by Hayley Todd
“Why is it so dark?” I asked Carson as we left the vehicle, Will following on my other side. Carson grabbed my hand, his fingers entangled in mine.
He chuckled a short laugh. “I’m willing to bet that the restaurant as UV resistant glass,” he said, looking over the building with a careful, practiced eye. He was looking for something, anything that may be out of place.
“UV resistant?” I asked, looking at the dark, plated glass.
He nodded. “The owners of the restaurant are Magicks. They likely have the glass-plated to prevent harmful sunlight from crossing its threshold.”
He held the door open for Will and I with one arm, following closely after us.
The room within was packed with people. Several individuals dressed in black and white zoomed past us, carting trays full of food and beverages. Every table was filled with diners enjoying meals and speaking quietly with their associates. We stepped onto shiny white tile as we entered, surrounded by areas of plush crimson carpet. The tabletops were black marble, lined with gold trim.
The door behind us opened again, Anton and Kellic giggling as they entered. Kellic nearly ran into us, preoccupied as she was. Anton drew her up short with a gentle hand on her arm. He had sensed me before he’d even entered. The bond between us made it hard for one of us to not notice the other.
He smiled up at me as his conversation with Kellic came to a close.
Before any of us could speak, a man in a sharp black suit and white button-down shirt greeted us, a white towel bent over his forearm. “How may I help you tonight?” he asked. He was clean shaven, his skin dark and clear. His eyes were a crystalline blue that reminded me of Lady Evelyn Stark. His gaze roved over us and it seemed to only take a moment for something to click within him.
“We’re supposed to be meeting some individuals,” Carson replied, taking my hand in his. He searched the room but whether he was assessing any threats or looking for my father, I wasn’t sure.
The server immediately bowed, deeply tucking himself over his waist. “I am so sorry, m’lord,” he chimed. He weaved into the crowd of people and Carson tugged me along behind him. Evidently, we were supposed to follow him.
The restaurant was bigger than I had first thought. He dove between other servers attending their customers, dodging pulled out chairs, and careless, inebriated diners, leading us deeper into the depths of the building. We rounded a corner, approaching a long, elegant staircase, its lower steps fanning out into the dining hall. A red rope was stretched across the stair’s railings, forbidding trespassers. The man, lifted one end of the rope, allowing us all to pass and make our way up the steps before looping it back into place and following along behind us.
Carson entered onto the second floor first, pulling me aside to allow the server to move past us again. Will, Anton, and Kellic followed suit, moving themselves to the side of the path. The second floor held a balcony railing, which a quick glance showed peered over and down onto the dining hall below. From here, the room turned into a square filled with various people moving around this way and that, as if it hadn’t been dizzying enough scrambling through it.
Across from the railing, hung a long, velvet curtain, dividing the balcony from a room beyond. The server stepped forward, pulling the curtain aside and revealing the room within.
Inside, a long hardwood table stretched down the length of the room, lined with a dozen seats. On the far end, my father, mother, Gabrielle, and Lucas already sat waiting and chatting quietly. My mother and father had their hands clutched on the table top.
The table held ten place settings, leaving the ends of the table open, though chairs sat there. There was a round porcelain plate in each spot, lined with multiple knives, spoons, and forks. Each setting also sported a porcelain bowl, as well as a clear delicate goblet, and a squat thick glass.
“Ah, the guests of honor have finally arrived,” my father said on our entrance, disentangling himself from my mother and rising to his feet to greet us. He and Carson clasped wrists and my father squeezed Carson’s shoulder in a friendly gesture. He then moved on to Will and Anton, doing the same. When he reached Kellic, he pulled her close, giving her a tight embrace. Then he finally reached me.
“Oh, how I have missed you, my daughter,” he said, clutching me to him. He smelled of musky cologne, woody but with a touch of sweetness to it. It was a heavenly scent. I couldn’t resist melting into his embrace.
I pressed my cheek against his chest, enjoying this moment that I had never truly had.
I had grown up from birth without a father. As a child, I had simply assumed I didn’t have one, not fully understanding that everyone had a father. Will and Kellic had grown up without their father as well, so it just seemed normal. When I had gotten a bit older and understood that he had to exist somewhere, I wondered if he was even alive. Did he want me but had died before I was born? I had been a hopeful youth.
Once I hit my teen years, I had become resentful. Of course, I had a dad out there. If he had died wouldn’t my mother have told me when I was young? Even then, I couldn’t imagine how my mother would broach the topic to a girl less than six but at the time, it didn’t matter. I was simply furious to have been denied such a relationship. Had he abandoned me? Was I not good enough? Maybe I wasn’t worthy of fatherly love.
As an adult, I had come to terms with the absence. Losing family had become an unfortunate trend in my life. I had no more answers than I ever had before but I chose not to care. I chose not to revolve my life around a position that had never been filled. I was okay with it.
Then, I had met him. That had changed everything. All of those carefully packed away emotions came swirling back with a vengeance, warring within me. Turned out, my father had always wanted me. Hell, my existence solidified his reign as king of the Magick vampires. He needed me. But more than that, he loved me in a way only a father could. He didn’t care about my representation of the Lucius family, he was simply eager to be with his daughter. He was everything I had hoped that he would be, everything I had needed in a dad. Every moment that our relationship grew into what I had always wished it would, was a cleansing wash to all of my more bitter thoughts.
“Hi, dad,” I replied, grinning up at him. I would probably stay wrapped in his shielding arms all day if I could. There was a sense of calm and love that just couldn’t be replicated.
Damien Lucius looked pretty snazzy today. He wore a black tuxedo, silk bow tied at his neck. Beneath was a crisp white button up shirt, covered partially by a crimson vest that matched the color of my dress. His dark auburn hair was combed back over his head and gelled neatly into place. It didn’t have that crunchy look that gel sometimes did and I silently wondered what he used for such perfect styling.
He held me at arm's length with a grin on his face. “You wore the dress,” he said, pleased.
I nodded jerkily, feeling awkward since everyone in the room was now watching us too, all conversation halted.
“Now we match,” he said, his grin widening into a full smile, spread over his lips. A glance at my mother seated behind him proved it to be true. My father’s red vest, my mother's modest gown and my own dress all matched identically in color.
I couldn’t help but smile. Was this his version of matching family vacation t-shirts? He was so joyful it was tangible.
He stepped away, releasing me and pulling out the seat beside my mother which I graciously took. Then, he made his way back to his seat on her other side, clutching her hand until his knuckles turned white. Was he anxious?
On the other side of the table sat Lady Evelyn, Lucas, and Gabrielle. Will took a seat beside his mother, Kellic next to him, leaving no more seating for Anton. Carson had seated himself beside me, forcing Anton into the seat on his other side. He had a grin on his face he seemed to be attempting to smother as Anton slid down beside him.
“Well,” my father said, steepling his hands before him on the table. “Now that we’re all here, I greatly look forward to a wonde
rful evening and I am thrilled that you could all join us. Lucas and Lady Evelyn were already in town for the council meeting tomorrow,” he explained. His eyes darted to me, worried. “I hope you don’t take offense to my inviting them to our family dinner.”
I laughed without meaning to. These people had saved my lives and the lives of those around me. When and why would I ever restrict them? I wasn’t certain I even could. Lucas was technically a king in his own right and Lady Evelyn was part of the Magick’s royal lineage. She was the leader of one of seven families that guided the Magick people.
“It is a pleasure to see you both,” I said tightly, choking down my giggle. “Of course, I would have no objection to having either of you here.” I shot an unhappy gaze at my father, who cowed beneath it.
I had never known a man who could literally shake the earth beneath my feet or snap a neck with a quick flick of his wrist to cower under his daughter’s disapproving gaze.
I actually was really happy to see Evelyn and Lucas, I just wished my father hadn’t called out the fact that this was supposed to be a family meal. Adapt and move on, father. Adapt and move on.
I settled into my seat, Carson clutching my knee tightly beneath the table. I glanced at him and he seemed tense though I wasn’t sure why.
Servers buzzed through the room, all dressed in nearly identical black and white uniforms, carrying bottles of wine, pitchers of ice water and sweet tea, and plates filled with bread and a variety of appetizers.
My father looked over, running his hand nervously up the back of his neck. He looked guilty as his eyes met mine. “I wasn’t really sure what would be your favorite so I had them prepare a bit of everything,” he said.
“My favorite?” I asked him, confused.
He paused, suddenly looking unsure. “Um...yeah...l wanted to do something special for your return. I...we,” he darted a look at my mother and she grinned indulgently, “wanted to make everything perfect.”
A woman dressed in the same black and white attire leaned past me, placing a plate before me on the table. On it rested a delightful smelling entree. There were perfectly cooked noodles filled with a white cream flecked with spices. It was drizzled with a red sauce, topped with cheese.
“Manicotti?” I asked, my mouth drooling immediately at the sight. The smell wafted to me, making my stomach growl.
My father didn’t speak but watched me expectantly. I stabbed my fork into the dish, slicing off a bite easily and popping it into my mouth. It was hot but that didn’t dull the exquisite blossom of deliciousness that filled me.
“Mmm, my favorite,” I said around the mouthful.
Damien beamed. Finally turning from me and carving into his own plate with eager delight. The room filled with the sounds of cutlery on porcelain as everyone took the cue to begin their meals.
Again, the room filled with servers from the restaurant, carting bottles of wine, filling glasses to their peak.
I lifted mine, curiously spinning the glass beneath my nose, letting the scent of wine fill my nostrils. There was something else there too. Something more forbidding and far more alluring.
Lucas lifted his glass. “A toast to our host and his family, may you all prosper for many centuries to come,” he proclaimed, downing a gulp of wine that may have been a bit more than socially acceptable.
I sipped from mine more cautiously, immediately delighting in it and discovering the culprit of the more alluring aroma. The wine was laced with blood. Human blood, if my senses served me correctly.
Murmurs of appreciation lifted from the others around me. Carson had a stoic expression on his face but he tilted his glass up along with the rest of us. Anton, on his other side, seemed delighted, an expression of bliss crossing his features.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lucas gazing at me. A thought struck me. Though the events after Henrick’s death had washed over me in a haze, it had never truly sunk in just what he had done for me. I silently wondered what it had cost him.
“And furthermore,” he suddenly bellowed, lifting his glass again which had already been refilled by dutiful servers. He clapped a hand against Will’s back beside him. “A toast to the many pleasing results from one of the newest members of my clan.”
Will’s pale-faced washed with a blush, his deep maroon eyes lighting with each taste of the preferred wine. He glanced at Lucas and strength filled me. I needed to know. With a sudden urgency, I needed to know what Lucas has done to save Will’s life.
I had watched Henrick easily twist his hands about Will’s neck. I had heard the snap of his bones and seen the life sag from him. I had felt him grow cold. What had Lucas done? How could he bring him back from that?
I cleared my throat, all eyes narrowing on me. “Lucas,” I began.
He gazed at me but held a finger aloft, an amused twinkle in his eyes, “Uncle Lucas, if you please,” he said jovially.
I nodded. “Uncle Lucas,” I said, putting an indulgent emphasis on the word. “How did you save Will? And why?”
I watched an array of emotions play on his features as he took a deep breath to respond. “Ah,” he said, “now isn’t that a story?”
Chapter Nine
Lucas’ face lit up as he began his tale. He spoke like a soothsayer of old, eager but obviously wanting our attention raptured, waiting anxiously for its climax.
He spoke calmly, retelling my own fuddled memories from a clearer perspective. His face held a confident but strained expression. He didn't seem to want to recount the events of those days but he made the effort.
“I entered the arena after it had already fallen into chaos,” he began, the image swarming into my mind. “You had just...dispatched Henrick and were staying with Will.”
Will’s eyes darted to the side. He looked uncomfortable at the thought. I wondered if he remembered any of this. Or even if Lucas has told him.
“Your father and I spoke at length about what to do about Will. You were all but comatose.”
The room had fallen silent, each of us recounting those moments. I had all but lost my hearing for a time, though whether from trauma or from the percussive explosions of thunder, I had never been sure.
“Your father expressed to me how much Will meant to you and how he honestly wasn’t sure how you could handle such stress, especially under the heightened emotions of a baby vamp. So, I made him a deal. We would wipe out the rogue Vampyres together, and create a more solidified alliance between our races and I would try my damnedest to bring Will back.”
Damien looked sheepishly into his hands. My eyes were wide, watching him. I hadn’t known that. Had my father put the Magicks in jeopardy over Will and myself?
“Your father moved the earth, creating a pocket beneath the surface that I quickly retreated to after the fighting had ended. Thankfully, Will was still alive. He was paralyzed and wouldn’t hold out much longer but he was alive. We think you may have impacted that, though we’re unsure how.”
The room fell into silence while Lucas had his glass of wine refilled and took long swigs of it. I stared at the grain of the table, unsure how to face them and not wanting to meet anyone’s eyes while I puzzled through my feelings.
He cleared his throat and continued. “I fed Will my blood but instead of healing him, he immediately began to undergo the change from human to Magick which would almost certainly have killed him. The only option I was left with to save his life was to turn him. So, with my blood heavily in his veins, I killed him myself, allowing the turn to Vampyre to take him over instead. In his mostly dead state, my blood did it’s work, cleansing his body of its injuries. It took days before he finally awoke and during that time, we weren’t certain if he would survive it or not. Hell, we weren’t certain if you’d survive or not.”
I saw him look up at Will for a moment who had gone entirely stiff. Will reached up, mussing his hair with one hand. It was a nervous gesture, something he always did when he felt awkward. The only other outward indicator of his feelings had
always been nervously fiddling with his wire rimmed glasses, though after his turn, he no longer needed those.
“When he did finally wake up, he had successfully completed the change to Vampyre, his body whole and well again,” he finished, leaving the room in stunned silence.
We all shifted quietly, Kellic played with her food, moving it about the plate. But instead of taking a bite, she gulped an entire cup of wine down in one swig.
So that was it. I had missed all of that, being mostly dead myself at the time. I saw my father and Lucas in a new light. Yes, Lucas had leveraged saving Will’s life in return for helping his people, but I still wasn’t sure he wouldn’t have done it anyway.
He grinned over at me, as though picking the thoughts from my mind. “Your father had no way of knowing, but I probably would have done it anyway.”
Damien glared up at him. “I knew you would,” he replied. My gaze darted to him. He had known that he hadn't had to wager such great stakes, but he had done it anyway?
“Why did you make the deal then?” I asked before having given myself permission to speak. All eyes swiveled in my direction and my cheeks blazed beneath their stares.
My father cleared his throat, fidgeting with the tie about his neck. “Those arrangements had already been in the works. Lucas had been at the house to attend the coronation, but also to negotiate for his people. Especially after their involvement with Henrick and his treachery came to light.”
For one instant, Lucas actually had the grace to look embarrassed, then he grinned, staring up at us. “It really worked out in both of our favors. And now,” he clapped Will on the back again, “I also have a brilliant new Vampyre working for me.”
Will peered up at him, his lips tight.
“Working for you?” I asked. How could Will have been working for Lucas? He had been with me for the better part of a year, traveling around the world to meet with other vampire leaders. Lucas had been part of that coronation tour and come to think of it, he had been frequently present during that time. I had merely assumed that it was due to the tour. Perhaps not.
