“A truce doesn’t mean I will refrain from hitting you for stupidity,” Clyde growls at the noble. Gesturing for the others to join him, he nods at where the locals have gathered between the wall and jungle. “Apelios is obviously the home of an obedient cult that worships the Vampire Queen. I’ve never interacted with Jewelz, but Titus and Mab have told me plenty of stories. She isn’t one to share power, so whoever becomes her king will be nothing more than breeding stock. That’s why she wants the strongest and smartest. She’ll use herself to give birth to a generation of Dawn Fangs based on her and all others will be destroyed. At least, that’s what I’m guessing if she’s even half as ambitious as I heard. Maybe I’m overthinking it and Jewelz will only enslave everyone else.”
“Is that really better?” Xavier asks, his hand transforming into a rapier. He carefully takes the blade off his wrist and sticks it to his hip while a new extremity grows from the stump. “All of the old-world vampires would be crushed and I can see the Dawn Fangs loyal to either of us being wiped out. I do not see how Mab fits into any of that. You said that she is fueled by revenge, so where does that come into play?”
“I’m not crazy enough to figure that out,” Titus admits, his eyes locked on the entrance.
“Could Mab be a prisoner here?”
“That thought crossed my mind, so maybe we shouldn’t leave right away.”
“Best to come up with a real plan too.”
Without warning, Clyde darts forward to see if Xavier will draw his weapon, but the noble merely stares at him. “Sorry about that. I just thought it was strange that you’re willing to work with me so easily. We hate each other, so I expected more of a fight. Wanted to see if you would reveal yourself as a spy, but you passed my test.”
“My hate for you is dwarfed by my love for Nadia who I wish to go home to,” the Lord of Nyte proudly declares. A glint in the far wall causes him to cast a spell that bursts whatever was hidden within the stone. “It appears we’ve been discovered. As much as I would like to leave now, this woman will probably recapture us. Perhaps we should play the game for a little bit in order to learn more. I, for one, am curious to discover how she became a Dawn Fang since Titus or Mab would have recognized her in Nytefall.”
The courtyard shakes and the outer wall begins to open, which reveals a series of obsidian pegs within the stone. Clyde grabs the two sides and forces them back together, but the pressure shatters the bricks that connected to the castle. Feeling all of the weight pull him towards the edge, the Dawn Fang grunts as he flips the pieces high into the sky. He prepares to punch the debris out to sea when a blinding, long-legged figure materializes in front of him and jumps off his shoulders. Dazed and bleeding from two stab wounds, Clyde is barely able to make out Jewelz flipping in the air and kicking the chunks of wall into the lagoon. The Vampire Queen lands next to the Dawn Fang and reaches out to catch some of his blood on her finger. Gracefully circling the man like a hungry cat, she comes dangerously close to tumbling to the crystal buildings below the fortifications. Stopping with her heels at the edge of the broken wall, she licks her lips and blindly waves at Xavier.
“You may go back to your room, Lord Tempest,” Jewelz says, her ruby-like eyes never straying from Clyde. Not hearing the noble leave, she flicks a sapphire at him and he disappears in a flash of blue light. “I only like repeating myself to those who have stirred my interest. Do you and the ungrateful whelp have some time for your hostess? I feel like there is much for us to discuss. After all, we’re both legendary vampires with a mutual fri . . . acquaintance. How is the crass and vulgar burglar doing these days?”
“Probably on her way to tear you apart,” Clyde replies with a smile.
“Oh, I truly hope you’re right, my future mate,” the Vampire Queen replies, her lips parting to reveal that she has an extra pair of fangs.
*****
Returning to the banquet hall, Jewelz throws a diamond disk at the glass column, which sinks into the floor. Snapping her fingers at the servants, she has them stand in two lines down the middle of the room. The sight of the lingering mess causes her to wrinkle her nose, so she points at two men in loincloths who swiftly go back to work. The Vampire Queen is about to sit on her throne when she catches Clyde’s reflection in the ruby and sees that he has been trailing behind. He has nearly stopped fifteen feet away and is paying more attention to her statues than her backside, which she has shamelessly been swaying as she walks. Refusing to shout, she turns on her spiked heels and returns to her guests with a warm smile on her face. Jewelz pretends to trip in order to fall against Clyde, but Titus steps in to catch her by the shoulders and move her away. His touch is tight, but oddly tender, which causes her to think that she may have another weapon that she can unleash on her enemies. Meeting the towering warrior’s gaze, she considers mesmerizing him until she sees that he is using his flanking double.
“I’m impressed that you remember my favorite tricks,” the Vampire Queen admits, her arm slowly stretching out. An attendant hurries over with a goblet and another fills it with a blood that smells sweeter than wine. “Your mortal enemy wanted to know how I transformed into a Dawn Fang without ever encountering you. This is the answer. I’ve had my agents following you since your little war with Lord Tempest began. For such a powerful warrior, you manage to lose body parts and blood a lot. Don’t worry though because I’m the only one here who has indulged in your taste. I turned everyone else with my own beautiful essence. It required that I implant a special gem into their hearts and swap all of their blood out for mine, but their transformation is true. As you can see, you and I are equals, which means you’re my favorite contender.”
“If you wanted Clyde then you should have gone for him alone,” Titus says as he gets closer to one of the servants. He is about to take a quick bite of the man, but stops when he hears their host laugh. “Of course, you want this to be a spectacle. Whether Clyde wins your hand or dies, you’ll still make my sister angry. Best to get Lord Tempest out of the way too before securing the loyalties of those who survive this tournament. They’re going to lead your army, right? It might be centuries since we met, but I remember how you think.”
“Why do you think I made sure to take you as well?” Jewelz states, her voice dripping with disdain. Holding up her hand, she summons a quartz box to the banquet hall and has it land in front of the scar-covered Dawn Fang. “Your swords and armor. I don’t expect or wish for you to win because I’d rather hug your sister than even think about touching you intimately again. The only reason you’re here is because I don’t want things to be too easy for the inevitable rescue mission. You do know me too well, Mr. Winthrop, and that makes you dangerous. So, the first match of my contest will be you versus one of my top contenders.”
“Still angry about the volcano, huh?”
“I have completely forgotten about that.”
“Pretty sure you still stress about it.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“The lines at the corners of your eyes and how your skin isn’t nearly as pristine as it used to be.”
“You won’t get me mad that easily.”
“Were your eyes always so dull and plain?”
Jewelz grinds her teeth together, which causes her fangs to slice up her gums and send blood dribbling out of her mouth. Flexing her fingers, she oozes a green liquid from her pores and lets it flow to her long nails. The potent acid hardens into long blades that release a burning hiss whenever she moves her arms. Swinging her hand to the right, she slices one of the monstrous statues into six pieces that tumble to the floor. The Vampire Queen is about to pounce on Titus when Clyde calmly steps between them, his eyes locked on the empty throne. Something about his posture and aloofness causes her hair to stand on end, the wave of primal fear making her heart beat faster. Not wanting to risk killing one of her top prospects, she takes a long breath before her claws fall from her fingers and burn through the floor. Refusing to speak to the muscular warrior, s
he waves for two of her servants to take him by the wrists and lead him out of the room. A young man hurries to pick up the quartz box, but is stopped by Jewelz who sends the gear flying back into the jungle.
“Beings with our power always have trouble with our tempers,” she casually explains. With Titus no longer in her way, she gets closer to Clyde and runs a finger across his chest. “It’s a shame the two of us have never met before. The stories about you have always been gripping and they’ve only improved since your transformation. I assume Mab told you about me, which I assure you were lies. She only got the best of me once and all the other times I was the superior thief. Mind if I ask what you’ve heard?”
“Titus told me your name and Mab had a bunch of colorful obscenities,” Clyde replies with another yawn. Taking a step towards the throne, he notices that her nail is hooked on his shirt, which will tear away if he moves any further. “Don’t take my current calmness as interest or even tolerance of what you’ve done. I’ve simply become intrigued with the possibility of getting a challenging fight. Doubt it will happen, but I’m willing to play along for fun. As far as being with you, I’m not interested. The fact that you’ve harvested pieces of me that came off in battles is rather creepy.”
“But I had to become a Dawn Fang and visiting Nytefall was not an option,” Jewelz coos, her tongue snaking out to run along the side of his neck. Seeing his body shiver, she leans in closer and transforms her liquid gem dress into a thin nightgown. “While I crave you and your power, I’m not foolish enough to expose myself after centuries of working from the shadows. To get what I want, I will do whatever I have to and not put myself in danger. Besides, you’re friends with Chastity Sullivan, so I know depravity isn’t something you abhor. Don’t even get me started on that Bob freak.”
In the blink of an eye, Clyde moves several feet away and leaves his shirt dangling from his host’s finger. “Insulting my friends isn’t going to win me over. Neither is your hypnotic stare, so stop trying. There’s really nothing else for me to say here. You put the Dawn Fangs at risk and are out to hurt my closest friend. For the love of everything that thrives in darkness, I don’t know why I haven’t killed you on the spot.”
“Go ahead and do it,” the Vampire Queen hisses with a grin. Leaning forward, she pulls tiny gems out from behind her back and sticks them on her forehead to make a target. “Smash my head in and end this game before it can begin. That’s the smarter move, right? Then again, you didn’t do it when you had Lord Tempest at your mercy. Is the great Clyde stupid enough to make that mistake again? Let’s make a deal. Kill me now and all of the treasure of Apelios will be yours to take home. The thief in you couldn’t possibly pass that up.”
Even though he knows it is a trap, Clyde cannot stop his fist from clenching and he pulls back as if to throw a punch. He finds himself plagued by the memory of failing to kill Xavier and preventing a war that he mostly watches from the sidelines. A low purr rolls from his enemy’s mouth and she slowly strips off her dress in a blatant attempt to seduce him. With faint shrug, Clyde charges the Vampire Queen and swings at the center of the target on her head. The instant before his fist makes contact, Jewelz appears to his right and one of the servants takes the deadly blow. The man’s entire upper body sails out of the banquet hall, the expression on his face one of peace and happiness. Confused by what has happened, Clyde tries to surprise his host with a kick to her chest, but a middle-aged woman he remembers seeing in the hallway appears in place of her master. The impact splatters the servant’s body, but he can still see her face in the gore, the warm smile sending a chill down his spine.
“My powers and followers protect me from destruction,” Jewelz declares as she turns in a circle. She runs her hands down her naked body to prove that there is no damage and makes a final attempt at getting a lustful reaction. “You’ve spent too much time with horrible women to know what a real mate is like. I promise that you will come to relish my company and desire only my body in your bed. You may return to your quarters. I will enjoy your presence in my personal viewing box tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for all the treasure in the world,” Clyde states, his voice flat and dull. He takes a few steps towards the door before whirling around with a punch that decapitates a third servant who takes his master’s place. “One day, I’m going to figure out your trick and find a way around it. Until then, remember that I’m only playing this game for fun. The instant I get bored, I unleash my full wrath on Apelios.”
“Oh, the thought of such strength sends quivers through my loins,” the Vampire Queen hisses before biting her lip. The instant the other Dawn Fang has left, she takes a seat on her throne and has her dress flow back onto her body. “I know you’re listening from afar, Sir Pendrac. Things are going smoothly, but I’ve noticed a wrinkle. It isn’t with Clyde or Titus since those two are fairly easy to keep in my tournament. I’m worried about Lord Tempest. He might not have his heart in this.”
“Do you want me to speak with him?” the old-world vampire asks through the throne’s ruby.
“No, I don’t think words will fix this,” Jewelz replies as she points at two muscular servants and winks at them. She licks her lips as they undress and began to wrestle in front of her for a chance to be her nightly consort. “There’s always a chance that he will beat Clyde, which means Xavier would be my king. Not a bad choice since he’s handsome, smart, and oozes with delicious charm. Sadly, it comes with a frustrating issue. Kill his wife and make it look like Mab did it. That should get the nobleman’s blood boiling.”
“Consider Lady Sylvan eliminated.”
4
After making a stop to get new clothes, Mab emerges from the shadows in the communal bath of Gregorio’s lair and notices that part of the room is covered in red dust. She is about to leave when the door opens and a tired Dawn Fang yelps in surprise at the unexpected guest. The nervous womb-born juggles the broom and dustpan that he is carrying, his prehensile hair stretching to help prevent them from clattering to the floor. Smiling at the child, Mab pats him on the head and pretends to pull a blood-flavored sucking candy out of his ear. Tossing the sweet to the amused vampire, she steps around him to get through the exit. She is instantly hit by a billowing cloud of red dust that makes her eyeballs itch. The burglar immediately recognizes the material as powdered rubies, which strengthens her theory that she knows the true identity of the Vampire Queen. Dawn Fangs are everywhere with brooms, mops, and wind powers that they use to get all of the dust into an empty closet. She wipes the thin layer off her body as she heads for Gregorio’s office, but stops when she spots the gnome leaving the pantry. Waving to the old vampire, Mab ducks to avoid Lost’s bunny, which comes flying at her head.
“He only wanted to give the scary lady a kiss,” the half-elven Dawn Fang says from where she is perched near the ceiling. Sweat is pouring down her face as she tries to remove the ruby dust without carving holes in the rough stone. “Sorry for the mess. Before you ask, it isn’t my fault and the bad rock ate all of our food. Grandpa Roman is making a list to send to Clyde and Nadia because we’re getting hungry. I saw Haslo over there eat a moth for lunch. Not a good sign since he prefers butterflies.”
“Keep your pet in check, kid, because I’m definitely the scary lady today,” Mab replies before catching the animal by the ears. Its tongue detaches from its mouth and runs up her cheek, which causes her to angrily hurl it across the large room. “I should have seen that coming. Hey, old fang, what happened here?”
The burglar frowns when Gregorio looks up from his notes and merely nods in her general direction. As if already forgetting she is there, the gnome takes a seat at the only table in the room and pulls two pages out of his pocket to beginning writing letters. Driven by a swirling mix of anger and worry, Mab storms across the room with her claws drawn and a murderous look on her face. Only Lost dares to drop from the ceiling and get within reach of the angry vampire, but she remains a few cautious steps behind. Sensing the gir
l’s presence, the burglar glances over her shoulder and points at her own head while mouthing a warning. Mistaking the message as a request, the excited womb-born takes over Mab’s body to have it sprint at Gregorio. The contact is broken a second later when a net of golden energy billows out of the gnome and coats the entire room. All of the Dawn Fangs feel their powers become restrained to the point where they cannot use them, but they have grown so accustomed to the sensation that they accept the incident as a welcomed break. Snarling and cracking her knuckles, Mab reaches the table and slams her hands down to get the older vampire’s full attention.
“Judging by your volatility, I assume Jewelz has truly returned,” Gregorio says while he continues writing. He turns off his power to allow his students to continue cleaning, but it is clear he is ready to do it again if provoked. “Remember that cabinet you and Clyde gave me long ago when you moved to a new lair? Of course not because you were supposed to pick it up after you became settled. Don’t be upset since I forgot it was here too. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you had some of your old rivals’ jewels in that thing. Those trinkets exploded and made a mess of my lair. Nearly trapped all of us too. Almost like I was to be eliminated from whatever event is about to occur. Unfortunately, if you’re here for information, I can’t be of any help. Just like you and Clyde, I thought Titus killed Jewelz and never imagined she would be the legendary Vampire Queen.”
“That’s just great. I was hoping you would have something to tell me or we could analyze those gems for a clue,” Mab admits, her claws repeatedly popping in and out. Needing a release, she throws a punch at the wall and growls at the loud snaps of her finger bones. “That arrogant, conniving, narcissistic swamp spawn took Clyde. We were in Nyte and about to crash Xavier’s party when this Dawn Fang made a speech about the Vampire Queen. He exploded and sent crystal dust everywhere. By the time the cloud disappeared, Clyde was gone. I figured out it was Jewelz after we found a gemstone that was smooth to the touch for everyone, but cut my hands whenever I held it. Centuries later, she still wants to make me suffer and get revenge for being our maker’s favorite. Not my fault I was the better thief. Probably should have left her with those Duragians long ago and saved myself the headache I’m dealing with now.”
Rivalry (War of Nytefall Book 3) Page 7
