Night Vision (4 page)

I leaned back against the velvet of the divan. I’d learned never to rush a vampire. The more you pushed, the more they pushed back. So, we waited. Rhiannon nervously knotted her sweater sleeve in her hand, but after a moment, she let out a long breath and finally leaned back beside me.

Regina stepped from behind her desk, crossing to the front, where she leaned her butt against the edge, her long legs stretched out in front, ending in five-inch stilettos. She glanced at the door.

“Lannan will be joining us shortly.” She held up her hand as I shifted uncomfortably. “I know you’d prefer to deal with just me, but the fact is that Lannan’s input on this is vital. Trust me, the news isn’t pleasant.”

“I have a feeling your news is going to be just about as good as what just happened to us.”

On that cheery note, we went back to staring at each other. Even though she didn’t try to pull glamour on me, her gaze unnerved me. I licked my lips and yawned, quickly trying to cover my mouth. Were Queens even supposed to yawn in public? Flustered, I glanced up at the gorgeous vampire, and to my surprise, Regina flashed me a little smile—probably as genuine as she could manage.

“There are so many things changing. The old ways no longer serve your people, nor mine. We must learn to adapt. I think that our two nations have much to explore over the coming decades, don’t you agree? Hmm?” Her voice was smooth, silk against skin, and I ducked my head, feeling oddly shy.

Before I could think of an answer, she straightened up. “I’m being remiss in my duties as hostess. Would you care for something to drink? Some wine, or sparkling water, or a café au lait?”

I was about to say no when Rhiannon surprised me. “Some sparkling water would be nice, with ice if you have it.” She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders.

“And the girl of light and summer can actually
speak
.” Regina’s laugh was throaty and rich. I could never tell if she was making fun of us or truly found us amusing. Either way, she rang a small bell and a different maid immediately entered the room.

“Sparkling water for the Queen of Summer. Cicely—what will you have?” Regina expected an answer, and so I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Mocha, please, with extra chocolate.” A jolt of caffeine would do me some good.

“Mocha, for the Queen of Winter. Extra chocolate and—I think—an extra shot of espresso would be in order for what we have to discuss this night.” Regina dismissed her with the flick of a finger, and the woman scurried out of the room.

It was still hard for me to sit by and watch the vampires treat their servants like chattel, but even more disturbing was the realization that I was growing used to it.

After another awkward silence, the woman returned with our drinks. Directly on her heels was Lannan Altos, who swept over to Regina and kissed her hand and then her lips, his tongue playing over them. After the maid had given us our drinks, Lannan turned to face us.

Lannan Altos
, Regina’s brother and her lover. Originally from Sumer, they were two of the older vampires around. Lannan Altos, my bane.

Lannan of the golden hair that flowed down his back and the sleek, tight build. Lannan, the hedonist, whose obsession for me had become a dangerous game. Lannan, who had taken me down and made me grovel willingly at his feet. Lannan, who enjoyed games of humiliation at others’ expense.

But Lannan—pervert though he was—had helped us when we needed it, though whether it was due to his own twisted agenda or not, I wasn’t sure. And that meant I had to walk softly and try to keep out of his clutches and stay on his good side. He could do far more damage to me and our cause against Myst than I could do against him.
Yet.

Rhiannon and I stood, giving him a cursory bow. As Regent, his position demanded it.

He moved in close, looming over me, and I was keenly aware of his presence. My body responded to him, remembering him in a way I didn’t want it to.

“This matter was brought to our attention just this evening, so I apologize for my tardiness. You will forgive me, won’t you?
Cicely
?” And he fastened his gaze on me, holding me entranced with those eternally black eyes.

I cleared my throat, mulling over the best response. After our last interaction—the day I’d left the mansion—I wanted nothing more than to kick him in the balls, but diplomacy won out.

“Of course.” I turned to Regina. “But first, let me tell you what happened tonight.” I told them about Luna and the vamps, and the message from Geoffrey. “We have to find them. We
have
to stop them.”

Regina pressed her lips together before answering. Her voice was tight and brusque. “I have been in communication with the Crimson Queen. The situation is far more dire than you think.”

Uh-oh. That couldn’t be good. I glanced at Rhiannon. We waited for Regina to continue.

“When one of our esteemed Vein Lords went to visit the Blood Oracle yesterday, he discovered that…well…Crawl has gone missing.”

“Missing?” At first I thought I’d heard her wrong, but one look at her face and I knew she was telling us the truth. Her four little words were enough to crumble the world.

Lannan stared at me, unblinking. “Make no mistake. It’s true. Crawl is missing, and no one knows how he escaped from his prison.” His voice echoed through the room, no longer smooth and elegant, but instead harsh. He was on his feet the next moment, pacing back and forth.

“Prison? Crawl’s chamber is a
prison
?” That was the first I’d heard anything to that effect.

The Blood Oracle was esteemed, a seer among his people, revered as almost a god. I had no idea he was a prisoner,
though it made sense. I knew they’d kept him tucked away between the worlds with good reason. The freakshow was deadly, with no conscience whatsoever, and he’d had his fangs in me once already.

Lannan glanced at me. “Crawl was imprisoned by the Crimson Queen eons ago, when she first anointed him as the Blood Oracle. He’s far too powerful and dangerous to be allowed among the populace, especially around breathers.”

He paused by me, lifting my chin to stare into my face with those gleaming black eyes of his. “You, of all people, should know what he can be like, my sweet Cicely.” And the Golden Boy was back.

Shivering—from both his touch and the memory of Crawl tearing into my neck with wanton thirst—I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and forced myself to remain steady.

Rhiannon looked ready to faint. “How did he get loose?”

Regina grimaced. “Not without help, I can tell you that.”

The idea of someone helping Crawl escape was ludicrous. “Who the fuck would help him get free? Who would even think of something that stupid?”

She gave me a long look. “Consider the situation, Cicely. Who has everything to gain by causing mayhem? By aligning himself with one as powerful as the Oracle?”

And then I knew. “Geoffrey…”

“Yes, Geoffrey and Leo. Word on the street is that Geoffrey is planning a major coup against Lannan, while Leo’s out to kidnap Rhiannon. And both of them are out for revenge against you, Cicely.”

“But why
Crawl
?” Rhia was so pale she looked as bloodless as the vamps.

Lannan answered. “Crawl can wield dark magic. Ever since he tasted Cicely’s blood, he’s been obsessed with how sweet and rich and tender she was. The Oracle does not forget lightly. And…the Oracle’s sanity long ago turned to dust.”

“Leo means to turn me into a vampire,” Rhia said. “He wants to turn me and keep me locked up with him.”

Lannan nodded. “No doubt.”

Regina regarded him somberly. “We believe that Geoffrey plans on turning Cicely over to Crawl…” She paused, shuddering. “I wouldn’t wish my worst enemy to be at the mercy of the Blood Oracle.”

The room fell silent. I could barely think, let alone speak.

Lannan cleared his throat after a moment and turned to his sister. “What are the Crimson Queen’s orders?”

Regina held up what looked like an official decree. “Direct from the Queen: Our first order is to secure the safety of the newly arisen Fae Queens and the populace of New Forest. With Crawl free among the townspeople, the Vampire Nation could suffer irreversible damage to our reputation. Second: We return him to his prison. And third: We terminate Geoffrey and Leo.”

“Do you know where they are?” I asked.

She let out a soft whisper. “No. We have no idea. I sent in guards to raid their last known hideaway earlier this evening. There was no trace of them or where they went. The owner of the club died without revealing their whereabouts. My men used every form of
persuasion
possible. The club owner died in the process.”

I crossed to the big bay windows. Every morning, they were covered with steel shutters. Now, I stared outside, into the dim night. The snow was piling up again. Myst was still out there, gunning for us. And Leo and Geoffrey had freed a monster from his dark and fiery hell to claim the streets of the town for his own.

Myst was a holy terror, but at least, she was somewhat predictable. Whereas Crawl…Crawl was as alien as an insect, and as dangerous as any predator who ruled the top of the food chain. Crawl wanted my blood, and Leo and Geoffrey were only too happy to serve me up on a platter.

Lannan was suddenly behind me, making no noise with his approach. He placed his hands on my shoulders and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Are you afraid, Cicely?”

I turned to stare at him over my shoulder. He wasn’t
being sarcastic this time. His question seemed oddly genuine. “Yes, I’m afraid.”

“My offer stands, you know. Let me turn you. Renounce the world of Fae and join me. It would be easy for you to fight back, then. With your powers, combined with me as your sire, you could defeat Leo and Geoffrey.”

His words entwined around me, and the wolf tattoo on my stomach growled a low warning note. Grieve could tell I was all too close to his rival.

I shook my head. “No. I refused to let Geoffrey turn me—I would become a bigger monster than Myst. But thank you. I think you really mean it—you really want to help.”

“Don’t be so quick to think you know my mind, girl.” Lannan let out a low laugh. “I just don’t want to lose you.” But the look on his face told me that Rhiannon and I weren’t the only ones who were afraid. I turned to look at Regina. She, too, wore a look of concern on her face.

As I stared back into the night, too aware of Lannan’s hands still on my shoulders, I thought I saw something dart past the window. As I wiped my eyes, whatever it was seemed to disappear.

It was all too much. Too many enemies. Too much stress. I just wanted to go home and crawl under the covers, but even home now had a new meaning, and was still an alien and strange place. Rhiannon joined me at the window and I took her hand in mine. We stood there, linked, twin-cousins, fire and ice against the shadows outside, as they grew dark and long, and looming.

The first thing we did when we got back to the Barrow was check on Luna. She was resting, but still shaky. Peyton confided to me that Kaylin hadn’t left her side since they’d returned.

“What happened? What did they say about the attack on Luna?” Peyton leaned against the counter—the marble tops gleamed against the dark oak cabinets that were hand carved and as old as time.

“Tell you in a minute.” I wanted to breathe first, to sit down and relax. As I glanced around the Marburry Barrow, it hit me that this place was starting to become familiar. I still didn’t think of it as home, but it was a safe haven, and there had been precious few of those lately.

“Let’s have tea.” Peyton put the kettle on and played with the knobs. I still had no clue as to how to work the Cambyra gadgets. The stove was fueled by both wood and magic, and I hadn’t had a moment to pay attention to anything like that, with the rush of training we had been undergoing.

We were gathered in the common room that served as a combination dining-living-office space for our little group.
This room, and our private chamber of suites, made up our temporary home. Eventually, Peyton, Luna, and Kaylin would move back to the Veil House, while Grieve and I would take our place in the realm of Winter, and Rhiannon and Chatter would remain here, ruling over the Court of Rivers and Rushes.

There were no windows here in the Barrow, but a continual illumination from the golden lanterns hanging every few feet. The lights were magical—soft glowing amorphous orbs caught in the glass and metal lamps. Lainule said they were energy creatures, young Fire Elementals indentured by the Fae, before being turned loose on the world to grow.

Do they mind being forced into service?
I had asked Ulean when I first found out how the Barrow halls were lit.

Mind?
Ulean sounded slightly perplexed.
Do I mind being bound to you?

I hope not. I would never knowingly harm you.

Do not worry on that account. You cannot harm me. Neither can the Fae harm the Fire Elementals. We are far stronger than any of the mortal races, even the full-born Fae. We can be destroyed, but there are few in the world powerful enough. Myst, in her glory days, could neither destroy nor harm her Ice Elementals. Even these bonds…we can break if we choose. Life is often illusion, Cicely. Illusion that is very real, very strong, but still—place the right amount of force in the right spot and it breaks.