"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is what my father says. What can be done to prevent its corrupting influence even in the hands of the new ruling council?
Short of destroying all Portals between our two worlds? Valori bit her lip and shrugged.
Olivia groaned. Not even a gifted woman who could see into the minds of others could visualize all eventual outcomes.
Chapter Six
Clan Alpha House was in utter chaos.
"What has happened to our masters?" servants wailed.
"What has happened to our most revered leaders?" Pure Bloods moaned.
"What has happened to their brains?" Olivia wondered aloud. The dashing and darting about and hysterical cries sounded genuine but were comical in nature. "Sheesh! You'd think they'd never had a family member arrested for selling stolen artifacts and attempting to take over the government before."
"We're not a species which handles change well—especially sudden change," Mahvet explained. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I see someone I wish to talk to very much."
Olivia smiled. Kate ran over to meet them. Mahvet, sudden change or not, ran to intercept her first. He led her off to a quiet alcove. "I hope it works out well for them," Olivia said with a heartfelt sigh.
"It will, if we can bring this world into balance first."
Valori took her hand from Olivia's arm and crossed to the center of the grand entrance hall. Raising her hands above her head, she clapped three times, each clap resonating like thunder. Clan Alpha was shocked into silence.
"There. That's much better." The older woman gave the scared and confused faces surrounding her a benevolent smile. "We don't need to waste energy on worrying and carrying on. We have more important tasks to attend to, don't we?"
As one, the Pure Bloods and their servants settled down into their typical disciplined patterns.
"Wow, some arsenal of magic tricks you've got there." Olivia shook her head. "However did you learn how to do such things? The blood transfusion and the trip to Earth alone couldn't have given you such, such..."
Dare I voice it? Valori interjected into her mind. Such powers. Absolute power.
Olivia gulped. What was it her father used to say about power?
"Don't worry, my child. My power is limited and I know my limits." Valori lowered her arms and headed toward the servants' wing. "And I am feeling quite drained after my conversation with Moreau. I need peace and quiet and a long rest. If you'll excuse me, I will retire to my room for a cycle. Give Annara and the council my regards."
"All right, but don't you want to tell them first about how you..." Olivia sighed. Valori had disappeared.
Olivia put her hands on her hips and surveyed the scene. Things were settling down, but an undercurrent of tension remained. Kate and Mahvet had wandered off, no doubt to talk about their future together. Deciding her presence wasn't necessary and she wouldn't be missed, Olivia headed to the door.
"You are to stay inside," an Overseer barked. In all the chaos and shouting, Olivia hadn't notice the beefy hulk posted at guard duty.
"It's okay. I've been out before. I won't get lost." She walked past him only to be grabbed by the shoulders and tossed back into the building. "Hey, buddy! Watch it. My fiancé won't like you bruising the merchandise."
"Our orders say no one is to leave the clan house until our leaders return."
She stood and brushed herself off. "Well, it could be awhile. The last I saw of them, they were headed for the lockup."
The Overseer flashed her a puzzled frown. "Lockup?"
"Jail, prison, holding cells—whatever you guys call the pokey here. The ruling council security guards took them away for questioning."
Now the muscleman looked completely confused. Olivia decided to make the most of it. "I know they told you they'd be right back, but it's not going to happen. We're on our own now. We've been cut loose." Please believe me and let me go about my way.
"I believe you." The Overseer stepped aside. "You may go."
"Huh? Thank you." She darted out the door before he changed his mind.
Weird. It's like I planted a suggestion in his mind, and he went along with it without questioning. Valori, is this your doing?
No response. Valori was probably sleeping. Who'd helped her then? Had she been helped at all? Did she possess the same telepathic abilities as the Pure Bloods now?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Best not to think about it. Best to keep her wits about her and get to the council chambers as fast as possible. Annara must be wondering what had kept them so long.
*****
"I have returned at last. For good."
Olivia breezed into the council's library, hoping to catch Annara curled up in a chair going over security reports. She'd be grinning from ear to ear at their success in finding the Alphans' Portal device. Instead, the face Olivia saw first was twice as dear to her, but he didn't smile half as much as she would have liked.
"Hernando?" Her jaw dropped open. Her mind went offline. "What... are... you doing here?"
"Following a lead on the Alphan artworks."
Hernando took a step toward her. His deep brown eyes possessed an uncharacteristic sadness about them, his mouth a slight downward turn even when he attempted to smile. "I was also following a lead on where you might be since your parents hadn't seen or heard from you in several weeks and are worried." He pulled her into his arms and caressed her hair. "I'm angry about your lying to all of us, but I'm happy to see you're safe."
Olivia burst into tears and pressed her face against his chest. "I'm sorry I lied to you—and my parents. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I didn't want to compromise you if I was caught."
Hernando stiffened. "You're saying Annara didn't put you up
