Forbidden (The Gabriel Lennox Series Book 1) (14 page)

Nikolai gasped. “One more, one more! This one, you won’t be able to answer. I’m the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. The beginning of every end, and the end of every place. What am I?”

“That’s a very clever one,” Gabriel replied. He crossed his arms against his chest, staring at the ceiling, pretending to think. “By chance, are you the letter e?”

Nikolai let out a melodramatic snarl, sounding as threatening as a puppy. “No fair! I can’t trick you.”

“What did you expect? I’m much older than you. And thus, I should be a great deal wiser.”

He rubbed his nose. “Tell me a riddle then, please. Do you know any?”

Gabriel smirked. The riddles he knew were charmingly sexual in nature. Double entendres hidden within the riddles were what teased the listener. One answer was suggested, but another was always meant. “I know some riddles,” he replied, as if Nikolai had just spoken a second ago, “but you’re too green to hear them.”

“Oh, please tell me.”

“No.”

Nikolai pressed his hands together as if in prayer. “What about when I grow up?”

Gabriel sighed and stood up. “Yes, when you grow up,” he replied flatly. Funny, how he managed to lie so easily in comparison to producing a genuine smile. “Now, you stay in your room. I have some business to attend to.” The poor brat still didn’t understand. A pity he would never mature into a man.

“What
kind
of business?” Nikolai asked. “Is something troubling you?”

Gabriel gave his pale little hand a pat. “Nothing concerning you.”

“No. I insist that you tell me,” he said, seizing Gabriel’s hand before he could withdraw it. “You’ll feel better if you tell me. I promise you that.”

Strange. Gabriel sank back into his chair and felt compelled to do just that. He told him a short summary of what had happened over the past several days, focusing a lot on the party last night. He also told him about Seth.

Nikolai’s blue-and-gold flecked eyes narrowed to slits as he leaned back in his bed. “Hmm. Mm.
Seth
. I would certainly like to meet him.”

Gabriel cocked an eyebrow. “Whatever for?”

“It’s just that he sounds tormented, like a child lost in darkness. Maybe if I could meet him, I could help him.”

“Tormented? A lost child. That’s farcical. Wherever did you get such an absurd notion?”

Nikolai gave an immediate answer. “From the same sensations I get from you.”

Gabriel placed his hands on his hips and cocked his head to the side, perplexed. He felt insulted. Being compared to Seth. “You’re peculiar,” he said. He told Nikolai to lie down, and the boy complied without argument, or even another riddle. Gabriel covered him with the warm layers of linen. He blew out the candelabra on the dresser beside the door. He opened the door to leave, but stopped, an amusing thought gripping him. He stood in the darkness, watching Nikolai staring back at him. “What lives on its own substance and dies when it devours itself?”

Nikolai giggled. “A candle, my lord.”

Gabriel gave a small nod of his head. “Indeed. Good night.”

FARON CLOAKED
HIMSELF
with light and floated over the throng of people. Some were boarding cabs on their way for a day of work and drudgery. If anyone were to notice him soaring above their heads, they’d probably see just a miniature sun and rationalize it as a trick of the light and the clouds or the ever-present ugly yellow fog.

Arriving at his destination, he floated back down behind the protective trunk of a gnarled tree. He half walked, half ran around the corner to Leigh’s house. An open porch with marble columns made up most of the façade. He climbed the steps, skipping every other. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. He had forgotten that Leigh believed the Old Laws. That sunlight could burn his skin, grind him into dust, and other such tripe. Faron was grateful that Lilith had never taught him to believe such silly rules.

He didn’t particularly dislike Leigh. Something just seemed off about him. He found it ironic that Leigh had Enlightened any at all. Just as he turned to leave, the door opened. A young man peered through the crack, and a sliver of lemon sunlight revealed his features: a handsome face with a goatee. Not Leigh. Maybe one of his human servants.

“Sir?” the young man asked. “May I be of assistance?”

“Leigh. Is he available?”

“No. He sleeps.”

“Of course,” Faron replied with a forced smile. “I have a message for him.” He slipped a pen and a writing tablet out of his coat. “Lend me your back,” he requested. “I haven’t the time to come inside.”

The young man nodded and stepped outside. He turned his back to Faron so that he could write on a firm surface.
Speak with Seth
, he scrawled on the paper.
Persuade him to be obedient. Or else . . .

Faron tore the note from the booklet, folding it into a neat little square. He handed it to the human servant. “See to it that your master gets this.”

The human servant unfolded the note and glossed over each line before crushing it.

Anger rushed through Faron. “What in the Devil do you think you’re doing?”

The human servant blinked, and his eyes rolled in the back of his head showing the whites before they came back to the surface. They had darkened in color. “What has Seth done now?” The voice had become—no, altogether changed—softer, with more rounded vowels.

Faron stepped backward, startled. He bowed at the waist to show homage. He had almost forgotten that Leigh took the meaning of
human servant
quite literally. Being an ancient one, he used humans like puppets. “Seth has become most troublesome,” he reported. “His actions will draw attention to us if he’s not dealt with.”

The young man furrowed his brow. “So speaks Lilith. What does she want? How can I appeal to her mercy?”

“Seth’s head on a lance. There’s really nothing else you can do. I only came here to warn you.”

The young man’s face darkened with hatred. “Is this,” he questioned with a dark undertone, “over the humans?”

Faron nodded, but didn’t reply. He had heard that one of Leigh’s powers involved reading the truth. If he didn’t speak, perhaps there’d be nothing to read. Perhaps.

The young man wagged his head, not convinced, but apparently satisfied. “No. No. That couldn’t be the only reason. Let me plead his case. Please, Seth is my dearest one.”

Faron frowned. “Plead it to the new Prince, but I don’t think you’ll be successful. Seth has a remarkable talent for making enemies.”

A solemn expression washed over the human puppet’s face. “Yes, quite a talent.”

Faron pivoted on his heels and ambled down the steps.
Good luck with that
, he thought to call over his shoulder, but decided otherwise. It would be obsequious to pretend to care about the fate of Leigh’s blood-child when it was Seth’s very existence that threatened the well-being of his own. Faron smiled. For the first time, he looked forward to, even prayed for Gabriel’s iron cruelty. It would certainly secure Nikolai’s safety.

OVERNIGHT, GABRIEL
HAD
somehow become quite popular. A small miracle. He didn’t think it could last for very long, though. He had concluded, after five minutes of trying to reply to the Chosens’ letters, that he was socially inept.

He sat behind his desk in the study reading the letters from
them
. Some came with offerings in the form of banknotes or coins. Most of the letters came from women, the “gentler sex,” promising their allegiance to him. Sometimes, their beds. Gabriel smiled wryly. Their desires, whether for life, death, or power, were just as strong, just as vicious as any man’s. They probably hadn’t even flinched or hesitated to drink the blood of another human being in order to gain the promise of eternal life.

Women were like their male counterparts, which left nothing especially gentle about them.

The door to the study opened, and Colin burst through. “Master Gabriel,” he said. “A man who goes by the name of Seth is here to see you. And he’s brought a lovely woman named Bela with ‘im.” Colin wiggled his eyebrows, smiling broadly.

“Send them away,” Gabriel ordered without looking up.

“Come now, our Prince.” Seth appeared in the doorway, behind Colin. “You certainly have a lot to learn about hospitality.”

Seth brushed past Colin and sauntered into the room, his arm interlocked with Bela’s. On her ivory face crept a small smile. Her eyes met with Gabriel’s briefly, and he felt a sharp pang of desire. She looked away first.

He frowned, hoping Seth didn’t notice how he felt when he looked at her. He sensed that Seth was the kind of man who would use the desires of others to his advantage.

Seth bowed a greeting. “Our Prince, I’ve started the cleansing of the world, so that it shall be a world you’re proud of—honored to rule.”

“And how did you go about doing that?” Gabriel asked, genuinely curious.

“You won’t find them in the newspaper yet. I was so overwrought with excitement that I had to tell you about it in person. I’ve merely destroyed a couple of weeds choking our world.”

Gabriel set his pen down and rubbed his forehead. His mouth bowed into a perfect frown.

Seth released Bela’s arm and walked to the desk. He placed his hands on the top of it. “You don’t look pleased. I’ve started to cleanse the world for you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Cleanse? Don’t you mean
kill
?”

“Call it fate, my Prince. They needed to die. The first was a pathetic drunkard. The second a prostitute. A worthless, fallen woman. We won’t need such types in our utopia, people who taint our godly demeanor. And the third was a priest. It goes without saying that their kind would be against us. You of all people, I would think, would be familiar with burnings and hangings. Imagine what will happen when we come out of hiding and our gift is free to the world. It’ll turn into a bloodbath.”

“A bloodbath, eh?”

Seth nodded. “Just imagine mortals imprisoning us so that they can bottle our blood and sell it.” He let out a soft chuckle. “Forgive the analogy, but we shall be no better than cows.”

“So,” Gabriel said, “your philosophy is to kill the mortals before they threaten us? Surely, the odds are against them because we’re stronger, faster, and more resilient. If you continue to do this, there won’t be anyone left to rule or to quench your thirst.” He had deliberately left out the Chosen’s greatest advantage against the humans: their supposed never-ending immortality. Ha. Never-ending immortality? He didn’t believe it to be so, and merely bringing it up wouldn’t change that.

Seth straightened himself and gave a lopsided grin. “Of course there will be. There shall be us and a select group of humans.”

“You don’t seem to understand, Seth. I didn’t want this.” He dashed the letters on his desk to the floor. “Any of this!”

Seth stooped to the floor, and picked up one of the letters addressed to Gabriel. His strange-colored eyes lit up with recognition. Gabriel could almost see the flash of pound signs in his green and amber eyes. “Payments, eh? The Chosen have begun to
pay
you? You’re a fool, Gabriel. To say no when the whole world could be your footstool. Or is this an instance of the lady protesting too much?”

Gabriel glanced at Bela, who stared at him intensely, before glaring at Seth. “You don’t know what you desire. You don’t understand that the price is too high.”

“No, no. I understand, Gabriel. I understand all too well. Lilith is a fool. Her disciples are spoiled ingrates. And her power isn’t without limit. She’s not the only one who can Enlighten. And why she chose you, I have yet to see. I shall take this world. I am the appointed one, after all. You’re not necessary, Gabriel.
We
don’t need you.”

Gabriel gave him an arrogant smile. “Appointed by yourself, of course.”

Seth vanished from the place he had been standing and reappeared a few feet away, draping his arm casually around Bela’s shoulders. “So you would like to think. But we’re all entitled to our fantasies, aren’t we? And besides, what good is immortality if you do nothing with it?”

The door slowly creaked open wider. Nikolai slipped inside. A loose white nightshirt hung to his knees. He brushed past Bela and Seth who watched him with cool interest as he padded barefoot on the carpet and into Gabriel’s lap. He coiled a strand of Gabriel’s hair around his index finger, humming.

Bela laughed. Seth cleared his throat.

Gabriel frowned. “Colin!”

“He went on an errand,” Nikolai whispered. “He told me to stay in bed, but I heard voices and couldn’t sleep any longer.”

“Who may I ask,” Seth asked in an unusually sweet tone, “is this?”

Nikolai wrapped his slender arms around Gabriel’s neck.

Gabriel glared at him. “Don’t touch me, spawn,” he commanded in a dark whisper.

Nikolai just smiled and slid off his lap, making a funny, chirping sound deep in his throat.

He grimaced. Laughter? He looked at Seth. The latter’s whole persona had changed from threatening to charming. He smiled brightly, from ear to ear, his eyes dancing with amusement as he stared at Nikolai. Bela wore a similar expression, but it wasn’t at all frightening on her.

Nikolai broke into a perfect, gentlemanly bow facing Bela. “I’m called Nikolai. A pleasure to meet you, my lady.” He glanced from Bela to Seth and then at last to Gabriel. “At least, I hope it to be a pleasure.” He looked up at Seth with his enormous, blue eyes twinkling. “You’re not cross with Master Gabriel, are you, sir? It would break my heart.”

Seth gave Nikolai another bright smile and patted him on the head, like one would to a dog, but he didn’t answer.

Bela bit her bottom lip, looking thoughtful. “But your name alone doesn’t tell us much, does it, little one?” She stretched out her hand and touched the side of his face.

Gabriel stood up and took hold of Nikolai’s collar. “Time for you to return to the world of dreams.”

“Has he, has this
child
,” Bela drew in a sharp breath, sputtering, “been Enlightened?”

Gabriel felt Nikolai’s body tense against him. He seemed to be holding his breath, as if he feared what Gabriel might reply. “That’s none of your concern,” he said finally. “I bid you a good night. Follow me. I shall show you out.”

Obediently, Seth and Bela fell into step behind him and Nikolai. Gabriel peered over his shoulder and noticed the same broad, bright smile still plastered on Seth’s face. He smiled like the wolf, hungry for the girl in the red cloak. Only he was more dangerous than a wolf, and he seemed hungry for Nikolai. Gabriel wondered why. Lust? No, that was an emotion that Gabriel had become in tuned to. Lust had its own aroma, its own sensation upon the flesh. He sensed very different vibrations and scents from Seth.

He opened the door and waited while Seth led Bella through it, into the night where the stars sprinkled in wild abandon across the sky. Gabriel closed the door, wishing that he could shut the proverbial door to his troubles.

Nikolai stared up at him, a perfect frown on his face. “That Seth . . . I sense a light in him that isn’t light.”

Gabriel almost smiled at Nikolai’s comment. He led the boy back to his bedroom of fanciful murals and cozy blankets. Without being told, the boy climbed into his bed.

“You don’t have to sleep now, if you don’t want to. The sun won’t rise for several more hours.”

“May we play ‘Guess My Riddle’ again?”

“Not now. I’m terribly busy. Busy with matters concerning you. Don’t you want justice against the one that caused you to suffer? What does he look like?”

Nikolai gave a throwaway gesture with his hand. “It’s in the past. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m here to serve you. To protect you.”

“You must be confused,” Gabriel said. “I was told that I would be serving and protecting you.”

The boy made a face. “Was it Lilith who told you that?” He paused and stared intently at Gabriel’s face, as if waiting for a reaction, but Gabriel must’ve disappointed him with one of his blank expressions. “What’s the latest lie now? Gypsies kidnapping German nobles? Am I to play the part of a duke’s son or a prince? Hmm. You’re right. I
am
confused.”

Gabriel scowled. “What?”

Nikolai covered his mouth to mockingly suppress a small gasp. “Oh dear. I wasn’t supposed to say
that
.”

He again grabbed on to Nikolai’s collar, like a lion taking hold of one of his cubs. “Lilith has brought you here under false pretenses, boy?”

Nikolai closed his eyes and shook his head. “I shan’t say another word.”

“I have ways of making you talk.” Gabriel pulled him several inches off the floor.

He popped his eyes wide open, grinning. “You mean torture?” He laughed, long and high. “I don’t think you have it in you.”

Gabriel smiled unpleasantly.

The boy’s grin vanished, but he held Gabriel’s glare for a full minute before growing pale and looking away. “I really strung you along, didn’t I?” he said after some time. “It was a joke. A silly prank. All that I said. Really, you mustn’t take me seriously, my lord. It’s just that I’m so . . . well,
bored.
Terribly so!” He threw up his hands in the air and brought them down in a melodramatic display of this said boredom.

“Listen to me,” Gabriel said. “If you choose to be a good boy, I promise that I’ll have Colin—”

“Who’s Colin again?” he interjected.

“My servant,” Gabriel answered, releasing him. “I’ll have him buy you books so that you can read. Seeds and bulbs that you can plant. Colin adores growing roses, and I think that you two will get along quite nicely. But if you don’t behave, then you’ll be sorry. Well, how’s that? Agree?”

Nikolai leaned back against the pile of pillows in his bed and let go a deep sigh, as if his previous outburst had exhausted his energy. “I agree. I promise.” He placed his hand on his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to—to live—forever.” He smirked then looking like a little cherub . . . or devil.

Gabriel bid him good night, relishing a brief sense of relief. He exited the room and slipped into his frock coat and rushed out of the house, hoping that Seth and Bela hadn’t gone very far.

* * *

Gabriel spotted Bela and Seth a good hundred yards ahead. He quickened his pace, keeping his hands in his pockets, fondling his dead sister’s ring . . . for comfort? It only gave him a multitude of fragmented thoughts. He emptied his mind. If Seth could read minds, he didn’t want him to pick up on his. Once, his prey stopped to stare into a shop window, and he slipped into a narrow alley, careful not to be seen. He peered around the corner, and from the shadows, he made a brash decision to follow as Seth helped Bela board a hansom cab and slip in after her. He waved for his own and told the driver to follow the previous one.

“Listen well, whatever you do, don’t lose that cab,” he said. “If you please me, I shall reward you greatly for it.”

“Wut e’er you say guv,” the driver replied, a smile in his voice.

“You must follow it at a respectable distance.” He shut his own door as soon as he took his seat. “Do you understand?”

“’Course I do, guv. We chasin’ a lover of yers?”

“Something like that.”

They followed the cab at a regular pace through several streets and stopped behind it in front of an apartment home. “Here,” he said, handing the driver a wad of notes. “And thank you. Wait a little while, until I rap the back of your cab. I’ll need coverage so that my lover,” he went on, flashing a devilish grin, “doesn’t see me.” He stepped out and behind the coach and waited. In the distance, Seth assisted Bela out of the vehicle. The two walked with arms linked to the two-story apartment building in the middle. Seth produced a key, opened the door, and then they both went inside.

Gabriel willed himself invisible and moved to the window. Even through the glass and masonry, he could hear what they were saying. If he were merely human, he would have to rely on reading their lips. Enlightenment had its usefulness, he admitted grudgingly.

Bela leaned over and kissed Seth on the lips, and Gabriel felt a sharp pang in his chest (jealousy?), but he didn’t look away. He didn’t want to miss a single thing. He concluded that they lived together, and to the public eye, were merely brother and sister . . . or cousins. But after seeing the way in which Bela kissed Seth, he knew that they were clearly not relatives—unless they were the kind to entertain an incestuous relationship.
And what
kind
is that
? inquired his dark inner voice. The unlucky kind. The accursed kind. Yes, that, too.

“What do you make of the boy?” Bela asked Seth.

Seth shrugged.

“He’s a beautiful child. I wonder who Enlightened him and why his master hasn’t taken him back. Don’t you find it at all peculiar?”

“Everything is peculiar in our dark, shimmering world.” He tilted his head at an angle. “You asked Gabriel if the boy had been Enlightened, Bela? Why? What gave you the impression that Nikolai was one of us?”

She gave a slow, graceful shrug of her shoulders. “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I got. What, you didn’t sense anything?”