Blood Domination (Blood Destiny #4)

by Connie Suttle

  "We will strike the prisoner's testimony from the record past this point," Gabron said. "Lissa, come forward and ask your questions."

  I looked at the seats surrounding me. The aisle was far away and I'd have to walk around and disturb quite a few vampires to get where I wanted to go. Well, what the hell? I misted to the round stage, disappearing from point A and appearing at point B. That caused a few gasps in the crowd.

  "What do you know of the ritual that is coming in three weeks?" I asked Hartolz.

  Hartolz's eyes widened when he saw me, and then he blinked several times in astonishment. "Answer the question," Gabron commanded, compulsion heavy in his voice.

  "Many sacrifices, on public communication," Hartolz replied, "so there will be no doubt as to who is truly lord of Refizan. I was not given information on exactly how it would be done, but the high priest was quite satisfied over the whole thing."

  "Will this ritual take place during the day or at night?" I asked.

  "In the evening. I was promised at least one of the sacrifices to show the people how great and powerful the priests are."

  "Really?" I had nothing but contempt for this guy. I was close enough to smell the taint on him. He'd been hanging out with Solar Red too long. If werewolves could get a taste for killing, the vamps could get it, too. Hartolz had it bad. "How long have you been associated with Solar Red?"

  "Six months," Hartolz replied.

  "When were you captured?"

  "Two days ago. I was sent out to investigate the disappearances of priests sent to pick up sacrifices from down the river. That's how I was apprehended." I wanted to snicker at his words but held it back.

  "And did you find any evidence of the missing priests before you were taken?" I schooled my face toward non-expression.

  "Some sailors on a nearby boat swore they saw the van with the priests inside it disappear."

  "Did they, now?" I crossed arms over my chest. "Did you pass this information to Solar Red?"

  "No. I was captured before I could contact them."

  "Gee, that's too bad," I muttered sarcastically. "Did you ever get to see the god?"

  "No. The high priest said that he did not want to lose my services."

  "Yeah. I can understand that," I said. I wondered what vampire would taste like if the god gulped one down.

  "I have never seen a female vampire," Hartolz spoke out of turn. He was around three hundred; I got a good whiff of his age.

  "It's not likely you'll see another, either," I said. "I have no other questions. Thank you for your indulgence," I dipped my head respectfully to the Council and misted back to my seat.

  "Very well," Gabron said, not even blinking at my disappearance. "We will take the vote, now." The votes racked up on the screen—all of them guilty. I wondered how they were going to do this. I had mixed feelings when a section of the stone floor slid aside before the Council's table. Bright reflections of fire shimmered against rock walls as the circular stone cover rolled back. Cuffs were removed from Hartolz's wrists, compulsion was laid for him not to resist and he was shoved into the hole. The cover slid over the chasm quickly. I could hear a few screams before they were terminated suddenly. Well, that was different.

  "Is there further business to be brought before the Blood Council?" One of the two assistants came forward and addressed the crowd.

  "We wish to speak with the Queen." Two vampires stood in the back.

  "You must address the Queen yourself, we do not command her," Gabron said. "It is my understanding that she is merely visiting. Do not offend her."

  "I want to invite her to my home," one of the two said. They were far enough behind me that I was having difficulty making out their features. Their words brought on a spate of hisses.

  "Lissa, do you wish to respond?" Gabron asked. I really didn't—what was this guy planning? Dinner and a movie?

  "I am quite busy," I said. "What are your reasons for inviting me?" I squinted, trying to see him better, but he was hidden behind a crowd of other vamps.

  "Just to talk," the vampire said. More hisses followed that answer.

  "I'm sorry; I really don't have the time. Perhaps we will talk someday." I turned in my seat to face the Council again.

  "Briden, will you escort Lissa to the stage?" Gabron was taking charge, now. "The meeting is dismissed."

  "I'll get us down there," I said, as vampires started moving all around us.

  "How--?" Briden's voice was cut off as I misted him to the dais where the Council members now stood.

  Gabron and the two vampires who'd escorted the prisoner came to stand next to Briden and me. "We will go out the other way," Gabron said quietly, motioning the two guards to follow behind us. They herded me off the stage and through a side door that closed as soon as we got through it—the rest of the Council were already inside the antechamber.

  "Lissa, tell me again that you are not a Queen," Gabron hissed.

  "I never said I wasn't, I just said you didn't know that," I reminded him grumpily.

  "I have never heard of any vampire doing what you just did," another Council member was staring at me. Briden hadn't spoken at all; I think he was still in shock.

  "And you probably won't hear of it again," I said. "Are we done?" I studied Gabron's face. Not a muscle twitched.

  "I would attempt compulsion, just to keep you here for a while so I might ask questions, but somehow I get the idea that it would have no effect," Gabron replied.

  "What questions do you have?" I didn't know if I wanted to hear them or not.

  "Please, come this way," one of the assistants was there at my elbow and Gabron was already moving ahead of us, along with the rest of the Council.

  * * *

  "This is blood, mixed with wine," A glass was offered to me. We were still far below ground level but in comfortable quarters; it was someone's home and we were inside a spacious library. Shelves lined the cavern's walls, with sofas and chairs placed throughout. Low tables were scattered here and there, generally in front of the sofas.

  "Please, sit." Gabron had already been served and was now attempting to get me seated in a chair next to his sofa. Other Council members were sitting here and there nearby, all within easy range to listen in. They all wanted to hear what I had to say. I just wasn't sure what or how much to tell them.

  "You don't have to tell me where you're from, or how you arrived," Gabron said. "I only need to know if you will be able to help us when the time comes."

  "Help you with what?" I asked.

  "With Solar Red," he replied, sipping his drink. "Please, try this, it is very good." I sniffed my glass, couldn't get any scent off it except blood and wine, so I tasted it. It was good. I'd just have to be careful; I knew what alcohol did to me.

  "It depends on what you want to do," I said. "I'm all for getting rid of them and the quicker the better. But I have to tell you, they may be in league with something terrible."

  "The god."

  "He might be posing as a god, but he's about as far from that as anything I've ever seen." I sipped more of my wine-flavored blood.

  "You have seen this?" Gabron's eyes bored into mine.

  "I saw him eat four priests because they didn't do what he wanted," I said. "And then turned his henchmen onto seven other priests. They didn't last long, either. I have it on good authority that he's not something you want to come anywhere near. We should concentrate our efforts on Solar Red and leave that thing to someone else."

  "If we work on the priests a little at a time, when the night of the ritual arrives they will perhaps call their priests in from the other temples. I wish for every one of these criminals to be present for the event, allowing us to go against all of them at once."

  "How many do you want out of the way?" I asked.

  "I imagine it will only require a few deaths," Gabron ventured. "I believe they are worried already, and will seek to pull together if just a few more die under unexplainable circumstances."

  "I can handle
that, no problem," I nodded. "How many priests do you think are in other cities?"

  "My informants in other cities give me a number roughly equal to four hundreds," Gabron drained his glass and held it up. One of the assistants came and poured out more for him, dipping his head in a little bow afterward. Well, Gabron was Wlodek's equivalent on Refizan. I wondered what his official title was.

  "So, you think we need to get rid of a few priests discreetly, so the others will be brought in?" Gabron wasn't bad looking, I decided. I wondered what he was like when he fought.

  "Yes. I have heard rumblings through my spies. That discussion is already taking place within the temple. Many highly placed priests want to bring the others in now, but that suggestion has been tabled temporarily. With merely a few more deaths among them, that proposal will be raised again and enacted. These assassinations must be accomplished within the next two weeks so priests from other temples will have time to arrive and fit in as reinforcements."

  "I see," I said.

  "Of course, Solar Red will be searching already for those responsible in the disappearances of their missing priests, and those efforts will be increased, once more of them begin to vanish."

  "Of course they will," I muttered. "Do you have any idea what form these searches might take?"

  "Every citizen of Refizan is expected to have gainful employment unless they are physically or mentally incapable. Do you have such employment, Lissa?"

  "Nothing, other than priest removal," I said. "What will they do, start checking IDs or something?"

  "In a manner of speaking. Solar Red is exerting their influence on purchased legislators. This law has not been strictly enforced, nor have the authorities instigated a search for many years, but it will be implemented soon, according to my sources. And citizens are required to report anyone they see that does not appear to be employed or have the proper implant on their wrist." He tapped the underside of his own wrist; it held what looked to be a square of raised skin on it.

  "Crap," I said. I didn't have one of those and wondered if Dragon or Karzac knew of a way to get one for me.

  "I can arrange this for you, if you wish," Gabron offered, a corner of his mouth twitching a little.

  "Give me a little time," I said. "I may be able to do this myself. I'll let you know."

  "Do it soon," Gabron told me. His gray eyes now held a warning. "And work must be arranged for you. I can place you on the payroll for our house upstairs."

  "That might be the last place I'd want to work," I said.

  "I would merely place you on the payroll, not expect you to participate," he offered dryly.

  "If you knew my fiancé, even that's too much," I said.

  "You are betrothed." He made it a statement.

  "Yes. He's insanely jealous and I'm not about to lie to him," I said. "I really need to go. Do you have any other questions?"

  "None, other than to ask you to meet me in my office in two days," he said.

  "I'll do what I can," I said.

  "Briden will see you out," Gabron nodded.

  "How far underground are we?" I asked.

  "Approximately seventy ticks," he replied. A Refizani tick was roughly equivalent to three feet. I could get through that easily.

  "Briden doesn't need to see me out," I said, turning to mist right in front of Gabron and going straight through the ceiling of his library. The city looked so pretty and peaceful from high above it as I made my way slowly toward the apartment. Too bad Solar Red and the Ra'Ak had the planet in their grip. I didn't have time to do any sightseeing. And I needed to get one of those ID chips and a job, I guess. If Dragon didn't have any ideas, I'd have to go back to Gabron and I sure wasn't looking forward to that.

  Even taking things slowly so I could think, the trip back to Dragon's apartment only took ten minutes. When I became solid inside the kitchen, I found Dragon, Karzac and Pheligar waiting on me.

  * * *

  "Do our records reflect anything such as that?" Elidek asked Gabron.

  "No," Gabron shook his head. He'd only seen one Queen during his lifetime and her qualifications were that she wasn't susceptible to compulsion and was a decent fighter. "I have only seen one other vampire that could turn to mist and two who had mindspeech. I wonder if she has that gift."

  "You are the only one I know who now has that talent and sadly there is no other with whom to share it," Elidek sighed.

  "The Elemaiya do not come often to this planet," Gabron observed. "It takes their blood in some small measure, at least, to produce a vampire with those talents. My mother was a quarter, making me an eighth. I received mindspeech, along with strong compulsion. It is my understanding that the greater the amount of Elemaiyan blood, the greater the gifts. Our little Queen must have a great deal of that heritage and be of the Bright Elemaiya, just as I am. The Dark race creates criminals with the same talents at times."

  "Why do they not come here? The Elemaiya, I mean."

  "They are Travelers as you know, and they prefer those worlds less technologically advanced. We have had space travel for a very long time. They tend to stay away from those worlds. They are more in danger of discovery in those places. At least that is what my mother always said. If a child is half Elemaiya, they may choose with which race they wish to live. Should they be less than half-blood, the race will not claim them. If any of those become vampire, they make the finest turns."

  "As you have proven, Prominence." Gabron shrugged at the compliment.

  Chapter 5

  "What's going on?" I asked, trying for nonchalance, even though I was shivering a little.

  "There is no need to fear little one; I am merely here to give you an ID chip and Dragon will provide you with employment at his business," Pheligar replied, already reaching for my right arm. He had the tiny ID chip on a finger and just as he'd placed the disc on the back of my neck, he had the chip under my skin in no time flat and with absolutely no pain. Of course, I couldn't help staring at his blue skin while he did this. The only thing his skin didn't have was fluffy white clouds floating through it.

  "What's the job?" I turned my gaze to Dragon after Pheligar released my arm.

  "I run a self-defense studio," he said. "Which has seen increased enrollment lately. Mostly due to Solar Red, the disappearances, and other violence that the Ra'Ak have brought to this world. Unfortunately, you will be cleaning the studio after the classes."

  "I don't mind; I clean pretty well," I said. "I've cooked for werewolves; was even a Packmaster for about thirty seconds not long ago," I added. "I'm a great bodyguard, too, if anybody needs it."

  "I can see that you might be," Dragon almost smiled.

  "I will go, unless you need additional supplies?" Pheligar asked.

  "I have plenty of blood," I said.

  "I have shielded your bedroom," Pheligar informed me. "If anyone comes to search the home, the entrance will not be evident."

  "You can do that?" I was admiring this guy more and more, I think.

  "Little one, your flattery is much appreciated, because it is honest," he said, smiling slightly before he disappeared.

  "I will come to Lissa any time I wish to ask Pheligar for something," Karzac said, staring at the space previously occupied by the Larentii. "Your ID chip can be used to pay for anything you need," he added, tapping the raised spot on my wrist.

  "When should I start my job?" I asked.

  "Tomorrow evening; Pheligar has arranged the records, making it appear as if you've done the job for the past three months. Since I've owned the business, in fact," Dragon said. "I will come here on my break and take you to the dojo with me." He handed a chip key over. "In case you need to get in or to lock up and I am not there."

  "Damn, why don't they wear jeans, here?" I asked, patting my loose-fitting clothing. I didn't have any pockets in my trousers.

  "I have a chain; you can hang it around your neck," Karzac offered, heading toward his bedroom to get it. I hooked the chain through a slot on the chip k
ey and then fastened it around my neck. "And I've been seeing priests at the restaurant near the hospital," Karzac informed me. "I think they are hoping to get word of the Vice-Governor's health since we do not allow them inside the hospital. They are concerned he might hand over incriminating evidence against them, no doubt."

  "Those schmucks. I'll go check that out tomorrow night," I said.

  "Remember not to give yourself away," Dragon warned.

  "Hey, you're talking to a vampire, here. Wlodek, Merrill and Gavin would have apoplexy if I wasn't discreet," I said.

  "You know Merrill?" Dragon eyed me speculatively.

  "Yeah. He's my surrogate sire," I said. "You know him?"

  "Only peripherally, through Adam."

  That was news to me. That meant that I might have to be careful around Dragon in case he wanted to carry tales back to Adam, who might then carry tales back to Merrill. Or to Griffin, who would then carry them back to Merrill.

  "You have such a sad look on your face, little vampire," Dragon observed.

  "It's nothing," I shook my head. "How much night do we have left?"

  "Six hours," Karzac said.

  "Good enough," I said, and misted away.

  * * *

  "She said that the first night she was here and then went out to kill sixteen priests," Karzac sighed when Lissa disappeared.

  "I could Look to find what causes that sadness in her," Dragon offered. "But I hate to pry in case it is too personal." Dragon was referring to the gift that all Saa Thalarr possessed—that of reaching out and obtaining almost any information—it was something they had been given in order to combat the enemy effectively. The enemy also had it, up to a point. Neither could penetrate the other's shield to discover where they were. Each battle could turn into a lengthy dance, trying to locate the enemy in order to initiate a confrontation. The winner gained the planet. If the Ra'Ak won, the planet would be devoured; they and their demon children survived on flesh and blood. If the Saa Thalarr won, they left the planet to its own devices and the Ra'Ak could not challenge again for at least a thousand years.

  * * *

  I didn't want to murder priests in their beds and that's where most of them were. The six I found awake were sitting in an office, drinking and laughing about the prisoners they'd tortured earlier. Those guys died so fast they didn't have time to be afraid. I could have dumped them in the river nearby, but I didn't. I left their headless bodies inside the office before misting their heads to the temple's domed roof. I left the heads there; all six lined up in a neat row on an outside ledge where they grinned grotesquely at anyone approaching the temple. Then I went looking for their prisoners.