Blood and Gold Trilogy

Chapter 2: Complaints

The moment we were alone, Sassafras started his usual complaints.

"You could at least hold me in your lap so I could look out the window. But no, you don't think of things that help others, do you, Auburdeen? You are the most selfish witch I've ever had the misfortune to be stuck with."

Even though I hated it when he used my full first name, I still snickered at my silver Persian and leaned forward to tap the edge of his cage with one hand. "You were the one who backed Mum on this particular adventure, I seem to recall. No complaining allowed, cat."

Amber eyes glowed briefly as the demon soul within him showed his anger. "Not fair," he grumbled.

I reached through the slats and gave his left cheek a good rub. "Life's not, is it, Sass?" I sighed, feeling very much at that moment that he was, indeed, correct. In a fair world, I would still be in New York at my mother's side, standing up against the Tremere's, assisting in the coven takeover. But no use dwelling further.

"We simply have to make the best of this," I said. "Both of us." I glanced out the window at the shining electric lights. "We are in London, after all. Surely there's something to do here that won't bore us to tears."

"Bore you, you mean," he shot back, pink tongue just visible in the passing light as he reflexively groomed one spotless paw. "I fully intend to take advantage of this little vacation and catch up on my rest."

"You already sleep most of the day," I laughed at him, tapping his cage again and winning a hiss of displeasure. "How much more rest do you need?"

"I'll have you know," he sniffed with clear indignation, "I've been assisting your mother with the power fluctuations Olive has been allowing through the family magic."

I knew it wasn't greed driving Mum toward leadership of the coven. In fact, she tried to step aside for another to take control, but no one would listen to her. And Sass was right-as amazing as our power was, it was equally as dangerous to have a declining witch at the reins of so much energy, especially when she lost control of said energy on a regular basis, forcing the rest of us to cover her tracks.

"I just wish I was there to help." A sudden surge of protective anxiety rose inside me, forcing my hands to clench in my lap to keep them from shaking.

"I know," Sass said in his soft, velvet voice. "So do I. But your safety is the most important thing right now. Thaddea has all the support she needs and I know Marcus won't allow anything to happen to your mother." Da was quite the knight in shining armor when Mum was at any kind of risk. "This was the best choice."

Not that they had given me a choice. But I stayed quiet. This conversation had happened far too many times in the transatlantic voyage, in a variety of emotional forms, for me to desire to cover it once more.

At least I had Sass with me to not only keep me company and, in his mind, protect me, but also as a magic connection between my family and myself. While I was perfectly capable of contacting them, the amount of power required to handle that much air magic was daunting and would leave me exhausted after only a short transfer. Sassafras's demon origin allowed him access to different levels of power and an alternate way to communicate he always refused in his obtuse and arrogant way to explain.

My mind couldn't help but go to my family, my mother and her long red hair, the source of my own thick auburn locks, Da, tall and broad, so handsome some of my dearest girlfriends blushed when he walked in the room. It didn't help my two brothers shared his good looks. I adored them and they me, though Damon, Pharo and I had shared enough battles over the years. I knew they too would look out for Mum when the time came.

And whether she wanted me out of it or not, I would have no choice when the power built and the takeover happened. Every living member of the coven would be drawn in for the final transfer.

Thinking of them naturally took my thoughts in the direction of my host family. I felt an uncharacteristic jolt of nerves and wondered whatever was becoming of me that I was suddenly turning into such a coward.

I hadn't really expressed any interest in the Brindle family since Mum shoved the letter from her friend Georgina in my hand and told me her diabolical plan.

"I love you," she said, "and I wish it could be otherwise. But you are too important to risk in this nonsense." Nonsense, she called it. Mum was wonderful at understatement. Only she would call the fight brewing in the core of our family nonsense.

But it was Da who convinced me. Sneaky bugger. "Your Mum, she can't concentrate if you're here and at risk," he said in his deep voice, using his very best father persuasion to win me over. "If you're off, safe and sound in England, she can put all of her energy into the coven."

I wanted to argue. Until he twisted the final screw. "The faster you go," he said, "the faster this can be resolved and the faster you can come home to us." Though neither he nor Mum knew how long things would take, not for certain. I was sure this was no casual jaunt across the Atlantic. My whole summer would be spent here, minus my brothers, my horses and my favorite freedoms.

Completely unfair. In the interim of sulking-yes I could admit that to myself-and complaining about my lot, I'd failed to really wonder at all about my final destination.

"Have you met them?" I sat back against the stiff seat, releasing the scent of old leather and pipe tobacco. "The Brindles, I mean?"

"Finally curious, are you?" Sass loved to be superior and this time was no different.

"Just tell me what you know." I glared at him as he glared right back. "Please." A concession which irked me, but it worked.

"Yes, I've met Georgina." Sass's tail slid out from between two slats, the end twitching in his continued irritation. "She's... very nice. A little backward."

"Backward how?" If Sass was criticizing her it either meant she insulted him somehow or there was something very wrong with her.

"You'll see." What was this need he had to be so cryptic? It was the bane of our relationship and one of these days I would do something about it, by force or magic if necessary.

"Very well then." I could be just as stubborn. I looked away, trying to recall what Mum told me. How she and Georgina attended college together, shared their witch's training here in England. 'Dear old George' had been Thaddea's very best of friends. And that said 'dear old George' was the head of her very own coven, a quiet and peaceful group who would make the perfect guardians for me during the event of the takeover.

"b****y hell," I whispered into the street, barely heard over the clopping of the horse's hooves and the creak of the old hansom.

"Now that is exactly the kind of behavior your mother is hoping you'll watch while you're here." Sass's tail gave an irritated thrash. "You know how Thaddea feels about making a good impression, Burdie."

I rolled my eyes. "As much as Mum would like me to be different," I said, "she can either have a lady or a future coven leader, but she can't have both."

"Just mind your manners for once, would you? It's important for the Brindles to remain friends with our coven. Important to your mother. Besides, you're here for your own protection. I'm not in the mood to rescue you from some childish scrape or another you might find yourself in."

I knew he was only baiting me. He was a master of dancing along every one of my nerves. Even so, it made my blood boil and my temper rise to the surface.

"Childish!" I'd had just about enough of that.

"Auburdeen Perneila Hayle," he hissed, the amber glow from his eyes growing until the front of the wicker cage shone with it, "you will do whatever you can to behave yourself, to not embarrass me or your mother and to absolutely under every circumstance maintain a firm hand on your horrid temper."

My anger simmered. Yes, I had a temper. And yes, it had taken me into situations in the past that perhaps I shouldn't have been part of, situations that usually devolved into fistfights and incoherent yelling at the offender. Sassafras should be grateful I always kept control of myself enough my magic never came into play. Except that one time. But it wasn't my fault. Not really. And the offender recovered. Eventually.

Mostly.

I struggled to come up with a coherent and calm reply, but before I was able to arrange my thoughts in a more acceptable manner, the hansom suddenly and abruptly jerked to a halt. I heard the driver shout and I reached for Sass and his cage on instinct, but wasn't quite fast enough. His wicker prison crashed next to my feet, drawing out a sharp grunt of his unhappiness.

I retrieved him immediately, holding the cage up so I could see him. He looked ruffled, but unhurt.

"What happened?" He shook himself with little room to spare inside the confines of the cage. "I'm not thinking much of the driver you chose."

Before I could yell at the man, he called back to us. "Apologies, lady," he said. "Bit of a roadblock ahead. Won't be long."

I leaned out the window to have a look for myself. I saw a narrow street, the building next to me only a few feet away, but enough for a person to pass. Ahead were at least three other hansoms, all halted, and a handful of what looked like policemen milling about.

"Any idea what's happening up there?" Not that it really mattered to me. But I was beginning to develop a headache, tired from all the travel and ready to finally reach the Brindle's home.

"Shouldn't be long, lady," the driver repeated then ignored me.

I settled Sassafras on the opposite bench before sitting back again, arms crossing over my chest, not caring I was probably wrinkling the lovely new velvet of my coat. "Police for some reason," I murmured to Sass, keeping my voice down now that we were stopped and no longer had the noise of the ride to hide his voice.

Sass nodded and settled his head in his paws with a sigh.

I was about to hop out and find out for myself what was going on when the door to my hansom eased open and a dark shape snuck in, pulling it shut behind. I caught one glimpse of blue eyes and a mop of unruly hair when I heard the tap of shoe leather on cobbles and the sound of a policeman saying, "Need to search the cab."

Those blue eyes filled with fear. It was then I understood-here was the reason for the roadblock. And he chose my hansom in which to hide.

***