Bound By Blood (20 page)
Authors: Amanda Ashley
Chapter 29
Lucien looked up, smiling, when he saw Nadiya striding toward him. “I can see by the look on your face that you have good news.”
“Indeed.” She took the chair beside him. “The Carpathian Fortress will soon be ours. I have a bargaining chip that Sherrad cannot ignore.”
“What have you done?” he asked, suddenly wary.
“I have his daughter.”
“Are you mad? He will kill you for that.”
“This is no time to lose your nerve, Lucien! The Fortress is within our grasp.”
“Where is the girl?”
“Heavily drugged and in a secure location.”
“I see.” He braced his elbows on the arms of his chair and studied her over his steepled fingers. “So, what are your plans?”
“Ready your men. I have sent a messenger to Sherrad telling him to abandon the Fortress immediately.”
“And if he refuses?”
She sat back in her chair, her expression serene and confident. “He will not.”
“But if he does?” Lucien pressed.
“She dies, of course. She has to die, no matter what happens.” A slow smile spread over Nadiya’s face. It was an event she looked forward to with great anticipation. Blood for blood, a life for a life. Her sons would be avenged.
“I don’t like this,” Lucien said. “You said nothing of kidnapping the Sherrad heir.”
“No one is asking you to like it,” she said curtly.
“You have the girl. What do you need me for?”
“In case Sherrad decides to fight. If he agrees to leave, we will have to quarter some of your men there to hold the place after he evacuates. My sons and daughters will also be there, as well as those of Sherrad’s people who wish to join us.”
Lucien tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. To be Master of the Carpathian Fortress was a long-held dream. But was it worth the risk? Drake Sherrad was not a man to be trifled with. He would make a formidable foe.
Lucien was still debating the wisdom of Nadiya’s plan when one of his sons entered the room. “Stefan Sherrad wishes to see you, Father.”
“He is here? Now?”
“Yes. He said he will not leave until he has spoken with you.”
“Tell him to wait. I will be out shortly.” Rising, Lucien ran a hand through his hair. “This is a fine mess. What is he doing here?”
“Sherrad is obviously looking for his daughter,” Nadiya said. “Keep your wits about you. Stefan will find nothing here. Get rid of him as soon as you can. I will be waiting for you at the Fortress, at the foot of the mountain.”
“Very well.” Taking a deep breath, Lucien went out to meet his guest.
Stefan was waiting in the antechamber.
“Stefan, how good to see you,” Lucien said jovially. “It has been years. I heard you had gone to America.”
“Yes.”
“What brings you here?”
“I am looking for my father’s wife, Nadiya,” Stefan said, his voice cool. “I believe you know her.”
Lucien cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. Lovely woman.”
“We believe she has kidnapped Kaitlyn.”
“They are not here.” Lucien spread his hands wide. “You may search my home if you wish.”
“Thank you. I will.”
Drake stared at the human male standing on the porch. He was obviously in thrall to someone. His first words confirmed Drake’s suspicion.
“The lady Nadiya demands that you, your family, and everyone else who dwells within these walls leave immediately.”
“And if I refuse?”
The drone reached into his pocket and withdrew a scrap of bloodstained cloth. He offered it to Drake.
A muscle worked in Drake’s jaw as he took it. He recognized the material immediately. It was from a dress Elena had given Kaitlyn.
The blood was also hers.
The threat was plain.
“Very well. Tell your lady that we will be gone by midnight.”
Zack stared at Drake. “You’re going to leave, just like that? You don’t even know if Katy is still alive.”
They had gathered in the council chambers once again. The council members had all returned, save for Stefan. None carried news of Nadiya or Kaitlyn. Every Master Vampire questioned had denied knowing anything of Nadiya’s or Kaitlyn’s whereabouts.
“I am not going to take any chances with my daughter’s life,” Drake said. “Once Kaitlyn is safely with us again, we will retake the Fortress. Stefan! What news have you?”
“Lucien denies any knowledge of Nadiya or her whereabouts, but she has been to the Italian Fortress recently,” Stefan said, striding toward the dais.” I am sure of it.” He glanced at the somber faces of the council members, then looked at Drake. “What has happened?”
“Nadiya has demanded that we evacuate the Fortress. I told her emissary we would be gone by midnight.”
“So she has Kaitlyn?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“You believe so?” Stefan exclaimed.
Drake held up the scrap of Kaitlyn’s dress. “She has her, or knows where she is.”
“How do you know she will return Kaitlyn once the Fortress is hers?”
“I do not.” Drake shrugged, his expression implacable. “But my daughter’s life is worth more than a pile of stone. We are leaving.”
“What of the mortal families?” Andrei asked.
“Their vampire mates will care for them. Northa will go with Marta and Cullen. Elena, tell the others we are leaving, then go and pack anything you wish to take with you. Stefan, you are welcome to come to Wolfram with us.” After a moment, he said, “Ravenscroft, you are also welcome to join us at Wolfram.”
Zack nodded. “Thanks.”
Since they were vampires with preternatural power, it didn’t take them long to gather their belongings. Katiya and Andrei decided to visit with Katiya’s parents. Drake’s other brothers and sisters all had homes of their own in various parts of the country. Liliana also had a place of her own. She opted to go there, at least for the time being, and asked Stefan to go with her.
“Are you sure that is a good idea?” Drake asked. “I would feel better if the two of you would come to Wolfram with us.”
“You are sweet to worry about me,” Liliana said, patting his cheek. “But I wish to stay in my own house. Besides, I am not afraid of Nadiya Korzha. And Stefan will be with me.”
An hour and a half later, everyone was gone save for Drake, Elena, Stefan, Liliana, and Zack, who were the last to leave the Fortress.
“You know you cannot trust Nadiya,” Liliana said. “Her mind is rotten with her need for revenge.”
Drake nodded. “I know.”
“She’s coming,” Zack said. “And she’s not alone.” It hadn’t taken him long to recognize the peculiar scent of the Romanian vampires. Once that was done, it was easy to distinguish between the Romanian vampires, humans, and vampires like himself.
Nadiya materialized out of the darkness. She was a pretty woman, Zack thought, if you liked women made of ice. She wore a long white dress that gave her a ghostly appearance. An odd power radiated from her, one he had never experienced before.
There were other vampires aligned behind her. Zack wasn’t sure how many, perhaps fifty.
“Drake,” Nadiya murmured. “So good to see you.”
“I have done as you asked. Where is my daughter?”
Nadiya looked offended by his curt tone. “She is well enough, for now.”
“I wish to see her.”
“That was not part of our agreement.”
Drake glared at her. “I have sent my people away. The Fortress is yours. Give me my daughter.”
“I never said I would give her to you.”
Drake took a step forward, his fingers clawlike, his eyes glowing hot as hellfire when he reached for her.
Nadiya raised one hand and it was as if Drake had hit a wall. He recoiled, his face contorting with pain.
Zack swore as residual supernatural power arced through the air, brushing his skin. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. Not painful, but uncomfortable.
He nodded to himself when Liliana murmured, “Witch.” That explained it.
Elena took a step forward, one hand extended in a silent plea. “Nadiya, I know we have never been friends,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears, “but Kaitlyn has never done anything to you or your family. Please let her come home to us.”
“Three of my sons are dead,” Nadiya replied, her voice like acid. “No blood has been shed to avenge them.”
“If you want blood, take mine!” Elena cried. “But please don’t hurt my child. My only child.”
“If you want blood for blood, take mine,” Drake said, his voice thick with barely suppressed anger. “I am the one who destroyed Florin. Although you seem to have forgotten he deserved to die for his treachery against your husband.”
Nadiya’s eyes narrowed ominously. “You dare say that to my face!”
“It is the truth and you know it!”
“Be gone from here!”
“Drake?” Elena looked up at her husband, her cheeks damp with tears.
“Come, wife, let us go.” Taking Elena by the hand, he started down the trail, then turned back to face Nadiya. “Know this. If you harm so much as a hair on my daughter’s head, I will hunt you down and rip out your heart no matter how long it takes me to find you, no matter what the cost.”
Without waiting for her reply, he stalked down the long, winding path that led to the valley below.
Lucien stood at the foot of the trail, his men stretched out behind him.
Drake paused in front of the other Master Vampire, his eyes narrowing. “I should have known you would be in on this,” he said, his voice thick with contempt. “I have always known you coveted this place. It is a shame you lacked the courage to fight me for it, man to man, instead of hiding behind a woman’s desire for revenge.”
Vampires didn’t blush with embarrassment or grow flushed with anger, but Lucien’s eyes filled with shame as he stepped aside to let Drake pass.
“Be warned, Lucien,” Drake continued, his voice laced with quiet menace, “if anything happens to my daughter, your life will also be forfeit.” Back rigid, he swept past Lucien and the other vampires.
Stefan and Liliana followed Drake and Elena down the mountainside.
Zack brought up the rear.
As he started to pass Nadiya, she put a staying hand on his arm. Magical power rippled over his skin like tiny electric shocks. “Who are you?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Just a friend of the family.”
She stared at him. “What is your name?”
“Zack Ravenscroft.”
Recognition flared in her eyes. “You knew my son, Daryn.”
Zack nodded. “I saw him a couple of times.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Yeah,” Zack drawled. “I know.”
Her eyes glittered with a fierce intensity. “Tell me.”
“Sure,” Zack replied affably. “Right after you tell me what you’ve done with Kaitlyn.”
Nadiya glared at him. “All I have to do is say the word and she is dead.”
Zack’s hands clenched into fists. He had never hit a woman but he was sorely tempted to start with this one. “Kill her and you’ll never see your son again.”
Nadiya’s gaze searched his. She had not seen her son’s body. She grabbed at the slender thread of hope Ravenscroft’s words offered. “Is he still alive?” Her voice broke on the last word.
“Is she?” It took all Zack’s concentration to keep his voice even.
Nadiya straightened to her full height, her eyes flashing fire as they met his. “This is getting us nowhere.”
“I heard what Drake said about hunting you down if you harm Kaitlyn. If he fails, I will find you, and I will finish it.”
Anger flashed in Nadiya’s eyes. She glared at him, her body quivering, her eyes narrowing in concentration.
Magick shimmered in the air as she summoned her power.
Zack felt it push against him like an invisible hand. He steeled himself against it, his own power surfacing in response. Her magick swept over him like fingernails raking across his skin, but whatever spell she was conjuring had no other effect. Her magick had worked on Drake. Zack had no idea why it didn’t work on him. He frowned thoughtfully. Maybe her witchcraft was nullified because he wasn’t a Romanian vampire but one of the dreaded Others.
It was the only reason that made sense.
Chapter 30
Wolfram Castle was a formidable structure, even in the moonlight, Zack mused. Large and rectangular, there were round turrets at three of the corners and a high, arched entrance. Battlements edged the flat roof. The single entry, flanked by two towers, faced the rising sun. Stone steps led to an impressive, iron-barred door made of what looked like solid oak.
Zack stood aside as Drake opened the door. The Master Vampire’s expression was grim, his thoughts obviously deeply troubled.
It was Elena who invited Zack into the castle. He felt the faint brush of preternatural power over his skin as he crossed the threshold.
Wolfram Castle was as impressive on the inside as it was on the outside, he thought, taking a quick look around. If this room was any indication, the castle interior had been remodeled, perhaps several times. In spite of its massive size, the room, probably once the great hall, had a homey feel to it. A pair of flowered sofas faced each other in front of a large stone hearth, several overstuffed chairs were grouped together around an oval coffee table. He guessed the trestle table against the far wall was part of the original castle furnishings. No doubt the hearth was also part of the original structure.
“Nice place,” Zack remarked.
“Thank you,” Elena said. “Your room is this way.”
Drake laid a staying hand on Elena’s arm but his gaze was on Zack. “There are a few things I need to go over with Mr. Ravenscroft.”
“What might those be?” Zack asked, faintly amused by Drake’s formal tone.
“There is a small town at the foot of the mountain,” Drake said. “You will not hunt there.”
Zack nodded. “Your territory, your rules.”
“There is a large city to the east. I ask that you be discreet when you hunt.”
“Right. No bodies drained of blood left lying in the street.”
Drake glared at Zack; then, his expression softening, he looked at Elena. “You will not leave Wolfram, day or night, without me.”
“But . . .”
“We will not discuss this,” Drake said adamantly. “Until Nadiya has been captured or destroyed, you are not to go out alone.”
Elena blew out an aggrieved sigh. “All right.”
Drake kissed Elena’s cheek, then vanished from sight.
“We’ve been married over twenty years,” Elena remarked, “and his ability to disappear like that still amazes me.” She smiled at Zack. “Sometimes I wish I was a vampire.”
“I could arrange it,” Zack said with a grin. He had been joking, of course. Had expected Elena to laugh. Instead, she looked thoughtful. And then interested.
“Does it hurt, becoming a vampire?”
“No. The act itself was pleasant, although I didn’t realize what was happening at the time. I woke alone the next night, terrified by what was happening to me. And hungry as hell.” He shook his head. “I’ve never forgiven her for abandoning me, for not telling me what to expect. For not teaching me how to be a vampire . . . hey.” He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. “I was only kidding about turning you, you know.”
“Of course. I was just curious. I mean, Drake was born a vampire, but you weren’t. Have you ever turned anyone?”
“Just once. You’ve given this a lot of thought, haven’t you?”
“Of course not. Drake can’t turn me, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it.” She made a vague gesture with one hand. “It’s just that, after living with Drake’s people for so long, well, you can’t blame me for thinking about it.”
“I guess not,” Zack said. But he had the feeling that, had it been an option, she would have willingly let Drake change her.
“You won’t say anything to Drake about our conversation, will you?”
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
“Thank you. If you’re ready, I’ll show you to your room.”
Zack replayed their conversation in his mind as he followed her up a winding staircase to the second floor. He had the feeling that, if he offered, she would happily become a vampire. He couldn’t blame her. It had to be difficult, being the only mortal in the family.
He followed her past closed doors on both sides of the carpeted hallway. Paintings of sunny landscapes graced the walls between the rooms.
Elena stopped in front of the last door on the right. “Please, make yourself at home. And please be patient with Drake. In all the years I’ve known him, this is the first time he’s been at a loss as to what to do.”
Zack nodded. He wasn’t used to losing, either, and he damn sure didn’t like it when it happened. But he wasn’t about to give up, not now, not until Kaitlyn was back where she belonged.
“Feel free to look around,” Elena said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to be with Drake.”
“Sure.” Truth be told, he would just as soon be alone.
Zack glanced at his surroundings after Elena took her leave. It was a large, rectangular room. A comfortable looking queen-sized bed was flanked by a pair of mahogany nightstands. A thick, dark green carpet covered the floor. Flowered curtains hung at the windows; a matching spread covered the bed.
He grunted softly when he saw the beveled mirror over the dresser. He wondered if Romanian vampires could see their reflections, something foreign to his kind. There were no mirrors on the floor of the casino; at night, blinds covered the windows, preventing anyone from noticing that the owner of the club didn’t cast a reflection, nor did a few members of his staff.
His internal clock told him dawn was still hours away. Pulling out his cell phone, he flipped it open and called Scherry.
She answered on the first ring. “Hi, boss, when are you coming home?”
He grinned at the sassy tone in her voice. “I’m not sure. How’s business?”
“Good, as usual. I’m glad you called. I was just about to call you.”
“I thought everything was good?”
“Oh, it is. This has nothing to do with the club. There was a man in here night before last, asking questions about some guy named Eddie Harrington. And last night, a woman showed up asking after somebody named Daryn Korzha. I couldn’t be sure but I had the feeling both the man and the woman were vampires.”
“What made you think that?” Zack asked, though he was pretty sure she was right.
“Something about the way they smelled—not human, but not like us. It was weird.”
“You were right. They’re vampires, only a different breed. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you. Everything else okay?”
“Jackson’s been seeing this woman, Adele. She works the late shift at the hotel in town. He turned her earlier tonight. He was afraid to tell you.”
“Smart boy.”
“Do you want him to leave the club?”
“No, but let him worry about it for a few days.”
Scherry laughed. “You are evil.”
“Yeah. I’ll call you in a day or two. If you don’t hear from me, don’t worry.”
“I always worry about you.”
“Yeah, well, stop it.”
“Take care, boss.”
“You, too.”
Zack closed the phone. So, Nadiya was sending her people out to look for Daryn. “Well, good luck with that,” he muttered.
And wondered if he would have any better luck finding Kaitlyn.
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