The Phoenix Prince

by Kristen Gupton

  Athan grew impatient with being stared at, the thin line of his mouth twitching into a frown. “Prince Keiran Valis Lee Sipesh, I think you have better manners than this.”

  Keiran exhaled the breath he realized he was holding and took another step forward. His innate fear of Athan was urging him to turn around and walk out, but he knew that if there was ever a time to reel it in and not show that old trepidation, this was it.

  “My apologies for keeping you waiting. I wasn’t expecting you,” he said, not really all that sorry.

  Unseen, Athan’s senses were snaking out toward Keiran, as he tried to sample what the prince was thinking or feeling. His ability to do so was far more refined at his age, and Keiran had generally been an easy read. Something was different, however. Athan instantly knew that Keiran had been changed, and he now possessed a natural defense to make it more difficult to see his thoughts.

  Athan gave up just the smallest hint of a smile, pleased with this development. “I suppose I didn’t really send word of my intent to arrive here. I trust that you can find a bit of time for me now that I’m here, though. I mean, I’d hate to have wasted several weeks of travel for naught.”

  “We can talk. Follow me. I’m sure it’d be much more comfortable in the dining hall,” Keiran replied. He spun around and didn’t wait for an answer, as he headed out of the room and down the corridor to the other location. As he walked and put some distance between them, he literally felt himself move out of the range of Athan’s senses.

  The fact that Athan could do to him what he’d been unintentionally doing to everyone else since he’d died didn’t sit well. It felt like a complete invasion, and he hoped he wasn’t making the people around him feel like he did around Athan.

  The elder vampire huffed and walked, following along wordlessly as they moved into the dining hall. Keiran sat at the head of the table, and Athan moved in and landed to his right. The fireplace inside was lit already, giving them plenty of light in the windowless room.

  Athan’s slender fingers curled over the arms of the chair he rested in, drumming idly as he waited for Keiran to break the renewed silence. His gaze was unwavering on the younger man, eyes occasionally narrowing. When it became apparent that Keiran wasn’t going to speak first, Athan went ahead. “I already know of your father’s death, and I happened to hear you had a little excitement afterward? Grand Councillor tried to have you assassinated? Do you have the details for that worked out, or are you still trying to figure it out?”

  “Convenient you’ve already heard that,” he replied, steepling his hands before his chest. He tipped his head back against his chair, meeting Athan’s stare. The distinct scent of the other vampire, coppery with an undertone of aged books, was filling the closed space. Keiran frowned, not caring for it much. He’d always known Athan had a smell to him, but with his senses more in tune than before, it was on the verge of overpowering. “Regardless, you always seemed to show up when my father had something going on in his life, so for you to arrive after his death shouldn’t surprise me too much.”

  Athan’s brows rose up, waiting for Keiran to go on. Defense mechanisms or not, he could feel how very hard Keiran was trying to not be afraid of him. It was making the prince’s thoughts disjointed.

  Keiran was having a difficult time trying to organize what he wanted to say and decided to go right to the heart of it. “I have no evidence that you were involved in Peirte’s plan to have me killed, but your arrival now does raise some questions in my mind. Is it coincidence? Were you really on your way to meet with Turis Lee, only to arrive too late?”

  Athan’s mouth quirked into a grin for just a second. He leaned forward and cocked his head to the side. The naiveté of the young and ignorant vampire was almost amusing. The intensity of Keiran’s desire to come off as strong made Athan want to teach him a lesson. He leaned back again and replied, his voice dry, and possessing an accent much different than Keiran’s brogue. “My boy, I can assure you I had nothing to do with Peirte’s scheme. I have no vested interest in seeing you dead. As for arriving now, I left home before your father was dead, but my intent wasn’t to meet with him. I knew he was in failing health. Since I’d known him for a long time, I’d formed a bit of a bond with Turis. It happens when you get to my age. You know when friends are on their way out. I know that’s not something you can understand at this point, but in time, you will.”

  Keiran’s eyes narrowed, feeling the other vampire scratching at his thoughts again. Maybe Athan was telling the truth. He tried to read something from him, but Athan seemed to have him completely blocked from picking up anything. Though he’d only been able to sense emotions for a day, not having it available to him suddenly was frustrating.

  Athan sighed and asked, “Peirte’s plan worked, didn’t it? You’re different, you must have had a drink of human blood before the old boy managed to off you. You came back from the dead. Noble, idealistic, little Keiran, who always thought he was too good to go drinking human blood, finally gave in.”

  “I didn’t take blood because I wanted to. It was a matter of instinct that I couldn’t fight. I was dying,” Keiran answered. He stopped without elaborating, however, as he didn’t want to discuss those details with Athan. It wasn’t any of his business. “So, if you had no role in it, then this wasn’t a convoluted plot of yours to get me into this state?”

  “Correct, Keiran. If I was going to initiate your change, I would have done it under very strict and controlled circumstances. I’m sure whatever that madman had arranged was anything but. I would have forced you to take human blood before wounding you fatally. I mean, why risk you simply dying without getting the blood into you first?” Athan asked, leaning sideways in his chair and lacing his hands together. Another fleeting smile crossed his lips.

  “How comforting,” Keiran replied quietly. “Since I can’t see how you would have benefitted had I died, I suppose I can probably write off any suspicions of you in the whole affair. So, if that’s not the reason you’re here, what is it? You were my father’s friend, not mine. You missed his funeral already. We have nothing to discuss, you and I. I’m sure you’re not here to witness my coronation.”

  “Keiran,” Athan shook his head and sighed, bringing a hand up and pinching the bridge of his nose. He’d not been in the presence of another full-fledged vampire in a long time. His instinctual and repeated attempts to get into Keiran’s mind were making his own head ache. “My friendship with your father was a strategic one. Our countries have had an alliance for centuries, as you know damn good and well. If it wasn’t for our dry lumber shipments to Tordania, this place would be a treeless wasteland, and all of your buildings would be warped and unsound since you can’t cure lumber around here to any respectable extent. The constant rain makes that impossible. All of your glass is made of the raw, pure sands I allow to be sent here as well. Our metal ores are what your people refine and are able to turn into steel. All this in return for a share of the grains you grow near the coast, and some of the coal you pull out of these mountains. Both of our countries have benefitted from this. Had your father been more politically astute than he was, he could have taken better advantage of the industries growing in Tordania with all you have available. I’m hoping that you will have more clarity on those matters, because the better your country does, the better mine does in turn.”

  “I honestly have little desire to deal with you, Athan,” Keiran said flatly, drawing in a long breath. “But I know it’s a tough situation. My people rely on trade with your country and with our current economic situation, I can’t pull that trade away from them. It wouldn’t be fair for them to suffer just because I find you to be an ass. I can agree to continue to allow free trade between our countries, I don’t see an alternative, but that could have been accomplished by courier. We didn’t need to meet face to face, nor do we need to in the future. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

  “Couriers are so impersonal.” Athan shifted in his chair. There was no smil
e this time, just a nod. Keiran’s name calling hadn’t gone by unnoticed. Still, he kept his tone matter-of-fact and brushed off the comment about him being unwelcome. “Exactly. Whether you like it or not, our economic stabilities depend on one another. I actually will be looking to expand our import of refined steel from you in the very near future. I expect you will encourage output to increase. Tordanian steel is second to none.”

  Keiran gave the other vampire an odd look, a brow quirking upward. He’d start looking to form trade contracts with other countries immediately. He was certain he’d be able to wean Tordania off of Athan’s reliance in time. His curiosity was piqued, though. “More of our steel? For what purpose?”

  “Building, armor, machinery. The usual suspects for such a need. We’re moving more toward steam power up north. Most of it will be for the boilers and pistons. Of course, that means we’ll be looking for more coal from you as well,” he replied, looking down at his hands. “Nothing terribly exciting, but definitely needed.”

  Keiran’s eyes closed for a moment and he reached up, rubbing his temples. Like Athan, he was getting a headache from the silent mind games they were trying on one another. However, Keiran had most certainly gotten a faint glimpse of something dishonest in Athan’s last statements. Important or not, there was still little reason for Athan to travel all that way for a brief discussion over their continued trade. “So be it, we’ll do what we must to survive. But, you and I are not now, nor will we ever be friends, Athan. In fact, I know you have a pretty terrible reputation for cruelty and I’ve seen what you’ve done to some of the servants in this castle over the years. While my father might have let you get away with it, I’ll be damned if I will. And though we might both suffer from the same affliction of vampirism, I don’t find it to be a basis for any relationship between us. In fact, given your reputation, I can’t really afford to go associating with you at all. God forbid anyone think I am anything like you or that I enjoy your company.”

  “I have to say, Keiran, you seem to have developed a bit of a spine since your father died. I like it, there’s hope for you yet. I was afraid that the introverted little boy that used to shy away from me and your father in the corners of this castle would grow up to be a man afraid of his own shadow.” Athan offered up another smile, before standing up from his chair and folding his hands behind his back. He started to slowly pace the length of the table, head turned toward the other vampire. “Is this juxtaposition in your personality just due to Turis Lee dying, or is it what you’re feeling since changing? Tell me, Keiran.”

  He got up as well, crossing his arms over his chest. The fact was that he’d been terrified of his father and had gone out of his way to simply be invisible most of his life. Doing so was simpler than being in the way and suffering the consequences for it. Keiran had been conditioned to hide away amongst the servants rather than face the screams and beatings all too eagerly dished out by the former king. As for having been afraid of Athan, Keiran couldn’t help but think that the old vampire probably had the chronic effect of terrifying children.

  Resentment and anger started to well up in the back of Keiran’s mind, and his expression went dark. “You can’t expect a whole lot of a child having to cope with Turis Lee as a father. It wasn’t cowardice! I was a little boy just trying to avoid being hurt. Turis Lee is gone now. I can’t really say I regret it, either. I have to simply be the man that my country needs me to be. They deserve better than they’ve had in a long while.

  “I feel no real reason to curb my honest feelings about you,” Keiran added. “You can’t blame me for disliking you. I’ve lived in weakness and misery all of my life because of what you did to me as an infant.” Keiran reached up and touched a faint scar that ran along the right side of his jawline. “And this little reminder will always be with me, from the time you backhanded me for not getting out of your way fast enough when I was just five. You could have at least used the hand you don’t wear rings on.”

  “You learned to move a lot quicker after that, didn’t you? Sometimes, knocking you around is the only way to get things through that damned head of yours.” Athan slowly cornered the table and moved to stand right in front of Keiran, staring harshly into his eyes. He took a deep breath and smiled faintly, arms coming up to cross over his chest, mirroring Keiran’s stance.

  Athan started to consciously push his thoughts at the younger man, trying worm his way into the other’s mind with more force. Keiran was still young in the whole vampiric scheme of things. Athan knew he was stronger and would be able to get into his head if he gave it enough effort.

  “Before today, I never smelled defiance or anger coming from you, Keiran, just fear. You are angry now though, aren’t you? Not human anger, either. It goes deeper than you ever thought you could feel, doesn’t it? Makes you think of things you never would have dreamed of considering before you died. It disturbs you badly but at the same time, it feels so damn good, yes?”

  Keiran growled quietly and stepped back, not liking the feelings that were emanating from Athan. He closed his eyes for a second, trying to clear his thoughts. Something alien was twisting around in his mind, bringing up the images he’d envisioned about Peirte the night of his resurrection. It made his stomach hurt in some subconscious protest that something very dangerous was close at hand.

  The prince’s hackles rose, and the ache over his canines returned. “I’m not sick enough to revel in ideas of hurting others, Athan. I would rather die than become a sadist like you. I don’t know the circumstances that involved you becoming a vampire, and I don’t rightly care to. All I can do is hope and pray to God that he never lets me go down your path. We may both be vampires, we may both have our countries to lead, but that will be the beginning and the end of the similarities.”

  The elder vampire’s rage stirred at Keiran’s growl and defiance, though his expression didn’t let on immediately. He took another step forward and dropped his arms to his sides, eyes narrowing dangerously. “You are like me, Keiran! You just don’t have the nerve to face up to the fact, yet. You will, though. You’ve seen how humans are. Just look at Peirte! You’ve seen how damn inhumane they are to one another. If you think that they’d be treating you even half as well as they do if you weren’t royalty, you’re dead wrong. Maybe to your face they will be kind, but that’s only because you’re going to be the king. Behind your back, they resent and hate you. We’re the predators at the top of this food chain. They are cattle compared to us, and the sooner you drop your illusions and accept that, the easier your life will be. Turis Lee should have given you to me to be raised, but the bastard wouldn’t. Now look at you. Raised and coddled by the filth whose only purpose in life was to clean up after you! He might as well have let the dogs rear you.”

  At that moment, Corina walked into the room to bring Keiran and his guest a bottle of wine and glasses. She heard Athan’s last remark and halted in her tracks, jaw dropping. The old woman looked at Keiran and then glared at Athan. She took a few more slow steps forward and set the glasses and bottle on the table. “Keir, do I need to go get Jerris?”

  The younger vampire looked at Corina and shook his head. He turned and locked gazes with Athan again, knowing that the older vampire was about to start showing his true colors. “No, it’s all right. I was just going to ask Lord Vercilla here to leave.”

  Athan barked a laugh right in Keiran’s face. “You see that? You even let this old dairy cow call you by your foreshortened first name! You’re going to be the king for God’s sake! Start demanding a little respect! You’re not a child anymore! Put your old nursemaid in her place! The whore deserves it!”

  Corina’s eyes widened, and she started to back toward the door, intent on getting Jerris and the guards. Her heart sped up and she felt her hands shaking. She was angered by Athan’s words and was immediately afraid that there was a fight about to break out between the two men. The tension in the room was sickeningly palpable, both vampires’ anger polluting the energy around th
em.

  Athan’s head snapped to the side, picking up on the old woman’s thoughts and feelings. He gave his own growl and raised his right hand, the door to the room slamming shut and locking before she could escape. “You’re not going anywhere. You have a few lessons to learn, even if I have to do it myself. Won’t be the first time, but you’ve always been a stubborn bitch.”

  She jumped and yelped when the door closed at her back, her hands going immediately to the latch, only to find that she couldn’t open it no matter how she tried. Corina turned to face the vampires again, not knowing what to do. Her expression reflected her fear. “Keir…”

  “That’s enough, Athan. I won’t let you treat my people like you did when my father was around! Leave her alone!” Keiran shoved past the last of his trepidation. He reached out with his left hand and grasped Athan’s outstretched arm, wrenching it down. He’d seen plenty of examples of Athan’s telekinetic tricks in the past, and wasn’t rattled by him shutting the door from across the room. Keiran was worried about Corina being subject to any of Athan’s other nasty little games, and he intended to distract him from her. The anger inside of him started to wash outward, and a flush came to his cheeks, fangs now clearly visible as he drew in harsh breaths.

  Athan didn’t react for a second. He gave a small grunt and turned his head toward Keiran. Seeing the prince’s fangs for the first time delighted him on some level, but he had to be put in his place. His left arm came up and he struck Keiran in the side of the head, hard enough to make the other man let go and stagger to the side, hitting the edge of the table. He could still read Keiran’s anger after being struck, it hadn’t faded or been replaced with fear in the least. That was considerably different from the prior times he’d raised his hand against the prince. Without taking his eyes from Keiran, he willed the wine bottle to launch from the table and head straight toward Corina.

  She tried to turn away, but her reactions were slowed from age, and the bottle caught her in the left shoulder. She cried out as it shattered, glass tearing into her flesh, wine and blood staining the door behind her. Corina slid down to the floor, her right hand pressed over where the bottle had struck her. Pained tears appeared in her eyes.