Survive the Dawn (25 page)

“You’re many things,
Nicholae
, but an idiot is not one of them,”
Kasandra
said evenly.

Nicholae
raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure you mean that as a compliment, old woman.”

Kasandra’s
nostrils flared as her back stiffened, the look of intense hatred flashed across her face, immediately followed by a smirking smile. “Of course, what else?”

Nicholae’s
eye twitched with anger. “The ritual will be carried out as planned. Leigh will be resurrected tonight, and Sebastian will not survive the dawn.”

Marcellus let out a sigh of pure frustration. “
Nicholae
, we implore you—”

“
Nicholae
, we forbid you,”
Kasandra
said.

Daciana
wedged her way between Marcellus and
Kasandra
. “Pardon me,” she whispered with a smile and stood next to
Nicholae
.

Marcellus looked back from
Kasandra
to
Daciana
in shock. “
Daciana
, you’re an elder, we cannot, must not take sides. We are responsible for the balance and the future of our community. This cannot happen.”

Nicholae
looked at
Kasandra
, who sported a look of what he could only see as sadness. “Marcellus is right,
Daciana
. Whatever you thought of Tatiana, we must be one.”

“Your human sentiments have always bored me,
Kasandra
, just as Tatiana’s did. You all have proud Roman and Egyptian blood flowing through your veins. However, you’re all weak. You ‘feel’ too much.
Nicholae
and I come from pure Romanian blood. The first vampires were born in this country. We are the first, we will be the last.
Nicholae
is correct. Leigh must be resurrected and Sebastian destroyed once and for all. She is a bothersome vampire whom Tatiana should never have given such power to.”

“It was Tatiana’s right,” Marcellus said.

“It was not!”
Nicholae
shouted. Everyone jumped but
Kasandra
who raised her head slightly but did not move.

She smiled and pulled her silken robes around her. “It was,
Nicholae
, and that is what sticks in your throat and you cannot spit out. It was Tatiana’s power to do with as she pleased. And it pleased her to make Sebastian the next in line to lead this community into the next thousand years,” she said calmly and grinned. “You just don’t like it. You’re like a petulant child. Bringing Leigh back will only seal your fate. She will be a hindrance for you and this community. What is that expression the humans have?” She stopped and thought for a moment while
Nicholae
seethed. “Ah, yes. It would be like giving a monkey a machine gun.”

Marcellus hid his grin as he ran his hand across his mouth.
Daciana
glanced at the fuming
Nicholae
but smiled, as well. “She may have a point,
Nicholae
.”

The groan started deep within
Nicholae
. It seemed to rumble from his very soul, if he had one. His fingers grew longer, his cheekbones became more pronounced, his teeth turned razor sharp.

Daciana
stepped away from him then; Marcellus backed up several steps.
Kasandra
held her ground as she watched the transformation.

Nicholae
let out a howling scream that made all three elders wince. “I will have my way!” he yelled and pointed his long bony finger at Marcellus and
Kasandra
. “Leave before I destroy you both! All of you!”

Marcellus and
Daciana
bowed and stumbled backward until they found the door, then exited.

Kasandra
pulled the silken robes around her and bowed slightly. “Petulant child,” she mumbled. She then turned her back on him and walked away.

Nicholae
regained his composure. He ran his hand through his long white hair and breathed deeply. “I will have my way.”

Chapter 21

Carey paced back and forth in her locked room. She still swatted at the air around her head and twitched every now and then. She needed to get the fuck out of this place and fast. However, she had no idea how to do this or how to get home. Her head cocked as she looked around the room in confusion. “Where is home?” she asked aloud.

The door opened and Nina appeared. “I’m just checking on our houseguest. How—?”

Carey ran to her, grabbing her by the shoulders. “I’ve done what you asked. Let me go.”

Nina patted her check. “Don’t touch me.” She pushed Carey’s hands away and grinned. “Swat, swat, twitch, twitch? I would think by now you’d have gotten rid of whatever demon is flying around your head, darling.”

“I want to leave, Nina.”

“And you shall. One more task and you’ll be released.” She walked up to Carey and caressed her cheek. She smiled as Carey flinched and jerked away from her touch.

Carey’s mind raced as forgotten visions flashed through her frenzied brain. All disjointed, the visions ripped through her, too fast to recognize, leaving her sight as soon as they invaded her mind. She rubbed her eyes and turned from Nina.

“It is a bother, isn’t it?” Nina asked lightly.

With that, Carey lunged for her. Nina laughed and grabbed her, pushing her back against the wall. She lifted Carey off her feet and grabbed her throat while Carey struggled and clawed at Nina’s hand to no avail.

“I’m much stronger than you, darling, so stop this. Besides,” Nina said with a grin, “I get all aroused when you get butch. Unfortunately, I haven’t the time.”

She let Carey go and walked to the door; she left without another word.

Carey choked and gagged as she rubbed her neck. She then stormed to the window and placed her hands on either side of the window frame.

She looked out at the morning fog and hung her head—there was no way out for her.

Nina hummed as she jauntily descended the wide staircase. At the bottom, Damien stood waiting for her.

“Good morning.” When she noticed the frown on Damien’s face, she raised an eyebrow. “Why so glum?”

Damien took her by the arm and led her to an alcove behind the staircase.

“Oh, Damien,” Nina said in a sultry voice. “Everyone is so forceful this morning.”

“Shut up and listen,” Damien said in a hissed whisper. He let her go and nervously brushed the long black hair away from his face. “Do you have any idea what
Nicholae
has planned for tonight?”

He looked up at the top of the stairs; so did Nina. “No, what?” She couldn’t help the playfulness in her voice. She was pleased with herself. She had done
Nicholae’s
bidding and followed every instruction to the letter.
Nicholae’s
wrath would not be upon her if she could help it.

“This is serious. Just make sure you do exactly as
Nicholae
instructs you.”

“I have done just that. I hope you take your own advice and stay in his good graces.” She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair. “Now all this aggression must be eased somehow.”

Damien breathed deeply as his dark gaze raked over her body. His fangs protruded as he grinned. Nina did the same.

“
Kasandra
, what can we do?” Marcellus asked as he sat in the huge chair, which looked more like a throne.

Kasandra
heard the nervous tone. Marcellus was always the nervous one, always the worrier. She remembered back to the days in Rome when Marcellus and she were young and full of power and lust. Oh, what times they had.

Then there was…Tatiana Messalina.

Kasandra
watched the tall elegant woman weave through the numerous guests in the great hall. It was a night of celebration in Rome.
Kasandra
had no idea what the cause was for such merriment nor did she care. She was on the prowl that night. Rome was electrified, the night sky was full of stars, and
Kasandra
was more than ready.

“What’s all the excitement about?” she asked Marcellus.

He smiled and shook his head. “Do you not pay attention to your country or its battles?”

“No, I do not.”

“I won’t bore you. Suffice it to say, Egypt wants to be our friend.”

She continued to watch the woman and leaned into Marcellus. “Who is that beautiful creature?” she whispered.

Marcellus lifted his wine goblet to his lips and took a healthy drink as he found the object of his friend’s desire. “Ah, that is Tatiana. She is beautiful. She is here from Egypt.”

“She does not look Egyptian.”

“No, she is Roman but lives there. I believe she has returned to Rome, the emperor himself gave her safe passage. She is one of us,
Kasandra
,” he said and wiggled his eyebrows.

Kasandra’s
grin spread across her face. “Is she?” She drank from her silver wine goblet and set it down. “How interesting.” She then picked up an olive and lazily nibbled at it. “Introduce me, Marcellus.”

Marcellus rolled his eyes as he took her hand. “Come then, let’s get the evening started.” He led
Kasandra
through the crowd and said over his shoulder, “Will you include me tonight?”

Kasandra
smiled and watched the lovely Tatiana. “No, darling Marcellus, not tonight.”

They stopped behind the woman; Marcellus cleared his throat. “Tatiana?”

She turned around and
Kasandra
nearly gasped at the beautiful face. Elegant, almost regal features bombarded
Kasandra’s
senses. She felt the throb deep in her belly. Yes, she would have this vampire tonight.

“Marcellus, it is nice to see you again,” she said, her smile showing the slight protrusion of canine teeth.

“I trust your journey from Egypt was safe?” he asked as he took her offered hand.

Tatiana never took her eyes off
Kasandra
. “Yes, it was. Thank you.”

“Oh, I apologize. Tatiana Messalina, this is
Kasandra
, a dear friend.”

Kasandra
took the cool hand in her own, lightly rubbing her thumb across the smooth skin. She watched as Tatiana’s eyes darkened slightly and her breathing became deeper.

“Yes, well, I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Marcellus said and looked at both women, who were ignoring him. “And good night.” He chuckled as he walked away.

“Yes, it is a good night,”
Kasandra
said.

Tatiana smiled and let go of
Kasandra’s
hand. The server walked by with a tray of silver and gold goblets.
Kasandra
plucked two off the tray and handed one to Tatiana, who smiled and nodded her thanks.

“Do you live in Rome?” she asked as she drank her wine.

“Yes, I understand you are originally from Rome,”
Kasandra
said. Her gaze traveled from the milky white skin of Tatiana’s neck down to her cleavage. The silken white material of her gown clung nicely around her shoulders offering just enough view for
Kasandra
.

“Yes, I am. I was born here many,” she stopped and grinned, “many years ago. Only recently has my business taken me to Egypt. However, with the ensuing conflict between the two regions, I found it a good time to come home.”