The Compelled (Page 22)

Lady Alice shook her head. “It’s not that simple. That spel simply makes it impossible for either party to reveal any secrets that might be harmful to the other. But vinculum requires each side to agree to put aside their own interests and fight for a common cause. While vampires tend to work on their own, witches are strongest in groups. If my coven agrees, you’l have their entire support behind you.”

“And if they don’t?” Damon interrupted.

“Then I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you. Of course, I’l stil protect Mary Jane, but you won’t be part of our plan of action,” Lady Alice said in a matter-of-fact tone.

As if to underscore her point, the wel began to rumble.

Blue and red shoots of water erupted from the opening.

“Quite a magic show. And to think, we didn’t even have to pay a penny,” Damon joked.

“Damon!” I admonished. But the faintest trace of a smile crossed Lady Alice’s face.

“Mark my words, you haven’t seen anything yet, vampire,” she said. “If my coven decides to help you, you’l witness things beyond your wildest dreams.” 8

“Do you think this is a trap?” Cora murmured as we crept along Kensington Gore, right near Royal Albert Hal . As if on cue, Big Ben chimed far off in the distance. The three of us were exactly in the spot Lady Alice had appointed for us to meet. It was midnight, and Lady Alice—and, for that matter, Mary Jane or Jemima—was nowhere to be seen.

On my wrist, the red welt from the loyalty spel throbbed.

“No.” I sounded more confident than I felt. When I heard the witches convened in Royal Albert Hal , I imagined it to be a theater much like the West End music hal Violet and I had visited back when she was a human. But this building took my breath away. It was a domelike structure surrounded by windows on al sides, with many tiers that made it look like an enormous wedding cake.

“It’s not a trap.” A smooth voice made me jump. I whirled around. Lady Alice was standing behind us, as though she’d been there the whole time. She was wearing a simple black dress, and a diamond clip was holding her hair at her neck. She looked like she was about to head to the opera. Mary Jane was behind her, clad in a white dress with her hair pinned back in a similar diamond clip.

“So what is it then, a party game?” Damon asked sarcastical y, clearly not impressed by Lady Alice’s sudden appearance.

“No, the coven doesn’t play games. We’re loyal to each other,” Lady Alice said, ignoring Damon. “Terrible things happen when that trust is broken.”

“Terrible things happen when vampires turn on each other, too, but that doesn’t stop them,” Damon said darkly.

“Wel , that’s another reason why we’re better than you, isn’t it?” Lady Alice said crisply. “Now, come. Everyone’s already gathered. I’l leave it to you both to explain what you need.”

“Where’s Jemima?” I whispered to Mary Jane as Lady Alice turned. I hoped that she and Lady Alice hadn’t gotten into a disagreement.

“Checking on the others,” Mary Jane replied. She seemed more confident than I’d seen her before. I was happy that she and Lady Alice had final y reunited.

Without waiting for a response, Lady Alice pul ed open a wooden trapdoor that lay between the cobblestones of the walkway. Despite the rusty chains giving it the appearance of being tightly locked, it creaked open.

The four of us fol owed Lady Alice into the darkness and onto a shaky iron spiral staircase that rattled with each footstep. A match blazed in Alice’s hand, casting shadows on the concrete wal s. While the exterior of the opera house was majestic, this wasn’t. It was as cold and damp as the Underground tunnel we cal ed home.

Final y, the staircase stopped.

“This is where the magic happens,” Lady Alice said as I took in our surroundings. Hal ways containing racks of costumes, set pieces, and scenery branched out in every direction from where we stood. Directly opposite the spiral metal staircase we’d just descended was a set of twelve steps that led to nowhere. Clearly, it was a prop piece for a stage show.

Lady Alice walked to the side of the fake staircase and pushed open a thin wooden door.

“Go on,” she said, gesturing for me to walk through the door. I blinked. It was pitch black and quiet inside. The door was only four feet tal , and I had to duck to get through. I found myself standing in a dark coat closet.

But only for a moment.

Then, right before my eyes, the room began expanding.

The ceiling vaulted, the wal s fanned out, and furniture appeared out of nowhere. And I realized I wasn’t alone.

Chatter surrounded me as the room brightened with orange light. Two white marble benches flanked a fire. Three men and three women sat on the benches. Two of the men looked ancient. The other was middle-aged and had his fingers interlaced with those of a wel -dressed woman. An elderly woman perched on a stool by the door, while a girl, scarcely older than Mary Jane, sat apart from the others, on the very edge of a bench. Who were these people? And how did they al find one another? And, most important, would they agree to help us?

I heard someone come through the doorway behind me.

“Does she have to turn everything into a damn magic trick?” Damon whispered under his breath, so low only I could hear it.

“Shh!” I was comforted by the untraditional entrance. It was reassuring to have evidence of Lady Alice’s skil s before I put my faith in her.

“I hope you didn’t have too much trouble getting in,” a wizened man said as he hurried over to Damon. “Of course, I knew who you were from those parties at White’s, but I wasn’t going to say anything. You seemed to be behaving yourself. But I have to admit, I’m glad to see you in this setting.” His gaze shifted to me. “And another one!” he said as he grabbed my hand and shook it. I shifted uncomfortably and ran my tongue over my canine teeth. Stil short and straight. The man turned to our escort. “Al right, Alice. Now can you tel us why we’re here?”