Kindling Flames: Smoke Rising (The Ancient Fire Series Book 3)

by Julie Wetzel

  “Waiting for a kind soul to come along and help.” Darien smiled at her again.

  The ghoul let out a creaking laugh. “Then ye be in for a long wait.” She sat back on her haunches and grinned at him. “I am not a kind soul.” She looked up at the church holding Christian’s menagerie. “And I be thinkin’ they aren’t, either.”

  Darien chuckled at her. “Then how about a bargain?” He cocked an eyebrow at the woman.

  She smiled at him, showing two rows of very pointed teeth. “And what did ye be having in mind, vampire?” She cast a hungry look at Vicky.

  “Not that,” Darien said, stopping the ghoul from thinking about eating Vicky.

  The ghoul chuckled. “She be too alive for me tastes, anyway.” The woman looked back at Darien. “But give her a few hours out here, and she be just perfect.” The creature licked her lips and shifted closer to Vicky.

  Vicky wiggled away from her as much as she could.

  “You can get flesh just about anywhere.” Darien drew the creature’s attention away from Vicky. “But I can offer you something else.”

  The ghoul looked back at him. “Speak, vampire.”

  “I can offer you security.”

  The ghoul cocked her head at this. “How?” She shifted in the low squat, considering his words.

  “This is an old church, and, by the looks of it, probably due for renovations.” Darien glanced back at the building. It was definitely in need of some repairs. “I bet there are plans to tear it down and rebuild a new, modern church on the site.” He had no idea if his words were true, but the hiss that came from the creature let him know that it was something she feared. “I can ensure that this site stays unchanged.”

  The ghoul paused and thought about this. “How?” she asked again.

  “I can buy the church and the lands around it,” Darien offered. “As owner, I would be able to stop any plans in the works.”

  The ghoul sat for a long moment, considering the offer. Her attention was drawn away by something Darien couldn’t see, but the creature quickly looked back at him. “Wolves pace the fences of me home,” she said softly. “Be they yours?”

  Darien looked over towards the fence but couldn’t see anything. “They have come for me,” he confirmed.

  The ghoul hissed her dislike. “Keep yer wolves from me grounds, and I be accepting ye bargain, vampire,” she growled.

  “Done. Now free me and mine,” Darien answered.

  The ghoul reached out a hand and, with vicious-looking claws, cut through the ropes like wet tissue paper.

  Vicky’s eyes widened in disbelief as Darien pulled the rope away and shifted to his feet. “And our hands.” He held his cuffed hands out to the creature. Her claws slipped through the metal with the same ease she had cut through the ropes. Darien motioned for Vicky to hold out her hand, and the creature cut her bonds as well.

  The ghoul reached out and took hold of Vicky’s left foot. Vicky tried to pull it back, but the creature held it fast. The ghoul caught hold of a strip of paper stuck to Vicky’s ankle and pulled it away.

  Vicky’s head reeled as the thing she had been missing slammed back into her. Anxiety and worry filled her, and she clutched at her head, unable to control the feelings filling her. A garbled cry from off in the distance sounded, and Vicky suddenly knew where the feelings were coming from. She hadn’t realized that Zak’s mark could have that much of an impact on her.

  “Remember ye promise, vampire, or I be collecting on our bargain in other ways.” The ghoul’s eyes shifted to Vicky.

  “Of course.” Darien reached out a hand to help Vicky up. “You have my word.” He pulled Vicky in against him.

  The ghoul nodded and stepped away from the pair. To Vicky’s surprise, the creature disappeared without a sound.

  “Come on.” Darien patted Vicky on the back. “We had better go get Rupert to help us with this.” He made a straight line for the fence.

  Vicky could feel Zak running through the grass nearby, and she buried her face into Darien’s side, unable to deal with the overload of sensation.

  Darien wrapped his arms around her and guided her forwards. “Try to push it back,” he instructed softly.

  Vicky pushed herself back from the feelings, and the sensation cleared so she could think better. “What’s going on?” She was starting to get tired of not knowing anything.

  Darien chuckled. “That’s the bond with Zak you’re feeling,” he explained. “It seems that paper sealed off the mark so Zak couldn’t touch you. He’s just a little excited that he can feel you again.”

  Vicky nodded. “Is this what you feel through your mark?”

  A sick smile crossed Darien’s face. “It would have been if Elliot hadn’t pulled the mark out with the other energy.” There was a hint of regret in his voice.

  Vicky stopped and stared at him, shocked.

  Pausing, he looked back at the motionless girl.

  “He pulled it out?” Vicky’s feet found their movement again.

  He nodded.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Darien turned his eyes to the horizon. “It wasn’t important at the time.”

  “Not important!” Vicky huffed. “How can you say that it’s not important after you got so bent out of shape about it?”

  Darien shrugged again. “Because, your safety is more important than a mark.” He pulled her in against him for a hug. “Just having you with me is enough.”

  Vicky leaned into him as they crossed the lot. They walked for a bit in silence. “But don’t you want more?”

  Darien released a drawn-out sigh and squeezed her. “Of course I want more. I could never get enough of you, but this isn’t the time to talk about that.” He released her as they approached the fenceline. “Let’s get through tonight, and we will talk about this later.”

  Vicky felt him become more serious as he reached his hand out and touched the solid air, studying it.

  It didn’t take long for Zak to lead Rupert and a dozen wolves to the other side of the barrier.

  “Darien!” Rupert huffed as he came running up behind the fay. “We can’t get in.”

  Darien looked at the group gathered on the other side of the fence. “I think I can pull this down, but you’ll need to keep your people out of the graveyard.”

  Rupert cocked his head in confusion. “All right,” he agreed and stepped back.

  Darien placed both hands on the shield and closed his eyes.

  Vicky could see the air in front of him crackle as Darien pulled on the magic around him to tear a hole in the shield. The air popped, and Vicky felt the shield fall as Darien staggered backwards a step.

  Rupert and his wolves quickly hopped over the iron fence, but they kept clear of the headstones.

  Zak wiggled through and wrapped himself around Vicky’s legs protectively.

  Vicky giggled and rubbed the worried little fay.

  Rupert pulled off his coat. “Remind me never to go up against you.”

  Darien chuckled as he regained his balance.

  Wrapping his coat around Vicky’s shoulders, Rupert looked at Darien’s bare chest. “How did you manage to lose your shirt?”

  Darien chuckled again. “It’s a long story.” he sighed as Rupert pulled off his outer shirt.

  “You’re lucky I dress in layers.” He handed Darien the warm cloth.

  Darien gladly took the long sleeve shirt and slipped into it. “Thank you, my friend.”

  Rupert turned his eyes to the church. “So, what are we up against?”

  “A dozen humans.” Darien’s demeanor turned very serious and cold.

  Vicky shivered in spite of the warm jacket Rupert had given her.

  “There is at least one gun,” Darien warned, “but he is mine.”

  Rupert nodded, and the group headed towards the building, staying along the fenceline. They quietly worked their way up to the church, where the group split into two. Rupert took half to the front door, while Darien took
the other half to the back.

  “Watch her.” Darien pushed Vicky back so Phalen could keep her safe.

  Nodding, Phalen pulled her farther away from the group.

  Vicky watched as Darien took a deep breath and burst through the door. Rupert’s group smashed through the door at the front, and Christian’s menagerie was quickly subdued with little fuss. The only one that put up any fight was Derrick. It had taken two wolves to pin him. He had tried to go for his gun, but he found he didn’t have it with him. He had been in the process of trying on Darien’s coat when the wolves had taken them by surprise.

  Darien fumed when he saw the insult added to the injury the man had already given.

  Vicky was shocked when the upset vampire walked right up and snapped the man’s neck, leaving him limp in the hands of the wolves holding him.

  Darien yanked his coat off the dead man’s body and slipped into it like it was nothing. “Take this out and dump it in the cemetery.”

  The two wolves grabbed him up and left with the body.

  “Don’t linger!” Darien yelled as the wolves disappeared out the door.

  “Vicious tonight,” Rupert commented as he watched Darien turn his attention to the rest of Christian’s menagerie.

  Darien glared coldly at the alpha but didn’t say a word. Everyone cowered as Darien made his way into the group of people being restrained by wolves. “Those two are mine.” He pointed at the mousy-haired woman who had protested his treatment and the young man that had tied them up. “I want them unharmed.” Turning his eyes to the alpha, he went on with more instructions. “Find out what the others have done, and do with them as you deem fit.” Darien glared at Stanley. “Make them pay for their transgressions.”

  Rupert nodded as Darien turned away from the group.

  Vicky stared at him in disbelief. She had never seen him act so cruelly before.

  Grabbing up the coat of the man he had killed, Darien fished in the pockets before coming up with a set of keys. “Come, Victoria.” He dropped the coat and walked out of the front of the church.

  Vicky shifted her weight on her feet for a moment before following Darien out the door. She wasn’t sure what had gotten into him tonight, but she did not like it.

  Darien sighed as he stepped out of the front gate and his power returned to him. He set his jaw for what he was about to do and headed to the line of motorcycles on the other side of the road. Looking at the keys in his hand, he quickly found the bike they matched and chuckled as his eyes ran over the ride Derrick had chosen. Of course the man would have the scariest-looking bike among them. The skulls painted on the black Harley fit Darien’s mood as he turned the key and started the machine. “Get on,” he ordered Vicky.

  She had stopped at the edge of the parking lot, watching him, with Zak curled protectively around her ankle.

  Darien hadn’t bothered to recap his power when he stepped off the holy ground, and it tingled against Vicky’s skin even from this distance. Letting out a resigned breath, she went over and climbed on the back of the bike. She leaned back, and Zak jumped up into the space between her and Darien.

  Darien pulled the motorcycle out onto the road without another word. He was glad the wind drowned out any possible conversation. Talking was not something he felt like doing at the moment. What he was going to do had to be done, and words would not change that. He would have loved to have left her with the wolves for this, but she had to be there or his actions were meaningless. Darien’s eyes closed as her hands reached around him. He relished the feeling of her huddled against his back and hoped it wouldn’t be the last time she would want to be that close to him.

  The ride to Clara’s home took less time the Darien thought it would. They were a lot farther north than he had first imagined. All the lights were on, and he could already feel the tension in the air as he parked the bike next to the fountain. He waited for Vicky to get off before leading the way up the steps to the building. The front door stood open, and Darien pushed it back to find the entire Vampire Council, plus more than two-dozen fledglings, standing in the main room. Clara and Christian stood in the middle of a loose ring, facing off. Everyone turned to look when Darien’s power washed over the room. He could see Christian’s expression darken as he walked in.

  Christian’s eyes flashed to Vicky, who stopped just inside the door, and his face paled.

  “Good evening.” Darien strolled into the middle of the room. The coldness in his voice made everyone shiver. He turned a pointed glare at Christian. “I don’t appreciate the invitation I received to tonight’s little soiree.” He motioned for Vicky to join him, and she quickly stepped to his side.

  Zak wiggled, glaring at Christian.

  “Believe me, we will have words about this as soon as your business with the Council is finished.” Darien wrapped his arm around Vicky’s shoulder and led her to one side of the circle.

  “You mean, you’re not going to step in?” Christian stared at him, flabbergasted.

  “Oh, heavens no.” Darien waved the suggestion away. “Clara is the head of the Council. If you want to try to take it over, you will have to deal with her.” Turning away from the shocked vampire, Darien took up a place next to Elliot.

  Christian closed his mouth and stared back at the woman he had just challenged. He had assumed that Darien had set her up to rule this crew, but maybe he’d been wrong. He shook the feeling away and turned his mind to the fight at hand.

  “Good evening, Master Darien.” Clara bowed to him. “We tried to contact you about this matter earlier, but you never answered.”

  “My apologies. I’ve been preoccupied for the last few hours.” He slipped his arm from Vicky’s shoulder so she stood alone between him and Elliot.

  Vicky shivered and shifted away from him slightly.

  Clara turned her attention back to her challenger.

  “Clara Mylan!” Christian called again. “I challenge you to a duel for the Council’s head seat.”

  “The challenge has been heard and accepted,” Clara answered.

  Christian bowed to her. “What weapons would you like to use?”

  Clara thought about this for a moment. “Swords.”

  Christian cocked an eyebrow and nodded in agreement. Two long, thin rapiers were brought out and given to the waiting vampires.

  Clara stretched lightly and flexed her sword as the witnessing vampires backed up to give them room to fight.

  Christian bounced on the balls of his feet, swishing his blade around, testing its weight.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Clara asked as she took up a dueling stance.

  Christian cocked an eyebrow at her. It was rare that a challenger was given the option to back out of a challenge. “Afraid?” He took Clara’s question as a sign of weakness.

  “No.” She shrugged at him. “Just curious to find out how you’ve pissed Master Darien off.” Clara glanced back at the brooding vampire. “I haven’t seen him this mad in nearly three hundred years.” Eyes turned to the quiet man glaring holes into Christian.

  Christian swallowed and tried to push that matter from his mind. “Shall we?” He pulled everyone’s attention back to the duel.

  Clara bowed to him. “Of course.”

  Christian returned the bow, and the two combatants started into one another.

  Vicky couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched the two vampires fight. Their speed was almost more than her mind could comprehend. No sooner had one completed an attack, than the other switched and started their pass. The two went back and forth several times without scoring on each other.

  Clara’s skirt swirled out as she spun away from Christian’s blade.

  Christian laughed as he retreated into a defensive stance. “This is getting us nowhere.”

  “You can always withdraw,” Clara offered as she came bounding back with a new series of slashes. “I might even let you live.” She smiled at him tauntingly.

  Christian turned her attack and st
arted an advance of his own. “Then everything I’ve done here would be for naught.” A lucky jab through an opening scored a hit on Clara’s shoulder, and she leaped back from her attacker. “First blood is mine,” Christian declared.

  Clara pressed her hand to her shoulder and laughed at him. “But its not first blood that matters.” She raised her sword back up. “It’s last.” Advancing on him without warning, she scored a matching hit.

  Christian retreated the same way Clara had.

  “The match is Clara’s,” Elliot declared and leaned back against the wall, waiting.

  Vicky looked at him, confused, then back to the two vampires still squaring off.

  Darien nodded in agreement and pulled off his trench coat.

  Clara pulled her sword across her hand, wiping the blood she had won from Christian onto her palm. “Do you know why I hold the Council here?”

  “Because everyone is too afraid of Darien to challenge you,” Christian responded.

  Darien laughed from where he lounged against his bit of wall. “You had better think again,” he called to the startled vampire. “I gave her nothing.”

  Christian looked back at Clara.

  She dropped her sword to the ground. “He may be my sire, but he never helped me gain the power I hold.”

  Christian was shocked to see her standing there, undefended.

  Opening her hand, Clara showed him the line of his blood on her palm. “I hold this place because I earned it.”

  Christian doubled over in pain.

  “What happened?” Vicky asked, confused by what she saw.

  Elliot shrugged. “That’s Clara’s special talent.”

  Vicky looked up at the blond vampire, still confused.

  “She holds power over blood.”

  Vicky’s eyes shot back to the fight.

  “All she needs is one drop of blood, and she can make any wound you’ve ever had start bleeding again.”

  Christian gasped as he tried to stand up. “Very clever,” he said, lunging at her with his sword and driving it into her stomach, “but you aren’t the only one with power.” Grabbing Clara, he poured his power into her.

  She froze as all her senses failed, leaving her in complete isolation.