But, I didn't know Geoff and he didn't know me. Could I rely on his relationship with Pete to keep things above board? I doubted it, but what else could I do? And right now, given all the information at hand, it didn't seem that bad a risk to take. Yeah right. Knowing my luck, this was going to be a very bad move indeed.
Michel's hand came over and took hold of mine, rubbing small circles on the back to calm me. Letting me know he was there, I wasn't alone. We'd deal with whatever came our way together.
We found a car park near the ghoul's pub in Notting Hill and headed the short distance to the front door. It was closed, well past closing hours for pubs in the city, but a short rap on the door proved successful and we were soon inside a well cleaned, but slightly yeasty and greasy smelling bar. All the chairs were up on tables, the floor recently mopped, but still the soles of my shoes seemed to stick as we followed Geoff over to a corner area, where chairs had been left down and waiting.
He'd glanced at Michel when we first entered through the door, but dismissed him as a problem immediately. Either Geoff really didn't have an issue with vampires, which was rather hard to believe, or he hid it well. Or, he had a platoon of ghouls hiding in the wings waiting to intervene if necessary. Yeah, that seemed more likely. I glanced around the bar but couldn't see, sense or scent another ghoul nearby.
They're out the back, Michel's thoughts caressed my mind. Ten or more. I wasn't sure how Michel could sense them, but I was glad he could. Better he knew that now, than did something he would regret later. Ghouls are tough and extremely rough. I'd back a vampire in a one on one, but ten to one, my money is on the ghouls. The number alone let me know Geoff had suspected I'd bring a vampire. Maybe even suspected I'd bring Michel.
I hoped I wasn't walking us into a trap. I told myself that Pete trusted Geoff, but truthfully, I really didn't know how well ghouls trusted each other. Maybe Pete had just trusted that Geoff would get me any information I needed, not that he wouldn't carve me up and serve me for dinner. Pete had always said I could take care of myself. It probably hadn't crossed his mind to warn me Geoff was still playing by the old rules. That's the hunt-the-humans-and-eat-them-raw rules. It had been a long time since ghouls had done that, they behave themselves now. Eat raw, but not humans. Not that I'm aware of anyway.
We sat down on the chairs provided. I was surprised Michel had forgone the seat with his back to the wall, in favour of the seat slap bang next to me. But then, the wall seat would have proven a hindrance if he'd had to come to my aid. He was sacrificing his natural defensive instincts, in order to protect me.
I levelled my gaze on Geoff, time to get this over with.
“So, what have you found out?” I asked, keeping my voice level and calm.
He hadn't offered us a drink, so I had nothing for my hands to play with. It felt wrong, I'd always had a glass of beer in my hand when dealing with Pete. It's surprising what a simple repetitive motion can do for your nerves. I substituted the beer glass with a stake from my jacket. Probably not the most reassuring thing for the ghoul to witness, let alone the vampire at my side, but I tried to make it look a natural, sub-conscious movement. As though I did it all the time and didn't even realise I was. I think he bought it. At the very least, it reminded him of who I was.
“You first, Hunter. I see your lust charm has been removed.” So, one of the ghouls out back had been the chap I met last time and he had already ascertained the lust charm had been removed.
“The charm was inconvenient,” I answered, for want of something better to say.
“I bet it was,” Geoff offered and received a low growl from Michel. Sometimes it was like taking your dog along to business meetings. I kind of wished I had a bone to give him to chew, at least then he might not react to every unwanted comment thrown my way.
“All right,” I said, straightening my shoulders. No point delaying the inevitable, but still, I could set a few ground rules. “Are we alone Geoff, or do the walls have ears?” I knew damn well the walls had ears, but if you asked a ghoul for a private meeting, they were honour bound to give it.
He blew a huff of air out. I don't think he expected me to know so much about how to negotiate with a ghoul. I was lucky, Pete had taken me under his wing when I first arrived in Auckland. He'd made sure I knew the right way and the wrong way to deal with a ghoul. Like he said, it wasn't guaranteed that he'd always be the head honcho of ghouls in the city. One day I may be faced with another. I was glad he had prepared me tonight.
Geoff got up and went out the back door, said a few words which even Michel couldn't pick up, then closed the door firmly behind him as he returned to our table.
“On my honour we are alone. The walls have no ears.” He didn't sound pleased about it. I knew why he would have wanted ears in the walls though. Even exchanging information between ghouls requires payment. The more ghouls he had hearing the news first hand that I offered, the less payment would have to be made to spread the information later on. Now, he would have to accept only suitable payments for what I had to say, if he wished to pass the info on at all. He could not accept less than it was worth either, it would tarnish his reputation. So, it could prove a lengthy process for all the ghouls in his network to become apprised of this news. If it did prove useful to him, I could at least be happy that its spread to others would be delayed.
It was the best I could do.
“You know what I am.” I didn't need to reconfirm what I already knew, but drawing out the exchange made the news more worthwhile. I had to make him think what I offered as payment was enough for the information I wanted in exchange. Sometimes smoke and mirrors were useful when dealing with the ghouls.
He nodded. “The Prophesied.”
“Yes. You'd think that would be enough, wouldn't you?” I didn't wait for an answer. “I am also a mœðr.”
He looked momentarily surprised. He obviously knew what a mœðr was. He cocked his head at me and said, “But you are more.”
I kept the surprise off my face, holding fast to my blank, neutral show-the-vampires-only-a-mask face as hard as I could.
“What makes you say that?” I asked, calmly. I wasn't calm though. Geoff gave me a little creepy feeling between my shoulder blades. I think he played by slightly different rules than Pete. I wasn't sure, but Geoff was not to be taken lightly. That I did know.
“The word is the Imp Prince would give anythin' to have you back. Anythin' at all. If you were just a mœðr he would be interested, but not desperate. He smacks of desperation to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked smug. His thick eyebrows rising in pleasure at the response he was getting from his deductions.
“Has he bargained with you?” I asked, a little desperate myself. Michel's hand came to rest on my thigh under the table, reassuring and restraining at the same time.
“Now, no self-respectin' ghoul would divulge their sources would they?”
It didn't take a degree in philosophy to figure it out. Geoff was playing both sides and even if he did have information on where Citysider was, it wasn't the only reason why he called us here tonight. I let myself sink into the black nothingness and sought out all the vampires in the area. There were none nearby and I couldn't seek fey, so if Lutin was near, I couldn't tell. Michel had said at least ten ghouls, more than enough to hold us if need be.
We need to get out of here, I sent the thought to Michel.
I know, he replied in my mind then added, we cannot leave until the exchange of information has been given. Tell him everything and demand to know where your Nosferatin is.
Michel was right. Even a double crossing ghoul couldn't let this exchange not be completed. If there was any chance of us getting out of here without the ghouls getting physical, we'd need to complete the exchange of info first.
“I'm Lutin's elska,” I said without preamble, truly fingering my stake now, not just using it as a calming influence, but preparing to use it in earnest. “Where is Citysider?” I asked.
�
��Now isn' tha' a pretty thing. No wonder he is keen to have you back.” He slipped a piece of paper across the the table towards me. I took it and glanced at an address in south London; Croydon, then folded it and shoved it in my pocket.
“We're even?” I asked, preparing to stand and leave.
“You're abou' to become a popular piece of property, Nosferatin. I suggest you 'ave more at your back than 'im.” He pointed a thumb carelessly at Michel. “Tha' is on the house, 'cause Pete likes you.”
Hot piece of property all because I was an elska? I couldn't figure it out and right now was not the time to expend mental energy on a puzzle. I nodded at Geoff and both Michel and I stood to go. Then I remembered the message. Part of me wondered if asking for the message was wise right now, but my curiosity has always been one of my greatest downfalls. I just couldn't leave without knowing.
“You had a message for me?” I asked, then hastily added, “On the house too.”
The ghoul assessed me with those muddy brown eyes of his and ran a hand through his hair. “Pete has taugh' you well, luv. Yeah, I got a message for ya. Now let me see, it goes like this,” - he rubbed his chin while remembering the exact words - “Ligh' and Dark are intertwined. Never to be parted. Dark will call to our kind. Ligh' has already started”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I asked, incredulously. I mean I had expected a message from Citysider, maybe a hint on how to battle the Fey. And with recent developments, I'd thought maybe a message from Lutin. A warning he was going to catch me any moment now, or something equally as droll. But, this?
“I only pass on the message, luv, if you wanna know more, like where I got it from, then it will cost ya.”
I was done bartering with this ghoul. “We're even,” I said and turned my back on him and walked across the pub.
The door was stiff so Michel had to help me budge it. All those beer fumes soaking into the wood making it expand probably. We finally got it open and I couldn't have got across that threshold and out into the night any faster if I had tried. Anywhere would be better than back inside that pub.
Only to revise that sentiment when I looked up and found a certain Fey Prince waiting for us outside, leaning casually against our car.
So, it had been a trap then.
Chapter 28
The Challenge
I quickly did another scan of vampire Sanguis Vitam in the air, but as before, there were no hidden vampires nearby. The door behind us was pulled shut with effort from the other side and the distinct sound of a deadbolt sliding home followed. The ghouls were washing their hands of us, which was a relief. Lutin on his own was trouble enough without throwing vampires and ghouls into the mix.
Michel positioned himself in front of me, a natural protective stance. But, I still managed to spy Lutin from behind Michel's tall frame and then shuffled a little further to get a better view.
“No Master of the City to protect tonight, Lutin?” I asked, then Michel stepped further in front of me to block my line of sight.
I forced myself not to show anger at his protective instincts. Lutin did have a tendency to influence me with a smile or a look, so maybe it wasn't such a bad idea that Michel stood between us after all.
“Elska, he has fed tonight, as I believe you are aware and therefore I am free to roam as I will. My duty to him complete for another evening. I thought it time to call on the bjóða. What say you, vampire, will you honour your challenge?” Lutin asked, his voice only slightly melodious. Not enough to be using his fey magic to influence, I don't think, but enough to make you relax, when you knew you shouldn't be.
I wasn't sure if Michel was up to a challenge, even though I didn't know what that challenge would be. I could only imagine it would require some show of force and Michel was still recovering from de-staking Avery. I really was starting to regret that little impulsive episode, despite it feeling damn good to have got the better of the Dark vampire at the time. Consequences. Consequences. Consequences. Bugger.
“What had you in mind, imp?” Michel asked, for all the world appearing at ease and more than ready to take on a horde of fey with pleasure.
Lutin pushed off from his lean against the Rover and walked a few steps closer, Michel showed no sign of alarm. He didn't stiffen or move, no fluctuation in his Sanguis Vitam and from what I could tell, there was also no change to the shade of his eyes. Half of this challenge was going to be posturing, I guessed. Like a Nosferatin: Never show fear.
“The right to claim a woman as mate has been a common reason for discord among men for centuries, vampire. Perhaps a centuries old duel would be appropriate.” Lutin paused and threw his arms wide and his head back and gazed up into the night sky. I'm not sure what he saw there, with London's ambient glow the stars are hard to discern. “I find myself in the mood of amusement this night. I miss my home and am growing impatient for my kind's company. Lucinda would make a nice substitute for my longing for home, don't you think?” His head snapped down and he smirked at Michel.
Michel didn't answer straight away, but I noticed a muscle twitching in his jaw, visible from where I stood, but maybe not from where Lutin was. After only a few moments of silence, Michel flexed his hand and a Svante sword appeared in his grasp. I had no idea where the sword had come from, how Michel had concealed it, or called it to him, but it was solid and real and glinting in the lights of the now very deserted street.
“Old style duels should be fought with old style rules, Prince of Ljósálfar. No magic, no power other then the strength our human counterparts would rely on. We stand as man to man,” Michel said, shedding his jacket and removing his tie.
I took both articles of clothing from him, but he didn't look me in the eyes, his attention was all for the Fey. He may be asking for no magic, but I doubted Michel trusted Lutin not to break the rules.
“How delightful,” Lutin answered, seeming quite enchanted with idea of restricting himself to human strength only. “Elska dear, be sure not to intervene, it would only forfeit your kindred from the bjóða,” he added, flashing me a smile. I quickly glanced away, but there had been no hint of fey influence attached to that look. Just pure male.
Can you trust him? I couldn't help it, I had to ask Michel, throwing him the thought.
As far as the bjóða is concerned, yes. The rules are set, if he or I use magic of any kind, we will be forfeit to the other, came his soft reply, laced with warmth and trust. He was letting me know I could trust him to get this done and he was also telling me he trusted me not to intervene.
I knew Michel was familiar with how to wield a sword. I had seem him fight with other vampires in actual battles, but also with Erika. He had called Erika his Sword. She was an expert with the Svante, she taught me, she probably taught Michel too, although the thought of someone - who was younger than him and less powerful - teaching Michel was hard to fathom.
Still, although I knew from first hand knowledge how competent Michel was with a sword, I couldn't help the nerves that fluttered in my stomach as I watched Lutin pull a sword from an invisible sheath at his side. It was beautiful. Unlike Michel's, which was a traditional looking Svante sword with a rudimentary copper encased hilt and slightly curved cross bar. Lutin's sword had a brightly decorated hilt. A spectacular combination of blues, greens, reds and yellows in geometric designs and ribbons and swirls. Similar to my Sigillum surprisingly.
The shades acted like a prism, casting colours like a rainbow around the street when they caught the lights overhead. But the silver of the hilt was what really caught the eye. It was impossible to look away from the glint it caused and the more I focused on that handle, the more I wanted to touch it. I found myself sliding out from behind Michel and taking a step towards that magical shine. I would have sold my soul to feel that haft.
Michel's hand came down on my shoulder, halting my advance towards Lutin.
“She is susceptible to fey silver, vampire. It calls to her, as if she were already one of our own.” Lutin ro
lled his sleeve up. He was wearing a loose, untucked deep blue shirt and pale denim jeans, with slightly scuffed black leather boots on his feet. For all the casual dress, he did look gorgeous. His bracelet shone in the lights of the street and I pulled against Michel's hand. “This will be hers one day, vampire. How do you think she will fare once she possesses our silver? There will be no escape for her then. Do you still believe she is not my elska?”
Michel turned me to face him and whispered in my mind, Lower your shields, ma douce. You must not let him give you fey silver. Once gifted it will call to your soul for eternity. The Fey have controlled many over the years with the gift of silver. He would own you, as the silver would own you.
And then he sent a series of images of silver items coveted by mankind through the years. The 1804 U.S. Silver dollar. The Depeyester 1779 Silver Bowl. A Macedonian Hoplite 4th Century Silver Shield. The “Ides of March” Denarius 42BC Coin. The images flickered across my mind in quick succession; trophies, plates, bowls, coins, jewellery. All of it well known and collectable. The thought that humans - Norms - were seeking these items out in auction houses and black market sales and once possessed, would continue to crave more and more fey silver relics, was astounding. Did it mean that the Fey who forged the item, or owned it before it was let loose in our world, would own that human when the portals opened?
I didn't hesitate, I let my shields down and felt Michel's influence rush in. It was over in a second, then quickly he sent the thought, Raise them! I did, slamming them home and sealing them with every conceivable measure I could think of to keep them firm and true. The speed was obviously to prevent Lutin from using the opportunity to access my mind. Not that he needed my shields to be down, he still managed to make me do things without even trying, but obviously Michel felt his additional shielding in my mind would work. I hoped so, I didn't want to be owned by a piece of fey silver, let alone Lutin.
I looked up into Michel's eyes, his were a mixture of amethyst and indigo, with flashes of magenta here and there. His fingers came up and brushed my cheeks.
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