Day 6 part 4
The limo slipped silently along the darkening roads. Victoria shut hereyes to gather her thoughts. It had taken at least an hour to reach clan
house the other night, but the weather had been poor. Why did Lilith want to see her? Had Lilith been tracking her thoughts? Victoria had not felt any intrusion, but then again would she? Lilith was much more powerful.
This put Victoria on guard, she frowned and opened her eyes. "MacGregor?" she inquired.
"Yes?" his lower jaw turned slightly in her direction and she caught a glimpse of his very blue eyes. French Blue, she thought."Don't take the front entrance, I couldn't bare walking through all thecrowds this evening.""Crowds?" The was slight confusion in his voice, "Oh, Victoria,
there won't be crowds there this time of day. The one time you came, it
was during a get-together. It's still early, nothing on the schedule. It
will be deserted, except for those who live there and the Guardians."Victoria's demeanor changed, relived by this news. Good, she thought, I don't like to be stared at by those catty women. Especially that Cerese, who would certainly comment if Victoria came in alone. "MacGregor, I'm going to need another weapon, I misplaced the other." She smiled playfully at his reflection in the rear view mirror."You what?" She saw his shoulders stiffen. "You lost the gun we gave you?" There was a tone of alarm in his voice. His fingers tightening around the wheel."Well no, not exactly." Victoria replied quietly once again leaning
forward. "Sands has it."MacGregor seemed to relax. "Where is Mr. Front Page tonight?"Victoria looked at those blue eyes through the rear view mirror for a moment before answering. "Don't know," she said nonchalantly, "He had a errand to run."The car made a wide right and began to drive up the ramp onto the
expressway. Looking forward, Victoria could see the twin beams of the
headlights cutting through a lightly falling snow that was blowing
slightly to the side. It would be another cold night.Sighing, she sat back and began to think how different her life had been
in the last week.Well not that different apart from the constantly being shot at. After
all, she spent almost her entire vampiric life on the run. She had become
very adept at hiding and slipping from place to place. But that was behind her now. Now she would settle down, rebuild her life, enjoy her death. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips. Sands would have liked that thought.Time passed quickly, and before she knew it the limo was headed up the
long drive to the clan house. Victoria became unsettled once again as the
limo came to a stop in front of the grand entrance. Victoria was slightly
afraid of Lilith, hell she was slightly afraid of all of them.MacGregor got out of the limo and darted to the other side to see if she needed help, but Victoria was already opening the door, one long, shapely leg coming into view. He smiled and stuffed the keys into his pocket."If you'll come with me, I will take you directly to her," he said,
gesturing toward the front door. He began walking and then turned his head to the side, a strand of red hair falling into his eyes. "Jackson is doing very well." MacGregor paused, "Just thought you'd like to know."Victoria turned when he mentioned Jackson. "I supposed he has been
enthralled again, by Debbie wasn't it?" her eyebrow arched with interest.
"I wouldn't know," MacGregor said. "I don't think anything has changed. "He walked beside her up the stone steps, which had obviously been recently swept. The snow was falling more steadily now, but the steps were almost completely clean.
"I know Klein is asking to remain in Sands' service, but I don't think he
knows what he might be in for. Besides, Sands is historically not fond of
having thralls, and I don't think he's ever had male thralls unless he
needed them for a mission." MacGregor pulled the front door open for her and waited while she walked inside, then he followed.
"Hum," Victoria snorted, catching the hidden meaning in that last bit of
information. Her eyes scanned the great hall. Her thoughts drifted
searching for Jackson. Victoria liked Jackson, liked the attention he
lavished
on her, and especially liked the way Sands reacted to the attention, oh
he was dangerous, she knew that. Given the opportunity Jackson would
most certainly drink from her to obtain what he wanted; immortality.
"Do you think I could see him? As long as I'm here and all." She gave
MacGregor an enigmatic smile.
doubt she knows you are here and is waiting for you." Quinn gestured toward the side hallway where Victoria remembered there was a small elevator."Will you be taking me up then?" she asked.MacGregor pushed the elevator's button and the door slid open. "No, dear,
yours is a private meeting." He flashed a very brief smile. "I'll tell the infirmary you might drop by. Later. Good night." He stood, waiting for her to board the elevator.Victoria felt the rug pulled out beneath her. "Very well then. Thank you
for fetching me."She stepped into the small elevator. "I'll come down later for that new
weapon." She winked as the doors slid shut. When she was alone she leaned heavily against the wood paneling. "God Sands, where are you? How could you leave me alone to face her?" She sighed deeply. Well she would have to do this on her own wouldn't she? Victoria stood tall and straightened her long coat.
The elevator's door slid almost soundlessly open. The hall before Victoria
was darkened. It's hardwood floor still managed to shine from the faint
light filtering down the hallway. Music gently spilled into the corridor, a quartet playing something baroque.
boot heels on the floor echoing off the paneled walls. Paintings hung on
either side of her, all pastoral scenes, no portraits. She wondered for a
brief moment if Lilith ever had her portrait done. Of course she had, Victoria concluded. No one that lovely could have escaped without
be immortalized on canvas.
Soon she was at the end of the corridor. For a moment Victoria stood
outside
the heavy wooden door of Abberline's office and listened. She had been
here before. Victoria unbuttoned her coat and unknotted her scarf,
preparing herself for what ever might await her. She knocked.
pulled down on the latch and entered.The room was softly lit and the dark wood paneling gave the room an old
world charm. Lilith was seated behind the large mahogany desk that
Abberline occupied only a few days before.Victoria stepped into the room quietly and shut the door. In the brief
moment her back was turned she was aware of Lilith's dark eyes staring intensely at her."Thank you for coming," Lilith said. Victoria looked back at her as she
turned around. Lilith was dressed in a soft yellow dress that looked like
vintage Chanel. She graced Victoria with a smile and gestured for her to
take a seat. Everything about her was perfect. The curls in her hair, the texture of her skin, even the perfume she wore suited her beautifully. How could any man resist her?Victoria nodded and smiled pleasantly. "Not at all. Do you mind if I
remove my coat?" she asked stalling for time."Make yourself comfortable," Lilith replied. "I hope you had an enjoyable
ride? MacGregor can be good company."Victoria removed the long tan car coat and then the Burberry scarf, laying the garment over the arm of one of the two chairs set in front of Lilith's desk. "Yes, thank you for sending the limo. I wasn't having much luck hailing a cab." She smiled and then sat down. She hoped she looked calm, inside she was a bundle of nerves."Hailing a cab?" Lilith asked. "You were out in this storm?"Victoria returned Lilith's questioning gaze. "Yes, I was out for a walk.
Organizing my thoughts, you might say."Lilith smiled at her. "Have you found others who have our gift?"For a moment Victoria was caught off guard by the direct nature of
Lilith's inquiry. "Pardon me?"Lilith laughed lightly. "You heard me, my dear. You discovered you were
not alone in your gift. Haven't you been curious to find others who share
it?"Victoria thought she saw a faint smile forming in the corner of Lilith's red
lips. Victoria smiled briefly. "Yes, a little.""Let me guess." Lilith sat back. "Sands has discovered your gift and is
very curious and a little paranoid."A small laugh escaped from Victoria, "Yes." She decided to keep her answer brief to see where this conversation might be going. After all it was highly unlikely that Lilith sent a limo to pick her up just for a nice
chat and a cup of tea."My Frederick still is not sure. We must not let the men know everything
about us. The feminine mystique must remain." The soft light in the room flattered Lilith's delicate features. "Don't tell him everything. Keep him guessing." Lilith's gaze went up and to the right. "He loves a challenge."
A surge of resentment, perhaps jealousy rose inside Victoria's chest.
"It might be a little late for that," Victoria paused, "but I know that I
can trust him."
expression."No, not exactly." she folded her hands in her lap becoming increasingly
uneasy by the line of questioning. "He knows that I can hear peoples'
thoughts.""Victoria, the trick is never to tell a man more than he needs to know.
Especially Sands." She smiled as if in memory. "He loves the search, the
quest. He has the instincts of a great detective. Like Frederick." She
paused. "Which is one of the reasons I called you here."Victoria flushed. Was Lilith reminding her that she had Sands first?
She didn't like to be scolded and didn't care for the smile that echoed across Lilith's face. Another wave of jealousy crashed through her body. "I'm not a fool you know. I managed to keep myself alive for the past 180 years while Jacob hunted me across the globe. I know how to be cautious, and clever."Lilith's gaze locked on hers. "I did not call you a fool, Victoria. I'm just suggesting a way for you to enjoy your relationship with Sands on
another level. He's quite brilliant in his own way and he needs constant
stimulation to remain entertained."It was what Lilith didn't say that made Victoria wonder. She never asked
Sands why he and Lilith had stopped their love affair. Perhaps she should, but then again everyone deserved their privacy.
Victoria narrowed her eyes, watching Lilith very closely, regaining her composure. "I know you have the gift and I know that Viscalli has the gift. Other than the two of you, I have never encountered any human or vampire that had this ability. " She paused. "Although for some time I have operated under the misguided perception that all vampires carried this ability. It was Sands that informed me that this was not true."
Lilith's pale blond head inclined. "He is correct. Very few of us have it,thought it is a gift that can be passed along with intention. Obviously, one must be very careful to whom one passes it.""Then how did I obtain the gift?" Victoria leaned slightly forward turning her green eyes intensely to Lilith. "Jacob never possessed this ability?""Not to my knowledge. You must have had it as a human and it came to the fore when your life was threatened. That happens. Serve trauma can release power." Lilith adjusted her position. She looked as if she had made up her mind. "Let me tell you why I asked you here. I assume you know it was not just for the pleasure of your company, though I do enjoy you. You have a fresh air quality about you, Victoria." Lilith smiled.Victoria batted her eyelashes in surprise. This revelation astounded her.
She had only seen Lilith as a rival. "Do you know where Sands has gone?" she suddenly blurted out.
"I expect he has met up with my Frederick," Lilith said in an even tone.
"He
disappeared when we went to Hungary and has not resurfaced. He has
successfully blocked my ability to locate him, as has Sands." She
leaned forward. "A male conspiracy of sorts." She let her words sink
in, as she tapped a well manicured red finger nail on the mahogany desk
top. "I need a female detective, Victoria. How would you like the job?"
between them. "Spy for you?""For us."Victoria smiled. "Spy on them?"Lilith rose. "I am concerned about Frederick and now that I have learned
Sands left rather suddenly, about him, too. Frederick is not one to play
games." She walked around the desk to stand closer to Victoria. "There
must be some threat to our clan, to me, something to make him leave home. He detests traveling.""What do you think I can do for you?" Victoria asked bluntly."You can read the minds of the others. Find out who has seen them. You can make sure they are safe." Lilith sighed. "I had a call from someone I
trust implicitly. She tells me there are strange things happening in
Europe." Lilith's blue eyes turned to Victoria. "She tells me she thinks
she saw Sands this morning.""Where?" Victoria asked eagerly."London.""So you want me to go to London and see if the boys are all right? Then
what?" Victoria's mind raced; if Sands was in London, if he was in danger. She felt her face flush with anger. He could have told her where he was going, he could have trusted her. But then again maybe he really did not. Perhaps her trust, her feelings were all one way."Frederick and Sands both share an archaic sense of chivalry," Lilith's
words interrupted Victoria's thoughts. "They still see women as frail,
fragile and weak. I'm sure they, in their own minds, are protecting us. I
think it is up to us, as the stronger sex, to watch over them. What do you
think?"Victoria thought for a moment. She was strong. She had survived centuries of pain, torture and humiliation, she was strong. She nodded, "All right, tell me what you want me to do."
Lilith shared a conspiratorial smile with her. "My pleasure."
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