She looked up at the sky, as if asking a higher power to help her be patient. “I am a vampire, Darling.” She dropped her gaze to me. Well, that clears that up—crystal clear as a muddy puddle.
“Take off the chains, and I’ll do it,” I said.
She shook her head, looking disappointed. “I can’t trust you.”
“I give you my word.”
She laughed, the sound brittle—like breaking glass. She cocked her head, examining me. “Make me your familiar.” I don’t know how to do that. “I will be able to follow you to any world.” She took a step forward, no longer circling. “We will be beholden to each other. Precious.” The last words were said with such depth of feeling that the chains vibrated—wanting that power.
Love is the ultimate power.
I wet my lips and chewed on the bottom one. “I can’t make you my familiar with these chains on,” I said.
She eyed them. “But if I remove them, you will drain me and leave this world.”
“Not if I give you my word. My word as my father’s daughter.” My voice hitched.
She circled again, and I spun slowly, following her movement. “Make me your familiar, and I will remove the chains.”
“How can I make you my familiar without my power?”
A slow, subtle smile pulled her lips. “You don’t know how to do it, do you? With Megan, it was an accident. Fascinating.”
Fascinating? Shut up, lady. I’ll fascinate you.
Pull it together, Darling!
I forced myself to take a deep breath then made a guess. “We must share blood and promise to be together forever—and we have to mean it. When Megan and I did it, we fed from each other. You’ve fed from me.” I gestured with my chin at the tear in my arm, still leaking blood. “Halfway there.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Can you mean it?”
“Promise to be with my father’s killer for eternity? If you will switch sides and help me end the zombies.”
“Ophelia promised me the humans in my world would be spared if I helped her. My word is my bond.”
“Why did she ask for your help? How did you two even hook up?”
Senil smiled. “Ophelia needed someone strong enough to hold you, someone who cared enough to keep you in suspension.”
Keep me in suspension… that does not sound good.
“So she can take my essence and convince Emmanuel to end humans. Don’t you think this plan is a little crazy?” I smiled… in what I’m pretty sure was a crazy way. “I mean, one, he’s not going to fall for it. He knows she’s supposed to be coming; I told him. Two, he’s dead at the moment and probably won’t rise again until he’s in a new world where zombies are already set to destroy it. So…” I shrugged, the effort of raising my shoulders way more than it should have been. “Her plan is not going to work.”
“It’s Mother Earth’s plan.”
“Right, even worse. You know she’s super nutty. She gave me this sword.”
Senil dropped her gaze to it, as did I. Wait a freaking second. I switched it into one hand. “What are you doing?” Senil asked.
The tip of the feather sword touched the shackles and the metal heated, burning my flesh. The cuff glowed with heat. I pressed the sword harder, and the metal snapped, leaving a blistered burn behind. I took a sharp breath. The power locked in the chains began leaking out into the sand. I had to get the other cuff off now.
I passed the sword to my free hand—my wrist screaming with pain from the festering burn. Senil hit me like a truck. We flew through the air and smashed into the dirt, my head hitting hard. Senil ripped the sword from my hand and tossed it away, pinning my arms at my sides with her legs.
Stars danced in my vision as I stared up at her. I closed my eyes, the chains still drew from me—more so for having no loop. My power spilled out of me. Megan, Megan, Megan. Come to me.
Dimitri, Dimitri, Dimitri….
Senil slapped my face, my head snapping into the dirt. Blood trickled from my lip. I squeezed my eyes shut and reached into my diamond center. While the one cuff still drained because there was no loop, the wildness of the draw left an opening. I dove my consciousness into my diamond center—entering the void. Instead of escaping into nothingness, I escaped into myself.
Come to me!
I called Megan and Dimitri to me. I’d bonded with both—Megan when I was just a kid, and Dimitri when I claimed him as my own.
Suspended in my diamond center, I touched the truth of my power—it was much older than me. As old as all the worlds. Timeless vibrations.
I materialized Megan and Dimitri on the mountaintop.
Opening my eyes, I returned to my body. Pain radiated from my burnt wrist. Senil flew off me, tumbling through the air. Dimitri leaned over me. “Darling.”
“The sword.”
He glanced around and, seeing where it lay, blurred away.
Megan and Senil fought ferociously, moving so fast all I saw was the sprays of blood soaking the sand.
Dimitri returned with the sword. “Cut the cuff.”
He touched the sword to the shackle. I winced as it heated. “It’s burning you,” he said.
“Don’t stop.”
He pressed the sword harder. The cuff melted, leaving me with another welted burn. Dimitri lifted my head, bringing his lips to mine. I took from him, filling myself with just enough. I had to stop Senil from killing Megan.
Pulling away from Dimitri, I stood on shaking legs. Closing my eyes, I followed the blur of influences. Stop. I froze them both. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I separated the two vampires, unlocking the grip they had on each other. I put Megan down next to me and placed Senil ten feet away, her back to us.
Dimitri left my side, circling around. I opened my eyes.
Senil turned to face us, and Dimitri stopped. His aura flashed silver as he stared at Senil, his body stiff. “My lady.” He bowed deeply, one hand at his waist, the other behind his back—like a real old-fashioned gentleman. It didn’t look ridiculous on him though. He made it graceful. Impressive.
Senil raised a shapely brow. “You’re quite lovely,” she said, her lips twitching into a sly smile. Blood dripped from a slash at her hairline, the liquid following the line of her eyebrow and slipping down her cheek.
Dimitri lifted his face to look at her. The longing in his gaze felt like a presence. My heart beat faster at the current of electricity it wove in the air. Senil took a step toward him as if drawn.
“You do not know me?” he asked her.
“No,” her eyes narrowed, examining him. “Who are you?”
“Dimitri of the Branish.” He stood straight, keeping one arm behind his back but letting the other fall to his side. “We are not from the same world.” Sadness infused each word.
She shook her head. “I do not believe so.”
He blinked slowly. “I see.”
“What do you see?” She took another step toward him.
Dimitri leaned forward, as if he wanted to go to her. She only came to the middle of his chest and yet power thrummed off her. Dimitri appeared subservient to her, but why?
“The you in my world was my maker,” Dimitri said.
Senil’s hand jumped to her breast and she leaned back, surprise widening her eyes and flashing deep green in her aura. “A fine choice,” she said. “A very fine choice.”
Dimitri bowed just his head this time, acknowledging the compliment. “You were a wonderful maker.”
“And what happened to me?”
His eyes met hers. Energy pulsed between them and a cord of connection twined out of Senil, headed straight for Dimitri.
“Watch it,” I warned her.
She focused on me, the tendril of power hanging in the air, straining toward him.
Dimitri’s chi sent out a cord, white and pulsing, searching for her. I threw up a shield of my own power between the two yearning strings of power. “What are you doing?” I asked.
They both looked at me like I wasn’t mak
ing sense. I gestured to the cords, clear as day to me. “You’re trying to connect.”
Dimitri wet his lips. “The relationship between a maker and their progeny is strong.”
I knew that. The ties between Issa and Dimitri remained visible all the time. Dimitri could control the younger vampire with them. I wasn’t giving Senil power over my Dimitri.
“Timeless,” Senil said. “We were meant to find each other.” She glanced over at Dimitri, another cord of power twining out of her aura.
They hungered to connect with each other.
But I couldn’t let her have power over Dimitri. “I won’t allow you to control him,” I said.
Senil’s eyes flicked back to me. “You do not understand what you are saying, child.” She spat the words at me, anger brightening her eyes.
“With vampires our age,” Dimitri said quietly, “a maker no longer has the control which I exert over Issa. It is only necessary for the first century or so. A good maker keeps a young vampire from becoming an out-of-control animal.”
“A vampire like Dimitri, though,” Senil said, turning her attention back to the man in question, “he has control. Perfect control. We crave connection because it is a comfort. A support.” She looked at me. “His loyalty to you would become mine. It is to my detriment that I connect with him, not yours.”
“But you want to anyway?” I shook my head. “I don’t buy it.”
“It’s true,” Dimitri said.
“Why wouldn’t Dimitri’s loyalties become Senil’s?” Megan asked.
“They would,” Senil said. “But I wish to use Darling for my own purposes. And he hopes to protect you—he is capable of love. Something you’ve given him. A great gift.” Her voice fell quiet. “I would share in that gift.”
“And I would share in her powers,” Dimitri said. “If you stop us from bonding, we will both be harmed.”
“How?” I asked.
“To lose your maker is painful. To find her again”—Dimitri looked at Senil—“is…” He wet his lips. “There are no words.” I could see it in his aura though—it glowed with a new power already. Just at the sight of her. “To lose her now, the pain would be… distracting.”
“Unbearable,” Senil whispered.
“Megan lost her maker,” I said, gesturing to my friend, not wanting to believe what I could plainly see—they needed each other.
Senil’s eyes jumped to Megan. “She is only a halfling. It is not the same.”
“What does that even mean!” My voice came out loud and edged with frustration. “You have the same eye thing going on.” I waved my hand at her face.
Senil raised a brow, all elegant grace to my hand fluttering nut jobbery. Her and Dimitri were alike. Ugh. “I was already a vampire when I met your mother, I regained something I had lost. Megan never fully released her humanity so therefore never truly bonded with her maker.”
“Oh…” I’m not totally sure I get it but…“If I let you bond, will you still want to kill Charity?”
Senil shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Reassuring.”
“She won’t,” Dimitri said. “My purpose will be hers, for it is the nobler calling.”
“And nobler always wins with vampires?”
His eyes met mine. “With me it does.”
Shit. I believed him.
I dropped my influence, and their cords rushed to each other. When they met, a spark ignited, and blinded me for a flash. The two vampires closed the distance between their bodies, embracing, their powers swirling around them, caressing each other.
Dimitri’s eyes closed, and he took in a breath, scenting her. Senil’s cheek rested against his chest, and a smile, this sweet, youthful smile played across her mouth. Cords of their power twined, dancing with each other. Delighting in each other.
Megan stepped closer to me. “It’s kind of sweet, right?” Her voice slurred. I looked at her for the first time since separating the fight. “Megan!” She swayed on her feet, a gash across her chest bleeding profusely. She smiled at me before collapsing.
“Dimitri! Help!” Falling to my knees next to her, I dropped the sword and put both my hands over the wound. The blood was cold. Tears stained my cheeks.
Dimitri crouched next to me. “She will heal,” he promised. “But she needs blood.”
“I offer you my power and my resources,” Senil said behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at her. She bowed her head, blood dripping from the wound at her hairline.
“What world is this?” I asked.
“It is my world,” Senil answered. “We are a few hours from my compound.” She glanced at the horizon. “We don’t have much time left in this night.”
I didn’t have enough energy to feed Megan or pull us all back to the Warlock Society. But Megan wasn’t going to die—her existence would not end because of blood loss. Could I trust Senil to carry us to the compound? To take care of Megan? Did I have a choice?
I sat back on my heels. “I need to go to Charity and find out my ancestors involvement in this mess, if there is one.”
Dimitri’s eyes narrowed. Senil answered his unasked question. “Charity is a powerful witch. She can help Darling see her history.”
“You must feed first,” Dimitri said, laying his hand on my back.
“There are many willing partners at my compound,” Senil said. “I would also be honored, if you wanted me.” Her voice was almost shy.
“I want to go to Charity now. There is no time to waste.”
Dimitri’s lips thinned, but he did not speak. “Stay with Megan,” I said to Dimitri. “I need you to keep her safe. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“You may call on me as well,” Senil offered.
“Zombies have plagued humans for centuries, must you rush?” Dimitri asked.
I gave him a weak smile and placed my hand against his cheek—his influence curled around me. “Centuries is long enough. I need to end this.”
He nodded, not understanding but accepting. “Allow me to feed you before your travels.”
“You need to stay strong to protect Megan.”
“Please,” Dimitri said, his voice a deep bass. “It will bring me comfort.”
Dimitri’s hand on my back moved up to my neck, and he rose to standing, bringing me with him. He tilted my head, laying his lips against mine, giving to me. I took from him, both of us moaning at the pleasure it brought us.
Power poured into my body, thrumming through me, filling the diamond center of me. My wrists healed, my heart beat… and so did Dimitri’s.
Chapter Twelve
The pond sparkled, its dark green depths edged in the yellow of late afternoon sunshine. A narrow dock led to a small wooden cabin with tan opaque windows and smoke curling out of the chimney. Charity’s aura whispered around the place, mixing with the smoke, a shade of midnight blue among the gray. She was at peace.
I made my way down the small grade to the edge of the water. Long reeds topped with brown cattails waved in the crisp breeze. The trees surrounding the pond glowed the golds and reds of fall. The sky shone the rich blue of changing seasons.
The dock bobbed when I stepped on it, and the cabin at its end swayed gently. The scent of mud mixed with the wood smoke, giving the breeze an earthy fragrance.
A shadow crossed one of the windows before a slit in the door at eye level opened. I waved. The door swung out. Charity stood framed in the low doorway, the top of her head almost touching the mantel. “Darling?” she said.
“Hey.”
Charity smiled tentatively and waved me forward. “Please come in.”
It took a minute for my eyes to adjust. While the windows allowed light to filter through, the inside of the cabin lay in mostly darkness. A single bed covered in a fur blanket took up the wall to my right. To my left, a low fire simmered in a stone hearth—a grate for cooking suspended above the glowing coals.
A scarred wooden table with one chair took up the middle of the room. Behind
it, a large hutch with a smaller one next to it covered the back wall. The two windows framing the door were the only ones. Closer, I still could not tell what they were made of—not glass though.
“Animal hide,” Charity explained, following my gaze.
“Cozy,” I said.
Charity shrugged. “Safe enough. Not many zombies out here, and those that are around don’t mess with water. I pull in the dock at night.” She smiled at me. “Want a cup of tea?”
I nodded. She moved around the table, gesturing to the lone chair as she opened the hutch. Her jeans hung low on her hips, and she swam in her red checkered flannel shirt. Charity had lost weight since I’d seen her last. “You don’t get many visitors?” I asked as I took a seat. The chair creaked under my weight.
“Senil wants me dead. There is a price on my head and the head of anyone who comes near me.” Charity looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. “So watch out. Chamomile or mint?”
“Chamomile sounds good.”
“Sorry, I don’t have anything caffeinated.”
“That’s okay.” I shrugged. “That’s not how I get energy.”
She laughed, the sound pleasant in the cozy cabin. “I’d kill for some coffee.”
“I’ll bring some next time I visit.”
“Is that what this is, a visit?” Charity asked, pouring steaming water from a kettle over the tea. The floral scent filled the cabin, mixing with the wood smoke, and adding to the cozy factor.
She placed the mug in front of me and then took down a pot of honey and put a spoon next to it.
She leaned against the hutch and pushed her thick, curly hair behind her ears. “What are you doing here?” Charity asked more pointedly this time.
I cleared my throat, looking at the flowers floating on the hot water. “I wanted your help with something.” I met her gaze, and she averted her eyes.
“What can I do for you, and will it make an ancient vampire want my head more or less?” She smiled, her gaze on the hearth.
“She sent me.” Charity’s body stiffened, and her eyes darted to me. “I’m not going to hurt you,” I assured her quickly. “You can even meet my gaze now; I have control over myself.”
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