by E. M. Knight
“Which?”
“That I’m his daughter.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “Do you take me for a compete fool? I’ve spent my whole vampiric life near the King. I know his kin when I see them. You look just like him.”
Slowly, she touches her face. “I never considered…” she begins. “I never thought…”
“What, that I would see the resemblance?” I scoff. “Then maybe you are the fool. I would have to be blind not to spot it. I—”
“No,” she cuts me off. “It’s not that. I think I believe you. But I’ve never met Logan in my life.”
“Surely you’ve seen him?” I gesture at the screen. “With all your vile contraptions?”
“What I do has a limit,” she admits. “The feed picks up certain vampires because they are cursed.”
My eyes narrow. “What are you saying?”
“That I cursed you once. That’s why I can follow your every move.”
My gut churns. “You cursed me?”
“You and Riyu, and a handful of others of the First Guard,” she says quickly. But I can see she is taking the news of her Father to heart. I can see it affecting her.
“When?” I whisper. “Damn you, when did you do this?”
“When you were out on one of your expeditions, when else?” she asks. “You use the Paths. I know that place better than any terrain on Earth. It’s a simple thing for me to cloak myself and sneak up on others without notice.”
“So you’re a trespasser. A stalker. And a thief.”
“I didn’t steal anything.”
I sneer. “The seal? This very position? Who was meant to be here, in your spot, and what did you do with them?”
A thin smile spreads across her lips. “They were disposed of.”
“And the dispatcher in The Crypts? How did he confirm your story?”
“I intercepted the transmission,” she shrugs. “Changed his words.”
“My, but you are clever for a witch.”
Her back stiffens. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“That it takes some gall to infiltrate The Crypts, to curse the First Guard, to kill one of our vampires, and to reveal all that to me.”
“You think I’m stupid. But that’s your mistake.”
“No. I think you’re reckless,” I say. “And if I had a single ounce more common sense in my head, I would destroy you here and now.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“No. I will not. But not for the reasons you think. What else do you know of me? How much more have you spied on? How long ago did you place the curse?”
“On your travel to The Haven,” she says. “Most recently.”
A bit of relief takes me. So she hasn’t spied on me for that long.
Still, why would I trust her? Why would I take her at her word?
“You will lift the curse,” I command. “You will do it now.”
She drops her shoulders in a helpless manner. “Impossible,” she says. “Once a curse is cast, it can only be broken by the gods.”
“Gods, what gods?” I demand. “There are no gods. They are a falsehood of mankind. A way to deal with the inevitability of death. A poor, twisted, sick attempt to bring meaning to their lives.”
“You’re wrong,” she says, slowly shaking her head. “There is one god, and he is the god of death.”
The pieces slide into place. So it’s an analogy. “What you’re saying…”
“Is that a curse is only broken by death.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
I don’t know whether to attack her here and now, or to somehow try to temper my rage.
In the end, I wrestle my anger down. She is an outcast, like me. We might yet prove useful to each other.
“So you are here for some purpose,” I say. “Presumably greater than casting hexes and curses on unsuspecting vampires.” I face her entirely. “What do you want?”
“From you? A little bit of cooperation.”
“If I refuse?”
“I’ll go to Logan with your betrayal.”
“I don’t think you understood me the first time. If you waltz into The Crypts unannounced, even if you manage to get an audience with the King, and present your… evidence.” My face twists. “You will not live.”
“Maybe not. But neither will you.”
“If you want to trade lives we can just do it here and now.” I bring a hand in front of my face and let the claws come out. “No magic, no cheap tricks. Just one vampire against another. But of course,” I look away, “I don’t think you would agree to that.”
I shove off and rise. “You think you have the advantage over me. You do not. You want me on your side. I don’t know why—but it’s obvious that is the case, or we wouldn’t be talking. You can’t blackmail me with that little video of yours, because the moment you reveal it to anybody else, your life is forfeit. And you won’t simply kill me here, let’s say, even if you could, with the help of your magic, because then whatever purpose you need me for will be lost.
“So you will tell me. Straight up. Who are you, where do you come from, and what do you want?”
She looks at me for a long moment before answering.
Then, she sighs.
“You make a compelling case,” she tells me. “But I do not see things quite that way. It’s your presumption I need your cooperation. Maybe I do, but more likely—maybe I don’t. Maybe what I’m really doing is offering you a chance at life not as an exile. When the truth comes out about what you did with Riyu, no amount of rhetoric will serve you to ease your ruler’s rage.”
“And if I were to take you at face value,” I say, “and believe that you are doing this out of your sense of altruism, still, I ask you: what’s in it for you?”
She walks up to me. “An ally,” she says. She places a hand on my chest. “A confidant. And maybe...” she stands up on tip toe to whisper in my ear, “a lover, too.”
“You think I’m tempted by you?” I sneer, looking down at her.
“Oh, yes,” she says. Her hand moves down my body and ends just below my waist. “I think I can tell for certain, that you are.”
Snarling, I break away. My blood is pounding through my veins. It’s been too long since I’ve had a real woman.
“You’re no better than a whore,” I say.
She puts a hand over her heart in mock outrage. “You think that hurts me?” She grins. “A girl must use all her capacities to get ahead in life.”
“And you’ve done very well for yourself, I see,” I say in a voice drenched with derision. “Coming out of nowhere to sneak into the outpost of the greatest vampire coven in existence.”
“Oh. I don’t think I’d go that far,” she says, looking at her nails. “There are plenty of covens stronger.”
I snort. “Name one.”
“The Haven,” she says.
“You’re joking,” I say.
She brings her eyes up and locks them with mine. “Why would I be?”
“The Haven is no match for our might!” I declare. “We have thousands upon thousands of vampires in The Crypts, all loyal to the King. There are less than a few hundred in that other pathetic excuse for a coven. They have treetop apartments,” I sneer. “They can’t tell if they’re vampires or birds. Any individual vampire of The Crypts is stronger than all but a small handful of The Haven’s inhabitants.”
“And where does your strength come from?” Beth asks. “Is it inherent, or is it stolen?”
“If you’re implying that vampires of The Crypts are somehow less because they drink The Ancient’s blood…”
“I’m not implying. I’m stating. What you have in that underground palace of yours is a facade. The strength you think makes you the greatest coven on this earth is an illusion. A castle made of cards, ready to fall from the first gust of wind. Tell me, Dagan. Despite your impressive army, how many times have you waged true war?”
I start to answer, but she cuts in. “And no. That
little skirmish against The Haven does not count.”
I scowl. “There has been no need for war. Vampires worldwide know the size of our army. If they were to attack, they would be destroyed.”
“So it’s never been tested,” she observes.
“What does it matter if it’s been tested or not? I’ve trained the best. I know they’re capable. The military drills that Logan runs…”
“Ah, and when was the last time he did such a thing?” she poses.
I stop short. In truth, it was so long ago I don’t remember.
“Irrelevant,” I grunt.
“I’m getting to you, aren’t I? You don’t like the fact that your whole life, you’ve been living a lie.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Who controls the flow of information in and out of The Crypts?”
“Nobody controls it. What the hell are you on about? Vampires come to join our ranks, and they bring news of the world. It isn’t filtered.”
She perches her chin on her fist. “But you don’t really believe that, do you?” She frowns. “Well. I see in your eyes that you might. Doesn’t matter. Tell me this. When a vampire comes to you, does she ever leave?”
“Why would anybody leave?” I ask. “The King gets them a taste of The Ancient’s blood, and they are beholden to him.”
“So their loyalty is bought. They are bribed into staying.”
“You’re twisting my words.”
“You make it all too easy for me.”
“The vampires are loyal because they are provided for!”
“Do they love their King?”
I blink. “What?”
“Do they,” she repeats slowly, “love … their monarch? Or do they just enjoy the blood he gives them from the seemingly limitless source?”
Before I can answer, she walks closer to me. “Vampires are selfish creatures, Dagan. Not all of them have morals as strong as yours. In fact, I’d say, you are the exception.”
“What do you know about my morals?” I growl.
“I saw how you cared for Riyu. How you went against a direct order to spare his life.”
I laugh. “You think I did that from the goodness of my heart? Stupid woman. I let Riyu live because I need him.”
“And what do you need him for, pray tell.”
“I need him for…” I hesitate.
I cannot tell her the truth.
“He has certain abilities that are unique for our kind.”
“You love him.”
Revulsion rolls through me. “No. That is absurd.”
“And yet, he loves you. Poor, poor, precious Riyu. He would give his life for yours, and you would not even have to ask.”
“He is a good soldier,” I say through gritted teeth. “Despite his… shortcomings. Any good soldier knows their commander’s life is worth more than their own.”
“He would not do it from a sense of duty,” she says. “For him, it would be an act of love.”
I scowl at her. This topic with Riyu always makes me uncomfortable. His femininity is a weakness, and if I could somehow eradicate him of it, it would be the greatest gift.
“Why talk of his perversions?” I demand. “And, really? You’ve been watching him long enough to be able to tell all that?”
“It’s easy for a woman to see when a man loves another man—”
“Enough!” I cut her off. “Riyu is not the subject here. You are.”
“Oh, but Riyu is vital to this whole thing,” she tells me sweetly. “You’re the one who confirmed what I never could.”
“And what’s that?” I ask darkly.
“That Logan is my Father.”
I scoff.
“I never had the privilege of simpering on his every word,” she says.
“If you think that’s what I’ve done, you know nothing of me.”
“But I’m learning more by the minute. I believe when you say you don’t love Riyu. At least, not in the way he loves you. But all vampires are kin, and so love does exist between each and every one of us.”
“Sounds like bullshit,” I scoff.
She perks an eyebrow. “Such language.”
“Shoot me.”
“And sarcasm, too!” she laughs. “You know, Dagan, I’m quite enjoying this. I think you and I will get along splendidly.”
I look around us. “You call this splendid?”
“I call it fun.”
“You’re a lunatic.”
“Come, now. Who else have you sparred with verbally? Who else comes close enough to you in strength that the vampire hierarchy does not apply?”
“…true enough,” I admit.
“And Riyu does concern me, Dagan. As he should concern you. We both share the same lineage.”
For whatever reason the thought never occurred to me that way.
“What is it about our genetics…” she ponders, “...that makes us both attracted to tall, strong, masculine men?”
She wets her lips and blows me a kiss.
“In that case…” I approach her, “we might have to do something about it.”
Her voice becomes hot and fluid. “What are you suggesting?” she breathes.
I look over my shoulder. Nobody’s going to come in.
“I’m not suggesting,” I say. “I’m taking.”
And I grab her by the waist, tug her into me, and kiss her hard.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Dagan
The outpost
Hours later, I’m picking up my clothes from the floor.
Beth stands no chance of doing the same. When the passion took me, I couldn’t help myself. I tore her clothes in half to get instant access to her tight, sweet body.
I glance at the scars now-healing on the back of my arm, my shoulder, my chest.
She had no qualms about showing her enthusiasm for me, either.
When I’m dressed I look over and find her standing naked by the center console where I first found her.
I have half a mind to take her right there and now.
With extraordinary effort, I push the impulse away. She’s busy working something up on the computer, and after our long, long diversion, we have to get back on track.
Namely, for me, figuring out what the hell she really wants.
“How old are you?” I ask her.
She flips her hair back and fixes me with a funny look. “A rude question to ask a woman.”
I ignore the remark. “Tell me.”
“No.” She turns away to her station.
That ends that conversation.
Scowling, I stalk up to her. I grab her by the arm and spin her around. “I said,” I begin.
“Careful,” she cuts me off. “You slept with a witch. Don’t you know the price of that is a lifetime of ill fortune and bad luck?”
I scoff. “I don’t believe in superstition.”
“Maybe you should. All superstitions contain a nugget of truth.”
“My eyes narrow. “You don’t know,” I say. “Do you?”
“Know what?” she asks, too irreverently.
I step between her and the screen. “You don’t know how old you are. How long ago you were made.” I search her eyes. “Do you?”
She looks away. “So?”
“You don’t!” I say. “Oh, but that explains so much!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why you’re here. What you want. You’re searching for the circumstances of your birth. And you think The Crypts will grant you answers!”
“I’m not a fool enough to believe anything will be handed to me on a silver platter.”
“How long ago did you come into existence?” I press. “When do you remember waking up?”
She sighs. “I rose above ground sometime in the early twenties. I was in a forest in the depths of Russia. I had no idea who or what I was. I just know that I opened my eyes, and the moon was shining full, and I was naked, and dirty, and had no recollection of my past.�
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“So then, this… all of this...” I look around the room to take in everything in sight, “All of it, all that you can do, you developed? The witchcraft, the Vampirism. All of that?”
“No,” she says. “I knew right away I was different. I remember the sun, but I knew I could not tolerate it. I could feel the Elemental Forces from the start. But you’re right, in the sense that I had to piece it all together.”
“And almost a hundred years later, you come to us here,” I say. “You are searching for the truth of your own identity.”
She looks away.
“Let me give you a piece of advice. You are on a path that leads nowhere. If your memory is lost, finding out how or when you’re born won’t just toggle it. It will only lead to more questions.”
“So what do you propose I do?” she asks haughtily. “Give up?”
“Change your plans,” I say.
“To what?”
A flicker of hesitation, and then I say, “Come away with me.”
Her eyes go wide in surprise. She wasn’t expecting that.
“Where?”
“Not to The Crypts. Forget them for now. You know what the King is doing—you’ve seen it as you spied on me.”
She nods. “I do.”
“I’m searching for someone. I think you can help. My only condition is that you don’t use this… curse… on me again. Kill the feed, destroy it, or don’t read it—I don’t know how that works. But I need your word you will not look at what I do, or where I am, without my explicit permission.”
Beth bites her lip. It’s so strange seeing her fragile, but right now, she looks exactly that.
“And if I agree,” she says. “What then?”
“We turn away. We seek out Beatrice. If you can help find her, it’s all for the better. We kill her. I bring Logan her head.”
She looks confused. “You want to run away, only to go back?”
“By then, more time will have passed. I’ll be able to better judge how the Blood Magic is affecting his sanity.”
“Why do you think it will ruin his mind?”
“Are you joking? It is known. All the books even say—”
“But what if he knows some way of keeping the taint at bay?”
“It’s just a matter of time,” I tell her, “before it takes him.”
“You are forgetting this is my father we’re talking about!” she exclaims. “I won’t just stand by and let that happen.”