Relish: A Vicious Feast Book 2 (31 page)

I rub my hands together, already coming up to my first victim. Calixta isn’t a good hider. She always chooses the most obvious place. In this case, it’s behind a bush at the side of the stairs leading up to one of the many manor terraces.

“Gotcha!” I snap my fingers and a bubble encases her. She squeals in delight as she floats a few feet off the ground. Her waist length black hair fans out behind her. I place my hands on my waist, glaring up at her giggling self. She’s red in the face already. “You’re not even trying!”

She hugs herself, still shaking with laughter. “It’s because I love being in the bubble. Finding me first means I get to be in the bubble longest.”

I shake my head at her the way my mother does when I disobey, fighting a grin. It’s Moira’s idea to trap hiders in bubbles to keep them from running off. The sphere doesn’t break until everyone is found.

Leaving Calixta to float by the terrace, I pick up my cumbersome skirt and hone in on my next target. No matter how insistent Demitri is at sticking to a schedule, he’s the second worst hider in the world. I find him tucked into one of the massive stone vases lining the garden. I snap my fingers and a bubble closes around him. His frown is nothing short of adorable. He still believes he’s actually going to win one of these days. I blow a kiss at him and his pale cheeks redden. He soon joins a still giggly Calixta.

Whispers draw me to the oak. Figures they’d double back. Amateurs.

“I’m thinking of pink streaks in my hair,” Yana says, twirling blond strands between her fingers. She’s huddled close to Phoenix, their heads together.

“Pink would be so cute!” Phoenix forgets the volume of her voice and quickly slaps her hands on her lips. Even in skirts they squat like boys. Oh what would their mothers think?

I sigh in exasperation and snap my fingers, turning my back on both girls even before the bubbles finish trapping them inside. As if I hadn’t just caught them, they continue their conversation, Phoenix mulling over blue tips.

Only Dray, Luka, and Moira left. “Is no one even trying today?” I shout.

“Retract your aura and find out!” Moira hollers from somewhere. I don’t bother looking for her yet. She’s one of the better ones. Let her stew.  

A curious reed catches my attention in one of the fountains. It’s the one with a woman holding up a ball meant to represent the full moon. The reed stands straight up, half of it submerged. An evil grin stretches across my mouth. Got to give him points for creativity. I splay my hands over the lip and peer in. The clear water ripples above Dray, the other end of the reed between his lips. Tiny mermaids swim around him, laughing and teasing. Some tug at his clothes. A streak of mischief pushes me to cover the top of the reed with a fingertip. Five seconds later, Dray is sitting up in the water, sputtering. I howl in laughter then snap my fingers. Sopping wet, fountain water drips from his clothes to the base of the bubble. One of the mermaids hangs from his shoulder. He resembles a kitten caught in a storm. The youngest of us, everyone has a soft spot for him. I bet he’s already thinking of the next great hiding place. I can see it in the furrow of his forehead.

Now for Luka.

I chew on my bottom lip, working out where he could be. He usually hangs out by the lake, but I already found him there the last time. He’s too smart and sneaky to hide there a second time. The woods are a definite possibility. I rush to the end of the thicket and skid to a stop. Like my father, the king, always tells me: let the powers that be do the work. So I take in a deep breath, close my eyes, and let my aura travel the underbrush. At my current power level, I manage halfway in. If I want to go further, I need to actually enter. But as soon as I do, the sprites and pixies will want to play and who knows how long that will take? Staining my dress will definitely get me into a whole lot of trouble. Such a girly thought, but still. The last time, I tore something my maid, Deidra, called chiffon. Mother wasn’t pleased.

Fearing being sent to bed without dessert, I turn on my heel and resume my search elsewhere. Luka doesn’t like the sprites and pixies anyway. He keeps saying they fall in love with him. Whatever that means? I reach the hedge maze to the right of the sprawling garden and stare into the entrance. The green walls stand three times my height. My imagination conjures up monsters of all shapes and sizes ready to jump out at me. When my aura pings at Luka’s presence, I groan, palms sweating. Figures he’d pick the creepiest place to hide in. If I want to trap him in a bubble, I have to actually see him. That’s the rule. I gulp.

A snicker from somewhere in the maze heats up my cheeks. Of course he knows I’m outside. Luka always knows when I’m near. I suspect it’s one of his emerging powers. Knowing when people are near, I mean, not just me because that would just be…well, weird. I shake the thought away and brace myself.

“I can do this,” I mutter.

“Of course you can,” Luka’s voice whispers into my ear. I shiver and jerk to the left, my hand shooting up to my burning earlobe. He’s not there. He’s in the maze. Another one of his powers. I overheard my parents and his talking once about how fast he’s ascending. I resented him for this. I’m the Vessel. I should be the one who ascends first. Communicating with nature, making bubbles, and extending my aura are lame compared to what Luka can do. Maybe it’s because he’s older, but still!

Anger shoving my fear aside, I stomp into the maze. I’ll show him. Fists clenched at my sides, I take the first left. A long hallway of green that seems like a dead end stretches ahead. I take two steps then freeze, slapping my forehead. Why didn’t I think of it sooner? I move my palm from my forehead to the hedge. Maybe communicating with nature isn’t half bad.

Soon the leaves whisper their secrets. I ignore the ones about kissing couples. Blah! A full on shudder rolls through me again at the images. I concentrate on Luka. I imagine his mop of blond curls, brilliant blue eyes, face like an angel, and a smile the Devil would be proud of. Even at the age of ten, girls much older are already fussing over him. Ick!

The leaves rustle as if sharing my grossed out feelings. Then they all point in a single direction. It’s my turn to grin like the Devil. I follow the path they’ve marked for me, keeping my palm on their waxy surface.

“Hey, no fair!” Luka says from somewhere in the maze. I don’t care where. I’ll catch up to him soon.

At the other side of one wall, footsteps dash in the opposite direction. Ignoring the urge to turn and follow, I stay my course. The leaves wouldn’t lie. Let him play all his tricks. He’s in the maze and I’m going to find him. I sprint, courage brought on by my confidence spurring me onward.

I round a corner and catch a glimpse of blond curls and a white tunic. Luka never tucks the thing in, no matter how much his maids fuss. His father and mother always laughed off his constant state of undress.

Picking up speed, I hurry after him. I need more than a glance to trap him in a bubble. As I run, the leaves continue to bend in the direction I’m supposed to go. I skid to a halt when I reach the center of the maze. A circle of white pebbles dominate the clearing. At the other side are three paths. I skirt the circle as goose bumps pucker on my arms. This place always gives me the creeps. It has powers I don’t understand. Not just an innocent hedge maze. Well, in the Strega Compound, nothing is what it seems. Parents teach their children that as soon as they can walk.

When I reach the three paths, I touch the wall again. None of the leaves point me in the right direction. I stand there a little longer, but nothing. I communicate with them using my mind. They’ve grown oddly silent. A menacing laugh comes from behind me. My shoulders hitch up. Shaking, I slowly turn around. There’s nothing there but the white circle of pebbles.

“Little girl,” a ghoulish voice says.

A chill spreads up and down my body. I rub my bare arms to keep away the cold unusual for the summer.

“Who are you?” I challenge.

My breath puffs out of my lips. Where are the guardians? There should be at least two in this maze. I reach out for them with my powers but find no response.

“I like yummy little girls.” It cackles. “And you look the yummiest of them all.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” A lie, but
it
didn’t have to know that. Another thing my father taught me. Fear is a product of the mind. If I can conquer my mind, I can conquer fear. “I’m the Vessel.”

“Oh! I’m so scared.”

Its taunt pisses me off. I gather as much of the powers that be surrounding me into my hands. If guardians can’t help then I have to save myself. A spot of energy spins in my palms then grows into a sparking ball the size of a tomato. I clamp down on my jaw as the air sizzles. The sparks arch out of the spheres, pricking my wrists. It hurts, but I don’t care. Whatever this thing is, I’m killing it. I don’t know where the savage thought comes from, yet I use it anyway to keep me from running. I continue gathering energy even if I don’t know what or where to throw them.

“You scared for real now?” I say through my teeth.

Arms wrap around my chest from behind. I yelp. Just as I am about to release the energy I’ve gathered, fingers entwine with mine. The sparking light disperses the second our palms meet. A whoosh of wind ruffles my hair and clothes. It creates a tornado of leaves that quickly dissipates.

“I should have known scaring you was stupid.” Luka chuckles.

Spent, I collapse against him, breathing hard. He lets us sink to the ground until I’m sitting between his legs. He doesn’t let go of my hands. I stare at the white circle, unblinking. He waits until I catch my breath before speaking again.

“Where’d you learn how to gather energy like that? So cool.”

“Yeah?” A corner of my lips quirk up at the awe in his tone. I shrug, playing it smooth. “I don’t know. Just happened.”

“Because you’re the Vessel.”

“I guess.” Then what he’d done finally catches up with me, creasing my brow. My gaze falls to our interlocking fingers. “How did you stop it?”

I feel his sigh coming from his chest. His breath tickles the side of my neck. “I don’t know either.”

The honesty in his voice deflates my ego. I’m reminded of how powerful he’s becoming while I’m still fumbling around like an idiot. I suck in a breath when I feel Luka’s forehead rest against my shoulder.

“I took things too far,” he whispers as if we’re not the only ones in the maze. “I’m sorry.”

My eyes grow wide. So unlike him to apologize for something, especially when that something has to do with annoying me. Touched and freaked out at the same time, I squeeze his hands in mine. Then liquid mischief washes over me.

“It’s not over yet!” I push to my feet and snap my fingers as I spin around. He’s in the bubble so fast his face falls. I point and laugh at him as he floats frozen like a surprised deer, his hands limp at his sides. “Got you!”

The devil grin that makes my insides dance returns. “I’m so paying you back for this.”

I make a quick one-eighty and run away as my cheeks burn. “Moira! You’re next!”

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY
-F
IVE
A
UTUMN

We all sit around long study tables in the magnificent Solar Fortress library. Countless books fill the floor to high ceiling shelves. Tall rolling ladders flank both sides of the room. Fairies carrying stacks of books return them to their proper shelves. I inhale the sweet scent of old pages and try for the hundredth time to concentrate on the presentation. The setting sun slants golden orange rays through the massive glass windows, showing off the maple trees bursting with autumn colors outside. A cozy fire crackles inside a huge stone fireplace carved to look like a lion’s head. The flames danced in its mouth.

Dray and Laurel stand at the front of the class, explaining their alchemy project of creating an elixir that can fade burn scars. I listen with half an ear, all too happy that my presentation went well. Moira and I created a potion that allows the dreamer to cast spells while asleep. We put our teacher in a trance after having him drink the potion. It’s meant to beef up defenses while unconscious. He managed to conjure butterflies. We still have some kinks to work out in the formulation, but I have to say that for a couple of ten-year-olds, we did good. Our teacher thought so too even if he still hiccups bubbles as a result while he observes Laurel and Dray. They’ve asked one of the scullery maids, who’d been burned when a pot of hot water spilled on her arm, to assist them. From the awed shriek, I guess the elixir works. I knew it would. Laurel and Dray are geniuses when it comes to alchemy. Giving up on paying attention, I doodle runes in my notebook using my mind to control the pen.

“Will that work for any scar?” Yana asks from down the table. Of course she’d be interested in the other applications of the elixir. She’s obsessed with staying pretty.

“Planning on rubbing it on your ass?” Graham teases from the boys’ table, which produces chuckles from the rest of the guys.

I flick my gaze down our table to Yana’s red face, tears brimming in her eyes. Everyone knows she has scars on her butt after falling off a horse into a bramble bush last spring. Her maid had been picking out thorns for the rest of the day afterwards. Yana wasn’t able to sit without a cushion for a month. The boys teased her mercilessly for it. The girls kept quiet, preferring to giggle about it in private.

Phoenix rubs a hand down Yana’s back then narrows her gaze at Graham. His sleeve catches fire seconds later, eliciting a girly squeal. He pushes away from the table and starts running around the room, forgetting to put out the flames in his panic. Laughs burst from everyone. It takes our teacher conjuring a tiny storm cloud above him to put out the fire. This soaks Graham to the bone, doubling everyone’s laughter. Even Yana laughs, but I still catch her secretly wiping away stray moisture from the corners of her eyes.

I glance at Luka, who sits at the end of the boys’ table. He’s laughing, but I recognize the glint in his bright  blue eyes slightly obscured by the tumble of blond curls on his forehead. Graham will get more than a burnt sleeve later. I’m sure of it. Demitri, sitting at his right, will definitely help. As Graham stalks out of the library to change before his presentation, I know I wouldn’t want to be him when Luka and Demitri get their hands on him. Nobody messes with Luka’s younger sister.