Eddie Lancaster Box Set 2, page 24
part #4 of Eddie Lancaster Series
‘I’m an accomplished vampire hunter. You think your bunch of newbie vamps can take me on? Relax I didn’t kill any of them. Just knocked them out.’
‘You shouldn’t be here. The Alliance of Covens is banned from my town,’ I told him. There was no trace of friendliness in my tone.
‘Well, I’m not actually a member of the AOC. I’m not a sorcerer so I’m not allowed to join,’ he said with a shrug.
‘You work for the Winters Organisation which is also banned,’ I retorted. ‘But since you are here you might as well tell me what you want.’
‘I have an invitation for you.’ He reached into his jacket and pulled out a fancy looking white envelope with neat golden writing scrawled on the front. ‘Come to Cedarstone and see how Clara handles the warlocks in her custody.’
I stared at the envelope thinking about whether or not I would allow Clara Winters to summon me to her town. ‘Not interested,’ I growled before pushing past him and heading for the front door.
Chapter Four
‘Aren’t you interested in what Laura has to say?’ Dean called after me.
I paused. My hand was millimetres from the door knob. All I had to do was pull open the door and leave and then I could forget about whatever drama Dean was peddling to my door. I could avoid getting sucked into whatever Clara was up to because make no mistake this was not a simple invite to watch some warlock’s hearing. Nothing with Clara was ever simple. She always wanted something more. But you’re probably wondering who Laura is.
A little recap is in order. A few weeks ago, a warlock came to Maidstone and caused some grief. Like a lot of people these days, Laura thought Maidstone was some no-man’s land without any rules. She was wrong. I had to go and catch her. You might recall a particularly nasty vampire I disposed of a few months back named Sebastian Redvers. I replaced him with Aldric and everything’s been a lot simpler since then. Well, you might also remember that he was working with a rather powerful warlock whose identity is still unknown. All we know is that they’re a damn lot stronger than Clara Winters. Anyway, Laura used to work for the warlock and she came to Maidstone to hide from him when she decided she no longer wanted a part of whatever he’s up to. I gave her the chance to tell me what she knew and she refused so I handed her over to Clara. That was the last I heard about her.
‘Laura has nothing to say,’ I replied.
‘That was before she spent a couple of weeks in a cell. Clara is ready to offer her a deal in exchange for her cooperation. She will name the master warlock at this hearing,’ said Dean.
I looked back over my shoulder. ‘This invitation… nothing is required of me? No strings?’ Only a fool wouldn’t be suspicious.
‘None whatsoever,’ he replied.
I knew I was going to regret it but as always, my curiosity got the better of me. ‘Lead the way.’
The journey to Cedarstone was short and silent. Dean drove and Gabe and I sat in the back watching the scenery. There was a time when I would’ve refused to visit Cedarstone. The place used to terrify me. It was a lot safer these days. My enemies there were dead and everyone was under control. It used to be supernatural war zoneone ash thanks to Clara’s dad. He’d made the stupid mistake of waking up a slumbering immortal warlock named Nickolas Blackwood. Things spiralled out of control from there. Vampires, sorcerers, werewolves and humans were killing each other all over the show until Nickolas finally got killed. Not long after that Clara managed to take charge of things and she got everything in order. I hate to admit it but Cedarstone is a lot safer with Clara Winters in charge. Maybe if she was running Maidstone, Ashley would still be alive.
Dean stopped the car outside a tall white brick building with a red awning outside. The sign said it was the Royal Cedar Hotel. It did look pretty fancy, even had a doorman in a fancy red outfit standing outside. You don’t get fancy places like that in this part of Kent. Maybe not in any part of Kent for that matter. I couldn’t imagine that Cedarstone had that many high-end guests visiting it.
‘Why are we here?’ I asked. Surely Clara wasn’t holding a hearing in a hotel function room.
‘Clara’s inside. She wants to talk to you beforehand,’ Dean explained.
‘You said no strings,’ I reminded him.
‘No-one’s forcing you to go in.’
‘As if you could.’
‘But, the hearing isn’t until tomorrow so you might as well pop in and kill some time,’ he said and then gave me a cheeky shrug.
‘Tomorrow,’ I repeated the word quietly and fixed him with a cold stare. ‘You interrupted the day I bury my girlfriend for nothing?’
He inhaled sharply and looked away, ashamed. ‘It isn’t like that, Eddie. And to be frank, what I interrupted wasn’t exactly mourning, was it? Please, just go and talk to her. She cares about you even if she doesn’t show it. She wants to know that you’re okay.’
I sighed aggressively and shoved the car door open. ‘Fine. But next time you be honest with me.’ I left the car and Gabe followed in quick succession. As we entered the marble-floored lobby another bloke in a fancy red outfit approached us.
‘Edward Lancaster?’ he asked politely.
‘Yes,’ I replied.
‘And this is Gabriel Westford?’ he said, looking at Gabe. I didn’t know that was his full name, I’d only ever called him Gabe. I probably should have asked at some point.
‘I am,’ Gabe replied politely with a nod.
‘Mister Lancaster if you would proceed to the restaurant, Miss Winters is waiting. I will show Mister Westford to your rooms.’
‘I stay with Eddie,’ Gabe said firmly.
I shook my head. ‘It’s fine, go see the rooms. I’m in no danger here,’ I said and headed off for the restaurant. I didn't fully trust Clara, but I didn’t think she’d try to harm me.
Clara was sitting at a table near the edge of the room waiting for me. She was wearing her usual dark blue suit and had her long blond hair up in a back-beehive style. When she saw me her lips twitched into the smallest of smiles. I approached casually and then dropped into the chair opposite her.
‘Clara,’ I sighed.
‘Eddie,’ she replied. ‘You’re looking very smart.’ She pointed at my suit.
‘Ashley’s funeral this morning. Didn’t see you there,’ I said, not masking my displeasure.
She held her own and didn’t look away from my cold glare. ‘I thought my presence in Maidstone would have caused problems. There are so many people living there now who would rather not encounter me. And of course, let us not forget that I am banished from your town. By decree of the king.’ She added the last with a little mirth. I allowed a little smirk to appear on my face.
‘Good point.’
The waiter appeared then to take our orders. I ordered a rum and coke and the beef wellington. She had a white wine and a fillet of lamb. We waited for the waiter to leave before picking up our conversation.
‘I do mourn Ashley. I want you to know that. She was a sweet girl. A good person. You were better for having her in your life,’ Clara said kindly.
‘I know I was.’ I had to look away before Clara noticed the emotion on my face.
‘I only hope that you carry a piece of her with you to remind you of your potential for good.’
‘Is that a fancy way of saying you’re worried I’ll go back to my old ways?’
‘Dean texted me. He told me about your trial today,’ she said disapprovingly.
‘They murdered Ashley.’ I could not believe that she was being judgemental over this. The punishment fit the crime.
‘Ashley’s death was an accident.’
‘An accident they caused,’ I growled, leaning forwards over the table. My raised tone caught a few looks from the surrounding diners and I relaxed back into my chair. I didn’t want to make a scene. ‘What does it matter anyway. It’s done now.’
‘Indeed. I asked you here to discuss Laura Pelling. The warlock you captured. It seems that her former master has been drawing in warlocks from all over the country. They are gathering, I would imagine, to challenge me and the AOC. I’m sure you can understand why this troubles me. Nobody I’ve spoken to knows who this warlock is. Nobody in Aldric’s organisation knows. It seems that Sebastian was the only person to ever deal with him.’
‘If this warlock is living in the shadows then he’s obviously scared,’ I suggested.
‘But why? We know he is more powerful than I am,’ she said. The drinks arrived and we had to wait for the waiter to leave us in private once again.
‘He’s more powerful than you, but not more powerful than your whole alliance. He needs more support before he can step into the open,’ I said. I took a big gulp of my drink. It was some nasty tasting kind of rum they’d given me, not the Captain Morgan’s I was used to. Funny isn’t it? I used to hate drinking and now I’ve got a preferred brand of rum.
‘That might be the case. I hope to stop him before he gets the support he needs. I’m going to offer Laura amnesty in exchange for her complete co-operation.’
‘You think that will work?’ I asked doubtfully.
‘Yes. Your presence will ensure it,’ she said confidently.
‘I don’t know how you figure that. I already tried getting her to talk. She isn’t scared of me.’ Despite it’s appalling taste I finished off my drink and then indicated to the waiter that I wanted another.
‘I have a very strong feeling that this time will be different,’ Clara said. This time her confidence bugged me. She was more confident than she should have been, and it made me suspicious. She had something up her sleeve and somehow it involved me. I did not like that.
‘I really wouldn’t count on it,’ I replied. Our lunches arrived then and we both tucked in in silence.
Chapter Five
The next morning, I got a call from the concierge desk informing me that Dean was here to escort me to my appointment. I had a quick shower and threw on some clothes. I wasn’t relishing the idea of wearing the same suit I’d worn to Ashley’s funeral but thankfully I didn’t have to. Somebody, probably Gabe, had sneaked into my room and laid out a brand-new suit. It was charcoal grey with a light grey shirt and a black tie. I’m not really a suit wearer but Gabe obviously thought that this hearing was a formal occasion. Had I chosen my own attire I would not have chosen a suit, I would have gone in my usual casual appearance. Jeans and a t-shirt most probably. Nonetheless I pulled on the suit and had to admit I looked good in it, if a little bit smarmy. I neglected to wear the tie. I didn’t want to make too much of an effort for Clara.
I left my room and found Gabe waiting patiently in the hallway. He was wearing a navy suit and had combed his blonde hair neatly to the side. I hadn’t even bothered to check my own hair, it usually just did its own thing anyway.
‘You didn’t like the tie?’ he asked after giving me a once over.
‘Not that formal a guy,’ I explained as I headed for the lift. He’d been around me long enough to know that.
‘How was your afternoon and evening?’ he asked.
‘Dull.’ I stayed in my room and watched telly for almost the entire time. I didn’t feel like doing anything else. ‘Yours?’ I added, not wanting to be rude.
‘Quite good. I explored the town. It’s not a bad place. Despite being full of vampires, werewolves and sorcerers, they all keep to themselves and don’t cause trouble. I met a vampire in a nightclub who said a few years ago you couldn’t go anywhere around here without running into trouble. It’s impressive how much it’s changed,’ he said in admiration. If I wasn’t careful he’d defect to Clara. We stepped into the lift and hit the button for the ground floor.
‘Yeah. That’s exactly what Clara wants us to think,’ I murmured.
‘I’m sorry?’ he said in confusion.
‘That’s why she got us here so early. So, we’d have time to explore the town and see how well she rules. She thinks that if I see what a good job she’s done here, I’ll hand over Maidstone.’ It was never going to happen.
‘Oh,’ he replied, lost for words. He looked away awkwardly as if he’d done something wrong.
‘You’ll pick up on her tricks once you’ve been around people like her for a while. I’m sure you’ll see some today.’
The doors slid open with a ding and we stepped into the posh lobby of the hotel. I’ve never been one for poshness, so I don’t know why Clara put me up here of all places.
‘Do you think I’ll be allowed into the hearing?’
‘Well I’m not going in without you,’ I said matter-of-factly. He couldn’t exactly guard me from outside.
I saw Dean loitering by the doors and headed over to him. He acknowledged us with a slight raise of his chin and then nodded for us to follow him outside. In his faded leather jacket and messy hair he looked as out of place in the hotel as I felt.
It was a clear sunny day outside and I wondered how hot Dean was in his heavy leather jacket. I’d never seen him without it. ‘Is that jacket surgically attached?’ I asked him.
He raised an eyebrow and hit me with a bored expression. ‘Get in the car.’ He opened the rear door of his flashy Mercedes.
‘New car?’ I asked as I ducked inside.
‘One of the perks of working with Clara,’ he said. I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be his idea of trying to tempt me over. I can’t drive so it was a wasted effort.
‘Is there a generous pension plan too?’
He slid into the driver’s seat. ‘I’m still not convinced I’ll make it to retirement,’ he said. He was only partially joking.
‘Yeah. I know that feeling.’ I forced thoughts of Annabelle’s prophecy out of my mind.
‘You know they’re not going to let a vampire into the AOC headquarters, right?’ he said, glancing at Gabe as the vampire slipped into the seat next to me.
‘They’re going to have to if they want me in there,’ I said, making it clear that it was non-negotiable.
Dean sent a quick text and within seconds he got a reply. ‘Alright, she says it’s fine. They’ll have to adjust the security when we get there.
‘Marvellous.’
The town was fairly quiet and we moved through it with ease. Dean drove slowly, no doubt to show off how peaceful it was in glorious old Cedarstone. I shook my head and enjoyed the view.
‘So, I’ll run you through how it works. These hearings. Clara runs them. There are too many covens in the alliance to have all the dynasts on the panel these days so for each hearing six dynasts are randomly selected. The names were drawn a few days ago. Anyone on the panel can question the subject of the hearing. At the end of the hearing Clara will put forward a ruling and the panel will vote for or against it. If there’s a tie, Clara breaks it,’ he explained.
‘How many of these hearings have there been?’ I asked, trying to digest the information he’d thrown at me.
‘Uhm…. A lot. We’re definitely into triple figures.’
‘And how many times has Clara been voted against?’
‘None.’
I let out a dry chuckle. Exactly as I thought. It wasn’t a true democracy. I’d seen Clara’s plans to install herself as supreme dynast a long time ago. The deck would be rigged in her favour.
‘Clara isn’t the dictator you seem to think she is. She handles things fairly. Nobody is forced to side with her, her rulings are always what everyone thinks is best,’ Dean said. It was clear that he believed what he was saying, but I was not convinced.
‘May I ask a question?’ Gabe asked, looking at me for permission. He usually stayed silent as was the job of a bodyguard. I’d never actually told him he couldn’t speak though, and I didn’t have a problem with it.
‘Go ahead.’ I shrugged.
‘What kind of a defence does the subject of the hearing get?’ he said, his brow furrowed thoughtfully.
‘They defend themselves,’ Dean admitted after a pause. There was something he didn’t agree with about Clara’s process. I sat back and smiled smugly.
‘Seems fair,’ I muttered.
The AOC headquarters was a new build and it was ugly. It was a five-storey glass dome that reflected the sun in a dazzling display of hideousness. I shielded my eyes as I looked at the crystal monstrosity. There was no sign indicating what the building was. That made sense, they couldn’t advertise a headquarters for a bunch of witches when they were trying to maintain secrecy.
‘What do you think?’ Dean asked.
‘Well…’ I tried to think of a polite way to phrase my thoughts on the building.
‘It’s fucking ugly,’ Dean said, finding the perfect words to fit my sentiments.
We walked down the white paved pathway that was framed by vibrant green grass. Waiting by the entrance was a gangly woman with dark hair pulled back in a pony tail. She was wearing black trousers and a yellow blouse. Her name badge said she was Gwen, Security Operative.
‘Hey, Gwen,’ Dean said as we reached her.
‘Dean.’ She nodded respectfully. ‘You’re Mister Lancaster?’ she said turning to me.
‘Eddie’s fine.’ I said. I hate being called Mister Lancaster. Far too formal.
‘And you are the vampire I’ve come to sort.’ She spoke to him as though he were a farm animal. Gabe blinked and looked down at his shoes as if he was embarrassed. I noticed then that he’d removed his tie. Obviously trying to match my appearance. His loyalty only made me angrier at her rudeness.
‘His name is Gabe and you’ll speak to him with a bit more respect. You’re just a security operative whereas he is my head of security,’ I said in my best stern voice. She blushed and looked at me apologetically. Dean looked amused.
‘I meant no offence,’ Gwen said quickly. ‘I just need a blood sample so I can adjust the security defences.’
‘Huh?’ I made no attempt to hide my confusion.
Dean stepped in to explain. ‘The building is protected by a massive spell. It draws power from all the covens. Non-sorcerers can’t enter the building. Gwen will use Gabe’s blood to adjust the spell so he can enter.’
