Olivia's Decision Read online

  They ran out of the feasting hall, joining Annara and the others in the courtyard where it was calm with not a vibration to be felt.

  "Too weird." Olivia turned around and stared at the shaking edifice. "I've never experienced an earthquake, um, planet-quake inside one building before."

  "No one has ever experienced anyone like Valori before is what I've learned today," Annara quipped, winking at Olivia. "I bet you're glad to finish your spying mission."

  "I am, but what about Valori and Moreau?" Olivia watched in horror as the feasting hall roof began to buckle and the outer walls shook like gelatin on a plate. "We've got to get them out of there."

  "Valori, I'm certain, can extract herself without our help. Moreau?" Annara shrugged. "Is it much of a loss to bury him in rubble?"

  "No need to be heartless." Olivia couldn't explain it, but she did hold some feelings for her pretend intended. Mahvet, still in shock and feeling dazed at what he was witnessing, had proven not all Pure Bloods were evil. Some could be trusted to do the right thing. They just needed to be educated on what it meant to treat others the way they wanted to be treated. The vampires of BloodDark were intelligent and adaptable—they'd catch on eventually.

  "Looks like you're going to get your wish." Annara tutted. "Here they come."

  The great doors blew open with a bang and out whooshed Valori, walking a foot above the ground and dragging Moreau by the collar. Olivia gaped as Valori flew over to her, Moreau stumbling and twisting in her grip until she dropped the young Pure Blood with a thud onto the cobblestones.

  "Moreau decided at the last moment it was better to destroy the illegal Portal rather than allow it to fall into the wrong hands," Valori explained. With a graceful motion, she descended and settled her feet on the ground. "I hope you two agree."

  Olivia closed her jaw with a snap. "Uh, yeah."

  "We were supposed to secure the rogue Portal and then bring the councilors here so they'd see with their own eyes undeniable proof of the Alphan plot, remember?" Annara frowned, acting unconcerned by Valori's display of supernatural powers. The feasting hall shook hard one last time and then collapsed in upon itself. She sighed. "I'm not sure if pulverized pieces count as evidence."

  Valori smiled. "Don't worry. Olivia's and Mahvet's witness will convince them."

  Annara dragged Moreau to his feet and handcuffed him. "Time to take our guests to meet justice. We'll be at the holding cells."

  "We'll follow you in a moment, Annara." Valori took Olivia by the arm and followed a shaky Mahvet back to the main residence.

  Olivia clasped her friend's hand. "I think you did the right thing. There's no telling what would happen if the Alphans or any of the other Pure Blood clans ever got a hold of that small Portal—or even parts of it. You've prevented a coup d'état at the very least."

  "Honestly, I wasn't thinking about it falling into the Pure Bloods' hands," Valori admitted. "I was thinking of it falling into human hands."

  "Human?" Olivia fell speechless. You are insightful, Valori. You have seen the true threat all along.

  Valori reached over and brushed Olivia's forehead with her fingertips. The trip to your world showed me the possibilities of how this great technology could be used for nothing but sheer greed or sheer terror. No one group can be trusted with it for long.

  "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" is what my father says. What can be done to prevent its corrupting influence even in the hands of the new ruling council?

  Short of destroying all Portals between our two worlds? Valori bit her lip and shrugged.

  Olivia groaned. Not even a gifted woman who could see into the minds of others could visualize all eventual outcomes.

  Chapter Six

  Clan Alpha House was in utter chaos.

  "What has happened to our masters?" servants wailed.

  "What has happened to our most revered leaders?" Pure Bloods moaned.

  "What has happened to their brains?" Olivia wondered aloud. The dashing and darting about and hysterical cries sounded genuine but were comical in nature. "Sheesh! You'd think they'd never had a family member arrested for selling stolen artifacts and attempting to take over the government before."

  "We're not a species which handles change well—especially sudden change," Mahvet explained. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I see someone I wish to talk to very much."

  Olivia smiled. Kate ran over to meet them. Mahvet, sudden change or not, ran to intercept her first. He led her off to a quiet alcove. "I hope it works out well for them," Olivia said with a heartfelt sigh.

  "It will, if we can bring this world into balance first."

  Valori took her hand from Olivia's arm and crossed to the center of the grand entrance hall. Raising her hands above her head, she clapped three times, each clap resonating like thunder. Clan Alpha was shocked into silence.

  "There. That's much better." The older woman gave the scared and confused faces surrounding her a benevolent smile. "We don't need to waste energy on worrying and carrying on. We have more important tasks to attend to, don't we?"

  As one, the Pure Bloods and their servants settled down into their typical disciplined patterns.

  "Wow, some arsenal of magic tricks you've got there." Olivia shook her head. "However did you learn how to do such things? The blood transfusion and the trip to Earth alone couldn't have given you such, such..."

  Dare I voice it? Valori interjected into her mind. Such powers. Absolute power.

  Olivia gulped. What was it her father used to say about power?

  "Don't worry, my child. My power is limited and I know my limits." Valori lowered her arms and headed toward the servants' wing. "And I am feeling quite drained after my conversation with Moreau. I need peace and quiet and a long rest. If you'll excuse me, I will retire to my room for a cycle. Give Annara and the council my regards."

  "All right, but don't you want to tell them first about how you..." Olivia sighed. Valori had disappeared.

  Olivia put her hands on her hips and surveyed the scene. Things were settling down, but an undercurrent of tension remained. Kate and Mahvet had wandered off, no doubt to talk about their future together. Deciding her presence wasn't necessary and she wouldn't be missed, Olivia headed to the door.

  "You are to stay inside," an Overseer barked. In all the chaos and shouting, Olivia hadn't notice the beefy hulk posted at guard duty.

  "It's okay. I've been out before. I won't get lost." She walked past him only to be grabbed by the shoulders and tossed back into the building. "Hey, buddy! Watch it. My fiancé won't like you bruising the merchandise."

  "Our orders say no one is to leave the clan house until our leaders return."

  She stood and brushed herself off. "Well, it could be awhile. The last I saw of them, they were headed for the lockup."

  The Overseer flashed her a puzzled frown. "Lockup?"

  "Jail, prison, holding cells—whatever you guys call the pokey here. The ruling council security guards took them away for questioning."

  Now the muscleman looked completely confused. Olivia decided to make the most of it. "I know they told you they'd be right back, but it's not going to happen. We're on our own now. We've been cut loose." Please believe me and let me go about my way.

  "I believe you." The Overseer stepped aside. "You may go."

  "Huh? Thank you." She darted out the door before he changed his mind.

  Weird. It's like I planted a suggestion in his mind, and he went along with it without questioning. Valori, is this your doing?

  No response. Valori was probably sleeping. Who'd helped her then? Had she been helped at all? Did she possess the same telepathic abilities as the Pure Bloods now?

  The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Best not to think about it. Best to keep her wits about her and get to the council chambers as fast as possible. Annara must be wondering what had kept them so long.

  *****

  "I have returned at last. For good."

  Olivia breezed into the co
uncil's library, hoping to catch Annara curled up in a chair going over security reports. She'd be grinning from ear to ear at their success in finding the Alphans' Portal device. Instead, the face Olivia saw first was twice as dear to her, but he didn't smile half as much as she would have liked.

  "Hernando?" Her jaw dropped open. Her mind went offline. "What... are... you doing here?"

  "Following a lead on the Alphan artworks."

  Hernando took a step toward her. His deep brown eyes possessed an uncharacteristic sadness about them, his mouth a slight downward turn even when he attempted to smile. "I was also following a lead on where you might be since your parents hadn't seen or heard from you in several weeks and are worried." He pulled her into his arms and caressed her hair. "I'm angry about your lying to all of us, but I'm happy to see you're safe."

  Olivia burst into tears and pressed her face against his chest. "I'm sorry I lied to you—and my parents. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I didn't want to compromise you if I was caught."

  Hernando stiffened. "You're saying Annara didn't put you up to this?"

  She shook her head. "No. We planned it together, but I volunteered."

  "You willingly endangered yourself by entering the Clan Alpha House alone?" His tone possessed elements of disgust and disbelief. He let her go and put some distance between them. "Had you been killed by the bloodsuckers, your family would have been crushed—did you ever consider the consequences of your actions? Did you ever think how it would have affected me?"

  His shoulders sagged. Hernando turned his face away, hiding the tears in his dark brown eyes behind a lock of shoulder-length hair. It was difficult for him to allow anyone to see him crying. She had hurt him, perhaps wounded him more than anyone ever had. Would he ever forgive her?

  "I'm an idiot. I didn't think it through at all. Please forgive me."

  Olivia crossed the space between them and reached out to touch his arm. He stepped away. She bit her lip, an angry frustration boiling within her. She had to explain it to him—he had to be made to see sense.

  "Look, I said I was sorry," she began. "I'm fine—and we have new information on what the Alphans were up to with their unauthorized Portal device, and the culprits are in jail. I've proven the trust Caveman and the others on the ruling council have in me hasn't been misplaced. I'm willing to sacrifice my own safety in order to make this new government work for all of BloodDark's inhabitants and not just the renegade Pure Bloods. My work should count for something, right?"

  A dark cloud passed over Hernando's face. "I'm sure the council will reward you for your courage and ingenuity, if it's what you really want."

  Olivia gasped. Her blood ran cold. He thought she wanted accolades and trophies? She wanted praise for her good deeds? "No, Hernando, I don't need a ribbon or a medal. I want you to be proud of me and to trust me to do the right thing—for everyone. I don't want you to think I'm a selfish glory hound showing off her abilities. I want BloodDark to be safe and to have continued good relations with Earth. I did this because of us—you and me. I love you."

  He frowned. "How was risking your life on a hunch any way to prove you love me?"

  Olivia sighed. "It just was. Believe me, I didn't mean to cause you any pain."

  She reached out to take his hand. He didn't move away, but he didn't squeeze back, either. Before she could take his other hand in hers, they were interrupted.

  "Ambassador, it's good to see you’ve returned home," Caveman Charlie said, striding into the council's library chamber. He paused as he spied Olivia, a grimace spreading across his leprechaun-like features. He turned back to Hernando. "Your timing is fortuitous. You can accompany this young lady back to Earth when your visit is complete."

  "Only if she wishes to return." Hernando dropped Olivia’s hand and composed himself to converse with the president of the ruling council. "Miss Brown has become engaged to Moreau of Clan Alpha, I've been informed."

  Ouch. That explains why Hernando doesn't believe me. Who told him about my pair-bonding-thingy already? I don't suppose I can convince him it was Lauren Petrowski who pair-bonded and not me?

  Caveman cleared his throat and rocked back and forth on his heels. "Ahem, yes, we’ve heard as much. Annara's preliminary report on the operation gave us the main details, and it demonstrates how far undercover Olivia was willing to go to discover the location of the unauthorized Portal. Thanks to her efforts, it's been decommissioned."

  Hernando harrumphed. "It sounds like Valori and her powers had more to do with putting it out of action than anything else."

  Double ouch. Olivia flinched. Hernando wasn't going to give her any credit for locating the rogue Portal. Would he ever let go of his hurt?

  "Good thing Valori is on our side then." Caveman's tone softened. "Perhaps we should have a liaison within each of the Pure Blood clans to help integrate them fully into our new society of equals. What could it hurt?"

  "Terrific idea, Caveman." Olivia smiled. "There's been a lot of misunderstanding between the human and mixed populations, and the original colonists of BloodDark. An official liaison within each clan could go a long way to smoothing over past hurts and future worries. They could act as mediators between groups and prevent slights from festering and potentially turning into all-out war."

  Caveman raised a bushy-red eyebrow. "You've thought a lot about this, haven't you?"

  "I have. You get to know people well when you're eating at their table and polishing their silver. Professor Mahvet, who instructed us on the history and culture of the Pure Bloods, would make an excellent liaison for the Alphans. He's a great speaker and enjoys meeting all sorts of people. I'm sure he could recommend others like him among the other clans."

  Caveman nodded. "Fascinating. Sounds like an excellent plan." He turned to Hernando. "Do you think you could spare this intelligent young woman for a while longer? I think we could use her to set up this new office of liaisons."

  "Olivia is free to do as she wishes," Hernando said, without a glance at her. "I'm certain the council could make good use of her talents."

  Triple ouch. Olivia cringed, but fought hard to keep her outward appearance calm. I should be grateful he thinks I could be of use to BloodDark, because he's sending out signals I'm of no use to him.

  "I'd be honored to help the ruling council." She shook Caveman's hand and did her best not to look over at Hernando. His scowl was a knife to her heart.

  Annara rushed into the library just in time to save her from an awkward moment. "Our guests in the holding cells are willing to talk." She turned to Caveman. "They've requested your presence as the head council member."

  "Me?" Caveman pursed his lips. "Why? I didn't have anything to do with this... operation."

  "They say they'll only speak to someone in the highest authority." Annara shrugged. "They say the information they'll divulge involves the ruling council, if not the entire world."

  Olivia gulped. "Somehow I think they've been dealing with more than just Roland Grundfest and his billionaire, art-loving friends."

  "I know they have," Hernando said under his breath.

  Olivia spun around. The sadness in her beloved's eyes had been replaced by a steely stare with a determined grimace.

  "Can I accompany you, Caveman?" Hernando asked. "I have some pointed questions to ask our guests as well."

  Caveman nodded. "Yes, let's go."

  "This way, gentlemen." Annara gestured toward the door and followed the men from the library, leaving Olivia standing alone, in shock for several seconds.

  "Wait! Can I come along, too?" She ran after them, but lost their trail as she turned the corner. "I guess they don't need me." Sighing, she returned to the library to curl up in an overstuffed chair and sulk.

  *****

  An hour later, Annara came shuffling back into the library, head down.

  "Wanna talk about it?" Olivia stood and crossed to her friend.

  Annara plopped onto a sofa and patted the spot beside her. "I'm not
supposed to talk about it, but I think you should know... certain things."

  Olivia frowned as she sat down. "Certain things?"

  "Things dealing with Earth." Annara shifted in her seat and averted her glance. "It is your home world, and you should be made aware of what might happen so you can make up your mind."

  Olivia felt a shiver of dread tingle down her spine. "Make up my mind about what?"

  Annara, never one to prevaricate, didn't answer right away. Dressed in her favorite leather jacket and armed with her favorite hunting knife, Olivia's fellow fighter in the Resistance was the epitome of a survivor who could take care of herself and others with one hand tied behind her back. Annara never hesitated to share vital information and wasn't one to mince words or soothe nerves, but now? Her silence spoke volumes.

  "You're not going to tell me, huh?" Olivia balled her fists into her lap. Not knowing would drive her mad. "Please, you must tell me. What is going to happen to Earth?"

  Annara raised her gaze and sighed. "It's going to cease to exist if we don't stop them."

  "Earth is under attack?" Olivia jumped to her feet and began pacing. "What are we doing sitting here then? We've got to warn them!"

  "No, you've got it backward." Annara shook her head and stood. "It's not Earth under attack. It's BloodDark."

  Olivia frowned. "BloodDark? Then why did you say Earth would cease to exist?"

  "Because they won't let the Earthers destroy our world. They will do everything to protect it—including destroying your world."

  Chapter Seven

  "You won't be allowed in the meeting," Annara called out to Olivia's retreating back as she ran down the corridor toward the conference hall.

  "I'll kick the door down if I have to, but I will get in." Olivia quickened her pace, summoning up her strength.

  As she approached the large double doors, she noticed the other councilors and advisors were slow to arrive and file into the large gathering place. Olivia spied an opening between Councilors Kai and Winn and darted between the two former servant’s etiquette tutors faster than the older, prim and proper women could cry, "Didn't we teach you any manners?"