Shattered Pentacle

Lyra met the second time with the “civilized” vampires while carrying a little black cat in her mouth. She deposited the creature on Volita's lap with all the pride any feline could demonstrate.

That close, her animal senses betrayed even greater discomfort than she felt while human. Humans were big and intimidating, but at least they were alive. Nothing should smell like that; no fingers should feel so cold and stiff in her fur.

“If I thought you would obey my instructions in this manner, I would've... brought treats,” she said. She took the smaller black cat into her arms, then ran a pair of delicate fingers down her back.

“It's not permanent,” Reagan said, overflowing with sudden nervousness. “We can change her back whenever. I could leave this in the bathroom for her.”

The vampire nodded. “What you did with the hair is...” She made a high-pitched cooing sound, far more at home with a little girl than an ancient, dangerous monster. “Adorable! Iris, do you have your phone? I wish for a few photographs.”

She held up the cat, posing with her in a few different ways as Rainbow (or “Iris” apparently) snapped pictures. Only after the third photo did Jaqueline finally protest. “Not that I'm not grateful you saved me...” she said, in a tiny, mewing voice. “But do you think I could be a person again now?”

“In a minute,” Volita said. Whether she'd understood the request, or merely guessed what Jaqueline would obviously want, Lyra couldn't tell. “Mage, come back up here. Hold her like you did and look up at the camera. Just like... that!”

Finally, she nudged them gently off the table and onto the floor. “Go on, change. I need proof my friend here is still herself. And... to discuss arrangements. We will not stain serious conversation with these.”

A day wasn't anywhere close to long enough to learn how to use a new body—but Jaqueline could at least walk on her own, even if she kept her tail curled and her ears always folded back in shame.

Reagan held the bathroom door open for them both as they approached. All cold marble and fine wood beyond, with dim lights on the ceiling overhead. “Washed it for you,” she muttered, pulling the door shut behind them. Not before Capper slipped in, settling into a comfortable sitting position by the door.

As comfortable as anyone could be in a vampire's mansion, anyway. “A shame she isn't staying with us,” he said. “I think she's adapting rather well.”

The black cat faced him down, baring tiny teeth. “No way! I said I'd try. Thanks for not letting anything murder me, but I think I'm done. You're even weirder up here than you were down there.”

“Hope you were paying attention,” Lyra said, stretching out to full height. “You probably won’t be an animal again. Unless you ghost-people have powers I’ve never heard of.”

She padded a few steps back, where she wouldn’t collide with the cat when she grew. It was barely even magic for her anymore when she did it. Capper’s magical instruction had changed her perspective so completely that the invocation was practically reflexive. She grew to her full height, stretching in the bathroom.

“Cute,” Jaqueline said, looking up at her. “But what about me? You can stay a cat all you like!”

Lyra ignored her mewing and collected her clothes from the floor. Her first few minutes after transformation always made that part difficult—it took time for the human instincts to reassert themselves and remind her why she bothered wearing anything. She dressed anyway, mostly out of deference to her future self. She would figure it out soon enough, even if it didn’t come back right away. Her friends had included two important items with her clothes, of course; her magical tool, and the spell she had crafted with Capper. She stashed both of those into her pockets before turning around again.

Only when she was finished did she finally turn her attention back to the cat. “Alright, ghost girl. Sure you want to be big again?”

“Yes!” the cat squeaked, loudly. “Yes, yes, yes! Do it!” She stretched, standing up on her hind legs. “I’m already gonna have nightmares about this. The stuff it does to your head...”

Lyra reached down to give her a pat. “Can’t say I didn’t get you out of there, though. Did what I said I would.”

Removing a spell was far easier than casting it, even if prematurely. A little concentration, and an effort of will… and the cat started to grow. Lyra slipped back out the door before she could finish and felt her little familiar scamper along just behind her.

She walked into the vampire’s lounge, forcing a smile as she did so.

Even if she wasn’t still a cat, Lyra still had some of those instincts. She felt the tension in the air, lingering around the two undead. Her companion mages all gathered on the opposite sofa, sitting close together. Reagan and Tabitha kept beside each other, while Starlight toyed with a silver pocket watch in one hand. Her magical tool, though it radiated with the power of an active spell.

“The cat mage returns,” Volita said, nodding to the empty seat. “As faithful in upholding her responsibilities as one could ask. Assuming my friend makes it out of that bathroom door with the right number of legs.”

“She will,” Lyra said, settling into the offered seat. As she did, a very human squeal echoed from the bathroom, followed by a fleshy impact, then a whimper. “That’s normal,” Lyra assured. “Takes a minute or two to get your reflexes back. It was her first time ever doing it.”

Volita giggled. The sound was so convincing, she could almost believe the young woman was alive. Her supernal senses told her otherwise, of course. Her heart did not beat but animated only with the stolen life-essence of ordinary people. “First time. I appreciate the implication. I imagine there are... a very large number of people who might have their attitude improved by time spent as an animal. Would it work on the Kindred?”

“No,” she said, a little too quickly. “At least—not the spell I know. Might be one.”

“There is,” Tabitha said, head down and voice quiet, stiff. Even with Volita’s apparent friendliness, there was clear tension in her voice. None of the mages relaxed. “It requires a master of both Life and Death, a very rare combination of talents. I’ve only met one man who was capable.”

Lyra couldn’t let her guard down either. Just because the leader of these vampires seemed to have a soft spot for animals didn’t mean she might not decide to kill Capper on a whim. What would happen if he couldn’t find another host?

“It would be similarly difficult on most humans,” Lyra continued. “They don’t do well with magic.”

“Pity.” The vampire waved one dismissive hand. “The universe is a cruel and unfair place.”

The bathroom door opened, and Jaqueline emerged from within. She no longer had any of her feline features. The transformation had another side effect—she wasn’t starving, her body less shriveled and starved. No sense transforming someone into a body that was struggling for survival. Her hair was a disheveled mess, and her clothes fit a little loose. But she was alive, heartbeat and all.

“Jaqueline!” Volita waved from her seat. Friendly or not, she was still a vampire. Who could even guess what era her social habits had come from? “I worried we would never see you again!”

“Kinda worried I wouldn’t see the sun again either.” She took a few nervous steps forward, kicking at the floor. “No offense. Know you don’t miss it like I do.”

It was Rainbow's turn to laugh, high and bitter. “You don't know that, mortal. When the sun comes up, you can walk right out into it. Just think about how lucky you are, and how great that makes the rest of us feel. What I wouldn’t give to walk out into the light with someone like you. We could go see a movie or something.”

Jaqueline nodded hastily, backing away from the vampires, and a little closer to the mages. “Right, right. I know. And I'm grateful. The Seneschal of Canterlot has shown me tremendous generosity.” She dropped briefly into a bow, or something close to one. “Yet I pray she will consider where I am to go when this meeting is over. The reason I fled—”

Volita raised a hand. “I know, be still. I have a private jet waiting at the airport. It will take you far from here, somewhere with warm sands and long days. I will keep you there until the conflict is resolved in Canterlot.”

“Oh!” She grinned weakly. “That sounds awesome! I don't have any—”

“Money is not a concern,” the vampire said. “The car outside will take you there. Say my name, and the driver will know who you are. Best to go quickly, now. If the ones hunting you are watching for your return, they will have already sensed it. Be scarce.”

She bowed again. “Thanks, Seneschal. For the rescue, and... for this too. It means the world to me.” She hurried out the door, already seeming to know the way.

“But now, the matter of your payment.” Volita stood abruptly. Her bodyguard moved when she did, but none of the watching humans were fast enough. They were left stumbling after them. “I believe this will take my personal involvement. You need more than just vitae—but the essence of an ancient. You have served, so I will provide. Where do we go?”

The mages all shared a nervous look. Lyra felt what they were thinking, even without telepathy to send it. Leading her there means she knows where it is. She could attack it or come back whenever she wants.

“Right now?” Reagan asked, the first and fastest to recover.

“Before sunrise, if you please,” Volita said, gesturing at the clock on the wall. Lyra hadn't noticed it as a cat, but now she did. It was a large digital display, with the hours of night and day vividly colored and a hand sweeping across each to indicate the time they had left. About four hours.

“We, uh...” Starlight stammered. “I don't know if—”

“We can do it,” Lyra interrupted. She turned to the side, where she could see her cabal and the vampires at the same time. “Sunset can get us directly inside. I've seen her leave doorways open for hours, when we have to.”

Reagan glared at her with furious anger, more intense than anything she'd seen from the young woman in memory. She forced a smile anyway, lips drawn so tight that they turned white. “That could be... possible. If we can find a place that humans will not look. Sleepers will collapse the portal spell in seconds.”

“Easily done.” Volita snapped her fingers, and Rainbow moved.

She drew the curtains closed, before crossing to the door and locking it too. “Private enough for you? Can't wait to see some real magic tricks. No curtains up like with that cat thing. See if you're all as full of shit as you look.”

“I'll start,” Reagan said, approaching a patch of blank wall. She removed a soft leather pouch from her pocket, flipping it open to reveal the charcoal inside. As she moved, her voice reached Lyra's mind, echoing unnaturally there. “This seems like a monumentally stupid idea, Lyra. It's not enough time to have more Arrow ready. We'll be stuck with whoever is on station.”

“And the undead won't know where we are,” she thought back. “They don't get time to prepare an army to attack. If we're lucky, we can teleport them back here without anyone finding out where the ruin is.”

Reagan made a frustrated sound, then started drawing. “A few minutes. Lyra, call them. Let them know we're on our way.”

She lifted her phone out of her pocket, then held it up. Before she could dial, Rainbow was just beside her. The vampire touched one hand delicately on her wrist. Though she didn't strike her, her touch was still irresistible. “Careful, kitty. Nothing funny with the Seneschal. I'll stay right here where I can hear.”

She swallowed, then opened her contacts. Not Bonnie, who she would've called. She chose Akiko instead and pressed to dial. She tapped speaker too—if the vampire was going to listen anyway, she might as well make it easier on them all. It rang several times, before an exhausted voice answered. “Lyra? You drop off the girl yet? What did the Kindred say?”

“I'm here with them now,” she said, loud enough for the whole room to hear. “Sunset is getting a portal ready. We’ll be there… right now. If there's anything you need to get ready to open the door, do it.”

There was a brief delay on the other side, some muffled muttering. Then Akiko spoke again. “Right now, right now? Or do you mean like soon.”

“She means now,” Tabitha said, from a short distance away. “Or very near to it. As wild as that prospect sounds.”

“I... oh. Okay. I'll make sure the landing area is clear for Sunset.” The line clicked, then went dead.