“I possess pity and fondness for her, my lady. That is all. And you heard what our fallen brother said. King Tarasque will not succeed in taking her.”
“Then she will remain in your charge. And you will continue to question her.”
“Yes, my lady.”
***
Blackhole
Your performance was stunning as always, dear child.
I gave no indication that I had heard, continuing to stare at Shadow and Mercedes from my hiding place.
The sirens are almost as despicable as the dragons, Father continued. He did not sound angry at my silence. So cowardly and pretentious. The only thing that redeems them is their incredible architectural skills. Their structures are so bright and golden. The color alone would tempt me to unleashing a sea of your siblings into their cities.
I still didn’t reply. I was well aware of how much Father relished in the destruction of bright and beautiful things. He much preferred dark and beautiful.
Look at my greatest creation, dear child, Father whispered. Look at it.
I obeyed. My eyes locked solely onto Shadow who was now pressing his forehead against his love’s.
Love is such a disgusting thing, but I will never deny that it has its uses. Before he had nothing to lose. Now he has everything to lose and there is nothing he will not do to keep it. He will kill, he will maim, he will do whatever it takes to protect the one he loves.
Shadow’s eyes opened again. Mercedes’ were still closed so she could not see his burn ice blue with predatory possessiveness and protectiveness.
The violence of his ancestors runs strong through his veins, Father said. Many vampires have forgotten just how barbaric and bloodthirsty their human counterparts once were. As the centuries pass, as humanity evolves, they prefer to use material weapons to do their dirty work for them. There was a time, child, when they were not afraid to use their hands…or their teeth. There was a time when they wanted to feel the texture of their own species’ flesh in their mouths. Taste the copper of their own blood on their tongues. They abandoned their rationality, the only thing that separated them from common animals. They let their brutal instincts dominate them. It was beautiful, child, and I could not let time erase them from existence. In those humans, I sired the greatest of all races: the vampires.
He was right. The vampires were the superior race. And after centuries of planning, he would show the universe just how superior.
Your master’s relationship with the key has served me well, child, Father said. But all good things must come to an end. You will see to that.
Panic flooded me to the point where I completely forgot myself.
Father, I—
My words were immediately drowned by my own screams. The agony was not physical, however. Father ripped into my mind and transported me to another reality. A reality where I was not what the vampires called the Evanescence, but a creature of indescribable grace, beauty, and light. I was the embodiment of goodness, I was purity in its essence. I was the antithesis of what I truly was.
And it threatened my very sanity.
Father released me from the hideous torture after what seemed like years. My legs were unable to support me, and I collapsed. My mind felt as if it had been drowning in a river of fire. My body did not feel much better.
You belong to me, child, Father rumbled. There are countless extensions of my will and they are all expendable. You would do well to remember that.
I knew he was not talking about death.
His presence left my mind, and I was left alone. Though my vision was weak, I could still see Shadow and Mercedes talking, sharing gestures of affection and love. The pain in my soul tripled as I was hit by a wave of loneliness so intense I almost wished for death to claim me. But there was something I desired more than death. I wanted to be with them. I wanted Shadow to put his hand on my forehead and let me feel the comfort and security of our bond. I wanted Mercedes to hold me in her arms and bathe myself in her compassion.
I wanted to be with my family.
The echo of Father’s laughter mocked me as I wished for things that were against my very nature. Things I would never deserve. For what I was about to do, I should be wishing for the exact opposite.
Yes, Father, I will do as you wish. I will aid you in destroying their happiness. I am naught but an extension of your will.
No matter how much I wish to be more.
***
Shadow
As a vampire, my warrior discipline only went so far. As I held Mercedes in my arms, I kept my growing anxiety and frustration strictly to myself. Or so I thought.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, taking my hand.
I squeezed hers in turn and smiled. “Nothing,” I replied.
She smiled back. “I won’t pressure you, but talking does help.”
“I am worried,” I confessed after a long silence. “Nothing has happened in an entire month. You are certain the dragon king has made no attempts to contact you?”
She sighed. “I’ve answered that three times in the past four days, Shadow, but I’ll answer it once more: Tarasque hasn’t contacted me, but I promise I’ll tell you when he does.”
Her patient tone made me feel foolish. I looked away. “Forgive me, I—”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she assured me. “I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you, cooped up in this cage for a month.”
I laughed. “Believe me, I have suffered far worse. And you have already seen for yourself what that siren female told you. This is the only area of the siren kingdom where the sun does not shine. To be moved to any of those places would be far more uncomfortable.” I cupped her chin. “Home is wherever you are, my love. So long as you are here, whatever accommodations I possess are more than bearable.” My face darkened. “Of course, that it not to say I intend to stay here forever.”
“I still need to talk to Tarasque, Shadow,” she said firmly. “I know you’ve been hoping for that to change, but it hasn’t.”
I scowled, unable to help myself. She was correct. I had been hoping her decision to talk to that demon lizard would change. Well, there was always Tezcatlipoca’s plan to twist the dragons. It seemed my only hope was that he would enact it before she would be given the opportunity.
“And after you speak to the dragon king?” I asked softly.
She shook her head. “I honestly don’t know.”
“I do,” I said. “We escape here.”
“And then?”
I took her hands in mine. “It was a mistake to believe for even a moment that the royal family could keep you safe. No one who is in league with that god can be trusted. If Blackhole delivered the Chaos wand, then they are now attempting to create a portal to the dragon world. Because you are a blessed one, they intend to retrieve you. I cannot let that happen.”
She blinked, obviously taken aback by my vehemence. “Why not?”
“Because they could force you to turn,” I said grimly.
Her face went white. “No…”
I gathered her into my arms. “It will not happen,” I bit out through clenched teeth. “I will not have you corrupted by the violence that is a vampire’s very nature.”
“I would rather die,” she whispered, clutching me tightly.
“You will not,” I vowed. “Mercedes, god or not, we must at least try to escape Tezcatlipoca.”
“I know. From what he said, he wants me to help him twist the dragons. I’ll take my own life first.”
“That will also not happen.”
The female siren suddenly appeared in front of my cell along with five guards, including Hyllus and Icarus.
“Mercedes Strand,” Eulathrin uttered. “King Tarasque desires your presence.”
My hands reflexively tightened on Mercedes’ arms. My reason was slipping from my mind as quickly as water would slip from my hands. “No…” I said in a low hiss.
“Shadow…” She took my face in her hands and smil
ed. “It will be all right. I’ll come visit you as soon as the meeting’s over. I promise.”
She kissed me on the lips, gentle, chaste, and reassuring. My hands loosened barely enough for her to retract herself from my hold. I stared at her smiling face until she disappeared down the hallway. Focusing my hearing, I listened to her footsteps until those too faded.
Control, I told myself. Control.
However, my mind all on its own accord was telling my control to go to hell. It also proceeded to inform me that I was a fool for letting Mercedes go, for not escaping with her. That demon lizard was sure to kill her.
“Agitated much, monster?”
Icarus.
“The rest of the guards are otherwise occupied right now. It is just you and I, and I have been waiting for this opportunity for weeks.”
So have I, I almost said, but chose not to. I needed to follow Mercedes and this insolent whelp was my ticket out of here.
Icarus raised his staff. “You will pay for insulting my dame, and you will pay for being the abomination that you are.”
It was all I could do not to laugh and give myself away. Good lord, this child was pathetic. Ripping his throat out would be far more satisfying that I originally thought.
“No taunts, spawn of Smoking Mirror? Is it that weak slip of a creature’s doing? Eulathrin has forbidden me from spying on your meetings, but it could not be more obvious that she has you on a tight leash.”
That was something I was incapable of ignoring, but I dared not move closer. Feed his cockiness, and he will come to you.
The whelp grinned in response to my growl, which deepened to hide my triumph when he stepped closer.
“How does it feel to be cowed by so frail a creature?” he continued. “All she possesses is her puny body. No wings, no talons…she cannot even do magic!”
My anger eased itself out of the stony mask I was wearing. Icarus moved closer.
“Then again, you cannot do magic either. I’ve heard the legends. Smoking Mirror harbors great loathing for the magic we possess. He believed giving you superior strength and speed would compensate. And yet here you cower in a cage that your strength cannot free you from. How does that feel, abomination?”
Closer, closer…
Icarus raised his staff.
“I did not give you a proper demonstration before. But now you will know what true magic can do.”
Closer…
“You will see how pathetic your strength is compared to my power.”
Closer…
“You will feel its might burn your very heart.”
Closer…
“You will feel—ACCCKKK!”
“—my hand crushing your throat!”
Grinning, I yanked the whelp forward so that his body slammed hard against the bars. His staff fell to the floor with a clatter.
“Now then…” I whispered, bringing my face close to my prey’s. “You are going to unlock this cell.”
“Ack! I’d…rather…”
“Have your right hand severed?” My eyes lingered on the appendage. “That can certainly be arranged.”
My fingernails lengthened into vicious claws. I inched them toward the siren’s right hand.
“Ack—WAIT!”
I grabbed his wrist and let him feel the bite of my claws.
“Yes?” I asked mildly.
Amber eyes burned with hatred and terror.
“Where is the key?” I whispered. “Lie and I’ll sever both your hands.”
His eyes darted toward the pouch attached to his right hip. I ripped it open and sure enough, the keys were there. I tested the first one and the cell opened. With a flick of my wrist, I hurled Icarus into the opposite wall. Before he could even think of retrieving his staff, I had him pinned by the throat once again.
“You have five seconds to inform me where Mercedes is before I start shredding your wings.”
He responded in a terrified, but coherent enough babble.
“Is it night?”
“Yes!”
I searched his features and pressed my thumb against the inside of his wrist. Perhaps his anatomy was different from a human or a vampire, but both his blood pressure and facial expression told me he was telling the truth. I smiled at him.
“Thank you for your assistance.”
I yanked his head to the left, pierced his neck with my fangs, and drank.
Feeding, especially from an unwilling victim, always gave vampires a euphoric rush. A rush that never faded no matter how many times we drank. Apart from sexual intimacy, there was nothing that could compare to drinking adrenaline-saturated blood from a terrified human.
Or so I believed.
This creature’s blood was so rich, sweet, and pure that I could not believe it to be real blood. This was not blood. This was some magical elixir that could grant me power and pleasure beyond my imaginings. And I wanted it. I wanted it all.
I fed so hard and so fast, I did not even notice for several moments that I had already drained every last drop. I drew back sharply and stared at the siren’s face, now as pale as the corpse that it was.
“STOP, ABOMINATION! STOP!”
Six armed guards were running down the hall. They stopped in front of me and took one look at the dead one in my arms. Under their helmets, their faces contorted in grief and fury.
“Murderer!” A copper-skinned female shrieked.
“You will pay for this!” Hyllus’ teeth were bared. It almost made him look as dangerous as a vampire. “I do not wish to kill you. Death is far too kind for the like of you, ABOMINATION OF SMOKING MIRROR!”
As he screamed the last four words, he raised his staff. I could have moved, but I did not. Some queer instinct told me that I did not have to.
The yellow gem on Hyllus’ staff instantly flooded the hallway with brilliant golden light.
And all I felt was a pleasant sense of warmth on my skin.
I grinned as the hatred permeating the air turned into confusion and terror.
“Welcome to hell,” I whispered and lunged.
***************
Chapter 13
The flames of hell the fires of faith
In hearts they burn of angels and wraiths
Unleashed they spread to every end
Consuming victims they did not intend
Radella
Though the Chambers of Chaos were deathly quiet my superior hearing barely picked up the footsteps and rustle of robes.
“Rise, dear daughter.”
I obeyed and looked up. The eyes I met were false, carved on a full facial mask of jade. But I remembered. Beneath that mask my maker’s eyes were as black as fresh blood under a full moon. His hair was the exact same color, but that too was hidden by a flowing headdress of gold and quetzal feathers. The only parts of him that were visible were his dark hands, adorned with those obsidian rings.
“You have something to report?”
“Yes, my lord,” I said. “The portal is complete, and we have tested it. It will take a full day, but we will be able to transfer all of our forces into the dragon world.”
“Something else excites you.”
“Yes, my lord. Several of our people were threatened by dragons in their human form today. They claim the king plans to kill the blessed one. If we wish to retrieve her, we must go to the dragon kingdom.” I grinned. “They even offered to give us a portal.”
But my smile faded when my maker laughed. It was low, deep, and for the briefest of moments, I felt a flicker of pity for the poor dragon king.
“Shall we begin, my lord?” I asked eagerly, knowing there was no point in even making a joke of how much of a fool the dragon king was.
“Yes, dear daughter,” my maker uttered. “Begin.”
***
Mercedes
“You are afraid,” Eulathrin remarked once we reached my room.
“I am,” I admitted. It was such a struggle to keep my posture straight. “But I have to
do this.”
“I’m afraid I do not admire you for this. The dragon king wishes to destroy your vampire mate and his entire race. You would have been far more honorable to protect them.”
“I said the same thing to Shadow,” I replied coldly. “An entire race of people doesn’t deserve to be punished because of the actions of one. Eulathrin…” I stared at her dead in the eye. “…you are really going to regret leaving the dragons to their fate.”
“The sirens need no one, Mercedes,” Eulathrin said, opening the door. “And we never will.”
Her words may have been indifferent, but my heart leapt with hope at her tone. A part of her knew that I was right. I had to have faith that that part would grow.
Hands gripping my elbows, I paced. And I waited. And waited. Just as the anxiety was becoming unbearable, the door swung open. He walked right in followed by his two copies. He had the same handsome features, the same golden hair, the same emerald green eyes.
He had the same face, but he was not the same person.
Ignoring despair, I stood straight up and gave a low, respectful bow.
“Hello, Your Highness.”
“They are coming for you.”
His voice was as wintry as the smile he wore.
“Who’s coming?” I whispered and was stunned that I didn’t stutter.
“The vampires.” He moved closer while his copies hung back. “They believe I intend to kill you so they are going right into the heart of the enemy. Only it will be their downfall.”
That was my cue to warn him again. But his arrogance and blindness were far too powerful to ignore.
“You moved right into the heart of the enemy,” I said, knowing I could very well be speaking my last words. “Where did that get you?”
“What I wanted,” he replied. “I fed the arrogance of my enemy. Now they believe me weak. They will come to me.”
“How? You live in another dimension.”
“My warriors will give them a portal. They will have no choice but to take it. It is the only way they will be able to retrieve you.”
I made sure my features didn’t so much as flicker. He didn’t know that the royal family already had the means to create a portal, and if the vampires were to survive, the element of surprise was vital. So I decided to give my warning again.