Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

chimney. “I’m glad you’re with me. I admit witchcraft scares me. Helen scares me.” I pulled out the piece of arrow still wrapped in my shawl. Flo had slipped it to me before she left.

“I’m glad to hear it. You’d be foolish to trust one of her kind.”

“But I must see the witch. To ask her about this. Jeremiah is afraid she’ll hurt me, but I need some answers and I think she can help me find them.” I turned to Fergus for understanding. “I have no reason to think she is against us.”

“Maggie told me about this.” He took the arrow and studied it, handling it carefully as he sniffed it. “Dark magic indeed. I’ve not come across the like before. I want to know who did this too, Gloriana. Let’s face her together. Know your enemy. Jeremiah should have remembered that. She could be one of them or may know who is trying to harm you.”

“Thank you, Fergus. I have trusted you with my life before, I’ll gladly do it again.” I scanned the beach. As usual, there were men on guard but Jeremiah must have joined his father on their ship. He was determined to get the repairs completed quickly in case we were attacked again. With spring advancing, the nights were growing shorter. It made his time on the ship precious.

“Let’s go then.” I took the arrow and tucked it away. “Let me do the talking. I sense Helen is not drawn to black magic and that is what she claims. But we will see.” I started toward her door. It opened before I could get there. A black cat ran out and toward the forest. Was it a shape-shifter, one of Helen’s cohorts, escaping before we got there?

“I knew you would be back. Come in.” Helen held the door open. “Who is this?”

“Fergus Turnbull, at your service, madame.” Fergus made a slight bow and removed his hat. “I am on guard duty today. I’m sure you’ve noticed that Mistress Gloriana goes nowhere without someone to watch her back, especially since she was attacked and almost killed.”

“But you survived, mistress.” Helen smiled. “I saw it all in my bowl. Poison on an arrow. Someone was very clever.” She waved her hand and her power washed over me, chilling me. “But your attacker was not clever enough to survive, I think.”

“It’s true, the man who shot the arrow is dead. But we need to know more about the poison. That’s why we’re here.” I passed it to her.

She carefully unwrapped the shawl, drawing back slightly when the arrow’s point was revealed.

“We haven’t washed it so you can see my blood and the poison on the tip. I want to know who made this poison. Who helped the Irish pirate?” I watched her sniff the arrow and frown. “Could the maker be nearby? Do I have to worry there will be another attack on my life?” My voice rose along with my fear.

Gods, but I had to remember that I had people around me to protect me and skills of my own. I was immortal! So why did this one attack make me tremble? I’d survived, hadn’t I?

“Sit.” Helen looked me over. “You are right to be afraid, mistress. Trouble follows you. I have seen it.” She gestured and I took my seat. Fergus hovered close behind me.

“Tell me. What have you seen?” I knew I sounded impatient and her brows rose at my tone. “Please. I almost died from that poison.”

“I understand.” She nodded. “This will take time. I must study the poison.” She gathered her herbs, moving much too slowly for my liking.

As usual, it was gloomy in the small room. There were candles lit but not enough and a fire blazed in the fireplace, making it almost uncomfortably warm. The bowl sat in the middle of the table, empty now. As soon as I had the thought, Helen walked over to the hearth and picked up her kettle. She splashed water into the bowl before sitting across from me. She threw in a handful of her herbs then started her ritual of hand waving and humming until the water began to whirl, gradually gaining speed.

“What’s this? Are we going to get a show?” Fergus shuffled his feet restlessly.

“Hush. Let her do what she thinks necessary to find our answers.” I waited while Helen stared into the bowl. Suddenly she dropped the arrow into it. It made the water boil and foam over the sides. Yellow smoke and a horrible sulphury smell filled the room.

“By God! That was a trick.” Fergus wouldn’t stay quiet. I reached back and pinched his arm.

“Evil stalks you, Gloriana St. Clair. I smell revenge.” Helen’s voice was low, almost a growl.

“I smell rotten eggs. Can I open a door?” Fergus started toward it.

“Stop!” Helen stood. “I am trying to get an answer, you clod. Be still.”

Well, that told him. Fergus stayed put.

Helen went back to gazing into her bowl. She began to gesture, her hands moving in a circular motion. How she could stand to be so close to that horrible odor, I didn’t know. I scooted back as far as I could and remembered to stop breathing. Handy trick for vampires, not breathing.

I desperately wanted answers. Revenge. That was always on the menu here but how did that help me now? I had to know who was after me. I’d thought the danger might be past in Scotland since McFee had killed the pirate queen’s lover.

“What you think you know, you don’t know.” Helen kept swaying and waving her hands above the bowl to stir the water, careful not to touch the boiling surface.

“That’s a riddle. Revenge. I knew that. So what? Will they give up soon? They can always pick a new leader and move on.” I made myself lean forward. “I want to know who to look for if I am still in danger.”

“They have not given up. Beware.” Helen’s eyes were red. “It’s a man. Someone you