Blood Wyne (41 page)
Two stairwells led to an upper level on either side of the room, and in the center, a three-sided railing overlooked the open area below, where a long staircase descended to the underground levels.
The bar against the left wall was empty, as were the tables and booths. A glance at the grotto on the right side of the chamber, however, still showed a few bloodwhores who hadn’t escaped yet. We’d have to be careful around them.
As we spread out, Roman’s children forming two rows of eight in a semicircle in back of us, we could see Terrance ascending the staircase from the underground levels, and behind him, his retinue. One I recognized from our last attack on the Fangtabula. Amazon Bitch was back, only the bodybuilder vamp had gotten rid of the fringed white pants. Now she wore a black catsuit, her muscles rippling beneath the stretch lamé material. But I didn’t recognize the rest of them.
Terrance was a dark vampire—swarthy, with curly hair that grazed the top of his shoulders. He had a sneer that seemed perpetually ingrained on his face.
“Cease. Give over, Terrance. You can’t win and you know it.” Roman stepped forward. “Blood Wyne sent me.”
“I don’t care what your mama wants. I don’t recognize the power of the Crimson Veil.” Terrance was eyeing Roman cautiously. He was no fool; he knew how old and powerful a vamp he was facing.
Roman let out a slow hiss. “Then you are signing your death warrant.”
“It was signed the day you decided I was a threat. Now, you just have to make good on it.” And Terrance attacked.
He flew toward Roman, a blur of movement, as his henchmen spread out to take on our guards. I found myself up against the Amazon Bitch again. She grinned when she saw me, her fangs sharp and glittering.
“I remember you, D’Artigo. You might want to rethink your company, you know, considering how ethical you consider yourself. Your companion has killed more humans by his own hand than all of us combined.” She jostled, her breasts bouncing lightly beneath the lamé suit. She must have just gotten implants before her death, because gravity was no threat to her and never again would be.
I circled her, aware that Roman and Terrance were engaging one another.
“I remember you, too. Decided that leather chaps weren’t the way to go, finally?”
As we sidestepped around each other, two cautious rhythms keeping pace, I zoned out the rest. Fight your own battle, I’d learned early. Fight your own battle, and keep up your shields so you know if someone else is incoming on the side or at your back. A shriek echoed behind me, but I didn’t turn. Somebody was getting munched on.
Letting my fangs descend, I gauged her strength. If I remembered right, she and I were fairly matched, though I’d recently drunk Roman’s blood and that would give me an edge. Even now, I could feel his essence drifting through my body, his energy infusing my own, and I focused on that, calling it to the forefront, encouraging it like I might encourage a shy cat or a reluctant child.
My opponent arched her eyebrows and licked her lips. “You’re delicious, Menolly. I can hardly wait to sink my teeth in you and drink you dry.”
And then she flew at me, and we engaged. I dodged to the side, whirling to land a kick on her lower back as she stumbled past. She lurched but was quick to rebound. She turned, running to leap into a cartwheel, flipping once, twice, and then right over my head. When I saw what she was doing, I launched myself into the air to catch her mid-flip, and we both went crashing to the ground.
Over to my left, Roman and Terrance were grappling. Terrance might not have been an old vampire, but he was strong and Roman had his work cut out for him. They rolled on the ground, seeking purchase with their fangs.
And out of the corner of my eye, I saw that the children were engaged in battle—a blur of cloth and skin as they danced with death and fought against Terrance’s guards. The scent of blood hung in the air, driving everyone into a stronger frenzy.
I tried to ignore it, tried to focus on my enemy. We were rolling now, with my hands around her throat and her fingers scrabbling for my eyes. I launched a kick, bringing my knee up to land against her stomach. She moaned and lost purchase, and I rolled her over onto her back, pressing my fingers against her throat. She didn’t need to breathe, but if I could break her neck, I’d have the advantage and be able to kill her before she healed.
I straddled her, squeezing my knees against her. Bringing my hands up over my head, I clasped them together, then swung them whistling down toward her face. She struggled, trying to get her hands free from where my legs had pinned them against her side, but she couldn’t, and my fists made contact, crushing her nose, breaking through the cartilage and bone. Even then, she’d heal if I didn’t do something to prevent it. I looked up and saw one of Roman’s sons staring at me. He tossed me a stake and I caught it firmly in my hand and brought it down into her chest.
The Amazon shuddered once, turned to dust, and was gone. I grabbed up the stake and pushed myself to my feet, turning to see that my weapons benefactor had been watching me, not interfering, but standing guard.
I grinned at him. “Thanks!” And then turned to see what was going on.
Terrance and Roman were still fighting, but most of the other vamps had been dispatched. Roman’s children were well trained, although when I counted them up, I saw only fourteen. Two lost.
Just then, Terrance managed to break free and came racing my way. His face was a bloody mess of fang wounds and his clothes were ripped to shreds. Instinctively, I leaped into his path to stop him, holding out the stake that I’d killed his girl Friday with. He careened out of the way just in time and caught the railing overlooking the lower levels. As he dropped to the floor below, I didn’t even think twice. I went racing up and launched myself over the side after him.
As I hit the floor, Terrance disappeared from sight, but I’d seen the direction in which he’d gone. The lower levels of the Fangtabula were a labyrinthine maze. I came out of my crouch and hit the ground running. Behind me, I could hear others following. Roman was right behind me, and several of his children behind him.
I raced forward, my feet skimming the floor. Up ahead, down a long dark corridor that was painted black with the same checkerboard floor, I saw Terrance disappear into one of the rooms. When I came to the door, I didn’t think twice but slammed it open with my foot and dove through the opening.
Terrance was on the opposite side, holding a young girl to his chest, his nails conveniently placed at her jugular.
“Come one step closer and I’ll kill her.”
I stopped, putting the brakes on. I could not endanger the child, even to kill Terrance. But Roman continued forward. I grabbed his arm.
“No—that’s a little girl. Look at her—she’s terrified!”
“Collateral damage.”
I couldn’t believe that Roman was willing to put her life in danger. “No! I won’t be a part of it.”
“Leave me be, woman!” Roman shook me off.
Terrance laughed. “And that is what makes you weak, girl.” He neared the opposite door. Roman continued toward him and I strode to his side, determined to stop him. But then something caught my attention. The girl. She didn’t look so much terrified as triumphant. And then, she smiled, just enough, and I saw the fangs descending.
“Fuck, she’s a vampire!”
“Don’t ever question my methods again,” Roman said as he fell on the pair. I joined him, yanking the girl out of Terrance’s arms. Terrance tried to get away—he was so close to the door he could almost touch it—but then Roman caught hold of his head and yanked it back by the hair. Terrance fought, but Roman sank his teeth into the albino flesh and drank deep.
At first, Terrance moaned, but then, as Roman drank deeper and deeper, Terrance screamed, thrashing to get away.
The girl I was holding struggled, but her strength was spare against my own. She looked up at me and a mixture of feelings washed through her eyes. She looked back at Terrance, and a slow smile spread across her face.
“Who is he, to you?” I whispered to her.
“He sired me. He raped me, sodomized me, and then he turned me—a hundred years ago. And he’s kept me prisoner ever since. He said he always had wanted a little girl.” She blinked, and I saw the same hatred in her face that I’d felt for Dredge. My heart broke and I found myself crying bloody tears. I pulled her into my arms and held her tight, even though she struggled against me.
“Stop. Stop and listen to me,” I whispered. “I was tortured, raped, and turned, too. I know what it’s like, though thank the gods I was older than you. But I understand the hatred you have inside you. I want to help you.”
She paused, her eyes guardedly meeting my own. As we matched gazes, I felt her probing, searching my look, trying to decide if I was on the up-and-up. I opened up, lifted the veil, and rolled up my sleeves to show her my scars.
As she hesitantly reached out to run her fingers over them, I said, “My sire did this to me, all over my body.”
“Is he still . . .” She glanced up at me, wanting to ask but afraid to.
“No, I killed him. I destroyed him and he’s gone forever. I’m learning how to live a happy life, even as a vampire, without being anybody’s slave.” I smiled, and she hesitantly smiled back.
“My name is Serena,” she said.
And just then, Roman finished draining Terrance and, as the nightclub owner collapsed, he held out a stake.
“Wait,” I said, stopping him. I looked at Serena. “Do you want to do it? There’s nothing quite like the feeling when you’ve freed yourself from a tormentor.”
She looked at Roman. He nodded, holding out the stake. She took it and, with me bracing her shoulders, she plunged it through Terrance’s heart. One cloud of dust later, the Fangtabula was closed.
On our way out, Roman turned back. “Clean it out and lock up,” he told his children. They nodded and we headed to the limo. A group of bedraggled vampires and bloodwhores huddled in the parking lot, and as the guards took a step in their direction, they scattered into the night.
Serena came with us. I wasn’t sure what the hell to do with her, but Roman solved that. He made a quick call, stepping to the side so we couldn’t hear him, then returned. “I have a female friend you can stay with for a few nights till we make provisions for you. Will that be all right?”
She nodded. Ever since she’d dusted Terrance, the girl had fallen mute, seeming weary beyond belief. On the way home, we stopped at another mansion, where Roman sent Serena to the door with the driver, and within moments, she vanished into the palatial estate.
“Who’s she staying with?”
“My ex.”
I stared at him. “You were married?”
“Thirty-five times. Either they died—they were mortal—or they grew bored and wandered off. This most current, she’s a vampire, too, and we were married during the fifties. But she grew restless. We kept in touch, however, and she can be trusted. She runs several women’s charities—behind the scenes, of course—and a safe house for abused women.”
I shook my head. There were so many layers to this man, and I had the feeling it would take several lifetimes to discover them all. “So . . . what now?”
“Now, we rest. And at the Winter Solstice ball, I unveil you as my consort. I will also be introducing the new Regent. By the way, your friend Wade will receive an invitation to the ball, too. He is
not
to bring his mother. I’ve heard enough about her. But he will be expected to attend. Vampires Anonymous will be playing a bigger part in the community these coming months.”
not
to bring his mother. I’ve heard enough about her. But he will be expected to attend. Vampires Anonymous will be playing a bigger part in the community these coming months.”
I nodded, wondering just what Wade would say about that. But Roman silenced my thoughts as he pulled me to him. My lips met his, and we slid down onto the seat, rocking the limousine in the silent and deadly night.
CHAPTER 25
Camille, Delilah, and Iris were waiting up when I came back through the door. They took one look at my bloody clothing and Iris pointed to her bedroom. I quickly stripped, tossed my clothes in the hamper, and took a shower. She’d fetched my robe from my room and it lay waiting on her bed. I wrapped myself in the warm terrycloth and joined them again in the kitchen.
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