The King's Vampire (17 page)

Once she left the king, Elizabeth ran straight into her husband, Sir Michael Horbury. He caught her by the arms. “Where are you going in such a rush?”

“Apparently from the frying pan into the fire,” she muttered. She jerked her arm away. “Michael, let me go. I must leave.”

“It’s only ten o’clock and the supper has just started. Come with me and we’ll have a bite to eat.”

“What are you talking about? You know we can’t eat.”

“We must make the gesture, mustn’t we? It’s all about appearances, isn’t it?” he said. “We must pretend to the human niceties to keep suspicion away from us. We’ll fill our plates and then take them out to the balcony and dump them. What do you think our king would think if he discovered his new lady love is a vampire?”

She paused for a moment, and then followed him slowly to the buffet table. In a soft voice, she asked, “Are you trying to threaten me?”

He handed her a plate full of food. He took her by the elbow and led her onto the balcony. “I don’t make threats. I’m simply suggesting it’s important for those like us to pretend to a kind of normalcy. Wouldn’t you think that wise?”

Elizabeth gave a jerky nod. She allowed him to lead her outside where moonlight streamed down onto the balcony. She wished she could run away and hide. Anything, rather than facing Michael like this.

After he took both their plates and dumped them off the railing, he laughingly watched some swans fighting over the food. He put the empty plates onto the windowsill. “Come now, Elizabeth, there’s no need to look so tragic.” He stroked her cheek.

She brushed his hand away. “What do you want with me? Why have you come all this way to find and torment me?”

“You’re my wife, darling. Why wouldn’t I go to the ends of the earth looking for you?”

“Michael, it’s me, remember? You never cared about me before you became a vampire. All you were interested in then was chasing other women.”

With a deep, baritone laugh, he said, “You misunderstood my motives. That was all youthful foolishness. Those women were diversions. I’ve always loved only you. Why would I have made you a vampire if I hadn’t loved you?”

“That’s a question I’ve asked myself every single day. Now, I ask you again, why have you tracked me down?”

For the first time, Michael’s expression turned serious. He wore a pearl gray velvet suit with an immaculate white ruffled shirt, and his cravat was folded to perfection. He wore his shoulder length blond hair clubbed and pulled back. His milky face glistened with passion. “I’m a predator who hunts alone, and I grow tired of it. You are my mate, and I want you back. Have you yet had your first human kill?”

Elizabeth winced and shook her head back and forth. “I will never drink the blood of a human being. Didn’t you tell me after you turned me I had one hundred years to change back into a human? Please tell me how it’s done.”

“It’s not what you think. You’re missing the greatest experience of what it means to be a vampire. We can kill, and we can resurrect. What greater power has God himself?”

She backed away. “Beware of your blasphemy, Michael. You’ve wasted your time to have come looking for me, because I’ll never be part of your life again.”

“I rather gathered that when I saw to what great social heights you’ve climbed. That’s what got me to thinking.”

“Thinking about what?” she asked sharply.

“I relish the thought of being involved with royalty and being a part of the ruling class, rather than mindlessly killing and controlling individuals who have no effect on the world.”

“Leave the king alone, Michael. This isn’t some game to be played.”

“If you’re not willing to help me, then I can’t help you become human once again.”

Darius suddenly appeared on the balcony beside them. Elizabeth knew it must be her imagination, but once he arrived, the stars in the sky seemed brighter and the moon gleamed down just a little bit stronger. Every star seemed to be in exactly the right place in the sky now. She broke into a smile at the sight of him.

“My dearest, Elizabeth, I’ve been looking for you.”

“Apparently, not hard enough,” Michael said, and he snatched Elizabeth’s hand.

She wrestled her hand away, and stepped nearer to Darius. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

He bowed that leonine head of his. “Please forgive me for being so late. Would you honor me with a dance?” His eyes barely touched on Michael.

Longing to run her fingers through his satiny, black hair, she wanted to say she’d rather honor him with her life, but instead she replied, “I’d love to.”

Before she stepped into the drawing room, Michael grasped her by the wrist and pulled her away from Darius. He whispered, “I warn you, Elizabeth, if you don’t promise to come back to Prague with me, I’ll tell the king you’re a vampire.”

Darius stepped between them. Red sparks emanated from his body. “I suggest you unhand the lady unless you want to answer to me.”

Michael released her. “Take care, Elizabeth.”

“Do whatever you must, Michael, but I’ll never go back with you, and I’ll never be your wife again. Our marriage was forfeit once you betrayed me and turned me into a vampire when I was most vulnerable. Our daughter, my sister, and our parents had just died in that horrible fire. I felt like you cursed us all because of what you’d done. Get out of my life, and stay out.”

“It was my daughter, too. Don’t you think I’ve suffered as well? I hated what happened to your parents, but it wasn’t my fault. I had no choice but to—”

“Nothing has ever been your fault, has it?” She allowed Darius to lead her through the drawing room doors, but she paused at the doorway.

Michael said between clenched teeth, “This isn’t over.”

Elizabeth turned back to him. “It rarely is.”

Darius put one arm around her waist and held her hand in his and he led her into the ballroom. When they danced, she felt him guide her with a precision and control that seemed delicately insistent, while the music sounded louder and faster to her ears. Her feet moved rapidly in order to keep up with his forceful pace.

Her heart pounded, and she felt in some real danger of being overtaken by him, and knocked down in front of all these people of the court. He seemed so strong and insistent, and so confident in his ability to control her, she let out a sigh of relief when the music stopped and nothing unseemly had happened.

She noticed the crowd had thinned, and even the king and queen had left. Darius leaned over and whispered in her ear, “It looks like the party is nearly over. May I escort you to your apartments?”

She glanced around the room. “I don’t know. What if the king finds out?”

He gave her a smile that quirked downward. “The king left with Nelly Gwynn quite some time ago. It’s not likely he’ll be bothering you for a while. Does he?”

“What?”

“Does he bother you?”

She found the question oddly disturbing. “Come, let’s go.” She led him to her apartments.

When they entered her bedroom, she still felt modest before him, even though he’d already explored every inch of her body. She ducked behind a screen, with just her head and shoulders showing. She changed into a dressing gown.

“You never answered me, Elizabeth. Does the king bother you?”

She stepped out from behind the screen wearing a gold satin dressing gown, and she slipped into a pair of matching mules. “What kind of question is that? After all, Darius, he is the king, isn’t he?”

“Has he made love to you?”

“No, of course not, how can you think such a thing of me? You told me to protect him from Buckingham, not sleep with him.”

He said nothing.

“You do believe me, don’t you?”

When he remained silent, she said, “Darius?”

“I believe you. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, but you are acting rather strangely. Right now the king isn’t my biggest problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“My former husband, Michael, is threatening to tell Charles I’m a vampire. I don’t know how to stop him.”

“He’s just threatening you. It wouldn’t be to his advantage to tell, because all you’d have to do is tell Charles he’s a vampire, too. With the witch hunters coming to London, I don’t believe anyone will want to admit being a vampire.”

“So the witch hunters are coming. How bad will it be for the immortal vampires?”

“It’s going to get much worse. The psychic vampire demons have gotten the abyss open. They can come and go as they please, allowing them access to turn anyone in a weakened or depraved state into a demon. That’s how Buckingham became a psychic vampire. London is in a very dangerous situation.”

“What are we going to do?”

She saw his gray eyes glitter. He cupped her face between the palms of his hands. “I’ll think of something, Elizabeth, don’t worry.”

His mouth crushed down on hers, and she drew him even closer, the heat from his body warming her, taking away the icy chill of being a vampire. His passion penetrated every fiber of her being. The kiss seemed to last forever, and yet, forever wasn’t quite long enough.

He glanced out the window, where streaks of light appeared along the river. “You must rest now. If you can, come to the Boar’s Head Inn tonight. We’ll discuss our plans. All the vampires need to be at the meeting. Have John and Amelia come with you.”

Her hands flew to her lips, trying to safeguard the imprint of his last kiss. “I’ll be there. But please be careful, darling.” She watched him walk away, and her mind drifted to Sir Michael. She knew her ex-husband was going to be trouble unless she found a way to keep him under control.

When she dropped off to sleep, horrifying dreams of the family’s house blazing up into flames, kept her tossing and turning. She could almost swear she heard the agonizing screams of her little girl inside that house.

Elizabeth woke up in a cold sweat, thinking of Christine when she was little and how she’d clutched her daughter close to her breast at night, thinking she’d never lose her daughter if she just held her close enough. What would happen if she now gave herself completely to Darius? Would she lose him too? The thought was unbearable. She’d lost enough in her lifetime.

Chapter 17

The witch finder had finally come to London. He’d been delayed for three weeks because so many witch finders had been needed in France. Darius had never met one before, and he hoped he’d never have to face the experience again.

He knew their tactics for vampires and werewolves were quite different than those they used on witches. Witches were allowed the benefit of a trial. Of course, a witch finder wouldn’t allow vampires the benefit of a trial because they’d never survive the contact with the daylight, so they’d make their escape beforehand. And anyone who had ever hunted a shape-shifter would know the creature would turn back into an animal and run into the forest before ever facing a judge and jury.

Beth warned Darius of the witch finder’s presence at the inn. But Darius, no longer a vampire, had no fear in confronting him. The December weather had turned cold with a drizzling rain, and so a blazing fire roared in the fireplace at the inn when Darius first encountered the witch finder.

He stood by the fire, warming his hands when Darius walked up and stood beside him. He barely came up to Darius’s shoulder, with a nose sharp and pinched, and a forehead wide and boney. His wispy brown hair barely covered his skull, with only a few strands falling down to his shoulders. The deep bags beneath his eyes suggested a man who didn’t rest easily in his bed. He dressed in the solemn gray plain clothes of a Puritan sympathizer.

Darius stepped closer to him, and the witch finder stiffened, moving away. Darius threw his arm around him. “What brings a fine gentleman such as you to London?”

“I’ve come on personal business, Your Lordship. My name is Obadiah Lucas. I’m just a humble servant of God who roots out evil where I see it.”

“I’m sure he’ll be pleased,” Darius said in a low voice.

“Excuse me, Your Lordship?” Obadiah eased himself out from under Darius’s powerful arm.

“I said I’m sure it must not be easy.”

“God’s work is never easy, Sire.”

“How long do you plan to stay in London?”

Obadiah’s thin lips narrowed over his protruding front teeth. “For however long it takes. I’ve heard Your Lordship has much influence here in London, so perhaps you might help me perform my sacred duty.”

With a bow, Darius answered, “I’ve never been derelict in doing my duty before, so let me know if I can be of assistance to you in any way. My name is Darius Einhard.”

“I’d appreciate your cooperation, Sire.”

Darius nodded to the innkeeper. “Well, good Beth has just brought out this fine joint of beef and a tasty pudding for you, I’m sure. Enjoy your dinner, Mr. Obadiah Lucas. I have business of my own to consider right now. I’ll be pleased to help you when you have need. Just send me word.”

Darius left in a swirl of his cloak. He knew he’d have to wait until sunset before he spoke with the Duke and Duchess of Denham. With the witch finder here, the vampires would quickly panic, so he must have a plan ready to reassure them they’d be safe. He needed to assure their safety before he confronted the psychic vampire demons.

He’d just kicked off his boots, and loosened his cravat, then lay down on his bed, when the room’s temperature plummeted. He shivered and pulled the coverlet around him. He couldn’t take his eyes off a gel-like substance that came together in the form of his former lord and master, Charlemagne.

Charlemagne stood over him, his mighty hands on his hips, his aquiline nose flared out, while a jewel-encrusted crown rested upon the top of his fair hair. “What are you doing, my son? Have I named you Darius Einhard, Demon Slayer for naught?”

Darius leaped from his bed and knelt before Charlemagne. “Your Holiness, you did name me so, and I hope it wasn’t for nothing. Why have you come back from the world of spirits?”

“I came because I need to know what you’re doing to defeat the demons. I christened you a demon slayer, and yet you’re so busy trying to satisfy everyone, you’ve done nothing. The demons multiply and grow stronger.”