William vanished from the throne room.
I didn't even have time to attempt to stop him.
"William is a man of decision," Innokenti said with a distant hint of amusement in his tone. "I like that about him."
Innokenti was not someone who inspired confidence in me, but I couldn't help turning to him.
"William will be all right, won't he?"
I thought back to the look in Timofei Mstislav's eyes when he had spotted me in the Pure Woods. I thought too, of the great physical power that his father had possessed. Timofei would surely have that power and more. Innokenti had said that Timofei wasn't necessarily here, but I had a strong feeling that he was. And who knew how many others were with him?
Could William handle the hybrids?
"I have every confidence in William," Innokenti said calmly. "I believe in him in a way that I have never believed in anyone or anything in my life."
He gestured with one elegant hand. "Would you like to have a seat, little one?"
I was startled. "On the thrones?"
"Yes, of course, on the thrones."
I glanced nervously at the tapestry behind which the king and the queen had disappeared.
"Won't they—the king and queen—won't they mind?"
"I imagine that they will never find out," Innokenti replied. "They are on their way to a secret, safe location as we speak. Please, do be seated. The thrones are very comfortable, I can assure you."
"You've sat on the thrones before?" I asked.
Mischief gleamed in Innokenti's eyes for just a moment. "Every chance I get."
With one last glance toward the tapestry, I climbed the steps to the platform and sat on the queen's throne. Innokenti sat on the king's.
Innokenti and I sat side by side in the strange, silver light of the throne room while the wail of the siren rose and fell with unsettling regularity.
My nerves were frayed, and I cast about for something to do that would distract me from worrying about William. I didn't know exactly what he was facing outside this room, and it was terrible knowing that there was nothing I could do to help him.
I thought then of the charm William had given me. I had a sudden longing to see it—I knew it would make me feel calmer. I peeled off my gloves and unbuttoned my coat.
It was only as I did so that I realized that the throne room was actually comfortably warm. I wondered—did vampires have need of warmth? I glanced at Innokenti and very nearly asked him if vampires felt the cold. But Innokenti looked back at me, and his cool gaze was, as usual, disturbing.
The question died on my lips.
As Innokenti continued to stare at me, I was strongly tempted to run from the room—I felt like a rabbit sitting next to a hungry wolf.
But William seemed to trust him, and I could trust William, again—couldn't I?
I looked away from Innokenti and pulled out my necklace. I gazed steadily at the charm as I turned it over in my fingers. Despite my surroundings, I began to feel calmer.
"What is it that you have there, little one?" Innokenti asked.
"It's a charm," I replied. "A gift from William. He said it would protect me from the kost."
Innokenti gave me his unnerving smile. "It will indeed. And someday you may find that it has properties that even William doesn't know about."
He did not elaborate, and I hesitated to engage him in further conversation on the topic.
As I looked back down at the charm, my mind drifted. I thought of all the people who were going to go to the Firebird Festival tomorrow night—even GM wanted to go. And I thought, too, of how little they suspected the danger they were in.
They had no idea they were going to be attacked.
I realized that William and the vampires probably had some sort of a plan to deal with the hybrids, since they'd apparently known about the attack all along.
But in all likelihood there would still be an attack—the vampires would fight the hybrids, but they wouldn't be able to stop the attack from happening entirely.
People would die.
An idea began to form in my mind.
"Whatever William is facing right now is because of me, isn't it?" I said after some time had passed.
"Do not sound so mournful," Innokenti admonished gently. "You are hardly at fault."
I persisted. "But it is true."
"Yes, whatever contingent of the hybrids that is out there is most likely present because of you."
"Innokenti," I began slowly, "if I need to talk to you tomorrow, during the day, is there some way I can find you?"
Innokenti stared at me for a long moment. I had the disturbing impression that he could read my thoughts. His next words, however, dispelled that notion.
"What is in your mind, little one?"
"I can't tell you yet. Can I see you tomorrow if I need to?"
"Yes, of course."
Mercifully, the wail of the siren suddenly stopped, and silence settled on the throne room.
I looked up expectantly. "Does that mean the hybrids are gone?"
"I believe it does," Innokenti replied. "Or at least I hope it does. If our side was successful, your William should be back with us soon."
I realized that I needed to act quickly then.
"How can I find you tomorrow?" I asked, "if I do need to talk to you."
I remembered how fruitless my earlier search for Innokenti had been.
Innokenti grinned. "You can always attract a vampire with the red elixir of life. Come to the edge of the Wasteland tomorrow and spill three drops of blood. I will come to you then."
"Does it have to be my blood?" I asked.
"No," Innokenti said, his eyes faintly mocking, "the blood of an animal will do just as well."
William suddenly ran into the room, and he was beside me in an instant.
Both Innokenti and I rose from the thrones.
"What happened, William?" I asked. "You weren't hurt, were you?"
"No, I wasn't hurt."
"Is Zamochit Village safe, William?" Innokenti asked. "Were the invaders repelled?"
"Yes, the village is safe. We have warded off the threat. The hybrids won't be back tonight."
"How many of them were there?" Innokenti asked.
"There were three," William said shortly.
"Was Timofei Mstislav one of them?" I asked.
William ignored my question and put an arm around my shoulders. "Come on. We have to get you home."
"You haven't answered the young lady's question, William," Innokenti said. "Was Timofei Mstislav present?"
"I'll give you a full report when I return. Right now I have to get Katie out of here."
William steered me out of the throne room.
Innokenti's voice floated after us.
"They will not allow you to be together, William. Remember that."
William took me by the hand and led me through the dim halls of the castle.
The anxious eyes of vampires followed us as we passed.
It was strange and wonderful to be walking beside William and to feel the warmth of his hand. I had believed I would never see him again, and yet here he was—he hadn't left me, he hadn't abandoned me. I had him back.
"William—"
We shouldn't talk in here," he said. "Let's get out of the castle—out of the village—out of earshot."
We continued to move through the halls, and once more I found myself crossing the courtyard of the castle. Soon we were on the other side, moving toward the front entrance.
William stopped before the massive front doors, and I pulled on my gloves and buttoned up my coat.
William gave me a serious look.
"The streets will still be dangerous for you," he said. "But I think the attack by the hybrids will have convinced many of the villagers to stay inside. All the same, we should still move quickly."
William pushed the massive front doors open.
"Ready?" he asked.
"For what?"
; "To run."
He picked me up suddenly then, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
Before I knew it, we were off into the streets of Zamochit Village, moving at blinding speed. Houses, buildings, figures blurred into one as we flew past them. We navigated twisting, winding streets, and I had to close my eyes several times as we negotiated tight corners.
At long last, we approached one of the watchtowers, and beyond that, there appeared to be nothing but darkness. William sped forward into the darkness, and I felt the air around me ripple.
William stopped running and set me down.
It was hard for me to see, but I looked around. We were standing in the vast emptiness of the Wasteland. I looked back in the direction from which we had come. Zamochit Village had disappeared.
"We got out of there more easily than I had expected," William said. "They must all be genuinely frightened."
"Are vampires as strong as the hybrids?" I asked.
"No, not even remotely," William replied. "Vampires are to hybrids as humans are to vampires."
"It's no wonder that they're scared then," I said. "How did you fight the hybrids off?"
"I have more power than an ordinary vampire," William said. "And I didn't fight them off exactly. It's more like I scared them with our new weapon."
He glanced back in the direction of the village. "We'd better get you home."
"I have a bicycle around here somewhere," I said. "But it's a little too dark for me to see properly."
"I'll find it," William said. He held out his arm to me, and I took it. Then he led me back toward the road. Soon I could feel its solid surface under my feet, and we began to walk along it.
"Wait here," William said after a moment.
He trotted down the road and returned with my bicycle.
"Thanks," I said, smiling. It was good to be with William.
We began to walk down the road again. William was pushing the bicycle, and I held onto his arm as a guide through the gloom.
The night was cloudy and cold, and the stars and the moon were out, but their light was dim. All around us was quiet.
"Are we far enough away yet to make talking safe?" I asked.
"Yes," William replied. "They won't be able to hear us out here. In any event, it's more of a precaution than anything else. Everyone back in Zamochit Village should be too preoccupied at the moment to spy on us."
We walked on, and though there were questions I wanted to ask William, I waited.
I could tell he was turning something over in his mind.
"Katie, I would never do that," he said suddenly. I looked up at him. He was staring down at the road, and lines of strain were visible in his face. "Anton told you that I gave you up in exchange for getting my memories back and being freed of my vampire nature."
William looked at me then. "I would never do that. I would never give you up for anything. You have to believe that."
"William, when you disappeared it was hard for me," I said slowly. "I thought I would never see you again. I thought you had abandoned me—and abandoned me when I had a price on my head—when I was being hunted."
William closed his eyes, as if he felt a sudden pain. "I'm sorry, Katie. I left the letter—I told you to call me any time you needed me. I knew I could get to you in an instant. It never occurred to me that the Sìdh would interfere."
"Why did you leave?" I asked.
"I thought I was helping you," William said. "Innokenti came to me again. He told me that in addition to the vampires that were after you, someone was building an army of vampire-kost hybrids to come after you, too. But he also implied that he didn't know who was behind it—though I realize now that he never said that explicitly. I thought I could work on defeating the hybrids and try to find out who was responsible for all your troubles at the same time. I had no idea that Innokenti knew all along."
"Why did you write me a letter?" I asked. "Why didn't you just tell me in person?"
William's jaw worked, but he didn't say anything.
"I suppose I was afraid," William said at last.
"Afraid of what?"
"It's hard to explain exactly. I was afraid you'd be angry. I was afraid you wouldn't want me to go—and I had to go. I had to do what I could for you. I had to protect you.
"At the same time I was worried about what would happen when I came back. I was afraid you would forget about me—I was afraid I would come back to find that you didn't want me anymore."
William gave me a serious look. "I wrote you a letter because I love you. And I was afraid that I would lose you."
"You'll never lose me," I said.
William looked at me for a long moment. Then he went on.
"I have some questions for you now. Why did you come here to Krov? Why did you come into Zamochit Village?"
The hurt, the despair I'd felt when I'd thought William had left me came flooding back, and suddenly I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"Originally I decided to come here to look for you," I said haltingly. "But eventually I lost hope."
I stopped and drew in a deep breath. "It still hurts to talk about it."
I stopped again and went on when I could. "Like I said, I lost hope, but I still decided to come for GM's sake. And then tonight, I spotted you accidentally. And I had to speak to you just one last time. I followed you—I didn't know where you were going—and I wound up in Zamochit Village. I had no idea such a place even existed."
"So followed me into a town full of vampires, even though you believed I'd abandoned you?"
"Yes."
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I love you."
William bowed his head. "I told you before—you're too young to know what love truly is."
"I'm not too young," I said. "I love you. I'm not wrong about that."
"I'm not used to anyone loving me," William said quietly.
We walked on in silence after that, and I could feel his love, bright and shining, encircling me once again.
We walked on to the Mstislav Mansion, and then through the rest of town. Eventually, we reached my street with its two working streetlamps.
We stopped in front of my house. I suddenly realized just how tired I was. But even though there had been moments of pure terror for me on this night, I knew I wouldn't have traded it for anything—I had William back again.
William looked up at the house. "I suppose your grandmother has no idea you've been out wandering around tonight."
"I have to admit that that is true," I said.
William shook his head. "Sometimes I don't know what's wrong with you. Go inside. You'll be safe there. There are special protective charms on this house—and they're strong."
I was startled. "That's true—but how did you know about that? I only found out because Odette told me."
William frowned. "I don't know—I just knew it the first time I saw the house."
"Odette also told me that the charm keeps out vampires," I said thoughtfully, "as well as other creatures like kosts. But the house allowed you to come in. I wonder why?"
"I don't know," William said once again. "But I do know that you should stay away from Odette from now on. Now go on inside and get some sleep—you need it. And stay in the house tomorrow—all day and all night. Whatever you do, do not come out for the Firebird Festival. The vampires and I will take care of the hybrids. I'll come to the house when it's safe for you to come out again."
William walked the bicycle over to the side of the house and propped it up.
"So, now that I've seen you safely home, it's time for me to say goodnight." He gave me his crooked half-smile.
On impulse, I ran over to him, grabbed him by the collar, and kissed him. We stood together for a long moment, and I thought that I would be perfectly happy just to kiss him forever.
William stepped back for a moment, and then leaned in to kiss me again. He finally stepped back with decision.
"You're going to make me forget why I'm her
e," he said. "Now get in the house. And stay there."
I slipped into the house quietly, and even though I knew William would be long gone, I hurried to look out the front window, hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he left.
He was no longer there, as I had suspected, but I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers lightly to my lips.
The memory of his kiss still lingered.
Chapter 23.
I awoke the next morning feeling alert and full of energy.
I had actually slept very little—most of the night had worn away by the time I'd made it back to the house.
All the same, I did not feel the lack of sleep—every nerve in my body was alive and tingling.
I had decisions to make, and I made them quickly.
The germ of an idea had begun to grow in my mind last night, and now I knew for sure what I would have to do.
William had warned me to stay away from the Firebird Festival.
But that was exactly what I could not do.
I got ready for the day quickly, and then I went downstairs. I had breakfast with GM, and afterward she went out to see Maksim.
I was uneasy as I watched her leave the house. I had to wonder about what Innokenti had said during the night—he'd implied very heavily that Maksim was in the service of the Werdulac.
I'd felt twinges of suspicion myself, and Odette had also warned me about him.
But I wasn't sure I could trust Innokenti on this—in fact, I wasn't sure I could trust him at all.
And yet, I was planning to seek him out this very morning—to summon him with blood as he had said I might. Even if I didn't trust him, I still believed he could help me with what I needed to do.
So, I would trust that GM would be safe with Maksim—at least for the present—and I would trust that I would be safe with Innokenti.
Once GM was gone, I hurried outside. I had to move quickly and get started before I gave myself too much time to think about what I was going to do. I retrieved my bicycle from the side of the house where William had left it, and I felt a pang as I touched the handlebars. I couldn't help thinking of the way William had looked last night. It was hard for me to believe in the clear light of morning that I had him back—it was almost as if I had dreamed the entire thing.
It was also hard for me to face the terrible truth that I might lose him again very soon.
Ignis (Book 2, Pure Series) Page 32