Aria took a small step back. She looked ready to bolt as her gaze darted wildly around the room before landing on her brother and the jars. "Don't look at them," Braith told her.
She couldn't seem to stop looking at them though, as her eyes were riveted upon them. "Souvenirs of what?" William demanded more angry than mortified.
"Better times."
"Gideon," Braith hissed.
Gideon met his gaze head on. "This is my home Braith, you came here. I won't put on airs for two humans that you've brought along as your food supply." Braith bristled, his hands fisted at his sides. Aria tugged on his shirtsleeve as she shot him a reproving look. Gideon rested his fingertips on his desk as he pinned Ashby with his unyielding gaze. "Some of us didn't exactly enjoy the war, or the outcome, right Ash?"
Ashby shook his head, his lip curled in distaste. He hated to be called Ash, he always had, always would. "Whatever you say, Giddy."
"Did you enjoy my gift?" Gideon inquired, refusing to acknowledge Ashby's dig at him. "Was she to your liking?"
"She was fine," Ashby answered absently. "How did you know where we were?"
Gideon grinned at him, his fingers bounced lightly on the desk as he pushed himself off of it. "I have eyes all over these lands; a man in my position must always be alert. So, to what do I owe the honor of the heir apparent and the fallen brother-in-law coming into my humble town?"
"We've come to gain your support," Braith informed him bluntly, knowing that Gideon didn't do well with subterfuge.
Gideon was thoughtful, his eyes doubtful and questioning as he frowned at Braith. For the first time he didn't appear even faintly amused or smug. In fact, he seemed almost hopeful. "Support for what?"
"To overthrow the king."
Gideon released a low curse; his fingers stopped their incessant moving as he leaned forward. "You're serious."
"I am."
Gideon was speechless, he gawked for a moment. Then his jaw snapped closed, and his dark eyebrows drew sharply together as his focus became riveted upon Aria. He came out from around the desk, striding forcefully toward her. Braith instinctively stepped in front of her, pulling her back as Gideon reached for her. "Don't!" Braith snapped slamming his hand into Gideon's chest and knocking him back a step.
Ashby seized hold of Gideon's upper arm when Gideon lunged at Aria again. "Are you an idiot?" Ashby demanded.
"Let go of me," Gideon snarled as he shoved Ashby's hands away.
Braith widened his stance, bracing himself for Gideon as the vampire spun back on them. He was prepared to kill the man they had come to seek help from. Gideon's eyes were fevered as they raked Braith from head to toe. Aria's head popped out from around him, the hood had fallen back from her face to reveal her cascade of auburn hair and the paleness of her features.
Braith was afraid to take his focus off of Gideon for even a moment to pull her hood back up. "You can see," Gideon said in amazement. Braith remained silent, he wasn't going to respond to him, wasn't going to relax until Gideon moved away from them. "And it's because of her."
"Gideon," Ashby cautioned.
"You did not feed from my gift."
"We are not here to discuss this," Braith informed him.
"Have you lost your mind!?" Gideon exploded. "She's a human Braith."
"We are not here to discuss this!" Braith roared trying to control his rising temper as Gideon focused on Aria again. "This topic is off limits, for now," he amended, knowing that it would have to be addressed one day, but not today.
Gideon stalked back to his desk. "I should just have you all killed now," he muttered. "Save myself the aggravation."
Fury boiled through Braith at the mere thought that Gideon might do something to one of them, to her. It took everything he had not to leap over the desk and beat Gideon into a bloody pulp, but beating him senseless, or just flat out killing him, wouldn't do any of them any good.
"If you think you could," Braith grated.
Gideon glared at him. "You're in my world now Braith, I rule here!"
"And just what do you rule?" Braith demanded. "Some brothels and bars, farms, a trade ring, a smuggling business? You rule nothing Gideon. This is a poor substitute for the life you used to have and you know it. With your help Gideon, we may be able to get that life back for you. But don't think I won't destroy you if you try to harm one of us. You don't have to help us, but you will not threaten us."
Gideon turned back to Braith, but it was not Braith he focused on. His fascination with Aria was pushing Braith closer and closer to a deadly precipice. "What is it that you require?"
"You must still have friends; you must have stayed in contact with the other collaborators that were against my father."
Gideon grunted in displeasure and slid into the chair behind his desk. "I may still have contacts, but what exactly is your plan here Braith? What do you propose?"
"To take control from my father."
Surprise flickered briefly over his features. "And you are going to lead? You are going to be the man that rights the wrongs?" Gideon's tone was sarcastic, almost hostile as his gaze focused on Aria again.
Braith pressed Aria against the wall, pinning her against his side. Her displeasure was obvious as she tried to push away but he was not going to let her out. "It doesn't have to be me."
Gideon motioned to someone behind them. Aria inhaled sharply as a servant girl hurried passed them wearing almost no clothing. Bite marks marred her neck, but she didn't seem overly used as she flashed a smile at Braith and Ashby before bending to pour a glass of liquor for Gideon. Gideon smiled at her and lifted the glass in salute. "Thank you Dara, my friend here might like to meet with you later."
"Anything he desires," she replied with a saucy smile that lingered on Braith. Aria shot the girl a dark look that would have amused Braith at any other time. Right now though, he was too hungry and too tense about this situation to find anything humorous.
"I'm fine Gideon," Braith grated.
"Oh not you Braith, I can tell you're not relinquishing your meal anytime soon. I meant Ashby."
"I'm fine also," Ashby assured him.
"Oh well then, perhaps the young human, he seems rather interested."
William closed his mouth as he ducked his head and blushed just as vibrantly as Aria suddenly did. Her discomfort was nearly palpable as her fingers curled into his shirt. Braith hated this, hated that she had to be in this awful place, exposed to some of the worst forms of debauchery he knew. But for all of his numerous faults and all of his sinful tastes, Gideon was a strong vampire and a natural leader. At his core he was not an evil being. It wasn't easy to discern that at first glance but Braith had known Gideon for a lengthy amount of time. He knew what resided inside of Gideon, or at least what had resided inside of him.
If Gideon was anywhere near the vampire he had once been than this servant girl was here willingly and was not abused.
"Gideon…" Braith started.
"Perhaps I can even introduce him to some of the things that we used to enjoy," Gideon continued as if Braith hadn't spoken. He idly twirled his goblet and watched Aria intently as he weighed her reaction to his words. "Or perhaps you would like me to teach her. That is, of course, unless you haven't already."
"Enough!" Braith snapped as Aria went completely still. "If you mean to punish me for the past hundred years, then so be it. But unless you would like to stay here for another hundred years than you need to get over it, or I'm going to rip out your damn tongue so you can't say another word!"
Gideon became thoughtful again, staring at Braith from under hooded lids. "Protective aren't we?"
"Gideon." This time it was Ashby who spoke in a low, warning tone.
"Oh, it's all in fun. Dara why don't you show our two young humans to a room so they can get cleaned up?"
"They aren't going anywhere alone," Braith informed him.
"Lighten up Braith. You're nowhere near as much fun as you used to be. Why don't we all take a small br
eak and meet back in an hour then. You can replenish." Gideon's eyebrows quirked as his gaze ran pointedly over Aria. "And clean yourselves. How does that sound?" It really was taking all Braith had not to punch Gideon. His increasing need for blood wasn't helping the situation much. He didn't have the patience to deal with Gideon's taunting and candid manner. Not right now. "Show them to the guestrooms upstairs please Dara."
Braith held tight to Aria as they followed the semi-nude woman up the stairs. He led Aria into the first bedroom the girl pointed to, eager to get her away from the girl and Gideon, eager to have just a moment alone as he closed the door and leaned against it. "Can we trust him?" she blurted instantly.
Braith closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I still think we can, he's far more bitter than I had anticipated, but I don't think he's dangerous."
"Maybe we should leave Braith. This place…"
For the first time she glanced at the walls, relief filled her as she realized that they were free of the "artwork" that the downstairs possessed. "This place is awful, and strange. We're going to bring these creatures back to help us, and then give them positions of power? What would they do to the rest of us?"
"At one time these were the vampires that fought for human equality. No matter Gideon's anger, I believe that he still wants that equality. The people in this town are amongst the vampires Aria, they are living with them. It won't be easy, but it can and will be done."
She stared inquisitively at him. "Is this what you liked? That girl…"
"I was never like Gideon, or even Ashby, and most certainly never like Caleb. I've never stooped to rape, even after you left the palace and I thought I'd lost you. Though, I suppose taking someone's blood by force is a form of rape." The color drained from her face, her lower lip trembled slightly as she took a small step back. Any reminder of his past was distressing to her, especially that one. He hated doing this to her, but she needed to hear and understand some things. "As far as I know neither Ashby, nor Gideon, has ever done such a thing either.
"If Gideon is anything like he used to be, that girl is here willingly. He never abused a human that didn't agree to it and he never would have possessed a blood slave. His tastes are more salacious than most, but he was never cruel."
"Those teeth, the paintings…"
"I'm sure there's an explanation, and perhaps he will eventually give it to us, but until then you need to be a little more understanding and open minded. Though there may be things in our pasts that we are not proud of, we are not all monsters. If you are willing to look past my faults and the sins of my past, you should be willing to at least give Gideon and the others a chance.
"I wouldn't have brought you here if I thought Gideon was dangerous."
"Vampires and people change," she whispered, her eyes raking over him.
Self-hatred blazed through him, he shook his head as he looked away from her. "I don't think he's changed as much as he's trying to portray. That girl is not unhappy here Aria."
She shook her head as she turned away. Her fingers trembled as she untied the knot of her cloak. Though he wasn't sure if she wanted his help right now he pulled it free of her. The material slithered to the floor; she didn't bother to pick it up. He watched her as she placed her bow and arrows by the bed; he was disturbed by how thin she had become again.
"Oh, a shower!"
With those excited words, she was gone, vanishing through the doorway in a flash. He couldn't help but smile as the sound of running water filled the room. He admired the delight she found in things that he had taken for granted. He remained by the door as she moved around the bathroom gathering soaps and shampoos in her arms with an eagerness that caused him to laugh softly.
His laughter vanished in an instant as she shed the bindings from her arms and dropped them to the floor. The smell of her blood assaulted him. She disappeared from sight again, the water flow changed as she stepped beneath the shower head. He hurt. It was a physical ache so intense that he couldn't focus on anything else. She was humming in the shower, a melodious sound that drew him forward a step, and then another, and another. He was trembling, trying so hard to stop moving that his muscles throbbed from the restraint he tried, and failed, to exert over himself.
The water turned off. She was wrapping a towel around herself when he stepped into the bathroom doorway. He didn't know what he was doing, didn't know what it was he intended as she finished tucking the towel into place. Her back was to him, her head bowed as her dark hair tumbled about her shoulders in curly wet waves. He could hear the beat of her heart and smell her blood in the cloying steam that filled the air.
She grabbed a brush then wiped the mirror with the palm of her hand. Her eyes widened, she jumped in surprise as she spotted him in the reflective surface. There was a brief moment where her surprise turned into a small smile, which rapidly faded away. Her hands grasped the towel as she turned toward him, her heartbeat accelerating.
He should leave, but instead he found himself drawn toward her like a moth to a flame. He found himself standing before her when he'd had every intention of turning away and leaving the room. He should get as far from her as possible until he was well fed and stable enough to trust himself in her presence again. His hand trembled as he brushed the hair back from her very fragile, very delicate neck. Her pulse leapt wildly, a subtle breath escaped her as his fingers pressed against the previous marks he'd left upon her.
His fangs sprang forward; his vision was clouded by the hunger pulsing through him. "Yes," she breathed.
"Too soon." They were the only two words he was able to choke out.
"It's been almost a day, I'm fine. Your blood strengthened me." She pulled his hand away, tilting her neck so that he had a better view of his marks on her.
He wanted to fight, wanted to tell her no. But it didn't matter, he was no longer in control of himself, no longer sensible enough to tell her no, to tell himself no. He was tempted to lurch forward and drive his fangs into her as he bit deep, finally easing the fire that had almost consumed him. He somehow found the strength not to give into that urge; he couldn't injure her in such a way. She shuddered as he pulled her against him; darkened by desire her eyes were fearless as her arms entwined around his neck.
She clung to him, so trusting and giving, so unknowing of the ferocious thirst clamoring through him as she offered her vein to him. He was braced against her as he struggled to find the strength to pull away, to walk out of this room and find someone else. But there was no one else, there was only her.
The scent of her blood engulfed him; her heartbeat invaded his body and took over his senses. As he bit deep, her sweet life giving blood surged into his mouth, flowed through his body and filled his dehydrated cells. Instantly the clamoring that had encased him began to ease. A groan of ecstasy escaped him as he became lost in her.
- CHAPTER 5 -
It was sometime later before Aria stirred. She was drowsy, her muscles felt weak, but the strange sensation of being sated clung to her. Her fingers curled, she had expected to find the unyielding bite of the ground but instead she felt the solid muscle of Braith's chest, and the yielding give of a mattress. She was momentarily confused, she barely recalled the last time she'd been in a bed, or the last time she had awoken with Braith still beside her.
But he was beneath her now.
She allowed herself to simply drift in the pleasure of that realization and managed to doze off once more. He was still with her when she woke again feeling more refreshed and a little livelier. She lifted her head, blinking down at him as she found him staring back at her. The glasses, thankfully, were not in place.
Though his eyes were filled with concern, the lines around his lips and eyes had nearly vanished. The strain he had been exhibiting, the nearly mechanical movements he had been going through were gone as he gazed at her. Her blood had revitalized him, his body had been nourished. She stretched and pressed closer to him as she was swamped with the realization that she ha
d been the one to give him what he so desperately needed.
"How do you feel?"
"A little tired," she admitted. "How long have I been out?"
"A while."
Uneasiness filled her. "We were supposed to only be an hour Braith."
"It's fine."
"But Gideon is waiting for us and he doesn't seem all that patient. William…"
"I took care of it Aria, and William is with Ashby, you don't have to worry."
Of course she had to worry, her brother was stuck in this place and she was curled up sleeping with Braith. "We should go."
She went to climb out of the bed but he grabbed hold of her, pulling her back. "Braith…"
"Wait Arianna, just wait." His left hand entwined in her hair, she became acutely aware of the fact that she was only wearing a towel as it dropped a little. "It shouldn't have happened like that. I was out of control."
"You can't keep denying yourself, and I'm fine."
His fingers brushed nimbly along the top of the towel. Her heart lurched as excitement pulsed through her and her mouth went dry. Her skin tingled and heated everywhere he touched. "You're fine this time, but next time…"
"Next time I will be fine too because you are going to start feeding better. If you insist on not using other humans as much, fine." That was just fine and dandy with her also, but she couldn't stand to see him suffering anymore. "But you're going to have to use them more when animals aren't readily available."
His jaw clenched and unclenched as he studied her. "How are you so accepting of all of this, of me? I hurt you."
She tilted her head to study him. "You didn't hurt me."
He pushed himself up, launching to his feet as he stalked across the room. She watched him, sensing something more beneath the tension radiating from him. "Not just today Aria, but the first time I took your blood, in the woods, the fact that I was previously engaged. The other blood slaves."
She recoiled at the reminder of all of those things. She felt the blood drain from her face but somehow managed to keep her chin up as she glared at him. "And I left you in that palace Braith. My pride wounded us both when I left with Jack. I didn't believe in you, and because of that I drove you to those slaves; I drove you to your lowest depths of depravation. How do you forgive me for that?"