A Vampire's Dominion

by Vanessa Fewings

  “Who told you that?” Marcus asked. “That unbalanced creature?”

  “You’re not helping,” I snapped at Marcus.

  Jacob turned his back on Marcus and faced me. “We’re doing everything we can to prevent the same thing from happening to you.”

  “Tell me you’re not serious,” Marcus said.

  “I don’t know what to believe.” I ran my fingers through my hair, fighting the panic rising in my gut. “Paradom mentioned there was a plan?”

  Jacob cleared his throat. “Yes, the plan is to separate you.”

  I paused, trying to read Jacob. “Apparently Paradom believes the Stone Masters have the scrolls.”

  Jacob opened his hands. “Paradom’s unreliable.”

  “Then why did you want me to see him?” I asked.

  Jacob’s careful face changed. “William, you know why.”

  My throat tightened. “So that I’d want to revert. Want to separate.”

  “Exactly,” Jacob said.

  “Do you have any idea how frustrating it is talking with you?” I asked.

  “Lucas is working hard on your issue,” Jacob said. “I understand your frustration, William.”

  “Jacob,” Marcus interrupted, his face flushed with anger. “I was the one who reunited you with your father, four hundred years ago. You owe me.”

  “What’s your point, Marcus?” Jacob seethed.

  Marcus pointed to me. “He’s standing right in front of us resembling nothing of Orpheus. Why is everyone so slow to help him when time is a major issue?”

  Jacob steepled his fingers, clearly trying to remain composed. “Catherine and I are striving to save the lives of vampires everywhere,” he said. “We’re investigating vampire deaths, trying to find the cause before it wipes us all out.”

  Marcus snapped back to me. “Is this true?”

  I faced Jacob again. “This reunion is all very cozy, but why did you even come here?”

  Jacob raised his eyebrows thoughtfully. “I thought Marcus might like to see his sister again.”

  Marcus sucked in his breath. “Rachel?”

  “I believe I owe you that much,” Jacob said.

  “Where is she?” Marcus’s voice broke with emotion. “I haven’t seen her in over fifty years.”

  “We found her wandering outside Belshazzar’s,” Jacob said. “She was looking for you.”

  “Where’s she been all this time?” Marcus’s voice was strained.

  Jacob lowered his gaze. “I’m afraid the news isn’t good.”

  “She’s been poisoned,” I said, realizing.

  Marcus flinched.

  Jacob bowed his head. “We’re keeping her safe.”

  “Will she live?” Marcus asked.

  “As long as we manage to keep her out of the sun,” Jacob said. “Confusion seems to be the only side effect.”

  “I have to see her,” Marcus said.

  “We’re hoping she can answer our questions, and possibly help find the cause,” Jacob said. “Though she doesn’t seem to remember much. We’re watching over her at Salisbury Cathedral.”

  I gave Marcus’s arm a squeeze. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “What keeps you here?” Jacob’s tone reeked with suspicion.

  More answers than you’re prepared to give me, I wanted to say, but didn’t.

  Still reeling with the idea that Rachel was suffering, I headed back toward the castle, now more than ever ready to question Sebastian. I left Jacob and Marcus standing there on the shoreline. These poisonings were fast becoming the worst threat since the Stone Masters and I was eager to vanquish the cause.

  Dashing down the endless corridors, I followed Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Fur Elise and quickly found its source. Inside the ballroom, Alex was pounding the keys, speeding up the notes into an insane rhythm.

  “Where’s Sebastian?” I asked him, not wanting to waste anymore time.

  Alex slammed his fingers onto the keyboard. “Why?”

  I was taken back with his aggression. “I have to talk with him.”

  Alex grabbed the keyboard cover and slammed it shut. The piano chimed its disapproval. “What happened with Marcus?” he asked. “What did you two talk about?” Alex rummaged around my thoughts.

  “Please don’t do that,” I said.

  “Then don’t evade me.”

  “This is difficult for everyone.” I studied him. “You spent some time with Jacob recently. Anything you might want to share?’

  “I like him.”

  It was now my turn to penetrate Alex’s thoughts.

  “I can feel that.” He sat forward. “Jadeon would do everything in his power to make this right.”

  “I am.”

  “What are you scheming?”

  “I’m here right now, with you.”

  A stack of books rested on top of the piano and I picked one of them up and read the title. Necromancing the Stones. I held it up. “Fabian Snowstrom wrote this.” Glancing at the other titles, I realized they were all about vampires. “Don’t let Sebastian see these.” Then I saw Alex’s blood stained cuff.

  He stretched out his long legs. “You’re not going to stay, are you?”

  “What did you do?” I feared to see in his eyes or read from his thoughts what he’d done. “I have every intention of taking you with me.”

  “You didn’t last time,” Alex snapped.

  “Tell me you didn’t harm him.”

  “Even now you don’t know me.” Alex righted his chair and stood up. “Sebastian was a ballet dancer.”

  “Was?”

  “Not just any dancer,” Alex blurted, “one of the finest.”

  I turned toward the doorway, terrified of what I’d find. “Stay here.”

  “You’ve never been alone,” Alex shouted after me.

  I flew back toward him and grabbed his shirt, shoving him against the wall. “What did you do?”

  “Why did you bring him here?”

  I shook my head. “He wasn’t meant to stay.”

  Alex grasped my forearms. “Tell me you’re not going to leave me.”

  “I would rather lose this place a million times over then lose you.”

  “I don’t believe you!” Alex yelled.

  “Promise you’ll talk to me before doing anything like this again.” My hands were shaking. “I need you.”

  “You’ll help me get Jadeon back?” he begged.

  “Yes.” I turned away, flashing back to those terrible minutes spent with Paradom, his yellow stained fangs buried deep in that dead rat’s carcass, his black orbs like a child’s, freakish, and full of pain. “I want it more than you,” I murmured.

  Alex buried his head into my chest.

  I wrapped my arms around him, trying not to choke on my words and asked Alex again, only this time in a whisper, “Where’s Sebastian?”

  Chapter 15

  WITHIN THE DUNGEONS, Sebastian was huddled up with his back against the wall, clutching his legs, his stained shirt collar the only evidence of Alex’s attack.

  I swung open the gate, the rusty hinges squeaking.

  “Interestingly place to hide,” I said.

  “Three cells down there’s a coffin.” He raised a finger. “No one’s in it, yet.”

  “May I come in?”

  “Tell me it’s not mine.”

  “It’s not, Seb.”

  His lips trembled when he saw the three books I carried. “William, how long do you intend to keep me here?”

  “You’re not staying.” I shook my head.

  He gulped, hard.

  I raised my hand to clarify. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. You have my word.” On nearing him, I breathed a sigh of relief he hadn’t been turned. “Remember when I told you about the island?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve crossed over to it.”

  Sebastian climbed to his feet and took a step toward me with a steady gait, his limp now gone. “Your brother thinks he’s a vampire,” h
e said. “Where is he?”

  “In the study.”

  “With Miss Scarlett, with the candlestick.” He let out a nervous high-pitched laugh.

  “Sit down.”

  He did as I asked, leaning back against the wall again.

  I knelt close. “You’re in shock.”

  His attention lingered on the books.

  I got comfortable and reached for the first one, showing him the cover. “Arthur R. Raker. Ancient Aztecs.”

  “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

  “Perhaps I shouldn’t have started with this one.” I gave his shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

  “Please don’t tell me I’m some kind of sacrifice.” Sebastian folded his arms around his legs. “Don’t kill me, William.”

  “I saved you, remember?” I took a deep breath. “The Aztecs believed that an ongoing human sacrifice was essential to appease the Gods and drank blood to ensure their debts were paid.” I put the book down. “Franciscan monks documented how the Aztecs offered their blood for the sake of humanity. Notice the common denominator.”

  Sebastian shifted uncomfortably. “Not sure I like where this is going.”

  “Keep up.” I reached for the second book. “The Hindu God Shiva, meaning Auspicious One. The earliest accounts of her life first recorded around 1700 BC, mentioning her ability to have victory over death. Worshipped by millions, this once living being had a third eye and was able to read minds.” I placed it back on top of the other and held up the last one. “Great Britain. Archeologists discover evidence that blood rites were conducted at Stonehenge.”

  “You’re trying to convince me it’s not your brother’s fault?” Sebastian stood up and made his way toward the open gate.

  “These are all a gentle introduction,” I said.

  “Into what?” asked Sebastian.

  I stood up. “Alex was trying to heal your leg.”

  His frown lines deepened. “Makes sense.”

  “Sebastian, Alex has healed you.”

  “Thank him for me, won’t you.” Sebastian’s right foot stepped out of the cell, his hand reaching behind him.

  “Unfortunately, the side effect is sensitivity to light. Alex gave you just enough blood to heal your leg, but you’ll need sunglasses or you’ll feel like your orbs are being burned out of your skull.”

  “Thanks for that little nugget of info.”

  “Sebastian.” I remained still, wary of keeping my distance. “Your limp’s gone.”

  He bolted.

  Waiting for a few seconds, I felt my empathy soar and what had seemed like a simple enough endeavor now took on a different meaning. With mindful ease, I headed after him.

  Back up at ground level, outside the door to the dungeons I waited, having swiftly slid passed Sebastian unnoticed.

  I leaned against the wall with my arms folded, Sebastian’s footfalls signaling his imminent appearance at the top of the stairwell. He shot through the doorway, skidding to a halt when he saw me.

  “When was the last time you ran like that?” I asked, impressed.

  Sebastian turned awkwardly and sprinted down the corridor toward the foyer, almost tripping over himself when he nearly bumped into me.

  I bowed slightly. “We could do this all night but it’s bound to get tedious.”

  Fright was etched on his face. “Are you going to kill me?”

  I stepped toward him and knelt at his feet, reaching for his right trouser leg, easing up the material to reveal his calf.

  “Looks healed to me.” I rose and stepped back, giving him the room he needed.

  Sebastian was shaking. “That’s . . . impossible.”

  Alex was sitting halfway up the central staircase, watching us.

  Sebastian’s hand shot to his mouth, suppressing a scream, seemingly not really taking anything in and struggling to grasp what was happening.

  “Sebastian, this means you can dance again,” Alex called from the stairs.

  “I don’t want to.” Sebastian shook his head, disallowing any chance of accepting the idea.

  “Consider it a going away gift,” I said.

  He grimaced. “Am I a . . . vampire?”

  “No,” I said flatly.

  Alex stood up. “Just gave you enough to cure you.”

  “He gets it, Alex.” I shot up my hand to silence him, wanting to give Sebastian the quiet he needed to process.

  I could hear his heart thundering away and his breathing was way too fast.

  “You’re leaving now,” I said. “No one will stop you.”

  Alex removed a pair of sunglasses from his trouser pocket. “You’ll need these tomorrow.” He threw them into the air.

  Sebastian reached up and caught them, examining the lenses suspiciously.

  “Come on.” I headed toward the front door.

  Keeping some distance from me, Sebastian followed me out into the night. “Are you really a . . .” He panted behind me. “How long have you been one?”

  “We’re not having this conversation.”

  “But you’re letting me go, right?”

  “Yes.” I made my way along the pathway and over the ridge of the hill.

  The lights of Penzance lit up the night sky, reflecting off the grey-crystal water. The tethered rowing boat bobbed on the surface.

  “I thought Alex chopped the boat up for firewood.” Sebastian said.

  “Evidently he was joking.” I checked the oars were secure and untied the rope, throwing it into the boat. “Get in.”

  Sebastian hesitated. “You told me that once on the other side of the island there was no going back.”

  “It was metaphorical.” I pointed to the boat.

  Amongst the clouds hung a low silver moon. Over centuries I’d observed its ceaseless wonder and come to know its dark and featureless lunar plains. Just as the moon nearly always showed its same face toward the earth, I too had hidden my darkest side. But clearly Sebastian was a remarkable man and I was finding it ever more challenging to hold back.

  “How do you know I won’t tell the world about you?” he asked.

  “I trust you.”

  Now let him go.

  He knelt and rubbed his calf out of habit as though his leg needed it.

  “Get in the boat, Sebastian.” I headed back to the castle.

  “You followed me up that clock tower?” he called after me. “Didn’t you? William, you knew I was once one of them?”

  I paused and turned around, slowly.

  “That’s why you were on Big Ben?” he asked. “You were going to kill me, weren’t you? After you got what you wanted?”

  I broke his gaze, not sure how best to tell him that yes, his life had hung in the balance that evening and it had nothing to do with his fall from the tower.

  The shame of what I might have done, too terrible to ponder.

  “They insisted vampires were real,” he said, “but I refused to believe it.”

  “Say their name.”

  “Stone Masters.” He looked miserable.

  “I’d obtained a list of their current members.” I stepped toward him. “Your name was on it.”

  “Why am I still alive?”

  I gave a slow deliberate nod, hoping that might serve as my answer and turned quickly, heading back into the castle.

  Sebastian’s footfalls were close behind me, closing the gap between us. “Why not just force the answers out of me?”

  “I didn’t expect to like you quite this much,” I said wryly. “Rather an inconvenience.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  I headed on in.

  Sebastian followed behind. “This is about my association with the Stone Masters then?”

  I paused beneath the chandelier. “They’re not what they appear to be.”

  Sebastian looked about for Alex. “How do you mean?”

  “They murder vampires.”

  Sebastian came closer, proceeding cautiously. “Don’t vampires murder people?”<
br />
  “Rarely.”

  “You’re like Count Dracula?”

  “Not really,” I said, amused with the way his thoughts were trying to make sense of this.

  “But you can fly?” He reached out and squeezed my left arm. “You feel normal.” He sucked in his breath as though riding the wave of panic.

  “Take your time,” I said.

  “What else can you do?”

  “Read minds.”

  “Seriously?” Sebastian leaned toward me. “What am I thinking?”

  “Pretty much what you’re saying.”

  Conscious that my attention was focused on him, Sebastian became wary again. “How old are you?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “I’ve seen centuries come and go.”

  “Can’t believe this is really happening.” He stared up at the chandelier. “The things you must have seen.”

  I strolled over toward the central staircase and sat on the fifth stair up. “You became affiliated with the Stone Masters at Cambridge.”

  He sat beside me. “Being part of a secret society sounded intriguing. I thought it might help me get more dates.”

  “Your father was a member?” I made it a question, but knew the answer.

  “And his before him.” He bowed his head. “God, you’re a bloody vampire.”

  “I’m hoping that during our short time together you’ve come to see I’m reasonable.”

  “More than that, you’ve been nothing but kind to me.” He shuffled closer. “My leg?”

  “I’m sorry about the way it was done.”

  He caressed his neck. “I thought that once you were bitten by a vampire you became one?”

  “Myth.”

  “What about werewolves?”

  “Never met one.”

  “What’s to stop me from going to the Stone Masters and reporting where you live?”

  “Seb, you’re not that kind of man.”

  “How can you tell?” he asked.

  “I’m an expert on the human condition.”

  “Huh.” Sebastian scrutinized my face. “You’re not going to kill anyone, are you?”

  “Not unless they try to kill me.”

  “Can’t blame you for that, I suppose.” He scratched his head.

  “What you witnessed during your initiation with the Stone Masters was real,” I told him.

  “There was a girl . . . they tortured her.” He frowned, remembering. “I thought they’d hired some actress.” His expression became strained. “What are you planning to do?”