A Shade of Vampire 43: A House of Mysteries(41)

“Well, I’m sorry,” Serena retorted, “but when you first told us about the protection of the house, you made it sound like the moment we stepped outside the borders of safety, the Destroyers would find us instantly. Well, we’ve all left the house, and they didn’t hunt us down straight away. Perhaps we can bide our time, build up a stronger protection around The Shade.”

“They weren’t specifically hunting for you then,” the Druid countered, “they are now.”

“Then what?” she asked. “What are we supposed to say when we see the Daughters?”

“I don’t know,” sighed Draven, rubbing his temples in frustration. “But more protection is too vague. We need something concrete, and perhaps a bargaining chip. Something to tempt them.”

“Like what?” I asked.

“That I still don’t know.”

We watched the Druid as he began to pace again, and I raised my eyebrows toward the doorway, hoping Serena would take the hint. We needed to leave the Druid to mull it over. Serena either didn’t see me or ignored me, because she interrupted him once again.

“Why don’t we just tell them the truth?” she suggested. “Tell them that the Oracle spoke to one of us, and told us to come to them? Surely an Oracle using that much power to contact us is enough of a point of interest for them?”

The Druid stopped his pacing, and looked over at Bijarki. The incubus shook his head at the Druid, and then returned to the fire.

“Let me think about it,” Draven replied. “It might work…but I need some time.”

“Come on, Serena,” I murmured, pulling at her sleeve. We needed to leave the Druid in peace. He obviously wasn’t going to tell us anything further, and we were just wasting our time continuing to argue with him.

“Okay,” she sighed reluctantly, but followed me out of the room.

“Wait,” called the Druid, just as we stepped out onto the hallway. “Vita, I need you to keep trying to get in touch with your visions as best that you can. The Oracle has only appeared to you so far, and I’m beginning to think it’s because of your fae blood—you are partly a creature of the In-Between. Try to call her out again, if you’re able.”

Partly a creature of the In-Between. I had never really thought of myself in those terms before.

I nodded, though I was doubtful I was going to be able to ‘call her out,’ as he’d put it. My fae traits weren’t exactly pronounced—I had thought it was just a coincidence that it had been me the Oracle had called, not because of any latent fae blood. I had actually thought it was odd that she’d contacted me first and not Aida, who so far seemed to be seeing the ‘present,’ rather than the past or future like Phoenix and me.

“Okay,” I mumbled, “I’ll try my best.”

Serena and I left the room.

I took a lungful of air as soon as we stepped out into the hallway. I’d been so hot my head had started to spin, and I had to pause on the banisters until the black dots dancing in my vision slowly started to fade.

“What is with the heat obsession?” I groaned.

“No idea,” Serena replied. “It’s crazy. Maybe he doesn’t have good circulation or something? I guess he is centuries old, even if he doesn’t look it,” she added doubtfully.

I stared at her in amazement.

“That’s not it!” I replied, stifling a laugh. The Druid was one of the most virile males I’d ever seen, easily on the same level of physical fitness as any of the other members of GASP. Derek was even older than he was, and still showed no signs of slowing down. Though, of course, he was a vampire, and immortal. We didn’t know enough about the Druids yet to guess whether they too were immortal, or had extraordinarily long lives like the jinn.

“Have you asked Draven about the Druids yet?” I asked, curious. “Like, what they actually are in detail – their traits and abilities?” Perhaps he and Serena had talked about it already.

“No,” she replied with a frown. “He’s so evasive…and there’s been so much going on. I hadn’t even thought to ask. But he’s obviously aged, right? Phoenix saw him as a little kid.”

I nodded, agreeing.

“He must have been so lonely here,” I mused as we walked up the staircase. The house was so oppressive, so silent, even when it was full of people—like the junk and rotting walls sapped the noise and life out of everything.

“I know,” she replied quietly. “It’s why I think he comes across as so stern and distant. I think he’s not used to people, and doesn’t exactly know what to do with us.”