Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down

by Lisa Olsen

  “Isn’t that an interesting development,” Rob muttered beside me.

  I knew she’d intended to get something going with Bishop again, but frankly it surprised me to see her successful at it so soon after his words on the plane. “She could do worse,” I shrugged, trying to sound as disinterested as possible. It was none of my business. “I should go talk to him before things get started, I want to ask him about how things are going with the Order down here.”

  “Is that so.” His tone of voice left me to guess he doubted my reasons for talking to Bishop.

  “Yes, I think it’s an important concern. That’s why he came back with us, after all, to help settle things down.”

  “If you say so, miss,” he said mildly. “Looks like it’ll have to wait for another time though.”

  By the time I looked back over there, I couldn’t spot either Bishop or Laveda in the crowd. Had they left already? Why’d they even bother to show in the first place? With an effort, I smoothed away the lines in my forehead. “It’s no big deal, I’ll find someone else to ask about it.” Only there wasn’t a single member of the Order in attendance, from what I could see.

  “Anja, you will join me now.” Jakob tugged at my arm, and I gave Rob a rueful smile.

  “Duty calls.”

  What followed was the most mind-numbingly boring time I’d had since calculus in college. I wanted to go and explore the venue, look backstage, all those things I’d thought about doing the last time I was there, but Jakob kept me glued to his side the entire time. And it wasn’t like anyone talked about interesting stuff either. No one wanted to talk about social reform or even what was happening this season on Castle. All they wanted to do was compete for the best spot up Jakob’s… well, you get the idea.

  It only got interesting after he openly spoke about banishing the Order from Vetis, and then it was like that was the only thing people talked about. All manner of theories surfaced as to what would happen if they were ever banished from the West as well. Most sounded scared to death of what that could mean for society as we knew it, but there were murmurs out there, those supporting the idea that the Order’s time had passed.

  Cordelia approached the lone microphone on the stage, and the lights dimmed as Felix appeared by my side. “It’s time,” he whispered.

  I half expected Jakob to come with me, but only Felix, Rob and Gunnar accompanied me, Gunnar hovering by the wings while Rob escorted me to the center of the stage. Felix retrieved a small bundle from a table off stage then loped out to join us, his dimples winking like crazy.

  “Thank you for all coming to this most historic event,” Cordelia began, all smiles. “I would ask you all to take a glass now, while we prepare for the blooding.”

  There was quite a lot of milling about as glasses were circulated through the room, not only from the pretty pyramid display up front, but from trays produced by the bars in the corners. I hoped like hell they all planned on a tiny sip or they’d end up bleeding me dry before everyone in the room had a taste.

  While this was going on, Felix carefully unwrapped the cloth bundle in his hands, producing a short dagger, thick like a dirk, with a handle carved out of bone. He handed it to Cordelia, who held it up for those gathered to see.

  “We honor a new Elder today, long may she reign.”

  “Long may she reign,” the crowd repeated as one.

  “We gift her with our allegiance, our devotion, and our lives, if need be. In return, she gifts us with her leadership, her strength, and her blood.” She held her hand out for mine, and I tried not to wince as the dagger drew across my wrist. She left it there, the metal embedded in my flesh to keep the wound open as the blood ran down the tip and into the fountain. It turned the champagne a ruddy pink, illuminated by the fountain. The idea of drinking it still turned my stomach, and when Jakob appeared on the stage, I could see he found it distasteful as well.

  “Enough of this frippery,” he scowled, snatching up the dagger and returning it to Felix. Before I could so much as close my mouth, he hopped down to the floor below, upending the well of tainted champagne at the base of the fountain onto the hardwood floor, while everybody stared at him, aghast.

  “We shall do this as it was done in days of old,” he declared, setting the large basin back on the table again. “Come here, child,” he said, beckoning to a human in the crowd I didn’t recognize. She was young, eighteen at the most, her dark hair shaped into a pixie cut which flattered her elfin face. She approached hesitantly at first, but I soon recognized the blank look that accompanied his compulsion.

  He pressed his lips to her forehead, in a benediction of sorts, before raising her slender wrist to his mouth. I expected pretty words or some kind of ceremony, but all he did was bite deep into her arm, pulling at her pulse once… twice… before holding her torn flesh over the bowl, where the blood poured out swiftly. The girl didn’t make a sound, her doe-like eyes trained on Jakob the entire time as the crowd watched, transfixed by the scent of spilled blood in the air. He caught her to him, holding her close, murmuring endearments as her life’s blood emptied into the basin.

  It was too much. Was I the only person listening to the shudder of her heart as it struggled to pump while her blood pressure dropped? “Jakob…” I tried to get his attention softly at first, but he ignored me completely. “Jakob, she’ll die.”

  Jakob merely stroked her face, closing her eyelids as she started to swoon. “And her sacrifice will be noted.”

  I started forward, prepared to wrench her out of his arms and offer her some of my blood before it was too late, but Rob laid a restraining hand on her arm. “She’ll die,” I repeated, for his ears only, and all Rob replied with was a barely perceptible shake of the head. I understood him loud and clear.

  Yes, she would die, and there wasn’t a gorram thing I could do about it. There was no way I could stand up to Jakob strength-wise, and if I started a fight, there was no telling how the crowd would react with the scent of fresh blood in the air. All I could do was stand by and watch as her heartbeat grew slower, and fainter, until it rattled and stopped, the only sound the drip of blood from her wrist until he set her gently aside.

  Twice more he repeated the procedure, singling out a human from the crowd and summoning them to the base of the stage. The second was a big, burly guy I’d seen working as a bouncer at Smoke and Mirrors before. The third, another girl, Stacy something… she belonged to Mr. Vaughn, who watched with glittering eyes, his emotions unreadable as Jakob drained his companion to the point of death.

  When the bowl was filled with thick, dark blood, Jakob turned to address the crowd. “You are all as children, but I will raise you up and make your nation great. All things are possible, through my blood.” He bit savagely at his own wrist, the potent blood flowing into the basin to mix with the humans’. When the flow stopped to a trickle, he waved the closest person forward, who happened to be Durand. “Drekka,” Jakob bade him, filling a glass with the mixture and offering a single drink like a priest administering holy communion.

  “By your blood,” Durand acknowledged, swallowing as though it was the finest ambrosia he’d ever tasted. One by one they queued up to do the same. No pushing, no crowding, the room curiously subdued as they waited for their taste.

  “By your blood,” was repeated by one and all, with Jakob nodding his approval. No one gave even a second glance at the bodies slumped behind him. When they were done, the music came back on and it was party like it’s 1999, with no thought to the rest of the ceremony.

  I took the opportunity to slip away as Jakob was surrounded by admirers, hiding among the dark curtains backstage. Rob joined me a few seconds later, keeping a respectful distance as I got a hold of my emotions before edging closer.

  “You alright?”

  “What do you think?” I sniffed, wishing I had a tissue.

  “I think it’s not a good time to show a tender heart. You’re the Elder now.”

  “That doesn’t mean I support
the murder of innocent humans.”

  “They knew the lifestyle they was choosing when they became feeders, that hardly makes ‘em innocent.”

  “Really? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure they thought they were coming to a mixer tonight. The biggest danger should’ve been high cholesterol from hot cheese.”

  Rob acknowledged that with a short nod, inching closer still, his voice pitched low. “Alls I’m saying is choose your battles carefully. Making a scene here and embarrassing him ain’t the right way to go about it.”

  “Oh, I’m not through with this battle, not by a long shot,” I vowed in a fevered whisper. Jakob would get an earful before the night was through.

  “Hot damn, that was something special, wasn’t it?” Felix made his way through the part in the curtains to find me.

  “It was something alright,” I grumbled, more than a little annoyed by his giddy mood.

  “What’s the matter, didn’t you enjoy the show?”

  “Is that all it was to you? A show?”

  “Yeah, in a manner of speaking, a show of power.”

  “Jakob completely hijacked my inauguration. That was supposed to be my blood they tasted tonight as a symbol of my leadership.”

  “Right… but he’s the top dog. We all owe allegiance to him first.”

  “And don’t even get me started about the people he killed,” I snapped, and Felix held his hands up, recovering his grin.

  “Don’t sweat it, boss, I’m already on top of it. The bodies are being taken care of as we speak.”

  “Really not what I meant, Felix.” I had to clench my hands into tight fists to fight the urge to hit something. Many somethings. I shook my hands out, trying to let go of the anger and tension before I did something rash.

  Felix noticed my strange behavior and I could feel him staring at me, trying to think up something to say next, when he remembered what he’d come back to do. “Oh, here’s your ring back. Sorry we didn’t get to present it to you. Gee, is that what’s got you so sore?” he asked with the sudden realization.

  “Yes, Felix, that’s exactly why I’m feeling peeved at the moment,” I said in a complete monotone. “There’s nothing that bugs me more than a missed presentation.”

  Felix swallowed uncomfortably in the face of my bizarre behavior by his standards. He backed away to the stage entrance, watching me warily. “I’ll go see to the um… whatever.”

  “Uh huh, you go do that,” I ground out, my anger targeting the boneheaded vamp in front of me until he’d retreated to a safe distance. “Do you believe that guy? None of them have a clue as to what’s wrong about tonight’s spectacle.”

  Rob laid a single hand on my arm. “Calm down, miss. No need to get your knickers in a knot.”

  “I’ll have knotted knickers if I want to,” I snapped irritably. He smirked at that, and I bit back my own smile, not wanting to give into it. But the simple touch had the desired effect and I could feel some of my anger seeping away. “This is a disaster, Rob. How can I begin my term in office with a start like this?”

  “I ain’t so sure that’s what’s been started tonight.”

  My voice dropped to a whisper, even though I was fairly certain no one gave a rat’s behind what we were talking about. “Do you think Jakob means to take over the West?”

  Rob’s lips compressed into a tight line as he considered the question, worry deeply etching his features. “All things are possible through his blood.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I think that went swimmingly well, don’t you?” Jakob laid back against the plush, leather seat of the limousine with a self satisfied sigh.

  “Oh, now you’re interested in my opinion? What a novel idea for you,” I muttered, unable to keep it inside after saying less than ten words in the past hour. I’d taken Rob’s advice to heart and bitten my lip against speaking out against Jakob in public, but all bets were off now.

  Jakob’s brows twitched together as he started to get an inkling that I wasn’t having such a peachy time. “Something troubles you? You shouldn’t be concerned about the reports of unrest. There is always unrest when there is change. It will be far less here than in Vetis. Don’t trouble yourself, petal.” He patted my knee in a familiar way. “Allow yourself to enjoy the victory.”

  “And what victory would that be?”

  “Your triumph as Elder, of course.”

  “Sure, because tonight was all about me,” I murmured, looking out the window.

  Jakob was less than apologetic, offering a careless shrug. “I warned you, there would be much of an impact when I stepped into the light again. Try to enjoy it, there are benefits to being my consort.”

  “Name one.”

  “I should have thought that would be self evident.” His predatory grin stretched wide as he slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “Come back with me to my home tonight. I will show you what benefits there are to be had by my side.” Jakob’s voice was all silky seduction, but I shoved him away, my anger bubbling higher.

  “Are you kidding me, after what you pulled tonight?” Did he not know me at all? Jakob stared at me, completely taken aback and I forged on when he didn’t speak. “You expect me to get all cozy with you after you murdered three people right in front of me? And don’t you dare say a word about their sacrifice, it’s not like you gave them any choice in the matter.”

  Jakob recovered his voice, defending himself against the venom in my words. “I shared a ritual with your people in your honor.”

  “There wasn’t anything honorable about what you did tonight. You made it all about you, your grand gesture to the little people, sharing your blood with them. Do you have any idea the kind of message you gave them?”

  His chin came up with absolute authority. “That I will make this petty land strong, to rival the most powerful Houses in the world.”

  “Is that what you’ve been planning this whole time? To forge a new empire, or whatever you want to call it?”

  “I hadn’t planned to step forward at all, but I had little choice when I was required to save your lovely neck, did I?” His head canted to one side, with a penetrating stare.

  Okay, so maybe it was my fault he’d been pushed out into the open, but that didn’t mean he had to go down the path he’d chosen. “You could’ve whisked us in and out of there if you wanted to. No one would’ve been the wiser.”

  “That would have left you on the run. I’ve been living in the shadows for too long, I couldn’t abide that life for you.”

  “At what cost? Destroying the life I’ve made for myself so far? You’ve made a mockery of everything I stand for.”

  “I’ve done nothing but add to your power base and your reputation.” He was starting to get angry now, but I couldn’t back down.

  “That’s not the kind of reputation I want.”

  “A true leader must be revered but also feared.”

  “No, that’s the definition of a true tyrant.”

  “Tyrant or not, it is my right to rule as I see fit.”

  “Is that what you’re doing then? Taking over the West?” Why didn’t I see it coming? The way he’d held court in Vetis, staying behind to conduct his business. The stunt with the blood shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

  “I see the heart of the matter,” Jakob said with a knowing smile. “You fear I am wresting away all of your power – that is not so. You may have your paltry kingdom, but all will swear their ultimate allegiance to me. I will make this nation great for you, so none may destroy it.”

  “Who do you expect to come knocking on our door? We had years of peace while you were away. No one gave us any trouble.”

  “But neither did they take you seriously. I don’t understand your upset, you began this. You declared war on Vetis, I am merely taking steps to make you great enough to defend yourselves.”

  “I didn’t declare war, I cut ties with them, those are two very different t
hings. And I hardly think Aubrey’s going to have Vetis vamps on our doorstep anytime soon. He’s got his own problems since you got rid of the Order there.”

  Jakob laid a hand on my shoulder. “You must stop looking in the short term and start to grasp the end game. That is the difference between us. You still view things in human terms.”

  “Yes, I do.” Why couldn’t he see that as a good thing? “This is the world we live in, and I think it’s important to remember.”

  “You are wrong. Fortunately, you have me to protect you when you come to that realization.”

  Could he be any more condescending? I sputtered beside him, trying to think of the right thing to say to put him in his place, but I came up with nothing. It was clear to me there wasn’t anything I could say to change his mind, his opinion had taken centuries to take form. “Take me home,” I said quietly, admitting defeat for the time being.

  He took on a cajoling tone, his hand massaging at my shoulder. “The night is still young. Let us leave off these minor differences and enjoy it together.”

  “No, thank you. I have work I need to catch up on since I’ve been away. Rob?” I met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Please, take me home.”

  It killed me that Rob didn’t answer right away, instead he looked to Jakob for approval. At Jakob’s nod, he changed the direction of the car. “Right away, miss,” Rob said briskly.

  “In time you’ll come around,” Jakob said, with absolute certainty.

  I hope to hell you’re wrong about that, I managed to keep on the inside.

  *

  I wasn’t lying about having work to do. While the majority of the vamps in town were still partying until dawn, I took the opportunity to sit at my desk without the phone going nuts for once. Only I couldn’t focus on work, mostly I sat there staring off into space, thinking about where the night had gone wrong and how to possibly salvage it.