Darkness Is Rising

by C. M. Sipes

  “My plan for you…” Lilith began and trailed off. “I want you to know that I am not taking it lightly. I also wish you to know that I would have never pursued it if it was not absolutely necessary.”

  “Okay,” Vittoria replied simply as she slid down into the bed, tucking herself under the covers and looking to the elder vampire. “Why are you bringing it up right now?”

  “I—” Lilith stopped. She chewed her lip for a moment before sliding under the covers as well, facing Vittoria. “Things have escalated and, as I said earlier, I need to begin working harder on my end. Therefore, I may have to leave for a few days or a week even.”

  “Okay,” Vittoria replied.

  “I just—” Lilith stopped and sighed heavily, irritated with herself for being unable to express her feelings correctly. “I do not want you to think I am just going to endanger you in any way. What I have planned is risky, and I am risking myself as well.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “You are not expendable.”

  Vittoria looked at the ancient, surprise etched on her face.

  “I saw how you looked earlier when I made my comment to Marcella.” Lilith searched Vittoria’s eyes. “I am not good with expressing myself when it comes to the…more vulnerable emotions. But I am adept at reading people’s expressions and body language.”

  “I know,” Vittoria replied with a soft smile. “And thank you for saying that.”

  “You’re welcome,” Lilith said before glancing to the drawn curtains in the room. She could see the soft light from the approaching dawn behind the fabric. “Sunrise is almost here.” Her eyes moved back to Vittoria’s and their gazes met.

  Vittoria’s throat tightened, her eyes searching Lilith’s for a moment. She saw a brief flash of vulnerability and fear behind her eyes, and came to a decision. She moved closer and closed the small space that existed between them. Lilith’s eyes widened slightly in curiosity at the gesture, but she did not shy away from it, wanting to see what Vittoria would do next.

  Vittoria leaned in, her lips lightly brushing against the elder vampire’s and sending a shock through both of their bodies. She pressed closer, giving in fully to the kiss as she felt a current go through her. She had never felt something so strongly when kissing Isabel, and the realization took her by surprise. But, she pushed it away and focused on the feeling of soft lips against her own.

  Lilith was in a similar state of mind. She had never experienced such a want or need for something so intensely. Vittoria felt like paradise to her, what she briefly had of it anyways, and it made her soul feel the lightest she had ever known it to feel.

  They broke apart, lips hovering a few inches from each other, enough to be able to look into each other’s eyes—just staring. Lilith’s mind was racing from the kiss they had shared. She had never developed emotional feelings for anyone before. She had been forced to be with Enki until she left, and after that she was too busy gorging on blood and running from Enki to be with anyone for more than a night.

  “We should sleep,” Vittoria said softly, wanting to break the tense silence that had engulfed the room.

  Lilith merely nodded, watching silently as Vittoria scooted and rolled away from her to her side of the bed. She eyed Vittoria’s backside a few moments before tucking herself under the covers more, and closed her eyes. A few moments passed before she began to feel the pull of slumber, darkness encasing her senses shortly after.

  Vittoria hurriedly walked down the street toward her favorite café. She needed out of the apartment and away from Lilith for a little while after the events of last night. When she awoke in the late afternoon, Lilith was gone, her scent barely clinging to the sheets anymore, alerting Vittoria to the First’s early departure. She was thankful the elder vampire had been awake before her, as she was too embarrassed to face her. She knew that Lilith had issues expressing herself, or showing vulnerability even, but she had hoped that the vampire would have done something more than just return the kiss.

  Vittoria shook her head, clearing the thoughts from her mind as she opened the door to the café. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of the espresso beans. She moved toward the line, freezing on the spot a moment later when she felt her eyes on her. She groaned internally as she stepped up to the counter and placed her order to go.

  “Perhaps we should talk,” she heard Lilith say softly.

  “About what?” Vittoria asked quietly as she awaited her beverage. She internally cringed at how idiotic she sounded.

  Lilith remained silent, patiently waiting for Vittoria to receive her beverage before saying anything more. She watched as the blonde thanked the barista and then turned to face her, their eyes meeting and holding the gaze as Vittoria walked to the table and sat down across from her.

  “I’m sorry,” Lilith said after a moment of silence.

  Vittoria’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “For what?”

  “For not saying anything after last night,” Lilith explained. She glanced at the cup of coffee in her hands before looking back at Vittoria. “I was…overwhelmed by what I was feeling.”

  Vittoria stared at her curiously, waiting for her to continue to say more.

  “I care for you, and that is incredibly difficult for me to admit. I have not felt this way for anyone…ever…and it is both frightening and exciting.” Lilith paused and bit her lip before continuing. “I am willing, if you are, to pursue this.”

  Vittoria’s mouth fell open in shock, and she began to wonder if she was just experiencing some crazy dream. She took note of the flicker of fear and insecurity that flashed across Lilith’s face before realizing that what was happening was very real.

  “I would like that,” Vittoria replied quietly before offering Lilith a small smile.

  Lilith returned the look before letting out a light chuckle. “That was the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever had to do.”

  “Lilith, the First Vampire Queen; a fierce blood sucking fiend—who is terrified of feelings.” Vittoria offered the woman a smile as Lilith merely rolled her eyes.

  “Oh shu—” she stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowing before her head whipped to the side to stare outside of the coffee shop.

  Vittoria turned her head a millisecond after Lilith’s as the scent wafted through the air.

  “There. The one with the briefcase,” Lilith said. “Do you smell it?”

  “Hunter.”

  “Should we kill him?” Lilith asked, already readying herself for it.

  “No. Let him go.” Vittoria turned to look at Lilith, drawing the vampire’s eyes to her own. “Pretend as though we do not know he is there. I am curious what he is up to.”

  Lilith nodded before grabbing her coffee and standing. She looked down at Vittoria and offered a hand to her, a soft smile on her face when the young Queen accepted. Their fingers interlocked as they made their way out of the café and past the man. Lilith gave Vittoria’s hand a squeeze when he began following them at a distance.

  “Do you hear that? The soft shutter,” Vittoria asked as they walked.

  “A camera. A very quiet one at that.”

  “Do you think he knows who we are?” Vittoria asked.

  “Most likely. Why else would he be following us?”

  “He probably knows about last night as well, then,” Vittoria said with a sigh.

  “But why the photos? Unless I missed something while slumbering, hunters only track and then kill, not take their photos with some silent camera.”

  “Unless he is investigating for someone,” Vittoria said with a light sigh. “Someone has hired him.”

  “I am supposed to be keeping a low profile,” Lilith reminded Vittoria. She held her gaze as she spoke, “and he is taking photographs of us.”

  “No one outside of Marcella and I even know what you look like. All the vampires who personally knew you have perished long ago.”

  “You said before though that at the council meeting, I was suspected,” Lilith countered. “Do y
ou not believe this will increase suspicion even more?”

  “I can always lie, Lilith,” Vittoria replied with a raised eyebrow. “I will just say that you are a mortal and a temporary play thing.”

  Lilith hummed her agreement before they continued in silence, carefully listening to the hunter walk a fair distance behind them.

  “Do you think the hunters are aware of the situation that is brewing? Or do you think they’re too narrow-minded to see the bigger picture?” Lilith asked after a moment, her eyes glancing down to her and Vittoria’s linked hands.

  “I have no idea. This is the first I have openly seen in Seattle since I have been here. If he is here, then he is either hired to track me to prove your existence or they are aware of the events and are being cautious.”

  “Do you think we would be able to enlist their help at all?” Lilith asked curiously.

  “Against the united bloodlusters and devourers?”

  Lilith hummed in reply. “The bloodlusters and devourers threaten to reveal our existence to the mortal world, which would create chaos. The hunters know that we lurk in the night, and kill us to keep our existence hidden. Right now, our interests are perfectly aligned.”

  Vittoria nodded her agreement. “I need to head to the coven house for the council meeting. It will be starting in an hour and I want to inform Marcella of this hunter.”

  “I will continue walking around, perhaps go into a few shops and attempt to pass as mortal as possible until he leaves or I have an opportunity to escape.”

  “Come to the coven house, do not let anyone see you, and wait for Marcella and me in the library,” Vittoria instructed.

  Lilith nodded before releasing Vittoria’s hand. She turned slightly to begin walking away, but was pulled back by a strong arm on her waist, pressing her body into Vittoria’s. The younger vampire tilted her head upward and pressed her lips against Lilith’s. The spark between them ignited and Lilith groaned into the kiss, easily becoming addicted to the feeling of Vittoria against her.

  “Be careful,” Vittoria whispered against Lilith’s lips before pulling back and turning on her heel to head in the direction of the coven house.

  Lilith looked after her a moment before noticing that the hunter was hanging back and not following after Vittoria. She groaned internally as she turned and headed in a separate direction, thinking about how much easier this would be if she could just kill him.

  Vittoria listened carefully; sighing in agitation when she heard the hunter begin following Lilith and therefore confirming their suspicions that he was hired to prove her existence. She took off at a run, weaving through the streets easily as she rushed to the coven house. She came to a halt just outside of the front doors and nodded to the guards as she entered.

  She stopped in the threshold and looked at one of the servants. “Where is Marcella?”

  “She is in the throne room, Your Majesty,” the servant replied with a slight dip of her head.

  Vittoria nodded her thanks before moving toward the stairs that led down to the basement of the house. Two guards were positioned in front of the doors as usual, and Vittoria nodded to them as they opened them for her, allowing her to enter the throne room.

  “Aerona,” Vittoria greeted in surprise.

  “Vittoria,” she replied with a smile as they briefly hugged.

  “I was just having a chair brought down for Aerona. She will be sitting in for the council meeting,” Marcella explained.

  “Oh?” Vittoria asked, watching as a guard brought in a comfortable chair and placed it next to her own throne.

  “After what happened at the bar last night, Marcella felt that my presence was necessary.”

  “I happen to agree,” Vittoria said, her eyes following the guard as he left the room. “We have a problem,” she spoke low so no one but them would hear.

  Marcella’s brow furrowed with concern. “Was there another incident?”

  “No.” Vittoria shook her head. “Lilith and I were at the café, just before I came here, and there was a hunter waiting for us outside.”

  “Did you dispose of him?” Aerona asked, her body rippling.

  “No. We left the café to see what he would do, and he was taking photos of us. When Lilith and I split up, he followed her instead. We are fairly certain that someone hired him to prove her existence.”

  “Perhaps keeping our flocks in the dark as much as possible is not paying off well,” Aerona mused.

  “It is not, but it is absolutely necessary,” Marcella countered. “If our people find that Lilith not only lives but is here in Seattle—who knows what will happen. They’ll assume she is behind the influx, just as we had, and we will have issues containing this. Not to mention Enki will continue to slip beneath the radar.”

  “We need to find out who hired the hunter,” Vittoria said.

  “The meeting is going to begin soon. Let us see if there is anything to be gained on the issue of the influx and then we can worry about the hunter,” said Marcella.

  “I told Lilith to come here once she lost him and wait for us in the library,” the young Queen added as the three of them walked to their seats. Vittoria sat down on her throne, making herself comfortable while Marcella and Aerona did the same.

  One of the guards knocked on the door, seeking silent permission to open them and allow the council members to enter as they arrived.

  “Enter,” Marcella called, watching as the wooden doors creaked open.

  Council members began to arrive shortly after, all filing in and taking their seats. They only had to wait a few minutes for all but one of them to arrive…

  “Where is Atticus?” Vittoria whispered lowly.

  Marcella did not answer, but her shoulders tensed slightly in response. She waited another few minutes to see if he would appear before she addressed the room, “Does anyone know where Atticus is?”

  The room remained silent, each of the council members looking at each other for answers.

  “Very well, then we will just have to start without him,” Marcella said from her throne. “Now, I know that we had planned this council meeting at our last, but I must say the timing could not be better. There was an incident last night here in Seattle, one that is severely disturbing. For those of you that are not awa—”

  “My apologies for the late arrival,” Atticus interrupted as he entered the room.

  Vittoria sat up in her throne, straightening her posture and glaring at the man with blood-red eyes. “You are late.”

  Atticus froze in his spot at the murderous glare being directed at him. Marcella turned to glance at her heir, a ripple of worry coursing through her body at Vittoria’s eyes and expression.

  “My apologies, Your Majesties,” Atticus said as he bowed.

  “Sit,” Vittoria commanded with a growl, watching as the man obeyed her and took his seat.

  Aerona looked at her friend, her gaze slowly drawing Vittoria’s attention. Their eyes met and Vittoria’s blood red gradually faded to be replaced with her natural green.

  “As I was saying, for those of you that are not aware, there was an attack on the Saloon last night—a bar here in Seattle where twelve devourers descended on the establishment and killed everyone but three people.”

  “How did three people survive?” one of the members asked.

  “I happened to be at the bar,” Vittoria replied. “The devourers were taken care of and the surviving humans compelled. I called Aerona and had her and her wolves come and help clean up the mess.”

  “We were lucky that Vittoria was there, and that there were no security cameras. Had this been any other establishment, our entire existence could have been revealed in a single night.” Marcella looked at the room as she sat up straighter on her throne. “Have there been any new developments with the infiltration?”

  “Your Majesties, if I may ask, why is there a werewolf present for our meeting?” Atticus demanded with disgust.

  “Considering that Aerona and her wolves
were the ones who aided me in cleaning up the devourers’ mess—and the fact that it was devourers that attacked the bar, I believe it is fitting that she be present to share what she has learned, and we with her,” Vittoria replied, her voice steel. “And she is their Alpha, Atticus. You will show respect.”

  Atticus bowed his head and sat back in his seat.

  Aerona cleared her throat before speaking. “Some of my wolves have successfully infiltrated the ranks and have been gathering intelligence. The attack on the bar was an organized attack that only a select few were privy to. The rest had no idea until it was reported the attackers were missing,” Aerona explained.

  “What else?” Marcella asked.

  “That is all. Apparently, they are all waiting on orders from someone, no doubt whoever is leading the influx. I do believe though that this attack was a test of sorts to see what could happen.” Aerona looked at both Marcella and Vittoria. “I desperately wish there was more, but there isn’t. They are all just waiting.”

  Marcella turned to look back to the room. “What about our forces?”

  “The same as the Alpha said,” Emilia replied. “They are waiting on orders. However, I have been told the bloodlusters are getting anxious. Perhaps we should be on the lookout for a possible attack by them.”

  Marcella looked at Vittoria and they nodded to each other. “Are there ranks?” Marcella asked.

  “There are, and I have a photo of one of the bloodlusters believed to be in contact with whoever leads the influx.” Emilia produced a photo and walked to Marcella, carefully placing it in her hand.

  Marcella glanced at the photo, her brow furrowing before she handed it to Vittoria. Vittoria glanced at the image, her head quickly turning and looking at Marcella before looking back to the photograph.

  “Henry,” she said with disbelief. “How could this be?”

  “He has been working closely with the bloodluster forces, and our team believes that he is one of the higher-ranking ones,” Emilia explained.