by Peter Dawes
The thought caused my stomach to sink. I drew from my cigarette and exhaled slowly, pensively. “Did you fear her turning me toward dark magic as well?”
“More than feared. I saw it as an inevitability. And brother, a vampire like you has not existed for an entire millennium and should not, for very good reason. One dalliance and it would have enslaved you. And for you to be enchanted would be a catastrophe. We could face the brink of extinction again.”
“So, a human sorcerer became a vampire and because of this I am a danger.”
Robin shook his head. “Far beyond that, dear brother. A human sorcerer became a dark magician – an immortal dark magician – and unbalanced the natural order in such a manner that his adversaries formed something as formidable as the Supernatural Order. A being such as you is capable of great calamity. All of us can wield one form of magic, brother. You can wield them both.”
Reaching forward, I tapped the ash from the cigarette into a crystal dish on the side table, my turn this time to stall. “I had no grand designs even as an assassin, though,” I said, my voice subdued. “You say calamity and I cannot fathom what would push me into such a descent.”
“Don’t underestimate the actions of desperate people. This is what has separated you from your witch.” He raised an eyebrow at me, but I pretended not to see it, waiting for him to relax before making eye contact again. A frown tugged at the corners of his lips as we regarded each other in silence. “I am not saying you had any delusions of grandeur. I couldn’t go through with your death for this very reason. And I assume this is the only reason the Order allowed you to live for so long.”
“Granted. And saving the entirety of the Seattle Headquarters from slaughter at least brought me over to their side.” A plume of smoke billowed past my lips after I drew from my cigarette again. I sighed. “Even if I had taken the bait left to me by Ian, what harebrained scheme would have been devised around my potential for destruction? That is the part in all of this which confuses me. I have no such imagination.”
“You could very well have no need for it. This is precisely what I feared. That taking one step down this path might open doors none of us are aware of… Might reveal the truth of a hundred other myths and that alone made me believe I might need to bring about your demise.” Robin’s frown deepened. “You cannot tell me that isn’t at least a remote possibility.”
We held a steady gaze, neither of us looking away for the span of several seconds. A lump formed in my throat, swallowed down only with a great deal of effort on my part. I attempted to fathom such a concept, and found myself revisiting words given to me by Ian when he had me pinned to the chair by blade point.
“You are unique. The first of your kind to walk the earth in centuries. And yet, you are more than just some simpleton seer. The immortal kiss was given to a being with such power, the mortals should be dropping to their knees… Your powers could unseat the humans and bring the vampire collective to the place where they belong.”
“One of you was not meant to be one of us,” I murmured as ash dropped onto my hand, distracting me from the sobering thought enough to brush it off. With a grumble, I snuffed out the cigarette. “Well, Ian seemed convinced of some power I could wield, that much is for certain.”
“All the more reason why the Fates have set you on this path, I suppose?” Robin said, reaching for his glass and polishing off the remainder of its contents. Rising to his feet, he walked it over to the table and placed it beside the nearly-emptied carafe. “You were in pursuit of Ian’s last known whereabouts. I think this is more than a search for your witch. If Ian felt bold enough to challenge the High Council, then I agree he had some ace up his sleeve.”
“Perhaps it would have been better if you had ended me.”
“I don’t believe so any longer.” He looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “You are not now as you once were. I listened to the elders speak those words to me, envisioning the assassin who had no love for humanity. Your old self would have reveled in it. Vampire kind being given a weapon against the order, against the entirety of the human race? You would have watched the blood spill and be driven into madness.”
A harrowing shiver overwhelmed me, forcing me to take a sharp breath inward. Try as I did to deny it, I had to admit my brother was right. Perhaps not while yet the assassin, but when Sabrina held my soul in her icy grip, I could have been tempted into sins far worse than what I orchestrated. I had even spoken those words to Rose, of being the tool behind Sabrina’s grand ambitions.
It only made me latch further onto the humanity I had begun to embrace in recent days. “I would never do such a thing.”
“While I agree, you must be mindful of the ground you tread upon, Peter. If this is our mission, I doubt Ian is the only one who would try to seduce you toward the darkness.”
“They would find themselves even more unsuccessful than Ian.” I rose to my feet, no longer in the mood to indulge even the hypothetical proposition of my turning evil. My mind floundered for a change in topic. “I should make good on calling the Order.”
“If you insist.”
Nodding, I stood, taking the moment to evaluate the room under the guise of looking for the phone. Heavy shades protected the windows, but even I could feel dawn creeping into my bones, lulling me toward rest. Whether Robin sensed either my search or the same lateness, he took a step toward the bedroom before adding, “There’s a phone on a nightstand in the sleeping area. Better to make yourself comfortable. There isn’t any place we could go at this hour, anyway.”
My attention diverted back to Robin as he started on the buttons of his vest. “Agreed,” I said, following after while untucking my shirt as if on reflex. A groan of fatigue threatened to rise to the surface, held down by sheer will as I realized the night had caught up to me at last. We emerged into a more secluded area of the suite, containing two full-sized beds, a dresser, and the aforementioned nightstand with an antique rotary phone resting on the top.
Robin tossed his vest onto a chair which faced the only other piece of furniture in the room – a small writing desk replete with blotter and stationary. His jacket had already been draped across the back. “If you could grant me a request, brother, before you call your compatriots,” he said, turning to face me.
I perked an eyebrow, proceeding to unbutton my shirt. “What concession might that be?” I asked, sliding one arm out from its sleeve before tugging off the rest of the garment.
My brother hesitated, glancing away for a brief moment before looking back at me. “Could you keep my presence with you secret? You will undoubtedly have to tell them you have a companion… Or a friend…” He gestured with his hand and finally gave up and lowered it again. “However you would be apt to phrase it. Just don’t tell them that it’s me.”
“Of course.”
Robin flashed a coy smile at me and turned his back, sitting on the edge of one bed and methodically pulling off his shoes. I watched for just a moment, then finally tossed my shirt aside and took hold of the phone’s receiver. Dialing the number I had been given for the main building, I sat on my bed and listened for somebody to pick up on the other line.
I did not recognize the male voice on the other line. “Main dispatch,” he said. “How can I direct your call?”
“Yes, I would like to speak with Malcolm Davies or Kaylee Alexander,” I said.
“Are you a seer or a sorcerer?”
“Seer. Peter Dawes is my name.”
“Oh! Oh, right the vampire. Uh, I think Mr. Davies and Ms. Alexander are still asleep, but if you’d like to leave a message with me, you can.”
I perked an eyebrow at his use of the word vampire. Robin produced a soft snicker. I could not be entirely certain it was directed at the man on the other line. “Yes, please inform them I am still in the city but sought other accommodations for the morning.”
“Were you given a card to use for your expenses?”
“No, I asked for pocket money. Anything further sh
all not be necessary.”
“Anything further…” He repeated the words as if actually copying down my message verbatim. “Right. And will you need the use of a watcher?”
I bristled at the thought. As Robin stood and pulled his partially-opened shirt over his head, I shot him a smirk. “No, I have a guide, thank you. Nothing further shall be necessary.”
My brother glanced over at me, raising an eyebrow. I maintained the expression on my face while he merely blinked back. “Uh, alright,” the messenger boy said on the other end. “No watcher requested. Is there anything else, Mr. Dawes?”
“That was all, thank you. I shall be certain to check back before I leave Seattle.”
The man on the other line responded with, “Sounds good,” but I had already moved the receiver away from my ear and replaced it onto its cradle. The corner of Robin’s mouth curled in a curious grin while I shrugged, kicking off my shoes and falling back onto the bed. I slipped both hands beneath my head and glanced back in his direction. “The nerve of some people,” I said. “Attempting to saddle me with another watcher.”
“Heathens, the lot of them.” He chuckled and turned his back to me again, finishing the task of undressing while I shifted my focus back up to the ceiling. “It truly is good to see you, Peter,” he said. “I have missed your refreshing candor.”
“As I have yours.” Something about the sentiment made it difficult for me to return it with as much enthusiasm as it had been issued. Guilt remained a nagging presence, still eating away at me in smaller bits than it had before. My mind returned to our conversation, adding a measure of trepidation to the pot. “I cannot fathom the ways of the cosmos sometimes. The first immortal seer in a millennium. Could that truly be the case?”
“Immortal light magician, period, and it would seem that way. There’s always the chance that previous attempts have been made and failed spectacularly. In so far as I know, though, you’re the first of the Order’s darlings to ever cross the River Styx and emerge on the other side with fangs.”
“That only troubles me all the more.”
“Let it be sobering, dear brother, not paralyzing.” Robin switched off the light. I heard the sound of him slipping into bed and let out a sigh, staring into the darkness for a few additional moments. Whether or not he saw my eyes or simply sensed my restlessness, Robin shifted and I turned my head to see him under the covers, resting on an elbow while regarding me. “Get some rest,” he said. “Something tells me we have a long journey ahead of us.”
I flashed a wan smile. “I share the sentiment,” I said.
He nodded and slid back onto his side. “Good morning, Peter.”
“Good morning, Robin.”
Our final exchange lingered in the air as Robin’s expression relaxed into the repose of slumber. I stole a steadying breath once I was certain he was asleep, allowing more of my mask to slip. The past twenty-four hours had been enough to jostle even the most stalwart person and I had no time to allow any of it to process before I needed to press forward.
Tomorrow was another evening.
My eyes finally shut, my mind still turning around the entire notion until I forced my thoughts to linger on Monica. At this, I wondered how she might be faring, wishing I could be with her in more than just my dreams. These thoughts bore at least promise that while the road ahead might be fraught with troublesome discovery, I had a prize waiting for me on the other side. ‘Good morning, Dearest,’ I added to myself, inside the sanctuary of my mind.
Then finally, I fell asleep.
Chapter Four
“I think you have a death wish, dear brother,” Robin said while slowly exhaling a sigh. “We are about to rouse a vampire coven master less than an hour after sunset.”
“Hardly my fault if he is late to rise,” I said, coat closed to hide my arsenal of weapons and sunglasses affixed over my eyes once more. The silence of a derelict alley wrapped us in its chaotic embrace, the air bearing the undercurrent of so many immortals gathered on the other side of the door. “Are you going to knock or not?”
“I will just as soon as I am assured you will play the role assigned.” He raised an eyebrow without glancing at me. “Bodyguard. And those stay silent as much as possible when in the presence of elders, am I clear?”
“Crystal.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is this how much of an obnoxious twit you were going to be if I had followed through with being your guard before all of this happened?”
“Neither of us will know for certain now, will we?”
“Would you please knock?” He glanced at me with an impassive expression, still and unwavering. Finally, I sighed and took a step backward, hand extending to point at the door. “I promise not to interject unless I deem it absolutely necessary. Is that acceptable?”
“It will do.” He lifted a hand and rapt his knuckles upon the door with three hard strokes, lowering his arm afterward and waiting with me for a response.
I glanced nervously around the surrounding buildings again, noting this to be the image I had stolen of Ian’s last known whereabouts. So far, the pieces seemed to be fitting into place. Fire escapes led up to the rooftops, the scent of the salt air on the wind while a light drizzle had started to descend. My mind veered from one recollection to another, flashing back to my brother’s brief exchange with the innkeeper. “So, you did a bit of traveling for a while?” I asked.
A wistful smile tugged at the corners of Robin’s mouth. “Travel was all I knew for many decades. It took our mistress settling in Philadelphia for me to plant roots for so long.” He motioned to continue talking, but the lock on the other side engaged and the barrier separating us from the inside swung open. The transformation was instantaneous; my brother went from relaxed to regal again without missing a beat. “Good evening,” he said. “I trust I am not catching you at an inconvenient moment. I simply wanted to say hello to your master while I was in town.”
The man who stood on the other side of the threshold looked less-than-pleased to see us. His brown eyes bored into Robin, the silence turning tense as he first regarded my brother, then turned his sights upon me. I straightened my posture under the examination, but the tall, stocky man appeared unimpressed. “Who requests Master Zachary’s attention?” he asked, looking back at Robin.
“Michael O’Shane, of the house of Sabrina. He and I have not visited for some time and I thought to call upon him.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“No, I can’t say that he is. What is your name, sir?”
“Vincent,” the other man responded. It was the first moment I saw the guard’s presumed authority waver.
“Well, Vincent, if you might lead me to his private quarters so I can take my presence up with your master himself.” Robin raised an eyebrow at him. “Unless you have forgotten how to conduct yourself in the presence of one older than you.”
The guard bristled, but stepped aside and extended his hand to indicate we should enter. Robin did so first, nodding his appreciation to Vincent as he made his way inside. When I tried to enter, though, Vincent pressed a hand into my chest, stopping me.
“Why is he armed?” he asked, glancing at Robin.
I sighed at being manhandled, but remained quiet while Robin paused and turned to face us. He glanced at me before looking back at Vincent. “Peter is my escort,” he said, his tone of voice suggesting this much should have been evident. “Rumor has it you have rogue seers about. All the more reason for him to be armed, wouldn’t you think?”
Vincent turned to face me again, scrutinizing me for a few tense seconds. I perked an eyebrow back at him and he huffed. “Leave the weapons with me. They’ll be returned when you leave.”
‘Well, fuck,’ I thought, glancing at Robin and inwardly groaning when he nodded. He lifted a hand to tap two fingers against his temple and I had to nod in response. Yes, I did still have psychic abilities at my disposal. I grew loathe to think, though, of being thrust into a fight without at least one blade to my cred
it.
With an eyebrow perked, I pushed my coat open enough to loosen the sword’s strap. Passing it to the doorman, I frowned when this did not seem to placate him. He nodded toward my coat. “The knives, too,” he said while handing my sword off to another guard descending stairs leading to the upper floors. The other vampire raised an eyebrow, but Vincent shook his head, as if to say the matter would be discussed later.
I bristled. “Both daggers and sword?” I asked. “You leave me an impotent guard.” Removing the knives, I did not bother to turn the handles to face him. He took them anyway, clutching them close to the hilts and gesturing with one hand for me to enter. I grumbled as the door swung shut behind me. “I do hope no ill befalls my master while under your roof.”
“You’ll be fine.” His voice bore a mocking tone as he passed the knives off to the other guard as well. “There won’t be any seers entering this place tonight.”
“I instantly feel relieved.” A sarcastic grin spread across my face until my gaze met with Robin’s. He glared sternly and I sobered, tempted to roll my eyes and barely resisting the urge. Still, I followed him and Vincent inward, minding my manners as we ignored the stairs ascending upward in favor of a smaller, downward set. A short hallway opened up to a large room and once again, I was reminded I had walked into a vampire roost.
The common area did not boast as much rowdiness as Ian’s coven, but the earliness of the hour suggested that to be the culprit. It still hosted a sizeable compliment of immortals, though, conducting hushed conversations as we walked along the edge of the room. Leather couches and chairs provided seating to them, with hardwood floors under their feet dotted by the occasional area rug. The presence of hanging lamps added to the intimate feel of the room, while also providing enough light to compensate for the dark lenses I wore.
The occupants of the room trained their sights on us when our movement captured their attention. Robin nodded in acknowledgment, and while the gesture caused them to relax, they refused to look away during the duration of our trek. I tensed under the scrutiny, relaxing only when we disappeared out another set of doors leading to an adjoining corridor. Turning left, we headed toward a shut door being flanked by two other guards, one female, the other male.