218 Ava: Embracing Change (II)
218 Ava: Embracing Change (II)
Traveling with a vampire is a lot less mystical than I expect. (1)
It''s nothing like whatever fueled my magic travel to her home. There is no endless darkness, nor an expanse of red that blots out the existence of everything else. There''s no sense of travel, no sense of suffocation.
Instead, Sister Miriam spreads an arm, and a shimmering gate appears before us, silvery-ck and swirling on the inside.
"Since your guards are so wary, I shall allow one of them to go first. Then me. Then you, Ava, and thest guard. This gate will disperse after thest, or after thirty seconds. It''s your choice."
Her warning is clear: Eithere with her, or don''t, but the choice
is mine.
"Got it."
Marcus steps forward without a word, giving me a brusque nod before walking through the magical vortex, as tense as a man walking to his execution. He draws his gun before entering, and Sister Miriam says nothing, only allowing an amused twitch of her. lips.
Before Sister Miriam enters, she nces toward Jericho. "That wolf who died, screaming about a vampire in the ckwood territory. What was her name? Marjory?"
Ken steps between them. "How do you know about-"
She shakes her head. "That vampire never existed. When you go
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218 Ava Embracing Chango (II)
through your investigation, remember that. He never existed,
Think of my advice as a free favor from a friend. It would have been a costly one." She winks in a way that shoulde across yful, but looks awkward on her not-quite-in-sync features, before stepping through the gate.
"I-damn it, she''s gone. Ava, I don''t think this is a good idea."
"I''m leaving. Marcus is already on the other side. I have my phone. I''ll call you as soon as I''m there." Feeling terrible for ignoring Ken''s plight, I dash through the portal, hoping I''m making the right decision. Vanessa''s right behind me, giving me a warm sense of safety as I step through, prepared to feel some sort of otherworldly traveling experience.
But there''s nothing.N?velDrama.Org content rights.
One second ago, I was in my room.
Now, I''m in the middle of another room. It''srge, with no furniture at all. Only Sister Miriam and Marcus are there.
There are no windows, only a ridiculous amount ofmps in various styles. Some look like streetmps. Others are more sleek, and modern. Some look like bizarre art deco styles that make no reasonable sense to exist as amp versus an art piece.
"Wee to the First Ward of Dakota Sanctuary, Ava Grey." Sister Miriam''s eyes crinkle. "Was it that terrible?"
"Not at all."
Stepping forward, my boots thud against the smooth hardwood
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218 Ava: Embracing Change (11)
floor, echoing in the near-empty space, save for all themps. There''s a faint scent of citrus and spice, something cozy and fall-feeling, that settles my nerves. Marcus is at my side in an instant, his eyes sweeping over me with the efficiency of a trained bodyguard.
"You good?" His gruff voice isced with concern.
I nod, offering a small smile. "I''m fine. Just... processing."
Vanessa moves past us, her gaze locked on the array ofmps scattered throughout the room. Her fingertips graze the surface of a particrly ornate piece, a wistful expression on her face. "I had one just like this when I was a kid. It sat on my bedside table."
Sister Miriam tilts her head, a smile ying at the corners of her lips. "Collecting things is a personal hobby of mine. I find joy in surrounding myself with objects that hold meaning or beauty."
Images of the bookshelves in Sister Miriam''s home sh through my mind-row upon row of books, antique editions mingling with modern paperbacks. The sheer volume of knowledge contained within those pages is staggering.
"How many homes do you have?" The question slips out before I can stop it, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Sister Miriam waves a dismissive hand. "Oh, who keeps track of such a thing?"
Vanessa catches my eye, and we both grin. Who doesn''t keep track
of their houses?
Who even has the money to lose track of how many properties
they own?
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218 Ava Embracing Change (II)
Sister Miriam lives in a very different world than we do, and it has nothing to do with a shifter versus vampire mentality.
The portal behind us doesn''t disappear, and Marcus frowns at it. "I thought it would dissipate after we entered?"
"Only the temporary gate on the other side. This one is permanent. You can touch it when it isn''t activated."
Sister Miriam strides forward with confidence, reaching over to rap against the swirling gray-ck smoke within the portal. Her knuckles ring against what sounds like ss, and Marcus leans forward to touch it, looking doubtful. Then his eyebrows raise in surprise, his hand sliding over the surface.
Sister Miriamughs. "Many old vampires have acquired their own portals over the years."
Marcus mutters under his breath, "Well, that exins how they''ve been able to travel into packnds so easily."
Sister Miriam inclines her head. "A simple question in my direction would have saved you a lot of time and trouble."
Marcus looks stunned by the revtion, his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. Vanessa frowns thoughtfully, her brow furrowed as she processes this new information.
Sister Miriam leads us out of the room, and Lean''t help but marvel at the sheer size of the mansion we''ve stepped into. It''s like
walking through a museum, with clusters of collected items
disyed on every avable surface. Antique vases mingle with modern art sculptures, while vintage photographs hang alongside abstract paintings.
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218 Ava: Embracing Change (II)
We have a lot to learn from this Sister Miriam, Selene murmurs.
We do, and-oh, shit, I didn''t call Ken.
"Hold on." Fumbling my phone out of its pocket, I see several texts from Ken, with increasing exmation marks after his question marks. Vanessa peers over my shoulder as Sister Miriam waits patiently. "Oh, he''s upset."
00
"I said I''d call-damn, we were all so caught up in..." my voice trails off as I call him. He answers mid-ring.
"Aya! Are you okay?"
"I''m fine. Why do you sound so worried?" ncing at Vanessa, who looks more amused than anything, I add, "I''m sorry I didn''t call
right away. We were... distracted. It''s interesting here. Like a
museum."
"That''s fine. It''s fine. As long as you''re all okay." Ken blows out a loud breath. "We tried calling you, but it wouldn''t go through. I thought that damn bloodsucker lied."
"I can hear you," Sister Miriam calls out, a mocking lilt to her words.
"I thought Sister Miriam lied," he corrects himself. He must be talking through his teeth, the way his words are ground out.
She sighs. "Typical wolf. Thinking the worst. No, I did not lie. However, outside services cannot dial within. Once you''re in the city, you have ess to our..." An elegant hand waves above her head in a vague gesture.
218 Ava: Embracing Change (II)
"Towers?" Vanessa offers.
"Yes. Those monstrosities that destroy our horizons. You will be able to contact anyone you wish, and from what I''ve heard, the asional text message will get through. But phone calls rarely do.*
"Got.it." I''ll have to be a lot more careful about remembering to call people. Maybe I should set rms on my phone. I always seem to forget about important things when I''m distracted by what''s in front of me.
I think the humans call it ADHD.
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