When the orb had cataloged every inch of terrain for a hundred yards in every direction, it stopped its spiral pattern and moved back to the more obvious signs of activity: the broken vegetation, humanoid footprints in soft, muddy soil, paths cut in straight lines away from the Tree, most heading further south. Selecting the largest of these, the metal ball followed the trail, still silent, still invisible, like a jungle predator on the hunt.

Chapter 42

“Declan? Stacia? Come join us in here,” Tanya’s voice called as the two entered the cafeteria. The young vampire leader was standing in the doorway to the private dining room that faculty sometimes used for themselves or with visitors. Two of Omega’s small drones followed the couple like watchdogs.

The wolf and the witch exchanged a glance, then headed to the room, finding upon entering that it already contained Chris, Nika, Lydia, Senka, Galina, Dr. Singh, and Gina Velazquez. The center of the room was set with a large round table, big enough for twelve, while a long rectangular table was set against one wall, with human and werewolf suitable foods, packets of blood, and beverages for everyone.

“Did it work?” Chris asked as he shut the door, blocking out the general hum of voices and activity generated by the main dining room’s youthful inhabitants.

“Yeah, Omega’s drone is through and on Fairie,” Declan said, eyeing the table of food. Gina waved at it with one hand and he moved over to look at the contents.

“During which class Kid Wonder here both totally exhausted himself and simultaneously found a new way to scribe portals that maybe, just maybe, is more readily teachable to the witch pack,” Stacia said.

“Not totally exhausted,” Declan protested.

“Really? How you going to get that food onto a plate and the plate onto the table and then get said food into you?” his girlfriend asked.

With a frown, he turned and looked at one of the stacked plates. It immediately trembled but didn’t otherwise leave the stack. He looked harder. The plate slid awkwardly sideways, off the stack, and crashed four inches to the tabletop, where it sat unmoving.

“Astonishing,” a cultured voice said. Declan looked over to find Senka watching with complete fascination.

“That such a small act would wear out a witch of your caliber,” Senka said. “Leaving you vulnerable.”

“Father is not vulnerable.” Two of Omega’s advanced spherical drones floated out from the walls, bracketing the young witch as if to make a point.

“Grandmother, please don’t antagonize the quantum supercomputer that is currently laying waste to another planet,” Tanya said.