Entwined With the Dark (5 page)

Besides, I'd spotted the winged emblem on the key chain. A Mini had actually been my pick of his suggestions too. I just prayed he'd got me the soft-top. There were only two seats in that. Less room for the annoyingly ever-present security detail. I may accept them in my life now, but that still didn't mean I occasionally liked to rebel.

I took the proffered keys and skipped to the front door to see what my new independent toy looked like. It wasn't a convertible and it did have room - albeit a small amount of room - for four. But I brushed that aside as I took in the sleek black, brand spanking new, Mini Cooper S sitting pride of place outside our front door. It was gorgeous and I was in love with one glance.

I opened the passenger door and peered inside, then couldn't resist myself and slipped into the black leather seat taking it all in. Pressing buttons, opening glove compartments and then squealing with delight when I found a new iPod sitting in the dock in the centre console of the car. I flicked through the device quickly, noting Michel had made sure all of my favourite music was already loaded.

I sat back in the seat and made myself breathe. Being involved with a vampire certainly had its ups and downs. The downs we had traversed most recently. But it never failed to surprise me the extent Michel would go to show he cared. I felt myself smiling; no doubt a dumb, love-filled, I'm-the-luckiest-woman-in-the-world smile. Michel was amazing and he was all mine.

I heard the tell-tail sound of the shutters on the house whirring up for the night, having missed the sunset completely, being dazzled by Michel's new gift. Sergei and Nataliya appeared on the doorstep, dressed, armed and ready for the night. Was I? I didn't know, but I had little choice. At least I'd be driving to my confrontation in style. I got out of the car and greeted my vampires. Nataliya's face was scrunched up in disgust.

"You don't like my Mini?" I asked incredulously.

She huffed a breath in reply and then in her deep Russian accent said, "It won't be
you
squeezed into the pocket sized boot, will it?" Then under her breath, "He could have chosen a Lada."

"Ha ha!" I replied, smiling at the ridiculous thought. I still had the smile on my face when I slipped into the driver's seat next to Sergei. Nataliya did look a little cramped in the back, but she had the whole rear seat. She couldn't really complain.

The on-board GPS was a God send. I had been studying hard, whenever travelling in the Rover or in a cab, or with Marie. I had made it my priority to learn the main routes as quickly and thoroughly as I could. But nothing compares to actually driving them. Everything looks different from the driver's seat and without the soothing instructions from the very British sounding female guiding me through the GPS, I would have been lost. As it is, it took a good hour to make it to the new Master's main place of business.

Like most Masters of the City, he operated from a night club. A popular night club in a popular part of town. The Vibe was just near Trafalgar Square. Parking was a bitch, of course. This was the centre of London, a tourist Mecca, an overpopulated and densely filled-in area of the city. I eventually found parking in an incredibly expensive and surprisingly humorous street called Cockspur Court. I really was grasping at any little thing to lift my spirits right now. Sergei and Nataliya looked positively glum.

We walked towards our destination in silence. I allowed myself the indulgence of taking in my surroundings whilst
seeking
all the vampires in the area out. There were hundreds, not to be unexpected, but the idea that so many existed in this part of town only made me jumpy. Even the splendid sight of the Square itself did little to allay my fears. Water fountains and colonnaded buildings all lit up for the night. Huge paved expanse littered with people, colourfully dressed, walking arm and arm. Unaware of the creatures who stalked them from the shadows. We crossed the square, my hand brushing against one of the bronze lions and taking a swift look up at Nelson's Column, then approached the flickering light display that heralded the Vibe.

Multi-coloured lights danced along its façade. A queue wound down the front steps and zigzagged away from the entrance. It would take over an hour to stand in line before you reached the bouncers at the door. We could be patient, but then what would that say? One, I had two vampires with me, who would not normally wait in a queue for anyone, let alone in amongst humans waiting to enter a club. And two, I was expected. I didn't think for a minute that Amun Nadeem, the
All Mighty Master of the City,
didn't know I was already here. There were simply too many well placed Nosferatu out and about right now, for him not to be aware.

I rolled my shoulders and walked determinedly past the queue, ignoring the loudly whispered negative comments from the club goers as I approached the vampire on the door. He ignored me for about thirty seconds and then finally gave me a head to toe appraisal. With a sneer, he said, "There's a queue."

I laughed daintily, flicked my hair over my shoulder and battered my eyelashes at him. Then opened my jacket enough for him to see the flash of silver inside and gave him a glare. His sneer deepened. "I'm not sure about you," I said only loud enough for him and his vampire mate on the door to hear, "but I really wouldn't keep me waiting. I have a tendency to get bored when left alone for too long. Boredom creates urges I can't seem to deny. They always involve silver for some reason."
Never show fear. Never give an inch.

He held my gaze for a moment, his a dead, flat grey. Then with a shrug of his shoulders, he opened the door and stood aside to let us walk in. Much to the annoyance of the impatiently waiting crowd. He growled in their direction, effectively silencing them, and then flashed fang at me when his face was out of their sight.

I smiled sweetly back at him and walked into the Vibe.

I'm not quite sure why it was called the Vibe.
Vibe
would have you believe there was some sense of emotional response to the environment when you entered through those double height doors. At least a feeling or atmosphere that resonated within. I didn't get anything like that here. It was pleasant enough, the colour strobe lights from outside continued on indoors. White walls and floor, white leather couches and tall bar stools, the odd white side table or high top to place your drinks upon. No plants, no live band, no pictures or mementoes to represent the owner's taste. Just colourful flashes of light, interspersed with stark white.

If there was any
vibe
I got off the place, it was one of a lack of soul. Why, oh why, did the Norms like it here?

I glanced at Sergei to my left, his eyes were narrowed and darting from place to place. Taking in the vampires in the room, any potential threats, possible escape routes. It had taken me three seconds to ascertain there were twenty vamps in this room alone, another dozen out the back, with a smattering downstairs in, what I can only guess is, the cellar. I was sure hoping it wasn't a torture chamber anyway.

As far as escapes routes went, there were the double doors we had just come through, one behind the bar and one off to the left hand side of the room. With a cloakroom and bathrooms off to the right. Not much. The further we went into the club, the harder retreat would be. But I wasn't here to back out. I had been summoned and even
I
don't ignore one of those.

I took a step forward, planning on asking the bartender where Amun could be found, when a
shadow was cast across my face. Sergei and Nataliya both stiffened, but thankfully didn't strike, as I looked up into the familiar and amused sparkling blue eyes of a certain
Nathair-Sgiathach
.

Several thoughts flew through my head at once. Why was he here?
Was
he the lackey to the Master of the City as I had originally suspected? Or was he following my every move? And if so, why?

"Sebastian," I said in way of greeting.

"Hello, lass," he replied with that - now I knew - fake Scottish accent. "You would be well advised to turn around and leave this establishment, if you know what's good fer you." His words were whispered across my cheek as he leaned in as if to offer a kiss of welcome.

I straightened my back and stared into his startling blue eyes. Just what was he playing at?

We looked at each other for a second, maybe two, then I felt Sergei shift to a fighting stance and Nataliya take a step in front of my body to form a protective wall of muscle. But she hadn't stepped between me and the dragon-shifter, she had stepped between me and the oncoming group of very angry, very large, vampires.

"Too late," Sebastian sang softly and bled into the crowded room.

Oh shit. What did he know that I didn't?

There were six of them and they were all big, bulky and brutish. I couldn't see any weapons, but then they didn't need any. Their presence alone was deterrent enough. I wasn't sure if they were the regular security for the club, or Amun's private entourage. It didn't matter, they were definitely here for me.

Three fanned out behind us, one on either side, with the last directly facing me, two feet away. Both Sergei and Nataliya had paled, only slightly, but enough to let me know they were not happy with the welcoming committee. Neither was I.

I'm not exactly sure what I had expected. I knew Amun Nadeem,
All Mighty Master of London City
, was angered by my obvious avoidance. So, a hostile greeting shouldn't have been a surprise. But, for some reason I had thought the fact that I was the Prophesied should have cut me a little slack. I cringed at that thought. When had I become so full of myself?

I nodded to the vampire before me and without a word in reply he turned on his heel and headed across the room to the door at the back. I didn't waste any time, just simply followed suit before the rest of his evil gang of brutes pushed us forward with their tridents. Once on the other side of the door we all stood in a large white foyer. At the sound of the door to the club closing - the music and ambient noise of party goers ceasing - the lead vamp turned to face me again.

"Jacket off," he demanded, unceremoniously.

I shrugged out of the jacket, all too aware that I was losing both my stakes and knife, and displaying my Svante for all to see. I handed him the jacket and he hung it on a coat hook - all very civilised. He then put his hand out, palm up, rolling his fingers in a
give it up
kind of gesture. I gritted my teeth, having really expected this all along, and undid my Svante sword's holster. I handed over the weapon, beautiful dancing dragon hilt first. He hung that next to the jacket.

While I had been stripped of my weapons, the other brutes had disarmed Sergei and Nataliya. Like me they had complied. And like me, they were still armed even though weaponless. They had their
Sanguis Vitam
, I had my Light. I still felt naked and particularly light on my feet having lost the weight of my stakes, but I forced myself to breathe evenly and wrapped my Light around my metaphysical self.

The vamp in front of me ran his gaze over my body once again. For a brief moment I thought he would frisk me, but as my tight T-shirt showed no signs of concealment and my skirt was pretty short, he just grunted and turned away. I followed without needing to be told. I thought he would have been more thorough though. I mean, I could have had a knife down the inside of my boot. I was kind of wishing right now I did. But maybe a little faith needed to be showed. I was unarmed and hiding nothing. I could only hope the other guy was the same.

We wound our way down several long corridors, the odd white door closed here and there. No one else came out to see us, although I could feel several vamps behind some of those doors, the six brutish guards with us were the only other people we saw. Finally we reached our destination. Two of the guards positioned themselves on either side of  double white doors, three remained behind us, then the vamp in front simply stood silently for a moment - no doubt communicating telepathically with whomever was on the other side of the doors - until he finally opened both doors up in a grand gesture and preceded us into the room.

The room was vast. High ceilinged, stark white walls with stark white floors. White leather couches around the periphery of the space, a white thick pile rug in front of a large, simply designed white desk. In front of the desk, leaning back in casual ease, was a tall vampire dressed in white.

There was no one else in the room and when we stopped in front of the tall vampire, the four brutish guards who had accompanied us all went down on their knees, faces pressed to the rug, arms outstretched before them. In supplication.

I flicked my glance from them, preparing for Amun Nadeem, All Mighty Master of London City, and felt the blood drain from my face. I hadn't taken a good look at him as we crossed the threshold of the room and came to rest on the rug. I'd been too busy
seeking
, and ascertaining the size, shape and egresses into the room. All of which had only taken mere seconds, but the delay was long enough to cause a gasp of surprise to escape my lips when I finally raised my eyes to his.

Amun Nadeem was the spitting image of my former Nosferatin trainer and friend, Nero.

Right down to the colour of his eyes - coffee; the shape of his face - refined, high cheek boned and regal nose; his skin - warm milk chocolate brown; and his physique - tall, supple and muscular. A lump formed in my throat at memories of my good friend; laughing, fighting with exquisite beauty and ease, dying in a sea of red blood. I took a shaky deep breath in, realised both Sergei and Nataliya were glancing at me with concern, and Amun's lips had lifted in wry amusement.

I lifted my chin, then remembered myself quickly and bowed low, hand fisted across chest. A formal greeting to a vampire of standing, appropriate for the Master of the City. I kept my head down as I spoke. "Master of the City, greetings from the
Lux Lucis Tribuo
. I am honoured to be in your presence and in your great city." I kept my head down, biting my lip slightly and waited for his reply.

The greeting was perfect in every way, except it was four weeks too late.

Both Sergei and Nataliya were in equally low bows at my sides, back a fraction, so as to flank me. Amun didn't say anything, for what felt like an eternity. I was thinking it was probably just a minute or two. Considering how angry he probably was at me, that was quite short a time. He could have ignored me for ten times that and it wouldn't have been uncalled for. I had been prepared for it, so when he did speak I jumped slightly. So
not
what a brave, fearless, vampire hunter should do.

But then, he also sounded a just like Nero too.

"
Lux Lucis Tribuo
, you are a little delayed, are you not?"

"Yes, Master, my apologies. I have been waylaid with obligations to my
Prohibitum Bibere
role. There has been an influx of Dark vampires seeking the call." I had decided the best defence was offence. And repetitive reminders of my unusual Nosferatin skills.

In all reality, I had been lax. I had been rebelling in the most fundamental, if not ridiculously stupid, way. And to be honest, it was not Amun Nadeem's fault. He was the Master of London City, he deserved my attention and respect. I had learnt a lot since I met my first Master of the City: Michel Durand. I had been inexperienced and uneducated in Nosferatu and Nosferatin ways back then. I had no such excuse now, so clung to a defence that could impress. At least I hoped it did.

My back had begun to ache from the strained position I was in when Amun finally replied. He didn't suggest I stand, he just said blandly, "An admirable excuse. It is shame I do not believe it."

I let a slow, shallow breath out and prepared for the backlash. Another minute or two and then finally he said, "You may rise."

I did so stiffly, certainly not as eloquently as the two vampires on either side, and waited for further instructions. I hated this game. I have always had trouble with authority figures. To bow and scrape to someone who I don't really know and I have no reason to respect, other than the fact they lay claim to a title. What has Amun done for London? What has he done for vampire hunters? What has he done, even, for the Nosferatu? He was relatively new to this role, but I knew nothing of his previous history. Michel had just said he was powerful and not to be trifled with. I could feel his
Sanguis Vitam
now, it
was
formidable. Not as strong as Michel's and I wondered if that would play in my favour or not. Michel had said his meeting with Amun had gone smoothly. But then Michel had greeted him within a week of us arriving here.

I kept my gaze adrift of Amun's face for several reasons. Not the least of which was that he could no doubt glaze with ease. Perhaps not glaze me, I have a modicum of resistance to a vampire glaze, but he could still try. But more importantly, it actually hurt to see the similarities between this vampire and Nero, my friend. Why had Michel not warned me? Surely he had seen it too?

Maybe that was why he hadn't forced me to greet the new Master of the City. He had simply frowned whenever it was mentioned, but not insisted I play by the rules. It was a form of protection I was sure, but I couldn't make out if it was to protect me or him. Michel had always been jealous of Nero's relationship with me.

"Come," Amun said, "Let us sit and talk."

It hadn't escaped my notice, that as yet I had received no welcome into his city. Which meant I was still being assessed. I had to continue to play the game. I straightened my shoulders and followed him to one of the couches. My two vampires were instructed to remain on the rug, several feet away. I wasn't comfortable with Amun's proximity and the fact he was now closer to me than Sergei and Nataliya were. It would take a split second for him to strike. Too long for them to react, maybe even too long for me to defend as well. I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the turn of events. But really, what had I expected?

He turned in his seat to face me, his body now sideways on the couch, his knee bent slightly, a mere few inches from my thigh. I sat as passively as I could, my Light thrumming a beat inside my head. He wouldn't have been able to see it, this close perhaps he could have felt it, but I needed it alive and ready. I needed my Light to remain on full alert.

"Would you care for a drink?" he asked, his eyes boring into my cheek.

He didn't wait for a reply, drinks appeared on a tray in front of us, one of the brutish vampires handing first a glass of white wine to Amun, then a replica to myself. I took it, nodding my thanks, but didn't take a sip. I could tell Amun was flashing that wry amused grin again, I could see him out of the corner of my eye. I took a breath in and turned my body to face him, still keeping my eyes slightly adrift of his face.

"You are very cautious, Hunter," he noted, I remained silent - what could I say? "A worthy trait. How is it, that your caution failed to bring you before me until now? Four weeks you have hunted in my city without permission. How many vampires have you killed in that time?"

Oh hell. Was this what it boiled down to? I had been killing off some of his friends and he wanted revenge? What to say? He expected an answer, I wasn't sure if naming a number was going to help me or not, so I went instead for a slight distraction.

"They were all Dark rogues, Master of the City. Killing innocent humans without care."

Any Master of the City would want rogue vampires kept under control. They were disobeying their rules, as well as the rules set by the
Iunctio
. I was hoping Amun would agree.

I felt his
Sanguis Vitam
before I felt him. It rushed out in a menacing, piercing wave, butting up against my Light shield, denting it, crushing it, but unable to make headway. His fingers wrapping around my neck followed and there wasn't a blind thing my Light could do in passive defence. To get him off me, I would have to attack. I wasn't prepared to play my cards like that just yet. I let his fingers close around my throat, I let him bring his face in against my cheek. I did nothing, just held my breath and continued to deny his
Sanguis Vitam
an inch.

"You could fight me, could you not, Hunter." His voice was a soft whisper, laced with unbridled rage. "I do believe you could defend yourself with ease." He paused as if considering something. "The errant Hunter does know how to play the game, it would seem."

Suddenly his fingers were gone from my throat and I swallowed painfully in relief. My heart was beating erratically, my lungs had been denied air for too long. I couldn't hide my gasp for much needed oxygen, even though I really needed to hide any reaction at all. I did manage to
not
reach for the bruises now gracing my neck and throat. I held his gaze, not eye to eye, but at least I kept my chin held high.

"You are fascinating, I will give you that," he said, taking a casual sip of his wine as though nothing untoward had happened at all. "You defy at the drop of a hat, yet you acquiesce when that defiance has been taken too far. For some this may be acceptable. You are a considerably powerful Nosferatin, after all. But," - his voice lowered, threateningly - "I am not some. I am the All Mighty Master of the London City. To defy as such could mean your death." The last was said flippantly, as though discussing my continued existence - or not - was nothing of great import.

I don't know why I said it, maybe it was because I really had just had enough of megalomaniac vampires. I really just had enough. Of being bullied. Of being brow-beaten. Of being something I am not. I am not a team player, I decided. I am not a junior hunter needing to toe the line. It may sound egotistical, but I was trying not to be bigger than I was. But I had just had enough. Of it all. I am what I am, and lately I have had to deal with a lot of Dark shit. Sooner or later it had to rub off.

"Look, I get that you're the Master of this City and I should have introduced myself sooner. But frankly, it is irrelevant if you want me here in your city or not. I will go where I am needed, I will do what I have to do to call Dark vampires to the Light. I am the
Sanguis Vitam Cupitor
, the
Prohibitum Bibere,
and the
Lux Lucis Tribuo.
I am not here to cause you harm, unless you go rogue and start killing everything in sight. Let me do my job and I'll stay out of your way. I'm sure this city is big enough for the two of us."