They Come by Night

by Tinnean

  We left the library to find about two dozen vampyrs lingering in the hallway. Eyes were averted, throats cleared, and a path was made for us to pass through.

  THE FULL moon had come up over the horizon. It balanced above the white-capped mountains that seemed to surround the citadel and illuminated the path to the Romi encampment.

  I was disappointed. I’d kind of expected it would look like a movie from the 1930s, with caravans covered in ornate wooden carvings. Curtains would hang in the windows, and they’d be circled around numerous campfires. The horses that pulled them would be tethered on long ropes so they could graze.

  Instead, there were motor homes—motor homes!—that could be hooked up to the pickup trucks parked to one side.

  Milosh approached us. “M’lord. Welcome! Lord Ioan. Sirs.” He nodded toward Daniel and Áedán.

  “I guess you weren’t expecting us to visit so soon.”

  He grinned. “On the contrary. Dodona told us you would visit us this night.”

  “Uh….” What was he talking about? “I hope you don’t mind? Ioan wanted to have his fortune read.”

  “And Ty too!”

  “Oh, no, that isn’t necessary.” I knew what my future held. Feeding vampyrs for the next couple of hundred years and maybe having a child or two or three with Adam.

  “Of course. Dodona will be happy to read your palms….” He smiled at me. “Or the tea leaves.”

  “I don’t like tea.”

  “Dodona?” Ioan’s eyes were wide. “She’s the best in Romania! C’mon, Ty,” he wheedled. “Don’t be a spoilsport.”

  “Okay. But I’m telling you… I know my future.”

  “And I know mine.” He glanced after Daniel, who’d left us to walk around the pickups, studying them. “But it will be fun to hear what the Roma has to tell us.”

  A male Roma joined Daniel, and Ioan frowned.

  “Come this way.” Milosh didn’t seem surprised when Áedán fell into step on my other side. “Dodona will be pleased to meet you.”

  The caravan Milosh led us to was older than the others, and I could see where it had been modified to accept a trailer hitch instead of the wooden tree horses would be harnessed to. I felt a spark of interest.

  Milosh tapped on the double door, and the top half opened. “Good evening, Vadoma.” An old woman… a really old woman… looked down at us and smiled. In spite of this being the twenty-first century, her smile revealed a number of missing teeth.

  Vadoma? Hadn’t he said the fortune-teller’s name was Dodona? When I was with Adam, I could switch my body clock from diurnal to nocturnal easily, but had the past few nights thrown me off so much I hadn’t heard straight?

  “Dodona has been waiting for you, young sir. Please enter.”

  Fortunately, she hadn’t added, “freely and of your own will,” because if she had, I’d have booked!

  “Thank you, Grandmother.” I gave a slight bow and she stared at me. Had I said something wrong? “Um…. Is it okay if Mina comes with us?”

  She gave a gracious gesture and opened the lower half of the door. Mina bounded up the shallow wooden steps, and I climbed up after her.

  “Dodona, they’re here.”

  “Yes, Nagyanya.” The woman seated with her back to me had a long fall of ink-black hair that spilled down to curl around her hips. Golden hoops dangled from her earlobes, and the blouse she wore dipped low over a shoulder. A scarlet vest-type thing kept the blouse in place, and a skirt draped over her legs and puddled on the floor.

  She turned to face us, and I bit back a gasp and glared at Ioan. “You could have told me,” I whispered.

  He looked confused. “Told you what?”

  Her eyes were milky white. From cataracts? Or had she been born without irises? Whatever the cause, she was blind.

  “I….” There was nothing I could say, and there was no way I could touch her to offer any comfort.

  “Welcome, Tyrell Small. I’m grateful for your kindness, but there’s no need for comfort. I’ve been blind since birth.” She smiled at me, and abruptly I was able to look past her sightless eyes.

  Was that how it was for Ioan? It felt as if she saw me. But how did she know—

  “You wish to know the future.” She leaned down and unerringly found Mina’s ears, ruffling them.

  “No, that’s Ioan.”

  She turned her head to my right, where he was standing, and held out her hand. He placed his hand palm up into her grasp. She ran her fingertips over his heart line and his lifeline, and he shivered. I knew how voluptuous that could feel from when Adam did that to me.

  “You will find happiness, lordling.”

  “I knew it!” He bounced on his toes and started to free his hand. “That’s all I wanted to know.”

  She didn’t loosen her grip on him. “You will need to be patient.”

  “I can be. I have all the time I need.”

  She hadn’t said he’d find happiness with Daniel. Ioan had only heard what he wanted to hear.

  He fumbled in his pocket, taking out a handful of gold coins and pressing them into her palm.

  Crap. I didn’t have any money on me. It was just as well I wasn’t getting my fortune told.

  “Well, thank you for your time—”

  “One moment, m’lord. Nagyanya?”

  “Are you right- or left-handed, m’lord?” Vadoma asked me.

  “Uh… right-handed.”

  “Take this in your left hand.” She gave me a cup and saucer, being careful not to let our fingers touch. The cup was filled with a dark liquid that smelled of roses. “Drink, m’lord.”

  “I don’t have any money—”

  “Don’t be an idiot, Ty. I’ll pay for you!”

  I scowled at Ioan, but I couldn’t poke him, and since both Vadoma and Dodona waited expectantly, I raised the cup to my mouth and drank. As sweet as it smelled, it had a bitter taste, and loose bits of tea leaves floated in the liquid, almost causing me to gag when I swallowed them. Finally I held out the cup and saucer, but Vadoma shook her head and nodded to Dodona.

  There was no way the blind Roma was going to be able to take the cup from me—I’d have no choice but to take her hand and guide it toward the saucer. However, before I could, she reached out and found it as easily as if she were sighted. She didn’t touch me, but just the same, I stepped away and folded my hands behind my back.

  “Thank you.” She swirled the dregs three times clockwise and then turned the cup over onto the saucer. After three breaths, she turned the cup upright and gazed down into it.

  I had no clue as to how she was going to do this, but considering the beings I’d learned lived in my world, who was I to object?

  Rather than embarrass her by staring, I studied the interior of her caravan, surprised when I heard the knitting-needle click of claws on the steps and Shandor entered.

  “Greetings, little brother,” Dodona said absently.

  “Have you met Shandor?” Ioan asked, tugging lightly on the big wolf’s ears.

  “Yes, earlier. Um… is that a good idea?”

  “Shandor won’t hurt me. We’ve been friends for ages.”

  The wolf leaped onto a bench, and Ioan sat beside him and made himself comfortable.

  “Oh, m’lord.” Dodona sounded distressed. “I’m so sorry!”

  Adam? I turned cold. “Is something going to happen to Adam?”

  “Duke Adam? No, he will be fine.”

  “My father? My friends?”

  “No, they’re not in any danger. You, however….” She reached toward me but then withdrew her hand. “You must beware of one who you will believe you have every reason to trust.”

  That was clear as mud, but at least I knew it ruled out de Vivar. There was no way I’d trust him.

  I picked up Mina. “I have to go. Thank you for the tea and the reading.” Even though I’d have preferred never to have had it.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a more hopeful reading.”

&n
bsp; “Hey, the people I care about are safe.”

  “But you aren’t.”

  I shrugged, and then I wanted to give myself a shot in the head… she couldn’t see. “I’ve got Adam and Mina,” I told her. “And until this thing with de Vivar gets cleared up, I’ve got an enforcer living in my house.”

  “I’ll pray for your safety, m’lord.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  There was a tap on the doorframe. It was Áedán. “Forgive me for intruding. Tyrell. It’s time to return to the citadel.”

  “All right.”

  “I’m going to stay awhile. I haven’t talked to Shandor in ages.” Ioan had his hands buried in the fur at the wolf’s neck, and it was obvious the wolf enjoyed the attention.

  “It was nice meeting you, all of you,” I said. “Bye.”

  “M’lord.” Dodona had followed me to the door of the caravan.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “One thing more. You’ll name him Benjamin.”

  “I’ll name who?”

  She smiled—geez, it was weird having her look at me and know she wasn’t seeing me—raised her hand in farewell, and left me standing there.

  “Áedán? Do you know what she’s talking about?”

  “I don’t. We must go. Adam wishes to have you safely home.”

  Had that much time already passed? I looked up at the sky and guessed so. “Okay.” I put Mina down, and the three of us walked to the citadel.

  IT HAD been interesting visiting the citadel, but I was glad to be home. Mina had paid a visit to the curb, and now she waited at my heel for me to open the door.

  Only I didn’t have to pat down the pockets of my borrowed clothes to realize I didn’t have the key. I sighed.

  “Really, Adam? You forgot to bring my house key?” I shook my head and stepped down off the porch, about to cross the lawn to the garage.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I have to get the spare key.” On my tool bench was a jar filled with nuts and bolts, and buried under them was the key.

  I didn’t worry about crooks breaking into the garage and finding it; above the door I’d painted a warning: This property guarded by vampyrs. Normals would think it was a joke, but I hoped anyone intending to break in would think whoever lived here was nuts and have second thoughts.

  “Ty… that’s not necessary.”

  “No? And how do we get in?”

  “I’ll get us in.”

  “Even with the door locked?”

  “Even so.”

  I stared at him for an entire minute, which could be a lot longer than you’d think, and then it dawned on me: of course. He could enter my house without any trouble. I’d given him permission.

  I groaned and leaned my head against his shoulder, and he slid his arms around me and nuzzled my ear.

  “This has been a difficult week for you, hasn’t it? Come.” We climbed the steps to the porch, and he pressed his palm against the lock’s strike plate. “Rául is here.”

  “He is? How come?”

  “Raymond is needed at the citadel, and the rege doesn’t want you left alone.” He glanced over his shoulder at Ms. Diamond, who’d been watching us with a mixture of dislike and wistful interest. “You stay here.”

  She ignored him and gave me a sultry smile. “I’m not invited in?”

  “No, you’re not,” Adam snapped. “Tyrell is mine!”

  “Why don’t you let him speak for himself?”

  I turned the doorknob to find the lock had been disengaged. “You heard Adam,” I said over my shoulder as I pushed the door open. “I’m his, he’s mine, and you don’t have permission to enter my home.” I walked in. “I wish you could stay, Adam.”

  “I wish I could also,” he murmured. He had to make sure Ms. Diamond arrived safely at her own home. He was such a gentleman. I didn’t know if that had to do with him being a duke or the rege’s equerry, and I didn’t care. He was my gentleman, my vampyr.

  Mina headed for the bedroom. I was still feeling a little used up from feeding Daniel, so I decided to make myself a power shake. I strolled into the kitchen and found Rául there, nuking a bag of blood.

  “Good evening, Tyrell.”

  “Hi, Rául.” I went to the cabinet and took down a thirty-two-ounce promotional mug McDonald’s had offered when the latest sci-fi blockbuster had been released.

  He looked past me to where Adam stood. “My lord. Shall I prepare you a meal?”

  “Rául. Thank you, that’s not necessary. I won’t be staying. The house is secured?”

  “It is.”

  “Excellent. I must go now.” Adam drew me into his arms. “Take care of him, Rául.”

  “I will, my lord.”

  “You take care of yourself too, Adam,” I whispered against his ear and then stepped back.

  He caressed my cheek. “Dragul meu.” For a second it looked as if he were about to say something more, but then he just smiled wryly, turned, and left.

  Once this was all done, would I be able to persuade Adam to move in with me? Absentmindedly, I handed Rául the mug.

  He looked puzzled. “What’s this for?”

  “Your breakfast. You could have told me you drank from a goblet and not a bag.”

  “I appreciate the thought. The more senior vampyrs prefer to feed that way, and we all do for more formal occasions, but for now, the bag is fine.” The microwave dinged and he took out the plastic bag, dropped his fangs, and punctured it. Watching a vampyr feed was fascinating. His throat rippled as he swallowed, and it didn’t take him long to drain the bag.

  “Another one?” I took the empty from him and tossed it into the bin under the sink.

  He shook his head. “Did you enjoy your stay at the citadel?”

  “It was interesting. I met Adam’s mother, and his brother and his son. And that’s another thing you could have told me!”

  “It was not for me to say.”

  I snorted.

  “So you met Valeriu. What did you think of him?”

  “Do you want my honest reaction?”

  “Of course.”

  “I don’t like him. He looks down his nose at turned vampyrs.”

  Rául simply shrugged. “His line is like that. Unfortunately, his mother indulging him didn’t help. As a matter of fact, if a sabor wasn’t required to love him on sight, I doubt he’d ever feed from one.” His nostrils flared, and abruptly he looked horrified. “¡Dios mío, Tyrell! You’ve been fed from! Did you—”

  “What, feed him? Love him? No, to both. I told you I don’t like him.” Especially since he’d threatened my pup.

  “I’m relieved. It would destroy Duke Adam if you fell in love with his son, even if it was just to feed him.”

  “Well, I didn’t. And before you ask, I don’t much like Stefan, either. The countess is nice, though.”

  “She’s a very gracious lady. She was kind to me when I was first turned. But… you have fed a vampyr.” He looked somber.

  “Yeah.” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know how he could tell. “Are you disappointed in me?”

  “Because you did what you were born to do? How can I be?”

  “But I gave you such a hard time.”

  “Tell me something, chico. Before de Vivar did… whatever it was to cause you to rethink your welcome of him, would you have invited him in?”

  I remembered that night. “Yes. But then he got really pushy. Adam had taken his time with me, and I thought I could expect that from every vampyr who came to me.”

  “You should have, especially a sabor of your quality.”

  Was I really that special? I cleared my throat. “You knew about the saborese who’d been drained by de Vivar and his flunky?”

  “Poor boy. His Grace had no choice but to turn him.”

  “That’s what I heard, only it wasn’t working. Ioan asked me to let him feed from me, so I did. The last time I saw him, it looked like he was doing better. I hope so. Did you know he’s my
cousin?”

  “No, but I must say I’m not surprised. There are only a certain number of sabor families.”

  Why was I always the last to know?

  “Now, about those vampyrs who came to you after de Vivar… approached you the first time.”

  “I told Adam about them.”

  “And you’re aware they belonged to de Vivar?”

  “Yeah.” I bit my lip to keep from snickering. “It must suck to be them.”

  “I’m afraid it must. De Vivar was the one who turned them.”

  Oh God. I felt like such a jerk. “I’m sorry, Rául. That was insensitive, and I shouldn’t have said it.”

  “You’re right, though.”

  That didn’t make me feel any better. “Is there anything we can do for them?”

  “Other than destroying de Vivar’s talisman?” He sighed, his breath a cool puff of air. “Tell me what else you did at the citadel, chico.”

  I began to enumerate. “I saw a wolf—that’s the first time outside a sanctuary—and met the leader of the American vampyrs. I had a couple of the rege’s peaches.” I took the pits from my pocket and displayed them.

  Rául regarded them quizzically. “Souvenirs?”

  “No, I thought I’d try planting them.”

  He leaned back against a counter, his smile indulgent. “Starting your own orchard? Interesting. What else?”

  “I tried goat milk.” I liked Rául, and if Adam hadn’t been my vampyr, I wouldn’t have minded having Rául. “I have to find a place around here that sells it. Or maybe I could raise them myself?” I’d have to check the local ordinances and find out if I had enough property. “Oh, I had my fortune told….”

  “You have been busy.”

  “You wouldn’t believe it.” I yawned. “I’m wiped out.” I was still running on Romanian time. “I intend to sleep this entire weekend. But first….” I popped an enzyme tablet, took chocolate whey powder from a cabinet, ice cream from the freezer, and the container of milk from the fridge. I shook the container, then unscrewed the cap and peeked in. Fortunately, there was enough milk for the shake and tomorrow morning’s coffee. “I’m gonna make a chocolate banana shake.”

  I put all the ingredients into the blender and reached for a banana from the stand, then froze.