The Reign of Darkness

by Britney Jackson

  “You’re not touching her,” Rose growled, red flames flashing in her eyes.

  Aaron glanced at her, paling a little, at the sight of those eyes. “Not yet.”

  Benedict glanced back and forth, his eyes narrowed, as if he’d just found a weakness. “Why would you bother protecting her?” he asked Aaron. “She’s not much of a second-in-command, if she’s running off with her new girlfriend in the middle of the war—off on some honeymoon, when she should be by your side.”

  Rose frowned at him. “That doesn’t even make sense,” she complained. “She can’t be on a honeymoon, if I’m her girlfriend. I’d have to be her wife for that—which I’m not, by the way.” She flashed a sassy smile at him. “Do you even know what a honeymoon is, or are you just picking random words out of a hat?”

  Benedict’s gaze shifted toward her, his eyes wide and dark. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m just saying,” Rose said, “if you’re going to use a modern word, you should know what it means.” She frowned curiously. “How old are you, anyway?”

  “Not so old that I don’t know what a honeymoon is,” Benedict said, his brows furrowed, as if he didn’t know what to think of her snarky rant. “Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? Do you know how easily I can kill you?”

  Kara stepped forward. “Try it,” she snarled, “and I’ll slice off your head.”

  Aaron rolled his eyes—already fed up with Kara’s antics. “Kara,” he said, “you can’t decapitate vampire leaders. Not even when they threaten your lover.”

  “It’s just a rule,” Kara said with a devious smile. “Rules can be broken.”

  Aaron grabbed her battle-axe, effectively getting her attention. “Not this one,” he said, as Kara’s intense, blue gaze shifted his way. She stared incredulously at him, as if she couldn’t believe he’d touched her axe. “We need every leader for this vote.” He turned toward Benedict, his eyes narrowing. “That includes Rose.”

  Benedict scoffed, “We’ve been fine without her for thousands of years.”

  “Have you?” Rose said, flashing a sassy smile, when his gaze shifted her way. “Because…from this angle, it kind of looks like you started World War III.”

  Kara laughed, earning another murderous glare from the vampire leader.

  Benedict slowly, painstakingly, turned to face Aaron. “This baby vampire has been missing for months, and she thinks she can just waltz in here and vote,” he paused, before adding—with quite a bit of bitterness, “as if she belongs here?”

  Kara stepped closer to him. “This baby vampire has been fighting in battles for the last several months, while you’ve been hiding out here,” she growled, her icy blue eyes flashing. “She has more right to be here than you do, if you ask me.”

  Benedict gave her a peeved look. “But I didn’t ask you, did I?”

  “No,” Aaron said, “but you asked me.” His dark brown eyes were blank, completely unreadable. “And I agree with my second-in-command. Rose stays.”

  Rose’s eyes widened. She reached out and grasped Kara’s jacket, pulling her closer, so she could whisper in her ear, “Did Aaron forget that he hates me?”

  Kara chuckled. “Give it five minutes,” she whispered. “He’ll remember.”

  Benedict frowned. Clearly, he’d expected Aaron to side with him—not against him. He nodded, giving Aaron one last puzzled look, before walking away.

  Rose frowned, too. “Who are you, and what have you done with Aaron?”

  Aaron’s dark gaze shifted toward her. “I’m still here,” he sighed. He gave Rose a forced, bitter smile. “And I still hate you. And I’m still going to order your girlfriend to kill you. But first, I need you to talk some sense into these idiots.”

  Kara nudged Rose playfully. “See? Told you everything was good, still.”

  “Good, yeah,” Rose muttered. “That was the first word that came to my mind, too.” She glanced at Aaron. “I take it the others aren’t really fans of peace?”

  He lifted a dark eyebrow. “Not when the enemy bombs their colonies.”

  Rose nodded, her brows creased with sadness. “Humans don’t really see us in normal terms of war—civilians and soldiers. To them, we’re all monsters.”

  “I don’t care how they see us,” Aaron said. “What they did was wrong.”

  “I agree,” Rose assured him, “but there are humans who had nothing to do with it—humans who would coexist with us, if they knew anything about us.”

  “Perhaps, they should have chosen better leaders, then,” Aaron told her.

  “Perhaps, they tried,” Rose countered. “No one deserves to die because of what they are. Not us. Not them. We have to put a stop to this war. Somehow.”

  “Well, good luck,” he sighed, “because even with your vote, I don’t know if we have enough to win. I don’t necessarily want to kill every human on Earth—it sounds kind of tedious—but if we have to, well, they brought it on themselves.”

  Rose breathed out a frustrated sigh. She glanced across the room, at the small crowd of vampire leaders and their seconds. She blinked as she realized that several of them had started arguing. “Well, at least now, I know it wasn’t just me.”

  “No, we all hate each other,” Aaron confirmed. “We just hate you most.”

  “Oh, trust me,” Kara told Rose. “Several of them hate me much more.”

  “After what you said to that one guy,” Rose said, “I wouldn’t doubt it.”

  Aaron groaned, as Talulah approached them. “Here comes the lecture.”

  Talulah glared at him for that remark. “I think we need to delay the vote for a few more minutes. Everyone was already at each other’s throats before Kara came in and started causing trouble. If we were to vote now, it’d be a bloodbath.”

  One corner of Kara’s lips quirked up. “Always happy to cause trouble.”

  “But we still need to get everyone into the tunnels,” Rose told Talulah.

  “The entire colony is underground,” Talulah reminded her, “so we’re not totally vulnerable, as it is. And it’ll take a while for them to realize their scouts are dead.” She glanced back at the others. “I’m not ready to raise the alarms just yet.”

  Aaron glanced back and forth between them. His dark gaze narrowed on Rose. “What alarms?” he said, his voice low and intimidating. “And what scouts?”

  Rose cringed a little under his glare. “The scouts that the humans sent?”

  He turned to Talulah. “So, that’s what your warrior was talking about.”

  “Yes,” Talulah said, “but when I got out there, all the scouts were dead.”

  “We’ve been fighting humans for months,” Kara told Aaron. “We’ve had plenty of time to learn from them, to figure out what to expect when they attack.”

  Rose jumped in where Kara left off. “If they know it’s us—which is what they consider a special mission—they send the Assassins of Light. If there are more vampires—like a colony, for instance—or if the Assassins have failed, they send an army. The army they send depends on which country we’re in. Their politicians have created a sort of…merged leadership? Like the United Nations, but bigger.”

  “Most of my spies have dispersed,” Kara said, “but I did manage to speak with a few of them. They told me it’s called HF, which stands for Humans First.”

  Aaron scowled. “Well, that sends a pretty clear message, doesn’t it?”

  “What do you expect? It’s run by the Assassins of Light,” Rose muttered. “I mean, technically, it’s made up of every country’s leaders, but the Assassins of Light are so manipulative and powerful, at this point, that it’s basically just them.”

  Aaron crossed his arms. “If that’s true, then it changes everything. Even if there are humans who want peace, the Assassins of Light won’t let it happen.”

  Talulah glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one was listening. “If you’re going to discuss this, lower your voices. We don’t need any more doubt.”

&nb
sp; “Sorry,” Rose said—even though her voice had been pretty quiet already. “We have to try,” she told Aaron. “Even if it seems impossible, we have to try.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “And if they say no? Will you be able to kill them?”

  Rose looked away uncomfortably. “I,” she stammered. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re a Commander of Power now,” Aaron said. “You need to know.”

  Noticing Rose’s discomfort, Kara took control of the conversation. “The scouts were here already, when we arrived. The humans sent an army of Assassins after us last night, and we defeated them. Obviously. But they also sent a team of scouts here. That means they’re planning to attack the Village of the Undead. It’s the only colony they haven’t attacked. They must’ve realized the leaders are here.”

  “When we pretend not to notice and let their scouts return to them, they send an army immediately,” Rose explained. “When we kill their scouts, they wait longer—to make sure the scouts aren’t returning.” She sighed regretfully. “Which is why we killed them. It’ll give us a little longer to get everyone somewhere safe.”

  Aaron watched them with dark, furious eyes. “Go back to the part where you said you defeated their army,” he growled. “How the hell did you do that?”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how to win battles,” Kara taunted.

  “I remember how,” Aaron snarled. “I also remember needing an army.”

  A smile curved at the corners of Kara’s lips. “What makes you think Rose doesn’t have one?” she challenged. Her smile deepened, as Aaron’s eyes widened.

  He turned to Rose. “That’s impossible. Where would you find an army?”

  Rose cringed at the way he sneered the word you. “That’s complicated.”

  “Well, un-complicate it,” he snarled. “Who the hell would follow you?”

  “A lot of people, actually,” Kara told him. Mischief sparkled in her light blue eyes. “Her army is larger than yours, even. Or…well…what’s left of yours.”

  Aaron growled at her. “How is that possible?” He snatched Rose to him, his grasp painfully tight around her arm. “Tell me. Where did you find an army?”

  Rose leaned back, her eyes wide, as she stared at the enraged vampire.

  Kara stepped closer—lowering her voice so that only Aaron would hear. “Let her go, Aaron,” she taunted. “Unless you want everyone to notice?” Her lips curved, as he glanced at the others. “They’ll want to know why you’re attacking the person you defended earlier, and I can’t wait to tell them the truth—that you’re upset because you just realized you’re no longer the most powerful vampire here.”

  Aaron dropped Rose’s arm, suddenly, as if her skin had burned him. For a moment, he just stared, his dark eyes wide with disbelief. Then, slowly, the rage began to burn in his eyes, and he turned toward Kara. He stepped toward her, his hand reaching, but he didn’t dare touch her. Not after that implied threat. “You’re dead,” was all he said. His chest heaved. “As soon as this is all over, you’re dead.”

  Red flashed within Rose’s eyes, and Aaron nearly jumped at the sight.

  He shook his head, as if he were trying to shake some sense into himself. Then, he crossed the room, standing as far away from them as possible. His slight form looked rigid, still, with shock and anger, but he kept his rage under control.

  Kara turned to Rose, gently examining her sore arm. “Did he hurt you?”

  “A little bruise,” Rose said dismissively. “I’m fine.” Her eyes glowed red, still. “I could’ve thrown him off of me, if I needed to.” She turned in Kara’s arms, her dark red gaze shifting up to meet Kara’s. “He shouldn’t have threatened you.”

  Kara’s mouth curled into an adoring smile. “Rose, you fierce, little beast,” she teased. “I meant for him to threaten me. I was disloyal to my commander.”

  “It’s punishable by death,” Talulah said. “She’s lucky it was just a threat.”

  Rose looked at her, surprised to find her still standing there. She instantly regretted looking, however, when she saw Talulah take a startled step back. With a sigh, Rose said, “My eyes are red again, aren’t they?” She closed them. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine,” Talulah assured her. “It’s just…a little unnerving sometimes.”

  “The way people react,” Rose said, “it seems like it’s always unnerving.”

  Talulah winced a little and nodded. “Yeah,” she sighed. She glanced back at the others, who were all drinking already. “Did you want anything to drink?”

  Kara lifted an eyebrow and grinned at her. “Are you going to poison it?”

  “No, actually,” Talulah said, as if she were just as surprised as Kara. She smiled. “Don’t get me wrong. I still don’t trust you, and I still hate you. But I hate Aaron even more. So, anything that tips the scale out of his favor is good for me.”

  “In that case,” Kara chuckled, “grab us a drink, and we’ll celebrate.”

  As Talulah walked away to grab a drink, Rose glanced at Aaron and froze, as she realized his dark gaze was still narrowed on Kara. “You don’t think you’re being a bit reckless?” she mumbled, as soon as Talulah was gone. “With Aaron?”

  “Of course I’m being a bit reckless,” Kara laughed. “When am I not?”

  “Right,” Rose sighed. Her brows creased with worry. “I’m just nervous.”

  “Don’t be,” Kara said. She held out her hand, just as Talulah returned.

  Talulah placed a glass of blood-spiked whiskey in Kara’s open hand and offered her second glass to Rose. When Rose politely refused, Talulah shrugged and drank it herself. “So, is this your first time meeting the other commanders?”

  “Yeah,” Rose said with a nervous laugh. “You wouldn’t think so—since they all hate me already.” Her brows furrowed. “Like…literally all. Even my allies.”

  “Spoiled, little boys don’t like it when you make them share,” Kara said.

  Rose squinted curiously at that. “Are you saying the women will like me?”

  “No,” Kara chuckled. “They’ll hate you, too. But for different reasons.”

  “If it makes you feel any better,” Talulah told Rose, “it’s always like this.”

  Kara agreed. “Vampire politics is basically just a lot of dismemberment.”

  “That sounds a little unpleasant,” Rose said with a worried frown. When Talulah laughed a little, Rose glanced at her and asked, “Do they hate you, too?”

  “Not as much as they hate you,” Talulah chuckled. She tilted her head in Benedict’s direction, her dark braids swaying with the movement. “He hates me.”

  “Yes,” Kara scoffed, as she sipped her whiskey, “but we all know why.”

  Rose glanced back and forth between them. “I don’t,” she complained.

  “Benedict has his head stuck in the Middle Ages, still,” Talulah muttered.

  Kara rolled her eyes. “What Talulah is trying to say—politely,” she said, as she savored her drink, “is that he thinks his dick makes him a better warrior.”

  “And a better leader,” Talulah said. “He’s so condescending. It’s just…”

  “Go on,” Kara said, when Talulah trailed off. “Don’t stop there.” When Talulah didn’t continue, Kara chuckled. “You’d feel better, if you kicked his ass.”

  “Unlike you,” Talulah stated, “I prefer to resolve my issues peacefully.”

  “Boring,” Kara taunted. She grinned over the top of her glass, as Talulah glared at her. “You’re too young to overpower him. With brute strength, anyway.”

  “There is also that,” Talulah admitted, her lips twisting into a sour scowl.

  Rose glanced at Kara, her nostrils flaring, as the sweet scent of blood and the warm scent of whiskey enticed her senses. “I wouldn’t have thought a vampire would have that attitude. Well, aside from the former religious extremist, that is.”

  “It’s less common,” Kara admitted. “Most vampires realize how absurd prejudic
e is when they become hated themselves. Not to mention, our culture has a different power-structure than human cultures do. The playing field is leveled.”

  “There’s also the fact that some of us didn’t even have those attitudes in our cultures,” Talulah added. “My mother and grandmother led our people, and no one questioned it. Patriarchal structure is a cultural norm—not a human one.”

  “Benedict was a knight-commander,” Kara said, “so, of course, everyone assumed he’d make a good vampire leader. And for the most part, he did. Never as powerful as Aaron—but powerful enough to fuel his high opinion of himself.”

  Talulah laughed, “Kara is particularly good at getting under his skin.”

  “I’m particularly good at getting under everyone’s skin,” Kara bragged.

  “For the record, I don’t approve of what you said to him. That was quite cruel,” Talulah told her, but then she lifted her glass to her lips to hide her smile.

  “Sure,” Kara said with a grin. “You’ve heard the story of how I killed his first second-in-command, haven’t you?” Based on the look on Talulah’s face, she figured it was safe to assume she had. Kara turned to Rose, who was clearly about to ask. “That’s why he really hates me. Not the taunts. He’s still bitter about that.”

  “You killed someone’s second-in-command?” Rose whispered. “Why?”

  “Aaron told me to,” Kara said. She held out her empty glass, and Talulah refilled it with the flask she kept in her coat. “It was a fight to the death. I won.”

  “Again,” Talulah said, as she refilled her own glass, “I don’t approve.”

  “Why would Aaron want you to kill another leader’s second?” Rose said.

  “Benedict criticized him for having a woman as his second-in-command. He was still a young vampire and thought everything worked the way it did when he was human,” Kara said, rolling her eyes. “Aaron’s not a fan of criticism, as we all know, so he ordered me to kill Benedict’s second. So, I fought him and killed him. Afterward, Aaron turned to Benedict and said, ‘Well, she was better than yours.’”