The King's Vampire (31 page)

With a mocking bow, Julian said, “King Charles, allow me to introduce myself. I am the prince of demons to whom all of England, and the entire world, will soon bow in allegiance.”

“You’ll pardon me if I don’t say the pleasure is mine,” Charles managed to respond.

From the corner of her eye, Elizabeth watched Darius step away from them. She realized he was separating from them so they wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire. Julian lunged toward Darius and his claw-like hands gripped Darius’s neck. In horror, she watched the torn flesh of Darius’s neck open up and blood spurt out.

She balled her hands into fists and leapt onto Julian’s back, pounding him with all her force, ripping at his wings with her nails.

“No, Elizabeth. Run away,” Darius screamed. He spoke to the king. “For the love of God, Sire, get her away from here. Take her to the Boar’s Head Inn.”

Charles dragged her off Julian’s back. She screamed and kicked, forgetting whom she was grappling with. She tried to wrestle away from him, but he clutched her to his chest.

Darius then spun around out of Julian’s grasp, raising his arm and allowing the flickering flames from his fingers to cause the demon to duck out of the way. “Go now,” Darius shouted at Charles, even while throwing another bolt of flaming fire toward Julian.

Charles, wasting no more time, snatched Elizabeth up in his arms and carried her, struggling the entire way, back to Pall Mall. He waved down a hackney that stopped right in front of them. Unceremoniously, he dumped her inside and climbed in beside her. “To the Boar’s Head Inn, post haste!” he cried.

Chapter 33

Darius blew out a sharp breath of relief when he saw Charles had dragged Elizabeth out of harm’s way. He shook his head to clear it, knowing his beloved possessed the heart of a tigress. She would have fought for him to the death. Realizing the danger of distraction, he refocused onto Julian, watching his chest cavity slowly open, but this time Darius was prepared for the pythons that slithered out.

He held up both arms, jolts of fire rolling off his fingertips as he aimed for the snakes. They both imploded into gray dust.

Julian, now furious at the destruction of his pythons, shot another flare toward him, but Darius raised his forearm and deflected the flame, even while tossing out powerful lightning bolts with his other hand.

“So my friend, you’ve become slightly more adept at fighting off demons.” Julian taunted. He stretched his wings out and made a curdling shriek that reverberated throughout St. James Park. “Let’s see how you survive with a dozen demons at your throat.”

Darius glanced up. The sky, which had been black and velvety, now turned a putrid shade of green. Lightning blasted across the sky, and the thunder boomed with an equal fury. Twelve demons, moving in and out of form, came down from the boiling cloud formations. They circled him like the predators they were, encircling Lance as well, who remained unconscious at the foot of the lime tree where Julian had tossed him.

Darius aimed two charged bolts with deadly precision at the demons, causing three of them to implode. “Call off your demons, or I’ll destroy them all.”

In answer, Julian shot two columns of fire at Darius, leaving him stuck in the middle of the flames, while other demons surrounded him. One demon jumped on Darius’s back, ripping through his flesh. He whirled around and flung the demon into one of the columns of fire.

With one grotesque hand, Julian tossed a lightning bolt at Darius.

Even though bleeding from half a dozen wounds the demons had inflicted, Darius lifted his arms and bounced the bolt of lightning back at Julian.

Julian shrieked, “Why do you fight me? Look above your head at the portents. Don’t you know what they mean?”

With a quick glance at the eerie green sky, the unusual cloud formations and the lightning ripping across the horizon surely looked like the end of the world. No sensible Londoner had ventured out in the storm, leaving Darius with an uneasy feeling the world had already ended, and he was the last man standing. Still, with jaw squared and chin jutting forward, he glared at the demon. “You tell me, Julian. Tell me what it means.”

“The abyss of hell will open for good, and the powers of the demons will become greater than anyone has ever imagined. We’ve won. Isn’t that enough?”

“As long as I have strength to fight, you’ll never win.” Darius aimed all his demon slayer energy toward Julian, who raised his arms in defense, but just a moment too late. His great leather wings burst into orange-red flames. He screamed and fell to the ground, unconscious.

The loss of their leader’s direction created confusion amid the demons. Darius sensed their panic, and he feared them more, because without Julian, they were mindless, evil creatures who could harm him worse than ever. Two of the demons fanned their wings over Julian to put out the flames of energy rolling off their fallen leader. The remaining six psychic vampire demons scrabbled over one another, heading in Darius’s direction.

He shot flames at them, hitting two more demons, still, the others continued to close in. One formed the hideous skull-like creature he’d come to dread, but before it could engulf him, Lance woke up, snapping and snarling, he leapt from the ground, diving into the throat of the demon aimed at Darius. In the confusion, Darius hit two more demons, leaving one attacking demon remaining.

During the commotion, Julian came to consciousness, giving a hideous, gurgling howl, which caused the last fighting demon to spin around and head back to his master. In a distorted cloud formation, the demons disappeared into the putrid-colored sky.

Lance and Darius stared at one another, transfixed, as though hardly believing what they’d witnessed. It was beyond otherworldly, it was the essence of nightmares. Rain pelted down, quenching the flames Darius and Julian had created.

Darius recovered his senses. “I thank you once again for coming to my rescue.”

Lance changed back into human form. “You owe me nothing. We shape-shifters believe in doing what’s right.” He gave Darius a questioning look, whose wounds were bleeding, while his skin blistered bright red. “Are you certain you’re all right?”

Darius put his right hand to his throat, staunching the bleeding. He then ran his hands over his arms and shoulders, and the wounds showed signs of knitting together. “My self-healing is already beginning. I want you to know if I can assist your shape-shifters in any way, don’t hesitate to call on me.”

“We take care of our own, but time is passing quickly for Elizabeth. Christmas morning will soon be here.”

Darius grimaced. “Yes, I know. I’m going to the inn to find her.”

“I’ll see you again, my friend. If you have need of me, call like this.” Lance tipped back his head and yowled in such an unearthly way the hairs on Darius’s arms stood on end.

“I will, although perhaps I won’t sound so authentic.” Darius watched Lance change back into a wolf. His thoughts immediately flew back to Elizabeth, and he glided through the darkness so fast his feet scarcely touched the muddy ground. He prayed he wouldn’t be too late. The chill wind blew away the eerie cloud formations, and now a black mist hung over the narrow streets and alleys.

Chapter 34

Darius entered Elizabeth’s bedchamber. She paused in the middle of her pacing to look up at him. Her dark red hair feathered wildly around her face, and her skin glowed ghostly white in the flickering candlelight.

“Are you all right?” she gasped, running to him and touching his bandaged neck before running her fingers gently along his wounded back.

He felt the power of her healing touch shoot through his body and his wounds stopped stinging. “I’ll be fine now. I checked on King Charles and he’s tucked away sleeping in another room. He’s wearing a disguise that won’t fool Julian, but it might trick others.

“Darling, I’ve been so worried about you. I couldn’t live without you.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Julian’s still alive?”

He hated to hear the disappointment in her voice. “Our powers are too evenly matched, but I wounded him. I promise you I’ll find a way to destroy him.”

Darius looked out the window, and even though late afternoon, it was already dark outside with heavy, gray clouds scudding across the sky. Thank God the eerie storm Julian had seemed to conjure had past. The sounds of Christmas Eve celebrants at the inn drifted from downstairs in the great hall, and he heard a fiddle playing along with the clicking of dice thrown across the tabletop.

“I know you’ll find a way.” She spoke quickly. “How is Lance? He wasn’t hurt was he?”

“Lance is safe. He proved a loyal friend once again.”

Elizabeth put her head against his shoulder, allowing him to hold her close. “Tomorrow is Christmas Day and my last chance to regain my soul.”

He cupped her face in his hands. “You mean more to me than anyone in the world and I’ll let nothing stand in the way of helping you recover your soul.” He kissed her and hugged her like he never wanted to let her go.

“I believe in you.”

She spoke with such simple faith it stabbed at Darius’s heart. He hated to remind her of Amelia’s leaving, but he knew he must. “The vampires already have two wagons ready to leave for Southampton. Are you up to seeing them off?”

“Of course I am. The question is will you be all right?” She lightly ran her healing fingertips along his wounds again.

He sat down and pulled her next to him. He pressed his face against her hair, breathing in the sweet scent, kissing the silken strands. She smelled of honey and lavender, and something more, something musky and passionate. “Don’t worry about me. As long as I’m with you, I’ll always be fine.”

He covered her mouth with his own, and the kiss drew them together in a bond of love he never wanted to break. Abruptly, she twisted away from him. He saw her trying to hide her fangs that had appeared.

“Do you need to feed?” he asked.

She stood and fisted her hands on her hips. “No, I’m never feeding again, no matter what happens this night.”

“You must feed.”

“I have no intention of succumbing to the bloodlust on this holy eve, or any other day, for that matter.”

“If you remain a vampire, you have to feed or die.”

“Then let me die.” She dropped to the floor, burying her face in her hands, choking back a sob. “Please let me die.”

He dropped down beside her, enfolding her in his arms. “I’ll never let you leave me. Our life together is just beginning, and that is one thing I know for certain. We have until midnight tomorrow to save your soul.”

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “But what if it’s too late, my love?”

“It’s never too late.” He pulled her to her feet. “Get dressed, Elizabeth. Here are some clothes from the footman. He has small feet so I think the boots will fit. We’ve much to do tonight. You’ll be more comfortable in men’s clothes for what needs to be done.”

She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and took the clothes from him. “You’re right. It can’t be too late.”

Stepping behind the Chinese lacquered screen while she dressed allowed him only glimpses of her head and neck. She bent over and he imagined her putting on the cotton breeches, and he squirmed at the image. When she came out, Darius helped her tie her cravat.

“The knee-high boots are slightly big, but I think I can still walk in them.”

“There now, you make quite a presentable young lad.”

She gave a tremulous smile.

He helped her tuck her thick hair beneath the tri-cornered hat. He stepped back. A few wisps of red hair escaped her hat and fell across her cheeks and the back of her neck. She was still stunning, even in the clothes of a footman. He kissed the curve of her neck, and felt her tremble at his touch, her lavender eyes darkening to a royal purple in the candlelight.

The silence grew more maddening. He heard the throbbing pulse of her blood and his passion rose. He took pity on her and released her, while she desperately tried to cover her elongating teeth with her lips.

To break the mounting tension, he said, “I must check on the king.” Turning on his heel, he walked down the hallway to the king’s bedchamber. He found Charles in bed snoring quite loudly.

Elizabeth met Darius in the hallway. “How is he?”

“He’s sleeping like a royal baby.”

“That’s good then. May we go see Amelia now?”

“I asked her to keep the caravan at Fishmonger’s Hall until we got there. If we hurry, we won’t miss them.”

Outside the inn, he whistled for his carriage, which arrived immediately. The sky remained that unusual shade of green and jagged bolts of lightning shot across the sky in rapid succession, while thunder grumbled. Darius suspected this meant the demons’ power was increasing.

They arrived on Thames Street just when the two large gypsy wagons were preparing to cross London Bridge. Elizabeth dashed over to Amelia, who sat on the driver’s seat in the first wagon, dressed in an outfit almost identical to Elizabeth’s own attire.

“Well done, lad.” Elizabeth climbed up into the wagon and kissed Amelia on both cheeks.

Tears in her eyes, Amelia clutched Elizabeth’s hands. “I feared you weren’t going to make it in time to say good-bye. Will you be all right?”

“Yes. I’ll be fine, except I’ll miss you so much. I pray you, too, will be safe.”

“Dearest friend, you can’t imagine how I’ll miss you, too.” Amelia rose up in her seat and appeared to scan the area in both directions, as though searching for someone.

Darius stepped up and kissed Amelia. “You’ll be much safer once you get into the Carpathian Mountains.”

“But will you both be safe here?” Amelia looked up at the threatening sky. She drew in a breath of the sulfurous air. “The sky smells of Julian’s damnation.”

“We’ll take care of Julian and his minions.” Darius put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Don’t worry about us,” Elizabeth said. “Just be safe. Send us a message when you get to safety.”

Another spear of lightning sizzled through the sky, and the thunder boomed louder. Godfrey, who drove the second wagon, shouted out, “If we’re going to make it to Southampton and our ship, then we’d better get going now, before witch finders or demons start after us.”