Maudlin's Mayhem (Bewitching Bedlam #2)(64)

“I think you’ll find that all vampires, in the long run, live by ulterior motives. But suit yourself. The woman you’re staring at is the queen mother of all vampires. I won’t tell you her name—it’s better you don’t know. But she’s growing antsy. She’s growing bored. She wants change, and she’s willing to stir up trouble to get it. And she’s quite mad.”

I still wasn’t putting it all together. Maybe my head was still foggy thanks to the drugs, or maybe I was just running on empty today, but I wasn’t clear what was going on.

“Spell it out for me, would you?”

“She’s bored. She wants a change of the status quo. She’s ordered the spells to be used. Trouble is, when a vamp becomes able to walk abroad at all times, they lose the downtime that gives us a chance to pause and contemplate. Sleep for us is very much like sleep for you, it’s just dictated more strongly. And then, there’s the problem with mortals finding out. And there’s another issue.” Essie paused.

“That being?”

“Young vampires are like young men with a full testosterone load. They are immersed in their newly found sense of power. They want to prove themselves the strongest, most dangerous, most deadly.” She leaned forward, the cool smile dropping away. “All vampires are deadly, but young vamps are quite often…killers.”

“And young vampires who don’t have the restrictions of only being able to come out at night…”

“Precisely. Their already bloated egos will be uncontrollable. They’ll challenge the older vampires like myself. Most would lose, but right now, the vampire nation works mostly in harmony. The Arcānus Nocturni have always kept to themselves, only nominally participating. But an event recently changed that. Their morning star was struck down.”

I felt the blood drain out of my face. “Oh fuck. You don’t mean…”

“Precisely. What you did at the chalet? The ramifications are still rippling through the society. Rumors that you’re walking with your silver stake again are spreading. She’s back, they’re whispering. Mad Maudlin’s back in action, they’re saying.”

“That was self-defense.” I realized just how this was going to play out. No matter what the truth was, I had set into motion a revolution among the vampires.

“I know it was, Maddy. I know what happened. I’m not blaming you, but the fact is, your actions had a butterfly effect on the eldest vampires. They remember the days when they had more freedom to do as they wanted. The days before the treaties and before the PretCom came out of the closet. They long for those days.”

“What about you, Essie? Do you wish we still lived in that time?”

She laughed, but there was no mirth behind that voice. “Do I long for days I don’t fully remember? I was a Voudou priestess. I had more power then than I do now. Do you understand that when you become a vampire, when you’re turned, if you’re a witch your powers diminish as the vampirism takes hold. Oh, you can still play petty magical games, but Maudlin, right now? You’re far more powerful when it comes to magic than any vampire.”

“Then just how did you curse me? And why, if you were so worried about Thornton, why didn’t you just come to me and tell me what happened? Why go through all the trouble of throwing a Dirt Magic curse on my household? Aegis is still in bat form and I’m having to deal with Garret James in order to break the hex you placed on my home. On me!”

Essie froze. “You were cursed by a Dirt Witch?”

“Yes, and it’s well known that Voudou and Dirt Magic often go hand in hand.”

“Trust me, Maddy, I didn’t cast any spell on your household.” She looked worried as she took the book back from me and put it back on the shelf. “You’re sure it’s Dirt Magic?”

“I’m sure. The doctor verified it. And we had to destroy the brooch to lift the curse off Bubba.” I stopped, suddenly aware that she was telling the truth. Vampires were good at lying, but I was good at telling when I was being lied to. And unless Essie herself was under a curse, she couldn’t fake the expression that had slid across her face.

“Crap.”

It was the first time I had heard an obscenity fall from her lips. I almost snorted. “You’re really telling me the truth. If you weren’t the one who cursed me, who was?”

“That’s something you very much need to find out. Dirt Witches are more vengeful than vampires.” She played with the mandrake root. “Now, before we wrap this up, let me ask you an equally awkward question. Where did you put the book?”

I stood, quite ready to get the hell out of here. “I don’t know what book you’re talking about.”

“Check, and mate, then.”

“Tit for tat?”

“Colder than a witch’s tit,” Essie said, laughing. “One last bit of advice. Don’t ever think I’m your worst enemy. I’m no fan of yours, but I can stand as a liaison between an uneasy truce and all-out war. As long as I hold my throne, no one will take it from me. At least, no one I won’t fight tooth and nail against.”

I understood the nuances. I couldn’t let Essie lose her throne. Feeling trapped the same way Linda had been trapped, though with very different circumstances, I nodded.

“Heard and noted. But also note this: the Moonrise Coven is the backbone of this island and will always be. If you want to be part of the makeup of Bedlam, you need to play by our rules. Then, perhaps, we can find a way to work together. I’m not Linda. Never forget that.”