Dark Becoming (An Ema Marx Novel Book 3)

by J. D. Brown

  His features were still in bad shape—hair missing, lips and nose disfigured—but he was no longer covered in welts or puss or half-melted flesh. Shiny new skin rose to the surface, connecting tendon and cartilage, filling in his cheeks, restoring his handsome physique piece by piece. He even had eyelids. They were closed, but I caught the flicker of movement beneath, and knew that he could hear me.

  I cleared my throat and gathered my courage. Jalmari was once a hero. A legend. Not just to me personally, but to millions of vampires. Prince Jalmari ended the war that created us. He united the clans, taught them democracy, and brought peace into our very wary lives. How could that same man rape and murder in cold blood? My fists clenched and I lifted my chin.

  “Tell Jalmari he is a disgrace.”

  “Bridget!” Maria scolded.

  “No,” I snapped, keeping my eyes on the blind prince. He was blind for many reasons, but my eyes were finally open. “Any man who rapes a woman and then has zee nerve to order a hit on her and zee resulting child is a criminal. You don’t deserve zee throne you sit on.”

  Maria gasped. Jalmari’s jaw opened, but no sound came out. Maybe his vocal cords were damaged. Well, good riddance. I turned around and walked out the door.

  Chapter 12

  I sat in a chair in front of Nikolas’ desk, numb from all the worry and other emotions I hadn’t yet processed. Brinnon had come into the infirmary and announced that Valafar had vanished. Nikolas decided he couldn’t wait any longer for an explanation, and slapped some electric cuffs on Jalmari before ordering both Brinnon and me to his office. So, office-bound we went, leaving Maria behind to deal with Jalmari on her own.

  Nikolas studied me from under thick, furrowed brows. He steepled his fingers and lightly tapped the tips against the tight frown of his mouth. I glanced across the room at Tancred. The military man stood with a ridged posture, arms crossed, gaze narrowed to slits. I lowered my gaze to my lap and fidgeted with the hem of my T-shirt.

  “Start at the beginning,” Nikolas finally said.

  I glanced at Brinnon. He stood by the door with his hands behind his back, his head bowed. He returned my gaze from under his down-swept lashes and bit his lip. I decided to keep Brinnon out of it.

  “Well, Your Highness, everything was going to plan. Your driver dropped me off, I went into the woods, laid out the Adders Tongue, and then went north to meet Jesu for our pretend fight. Only, when I found Jesu, he was already in a real fight with his brother. Jalmari noticed me and charged. I did the only thing I could think of to defend myself.”

  Tancred upped his brow. “You lit his face on fire?”

  “No.” I winced. “Well, not exactly. I lit a lighter and Jesu… well… he kind of turned the lighter into a bomb, I guess.”

  Nikolas nodded. No other explanation was needed there. Everyone knew Jesu could manipulate the elements. The tiny flame I’d ignited, and the oil inside the chamber, proved more than enough for Jesu to do damage. I hadn’t seen Jesu since we got back to the castle. Wherever he was, I hoped he wasn’t chastising himself too harshly. Who am I kidding? Jesu’s probably gone all Passion of the Christ by now.

  “What are you going to do?” I asked.

  Nikolas sighed. “You said your actions were in self-defense, and I already warned Jalmari once before. I take it you agree that he is a threat to your well-being?”

  Was that a trick question? “Yes. Jalmari’s been threatening my well-being for months.”

  “Then, by order of our agreement, I will move him to the holding center and keep him prisoner there.”

  “For how long?”

  “Long enough. If it was up to me, I’d ship him to the compound off Greenland and let him rot in a cage permanently. Unfortunately, Jalmari is royal, so the situation must be handled with finesse to avoid unnecessary war.”

  I nodded in understanding. I didn’t think Jalmari would be much of a threat anymore, since his retinas burned off, but I felt better knowing he would be under lock and key—not just for my safety, but for his safety, too. Jalmari had been off his rocker since Leena passed away. I don’t think he let himself grieve. Now he would have no choice. It would hit him hard, but it would be for the best. Jalmari needed healing in a lot of ways.

  “What about the incubus?” Nikolas continued. “Valafar brought Jalmari here on your request. Does that mean he is in agreement?”

  I smoothed my palms over my jeans and inhaled. “Let’s just say I’m taking it as a good sign. Positive thoughts yield positive results, and all that.”

  Tancred glared. “So you didn’t get an answer from him?”

  I rolled my eyes. Valafar gave me an answer, it just wasn’t the answer I wanted. “The incubus and I are still in negotiation. Jalmari did throw a wrench in my plan, you know?”

  Nikolas scowled. “You’re not going to pull another stunt like that, are you?”

  I pursed my lips in thought. “No, I’m sure I can find a more conventional way to meet with Valafar. I’ll invite him to a matinee. That’s what all the cool kids do, right?”

  Nikolas closed his eyes and massaged his temples. “Just keep me posted.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  “In the meantime, I’ve hired all our best spies and military personnel to locate Apollyon. If anyone finds anything remotely suspicious, I will alert you.”

  I blinked several times before coming to my senses. “Dude, you have spies?”

  Nikolas dismissed the meeting. I left his office and went straight to my room, craving an escape. I opened the bedroom door to find Jesu sitting at the end of the bed. He was hunched forward, elbows pressed against his lap, facing the far wall. I sighed and then closed the door.

  “Thank goodness you’re here. How are you?”

  Jesu glanced at me. Exhaustion rimmed his eyes and weighed the edges of his lips. My heart ached for him. I sat and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, burrowing my face against his neck. His scent soothed my nerves, but Jesu was the one who needed comforting, so I rubbed my palms along his back, hoping to offer a bit of reassurance.

  “Jalmari’s going to be okay,” I said. “Maria’s patching him up. Last I saw, he was putting up a good fight over it.”

  Jesu scoffed, then slid his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. “What would I do without you?”

  Probably not incinerate your brother’s face.

  Instead, I said, “Get more painting done?”

  It was a weak line, but my brain was spent. Jesu laughed anyway, right on cue. I always loved about boyfriends; the laughing at your dumb jokes. Sitting in Jesu’s arms, making him smile despite recent failures, I felt content. I could almost convince myself that things were back to normal—except my version of normal had changed. It no longer meant being human, working a dead-end job, living in the slums of Chicago, fighting with Mom, or suspecting my ex of cheating. I had a new version of normal—of being a vampyre and living for thousands of years, of loving a prince and building a future with him, of having a family of my own. It was crazy how much my life changed in just a few short months. I had goals. I had hope, even this bleak moment. I was surrounded by people I loved and cared about, and they cared about me back. I would fight to the death for them.

  Jesu let go and then leaned back against the bed. He hooked one arm around my middle, coaxing me to lie with him. I lowered onto my side and rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I closed my eyes and sighed.

  Jesu slid a hand under my shirt. I tensed as he traced the lines of the scar above my navel. I wasn’t sure if he meant to on purpose, but I was curious, and now that he knew about it, maybe I could ask.

  “Why doesn’t that scar go away?”

  His hand stilled and he drew a breath. “It was made by an alchemic spell. The laws of physics and biology are different where alchemy is concerned.” Jesu removed his hand and then crossed his arms under his head. “I have seen that symbol before, during my father’s first lifetime. He used
it on his vampyre captives when he experimented on them. Father became obsessed with the idea that he could take a vampyre’s powers and transfer them to himself. When he failed, he convinced himself it was because the vampyre wasn’t strong enough to withstand the transmutation spell. Father told his warriors that they were battling for land, to expand the clan for the good of the Draugrian kingdom, but really he just wanted a dungeon full of captive warriors to use as lab rats. He picked clans to invade based on their powers. At the time, we knew nothing of science or genetics, and enslaving your enemies was common practice. No one dared to question Apollyon’s work.”

  “Transmutation,” I said, remembering what Naamah told us about alchemy and the philosopher’s stone.

  Jesu nodded. “I have never seen the spell in action, but I remember hearing the screams echo through the land. Grown vampyres begged for their life. Father used to make Jalmari watch. He said it was for his own good. I remember the look in my brother’s eyes after, like he’d witnessed a fate worse than death.”

  I lifted a hand to my stomach. The spell Apollyon had cast while I lay naked and drugged in the center of a Satanic-looking pentagram had felt like barbed wire ripping my insides out. I came horrifyingly close to death that night. My powers were a part of my essence, and my essence was as much a part of me as my digestive tract or nervous system. It couldn’t be removed without killing the victim.

  “Were there any survivors?”

  Jesu glanced at the ceiling and bit his lip. “Only two. Maria and Naamah.”

  I was sorry I asked. I decided to change the subject to something more current, and hopefully less depressing. “What happened today in the woods? You knew Brinnon and Jalmari would be there.” Thinking back, I realized Jesu wasn’t at all surprised to see Brinnon. I thought the shock and guilt of hurting his brother had just preoccupied Jesu, but Brinnon had hinted in the woods that Jesu knew more than he let on.

  Jesu sighed. “I asked Brinnon to stage the fake attack in my place.”

  I propped myself on one elbow so I could face him. “Why would you do that? We had a specific plan—”

  “Ema, please. Your plan never would have worked. Valafar knew you would be in Alexandria. I do not know how, but he knew to rescue you from Apollyon, and he knew exactly where to find you while the rest of us were clueless to help. He is obviously keeping close tabs. I figured he would know about the Adders Tongue, and if that were true, then he would know about us as well. He would not have bought a fake attack from me.”

  I pouted because Jesu was right. Valafar knew our plan, but he didn’t know Jesu had changed it. “So Valafar’s spying on me. How come Nikolas’ guards haven’t noticed? How come we didn’t notice?”

  “Incubi can phase, but they do not leave a scent behind the way vampyres do. There is nothing to trace.”

  “So he is literally invisible? He could be watching us right now, and we wouldn’t know?”

  Jesu nodded.

  “Well that’s just wrong. I mean, I’ve been naked in this room.”

  “Please do not remind me.”

  My cheeks burned. The number of men who’ve seen my goodies without my consent just kept on growing. I considered wearing a one-piece bathing suit under my clothes at all times, even in the shower.

  “Okay,” I said. “What about Jalmari? Did you know he would be there?”

  Jesu shook his head. “I was expecting Bridget.”

  “Bridget? Why?”

  “She was in the tower the night we discussed the plan. She was drunk out of her skull, though, so I did not suspect anything, but Maria told me she noticed Bridget eavesdropping a second time.”

  “Not to mention, she did shack up suspiciously close to our rooms, but I figured she was just jealous and trying to get close to you. What does this have to do with Jalmari?”

  Jesu drew a deep breath and then sighed. “Bridget told Jalmari about our plan.”

  “What?” I flew off the bed. “Why, that two-timing bimbo! I’ll beat the snot out of her for this.”

  “I took care of it.”

  “You did?”

  He nodded once. “She will be gone by sunrise.”

  I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. The sun would rise in less than an hour. I should have been mad at Bridget and jumping for joy that she was finally leaving, but for some reason, I wasn’t. I just felt bad for her. A part of me understood her pain. What would I do when it was my turn, when I was the one watching Jesu fall in love with someone else? I couldn’t even bring myself to leave my cheating ex when I was human, and Jesu already meant so much more than Anthony ever did.

  Jesu stood and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Shower with me?”

  I forced a weak smile. “Maybe later. I want to check on Brinnon and make sure his leg is okay.”

  “I will meet you downstairs for supper then.”

  I nodded and watched as he ducked into the bathroom. Once I heard the faucet running, I exited the guest room and stood in the hall for a moment, debating. Bridget’s room stood three doors down and, for some odd reason, had a big gaping hole where the handle should have been. I could see movement through the hole, and hesitated. Some part of me wanted to exchange words with her before she left. I just didn’t know which words exactly. I’m sorry? You were right? I hate you? Thanks for almost getting me killed again? All of the above?

  Or none of the above.

  Eternity was a long time. The Earth was a small place and the future held too many possibilities. I had the feeling I would see Bridget again, at some point. Better not say anything I might regret later.

  With a heavy sigh, I turned toward the tower stairs and decided it might be nice, for once, to actually do what I told Jesu I was going to do. I went in search of someone who could direct me to Brinnon’s room. No way was I going to crawl through the vent again.

  I headed toward the kitchen, hoping I’d find someone in there. Before I could grab the door handle, it swung open and Sara bustled out, nearly crashing into me. We both halted just in time. Sara pinched her lips in concern while checking the carafe and wine glass balanced carefully atop a silver serving tray in her hands. Seeing that not a single drop of blood had spilled, she released a sigh and then offered me a bright smile.

  “Miss Ema, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Sorry, I’ll make more noise next time.”

  She giggled. Her voice tinkled like a tiny bell.

  “Who’s all that for?” I gestured to the meal in her hands. My nose twitched at the metallic scent.

  “Oh, this is for Prince Jalmari.”

  I stepped aside to give her room. “How is he?”

  “Much better. Hardly in any pain, no sign of infection. He might even get his sight back.”

  I nodded, a little put off by her enthusiasm. I didn’t wish for Jalmari to stay blind, but I didn’t exactly wish for him to make a full recovery, either. This is good, I reminded myself. For Jesu’s sake.

  “I need to talk to your brother for a second. Do you know where he is?”

  “In his room, I bet. Same wing as mine, second hall over.” Sara nodded.

  “Great, thanks.”

  We parted ways, Sara to the infirmary, and me to the foyer stairs, then through a door that led to the prince and princess’ wing. I found the hallway where Sara’s room was located and kept going, until a second hall opened on the right. This specific corridor housed six bedroom doors. I relied on my immaculate hearing and sense of smell to narrow the options. The bittersweet scent of cocoa drew my attention to one room in particular.

  That’s strange… I never associated Brinnon with the scent of chocolate before.

  I crept toward the door, keeping my senses on alert. Some light rustling sounded inside, but I couldn’t be certain if the commotion warranted concern. I gripped the knob. It turned easily in my hand. Opening the door, I lowered my gaze just in case the prince was indecent, and then poked my head inside.

  “Hello?”

  No a
nswer. I lifted my gaze and glanced around the room. Urban chic slate-gray stone walls lined the vicinity. A massive four-post canopy bed with a black lacquer finish stood against the far wall. Silk sheets wrapped the mattress in soft grays and metallic blues. Dark blue carpeting hushed my meager footsteps as I ventured all the way inside. The whole space was clean and tidy, with only a few well-chosen pieces; nightstand, bookshelf, writing desk.

  A small floor fan sat in one corner, blowing a gentle breeze that rustled a stack of papers on the desk. I sighed. That explains the noise I heard. I guess Brinnon isn’t here.

  I turned to leave when two hands grabbed my shoulders from behind. I let out a high-pitched squeal, then swung my fist and punched the purple-eyed man in the gut.

  Valafar clutched his midriff and laughed. “Relax, love, it’s just me.”

  I took a step back. “What are you doing in here? I thought you left.”

  He straightened, his mouth still curved with laughter, and went to Brinnon’s closet. “Just wanted my sweater back is all.” He opened the top drawer and dug through its contents. “You wouldn’t happen to know where the bloke put it, would you?”

  “Probably in the trash,” I said.

  Valafar wrinkled his nose. “I hope not. Was my favorite.”

  This was my chance to lay down some ground rules. “Look, you can’t just spy on me, okay? I have a right to privacy.”

  Valafar closed the drawer and then opened the one below it. “You going to stop me?”

  “I get that you have orders to follow, so let’s help each other out. We do the face-to-face talking thing more often, and stop the spying. In return, I’ll be up front and honest. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Hence, no need for spying. Agreed?”

  His gaze lit with a chuckle, but his amusement wasn’t aimed at me. Something in Brinnon’s drawer made the incubus laugh. Valafar reached inside and pulled out his prize. “I think the little prince has a little secret.”