by Moore, E. M.
They both gulped in air, their shoulders raising and lowering. With his eyes still on his opponent, Gregor crouched in front of him to pick up the stake. In a flurry, Gregor chased Dumont around the arena. They were like two blurring streaks to my eyes. Wherever Dumont went, though, Diesel was right there, his hands crossed in front of him like our own personal border patrol. It wasn’t until then I realized that Dumont wasn’t running away of Gregor’s advances, he was trying to escape all together. The spectators on the Dumont side inched close together. Even if he did get by Diesel, which was highly unlikely, there was nowhere for Dumont to go. He had to fight.
The Dumont Clan’s side of the arena buzzed. They looked at one another, their eyebrows raising into their hairlines, and still they whispered. Some began to yell out, others even refused to watch the fight at all. This wasn’t really a fight, it was hide and go seek and Gregor was doing all the seeking.
Finally, he caught up with Dumont and threw him to the ground. He towered over him and brought the stake down. My heart popped into my throat as the stake pierced Dumont’s skin. I inched closer, trying to see everything. The crowd gasped, but Dumont screamed. His voice rose with pleas for help, but no one came for him. Gregor dropped to the ground and straddled Dumont’s body. Grabbing another stake from his waist, he held it high in the air. This time, he brought it down with precision. There was no fancy arc, just pure, unrelenting ferocity. It sank easily into Dumont’s marble exterior. I knew just by the look of the strike it had sunk through several layers of skin and bone before penetrating Dumont’s heart.
The old vampire was still for several seconds before his whole body convulsed. Slowly, Gregor got to his feet. He stepped back, quickly, awkwardly. All around us, the Ravana Clan started to cheer, but those of us in that front row, we stood with our hearts in our throats.
His shoulders lifted and steadied. He turned, his hand to his heart, and faced us. At once, our bodies sighed in relief. Gregor had done it. He’d beat Dumont—and lived.
Connor was the first to drop my hand and jump over the waist-high barrier before us. He became a blur until he stood right next to his dad, his arms enveloping him. I felt Stephan’s absence shortly after until it was just me in that row. I may not have been a vampire, but I could still run pretty fast. I got there as quick as I could, eager to share their joy and relief. Gregor did what Dumont couldn’t. No, it wasn’t defeat another leader in a battle to the death. It was stand up for what was right, no matter the cost. It was putting his life on the line to benefit those who couldn’t. It was putting others’ lives in front of his own. The words Soren spoke to me what seemed like a lifetime ago came back.
People don’t want someone they can follow. They want someone who will be right there next to them, fighting with them.
Gregor Ravana was the epitome of that statement. He’d just proved it not only to his entire clan, but to Dumont’s Clan too.
Today, the firebird didn’t need to be resurrected. Thank God.
In a way, though, it had. New life flared underneath the surface of all those who stood with the Ravanas. Loyalty, and truth, and hard work, and justice had won. Now, we as a people could stand together and make our lives better.
29
Gregor turned in a circle. His suit was torn in some areas and dusty in others, but he still looked every bit the part of fierce leader. We all stood back, allowing him space. His face held that of calm control with boiling pride underneath. “My people,” he called out.
Ravana Clan members immediately silenced. Those who still stuck around from the Dumont side looked awkward, glancing from their neighbor to the next.
“Today, we proved that what is right is always right. We did not resort to cheating or trickery. We did not deviate from honor, and stood for what we believed in. We did not settle!” His voice rang through the arena as clear as if he stood right next to me and spoke into my ear. Goosebumps coursed over my arms. Was that yet another nifty vampire trick? A voice like a megaphone when you needed it?
“We came together and fought for the safety of our families and the sanctity of our beliefs, and we persevered.” He nodded, still turning and staring from one face in the crowd to the next. “New friends,” he added, stopping in front of the former Dumont Clan, “you may come or stay as you wish. I am no self-righteous leader, but one who leads with the help of his own. I will welcome you into this life if you so choose. Or, by the contract I signed with the late Dumont, you may leave now and no harm will ever come to you. You can choose to stay now and leave later and still, you can leave without fear you will be persecuted for your choice. We only want those who choose to life the way we wish.”
He walked around the perimeter. “If you choose to stay, we can be stronger together. We will learn to live together as new and old. In my clan, there is always room for those who want better. Who want the strength of a group rather than the solitariness of a single. For those who want protection and unity.”
Diesel’s tree stump legs started to move. All eyes went to him as he made his way over to Gregor. He dropped in front of him, one knee in the loose dirt at their feet. “You fought honorably, Gregor Ravana. I am pledging my service to you. Never before have I heard such words from someone in power. Your actions recommend you more than the one I am used to. If you will have me, I will stay and honor you for as long as I am able.”
Several notes of surprise sounded from the former Dumont Clan side. Gregor bid Diesel to rise to his feet and held his hand out. Diesel, after looking at it awkwardly, took the offered hand in his. Gregor squeezed it with the firmness of a leader. “Then, you are welcome here.”
Several more warriors came forward, each of them lowering to one knee before Gregor pulled them to their feet and shook their hands. A roll of pride shook me to my core as more and more people, some warriors, some not, came to Gregor and lowered themselves to him. To each and every one, he raised them up and welcomed them as an equal. Each one of them stood stunned, and my heart panged a brief sadness for every one of them as I thought about what they’d endured before this point. In our world, though still not perfect, they would see great relief. Together, we could all work together for the greater good. There would be great change. With the mixture of both sides, we could see even bigger strides in the development of our clan, and I wanted to be right there when it all happened.
Soren inched his way over to me, his head bowed. “Do you see these people? They are not used to kindness. I don’t know if they all will stay or not. I am sure Gregor will want them to change some of the ways that they are used to living—our feeding habits for one, but they’ve never received such benevolence before. Gregor has done a great thing in welcoming them all to him. They won’t soon forget it.”
The crowd parted just in front of us and a towering Diesel stepped through. Despite his size, the earth didn’t shake when he made his way to us. I was a few feet shorter than him and had to crane my neck up to see his face. Soren raised his eyes as well and we waited for Diesel to speak. He looked at the both of us, but when he finally did speak, it was to Soren. “Dumont charged me with killing you as soon as the battle was over.”
Soren’s feet shifted slightly backward, but he brought his hands over his chest in defiance. I’d become fond of the rogue vampire next to me. I dropped my own hands to help if I needed to, but Soren just smirked. “And will you?”
Diesel shook his head. “No, I don’t believe so. Dumont has made me do many things I did not feel was right, and this was one of them. I will not be killing you, Soren Thormasciya. Not now or ever. I will let that order die with our former leader.” He turned to me, one eyebrow piqued. “You are quite young, guard. Yet fierce and humble. What you did for Clive was honorable. No warrior should ever be treated with disdain just because he failed to win against a better opponent.”
I blinked, taken aback. “I agree.” Then, raising my voice, I added, “I am sorry it had to come to this. Strong fighters were lost on both sides.”
“You did,” I told him, speaking of Lex. She wasn’t just my mentor, she was a friend, too.
“Should I fear for my life because of it?”
I thought of T.J. and Matthews. I thought of all the guards who Lex had helped. There was a great sadness due to her passing, and Diesel was directly responsible. But what did he do that any of us wouldn’t? We all would’ve acted the same way given the circumstances, and I even did. “No, Diesel. You won’t receive any retribution.”
He nodded, his eyes opening a little wider. He bowed once and then walked away. Around us, people were tearing down the fence that formed the perimeter of the arena. They hauled the wood logs to the center, piling them up one on top of the other until it rose above my head. Diesel started the fire, the flames roaring up to meet the tree lines. In the next instant, he pulled at Dumont’s body and he and another warrior carried it to the blaze. They heaved their former leader into the flames, sending sparks into the sky. The fire roared to life and sizzled and cracked as it ate up Dumont’s clothing first, then worked through the skin and bone left on the body.
I turned away to find Soren staring at it. The flames flickered over his face. He noticed me looking and smiled. “I cannot say any part of that brings me grief, Young One. I feel as if the chains of my past life just fell away. There is only me, and ahead of me, there is freedom.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Do you think you’ll stay like Diesel? I know how much you want that solitary life…”
He looked around. As the night grew thick, the light from the fire was the only thing that let us see. Well, at least allow me to see. All the vampires could see much better than I. “I’m not sure,” he said. “I don’t know if I ever thought this was an option. I thought perhaps your clan would win, but that Dumont’s people would go back into hiding. I never dreamed we might see a day like today. A day where two became one, and who knows, it may all be different by morning.”
I searched the surrounding area, my eyes narrowing to see the faces I didn’t recognize. They ranged from that of the superior, finely dressed with jewels, to those who were more akin to servants. “Them,” I said, pointing to a group of women in the corner who stayed just outside the boundary. “Who are they?”
He blinked when he saw who I referenced. Then his eyes turned sad, his face paling to a sallow white. “Those are the feeders.”
Feeders? I asked hesitantly in my mind, coming to grips with what he meant. Of course. Those were the humans they used like a buffet, always to travel with them, staying with the elites so they would never be without food. Gregor would not like that. “We’ll have to do something.”
“They probably don’t know whether to stay or go. They certainly don’t know of any place to escape. For some, this is the only life they remember.”
Though there was a general air of celebration all around, my heart hardened. We couldn’t have these women afraid for one more night. I caught Stephan’s eye and waved him over. After pointing the women out to him, I said, “We have to do something. I’m sure there’s blood to share with the Dumont Clan so we can free those women.”
Stephan swallowed, the tone of his skin turning a mix of yellow and green. “Of course. I’ll free them right now. Soren, maybe you can come with me. They know you, and—”
Soren immediately shook his head. “They do know me and that is why I will not follow you over there, Young Prince.”
I tugged on Stephan’s sleeve. “Christian will know what to do.”
Stephan nodded and left, disappearing through the medley of bodies in the crowd that gathered ever thicker around us.
“Do you think the more prominent families will be mad?”
Soren shrugged. “If they are sticking around this long, it’s because they’re curious. Most feeders are easily found. I doubt they’ll mourn the loss of any one of them, especially if they decide to leave the Ravanas, they can just as easily find a replacement.”
“But the feeders, don’t they get—?”
“Yes, they’ll need particular care going forward. Stephan will be able to help them recover, I think. At first, they will be like drug addicts and junkies, I’m afraid.”
I took a deep breath, my eyes flitting over to them again. Christian and Stephan approached the group, and for the first time, I noticed a few men also among them. They looked as lost and unsure as the women. For the time being, the rich families had yet to pay any attention to what was going on and I hoped that would last. Those people deserved a future, a future where their lives weren’t dependent on those bent on hurting them time and time again. They deserved a choice in their own life. Maybe some of them would want to become guards, maybe they would want to leave, or maybe they would want the promise of immortality like the ones who pained them. Whatever they decided, it would be their choice, their freewill to do with their lives what they wanted.
“Why are you smiling, Young One?”
It wasn’t just a smile. My vision became fractured as heat gathered behind my eyes. “Because I see their future stretched out before them. It’s not filled yet. It’s not concrete. It’s a vast, lengthy path and they can choose to take whichever way they want. They don’t know it yet, but the real adventure is just starting.”
30
For many hours afterward, the celebration rang on. Blood was brought out in droves and those who partook, had plenty of it. Those who weren’t dependent on human blood didn’t shy away from their friends’ feeding habits. I stayed awake as long as I could until the pure exhaustion from the past week caught up with me. When I couldn’t take anymore, I found Stephan who also looked like he had enough. He took one look at me and swooped me into his arms to take me to my room.
Outside my window, we could hear the tangle of voices of old and new. For a moment, I stood looking out the glass, thankful that everything I knew could happen had actually come to fruition. Then, I closed the blinds and turned. Stephan lay on my bed, his body stretched out from headboard to footboard. I tiptoed back to the bed and drew myself up close to him. His eyes opened. “Here we are,” he said, his lips curling. “There’s no more danger.”
“Yet so much to do,” I told him. “Do you think those feeders will be okay?”
He turned toward me on the bed. “They have a lot of healing to do, but they’ll be fine, eventually.”
I smiled, basking in his positivity.
“Now, as far as you,” he said, pushing my shoulder down until it was on the bed before following me over. “I still think you need some healing.”
I looked at the barely visible bruises on my arms. “Actually, look how well I’m doing.”
He pulled my arm out and looked at it thoughtfully before leaning down and kissing me. He swept his lips over mine gently, and I ate it up, deepening the kiss. Kissing Stephan was like eating the cream between the Oreos. Sometimes that’s all you wanted because it was so good. He lowered himself over me, his penis hardening the more passionate our embrace became. His hand traveled under my shirt and skirted the waistband of my pants. They paused there before he finished the kiss and broke away. “I want to try something.”
He looked away, unsure, but I turned his face back to meet mine. “What?” I placed my palm over his cheek. “Tell me.”
His thumb rubbed over my waistband. “I want to taste you, but I don’t know how good I’ll be.”
A muscle twitched in my stomach. “Stephan, you couldn’t possibly do anything wrong.” I put my hand on his and helped him lower my pants, my panties coming along with it. His jaw clenched when he saw me bare to him. He smoothed his hands over my legs, up my thighs and past my stomach to my breasts before reaching for my shirt and pulling it over my head. My bra was next until I lay in the middle of the bed just staring up at him, my throat dry. Though I’d experienced this with the others, every new thing with one of them was something special. How Christian loved me wasn’t how Stephan did, and it certainly wasn’t like Nico
lai or Connor.
He inched himself toward the foot of the bed and knelt over me. He started with slow kisses on my thighs, then down to my knees where he pulled them apart, opening me up to him. He traveled back up, his hot breath caressing the sensitive skin. I ran my hand over his hair and on his cheek as he explored, letting him go at his pace. My heart raced in my chest, just waiting for that initial touch. His fingers delved up my hips as he bent lower. My heart was in my throat, expectation coursing through me. I opened my knees wider, the heat from his breath getting closer. I was practically panting waiting for him to touch me. I bit my lip, muting a moan. I raised my hands and grabbed the pillow at my head to refrain from grabbing his head and making him move at my pace. The wait would be worth it. When Stephan did something, he did it with precision. Every response I had, he took cues from and made predictions like a true data analyst.
His tongue reached out, tentatively rimming my sensitive skin. I couldn’t stop the sound of pleasure from escaping. “Ohhhh.” I squeezed the pillow harder. He licked the other side as well, and I pushed my heels into the bed. “Oh, God, yes, Stephan.” The area between my thighs throbbed with want. He was an expert at tantalizing me, making his every movement that much more pleasurable just from having to wait for it.
He found my clit, swirling his tongue over it as if he’d done this a hundred times. I bucked into him and he squeezed my hips. “Oh, Ariana,” he said his breath coming out in gasps. “Does it feel good?”
Does it feel good? God, yes. “Please, Stephan. More.”
He bent over, straight for me. Licking and sucking and tonguing me in every spot my body cued him to take more time on. My fingers wrapped around the pillow and my toes curled. He took his time, his tongue exploring until he ran across my clit again and I bucked into him. There he stayed. His tongue played with my clit until I moaned non-stop. The door rattled, and I immediately grabbed Stephan’s head, willing him not to stop. My body was racing toward that sweet oblivion. Blissfully, he didn’t stop. He pulled me closer, suckling on my nub until I came hard and fast in his mouth. “Yes, yes, yes,” I screamed.