In Darkness We Must Abide (The Fallen King, Episode 8) (6 page)

Closing her eyes, Vanora leaned into his embrace. Regret filled her. How could she have taken so long to come home?
“It’s good to be here.” It was the truth. Her brother and sister didn’t resemble the monstrous creatures she had seen that fateful night. She had allowed that image to mar her memories and now she wished she had been stronger.

“
Armando, I’m so glad you came tonight. We’ve missed you!”  Roman released Vanora from his grasp to greet his friend. 

“
Roman, we need to talk,” Vanora started before Alisha gave her another tight hug, nearly cutting off all feeling to her limbs.

“
There’s plenty of time to talk,” Roman said, winking at her.

Armando was very still and silent throughout the entire scene, but Vanora felt his golden gaze urging her on.

“It’s important.” Vanora drew a deep breath.

“
Here you are, darling!” 

Carlotta
’s presence flooded the room as she grandly entered dressed in a red crushed velvet gown that clung to her sensuous curves.  As she sauntered toward Roman, a long red chiffon sash trailed behind her, wavering like a flame.  Her jet black hair was skimmed from her face and twisted into a chignon, revealing her dark, lovely eyes. 

Roman ardently kissed Carlotta, then turned her about, his arms about her waist. 
“Look, my sister Vanora has arrived.”

Carlotta made a great show of kissing Vanora on both cheeks, much to Vanora
’s discomfort.  One elegant hand gently caressed Vanora’s face as the vampire smiled her sly, yet charming smile.  “I’ve heard so much about you from Roman and Alisha.  You fled before we could become friends. And now here you are!”

Vanora didn
’t like the seductive creature touching her and deliberately stepped away.  Forcing her lips to spread into what she hoped would look like a friendly smile, she said, “I’m pleased to meet you again.”

“
Of course you are!”  Carlotta leaned against Roman, staring up at him adoringly.  “We’re family.”

Roman affectionately kissed Carlotta
’s cheek while, behind Roman, Alisha rolled her eyes.

“
Vanora, we’re having a party tonight. Carlotta and I are going to announce that we plan to live as man and wife from this night forward. “ Roman was positively beaming with happiness.

“
That’s just great,” Vanora managed to say, glancing quickly at Armando. The vampire appeared annoyed by the whole conversation.

Carlotta
’s gaze captured Vanora’s, drawing the girl into their luminous darkness.  “Tonight is a night no one will ever forget,” she said smoothly.  “I can promise you that.”

* * *

The rest of the conversation had been small talk and meaningless. It had been very apparent that Armando and Alisha did not want to speak of the impending threat against Roman in front of Carlotta, so Vanora was forced to wait.

When at last Carlotta and Roman departed to oversee the final party preparations, Vanora frowned at how wrapped up in each other the couple appeared to be. Roman was madly in love with Carlotta and that fact annoyed Vanora. It complicated everything.

“Can I trip her into the pool?” Alisha rolled her eyes.

“
I’ll help,” Vanora offered.

“
Both of you...behave.” Armando admonishment was filled with annoyance.

The sisters glared at him.

Armando glowered back.

“
We have a purpose for being here that has nothing to do with the party,” Armando reminded them.

“
Right. Saving Roman’s stubborn ass.” Alisha lifted her eyes to the heavens. “God made no one more stubborn than our dear brother.”

“
I think I can match him. I’m going to try my hardest to get him to listen to me.” Vanora knew it would be difficult, but she was determined.

“
I’m so sorry the party is happening tonight.” Alisha took Vanora’s hands into her own. “After all that has happened, I’m sure you’re not up for this.”

“
I’m here for Roman. If I have to put up with a party so I can talk to him, I will.” Vanora squeezed her sister’s fingers, then drew away. “We might be running out of time. Armando had to kill two vampires on the way here last night. They were attempting to kill me.”

“
They didn’t hurt you!” Alisha seized Vanora’s arms and studied her with terror in her eyes.

“
I’m fine. He got them before they got to me.” Vanora cast a look in Armando’s direction to see his somber gaze was on her. “He was my hero.”

“
I did what I had to do.”

Alisha gave Armando a sharp look.
“Have you told Roman?”

“
I haven’t had a chance. Obviously.” The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on Armando’s face and posture.

“
That woman,” Alisha grunted.

“
To talk to him I need her to not be clinging to his arm.”

“
So true. Okay, Armando, the plan is we distract Carlotta long enough for Vanora to talk to Roman.”

“
Agreed.”

Vanora clenched her hands at her side, her resolve solidifying.
“I’ll get him to listen to me.”

“
I’m ready to leave,” Alisha said, her blue eyes filled with resolve. “I have a bag upstairs and money stashed.”

“
If all else fails, you may have to leave with Vanora.”

Vanora shot Armando a startled.
“And you?”

“
I’ll try to protect him,” Armando answered.

“
What about coming with us?”

“
I’ll follow.”

“
Will you?” Panic filled her at the thought of both Armando and Roman dying due to her brother’s stubbornness.

Alisha laughed, wagging her head slightly.
“Oh, I can see you two are right back where you were.”

The vampire and Vanora glanced at each other, then both pointedly looked away.

“Exactly where you were...”

“
Before too many guests arrive, we need to separate Carlotta and Roman,” Armando said firmly.

“
Let’s do this,” Vanora said, then strode out into the hallway.

***

As soon as Vanora reached the rear of the house, she knew that pulling Roman away from the party was going to be difficult. Already vampires were clustered under the tall heat lamps situated around the pool. The night air was pulsating with music and conversation.

Vanora glumly glanced toward Armando and Alisha.
“I think the party has started.”

Alisha swore, but then plunged into the party to enthusiastically greet several the guests, leaving Vanora standing next to a statue of Venus.

Loud, hypnotic music with a Latin flair pumped out of speakers, electrifying the night with its energy. Sheila and Alexander were already eyeballing the deejay, and Vanora suspected Sheila would soon take over the music. Multi-colored lights flashed all around the pool, glinting off water. Small tables were scattered around the patio and several vampires were already seated. Roman and Carlotta were busy welcoming their guests, looking completely in love with one another. Vanora hated Roman’s blind infatuation and Carlotta’s satisfied expression. She felt sickened by the whole night. Everything felt wrong, dreadfully, horribly wrong.

Armando came around the statue, took hold of her arm, and whispered through her hair,
“Talk to him.”             

“
Tell me how,” Vanora retorted, gesturing toward the couple.

Carlotta had pulled Roman out onto the dance floor set next to the pool. Swinging Carlotta about in his arms, Roman wore an expression of total joy.

“See what I mean,” Vanora exclaimed over the blaring music.

Armando was obviously frustrated and furious.
“Damn it all!” He stalked off toward a table where he flung himself into a chair.

“
Great party, isn’t it?” a familiar Australian accent said.

“
Sheila!” Vanora said with surprise as she turned about.

“
Hey, doll, welcome home!” Sheila flung her arms around the girl and kissed her cheek.

Again Vanora felt a thrill of fear, but managed to hug the skinny vampire back and not jerk away. She was holding up better than she had expected considering how haunted she was by the events of that Halloween night. Alexander greeted her with a wink and a kiss on her forehead.

“My, you’ve grown up and are even prettier,” Sheila said, lightly touching Vanora’s white-blond hair.

Alexander nodded in agreement.

“Hey, it’s Vanora!” Angel enthusiastically hugged Vanora. “You look great kid!”

Vanora soon found herself surrounded by her old friends. The vampires greeted her with great warmth, hugging and kissing her. The experience of having such deadly creatures all about her was excruciatingly frightening. She handled her fears fairly well as she answered their questions and tried to sound like her normal self. It was difficult to keep track of Roman as more and more guests arrived. There were many more vampires than she remembered. At last she managed to slip away. Making her way through the crowd, she found Armando.

“Where is he?” she asked.

Armando gestured angrily to the dance floor.
“With her! Dancing. Still!”

Vanora felt chilled to her very core. It wasn
’t just the wintery night air or because she was surrounded by vampires. Something far worse, far more evil, was lurking in the night, waiting to strike out at Roman. That knowledge slammed into her like a jackhammer and she gripped the table to steady herself.

Armando instantly rose to steady her.
“Vanora...”

“
It’s coming,” Vanora whispered.

“
What?” Armando’s golden gaze met her own.

“
Death...”

“
He’s gone.” Armando craned his head, searching through the crowd of partygoers.

Carlotta was alone near the dance floor, sipping from a wine glass while speaking to several guests.

“Go keep her occupied! I’ll find him!”

Armando instantly rushed through the throng toward Carlotta.

Vanora spotted Alisha talking with Sheila and pushed her past the party guests to her sister’s side. “Alisha, have you seen Roman?”

“
He was just dancing with Carlotta and...” Alisha’s eyes widened, then she looked about frantically.

“
I think I saw him go inside.” Sheila studied Vanora and Alisha’s distraught faces. “What’s going on?”

“
He’s in danger. I sense it.” Vanora was trapped in a nightmare.

“
What?” Sheila’s expression quickly changed from joyous to concerned. “What do you mean?”

“
She had a dream,” Alisha said swiftly.

“
Oh, shit.”

“
Nothing feels right, Alisha. Whatever is going to happen I feel it’s going to happen tonight.” Vanora’s body trembled while her head painfully throbbed. The urgency to find Roman was quickly becoming dire.

“
Go find him. Warn him.” Alisha stared across the pool toward the dance floor where Armando was flirting with Carlotta and attempting to get her to dance with him. Carlotta kept glancing away from him, obviously looking for Roman. “I’ll go help Armando.”

“
I’ll go check for him inside.” Vanora squeezed her sister’s hand, then hurried into the mansion.

Most of the lights were on inside. Vanora could hear voices in the kitchen. Rushing down the hall, she fought the panic swelling within her.

Roman stood next to the kitchen counter holding a bottle of wine in one hand while Ryan and Miss Robbins poured blood into wine decanters. They were chatting, laughing, and smiling, yet Vanora could only stare at her brother as fear bubbled up inside of her.

“
Roman,” Vanora gasped.

Her brother cast a surprised look in her direction.
“Yes? Is something wrong?”

“
Can I talk to you?”

There was a slight puckering between Roman
’s eyebrows, but he nodded. “Of course.”

“
It’s private.”

Miss Robbins and Ryan made a point of pretending not to be listening.

“All right.”

Clearly mystified, Roman followed her out of the kitchen and into the dining room. The sounds of the party were far away and the night pressed up against the long windows. Vanora took a deep breath and faced Roman.

“What’s wrong, Vanora? Is this about your friend?”