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

by Julie Wetzel

  Christian laughed as he pulled his sword out and readied it to stab her again.

  Clara breathed another word, and Christian screamed in pain as his blood boiled in his veins.

  Vicky cringed as blood bubbled up and out through his eyes and mouth. His skin took on a red sheen as the blood seeped out of his pores.

  “Release me, and this can stop,” Clara said softly to her attacker. Her eyes shifted around, unseeing.

  “Never!” Christian cried and stabbed his sword back into her unfeeling body, trying for her heart. The loss of blood weakened him, and he missed his target.

  Clara breathed on her hand again, and Christian fell to the ground, drowning in his own blood.

  Vicky clenched her eyes shut and turned away from the dying man. Her stomach rolled, and she clenched her jaw, trying not to throw up. Warm hands drew her in, and she leaned against Darien until the gurgling sounds ended.

  Darien rubbed her back as he watched the challenger die.

  A scream of rage came from the dying vampire’s fledglings, and Aiden and Sara both threw themselves at Clara while Christian’s power still held her.

  Darien squeezed Vicky to him protectively as a flourish of activity exploded around them. Several of the fledglings rushed back as Michael and Daniel caught the two vampires going for Clara. They both sunk fangs into the necks of the younger vampires. Darien held Vicky to him so she wouldn’t see the two Council members tear the throats out of the attackers. Once the fledglings were dead, Michael and Darien both dropped them to the ground like limp dolls and turned to see how Clara was fairing.

  Even with Christian dead at her feet, Clara’s senses hadn’t returned. She stood very still with the thin rapier protruding from her body, waiting for something to happen. Daniel stepped forwards and pulled the sword from her chest. The tension in the room rose as everyone waited for Clara to break free.

  Vicky pulled back from Darien’s chest and looked over at the mess in the middle of the room. She swallowed hard and stood up so she could see Clara better. Darien let his hands fall away as she moved away from him. “Will she be okay?” Vicky spoke the question that everyone wanted to know.

  “If she can pull free of Christian’s power,” Elliot answered.

  Clara stood still for a few more minutes, blinking unseeing eyes. Suddenly, she drew in a shuddering breath and groaned in pain. She clutched at the wound in her chest, and Daniel caught her before she could fall to the floor.

  “I’ve got you,” he reassured her.

  Clara nodded and leaned against him. She closed her eyes and waited for feeling to fully return to her body before standing back up. “Thank you.” She patted Daniel on the shoulder. Rising to her full height, she took in the mess and the group of vampires watching her. “Anyone else have a challenge?” Clara called. A wave of negative responses circled the room.

  “I have a challenge.”

  Everyone turned stunned eyes to the softly spoken words as Darien pushed himself up and stepped into the center of the room.

  Clara straightened her spine more as he approached her.

  “Rest easy, Grand Master Clara,” Darien calmed her as he stepped around the limp bodies on the floor. “This challenge is not for you.” His eyes swept over the crowd of gathered vampires.

  “You have a traitor in your midst.” His soft words echoed off the walls of the chamber.

  A murmur of disbelief ran through the crowd.

  Darien weaved his way in and out of the surprised vampires, looking at each one as he spoke. “Over the last few weeks, me and mine have been the subjects of several insults.”

  Shock filled the faces in the crowd.

  “There was a car wreck that nearly killed My Lady.” His eyes bore into each person as he passed. “A week ago, someone blessed my coffee.” This drew a snicker from someone on the far side of the room, and Darien’s eyes shot to where the sound had come from. He eased his way to that side of the room, looking for the guilty party. “And tonight, what is mine was taken.” Spinning around with the grace of a dancer, he held his hand out towards Vicky.

  “As you can see, I have reclaimed her, but this insult cannot be left unchallenged.” He walked over to Christian’s corpse. “I’m sure this one was responsible for all three actions, but he did not act alone.” Darien eased his way back into the vampires. “Someone was helping him,” he breathed, next to Rachael’s ear. Pausing, he held her gaze for a moment before moving on to the next Council member. “Feeding him information,” he said, studying the look on Daniel’s face.

  Daniel straightened his spine and looked back at Darien, unmoved.

  Darien walked on. He patted Michael on the arm before going to the next member. “Working magic for him.”

  Darien stopped behind Lillian. “What I want to know is, why?”

  Surprise widened Lillian’s eyes as his hands pinned her in place.

  “What have I ever done to you, Lillian?”

  Lillian’s jaw clenched as she realized her secret had been found out.

  “Speak, young one.” He pushed his power into his words, and the compulsion washed over her.

  She struggled with it for a moment but bent under his will. “It’s all your fault,” Lillian accused, on the edge of tears. “If you had not pushed Clara into that truce with the wolves, I could have gotten revenge for my sweet Justin!” This time, a tear did stain her cheek as she cried for her lost love. “Damn it, he was mine!”

  Darien let out a deep sigh. “Oh, Lillian.” He slipped his arms around her chest and drew her against him. “So you felt the need to help Christian take me out?”

  “Without you and Clara’s damn no-killing policy, we would have destroyed the wolves,” she spat in anger.

  Darien shook his head and pressed his cheek into the side of her red curls. “So you fed Christian enough information to arrange a hit on me.”

  Lillian nodded.

  “That explains the car wreck, but why the coffee?”

  “I told Christian that you ran your own company, but he wanted proof.” Her voice held a hint of amusement as she explained. “I arranged to have your coffee taken, and he arranged to have the beans replaced. I was hoping that the incident would turn you against that wolf you have working for you. Imagine our surprise when you walked away, unscathed.”

  Darien growled. “Oh, I was far from unscathed.”

  Lillian shivered at the anger in his words.

  He shook his head again. “Oh Lillian, there were other ways. If it had just been me you attacked, I might have been able to let it go, but you hurt what I love. I can’t let this pass.”

  “Mercy,” Lillian begged.

  Darien lifted his head up in shock and looked down at her. “Mercy?” he scoffed. “Did you have mercy in mind when you weaved the spell that bound my love from her marks?”

  Zak growled from where he sat at Vicky’s feet.

  “Was mercy involved when you set the barrier spell that trapped me on consecrated ground so Christian’s menagerie could douse me with holy water and tie me out for dawn?”

  A gasp issued from the crowd.

  Lillian closed her eyes and hung her head. “Mercy for my people,” she begged softly. “They knew nothing about this and were only doing what they were told.”

  Darien considered this for a moment. “I will have mercy on your people,” he agreed, “but you, I cannot forgive. You know you have forced my hand here.”

  Lillian nodded weakly.

  Darien raised his left hand up and pulled her hair back, forcing her head over. “Then, by law, your life is mine.” Lillian did not resist as Darien drove his fangs into her neck and sucked the blood from her. The room watched in horror-filled silence as he let her blood fall from his mouth, soaking both of them. Just before he pulled the last of it out, Darien withdrew his fangs from her neck.

  “Lillian,” he whispered softly to her, “this hurts me more than you know.” A single tear rolled out of her eye as he released his power
and pulled the spark of life from her. Carefully, he laid her on the floor at his feet and pushed her unruly hair back from her face. “Rest in peace, Lillian.” Darien stood up and glanced around the room at the watching eyes.

  “The traitor, by her own admission, has been dealt with according to the old code. As payment for my suffering, I claim all that was hers. If anyone should object, speak now.” Darien paused, looking at the blank faces of the crowd. He turned towards Clara, waiting to see if she would say anything. When no answer came, Darien let out a sigh. “So mote it be. Does anyone else have a challenge?” he called, but the room stayed silent. His eyes finally fell to Vicky, standing next to Elliot.

  “Very well.” Darien turned towards the door in the side of the chamber. The vampires parted without a word as he passed. He just wanted out of there. The feel of their eyes burned into his soul as the door shut behind him. The vampires he could handle; it was the look of horror on Vicky’s face that crushed his heart.

  The scene that had just played out in front of Vicky terrified her. She couldn’t understand how the kind, loving man that had stolen her heart could be so cruel. The way he moved through the vampires had reminded her of a snake stalking its prey. It had only taken her a moment to realize that he was performing for the group, but she was surprised he could be so evil. She was still having a problem wrapping her mind around how he had so easily broken that man’s neck in the church. No anger, no remorse, just snapped it and claimed the coat he was wearing. Vicky looked at the black trench coat folded next to her. It was definitely the one he had been sporting lately, but why had that man been wearing it.

  A gentle hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her thoughts, and she turned to find a worried expression on Elliot’s face. Tears burned in Vicky’s eyes, and she buried her face in his chest and cried. The blazing points of green light in Darien’s eyes burned in her mind, and she balled her fists up in Elliot’s shirt.

  He cradled her, offering the only comfort he could as her heart broke.

  “Why?” she sobbed softly. All the questions in her mind summed up to that one word.

  Elliot patted her back. “Because he had to,” he replied, his words rumbling gently from his chest.

  This answer surprised Vicky, and she pushed back to look up into Elliot’s face. “What?” she asked, confused.

  “He had to,” Elliot repeated. Seeing she needed more, he went on to explain. “The old codes are based on a trust system. When someone breaks that trust, the system falls apart.” He looked over to Lillian’s limp form. “She broke that trust, and, by law, she had to pay for her crimes.”

  Vicky glanced over at the body.

  “Had she only come after Darien, he could have doled out any punishment he wanted, but her actions endangered the lives of others—namely, you.” Elliot looked back down at her. “The laws are very specific when it comes to one’s mate: Don’t.”

  Vicky looked up at him, surprised by this.

  “You would be surprised how crazy someone can get when they lose the person they care about.” Elliot’s eyes moved to the doorway where Darien had disappeared. “There have been kingdoms obliterated by heartbroken vampires.”

  Vicky’s eyes joined Elliot’s at the door. “Will he be okay?”

  “Given time.” Elliot nodded. “He doesn’t like to kill.”

  Shocked, Vicky pulled back more and turned questioning eyes at him.

  Looking down at her, he explained. “He came from a time and place where all life was precious. His sire was the protector of the town and was very gentle with his people. Darien learned that from him and insisted that his fledglings live by those same principles. That’s why Clara has her no-killing rule.”

  “Thank you.” Vicky pushed out of Elliot’s arms. “I think there is something I need to take care of.” She picked up Darien’s coat. “Stay here, Zak.” Vicky waved the little fay back. Zak whined and wiggled his tentacles but remained with Elliot as Vicky made her way across the room filled with vampires. The crowd parted, speeding her on her way to the door through which Darien had left. Vicky’s feet picked up speed, and she found herself running down the hall, searching for him. She didn’t look in the rooms as she passed; she knew he wouldn’t be in any of them. Hitting the door at the end of the hall at a full run, she burst into the garden.

  The light from the moon washed across the world, illuminating everything with a soft, silver glow. Vicky’s feet slowed as she took in the wondrous sight. The gardens were magnificent by daylight, but they were simply breathtaking in the soft light of the night. The colors were muted, but Liz had painstakingly arranged the plants into amazing shapes. Vicky would never have noticed this beauty in the glaring light of day. Her eyes cast around for a moment before they found what she was looking for.

  Vicky took the path leading to the gazebo at a much slower pace. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say to Darien, but she couldn’t leave things as they were. Her shoes crunched against the path, and she clutched his coat to her. Her heart cried out, and she prayed that her intuition was right. Stopping before the steps leading into the trellised outbuilding, she peered into the darkness inside.

  Darien looked up at her from the floor where he sat, leaning against one of the pillars supporting the roof.

  Unsure of what to say to him, Vicky slowly mounted the steps. When he didn’t object to her company, she came over and sat next to him. She leaned against the pole and sat with him in silence, trying to figure out how to start the conversation they needed to have. Toying with a button on his trench coat, she worked on what to say.

  “I won’t apologize.” His soft words startled her slightly.

  “I know.” She sighed and folded her hands in her lap on top of his coat. “Elliot explained it to me.”

  Darien nodded, and they went back to sitting in silence. Somehow, sitting there in the darkness next to him, she could feel the anguish in him. Darien shifted in his silence to wipe the blood drying on his face away with his sleeve.

  The movement drew Vicky’s attention, and she asked the question aching in her heart. “Did you enjoy it?”

  Darien sucked in a sudden breath. He hadn’t expected her to ask him that. Pausing to think first, he answered softly, “Vampires are evil creatures. Part of me always enjoys the feeling of taking a life, but I would have given almost anything not to do what I did tonight. She gave me no choice.”

  Vicky could hear Darien’s heart breaking as he spoke. His pain and anguish were obvious to her.

  Darien closed his eyes and tilted his head back against the cold pole behind him. When he felt Vicky shift next to him, he was sure she was going to get up and leave. To his utter surprise, he felt her pull on his sleeve. He let her take his hand and lace her fingers together with his.

  “I don’t like how things turned out, but I understand,” Vicky said softly.

  Darien’s heart nearly burst as tears burned at his eyes. He rolled his head over to look at her. “You’re not upset?”

  “Of course I’m upset.” She glared at his dumb question. “But, I understand.” Her words softened as she went on. “No matter how you play it up, you’re not the cold, heartless monster you were imitating back there. I know in my heart that you are the same warm, sensitive man that I love.” She rolled his hand over to trace the green line on the back of it. “What type of wife would I be if I left you as soon as things got a little bumpy?”

  Touched by her words, Darien twisted around and wrapped his arms around her. He buried his face in her shoulder and let go of the tears he was holding back.

  Vicky wrapped her arms around him and rubbed his back as he cried out his pain. Kissing him on the side of his head, she whispered to him, “I forgive you.”

  Darien squeezed her and sobbed harder into her shoulder.

  Never having seen him this vulnerable before, she held him until his tears subsided.

  He held on for a few more minutes, enjoying the feel of her.

  “I think
you got blood on Rupert’s jacket,” Vicky teased.

  Darien sat up and laughed at her. “I guess I’ll just have to buy him a new one.” He sighed.

  Vicky smiled at him. “And a new shirt.” She looked at Darien’s blood-soaked clothing. “So, does Armani do leather?”

  He chuckled weakly. “Come on.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “I think I am in desperate need of a shower.”

  Vicky snatched up the trench coat that had fallen from her lap.

  Darien took it away from her and hooked it over his shoulder by a finger. Vicky eased into his side as they headed back to the main house. He slipped his arm around her, holding her close.

  “Could you use someone to wash your back?” she offered.

  Darien made a happy noise in his chest. “Maybe.”

  She leaned into him, and he stumbled on the path back to the house. “Then we can talk about vampire marks.”

  Darien chuckled as he regained his balance, and they went to get cleaned up. There was still a lot to do, but it could wait for a while. Things were definitely going to be changing, but as long as she still loved him, he could handle anything the world threw at him.

  Here we are at the end of the book. There is no monster at the end of this book, but there might be at the end of the next. Oh wait, that’s a whole different book. I love that book.

  Anyway, thank you for making it to the end of the third book. I hope you’ve enjoyed the story so far. I’m simply overwhelmed by this whole experience. When I sat down to write a simple story for my sister, I never dreamt that it would turn into something like this.

  I never know what to say in this part so let me just thank everyone that has supported me. I’d like to start with my family. Mommy and Daddy, thanks for proof reading. Grandma, thanks for insisting on reading everything I do. Amanda, thanks for insisting on more stories. Krys, Karl, and Dick, thanks for understanding and supporting me as I write. For Jess, thanks for listening to me plot. For the rest of the family, thanks for your enthusiasm and support.