Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity)

by Alexandra Ivy

  Realization hit a split second too late. Diving toward Caine, Cassie could do nothing to halt the Dark Lord as she pointed her finger in his direction and a bolt of power slammed into his helpless body.

  “No.” Landing on her knees, Cassie cradled his head in her arms, feeling his body tremble beneath the force of the attack.

  “Only you can halt the pain, prophet,” the Dark Lord warned. “Give me what I want.”

  Chapter 13

  Styx’s lair in Chicago

  The Anasso’s private study in his vast mansion wasn’t what most people expected.

  Far from the dank dungeon with torture devices of the previous King of Vampires, or even the high-tech office that was wired better than the Pentagon that Viper preferred, Styx had chosen a book-lined room with polished mahogany furniture and a delicate Persian carpet.

  It was all very civilized. Well, as long as a person didn’t count the dozen spells and hexes that were wrapped around the room. Or the entire horde of vampires patrolling the hallway just outside the door.

  Nothing was coming in or out without Styx’s say-so.

  Perched on the edge of the massive desk, Styx was in his usual garb. Leather pants, shit-kicker boots, and T-shirt stretched tight over his heavily muscled chest. His hair hung down in a long braid threaded with turquoise ornaments.

  A complete opposite of Viper, who stepped into the study, his ivory silk shirt ruffled at the neck and cuffs and his black velvet pants as flamboyant as Styx’s were stark.

  “All quiet?” the clan chief of Chicago demanded, his silver hair shimmering in the light from the overhead chandelier.

  Styx grimaced. “So far.”

  Viper halted in the center of the room, his dark gaze all too perceptive. “You don’t sound as pleased as you should.”

  “I hate this waiting.”

  “You still have your Ravens guarding the child?”

  Styx gave a sharp nod. He’d insisted that Tane and Laylah remain in his lair with their child, Maluhia. It had become even more vital that the babe be protected after Jaelyn and Ariyal had escaped from the hell dimension to reveal that the female twin of Maluhia had already been used to resurrect the Dark Lord. It’d only been because Jaelyn had drained the blood of the creature during their battle that the Dark Lord hadn’t been able to return to this world.

  Now the bastard, or rather the bitch, would be more determined than ever to get her hands on Maluhia. And if the prophecy was to be believed, the reunion of the two children behind the Mists would be nothing less than . . . chaos.

  Not only would the Dark Lord return to this world, but the barriers between dimensions would be destroyed.

  Hell would quite literally spew into the streets.

  Which was why he had his most trusted guards on duty around the clock.

  “Yes, but they can only be asked to be trapped on babysitting duty for so long before they’ll go stir-crazy.”

  Viper folded his arms over his chest. “I know you’re a control freak, Styx, but I have trusted soldiers who can help fill in rotations. That will give the Ravens a chance to rest and feed. You only have to ask.”

  Styx allowed a small smile to touch his lips. He was a control freak, but he wasn’t stupid. His men were getting as twitchy as hell.

  “Thank you. Send them to Jagr. I put him in charge of protecting Maluhia.”

  “Consider it done,” Viper assured him. “How is Tane holding up?”

  Styx abruptly straightened, restlessly pacing from one end of the office to the other. “He isn’t thrilled to have so many feral males around his mate and child, but he understands that nothing is more important than keeping them out of the hands of the Dark Lord.”

  “And talking about feral males,” Viper murmured.

  Styx turned back toward his friend with a scowl. “What?”

  “Your Ravens aren’t the only ones going stir-crazy.”

  “You sound like Darcy.”

  Viper arched a brow. “Has she been fussing over you like a devoted mate?”

  “No, she kicked me out of the bedroom and told me not to return until I got the ‘ants out of my pants.’ Her words, not mine.”

  “She’s not wrong.” The dark eyes narrowed. “Your temper tantrum last night took out half of Chicago’s power grid.”

  Ah, so that’s why Viper had taken time from his heavy duties as chief to visit. In the past few days the streets of Chicago had become a free-for-all as demons had turned on one another. Even the most peaceful creatures had become violent as the heavy sense of doom continued to build.

  It had kept Viper struggling to prevent a bloodbath.

  “I’m the King of Vampires,” he countered, not about to admit he’d lost control of his temper when Salvatore had accused him of not doing enough to locate Cassandra and Caine. As if he had the power to travel between dimensions. Annoying dog. “I don’t have temper tantrums.”

  Viper looked unimpressed. “Call them whatever you want, they’re threatening to destroy my city.”

  Styx released a low growl of frustration. “I hate being forced to sit on my ass and twiddle my thumbs.”

  “For now there’s nothing else you can do.” Viper studied him with a somber expression. “Have you heard from Santiago?”

  Santiago was one of Viper’s most trusted soldiers and had gone on a futile mission to find Cassandra when he’d instead stumbled across Nefri—the mysterious and powerful female clan chief who lived beyond the Veil.

  It’d been Santiago who’d learned that the vampire who had sold his soul to the Dark Lord and betrayed them was one of her clansmen.

  And unbelievably, Santiago’s missing sire.

  “Yes, he’s assisting Nefri in her search for Gaius.”

  “According to Jaelyn, he has a medallion similar to Nefri’s that he can use to travel. Can’t she use hers to track him?”

  “She’s still trying to discover where his medallion came from. As far as she knew, she had the only one ever created.”

  Viper frowned, his slender fingers adjusting his ruffled cuff. “I don’t like this.”

  Styx stepped forward, sensing his companion’s genuine concern. “Why?”

  “Santiago is very skilled in pretending he wasn’t affected when his sire abandoned him to travel through the Veil, but he carries wounds that have never fully healed,” Viper explained. “I’m not sure he can think clearly when it comes to Gaius.”

  “If the vampire has betrayed us, then I don’t care if Santiago is thinking clearly,” Styx said in hard tones. He was running empty on compassion these days. “I want the bastard dead.”

  “It’s not always so easy to kill those we consider our family, even when we know it’s for the greater good.”

  Styx hissed at the reminder that he’d nearly condemned the vampire race to the insane brutality of the former Anasso out of misplaced loyalty. “Point taken.”

  Viper reached into his pocket to remove a slim cell phone. “Do you want me to call him home?”

  He shook off the unwelcome memories, his lips twisting in a wry smile. “You can try.”

  Viper lowered the phone, his expression suspicious. “Is there something I should know?”

  “Darcy claims I have the social sensitivity of a slug demon, but even I’ve noticed how Santiago watches Nefri when he thinks no one is looking.”

  “And how’s that?”

  “Like he’s longing to devour her.”

  Viper made a sound of shock. “Nefri?”

  “Why not? She’s a very beautiful woman.”

  “Stunningly beautiful,” the clan chief agreed. “And dangerous.”

  “True.” Styx couldn’t argue. She was the only vampire he’d met who could match him in strength. Actually, in a head-to-head battle he wasn’t sure who would win. “Her power is off the charts. Not every man is capable of accepting a female who possesses such strength.”

  “That’s not it.” Viper gave an impatient wave of his hand. “Santiago has alwa
ys chosen women of power.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “If the rumors are to be believed, Nefri deliberately turned her back on this world to live like a cloistered nun,” he said. “I don’t want her manipulating Santiago with her beauty to get what she needs from him and then disappearing behind the Veil. He has enough abandonment issues without her screwing with his head.”

  “He’s a big boy, Viper.” Styx moved forward to clap his companion on the shoulder. “I think he can handle his private affairs.”

  They both froze as the unmistakable stench of granite wafted through the air.

  Viper rolled his eyes. “Were you expecting company?”

  “Shit,” Styx muttered as the gargoyle waddled through the door.

  Not that he was much of a gargoyle. Granted, he possessed the conventional grotesque features, covered by a thick gray skin. His gray eyes were reptilian, his horns stunted and his hoofs cloven. He even had a long tail he polished and pampered with great pride.

  But his fearsome appearance was ruined by his stunted size and the pair of delicate, gossamer wings that should have been on the back of a sprite. And worse, his magic was as unpredictable as the Midwest weather.

  Who could blame the Gargoyle Guild for voting him out? He was a three-foot pain in the ass who’d latched onto Viper’s and Styx’s mates and refused to be dislodged.

  “Levet,” he muttered.

  Oblivious to the distinct lack of welcome, Levet blew them both kisses. “Ah, mes amis, have you missed me?”

  Styx snorted. He’d missed the gargoyle like he missed a hot poker shoved in his eye. “What are you doing here?”

  Levet’s delicate wings, shimmering in shades of crimson and blue and gold, fluttered in confusion. “Where else would I be?”

  “I thought you were searching for Yannah?” he reminded the beast, referring to the peculiar demon who had a habit of appearing and disappearing without warning.

  “Bah.” Levet rubbed his stunted horn. “She is making me nutmeg.”

  “Nutmeg?”

  “I think he means nutty,” Viper said dryly.

  “She pops here. She pops there.” Levet waved his hands. “Pop, pop, pop, pop. How can I catch her if she will not stand still?”

  Viper snorted. “Females rarely make the chase easy. In fact, I’m beginning to suspect they’re born to make men utterly and completely nutmeg.”

  There was a brief silence as the three males nodded in rare agreement. Then, with a sharp shake of his head, Styx pointed toward the door. “Go keep Darcy and Shay company,” he commanded. “I have business to discuss with Viper.”

  “As much as I prefer the company of your charming mates, I need to speak with you.”

  “Later.”

  “Non.” Levet stubbornly held his ground. “This is important.”

  Styx clenched his hands. As much fun as it would be to mount the damned creature over the marble fireplace, he knew Darcy would never forgive him. Dammit.

  “Fine.” His lips curled back to display his massive fangs. “Spit it out.”

  The gargoyle’s tail twitched, but he wasn’t so stupid as to challenge Styx’s patience. Not tonight.

  “You know that I keep in contact with Darcy and her sisters?”

  “Yes, you use some sort of telepathy.”

  “Not exactly telepathy. It’s more a portal that I form inside their mind. . . .”

  “Do you have a point?” Styx interrupted, not giving a shit how the creature managed to speak mind to mind with his mate.

  Levet sniffed. “Darcy asked me to try and contact Cassie using my powers.”

  “Clever,” Styx murmured, his pride in his wife swelling through his heart.

  “Clever, but, unfortunately, my efforts did nothing but give me the aching head,” Levet admitted.

  “So you failed?”

  “Not so much a failure as a . . . misfire.”

  Levet wasn’t the only one with the aching head, Styx silently conceded. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “I could not contact her, but she did manage to contact me.”

  A sudden tension filled the air as both vampires stared at the tiny demon in astonishment.

  “You spoke with her?” Styx bit out.

  Levet gave a lift of one shoulder. “Only a brief moment.”

  Viper stepped forward. “What did she say?”

  “Nothing, but she sent this.”

  Levet held out his hand to reveal a small piece of paper. Styx leaned forward, taking the paper and unfolding it to study the squiggle of odd lines.

  “What is it?” Viper demanded.

  “A prophecy.” Styx lifted his head to stab his friend with a worried frown. “Get Roke.”

  Gaius’s lair in Louisiana

  Gaius sat in a leather wing chair in his office, holding a history book that glorified his battles as a Roman general. He might not remember his human days, but he took pleasure in the knowledge he had been a brilliant commander feared by all. Usually, it was his favorite way to spend a quiet evening in his lair.

  Tonight, however, he found no peace.

  Not even several hours of rough sex followed by a deep feeding had eased the sense of foreboding that had haunted him for the past two weeks. Tossing aside the book, Gaius surged to his feet and paced toward the window, his brocade dressing gown brushing the floor.

  He knew what was troubling him.

  After following the Dark Lord’s commands to protect the wizard spirit, he’d then returned to the mists along with Dolf. He perhaps shouldn’t have been surprised to discover the master had been resurrected into the child. But he’d been frankly unnerved by the sight of the powerful deity in the body of a teenage girl.

  Thankfully, he’d concealed his growing apprehension—unlike Dolf, who had managed to incur the anger of the Dark Lord—long enough to escape out of the mists.

  There was no way he was going to hang around to bear the brunt of the Dark Lord’s frustration when he couldn’t use his new body to return to the world. Drained or not, she was still powerful enough to turn Gaius into a puddle of screaming pain.

  Now he was left to stew in his own doubts, caught between the urgent need to hear from the Dark Lord so they could finish their deal and he could demand the return of his beloved mate, and a growing desire to be forgotten by the evil bastard. Or rather . . . the evil bitch.

  Sensing the approach of a male cur, Gaius was careful to mask his emotions as he slowly turned to watch Dolf step into the room. In the candlelight the dog was looking distinctly worse for the wear.

  In the past two weeks his hair had grown past the buzz cut and had acquired several streaks of gray. Worse, he’d dropped nearly fifty pounds, leaving his face gaunt and his stomach sunken.

  Not at all the cocky mutt that Gaius had first met just a month ago. But then again, they’d all lost a bit of their cock.

  “You disposed of the body?” he demanded.

  Dolf nodded, his eyes glittering with a hectic light. The cur was hanging on to his sanity by a thread. A thin thread.

  “It’s rotting deep in the swamp with all the others.” His lips curved in a gruesome imitation of a smile. “You have quite a collection out there. Thirteen, isn’t it?”

  Gaius stiffened. He didn’t like being reminded of the whores that he’d killed over the past few nights. Not because of his conscience. That had died along with Dara. But it was a nasty reminder of his loss of control.

  It was happening far too frequently.

  “Don’t presume to judge me.” His words were coated in ice. “My hungers are instinct, not a perversion of nature like some I could name.”

  Dolf snorted, indifferent to Gaius’s disdain. “Hell, I don’t care if you drain every whore from here to Timbuktu, but the locals are starting to get itchy about the girls who’ve gone missing. Unless you want an angry mob, complete with torches and pitchforks, on our doorstep, you might want to dial back on your feedings.” He paced to study
the books that lined the shelves. “Or at least import your meals from farther away.”

  Gaius narrowed his gaze. “Is there a reason you’ve intruded into my privacy?”

  There was a long silence, as if Dolf was considering his words. Never a good thing. Then slowly he turned to meet Gaius’s rigid expression. “Do you think it’s odd we haven’t heard from the master?”

  Gaius hissed. The question had, of course, been nagging at the edge of his mind. But he was smart enough to know it was too dangerous to speak aloud.

  “She will contact us when she needs our services,” he said stiffly.

  “Are you so certain?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Dolf ’s humorless laugh echoed through the silent house. “Our last mission was yet another epic failure.”

  Gaius shrugged. “The wizard was to blame for bringing the Hunter and Sylvermyst into the master’s lair. It wasn’t our fault.”

  Dolf shuddered, still obviously traumatized by their time spent in the master’s company. “Yeah, well, the wizard is dead and the Dark Lord is still trapped,” the cur unnecessarily pointed out. “She might have decided to spread the blame around.”

  “We would know if she’d decided to punish us for the latest disaster,” Gaius said with a grimace. “She’s never subtle.”

  Dolf nodded, but his brow remained furrowed. “If you say.”

  Gaius rolled his eyes. He could send the cur away, but Dolf would only return until he’d said whatever was on his tiny mind. “Now what’s bothering you?”

  The cur hunched his shoulders. “To be honest, I preferred the thought that we’re being punished.”

  Gaius frowned. “As opposed to what?”

  “Have you considered the possibility that the Dark Lord hasn’t contacted us because . . .”

  His words trailed away and Gaius made a sound of impatience. “Cristo, just say it.”

  “Because she can’t.”

  Gaius cursed, instinctively glancing around the seemingly empty room. Even if the Dark Lord was trapped in another dimension, he—or rather she—had spies everywhere.