Vampire Girl (18 page)

"You should ice that," Fen says.

"I have."

"I'm sorry that happened to you," he says. "I should have known it wasn't going to end well. I will kill Levi for this."

"As much as I'd love to cheer you on in that desire, wouldn't that cause some problems? Like internal war?"

"I am the Prince of War. They will not win against me. And not all the brothers will join Levi."

I sigh. "Let's just get through the war with the Fae first. Then we can deal with your brother. But Fen... "

He raises a scarred eyebrow at me, waiting.

"I'm not spending a month with that man. I won't." I shudder at the thought, but then I think of my mother, of her soul, of the suffering she would endure. "You have to help me. You have to help me keep my mother safe."

"You have my word," he says.

My head throbs with pain, and I sip at my juice, wishing it were something stronger. "I don't suppose you have asprin or something in this world?"

"No. But I'll have the healer mix you something for the pain. And there is always alcohol."

I nod my thanks and drain my cup, then stand. "When do we leave?"

"I have some things I must see to, but we can leave at sunset."

"Right. We can't go by day, can we?"

"Not easily," he says.

I'm so used to seeing him, all of them, out during the day here. It's easy to forget my own world isn't as hospitable.

After breakfast I head back to my quarters to take a bath and dress for the day. There's a hot cup of... something by my bed when I exit my bath, with a note from Fen. "Drink. Be well. Stay safe."

I sip it, wrinkle my nose, then drink as fast as the hot liquid will allow. It's vile, but it makes me feel better almost instantly. "Bless you, Fen," I whisper as my headache and body aches disappear. I might be imagining it, but even my bruises and cuts seem to be healing faster. This is way better than Tylenol!

I walk to the forge, and Kayla helps me with my sword.  We spend the entire day on it, making good progress. I should have my very first blade soon. She asks about what happened last night, and I give her the grim details.

She hugs me. "Levi will pay for this," she says. "I swear it."

I laugh, but inside I'm shaking. I fear my new friends will risk their lives and the lives of their people against another prince of hell. But I'm not sure what the answer is, because Levi is a threat to me. I cannot be left in his care. I'm not sure I would make it out alive.

***

M
y excitement at going home is growing, and when I return to the castle, I'm ready. There's a knock at my bedroom door, and I open it expecting Fen, but instead it's a man I do not recognize. He's handsome, with a sculpted face, dark hair that's a bit wayward, though short enough not to be too messy, and a dark shadow of hair on his jawline.

He bows. "It's an honor to officially meet you." A giant watch-like contraption wraps around his wrist. Sturdy bags and tools hang from his belt.

"You're Ace," I say.

He smiles. "How did you—"

"I was told you're quite the inventor."

"Ah, yes." He checks his watch gizmo. "I've come to fetch you. Well, actually, I came to fetch Fen, but he insists he cannot leave without you. Apparently, last night raised his hackles. Let me assure you, I voted against the whole debacle."

"Having someone under your protection physically assaulted and sexually violated does annoy some," I say coldly.

Ace laughs. "You are as saucy as Asher said." He holds up his hands in surrender. "I'm no threat to you, Arianna. I'm here to help. Fen is finishing up something, and he asked me to look after you until we can leave."

"Where are we going?" I close the door behind me and walk with Ace down the winding staircase to the parlor. A fireplace blazes in the center, and we each take seats in front. Julian brings us both wine and a platter of cheese, bread and fruit.

Ace takes a bite of strawberry, then licks his fingers. "We are going to High Castle to dig up my father's remains."

"So the Council agreed then?" I ask, sipping at the sweet wine.

Ace smirks. "Nope, that's why it's just me and Fen. And you, apparently," he says as an afterthought. "The High Council can't know. But even Zeb agrees we must determine what killed King Lucian, for it was not the poison."

"Do you have any suspects?" I ask.

"Levi certainly hasn't done himself any favors. But we have no proof of anything yet," he says.

"Fen was going to take me home tonight," I say. "It was part of my contract, that I could go home once a month to check on my mother and friends."

Ace leans back in his chair and pops a grape in his mouth. "That will have to wait. Sorry about that. And I do feel your pain. Your world is extraordinary. I used to go there often. Not just for feeding, but to surround myself with such wonderful inventions."

"You don't go anymore?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "It's too painful."

"The sun?"

"No, the promise of things that cannot be." He looks at me, a bittersweet expression on his handsome face. "Has Fen told you much about our curse?"

"He doesn't like talking about it," I say. "I know only that you are each cursed with what we would call one of the seven deadly sins. That you are powerful and immortal, but also mortally wounded by my sun. You're vampires."

He nods. "There's more though. Have you noticed how we seem to live in a medieval time trap?"

"Really?" I ask sarcastically.

"And perhaps you also noticed that some of my brothers seem... eternally stuck in adolescent angst and lack maturity?"

I laugh darkly. "I've wondered. With so much time, so much life, how could any of you stay stuck in your miserable patterns?"

"It's part of the curse," he says. "Perhaps the worst part. We are stuck in time, trapped in all ways. We can't really grow, learn or mature past the points we are now. When I'm in your world, I can comprehend the technological innovations that led to such greatness. I know how I could replicate that here, and bring us into a new age. But the moment I step through the mirror, that knowledge disappears like mist in the sun. I grasp at it, remembering the promise of it, but I can never hold on to the details long enough to do anything about it. My inventions are crude attempts to capture even a phantom replica of what I once knew. I was driving myself mad each time I went to your world, so I stopped going."

"Has it helped? To stay here?"

"Some," he says, staring at the fire. "Some. But those dream-like memories are still there, taunting me. It is better to not know something than to know it but not remember."

Fen walks in with Baron, and we both stand.

"Has Ace explained what's to happen tonight?"

I nod. "We're digging up your father."

"Ace and I are digging. You are watching and staying close to me," Fen says. "I'm sorry about your trip home. We'll go soon, I promise."

I nod and walk with them to the boat. The nights are getting colder, and I hug my cloak around my body and watch my breath turn white as I exhale. At least it will be warmer near High Castle.

"Where's his body?" I ask as Ace guides the boat to dock near the castle.

"In a mausoleum behind the castle," Fen says.

We hike around the fortress in the dead of night with no moonlight to guide us. Princes of hell might have great eyesight in the dark, but I'm having a hard time seeing.

Baron seems to be the only one concerned about my ability to hike in the darkness, and he stands by my side to help guide me. I give him a pat on the head for his attention.

Blue light shines in the distance. As we near, I realize they are blue orbs hovering around the mausoleum. It is a giant structure of gray stone, decorated with carvings of battles and parties and a man resembling the one I had seen in a painting. Tall, broad shouldered, his face hard, his presence regal. Lucien.

Ace glances at the picture of his father. Fen does not. The door is shut, and he pulls the stone slab open, his muscles bulging under his dark leather coat.

Stale air escapes, filling my lungs with the dust of the dead. I choke on it, then take a few deep breaths of clean air before joining Ace and Fen inside.

It's a small room, lit with blue light. An ornate bust of Lucian rests on a marble pillar in the center. "Where's the coffin?" I ask, looking around.

Fen points to the bust. "Below."

Ace sighs and opens the large bag he's been carrying. He pulls out two wickedly sharp pick axes. "That's why I brought these." He tosses one to Fen who grabs if from the air effortlessly. "Get to digging, brother."

Baron and I are chased from the room by dust and the sound of marble shattering, as Ace and Fen destroy the bust and platform to get to the coffin.

I sit where Fen can see me, at his insistence, just outside the mausoleum, my back leaning against the cool stone. Baron lays his head on my lap, and we both try to ignore the noise.

It seems to take hours. Fen and Ace are both sweaty and dirty by the time they are done.

I stand and stretch, dusting plaster off my body in vain.  I look down the hole they created. "How will you get it out?" I ask.

They dug a space around the casket. Both men jump into the hole and grab the lid.

"Together?" asks Ace.

"Together."

They push open the casket, and the lid clatters to the ground.

"Shit," Fen says, looking inside.

I move closer to see and then gag and pull away. "What happened to him?" His body is a blackened shriveled up lump. Nothing resembling a man remains.

"Someone has defiled his body," Ace says, frowning. "We'll never get any answers from him now."

Fen slams his fist on the side of the casket. "Who ever did this knew we were coming."

Ace's eyes go wide. "Wait. You think it was me?"

"No." Fen grabs the lid and covers the casket once again. "But it was someone on the High Council."

Realization dawns on Ace's face. "You think the vote tipped them off. They knew we'd come here even without permission. At least, they suspected."

Fen clasps his brother's shoulder. "Arianna cannot stay with each prince. It is not safe."

"But the contract... no. You're right. We'll find a way."

"What does this mean?" I ask.

"It means you are in more danger than we realized," says Fen. "Tomorrow night we'll head back to your world. In the meantime, keep your guards and Baron close. I need to have a chat with my brothers privately."

"Don't do anything stupid," I say.

He smiles, but it's a smile full of menace. "They are the ones who should be worried."

***

I
spend the next day working on my sword, which is nearly done thanks to Kayla's help. And that night, Fen keeps his promise and takes me home.

It doesn't take long for the boat to arrive at the magic mirror that will whisk us back to the mansion. I'm excited to see my friends but the worry that weighs on Fen also effects me. There are too many unknowns, too many dangers: the Fae who tried to kidnap me, a killer amongst the princes. All of it is tied to my mother's fate. Still, I try to let it all go for a few hours so I can enjoy my time in my world. "How will I explain who you are to my friends?"

"A business acquaintance?" he suggests.

"Who insists on being with me every single moment of my very personal visit to see my dying mother and visit my best friends?"

He frowns. "What do you suggest?"

"You'll have to pretend to be my boyfriend," I say.

He doesn't reply, but I know I have him.

Baron isn't happy we are leaving without him, but how could we possibly explain a giant white wolf with us? He is much too wolfy to pass as a Husky or mix. So we leave him at Stonehill and promise to be back soon. I only get half a day—or a night rather, but I'm going to make the most of it.

As we step out of the mansion and the limo pulls up to greet us, I realize I haven't had to worry about cars for a few weeks, and I actually forgot I'd need one when in Portland.

I tremble as I climb into the back. Fen sits next to me, though there were other seats, and he holds my hand. "We can overcome our fears," he says quietly, as we pull away from the mansion.

I squeeze his hand, pulling it closer to my body, enjoying the weight of his arm over my legs. I want more of this closeness, but he only offers it for comfort, not for pleasure or true intimacy.

It has the intended result. I'm no longer scared of being in a car. Perhaps everything I've gone through in hell has changed me. I breathe deeply and smile, enjoying a car ride for the first time in my life.

"I assume you'll want to see your mother first?"

I nod, and we head to the hospital. It's a bit of a culture shock, being back in Portland. The city is too loud, too bright, too
different.
I'm wearing my old clothes, and Fen's trench coat, and I have my cell phone. I changed once we got to the mansion. So did Fen, who still looks wild and untamed. I feel more like myself than I've felt in the last few weeks, but less at home. It makes no sense to me.

I text Es on the way to the hospital.

Hey girl. I have a layover here for a few hours. Am checking on my mom and hoped we could meet for coffee?

Her reply is nearly instant.

Omgomgomgomg I've missed the hell out of you! Where are they keeping you locked up? No phone? No internet? No love?

Fen is reading over my shoulder and frowns. "You cannot tell her the truth."

I roll my eyes at him. "No kidding."

Not locked up. Just super busy. We are doing international meetings, lots of no-internet zones, but mostly just buried in books and research. Omg so much research. My head might explode from it all.

Not totally a lie, either. Reading by candlelight until all hours of the night isn't great for the head.

Can't wait to see you. Come by Roxy after seeing mom. I'll take a break. Everyone else would love to see you 2.

I smile.

Will do. Have someone for you to meet too. <3

I put my phone away as we park, knowing Es will be dying from suspense. I don't even bother checking the bajillion messages, texts and phone calls she and Pete have been leaving. My Facebook has blown up with too many tags and comments to check. Who knew I was so popular until I disappeared, literally, from the face of the earth.