“And if I did rise, Aeron would destroy me.”
With a sad nod, Armando said, “Yes. He would.”
“Okay, so I’m doomed either way. So let’s go find Carlotta, talk to her, find out where Aeron is hiding and if Alisha is alive, then hopefully we’ll figure out how to destroy him.”
The handsome vampire’s lips twisted, and she thought he might say something, but instead he nudged the car back onto the road. The sense of danger had dissipated, but it unnerved her that Armando had been the single most dangerous creature in her life for several agonizing minutes. As he drove, he discreetly wiped his tears away. It softened her anger at him but didn’t completely absolve him either. It would be foolhardy for her to ever believe he was completely safe. He was, after all, a vampire, and she was his natural prey.
“We’re almost there,” Armando said after an uneasy stretch of silence between them. “Are you sure you want to do this? We can run, Vanora. We can go far away from here.”
Vanora lowered her head, closing her eyes. The bronze box awaited her. The three women waited. Vanora now realized they wore the faces of women in her life but were something other. Vanora was something other. Her whole life had been shadowed by a prophecy, and she hadn’t even been aware of it until tonight. Carlotta could have information that could help Vanora possibly find her sister and fight back against the albino vampire.
“There’s no escaping. We have to do this,” she answered.
Armando drove on.
* * *
Carlotta’s home was a sprawling Spanish house nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac. The bleak landscaped cactus garden gave the house a stark, dead look. Lights were on in the house, but the driveway was empty. Armando parked a half-block away.
“Do you think Aeron is there?” Vanora asked when she joined the sullen vampire on the sidewalk.
Taking her hand in his, Armando shook his head. “No. He’s too busy killing tonight.” He gave the skyline with its spots of orange glow a significant look.
When they reached the front door, Vanora hesitated, unsure of what to do next. Armando didn’t hesitate. He kicked the heavy front doors in and stepped quickly into the foyer.
“I don’t think she’s here. That should have been enough to draw her out,” he said to Vanora, waving her inside.
“Great,” Vanora huffed. “Great. Now we have to wait.”
The entry hall light was off, but the living room was well lighted and devoid of any life. The red tiled floor was a stark contrast to the white walls and furniture. As Vanora entered, she noted that the tiles were slightly scuffed and chipped. Probably from Carlotta’s dancing shoes.
As Vanora moved further into the house, her body started shiver. The atmosphere of the house was just as icy as the outside.
“God, it’s freezing,” Vanora whispered.
Every light in the house seemed to be on. No one was in sight. Everything was neat and orderly, so much so, Vanora wondered if anyone lived here at all. The house was beautifully decorated but somehow sterile and a bit ominous.
“Can you feel it?” Vanora muttered, hugging herself tightly.
“What?” Armando asked, surveying an opulent bedroom that reeked of perfume.
Vanora extended her arms so he could see the goose flesh covering them. “Something in this place feels wrong. I’ve never felt anything quite like it.”
“I don’t sense anything,” Armando confessed.
“I can,” Vanora answered.
“Then whoever it is must be hiding.” Armando closed the bedroom door. “But where? That was the last bedroom.”
Vanora cautiously trod toward the well-lit kitchen visible through a partially opened door. She gently pushed the door open and peered into the white and black kitchen. It was obvious that it had never been used.
“How about in here?”
Armando followed Vanora into the kitchen. “I hadn’t thought of the kitchen. We have a tendency to forget they exist.”
Vanora shivered again. She was not certain that something was nearby. Something evil and terrible. She moved past the refrigerator Armando was checking, which was predictably empty.
“I don’t think it’s here,” Armando decided, peering into a broom closet.
Abruptly, a small cabinet door opened, and a small child appeared. He was around five with jet-black hair, dark eyes, and a lightly freckled face. Vanora stared at him with surprise. The little boy flung his small arms around her legs with a soft cry.
“Armando, she has a child trapped in here!”
Armando whirled about in surprise. “What? A child? We don’t hurt children!”
Vanora knelt and smiled tenderly at the sniffling little boy, her hand smoothing back his black hair. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We won’t hurt you. We’ll take you back to your mommy and daddy. I’m sure they miss you very much.” It horrified her to think of such a small child trapped in this sterile house inhabited by vampires. How long had he been hiding in that cramped cabinet?
The little boy stared at her with his large, luminous blue eyes, his bottom lip slightly trembling.
“It’s going to be all right.” Her hands gently brushed his thick hair back from his eyes. “We’re going to take care of you, okay? What’s your name?”
“Vanora, something is not right,” Armando said in a worried tone. His amber eyes stared piercingly at the child.
A lump in her throat, Vanora rested her hands on the boy’s chubby waist. Carlotta was more of a monster than she’d imagined.
The little boy smiled, and his tiny fingers brushed Vanora’s cheek. “You’re nice.”
Vanora began to lift the child into her arms.
“Don’t!” Armando exclaimed, moving to stop her.
“Why?” Vanora asked, her gaze sliding over to him.
The little boy grasped her arm tightly in his small hands. His tiny fingers were icy cold against her flesh. Vanora swung her head back toward him in surprise. With a wicked giggle of delight, the child sprang forward, long sharp teeth driving into Vanora’s throat.
Vanora screamed as her blood splattered across the white cabinets, staining them red. The savage little vampire latched onto her like a leech. Armando grabbed hold of the boy and tried to pull him off.
Vanora felt light headed and disconnected from the gory scene. The pain of the savage little creature’s teeth blocked out all other sensations, and she struggled to pull forth her power.
Armando managed to pull the squirming vampire free from Vanora’s throat for only a few seconds before the child wiggled free, his teeth driving into her once more.
Once more, Armando wrenched the vampire off Vanora, the little creature spitting and cursing angrily. Vanora slid down to the floor, trying to stop the blood from gushing from her wounded neck. Her blood was spreading out around her, staining the floor. Weakened by the loss of blood and frightened by the sight, Vanora sobbed in terror.
The little vampire broke free from Armando and flew at Vanora. His small arms wrapped around her neck, his legs firmly wrapping around her torso. He giggled with delight as he tried to bite her again. Vanora managed to get a handful of his hair and pulled his face back from her unprotected neck.
Armando grabbed hold of the child and tugged.
“Armando,” Vanora gasped. “Get him off!”
“I’m trying!” Armando huffed.
“Armando, please!” Vanora gasped. The sight of the innocent child-like features twisted into the face of a demon filled her with terror. She couldn’t die like this. It was too awful.
Armando’s face was tense with determination as he struggled with the powerful child. As he strained to free Vanora, the child laughed hideously, his glowing eyes staring into Vanora’s, the hunger raging within them.
Armando finally got a good grip on the little vampire, and with a mighty pull, the little fiend was yanked off of Vanora’s prone body. Armando held the writhing child in his arms, a horrified look upon his face. The vampire child was sh
rieking, his eyes fastened to Vanora’s throat. Vanora felt sickened by the sight of her blood dripping down the child’s chin. She dug into her bag with her one good hand, drawing out the stake Sheila had given her. Shifting her weight and rising onto her knees, she set her jaw with determination.
“Hold him!” she ordered in a hollow voice.
“You’re not going to-” Armando started, then cut off his words. “I’ll do it, Vanora!”
“Don’t let go of him!” Vanora’s hands were trembling and slick with her own blood, but she held the stake firmly in her grasp. With a grunt, she shoved it through the child’s chest and through his heart.
The small vampire screamed in horror and rage, then burst into flame. Armando tossed him away, and the burning vampire darted away, screaming in agony. Shrieking, the little boy thrashed about, bouncing off walls and cabinets. Then, suddenly, it was completely consumed. Within seconds, it was ashes.
“The child was old!” Armando exclaimed in disbelief. “That only happens with the very old ones.”
Vanora pressed her palm against the jagged wound in her throat, blood flowing freely down her arm. “Armando...”
Armando threw himself in front of Vanora just as a brunette teen girl hurtled into the kitchen, her face flushed with rage.
“You killed Miguel!” she screamed fiercely.
Armando caught her as she launched herself at him. The girl struggled viciously, but Armando subdued her.
“Who is your Master?” Armando demanded.
“My mother is Carlotta! And she’ll kill you when she finds out what you’ve done!” the girl spat, baring her long vampire teeth.
Vanora was feeling faint, the world taking on a surreal slant as she collapsed against a cupboard.
The girl became aware of Vanora and the blood pooling around her. The vampire girl’s eyes became feral, the hunger erupting within them. With a mighty twist of her body, the girl broke free from Armando and leaped toward Vanora. Armando caught the girl with lightning speed and tossed her easily across the room. The girl struck the wall and slid to the floor, her face contorted with rage.
“Don’t force me to kill you,” Armando threatened.
The girl only laughed and flew at him.
Armando caught her by her throat and, to Vanora’s complete horror, ripped the girl’s head off her shoulders. Blood sprayed over the room. Armando tossed the head and corpse across the room as it burst into flame.
Vanora slumped completely onto the cold floor. The world was tinged with grey. Armando rushed to her side.
“Are there more?” Vanora whispered.
“I don’t know. Let me see the wound.” Gently, he lifted her hair and tugged down the soaked scarf. “I can heal this, but I will need to drink from you. Just a little.”
“Do it.” The agony of the bite didn’t scare her as much as her blood flowing down her jacket. “I don’t want to die.”
“You’re not going to,” Armando assured her. Tucking his face against her neck, he held the ragged wound in his mouth, and his tongue lapped up the blood.
Closing her eyes, Vanora fought against the malaise filling her body. She wasn’t sure if it was the blood loss or the vampire’s touch. Armando’s lips and tongue chased away the pain and replaced it with tantalizing pleasure. The enticing sensation swept through her body, making her nipples tighten and her clit throb. To die wrapped in this much sweet torment would be bliss, she thought.
Armando’s lips slid upwards to her cheek and lay a gentle kiss on her skin. “It’s healed.”
Opening her eyes, she gazed at him in a bit of a stupor.
“I can’t do anything for the blood you’ve lost,” Armando continued, brushing her white hair from her face.
“I thought you said vampires don’t hurt children,” Vanora said, averting her gaze from the piles of ashes.
“It’s forbidden.” Armando rubbed his face, his disbelief very apparent. “Children are sacred to us. We’d never do this to them. Never.”
“But she did. How much do you know about your ex-girlfriend?” Vanora felt sick from blood loss but doubted the vampire had any sugary food stashed in the kitchen to jack up her blood sugar levels.
“We were never a couple,” Armando replied with a dismissive wave of one hand.
“Just fuck buddies?” A dash of jealousy colored her words.
“It’s you I love.” Armando’s accent was thick and rich with feeling, his golden eyes filled with longing and worry. “Never doubt that.”
“I don’t,” Vanora answered. “It’s all your other secrets that worry me.”
The vampire did not respond to that comment.
The floor was slick with blood, and it was a little tricky getting to her feet. Armando tenderly took her arm and guided her to the sink. Running the hot water, Armando stood protectively over Vanora while she wiped the blood off her face, neck, and hands. Her clothes were just going to have to stay bloody for the time being.
“We should go,” Armando said at last.
“I want to wait for Carlotta,” Vanora said swiftly.
“Do you really think she’ll cooperate? We killed her coterie.”
“They were my children,” a menacing voice said sharply. “Not my coterie. My children!”
Carlotta stood in the doorway clad in a scarlet velvet gown that fell to her feet. A black lace veil was draped dramatically around her exotic face, and her long raven tresses cascaded over her shoulders in glistening waves. Her black eyes stood out starkly on her pale face, her red mouth tensed into an angry line.
“Carlotta, we came here to talk to you about Aeron,” Vanora blurted out.
“You murdered my children!” Carlotta hissed furiously.
“They attacked us! We had no choice,” Armando growled. “How could you change children, Carlotta? It’s blasphemy against our beliefs.”
“They were mine! My children!” Her gaze focused on Armando, who was holding Vanora protectively in his arms. “I feared Aeron butchering them, but it was you who took them from me!” Tears sparkled in her dark eyes. “I should have known it would be you that tore out my heart, Armando!”
“Carlotta, I’m sorry! But they attacked us,” Vanora said defensively.
Kneeling beside the mounds of ashes, Carlotta clutched her hands together and pressed them to her breast. “These were my real children. Born of my flesh. My Miguel and my Carmen! After I became a vampire, I claimed them from the orphanage so they could live with me forever!”
Though Carlotta was most likely a dangerous enemy, Vanora’s heart broke for the woman in that moment. “I’m so sorry. The little boy attacked me and wouldn’t stop.”
“I told them that Aeron and his people might come for us in the purge. I went to warn your fucking sister that Aeron was here, and I told the children to hide if anyone entered the house. You murdered my children!” The many beautiful rings on her fingers sparkled as Carlotta covered her face. “They attacked you out of fear!”
Guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders, Armando crouched next to Carlotta. “Carlotta, I’m so sorry. I didn’t understand. You never said-”
“Why would I?” Carlotta looked up at him, fury in her eyes. “You never loved me. Never! All those years together I played your game, but you never truly loved me. Why would I tell you my darkest secret? Why would I trust you? I told Roman! I told him about my children, and he offered them a home! Because Roman loved me!”
Leaning weakly against the kitchen island, Vanora wiped at the tears falling down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Carlotta.”
“Your words are empty!” Carlotta snarled.
“I don’t know what else-”
Vanora blinked, and Carlotta stood inches from her, black eyes gleaming. “Why did you come here, Vanora?”
Armando rapidly came to Vanora’s side, his hand held out to stave off Carlotta. Both women ignored him.
“To find out if you know where Aeron’s haven is and if you know if Alisha is alive,” Vanora
muttered, wincing in the face of the other woman’s pain and fury.
“I don’t know if Alisha is alive. The mansion was burning when I arrived. I don’t know where Aeron is. I have hidden my haven from everyone including him to protect the children you murdered! You came here for nothing! You came here only to destroy what I love!” Carlotta’s grief was palatable and terrible. Shaking, the vampire slapped her hand down on the counter, making Vanora jump.
The buzzing of her power filled Vanora’s veins. Though she was filled with remorse, she would defend herself against the vampire. “No, I didn’t come here to kill anyone, Carlotta! I know Aeron is your Master. I know you were sent to spy on us. Maybe you did fall for my brother, but-”
Carlotta bitterly laughed. “Is that what you believe?”
“Isn’t it true?” Vanora retorted. “Weren’t you sent to seduce my brother and spy on us?”
“I loved Roman. I loved him more than I have ever loved a man in my entire life. I loved and trusted him enough that I allowed him to know about my children.” Carlotta wiped away her tears with the tips of her fingers. “I won’t kill you because you’re Roman’s sister, but don’t expect me to have mercy on him!” Carlotta glowered at Armando.
“We’re sorry about your children,” Vanora said miserably.
“I’m not Aeron’s spy, Vanora. I am not the one sent to watch over you.” Carlotta pointed at Armando. “He’s the snake in Roman’s garden. He’s the deceiver! The father of lies! He was the one sent to watch over you until Aeron came to claim you. I wasn’t your traitor. Your lover is.”
The breath left her lungs as Vanora heard her worst fear confirmed. It was what she had suspected but had not wanted to believe. Hands shaking at her sides, she tilted her head toward Armando. He was staring firmly at the floor, his face a mask of stone.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” How could she sound so calm when everything was falling apart?
“Tell her, Armando. I will even break the edict so you may confess,” Carlotta said with a sneer. “Tell her that you are Aeron’s favorite son. How he loves you above all others. How you’ve fought at his side for centuries against the Seven Sisters. Tell her how he sent you to watch over her from the time she was a little girl. Tell her how you spied on her when she was in Austin and reported back to Aeron on her every move. Tell her how you knew that Aeron was coming to kill Roman. But it wasn’t you who begged for his life but me! Tell her!”
In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 Page 37