking al of you. Whatever surrounds your reunion could stil destroy your line forever.”

“Thank you for the warning.” Vayl hesitated. Then he got that determined look you see on people right before they jump into extra-cold water. “One last question, if you would. I need to find a woman named Jasmine.” He pul ed out the note I’d written him earlier and handed it to her. “Can you tel me where she is?”

Hafeza took the paper and, without even blinking, handed it to me. “This woman wil lead you to her.” She leaned forward, making sure Vayl got the drift. “So stop threatening to dump her. It’s bad for your karma.”

“If you insist.” Vayl pul ed out a wad of bil s.

Hafeza held up a hand. Topaz jewels glittered on every finger. She said, “I couldn’t take payment from you.

Especial y when I have one more piece of bad news.” Vayl’s hand dropped back to his side. “What is it?” She pointed to me. “Your companion here is in deeper trouble than you can understand right now.” Vayl smirked at me. “Is Madame Berggia in some sort of gambling debt?”

Hafeza pounded her hand on the counter and a tile cracked. I winced. Even once-removed we were hel on furniture. She said, “Save her and you save the woman you love. Remember that.”

Vayl and I stared at each other. Suddenly I understood how the Beast felt every time Beauty cringed at the dinner table. I wanted to pound my chest and yel , “I’m inside here, dammit!” Maybe if I burst into song. Hey, it worked in the movies.

As we left the store I said, “Lord Brancoveanu?”

“Yes?”

“Do you like music?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Would you… like for me to sing to you?”

You could’ve planted beans in those eyebrows they furrowed so deeply. “No.”

“I figured. You know, even when I was little I couldn’t pul off the fairy-tale princess bit.”

“Oh?”

Though he couldn’t care less, I explained. “I kept fighting off the dragons when I was supposed to be clapping myself on the cheeks and screaming, ‘Prince Chahming, come saaaave me!’ You know what