The Raven (23 page)

Raven took a deep breath, trying not to shake.

The air surrounding them was damp and carried with it a hint of mold.

She coughed.

“Be brave and be silent, no matter what you hear.” William’s grip tightened on her arm.

Her stomach pitched.

A door opened and they entered what must have been a huge hall or theater. Raven could hear the echoes of metal clanking against metal, and the sounds of grunts and yells.

She lifted her chin slowly.

Despite William’s best efforts, the blindfold had shifted. It was failing to cover a tiny field of vision to the right of her nose. If she moved her head, she could see.

And what she saw overwhelmed her.

She was on a balcony that overlooked an immense space, like a gymnasium. Men and women were engaged in various kinds of combat on the floor below. Some used weapons; some used just their bodies.

As Raven tried very hard not to move, she saw people leaping from the ground and seeming to fly through the air. She also saw them inflicting what she thought would be mortal wounds, although the victims remained unscathed.

She cursed impulsively.

“No sounds.” William squeezed her once again.

What she had just seen was impossible. It defied gravity. It defied everything she had come to believe about human beings and their abilities.

It confirmed what she already believed—that William and his kind, whatever they were, weren’t human.

He led her through another door and into a hallway. It was dark and appeared to be lit dimly by torches that were placed on the walls.

As they moved forward, Raven noticed that the underworld was hewn out of stone.

She heard voices in the distance, but no one passed them.

They stopped and Raven heard another door open. William led her inside a small, dark room.

She heard the striking of a match and inhaled the scent of smoke. A small light grew visible from a short distance away.

He must have lit a candle.

“Take a few moments to calm yourself.”

Raven breathed deeply.

She heard the opening of a bottle and the splash of liquid. He placed a cold, smooth object in her hand and closed her fingers around it.

“This is Vin Santo. Sip it slowly, but drink all of it. It will relax you.”

She brought the glass to her nose and sniffed.

She pressed the glass to her lips and drank.

“Humans are not allowed here unless they’re under mind control and reserved as food. You must pretend your very will is slave to mine. You cannot reveal what you’ve seen. Or I’ll be forced to silence the lark I’ve come to admire.”

“W
hat is the meaning of this? Why have we been convened?” Aoibhe strode into the council chambers below the Palazzo Riccardi. She was in a foul mood.

Pierre shrugged. “No one knows. The order came from the Prince himself, and he would not accept delays.”

“But for what purpose?” She turned her attention to Lorenzo, who shook his head.

“Something came in from the human intelligence network but the report went straight to the Prince. I haven’t seen it.”

Aoibhe frowned. “That’s irregular. You’re second in command.”

Lorenzo opened his mouth to comment, but closed it almost immediately.

“Where’s Max?” She scanned the large room.

“He’s been summoned.” Lorenzo took his place at the front of the hall, holding the staff of the city out to his side.

Aoibhe approached Niccolò, who was already seated. “Are there problems with the patrols?”

“Not at all. Everything is proceeding according to plan.” Niccolò’s tone was not friendly.

Aoibhe clapped slowly. “Eager to keep your head, Nick?”

“It’s attached to my body.”

“For now,” she muttered.

“Perché la fortuna è donna, et è necessario, volendola tenere sotto, batterla et urtarla,”
Niccolò stated, his dark eyes taunting her.

She scowled and took a threatening step forward. “Five hundred years later and you’re still spouting that ridiculous drivel? I’ll show you what it is to be beaten, you ridiculous cretin.”

“Aoibhe.” Lorenzo spoke sharply. “Stop antagonizing Sir Machiavelli.” She opened her mouth to protest, but at that moment Max entered the room, followed by Gregor.

Aoibhe reluctantly took her seat, but not before hurling a few insults in Niccolò’s direction.

“This meeting of the Consilium will come to order.” Lorenzo tapped his staff on the floor.

The Consilium members stood as the Prince entered the room.

As soon as they saw the young woman beside him, a series of growls left their throats. All six vampyres inhaled her heady scent, turning with hunger in her direction.

I
t was all Raven could do to keep moving. Her leg was troubling her but she refused to limp. She walked slowly, navigating the stone floor in her high heels like a cat mincing across a hot surface.

William had hold of her arm, but his proximity did nothing to stave off her fear. She heard animalistic snarls and growls. They seemed to surround her, echoing in a large space.

For one desperate moment, she wondered if William had escorted her to her death.

As he led her forward, she glimpsed a chair to her right and two pairs of feet encased in men’s shoes. William positioned her in front of them, next to a series of steps.

When his hand fell away, she had to fight the urge to reach after it.

Her heart beat furiously as she worried he’d abandoned her.

She could feel eyes burning into her back. She sensed the closeness of the two men behind her.

She closed her eyes beneath her blindfold, willing herself not to show any reaction.

“A situation has arisen that requires our attention.” William’s commanding Italian broke into Raven’s musings, and her head moved in the direction of his voice. “First, I have an announcement.

“I have taken a pet.” He paused, as if gesturing in her direction. “No one is to speak to her, approach her, or touch her. This announcement is to be made to the plebs, as well, and it admits no exception.”

Raven heard movement to her left.

“Forgive me, my prince. It pains me to remind you that human beings are not permitted in the underworld, with the exception of Teatro, unless they are part of the catering.” The man’s voice was respectful but firm.

“Yes, Niccolò, I am well aware of the rules since I am the one who established them.” William’s tone was cool.

It took Raven off guard, for Lucia and Ambrogio had referred to him as a lord. Now he was addressed as a prince.

She had to stifle a verbal reaction, her mind racing.

William continued. “As you can see, precautions have been taken. I’d like it noted that this visit would not have been necessary if it weren’t for Maximilian.”

A chorus of murmurs filled Raven’s ears.

“Maximilian approached my pet, spoke to her, and tried to take her. I am also told that Aoibhe spoke to her as well.” William’s voice was glacial.

“With apologies, my lord. I had no idea she was yours.” A woman’s voice, young and attractive, sounded to Raven’s ear like music. She recognized the voice from the night before.

“Am I to assume the pet will always be in your company, Prince?” a younger man asked.

“It pleases me to give her a measure of liberty, Lorenzo. I am busy with the affairs of state and cannot fornicate all the time.”

A few chuckles sounded.

Raven felt her face grow hot.

“But she will wear your mark?” Lorenzo asked.

“Of course. To avoid misunderstanding, I am also presenting her with this.”

Raven heard footsteps approach.

“Kneel,” William commanded, his voice about a foot from her face.

She made a show of reaching out blindly in front of her, before dropping to her knees. The stone beneath her was hard and damp.

He lifted her right hand and slipped something cool over her wrist.

From under her blindfold Raven could see that it was a bracelet, fashioned from three intertwined strands of gold. A carved gold lily was affixed to the center of the bracelet.

Raven noticed that the lily matched the carving on William’s cuff links.

“As long as she wears the symbol of the principality, she’s mine. Anyone who interferes with what is mine shall be destroyed.” William paused, as if for effect. “Remember Ibarra’s fate.”

His hand slipped over hers, the smallest, most unobtrusive touch, before disappearing. In it, Raven found comfort.

He must be worried about me
.

“You may stand,” his voice commanded.

Raven stood carefully. She heard William walk away.

“You cannot claim another master’s pet.”

Raven recognized the low, gravelly voice as that of the man who’d attacked Bruno. She felt a shiver travel up and down her spine at the realization that he was standing just behind her.

She fought the urge to cringe away from him.

“Explain yourself,” Lorenzo barked.

“I came across this little one last night. She has two bloods in her, in addition to her own. Someone else has been keeping her.”

“Silence,” William growled.

The room grew quiet. Raven strained her ears for any sound.

“There were two others, yes. I destroyed them.” William sounded impatient.

“She had a talisman. How were you able to take a pet who had a charm?”

Murmurs sounded in the great hall.

“I was fortunate, Maximilian, that you separated my pet from her talisman, allowing me to claim her. Since I destroyed her previous masters, she belongs to me. Unless you’d rather challenge me for her.” William waited, but only for an instant, before lifting his voice to address the group. “Does anyone else have an objection? There are enough swords on the wall to dispatch all of you.”

Silence filled the chamber.

“Come now, don’t waste time. I’d like to put this matter to rest so I can enjoy my new pet.”

When no one responded, William continued. “I find your attitude troubling, Maximilian. This will be the last time you trouble me.”

Raven heard movement behind her but she didn’t know what it was.

“Since there are no further questions, we shall proceed. Gregor, escort my pet to the side chamber. Bar the door and stand guard outside. Anyone who approaches the chamber is to be destroyed. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Raven felt someone move to her side and lightly grasp her elbow. He turned her around and accompanied her for several steps before they exited through a door.

She heard the scraping of something and the opening of another door. Gregor escorted her forward a few steps, placing her hand on the back of a chair.

He withdrew, leaving her in total darkness.

She heard the door close and something heavy fall into place. It was only then that she allowed fear to overtake her.

“I
received a message this afternoon from the human intelligence network. A group of hunters were sighted outside the city this morning.” Inside the council chamber, the Consilium murmured their reaction to the Prince’s announcement.

“The network intercepted them as they tried to enter the city. They were interrogated and destroyed. Unfortunately, it appears they were part of a larger party, some of whom entered the city on the other side.”

“Were they members of the Curia, my lord?” Niccolò asked.

“No.”

The Council members breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The Prince lifted his hands.

“Those who were part of the human patrols today have been destroyed for their failure. I have also dispatched their leadership. They have been replaced and I am assured by the head of the network that this lapse will not happen again.

“With hunters in the city, everyone is at risk. Lorenzo, make sure word goes out to the plebs.

“Niccolò, take Max, Aoibhe, and your best patrols and search the city, going building to building. I want the hunters destroyed, but reserve two. I will interrogate them personally.”

Lorenzo and Niccolò bowed their acquiescence.

“Prince, a missive has arrived by courier from the Princess of Umbria.” Lorenzo produced an old-fashioned envelope, sealed with wax, from under his robe.

The Prince cracked the seal and opened the letter. After he’d perused its contents, he nodded at the council.

“The Princess sends her greetings. She reports all is well and that our alliance is intact.” He stuffed the letter back into the envelope and placed it in the inner pocket of his jacket, ignoring the quizzical gazes he received.

“Niccolò and Lorenzo, I want the city to be impenetrable. I want our army at the ready. It’s possible this hunting party is a sortie for a larger incursion.”

The Prince stood, as did the council members, who bowed as he swept from the throne and down the aisle.

Before he reached the door, Aoibhe was at his elbow.

“May I have a word, my prince?”

He turned, examining her face.

She appeared calm, if not curious. Seemingly satisfied, he gestured to a corner and followed her.

“I see you took my advice.” Aoibhe smiled, but it did not reach her eyes.

William’s expression tightened. “The girl is a diversion; not a consort.”

“Then there’s room in your bed for me.”

William simply returned her stare. Aoibhe tilted her head as she scanned his features.

“No doubt it will take some time for you to tire of your new pet. I can be patient. Is she under mind control? I couldn’t tell.”

“Is there a point to this conversation?”

Aoibhe tossed her long red hair.

“Your pet’s scent is masked. Was she a virgin?”

William gritted his teeth. “Be alert this evening, Aoibhe. The hunters will find you irresistible.”

“I suppose that means she wasn’t.” Aoibhe tapped a finger to her lips, as if she were deep in thought. “If she wasn’t a virgin, I’m surprised you bothered with her. Tell me, was she sweet?”

The Prince glared. He was about to leave, when something over her shoulder caught his eye. The other council members were turned in their direction, observing them with more than a little interest.

His eyes returned to hers.

With practiced ease, he lifted his right hand and brought it to her face, swiping his thumb across her lips.

Her dark eyes widened in surprise and she drew his thumb into her mouth, sucking deeply.

“She’s a pet. Nothing more.” He kissed her aggressively and she reciprocated, nipping at his lower lip.

William pulled back with a scowl, lifting a hand to his mouth. Mercifully, she hadn’t drawn blood.

Aoibhe winked at him.

“I’m glad we have an understanding. You know where to find me when you grow tired of your pet.”

She turned to rejoin the other council members, but spoke over her shoulder.

“I’ll be waiting.”