––––––––
Out of the frying pan and into the fire...
Olivia pinched herself for the tenth time as she approached the Clan Alpha House. This couldn't be happening. She wanted to finish her spy mission. Being retrieved and presented by the new high priestess to her intended and the ruling elite didn't make her feel like she was doing it on her own terms. Whatever had happened to her kind and trustworthy friend and confidant? Why had Valori betrayed her?
They knocked on the large double doors and waited for them to swing open. Olivia closed her eyes, wishing she was with Hernando back on Earth. She had wronged him, and she regretted it.
Don't worry. You'll see Hernando soon.
She frowned. Valori's voice filled her head. Because they'll kick me out on the street, or at least out of Clan Alpha House?
No, they won't kick you out. I won't let them until you've finished your task, and I've finished mine.
Your task?
Concentrate on your mission to find the rogue Portal. Only your mission and nothing more. I will keep them occupied.
Olivia startled and opened her eyes. What did Sherlock Holmes say to Dr. Watson whenever a mystery heated up? The game's afoot.
Perhaps Valori wasn't a turncoat after all. She smiled and took a deep breath as they entered the entrance hall. Together they could do what she couldn’t do alone. Teamwork was the ticket.
"Lauren, how good it is to see you. I was so worried." Kate crossed the large chamber, took Olivia by the hands and squeezed. "I've been so worried about you. The fever made you think you were back on Earth, and you went out looking for a cheeseburger and chili fries in your delirium, our newest leader said."
"Newest leader?"
"Priestess Valori. She's been ever so kind to me. I was out of my mind with fear for your safety."
Olivia turned to smile at Valori, but she had somehow already vanished into the depths of the mansion. "Yes, she's a great leader. I feel better, too. How are you feeling?"
"Much better than when you left me. Very rested." Kate averted her gaze and lowered her volume. "I've been offered a job here as well, so I don't have to return to Earth yet if I don't want to."
"Fantastic. You'll stay on, right?" Kate nodded. "What's the job?" Olivia asked.
"Assistant to the new priestess. She has need of a researcher to help her correlate some data from ancient texts. When she found out I had excellent research skills..." Kate grinned. "It was an offer I couldn't refuse."
"I bet." They began to walk along the corridor toward the sleeping quarters. "Did anyone other than Valori miss me during my absence?"
"You mean Moreau? Yes, he did wonder what had happened to you when he didn't see you lying in bed. Don't worry, though. I told him you were taking a long soak in the tub to cool down. He didn't question me any further."
"Good. My wandering wasn't noticed by the bigwigs. I'd rather they didn't know I went walkabout. Mustn't give them the idea I had cold feet about this mail-order vampire bride business."
"Of course not."
How much did Kate understand what was going on? Did Valori fill her in and then come to fetch Olivia at the council chambers? Or did Kate blank out the last few hours before she left?
"I think I'll go lie down for a little bit before mealtime. Wanna come up and... chat?"
Kate glanced about and bit her lip. "Not right now," she whispered. "There's something I must do first." She patted Olivia's shoulder. "You go and rest now. Valori will call on you soon."
Olivia strolled back to her room and plopped onto her bed. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on how to complete her spying mission while avoiding Moreau's crawling about in her head.
On cue, his voice popped into her mind. Where have you been? We were worried.
Worried? Why didn't you come looking for me then?
The pause itself was telling. They didn't know she was gone for quite a while. Even if they were reading her thoughts, they weren't always able to do so. Someone or something had blocked them.
Valori—it had to be her. Her mental powers appeared stronger than those of anyone she had yet encountered on BloodDark, and the ruby pendant... Did it help her focus them? Magnify them?
Never mind. You are home now. It's all that matters. Moreau sounded satisfied with her explanation.
Olivia quirked an eyebrow. "Really? You're okay with my alibi? No more excruciating headaches to put me in my place, huh?" she taunted out loud.
Silence. She frowned. "Weird. One would think you had given up on me altogether."
Work, Olivia. Get to work. I can't keep Moreau out forever.
Valori's tone could not be mistaken. "Yes, ma'am."
Olivia rose and headed to the corridor. Without Moreau keeping mental tabs on her, she felt free to prowl about the clan house. She decided to search the higher floors first, since most were not in their personal chambers during the hours before mealtime. All she had to do was keep to the shadows and not make a big fuss if she was seen strolling where she shouldn't stroll. She had to blend in, but how?
Passing by a tarnished candelabra positioned atop a sideboard in the dormitory hall gave her an idea. She picked up the solidly-built piece and reached for a tissue in her pocket. Why couldn’t she be a roving silver polisher? The Pure Bloods would ignore her like they did the other house servants. As long as she appeared to be keeping busy by polishing the piece, no one would stop and ask her what she was up to, right?
By the time she had made it to the fourth floor, checking each and every room and corridor along the way, she was in desperate need of rest. The metal candelabra might have been the perfect prop for her cover, but it had to be the heaviest thing she had ever lugged upstairs. Olivia found herself breathing hard at the top of the landing and wishing she'd chosen a more lightweight candlestick instead.
"Excuse me," Olivia muttered as a haughty looking Pure Blood woman came at her at a hundred miles per hour. Olivia jumped to the side of the hall to avoid crashing into a well-dressed lady in burgundy in an outfit complete with bustle and high collar. The woman flounced past Olivia with a harrumph and hurried down the stairs in a swish of her long skirts. "Must be dinnertime, but I didn't hear the gong."
She looked up and down the hallway. The coast was clear. This floor housed bedroom suites and private offices for the most part, so there was no need to be seen polishing the silver. Olivia put the candelabra down on a small side table to free her hands. The first two doors revealed large, empty adjoining rooms. Odd. The house overflowed with Alphans and potential brides, so why wouldn't they utilize every space available?
The third door revealed the reason why. Ten feet from the entry Professor Mahvet sat slumped at his desk with his back to her, his head in his hands.
Olivia sighed. He looked so sad. Could it be the two empty rooms she'd just checked were to be his and Kate's? She made to go, but before she could slip away Mahvet raised his head.
"Kate? Is it you?" he asked.
Olivia froze. So far she hadn't run into any Pure Bloods who even gave a hint they saw her as anything other than one of their servants in her wanderings of the corridors with a candelabra. She'd called them experts at ignoring people they felt were beneath them. She, in turn, had acted like she knew where she was going and what she was doing, so she hadn't raised any alarms. Mahvet had sensed her as human, however. Could he be trusted?
"It's okay, you can come in." He turned around. "Ah, Lauren, is it? Or is it Olivia? Our clan leaders are split on what to call you."
Olivia entered the study and closed the door behind her. Not knowing how best to react to being caught, she figured a direct approach was best. She willed her nerves to settle and plastered a smile on her face. "You can call me Olivia. Professor, I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?" He arched a bushy brownish-gray eyebrow and steepled his fingers as he considered her like an erring student. "What can I do for you?"
"First of all, you can tell Kate you don't want to break it off. She's devastated at the thought of losing you if you couldn't tell. Second, I..." Olivia paused. Should she trust him? He appeared to be a decent sort for a Pure Blood, but it was still risky. Time wasn't on her side. She should have found the illicit Portal by now and returned to Earth. Perhaps trusting Mahvet was a chance worth taking.
She unclenched her fists and continued. "I could use some help locating something."
"That's two favors and not one. I can't do much about the first one, alas." He sighed. "It's out of my hands now. Kate and I can be... friends... but it's all we can ever be." He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "Now, what's this thing you're trying to locate?"
Olivia bit her lip. Maybe Mahvet wasn't the maverick type to go against the heads of his household after all? He appeared reluctant to fight for his and Kate's happiness. Had she misread his openness to share his knowledge of BloodDark with others and his willingness to learn more about Earth as an indication of an open mind? There was one way to find out for certain.
"Professor, has it ever occurred to you all you've been taught about your clan isn't the whole truth?" she blurted. "Maybe the reason they want to keep you and Kate apart is they know your offspring could possess abilities which would rival their own powers?"
Whoa. How did I come up with that? Olivia surprised herself with her summation. It's something I learned from Moreau in passing and another part I gathered from Valori added together. Will he accept it?
A look of doubt cast a shadow over Mahvet’s angular features. "The truth? What is truth?" He shrugged and continued, "Is your truth the same as mine? I believe I read that very question in a book about one of your great philosopher-prophets. His accusers didn't want to accept his truth and so they had him executed—quite brutally from what I gather. I supposed he got the better of them when he came back to life three days later. It must have been quite shocking."
Olivia smiled. "Yes, it changed the world, and he was right. Truth is truth—and if it's hidden away and altered, it ceases to be the truth and becomes a lie."
She took a step forward and softened her tone. "You know you care for Kate, and she cares for you. I see it on both of your faces. Everyone can see it. You two would be very happy together. Don't deny the truth."
Olivia sensed Mahvet 's resolve to follow his clan leaders' order was wavering in spite of his proper manners. She continued to present her argument. "No one should prevent your happiness together from having the chance it deserves. No one."
Mahvet took a deep breath. "You're right. It is our happiness and our lives—not theirs. We should have the power to make of our love as we want." He settled back in his chair and folded his hands together in thought. "Yes, we should be together. It doesn't matter what Drucinda says. She's out of favor at the moment anyway, from what I heard earlier today. The new priestess Valori might be willing to bless our bonding."
"She would—I know she would do it. If you helped me to locate this object she wants me to find, you will get on Valori's good side."
"Oh?" His expression brightened, and he sat up straighter. His amber-brown eyes twinkled with warmth. "Tell me about this object and why our new priestess sent you to look for it?"
Olivia released a long sigh of relief and then gave Mahvet a brief rundown of her mission. Love was a great motivator. He voiced no qualms about helping her search for the rogue Portal device in the compound. He agreed with Olivia and didn't see why the Alphans should break the laws of the new ruling council. He prided himself on respecting authority and order.
She had read his words and actions well. Mahvet was a true patriot of his world. He didn't want to jeopardize Earth/BloodDark relations by allowing the illegal art sale trafficking to continue, especially since he wanted to take an Earth woman as his wife and possibly emigrate there someday.
"You say your intelligence states this Portal is located in the city and not someplace else on the planet?" Mahvet asked. He pulled a map of the planet out of the drawer and spread it across the desk, pointing with a pen as he gave his geography lecture. "There's more than enough space for a multitude of Portals in the Penumbra Zone as you can see. You sure it couldn't be hiding in a barn or warehouse facility on one of the clan's farms?"
Olivia shook her head. "No, they say the residual energy trail shows it's been activated in the vicinity of the Clan Alpha House. This is a quite large residence with several related structures, so..." She shrugged. "You tell me the best place to start looking."
"It is hard to imagine a Portal so small it could be hidden inside a pre-existing building. Even a half-sized Portal would take up a room the size of our feasting hall." Mahvet dropped his pen and his jaw at the same time.
"What is it?" Olivia frowned.
"How long has this illicit transportation of BloodDark art works and artifacts to Earth been occurring?"
"It's hard to say for certain, but for several months at the very least."
He jumped to his feet. "Olivia, come with me."
"Yes, sir."
Olivia had to jog to keep up with the academic who possessed the speed and stamina of a human being half his apparent age. They traveled through a maze of back hallways and narrow staircases which Olivia hadn't realized existed before now. Some pretend servant she’d turned out to be!
They reached the ground floor behind the residence hall and headed into a utilities tunnel linking the kitchens of the main building to the feasting hall. Olivia had been in the feasting hall once, the night of her attempted escape from the Pure Blood jail. She, Hernando and Valori had been sentenced to hard labor on the Clan Alpha's farm in the Penumbra Zone for her crime. She hadn't had much time to scope out the full size of the party facilities then, but she sensed it would make for a large space, almost cavernous, if the side rooms and the large stage for the musicians had been gutted.
She furrowed her brow as she tried to recall her memory of the place. The feasting hall had been decorated with BloodDark tapestries, Renaissance-styled furniture and well-lit. It hadn't appeared in too poor of a condition, either.
"You say the feasting hall has been undergoing renovations for several time cycles?" Olivia asked. She gasped for air as they hurried along the narrow, dimly-lit tunnel from the kitchens to the hall. "Have any clan members questioned why it was to be refurbished at all?”
Mahvet shook his head. "A few did question the wisdom of it at first. Moreau's father and uncle silenced those voices with a threat they'd not have access to the new bonding-partners from Earth if they kept asking about the hall. That quieted them down."
"Withholding possible mates?" Olivia grimaced. "How nice. Nothing kills dissent faster than saying you'll be a bachelor or bachelorette for life."
"On a world like ours with few intelligent beings to bond with, it's a very harsh threat indeed." Mahvet stopped in front of a large door and tried the handle. "It appears to be locked. I didn't think they'd bolt this lower entrance. It's for the servants and cooks to use when they bring food over from the residence during feasts. This only adds to my suspicions."
"Mine, too." Olivia gulped. She felt a bit claustrophobic in the access tunnel and couldn't wait to get out of it. "Can we break the door down?"
Mahvet placed an ear to the door's rough wooden surface. "I don't hear any activity on the other side. Perhaps we should—but quietly, just in case."
"Is there any way to pick the lock?"
"Pick the lock?" He pursed his lips and scratched his chin, tugging at his goatee. "I assumed it was an electronic lock, but it could very well be a simple mechanical one. They would not imagine lowly servants would understand how to pick a mechanical lock, so why waste time and resources on an expensive electronic device?"
Olivia approached the handle and jiggled it. "Ha, this feels like our basement door at home. It's mechanical all right, and very loose. If I had a business card or a small slip of cardboard..." She reached into her jeans back pocket and pulled out a sturdy price tag with the company logo and washing directions on it. "I forget to take these off new clothes until I wash and wear them the first time. They stick so many tags on jeans."
She got down on her knees in front of the door handle and slipped the piece of card into the thin gap between the bolt and the doorjamb. Within a few minutes, she had sprung the lock, and the heavy door swung open.
"You first." She stepped aside, nervous at the thought of whom or what might greet them on the other side.
"All right. It's okay, Olivia. I will not allow them to harm you or my Kate. Follow me." Mahvet stood tall and strode into the pitch-black darkness.