"So?"
"While children were playing.” He coldly reminded the vampire of why he had been banished from Vampire City. “Just being caught inside our borders is a death sentence for you."
"Only the King can give a sentence of death.” The woman shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
Roman opened his other hand where two more spheres appeared. “Do you really think he will allow you to live after killing his Chosen?"
"They never completely bonded.” The woman defended her cold actions.
"That is it? That is your defense of killing our future Queen?"
"No mortal will ever rule over me!"
Flames and fire flowed from Roman's body. To lose control of his emotions was dangerous he knew, but the death of one such as Rosalind caused the line to his control to snap. He flung back his arms to give justice to the destroyers.
Each ball released, speeding quickly through the air to their targets. The woman screamed in terror. Her man curled into a quivering mass. The third stood unblinking as death came to collect.
"No.” A voice commanded from behind Roman.
Every ball fell to the ground, inches away from three vampire hearts. Roman watched as sadness filled his soul. Darius, his King, sat on the hard ground cradling his Chosen's limp body in his arms. There were hopeless tears in his eyes as he laid a gentle hand along her cheek. Her hair was in tangles down her back. Dirt covered her body mixed with more blood that Roman cared to think about.
Darius stood. Rosalind's broken body still in his arms. Without a word Darius soared to the sky, bringing Roman and the three prisoners with him.
"Secure them, Roman. Then empty the city to the borders."
"Wait, my King."
Darius stopped at the door to his home. He did not turn around. “In a hurry for death?"
The man went to his knees in submission. “I knew my actions would bring my death, my King. I only wish to give you information that will make the coming weeks easier to bear."
"What information?” The King carefully turned to face Rosalind's killer.
"For when you change her."
In seconds the traitor was at Darius’ feet, choking on water. “Do not mock my pain. Her heart has stopped. She is dead."
"No, my King.” The man managed to speak. “Not truly dead."
"I know dead."
"Her soul has not left her body. She is clinging to life. To you. Use the Link, not your eyes, and you will know the truth."
Darius closed his eyes and concentrated on Rosalind. There was darkness, utter darkness. The silence was heartbreaking. The final thread broke to his heart. His Chosen Mate was dead, forced to walk to her own death. His sorrow filled the void. Sparks lit the night as his anger took over.
Darius?
His elements calmed instantly. The shock of such a small, shallow voice in his mind. Roz? He hesitated.
I hurt so much, Darius.
Oh, Jesus! His voice was hoarse, even in his own head. I'm so sorry, baby.
I'm dying, aren't I?
Not if I can help it.
Rosalind laughed softly. It was music to his heart. A little sooner than I had planned.
We'll figure it out.
Hurry. Rosalind's voice faded as the Link broke again.
"Roman."
"Yes, my King."
"Prepare for her coming.” Darius could not keep the hope from his voice.
"That was close,” the woman mumbled under her breath.
Darius turned back around. “When you secure them, Roman, don't feed them. They won't be needing it."
"But she is going to live. We did nothing wrong."
"I know about your little loophole, woman. You killed a mortal. On purpose, for your own gain. She was under my personal protection. You will all die for the crime."
"You can't do that!"
"I am King. I do what I want.” The door slammed shut as he and the traitor disappeared into the house.
* * * *
Minutes later Roman appeared in Darius’ personal rooms. The traitor sat immobilized in the living area. He ran for the bedroom.
"What do you need, Darius?” Roman could not help but look to the bed to see for himself that she lived. Her body was covered in bruises. Deep cuts and shallow scratches covered her arms and legs. Her left arm was turned at an unnatural angle. As was her foot. He would only imagine what her insides were suffering. Bethany would need to know.
"The city?” Darius asked quietly as he cleaned her body with a sponge.
"Evacuating.” No vampire or mortal with sense disobeyed Darius. Word of Rosalind's ‘death’ had already spread. Grief for Darius’ loss was being expressed by the mortals while the vampire community rejoiced at the imminent arrival of their Queen.
"How are Leena, Kylie, and the other children?” Darius knew that would be Rosalind's first question if she awoke.
"Safe. Bethany took them to Rosalind's meadow."
When all the dirt and blood was washed away from her body, Darius covered her with a blanket. He didn't want her to be cold.
"You can go now.” His voice was whisper soft, distracted by what he was about to do.
"No, my King. I will not leave you in a house with betrayers. No one watching your back."
"Do you think I can't watch my own back, Roman?” There was only curiosity in his tone.
"You will be weak from the blood exchange. Rosalind has next to nothing to sustain her. It will take more blood to make her strong and you will need to feed.” Roman had been his friend for centuries, fought at his side and at his back. Only when it came to his protection would Roman deny the king's commands.
Darius sat at Rosalind's side. Her still body his only comfort. He bent and placed gentle kisses along her collarbone. His tongue grazed the flesh as he stopped at her neck. “Be happy with our decision, little one,” he whispered as he sank his fangs deeply into her neck.
He didn't stop his angry growl when he tasted fear and sorrow in her blood. She was so close to dying. The fact that her fall had not killed her amazed him. She should have been dead. No mortal could survive a fall that high. Questions filled his mind, with no time to have them answered.
In only a few swallows Darius lifted his head. He licked his fangs clean before looking at Roman. “They put something in her blood."
Roman nodded his understanding. Talking was not needed. He watched as Darius bit into his own wrist. Blood trickled out of the wounds he made. He lifted Rosalind's head up so that she could swallow.
"Come on, Rosalind,” he pleaded, keeping his wrist at her lips. He felt a slight movement and knew it was her doing her best to come back to him. “You can do it, baby.” Darius laughed in relief when he felt her actually sucking on his wrist. He looked at Roman. “She is doing it on her own."
Roman walked to Darius relieved. His sleeve was already rolled up in preparation. “Feed, my friend. You will both need your strength."
Too relieved to argue, Darius bit into his closest friend's vein and drank what was offered.
"This isn't one of our best ideas, Darius,” Roman spoke after a moment.
Why?
"You are giving the blood of two of the most powerful vampires in existence to a newly turned Rosalind. Think of the repercussions.” He laughed at the thought.
She will live. That is all that matters.
Moments later Darius carefully released Roman so that he could sit down. He watched his friend in amusement when he almost fell off the bed. “You taste funny, Roman."
Roman thought of Bethany. Of the future. “After tonight I am sure you taste funny, too."
"I can vouch for that,” was whispered across the bed.
Both men jumped to their feet in wonder. “I don't think it was supposed to come that fast, Darius."
"Two powerful vampires,” Darius reminded him nervously.
"I'm too weak to slap you both in the heads.” Her voice cracked as she spoke.
"You need to sleep, Rosa
lind. Once the vampire slumber takes you, you will heal and awaken hungry.” Darius tried to prepare her for the coming nights.
"The children?” she whispered as she fought to keep her eyes open.
"Are with Bethany at the meadow. Now sleep."
"Darius."
"Go to sleep.” Both men ordered.
Rosalind's head fell to the side in exhaustion. She lifted her hand and sent Darius and Roman both flying through the air. When they landed it was to see Rosalind still asleep. Her wrist twitched at her side.
"Oh, shit,” Roman mumbled. “She is still sleeping."
"I really don't want to think about that right now.” Darius looked at Roman. “Maybe it was a fluke."
"Whatever you say,” Roman agreed obediently.
Darius moved to his feet with grace. He glanced the door leading to the traitor who was willing to give him information. His anger returned now that Rosalind was going to live.
He knew what her feelings were concerning the change. She was afraid of the future. To live for centuries with only a handful of friends to keep you sane as you watched your mortal family perish from time.
It was no secret how much time Rosalind dedicated to the mortal orphans of Vampire City. She befriended them, taught them, and loved them only to watch one by one as they matured and distanced themselves from her and her odd powers.
He had been there to hold her as she wept silent tears of heartache when she finally accepted how the mortals treated her. He held her tightly in his arms as she slept. His anger toward the mortals had showed in the storms that had swept across his city for days. Streets and alleyways had flooded, causing travel to be nonexistent. The land with its thriving food source for the humans had been swept away.
Once the storms were over mortals had to rely on the kindness of vampires to supply them with food and shelter. They knew it was punishment for their cold treatment of Rosalind. Within days a small handful of mortals had left Vampire City with a warning to never return. No one, vampire or mortal, ever spoke of it again.
Darius walked to Rosalind's side and gave a soft kiss to her forehead. “I'll be right back, little one."
Roman watched his King as he whispered to his reluctant mate. He prayed to any god who listened that all would be well between the two if she awoke from the change. When Darius was at his side Roman spoke, “What information do you think the traitor has?"
"I don't care about what he thinks he knows. All I want to know is: why."
"And afterwards, my King?"
"They will die.” It was a simple statement of fact. There was no excuse brilliant enough to warrant the ‘necessary’ death of his woman.
* * * *
"Traitor, what is this information you wish to share?” Roman barely had the door closed before his King began his questioning.
At once he jumped to his feet, keeping his eyes cast down in respect for his King.
Darius sneered at the man's show of respect. “You will look at me and answer every question I give. Is that understood?"
He nodded, waiting for the King of his people to sit before he began. “My King, it was not a simple thing to kill Rosalind Kincaid. It was not my original intention."
"Yet I found her broken body at the bottom of a cliff.” Darius voice was cold as arctic winds.
"If it had been up to me, we would have approached you about the situation."
Darius rose from his chair, sparks bursting from his fingertips. “What is the situation, traitor?” Roman spoke before Darius made any rash acts. They needed to know if the threat to Rosalind was still alive.
The man looked at his two captors, hesitation in his manner. “There are people—mostly elders, my King—who believe in a legend. A legend about a woman.” His eyes were bright with regret as he spoke.
"The elders are always mumbling about one legend or another."
"This is different from the rest. There are only bits and pieces remembered..."
"That should mean something,” Roman remarked sarcastically. “If a legend was anywhere near being real no one would forget it."
"The legend wasn't forgotten. It was hidden from sight and memory."
"How? How can you hide something from memory?” the king demanded.
"It is just something I am able to do, my King."
"You hid this supposed legend."
"I had no choice. When you brought the child to our city she had certain characteristics the elders found familiar."
"Rosalind was only twelve years old. What could a child have in common with an old myth?"
The stranger picked his pack up from the floor. After opening it he removed a worn scroll.
"A scroll? On paper?” Not since the Long Sleep has paper been seen let alone used.
He handed the scroll to his leader. “Careful of your temper, my King. Paper this old is quite flammable."
Darius untied the scroll, careful not to rip the delicate material. His eyes scanned the writing. Fury swam through his mind the more he read. His fingers tightened in the scroll. “Roman."
Roman stepped up and took the written legend out of Darius’ hands. “In the land of death she thrives. Her mortal gifts a sign of what is to come. Anger lifts her to the sky. Death alive in her mind...
"In a mortal's mind, Vampire City could be the land of death. She was taught by vampires to control her levitation which, to my guess, is what lifts her to the sky. ‘Death alive in her mind',” Roman hesitated.
"The Touch of Death,” Darius finished for him. He looked at the moon as he motioned for Roman to continue.
"Ghosts of old and gone her only companions. Voices of the people her secrets to share. Her life will end by the hands of old. The one from the time of slumber to awaken her power ... ” No one spoke the obvious of how true this particular passage came to be. “The kiss of the sun will awaken her on the day of three. Power will flow through her, around her. Mortal power, the power of a king hers to control. To be in the presence of her choice is to be kissed by the sun."
"A vampire slumber is only through the first night and day,” Roman spoke as he reread the line.
"The elders assumed the three days are for her body to prepare itself for the power she is going to come into."
"The power to stand before the sun.” There was disbelief in Darius voice.
"And allow any vampires of her choice to stand beside her."
"The elders, instead of allowing Rosalind her mortal life, decided to speed up her death to force the change."
"They grew impatient with your lenience toward your Chosen Mate. It was believed you would change her if she was dying."
"Let me get this straight.” Darius stayed at the window, not wanting to get any closer to the vampire. “Once Rosalind awakens in three days it will be under the sun with the combined power of her mortal life, vampire elements, and my power."
"Rosalind Kincaid will be the most powerful vampire in the worlds once she is trained."
"How do you train that magnitude of power?"
"Very carefully, my King. Because without full control she may kill whomever tries to help her."
"If she lives long enough,” Roman spoke coldly.
"What?” Glass shattered from behind Darius.
Roman unrolled the scroll until there was nothing left. “Blood with flow but will not sustain her. For only the power of..."
"The power of what?"
"That is how it ends, my King."
Wind blew around the room as the traitor slammed into the wall. Pieces of paint and plaster fell to the floor below his feet.
Darius walked to his enemy, fangs fully extended in hostility. He squeezed his fist, instantly closing the man's windpipe. He watched coldly as the man closed his eyes in surrender, awaiting his fate. He opened his fist. “You and your elders killed my Chosen only to let her starve to death as a vampire!"
"Yes."
"Roman, take the betrayers outside."
Darius kept the vampire immobile as h
e dragged him out the front door. He watched without regret as Roman led the other two elders to stand beside their third.
"What is going on?” the second man asked.
When Roman backed away Darius eyed the ground beneath their feet. Vines, thick and long, wrapped strongly around their legs up to the knee. Movement was impossible against the King's power.
"No harm really came to her!” The woman was cold.
"No harm?” Darius stood in front of her. He could tolerate the morning sun for almost two hours before feeling its effects. No elder or young one could match him.
"Your mate is now one of us. With her power we will finally be able to see the sun, to walk beneath its heat without fear."
"Under her choice,” Darius reminded them. “You believed she would allow you with her after causing her death?"
"Of course.” The woman was full of her own ego.
"You ended my Chosen's mortal life for a legend that may or may not be true."
"She has exhibited all the signs in the legend. We have known for years what she was capable of becoming..."
"Then why not come to me?” Darius watched the brightening sky behind his prisoners.
When there was only silence the third finally spoke. “They chose not to, my King."
"Shut up!” the female hissed.
"Originally they were going to change her and erase her memory. Allowing only memories they chose to resurface."
"Allowing you to be her choice under the sun."
"Yes."
"Beware of what you wish for, elders. If it is the sun you want then I will give it to you.” Darius walked slowly backwards.
"No!” the female screeched. “She will live. She will bring our people so much."
"You took her choice. So I am taking yours.” He closed the doors to stand behind the protective shields alongside Roman.
They watched in silence as the sun reached the three. The two struggled against their bonds. Screams of pain and death filled the air. Their skin burned with fire but they could not get away. Darius watched with respect as the third held his head high and proud, never looking away from his King as his body fell to the ground in final death.
Darius closed the curtains. “No one touches Rosalind and lives."
Roman nodded his head. “I will send for Bethany to sit at the Queen's side until she awakens."
Kiss of the Sun Page 12