The Fires of Tartarus

by Emma V. Leech

  I saw the tall, Slavic blonde watching me with undisguised amusement and knew she'd seen it all and was enjoying my discomfort. I moved closer to Rodney and kissed him on the cheek, feeling some of the tension in his body disperse as he realised I wasn't going to kill anyone. Yet.

  We made our way outside where an impressive stage had been created and took our seats for the entertainments. I was doubly anxious now, on the one hand hoping Ambrogio and his guests were suitably entertained, despite the fact all I wanted was to dig a big hole and drop them in it. On the other I had never been present for anything resembling vampiric entertainments and as much as I trusted Lucas, I was nervous as hell wondering what to expect. I didn't have long to wait.

  The scene set out before us was one reminiscent of ancient Greece with a white palace visible in the distance. A young woman, human, I noted with trepidation, was revealed behind the heavy curtains, sleeping beside a river. She was dressed simply in a plain white shift and had an air of innocence about her that was increased by her unguarded posture in sleep and the fact we really were surrounded by a great many vampires. I glanced at Lucas who was sitting beside me and tried to ease the tension in my chest as he turned and winked at me. Clearly he had no fears so ... I should try and relax. Right.

  I watched as the scene unfolded, and a muscular man emerged from the river. The effect was fantastically realistic as glittering droplets fell from his body, but I didn't sense any magic, so I guessed it was just some sophisticated special effects. The man was in fact Fae, though, a young one by the feel of the power he gave off. I thought perhaps he was Elven, as the trace of his magic felt familiar to me. Memories of Corin came flooding back, making me more melancholy still.

  The man was dressed as a Kelpie with a beautiful horse head mask and a mane that fell down his back in flowing black and green tendrils. His skin gleamed ebony in the light of the magical sun that illuminated the stage, and the two figures began to dance as an ethereal mist swirled around them. As they danced the Kelpie tried to seduce the virginal maiden to come and swim with him. They were the most incredible dancers, and it wasn't long before I was lost in the world they inhabited, in the beauty of their movements and the magical world they created before us. It became clear through the dance that the Kelpie had fallen in love with the girl, but she was afraid, knowing she would drown if she did as he asked. She ran away from him into the enchanted forest that lay beyond the river. The trees of the scenery merged seamlessly into the real woodland that surrounded the Château, giving an added realism to the atmosphere and the tension in the audience was palpable.

  I spared a moment to glance at Ambrogio as the scene changed and was relieved to see his attention was also fully on the stage. I hoped the bastard was enjoying himself. Reassured, I turned back to the scene where our terrified heroine was now lost in the forest. Her pure white dress was stark against the forbidding background, and I experienced a moment of very real shock as a malevolent figure swooped down from the trees and snatched her up. The man wore a gruesome mask of some fantastical monster, and he threw the girl with incredible strength up into the air. I watched with my heart in my mouth as another acrobat swung into view and deftly caught her.

  The monsters appeared on all sides now, and in a spectacular display the girl was thrown back and forth, pulled and pushed, and she tried with increasing desperation to escape from the nightmare she found herself in. I realised with a flutter of misgiving that all of the monsters were in fact vampires. I glanced around me, wondering how they felt about such a portrayal of themselves. Did they enjoy the fact? Accept it? Perhaps they liked knowing that hidden beneath the glossy, sophisticated veneer many of them wore lurked a monster. Did I? I knew what they were capable of just as well as they did, and I knew without the enormous power of a Master keeping them in check, anyone of them could lose their grip ... could take a life with ease just as they still truly desired at heart. What would happen if that Master could not control his own blood lust? I closed my eyes against the vision of carnage that would inevitably follow.

  I allowed myself to get lost in the story, a momentary respite from my own fears. I was so drawn into the magic of the dance that when the Kelpie appeared, my heart leapt, and I hoped he would be the hero that saved her. The fight between the monsters and her saviour was vicious, the acrobatic movements of the dancers increasingly frenetic as the outcome looked less and less hopeful. The finale when it came was shocking - to me at least. As the hero and heroine succumbed to the vampires, the Kelpie died heroically, his arms reaching out for the girl as she was lifted away from him, up into the darkness where she was embraced by two monsters. Blood spattered her white dress as their teeth found her neck, and the girl screamed. I was on my feet before I knew it as the rich scent of real blood, her blood drifted from the stage. Lucas grasped my hand, and I turned to him with horror in my eyes.

  “She does this often, Jéhenne, it's OK. She'll be fine.” His voice echoed through my head with a tinge of panic. “Clap!” he said urgently.

  I blinked at him, dazed as I realised everyone was watching me ... waiting. I forced myself to smile, the movement unnatural, my features stiff, and I began to applaud. The rest of the audience got to their feet and the deafening sound of applause and cheers echoed through the darkness around us. The dancers appeared before us, including the girl who looked a little spacey if none the worse for wear.

  I resumed my seat, feeling shaken as the players took their due and prayed I could get through the rest of the night without screwing up again.

  “A wonderful display,” Ambrogio enthused from my side, and I plastered the fake smile back on my face before I turned to him. “You are indeed a benevolent hostess,” he said, so suave and unruffled I wanted to slap his face. I could feel the buzz through the vampires around me, through the family, the almost erotic excitement they had felt from the performance. Sex and blood -– Lucas’ words repeated in my mind. I could hardly disapprove of them, knowing how Lucas' blood made me feel. It was what they were, what I was - in part at least. From the considering look in Ambrogio's eyes, he was only too aware that I had mixed feelings over the ending, and I cursed myself for letting that show. I would have to be much more careful.

  “I'm so glad it pleased you, my lord.” May you rot in hell. I made a mental note to have Lucas brief me on exactly what he had in store over the coming visit so that I would not be caught out again. Though that was of course why Ambrogio was here: to test me, and I didn't have the slightest doubt that he had surprises of his own to give me that I just knew I was going to hate. I only hoped, whatever they were, that I wouldn't let Corvus or my family down otherwise one of the other vampires in his entourage would be given control of the family. Over my dead body. Or more precisely over theirs, because I would blaze a path through their cold, dusty ashes before either Ambrogio or his friends laid their hands on what was mine.

  Chapter 43

  I clutched at the glass of tonic in my hand and tried hard to pretend there was an extra large vodka in there too. My nerves were crying out for alcohol, but I didn't dare, I couldn't afford to relax and let my guard down for a moment so tonic it was. I sipped it without enthusiasm, looking around me and wondering if I wasn't already off my head. It would be easy to believe based on the evidence in front of me.

  It was like walking through the middle of some bizarre dream and then waking to find it had mixed with reality. The Château stood, solid and reassuring under the blaze of the midnight sun as the woodland around us glittered. The trees were wreathed in long, thin strips of gold paper that hung in swathes and moved gently as a warm breeze stirred the night air, and golden petals fell from the skies in drifts, falling like snow as a magical cloud drifted overhead. Circus performers moved among us, all dressed entirely in gold, even their bare skin gilded as they danced or walked on stilts or blew fire high into the air above them. Fortune tellers and gypsies, strode past as well as clowns and mimes and acrobats, centaurs and satyrs, strange creatur
es that were pure myth and perhaps the effect of a bizarre group hallucination or a powerful Fae glamour. I blinked in astonishment.

  Mary-Grace seemed just as bewildered and entranced as I was. I wanted to go and talk to her, watching as her big, dark eyes stared at a sun blazing in the night sky with awe. Some sixth sense told me to stay away from her, and for once I listened. Strange music coiled around everyone, fogging my mind, and I wanted to reach out and touch it as it wound its spell about me. I looked for the source of it with curiosity and a little unease. There was undoubtedly magic in the refrain. I rubbed my thumb over the moonstone ring on my finger, allowing it to clear my head and remembering the morning I had given it to Corvus, and he had walked in the daylight. At this moment that seemed a far more fantastical dream than anything I was seeing now. My throat tightened, and I pushed the memory away.

  I jolted back to my bizarre reality as someone jostled me and my drink spilled over my hand. I cursed and glared at the culprit who had clutched at my wrist to steady herself.

  “S-sorry!” Mary-Grace stammered, doe eyes wide with horror at what she'd done. I frowned and looked to see why she'd been running. One of Ambrogio's vampires stood watching us, a frown gathering between thick, blond brows.

  I looked at her, checking her over for signs of injury or bite marks, but she looked fine, just shaken. “Are you OK?” I demanded, glancing back again to find the vampire gone.

  She looked at the empty space with relief and sighed, releasing her grip on my wrist.

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “What ...” Before I could begin to ask what the vampire had wanted with her, she got a glazed, panicked expression on her face.

  “I have to go,” she said, breathless, and ran back in the direction she'd come from.

  I huffed with annoyance, torn between going after her and demanding if anyone was hurting her and going with my gut instinct that told me she was trouble. In the end I decided to be sensible and deal with the laundry list of problems I currently had before I gave Ambrogio more reasons to want to dispose of me quietly under a large quantity of concrete. I would do what I could for Mary-Grace if and when a better opportunity arose.

  “Dance with me.”

  I looked around to find Lucas holding his hand out and smiled. He took my glass and set it down, and we moved together, not truly dancing, more swaying together, though even that was tricky in high heels on grass. I lost my balance a little and fell against him, and his arm tightened around me, keeping me close.

  I looked up to see those warm brown eyes watching me.

  “You're magnificent.” There was as much heat in his words as in his eyes as they whispered through my mind, and I looked away from him. “I'm so proud of you.”

  “Don't,” I pleaded, wanting nothing more in that moment than to lean into him, close my eyes and pretend it all away. “It's only just begun. I'm so scared I'll screw everything up.”

  I glanced up at him, and he smiled and shook his head. “I believe in you. We all do.”

  I wanted to shout at him, tell him that was why I was so afraid. I wanted to be worthy of that belief, but I wasn't Corvus, and I wasn't sure I could convince these people that I could be even half the Master he had been. Worse than that, I was pretty sure they didn't want to be convinced.

  “May I?”

  I shivered as I found Ambrogio standing beside us, holding out his hand to me. I hadn't been aware of his proximity and from the tension in Lucas neither had he. We needed to be very careful indeed.

  I released Lucas, hoping my reluctance wasn't too obvious and stepped up to Ambrogio as he pulled me towards him. His grip was firm, and his hand on my skin through the flimsy mesh of my dress made my senses sing with awareness of his power. That power wrapped around me like a thick wool cloak, suffocating me and cutting off my connection to the world, leaving me exposed to his will.

  I blinked in panic as I found myself alone in a swirling mist. My heart thudded, and I forced myself to be still, though all my instincts were screaming at me to run. I closed my eyes and concentrated, ignoring the icy terror that crawled over my flesh in sickening waves. I was so cold it was hard to think, and I could feel a thick layer of frost coating my skin. I tried harder, pushing past the freezing fear and could just make out the touch of his hand on my back. He had trapped me in my own head, though in reality I was still dancing with him. I took a breath and focused, calling out with my mind and my senses. A faint howl rose the hairs on the back of my neck, and I smiled. His hold over me was broken abruptly as a fierce snarling noise cut through the night.

  I opened my eyes and found myself back in reality and Ambrogio's embrace. He was frowning, and I followed his gaze to see that we were surrounded by my wolves. Their teeth were bared, lips drawn back in a ferocious snarl as they edged closer to him. Other than the savage noises they made, everything was still and quiet, every eye trained on us.

  “Leonidas,” I said, greeting the alpha with a smile that was completely heartfelt. I moved away from Ambrogio, though not before I registered the look in his eyes. I'd shaken him. I wondered how many had broken from his thrall before me. From the silent shock of his companions, I was guessing not many, if any at all. I caressed the big wolf's ears, drawing strength and confidence from him and his harem as they crowded around me, forming a protective barrier between me and anyone who might get the inadvisable urge to move closer.

  “Well then,” I said. “I suppose you'll be wanting to put me to the test or ...” I gave a dismissive wave of my hand. “Or whatever it is you had in mind.” I smiled at him, knowing my eyes held a clear challenge and knowing that I was playing with fire. But then ... it always had been my favourite game.

  ***

  I kept my face impassive, not allowing my exhaustion to show as Ambrogio's minions filed out of my office. The moment the door closed and the privacy ward flickered shut behind them, the façade slipped, and I laid my head in my hands with a quiet moan.

  “You did brilliantly,” Lucas said, his voice fierce as he crouched beside me. “Truly, far better than I dared hope.”

  I shook my head, not looking up. “I got stuff wrong too, Lucas. I know I did.”

  He sighed. “Nothing major, don't be so hard on yourself.”

  I looked up in frustration. “Why not? They will be,” I shouted, pointing at the door our guests had just exited through. “A Master vampire would have perfect recall. There would be no mistakes. None.”

  I blinked, my eyes hot and dry after too little sleep and far too much drama. I'd been locked in this bloody office for almost four hours while they fired questions at me about vampire law, about their history, demanding what my actions would be in a hundred different scenarios in which tough decisions would have to be made. And through all of it they gave me no reaction, no idea as to whether my replies were right or wrong. The only blessing was that Ambrogio clearly thought himself above such tedious interrogations. Though what he'd been up to in my absence was no more reassuring. I felt the pull of the sun as it breached the horizon.

  “You're exhausted, Jéhenne, you need to sleep.”

  I nodded; there was no disputing that.

  “Go on,” Lucas said. “Go to bed. I'll make sure everything is in hand for tomorrow. There's nothing you need to do.”

  I gave him a grateful smile and hauled myself to my feet, wincing and kicking off my heels before picking them up and heading out the door. He was wrong, though. There was something I needed to do. I made my way up the stairs, moving on autopilot. There wasn't even any question or doubt as to where I was going. I was out of my mind with tiredness and this was the worst idea ever, but it wouldn't change anything. I had to see him.

  I felt the ward flare to life as I approached. Strengthened and bound to him, it had superseded the need for any suspicious-looking guards. It was the same ward that Inés had almost killed him with, trapping him in a silver mine while his powers drained away. It all seemed a lifetime ago and yesterday all at the same time
.

  I laid my hand on the door. His anger was a live thing, white hot and all-consuming, devouring everything in its path like a forest fire. I had never wanted to burn more, even though fear licked at my heart. I took a moment to smooth my hair, put on my shoes again and take a steadying breath. I opened the door.

  Stepping through was like walking into a hornet's nest as his power prickled over my skin, and I felt a jolt of alarm. My eyes fell to the cuffs on his wrists, reassuring myself that they were still in place. He was growing in power. The presence of Ambrogio could only be fuelling his return to strength. I wondered what else he was feeling as he stalked towards me. His eyes were cold with fury.

  I held his gaze, looking up at him, waiting for the tirade, but he didn't speak.

  “I had no choice, Corvus. I had to keep you in here. If they'd seen you like this ...” I gestured to the cuffs. “It was for your own protection.”

  Silence.

  I watched him, wondering what he wanted me to say, wondering what he suspected, what he knew. I knew what he feared at least. He was afraid of me, of loving me at any rate. He was afraid of what a love like that could make him do, make him endure.

  “Why didn't you just leave me where I was?” His voice was intense, so full of bitterness that pain bloomed in my heart. “Why not just leave me there to burn. I'm nothing more than an inconvenience to you here.”

  My breath caught in my throat as his words hit me. “You remember?”

  He turned away from me, pacing towards the chimney breast where a fire blazed in the hearth, the heat in the room making my skin flush further, combining with the discomfort of his rage. He stared down into the flames, his hands clenched.

  “I remember ... burning, blistering skin ... hunger.” He bit the words out, each one angrier than the last. “I remember the monsters. I remember the constant terror, but most of all I remember dying. Over and over again.”

  He swung around, and I took an involuntary step back in the face of his fury.