Blood Red (30 page)

If not an actress, a courtesan. Overdressed for traveling. Now, she saw Madame was something much more sinister. Her smile was careful, but not quite careful enough to hide the long canine teeth. Not all immortals were hurt by sunlight; that she wasn’t meant that Madame Roi was a very powerful being.

“Do not worry, Miss Yates, she will not waken. And you and I have much to discuss.”

Althea frowned. Much to discuss with a strange vampiress? Her hand curled around the stake hidden in the deep pocket of her pelisse. The cross on the chain around her neck bumped with the jolts of the carriage.

The woman tapped a long finger, clad in a turquoise leather glove, thoughtfully against her chin. “I can see at once why Zayan chose you.” The smile turned wicked. “I assume you were exploring sapphic pleasures with that pretty young miss.”

Zayan? Sapphic pleasures? “Who are you, truly?” Althea demanded.

“Queen of the vampires, my darling.” She held out her hand with a regal air, obviously expecting Althea to bow before it, moving coach or not. In the vampiric world, as in the mortal, a hierarchy had developed. A political structure, where the more ancient, stronger vampires claimed power and control. She had read of vampire queens, heard rumors of their existence Blood Red by Sharon Page ©2006 Advance Reader Copy www.SharonPage.com 145

from the thirteenth century onward. But she’d never been in the presence of one. And this woman, despite her bold, arrogant claim, could not be queen of
all
vampires. Such a being did not exist.

Or did she? After all, if Lucifer could conscript a vampire to do his bidding, was anything beyond possibility?

Althea should be frightened, but instead a hundred questions bubbled out of her. She held tight to her weapon. Vampire or no, the woman held herself as royalty, and exuded the arrogance of one entitled to privilege and authority. Like Yannick, Althea realized.

Though she was still blushing at the woman’s accusation (and a true one) of sapphic activities, Althea tried to keep her voice steady. “How do you know of Zayan?”

“You may to address me as Your Highness.” The dark, arching brows rose haughtily and the silvery-black eyes flashed in the sunlight.

“What do you mean about Zayan choosing me…Your Highness?” She used the title to flatter.

“To seduce and divide the twins, of course. Very clever of Zayan,” the queen purred, “since he is prevented from destroying Yannick.”

For one moment Althea felt relief—Zayan couldn’t hurt Yannick—but then the import of the other words sank in.
To seduce and divide the twins
. Icy dread shivered down her spine.

“But Zayan didn’t have anything to do with—” The dreams!

“Zayan controlled my dreams?” she cried. The dreams were no premonition at all. Not a sign of her destiny. She’d been manipulated by an evil vampire.

“Yes, Zayan sent you into their dreams.”

“To come between them? But why?”

“Zayan cannot destroy Yannick,” the queen repeated, exasperated.

Althea bristled at the dismissive tone. “How is he prevented from destroying Yannick, Your Highness?”

The queen leaned back against the velvet squabs with a fluid, sensual grace. “Because the delightful boy carries my protection—and the protection of one even more powerful than I.”

“Your protection…so
you
released Yannick.” She remembered his words. A bargain with the devil. This woman was the devil Yannick had meant.

“He agreed to my price for his freedom.” The almond-shaped eyes narrowed to slits. “He agreed to find his brother and destroy Zayan for me. Yannick called to me, so I could come to him, but Bastien was too immersed in anger and betrayal and hatred to bargain even for his life.

He would not even call to his own brother. Once Zayan learned of Yannick’s release, he knew he must destroy Bastien to ensure his own safety. And that, as you have seen, he will not do.”

How did the queen know about the night in the mausoleum? Once more, Althea felt a blush creep to her cheeks. “That is why he tried to goad Bastien to kill Yannick.”

“Yes, the twins may destroy each other—they are linked in a special way. With the magic of the
Geminiani—
vampires who are made from twins or even triplets. In mortal life, their souls and essences are linked, are part of one whole. The magic bestowed upon them in immortal life is even more powerful.”

The crimson lips smiled evilly again. “And so, Zayan sent you into their dreams. To tempt them, to give them pleasure, and to give them love. Neither twin has ever truly known love.

Blood Red by Sharon Page ©2006 Advance Reader Copy www.SharonPage.com 146

They had a brutal father, a weak mother, and both died before finding true love from mortal women. Zayan realized that despite their link, despite their bond, each man would be willing to kill the other to claim love for himself.”

But was what she felt for both of them—the pain and joy and quickening of her heart when she merely thought of them—was that truly love or was it just created by Zayan? Was she just being controlled like a puppet?

Damnation, that made her mad. She refused to let that monster control her heart.

“Delicious little thing.” With a shock, she realized the queen was assessing Sarah and licking her fangs.

Althea began to lift her stake from her pocket.

“Not to worry, my dear, I never feed during daylight.” The queen looked so amused, Althea shivered apprehensively.

“I am sure your pleasurable activities with the sweet little thing were more of Zayan’s mischief.”

Humiliated, Althea gasped, “Why?” But now she understood why she’d felt such a mad compulsion to do those things.

“He seeks to make you more accepting of your natural sensual nature. He wants to make you more of a temptation to Bastien. A sweet, naïve, charming young lady who delights in bedding more than one man or even other women? Dear Bastien would be unable to resist.”

“But I’m not dreaming. And this is day time—”

“And Zayan is a powerful being. But I sense you only needed a slight push in the right direction.” The queen’s forefinger slid over her full, red lips in a very suggestive way.

“Well, Zayan will lose, because I won’t allow the twins to fight over me.”

The queen smiled, and her condescension grated.

As enlightening as Althea found this tale, suspicions lurked. “Why are you revealing this to me?”

The long fingers toyed with the sparkling sapphire choker. “To thwart Zayan. And the twins were once my lovers.” Madame Roi gave a wistful sigh. “Wonderful lovers. But Yannick will be destroyed at the next full moon—in mere days—unless he destroys Zayan. He knew, of course, I could not make a bargain and give him eternity to fulfill it.”

“What do you mean, destroyed?”

“At dawn, on the night of the full moon, he disintegrates into dust.”

“If he is out in the light.”

“No, my dear. Wherever he is.”

Althea’s heart missed a beat. Fear swamped her and she fought it, fought to stay calm. “But that’s a monstrous price!”

The queen gave a dismissive wave. “But one he accepted.”

With the only other choice being eternal imprisonment! “And what about Bastien? Will he disintegrate also?”

“The twist in the bargain is that Bastien will risk death only if he attacks Zayan with Yannick. Though the twins can defeat Zayan if they combine their powers, Bastien will be vulnerable.”

Blood Red by Sharon Page ©2006 Advance Reader Copy www.SharonPage.com 147

“Does Bastien know about this? Does he know Yannick would die?”

“He will. It is essential that he knows when he makes his choice.”

The elegant hand strayed toward Sarah’s thigh. “Lovely creature.”

“Don’t touch her!”

The queen stroked the valley between Sarah’s thighs. “She won’t remember what happened, Miss Yates. However, I believe Bastien and Yannick will have witnessed your inhibited behavior in their dreams.”

That made her blush even harder and her head throbbed with the heat and embarrassment.

But she feared for the twins far more. “Bastien has always felt he is secondary to Yannick; I sense that in him. He might be willing to let Yannick die to claim everything his brother has.”

Wasn’t the queen worried about Yannick? Both men had been her lovers—a thought that curdled Althea’s blood. The vampiress was ravishing—how could she hope to compete with such beauty and power?

The queen cocked her head so the peacock feathers shivered. She didn’t look in the least sympathetic about Yannick’s plight. “I understand the nature of twins. I was one myself. But that is the choice he has to make. Yannick searched for a decade to find the incantation to free his brother—the incantation your Father found. But once he had it, he was not sure if he wished to use it.”

That surprised her. “Why? When it would mean his death if he didn’t?”

“Bastien enjoys being immortal—he revels in the power, the sensuality. But Yannick was raised with responsibilities. He despised being a vampire and destruction represented escape.”

Stunned by this, Althea moved to rap on the ceiling to stop the coachman. “I’m returning. I must ensure that Yannick doesn’t die. That Bastien doesn’t allow it.”

To her astonishment, the queen clasped her hand between hers, the leather warm. “No, Miss Yates, you must continue to London. Zayan will go there to hunt tonight and he will not return to Maidensby. Bastien and Yannick will follow him there.”

A sly look in the dark, flashing eyes made her wonder. Was Zayan going to London because he knew she would be there? How could he know? He could control her dreams—

could he see into her thoughts?

“I must leave you now, my dear,” the queen said, “But remember, Zayan believes you will cause the destruction of the twins.”

“You must tell me how I can prevent that.”

The queen glared down her straight nose. “You must discover that yourself, mortal.”

Althea realized the queen had come to her to protect Yannick. Perhaps the queen wasn’t allowed to interfere any more than she had. The rules of immortals and magic and the netherworld were complex, confusing. Like never-ending riddles. Was there some way she could cleverly get the answer—?

The vampiress vanished in a flurry of turquoise light.

Too late.

“Where the hell is she?” Yannick strode into the bedchamber of Zayan’s mausoleum and Blood Red by Sharon Page ©2006 Advance Reader Copy www.SharonPage.com 148

shouted his demand at Althea’s father. He knew he would find Sir Edmund here—he knew Althea had told her father about this place.

“Good evening, my lord.” Sir Edmund leaned over to peer closely at an open book lying on top of Zayan’s closed coffin.

Yannick gaped, irritated, as Sir Edmund all but ignored him and continued to read the book.

Behind him, a whip sliced through the air with a hiss, followed by a slap as the tip struck the floor. Something else, the mace, no doubt, hit the floor with a clang. He heard ribald laughs amongst the men as they explored Zayan’s treasure trove of bondage and sex toys. He focused on Sir Edmund, but he kept the half-dozen well-built laborers in his peripheral vision.

“’Ere lads, look over there, it’s the vampire ‘imself!”

Hell and perdition. Yannick groaned—he had no time to battle six men armed with whips, picks, and crossbows.

Sir Edmund looked up and held up a quelling hand. “Rest easy, men,” he called, “His lordship is no threat.” He then adjusted his spectacles on the bridge of his nose and pointed to the book. “Might I trouble you to look at this, my lord? Zayan’s journal—kept over one hundred years. Infrequent entries but I expect this journal to illuminate much—”

Exasperated, Yannick stalked over toward Sir Edmund. “Forget the bloody journal. Where is Althea? Why in hell did you send her away alone?”

He heard the men shift restlessly, knew they were just awaiting an order to attack, but he damn well didn’t care. “I expect an answer, Sir Edmund. Now.”

Sir Edmund let out a low whistle of appreciation as he turned a page of the book. Suddenly Yannick was struck by the sense that Sir Edmund was playing a role. Acting as a barmy scholar.

Putting him off guard. Any second now, he’d probably get a bolt through his heart.

Sir Edmund flipped another page. “Althea is not alone, my lord, I can assure you.”

Yannick fumed. How could he be stuck in a stalemate with a man far beneath his rank? He had to make the man see sense.

“Whoever she is with cannot protect her as I can,” he snapped. “Tell me where she is—in return, I’ll tell you anything you need to know about Zayan.”

Sir Edmund slammed the book and surged up. “You think I would betray my daughter to catch Zayan?” he barked, “You insult me, my lord. An unwise thing to do, when I have enough weapons trained on you to destroy you. Not even a vampire can survive being hacked limb from limb. Or being decapitated.”

True. Yannick detected a scent he had been too distracted to notice over the strong odor of garlic flowers. Though faint, it was pungent and it swept through his lungs and already he felt his muscles weaken. Flower of solange—a plant long thought extinct, though it was rumored that a Dutch vampire hunter grew it in a protected greenhouse. Garlic had no effect, but solange—breathe in enough of this light smoke and he would be captured in a trance-like state.

Oil gathered from the plant, and burned, acted as a mind-destroying opiate for vampires but had no effect, remarkably, on mortals.

So he had no time for pleasantries. “I know from Crenshaw that she traveled to London.

Where is she there?”

Sir Edmund shook his head. He took a small notebook from his pocket and a graphite pencil and scribbled down a line of notes.

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“Damnation, I only wish to protect her from Zayan.”