Antoine ducked into an alley. It proved a smart move since the man glanced around before returning inside his house. A minute later, Antoine spotted the man on his roof, and then he disappeared.
Quickly, Antoine used vines to climb another house. The man was already several rooftops away.
Traveling from rooftop to rooftop wasn’t easy for the human, but Antoine used magic to keep his movements hushed. The storm blocked out the noises of his approach too.
For a long while, Antoine followed the man. He clearly had a certain destination in mind. Gradually, Antoine realized they were leaving the mixed human and witch area and were heading for the isolated vampire hideouts.
Was the man seeking out a vampire? At this hour of the night? For what purpose? What did he have to gain?
Antoine was even more intrigued and followed closer. Given the number of vampires captured and executed lately, Antoine wasn’t surprised there were no others on the roofs with him. No vampires lurked in sight. The bulls occasionally ventured out this way, but there weren’t enough of them to cover every street in the division at all times.
Still, he glanced around every so often. Why? In the hopes of seeing Seraphine? What would he have to gain from that?
Without notice, the human climbed down from the roof and entered a small shack of a house.
From the window, Antoine saw a shadow. Eventually, the vampire turned and faced the window.
Seraphine.
Shocked, Antoine staggered back a few steps, but it was too late. The vampire must have heard his heartbeat because she stood before him in two blinks of an eye.
“Why are you here?” she demanded.
“I…” He hesitated. “I saw something suspicious.”
“Something? Or someone? You were tailed?” she called over her shoulder even though the human remained in her house.
“Why is he here? Did you kill Franz? Is he your new blood bag?” Antoine asked. His anger was irrational but real.
“Why?” she asked. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous? Why would I be? You can’t drink my blood.”
“I can. Didn’t you suggest that a totem would work? I’m sure Noella would be willing to fashion one,” she said.
“Not if I render that charm worthless,” he hissed.
Her eyes flashed. “If you came here looking to pick a fight, go ahead. I’m in the mood to break some bones.”
“Why is that?” He winced. Had he killed another vampire friend of hers?
“You kill without a second thought,” she said, bristling. “You—”
“Actually, he did hesitate earlier. The second execution. I saw it.” The human had climbed to the rooftop to join them.
“Saw what?” Seraphine asked. Her curtness was completely gone.
Of course. Because she was talking to the human and not him.
“You do keep strange company,” the man remarked to her.
“Just who are you?” Antoine asked.
The man ignored him. “Why is he here?”
“He followed you.” Seraphine glowered at Antoine instead of the guilty party.
Just like the queen. Placing the blame elsewhere instead of where it’s deserved.
He smirked. Seraphine would not appreciate that comparison at all.
“What are you up to?” Seraphine asked, her suspicion clearly growing.
She was seriously defensive. Territorial maybe or…
“What do you have to hide?” Antoine asked.
“Nothing.”
She’d answered too quickly, and Antoine grimaced. He didn’t believe her for a second, which gave him pause. Did he not trust her because she was a vampire? Or because he thought he knew her well enough to know she was acting suspiciously?
The latter. She was definitely acting suspiciously.
He knew her. A vampire.
Did she know him too?
She shifted slightly. Although she kept an eye on Antoine, she addressed the human.
“You said he hesitated?” she asked.
The human nodded. “He didn’t even pick up the axe at first.”
Something flashed in her eyes. Wonder? Hope? The skepticism was gone but only for a moment.
“Why not?” she snapped.
“Because despite what you think, I am not a mindless fool. I have my own opinions, my own thoughts—”
“What good are opinions and thoughts if you do not act on them?” she asked, impatiently waving her hand.
“What would you have me do?” he asked. Anger burned within him, hot and bitter. “Do you want me to stop swinging the axe? Someone else will do it in my stead. I will not—”
“He could help us,” the man said.
For the first time, Seraphine turned her fury on the human. Her fierce expression was enough to silence him.
“Help with what?” Antoine asked.
Dread twisted in his stomach. He had a feeling he would not appreciate whatever it was the two were planning.
Seraphine shook her head. “No.”
“Why not? We need as many as—”
She squinted in disgust. “I said no.”
“What are you two talking about?” Antoine asked, although he did not think either would answer him. He was missing something important, but he had no idea what.
“Nothing that concerns you,” Seraphine said.
But then she stiffened. A moment later, she relaxed and even smiled.
“Fine.” She sighed. “Can I trust you?”
“That depends,” he said honestly.
“Which is most important to you? Your queen or doing the right thing? Because I assume you killed that vampire despite your short delay.”
“I did kill him.”
Antoine neglected to add that the vampire asked for it. There was no need to provide details.
“Well? Your queen or your conscience? Can a witch know right from wrong?”
“Can a vampire?” he spat.
“I know oppression,” she whispered. “I know fear, hatred, anger. I know sorrow and grief. And I do know right from wrong. I am willing to stand up for what I believe in, for the future I want. What do you hope for? What are your dreams? What future do you seek?”
“I do not agree that the queen is evil and twisted. She knows reason. She…”
But he hesitated. Had he wanted too harsh of a punishment for the human cheater? Was that why she’d ignored him? After all, she was queen. She was the one with the power. And the crime was not horrific. It certainly did not warrant death. He hadn’t wanted death for the salesman.
If vampires were the only ones ever to face the blade, others would think poorly of them. Yes, Seraphine knew oppression.
“You said that vampires, humans, and witches have good and evil. That is true of the queen too. She is not the demon you think she is. She is not completely evil,” he finished.
Seraphine shook her head. “This is why we can’t ask him to aid us,” she muttered to the human.
“Join you in what?” Antoine asked.
Neither the vampire nor the human said anything.
The man had gone around the division talking to people. Recruiting them. For some plan. A plan hatched by Seraphine… who hated the queen.
“Join you in an uprising?” Antoine asked. He didn’t know if he was more dismayed or horrified by the idea.
10
Seraphine clenched her teeth so hard her jaw ached. Fangs had popped free of their own accord, and her hands were balled into fists. If she didn’t calm down and soon, her fingers would turn into claws.
She should’ve known better than to hope for the best. Antoine was no different than the rest of the witches. Noella was the only one who didn’t count with the rest of them.
“Vampires deserve to have lives,” she said in a cool voice. “Real lives. We should be able to go about as we wish. We do not need to be kept under lock and key.”
“Do as you wish to whom? To the humans? To drink as much as you need
? To kill as many as you want?”
“I don’t kill—”
“One vampire who doesn’t kill. Oh, I am so impressed!” Antoine flashed her a sarcastic smirk.
“Don’t you dare act so self-righteous!” she roared. “You’ve killed how many vampires?”
“Vampire criminals!”
“Funny how there are no witch or human criminals,” she mused. “Or is it only that you turn a blind eye to them? How many humans a day do you siphon psychic energy from?”
“Siphoning their energy does not harm them—”
“Are you certain about that?” she demanded. “Have you ever asked one?” She stared at Marwin.
Her friend opened his mouth but said nothing.
Antoine took a single step forward.
She held up a hand to ward him back.
A magical slap in the form of wind struck her cheek.
She hissed, flashing her fangs.
“You said you wanted a fight,” Antoine said. “We can fight. Because I cannot overlook this. You two must be brought in.”
“You will die if you try,” she said around her fangs. “Because if you bring me in, the queen will issue an execution order, and I will die. I would rather you kill me here, without witnesses, without your axe, without that blade. That is if you kill me instead of die trying to.”
Marwin darted forward. For a human, he was surprisingly fast. His eyes clouded with frustration and doubt, and he glanced between them with dismay.
“Stop this!” he protested. “You’re no better than the rest of them!”
His words gave Seraphine pause. She did not think herself better than the other vampires. She really didn’t. Who was she to judge them? But the murderers and the terrible vampires who used and abused others for their gain, she never wanted to be compared to them.
But Marwin did have a point.
Then again, she knew Antoine would not forget this. He would not be able to walk away.
Was he even torn? Did he see her viewpoint at all?
Her fangs retracted, and she stepped back. A stone tile on the roof slid out of its row.
“Uprising is a strong word,” she said slowly, even though it was precisely the word she’d recently used.
Antoine did not seem amused.
“We don’t want to fight,” she added.
“That’s not what you said before,” he pointed out.
“I am frustrated and—”
“Thirsty?”
“Always,” she snapped.
Antoine nodded. “Did you kill Franz?”
“Why would I?” she asked.
He glanced at Marwin.
She smirked. “He knows about the witch.”
“And you’re fine with it?” Antoine asked him.
“From what I’ve heard about Franz, he’s lucky to still be alive,” Marwin said. “He hurt so many and got away with it because of one good deed. One decent act cannot negate numerous evil ones. At least now, his life serves a purpose.”
“You two deserve each other.” Antoine shook his head.
For some reason, this wounded Seraphine.
“I am not looking for—” she started and then shook her head. “We merely want to have all three species on equal footing. We don’t want to fight.”
“You mean you don’t want a war.”
“Of course not!”
“If you think a war will not be the result, you are either naïve or stupid.”
She gaped at him in dismay, hurt by his assumption.
“I don’t think you’re either,” Antoine added.
This did not lessen the sting. Why should words hurt her though? Antoine’s opinion did not matter. She did not need him. Not his help, not his attitude, not his opinion.
“I think this is exactly that—an uprising,” he continued. “You want to overthrow the queen, but not just here either. The entire thinking in all of the division. That’s impossible. It’s not going to happen.”
“Maybe not today,” Marwin said, “and maybe not tomorrow. But eventually.”
“Before you die?” Antoine asked.
Instantly, Seraphine dashed forward and stood close enough for her fangs to be inches of his throat.
“If you threaten my friend, you threaten me. Might you take back your word?”
“I did not mean it as a threat,” Antoine said, calming.
Curse him! His heartbeat had not elevated at all. She did not strike fear in him, not even when she vamped out.
“It was only an observation given his age,” he said.
“It’s all right, Seraphine,” Marwin called.
Reluctantly, she stepped back. “Marwin, go.”
“But—”
“Please. I want to have some words with the witch in private.”
“He’s not just a witch,” Marwin protested. “He’s the vampire executioner.”
“Minus his blade.”
“He’s still dangerous.”
“Not as dangerous as me,” she promised. “I will be fine.”
“Or you will be dead!”
“Please.”
Marwin sighed and slowly left. Slowly. He continued to glance at them over his shoulder until he was out of sight.
“What do you want to say to me now that we’re alone?” Antoine asked.
“If anything happens to him, I will know it was because of you. I will hunt you down. I will kill you.”
To her horror, her throat grew tight and scratchy. She was so disappointed that she felt sorrow and even grief. It was as if the friendship she had hoped might form between them had died.
“What is it?” Antoine asked, his words gruff.
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just threatened you, and you ask me that?”
“Something’s bothering you?”
“What do you care?” she snapped.
Anger flashed in his dark eyes. “I would be well within my right to kill you right here and now for what you are proposing. Open war—”
“I don’t want war. What I wished was for you to be reasonable and to listen to all I’ve told you, to what I’ve shown you. I wanted you to…”
“You wanted me to join you,” he said blankly, his face suddenly indifferent.
Her throat closed, rendering her unable to speak, so she merely nodded.
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” she countered.
He opened his mouth and then closed it. After shaking his head, he said, “There is no difference.”
“Of course not. Is it because you love your queen? Because you enjoy your status too much? Your fame, your food? What is it about her that has earned your loyalty?”
Seraphine hated that she was begging him, but she truly didn’t understand. And she wanted to. She needed to know why he could reject her truth and accept the terrible world as it was.
“I am her protector,” he said.”
She eyed him critically. “Well, I am the vampires’ protector. One day, I will be the division’s protector. For vampires and humans.”
“And the witches can be the ones to die? By fangs instead of a blade?” he asked, every bit as angry as she had been.
“Maybe for the witches too,” she said, softer now.
He shook his head and started to walk away.
“I forgive you,” she said.”
Antoine hesitated but did not turn around.
“I forgive you for your stupidity and naïvety. If you honestly think this status quo will always remain in fashion, you are very wrong. Maybe you won’t live long enough to see the change, but the world will not remain under the queen’s rule forever.”
“Give it up, Seraphine,” he demanded.
Her hands shook with fury. “Never!”
“Give it up,” he repeated. A hint of sorrow sounded in his voice.
She gaped at his backside.
He turned to face her, and she almost thought she saw tears there.
“I don’t believe in premonitions, but some witches claim to be able to see the future. I had a nightmare and…”
She told herself she didn’t care, that she wasn’t curious, but she followed him anyway.
For some reason, she was drawn to him. He infuriated her. She hated him. Or maybe it was only that she should hate him.
So many vampires only cared about blood and spoke about nothing else. So many humans cowered when they saw her, their flight response kicking in automatically. So many witches treated her with scorn and contempt and loathing. They were just waiting to catch her commit a crime so she could die on their watch.
With Antoine, it had been different. Not in the same way as with Marwin. The two of them were friends but she and Antoine? She didn’t know what they were.
They shouldn’t be anything at all. She was a vampire. He was a witch and the vampire executioner at that. Hatred should be all they shared.
And yet they had talked, maybe even bonded. They fought like friends instead of enemies. Liliane had once told Seraphine that all friends fought, but only the truest ones could maintain their relationship in spite of it.
This was ridiculous. It had to end. It must end.
Or else one of them was going to kill the other.
“What happened in the nightmare?” she asked.
Antoine just shook his head.
“I take it you didn’t kill the queen in it,” she said lightly.
His pale face turned even paler. “I tried to,” he admitted.
She blinked in surprise. “You shouldn’t say that out loud,” she said in a hushed voice. “I could use your words against you.”
“I don’t care.”
His normally brushed back hair had fallen along the sides from the rain. It was handsome, strikingly so. The queen needed a king to cement her power and to begin a legacy. She could do a lot worse than to look elsewhere.
The thought of the vampire executioner and the queen as a couple soured Seraphine’s mood, and she frowned.
He took a step forward.
She did not back away. “Why did you try to kill her?” she asked, her voice hardly above a whisper.
“Because she magically forced me to kill a vampire.”
Dark Hunt: Division 4: The Berkano Vampire Collection Page 8
