“What’s right.”
As Alisha watched, the darkness and stars flowed along under her flesh and into Vanora. At the same time, through their other hands, Vanora’s light sparkled as it flooded into Alisha. Even the colors of their gowns were drained away and replaced with the opposite ones. Behind Vanora, the sun set and the moon rose while the warmth of the sun spread across Alisha’s shoulders.
“The moon,” Leto said, kissing Vanora’s cheek. “And the sun,” she added, moving to kiss Alisha’s.
“And balance is restored,” Vanora whispered.
Alisha woke with a start. Sitting up, she swept her hair back from her face and stared into the darkness of her bedroom. The heavy blackout curtains kept the sun at bay, but she could feel its power summoning her to the windows.
Disoriented, she slipped out of the covers and perched on the edge of the bed. Behind her Dexios was sleeping deeply, his breathing a soothing sound. The clock on the bed stand confirmed her suspicions. It was midday and she was awake. Furthermore, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
“It wasn’t a dream,” she whispered.
On a whim, she ran her fingers along her teeth while trying to rouse her vampire hunger. Nothing happened.
She checked for a pulse.
It was a little fast, but there. Before it had been sluggish and difficult to discern.
Slipping out of bed, she cautiously approached the covered windows. Since February she’d been living in Armando’s penthouse apartment. The views were spectacular, but the heavy curtains always allowed a smidgen of light to seep in around the edges. It wasn’t enough to adversely affect a vampire, but it made Dexios nervous.
“It’s a good thing you’re asleep,” Alisha decided.
Taking a deep breath that she actually felt she needed, Alisha reached out and ran her fingers along the edge of the drapes. The warmth of the sunlight trapped by the blackout curtains and glass didn’t do anything other than heat her skin. Being a bit more daring, Alisha slid her entire hand into the sunlight.
Nothing happened.
Inch by inch, she peeled back the curtains until she was standing in the brilliance of the hot Texas sun. The heat competed with the cool air conditioning in the apartment, and felt wonderful. The rush of her power floating out on the rays of the sun filled her with joy, but there was more. She sensed all the awakening witches and Oracles out in the world waiting for her to guide them.
“Alisha?”
Turning around, Alisha smiled at Dexios through her tears. “Uh, something happened.”
“Obviously.” The werewolf slid out of the bed to join her. He ran his hands along her arms to make sure she was unharmed, then cupped her face. “Tell me.”
It was difficult to talk through her tears and she kept choking on her words, but she relayed the dream in all its details. “She gave me the sun, Dexios. I’m not the Queen of the Night anymore.”
“You’re not even a vampire.”
“I believe I’m a full witch now.”
“You’re a goddess,” Dexios corrected.
“Whatever.” Alisha wrapped her arms about his waist and clung to him. “I’m awake, right?”
“Yes, you are.” Dexios held her close and kissed the top of her head.
“Which means Vanora is alive!”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“And she’s the Queen of the Night now.”
“It seems so.”
“So she’s a vampire now.” The thought would have once tormented her, but now Alisha found herself smiling.
“Most likely.”
“Then I know what she needed to do before she came home.”
“Which is?” Dexios brushed his lips along her hairline. He knew the answer, but was allowing her the joy of saying it.
“She’s going to Armando.”
“And you’re here with me.”
Lifting her head, Alisha kissed him. “And it’s all perfect.”
* * *
Vanora stood on the edge of the cliff and stared toward the city glittering along the shoreline. The view of the bay was exactly as she had dreamed. In it Armando had been the cause of her death. She now realized the dream had been a bit more symbolic than that. Armando was the reason she was a vampire. Alisha did belong in the light with Dexios, but Vanora belonged in the night with Armando. She’d once vowed to never become a vampire, but when Leto had told her she could switch mantles with her sister, Vanora knew there was really no other choice.
Behind her was Armando’s home. It hadn’t been difficult to find. As the Queen of the Night, she only had to think of a vampire to know exactly where they were located. It took only a thought to transport her to them. She was still uncovering all her abilities, but they felt more natural to her than the magic she once wielded had.
The Seven Sisters, Aeron, and even her sister had never fully understood the depths of their powers. Most of their powers had been locked out of their grasp. In the case of Aeron and the Seven, they’d been corrupted by their own ambitions. They hadn’t cared about the vampires under their dominion. As for Alisha, she hadn’t been suited for the role. She was a true Oracle, and freed from human constraints, would be the perfect guide for all the awakening witches and Oracles scattered across the planet. Vanora knew she was well suited to take on the role she now inhabited.
In the time after her human death, Vanora had visited the Elysian Fields. She’d picnicked with her mother and father, sat in a cantina with Roman and watched Carlotta dance, chatted with Rhonda over coffee in a café, danced with Sheila and Angel in an underground rave, and ventured into Tartarus to speak with Aeron. He’d ignored her completely, trapped in his own misery. Greg had unexpectedly shown up and tried to get her to help him break into the Elysium.
The details of those memories were swiftly vanishing, but the one thing she’d brought back with her was the knowledge that her life would be very long and serve a greater purpose. It would take time to return the vampires to their original roles as observers and caretakers of human history.
Yes, she was a vampire now, but she wasn’t a monster.
Roman had been right about so much, and it was his words that she carried in her heart.
It was strange to be corporeal again. Walking up to the front door of the villa, Vanora marveled at how heavy her feet felt in her high heels. Her long black lace dress and white hair flowed on the night breeze and reminded her of flying. Now that she was untethered from the mortal coil, she could experience the world in a way she’d never imagined before. For so long the darkness threatening to consume her had felt menacing, but now it was liberating.
Though she could’ve easily entered the house with a mere thought, Vanora rang the doorbell instead. There was much muttering inside before she heard footsteps in the front hall. Armando and Francisco argued back and forth over who should be opening the door. They sounded like regular father and son.
The door creaked open. Armando came into view, dressed in a red shirt and black jeans. His hair was unruly and he was smiling as his son shouted at him to hurry up so they could continue their video game. Finally focusing on the person on his doorstep, Armando’s smile faded into an expression of shock before blossoming into one of joy.
“You’re alive,” he gasped in Spanish.
“Somewhat,” she answered truthfully.
She was immediately enfolded in his arms, her face pressed to his neck. He smelled wonderful and she snuggled into him. Armando clutched her in his arms, rocking her while whispering to her in Spanish. She understood every word he said, one of her new gifts. When he was finally convinced she was real, he passionately kissed her over and over again until her lips were numb and she couldn’t stop smiling.
* * *
It was the waves crashing against the shore that pulled her from the bed. Just like in her dream, she walked through the darkness to the window overlooking the bay. It was a comfort to know that despite all of the obstacles, she had finally found he
r place in the world.
Armando followed her to the window and enfolded her in his arms. His long naked body against her back was a comfort and she leaned against him. Resting her hands on his arms, she stared at the beautiful scene before her.
“Queen of the Night,” he whispered in her ear, then nuzzled her neck.
“Alisha’s paintings were right.”
“Will you rule with an iron fist?” Armando teased.
Tilting her head to one side, she eyed him thoughtfully. “Only you.”
“Me? Why me?” He gave her a mocking look.
“Because you’re all sorts of shifty. I can see you scheming in your head.”
“Only how to keep you all to myself.”
“I have a lot of work to do, but a very long time to do it in,” Vanora assured him. “I’ll find a way to pencil you in.”
“I still want you all to myself.”
“You have to obey your queen,” Vanora teased.
“Stay here with me before you start on your grand tour. At least for a week or two. Maybe more.”
“Alisha will expect me to visit Houston soon, you know.”
“Then we’ll go together.”
Brushing her hands lightly over his forearms resting across the top of her breasts, she sighed with contentment. “It will feel good to go back and not live in fear.”
“It’s all over.” There was a hint of bitterness in Armando’s voice, but Vanora didn’t blame him. He’d lost so much.
“He was wrong, you know.”
“Aeron?”
“Yes. I am yours. Only yours.”
“And you are mine.” Armando adorned the side of her face with kisses. “Forever.”
“Forever.”
Lips against her cheek, he whispered, “I always thought if you became a vampire it would be a curse, not a blessing.”
“Me too. But we were wrong.”
“Yes.” Armando held her so tight it almost hurt and he lifted her off her feet for a second, then set her down when she squealed. “You’re here and it is perfect.”
Laughing, Vanora rested her head against his chest. “All of it.”
“Even the darkness,” Armando added, staring out over the vast black ocean.
“In darkness we must abide,” Vanora said.
And smiled.
Thank you for reading!
Please consider leaving a review to help other readers discover the book.
Tap here to leave a review!
Sign up for my newsletter for all the latest information on new releases, free ebooks, and more by tapping here!
Enjoy my other vampire series!
The Dark Rebirth Trilogy
Tap the covers to go to the Kindle Store.
All Lady Glynis Wright ever wanted was the freedom to live her life as she pleased. When her family becomes guests to one of Count Vlad Dracula, Glynis finds her fate is far more terrible than an arranged marriage. Trapped in the power of her new master, she fights for freedom,
revenge against her creator, and the chance to be with the one she truly loves.
Pretty When She Dies Trilogy
Tap the covers to go to the Kindle Store.
Amaliya Vezorak always believed she was destined to live a failed life in obscurity until she was brutally murdered by an ancient vampire named The Summoner and reborn as a powerful vampire necromancer. Now it is up to her to save the world…
For information on my other novels, please visit rhiannonfrater.com
About the Author
Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog). She was born and raised in Texas where she currently resides with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets). She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.
In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Third Season Page 40
