by Skye Knizley
Baldy smirked and raised a finger. All of the vampires raised their weapons, not at Raven but at Aspen, who raised her hands. Raven could feel her drawing power for a shield spell.
“Give me the weapon or watch your familiar die,” Baldy snarled.
“Give me your best shot, chrome dome,” Aspen said.
He glanced at her and smiled. “You’re pretty tough, for a familiar. Spunky. My boys will still smear your blood all over the lawn.”
Raven continued to stare at Baldy and drew her pistol. Again she ejected the magazine and slid it into her pocket before handing it over.
Baldy handed the pistol to one of his men and slapped Raven. The blow stung and brought blood to her lip. She felt her rage building, but kept it in check.
“That’s two, bub,” she said.
He raised his hand to slap her again. She caught it inches from her face and smashed her head into his nose. Blood spurted from his face and he spat out two teeth.
“I’m going to kill you,” he snarled. “I’m going drink the blood from your heart!”
“You will do nothing of the sort,” a new voice said.
Raven turned her head to see a large man in a velvet smoking jacket standing on the porch. He lit a short cigar and smiled, showing fang. He had close-cropped black hair and a smooth chin that made him look a lot like “Fat Elvis.”
“It is a pleasure to see you, Ravenel Tempeste. When last we met, you were just a little girl. Welcome to Boston.”
“Caderyn,” Raven said. “Your vampire bullshit is interfering with a Federal investigation and my dinner. What the hell do you want?”
“What’s due me, Fürstin Ravenel,” Caderyn said. “Come inside. Please don’t make my boys persuade you to accept my invitation.”
Raven glanced at Aspen and led the way across the lot to the front steps. When they reached the top, Caderyn ushered them into the house with his guards close behind. They passed through a long corridor decorated with antiques from early Massachusetts, many of which Raven felt like she’d seen before. Interspersed with the antiques were paintings of what could only be called depravity. Paintings depicting people having their intestines wound around sticks, heads impaled on pikes and people with their eyes cut out, all of which served to confirm what Valentina had always said about him: he was a sicko that got off on torture.
At the end of the corridor they passed into the house’s great hall. It was an oblong chamber with mirrors down one side that reflected the grand room and made it seem even more massive. One of Liberace’s pianos sat in the middle of the room, ready to play.
An ornate throne covered in swords and bones like something out of a medieval fantasy, sat at the head of the room on top of a dais covered in white cloth. The jewels on the cloth matched the piano.
Caderyn dropped heavily into the throne and put his feet on a pillow. Raven turned to face him with Aspen at her side. Caderyn’s guards fanned out behind them, weapons held at their waists. From the way they were standing, Raven got the feeling they were more experienced than most vamp-thugs.
“Okay, I’m here,” Raven said. “I’m tired, I’m cranky, and I’m in the middle of an investigation. Tell me what you want me to do?”
Caderyn jumped from his throne with agility that belied his size. He gripped Raven’s chin and moved her head left and right.
“Remarkable,” he said. “Just remarkable. You are so beautiful, you know. I’d kill to have one of you by my side.”
Raven pulled her chin free. “Touch me again and I’m going to stick that arm where no one will ever find it.”
Caderyn chuckled and turned away. His backhand blow caught Raven with such force she staggered and fell to one knee.
“Who do you think you are, Fürstin? I am Master here and you will show me the respect due my station.”
He kicked her in the stomach and she fell to the ground with a grunt of pain.
“Ray!” Aspen screamed.
Raven raised her hand at Aspen and climbed back to her knees.
“You came to my city without so much as a ‘hello.’ I am within my rights to punish you, but I want something else. Swear fealty to me as you would your Mistress,” Caderyn said, his voice once again calm. “Swear and there will be no punishment.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Raven grated.
She was pretty sure two of her ribs were broken.
Caderyn’s laughter filled the room. “Just remarkable.”
He turned around and pointed to his guards. “If she gets off her knees, shoot her. And kill the girl.”
He then squatted in front of Raven. “You see, Fürstin, I’m aware of all there is to know about you and your pet. You will swear to me or I will kill her, it’s that simple.”
Raven glared up at Caderyn, her mind racing. She wasn’t about to swear fealty to a vampire, especially not one like Caderyn.
Whatever you do, I’ll cover your play, Aspen thought.
Raven glanced at her. Don’t do anything stupid.
Because what you do is always so rational? Aspen asked.
Raven ignored her. “My fealty isn’t what you really want. Tell me what is.”
Caderyn leaned down so close she could smell the blood on his breath. “I want one of you by my side. I want your power, Ravenel.”
“One of who?” Aspen asked. “I’m not standing with you, you smell like a dead hog.”
Caderyn glared at her. “Silence, pet! I’m talking to your Mistress.”
“I won’t swear, Caderyn,” Raven said. “I owe allegiance to one person, my mother. Or don’t you remember what Fürstin means? I’m Lady Valentina’s guardian and princess. I can have no other.”
“Under the Totentanz you can declare your allegiance ended and swear to another,” Caderyn said. “I can read, girl. And a Master with your power by his side? He could rule the night. Be original, say yes. Be my Fürstin.”
“Next you’re going to tell me we can rule the galaxy as father and daughter, right?” Raven asked. “I’ve seen this movie, and I’m not Mark Hamill.”
Caderyn’s face darkened. He raised his eyes and nodded to Baldy. “Kill the girl.”
“With pleasure,” Baldy said.
The tall vampire drew a knife from beneath his coat and licked the edge, drawing blood from his tongue as he crossed the distance to Aspen. He savored the blood on his tongue and ran a hand down Aspen’s face.
“Mm, I bet yours tastes even better,” he rasped.
Aspen made a face. “Come on, if you’re going to breathe on me at least have a Mentos first.”
Raven started to rise, stopping only when half a dozen guns turned in her direction. “I’m warning you, Baldy. Don’t touch her.”
Baldy didn’t look at her. “I don’t think you’re in any position to threaten anyone, Fürstin. I’m going to drain your girl dry while you watch. The little ones are always good to the last drop.”
“You might bite off more than you can chew, suckhead,” Aspen said. “Back up.”
Caderyn laughed again. “I can’t get over you two. So much bravery. I admit, I’m impressed. It’s useless, but I’m impressed. This is your last chance, Ravenel, I’m getting bored. What’s it going to be?”
Gotta do something, love, Aspen thought. Chrome dome here is about to bite me.
Raven’s eyes never left Baldy. They aren’t using specials and don’t want to kill me. On three I’m going to use Caderyn as a bullet sponge. Get Baldy away from you any way you can.
One, two, three then go? Or—”
“You’re kidding, right?” Raven said aloud.
“No, Ravenel, I’m not kidding,” Caderyn growled.
One, Raven thought.
She smiled and spread her hands. “Hard to imagine you could be serious. Let us go. Right now.”
“I’ve had enough of the bravado, Ravenel,” Caderyn said.
Two.
“I’m going to kill you, Caderyn,” Raven said.
“Kill the girl and shoo
t the Fürstin,” Caderyn said. “Maybe that will soften the little bitch up.”
Baldy smiled and grabbed Aspen’s neck. “Finally!”
Three.
Raven moved faster than she ever had in her life. She rose and grabbed Caderyn’s arm. In a smooth motion she flipped him over her back into the guards behind her, who fell onto the piano, turning it into two million dollars’ worth of kindling.
With her fangs bared Raven charged the vampire holding her Automag. He raised his weapon and unleashed a burst of lead at her. The bullets went wide and Raven collided with him, one hand crushing the bones in his hand, the other drawing her pistol from his waist.
She turned to see Baldy fly across the room on a pillar of flame where he crashed into the mirror, sending shards all over the room. Raven slammed a fresh magazine into her pistol and racked the slide.
Across the room, Caderyn was extricating himself from his pile of guards amidst much yelling and screaming of curses. Raven let him flail for the moment, instead leveling her weapon at the guards around Aspen. She killed three with well-placed headshots that turned them into a dancing tornado of ash and flame. Two more exploded from the inside out as Aspen sent blades of hard magik through their chests, pulping their hearts.
“Okay, so it was three, then go,” Aspen said.
Raven rolled her eyes and turned to the guards, who had extricated themselves from the wreckage of the piano and Caderyn’s bulk. She shot the two vampires nearest him then stepped close and kicked him in the face. Beside her, Aspen killed another one with her magik blades and sent a second pillar of flame toward Baldy, who screamed and fell to the ground trying to put out the flames.
“Stop drop and roll, fugly,” Aspen snarled.
“We’re done here, Cade,” Raven said, “unless you want me to kill everyone in the building. Starting with you.”
Cade looked around at his dead and damaged men then glared at Raven. “You can’t kill me, you would leave Boston without a Master!”
“Not my problem,” Raven replied. “I don’t care about vampire politics any more than I care about you. I’m sure my mother can find someone better than you to run the city.”
“Indeed I can,” Valentina said from the doorway.
Raven didn’t turn around. “Hi Mom, I figured you’d be showing up sooner or later. I hope you had a nice flight.”
“Hello, Lady Valentina,” Aspen said. “I would bow, but I’m sort of waiting for one of these clowns to make a move and get turned into a Roman candle.”
Valentina stepped into view dressed in a white gown made from leather and lace. It covered her from cleavage to ankles, with a slit that rose to a point of speculation above her hip. When she walked, the dangerously high heels that adorned her feet clicked on the hardened floor and her black hair rustled softly against her side. Raven thought she looked like an extra from a vampire porn flick.
“You are fine, Aspen, my dear,” Valentina said. “You, Caderyn Ip’Rashid are not. You held this position with my blessing and used it to kidnap my daughter and her fiancé. That will not stand. Selene, Corsin!”
From the corner of her eye, Raven saw her sister Selene and her brother Corsin appear at the head of a dozen armored guards. They forced Caderyn’s men against the wall and dragged him to his feet.
Valentina folded her arms. “Caderyn, I hold you for crimes against the Totentanz and my family. Your house is forfeit. My daughter Selene will reign over Boston until and if a more suitable candidate appears.”
“After all I’ve done for you? You cannot be serious,” Caderyn yelled.
Valentina moved closer to him. “I am deadly serious, Caderyn. You overstepped your bounds, as well you know. Ravenel is off limits to you or anyone.”
“She is a big girl, its time—”
“She is my daughter and my Fürstin!” Valentina roared. “Guards, take him to the dungeons, you will find them behind the wine racks.”
Raven lowered her weapon as Caderyn was led away. She waited until his cries had faded then turned to her mother, whose eyes were still glowing bright blue.
“What the hell are you doing here, Mother?” Raven asked. “Are you following me?”
Valentina smiled, her eyes softening. “Of course not, my daughter. Your brother told me you were here. We both know how Caderyn can be, though I didn’t think he would go this far. I was coming to warn him to leave you alone when we found you. We’d have been faster, but Selene had to deal with the guards outside, first. I will have more of our people join her here as soon as I can.”
“If I didn’t know better I’d swear this was a power play,” Raven said, “with me as a pawn caught in the middle. You’ve just secured Boston for yourself.”
“Now, daughter, that isn’t something I would do,” Valentina pouted. “Come give me a hug, I have missed you.”
Raven holstered her pistol and gave Valentina a gentle hug. “I’ve missed you too, Mom. Even if you are a pain in the ass.”
Then something Valentina said hit her like a hammer. “Fiancé?”
She turned to look at Aspen. “Fiancé?”
Aspen blushed.
“I asked your mother if it would be okay. I hadn’t gotten around to asking you, yet,” she said. “I didn’t think she would spill the beans.”
Raven gaped at her. “You asked my mother?”
“She had to, child,” Valentina said. “It is uncommon for a vampire to take a familiar as their partner, under the Totentanz she needed permission of the Mistress.”
“I’m not a vampire,” Raven growled. “I’m human.”
“Ray, please don’t get mad,” Aspen said. “I wanted to do it right so no one could use it against us later, that’s all.”
“I don’t need her permission,” Raven said. “I stopped asking her for things when I was twelve!”
“But—” Aspen started.
“You could have at least said something to me before you went behind my back,” Raven continued. “Did you think I would say no just because the damn Mistress told me to? Since when do I care?”
“I’m standing right here, love,” Valentina said dryly.
“Shut up, Mother!” Raven yelled. “This is a human thing!”
At the same moment Aspen smiled and asked, “Is that a yes?”
Raven turned away and ran a hand through her hair to give her something to do. She heard and felt Aspen step up behind her then a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Honey?” Aspen asked.
“Aspen, I’m sorry, I assumed you had asked her immediately and she just hadn’t gotten around to telling her family,” Valentina said. “She’s like that.”
“It’s okay, Lady Valentina. We just haven’t had time,” Aspen said.
Raven looked at Aspen. She looked like an innocent little elf beneath that fringe of purple hair with its feathers and beads. It was an innocence belied by the mischief in her amazing eyes. Raven knew she loved this person and would die to protect her. But she was still getting used to the idea of a steady relationship. This was the first time she’d been with someone for more than a month. How could she marry someone, anyone, doing what she did for a living? She’d never forgiven her father.
Aspen reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out a ring box wrapped in blue velvet.
“What do you say, boss?” she asked.
Aspen opened the box. Inside was a sapphire set between diamonds on a platinum band. The setting was the same as the Tempeste house crest.
Raven looked around at the piles of ash, crushed piano, honor guard and her mother looking on then back as Aspen.
“Asp, this isn’t really the sort of place I imagined this happening,” she said.
“With us there is never a right time or place,” Aspen said. “There is just the now. With our lifestyle, one of us could be dead in a week and I don’t want that to happen without doing this.”
“Say yes, Ravenel,” Valentina said. “For once in your life, just say yes.”
/> “No one is going to die, Aspen,” Raven said.
“You don’t know that,” Aspen said. “You just don’t. We could’ve died tonight for all we know.”
Raven smiled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I think we did fine.”
“You always do that when you’re avoiding an answer,” Aspen said. “Make a sarcastic remark so you can hold off a little longer.”
“Ravenel, your familiar deserves an answer,” Valentina said. “You know each other’s hearts, you have for two years. I have given my blessing, what more is there?”
“Reality, Mother,” Raven said. “Aspen, my father died when I was just sixteen years old. I had to watch them lower a closed casket into the ground because someone shot him in the head. I watched Dominique cry and, in her way, my mother as well. You’re right, sooner or later this job will kill me. I don’t want you to go through what I went through, what they went through. Not you, not anyone. Not because of me.”
“Do you think whether you wear my ring or not will stop me from mourning?” Aspen asked. “Or Rupert? Valentina? You’re not out here alone, Raven. If you die it will take a part of each of us away, don’t think it won’t. That’s a stupid excuse not to be happy with the ones you love while you’re here with us. With me.”
Raven didn’t know what to say. She knew she loved Aspen, but she couldn’t shake the image of her father’s coffin or the look on her mother’s face when she found out Mason Storm was dead.
“Aspen, now isn’t the time,” she said at last. “We’re in the middle of a case and in the middle of a destroyed piano. We can talk about this somewhere nice when it is all over.”
Aspen’s face fell and Raven felt like someone had kicked her in the heart, but Aspen put the ring box back in her pocket.
“Sure, love, you’re right,” she said.
“Asp—”
“We have a case to solve,” Aspen continued. “What’s our next move, boss?”
“Find my partner and find out what she learned at the coroner’s office,” Raven replied.
Aspen turned toward the door. “I can catch you up on that. I’m going to go grab us some wheels while you play vampire. Caderyn has to have something decent around here.”