BloodPledge

by Tima Maria Lacoba

  War. The very word frightened me. Alec could be killed. What was the use of having some magic elixir to make me immortal if the only person I wanted to spend eternity with could be taken from me? I didn’t want to consider the possibility: still, I could think of no way to avoid it. If anything were to go wrong and I lost him, I’d empty Antonia’s vial down the sink.

  I took a deep breath and came to a decision. Every minute we spent together would be even more precious. Fingering the vial which hung from my neck, I said, ‘I’d like to go to Alec.’

  ‘He’s not here right now – went to fetch the blood-vault key from his flat and keep it with him.’

  Things were serious if Alec felt the key wasn’t safe in his apartment. Did he really believe the Rebels capable of breaking the sanctity of the princep’s domain? A shiver went through me. Going back to my room was out of the question as all tiredness had left me, and I’d probably end up pacing the carpet bare.

  ‘I’ll wait for him downstairs, in the front room.’

  ‘Why not wait in his room?’ Luc suggested. ‘Come, I’ll take you.’ He grasped my hand. We went down the corridor, past the family rooms, across the landing to the next wing of the house and to the first door on the left. Alec had brought me up here the first time we made love. ‘Since he moved out, he uses it only occasionally.’

  ‘When did he move out?’

  ‘Only recently. Let’s see ....’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Oh yes, nineteen sixty.’

  ‘That’s recent?’

  He chuckled. ‘For our kind, it is.’ Before I could ask anything further, he kissed me lightly on the forehead, turned and left.

  As I went to open the door, I glanced at my ring. The eyes of the serpent changed from red to black. At the same instant Alec’s face flashed into my head.

  I released the handle as if electrocuted, ran down the hallway and called out for Luc.

  Chapter 6 - The Blood-Vault Key

  ALEC

  Laura was safe in the house. I glanced at the serpent ring every few moments to make sure of it. There was only one problem – it was difficult to discern whether it was she or I in immediate danger when the eyes of the serpents darkened. The rings always changed at the same time. I kept one eye on the road, one on the ring and my senses spread wide as I wove through the traffic to my Pitt Street apartment.

  There were three hours left before the Prefects were due to arrive for the Pledging – I had little time to waste. Whoever had fired those white-oak bullets at Karl was out there somewhere. Was it one assassin or more?

  Vampires could normally sense, and even hear each other’s conversations within a three-mile range, but my feeding from an Ingenii doubled that. If he or they were within six miles of me, I’d overhear even the faintest whisper.

  The streets were filled with shoppers, as stores were open longer to cater for the Christmas rush only a week away. I felt several Brethren mingling among the shoppers. The season wasn’t only a feast for humans. With so many tourists flocking into the city in the summer months, it was bumper season for vampires as well – greater choice in the hunt. They would be mesmerising humans into accompanying them into nearby Hyde Park, or into dark corners or alleyways to feed discreetly, before escorting them back.

  Travelling to different cities didn’t relax the rules, and with the knowledge of Maris and Russell’s deaths circulating through the Brethren community, those stipulations had become further pronounced. To reinforce the No Killing rule, I whispered a reminder into the darkness, knowing my words would be heard.

  ‘Remember: hunt but don’t kill.’ It was unnecessary to drain a human of all their blood, as only a few swallows were needed to satisfy a mature blood drinker.

  Several, ‘Yes, princeps,’ came back to me on the night air.

  I eased the car into the basement parking of my apartment building and mentally scanned the immediate area before getting out. None of my kind were nearby. A car drove in and parked in a reserved spot. I knew the driver. He was human – a local businessman who lived directly below me.

  We greeted each other as my private elevator arrived. Only operated by my key, it gave access to my penthouse suite.

  Within minutes, which seemed like hours, I was home and staring at the panoramic night vista of the city. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave an unhindered view of Sydney’s spectacular skyline. Like twinkling stars, the harbour reflected a million lights from the various office buildings along the foreshores.

  I leant my hands against the glass, still warm from the setting sun, and looked out. ‘Hear me, Karl von Czernin’s assassin. I will find you.’ I wanted him to think that Karl was dead.

  Then I caught it. Faint laughter and, ‘Not if I find you first.’

  I clenched my fists. The Australian-accented voice seemed familiar, yet I couldn’t place it. I ran up the steps to my bedroom in the loft. Directly above my bed hung a painting composed entirely of keys. The artist I had commissioned created a scene that could only be recognised from a distance. It was the prefect camouflage.

  Separating the blood-vault key from the rest, I threaded it onto the chain that held my mother’s crucifix and dropped it beneath my shirt. As I made for the elevator, the roar of motorcycles filled my ears. Several Brethren were coming.

  I had only minutes.

  As I got back in the lift, I picked up the presence of at least five individuals.

  ‘C’mon, c’mon,’ I willed the thing to go faster. It would have been quicker if I’d simply scaled down the outside of the building. In the dark, nobody would have seen me.

  The elevator doors slid open, and I raced for the car. Five black motorcycles thundered down the ramp and surrounded me. One slid to a screeching halt inches from my legs. I knew who it was before he removed the helmet.

  Chapter 7 - Back Up

  LAURA

  Luc came hurrying back along the corridor. ‘What is it?’

  I held my hand up, the Serpent Ring facing him. ‘The eyes. Look, they’re black!

  Sam came down the stairs at a run. ‘Laura! What’s wrong?’

  At the same time Karl stuck his head out from one of the rooms down the other end of the hall. ‘Everything okay?’

  ‘Alec’s in danger!’ There was no disguising the panic in my voice. ‘I saw him, in my mind. In a room with a huge window, and ... look.’ I held up my hand to show them the Serpent Ring.

  ‘Hell!’ Sam exclaimed. ‘You have a telepathic link with him?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Try contacting him, ma petite. I’m out of range.’

  I closed my eyes and concentrated on calling out to him with my mind. Alec! Tell me what’s happening. Are you okay?

  Fine, honey. Don’t worry.

  I breathed a sigh of relief, yet whenever he called me honey, it was because he was worried. The first time he did so was at the hospital after Maris had nearly killed me. I’d lost so much blood I had needed a transfusion. I saw you. For a moment there was silence. Then I heard his voice in my head.

  I’m all right, Laura.

  Then why are the serpent’s eyes black? There was another protracted silence.

  Alec? I waited. ‘Alec!’ I shouted.

  Nothing.

  ‘What is it? Tell me.’ My eyes snapped open at Luc’s voice.

  ‘He said he’s fine, but ... something’s wrong.’

  Luc issued orders. ‘Sam, stay here. Secure the house. Laura, ma petite,’ he gripped my upper arms, ‘you are not to venture out for any reason. Do you understand? Stay with your mother. Cal and I will go to Alec.’ He pulled out his phone and speed dialled. ‘Cal, get over to Alec’s right now. There’s trouble. I’ll meet you there.’

  ‘You’ll need weapons,’ Sam said and sped down the hall.

  ‘Where is Alec?’ Karl asked Luc.

  ‘His apartment. He went to fetch ... something.’

  He’d been listening to our exchange, and his eyes darted between Luc, Sam and myself. He knew nothing of the blood vault
.

  ‘I’m coming with you,’ he said.

  Luc turned to him. ‘No! You can’t be seen. You’ve been assassinated, remember? Stay here.’

  ‘There’ll be just you and Cal. What if that’s not enough?’

  Luc hesitated. ‘Only if you cover your face. My men will be in danger if Timur and Rasputin find out you’re still alive.’

  He nodded, sped back to his room and re-emerged in less than a blink wearing a glittery, black Venetian Carnival mask.

  ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding,’ Sam said. He’d returned carrying several swords.

  ‘Hey, it’s the only thing I’ve got and if some goon hadn’t taken a pot shot at me when I arrived, I’d be enjoying a very pleasant pre-Pledging party, wearing this,’ he pointed to the mask, ‘and nothing else.’

  Sam rolled his eyes.

  ‘It’ll do.’ Luc took one sword and handed another to Karl. ‘I presume you know how to use this?’

  Karl balanced the tip of the blade on the end of one finger then swung it proficiently around a couple of times. ‘Nice weight.’

  Luc nodded then turned and hurried down the corridor and out of sight. Karl followed.

  I was left alone with Sam. We both glanced at the serpent ring; its black eyes stared back at us. My stomach hollowed out.

  ‘I can’t stand this.’ I thought about ringing Matt, my ex-boyfriend. He was a police detective. But, then, what could he do? Not only did he have no memory of our relationship, but the existence of vampires in this city had been wiped from his mind as well. What could I tell him? Hey remember me, your ex-girlfriend? My new boyfriend is in danger from rogue vampires. Can you help? He’d probably warn me not to bother him with crank calls. I quickly ditched that idea.

  ‘Look, Judith’s up in the ballroom. Why don’t you join her?’ Sam suggested. ‘It’ll give me the chance to scan the monitors and do a quick perimeter check.’

  What else could I do? ‘I’ll let her know what’s going on.’

  ‘No need. Luc briefed her on his way out.’

  Vampire hearing, I thought. If I had a Christmas wish, that would be it.

  As we made our way back down, I tried to reach Alec telepathically, but all I got was silence. Was he deliberately blocking me?

  Judy met me at the bottom of the stairs, leaving Sam to do whatever it was he had to do. ‘He’ll be all right, dear,’ she assured me. ‘Alec is strong and capable.’

  ‘I keep trying to reach him, but there’s no response.’

  ‘If he’s in a tricky situation, he can’t afford to be distracted.’

  Like fighting for his life, maybe? I couldn’t keep the thought at bay.

  She ushered me into her personal sitting room, and onto one of the plush sage-green sofa chairs. The Roman blinds were half-lowered, allowing a view of the night-lit garden beyond. If I weren’t so anxious, I’d be more admiring of it’s fairy-tale appearance.

  ‘Take this, dear.’ Judy handed me a shot of brandy.

  At this rate I’d get addicted to the stuff. Like my father, my mother believed in the curative properties of certain types of alcohol, and brandy was the family favourite. I swallowed, and the warmth of the liquid travelled through me. Pity it didn’t alleviate the worry.

  ‘Is this my future?’ I asked. ‘Constantly worrying about him being in danger? How did you stand it all these years with Luc?’

  She gave me a sympathetic look. ‘I learned to trust in Providence. Que sera, sera, as they say. What will happen will happen, and no amount of worry will change anything.’ Judy leaned across to me and placed her hand over mine. ‘I believe the Pledge tonight will help alleviate most of your concerns and guarantee your safety. After the last one, about four-hundred years ago, there was no further trouble.’

  ‘Then here’s to midnight.’ I raised the glass in a salute, swallowed the last drop of brandy then placed it on the coffee table and headed for the door.

  ‘Laura, where are you going?’

  ‘To Alec’s room, to wait for him.’ The nervous tension was getting to me. If I couldn’t be with him, then at least I could be in a place where I could feel his presence.

  ‘Not a good idea, dear. Being by yourself right now isn’t going to help either you or Alec.’ She rose from her sofa chair, came to me and hooked her arm around mine. ‘Come up to the ballroom. There’s someone I’d like you to meet. She’s been helping me complete preparations up there.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Wait and see.’ She gave me an enigmatic smile. ‘I wanted to introduce you when she arrived, but you were busy with Luc.’

  I really wasn’t in the mood, but maybe she was right. What would I do in Alec’s room, apart from pace and worry myself sick? Perhaps a distraction was what I needed.

  She placed her palm on my chest, directly over the spot where Antonia’s vial sat nestled beneath my robe. ‘I’m glad he told you everything. And when the time comes, at least you’ll have a choice.’

  He must have mentioned the vial to her on his way out.

  ‘It’s not fair ... you and Luc.’

  ‘Life’s not fair, dear, but I’ve been loved by the best man in the world for fifty years, and that’s more than most women can say.’ She squeezed my arm. ‘Now, no more morbid thoughts.’

  Her arm still linked in mine, Judy and I made our way up the two flights of marble stairs, which led to the ballroom at the very top. I tried not to glance at the serpent ring on my other hand, for fear the eyes were still black. I sent up a quick prayer as we stepped through the open mirrored doors and gasped at the opulence that greeted me.

  Chapter 8 - Gathering Storm

  ALEC

  A black-attired cohort formed a circle around me, revving their bikes till the fumes of their engines bounced off the low ceiling. If it was meant to intimidate, it wasn’t working.

  Alec! Tell me what’s happening. Are you okay? Laura’s voice filled my mind.

  For a heart-stopping second I thought she was here, despite no sense of her physical presence – her voice was only in my head. Without taking my eyes from their black-helmeted leader, I casually raised my right arm and leaned it on top of my car.

  From that position I saw that the serpent’s eyes had darkened. Its twin on Laura’s hand would show the same. I nearly swore. Why hadn’t I checked? But at least she was safe. Fine, honey. Don’t worry.

  I saw you.

  She could see me? The rings must be increasing the telepathic bond between us. The last thing I wanted was her worrying about me. I’m all right, Laura.

  Then why are the eyes black?

  How could I tell her I was face-to-face with a hired assassin and he wasn’t alone?

  Alec?

  I longed to respond, but it would only serve to worry her more.

  Laura’s panicked voice screamed in my head again. I blocked it from my mind.

  The leader removed his helmet, perched it on the handle bar of his motorbike and looked at me contemptuously from his seat. The others did the same. I did a quick scan – two women, three men. I knew them. Locals. Last time I saw them had been at the Ritual. Their leader was Roger Stockton. He’d been transformed less than thirty years ago. Unfortunately, with his sire dead, he was out of servitude and out of control.

  The Elders should have appointed him a new master, but with the recent disruptions, had neglected to do so, and now it was too late. By attempting to assassinate a prefect, and being in possession of white-oak bullets, Stockton had signed his own death warrant.

  ‘I’m here to relay a message,’ he sneered.

  ‘And for that you need company?’ I indicated the hostile group that ringed me.

  ‘You think I’d be fool enough to face you on my own? Oh no, princeps, you should be flattered I brought so many.’ He stroked his dark goatee and smiled. ‘They’re here to see me deliver my message.’

  Some nodded. Others smiled and leaned on their handlebars. I tried to appear calm as he rose and stood before me. He was carrying whit
e-oak. I could smell it on him, although in what form it was difficult to tell.

  I leaned back against my car and masked my emotions. It takes only a fragment of the stuff to kill a vampire. I was determined that wasn’t going to happen, especially now. For the first time in decades, I had something, someone to live for. ‘Whose messenger boy are you?’

  He stood and stared at me. The smile left his face. I guessed he didn’t like being called a messenger boy. Too bad. Either that, or ... ‘They’re that scared, huh?’

  His mouth tightened. ‘Rasputin’s not scared of you. He’s sick of you, as we all are, with your sanctimonious rules toward the humans.’

  There were murmurs of agreement from his companions. I ignored them and focused on Stockton. My jibe had forced the answer out of him. Karl had been right about Rasputin, and it wouldn’t have surprised me if Timur had a hand in this, too.

  ‘He said we’re gods. Immortal and superior to humans in every way,’ one of the men called out. ‘It’s not wrong for us to kill!’

  ‘Even so-called gods are not above our laws,’ I said.

  ‘We didn’t make them. The Elders did. Rasputin’s right,’ one of the women said. ‘He understands what we are, and the fact we need the freedom to hunt and kill. The right you’ve denied us.’

  ‘The hunt wasn’t denied you, only the kill.’

  ‘What’s the thrill in that? It’s our nature,’ she said.

  ‘Excuse me if I misunderstood, but I thought you said you were a god, not an animal.’

  Her eyes blazed, and she rose from her motorbike. I could taste the tension swirling around the group.

  The woman next to her reached out and pulled her back down. ‘We heard the Ingenii’s blood is poison. Is that true?’ she asked.

  I was expecting that. Vampires can’t lie to each other. Truth has its own scent as does a lie. Were I to lie, they’d smell it immediately.