Beautiful Chaos(63)

“You know for what purpose we have come to this place?”

“Yes.”

“Have you anything to say other than that which we know?”

Marian shook her head. “I do not.”

“You admit to taking action inside the Order of Things, in violation of your sacred oath?”

“I allowed one who was in my charge to do so, yes.”

I wanted to explain, but between the perfectly hollow sound of their choral voices and the white eyes of the woman, I could barely breathe.

“Where is the one?”

Marian pulled her own robe tighter around her body. “She isn’t here. I sent her away.”

“Why?”

“To keep her from harm,” Marian answered.

“From us.” They said it without even the slightest hint of emotion.

“Yes.”

“You are wise, Marian of the Lunae Libri.”

Marian didn’t look as wise right now. She looked terrified. “I have read about The Caster Chronicles— the stories and records of the Casters you keep. And I know what you’ve done to Mortals who have transgressed as she has. And to Casters.”

They studied Marian like an insect under glass. “You care for this one? The Keeper who is not to be? A girl child?”

“Yes. She is like a daughter to me. And she is not for you to judge.”

The voices rose. “You do not speak to us of our powers. We speak to you of yours.”

Then I heard another voice, one I had heard so many times before when I’d felt this helpless. “Now, gentlemen, madam, that’s not the way we speak to ladies of good report here in the South.” Macon was standing behind us, with Boo Radley at his feet. “I’m going to have to ask you to conduct yourselves with a little more respect for Dr. Ashcroft. She is a beloved Keeper of this community. Beloved by many, who possess great power in the Caster and Incubus worlds alike.”

Macon was impeccably dressed. I was pretty sure he was in the same suit he wore to the Disciplinary Committee Meeting, when he showed up to rescue Lena from Mrs. Lincoln and her lynch mob.

Leah Ravenwood materialized next to him in her black coat, holding her staff. Bade, her mountain lion, growled, pacing in front of Leah. “My brother speaks the truth. Our family supports him, and the Keeper. You should know that before you continue down this road. She doesn’t stand alone.”

Marian looked at Macon and Leah gratefully.

Someone stepped through the doorway behind Leah. “And if there’s anyone to blame, it’s me.” Liv walked past Leah and Macon. “Aren’t I the one you’ve come to punish? I’m here. Have at it.”

Marian grabbed Liv’s hand, refusing to let her go any farther.

The Council regarded her solemnly. “The Incubus and the Succubus are of no concern to us.”

“They’re standing in for my family,” Liv said. “I have no one else except Professor Ashcroft.”

“You are brave, child.”

Liv didn’t move or let go of Marian’s hand. “Thank you.”

“And foolish.”

“So I’ve been told. Quite often, actually.” Liv looked at them as if she wasn’t the least bit afraid, which I knew was impossible. But her voice didn’t waver. Like she was relieved this moment was finally happening, and she could stop dreading it.

The Council wasn’t finished with her. “You held a sacred trust and chose to break it.”

“I chose to help a friend. I chose to save a life. I’d do it again,” Liv answered.

“Those were not your decisions to make.”

“I accept the consequences of my actions. Like I said, I’d do it all again if I had to. That’s what you do for the people you love.”

“Love is not our concern,” the voices answered as one.

“ ‘All you need is love.’ ” Liv was quoting the Beatles to the Council of the Far Keep. If she was going down, she was going down in style.

“You understand what it is you say?”

Liv nodded. “Yes.”

The Council members looked around the room, their eyes moving from Liv and Marian to Macon and Leah.

Lightning cracked, and the room filled with heat and energy. The Caster Chronicles radiated light.

The tall man spoke to the other two, his voice deeper without theirs blending into it. “We will take what has been spoken to the Far Keep. There is a price to be paid. It shall be paid.”

Macon bowed. “Have a safe journey. Be sure to visit us if you’re ever passing through our fair town again. I do hope you can stay longer next time and try some of our famous buttermilk pie.”

The woman with the milky white eyes removed her glasses and stared in Macon’s direction. But it was impossible to tell what she was really looking at, because her eyes didn’t move at all.

The lightning cracked again, and they were gone.

Thunder rumbled while the book lingered on the table for another second. Then it disappeared, following the dark figures into the light.

“Bloody hell!” Liv collapsed into Marian’s arms.

I stood frozen in place.

Hell didn’t begin to cover it.




Once Macon was satisfied that the Keepers were gone, he moved toward the door. “Marian, I hate to leave you, but there are a few things I want to look into. Or rather, look up.”