Dark Solace

by Tara Fox Hall

  The reason for our cooperation was not only dismaying, but worrisome: Mary’s daughter, Jenny, was still dying from cancer. Mary had told Danial a few days ago that she thought it wouldn’t be much longer. He’d reassured her he’d try to turn Jenny into a vampire, if it came to that. But he’d told Mary point blank that Jenny would have to agree to any stipulations he set forth, as well as truly want to be a vampire, before he would do it.

  “Mary got quiet,” Danial told me later that evening. “I’m unsure how it’s going to end.”

  “You’re going to have to turn her,” I said reluctantly. “She’s got no other choice, really.”

  “It’s the age-old dilemma,” he’d said, stroking my hair as we lay on his couch. “Everyone wants not to die, and no one wants that longevity to come with a price. But it always does.”

  I wondered if he’d talked more with Theo, regarding his mortality, but I didn’t ask. I had enough other things to keep my mind busy.

  Elle was being more social now that Danial had given her more freedom. She had been meeting Violet every weekend for a movie at the mall. Terian had been tailing her, and so far, he reported that they were just doing normal girl things, like getting fast food, trying on lipsticks, and giggling their way through teen romance movies.

  As I’d promised Titus, I’d continued to keep an eye on Terian, watching for signs he was succumbing to his demon nature. So far, I’d seen nothing. He was harder and tougher than he had been, but I still ascribed that to the work he was doing now with Theo. Sundown and he still spent most of their free time together. They acted absorbed in each other, whether the activity was nighttime walks or just her helping him in his lab. Seeing them so much in love, I reassured myself that Terian was okay.

  When I visited Devlin that following Friday night, I made sure to see Titus first, to report that to him. “He’s acting happy and in love. There’s nothing else to see, Titus.”

  “Keep watching him, please,” Titus rumbled, his red eyes worried. “I know you don’t believe anything’s wrong, Sar. But it means a lot if you’ll keep doing this for me.”

  I gave him a shrug. “Sure.” Maybe Titus knew something I didn’t. “See you later.”

  When I went upstairs to the main floor, Lash was there reclining on the sofa. Oddly, he looked dressed to go out. While his solid black clothes were the usual type he wore—jeans, heavy shirt, and turtleneck—they looked brand new.

  I gave him an odd look, curious. “Do you have a hot date?”

  Lash looked over at me and then switched off the TV. “I’m hoping like hell.”

  Who was he going out with? What he had done with Cin couldn’t be called anything more than hooking up. Did one dress up to hook up? Devlin hadn’t mentioned a new girl, nor had Lash. Was there someone new, someone he was trying to impress?

  Lash got to his feet, then threw the remote down on the couch. “Want to go out and get dinner?” Lash hissed, eyeing me. “My treat.”

  I was surprised and touched to find out that I’d been the one he’d dressed up for. “So your date’s with me?”

  “It’s probably the last sushi trip,” Lash hissed awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “I knew you were coming, so I thought, what the hell, I’d ask.”

  I almost said no. I was tired, and sushi seemed a pale alternative to warm soup, toast, and possibly some cake, if there was any to be had in Hayden’s kitchen. But Lash had never asked me for anything before, really. I still remembered how I’d felt years ago, before Danial had come into my life, when I’d wanted to go out and had no one to go with. Besides, I was sure to have a good time.

  “Sure,” I agreed. “Let me change into warmer clothes while you warm up the truck.”

  I quickly went upstairs, and changed into the brown top and jeans he’d picked out for me a few months earlier when he’d guarded me during a shopping trip, and then put on the tan leather duster I knew he liked. It was just warm enough outside that with it, I wouldn’t have to wear a coat.

  “Sushi again?” Devlin grumbled from the bed. “You’re going to turn into an eel.”

  “Probably,” I said, kissing him goodbye. “We’ll be gone a few hours or so.”

  “Be safe,” Devlin said, turning over and shutting his eyes. “I’ll be ready for you when you get back. Just wake me up.”

  Ready for what? He must mean sex. “I will.”

  I hurried downstairs and out into the garage, then got into Lash’s truck.

  He hit the overhead door, then gave me an appreciative look. “You look nice, Mrs. O’Connor.”

  “You look good yourself, Mr. Lash,” I teased back. “But if you don’t hurry, we won’t make the restaurant.”

  “We’ll make it,” Lash hissed confidently, zooming in reverse as he turned to look over his shoulder. “I rented the whole place.”

  * * * *

  We had a good time at the restaurant. Like Lash had said, the place was empty except for us, a row of waitresses watching for every empty glass or plate. The table was crowded with plates, some of the sushi elaborate kinds I’d never before seen. It was enjoyable, but in some weird way also a little oppressive, as if this night was some kind of celebration that I wasn’t privy to.

  “This is very good,” I said, eating some of the strange pieces. “Try some.”

  “I did,” Lash said, downing his third sake. “You go ahead. I’m sticking to the crab tonight.”

  I grabbed a couple pieces. “You aren’t gorging like me,” I teased. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Of course,” Lash hissed, giving me a funny look. “I feel fine. But winter’s coming. My body is slowing down, getting ready for hibernation.”

  “But you don’t hibernate,” I said, looking at him strangely.

  “I still feel the urge,” Lash hissed softly. “My snake side is always present, Sar. It’s not like it is with Theo, or the other weres you know. The animal inside me is always there, influencing my thoughts and actions. It’s telling me to go to sleep until the weather warms.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say, so I sipped my wine.

  “We probably won’t come out like this again until spring,” Lash hissed softly. “So I thought it would be nice to go out one last time and get some of these delicacies I’ve read about online.”

  “Everything is wonderful,” I said graciously. “It was great to try some of this stuff, even if I’m not sure what it is.”

  Lash smiled. “Good. I’m happy things are working out with you and Dev.”

  “Thank you for that,” I said softly, reaching out and taking his hand. “You were right. He is trying. I’m glad that you helped us get back together, Lash.”

  Lash opened his mouth.

  I squeezed his hand. “I’m not ever going to tell him. Don’t worry about that.”

  Lash squeezed my hand back, then gently withdrew it. “Good. Venus needs both her mother and father.”

  * * * *

  Lash and I were just coming in the front door of Hayden when Devlin came down the stairs dressed in his motorcycle leathers.

  “Glad you’re back,” he said breezily. “I’m ready.”

  To say I was surprised was an understatement; I gaped at him.

  He grinned back at me, then turned to Lash. “Do you want to come?”

  “Not tonight,” Lash said, settling himself on the couch under a blanket. “I’m more interested in keeping warm.” He flipped on the TV and began surfing.

  “Suit yourself,” Devlin said with a shrug, and turned to me. “Let’s go, Love.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked, looking at him uneasily. “On the bike?”

  “For a ride,” Devlin said vaguely, leading me into the garage. “I got you a set of lightweight armor. I want you to wear it. That way if anything happens, you’ll be safe. Come.”

  Reassured, I took off my leather duster, laid it on Lash’s front seat with my purse, and then began strapping on the armor. It was a simple Kevlar suit, dull black in
color, the leather-like material covering everything but my feet, hands, and head. There were leather gloves with it, and also a Kevlar helmet of the same dull black color reinforced with steel and hard plastic. Devlin helped me strap it all on, and then he got on his bike, motioning for me to get on behind him.

  “Does Lash have his own bike?” I asked casually, settling on behind Devlin.

  “Sure,” Devlin said, giving me a funny look. “It’s pretty similar to mine. It’s right over there.”

  I glanced past him. In a small alcove off to the side, another bike stood draped in a black dust cloth. It had to be the same one Lash had been riding the night he had followed Theo, saving his life. “I figured you rode together,” I said, giving Devlin a smile. “It wouldn’t be as fun, alone.”

  “He only rides in summer, when it’s warm. I should now, too. I’m a father, and I have to be more careful. This will probably be our last ride until next spring, Sar.”

  “Then let’s make it a good one,” I said, clutching him around the waist.

  We rode for at least two hours. The moon was almost full, and it shone down on us, illuminating everything in its glow. It reminded me very strongly of the night he and I had last ridden together, those many months ago. Everything was just as beautiful and magical, the stars just as bright. But the weather was warmer, as I had wished it to be on that long ago night. We stopped by a bridge, and drove the motorcycle into some bushes. He and I got off for a while, walking down to the edge of the river. It was rippling black and shiny in the light from the street lamps above. Devlin and I sat on a fallen tree for a while, just watching the stars, and the water passing under them. Then Devlin took me by the hand, led me under the bridge, and left me there. In a moment, he was back, his arms full. He’d carried an oversized down blanket and two small pillows in his motorcycle saddlebags, as well as a silenced explosive bullets handgun. The latter he got out and lay within reach of the makeshift bed, before helping me unstrap my armor, and taking my clothes and his off. Devlin made love to me there under the bridge by the banks of the river. Again, he didn’t draw it out, using his skill so that when I came, he came with me.

  We lay afterwards in each other’s arms, gasping for breath. As our hearts slowed, I clutched him to me, worried suddenly that something was going to go wrong, as it usually did when things between he and I were going so well.

  “Why are you anxious?” he whispered, stroking my hair back from my face. “I can scent your change in mood.”

  “Just worried that forever won’t be long enough,” I quipped, unwilling to bring heaviness to the conversation.

  Devlin had no such compunction. “You don’t live a long time by working hard, being careful, or even being bold, Love. It’s all luck. There were several times I came close to dying, and clawed my way back. There were just as many that I couldn’t stop, that Lash saved me from, or his friend.”

  “What friend?” I asked curiously.

  “There was another guard who was a good friend to both he and I for many years,” Devlin said, heavy sadness in his voice. “But let us not mention that tonight. There will be other nights to tell you of my past. This night is for us to think about the future, Sar.”

  His use of my name instead of an endearment got him all of my attention.

  “We’ll do this every year from now on,” Dev continued softly. “I’ve ridden over this bridge many times, Sar, sometimes with Lash, and sometimes with some of the bears. It was just another bridge to cross, and it didn’t matter very much—”

  This wasn’t about bridges at all.

  “—but this is our bridge now,” he said softly, touching my face gently. “Because I want you to know it means a great deal to me that you’ll be here with me next year. That we’ll share nights like this one again, for the rest of eternity.”

  There was something heartfelt in Devlin’s tone which brought to mind Danial’s tender words of affection.. Even though his words seemed a little too smooth, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. “It means something to me, too. I want to be here with you, Dev. I don’t want to ever be without you again.”

  “You won’t be, Love,” he said softly, kissing me.

  We lay together for a while after, just holding each other, enjoying the warm breeze caressing our skin with feather touches. “We need to get going, Sar,” Devlin said reluctantly. “The night is passing. In three hours or so, it will be dawn.”

  Quickly, we dressed, and he helped me strap the armor back on. With a last look at the river, I let him lead me back to the bike. After a careful check, Devlin and I got back on. We were less than halfway back when I felt the tire under me began to slide.

  I don’t know what happened. Suddenly Devlin swerved, we were leaning too far left, and all of a sudden the motorcycle was no longer beneath me, the ground rushing up to meet us. Devlin twisted in the air, trying to wrap his body around mine to protect me. As we hit the pavement with a bone-jarring crunch, I heard something snap in him. Dev let out a hiss of pain through gritted teeth as we rolled over and over, finally coming to rest on our backs near some bushes.

  I lay there breathing hard, thanking God to be alive and promising fervently to never get on a motorcycle again. Devlin lay partly under me, his body still enfolding mine.

  “Dev—” I whispered.

  His hand covered my mouth in a flash. I went still immediately, waiting in silence, my heart hammering.

  “Dalcon,” a voice called. “Get up.”

  Our accident had been an ambush. Who was out there? Why the hell hadn’t Devlin said there was someone looking to kill him? I would have insisted on guards if I’d known.

  Devlin made no reply.

  “Answer me, Dalcon, or I’ll shoot your lady. When you start screaming, I’ll know your vocal abilities are still there.”

  God. I felt frantically for my cell phone, then remembered it was in my purse on the front seat of Lash’s truck.

  “I’m here,” Devlin said spitefully. “Who are you and what do you want with me?”

  A familiar figure walked into the light. “It’s him,” Catherine said, rancor in each word as she stared at us with red eyes. “That’s his Oathed One, Sar.”

  Devlin hissed, baring his fangs at her. She gave him a cold look.

  A man stepped out beside Catherine. I didn’t recognize his handsome features. He had brown hair to his shoulders, and green eyes like mine. His body was similar to Aran’s, tall and rangy, though his shoulders were narrower, and his waist thicker. He looked to be in his twenties, but if he was vampire like Catherine, he could have been far older.

  Devlin did recognize him. He hissed again, baring his fangs. “Ulysses.”

  “How gratifying, Dalcon,” the man said. “I thought you had forgotten me.”

  “I had, until now,” Devlin said easily.

  “Get up, both of you,” Ulysses said.

  He had no gun or weapon. Why wasn’t Devlin kicking his ass? We’d lost our gun, sure, but still...

  Devlin got up and faced Ulysses, keeping me behind him. “You’re a fool to ambush me. You’ve only brought yourself more misery—”

  “I beg to differ,” Ulysses said in a charming manner. “You owe me.”

  “I owe you nothing,” Devlin said arrogantly.

  “You owe me,” Ulysses repeated with white-hot anger. “Grab them!”

  Arms grabbed me from behind, pulling me away from Devlin. I screamed, kicking and pushing, but the limbs were immovable as steel bands. Devlin lunged for me, snarling, but four men grasped him, restraining him as he thrashed.

  “Let us go!” I screamed. “You’ve signed your own death warrant—”

  Ulysses strode up to Devlin, and shot him in the heart, the brief flash illuminating Devlin’s explosive bullet’s gun. Devlin convulsed with the impact, and went down hard.

  “Dev!” I screamed, struggling hard. The man holding me laughed, then squeezed, making me choke.

  “Get up,” Ulysses said in contempt
. “I know that leather is more than it appears.”

  Devlin rolled over onto his side. I sagged with relief, to see him moving. “What do you want?” he said, his words coming with effort. “I can’t bring your sister back.”

  “You knew she was in love with you! You used her! You turned her!”

  “She knew what she wanted, and I gave it to her,” Devlin said contemptuously. “It’s not my fault she ran afoul of some vampire hunters. If she hadn’t been dumb enough to leave drained corpses lying around—”

  Ulysses shot Devlin again in the back. This time, Devlin screamed.

  “Stop it, Please!” I screamed. “Please!”

  Ulysses shot him twice more, each bullet booming in the quiet. Devlin screamed each time, his smoking form writhing on the ground. I began sobbing, still pleading for Ulysses to stop.

  Ulysses crouched down and held the gun to Devlin’s head. Devlin looked up at him, his eyes red and hateful, hissing in pain.

  “You think you’ll heal a gunshot wound to the head, if the bullet’s explosive?” Ulysses said thoughtfully. “I’m thinking not. There are all those stories about vampires being decapitated and dying. But maybe it would just paralyze you. Unless of course, I aimed for your throat, and it took your head clean off—”

  This wasn’t about ransom. This man wanted revenge. He was going to kill Devlin unless someone saved us. Tears flooded my eyes and ran down my cheeks. No one knew where we were. No help would come in time to save Devlin.

  “—but you aren’t getting off that easy,” Ulysses said hatefully. “I’ve heard there are more than a few ways for you to die. Fire, decapitation, a stake, an explosive bullet, or pretty much anything that destroys your heart. But it’s universally agreed that the most painful way is burning by sunlight.” Ulysses leaned closer, his soft words ringing out in the stillness of the night. “You and I have a date with Mr. Sun at ten a.m., Dalcon. I want you to think about that tonight—”

  “Fuck you, and fuck your sister!” Devlin spat with cold malice. “She was just a whore anyway—”