Under the Blood Moon

by Tracie Provost

  “Louis was also unclear on this. He was sure that Honore was very angry with Andre for keeping you away from the group in those initial days after your return. She seemed to think that it was very important to insinuate herself into your life at the earliest opportunity. I’m guessing that Honore got rid of Andre during the coup attempt in an effort to bring you closer to the Aether. If she hadn’t been burned in the fire, she probably would have shown up on your doorstep the next day to console you on the loss of your sire. Try to become your friend.”

  I snorted. “I don’t know how she thought that would ever work.”

  “At any rate, Honore went into torpor after the fire, and by the time she emerged, you had become Regent. She realized that the plan to manipulate you into opening the Gate wasn’t going to work, so she has been trying to locate another who can do it,” Gabe said.

  “Has she found someone?” I asked.

  “Louis didn’t think so.”

  “Doesn’t he know?”

  “Honore has been very secretive about this. He knows she had a few leads, but didn’t think any of them panned out.”

  “So now what?” I asked, more than a little afraid to hear the answer.

  “Now you become Aether Mistress. I am going to declare Honore and her co-conspirators Rogue and I want you to co-sign their death warrants. I plan to call out the Hunt on them,” Marc said.

  I nodded. The Hunt was the modern version of the Wild Hunt. In centuries past, the Grandmaster would saddle a horse and lead a troop of loyal men and women in search of the condemned. The criminals would be hunted until they were dead or had fled too far afield to safely chase. Any vampire encountering one of the condemned was bound to kill or detain him until the Hunt arrived. Any vampire caught knowingly or unknowingly helping or offering succor to the accused would share his or her fate. I was not sure how exactly the Hunt would be conducted in this day and age, but I could always ask Josh later.

  “I should probably go change before the others get here,” Gabe said as he walked toward the door.

  “The others?” I ventured to ask.

  “I have called a meeting of the Undead Synod,” Marc said. “Have Sophie inform me when everyone is here.”

  “Of course,” Gabe said before he stepped out of the room, leaving me alone with the Grandmaster. I shifted uneasily in my chair.

  “After tonight you will be the only Aether allowed to freely walk this city. All others are to be shot on sight. You are to make no progeny without my express permission, nor are you to invite foreign Aether here for the purpose of settlement without discussing it with me first,” Marc said.

  So I am to be the leader of nothing and no one. Why even bother? I could not say I was pleased. Intellectually, I understood why he was doing these things, but I was hurt nonetheless. I thought I had proved my loyalty by my earlier actions, but they did not seem to matter very much. Perhaps I should look at immigrating to another city myself. Perhaps there was a place for me at the Mother House in London. I needed to call Diana Langdon and see what she suggested.

  “Will you be seizing all coven property?” I asked. Since the majority of the coven was guilty of treason, it was within Marc’s right to confiscate any and all property owned by coven members.

  Marc paused mid-stride. “I . . . no. You bested Honore by right of arms, so what she owns is yours. I will not deprive you of that. As for the property of the other members, I believe it will devolve to you as well, but let me check on that. My lawyers have been trying to unknot the financial and property holding of those that died in the fire, trying to find surviving heirs. Honore’s coup may have greatly simplified their jobs.” Those convicted of treason could not inherit according to vampire law.

  “We can discuss this at a later time,” I offered. It was becoming clear that many of the decisions Marc was making were based on emotions and not clearly thought out. That worried me. Gabe seemed to have tempered the most ill-judged of them, but until Marc calmed down, I really did not want him making any decisions about me.

  Sophie’s staccato knock interrupted my thoughts. She poked her head in, saying, “The others are here and assembled in the meeting chambers.”

  “Thank you. We will be along directly,” Marc answered.

  I stood and smoothed my skirt. I took a moment to gather my badly shaken composure. This initial meeting was not at all what I had expected, and I was scared of what might transpire at the Synod. I didn’t think my life was in danger, but beyond that it was anyone’s guess. Determined not to show fear, I pasted a tight smile on my face. Showing no emotion was the key to my survival tonight, and I dare not let my mask slip.

  Without another word, Marc ushered me out of his office and down the hall to the meeting chamber. The room fell silent and everyone stood when we entered. The room was quite full of all the coven leaders, their lieutenants, and Elders. The Aether side of the table was conspicuously empty—a lone, heavily carved chair stood unoccupied. The only other seat empty was the Grandmaster’s.

  Marc halted not far into the room and I hesitated beside him, unsure if I should take the Aether seat or not. Putting a gentle hand on my shoulder, he stayed my movement.

  “As you have all heard by now, members of the Aether coven, led by Honore Rochan, attempted a coup last night. They were obviously unsuccessful. The only Aether who did not rise in rebellion was Juliette de Grammont, the former Aether Regent. In fact, she warned me of the plot and stood guard by the courtyard gate during the attack. Madame Grammont fought and defeated Honore Rochan in magical combat. By both right of arms and my proclamation, she is now the Aether Mistress,” Marc said. Turning to me, he asked, “Are you ready to take your oath?”

  I nodded and knelt before him. In my oath, I reaffirmed my fealty to the Grandmaster and the city. In addition, I promised to govern my coven and safeguard our existence. I should have realized that blood would be used to seal the bond, yet I was still surprised when Sophie stepped forth and handed Marc the ceremonial dagger. For a brief moment I wondered if he was going to use it on me before I realized how ridiculous that would be. Instead, he made a deep slash on his own left wrist and offered it to me. I placed my lips over the wound and drank deeply. Power and memories flowed into me through Marc’s blood. I saw him kneeling before his father, reciting an oath, and then the two exchanging blood. First the Parisian Grandmaster cut himself and offered his wrist to Marc and then Marc mirrored the action. I felt the pride and love Marc had experienced during the earlier ceremony. I sealed the wound shut with my tongue.

  I was profoundly glad of the insight the vision offered. When he offered the dagger to me, I took it without hesitation and cut my wrist before offering the bleeding appendage to Marc. He gently pressed his lips to my wrist and drank. An expression of pure pleasure danced across his face. After sealing the wound, Marc bowed to me.

  I briefly wondered if, had Honore been accorded this public ceremony instead of the private coven one where I had relinquished power, she would still have risen against Marc. Probably. Gabe indicated this was a long-standing plot, and her loyalty oath to Frederique had certainly not stopped Honore from killing her.

  Marc then slid the heavy Aether signet ring onto the index finger of my right hand. Kissing me on both cheeks, Marc said, “Congratulations, Mistress Grammont. I wish the transfer of power had taken place under better circumstances, but welcome back to the Undead Synod.”

  I nodded. “Thank you.”

  Marc walked me to the far side of the table where the traditional Aether chair stood unoccupied. “I believe this is now yours again, Madame,” Marc said before moving to the Gnome side of the table.

  I remained standing, as did everyone, until the Grandmaster indicated we could sit. “Sophie, if you would, please have the prisoners conducted in,” Marc said.

  I wondered if this was going to be a trial or just
a summary judgment. Generally, vampires accused of crimes were accorded a fair trial by the Undead Synod. We had experienced enough show trials and blanket guilty verdicts to treat our own that way. The Inquisition and the witchcraft trials of earlier centuries had not just condemned innocent women of working for the devil—they had hunted and killed a fair number of vampires as well. Some, such as those who engaged in wanton killing sprees, deserved the death that the courts had so readily decreed. Others had done little more than survive their own original death, yet were branded the spawn of Satan. No, we were determined not to treat our own in this manner. But somehow treason was different in the vampire world. It tended to be dealt with harshly, from the stories I’d heard. Most vampires who rebelled either succeeded or died in the attempt. I didn’t think I’d ever heard stories of prisoners before.

  Two heavy chairs were brought into the room and placed roughly where Marc and I had been for my investiture. The Undines and Salamands needed to angle their chairs for a better view as Louis and the other Aether prisoner were escorted into the room by four large Salamand guards. Each of the accused was shackled with heavy iron manacles which I had enchanted at the same time I had recharmed the cages in the attic. Louis was battered, bleeding, and not healing. His normally dusky skin had the sickly gray hue of a vampire who did not have much blood in his system. His partner in crime did not look much better. While the second man was less battered, he too had the pasty skin and sunken eyes of a blood-deprived vampire. I tried to remember as much as I could about the mechanics of vampire trials. Sadly, it wasn’t much. I’d only been a vampire for a little over a year when I was staked. The New Orleans vampire community was small and determined to protect itself so no one was willing to do anything that might draw human attention to us. Everything I knew about vampire-held trials was second-hand from either Frederique or Andre. I tried to remember what Frederique had said about representation. I knew it wasn’t like in the human world where you would go out and hire a lawyer. Was it something about a vampire’s sire defending him or her? That did not seem likely, at least in this case. Louis’s sire was long dead, and while I knew nothing of his co-defendant, I doubted Marc would stay the trial until the man’s maker could travel to New Orleans.

  What if, as coven leader, I was expected to serve as counsel in lieu of their sires? The horrifying thought stopped me cold. I could not possibly defend either of these two men.

  Marc rapped his knuckles on the table to draw everyone’s attention. Clearing his throat, the Grandmaster said, “Louis Pontbriand and Edward King, you are both accused of treason. How do you plead?”

  Louis’s eyes were hollow and his answer monotone. “Guilty.”

  His companion echoed the plea. I had worried for nothing.

  “Is there anyone who would like to speak on the behalf of either man before I pass sentence?” Marc asked, looking at me. I shook my head no.

  “So be it. It is my will that Louis Pontbriand and Edward King, having pleaded guilty to treason, be put to final death.”

  Both Louis and Edward sat impassively as their sentence was announced. I doubted either was surprised. What did surprise me was when both Marc and Gabe stood and walked around the table to where I sat. Marc held out his hand to me. “Mistress,” he said as I took his hand and rose. As I had never been to a trial before, I didn’t know what to expect. The three of us walked to where the condemned men sat. Gabe commanded both men to stand and then kneel. The execution is to take place now? Here in the meeting room? At least the floor is marble.

  Marc took a huge two-handed broad sword down off the wall. He hefted the massive weapon deftly in one hand. I expected Marc to hand the blade to Gabe to carry out the sentence. Instead, he turned and held out the weapon to me.

  I knew it was a test and I dared not fail it. I took the sword without hesitation and stepped toward the kneeling men. The weapon was heavy, and even with my vampire strength it required two hands to control the blade properly. This was not a prop or replica, for the nicks and cuts on the blade attested to the numerous battles it had been in. I just hoped it was still sharp. I had seen executions with dull blades and they were horrible and bloody. It was very difficult to cut a head off with one blow. I hoped I would be able to.

  I raised the blade high and brought it down with great force on Louis Pontbriand’s neck. My aim was true and I severed his head with the first blow. Louis’s body began to disintegrate. I did not stop to contemplate what I had just done but took a step, raised the sword a second time, and cleaved Edward King’s head from his shoulders. I turned and bowed to the Grandmaster, holding the sword, pommel first, out to him. He took the weapon from me. His hooded eyes betrayed no emotion. I could only hope my face was the same inscrutable mask. Gabe’s expression was openly admiring and it sickened me a little. I did what had to be done but I did not enjoy it. I could not bear to look at Josh’s face for fear of the loathing and disgust that I would see there. I stared straight ahead at a fixed point above the fireplace.

  I was vaguely aware of Marc wiping the residual blood from the blade and replacing the weapon on the wall. I could not believe that I had just killed two men. It was like I was in one of those B-horror movies that Chris and Josh were so fond of making me watch.

  Marc took me by the arm and led me around the table, not to my chair but his. We stood side by side as he drew a sheaf of papers across to us. “I do hereby call out the Hunt on all vampires who rose in revolt against me last night. This includes, but is not limited to: Honore Rochan, Nadine Archambault, and Chloe Howell, as well as all foreign Aether within the city limits. As of midnight tonight, the new Aether Mistress, Juliette de Grammont, is the only Aether allowed in the city. All others are to be detained or killed on sight. Any caught aiding those named in the Hunt shall share their fate,” Marc said. He withdrew a pen from the inside breast pocket of his suit coat and unscrewed the cap. Signing his name at the bottom of the document with a flourish, he then handed me the pen. Before he passed the papers to me, he quickly pricked his index finger with one of his fangs and allowed a fat drop of blood to drop on the page. Marc then pressed his signet ring into the liquid to make his mark. When the documents were in front of me, I quickly signed my name under his and added my own blood and signet seal to the page.

  Marc rapped his knuckles twice on the table and announced, “Meeting adjourned. Let the Hunt begin!”

  I stood there stupidly for a minute, not at all sure what to do. What I wanted to do was go home, curl up on the sofa with a bottle of wine, and forget everything that had just transpired. Somehow I didn’t think I’d be allowed to do that. I was sure that, as coven leader, there was something I should be doing, but for the life of me I didn’t know what.

  I felt Josh put his arm around my waist and draw me back toward the corner of the room. I docilely allowed this. “Are you okay, Juliette? You don’t look so good, darlin’,” Josh said in a low, concerned voice.

  “I am fine.” My tone was flat and despondent. The reality of what had happened was finally hitting me, and I was anything but fine. I really needed to get out of here now.

  Sensing my impending meltdown, Josh suggested, “Howzabout we get outta here? Go back to my place for a while?”

  “The Hunt. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” I confessed.

  “I’ll talk to Marc. You just stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  I nodded numbly. I cannot break down. I will not break down. Oh, God, what have I done? I don’t know how long I stood there reciting that mantra and contemplating the blood drops that stained my borrowed shoes. I’ll need to replace these for Sophie. She can’t wear them anymore since I’ve spilled blood on them. When Josh rejoined me, he took me gently by the elbow and led me from the room. We were halfway down the hall before I gained enough composure to ask, “Marc didn’t need me?”

  “Naw, your part is done. Let’s get outta here. You nee
d to decompress.”

  I had no idea what decompression entailed, but if I could break down and cry somewhere other than in front of the Undead Synod, that would be great.

  Chapter 21

  I had NO MEMORY of walking to the car or even the drive to Josh’s house. My next clear memory was of Josh carrying me into his living room and setting me on the sofa.

  “You are always taking care of me,” I said softly.

  “I’d take care of you always, if you’d let me, Juliette,” Josh said, stroking the side of my face.

  The tears that had threatened since my earlier meeting with Marc suddenly burst forth, and I was unable to stop them. Joining me on the sofa, Josh drew me into his arms and rocked me until the tears subsided.

  When I came back to myself, I furiously brushed the blood-tinged tears from my face, embarrassed at having so utterly lost control. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m not usually a watering pot.”

  “There ain’t no reason to be sorry, Juliette. I’m kinda surprised you kept it together as long as you did. I cornered Sophie after you went into Marc’s office to find out why she was acting so cold. She told me that Marc was gonna proscribe the coven and send you to Paris. But something you said or did musta changed his mind because then the two of you walked into the Undead Synod and made a blood oath,” Josh said as he smoothed back my hair.

  “It wasn’t me. It was Gabe. He had . . . tortured Louis for answers. Whatever he said persuaded Marc not to banish me.”

  “I can’t believe Marc even considered sending you into exile.” Josh shifted so my head rested comfortably in the hollow of his shoulder.

  “I thought I’d already proved myself and my loyalties, but I guess not,” I said.

  “Was that the first time you’d killed?” Josh asked softly.

  I hated admitting to it, but I would not lie to Josh. “No, it was not. Right after Andre pulled the stake from my chest, he offered me a young man. I drained him. I couldn’t help myself.” I braced for the condemnation I knew was coming.