Lovers Awakening

by R. A. Steffan

  Okay, then. Suddenly, her presence at the bank just when a crazy bomber showed up to take hostages took on a more sinister cast.

  “What type of danger am I in right now?” she asked, her hand coming up to the base of her throat.

  “The serious kind. Chaos is closing in around you, and it will only get worse. Riots, shootings, bombings, terrorism—”

  “What?” Trynn yelped, her eyes going wide.

  “I’m sorry,” Eris answered, and he truly did look it. “I know you never asked for any of this. I am so sorry that your life is in danger yet again, because of your connection to me. This was never your battle, but now you’ll have to fight it nonetheless.”

  “No, no, that’s not what I meant,” Trynn answered quickly, shaking her head. “You said terrorism. You said bombs!”

  Her blood ran cold, her thoughts turning toward MASQUE and the intel she had intercepted about the arms dealer and his mysterious client. It seemed like way too much of a coincidence to think that Eris was warning her about chaos and terrorism while a major weapons deal that could potentially cost tens or hundreds of thousands of lives was going down at the same time.

  Eris looked confused. “Yes, among other things. What—”

  “Eris, I’m a member of MASQUE. I’m tracking a man right now who’s trying to buy suitcase nukes from the Russian mafia. You’re talking about terrorism? I… think that probably qualifies.”

  NINE

  THE OMINOUS WORDS settled over Eris like a pall and he realized, with a stab of dread, that he was too late. The vortex of chaos and evil was already firmly established around his mate. First the bomber at the bank, and now… this. He had hoped that by arming Trynn with information early on, he could spare her the same sorts of horrors that Della had experienced. It seemed, however, that he had failed—and that failure made his stomach drop sickeningly.

  “When did you find out about this? Have you passed on the information to the authorities?” he asked sharply. Trynn’s face blanched under his intensity.

  “About the nukes? I found out last night,” she answered in a small voice, looking suddenly young and scared. “I picked up his trail some weeks ago, and several of us have been monitoring the deal’s progress as best we could. I informed the group of my findings right after I translated his last email. One of them is supposed to pass it on to the US government, but you can guess exactly how much good that’s likely to do.”

  “And you don’t know what sort of timeline he’s operating on?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “How did you find him? What do you mean about tracking him?” Eris demanded, something cold and bitter clawing its way up from the depths of his gut. It might have been fear.

  Trynn ran a shaking hand through her dark, spiky hair and said, “I’m a member of a group of hackers that exposes these types of deals. We call it hactivism. Some of what we deal with is governments abusing their citizens, but sometimes it’s black market crime rings and weapons deals. We monitor these kinds of exchanges and post our findings anonymously to the group. When we can, we disrupt them.”

  Eris stared at her. Of course his Phaidra couldn’t be content with a quiet life somewhere. Of course she would be in the thick of things, chasing excitement and danger. How very like her that was.

  “That… sounds like a rather hazardous hobby,” he said eventually.

  “Not as much as you’d think,” Trynn replied with a shrug. “We never really have contact with the people we track, and they don’t know our identity. Most of the time everything is going on half a world away.”

  Eris scowled at her. “They could find out who you are and target you.”

  A wan smile flickered across Trynn’s face, and was gone. “I doubt that. They’d have to be a better hacker than I was.”

  Somehow, this wasn’t comforting to Eris. Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face, because she frowned at him again.

  “Oh, come on,” she said, a bit of irritation creeping into her tone. “I’m fighting bad guys in the best way I know how.”

  “I don’t want you drawn into the middle of this evil,” Eris murmured, rubbing his chin in exasperation.

  “Says the man who defuses hostage situations on his nights off.” Her tone was still sharp.

  He started to say that’s different, but thought better of it. “Can you at least tell me more details about this deal?”

  “Look—I’ll tell you what I can,” she said, more calmly. “Though I don’t know what you could possibly do with the information that would help. A few months ago, we started seeing mentions of this mysterious guy in the European underworld. He was a new player, and was gathering all manner of black market assets. Drugs, weapons, human trafficking rings.”

  A prickling of foreboding played across the back of Eris’ neck, and he glanced at Snag before motioning for Trynn to continue her story.

  She took a deep breath. “He’s become hugely wealthy in a very short span of time. Then, over the past few weeks, I’ve been snooping around this arms deal. I only got a name for the buyer yesterday—B. Kovac. And I only made the connection that he was our mysterious underworld figure when I realized what kind of weapons they were discussing. Very few private individuals are in a position to pay for something like that, but he’s definitely one of them.”

  “What do we know about these weapons? Are we talking nuclear suicide bombs, here? Stroll in someplace, push the button, and take out half a city?” He wasn’t sure he really wanted to know the answer.

  Trynn chewed on her lower lip in thought. “Possibly. More likely something that could be smuggled into a strategic location, and then blown up by remote.”

  “And there’s no way of knowing exactly how powerful they are?” he asked.

  “No,” she said. “Not unless they start blabbing about it by email, anyway.”

  Eris dropped his head into his hands and scrubbed at his face, trying to clear his thoughts. Right now, all he could focus on was Trynn. Of course his mate would be wrapped up in this mess. That was just so fucking typical—

  “Eris?” Trynn asked, clearly worried.

  He did not answer right away. He needed a moment to think, to consider his options and how he was going to proceed. Maybe he could convince Trynn to withdraw from the situation? Yeah, right. Like that was likely to happen.

  Besides, as much as it was at the top of his current priority list, it didn’t really help the situation. For all he knew, this B. Kovac could be targeting Nicosia with one of the bombs. He could convince Trynn to let the situation go, only for her to be blown to kingdom come the following week.

  Straightening his spine, he looked back at Trynn. “So. What’s his next move?”

  “He’s been making contact with a well-known figure in the Russian mob and forging business ties with him,” Trynn said. “They had a big meeting in Damascus, and it’s very possible he was finally able to secure what he was after.”

  Gods above, Damascus was a paltry three hundred kilometers away from here. Practically on their doorstep. “And where would he be likely to use these bombs, assuming he plans on detonating them?” he asked.

  Trynn considered the matter. “We can’t really know. I guess it depends on what his aims were.”

  Eris could easily guess what his aims were. “And if he wanted to cause the maximum amount of chaos and carnage?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

  Trynn’s voice went very quiet. “Then he’d set them off in places like Jerusalem. Ankara. Beirut. Cairo. Cities where any major attack would immediately start proxy wars.”

  Eris was bombarded unexpectedly by a brief but powerful flash of emotion from Snag. He flinched in surprise, his eyes seeking the other vampire. His expression betrayed no hint of what he had just broadcast accidentally, but Eris knew that Snag was originally from somewhere south of Cairo. He’d never told them where, exactly… but they were discussing the potential destruction of his ancient friend’s home, too.
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br />   “What is it?” Trynn asked, glancing between them. Snag gave Eris a calculating look, but the mental channel fell silent. Eris continued to lock gazes with Snag for a long moment, before turning back to Trynn and nodding for her to continue.

  “It’s nothing. Please go on. If you had to guess, what sort of timeline do you think we’re looking at?”

  “Probably soon,” she said, grim. “Once he gets the bombs, why wait?”

  Why, indeed? Eris sat back, leaning against one of the arms of his seat. He rested his chin on his fingers, deep in thought.

  This could all just be a huge coincidence. Perhaps this black market deal was completely unrelated to Trynn, and she was in no more danger than any other human was, these days. This transaction might be no different than any of the other dozens of cases she’d doubtless worked on as part of this group of hers. He longed to be able to believe that, certainly.

  Trynn echoed his thoughts and said, “This could all just be nothing, though. We’ve had intelligence reports like this before and they’ve never amounted to anything.”

  Eris watched her closely before taking a deep breath and turning back to Snag.

  “Do you sense Bael’s hand in this?” he asked.

  Snag remained silent across their mental connection, but Eris could sense his uneasiness. His companion was obviously weighing the words carefully.

  After a short pause, a sense of corruption and rot permeating the sunlit paradise around them teased Eris’ mind, and was gone. Snag dipped his chin the tiniest fraction, sketching a nod.

  Eris nodded as well. “I feel it, too. It’s as I feared. Do you think there’s any chance at all that we’re not already caught up in the vortex of Bael’s evil?”

  Eris sensed the answer in Snag’s silence. It was an answer he’d already known in his bones; desperate though he was for Snag to refute it.

  Snag’s bony chest lifted and lowered as he breathed out silently. Eris felt the ancient being’s power flickering around him, as if Snag’s life force was surrounding him and filling him up. Eris closed his eyes, letting it in, feeling a huge increase in his own strength and awareness. As his friend’s life force mingled with his own, Eris could sense evil pulsing all around them. He could feel it, like a malignant, oily cloud hanging in the air. He shuddered and shook his head, trying to free himself from the stench.

  But he knew he would not be able to escape it until they’d fought the battle ahead and won. And Snag must have been aware of that the whole time.

  No wonder you were so antsy, Eris communicated. His presence is horrible, and it’s covering this entire region. I felt something similar to this in New Orleans. I didn’t stop to think how much worse it must have been for you.

  He shivered, feeling a flash of pity for Snag’s powerful awareness.

  We need to stop this, Eris thought with iron resolve. The idea of Bael controlling someone with access to nuclear bombs is too horrible to contemplate.

  Snag did not reply, but Eris could sense his agreement. Also, his unutterable weariness.

  “Something tells me you two are having a conversation without me,” Trynn said, and Eris realized that she had been quiet for an unusually long stretch, watching them intently.

  Eris felt Snag’s power recede back into the bounds that normally encompassed it. Yet he could still sense Bael’s presence, looming over them like a shadow. Snag had given him that gift, if you could really call it such a thing.

  “Sorry about that,” he finally said, throwing a quick glance in Snag’s direction. “I didn’t intend to be rude, but as you may have gathered, he’s not much of a talker. I just needed a bit of help from him to see the bigger picture.”

  Trynn’s eyebrows drew together, and Eris’ attention was drawn to the small crease of discontent like iron filings drawn to a magnet. “I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, in this context,” she said.

  Eris huffed a sigh. ”It’s a bit complicated to explain. Snag is very powerful. He can sense things that I can’t. The demon I told you about is nearby. His evil is permeating this whole situation. Guiding it. Shaping it.”

  “Okay,” she answered slowly. “So what are we going to do about it? How do we stop him?”

  Eris stood up and started pacing, unable to stay still. He could feel both Trynn’s and Snag’s eyes on him.

  “First and foremost,” he said, “we need to ensure your safety, Trynn. I really think that you should stay here with us, where it’s safer.”

  Something flashed across Trynn’s face so quickly that Eris couldn’t parse it. “Stay here?” she echoed. “With you?”

  “Yes,” Eris replied. “The two of us can protect you more effectively here.”

  She looked decidedly flummoxed, and he realized that while she wasn’t actively disputing his claims anymore, she hadn’t truly taken this new reality on board.

  “No,” she said, “I can’t do that. I’m scheduled to return home soon. And I need to get back to work.”

  Eris shook his head. “You don’t understand the amount of danger you’re in. Trynn, you’re being hunted by a powerful demon from the underworld. He has nearly limitless resources available to find you and follow you. Leaving this city would only end up bringing catastrophe down on your home. More importantly, Snag and I are here, and we’re the best allies you could hope for right now.”

  Trynn hesitated an instant before shaking her head again. “No, this whole thing is preposterous. You don’t even know for sure that this demon is after me—”

  “We’ve been over this,” Eris said, suddenly, viscerally aware of his growing weariness. If he could just get a few hours of sleep—and maybe some blood—Eris knew that he would be able to think and plan more effectively. Now, exhaustion pulled at him with the same relentless intensity as the sun beating down on the window outside, beyond the heavy drapes.

  “Bael is after revenge,” he continued. “You—or Phaidra, if you prefer—saved my life by sacrificing your own. You defied him. Vampires are Bael’s greatest failures, and he will see you destroyed, if he can. He’ll do whatever is within his power to prevent you becoming part of the Council.”

  “The… what?” Trynn asked, clearly overwhelmed by the day’s events.

  Eris sighed and massaged his temples with his fingers. “It’s complicated, and we aren’t even sure of all the details. But I’ve been studying an ancient text. It states that Bael will fall when the Council of Thirteen unites against him. At that time, the angel Israfael’s power will be restored and balance will come back into the world.”

  “God help me. That’s the short version?” Trynn asked dryly. Her eyes narrowed, and she looked at Eris closely. “Tell me something, Eris—and don’t lie. When was the last time you got a decent stretch of sleep?”

  Eris swayed where he stood and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. What matters right now is keeping you safe. Please, Trynn, you have to stay with us.”

  Trynn’s eyes moved to Snag for a moment before she looked back at Eris. “What if I just got a room here instead? I mean… I barely know you, after all.”

  Eris raised an eyebrow. “We’ve been in a hostage situation together, I’ve mind-whammied you, and you’ve punched me in the jaw. Surely, all that counts for something? Trynn, I don’t want to have to worry about getting to you in time if something happens. I think the best option is for you to stay here in this room.”

  Trynn sighed in exasperation. “Look. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what you’re offering, even if I don’t fully understand what’s going on. But I have a life! I have a job! Bills I need to pay! I can’t just put everything on hold to play hide-and-seek with a vengeful demon.”

  “I would think you could contact your employer and get some kind of trauma leave, after the incident at the bank,” Eris pointed out.

  Trynn looked decidedly cagey for a moment, and appeared to be trying to think of another way around his suggestion. He was struck with the oddest sense of déjà vu for a moment, be
fore he realized it was because he had seen that exact expression on Phaidra’s face more times than he could count.

  “Trynn,” he said, coming up to her chair and crouching down so that he was at eye level with her. “I promise you, we’re here to protect you. We mean you no harm. I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t a life or death situation for both of us. I would never ask you to walk away from something that you love on a whim, but you’ve got to understand. If you step out of those doors, there’s a very real chance you could die. You might die, and there would be nothing I could do to stop it. Don’t ask me to live through that again.”

  Eris poured as much intensity into his gaze as he could, allowing his senses to expand until they gently brushed her mind. He could sense that her resolve was crumbling; that his sincerity was winning out over her innate independence and skepticism.

  He knew that he could use his power on her, to tip her over to his way of thinking. But he knew just as surely that doing so in this moment would destroy the fragile beginnings of trust they’d built.

  Please, Trynn, Eris urged silently. Please, just agree to stay here, where we can watch over you. I can’t lose you again. I wouldn’t survive it a second time.

  Eris tried to hold back anguished memories of cradling her lifeless frame in his arms, but the image was burned into his mind like a brand. Over the centuries, he’d become a master at the fine art of denial when it came to coping with haunting memories that would not fade, but the deep ache never really seemed to abate.

  Now that he had found his Phaidra against all odds, he never wanted to let her out of his sight again. He was desperate to protect her, to spare her the horror that surely lay in wait for both of them like a crouched tiger. His hatred for Bael rose like bile in his throat and he swallowed it back down, fighting to stay calm.

  “All right,” Trynn said at last, a note of defeat in her voice. “Fine. I’ll stay, but I need to get my stuff first. Especially my laptop.”