“I suppose you’re right. I like the way you say my name. Say it again.”
“Violette. Lilith.”
The dancer breathed out softly. “And I’m grateful to you.”
“Why?”
“For showing me that I’m capable of love, when I believed I wasn’t. And for proving the absolute hopelessness of it.”
“Hopeless… because you would do to me what Sebastian’s done?”
“And because you don’t share my feelings. Either way, I can’t win.”
Robyn was at a loss; she had no idea what to do if the dancer wept. “We can be friends,” she said lamely.
“But friendship is not what I want.”
“I’m confused,” said Robyn. “You assume I prefer men, but I felt nothing for men until I met Sebastian. And I felt very little for women until I met you.”
She sat forward and embraced Violette. Couldn’t help herself. The dancer was so slender she was hardly there at all, and yet she was warm and divinely firm to touch; so lovely that no one, male or female, could resist her.
“Lilith,” she said in a kind of ecstasy, into the black hair. “How could anyone not love you? We were lovers when you took my blood. We are lovers.”
For a few minutes, Violette held her so hard that Robyn thought her spine would break. But it was the dancer who ended the embrace. She kissed Robyn full on the lips. Electric warmth. A taste of blood and clear fluids like the sweetest nectar… then she drew away.
“You were never cold-hearted, Robyn, only wounded. You’re gentle and kind, but… don’t lead me into fond delusions. Don’t pity me.” Her face was composed, with formidable willpower shining behind her eyes.
“Pity you?” Robyn gasped. “That would be like pitying a goddess.”
“But you pity the Devil a little, don’t you?” Violette smiled, disentangling Robyn’s hair with her fingers. “And talking of your lover, what would he say if he came back and found me sitting here – or lying beside you?”
The thought froze her. Her feelings towards Sebastian had changed, but they hadn’t died. “He’d want to kill you.”
“He would have to join the queue,” Violette said tartly. “It’s more likely that I’d win.”
Robyn was horrified. “Oh, you must leave! He could be back at any moment.”
“Are you still defending him?”
“Of course!” she said fiercely. “Don’t you see? I love you both. I couldn’t bear you to fight over me. Go, please.”
“I’d like to break his neck,” Violette said in a chilling tone. Lilith’s ruthless soul burned in her eyes.
“He could have killed me months ago, but he spared me out of love. I’ve changed him, too – more than you’ve changed me.”
The hard light dimmed. “Well, there’s something of me in you,” Violette murmured. “In all my daughters, I suppose… All right, I won’t harm him – but only for your sake.”
Robyn wilted in relief. “And my blood is in you. It’s a bond, isn’t it? So you’ll remember that I love you, even when I’m not there. But you really must leave.”
“Come with me.”
“I can’t.” She added under her breath, “Not yet.”
“Robyn, I haven’t come all this way to leave you at his mercy again!”
She sat up straight, angered. “What is this? You complain that I’m too much in Sebastian’s power – then you start telling me what to do? I’m not one of your students.”
“I want you out of danger, that’s all.”
“I’m not in danger! Try to understand. I need to see Sebastian just once more. To say goodbye. I cannot walk out on him without explaining.”
They argued, but Violette was obdurate. Eventually Robyn said lightly, “This is our first quarrel. First of many?”
“I’m sorry,” the dancer sighed, relenting. “I’ve no right to bully you. I trust your judgement. I would wait for you but I can’t, I have business at home.”
“I must face him alone,” said Robyn. “I’m not afraid of him. I don’t want to remember him as a vampire, but as a man, my lover.”
“Enough,” said Violette. “I understand.”
She kissed Robyn again. Overcome, Robyn grasped Violette’s hand. “You live in Salzburg, don’t you? I’ll come to you as soon as I leave here.”
“Don’t. I might not be there. I made a promise that I can’t break.”
Lilith dissolved into the shadows as she spoke. Her hand crumbled to dust and stars in Robyn’s palm.
* * *
When Sebastian returned, Robyn was in the library with her stockinged feet on the hearth, a cup of cocoa resting in her lap. He rushed to her side with a genuine delight that almost broke her heart. She’d made her decision, but was still nervous of his reaction.
She feared he might suspect something wrong immediately, but he seemed oblivious. Perhaps he’d stopped looking at her too closely, in case he saw imminent death in her eyes.
“You’re up and dressed,” he said, covering her face and hands with kisses. “Are you feeling better, beloved child?”
“Yes, much better.”
“And have you eaten?”
“An obscene amount,” she said. “Fruit, porridge, eggs and bacon.”
“But this is wonderful.” He sat beside her on the chaise-longue. “And there’s colour in your cheeks again. If I had a God to thank I’d be on my knees! I was so afraid…”
“You thought I was dying? I was. But this morning, I woke up and decided to live.”
His hazel eyes were rapt with love, but she felt tranquil and distant. Then she saw his eyes cool suddenly, as if he suspected a change. She said, “You love me, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what more I can do to prove it.”
“You could prove it… by letting me go.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She shook her head. Her throat ached. “You’re killing me, dearest. I’m not such a fool as to die for you. I love my life too much to make that sacrifice. I want to live, for myself and for you, so that you don’t end up hating yourself for taking my life.”
He said nothing for several seconds. When he spoke, his voice was cold. “So, you want to leave me?”
“I must.”
Another silence. He looked at her strangely, then lifted her chin and rested his gaze on her throat. “You’ve changed,” he said. “Why?”
“I’ve come to my senses, that’s all.”
“No… Someone has influenced you.” His tone began to alarm her. “Someone came while I wasn’t here. Was it Rasmila?”
“No, no one.”
“Don’t lie to me! These marks on your neck, tiny silver-pink flowers that even a doctor would overlook, were not made by me. Who was it?”
She jerked out of his grip. “All right! It was Violette. Don’t be angry with her; she probably saved my life. And she didn’t ‘influence’ me, just made me see sense.”
“Made you cease to love me?” His tone was murderous. His eyes lanced through her.
“Sebastian!” She clasped his arm. “Don’t blame her! I was dying until she came. And that’s where it will end if we don’t stop!”
His rage diminished to brooding menace. He stood up and paced about. “Let us leave Violette aside. Are you saying that you refuse to see me anymore?”
“No, no.” Her confidence returned. “I’ll sail back to Boston. If there’s still trouble about Harold, I’ll sort it out. I should never have left. I’ll live in my house as before, and you can visit me, maybe two or three times a year…”
“It’s not enough,” he said grimly.
“Why? It’s all my body can take! Why is everything so extreme with you, why is it all or nothing? If you truly cared –”
“You’ve made up your mind, obviously.”
“We can still be lovers. Not so often, that’s all.”
He didn’t answer, and she could find nothing else to say. She was no longer sure what she felt for him. One
thing was certain; her obsessive craving was dead, strangled by Lilith. All that had made her vulnerable and dependent – dead.
Yet she didn’t want to hurt him – assuming such a monster could be hurt. She thought, If he tells me he faked his love for me… I wouldn’t blame him, but I couldn’t bear it. Does he care or not? Is he still playing games?
Robyn was calm, but far from happy. I was ready to die for him; now I’m not. That’s all. But to lose that incredible passion… Has Lilith done a miraculous thing to me – or a terrible one?
When Sebastian finally spoke again, he sounded different. He was very controlled, almost impersonal. His formality turned her cold. “When do you want to leave?”
“I should go as soon as possible. Tomorrow, I suppose.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
She thought of her intention to visit Salzburg before returning to America, but knew it was only a dream. I might not be there, Violette had said. Robyn had a powerful, heart-rending feeling that she would never see Violette again.
I’m on my own now. That’s the whole point.
Managing to control her voice, she said, “It’s up to you. I told you, you’re welcome in Boston, but if you don’t want to come with me now, I understand.”
“Well.” He sat beside her and took her hand. He changed again, becoming gently forgiving, but she didn’t trust the soft look in his eyes. “There’s no real hurry for you to go now, is there? Tomorrow, or the day after. Stay a little longer with me, beautiful child, for old times’ sake.”
* * *
When Violette returned, Karl told her about the would-be poisoner. He expected her to react with rage, but she became unnervingly quiet. She sat down at a table and lit a thick white candle. Behind her, curtains of watered silk in lavender and silver hung closed against darkness. In the glow, her face was a delicate white shell, her eyes lakes of violet glass overflowing with light.
Fyodor and Rasmila stood nearby in the shadows, listening. They had come for Violette, again. Karl sensed their hunger. In the dark tension of that moment, he felt they were all gathered on the edge of an abyss.
“This is the end,” said Violette, staring at the candle flame. “How could Cesare do this, when I already know I’m fated to surrender? One small concession was all I asked: let me finish Witch and Maiden, then I’ll accept my fate. But Cesare can’t wait, he must have me there now.”
“There’s no time for you to finish the ballet,” Rasmila said softly. “But we regret the poisoning attempt. We had no hand in it.”
Karl sat opposite Violette. He said, “I doubt that Cesare knows about your agreement with Rasmila.”
Her dark eyebrows jerked up. “No?”
“And I doubt Simon knows, either. I think it was Rasmila’s and Fyodor’s own decision to approach you. They mean to present you to Simon as a fait accompli, Lilith in chains. They think he’ll fall on their necks in gratitude. Meanwhile, Simon and Cesare being unaware of this plan, Cesare tries again to force the closure of your company.” Karl looked at the pair. “Is it so?”
Their expressions were rigid. They said nothing.
Violette stood up and faced them. “Come here,” she said softly, and they obeyed as if under a spell. “Tell me the truth.”
She was an ice-flame, a sorceress. Angels or not, they were in thrall to Lilith, Karl saw. He almost pitied them, struggling to master an elemental of which they were mortally afraid.
“The truth?” said Rasmila.
“Every word. What is going on?”
Rasmila looked at her companion, then turned her kohl-ringed eyes to Violette.
“Yes, we’re working for Simon, out of love, to prove ourselves worthy. He left us to do as we wished. Of course we know what he expects of us – to bring you to him as a captive. But he doesn’t know about our bargain with you. Nor where Sebastian and the woman are.”
“You will never tell Simon about Robyn,” Violette hissed. “And Sebastian – is he on your side too?”
“He follows no one,” said Rasmila. “Simon believes he’s as dangerous as you, Lilith.”
“Does he?” Her gaze burned into Rasmila. “And is he?”
A shadow darkened Karl’s thoughts. Sebastian might prove as icily ruthless and strong as Kristian. He’d never sought power, but what if he changed his mind?
“Simon believes so,” Rasmila said, as if this made it true.
“Cesare doesn’t,” said Fyodor, “but Simon despises Cesare, tells him nothing.”
“Does Simon mean that Sebastian could destroy me?” Violette asked, frowning.
“Perhaps,” said Rasmila. “At least overpower, weaken and imprison you.”
“Ah… So you lured me to Robyn in hope that Sebastian and I would fight over her? But if that didn’t work, you’d deliver me to Simon instead. Either way, I was caught.”
“Of course; what did you think?” Fyodor exclaimed. “We have our quarrels, but on one point we’re all agreed – even Karl, if he’d stop being too chivalrous to admit it. Lilith is the Enemy of all. We have to do this!”
“For your good,” Rasmila broke in with feeling, “because you cannot live as you are, an outcast, can you? We must bring you back to God!”
The dancer’s face was blank, crystalline. “Isn’t it time you shed the idea that you’re Semangelof, God’s messenger? It’s a delusion.”
Fyodor replied with a white-lipped smile, “Not while you remain the incarnation of Lilith. How is that a delusion, when you feel her in every cell of your being? See, you cannot answer. What we are, for now, is real.”
“Can you compel me to go to Simon?”
“No, but you gave your word,” said Rasmila. “You pledged to come in exchange for us telling you where Robyn was.”
“How can I keep my word, after Cesare’s despicable attack on my company?” Violette said frostily. “You claim you didn’t know, but the fact is you have no influence on Cesare or Simon at all. You’re scrambling to get back in favour and they’re using you!”
Rasmila and Fyodor stared malignly at her. Karl was coiled to intervene if they attacked her, but no one moved. He, too, was incredulous that they expected Violette to keep the bargain after they’d made such admissions.
To his astonishment, Violette said in a low voice, “However, I did promise.”
“Yes,” said Rasmila, her eyes glittering.
Violette went still, blank-faced and desolate. Looking into the abyss.
“What will Simon do to me?” Fear tinged her voice. “No, don’t tell me. I ask one favour; give me until tomorrow afternoon. Then I’ll come to the castle with you.”
Their faces, umber and pearl, brightened with amazement, triumph. They had the sinister kindness of warders about to lead her to an execution chamber.
“Tomorrow, then. And you must be ready.”
The angels bowed solemnly to her and vanished.
Violette sat down again, her shoulders drooping, ebony hair hiding her face. Karl studied her, full of grave misgivings.
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
She stiffened. “Do you care? You always play devil’s advocate, Karl. For all I know, you’re on their side!”
“Violette, I am not.” As always, her hostility saddened him.
“I’ve decided. I’m going to send away all my dancers and staff and shut the premises. They’ll only be safe with me out of the way. Don’t you agree?”
“It’s wise, but what will you achieve by surrendering?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t accept that Ballet Janacek is finished. Someone must carry on after me. Ute, perhaps, or Mikhail… I’ve been a fool, of course.” Violette stared through him, her eyes burningly desolate. “I should have seduced and flattered my way through this un-life, and had everyone at my feet instead of at my throat… but Lilith is not a hypocrite. She can’t lie.”
“So you’re putting her out of her misery?” said Karl. Her aloof chilliness made it difficult to feel compas
sion for her – but for a second, something caught hard at his throat, and loosed its hold reluctantly. “Can’t I persuade you not to go?”
“Too late,” she said.
“It’s the new ballet, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Witch and Maiden, Violette. You could end it in any way you wished. Instead you chose to end it with your character’s entrapment and death.”
“What else is there for me?” she hissed. “This agony, this hatred all around me and the thirst – I cannot endure it any longer!”
Karl, pinioned by her will and her terrible beauty, was at a loss. Nothing he said or did would influence Violette. It wasn’t that he wanted to control her, only to help – because Charlotte loved her. But she was a bird of prey, alone, impervious to advice or compassion.
Then she gave a barbed-wire smile. “I promised to present myself to Simon. I said nothing about not ripping off Cesare’s head on my way.”
“Will that solve anything?”
She leapt to her feet and shrieked, “He killed my cat, my Magdi! If I go to hell, he’s coming with me!”
Her outburst took Karl aback. An explosion of simple outrage – and she sounded so human. Wholly, heartbreakingly human.
They stared at each other. Violette looked as shocked as Karl felt. “I suppose you’re amazed that I care about such things,” she said harshly. “So am I.”
“Well, it’s the first honest anger you’ve shown,” said Karl. He remembered her last visit to the Schloss, vampires and mortals quaking in terror beneath her sweeping wings.
“If you choose to fight,” he said, “they’ll stand no chance against you. And we may prevent the transformation of at least thirty vampires.”
“We? I don’t expect your help.”
“If you go, I’m coming with you.”
“That’s very noble,” Violette said. However, she didn’t refuse. Suddenly Karl perceived her lucent glow as fragility, not strength.
“Are you afraid?” he asked softly.
“No.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
The Dark Blood of Poppies Page 46