Page 8 of Coven

A slight movement visible out of the corner of his eye caught Kana’s attention, and when he turned his head to look, he saw Ember slowly straightening his fingers. Had something Octavius said made Ember clench his fist? Kana held up the next cue card on autopilot, trying to mentally parse through Octavius’s words.

Less to fear from vampires because they were once human was a canned, bullshit phrase. Anyone who knew their basic history lessons knew vampires, werewolves, and other magical creatures who had lost their humanity were what caused the most trouble for humans. That was why hunter groups specific to both creatures existed, but there weren’t hunters targeting sylphs, for example. Of course, there were all sorts of hunter groups out there, including ones who hunted what they perceived as bad witches, which was yet another reason Kana had to keep his powers secret. Some hunters targeted what were referred to as monsters, like lamias who ate children, but those were the most extreme cases. Vampire hunters were the most common type because vampires were the most common problem for humans.

Ember couldn’t have been reacting to that, then, which meant it was either what Octavius had said about the willing donors, or that the local community didn’t need to worry about the vampires. The latter half of the statement was more bullshit, although Stephen and Marilyn seemed to be buying it as their shoulders were loosening and their plastic smiles had gained a touch of genuine warmth. Which meant the former part of the statement was where the problem lay. If Octavius and Penelope had willing donors, Kana wondered who they were, and just how willing were they?

Why would werewolves choose to play guard to vampires? Sora asked, apparently following Kana’s thoughts. Plus, they live in packs. Why are there only one or two around?

More than one or two, Mika cut in. But they’re all squeezed into the small house in front. I don’t smell any wolves on the lawn or around the doors of the big house.

Kana automatically took another cue card from Beth to hold up. Don’t wolves need space to run? Kana asked. Everything I’ve read says they have to run and hunt, especially on a full moon. Also, Mika, why are you sniffing around the grounds? I thought you were staying outside?

These wolves are definitely not hunting, Mika replied, blithely ignoring the second part of Kana’s question.

Kana glanced at Ember again, as if the answers would be as blatantly visible as on Kana’s cue cards, but Ember’s face and body were back to a completely stoic mien.

Something wasn’t right here, and Kana had a sinking feeling it had to do with the two vampires sitting on the couch, blithely answering Stephen and Marilyn’s questions.

Beth passed Kana the last cue card and Kana held it up.

“Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us,” Stephen said after a quick glance in Kana’s direction to read the card. “We appreciate your being candid, and I know the residents of our great city will be much more welcoming now they know how wonderful you’ll be as our neighbors!”

“I anticipate a lovely relationship with everyone,” Octavius replied, and his odd, closed-mouth smile returned.

The interview ended and Stephen and Marilyn stood to shake hands with Octavius and Penelope. Kana turned away to help Beth gather the scattered cue cards and to start packing up. The sooner all the humans got out of the vampire’s territory, the better.

Kana was just zipping up the bag full of his and Beth’s supplies when a sharp, bright light flashed through the room. A woman screamed and Kana spun around.

Mistress Penelope was writhing on the ground, both hands pressed to her mouth. Stephen was standing next to her, his eyes wide with shock. One shaking hand touched the side of his neck, right where Kana had applied his potion, but when he pulled it away to look at his fingers, they were clean.

“She tried to bite me,” Stephen said, his voice breathy as if he couldn’t find the oxygen to get the words out.

Penelope screamed again, a bestial sound of defiance. She stood, staggered, and then fell back to her knees, catching herself on the hard floor with one hand.

Her mouth and most of her lower jaw were black and the skin was flaking off like ashes from a cold firepit blowing in the wind. The black was spreading too, crawling up the sides of her face until her cheeks were covered. The air smelled faintly of chamomile and charred flesh.

Kana’s spell had done that? Kana fought to keep his face blank, to prevent his shock and pleased surprise from alerting anyone he was the genesis of the magic. A spell he had made up on the fly had managed to keep Penelope from making Stephen her lunch. Kana couldn’t help being happy at his success, even as Penelope let out another terrible shriek.

The black was creeping down her neck too. Kana half-expected to feel some sort of remorse or stomach-churning despair at having hurt another living being, but he didn’t feel bad at all about what his spell was doing to Penelope. Had she left everyone alone, had she treated the humans like welcome visitors instead of prey, everyone would have walked out of the room completely unharmed. Instead, she proved everything she and Octavius had said during the interview about being harmless to humans was a lie, and she was paying the price. Kana’s spell being the reason generated nothing but satisfaction in Kana.

Octavius walked past Penelope. She held out a shaking hand toward him as if beseeching him for help, but he didn’t even look in her direction. He did glance briefly at Ember as he reached the door.

“Find the culprit,” Octavius said, his voice cold and emotionless.

Ember bowed and pulled the door open.

“Yes, Master Octavius,” Ember replied, and his voice was as blank as his face. Kana had missed his initial reaction to what was happening to Penelope. Ember had complete control over his body now, which was showing as little emotion as Octavius’s.

Octavius swept through the open door and Ember shut it firmly behind him.

Chapter Four

ONCE OCTAVIUS WAS gone, Ember turned back to the room. His gaze swept over every human, the beautiful deep brown color hard and calculating as he studied each person for a few long seconds. When he reached Kana, his glare increased and Kana couldn’t help swallowing hard.

Ember must know Kana wasn’t a normal human, otherwise he wouldn’t have warned the vampires off the evening Kana had come for the preinterview. Kana had no idea how Ember knew—perhaps Kana’s magic had some type of smell Ember had detected—but he did know and now that knowledge was going to bite Kana on the butt.

Except, when Ember finally stepped forward, he walked to Stephen.

“Pardon me,” Ember said. Then he bent down to sniff Stephen’s neck. When he straightened, he reached out and ran his fingers directly over the tiny pentagram Kana had drawn. He brought his fingers to his nose and inhaled again.

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