Lucidia really, truly hated casters.
And now she was locked in a giant room full of them.
That was dangerous for her, because she’d been magically altered by a naturalist slave to look different. Both elementalists and naturalists could pick magic out of a crowd like a bloodhound. But every member of House Demonte was jammed into that room, waiting for something to happen, and her odds of blending in were much higher if she used the crowd for cover.
Just after eight p.m., the guards began murmuring (Lucidia knew to look at them, because they had super hearing and could pick orders up from across the property).
Lucidia straightened up and trained her attention on the door.
A moment later, the grand entrance was thrown open, and the entire room erupted in applause as Magnus Demonte rolled in with about a hundred strongbloods in tow.
Lucidia’s eyes immediately zeroed in on two figures, walking directly behind Magnus.
The first was Robin.
Lucidia’s heart wrenched, and her fists tightened at her sides. Robin looked like she’d been through hell. Her sweater was torn on the arm, and her hands were tied together, a rope extending to Magnus, who was now dragging her like cattle up to the front of the room.
But even in the face of such humiliation, Robin looked like a rock.
Her chest was heaving, and her eyes looked wild at Magnus’s parade of grandeur, but she showed no true fear, no sobbing. Her shoulders were high and dignified, staring down the barrel of the show he made of her arrival.
The second figure Lucidia saw turned her blood to ice.
Calliope Dragomir.
Her flaming red hair had been pulled tightly into a bun, and her cold, black eyes were sparkling with triumph and the thrill of discovery. She wore the dress robes of the casters’ guild, which were a muted navy silk, with silver motifs etched in.
Lucidia was stiff, automatically applauding, only to fit in. Her movements were tight and controlled.
If Calliope was at all involved in what was going to happen tonight, it was set to be a bloodbath.
Lucidia had first met the caster when she was younger, only in her forties. It was a simple mission, with only a few other strongbloods; deliver the prisoners to the casters’ guild and pick up a parcel for Master Darian.
As all the prisoners had been transferred, Lucidia was called to pick up the parcel from the head caster of the vitalurgy department (that refers to anything that involves altering or using human life as a binding agent in a spell). She was escorted straight to Calliope Dragomir’s personal lab.
Whatever you think a witch’s hideout is, think again. They’re basically the chemists of the supernatural world. There are no medieval torture devices, no ancient spell books – actually, they were the first supernatural creatures to utilize the digital cloud for uploads. They operate out of sterile chrome and glass laboratories. They have chemicals, flames, and shiny implements to experiment with.
Everything is sharp, precise, and cold.
Calliope had addressed Lucidia personally when she’d arrived. When her cold eyes had fallen on Lucidia, she thought she might die right there. But the witch gave her a crate to escort back to Darian and sent her on her way with a chilling smile.
It was only once they’d returned to House Xander that Lucidia had learned what was in the box.
A prisoner that had done some unspeakable act to Darian. Calliope was sending him back after a few ‘alterations’ had been made.
Now, as Lucidia saw Calliope in the throne room, she got the same feeling of icy, deep-seated fear.
Magnus addressed his people, dragging Robin next to him, while the caster took her place on the other side.
Magnus raised both his hands in a gesture of greeting.
“Friends!” the vampire boomed.
A hush went over the crowd and Lucidia watched her sister with hawk-like focus.
“The time has come to forge new alliances. No longer will we be constrained by our fellow vampire Houses. No longer will we be forced to bend to the collective council of the Great Masters. We will become a new empire, and if there are any that stand in our way, we shall destroy them!”
The crowd roared in agreement, and Magnus raised the rope tied to Robin, holding it high in the air.
“With this weapon, given to us in good faith as a symbol of our partnership with the casters, House Demonte will become an unstoppable force, a tidal wave of destruction unto those that would cast us down!”
Another round of cheering sounded out from everybody around her, and she followed suit mechanically, processing the vampire’s words.
Did he say weapon? Lucidia stared at Robin and Calliope, trying to make sense of the situation.
“In just a few short hours, the ceremony will be complete, and we will dance over the suffering of our enemies! Until then, enjoy the festivities. You, my faithful subjects, have earned the celebration.”
Another roaring applause shook the walls, and Magnus walked down the regal stairs, both Robin and Calliope in tow. Lucidia found herself following automatically, walking briskly up the side corridor, bringing her closer to the front of the hall while still allowing her to skirt the crowd.
Just as Magnus and Robin went through the side door, Calliope Dragomir cast a glance back, her eyes drilling into Lucidia’s and freezing her in place.
The caster’s lips curled into a wide smile, and then she disappeared through the door.
Lucidia’s eyes widened, and she let out a shaky breath. She was absolutely certain that Calliope had seen her, and absolutely certain that the caster had recognized her.
But she still had no clue where they were taking Robin, or what was in store
