"Can you get your dragons to search for Viktor?" I asked Sebastian. Viktor was the one anomaly I couldn't combat with my Sanguis Vitam Cupitor powers. Eyes in the sky would give me some breathing space to work my seeking magic, even if the sense of relief was all in my mind.
"Of course," Sebastian said, his eyes flashing an unusual electric blue, letting me know he was somehow communicating with them. Those dragons, who had landed with him, took to the air in a synchronised move that seemed choreographed. Their wings beating in unison, setting the very air around us to a well timed beat. I could feel the pressure change with each downward stroke of wing. It felt a little surreal.
Before we made our way towards the building Gregor had scouted, I sent Yves and his team off to aid those of our vampires I had already found. Giving him direction as to where to find whom, and allowing him to split his team up as he saw fit. I didn't believe it necessary to have all of Paris' Nosferatins on top of the roof with me. My security detail could defend well enough on our own, plus Sebastian would now make up part of it. Relaying information from me to his dragons as I sought out strategic spots for them to aid or attack.
It took us almost ten minutes to make it to the roof and by the time I was calm enough to seek out Sanguis Vitam again the battle lines had shifted. Michel was still fighting the Diviner, but had been separated from Nero, who was now engaging vampires whose signatures I did not know. The Ambrosia had joined the Creator and Foreteller, in a battle that had become the main event. The Nemesis and Imposter had been joined by a contingency of ghouls, and it was clear that they had the upper hand. More ghouls were arriving across the northern end of the Pont Neuf, and would soon join in and take control of the fight.
"Sebastian," I said urgently. "We need your men on the northern end, by the Pont Neuf. We're outnumbered and more ghouls are two minutes away from annihilating the Ambrosia, Creator and Foreteller."
The dragon shifter nodded, then flashed that strange electric blue in his eyes. We all watched as the dragons came down from on high, swooping into the thick of the fight. Even from where we stood we could see the blood. The claws, the fangs, the swords and daggers. War is not pretty. It is messy and chaotic and extremely brutal. Bodies were ripped apart. Blood gushed from multiple wounds. Dust coated the ground, finally being joined by the odd crumpled form of a ghoul.
I could see no way out of this, even with the dragon shifters' aid. Their fire burnt a swath of flames across the Imposter and his men. The sounds of high pitched screams of agony filled the air. I couldn't be sure, but the island was probably devoid of human life, or simply coated in vampire mist. Even Avery would not expose our kind during such a savage struggle. Rivers of blood ran down the gutters of the old streets. Body parts of ghouls lay where they had fallen, in some places making little mountains of flesh. And dust clogged the air.
I sucked in much needed breaths in an attempt to still the nausea at what I witnessed. Nosferatins were in amongst the death and destruction. Light flashed here and there, casting shadows upon the wreckage of Avery's rage. He'd caused this. He'd brought this battle to ancient Lutetia, the Île de la Cité, home to the Iunctio's Palais. His desire to seek revenge was destroying us. Not that all of the world's population of Nosferatu and Nosferatin were here, but a good portion of it was. As well as those responsible for leading them.
This could be the end of us. This was bigger than I had anticipated, spilling over the sides of the island and starting to creep across the various bridges, towards the rest of Paris' CBD. It was like a rolling snowball, getting larger and larger, gathering dirt and debris and muck and rocks, as it tumbled uncontrolled down the side of a mountain. The bigger it got, the harder it would be to stop. And even though we hadn't lost another Councillor on our side, they hadn't lost any yet at all.
But people were dying.
Vampires. Ghouls. Dragons. Nosferatins. I couldn't feel their deaths, like I felt a Councillor's. I could see the dust of the vampires though. I could see the beheaded bodies of the ghouls. I spotted the crumpled form of a dragon, right before it reverted to human form, indicating the shifter had either lost consciousness, or looking at the amount of blood that pooled beneath him, died. And, dear Goddess, I could see several Nosferatins being drained dry.
A sob escaped my trembling lips. I should be down there. I am their Prophesied. I should be fighting at their sides. I could feel the pull. That evil-lurks-in-my-city pull. The one that tells me a Dark vampire is about to take an innocent's life. It was so strong, so close, so many. It was tearing me up inside. Eating me from inside out. Clawing at my chest. Slashing at my stomach. I doubled over on a cry of pure despair.
So many dying and Avery Rousseau, the Plucking Pervert, the cowardly bastard, wasn't even here. I couldn't see him on the island. And as desperation for revenge at what I was being forced to witness engulfed me, I sought him further afield.
Not in Vampire Central of the city.
Not in Paris.
But I found him. Somewhere he shouldn't have been.
It made no sense. Why was he there? What was there that could get at me?
My legs gave out as realisation hit me. Matthew and Kathleen. Michel's valet, Christopher. The only ones to be left at the Château.
"No," I hoarsely whispered, knowing the truth even as I tried to deny it.
I felt Michel's responding anguish, as my emotions slammed into his mind. His gentle, but urgent, sifting of my thoughts, let him know exactly what I had found. Avery Rousseau wasn't here in Paris to fight us. He was in Saint-Geoire-en-Valldaine, at Le Château.
Tell me they got away? I desperately thought at Michel.
His broken whisper in my mind, told me all I needed to know, even as his words didn't. Ma douce.
Anger, like I had never felt, welled up inside. Matthew and Kathleen had been with Michel all their lives. They were human servants who had no defence against a vampire such as Avery Rousseau. Christopher would have put up a valiant effort. Wielded a sword. Tried to protect them for as long as he could. But my gut told me Avery had not acted alone. Viktor was no doubt with him, and together the carnage they could have caused, both physically and mentally, was unreal.
I couldn't stop it. I vomited up what little was in my stomach on the rooftop at my feet. I groaned through the dry retching, feeling Natalyia hold my hair away from the spittle and Samson rub my back, but the desire to empty my stomach would not cease. I panted through the nausea, on my hands and knees. I could hear Gregor talking quietly with Matthias, who had obviously confirmed our dearest friends' deaths. Amisi's cry of distress let me know she felt as useless as me.
And still the vampires, ghouls, dragons and Nosferatins battled before us. As we mourned our fallen, condemning Avery to a painful death in our minds, they took advantage of our distraction and methodically set about ending this battle once and for all.
Michel struggled against the Diviner, who somehow knew we were weakening in the face of Avery's underhanded attack. Through tear-filled eyes I watched the two separate battles begin to merge. The Imposter and the Nemesis, drawing their fight towards the Diviner's against Michel. The sheer numbers on their side, with the ghouls in full fighting mode, would overpower us. Even with the dragons on our side, we were losing. We needed a miracle. We need the Prophesied to get down there and selectively pick off the Dark vampires with her Light.
And every cell of my being wanted to do it, but my legs wouldn't hold me. My stomach wouldn't stop heaving. And those black spots that had threatened earlier, when dizziness began to show its ugly face, were back with a vengeance.
The illness I had all but forgotten in light of all the wretched death and destruction before me, made it impossible for me to fight as I was made to fight. My Light is magnificent. Under normal circumstances I could have done it. I could have stood on the rooftop and sent bolt after bolt through their Dark undead hearts.
But not as weakened and distracted by nausea as I was.
Avery had done it. I
was sure this illness was caused by a charm or spell that he had placed on me. Knowing full well, that when crunch time came and my Light could have put a stop to it all, the illness would prevent me.
I lay down on the roof and closed my eyes, feeling like a coward for not bearing witness to the last of those who were to fall. But I could no longer hold my head up, the nausea consuming my every thought. The only reprieve was if I was lying flat on my back and perfectly still.
Goddess I felt sick and weak and ineffectual. A blubbering mess in the middle of the most horrific experience of my life.
"Lucinda," Gregor said gently at my ear. "Amisi and I will enter the battle. Do what we can."
A sob sounded from deep inside. Not them too. I knew their sacrifice would be in vain. Even as they gave their lives to prevent the deaths of others, it couldn't be stopped now. Avery had won. He had struck at the very heart of us, but covered his bases by completely incapacitating me.
I had been the jewel in our side's armour. We all knew it. Even if none of us said it. The Prophesied would step up to the plate and save the day. It's a responsibility that weighs heavily on my shoulders. But Nut would not have given it to me, unless I could carry that weight.
I reached out and grasped Gregor's hand, trying to convey the depth of regret I felt at what he was about to do.
"We'll go directly to Michel," Gregor said, his voice sounding stronger than before, as though now his mind was made up, nothing would stand in his way. "The Champion must be protected at all costs."
Yes. Protect the Champion, even as the Iunctio falls. Tears overwhelmed my eyes, my cheeks collected dust as it floated in the air and stuck to my wet face. I choked back a sob.
"Sebastian," Gregor said, standing after giving me one final hand squeeze. "Protect the Prophesied. Even if you have to pull back your teaghlach, she is now your only concern."
Sebastian murmured his understanding and I watched, through a veil of black spots and waterworks, as Gregor took Amisi's hand and began to turn away.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't watch them go to their deaths even if it meant Michel could survive. I simply couldn't do it. I tried to find my Light. It was there, it was waiting. But my efforts to direct it were clumsy, as though my fingers were numb and my aim was entirely off. A groan of delight from Samson at my side and a similar moan of ecstasy from Natalyia on the other side, let me know I was well and truly inept at wielding my Light right now. Without full control I had washed both vampires in its natural form: bliss.
Even as I sobbed with exhaustion and frustration, a bubble of hysterical laughter threatened to come up my throat. I could give all the baddies a metaphysical orgasm. It could be enough of a distraction for our side to slice off their heads, but I doubted it. My control was so non-existent that I'd likely send our team rolling around on the ground in pure rapture. No one would win.
"What are you doing?" Gregor demanded, standing over my prone form. Letting me know he hadn't left yet, and giving me a moment of relief, even as I knew it wouldn't last long. "Even I felt that," he added. "Don't waste your energy, you may need it if any get through to here."
Sound advice, but when had I ever listened to that?
"Don't go," I said, reaching up for his hand. He automatically took hold of it.
"Lucinda," he said, shaking his head. "Ma cherie, we must do what we can."
We must do what we can.
I used precious energy to locate all of the Sanguis Vitam down on the rubble strewn battle field. I sent a mind-message to Michel to stand-by, be prepared to follow my signal. I knew I couldn't wield Light. I knew I couldn't strike out at the opposition like that. But that is not all I am. I am the Prophesied. The one Nosferatin designed to balance the Dark with the Light.
There are three parts to the Prophesy. The Sanguis Vitam Cupitor, who seeks out the Dark vampires and knows where they are. The Prohibitum Bibere, who calls all the Dark vampires to her. And the Lux Lucis Tribuo, who washes them in Light, holding their Dark dear.
I was getting tired using the first one, and there was no way in hell I could master the last one. But luring a Dark vampire, I could literally do in my sleep. Most of the time, I kept that door shut, only opening the part of me that calls to them, when I am prepared. And not all of them will heed it, on a normal day. But with so much Dark around us and me being so very, very close, it would be impossible to resist. Today was not a normal day.
I'll warn the Councillors and my vampyres, ma douce, Michel said as soon as the idea formed in my mind.
I felt my guards shift to defend as soon as Michel spoke in my head. I would be weak and useless, should the vampires get through, but if we timed this right, we could trap them. Bottle neck them in the building's stairwells and lower floors. Even out on the street.
Wait five minutes, Michel said softly, imbuing a warmth in his voice that somehow made me feel better for feeling it, for reinforcements to arrive where you are, then open yourself to the Dark. We will surround them, they will be confused and caught off guard.
I nodded, but I think he felt the sentiment through the Bond even if he couldn't see the act. It was getting difficult to stay conscious, my exhaustion making it almost unbearable to stay awake. Gregor must have told Amisi, because she wrapped herself around the back of me, sitting me up slightly, so I didn't feel as inclined to drift off to sleep. And then she began talking at me, whenever my head drooped to the side. Giving a shake here and there when needed, and encouragement that I could do this, when she felt my emotions dip low.
Five minutes felt like five hours, and to those still battling down in the rubble it was surely five hours in hell. But finally Gregor gave the signal and I flicked the latch on that door in my mind, that usually stayed firmly closed.
And felt the weight of hundreds of Dark vampires as their conscious minds all turned towards me.
Hunger.
Desire.
Desperation.
Need.
A whimper escaped me just as they all turned as one, and flashed to our street.
Chapter 33
Good Versus Evil
The direct space around me on the rooftop was a blur. But with my mind open, with the Prohibitum Bibere powers switched on and blinking bright in the night sky, I could see it all unfold in crystal clear definition in my head.
It wasn't like a movie, or like the images Michel sends on occasion to my brain, showing me what he is doing. It was on a whole other plane. My powers are Goddess given and Nut is not of this world. So whatever it is that I do, is from her, from there. Maybe Elysium is that other plane. Maybe that was what I was seeing now. It was similar to what I see when I use my Sanguis Vitam Cupitor power, which appears as a map in my mind dotted with flashing red lights, but also different. More detailed, but less defined than real life.
It was real, but not real. Clear, but not clear. I couldn't make out the surrounding area, such as the paving on the street, or the colour of the bricks on the building at their backs. I couldn't see their faces, tell if they were blonde, or brunette, or red haired. Their clothes were non-existent. But I could see the colour of their eyes as their Sanguis Vitam flowed. And that's all I needed to see, because even though they weren't fully corporeal in my mind, I knew them. I recognised them. On this other plane they were familiar, their Sanguis Vitam signature all I needed to see to know where they were, what they were doing, how they were acting.
And how they met their final death.
Usually when I call or lure a Dark vampire to me, I wash them in my Light. I take their Dark and hold it dear. Give them a chance to choose right over wrong, good over evil. This time I wouldn't be doing that, and part of me screamed in frustration and guilt that I was calling these Dark vampires to me and not offering what they sought. I was using my powers in a way they were not intended to be used. Outside of the parameters of the Prophesy.
What would my Goddess think? How could I do this and live with myself afterwards?
How could I not
? If I hadn't have done this, they would have won. Was winning at all costs that important?
As I lay there, unable to move on that rooftop, I struggled with what I had set in motion. It was entirely my choice, my decision, my action. If my Goddess struck out, it was only what I deserved. My body was failing me and right in that moment, my mind threatened to shut down as well. The guilt was incredible. The remorse even worse.
But what really made it hard to breathe was the fact that I knew, faced with the same situation again, I would not change a thing. And in the end, I told myself, it didn't really matter that I wasn't washing them in my Light. That I wasn't using the Prophesy powers as they had been intended. The Prophesy only occurred when the balance of good and evil was tipped. When Dark threatened to consume our world. It was designed to halt Dark's progress, to balance that inequity out.
Right now, Dark was winning. I would have liked to have exchanged it for my Light, but there simply wasn't time. And I simply wasn't strong enough. And really, would my Goddess hold that against me? I think not. Dark was about to drastically tip those scales. Light was about to take a hit that it may not recover from.
And I knew, I wasn't destroying all of the Dark, because where there is Light there will always be Dark. I was just doing what the Prophesy was here to do. Just not in the way it had been set out.
If Nut knew me at all by now, she'd know I don't follow all the rules.
So, I settled my heart, cleared my mind and banished the guilt. And watched as Dark vampire after Dark vampire got caught in the Prohibitum Bibere's trap. Tears still coursed down my cheeks and the odd hitched sob escaped my lips. I could accept what was happening, but it didn't mean I liked it. Sometimes you had to do things you hated, to do what you knew was right.
Maybe that was politics. Maybe that was what Michel had been trying to teach me for so long now. Good could come out of this new order Michel had envisaged, but to get there, we had to undertake... harsh actions such as this.
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