The Key to Erebus (The French Vampire Legend. Book 1)

by Emma V. Leech

Chapter 20

  The scene with Tacitus played over and over in my mind. What the hell did he mean, I must pray? Was it just another part of his threat or did he mean it literally. The more I thought about it the more I thought about Corvus and the more agitated I became.

  I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something terribly wrong and not just because, once again, a dangerous vampire was threatening me, and now my friends too.

  Gran seemed to be acting weirder than ever. There was a dangerous glitter to her eyes that frightened me and she was in very high spirits - though I couldn’t fathom why. I'd wanted to tell her about Tacitus but something about the way she was acting held me back. I did try to explain to her that there was something wrong, that I could feel it with every nerve in my body, but the strangest thing of all was that she said I was imagining it and not to worry. Gran, who was forever telling me to listen to my instincts, was now telling me to ignore them. I felt like the world had gone mad… or at least madder than usual.

  Finally, Gran said she couldn’t bear my pacing and worrying any longer and that I should go out and see my friends to take my mind off things. I agreed that going out might not be such a bad idea. I just didn’t know where to begin looking for this key, and I wanted to see Claudette and check she was OK. So after dinner I got in the car to drive over and see her.

  I’d had to come up with a strategy to try and leave Astro behind. Like it had once been with Nerva, Astro refused to let me out of his sight and went mad if I tried to go anywhere without him. In the end, I shut him in my room and asked Gran to let him out after I’d been gone a while. I didn’t know if it was the whole witches have an affinity with animals thing, but it wasn’t as if he was my familiar or anything. I wasn’t even sure what one was, but I was certain Astro wasn’t it.

  It had been a lovely, hot day but now the temperature was dropping and big bruised clouds hung ominously in the sky. I tried to reassure myself that the approaching thunderstorm was the reason for my uneasiness.

  I spent the evening with Claudette, who insisted that I watch some weird, arty French film which I’m sure I wouldn’t have understood even if I’d given it my full attention. By midnight Claudette was yawning, and I couldn’t put off going home any longer, so I thanked her and got in the car to drive home. I’d just got to the end of the road to turn towards Gran’s house when I was overcome with the most terrible feeling. I swerved to the side of the road and sat there trying to breathe properly. I started to shiver, my breath coming in great heaving gasps. Frantically I tried to slow my heartbeat and calm down but I felt terrified. There was something dreadfully wrong - only it wasn’t me that was in trouble.

  I realised with a jolt that these weren’t my feelings. Someone else was in terrible danger. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the sensations allowing my mind to search through the blackness. With surprise I found that not only could I hear water dripping, it was damp and cold and dark, but I could sense pain, crippling pain. Someone was dying. I fought back the panic and tried to concentrate on who it was.

  My eyes flew open and I cried out as the answer hit me with a cold, sickening blow. Corvus! He was trapped somewhere, by himself, in pain and all alone.

  I sat very still, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. What could I do? I couldn’t go and ask Gran for help that was for sure - she would never help Corvus.

  I wondered suddenly why I would think about helping him, the man who had killed my grandfather and was supposed to be my enemy. I should hate him, want him dead. But I knew that wasn't the truth. I loved him, no matter what he'd done. I couldn’t let him die. He was suffering and I had to help him. How on earth had he become trapped though? Who could have done something like that to such a powerful vampire and how the hell could I rescue him from something stronger than he was?

  I figured I'd have to deal with that when I came across it but I hadn’t sensed any other presence in the darkness - he was alone and no one else knew where he was, of that I was sure. I could try and contact the other vampires but even if I could make them believe me, by the time I had, it might be too late. And they may not believe me at all. They knew that I’d said I hated him, they might think it was a trap I’d thought up with Gran. The thought made me feel sick. I had to find him and quickly. I searched in the glove box of the car and found a tattered old map and a torch. I rummaged around a bit more and found a broken bead necklace I'd stuffed there ages ago. I’d shoved the bits in the box meaning to fix it later. Now I slipped beads free, sending them skittering all over the car, took off the moonstone ring and slipped it onto the empty nylon string.

  I spread the map out as flat as I could on the passenger seat and took a deep breath, concentrating on what I wanted to find. He was there. I could feel him, alone in the darkness. I tried to call out to him in my mind, to tell him to hold on, that I was coming. I had no idea if he heard me.

  I swung the ring over the map and focused on Corvus. After what seemed like an eternity there was a gentle tug and the ring flew from my hand. I looked at where it had fallen and my heart sank, it was miles away. I estimated it would take me at least three hours to get there, but the worst thing was that the map was on a massive scale, and I wondered how I’d find him when I got there. I couldn’t just drive around aimlessly, hoping to fall over a sick vampire. I was poring over the area on the map when I noticed a name that made my heart skip, Melle - Mines d’argent. Oh my God! That’s where he was. It was the name of an ancient silver mine, that’s why he was dying. Silver was one of the few things that could kill a vampire.

  I didn’t think about it for another second, instead I turned the car out on the road and headed towards Poitou-Charente. I wished with every passing mile that I had a faster car. The roads seemed to go on forever as I watched the clock anxiously. A couple of times I took a wrong turn and had to go back on myself, nearly screaming with frustration.

  The sky by now was a deep, threatening purple and every so often the countryside lit up, as lightning forked brilliantly across the horizon. I stopped again to get my bearings, straining to see the map in the dim light. I was close, I knew it. I could feel his presence, but he was weakening. I tried to think about him again, to tell him I was close, wishing I knew if he could hear me. I glanced up just as another flash of lightning illuminated the road ahead and saw, in the distance, a sign. I could have wept with relief. It was for the silver mine. I pulled back up onto the road before turning down a narrow track towards the mine. I drove as fast as I dared, lurching down potholes and urging the car over the rough ground.

  As I reached the end of the track and brought the car to a stop, I could see the opening to the mine. It was set up slightly on the side of a grassy hill, surrounded by high wire fencing and 'Keep Out' signs. It was open to tourists at certain times of the year, but now it was locked up. I leapt out of the car, grabbing my coat and torch as a fierce wind smacked into me, whipping my hair around my face. Gratefully I shrugged my coat over my shoulders as the cold air hit the thin cotton shirt I was wearing. Slipping and sliding over the rough ground I ran to the fence and searched around until I found a gap in the metal. I inspected it, suspicious as it looked as though it had been burnt. I ducked through and made my way to the entrance of the mine, hesitating for a moment at the opening. There was the all too familiar scent of magic, sweet and cloying. There was a ward at the entrance of the cave.

  I went forward cautiously, my free hand outstretched in the darkness. My skin prickled as the ward washed over me, but it let me pass. I wondered briefly if it would let me out again as easily.

  I felt something scurry past my foot and clapped my hand over my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Scolding myself for being such a wimp, I focused on the fact that rats were the least of my worries at the moment. I continued down, deeper into the cave where the walls became a deep burgundy red and gleamed dully in the torchlight. The pathway twisted and turned as it headed further down and I felt my heart beat harder as the
air got colder. The tunnel gave a sharp turn, splitting in two and I closed my eyes, trying to feel his presence - to the left. He was very close now. I hurried as fast as I dared. The ground was uneven and slippery, and I wouldn’t be of much use if I fell and broke my ankle.

  The narrow path opened out into a wider chamber and there was water running down the walls collecting in huge pools that I had to wade through. I swung the torch around. The ground level sloped up a little and the light fell on a figure slumped against the wall.

  I ran to him and crouched down on the damp floor.

  “Corvus! Corvus, it’s me! Wake up.” I shook his shoulders gently.

  He groaned and his eyelids fluttered,

  “Corvus, please, wake up.” I shook him again, and his eyes flickered open and tried to focus on me.

  “Jéhenne?” he whispered in disbelief.

  “Oh, thank God,” I said, relieved that he was still with me. “Yes, it’s me. We’ve got to get you out of here.”

  He struggled to open his eyes and I swallowed down fear when I saw how weak he was. “What are you doing here?” he sounded agitated, his voice dry and cracked.

  “I’ve come to rescue you, obviously,” I said, trying to sound light-hearted when my heart was in my throat. “Come on we need to go.”

  I pulled at his arm, but he just closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

  “It’s useless … a ward,” he said, his voice raw. “I can't get past it. I've been trying for hours. There's no other way out.” His eyes opened a little, the blue dulled by pain. “You shouldn’t have come.”

  Panic started to build in my chest. I couldn't force him to move if he'd given up. “Now you listen here,” I said, making my voice as stern as I could when I was on the brink of tears. “You’re the one that got in my head. If you didn’t want rescuing, you shouldn’t have called me!”

  I hoped that maybe if I got mad at him he'd listen but he looked dreadful and I felt terribly afraid that if he didn’t move soon, he would die. He blinked, his expression hazy and looking at me in astonishment as my words registered.

  “I didn’t … would never put you in danger,” he rasped, sounding angry.

  I folded my arms and glared at him, wanting to stamp my foot, anything to get him to move even if he wanted to kill me. “Well, how did I know you were in trouble, then?” I demanded.

  He frowned, and shook his head. “I don’t know. I was thinking … about you. I didn’t realise … I’m so sorry.” He groaned and his head fell back against the wall. I was really scared now. To see him like this, so helpless, it seemed impossible.

  “Corvus, who did this to you?” I demanded, trying not to cry. I bent and carefully smoothed the hair from his face, it was matted and dirty and his skin was icy cold.

  “Inés.”

  I froze and stared at him in horror.

  “No,” I shook my head, “No, she wouldn’t do this. No matter what, she wouldn’t do this!”

  I was angry now, not wanting to believe and he opened his eyes to look at me.

  “I killed someone she loved, Jéhenne. I had no choice but she cannot believe that, so she wants me dead. I don’t blame her.” He smiled, and the expression in his eyes made my heart turn. “It is no more than I would do myself.”

  I stood and looked down at him, feeling a chill take root in my heart. I knew I should believe in Gran, believe that she wouldn’t do this. I should believe that he was guilty of what she accused him, but I was no longer sure that I did. My mind felt clearer than it had before. When Gran was close or I was at her home thinking of Corvus made me angry and afraid but now ...

  My insides seemed to knot with tension. Deep down I believed he was right. Gran had done this. She had sworn to have her revenge on him and now she had, but I could never have imagined she would go this far.

  “How?” I asked.

  I fought back the acid that was rising in my throat. I felt sick to my stomach.

  “She told me Tacitus had taken you and imprisoned you here.”

  I covered my mouth with my hand, unable to stop the tears in my eyes from brimming over.

  “No,” I sobbed, shaking my head, not wanting to believe she'd use his feelings for me against him and knowing with a horrible certainty that she had. “You mean you came here for me?”

  “Of course I came. How could I not?” he said and the stupidity of it made me angry.

  “But why?” I yelled. “In a silver mine of all places! You could have checked … you must have realised, must have known it was a trap … why…” I stopped, suddenly numb as the truth hit me. “You knew. You knew it was a trap and you came anyway.” The horror of it was too much to take in.

  He looked down and when he spoke his voice soft. “I didn’t know for sure. I couldn’t take the chance she was telling the truth but no, I didn’t stop to consider it. Perhaps I didn't care if it was.” He looked back at me and there was anger in his eyes and his words. “You made me remember too much, Jéhenne. Feelings that I had made myself forget and never allowed myself to have again. I have guarded my heart for such a long time and then you came and reminded me of everything I'd lost. I thought, maybe we had a chance together, we could be happy. But if you won't give me that chance - if that is not to be, I don't want to bear the thought of an eternity alone, without you. I have faced that agony before - I won't do it again.”

  I could feel hot tears streaming down my face and the anger at what Gran had done was building inside of me, making me feel dizzy. I wanted to curl up and pretend it wasn’t happening, but there was no time. We had to get out.

  “I’m so sorry, Corvus.”

  He reached a hand up and traced the tears falling down my face. “Jéhenne, if I have to die for something, then I’m glad it was for you. I’m almost two thousand years old. That’s enough, don’t you think?”

  “No!” I shook him, desperate that he should try. “I don’t! I won’t leave you, do you hear me? So if you die, I do too! You have to move!” I screamed at him. “Please, Corvus!”

  He looked horrified by the idea. “Jéhenne, I didn't just sit down to die. I've tried to get out believe me, but she’s tied the ward to the silver somehow. Every time I try to pass it drains my energy a little more. You must get out while you can.” He sounded so dreadfully weak that I wanted to kill Gran for what she had done. “Gods, I’m so tired, Jéhenne,” he mumbled, his eyes flickering shut.

  “Corvus, listen to me.” I shook him so that he opened his eyes. “I can get you past the ward, I know I can, but you have to get to the entrance, I can’t carry you.”

  I was frantic now and I pulled on his arm, trying to get him to move, but it was like pulling on a boulder. I fell, on to the cold damp ground and burst into tears. I couldn’t bear it.

  I felt his hand brush my cheek, a tender caress.

  “Stubborn little witch,” he whispered and smiled at me.

  I knew that I wasn’t going to leave him here alone. There was no possible way I was going to let him die here. There was only one way I could help him, so I arranged myself in his lap. “What are you doing?” he asked, as I made myself comfortable.

  “Getting you out of here,” I replied, my voice trembled a little and I undid the buttons on my shirt with shaking hands.

  “You would do that?” He watched me carefully for a moment. I was trembling and he would be able to hear my heart pounding with apprehension. I was afraid and he knew it. “Even though you know I could kill you?”

  I took a breath, finding my chest was tight with fear. “You won't hurt me,” I said, and even though I believed it the words trembled, sounding unconvincing.

  He grasped my face, turning it so I was forced to look in his eyes. His expression was hard and fierce and my heart skipped in my chest. “I killed him, Jéhenne,” he said, the words stark with menace. “That much is true. That is why she hates me, why you hate me.”

  I put my hand to his cheek, shaking my head.

  “
I don’t hate you,” I said stroking his face. “I know I should. Believe me I’ve tried.” I laughed, the tears streaming down my face. “I’ve tried really hard… but I can’t. I just can’t.”

  “Jéhenne?” He looked at me, hope blazing in his eyes. “You could forgive me?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know Corvus, but I can’t forget you. I can’t pretend I don’t have feelings for you.” I dried my eyes and took a deep breath to steady myself. “I can't be without you, whatever the price for that. I'll listen to everything you have to say, I'll hear it all and ... And we'll work it out. OK?” I hesitated. “You'll tell me everything? Good or bad? Just the truth, Corvus? Please.”

  “Yes,” he whispered, cupping my face with his hands, his expression fierce and tender all at once. “I promise.”

  I pulled him towards me, holding him tight and he buried his face against my shoulder. His arms went around my waist, pulling me so hard to him I gasped. I heard him sigh, his big shoulders relaxing a little under my hands. He whispered my name and I stroked his hair.

  “Now,” I said, before I could change my mind. “Do it now, we have to get out of here.”

  I felt him nod and he raised his head as I tilted mine to the side. His lips traced along my neck and hovered just under my ear, where he kissed me softly. I felt him breathe in my scent and his hold on me tightened a little more. Trembling hard, fear and excitement raced through my blood as his lips found the pulse that was leaping under my skin. I held my breath as razor sharp teeth grazed my neck and cried out as they pierced me, but the pain was fleeting - a small price, chased away by a flood of sensations. I heard him moan as I was crushed against him and desire raged in my veins. I had wanted him before, knew what it was to need his touch, but it was nothing compared to this. Every nerve, every atom seemed to melt and fade, until I was part of a vast ocean, floating in pleasure, consumed with bliss. With each pull of my blood, the waves rolled over me and I could barely feel his hand behind my head, supporting me. I wrapped myself around him as he pressed back, both of us wanting more, needing to be closer. His body begin to heat as my warmth flowed into him and I wanted to float like that forever, away from the world, away from pain and fear and the demands of others. I clung to him fiercely but all too soon I felt him lift his head and pull away from me. I cried out at the loss and tangled my fingers in his hair, forcing him back to me. I heard him moan and he held me tighter, his mouth burning now against my skin. The feelings intensified, the sensations lancing though me until I cried out again as he finally pulled away, breathing heavily. He dipped his head again and ran his tongue over the little wounds to seal them.

  We just sat staring at each other, both of us breathing hard. Desire was a heady presence that pulsed between us, inviting us to continue, pushing us to carry this to the conclusion.

  “Our timing really leaves a lot to be desired,” he said, amusement and regret in his tone. I gave a bark of laughter that sounded as desperate as I felt and he leaned into me, pressing his lips against mine, not demanding now, just a gentle touch that sent my heart racing again nonetheless. It felt so right to be this close to him, to feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against me. Even here in this awful place, I was glad to be with him.

  “Are you alright?” he asked and I nodded.

  “I’m fine,” I replied, feeling slightly dizzy, though whether from blood loss or his proximity, I couldn’t have said.

  He sighed, obviously reluctant. “We must go now, the effect of your blood won’t last long in here.”

  I nodded and climbed to my feet, watching as he stood up, more steadily this time. We began the walk back and I noticed him grimace with pain when he thought I wasn’t looking, he even had to stop and lean against the wall for a moment when we were halfway along the tunnel.

  By the time we got back to the entrance he looked terrible again, and I prayed that I would be able to break the ward. Gran had shown me various methods, but it depended on the type that had been set.

  Corvus sank to the ground and I could see he was shivering. I walked slowly forward, arms outstretched towards where I knew the ward was.

  “Jéhenne, be careful,” he said, warning in his voice. “It’s strong, it knocked me off my feet.”

  I looked over at him with wide eyes, but took a deep breath and kept moving forwards. It was now raining heavily outside and little drops of water were running along the roof of the tunnel and dripping to the floor. One trickled down my neck and the sensation of the icy water made me flinch. I edged a bit closer and felt the ward shiver against my skin as I touched it. It didn’t react, and allowed me to pass through. Corvus looked up in surprise.

  “How did you do that?” he demanded.

  “It’s been created only to react to you,” I said. “She must have had something of yours to set it.”

  He frowned, shaking his head. “No. That’s not possible, I’ve always been careful. I knew she could use anything like that against me.”

  I sighed, frustrated, I knew I was right about this. “She must have something Corvus - think. If it’s a personal ward, I can break it. If not…”

  I looked at him, begging him to remember, but he shook his head.

  “Oh!” I cried suddenly. “Nerva! He belongs to you!”

  I swung the torch around frantically, searching all the tiny cracks and crevices. I went back and forth along the entrance to the cave but found nothing. I turned my attention to the ground. It was wet and sandy at the entrance and I swept my hands over it, trying to find an area where the soil was loose. I covered the ground inch by inch, searching for what felt like an eternity. Swallowing a sob that was rising in my throat I prayed, muttering under my breath. Please, please let it be here. I followed the edge of the cave with my fingers and was heading back towards where Corvus was sitting when suddenly my fingers disappeared under the stone. There was a little depression in the soil and I scrabbled around madly until I pulled out a little bundle, tied up with string.

  “I’ve got it!” I cried.

  Corvus opened his eyes and looked at the little white feather that was poking out of the bundle.

  “Nerva!” he grumbled. “Wait until I get my hands on that bird.”

  I smiled at him, triumphant and relieved. Now all I had to do was burn it … shit.

  “Corvus … I don’t suppose you’ve got any matches, or maybe a lighter handy do you?” I asked with a sinking feeling.

  “No.” He looked at me in surprise.

  “Damn,” I muttered, brushing the sandy soil off my fingers. “I have to burn it, and say the incantation.”

  He frowned at me. “But you can make it burn … like when you found the ring - can’t you?”

  I felt sick again. “I’ve, er … been having a bit of trouble repeating that trick,” I admitted, biting my lip. “OK. I can do this,” I said with more confidence than I felt.

  I untied the little bundle and put all the component parts in front of me. Determined to get Corvus free, I breathed in, slow and steady, trying to centre myself as Gran had taught me. I concentrated hard, reciting the words under my breath, and imagined the feather, the assortment of herbs and the paper with the written spell, bursting into flames - nothing. I swallowed the tremor of anxiety that had returned to gnaw at my insides and tried again, and again, and again. Tears of frustration pricked at my eyelids and I stood up in disgust.

  “Shit! Shit! Damn you to hell!” I yelled in fury, and then watched in astonishment as the little pile gave a sizzle and burst into flame. There was a soft popping sound and a shower of tiny blue sparks fell from the roof of the cave as the ward deactivated. “I did it!” I said in wonder.

  Corvus looked at me cautiously. “I’ve never heard an incantation like that before,” he said, his lips twitching slightly.

  I frowned at him, raising my eyebrows. “I’d already said the spell,” I retorted.

  “Remind me not to make you angry again anytime soon,” he said with a smile. “You
could get too good at that.”

  He pulled himself to his feet and walked to the entrance of the cave, I held my breath as he passed the area that had been warded, but nothing happened.

  “Thank God!” I said in relief. “Come on, let’s get you home.” I pulled him out into the rain, where he stopped suddenly and looked up at the sky.

  “Corvus, come on!” I yelled. He followed me through the broken fence to where I’d left the car. I jumped in, slamming the door and praying under my breath that it would start. Corvus manoeuvred himself into the small space and collapsed onto the passenger seat, shivering and breathing heavily. We were both soaked to the skin and I didn’t have a blanket or anything to give him.

  “There’s not enough time to get back to the Château,” he said, looking up at the sky again. “It’ll be daylight in just over an hour.”

  I looked at him in horror.

  “What do we do?”

  Corvus shrugged, his arms clutched around himself. “If you can find a church, I could spend the day in the crypt.”

  I shuddered at the thought of it.

  “No way,” I said. “You’re not spending the day in a crypt, besides you're soaked through and you look terrible.”

  He smiled, affection in his eyes at my concern. “I’m a vampire, Jéhenne, I’ll survive.”

  “I did not come all this way to rescue you, to have you die of pneumonia,” I scolded with a huff.

  “Vampires don’t tend to die of pneumonia,” he replied with amusement. He laid his head back, blue eyes watching me. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

  I shuddered at the idea, the thought of him sleeping in a crypt was just too disturbing no matter what he said, so I dug my heels in “No. We’ll find something better.”

  I put the car into gear and we set off back down the bumpy track. I drove though the winding lanes in the rain while Corvus slept. I glanced over at him anxiously. He was shivering hard now and I began to feel concerned that he was wrong. What if he wasn't as indestructible as he thought? I made up my mind and headed for the next village that was signposted. I hoped that if it was a reasonable sized place, there would be a hotel or a Chambre d’hôte. I drove though the village and out the other side without seeing anything. I was about to turn around, when I saw a stone house set back a little off the road with a B&B sign hanging over the gate. I glanced at the clock and sighed. It wasn’t yet six o’clock in the morning - I was going to be really popular.

  I got out and ran to the front door, hammering on it as hard as I could. If I was going to wake up the household, I may as well get on with it. There was a lot of muttering and cursing and eventually the door was yanked open by a big, burly Frenchman in a paisley dressing gown. He glared at me in annoyance.

  I gave him what I hoped was a winning smile and explained in my best French that my friend was unwell and we needed somewhere to stay. He asked if I knew what time it was and I apologised profusely, explaining again that my friend had been taken ill. He looked over at the car with the big sleeping figure in the front seat, and muttered something I didn’t catch. I felt sure it wasn’t complementary. He gestured for me to follow him and led me down a dingy corridor, before opening a door onto a small bedroom with an adjoining bathroom.

  He handed me the key and said that would be seventy euros. I regarded him cynically. I knew I was being ripped off but I was too tired to argue.

  “I want two rooms, though,” I explained. The idea of sharing with Corvus was very appealing, but there were things we needed to get straight between us first and I didn't want him to think it was a forgone conclusion. The landlord laughed coarsely and said something that I refused to understand, but was definitely rude. I snatched the keys, shoved the money in his hand and went off to get Corvus.

  It took me forever to wake him and even longer to persuade him to come in. He wasn’t happy about spending the day in what was basically a public building. A vampire’s resting-place is apparently something they guard jealously and the thought of being away from his was giving him the jitters. In the end, he decided that he was too tired to protest and gave in. I had my work cut out getting him out the car and into the room, but we eventually managed it. He slumped on the bed while I turned the heaters up full blast and ran him a hot bath. Thankfully there was only one window, so I closed the shutters and draped a towel over the curtains, and then another along the bottom of the door to be certain that no light could get in.

  “Come on, your bath’s ready,” I called while I turned the taps off. I doubted how much of him could actually fit in the bath as it was tiny, but at least it would warm him up a bit. I turned around and regarded the big, trembling figure standing miserably in the already cramped bathroom. I’d never seen him look less like himself. He was trying to unbutton his shirt but his hands were shaking too much. I sighed and resigned myself to the inevitable. I pushed his hands out of the way and undid the buttons, sliding his shirt off and trying hard not to notice what was underneath. My hands were shaking as well.

  The crow tattoo looked equally miserable and had fluffed its feathers out, bobbing its head up and down irritably. Corvus started fumbling with his belt buckle next and I looked at him suspiciously, but he was in no state to try anything on. I undid the belt and the buttons of his jeans, trying not to touch his skin, it was doing strange things to my pulse.

  “OK, you’re on your own now,” I told him and walked out shutting the door firmly behind me.

  The room was beginning to warm up a little now. There wasn’t much of it to heat in the first place, just what passed for a double bed in France, which was actually more like a large single, and an enormous wardrobe at the end of it that you had to go sideways past, crab fashion. It looked like the kind with a doorway to Narnia on the other side of it. Given the last few months, I don’t think I’d have batted an eyelid if there was.

  The migraine-inducing wallpaper had a deep purple flock pattern that swirled nauseatingly over the walls and the ceiling. It seemed to give the whole room a feeling of impending doom. I swallowed nervously and hoped it wasn’t trying to tell me something - possibly that spending the night with a sick vampire may not have been one of my brighter ideas.

  I lay on the bed to see how comfy it was and immediately rolled into the dip in the middle. Crap. I got up and was pulling back the covers to air it a little, when the bathroom door opened. Corvus came out with a towel around his waist and another over his shoulders. He’d washed his hair and it was dripping down his back.

  “Feeling better?”

  “Still cold,” he grumbled, sitting on the end of the bed and rubbing his hair half-heartedly with the towel.

  “Here,” I said, taking it off him and rubbing it properly. I leaned over to where I’d left my bag, fished out a comb and started getting rid of the tangles. He sat quietly while I combed it all out for him. There wasn’t a hair dryer so I rubbed the ends dry as best I could with the towel.

  “There you go. You’d better get into bed then.”

  I tried to sound matter of fact about it, but found I couldn’t make eye contact. I went back into the bathroom and seeing the state of it, irritably picked up damp towels and his clothes from the floor. It seems that in some ways, male vampires are no different from any other men.

  Corvus had climbed into the bed while I was out of the room and it groaned under his weight as he lay back and pulled the covers up. I threw his boxers on the bed.

  “Put them on,” I said firmly, still not looking at him.

  “It’s freezing in here,” he complained, fidgeting around under the covers. In the limited space, I struggled to open the door of the wardrobe but eventually dug out a spare blanket. I folded it in two and laid it over him.

  “Aren't you joining me?” he asked. I told my libido to ignore the hopeful look in his eyes.

  “Yes, in a bit, I want to have a bath first.” I was damp and covered in dirt from the floor of the caves and hadn't dared look in a mirror since we got here.
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br />   He frowned at me. “I’m really cold.”

  “You’ll soon warm up!” I said, moving towards the bathroom as fast as possible.. Ignoring the disappointed look on his face I went and locked myself in. Whether I thought I was locking him out or me in, I wasn’t entirely sure. One thing I did know, I wasn’t getting in that bed until he was asleep. I was way too tempted and I felt like I needed to get a grip on reality before we took things any further.

  I spent an hour in the bath, until the water had gone cold and my fingers had wrinkled, before climbing out and drying off. I put my underwear and shirt back on, hung my soggy jeans alongside his and carefully opened the bathroom door. It was all quiet so I crept out.

  Corvus was huddled under the blankets with just the top of his head visible and with relief I saw the steady rise and fall of his breathing. Thank God, I was unbelievably tired. I climbed into the bed and perched myself right on the edge of the mattress, holding on to it to stop myself from rolling into the dip. It wasn’t comfortable but I was far too tired to care. Sighing deeply, I didn’t spend another moment thinking about Gran or Corvus or anything else and in this precarious fashion I fell immediately into a deep sleep.