Chapter 661: Official Visit
I would have preferred to walk, on principle, but, frankly, felt happy for the ride in the warm back of the big, black SUV arriving only a moment after the gates swung open. I ignored the show of power Vasyl brought with him, the line of wereguards turning with trained precision to follow my every move. At least the muzzles of their guns were lowered. Well, half lowered.
Either this was their usual or I scared the bejeebuz out of them.
I chose to think the latter.
The heavy door thudded shut behind me, warmth enveloping me as the blast of heat from the leather seat radiated upward into my freezing behind. I almost snarled at the loss of precious heat as the door behind me opened, Gwendolyn slipping inside with Finlay next to her. Isabelle didn't give Vasyl a chance to sit next to me in the second row, firmly closing her door on his face. I caught enough of his scowl through the black tinted glass I worried he'd seen through her glamour though Shaylee calmly informed me all was well and I had to trust her.
From the glare Isabelle leveled at him, however, I knew the pair had history. Just as long as that history didn't interfere with my rescue of Charlotte, Isabelle could keep her secrets.
Vasyl slammed the front passenger door and snapped something at the driver. The SUV's engine purred as we turned and drove off, the amazing suspension rumbling smoothly over the snow-covered lane.
"His Royal Majesty is most eager to meet you," Vasyl said over his shoulder. "Though perhaps some indication of your purpose for this visit would make your introduction go more smoothly?"
No way he didn't know why I was there. Come on, sharkboy. Did they really think I was that stupid? Besides, I highly doubted the Czar was happy I'd crashed his little ego party. "I'm just here to see your boss," I said. "No time for small talk."
"With those beneath me," went unsaid. Because, I was classy like that.
Vasyl turned to smile at me despite my silent rebuke, a shark smile of bright white teeth and cold gray eyes. "As you wish." He turned back again, voice full of dark humor. "I'm sure your visit will be most enlightening."
Like I didn't know I was walking into some kind of trap. So he really did think I was a total idiot.
Sheesh. Bad guys had serious underestimation issues.
I stared out the window, evergreen trees heavy with thick, white blankets flashing by as we wound through the Ukrainian countryside. I expected a short drive up a lane to some kind of mansion. Instead, we were on the road a solid five minutes, silence heavy and hanging in the cab of the SUV. I felt the tickle of Gwendolyn's mind as she politely tried to get me to talk to her, but I shut her out.
No time to be a wilting princess. I was pretty sure she'd only tell me to back off and be less aggressive. She didn't know me at all.
Was about to have another lesson in Sydology as the SUV turned a corner and roared down the last stretch of road.
I caught glimpses of stone and something truly massive, but it wasn't until the truck came to a halt, the door beside me opening in a whoosh, icy air washing over me, I realized this was no mansion. Or castle, either, Wilhelm's seat having nothing on this place.
My feet slipped on the snow as I stepped out, gaping at the massive palace stretched out before me, the climbing columns reminding me of the entry to Widener Library at Harvard. But bigger. And capped with more columns, rising another four or five stories. All from cream stone that looked like marble.
Okay then. I had to admit I was impressed. But not by the Czar-by the people who built this place.
Holy. I bet astronauts saw it from space.
I followed Vasyl, my companions and about an army's worth of werewolves trailing behind me through the thin layer of snow over the cobbled drive and up the steps. No winter leavings here, meticulously swept clean from the deep purple carpeting lining the stairway. Talk about extravagant. I was used to the vampires and their elegant attempt at recreating the past. But this place made me think of old world Russia I learned about in history class, like time rewound-or at least stood still-in this place. An era where opulence and decadence reined as much as the Czars.
At least the interior felt warm, though I'd hate to have the heat bill. Towering double doors groaned shut behind us, the deep burgundy wood polished and shining. Elaborate handles larger than my hands could grasp twisted with silver and gold vines. My feet squeaked once as they touched stone, only to fall silent again on the runner of matching purple carpet beginning at the threshold and running deep into the massive cave of the entry.
No, not cave. More like a cathedral, all sconces and statues and filigree gold, like I was standing on the inside of a Faberge egg. Cream marble, giant portraits, a chandelier dripping so much crystal I could barely look at it. Sure, I'd read about places like this, seen a few in movies and the like, but actually standing there, surrounded by so much wealth so blatantly displayed drove a spike of anger through my stomach.
How many people were hurt, made to suffer, or left by the wayside to create this place? What I knew of Russian history did nothing to cool my rising temper.
Vasyl paused, giving me time to be all awed and stuff.
Seriously.
"Nice place," I said. "Oh, by the way." I strode past him, "your self-esteem issues are showing."
Snap.
I could tell the wereguards weren't all that happy about me taking the lead, but I'd had it. Up. To. Here. With all of this crap. I aimed myself at another set of double doors that seemed to be under heavy protection and headed in that direction, the full length of the giant foyer between me and them, my temper only rising with each step.
Please. Gwendolyn finally made it through. I know, I really do. But think of your friend.
I am, I snapped back. Now, either keep your opinions to yourself, or leave. Pick one.
I shut her down even as I strode closer to the target doors.
The guards didn't move, faced me down. More gathered. I had the right place, at least. But the closer I approached, the more determined I was to get through and I was not stopping.
Not.
So they'd better get their furry asses out of my way or I'd be playing ten-pin bowling with their big, ugly heads.
No demon this time, no vampire. And not Shaylee, either, though I held her in reserve. This place was pretty and everything, but a nicely place earthquake would do wonders for the décor.
Instead, I opened up the black flower beneath me, accessing my sorcery, allowing it to bloom, its hunger alive, reaching.
Ready to feed.
While using my sorcery still gave me the creeps, this seemed an appropriate time to whip it out, considering who I was about to confront. Best Yure Danko understood I wasn't screwing around.
Ten steps. The guards stiffened. Nine steps. They raised their weapons. Eight. They tightened ranks. Seven. Blackness, pooled at my feet, began to expand outward, reaching for the hot, bubbling power of the werewolves, starving for their essence. Six. Five.
Four.
Three.
Close enough to see fear in their eyes, the slight tremor of their weapons. So they were afraid.
Wicked.
Two.
"C????? ????????." Vasyl's voice echoed in the air, just over my right shoulder. "Let her through."
One.
The line of guards parted like a wave before the prow of a ship. My sorcery licked at the edges of the slower ones, tasting them. I watched them pale, felt a little sick, but refused to show it. Instead, I stopped and lifted my arm, gestured, drawing on my power to open the doors.
Shaylee responded.
My demon.
My vampire.
My sorcery.
Oops.
Good thing I was shielding. The resulting explosion was quiet impressive, if I do say so myself. I had enough time to realize the girls were just a little too pissed off for this to end well, and extended my shielding outward to gather the pieces of shattered doorway, capturing them in a bubble of spirit magic before my demon set them on fire. They flared in bursts of spark even as Shaylee, not to be outdone, wiggled her way past them and sent a rumble through the floor of the palace just strong enough to make the chandelier behind me tinkle in response.
Way to make an entrance, Hayle. And though I hadn't intended for this to happen, the girls took my gesture and their own irritation and turned it into something absolutely spectacular.
I let the bubble of wards collapse as the ash from the remains of the door, now a sifting pile of dust, cascaded to the floor on the other side. Shivering a little from just how freaking awesome and scary that was, doing my best to hide my own shock at the total overreaction of my alter egos, I stuck my hands in my pockets and strolled through the gap like I'd been invited inside.
***
