In Darkness We Must Abide (The Fallen King, Episode 8) (3 page)

“Armando, you can’t be angry at me for being afraid of you! Of them! Of what they did! I thought you weren’t like…like…”

“
Like the one who made Roman?” Armando laughed bitterly.  “Vanora, we are monsters with human faces and human hearts. The worst sort of hell, don’t you think?”

“
What happened that night...what they did…it haunts me. Terrifies me.”

Watching the road, Armando tried not to see the young woman trembling at his side. He didn
’t want to see her fear, her pain, and her sadness. “The hunger is a power so overwhelming it crushes us into slaves.”

“
And nothing can defeat it?” Her voice was hoarse with pain and more.

Armando dared to touch her, but she
withdrew. “No, Vanora. Not even love.”

They both fell silent.

Armando concentrated on the road.

Vanora gazed at anything other than him.

The road stretched out endlessly in the illumination of the headlights. The tall trees lining the road sank back into pastures as open fields took their place. Buildings drifted out of the night to vanish once again. They were alone in the darkness.

* * *

Armando bought Vanora breakfast at a drive-thru. Her hands had yet to stop trembling and she looked a bit ragged. He suspected she hadn’t eaten in some time, so he turned off the highway. After he ordered, she giggled beside him.

“
What is it?”

“
A vampire going through a drive-thru just seems weird,” she answered, shrugging.

They had spoken much to each other in the last hour. They had mostly watched the darkened world speed past the car windows. Vanora had put on music for a while, but then turned it off after a bit. She was restless and anxious.

Once back on the road, he had to cajole her into eating. Finally, she obeyed, though she had to be very dramatic about it. When she stuffed a huge bite in her mouth, it had made him smile. He liked it when they ignored all the unspoken things between them and pretended to just be friends. But it never lasted too long. They would fall back into awkwardness.

Without realizing what he was doing until he had already tucked her hair behind her ear and saw a flash of discomfort in her eyes, he understood that perhaps there was no way to avoid the unspoken things.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that.”

“
Do what?” Armando couldn’t help but play it coy with her. It was difficult not to demonstrate his affection toward her and he felt a bit peevish about it.

“
I came back for Roman. Not you.”

“
I know. You’re seeing someone.” How he hated Dan. He hated him with a vengeance. It grieved him to no end that a man that did not fully understand how wonderful Vanora was had her affections. Armando knew Dan didn’t see her strength, her intelligence, her loyalty, or her power. All the stupid mortal saw was a supposedly virginal future bride. But he also knew that their romance was doomed. Vanora would lose yet another person she loved to the darkness. No matter how much he despised Dan, he loved Vanora and he dreaded seeing her wounded yet again.

Vanora looked away with annoyance. She nibbled on her breakfast to keep herself occupied most likely. After a few minutes, she said,
“What if it’s too late? What if he won’t listen?”

It took Armando a moment to realize she was not talking about Dan, but changing the subject of their conversation entirely.
“If there is one thing about your brother that I know for certain, it’s that he loves you more than his own life. He’ll listen to you.”

“
And not Alisha?”

“
Alisha fights with Carlotta all the time. Roman tends to listen to his fiancée more than his sister.”

“
I still can’t believe he’s marrying her. “ Vanora discarded the last of her sandwich and crumpled up the white paper bag.

Armando still couldn
’t believe Roman was so enamored with Carlotta. Yet, the couple was obviously smitten with one another. It was best that Vanora realize that all was not the same as when she had left. “In your absence, he’s become…different. But he still loves you.”

Armando
’s fingers flexed on the steering wheel. There was so much more he wanted to say to Vanora, but didn’t dare to speak.

“
I have no regrets about leaving.” A bit of defiance was in her words.

“I know. It was the right thing to do. At the time. Just like it’s now time for you to return and hopefully convince your brother to do the right thing before it’s too late.”

“
Run away?”

“
Or prepare to fight a war.”

“
A war.” Vanora appeared to ponder the words. “A war against who?”

“
The older vampires.”

“
Give me names. Descriptions.” Vanora glared at him.

Armando remained silent. He concentrated on the road leading them back to the Socoli Mansion. They were closer now. Almost there. Which was a good thing, for he was exhausted and the rising sun was sapping away the last of his strength.

“Well?”

“
Just convince him to leave, Vanora.”

“
God, you’re so annoying.”

“
Yet, you adore me.” Armando couldn’t resist needling her just a bit. It had been tiresome trying so hard to behave and keep his mission in the forefront of his mind. During the drive he had wanted to pour his heart out to her, swear his eternal love, convince her to run away with him, yet he knew he couldn’t. She needed to save Roman and Alisha. She needed to escape. This was not the time to be a lovesick puppy in her presence.

“
I wouldn’t say I adore you...” she answered, rolling her eyes.

“
Love with a fiery passion?” Armando suggested. His control over his emotions and tongue was slipping as the sun rose.

To his surprise, she seemed more amused than peeved by his words.
“Do you really want me to push you out of the car?”

Armando just grinned, noting her lack of a true answer. Then he grew somber at the sight just ahead.
“The gates are open. The lack of security needs to stop.”

“
Will a gate really stop a vampire?” Vanora sounded doubtful.

“
No, but it may slow down a vampire’s mortal minions.”

“
But not the vampire. So if a vampire wants to kill my brother, leaving a gate open isn’t going to do much.”

“
You sound like Roman. Fatalistic. Is this a Socoli trait?” The last thing he wanted to hear from her was despair or defeat. Vanora was strong and a fighter. She couldn’t give up before the fight had really begun.

“
I’m not fatalistic. I’m here to save my brother. I
will
save my brother.”

The resolve in her tone alleviated some of his worry, but Armando was too exhausted to continue the conversation. It would have to wait until later. Pulling the car up to the front of the house, he sensed the sun was hovering on the horizon. He had to sleep and soon. There was no other choice than to take refuge in the mansion. After he parked, he slumped forward, resting his head against the steering wheel. The impending sunrise was stealing away his strength and he just wanted to sleep.

“Armando, you can’t go to sleep yet.”

Armando didn
’t realize he was starting to drift off until Vanora shook him.

“
It’s difficult to function once the sun cracks the horizon.”

Armando could feel the sun rising. Luckily, they were shielded by the imposing mansion from the first rays of daylight. They had barely made it on time.  Vanora stroked his hair, an old familiar sensation he
’d wondered if he’d ever feel again. It comforted him, yet made his passion for her rise. He wished he could crawl into her bed and hold her close as he slept through the day.

“
C’mon. Get out. We’re here. And when you get up, you’re going to tell me everything. I mean it. I want to know everything that you know.”

On impulse, he kissed her hand, relishing the taste of her skin.
“When I awaken...” He stopped himself from continuing, realizing he wasn’t answering her question, but promising to make love to her.

“
Get out before you fall asleep and I have to drag you.”

In a haze, Armando climbed from the car, helped her collect her things, and trudged to the main entrance in her wake. When she held out her hand, he laid the keys in her outstretched hand. It was then he noted she was wearing the birthday gifts he had given her. Maybe he was delirious in his sleep-deprived state, but he took it as a sign that she still loved him.

“What?” Vanora narrowed her eyes.

“
It’s just good to see you home,” Armando lied, flashing a brighter smile at her.

“
For now.” She unlocked the door, and shoved it open.

Vanora hesitated in the foyer.

It wounded Armando to know she was still so afraid of the vampires. “They’re asleep. Roman, Carlotta, Alisha...a few others...”  The luggage slipped from his grip as he sagged against the wall. He didn’t want her to fear the others or himself. He wanted her to see he was still Armando DeLeon, a man who loved her, and not just a vampire. “I’ve missed you.”

“
You need to sleep. I’ll help you to a guest room.”

Disoriented, Armando rubbed his weary eyes.
“I got you home...”

“
You’re nearly asleep on your feet.” Vanora slid her arm around his waist, and he leaned heavily against her. “This isn’t good! I can’t carry you.”

Fingers tracing her cheek, Armando lowered his face.
“I always dream of you.” Every day, when he closed his eyes, he always saw her face. Perhaps just one little kiss. Would it be wrong to taste her lips one more time? Moving to kiss her, he saw in her eyes that she would allow it. The love that he had hoped still burned in her heart was raging in her eyes. In that moment, he realized one little kiss would not be enough. It would never be enough. “I can’t.”

The sun was higher now and his strength was almost gone. Slipping into shadow, he fled up the stairs to the rooms above. Instinct guided him to a place of safety. As he settled into the darkness that would keep him shrouded throughout the day, Armando inhaled the sweet lavender fragrance that filled Vanora
’s old bedroom. His thoughts were of her when he faded into the sleep of death.

* * *

The old room was just as she remembered it, except for it being much more tidy. Obviously Miss Robbins had prepared it for her possible arrival. Tossing her bags at the end of the bed, Vanora sat on the edge of the mattress. It was like she had never left. Old perfume bottles scented the room with lavender, a comforting familiar fragrance. She discarded her shoes, then laid across the bed. As she had growing up, she stared upward through the filmy fabric of her canopy.

How many times had she laid here dreaming about Armando? How many times had she tried to imagine his kiss? His touch? It felt like a million years had passed since she had been a teenager foolishly infatuated with the mysterious, handsome man. Now she was an adult woman who was foolishly in love with a vampire. Despite all her internal admonitions, the drive home had only confirmed that she still loved Armando. She was afraid of him to some degree, but she longed for him. In the wake of Rhonda
’s death, she wanted Armando’s comfort. She wanted him to hold her close and promise that somehow she would be free of the darkness that was rapidly swallowing her world. Yet, she knew that to allow Armando back into her life and arms was dangerous.

With a sigh, she shifted about on the bed until she had the pillows tucked under her head. Sleep was tugging at her eyelids, yet she was afraid to sleep. What if she dreamed of the albino vampire? Or of Roman
’s death again?

Vanora opened her eyes in the world of dreams to see the ocean crashing onto the shoreline. The crescent shape of a city near a bay sparkled like diamonds as the moon dappled waves undulated below the window.

“
Armando?”

When she had dreamed of this place before he had been with her, but now she was alone. The room was empty, but a darkened doorway beckoned to her. Dressed in a simple white slip dress, she shivered in the damp cold air wafting through the room. It didn
’t come from the open window, but the entrance to the room.

With great reluctance, Vanora walked to the door. A single candle tucked into a bronze candlestick burned on a small table and she picked it up to light her way. The foreboding doorway called to her and she hesitantly stepped through.

The hallway was arched and made of heavy stone. Steps led downward into an even deeper darkness.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Vanora closed her eyes, shuddering at the echoing boom. Instinctively, she knew that the door wouldn’t yield to her. She had to go downward into the dark. Forcing her eyes open, her gaze fell to the steps.