Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(96)
“You don’t know the half of it,” I grumbled, realizing my deal with Mage to leave her behind hadn’t won me any brownie points. “I hope Sofie kills her.” I silently prayed that she had thrown Rachel into that massive pyre that erupted around the statue. Otherwise Caden would never be safe with her around.
Leo took another long draw on his pipe. “Listen to you—vampire–slayer.” He chuckled through a swirl of smoke. “And then let’s not forget about the elusive Ursula, whom we can’t track because she’s hopping through human host bodies like she’s riding a public transit system. You are the ultimate means of torturing Sofie, a goal that drives her entire existence.
“So you see, as much as you would like to go see Sofie and these friends of yours—I’m sure this Caden fellow would be pleasant under different circumstances—it’s simply not an option. And as much as we would all like to see you happy, seeing you alive is more important. We will remain here until Sofie has figured out a way to get that blasted necklace off your neck safely, and no amount of begging and pleading will do you any good. So don’t bother, kiddo.”
I swallowed. This imprisonment was even worse than before. At least before, I could escape every night to see Caden. Now, in this winter abyss, I had no means of contact, no way of making sure they were okay, nothing to remind me of them except my memories and a stack of four–by–sixes. “When my friends get over this whole blood–crazed thing … can they come here?”
Leo got up and strolled over to place his hand on my shoulder. He squeezed lightly. “It’s not something that happens overnight, Evangeline. You know that by now. We’re not sure how well they’ll adjust. They could be like baby vampires and, well, they usually spend the first twenty or so years lurking in shadows before they have some level of control.”
“So what are you saying? I can’t see them for the next twenty years? I’ll be … old! You may as well have let Mortimer and Viggo kill me!” I cried. A new flood of tears overwhelmed me.
“No, no, I’m not saying that at all. Don’t get all wound up,” Leo shushed me. “But … do you even want to see them after Caden tried … after that?” his voice had turned gentle.
“I … I don’t know,” I answered truthfully. “No, wait! Of course. It wasn’t his fault! He had warned me.”
“Evangeline!” Leo shook his head in exasperation, but then began chuckling. “I see what Sofie meant …” he said to himself. “You’ve changed, but you haven’t changed …” He dropped his hand. “Your friends will come looking for you when the time is right and Mortimer and Viggo can’t track them. We just hope that, when they do find you, they can control themselves. Otherwise the dogs and I will have to kill them, no question about it.”
I looked down at my stew, then set my fork down and pushed the plate away. I buried my face in my arms. Leo’s hand settled on my head, patting me gently. It was a small comfort, but he was trying. I turned and looked up at the old man, my appointed guardian, wiping away tears. “What am I supposed to do, Leo?”
He smiled. That smile, at least, I recognized as his. “Trust us.”