The Champion

by H. P. Mallory

  I laughed. “I’m producing extra blood now, silly. I can take it.”

  “Bryn.”

  “It’s completely fine.”

  “Hmm,” he said, and then remained quiet for a few more seconds. “Just a sip.”

  “It’s been so long, and I want you to be able to walk in the sunlight with me while we’re here.”

  “Very well.” I knew he wouldn’t take much convincing. “May I use a glamor to take away your pain?”

  “Yes,” I said urgently, longing for him.

  Sinjin cast his spell on me, then sank his fangs into my throat. I arched my back to receive him, then gave myself up to the sensation. The knowledge that he relished my blood above all others gave me the most pleasure of all.

  Breakfast was a sumptuous but stilted occasion. The tension with Audrey was becoming unbearable. I needed to sort it out once and for all. We’d be attempting our first dream invasion in less than an hour, and I didn’t want her distracting me.

  I caught up with her as she headed back up to her room.

  “Audrey?” I asked. “Can we talk?”

  She stopped at the base of the stairs and turned to look hard at me. “About what?”

  “You know what.”

  Her eyes acknowledged the truth. “I have nothing …”

  “Not here. Let’s take a walk around the garden.”

  The day was heavy and humid and alive with the noises of the wakening city. The atmosphere between us was also heavy. It was time it changed—hopefully for the better. “Look, Audrey,” I started, “I know that you and Sinjin had something going on.”

  “Hmph,” she interrupted. “If by something you mean he used me to make you jealous, then yes, we did.”

  “Well, if that’s true, then that was wrong of him,” I said. “And he owes you an apology. I promise you, I’ll be having words with him about this matter as well. But for now, I want to tell you that I can’t stand whatever this is that’s going on between us anymore.” I took a breath. “I considered you a friend. I do consider you a friend. We’ve been through a lot together, and it makes me sad to know we’re not close anymore.”

  Audrey stared at her feet, but I could tell I had her attention. “I feel the same,” she answered.

  “I hope so,” I said with a smile. “Can we please go back to how we were? Can we please be friends again?”

  “I have never had a problem with you, Bryn,” she responded. “It is just … awkward, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “My anger is towards Sinjin alone.”

  “Do you think an apology would help?”

  “ Oui .”

  “Right. Wait here.”

  I ignored Audrey’s startled expression and high-tailed it out of the garden, up the sweeping stairs of the hotel and into the suite I shared with Sinjin. He was reclining on the bed, reading an Anne Rice book, chuckling on and off. His face lit up when he saw me.

  “Ah, my princess. Where have you been? I have been longing for you. I thought we might indulge in a little … how can I put it … post-breakfast delight.”

  I stood with my feet planted firmly shoulder-width apart and my arms crossed tightly across my chest. “Sinjin Sinclair. You are to get up this instant!”

  He looked alarmed and sprang to his feet. “What is it? What is the matter?”

  “You. You are the matter!”

  He frowned. “I do not understand, Bete Noir .”

  “I just had a conversation with Audrey, and she told me that you used her to make me jealous before we got back together.”

  He lifted his chin. “That is a preposterous allegation.”

  “So you deny trying to make me jealous?”

  “I …” His face clouded with uncertainty.

  “So you did!” I said triumphantly.

  “My darling tempest, I was distraught at the thought of you laying with another man …”

  “Which I had not!”

  “Yes, I now fully accept that I was in error, and we need not resurrect that dead subject.” He took a breath. “I am afraid Audrey caught me at a rather low moment.”

  “So it was her fault?!”

  “That is not what I meant at all.”

  “What did you mean?”

  “That I acted out of weakness at a weak moment, at a time when I was hurting. I tried to bury myself in another woman.”

  “Bury yourself in another woman?” I repeated, frowning.

  He held up his hands and shook his head. “Wrong choice of words.”

  “Did you and Audrey…” I started.

  “No, we most certainly did not!”

  “Okay,” I said, and felt relief suffuse me. “Well, you need to apologize to Audrey, because whatever happened between the two of you, she’s still pretty mad about it.”

  “I agree. As soon as the opportunity arises.”

  “She’s waiting for you in the garden right now.”

  “She is … what? Right now?”

  I nodded. The expression on his face was priceless. I struggled not to laugh. Sinjin Sinclair, Chief Protector, ultimate warrior, looked scared shitless.

  “Off you go,” I said, mimicking his English accent.

  “Very well,” he grumbled, and stood up, starting for the door. He paused and turned to look at me. “And when I return, Bete Noir ? A little post-breakfast delight?”

  “Is that the only reason you’re doing this?”

  “Yes.”

  This time I did laugh. “Sinjin Sinclair, you are incorrigible.”

  He grinned. “I believe that is one of the qualities you most admire in me, my little hellion.”

  “I wouldn’t bank on it. And there’ll be no ‘post-breakfast delight,’ as you call it. We’re due to attempt the dream ceremony, remember? The reason we came here in the first place.”

  “Afternoon delight, then?”

  “Sinjin!”

  He was gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Sinjin

  Audrey was nowhere to be found in the garden.

  Using my expert vampiric sense of smell, I tracked her to therooftop bar and was immediately struck by the stunning vista of the city. The bar was sparsely populated, as one would expect at this hour of the morning. Consequently, I was easily able to spot Audrey, seated alone at the edge of the rooftop. She looked small and vulnerable from this vantage point, and I must admit to feeling rather ashamed of myself because it was quite clear to me now that I had never had any interest in Audrey. I had shown interest in her merely with the hopes of overcoming my feelings for Bryn—an enterprise wholly unfair to Audrey, I now realized.

  The blood I had received from Bryn the previous night made it possible for me to cross the unsheltered portion of the rooftop in spite of the relatively bright morning. I must say, I found the sensation of walking in the sunlight most exhilarating.

  Audrey turned at my approach , and her expression became immediately guarded. I noted her squaring her shoulders, as if in preparation for confrontation.

  “Audrey,” I said by way of greeting.

  She merely regarded me stonily, saying nothing.

  I cleared my throat. “I believe I owe you an apology.”

  “Damn right you do! Pity you don’t mean it.”

  “I can assure you, Mademoiselle, that I do indeed mean it.”

  “You’re only apologizing because Bryn forced you to.”

  “While it may be true that Bryn has … encouraged … me to make this apology, I can assure you, my dear lady, that the sentiment is my own, and it is entirely genuine.”

  Audrey studied my face as if trying to fathom me out. “You used me to try and hurt my brother and to make your now-girlfriend jealous.”

  I bowed my head. “Although I did not think of those reasons at the moment of… courting you, I can look back upon the incident now, with a clear head, and see that such was the case.”

  “And you didn’t care about hurting my feeling in the process.”
<
br />   “May I suggest, my dear lady, that it is, in fact, your pride that is hurt rather than your feelings?”

  “How dare you! I …”

  “Come now, Audrey,” I insisted. “You must admit it is a little disingenuous of you to claim that you had serious feelings towards me. We both know we were in it purely for the fun.”

  I fixed her with a stern expression, which she returned for several long seconds, after which she started to laugh.

  “You’re right,” she said. “I was no more in love with you than you were with me.”

  “So we are even, then?”

  “Now, I wouldn’t go that far. I didn’t use you to make someone jealous.”

  “Hmm, I would not say I used you to make Bryn jealous,” I corrected. “It is more fair to say I… tried to numb my feelings for her by indulging in you.” I took a deep breath and offered her as sweet a smile as I could wrangle. “I was wrong to trifle with you. Can you possibly forgive me?”

  “I suppose so,” she answered on an exhale, and then began inspecting her fingernails as though she were quite bored with my company. “It’s getting a bit boring being in a huff all the time, anyway.”

  “And you are so comely when you smile.”

  “Careful.”

  “Sorry. Can we shake hands and put this whole unfortunate business behind us?” I held out my hand to her.

  “Why not?” She took it and shook. Then her brow furrowed.

  “Hey! What the …? Your hand is warm. How …?”

  “It is a long story,” I said, shaking my head as though to say I did not wish to enter into such a long story at the moment. “May I accompany you, my good lady, to your brother’s bed chamber? I believe it is almost time for the dream ceremony to begin.”

  “Lead the way.”

  The others had already assembled in Chevalier’s room by the time we arrived. Bryn and the fop were deep in discussion, something I did not approve of, but supposed I had to accept all the same. This friendship she insisted on maintaining with the dandy was quite trying.

  Poor Damek was slumped on a chair in the corner , looking entirely wretched. It was quite amazing the devastation a single cocktail could inflict. Clearly a hybrid Elemental and Daywalker could not take his alcohol. It was a lesson learned. He groaned as I approached him.

  “I think I’m dying, Sinjin.”

  “Nonsense. You are simply experiencing the right of passage known as the hangover, which is quite necessary for all young men.”

  “Why does anyone drink?” His plea was impassioned.

  “Why indeed? Now, I suggest you keep to yourself this morning, Damek. Let Audrey and I handle matters. Capiche?”

  “Ca-what?”

  “Never mind. Just stay out of the way.”

  He nodded weakly and closed his eyes, frowning and making a face as though the taste in his mouth were quite bitter.

  Thankfully, Bryn had completed her intense discussion with the frog. She approached me, wearing a quizzical expression.

  “Well?” she said.

  “I can confirm that matters between Audrey and myself are fully resolved.”

  “Good.” She exhaled deeply. “Now I can concentrate on more important things.”

  “I am glad you are pleased. I shall look forward to my reward.”

  “Your what …?”

  “I always collect on my debts, as you know.”

  “Let’s just get this done,” she grumbled, shaking her head all the while.

  “Agreed.” I turned to address the other inhabitants of the bedchamber. “Let us begin.”

  Everyone took their positions, which unfortunately involved my tempest and the fop lying down on his bed together and joining hands. I had already steeled myself for the prospect. I stood on Bryn’s side of the bed and Audrey stood on her brother’s. We each handed them their respective vials of Mercedes’ dream potion. Damek merely remained in the corner and moaned gently.

  Bryn placed her spare hand on my forearm just before she drifted off.

  “You’re so warm,” she murmured.

  “Thanks to you.”

  Bryn

  I recognized the location instantly, and I had a feeling that wasn’t a good sign.

  “ It’ s the exact same as the last time,” said Dureau as he shook his head in consternation. “We should be inside the dreamers’ minds, not outside the building where they’re sleeping.”

  “I agree. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give it a try, right? Let’s get closer to the building.”

  “Very well.”

  We moved through the dreamscape, which was still thick with fog, away from the edge of the forest and the flame through which we had entered and towards the main camp. As usual, I felt as if I were in a watercolor painting—everything was swirly and indistinct. I wondered if it was the same for Dureau. He had spent so much time in the dream world that, at this stage, maybe it felt completely natural to him.

  The dormitory loomed in front of us, swirling in the mist just like before.

  “Should we try to get in this time?” I asked.

  “I guess so. There’s nothing else for us to do,” Dureau said, and nodded as we began to circle the building, going in opposite directions. I gently tapped and felt along the walls, the fog so thick that it was difficult to see a foot in front of me. When I tapped on the wall and received a different sound than the earlier one, I realized I’d struck a door.

  “Dureau! Over here.”

  He was next to me within seconds. Without saying anything, he reached forward and felt through the fog until he found the handle. He turned it and the door opened.

  The room was almost completely bare except for four beds. Closer inspection revealed that the beds were occupied by one man each. The scene wouldn’t have appeared as anything out of the ordinary were it not for the weird clouds floating above each man’s head.

  “What are they?” I whispered to Dureau and pointed at the clouds in question.

  “Their dreams,” he said. “Take a closer look.”

  I inched a little nearer to the closest bed and peered into the cloud. It was the weirdest thing. I could clearly see images moving, as though a movie were being projected against the cloud. Then I looked down into one of the dreamers’ faces and recoiled in shock.

  “What is it?” Dureau asked, and he was at my side immediately.

  “It’s him, ” I said.

  “Who? Bryn. You’re shaking.”

  I looked down at my hands and saw my fingers trembling.

  Pull yourself together, Bryn, I told myself. You’re going to get through this, just like you planned. No freaking out. Just stick with the plan.

  “He’s … um …”

  “One of the men who abused you.”

  I gulped and nodded. It wasn’t just any man. It was Jack, the Daywalker who had survived longer than any other in Luce’s tribe. He had to have been close to thirty now, which was unheard of, since most Daywalkers died around the age of twenty-one. As I looked down at his odious face, I wondered if he’d been given any of Varick’s blood. The possibility made him all the more repellent to me.

  “He’s also the one that brought out the Flame.”

  “This is him?” Dureau knew the story.

  My whole body started to shake. Dureau put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed.

  “Do you want to leave?”

  I drew a deep breath. “No. We’re here now. Let’s do this.”

  “Okay, b ut I’ll take this one. Why don’t you see if you recognize any of the others?”

  I nodded and moved slowly around the room, hoping not to recognize another face. It would just make things so much easier if I didn’t have to come face to face with a man who had abused me. To my tremendous relief, the next two men were strangers, which made me speculate that they could have been newly created Daywalker-Elemental hybrids.

  No different than Damek, I thought. There was hope for them, if only they could be convinced of the
truth about Luce.

  The fourth man was familiar. I felt a shiver at the memory of our last encounter, but nothing like the horror I experienced at being so close to Jack. In the time that I was imprisoned and kept as a breeder, this young Daywalker was sent to mate with me. I was able to easily talk him out of it, however. I remembered his gentle disposition—he wasn’t a bad person. I would try to reach him, I decided, although I had no idea how to enter his dreams.

  I looked over at Dureau for guidance. He stood over Jack’s bed with his eyes closed and his two hands on the surface of the dream cloud which floated over Jack’s head. I mirrored his actions, cupping my hands around the cloud nearest me.

  The sensation was bizarre. As I touched the cloud, my fingertips tingled, and a buzzing rang through my body. Strange images filled my head—images of places I’d never been and people I’d never seen. I understood that these images were from the dreamer in front of me, and they were entering my own mind. Overwhelmed, I pulled my hands away and looked over at Dureau. I whisper-called to him. When he didn’t answer, I walked towards him. His hands were fully immersed in Jack’s dream cloud.

  “Dureau. Can you read his dream? Do you think you can put your own thoughts inside it?”

  Dureau opened his eyes and looked at me in alarm. “I can’t get my hands out.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’re stuck. It’s like I’m being sucked in.” To illustrate his point, he started to lean over Jack, as though the cloud were pulling him in.

  I grabbed his arms and started to pull back. Nothing. If anything, he was sinking in further. I looked down at the sleeping Daywalker. Horror overtook me as his eyes flew open and he looked right at me.

  “Bryn,” he said, and smiled.

  I felt myself scream as I stepped away from Dureau, who was still fighting against the cloud. Jack sat bolt upright and grabbed my arm, attempting to twist it behind my back. I was too quick for him, anticipating the move. He was strong, there was no doubt about it. But I was the more skilled fighter.

  He was on his feet now. Dureau, meanwhile, was still stuck in the dream cloud, straining to pull himself out. At least he didn’t seem to be getting sucked in further.