Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) (49 page)

“I’m actually intrigued about these ‘toys’ you’ve mentioned, Talisa,” Netira said. “I don’t suppose there are herbs in there that give off the symptoms of plagues, hmm?”

Talisa winked. “I’ll leave it up to your imagination.”

“It is rather vast,” Netira teased.

“Then think of the most vile way to die, and it still would not come close to what I have in my bag of tricks,” Talisa said.

“This is why it’s always better to befriend witches than to anger them,” Shadow whispered to me as we left the safe house.

“Watching Talisa’s interactions with Jack reinforced the idea enough.”

Jack and Callypso stopped reading the books that were left open on the grass in front of them once we came out, and it didn’t take long before we were ready to return to the forest of the Woodland Realm.

“If we follow the route that was agreed upon last night and we do not encounter any trouble, then we should reach Westyron within five
nights’ time,” Talisa explained as we all followed her lead. “Any longer, and what minimal supplies we have left will be depleted faster than we can curse all of the goddesses.”

“I do not worry for food,” Netira said as her irises shifted to silver. Her wings stretched to full length as she removed her cloak. “I’m a capable hunter, and I’m sure Shadow is as well.”

“You’re going to hunt
now
?” Jack asked.

“If I am going to be useful to you, yes,” Netira answered. She glanced at me. “Will you come, Artemis?”

I felt all eyes shift to me. I asked for her help, I know I did…but I couldn’t allow the dhampir its freedom yet. I wanted a little more time of being plain ol’ Artemis instead of Artemis Ravenwing, the dhampir and rightful Mistress of Blackwen.

Goddesses, I didn’t want to think about being a ruler.

“No,” I refused.

“I’ll allow the refusal just this once,” Netira warned. “The next time, I will not be so understanding. You asked for my help, and I intend to give it. You cannot deny who you are forever.”

She then disappeared to hunt, and I saw Jack shudder.

“I’m glad she’s on our side,” Jack muttered. His attention shifted to me. “You know, I can’t even remember the last time I saw you shift into dhampir mode.”

I sighed. “Be grateful for that. The blackouts…I wonder if anyone saw me in that form.”

“We’ll be seeing that form soon enough,” Shadow said.

I looked to the sky. “You all should keep your distance from me when it does happen. Whatever control I thought I had…it was all a lie.”

rlina didn’t bother to hide herself with a cloak once she stepped onto the cobblestone streets of Westyron. Each human she passed cowered and moved aside when they encountered her. Arlina knew there were others of her kind here, as well as other “outsiders,” but they were situated deeper within the merchant port city.

Latos and two others of her retinue accompanied her, as she had sent the rest of her remaining war party from the Woodland Realm back to Blackwen City. She wanted the traitor mage back at the Dark Fortress so that once he awoke he would find himself in the worst of the prison cells. Arlina had much she wanted to do to Karesu, and she was sure the pleasure it would bring would rival the satisfaction of finding Gavin again.

She
knew
he had to still be here; he had no other home. After what Arlina did to him that night…

“Mistress, where do you lead us?” Latos asked, interrupting her train of thought.

Arlina didn’t bother to look at her subordinate. When she heard how Latos had acquired his injuries, she couldn’t even glance at the imbecile. Latos was a capable enough warrior to hold his own against Shadow of Ellewynth, and he should have been able to kill the damned elf.

Arlina knew there was still some use left in him, however, hence the decision to keep him close for their little trip to Westyron.

She felt Latos’ embarrassment for his loss deepen as her silence continued, and she felt that that alone earned him the privilege of an answer. Arlina stopped the others when she spotted a large tavern, the White Viper. It was as…charming…as she remembered, with its lively music hurting her ears and the smell of drunks and other pitiful lowborns stacked within the boarded structure wafting her way.

“I lead us here, Latos,” Arlina said. “The three of you will stay out here. You’re welcome to any straggling drunkards. It would be doing this disgusting city a service.”

Latos and the others bowed their heads and stood watch as she entered the tavern. There were wenches digging into the pockets of those too drunk to move themselves off the floor. Several of the humans who sat at the bar watched her closely as she moved to an open spot and demanded wine. The bartender raised an eyebrow at her and eventually gave her a glass of deep red wine along with a small razor blade.

“I seen enough of yer kind in this here tavern to know ya want more than ya ask fer,” the bartender said. He motioned his pudgy head to his right and pointed out a drunkard she could pawn blood off of. “Take more than ya need, and I ain’t afraid to call the man upstairs, ya hear?”

Arlina smiled as she took the blade and cut into the now unconscious man’s wrist. The blood droplets seeped into her wineglass with scraggly ripples. “On the contrary, sir, I hope that you will indeed call on him. He and I are old friends.”

The bartender shook his head and walked away as she sipped the blood mixed with wine. Arlina was amazed, as the wine was actually succulent. The blood of the drunkard was enough to keep her satisfied for the evening. She would have to find out more about this wine.

It was rare to find something of the humans, besides their blood, to be considered “enjoyable.”

A fight broke out. One of the humans was thrown into Arlina’s side, causing her to drop her wine glass. It grew silent once she grabbed the man and hauled him onto the bar, her now drawn sai drawing blood from his neck.

She enjoyed the human’s squirms; it made her bloodlust rise.

“I rather enjoyed my wine, cattle,” Arlina hissed. “Perhaps your blood will compensate for it.”

The click of a flintlock pistol drew Arlina’s attention away from the human she had pinned and toward the bartender.

“Let ‘em go, vampire,” the bartender demanded.

“Or what? You’ll shoot me?” Arlina was amused that the man couldn’t even steady his hand. She understood then that he must have used the pistol only once or twice. “Do you have
any
idea what I’m capable of, human?”

“Arlina, calm yourself.” Arlina felt her grin widen as she recognized the voice. “Let the imbecile go and step away from the bar.”

Arlina turned around to see the one she had sought out: Gavin.

His black hair was much longer now, tied back with a dark red ribbon. His hazel eyes glared at her, and she noted he was wearing fashions similar to the full-bloods of Blackwen City.

How perfect.

“Gavin!” Arlina greeted him as she released the human. She raised her arms as if she was welcoming his presence. “How long has it been, brother?”

“Not long enough.” Gavin frowned. “I am
not
your brother.”

“Oh, but you are, Gavin.” Arlina walked beside him and clapped his shoulder. “You may no longer be my brother-in-law, seeing as how my sister is rotting away in Avilyne’s hell, but you
are
my brother by other means.”

“Aerios blow you, not here!” Gavin spat. Gavin looked to his bartender. “Take care of the mess and close up for the evening.”

“Y-Yes sir,” the bartender said as he put away his flintlock pistol and began to throw the drunkards out.

Gavin motioned for Arlina to follow him and led her to one of the upstairs rooms, seemingly an office. She noticed the windows were boarded up, and Arlina couldn’t help but smirk.

“I see someone didn’t appreciate the gift I bestowed them.” Arlina ran a hand through her short red hair. “That’s not very nice, you know.”

Gavin turned around, and his irises shifted to a deep red. “I should have known that you were never one for keeping your word! You were a deceptive bitch then, and you’re still one now.”

“I saw an opportunity and couldn’t let it pass me by.” Arlina shrugged. “You really should be thanking me, Gavin. You can run Westyron for as long as you desire.”

“I just wanted to return to Westyron without having any more dealings with you damned Ravenwing women!” Gavin snapped. “I lost
everything
that night! You just had to add to it by turning me into one of you.”

Arlina smiled. “You should have known it was coming, Gavin. You
were
bedding a full-blood, after all. I’m sure you would have enjoyed the process if Tamina had turned you.”

Gavin folded his arms. “What in Avilyne’s hell are you doing here, Arlina? Last I heard, you despised Westyron.”

“I came to see how you were doing.”

Gavin snorted. “I won’t ask you again, woman.”

“Always so serious!” Arlina frowned. Gavin’s expression stayed the same, and she sighed in resignation. “Fine. I felt compelled to return to this poor excuse for a city. I have a hunch that someone we have in common will be stopping by here soon.”

“Oh?” Gavin asked, intrigued. “And who might this be?”

“Your daughter.”

Gavin froze. “Artemis is dead.”

“You’re still telling yourself that your daughter’s soul was destroyed once you found out she was born a dhampir?” Arlina rolled her eyes. “Goddesses, you were such a pitiful human then. I hoped vampirism would have smartened you up a bit, but it seems I was wrong.”

Gavin pounded the wooden desk he leaned against with a fist. “Artemis is
dead
.”

“Half-dead, technically,” Arlina corrected. “Unfortunately for us, she lives. Turns out she’s been hiding with the elves all this time.”

“I thought you disposed of her as well as Tamina.” Gavin tapped his fingers on the wood, irritated. “How’d you let an infant escape you?”

“If I remember correctly,
you
couldn’t even dispose of those two. Don’t you of all people dare to accuse me of failure!”

Gavin swore as he began to pace the office. “Will she be alone?”

“Hardly. She escaped me in Ellewynth, but I will not let that happen again. I’ll anticipate her having help this time. I’m sure Shadow of Ellewynth will be one of those who will.” Arlina felt the atmosphere grow cold, and she enjoyed the true anger that formed on Gavin’s face.
“My, my. And here I thought the mention of your still-living daughter brought out such emotion from you.”

“That prick still lives?”

“Yes. He is blessed by the goddesses themselves, it seems. Shadow returned from yet another war with the dragons with all of his limbs intact.”

“If he comes into my city, he won’t escape with his life,” Gavin promised, while turning his back on Arlina.

“Fair enough.” Arlina shrugged. “I only want the dhampir brat anyways.”

“You are a clever one, I do have to say.” Gavin laughed. “You knew I never wanted any dealings with you, and yet here you are, enticing me with an offer I just can’t refuse.”

“Believe me, Gavin, I still very much despise you,” Arlina informed him. “Nonetheless, you were always one of my favorite toys. And so useful! You really were wasted as a human.”

“I enjoyed my humanity,” Gavin growled. “You stole that from me.”

“Would you prefer if I ended your life?” Arlina asked, growing tired of the man’s whining. “There’s no other cure.”

“No,” Gavin replied. “I’ve accepted this curse you threw on me.”

“Then shut up.” Arlina rubbed her temples. “I can’t stand men who whine.”

“And I can’t stand power-hungry bitches,” Gavin retorted. He faced her once more, a smile now growing on his lips. “I suppose just this once I will ignore that fact.”

“You will fight with me?”

“I want Shadow,” Gavin explained. “What you do with Artemis is up to you. Once they enter my city, the fun can begin.”

“Excellent!” Arlina beamed. “In the meantime, there is one more thing you can do for me.”

Gavin raised an eyebrow, wary. “And what would that be?”

“You can tell me about the wine your bar serves.”