Midnight Girl Part 14

Chapter Fifteen.

A Proposal.

Cat spun, catching Mr. Rahman's wrist, and saw his knife and his amazement. "Sorry." She pointed with her free hand at the ravens. "Nighters coming."

Ms. Arkan reached into her jacket, shouting, "It's a trick!" Then she, Olujimi, Auntie Fong, Mr. Rahman, and Ilya were all drawing pistols and knives from shoulder holsters, sleeve holsters, and ankle holsters. The guns were smaller than bolt pistols, but they didn't look like any weapons Cat knew.

She thought, As if I know what normal pistols look like.

The knives were all different and all similar: dark metal with grooves on their sides.

She thought, For letting blood flow.

Professor M flicked a sword from the back of his chair to touch Alexandra Arkan's chin. She froze, her pistol half-extended toward Cat, who still held Mr. Rahman's wrist. Professor M said, "Cat doesn't lie."

Ms. Arkan said, "Valentin. You would make this even worse?" Professor M nodded. "I have a reputation to maintain." Only Tarika was unarmed. She had moved back to the wall. Ilya handed her his knife, then gripped his pistol in both hands and looked around the room.

Auntie Fong said, "Val?" She and Olujimi kept their guns pointing upward, but they would only need an instant to aim at Cat or her father.

Cat released Mr. Rahman's wrist. "Keep your knife. You may need --"

Olujimi pointed outside. "It's true!"

Two ravens flew at the windows, but two nighters burst through the gla.s.s: Zoraida de la Sombra, her black hair tied back in a tail, clad in blood-red boots and trousers and sweater, and Baldomero, his black hair swept back like wings, wearing a black motorcycle jacket, gray cargo pants, and black commando boots.

The humans scrambled back and fired, their pistols sounding like toy air guns. Sharp wooden bolts as long as fingers flew through the air, but the nighters turned as if dancing, dodging every shot.

Cat screamed, "Stop it! Everyone! Don't fight!"

The shooting stopped. For an instant, she thought everyone was obeying her. Then the weight of the world pulled on her arms and legs, making them too heavy to lift. All around her, pistols and knives clattered to the floor, followed by the clang of her father's sword. It was easier to turn her eyes than her head as she looked to see what was happening.

Every human stood perfectly still, with calm faces and desperate eyes. Zoraida kept her gaze fixed on them as Baldomero ran to Cat, calling, "My princess! Thank G.o.d we're in time!" He reached out as if to hug her.

She flinched, glancing at her mother for help or advice. Zoraida's face never turned away from the humans.

Glamour. Controlling people trained to resist it would take all of a nighter's concentration. But surely her mother could give her a nod, a smile, a word-- Baldomero let his arms fall to his side. "You haven't forgiven me. I understand, Catalina. I haven't forgiven myself. I thought the easiest way to help you was to force you to feed. I was wrong. Very wrong. I'm sorry."

Cat looked from the immobile humans to the shattered windows.

Baldomero said, "The humans who watched outside? They've been sent home to sleep until morning. No one will bother us. Now--" He seized Mr. Rahman by the throat. "You dared threaten my beloved--"

Cat said, "Let him go! A guy with a knife couldn't hurt me."

"Unless he was fast. Or you trusted him." Baldomero released Mr. Rahman, then narrowed his eyes at Cat. "Or you let him."

Professor M made a sound like a groan.

Baldomero glanced at him. "Ah, father of all our hope. Were you wise, you wouldn't reveal that you can do anything at all."

Zoraida's gaze flicked at last toward Cat and Baldomero. She said with great effort, "Nephew--"

"No!" Baldomero commanded. "Catalina and I will speak. No one else."

Zoraida's eyes narrowed, her nostrils flared, her lips tightened. Then she exhaled and nodded.

Cat thought, He glammed Mama!

"Catalina, I beg you, hear me out," Baldomero said. "We can rule this world, you as queen of the day, I as king of the night. Who could stand against us? Palaces would be yours. Your friends would be the people you see on magazine covers, not these no-ones."

Cat glanced at Tarika and Ilya. "They're someones to me." Baldomero shrugged. "Then make them rich and famous so they're worthy of you. Let your whims become reality. No one will deny you." "Except you." "Why would I? Do you feel any glamour?" "Just a minute ago--"

"We had to stop the humans so they wouldn't hurt themselves. But I freed you immediately, didn't I? Do you feel any glamour now? Even a hint?"

She thought, I must, because he seems just like my handsome, mysterious cousin. But the only glamour I feel is from his smile. He's telling the truth.

His smile grew wider, baring bright, perfect teeth. "I'm speaking to you as an equal, Cat. I hate saying no to those I love. Please me, and you'll be free of all compulsion."

She glanced at her mother. A bruise on Zoraida's throat was marked with two dark dots.

Baldomero nodded. "Yes. I had to bind her with a bite. That hurt me, but what could I do? She says we must try a new way, but new ways are weakness, and weakness is death. Could I let her hurt herself? Hurt us all? You've seen the Five Clans. Do they consider new ways?"

Cat glanced at Olujimi, then shook her head.

Baldomero looked at Professor M. "Let me guess. For the good of the family, the professor told you to sacrifice yourself--"

"He wanted to fight them." "But you didn't?" "More people would die. And I'd still be dead." "Ah, Catalina. I like the professor more. He's right. Here's what you must know to rule. Love yourself more than anything." "I don't want to rule." "Be patient. You'll learn to want more than you can imagine. The point of power is to want more every day, then take what you want, then want even more."

"But I've got all I want."

He snorted. "A crumbling house and a father fighting a war he can't win?"

She nodded. "A home and someone who loves me." He stared at her. "I've made you hate me." Should she lie to buy time? What would that gain? She nodded. "Then give me a way to make amends, Catalina. Surely there's something you want." "If nighters stopped killing humans--" "Why? Humans feast on lesser creatures." He smiled. "You want me to change the way of the world?"

"But killing's not necessary!" "Power doesn't care what's necessary." "Love does." He smiled fondly. "Oh, my innocent! Master the glamour. Musicians and movie stars will adore you." She shook her head. His voice softened. "You don't want that?" "If they can't choose, it's not love." "I didn't choose to love you." Was there a special kind of glamour that no one could detect? She thought, He loves me. He's gorgeous. He wants me to be happy. Why not join him and be the best ruler the world has ever known?

Because he doesn't even know he's a monster. She said, "You only love yourself."

Baldomero put his hand over his heart. "There was a time when that was true. But I love my family. I would've gladly died in my mother's place. Nothing will harm you or Zoraida while I live. You must know that's true."

Cat looked at her mother, a dark statue commanding human statues, and said, "Binding Mama isn't harming her?"

"It's necessary. When we go, I'll free her and never restrain her again. I swear it."

"You just use people."

"We all use the people we love. Who can you love more than those who give you what you need?"

"You want to give me what I need?" "With all my heart." "End the war between nighters and humans." He laughed. "Done!" She blinked. "Without killing?" "Without killing, because that pleases you." She squinted at him, trying to feel glamour, trying to hear a trick.

"How?" "We'll bind their leaders, the most important priests, princes, and presidents. Through them--" "But I want everyone free!" He shook his head sadly. "You want a world that never existed." "That's kind of the point of making a better world." He smiled. "You misunderstand. You want a better world, so we'll make it, a healthy world of healthy humans. We'll build schools and hospitals and parks instead of armies and prisons and palaces. We'll feed them things that grow, and the land that was used for cattle will be forests and wetlands again. They'll live longer, healthier lives, and we'll have better stock to feed on. Isn't that best for everyone?"

"And you won't kill?"

"Some of us prefer to feed without killing. Some of us think death is a sweet dessert, but none of us kill every night. So I promise, after we save this world, only a thousand humans will be killed each year. In exchange, millions will be saved from their own madness. Isn't paradise worth a thousand deaths?"

"n.o.body kills in paradise."

"Think, Catalina. Every year, a million humans die in cars. Millions more die from war, hunger, and disease. Their greed is destroying the earth. Their scientists say their civilization will fail in thirty years if they don't change their ways, but their leaders don't care. They happily destroy everything so they can die rich. What are a thousand, when millions will be saved?"

"But we don't need to kill! Maybe we don't even need their blood! If you don't have to do something bad, and you do it anyway, it's the worst bad!"

"You watch too much television." "Wrong is wro--" "No." His command seized her like being instantly shrink-wrapped.

She thought, Be free! I must be free! But she could only move her eyes. She looked at her mother. Zoraida was as much a prisoner as she. When their gaze met, she heard a whisper in her head: I can't free you again, my fierce one. He's forbidden it.

The whisper died as Baldomero said, "I can make you believe what I wish, but I gave you a choice. What more could anyone ask? Now you give me a choice. Free you, and the Ouroboros War continues? Or bind you and build Paradise? There's no real choice, is there? If I free you, you'll fight me. You may answer."

Cat nodded. Baldomero clenched his fist. "You could have the good sense to lie!" "Would you believe me?" He smiled like the Baldomero she could love. "No. But if you pretended and worked with me, you would learn how sweet power is. The lie would become truth."

"Then I can't."

"No. And that's part of the reason I love you." He held his hand out. "Come here."

Something tugged at her feet. She fought it, saying, "No." "Don't fear a kiss. I love you too much to hurt you."

"I'm free!" she insisted, thinking, Aren't I? I must be. He said I'm strong. Be strong!

His eyes widened, then narrowed. As her feet failed her, she stepped toward him.

He nodded. "Accept it. Afterward, I'll make you think you're free. You won't suffer. You'll believe everything you do is for love. And it will be."

"No!" She trembled as she strained to run for the door. Trying to disobey was like fighting a whirlwind. Her legs weakened, and she took another step closer to him.

"You're all I need to be happy, Catalina. Surrender to me." "Still wrong! Baldomero, please. Don't." "One kiss, sweet Catalina. Then we'll be happy forever. I promise you that." She gasped as she took the last step to him. He caressed her cheek. "Yes. You'll be all I've hoped for." She couldn't step away. She felt the glamour grow with the touch of his cool fingers. Part of her hated him more than she ever had. Part of her wanted his kiss. She managed to glance away, knowing it was her last free act. She saw Tarika's eyes, wide with horror, and her father's, narrow with fury. She saw her mother's lips tremble as if she was trying to say something, despite the command that prevented her from helping.

Baldomero said, "I love you, Catalina, as much as you shall love me. Now, come closer."

His mouth opened. His fangs extended, long, ivory-white, and needle-sharp. His hand rested on the side of her face, drawing her into his embrace. His wrist was an inch from her lips.

She thought, Obeying now, Baldomero. Coming closer. Then she turned her head. And bit.

Chapter Sixteen.

The Queen of Shadows.

As she drank deeply of sweet, tart blood, the will of its vessel crumbled beneath hers. She would drain it, then drink from the other vessels around her to learn if one was best. Knowledge is good. She would learn the limit of how much she could drink, and then she would learn how to pa.s.s that limit. She held many vessels in a web of command, humans controlled by a nighter, that nighter controlled by another nighter, who gave his blood and his life to her, proving she ruled them all. Who could resist her?

Something grabbed her arm and shouted, "Kid! Stop!" She swatted it. It skidded across the room, hit the wall, and fell. Something tried to pull her sustenance from her jaws and said, "My fury, don't kill him!" She kicked it. It landed on the dining table. Something shoved her shoulder, trying to separate her from the thrill of the blood, and screamed in her mind, Cat, don't be him! She grabbed its throat. The scream grew louder: Cat! Control! You got to get control-- She thought, Control is easy. She tore her lips from the first vessel and stared at the beast interrupting her meal. She thought, I can make you do any-- She heard, Cat? You're talking in my head? Yes. I can do anything I-- Prove it! By stopping!

Why? Because it's wrong! And I care why? Because you're Cat! And Cat cares because she's Cat, no matter-- She gasped and thought, Tee? Cat spat blood and jerked her hand from Tarika's throat. Baldomero had slumped to his knees, and Zoraida was rolling off the dining room table, and Professor M was pulling himself up from the floor into his wheelchair, and Ilya and the heads of the Five Clans were lunging for weapons, and Tarika had her hand to her bruised throat as she stared at Cat.

"Everyone, stop!" Cat screamed.

They froze like a wax museum tableau. All eyes were on her. Her skull burned as she felt them fighting her will, and felt herself losing. When she failed, who would die in the fight?

Olujimi managed a step toward Zoraida. Ms. Arkan's arm twitched. Her fingertips touched a pistol at her feet. Professor M drew himself further into his chair. And Cat's control crumbled. Ms. Arkan raised her pistol and shot twice, once at Cat, once at Zoraida. Cat twisted her head. The dart tore through her hair. She screamed, "Mama! Stop them!"

Zoraida leaped forward. The second dart missed her as she threw Olujimi into Auntie Fong and Mr. Rahman. Cat heard a whisper in her mind, Why, my fierce one? You and I can win.

Cat thought, But I don't want anyone to die!

Ilya stood in front of Tarika, shielding her as he looked desperately from Cat to Ms. Arkan to Zoraida. Professor M rolled forward, a sword in one hand, but Cat had no time to wonder what he was planning. Ms. Arkan was aiming a pistol toward her.

Cat thought, No! And her father, Ilya, Tarika, and Ms. Arkan stopped moving. She heard her mother's whisper: Well done. Saeed al-Rahman thrust his knife at Zoraida's heart. She caught his wrist and squeezed. The knife fell, and she said calmly, "Enough!" And Olujimi, Mr. Rahman, and Auntie Fong were still. Cat thought, What now? She heard, They're too dangerous.

Zoraida's jaws opened. Her fangs glistened. Cat shouted, "You said you wouldn't kill!" Zoraida frowned. "My fury, we'll only bite them to bind them." "Won't glamming do?" "Better to bind, with so many." "Mama. Just glam them, okay?" And she heard the whisper: Why? She answered, Because you love me. Zoraida raised an eyebrow, and the reply came: It's a higher price than you know. Zoraida's fangs retracted. She told the glamoured humans, "Wait--"

A motion behind her made Cat whirl. Baldomero was running toward a shattered window. In mid-step, he became a raven and beat his wings to fly. She screamed, "No!"

But holding a raven's thoughts was like trying to hold grease in her fingers. She felt him slip free, saw him soar through the window, then saw her mother leap after him. A black wolf followed the raven to freedom. No! Not both-- She ran to the window. The sky was empty of anything but clouds. No one was racing across the yard. She glanced back in the dining room. The humans waited, obeying their last command. She turned back to the window, thinking, I've lost-- Something moved below her. In the border of plants by the house, a black wolf held a struggling raven in its jaws.

Cat said, "Mama? Don't kill him, okay?"

The wolf shook its head and jumped back inside. As it landed, it became Zoraida de la Sombra with the raven gripped firmly between her hands. Cat heard, Then make him look human.

You can't? You bit him. So I bought him? Zoraida smiled. It's easier for you to command one you bind. And harder for others.

Cat stared into the raven's glittering eyes. "Baldomero. Look human again." Her head began to throb, as if her brain was being packed in ice. She thought, Bird brains are hard.

Zoraida glanced at Professor M. Cat heard, Tell me about it. She said, "Free Dad? And Tee?" Zoraida nodded, and Tarika ran to stand by Cat, saying, "You good?" Cat nodded as Professor M said, "Zora, you should've just eaten the b.a.s.t.a.r.d." Zoraida's face tensed slightly. Cat thought, Baldomero's still her sister's son. Cat studied the raven, but she thought of the handsome man whose laugh had thrilled her. Some things Dad shouldn't joke about. But he's only seen the monster. He never saw any other Baldomero.

Cat shook her head. "He's family." Professor M said, "Give him to me." "No," Zoraida said softly, and Professor M lifted his head just a fraction of an inch. Then Zoraida raised the raven before her and said, "Cat doesn't want you dead. But it would be easier for her to love your memory than you." She put one hand around the bird's skull.

Cat said, "Mama!" Professor M said, "Trust her, kid." Zoraida told the raven, "Son of my beloved sister, if you are foolish enough to think I will not kill you to protect my child--" Baldomero stood before them, jerking his head to shake off Zoraida's hand as he gave a gentle, self-mocking smile. "Catalina, my princess, I don't need to rule. I could serve you. Happily." "If you could be trusted," said Zoraida.

"Catalina bound me. She can trust me." "Bound, yes. Trust, no." Cat heard her mother's hint and said as forcefully as she could, "Baldomero! You can't change into anything. You can't use glamour. You can't attack anyone. You can only defend yourself if someone attacks you."