Darkness Before Dawn (26 page)

“So, Dawn … what does my son speak to you about?”

I say it before my next heartbeat. “Nothing of interest, sir.”

I brace for his massive hands to reach down and strangle me, snapping my neck, or for his fangs to penetrate my skin. But they don’t come.

Valentine takes his seat again, and when I finally look over, his eyes are covered in shadow and the entire moment seems like it never happened.

“I believe we are finished for the evening, Miss Montgomery.”

“Very well, m’lord.”

With as much dignity as possible, I rise and stride from the room.

When I get to my apartment I strip off my clothes, nearly ripping them in two. Then I take the hottest shower of my life. I scrub hard to get Valentine’s touch off me. I shudder, thinking about it, and how unsettling his closeness was. I’d grown overconfident, thinking I could play him, could get information from him. Who am I, with only seventeen years of life, to compete with someone who has had more than a thousand?

When I step out of my bathroom wearing flannel pants and a tank top, I discover Victor standing by my bed. The next thing I know his arms are around me, holding me close. I’m inhaling his scent, feeling his warmth.

“I just heard,” he says, his voice deep with concern. “I didn’t think you were seeing my father until this Sunday, that I’d have a chance to confront him before you ever had to meet with him again.”

“He requested that I come out tonight. I thought I could play his game, Victor, but I’m a novice and he’s a master. I’ve never been so scared.”

Victor threads his fingers through my hair and tilts my head back so he can gaze deeply into my eyes. “Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I reassure him. “No. But he knows you’re up to something.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure!” Breaking free, I begin pacing the room. I tell him everything, even the offer Valentine made me to betray Victor.

Victor sits on the bed, a worried scowl on his handsome face. “I’m almost positive he’s responsible for the Night Watchmen who attacked us at the theater. Somehow he must have figured out where I was, given them my location.”

“You’re his son. You think he would try to kill you?”

“If he saw me as a threat—no question.” He looks up, meets my gaze. “We’re a bloodthirsty breed, Dawn. My father rules the council that is made up of the heads of the Old Families. It’s not because of his impeccable manners.”

A chill goes through me. “So what are you going to do?” I ask.

Victor stands up. “I shouldn’t be here. I’ve put you in danger.”

I take a step toward him. “No, no. Your father did that when he insisted that I become the delegate.”

Reaching out, he trails his fingers along my cheek. “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known.”

It’s a cheesy line, but I can’t help blushing a little.

“Anyone else would’ve given me up,” he says.

I stare into Victor’s eyes and see all the things worth fighting for. A better world for vampires and humans. That’s why I didn’t give him up.

And maybe another reason motivated me. An emotion I don’t want to acknowledge.

“You avoided my question,” I remind him. “What are you going to do?”

“Finish our preparations. Confront him tomorrow night.”

“I want to go with you.”

“No. This is vampire business, Dawn. If you’re there, I’m likely to be distracted. I can’t afford to show any weakness.”

I don’t like it, but I understand. “Get word to me as soon as you can, so I know you’re okay.”

He gives me the smile that I’ve come to cherish, the one that reveals what’s in his heart.

A knocking on the front door startles me.

“Dawn! Dawn!”

And just like that, reality is crashing back in on me, and I know that what I have with Victor would never last.

“It’s Michael,” I say. “He’s going to stay with me tonight. He and I … we’re …” I drop my gaze to the floor. This is so hard. “He’s—”

“Human.”

With tears stinging my eyes, I lift my gaze to his and nod. “I guess I’m not so brave after all.”

He gives me a sad smile. “I’ve never known a vampire-human relationship that didn’t end in tragedy. You’re wise to choose Michael.”

He turns for the balcony, and I think my heart might shatter.

“Victor, if there’s anything I can do to help you in your fight to overthrow your father—”

“You already have, Dawn. You’ve given me hope that vampires and humans can work together.”

He disappears through the balcony doors. I don’t follow to make sure he’s gone. Instead I rush into the living room just as Michael is crashing through the door, the two bodyguards behind him. I guess Jeff neglected to give them a key.

“What the hell took you so long to answer?” he demands to know.

“Sorry. I was in the shower.”

He studies me intently. “You look like you’ve been crying.”

“No. I just got some soap in my eyes.”

Looking slightly embarrassed, he glances back at the shattered lock. “Sorry about that.”

I release a small laugh. “That’s okay. Better to be safe than sorry.”

Pulling me into his arms, he holds me tightly and rocks me back and forth. “I never want anything to happen to you.”

“The same goes for you.”

And I also hope that nothing happens to Victor.

Chapter 26

A
t school Michael holds my hand as we walk along the hallways. Whenever we pass Lila, she gives me the evil eye, which I ignore. Any other time I might relish those glares from her, but today I’m distracted. I’m thinking about Victor and what will happen tonight. I’m the only human who knows we’re on the cusp of a change....

I don’t want to think about how it could all end very badly. I have faith in Victor. He will overthrow his father. Life for humans and vampires will get better.

After school, Tegan goes to the hospital with me. Walking into Rachel’s room, I see Jeff sitting in the chair, holding her hand. I feel my chest trying to cave, collapsing from the knowledge that I’m responsible for this.

Jeff gets to his feet. “Hey.”

He always seemed so tough. Now he looks so vulnerable.

“No change?” I ask.

“None.”

I move closer to the bed. Rachel’s eyes are closed. I brush her hair aside, wishing her sweet dreams.

“I’m going to get some coffee,” Jeff says. “I’ll give you some time alone.”

But I’m not completely alone after he leaves, since Tegan stays. She takes my hand, squeezes it. “She’s gonna be okay.”

“Yeah.” I lean down and whisper near Rachel’s ear, “I’m so sorry, Rachel. If you can hear me, I’m so sorry.”

“’Kay.”

I release a tiny screech. Tegan jumps back so fast and hard that she nearly takes my arm off with her. I work my hand out of her grasp and shove her toward the door. “Get a doctor or a nurse. Get Jeff.”

Then my attention is back on Rachel. Her eyes are fluttering open.

“Rachel?”

She gives a little moan. “What happened?”

“What do you remember?”

“Guy. With a hoodie. Didn’t really see him. Came up behind me. I turned. Then lights-out.” A corner of her mouth quirks up. “Dreamed Jeff said he loved me.”

“Probably not a dream. When he’s not working, he’s been here.”

A doctor and a couple of nurses are suddenly rushing into the room and pushing me out. Jeff and Tegan are racing down the hallway to me.

“Did she really wake up?” Jeff asks.

“Yes. She didn’t get a good look at her attacker.”

“But she’s going to be okay?”

I grin so broadly that my jaw aches. “I think so.”

From the balcony, I watch the sun set. I have hope that a time will soon come when it won’t signal that the monsters are coming out to play. Maybe I’m too optimistic, but it feels good after so long to have hope.

Michael has an all-night training session. Otherwise he’d be here. I keep the TV turned on, just to have some sound. Rachel will remain in the hospital for another couple of days.

After night descends, I wander back into the living room. My nerves are on edge as I pace. I’m having a difficult time concentrating. I’m wondering when I’ll hear from Victor. Tonight? Tomorrow? I’m so tempted to tell Clive that I need to get out there to talk to Valentine about the blood supply, that we had unfinished business from the previous night that
must
be seen to. Any excuse. But I know Victor is right: I’ll be more hindrance than help. It’s just that waiting is so damned hard.

I hear a knock on the door. Looking through the peephole, I feel my heart jump at the sight of two perfectly dressed strangers. Black suits, long hair tied back, pale skin. They each wear matching lapel pins: a wolf’s head in front of a giant V. They’re from Valentine.

And they’re vampires.

“Dawn Montgomery,” one of them calls through the door. “The great Lord has requested your presence. Immediately.”

I really need to learn to watch what I wish for.

I open the door to find my two guards sprawled on the floor. “They’d better not be dead.”

“Only sleeping. They’ll be fine as long as you come along with us and cause no trouble,” the larger one who is obviously in charge replies.

“I have to get dressed,” I say.

“There’s no need. Or time.”

“What is this all about?” I ask.

“We’re to bring you to the manor. Everything will be explained there.”

What choice do I have? Worse is the knowledge that Victor didn’t send them. He wouldn’t have left me worrying. He would have had them tell me that Lord Victor Valentine requested my presence. So did Victor confront his father and lose? Or has the confrontation not yet taken place?

“Let me get my things,” I say, striving to give the appearance of calm.

“You have all you need.” He takes my arm, ending the discussion and confirming my suspicion that Victor didn’t send them. He’d never put up with their treating me like this.

They escort me out of the building. A black carriage is waiting for me. It’s more luxurious than the one Winston drives, pulled by a team of six horses, each one large and jet-black, as if possessed by a demon and given supernatural strength. The front-desk guard must assume this is simply delegate business as usual, and I try to act natural to perpetuate that belief. Otherwise they might harm him.

The smaller vampire gets into the driver’s seat, while the other one assists me into the coach. The inside is much more glamorous than the one I’m used to. With thick red velvet seats, and tiny oil lamps hanging by the windows, it’s actually incredibly comfortable. A small cabinet to the left houses wine and glasses, and a bottle of what can only be blood.

The other vampire sits across from me as we begin the journey out of the city. The ride, as I expected, is smooth, like we’re gliding on air. I pull out my cell phone to call Clive, or at least Jeff, and let them know what’s going on. But as soon as the phone is in my hand, the vampire snatches it from me.

“Hey!” I say, losing all my trained etiquette.

The vampire returns my look with a deadly stare of his own.

“There will be no need for calls,” he says. He looks at the device with a certain amount of disgust, marking him as an older vampire.

“Very well,” I say. “I will expect my phone back in my hand when I leave the mansion.” My manners return in stellar form.

“Of course.
When
you leave.”

His tone sends a chill through me.

When we arrive, the vampire in charge escorts me into the house and down an unfamiliar hallway. He stops outside an open door. I peer into the room.

“I’m so glad you could make it tonight, Miss Montgomery.”

The Bloody Valentine’s voice echoes in the space. I slowly turn my head to the right and see the monster vampire standing on the far side of the room, staring up at a huge painting. He’s wearing his full formal attire.

“Please come in,” he says.

Despite my fear, I obey. Any other choice is just an illusion.

The room I step into is the strangest I’ve ever seen. It’s an art gallery, small, but at least three stories high. Paintings decorate every inch of space. Big ones, small ones, gorgeous ones and ugly ones. Pencils and pastels. Charcoal and oil. Landscapes and portraits. Hundreds of years of human art swirling upward around me.

“I hate this room,” Valentine says, moving from one wall to another. “It’s the only place that makes me despise what I am. Not one artist has ever been a vampire. At least, not a good one. We simply can’t see the beauty in a hummingbird, or a tree, or especially a rising sun. I don’t know why, but we see things so differently.”

“I’m sure it’s—”

“Don’t speak,” he says, with a flash of anger I’ve never seen. It’s uncontrolled, a rage just below the surface.

Fear such as I’ve never known ignites within me. The only reason I don’t panic is because I envision Victor storming through the door to rescue me.

“This one is my favorite,” Lord Valentine continues calmly, walking over to a portrait of a young girl. The black background contrasts with her porcelain face. She’s beautiful. “Seventeenth-century painting of a servant girl. When I saw this, I demanded the artist take me to her. I was looking for a new companion.” Valentine slowly caresses the painting with his massive hands. “When I found her, she was old and ugly. I told her I could have kept her beautiful forever. Do you know what she said to me? ‘All is vanity.’”

Valentine shoves his fingers into the painting and rips them downward, tearing the canvas apart. The beautiful girl becomes shredded, dangling down from the frame in pieces.

Silence fills the room until he finally says, “You’re not quite as bold as you were before.”

I try to respond, but my throat is knotted by the fear that he’s completely lost his mind.

“I didn’t bring you out here to look at paintings.” Valentine pauses. “Every few decades, the Valentine family has a small reunion. My brothers join me here at the manor. And during these reunions, we are each allowed to bring a guest. I’ve always feared large numbers; one can never know who one can trust in a crowd like that. And trust is an important thing, wouldn’t you say, Dawn?”