by Amy Cross
“Oh, you're a lot of things,” she continued, coming over to join me, “but you're certainly not fine.” She reached out to lift my shirt, but I pushed her hands away. “Let me see,” she continued. “Don't be proud, Matthias. Not now, not when you need help the most.”
“Go to Chloe,” I said firmly. “Fix her. She's hurt.”
“You can't face Hugo while you're in pain.”
I turned to her.
She opened her mouth to say more, but I quickly saw from the look in her eyes that she knew she'd gone too far.
“Let me worry about my brother,” I told her, even as the pain began to surge again, reaching its razor fingers up through my chest. Turning away from her so that she wouldn't be able to see my discomfort, I waited for her to leave. “I've had more than enough time to plan for this day. I'm not going to start taking advice from the likes of you, not when I'm so close.”
I paused, before suddenly hearing her footsteps coming closer.
I flinched.
“Matthias -”
As soon as she put a hand on my shoulder, I turned and snarled at Antoinette. Momentarily filled with rage, I pushed her back against the wall, baring my teeth as I picked up the scent of her blood. For just a few seconds, I saw her not as a friend but as a walking, talking bag of bones and meat, as something weak, something to be drained and torn apart so that I might make myself a little stronger. In a flash, I imagined myself biting down into her neck and drinking from her body, and a shiver passed through my chest as I realized that nobody could stop me doing exactly what I wanted. For a brief moment, I felt young again.
And then, as suddenly as it had come, the anger faded.
I stepped back, fully aware of the fear in Antoinette's eyes. I could still taste her blood in the air, but my primal instincts were back in the box. The more mature side of my personality had retaken control.
“A nice display of power,” she stammered, her voice trembling as she tried to hide her fear. “I was almost convinced.”
“You were terrified,” I sneered. “With good reason.”
She paused, before straightening the front of her dress and heading to the door. As I watched her go, I couldn't help but notice that she seemed unsteady, almost as if pure fear was making her legs tremble. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn't shake a sense of pride. Even at such a late stage in my life, weakened and in pain, I could still bring fear to the hearts of those who crossed me.
“I'll fix Chloe up,” she said after a moment, stopping in the doorway and glancing at me. There was still fear in her eyes, which at least meant she wouldn't try to cross me again. “I get the feeling that the only way to help you, is to help her.”
Without bothering to answer, I turned away, and a moment later I heard her finally leaving the room. I remained still and silent, trying to ignore the pain, until her footsteps faded into the distance, at which point I leaned against the wall and took a series of agonized, snatched breaths. The pain was worse than ever, burning up my flank, and finally I had no option but to kneel and then lean back against the wall. I held my breath, determined not to cry out, refusing to show weakness even though I was alone in the room.
Finally, I could hold back no longer. I let out a low, pained groan as I felt the pain starting to overwhelm me. And this time, it seemed as if the black bird of agony had settled forever on my shoulder, and was folding its wings.
Chapter Nineteen
Chloe
As soon as she pressed the paste on my chest, I sat bolt upright and let out a cry of pain.
“Easy!” Antoinette said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “I told you this would hurt. I wasn't lying.”
“What is that stuff, anyway?” I asked, looking down at the chunky, pea-green concoction she'd prepared in a bowl. “How is something like that supposed to help with cracked ribs?”
“It's an old recipe,” she replied, pressing on my shoulder in an attempt to make me settle back down on the bed. “Not many people know it, but it was passed down through my family from generation to generation.” She forced a smile, before pushing a little harder on my shoulder.
Realizing that I had little choice, I leaned back, wincing as I felt a searing pain running through my ribs.
“You might think it's odd for a queen to be administering medicine,” she continued, “but this is my calling. I know how to heal people. Matthias wouldn't have brought you to me if he didn't trust me implicitly.”
She wiped the paste on my chest again, and this time I managed to keep fairly still.
“How much has he told you?” she asked after a moment.
“Told me? About what?”
“Do you know who did this to you?”
“I was attacked,” I replied, thinking back to the moment in my apartment when Belinda had opened the front door. Someone had entered, and I'd seen a flash of his face before I passed out. All I remembered was a pair of dark, angry eyes, and flesh that seemed torn somehow. I didn't want to say too much, in case I came across like some kind of raving lunatic.
“Not long to go now,” Antoinette continued, smearing a fresh handful of paste over my waist. “Aren't you feeling better already?”
“I'm not sure I -” Before I could finish, I realized that the pain in my chest had begun to fade. I turned slightly, but whereas earlier such a move would have brought more flashes of agony, this time I only felt a vague sense of discomfort. “What did you do?” I asked cautiously. “Did you numb me?”
“Nothing so crude,” she said with a smile, stepping around the table. “Your face is hurt too.”
I flinched as she daubed some of the paste onto my cheek.
“Who is Matthias?” I asked finally.
I waited for a reply, but she seemed completely focused on the task of applying more paste.
“Who is he?” I asked again.
“I heard you the first time,” she replied, “but... I don't think it's possible to explain someone like him. You just have to see him in action.”
“Is he dangerous?”
“Very,” she said with a smile. “If he doesn't like you, that is. You, on the other hand, have nothing to worry about there.” She paused for a moment. “He likes you very much. More than you realize.”
“He doesn't know me.”
“I wouldn't be so sure about that.”
“But he kills people?”
“Oh yes.” Her smile broadened. “Brilliantly. Exquisitely. In his prime, he was something of an artist when it came to slaughtering his enemies. His people don't go in for fame or glory much, not like humans, but even among his species, he became somewhat well-known for his artistry.” She paused, as if she was momentarily lost in thought. “That was when he was young, though.”
“He's not young now?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I was lucky enough to see him in his prime. I will never forget that sight. He comes from a dark family, they're the black sheep of the Le Comptes. And that's quite a feat, considering that family's history.”
“But is he...” I paused, feeling as if my next question would be some kind of admission that I was starting to believe impossible things. “What is he?”
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she focused on applying more paste to my damaged body. “You understand that he's a vampire, don't you?” she said finally, before glancing at me. “Hmm?”
I shook my head.
“You can't believe such a thing?” she asked. “Is that it?”
“It's ridiculous,” I pointed out.
“Why?”
“Because... I mean, vampires aren't real.”
“My darling, they're all around us,” she continued, as if she was amused by my skepticism. “They hide from the human world, mostly, but they still exist. Often, they keep close together, in clusters. They prefer to keep from being bothered by pesky humanity, and they also fear what might happen if they made too much noise. Humans have rather a skill for extermination. Here in Paris, there are not as many vamp
ires today as there once were. In the golden days, the city was teeming with the most remarkable specimens, but now... Well, let's just say that we're between golden ages. It would be too sad to think those days will not come again.”
Staring at her, I realized that she genuinely believed what she was saying.
“Vampires aren't real,” I pointed out. “Are you trying to tell me that... Is he part of some kind of cult? Is he deluded?”
“He has the clearest mind I've ever known. Clouded a little of late, perhaps, but only because he worries about his brother. And about the end. He has changed so much since the war.”
“The war?” I waited for her to continue. “A vampire war?”
She laughed. “A human war. The Second World War, when this city was teeming with a kind of monster that was far worse than the humble vampire. Humans can do terrible things to one another, you know.”
“But vampires don't exist,” I continued. “I mean, I know that, so...”
My voice trailed off as I tried to make sense of everything she'd told me. The problem was that, deep down, I could feel a flicker of doubt. I was starting to wonder whether everything I'd heard might actually be true after all.
“You know what you know,” she said finally, as her smile broadened. “Maybe what you know will change one day.”
“Can I trust him?”
“With your life,” she continued. “Have no doubt there. Of course, you don't know if you can trust me when I say that.” She added an extra patch of paste, wiping it down the side of my face. “Matthias knows the world,” she added. “I would trust him with everything. I have trusted him with everything, in the past, and so have -” She stopped abruptly, as if she'd been about to say the wrong thing. “Never mind,” she added, broadening her smile. “Sometimes I forget who I'm talking to.”
“How did he get into my mind?” I asked.
“Through an unlocked door in your dreams, I imagine.”
“He didn't ask me,” I told her. “He just... He was suddenly in there, while I was sleeping. It was like he was shoving me around in my own memories, using me so he could see things.”
A flicker of concern crossed her face. “Matthias is a good person,” she said finally, “and ordinarily he would never, ever have done something like that. It's the kind of line he'd never cross. But now, with time running out, he's getting desperate...”
“Time running out?” I replied. “Why is time running out?”
“I don't know how long he has left,” she continued, “but it might only be a few hours. He's waited so long, he's held on, but even he can't wait forever. It's an abhorrence of nature, to see such a great man getting closer to death. He should have lived forever.”
“Closer to death?” I said, sitting up and feeling barely a twinge of pain anymore. “What do you mean? Who's closer to death?”
“He didn't tell you?” she asked, taking a step back. She paused, before glancing at the door and then turning back to me. “I thought at least he'd...”
“You said he's a vampire,” I pointed out, trying to suppress a sense of panic. “If that's true, and I'm still not sure that it is, but if it's true... Don't vampires live forever?”
“In most cases,” she replied, with tears in her eyes, “but... I think perhaps I've said too much. Matthias should be the one who decides how much you know. Mark my words, though. He will be dead before too long.”
***
“Why didn't you tell me?” I asked, stopping in the doorway a few minutes later.
Sitting alone next to a low fire, Matthias turned to me.
“Tell you what?” he said cautiously.
“Antoinette claims you're...” I paused, thinking back to all the times I'd see him struggling with some kind of pain. “Is it true? Are you... ill?”
He stared at me for a moment. “No,” he said finally, “I'm not ill.” He turned back to look at the fire. “I'm dying, though. That part is true enough.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but no words came out. I honestly wasn't quite sure what to say. I wanted to ask about the 'v word', but I couldn't think of a way to phrase that question that wouldn't sound hopelessly ridiculous.
“What else did she tell you?” he continued. “When I left you alone with her, I knew she'd open her big mouth. Antoinette has never been one for discretion. To her, knowledge is power. She feels so powerless most of the time, so she can't resist whenever a chance comes to show off a little.” He paused. “Let me guess. She told you things that you don't believe can possibly be true.”
“She told me things that seem a little hard to believe,” I replied.
“Did she tell you what I am?”
I watched as the light from the fire flickered across his face. “She might have made a few claims,” I admitted finally. “She said you...”
I took a deep breath. Until that moment, everything Antoinette had told me had seemed crazy, as if it couldn't possibly be true. Suddenly, however, it all started to make sense. Belinda's return, the attack in my apartment, the sounds of something crashing through the warehouse... None of it fitted together in any way at all, unless I allowed myself to believe in vampires, in which case the whole thing slotted into place pretty well. Still, believing in vampires was a big hurdle to jump.
“It can't be true,” I said after a moment. “There's no such thing.”
“How can I prove it to you?” he asked.
“I...” There was one very obvious answer, but I couldn't quite bring myself to ask for a look at his teeth. “I don't know,” I said finally. “To be honest, if I saw anything too crazy right now, I think I'd just assume I'd lost my mind.”
“You find it easier to believe you've lost your mind,” he replied, “than to accept that there could be things hidden in the world, things that most people don't see?” A faint, sad smile crossed his lips. “It's so strange seeing you like this. There are things I could tell you, Chloe, that would blow your mind. Things I could prove, too.” He glanced at another door, over in the far corner, almost as if he expected someone to enter the room. Slowly, however, he turned back to me. “I'm sorry I entered your mind without permission the other night. For that, you have my sincerest apologies.”
“Accepted,” I muttered, “but...” I took a step toward him, and I couldn't help noticing that my chest was now pain-free. “When Antoinette said you were dying, she was wrong, wasn't she? I mean... If you really are a vampire, and I'm definitely not saying I believe that, but if you are, then shouldn't you live forever?”
“That's what I thought once,” he replied, with a hint of pain in his eyes. “I used to look down on humans as petty, ephemeral things. Perhaps the fates saw my arrogance and decided to teach me a lesson. If that is the case, then they have succeeded rather handsomely. In fact -”
He gasped, clutching his waist, and for a moment the pain seemed to overwhelm him. I immediately rushed forward to help, and I put a hand on his shoulder, but I had no idea what else might be done.
“Not long now,” he added, “but enough time for a few more important tasks. I have to deal with my brother, but fortunately I know exactly where to find him. It's rather poetic, somehow, that he's seen fit to take up residence in the old Zieghoff mansion. I've waited a long time for this night.”
“Why this night?” I asked. “What's so special about it?”
“You'll understand one day, Chloe. Probably quite soon, too. I just hope...” He took a deep breath. “I just hope you eventually realize that I did everything within my power to keep you safe. Maybe I could have made things neater, but -”
He gasped again, and this time the pain seemed more intense.
“Can you fetch Antoinette?” he asked, his voice sounding weaker than ever as he pushed me away. “It's important. Tell her I need her help with one final thing. Tell her she'll understand when she gets here.”
***
“My help?” Antoinette asked, following me along the corridor a few minutes later. “What does he think
I can do for him? I can help humans, but the vampire body is another thing entirely. I held a vampire heart in my hands once, and it was the most abnormal things. Do you know what their hearts look like? For one thing, they're barbed! And not just on the outside.”
“He said you'd understand when you saw him,” I replied, leading her around the corner. As we reached the room where I'd left Matthias, however, I saw that he was gone.
I looked around, but there was no sign of him at all.
“What exactly did he say?” Antoinette asked cautiously.
“He was talking about having to do something,” I replied, “and he mentioned his brother. And then he said to fetch you.”
She paused, before sighing. “I understand,” she said finally. “He knew you wouldn't let him go, so he sent you to find me as a distraction.”
“Go?” I turned to her. “What do you mean? Where did he go?”
“To face Hugo,” she replied, with a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Tonight has been a long time coming, and there's nothing anyone else can do now. He knows that you're safe here, so he thinks this is his chance. I just hope they don't cause each other too much pain before they die.”
Chapter Twenty
Matthias
“This is all your fault!” Hugo screamed as he cradled Judith's body in his arms. “If you hadn't interfered, she'd still be alive!”
He turned to Chloe.
“And you too!” he shouted. “I trusted you!”
“Hugo,” Chloe replied, with tears in her eyes, “please...”
“I'll make you pay!” he sneered. “I don't know how, but I'll find a way to get her back, and when I do, I'll make sure you both pay for your crimes!”
Those words hung in my mind as I made my way through the city streets. I'd been avoiding thinking about that night in much detail, but now the memories were flooding back. It had pained me to see my brother in so much distress, to watch his eyes as madness overtook his senses. I had tried to help him, of course, but nothing had worked. As the years passed, I still clung to the hope that eventually – somehow – I might yet save him.