He cringed at being compared to human food, but by the way her eyes lit up, he was suddenly more than okay with being compared to some pastry-filled dish.
“Soft and sweet.” She kissed him again. “I’ve been fantasizing about you for centuries.”
“That is new,” he said quietly.
She pressed her had against his chest. “You sound surprised. I think you underestimate your effect on women.”
Jonas chuckled at hearing that. “On women? Maybe only a few.”
“Well, now you’ll never know, because I’m not letting you slip through my fingers.”
He kissed her crown. “That’s really good to hear.” Maybe, before they had to return to the States, he might find the courage to ask her to bond with him officially.
†
The earth was scorched for as far as the eye could see. The terrain beneath her feet felt odd, uneven. She looked down and noted the hollow eyes looking back at her. A few huts still stood, smoldering debris before them. Stepping over the skeletons, ignoring the sickening crunching sound, Tahlia approached the nearest hut. Inside, an old woman sat around a small fire, her head bent. Tahlia went to sit opposite her, waiting. It might’ve been a few minutes, maybe a few hours or even a day or two, she wasn’t completely sure with the passage of time in this realm, but the woman finally lifted her head. Her face was marred by blemishes. Her eyes harbored a deep sadness.
“I wish I could offer you something to eat or drink, traveler,” she said in a voice hoarse from little use. A painfully thin arm waved around. “As you can see, they took everything.”
Tahlia looked around her. The hut was bare, except for a few pelts heaped in a corner, two cracked clay pots and a pile of cinders.
“I have no need for refreshment, ancient one,” Tahlia said gently. The woman looked at her long and hard, before she laughed. The action was quickly aborted when it changed into fit of uncontrollable coughing. Her eyes were watery when she looked at Tahlia again.
“What is the world coming to, if a grandmother calls a child ancient? Your exterior might be youthful and charming, but you are older than time and twice as dangerous.”
Deciding to ignore the direction the conversation was going, because she didn’t want to alarm the woman, Tahlia changed the subject “What happened here?”
The woman sighed. “Death. It came with a smile and gifts from across the waters.”
When she had searched through the memories of the shaman, this had been the oldest memory she could track. She hadn’t expected to be transported back here. To the Spanish conquests of the Incan Empire. “What brings you so far, Angel of Death?”
Angel of Death? She hated the sound of it. Jemima would also. “One of your tribesmen has used his power for selfish gain. It will harm those closest to me.”
The woman frowned. “That is not possible.”
“Then I would appreciate it if you could help me understand.”
“Before all this happened.” She shook her head weakly. “Long before this happened, I warned our King’s father about what was to come. The seafarers and their deceit. But everyone thought me an obsessed old woman. But I knew what I saw in my vision and that’s why I adopted a totem animal for my tribe. The lizard is a sign of healing and survival. Survival, so that our history and culture does not rot away and die like we are doing now, but to flourish and heal the tribe again. All our pain, sadness and hopes were infused with it and then it was set free to escape this doomed place.”
Tahlia made a quick calculation in her head. “Your grandson, five times removed, Mopi’helma, has dishonored your sacrifice, wise woman.” She held the woman’s dark gaze. “I wanted to destroy him, but killing an unworthy opponent is a sign of weakness from my part. I took his poison and want to know how I can neutralize it to stop him from using it for personal gain.”
The woman sat quietly, looking into the fire. “You ask me to go against my own blood. Take away the power of the lizard.” She shook her head.
“It was out of respect that I came to you, wise woman. It might take a little longer, but I will find a cure.” She stood. “I am deeply sorry for what is happening to you and your tribe. At least, find peace in the knowledge that you are all remembered in history. Your bravery and vision are considered marvels in my time.” She turned and left the hut. She had taken a few steps from the hut when the woman spoke. Her voice carrying loud and clear over the eerie silence that engulfed the smoldering village.
“Poison rarely has an effect on itself.”
Tahlia nodded as she continued.
She woke in her earthy cocoon and this time, she also woke her sluggish body. If what the women said was true, then she would know the answer almost immediately. As her body surged to life, she lay still feeling out every little corner of it. She smiled thinly when the pain that she had taken to bed with her, was gone.
†
Pierre sighed and glanced at her, his handsome face pulled in a frown. “What do you want to ask me, Prime?”
Leo decided to stall for time. “What gives you the impression that …?”
“You’ve been watching me when you thought I wasn’t looking. Out with it.”
She might just as well get it over with. The village was quiet, everyone going about their way. She was going to start with the easy questions first. “How do you prevent a power vacuum in the absence of Tahlia?”
He looked surprised. “Why do you want to know that?”
“Because I want to implement something similar with my clan.”
He stared at her for a long moment, before he spoke. “We all have equal power. The three of us, together, fill Tahlia’s place.”
“Earlier Jonas stepped in and gave instructions. How did he know they would be well-received?”
“Because most of our communication with each other is non-verbal, we are also always in tune with each other. We anticipate scenarios, and if we don’t, then we’ve most probably lived through them already.”
There was a commotion in the village and Leo watched as Copernicus stormed out of a hut and towards the edge of the jungle. Three warriors immediately swarmed him. Another man dressed in western clothes, but with features that made him indigenous of the area, followed him out of the hut.
“I’ve told you already why it would not be a good idea to leave the village, senõr. Unless you stop testing my patience, I will have to lock you up for your own safety.”
“My own safety? Really!” Copernicus threw his arms wide. “We are like fish in a barrel here.”
“Even so, we will stay.” The shaman’s voice was thick with warning.
“And if I don’t?” The words had barely left his mouth before a long black tongue shot out and curled around his neck. Leo and Pierre both sat up a little. This was not good. Tahlia would be furious if something were to happen to Copernicus. She glanced at Pierre. He looked like a statue, silent and unmoving. There were strangling sounds coming from the Outlander. Still, Pierre didn’t make a move.
“Shall we not do something?”
Pierre shook his head. “Tahlia will take care of it.”
Tahlia? Wasn’t she buried for an indefinite time? She wanted to ask him that, when she felt it. The air felt electric and the area around them felt as if it was enfolded in an insulated bubble. She was here. The shaman seemed to sense the arrival too, for his tongue slipped from around Copernicus’ neck and he looked intently at the path leading into the village. The feeling in the air intensified, like a storm was about to unleash its rage upon the earth. Leo blinked when Tahlia walked into the village. She looked almost serene; as if she was taking a stroll around the lush garden of Marsden Mansion. The shaman held his hands up when his warriors moved in around Tahlia. She stopped, her hands behind her back, as she glanced at them coolly.
†
Paloma looked up in the tree where Leo and Pierre were. She couldn’t wait for all this to be over, so she could see her wife and child. She had a feeling that Tahlia felt
exactly the same. The village was quiet as a tomb when Tahlia came to stand in front of the shaman. The man managed to meet Tahlia’s eye for a brief moment before her averted his gaze.
“I met your ancestor in a vision earlier.” Tahlia cocked her head, her dark eyes glittering. “A medicine woman.”
The shaman’s head shot up and he stared at Tahlia. “That’s not possible, reina.”
“I thought so, too. But there I was sitting in her hut, with the earth scorched outside and the plain littered with the bones of your tribesmen.”
Paloma saw the man’s eyes widened in disbelief. So, Tahlia was having visions now.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I told her how you have perverted the sacrifice, she and so many others had to make so you could inherit the position as the custodian of their legacy.” She shook her head. “I’m sure you will hear from her sometime soon.” The man looked terrified. “But before they exact their revenge, I need to take what I came here for.” Her movement was a blur as she pounced on the man. The warriors roared as they moved closer and Paloma spun around, settling an icy glare on them. All movement seized and they looked at each other in confusion.
Tahlia pushed the man away from her and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. He landed at Copernicus’ feet and the Outlander squeaked as he jumped away. Tahlia slowly approached him and when she stood a hairsbreadth away, looking down on him, she spoke.
“If I see you anywhere near my family, I will skin you alive and then soak you in acid.” Copernicus turned as pale as a sheet. “To prevent that from happening, I would suggest that when you leave here, you try to stay far away from my city.”
She turned and sped away. Paloma gave Copernicus a lethal glare before she followed Tahlia. The man wasn’t stupid. But in case she was mistaken, she prayed that he had a greater sense of self-preservation.
†
The air smelled fresh and clean. Her sisters would’ve loved it here. A very long time ago, for a short period, they had taken on corporeal form. That had been a great time for them. They had especially enjoyed the untainted scent of fresh earth and leafy green. Incognito, they had chased each other amongst the trees of Vinland and had rolled in the crisp, green grasslands. It had been a wonderful time spent together.
“How do you feel?”
She was startled by Tahlia’s voice so close to her. “I feel better than I look.” She had seen the expression on the healer’s face when she had risen. And with good reason. Her emaciated form was reflected in the wide eyes of the blonde.
“Good. I will give you blood once a day to speed up healing. Too much from me could kill you. The others will feed you during the day.” Tahlia searched her eyes. “Copernicus suspects you of working for us. That would make going back undercover near impossible.”
Syria was relieved. Working for Copernicus had become challenging in the end. “If you want me to return, I will explore all avenues to make it happen.”
Tahlia smiled thinly. “That’s not necessary.” She moved away and that was when Syria caught sight of Lake. The blonde was staring straight at her. She wanted to speak to the other woman, but wasn’t sure if her attempt at reconciliation would be well-received. Tahlia walked over to the blonde and Syria saw a flash of unease on the blonde’s face before she followed Tahlia outside. Syria tried to sit up. Lake didn’t have to go through this alone. She couldn’t have helped Lake the first time around, but now that she had a second chance, she wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip past her. By the time she managed to get to her feet, she was shaking violently. Her body had been weakened dramatically by the toxin, which had decimated her once robust form. Her fragility made it an arduous task to hold herself upright. She noticed that the others were watching her quietly, not interfering. When she began to tilt dangerously, Jonas was there to hold her up.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Outside.”
He swung her up in his arms and carried her outside.
†
Lake had only met Tahlia once before and it had not even been a direct meeting. Tahlia had visited the village, where Lake had been kept as she had to acclimatize to her new life. But that one time was enough for Lake. The woman’s presence had unnerved her greatly. Her striking, youthful looks were in complete contrast with the deadly aura that clung to the woman. Her black eyes had swept the area languidly, but Lake wasn’t fooled by the woman’s relaxed demeanor. Those bottomless eyes saw everything.
And now they were focused on her.
“Am I correct to assume that you were following Syria with the intention of taking revenge on her?”
“Yes.” There was no way she could lie with those piercing eyes on her.
Tahlia’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Without consulting us first?”
Lake swallowed hard. Had she been human, she surely would’ve peed her pants by now. “I didn’t…I wasn’t thinking clearly. After…”
“She had a right to her revenge.”
Startled, Lake sought out the voice. Syria was swaying on her feet, Jonas standing nearby. Tahlia hadn’t moved a muscle and when Lake looked back at her, the black eyes churned with a dark emotion. When she moved, it was so fast, Lake struggled to follow her. She gasped when she found Tahlia standing with her hand clasping a handful of Syria’s shirt. The dark woman’s fangs were visible and dripping with saliva. Syria hung helplessly in the woman’s grip.
Lake moved closer, but the dark head swirled in her direction and Lake felt her knees buckle at the blood red gaze. “Please, she…” Jonas gave her a quelling look and she quickly shut her mouth.
“If you ever, ever interrupt me again when I have a private conversation with an underling, I will make you pay.” Tahlia’s voice was eerily calm and the words were well-rounded, making it sound as if she was talking to a child.
“My apologies, my queen.”
Tahlia loosened her grip and Syria crumpled to the ground. Lake ached to rush to the other woman’s aid, but the fact that Tahlia still stood over the fallen woman, the air around her pulsing with menace, kept her rooted to the spot.
“Don’t ever forget your place,” Tahlia growled and left. Jonas lingered for a moment longer before he, too, left. Lake was at Syria side in the blink of an eye. She gently lifted the woman in her arms and carried her into the cave. The cave was quiet and everyone’s gaze was on her as she gently lay Syria on the makeshift bed. Izaura came to kneel next to her.
“She lost a lot of blood,” she said quietly and lifted her wrist to her mouth.
“No.” Lake said quickly. “Let me.” She opened a vein and held her wrist out to Syria’s lips. The other woman’s hand was shaking as she held on to the arm while she fed. If it was even possible, her face looked paler than before. When she felt a slight dizziness come over her, she pulled her arm away and closed the wound. Impulsively, she brushed a stray lock of hair from Syria’s forehead. “Is she going to get better?”
“Definitely,” Izaura said quickly. Her blue eyes were somber when she looked at Lake. “She has to get better, for the sake of her sisters.”
“Her sisters?”
Izaura cupped Syria’s cheek tenderly. “Syria and the babies are sisters.”
Lake frowned. She had heard of the birth of the babies when she was in the village. The babies included the daughter and two granddaughters of the queen. Was that what Paloma had alluded to earlier? She felt a cold chill chase down her spine. What had she almost done? “How is that possible?”
“They all belong to a different race, called the Outlanders. In fact, the five of them make up the leadership of the Outlander race.”
Outlanders? Syria was an Outlander princess? Her father’s race? “I…I don’t understand. How is her survival tied to the babies’?”
“They share some kind of an emphatic link. The babies experience everything that Syria does. The vomiting and the injuries; the babies experienced it all.”
“Dear heavens!�
�� Lake surged to her feet. She had almost killed four babies in her quest to take revenge on Syria. The other vampires were all staring at her. But it was the dangerous eyes of the queen that she felt burning through her. Now the queen’s rage made more sense. “I didn’t know,” she mumbled softly.
“Nor did we, until a day ago,” Tahlia said, her voice oddly comforting.
“I’m sorry.” She fled the cave.
XVIII
Clarissa opened her eyes and smiled when she encountered stormy grey eyes. “What?”
“You promised to have the serum worked out, so you could rest a little.”
“Which I did? Rest, I mean.”
Jessica took a seat on the bed a sleeping Raven in her arms. There hadn’t been any further incidences, but Jessica refused to leave Raven asleep in her crib. Instead, she carried the baby everywhere she went and Clarissa followed them everywhere.
“You closed your eyes for a total of twenty minutes. That is not sleeping.” The baby stirred in Jessica’s arms and Clarissa had to think fast. She appreciated her lover’s concern, but she didn’t want her unease to wake the baby. If there was one thing about these babies, they were extremely sensitive to their parents’ moods. She didn’t tell Jessica that she didn’t need to rest. Vampires didn’t get tired. But in fact, Jessica was overtired and quite highly-strung at the moment. She could do with a little rest herself.
“Maybe I’ll sleep longer if the two of you join me. Nimiri asked to stand in for me tonight. I might just sleep the night through.”
The grey eyes searched hers before Jessica nodded. “Ok.” She gently placed the baby between them before she lay down. Clarissa reached out to take her hand and brought it to her lips.
“I miss spending time with you. Just the two of us.”
Jessica smiled, for the first time in the past two days. “Me too.”
Clarissa raked the tip of her fang over her lover’s palm and grinned when Jessica’s eyes widened. The pace of her heartbeat increased instantly. After everything that happened over the past couple of days, it was a relief to know that her lover was still rather susceptible to her charms. “When all this is over, I want to take you home, not to the bunker.”
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