Longing for You, стр. 18
“No one is asking you to. I couldn’t either, but call Byron orAlexis or Bhal, even, and they will take care of it for you. Do you know whatit would do to Byron if anything happened to you?”
“No, I never thought about it.”
Amelia got up and sat beside Katie on the bed. “She would bedevastated. You know how much she loves your family, and now that your mum anddad are away working for her parents, she feels it’s her reasonability to takecare of you. Not to mention how hurt our Duca would be.”
“Alexis?” Katie snorted. “She took great pleasure in telling mewhat an idiot I was.”
“She was concerned, Katie, as we all were. She asked Byron toremind you that you were mortal, unlike most of us, and if anything happens toyou, there’s no second chances. I agree with her. I think she really cares,Katie.”
“She has a funny way of showing it, but I take your point. Tellthe Principe I’ll be more careful,” Katie said.
Amelia hugged Katie. “Thank you. We all love you and care aboutyou.”
* * *
Later that day Amelia and Byron travelled to the bookshop that theinformant had told them about. The Portal was London’s oldest occult bookshop,and Amelia had to admit that she was nervous, and somewhat scared.
Ever since the Grand Duchess told her she was half witch and thather parents weren’t her true parents, Amelia had been desperate to find outabout her past. But she was also scared about finding out the truth. It wouldchange everything she felt certain that she knew about herself.
Amelia grasped Byron’s hand tightly as they walked up to thebookshop door.
“Don’t be nervous. I’m with you,” Byron said.
Byron held the door open for Amelia and the bell on the door rang.They walked in and looked around at the shop. It was a typical old, dustyindependent bookshop, which didn’t look as if it had many customers. There wasa counter and till at the other end of the shop.
Amelia and Byron walked up there and found an older black womanwith salt-and-pepper coloured ringlets, and a young woman beside her, who wascurrently scowling.
“What do you want, vampire?”
“Piper, no,” the older woman said.
Byron straightened her tie and said, “I’m Byron Debrek. Icontacted you about some information we needed.”
“Yes, yes. My name is Magda, and this is my granddaughter Piper.”
“Charmed,” Byron said somewhat sarcastically. “This is my wife,Amelia Debrek.”
Magda suddenly looked very interested. “Tell me, what was yourmaiden name, Mrs. Debrek?”
“Honey, Amelia Honey.”
Magda looked to her granddaughter in some kind of silentcommunication, then held her hand out to shake Amelia’s in greeting.
Amelia took Magda’s hand, and she felt a warm shot of electricitygo up her arm. Magda herself shuddered.
“Welcome, Amelia.”
Magda turned to Piper and said, “Bring some chairs for ourguests.”
Piper rolled her eyes but did as she was asked. Byron declined thechance to sit, but Amelia hopped up on a stool.
“You knew Rose, vampire?” Magda said.
Byron shifted uncomfortably. Amelia knew who Rose was—a formerlover—and it was natural that Byron had many lovers over the centuries, but shedidn’t like to think about it too deeply.
“Yes, that’s right,” Byron replied.
Magda smiled. “One of the very best witches in our coven’shistory. She left extensive books and papers preserving her thoughts, view,spells, and insights, and in one such notebook, she told us to expect a womannamed Amelia.”
Amelia was too shocked to speak, but Byron said, “She did? Whatdid she say?”
“Simply that whoever the high priestess was when Amelia came alongwas to help her because she had a very special future.”
Amelia looked at Byron. This was what she was afraid of, learningsomething overwhelming. Byron took her hand and squeezed it.
“How did you find out you had witch blood in you?” Magda asked.
“The Grand Duchess told me,” Amelia said.
Magda chuckled. “The most powerful witch in the world who marrieda vampire—a bit like yourself, Amelia.”
There were parallels between her and Byron’sgreat-great-grandmother, Amelia supposed.
The Grand Duchess, then simply Lucia, had fallen in love with Byron’sgreat-great-grandfather Cosimo. She’d insisted that she would only be with him,and marry him, if he and his clan would vow to only take blood by consent. Thatbecame the Debreks’ sacred vow.
“Can you tell me more about my past?” Amelia asked.
“First of all, have you ever used your power?”
“Only a few times, when I’ve been angry or threatened.”
Magda looked at Piper, then back to Amelia. “We’re starting fromscratch then. Okay, first of all, do you know the New Forest area in the southof England?”
“Of course I do. I was brought up not far from there,” Ameliasaid.
“I’m sure you have been there too, vampire?” Magda said to Byron.
“Yes, a few times in my travels.”
“Excellent. Go to the New Forest. It’s a place long associatedwith witchcraft and the occult. An ancient coven met there, and there arewitches’ cottages where they lived and worked. When you’re there, open yourselfup, listen, feel the energy. There’s an ancient magic drawn from the sacredland of the New Forest. If you do that, come back, and I will instruct you inwitchcraft and magic.”
Amelia felt in that moment that if they went there, nothing wouldever be the same.
* * *
Drasas was nervous. She had agreed to meet Madam Anka, but shecouldn’t fight the feeling she was doing something behind Victorija’s back.After Asha delivered Madam Anka’s message, Drasas did as Asha suggested andresearched the witch.
What she found were whispers of legends, a woman who wielded greatpower, a woman who drew her power from the ancient Celtic dark gods but hadn’tbeen heard of in a long, long time. Drasas was intrigued and so agreed to meether at a local park.
She went on her own and made sure no one knew where she was going.Drasas wandered over to a bench by the duck pond and sat down. The park wasfull of happy, smiling families, humans running, humans feeding the ducks. Itwas sickening.
“Hello, Drasas.”
Drasas felt a shiver down her spine. That voice was like honey.She turned to the side and saw the woman to match the voice.
“Madam Anka?” Drasas croaked.
Anka smiled and held out her hand to shake