Shadow's Light

by Nicola Claire

  I leaned my head back against the rear of the couch and closed my eyes and just tried to clear my mind of everything. A fresh, clean slate. That's what I needed to face what was ahead. I couldn't solve everything at once. Deal with one thing at a time. Tonight was Nataliya and when that was done, Samson's Gigi.

  I knew I hadn't fallen asleep, I could still hear the clink of ice in M&M's glasses of Scotch. I could still hear the soft footfalls as Sergei paced the length of the room and back again. I couldn't hear the Grey Lord, but he was still on my mind and I knew he was there, watching me. So, when Michel's voice entered my mind I knew instantly that he was projecting his thoughts and it wasn't a dream.

  Ma douce, it is done. I am the Emissary. I have secured the portals, but I will need to be near the Iunctio's Palais and its centre of power if you are forced to join. Once they have your power, I can monitor it from afar. But that initial surge of Nosferatin life force will be potent and I cannot risk any distance at all.

  A small smile found my lips. Even from this distance; him in Paris, me in Auckland, he sounded like he was right by my side. And even though he had no way of knowing what I was doing, he spoke without hesitation expecting me to hear all of his words. It was such a jolt of familiarity, the Michel I had always known. Aware, in control, demanding. Even when he whispered in my mind.

  Suddenly, any thought of shadows ahead were lost in the Light of my kindred's voice. Nothing else mattered to me, really, than Michel being safe and alive. It was a selfish thought. A truly indulgent emotion to have. I was responsible for more than just my happiness, yet in the moment his voice entered my mind, nothing else but Michel and I existed in this world.

  Ma douce, he said so softly and with warmth in my mind. You are my world too.

  Did I project all of that? I asked, throwing the thought back at him.

  His low laughter reverberated through, not only my mind, but my body, as though I was resting my head against his chest as he laughed.

  Oui. And I loved it.

  I will come to you as soon as I can. He didn't answer my thought straight away. I knew what he would be thinking. Keeping me from the Champion had been a warranted priority for so long, but like me he would realise that sooner or later I would be forced to joined. And there was no one I wanted to join with again but Michel. To do that, I had to go to him.

  Be careful, ma belle, was all he sent in return, and then I knew he had gone from my mind.

  I opened my eyes and met Sergei's.

  “Time to go,” he said, coming to a standstill directly in front of me. I was both relieved and suddenly anxious at exactly the same time.

  “Okay, let's do this,” I said as I stood and stretched, the other vampires coming alive at my command.

  We took the Land Rover, deciding to check the level two master signatures closer to Sensations and then work outwards from there. The first thing I noticed as we travelled the brightly lit inner city streets, was the presence of fey. Until I had practised with Avery in Rio, I had not been successful in recognising fey magic, but now his lessons all came flooding back in.

  The shimmer of distorted air about them, the prickle of power, unfamiliar to anything I had experienced before in our world. The beauty they presented, which in itself was a signal of sorts. No human could look that pretty. That perfect. That mesmerising.

  They were on every street corner, coming out of bars and clubs. Hand and hand with humans. In groups, couples and alone. My head flicked from side to side as we passed them, unable to comprehend the vast number that there obviously were. In such a short amount of time they had engulfed us. Still more humans than fey, but I couldn't even fathom the ratio now. 5:1 or maybe as horrific as 3:1. How long would it take for them to overcrowd us? For humans to be the minority, not the Fey?

  I felt bile rise up my throat and into my mouth and had to force myself to swallow it back down. I had known this was a possibility. Hell, I had known it would happen eventually. But, to consider I was now part of keeping these creatures in our realm. Of preventing those who could banish them from doing so. It was too much. Too much guilt. Too much unfamiliar and raw pain at the side I had chosen to defend.

  It didn't matter that I'd had little choice. For the good of all humans, I should have sacrificed myself. I leaned forward and placed my head in my hands trying in vain to remove the images of the Fey walking my city's streets away. Trying to forget the knowledge of my involvement in what was happening outside of the Rover's windows as we passed.

  “How badly will they hurt them?” I asked in a small voice that cracked.

  The vampires all stiffened at my question, unsure what I was asking and of whom. Aliath turned slowly toward me, but I wouldn't look into those foreign, those alien, eyes.

  “For the most part, they will try to live alongside the humans. They wish to remain undetected and as such, they will limit how they hunt. There are a few who cannot help what they are. On both the Dökkálfa and the Ljósálfar sides. These we will try to contain ourselves. That is what the Dökkálfa Grey Lords and the Ljósálfar Starkard were created for.”

  He spoke as though his words would allay any fears I had. He couldn't lie, he was Dökkálfa, but even that knowledge did little to settle my racing heart. This was my world, not theirs. If anyone should defend the innocent lives herein, it should be me.

  “Do you wish to take on all of your world's enemies alone, Princess?” Aliath asked. Then when I didn't answer, but only sat there, leaning forward with my arms locked around my stomach in an effort not to be sick, he added, “It would be against our better judgement to allow ourselves to be detected here. We will do our best to keep things in hand, you have my word.”

  I did look at him then. Fairies, especially the Dökkálfa, like vampires, put an awful lot of weight into words. Aliath had practically announced an accord. Or at the very least, a promise. One he could not go back on even if he wished to.

  “You have not condemned your race, Lucinda. We wish to live in harmony in your world.” Aliath held my gaze, trying to convey his sincerity.

  It didn't work. Or at least, I knew he was sincere, but it mattered little. “Even one lost soul, one extinguished Light, is too much to accept, fairy. Way too much.”

  We looked at each other for a long time. I'm not sure if I was declaring war. I was certainly sure I would not stand by idly and I was hoping to convey that much. But, whether the Grey Lord would take more from my words and my hard stare now, I didn't know. And quite frankly, I didn't really care. Bring. It. On.

  Our stand off was interrupted by Matthias, who was driving the car. “We're at the first address.” My thoughts of fairies infiltrating our world had to take a back seat to the vampire signature in the house before me.

  We all got out of the car and proceeded towards the house. Marcus and Matthias flashing off to surround the building. Sergei at my side as I went to knock on the door. Aliath waited patiently by the car.

  There was no immediate reply to my hard thumping on the wooden panel that looked a little worse for wear. We were in Grey Lynn and this was one of the few remaining bungalow villas that hadn't yet been made over into the upwardly mobile image of more than half a million bucks of realty.

  I heard shuffling inside the house, muttered swear words and then finally the door creaked open. Before me stood an average vampire, one I didn't recognise, but was definitely a level two master. He knew I was a Nosferatin immediately and I was guessing, because of all of that Dark within, that was why he went into a fighting stance as soon as he saw me.

  I didn't go for my stake although my staking hand itched at my side. This was the only level two signature in the house and it was clearly not Nataliya. I had a sudden realisation as I faced off against the increasingly agitated vampire before me, that all of the level two master vampires Jett had indicated would not be her. I did a quick mental check, slipping effortlessly into the void to seek, and confirmed my suspicions. At every address he had listed I sensed the Dark signatu
re of the vampire we would confront on this little treasure hunt we were on. And all of them were, of course, not Nataliya.

  Nataliya was not in the city, or at the very least, she was not anywhere we could sense her at all.

  “Sorry,” I said smiling widely at the vampire across the threshold from me, “wrong address.”

  I took a step backwards, allowing Sergei to cover my retreat, before I spun on my heels and returned to the car. A few seconds later Sergei approached, stopping at my shoulder. Marcus and Matthias rounded the side of the house, just as the vampire closed his front door.

  “Give me your cellphone.” I held my hand out to Sergei and he slipped his phone into my palm. I dialled the number without having to think.

  “Sergei.” Jett's commanding voice came down the line. Gotta love caller ID.

  “Jett, it's Luce.” I didn't wait for a reply. “Did the Keeper give you any information regarding how the exchange was to be carried out?”

  A slight pause, then Jett answered, “None.”

  “Nothing other than a time frame?” I asked.

  “Just the 48 hours, no instructions on what to do when they were completed. I guess he'll contact us.”

  I didn't think that was going to happen. The Keeper did want me, that was true. But, he wanted me where he could contain me, control me. Here in Auckland, in my city, amongst my and Michel's former vampires, he was at a decided disadvantage. He didn't want to do the exchange here. He wasn't even here anymore, I was sure of it. He'd already headed back to Paris.

  “OK, thanks,” I said into the mouthpiece, then added, “Can I borrow the company jet?”

  Another pause, longer this time. “What's happening, Luce. Talk to me.”

  “I don't think there's much more you can do Jett, other than let me take the jet. The Keeper's played us, they're no longer here. I have to go to him.”

  I heard Jett curse softly under his breath. “No possible alternative?”

  “No.”

  A sigh. “Technically the jet still belongs to Michel, so it's at your disposal.”

  “Thanks Jett. For everything.” Then I ended the call, handing the phone back to Sergei.

  “Nataliya's gone to Paris?” Sergei asked as he pocketed the phone. I nodded, still deep in thought. “Then I'll advise the pilots we need to fly out tonight.”

  For so many reasons I wanted to say yes. Do it, book the flight, we'll head to the airport now. But, there was more at stake here than Sergei's sister. And a slight delay would not make much difference anyway. Or at least that's what I told myself as I placed a restraining hand on Sergei's wrist as he reached for his pocket and the cellphone within.

  “Not yet, Sergei,” I said softly. He looked at me in disbelief. “I know,” I said with a sigh, “and we will leave as soon as we can.” I ran a hand over my face as though that would make things so much simpler. Not a chance. This was going to be rocky no matter what I did next.

  “Let's head to Samson at St. Helier's Bay. Gigi will rise soon and I have to be there.” The look I received from Sergei said it all. How could a newbie vampire, not of my line, be more important than Nataliya?

  I returned his stare with one of compassion and pain. I wanted to go after Nataliya, just as much as I had wanted to go after Michel. But my responsibilities were not singular. Nut had said Gigi was mine to watch over. I knew for a fact that not being present for her rising would piss the deity off.

  Besides, I had a fairy to lure. And what better place than my home, where he had already attempted once to secure me and I was sure he would try again.

  We climbed into the Land Rover in silence and headed to the Eastern Bays.

  First Gigi. Then Lutin. Then Nataliya, the Champion, the Keeper and in the end, when it was all sorted and back in place, I might just allow myself to believe I could be with Michel. My kindred. And actually relax for once in a world where everything was safe.

  Yeah, right.

  Chapter 30

  The Rising

  The house wasn't nearly as bad as Samson had led me to believe. There was considerable damage internally, but nothing structural and remarkably, no gaping holes letting in the cold night air. Or in the morning, the sun. The building was contained, but a shambles. At least the kitchen and lounge were clean, even if the landing and bedrooms were not.

  The others all headed into the lounge to pour themselves drinks. Or in the case of Aliath, to stand in a corner and watch. I attempted the stairs with not a little trepidation, but made it to the top unscathed. I knocked quietly on the door to Samson's room.

  He opened the door, looking tired and worn and just as distraught as before.

  “Hey," I said quietly. The need to not wake the vampire lying supine in the bed real, despite the fact that nothing I said would stir her from her slumber at this point.

  “Hey,” Samson replied, pulling me into a hug. “You look tired, Luce.”

  I laughed, I was meant to be the one saying that. “So do you.”

  He pulled me into the room and closed the door, his arms still around my shoulders and waist. He buried his head in my neck, not too dissimilar to what Michel does. An effort to ground themselves in my scent.

  “How long now?” I asked as he let me pull away. He glanced over his shoulder to look at Gigi and sighed.

  “It won't be long.”

  “What will happen when she rises?” I asked, as I sat down on a chair to the side of the bed, letting Samson take the more comfortable armchair he had no doubt just vacated to answer the door.

  “She will be disoriented and hungry.”

  “Will she have control?”

  He shrugged. “Without her sire here, it's hard to tell. It depends how controlled he is as a vampire. He was Rogue, so I'm guessing her control will be limited. It would be best if you're not here.”

  “I'm not going anywhere,” I said, crossing my legs and settling into the hard backed chair to make my point.

  Samson just looked at me and then nodded. “Thanks.”

  We sat in silence for a while and although I didn't want to add to Samson's woes, I knew I had to come clean. He was invested in this girl, he wouldn't abandon her once she turned, he needed to know what he was dealing with. If she acted like a Nosferatin, she was a danger to him. Nut may have said Gigi was now my responsibility, but my heart was with Samson. He was mine to protect.

  “There's something you need to know.” My voice was quiet, but he would have no problems hearing my words. He looked up and raised both eyebrows. “When I...” I took a deep breath in, deciding Nut's involvement was best left unsaid. “When I saved her, something strange happened. Don't ask me how. I've never heard of anything like this before. But, she was dying Samson and I had to do something. Had I known what would happen, maybe I wouldn't have gone ahead.” I shrugged and looked around the room for some form of inspiration, to guide me in my next choice of words. Nothing came to light, so I soldiered on before I changed my mind. “She's half Nosferatu and half Nosferatin.”

  There, said it.

  Silence met my words and I couldn't, no matter how I wanted to, meet his eyes.

  Finally, he cleared his throat and the noise somehow made it possible to look up from my clasped hands in my lap. He was running a hand through his long blonde hair. When he looked at me, he didn't look surprised. Or angry. Just that same sadness that had attached itself to his handsome features, as though it would never let go.

  “I knew something wasn't right. I just knew it. But, I couldn't tell for sure.”

  “How?” I asked, surprised he'd picked up on anything.

  “I don't know. I have felt connected to her since she first walked through the door to the club. I feel connected to her now. And although I knew it would be different, her a vampire now and no longer human, I still felt like something was off.” He shook his head. “Half vampire, half vampire hunter. A Nothus. I never knew that combination was possible.”

  “A Nothus?” There was a word for what she wa
s?

  “A Nothus is any mixture of a vampire with another being. It doesn't happen often and I know of none alive today. They are hunted. They are considered dangerous and an abomination. The usual mix is vampire with human. It can occur at the time of turning. A human who is pregnant is turned in later stages of the pregnancy. Only to give birth as a vampire to a Nothus. Usually the Nothus is terminated upon birth.”

  Bloody hell. And this girl lying out on the bed before me was my responsibility? Oh Nut, thanks a bunch.

  Samson went on as though I wasn't having a mental conniption. “There have been half shifter, half vampire before. I'm sure centuries ago the Fey experimented and managed some form of half breed, although the survival of one would be impossible. Fey blood is toxic to us. But, with the Fey, you never know. I've never heard of a half ghoul, half vampire.” He huffed a laugh out then. “But, I'd never heard of a half vampire, half vampire hunter before now either. How exactly does that work?” He looked directly at me waiting for a reply.

  “I have no idea,” I replied honestly. “But, we'll help her. We'll keep her secret and keep her safe.”

  “Why, Luce? It will be dangerous. For her, for us. For you.”

  I glanced at the still form of the white, platinum blonde young woman in the bed. “Let's just say I am making her my responsibility and leave it at that.”

  I knew he was watching me, searching for a hidden meaning in my face. I hoped he'd find what he was looking for. Conviction. Truth. I don't know. Reassurance maybe. Because no matter his statement of it being dangerous, or the fact that what Gigi was, was considered an abomination by his kind, Samson was not abandoning this girl. And neither would I.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  We sat in silent thought for a few minutes and then I said, “I won't be here all the time. I'll do what I can when I am, but when I am gone I am entrusting her to you.”