A Darker Crimson

by Carolyn Jewel

  Wherever he was in Crimson City, and inside her, Lath rose, howling.

  “Claudia,” Tiber said. “You are mine.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Good evening.” Tiber bent his head and kissed Claudia’s ear. She smelled of roses, real roses this time. Her daughter was asleep in another room and at last, he had her to himself. They had a great deal to talk about. Holly’s status as half-demon was long settled and of no importance to him. He didn’t give a damn what Fly-Low and Garath had done to Claudia ten years ago. Not unless it affected her today.

  Claudia wore an overlong tee-shirt and a pair of grey socks. He still hadn’t taken her shopping: there hadn’t been time for that yet. He’d bought a few things online, the essentials, which he considered to be things silk, slinky and not very big. He hoped she was at least wearing the underwear. She looked up from her book and raised her chin for another kiss. He was more than happy to oblige.

  “How’d it go with the Primary Assembly?” she asked. Her hand curled around his neck, holding him close for another kiss. “Did they call off the Vendix?”

  “Yes.”

  “What about Laura Masters? Did you explain? They gonna defang you for her?”

  “Yes, I explained. No, they will not defang me.”

  “That’s good news.” She snaked an arm around his waist and under his shirt. Her palm felt warm against his skin. Was he angry? He didn’t think so. He knew why she’d been hiding what she’d been hiding from him. “We discussed the demon situation,” he said.

  “And?”

  “We continue to…negotiate.”

  “Do they know about you and the Elismal?”

  “I have explained that too.” He laughed softly. “There was more concern over B-Ops’s denial that demons have infiltrated them.” In fact, so far Internal Operations categorically denied the possibility that a demon could successfully impersonate a human. “Fleur is in possession of strong evidence that B-Ops is gearing up for some major action, so who knows what humans intend.”

  “The P.D. went on high alert yesterday,” Claudia said.

  Tiber sat down. He leaned an elbow on the table and faced his fear. “You know, don’t you, Claudia, that I love you?”

  She bit her lower lip. “Do you?”

  “Yes.” He set a plastic wand on the table before her. “I found this in the bathroom wastebasket.”

  Her body went still. After a bit, she shrugged.

  “At first, I took it for a thermometer. One of the many disruptions of cohabiting with a youngster, yes? Fevers. Agues and the like. Vid games in the webcaster. Radios turned to stations that play atrocious music.”

  “Sorry.”

  “This, however, is not a thermometer.” A pink plus-sign glowed in the receptacle at the wide end of the stick. “There were, in fact, two more of the devices in the wastebasket. All in a similar condition.”

  “A new kind of HemoStrip,” she said. “I was testing them on myself. You know, to check for paranormals.”

  “Really?” He leaned toward her, feeling immensely sorry that he hadn’t yet made her understand his feelings. “Have you one to test on me?”

  “No.”

  “Are they accurate?”

  She hung her head. “Yeah.” She touched the wand and gave it a spin. “Yeah, they’re pretty accurate.”

  “Have you been to a doctor yet?”

  The corners of her mouth twitched down. “Not yet.”

  “Allow me to restate. Has a doctor confirmed your pregnancy?”

  Claudia shook her head and then admitted everything, looking at him from beneath her lashes. “I’ve been pregnant before, Korzha. I recognize the signs.” She sighed. “I’m not asking you to do anything about it, okay?”

  He spun the wand himself. “I ought to be insulted by that. In fact, Claudia, I am insulted.”

  “I don’t even know if it’s yours.” Her eyes filled with tears. Sorrow was such a human emotion. It tore him apart to see her crying. How many years since he’d been this close to a human? Centuries. Yet, he didn’t want to live without her. “I don’t want to do this alone again. I did that once and it was really, really hard. I mean, the first time I had no idea what I was getting into, but now I do, and I just don’t think I can do it again. Not by myself.”

  He took her hand, but her fingers stayed inert in his grip. “Claudia.” She was crying so hard, he wasn’t sure she heard. “It doesn’t matter,” he said.

  “You don’t get it, do you? Things were different back when you had children of your own. The world is different now.”

  “Women get pregnant the same way. Then as now. Nothing’s changed.”

  “That wasn’t what I mean.”

  “You’re pregnant, is that what you mean?” He smiled. “I think I get that.”

  “If it isn’t yours, Tiber, which probably maybe it isn’t, then it has to be Lath’s.”

  “I understand that.”

  “A demon.”

  “Yes.”

  “Which makes the baby a demon, too.”

  “Technically, a half-demon.”

  She threw up her hands. “Half demon, half human. Half-vampire. Who cares, Korzha?” Her voice trembled. “I’m supposed to be dead by now. Lath wanted me to die and then didn’t let me, and now, oh hell, Tiber.” She snatched up the EPT. “I didn’t even know it was possible for this to happen. I wasn’t supposed to live, and I wasn’t supposed to get knocked up.”

  “I am not Fly-Low. Or Garath,” Tiber said.

  Her eyes were liquid. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “That means you aren’t on your own.” He grabbed her shoulders. “I’m not giving you any ultimatums, performing rituals or asking you to do anything except stay with me. It means come live with me and be my love in Strata +1, Claudia. It means I don’t care who the father is.” He frowned because she looked at him like he’d just complimented her on her charming second head. “I hope it’s mine, but if it isn’t, I don’t care. We’ll keep trying, yes? Our circumstances are extraordinary, Claudia, surely, you appreciate that?”

  “Oh, I appreciate it all right.” She sounded bitter.

  He left his hands on her shoulders. “The times ahead are uncertain at best. Demons are here. War may be upon us, whether our species stand together or fracture irreparably. There’s very little certain now, but there’s one thing I know without question.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I don’t change, Claudia.” He pushed her back and put his hands on either side of her face. “I’m this way forever. What’s to become of me if I have to watch you grow old and die? I don’t want to live without you. I want the woman I love at my side forever.”

  “You said I’d turn rogue,” she said.

  “That was before there was us.” He frowned. “That was when your desire to convert was not your own. It’s far more dangerous that way.” He touched the EPT wand and then her cheek again. “I love you, Claudia. I want you with me but not if you don’t want it as much as I do. We can wait until after the baby comes, then I’ll make you, if you’ll let me.”

  “Won’t that get you into trouble with the Primary Assembly?”

  Korzha smiled. “Your capacity for going straight to the legalities is part of what I love about you.” He stopped smiling. “I asked for and received official sanction.”

  She looked at him for a long time.

  “You don’t have to decide now. I’m willing to wait. Nine months. Longer, if need be.”

  “Do you have any idea what it’s like to live with a pregnant woman? I’m going to get fat and bitchy. You won’t want me anymore,” she said.

  He took her hand in his. “I made love to my wife when she was pregnant. Those were some of our closest moments. Claudia, I would treasure the same experience with you.”

  Her eyes opened wide. She let go of his hand, but stayed in his embrace. He held her until he felt her breathing settle. “I was afraid you’d never want anything to do with me aga
in.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll lose you to that demon.”

  “No,” she said.

  Tiber shook his head. “He isn’t going to go away. Not Garath, and not Lath. Neither of them.”

  “True.”

  He brought her hand to his chest.

  “Maybe they won’t win, Korzha. Maybe we’ll get the portal sealed again.” She leaned the side of her face against him. “There’s going to be some kind of military offensive, Tiber. I can feel it. Maybe he’ll be killed.”

  “It’s no good thinking that.” He kissed the top of her head once more. “The portal’s open, Claudia. Wide open. Lath and his demons are here in Crimson City. We need to live with right now, not what might be.”

  “For as long as we survive.”

  “At least agree to live with me. Anywhere you want. Here or in Strata +1.”

  “Humans and half-demons living in the Upper?”

  “Why not?”

  “Are you insane?”

  He pulled her back into his embrace. “All right then. I’ll buy this building and we’ll renovate. Evict everyone and just take over the whole damn building.”

  “You can’t evict Ruth.”

  “She can keep a small flat. If you wish. But she must pay rent.”

  Claudia stared at the EPT. “You are a good cook,” she mused, half-seriously.

  “And I do laundry,” he added.

  “Yeah, but have you ever changed a diaper?”

  “I can learn.”

  Claudia leaned back and smiled tentatively. “You? I can’t wait to see that, Tiber.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Claudia was reading the news on the webcaster when someone knocked on the door. There wasn’t much good news to be had. There was still no official confirmation from any species that demons were in Crimson City, despite dozens of blogs from humans, fangs, dogs or other sources. None of the information she’d given to Internal Operations had leaked to the press, and whether B-Ops was trying to clean house was anybody’s guess.

  The Net was rife with rumor. Demon-sightings, clandestine negotiations and summonings gone awry. One site posted photos that, unless you knew what a Bak-Faru looked like, didn’t prove anything except some guy had long hair and a great body. More than a few postings contained descriptions of what sounded a hell of a lot like full-out skirmishes. B-Ops wasn’t winning, but they weren’t telling the cops what was going on, either.

  Someone knocked again.

  Claudia unfurled from her chair. She didn’t have to be back on shift for another four hours. This time of night, there weren’t many visitors in the neighborhood, so she expected it to be Ruth. Tiber was out, attending an emergency meeting of the Primary Assembly. He ought to be back any minute. Holly had school tomorrow, so she’d been in bed since eight. She and Ruth could have a nice visit. Barefoot, she padded to the intercom. She swallowed to clear her ears. Her head felt stuffed full. Freaking allergies. She stared at the door, and her heart fell to her toes. It wasn’t Ruth. She opened the stairwell door.

  He wore black; black pants, black shirt and a light black jacket. He took off his sunglasses. His lilac eyes were as beautiful as ever. “Claudia-tes.”

  “Lath.”

  His eyes settled on her with a gentleness that curled in her belly. Like the athlete he was, his movements to reach her were all power and grace. His arms slid around her waist. A low rumble came from his chest, a purring growl of satisfaction. “My business is done for the moment.” He moved closer. “Now, we will mate, Claudia Donovan.”

  “There’s no point.” B-Ops black made his eyes shimmer. How could anyone look at him and think him human?

  His arms tightened around her. One palm splayed over her back. “You are my vishtau mate,” he said through a growl. “And I cannot be without you. My heart has been cold without you, Claudia Donovan.”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  His dimples flashed. He put his hands on either side of her face, cradling her head. “You must not worry. I accept this. The Bak-Faru accept this.”

  The connection between them tugged inexorably. She could feel the compulsion to step fully into his embrace, but in her heart, she only wanted Tiber. Her green-eyed vampire, Tiberiu Korzha. “This is my home,” she told the demon. “You’re not welcome here. You shouldn’t be here.”

  Lath’s mouth thinned. “Your promise to me should not be broken, tes. We are bound.” He growled again, and his hands, though they remained gentle, tightened. “I belong to you.”

  “I’m not telling you no. I’m telling you not here.” Behind her she heard the landing platform window slide open. The demon’s attention slid up and away. He didn’t bother to disguise his reaction, nor the hatred or the glitter of blood lust in his eyes. She saw the anticipation of engagement with the enemy, and she knew why Lath had really come. Even before she felt him gather his power, she knew he hadn’t come for her. He’d come to kill Tiber.

  She pushed him in the chest, hard, with the heels of her palms. Pain billowed through her wrists and zinged up her arms. The demon took a step back and cast his spell. Power rippled outward, pulsing through the air, crackling in her hair. A violet streak flashed up, searing the ceiling as he staggered. A table along the wall quivered and vanished. The vase sitting on it shattered with an ear-splitting fracture. The landing window gaped open. Where was Tiber?

  Claudia stumbled toward the landing, but Lath’s arm whipped around her, pulling her against his chest. She elbowed backward, hand clasped over her fist to put her weight into the jab. The hard tip of her bone connected with the demon’s solar plexus. He let out a soft ouf and let go. She let the velocity of her elbow strike carry her into a turn. All around her the air shimmered violet. She put her weight into a reverse jab. With the stench of burnt air choking her, she flipped her arm up, bringing the opposite side of her forearm up to slam into Lath’s jaw, except he was too tall for the maneuver, and she barely grazed him. Momentum carried her past him.

  A keening shriek pulsed against her eardrums, and she clapped her hands over her ears. Movement in the open door to the hall caught her eye. As the sound died, Claudia ducked the threat in the doorway. Things went from bad to worse. There were two demons now. Aslet. She wished she could be sure which side he was on. A hairline ring of blue surrounded the fire in his eyes. He’d cut his hair to a pale blonde buzz. He had a weapon slung across his back. Like Lath, he wore black, and if she hadn’t known him for what he was, she’d have believed he was B-Ops come to save the day.

  More movement, this time from her left. Her breath whooshed out, and there he was. Thank God, Tiber was alive. Lath hadn’t killed him. His eyes glittered, a furious green. His hair settled around his shoulders as he flexed into a crouch from his drop to the floor. The vampire’s rage echoed off the walls. Blood splattered to the floor from a wickedly deep gash on his rib cage.

  “Get out, Tiber!” His injury wasn’t going to kill him, not permanently, but bad things could happen to an incapacitated vamp. And demons were fast, blindingly so. “For God’s sake, get out of here.” She raised her voice because with the ringing in her ears she could hardly hear herself. “I’ll go with you. Just let him be. You promised me. You promised me you wouldn’t kill him.”

  “Dear-heart,” Tiber whispered. He spoke in her head. Damn voodoo head stuff. “That is not necessary.”

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I can’t live without you, Tiber,” she said.

  Tiber bared his elongated fangs. The sound that came from his throat made the skin on the back of her neck prickle. Another flash of light shot through him, spinning him around. She saw him fall, heard the sound of his body hitting the ground. Behind her she heard the shick-tak of a semi-automatic weapon loading. She swept around, facing the two demons. Aslet stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, comfortable with the weapon he held. Demons were sure adaptable. Lath laughed out loud and pulled a modified Browning from his waistband. Her heart thudded, shaking her to her toe
s. The Browning was UV enabled, and from Lath’s stance, in the short time he’d been in Crimson City he’d learned to use human technology.

  “en-Lath,” Aslet said with a bow in the Bak-Faru’s direction. “I cannot allow you to kill the vampire. I have given my promise. The Elismal are promised to him.”

  Lath clicked off the safety, primed the UV chamber and aimed his gun at Tiber. His eyes flared orange-red. She watched his index finger squeeze and knew she couldn’t possibly move fast enough. “Interfere, Elismal demon,” Lath said, “and I will kill you, too. The human woman is mine. The Bak-Faru do not share their vishtau mates.”

  “Then you must try to kill me,” Aslet said.

  Lath did something with his hand, and a flash of violet light filled the room, heading away from Korzha. It was a strike at Aslet. Claudia dashed for Tiber, forcing her body through thick, hot air. The concussion blew Aslet off his feet. She saw the demon’s body lift and slam against the stairwell.

  At Tiber’s side, Claudia dropped to her knees. She faced the Bak-Faru. “You’ll have to kill me first, Lath,” she said.

  Aslet hit the ground and rolled to his feet, muttering words and syllables she didn’t understand. Lath glanced at the Elismal demon and laughed. He pointed the Browning at Aslet and shot him. White light seared Claudia’s eyes. Aslet howled. When she could see again, though, Aslet sprawled on the banister. He wasn’t moving.