The Darkening (16 page)

The vampire stopped fighting long enough to answer. "She was crying. I've known Lexi a long time, and do you know when I last saw her cry?" When Darius shook his head, he continued. "A year ago, when her sister died. Do you know how long before that? Never. Lexi's just not the crying type. So congratulations."

Now Darius felt even guiltier. "That's why I want to talk to her-so I can explain ... things."

The vampire crossed his arms, making a formidable barrier. "She told me she doesn't want to see you again."

Darius studied the man, admiring his loyalty and willingness to fight for what he believed in. Those were the kind of traits one wanted in an ally, not in one's opponent. "I don't suppose you'd consider walking away from this?"

The vampire shook his head, and Darius couldn't blame him. If the shoe had been on the other foot, he would have done the same thing-which made fighting this vampire that much more painful.

They squared off, and Darius waited to see what the vampire would do. They moved around in a slow circle, each mirroring the moves of the other. When the vampire rushed him, Darius stepped to one side and gave him enough of a shove that his forward momentum carried him into the wall of a building. His head hit with a sickening thud, but he didn't go down. Instead, he turned and glared at Darius, his expression full of dark promise.

This time, the vampire's approach was more cautious. Darius considered pulling his golden cord to restrain the man, but using his tattooed weapons seemed an unfair advantage against such a worthy opponent. He let the vampire get close and took another punch to the head in order to catch the vampire off balance.

As the vampire's hand connected with his jaw, Darius snatched the vampire's arm and twisted it. The vampire fell, to his knees, but he didn't make a sound or cry out. Darius knew the hold had to hurt, and he was impressed. After a second, he released the vampire, shoving him forward while he took several steps back to get out of the way.

"I think it's only fair to warn you that I'm an Immortal," Darius stated calmly. "Killing me could prove to be ... difficult."

The vampire's gaze ran over him critically. "My mother and her witch friends used to sit around telling stories, about the legendary Immortals. That's all they were, though. Legends to comfort old women in the night."

Darius dodged another jab to the head, caught the vampire's fist on the third attempt and held it in his hand as he slowly squeezed. He saw the vampire's eyes register the pain and stopped just short of breaking the bones in his hand. "Does that feel like a legend to you?"

The vampire smiled. "If you're real, then that's all the

more reason to defeat you. A mere taste of your ancient blood will make me stronger. Imagine what more blood can do. Since you're immortal, I won't have to worry about drinking too much."

"Don't make me stake you," Darius growled, growing weary of the fight. He brushed back his duster and pulled the broadsword from his back. He held it in front of him as if it weighed nothing and waited for the vampire to decide if he wanted to continue.

"How'd you do that?"

Darius saw the shadow of doubt behind the vampire's eyes. "I told you," he sighed. "I'm an Immortal."

"Aren't you supposed to have a mark or something?"

Darius lifted his hair and turned to show his pentacle tattoo, careful to keep an eye on the vampire to make sure he wasn't attacked while his back was turned.

"Well, I'll be damned."

Turning back, Darius lowered his hair, resheathed the broadsword, and was about to suggest a truce when the vampire's fist connected with his jaw in a lightning-fast punch. "You'd think someone who's been around as long as you have would have learned some fucking manners when it comes to women."

The blow sent Darius flying back a good three feet.

He wasn't hurt as much as he was irritated. He pulled himself off the ground into a crouch and then leapt through the air at the vampire, knocking him down.

Before the vampire could react, Darius grabbed his dagger off his arm and placed the blade against the vampire's throat just above where his hand held the vampire pinned to the ground.

"The only reason you're not dead is because I don't want to ruin all my chances with Lexi by killing her friend, which you seem to be." Darius gripped the vampire's throat a little tighter. "Don't make me change my mind."

For several long minutes, the two stared at one another. Then the vampire nodded as best he could. Slowly and with his dagger held ready, Darius took his hand from the vampire's throat, and both men got to their feet. "Truce?" Darius asked.

"Truce," the vampire croaked, rubbing his throat. "What's your name?" Darius put away his dagger and held out his hand.

The vampire stared at it and then took it. "Ricco. And you?"

"Darius."

"Now what?" Ricco asked.

"Now, I suggest we..." Darius paused, feeling a stirring at the back of his neck. When he glanced around, he saw that a good eighteen vampires had appeared out of seemingly nowhere and surrounded them. He thought for a moment that Ricco had somehow summoned reinforcements, but then.he heard the vampire's barely audible oath.

"Well, well. If it isn't Ricco. What's the First Fang of the Bloods doing in the Vlads' territory?" one of the newcomers asked.

Ricco pulled himself up a little straighter. "You used to be a Blood, too, Carlos. What happened?"

The other vampire shrugged. "I found a worthier cause to fight for. Me."

"That was a mistake," Ricco said. "The Vlads don't care about you."

"I disagree." Without taking his eyes from Ricco, Carlos raised his hand, and the vampires in the circle attacked.

Darius immediately slapped a hand to his arm. "Here." He tossed his dagger to Ricco, who caught it easily. Then, pulling his broadsword from his back, he turned so he and Ricco were standing back to back.

It soon proved impossible for all eighteen vampires to attack at once, so the assault continued in smaller groups of four and five vampires. It was easier for Darius and Ricco to fight them this way, especially since they were armed, but for every one that went down, another vampire stepped in to take his place. It made for a long, never-ending battle.

How long they fought, Darius had no idea, but with a number of vampires lying dead at their feet, he could hear the sound of Ricco's heavy breathing. Unlike himself, the vampire wasn't used to such fierce, sustained fighting. Darius knew Ricco wouldn't last much longer and stepped up his own efforts, trying to kill as many as he could.

He'd disposed of his fourth vampire when he and Ricco became separated. He tried to work his way toward Ricco, but three more vampires joined the two he was fighting and he was rooted in place as he fought. Over and over, he swung his broadsword; his arm muscles were growing wearier with the effort until they burned. Strange-he'd fought much longer battles than this and had never tired.

"Put down your sword or I'll cut out Ricco's heart with your dagger," Carlos shouted. Darius took a few last swings at the vampires around him, but they stepped back until they were beyond his range and he was left standing there, panting, trying to hold his sword aloft.

He saw Carlos standing beside Ricco, held prisoner between two vampires. The look Ricco gave Darius was not one of pleading, but of apology. "Let him go," Darius demanded.

"Lower your weapon," Carlos countered, drawing the blade across Ricco's throat so that a thin bead of blood appeared. Darius immediately let the broadsword fall to the ground. He didn't need the weapon to defeat the vampires; he needed time.

"Okay," he said, taking a step away from his sword. "I did as you asked. Now let Ricco go."

Carlos laughed. "I don't think so."

Darius wasn't surprised by the refusal. Time to call for
as
sistance. He was about to lower his hand to touch Fury when suddenly both his arms were grabbed from behind. Darius fought with all that was in him, but six vampires were holding him and he couldn't break free.

Carlos strolled forward, an evil smile spread across his face. "Noble effort," he said mockingly. "Now it's time to die."

CHAPTER TEN

With a nod from Carlos, the vampires holding him grabbed Darius's head and twisted it to one side with such force he thought his neck would snap. Immediately Carlos bent forward to sink his fangs into Darius's throat.

"I'd be careful if I were you," Ricco shouted. "Can't you feel it? He's not human. Who knows what his blood will do to you."

Before his teeth could graze skin, Carlos straightened. "What do you mean?"

"You saw the way those weapons came off his skin. You can feel his energy. I don't know what it is, man, but I wouldn't just go sucking his neck without checking first."

Carlos's eyes narrowed, and he regarded Darius warily. "Fine. You check him out. We won't miss you none if you die."

Carlos gestured to the two vampires holding Ricco

to bring him closer to Darius, and briefly their gazes

met. Seconds later, Darius felt the pain as fangs

pierced his throat. He heard the swallowing noises as Ricco drank, and he forced himself to remain calm. He knew he could survive the loss of blood, but the more he lost, the weaker he became.

Then Ricco pulled away. There was a new light in his eyes when he looked at Darius.

"Why have you stopped?" Carlos shouted, stepping close to Ricco. "You will continue to drink until I say-"

In a sudden move, Ricco threw off his two captors as if they weighed nothing and turned on Carlos. "You should have stayed in the Bloods." Before the other vampire knew what was happening, Ricco's hand shot out, punched a hole in Carlos's chest and came back holding the vampire's heart.

There was only enough time for surprise to register on Carlos's face before he fell to the ground, dead.

Immediately his skin began to shrivel and dry on the bone.

The other vampires stared in horror, and Darius used the opportunity to pull free of them. Slapping a hand to his chest, he loosed Fury, who roared so ferociously as he exploded to life that the remaining vampires screamed in terror and fled.

Darius and Ricco were alone in the alley, with only the rotting corpses of Carlos and the other vampires. While Darius waited for the demon's return, he bent over and retrieved his dagger. After wiping off the blade, he slapped it back on his arm.

Ricco, who had come to stand beside him, took a step back as Fury reappeared. "That was ... impressive," he said, watching Fury transform back into a tattoo.

Darius smiled. "As impressive as you putting your fist through Carlos's chest? That was some show of strength, even for a vampire."

"I have you to thank for that. If I hadn't believed you before about being an Immortal, I do now after drink ing your blood. Holy shit, what a high. I can't remember when I've felt that good-and when I think how close I was to dying ... well, I owe you-for saving my life."

"Why don't we call it even?" Darius suggested.

"Agreed

They started walking, but Darius stopped Ricco when he headed toward the Crypt. "Are you sure you want to go in there? Especially after what just almost happened."

Ricco picked a black cloak up off the ground. "I promised Lexi I'd get her clothes and wallet."

Darius patted his duster. "I've got her wallet, which I'll give back to her as soon as I see her, and you know she'd rather buy new clothes than have you go in there." He thought for a second that Ricco might argue-insist that
he
be the one to take Lexi's things back-but then he nodded.

The two started walking again, this time in the opposite direction from the Crypt.

"So why are you here?" Darius asked, wondering what had brought the leader of one vampire gang into the territory of another. He had to have known it was dangerous.

Ricco eyed him, like he wasn't sure how much he wanted to say, but then he made up his mind. "For the last five years, there have been two major vampire gangs in New York City-the Vlads and the Bloods. The size of these gangs has always remained fairly constant, because once you start exceeding a certain size, it's hard to retain control of your members and it's hard to feed them all. New York has strict state laws on how many humans we convert and how many gang members we let in." He glanced at Darius to see if he understood.

"Go on."

"Well, about four months ago, I started noticing that the size of my gang was decreasing. Some were said to have pledged allegiance to the Vlads, but I didn't believe it. When you join a gang, typically you swear your allegiance on penalty of death-staked-through-theheart-and-turned-to-dust death. Others just disappeared, and no one ever saw or heard from them again. I'm pretty sure they've been turned to dust." He rubbed his head. "It all seems to be related to the Crypt-which, of course, is run by the Vlads."