In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Third Season

by Frater, Rhiannon

  “Maybe it is, but if I am to never see you again after your sister kills Aeron, then I would like to offer you my friendship.” Pulling his hair back from his throat, Dexios tilted his head to one side.

  Settling her hand against his neck, Alisha detected his rapid pulse beneath her fingers. It took her a second to realize he was afraid of her. That revelation rocked her a bit.

  “I don’t know if I should,” she finally said.

  “You need to feed. And I’m offering my friendship,” Dexios said a tad defensively.

  Overcoming her reservations, Alisha said, “And I thank you.”

  Stepping into his personal space, Alisha stretched open her mouth. Her incisors elongated at the very thought of sinking them into his heated flesh. The hunger burned in her veins, compelling her to action. Resting one hand on his shoulder and the other on his arm, she leaned into his bowed body. She was determined to keep the feeding as detached and impersonal as possible, but the need for blood tore through her resolve. With a feral growl, she sank her razor-sharp fangs into his warm flesh and drank deep and hard.

  Dexios let her press him into the wall, but his hands remained at his side, not touching her as she fed. The werewolf blood was richer and hotter than that of a human. Memories of the fateful night she had lost control anchored her mind against the overwhelming need to feed. She fought with the predator within, forcing herself to only take three long draughts. How easy it would be to lose herself while feeding from Dexios. His blood slithered through her body, igniting the dark magic that kept her alive. Her arteries and veins pulsated with power, and the hunger subsided. Yet, the desire to keep drinking persisted. Instead, she drew her tongue against the wound, urging the punctures to heal. Withdrawing from the bite was more difficult than she could have ever imagined.

  “Well done,” Dexios said, catching her elbow as she wavered on her feet.

  Empowered, flushed, and a little embarrassed, she gave him a lopsided smile. “Thank you.”

  “You’re stronger than you believe you are,” he said, then dropped her arm as he stepped away.

  “But for how much longer?”

  Quite maudlin at the thought of what may happen, she folded her arms across her chest and stared at the tips of her boots. Ever since the night she’d left Sin for the last time, she’d been adrift and seeking her place in the world. Now she realized how foolish she’d been to even hope for such a thing. If only Roman was still with her. He would know what to say, what to do. The door slammed open, and Greg snorted in contempt. Looking out into the main room, he shouted, “They’re not fucking!”

  “I hate you,” Alisha groused.

  Greg gave her his toothy grin in response. “Time to find a spot to sleep, Blondie. Almost sunup.”

  With a weary sigh, Alisha brushed past Greg to reenter the bigger room. “Fine.”

  Dexios snarled at Greg as he followed.

  “Don’t hate the messenger,” Greg called after them.

  Alisha didn’t feel hate. Gazing at her sister, she couldn’t feel any emotions other than love and fear.

  * * *

  Dawn was only a few breaths away.

  The wind outside had picked up, and the sound of a branch smacking the side of the building was disquieting. The vampires had settled down to sleep through the day while Greg and his security guard spoke in hushed voices nearby. The werewolf stood near the exit, arms folded over his chest, looking very pensive.

  It was time to say goodbye. Perhaps for the very last time.

  Vanora bent over her sister and kissed her cool cheek. “Love you.”

  Nestled onto a couch, Alisha lifted one hand to tenderly brush her fingertips over her sister’s chin. “Sometimes you look just like our mother. She was strong, too.”

  In spite of Vanora’s resolve, the surge of emotions flooding her made it hard to speak. “I’ll do my best for you and the others.”

  “If we don’t see each other again in this world, I’ll see you in the next.”

  “Don’t say that,” Vanora protested, but the weight of her sister’s comment only added to the heaviness already on her heart.

  “If anyone can figure out how to get us out of this alive, it’s you.” Alisha lowered her hand. “I love you, Vanora. I know you’ll kick his white ass.”

  “Yes, I will.”

  Reluctantly stepping away from her sister’s resting place, Vanora used one of her gloves to wipe away the teardrops trailing down her own cheeks. Alexander was one row over, sprawled out on a couch on top of the cover. After Greg’s earlier revelation, she didn’t blame him for not sleeping directly on the cushions. She hesitated, unsure he’d accept her goodbye, but he held out one slender hand in her direction. She gratefully clutched it and let herself be dragged down into a tight hug. The vampire planted a kiss on her forehead and then released her.

  ... don’t worry about us. Just kill him...

  Vanora pressed her lips together and inclined her head once.

  Closing his eyes, Alexander retreated into his grief.

  Armando’s coat was spread out beneath him, but he was propped on one elbow, waiting for her. He looked so tired and somehow older. It was hard to comprehend that only two days before, he’d fallen asleep in her arms. Now she might never touch him again. Lovingly, she trailed her fingers through his curls and then pressed her hand to his cheek. Armando tilted his head and kissed her palm. All they needed to say had been said, and they both knew it. Wearily, Armando set his hands on her hips and leaned into her, resting his head against her bosom. Closing her eyes, Vanora combed his hair with her quivering fingers and relished the moment.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you,” she echoed.

  Vanora caught him as he slumped into her, the daylight stealing away his illusion of life. Carefully, she reclined his body and kissed his still lips. It hurt to leave him behind, but she had no choice.

  This was her battle.

  Dabbing away her tears, she straightened and started across the storage area to Dexios’s side. The path she took was rather weaving, but she wanted to give herself a tiny bit of time to regain her composure. Two more female bodyguards had joined Greg. Both were strikingly beautiful. One was a pale redhead with freckles, the other black with long coils of brown hair reaching her waist. The three women were listening intently to the incubus speak and occasionally nodding.

  “Hey, Vanilla Tits, are you heading out now?”

  “The sooner the better,” Dexios answered for her. “The Oracle does not sleep.”

  Vanora gave him a sharp look of surprise.

  “It’s her curse,” Dexios replied to her look. “She’s a dual creature. An oracle and a vampire.”

  “That fuckin’ asshole,” Greg muttered.

  “The sooner I get there, the faster I can figure this out. If Siana is awake, I have more time than I thought, but still...” Vanora stopped a few feet from Greg, forcing him to approach her.

  “I got shit covered here, so don’t worry. Just go do your thing.” The nervous energy coming off Greg was a little surprising. He rubbed his hands together and took a deep breath. “I want you to do something for me.”

  “A favor?”

  “Yeah.” Clutching his hands together, he raised them so his index fingers pressed against his lips. Vanora got the distinct impression he was composing himself, which, again, surprised her. “I want you to tell Siana that I love her.”

  Surprise washed over her, and Vanora widened her eyes. “Does she know you’re in the city?”

  “No. But I want you to tell her. If you kill the white asshole and the vampires all end up piles of ash, I want her to know that after all these years I still love her.”

  “Greg, you’re a very surprising... err... man-thing.”

  With a wink, Greg said, “Kinda turns you on, huh?”

  “Aaand you ruin the moment.” Vanora rolled her eyes and pivoted away from him.

  Greg caught her arm. “Vanora, I’m
serious. Tell her.”

  Studying his almost desperate expression, Vanora nodded. “Okay.”

  “Thanks. I mean that.” Greg dropped his hand and backed away. “I got it covered here. You go do your thing. And don’t crash my car, Wolfboy!”

  Dexios glowered.

  The black security guard came over to the exit and let them out into the garage. Her pale green eyes stared at Vanora thoughtfully, but she didn’t say anything before tugging the door shut after Vanora and Dexios slipped past her.

  The lights in the vast garage flicked on. Keys jangling in his grip, Dexios walked toward a numbered parking spot that matched then tag on the key ring Greg had given him. A swift jerk of the cover revealed a red 1980 Camaro. Vanora exchanged surprised looks with Dexios.

  “So much for being discreet,” he laughed.

  “My brother would’ve loved this car.”

  Vanora wondered if it was a sign from Roman. The thought of him made her chest tighten, and the pain of his death felt fresh again. She missed him so much. It had been a whirlwind since he had died, and she hadn’t had a moment to grieve him fully. Maybe she never would. Perhaps she would soon join him in whatever afterlife waited for her.

  Once settled in the car, Dexios exited the garage, and after a quick jaunt down the drive, they were speeding toward Houston. Vanora tucked her bag underneath her legs and nestled into the depths of her coat. It was still piercingly cold and damp. Low-hanging ominous clouds blanketed the city and bands of rain were visible on the horizon. The icy weather was already affecting the traffic. The closer the Camaro traveled toward the city, the thicker the traffic became. People had definitely left early, anticipating slowdowns. The sky opened and a thin sheen of drizzle obscured the brake lights of the cars ahead.

  The werewolf drove in silence until they pulled into the parking lot of a fast food place and joined the line to order. “We both need to eat.”

  “Thank you for feeding the vampires. I know it drains you.”

  Dexios fumbled with his pocket, withdrawing some cash Armando had given him earlier to purchase food. “We do what we can.”

  The atmosphere inside the car was just as morose and dreary as the outside. While Vanora was worrying about her loved ones, she was certain Dexios was doing the same. After they ordered, he pulled into a spot near the rear of the parking lot, and leaving the engine off to fight the cold, they ate their meals in silence.

  In the past, Vanora would have been unsettled to be in the presence of a stranger, especially a supernatural one, but she sensed there was nothing to fear from the werewolf. Also, she was fully aware of her own powers now and knew she could handle herself. It was actually some consolation that she wasn’t going to Aeron’s haven alone. Dexios accompanying her was a bit of a relief.

  When they finished eating, Dexios gathered the trash, even brushing away the crumbs, and discarded it in a waste bin. Watching him through the rain-speckled windshield, Vanora studied the weariness he carried on his shoulders and the sorrow that darkened his eyes. In some ways, he reminded her of Alexander. Was he already anticipating the death of the vampires? Was he mourning his enslaved mate? Or was he also worried for Alisha? Though he had just entered their lives, Vanora sensed a growing connection between her sister and the werewolf. It troubled her, but yet, if she and Alisha were to die at the end of the approaching battle, having an immortal creature holding her sister in his memory was a strange comfort.

  “We’ve got about an hour before we arrive. The traffic is going to be grueling,” Dexios said, plopping into the driver’s seat and slamming his door shut. “When we get there, I’m going to park a few blocks away, and we’ll walk.”

  “How do we get in? Isn’t it guarded?”

  “Yes, it is, but not where we’ll enter. When the facility was being created, my mother made certain she could enter and leave unhindered.”

  “She’s been planning all of this for a long time, hasn’t she?”

  “I’m not always privy to her plotting, but I would suspect the answer is yes.” Dexios granted Vanora a rare smile before pulling out of the parking lot.

  “So how do we get into this secret entrance?”

  Dexios hesitated, then said, “Kallos.”

  “I thought she’s a vampire. Won’t she be asleep?”

  “She is a vampire, but she’s of Likos blood. Therefore, her transformation was altered by her heritage.”

  “Like Siana.”

  “Yes. Siana cannot sleep, but Kallos can rise during the day.”

  “Does Aeron know?”

  Dexios gave his head a brief shake. “No. That is one thing she was able to keep from him. She has to be very careful to keep it hidden from his other guards, but she’s managed to acquaint herself with his new haven. I’ve already arranged for her to meet us.”

  “And once we get in, she can take me to the Oracle.”

  “Yes. It may be a bit difficult, but she should be able to. And I plan to go with you as well.”

  “I thought you were just dropping me off.”

  “No. I feel obligated to ensure you reach your destination. If Pólemos or his wolves try to stop you, I will engage them while you flee to the temple. If Aeron’s human minions try to stop us, I’ll kill them.”

  “Human minions?”

  “Yes. Armed with silver bullets, daggers, and that sort of thing.” Dexios chuckled. “Against weaker foes, they are efficient. But against me...”

  “They don’t stand a chance.”

  “Exactly.”

  Comforted by the plans, Vanora sank back into her seat and watched the traffic stuttering through the rain. She hoped the downpour would help extinguish the last of the fires. Smoke was still rising from parts of Houston, and the roads were spotted with patrol vehicles from the police and sheriff departments. As Dexios circumvented the downtown area, Vanora noticed National Guard vehicles winding through the streets below the elevated highway. Aeron’s purge had effectively terrorized the city. Earlier, when listening to the radio in Greg’s truck on their journey to the warehouse, Vanora had shuddered as theories about terrorism and sleeper cells had filled the airways. Already, there had been one firebombing of a mosque in the city and some attacks that were connected to possible hate crimes. Rubbing her bottom lip, Vanora wondered how long it would take for the city to return to normal.

  “Is this the way it always is?” Vanora asked finally.

  “The purge?”

  “Yes.”

  Dexios sighed. “Most have been covered by wars. I would dare to even say some of Aeron’s purges have started wars. In modern times, he tends to hide behind human terrorism. Even funding it to cover his tracks.”

  Stomach fluttering, Vanora nodded. “I see.”

  “He lives up to his name in all ways.” Dexios directed the sports car onto an exit ramp and down toward an intersection.

  “He wanted to bring order to the world.”

  The misery of the weather outside matched her emotions perfectly.

  “His version of order means death to many.” Straightening, Dexios scrutinized the area ahead. “There’s a checkpoint, and I do not have any I.D.”

  “How close are we to Aeron’s haven?” Vanora yanked her purse out from between her legs and scrounged around in it for her wallet.

  “We have some ways to go yet.”

  Staring at her driver’s license tucked into clear sleeve of the wallet, Vanora pursed her lips. She’d been able to communicate with Alexander, so could she possibly use that ability in another way?

  Keep driving, Dexios.

  “Aren’t there laws about driving without a license...?” Dexios stopped speaking and gave her a long sidelong look. “I see.”

  Vanora quirked a small smile. “I think I can do this.”

  “If not, get ready for a hasty escape.”

  Tugging her glove down to expose her hand, Vanora saw her magic swirling beneath her skin. She felt strong again. Remembering the damage she’d done to Armando�
�s apartment building, she considered for just a split second causing some sort of commotion so they could slip past the checkpoint. Instantly, she regretted such a thought. That’s the way Aeron would think. She’d opt for a safer, calmer option that wouldn’t put lives at risk, even if it might be a bit invasive.

  Vanora took a deep breath and concentrated on the police officer questioning the drivers. He was a burly Hispanic man and his round face stood out sharply in his rain-slick poncho. If she could actually pierce his thoughts, she didn’t want him to be aware of it happening, so Vanora envisioned herself slipping through dark waters until she was bobbing next to him.

  The world blurred, then faded away.

  The second she touched his mind, she was flooded with his worries. Miguel had seen fires in his neighborhood and rushed to extinguish them with his garden hose. When the fires spread to other homes, he’d sent his wife and kids along with the family pets down to the Valley on the border of Texas to be with extended family. His neighborhood had finally stopped burning, but he was scared. He was determined to help find the culprits of the terrorism infecting Houston before more lives were lost.

  Carefully, Vanora implanted a new thought into his mind.

  The man with the long dark hair and the albino girl are on your side. They’re trying to stop the fires, too. They need to get through to stop what’s happening.

  Repeating the mantra in her mind, Vanora clenched her hands. She was uncertain of how long she’d have to maintain the connection, but frightened that she may somehow do damage, she released Miguel.

  With a cry, she gripped her head as her vision abruptly returned.

  “Are you all right, Vanora?”

  “Yeah. Just figuring out these powers is not always easy.”

  “Did you...?”

  “Not sure. I think so.”

  The Camaro edged forward as the line advanced. There was only one more car between them and the checkpoint. The intersection was blocked, so all traffic had to pass through the checkpoint area consisting of police cars and barricades. Several officers in full body armor under their ponchos stood with shotguns in their hands, the muzzles pointed at the ground.