by L.H. Cosway
20.
When we stepped inside Crimson, the place looked like the casualty section of a war zone. Antonia was laid out on one of the tables, her trouser leg ripped off, revealing a gaping wound that one of her guards was working to clean up. It appeared to be slowly healing before my eyes. One of the club’s bouncers was attending to Delilah and Lucas, both of whom sported various scrapes and wounds, which were also healing miraculously fast.
My eyes widened when I spotted Finn and Gabriel. What on earth were they doing here? They didn’t appear to be held hostage, which was even odder. I met Finn’s gaze for a moment, a question in my eyes. I was about to walk over and ask why he was here when Ethan led me away, striding across the room to check on his sister.
“Are you all right?” he asked with worry.
“I’m okay,” Delilah replied. “You should see the other girl.”
“And I’m just peachy, thanks for asking,” Lucas put in wryly.
Ethan’s lips curved in a smirk as he glanced at his friend. “Glad to hear it.”
“You seem different,” Delilah remarked as she eyed me. I stiffened self-consciously.
“Tegan was badly injured,” Ethan interjected. “I had to give her some of my blood.”
Delilah’s eyes grew round. “Oh.”
I tensed. “What’s that look for? What am I missing?”
Ethan reached out, pushing my hair over my shoulder. “You’re not missing anything.”
“Yes, she is,” Delilah muttered under her breath.
I stepped away from Ethan, worried now as I eyed him suspiciously. “Out with it. What is she talking about?”
He blew out a breath, casting his sister a beleaguered look. “There may have been one or two things I didn’t tell you.”
I arched an eyebrow and folded my arms. “Such as?”
“Such as the fact that since you drank my blood, we will now be connected for a time.”
“Connected how?”
“I’ll be able to sense you. I’ll know if you’re in danger. I’ll also be able to locate you, wherever you are.”
I gaped at him. “What?”
“It won’t last forever, just for a few months.”
“A few months!”
Ethan stepped close, clasping my shoulders in his hands. “Don’t make a scene. Is it such a bad thing? If you find yourself in trouble, I’ll know and will be able to come to your rescue.”
“I don’t need rescuing,” I argued, unsure how exactly I felt about this. Right now, I felt pretty damn mad.
“Did I not rescue you from Theodore tonight? And I do recall assisting you on one or two previous occasions.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want you always knowing where I am. It’s an invasion of privacy.”
His expression darkened. “Why? Do you have something to hide?”
Only the fact that my blood could turn you and every vampire here into super vampires.
I stared at him, not replying. He held my gaze, not backing down. Finally, I released a sigh. “Look, I’m going to find out what Gabriel and Finn are doing here.”
Suddenly, Ethan became aware that a slayer was in his night club. “Who the hell let him in?” he demanded loudly.
“The slayer and the dhampir have temporarily come to our side,” Antonia informed him from where she lay waiting for her leg to heal. “You will not harm either of them, Ethan Cristescu. That’s an order.”
Ethan’s jaw hardened. He looked furious, but he obviously couldn’t object to Antonia’s command. “I’ll go talk to them,” I said quietly, then turned and went over to where Finn and Gabriel, both looking uncomfortable and out of place, sat in one of the sumptuously appointed club booths.
“Well, this is unexpected,” I whispered as I slid in next to Gabriel.
“Neither of us agrees with Pamphrock’s decision to side with Theodore,” Finn explained reluctantly. “We made the difficult choice to team up with the vamps for the time being. Everyone in North Tribane agrees with Pamphrock’s decision to allow the sorcerer to take over the south. They think he’ll stop once he has the vamps under his rule, but as soon as that happens, he’ll be setting his sights on our territory. Pamphrock is a fool to not see that.”
“So, siding with the vampires is the lesser of two evils?” I surmised.
“Pretty much,” Gabriel said, his expression tense. He didn’t like being here, that was for sure.
“And Antonia has agreed to let you fight for her? That’s surprising.”
“We’re not fighting for her,” Finn cut in. It was clearly killing him to be anywhere near his sworn enemies. “We’re fighting against Theodore. There’s a difference.”
I almost smiled. “Is there now?”
“Oh, you can wipe that smile off your face, Missy.”
“I just find it interesting how the vampires are no longer the evillest beings in the world. Maybe now you’ll reconsider your obsession with wiping them out.”
“I’m taking a brief hiatus, that’s all,” he stated irritably.
I glanced between the two of them, noting the absence of a certain warlock. “What about Marcel? Is he happy to side with Theodore?”
“Marcel is old school,” Gabriel replied. “No matter how bad things get with the sorcerer, he’ll always prefer his own kind over the vampires. That’s just his way.”
I felt bad for Gabriel. He looked so disappointed in his friend. “Well, I think it’s very big of you to put your differences aside to fight for the greater good. I know it must be difficult. You don’t like Ethan much do you?”
“No, I do not.”
“Hey,” Finn whispered. “This isn’t easy for me either. I do kill these people for a living.” He peered over his shoulder, glancing uneasily at the assembled vampires.
“They do sort of look like they want to jump you,” I agreed, spotting a male vampire who was glaring in Finn’s direction.
Finn picked up the glass of whiskey he’d been nursing and downed the last of it. “Had a bit of a scrape with that one a while back. If we manage to get rid of Theodore, he’ll be the first one to rip my throat out. We called a truce before you got here and agreed to put our differences aside, but I have a feeling the truce will end the second Theodore is defeated.”
“If he’s defeated,” Gabriel added just as my phone vibrated with a text.
Rita: Are you okay? Alvie and I couldn’t find you anywhere after we got separated. We managed to make it to my house unscathed.
Tegan: I’m okay. Ethan helped me get away. Glad you both got out of there safely!
When I finished sending the text I glanced up and found Delilah standing in front of the booth, one hand on her hip while the other twirled a red curl around her finger.
“Mind if I join you, Tegan?” she asked, her bright green eyes levelled on Finn with a hungry intensity. He swallowed visibly.
“Sure,” I said, wondering what she could want. She sat next to Finn and directly opposite me. Finn looked tense as she scooted close, clearly trying to rile him.
“I’m sorry Ethan didn’t warn you of the full repercussions of drinking his blood,” she said to me, her look apologetic.
“You drank his blood?” Gabriel questioned, his brows furrowing.
“Hey! I didn’t have a choice,” I defended. “I took a bad fall when the fighting broke out and injured my hip. Then Theodore was all up in my face trying to take me away with him. To be honest, I’m grateful Ethan was there to save me. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if he hadn’t shown up.” I paused, glancing at Delilah. “Yes, it was sly of him not to tell me what it truly meant to drink his blood, but I was in agony and he took the pain away. Though I’m pissed at him for withholding all the facts, I’m grateful for his help.”
“Wait a second, what do you mean Theodore was going to take you away with him?” Delilah asked, and I realised belatedly that I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that part.
I shrugged and tried to play it down. “I
don’t know. I fell and the next thing I knew Theodore was crouched before me, saying he was bringing me with him. Maybe he needed a hostage.”
Gabriel and Finn regarded me with interest now, too.
“Why would he take a human hostage? Nobody would care what happens to a human,” Delilah said thoughtfully.
“Jeez, thanks.”
“I bet Theodore knows what’s different about you. That’s why he wanted to take you,” Delilah went on, her voice quiet, face tense. She slid out of the booth and went directly to Ethan, where she was no doubt relaying the details of what I just told her.
“Shit,” I whispered, my stomach in knots.
“Tegan, what is it?” Gabriel asked, his voice low and concerned.
I didn’t answer because Ethan had turned to look at me from across the club, his expression unreadable. My skin tightened and my stomach was in knots as my fear of him discovering the truth built.
“I wouldn’t fancy being you right now,” Finn said. “Cristescu looks mad.”
“Shut up, or I’ll tell Delilah you want to volunteer some blood for her next meal.”
“Don’t you dare,” Finn threatened. “It’s hard enough being around all these vamps. I don’t want any of them thinking I’m a fan.”
“Delilah isn’t a vampire. She’s a dhampir. She lives with the vampires because her father was apparently a big deal,” I told him.
“Really?” Finn asked, suddenly looking at Delilah in a whole new light.
“Yes, really,” I answered, noticing Gabriel had suddenly grown very still. “Are you okay?” I asked him.
“Yes, I just need to use the bathroom,” he said as he left me alone with Finn, who was now staring over at Delilah.
“Not a vampire, you say,” he murmured quietly to himself.
“Right everyone,” Ethan announced, going to stand in the centre of the club. “Gather round. Some plans need to be made if we’re going to successfully take on Theodore.” His eyes rested on me for a moment, and I desperately wished to know what he was thinking. What did he make of the fact that Theodore wanted to take me with him?
All of the vampires went to gather around him, while Antonia climbed off the table she’d been lying on and went to stand next to him. Finn and I remained seated at the booth. There had to be at least fifty vampires present and neither of us fancied getting too close to them. Gabriel returned from the bathroom and silently retook his seat.
A woman with short brown hair raised her hand to speak. Antonia inclined her head to grant permission. “I have at least forty of our people working in my warehouse,” the woman said. “All of them will be willing to fight if it comes to that.”
“Thank you, Olivia,” Antonia replied. “That is a very generous offer, and I’ll keep it in mind should it be needed.” Olivia smiled and bowed her head.
“That’s all very well and good,” Ethan interjected. “But unfortunately, as vampires, we are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to taking on Theodore since we have no magic to contend with his vast supply.”
“Yes, but we have numbers,” Lucas added. “And although he may have hundreds of warlocks and slayers willing to help him win the south, we are physically stronger than each of them as individuals.”
I heard Finn make a derisive grumble. Luckily, none of the vampires heard. It clearly irked him to listen to Lucas talk about how much stronger vampires were. I brought my attention back to Ethan and found him staring at Gabriel in a strange way. He looked like he was concocting some sort of plan.
“I’d almost forgotten,” Ethan said, still eyeing Gabriel. “We do have at least one trick up our sleeve when it comes to fighting magic with magic.”
“Oh?” Antonia questioned.
“Our new ally, Gabriel Forbes, is quite a talented warlock.”
All the vampires turned to look our way. Antonia’s eyes were curious as she took Gabriel in. “Of the Forbes magical family?”
Gabriel stiffened. “Yes, but I’m merely one warlock. I wouldn’t stand a chance against Theodore.”
“True,” Ethan agreed. “But you are extremely well-read. I’m sure you could consult your books. If you still collect the way you used to you must have a better collection than all the magical families combined by now. Perhaps you can discover a way to get rid of Theodore with a spell or a ritual from one of your tomes. If you’re successful, you’ll be richly rewarded for your effort.”
“I can second that,” Antonia put in, still eyeing Gabriel with interest.
“There’s no way to defeat a sorcerer unless you become a sorcerer yourself,” Gabriel argued. “And that would take a lot more time than we’ve got. Decades, in fact.”
Ethan stared at him even more intensely than before. “There are always loopholes. After all, the supernaturals of Tribane managed to banish Theodore in the sixties. Why not again?”
“You overestimate my abilities,” Gabriel replied.
A challenge flashed in Ethan’s gaze. “Find a solution and I’ll give you your rightful share of what was left in our father’s will.”
Just like that, the room was thrown into silence. Did I hear him correctly?
“You two are brothers?” I asked Gabriel in a stunned whisper.
“Half-brothers,” Gabriel corrected, but it seemed that this wasn’t quite the shock to everyone else as it was to me and Finn. It seemed we were the only two who didn’t know that Gabriel and Ethan were related. That meant Delilah was his half-sister, too. Finn and I shared a look of disbelief. I finally understood what Ethan and Gabriel’s history was, why they were always so tense around one another. They shared a father, but while Ethan and Delilah had been raised by him, Gabriel had been cast out. I wondered just how much their father left them when he died. How much he didn’t leave to Gabriel because he was a dhampir.
Antonia made a noise of impatience. “Are we here to discuss the fact that Alin Cristescu enjoyed the company of human females, or are we here to plan a war?”
“I apologise, Governess,” Ethan said with a deferential lowering of his head.
Antonia turned to address Gabriel. “Am I to believe that you have the knowledge to devise a spell that will defeat Theodore?”
Gabriel seemed frustrated now. Reluctantly, he replied, “I can make no promises, but I’ll try my best.”
Antonia peered at him through a narrowed gaze. “Very well then. We will see what the bastard, half-breed son of Alin Cristescu can do. In the meantime, I’ll prepare our people for a battle. I’ll return here tomorrow just after sundown to see what you have come up with.”
Gabriel looked like he wanted to tear his hair out. I was sure when he woke up this morning, he never imagined he’d end up working for the vampire governess of Tribane come nightfall. Antonia rose from her seat, and with her guards, including Dru, she exited the club with a graceful flourish.
After that, the rest of the vampires started to leave. Some went to Ethan and spoke with him in earnest, hushed tones before heading out, probably wanting to be reassured of Gabriel’s merits and trustworthiness. As I watched them, an idea sprang to mind. I glanced from Finn to Gabriel.
“I think there’s someone who can help you figure out how to fight against Theodore.”
“Oh yeah, and who’s that?” Finn questioned.
“Rita,” I answered simply.
Gabriel shook his head. “Look, Tegan, I know you two have become friends, but I don’t think Rita can help. Fighting Theodore is a big task, and she isn’t even a member of one of the magical families.”
His immediate dismissal bothered me. “Can you just put your stupid prejudices aside for a minute? You haven’t even seen what she can do yet. I have, and no offense, but in comparison to what I’ve witnessed you and Marcel do, Rita far surpasses that. You’re all so blind that you can’t see a powerful witch when she’s standing right in front of you. If you could look past your preconceived notions, I think that you and Rita might make a formidable team. Your book smarts combined with
her raw talent could be unbelievable.”
Gabriel eyed me for a long moment. He still didn’t look convinced. Crossing his arms, he seemed a little defensive, and I understood. If his father was a vampire and his mother a human, then that meant his mother came from a magical family. He’d grown up being told he was special, and it was obviously a blow to hear that someone like Rita might actually be more talented than him.
“You know, Gabe,” Finn said, breaking the silence. “I think Tegan might be right. When we arrived at the port, Rita cast a spell to locate Tegan out of the crowd.”
Gabriel considered him. “She did?”
Finn nodded. I rolled my eyes. “Why are you so against believing in her? She knows how to do all kinds of cool stuff. Finn has no reason to lie to you, and she even helped me …” I went silent, realising I’d been about to blurt that Rita helped me discover what was different about me.
“She helped you what?” Gabriel questioned.
“Nothing. Never mind. My point is, you can ask Rita for help, or you can spend the next twenty-four hours searching for a solution in your books that you might never find.”
A long stretch of quiet elapsed before Gabriel finally relented. “Fine. Call Rita and fill her in on the situation. Tell her to come to my apartment in the morning. She knows where it is. I’ll try to work with her, but I can’t make any guarantees on results.”
I smiled wide. “I knew you’d see sense.” With that, I stood to go use the bathroom and call Rita. It only took me a few minutes to fill her in on everything, and she enthusiastically agreed to help us. I was beginning to realise that underneath her Goth style and slightly bitchy facade, Rita was a positive, sunshiny person.
Finn and Gabriel were gone by the time I left the bathroom, and I guessed they wanted to spend as little time in Ethan’s club as possible. The place was empty, only Ethan and Lucas left sitting by the bar.
“Not opening up for business tonight?” I asked as I took the stool next to Ethan. I was still supremely annoyed at him for not disclosing how drinking his blood would form a connection between us, but I was too tired to fight with him about it right then.
