Secrets of the Night

The opinion that she didn't need security changed less than five minutes later when the rest of William's guests began to arrive. Lily answered the door and took coats and purses. It felt for the world like one of Brenna's garden parties hosted by her grandmother. She never got to choose who could attend, and she was often left waiting alone until the first people straggled in.

"Amalia," William said standing politely as a woman entered the room wearing designer clothes Brenna thought were current season Marc Jacobs. She was busy studying the woman's shoes that looked completely uncomfortable and totally awesome at the same time. By the time Brenna looked at the woman's face, she was expecting a super model from Vogue. She literally jerked back when she saw her mother's friend standing in her grandmother's kitchen with fangs on.

Amalia laughed a twinkling sound like a wind chime. "Go on, you can say it… I haven't changed a bit."

Brenna regained her composure and said, "Evan didn't tell me you were alive, I just assumed..."

Amalia's smile widened and she floated forward, or walked forward with a floating gait. Amalia extended her arms and wrapped them around Brenna. Her security instantly tightened to alert. One of the men was less than an inch away by the time Amalia came close his heat helped contrast Amalia's cold.

"I'm technically not alive, actually. You don't have to crowd her so, I'm here to help." Amalia said frowning distastefully at the thugs. Turning to Brenna, Amalia's eyes seemed to bleed or tear for a moment then stopped. "You've seen my son?"

Brenna remembered Evan's reaction to questions about his mother. In hindsight she wished she hadn't mentioned him and wondered at the same time where he had tucked away. Amalia's eyes were the same color as his, and Brenna realized that one day when all those pesky zits went away he would be a real looker. Amalia's focus seemed to be driving Brenna to respond, and she watched with interest as Amalia became frustrated. One of her tailored shoes tapped the floor hard almost like a child's foot stomping the ground.

"She's special," Maizie's voice commented from the door as she stepped back into the room. "Your kind has no power nor appeal for her."

Amalia's face took on a likeness to a shark, she seemed dangerous suddenly, and Brenna was again glad of her guards. They straightened up and moved closer to her. Amalia was not directing her discontent at Brenna however she had instead turned it on Maizie.

"And, you don't scare me Little Miss. Fang, so don't go snapping and scrapping." Maizie said folding ample arms over ample breasts. "Because I just like to not have it."

Brenna watched the tension flow out of Amalia she could have passed for human again. The guards this time did not relax, they seemed to watch Amalia from behind the dark shades like hawks are said to watch mice. Maizie came over and sat down in front of Brenna, taking the younger woman's hand in her own and then turning it over.

"No lines…" Maizie said running a finger over Brenna's palm. Brenna looked at her palm she had no more lines than a five year old. Her hands were smooth and well tended. Jason said she had beautiful soft hands. Maizie whispered in awe: "You are just a child in this world." Maizie's old weathered hands fit on Brenna's cheeks turning her face to look into the older woman's eyes. Brenna was unaffected by the gaze, but she saw a glimmer lingering in the woman's eye. After a moment the woman said, "There's a bit of the Gift in you too. You are a natural, or perhaps supernatural. It just radiates off of you, but I liked to check to be sure."

The screen door swung open on a creaking spring to announce the next arrivals, and Brenna sat back hoping Maizie would let her go. Three tall lean women came into the room. They looked with surprise at Amalia, and sat far away from her. Their heads bent together and they seemed to be discussing here presence with little attempt at discretion.

"Who else should we expect William?" one of the girls asked, her eyes darting nervously to Amalia.

"You are going to be the death of us," another said, her eyes flashing green anger at William before fading to moss.

"Hush kittens, I won't hurt you," Amalia soothed, her voice dripping sarcasm. Clearly she disliked the girls.

"Everyone we need," William didn't respond in this way, it was Maizie and her face set with determination. "No fighting."

"You are a mere human, you couldn't stop us if you tried," one of the girls spoke in chiming high childish voice.

"I can do things you couldn't even dream of." Maizie said mildly, looking for all the world like a little old lady no harm no fowl.

Evan walked into the room he was dressed in another of Evan's outfits. He had also put on some of Evan's cologne Brenna could smell it on the air. She considered asking him not to use anymore, then decided it didn't matter. He eyed his mother, and then pulled a silver cross out of hiding. The vampire screamed and looked away, a sound of pain.

"Put it away Evan, these are our guests!" Lily demanded scowling at him as she came into the room. "Keep your little tokens, but don't make the rest of us endure them."

Evan obeyed, and settled up on top of the kitchen counter at least a foot from any other person. Maizie studied him for awhile quietly then smiled kindly. She approved of whatever she saw. When Maizie's eyes darted to Lily Brenna guessed Maizie had discovered his affinity for the pretty blond.

"Maximus!" Amalia stood as a man came in with brown hair and grey eyes. He looked a lot like Edward Norton with muscles standing out beneath a black muscle shirt. He glanced at Amalia but quickly dismissed her. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda and most of the people were at least peripherally aware of those around them.

"Madame," Maximus nodded to Brenna, and smiled. "I'm here to do your bidding."

Brenna felt a grin tug at her lips and it felt good. She had been too tense for too long. Studying his smile, she felt ok.. until she saw his eyes. Whomever had said that the eyes are the window to the soul was onto something. He was bitter to have been called: angry at the world- not necessarily at her, but in general.

"William!" one of the slender girls screamed when Maximus turned to look at them.

William bustled in like a mother hen ready to protect her chicks. The youngest of the girls the one that had insulted Amalia was absolutely fawning over Maximus. Brenna watched as like one in a trance the girl extended her hand to him palm up offering her wrist. Brenna wished that he would not harm the girl. She wished the girl to step away from him. She closed her eyes a moment and the thought consumed her. Then she felt it a burst of energy filled the room. The Kitten-Girl screamed aloud and Brenna knew that Maximus had started to feed on her.

"Brenna!" Evan's shout forced her to open her eyes. The girl was huddled back away from the vampire, and the vampire stood stiffly eyes boring into Brenna.

"What are you?" Lily's question broke the sudden silence.

"She is Amicus Curiae," these words were spoken from a newcomer his voice was warm and smooth. Brenna looked up to see a man standing with his arms crossed. He looked the way the Brawny man should. A cleft fit his chin, and there was a lurking of the devil in too blue eyes. He had black hair, and Brenna bet that under his sweater his pecks were like little stones. None of these observations helped her unravel his riddle.

"Corinth!" Amalia rushed forward wrapping her thin arms around him in welcome. "You came home."

"This is no home to me," he said gently brushing hair from her face. "You know I have no home pet."

"Amicus Curiae?" Maximus seemed to mull the idea over. "It explains much."

"Indeed," Maizie breathed carefully studying Brenna.

"Stop looking at me." Brenna demanded and standing walked from the room.

A man in the hall stood sniffing the air, he seemed hesitant to move from the spot. He looked at Brenna, took two sniffs and deamed her human or at least not a threat. "The cats are here?"

"Who?" Brenna asked.

"Ah, Gerald, go on in," David ordered. "The girls will be contained."

While Gerald argued with her security guard, Brenna went out onto the porch and stood with William. Along the line Maizie had walked earlier, paced several were animals- not all of them wolves from what she could see. It was full dark, but William had a few of his men patrolling the border with flashlights.

"What if the FBI agent comes back tonight?" Brenna asked as she watched the beasts pace restlessly.

"You should be inside, it's nippy out here," William observed mildly. "Everything will be fine. We are waiting for four more guests, and then we can begin."

"Why did you invite these things?" Brenna asked sitting on the rusty porch swing and praying it would hold. William turned his back to the scene of the uncaged animals and looked at her.

"First, calling people you don't understand things is very insensitive." William said. "Second, I didn't so much invite them as anticipate them."

Something came past the line, and Brenna watched several of the beasts snap at its heels trying to follow. The figure turned out to be a man tall and broad shouldered but not particularly handsome he had green eyes and a scar cutting across his eyebrow and forehead.

"Will," the man nodded. Brenna knew a nod was a common sign of acknowledgement in the south among men. She also thought it might be a sign of respect. "All the fuss, she's really a small little thing isn't she?"

Brenna started to protest being called a thing, but she had just called all of the people in her house things. And since she seemed to be the one attracting them she couldn't very well reject the title. She forced a smile and shook the man's hand like she meant it.

"It will get easier for you," Evan spoke softly after the man stepped past him into the house. "It's not always so hard to deal with the supernatural only at first."

Brenna felt a shiver in the air, and she looked around expecting to see the affects of a strong wind rocking the trees or blowing the hair on Evan's head. Nothing had changed she wrapped her arms around herself. Two beings materialized just outside the line Maizie had created. The beasts around them backed away, knowing perhaps that they were outranked. The pair walked together, but did not look at one another. One was beautiful with white hair that shimmered even in the dark of night and looked like an angel, the other had dark hair and features that were equally beautiful, but almost wicked.

Both paused in front of Brenna and studied her with interest, then looked at one another confirming something. Brenna couldn't tell what they were, they almost seemed human except she was learning not to expect the expected.

"Come inside," William said quietly to Brenna, "I think everyone has arrived."