Moreau grimaced. He leveled a harsh gaze upon the much shorter professor, trying his best to intimidate him. "Mahvet, consider yourself fortunate to be a part of our clan. Take back your words and all will be forgiven."
"Never!"
Olivia blinked. Mahvet's open defiance and bravery astonished her. Maybe there was hope for Pure Blood kind after all?
"Bravo, professor." She clapped. "Yours is a spirit of honor and courage. I think the ruling council could use someone like you on their governance committee. Your insights would be invaluable in deciding how best to build a fair and equitable world for all the inhabitants of BloodDark."
"Fair?" Moreau spat the word out. "You mean allowing half-breeds and inferior humans to have power over our noble race? Deep down, Mahvet doesn't really mean what he says. He's been influenced by reading too much human philosophy and history. He'll soon get over it once the feasting at this hall begins again and we are—"
"The feasting will not begin again until I give my blessing," Valori interrupted.
For a second Olivia thought her friend's voice had sounded in her head until Moreau turned to glare in the direction of the main entrance doors. Olivia let out a long-held breath and smiled at Mahvet. "At last. The cavalry has arrived."
Valori stepped aside to allow Annara and a dozen security officers to pass into the chamber. All of them bore handguns of BloodDark manufacture. Moreau's kin stiffened, poised to attack, but stopped as Annara gave them a nasty grin.
"I wouldn't try anything, gentlemen,” Annara said. "Our weapons are loaded with deathwood rounds.” Her gaze hardened. "They'll make a hole in you the size of your head.”
The Pure Bloods stood down, anger and fear mixing on their faces as they allowed the security officers to cuff their wrists and lead them out of the hall.
"You are not yet our high priestess," Moreau taunted her. "Your tricks cannot force us to elevate you, a mere servant of dubious heritage, to become our chief spiritual guide."
Valori stopped in front of Moreau and shook her head. "Silly boy. I don't perform tricks. I perform magic. Watch and learn."
Olivia watched with fascination as Valori bowed her head, closed her eyes and concentrated. The room began to tremble. The tremors were slight at first, and then came on stronger and with greater intensity. The Pure Bloods screamed almost in unison.
"What is it?" Mahvet gasped. His pale angular face turned whiter still.
Olivia put her hands on her knees to hold herself upright. "It's an earthquake or planet-quake, rather. Either way, Valori is causing it." She grabbed Mahvet's hand and shouted, "Let's get out of this place before it crumbles and crashes in upon our heads."
They ran out of the feasting hall, joining Annara and the others in the courtyard where it was calm with not a vibration to be felt.
"Too weird." Olivia turned around and stared at the shaking edifice. "I've never experienced an earthquake, um, planet-quake inside one building before."
"No one has ever experienced anyone like Valori before is what I've learned today," Annara quipped, winking at Olivia. "I bet you're glad to finish your spying mission."
"I am, but what about Valori and Moreau?" Olivia watched in horror as the feasting hall roof began to buckle and the outer walls shook like gelatin on a plate. "We've got to get them out of there."
"Valori, I'm certain, can extract herself without our help. Moreau?" Annara shrugged. "Is it much of a loss to bury him in rubble?"
"No need to be heartless." Olivia couldn't explain it, but she did hold some feelings for her pretend intended. Mahvet, still in shock and feeling dazed at what he was witnessing, had proven not all Pure Bloods were evil. Some could be trusted to do the right thing. They just needed to be educated on what it meant to treat others the way they wanted to be treated. The vampires of BloodDark were intelligent and adaptable—they'd catch on eventually.
"Looks like you're going to get your wish." Annara tutted. "Here they come."
The great doors blew open with a bang and out whooshed Valori, walking a foot above the ground and dragging Moreau by the collar. Olivia gaped as Valori flew over to her, Moreau stumbling and twisting in her grip until she dropped the young Pure Blood with a thud onto the cobblestones.
"Moreau decided at the last moment it was better to destroy the illegal Portal rather than allow it to fall into the wrong hands," Valori explained. With a graceful motion, she descended and settled her feet on the ground. "I hope you two agree."
Olivia closed her jaw with a snap. "Uh, yeah."
"We were supposed to secure the rogue Portal and then bring the councilors here so they'd see with their own eyes undeniable proof of the Alphan plot, remember?" Annara frowned, acting unconcerned by Valori's display of supernatural powers. The feasting hall shook hard one last time and then collapsed in upon itself. She sighed. "I'm not sure if pulverized pieces count as evidence."
Valori smiled. "Don't worry. Olivia's and Mahvet's witness will convince them."
Annara dragged Moreau to his feet and handcuffed him. "Time to take our guests to meet justice. We'll be at the holding cells."
"We'll follow you in a moment, Annara." Valori took Olivia by the arm and followed a shaky Mahvet back to the main residence.
Olivia clasped her friend's hand. "I think you did the right thing. There's no telling what would happen if the Alphans or any of the other Pure Blood clans ever got a hold of that small Portal—or even parts of it. You've prevented a coup d'état at the very least."
"Honestly, I wasn't thinking about it falling into the Pure Bloods' hands," Valori admitted. "I was thinking of it falling into human hands."
"Human?" Olivia fell speechless. You are insightful, Valori. You have seen the true threat all along.
Valori reached over and brushed Olivia's forehead with her fingertips. The trip to
