The Lantern's Ember

by Colleen Houck

  They headed into the mirrored ballroom to find many colorfully dressed guests already swirling to the music, their movements as synchronous as the fish in the lagoon. Graydon found a place in the corner to stand and glower at the others, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. Finney made his way to the buffet and was happy to find Jack’s pumpkin sitting as a centerpiece. It sparked happily at seeing him.

  Jack and Dev both circled the room, heading in opposite directions looking for Ember. The lantern frowned at seeing the pugnacious determination in the vampire’s eyes. He feared she had endued the vampire with more gentlemanly attributes than the man truly possessed.

  Scanning the menagerie of costumed Otherworlders, Jack scowled. Not seeing Ember stirred foreboding in his mind. He searched for a petite woman with bouncy, chocolate-brown hair, one with a generous smile and an hourglass shape. Tuning out the garrulous chatter, he passed through the crowd, his lantern light falling on them.

  There was something different about the people he saw. Something incongruous about their inner lights. The auras were pulsing in staccato beats that changed color. He’d never seen such a thing before. It was like a multifarious blend of not one, not two, but many different beings. One aura, a green one, shone through the crowd. He knew that one. It was Frank. He followed the man as Frank sought out the werewolf in the corner.

  “Captain?” Frank said.

  Graydon stood at attention. “What is it, Frank?”

  “It’s the submersible. She’s been scuttled, sir.”

  “And the crew?” Graydon asked.

  “Don’t know,” Frank said. “They were either taken off before she sank or they went down with the ship.”

  Graydon’s shoulders fell. He studied his longtime friend and former first mate. If there was any duplicity in the man, he couldn’t see it. Graydon decided Frank didn’t know that he served the doctor’s whims. He was as much a victim as Delia.

  “It’s not your fault, Frank,” Graydon assured him.

  “Don’t matter,” Frank said. “The ship was my responsibility. I take full blame.”

  “There’s nothing to be done now.”

  “Where’s Captain Delia?”

  “She’s…she’s been detained this evening,” Graydon replied.

  Hearing Graydon talk about Delia increased Jack’s worry over Ember tenfold. Just as he turned to look through the crowd again, he sensed she was close. His eyes landed on her immediately. She stood in the doorway, a feathered mask covering her eyes. Her purple-and-black gown draped from her tightly corseted bodice in ruffled folds of silk and taffeta. The bustle and train were so spectacular, they practically filled the doorway.

  Ember stepped into the room and Jack caught sight of a conical black hat in her hand. A band of copper circled the brim. She also carried a staff of some kind that glinted in the light. Her hair was drawn up and pinned with clips of the same metal. Dev got to her first.

  The tall vampire leaned over her with a conciliatory smile and soon led her onto the dance floor. She placed the hat on her head and lifted the hem of her heavy skirts, keeping the staff in the same hand. Jack realized then that it was a broom. He studied it with his lantern’s perception and smiled. She’d done it.

  Jack hung back, watching them and waiting for the arrival of the doctor. When their dance was finished, Dev led Ember to the buffet. The crowd parted for them as if they were royalty. Finney loaded a plate for her and she nibbled but turned her eyes away from the two men often, as if she were searching for someone. Jack hoped it was him.

  When Ember set down her plate, Finney offered his arm and they danced. The gaunt boy moved awkwardly, but Ember simply laughed whenever he stepped on her feet or they bumped noses. At the end, Finney took her arm and led her over to where Jack stood. The boy grimaced, seeing Jack’s skeleton beneath his skin, but Ember acted as if everything was normal.

  “Will you dance with me, Jack?” she asked, lifting her dainty chin.

  Jack glanced around and nodded. “Keep watch, Finney?”

  “Consider me on duty,” Finney said in reply, and took Ember’s broom so she wouldn’t have to carry it around. He wondered when she’d had time to retrieve it and didn’t like the idea that she’d wandered down to the lab again by herself. It hurt to see the way Ember looked at the lantern as he led her onto the dance floor, but Finney would rather see her with Jack than with the scoundrel Dev. Even now Dev was scowling as he slowly sipped from a golden goblet by the buffet table.

  Finney pulled a pimply-skinned purple fruit from his pocket and bit into it. He chewed, quite enjoying the texture and the flavor of the sour fruit, and tried to ignore the way Jack’s hand curled around Ember’s waist and how closely he was holding her.

  Dev also took in every glance, every touch, and realized he was losing the game. How the devil could he lose Ember to a lantern? A mortal he could almost understand, or at the very least deal with. When Ember stood that close to Jack, her witchlight dimmed to the point that not even he could tell her from a human. The lantern was a natural shield for her.

  The thought occurred to Dev that Jack could better take care of her than he could. The only way Dev could hide her witchlight would be to either drain her or drug her, and neither of those options was good for the long term. He gritted his teeth. There had to be a way. His blood and his heart told him to find one—insisted that he try one last time. He’d heard her say she just wanted to be friends, but he knew there could be more, that she could be happy with him.

  Ember leaned close to Jack and whispered something. Her strawberry lips grazed his ear and her cheek was pressed to his. Jack pulled her flush against his body, and Dev’s fingers tightened on his cup.

  Seeing the grinning skull bending down to say something in return, his bony hand clutching Ember’s, gnawed on Dev’s vampire heart and made his stomach skitter like little mice were racing around in it in circles.

  Enough was enough, he rationalized. The road she was heading down was a dangerous one indeed; he owed it to her to save Ember from herself. Dev slammed his cup down, the contents sloshing over the rim. He’d never considered himself a sanguinary sort of vampire, prone to machinations, but if he had to help Ember see the light by incapacitating her, then so be it. He stepped away from the buffet, his eyes fixed on the prize. He would have no peace until Jack’s infernal hands were off his witch. Dev was a hunter by nature, seeking blood to sustain himself. As much as he tried to use reason to guide his actions, instinct was kicking in. The power thrumming in his blood said he not only wanted her but needed her, and that power pushed his feet forward.

  Jack was quite enjoying his dance with Ember. He rather liked the feel of her in his arms, and she fit against him very nicely. The scent of her hair, the rustle of her skirts, and the warmth of her affection were nearly intoxicating. Each minute in her presence made him crave more. He longed to take away the feathered mask and slip his hands into the voluminous curls of her hair, removing the pins one by one until her hair fell down her back in soft waves.

  He spotted the vampire making his way toward them and sighed, knowing a confrontation was coming and wishing it wouldn’t. Just then, a buzzing light sped into the room. It was one he recognized. He frowned as the firefly zipped around him and out the door. Jack stepped back just as the vampire closed in.

  “Ember, I must talk with you,” Dev said. “It is of dire importance.”

  “Oh, well, I suppose if it’s fine with Jack…” Her words trailed off and she looked at the lantern, hoping he’d voice a protest.

  “Yes,” Jack answered distractedly. “Go ahead and talk with Dev. I’ll be right back.”

  Jack left in a hurry, heading out the ballroom door.

  Dev thanked the maker for his luck and took Ember’s arm, placing her hand on his bent elbow. “Can we speak outside?” he asked.

  She sighed, watching Jack depart, and then nodded. Dev escorted her out to the
veranda. Finding a quiet place away from prying eyes, he pulled her into an alcove.

  “What is it?” Ember asked. “Has something happened?”

  Ember removed the hat she’d pinned to her head, as well as her feathered eye mask, and set them on the stone wall.

  “No, no. My sister’s painting is fine, as far as I know. I want to speak of our escape.”

  “Shhh!” Ember said, pressing her fingers against his mouth. “There’s a cat farther down the wall.”

  “Right.” He hesitated and then said the only thing he knew would work. The only thing that would truly save her from making a mistake with the lantern would be remembering what he could give her. Taking advantage of her soft heart, he murmured, “I know the timing isn’t right, but I need to ask your permission to take just a bit more of your blood.”

  “Why?” she asked. “Is there something amiss?”

  Dev shook his head. “Regarding that…er…subject we aren’t talking about, the one that might be picked up by prying ears and watchful eyes?”

  “Yes?”

  “I was thinking about you and Finney making more ammunition for your weapons. If I had some witch power in my system, I’d be much stronger. As to my current status, I’m afraid I’m rather weak. All the battles on the skyship have drained me, and there aren’t any donors around who are either willing or able to sustain me. I suppose I could—”

  “Don’t say another word,” Ember said, touching her finger to his lips. “Of course you can take more of my blood. You don’t even need to ask.”

  Ember had no idea what she’d just promised him. It was dangerous saying such a thing to a vampire. It meant that the natural witch protections Ember possessed against him were now null and void. He paused, reminding himself that this was for her own good. He was only doing this because she was so very stubborn and was being too easily swayed by the lantern.

  “Oh, Ember,” Dev said, taking her hand and pressing a warm kiss on her palm. “Ember, thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  He kissed her wrist in a very proper sort of way at first and then slowly pulled off her long glove. His mouth softened and the kisses became slow and drugging as he trailed more up to the inside of her delicately veined elbow. “I…I can’t stop thinking of you, Ember,” Dev murmured, punctuating each word with the touch of his mouth on her lovely arm.

  “Oh, Dev. We’ve already talked about this.”

  “I know. But it hurts, Ember. My heart…hurts.”

  The tips of his fangs grazed her smooth skin, scratching it. He cursed his clumsiness. Such a move caused a pleasurable, inebriating sort of effect on a donor. Such a move was typical of an untrained or desperate vampire, and Dev was neither of those. Still, Ember’s whole body relaxed against him, and he couldn’t deny the effect it had on him.

  “Dev?” Ember said.

  “Yes, love?”

  “That feels nice.”

  He smiled, feeling a little guilty but also wanting to make her happy. “I’ll try my best to see that feeling continues.” Now that he had her in his arms, her blood thrumming in her veins, Dev knew he couldn’t, wouldn’t let her go. He moved up her arm to her shoulder, shifting the short sleeve of her dress down, revealing a wide expanse of soft flesh.

  He tasted her in short little pinches of teeth against flesh until he reached her neck. She groaned in anticipation, the effects of his vampire kisses already working in her body. “Say you desire me as I desire you,” he said huskily as her fingers grabbed his lapels and she tilted her head to the side, exposing the elegant length of her neck.

  She licked her lips. “I want…I want…”

  Dev sank his teeth into her throat and drank deeply. He cupped her head and held her steady as his other hand caressed her bare arm, the dip of her waist, and then spanned her hip. He squeezed the flesh he found there. Her body was lush and lovely, her taste exquisite. Dev lost himself in the pleasure and didn’t even realize when his mouth moved across the line of her jaw and found her lips.

  He picked her up and set her on top of the wall, holding her tightly as they kissed.

  Just then, he was wrenched away from Ember, who almost toppled from the wall.

  Finney caught her and pulled her down, her body falling hard against his thin frame as both of them crashed to the stone path. The pumpkin floated next to him with a menacing expression on its carved face.

  “Ember? Ember?” Finney said, maneuvering out from under her and slapping her cheeks lightly. When she didn’t respond, he glared at Dev. “You despicable fiend!” he shouted. “What have you done to her?”

  She swooned in a faint against Finney’s chest. He hastily removed his necktie and dabbed her bloody neck. Dev, who was impressed that the young human boy had been able to pull him back in the first place, wiped his own mouth with the back of his hand, sighed, and was about to answer, when his head snapped to the side. He’d been punched. Hard.

  He staggered a step and then lifted his eyes to an enraged lantern.

  Dev touched his jaw, working it back and forth as the blood surged out of his bones and began healing him instantly. He glared at Jack through the hair hanging in his face. “Why hit me?” he taunted. “Why not use your protean powers to blast me where I stand?”

  “Simple,” Jack said. “With Ember unconscious, I can’t ask her if she desired your advances or not.”

  “And if she did?”

  “If she did, I turn and walk away.”

  “And if she didn’t?”

  “Let’s just hope for your sake she did. I’ve never turned the full wrath of my lantern light on anyone before, but I’ve been told I have the ability to make a being like you suffer for a very, very long time.”

  Dev’s eyes were wild and glittering as he stared down the lantern. “For your information, Ember just told me I could drink from her whenever I wished.”

  “Like I said, I’m going to need her to confirm the truth of that.”

  Jack shook with the need to further pummel Dev for daring to touch Ember, but he was determined not to assume things on her behalf, even if it meant losing her to someone else.

  Barking a laugh, Dev gestured to himself with a flourish. “You know how this works, lantern. If she didn’t want it, didn’t want me, I’d be dead right now. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to check on her.”

  He bent over Ember and was thrust back again. Jack punched him in the gut and then jabbed him in the throat, forgetting, for the moment, his determination to rein in his emotions. He grabbed Dev’s lapels, tearing them, and said, “I’m warning you again, vampire, don’t touch her!”

  Dev bared his teeth, shoved Jack away, and then barreled toward him at preternatural speed, thrusting him into the wall. The stones on the wall shattered, but the lantern appeared unaffected.

  “So you want to fight like pathetic mortals over a woman?” Dev said. “Then you’ve picked the right vampire.” He tossed off his jacket, unbuttoned his waistcoat, removed his cuff links to roll up his sleeves, and then carefully set aside his cane and his pocket watch.

  It was all Jack needed to proceed with a clear conscience. If Dev wanted a fight, he’d give him one. Jack followed Dev’s example, rolling up his shirtsleeves before lifting his fists and rolling them in the air.

  “Is this really the time for you two to have a boxing match?” Finney asked. “And thanks for the slam against mortals, by the way.” Dev was big and strong, even without his vampiric blood to help, but Jack was solid and sturdy. Finney didn’t know who he’d bet on. They began brawling, throwing punches, jabbing, and kicking. Dev even headlocked Jack.

  Finney would have enjoyed watching the fight if it hadn’t been for Ember. She still hadn’t woken, though the bites on her lips and neck were now healed. A firefly zipped around his head and he waved it away, but it came back persistently, even landing on Ember’s nose.

  Just
then, he heard a man’s voice. “Stop at once!” The two scuffling men shot apart. Dev smacked into the stone wall, destroying more of the doctor’s home, while Jack slammed up against the house. They panted, breathing heavily, deep bruises darkening their skin, their knuckles raw and red.

  They straightened, and Jack spoke first. “I wondered when you were going to show yourself.”

  “A good lantern watches and doesn’t get involved unless it’s necessary. Clearly you have not been following that code, Jack. I thought I taught you better than that. Why have you abandoned your post?”

  Dev watched with disgust as Jack straightened his shoulders and began reporting like a good little soldier.

  “Finney and Ember are from the town I guard. This vampire”—Jack practically spat the word—“entered the town and drew me away with a steam spinner. He then proceeded to abduct Ember, carrying her off to the Otherworld. I followed, bringing Finney with me to track her. Once I found her, my intention was to escort her back to the mortal realm.”

  Rune’s eyebrows rose as he scanned Jack with his piercing eyes, reading much more than Jack was saying out loud. The firefly zoomed up to Rune, and when he snapped his fingers, it clicked into his earring. He stroked his elegant beard and circled Finney and Ember, staring at each of them for a long moment. “Why didn’t you tell me about the witch?” he asked Jack. “You knew I was looking for her.”

  “I didn’t want you to find her,” Jack replied boldly. “The last time you came across a coven, both humans and witches burned at the stake.”

  Dev hissed, his now-straggly hair falling in his face. He looked feral in that moment. “You’re a witch burner?” He spat on the ground near Rune’s feet. The lantern ignored his insult.

  “As much as I’m disappointed by your betrayal,” Rune said to Jack, “I understand it. You were always a soft touch regarding witches and warlocks, preferring to frighten them away instead of turning them in. You, I’ll deal with later. The human and the witch are easy enough to dispose of. That leaves you.” He pointed to Dev. “Who sent you after the witch? Unless you want to pretend that you did it for yourself?” He looked Dev up and down. “You do seem like the sort.”