Part 10 (1/2)

There were those ere Ie, the Supernaturals

There were those who knew These hunters, and certain tavern keepers, it sounded like

And there were those who had no idea as happening, and that there was an entire netherworld, they had never heard about before

I had to add a new group of individuals to the second levelthe ones who knew, but ere not ical whatsoever Because there had to be people ere trained in ht word?

I realized that that was me

I had been trained in Wicca St Martley's had trained raduated, either

They had taught me abstinence, to be patient Why? What was it about witchcraft and wizardry that was not for the underage sorceress and sorcerer?

So I could think It was the only thing thata Neophyte, I had no idea

Tomorrow It would all co another round, checking outsideto fly up here and kill me? They were all so afraid of the Lenoir But vampires needed an invite, didn't they? Otherwise they couldn't coet me As if they would even want to Lennox was a millionbotheredto (and Ballard wouldn't even say; ”I am as curious about it as you are,” he said) sounded like a piazza buried deep underground The citta salotto, as in Venice; the city as a gathering place, open, inviting

So about this openness,into my bedroo was all about Being open

Fro, vampires did not like Wicca, did not like olves, and vice-versa, ad infinituood, but what happened if you put us all together?

”I can answer that,” said Ballard ”What happened when you and what's-his-face and I and everyone else all got together?”

”We averted the Apocalypse,” I said

”So we'll do so similar,” he said ”Perhaps develop some new unity I don't know That's all Lia's business She's alalking around,speeches Like she's soot so for them, if they step out of line”

He made a fist and punched his hand with it

”Ballard, just how strong are you anyway?” I said

He shrugged ”That's the purpose of these tests, isn't it?” he said ”To find out”

I gulped I had forgotten about that The Wiccans were going to be testing Lia and I, and Ballard, it sounded like, was going to be undergoing his own trials and tribulations, not to s of others, whoever they were, was it not so iht somehow overhear Lennox hi? Ballard stood all nonchalant at the balcony, a soft breeze playing with his hair He looked like a younger version of Gaven hieousaround Gaven I didn't kno Lia ed it But maybe that was the whole point

When I lit the iron roses, it was like staring into the flickering ht-filled eyes

I had to stop doing this I had to stop punishi+ngto be okay He had to be Otherwise, I didn't knohat I would do Kill myself, probably I just wished this could be over with already I was tired of waiting and having to do all these things I wanted a resolution A sunset to allup

Now Ballard was in on ita Supernaturaland I would have to worry about him, too But he had just the opposite in mind

”I will protect you, Halsey Rookmaaker,” he said

”I know, Ballard,” I said

We were ringed around a romantic moonlit table, the four of us Dallace, Caht flickered Lennoxlove was holding on to ertips ”Humans are sometimes, I don't know, hts to the to need to be trained,” said Dallace He raised his elass to mine Awesome fish dishes were laid before ussilver spoons with Venetian lion finials ”The family crest on the silvere don't use,” he said His soonexpressions

I splashed lass onto the table The ste the tablecloth silver

”I don't feel so well,” I said

”There, there,” said Camille ”Not to worry about it” She dabbed at the blood that ran frolass ”It's the moon that does it Makes it appear that way,” she said She threw a napkin over it ”It takes soed They were standing over me I was unconscious, in my bed We were at their hoed He acknowledges it”

I twisted into their conversation What was Dallace talking about?

”The proper word is 'affair',” said Camille She sounded upset

”But I'm free,” said Lennoxlove

”What about it,” said Dallace ”What do you think?” he asked his wife

”The ic in her blood pulled him to her There can be no doubt of that It's obvious”

”I won't let anyone hurt her That includes all of you I'm serious”

”What do you take us for? Monsters”

They all laughed

”Anyti to want to drink her”

”Perhaps we should turn herif she really is this once-in-a-generation thing”

”Out of the question”