Part 16 (2/2)
Cortez nodded.
”Is it. . . big?”
”The Cortez Cabal is the most powerful in the world.”
”I thought you said the Nast Cabal was the biggest.”
”It is. My father's is the most powerful. I say that as a matter of record, not out of any pride in the fact. I play no role in my father's organization.”
”You just told me yesterday that Cabals are family-based, led by a sorcerer and his sons.”
”In practice, that's true. The son of a Cabal head is introduced to the organization at birth and, in virtually every instance, that is where he remains. However, while a son may grow up in the Cabal, he is still required to undergo formal initiation on his eighteenth birthday. Since Cabal members.h.i.+p is, theoretically, voluntary, it is possible for a son to refuse initiation, as I did.”
”So you just said, 'Sorry, Dad, don't want to be part of the family business'?”
”Well. . .” He adjusted his gla.s.ses. ”Technically, of course, since I failed to accept the initiation, I'm not a member of the Cabal. Nor do I consider myself one. Yet, because, as I said, such a thing is extremely rare, I find myself in a position where most people still consider me part of my father's organization. It is generally accepted that this rebellion is a temporary situation, a perception which my father, unfortunately, shares and promotes, meaning I am accorded the privileges and protections such a position would provide.”
”Uh-huh.”
”This position provides me with some stature in the Cabal world and, though I'm loath to take advantage of that a.s.sociation, in some cases it is beneficial, allowing me to initiate activities the Cabals would not permit, were I not who I am.”
”Uh-huh.” A headache was forming behind my eyes.
”I've decided that the best use of my position, a position I neither want nor encourage, is to use it to counteract some of my race's worst abuses of power. Clearly, taking a young witch away from the Coven and placing her into the hands of a Cabal is such an abuse. Upon learning of Kristof Nast's initiative, I followed Leah and Gabriel and waited for an opportune time to introduce my services.”
”Uh-huh. Let me get this straight. Having abandoned the family fortunes, you now use your power to help supernaturals. Like the Caped Crusader. . . in permanent Clark Kent disguise.”
I would have sworn he smiled. His lips twitched, at least. ”The Caped Crusader is Batman, whose alter ego would be Bruce Wayne. Clark Kent is Superman. Neither a.n.a.logy, I'm afraid, is quite accurate. I lack the tormented brooding s.e.xiness of the Dark Knight and, sadly, I've not yet learned to fly, though I did manage to sail a few yards when Leah threw me this afternoon.”
I couldn't resist a small laugh. ”Okay, but seriously. You know how this whole 'Rebel with a Cause' routine sounds?”
”Unlikely, I know.”
”Try crazy. Insane. Preposterous.”
”I haven't heard those particular adjectives before, doubtless only because no one dares say them to my face.” He pushed aside his untouched burger. ”Before you dismiss my story completely, please speak to Robert Vasic. I am confident that he will have sources who can vouch for my sincerity.”
”I hope so.”
”I can help you, Paige. I know the Cabals, know them more intimately than anyone you could hope-or would want-to meet. I can operate within that world with little fear of reprisals. As Savannah saw today, the Nasts don't dare touch me. That can be very useful.”
”But why? Why go through all this to save a stranger?”
He glanced over at Savannah. ”Preposterous, as you said. I can't imagine anyone doing such a thing.”
I tore a crispy fry tip off, stared at it, then tossed it onto the gra.s.s. A crow tottered over for a closer look, then fixed me with a cold, black eye, as if to ask whether it was safe to eat.
”You still lied,” I said. ”About Leah.”
”Yes, and, as you've said, I'm very good at it. For a Cortez, it's a skill we learn as other boys are learning to swing a baseball bat. For me, lying is a survival reflex. Placed in a situation where truth-telling may be risky, I often lie before I even make a conscious decision to do so. All I can say in my defense now is that I will make every effort not to do so again.”
”You do, and that's it. I've got serious trust issues with this arrangement already, aligning myself with a sorcerer.”
”Perfectly understandable.”
”And I am going to speak to Robert first. I need to do that, for my own peace of mind.”
”Again, understandable. You expect him back soon, I hope.”
”He's probably already called the house, trying to find me.”
”Good. Then I will accompany you home, you can go in and return his call, then we'll come up with a plan of action.”
”What about your bike?”
”I'll retrieve it later. Right now, getting this situation straightened out is my first priority.”
Chapter 21.
Feeding Frenzy As I rounded the second-last corner to my street, Cortez turned sideways in his seat, so he could see both me and Savannah.
”Now, as I said, it is possible that some members of the media may have established themselves in the vicinity. You must be prepared. Perhaps we should go over the plan again. The most important thing to remember is-”
”No comment, no comment, no comment,” I said, with Savannah chiming in.
”You're quick studies.”
”Keep the script simple and even us witches can learn it.”
”I'm very impressed. Now, when we get out of the car, stick close to me-”
Savannah leaned over the seat. ”And you'll protect us with lightning bolts and hail and h.e.l.lfire.”
”I cannot protect you at all if Paige hits the brake and you go flying through the winds.h.i.+eld. Put on your seat belt, Savannah.”
”It is on.”
”Then tighten it.”
<script>