Queen of Darkness

by Patti Larsen

  Sydlynn, you have to run. Sebastian sounded as desperate as Sunny. There is no other way.

  “Proof!” Sunny stepped out of the crowd, eyes flickering to Pannera who nodded, just a little. “I demand to see proof.”

  Batsheva spun and hissed at her. “You aren't of this clan,” she said.

  “Nor am I,” Pannera said. “But I, too, want proof, considering the implications if you are permitted to take her power.”

  Celeste muttered something to Batsheva who waved her off, scariness gone, replaced by irritation.

  “Oh, very well. Bring the informant forward.”

  A slim and lovely vampire, fear on her face but shoulders back in defiance, stepped up. I'd seen her before, one of Pannera's inner circle, wasn't she? She'd been there when the Queen and I had our little meeting. But Pannera banished everyone from the room… secret passage eavesdropping session anyone? After all, she wouldn’t have technically been in the room. Vampires were so sneaky. “I shared this abomination's plans with the Queen,” she said.

  Pannera's eyes narrowed, power crackling from her hands. “My own blood,” she said. “You dare defy your Queen?”

  “I wish to join the Moromond Clan,” the vampire said. “Where I belong.” She met Piotr's eyes and smiled.

  Soft. Innocent even. Full of love.

  The bastard.

  He gestured for her to come to him, taking her hand, resting the other on her shoulder. “My Queen,” he said to Batsheva. “I have promised Ellia the reward of our family blood if she shares everything.”

  Batsheva nodded, all gracious and sickening like. “Proceed, my dear.”

  I was going to barf any second now.

  The young vampire woman proceeded to explain how she'd listened in on the rest of my conversation with Pannera. “They are working together against you, great Queen,” Ellia said.

  Pannera said nothing, face blank. Seriously? I was a little tired of the whole statue act.

  But her message was pretty obvious and I had to believe it was true I was on my own, no matter what I agreed to when Pannera asked me to spy for her.

  No help for Syd. Typical.

  “You have assaulted your Queen with power,” Batsheva said, turning to me. The crowd of her vampires rumbled in answer. “Spied on her for another clan.” A deeper response, full of hate. Why did they hate me again? Someone to focus their own self-loathing on, maybe. For letting this psycho kill their beloved leader. “And the worst of all offenses, you have challenged your Queen for her place as leader of your clan, though your clan rejects you.” A roar from a hundred throats.

  So. Not. Good.

  “I will now strip you of everything you are.” She hovered close to me, her power reaching for me even as the vampire inside me drew tight and closed to protect herself.

  “Not before I claim the same right.” Batsheva spun with a snarl as Pannera spoke. “Either adopt that thing,” she jabbed a finger at the girl who'd betrayed her, “or hand her over to me.”

  Batsheva showed her true colors in that moment. As did Piotr.

  “You can have her,” she said, airy and uncaring as Piotr shoved Ellia toward her clan. “I don't want another traitor in my midst.”

  The girl staggered, spun to stare at the vampire she thought loved her. We all saw it, his slow and painful rejection of her as he allowed his smirk to return. I watched Ellia crumble, accept what she'd done before turning to her Queen.

  “Forgive me,” she choked. “I was misled.”

  No mercy in the vampire world. Before she finished speaking, Ellia was surrounded. I held my breath, wanting to turn away, heart in my throat for her. Yes, she'd betrayed Pannera. But she didn't deserve to die for it.

  It's our law, Sebastian sent. I was saved the view of the girl's take down only because I stared into his eyes. But her screams, the shrieking cries of pain and cracking of bone, tearing of fabric as they pounced on her and sucked her dry, would stay with me for the rest of my life.

  When it was over, I forced myself to look. The shrunken mummy lying on the rough stone beside the banquet table looked nothing like the girl she'd just been. Now Ellia was merely a bag of shattered bones, not a drop of blood in her entire form, though her eyes remained, alive and terrified, as she was lifted by three vampires.

  “Take her,” Pannera waved them off, no longer interested from the bored expression on her face. “Put her somewhere the sun will find her in the morning.”

  “I hope you were watching,” Celeste whispered in my ear, the brush of her hair on my back making me shiver. “You're next.”

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  I ran. I had no choice, no recourse. I could have fought, of course I could have. But even if I won, Pannera would have attacked me next for the power of the essence, law or no law. Especially after our little conversation about me taking the throne should I win.

  Even my vampire essence wasn't strong enough to take on two Queens.

  But I knew better than to teleport. Instead, just as Celeste's hissing whisper faded from her lips, I reached deep, drew my demon as far to the surface as I could and tore open the veil.

  I felt Celeste's hand on my neck as I tumbled forward into the narrow gap, barely big enough for me to squeeze through. Her grip slid, released as the veil slammed shut behind her.

  I hoped she lost a finger.

  Only problem was, my demon was now out of power and able to muster only enough to reopen the veil and toss me out before she lost consciousness. I staggered into the darkness, surrounded by trees, stumbling over a pile of rocks and to the edge of a very, very high cliff.

  Panic drove me back from the edge to clutch at the trunk of an evergreen, panting and crying from fear.

  —I'm falling and falling, the mountain passing to my left, the city of Ostrogotho growing larger on my right, heading for the Parade at terminal velocity while I fight to breathe—

  It took me too long to recover, far too long, especially when I looked up and saw the castle on the next ridge, so close they would be on me in moments.

  If they could track me.

  I had no doubt they could.

  “Ready to accept my help yet?”

  I spun, found Ameline standing at the lip of the brink, looking down over the edge without fear. I hated her so much in that instant I lashed out with my vampire power. Would have pushed her over the edge if she hadn't stepped back and to the side in time my attack missed.

  “I take that as a no.” Ameline shrugged, jacket creaking under her black cloak. “Don't say I didn't offer.” She paused as I felt the subtle compression of air displacement. A vampire. Two, more and more, all around me. Not on me yet, but they would be soon.

  “You're sure?” She smiled and I lost it.

  “You'd better run,” I snarled. “Because when I clean up these miserable excuses for vampires I'm going to come after you.”

  Ameline laughed before touching her fingers to her forehead and bowing a little. “I'll be waiting.”

  She shuddered into shadow and vanished just as the pale, ghostly figures of Batsheva's vampires drifted into view, floating faces, shoulders, and claw-like hands glistening white in the darkness, closing in on me.

  I begged my demon to wake, felt Shaylee prodding her with her own level of desperation, called up my family magic to feed her. But it was no use. She'd given me everything she'd had.

  It wasn't nearly enough. But not her fault, not Shaylee's or the power of my witchcraft. Not my vampire's either. I'd failed them all because I just didn't think I could lose.

  There was still teleportation. I let the vampire out. Time to blow.

  “Stop.” Batsheva's voice echoed from the trees as she drifted forward, Celeste on one side, Piotr on the other.

  And everything stopped.

  Oh, I tried. The vampire in me tried. But we were frozen, locked in place, no amount of help from Shaylee or my magic able to free me from that command.

  Familiar faces appeared fro
m the black, coming to stand beside me.

  “Right to death,” Batsheva snarled. “You're no longer welcome, Pannera.”

  The vampire Queen turned and met my eyes. “I told you this wouldn't work.” She shook her head. “You little fool. You've doomed us all.”

  Thanks for the kick in the hee-haw when I was down.

  “I will not abandon our only hope against the Brotherhood.” Sunny stepped in front of me. “Or my friend.”

  “I won't leave my niece to be killed for your revenge and because you want to steal her power.” Uncle Frank joined her, one arm around her shoulders.

  “And I.” Sebastian came to my side, reaching for my hand. “I owe her my soul.”

  Maybe if he'd let well enough be, things would have turned out differently. Because Pannera didn't seem to oppose Sunny and Uncle Frank's support of me. But the moment Sebastian touched me, jealousy crossed the Queen's face and sealed my doom.

  “This is vampire law.” She slashed the air with one hand. “My clan is ordered to leave. Immediately.” She turned from my uncle, my friends. “All of you.”

  Sebastian's hand tightened on mine, his face contorting in pain. I pulled against his grip, freeing my hand before shoving him back. “Just go,” I whispered, unable to speak louder for fear I'd beg him to say. “Please.”

  Pannera would kill them, I had no doubt. And since it was clear I was going to die in the next few minutes, no way was I taking three people I cared about with me.

  Uncle Frank staggered from the weight of the order, reaching for me, but I stepped back, focusing on Sebastian. “Just take him and go!”

  Sebastian, longing and agony on his face, grasped Uncle Frank's arm and shuddered into shadow.

  They were gone.

  Sunny turned to me, her own pain clear, but somehow resisting the order the best.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “And I will die with you. I can't leave you alone.”

  I hugged her, desperately. “I can't bear to think you died because of me. Please, Sunny, if you really do love me, follow your orders.”

  Okay, just to be clear here, I wanted her to stay. Hell, yeah. Would have caved in about half a second if she'd lingered any longer. She made it hard enough as it was to be brave when I just wanted to howl for my mommy and make her fix this.

  My job. There had to be something I could do.

  “You will leave,” Pannera snapped, right in Sunny's ear. “Now.”

  My friend flickered, face twisting in pain. Fought it. And vanished.

  Pannera spun on Batsheva. “This was your plan all along,” she spit her fury at the other Queen. “You had no intention of sharing the power. You manipulated me into challenging the witches and put my clan at risk.” She slashed at Batsheva's feet with her power. “Don't think I will ever forget this. Or think for a moment we are done.”

  “I order you to leave my territory,” Batsheva said with a sweet smile, “and never set foot it in again or there will be war between us.”

  Pannera stepped back from the pulse of magic joining Batsheva's words, sparing me one last flat, empty look before she, too, teleported away with the rest of her clan.

  Leaving me alone.

  In the dark forest.

  With death.

  Batsheva's smile didn't waver.

  “Drain her,” she said.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty

  Shaylee's keening echoed in my head as I was pulled to the ground and pinned under countless bodies. I fought them, screaming in answer to my Sidhe's cries, my vampire pushing them away over and over as the clan rushed in and struck me countless blows.

  “Stop fighting.” Batsheva's laughter followed her order as my body went limp and unmoving though my mind still tried to move my limbs. Even my vampire was still, Shaylee's crying now, soft sobs, her power reaching out to support me though she knew the same thing I did.

  We were going to die and there wasn't anything we could do to stop it.

  “Strip her clothing.” Claws tore at my dress in response, slashing great rents in the fabric, pulling it free, exposed to the night air where I lay, shivering but motionless, looking up at the clear crystal stars while my brain spun in circles of panic.

  But my heart... my heart was quiet. Still. Calm. And, as Batsheva bent over me, her long hair falling to brush my bare shoulder, I felt my mind retreat to huddle like a silent, terrified child and await our fate.

  Immortal, yes. Invincible?

  Well, I was about to find out.

  “Feed.”

  They leaped on me, their fangs puncturing my skin, countless pinpricks of pain, some tearing the flesh as their cold lips locked on me and drew the blood from my body. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the sky above, trickling slowly down the sides of my face and into my hair as I felt my life leaving me, the world drawing out, further, elongating as my heartbeat slowed.

  Slowed.

  Slowed.

  I blinked once, sight dim, only vaguely aware now, though I heard her voice.

  “Enough.”

  The pain was gone. I floated, almost happy. My vampire reached for me as Shaylee sighed softly and fell asleep, my family magic coiling around me before it, too, faded.

  I'm sorry. I grasped the essence with the strength I had left, feeling her wind around me.

  As am I. Believe I won't go willingly. And that I love you, Sydlynn Hayle.

  Love you too.

  Batsheva's face blocked my view, darkness closing in around the edges. Even crying was an effort now. She laughed, the sound bouncing around in my head, reverberating as I faded farther away.

  I felt her fangs though my body was cold. But only because she drew my vampire away, drinking what remained of my blood and, through it, the essence.

  So. Hard. Clinging... feeling her slip away from me. Feeling me slip... away from me.

  My heart beat.

  Slowing.

  Slowing…

  A flutter of magic, a rush of power short lived as the last of the powder burned away, leaving me free.

  Remember, Ameline whispered in my mind, you owe me for this.

  A jolt of magic where once I was drained, enough to wake my demon, screaming, just the right amount she needed to tear at the veil. Batsheva shrieked at me to stop, but there was little of her blood left in me. No hold. I was free.

  The veil was cold and soft and welcoming as I fell inside and into the darkness forever.

  ***

  flash

  flicker

  spark

  silence

  black

  quiet

  nothing

  Nothing.

  ***

  Something?

  I'm floating. Weightless. There is pain, but only peripheral, as though it's someone else's and I'm holding onto it for them.

  But no. This is what it feels like to die.

  I think I should be sad about it, but it's hard to feel anything. The world is a dull, soft place without edges and as I float, the pain fades too, leaving me alone.

  Alone. As I always knew I'd be in the end.

  That wakes something in me. I might be crying, but it hardly matters. No feeling sorry for myself in death. Won't do me any good.

  You cannot die, Sydlynn Hayle.

  I know her, the voice. The wavering image I can almost see clearly.

  Iepa. Her name is an effort.

  You are of the Undying, dear one. And you must survive.

  She should have mentioned that to the vampires. Before they drained me.

  Why are you haunting me? She needs to leave. There will be a light or something soon, I hope. To show me where to go.

  You are still in the veil, she says. And you are very much alive. Pause. Well, alive.

  I find myself snorting laughter, though I don't have the strength to make any sound.

  Use the center of your power, the magic that has been with you your entire life. She prods me, lets me feel what I'd forgotten.

&nbs
p; The blood of the maji. Pure creation energy.

  Rise, my child, she says. Rise and heal and end this strife. You have much more work to do before you rest.

  It's there, pulsing deep within. Patient, waiting for me to reach out and touch it—

  My demon wakes, trills a call of weariness and agony. Shaylee breathes a sigh. My family magic stirs, trembles.

  My vampire... is gone. But not completely. Residue remains, enough I weep for her and her loss. Enough to remind me, to make me hope. Even if it's just a little.

  Very good, Iepa says. Now. Before it is too late.

  Maji power winds through demon and witch and Sidhe and the barest breath of vampire, while in my pores, the hum of another power stirs. Cold. Colder than the vampire essence, hungry and yearning for something to devour.

  My soul? Maybe. But for now, I use it for my purpose and hope it is enough.

  The veil tears, a whisper of a gap, enough I can feel the real world on the other side.

  Help. So tiny that cry. So pathetic. Help. Is that the best you can do, Hayle? Help, please. No one is listening. No one will help you. Just give up.

  Just quit already.

  Syd? I know that voice, too, feel her reach for me while I sob in relief and the veil parts and I am falling, falling into Trill's arms while Iepa whispers in my mind.

  Be well, my child.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty One

  Light wakes me. Trill's glasses catch a little of it, reflecting over her brown eyes as she says my name, but I don't hear her speak until long after her lips have stopped moving. Makes me giggle, her soundtrack is off.

  Giggling hurts.

  An old woman joins her, hair tight in a red kerchief though sprigs of steel gray peek out along the edges. She has a very large mole on the end of her chin and I can't stop staring at it.

  More giggling. More pain.

  Trill's lips move. Time passes. I hear her words: “Is she going to be okay, Nona?” Fear in her voice. Yes, in her face too, as she pulls away her glasses, her brown eyes clear to me.