by Sarra Cannon
He glanced again at Abigail. She hadn’t moved and he relaxed a little. “Most of the palace fell ill very quickly. But my Karena did not. She used to sneak in and visit me as I lay dying in my room. The illness had progressed to the point where I was throwing up any blood they tried to feed me. One night, after watching me vomit up the human blood, in desperation Karena cut her wrist and urged me to drink. I didn’t want to but I loved her and wanted to please her so I drank. It was only a few mouthfuls, I was very weak, but it made her happy.”
“What happened then?” Jaxen asked.
“In the morning, I was completely healed.”
“Her blood – she was one of the immune.” Jaxen whispered.
“Yes, she was. When she realized what she had done, Karena immediately went to my father. I begged her not to. Even then I knew what he was like, but she would not be stopped. She was very,” Val stopped and a brief smile crossed his face, “stubborn. She told my father what she had done and brought me in to prove it to him. My father, who had fallen ill himself, was rather pleased, as you can imagine.”
“Where is Karena now?” Jaxen had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“When my father realized that her blood was the key to healing the sickness, he had her drained dry.” Val said dully.
“Why would he do that?” Jaxen asked. “It would have been more beneficial to him to keep her alive, to only drain her of a bit and allow her to feed and recover before—”
“He killed her because I loved her!” Val suddenly snarled. “I made the mistake of letting him see my love for her. She is dead because of me! He couldn’t stand the thought of his son being in love with a vampire like her, and so he drained her dry without considering the consequences of his actions.”
“He is mad.” Jaxen said with soft wonderment.
“You have no idea.” Val said bitterly. “Once he realized his mistake, he began the search for other vampires who were immune. He believed that if Karena existed, there would be others who would too. And he was right. He found others and used them to save the vampire race.”
“You left after that?” Jaxen asked.
“Yes. While he was busy hunting down the immune, I disappeared. I will never go back to the north and I will never take his place on the throne. He can choose another or let his kingdom fall. It matters not to me either way. He searches for me now only to kill me for my cowardice in leaving.” Val answered softly.
Jaxen took a deep breath. “If I recognize you, the odds are that there will be others within Darius’ walls who recognize you too. You’ve put Abigail and the others in terrible danger by accompanying them here.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Val hissed at him. “I had no choice. Abigail was going to Darius’ estate with or without me and I could not leave her to her fate. She is mine and I will destroy anyone who tries to take her from me.”
His voice was rising and Jaxen made a shushing gesture with his hands before glancing nervously at Abby. “We must carry out our plan of rescue quickly. The sooner we can get you out of here, the better. I do not believe that Darius is completely convinced you are Joven.”
“I know.” Val said grimly. “I will speak with Abigail about her plans for rescuing this Michael. I am sure she has something up her sleeve.”
Jaxen grinned ruefully at him. “I have no doubt of it. She is quite remarkable, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she is.”
Abby, her face pale and her eyes wide, struggled to keep her breathing slow and even. She had woken shortly after Jaxen had entered the room, and it had been all she could do to stop herself from rising and going to Val when he had spoken of Karena. The pain in his voice had pierced her heart and she wanted desperately to soothe him. She forced herself to lie still and when she heard the sound of Jaxen rising, she closed her eyes and continued to feign sleep. Val did not want her to know of his love for Karena and she fought bitterly against the jealousy. He still loved Karena, she could hear it in his voice, and she was unprepared for the hurt that was flooding through her. She knew that Val desired her only for her blood, but to hear of his love for another was shattering her heart. She cursed herself inwardly. She was in love with Val. She could deny it all she wanted but it didn’t make it any less true.
As Jaxen left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him, she stirred in the bed and yawned before sitting up and rubbing at her face. Val still sat in front of the fire and he didn’t look at her as she slid out of the bed and crossed to him.
“Who was that?” She asked quietly.
“Jaxen.” He was still refusing to look at her and she blinked back the tears as Violet landed on her shoulder. She kissed the top of her head gently and sat in the chair across from him.
“What did he want?”
“He believes we should move quickly on our plan to rescue the others. I agree.”
“I spoke with Wesley and Evan this morning.”
He finally looked at her. “You did what?”
“I went to the slave quarters and spoke with Wesley and Evan.” She repeated.
“Why would you be so foolish?” He snapped at her. “It is not safe for you to leave my side. Do you hear me, little dove?”
She just shrugged and stared into the fire. He gave her a curious look. Her face was pale and her usual defiant look to his rules had not appeared.
“Little dove? What is wrong?”
“Nothing.” She muttered. “Darius is a fool. He leaves his home open to attack while he and the other leeches sleep. They’re using bear shifters for protection but only a few.”
“Shifters? Are you certain?” He asked.
“Yes. One guards the fighting slaves, two guard the slave quarters, and there are two, maybe three, who guard the entrance to his estate during the day. I will kill the shifters guarding the slave quarters and then Wesley, Evan and I will destroy the remaining shifters before freeing the slaves. Once Michael and the others are free, we will kill the leeches while they daysleep.”
He gaped at her. “Have you gone mad? You think because you killed a bear shifter in the forest that you are capable of killing two? This plan is too dangerous, Abigail. And killing the leeches while they sleep? You do realize that we are capable of waking from our daysleep, do you not?”
“I’m aware of it. We’ll be quiet.” She replied.
“You’ll be quiet?” He shook his head in disbelief. “This plan of yours is going to get us all killed.”
“What would you suggest then?” She suddenly hissed at him. “We cannot attack the leeches during the night! That will definitely get us killed.”
“I – I realize that.” He stuttered. “But this plan of you taking on shifters on your own and then killing the vampires is not—”
“It is the best plan we have.” She interrupted him. “I can take care of myself, Val, and besides, we can’t leave Darius alive. You know that. If we do, he will only find more humans for his sick little games. We have to kill him. You can’t really believe that we were coming here only to rescue Michael.”
“Abigail—”
“Enough, Val! Until you can come up with a better plan, this is the one we’re going with. I’ll be fine.”
“When are you planning your big rescue attempt?” He asked bitterly.
“In a few days.” She replied shortly.
“When?” He persisted.
“What does it matter?” She asked suddenly. “You will be in your daysleep and will have no part of it, remember?”
She stood abruptly and crossed the room to her bag. She brushed her hair with hard, angry strokes before staring at the shuttered window. “Once this is done, Val, we go our separate ways.”
“No, we will not.” He said firmly.
“Yes.” She refused to look at him. “I won’t let you bite me and if you can’t have my blood, what is the point of us remaining together?”
“You belong to me.” He snapped.
“It doesn’t matter ho
w many times you say that, it doesn’t make it true.” She replied quietly.
Chapter 13
“You are quiet tonight, Lord Joven. Not enjoying the games?” Darius asked Val.
It was two days later and they were once again sitting in the arena. Three fights had already happened and Val had quickly grown tired of the crowd’s incessant cheering, and the smell of the spilled blood was nearly impossible to ignore. Abigail was sitting on his lap and he had been studying the faint pulse in her neck when Darius had spoken to him.
He forced himself to smile at the vampire. “Not at all. Simply wondering when we are going to discuss my part in this new empire of yours.”
“All in good time, my dear Joven, all in good time. Are you not enjoying my hospitality? Do you not find the bed comfortable enough? Or perhaps your slave is not nearly enough for you. You’re looking a little peaked these past few days. I’d be happy to find you another to feed from.” Darius said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“The room is quite comfortable and my slave is more than enough, thank you.” Val replied politely.
Faren leaned forward as the gates opened and the vampires led out the first opponent in the final game. “That’s a big one.”
“Yes, she is the sister of the woman you saw the first night.” Tavien replied. “She is not as deadly as her sister, but she gets the job done.”
He frowned as the second opponent was brought out. “Although I fear this will be a short fight.”
Val clamped his hand down on Abigail’s wrist as she gasped sharply. Maria, looking small and fragile, was standing in the middle of the arena. She lifted her head defiantly and stared at the crowd as the vampire handed her a sword.
“No.” Abby breathed as the vampires handed Dalia her own sword and quickly left the arena. Darius was already standing and Abby moaned softly as he waved his hand at the two women.
“Begin!”
Dalia, a grin crossing her wide face, lifted her sword as Maria did the same. Abby watched in horror as the larger woman began to stalk Maria. Maria, her face bloodless, gripped the sword grimly and managed to keep hold of it when Dalia struck it with her own.
The heavier woman was toying with her, laughing loudly as Maria struck determinedly at her with the sword, and the crowd booed heavily.
“Finish her!” Someone shouted and Dalia shrugged and, with surprising quickness for her size, struck out with her sword. Maria’s sword went flying across the arena and the smaller woman was knocked on to her back when Dalia delivered a hard blow to her stomach with the handle of her sword. Coughing and gagging, Maria dragged herself backward as Dalia stalked forward.
“God, this one is pathetic.” Darius said with disgust. “It’s not even a fight. I swear, Tavien, if you do not do a better job of—”
He was cut off by Val’s loud yelp of surprise. Abigail had bitten him hard on the hand and when he released her wrist, she leaped from his lap and vaulted over the low stone wall in front of them. As she dashed across the arena, Val cursed loudly and jumped to his feet. Before he could follow her, Darius reached out and gripped his shoulder.
“Remain where you are, Lord Joven, or I will have my men kill her immediately.” He warned.
Dalia stood over Maria and raised her sword. “Sorry about this.” She said cheerfully. She thrust her sword downward and gasped in surprise when it was blocked by Maria’s sword. Blinking in shock, she stepped back and stared at the woman holding the sword and standing protectively over Maria.
“I know you.” She frowned.
Without speaking, Abigail attacked her. Dalia flinched back and just barely got her sword up in time to protect herself. She backed away and grinned at Abigail. “Do you believe you can beat me?”
Abigail raised her sword and nodded and Dalia’s grin widened. “Then let me see you try.”
She lunged at Abigail, swinging her sword in a wide arc. Abby blocked it and danced away. The roaring of the crowd had faded away and she could hear nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat. As Dalia attacked her again she parried the blow easily and, as their swords clashed repeatedly, she studied the way the big woman moved.
Compared to vampires, Dalia’s attack was almost ridiculously slow and, unable to ignore how good it felt to have a sword in her hand again, Abby toyed with the woman for nearly five minutes. Finally, when Dalia’s face was bright red and she was panting heavily, Abigail sliced the top of her arm.
Dalia dropped her sword with a bellow of pain and rage and glared at Abigail before lunging forward. Abby sidestepped her and stuck her foot out. Caught in her forward momentum, Dalia tripped over her foot and fell in to the dirt.
She rolled on to her back, clutching at her arm, as Abigail kicked her sword away before placing the tip of her own sword against Dalia’s chest. Snorting and breathing like an angry bear, Dalia stared up at her. Abby could see no fear in the woman’s eyes and she felt a sliver of admiration go through her.
“Do you yield?” She asked softly.
Dalia frowned at her as the crowd began to chant loudly.
“Finish her! Finish her! Finish her!”
Abby stared at the vampires in the arena. They were standing on their feet and screaming loudly and she shook her head in disgust before her gaze landed on Val. Anger was written all over his face and she felt a ripple of hurt when he deliberately looked away from her.
She turned back to Dalia. “Do you yield?”
“Finish me and be done with it!” Dalia spat at her.
“I’m not going to kill you.” Abby replied.
She backed away before turning and hurrying to Maria. The crowd shrieked their disapproval as the smaller woman stared wide-eyed at her.
“Abby, what have you done?” She whispered.
“Maria, I—”
Maria’s gaze flickered over her shoulder and her eyes widened in horror. “Look out!”
Abby whirled around. Dalia, her eyes wild and her sword raised high in the air, was nearly upon her. Without stopping to think about it, Abby thrust her sword into Dalia’s chest. The woman grunted loudly and looked down at the sword embedded into her flesh.
“Bitch…” She wheezed. Blood ran from her mouth and with a small wince, Abby yanked her sword free.
Dalia collapsed to her knees on the ground, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gulping for air, before her eyes rolled up in her head and she fell face down into the dirt.
The vampires screamed in response and Abby stared at them with undisguised disgust. Behind her, Maria made a soft noise of surprise and she turned to see a vampire holding Maria’s arm firmly. He dragged her out of the arena as two others approached Abby.
She gave them a warning look. “Unless you want to die in front of this crowd, I would suggest you stand back.”
They grinned at each other and stepped closer.
She sighed wearily. “Very well, then.”
She raised her sword into fighting position as the crowd quieted.
“Abigail!”
Val’s voice, thick with anger, rang out across the arena.
Abby stiffened and turned to look at him. He was standing in front of the low stone wall and he held his hand out impatiently. “Come to me. Now.”
She smiled at the vampires who were inching toward her. “Another time, perhaps.” She dropped her sword and jogged back to Val. He lifted her over the stone wall, setting her roughly on her feet, and took her wrist in a firm grip as Darius eyed them both.
“You did not tell me that your slave was an accomplished fighter, Lord Joven.”
“Believe me, Lord Darius, I am as surprised as you.” Val replied grimly.
Darius cocked his head at Abigail. “Why did you save that woman? Who is she?”
“I do not know, my lord.” Abigail responded. “I simply wanted to grant your wish for a fair fight. Is that not what you were looking for?”
“I suppose it was.” Darius said briefly. He turned to Val. “I will buy this slave fr
om you for a thousand gold pieces.”
“That is very generous of you but I’m afraid I must decline.” Val replied.
Darius snorted with impatience. “Fine. I will lower my cut of your profits in exchange for her.”
“Again, I regretfully decline.”
“Have you gone mad, Lord Joven?” Tavien snapped. “Do you understand the magnitude of this offer? Is the woman really worth it?”
Val didn’t reply and Darius shook his head. “Do not decline my offer so quickly, Lord Joven. Take a day or two to consider it.”
He swept past them and, after a moment, the others followed.
— —
“What were you thinking, Abigail?” Val turned on her the moment they entered their room.
She glared at him. “You can’t honestly believe that I was going to sit there and watch Maria die.”
He raked his hand through his long hair before pacing the room. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Darius will stop at nothing to take you as his own. Do you get that?”
“I couldn’t watch her die!” Abby snapped. “Do you get that?”
“At the cost of your own freedom? Maybe even your life?”
He continued to pace as Violet, her face worried, buzzed anxiously around them.
Abigail took a deep breath. “I know what I did was stupid but I won’t apologize for saving Maria’s life. Christ, Val, did you want to see her die?”
He scowled at her. “Of course I didn’t. Your continual belief that I am a cold-hearted monster is starting to wear on me, Abigail.”
“I don’t think that.” She said immediately. “I just – I think your need for my blood has blinded you to the needs of your friends. Neil and Maria are our friends, Val. I’m not just here for Michael.”
He stood in front of the fire and stared moodily into it as she approached him and patted his back timidly. “You need to eat, Val. It’s been days and you’re growing weak. I can see it and so can Darius.”
