Shadow's Light (2 page)

For there to be shadows,

There must also be Light.

Avery Rousseau

Vampires celebrate death. They don't mourn it. They don't commemorate life. It's how the vampire dies that matters. Michel had died in battle. He had taken his enemy's life and given his own for those he loved. I guess that would mean me. He had died saving me. Amicus would have drained me, would have seen to it that Michel watched as life bled from my face. But, Michel died saving me from that fate. The fact that I should have died with him was irrelevant to them. It wasn't to me. Lutin, the Prince of
Ljósálfar,
had reversed our joining, broken our Bond. It was shattered, just like my heart was shattered. But to the vampires, here tonight, that didn't matter. Their master had given his life to save me.

They celebrated their Master's death for three days.

I'd been to a vampire wake before. When Nero died, funnily enough, saving me too. Michel and I had attended Nero's kindred, Nafrini's, wake in Cairo. So, vampire wakes aren't restricted to just those of the dead's line. All of Michel's vampires were in attendance. Far more than I had ever seen before. But so were several prominent vampires who had known Michel, or had had an alliance or accord with him.

The
Iunctio
was there too. Well, at least, a few of the council members were. The Champion, in all her tiny refined splendour. Her long curly hair in rivers of black down her spine. Dressed, this time, in a
Kimono
. Bright red satin with elaborate birds and fish intertwined with gold and black flowers. She had on thick traditional Japanese thonged sandals, with white tights made to fit around the thong between the toes. The Ambrosia was also there, otherwise known as the Giver of Life. He's the oldest vampire I have met. He reeks of knowledge and power, but thankfully is full of Light.

The third member of the
Iunctio
council to attend was the Keeper. In charge of all the
Iunctio
power. The
Iunctio
receives its power from both the Nosferatu and the Nosferatin. When we went into hiding, the
Iunctio
became weak. It is only now recovering with the Nosferatins' return. The Keeper oversees the power's distribution. He keeps it contained and protected from harm. He seems younger than most of the council, but with a vampire it was sometimes hard to tell. His
Sanguis Vitam,
though, was phenomenal. I don't think you get to handle all that accumulated power at the hands of the
Iunctio
without being able to protect it somehow. He had striped light brown and blonde hair. The blonde streaks don't look natural, they're too precise for that. But, his hair is striking. It's his most striking feature.

It hadn't escaped my notice the choice of those who attended from the
Palais
. The Ambrosia would be the only one who attended out of genuine compassion. I don't know why, but he liked me. The Champion was here because she wanted something and the fact that it was the Keeper at her side let me know exactly what that something would be.

I knew I couldn't avoid them forever. Despite Sergei and Nataliya forming a close guard shadowing my every move, I knew I couldn't avoid the confrontation. So, I took a deep breath in and prepared to face the music.

“Champion. You honour us with your presence,” I said in what I hoped wasn't too dull a voice and bowed low. Hand fisted over my chest in a vampire sign of respect. It always paid to show respect, even if you didn't feel it.

She looked down her little girl's nose at me and smiled in a overly wide toothy grin.

“Nosferatin. Our condolences.” She didn't mean it, but I tried not to think that too strongly. The Champion could read minds.

I stood up and waited for her to proceed. She'd get there in her own time. Or not at all. She liked to play little games.

“Michel will be missed. It is always sad when one of our eldest is lost to us. But, we cannot let nostalgia stand in the way of safeguarding who is left behind.” She sipped her Merlot and leaned forward in her seat. “It is a dangerous time, Lucinda. The portals are opening and we must find a way to keep them shut. We need all the power we can get to achieve this. I'm sure you would agree.”

I nodded. I wasn't really listening. I was thinking about how I could find the strength to face Michel's chamber here at
Sensations
and clear out my clothes. How I could possibly go in that windowless room and inhale his scent, permeating everything within. How I would survive that. There's not much room for conversation when you're contemplating climbing an emotional Mount Everest.

“
It is not only the responsibility of the Nosferatu to aid in this most precarious of times. It is
all
of our responsibility, Lucinda. We must work closer together than we have ever worked before. Time is not on our side. We do not have the luxury to mourn. We must do whatever is necessary to keep the peace. Harmony is important, is it not?” Her voice was musical, like a lullaby. I almost wanted to drift off to sleep.

She reached out and clasped my wrist. It hurt. She's very strong. But, I kind of liked a little pain right now, so I didn't fight her. I just let her pull me closer until I was sprawled across her lap. She brushed my hair off my face and exposed my neck. Of all the meals to pick from here – and there were quite a few walking around prepared to offer a vein – she chooses mine. I couldn't find the energy to be repulsed. Or angry. I was just so damn sad.

“He was addicted to you. I wonder, sometimes, why?” she whispered in my ear. “I have never felt the need to join with a kindred. Perhaps I should reconsider. It would solve many problems and keep you under my control.”

She cocked her head like a snake about to strike and then abruptly went in to inhale my scent.

“Hmm,” she murmured. “A little sweeter than I like.”

She pushed me away so I could stand on my own two feet. A little unsteadily, like a sapling swaying in the breeze.

“What say you... Nosferatin?” She said the
Nosferatin
with a good dollop of
Sanguis Vitam
.

I didn't move from where I stood, swaying gently to a rhythm only my body seemed to hear. But I also didn't fall into her lap. When a suitable kindred vampire uses their
Sanguis Vitam
to say the name of my kind, it has an effect on us. Or at least on those of us who are not joined. As Michel was dead and Lutin had reversed that joining, I was guessing I was now up for grabs.

“
Well,” she said, obviously piqued that I hadn't responded favourably to her test. “Perhaps she is broken.” That was said to the room at large. Then more quietly, “We can't afford to be without her powers. It has crippled us. She must be joined.” She could have said those words to the Keeper in his head, but she wanted me to overhear. Every time a Nosferatin is joined with a Nosferatu they contribute power to the
Iunctio
. I was guessing my un-joining had taken my formidable Nosferatin powers away.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. “I'm not joining with anyone. So, why don't you just get back on your broomstick and fly on home.”

The room went deadly quiet. Which was saying something, because there were human donors present. They can't do the preternatural calm that the vampires had just now effected. But they were motionless, as much as a human can be.

The Champion's azure blue eyes pierced mine. “I will excuse your lack of manners just this once. You are grieving for your kindred and as there is no precedent for this - being the only Nosferatin to have survived the death of their kindred - I will allow you some grace. But, be warned, Nosferatin, my patience is not limitless and I am not opposed to reminding you who I am.”

I didn't doubt that she would and it would be painful, but she couldn't kill me. Nut had seen to that. Part of me wished the Champion could end my life. And then the thought that my efforts to antagonise now would not lead where I wanted them to go, seemed too much to bear. Why was I even bothering to bite back?

“Whatever,” I said unemotionally, then added as an after thought, “You decide, Champion.”

“Is that an agreement that you will join as soon as possible and aid us in our war?”

I thought I already was aiding in a war. A war with the Dark and the Light. But, the Champion had never been too concerned about evil versus good. No, her emotional investment was in the survival of her race. With the portals open and the Fey pouring in, many vampires would die. She needed my power to somehow close the portals. I didn't know how and I sure as hell didn't really care, but if she would just get off my back and leave, I'd worry about it later.

“It means I'm open to suggestions.” I might be bereft right now, but I'm not dumb.

She laughed a little bitterly. “Perhaps, I can entice you with someone who may appeal.” She clicked her fingers and I waited for something magical to happen.

It didn't. But Gregor appeared at her side. “You called, Champion?”

“Yes. Test her with the name of her kind,” she commanded, her eyes not leaving me.

Gregor looked uncomfortable, uncertain how to proceed. Gregor and I had been intimate once, but we had both moved on. He had found Amisi and I had realised that no one could exist for me but Michel.

“What are you waiting for? We haven't got all night. I would like to get out of this God forsaken backwater and return to civilisation before the week is through.” The Champion had never really warmed to the Antipodes.

“With all due respect, Champion. I am not her kindred,” Gregor said in a level voice, his shoulders rigid waiting for the snake to strike.

“You are my Enforcer, are you not?”

He nodded stiffly.

“
Then I should think this would fall under your job description. I wish to
enforce
this Nosferatin, before we lose her to something else. Lucinda is the key.”

In my former life, I would have fought back. Even with the all-scary, all-powerful leader of the
Iunctio,
I would have given her a run for her money. Instead I just stood there and waited for them to all get the hell on with it and leave me the hell alone.

Gregor flicked a look at me and the pain I saw in his face almost made me care. Maybe it was pain for what he was about to do. Commit us both to a joining we no longer wanted. Maybe he was thinking of Amisi and how he was about to give her up. Or maybe he was feeling pain at my thoughts. At my heartache. At my despair.

It didn't matter, because he was saved from taking that fateful step by Avery.

“Allow me, Champion, if the Enforcer is so bashful.”

The Champion's face lit up with glee, like a child about to be given an ice cream. I frowned at her reaction, remembering Michel saying that Avery had been disowned by the
Iunctio
due to his behaviour and actions in the past. It seemed the Champion was not of the same opinion as the rest of the council.

“By all means,” she said, a little breathlessly.

Avery turned to face me and stepped a little closer. My Nosferatin training prevented me from backing away and showing fear, but my mind was reeling. Back-peddling at an alarming speed. He probably would have seen the confusion and alarm on my face, I wasn't keeping that neutral mask in place nearly as well as I should have been. Or he was reading my mind.

“Ms. Monk,” he said calmly and took hold of one of my now cold hands in his. “This won't hurt,” he whispered, “little Nosferatin.”

His
Sanguis Vitam
slammed into me and I buckled at the knees, falling directly into his arms. His face came down to within an inch of my lips and his hot breath washed over my skin.

“I think we can safely say that we are compatible,” he said, loud enough for the Champion to hear.

She stood up and said, “Good. Make it so and don't delay. I want news of your joining within the week. We will have her power back or we will fall. It's as simple as that.” She leaned over both of us and whispered, “You do this, Avery and you will have your old position back.”

With that she disappeared. The Keeper followed quickly behind her and the Ambrosia not long after that. But, he did catch my eyes just before he vanished, I think his may have mirrored mine; so sad and full of grief.

Avery continued to hold me on the floor while Michel's vampires returned to their celebration of his death.

It was over. Michel was gone. And unless I did what the Champion wanted, I would be running for my life. I allowed myself the luxury of that thought for a moment; defying her and making them hunt me down. But, as much as I wanted to join Michel, I am a vampire hunter by birth. I can't switch that part of me off. It's ingrained, written upon my soul. I will always stand on the side of Light. I will always be drawn to help the Dark. And no matter what I pined for, what I wanted above all else, I would always be the Prophesied.

I am the
Sanguis Vitam Cupitor
.
The
Prohibitum Bibere
.
And the
Lux Lucis Tribuo
. I couldn't hand it off to someone else. It was all mine.

And I didn't have it in me to fight anymore.