A Fall of Water
There were immortals from all over the Old World. Romans, but also those from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe and Asia. Familiar, friendly faces and unfamiliar, suspicious expressions combined. Some of them had obviously cast their lot with Livia, and he could almost feel their anger floating in the air around him.
“Immortal brothers and sisters,” he said. “I am not your enemy! I come here as one of you. Not to lead. Not to conquer. I come seeking the truth. I am the only son of the great scholar, Niccolo Andros, and I am here to warn you of a great danger.” He reached over and grasped Beatrice’s hand and her amnis met his again. “One that could affect all of us and all those under our aegis.”
Emil Conti spoke. “Dottore Vecchio, your skills as a scholar are as renowned as your skills as a fighter. Please, tell us what you know of the elixir of life.”
Giovanni nodded. “I learned of this elixir years ago. I know that Livia has told you it is a cure for the bloodlust that stalks us. That it is an answer to humanity’s ills, as well. It is not.”
His eyes swung back to Livia. “Step down now, Livia.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she scoffed.
Beatrice squeezed his hand as he continued to address the crowd. “The vampire who leads Rome tells you that with this elixir, you will no longer be a slave to your hunger. She tells you that any humans you may care for will live forever, without pain or illness. We have all suffered from bloodlust. We have all lost human companions or friends that were useful or even loved. But I tell you now, this is no cure.”
Livia began to laugh as more guards entered the room. They lined the walls, and he could see the vampires around him start to tense. Some with anticipation. Some with fear. The guards blocked the door. All of them were armed with swords, though none of the crowd appeared to carry any weapons.
“Last chance, Livia.” Giovanni still wouldn’t let her live, but he might kill her in a more private location if she complied. The problem was, she knew it, too.
Livia said, “You are a murderer, a liar, and a thief. No one believes you, Giovanni di Spada.”
“You are right,” he said. “I am a murderer.” He heard the gasp that swept the room, but he continued. “I will hold back no truth! I admit that I killed my sire, Niccolo Andros, with the help of my son, Lorenzo, who stands behind you.”
“You forced him to help you with amnis, Giovanni! He was only a human.”
Giovanni laughed. “I did no such thing. Lorenzo knew of my father’s cruelty. As did you. Andros’s own sire had cut him off. It was only the rest of the world my father fooled.”
“Andros was not cruel.” She addressed the crowd. “He was a great immortal and my beloved mate. Let me kill this rebellious child who has admitted to taking him from us.”
“Niccolo Andros had no more use for you than he did for his money purse, Livia. You were a tool. Nothing more. We both know it.”
She screamed. “Liar!”
He narrowed his eyes and a smile curled the corner of his lip. “Perhaps you were deceived by him. Perhaps he fooled you, as well. Did Andros keep his secrets from you, as he did from us all?”
“Foolish child, Andros was my mate. We had no secrets from each other.”
She had stepped into the trap with such ease that Giovanni had to force himself not to grin. His face was a picture of sympathetic understanding. “There is no shame in being the victim of deception, Livia.”
“I knew him better than you ever did.”
Perhaps not even Livia knew the truth. She had created her own history, and Giovanni would not fight it. In the end, it did not matter; she would burn with the rest of his enemies. “Then, my dear, you will not be surprised by our guests! Emil?” He turned back to the old Roman, who was watching the exchange with a guarded expression. “I would like to invite to the court three of our most ancient brethren.” Giovanni angled his shoulders toward the door a second before they flew open. A few of the younger vampires rushed toward the open doors, only to be thrown back by a strong wind as Ziri flew into the hall.
The ancient wind vampire carried Giovanni’s grand-sire, who looked around the room with a slow blink. Giovanni had fed Kato his blood before they left Arosh’s mountain fortress, and the effects were immediately evident. The old water vampire was less aggressive and seemed to already have more awareness of his surroundings. Though he still did not speak, he seemed to exhibit a growing recognition of Giovanni and Arosh. He had even allowed Carwyn to remain in his presence.
The fire vampire strode into the room with a lazy gait and looked around in amusement. He ignored the whispers that began as he entered, and the crowd parted for him. He calmly walked through the circle of fire and came to stand beside Giovanni as Ziri landed behind him and set Kato on his feet.
Arosh looked around the room; then he nodded at Emil Conti and narrowed his eyes at Livia. His deep voice filled the silent hall when he finally spoke. “So, this is Andreas’s woman who calls herself the leader of Rome?” He curled his lip. “We shall see.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Castello Furio, Rome
November 2012
At the mention of Andros’s name, the massive vampire next to Beatrice bared her fangs and hissed. She looked up with wide eyes. This had to be Kato. He looked like the statue of Neptune that ruled over the Trevi fountain in the center of Rome. His hair flowed over his shoulders. His beard was long and curling, and he wore only a loose pair of pants. She clutched Giovanni’s hand, but he calmly pressed her fingers between his own.
Despite everything, the blood in her veins sang. He is back. He was near! Her mate was next to her again, and her heart sped in delight and anticipation even as she looked at the frighteningly powerful immortal that towered over her.
The water in the air clung to Kato’s skin. She could even feel it wick away from her as she stood next to him. The delicate skin of her lips cracked, causing blood to spring up. She shivered, and a small breath escaped her, but as soon as Kato heard her small gasp, he turned his eyes to Beatrice, and they softened. His fangs disappeared, and he lifted a large hand to touch her cheek. Her skin immediately plumped with moisture again.
“Gio?” she whispered.
“It’s fine, Tesoro. He won’t hurt you. He smells his blood in you. Remember, you are of his line.”
“Isn’t Livia, too?”
At the mention of Livia’s name, Kato’s eyes swung back toward the front of the room and he bared his fangs again. Ziri placed a hand on the giant’s shoulder, and Kato calmed. Beatrice clutched Giovanni’s hand in hers, determined not to be separated from him. She heard the long-haired vampire with the crackling energy address the crowd.
“I am Arosh. The vampires of Rome know who I am. I need no permission to speak to this hall.”
Livia, as if sensing the situation slipping out of her control cried out, “This is my hall! And I do not—”
She was cut off as a sharp spear of fire shot out of Arosh’s fingers. Livia pulled a guard in front of her, who immediately turned to ash.
“Shut up, woman. I am speaking.”
Beatrice might have imagined the slight shake in Emil’s voice, but she didn’t think so. Still, Emil stepped forward with an outstretched arm that didn’t tremble once. Beatrice was impressed.
He said, “Though you need no permission, my lord, I would welcome you to my city. We had heard of your demise, but I am very pleased to hear that the rumors were false.”
Arosh waved a careless hand. “My thanks, Roman. I have come to your city in return for a favor granted by Giovanni Vecchio, the son of Andreas, sired of Kato.”
The low chatter began as Kato’s name moved around the room. This was the ancient king of the Mediterranean, she realized. As soon as he had stepped into the room, many of the vampires had probably recognized him. All of them had thought their legendary king was dead. And though he definitely wasn’t dead, there was something wrong with him. As powerful as he was, his amnis, when he had touched h
er, had felt very wrong.
Arosh continued, “I come here with my friend, Kato, your ancient king, and our friend Ziri, who is often among you, to tell you what I know of this elixir that the alchemist made for us.”
Beatrice held on to Giovanni’s hand and felt his warm energy run up her arm. He stepped back and put his arm around her shoulders as she breathed in the rich scent of his skin. Then, she caught the bobbing blond head of Lorenzo from behind Livia’s guards. He was watching them with narrowed eyes. She tensed for a moment, but then heard the soft, steady thump of Giovanni’s normally silent heart. He was poised, but calm, so she tried to relax.
Arosh continued his speech. “I will not stay long. This is not my fight, but I do know this elixir and it is no cure. It is quite harmful and has made my friend, this ancient immortal before you, sick. Though it nurtures the body, it destroys the very energy that animates us. Do not believe this deceiver who claims to lead you.”
The low chatter in the room grew louder, and Giovanni stepped forward to speak.
“Vampires of Rome, I was trained by my sire to be the most rational of our kind. He desired that I exhibit knowledge and reason alone. I did not subscribe to superstition or magic. I believed only in what could be tested and tried.” Giovanni looked around the room, then down to meet her eyes. “But some things, I have learned, have no rational explanation. Some things are far greater than what can be seen.”
He looked around the hall. “We are not only creatures of the elements. Though these elements preserve our bodies, they are not the eternal energy of our souls. We are more. All of us. We are more than creatures of the physical world.” Giovanni turned to his grand-sire, placing a hand upon the giant’s shoulder. “We are creatures of the heart and the spirit. Of energy and things unseen. If we seek to preserve our bodies without accepting our need for humanity and what they offer us, we will be lost.”
He turned to Arosh, who gave him a respectful nod. Giovanni said, “We are not all-powerful, my friends. Even the greatest among us have been forced to acknowledge this.”
Arosh spoke again. “Be rid of this poison and be rid of your foolish pride. Though the great Kato grows strong again...” He glared at the vampires who surrounded them. “And will soon be as strong as ever—not even he could heal himself. Giovanni Vecchio has helped to heal him.”
A brave voice called from the back of the room. “But Giovanni Vecchio killed his own sire!”
Arosh frowned. “If he hadn’t, I would have. Andreas refused to grant me a favor.”
The room fell silent again. Beatrice wanted to ask why refusing a favor was such a big deal, but decided that it wasn’t the best time. She finally heard Livia speak. The favor thing must have been serious, because for the first time, the scheming water immortal’s voice held a note of calculation.
“My lord Arosh, forgive my ignorance. And forgive my earlier outburst. I was enraged by the thought of my mate’s murderer standing before me. But if you say Giovanni Vecchio has your good will—”
“I did not say he had my good will,” Arosh scowled. “That is not easily bestowed. I said he had granted me a favor, one that his sire would not.”
Livia nodded respectfully, her face a picture of accommodation.
Unbelievable, Beatrice thought, she was actually trying to get out of it. Livia continued in an ingratiating voice, “But if you would only forgive my earlier surprise. I had no idea that my husband had displeased you, or that his sire was in need of—”
“But Livia”—Giovanni stepped forward, still holding Beatrice’s hand—“you just finished telling this court that Andros had no secrets from you. Arosh, did you not tell me that Andros knew of the elixir and its effects?”
The ancient king shrugged. “Of course. I told him when I asked him to help his sire. He knew exactly what the elixir did. And, I’m assuming he would have told his wife when he stole the book containing this formula from my library and brought it back to Rome.”
Giovanni looked around the room. “Then surely Livia knew as well! For she and Andros had no secrets. Surely her ‘dear friend’ Lorenzo knew when he gave Lucien Thrax the fatal dose. They have deceived you, Rome. They hope to profit from this formula. To become rich as their enemies grow weak. They would use this elixir, not to cure bloodlust, but to kill us. To kill the humans we value. It is not the elixir of life. It’s the elixir of death.”
The water in the air that Beatrice had been holding began to shake again, as Livia quaked with rage. Beatrice pulled away from Giovanni and held her hands out, forcing the water away from the ring of flame that protected them from the multitude of black-clad guards. She eyed the one nearest her, measuring how quickly she could take his weapon from him.
Giovanni’s skin began to heat, and she saw the smoke rise above his collar. Arosh was looking around the room in amusement. “I see great fear on many of your faces. I believe some of you have taken this elixir already. Foolish vampires! Is your sire alive to heal you? I hope so, for your sakes. Come, my friends, you have wise immortals among you.” Arosh gestured toward Emil. “You are the people of the great sea! Kato’s heirs. Rid yourselves of this poison she has spread and appoint a leader worthy of you.”
Beatrice’s eyes flew to Livia. She was livid. The appeasing expression on her face had vanished and her arms were raised over the crowd.
Beatrice felt Giovanni’s hand tighten around hers and knew he had seen the insane glint in Livia’s eyes, too.
Not good.
The water in the air crept along her skin. The flames around her surged. And Beatrice’s heart sped for a moment, then fell completely still as Livia whispered, “Kill them all.”
Chapter Thirty
Castello Furio
November 2012
As if they had choreographed it, Ziri grabbed Kato and Arosh, then took to the air in front of Giovanni as soon as the words left Livia’s mouth. He looked up and caught the other fire vampire’s eye, and Arosh grinned as the room erupted in violence.
“Do not get yourself killed, Giovanni Vecchio! Remember, we have a deal.”
So they would fight Livia and her guards without the help of the ancients. Giovanni wasn’t surprised. Arosh and Ziri had their own agenda, and risking their lives in a fight that was not their own was not part of it. Giovanni could see Emil calling to those vampires loyal to him as they rushed Livia’s allies.
His eyes swung toward Beatrice, but she had already leapt through the circle of flame, bashing in the head of one guard with a swift kick before she grabbed his weapon and the weapon of another guard she quickly beheaded. He felt a spray from overhead and looked up to see Tenzin with her scimitar out, locked in struggle with a ferocious Matilda. A moment later a long, pale leg dropped to the ground between Giovanni and Carwyn, and the earth vampire bared his fangs and grinned.
“Can’t let the girls have all the fun, can we?”
“Never!” He dropped the circle of flames that protected them a moment before the water Beatrice had been holding showered around him, soaking him to the skin and dousing his flames. Carwyn rushed Bomeni, and the two crashed together like twin boulders before they rolled across the floor and the ground buckled beneath them.
Giovanni scanned the room. Where was Livia? The front of the room was a mass of swirling black as Livia’s guards protected their queen. He cut through the crowd, slashing with the dagger he had brought, the same one she had plunged into his body in rage. He felt a sword slash at the small of his back before a spray of blood hit him. He turned to see his wife grinning with bared fangs as she took down another guard.
He took two strides to her and grabbed his mate in a fierce kiss.
Beatrice bit his lip and said, “Hey, handsome. Nice to see you.”
He elbowed a guard that tried to attack them, grabbing the vampire’s sword as the guard fell to the ground and Beatrice cut off his legs. Giovanni licked the blood from his lip and smiled. “I missed you, Tesoro.”
“Same here. Now let’
s kill this bitch so we can go home.”
She pulled him down for one more swift kiss before she spun away, slashing with the twin sabers she had stolen.
Giovanni headed toward the front of the room. He had a sword but no fire. His hair was wet and moisture clung to his body. Giovanni looked up for Tenzin and yelled, “Bird girl? A little wind, please?”
Tenzin curled her lip, but grabbed Matilda by her long blond hair and swung her across the room where the vampire was bashed against the wall and slid to the ground. Tenzin directed a strong gust that dried him as he walked toward Livia’s position. The flames sparked on his skin, and Tenzin’s wind fanned them higher as he looked for his prey.
A streak of red darted by and he saw Donatella Conti rush toward the back doors where she battled the guards who were cutting down those running to safety. Many of the younger, weaker vampires were desperately trying to escape the battle, so he abandoned his search to help Donatella. She saw him approaching and shouted, “The doors! They’re oak!”
He nodded and summoned two streams of flame. With one, he blasted back Livia’s guards. The other, he aimed at the giant arched doors that sealed them in. The smoke began to fill the room as the lacquered oak caught fire. Within a few moments, the doors were crumbling, and the drapes in the room had been set aflame. Donatella flung water from the fountains to douse the flames and quell the growing panic.
“Go!” she yelled, and the younger vampires ran from the room. Donatella plunged back into battle, her brilliant red cocktail dress slashed and ragged. She grinned at him as she ran past, grabbing a sword from the ashes near the door.
“I like your wife, Giovanni. Fantastic boots.”
He gave a hoarse laugh. “I’m fond of them, myself.” Donatella disappeared into the melee of vampires still battling, cutting toward her husband who was in the center of the battle. They were greatly outnumbered once the younger vampires had fled, but were still holding their own.