Queen of Darkness

by Patti Larsen

  Not to stop a war. I couldn't have cared less about their petty squabbles at the moment. But to keep Pannera from killing Batsheva before I got the chance.

  They both spun, Sebastian's Queen dressed in tight black leather, ball gown long gone, her cascading hair bound in a thick braid wound around her shoulders like a shawl. Batsheva was in full vampire mode, though her humanity returned as she glared at me as every vampire in the room, all poised for death and destruction, stopped and turned to see me storm in.

  With my own little army at my back.

  Just try and take us on.

  “You!” Batsheva jabbed a long, pointed claw at me, eyes burning white. “You were meant to die!”

  “Better luck next time.” I stopped in front of them, my power pushing the other vampires back as Mom, Gram and I faced them down. I could feel Meira behind me, Sassafras joining her, Sebastian, Sunny and Uncle Frank sealing up the end of the line.

  Pannera pulled back, but I knew she wasn't going to stand down easily.

  “How did you survive?” Was that real curiosity in her eyes? Respect even?

  Who cared?

  “I'm here to take her back.” I pointed at Batsheva's chest, knowing my vampire would be lodged there. “We can do this easy or we can do it so hard you'll never recover. Your decision.”

  Batsheva snarled and threw a thick bolt of lightning at me, spirit magic sizzling. Shaylee had already grounded us firmly to the earth while my demon slashed at the attack, family magic absorbing it with a happy surge of power.

  “Nice try.” I snapped my fingers, fire crackling, and slammed her with a fist of demon power. The fire just set her fancy suit coat alight, sending her scrambling backward, shrieking and slapping at the curling smoke and embers.

  “This is not permitted!” Batsheva turned to Pannera, soot covering one hand, white frill at her throat now crisped and black. Seeing no support from her rival, she spit at me. “Treaty rules,” she said. “Attacking a clan Queen is punishable by death.”

  “You tried that already,” I said. “Feel like coming up with a better plan? Because your first one seems to have a pretty big flaw.” I turned to Mom with a perky smile. “Suggestions, Council Leader?”

  Mom's answering grin was tight and full of the desire to hurt someone. In particular. “Kill the bitch,” she said. “Any way you can.”

  I spun back to Batsheva who finally seemed nervous, bless her evil, black, twisted little heart, while my family fanned out and raised shields of their own as the gathered vampires threatened. Knowing my back was firmly covered, I found myself smiling. “Well, then,” I said. “Sounds like it's my turn.” I raised my hand, eyes drifting to Celeste who was looking decidedly panicked and ticked off one finger. “For betraying all magic users on our plane to the Brotherhood of sorcerers, I sentence you to death.”

  Both clans muttered, Pannera's eyes empty. A handful of vampires tried to rush me, but Meira sent them packing with a whip of flames she wielded with expert ease. All that fighting on Demonicon did wonders for her talent.

  My second finger fell. “For using sorcery to undermine Yvette Wilhelm and win over her clan, I sentence you to death.”

  More muttering. Angry now. But only on her side and now turned away from us and internalized. Demetrius poked his head out from behind the throne and bobbed it at me. Good, he was here. I was going to need what he carried if my plan was going to work.

  “For cheating with sorcery in the battle against Yvette Wilhelm, draining her power with illegal magic, I sentence you to death.” My last finger dropped and I aimed the index at Celeste. “You're next.”

  I'm sure she got the irony.

  Uproar followed my words, on both sides again, though Pannera remained as she had before, still and blank.

  “You have no proof!” Batsheva was in major meltdown mode. Her face flickered from vampire to human, some of her perfection lost, the old her peeking through at times, the dumpy, wrinkled woman she used to be, as though the power inside her rejected her completely.

  I was counting on it.

  I gestured to Demetrius who crept forward, skirting her to come to my side and hunch at my feet. “Tell them.”

  He did. Without a trace of crazy. And better yet, he showed them. More amazing than any big screen event, Demetrius drew from the power around him to cast a three dimensional holographic show for all to witness.

  From Batsheva bowing to the Brotherhood, Demetrius among them, to her using a crystal to influence others, through the battle she fought with Yvette, that same crystal stealing the magic of the Queen until she fell, weakened and helpless.

  To my downfall. It was hard to watch, seeing her hover over me. I could almost feel her teeth in my neck again, rubbing at it absently as the scene played out. My disappearance through the veil.

  Batsheva's battle with the essence as my vampire tried to free herself.

  Yes. So I was right after all.

  The air around us went dark again, show over. But not one entity present resented Demetrius's borrowing of power, nor did they doubt for a moment what he'd shown was the truth.

  Gotcha.

  “Clearly we have all been deceived.” Pannera turned to Batsheva who practically frothed at the mouth. “I agree with Coven Leader Hayle's pronouncement and sentence you to death.”

  Batsheva’s clan roared, but not to support her, their rage pushing against her as she spun on them and snarled. “Stop!” The shriek reached them all, froze them in their tracks.

  Punched me in the stomach. I felt it too. She still had power over me.

  It was the best thing I'd learned all night.

  “Batsheva,” I stepped forward, “I challenge you for leadership of this clan.”

  Power flashed over my head as Margaret and Elliot finally made an appearance. Ruining my moment, damn them. I scowled at the Council Leader as she landed with a thud between the vampires and me, face a round, red, wrinkled apple of absolute rage.

  “What the hell are you doing?” She stomped one foot, hands in fists waving around her. “Are you out of your mind?”

  Mom was already moving, her own fury radiating, but I stopped her before she could clothesline the woman with a snap of magic. “I stake claim to this clan,” I said. “I have the right.” I pointed at Margaret as she struggled to breathe. “A right you insisted on.”

  Take that and choke on it.

  She finally caught air, body vibrating with the need to hurt me. Let her try. I'd already been drained of blood and part of my soul, dumped in the veil and left for dead. Nothing she could bring would compare to that.

  “Very well.” Um, really? “Finish this.” She turned away from me, hands still clutched tightly together while Batsheva spluttered.

  “She has no rights here.”

  “I do,” I said. “I felt your command. You made me part of your clan. And now I am challenging you. Yes, or no?” I grinned, unable to help myself. “Unless you're afraid of me.”

  I reached for my vampire in the same moment, praying what I was about to do would work. Drove my magic inside Batsheva, searching, calling.

  And my vampire answered.

  She pulled partially free from the Queen, the shining white mass of her yearning toward me. Only for a moment, until she snapped back inside Batsheva, but it was enough. For me, knowing she was in there, autonomous, whole, but for the rest of the gathering as well.

  “She doesn't want to be with you,” I said. “And I'm taking her back.”

  Batsheva spun on Margaret one more time. “This is your territory,” she said, desperation finally rising. “Will you allow other magic users to come into your house and break your laws?”

  “Like you did? You made Sydlynn Hayle part of your clan. She is within her rights.” Margaret fell cold. She waved one hand, fury gone, face tired, but angry. “Accept the challenge or I'll deal with you personally. And so help me heaven,” she spun on her heel, turning in a slow circle, before coming to face Pannera, “you lot will ab
ide by what happens and if I hear one more breath of trouble from you, I'm wiping you all out. Personally.”

  Nice to know frustration finally forced her to do what was right.

  I drew a breath to thank her just as Batsheva flung herself at me.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Four

  I slammed up a ring of demon shielding around the pair of us to keep her from attacking my family and dove right at her.

  Yeah, I was ready. She wasn't exactly hard to read.

  Instead of attacking her directly, I let my vampire do it. Called to her as I had before, this time ready to grab onto her as she emerged.

  Batsheva fell as I dodged, landing on all fours, turning to roar, glowing with the magic of the clan. But she doubled over when she tried to rise, my vampire pulling free again, leaning toward me as I reached with the spirit magic of the Hayle family and connected with her.

  Only for a moment before Batsheva stuffed her down again. But enough I knew this was going to work.

  Over and over Batsheva struck at me, while over and over I called out the essence to come back to me. Panting and sobbing her rage, the Queen finally collapsed to the ground, writhing as the clan power fought against the essence of the vampires for control. I let the shielding drop and turned to Demetrius who stood and tossed something shining toward me. The crystal landed in my hand as if magicked there, the power of it pulsing with my vampire's energy.

  The essence she'd filled it with. Time to end this. For the last time I called her.

  She rose from Batsheva who shrieked her denial, but drawing on the energy she'd stored in the crystal, amplified by the sorcery I had at my command, the essence stepped outside of Batsheva's body, her spirit body snapping with a loud crack as she severed the connection.

  I turned the hungry crystal on Batsheva, drawing out the clan magic, trapping it in the stone, feeling it flood with power and the life force controlling the clan as Batsheva withered and aged, her body shrinking, deflating, until she was a wrinkled old woman, arms and legs flailing around her.

  “My clan,” I said with great satisfaction, “drain her.”

  They hardly needed the invitation. Her screaming faded to a whisper and then to silence until they backed away, wiping lips wet with blood, the mummified form of their former leader staring up at me.

  As I'd looked. Only she wasn't invincible.

  “Wrap her in rags,” I said. “Make sure she can't escape.” I looked up and met her eyes, my vampire, the essence.

  She glowed perfectly white, though bits of red and gray clung to her edges. I remembered Trill's warning and opened my power to her. “You're in pain.”

  “I am free,” she said, voice a song, welcoming my help as the bits burned away in sparks of sparkling light until she was once again clean, untainted. “And I am grateful.”

  She turned and faced the vampires, Margaret who had joined Mom and the family, Pannera. The essence raised her arms as though to embrace us all before speaking.

  “We must prepare for war,” she said. “The Brotherhood connives to turn us against one another while the ones who can save us struggle alone. It is time to work together, to set aside petty grievances and old rules that no longer serve a purpose.” Nice gut shot at Margaret and the whole vampire system. Looked like it hit right on target. “The time is coming when we either stand together, or fall alone. That is a choice you each must make.” She turned back to me, her female shape sharpening as she focused, and I found myself smiling.

  She looked like me.

  “I've made my choice already,” she said, drifting toward me. “I choose Sydlynn Hayle. I just hope you're all as foresighted.”

  No one protested, not even Pannera. Good thing. Wouldn't have done her any good.

  Heart aching and full of longing, I opened my arms and welcomed my vampire home.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Funny to find myself in my old quarters again, sitting on a chair, looking out the window, waiting for the party to start. Only this time I was the one calling the shots.

  I just wished I could promise everyone a happy ending.

  A short detour on my way to my room, while Piotr was ordered to call on all of the clan leaders to come to be adopted by their new Queen, had me standing in front of the portrait I'd seen earlier. The one that broke my heart. Charlotte hovered behind me, face expressionless as I stared up at the face I knew so well, wishing there was another way to end this conflict once and for all.

  But there wasn't. And sacrifices had to be made. Though I really hoped I wasn't ruining something truly amazing because I had to have support against the Brotherhood.

  Responsibility sucked sometimes.

  The family waited for me in my old room after I turned down Batsheva’s Queenly quarters with disgust. No way was I letting her smarm rub off even an iota more than it already had. Margaret and Elliot hovering to one side, when I returned. This time I didn't mind hugging my mother in front of the other leader. I think we'd shown just how strong we were, thanks. Gram was next, Meira after her. Sassafras's purr rattled my teeth. My vampire friends were missing, presumably thanks to Pannera, though Uncle Frank stood with Mom, a grim smile on his face.

  “Good job, kiddo,” he said.

  “Thanks, Uncle Frank.” I grinned back. Sighed. Turned to Margaret. “I had no intention of breaking your laws. But I couldn't let Batsheva have the essence.”

  Speaking of whom, the essence hugged me for the gazillionth time deep inside, the most affectionate I'd ever known her, as Margaret spoke. I almost missed what the woman said because I was busy hugging my vampire back while my demon clamped herself around us, Shaylee pulled in too while the family magic cocooned us nice and tight.

  Happy family? Check.

  “I'm just glad it worked out.” Margaret shook her head, sinking to a chair, face pale. “I don't know why I sided with them, Miriam. What was I thinking?”

  Uh-oh. I reached for her, but not before Demetrius went sniffing. Turned to me with his blue eyes full of anger.

  “Coerced,” he said.

  The Brotherhood.

  Of course she didn't want to believe it. But it only took a moment, and a gentle squeeze of her shoulder from the very kindly Elliot who whispered, “You really haven't been yourself, my dear,” for Margaret Applegate to finally admit the truth.

  That and a sudden attack by Demetrius Strong. At least, that was what it looked like to me, and Elliot from the look on the Enforcer’s face. But Demetrius didn’t harm Margaret.

  Just grabbed her hand and pulled.

  The portly European Leader cried out and jerked free of him, one of her fingers suddenly red as her eyes flew wide, mouth dropping open. The former leader of the Chosen of the Light held up his hand, a gold ring balanced in his palm.

  “You see,” he said. “Trust me now, yes, yes, trust me forever.”

  “Oh my very word,” Margaret whispered, staring at the ring while Mom gasped softly, her hand going to her throat. Margaret enveloped the item in a ball of blue light, pulling it slowly toward her, face very pale before she let it hover before her eyes. When hers met mine, I knew it, felt her freedom, understood Demetrius was absolutely right.

  She'd been manipulated and controlled by the sorcerers.

  And man, was she pissed about it.

  After a flurry of, “Arrogant, black-hearted, conniving… I'll get to the bottom of this, mark my words,” she stormed out with Elliot in tow, crackling with magic and calling for her Enforcers. Mom smiled at me, tired around her eyes, but clearly pleased from the sparkle in her gaze.

  “I pity the Brotherhood members she uncovers,” Mom said, though her worry was clear and I knew what she was thinking.

  If the European Council Leader was under influence, was our territory safe? I could tell Mom would be doing a thorough investigation the moment she got back, if I correctly read the intense, growing anger on her face.

  I turned to Demetrius who was now carefull
y examining his belly button lint and humming. “Well done.”

  He ignored me, petting the little patch of fuzz he dug out of his navel.

  Ew.

  I wandered to the corner to be alone while the others gathered to talk. Put up a wall around me so they knew to leave me be. And while I probably should have let them in, even Charlotte held outside the circle of privacy I erected, I really just needed to be alone to think.

  Could I do it? Break up a family because of duty and necessity? Could I break hearts I loved because of the maji and the Brotherhood?

  I had no choice.

  It wasn't long before Piotr entered and bowed to me, eyes going to the crystal full of power in my lap.

  “The leaders of your clan have gathered,” he said. “My Queen.”

  I rose and went after him, Gram hooking one arm through mine as we made our way back to the throne room.

  Pannera was still there, only her side was greatly reduced in number, only a handful of vampires with her.

  “If I might remain,” she said, eyes narrowed.

  “I have nothing to hide,” I said. Turned my back on her. Walked the length of the carpet to the throne.

  I turned as if to sit, caught the flare of fury in Pannera's eyes and addressed the room.

  “I was made a member of this clan by your last Queen, Batsheva.” My eyes scanned the crowd and, for the first time, I found myself swearing internally. I'd forgotten someone very important in the whole mess with Batsheva.

  Celeste was nowhere to be seen.

  Damn it.

  No time to deal with her now. I had to finish this before Pannera started another war.

  “I fought her, defeated her with her own power. And drained her magic, the magic of the clan.” Yeah, I'd cheated too. Used sorcery to do it. But none of the gathered vampires seemed to know or even care. They stared up at me with a mix of hope and anger, awe and fear.

  “There is one problem,” I said. “Though I possess the clan's power, I can't lead you.” I held out the crystal pulsing with contained magic. “I have other responsibilities, a coven to protect. And I know you will never accept me as your own unless I become a true vampire. Which I can't do.” A mutter of agreement, less anger, more curiosity.