by E. M. Knight
“Even if he refuses to acknowledge you as kin. I know the truth of it. As does The Ancient.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I wonder. “Why now, all of a sudden?”
“Because times are changing,” Dagan says. “Darkness is rising. You said it yourself: the Elemental Forces are incensed. There’s been a disturbance to the equilibrium. I think…” he pauses, lowers his voice, and speaks in a whisper. “I think I know the root cause.”
My eyes narrow. Never, ever, had Dagan been so forthcoming. Nor has he ever seemed so conflicted.
Something is weighing on him. Something big.
“What are you trying to tell me?” I ask.
“I don’t expect you to believe me,” he replies. “Given all the—damn—all the hardships you’ve faced.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Damn, this is difficult. Just listen, Riyu, and let me explain. Don’t say anything until I’m done. Okay?”
I nod, growing more and more intrigued—and wary—by the minute.
“The truth is, I know your magical ability is stunted.”
I make a fake expression of shock. He grunts in annoyance. “Don’t do that,” he says. “I know you know there’s a block, even you’re though you’re not supposed to. You’re too smart to have come all this way and not realized it.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “That might be true.”
“Moreover, I know why it’s stunted. I was there when it happened. When the King gave the order. You remember nothing of it, do you? Of course you don’t. It was in the vulnerable moment between your full transformation and your first feeding. That is why you haven’t been able to break out of it. That is why you never will. It’s ingrained in you, Riyu. It’s a vital part of who you are.”
He shakes his head. “At the time, I agreed with the King’s choice. A male vampire with royal blood should not be given the extra ability afforded by unfettered access to magic. You’d become too dangerous. We did not know who you would grow up to be. You could have developed into a maniac, a psychopath, somebody unstable. You could have been an enormous threat. To the stability of not just this coven—but to the entire vampire world.”
“That’s a bit of a stretch,” I murmur.
“Back then we had no way to know,” he continues. “And for that—for limiting you—I am…” he grunts again. “I’m sorry.”
My eyebrows go up. “What?”
“I’m sorry, damn you,” he growls. “Do I need to say it twice? It’s damn humiliating already.”
I shake my head. “I was surprised, that’s all,” I say. “You caught me off-guard.”
“Well, there you have it. But even that is not the point.”
“What is?”
“The reasons for my being complicit in your neutering have not changed. I still believe magic is a strain upon the world. I think it is a force that cannot be trusted. It only takes one maniac or fool to do something that will assure the destruction of our time.”
“Do you think that’s me?” I ask, not quite following along.
“No,” he says. “Not you. You’ve proven yourself to be sound of mind. Despite your… perversions.”
Involuntarily, I take a small step back. He knows?
He continues on. “The problem is your Father,” he confides in me. “The King. He told me—showed me—what he’s been working on.”
A horrible sense of understanding forms. “Yes?”
“He showed me…” Dagan’s voice dips lower. “He showed me that he taught himself blood magic.”
Chapter Twenty-One
James
Washington state
I maneuver the plane down into an abandoned airfield near the border of British Columbia.
At least we’re not going to Mexico, I think ruefully, considering the increased difficulty we would have slipping across that border undetected. There are other vampire covens in operation there.
Luckily, we are going the other way.
We touch down. In the back of the plane, Victoria is watching Sylvia, while Liana and April are both guarding Smithson.
Despite their initial misgivings, the two girls seem to have developed a bit of a chemistry. That bodes well for me. I need the Nocturna Animalia to be one cohesive unit. Especially at the start. Those first few members are most important because they will set the stage for the coven’s prosperity for the rest of its time on earth.
If I have it my way… that time will be ever-lasting. A time of glory for my coven, a time of absolute might! A time while I rise above both my parents and prove myself to be the most capable vampire ruler on earth.
My lips quirk up in a smile at such thoughts. Of course I have illusions of grandeur. They are part of the vampire condition.
Moreover, they are part of the James Soren condition.
The plane rolls to a halt as I turn the engine off. “April,” I call out. “Come here.”
The girl pushes herself up and glides over. I can all but feel her pride at being singled out amongst all the rest.
I have to say, I could easily get used to the amount of respect.
“Yes?” she asks sweetly when she comes up to me.
“How are you feeling?” I ask. “Strong? Capable?”
She flips her hair back and seems to stand a little taller. “Always,” she says.
“Good. I have a special mission for you.” I lower my voice and cast a look back at the others on the plane. “I want it to stay between us, however.”
She gives a solemn nod, instantly more serious. “Of course.”
“When we cross into Canada… there might be a time I’ll need to go away. I’m not sure yet. But if I do go, nothing we need to do changes. As the first of the Nocturna Animalia, I’d like to leave you in charge.”
Her eyes widen. “Me?” she asks. “Not… Victoria?”
“Victoria is stronger, but she is not fully of our coven,” I say. “We will continue to work with her as we’ve already done, and I will listen to her advice. She has certain experience unique for any vampire. However! She is not committed to me as strongly as you or Liana.”
April makes an undisguised sound of disagreement at mention of the other girls.
Perhaps their friendship has yet to flourish to the extent that I hope.
“There’s a city—a small town, really,” I continue, “north of here. Way north. Up in the Yukon. Carcross. Have you heard of it?”
She shakes her head. “Never. Should I?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to. It’s not exactly a hotbed of activity. But there are certain… rumors… that I’ve heard related over the years. About a supernatural force present in the vicinity. Now—” I give a small, sour laugh, “—I’ve never put much faith in it, but it did pique my interest. When I was part of The Haven, a Prince there, it may have been unseemly for me to go investigate. Mother would have never allowed it. And the Elite would have made a fuss about one of the royal family taking an extended leave. Now, however?” My eyes gleam. “Now, things have changed. I am my own vampire. I go where I want. I am the only one in charge of my fate.”
I trail off. I don’t know why I’m divulging all of this to her, except for the fact that it feels good to hear myself talk.
For what it’s worth, April soaks all of it up with eager readiness.
“The point is,” I finish quickly, “I might need to disappear for a short bit of time. Have no fear that I’ll abandon you. I wanted to give you a head’s up. That’s all.”
She nods slowly. “Okay.”
“The others will accept your command because I will give the order for them to listen. I’m telling you now so you have a chance to prepare yourself. There’s a big difference between acting like you know what you’re doing and actually being responsible for others. I want you to get ready for that possibility. That’s all.”
She smiles. “I think I can do that,” she tells me. She looks over her shoulder at Victoria. I know there’s no love lost between the two of them.
&n
bsp; “Truth be told?” I confide in a low voice. “I intend for this to be a test of Victoria’s oath. You and Liana I know are loyal. You are bound to me by virtue of your creation. No such bonds hold her. I suspect she is on our side… but with someone as cold as she is, you can never know.”
“Oh, I understand,” April says. “Don’t worry, James. I won’t let you down.”
I spoil her with a smile. “I know you won’t.”
***
We wait out the remaining hours to nightfall and then make our crossing.
Sylvia proves more cooperative than I would have imagined. She makes no fuss about being handcuffed, nor does she protest when I stuff a gag into her mouth. I could simply silence her with my vampiric influence… but it’s always seemed more symbolic to do things like this with physical objects.
Once the party is ready, I give directions, and we steal across the border.
It proves deceptively easy to go across. The Canadian-American border is the longest unguarded border in the world, after all. And it’s not like the border guards are on the lookout for refugees.
Still, I feel a tangible relief when we make it to the other side. Smithson is still only half-lucid. His abilities were my biggest concern. If we ran into an actual patrol guard, he would have prevented us from making a speedy getaway… which meant the only thing we could have done was attack… and that would have been far too messy for my liking.
But we manage the entire venture without incident.
“We need to get as far as we can before daylight,” I tell my group. “We’re still limited by our baggage.”
I shoot a look over at the incapacitated Smithson to make it clear who I mean.
Victoria steps up to me. “Perhaps it will be better,” she offers wryly, “if we get our fledglings fed.”
At mention of feeding, both April’s and Liana’s eyes light up.
So do Sylvia’s, no matter how she tries to hide it.
I consider the suggestion. It certainly is tempting to let them run free…
“No,” I say. “They fed last night. We need to move. Not dally.”
Truth is, I’m only rejecting the idea to demonstrate to the others who’s in command. I have no qualms about them feeding—it’s a good call.
Yet sometimes a leader must put his own priorities first to reaffirm he’s in control.
“A wise decision,” Victoria murmurs.
We start moving.
Despite the two prisoners, we go fast. It’s easy to stay out of the popular areas in the vast, uninhabited swaths of British Columbia. I lead my group to that distant airfield that my brother and I maintained.
Gods, the time I worked with either Raul or Phillip in pure collaboration seem a lifetime ago. But it’s not more than a few years. Hell, a few months, back when we moved in unison to abduct Eleira.
I smile to myself in fond memory of that time. My, but how far things have progressed since then.
We reach the airfield. I expand my mind, reaching out with its full capacity to make sure we’re alone.
We are, of course. I’m just about to cut the connection off when suddenly I get the briefest inkling of someone else.
“Get back!” I hiss, spreading my arms and motioning back to the trees. “Somebody’s here.”
Immediately, a tension ripples through the company.
“The Black Sorceress?” April breathes.
“No,” I say. “I don’t think so.” I look at the only other experienced vampire in our group. “Victoria. Expand your mind, see what you can find.”
She furrows her brows in concentration… and shakes her head. “We’re clear,” she says.
I nod slowly. “I would have sworn so, too,” I begin. “But…”
Just then the briefest flicker of the sensation comes again. I tense up.
“I felt it,” Victoria admits. “Do we know if it’s a friend or foe?”
I grunt and shake my head. “The wandering vampires of North America never had a favorable opinion of The Haven. I doubt there are any who know what I look like. But still.” I glance at the others in the group. “We need to be ready for hostility if I’m recognized as a Soren.”
Victoria nods slowly. “Liana, April, and I should go first, then.”
I blink. “What?”
“I’ll go with the two girls to the airfield. Whoever’s there doesn’t know us. We’ll claim to be wanderers, castaways from an unnamed coven. I’m not known on this continent. The two girls are obviously fledglings. That way, we stand no risk of you being identified.”
“They know this airfield belongs to The Haven,” I say. “It’s the only reason the planes stand untouched.”
“We’ll claim to have just stumbled upon them,” Victoria suggests. “Entirely by accident. If there’s somebody out there, best you’re not the first one they see.”
I grunt and motion for them to go.
Victoria takes the two girls and ventures forward. I’m left alone with Sylvia and Smithson.
A few minutes after they’ve gone, Sylvia stirs.
I look at her. “Yes?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing.”
I give a predatory smile. “I want to know what’s on your mind.”
“Why? Just because we’re allied doesn’t mean I’m going to reveal everything to you.”
An eyebrow goes up. “You think we’re allied?”
“You need me if you wish to take down the Black Sorceress,” she says matter-of-factly. “Yes, vampire. I’d say we are.”
That earns a chuckle. “You’re a vampire too, huntress.”
“Not for very long,” she murmurs.
From anyone else I would have expected that declaration to be accompanied by a hint of dejection, of futility. But in her words I hear something else:
Conviction.
“What do you mean, not for long?” I ask. “You’re immortal. You’re going to be like this forevermore.”
“The sun destroys vampires,” she says. “And the Crusaders have other means.”
“You’re wrong,” I shake my head. I think back on my time as Father’s prisoner. “The sun inflicts on us enormous pain, but we linger. Even if our bodies are disintegrated, we still remain. After the vampiric essence has been fused into your soul, it can never be removed.”
I take a step toward her, fixing her with a strong and unrelenting glare. “You are one of us, my pretty. Maybe those humans deluded you into thinking they could take out vampires. Maybe the Crusaders succeeded with ones who had long-since given up on life. We have a term for those lost ones. Forsaken . They fail to reconcile their animalistic nature with who they want to be. So they give up and wander the earth, until they are thin and pale and wretched and weak. Some do seek the fire, or the sun, you’re right. But they all find out, in the end, that such excursions only accomplish one thing.”
Defiant, she asks, “And what is that?”
“An extension of suffering,” I say. “A long and slow journey of self-inflicted pain. Of agony, of misery. But our bodies were meant to thrive and endure. So a vampire never dies. He just… changes form.
“Whatever your Crusaders accomplished can’t have been much. Willing vampires may have been caught by your means. But no functioning creature of the night would ever have fallen into the hands of humans.”
“You speak as if you know,” she says. “But you know nothing, James Soren.”
“Prove me wrong,” I say. “Try it. I dare you. Consciously throw your life away. An attempt at that will be the quickest way of evoking the vampiric half. The thing you risk is truly losing your humanity…”
Sylvia neither falters nor backs down. “I’m not looking to end my life, you arrogant ass! Who said anything about self-destruction?”
“You implied it.”
“You’re wrong, James. I can think of only one reason for that. Willful ignorance. You fail to see the world for what it is. You claim the vampiric essence fuses itself onto my soul?” she shakes her
head. “No, no. It had not a fusion so much as a latching. You don’t know what the vampiric essence is because you’ve never studied it. What do you think we did in the Order?”
“Nothing you did in the Order compares to living the life of a vampire,” I snarl.
She laughs. “I beg to differ.” She touches her skull in an unconscious gesture. “You are blinded by your strength. But I see that strength only as weakness. The ‘essence’ you so fondly speak of is nothing more than a parasite. It hooks itself onto a person’s life force and sucks it out. But what is stolen can be returned. What is latched on can be restored off. What’s more—”
Suddenly, she falls silent. She seems shocked to have told me so much.
All it took was a little nudge in the right direction using my influence.
“Are you suggesting,” I say, my voice low and dangerous, “that there is a vampirism cure?”
She shakes her head and looks away. “No. I did not say that.”
“You lie!” I accuse. I fly to her and grip her by the arm. “That is what you meant, that is why you are not frightened. You think that you can actually…” I nearly laugh, “…actually rid yourself of vampirism!”
She stares at me, defiant, resisting.
That rouses my anger. “Answer me,” I demand. I shake her by the arm. “Tell me what you know!”
“The others are coming back,” she says.
I look that way and mutter a curse. She’s right.
I go retrieve Smithson. He’s standing frighteningly still beside a tree, vacantly rubbing his arms, staring out into nothing.
I take hold of him and haul him forward. “What’d you find?” I ask Victoria when she arrives.
“Nothing,” she says. “There’s nobody there. That bodes well for us. The area’s clear.”
“What is it we felt, then?”
She opens her palm, and a cluster of tiny red gems shine in the night.
“What are those?” I ask.
“Components of some sort of ceremony,” she says. “We found them around markings in the ground. They are all torrial—but weak.”
“Let me see those,” Sylvia says.
Victoria looks to me for permission. I give a stiff nod. She hands them off.
