Key to Conflict

by Talia Gryphon

  “While he would be brought to heel, the threat from those who would follow him and make him a martyr, will forever remain. I will have committed the coup instead of Dracula and this process will begin again with another Vampire of his line or belief at the helm of his followers.”

  Pausing again, he looked at her carefully. Comprehension was flaring in her eyes. Yes, she was understanding. Good. Now to do what he was able to do.

  “I am sending Anubis and a small contingent of my personal guard with you back to Romania. Dionysus will send a few of his own as well. Do not be seduced into a false sense of security, Gillian. Aleksei will be required to generate his own protection for his country and his Human contingent. That will take time and time is one thing you do not have.”

  Her thoughts were clear on the surface and he gave her chills when he answered what she did not even think to ask.

  “I know you have seen very little evidence of a war. I understand that you have little reason to believe in the seriousness of this situation based on your own knowledge of what you have seen thus far.

  “Wars among us are not fought in a Human manner, Gillian. There will be no bombs, no clash of troops. Subterfuge and subversion is how we destroy each other or win allegiances. Dionysus and I intend to win. We shall win, but we will do it honorably, or all Vampire kind will be as much at his mercy as the Human world. Do you understand?”

  He waited. His gold eyes, like discs from the sun, probed her. Finally she nodded. “Yes, I do. I will place my loyalty on this table. I know what you stand for much better now and can honestly say that I do trust you in this situation.”

  Truth was in her voice and he acknowledged it. “I am glad of that.” He turned, nodding to Aleksei and Tanis. “I will do what I can to protect you, but you must take your own precautions.”

  Gill, Aleksei and Tanis also rose as Osiris padded silently from the room. At the door he paused and turned back, pinning Gillian with his eyes. Being food to the good guys was almost as bad as being food to the bad guys in her opinion, but she’d thrown her hat in the ring and she’d stand by it. She wondered how most Humans would see the situation—not having the experience and viewpoint of someone used to dealing with Paramortals.

  “Gillian.” His voice was soft and caressing. “You are not food to be used. Humans are our sustenance, that is true, but our lives would be empty without the glory of Humanity, with all its developments and changes. Humans are nourishment to the soul of the Vampire. We have no reason or need to enslave you. Do not forget that.”

  With a wink to Aleksei and another nod to Tanis, the Egyptian God swept from the room.

  CHAPTER

  12

  A WESTRUCK, Gillian didn’t notice Aleksei and Tanis flanking her until it was far too late. Damn Vampire glamour anyway. Both her upper arms were gripped firmly, a Vampire on either side.

  Aleksei’s low and angry voice was spoken at a pitch only for her to hear. “I want an explanation, Gillian. Why did you lie a few minutes ago?”

  Jeez, Gillian thought. It’s like being caught sneaking in after curfew by your parents.

  Anubis had the audacity to snicker. Gillian leveled a hard stare at him, but he only smiled from his place at the doorway. Leaning against it, he crossed his arms, enjoying the interplay.

  Tanis interjected, but he wasn’t masking his words or his displeasure. “Aleksei asked you a question, Gillian. I also am very interested in the answer.”

  She tried to shake free of them, but it was an ineffectual gesture. “Fine. You want to know where I was? I was trapped in Khefre’s pyramid with a fucking Mummy who was trying to eat me. And I lied because I knew you both would flip out if I told you the truth.”

  Turning her head so she could glare at both of them, she concluded. “Happy now?”

  “Not quite,” Tanis ground out between his teeth. The look on his face said he wasn’t through with her yet.

  “Anubis?” Aleksei looked toward his friend, then back down at Gillian, who was looking uncomfortable and angry. “What the hell were you doing inside that pyramid?”

  “Exploring!” Gillian was vastly annoyed. “What the hell else do you think you do inside a pyramid if you’re not dead?”

  “What I think is, if you ever lie to me again, therapist or not, grown woman or not, I will resort to my ‘overgrown fossil’ nature as Tanis did, but I will not be as gentle,” Aleksei snarled at her, his eyes flashing brilliant silver in his ire.

  “I think not, Aleksei…” Tanis’s voice was frosty.

  Gillian smiled at him gratefully, until he ended his sentence. “…because I will do it.” His gaze was withering. Her smile faded abruptly.

  Laughter interrupted. Anubis was doubling over. Apparently he thought this entire exchange was one of the funnier things he’d seen in his long life, and he was sharing that with them. How sweet. He obviously didn’t get out much.

  “Tanis, you have your hands full, but Aleksei…” He laughed again. When he could contain himself, he managed to finish. “…finally someone has gotten under that frigid skin of yours.”

  Straightening and wiping his eyes, which were shiny with pink-tinged tears, he looked at Gillian. “You are adorable. You have no idea how pleased I am that someone has finally chipped through the famous Rachlav family ice.”

  He extended his hands in a pleading gesture. “Forgive me, Gillian. I do not mean to make light of your attack. Khefre has indeed been plagued recently by Mummies since they opened the royal cemetery and mortuary temple.

  “If any of us had known your intentions of exploring there, we would have warned you. I am truly glad, as I am sure Aleksei and Tanis are, that you were not harmed.” It was a nice apology, except for the chortle that followed. “Oh, Tanis, if you could see your face just now.”

  Gillian found exactly none of this funny. Jerking away finally from both of them, only because they let her, she started for the door. Anubis stopped her with a gentle hand.

  “Please, allow me to escort you, Gillian.”

  His eyes were dancing with mirth and she could feel his unique power radiating outward. He wasn’t a threat, just obnoxious. Lovely.

  Glaring at Aleksei and Tanis, she accepted his offer. “That would be great, Anubis. If you have the time to spare.”

  An obnoxious Vampire escort was preferable to the chauvinistic musings of the Rachlav brothers at the moment.

  “I always take time for a friend, little one.”

  Black eyes that were still warm with mirth smiled at her and the smile continued down to his lovely mouth. Flirtatious? Not really. He wasn’t coming on to her, just enjoying himself immensely.

  “We are leaving tomorrow night, Gillian. Be ready at twilight.” Aleksei’s tone was imperious and she ignored it.

  Waving backward to the both of them, she waltzed off on Anubis’s arm, listening to Tanis seethe. “This discussion has not ended, Gillian. Count on that.”

  Still angry but trying to manifest a smile, Gillian looked up at Anubis’s profile as they strolled back to her room. “I suppose I should be flattered that they are so concerned for my welfare, but it does wear thin,” she grumbled.

  Reaching her door, Anubis leaned around her and opened it. The Vampire Elves had been at work again. She had food and drink on the carved table and there was an extra chair.

  “Won’t you come in for a moment?”

  She didn’t really want company, but she didn’t want to run the risk of another confrontation with Aleksei or Tanis in case they dropped by.

  Anubis regarded her for a moment, his obsidian eyes unreadable. “All right, Gillian. I would enjoy a few minutes in your company.”

  He waited until she sat, then joined her as she ate a light meal of cheese, fruit and the spectacular icy water she’d had earlier.

  “So you have known the Rachlav brothers a long time, I gather?” Might was well dive right in, Gill thought.

  “Yes. We all have. Tanis and I have been friends since we met. Osiris an
d Aleksei as well. They have great respect for each other. Aleksei, though nowhere near as old, is as honorable as our Lord Osiris.”

  Anubis was watching her closely, intrigued by her in some way.

  “Have you always been a soldier, Gillian? I have been a Vampire for thousands of years, but I remember how important women were to men. I have not forgotten completely what it was like to be Human.” He managed to sound somewhat wistful. “We cherished our woman for so very long, it is difficult to conceive of sending such a precious being out into battle.”

  “Not you too.” Gillian groaned. “I know you all are ancient. I understand you have wisdom and knowledge that I will never possess, but you all have really got to stop believing in the pampered-doll idea of a woman. She’s a myth. I wasn’t brought up to be in a gilded cage, I was brought up to take care of myself. I joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to know that I could handle myself in any situation. And now…” Her voice dropped off.

  “And now,” Anubis echoed, “you find yourself in the very position you wished to avoid, at the mercy of hopelessly antiquated males who believe in keeping you from harm, even subjecting you to their discipline, because you mean so much to them.” Even gentle and teasing, his voice carried the weight and wisdom of all the centuries he’d lived.

  “Gillian,” he continued gently, “anyone can see that you are a being to be reckoned with. That is not in question. Do not judge Tanis nor Aleksei too harshly. They have never been in this position before, either. It has been a long time since either of them cared for anything but our common cause. Now, they have found a Human to care about. I am glad of this.”

  Gently he cupped her chin in his hand as he stood to leave, his obsidian eyes gleaming with life, yet she didn’t see it, stubbornly looking away, not wanting to hear all of his truths right now. His fingertips were warm on her skin, but he wasn’t forcing her to look at him, just maintaining the contact as he spoke.

  His voice infiltrated her being, serene and calm. “It takes a monumental will to live for a Vampire to survive even a single century, Gillian. Most Face The Sun when they have isolated themselves so much that life no longer holds any joy. The evil ones like Dracula find entertainment in the fear and pain they inflict. But most, like us, learn to watch, love to learn and continue to look forward eagerly to the next step in Human development. We do not stop living simply because we have died in Human terms.”

  Lifting her eyes to his, she found compassion there. Nothing that she ever expected to find within a Vampire of his age. “Osiris told you: Humanity is nourishment for the soul of the Vampire. Tanis has had his archeology. Aleksei has governed our people in his Country and he has his painting. Nourish them a little. Give them more of your fire and fury. Shake them to their stodgy foundations. But do not give up on them. They are not lost, but they are as near to hopeless as I have ever seen. I do not wish to attend the suicide of two such friends.”

  “So how come you are so contemporary in your thinking and they are stuck in the Renaissance?” It was an honest question, but it still came out more petulant than she would have liked.

  “I am thousands of years older. I chose to learn to adapt long ago. Aleksei and Tanis are young to us. You are very, very young. Young and stubborn and full of the pride that Humans all seem to possess.”

  He leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “I look forward to knowing you, Gillian. Now you must forgive me, but the night grows old and my lady awaits me.” Almost gliding, he moved to the door.

  “Your lady?” Gillian wanted to know.

  Anubis smiled. “Sekhmet. I believe you met her already. Goodnight, little sister. Sleep safely. You are under a Vampire Lord’s protection.” Just like that, he was gone.

  Alone finally, she had time to think and to ponder. Anubis was right. So was Osiris. Working with Vampires and other Paramortals for so long she thought she’d understood them. She realized that she understood their problems, their frailties, but she knew very little about what they were like ordinarily. Chuckling at the thought of a Vampire or Werewolf as now being considered ordinary, when less than a decade ago they were still considered myths and monsters, she jumped when there was a knock at her door.

  “Yes?” she called. “Who is it?”

  “Tanis. May I have a word with you?”

  Gillian started to say no, but went and opened the door anyway. “Did you come to yell at me again?”

  His lovely face was unreadable, but he suddenly swept her up in his arms, nearly crushing her in the strength of his embrace. “Dio, piccola, you are supposed to be safe here. When you did not return…I thought…I thought…” His voice trailed off, and he took her mouth in a bruising kiss.

  Gillian was surprised, amazed and shocked. She thought at the least he was there to lecture her on appropriate safety precautions against the undead when visiting ancient architecture. The fact that he was kissing her and trembling as he held her was astonishing.

  Pulling back to have a chance to breathe, Gillian searched his face. “Tanis, what is wrong? I ran into a Mummy; it scared the shit out of me, but I got away from it. I had no way to tell you where I was or that I needed help. I would have told you if I could have. Okay?”

  Smiling gently at him she stroked his jaw. “I’m not that macho, and I’m not too proud to ask for help if I need it.”

  Realizing she was eye level with him, she added, “Now, put me down, please. I am sorry if you were afraid for me. It was not intentional, I assure you.”

  Tanis complied, but he didn’t take his hands off her shoulders. “I know it was not intentional, caressima, and I apologize for being angry with you for something that was not your fault.”

  Golden eyes roamed over her, not in appraisal, but to assure himself that she truly was unhurt. Before she could reply, there was another knock, on the door jamb this time, and Aleksei’s voice floated over her. “May I also apologize, Gillian?”

  He walked in without waiting for consent. It wasn’t Gillian’s home or one that had been designated as such, so he had free entry. “My sincere apologies, little Captain. I was afraid for you and my temper got the better of me.” His eyes were serious and she could feel he was sincere.

  Having had an exciting day, then learning more truths than she’d wanted to know at the moment, Gillian needed companionship from familiar friends. Laughing, she hugged both of them; something melted in the region of her heart.

  “I am breaking so many rules right now it’s not even funny, but I really, really want you both to stay with me for awhile until I fall asleep.” She moved to the bed, kicked her boots off and sat on the edge. “Now do you want to hear about my exciting adventure with the Mummy?”

  The two males took a chair apiece and settled in to listen to her tale. Gillian’s natural personality, unfettered by professionalism at the moment, soon had the three of them laughing as she relayed her unenviable situation. Both men were astonished while listening that she wasn’t a sobbing mess, but both came away with a better appreciation and understanding of how far females had evolved since they’d taken notice.

  Much later, when she yawned, Tanis took control. “Lay down, Gillian. You are exhausted.” Too tired to argue, she did as he asked and crawled under the blankets. Tucking her in, he sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, stroking her hair. Aleksei watched from across the room. He ached to touch her, to comfort her as Tanis was free to do. Recognizing that his feelings were far transcending a doctor-patient relationship, Aleksei promised himself to keep his thoughts and desires firmly in check. They were a third of the way through his projected therapy time, and he didn’t intend to alienate her.

  “Good night, Gillian,” he said softly and left without a word. Already sleeping, she didn’t notice he’d left.

  Tanis noticed. He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her brow. “Bona sera, piccola. Sleep well.”

  Wanting to stay but knowing he should leave, Tanis stood a moment longer, watching her breathing c
hange to the deep, slow respirations of sleep. Jealousy flared for a brief moment. He knew Aleksei’s feelings for Gillian had shifted. The brief displays of his brother’s temper had been a warning. Tanis loved his brother, but he was growing to care for Gillian. The last thing he wanted was a rivalry when they couldn’t afford it.

  Aleksei would remain honorable. Until his therapy time ended and the compulsory waiting time expired, he could do no more than engage Gillian in polite conversation. Tanis didn’t know where it was going between himself and Gillian, but he wanted to play it out. Turning from her and retiring to the chamber he shared with Aleksei when he wanted to wrap his arms around her was one of the more unpopular decisions he had ever made for his body. He ached to hold her, but now was not the time. Tomorrow night they would return to Romania and try to survive as best they could until this was all over.

  CHAPTER

  13

  B ACK in Romania, Aleksei insisted everyone be lodged in the castle itself. Gillian grumbled about protocol and propriety but gave in after Tanis threatened to toss her over his shoulder and carry her there, personally. It was immense. Hell, the entire estate was huge. The castle rose between the pines and other old trees of the forest. Built of local gray stone, it shone almost silver in the moonlight. She was shown to an opulent room on the main floor while the Egyptian Vampires were shown to well-shielded quarters on the second floor. There were rooms below in the cellar close to the rejuvenating earth.

  The room Aleksei gave her was amazing. Decorated in rich burgundy tones, all the fixtures were gilded, warming the room further. A massive four-poster bed occupied a great deal of the space, but the room was so big it wasn’t overpowering. The bedspread was midnight blue velvet. A large silver R was in the center of it, embroidered with metallic threads that Gillian bet were real silver. An enormous modern bathroom, complete with both a tub and shower, was off to the left and more closet space than she could have ever dreamed of was off to the right.