Mark of Betrayal

by A. M. Hudson

  “Are you okay, Arthur?”

  “Of course.” He relaxed then and held me closer, guiding my careless feet into a gentle glide. But I felt the tension in his shoulders still, and it made my heart beat a little too fast, hoping he hadn't smelled David on me. “You ask of my well-being, Amara, but something seems to be troubling you.”

  “Oh, um, no.” I forced a smile. “I was just thinking how much I love the way all you old vampires dance. It’s so…formal.”

  He laughed, his cool breath brushing the corner of my eye. “Well, I don't imagine the Nutbush would go down too well at one of these events.”

  “You can do the Nutbush?”

  He just laughed again. We passed Mike then, who still looked like he’d lost his best friend, so to speak. I felt bad for him, but Arthur did, after all, make it to me first.

  “This was Arietta’s,” Arthur noted, touching my shoulder.

  “Yes.” I looked up from his hand. “David kept it when she died. Morgaine thought it might make missing him tonight less painful.”

  Arthur held me a little closer; I could feel a delicacy to his energy, like he was charged with the kind of adrenaline you get when you have to say something you don't want to. “I wish I could make a potion that would ease a broken heart.”

  “Friendship helps.” I squeezed his hand; he squeezed back.

  “You're very much like her, you know.” He nodded to the bracelet on my wrist—the one David gave me the night before our wedding.

  “Like who?” I asked inquisitively.

  “Like his mother—Elizabeth.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “How so?”

  He rested his chin against the top of my head. “She was petite, like you—pretty, with remarkable eyes. But it’s mostly your personality which reminds me of her; your passion, your girlish confusion.” He smiled fondly, looking down at me. “When I'm with you, it makes me miss her.”

  “You knew her well?”

  “We were very close. Perhaps that is why I fell so in love with her sister.”

  I understood that only too well.

  “May I cut in,” Mike interrupted, tapping Arthur on the shoulder; the politely formal request to hand over the damn girl.

  As Mike waited patiently, another song already beginning, Arthur turned his back to him and lowered his lips to my ear. “I wonder if I might steal you for a quiet word?”

  “No!” Mike answered for me.

  “I promise to bring her back.” Arthur faced him, blocking my view.

  “Yes,” I spoke over Arthur’s shoulder and gave Mike the don’t-you-dare frown. “Just for a moment.”

  Mike studied Arthur through a narrowed glare.

  “I’ll be fine.” I stepped around Arthur and rested my palm on Mike’s chest, pushing him gently away. “Go dance with Emily—she’s going home tomorrow.”

  “Ara?” He grabbed my arm as I turned away.

  “What?”

  “It’s just—” He wrapped his fingers loosely around my wrist, scratching his head with his other hand. “It’s just…the last time I left you in another man’s arms at a ball—”

  “Oh, Mike?” My heart melted; I slid my arms around his waist, pressing every inch of my chest to his. “It’s okay. I'm not human anymore, I—”

  “That won’t stop you from being hurt.” He stood back, eyeing Arthur.

  “I trust Arthur, Mike—for what it’s worth.” I glanced between the two of them. “But, if it makes you feel any better, you can stand here and watch us.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  Mike stared me down. “Why are you being so reasonable?”

  I tried to hold back from laughing. “Because I realised, Mike, how much I need you, and…”

  He waited, smiling expectantly. “And?”

  “And…most of the time, you actually turn out to be right about things.”

  His eyes narrowed with a smile. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”

  I laughed, balancing on my toes to kiss his cheek. “I love you, okay.”

  “I know.”

  I took Arthur’s hand and as we walked through the doors to the balcony, turned back to look at Mike. “We’ll be right outside. I promise.”

  He folded his arms and leaned on the doorframe. “And I’ll be right here.”

  I shook my head, feeling more love than anger for Mike and his over-protection.

  Under the light of the stars outside, the cool breeze filled my lungs with a fresh, floral scent. Once far enough away from Mike’s aura of tension, we stopped by the marble ledge of the balcony, overlooking the small garden we sat in on the first day I came here. I smiled at the swing, still seeing us sitting there, arguing. It seemed like so long ago—and even then, I knew so little compared to what I know now. It made me feel older, in a good way.

  “Thank you,” Arthur said quietly to someone behind us. I turned to watch him shake a man’s hand and walk back over to me, carrying something under his arm.

  “What’s that?” I asked, a little embarrassed that I hadn't even noticed he’d walked away.

  “It’s for you.” He placed a long wooden box on the marble ledge.

  “What is it?”

  “Just open it.”

  I dropped the stole from my shoulders and laid it carefully over the railing, then, using my thumbs, pushed the latch on the box up. Before I even saw what it was, shining metal glinted in the dull candlelight. I threw the lid all the way open and reached for the sword inside, but didn’t touch it. “Arthur, this is beautiful.”

  “It’s Lilithian steel.” He ran a fingertip over the blade, then lifted it and pointed to the hilt. “This snake is made of copper, to conduct electricity. If I am not mistaken about your powers, your touch should charge this blade with that energy of yours.”

  With wide eyes and a round mouth, I took the sword from Arthur’s hand. It was light, comfortable, like it was made for my hands. “Where did you get this?”

  “I had it commissioned for you.”

  My eyes shifted from the blade to Arthur. “It’s incredible.”

  “Her name is Nhym.” He pointed to the opaque markings on the steel. “This, in the language of the ancients, reads Where there is life, there is hope.”

  I felt the light reflect off the blade and shine across my face, like a mask.

  “Go ahead—” He turned it in my hand so the snake rested in my palm. “Try it out.”

  Looking at my reflection in the darkened glass beside me, I held the sword up; face to face. Life and breath. My hands charged, the static rising, heating my wrists, my fingertips. I felt it leave my body, felt it snake up the copper embellishment into the blade, and the blue light circled the tip, soft yet powerful, like lashes of plasma in a globe. It looked pretty, innocent, harmless, but I knew the damage it would do to any who dared strike their metal against mine.

  “It’s perfect, Arthur.” I lowered the blade and let the electricity simmer away with a deep breath. Though the pounding in my head made me want to fold over and hold my temples, I didn't; Arthur’s warm smile and the eagerness in his eyes forced me to show only appreciation. But not just for the sword—for being the only one who ever actually believed in me. “I can't think of another person in this entire manor who would’ve thought of such a gift, Arthur.”

  “It’s not just a gift, Amara. It’s a statement.”

  “Statement?”

  He took the sword delicately from my hands and laid it back in the box. “You’re ready for this. You’re ready to fight for your people, my queen. This weapon symbolises you stepping into your role as not only our leader, but a warrior for your people. With the gift of life—” he touched Nhym “—at your fingertips, you will be the one who leads us to freedom.”

  I thrust myself forward, wrapping my arms around his neck; he patted my rib cage softly, laughing.

  “Thank you, Arthur. Thank you for always beli
eving in me.”

  “Well, Amara—” He cupped both hands against my sides and pulled away from the hug, holding me there, just in front of his body, “—You give me good reason to believe in you. What Mike sees, what your people see, it holds no bearing on what you’re capable of. And I have seen it in you. I have seen you fight against all manner of terror to survive—to give hope of a better world.”

  I dropped my arms back down to my sides, as did Arthur, and we stood in front of each other, nothing much to say, but comfortable in the closeness of friendship.

  “Hey, Arthur?”

  “Yes, my dear.”

  “Can I ask you something personal?”

  “Of course,” he said, fastening the snake latch in place on Nhym’s box.

  I moved away and hoisted myself onto the marble ledge, my dress puffing up around my hips and ribs, falling in layers toward my feet. “Why don't you have a girlfriend or anything?”

  He half laughed, wiping a hand across his nose. “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I don't know.” I twirled a lock of hair around my finger. “You just…you seem like such a nice guy. It doesn't make sense that you never married or anything.”

  He leaned on the balcony ledge beside me. “I’ve never found someone to love after Arietta.”

  “Why don't you just date someone—maybe you'd fall in love?”

  “Date?” His brow arched.

  “Yeah. You dated Morgaine once, right?”

  “Morgaine?” He almost spat the words out. “What ever gave you that idea?”

  Cold washed through me, my cheeks burning with the warm rush after. “I…that’s what people say.”

  He scratched his head, his face all screwed up. He looked kinda human when he did that—not so much like a seventeenth-century prince. “Uh, well…Morgaine and I may have…” He moved his hand down and scratched his neck. “We might have…bedded, but—”

  I burst out laughing, barely covering my mouth to catch all the spit. “Oh, my God. Arthur, you're so awkward about this stuff.”

  He dropped his hand, a Cheshire cat grin narrowing his eyes. “Well, Majesty, I come from a time where men did not discuss such things, especially not with a lady—his queen, to be exact.”

  I grabbed his hand and cupped my other one over it. “But times are moving, Arthur.”

  “Yes, I’ve noticed.”

  “Look, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I think about it a lot—how lonely it must be to have no one. You know, you go back to an empty room every night, for all eternity. Never have someone to lay with, talk with, tell secrets to.”

  He nodded, sliding his hand slowly out of mine. “It does get tiresome.”

  “So, why not date?”

  His dimple showed with the thoughts rolling across his face. “I don't fit in so well these days. I'm afraid I’ve spent too much time in the depths of century old traditions and monarchies. I would have to either date someone from our world, or make a fool of myself in the human realm.”

  “You’d fit in with humans just fine,” I said, jumping down off the ledge, feeling shorter suddenly beside him. “You just need to loosen up a little. Here—” I grabbed both his shoulders and pulled forward. “Slouch a bit. You're so stiff. This isn’t the army.”

  He rolled his spine, making himself shorter. “Better?”

  “No.” I laughed. “Now you just look like you have a hunch.”

  He stood straight and tall again. “I'm afraid my century of birth suits my personality better.”

  “Do you…do you think, if we find a way to turn vampires back to human, like, if the prophecy child was real, do you think you’ll ever fit into that world again.”

  He sighed. “I'm sure of it. It might take practice, but I would be more than willing to try. However—” He slid his hand down my arm, making little bumps rise with his soft touch, and took my hand. “Your husband is gone, Amara. What hope is there of a prophecy child now?”

  I shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll love again.”

  “But the child would not be the one foretold; she would not be blood of Knight.”

  “If that’s meant to happen, if the only child that can cure vampirism is one from that bloodline, then Fate wouldn’t have taken my husband—and Jason as well.”

  He swiped his thumb over his chin and folded his arms, glancing quickly over at Mike then back again. “They were not the only blood of Knight, Amara.”

  Before I could stop it, a snicker grumbled in the back of my throat. “Are you…are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “I'm glad the idea amuses you.” He turned away and leaned over the railing.

  I thought he was upset, until I leaned beside him and noticed a smile in his eyes. “I'm sorry, Arthur. I didn't mean to laugh. It’s just…you know…”

  “It’s a little creepy.” His breath of laughter eased the tension.

  “Uh, yeah. It’s, I mean…it’s not that I don't find you sweet…and even attractive, it’s just…”

  “David was my nephew.” He nodded.

  “Yeah. That. It kind of makes you family.”

  “It does make us family,” he breathed. “But, for us to have a child would not be incestuous, my dear. We’re not of the same blood.”

  “I know. And…I’ll keep it in mind.” I laughed again, feeling way too much blood under my cheekbones. “But…I mean, we probably better not mention this to anyone.”

  “Ha!” He stood tall again. “I agree. I imagine no amount of ancient experience would save me from the wrath of Mike if he were to find out.”

  I laughed too. “No. But…thank you, Arthur. You know…for offering.”

  “I’d say you're welcome, but somehow, that just seems inappropriate.” He cupped both my arms and rested a gentle kiss on my brow. “I'm proud of you, Amara. And I love you dearly. I would do anything for you.”

  I wanted to rub the kiss away, not because it was gross, but because it was a little chilly. But I let it rest there, knowing he could see the moisture his lips left on my skin, because it felt rightly placed. It was a kiss of friendship. And I liked this friendship. “You know I feel the same, right? And if—” If David wasn't alive. “If the need ever arises and the prophecy child is possible, I would be proud for you to be her father.”

  His eyes sparkled with tears; he didn’t even try to hide them.

  I touched his face and let my hand slide down the gristly stubble on his cheek. “You’re a good man, Arthur.”

  He cleared his throat and sniffed once. “We should head back in.”

  “Yeah.” I took his arm and rested my head on his shoulder for a quick moment. “I better go dance with Mike.”

  My footprints left a lonely trail in the sand—the only proof life here existed. The morning was new, but the red sky and wild winds gave warning that today would not display summer so much as it would the wrath of Mother Nature.

  I closed my eyes and listened to the wind caution the rocks, roaring and wailing—each breath of its cry thrashing my hair out in claw-like fingers around my face.

  Last night had passed like a softly spoken story to a child; I smiled and danced, playing the role of a queen, but inside, I felt only the heart of a girl—one who wanted nothing more than to mend the past and undo the future.

  When Mike finally got the chance to dance with me, I nearly told him what Arthur offered, but bit my tongue instead. Poor Arthur would be so humiliated when he found out that David was actually alive, and with the secret of immunity out now, part of me wondered if he already suspected it. But, if he did, then why would he have offered a child?

  “Hey, baby. I thought I might find you out here.”

  “Hm.” I smiled, not turning around. “Or you just asked your knights where I was.”

  He tromped up right beside me and cast his eyes to the sea. “Looks like rough weather?”

  “Yep. A storm.” I rubbed my temples.

  “Do you need me to come sleep by your window
tonight?”

  I drew my shoulder up to my cheek. “I'm okay. They don't scare me so much anymore. Mostly, I just get headaches.”

  “From the storm?”

  “Mm-hm.”

  “Probably something to do with static energy.”

  I nodded. “That’s Arthur’s theory.”

  “You’ve talked to him about it?”

  “I talk to him about everything.”

  “Including the secret of immunity,” he said drily.

  “No. I didn't. Not about that.”

  “Ara, don't lie to me, baby. You couldn’t hide a lie on that face if you wore a mask.”

  My lips tugged on the corners, making me smile. “Okay. Maybe. But it was an accident. He said I let something slip, but I don't even know what it was.”

  Mike became smaller beside me, his arms hanging loosely by his sides. “Does he know about David?”

  I shook my head, hugging my cardigan around me.

  “You think we should tell him?” he asked.

  My mouth gaped. “You're asking my opinion?”

  He looked back out at the grey day. “I know you’ll tell him if you want to—despite what I say. I’d just rather you told me if you were going to do that.”

  “Okay.” I touched just under the sleeve of his shirt, where his Mark showed. “I’ll give you a heads-up if I do.”

  “That’s all I ask, baby.”

  I took a breath, feeling the slight warmth of it blow back in my face with the fierce wind. “Isn't it strange that we don't have to yell over the wind anymore?”

  I heard a soft laugh beside me. “Yeah. It’s great. When we finally get a vacation one day, we should go back to Australia, go surfing. We’d be able to talk to each other in the barrel of a wave.”

  I laughed too. “Mm. That actually sounds really good. Tubetalk.”

  “Good idea. Tubetalk,” he repeated to himself.

  “It’d be nice to see your mum and dad again. I bet they’re missing you.”

  “Yeah.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and toed the sand, becoming the boy I grew up with all of a sudden. “But they’re okay. They just got a spa installed.”

  “Yeah?”

  Mike nodded.

  “Awesome. We’re staying at your house when we go back then.”