The King's Vampire (13 page)

He scowled. “Forgive me for worrying. It’s just the human Lord Mayor of London has declared he’ll find the person who murdered the apprentice-mason who was helping clear out the rest of the rubble in St. Paul’s Cathedral.”

“A human has been murdered? I didn’t know.”

“I heard about it this morning. He was bitten on the neck so hard his neck was nearly snapped in two and all the blood sucked out of his body. The mayor has vowed to find the culprit, no matter what the cost.”

“Do you think Godfrey did it?”

“It must have been him, or one of the other vampires. None feels compelled to forego human flesh any longer, even though it leaves them wide open for total destruction. This means you’re in danger, too, Elizabeth. If they suspect you of being a vampire, they’ll show no mercy.”

“Remember, I don’t feed on humans, and I know how to be discreet.” She raised one hand and tried to smooth away the worried lines across his forehead. “I’m so sorry about the murder.”

He pressed his lips to her hand. “I’m afraid you’ll be in great danger at the palace.”

Elizabeth dropped her hand away from his face. He stiffened at the searching look she gave him.

“I’m not so certain that’s all you’re worried about.”

He stood a little straighter and straightened his already immaculate cravat. “What are you suggesting?”

“Perhaps you’re more concerned I might fall in love with the king. I think you’re jealous.”

He opened his mouth, ready to deny any such accusation, but then closed it abruptly. He couldn’t bring himself to deny her words. He saw her give a little smile and he suspected she might be pleased by his jealousy.

“He is the king and most women find him incredibly charming, and he’s not used to women refusing him anything he wants. It’s him I don’t trust-not you.”

She folded her last dress and put it in her trunk before facing him. “You must have faith in me. My duty is to protect the king from the psychic vampire demons. Besides, it’s already turned December. Have you forgotten what must happen before Christmas Day?”

“Do you really think I can forget you need to find a way to save your soul before then? So far, you haven’t managed to discuss your problem with any of the clergy, except for the one priest who dismissed you when you tried to talk about it.”

“There’s got to be some way to become human. Michael is the one who gave me that time frame for becoming human again once he saw how upset I was he made me a vampire. If I see him at the palace, perhaps he’ll tell me what to do.”

His mouth quirked up at the corner in a cynical expression, “Do you really think your former husband is going to help you? Isn’t he the one who made you a vampire in the first place? Isn’t he the one who wants to take you back to Prague as his wife?”

She gazed off in the distance and her mouth twisted into an expression of hurt he wished he could kiss away. “I married Michael because my parents let me know I wasn’t attractive enough to wait for marriage until I found someone I truly loved. They insisted he might be my last chance to marry. They never believed in me. They didn’t think I was pretty enough or smart enough to look to my own interests. It’s difficult when people have no faith in you.”

He put a hand on her arm. “Your parents were fools if they didn’t think you beautiful or smart. I understand why you married Michael, but why did he make you a vampire?”

“I know it’s no excuse, but I was turning thirty and had become vain about my appearance. Our beautiful little daughter had recently died with the rest of my family in a horrible fire. I feared growing older, but I feared dying even more. I saw the lives of my entire family lost in the blink of an eye. I didn’t want to live without them, but I was too terrified to die. I thought if I agreed to become a vampire, I’d never grow older and I wouldn’t have to face the finality of death.”

“I know what it’s like to be rejected. My parents left me at the Benedictine monastery when I was eight. I’ve never forgotten the guilt and shame I felt. I know what it’s like not to feel good enough, or strong enough. I feared the finality of death, too.” He squeezed her hand. “It will be all right. You never told Michael you wanted to be a vampire, did you?”

“No. I swear I never agreed to become one of them. I thought about it, but that’s all. That’s the only reason I still have hope of regaining my soul.”

He wrapped her in his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

“Time moves so quickly. I can’t give up now. You’ve recaptured your soul, so you can’t understand what it means to me to know that, as I am, I can never see my loved ones who have passed on from this world before me. As an immortal vampire, I’m in limbo forever, living a life doomed to repeat itself eternally.”

“I was an immortal vampire, too, remember? But now I’m a demon slayer, and if my position can change, then so can your situation. I do want you to go to Whitehall. It’s important to protect the king, but you must be careful.”

She nodded. Her funny-looking, longhaired dog whined and leaped up into her lap, sinking down into her massive petticoats. Elizabeth laughed and rubbed her own nose against his black button nose. “Don’t worry. Charlie will watch out for me.”

“Are you sure it’s wise to take him with you?”

“Of course, I’m taking him. What harm can he do?”

“You’ve made him into a vampire dog. What if he gives you away? He doesn’t know how to be careful if he needs to feed.”

She gently petted the little dog’s ears. “He won’t tell. I’ll keep a close watch on him.”

When she’d completed her packing, he rang for a servant to fetch her trunks down to the coach. He heard the steady beating of her heart when he pulled her to his broad chest once more, holding on tightly.

While they waited for the carriage to arrive, he spoke in her ear, “Be careful, darling, the court was a dangerous place even before it became infested with psychic vampire demons. This age has become twisted and decadent. You’ll find many who wish you evil, even though they are just humans.”

“I know my way around humans, too. I was one once, remember?” She gave him a searching look.

He smiled, but he knew he didn’t fool her. He knew his fear and worry were etched onto his face even when she said, “I’ll be fine.”

“Things could go so wrong, Elizabeth. Although I can get to you quickly if you’re in danger, it might not be fast enough. Watch out for Castlemaine and her cousin, Buckingham, as well as Sir Michael Horbury. You will have more enemies than you can count at the palace.” He knew he had to let her go, but it was hard; it was very hard.

She pressed her cheek against his and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Don’t you think there will be anybody I can trust?” She smiled, and he knew she was trying to tease him out of his intense fear.

“I’m afraid there will be too few to count. The only two I know for certain you can depend on are the Duke and Duchess of Denham. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise.” She picked up her fan, muff, and gloves from the Chinese lacquered table in the corner. “I may not be a demon slayer, but one thing I know is how to take care of myself.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

Chapter 12

Darius took Elizabeth’s arm and walked her down to the courtyard. He waved and she leaned out the window, waving her gloved hand, while the little vampire dog peered out, wagging his plumed tail.

She’d no sooner disappeared from view than Godfrey sidled up to him. “I’ve got to speak with you, Your Lordship.”

“I thought you wanted nothing further to do with me,” Darius said in a dismissive tone, turning away.

“Well, that’s all changed now, hasn’t it?” He gave Darius an ingratiating smile. “Can we go inside and sit down?”

Something in Godfrey’s voice made Darius pause. With a slight bow and a wave of his hand, Darius gestured him inside. “Bring us two bottles of sack,” he said to Beth when she came over.

The two men sat in chairs by the fireplace. The fire wasn’t lit because the evening was unseasonably warm, even though the weather would soon be changing with winter coming fast upon them. Beth returned carrying the dusty green bottles. She stood by with unabashed curiosity on her lightly freckled face, handing each a bottle. Darius uncorked one bottle and tilted his head back, letting the liquid pour down his throat. He had to give her a gesture of dismissal before she turned bright red, spun around, and left.

Godfrey watched Darius finish off his own bottle, in, what appeared to be envy. Unconcerned, Darius picked up the one that was supposed to belong to Godfrey and drank that one, too.

“Sometimes I tire of warm, liquid meals,” Godfrey confessed. “Does that taste as good as it looks? What I wouldn’t give for a drink of ale or wine, along with a huge slab of roast beef.”

“It’s actually better than it looks.” He took one last deep swallow. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Godfrey’s forehead furrowed, and his eyes narrowed even closer together than usual. “It’s the Lord Mayor of London.”

“What’s he done?”

“He’s gone and called for a witch hunter to come to London.”

“Pray what for?”

“Another three humans have been attacked, and the deaths appear suspicious to these bloody Londoners.”

Darius slammed his fist down onto the table. “So four people have been murdered? Didn’t I warn you the people wouldn’t stand for it? The London population has already been decimated by plague, fire, and war. They’ll not tolerate vampire attacks.”

“I guess you knew better than all of us commoners. But you’ve got to help us now.”

“Must I? What can I do? It sounds like you’ve already done enough. I imagine the witch hunter knows enough about vampires to round them all up in London.”

“It’ll likely be the end of us,” Godfrey said in a nasal whine. “You’ve got to tell the other immortal vampires to stop killing the humans.”

“Where were the last three victims found?” Darius tried to mask his fear. Godfrey was probably right, and this would be the end of the London vampires. He’d been an immortal vampire for too long not to care if they were all destroyed just because of one weasel-like vampire’s bad advice.

“There was three women found at Middle Temple Lane by the Pump Court.” Godfrey took a deep breath before continuing, “The women, what was left of them, was in bad shape.”

“What do you mean?”

“All three women had the flesh ripped from their bodies and their throats. Black and blue their throats was, and one of them had missing body parts.”

“Missing body parts?”

“Like her head and hands was gone.”

“Bloody hell, what vampires would behave so savagely in these dangerous times? Didn’t you warn them?”

“These vampires haven’t gone after human flesh for several years. I guess they lost their heads.” Godfrey gulped when Darius glowered. “Sorry, Sire. I wasn’t trying to make a jest.”

“If the witch hunters have been called, I don’t expect there’s anything I can do for you. You’ll have to leave London.”

“At least talk to the others and warn them not to go after the humans again. You could become Lord Mayor of the vampires again if you wanted to.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want any outsider’s interference.”

“Looks like I couldn’t have made no bigger mess if I’d been trying to on purpose,” Godfrey said. “Just come to the George and Dragon at midnight tonight and talk. Leastways, try and calm the others down and explain how we can best prepare for the worst.”

“I’ll try. I’m not sure what the worst might be. I’ve got my own concerns with these psychic vampire demons. If you’re all driven out of London, I’ll be completely on my own with them. They’ve got the wolves on their side.”

“Bloody shape-shifters,” Godfrey said, before he spat on the ground.

Darius moved his feet out of harm’s way. “Go home and try to stay calm. None of you draw any attention to yourselves.”

“There’s more, Sire.”

“What else?”

“You know that skinny, bean-pole vampire with the jet-black hair and obsidian eyes, the one by the name of Ashley? You know the one, the troublemaker.”

Darius couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his voice when he repeated back, “He’s the troublemaker, is he?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.” Godfrey seemed oblivious to the sarcasm. “Well, he’s telling the vampires they should stage a vampire killing and make it look like I done it. He wants to sacrifice me for the sake of the others.” The little fellow’s voice cracked.

“I can’t say I blame them, but I don’t think it would help anyway. It wouldn’t keep the witch finder off the vampires’ trail.”

“You’ll tell them that at the meeting tonight won’t you, Sire?”

“I’ll do what I can, even though you deserve whatever punishment the immortal vampires want to inflict on you. Be careful when you have to feed.” He watched Godfrey wind his way through the crowd of men at the tables when he left the inn.

There was going to be more trouble than Darius had bargained for. Those damned psychic vampire demons were relentless, and they wouldn’t rest until they’d fed upon the life essence and the very soul of all human beings. The world would become a much worse place than it already was if he didn’t come up with a plan to contain the demons.

He then thought about Elizabeth and the way she gave him joy without pain, love without doubt, and courage without fear. If only she could be part of his life always and forever. He shut his eyes, sending up a prayer she might be kept safe when all hell broke loose. If the vampires had to leave London that would mean Elizabeth would leave, too.

Chapter 13

Her apartments were magnificent. Elizabeth found Charles had given her twelve rooms with six on the bottom floor and six on the second floor. The rooms were located along the riverfront, and when she explored, she discovered a narrow hallway and staircase that led to the king’s apartments. With an impatient sigh, she shook her head, knowing that meant trouble for her. Given the king’s reputation, she’d be naïve if she thought he’d given her this appointment just to please his wife, or out of the kindness of his heart. She refused to worry because she felt certain she could handle him when the time came.