Kindling Flames: Stolen Fire (The Ancient Fire Series Book 4) (22 page)

Vicky raised a questioning eyebrow at this, but the man was deep in his own thoughts and missed it.

“My father, William Darecy, use to drive a semi for Ritter Enterprises. Two years ago, he was killed when his truck hit a school bus.”

Vicky’s jaw dropped. She remembered that accident. It had been on the front page of every newspaper in the area. The driver of a tanker truck had lost control and nailed a school bus. The trailer flipped over, spilling out ammonia gas and causing an area-wide evacuation. Vicky closed her mouth and listened as Travis went on.

“Darien took my father away from me and then had the nerve to visit each of those families and pay them off.”

Vicky shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around Travis’ story. The papers had told how Darien had visited the children from the bus with an apology and a $50,000 trust towards their college education. She could see how that might be viewed as paying them off, but how had Darien been responsible for the truck driver’s death?

“Wait.” She held her hand up, stopping Travis from continuing. “How is Darien responsible for your father’s death? Didn’t the autopsy show that the driver was drunk at the time?” An in-depth investigation revealed that William Darecy’s blood-alcohol levels were more than twice the legal limit at the time of the accident.

“
My father was not drunk!
” Travis slammed his hand into the table, making the room go quiet again. He took a deep breath, composing himself. “He spent years in AA meetings and had just gotten his five-year coin. He was so damn proud of that thing that he had it mounted on a chain so he could wear it. There’s no way he would have been drinking. There had to have been something wrong with that damn truck. Darien must have paid the coroner off to cover it up. Better a drunken employee than failure on maintenance.”

Vicky shook her head. “Darien wouldn’t do that.” She had seen Darien do horrible things, but he always stood up and took responsibility for them. He would never blame another for an error in his business.

“He did,” Travis snapped at her angrily. “Two days after the accident, he had all the trucks in his lines pulled for full inspections and service. Why else would he do that unless he was guilty of neglect?”

Vicky didn’t have an answer.

Zak just growled at Travis.

“So, you blame Darien for losing your father, but how did that ruin your life?” Vicky pressed. She had lost a father, but she had managed to get through it.

Travis narrowed his eyes at her. “Because the autopsy came back saying he was drunk, Dad’s life insurance refused to pay out for his death. Apparently, they had taken his alcoholism into consideration when writing the claim. Mom and I struggled to get Dad the burial he deserved. And, while Darien was out flaunting his money to those kids, he never once lifted a finger to help us.”

The bitterness in his voice made Vicky’s heart hurt.

“A few months later, Mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and took her own life. That bastard then had the nerve to show up at her funeral—after he wouldn’t do a God damned thing to help us!”

Vicky could feel the waves of hate rolling off Travis.

“I swore he would pay for that. I was going to take away everything he loved. Crush his life as he’d done mine, no matter what it took.”

“So you stole his powers.”

This comment shocked Travis out of his rant. “I asked those things for Darien Ritter’s power, but I never expected this.” He held his arms out, looking at his hands, seeing the changes in his body. “To think, he’s been cheating his way to the top for all these years. He probably didn’t even pay the coroner off, just mesmerized him into lying on the forms.”

“Darien would never do that,” Vicky snapped.

Zak growled his agreement.

“Yeah, right,” Travis scoffed. He leaned forwards to place his elbows on the table. “What I want to know is how he gets past the daylight thing.”

Vicky cocked her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“How does he function during the day?” Travis asked. “When the sun comes up, I’m out like a light until night. He’s got to have some secret to staying awake during the day.”

Vicky smiled sweetly. “He’s just outside if you want to go ask him.” Maybe she could talk him into coming out to the SUV. “It’s not like he’s much of a danger to you. You’ve got his powers.”

“Oh, no.” Travis laughed. “I’ve seen that other vampire that he keeps as a pet. I don’t know how he keeps it under control without his powers.”

Vicky raised an eyebrow. Was he referring to Elliot? Hadn’t this guy ever had
friends
? “You have to leave some time.” She leaned back in her seat, willing to wait him out. Travis would have to seek shelter before dawn.

“Sure.” Travis grinned at her evilly. “But you’re going to be long gone before I leave.”

Vicky petted Zak. “And what makes you say that?”

“This.” Travis pulled some kind of switch from his pocket and flipped it open.

“What is it?” Vicky asked cautiously. It looked like something she had seen on a cop drama somewhere.

“It’s a dead-man switch.” Before Vicky could do anything, Travis pushed a button and squeezed the trigger. “There is a box truck parked just behind the Boys and Girls Club, filled with ammonia nitrate and nitro methane. Oh, did I happen to mention there’s a Christmas party going on over there this evening?”

Zak growled in anger.

Vicky glared at him. “You’re lying.”

“Do you really think so?” Travis started to loosen his grip on the device. Vicky gasped and moved to grab it, but Travis pulled it out of her reach and squeezed back down on the thing.

“What do you want?” Vicky asked in a defeated voice. She didn’t know if the man had really set up a bomb behind the club, but she wasn’t about to take the chance with children’s lives. The man was just crazy enough to do it.

“Take your dog and your vampire, and leave.” Travis leaned back in his chair and smiled at her. “And, just so you know—whatever you did, I can feel when you’re near.”

Vicky felt him push on their connection. She clenched her jaw and clamped the link down as tight as she could.

Surprise filtered across Travis’s face.

“Fine.” Vicky scooped Zak up and stood up from the booth. “But, you know we will be back for you.”

“Oh, I am looking forward to it.” Travis smiled. “It will be fun to kill Darien using his own powers.”

Zak barked at Travis as Vicky placed him on her shoulder and stormed out of the shop. She was glad when the door swung shut, cutting off the evil man’s laughter.

“And?” Darien asked as Vicky threw herself into the SUV and slammed the door angrily.

“Drive,” she snapped. Both Elliot and Darien stared at her in shock.

“Where?” Elliot asked.

Vicky buried her fingers into Zak’s fur as she stared straight out the front window. “The Boys and Girls Club.” She had to know if Travis was bluffing or not.

Darien exchanged a look with Elliot before starting the car and pulling out into holiday traffic.

If there was a truck there, Vicky was going to make Travis pay for endangering innocent kids.

***

Vicky dropped herself on the couch, exhausted. There had been a box truck parked behind the Boys and Girls Club. Darien had called the police to report the potential hazard, but it turned out that the truck belonged to the club. Yes, it did have fertilizer in it—three bags that the kids were going to use in potted flowers for the local nursing homes. Travis had played her like a fool. He was so going to pay for that.

“You did the right thing,” Elliot tried to soothe her.

Vicky rocked her head over and gave him an irritated glare. She had spent the rest of the embarrassing ride home telling them about Travis Darecy and his troubled past.

Darien fell into the seat next to Vicky. “I just can’t believe he would go this far.”

Vicky sighed, and she leaned her head over onto his shoulder. “He thinks you killed his father.”

“The investigation
did
find something wrong with the truck. That’s why I had the rest of the trucks serviced,” Darien said, defending himself for the second time. “But I didn’t do anything to the man’s autopsy. And I certainly didn’t bribe the coroner to cover anything up.”

Vicky petted his arm soothingly. “I know.”

Zak wiggled up into their laps and cooed his support.

Darien absentmindedly scrubbed his fingers into the fay’s tentacles. Leaning his head over, he rested it on top of Vicky’s. “I
did
try to help them,” he said again. “I went to see Mrs. Darecy shortly after the accident to offer help, but she turned me away. I could tell she was ill, so I extended her medical coverage. I didn’t know about her suicide until I saw the funeral announcement in the paper.”

Vicky patted Darien again. “It’s all right.” This subject was obviously bothering him.

Darien drew in a deep breath and let it out.

“So what do we do now?” Elliot asked from where he had stretched out on the other couch. He folded his hands neatly over his chest and stared at the ceiling, thinking.

“We’re going to have to take this to the Council this weekend,” Darien said, unhappily. “If he’s got my full powers, there’s no way they could stand against him if they went after him.”

Elliot rolled his head to look at Darien. “Do you think you could defeat the whole Council?”

Darien lifted his head up and gave his friend a stoic look.

Elliot looked back up at the ceiling. “So, we have to warn Clara, but do you think it’s a wise idea to take this problem to the Council?”

“Why not?” Darien asked.

“In light of recent events, do you think it’s wise to show them any weakness?” Elliot glanced at the vampire-turned-human.

“I appreciate what you’ve done in keeping my troubles from the Council, but I can’t think of anything else.” Darien paused, considering his options again. He came up sadly short. “The Council has to be warned away from a hunt. Vicky can track him, but he’s going to know that we’re coming. We can’t do this by ourselves.”

“True.” Elliot sat up and turned to face Darien. “But, you’re not alone anymore. You have people here to help you.”

Darien straightened up. He had only thought about the three of them going out to hunt this man. It hadn’t occurred to him that he now had a whole menagerie to call on for help. “What do you suggest?”

Elliot gave him a grin that spoke of mischief and trouble. “I have an idea.”

“We don’t have to do this,” Darien said again as Elliot pulled the sword out of the back of the SUV.

“The other option is to admit to the Council that you’ve lost your powers and beg them for help,” Elliot pointed out as he strapped on the sword. “At other times, I would have even encouraged that path; but with Lillian’s betrayal, I don’t think you should take the chance. What if someone else is gunning for you, too?” He paused and looked at Darien. “I know you don’t like to play these games, but others do. Many of the masters have friends outside the city, and they would see this as a prime opportunity to make a move on Clara.”

Darien brushed the threat away. “Clara can handle herself.”

“Yes, Clara can handle herself, as we have recently seen,” Elliot agreed, “but say someone stronger had tried for the city. Would you have stood by and watched them come in, kill her, and take over?”

Darien paused to think. “No.” The word slipped out in a soft breath. He had confidence that Clara could take care of any challenge to her position, but he would have stepped in if she had needed it. After years of denial, it hurt to admit this really was
his
city. If he were truly honest with himself, he had allowed Clara to run the Council unchallenged because she held its members to the rules he’d originally set for her. Had she been looser with the rules or a poor leader, he would have taken over when he originally arrived. As it was, he moved to Brenton because she was such a good leader and he didn’t have to play stupid vampire games with her.

Elliot rested his hand on Darien’s upper arm, trying to reassure him that this choice was right. “She’ll understand.”

Darien let out a long sigh. “I hope you’re right.” He turned towards the large manor house where the Council members should have already gathered. Taking a deep breath, Darien pulled himself up straight. He had seen many master vampires do what he was about to attempt. Some had more success than others, but all had had the power to back it up. As it was, he was going to rely on Vicky, Zak, and Elliot, and pray that Clara would understand and let the bluff slide.

“Let’s go.” Darien tucked Vicky to his side and let Zak lead the way to the door.

Elliot fell into step just behind them.

Hank opened the door and bowed to the master vampire as he always did. “Good evening, Master Darien.” The old man raised an eyebrow at the entourage. “The Council is already in chambers.”

“Thank you.” Darien escorted Vicky up the steps and stopped just outside the door so they could prepare for their entrance. “Remember what you need to do?” he asked as Vicky swallowed back her anxiety.

“Easy.” She gave Darien an encouraging smile. “I do this every day at work.” She smoothed down her long, red gown, checking to make sure it hung properly. The cut of the dress was a little revealing, but Darien had explained that this was all for show. As it was, he and Elliot were dressed in impeccable suits. The only thing that marred their look was the silver sword strapped to Elliot’s waist.

“All right.” Darien tugged on his jacket to make sure it was straight and nodded for Elliot to open the door. It was show time.

The Council chamber doors actually creaked as Elliot pushed them open, clipping off the conversation in the room. Silence fell as Elliot stepped in and bowed Darien through.

Darien could feel the questioning eyes of the Council as he escorted Vicky to his seat at one end of the table. Pausing there, he waited for Elliot to close the door and bring her a chair before settling her down and claiming his own.

Vicky rested her hand on the arm of his chair as Zak jumped up into her lap.

Surprise flashed on Clara’s face as Elliot took his place just behind Darien. Laying one hand on the back of the chair and the other on the hilt of his sword, he took up a stance that Clara had never seen in this room. “Good evening, Master Darien.” She greeted her sire, but ignored the others. She ran a tight ship, but she didn’t stand on formalities. As long as there were no issues, Clara treated all the masters as equals. Elliot’s stance labeled him as a servant to a greater vampire. Clara’s eyes jumped to Vicky, taking in the bowed head and silky, red dress that marked her as a blood slave, not the inamorata Clara knew the girl to be. Something was up.

“Good evening, Grand Master Clara.” Darien nodded his head respectfully, setting off all Clara’s warning lights. Something was
most definitely
up. For a moment, their eyes met. She could see a plea in his gaze before their stoicism returned.

“And what can the Grand Council of Brenton do for you this evening?” she asked, using the group’s formal name.

A hint of amusement flickered across Darien’s eyes. “I have come to speak of matters most dire,” he stated.

The Council sat up a little taller.

“Although I stand outside this Council, it has come to my attention that a rogue has been wreaking havoc in this fine city.”

Anger licked at Clara, but she pushed it back before answering. She didn’t know what he was doing, but she would play his game. “We, of the Council, have gathered this night to discuss that very matter,” she answered. “Would you care to join us in this debate?”

“No. I have come to tell you what you will do.” Darien’s answer shocked the group.

Clara’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And what is that, My Lord?”

“Nothing.”

A cry of outrage sounded around the table, but Clara banged on the wood until the room fell silent again. She considered Darien for a moment. There was something off about him—other than the fact he was playing games—but she couldn’t tell what. His eyes were penetrating, and she could feel him willing her to accept his word unquestioned. “And you expect us to just leave this vampire unpunished?” Clara asked, unable to let this act slide.

“No.” Darien shook his head. “This man had slighted me, and I claim the right to punish him, myself.” This statement had the rest of the Council exchanging curious glances.

“And what has he done to one so great?” Rachel asked. Had anyone else brought up the question, Clara would have squashed it, but the raven-haired beauty was the voice of reason on the Council. Even Darien listened to her when she spoke.

“This man has found a way to tap into my powers,” Darien explained.

Suddenly, Darien’s actions were making more sense to Clara. If this vampire had managed to get ahold of Darien’s full power, then there was no way the Council would be able to stop him. “And what will you do?” Clara asked. She was dying to know how this man had gotten access to Darien’s power. It was a feat she had never before heard of.

“Me and mine will go after this threat. And, once we catch him, he will pay dearly.”

“Will you desire help from the Grand Council of Brenton?” Clara offered.

“No.” Darien shook his head. “Your assistance is not required. In fact, the Grand Council of Brenton will stay out of this matter completely.” He held Clara’s gaze. This was the moment of truth. As Grand Master of the Council, it was Clara’s job to keep the city safe. This included going after rogues who entered her region. Darien was treading a fine line here by demanding that the Council stay out of this.

Clara weighed her options carefully. Either she could agree to Darien’s declaration and sit back to let him deal with this problem, or she could challenge him.

Challenging Darien would be a huge mistake. He didn’t wield it often, but he had more power than she had ever seen in any master. Their fight would wound him greatly, but it would end in her death. Clara looked around at the faces of the Council. Some showed outrage, some held agreement, and still others were blank. If she let him go and he failed, it could undermine her position as head of the Council. It was Elliot’s willingness to lower himself to servant that made up her mind. If he believed in Darien that much, she would, too. But, when this was all over, she was going to corner Darien and demand the explanation she couldn’t ask for now.

“Very well.” Clara leaned back and crossed her hands over her chest. “The Council and I will do as you ask and remain here while you deal with this issue.” More protests sounded around the table. Clara raised her hands to quiet them again. She pinned Darien with a pointed look. “I am still Grand Master of this City, unless you’re challenging?”

Darien shook his head no.

“Then you have until Monday to solve this issue. Monday night, if this rogue is still free, we will hunt him.”

Darien’s eyes narrowed as he took in Clara’s decision. “Agreed.” He stood up from his chair. “Then I will bid you good night.”

Zak jumped down as Vicky stood up and wrapped her hand around his arm.

“Good hunting,” Clara called as Darien escorted Vicky from the room. He raised a hand in answer but said nothing. The click of the closing door echoed around the shocked Council members. They had never seen Darien posturing. He didn’t play high and mighty.

“What the hell?” Michael voiced the thought that had passed through all of them. Of all the times he had seen Darien make a statement, Michael had never seen him draw on his status as an Ancient before.

“I agree.” Clara drew the masters’ attention back from the closed door. “Something is up.” She looked at each of Council member.

“Rachel,” Clara turned to the timid master, “your kiss is closest to Elliot’s. What can you tell us?”

Rachel sorted through her thoughts for a moment before beginning. “I’ve learned many things.” The woman sighed. “Elliot has been essential in Darien’s takeover of Lillian’s kiss. He has eased a lot of stress that Darien never knew about. Recently, Elliot has been acting weird. For the last week, he’s been staying at Darien’s penthouse full time, and he refuses to let any of his people over to visit.”

Clara made a disturbed noise in her throat.

“There’ve been two wolves staying with him,” Daniel added. “I got it from Mitzy that Sue attacked a wolf from a visiting pack and nearly killed him. She’s disappeared, and rumor has it that she won’t shift back to human and explain herself. The pack got together to go get her from Darien’s, but he turned them away. Rupert refuses to answer any questions on the subject.’

“That’s another thing,” Clara pointed out. “Has anyone noticed an increase in wolf activity?” Several of the Council members nodded their heads.

“Last Saturday night, I was out at the club,” Vincent started. “There were at least three wolves there, getting into it. Thankfully, Phelan showed up and dragged them out before someone could call the police.” He shuddered at the memory. “If I didn’t know better, I would have said it was the night before the full moon. Tensions were that high.”

“I saw something like that, too,” William added. “It felt like they were just going to shift right there in the street and eat each other. That time, Rupert showed up to knock some sense into them.”

“Wow.” Clara rubbed her hand over her face. “He usually has a better handle on his pack than that. But, could that have something to do with Darien’s odd behavior?”

“I don’t think so.” Daniel shook his head. “Things were strange before this stuff with the pack.”

“Like what?”

“I had a long conversation with Allen. There was something wrong with his bond with Darien.”

“How so?” Clara asked.

“He was worried about Darien being strong enough to support Lillian’s kiss.”

Clara made a dismissive noise at this.

“That was my thought, too, but I tested his link to be sure,” Daniel went on. “It was extremely weak. I suggested that he say something to Darien, or even Elliot, but the power stabilized before he could bring it up.”