“I’m not a fan of fighting on the defensive,” Clyde whispers, his shattered bones healing in seconds. Examining the hand, he finds that his senses repeatedly focus on his heartbeat, which is becoming more rapid by the second. “I may be able to walk in the sun, eat food, and do other things that mortals can do, but that doesn’t make me one of them. I’m still a monster and need to act that way. The council wants to take a bite out of me? Then they better whet their appetites because I’m going to wherever it is they’re hiding these days.”
“It’s called Miez Castle,” Mab casually says with a shrug. Feeding off the faint aroma of bloodlust, her fangs grow in anticipation of a fight. “Gregorio knows where it is, but you’re not going to be a welcomed guest. I’ve been there once and I remember a large city designed to maintain a feeding area as well as an army always being on call. There’s a powerful ward around the gate too. Luther is the only one who has ever managed to successfully spy on them and that was a recent achievement. My shadow jumping might be able to-”
“I’m doing this job alone,” the other vampire interrupts. He is quick to put a finger on his partner’s lips to stop the argument, but she bites into his hand in retaliation. “Very mature. I need you to do something else. Go back to Nyte and talk to Xavier about what we learned. He will want to hear that the Duragian alliance is a fake. He might even have an idea on who would try to pit everyone against each other. At the very least, he can have Kai do an investigation or Stephanie can scry potential masterminds.”
Releasing her hold, she wipes her mouth clean and looks at the crystalline blood smeared on her fingers. “I still think you’re trying to keep me safe since you’re walking into a really big battle, but I’ll follow the plan. Only because Gregorio has to go with you or you’ll never find the place. Know that the instant I’m done at Nyte, I’m heading to Miez Castle. Nothing is going to stop me from helping you with the enemies we’ve been battling since we reunited. More importantly, the councilmembers are always carrying money, gems, and trinkets that would look better in one of my stashes.”
“Do you even know where all of those are?” Clyde asks with a smirk. Seeing the burglar blush and sink an inch into her own shadow, he cannot hold back a laugh that rattles the surrounding windows. “This is why everyone compared you to a squirrel. Hiding all of your riches around your territory and forgetting where some of them are. I’ll never understand why you want to gather so much wealth and never touch it.”
“Because then I wouldn’t have it any more,” Mab playfully responds. She abruptly drops into the shadow until only her face remains above the water-like surface. “You better be careful when you reach the castle, Clyde, because you aren’t facing just anyone this time. Handling a single noble with your friends is one thing, but you’re going after the entire council by yourself. They have those positions for a reason. Well, some are there thanks to nepotism or simple luck of birth, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. Stay alive and I’ll catch up to you in a few days.”
A ripple runs across the rooftop shadows as Mab vanishes, the effect making Clyde afraid that he will fall into the void. Regaining his senses, he reaches into his pocket and takes out his weapon. His fingers run along the edge of the gauntlet, the contact sending violent spasms up his arm. The idea of unleashing the gauntlet sword again makes him nervous until he realizes that there is no group more deserving of his full wrath than the council. For a brief moment, the world turns red and he swears that a bloody mist is rising from his pores, but the vision disappears as soon as he takes a breath.
*****
The crack of the whip is drowned out by a pleasurable shriek, which causes the other prisoners to laugh. Kai tosses the weapon away and picks up a knife, but drops it when he sees the impish smirk on Chastity’s face. Staring at his tools, the spymaster nearly rips his hair out trying to figure out what will work on the Dawn Fang. Putting on gloves, he opens a jar of holy water and throws it at the handcuffed woman. The hissing liquid burns her skin until it is a light pink, but she merely stretches and breaks the chains from the wall. As her body heals, Chastity frees herself from the rest of her bonds and casually walks over to another set. Using her mouth, she expertly closes the cuffs and runs her tongue along the edge while staring at Kai. Frustrated by his failure, he hurls the table across the cell and storms over to the prisoner while his ivory fingernails grow into jagged claws.
“No need to get so angry,” Chastity coos before using her powers to stop his hands from getting too close. Sniffing at his palms, she kisses his flesh until the man shivers and moves out of reach. “I’ve entertained so many fetishes that this stuff is fairly tame to me. It shouldn’t be surprising that many vampires are such delicious freaks when seeking pleasure. Now, am I ever going to see Lord Tempest or are you my real gentleman caller?”
“He has asked me to discuss the Dawn Fang situation with you,” Kai replies as he inspects the damaged chains. Examining the hole in the wall, he is surprised that there is very little damage throughout the stone. “You demonstrated telekinesis, which I can see is what you used to free yourself. Perhaps your kind aren’t all as physically strong as Clyde. Gregorio didn’t seem to have such powers, but he was putting on a show of being one of us. He could be the strongest one of all and we wouldn’t know. I can see why Lord Tempest is getting nervous since all four known Dawn Fangs are so different. What do you have in common?”
“A love of orcish poetry,” the mischievous hostess answers. She gasps when one of her captor’s nails is fired like an arrow and hits her in the heart. “That’s not the way to woo a woman. Start at the lips and work your way up or down, Stavros. Mind getting this thing out of me? Seems my powers don’t affect anything within my beautiful flesh and I can’t concentrate if I’m uncomfortable. That little tidbit should grant me a break.”
Hoping that he has made progress, Kai grabs the nail and twists it to get a slightly better reaction than his previous attempts. “Of course, the heart is the weak point. Not really surprising since it’s beating now. To be honest, Madam Sullivan, we don’t really need to talk to you since a mutual friend has answered many of our questions. Lord Tempest wants confirmation, but I’m more interested in discovering the details. No reason to fear a fellow vampire even though we operate differently. After all, the gods might want us to rule the night while your kind controls the day. I know you’ve considered that too.”
“Sweetheart, you have no idea what I’ve considered since changing,” Chastity says while kicking Kai away. His nail comes loose and she catches it with her toes, which nimbly juggle the weapon. “I will say that I’m starting to realize this isn’t for everyone. The raw power that courses through my body is invigorating and part of me wants more. Yet, there’s a human side that’s emerging to prevent that hunger from taking over. It could be that way for every Dawn Fang, but those who crave power now will inevitably want to do so again. I tried to have this discussion with Mab a while back, but she was too busy trying to maul me and repeatedly ending up with a hand full of breast. Not the best massage technique even with her nimble and capable fingers. Oh, I think I see a bead of sweat on your cheek. Did I happen to uncover your fetish, Mr. Stavros? Perhaps I can find someone willing to accommodate us.”
Chastity’s smile fades when she follows Kai’s gaze, the vampire focused on someone standing in the shadows outside of her cell. The other prisoners begin to hoot and howl as Nadia materializes, her elegant frame retaining some of the darkness that she has created to hide her presence. At first, the Dawn Fang believes that it is really Mab in disguise, but the hope is dashed when the noble gestures for a lightning spell. The crackling energy ripples along the bars and shocks anyone still touching them, the power killing three men who have become too weak from starvation to withstand the attack. Using a wind spell to prevent her dress from dragging on the dungeon floor, Nadia enters Chastity’s cell in a way that makes it clear she does not want to touch anything. Moving with long strides, she stops
when the prisoner’s handcuffs begin to strain and threaten to snap. A quick paralysis enchantment locks the shorter woman in place, the only body part able to move being her mouth.
“She has an incredibly high pain threshold and heals too quickly for my methods,” Kai admits with a low bow. Taking a coiled ring out of his back pocket, he holds it in his palm. “I was considering using this Invader, but I need permission. The laws state that only nobles are allowed to dive deep into another vampire’s mind. With this technique, I can learn everything about how these Dawn Fangs are created and see if any of the other gang members have been turned.”
“It’s only me, Gregorio, and Mab, which you already know,” Chastity angrily states. Drool falls down her chin and she uses her telekinesis to fight the paralysis, her bones repeatedly snapping from the pressure. “This hurts, but I’ve had better. I’ll repeat myself for you, Lady of Nyte. It is not my place to reveal that information even if asked nicely. My reputation isn’t only about sex and pastries. I’d never be told a secret again if it got out that I handed over what you wanted without a fight. Why are we in the dungeon anyway?”
“Just a precaution since your kind are an . . . unknown entity,” Nadia replies with a pleasant smirk. Taking a piece of chocolate out of her sleeve, she holds it out to the Dawn Fang for a second before letting it fall into a pile of damp rags. “Only a handful of people know that your kind exists, but we cannot simply eliminate you. The common vampire would notice if the Scrumptious Siren goes out of business or Clyde vanishes without a trace. Gregorio and Mab could be removed if we wanted to go that way. Nobody would really notice my maker disappearing, but I refuse to turn on him after the gift he gave me. Don’t think such nervous thoughts because we have no intention of killing any of you. My husband and I are simply being cautious since a misstep can ruin all of our plans. Here, let me free you from the spell. In return, you will tell us what we want to know and earn yourself a better room.”
Once the paralysis is removed, Chastity’s body contorts and twists due to her still using her telekinesis. The handcuffs shatter as her arms bend in the wrong direction and her legs fly out from underneath her. Ribs splinter and only the Dawn Fang’s upper body turns as she tries to stop her fall, the thought of getting a face full of dungeon filth making her panic. Disoriented from her power going wild, Chastity thinks she is retreating into the corner, but ends up accidentally charging at Nadia. Before she can speak or stop her momentum, Kai takes his bow off his back and stakes the woman to the wall by her stomach. Annoyed by the attack, she yanks the five projectiles out of her flesh and tosses them aside as her body steadily regenerates. To her captors’ visible surprise, Chastity shows no signs of fatigue even after healing such extensive damage. With a smile, she bites into her own wrist and drinks the blood that her heart is producing at such a rate that her skin develops a pink tint.
“Didn’t know we could do that, but I really don’t feel so good now,” Chastity admits before turning aside to vomit. Looking at her ruined dress, she tears it off and settles for staying in a lacy shift. “Seems we really can’t do that. As you can see, we don’t understand a lot of this ourselves. If all you want to know about is how we make new ones then you need Clyde. He has no reason to hide that information. Me revealing it would be a breach of trust that I would never commit. Now for my one question. Are you honestly scared that he will take over the vampire world? We all know Clyde isn’t the type to pursue such things.”
“I am tired of hearing it speak,” Nadia mutters before taking the Invader from Kai. Slipping the ring on her finger, she lunges at Chastity and drives three of her fingers into the Dawn Fang’s skull. “I can already feel her brain healing around me. Such an amazing regenerative power, but I don’t know if it’s just her or these things in general. Sifting through such muck is disgusting, but I think I have our answers. They don’t know if mortals can be turned into Dawn Fangs, but Clyde’s blood is what infects vampires. Only a mouthful is needed, which could be why the council really wants him. We should have put more effort into bringing him back to Nyte. If our enemies devour him completely then they’ll overpower us. We need to tell my husband and figure out a way to retrieve Clyde before it’s too late. It would appear that these creatures are going to be trouble sooner rather than later.”
“What should I do with her?” Kai asks as he catches the unconscious woman. Running his finger around the large head wound, the spymaster worries that the noble may have delivered a fatal injury. “She isn’t healing like before. If she dies and Clyde finds out then he will come after our heads. You and Lord Tempest might see them as abominations, but I insist that you acknowledge that they have emotions. Possibly more powerful than our own and those of mortals. We don’t want to antagonize them even though they are few in number. Especially since Clyde could snap and transform everyone into Dawn Fangs to create that army. For now, he is our friend and ally, so we should treat him as such.”
Spotting an amusing glint of defiance in the vampire’s eyes, Nadia sighs and casts a spell that cleans the cell. “Now, it’s all neat and tidy. I’d rather not let her into a guest room where she can easily escape out a window or charm a guard. Bring the little thing enough blood to recover and move some comfortable furniture in here. I will work with Lord Tempest to write a letter explaining that her captivity is for her own good due to the populace fearing her presence. Last thing we need now is a riot. Does that appease your paranoia?”
“I say it for your benefit and not my own.”
“Yes, your loyalty is appreciated even if you talk beyond your station.”
“A transgression I will eternally commit to protect you and your husband.”
“Be careful, Stavros,” Nadia whispers as she leaves the cell. Closing and locking the door behind her, she runs her fingers along the warm bars. “If things turn out for the worst then that zeal might make you a liability. Best to learn some diplomacy and tact since not every situation can be handled from the shadows. Good luck with your new pet. You will be expected to clean up after her if she makes a mess.”
*****
Titus and Bob remain in their apartment with the curtains drawn even though it has been night for a few hours. A cool wind causes the patchwork fabric to billow out, giving them a clear view of the damaged city. They can hear the echoes of tools as the citizens repair their homes and try to return to their normal lives. Acrid smoke travels through the streets, the thick cloud coming off the bodies that have been piled into the drained moat and set on fire. Crows have surrounded the castle and occasionally dive to snag a piece of hot meat that is sticking out of the churning flames. Many of the birds come out of their attempts with burnt feathers and are drawn into a fight with the rest of the hungry flock. Titus sips at his mug while he watches the latest battle, his body pressed against the wall and mostly hidden by the curtains. Distracted and anxious, he blindly draws a card from the deck in Bob’s hand and drops it face down on the table. He jumps and reaches for his swords when the other vampire claps and stretches his arms to claim all of the coins.
“What game were we playing anyway?” Titus asks as he relaxes. Finishing his drink, he heads for a cabinet to get a fresh bottle only to find that they are out. “We really need to keep this place stocked for emergencies. It’s been days and Luther hasn’t turned up. Are you sure this is where he would go?”
“Chastity was taken and then Luther vanished, so I would say yes,” Bob states in a surprisingly serious tone. A twitch of his head causes him to grin with one of his fangs sticking out of his mouth. “He had to know we would follow and this is where we always meet up if we’re separated. Besides, there’s a raven hiding within the flock of crows. He was hanging around the dungeon area, but he’s gone now. Luther always had a soft spot for Chastity, which he told me not to share with anyone. Uh, a donkey told you that and she only found out because that stallion in pen number two can’t keep a secret.”
“Yeah, I’ll use that excuse,” the swordsman
says, his head and upper body in the cabinet. A loud rumble from his stomach causes him to slump and slide to the floor where he remains staring at the ceiling. “We traveled with only a few snack breaks, so I can barely think. My brain keeps coming back to how they knew about Chastity. At first, I thought it was scrying by the council and Kai intercepted the information. Yet, that doesn’t feel right. The only other option is that Decker betrayed us, which I don’t want to believe.”
Nibbling on the edge of a card, the vampiric elf leans back until only one chair leg is on the floor. “You do have a habit of questioning his loyalty to the gang, so maybe he’s finally taken it personally. On the third hand, we don’t even know what they’re doing with her. Lou said it was to talk, which could be true. There’s no reason for Nyte to declare war on the Dawn Fangs. Not unless Xavier knows something we don’t.”
“That or he doesn’t know something that we do, which is why he is acting odd.”
“It was strange that the guards didn’t let us into the castle.”
“Been trying not to think about that.”
“We could-”
“I am not sneaking in as a horse.”
“What about if we pretend to be a centaur?”
“You’re determined to be a horse’s ass in more ways than one.”
A rapid knock on the door causes the pair to jump to their feet and scramble for their weapons. They wait to see if the sound repeats itself before Titus signals for Bob to check the hallway. Instead of agreeing, the lanky vampire drops onto the couch and pretends to be asleep with his lance aimed at the ceiling. Another knock causes him to wake up and skip to the door, which he swings open without a care. Bottles clink as Bob picks up a large crate and carries it into the room on his head. Putting it on the table, he rips off the wooden top and flings it out the window where it crashes through a badly damaged roof across the street. Hearing shouts from outside, the vampire grabs a bottle of blood and tosses it to the flailing owner, who is hit in the head and sent tumbling into the collapsing wreckage.
Loyalty Page 24
