TELL ME THE TRUTH

Chapter Eleven

Antionette Benoit 

20 August 2005

"She's up to something," I mused, pushing a hand through my curly hair and pacing around the library.

"C'mon, Toni," Rhea groused.

I shot a glare at her and resumed my pacing of the library.

"You're gonna wear a hole in the floor!" Wes's sixteen-year-old daughter called out from her seat in the corner.

I rolled my eyes and continued pacing. "I'm serious, Rhea, she's up to something."

"What?" Alyce, the sanguinis on my Consulere, queried.

"I don't know yet, Al, but it's something. She's working with the dark arts, for crying out loud!"

Marcus sighed and stroked his beard. "You're obsessing again, Toni."

I groaned, glaring at him and meeting his brown eyes fiercely. "The dark arts can tear our world apart, Marcus." My voice was low, tight with a simmering anger that belied my fear. "Anytime a sorceress meddles with the dark arts, she's meddling with the entire balance of things."

"You may be right there," Ailey began, "But, we can't just accuse Amelia of messing with the dark arts without proof. Cammie's visions aren't enough."

"Hey!" Camden interjected from her seat on the rail.

"We need physical evidence to take her to the Guard, you know that Cammie." Ailey sighed and moved over to me, pinning me in her sapphire gaze. "Some could say you're up to something, training in the ancient arts and researching the way you do."

A sigh fell from my lips as I levitated a pen back and forth in the air in front of me. I reached out with my magic, summoning a small dagger to my waiting hand. I began twirling the dagger carefully. "We should both be able to do this, Ailey, it's so much safer than carrying."

"I agree with you, Toni, but you need to see my point. Another ostensor or pythonissa could claim you were up to no good by training in the ancients."

"I do see your point, Ailey, but it's our duty to be better, faster, and stronger than the rest of the Underworld."

"But digging into the past and the ancients? Seeking out Alieza Firestorm and convincing her to train you? Some could argue that you've crossed the line."

"Is that what you're saying?"

Ailey made a face. Her eyes began to glow and the marking on her forearm flared to life in brilliant luminescence. "Heavens, no! I'm just trying to help you understand that we can't do anything until we have proof."

"Fine."

Alyce stepped forward and rested a hand on my shoulder. "I agree with you that something's not right, Toni, but if we try to stop her now, all we'll do is fail."

I nodded slowly and let my dagger disappear from my hand. It dematerialized nearly immediately, leaving only a green shimmer in the air.

"For the record," Ailey added. She disappeared and then reappeared downstairs, at the discussion table. I followed her while the rest of my Consulere filed down the steps. "I'm all for training in the ancients' way if it gives us an edge against the opposition."

"I agree with her," Frankie stated.

Camden took the seat at my right hand, where she had always belonged as the consult seer, and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. The white flecks in her eyes began to morph and take over the icy blue color of her irises.