Embrace the Darkness

by Alexandra Ivy

  “Yes, I’m certain.”

  He squeezed her fingers. “Then let’s get out of here.”

  She allowed him to take the lead since she had only a fuzzy memory of being carried into the narrow cave. A testament to how weak she had actually been.

  They moved in silence, both sharply aware that with the fall of night the vampires would be out of their coffins and swiftly in search of their missing captive. No matter how vast the catacombs it wouldn’t take them that long to track them down.

  As it turned out, Shay was so intent on trying to move with the same quiet grace of Viper that she nearly missed the narrow tunnel where she had first caught the scent of humans.

  Giving a tug on his hand she forced him to a halt. “Wait, Viper, we must go this way.”

  “No. It goes too close to the occupied caves.”

  “That’s where I smelled the troll.”

  His features tightened. He wanted to haul her from the caves. He wanted to hide her in some deep hole where no bad monsters could get their hands on her. She could read it in every stiff line of his body.

  Thankfully, he was wise enough to realize they could no longer simply run and hide.

  “Do you still smell him?” he grudgingly demanded.

  She sucked in a deep breath. “It’s faint, but yes, it’s there.”

  “I can detect nothing.”

  Sensing his smoldering frustration Shay moved down the tunnel. The scent of troll was definitely stronger. She wasn’t imagining it.

  “There must be a glamour disguising his presence.”

  Viper followed close on her heels. “Styx would never allow witches in these caves. They would be a danger to the Anasso.”

  “There are demons capable of performing rudimentary magic.”

  “True enough,” he conceded, although she could still feel the tension that hummed about his large body. “But why would they be in these caves and why would they hide the scent of the troll?”

  They were questions Shay had no answer for so she simply kept moving forward.

  Not a bad strategy until they rounded a corner and there was nothing ahead but rocks.

  “Not that I doubt your tracking skills, pet, but this looks very much like a dead end,” he murmured at her shoulder.

  Shay studied the smooth rock blocking the path with a frown. “A troll has come through here and not that long ago.”

  “Styx did use trolls to lure us from the protection of the Phoenix. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Evor is here.”

  “No, but we have to check.” She battled back a sudden flare of fear. The tunnel was cramped and thick with darkness. A choking darkness that threatened to hold her for an eternity. Instinctively, she reached back to grasp Viper’s hand. The moment she touched his cool flesh the flutters of panic vanished. She couldn’t waver. Not now. “We can’t leave him behind if they have captured him.”

  “Damn.” He gave her fingers a tight, near painful squeeze before accepting the inevitable. “Can you find a way through?”

  “I can try.” Moving forward she smoothed her hands over the rock. It took only a few passes to at last discover the tingling sensation that warned of a spell. Pressing her hand forward it appeared to sink through the stone wall. “Here. A glamour. It’s very faint and not very well done.”

  Viper made a small sound in his throat. Vampires possessed a great distrust of magic. Any magic.

  “But effective,” he muttered.

  She turned with a faint smile. “Only against vampires, or humans who can’t sense magic.”

  “The question remains who and why.”

  “There’s only one way to find out.”

  His eyes briefly closed as he gave a shake of his head. “I don’t like this.”

  “Neither do I, but to be honest I hope Evor is down there. I want this to be over with.” She reached out to lightly touch his arm. Beneath her fingers his muscles were coiled as hard as steel. “I’m tired of being scared, Viper. I’m tired of running.”

  Without warning Shay was tightly wrapped in Viper’s arms, her head pressed to his chest as he touched his lips to her forehead.

  “I know, pet. Just promise me…”

  Despite the undoubted joy of being in his arms Shay stiffened at his words.

  “If you say not to do anything stupid, I really will stake you.”

  He heaved a resigned sigh. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Pulling back she offered him a glare. “Men.”

  —

  Styx had just risen when the knock echoed through his narrow, barren room.

  For a moment he longed to ignore the vampire he sensed standing on the other side of the door. He was troubled. Troubled deep in his heart and no amount of brooding seemed capable of easing his sense of restless anger.

  This was not how it was supposed to be.

  He had put behind his past of savage violence. He was no longer ruled by his lust to conquer and destroy any who stood in his way.

  If the vampires were to prosper in this ever more dangerous world, then they had to have peace. They could not survive if they were so busy killing one another that they lost sight of their enemies.

  It was a belief that he held as dear as his own life.

  But, was that peace worth any sacrifice?

  That was the question that now confronted him. And one that he had no answer for.

  The knock sounded again. More insistent.

  With a sigh Styx touched the medallion that hung around his neck before crossing the room and pulling open the door.

  As expected a Raven stood in the tunnel beyond. Although the vampire was hidden by the heavy robe with his hood pulled over his head, Styx could see a glimpse of his pale face. A face marred by a troubled expression.

  An expression that was becoming all too familiar among his brothers.

  He was not the only one disturbed by the unmistakable illness of the Anasso. And the suspicions that went unspoken.

  The vampire offered a small bow. “Master.”

  “Yes, DeAngelo, what is it?”

  “The prisoner.”

  Styx reached out to grip the edge of the door. If he possessed a heartbeat it would have halted.

  “Viper? He isn’t… he still lives?”

  “Yes, master.”

  His teeth clenched at the fierce relief that raced through him. “What has happened?”

  “He has escaped.”

  It was not at all what Styx had expected.

  “Impossible,” he growled, sweeping past the vampire and charging down the dark tunnel.

  Viper had been gravely injured. There was no possibility of him being healed enough to have escaped. Even if someone had come to rescue him it would have been gruesome cruelty to move him while he was in such pain.

  Unless…

  His pace became a near blur as he glided through the tunnels to the lower caves that held Viper.

  He halted only when he had entered the cave and discovered it empty and the silver shackles shattered.

  Sniffing the air he gave a growl deep in his throat. “The Shalott.”

  DeAngelo stepped to stand at his side. “Yes.”

  It had to be, of course. Only the precious blood of the Shalott would have healed Viper enough for escape.

  “Do you have someone tracking them?”

  There was a surprising pause before his companion at last bowed his head, as if in silent apology.

  “No, master. We thought it best to wait for your commands.”

  Styx absorbed the low words, well aware that far more was being said.

  The Ravens were trained to obey without question and with absolute loyalty. The mere fact that DeAngelo had not been in hot pursuit of Viper the moment he discovered the prisoner missing revealed just how shaken his faith had become.

  Styx swallowed a sigh. “Block the exits to ensure they are not allowed to leave the caves, but do not approach them.” His expression held a hint of warning. “I do not want bloo
d shed unless you are attacked. Do you understand?”

  “Of course, master.”

  The relief was tangible in the air as DeAngelo offered a deep bow and turned to leave the cave.

  Once alone Styx bent down to touch the blood still pooled on the floor.

  The Shalott was here. And soon enough the Ravens would track her down.

  Time had just run out.

  —

  There were few who would accuse Levet of an overabundance of patience. Most who knew him would claim that his temperament was downright snarky.

  At the moment he was as snarky as hell.

  Halting at the edge of the bluffs he turned to cast a baleful glare at the woman who was flinging her arms and contorting her face until he thought her eyes might pop out.

  He had thought nothing could be worse than her flapping tongue. Her ridiculous attempt at charades had proved him wrong.

  “Oh, stop that. You’re going to put an eye out,” he snarled, his wings flapping in annoyance. “Sacrebleu, you can speak.”

  Nearly quivering with rage she stomped her foot. “That was a horrid thing to do. You are an evil, evil gargoyle.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Don’t forget, I still have two wishes left,” he warned. He waited until the sulky pout returned to her face. “What is your name?”

  “Bella.”

  Levet rolled his eyes. There wasn’t a sprite born that didn’t have the name that somehow meant beautiful.

  “Stunningly original.”

  A hint of confusion touched her face. “Not really. My six sisters are all named Bella.”

  “And your mother?”

  “Bella.”

  “Of course.”

  Batting her lashes the sprite regarded him with wide eyes. “Do you not like the name Bella?”

  “Mon dieu, never mind.”

  Turning on his heel Levet moved to enter the narrow opening.

  Astonishingly, the headache-inducing sprite wasn’t tramping on his tail or pestering his wings in her haste to keep up with him. In fact, a glance over his shoulder revealed she had dug in her heels and planted her hands on her hips.

  The typical pose for a woman about to be ridiculously stubborn.

  “We’re not going in there, are we?” she demanded.

  “Do you fear vampires?”

  “Certainly not, but I don’t like imps.” She wrinkled her pretty nose. “Nasty, smelly creatures.”

  “Imps?” Levet demanded.

  “Yes. There is one who lives here.”

  A frown touched Levet’s brow. Surprises were never a good thing.

  “What would vampires be doing with an imp?”

  “He steals humans.”

  Well, that cleared up precisely nothing.

  “A vampire clan hardly needs the help of an imp if they wanted a few humans for a snack.”

  “Only one vampire drinks of the humans, and only very special humans “

  “Special? What do you mean special?”

  With a huff of impatience, Bella turned to march toward a patch of trees that clung tenaciously to the rocky ground. She pointed to the ground as Levet moved to join her.

  “The humans who come to stick those needles in themselves “

  Levet took a hasty step back. He wasn’t an expert on humans, but he knew enough to recognize the hypodermic needles scattered over the ground, and to know they were used for some sort of odd drug.

  “Damn.”

  “Can we go someplace and kiss now?” Bella demanded, her hands reaching out to lightly touch his horns. “I’m much more fun than those stupid vampires. I’ll play with your wings.”

  “Not now…” Levet’s growling words trailed to a soft sigh as her clever fingers stroked down his neck and feathered over his wings. “Oh.”

  “I’m very good.”

  She was. His wings quivered beneath the soft exploration. Few realized just how sensitive a gargoyle’s wings could be.

  His eyes began to flutter shut before he was grimly thrusting aside the seductive pleasure.

  Shay might very well be in danger.

  He didn’t have time for such distractions.

  Dammit all.

  “Non, non. I want you to tell me of your powers.”

  That familiar pout returned as she continued to toy with his wings. “I’m attempting to show them to you.”

  “Your magical powers.” Levet impatiently batted her hands away. “Precisely what sort of wishes can you grant?”

  She heaved a weary sigh. “Anything you desire. Wealth, beauty, love.”

  An idea began to form in Levet’s mind. “Actually, I was thinking of something a bit more exotic.”

  Her expression filled with suspicion at his words. Perhaps she was a bit brighter than he thought.

  “Exotic?”

  “I can’t just sit here waiting like Godot, hoping that Shay can survive until the cavalry arrives. I have to do something now, and you’re going to help me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Somehow the hidden caves managed to be even more miserable than even Viper had feared.

  Brackish water oozed down the walls, puddles dotted the stone floor, and the heavy scent of death and decay hung in the air.

  Viper’s every instinct prickled with warning.

  He was a fool to allow Shay to remain in this place. Any moment Styx would discover them and the Anasso would drain her without a flicker of remorse. He should toss her over his shoulder and run away as fast and as far as possible.

  Unfortunately, he couldn’t deny that it would be even more foolish to flee before discovering if Evor was being held by the Ravens.

  If they did have him in their grasp… not all the running in the world would keep Shay safe.

  Devil’s freaking balls.

  Staying on the scent of the troll Viper paused as they neared a large cave. He could sense the mortals that huddled in the darkness. He could smell their decaying desperation.

  For a moment he hesitated, revolted at the thought of forcing Shay to bear witness to such misery. His hesitation, however, merely gave the stubborn Shalott the opportunity to sweep past him, her own heightened sense of smell leading her directly to the disgusting cave.

  “Humans,” she muttered, her body stiffening as she glanced into the shadows to truly see the emaciated bodies huddled together on the damp floor. “Christ, why don’t they run?”

  Viper grimaced before pointing toward the floor littered with; needles. “Look closer, pet.”

  “Drugs.” She turned to frown at him in confusion. “They’re drug addicts?”

  “Yes.”

  “But… what are they doing here?”

  His fangs lengthened as the unwelcome truth slammed into him. Even when he had suspected why the Anasso needed Shay’s blood he hadn’t wanted to believe it. A part of him had still clung to a hope that their leader wouldn’t haven fallen so low.

  His gaze flickered over the half-dozen mortals that smelled of rotting death. That lingering hope was gone.

  The Anasso was beyond redemption.

  He would see him dead before allowing him to remain in power.

  “They are destroying a once great vampire,” he admitted, his tone weary. Betrayal hung heavy in his heart. “This is why you are being hunted, Shay. Our… leader has become addicted just as these humans are addicted, and their blood is killing him.”

  “Killing him?” The shock on her face might have been amusing if the situation hadn’t been so dire. “I didn’t even know it was possible.”

  “We haven’t been overly anxious to reveal such weaknesses to others,” he said dryly. “It’s one of those need-to-know-basis things.”

  She dismissed his flippant words. “So, if you drink of humans who take drugs you become addicted yourself?”

  “It is a dangerous possibility,” he conceded. “One that rarely occurs since it is one of our few crimes punishable by death.”

  “But, if the vampire is destined to die a
nyway, why kill him?” she demanded.

  “Because they go mad before death. Only last century a vampire managed to ravage and slaughter an entire village in China before killing three of the vampires sent to capture him. Now they are slain the moment they are discovered.”

  She studied his somber expression before giving a slow shake of her head. “Obviously not all are slain.”

  Viper flinched at the accusation. “No.”

  Wrapping her arms about her waist she gave a visible shudder. “I still don’t understand what this has to do with me. My blood isn’t contaminated with that filth.”

  “Just the opposite.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It possesses a cure.” He clutched his hands at his side. He wanted his fingers around someone’s throat. Preferably that of the Anasso. “You said it yourself, pet. Your blood can heal anything but death. Just as your father, you are to be sacrificed.”

  She paled as she realized the true extent of the danger that surrounded her.

  She alone could save the existence of a legendary leader.

  What vampire wouldn’t drown the world in blood to offer her up as a sacrifice?

  Her lips parted but before she could speak a familiar tingle raced over Viper’s skin and with a smooth motion he had pushed her behind him and turned to face the approaching vampire.

  “He’s right, of course,” Styx murmured, his cold expression revealing nothing of his emotions. “Your blood is quite priceless.”

  “I thought I smelled your stench,” Viper growled.

  “There’s no need to be offensive, Viper,” Styx softly chided.

  Without warning Shay was pushing her way past Viper, her face flushed with fury.

  “No need… why you slimy, treacherous, sorry piece of crap…”

  “Shay, no,” Viper shouted.

  Grasping her about the waist he managed to keep her from attacking the dangerous vampire.

  Damn the woman, what did she think she was doing? She was no match for a clan chief. Especially not this particular clan chief.

  Nearly growling in annoyance Viper put his body in front of the rash woman only to stiffen in surprise as he felt her slide a dagger into his hand.

  Well… hell. She had deliberately distracted Styx so that she could sneak him her hidden weapon. One of these days he was going to have to stop underestimating his dangerous beauty.