The huge cavern itself was more than enough to house the Vampires he had brought in from across the United States and Canada. There weren’t enough coffins, so most were forced to sleep on the cavern floor during the day. It would not be for long, however.
What he had planned would leave paranorms destroyed or in hiding. Paranorms would then be afraid to come out after dark.
Vampires would soon rule.
Volod turned away from the window. The conclave should be assembled now, the last of them having arrived within the hour.
Pieces of the Fabergé egg crunched beneath his shoe as he strode out of the library toward the drawing room.
Elizabeth waited just outside the library. She looked lovely in her floor-length red gown, her red hair swept up atop her head, her green eyes sparkling.
He came to a stop beside her and took her hands in his. She looked up at him with desire in her gaze, and he brushed his lips over hers.
“I was wrong about Monique. I thought she was loyal,” he said as he looked down at Elizabeth’s beautiful face. “I wish for you to once again serve at my side.”
“Of course, Volod.” She looked extraordinarily pleased to be returned to her station.
Monique’s duplicity and Rodán’s attempt at starting a revolt caused Volod to consider wiping out all Vampire paranorms.
He had expressed to his Vampire paranorms that they would enjoy self-rule as soon as their takeover was complete. His words had been greeted with agreement, He saw no dissension.
He should have seen the signs with Rodán, however. The former Proctor had questioned him and had not liked how Volod had taken Nyx.
Of course he had no intention of allowing so many paranorms to live once he reached his goal. It was far too dangerous. At most he would determine his most loyal individuals. The others he would lay waste to.
Volod schooled his expression as he escorted Elizabeth across the marble floor to the double doors of the drawing room. It would not do for the members of the conclave to harbor any doubt in Volod, his leadership capabilities, or his judgment regarding the Vampire paranorms.
Two Vampires flanked the entrance and two more were stationed inside the drawing room. He acknowledged each with a look that clearly instructed them to maintain their posts.
When he entered the drawing room, the occupants quieted for a moment. And then he was greeted with applause.
Pleasure swept through Volod at the recognition of what he had accomplished thus far. Of course they would applaud him. Truly there should be no question.
The members of the conclave who had made the trip at Volod’s request were seated in a semicircle at one end of the drawing room, as if in session.
Excellent. Nine, a simple majority of the seventeen-member North American Conclave, were in attendance. There could be no dissent from those who had chosen not to show up. It had been their choice.
Prolocutor Nicholas smiled at Volod. “You have done well,” he said with a deep nod. “You are to be commended.”
Volod bowed in return as he played along with the idiotic formalities. “Many thanks to the conclave for the support that has been give since this endeavor began.”
“Now tell us of your progress and your plans,” Nicholas said.
“The city of New York is almost mine,” Volod said. “We will take our forces into the city and overcome all paranorms by eliminating the Trackers and any others who choose to fight us.
“Once New York is captured,” Volod continued, “we will focus on Chicago in the Midwest, New Orleans in the South, San Francisco in the West, and Toronto in Canada. These cities will be taken as well, and their Tracker forces wiped out.”
Volod looked from one member of the conclave to the next. “We will use those areas as our planning centers to control each region. When we control these cities then we move to places like LA, Seattle, Atlanta, and Montreal. We will control this continent and eventually we move on to Europe.”
“Ambitious, are you not?” said Marcus with a scowl.
If Marcus had been prolocutor, Volod would have a more difficult road ahead. Fortunately he wasn’t.
“I do only what will benefit our people,” Volod said while choking back the reply Marcus deserved.
Marcus had a smug expression as he said, “You put much stock in your Vampire paranorms. Tell us about the uprising led by a newly turned Vampire paranorm named Rodán.”
Despite a momentary shock, Volod kept his expression placid and his tone even. “There was no uprising. We had one individual who attempted to stir up trouble. She murdered Rodán and Monique.”
“Who was this?” Nicholas said with a frown.
“A paranorm who is half Drow.” Volod cleared his throat. “Drow are immune to the Vampire bite. I had hoped her human half could be overcome, but it was not to be.”
“That was a significant error in judgment,” Marcus said.
“It was determined within twenty-four hours of her arrival that she was not under my control.” Volod held back the fury he still felt. “She has been dealt with.”
Nicholas did not look like the news bothered him. He seemed to be fully in line with Volod. Marcus on the other hand deserved a stake in the heart.
“What forces have you assembled to date?” Nicholas asked.
“Our forces are sufficient to take out the opposition. They have no idea of our numbers,” Volod said. “No one does but me.”
Nicholas said, “I have heard figures of close to two hundred fifty Vampires, over seventy Vampire paranorms, and thirty Vampire paranorm Trackers.”
“Your sources underestimate what I have accomplished,” Volod said.
“Can you take New York with the numbers you have?” Nicholas asked.
“I have no doubt,” Volod said.
“What is your plan for finishing off the city?”
Volod paced from one end of the seated conclave members to the other. “With all due respect, I have been successful because I don’t boast of my plans. The only one who knows my entire battle plan—or, as I call it, freedom plan—is me.
“I will tell you this,” he continued. “I have my resources. Trackers are coming from all over, and I am laying my trap. I will draw them in and crush them. Crush them all.”
Volod narrowed his eyes as he thought about the paranorms he would be taking on soon. “In the next few days, New York will be mine, and the other cities will see their ranks crushed there. I will decimate the paranorm teams from all over this continent.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Nothing was left at the brownstone but a sense of evil that made me shudder down to my bones.
I rubbed both arms with my hands as my gaze drifted over Volod’s cleared-off desk and the empty bookshelves in his study. How had everything been cleaned out so fast? I had searched the study for something that might give us an idea of where they’d gone. Nothing. Not a damn thing.
Colin had used his version of a transference to take us in and out of my apartment, during the day, in case any of Volod’s people were staking it out at night. It felt good to have on my leather tracking clothing again.
But my daggers, Kahr 9mm, XPhone—my whole weapons belt was gone. I wondered if I’d find it with Volod. And I would track the bastard down and deal with him.
For now I wore one of my old weapons belts with a sword sheathed at one side instead of my Dragon-clawed daggers.
I had started to grab some of the garlic-and-holy-water defenses but had put them down when I’d started to feel a little sick. Not a lot, but enough that I’d rather stay away from the stuff.
“They’re definitely gone.” Angel came up beside me. “We’ve gone through every part of the brownstone.” She looked around her. “This place stinks of Vampire.” She glanced at me. “Save for present company.”
“That’s one thing I’d never thought I’d smell like.” I shook my head. “Vampire.”
“Well, so far so good.” Angel patted me on the shoulder. “You still smell like
a half-Drow, half-human, uh, individual.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I think.”
Olivia snorted as she walked into the study. “Whoever heard of a purple Vampire?” She cackled in a very Olivia-like manner. “A plum with fangs. At least the points in the fangs match the ears now.”
“Ha.” I pointed at her. “Well at least I’ve never been ball-gagged while chained to a bed and abandoned by my boyfriend, likely after being flogged. Your ass did look kinda red.”
“You didn’t see my ass,” Olivia said with a smirk. “It was covered.”
“Ball-gagged?” Angel’s eyebrows lifted and she looked from me to Olivia. “Flogged?”
“You should try it sometime,” Olivia said to me. She nodded to Colin as he walked across the room. “I’m sure Smokey would be glad to oblige.”
“Oblige what?” Colin rested his hand on one of my hips.
“Olivia was just talking about how much fun she has being on the receiving end of a whip.” I turned to Angel. “Your specialty is the whip. Why don’t you let me borrow it?” I narrowed my eyes at Olivia again. “I think I could make good use of it in the office.”
Olivia waved me off. “You don’t do anything for me, honey.” She held out her hand to Angel. “But you can loan me the whip. I’m supposed to meet Scott in an hour.”
“This whip isn’t touching your ass.” Angel grinned and put her hand over the whip looped on her belt. “Find your own. Besides, you never know when I might need it for my fun. It comes in handy.”
“Oh great.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s not just Olivia. We have a room full of kink here.”
Olivia cocked her head to the side. “I wish I could do that thing with the vine ropes that some of you paranorms spin out of nothing. Immobilizing someone that way would be useful in sooo many ways.”
I managed to hold back a smile. “Guess you’ll have to resort to manual labor.”
“The Sorcerer would like you to come to the conference room,” Dave said as he walked through the door. I flinched at the thought of what had happened in that room. “He said it was really important.”
“All right.” I took a deep breath and looked at Colin.
He rested one of his hands on my shoulders. “I’m right here.”
We went down the stairs toward the room where Rodán had died. Had really and truly died.
My throat ached. I could feel tears waiting at the backs of my eyes as I thought of how my beautiful Rodán had saved my life and lost his own.
When we headed into the conference room, my chest ached. Armand and Desmond were talking near the doorway as we walked in. Olivia, Dave, and Angel followed Colin and me into the room. Max was guarding the front entrance, Nakano the back.
“No more holograms,” I said to Desmond. “I can’t take another.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Desmond pushed his unruly hair away from his face. “I just need the energy you all carry to enhance my own powers.”
“Okay … ,” I said, but still didn’t fully trust what he might do.
At Desmond’s direction, those of us in the room held hands. I was between Colin and Desmond, and I felt a wild sort of energy coming from the Sorcerer.
“Close your eyes.” Desmond’s voice rang stronger than normal as he gave the order. “Concentrate on feeding me your energy.”
I closed my eyes and tried to think about currents of energy traveling from my body, through my hand, to Desmond. But my mind was stuck on images of Rodán as he used to be.
“I need more,” Desmond said and he squeezed my hand. “Concentrate.”
I nodded, took a deep breath, and focused harder on my body being a beacon of magic. I used my power over my elements to strengthen me, to give me more of what I needed to help Desmond.
Energy rolled through me from the other Trackers as it traveled through each of us and then was passed on to the Sorcerer through our joined hands.
The room felt alive, brimming with tension and the crackle of magic.
Desmond started humming. A weird sound that reminded me of something electrical vibrating with power.
“I see trees.” Desmond spoke slowly, his voice deeper and somehow magnified. “Many. A forest full of them.”
I pictured the Vampire pyramid, but I knew that couldn’t be it.
“It’s dark,” he continued. “Cool outside.” Desmond paused. “Walking … tree after tree.”
My heart pounded as Desmond spoke, as if I was on the mental journey with him and discovering what he was seeing for myself.
“A large structure surrounded by a spiked fence,” Desmond said. “A fortress.” He gripped my fingers tighter. “The structure has many rooms. It is more like a mansion. I see no beings there … but I sense them.”
Where is it? I asked in my mind.
I felt as if wind was being sucked out of the room—as if we were traveling backward through time.
Desmond was quiet before he said, “It is a long journey to reach this fortress.”
He released my hand. The spell he’d cast faded away, breaking up into sparkles in my mind.
I opened my eyes and found my focus wasn’t clear. I blinked until my vision returned to normal. I turned to Desmond. “Is that it?”
“Yes.” Desmond met my gaze and gave a slow nod. “And I know how to get there.”
THIRTY-SIX
Traffic was so bad that evening that I could have run to Jenny Jump State Park in New Jersey faster than we traveled by vehicle. Literally. Two traffic accidents slowed progress. Of course a radar gun could clock me running faster than the speed limit.
I was just thankful that Olivia wasn’t at the wheel. No, she was likely scaring Dave to death as she drove the vehicle they were in. Colin was driving our SUV, and there were three others in our little convoy from the city.
It was three days after my return. A recon team had been dispatched to find Volod almost immediately after our visit to the brownstone. They were due back today.
Now it was time for us to reconvene and get ready to go on the offensive against Volod and his forces. We wanted to catch them off guard before they returned to New York City. I only hoped we’d be in time.
When we’d last been in the hardwood forest of the state park it had been late fall, the trees naked. Now it was spring and despite the darkness I could see that everything was alive and green.
Our SUV traveled down the two-lane dirt road into the forest, the headlights cutting through the night.
Shivers ran over my body as we reached the almost invisible mirrored pyramid in an isolated part of the forest, and I ran my fingers along my collar. This was where Volod had injected me with a deadly serum. This was where we’d battled him, where we thought we’d taken down his empire.
When we arrived at the great stone fence that surrounded the property, the huge iron gate creaked open as if someone had been waiting for our arrival.
Mirrored glass covered the imposing pyramid, yet the surface didn’t reflect the surroundings. Instead it seemed to absorb the light.
An imposing stone fence around the perimeter was about twelve feet high. Rows of razor wire curled along the top. The sharp barbs gleamed in our headlights.
It didn’t look at all like a Vampire lair. It looked more like an Egyptian pyramid—modern style.
As we neared the structure, the ground rumbled and shook, then started to rise in front of us. A great door—about the length of two buses—slowly opened the earth. We drove into the cavernous opening, which slanted down to a concrete parking garage.
The last time I’d been here the garage had been filled with the Vampires’ luxury vehicles. Well, those plus an old truck and a Prius. The concept of environmentally conscious Vampires was hard to wrap my mind around.
We entered the pyramid through the garage. Lead seemed to line my belly as we walked to a great foyer that was all too familiar.
The enormous chandelier overhead was still brilliant even though its hundreds of teardrop crystals were
dusty. To the right a black marble staircase swept up to where a huge ballroom had held the giant nest of Vampires.
Now voices floated down to us from that direction. I recognized some of the paranorms talking. It was good to hear something familiar coming from what had been one of the worst places I’d ever been to.
Our eight-member team went up the sweeping staircase to a ballroom where about ninety paranorms were gathered.
Armand had told me that he had called ahead and informed the paranorms that they would be working with a Drow-human-Vampire, and he expected no problems.
Some approached and shook my hand while others stared at me in confusion, wariness, or mistrust. I couldn’t blame them. It was certainly a unique situation.
I made my way through the crowd until I reached my brother.
“Tristan.” I smiled as he hugged me.
A ringing sound came from a pocket in his leather pants. I raised my eyebrows. “Since when did you start carrying a phone?”
Tristan fumbled with it but managed to get the flip phone open. “Olivia gave it to me while you were gone.”
Trust Olivia to give a Drow warrior from Otherworld a phone.
“Yes?” Tristan said when he brought the phone to his ear. He had it upside down so I helped him turn it back. “Hello, hello?”
He listened for a moment, said “Yes, sir,” then handed the phone to me. “It is for you.”
I blinked in surprise. My brother had a call for me?
“This is Nyx,” I said.
“Nyx!” My father’s voice boomed over the phone line.
“Father?” My jaw dropped. “How are you calling me?”
“Tristan gave me this damn contraption to reach you when we arrived.” He yelled into the phone as if he thought the sound had to carry across the miles.
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