The Fires of Tartarus

by Emma V. Leech

  “You?” he sneered, looking me over with contempt. “I think not. I think you are a child playing with powers she has no idea how to wield.”

  “You do?” I said with an innocent expression. Of course a very short time ago I'd have probably agreed with him wholeheartedly. But not today. “Well I'm afraid we must come to the crunch in that case.” I glared at him, no longer bothering to hide my anger or loathing. “This is my family, mine, and you have overstayed your welcome. I want you out of my house. You have no right to be here, the Senate has not approved your intervention, and if you leave now, they need not know. But make a move against me or mine and I will destroy you.”

  For a moment he was silent as his companions watched the drama unfold with undisguised glee. They sensed blood. They just didn't realise whose it would be. Ambrogio tipped back his head and laughed and laughed and then, slowly, he began to clap. He got to his feet. “You know, I rather like you, Jéhenne. You have spirit. It is such a shame I am going to have to watch you die now.” He didn't move, but the Slavic blonde to his left did, and this time I didn't hesitate. I thrust out my hand, sending the spell towards her with speed I didn't know I possessed. It hit, and for a second her wide blue eyes just stared at me in confusion as her body shifted shape, and then she shook her new body and padded obediently across the floor to lay at my feet. Ambrogio and his companions just stared at her, struck dumb.

  “It's true,” he said in wonder, looking at the massive blue-eyed wolf that was now gazing at me adoringly. “Circe, the enchantress, daughter of Apollo the sun god.”

  I nodded, making sure I looked smug as hell. “I did try to warn you,” I said in my sweetest voice. “Oh, and if you were wondering, yes, my mother is Hekatê.”

  He laughed then, a hand going to adjust his tie and smooth down his lapels. I wondered if it was a nervous gesture. He didn't look nervous. “Oh thank you for clearing that up. I had best know who it is I need to placate once you are dead, after all your father is long since shrivelled up and forgotten while I have flourished, so I need not make him any offerings.”

  Fury bloomed for a father I'd never even met, and the remaining nine of his body guards moved as one. I hit the first three with no problem but they were so damn fast, and I was no vampire. Growls and snarls filled the air as the newly-turned wolves fell upon their former allies. They did little but cause some annoyance but that was enough. I sent fire spells blazing that held them at bay, and I could feel the family begging me to let them intervene, but I refused. Not yet. I wouldn't lose anyone if I could help it or let Ambrogio use my own against me. I ducked as a massive vampire landed on the stage beside me and kicked out. His enormous foot missed my head by a fraction as I ducked under it and grabbed at the opposite leg. In a move that would have made Cain dewy-eyed with pride, I lifted and smashed my other hand into the small of his back, sending the huge man crashing to the ground. A simple thing then to follow up with a spell, and I laughed, the sound a touch hysterical as this one ran off squealing, little pink trotters scrabbling madly on the polished floor of the hall.

  The remaining five vampires hesitated for just a split second, beyond shocked that their powerful friend was now a frightened pig, and that was all I needed. I swept a curse over them, and watched one by one as they transformed, momentarily unsteady on four paws before they trotted to stand beside me.

  I took two steps down from the stage, the wolves arranged on the lower steps below me. “Get out of my house, Ambrogio.”

  His face was dark with fury, and the remaining thirty or so of his entourage stood behind him while still more appeared in a silent dark wave, flowing through the doorway. If they were afraid of following the fates of their kin, they didn't show it.

  “I think it is time I took matters into my own hands, Jéhenne,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “It seems I have underestimated you.”

  “A mistake people only tend to make once.”

  Both Ambrogio and I looked around in surprise at the sound of a very familiar voice, and I felt my heart skitter in my chest as I turned to see Corvus standing in the spotlight on the stage.

  My throat constricted, and despite everything I felt a rush of desire. He was dressed formally, a look I hadn't seen since the night I had finally given myself to him and completed our bond. He tried to kill you last night, I reminded myself, but as usual my heart was deaf to reason.

  “Aren't you supposed to be dead?” Ambrogio asked politely, his tone curious. My heart picked up speed. No, no, no. Corvus should not be here.

  “Oh, yes,” Corvus said, sounding nonchalant and looking beyond suave and sophisticated. Where was the volatile, blood-hungry vampire I had been growing used to? “To coin a phrase 'it appears that reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.'“ He looked at me and winked.

  I looked back at him, frozen and utterly perplexed. What the fuck was going on?

  Ambrogio looked from Corvus to me, and I held on tight to every emotion, not giving anything away, not to anyone.

  “So if you are still Master here ...” Ambrogio said to Corvus, frowning as he turned to look at me.

  “Oh, Jéhenne is Master here too, my lord. Did no one tell you ... She is my wife.”

  I jolted like I'd been slapped. “Jéhenne.” My heart couldn't take much more of this, exploding at the sound of his voice in my head, at that tone, the way my name sounded when he said it like that. Like a caress.

  I looked at him and told myself I was imagining it. It was a trick. He was in league with Ambrogio, and this wasn't him, not truly. I couldn't trust him. I had known he might try to use the memories I'd shared with him against me ... but the look in his eyes was warm and honest. Oh I wanted to believe in it, in him, so very badly. I just didn't dare. How could I?

  I kept my face impassive as he spoke again, even though they must hear how my heart thundered in my chest. “I know I have no right to ask it, and I would not blame you if you can never forgive me ... but let me help you. Trust me, please ... my heart.”

  Chapter 52

  Ambrogio looked between us, keenly aware that there was some tension between us that we were trying hard to keep under wraps.

  “Do I sense a lover's tiff?” he asked with undisguised interest. So much easier for him if we just killed each other of course.

  “Not on my part,” Corvus said, never taking his eyes from mine, his expression so intense it was all I could do not to blush.

  “Please, Jéhenne, I know who I am now. I know what is important. Trust me please.” My heart kicked in my chest as his words repeated in my head. I was so desperate for it to be true that I knew my judgement was not to be trusted, and neither was he.

  “One chance, Corvus.” I had no intention of trusting him, not yet, but we may as well see how this played out.

  “It appears your lady wife does not share your sentiments,” Ambrogio said, watching my face far too closely.

  “Well you know how it is, Ambrogio,” I said with a conversational tone. “You rescue him from Tartarus and at first it's all sunshine and roses, but before you know where you are, he's forgotten your anniversary and left the toilet seat up once too often.”

  Corvus burst out laughing, and it was almost more than I could take. It was so long since I had heard him laugh like that. My breath caught in my throat, and suddenly he was beside me. He took my hand in his and squeezed gently.

  “It's true, I have been somewhat far from the ideal husband of late,” he said, his voice low. “But I intend to make amends.”

  I looked up at him, into those blue eyes that were looking at me with such love, with the tender expression I had been dreaming of endlessly since the day we had said goodbye. I battled with my heart. Focus for the love of God, Jéhenne. Ambrogio was watching our every move, and he wanted me dead for sure. Up until a scant few hours ago Corvus wanted the exact same thing. He'd tried to kill me and very nearly succeeded. Could Sariel’s second attempt really have worked?

  “This is all very
endearing, but I fear there are larger matters to discuss,” Ambrogio said, and it was clear his patience was at an end. He walked a few paces away, apparently considering his words before he turned and addressed Corvus once more. “Your wife has turned my personal body guard into wolves and farmyard animals, and she has also treated me with far less than the respect that I deserve. She has tried to evict me from the premises with threats of death and violence.” He paused and looked Corvus over with narrowed eyes. “And whilst it appears that you are indeed everything you once were, I am curious to know how, when you have spent time in Tartarus. The chance that your sanity has not been compromised is just too great to leave such a powerful family in your care. Not only that, but you refer to this woman as your wife, and yet she does not wear your marks? A little strange is it not, especially from a man with a reputation such as yours?”

  Corvus' grip on my hand tightened. “It is true that ... I have not been myself since my return from Tartarus, and that the separation broke the bonds between us.” His voice was calm, his demeanour perfectly unruffled, but I could feel the disgust and fury in him at having to explain himself and our personal situation with Ambrogio, in front of Ambrogio's family who were watching with rapt attention. “However, I think you can see quite clearly that my strength has not been diminished in the slightest, and that I am perfectly sane.” He drew me closer to him, sliding a possessive hand around my waist. “And I can assure you, the marriage marks will be firmly back in place the moment you and your kin have left the premises.”

  I felt the flush burn in my cheeks and carry on down my neck and chest in a vibrant wave of heat. Corvus looked down at me, amusement in his eyes. “I am so happy to see you still blush like a maiden, even after all you have been through.”

  I scowled up at him, torn between embarrassment, horror that Lucas would be able to hear all of this and the urgent desire to throw myself at him there and then.

  Ambrogio however seemed unmoved and unimpressed. “I am a long way from being convinced of your sanity,” he said, and now there was clear anger in his voice. “The fact that you would actually marry this ... witch, twice no less, is a concern in itself. Let alone the fact that you have chosen to gift part of your control to a woman who is not even vampire? It is scandalous! In fact there is far too much here that simply does not add up, and I think it only right that I put another in charge whilst I make enquiries.”

  The wave of sheer fury that rolled off of Corvus at Ambrogio's words was the most reassuring thing that I had felt in a very long time, and even though my skin felt like it was being burnt to a crisp, I stayed in the arc of his arm, leaning in to him. And I dared to hope.

  “If you make a move against this family, it will be your final act in a very long life, Ambrogio,” Corvus growled as his eyes darkened with anger. “My wife is not a vampire it is true, she is a goddess and we are all proud to name her as Master here. She has acted just as she should in the circumstances for the safety of our bloodline. The Senate has given you no permission to act against us, and until you have such papers in order, we will consider your actions a direct threat to our well-being.” He took a step towards Ambrogio, bearing his fangs in defiance. “You know as well as I do what the law states in those circumstances.”

  Ambrogio laughed. “The Senate,” he sneered. “Gods it has become that we cannot exist unless the Senate deems it necessary. We cannot kill or procreate without papers in triplicate! It is sheer folly; we are vampire, and I am the father of this great race. I have slept for too long while others guided our kind in the wrong direction, but I am very much awake now. I am tired of seeing my progeny treated like children at best and prisoners in many cases. I will take this family, and in time I will challenge the Senate. It is time for us to rise again and be feared and revered as we once were.”

  The bastard just kept talking, grandiose schemes for all he would do, how vampires would be worshipped for the gods they truly were. Even his own followers were shifting a little impatiently. No doubt they'd heard it all before ,and I'd really had enough of him for one night. I just wanted to be with Corvus and figure out if he was telling me the truth or what it was he was really after. As hard as I tried my stupid heart would not be cautioned, and I wanted to be alone with him so desperately I could taste it.

  “You're a fucking moron, Ambrogio,” I said, interrupting his endless monologue and figuring that at least should get his attention.

  I glanced at Corvus who was rubbing his face with one hand. I wasn't sure, but I thought he might be hiding a smile. Ambrogio definitely wasn't smiling.

  “And you are far too free with your mouth,” he growled, glaring at me. He took an involuntary step backwards as my new wolves crowded around me, snarling at him with their teeth bared.

  “Well someone has to open your eyes,” I snapped. “You know nothing of this world, of the advances in science, how the tiniest drop of blood can tell so much of your history, a hair from your head or a fingerprint could give you away. How your every move is tracked by cameras, how your body could be discovered deep underground simply from the heat it gave off. You cannot live as you once did. You will be discovered, and if that happens, you will have a lot more to worry about than just the destruction of your race. You'll be kept in cages like lab rats while they figure out the best way to use all the power and regenerative properties your bodies can offer the world.”

  Ambrogio sneered and the megalomania glinting in his eyes was only too visible. “Humans could never destroy our kind, we are far too powerful.”

  Corvus looked at him and shook his head. “My lord, you are indeed our father and for that you must be revered, but there was a time when we were hunted by humans almost to the point of extinction, when they had little more than wooden stakes at their disposal. The sunlight has always been our greatest weakness.”

  “Enough!” Ambrogio's voice echoed around the great hall, and the tension in the room ramped up as his fury was only too clear. I could feel the anticipation thrum through the room, his followers practically salivating, wanting our blood. “Yes, yes indeed the sun is our enemy, and it always has been, right from the start.” He turned back, and I did not like the look he was giving me. “Isn't that right, Circe?”

  My body grew tense, aware that things had finally been brought to a head. Not that there had ever been any other outcome possible. Ambrogio had come to take the family from us, and he would either succeed or die trying.

  “Take them,” he commanded.

  It took a fraction of a second for the family to mass around us and all hell to break loose. There may have been fewer vampires with Ambrogio than in the family, but they were all bloody powerful.

  “How many can you turn, Jéhenne?” Corvus yelled at me as he sent a massive wave of power out in front of him, sweeping the feet from under the first wave of vampires to rush at us. There was exhilaration in his eyes, and I had never wanted to kiss him more.

  “All of them?” I shouted back with a grin. “Just send them my way.”

  Corvus laughed, and there was a resounding snap as he broke a neck and flung the body at my feet. The furious vampire was almost healed before he had even hit the floor, but a second later a bewildered wolf lay in his place, lurching to its feet on unsteady paws.

  We found a strange kind of rhythm, and it soon became clear that Ambrogio had underestimated just what he was up against. Corvus was right, his power had in no way diminished, and in fact I felt it was growing at a considerable rate, fuelled by our connection. Just as we were stronger with the family behind us, so we were stronger together. We could win this. I felt the moment when Ambrogio decided to take matters into his own hands, and everything changed.

  The room froze. Everyone, including Corvus, stopped as though a switch had been flicked. A wave of icy cold fear swept over me as I realised he had taken control of them all, with a thought.

  “I really didn't want to do that,” he said with a heavy sigh.

  “Really?” I replied,
still breathing heavy as I threaded my way between the statue-like figures in the hall, keeping my eyes trained on him as we circled each other. The wolves at least appeared to be beyond his control as they echoed my movements, slinking behind me like a shadow. There were at least twenty of them now, the low murmur of their growls echoing through me. “You're looking pretty smug from where I'm standing.”

  He laughed and nodded. “True enough, it is always nice to be able to turn the tables on one's enemies, but I had hoped to avoid being so predictable. Still, needs must. I imagine I'll get over it.” He threw me a nasty smile. “I'm afraid I cannot say the same for you.”

  “Sure you don't need your little friends to back you up?” I taunted. “Think you can take me down all by yourself do you, big bad vampire that you are?”

  He laughed, and the sound rang around the room, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “You are so like your father, did you know that? An arrogant runt.”

  I gave a bark of laughter in return. “Now there's a coincidence.”

  He had circled behind where Corvus stood, and I knew I was likely to only get one shot at this. I could feel the anger of the family, a burn in my mind, and of Corvus' fury over everything else as he fought desperately against the command, but I couldn't expect them to deny the father of the race. I was on my own.

  He moved in a blur, and I reached behind me, snatching the knife from between my shoulder blades. I struck just as he attacked, his fangs grazing my neck, but he'd seen the danger and grasped my wrist, twisting, and I knew he'd snap my bones like a dry twig if I let him. Fire blazed from my wrists, and he leapt away but kicked out at my hand, and the knife tumbled to the floor, skidding away from me on the shiny, polished floor. Ambrogio stood between me and the knife, and I knew I'd likely lost my chance. I breathed deep and even, waiting for his move. He just watched me, calculation in his eyes. “You know, I have heard of your great love affair,” he said. “Who hasn't of course,” he added in disgust, waving a dismissive hand. “Once the story got out, it spread like wildfire. Such a romantic tale. Corvus has somehow attained the status of a great hero, even among our kind who are not often given to such reverence for anything but sheer power.”