We had to do introductions after Gavin removed his clothing and climbed in nude. He'd been right all along—it was impossible to embarrass an old vampire. He didn't have a thing to be ashamed of, but then nobody else did, either.
Gavin was shocked when Connegar pulled himself to his full height so he could see. He'd seen Pheligar once but Connegar was a full foot taller. Gavin was duly impressed, even for a vampire.
"This is Shadow Grey, a Master Wizard of Grey House," I introduced him. Shadow offered his hand and grinned. Gavin shook. "And these are Drake and Drew—they're Falchani," I explained. Gavin shook with them as well.
"We want you to come and spar with Dad and Uncle Crane," Drake informed Gavin.
"Drake, I'm not sure they want to see what a grumpy vampire is like," I intervened.
"Cara, I am not that bad," Gavin defended himself.
"Like I said," I gave Gavin a pointed look. "Do you want pizza?" There were still a few slices left. Gavin tried it, liked it, and ate three slices.
* * *
Gavin spent the night, and we stayed up late talking. Eventually he convinced me to sleep—I was tired and he was used to staying up all night. While he was sleeping after dawn arrived, I rose to do some sleuthing. I wanted to know who'd sent Flakkar to unsuspecting and ill-prepared worlds and why. I revisited several gates, discovering the local populations were trying to put their lives back together after the devastation. It wasn't easy; so many deaths had come with no bodies found to bury. A couple of worlds had found bones inside nests, but that's all they found. Most were desperately trying to make sense out of the whole thing. I wasn't having much luck either, until I caught a scent at one gate and it was so slight it was almost non-existent.
Had they stepped a toe across the gate entrance while they held both sides of the gate open? That's the only conclusion I could draw, but the scent was there—Dark Elemaiya. I Looked, too and determined that it would take two to hold a gate open. One could travel through alone, but to hold it open for longer than a second or two? That took more than one. My Dark Elemaiya had help. Whether it was another Dark Elemaiya or not, I intended to find out.
* * *
"Where can I find wrapping paper?" I asked later. Grace and Devin were swimming in the huge pool near the hot tub. I realized I hadn't even gotten into the pool, yet.
"What kind of wrapping paper?" Grace asked, coming over to the side of the pool to look up at me.
"Really big wrapping paper?" I held my arms out as wide as they'd go.
"Get some regular wrapping paper and ask Connegar to enlarge it for you," Devin suggested.
"I hate to ask him to waste his talents on something like that," I said. "Oooh—fabric. Maybe I can get fabric." I was off like a shot.
* * *
"You know, if we could get her to sit still long enough, we might have a good conversation," Devin laughed.
"I like her," Grace said. "She's not going to sit around and wait for the guys to come save her. She'll kick ass first, herself."
"My boys sure love her," Devin agreed. "I don't think Dragon would have appreciated any other woman where they're concerned. Lissa, though, the minute those boys said they wanted her, Dragon was okay with it."
"How many mothers can say their sons are mated to the Vampire Queen?" Grace laughed.
"Well, there's me, Conner, who is Connegar's mother, and Shannon, Shadow's mother. I think that's it," Devin floated away on her back.
* * *
"Mother would like you to come for a visit," Connegar helped me wrap the unicorn painting in drapery fabric. It was wide enough and I'd gotten a floral pattern with wide ribbon to match. I was tying the bow on the package when Connegar mentioned his mother.
"I love your mother," I said, straightening the bow I'd just tied. "Did she say why she wants me to visit?" I gave the bow a critical look and straightened it again.
"She just wants to give you information," Connegar smiled. He was on his knees in my closet, holding up the fabric-wrapped painting while I worked on the bow.
"All right, we'll go now," I said, letting him settle the painting against the closet wall. "Am I dressed okay?" I looked down at my linen slacks and sandals. I had on a royal blue silk blouse with pearl buttons.
"You look very nice. We will go." Connegar folded me away before I could change my mind.
"We are here, Mother," Connegar folded us into a beautiful study. Conner was there, typing on what was now an archaic computer. It even had a printer for paper copies—also something currently archaic.
"Hi, baby," she smiled at Connegar. "Shane is bringing us iced tea," Conner told me, turning her smile on me as well.
"Thanks," I said. "I haven't had iced tea in a long time." Shane did bring us iced tea, winked at me slyly and took off again after leaving petits fours with the tea. I love petits fours. There were two on little saucers with forks and pretty cloth napkins. Conner let me take mine first, and it was good. The iced tea was good, too, and mine was unsweetened, just the way I liked it. I got up to examine the huge Richard Estes painting hanging on the wall in Conner's study. "I always loved his work," I said. Conner loved it, too, I could tell. We turned to other things after I sat down again.
"I wanted to talk to you about who you were before," Conner said after we'd finished our tea and tiny desserts. "Franklin and Greg wanted to be here for this, but I said no. It was difficult enough when I showed them their lives before."
"I'm just glad they found one another again," I said. "They were so close, before."
"They have a M'Fiyah," Conner nodded. "Those are generally set before birth by the recipients themselves. I know this; perhaps one or two others know, but that's it. They all think they're given to them. They're not. They choose. And all parties have to choose before the M'Fiyah is granted."
"Wow. This is really complicated," I said.
"I want to show you who you were before, Lissa. And there is a reason for this, you just have to trust me," Conner sighed. "It isn't to hurt you, or bring up old wounds. It's just to show you what you can be in the future. You need to see this."
"Is this gonna be awful?" I asked. "I've seen enough of awful, lately."
"It may be painful, but remember that you are here now and not there then. Does that make any sense?" Conner gave me a small smile.
"I'm not sure, but we'll skip over that part," I said, shivering. Connegar squeezed me gently, offering comfort.
"My son loves you and he'll be the one bending time. We'll be there with you, holding your hand, Lissa."
"What if I freak?" I was suddenly gripping Connegar's shirt in my fist. I was terrified, and thinking I must have been awful in my previous life to deserve what I'd gotten in the current version.
"Do not be afraid, little rose," Connegar said and bent time and folded space before I could object.
It was awful. As awful as it could be, and if Connegar hadn't been holding onto me, I would have misted away and gone somewhere else. Anywhere would have worked, just to get away from it.
We were on Le-Ath Veronis, and the Ra'Ak were there. The city was on fire and thick smoke billowed through the streets. Buildings exploded and collapsed, sending glass, cascades of bricks and bits of masonry flying everywhere. It was similar to what I'd seen on the High Demons' world—with the screaming and noise of buildings and structures collapsing. The Ra'Ak were killing the few vampires and comesuli who remained, and there I was. I knew it was me—the Vampire Queen—fighting them off as best she could. She didn't have the talents I had; she was using her speed, her claws and her will to slice into them. Her clothing was in tatters as she carved through necks and was blasted away more than once by Ra'Ak dust. More vampires screamed and died from contact with the poisoned scales and teeth of the Ra'Ak. The Queen Vampire pulled herself up and started fighting again. Comesuli were swallowed up by feeding Ra'Ak and the Queen went after those monsters next. She was hit; a long gash down her arm and side and still she fought, trying to buy time for the fleeing
comesuli.
"I don't want to see this," I buried my face against Connegar's neck.
"You need to see this." It wasn't Conner beside us any longer—it was the Guardian. Light and white flame shone around her, and I was compelled to look as the Queen—me, in my former existence—went after another Ra'Ak who was chasing comesuli. A vampire attempted to help her, but he was hit and crushed. The language the Queen spoke was one I'd never heard, but I understood it easily.
"I will take you all down, I swear it!" the Queen shouted as she sliced into another Ra'Ak who darted in, attempting to bite her in half. He shrieked and leapt back, while two more came to take his place. It was those two that killed her; one got a bite in and flung the Queen onto the street while the other crushed her body beneath his weight. It was awful. The comesuli died and the remaining vampires died. They had no will left after their Queen fell. They'd died when she did.
When I was able to lift my head away from Connegar's shoulder, we were on the Larentii homeworld and Conner was no longer with us. "Little rose, that was long ago," Connegar soothed. Falaca grazed and bleated about us in their mountain meadow, while I sniffled and wiped my face with shaking fingers. Connegar trilled for me and it helped, but I couldn't get the images out of my mind. If there had been Ra'Ak in front of me right then, they would have died. No matter what the cost to me, they would have died. Out of all the Ra'Ak I'd seen, only one had set aside the murderous tendencies they all seemed to have. Gilfraith. I wondered what had made him different. It didn't matter, I suppose. He was far away from them and safe, I hoped.
* * *
"My love, where are we going?" Gilfraith walked alongside Fox, who strode purposely through a narrow alley in London. Fox wore a stocking cap that hid most of her dark curls and her face held a grim, determined look.
"Gil, it's all right, I just need to pick something up," Fox replied absently. "They knew I'd know about it. It's here, somewhere."
The note lay atop an overturned rubbish bin. Gilfraith didn't like the scent about it, but he didn't argue—Fox would know whether it was dangerous. "What is it?" He turned worried eyes on his mate instead. Nearly a century before, he'd attempted suicide—by offering himself to the Saa Thalarr. He hadn't manufactured poison, to keep from harming them. He'd remembered—after a time—just who he'd been while humanoid. He found everything about the Ra'Ak (and himself) repugnant, and was searching for a way out. The Saa Thalarr sent to kill him was Fox. Instead of challenging him, Fox retained her humanoid shape and cautiously approached his Ra'Ak, placing gentle hands on his scales. He'd turned to Ra'Ak, hoping the end might be swift. Instead, the softest touch was offered and he was lost immediately. Now, he worried for his beloved mate.
"Gil, you have to trust me," Fox lifted the envelope. She was Ka'Mirai. The ones who'd written the note didn't understand her power. Yes, she could make things change. It just didn't happen all at once, as these believed. Fox was gifted with the ability to travel the time lines. And she could reason out which small events needed nudging in one direction or another, to create a cascade of events. Eventually, things would come out the way she wanted—had she not accepted the invitation to the Saa Thalarr. Now, she could not interfere and remain among them.
"Sometimes," Fox sighed, "I only have to place the information in the proper hands to make things come out right." She shook her head sadly and tapped the envelope. "So many people dead, just to get their point across." Gilfraith brushed away Fox's tears.
* * *
When Connegar took me home after spending time on the Larentii homeworld, I discovered that Radomir had taken Gavin home. Flavio had a short assignment for him, but he left a note telling me he loved me and would be back as quickly as he could.
"Will you be all right, little rose?" Connegar asked before he left.
"I hope so," I said. He kissed me before folding away. I tried reading but that didn't work. I was too restless now and unable to get Le-Ath Veronis out of my head. Not only had the vampire planet fallen, but the werewolf planet and who knew how many others. Surely, the Ra'Ak hadn't always been so bloodthirsty and evil. Or perhaps it was because Kifirin was asleep at the time. Did his kind get tired? Maybe it was because he was the only one on the dark side while there seemed to be plenty on the light side. Maybe I'd get to the bottom of it someday. Meanwhile, there was someone I wanted to visit, and chances are if it were night where he was, he might be awake and accepting visitors.
Refizan had a gate. I found that by Looking, so I gated in instead of folding. The gate wasn't far from where I'd seen the Ra'Ak appear the first time I'd seen them. Something bothered me about that fact, but I put it out of my head for the moment and turned to mist to find Gabron.
The brothels had moved; they were along the riverfront now, as the city had shifted and yawned while I'd been away. There was a beautiful view of the waters in front of Gabron's brothels—I'd found them by Looking. Some things hadn't changed—women still wandered around the vestibule either naked or scantily clad when I walked inside. There were naked males there too, as well as some dressed suggestively. I tried not to blush, but wasn't sure how successful I was at it.
"May I help you?" A male vampire came forward to speak to me as I gawked at my surroundings like a tourist.
"Is Gabron here?" I asked. I could see in this one's eyes that he was just about to send me on my way when he drew in a deep breath. Yeah, that seems to get their attention every time.
"I will see if Gabron is available," he left so fast that papers and debris would have swirled in his wake—if any of those things had been present, that is. I waited less than two minutes before Gabron appeared at my side.
"Lissa, my Queen, what may I do for you?" Gabron looked as carefully groomed as he always did, his blond hair styled and brushed away from his forehead neatly while gray eyes examined me and a smile tugged at his lips. He had my arm quickly and was ushering me down a long hall. Sounds of sexual activity came through several doors we passed. Gabron would never apologize for that. I'd come to accept it, I think.
"I just saw something horrible today and I wanted to get it out of my mind," I told him. He hid a smile as he led me through the door into his office and then through another door that scanned his fingers before allowing us through. We walked into his private quarters—I was sure that's what they were. Gabron closed the door quietly behind us.
"You said nearly those same words to me once before," he said, leading me down another hall until we came to a sitting room. Gabron seated me comfortably and then poured out two glasses of wine laced with blood. We sat there together in silence for a while, both of us sipping our wine and gathering our thoughts.
"I love you," Gabron said unexpectedly.
"What?" I asked, turning toward him.
"I loved you the moment I met you. Your scent overwhelmed me and shocked me at the same time; a female vampire, walking down a street in my city and I had no idea how she had come to be there."
"Gabron," I leaned my head on his shoulder and slid down farther into the sofa, "is Solar Red still out there somewhere?"
"If that foul religion is still alive, it is very well hidden," Gabron snorted. "It was outlawed across the Reth Alliance, and alliance troops were sent out to uproot it wherever it was. That was two hundred years ago, my love. I have not heard of it since."
"Yet the Ra'Ak are still around," I observed.
"We know that very well; I thought I lost you when the memory returned," Gabron sighed. "I was quite depressed. Erland Morphis came and demanded I come out of it. He said there was still hope—that he and I might work our way into your affections."
"Erland, Erland, Erland," I shook my head. I had no explanation for the Karathian Warlock. He was handsome, though, no doubt about that.
"He is holding off for the moment; he does not wish to overwhelm you," Gabron smiled at me before leaning in for a kiss.
"Gabron, something happened to the last vampire who took my blood," I said.
"What
happened?" he asked, his mouth wandering across mine, and then over my jaw to my ear.
"They, uh, can walk in daylight, now," I said, beginning to breathe in gasps.
"You don't say," Gabron nuzzled and kissed my neck. I had to say the words and say them quickly before the bite came and I came right behind it, writhing in Gabron's arms. And then Gabron was out—asleep while my blood wrought changes in his body. I sighed, kissed his forehead and misted away. When he woke, Gabron had a surprise coming. I just hoped he liked it.
* * *
"Sure, just go off and leave us behind," Drake grumped when I folded into the villa's kitchen later. He and Drew sat at the kitchen island, having tea. Not normal tea, either—the dark kind that would keep me awake for a week if I drank it.
"Drake, honey, don't be mad," I went to give him a hug.
"I will be mad—you need to tell us, next time. You scare me to death, Lissa, do you know that?" He held my face between two large hands, bumping his forehead against mine while looking straight into my eyes. Drew was beside him, waiting for his brother to be finished so he could do the same.
"Well," I quavered, "you can always send mindspeech. I'll answer if I can." Drake sighed at my words and pulled me into his lap.
"Have you had breakfast?" he asked.
"No," I shook my head. Mike made breakfast for me while Drake and Drew fussed and teased. You couldn't keep a smile away from those two for long.
"We have a meeting at Gryphon Hall," Drew said when I finished eating. "Kiarra sent mindspeech. She wants you to be there."
"Why's that?" I emptied my coffee cup.
"She wants to discuss the Flakkar, and how they've been attacking worlds," Drew rumbled. He shook his head—that upset him, I could tell.
"We can't do a damn thing about it," Drake voiced his brother's thoughts. "As Spawn Hunters for the Saa Thalarr, we're not allowed to interfere. This is so frustrating." I put a hand on Drake's cheek and leaned in to kiss him. They didn't know. None of them did. I wasn't Saa Thalarr. I didn't have their restrictions. And I'd taken out every stinking Flakkar that somebody had dumped on numerous worlds.
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