Cate Tiernan - A Chalice of Wind

Why did this not sound like a better idea?

Axelle went into the main room and picked up the phone, "Let me make a few calls "

Half an hour later the door opened and Daedalus came in” He examined Clio, and she met his ga^e calmly. Jules was with him, of course, and Richard came a few minutes after that. Axelle smugly made the introductions, as if she was enjoying presenting The Other Twin to everyone.

I saw Clio blink when she met Richard, taking in his piercings, tattoos, and oddly adult demeanor,

"You, babe," Richard said to me, moving into the kitchen.

There was a knock on the door, and Axelle opened it.

"Thais, Clio, this is Sophie and Manon"

Sophie was a pretty woman in her early twenties, and oh my God, Manon was another kid, even younger than Richard, maybe twelve; 1But like Richard, she seemed older and creepily knowing, like a grown-up.

"Hello," I said as Sophie and Manon checked us out. I saw Manon wink at Richard, and he grinned at hen Those weird kids knew so much more than I did, were much more comfortable in this world than I was. Was Manon an orphan, like Richard? Or did her parents just not care?

Richard was pouring himself an alcoholic drink. Mouth open in shock, I waited for someone to stop him, but though several people saw it, they didn't seem to think anything of it. Clio looked at him curiously, then held out her hand in a pinching gesture, her fingers two inches apart. Richard nodded and got down another glass. I shook my head.

"I guess I'm not in Kansas anymore," I whispered bitterly to Minou, who had jumped up on the counter.

The door opened again, and a black woman came in. Maybe four inches shorter than me, she was fine-boned, elegant, and graceful.

"This is Ouida," Axelle said, and gestured at us. Unlike everyone else, who had just stared at us like we were an exhibit, Ouida caught on to the fact that we were actually people. She crossed the room, holding out her hands.

Tm so happy to meet you," she said in an attractive, cultivated voice, and hugged Clio first. When she hugged me, I felt warm and happy. Tm Ouida Jeffers, and I'm a good friend of… Petra 's. Now let me see…" She looked at us both, then nodded at Clio. "You're Clio, and you're Thais," she said to me. I nodded, smiling at her. She seemed blessedly normal and unweird.T know this is all strange and confusing-maybe a little scary? I wish Petra was here today to help. But she'll be back soon."

"Where did she go?" Clio asked quickly.

Ouida patted her arm. "It will all be clear soon," she promised. "Today might be upsetting for you-but afterward, maybe we can all go out and get something to eat somewhere? I'm anxious to know you both better."

“I’d like that," I said, feeling more comfortable than I had in days.

The doorbell rang again, and Axelle yelled, "Come in!" The apartment had taken on a party atmosphere, with people getting themselves things to drink, milling around, talking. Yep, just a bunch of modern witches hanging out, schmoozing… I wondered if Ouida would be interested in escaping sometime soon.

The door opened, and-

My heart pounded one last time and thudded to a halt. I saw Clio turn; then her body froze and the hand holding her glass clenched.

"Luc," Richard said casually, tossing a pecan into his mouth.

Daedalus and Jules nodded at him. Luc nodded back at them. Axelle waved at him as she talked to Sophie. Luc ran one hand through his dark hair and nodded back He looked tense, upset.

Clio turned very slowly in her seat and met my eyes. I'm sure we wore the same sick, horrified expression: the situation that had already been as wretched and heartbreaking as it possibly could be had just gotten worse..

Luc was one of them.

Okay, call me impulsive. It took only a few seconds to process Andres presence, meet Thais's eyes, and then take aim and hum my heavy glass hard at Andre's head. Being a witch he felt it coming at the last second and managed to deflect it, just barely. It whisked by his head, splashing his shirt, and he stared at me, grimly shocked.

Instantly his eyes shifted, looking for Thais. He saw her standing behind the kitchen counter, and the new wash of pain in his eyes made my insides twist.

Of course, all conversation stopped, and the other seven witches now stared at the stupid, humiliating drama spread before them. Andre was a witch, and brilliant me had been so lust-crazed and in love that I had totally missed it. I'd been so swamped by my raging emotions that I'd thought the strong vibes I got from him were all sexual attraction.

My stomach dropped at my next thought. Could it be Andre? Could it have been Andre who was trying to kill us? He'd lied about so many other things…

I sucked in a silent breath and spun on my bar stool, my back to Andre. I met Thais's eyes, letting my feelings show, and I saw the dawning comprehension in hers. A new stunned look came over her face, and then she looked at me like. Do you really think so? I shrugged, then stared stonily out the small kitchen window behind Thais. I didn't know anything anymore,

"Good God, Luc, already?" Axelles tone was both amused and irritated.

"Luc, I told you this-" the old guy, Daedalus, began, but Andre cut him off.

"Shut up." He sounded furious.

Thais's eyes were downcast, looking only at Axelles black cat as she stroked it.

Richard gave a somewhat bitter-sounding laugh. "The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh, Luc?"

"Shut up!" Andre snapped again, and Richard made a "whatever" gesture.

I felt a soft; hand on my back and tensed, ready to smack whoever it was. "I'm sorry, Clio," Ouida whispered, then sighed heavily. "I should have come back weeks ago."

"It doesn't matter," I said stiffly. I turned around again and faced Axelle, who was still carrying on a silent, exasperated conversation of gestures with Andre.

"So are we all here?" I said, making my voice as cold as possible. "Why don't you get this show on the road? Is anyone going to tell us what the hell is going on?"

I heard Richard chuckle behind me and resisted the strong temptation to turn around and deck him.

"Yes," Axelle said. "I think it's time to initiate our newest members."

I frowned. Not exactly what I had in mind. "I want some answers first. Who are you?"

The older guy stepped forward. His practiced smile reminded me of a circus ringmaster. How appropriate. "We are members of the Treize," he said. His open hands encompassed everyone in the room. 'As are you and your sister."

Huh. "Okay, Treize means thirteen in French, so I'm guessing you're a coven. But how does my grandmother fit into all this? We already belong to a coven."

" Petra belonged to this one first," said Jules. "We don't get together very often."

"To put it mildly," said Richard, under his breath.

"How are Thais and I members of this so-called coven too?" I asked.

"This coven is made up of members from the fifteen original families who founded our ancestors' settlement hundreds of years ago" Daedalus went on. "Not every family is represented, of course. But the twelve of us, plus one of your ancestors, a woman named Cerise, made up our coven. Cerise died… long ago, and another member disappeared and is presumed dead. So we've been only eleven for a long time. But then one of Cerises descendents, your mother, Clemence, had twins. So you and Thais unexpectedly make a full thirteen possible again."

Eyes narrowed, I looked around at all the witches in the room, carefully avoiding Andre. Even seeing him hurt unbearably. There was something weird here-I mean, something even weirder than all the obvious weirdness.

Thais spoke up. "Even with us, there are still only ten people here."