Cain huffed at Lucas and then gave me a doubtful look, clearly seeing what I'd just seen. “Well ... feed her or something,” he muttered waving with an irritable gesture in my general direction as he hobbled out of the room.
I looked up at Lucas. “I know you're right, but so is he. I don't have time to rest ... not if I want the family to be safe.” I sighed at his grim expression. “I need your help.”
Lucas came and sat beside me on the bed. “You have it. You know that. You don't need to ask.”
I reached over and squeezed his hand. “I know and I'm grateful.”
He forced a smile, not looking at me and nodded. “Grateful. Yes. I know.” He bit into his wrist and held it out and neither of us mentioned the elephant in the room.
***
I left the preparations for the party in Lucas' capable hands. He seemed to be well aware of all that was required having organised such events for Corvus in the past and threw himself into it with zeal. I knew he was keeping busy, keeping his mind from the past days and the tension that now existed between us. He had stopped meeting my eyes when we spoke, and I ached with sadness for the loss of the friendship we had shared, but I could never be what he wanted, and we both knew it.
The preparations for Ambrogio's arrival may have been spiralling out of control around us as the Château was primped and gilded beyond reason, but there was one thing that could not be pushed to one side or delayed for the great man's arrival. No matter how much was riding on pleasing him, we were all agreed that time must be taken to honour the dead. We would grieve in our own fashion, those we had lost would not be far from out thoughts for a long time, and it would take more than a ceremony to lay the ghosts of the past days to rest. But it was a beginning, and I prayed that the coming days could be navigated with no more violence. Either way I had made myself a solemn vow. I would not lose another member of my family.
Candles were lit, prayers spoken, and Cain and I held Inés tight as she endured the pain of it, supporting her in the only way we knew while her sister's body burned on a pyre that sent flames leaping high into the endless dark of the night sky.
Corvus stood far away from me. He hadn't spoken a word to me since his plea for me to live. Another man who would no longer meet my eyes. I had enough misery to live through tonight, though, and the dead deserved my tears more than his fear of loving me.
Kai had also returned to being my constant shadow. He didn't like to be alone and started at sudden noises. His big eyes were shadowed with fear, and I felt guilty that the innocence in his expression had been tainted by experience. My fault again. I had sent Rodney and Amelia off on a special shopping trip for him - an attempt to mend more than one relationship, and I felt a small flicker of hope as I stood together with Kai and the family.
Some of us wept openly for our loss, others stood stoic and silent as was their way, but the pain was clear enough in their eyes, and all of us who shared the bloodline felt the ache in our veins as though we were bleeding from some hideous internal wound. It would take a long time to heal and would leave an ugly scar, but those of us who remained would be stronger, closer, and we would never forget.
Chapter 40
It was about an hour before dawn and the less combustible employees of the family began to appear as the vampires finished off what they could before the sun came up. I was weary to my bones, but there was something I wanted to do before I tried to grab a few hours sleep. Ambrogio would be arriving at midnight, and there was still so much to do.
Rodney would be in charge of the day crew, and I watched as he staggered blearily down the stairs clutching three mugs of tea. I'd sent him off a few hours ago to get some rest so he could keep on top of things while I slept.
“Mornin' luv,” he said, stifling a yawn. His clothes were rumpled, and his Mohican stuck out at strange angles, but none of us were exactly perky right now. Least of all Kai, which was something I intended to have a go at fixing.
“Hey, Rodney.” I took the mug he thrust at me and watched as Kai took his with a subdued nod of thanks. Rodney caught my eye and gestured towards him.
“You ready then?” he said, his voice quiet.
I grinned and nodded, walking after him as Kai followed listlessly behind me. He was wearing jeans and trainers and a tatty old blue sweater that was two sizes too big despite the fact it wasn't cold. I'd never seen him look less like himself.
We followed Rodney up to the apartment where Amelia had installed a mobile clothes rack that appeared to be struggling under the weight of the clothes it was trying to hold up. The rack shimmered and glittered in every colour of the spectrum, and I turned to see Kai register a flicker of interest before shuffling behind me in surprise at the large gathering of people crammed into the room. Inevitably my eyes immediately sought and found Corvus, like I was driven to look at him by some unseen force. He met my eyes for a moment and then looked away with no visible reaction. I made myself carry on, ignoring the cold ache of despair that settled over my heart.
Everyone had fallen quiet as we walked in, and now that I had their attention, I took hold of Kai's hand. He looked up at me in bewilderment, but I just smiled at him and then turned to address them.
“We have all taken a moment today to say goodbye to those we lost. Nothing we can do will bring them back and we will all take time to get over the loss of them.” I paused, looking at the grave faces around me, and my eyes settled on Inés, who gave a watery smile and nodded for me to continue. “However, the truth of the matter is that we were very close to being entirely finished. Everyone here fought and stood your ground for what you believed in. For me.” I stopped again, needing a moment to clear my throat before I carried on. “I will never be able to repay the debt that I owe every one of you, but I promise to try. Heroes and heroines come in all shapes and sizes, some in packages we expect ...” I gestured to Cain and Dragon who were stood together looking deadly and intimidating without even trying, and there was a murmur of approval around the room as they both appeared equally appalled at being singled out.
“Others surprise us, which is entirely our own fault for underestimating just how special those around us are and exactly what they are capable of.” My words were met with another murmur of approval, and everyone started to grin. “Things were going very, very badly for me during my fight against Dis Pater ... until Kai stepped in to help.” I felt Kai stiffen beside me, and I looked to see him staring at me in shock. I smiled at him and carried on. “I had thought his magic would be of little use, fragile and beautiful as it was. I let him help to humour him, to let him feel a part of what we were doing but with no real expectation of getting any benefit from it. I was terribly arrogant in that belief and terribly wrong. Kai saved me, he saved all of us, with his bravery and his skill, and I think that needs to be recognised.”
I turned back to Kai, whose pale complexion had turned a startling shade of red, and I was relieved to finally see someone who could blush as fiercely as I could.
“B-but I was terrified,” he stammered, looking at me with big, wide eyes.
“And yet you did it anyway,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “That's kind of the definition of a hero.” I pulled him into a hug and was surprised and relieved to see Amelia appear at my shoulder.
“Hey, Kai,” she said, sounding a little awkward. “Me and Rodney did some shopping for you. Jéhenne asked us to,” she added quickly and then the stiffness seemed to fall away, and she grabbed his hand. “Oh come on!” she squealed. “Come and see the fabulous things we got you.”
Kai cast me an astonished look before scurrying after her, and the two of them fell on the clothes rack like rabid magpies.
I felt a heavy arm drape over my shoulder, and Rodney gave me a squeeze. “Well done, lovely,” he whispered. “You're a bleedin' marvel.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Somehow I don't think Ambrogio is going to be so easily pleased.”
“Pffft,” he scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. “
Piece a cake, you wait n' see.”
Laughing, I shook my head. I prayed he was right, but this was my life. A snowball in hell had better odds of success than me, and I knew it. But the game had to be played to the end, no matter the odds. I'd just have to throw the dice and see where they fell, and maybe without a vengeful god to tip the scales against me I stood a chance. Either way, I was about to find out.
***
“Jéhenne!” Cain yelled through my bedroom door for a third time while I tried in vain to apply my mascara and not blind myself by poking my eyes out. My hands were trembling, though, and I figured I'd best give it up before I made matters worse.
“Give me a minute!” I yelled back.
“You said that five minutes ago!”
“Oh, bugger off,” I muttered, screwing the lid shut and flinging the mascara down on my dressing table in disgust. With sadness I remembered another party that Cyd had helped me prepare for. I wished she was here now, but it appeared things between us would never be the same. She kept out of my way and did nothing to disguise the loathing in her eyes when we did meet. She had always adored Corvus, loved him with an almost fanatical devotion. Everything he had endured she laid squarely at my feet, and I could do nothing to make amends. Despite Lucas' little pep talk there was still a part of me that agreed with her, and I carried the guilt of it in my heart.
I shook off the gloomy thoughts that were bringing me down. There was no point in worrying about it now. There were bigger, more immediate problems to face, just for a change. I stood in front of the mirror and surveyed myself critically as the door opened and Kai burst in without knocking as usual. I opened my mouth to tell him off but was struck by the excitement in his eyes and let it go. I caught a glimpse of Cain's outraged expression before the door slammed shut in his face.
“Look,” Kai shrieked and leapt onto the bed with his arms out.
“Wow!” I grinned and looked him over as he did a bouncy twirl on the mattress. “You look ... fabulous!”
He did. In white shorts with blue rhinestones around the pockets and a shimmery pink top with a unicorn on and the words “I'm magical” picked out in purple he looked as joyous as a rainbow. It was topped with sparkly purple converse, and his hair was full of jewel-like beads. He shook his head and little bells chimed as purple earrings glittered and caught the light, he was all radiance and vivacity, and I felt my heart lift as I looked at him.
“Amelia did my hair,” he said, beaming and sounding a little breathless. He jumped off the bed and walked up to me, suddenly looking a little shy. “She's ... nice,” he said, looking up at me from under his lashes. There was a sweep of bright green glitter over his eyelids, and I stifled a laugh at the grave look in his eyes at the admission. Suddenly his attention focused on me, and he looked me over. His eyes rolled, and he walked around me and began frowning and tutting with an air of desperation. “Sit,” he said with severity.
“But ...”
“Sit!”
I huffed and did as I was told as he set to work with a make-up brush before tackling the unruly mess of my hair.
“Jéhenne, what the bloody hell is going on in there?” Cain yelled with increasing frustration as he hammered on my bedroom door.
“Go 'way!” Kai, yelled back with surprising ferocity. “She not ready yet.”
There was a great deal of muttered cursing from the other side of the door, but to my amusement, Cain waited until Kai was done.
I went to get up once I'd been given a smile of satisfaction, but Kai stilled me with a severe look while he went to rifle through my jewellery. I'd already put on a pair of earrings so wondered what he was going to come back with. I heard a triumphant noise, and he ran back to me holding out his discovery with a grin.
“Is perfect, Jéhenne.”
I looked down at his hands and felt a lump in my throat. He was holding a torc, a simple gold necklace that fitted around my throat. It was beautifully engraved with feathers; the design was very delicate and had more significance than I could ever have realised when it had been given to me.
Kai's face fell as he saw the glitter in my eyes and knelt down in front of me.
“What, Jéhenne? Did I choose wrong?”
I swallowed hard and shook my head, putting the torc carefully around my neck. “No,” I said, my voice thick. “You're right, it's perfect.” I got up and walked over to look in the mirror. The woman who looked back at me was very different from the one I had seen wearing this necklace last year. I traced the gold with a finger. “It was a birthday present from Corvus,” I said, quite unable to keep the sadness from my voice. It had been less than a year, but it felt like lifetimes had passed. I looked back at my reflection and saw none of the naive and vulnerable girl I had been then. My body may not yet be twenty years old, but there was a weight of experience in the green eyes in the mirror that no amount of make-up could disguise. The woman in front of me was fierce, implacable and deadly to those who threatened the people she cared for.
“You look incredible,” Kai whispered. “A vampire queen.”
I let out a startled laugh at his description but then caught his eyes in the mirror to see he was perfectly serious.
“I'm so glad you're here, Kai,” I said, meaning it.
“Me too.” He beamed and hugged me tightly. “You've given me a family.”
We both blinked back tears before our mascara ran and we started to laugh.
“Come on,” I said, tugging him by the hand. “Before Cain breaks the door down.”
I walked out of the bedroom to find my brother leaning against the wall opposite with a mutinous expression.
“If you've quite finished primping,” he muttered, pushing off the wall after barely glancing at me. “And we now have twenty three minutes before Ambrogio arrives, so move your damn backside.”
“Yes, sir,” I grumbled as he hurried me outside, leaving Kai to wait on the front steps.
“OK, it's all set up, but we'll need to spark it from both sides,” Cain instructed as he waved me towards the left of the Château.”
“Right.” I ran as fast as I dared without breaking a limb in my heels to where Cain had laid out one half of a powerful spell. It was our pièce de résistance as far as the decor went, and I defied anyone not to be bloody impressed ... if it worked.
“Ready?” Cain yelled from the opposite side of the Château.
“Ready,” I shouted back.
“Now!”
We both sent a bolt of magic into the tiny ring he had cast around a carefully tied bundle. Cain had placed the spell in the centre of a ring of yellow candles. The candles blazed to light as the magic hit them, and the bundle began to smoulder. The trick was to send the energy in gently and not too fast, so the magic had time to grow before it burned out. The bundle began to sizzle, and my nose wrinkled as the most appalling smell began to drift in pale yellow curls of smoke.
I stepped away a little, hoping the stench wouldn't cling to me and then grinned as I noticed the pale ball of light that was hovering about ten foot off the ground in front of the building between the two of us. As we worked it burned brighter and brighter and floated higher into the night sky. There were gasps and shouts of encouragement from the vampires who began to gather outside to look at the skies in wonder. I prayed Inés had been successful in checking the ward around the grounds was still intact or the locals for hundreds of miles around would be screaming about meteors or alien invasion at any moment.
It had been a joke when Cain and I had been coming up with ideas to impress Ambrogio. I had quipped that the best thing we could do for a vampire was make the sun shine. Cain had grown quiet, and then I'd recognised the glint of determination in his eyes as he grinned back at me. So now we were creating a sun of our own that would blaze in the night sky over the Château and glitter and glint over all of the gold decorations that gilded the building and the gardens, making it look like a sun palace. Of course there was another, deeper meaning, and I knew I was
playing with fire, but Ambrogio was here for a reason. He was here for me, and I was damned if the daughter of the sun god, Apollo, was going to be intimidated by him or by anyone else ever again.
Chapter 41
“Impressive.”
“Jesus!” I squeaked, spinning on my heels and then feeling awkward at my profanity as I came face to face with Sariel. He raised one perfect eyebrow in amusement, and I covered my embarrassment. “I do wish you'd stop creeping up on me. Between you and the damn vampires I'm a nervous wreck.”
He began to laugh at the absurdity of what I'd just said and looking back on the past weeks of my life, I realised why. A huff of laughter escaped me despite my tension.
“Ambrogio will be here soon,” I said, just to make conversation, because of course he knew that already.
His violet eyes fixed on me, and the smile he gave was warm. “He has made the connection with Apollo, but he doesn't believe it. He thinks you're a fake ... which is of course why he's here. Neither does he know that you killed Dis Pater.”
I let out a breath as some of my stress dissipated just a little. “Well ... good.”
“He's very ancient though, Jéhenne, very powerful, and far from stupid.”
It wasn't anything I didn't know, but I felt my heart kick in my chest just the same. “Could you ... er ...” I waved my hand around myself, wondering how to phrase it. “Give me a bit of that calm you carry around please?” Laughter glittered in his eyes and I grinned at him. “Oh come on, I deserve a bit of help don't I, after everything? The last thing I want is for the father of vampires to hear my heart skipping like a mad rabbit.”
He chuckled, and the warm night air swirled around me as he flicked his massive wings out, folding them neatly again behind him. “Indeed you deserve help,” he said, his voice soft. He reached out a hand, which was warm and surprisingly calloused as he held it against my cheek. “You will not disappoint, Jéhenne, have no fear.”
The Fires of Tartarus Page 33