“Oh, heck, that’s right about the cops,” Taka said suddenly. “What do we tell the cops when they come back here to talk to us? Do we not answer the door like before? Ignore them?”
Arabella shook her head. “Not this time. Too much has gotten out of hand. We’ve got to let the police know about the Loup-Garous and the Nosferatu. If we don’t, the entire city will soon be overrun with dead bodies when those Originals get hungry and need to feed.”
“What good will the cops be if they know?” Vanessa asked.
“We’ll have to give them information—information we’ve never given any other human,” Arabella said solemnly. “We’ll have to tell them how to kill them.”
“Have you lost your marbles?” Taka asked. “That means, if they see any Original, attacking a human or not, they’ll kill it.”
“I know what it means,” Arabella said. “But with so many Originals loose, it’s come down to a choice. Their lives or the lives of humans.”
“We can’t let them all be killed,” Vanessa cried. “The Triad needs to find them and regain control.”
“I wish it was that easy,” Gavril said. “But you have no idea what trauma and drama we’ve gone through with the Cartesians over the last week just trying to find the Originals.”
“To hell with the Originals,” Gilly said. “What about Viv? We’ve got to find her. Do you have any idea where she might be? Do you have any spells that might give us some direction as to where she might be hiding?”
“You know we don’t use crystal balls,” Arabella said with a huff as if Gilly had used a foul expletive. “Our spells are innate, herbs and elemental. But you already know that. What I don’t understand is why you’ve come here to ask us about finding Viv when you and Evee both have natural talents that can help find her. Haven’t you thought of doing something with them?”
Gilly looked at her quizzically. “I don’t understand.”
Taka rested her elbows on the table. “Sure you do. You know how Evee can talk to the dead? Channel them? If she can contact one of the Loup-Garous, Chenilles or Nosferatu, like Pierre, one of them who’s already died, they might be able to give her some valuable information. Once she gets that information, you can use your astral projection thing that you do and bring your energy to whatever place the dead might see Viv. Then you’ll know if she’s there. The dead see more than we do, you know. They’re not stuck with two feet on the ground like we are.”
“For once, I think Airhead over here is right,” Vanessa said, referring to Taka.
“Who you calling an airhead?” Taka asked. “I’m the one who came up with the idea, while you were over there checking for chips in your fingernail polish.”
“I was not,” Vanessa claimed. “I was listening closely. Just because I’m not looking at your mug doesn’t mean I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Both of you stop bickering,” Arabella said. She looked over at Gilly. “Taka speaks the truth. You and Evee have natural talents that don’t involve spells that may or may not work. Has Evee tried to communicate with the dead? Have you tried astral projection, since that’s your specialty?”
“No, neither,” Gilly said. “But...the idea has some promise to it.”
“It certainly does,” Gavril said. “Not only in finding Viv but locating the missing Originals, as well. I say we give it a shot.”
Arabella scowled at him. “It’s not your business to say whether or not they attempt to use their powers this way.”
Gavril cocked his head to one side and eyed Arabella. “Ever since I walked through that door, you’ve treated me like I have lice. All I’ve done since coming here is try to protect the Originals and the Triad. We’ve managed to destroy many Cartesians while here. What problem do you have with me?”
Arabella held up a defiant chin. “Although we do appreciate what you have done to help the Originals and the Triad, I’m afraid that the attraction you Benders have for the Triad has caused more problems than anything. This entire situation might be solved right now if you would have kept certain parts of your body in check.”
“Arabella!” Gilly said, appalled that her Elder had confronted Gavril that way. She got up from the table and signaled Gavril to follow her.
“Taka, thank you for your advice,” Gilly said. “We’ll certainly give it a try. Arabella, if I were you, I’d do a conscience check. You might be my Elder, but when I see you headed in the wrong direction, as a witch, I have an obligation to let you know. You’re way off here. Gavril and the other Benders have been nothing but gentlemen. And, if you remember, you’re the one who wanted to get the sorcerers involved, which would have been a far bigger disaster than what we’re dealing with now.”
“I didn’t say the sorcerers weren’t getting involved,” Arabella confessed.
“You...you didn’t go to Cottle with any of this,” Gilly said. “Tell me you didn’t.”
“Cottle? No. But I have spoken to Gunner Stern about it. If you remember, Taka was the one who got him involved in the first place. I simply followed through.”
Gilly glared at her. “And?”
“There is no ‘and.’ He’s doing some snooping around. Seeing if there’s anything he can do to help.”
Gilly shook her head. “Look, as much as we warned you about getting the sorcerers involved, you did as you pleased anyway. You know the sorcerers have always thought us to be an inferior, bothersome species. I’d call that even when it comes to your accusations regarding the Benders. If anything, we owe them our gratitude. You have no idea how hard they’ve been fighting for us.”
With that, Gilly walked out of the kitchen and headed for the front door, Gavril by her side. When they’d made it outside, Gavril grinned. “Really. Do you always talk to your Elders that way?” he asked.
“Only when they’re going way off track.”
They walked a ways, heading down to the French Quarter to meet up with the others as promised. Luckily a trolley came to a stop fifty feet away, and they were able to hop a ride on it all the way down Canal. They then got off where it intersected with Royal.
Gavril got off the trolley and held out a hand to help Gilly down the metal steps. She took his hand and made her way to ground level.
As they walked to the hotel, Gavril kept turning to look at her.
“What?” Gilly finally asked. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“Just think it’s cute.”
“What is?”
“The set of balls you have is undeniable. You say what you mean and mean what you say. Elder or no Elder. Hell, it could have been the President of the US, and I think you’d have shot him down the same way.”
Gilly shrugged. “I get a bit carried away sometimes.”
“I’d say,” Gavril said. “But I love it. Wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Gilly gave him a strange, shy look, and it was then that Gavril realized he’d used the L word. Although he hadn’t actually said the words I love you, it had been close enough to give her pause.
“Good,” Gilly finally said. “I’m glad you like it. ’Cause I only come in one color.”
“What’s that mean?”
She stopped and gave him a long, soulful look. “It means, Mr. Gavril Hyland, that when it comes to me, what you see is what you get.”
“And that’s