“Thanks for turning on the heat. I’m freezing.” Vanora grimaced. “I didn’t mean to break the windshield.”
“How did that happen?” Sheila asked, glancing briefly at Alexander, who matched her look.
“My power...” Vanora answered, lowering her eyes.
Armando was both proud but worried about Vanora’s ever-growing abilities. He hated that she had no one to guide her.
“She was upset about the mansion burning, and her magic went a little haywire.” Pushing the soda toward Vanora, Armando wished he’d ordered coffee for her instead. The ice inside the container clinked loudly.
Vanora sucked on her drink nosily, looking embarrassed. “It was either the window or Armando.”
Sheila’s eyes flashed red. “Really?
Vanora fussed with her scarf, obviously not wanting to respond. The growing tension in the room already had Armando on edge. It only made sense that he’d be under suspicion after the revelation that Aeron was Carlotta’s Master. It was only a matter of time before Vanora and the others uncovered that he, too, was Aeron’s creation.
“You need to eat, Vanora.” Armando ignored the other two vampires, concentrating on the pale young woman next to her.
Hands trembling, Vanora extracted the cooling hamburger and fries from the crumpled bag. Her lips had a bluish cast, and her eyes were lined with red. Worried, Armando rested an arm about her shoulders and dragged her into his side. He’d emanate body warmth for a little longer, and he willingly offered it to her. Vanora gratefully nestled against him and forced food into her mouth. It was rather endearing to Armando how she tore bits of her hamburger off to eat instead of bringing the sandwich up to her mouth.
“No one can find us here, right?” Vanora asked between bites and a few fragrant fries.
Alexander shrugged.
Sheila sighed. “Who knows? I’m not sure anyone made it out other than Alexander and me.”
Armando winced while Vanora choked on her soda.
“No one?” Vanora whispered.
“Are you certain?” The sinking feeling inside Armando intensified. This night truly was the end of all that Roman had created. That thought created great remorse within Armando, but he was also glad that Roman hadn’t witnessed the fall of his family.
Sheila exchanged looks with Alexander. The mute vampire shook his head soberly.
“I doubt it. You don’t know what it was like in there,” Sheila said at last. “Or do you?”
Vanora paused, a fry hovering before her lips. Her lavender eyes flicked toward Armando.
“I’ve been in vampire battles. I know what they’re like. Aeron is powerful. I know that the likelihood of others surviving is very slim.” It was the truth. It felt good to be able to speak honestly. Armando was sick of lying to friends.
“And you know Aeron?” Sheila’s words were barbed with distrust.
“All the vampires of Europe know of Aeron. Many don’t dare speak his name out of fear.” Again the truth, but also a diversion. Let them think he was fearful of mentioning Aeron instead of being bound by his Master’s edict.
Sheila arched her brows while Alexander took the moment of silence to sit across from Vanora and Armando. The mute vampire’s gaze was speculative and dangerous. He cast a significant look in Sheila’s direction.
“We need to talk, Armando. You and me. Now.” Sheila pointed up a narrow hallway.
“Sheila,” Vanora started.
“Look, love, I know he’s your boyfriend or whatever, but I don’t give a rat’s ass right now. I want answers to questions I have about tonight. And I want him to answer them away from you.” Sheila’s boots thumped against the floor as she hopped off the counter.
“Why?” Vanora’s hand settled on Armando’s thigh, her fingertips digging in.
“Because if he comes with me willingly, away from you, I’ll be more inclined to believe what he’s saying.”
“How does that make sense? He could lie to you either way?”
Panic laced her words, and it hurt Armando to see her fear.
“But him coming with me will show that he’s willing to leave you in Alexander’s care and I won’t worry about him suddenly absconding with you.”
“He rescued you!” Vanora protested.
“We hijacked your getaway car,” Sheila reminded her.
Armando rubbed Vanora’s hand, glad to feel that the chill had left her flesh. “I’ll go with Sheila. Stay with Alexander. He’ll protect you.”
The Australian gave him a satisfied look, pointed him toward the hallway, and waited.
It was strange to realize that he trusted Alexander and Sheila with Vanora’s safety even more because they were suspicious of him. They were clever and strong, exactly the type of people that would be able to help him protect her.
“Armando, you don’t have to-” Vanora started.
“Yes, I do.” Armando kissed her cheek, savoring the feel of her skin against his lips.
Reluctantly, she let go of him.
“I promised your sister and brother I’d take care of you,” Sheila said to Vanora. “We’re not going to let them down.”
Armando could feel the weight of Vanora’s gaze as he scooted off the bench and stood. Striding down the narrow hallway, Armando glimpsed a narrow living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom in passing. At the end of the hall was a long narrow enclosed porch that now served as a family room. It was even colder than the rest of the house, and the shadows of the swaying trees slithered over the drawn shades.
Sheila shut the door behind them and stood with her hands on her hips. “Do you know Aeron?”
The wording had changed, but he could still answer. “Yes.”
“From where?”
“Europe.”
“How do you know him?”
Armando exhaled and tucked the tips of his fingers into his jean pockets. “He waged war in the area of Spain where I lived. When I first saw him, he looked like a blood-soaked god. I’ve never been so terrified in my life.”
“And he let you live?”
“No. He mortally wounded me.”
“But you’re still here.”
Armando was very careful with his words. “I’m more resilient than I appear.”
“So you’ve had battles with this guy?”
“Yes. And he’s a terrifying foe.” Armando carefully skirted the truth, the power of the edict holding his tongue in check.
Sheila’s eyes narrowed. “So why didn’t you tell us?”
“I told Roman. I warned him of the older vampires who were coming. Remember?”
“You didn’t tell Roman who it was though,” Sheila pointed out.
“Names are meaningless.”
That surprised her. “What do you mean?”
“Is Sheila your true name?”
His question unsettled her further. “Uh, no.”
“I have other names, other aliases. I just recently returned to my birth name. How many names have you and Alexander had over your time together?”
“Four. Five. Something like that.”
“Aeron the White and Terrible holds no meaning to the vampires on this side of the so-called pond. If I‘d told Roman his name, what would it have changed? You and I both know how stubborn Roman was. Vanora did manage to convince him to leave, but by then it was too late.” A fresh stab of pain reduced him to silence for several seconds. Throat clogged with remorse, Armando ran his fingers through his curls, feeling the damp cold that still clung to his hair.
Sheila took a step toward him, her eyes gleaming in the murky shadows filling the room. “Emily asked Aeron if you were going to take Vanora to him.”
“Emily said what?” Incredulous, Armando gaped at Sheila. “Emily?”
“I told you she turned traitor on us. She told Aeron that you had taken Vanora to see Greg to uncover Carlotta’s whereabouts in hopes of her leading you to her Master. Emily then said something about you taking Vanora to Aeron.”
Relief
filled Armando instantly. “Of course she did. She thought Aeron would be waiting for us at Carlotta’s. I’m not going to take Vanora to Aeron.” It was the truth. Armando had even turned off his phone so that Aeron couldn’t command him to take Vanora to him. If he heard his Master utter the command, Armando would have no choice other than to obey.
Sheila stared at Armando for a few tense moments, then her shoulders slumped. “Oh, God. You’re right. Fuck! I was so freaked out when I heard that. It’s just you brought Carlotta into the fold--”
“Yes, I did, but Carlotta has her own life and is incredibly secretive. I was her lover for years, and I had no idea where she lived that entire time. I seriously doubt Aeron knows.”
A clatter outside instantly jerked the attention of both vampires to the door at the rear of the room that led to the backyard. A soft rap of knuckles against wood followed.
Motioning for Sheila to be silent, Armando dissolved into the shadows and glided to the window closest to the door. Peering through a slit in the blinds, he saw Tracy standing on the outside stoop. Immediately, he unlocked the door and dragged her inside.
Sheila gasped and hurried to Tracy’s side. “You made it!”
Armando scrutinized the back yard, then shut and locked the door. “Were you followed?”
Tracy lifted her tear-stained face. “No. No. I’m alone...” A sob escaped her lips, and she covered her face with her shaking hands.
“Ben?” Sheila dared to ask.
The crying woman lifted her face, and her expression said it all.
“I’m sorry,” Armando said and meant it.
“He was one of the first to die. You know Ben. He always protected his loved ones. As soon as he saw an opening to attack, he did. That white bastard killed him faster than I could blink an eye.” Tracy’s lips twisted, and she struggled to speak. “Zachery shoved me and Emily toward the back door. I saw Aeron kill him, too. I’m not sure how I got out of the house. It was chaos. But the second I was on the lawn, I just ran. Angel found me when I was halfway here.”
“He’s alive?” Relief filled Sheila’s eyes.
“He’s really messed up, missing an arm and a big chunk of his chest. He had to feed, so we separated. He should be here soon.”
“But at least you’re both alive. Do you think anyone else made it out?” Sheila gently rubbed Tracy’s shoulder.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t even sure where I was going at first. I was just running. Then I remembered where you said to meet.”
Armando again checked all the windows. He was uneasy that so many had escaped Aeron. It was rare for any vampire to escape a purge. “Maybe he let you escape.”
“Let me?” Tracy gaped at Armando. “Do you know how many people died while I ran? Emily was right beside me, then she was gone. I don’t even know what happened to her! I saw others running, too, but they were taken down. I have no idea how I made it out of there.”
“Which means he could have let you go...” Armando ran his fingers through his hair, trying to collect his thoughts. He had to avoid interacting with Aeron at all costs. If he saw or heard his Master, he would be caught in his power and unable to disobey.
Tracy shot him an incredulous look.
“Alexander and Vanora are here, too. We should go back to them. We need to fill you in on some things, Tracy,” Sheila said in a deceptively calm and soothing voice. Armando could still feel her fear pulsating around her thin frame, but the woman was trying very hard to be strong. He respected that fact.
When the small group rejoined the others in the kitchen, Alexander instantly rushed to embrace Tracy. Though Armando had been a part of Roman’s group, he wasn’t as close to the others. The time he split between Austin and Houston had kept him from forming closer bonds to the vampires Roman considered his inner circle. Watching Tracy and Alexander’s reunion reminded him that he was very alone. Roman was gone, Alisha was missing, and Vanora would soon be lost to him.
The young woman he loved so much was staring at him thoughtfully, her fingers playing with the straw tucked into her drink. Joining her at the table, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. Her lavender eyes focused on his face through the gloom, searching for answers.
“Everything okay?” Vanora asked.
“She’s just concerned,” Armando answered.
Vanora’s gaze shifted to the three vampires nearby. Tracy was tearfully recounting her escape while Alexander rubbed her back and Sheila held her close. Tears made Vanora’s lavender eyes shimmer, and Armando tenderly stroked her white-blond hair.
“Alisha is strong,” Armando said, feeling helpless.
“I can’t feel her,” Vanora replied. “And I don’t know what that means.”
It was difficult for him to decide if it was better to encourage Vanora to hope or to accept the probable truth. Instead, he remained silent.
“Emily did what?” Tracy exclaimed, her voice rising. “I don’t understand! She’s one of us!”
“I know it’s hard to accept, but we heard her confess,” Sheila answered. “She even told Aeron where Armando took Vanora.”
“To Greg?” Vanora stiffened.
Alexander bobbed his head, while Sheila answered, “Yes. She said you were looking for Carlotta.”
“Then we need to go to Carlotta’s right now.” Vanora started to search through her purse.
“What?” Armando’s voice mingled with Tracy and Sheila’s.
Pulling out the Google Maps printout, Vanora slid off the bench and stood. “Either Aeron killed my sister or he took her. I want to know which, and I’m going to find out.”
“You can’t,” Armando protested.
“Yes, I can.”
“We should run,” Sheila said.
“I agree. We should run and keep running,” Tracey added. “As soon as Angel gets here, we should get the hell out of Houston.”
“I’m not going,” Vanora answered with steel in her voice.
“Vanora,” Armando started.
“No, Armando. Don’t try to talk me out of it.” Vanora didn’t appear angry, just resolved. “Don’t you see? We’re not going to escape this. We can’t. It’s like this massive tsunami coming right for us. We can try to outrun it, but it’s not going to happen. The only thing we have any choice about at all is whether we face the coming storm or try to hide from it.”
“Vanora, you know why he wants you,” Armando said, attempting to snag her gaze with his own.
“So what? He has this horrible plan for me. Fine! But I’m not going to make it easy for him. Okay? I’m not going to run away and hide so he can find me anyway. I’m going to face him head on. He already took my brother, my home, and maybe my sister.”
“You’re not the only one suffering losses,” Tracy snapped. “I lost Ben. I lost Zachary and many other friends.”
“I’m sorry for that,” Vanora replied, obviously meaning those words. “I am so damn sorry. A lot of this has to do with me and this obsession Aeron has with me. I’m the reason so many are dead tonight. Which is exactly why I need to deal with this as soon as possible.”
“Why does he want you?” Sheila asked, her thin face seeming even paler in the gloom.
“To give birth to a new race of vampires,” Vanora answered simply.
“That’s ridiculous!” Tracy widened her eyes in disbelief.
“But he believes it to be true.” Armando collected his leather jacket and shrugged it on.
“You’re going to go to Carlotta’s? Really?” The look of disbelief on Sheila’s face was mirrored in that of her partner.
“If Vanora wants to go, I’ll go with her.” Armando dug the car keys out of his pocket.
Sheila seized Vanora’s hand. “You need to think this through.”
“How many of us are left alive?” Vanora looked at each vampire pointedly.
“Angel is coming,” Tracy said after a beat. “But I think he might be the last.”
“This is my fight. Not yours. You should ru
n. All of you.”
“And Armando?” Sheila asked, her eyes watching Armando warily.
Armando tilted his head to meet Vanora’s gaze. If he went with her and Aeron was at Carlotta’s, all was lost. If he didn’t go, he would lose her anyway. He had no choice but to stand at her side until she pushed him away. Greg’s words from earlier haunted him. When Vanora had wondered aloud if the fact Roman had not turned her into a vampire as a sign that fate was conspiring against her, Greg had said something of great significance.
Just food for thought. Or thoughts for food. Get my meaning?
The meaning had been clear to Armando but most likely not to Vanora. Armando could still turn Vanora into a vampire, but it would mean killing her. That thought did not sit comfortably with Armando. It was one thing to drink from a victim, another to kill. Vanora would truly die, and her resurrection was not guaranteed. There were a small percentage of people who simply did not rise again. The reason for this was unknown.
“Well?” Vanora asked, meeting his look with one that was both pleading and defiant.
“Where you go, I go.”
The briefest of smiles flitted across her lips.
“You’re both crazy.” Sheila crossed her arms and glared. “Aeron might be at Carlotta’s waiting for you! Did you think of that?”
“Get out of Houston. When Angel gets here, just leave. I’ll try to stop Aeron,” Vanora said to Sheila. “I promise.”
“What makes you think you can? He wiped out nearly all of Roman’s vampires, and you’re just a human,” Tracy said, but not with malice. She sounded more concerned than angry.
Vanora shook her head sorrowfully. “You’re wrong. I’m not just a human. I’m a witch and the fulfillment of prophecy. Maybe I’m the only one who can stop him.”
How was it possible to be so proud of someone, while being absolutely terrified for them at the same time? Armando took Vanora’s proffered hand and squeezed it. Even if he lost her, he would always love her. Yet the hope within his heart could not be vanquished because he did love and believe in her. Had they come so far to be separated now?
“You’re really going to go?” Sheila took a step forward.
“I don’t have a choice.”
In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 Page 34