Realm of Shadows (Vampire Alliance)

by Heather Graham

  “Ah ... well, I picked up a young man. From under the very nose of our enemies.”

  “Which enemy? From where?”

  “I picked up a young man, from Lucian DeVeau’s wife.”

  For a moment, his heart leaped. “And Lucian’s wife?”

  Louisa’s lashes flicked over her eyes and a look of irritation crossed her beautiful features. “What about her?”

  “You didn’t bring her here?”

  She looked at him coolly. “No.”

  “If we had her—”

  “What about you?” Louisa inquired. “Did you do as you said you would? Where is the DeVant girl?”

  “She will be coming,” he said. Then he reminded her, “It’s the old man who must die. And it’s the other granddaughter I want.”

  “Well ... as I see it, you haven’t the old man, or either grandchild.”

  “Had you managed to be a little subtle upon arising, I would have taken care of everything.”

  Louisa smiled, and waved a hand to indicate the home he had chosen so carefully. “Look around you. Since I have come ... well ... we are well-guarded. We are safe. And each day, our strength grows. You cannot bring them here—while they spend their days and nights searching for us! Don’t worry, my love. I have arranged for such power here, you can’t imagine. I have done so. So ... you mustn’t instruct me further. I will instruct you.”

  “You little fool! You are remembering nothing!”

  “I don’t need to remember,” she told him.

  “You were sealed away,” he reminded her curtly. “While I ... the suffering, the healing ... were agony.”

  She lifted her chin. “And what of the years in between, my love? You did take your time coming for me.”

  “It was almost impossible, you know.” His irritation died suddenly. “The years in between ... were nothing. Practice for the changing times.” He walked over to her, taking her into his arms. “I learned how and when to use power,” he said softly. “Always ... waiting for you.”

  She smiled, stretching like a cat within his arms. “I feel so very well ... our little army serves me when and where and how I command. And now, night again, hours ahead, more to do ... but more time together.”

  He bent to kiss her. Her words stopped him.

  “You were her lover,” she said softly.

  He was impatient. “I needed to know her.”

  “You cared about her, you enjoyed yourself.”

  “I enjoyed myself. I did not care. I was waiting for you.”

  “She dies, the second she comes to us.”

  “She does not die; she is bait, for the other.”

  “I will manage the second girl,” Louisa said icily. “I—alone. Do you think I have never traveled by daylight? That I am so weak I could not follow in your steps on occasion? Did you think at all that I might not see you, as you pretended to be who you were not, as you spoke, so reasonably ... watched her as well ... hungered?”

  “She is the one,” he said simply. “The one who must be stopped.”

  “Then I will stop her.”

  “I have been the one laying the trap. I will stop her.”

  “No, my love.”

  “Jealousy has no place here,” he said firmly.

  “Neither does your lust,” she replied.

  He let out a sigh of impatience. “Louisa! I plotted, I planned, I crept low and carefully in these surroundings, seeking to release you, longing to be with you, to rule and reign with you again, in our secret world. A dangerous world, which must be solved now . . . before we move on. Let’s finish them. And then ... I have always loved the Caribbean in winter.”

  “The Caribbean?”

  “Islands, my love. With gentle breezes. And warmth. And ... no Alliance,” he told her. “It’s time,” he said with a shrug. “Those fools, even the village police, will figure out soon enough that I’m not an inspector from Paris. Of course”—he gave her a broad smile—“it might be a while, because it will take them some time to find the real Trusseau.”

  She laughed, the sound husky, and in her throat.

  “Don’t you think it’s time, then, as well, to take the offensive?”

  He stroked the flesh on her throat. “Perhaps . . .”

  “Perhaps?”

  “Yes, then, if you wish. If you wish ... when the shadows of night have fallen, fallen really deeply.”

  She smiled. She allowed his kiss. The fires burned, the passion between them roared to life along with it.

  “What about the other one?” she inquired. “The—outsider.”

  He was silent. She heard his jaw working. “He is part of this, don’t you understand? Dogging every step, ruining your re-entry to this world. He is the enemy and that is part of why the DeVants must not die too quickly.”

  “You knew him before, didn’t you? You have met, and tangled, before.”

  He was bitterly silent for a long moment, staring at the flames. “Oh, yes, I knew him. And he should have died then. Just as the old man should have died. But they will die now. I will make certain. They will die now.”

  “I know nothing of this man,” she said. “Other than the fact that he ... he wounded me, when I was determined on entry to the DeVant house.”

  “He will die a worse death, for what he has done.”

  “He will not die easily,” she said, reflecting on her encounter with the man in question.

  “You forget—I know what he is. And I know how to kill what he is—so actually, when I choose, yes, he will die easily enough. This time. I am prepared.”

  They were both somewhat startled by a thumping sound. They stared at one another, and then Louisa laughed.

  “Dinner is growing restless, I’m afraid,” she said.

  She stood in all her beauty before the fire, and reached her hand to him. “Come love. Shall we dress for supper? Or be casual tonight?”

  “Casual, I think,” he said.

  For a moment they locked together in an embrace. She drew away.

  “Casual it is,” she agreed. “I confess, childish though it may be, I do so love to play with my food.”

  Though she ran in his wake, Brent was down the stairs long before Tara. And when she came down to the great hall and entry, he was nowhere to be seen.

  Jacques, however, was there, standing at the open door.

  Javet had come.

  Tara raced up behind Jacques, putting her arm around his shoulder, staring indignantly at the police officer. “What—”

  “I have all the necessary papers, Miss Adair. And I am not here alone. I have six patrolmen with me. Now, you will let me in.”

  She stood her ground. “You are not coming in. You have been fooled, Inspector, and this is not where you should be looking! Your man from Paris isn’t who he says he is at all. If you want answers, go question him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Javet demanded.

  “Inspector Trusseau isn’t who he has said that he is. He—he works at my cousin’s publishing company. He’s not even a salesman. He took that job only to be around, to watch what was going on. He is some kind of a monster.”

  “A monster,” Javet repeated, shaking his head. He looked at Jacques again. “You’re going to have to start talking, Monsieur DeVant.”

  “Javet, if I told you what I know, you wouldn’t believe me,” Jacques said wearily. “I didn’t know anything about this Inspector Trusseau, but if my granddaughter says that he is not who he claims to be, then he is not.”

  “This is rubbish. He came with all the proper documents. If he had been lurking in the village, I’d have seen him.”

  “He wasn’t in the village most of the time—the publishing company is in Paris,” Tara said with aggravation. “He is an imposter—”

  “A monster?” Javet said again.

  “You are up against monsters,” Jacques said, and hesitated. “Monsters ... murderers.”

  “You knew about this, this ... this plague upon us! Knew about
the murder in the crypt before it took place,” Javet said angrily.

  “Not exactly,” Jacques said. “There is nothing I can tell you that you would believe.”

  “I’m sorry, Jacques. But I have the papers and authority to arrest you. Unless, of course, you know where the American is. Perhaps, if you were to turn him over to me . . . ?”

  “What?” Tara said in disbelief.

  “Your grandfather is under arrest, because I am going to get somewhere with this investigation. Too many people are dying or disappearing! Now, no more excuses or fairy tales. You’re coming to the station with me, Jacques.”

  “No! He is not coming with you—” Tara protested.

  “I will use force, if I have to do so,” Javet said. “Damn you all, there has been another headless body discovered, and the investigation in the city has come up with even more missing people. You know about this, and whatever is going on here, it must be stopped. Jacques, you are under arrest. At the station, we may get to the bottom of this!”

  “No!”

  Tara didn’t know where Brent had been, but now he walked in the door. He stared at Javet. “Take me in. You wanted me, Javet? Here I am. Bring me in. Let him alone.”

  “Hell, yes! I’ll take you in. I suspected that you were lurking here,” Javet said. “Yes, yes ... Jacques can have a reprieve. I will bring you in.”

  “Good. I’ll confess to the murder—to any murder. Just leave Jacques alone.”

  “He is not guilty of any murder! ” Jacques said indignantly.

  “I can arrest you both,” Javet told him.

  “Leave Monsieur DeVant,” Brent said. “Take me. I will talk to you until you are weary of listening. Javet, Jacques is ill. If he dies in your custody—”

  “All right,” Javet said. “You come with me.” He stared at Tara and Jacques. “But if Monsieur Malone cannot convince me that he—and he alone—is a killer, I will be back. And then, there will be nothing to stop me until I get to the absolute truth.”

  “Brent can’t go,” Jacques said. “It is better if you take me.”

  “We’re not bartering here, or choosing straws!” Javet exploded.

  “Jacques,” Brent said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It will be all right.”

  Tara was frightened. What would happen when he left? She would be alone then, with these terrible things going on, with a stranger who had been introduced as a vampire, who had been bending over her cousin, who was now ashen and failing.

  But as she stood there shaking, desperate for something to say or do, he turned his eyes on her. And she was startled by the gold fire in them, filled with both emotion and strength, and the assurance she needed.

  “It will honestly be all right,” he said firmly.

  She moistened her lips, trying to nod. Javet took Brent by the arm, leading him out, calling to one of his men for handcuffs. When they were nearly at Javet’s car, she ran after him. She ignored the other officers and came before him, placing her hands on his shoulders, rising on her toes. “I believe in you,” she whispered softly. “I don’t understand you ... I don’t know why you left us ... I love you ... rather assinine, since you walked away this morning ... I’ll do something ... I’ll get you out, quickly, somehow.”

  She was startled by the smile that curled his lips. “You were never alone. Rick was always watching. And you’re actually more important than I am. And I love you, too. Don’t worry about me. Lucian will come ... and I will get out myself. I promise.”

  “What is this?” Javet asked with aggravation. “Miss Adair, I’m about to arrest you, too. And you won’t be in the same cell, I can assure you!”

  She stepped back. She watched as they got into the police car. Then she realized that her grandfather stood alone in an empty doorway, and she rushed back. He was shaking. “Come on, Grandpapa, come on, let me get you into a chair, get your feet up, get you some brandy.”

  “Ann?” he inquired.

  “She’s—she’s okay. A friend is here.”

  “Ah, the new one . . .” Jacques murmured. “Rick. Another American.”

  She frowned. Even Jacques had known about the man.

  She paused, closing and locking the door, placing the garlic around it. She walked slowly with him back to the library, wondering why Javet had chosen a time of darkness to come and make an arrest at the chateau. She had to admit to being very afraid. She couldn’t let Jacques know.

  Katia came running in from the kitchen then, aware that she had missed something, and at a loss as to know what. “Help me get my grandfather back to the library, please,” Tara said.

  “I will get brandy for him,” she assured Tara, once Jacques was seated. When Katia returned with the brandy, Tara found herself uneasy about the two upstairs. She asked Katia to stay with Jacques for a moment, swearing that she’d be right back. She raced up the stairs, going first to her room, but neither man was there. She went running back to Ann’s room. Her cousin was back in bed. The tall, blond, muscular American was seated in a chair by her side, his hands folded prayer fashion as he looked at her.

  He gazed at Tara as she entered, gave her a grim smile. “She is all right,” he said softly. “But she mustn’t be left alone. Not for a minute.”

  “They’ve taken Brent in—the police have taken him in,” she said.

  Rick nodded. “I know ... I saw some of what happened, but I couldn’t ... didn’t dare leave Ann. He’ll be all right, you know.”

  “But—he isn’t a vampire.”

  Rick seemed to skip a beat before answering her. “No, he isn’t a vampire.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Nothing. He’ll be all right. He’ll manage on his own, or Lucian will step in.”

  “Lucian isn’t here,” she said.

  “But he’ll be back.”

  “But—”

  “He’s old. Very, very, old. And can sense trouble. He can enter into minds ... he’ll know, trust me.”

  She stared at him. She didn’t even really know him—and she was supposed to trust him. But these bizarre things were growing easier. Because, she had, of course, gone completely to the flip side of sanity.

  She believed.

  “What do we do now?” she asked.

  “We wait. See to your grandfather. I’m watching Ann.”

  As Tara started back down the stairs, there was a knock at the front door.

  Katia came rushing out from the library. Tara shook her head at her. She walked to the door herself and looked through the peephole.

  She exhaled, fought with the demons of logic and sanity still lurking within her mind, and opened the door.

  Lucian and Jade entered.

  Tara opened her mouth to speak, to explain the current situation, but she didn’t need to do so.

  Lucian spoke. “They left just minutes ago?”

  “Yes.”

  “Jade will stay here. I’m going. Listen, it’s imperative that you all be incredibly careful. Every window, every door, must remain sealed. Don’t leave. You understand?”

  She nodded.

  “Rick is here, of course,” Jade reminded Lucian.

  Lucian glanced at his wife. “Rick needs to stay in, too. He’s got incredible courage and spirit, but he’s still so young ... inexperienced,” he added, looking at Tara. He smiled. “It will be all right. I’ll be back with Brent. And while we’re gone, just sit tight. Get in there with Jacques, and ... Tara, I think that you can perhaps find what we’re looking for.”

  “What?”

  “Jade will explain. I’ll be back,” he said.

  He turned, and was gone. Jade closed the door behind him. She looked awkwardly at Tara, shrugged and smiled. “Well ... what we need to do is find their lair.”

  “Their lair?”

  “Lucian can ... feel where others are. But, naturally, they’re blocking him. Probably setting all kinds of traps, but it doesn’t really matter. We have to find them. We’ve spent a great deal of our time here looking. Fo
llowing their trail. But ... we haven’t found the right place yet. It’s going to be what appears to be an old ruin, but is actually sound. And hidden, far off the beaten path ... hidden by nature, trees, vines, foliage. Do you know such a place?”

  “I ... I think I know of several. When we were children, sometimes we’d take turns riding our horse, Daniel, into the woods. We’d come upon all kinds of places.”

  “Let’s go in with your grandfather. And start studying the maps again.”

  “All right,” Tara said softly. She led the way to the library door, and they entered together. Jacques looked gaunt, but determined. He already had maps spread out on the desk. He greeted Jade with a question in his eyes.

  “Lucian has gone for Brent,” she said, smiling. “I’m sure he would have been fine on his own, but ... it’s important that we’re all together. Lucian will bring him back quickly.”

  Jacques stretched out a thin arm, curling his fingers around Jade’s hand. “And you’re all right?”

  She nodded. “Humbled, but unhurt,” she assured him. “I—I lost one of our witnesses,” she said sorrowfully.

  “We’ll get him back.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tara told them both.

  Jade explained what had happened at the hotel, whom she had been guarding, and why. And how she had failed.

  “Perhaps we can save him yet,” Jacques said.

  “Perhaps,” Jade said.

  Jacques looked up. “Now that my granddaughter has joined us, I know that we will find the truth.”

  “Grandpapa, how can you be so certain I can help?”

  “Because it’s you,” he said.

  “What is me?”

  “It’s you ... I’m old and failing now. And there is always one in the family who is meant to come ... and the new strength in the Alliance. It is you, Tara.”

  She shook her head. “I ... I don’t think so at all, Grandpapa! I barely believe any of this, as yet!”

  He smiled and shrugged to Jade. “Tara, look at the map. What do you think? Tell me what you know, what you remember, from the time you were a child.”

  She came around his shoulder and pointed. “There’s what we all called the Giant Rock. It really isn’t giant at all—it’s just what we called it as children. Here, here are ruins,” she told them. “But truly crumbled.”