Shadow's Light (23 page)

Every fey man in that room wanted me and every fey woman wanted to be me.

Except Sofiq.

No,
she
just wanted to kill me.

The tension in the room felt like the threat of hundreds of little icicles hanging precariously over our heads. Then the threat materialised. The Queen's anger morphed into a pressure against our skin. Fine pin-pricks of freezing, frigid, sharp points hammering over every single inch of our bodies. There was no relief and we weren't alone in the experience. All but her god-like merry men felt her wrath.

Way to go Luce. How to win friends and influence people. Not a fey in that room was happy with my little show.

Michel and I both held our own, though. Neither showing pain nor fear. She was powerful and old, I could tell, but still a part of me thought she was nothing in comparison to an angry master vampire. I'd seen worse tantrums from the undead. I'd also lived through them and I knew without a doubt she didn't want us dead.

Michel, because she simply wanted him. And me, because I was of value to her.

When she realised that neither Michel nor myself would cave, she stopped abruptly. The relief from feeling no pain was almost painful in itself. The absence, a torture on its own. I just forced myself to breathe evenly, noting that Michel had stopped breathing altogether. It was unusual for him to show that kind of weakness, but he was still not at full strength. I decided to distract her before she noticed he was fighting to stay upright.

“Your Majesty, I believe we can be of assistance to you. There is much we need to discuss.”

She glared at me from her higher vantage point. Why is it that powerful people think being higher up gives them an advantage, some sort of psychological boost over the weaker? I've been short all my life. I rarely face off against a vampire shorter than me. They all tower. I gave up being impressed by that vantage point years ago. Her supposed superior positioning had little effect on me.

“What would make you think you have something to offer, human?”

“Well, for starters, I am not human,” I answered, casually.

Sofiq scoffed. “You are half human. Your Nosferatin blood is of no use to me.”

“Then you have missed an opportunity.” I shrugged casually in reply.

She paused, licked her lips and tapped her finger absently on the arm of her throne. “Explain,” she demanded.

Well, at least I had her looking at me and not at Michel. He had only just started breathing again.

“You are at war with the
Ljósálfar
. I would think the
Ljósálfar
Prince as a prisoner would be a valuable bargaining chip in your endeavours, would it not?”

She shifted forward on her seat and sneered. “I have a
Ljósálfar
Princess, I do not need the Prince.”

It was my turn to scoff. “I'm no princess and you know it. I'd sooner cut off his balls and feed them back to him in little pieces, than have anything to do with that creep.”

A few tittering chimes rang out around the room in response to my rather grotesque statement. There was no way I was going to side with the
Ljósálfar
and I was desperate to down play my role in Lutin's life. But, I needed to strike a balance.

“However,” I continued, rocking back on my feet and clasping my hands behind my back, “Prince Lutin would move Heaven and Earth to get to me. I offer myself as bait.”

What are you doing, ma douce?
Michel asked quietly in my mind.

Getting us out of here. You just keep breathing.
I didn't chance a glance in his direction, but I could tell he
was
still breathing.

“Interesting.” The Queen sat back and made herself comfortable. “And how do recommend this be accomplished?”

“I am stronger in my realm, without this bracelet on my wrist.” She glanced at Lutin's silver bracelet for the first time. Admitting I was hindered by it was a huge gamble, but I couldn't think of any other way to get out of
Álfheimr
. I knew beyond a doubt that we needed to get back to our world. “Allow us safe passage back to our realm, remove this bracelet and we will capture Lutin and hand him over to you.”

She stared at me for a few seconds, not a sound rang out in the room. Finally she said, her voice a musical peal of chimes, “I send you back with one of my Grey Lords and Michel remains here to ensure you hold up your end of the bargain.”

I was about to counter with something wild, anything to negotiate further, but Michel stepped in.

“Lucinda is wanted by the
Iunctio
. She will be forced to join with a kindred vampire on her return to provide the power necessary to close the portals. I can stop that from happening.”

I shot a glance at him, I couldn't help it. He could stop that from happening? He wanted to join with me himself and I had no doubt it would be the first thing he did on our return to our world. What was he saying? Had he changed his mind?

“How, vampire?” Sofiq's frosty green eyes swung towards him. He seemed fully in control of himself again. Not a sign of weakness to be seen.

“I have been offered a position on the council by the Champion. A unique role that would allow me access to the
Iunctio's
power base. I would be able to ensure that the power is hidden from their grasp, should Lucinda join again.”

Now, I was absolutely astounded. WTF? When had Michel been offered this job? What job? The Keeper was in charge of the
Iunctio's
power and the last I heard he was alive and well and tracking me like a bloodhound on a deer hunt in the Scottish Highlands. I say again, WTF?

Later
, Michel murmured in my mind.

I swung my own gaze back to look at Sofiq. She was considering what he had said. She could of course keep me here and lure Lutin into a trap in
Álfheimr
. But, Lutin was well and truly under Isoleth's thumb in this realm and the chances of him coming after me and falling willingly into a trap were nil to none. Back in our world, he would be more likely to make a mistake. He would think himself too clever, too powerful to be captured. For the
Dökkálfa
to gain an important advantage in their war, such as holding Isoleth's pride and joy hostage, Sofiq would have to let me cross a portal to home. It was the only chance she would get and I didn't think she needed me to spell it out to her. She wasn't stupid.

No. She was ancient, powerful, cunning and wise.

But, even if she knew this all made sense, she didn't need to like it.

“I'm not sure, vampire, if I should be angry with you or pleased with you, for your willingness to cooperate.” Her fingers drummed restlessly on the armrest of the throne. Clack-clack-clack. Her nails as sharp as claws.

I held my breath. I knew she wanted Michel for herself. But, she'd had ten months to try to seduce him and had failed at every turn. My arriving in
Álfheimr
had allowed her the opportunity to corner him. To force his hand to a certain extent. Or more precisely, to have his body at her disposal for five days to torment and torture. But, he had not gone to her bed. Any woman would not want to place themselves in a position to be ridiculed. If she continued to chase him, she ran the risk of looking a fool.

I had no doubt that she hadn't ruled out obtaining him somehow, but she would play the game for now and not fall flat on her face in front of her Court.

“This is how it will be.” Her words were heavy, as though they held a weight far greater than mere words could possibly hold. As though this was the only offer she would make. There would be no further negotiation. Her words now, were final and we all knew it. “I shall return you both to your realm. Lucinda will lose the bracelet in order to lure and capture Lutin in your realm and will also be accompanied by a Grey Lord to guarantee the
Ljósálfar
Prince's safe delivery to the
Dökkálfa
. Michel shall ingratiate himself with the
Iunctio
to ensure the portals remain open. Should he fail, Lucinda will henceforth be charmed and shall immediately return to
Álfheimr
through the
Síðastr
Portal.”

The
Síðastr
Portal was the one-way portal that remained open previously, when all the portals to
Álfheimr
had been closed. It allowed the
Ljósálfar
to continue to steal our human children. Swapping them with
umskipti
, or changelings, like Gabriel. The human children, such as Alerac, were then raised in
Álfheimr
, because they were
mœðr
. Sofiq was obviously sure that that one portal would be untouched by the
Iunctio's
power and I wasn't going to doubt her faith.

She raised her hand as she said the last words, the words referring to the charm and I felt the weight of what was spoken seep in through my skin. Like a unseen branding. There, but not there. Part of me, but apart from me. I took a couple of deep breaths in to get used to the sensation, knowing there wasn't a blind thing I could do to dislodge it. Sofiq had charmed me and from previous evidence, it was clear her charms never failed. Michel had been captured by the
Dökkálfa
because of a charm Sofiq had placed on him almost five centuries ago. A charm that had worked exactly as she had foretold.

If Michel failed to keep the portals open now,
I
would end up back in
Álfheimr
.

I swallowed past the bile that had surged up into my mouth at that thought. Could Michel keep the portals open? Or were we just walking from the frying pan back into the fire?

He showed no sign of unease, but then he was a master politician. This was his arena. He had battled on the political minefield that is the
Iunctio
for centuries. He had always said he never wanted to return to that life. A life of lies and false pretences. Relationships based on what they could provide, not whether he liked the person he worked with or not. Vampires have one rule that surpasses all others. Survive at all costs. The
Iunctio
Council takes that one step further. Do whatever is needed to ensure the survival of the Nosferatu race.

The Council members are powerful, old and merciless. Michel had been like that once. A part of me cringed that he would be walking that path again. Because, even if he had been hedging with Sofiq just now, the charm she had placed on me sealed the deal. Michel would do anything to make sure the portals did not fail. And that would put him in direct opposition to the
Iunctio
Council's edict.

That would put him in an immense amount of danger.

But then, weren't we in that much danger now?

“Do we have an understanding, vampire?” Sofiq asked, eyes hungry for Michel's capitulation.

Michel fisted his hand across his chest and bowed. A vampire bow, not something I had seen the Fey do. It was a bow reserved for those a vampire respected. I think Michel appreciated how Sofiq had played this round. Me, I just thought we were totally screwed.

“Yes, Queen Sofiq. We have an understanding.”

With Michel's words the whole room erupted in chimes. I wondered if their musical display was excitement at the prospect of gaining Lutin in their war against the
Ljósálfar
and gaining someone on the inside of the powerful vampire governing body, the
Iunctio
. Or whether it was shock at seeing their Queen negotiate an agreement with a half-human and her vampire lover. Something beneath the Fey's supreme belief of their selves. Either way, it was delightful. Like the
Ljósálfar
, the
Dökkálfa
en masse were resplendent when still, despite their monochromatic colouring, but when also chiming, they were magnificent. A symphony of sounds unparalleled in our world.

If I didn't hate them all so much, my heart and soul would have soared.

The Queen looked equally as chuffed. She had turned her back on us both and started talking quietly with her three merry men. No doubt planning how they would use Lutin in their battle to make Isoleth bow. Or how they would use Michel in his position with the
Iunctio
. I felt so impotent. Sure, I would be the one to bait Lutin into a trap, but other than that, my fate was set.

The
Iunctio
would demand my joining on returning to Earth. Granted, at least I would have Michel to join with again, but the choice really was out of my hands. I know, it was a ridiculous emotion to have. I wanted to join with Michel. I wanted it for me. But, the fact that I would have no choice. That the
Iunctio
expected it, craved it, for what it would provide
them
, put a dampener on my own desires.

I was sick and tired of being controlled. For once in my life, I'd like my life to be my own. I'd like my destiny to be in my hands and not someone else's. Like the
Iunctio
. Like Sofiq or Lutin. Like Nut. For once I'd like to pick the path I travel down. But, I'd long ago given up that right. The moment I found out I was a Nosferatin, my life was no longer my own.