by C. M. Sipes
“Any idea where I can find him?” Vittoria asked.
“Vittoria, you shouldn’t. It could blow our cover,” Marcella said.
Vittoria sighed before crumpling the image. “Have the infiltration team pay special attention to Henry—everywhere he goes, everything he does, and everyone he talks to. I want answers, Emilia.”
Emilia gave a bow before returning to her seat.
“I think we should double our forces throughout the city, have them stay in the shadows and remain quiet. They need to observe and only act when it is absolutely necessary. I want eyes on every inch of this city,” Marcella said to the room before looking at Vittoria.
“I am in agreement,” Vittoria replied.
“Does anyone else have anything to present?” Marcella asked.
“I do, Your Majesties.” Atticus stood from his seat and moved to the center of the room. “One of my agents contacted a source of theirs and found something…very interesting.” Atticus pulled out a few photographs and showed them to the room. “Lilith has been back and sleeping with our young Queen.”
The photographs were the ones that the hunter had taken just before the meeting. As the photos went around the room, the council members muttered in shock. Vittoria merely sat back in her throne and sighed while Marcella raised an eyebrow.
“All I see is Vittoria holding hands with another woman. I would say that should not be shocking news,” Marcella said dryly.
“The woman is the vampire Queen Lilith, our First,” Atticus said, his tone harsh.
Vittoria sighed loudly. “Atticus, for the last time, Lilith has not been seen in centuries. You are only seeing what you desperately want to see. Are you hoping that Lilith will magically reappear to save us all from this influx turmoil?”
The room went silent, all awaiting Atticus’ response.
“This is Lilith,” he defended, pointing to the brunette in the photos.
“Her name is Ashley, and she is merely a mortal plaything,” Vittoria replied calmly.
“You continue to deny Lilith’s reappearance, even though I hold proof?” Atticus demanded, his voice rising. “I have heard whispers in the night about her emergence from slumber and her appearance here in Seattle. I have proof of you with a woman that looks exactly like what the statues have depicted for centuries!”
“You dare speak to us like this?” demanded Marcella, slowly rising from her seat, her hazel eyes turning to red.
“What statues, Atticus?” Vittoria asked calmly.
Marcella turned to look at her heir.
Vittoria’s posture was relaxed yet regal, but her eyes slowly morphed to blood-red as she demanded her answer.
Atticus remained silent.
“I asked you a question. What statues?” Vittoria demanded, her voice becoming steel.
“The statues of Lilith.”
“How would you know what the statues look like, Atticus? The only ones who see the statues are the fanatics that worship Lilith like a god.”
Marcella turned to look accusingly at Atticus. “You know the worship of Lilith is banned, Atticus. It is too dangerous a practice.”
“You also seem to have a great deal of sources that are bloodlusters,” Vittoria added as she rose from the throne and slowly walked nearer. “Now, why would a council member have so many contacts with the group of vampires we destroy, and know what Lilith’s statues look like? Unless that council member was engaging in a forbidden religious practice with bloodlusters, of course.”
Atticus’ body rippled slightly with agitation.
“Oh. I’ve angered you,” Vittoria commented, her voice almost pitying, her blood-red eyes glancing over Atticus. She looked into his eyes, holding his gaze. “You will tell me who took these photos.”
A hazy expression appeared on Atticus’ face. “I do not know his name, but he is a hunter.”
A murmur went through the council.
“Did you hire the hunter?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know your sources?” she asked, her voice rising slightly in anticipation.
“We worship Lilith. She is the only one that can save us.”
“Do you know who is behind the influxes?” Vittoria demanded, her eyes still holding the gaze.
“Enki.”
Vittoria reeled back away from Atticus and looked at Marcella and Aerona as the council began talking loudly among them. Atticus fell backwards, his hands going to his head and holding it as blood dripped from his eyes and ears.
“Traitor,” Marcella growled out, her eyes flashing dangerously. “You not only consulted with a hunter, but you have been dabbling in the dark with bloodlusters in a forbidden religious practice. For years, Atticus, I have tolerated your accusations and your air of misplaced superiority, but no more,” Marcella raged.
Vittoria walked passed Marcella and stood in front of Atticus, her deep blood-red eyes glaring down at the vampire in front of her. Aerona slowly rose from her seat and came to stand next to Vittoria, her eyes worriedly taking in the appearance of her friend and noting the slowly darkening shade of her red eyes.
“You speak of Lilith saving us…how?” Vittoria asked, her voice low.
“Not to save us from Enki, but save us from this ridiculous aversion to exposing our existence to the world. We should be able to walk freely among mortals. We should take our rightful place at the top of the food chain. With Enki leading the devourers and Lilith leading the bloodlusters, we can form a coalition that will be unstoppable,” ranted Atticus, his eyes brightening with madness.
Vittoria eyed him another moment before her hand shot forward. Just as she witnessed Lilith do thousands of times in her memories, she gripped his throat and pulled, severing it from his body. Blood splashed her face, as well as Marcella’s and Aerona’s as it shot from his body. He gulped frantically as his hand reached up to cover the freshly made wound. Blood bubbled over his hands and pooled to the floor.
Vittoria dropped the chunk of flesh to the ground, watching as it crumbled to dust before hitting stone. She looked at Atticus, a cold grin flickering across her face as he slowly disintegrated into a dust pile. Her expression returned to steel and she looked around the room, eyeing the various faces staring back at her. Many stared in disbelief, whether at her action or Atticus’ betrayal—she didn’t know. Others appeared neutral or seemed to be in agreement with her rash decision.
She looked at Marcella and Aerona. Both women stared at her, their eyes fixated on her own. She broke the gaze and looked back around the room.
“If anyone else belongs to the same group of fanatics as Atticus, I believe it would be wise for you to come forward now while I am feeling merciful,” Vittoria said to the members.
Everyone remained silent.
“Is there anything else?” Vittoria asked Marcella.
Her maker shook her head. “All of you leave. Fulfill your assignments and wait for word of the next meeting.”
The room cleared out shortly after, leaving just the three rulers in the room.
“She’s waiting for us in the library,” Vittoria said quietly before turning on her heel and vanishing from the room. Marcella and Aerona followed behind her, the two Queens reaching the library first, with Aerona arriving just a moment later.
Lilith stood in the center of the room, a glass of blood in her hand. “Well, how was the meet—” she stopped. Her eyes immediately narrowed in on the blood splattered on Vittoria. “What happened?”
“Atticus. He’s the one who hired the hunter to follow you. He’s a fanatic and has been working with the bloodlusters this entire time.” Vittoria attempted to wipe some of the blood from her face.
“Someone on the inside knew of your plans. You will have to find a trusted few and have them begin weeding out your ranks,” Lilith said seriously. She moved to Vittoria and stopped in front of her. Her eyes glanced over the blood and she sighed as she carefully began wiping it from the young Queen’s face. “I assume you took care of At
ticus?” Her hand stilled on Vittoria’s jaw, gently holding it.
“Of course. He’s been a pain in the ass for centuries. I just wish I had known sooner where his loyalties lied,” Vittoria replied before scoffing.
“I feel as if we are losing control of our flock,” Marcella said as she took a seat. She repressed her glee when she saw Lilith’s touching concern.
“Indeed.” Lilith turned away from Vittoria and took a seat. “As I said, you need to begin weeding out your ranks.”
Vittoria chewed on her lip, mulling over everything that had transpired at the meeting.
“What’s bothering you?” Aerona asked as she tiredly slumped into a chair.
“Henry.”
“Henry?” Lilith asked, her eyebrows furrowing.
“A bloodluster I met in England. He was one of Isabel’s customers for her potion.”
“I forgot she had created a potion to suppress the bloodlust,” Lilith muttered, seemingly disappearing in thought for a moment. “What does Henry have to do with all this?”
“Apparently he is still alive,” Marcella began. “Not only that, but he is apparently a trusted member of our enemies’ ranks. According to our sources, he is one of the trusted few.”
“Do you think that after Isabel’s death and the potions ceasing, that Henry was one of the ones who slipped further into the bloodlust?” Vittoria asked. “Henry was against everything that the rogues are fighting for. He wanted nothing to do with those fanatics that resided in the caves. The only thing I can imagine is that he was pushed over the edge.”
“It is entirely possible.” Lilith looked at Vittoria. “The bloodlust…” she trailed off. “It speaks to you.”
“Speaks to you?” Marcella asked, her eyebrows rising.
Lilith nodded. “It whispers to you in your mind. It urges you to feed, plays on your concerns and fears. It took me centuries to suppress that side of the bloodlust.”
“So you’re telling me you hear voices?” Vittoria asked.
“In the beginning, yes. Except you know that it is the bloodlust speaking. But the intensity and incessantness of it drives you mad.”
“So, it isn’t only the hunger that drives you insane.”
“No.” Lilith shook her head. “As I said, it took me centuries to control that side of the bloodlust. Perhaps once Henry no longer received the potion, he slipped over the edge and was no longer able to suppress that side of it. It can become consuming.”
Vittoria eyed Lilith for a few moments, several memories dancing behind her eyes as she recalled some of Lilith’s murderous rampages. “We need a potion.”
“I beg your pardon?” Marcella asked.
Aerona looked at her friend curiously before her eyebrows rose. “You want to offer them a potion to suppress the hunger? You think that will lessen Enki’s ranks?”
“You say his name with certainty,” Lilith commented.
“Yeah, tidbit of information Vittoria extracted from Atticus. We have confirmation for our suspicions now,” explained Aerona.
Vittoria ignored their side conversation and continued with her point. “If we can recreate the potion that Isabel was making that suppressed the hunger, maybe it can bring back some of the bloodlusters from the brink. Perhaps many of them only are on Enki’s side because they see no other option, and if they can’t suppress the bloodlust they may as well give in.”
“She has a point,” Aerona said. “If you create a potion for the bloodlusters, do you think you would be able to create one for the devourers?”
“If we can find a talented witch.”
“Namtil—Eva, will be our best option,” Lilith said. “I need to pay her a visit anyway, I can speak to her about it.”
Vittoria nodded. “Is everyone in agreement?”
The room nodded.
Lilith moved to stand but froze a moment later, her head curiously tilting to the side. “We have a guest.”
Vittoria turned her head to the door, the familiar scent wafting through the air before there was a cautious knock on the wood.
“Enter,” Marcella called.
The door opened slowly to reveal Emma, her eyes wide with terror.
“Emma? What happened?” Vittoria asked before rushing to her friend.
Emma looked at Vittoria and clung to her arms, her eyes tearing up slightly. “I—I killed people. So many people.”
“What are you talking about?” Vittoria asked, bewildered by the statement.
Lilith carefully approached, her eyes scanning over Emma’s form and noting the tensing of muscles and the look of realization in her eyes.
“I—I saw things in my dreams last night an—and it was so real. There was so much blood on the ground and around me an—and there were flames and—” a sob cut her off.
“Vittoria,” Lilith warned softly as she approached.
“What is she talking about?” Marcella asked as she stood and approached the group, Aerona trailing slightly behind her. “Emma, what are you talking about?”
“I—I think I have a past life, a really terrible past life. I don’t know how else to explain what I saw,” she rambled.
Marcella looked at Vittoria and Lilith, suddenly aware of their intense silent conversation.
“I think it is time I pay a visit to Namtilla. She and I have much to discuss,” Lilith looked at Vittoria and lightly stroked her arm. “Take care of her, and I will see you later.”
With that, she disappeared.
Chapter X
Seattle, Washington, USA
Present Day
Lilith rounded the corner a block away from the new age shop, her nose twitching slightly as she smelled Eva’s scent. She picked up her pace, reaching the entrance a moment later and opened the door. Immediately when she stepped through, the smell of incense and various herbs permeated her senses, causing memories to flash before her eyes at the familiarity of the aromas.
“I was wondering when I was going to see you again,” Eva said, her back facing Lilith as she stood on a stepladder organizing the jars of herbs.
“I have been rather busy,” Lilith replied as she approached the counter.
“Hopefully, you’ve been busy organizing efforts against your enemies and not putting the moves on Vittoria,” Eva teased, turning to face Lilith and flashing her a smile.
“I have managed to do both,” Lilith replied smugly, causing Eva to look to the ancient in surprise.
“I don’t know if I’m more shocked that you are smiling or that you’re openly sharing,” Eva grinned as she approached the counter. “We can talk about your love life later. I assume that you’re here because you want to know if I have made any progress finding the witch we need.”
“Indeed.” Lilith arched an eyebrow in silent questioning.
“We need to travel south.”
“How far south?”
“Brazil, specifically. The witch we are looking for—his name is Taciatã. He is incredibly gifted in blood magic, and has lived more lives than I have. He’s our best shot at finding out what all we need for this plan.”
“I assume there is a great deal of magic involved in this plan—it is not as simple as we would think?”
“From my understanding, you need someone skilled in blood magic. Now, I can work some magic in that area, but you need someone highly gifted and this guy is our best shot.” Eva looked at Lilith seriously. “He’s our best shot to get both of you out of this safely.”
Lilith nodded, her eyes flickering around the shop before settling back on Eva. “When can we leave?”
Eva arched an eyebrow. “I knew you wanted to figure all this out but—I didn’t realize it was this urgent.”
“Things have escalated. A few nights ago there was an attack on a bar by devourers, only three mortals survived. Vittoria and I happened to be there and we managed to dispose of the devourers and clean up the mess.”
“I figured that clusterfuck had something to do with the supernatural. I saw the news rep
ort on it. They were saying that a person went crazy and just went in and slaughtered everyone.”
Lilith nodded. “I heard that as well. Which is a good thing, we covered our tracks well enough. However, Vittoria and Marcella held a council meeting tonight and found out that Enki is most certainly the one responsible for all of this, and one of their own council members hired a hunter to spy on me. Vittoria disposed of the vampire.”
“Goddess,” Eva muttered. “So you’re thinking that Enki will be here soon?”
“Sooner than we would have thought I believe. I need to act now, leave while it is still fairly safe to do so. I do not want to wait longer and have him appear and leave Vittoria defenseless.” Lilith released a shaky breath and looked down at her hands. They had begun to tremble slightly and she cursed herself for not feeding fully before coming to the shop.
“I have just the thing,” Eva said as she moved to a door. She disappeared and reappeared a moment later with three bags of blood. “I keep some around, just in case.”
Lilith ripped into the first bag, eagerly and carefully drinking the contents before tossing it aside and tearing into the second. Once she finished guzzling it down, she sighed in relief, her deep blood-red eyes making contact with Eva’s brown.
“There is something else as well,” Lilith began, “Vittoria’s deceased lover created a potion that suppressed the bloodlust for the vampires. We were wondering if you would be able to make another.”
Eva’s eyebrows rose. “I remember hearing about Isabel’s concoctions, but no one ever found her recipe. The coven had just assumed that she worked from memory and experimentation. I can certainly try, but I can’t make any promises.”
“If you succeed in one for the bloodlusters, we also need one for the devourers. Vittoria is thinking that many of them are only following Enki because they have no better option. The madness of the bloodlust has been too much for them,” Lilith explained.
“She’s probably right, and it is certainly worth a shot if it deals a blow to Enki’s forces. I can start looking around and see what I can find,” Eva replied thoughtfully. “When do you want to leave for Brazil?”