In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 (46 page)

Sliding her fingers through her white-blond hair, Vanora closed her eyes. She knew exactly what she needed to do. “We’re not leaving Houston. We need to meet up with my friends. I trust them to actually help me. If you want vengeance, then you’ll do what I say.”

Greg looked startled. “Huh?”

“You’re not in charge of this show, Greg. I’m not one of your tarts.” Vanora lifted her hands, the golden glow increasing. “What do you think will happen if I direct this at you?”

Gawking at her, Greg almost hit another car but rapidly jerked around it. “You’re not...”

“What?”

“Well, not as soft and innocent as you appear to be.”

“Don’t underestimate me. Ever. Now, turn this truck around.”

With a frustrated but amused little chuckle, Greg obeyed. “So where are we going?”

Vanora dug into her purse for her phone. Texting Sheila, she waited for an answer. Within a few seconds, the address appeared. She couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t a surprise that Sheila and Alexander were still in Houston. They were loyal friends. Vanora gave Greg the address, then quickly updated Sheila. There still wasn’t a response from Alisha, but this didn’t surprise Vanora. She still wouldn’t accept that Alisha was dead but was fairly certain her sister couldn’t reply wherever she was.

“So what’s on the agenda, Snow Queen?” Greg asked.

“I’m going to tap into my true power, find my sister, free Armando, and kill Aeron,” Vanora answered.

Greg snorted sulfur. “That’s all, huh?”

“Oh, and save the world.” Vanora snuggled deeper into her coat and watched the buildings glide by the vehicle.

“Well, I guess you’re the girl to do it.” Greg guided the truck onto yet another street. After a long pause, he asked in a somber tone, “How’s it feel to be the chosen one?”

Vanora didn’t answer immediately but looked away from the demon so he couldn’t see her tears. It was difficult to talk for a few seconds. Finally, she said, “Like I have a job to do.”

* * *

A wave of green fire swept through the kitchen, forcing the vampires to scramble out of its wake. Tendrils of the green flame touched Armando’s coat as he flung up his arm over his face. The leather sizzled beneath its touch. Nearby, Carlotta screamed in agony and Lorelei whimpered. The reek of sulfur and brimstone filled the room.

“No!” Aeron’s voice was a sharp bark. “No! How dare he!”

Armando lowered his arm in time to see Aeron bash in the front of the refrigerator with one sharp strike of his fist. It was the angriest Armando had seen his Master in a very long time. A long swath of ruined flesh slowly healed on Aeron’s chest as he struck the refrigerator again.

“I want that demon’s name, and I want him vanquished!”

Lorelei crawled onto the kitchen island, still swathed in Aeron’s coat. “He set me on fire!”

“He’s done worse than that. He took Vanora,” Aeron reminded her.

Carlotta writhed on the floor close to Armando. Acid burns covered her hands and face. The velvet gown had melted where the demonic flames had touched it. He crawled to her side and lightly touched her scorched cheek. The fire had caught one of her eyes, and the white orb rolled toward him as she focused on him.

“Why?” Armando whispered, careful with his words.

“I loved Roman,” Carlotta answered, her voice deliberately raised. “And he’s dead because of our beloved Master.”

“You spiteful little beast,” Aeron hissed and was instantly upon her. “You let her be taken from me!”

“Just like you took Roman from me!” Carlotta shouted without fear or remorse in the face of the albino vampire.

Aeron resemble a statue as his features flattened, losing all expression. The coldness in his amethyst eyes made them appear dead and jewel-like. “You would betray me for that weakling, Carlotta?”

“I have nothing I love left in this world, so why should you?” Carlotta spat out.

“Give her to me! I’ll take her head!” Lorelei landed with a thump next to them.

Armando raised his eyes to regard the man he had once loved so much he would have died for him. Now he just felt empty and lost. Watching Vanora disappear with the incubus in a flash of green fire had been one of the worst moments of his very long life. Now he was about to lose Carlotta, and the pain within him was almost unbearable.

“She’s mad with grief. Punish her, but spare her,” Armando pleaded.

“No! Take my head! Kill me!” Carlotta attempted to slash her nails down Aeron’s cheek, but he caught her wrist and crushed it. She shrieked in agony.

“Drain her and entomb her. Let her starve through the eons and remember her betrayal.” Aeron straightened to his full height and turned his back to Carlotta. A flick of his fingers indicated that Armando should rise and follow him.

Lorelei gashed Carlotta’s throat and dragged her across the kitchen floor. The gypsy scrabbled at the stronger vampire’s hold, trying to break free. The thick trail of cold blood mingled with the ashes of Carlotta’s children. The terror in his ex-lover’s eyes filled Armando with sorrow, but he was relieved that her punishment was entombment. It gave him hope that he might find and free her later.

Armando followed his Master through the house to the driveway, where a sleek white sedan waited. The driver hurried to open the rear door for Aeron.

“Find Vanora. Keep her unharmed. Bring her to my haven, Armando,” Aeron ordered.

The words became a bond that wrapped firmly around Armando’s will and settled in with a vice-like grip. Inclining his head, Armando said, “As you desire.”

“You’ve done well so far. That infernal demon and traitorous gypsy will not prevent me from fulfilling my destiny.” Aeron rested a hand against Armando’s cheek. The sensation was akin to being touched by a marble statue. It made him yearn for Vanora’s touch. “You are my favored son. My most faithful child other than Lorelei. I impart this task to you because I trust no other to perform it.”

“I will do as you ask,” Armando answered, his mind already searching for ways to somehow resist the edict.

“I know you will,” Aeron said significantly, then slipped into the car.

Armando waited until the car ferrying his Master had turned far down the road before departing. Standing in the driveway, he considered pursuing Lorelei but realized quickly this would be folly. He couldn’t risk his Master becoming aware of Armando’s duplicity. Though he suspected where Vanora would go next, he could delay following her since the night was waning. Once he found her, the edict would compel him to obey. He had to ponder his options and form a solid plan; otherwise, he’d became the greatest threat to Vanora.

Flames were just beginning to eat away at the windows of the house when Armando finally walked toward Roman’s convertible. Lorelei had probably set the fire before carting the gypsy off to be punished. Carlotta’s home would burn in the purge like so many others this night.

Helpless and forlorn, Armando slid behind the wheel of car and tugged the door shut. Loneliness burrowed into him and took up residence. Without Vanora at his side, he felt lost. How could he ever continue without her? He had no desire to find out.

There had to be a way to break free of the edict and save Vanora.

Alisha Socoli woke with a pounding headache. Confusion clouded her mind, and she was uncertain of where she was. The musty odor and hard roughened surface beneath her were unfamiliar. Trembling, she attempted to lift herself up, but her elbows buckled and she collapsed onto the cold floor. Gradually, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and coffins formed out of the murk, revealing where she was imprisoned.

It was the mausoleum.

Faintly, she could hear the wind outside whistling through the trees standing guard over the Socoli family crypt. The memory of earlier events that night unfurled within her mind, awakening the terror she’d experienced. Who was the strange woman with the wolf claws? Why had she drugged Alisha, then imprisoned her in the mausoleum? Alisha was still violently ill from the marjoram. Did it really poison witches? It made sense now why she and Vanora had an allergy to the spice. Alisha was so weakened she didn’t have the power to escape. She couldn’t even stand.

Lying back on the filthy floor, she wept. The hunger was growing, and soon it would consume her. With the hunger would come the madness. If she didn’t escape, she would be crazed with bloodlust until she died. But who would find her here? It was awful to admit, but there was the possibility that all her friends were now dead. And where was Vanora? Was Armando keeping her safe? She began to weep miserably, feeling the hunger swelling and the madness creeping into her mind.

A few minutes later, or was it hours, or days possibly, she heard a heartbeat nearby. She tried to open her parched lips and cry out, but no sound escaped her throat. It was as if her voice had left her as well as her strength. Alisha thrashed on the cold floor in agony, all the while listening to that wonderful heartbeat so close and yet so far away. She was utterly helpless.

The mausoleum door creaked open. Soft footsteps approached. In agony, she tried to rise up, but her limbs failed her. Maybe it was the wolf-woman returning to kill her. Alisha managed to roll over and force her eyes open. As her gaze focused, she drew in her breath sharply.

A figure stood over her cloaked in shadows, and for an instant she thought it was the albino vampire come to kill her. Then as the form bent down over her, subtly glowing hazel eyes came sharply into focus as the man flipped on a small flashlight. A stranger’s face emerged from the darkness. Dressed in a black turtleneck and jeans, the mysterious male had a very distinctive face with rather sharp features framed by dark hair.

He looked delicious

The hunger welled up within her. Alisha lashed out with a clawed hand, her long teeth descending.

The stranger caught her hand and caressed it gently. “Alisha Socoli, I’m here to help you. I’m Dexios.” Like the wolf-woman, he spoke in a Greek accent.

“I’m hungry,” she gasped. “So hungry.”

“I know you are. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but it was difficult for me to slip away during the purge.”

Alisha drew in a shuddering breath. “You were with the wolf-woman . . .”

“She is my mother,” he admitted. “She had you drugged and hidden here from Aeron the White and Terrible to prevent you from being captured by him.”

“Why?”

Dexios gave her a wry smile. “Because she wished to.”

“I’m so hungry…”

“You must feed. You must be strong.” He rolled up one sleeve and pressed his wrist against her trembling lips. “Feed, Alisha. It’s all right. Once you are strong, I will help you find your sister. Leto has sent me to guard you and protect you against Aeron’s people.”

“I don’t understand,” Alisha murmured, her head buzzing with the hunger and confusion.

“I know. But you will. Drink.”

Alisha stared into the warm hazel eyes of the werewolf. She needed to feed. Her sharp teeth bit through his flesh, and she drank.

Epilogue

Aeron respectfully approached the domain of the Oracle. Freshly bathed, he was dressed only in white linen trousers. The blood of his enemies no longer stained his flesh, but he could still taste it on his lips. The sun would soon rise, and the night of fire and blood would come to an end. The early victories were lost in the terrible defeat leveled upon him by the incubus and the traitorous Carlotta. He was uneasy at his failure to bring home his beloved and sought comfort from the Oracle.

The air thickened with incense and magic the closer he drew to the small temple he’d had constructed for the Oracle in his new haven. Red firelight danced along the ivory pillars that encircled a fire pit. Seated on the opposite side was Siana, the Oracle who had first spoken the words of his destiny. Her long black hair pooled over her bare thighs, one long streak of white resting against her cheek. A silk scarf was wrapped around her head multiple times, completely covering her eyes. Siana never looked at the world with her physical eyes but her inner eye.

“Victory eluded you,” Siana said, her pink lips twisting up at the corners.

As Aeron took a seat across from her on the cold marble floor, he said, “Yes.” He was never quite certain if the Oracle was mocking him or not. Her guidance through the centuries was invaluable, but he doubted she was actually fond of him.

“Betrayal. A child defied you. A demon absconded with the white witch.” Siana dunked her hand in a bowl of liquid, stirring the contents.

“Yes. Do you see where the demon took her?”

“Darkness obscures my eye when I turn it toward her as it always has since she was born. She is protected by forces that oppose you.”

“The Seven Sisters are dead,” Aeron replied, anger seeping into his tone. “I killed them. There should be no others. The gods are dead, and only Leto remains, and she serves me.”

Siana flicked her wet fingers toward the fire, droplets of liquid making the flames sizzle. “You’ve killed my people until only I remained. You killed the witches until only your legacy endured. Or did you? Are you so certain that you have eliminated all your enemies?”

“You are the Oracle. You tell me! That is your purpose!”

Siana smirked. “My purpose is to serve the gods.”

“I am a god.”

The Oracle didn’t respond but leaned toward the flames. The light illuminated her soft round cheeks and full lips. “Ask your question.”

“Throughout my life I have felt Vanora’s presence at my side. I have felt her touch while I slept, her kiss when I was in pain, and her strength when I felt weak. It wasn’t until she was actually born that I felt her presence leave me. I crave to feel it once more. My destiny. Tonight, when I saw her and felt her presence, she regarded me with fear. How can this be?”

“She has yet to travel at your side,” Siana answered.

“I do not understand.” Aeron leaned forward, wishing he could see the eyes of the Oracle. It was always disconcerting not to be able to discern her intentions.

“It’s not important for you to understand. Vanora will come to you willingly once she has traveled at your side.”

Aeron hated the vagaries of the Oracle. “So victory will be mine?”

“Your destiny will be fulfilled,” Siana assured him.

Aeron smiled. “Then I will wait for her.”