Darkness Comes (21 page)

As she watched him lope away, Toby came up beside her and slid his hand into hers. “What’s wrong with Mr. Jiro? He looks scared.”

Malorie actually giggled. Bending down until she was face to face with him, she took him into her arms and hugged him close, “Nothing’s wrong with Mr. Jiro that a bowl of ice cream couldn’t fix.”

Toby’s eyes lit up at the mention of ice cream and Malorie grinned; her son definitely took after her when it came to his love of ice cream. “What do you say to finding ourselves some ice cream?”

He nodded his head with extreme enthusiasm, making her laugh. With one more hug, she stood up, taking his hand in hers as they made their way back to the living quarters. She was going to take Jiro’s advice and avoid the male Aradians. Except for one and he blamed her for his son’s death.

How different would her life have turned out had she retained her memories of meeting Varick? Would she have been a willing Breeder pawn at sixteen? Had she never experienced the birth of her son, the past few years of peace? Would she have traded in her life of hardship and despair and loneliness for a meager crumb of affection from her Aradian lovers?

How many lovers would she have had before she became an empty shell? How many children would be taken away from her before she no longer cared, no longer felt anything? How many years would she exist before she could no longer stand being in the same room as herself and she took her own life?

She couldn’t bear the thought of any other Aradian besides Feryn touching her. If he could no longer abide the sight of her, there was nothing the Aradians could offer her that would entice her to stay. It was love and love alone that made her willing to be with Feryn, in spite of what it would mean. Her heart would beat for him even if he no longer wanted her; she just wouldn’t, she couldn’t, be with any other Aradian.

In the end, though, there would be no way for her to come out victorious; every road led to heartache and misery. If she had the ability, she would take Toby far away from this place, find a quiet piece of earth and shut the rest of the world out. She was selfish enough to consider leaving her father behind, knowing he was clever enough, resourceful enough, to save himself. But she wouldn’t leave him to suffer in his cage; she would find a way to free him, if he hadn’t already done so by the time she managed to mount a rescue operation.

Her grandfather had been born into the Breeder life and had turned his back on it, only to have it taken away when he wasn’t looking. He had managed to escape with his son, defying the extraordinary odds against him, and creating a new life for himself, albeit a very solitary life. Malorie didn’t want to be alone any longer, always on the move, always saying goodbye. Whatever happened, she wasn’t going to isolate herself from other people anymore; she was going to become a part of whichever community she finally decided to settle down in. Maybe she would return to the little quad-plex, ask Liese for her old job back, beg her if necessary….

Keeping an eye out for males, her plans for a future without Feryn racing in her head, she nearly crashed into the woman who had stepped onto the path. Perhaps she should have been a little weary of all Aradians because everything within Malorie stilled, sensing the dangerous predator that stood before her wearing an angel’s mask.

Pushing Toby behind her, shielding him with her body, Malorie erased all expression from her face. In a courteous voice, she murmured, “Forgive me; I didn’t see you.”

Almost at once she recognized the Aradian from Feryn’s memory; however his memory was far kinder than the reality. Though Taella was strikingly beautiful, with her long, inky-black hair, high cheek bones and full, red lips, there was something… off about her. The woman smiled but it didn’t sit right in her eyes, which were artificially bright and glowed with unholy fire; the life burning within her writhed in darkness and depravity. How could Feryn believe she didn’t suffer from vamp-madness?

“It was my fault entirely,” the Aradian said affably, her smile widening to show off her gleaming fangs. Holding her arms out to the side, as if to assure Malorie she wasn’t a threat, Taella motioned towards a nearby bench. “Come, let us sit and get to know one another. I am anxious to meet Feryn’s newest pet.”

“I need to get back,” Malorie held Taella’s gaze and tried to show no fear even as her blood raced in her veins. “I promised Toby some ice cream.”

“Come,” Taella coaxed as her smile widened. “A few minutes are all I am asking.”

Warily, never letting her guard down, Malorie allowed Taella to guide her over to the bench, waiting until the woman was settled before taking a seat next to her and putting Toby as far away from the Aradian as possible on the narrow bench. Her muscles were rigid and she could feel her body preparing to fight or run, whichever one became necessary. Although Taella was relaxed and her manner friendly, Malorie couldn’t trust her; she created vampires.

“You are very pretty,” Taella purred, running a long, slender finger over Malorie’s cheek. It took all of her will power to keep from flinching from the cool touch

Taella continued to run her fingers over Malorie’s face, tracing the shape of her chin, the length of her nose, the arch of her brow. And through it all, Malorie kept tremendously still, afraid that any sudden movement would entice the Aradian into attack. Watching her hand move over Malorie’s face, Taella seemed to speak to herself in an absentminded voice, “There’s something different about you. You don’t give off the same vibes as the other humans; why is that?”

At that, Taella met her eyes and Malorie recoiled inside; death and decay lurked in the smoky brilliant depths. Why weren’t her eyes dull when it was obvious she suffered from vamp-madness? Flashes of Feryn’s memories played in her head and she remembered the cunning look in Taella’s eyes as she whispered honeyed words into Feryn’s ear, encouraging him to obliterate the other Aradians’ vampires, convincing him to spare her own. She had used his grief to get what she craved and in that moment Malorie knew the woman was very intelligent and very dangerous and deep into vamp-madness.

Had Taella been afflicted even then? Just how powerful was she, to be able to disguise the depths of her power, her infection?

Feryn should have killed all of the vampires, not just the ones that killed a human.

“Hmm,” Taella murmured, continuing to examine Malorie. “Perhaps he has shared his blood with you?”

Despite her attempt to let nothing show, Malorie felt the heat of her blush spread across her cheeks as she remembered the sensuality of having Feryn bite her wrist and then his own; the pleasure as his blood mingled with hers. She inwardly cringed when Taella threw her head back and laughed with wicked glee, clapping her hands together. “Oh, this is precious! The saintly Feryn sharing his blood with a human?”

She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye as she looked at Malorie with something akin to pity, “He’ll never change you, you know.”

“It’s not something I want.”

“Come,” she chided with a knowing grin. “All humans want to live forever; that’s why they are so eager to give themselves to vampires; it’s why you are here with us now.”

“That’s not true.” Malorie felt the heat rising in her face, Jiro’s earlier caution echoing at an inappropriate time. She was here to create something, but it wasn’t vampires.

“Well, if Feryn refuses to do the deed I will.” Taella sounded quite pleased wither herself. “I simply love new recruits and I think you will make a fine vampire.”

“I’d kill myself before I became a vampire,” Malorie vowed, her hands clenching into painfully tight fists. If her son wasn’t sitting there, she would have taken her chances and punched the beautiful viper in the face.

Taella laughed at that, genuinely amused by such a declaration. “Why, you sound just like those awful Blade Soldiers….” She stopped mid-laugh and looked at Malorie with narrowed eyes. “My gods, you are one of them, aren’t you? You are a Blade Soldier; where on earth did Feryn ever find you?”

Without waiting for a reply, Taella smiled to herself, “I once had a Blade Soldier. He was simply delightful and the only human I had even the tiniest smidgen of respect. Until the very end he was loyal to his precious wife….” In a deeper voice, she mocked, “‘I can’t betray my Mal; I love her… I love Malorie.’

“His tears were so poignant.” She sighed as a fond smile tipped her lips. “His blood was so delicious, so wholesome.”

Her words were a dagger to Malorie’s soul and she was left speechless. Hearing how he had remained devoted until the end nearly shattered her; if she moved, she would fall apart and that would be suicide in front of Taella.

After a long while, the silence became oppressive and she turned her head; Taella was studying her with a speculative look. Her voice dropped to a throaty whisper, “Maybe now that you understand the passion of a vampire’s embrace you won’t be so quick to draw your sword. Perhaps next time you encounter a vampire you will show mercy.”

“Vampires are not the same as Aradians,” Malorie bit out, tears welling in her eyes because she moved too soon. Guilt clawed at her gut as she thought about her husband and what he had suffered at the hands of this creature; how could she love an Aradian when they were capable of so much devastation? “And they deserve no mercy.”

“Foolish words for a foolish human. You’ll turn and you’ll see; nothing else will matter to you, not even the brat.” Taella’s lips curved upwards into her amused smile once more as she leaned forward and looked past Malorie, taking in Toby for the first time. Malorie heard the sharp intake of breath as Taella saw a miniature image of Jack staring back. Without conscious thought, Malorie put her body between her son and danger, blocking Taella’s view and fearing it was too late.

The smile disappeared from Taella’s face as she widened her eyes and stared at Malorie with mild surprise, “Perhaps he will convert you after all. You suffer from such… conviction for a human; I think he would wish to retain that passion indefinitely.”

Malorie was shaking her head no but Taella continued, her words snaking through the anguish that had taken up residency inside of her. “Ever since his son was taken from him he has found little enjoyment in this life; in fact, I feared he was going to choose to move on to the next plane before his time but that has changed since he found you.

“You best be careful, pet,” she warned benevolently. “You may turn into a hated vampire yet and poor St. Feryn will come crashing down to earth.”

“Why do you hate him?” Malorie asked softly, foolishly, the words catching in her throat as thoughts of Jack and Feryn waged war in her head, her heart.

“I don’t hate the man. He is the leader of the Aradians; of course I don’t hate him.” She looked away, introspection softening her face. “He simply holds such animosity towards vampires. They are our creations, our children, and yet he would deny us that simple joy but I don’t hate him.”

Standing up, she smoothed her hands over the front of her immaculate dress and gave Malorie one last considering look. “I must go. Give my regards to Feryn; let him know that I wish him the best in his… chaste life and that I hope he doesn’t suffer unduly because of you.”

She sauntered away, appearing to have no concerns at all when Malorie knew her devious mind was putting the pieces together. Malorie had seen the gleam in the woman’s eyes as she looked at Toby and the sense of unease and malice within her grew. She wasn’t safe there; she had to convince Feryn to find them a place where they would be safe from Taella and her vampires, whether he remained in her life or not.

“She scares me, mommy,” Toby whispered once Taella had disappeared around a large tree. He scooted over and slid his tiny hand into hers, his little body shaking. Gathering her son up in her arms, she settled him on her lap and held him, gently rocking him as she stared off in the direction Taella had wandered.

“She scares me, too, baby,” Malorie whispered.

She was surrounded by danger, both seen and unseen, and the only person she felt safest with was also the biggest threat of all. And he was nowhere to be found. Deep down, she knew that had she been in any real danger, he would have come to her aide, appearing from out of midair as he stepped through the Netherspace. She knew that even if he couldn’t forgive her he would keep her safe. And a person who was powerful enough to bend the laws of physics certainly had nothing to fear from a mere human.

Breeder.

Whatever.

Her father should have trusted her with the truth of their history long before she was bit. He should have prepared her with everything he knew about Aradians and Breeders, even if his own knowledge was incomplete.

No, she couldn’t blame her father, not really; he was kept in the dark just as much as she was. The person who deserved her anger was her grandfather, for not explaining the attraction, the pull, between a Breeder and an Aradian. How was her father to know? He had been just a baby when he was taken from the Breeder village and he was raised far, far away from Aradian influence. And then abandoned nearly four hundred years later, with no more knowledge of his true nature than the little he told Malorie.

Poor Gustav. It was her grandfather’s fault for not preparing them better but it was her fault her father was a captive. How she wished she could see him and make sure he was all right. They were never going to willingly let him go; while she could only have one child at a time, he would be able to impregnate many, many women. And even if only a few bore Breeders, that would be more Breeders than existed now, more opportunities for Breeders to be born. For female Breeders to be born.