We stood back to back on top of what was left of the Château and took in the multiple horrific scenes before us. A small part of me enormously relieved that Avery hadn't been sitting there patiently waiting for our arrival, that was soon crushed by the sheer enormity of it all. Blood coated the grass and driveway. Roars of rage and battle met our ears.
It was just as bad, maybe worse, than Paris, because it was obvious from the start that we were outnumbered by far. We'd been so sure of our superior positioning, luring Avery to us, setting the scene of the battle thinking it would benefit us and not them. But Avery had turned the tables on us. He had ghouls, but he also had more vampires, as so many of ours were still trying to dig themselves free of the rubble Natalyia, Samson and I now stood upon.
"Holy fuck," I muttered under my breath. Natalyia offered her own Russian expletive to mine.
Carnage lay before us. Coated in desperation and a dawning realisation that we couldn't win this. We didn't stand a chance.
"Can you pick them off with your Light?" Samson asked hopefully.
"I could manage a few, possibly even as much as half. I'd be useless afterwards though," I admitted, fully prepared to do it if I thought it would make a difference. But I was already forming a different plan in my mind.
The key to tipping the scales back towards us, was to cut off the head. I couldn't seek Viktor, he lay outside of my Sanguis Vitam Cupitor skills. But I didn't need to, because Viktor was fighting Michel, with his army of ghouls.
But, I could seek Avery. It was a very simple thing to do.
So, Avery hadn't been lying in wait for me, hadn't in fact sought me out to find his revenge. That didn't mean he didn't want to. And who was I to deny the Dark vampire his chance.
If the mountain won't come to Lucinda. Then Lucinda must go to the mountain instead.
Chapter 38
Calling On Connections
Bastardised ellipsis proverb aside, I knew I could do this. I was unsure, though, if I could sustain a selective Light blast, picking off each of those vampires consumed in the Dark. But seeking out Avery and confronting him. I could do. I just needed a little backup in order to pull this one off.
"You guys ready?" I asked, the vampires at my side.
Natalyia just nodded her eagerness to get down there and start fighting, but Samson, maybe knowing me a little better than the Russian, asked, "To do what?"
"To cut off the head," I announced, letting myself sink into that black nothingness and seek Avery out.
Both vampires' Sanguis Vitam accumulated on the air beside me, well aware of what I was planning now with those simple words. Maybe Natalyia did know me pretty well, because like Samson, she didn't try to talk me out of this. I had thought they would. On instructions from Michel to keep me safe, but Natalyia was a trained Russian killer. Had been all of her long undead life. And Samson, like most vampires, prided himself on his prowess - which also included the prowess of the Mistress of his line.
Vampires like a show of power, and although they would lay down their lives to protect me while I undertook this, they would also respect my desire to do what was right. And they would do everything in their power to ensure I had the space to achieve it, by watching my back, while I attacked a Dark vampire.
Finding him was easy, like calling his name on the air and watching to see which vampire turned towards the voice. But the calling was all done in my head, using my powers to seek out his Sanguis Vitam. Even if I hadn't have been joined to Avery at one stage, I would have been able to find him with ease. I knew his signature inside and out, the only difference being the level of Dark it now displayed.
"He's almost all Dark," I said under my breath to no one in particular. It wouldn't change what we were about to do, it meant little to Natalyia and Samson at my side, but saying it aloud made it real. And right then I needed reality to ground me, in face of all that seething hatred and power.
He wouldn't have known I was seeking him, he might have guessed I would once free of the Château’s rubble. And perhaps he was watching us standing here and knew what was coming. I would, no doubt, not have the element of surprise. But he couldn't run from me either. And he couldn't hide.
"Over by the trees," I announced, still seeking. "He's got twenty vampires around him, varying levels of Sanguis Vitam, from four up to one." Masters in every degree. "Can you handle twenty Masters?"
"I'm sending a text message to Sergei," Natalyia announced, instead of answering my question. "He'll meet us there."
"I've got one out to Matthias," Samson said, not surprising me he had my other vampire guard on speed dial.
"Keep this from Michel," I instructed, not wanting Michel to be distracted by my plans when battling Viktor Davydov and his ghouls, and needing Samson to make sure Matthias kept the news to himself and didn't share with his Master.
"Done," Samson returned.
"Good," I replied, rolling my shoulders and fingering the hilt of my sword. "No time like the present. He's waiting." And he was. He could see us from where he was standing. He'd be well aware of what was about to go down.
We flashed towards them. My speed unparalleled from previous efforts on my part. I'd flashed to Michel at Amisi and Gregor's joining. I obviously had the ability now, but until then had never been that fast before. Maybe because I knew I could call on that kind of speed, I was more able to do so. I don't know, but within seconds we were there and my sword was coming down against that of one of Avery's vampires.
The clang of metal on metal shot through the air, mingling with the growl of vampires and the crackle of Sanguis Vitam on the air. Natalyia and Samson flanked me, I could see Sergei flashing in from the side, but as yet no Marcus or Matthias. Perhaps they were still buried. We hadn't thought of that when the text went out, and I forced myself not to think of that oversight being our downfall now.
I renewed my efforts to get through the throng of vampires protecting Avery. Slashing and parrying each sword blade that met my strikes. Precious seconds were being wasted reaching him, as he stood perfectly immobile, watching with hooded jade and amber eyes. He looked immaculate, as he always did. Perfectly dressed in the latest fashion, auburn hair combed neatly, goatee beard trimmed to an exacting standard and just right.
He watched on, as I battled furiously, without a care in the world. An almost bored expression on his face. His own Sanguis Vitam held closely, within reach should the need to strike out occur, but completely contained for now. He didn't need to expend energy fighting, his vampire guards were doing that for him. And wearing me down.
I knew then, that he'd wait for me to tire, then step through the last of his vampires and finish me off. He was also counting on my illness to drain me, I was sure. He'd planned this to the end. He knew how to weaken me. He knew too much about how I would act and how I would fight. It was like battling an all-knowing god. Someone with insurmountable powers who knew absolutely everything there was to know about me.
It wasn't a trap I had walked willingly into. It just was what it was, so I continued to dig deep and swipe out with my sword. My body jarred when an opposition's blade blocked mine. Bruises started to blossom across my flesh from fisted strikes with clawed hands. My knees scraped painfully when I lost my balance and landed hard in the dirt. Skin was torn open as I rolled away beneath the lengthened fangs of a vampire trying to take advantage of my compromised position. My shoulder wrenched painfully, pulling a curse and barely muted scream from my lips, as I was spun out by someone's crushing grip on my wrist. Bones threatened to fracture under the continued and unrelenting onslaught from the other side, but I still fought on. Determined and desperate to get to him.
And finally my blood ran freely when a vampire's dagger came too close as my tired arms lowered my sword. I rallied, with the bitter sting of the slice in my flesh, and called on my Light and a fraction of the Iunctio's combined power. But Avery was calling on that same Iunctio power too. And the more I called on it, the more he did.
&nbs
p; He didn't need it, he wasn't fighting. But if he called on it, it wasn't there for when I did as well. He was simply blocking my access to what little remained of the available Iunctio power. All the Councillors here fighting tooth and nail against an enormous enemy, requiring power boosts such as I. The Iunctio only had so much to give, monitored to make sure it was never drained completely. Sharing it based on length of service and position held on the Council. The Champion would get first take, followed by the Keeper - who wasn't even here, but for all we knew may be needing it right now - and then the rest of the Councillors depending on how long they had served the Iunctio.
Avery had been a Councillor longer than me. So, he got first shot at the share of power, blocking my attempts with ease.
I gave up on calling on it. It had never been designed to be shared with so many at once. The others could need it more than me, and if I stopped calling on it, then maybe Avery would too. Freeing it up for the Ambrosia, the Creator and the Foreteller. Who all had battles of their own, whether still trapped in the rubble or fighting for their lives right now.
Instead, I used the Bond to Michel. Avery and I had never had a Bond when we'd been forced to join. Maybe that's why he didn't expect me to rebound so effectively right now. He had never experienced a true kindred joining. He didn't understand the depth of perfection, the solace and comfort one could seek from the connection kindreds shared. It offered unconditional support, boosting weaknesses, strengthening assets. Using whatever was necessary to protect the other, to make them stronger.
A true kindred joining is meant to do that. Together we are stronger, apart we grow weak. Avery didn't comprehend this, so when my strikes became more focused and the force of each thrust started to make a dent in the wall of vampires around him, I saw the look of shock on his face. He'd thought to count me out with the illness he'd subjected me too. But even that, in the end, was counter balanced by the Bond connection to my sacred soul mate. To my kindred.
I'd known how beautiful a kindred joining was, but in that moment I truly saw it.
Exhaustion left me. Nausea fled. Even the bruises and cuts and scrapes I'd accumulated disappeared from my mind. My Light thrummed and started to shine brilliantly around us, and I suddenly realised, I could blast each and every one and not fall down flat on my face afterwards.
Within a split second of realising that, I drew what I could through the Bond - such a strong, vibrant and healthy kindred joining - and shot out with my Light, targeting each and every Dark vampire on Avery's team.
It's a harsh way to do battle. I'm not even facing my enemy when they fall from my strike. Like Dream Walking, they don't see what hits them, until they feel the slice through their heart. When I Dream Walk, I stake them; unseeing, not sensed, unheard. But when I target so many with my Light, the slice is a little supernatural and a whole lot metaphysical.
They fell to the ground, then burst into dust... in five seconds flat.
All that was left to battle were the ghouls, and our vampires could handle those with ease. Oh, and Viktor. As per usual, he'd been left out of my Sanguis Vitam Cupitor search. But I was sure, without the distraction of the Dark vampires, Michel and his men could handle the Russian vamp.
It will be my pleasure, Michel whispered in my mind, allowing me a glimpse of his pride in my abilities and his joy in the strength of our Bond.
The Bond had allowed this to transpire. Without a perfect joining with my kindred, I wouldn't be facing off against Avery right now and feeling so healthy and full of Light. Despite wearing a bedraggled satin dress, being covered in dust and dirt, and bleeding from several scrapes and cuts. I felt alive. And powerful. So full of Light I could have lit the night sky for miles on end.
"Why not strike me like you have them?" Avery spat, from his crouched position. Ready to defend or attack, whichever would serve him best. His fangs were down, his eyes had passed that amber, ochre and jade state, and moved on to an unattractive rusty red. I was sure, had he known how hideous his eye colouring was right now, he'd be mortified. But he really had bigger issues to deal with than his less than perfectly presentable state.
"I have a few questions first," I said reasonably, allowing my Light to continue to thrum between us, feeling the comfort of the Bond holding me steady and strong in the face of such anger and hatred rolling off Avery just then. His Sanguis Vitam pulsed, threatening to attack, but even he must have known the futility of doing that. Sergei, Samson and Natalyia had their swords to his throat. One twitch of their blades and his head would be lost.
"I won't answer them," he said with derision. As though I was crazy to consider he would humour me in the end.
I begged to differ. Avery loved the sound of his own voice and gloating was always something he could never refuse himself.
"Fine. I would have thought, though, that you'd be at least curious as to how I combated the illness," I said, twirling my Svante sword in my grip nonchalantly.
I had been right, he couldn't stop himself commenting. But what he said, was not what I expected at all.
"What illness?"
The Svante stopped spinning, giving away my unease. A rookie mistake I hadn't made in years, but the honesty in his reply was undeniable. I can't sense lies, some vamps can. None of my line are expert at it, so I couldn't check with them. But I was sure he wasn't lying, so sure in fact that I showed my alarm by gripping my sword and lifting the tip to his throat. Avery Rousseau didn't even know I had been ill.
Then who had cast the spell?
A smirk formed on Avery's lips; a twist at the edges that turned his reluctantly handsome features into a grotesque mask of evil intent.
"It appears you have pissed off more than just me, Ms Monk," he said in a self satisfied purr.
Could it have been Viktor? Acting alone and Avery had not been aware?
"Whoever did this to you was not one of mine," Avery offered, clearly wanting to talk now because the more he said the more panic swelled inside. And I had forgotten the Plucking Pervert could randomly read thoughts, obviously just reading mine.
"Get out of my head, Avery," I shot back, falling into old habits as my grip on my Light slipped with the dawning realisation I had yet another enemy to combat. The Bond had been doing a brilliant job at bolstering my energy, keeping me strong when I clearly should have passed out from overuse of my Light by now. But with the panic came cracks in its efficacy. The exhaustion and nausea of before starting to seep in.
I tried to ignore it. I tried to pull on more Light, but my body didn't want that. It wanted rest, food, and a soothing atmosphere. Not facing off against a Dark vampire on a bloody battlefield, surrounded by carnage and vampire dust. The Bond remained, but the connection that allowed me to stay so strong when I was clearly, underneath it all, so weak, snapped.
And in an embarrassing show of that weakness I collapsed to the ground in a heaving and slightly panting heap. Bile rose up my throat, aches and pains from the battle overtook my composure and Avery seized the only opportunity that would be presented to him, and struck out with force.
The distraction of my deteriorating state allowed him to get a solid blast of Sanguis Vitam in. But not before Samson threw himself in the line of fire, taking the brunt of the blast and sparing me. And not before Sergei and Natalyia, spun around in a well practised synchronised move, and thrust their swords towards each other, coming together at precisely the right time.
Blade scraped against blade, sending a ringing sound out as contact was made. A whispered breath between them, as they sliced through their target in unison. And severed Avery's head from its body. The head rolled away in one direction, as his body, suspended for a brief moment in time, fell to the ground in another.
And then, in an unusual flash of Light, joined the dust of his vampire guards on the ground.
Silence met Avery Rousseau's end. Even the battle that had been continuing over by the drawbridge seemed to have ceased as well. With Avery dead, his hold over Viktor was lost. And
although Viktor had been a powerful vampire in his own right, his abilities had been bolstered by the Interrogator. And once lost, Viktor's time was at an end.
Michel took his head, not long after Avery's had fallen. The ghouls immediately released of their compulsion and facing off against angry vampires without any desire to fight them anymore. Michel checked on me through our connection, letting me see what was happening his end, then turned his attention to the Councillors with him, instructing they deal with the now cowering ghouls.
Within another breath Michel was beside me, his hands running over my battered body protectively, his Sanguis Vitam washing out and healing every ailment in its path. Except the nausea and exhaustion, for some reason even he couldn't reach that. I was still sitting in the dirt, breathing too heavily, trying to master my control over the need to empty my stomach right then. Michel was kneeling down beside me and had wrapped me up in his arms, softly cradling me, whispering encouraging words and kissing my temple in amongst my hair.
The comfort I received from those simple measures outshone even the Bond when it had been working at its best.
"It is done," Michel said, voicing what every remaining vampire and Nosferatin wanted to hear. "The uprising is over, the Iunctio has been left intact."
I breathed out a relieved breath. It had been close. The Dark had almost won, but in the end, we sustained only a relatively small loss in numbers, but even their fates were keenly felt. As yet we hadn't tallied up the final deaths, but the loss of Christopher, Kathleen and Matthew would always be what I thought of when I remembered this day.
Avery Rousseau had a lot to answer for, but thank the Goddess, he was now dead.
Samson staggered to a standing position, letting us all know he was going to be OK, but at the same time, how much damage Avery's blast of Sanguis Vitam had caused. He looked pained, but was healing and still with us. For now that was something to be grateful for at least.
Kiss of the Dragon Page 38