In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 (45 page)

Guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders, Armando crouched next to Carlotta. “Carlotta, I’m so sorry. I didn’t understand. You never said-”

“Why would I?” Carlotta looked up at him, fury in her eyes. “You never loved me. Never! All those years together I played your game, but you never truly loved me. Why would I tell you my darkest secret? Why would I trust you? I told Roman! I told him about my children, and he offered them a home! Because Roman loved me!”

Leaning weakly against the kitchen island, Vanora wiped at the tears falling down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Carlotta.”

“Your words are empty!” Carlotta snarled.

“I don’t know what else-”

Vanora blinked, and Carlotta stood inches from her, black eyes gleaming. “Why did you come here, Vanora?”

Armando rapidly came to Vanora’s side, his hand held out to stave off Carlotta. Both women ignored him.

“To find out if you know where Aeron’s haven is and if you know if Alisha is alive,” Vanora muttered, wincing in the face of the other woman’s pain and fury.

“I don’t know if Alisha is alive. The mansion was burning when I arrived. I don’t know where Aeron is. I have hidden my haven from everyone including him to protect the children you murdered! You came here for nothing! You came here only to destroy what I love!” Carlotta’s grief was palatable and terrible. Shaking, the vampire slapped her hand down on the counter, making Vanora jump.

The buzzing of her power filled Vanora’s veins. Though she was filled with remorse, she would defend herself against the vampire. “No, I didn’t come here to kill anyone, Carlotta! I know Aeron is your Master. I know you were sent to spy on us. Maybe you did fall for my brother, but-”

Carlotta bitterly laughed. “Is that what you believe?”

“Isn’t it true?” Vanora retorted. “Weren’t you sent to seduce my brother and spy on us?”

“I loved Roman. I loved him more than I have ever loved a man in my entire life. I loved and trusted him enough that I allowed him to know about my children.” Carlotta wiped away her tears with the tips of her fingers. “I won’t kill you because you’re Roman’s sister, but don’t expect me to have mercy on
him
!” Carlotta glowered at Armando.

“We’re sorry about your children,” Vanora said miserably.

“I’m not Aeron’s spy, Vanora. I am not the one sent to watch over you.” Carlotta pointed at Armando. “He’s the snake in Roman’s garden. He’s the deceiver! The father of lies! He was the one sent to watch over you until Aeron came to claim you. I wasn’t your traitor. Your lover is.”

The breath left her lungs as Vanora heard her worst fear confirmed. It was what she had suspected but had not wanted to believe. Hands shaking at her sides, she tilted her head toward Armando. He was staring firmly at the floor, his face a mask of stone.

“It’s true, isn’t it?” How could she sound so calm when everything was falling apart?

“Tell her, Armando. I will even break the edict so you may confess,” Carlotta said with a sneer. “Tell her that you are Aeron’s favorite son. How he loves you above all others. How you’ve fought at his side for centuries against the Seven Sisters. Tell her how he sent you to watch over her from the time she was a little girl. Tell her how you spied on her when she was in Austin and reported back to Aeron on her every move. Tell her how you knew that Aeron was coming to kill Roman. But it wasn’t you who begged for his life but me! Tell her!”

“Armando...” Vanora swallowed hard. “Armando, it’s true, isn’t it?”

“I couldn’t tell you,” Armando muttered.

“Why not?”

“Aeron’s edict.” At last he looked at her, his gaze pleading. “I tried to work around it. Tried to find a way to protect you. But Aeron is my Master. I can’t deny him.”

With a mirthless smile, Carlotta stroked Vanora’s cheek. “You came to me for answers, but your lover holds them all.”

“Where is Aeron, Armando?” Vanora demanded. “Is Alisha alive?”

“I don’t know.”

Armando started to reach out for her hand but stopped when Vanora twisted away. The blood on the floor and counters was almost gone now. It had been snaking across the floor to feed the vampires her blood the entire time they’d been talking. That realization made Vanora even queasier.

“Are you taking me to Aeron?” Vanora asked, dreading the answer.

“No! Of course not!” Armando snapped.

“But he will. If Aeron tells him to by direct order, he will turn you over without a second thought.” Carlotta shook her head and returned to the remains of her children. Tears on her face, she scooped up some of the ashy remains into her small clutch purse. “You can’t trust him. No one can.”

“Is she telling the truth?” Vanora took another step away from Armando. The magic inside her vibrated with the need to be released. She loved Armando with all her heart, but she had known all along she could never really trust him.

“Yes. If Aeron commands it, I must obey. But I turned off my phone! I won’t answer his call. I will evade him. I will take you far from here!” Armando surged toward her, his torment etched into his features.

Vanora held out her hands, golden light spreading from her palms to form a shield before her. Armando skittered to a stop, shocked at the sight. “Vanora...”

The stench of sulfur filled the air.

“And yet you brought her to the place where you know Aeron will be coming,” Greg, the incubus, said from near the pantry door. At his feet was a ring of fire that sputtered and sparked with an unearthly green glow. “How smart is that, fang-boy?”

“What are you doing here?” Armando snarled.

“I’m here for her. Aeron is coming,” Greg answered, stepping out of the circle. “I had to do some tricky maneuvering to get here first.” The stout incubus reeked of brimstone and fire.

“Aeron
is
here!” Carlotta exclaimed from where she stood near a window peering out at the front of the house. “He’s coming with Lorelei.”

“You knew he might come. This wasn’t a trap,” Armando reminded Vanora. “You knew the risk.”

“Yes, I did. But I thought you would fight with me, not against me,” Vanora answered. “If you had told me...”

“I couldn’t!”

“He’s here, and he’s going to take her. And you’ll let it happen, Armando. If she comes with me, she has a shot at surviving this,” Greg said urgently.

“I will
not
let her leave with you alone,” Armando said in a savage voice. “I’ll go with you.”

Greg adamantly wagged his head. “You’re not trustworthy, Armando, and you know it.”

The footfalls of the approaching vampires in the living room area sent tremors of terror through Vanora. She’d been so foolish to believe she could defeat Aeron. “We need to go. Now.”

“Armando, are you here?” Aeron called out. “Where are you?”

Vanora recognized the voice of the vampire, and it ignited her senses in a way that made her miserable yet aroused. The power of the vampire slithered through the house, seeking her out. Directing her focus to Armando, she watched his visible struggle not to reply.

Hands trembling and tears in his eyes, Armando gazed at her in remorse as he growled out, “In the kitchen!”

“Is Vanora with you?” Aeron’s voice was closer now.

“Resist,” Vanora whispered, her fingers grazing over his cheek.

Golden eyes gazing into Vanora’s, Armando clenched his hands in tight fists at his sides. Through gritted teeth, he said, “Yes. She’s here.”

Vanora made her choice. “Let’s go,” she said to the incubus but grabbed Armando’s hand. She wouldn’t abandon him this time. There had to be a way to break him free of Aeron’s power.

With a grateful look, Armando’s fingers wrapped around hers.

Greg growled with frustration but pointed to the ring of fire. “Just step into it, doll.”

Aeron entered the kitchen at that very moment. Dressed all in white leather liberally speckled with dried blood, he was imposing, handsome, and terrifying. His amethyst eyes drank in his surroundings as Lorelei took her place at his side. It was hard to breathe in his presence. Though Vanora was unable to actually see it, she sensed the great majestic wave of Aeron’s power filling the room and reaching for her. The vampire lifted his upper lip in a slight snarl when he caught sight of Greg.

“Hey, asshole! How’s it hanging?” Greg said with false joviality.

“What are you doing here?” Aeron demanded.

“Saving the girl,” Greg answered with a feral grin.

Lorelei immediately darted forward, but Greg hurled a fireball at her. The little vampire attempted to dodge, but it struck her hip, setting her ablaze. Screaming, Lorelei thrashed about, attempting to wiggle out of her burning clothing. The tall, albino vampire immediately whipped off his coat and tossed it over her.

“Go! Now!” Greg shouted, grabbing Vanora’s arm and jerking her toward the ring of fire.

Vanora intensified her grip on Armando’s hand, dragging her after him.

“Armando, bring the girl to me!” Aeron ordered as he attempted to smother the flames on the burning vampire as Lorelei sobbed in fright.

Greg’s fingers dug painfully into Vanora’s wrist as he pulled her toward the circle. “Let go, asshole!”

Armando gave Vanora a heartbreaking look, then jerked her away from Greg.

“No!” Carlotta finally stirred from where she had stood in silence. Hurtling her body into Armando, she broke his hold on Vanora’s hand and rode Armando’s body to the floor. “Go, Vanora!”

Vanora cast a sorrowful look at Armando. His golden gaze met hers, and the agony she saw within them hurt more than she could endure. Tears blinding her, she stepped into the circle with Greg. The incubus muttered something in another language, his hands on her shoulders. Aeron leaped over the kitchen island and flew at them. There was a flash of green fire, and the kitchen vanished into darkness. Before she could cry out in surprise, she found herself standing next to a large black pickup.

Gasping for breath, she spun about, trying to get her bearings.

“Get in. We need to leave now before they realize we didn’t travel that far.” Greg unlocked the truck and climbed behind the wheel.

Vanora scrambled into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because Aeron is a murdering dickhead,” Greg answered. “And this is about my vengeance, sweetheart. I’m going to make him hurt like he hurt me.”

For a terrifying second, Vanora feared that maybe the incubus planned to kill her. Her fingers settled on the door handle, ready to thrust open the door. The power within her vibrated in anticipation.

As Greg guided the truck onto the road, he let out a long exhalation. “I’m not going to hurt you, Vanora. Killing you wouldn’t be the wise thing to do. Maybe it would be the demonic thing to do, but I’m serious about vengeance. Killing off Aeron’s woman isn’t good enough. Killing Aeron is. And that is something no one has been able to do for thousands of years.”

“Because he’s so strong?” Vanora dared to ask.

“No, sweet cream pie, it’s because he can’t be killed. Stakes, knives, swords, guns, cannon balls, fires...a building falling on top of him. You name it. Aeron has lived through it all. He literally can’t be killed. Or at least no one knows how to kill him.” Greg flipped on his turn signal and swerved onto another road. His eyes kept darting toward his mirrors, making sure they weren’t being followed.

Vanora pressed her hands to her stomach, attempting to stop the crazed fluttering within it. She wanted to cry and scream all at the same time. Aeron was unkillable. Armando was in his power. Alisha was missing. What could she do?

“Look, you did the right thing coming with me. Armando is tied to Aeron. Whatever Aeron tells Armando to do, he has to do it. He can’t resist it. It’s called an edict. I know this isn’t going to make you feel much better, but I think the guy actually loves you.”

“I know he loves me,” Vanora answered miserably. “But I also knew he was lying and keeping secrets.”

“Don’t we all, cupcake?” Greg smirked. “C’mon, sweetie, you’re the best shot this world has to get rid of Aeron. Look at those precious glowing hands. That’s power right there. You haven’t even hit full strength yet.”

Vanora closed her eyes and saw the bronze box waiting for her. The three women stood around it, waiting. They still resembled Carys, Rhonda, and Lorelei, but they were now dressed in long white Grecian gowns. Opening her eyes, she said, “Where are we going?”

“For tonight...a hotel outside of Houston. Then tomorrow we’ll figure out our next move. There’s a lot I need to tell you and a lot I got to sort out.” Greg sped past a burning apartment complex where firefighters were bravely fighting yet another inferno. “I came for you on impulse without any real plan.”

Vanora glanced toward the incubus. “Really?”

“Nope. I saw a chance for real vengeance and took it. This is not about you, okay? It’s about me. I want that white asshole dead. I just gotta figure out how to use you to kill him.” Greg flashed a smile that was far from charming. “I’ll keep you safe. I’ll keep you alive. But you gotta figure out how to power-up. If you’re Aeron’s destiny, then maybe that means you hold his fate in your Tinkerbelle hands.”