Jack shrugged, “I'm not sure you really want me to answer that question.”
She gave him an irritated expression.
He sighed and answered her, “Now that we've been using the shotguns we have wiggle room. The vampires are weaker, manageable so we don't have to kill them immediately. We've been trying out a couple of things. This is the most successful.”
Torture, that's what he was telling her. Val imagined bleeding vampires being chained to a wall and experimented on. Her mother had been killed by a vampire, and maybe if they'd had these weapons her mother would still be alive. Her conscience could live with evil vampires being tortured before they were killed. Resolutely, she kept her eyes fixed on the taser instead of looking at Jack.
“What are you going to do now that London is infested with vampires?”
“I've got back up for you. Smith and Duncan flew in today and are going to be shadowing you just in case.”
That was not a good plan. “I'm sure they could be put to better uses.”
“It's not worth the risk.” Jack patted her leg in forced casualness. She knew he'd be devastated at her death. How he'd endanger himself worrying about her, when he should be fighting vampires. But, what if having the two extra Hunters as back up saved his life? If he died when backup had been stuck babysitting her ass, she'd be the one who couldn't live with the outcome.
“What will you be doing?”
“Lucas is here.”
“What?” Terror iced through her.
“Don't worry. He won't come near you, I promise.”
Of course, he'd misunderstood her reaction. She knew Lucas was here. Her concern was that he'd go after Lucas and get himself killed, not that Lucas was coming after her.
“How do you know he's here?”
“We have our sources. Actually, we have more than a source. One of his own vampires is feeding us information. She told us he was here and even gave us a picture of him.” He pulled out a picture of Lucas. It was black and white, taken with a telephoto lens.
“Who is she and why is she giving you information?” This was odd.
“Her name is Rachel and she says there is dissension in the ranks. She wants Lucas gone and has offered her support if we try to take him out. She says there are others who will follow her lead. But I think that last part is bullshit. She’s working for someone else. She's just the representative.”
“How do you know?”
“She’s not powerful enough to control the vampires. Don’t worry about how I know, I just do. Research her too. She's given us some other stuff that's checked out but there is no reason to take her at her word.
“What are you going to do?” Her voice was surprisingly steady.
“Taking out Lucas would solve a lot of problems and disorganize them which could only be good for us.”
“When?”
“I'll let you know. It's going to take people. I have six Hunters here but two are dedicated to you. I've got three more coming in tomorrow and then we'll see. We know his movements.”
“Really?”
“Yes, don't go to the Dorchester Hotel and Val if you see him, you run.” Tension radiated from him.
“Jack, it's stupid to keep two guys watching me when they could be helping you. I swear I won't leave here until you tell me to. Keep them with you. Please?”
He looked at his watch, indecision on his face. “No, I want them here with you.”
Hysterical laughter bubbled within her, “I'm just as worried about you as you are about me. You know how much I care about you. Don't waste them on me when they could back you up. I’ll stay here and read a book. Please.” Reaching for him, she took his hand and he squeezed her hand back, nodding his head jerkily.
“Shit. Okay, I have to go. You swear to me you won't leave here until I tell you?” Val nodded. Jack wasn't convinced he was making the right decision, she could see the doubt on his face. On his way to the door he threw a final glance at the kitchen, examining the flowers and wine. He gave her a tight smile but kept himself carefully neutral. “Have a good night. Don't leave this place, got it? I'll call you tomorrow and we can discuss this again.”
They hugged, her arms wrapping around his waist and filling her with a sense of calm and peace. Jack was made for her, she thought, curving herself against his muscled frame. A soft kiss landed on her head and he was gone.
As soon as Jack left she went to her purse and found Lucas's card. Even in her state of near panic, she admired the thickly textured card. Very classy. She called both numbers but he didn't pick up, forcing her to leave another message.
There was nothing she could do and Val desperately needed to do something. She went to the computer and checked the society pages, wondering if any of the vampires had turned up in there. She checked all the names, adding Rachel to her list of vampires that she was always looking for, including Marion and Dmitri.
Because she was always looking for them. They were glory hounds and she'd found pictures of both Marion and Dmitri holding a glass of champagne, and smiling brightly for the camera more than once.
Nervousness ate at her and she felt like she needed to get out and go for a walk, or a drink, but she couldn't. She'd told Jack she'd stay here and she would.
In resignation, she closed all her curtains, then opened the wine. It really was very nice. If she couldn't help, she'd drink. Food would be good too. No need to be worried on an empty stomach. She hoped there was more than yogurt in the fridge. She needed to go to the grocery store.
Opening the fridge, she found one of the most amazing fruit and cheese plates she'd ever seen. There were little squares of toast and water biscuits, bree and chevre as well as some roasted nuts. Even some fig compote, which was to die for.
For someone who didn't eat, Lucas sure knew his food. She was totally distracted and absorbed with the cheese when she realized she wasn't alone. Lucas walked out of her bedroom and into the kitchen. Val finished chewing and washed her hands, then poured him a glass of wine and handed it to him.
How domestic, she thought sickly.
“What is going on?” She asked him immediately.
“To what do you refer?”
“Why are all these vampires in town? The last time there were this many vampires around, or at least obvious, Jack's parents were killed and there was a huge bloodbath. This can't be good.”
Lucas was very still for a moment, then brought the wine to his lips and took a drink. Was he buying time to think?
“Where is your information from?”
Val might need to be careful here. “The Hunters know. There are several on their way now.” He didn’t need to know that there were several Hunters here already.
He gave her a predatory smile and she didn’t know why. If it was just meant to unsettle her, it worked.
“Do you still promise that you will protect Jack and Nate?”
“Yes.”
“What does that promise mean? We talked about that before, how binding something was. What my expectations were and there was no agreement. How much protection do they get?”
Lucas went to her couch and took a seat, motioning for her to join him. He was dressed in black wool slacks and another white collared shirt that had two buttons open at the top so she could see the hollow of his throat. His long hair was loose and she was again struck by the beauty of him: square jaw, blue eyes, full lips and large, heavy limbs. He ate up her couch. A sunlit knight with power and lethal grace.
The fancy clothes couldn't disguise him.
“What do you think they need protection from?” His eyes studied her and she tried not to flinch away from his gaze. “They have my protection from myself and other vampires that I command and you want to know if there is a caveat?”
She gave a jerky nod.
Lucas set down his wine glass and spread his arms along the back of the couch, making her wait. Each second that ticked by stressed her out just a little bit more so that she wanted to pull her hair out b
y the time he spoke again. “You ask me what I will do when he attacks me?” That final word was deeper and darker than the rest. “Will I protect them at cost to myself?” His voice was preternaturally soft, his gaze locked on her face, making her feel like he was reading her again, knew all that she was thinking just from her expressions and his centuries of existence.
“Are other vampires giving information to the Hunters?” Val asked.
“No.” He rubbed a hand across his eyes as though he had a tension headache. Was that possible?
“You're wrong. Maybe that challenge to your authority is coming sooner than you think.” Val wanted to sigh in relief, perhaps she did have a bargaining chip. She blinked and he was standing before her, yanking her off the couch like a ragdoll, pushing her against the wall, his forearm across her windpipe in a slick move that was too fast to see.
His body was almost flush with hers and she felt the threat of his weight and strength, even though his arm was barely touching her neck. None of it had hurt, he’d been gentle with her, but it was still a threat. Still shocking.
His eyes changed color to a blue so dark it was almost black.
“Who?” he asked and his voice sent shivers down her spine. That was the voice of a king. A voice that held conviction, authority and death.
Val closed her eyes, afraid of him compelling her. “I want them safe. I want all the Hunters safe.” Her pulse thundered through her veins and her voice came out a whisper.
“No. I cannot save them all and I will not save them all. We are discussing Nate and Jack alone. The name for their safety should they attack me. That is what you want, yes?”
His body was ice cold, frost seeping through her clothing, touching her skin until her bones ached. Her eyes opened and fixed on the pulse point of his neck where his shirt was open so she didn't meet his gaze. A pulse beat there as though he were human.
She cried out at the painful cold.
Lucas said something unintelligible and quiet then dropped his head down, his lips close to her throat.
The need to fight and scream urged her onwards. Raising her arms, she tried to push away from him before he bit her. But he was too strong, too wide and tall. His whole body covered hers easily, kept her locked in place and unable to move like he was a large cage.
Lucas lifted his head from her neck, a look of purpose on his face as he maintained the effort to warm her.
“It's not enough.” His voice was gravelly and she didn't know what he was talking about. Val breathed in slowly, her breasts touching his chest with each inhalation and tried to remember the conversation.
Oh, the name wasn't enough for their protection if they came for him.
“It is enough. You are making up all the rules. You can accept that if you choose to!”
“Then I choose not to. It's not enough. I can find out who the traitor is.”
“But not with subtlety, not without giving away that you know someone has turned against you.”
“If you don't give me the name, I will be forced to allow the attack upon my person. Then they will all die. All your Hunters....As a display of what I can do.” The last was a whisper.
“Mass murder is not going to get you into my panties.” She wondered why these stupid things came out of her mouth. She tried to change the subject, talking of her panties could only cause her trouble. “What if one of them gets lucky? Six Hunters attack you at once? At least one of them has to get a good shot at you, right? Is that enough to tip the scales? Vampires and Hunters come at you at once, are you sure you can you survive that?”
Inexplicably, she felt a tear roll down her cheek. It was for Jack and her father only, she told herself. It was fear for good men and the danger they were all in, herself included, none of it was for Lucas.
He saw the tear slide down her cheek and frowned. He tensed and for a second she thought he might lick the tear from her cheek. Instead he pushed away from her, leaving her cold again, her back to the wall and her breathing ragged.
Lucas walked to the window, looking down at the street, then turned back to her “Are you so skillful at deceit? I can see your sorrow on your face and feel it in my body.” She wondered if that was true. Could he sense it, feel her emotions? He said it like it made him feel dirty.
She took a deep breath, then another, refusing to look at him.
“They will be safe. Tell me the name.” His rich voice cut through her, caressed her, the weight of his promise almost tangible on her skin.
“You won't hurt Jack and Nate even if they attack you?”
A terse nod of agreement.
Gulping, Val said the name before she lost her nerve, “Rachel.”
Smiling, he put down the glass again. His hands went to his pockets and he casually walked back to her. Playing human again.
“Tomorrow night there is a party. I will come for you at six. I am sending a modiste at ten. Choose what you like.”
She went to the couch and sat down, looking at him from across the room. He stayed standing, walking to the window to stare at the traffic below and the lights of the city.
“Is Rachel likely to kill you?”
Lucas shook his head slowly. “Rachel is nothing. She is barely old enough to kill a human bare handed. She would not dream of attacking me outright. She works for another. But I am surprised that either of them are willing to try.”
“Why? You can't be that indestructible, can you?”
“My ability to recover from injuries is unparalleled. It is my strength, speed and age that have kept me unchallenged for centuries. I can go into the sunlight, dematerialize repeatedly and feed infrequently. For one as old as I am, the dangers are different.”
Val waited for him to continue and watched his broad back, her gaze dipping down to his ass, imagined sinking her nails into it as he—
What the fuck is wrong with me? Stupid, nonsensical reactions.
She looked at her nails instead. They were painted shiny red, the nails short. She wore a silver ring she'd bought in Covent Garden that had two semi-precious stones set in the middle.
He sighed. “Boredom and ennui are the true dangers for a vampire over 500 years old. What is left to live for when everyone we have loved is long dead? Relationships become repetitive and trite. We become exhausted. At my age, suicide is the most common form of demise.”
Oh. “Do you want to kill yourself?”
“Not just at the moment,” He said dryly. “I have goals, things to accomplish before I consider anything so permanent. I want change for my people. That is a goal worth living for.”
“Why wouldn't they just wait for you to kill yourself instead of challenging your directly?” Val asked, trying not to think of the ramifications of his dying, but keep the questions matter of fact.
“Either impatience or because those who would rule do not have the power to do so unless they steal it from me.”
“Vampires can steal power?”
He turned from the window, came back towards her and sat down in the chair opposite her. His hand covered his eyes for a moment as though he was tired. “Blood is power. My strength is contained in my being. I can will power into my blood and transfer it to those below me, if I choose. It means I can both feed and reward my people. It can also be a punishment. I can drain power from those below me if I feed from them.”
Love is Darkness (A Valerie Dearborn Novel) Page 16