Last Blood (13 page)

T
atiana gazed across the office at Daciana. They sat looking at one another, neither of them saying anything since Lilith and the Castus had vanished. The smell of brimstone still lingered, clouding her mind as much as what she’d seen. Her child. But not. Somehow she had to make the best of this.

“Unbelievable,” Daci finally mumbled.

Tatiana nodded, staring blankly into the room but still seeing the vision of Lilith in her head. “They’ve given her the power that should have been mine. Turned her into…”

“A monster,” Daci finished.

Tatiana’s gaze snapped onto Daciana. “Not a monster.” No matter what her child had become, she was not a monster. “A new kind of vampire. A race above the nobility. I always said she was a vampire princess. Now she’s become the vampire queen.”

Daci recoiled. “Aren’t you afraid of her?”

Yes. But so were the Castus, and unlike them, she wasn’t about to show her fear. “She’s still the child I held in my arms, isn’t she? The baby I rocked to sleep? I’m
the only mother that child has known. Why should I fear her?” Tatiana stood and walked to the helioglazed windows. The sun would be up in less than an hour.

“I don’t know. She seemed very different. Even the ancient one seemed afraid of her.” Daci shuddered.

Tatiana wrapped her hand in the raw silk drapes and leaned against the window frame. “He did, didn’t he?” There was little point in denying what Daci had seen for herself. Then a thought occurred to her. “Do you know why that is? Because the ancients know Lilith’s loyalties lie elsewhere. She called me mother. Recognized me instantly even though they tried to take her away from me.”

Daci twisted, throwing her arm over the back of the leather settee to see Tatiana better. Some of the trepidation left her eyes. “She did. You think the ancients fear they’ll lose Lilith to you?” She stood, visibly excited. “All that power. Yours to command.” She rolled her lips in and a stifled squeal barely escaped. “We must call her back. You must talk to her, suss her out.”

Tatiana glanced out the window again. A hint of purple colored the horizon. “I agree. Daysleep will be upon us soon. I would like to know where I stand before another day passes. For all we know, Lilith could be waiting for me to rescue her from the ancients.”

“For you to bring her home again.” Daci’s hand went to her mouth. “We must help her!”

Tatiana pushed away from the window and directed Daci toward the door. “Lock it. I don’t want to be interrupted.”

She looked crestfallen. “Are you dismissing me?”

“No. You were here the first time and Lilith didn’t
object. You helped care for her as a baby; she must know that.”

“Good.” With a smile, Daci ran to the door and locked it, then leaned her back against it. “Ready.”

Tatiana took her place in the middle of the room and opened herself to the possibility of a new future. A new, more powerful future. “Lilith, my child, if you hear me, come to me. Grace me with your presence.”

A snap of electricity charged the air, lifting the small hairs on Tatiana’s nape, and the shadows pulled together in the center of the room. Lilith stepped out of them. Or they became her. The change happened so quickly it was hard to tell.

“You called, Mother?”

Tatiana smiled and began carefully. If the ancients were listening, she didn’t want them thinking she was trying to take Lilith back just yet. “Yes, I did. Thank you for coming. I thought we might sit and talk. Get acquainted now that you are grown. I’ve missed so much.” The sadness in her heart over that was genuine. She’d lost years because of the Castus, a gap that felt unforgivable.

Lilith cocked her head to one side. “And that makes you unhappy? Why?”

Tatiana walked to the settee and sat. “Because you went from being a baby in my arms to a beautiful young woman and I wasn’t a part of that. Watching you grow up was taken away from me.”

“And you wanted to be a part of that?” Lilith seemed confused by the idea. “Why?”

“Because I love you, Lilith.” Truthfully, Tatiana loved the child Lilith had been. This adult woman seemed like a very different creature, but that was to be expected. “I had
hoped we would rule the vampire nation together, as mother and daughter. That we would be an unstoppable force.”

“Love?” Lilith sat close enough for Tatiana to see the map of delicate blue veins beneath her translucent skin. “I don’t understand love.”

Daci snorted and came closer. “Love is not something the ancients know much of.”

Lilith watched her. “You also knew me as a child?”

“Yes.” Daci nodded and sat across from them on the matching couch. “You don’t remember me?”

Lilith stared at her. “Perhaps.”

Tatiana tried to help her remember. “Daci used to take care of you sometimes.”

Lilith frowned. “There was another, a male…”

“Yes, Octavian,” Daci said. “He’s gone now.”

“He was a traitor,” Tatiana spat.

Lilith turned sharply. “A traitor?”

“He tried to give you to our enemies.” Tatiana’s fingers dug into the leather. “He was the reason you were taken from me.”

Lilith seemed instantly curious. “What happened to him?”

Daci shook her head. “He killed himself so he wouldn’t have to face your mother’s wrath.”

Lilith’s eyes brightened. “Explain.”

Daci laughed softly. “Most vampires are smart enough to fear your mother. She is a great and powerful vampire. That’s why the ancients gave you to her to raise. If Octavian hadn’t killed himself, your mother would have done it for him. Without hesitation.”

“Yes,” Tatiana said quietly. “No matter how much it would have hurt me.”

“Hurt you? Because… you loved him also?”

Tatiana nodded. “Yes, but not as much as you. Not nearly as much. There is no greater bond than that of a mother and her child. I would do anything for you.” She reached out and took Lilith’s hand. Her skin had lost none of its baby softness.

Lilith looked down. “You love Daciana.”

“Yes, but not as much as you.” Tatiana stroked her thumb over Lilith’s knuckles. “Do you wish to live with me again?”

Lilith lifted her gaze. Her eyes had gone almost completely black, the way nobles’ eyes went silver. Then she was gone from Tatiana’s side and seated next to Daciana. She’d moved quicker than Tatiana could track.

Daci reared back with a nervous laugh, her hand at her throat. “You frightened me. My, you move faster than any vampire I’ve ever seen.”

Lilith’s hand closed over Daci’s arm. “My mother must love only me.”

“What?” Daci pulled away but Lilith held tight. “I love you too, Lilith. I helped raise you, remember? I—”

“I remember you laughing with Octavian.” Lilith tipped her head and bared her fangs. “Are you a traitor too?”

What little color Daci had drained from her face. “No, of course not.” She struggled to get out of Lilith’s grip.

Tatiana jumped up. “Lilith, she’s not a traitor. Please let her go.”

“Please?” Lilith sneered. “That does not seem like the word of a feared vampire.”

“Let her go now,” Tatiana commanded.

Lilith laughed. “That’s better.” She dropped Daci’s arm.

Daci slumped against the sofa, trembling. Tatiana
relaxed, feeling like she’d just stepped back from the edge of a precipice.

Lilith’s eyes narrowed as she spoke to Tatiana. “You care for her too much. I do not like it.” With that, she drove her hand forward, plunged it into Daci’s chest, and yanked out her heart.

Daci’s eyes rounded a second before she went to ash, the heart in Lilith’s hand dissolving at the same time.

Tatiana’s jaw dropped as a pit opened up in her belly. She teetered toward numbness, unable to believe what had just happened. “What-what have you done?”

Lilith stood, wriggling her fingers to shed the last bit of ash. “She was unnecessary for your plan.”

“My plan?” Pain wracked Tatiana’s body and darkness edged her vision. Daci was
gone
. Her last remaining friend. A sob choked her throat and she fisted her hands to keep from striking Lilith, because she knew without question Lilith would kill her too. The creature before her was exactly what Daci had said she was. A monster. A monster Tatiana should destroy. Anger mixed with grief.
Would
destroy. But how? There was no one left to help her. No one vicious enough to face this hell-spawned beast. The word triggered a memory. There might be one person who could kill Lilith.

“Your plan for us to rule together.” Lilith smiled. “Isn’t that what you wanted, Mother?”

Tatiana forced herself to return the smile, but wasn’t sure if the movement of her lips was a smile or a grimace. She hurt too much to care. “Yes,” she whispered. The effort of speaking under the weight of such pain was almost impossible. “That’s what I wanted.” She looked for a way out and found her savior in the lightening horizon.
“The sun is almost up and I need to sleep.” She stumbled toward the door. “You return to the ancients now and I’ll call you when I need you again.”

The happiness in Lilith’s voice faded. “Why can’t I stay with you?”

Nerves frayed, Tatiana snapped. Enough was bloody enough. “Because I said so and I’m your mother. Now go.”

“Fine.” With a huff, Lilith crossed her arms and disappeared in a small whirl of shadow.

Alone, Tatiana reached for the door handle, but missed, her vision blurry. Frustration and grief engulfed her. “Daci,” she moaned. The sound of her friend’s name sheared away the last of her composure. Unable to bear more, she crumpled to the floor and wept.

C
reek was prepared for Chrysabelle to have blocked his entrance to Mephisto Island, but the guard at the gatehouse let him through. He didn’t know what to make of the fact that she hadn’t pulled him from the approved visitors list, but decided not to overthink it. He parked his V-Rod and jogged to the front door, glad for the chance to speak to her. The way they’d left things hadn’t been good. He owed her an apology and an explanation.

Velimai answered his knock, giving him the same surly look she’d once reserved for Mal. Maybe the wysper still blamed him for Mal’s death. Or Chrysabelle’s unhappiness. Or the lack of world peace. “Chrysabelle here? I came to apologize, not cause her more trouble. Those days are over.”

Velimai raised a brow.

Creek held his hands up. “I promise.”

With a sigh, she moved out of the way. He followed her inside. A silver hard-shell roller bag sat by the door. She pointed to the living room, so he went and sat. She gave him a look that said
stay
, then she headed upstairs. He assumed to get Chrysabelle.

A few minutes later, Damian came down. Creek stood, wondering how the man would respond to him based on his sister’s feelings toward Creek at the moment. “Good to see you back.” He nodded toward the roller bag. “You finally moving in?”

“Good to see you too. That’s Chrysabelle’s bag.” Damian stopped at the entrance to the living room. “She’s upstairs and she told me to tell you she’s not coming down if this is Kubai Mata business.” He lifted one shoulder like he was sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

So much for convincing Velimai of his intentions. “It’s not. I’m just here as me. I owe her some explanations and an apology.”

If that surprised Damian, he hid it well. “Okay.” He jogged back up the steps, returning a few minutes later with Chrysabelle in tow.

She eyed Creek warily, tugging at her tunic and smoothing a few loose hairs back into her braid. She was flushed and shiny with sweat.

“Didn’t mean to interrupt your workout.”

She shrugged and wiped her face with the towel around her neck before sitting across from him. “Damian said you’re not here on KM business. That’s the only reason I’m talking to you.”

Creek sat. “I know. Thanks.”

Damian walked toward the door. “I’ll see you for dinner, Chrys.”

She sat forward. “Don’t go yet. Join us.”

He glanced at Creek before answering her. “You got it.” He took one of the club chairs at the end of the two big sofas, settling in like he was preparing to referee.

She turned her attention to Creek. “So what’s going on?”

“A lot.” He blew out a breath. “Not sure where to start, so I’ll just dive in. I’m sorry for my part in Mal’s death. I found out too late that I was possessed by a dark spirit, one who’s since been… exorcised. She was also behind my persuading the mayor to set the curfew in place and the reason I sided against you and Mal in the mayor’s office. For all of that, I’m sorry.”

Chrysabelle’s hard expression softened. “A spirit?”

“Yahla, the soulless woman. Damian and I set her free when we burned Aliza’s house down. Apparently, Aliza had trapped her in the house and was using her as a source of power. Yahla attacked my grandmother too. Would have killed her if I hadn’t gotten there in time.” He dropped his head. He wasn’t great at expressing emotion, but for Chrysabelle’s sake he’d do his best. “I’m sorry I didn’t figure this all out in time to save Mal. I know his death is my fault and I feel like hell about that.”

A few seconds of silence passed before Chrysabelle spoke. “Mal’s not dead.”