The Compelled (The Vampire Diaries 19)

“I don’t know. But I’d have thought twice before giving my blood to a raven-toting lunatic.”

“You never think twice. You’d probably have lunged at him with your fangs out and gotten into even worse trouble. Created another mess that I’d have to clean up,” I said.

“You were quite the fighter yesterday,” Damon noted.

“Thanks,” I said stiffly. Damon and I didn’t do well when we spoke earnestly, and usually all it took was one misinterpreted statement to ignite a quarrel that would last for days.

“I don’t like the sound of Ephraim. There has to be another powerful witch in London,” Damon said. “Jemima, for one,” he added gallantly, nodding at her.

“Thank you for the compliment, but I’m only here to protect Mary Jane. And I don’t do dark magic if I can help it.” Jemima shook her head and shivered. Despite her tough exterior, it was clear she was just like the rest of us: terrified and completely out of her element.

“Well, there has to be someone who can help us. Everyone in London brags that this city is the finest and most sophisticated in the world, and I assume that includes its witch population,” Damon said, as if finding a witch was as easy as finding a fine wine.

“Actually,” Mary Jane said hesitantly, “there may be someone who can help us.” All four of us swiveled to look at her. She looked pensive and sat resting her elbows on her knees. She reminded me a little bit of Anna, the daughter of Pearl, the apothecary in Mystic Falls. Both Pearl and Anna had been vampires and had always been so worried that people would discover their secret. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was Mary Jane’s fear, too.

“Besides your housemates?” I asked. If Mary Jane knew such powerful witches, why did she choose to live in a rotting slum with the other teenage orphans?

Mary Jane nodded. “I met my first witch when I was a child, only about eight or nine. I was living in an orphanage on Crouch End Row. It was rough place, and they worked us hard. The only times we’d ever have a break were when people came, looking to adopt us. Then the nuns who ran it would be as sweet as could be.” Mary Jane laughed bitterly. “They loved showing us off. We’d perform, almost as if we were trained animals. We’d recite poetry and say prayers and do anything we could to get ourselves chosen. Except I knew no one would want me. People thought I was strange, with my eyes and the way I talked to animals. So mostly, I just kept to myself.” Mary Jane paused, lost in her own memories. “I enjoyed playing with the squirrels out in the courtyard, making them do tricks, that kind of thing. I was usually so careful, making sure no one saw. But one day, a woman caught me. The surprising part was that she wasn’t shocked,” Mary Jane said in wonderment.

“What did she do?” I asked, caught up in the story.

“She laughed. And then she sat next to me and asked me if I could make the squirrel stand on its hind legs. So I asked it to, and it did. And then she said she could do it, too.” Mary Jane sighed. “Her name is Alice, and she’s the Viscountess of Cardiganshire. Her husband is Lord Lowson. She said she wanted to adopt me.”

“And?” Cora asked.

“She lied,” Jemima said flatly.

“Jemima’s heard the story many times,” Mary Jane said apologetically. “But it’s true. She visited every week and told me stories about what it would be like when I moved in with her. I’d have my own room and as many animals as I wanted. I’d have a home. But then, it was finally the day that she was supposed to come to collect me. I waited by the gate, and she never came. Not that day nor the next day nor the next. Finally, the nuns who ran the orphanage told me she wasn’t coming. And after that, I stopped even wanting to be adopted. So I stuck with Jemima. As soon as we could, we went out to the streets, and eventually met Billy and all them. They’re my family now.”

I looked at Mary Jane, unsure how useful this information would be. Alice had promised Mary Jane a life of luxury, only to yank it away. And if she could so callously break a promise to a child, how could we trust her now?

“Alice is just proof that not all witches are loyal to their own kind. We learned early that we should never trust anyone. It’s not a bad lesson to learn,” Jemima said flatly.

“So the question is, where is Lady Alice now?” Damon asked urgently.

Mary Jane shrugged. “She’s in the society pages all the time. She and her husband just had a Midsummer’s Ball. The papers took pictures. She lives near Regents Park, on the Oval Road. I can take you to her,” Mary Jane said.

“You’ll just be disappointed again,” Jemima said. “Why do we need her?”

“I’ve been waiting for a reason to contact her. Whether she likes it or not, she owes me. And now’s my time to cash in,” Mary Jane said, her lips flattening into a straight line.

“And if she doesn’t agree?” Jemima pressed.

“Then we’re no worse off than we are now,” Mary Jane said bitterly. “I’m being targeted by a murderous vampire. I need to try whatever I can. And if you can’t help me without being rude, than you should stay home.”

The two girls faced each other down, and Jemima was the first to look away.

“Fine,” Jemima said. “Let’s go.”

7

We climbed out of the tunnel and into the sunlight. I shivered. Despite the bright sky, it was a colder day than any in recent memory, and I even saw a few small, white snowflakes swirling about the sky.

Cora slipped her small, cold hand in mine and I squeezed it. I liked taking care of her. It made me feel as if maybe, in some small way, I was making this entire nightmarish experience better for her. The city was bustling as usual, and it didn’t take long for us to cross through the busy streets of Tottenham Court Road. From there, the streets were broader and better swept. Instead of vendors and flower girls hawking their wares on the corner, hansom cabs crowded the curb, eager to pick up one of the many groups of well-dressed women toting parcels from Harrods.

Mary Jane walked in front, leading the way to Lady Alice’s house. As I followed, lost in my thoughts, everything started to make sense. Of course Samuel would seek his prey in the East End and pay special attention to the Magdalene Asylum. He was clearly hoping that the purebred witch he’d traced hadn’t moved far from her birthplace. And he’d been right. Anger at Lady Alice sliced through my stomach. If she’d just adopted Mary Jane as promised, then Mary Jane would never have been in this position. Her refusal to do so was like signing Mary Jane’s death sentence. I’d do everything I could to ensure that wasn’t true.

“We’re almost to Lady Alice’s house. Now follow my lead and let me do the talking,” Mary Jane said nervously, arching an eyebrow at Jemima.