Embrace the Fire

by Spring Stevens

“It’s not what I want — it’s what I can offer you.”

  The shadows of the Underworld passed in front of Zena, and Grace groaned as their miseries downloaded through the connection. “Could you please tell them to go somewhere else for a little while?”

  Zena chuckled. “Why? Feeling a little faint-hearted? It’s a pity it was not you who was sent down here instead of me.”

  “Zena, I know you enjoy these conversations, whether you will admit it or not.” Grace smiled, a hint of a domineering attitude on her lips. “Like I was saying, I have something you may want.”

  Zena sneered but sent her minions away. “And what do you want in exchange?”

  “Straight to the point. I like that.”

  “Stop with the small talk or leave me to my own devices,” Zena growled. “And this better be good, Grace. You’re interrupting my feeding.”

  “One name. Gyth.” Grace chose to ignore the wails echoing in the background.

  Zena erupted, her claws slashing at the remains of her latest victim. “How dare you speak that abomination’s name!”

  “Ummm, I thought perhaps you’d be interested in getting a little revenge but … ” Her voice trailed off as Zena hissed yet again.

  “But what?”

  “Well, I see you would rather hiss at me than strike a deal.”

  “Striking a deal with you is like poking werewolves with needles.” Zena narrowed her eyes.

  “There is a certain Destroyer who has entered into his Mating Rite.”

  “Varick!”

  Grace laughed. “Yes, Zena. He is a fine specimen, don’t you agree? It’s a pity Gyth uses him to destroy your vampires.” Carelessly looking at her fingernails, Grace continued. “Ironic really.”

  “Gyth blocks him from my summons,” Zena growled. “But you knew that already. Get to the point.”

  Grace smiled, her eyes glittering like diamonds on black velvet. “Gyth has plans, high hopes for Varick. He plans on using him to destroy you.” It was not above her to lie to get what she wanted. “That was never his intended fate and fate is screaming for retribution.”

  “I could care less what the fates are screaming. I personally like the sound of screams.”

  “I know a way to get you to earth and now would be perfect timing. During the Mating Rite, Varick will be susceptible to your summons.” Grace waited patiently as Zena digested the information.

  “Impossible!” Zena shook her head. “The Underworld was sealed off from the River Styx when the Olympians fell.”

  “I’ll tell you how to get to earth. All you have to do in return is use Varick against Gyth.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?” Zena huffed.

  “I’m sure you will find a way.” Grace rolled her eyes as Zena laughed. “It shouldn’t be very hard, Varick already hates him and you’ll be able to control him.”

  Zena nodded. “Seems we have a deal.”

  “Good.” Grace leaned closer to Zena’s image. “There are hidden portals in the Underworld that open into the River Styx that Charon once used. Find one and use it.”

  “You may think me a fool, but I know you’re up to something, Grace.” Zena rolled her head, pivoted it around her neck. “If Damon finds out I have found a way to Earth, he’ll dismember me.”

  “Damon? Why would you worry yourself over Damon?” Grace clicked her tongue. “Now, you wouldn’t find a portal and not tell the Lord of the Underworld. Would you?”

  “You wouldn’t strike a bargain with one of the very goddesses Gyth confined to the Underworld. Would you?”

  Grace shrugged. “Let’s just say that the fight between them doesn’t concern me and you.”

  Zena’s laughter bubbled up her throat causing Grace to shudder. “Damon is lord here as Gyth is lord there. If we’re going to conspire against them in any form, we should expect consequences.”

  The seriousness in her voice almost made Grace laugh. Consequences? If Zena could manage to control Varick just long enough to knock Gyth off the throne, there would be no consequences. All the cards had to be in place and according to the Book of Promises; it could happen if the events unfurled as needed.

  “I’ll deal with the consequences on this side.” Grace leaned closer to Zena’s image. “Just make sure you keep your end of the bargain.”

  “Or what?” Zena arched a black brow.

  “I will summon Damon and tell him how you conspired against him.”

  “Bitch.” Zena curled her hands into fists. “You’re as self-righteous as Gyth.”

  • • •

  As Zena closed the connection with Grace, she rose into the air, her body turning to mist. Traveling along the ceiling, she made her way to her private chambers.

  Manifesting her body in the center of the room, a violent shudder racked her body. She scowled as she let it pass through her. Varick! That bastard half-breed was denying her call yet again! He was the one vampire that eluded her beck and call, the second in her lifetime that had ever been able to resist her.

  She so wanted a piece of him. Literally. She had desired his blood for over a thousand years, had wanted to rake her fangs along his neck and drink his blood until he begged her to punish him for being such a bad boy. And she would — she would feed from him daily, let him feed from her, and she would make absolutely sure he never denied her again.

  She hissed in outrage as she thought of the other who denied her calls — Vicery Beth. She had been Zena’s greatest accomplishment. Twenty-two hundred years ago, from her own womb, she had taken an egg and merged it with the sperm of a human. Encasing it in the flesh of mutilated vampires, she had fed it from her own vein. The fetus had grown for nine months in the fleshy cocoon. She had even snuck into the chambers of the abysses and pulled out a condemned female soul to give the fetus.

  She snapped her jaws shut, her teeth grinding together, and her claws scraping against the wall. Bargaining with Grace, she’d had the soul purged, cleansed of its past. Once the fetus had accepted the soul, Vicery Beth had been born. She was born a vampire with a soul, Zena’s child, fed from her body.

  Her chest seized as the memories of her child flooded through her. That bitch Grace had betrayed Zena, had told Gyth what she had done. On Vicery’s thirtieth birthday, Gyth had appeared and taken her, disappeared from the Underworld with the one thing Zena loved, the one thing that had made her feel complete.

  Time had not diminished the pain nor had it weakened the bitter taste of betrayal.

  The bitch would pay. So would Gyth. And this Varick, this Destroyer who dared to deny her call, he was somehow linked to Grace and Gyth. Cold hatred welled up in her heart. Varick would pay as well. He would beg on his knees like the dog he was; he would bow down before her, his queen, and praise her as he spat on the faces of Grace and Gyth.

  All she needed to do was find one of the portals that led to the ground above. Entering her chambers, she called to her minions. They slithered out of the shadows by the dozens, their dead eyes glowing with admiration of their queen.

  “Search the Underworld — look in every corner and crevice. I want to know where the portals are, and I want to know yesterday. Go, and don’t return without answers.”

  In unison, they answered. “Yes, our queen, your wish is our command.”

  Chapter 8

  As her shift started, Angelica couldn’t stop her gaze from traveling to the far back corner of the bar. Varick was there with his friends as usual. The crowd tonight was thin, probably because of the well-known band that was playing at the bar across town. But still, there was a mesh of female bodies on the dance floor, most of which were eyeing the same table in the back that she had been.

  Well, a woman just couldn’t help it. And good lord, she was woman! So much so that at this point she was beginning to think she should have a o
ne-nighter to ease the pain that throbbed between her legs. She groaned at the thought of a stranger groping at her. Nope, not going to happen.

  The bartender frowned as he slid the tray to Angelica’s waiting hands. “Table in the back corner.”

  Oh, shit! But I was just staring a hole through those guys!

  “Hey?”

  “Yeah, what ya need?” A soft smile met Angelica’s eyes.

  “You know those guys?”

  The bartender lost the smile. “Yeah, they’re regulars. They come in ’bout every night around this time.”

  “Are Varick’s friends bikers or body builders?”

  He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Don’t think so. They’re friends of the boss lady.”

  She paused. “They don’t seem to be the type Alera would hang out with.”

  He paused and cracked his knuckles. “If they ask you to join them, just do it. Boss’s orders.”

  She eyed him. “I’m a waitress not an escort.”

  “Don’t worry; they rarely ever ask for company and besides, you dress like an old maid.”

  She stuck her tongue out at the bartender and grabbed the tray of beer. “Yeah, well, you dress like a mobster.”

  She was proud of the way she dressed. A black, long-sleeved silk shirt and jeans were perfectly normal wear for someone her age. Well, that wasn’t exactly true, to be honest. But she wasn’t here to impress anyone.

  She walked through the crowd and edged to the table. She kept her eyes on the tabletop as she set the beer down on the little black napkins, carefully working her way around one of their boots. She counted five men now, but she could have sworn there had been only four, or maybe the strobe lights had been playing tricks on her.

  “Can I get you boys anything else from the bar?” She wasn’t going to be nervous — hell, she had a brother back home.

  “My name is Alexander.” The one she had referred to as a rock star stated. “Just keep the beer coming. We’re a thirsty lot.”

  She looked up and smiled, but her smile faded as she looked into the most vivid blue eyes she had ever seen. “Y-yes, I’ll do that.”

  Varick spoke up. “What exactly do you drink, Angelica?”

  Angelica turned to him and grabbed the table top. Since the night he had almost kissed her, she had been avoiding him. “Me?” Could I sound more like a mouse?

  “Yes, you. What is your preferred drink?”

  “Uhh, I guess it’s scotch.”

  “Good. Bring a bottle and two glasses.”

  Angelica turned and hurried back to the bar. Damnation, Varick had a voice that could bring angels out of heaven and turn demons into fairies. If you believed in that sort of nonsense.

  “I need a bottle of scotch and two glasses.”

  “Order up.” The bartender said as he set the scotch on the bar.

  Angelica returned to the table and sat the scotch and glasses in front of Varick. “Just wave at me if you need anything else.”

  As she turned to leave, Varick spoke. “Angelica.” His voice wrapped around her, sliced through her skin. “Come join us. We are in need of a woman’s company.”

  “I … have work to do.”

  Varick shoved his chair back and stood. “I insist you join us! Sit down.”

  He towered over her, his eyes searching her face intently. But she wasn’t here to be bossed around by an overbearing controlling man.

  Angelica laid the tray on the table and eased around Alexander to Varick’ side. “Look, I have to work to pay my bills, and we already had the discussion about how controlling you are.”

  Varick gritted his teeth. “Sit down.”

  Angelica narrowed her eyes, intent on putting him in his place. “I don’t like being told what to do. And apparently, whatever interest you had in me disappeared a week ago in front of my house.”

  “Just sit down Angelica,” Alexander urged. “Varick isn’t used to getting denied the pleasure of a woman’s company.”

  “Well, he just got denied! There are thirty women in this place that would love to sit next to him, but I don’t!” Take that!

  Varick pulled his chair behind her, took her arm, and pushed her backwards. She fell into the enormous chair, and he shoved it to the table’s edge. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “You arrogant, egotistical jerk!”

  Varick slid another chair next to hers, sat down, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as if it was his every right. Angelica shivered as his whispers flooded into her ear. His voice was entrancing, and she was grateful she was sitting, because she was sure she would have collapsed at his words.

  “I’m hungry for you. I have dreamt of the kiss we have not shared and with each passing day, I want it more and more. My desire for you is slowly driving me insane.” She shivered as he paused and ran his fingers down the side of her neck. “Your skin is delicate, like the satin blooms of the Tacca chantieri.”

  “The what?”

  “Tacca chantieri. The bat flower.” His voice was a whisper in her ear, a direct line running to her core.

  Angelica took a deep breath and tried not to visualize his hands on her body. And why the hell did she feel so damn drunk? She had not taken even a sip tonight. But that smell — it was darkly seductive, a blend of brandy, male flesh, and honeysuckle. Heaven could not have smelled better. Lord, could it be that amazing scent that was coming from him? It was potent, an instant aphrodisiac.

  Oh, good God, am I that hard up? Am I going to let this guy? Hey wait a minute. What the hell is he doing?

  Angelica grabbed his hand as it made a beeline to her leg. “Oh, no you don’t!”

  “It’s what I want,” he whispered as his tongue flickered out and caressed her earlobe. “I would touch you now, taste you.”

  “Ummm … ” Did I just moan? Am I nuts? He’s a virtual stranger!

  “Stop it!” She had meant for it to be a little more demanding, but he continued to draw her closer to his rigid and — oh, crap — hard body. “You’re acting damned odd. Are you drunk?”

  “No,” He replied softly. “But I have hungered for you in ways that have been unbearable.”

  “Varick! Not here.”

  Thank God for Alexander.

  She looked down and groaned. His hand was still in hers, and damn if she wasn’t enjoying the way his thumb was caressing the inside of her palm. If he could create all these sensations just by touching her hand, then dear lord, what else could he do with those hands? Angelica groaned again as heat filtered out from her loins and rose up her chest. Her mouth went utterly dry and her face went red with heat. She was sure her body temperature had just risen twenty degrees.

  “Next order of business?” Alexander asked as he looked to each of his comrades and dropped his leg from the table. “We’re being split up. Gyth advised that Apoc and I are to go to Las Vegas tomorrow night.”

  Apoc leaned up out of the shadows and braced his arms on the tabletop. “And the job we are to do?”

  Angelica caught her breath at his dark expression. His eyes were as black as longest night, his long, bluish-black hair hung down in soft waves, and, of all things, he had a tattoo on his face. She wondered where else he was tattooed and noticed the one under his left eye was a very detailed, small, black Celtic knot.

  That’s kind of odd. But hey, they all were kind of odd in their own way. Absolutely gorgeous but odd and scary.

  Alexander dropped his head, he looked tired. “The Hellic Coven is hosting a masquerade party, and they have invited some of our soulless friends to stop by for a snack.”

  Apoc grinned as the light in his eyes brightened. “How many?”

  “At least twenty. I seriously expect more to show up.”

  Apoc threw his head back, and deep laughter
filled the space of the table. “It’s going to be a hell of a ride.”

  Alexander looked to the fifth of the group. “Payne, there’s a special assignment that needs your attention.”

  Angelica caught her breath as she looked across the table at the man Alexander was speaking to. He appeared angry, the lines in his face running deep.

  Payne grunted as he made eye contact with Alexander. His lip twitched as Alexander dropped his eyes.

  “Well, go ahead with it, Alexander. Where are you sending me?”

  Alexander ran his fingers through his blond hair and looked disgusted. “To Kentucky.”

  “You’re kidding me!” Payne scratched his jaw. “Why?”

  “Gyth wants you to … ”

  “To what?” Payne leaned back and closed his eyes. “Just tell me it has something to do with a good fight.”

  “No, Payne, my friend, Gyth has chosen you to escort a woman through her Burning.”

  Payne’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “I’ll be damned if I will!”

  Alexander stood and towered over the table. “You will! Her name is Chanta Timbers and she is but a year from the Burning. It’s a great honor to be chosen.”

  Payne stood, slamming his chair into the wall. “Fuck you and Gyth, I won’t do it! You take the bitch through her change.”

  Alexander growled, “It’s an order!”

  Payne turned on his heel and walked away, shoving people out of his way. “Fuck you, Alexander. I don’t need this shit!”

  Angelica tried to pull away from Varick but he held firm. She had heard just about all she wanted to hear for one night. Not that she could make any sense out of what Alexander was saying.

  “I hope Gyth knows what he’s doing where Payne is concerned.” Alexander took a deep breath, sat back down, and looked at Varick. “You’ll be staying here.”

  Varick took a long drink from his bottle and nodded as he looked at Angelica. Her cheeks were burning. She looked away suddenly nervous under his stare and wondered what was going on between these men.

  “Varick, you and Kreach keep a watch over the city.” Alexander stated roughly as he looked over his shoulder at a blond and smiled.