Olivia cringed. "I could barely stand getting my ears pierced when I was ten, so I'm really not into that sort of thing."
"But many Earth women are." Annara nodded. "Yes, they are. You've showed me their pictures in magazines and books. I saw many women in the streets and on the screens while on Earth with piercings and body designs."
"They're called tattoos. Yeah, a lot of the mail-order brides are going to be tattooed and pierced. Some will have dyed black hair, too, and wear a lot of eye-liner." Olivia sighed. "I guess for a good cause I could go that route."
Annara chuckled. "You sound more afraid of a few holes punched in your body than you are of the Pure Bloods."
"I am. You don't know what my mother would say if she ever saw me with a nose ring..." Olivia paused. "What if I attempt another character? Not so Goth but more bookish? Wearing glasses would go better playing a shy, egghead type than a leather biker gal with multiple piercings."
"All right. I'll leave your transformation in your hands. Do you think you can get you friend's sister to allow you to take her place?"
"Not in a million years. Her family would love it if I did knock her out and tie her up and take her place, but she's not going to cooperate with me of her own free will."
"Hmm...Would your friend help you tie her up?"
Olivia mulled it over. Jace and his sister aren't particularly close, but he always tries to keep his mother happy, and I know she'd be happy if Lauren didn't leave Earth to live with a vampire. "If it kept his sister home safe and sound, I'm sure he would."
"Good. Well then, let's not worry about telling the ruling council members about our idea." Annara leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Let's keep it just between the two of us."
"You mean I can't tell Hernando I'm going into the Alphan house?" Suddenly the idea of tattoos and nose rings didn't sound as painful as keeping a secret from the man she loved. "But Hernando has to know—I'm going to travel with him after the holidays and work as his assistant again. I've already told my parents I wasn't going to take college classes this coming semester. How will I explain my absence to him?"
Annara pursed her lips and tapped a finger to her temple. "Think of something. Maybe over the holidays your parents will convince you to stay home and take those college classes?"
"They've been wearing me down about college this coming semester. It's true, but Hernando..."
The words died on Olivia's lips. Annara put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed.
"I know it's difficult to lie to your loved ones, but you won't be in the Alphan house for long. Just as long as you need to locate the portal and find out who is operating it and as much as you can about why and where the artworks are going to on Earth."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Is that all? Why don't I come up with the cure for the common cold while I'm at it?"
"There's no need." Annara chuckled. "We discovered it long ago on BloodDark. Besides, the Portal destroys all infectious viruses as part of its built-in quarantine process during transference."
"Oh, good. At least I know I'll be a healthy mail-order bride then." A healthy walking blood bank if I'm not lucky enough to get out of the clan house in time.
*****
Olivia and Hernando strolled hand-in-hand along the edge of the Portal Square, waiting for the technicians to give them the signal it was time to depart.
He observed her from the corner of his eye. "You seem sad. Don't you want to return to Earth and spend the holidays with your family?"
Hernando's words broke into Olivia's unhappy musings. He mustn't find out about what Annara and I have planned. No one besides Annara and I are to know about our scheme. Not Mom or Dad. None of my friends. No one on the council can know, especially Hernando...
"Olivia? What's upsetting you?"
"Upset?" She forced her lips into a tight smile. "No, my stomach's not upset. I took the Portal motion sickness drug an hour ago, so I shouldn't have an upset stomach upon landing."
"Good, but what I meant is, are you upset about something that happened recently or will happen?"
"No, I want to go home and spend some time with my mom and dad. It's just that..."
He raised an eyebrow. "Just what?"
"Oh, nothing really. I realized how much I'm going to miss the freedom I have here on BloodDark."
"Freedom—BloodDark." He grinned. "It's funny how those two words can flow together so well in the same sentence nowadays. What a difference a rebellion can make."
They both laughed. Hernando stopped and pulled her into his arms. Olivia melted against his warmth and returned his kiss with what she thought was equal enthusiasm until he pulled away, frowning.
"You're not telling me something." He frowned. "Something important."
Can he read my mind like Valori? Even a little bit? Olivia turned her face away and did her best to sound casual. "What makes you say that? I tell you everything."
"I don't know, but something seems... different." He tilted his head and watched her reactions. "What were you and Annara discussing in hushed tones when I came upon the two of you the other day at the council chambers?"
Great. He can read my mind. Or he's just super observant. Hernando's so different than any other guy I've ever met here or on Earth... much more sensitive and inquisitive. I told Annara this vampire bride spy business wasn't going to work. Can I throw him off track before he talks me out of it?
"Annara and me? Nothing in particular." She spun around and giggled. "Girl talk, if you must know. Girls have secrets they'd rather not tell their boyfriends and vice versa. The holidays are coming up, you know." Olivia
