by Janet Jones
"Bast?"
"Yep.” She retrieved the figurine and brought it to him. “Benemerut gave her to me. Isn't she cool? She knows everything. She protects families. Even families like ours."
Sean stared at Shelby. “Families like ours?"
"Yeah.” Shelby lifted a hand and touched his teeth, giggling. “Can I see ‘em?"
"S-see what, honey?"
She giggled again. “Your fangs."
* * * *
Outrage devoured Talisen. What purpose could it possibly serve for the Alchemist to tell Shelby what her family was? “Of all the low, rotten, mean things to—"
Ellory cut her off. “Shelby, come here."
He knelt and held one hand out to her. The little girl went to him and fit herself into his embrace as though nothing had changed, as though the world was full of vampires.
Talisen put an arm around Sean. He was shaking all over. “Ellory will make everything all right."
Ellory held Shelby close, rested his hand on the crown of her head, and closed his eyes. Talisen watched his face. She had to hand it to him. At least on the surface he was cool and composed. Beneath, he was sheer desperation.
She reached out to him. Is she all right?
She is. The corner of his mouth twitched. And in full possession of her free will. But there will be no deceiving her from now on. She knows everything. No enthrallment will work, and I can't make her forget.
Talisen gasped. Sean looked at her with questions in his eyes. She tightened her hug. What did he do to her, Ellory?
He has made himself her protector. Ellory opened his eyes and met her gaze. His face was rigid with emotion, now. It's called a life-ward. It means he has singled her out. It means he will never be far away from her—or us. It means that even from one life to the next, wherever she is, he will be able to find her. But I don't understand how the Alchemist could do this. Even an Ancient as powerful as he is can't place a life-ward on a person unless there's a very old and deep connection between them already.
Then ... obviously ... there is a connection somewhere.
Sean gripped Talisen's wrist. “What the hell is going on? Tell me."
She didn't have the heart to answer his question. “Ellory can explain it better than I can."
Ellory kissed Shelby's cheek and stood. “You should show everyone your new toy."
She put her thumb on the mouth of the Bast figurine and pressed hard. “Bast has fangs, but you can't see them."
"She knows we can't show our fangs unless we need to use them. It's a rule."
"Like when Sean tells me not to run with scissors?"
Sean groaned.
Ellory actually had the presence of mind to laugh, but it was a sad sound. “Exactly. Go show everyone your cat, and Sean will be downstairs in a minute."
"Okay."
Halfway to the door, she turned and trotted to the wardrobe. She gave it a rap, opened the door and pulled out a mug of hot cocoa and a gooey cheese sandwich. With a complacent smile, she left the room, dribbling a trail of cocoa behind her.
Sean turned to Ellory. “What did he do to her?"
Ellory hooked his hands in his back pockets and approached Sean slowly. Talisen didn't envy him. When he stood eye-to-eye with Sean, he put a steadying hand on his shoulder. “She's all right. In fact, no harm will ever come to her."
Sean shook hard enough for Talisen to see him quivering. “Ellory, tell me he didn't drink from her."
"No. Nor will any other of our kind. Ever."
"But she's different. What did he do to her?"
"It's a life-ward, a kind of bond, but something older and deeper than the kind of bonds we're used to. The good thing is its protection is more powerful than even I could give Shelby. She will always be safe, even from him. Its very existence will prevent any of our kind—even the Alchemist himself—from taking control of Shelby's mind."
Sean shook his head, his voice a whisper. “Why did he do this? What does he want with Shelby?"
"Evidently there is history between the two of them that only the Alchemist knows about."
"But you can get rid of it, can't you? This life-ward thing? You can break it? I don't want him near my sister."
Ellory drew a deep breath. “No, Sean. It can't be broken. As long as the Alchemist exists, so will the life-ward."
Sean threw back his head and let out a roar. “THEN I'LL KILL HIM!"
Ellory caught his face with both hands and shook him, even while Sean struggled and punched and snarled. “Sean, you'll be dead before you get close enough to touch him. And then what will Shelby do? You will leave this to me."
"I'm so sorry,” Sean choked out. “I should've let you make a blood bond with Shelby when you had the chance."
"If anyone is to blame, it's me. The best thing you can do for Shelby now is answer her questions. And whatever you do, Sean, don't criticize the Alchemist in front of her. Whether we like it or not, there is something between them, something they share, and whatever it is, the Alchemist has awakened it and made Shelby just aware enough of it that it will be impossible to drive a wedge between them. And if you try it, it'll confuse Shelby and make her doubt you, and she needs to know she can trust you, now more than ever."
Sean hissed and strained to break free. “That bastard! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!"
Ellory gave Sean a hard hug and released him. “Don't go down to her looking like this, or she'll see more fangs than she asked to. Calm yourself."
Sean closed his eyes and nodded. His breath came in sharp gasps. He rubbed his mouth with both hands, trying to get his canines to recede. Turning, he paced the length and breadth of the room, flexing his fisted hands and drying his tears. In a moment, when he seemed calmer, he took his leave.
Talisen went to Ellory and embraced him. “You can't retaliate, either. He'll kill you, too."
"I know. And at least we can be sure of her survival, no matter what happens tonight."
"What are you and Meical going to say to the Enclave to get them to help you against Dylan?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I doubt a song will do, this time.” He ran a hand down her back and hugged her close. For a moment, she thought she felt his arms shake. “While we're gone, if you need to talk to the children, you'll have to go down to them, because they can't come up here."
She drew back. “Why not?"
He turned away from her. She could feel him struggle to stay calm. “Neshi warded the room too. Only those who are important to Shelby's immediate well-being are allowed in here. Meical and I are the only ones who can go above-ground. Tidy, isn't it? If Dylan kills Meical and me, Neshi will keep the fledglings in return for his hospitality. But he'll keep you and Sean safe, because Shelby needs you."
Talisen refused to let her fears take her down that road. She focused on necessity. “If he won't let the fledglings leave, how will they feed?"
Ellory grimaced. “Neshi has seen to that. And don't ask me how, because you don't want to know."
That meant there were people somewhere in this hell-hole being kept in cells like cattle, like the woman they'd heard crying on their arrival.
"Meical says Neshi hasn't resorted to using drugs on our food supply, so it looks like it will be safe to take him up on his hospitality."
"Drugs? You said vampires aren't susceptible to drugs."
"Talisen, we don't call Neshi ‘the Alchemist’ for nothing. He's our pharmacist. His concoctions aren't like human drugs. They're part magic, part ancient-world medicinal. How do you think he managed to restore Freya so swiftly?"
Ellory shuddered and looked away, his voice soft with a combination of caution and surprise. “He has, in fact, thrown the full weight of his power behind his protection of us all—presumably for Shelby's sake."
He cupped her chin with his hand and tilted her head back. Hunger gleamed in his eyes, and like a spark off an inferno, it caught her on fire. He picked her up and nuzzled her throat. His kiss was slow and deep, the kind that te
ased and promised at the same time. “I need your strength so badly tonight."
She smiled, holding him close. “It's too bad we don't have time to do justice to our appetite. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back—hopefully with reinforcements."
She quivered with anticipation as he carried her to the little bed in the corner. But he halted and looked down at her with his kissable lips still close and puckered in thought. What was he waiting for?
"Ellory?"
He set her down on her feet and slid a hand over her stomach. “You haven't eaten a thing since we came here, have you? As inquisitive as you are, I can't believe you haven't availed yourself of the besotted wardrobe yonder."
She ducked her head and shrugged. “I started to once, but it seemed ... I don't know ... disloyal."
He stroked her cheek with his index finger. When she met his gaze, he wore a rueful smile. “I am so sorry. I didn't think. I should have provided for you. What are you hungry for? Wait. Don't answer that."
He bent and gave her a lingering kiss. “Ah. An order of manicotti, garlic bread, a salad on the side, and a glass of very dry red wine, coming up. And they say the Benedikt Inn doesn't do takeout? Ha."
Ellory stepped aside, and she looked past him. Her meal waited, steaming hot, on the little table. It was even served on the Inn's tableware, right down to the same loden green tablecloth. “But what about you?"
He grinned and snapped his fangs at her. “It won't hurt to meet and greet my fellow creatures with a little edge to my appetite. Maybe they'll take me seriously."
"If you can find any of them."
She let him seat her at the table, laughing when he tucked her napkin in the collar of her shirt. She picked up her fork and knife and began eating. “I've got an idea I want to ask you about. Why don't you just drink from any vampires you come across and put them under your power and build yourself an army? That would scare the pee out of Dylan. I know what he did at Sartori's, but he can't kill everyone. You could maybe get to him before he managed to."
Ellory laughed, low and raspy. “What have I done to you? You've grown mercenary in my company."
"I'm serious. Just make them help you, Ellory."
He poured her a glass of wine with a shake of his head. “It's taboo to steal blood from a vampire."
She stabbed her fork into her salad with a frown. “Oh, sure it is. Don't tell me you don't do that."
"I don't. Others do. Aloisia did, in fact. She nearly drained me dead on more than one occasion. Believe me when I say it's as reprehensible to me as the idea of creating revenants. It undermines the meaning of blood-bonding between family members. If I drink from another vampire, it's only to kill, and in that case, it's either a mercy killing or.... “He grinned ruefully. “...because I'm angry."
"Your sense of honor has very bad timing. Can't you be flexible and make an exception?"
"I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I've taught the children to sustain one another when need be, but not to prey on their own kind.” He gave her another kiss on the cheek and backed away. Wrapping himself in a spiraling golden light, he began to vanish. “Meical is waiting for me. We'll be back as soon as possible. And remember, Talisen, the Alchemist cannot be trusted. He may try to deceive you."
Talisen stared at the golden haze that overtook him. When it cleared, she was alone. She looked around at her empty room, the dusky corners with shadows that seemed to breathe and harbor monsters. She couldn't resist stealing a glance over her shoulder. When she turned back to her plate, she squelched her scream and bolted out of her chair.
The Alchemist sat in the chair opposite her. His curly, ebony hair hung in his face, making him look wild and exotic and scarcely older than she was.
She backed away and pointed at the door. “Out. Before I rip your heart out—if you have one, that is."
He leaned back in his chair, expressionless but for the glint of amusement in his eyes. “Listen to me, Ms. Davies. This is a night for revelation, and time is about to run out for your mate. Shelby loves him. She needs him. I don't want her to grow up without him."
Cautious curiosity festered inside of Talisen. His words sounded sincere. They felt genuine. He was Ellory's best chance for survival—if she could persuade him to help them—regardless of what Ellory had to say.
The Alchemist prodded her with his gaze. “Believe me, my plan is only for the sake of Shelby's safety and well-being."
"I don't care if you knew her eons ago or not; nothing gives you the right to push your way into her life, now or in the future."
"I have as much right to protect her as Benedikt has to claim you for his mate."
"That's different. We're meant to be together."
He gave her a taunting smile. “Is it so inconceivable that the same might be said of me and another?"
"Not Shelby."
"You see only the child she is, at the moment. I see the woman she has been in times past, long ago, and the woman she will grow to be.” He rose and stalked to the other side of the room, head down and hands behind his back again. “In twenty years or so, my hunger will claim my reason, and I will become the depraved monster everyone thinks I am already. No one will be able to destroy me. Hundreds of humans will die before my hunger turns inward and my body devours itself."
What did that have to do with Shelby? “So do the world a favor and off yourself before you get to that point."
"The thought crosses my mind a hundred times a night. But I must finish my work. I'm almost there now. I can taste it.” He looked at her over his shoulder, eyes glinting. “What would you give to walk in the sunlight with Benedikt at your side?"
She gaped at the Alchemist. How could he be that powerful? “You've found a way to make vampires human again?"
He fixed his gaze on the ceiling. “Not quite. But I can alter them. I can make them less harmful to humanity in that they crave something from humans other than blood."
Talisen bit her lip, trying to imagine what it would be like if Ellory didn't need her blood. To wake up in the morning with him, not to have to leave his side, not to face the separation anymore. What would she sacrifice to give them that kind of life?
"What do they crave, if not blood?"
He wagged a finger at her. “Only my subjects know."
She frowned. “Your subjects all die."
"Much too soon. That's because I have always needed an older, stronger specimen. This is no longer a problem.” His gaze shifted away. “My latest subject will survive the rigors of the experiment longer than the others. But I must live in order to complete my research. And if I am to live, I need a better source of sustenance, someone who can fulfill me willingly."
Willing blood? That was what all of this came down to? He wanted Shelby for a meal ticket? Oh, what she wouldn't give to get her hands on one of the shotguns at home. Her head pounded with outrage. “You'll have to kill us first, starting with me."
Though his expression didn't change, the room became decidedly colder. His voice was too calm. “You'll be relieved to know, that will not be necessary. Shelby will seek me out when the time comes, not because I control her, but because I know her dreams, her fears, and her hurts. I will be the answer to all her needs one of these days, just as I have been in kinder times we've known together on this earth."
He obviously thought Shelby was the reincarnation of someone he'd lost a long time ago. Talisen ground out, “I think they're right about you. You're too far gone already. Stay away from Shelby, or so help me—"
"None of you will survive this night without my help. I don't want Shelby to lose the only family she's ever known. Don't you see? I can give her protection, but I am no substitute in her eyes for Benedikt and his fledglings. If I survive to be worthy of her one of these days, I want to be able to say that I guarded her happiness as well as I guarded her safety."
Talisen condisdered his words. The look of reverence she'd seen in Neshi's eyes when he'd looked at Shelby didn't lie. And if
Neshi wanted to kill them all, he could do so without the use of deception and lies. She didn't trust him, but she had no reason to mistrust him, either.
The Alchemist returned to the table and drew back her chair for her. “Sit. We have plans to make, if we are to save your suicidal mate. Sacrifices must be made. By you and one other. The one of whom I speak has made his commitment already. It rests with you to decide if you can do so as well."
What wouldn't she do for Ellory's sake? Talisen returned to her chair slowly. “But we leave the fledglings out of this. I mean it. It's not going to be one of them. Understand?"
"Understood. As I've said, I have a perfect specimen, so I no longer require young vampires for my research."
So what sacrifice did Neshi want from her? Talisen swallowed hard. Willing blood was the only thing she had to offer. Ellory would never understand. This was exactly what he had forbidden her to do.
She let the Alchemist push her up to the table, but didn't wait until he sat down to speak. She couldn't say it if she had to look into his black, soulless eyes.
"You want my blood ... and...."
He slid his hands up the sides of the chair, up her arms, to rest on her shoulders. She could feel his power emanate from his fingertips, resonate to her soul. She waited, scarcely breathing, while all her hopes dangled by a thread above an inferno of fear.
"I have done many things, Ms. Davies, but not once have I violated the mark of another. You are not for me. I will not shame either of us so.” He bent closer so that his breath brushed her cheek. “However, were you unclaimed, I would relish your sacrifice and see that you had no regrets."
When he sat down across from her, his eyes twinkled at her. “That is not the sacrifice of which I speak. But you are truly courageous to be willing. I am grateful that Shelby will grow up in the care of such an exemplary person."
Talisen didn't know whether to be relieved that he had some integrity or exasperated that her attempt hadn't worked. “So tell me what sacrifice I'm supposed to make in order for you to be willing to kill Dylan."
"I'm not going to kill him. You are."
