The Dark Gifts Birthright (21 page)

Chapter Thirteen

The Dream Child

The encampment was subdued for the next few
days. The loss at the fortress had not only injured their bodies,
but their spirits as well. Many had lost those connected to them,
and grief had driven some to a nearly catatonic state. Those still
functioning were working. Stores had to be gathered, blankets,
pillows, and things that were required to make the arriving clans
comfortable. The old barn behind the house was turned into a
dormitory of sorts to house those arriving. Infected with fear, the
survivors of the fortress massacre did not want to be left on their
own.

The room grew quiet as the waning sun settled
in the horizon. Long shadows cast from candlelight flickered and
danced along the walls. The council members sat at the rectangular
table with Cass at the head. Minerva sat to her right, with Michael
and Liz to her left. Soft voices filled the air.

“We’ve been going over this for days and
we’re no closer to a solution than we were the first time.” Michael
said as his fist slammed against the kitchen table. “While we sit
here talking, Monroe is building an even larger army. We are
wasting time.”

Gregorio, arms folded across his chest,
nodded in agreement, directed his gaze to Cass, and waited for her
to speak.

“We are helpless without money.” Cass stood
and began pacing the length of the kitchen.

“I don’t understand why it is so important
that we find a place to house all of us. Each nest should find
their own dwellings. We have an army to reinforce. Not all of those
here are capable fighters. I don’t want to get caught with my pants
down again.” Tiberius said.

Cass stopped behind Tiberius’ chair, reached
out, and ran her index finger down the side of his face. “Don’t you
see? This is our army. We can no sooner move ahead without them,
than we can crawl under rocks and hide.” Whipping around, her ebony
hair flew wildly about before settling neatly against her back as
she retraced her steps across the kitchen floor.

Red faced, Tiberius stiffened in his
chair.

As they discussed their options, little Jenna
worked carefully on a picture she was coloring. She sat on the
floor with her knees tucked under her, working away at her drawing,
seemingly unaware of the conversation in the room. When the
grownups in the room finally quieted, she jumped up and pulled at
Cass’ sleeve.

“Mommy, I need scissors.”

“Why?”

“To fix my picture.”

“What are you making love?”

“A present.” Jenna’s face lit up with a
smile. She folded her hands behind her back and swiveled back and
forth.

“Well show me then.”

“But it won’t look right if I don’t cut
them.” The child protested her bottom lip protruding.

Cass sighed, picked her up and placed Jenna
on her hip. “Darling, I will help you cut the picture down, if you
just show me first.”

Jenna smiled, her eyes wide. “Okay, but close
your eyes first ‘cause it’s a surprise.”

Cass closed her eyes tight.

Jenna giggled. “Okay, you can look now. This
is what you needed, right?”

Cass laughed, hugged the girl, and put her
down. “My child is a genius. We will make money. Well not really
make money, but we can make gold and that is better than cash any
day!”

“What in the world are you talking about?”
Minerva said.

“Alchemy, Minerva! Alchemy, transfiguration,
all of it. We will turn things to gold and sell them. Large enough
items will bring a fortune!”

“Bah. Alchemy is a myth. No one has ever
succeeded in creating gold. Even metallurgists have had no luck
with that. It simply can’t be done.” Minerva answered.

“It can be done. I’ve seen it. Now I’m going
to need some things. It might take a while to find…” Her finger’s
combed though her hair for a moment before settling on a loose
strand. Deep in thought, she began twisting the lock around her
forefinger.

“Are we talking about King Arthur, Merlin
stuff?” asked Liz.

“I’m rather curious myself.” Big Jon leaned
forward in his seat tapping his fingers on the table.

“Mother, are you sure about this?” Gregorio
chimed in.

Cass looked at them. Pulled out of her
thoughts, her facial expression changed from pensive to thrilled.
“Don’t you get it? If the items we transfigure sell fast, we will
be financially set for many years to come. This can be done. I
swear it. I just have to remember. It’s been several thousand years
since I saw that spell in action.”

“Well if you honestly think you can pull it
off, I’ll do whatever I can to help.” Minerva said.

“Thank you, Minerva. I think I remember most
of it now. Let’s get busy. What types of potion ingredients did you
bring with you?”

“You name it, we have it.”

“Show me.”

The women headed outside to consult with the
other witches while the rest watched in confusion. Jenna sat back
down looking very pleased with herself, and began to color another
picture.

“It would have been nice if we had this
information a few days ago.” Michael walked to the fridge and
pulled out a large carafe of blood.

Liz and Angie rose and began bringing goblets
to the table.

Gregorio placed his hand over the top of the
goblet set before him, shaking his head. “Better late than never.
There is still the matter of which land to purchase. For
myself--”

“Excuse me.” Liz said, placing her hand
lightly on Gregorio’s shoulder. “I might be able to help with that.
If I could get to a computer, an internet search would show
numerous properties that might interest us.”

“You’ve spoken of this internet before.”
Gregorio’s eyebrows lifted causing deep wrinkles to form in his
forehead.

Jenna jumped up and pulled on Gregorio’s arm.
“This is where we need to live.” She said handing him a new
picture.

Gregorio took the picture of a rudimentary
castle perched on the side of a mountain. “Where have you seen this
before Jenna?”

“In my dreams. In my dreams, it says that we
need to live in this place. The people that talk to me in my dreams
say that we will be safe there.”

“Jenna, who are the people that talk to you
in your dreams?” Michael asked.

“The people that told me we had to leave that
place with the booms.”

Liz’s eyes grew wide as her mouth fell open.
“She told us we had to leave the fortress. She told us that we had
to get away before the second blast was heard. She knew what was
going to happen.”

Loud voices carried through the room as
everyone fought to be heard over each other. Athena jumped up. “I’m
going to find Cass.”

Liz walked to Jenna and kneeled on the floor.
Her tiny hand quickly moved over the page leaving streaks of black
and grey. “What are you making now, honey?” She asked the girl.

“I am making a picture of the bad man.”

“What bad man?”

“The one that wants to kill us.” Jenna
paused. “I don’t like drawing the man, but they said that its time
to show you who he is because he is a very bad man, and he wants to
hurt Mommy most!” Tears glistened in her beautiful brown eyes, and
threatened to roll down her darling cherub cheeks.

Liz reached over and pulled her close. “Shhh,
it’s going to be okay. No one is going to hurt you or your
Mommy.”

Jenna wiped her eye with the palm of one
hand, leaving dark smudges across her cheek. “I know, but it is
scary.”

Using the tail of her shirt, Liz wiped away
the soiled area and patted the top of her head. Jenna smiled.
Picking up a bright blue crayon, she began drawing another
picture.

***

Cass did not know the source of Jenna’s
dreams or the voices she claimed to hear. She had entered the
child’s mind thousands of times and had never encountered another
presence, nor had the child ever spoken to her about the voices.
Prophetic dreams were not common in humans, but they weren’t
unheard of either. Most thought Jenna’s unlikely ability was due to
her mastery of telepathy. When questioned about who
they
were, Jenna could tell them nothing. Only that she knew
they
were good, and that
they
loved her and wanted to protect
her. Cass asked Jenna if there was anything else, like the dreams
or voices that she had not yet told her about. Jenna couldn’t think
of anything and then suddenly her face lit up.

“There is one thing, Mommy. I had a prickle
my first day here.”

Cass looked shaken and asked, “What sort of
prickle did you have darling?”

“Oh, I had a big prickle that a ‘
him
’
was not who he said he was.” She said proudly. “But I couldn’t ever
figure him. I tried and I tried, but I couldn’t get it.” Still
keeping a smile on her face, Cass mentally shot out to the room
“
The traitor.
”

Jenna laughed and sweetly reminded her mother
she could hear her. Cass laughed too and kissed the child on top of
the head. Standing, she said to the others, “Everyone in the camp
must come before this child to be judged. If the traitor is still
among us she will know.”

Jenna’s picture of the man showed them
little. The most they could make out was that the man was a
vampire, tall and thin, had no hair, and wore black. That wasn’t
much to go on. Jenna was certain that the man in her picture was
not the spy, but the one most deadly to them.

. Cass placed Jenna on the floor. Her
daughter retreated to her crayons and paper. Pacing back and forth,
she stopped in front of the other council members. “I want you to
send word and gather all the members of the covens. We are going to
question them on an individual basis. They will swear allegiance to
us.” She slammed her hand on the table. The sound reverberated
through the room.

“As you wish,” Tiberius replied and went to
go make the necessary preparations.

“I will get busy with Liz and attempt to find
us suitable housing.” Gregorio said. Motioning to Liz to follow him
he also left the room.

“Michael, you and Callista collect some items
for transfiguration. Antiques are best, especially swords and
scabbards,” Cass said over her shoulder as she watched out the
window. The camp had come to life outside and many were scuttling
here and there on the new tasks the leaders had set before
them.

***

Callista took Michael to several of his safe
houses by portal to acquire some of his most ancient pieces. Like
most vampires, Michael had a soft spot for things that he had used
in historical times. They had returned with several antique,
sheathed swords, and a few vases and urns from his Roman Empire
days.

Those items were perfect things to sell on
the open market. Even the large New York auction houses would jump
at a chance to sell that kind of merchandise. They contacted a
trusted art dealer who promptly sold their items. Within seven
days, they had a vast amount of money at their disposal and were
ready to purchase any property that was needed. The day after
Gregorio received word that their items were sold and his account
had been credited, a somber Jenna approached them.

She entered the living room, tears flowing
freely down her face. “It’s not safe here anymore. They said we
have to leave. Something bad is coming, and we got two days to go
to the new place.”

“Do you know what the bad thing is, baby?”
Asked Cass.

Jenna collapsed in a flood of tears. Huddled
on the floor and sobbing so hard that she could barely speak, she
wailed, “I-I d-don’t l-like this game anymore. I-I want to go home.
I don’t want to talk to
them
anymore! E-Ever since I told
you about
them
no one will p-play with me. Everyone just
wants me to talk about t-them!”

Cass pulled Jenna into her lap saying, “Shhh.
Everything will be just fine.” Her questioning eyes lifted to Liz’s
concerned face.

Liz shrugged. Her lips mouthed, “I don’t
know.”

“Could you?” Cass asked and attempted to hand
the girl to Liz.

“No, Mommy.” Jenna cried as she latched on to
Cass with all her might.

“Come on honey. You come with Aunt Liz and
we’ll go have some playtime. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Babies?”

“Anything you want.”

“Okay, but I get to be the Mommy.”

Jenna moved easily into her arms and they
chatted all the way upstairs.

Cass motioned for Angie to follow and began
discussing the situation with the other leaders.

Once they entered her room, it didn’t take
long before Jenna was smiling and laughing again. Angie sat on the
bed and began telling stories about her childhood.

“Really, I’m not kidding. That bucket was
stuck so tight on my foot that I couldn’t do anything but try to
break it off!” Angie made a kicking movement with her foot sending
Jenna into a fit of giggles.

The fit ended almost as quickly as it began.
Jenna’s face went slack. Her eyes became vacant and empty. Her face
showed no emotion at all as she spoke. “You must flee. The time for
waiting is no more. They are upon you, make haste!” The voice
coming out of her sounded nothing like the darling girl they
knew.

Angie started and brought her hand to her
mouth, covering her lips.

Liz grabbed Jenna and shook her. “Jenna!”

The little girl’s head nodded back and forth
as if she were a rag doll.

“Get Cass. Now.” Liz ordered.

Angie nearly flew in her haste to find
Cass.

Slowly, Jenna’s head turned and she focused
on Liz with her dead eyes. “Do you not hear me child, I said
run!”

She blinked, and Jenna was back as if nothing
had happened, laughing right where she had left off. Seeing the
look of horror on Liz’s face, confused her.

“What’s wrong?”