and thousands of years old."
I glanced over at Irulan who didn't seem to be having any problems reading the text. "Care to explain how…?"
Irulan looked up from the book and cut me off, "It's written in old Elvish, a dialect that predates the current Fae language by about ten thousand years." She carefully turned another page as she continued, "It's taught in our universities like ancient Latin and Greek are taught in Human ones but only to the royal houses to prevent abuse of ancient powers.” She closed the book and passed it back to Sophie, "Please tell me that Tristan didn't gain access to anything in that book."
Sophie took a deep breath before stating, "I'm afraid I can't do that. It would seem that one of my own made copies of some of the pages for him. He is the one you need to see. Of my people that have been lured away from me, he is closest to the Abomination."
She passed us a slip of paper with a name and address on it along with two amulets on black cords. "I'm truly sorry for my clan's part in these atrocities, and if I could help you more, I would.” We didn't even notice that our food had long arrived.
Irulan pushed the plate aside. "You have first-hand knowledge of the contents of the book, and how Tristan can utilize it." She reached across the table and took Sophie's hand. "You're powerful - I can feel it. Use your knowledge and power to help us contain him."
Sophie put the book into her bag and shook her head no. "I'm afraid that is impossible. My grandmother is positively livid as it is just because I agreed to meet with you in the first place.” She took a few bites of her now cold pancakes and continued, "The Gullah have not survived as long as we have by getting involved in other clans' affairs."
Irulan scoffed, "The minute one of your own handed over the seeds of power to Tristan it became your affair. He's killing people with knowledge he may have gained from your book of shadows."
Sophie's face went blank as she directed a cold stare towards Irulan, "An error I am rectifying at this very moment, Sidhe. This is all I can actively do." She then pointed to the amulets resting on the table. "That, and give you these. They have strong magic in them and should protect you from any magics that the Abomination has derived from my people.”
"Alright, Ms. Blackmon, I accept that, but there is another way that you can help us," I said quickly. She eyed me with a cautious look in her eyes and nodded for me to continue. "As I mentioned earlier my C.O. believes your unique ancestry is key to Tristan’s plans. It would be helpful if we knew what that was."
Sophie slid the amulets closer to me. "I say again, Vampire, this is all I can do. We protect our heritage from those that might abuse us for it.”
I took the amulet and examined it. For some reason, it was familiar to me, but I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason why. It looked almost like the one Sophie was wearing around her neck. I slipped it in my pocket and pulled out money to pay for our forgotten meals. Better to leave on good terms instead of the sour note the mood had taken. "The CMS appreciates all that you have given us. Hopefully, with the information your person has, we'll be able to get Tristan out of your hair sooner than we would have without it."
Irulan and I had scooted out of the bench and turned to walk away when Sophie grabbed my hand. I looked back at her to see what the problem was, saw that her eyes had turned all white, and crackled with energy. The few of the nearby patrons that noticed made a hasty exit.
"Is there a problem?" I reached over to dislodge her hand, and she grabbed that one as well. "Alright, Ms. Blackmon, while I find you a nice enough woman, you're gonna wanna let me go - Now!"
Irulan moved to reach for her arm, but an unseen force held her in place. When we looked back to Sophie, she was quietly chanting, and her amulet was glowing around her
I glanced over at Irulan who didn't seem to be having any problems reading the text. "Care to explain how…?"
Irulan looked up from the book and cut me off, "It's written in old Elvish, a dialect that predates the current Fae language by about ten thousand years." She carefully turned another page as she continued, "It's taught in our universities like ancient Latin and Greek are taught in Human ones but only to the royal houses to prevent abuse of ancient powers.” She closed the book and passed it back to Sophie, "Please tell me that Tristan didn't gain access to anything in that book."
Sophie took a deep breath before stating, "I'm afraid I can't do that. It would seem that one of my own made copies of some of the pages for him. He is the one you need to see. Of my people that have been lured away from me, he is closest to the Abomination."
She passed us a slip of paper with a name and address on it along with two amulets on black cords. "I'm truly sorry for my clan's part in these atrocities, and if I could help you more, I would.” We didn't even notice that our food had long arrived.
Irulan pushed the plate aside. "You have first-hand knowledge of the contents of the book, and how Tristan can utilize it." She reached across the table and took Sophie's hand. "You're powerful - I can feel it. Use your knowledge and power to help us contain him."
Sophie put the book into her bag and shook her head no. "I'm afraid that is impossible. My grandmother is positively livid as it is just because I agreed to meet with you in the first place.” She took a few bites of her now cold pancakes and continued, "The Gullah have not survived as long as we have by getting involved in other clans' affairs."
Irulan scoffed, "The minute one of your own handed over the seeds of power to Tristan it became your affair. He's killing people with knowledge he may have gained from your book of shadows."
Sophie's face went blank as she directed a cold stare towards Irulan, "An error I am rectifying at this very moment, Sidhe. This is all I can actively do." She then pointed to the amulets resting on the table. "That, and give you these. They have strong magic in them and should protect you from any magics that the Abomination has derived from my people.”
"Alright, Ms. Blackmon, I accept that, but there is another way that you can help us," I said quickly. She eyed me with a cautious look in her eyes and nodded for me to continue. "As I mentioned earlier my C.O. believes your unique ancestry is key to Tristan’s plans. It would be helpful if we knew what that was."
Sophie slid the amulets closer to me. "I say again, Vampire, this is all I can do. We protect our heritage from those that might abuse us for it.”
I took the amulet and examined it. For some reason, it was familiar to me, but I couldn't quite pinpoint the reason why. It looked almost like the one Sophie was wearing around her neck. I slipped it in my pocket and pulled out money to pay for our forgotten meals. Better to leave on good terms instead of the sour note the mood had taken. "The CMS appreciates all that you have given us. Hopefully, with the information your person has, we'll be able to get Tristan out of your hair sooner than we would have without it."
Irulan and I had scooted out of the bench and turned to walk away when Sophie grabbed my hand. I looked back at her to see what the problem was, saw that her eyes had turned all white, and crackled with energy. The few of the nearby patrons that noticed made a hasty exit.
"Is there a problem?" I reached over to dislodge her hand, and she grabbed that one as well. "Alright, Ms. Blackmon, while I find you a nice enough woman, you're gonna wanna let me go - Now!"
Irulan moved to reach for her arm, but an unseen force held her in place. When we looked back to Sophie, she was quietly chanting, and her amulet was glowing around her
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