Giver of Light

by Nicola Claire

  “Can I have a beer?”

  “Your usual?” he asked, already pulling on the tap and filling up a crystal clear schooner. I just nodded.

  He pushed the cold beverage across to me on a paper coaster and leaned nonchalantly on his elbow atop the bar.

  “So, what's up, Hunter?”

  Yeah, I kind of deserved that one. I tend to only visit if I am after something, but that's our relationship, there's no point denying it.

  “The usual. I'm in trouble and could do with some help.”

  Pete's eyes did a slow scan over the bodies of my entourage. “Hence the guards. Last time you were here, you just had one.”

  I raised my eyebrows at him. “Michel is not a guard.”

  “Yeah, but he'd die protecting you,” he replied and I didn't correct him. Michel would actually do everything in his power to stay alive, not out of any self preservation instinct, but because his death would mean mine. It wouldn't bother me too much, except for two reasons; one, I wasn't sure whether his life after death would be in the same location as mine and two, if I die, the Dark prevails. Either option not good enough to shake off this mortal (or in our case semi-immortal) coil. “So where is he?”

  Right. Information exchange number one. “Are we on the books?” I asked. It always pays to get your cards out on the table when you start sharing knowledge with a ghoul. There's no point offering up information for free. They wouldn't hesitate to take it, but they'd think you pretty dumb for giving away something that may be precious. Ghouls liked dealing with savvy opponents, not pushovers.

  He smiled appreciatively at me. “If you say.”

  Good enough for me. “America, responding to a call to arms.”

  Pete blinked slowly, just once and then stilled. “This is not common knowledge, Luce.” Michel had obviously kept that quiet. Pete would be wondering why his network of informants hadn't picked up a tasty bit of gossip such as this. I didn't for a second think that Pete wasn't aware that Michel was out of town, but the call to arms was my coup de grace. A bit earlier in the game than I had intended, but sometimes a shock and awe approach does wonders. And really, time was not on my side. My first hour was almost up and Jonathan would be getting testy.

  “It's a recent development, in response to my kidnapping.”

  “Jonathan,” he replied. His knowledge of my kidnapper did not surprise me at all. I nodded.

  “Not a lot I can do for you in America, Luce. It's a closed shop. My boys are not welcome in amongst that riff-raff.” I guessed he was talking about the local ghouls. I didn't need clarification, America wasn't why I was here. I'd had to push the problem, or more to the point, the gnawing fear, of America, aside. I was trusting Michel to handle his end, my worrying would only make what I faced an impossible hurdle to climb.

  “I'm more concerned with Auckland right now and that's where I'm hoping you'll fit in.” He shifted slightly, into a more comfortable position it looked like, but I didn't miss the inference, it was a clear, I'm all ears, do tell kind of move. “Jonathan is here, not in America facing off the call to arms.”

  “The son of a bitch,” Pete muttered. “Cowardly bastard.” I whole heartedly agreed, but I knew Jonathan not manning up to his challenge was more of a disgraceful act to a ghoul. They may be bottom feeders on the supernatural ladder, but they were honourable ones.

  “Where do we fit in?” Well, that was a promising question, the fact that Pete wasn't hedging any more meant I may have him on board already. No telling though, until I spilled the beans.

  “He's got ten of Michel's vampires hostage at Sensations and he'll kill one an hour until I give myself up.”

  Pete just looked at me for a good twenty seconds, then scratched at his short trimmed beard. He flashed his hand open, in a quick sign, something equivalent to a shrug. “Why would this be a concern for me? You wouldn't exchange yourself for ten vamps, Michel would not accept that.”

  “I'm not Michel and these are good vampires. I will not let them die because of me.”

  Pete took a deep breath in and blew it out long and slow. “You court danger, you do, Luce. Danger and mess and a whole shit-load of don't-want-to-know. But, I do owe you and I always pay my debts.” His big brown eyes caught mine, a flash of something else hidden in those deep sepia pools. “This will leave us even, Hunter.” I nodded, I hadn't expected to have had enough news to warrant his help, I had always known the price for his involvement in this would be bigger than any titbit of gossip I could provide. I was just relieved Pete felt obliged to pay back on the accord I had set up. I wasn't entirely sure if his involvement in the battle against Max had covered that debt or not. I guess it hadn't, or maybe he thought the ghouls aiding Michel was not really aiding me. This was a more honourable way to pay back that debt, something important to only me.

  “How do you want to play this?” he asked.

  “Distraction. Outside the bar, after I go in.” Matthias turned on that one, but before he could enter the argument, I gave him the look, the back-off-if-you-know-what's-good-for-you look and proceeded to give them all a run down on what I expected.

  Once the details had been driven home, we took our leave. Time was almost up and although it would take Pete at least another 30 minutes to gather his ghouls and possibly another 30 to get them all to Sensations, I couldn't wait. A vampire, possibly one very close to me, was about to meet the final death. I was officially shit out of luck.

  We headed towards Karangahape Road and Sensations in silence. I'd made it clear that only Samson and I would go in and the M & M's would remain hidden outside. I was betting on Jonathan not being aware of my personal guards, but Samson he would know of, so there was no point hiding him for now. He'd be my escort and Matthias and Marcus would be waiting for the ghouls and acting on the distraction when it was made. Them storming in from the outside may just provide enough chaos for Samson and me to perform a miraculous act of God knows what, to free those vampires and if not stake Jonathan, then at least, get the hell out of there.

  We had no intention of parking at Sensations, so we stowed the Land Rover a block away and proceeded on foot. Within twenty metres of the premises I pulled up short. Not out of any concern of detection, nor because I desired to suddenly change the plan, but because I felt the pull. That blasted, inconvenient, why-friggin'-now, evil-lurks-in-my-city pull. What was with these arsehole rogues and chomping down right when I was already neck deep in the smelly stuff? An innocent needed help, potentially they could be killed. It is what I am, a saviour of the innocent from the deranged habits of the rogue vampire on the hunt. I couldn't ignore it, it would just get stronger and stronger and harder and harder to concentrate on what I was doing, but a quick glance at my watch told me I didn't have time. Five minutes and Jonathan would be calling my number. So. Innocent versus vampire. Who do you save?

  My instincts told me the human. Hell, my inner monologue screamed it at me. But, my heart just couldn't believe a vampire was not as important as a Norm. Just because they are the undead evil creatures of the night, did not mean they didn't deserve to live. Not all of them were Dark and certainly not the vampires currently being held by Jonathan. Doug, Shane Smith, the others whose names I no doubt knew, but couldn't quite remember right now. None of them deserved to die either. So, what the fuck did I do?

  I stomped my foot in frustration. A real tantrum throwing move, but I didn't really care, frustration didn't even cover where I was currently at. I let my senses roam and picked up the exact location of the rogue, down Queen Street, near the Town Hall, in the vicinity of the Aotea Square. The closer I got the more accurate I would become, but that was a fairly narrow area and for a vampire hunting another vampire, it might just be enough.

  I turned to Marcus. “Aotea Square, one rogue about to eat an innocent. Take care of it and meet Matthias back outside the club when you're done.” It was the only solution possible. No one else could barter for the lives of the vampires held by Jonathan, but reluctantly, I had to
admit, that someone else could take care of the rogue. It went against every natural instinct I had. The Nosferatin in me wailing a lament at my decision not to hunt. I forcefully pushed that part of me aside. I couldn't be everything to everyone at once. I just couldn't.

  Marcus hadn't moved. “What are you waiting for? He's about to be dinner and I'm picking this rogue lacks table manners.” They all did, this one would be no different, so time was of the essence.

  “I am not leaving you to face Jonathan on your own. The Master would not want this.”

  Oh shit. Calling Michel the Master was pulling the big guns, but I had big guns too.

  “One. I will not be on my own.” I pointed a finger at Samson and then at Matthias. “And two. Michel is out of the city, which means as his kindred Nosferatin I am in charge of the line. I say do this, this is my command, you will obey.” I followed it up with a little Light, a little Nosferatin mojo and watched the expression on his face change from grim determination and defiance, to simple acquiescence and acceptance of my demand. Gotta love vampires and their stupid rules. Not to mention supernatural mojo.

  He nodded once and flashed away towards Queen Street, where Aotea Square was located. I didn't wait for the pull to disappear, I simply did not have time. I took a quick look at Matthias, who nodded and seeped into the shadows out of sight and then Samson and I walked the final few metres to Sensations and banged on the locked door.

  Show time.

  Chapter 34

  Show Time

  A quick feel with my senses let me know no other vampires were out and about nearby, but there were some thirty inside the bar. One in particular, sent a shiver down my spine and an uncontrolled roll of my stomach. I swallowed past the fear and nausea and straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin.

  The door opened all of its own accord and Samson and I walked in. A swift glance about the main clubroom floor let me know Michel's vampires were all on the ground beside the bar, all ten, chained by silver. Doug looking a little worse for wear, but alive and also staring very angrily at me right now, no doubt of the same opinion as M & M - I shouldn't be here at all. The rest of Jonathan's men were not all in the same room. Some I sensed down in the cellar, Michel's vampires' accommodation wing and also towards Michel's chamber, in his office and down the hall. I sensed one or two in the garage, maybe waiting for our approach through there, but otherwise, there were still at least a dozen in this room alone. Too many to take on, even for me.

  I couldn't see Jonathan, but I sure as hell could feel him.

  Samson and I walked into the centre of the dance floor and stood still, waiting. I itched to palm some silver, the Svante sword feeling heavy at my back. I wanted to take heads and hearts and I wanted to do it now. From sheer force of will alone, I held off.

  A whole minute passed and nobody said a thing, nor approached us, nor disarmed us either. The room was still, laced with a heavy dose of anticipation and if I wasn't mistaken, a little fear. I sniffed the air to home in on that fear and felt my lips curl when I realised it was Jonathan's men. They'd only ever been around me when I was drugged and even then I had escaped their master's clutches. Now, I was the big bad vampire hunter, the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor and all the rest. I was guessing, I was a baby vampire's nightmare, the sort of thing a master threatens their newly turned with if they misbehave. Don't drip blood when you feed or the Prohibitum Bibere will call you to them. Watch your manners or the Lux Lucis Tribuo will steal your Dark soul.

  I started laughing, I couldn't help it.

  “What is so amusing, sweetheart? I hardly think it the time to make a joke.”

  I just laughed harder. Eventually, having to bend over and wrap an arm about my stomach, great big rib cracking guffaws making me have to wipe at my eyes and slap my thigh to try to get it under control. I could feel the uncertainty rise, not only from Jonathan's men, but also Michel's and Samson at my back. It's all right boys and girls, I haven't totally gone bonkers yet. Just a brief side trip to the loony bin. That's all. Nothing too drastic.

  Finally, I got myself back under control and took a deep breath in and stood up straight. “Shit, that was cathartic!” I exclaimed to the room at large. Then looked Jonathan in the eyes for the very first time.

  We just stared at each other for a while and I think he got it. I wasn't scared. I wasn't terrified of the man who had held me captive for a month. Who had drugged me and deceived me and attacked me. I was looking at him with a steely gaze. He was my prey, nothing more. He shifted a little uncomfortably, then tried to hide it with a straightening of his suit jacket and tie. At least he'd dressed for the occasion.

  I smiled at his reaction. You are so mine, meathead.

  “You are late,” he said, voice even and well under control.

  “And you're a sneaky, lying, good-for-nothing, bloodsucking bastard. We have to make do with what we got.”

  “You think this is all a game?” His Sanguis Vitam filled the room, making bottles behind the bar shatter and the lights sizzle above our heads in response. The buzzing of electricity, combining with the hum of power, coating everything in a hair raising fission of energy threatening to explode at any second.

  I let him have his moment, it was all a show and hardly touched me at all, then I filled the room with my calming Light and simply washed his powers aside. As though they were nothing more than a pesky insect, flitting around my head and annoyingly buzzing in my ears.

  “You want to play whose is bigger, I got all night, but I'm telling you here and now, I will win.” I probably said that a little bit more forcefully than I actually believed, but I didn't question my choice of words, I kind of felt a little removed from it all right now and was just along for the ride.

  “My, my, Lucinda. You have grown teeth since you left.” He flashed me a smile with a whole lot of fang. I didn't move an inch. “You know,” he went on conversationally. “It only makes me want to taste your blood again. It was tainted before, not at its best, but I am picking it would be divine now.”

  I tried not shudder at his words, I knew what he was doing, trying to make me remember all the good times we had shared. I knew it was all a ploy, but tell that to my body. I couldn't help the wave of nausea that rolled through me, even as I battled to not let it show.

  He spotted it though. He's a predator at the top of the food chain, he didn't miss a thing. It almost felt like my little act of nonchalance and bravado on entering the room had all been dashed to hell. I took a deep breath to settle my nerves and levelled my gaze at him.

  He just smiled a knowing smile and didn't that make the anger come rushing back in. Every single friggin' vampire I had ever crossed, including Michel, had that same knowing smile, as though their centuries of living couldn't possibly be beaten by my mere 25 years on Earth. My anger helped centre me and I instinctively let my Light swell within, opening a connection to Nut and drawing on her ancient strength and knowledge. It momentarily surprised me, but then I felt her brush against my shields and wrap me up in her glow. I relaxed into the sensation and weight of all that time, that length of her existence and then let it flow out across the room and smash against Jonathan's internal walls.

  “Do you still want a bite?” I asked a little breathlessly, watching the shock and indecision flood his features.

  “What are you?” he asked in awe.

  OK. So, not expecting that question. He knew damn well what I was, who I was, why I was even on this Earth. How could he not? Every vampire knew my destiny. They may not have approved of it, hell, a lot of them wanted to deny me it, but they all knew. Including him.

  “I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question. You know damn well what I am.”

  He pulled himself back together, brushing aside my answer with a flick of his hand and walked over to the bar, managing to find an unbroken bottle and glass and pouring himself a stiff drink. Very civilised, very normal. Huh.

  “Would you like one?” he asked, offering me the glass.

  I
ignored his question. Alcohol wouldn't have been a good idea right now, my brain was already functioning on so many different levels it wasn't funny, throw alcohol into the mix and you'd have a cocktail of disastrous proportions. I could feel the pull down in Aotea Square, Marcus had still not taken out the rogue. I was constantly testing my connection to Michel and getting back zip for all the effort it took. And then there was my connection to Samson, my sense of all the vampires good and bad in the room and a slow realisation that I was feeling more.

  My Prohibitum Bibere powers were humming in the background, as though they sensed an imminent threat and attack. Please Nut, not now.

  I rolled my shoulders to shift the feeling of dread, while Jonathan returned his attention to the drink in front of him.

  “You and I have business to discuss, Lucinda. These vampires for your return to me. I gather, by your presence, that is an acceptable exchange.”

  Not hardly. A stake through your rotten heart and the release of the vampires seemed far more appropriate, but beggars can't be choosers.

  “You leave me little choice,” was all I actually said.

  “Yes. That was the plan. Still, it is not a bad thing, is it? Being with me? I did take care of you.”

  I was beginning to think Jonathan was mad. Stark raving, certifiable, loony bin, kind of mad. Did he really live in a dream world where he and I could be together, happily ever after? You had to wonder, he never gave up on the charade.

  “At the risk of stating the obvious. You drugged me. You held me against my will. You attacked me. How is that taking care of me?”

  “Lucinda,” he mock pleaded and then took a few steps toward me. I stiffened in response. “I had no choice. It was either that or let her kill you. I didn't want you to come to me against your will, that defeats the purpose of my revenge, I needed you to come willingly, before I crushed your soul. But my hands were tied.” I realised then just what Jonathan was playing at. This was where it all started, right here in Sensations, where I had turned him down and treated him with contempt. He was exacting his revenge for my spurning him. This was personal, but not intimate. This would hurt.