The Far Reach (Southern Vampire Mystery)

Chapter 19 - The Fata Morgana

Nautical Note: A fata morgana is a complex mirage. While it can occur over land it is most common at sea. You see in some detail large structures or land masses where none exist.

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Ames, Iowa

The cook shut down the kitchen, and put the plates and platters in the oven. He wrote out instructions that would walk the guests through heating and serving and then headed home. Sookie Stackhouse and her guards were late and the Queen decided that it didn't make sense to wait any longer.

In the library, the Iowa Queen, whose home this was, and Maude, Queen of Minnesota were sipping the latest blend. Phoebe's research group was always tinkering and both women were pleased with the outcome. Although it had been bottled and shelved for almost a month, the blood didn't have any of the metallic taste that vampires had come to associate with brands currently on the market. A guard knocked on the door and gave the signal that the house was secure for the night. When the door closed behind him and Phoebe Golden could no longer hear his footsteps, she turned to Maude and said, "I don't know why they couldn't have flown Annubis. This never would have happened if they had."

Maude settled back and stretched her neck. "You know why they flew commercial. There are no vampires among them. They would have no way of knowing there would be delays."

"They should have known the probability was higher!" Phoebe snapped, her irritation showing. "It's not as if she hasn't flown with them before. They have a record of accommodating her. All it would have taken was one word from the right person, and they would have been on the manifest and delivered far closer." The flight that Sookie and her guards had been on had made it as far as O'Hare Airport in Chicago where it had been delayed due to weather. One delay had been followed by another, and then all flights had been cancelled. After many hours the party had decided to rent a vehicle and drive the additional five hours it would take to reach Ames. The message had been received some time ago, and still the group had not arrived.

When the Minnesota Queen didn't say anything, Phoebe stood and started pacing. "Now there are food smells in the house that will linger. I hope she doesn't expect to get up and wander around during daylight. You know I don't like having breathers with the run of the place while I'm resting."

Maude had heard this same conversation at least twice since she arrived. It was known that Phoebe Golden did not allow humans to stay within the walls of her palace. She had a handful of select Were guards who remained during the day to guard particular passageways and there was always a retinue outside. When the Queen's representative had suggested that the Stackhouse party be housed at the local hotel along with the humans who would be arriving for the talks, the Louisiana vampire, Maxwell Lee, had argued, claiming both station and status. In the end, with Minnesota's assurances, Phoebe had reluctantly conceded. Maude twirled the glass in her hand waiting for the rest of the commentary she knew was coming. 'And what is she...' the Minnesota Queen mentally began.

"And what is she after all?" Phoebe said, almost on cue. "She's not a fairy. She's not a human. She's not a demon. She's neither fish nor fowl. She's not bonded..."

Maude interrupted then. She had received a text that would change at least this part of her fellow Queen's rant. "Actually I received a text from Bartlett. She is most definitely bonded to the Viking now. He said her smell is sublime."

Phoebe pulled up short, her eyes hard, but then she seemed to back down and soften a bit. "Well, at least that's something," she said peevishly. Iowa seemed to catch herself now and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I really am not being clear about this, am I?" Minnesota knew that she meant she was getting too emotional, and she knew that for Phoebe Golden who revered the world of science and logic, that was never a comfortable state.