The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of Ash

by E. M. Knight

  I’m mired so deep in my own thoughts that I hardly notice when I bump into somebody walking the other way.

  Alarm grips me when I see who it is. Smithson.

  “Hello, Princess,” he says in a deep, smooth voice. “What an unexpected pleasure to run into you this evening.”

  Something tells me that this meeting was no mere coincidence. I shy back. He takes my arm.

  “All alone?” he asks. “That might not be the smartest idea, considering what the other vampires are whispering. Let me escort you.”

  I jerk my arm away. “No,” I say. “Let me pass, Smithson. Morgan told me I have full freedom to go where I please.”

  “Yes…” he nods slowly. “Morgan.” He looks around. “You would do best to refer to her as Queen when others are in hearing.” He steps closer to me, bringing his mouth to my ear and lowering his voice. “You would not want to give them reason to hate you more. Vampires are a treacherous bunch.”

  Before I can respond, he steps away. “I bid you a good night.”

  I stare after his back until he turns the corner and disappears from my vantage.

  What was that all about? I wonder.

  “I wouldn’t trust him if I were you.”

  I jump at the sound of Raul’s voice. I twist around—and find him standing nearly nose-to-nose with me.

  He smiles as he reaches up and touches my cheek. “Hi,” he says, softly.

  “Hi,” I whisper back. I can’t do anything against the bloom in my chest when his voice makes goosebumps run down my back like that.

  He turns aside and twines his fingers together with mine. “Walk with me?” he asks.

  I nod. “That would be wonderful.”

  Raul leads me to the forest. The humans don’t pay us any attention when we emerge. They keep their heads down and remain hard at work.

  “What do you make of all this?” I ask, gesturing at the remains of the village. “Why don’t the vampires help? It would go so much faster if they did.”

  Raul shakes his head. “The Queen forbids it. They must be self-sufficient, and they need to be kept busy, so they don’t have time to dwell on the truth of their lives.”

  “The truth?”

  “That they are slaves. They are our food supply. And nothing more.”

  I shiver. “I think they know that.”

  “Of course they do. But idle hands make for conspiring minds. If the humans are kept busy with their chores…” he shrugs. “It’s been this way for very long.”

  I hate the cold-hearted way he can speak of them. “Do you really believe that?” I whisper.

  Raul looks at me. He brings a finger to his lips. He touches the tip of his nose, then his eyes move to the left, then to the right. “Certain things, you have to believe,” he tells me. “When others are watching.”

  I follow his gaze… and realize that he’s right.

  We have an audience. Off to one side is a member of the Royal Guard. He’s staring at us openly. Across from him is a richly-dressed vampire, only slightly less obvious about the reason for his proximity.

  “We must both be careful,” Raul says. Under his breath, he adds, “I don’t know what I would do if I were to lose you.”

  Is he really so enamored with me? I stare up into his beautiful green eyes, and am taken away by the sincerity I find in them.

  “You won’t lose me,” I tell him. “I’m here, aren’t I? I came back.”

  “But I wonder,” Raul says. “Would you be here now if you were given a choice?” He shakes his head. “Never mind. We mustn’t speak of such things.”

  I take his hand and turn him to me. “Yes,” I say. “I would be here. After Phillip got me out of the caves, away from The Convicted… when I first found myself Outside… I ran. But it didn’t feel right. I knew by then I would become a vampire. I knew my home could only be here. When I realized that, I knew I had to return.

  “But James caught me first.”

  Raul looks at me for a long time, his expression stony and serious. “You were going to come back?”

  “Yes,” I say. “I didn’t know what I could do to help, but I couldn’t just leave you and Phillip to face The Convicted alone—”

  I’m cut off when Raul suddenly wraps a hand around my lower back, tugs me into him, and seals my mouth with a passionate kiss.

  I’m breathless when he lets go. “What…” I stifle a giggle. “What was that for?”

  “For telling me the truth,” he tells me. “For showing me how much this life means to you.”

  You mean how much you mean to me, I think to myself. I try—and fail—to supress another smile.

  A spark of mischief lights up in his eyes. He grabs my hand. “Come,” he says. “I don’t think I ever properly showed you my rooms up in the residences.” He glances up at the treetops.

  Excitement runs through me as we race to our destination. We stop in front of an enormous redwood. There’s an elevator carved into the trunk. Raul calls it down. I’m swept up by the pace of things and lose myself in the moment, excited to finally have some time alone with Raul…

  Until the doors open, and the Queen steps out.

  “Ah,” she smiles. “Eleira. Raul. Just the two vampires I most needed to see.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  RAUL

  Mother is seething. Her emotions, which are usually kept under such strict control, are on display at full force.

  She’d called an impromptu meeting of the Royal Court. That’s where I am now: in the anointed chambers in the castle, listening to her chastise her Court for letting James escape.

  Eleira, not being yet a member of the royalty, was not allowed to join us.

  The Queen slams an open hand down on the marble table. The members of the Royal Court jump.

  “Is this all you are capable of?” she demands. “Is this the limit of your abilities? Is this how you repay me for all the protection I’ve given you? After all the prosperity you’ve enjoyed?”

  She stops talking, and takes a moment to meet each of the vampire’s eyes. Shivers run down their backs. They know the things she is capable of with her magic. To get on Mother’s bad side now would be a grave, grave mistake.

  The vampire seated directly across from me—Bradley—clears his throat. “Perhaps if you’d given us reason to be more vigilant,” he says, “you would not have the current situation on your hands.”

  Mother looks at him and narrows her eyes.

  Bradley has always been one of the most outspoken members of the Royal Court.

  “Go on,” she says dangerously.

  He clears his throat and stands to full height. “It’s no secret that you’ve neglected the Royal Court for decades,” he says. “How long has it been since our last meeting? Forty years? Fifty?”

  “You want to turn the table on me?” Mother asks, her voice icy. “You dare suggest I bear the brunt of the blame?”

  “Nothing of the sort,” Bradley tells her. “But I am expressing concern about the way things have been run. It’s no secret you’ve relied on the council of your three sons almost exclusively for this whole time.” His eyes sweep to me, and then fall on Phillip. “It was the third who betrayed you? Perhaps if you’d turned to the Court earlier, certain mistakes could have been avoided.”

  “And what mistakes, pray tell,” Mother offers sweetly, “could those have been?”

  “Keeping news of the succession from us!” Bradley exclaims. Around the table, the other Court members mutter their agreement? “Did you think we would react favorably to being told of Eleira’s arrival at the same time as the rest of the rabble?” The murmurs of assent pick up. “We are, as you said, your Royal Court. Our faults lie not in our negligence, but in our disuse!”

  At that, almost all the other vampires start voicing their agreement.

  Mother waits for the commotion to die down. She raises her hands. “All right,” she says. “I see your point. Perhaps… some of the fault does lie with me.”


  I nearly gape. Mother never admits her flaws. Not to anyone.

  Not ever.

  “But,” she continues on. “That does not excuse any of you from shirking your duties. Perhaps the prosperity I’ve given you, thanks to the wards, has made you complacent. Perhaps it’s made you lazy. Fine. I accept that. I was too gracious. Many of you have lost the requisite discipline needed to serve me well. But not to worry—you will each have a chance to make it up to me. Starting now.”

  A tension shifts through the air.

  “How?” one of the vampires ventures.

  “The first is a strengthening of our defenses. In case you haven’t heard, the humans nearly began a little uprising earlier.” She looks around. “Good thing I arrived in time to stop it.”

  “An uprising?” A female voice rings out. “Please. As if mere humans could be a threat.”

  I turn my head toward the speaker. It’s Deanna, the very last of vampires to be given a position in the Royal Court.

  “There are nearly four hundred vampires living in The Haven,” she continues. “And what? Three, four thousand humans? A little more? I say, let them rise.” She looks at her nails. “A single vampire is easily the equal of ten men. It’s time to remind them why we rule.”

  The Queen looks around. “Does anybody else feel that way?”

  Silence greets her. There are a few soft coughs. The tension is thick.

  “Just as I thought,” Mother says. She sounds perturbed.

  “How do you intend to strengthen our defenses?” a vampire ventures.

  “Oh. That.” The Queen smiles. “I will seal the wards around The Haven. Until we discover how James escaped, not a single vampire, not a single being, not a single soul will be allowed in or out of the sanctuary. You will inform the coven vampires of my decision.” She looks around the Court. “You may go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  PHILLIP

  A chorus of voices rings out at my Mother’s announcement.

  “No!”

  “You can’t do that!”

  “How will we get fresh blood?”

  “The Royal Court will not stand for this!”

  “SILENCE!” Mother screams. Her shout is accentuated by a loud clap of thunder—doubtlessly another of her spells.

  It takes a few more moments for the commotion to die down. When it does, a heavy darkness hangs in the air.

  “You’ve trapped us,” Bradley murmurs. “When word spreads of what you’ve done… well.” His voice goes an octave lower. “Humans revolting will no longer be your biggest concern.”

  “You wouldn’t be suggesting I should trouble myself with worries about my most loyal vampire subjects protesting, would you?” the Queen asks sweetly.

  “That is exactly what—”

  He doesn’t get to finish.

  Mother’s hand lashes out. A blast of blue light bursts from her fingertips. It hits Bradley square in the chest. He flies back and crashes into the wall, where he goes down hard. Smoke rises from his limp body.

  Silence of the worst kind descends upon us. When the smoke clears, there is a gaping hole right where the blue light struck.

  Right where his heart used to be.

  “A shame,” Mother sighs. “To waste someone so young. Does anybody else want to offer their most sage council?”

  Disgust and revulsion build in my throat. But I keep my thoughts to myself.

  Nobody speaks. The Queen nods. “I thought so.”

  I rise from my seat and immediately start out of the room. I cannot take being here in her presence.

  “Phillip?” Mother calls out. “Do you have something you want to add?”

  “I need some fresh air,” I grumble, and leave before I can witness any more atrocities.

  On the other side of the door, I find Eleira anxiously waiting.

  “What’s going on in there?” she asks. “I heard a crash.”

  “Mother just murdered one of the members of her Royal Court,” I inform her flatly.

  She gasps. “Raul,” she begins. “Is he all right?”

  “My brother’s fine,” I say. The doors fly open and the remaining vampires storm out. None are happy with how events played out. In fact, most look furious. But if they didn’t know better than to go against my Mother before—they do now.

  They cast menacing glares at Eleira as they pass. I step beside her to show them she has my support. It might not mean much, not from the strength-hierarchy perspective, but at least it lets them know she’s not alone.

  I wouldn’t be surprised if they attempted to take out some of their anger on her, to get back at the Queen.

  When all have passed, the doors to the meeting chambers remain open. Eleira and I walk inside.

  Raul is in a heated argument with our Mother.

  “Have you gone insane?” he explodes. “Incinerating a human slave is one thing. But attacking, and killing, a member of your Royal Court! It’s unthinkable! It’s maniacal. It’s—”

  “Necessary,” she says smoothly. “I had to remind the Court who remains in control. It was a similar demonstration with the humans. The Haven is being threatened from the Outside, my son dearest, and I cannot have discord amongst my people.”

  “Well, you’re going to have it now,” Raul snarls. He flings a finger at Bradley’s body. “Word’s going to reach all of the other vampires in minutes. Bradley was right. If you thought a human uprising was bad—”

  “Raul.” She says his name calmly. “From one murderer to another, tell me… do you really care so much for Bradley’s life?”

  My head swings to my brother. Suddenly, he looks a little pale.

  “…What?” he murmurs.

  “Come now.” Mother fixes him with a sweet smile and glides to his side. “Did you think you could hide the truth of my four most loyal guards’ death from me?”

  Raul’s eyes flash. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh really?” Mother seems amused. She glances at Eleira, who’s watching all this with an unreadable expression on her face. “Did you think you could hide the fact that you murdered Andrey and his three companions from me forever?” She shakes her head. “How small your mind is if you thought you could.”

  Disbelief washes through me. “You’re accusing Raul—” I begin.

  “Yes, I’m accusing him!” Mother snaps. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense. He was always so jealous of James’s friends. Why wouldn’t he take the opportunity to do something about it, to prove his strength, in the commotion that he himself caused?”

  “Raul…” Eleira says. Her voice is hoarse. “Is this true?”

  Raul locks eyes with her. He looks caught, stricken, fraught with indecision. If I know one thing about my brother, it’s that he’s rarely undecided.

  That makes his guilt plain as day.

  Before he can speak, I step forward. “You placed those same deaths at Patricia and Jacob’s hands!” I say. “You already carried out their sentences! Jacob’s soul is locked in one of your horrid paintings for eternity because of what you did!”

  Mother gives a casual shrug. “Better there than left running around unrestrained throughout The Haven.”

  “You really are mad,” I whisper. “Do you understand the things you are doing?”

  “Yes, I understand quite well, Phillip,” she snaps. “I’m tired of you and Raul second-guessing me. If you could be more like Eleira… my sweet, precious Eleira…”

  She walks to the girl. Raul steps in her way. “You will not,” he growls, “approach her, Mother.”

  “I am Queen. I will do what I want.”

  “Your rule has gone too far,” he says. “The powers have gone to your head. You are openly killing vampires sworn loyal to you! You condemned your own son to become one of The Convicted. You throw chains on your other—” he points at me, “—to force your will onto the third! No—I will not let you use Eleira. Not while I am here.”

  Mother steps
back. She gives a coy and dangerous smile. “Given all that you’ve seen,” she whispers, “are you sure it’s wise to challenge me? Right now?”

  “Somebody has to stand up to you,” Raul says. “Somebody has to have the courage to tell you when you’re wrong. I—”

  He stops when Eleira puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looks at her.

  “Is it true?” she asks softly

  Raul looks ruffled. “Is what true?”

  “Did you kill the guards?”

  Before he can answer, Mother walks to both of them and puts an arm around their shoulders. “Yes, it’s true,” she says. “I found a witness.”

  Raul’s eyes narrow. “Who?”

  “The human slave you spared in the fight.”

  Chapter Thirty

  JAMES

  Hours pass and none of the vampires stir. None make conversation. They all sit in their spots, waiting for Dagan to give the next command.

  All of this rubs me the wrong way. With every minute that goes by, my anxiety about being this close to The Haven increases. We’re just sitting ducks out here. We should be moving!

  At one point, Dagan stirs. I look at him, hopeful that it’s time to move. But he simply rolls over to change his position on the rock.

  I grit my teeth in frustration. Patience has never been my strong suit. Neither has idleness.

  An hour later, Dagan actually gets up. I look at him and start to rise. He fixes me with a glare that tells me to remain absolutely still… and turns around to walk to the farther reaches of the cave.

  I wait until his footsteps fade from hearing. Then I wait some more, until I can no longer pick out his presence in the underground tunnel.

  Only when I’m absolutely sure he’s gone, do I stand up and approach Riyu.

  “You,” I say. Riyu looks up. “You can do magic. How?”

  He looks at me, unblinking. He doesn’t reply.