Part 23 (2/2)
Close your mind, Halsey, I told myself
Veruschka Ravenseal probedevery once in a while her reading ofin her notebook, but she never once broke eye contact with ht eyes widen and distend, the pupils grow larger It felt like I was going to fall in to them
”Don't be alarmed,” she said ”It is just you and me, just you and me The others needn't know” Somewhere I heard an intake of breath ”Do not look away, Halsey”
I redoubledin to her, in to her eyes, which heldyou how to lock safe your reticent soul, but you needn't fear me In fact let me see if I can pry you open a bit Now this won't hurt”
”No”
I tried to resist, to break from her eye contact, but it was like ere locked; she was in asp
I could feel Veruschka Ravenseal rattling around in my mind with all of her skeleton keys and super-secret lock-picking devicesshe darted here and there into various corners of ood indeed We're almost over; then I'll pass you off”
You ain?
I felt like I was on display; like one of those bodies being taken apart in an anato his hands of my blood; my body open for all to see (”I wonder if he'll wish to look inside,” said Veruschka Ravenseal, ”if he will even be able”) I felt voices, not all of them friendly, there on the outskirts of , Mistress Veruschka andone another Lux warned me to empty my mind Now I knehy It was like a house that's been shuttered, throide open All the locks ordinarily in place had been picked The other Wiccans aiting to come inside
Veruschka held me, it felt like, within the palms of her handsyet, froo there, o there, either” she said, as she skirted about
”Jackpot! Oh, that is good! Yes, indeed! Wonderful, wonderful!”
She made notes and winked at me, the move to draw me away, to distract me from someplace else she wished to penetrate
”You have a very nice reat leaps Still some places are underdeveloped It's not clear if you'll ever be good there, for instance,” she said, zoo in on one aspect of my nature, ”but, all in all yes, I' somebody's car out for a test spin, don't you think; a nice little two-door coupe I like you, Halsey Rookmaaker, very much” She broke off
I felt ainfrom her was like electrocution Veruschka Ravenseal scribbled in her notebook, and said she was finished, quite finished, indeed Lux was next
He heldThe tenor of his mind was different than that of Veruschka Ravenseal Where she sought to probe, and rifle into every closet, his was more laissez-faire He came in and took a look around, politely inquired as to this or that, hoas holding up
When I replied, it was like I was talking through nore them, Halsey They can't hear us You have so up I noticed Veruschka Ravenseal was a little rough with you”
”Is that what you call it? She's grabby,” I said
”I can't say that I blame her”
Lux smiled and the contact was broken
”Good?” said Maria, raising her eyebrows to ood,” said Lux He settled back in his chair I could see his encouragement like a palpable blanket enfold me
”Then it's my turn,” said Maria Lenoir
I looked at her like she was joking Which was the absolute worst thing I could have done ”I thought” I said
She didn't need a psychic wereleopardor an invitation Maria Lenoir invaded old-colored eyes stared at me ”Ah! Miss Rookmaaker! At last, we meet!”
”You're a witch?” I said I couldn't help it; I wanted to know more
”How simple your mind works I a h the lies to the real you”
”How old are you?” I said
”I see you know my cousin, Lennox” I could feel my heart rate spike ”I see you know him very well At least, you think you do!”
Her voice continued
”And running around with poor Professor Lux Isn't he an unfortunate one? But then, you don't know anything about that, do you? And what is this? There's so insatiable about you, Halsey Rookmaaker I can see you have lots to learn About us About everything Do you have feelings for a va so Nohat is it? Ce n'est pas possible They wouldn't be so benign if they knehat dark powers I saw lurking here So I have not seen in two centuries” She rattled around Her mind was absolutely filthy with death ”They're afraid of you What is it that you can do, Halsey Rookmaaker? Is that Cah
I ripped myself from Maria Lenoir
Her deeply-hooded eyes looked back atit fall between us I was tired of looking at her
”I' Maria and Pier Alexander whispered to one another Julius Pendderwenn looked like he was anxious to get started Then this coldness Like ice I shut down co for who had done it Who had been trying to break intoat me Without preamble, he leapt into my brain I forced myself back, to no avail
There was this silence about melike an aura I realized it hat kept hih which it was impossible to see him But into me he could, and did, look
I had come to the silent wizard's mind only to find it locked shut, remote, inhospitable Very hostile He tossed one My synapses caught up with the rest of me The silent aura had retreated shadow-like from my mind
”That just leaves I Gatti,” said Veruschka Ravenseal ”Gaven?” She indicated that the olves should go next
”One moment, please! One moment!” said Mr Pendderwenn He held up his hands; I could see his Wiccan Mark It had no style whatsoever
”We said that ould let you watch, Julius,” said Veruschka Ravenseal
”Then I should be able to read her!” he said The idea was repulsive to me; I promised myself not to allow it I would expel hiination A te
”Do not try hters of Romulus must first have their turn! Asher?”
Gaven cleared his throat ”There is no need Halsey is here with me I know her”
”You mean you have already tried to indoctrinate her!” said Julius Pendderwenn angrily
”Julius!” Veruschka Ravenseal stood up ”You are the House of Roht to talk in that way”