Queen of Darkness

by Patti Larsen

  She only showed a moment of her displeasure, but it was enough for me.

  Guess I wasn't the only one with a temper.

  “Our power, you mean.” Her voice echoed in the stillness her show of anger left behind.

  Batsheva sat back, watching the other vampire Queen with hooded eyes, a slight smile still on her ruby lips. “It remains to be seen who will be strong enough to take and hold it, my dear Pannera.”

  Nice of them to talk about divvying me up like that. Let them try. In the meantime, I had my own questions to be answered.

  “What happened to the other Queen?” I already knew. Batsheva was nothing if not predictable when it came to grabbing for power. Nothing but absolute dominance would do.

  Yvette Wilhelm, Sebastian sent.

  Nicholas's creator. I'd never had the full story from Sebastian, how he and his brother ended up at odds. The blood clan leader would never talk about it and, to be honest, so much happened between the time Sebastian took Nicholas down and now, I'd forgotten to ask.

  Going to resolve that little oversight the minute I had him alone.

  Pannera's face returned to marble perfection while Batsheva tapped her long nails on the arm of her chair with irritating tick-tick-tick sounds.

  “I killed her, of course,” Batsheva said. “Drained her blood and her power.” A few of the vampires on her side shifted, a thin wave of unease reaching me.

  Not all support their new Queen it seems, my vampire sent.

  Batsheva ignored their reactions, spreading her arms wide as she swept to her feet, golden gown in frothing layers a perfect match for the rich shade of her hair, though the fact she was falling out of the front made me a little nauseous. “I now reign as Queen of the Moromonds.”

  Talk about melodrama. “How nice for you,” I said, not rolling my eyes. Not. Rolling. Them. “How's that working out?”

  Exultant joy turned to rage in a flash. “Arrogant child.” Me, arrogant? Had she done a serious personal assessment lately? “How dare you!”

  Whatever. This was so old even immortal me was feeling the weight of it.

  “Listen up,” I said, arms crossed over my chest, glaring back and forth between the two Queens, “the pair of you seem to have some facts all screwy.”

  Sebastian looked like he was going to choke on my irreverence and spun to face his leader. “If I may,” he said in his suave voice, giving me an ideal sight line to the way his muscular thighs filled out his tight, white pants, the roundness of his very fine butt just visible under the tails of his coat.

  I really had to focus.

  Sebastian dove into the story of Cesard and the battle for control over the essence while my vampire very firmly took me in hand, forcing me to focus on something other than Sebastian's body.

  I refuse to give myself up to either of these vampires. No uncertainty whatsoever.

  Well, I'm with you there, I sent back. Not only would it be a very bad idea to offer them access to the amount of power you represent, you've kind of grown on me.

  Agreed, she sent, rather softly. It didn't matter how almighty she was, the fact she was ages old and brilliant in many ways, she just didn't get my sense of humor. Oh well. Not many did, even those bonded to me.

  I need to neutralize this damned hold over my others. Again anxiety crawled through me when I thought of my demon, Shaylee, the family magic. But not as bad this time, more under control. Though I knew I could turn rabid at any moment and preferred not to drop on all fours and chew the carpet in frustration.

  Or on one of the vampires. Pretty sure that would get me in trouble.

  We will free all of us, she sent, anger bubbling white and cold, the feeling of her emerging fangs distinct. And when we do, we will destroy any who dare treat us so.

  Hmm. My vampire side had always been so reserved. Interesting to see her all wound up.

  Even more interesting would be watching her cut loose when the time was right.

  “Which is when Sydlynn found me.” Sebastian turned to me, gesturing for me to finish, but it took me a moment to understand he'd reached the end of his particular part of the story. I really had to learn to pay attention.

  I finished the explanation, Sebastian's freedom, Uncle Frank's healing. Pannera and Batsheva both seemed very interested in the fact Uncle Frank was whole again. Like I cared what made them tick. I wrapped up in my typical aggressive manner, refusing to pull punches.

  “If it wasn't for Piotr,” I said, purposely ignoring him though I could see him snarl at me out of the corner of my eye, “working with Ameline Benoit to enslave normals—a serious crime, by the way, which I’m sure you know—the power you're after would still be trapped inside the gem my father made.” I turned and pointed at Piotr at last, pouring on the scorn. “His meddling created this mess.”

  He pulled back, head down, as though expecting a blow.

  But I wasn't done.

  “But if you're looking for the real culprit in all of this disaster,” I said, “look no further than the venerable Queen Batsheva herself.” She had taken her throne again as Sebastian started his side of the tale and now ignored me, examining her fingernails. “If she and her husband hadn't cracked the seal on the demon prison, none of you would even be aware the vampire essence existed.”

  And I would still be trapped, she whispered to me. And lost in insanity. Is it wrong I'm grateful?

  No, I sent back. But I had to say it.

  Pannera bobbed her head slowly as I spoke and, for a moment, I wondered if the end to this laughable confrontation could actually be over so easily.

  Leave it to Batsheva to gloss over the facts.

  “What you've told us is neither here nor there,” she said. “All that matters now is you, a witch, have something you have no right to. The heritage of our race,” her voice vibrated with emotion, one hand pressing to her heart as though she really believed the tripe she was handing out, “has been stolen by a child who cares nothing for others, only herself. If you did,” she pinned me with her blue eyes, “you would do the right thing and relinquish that which doesn't belong to you.”

  I'd had enough. “Who says?” Ready for a show? I didn't wait for my vampire to answer, just opened up and let her out.

  I wished I could see myself. From the looks on the faces of the collection of vampires, it was quite the view. Not only was my vampire ready, she was able and all over it. I felt my body flood with white light, my feet lifting from the floor as I hovered, a great glow exuding from every pore. My memory ran to Sebastian and how deliciously dangerous he was when he carried the essence, an Angel of Death, perfect and deadly and absolutely irresistible.

  They looked at me that way now, though their desire clearly came from the need to possess what I had. Maybe showing off wasn't such a good idea, but I needed a strong front and putting my cards out there seemed the best way to prove the vampire and I belonged together.

  When I settled to the floor, arms dropping to my sides, it was a long time before anyone spoke. Sebastian watched me with hunger, though the moment he caught me looking he cast his eyes away.

  “In case any of you think I have her inside me against her will,” I said, “I've just proven otherwise. She chose me, when she had the chance to be with vampires. I wonder why that is?” So frustrating to understand they didn't get it. “Who are you to tell her the choice she made was the wrong one?”

  I expected Batsheva to speak up, but Pannera beat her to it. The vampire Queen seemed clearly agitated, her hands clenched around the arms of her throne, leaning forward toward me while power flashed around her in little lightning strikes.

  “The essence inside you created all vampires,” she snarled. “And we cannot allow that essence to remain in the hands of one who isn't our race.”

  All their high and mighty excuses went out the window the moment she spoke.

  “You don't want her because I have her,” I shot back. “Whoever possesses her has the first power.” I looked back and forth bet
ween them, disgusted, furious and even more determined to keep the vampire with me. “You just want to be Queen of Everyone. You both make me sick.”

  Sydlynn, Sebastian sent, an edge to his mental voice. Please, be cautious.

  To hell with cautious. “I'm sick of being pushed around,” I said, taking a step back, turning in a slow circle so I could meet every pair of eyes in the room before spinning back to the Queens. “You want the essence? Fine. Come and take her from me.”

  Pannera lunged forward, showing her vampireness all over again. Not impressed. Even when Batsheva hissed, oozing out of her seat, heading for the first step while her people snarled and hovered, ready. Waiting for her orders.

  I hope you know what you're doing, my vampire sent.

  Um. What?

  We can take them, I sent. Right?

  She sighed. Oh, Sydlynn, she sent. You are the most courageous and ridiculous soul I have ever encountered. We will certainly try.

  Uh-oh. Though not the first time I'd overestimated what I could accomplish. But it never stopped me before.

  I didn't get a chance to find out if I had bitten off more than I could chew. The moment I let her out again, the air around me shattered in a million pieces, the breath sucked from my lungs as a horde of Enforcers appeared in a clap of thunder above us.

  Stunned, sucking in a new batch of oxygen, I stared up at Mom who floated over me, rage crackling.

  “So sorry to be late,” she said, power behind her words so strong the floor beneath my feet vibrated with it. “Now release my daughter at once.”

  ***

  Chapter Eight

  I wish I could say Mom's demand was met with reason, but vampires, it turned out, weren't the most accommodating creatures. In fact, they reacted en masse with shrieking defiance, blurring and rising themselves, wrapped in shadow, ready to start a battle.

  From the look on Mom's face, she was okay with that. And while I was infinitely grateful for the backup, no way was I letting her jump into something that could blow up in our faces in more ways than one.

  “How dare you interfere?” Pannera rose, her long black hair writhing around her, navy blue gown rippling as though in a stiff wind. “Leave this place at once and never return!”

  “Oh, settle down and take a seat, Pannera.” Mom wasn't alone. A portly, older woman with a strong, British accent waved at the Queen as if her reaction was commonplace. The vampire hissed at her, but descended, though she didn't sit, probably out of sheer stubbornness. The round woman with the badly curled head of short hair and snapping hazel eyes fixed Batsheva with her stare. “You too, new girl.”

  Okay, I was going to like this woman, whoever she was.

  “You have no right, Margaret,” Pannera said, power still snap-crackle-popping around her.

  “Correction,” the woman said, settling to the ground with a soft grunt, brushing at the front of her black robe while Mom came to a graceful landing beside her. “You are the ones with no rights here. Our treaty means nothing to you any longer, it seems. I'm happy to revoke it and your permission to remain in Europe. My territory.” She might have looked like a well-worn administrator, but her no-nonsense manner came through as loud and clear as the surge of power she carried.

  Even blocked, I felt it.

  “Council Leader Applegate,” Batsheva began, only to be cut off.

  “I don't care what you have to say.” The older woman hiked up her robes and climbed the stairs to stand next to Pannera. “Are you declaring our treaty null and void or not?”

  The vampire Queen grumbled to herself but shook her head. “No,” she said. “Of course not.”

  “And you?” Margaret crossed her arms over her chest, wide bust straining behind the black cloak, eyes locked on Batsheva. “Are you about to be ejected from my property?”

  Batsheva sat, a smirk on her lips. “I have no intention of breaking the treaty, Council Leader,” she said.

  “Excellent. Jolly good to hear it.” Margaret turned to fix her gaze on me. “You must be Sydlynn, the source of this debacle and a thorny pain in my very broad backside.”

  “Yes, ma'am,” I said.

  “This isn't witch council business.” Pannera wasn't letting it go no matter what she just told Margaret.

  “I'm making it my business.” Cloak bunched up again, Margaret descended to my side and gave me the once over, the top of her head barely reaching my chin. “I thought you were a witch and a demon and a few other things. All I feel is vampire.”

  “I was drugged,” I said. “My powers blocked.” I turned and pointed at Batsheva. “Her orders.”

  “Really.” Margaret turned from me, toward the offending throne. “More for me to sort out, then, Batsheva?”

  I caught Mom's utter shock in my peripheral vision, glanced her way, found her staring at the vampire Queen and then Celeste before her face settled into a mask.

  They were in so much trouble.

  “Council Leader Applegate.” Mom brushed past me to stand on my other side. “This woman is no vampire Queen, but a criminal who is being pursued for trial in my territory. As is her companion, Celeste Oberman.”

  Neither of them looked very worried, but I held on to hope.

  “I would have them turned over to my custody,” Mom went on, “for trial and punishment fitting their despicable crimes.”

  The vampire protest was loud and aggressive. Even Pannera spoke up, Sebastian seeming troubled by her words.

  “They are blood clan now,” Pannera said, the volume of her voice quieting the others. “Their race supersedes witch law. They can no longer be held accountable for crimes committed when they were alive. Or so our treaty claims.”

  Sneaky, nasty—

  “You're correct,” Margaret said. “Sorry, Miriam.”

  Mom looked like she was going to, at the very least, argue, if not go after the pair with her bare hands, but finally nodded with so much majesty she put both vampires to shame.

  “Very well,” Mom said. “I will simply take my coven leader and go.”

  Pannera again. She was getting on my last nerve. “You cannot take her, not while she holds our property.”

  Property? My vampire reacted with fury, thrashing around inside me. Property?

  “You had no right to enter my territory illegally,” Mom said. Well, snarled, really. “And kidnap one of my coven leaders.” She shook just a little, a tiny tremor passing over her. Yup, Mom was pissed.

  Margaret frowned down at the floor a moment. “Agreed,” she finally pronounced.

  Pannera's protests were cut off by a shot of power from the Council Leader. The portly woman scowled, wrinkled face pruning up as she slashed her hand through the air. “Enough. I'm already sick of this. Miriam Hayle is correct. There are diplomatic channels for such cases as these. Those channels are there for a purpose.” She gusted out a sigh. “So monstrous disasters like this one won't happen.”

  “You would have debated our case for years,” Batsheva shot back. “Trapped us in your laws and your talking.” As if she hadn't used said tactics herself in the past to get what she wanted. Hypocrite. “This child is not only a thief, she is a menace to all magical races and I for one demand the risk she presents us, the powers she has gained through guile and misdirection, be rectified immediately.”

  Pannera seemed to have bought Batsheva's company line. “The essence will be returned to our people willingly,” she said, “or the girl will be stripped and drained of her blood.”

  Like that was ever going to happen.

  Someone, a vampire someone, teleported close to me and I turned, half expecting an attack. Instead, a massive half-wolf, half-human dove for me. Charlotte, her body out of her control with me in danger, leaped from Anastasia's side right for me, skidding to a halt at my feet, extended snout frothing as she snarled and snapped at the vampires around us.

  “How dare you bring a werewolf into our presence?” Pannera jabbed one index finger toward me. “Have that abomination killed.
At once.”

  ***

  Chapter Nine

  My vampire reacted before I could, an explosive gust of spirit magic shoving back the advancing undead with murder in their hearts.

  “You touch her,” the essence said through my mouth, “and you will feel pain the like of which there has never been.”

  It probably helped the concussion of her attack had knocked most of them back, even leaving Mom and Margaret wobbling a little. The rotund European Council Leader spun on me with anger in her eyes, but Mom was faster.

  “Shall we proceed with said diplomatic talks now?” One of her eyebrows arched artfully as she spoke directly to Margaret in a casual tone, as though the vampire Queens weren't of consequence.

  My mom was so many kinds of awesome.

  Margaret huffed a moment before shrugging. “Very well. I will moderate.”

  Pannera sat back with a deep frown that did nothing to mar her beauty. “I will attend,” she said.

  Batsheva looked like she was going to fight me personally only to turn away and sulk. “Wasting time,” she muttered. “But fine. Fine. Let's have our little talk and get on with retrieving our property.”

  Again with the property. My vampire simmered and I knew, no matter what happened, even if Batsheva succeeded, the essence inside me would never accept her. In fact, would likely make the faux Queen's life a living hell. Though as much as that would serve her right, the end result of such revenge would be me without my vampire side.

  Unacceptable.

  Margaret led the way out, stomping a path down the middle of the room, gesturing grumpily at the vampires around her though they backed off the moment she came close. Pannera swept after her, Batsheva following close behind, stopping for a moment to come face-to-face with Mom.

  “Showing your age these days, Miriam, dear,” she said before laughing and striding off.

  Mom turned to me, took my hand. “I'll do my best,” she whispered. “But Syd, be prepared for anything.”