"He's heir to the Nast Cabal," Sandford continued. "You do know what a Cabal is, don't you?"
"I've heard of them."
"Heard of them?" Sandford laughed. "Cabals are billion-dollar corporations with international interests. The crowning achievement of sorcerers and she's 'heard of them.' "
"This Nast, he's a sorcerer?"
"Naturally."
"Then he can't be Savannah's father, can he?"
Sandford nodded. "Admittedly it is difficult to comprehend how any sorcerer, particularly one of Mr. Nast's stature, could demean himself by sleeping with a witch. However, we must remember that Eve was a very attractive young woman, and brutally ambitious, so I can understand how she might have seduced Mr. Nast, in spite of the repugnance of such a union."
"Don't forget," Leah said, "Eve wasn't just a witch. She was also a half-demon. A true supernatural."
"Really?" I said. "A supernatural who can't pass on its powers to its children? More an aberration than a race, wouldn't you say?" Before she could answer, I looked over at Sandford. "Yes, I agree that I cannot conceive of any witch screwing around with a sorcerer while there was anyone else with a dick on the planet, but beyond that, there's the biological impossibility. A sorcerer sires only sons. A witch bears only daughters. How could they reproduce? It can't happen."
"Is that a fact?" Sandford said.
"Of course it is," Leah said. "Paige knows everything. She went to Harvard."
Sandford snorted. "The most overrated school in the country, and now they even admit witches. How the mighty have fallen."
"You couldn't get in, huh?" I said. "Sorry to hear it. However, if you do have proof that a witch and sorcerer can procreate, please fax it to my place. Otherwise, I'll assume I am right."
"Mr. Nast is Savannah's father," Sandford said. "And now, with her mother gone, he wants to ensure she has the kind of power she deserves, the kind of power Eve would have wanted for her."
"Good argument," I said. "Like to see you take that one before a court."
"We won't need to," Sandford said. "You'll surrender custody long before we reach that point."
"And how do you intend to make me do that?"
Leah grinned. "Witchery."
"What?"
"You give us Savannah or we'll tell the world what you are."
"You mean--" I sputtered a laugh. "You plan to accuse me of practicing witchcraft? Oh, that's a great plan. Or it would have been, four hundred years ago. Witchcraft? Who cares? It's old news."
"Are you sure about that?" Sandford asked.
"The practice of witchcraft is a state-accepted religion. You cannot discriminate against me on the basis of my religious beliefs. You should have done your homework, Counselor."
"Oh, but I did."
He smiled and, with that, they walked out.
CHAPTER 4
THE FURIES DESCEND
We walk a fine line, as supernaturals in a human world. Human rules and laws often have little meaning in our lives. Take Savannah's case. A young girl, a witch, immensely powerful, pursued by dark factions who would kill to woo her to their side while she was still young and malleable. Her mother now dead, who will protect her? Who should protect her? The Coven, of course. Sister witches who can help her harness and control her power.
Now look at it from the perspective of human law and social services. A thirteen-year-old child, her mother missing, turned over to a great-aunt whom she's never met, who in turn pawns her off on an unrelated woman barely out of college. Try going before a judge and explaining those circumstances.
To the rest of the world, Eve wa