“Come on.” Marcus put his arm across his father’s shoulders. “Jack and Andrew are waiting for us.
I suppose the damn dog will have to come to New Orleans, too.”
Still Matthew didn’t respond. He was listening for Diana’s voice, her distinctive step, the rhythm of her heartbeat. There was only silence, and stars too faint to show him the way home.
Sol in Libra
When the sun passeth through Libra, it is a good time for journeys.
Beware of open enemies, war, and opposition.
—Anonymous English Commonplace Book, c. 1590, Gonçalves MS 4890, f. 13r
23
“Let me in, Miriam, before I break down the fucking door.” Gallowglass wasn’t in the mood for games.
Miriam flung the door open. “Matthew may be gone, but don’t try anything funny. I’m still watching you.”
That was no surprise to Gallowglass. Jason had once told him that learning how to be a vampire under Miriam’s guidance had convinced him that there was indeed an all-knowing, all-seeing, and vengeful deity. Contrary to biblical teachings, however, She was female and sarcastic.
“Did Matthew and the others get off safely?” Diana asked quietly from the top of the stairs. She was ghostly pale, and a small suitcase sat at her feet. Gallowglass cursed and leaped up the steps.
“They did,” he said, grabbing the case before she did something daft and tried to carry it herself.
Gallowglass found it more mysterious with every passing hour that Diana didn’t simply topple over given the burden of the twins.
“Why did you pack a suitcase?” Chris asked. “What’s going on?”
“Auntie is going on a journey.” Gallowglass still thought leaving New Haven was a bad idea, but Diana had informed him that she was going—with him or without him.
“Where?” Chris demanded. Gallowglass shrugged.
“Promise me you’ll keep working on the aDNA samples from Ashmole 782 and the blood-rage problem, Chris,” Diana said as she descended the stairs.
“You know I don’t leave research problems unfinished.” Chris turned on Miriam. “Did you know that Diana was leaving?”
“How could I not? She made enough noise getting her suitcase out of the closet and calling the pilot.” Miriam grabbed Chris’s coffee. She took a sip and grimaced. “Too sweet.”
“Get your coat, Auntie.” Gallowglass didn’t know what Diana had planned—she said she would tell him once they were in the air—but he doubted they were headed for a Caribbean island with swaying palms and warm breezes.
For once Diana didn’t protest at his hovering.
“Lock the door when you leave, Chris. And make sure the coffeepot is unplugged.” She stood on her toes and kissed her friend on the cheek. “Take care of Miriam. Don’t let her walk across New Haven Green at night, even if she is a vampire.”
“Here,” Miriam said, handing over a large manila envelope. “As requested.”
Diana peeked inside. “Are you sure you don’t need them?”
“We have plenty of samples,” she replied.
Chris looked deep into Diana’s eyes. “Call if you need me. No matter why, no matter when, no matter where—I’ll be on the next flight.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, “I’ll be fine. Gallowglass is with me.”
To his surprise, the words brought Gallowglass no joy.
How could they, when they were uttered with such resignation?
The de Clermont jet lifted off from the New Haven airport. Gallowglass stared out the window, tapping his phone against his leg. The plane banked, and he sniffed the air. North by northeast.
Diana was sitting next to him, eyes closed and lips white. One hand was resting lightly on Apple and Bean as though she were comforting them. There was a trace of moisture on her cheeks.
“Don’t cry. I cannot bear it,” Gallowglass said gruffly.
“I’m sorry. I can’t seem to help it.” Diana turned in her seat so that she faced the opposite side of the cabin. Her shoulders trembled.
“Hell, Auntie. Looking the other way does no good.” Gallowglass unclipped his seat belt and crouched by her leather recliner. He patted Diana on the knee. She grasped his hand. The power pulsed under her skin. It had abated somewhat since the astonishing moment when she’d wrapped the sire of the de Clermont family in a briar patch, but it was still all too visible. Gallowglass had even seen it through the disguising spell Diana wore until she boarded the jet.
“How was Marcus with Jack?” she asked, her eyes still closed.
“Marcus greeted him as an uncle should and distracted him with tales of his children and their antics. Lord knows they’re an entertaining bunch,” Gallowglass said under his breath. But this wasn’t what Diana really wanted to know.