Eternal Fires

  Now she’d predicted that worse was yet to come. Ari shivered.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  In spite of Zylla’s visions, Ari’s dream, and a general feeling of unrest, the week passed uneventfully. The victim remained a Jane Doe X, the cause of death unknown, the killer unknown, and the killer’s motives unknown.

  The only crows Ari saw remained at a distance and offered no threat or aggressive behavior. She’d almost quit looking over her shoulder and jumping at every passing shadow.

  With her murder case stalled, she turned her mind to more domestic issues. Late Friday afternoon, she and Andreas met at the house with Kyra and her third cousin Milla, a nymph only in her thirties but with an excellent reputation as a skilled midwife. So good, in fact, the family had convinced her come from Boston to oversee the birth of Kyra’s niece once removed, considered a close relative in clan terms.

  Ari and Andreas had discussed duties and salaries with the two nymphs, but before any final decisions were made, Andreas had taken an urgent business call. While he was engaged on the phone, Ari showed the two women around the Victorian mansion, including the newly renovated nursery and adjoining playroom on the second floor.

  “This is wonderful.” Kyra crossed the room to run her hands over the Queen Anne crib and the old-fashioned cradle.

  Ari glanced at Milla who was standing uncertainly in the doorway. Was she having second thoughts about taking on another delivery? Did she object to working for a vampire? Or a witch? She’d been quiet during the interview. “I know you’re in Riverdale to help your relatives. Are you sure you have time for me?”

  “Oh, sorry.” Milla seemed to rouse herself. “It’s not that at all. I have too much time on my hands.” She waved a hand around the room. “This is so nice. I was just wondering if my cousin would get to use her baby things. Tia isn’t due until December, but I came this early because she’s had two late-term miscarriages. I’m watching her diet and exercise…and, well, worrying. I’d be happy to deliver your child.” The petite woman leaned toward her confidentially. “You’d be doing me a favor.”

  Before Ari could respond, Andreas returned. “I apologize for keeping you waiting so long.” He looked at his wife with a smile. “I knew I’d find you here.”

  She shrugged. “I love this room.”

  “How could she not?” Kyra joined them. “This baby will be so blessed.”

  Ari looked at Andreas with a question in her eyes, he nodded, and she turned to Kyra. “So what do you think? Still want to be our live-in nanny?”

  “I’m thrilled with the idea. Of course I’ll come. This would be like living in a fancy resort.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Ari hugged her. “I want our child to have the same kind of loving care I felt when your Aunt Yana mentored me as an apprentice guardian.”

  “I’ll do my best. I’m eager to meet him or her. And it will be so much fun to plan with Milla for the next few months.”

  “Uh, sure.” Ari and Andreas hadn’t discussed Milla yet, but why not? After all, she was a Montrey, and Ari needed a midwife. “It sounds like we’re all set then.”

  “You understand the stories of a vampire baby are false, don’t you?” Andreas gave both nymphs a serious look. “This child is witchborn.”

  Milla nodded. “I know about the time travel.”

  “I warned her of that nonsense.” Kyra reached up to put a hand on Ari’s shoulder and gave her a motherly smile. The gesture reminded Ari of the thirty-year age difference; it was sometimes hard for her to remember the diminutive nymph was in her mid-fifties. Kyra shook her head. “Who started a rumor like that? You haven’t made the truth a secret.”

  “I guess people believe what they want,” Ari said. “I’m ignoring them.”

  “I would too.” Kyra quirked a brow. “You look great. Still feeling OK?”

  “I’m good but starting to get a little sluggish. This belly is growing almost daily.”

  “Then we better get to work,” Milla said with a cheerful briskness. “There are herbs that will perk you right up. Tell me what you normally eat during the day.”

  * * *

  On Saturday, Ari visited Claris’s shop, Basil and Sage, to pick up an extra supply of sage for cleansings and the herbal supplements that Milla had recommended. Claris was working in the front when Ari arrived and promptly handed her the list.

  Claris set down a display basket of scented sachets and looked over the midwife’s suggestions. “Excellent choices. She appears very competent.”

  “Yes, I thought so, but I wanted you to check her list.”

  Claris looked surprised. “Why? Don’t you trust her?”

  “It’s not that. She’s nice enough and seems to know what she’s doing, but she’s more the drill sergeant type.”

  Claris laughed. “Ah-ha, are you two fighting for control? Come on. You can tell me all about it over a cup of tea.”

  “It’s not like that,” Ari protested but followed her friend through the beaded curtain to the kitchen in back. Claris poured their tea, and they settled at the table.

  “What’s it like then?” Claris asked.

  “I’ll be happy to have her run things at delivery, but I’m not following the damned schedule she gave me.”

  “Now the truth comes out. What’s she want you to do?”

  Ari pulled a crumpled paper out of her pocket and dropped it on Claris’s kitchen table. She frowned at the herbal tea. What she wouldn’t give for just one cup of real, fully caffeinated coffee. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. Calm. That was better. She didn’t want to pass on crankiness to their baby.

  “Wow, I see what you mean.” Claris perused the lengthy list. “Doesn’t she know what you do? Get up, 6:00 a.m. Go to bed, 10:00 p.m. Thirty minutes of stretching upon rising?” Claris burst out laughing. “You must not have told her you’re still running five miles a day.”

  Ari gave her a wry grin. “She means well.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll just take the herbs and ignore the rest.”

  “No coffee, no fried foods. That’s good advice.” Claris looked at her over the top of the paper. “You can’t discount everything.”

  “I know.” Ari propped her chin on her fist, her elbow resting on the table. “Don’t worry. I’ll appreciate her a lot more when things go smoothly at the baby’s birth.”

  * * *

  Sunday afternoon Steffan and Jena held a kegger at Steffan’s house. As usual, the wolves played volleyball and imbibed freely. Ari and Andreas stopped by in time for the barbeque at six, and Andreas agreed to join the game on the sand court.

  “Are you going to take off your shirt like the rest of them?” Ari asked.

  “Why would I? I don’t need to cool down.”

  “No, but I don’t mind looking at your bare abs.” She grinned at him, and he knuckled her under the chin.

  “You can look all you want at home.” He took a step toward her.

  “I’ll take you up on that,” she said, gently directing him toward the court. “Later.”

  He looked smoking hot in his black Armani T-shirt and jeans that were tight enough she could see the rippling muscles underneath. Ari stretched out in a deck lounge chair to watch the volleyball free-for-all—and admire her husband. Twenty minutes later, Ryan and Claris arrived together. Ryan ran over to join the game, and Claris commandeered another of the deck chairs.

  Ari studied her friend’s face. “What’s this? Are you two on a real date?”

  Claris flashed her a frown. “No, silly. He offered to give me a ride, and I said OK. That’s it.” She gestured toward the court. “I thought you’d be playing.”

  Ari snorted softly. “Andreas thinks all the jumping might shake up the baby too much.”

  “Oh, wow. It’s getting bad, isn’t it?” Claris chuckled. “I guess you should have expected it.”

  “I did. We’ve been walking a fine line between overprotective bullshit and justifiable concern since January. He gives a little
. I give a little.” Ari sighed. “But I’m beginning to feel fat, and I don’t mind sitting out.” She lounged back and sipped her iced tea. Between the heat and the pregnancy, she was a little wrung out. The herbal drinks had helped, but she’d already put in a full day, especially for a Sunday. She’d run her usual five miles, completed her patrol of Olde Town and Goshen Park this afternoon, and even spent an hour at the shooting range.

  She closed her eyes and listened to Claris talk about the upcoming Summer Sun Days the market area of Olde Town held every August. A carnival-like atmosphere would liven up a sales season that was often slow due to the excessive heat and humidity. Claris was listing the touristy items she’d have for sale.

  “The small souvenirs sell the best. What do you think about adding a display of protection stones? I haven’t carried them before but—”

  Ari sat up, interrupting Claris, when she heard the flutter of wings. Her gaze immediately focused on the roof of Steffan’s nearest neighbor. Three crows sat on the peak.

  “What’s wrong?” Claris followed her gaze. “I don’t see anything unusual.”

  “It’s the birds.” Ari leaned back, trying to regain her earlier relaxed mood. “I’ve been on edge since seeing that big crow at the murder scene. Now, I’m seeing them everywhere.” She waved a careless hand. “Don’t mind me. Just hormones talking.”

  Claris reached out and filled a glass of iced tea from the pitcher on the deck table. She took a sip and put her feet up. “Why does everyone always blame the behavior of pregnant women on hormones?”

  Ari sighed. “It’s as good an excuse as any for irrational thinking. By the way, I like the idea of selling protection stones.”

  They turned their focus to the volleyball game. Ari had no clue what the score was, but she alternately cheered for both teams. When the game ended, the players all claimed victory before heading for the food tables laden with sandwich fixings, baked beans, chips, and coleslaw set out by the volunteer cooking crew. Ari and Claris offered to help, but the four cooks had shooed them away, saying they had things under control. From the mound of food making her mouth water, they’d been right.

  Andreas offered to fill her plate, but Ari shook her head.

  “I’ve been sitting way too long.”

  She and Claris joined the food line and left Andreas lounging against the deck rail with a glass of chilled wine.

  Ari sniffed in the tantalizing aromas drifting from the grill. Her appetite was way too good these days. Steffan handed her a brat, dripping with juice, and she reached for the mustard. A crow landed on the table in front of her fingers. Ari jerked away, dropping her plate and nearly falling over Claris. The bird flapped its wings and cawed loudly, echoed by several crows in surrounding trees.

  “What the hell?” Steffan grabbed Ari’s arm to steady her. “Are you OK?” He swung the tongs in his other hand at the bird. “Get out of here.”

  Andreas magically appeared at her side and drew her close to him. “Arianna?”

  “I’m OK. It just startled me.”

  In response to Steffan’s efforts, the bird darted away, but the loud cawing continued, more birds joining in. The racket had everyone’s attention now.

  “What’s with the birds?” a young werewolf demanded. He used a hotdog as a missile into the nearest tree, and two or three dozen crows erupted. For a few seconds, the air was filled with the flapping of heavy wings, and then they flew away.

  “You sure it didn’t hurt you?” Steffan asked.

  “Not a scratch.” She smiled to reassure everyone, apologized to Claris, and attempted to laugh off the incident. “Apparently the birds wanted their share of the food. They have a definite preference for barbeque lately.”

  Ryan was on the far side of Claris. He leaned forward and made eye contact with Ari. “Coincidence?”

  She shrugged. Not bloody likely. But a swift glance around confirmed the crows had left, and there was no reason to ruin the party. “Maybe they’re migrating.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Ryan went along with her explanation, but he clearly wasn’t buying it.

  Steffan frowned at her. “Is there something I don’t know? There were crows at Ryan’s place the other night.”

  Ari shook her head, a warning in her eyes. “As he said, a coincidence. It’s nothing to worry about.”

  His scowl deepened. She turned away and took a new plate. Her appetite was gone, but the baby needed something. And she was eager to get the curious eyes focused somewhere else.

  Andreas stayed within arm’s reach the rest of the evening. The birds didn’t return, and he didn’t bring up the incident until they were walking home.

  “I felt something wrong tonight.” He gave her a hooded look. “A sense of being watched. Or perhaps stalked would be more accurate.”

  “So did I,” she admitted, “but I didn’t want to alarm everyone. As soon as the birds left, the worst of the goose bumps went away.”

  “Indeed?” He cocked a brow at her. “The crows were part of it, but the sensation did not completely fade for me. Are you trying to hide something?”

  She didn’t meet his eyes. “I’m not used to anyone but me noticing the magic,” she mumbled.

  He was quiet a moment, as if absorbing her response. “Then I was right. It was a dark, unfriendly magic…and it was focused on you. It’s time to figure out which of the elders is hanging around Riverdale.”

  She stopped and looked at him. “You think one of them is actually here? I know there’s some really bad mojo involved, but why would they come here now? It’s been months since we’ve heard anything.”

  “Except for Bastian’s call,” he said. “He was worried.”

  “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “No, not until we had something definite to go on. But you can’t honestly be surprised. Bastian warned us that Porbius or the other elders would find a new excuse.”

  “What excuse? We’ve done nothing.”

  “Except conceive a child. As gossip would have it, a vampire baby. I’m not sure it matters whether they believe the rumors or not. Any pretense might do.”

  Ari’s stomach knotted, and it wasn’t the infant kicking this time. He hadn’t said anything she didn’t suspect, but hearing the words made it real. She moved closer to Andreas and entwined her fingers with his. Please, let him be wrong this time.

  * * *

  Monday morning dawned sunny and clear, and the heat was building by the time Ari left for her office at 7:30. She noticed the crows outside the house right away. At least a dozen sat on the utility wires that crossed the street. The six-foot, wrought-iron fence that surrounded the De Luca mansion remained free of birds. She and Andreas kept the property warded against intruders.

  She stared at the crows for a long moment, but they simply sat there. The lack of sound or movement made them even creepier. She turned and slowly walked toward the Magic Hall, watching to see what they would do. One by one, they followed, never coming close but always there, landing on a nearby wire or tree branch.

  What was the point? Were they spies? Was this a warning? Ari increased her pace and exhaled a breath of relief when she was safely inside the Magic Hall’s Cultural Center.

  The receptionist looked up and handed her a folder with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, but your first client is already here. Busy day.”

  “I’ll be with them as soon as I get the coffee on.” Andreas had taken pity on her and provided a few bags of Dintero’s special blend made with decaffeinated coffee. The most she was allowed was one half caf to open her eyes in the morning, then decaf the rest of the day.

  Monday was one of the two mornings Ari scheduled in-office appointments, and her calendar was filled every half hour until noon. She pigeonholed her concerns about the birds, fixed a pot of the decaf—it wasn’t as good as regular, but satisfied the worst cravings—and settled in for the usual round of requests for suitable housing or similar issues related to an Otherworld lifestyle.

  After cl
ient number seven closed the door behind him, Ari sat back and looked at her wall clock. 11:21. One more appointment to go, a young lycan woman looking for a dentist to inspect a malformed tooth. She swallowed the last of her decaf as the phone rang.

  “Ryan, what’s up?” she asked responding to his name popping up on her screen.

  “Have you looked outside recently?”

  “No, I’ve been busy. Is something wrong?” She got up from her desk and walked toward the window.

  “It’s the crows. Take a look.”

  She peeked through the blinds. Yikes. The trees and roofs across the street were filled with the black creatures. “I see them. Are they all over town?”

  “Pretty much. The Olde Town District at least. Not much in Riverdale proper or the suburbs.”

  “Are they acting aggressive? Any bird attacks?”

  “Nope, just sitting. I’ve called DNR, but if magic’s involved…”

  “Yeah, let me see what the council thinks, and I’ll call you back. I’m sure they’ve noticed it.” She hung up and ran down the hall, taking a right turn when she spotted a group of people gathered at the Cultural Center’s front doors. Steffan’s red head stood out in the crowd.

  He nodded at her. “I wasn’t sure you were here. What do you know about this? First, the crows were at Ryan’s, then at my place, now here.”

  “Ryan says they’re all over Olde Town. But it didn’t start at Ryan’s. The first crow was at our murder scene.”

  The conversation around them stopped.

  “Say that again.” The elf rep, Eryndale, stepped forward. “The crows murdered someone?”

  “No, I didn’t say that. But there was a forty-pound crow near the crime scene.”

  “That’s too big for a crow,” someone said.

  Ari started to shake her head. “Look, let’s not—”

  “Unless it was Mahmo,” a clear voice said.

  “Who said that? What’s Mahmo?” Ari looked for the speaker.