Darkness In The Flames (18 page)

“So Adrian’s blood is still essentially human?” She was staring into his microscope at the droplets he’d carefully placed onto glass slides.

“Yes. When I compared it with mine, there were many similarities. It’s the differences that fascinate me, though. They are what makes him unique. And when I looked at some other examples, ones I took from people with a variety of illnesses, I see a few correlations there. That’s what makes me think this woman has a disease. She’s a carrier, if you will. She infects those people she bites. Most, she kills. But the ones who survive…”

“So there would be more than just Adrian?”

“I think it highly likely.” Sidney took a breath. “Pretty awful thought, too. Lost souls out there, wandering, feeding…being tortured by this horror for God knows how long.”

“Hmm.” Katherine pulled away and rubbed her eyes. “It’s amazing in a way, isn’t it?”

“It is.” Sidney sighed. “I have no hope of understanding how it affects longevity, however. That is beyond my abilities. I have noted that many of these alien constituents disintegrate in full sunlight. Which accounts for Adrian’s nocturnal lifestyle. But further than that—“ He spread his hands helplessly.

“So.” Katherine paced the laboratory, idly touching a flask or turning a page here and there. He could almost see the wheels in her brain turning.  “What happens to Adrian’s blood when it’s mixed with mine?”

Sidney looked at her. That was indeed an absorbing question, and he wondered if he should, in fact, reveal the answer.

She gave him no choice. “Sir Sidney, I may not be a scientist, but I am not a fool. I know that there is some special kind of link between Adrian and myself. That just a touch of my blood gave him the strength to resist Thérèse.  And that was only in some dream vision. If there is, in truth, something I have that he can use…some component of my blood that alters or enhances his powers…”

“Sit down, my dear. You have asked the most difficult of questions.” He waved her to a chair and took a matching one across from her. They sat in a small bay surrounded on three sides by windows that overlooked the Chyne and the ocean. Sidney glanced out, taking solace as always from the familiar view.

Katherine tilted her head. “Tell me?”

“Very well.” Sidney gathered his thoughts. He would do everything in his power to cure his son. He hoped sacrificing Katherine wasn’t going to be part of that cure, but if it was…so be it.

“I looked at your blood the same way I did Adrian’s.”

Katherine nodded. “A good first step, I would assume.”

“You’ll be pleased to know your blood is quite normal.” He smiled. “Then I put a drop or two on a slide and put Adrian’s in with it.”

“Ah.” Katherine leaned forward. “And?”

“Katherine, I ventured a suggestion to Adrian some time ago. When he first told me of the unusual link you two seem to share.”

“All right. What was the suggestion?”

Sidney took a breath. “I am of the opinion that when two people are—mutually
attracted
shall we say—it’s because of some chemical lure that exists between them. There are precedents in the natural world, I believe. Scents that attract mates to each other.”

“I understand.” Katherine nodded. “I’ve read of such things.”

“Then you are indeed unusual.” Sidney grinned. “Most women would be horrified at the thought that they emitted a smell designed to attract a male. They would prefer to attribute their success to their looks.”

Katherine brushed his comment aside. “So about Adrian and me…”

“Yes. Well, it would appear that your blood is a natural complement to Adrian’s. I believe this is because you both are destined—and believe me I hate to use that unscientific term, but it’s the best I can come up with—
destined
for each other.”

Katherine blinked. “Oh.”

“Strange, isn’t it? One has to wonder how many disastrous alliances could have been avoided by such an examination of blood prior to the marriage.” Sidney pushed away the question that always arose when he considered this assumption. What would Josephine’s blood have shown? Would it have curdled his on the slide? He did not know, nor would he ever be able to find out.

The pain still hurt, but he ignored it. It was in the past. This was the present—and possibly the future of his son. “Anyway, when your blood was mingled with Adrian’s, the result was a new blend that certainly seemed stronger. Many of the strange chemicals in Adrian’s sample seemed to dissipate or change—I know not what the final effect is, since I was dealing with droplets, not a human body.”

Katherine stared at nothing in particular, clearly trying to make sense of Sidney’s words. “So, if I understand this correctly, because Adrian and I are—mutually attracted—the scent we emit means that our blood enhances each other’s?”

Sidney shook his head. “That I cannot say. I do not know what the effects of Adrian’s blood on you would be. If he were to feed from you, yes, his blood would be strengthened. But you? I do not know. I can say this.” He fixed her with a sober gaze. “You two together are unique. Adrian’s
condition
is also unique. I have to assume that this set of circumstances doesn’t occur very often, simply by virtue of who and what Adrian is.” He steepled his fingers in the way he found most comforting. “I’m sure that couples find each other in the normal way of things with the help of their chemical scent. But the overall effect probably just helps the process along. For you and Adrian—well, it’s different.”

“Of course. It would be, given Adrian’s situation.” Katherine nodded, then looked straight back at Sir Sidney. “You have probably guessed that I return Adrian’s affections. If I may be blunt here, it took no more than a meeting of our eyes, a touch of skin to skin and I knew.” She colored a little, a flush of awkwardness rising into her cheeks. “It has never happened to me before, Sir Sidney. I have been wed, but…I have never been
in love
.”

Sidney felt his heart turn over. “I am happy for Adrian, my dear. And for you. He’s a fine man in spite of everything that is happening to him. And so I shall say something to you that I would like you to think about. Don’t answer me, just think about it.”

Katherine tipped her head. “What?”

“It is my considered opinion that to resist this evil that controls him, Adrian needs your help.”

“You’re saying—“

“Yes. To overcome Thérèse and her dark powers, Adrian must feed.
From you
.”

Chapter Fifteen

Before she could respond to Sidney’s shattering words, Katherine’s attention was distracted by a fuss outside the laboratory. To her surprise, Cheverly entered looking rather harassed. “Forgive the interruption, Sir Sidney.” He straightened his jacket. “There is a—
person
—in the library, who insists on seeing you. Rather vehemently, I might add.”

Sir Sidney frowned. “At this time of night? It must be urgent indeed.” He stood. “Did he say who he was, Cheverly?”

The butler’s eyes drifted to Katherine. “He says his name is Byerly, sir.”

“Oh dear.” Katherine’s heart stopped beating for a moment, then resumed in an unpleasantly rapid fashion. This was not good. Not good at all.

Sidney nodded at Cheverly. “I will come at once. The poor man must be told about the unfortunate accident.”

“Sir Sidney—wait—“ Katherine stayed him with a hand. “There is something you should know—“

The door burst open. “In here is he? I will not be put off. Out of my way.” A loud voice preceded the entrance of a big man, who shouldered his way past a scared-looking maid to slam through the door and into the laboratory.

“There you are, you faithless bitch.” He ignored Sir Sidney and strode across the room to Katherine. With frightening ease he raised his arm and backhanded her across the face. “How
dare
you attempt to thwart me?”

The unexpected blow made her cry out and provoked a shout of protest from Sidney. “Sir, I must protest. Stop this at once.” Sidney was furious, tugging impotently on the arm of the bulky body. “Mrs. Edgeworth is my guest. I will not have her treated so in my house.”

“
Mrs. Edgeworth
? Is
that
what she’s calling herself?” The man turned and looked at Sir Sidney for the first time, leaving Katherine shaken and with the taste of blood on her lip.

“She’s Mrs. Katherine
Byerly
, sir. I have no idea what faraddidle she’s been telling you, but it’s probably
all
lies. Even her declared identity is a lie apparently.” He drew himself up to his full height, dwarfing the older man by close to a foot. “I am Arthur Byerly, cousin to this woman’s late husband Matthew. She is pledged to
me
.”

“I am most certainly not.” Katherine hissed the words from between her teeth, a red haze of fury creeping up her body from her toes. “I would no more wed you than wed a viper. And well you know it. I’ve told you often enough.”

“Pshaw. A woman’s fancies, no more. Matthew intended for me to have you after his death. We both know it. We’d be wedded and bedded by now if you hadn’t been so unutterably stupid as to flee with that idiot wench of yours. I suppose she’s been aiding and abetting you?” He looked around.

“Jessie’s dead.” Katherine spat the words. “As I wished to be at the thought of marriage to you.”

“Dead, is she? She deserved no better.” He shrugged. “Get your things. You’re leaving with me. Tonight.”

“Sir, I must protest.” Sidney finally attracted the big man’s attention. “Your behavior is cavalier to say the least. You are in my house. Please treat it with the respect it deserves.”

Arthur Byerly blinked. “You are Sir Sidney Chesswell?”

Sidney drew himself up to his full height, which brought him about chest level with the other man. “I am.”

Katherine watched, realizing that the dignity of Sir Sidney rendered him the larger man in this encounter. She was not surprised. She’d experienced Arthur’s brand of civility before.

Arthur finally dipped his head. “I apologize. My behavior has been less than acceptable. I will mention how distraught I’ve been while searching for dear Katherine. It seems my wits have become a little disordered with worry.”

“I quite understand.” Sidney showed his teeth in a smile that wasn’t exactly welcoming. “May I suggest you join me for something warming while Mrs.…Byerly gathers her thoughts? Cheverly, brandy in the library please.” Sidney chattered on inconsequentially as he shepherded Byerly from the room.

He glanced over his shoulder at Katherine and made a brief motion with his head. Katherine understood.

Fetch Adrian
.

There was nothing she’d like to do more, but Arthur forestalled her. “You. Katherine. There’s nothing to gather that the servants can’t handle. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” He snapped his fingers at her like she was a dog. “You come with us.”

Hell and damnation
. Katherine could do nothing but agree. She did not want Sir Sidney subjected to Arthur’s brutality, and did not trust him to keep such instincts in check if his wishes were thwarted. “Very well,
cousin
.” She emphasized the family connection on purpose. “Allow me a moment to instruct one of the maids.”

Arthur frowned but then nodded. “Certainly. You have five minutes.”

It would take much less than that to have a servant run to the Chyne, and probably only seconds for Adrian to return. When he did, only God knew what would occur. Or, thought Katherine wryly, perhaps the Devil might be in a better position to hand out that information.

There were explanations to be made and a nasty situation to work out. She spoke hurriedly with the maid in the hall then followed the two men into the library. The knowledge of what she’d done sat heavily on her shoulders.

She’d lied. Lied to the only two people she could fully trust. Would they be able to trust her in return? She had no idea, but realized she was about to find out.

*~*~*~*

For his part, Sidney was shaking inside with a variety of emotions. Unused to such rough violence, Arthur Byerly’s treatment of Katherine outraged every instinct he had. Coupled with that disgust, was the nagging worry that Katherine might have lied to avoid a situation not to her liking. That was understandable, but if she was indeed legally pledged to another, then Adrian’s future was in jeopardy.

And
that
, Sidney knew with a bone-deep certainty, was unacceptable.

He squared his shoulders and followed the man into the library where Cheverly was pouring brandy into crystal snifters. If there was a battle to be waged here, then he’d fire the opening salvo.

“Mr. Byerly. I haven’t had the opportunity to formally welcome you to St. Chesswell. How did you find Katherine?” His tone was conversational and—he hoped—noncommittal. It wouldn’t do to let this brute know he’d like to shoot him right between the eyes.

“I asked around. Followed the trail of two stupid women. It took me some little time to realize dear Katherine had actually fled the sanctuary of her home—a silly move indicative of a fragile female mind.” Arthur took the glass from the tray Cheverly was offering him without a blink.

“Thank you, Cheverly.” Sidney was quite pointed in his acknowledgement as he took his own glass. “Well, you found us. Quite fortuitous. Now please tell me about this business? What is Katherine to you?”

Sidney sat easily in his favorite chair, crossed his legs and looked curiously at the large man. He refused to act as if this was anything more than a casual conversation between acquaintances. If he could keep it up for a little, then perhaps Adrian would arrive in time. Part of his mind sent up a prayer that this would be so.

A little off-kilter at Sidney’s courteous behavior, Arthur sat awkwardly. “She was wed to my cousin Matthew. The poor man suffered an attack of some sort close to a year ago and passed on to his reward.” He stared down at his glass. “His physician said it was his heart. Not uncommon apparently.”