I inched forward for a closer view. That’s when the smell of tobacco hit me. I groped the wall, located the light switch and turned it on. Stretched out on a chestnut-coloured settee, with his head facing away from me, cigarette between his fingers was the last person I expected to see – the Czech Prefect, Karl von ... something.
‘You can come in. I’m not going to bite.’ He chuckled. ‘Not yet anyway.’
I didn’t dare venture any further regardless of whether he was joking or not. We’d only been introduced less than an hour ago and even if my father and Alec knew him, he still might turn against them. I’d already had some experience of that. On impulse, I glanced at the serpent ring on my hand. The eyes turned black if anything was wrong, and right now, they glowed a healthy ruby-red. The Ring sensed no danger. Karl was okay.
‘Impressive, isn’t it?’ he drawled.
‘What? Oh, yes!’ He was referring to the ensemble before us.
He blew smoke from between his lips. ‘Belonged to Marcus Antonius.’
That aroused my interest. Luc, my father, had revealed Marcus’s story to me, and the beginnings of my family legacy, but to see the tangible evidence of his former life in stark reality was something else.
I could have stood there and stared, but my curiosity overcame my reticence and I ventured into the room, my bare feet padding lightly across the deep-burgundy carpet.
It was indeed a library. Shelves filled with books – some appeared very old, if their peeling leather-bound covers were anything to go by – lined all four walls. Positioned between each bookstand were a number of padded benches. The three-seater settee on which Karl lounged was on my right and angled toward the back wall where Marcus Antonius’s armour hung.
‘What’s on the stand?’ I asked.
‘His chronicle.’
‘The original?’ It would be the manuscript of the century if that were the case.
‘Don’t think so. Probably a copy.’
He finally turned his head and looked at me. My cheeks burned as he scrutinised me from head to toe. I was glad I’d slipped the robe on before leaving my room.
‘I, um, came out to find a book. Didn’t expect anyone to be up here,’ I finished awkwardly.
He drew on the cigarette, sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. ‘Yes, well. I’m supposed to be dead.’
‘You mean undead?’
His chortle filled the silence. ‘Depends on your interpretation.’ He took a slim gold case from his hip pocket, stubbed out the cigarette and flicked the butt into a nearby wastepaper basket. ‘Let’s just say that someone found my existence a hindrance and tried to rectify the situation this evening. So, here I am – safe and bored.’
‘You can’t leave the house?’
‘Unless I want to join the ranks of the dead undead.’ He gave me a wide grin.
I couldn’t help smiling back, feeling at ease with him. ‘That’s tough.’
‘Yep, and it interferes with my social life. Not exactly what I’d planned for my pre-Pledge night’s entertainment.’ He lifted one eyebrow suggestively.
I could imagine what he had in mind. Karl was another one of those unnaturally attractive men who was irresistible to women. Collar-length, straight dark hair contrasted vividly with his lavender eyes – bedroom eyes – that were fringed by long, ebony lashes – he was every woman’s fantasy.
Thankfully I already had my own awesome man, so I could appreciate Karl’s charms without succumbing to them. I shuddered what would happen if he, Terens and Sam ever went out on a triple date. Heaven help the women of Sydney!
I looked away from him and focused on the armour. Up close, I could see the chain mail had discoloured with age, as had the bronze helmet. The sword gleamed dully in the light, its edges nicked and dented. Was it the result of age or neglect? Perhaps Marcus Antonius hated the memory of the day he was cursed, or the circumstances that brought him there. I could only guess. Yet by its very presence, those three pieces acted as a constant reminder of that very thing.
‘Why is it here?’ I asked. ‘Not locked away somewhere safe?’
He glanced up at the wall, then back at me. ‘I ’spose they could do that between Elder inductions, but ....’ He shrugged.
‘What are they?’
‘Whenever an Elder needs to be replaced, the prospective candidate is brought in here where they read aloud from Marcus’s Chronicle and familiarise themselves with the terms of the Curse. Then swear to uphold the Principate.’
I didn’t bother to ask how he knew that. I just assumed it was common knowledge in his world, as is the swearing in of political leaders in mine.
‘Go ahead. Have a look. It isn’t out of bounds.’ He leaned back against the settee, hands behind his head and watched me intently as I moved to the lectern.
‘Are you old enough to be an Elder?’ I asked.
He laughed. ‘Unfortunately. Never been tempted, though. Got plenty to keep me occupied at home.’
I walked around to the front of the lectern to see Marcus’s Chronicle for myself. Resting on the golden platform, like some massive, old church Bible, was a large red leather book. The figure of a coiled golden serpent with blood-red eyes was emblazoned on the front. Encircling the whole, in vivid gold cursive lettering, ran a Latin inscription.
I had a feeling it could be the words of the curse that condemned Marcus and his men to a blood-sucking existence.
I slid my fingers along the figure of the serpent, almost expecting ... what? Some magic tingle? Since learning the truth about my birthright, I’d had to accept the reality of magic – the serpent ring on my finger was ample proof of that. However, there was no hint of anything. Marcus’s Chronicle was just an ordinary book. I don’t know why I felt disappointment.
‘Can anyone open it?’ I asked.
‘Sure.’
I carefully turned back the cover, knowing full well it wouldn’t be written in English. It was, after all, the chronicle of Roman Commander Marcus Antonius Pulcher, presumably in his native language – Latin.
A quick perusal of the first few pages proved me right. It was a hand written script in black ink, and along the margins, Marcus had drawn figures in Roman uniform as well as an image of a female, arms upraised, hair flowing about her like a halo.
I sucked in my breath. The female could be none other than the witch, Eithne.
‘Can you read Latin?’ I asked Karl.
‘Of course!’
Well, of course he could, I thought. He’s probably old enough to know who-knows-how-many languages.
‘Let me know if you want me to read it for you.’
‘That’s okay. Luc told me the story when I saw the images on the stained-glass window on the landing.’
He nodded. ‘He should know, considering he’s in it.’
‘What do you mean?’ I glanced up from the book.
‘He’s Marcus Antonius’s son, one of the twins. Didn’t you know?’
I stared at him open mouthed. My father, Lucien Lebrettan, was ... is Lucius? The knowledge went through me like an electric jolt. Why, that would make him nearly – I did the quick maths in my head – eighteen-hundred years old and therefore, next to Marcus, one of the oldest beings in existence. Why hadn’t he told me? I thought back to his words, only now realising how cryptic and evasive his answers had been. Why had he been so reluctant to tell me? What was so terrible?
Karl unwound his arms from behind his head and sat up. ‘I thought you knew.’
I shook my head.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Just don’t say it came from me. If he was keeping it secret for some reason, my telling you won’t endear me to him, if you know what I mean.’ Just as he spoke, he straightened and swivelled his head toward the door. He groaned.
I didn’t have to second-guess what was going on. Vampire hearing. He’d been overheard, and sure enough, the door opened. Luc stood there, glaring at Karl, his fists clenched by his side.
‘Leave us.’
Luc held up his hand, but said no more. Karl quietly left the room.
My father faced me, his expression changing from anger to concern. ‘You should not have heard it from him.’
‘It’s true, then?’
He stepped into the room and closed the door. ‘I planned on telling you later. You had enough to cope with, ma petite.’
Couldn’t argue with that. My world had changed on learning the truth about my family heritage, and the significant part I played in it. I’d lived in blissful ignorance for many years, unaware of the existence of vampires and my family’s unique bloodline. Maybe he was right about it being too much too soon.
He remained motionless by the door, hesitant, probably wondering how I was going to absorb this recent shocker.
‘Does mother know?’
‘Of course. I hide nothing from her.’
I raised my eyebrows. He’d kept Jean-Philippe’s relationship from her. ‘What about Jean-Philippe?’
‘Ah. Apart from that one,’ he said with an apologetic air. ‘And that’s because I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to worry her; make her uncomfortable in his presence.’
Okay, I could accept that. ‘That makes Marcus Antonius my grandfather.’
‘Yes, ma petite.’
I closed my eyes and tried to come to terms with that.
‘Perhaps you had better sit down,’ he said, indicating the settee Karl had vacated.
‘Do you want to bring out the brandy?’ I asked with a half smile as I sat down.
He visibly relaxed and sat next to me. ‘Am I forgiven?’
‘For what?’
His face broke into an infectious grin and I had difficulty in reconciling Luc, my father, with Lord Lucien, the man who instilled fear into others of his kind. They seemed two different creatures. This Luc looked relieved I wasn’t angry.
‘I’ve lived a long time, my Laura; many lifetimes, and I’ve accumulated many secrets. They’ve kept me alive over the centuries.’
I nodded. A vampire would have to change his identity every human lifetime for fear of discovery, even his place of residence. I wondered how many houses he owned around the world.
‘That must be hard.’
He shrugged. ‘When there is no other way, it becomes the way.’
It occurred to me, that in all probability, the same might be awaiting me, as he and Alec believed I may have inherited a vampire’s lifespan. ‘Is that what I’m facing?’
His smile faded. ‘Perhaps. I’m not sure how you’ll be affected when the curse is lifted.’
I felt myself pale. ‘You think my blood’ll become normal and I’ll age and die? But ... Alec won’t?’ The sudden urge to panic swept over me. I already knew Marcus Antonius, my father, his men, and Alec would be given the choice, either to remain in vampire form or become human again. The problem with the latter is they would die within minutes as all those years of their existence caught up with them. So, where did that leave me? Would I be given a choice? Or would my blood automatically revert to normal and I would age in an instant? ‘Oh, Papa!’
‘No! It doesn’t have to be that way, ma petite.’
‘But how can you prevent it, unless you let the curse continue?’
He rose, took hold of my hands and drew me up. ‘Come, there’s something I want to show you.’
He led me to the wall behind the lectern, on which hung the chain mail, helmet and sword.
‘Only our immediate circle know about this,’ he said, and raising his right hand, he inserted his ring – also in the shape of a serpent, but with green eyes – into a cavity directly below the sword, which was invisible until you got close enough. He twisted his wrist to the left. With a click, the entire panel swung open and revealed a hidden safe.
He leaned in and withdrew a white box. As he turned back to me I saw it was made from a solid block of alabaster.
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘Antonia liked it too. I still remember the day she bought it.’ With one hand he closed Marcus’s Chronicle and placed the box on top.
Antonia had died about eighteen-hundred years ago. She was Luc’s twin and therefore, my aunt. The knowledge made my head swim.
Luc opened the box. I gasped. Lying in a bed of white silk was a small, oval multi-faceted, red gemstone. Its polished surface winked seductively in the overhead light. A golden serpent’s head crowned the apex: attached to it was a delicate gold chain.
My father lifted the pendant and held it before me. ‘This garnet vial contains several drops of blood from Antonia, Marcus and me. You have only to drink it and your lifespan will be the same as mine.’
I stared at it in fascinated silence. A faint pulse of light appeared to throb within its very heart.
‘Ah, it recognises its owner,’ he said. ‘It originally belonged to my sister, and now it belongs to you.’
‘But, why me? Surely you’d prefer mother to be with you forever?’
His eyes saddened. ‘I offered it to her many years ago, ma petit. But the blood didn’t respond to her as it does to you. We knew then, it wasn’t meant for her.’
I didn’t need to imagine the pain he must be feeling as he faced a future that would not include my mother. But Judy had mentioned she and Luc had made special arrangements for when the time was near. Maybe he had no intention of remaining without her, but that was something I didn’t want to pursue. If my parents were not destined to spend millennia together in this lifetime, they were offering me the chance instead. Should my blood revert to normal once the curse is lifted, at least Alec and I will not be faced with the same heart-breaking situation.
‘I believe it was always meant for you. Antonia gave it to me before she died.’
‘Why didn’t she take it?’
‘Her second husband loved her very much, and she couldn’t bear the thought of eternity without him.’
Tears stung my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘I want you to be happy. Promise me you’ll wear this always and when the time comes, you’ll drink it.’ Luc spread the chain and dropped it over my head so that the garnet vial rested between my breasts. ‘Promise me, ma petite.’
Even though blood didn’t figure high on my list of culinary delights, if it meant I could be with Alec forever, I’d drink it. ‘I promise.’
He briefly closed his eyes and gave a satisfied sigh. ‘Good. Your children will be free, and you and Alec will have eternity together.’
‘What about Alec’s position as Princeps? Won’t that end as well?’ If my blood no longer had the power to keep him strong, he’d be in danger of losing, not just his position but also his life.
‘I’ve had a long time to prepare. The Principate cannot end, as it’s the only thing that stands between humanity and the worst of our kind.’
‘How?’
Luc picked up the alabaster box and placed it back in the safe. As he swung the door closed, Marcus Antonius’s armour once again dominated the wall space, the opening hidden.
He turned to me. ‘My Laura, only our family is privileged with this knowledge. As my daughter, you have the right to know.’
My eyes widened. ‘Perhaps you shouldn’t tell me. What if I accidently blurt it out?’ Like I had done to Matt when Alec first transformed in front of me. That seemed so long ago now.
He placed his hands on my shoulders. ‘You are the reason I’m doing all this. Therefore, you should know.’ He dropped his hands, and from beneath his shirt, pulled out a long, golden chain from which a small key dangled. ‘This unlocks a vault containing thousands of vials of blood – such as the one I’ve given you – gathered from Ingenii over the centuries. It’s in the wine cellar beneath the house, but it’s only a fraction of the amount I’ve stored in my chateau in France. It will give us the necessary advantage to defeat any rebellion.’
‘Alec told me.’
<
br /> ‘Did he now?’ Luc raised an eyebrow.
For a moment I wondered if I shouldn’t have mentioned it. My father’s secrets were being revealed to me by others, depriving him of the opportunity. ‘Don’t be angry with him, Papa. I suggested he take samples of my blood for storage in case everything goes back to normal. He only said you’d already done something similar.’
Luc shook his head. ‘I’m not angry, ma petite. Alec was right to tell you. There should be no secrets between you.’
I gave a sigh of relief, not because I was afraid he’d berate Alec, but it meant there were no more surprises I’d have to deal with, except one. ‘What happens when your supply runs out?’
‘By then it won’t matter.’ He shrugged. ‘The Rebels will be dead and the rest will have taken the Pledge.’
I shook my head in wonder. He’d thought of everything. Yet, a small, inner voice refused to accept it could be that simple, for even the most meticulous of plans could encounter the unexpected.
Luc patted my cheek and smiled. ‘Don’t look so worried. Everything will turn out well.’
‘I hope so.’ Another thought occurred to me. ‘If there’s only one key, and something were to happen to you—’
‘If, and that’s a big if, Marcus has a key. So do your mother and Alec. Three must be inserted simultaneously for the locking mechanism to release – in case one should go missing.’
I nodded. The famous line from The Three Musketeers came to mind – All for one and one for all. For a second I wondered if my father had known Alexander Dumas. I wouldn’t have been surprised.
‘Now you know all, ma petite. No secrets left.’
I leaned over and kissed my father’s cheek. ‘Thank you for trusting me with something so important.’
‘How could I not? This doesn’t affect just me.’
‘You really expect trouble?’
He nodded. ‘It’s already begun.’
My mouth went dry at his words. I’d never been faced with a dangerous situation before, especially one involving my family. Yet, here I was, the centrepiece of a possible vampire war that could result in the death of those I loved. And there was no way the police could intervene. This was a non-human affair; a parallel world humans didn’t know even existed – a war waging beneath their noses.
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