The Dark Gifts Birthright (14 page)

William laughed. “Depending on the mass of
the object, I can move things. You don't have much mass.”

Liz turned, leaned against the log, and
continued watching the fire. “What were you telling me?”

“It's not important I just wanted to see if
you were listening. You are nearly in the same condition as
Angie.”

She picked up a small pebble and tossed it
into the fire. “Athena was everything to her. It's not unexpected
she would react this way.”

“Oh I know why she's acting this way,
question is why are you?”

Liz sighed and found another pebble to skip
into the fire. “It's complicated.”

“No it isn't.”

Shaking her head, Liz turned to look at him.
“What do you want, Will?”

“I want us to win this battle.”

“Well apparently you're a little late in the
wanting.”

William shook his head and smiled. “If
there's one thing I've learned, it's that it is never too late to
do anything. Or did you forget who you're talking to? Now what's on
your mind?”

“Me? Nothing.”

“Uh huh, and General Lee was my Daddy.”

“Really it's nothing. I'm just feeling sorry
for myself.” She sighed again and met his eyes. “Okay, it's
everything. There. Feel better now?”

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his
knees and waited.

Looking at him now, it was hard to believe he
wasn't alive. He looked like an average man sitting there. “I never
see Michael. I have no idea what to do for Angie. I'm having to
train all the others, most of whom don't even like me. I have no
clue who I am anymore, and like that's not enough, I miss my family
and home.”

“Liz, everyone misses their family. Most of
those around here hasn't seen hide nor hair of a family member in a
hundred years or better. And Angie will work herself through this.
She just needs some time.” He slid down to sit beside her and
continued. “I wish you could see what I see when I look at you.
Your aura is different from any I've ever seen, especially
vampires. Have you bothered to tell Michael any of this?”

Shaking her head, she relaxed against the log
once again. “I hear him all the time now, but he can't hear me
unless I want him too.”

“And you're not sharing your thoughts for
what reason exactly?”

“He's got enough to handle. He doesn't need
my whining. Besides, it would just upset him.”

“All right, Lizzy, pick yourself up and dust
off. These are your people now, and they need you.”

“Yeah, Lizzy Borden.” She scoffed.

“No, Busy Lizzy. Too busy to be feeling all
sad and mopey. Now put a smile on your face and get to it.”

Exhaling roughly, the uncertainty left her
eyes and was replaced with determination. “You're right. I'm being
a baby.” Standing, she flashed him a smile and headed off toward
the training vampires.

“Go get ‘em, girl.” William called after her
as he began to dematerialize.

***

“We have to feed the masses. The thirst is
making everyone irrational.” Big Jon said.

“I know, but I don't know what to do about
it. This area is simply not large enough to sustain us.” Michael
replied.

Both men surveyed a new group of trainees.
Every so often, one would give in to the thirst and begin fighting
like a maniac. They had already stopped the class several times to
allow heads to cool. “Hey! Keep hold of your minds.” Michael yelled
at two fighters who were getting carried away.

“It's going to be like this until we resolve
this situation.” Big Jon said moving into to quell the squabble.
Sliding his sword out of its sheath, he brought it over his head
and slammed it down hard against the two wooden swords locked in
combat. The wood splintered, leaving the fighters holding nothing
but handles. “What part of keep your heads did you not
understand?”

Panting, both stared at him.

“Take a break. Hunt in the woods and get back
here and get to work.”

The smaller of the two spat, “Hunt for what?
Squirrels and rabbits? How do expect us to survive on that?”

“I expect you to do what you're told or
leave.” He ordered.

Movement in his peripheral vision caught
Michael’s attention. Liz waved, making her way to the house with
two rabbits in her hands. Smiling, he motioned for her to join him.
“Have a nice hunt?”

“I guess.” Then raising the rabbits said,
“For Angie. She won't go herself.”

He slipped one arm around her waist pulling
her to him. After gently kissing her, he said, “She's lucky to have
you. I wish she'd get over this pouting spell and kick it in
gear.”

Liz pushed away. “You're too hard on her.
She's just a kid.”

“A three hundred year old kid?”

“It is not her fault her mind is stuck in
teenage mode. Athena should have thought about that before changing
her.”

Stepping back, he crossed his arms.
“Teenagers back then were considered adults. Athena babies the girl
too much.”

Rabbits wriggling in her hands, averted her
attention for a moment. “How can you say that? Half the time you
act like you don't even like her.”

“Well, that's just ridiculous. She's like a
younger sister to me.”

She exhaled with a “
Humphf
” and turned
to leave.

Big Jon returned shaking his head. “Evening,
Liz.”

“Hi, Jon. What's up?”

Glancing at her hands he said, “You should
get those conies inside before one of the trainee’s see them.”

Michael’s eyes became vacant as several
voices entered his mind at once.

“
You better get out here.”

“
There's a fire and women, human
women.”

“
No, not humans, witches!”

“
Michael, what do you want us to
do?”

Meeting Jon's surprised gaze, he answered,
“Where are they, and how many?”

Micah, big Jon’s lieutenant, replied,
“A
whole coven. Thirteen! They are in the clearing, south of the
house. Are you coming?”

“And because things aren't tough enough
around here--” Big Jon said.

“Come on. We might as well get this over
with.” He answered and they headed toward the clearing.

Liz grabbed Michael's arm. “What's going
on?”

“Witches have arrived. Going to check it out
now.”

“Witches? Are you kidding?”

“I wish. It'll be all right, I'll be back in
a few.”

“I'm coming with you!”

“No, you're not. Stay put. I'll be right
back.” He said as he trotted off toward the trees.
“Get in the
house, I'll keep you informed.”

“
You'll do more than that. I'm watching
with you.”
She answered.

All were amazed that witches would knowingly
come this close to a large nest of vampires. Mortal enemies, most
vampires feared witches, and all witches hated vampires. A real
witch, not those make believe want-to-be witches, but real witches
with real powers could stop a vampire in its tracks with the right
spell. Certain spells would control them and they are the
only
beings on the planet who could do that. A vampire
cannot glamour a witch. Nor could they digest a witch’s blood. It
is poison to them. Thirteen witches outside a nest was true cause
for alarm.

Sneaking up to the outskirts of the fire, but
still encased in darkness, Michael had a bird’s eye view. Big Jon
and several of the others waited farther back ready to join him if
needed. The women chanted as they danced around the roaring fire.
Small spell bags hung from trees enclosing the clearing. In unison,
they stopped and turned to face him.

“You may enter,” said an old woman who
appeared to be the leader. Scrawny with a protruding, crooked nose,
loose grey hair swung about her as she undulated in strange
rhythmic movements. Her leathered skin added an unnecessary touch
of authenticity. She was the epitome of storybook witches. Her eyes
had a fearsome crazed look about them.

Michael hesitated before stepping into the
firelight.

“We have been waiting for hours young man.
Don’t you know that it is rude to keep an old woman waiting that
long? Don’t stand there lollygagging! Get in here and sit down, we
have important business to discuss. Tell your friends in the forest
that three more may enter; the rest are to leave. Oh, and I want
the girl here. Now.” The old woman motioned to the surrounding
woods as she barked out orders.

Michael turned and toward the trees and
nodded. Immediately, Big Jon and Micah stepped into the light as
well.

“To which girl are you referring?” Michael
asked innocently.

“Don’t play stupid with me, boy,” the old
witch snarled. “Send someone for the girl now.”

The other witches gathered behind her. Each
faced a different direction and scanned the forest as if waiting
for an attack. Although they had initiated this meeting, they
seemed uneasy and watchful. As Michael was about to claim ignorance
of who she could possibly be referring to, Liz entered the
clearing.

The old witch laughed. “Now that’s more like
it. Everyone sit.”

Liz’s mouth gaped open, surprised and utterly
speechless.

Three of the witches cried out and ran
towards her. For a moment, Michael didn’t know whether to intervene
or stay put. Jon and Micah were up and at Michael’s side in an
instant. Reading Liz, Michael felt a great joy burst within her,
but her mind was so chaotic he couldn’t discern who they were or
how she knew them. The three women cried and hugged Liz. Although
she seemed astounded, Liz returned their embraces. The old woman
hushed the group and told them to pull themselves together.

“There will be time for that when our meeting
is done. Liz, sit,” she barked.

“Yes, Grandmother,” Liz obediently
replied.

Now it was Michael’s turn to be completely
shocked. He looked at Liz and mouthed, “Grandmother?”

The old woman sighed and repeated that there
would be time for all of that later. Daylight was coming quickly
and there were many things to discuss. Liz sat down, and the three
women joined her. Holding hands with arms wrapped lovingly around
her, they all waited patiently for the old woman. The three men sat
as well. The scraggly old woman cleared her throat and began to
speak.

“As you can see, we have a vested interest in
Liz. I am her great-grandmother Minerva. Those women with her are
her mother, aunt, and the only of her sisters to receive the gift.
Until this evening, she was not even aware she had witches in her
family,” the old woman cackled. “We have known that this time was
coming for a very long time. We have done everything within our
power to see to it that it didn’t come to pass. My daughter, Liz’s
grandmother, lost her life attempting to make sure her turning
wouldn’t happen.”

Liz looked questioningly at her mother, and
the woman smiled sadly and nodded. The euphoria of seeing her
family again dulled knowing that her grandmother died because of
her. She had been told her grandmother died from a heart attack.
Liz’s aunt gave her a quick squeeze with the arm she had wrapped
around her shoulders.

“We have watched your kind for thousands of
years, each generation passing on information to the next. When
your Council came into being, we ended our vendetta with vampires.
With you being the hand of the Council, Michael, we were able to
put that to rest. Since that time, we have only killed those that
are known rogues. Those that will not follow your laws are open
territory for all white witches everywhere. A particularly brutal
rogue caused my daughter to be killed, and put Liz in danger.”

Wide-eyed, Michael turned toward Jon, whose
look mirrored his own. Children were off limits. Even before the
Council came into being, most strictly followed that rule. They
could be food, but to turn a child before the age of sixteen was
tantamount to destruction. In the past, if a child-turned was
discovered, the clan that allowed the transformation was put to
death.

“Liz had not yet received the gift of magic,
making her a perfect tool for the vampire to use against us. We
believe his original intention was to start a war with us and to
use the conflict to gain control of the vampire nation.” Her eyes
narrowed, and the wrinkles in her face deepened as she lowered her
gaze to stare directly into Michaels eyes. “He did not accomplish
this as he’d hoped, thanks in part to you.”

Liz’s thoughts muddled as her mind grew numb.
Michael felt shock and uncertainty emanating from her. Her human
self would have been hysterical, but as she was no longer human,
her mind began to shut down. Michael stood and slowly approached
her.

“You need to let me have her,” he said as he
cautiously squatted down beside them. “I’m sorry, but she could be
a danger to you in this state.”

After seeing her vacant eyes and emotionless
face, the women moved away. Michael scooped her up with ease and
carried her to where the others sat. He tenderly nestled her in his
arms as she sighed and curled into him. Her mind could not take any
more. “Sleep, darling. You will be fine,” he said as her eyes
closed. Michael felt her presence leave; her mind lost in the
darkness of oblivion that can only be reached when one shuts down
completely.

It was just before dawn when the meeting with
the witches ended. The vampires learned many things they did not
know before, including the person responsible for Liz's turning and
why.

Back at the house, Michael paced back and
forth. He stopped and pounded his fist against the table. “Damn
Monroe,” he spat. His teeth clenched tight, he couldn’t believe the
depths of Monroe’s depravity. He had visited Liz when she was a
child, knowing well that the scent would fade completely. But what
really angered him was how he’d set Michael up to be the one to
change her. Leaving the cause of the vampire nation’s fall to rest
solely on his shoulders. Years of peaceful living…gone. And for
what purpose? So a maniac with little respect for anything could
usurp power he wasn’t strong enough to wield?