I laughed and stepped back. “I am lucky you still speak to me, dear friend. I know you were shocked to discover I pulled you into a world you never knew existed.” I straightened the lace at her neck and brushed away my own tears. “You are brave beyond belief. I love you too, Maggie. I will be cheered every time I think of you in this village, safe from hunger and in the arms of a strong man who will protect you.”
She laughed and pulled a fine handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her eyes. “And with a dozen babes surrounding me. God blessed me with a lusty man who loves me.” She looked over at Fergus, surrounded by men who were as brawny as he was. As if he felt her stare, he glanced over his shoulder then held out his hand.
“Maggie, love, ’tis time, I think.” He walked over to take her arm. “Shall we go inside and get this done, sweeting?”
“I’m ready.” Maggie’s smile was radiant. “I’ve asked Glory to stand with me.”
“That’s a fine idea. Jeremiah will be beside me. You won’t believe what a generous gift he has given us for our wedding. I will tell you later.” He nodded and everyone who could fit inside followed us into the church. It was a small space and didn’t hold all who had come to witness the marriage.
The vicar, a large man in his clerical collar, had stayed out of sight during the celebration the night before. Now I could see he was an older man who had a resigned look about him. Did he secretly wish he could enjoy the merrymaking? Or was he praying for all the lost souls who still loved the trappings of Yuletide and stayed with the Catholic ways so many in the new church now despised? I had no feelings one way or the other. Which was strange, I suppose. Whatever I had been raised to believe had vanished as surely as my memory of a family and childhood.
The words the vicar spoke were lost to me as I looked around, absorbing the sights and smells of so many bodies close together. There were windows, but they were closed with wooden shutters against the cold outside. There were many candles but no fireplace.
Everything inside was plain, to suit the harsh views of this church that frowned on holiday merrymaking. No pretty decorations had been set about and of course there were no flowers at the altar in winter or songs sung before the vows were exchanged. Maggie’s wheat had been found in the barn, someone whispered. It was a sign of fertility another answered. This caused giggles among a group of girls just blooming with their own womanhood. They cast their eyes toward some awkward boys who shoved each other, trying to get closer but obviously afraid to get too close.
If love and devotion had an aura, it was coming from the couple saying their vows just a step away. Maggie had another tear running down her cheek and Fergus caught it with his thumb. His smile was glorious. I met Jeremiah’s stare and realized he hadn’t taken his eyes off of me since we’d stepped up to the altar. What was he thinking? There was no getting into his mind. Nor did I want him into my thoughts.
Marriage. I had to agree with his mother. What woman didn’t yearn for the security of that bond? Easy enough to say it didn’t matter. But in my heart? Oh, to have this man tied to me forever! Yet it had been clear that the married men who worked in the theater thought nothing of breaking their wedding vows. A ceremony such as this was only as binding as the steadfastness of the people going through it.
Suddenly it was over. Fergus laid a scarf made of his clan plaid over Maggie’s shoulder, then planted a loud kiss on his new wife’s mouth. She laughed, pushing him away before he could embarrass her or so she said. The crowd in the church shouted with high spirits then parted so the couple could walk down a makeshift aisle. It wouldn’t be easy. There were no benches and everyone had stood close, shoulder to shoulder.
I sniffed, noticing something in the air, then looked at Jeremiah. I knew that smell. A glance behind the vicar and my fears were confirmed.
“Fire! The kirk is on fire!” I hoped good sense prevailed and everyone would move quickly without panic through the narrow door and into the night. I should have known better. Just screaming the word made people turn into a stampeding mob.
“I’ll make a path for you.” Jeremiah looked as if ready to pull his sword to clear that path.
“No! Put away your sword. These are your people! Help get them out safely.” I was suddenly lifted off my feet. Valdez had me in his arms.
“This way.” The shifter dragged me toward the nearest window and used a strong kick to knock out the wood covering. Cold air felt good after the close quarters but also drew others to the escape route. Valdez wasted no time shoving me out where I fell into the snow. I rolled away before another body could fall on me.
“Help Maggie, Valdez!” I was very afraid that none of the big men could fit through the small windows. Could Maggie? It had been a tight fit with my full skirt and the petticoats over my own generous hips.
“Stay close,” Valdez ordered before he turned back.
When I didn’t see my friend’s blue velvet skirt right away, I picked myself up and struggled through the snow toward the door where I was sure people would be pushing and shoving their way out. I looked up to see fire devouring the wooden roof. The kirk was built entirely of wood, not stone, and wouldn’t last long. How had the fire started?
“No, don’t go any further. You’re coming with me!” Someone grabbed me from behind before I had taken two steps. Strong hands gripped my arms and dragged me away, toward the woods, which were never very far away in this village. My vampire strength seemed like nothing against the power of the person holding me. Why? Was I spelled? It was possible.
Because one whiff of evil and I knew whose claws dug into me so fiercely. Witch Alyse held me. She’d drawn blood, my own, with her sharp nails. I had to be glad of that even though I hurt as I struggled to get free. At least the scent of my fresh blood would help Jeremiah follow me if he could fight his way out of the kirk quickly.
“Help! Let me go! Are you mad?” I fought, hitting and kicking as I tried to break free. This slim woman who had looked so small and delicate had the strength of a warrior. It had to be magic giving her such power. She hauled me away from the crackling fire and the screams of the people still fighting to get out of the burning building as easily as if I weighed nothing and had no skill of my own.
“Mad? No indeed. You are mad if you think to best me or that Gertrude could handle me.” She laughed and jerked me hard when I tried to drag my heels then drop down to sit in the snow. “Did you really think a good witch could pull Red Mary’s spell out of me?” Her laugh gave me chills. “They are waiting for you over yon ridge. Stop resisting me or I’ll knock you senseless. I will earn my coin this night, see if I don’t. See how clever I am?”
I had been trying to catch her eyes, to freeze her in place. No wonder she had come up behind me. Alyse was clever and careful, keeping my back to her as she lugged me further and further away from the crowd. Those that had gotten out of the kirk paid us no heed. I tried screaming again, but the crackling sounds of the fire and everyone’s own terrified yelling must have made my voice just more noise to them.
I wondered if Maggie had gotten out through a window. I hoped she didn’t see me and come after me. I wouldn’t endanger her or her child for anything. Not when I was sure Devlin was the one waiting on the other side of the ridge.
Jeremiah! Valdez! If either one of them looked for me and saw me in Alyse’s clutches, they would be up here in an instant. The fact that they hadn’t appeared meant they could be trapped inside, unable to get out. I strained to see down the hill, scared that either of them could be in trouble. But then they should be able to shift into something small. Was something keeping them from doing so? Another spell?
“What did you do to Gertrude? To the kirk?” I could hardly speak, the heavy black smoke blowing our way choking me. It also made us nearly invisible to the crowd below.
“That crone? Dumped her foul brew on her. If she lives, she’ll be a fright to look at.” Alyse laughed. “I have Red Mary inside me, you see. She can do anything! Her power is amazing
.”
“And the kirk? The people inside?”
“I can throw fire. Even a weak witch can do that. What’s the matter, Gloriana? Waiting for rescue from your shape-shifting friends?” Alyse laughed as she pulled me further away from the village. “Red Mary thought of that, you see. They are spelled. No one inside can shift. She told me what to say and not even the vampires can fly out of there. Brilliant, isn’t she?” Alyse jerked me another few feet.
“We have gold. Jeremiah can pay you—” I screamed when she yanked my hair until my eyes watered.
“I’ve been promised gold. Not only that, I’ll have power, learn the dark arts when I am done here.” She cackled like one gone mad. “Shut up now or you’ll have no hair by the time we get there.” Alyse kicked me. “You could get up and walk, help me do this faster. Stupid woman. Resign yourself. Devlin gets what he wants. You can’t fight the Devil.”
I swung a fist at her, still trying to catch her eyes. That earned me a slap.
“Behave! Devlin is handsome, even with one eye. You could do worse.”
“You are a fool, Alyse. Do you imagine either Devlin or Red Mary will let you live once you are no longer useful?” I gathered all my vampire strength and tried one more time to break free. I failed. If Alyse were a normal woman, or even a normal witch, I would have had no problem overpowering her. But obviously her spells or Red Mary’s seemed to have taken what strength I had right out of me. I shuddered to think of Red Mary’s powers. I fully expected her to fly in on a broomstick or use some other trick I’d heard tales of in the theater.
“Red Mary likes me. She has promised to keep me by her side. I will be her assistant and learn to do great things.” Alyse was panting, her hands slipping. Was this my chance?
“I’m expecting the Campbell guards to ride out any moment to save me. You will lose your head over this.” I kicked again and again, hampered by the velvet skirt I’d donned an hour ago. It was one of my favorites, green velvet. A half-dozen petticoats kept me warm but made my effort to knock her legs out from under her clumsy and foolish. I reached for the knife I’d hidden at my garter because I hadn’t wanted it at my waist during the wedding. I was too late. Alyse pushed me face down in the snow, her boot on my back.
“The Campbell guards have been spelled. They are asleep on their horses or snoring at their posts. Red Mary has seen to that.” Alyse pressed harder and I realized we’d reached the trees. “We’re here!” She screamed it. “Come and take her. I cannot go on any farther.”
A blackbird flew out to land inches from my face. As soon as Alyse’s book lifted, I sat up and spit out snow, wiping my face. There was something strange about the bird. Of course. Its head was misshapen. One eye. I fumbled under my skirt for my dagger. Before I could get to it, the bird became man. Devlin loomed over me.
“Looking for something, Gloriana?” He lifted me effortlessly and groped under my skirt, trapping my hand against my thigh. I screamed when he took the knife. Then he gave my leg a rude caress, lingering until I cursed him. “Armed. A wise move. Too bad you were late retrieving it.” He glanced at Alyse. “You should have pricked the witch with it.”
“Where is Red Mary? I want her to see that I did her bidding.” Alyse’s face was red from dragging me up the hill.
“You did my bidding, girl.” Devlin held me even though I struggled and kicked him.
I hated when strong men made me feel weak. I scratched his handsome face. That earned me a slap that made my ears ring. God had made a mistake, putting a comely visage on such an evil man. I swung at him again, trying for his other eye, the one not covered by a black cloth.
“Gloriana, be still or I’ll freeze you where you stand. I seem to remember you hate that.” He glanced down at me when he caught my fist in his hand. “Understand?”
I stopped. I needed strategy, because it was clear that force would not win the night. I nodded and stood still. I had to think. Surely Red Mary’s spell could not last forever. If I could stall, Jeremiah would have time to find us.
“Excellent.” He turned his attention back to Alyse. “I see smoke. What did you do?”
“I set the kirk on fire. Everyone was inside for a wedding. I waited until Gloriana was thrown out the window then took her. You must admit that was clever.” Alyse threw back her shoulders. “No one saw us leave.”
“Of course not or Jeremiah Campbell would be riding up your backside.” Devlin shook his head. “You actually did well.”
“Where is Red Mary?” Alyse asked it again.
I could have told her that you did not push Devlin with questions. If he wanted to answer, he would. I heard him draw his sword and braced myself. This could not be good.
“Run, Alyse!” I had to warn her. She might have kidnapped me, but she didn’t deserve— I closed my eyes.
“She had served her purpose. I had no interest in drinking her blood full of dark magic.” Devlin dragged me up the hill, stopping once to wipe his sword on the snow.
I couldn’t resist taunting him. “You should have tried her blood. Kept her alive for a while as a blood slave. She was full of power.” Poor Alyse. This man was so horribly cold. “She did your bidding. Do you kill everyone who asks you a question twice?”
“She annoyed me. But you are right. It was a missed opportunity.” He smiled at me, showing his fangs. “Instead, I was thinking about how sweet your blood tasted. It has been haunting me ever since. I will have it again soon.” He jerked me along when I tried to stop, holding my arm as if we were going for a stroll. “To answer Alyse’s question, Red Mary is not here. She rarely leaves her hut. Her magic travels across time and space. She has no need to go with it.”
I couldn’t look back. I knew what I would see, a girl with her head separated from her body. She was a victim of her own foolish desires. Gods save her.
“You are an unfeeling bastard, a beast. I hope you choke on my blood.” I knew I was wasting my breath, sounding almost childish, as I stumbled in the snow. Jeremiah would be following our footsteps as soon as he and Valdez realized I was gone. It had started to sleet, rain mixed with snow. I hoped that it didn’t cover my tracks. I dragged my feet, trying to make ruts that would be easy to follow. We came through the trees into a clearing where a group of horsemen waited.
“Of course I am a beast. I am what a long life has made me. It takes beastly ways to survive, Gloriana. I started life as a saintly man, praying to a god who did not listen. Soon I learned that evil paid far more than piety did. And there was much more pleasure to be had in the dens of lost souls.” He stared into the distance, as if remembering dark times. “If you live past your stay with me, you will find out the truth of that.” He signaled and a large black horse was brought to him. He mounted, then the man who’d cared for his horse handed me up to him. I was to ride in front of Devlin. I hated being so close to him and his foul smell of death and evil.
He ran a fingertip over my arm where I had bled. “I wish I didn’t feel the need to hurry. Your blood is delightful. No matter, we will have time for that later.” He licked his finger then urged his horse into a gallop. I tried to throw myself off the horse but his arm wrapped around my middle like iron. I was truly trapped.
There were no shouts of a group following us as we rode away. I could only pray that everyone got out of the kirk safely. I didn’t doubt that Jeremiah would search for me as soon as he could get away from the wedding party. How long would Red Mary’s spell last? Would he shift to search for me? Would he be able to? The weather was worsening but I could tell we weren’t riding toward the village and a fight with Jeremiah. No, we headed into the mountains.
The cold was bitter but Devlin did not offer me a cloak. The sleet became a blizzard as we rode higher. I had no idea how the horses could keep to narrow paths when I couldn’t see anything in front of us. I didn’t ask nor say a word, only shivered in my space in front of the man I hated above all others. I tried not to lean against him. Ice collected on my hair and face. I’m sure I lo
oked like a sculpture, frozen in place. I kept my hands in the folds of my skirt but that was all the comfort I had. I had worn no cloak inside to the wedding. Maggie and I had left ours outside. Oh, vanity!
As we rode for what must have been hours, I realized we were finally going downhill instead of up. A light twinkled ahead of us through trees. Was I dreaming? No, we pulled up in front of a large stone house. Devlin dragged me off his horse and the men took it away. My legs would not hold me and I fell at his feet. I hated that he picked me up to carry me against his chest to a heavy door. He kicked it with his boot. We were shown inside by someone. I couldn’t see if it was man or woman because my eyelashes were frozen closed.
Devlin dumped me on a fur rug in front of a roaring fire and left me there to thaw. I shuddered as the ice melted enough for me to drag my hands out from under my soaked skirt to hold toward the blaze. I had never been so miserable in recent memory. It was almost enough to take my mind off what was to come. The rest of the ice melted, making me even wetter. Someone draped a heavy robe over my shoulders but I was not about to take off my dress. I would die before I did.
“Are you really so foolish that you think I care if you die of lung fever? Not that a vampire is likely to take such an illness.” Devlin stood next to me. “You will either strip away that sodden dress or I will cut it off you.” He held a dagger in his hand, flipping it in a masculine show of dexterity. I hoped he cut off a finger.
“Where are we?” My voice was a mere croak. I was ill. Mayhap I could take a fever. Would serve him right if I died here before he could enjoy torturing me.
“A place where your lover will never find us. What is the matter? Are you pretending to suffer? Do you think that will keep me from you?” He threw the robe away and lifted me to my feet. “Ah, Gloriana, I have waited too long for anything less than the plague to make me turn away from having you.”
Real Vampires: A Highland Christmas (The Real Vampires series Book 14) Page 16