by Armae
Monty reached out to Lazarus and helped him to his feet. “Do you have the strength to return home?”
“Yes. I refuse to spend another moment here among the Nephilim. It is time we take our leave of this place.”
Lazarus turned to Neomina. “Percival did kill your father, but I guess you know that by now.”
“Nothing matters anymore, Lazarus. All I want is to be with you, but will you still have me?”
He opened his arms to her and pulled Neomina close. “Of course. Why do you ask?”
“I had to pledge my soul to the Trackers in order to come here with the St. John Stake. It was the only way to save you.”
He knew the implications of her vow. Neomina could no longer be brought across.
A sudden bolt of pain sliced through his soul and twisted it into knots. He had always hated the idea of making her Vampyre, but now she could never be presented to the Tribe in the proper manner.
Montgomery felt the tension between Lazarus and Neomina. He interfered, breaking their thoughts and worries.
“I think this neither the place nor time for such matters to be discussed.”
Lazarus agreed. He released his hold on Neomina and allowed her to gather the sack and stake. In silence, they departed for Sanctum Hall.
CHAPTER 25
Sanctum Hall was a welcome site to Neomina. As she entered the keep's main chamber, she thanked the Heavens for returning her safely and for sparing Lazarus’ life. Yet despite her fortune, she felt sadness deep within her soul for Montgomery. The angel had suffered a horrible loss.
“Will you be alright, Monty?”
“Yes. When all is said and done here, I shall return to Paradise so I may be reunited with Lucius and my wife, Aurelia. The King of Paradise has requested my presence at his table and I shall be glad to be back home.”
“I know this is selfish to say, but what shall we do without you?”
Montgomery smiled. “Lazarus has nothing to fear now. And besides, you don't need an angel who knows your every thought wandering about the keep.” He winked at her. “I do believe you and Lazarus have some, shall we say unfinished business, to tend to? The continuation of the Tribe is vital to the Grigori. We have many enemies among the Nephilim and souls like Lazarus are needed to conquer them. What happened to Lucius must never happen again.”
She stared at him. Montgomery had grown on her over these last few weeks and the thought of him leaving saddened her. “I will miss you greatly.”
“And I, you. But only call my name and I will return. My debt to Lexliel may now be paid, yet I am still Lazarus’ uncle and as such I will forever hold his soul dear to me. In truth, in Lucius’ absence, I loved Lazarus like a son. Such feelings do not fade.”
“Speaking of Lazarus, what am I to do with him? He is Vampyre and I am Tracker. What future can we truly make?”
A look of concern crossed Monty's face. “What are you saying, child? Do you not love Lazarus?”
“Of course I do. But will he still have me now that my soul has been pledged to the Trackers? He cannot bring me across and I know that in order to be presented to the Tribe and be counted among them one must be Vampyre, one must walk among the undead. I am no longer in a position to give myself to Lazarus in such a manner.”
Neomina toyed nervously with the gold silk cord that dangled from her waist. She was in a fit of nerves, concerned about what Lazarus would now think of his fully-fledged Tracker wife.
“My nephew is no fool, Neomina. He knows what he has in you, in your soul, in your heart. Besides, I do believe the boy is quite smitten with you.”
“Indeed he is.” The velvet-edged voice rang out across the empty great hall. Lazarus entered the room, ambled over to Neomina and put his arms lovingly around her waist. The scent of sandalwood and musk stirred her senses. Neomina felt warmth cocoon her as Lazarus pressed his hard body against hers.
“So, you will still have me, husband?”
He shook his head. “Of course. In fact, I intend to keep you for all eternity. Perhaps it is I who should ask if you will still care to have me?”
A slight blush brushing her cheeks, she smiled up at him.
“I take that as yes. Now tell me, dear wife, what is all this talk about unfinished business between the two of us?”
Montgomery rose from the bench and stretched his arms. “I think it is time I take a much-needed rest.”
Neomina stared at him. “I thought you said angels do not sleep?”
“Ah, so true. I did say such a thing. But at times we do enjoy a bit of rest. Do you know what it is like to forever be worrying about the world and the fate of man? The job can prove to be most tiring every now and then. Besides, I really do not think this conversation pertains to me. Since this is our first day back at Sanctum Hall, I think it best that you and Lazarus have some time to yourselves. I shall see you again at the gathering tonight.” Montgomery vanished in an instant.
“So, dear wife, what secrets are you keeping from me?”
Lazarus made his way to one of the benches set up in the middle of the room. He lowered himself onto the seat and pulled Neomina down with him.
“I think perhaps this is not a good time to discuss such a matter.”
“And why not?”
She took a deep breath and released a sigh. “You have been through a lot lately, Lazarus. I am not sure if you are up to what I had in mind.”
He stared at her and raised an eyebrow in question. “Do mean to insult me, wife?”
“No, of course not. It is just that... well...”
She didn't know how to approach the subject. Lazarus was Vampyre and when they were first married, the thought of having a family had never factored into the arrangement. She couldn't remember ever talking to him about children.
“I have the means to make you mortal again. At least temporarily.”
“What are you saying?”
“I have the Amulet of Christ. It was passed to me from my parents. That was the purpose, Lazarus. The purpose of our marriage. Your grandfather knew that one day our paths would cross and that, through my inheritance, the Amulet of Christ would return to you. I know Percival made you believe otherwise but, you see, he made my father and it was all part of the bigger plan. If the things that took place had not occurred, we would not be here today as man and wife. Your grandfather gave the Trackers the relics. Our union brings them back to you and my father knew that. And, according to the ordinances of good and evil, the Amulet of Christ restores a Vampyre's mortality as long as he wears the relic about his body.”
“So that is how I can be mortal for a temporary amount of time.”
“Yes.”
He let go Neomina and pulled back from her.
“I don't know that I want to be mortal again. I have known the way of the New Breed since I was an infant. Mortality is a very, very distant memory to me.”
Her heart sank. She wanted a child with Lazarus more than anything now. The thought of a true union between the two of them stirred her soul in ways she never dreamed of before.
She stared longingly into his eyes. And then the realization occurred to her. Lazarus had been planning to bring her across so that she might share the Vampyric life with him. At one time the thought had been pleasing to her, but now she found herself at odds with the notion. Her soul belonged to the Trackers and she couldn't do anything about the fact. But her heart was all Lazarus'.
“I think you are right, wife. Now is not the time to discuss such matters.”
Lazarus rose from the bench and strode across the room.
His tight-fitting breeches and opened shirt ruffled Neomina's senses. She longed for his embrace, to feel the heated fire of his kiss, yet she knew he would offer her neither of the two. An ache filled her heart.
He turned back to stare at her.
“I am sorry, Neomina. I had hoped that one day we could share the life of the New Breed together. Restoring my mortality never crossed my mind when I discusse
d our marriage with your father. It simply did not factor into our arrangement.”
“And is that all that we have, husband, an arrangement of words made between you and Delacroix?” Anger and hurt filled her words.
He raked a hand through his hair. He saw the pain in her eyes, but he could do nothing. Lazarus was Vampyre and the dark gift ruled him. To force Neomina into a life where they truly could never be one would be cruel to her. He decided then and there that she would be better off away from him and living among her own people.
“In light of things, yes. Perhaps an arrangement of words is all that we have.” He lied to her, but it was better this way. Neomina would survive. She had the soul of a fighter and the beauty of an enchantress. She would have no trouble finding a true husband among the Trackers.
His heart heavy with broken emotions, Lazarus turned away and left the room.
Neomina could do naught but watch him leave.
CHAPTER 26
The ache in Lazarus’ heart tore at his insides and shattered his heart with grief. Neomina was his world and the never-setting sun in his forever-dark existence. Yet, because of this, he prepared himself to let her go. He convinced himself that nothing more could be said. Neomina didn't belong among the Tribe and he had to accept that.
In a solemn, bitter mood he sat at the head table next to Octavia. Lazarus dressed in a white shirt and black leather breeches. His grandfather's seal ring adorned his hand and a silver cuff bearing the Conlon wolf circled his right wrist. He needed to remind himself that he was Vampyre through and through and he wanted Neomina to know that, too. He stared across to his wife, unspoken pain burning in his dark eyes. How could she expect him to be mortal again? To give up all that he knew? And what kind of husband would he make as mere man? The series of questions plagued his soul. He lowered his gaze and turned away.
“You've not had a single thing to eat, son. What troubles your mind?”
He didn't want to tell her that he couldn't eat. “Nothing. I am fine, Mother. Perfectly fine.”
“Good.” Octavia raised a glass of wine to her lips and savored the taste of the sweet Paradisian beverage. She drank until the crystal goblet was empty and then placed it back on the table to be refilled. “Then I will begin planning for the arrival of my grandchild.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Grandchild? What do you mean by that?”
“Neomina now possesses the Amulet of Christ. The relic will afford you the benefit of a mortal life shared with your bride. The Conlon line will live on through your blood.”
“Then I'm afraid I must disappoint you.”
“How and why?”
“I am Vampyre, Mother. You above all others should know that. Mortality is the one gift I never cared to seek in the past and the one gift I shall never care to seek in the future. I have no desire to be made man.”
Octavia glared at her son. “And Neomina has agreed to this?”
He didn't answer. Lazarus reached in front of him and picked a ripe peach from the silver bowl in the middle of table. He bit into the succulent fruit and ate it out of nervousness, hardly tasting it. He felt his mother's eyes burn into his soul.
“Lazarus, I am your mother and, as the very woman who gave birth to you, I demand you answer my question.”
He swallowed. “No, she does not agree with my decision to remain Vampyre. But I can do nothing about that and besides, look at her. Neomina doesn't belong here living in the darkness and that is the only gift I can truly give of myself. Tonight, after the gathering, I intend to release her from the contract I made with Delacroix. By dawn, the woman will be free of me.”
Octavia shot Lazarus an angered look. She rose calmly from her chair and approached his side. She bent close to him, leaning near to his ear.
“If you so much as dare let Neomina even walk from this room without you, I will call upon the wrath of Romulus to strike sense into your soul. The woman is the greatest treasure you should ever hope to possess. She was prepared to sacrifice her own life, her own soul, for the sake of yours. And this is how you repay her?”
“There are many men among the Trackers who would be more than willing to take Neomina as their bride.” He spoke whisperingly through gritted teeth. “She will be well cared for and properly treated. The Trackers do not recognize the relationship she shares with me and never will they unless I am to bring her across. Neomina's reputation is unblemished in the eyes of her own people.”
Octavia reached out, raised an open palm to her son's face and branded him with the sting of a slap.
The Tribe fell silent.
“I didn't raise you to be so uncaring, so insolent. If this is what you are now, then you are not the same soul for which I gave up my own mortality. You are not my son.” She straightened and marched away, leaving the great hall in silence.
Neomina didn't say a word. She had no need to because the look on Lazarus’ face said it all. He sat there on the wooden bench, his soul filled with torment, his eyes dark and brooding.
Montgomery entered the room and approached his nephew.
“So, by the look and feel of things I would have to say you've gone and done it again, Lazarus. Only this time, I don't believe you'll have the opportunity to correct the matter.”
Montgomery took a seat next to Lazarus. A light blue tunic and pair of Roman sandals set him apart from the darkly-dressed Tribe and emphasized his angelic rank.
“Perhaps I do not care to correct the matter.”
“Perhaps you lie.”
Lazarus didn't like that. He glared at his uncle and rose from the table. “I will not stand for your insults tonight, Montgomery.”
Lazarus glanced at Neomina sitting on the other side of the table. “I shall retire, wife. If you choose to join me, then so be it. If not, then I bid you goodnight.”
He waited for her to answer him, but she merely sat there and stared back at him, her eyes welling with tears.
“See,” said Montgomery. “As I told you before, you've done it again.”
Lazarus ran his tongue against the pointy fangs lengthening inside his mouth. “My patience wears thin, Monty. Do not push me past my limits. The Vampyre inside has already been angered enough tonight.”
The angel shrugged his shoulders and bit into a plum. Apparently enjoying the piece of fruit immensely, undisturbed by his nephew's increased agitation, he stared up at Lazarus.
Neomina rose from her seat and sauntered around the table to join Lazarus. He knew his wife was merely making a good show for the sake of the Tribe and he accepted that. He took her hand in his and together they exited the great hall.
CHAPTER 27
He couldn't help himself. Being so near to Neomina stirred Lazarus’ soul like never before and ignited desire within him. His body responded in an instant to the heat of her touch and the mere act of taking his wife's hand sent his soul into a frenzy of raw emotions that left him both internally excited and physically aroused. He chided himself for being so angry with Neomina earlier. Perhaps mortality wouldn't be so bad after all. The fires of passion fed Lazarus’ soul with a longing he had never felt in all his existence.
He took a deep breath and let out a sigh. In one swift move, Lazarus swept Neomina into his arms, entered the bedchamber and, with the sole of his boot, kicked the door shut behind him. Growing desire ruled his every move. He carried Neomina across the room and gently eased her down onto the bed.
“I thought you were going to set me free tonight, husband.” Longing for his love, she peered up at him with pleading eyes. Despite the tension between them, Neomina still ached for Lazarus’ touch and the feeling left her uncomfortable.
“I heard every word of the conversation that you had with your mother.” Neomina paused. Her heart ached for Lazarus’ love and her body burned for his embrace. She fought the urge to give in to him because she knew that nothing could now ever come from their union. “And I knew what you were feeling.”
He removed his clothes all the while deli
berately staring at Neomina and then joined her in bed.
“Then you should know that I long to make you mine, truly mine. And indeed I shall set you free tonight.”
Lazarus leaned over Neomina and reached for the hem of her gown. He pulled the sheer fabric off her body and tossed the dress to the floor. She didn't resist or make any effort to stop him and Lazarus noted that. This was his last chance to make things right between him and Neomina.
“You are a cruel soul, Lazarus Conlon. A cruel soul if ever I knew one.”
“Cruel? What makes you say such a thing?”
A look of shock crossing her face, Neomina stared up at him. “What else am I to think? You plan on having your way with me and then sending me back to my people. If that is not cruel, than I do not know what is.”
Lazarus settled himself between Neomina's velvet soft thighs, lowered his weight gently on her and soaked up the heat that emanated from his wife's warm flesh. He felt the spark of electricity that ignited between them. He caressed her skin with a tantalizing touch and made small circles with his hands as he explored the soft contours of her body.
The thought of Neomina hating him made the task all the easier to accomplish.
“What I intend, dear wife, is not only to have my way with you, but to make you mine for all eternity.”
She struggled beneath his heavy body and twisted among the silk sheets that covered the large bed.
“You cannot. Please, Lazarus, I beg of you, do not make me Vampyre. My soul belongs to the Trackers.”
He pulled back.
“Neomina, I would never bring you across without your consent. By now I had hoped you would know me better. I guess I was wrong.”
She saw the hurt in his eye, and the void that only darkness can leave.
“I love you, Lazarus Conlon. I love you with all my heart and all my soul.”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. The flames of passion that heated Lazarus’ heart now fanned his soul and spread through out his tense body.
