“Damn,” Alatar was deflated. “I am a relationship guy. What is the use of getting that invested in another person, if you know there is a due date on the relationship?”
“Werewolves do it all the time,” Raiden shrugged. “Lia isn’t my first relationship. I ended my last relationship when I first encountered her. It is the way things are with us.”
“Cold,” Alatar observed as they drew near the garage again and Raiden stooped to search through the rags of his clothing for his keys and phone. This time there was no vampire interference and Raiden opened the roller door. “Porsche,” Alatar drooled a little. “Please take the Porsche.”
Raiden unlocked the 4WD and Alatar moaned. “No way, man,” Raiden replied without looking up from his phone as he typed a message. “I am not leaving the Porsche parked near your shop for however long this will take. It won’t be there when we get back.”
“But this might be the last car ride of our lives,” Alatar pleaded.
“Don’t be so pessimistic. We will take the Porsche out another time,” Raiden was amused despite himself. “I had no idea you were a fan.”
“Have you seen the shit box I drive?” Alatar pointed out.
“You would think the coven would invest it’s assets better.”
“We don’t have the lifespan of the rest of you. And the witch hunts were murder, literally. My ancestors had to abandon their property, or had it confiscated more than once. Hey,” Alatar noticed that Raiden had not started the engine. “What are we waiting for?”
“Tara,” Raiden nodded towards the back door of the house and after a moment, Tara came running across the lawn. “Helping romance out.”
“Aw, man,” Alatar said with appreciation.
“Hey,” Tara opened the back passenger door and slid in. “So, what is happening?”
“We are going to Alatar’s shop, for spell components. He has a destination for the feather and hairbrush.”
“Great,” Tara buckled in. “Let’s go get my sister-in-law.”
Once they were on the road, Raiden glanced at his sister in the rear-view mirror. “How are things going downstairs?”
“Baby arm and leg, it is sort of gross and sort of cute at the same time,” she pulled a face. “Vampires are disgusting.”
“They are victims, same as werewolves,” Alatar pointed out. “You were all humans, initially, before the angels decided to f-k with you and made you what you are.”
“I like what I am,” Tara was insulted.
“I am not saying it is not a good thing,” Alatar amended hastily. “Just, that angels are bad and it is not vampire’s fault that they are gross and predatory. I would take werewolves any day.”
“Thanks, A,” Tara was mollified.
“Fully converted, now?” Raiden commented on Alatar’s fervency.
“Man, a guy with wings flew off with your mate,” Alatar pointed out. “Sorry,” he added with a grimace when Raiden’s expression became strained.”But I am holding one of his feathers. What more proof do you need that angels are real, and if they are real, the stories about them must be based in some truth, too, eh?”
“He has a point, Rai,” Tara said from the back seat.
“What about the moon goddess, then?” Raiden protested.
“You have never believed in her before,” Tara scoffed. “Just sort of gone through the motions when necessary.”
“No,” Raiden conceded. “Maybe not. But, to think that our ancestors were slaves that were experimented on, and that history has been lost… Is just disgraceful.”
“History is written by the victors,” Alatar offered solemnly. “I wonder why the angels are no longer around, personally. I mean, they made you guys, and then, what, set you free and said, good luck guys? It doesn’t seem right.”
“And how come this winged guy is the first that we have seen? Where are they all?” Tara added.
“Exactly.” Alatar raised his eyebrows. “Where do they live? Why aren’t they hanging around here?”
“Don’t look at me,” Raiden replied. “I am just looking for my mate.”
“Who looks like she is a descendant of the first angel to survive having her wings cut off,” Alatar pointed out. “Hey,” he paused. “Those people that tried to abduct her… That you thought were from a coven? Maybe they were trying to abduct her because of what she is?”
“And what is she?” Raiden wondered.
“Something out of the ordinary, Rai,” Tara said. “If her blood made Lucian stronger and faster like Elior says, maybe it is because she is what she is?”
“If you knew that there was a line of witches and warlocks that could make vampires stronger, wouldn’t you want to… you know, prevent that?” Alatar slid Raiden a look out of the corner of his eye. “I would, wouldn’t you?”
“Shit,” Raiden said under his breath. “Yeah, probably.”
“Which makes me wonder, who knows?” Alatar concluded. “Who would know that this family holds that power? Not vampires, or they would have hunted them down before and would probably breed them.”
“Good question,” Raiden agreed. “But we have more immediate concerns, such as getting Lia back.”
“Right,” Alatar drew out the feather and held it between the palms of his hand. “It is a strong trace, Rai. Don’t worry about that.”
“Good,” Raiden said as he pulled up in the car park spaces out the front of Alatar’s shop of alternative therapies and oddments. “Now get us to where we need to be.”