Kindling Flames: Smoke Rising (The Ancient Fire Series Book 3) (16 page)

A sour smile turned up Darien’s mouth, and he gathered up the fay in his arms. “I really screwed up this time.” Darien squeezed Zak.

Zak gurgled his agreement.

Darien petted the hellhound’s feelers back from him. “Thanks for not eating me.”

Zak snorted and rubbed his face into Darien’s stomach. He hopped down from the vampire and scuttled over to the doorway and gurgled.

“What?”

The hellhound came back over to him and pulled on his leg.

Darien stood up and followed the insistent fay out the doorway.

Zak led him up the steps to the roof patio.

Darien cringed as the fay took him into the afternoon sunlight.

Tugging on Darien’s leg one more time, the hellhound scampered off across the open space to where Vicky was leaning on the wall, looking over the edge of the roof. He bowled into the back of her legs, nearly knocking her off her feet.

“Zak!” Vicky gasped as she caught herself. She looked down at the little horror cuddling her legs. “Oh, Zak.” Sitting down, she pulled her friend into her lap and buried her face into him to sob out her fear.

Darien drew up his courage and crossed the patio to the distressed girl. “Hey there,” he said softly.

Vicky raised her face and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“How are you?” He squatted down next to her.

Vicky laughed at him hysterically as tears streamed from her eyes.

He dropped himself the rest of the way to the ground and pulled her to him so she could cry against his chest until her sobs subsided.

“I’m scared, Darien,” Vicky finally admitted to him.

Darien petted her back soothingly. “I know.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m here and will do everything I can for you.”

Vicky sat quietly in Darien’s arms for a few more minutes.

He shifted as the sun made him uncomfortable.

Vicky smiled softly and pulled away from the vampire. “Let’s go inside before you get burnt.” She stood up from his lap.

Darien looked up at the woman he loved. “Are you better now?” He took her hand and stood up.

“No,” she said honestly. “But what can I do about it?”

Darien pulled her against him to hold. “I am sorry,” he said again.

Vicky sighed again before letting out a little chuckle as an odd thought hit her.

Darien looked down at her concerned.

“Well, you did say you wanted to mark me.” Vicky smiled weakly at him. “I guess giving me a piece of your soul would do that.”

Darien returned her chuckle. He kissed her hair as they turned to go inside.

“So does this make me a part of you?” she asked as they walked back to the elevators.

“Not really,” Darien admitted.

Vicky looked up at him as he talked.

“If anything, it makes me a part of you.”

She thought about this as they got on the elevator to go downstairs. “I guess that’s a better gift than flowers or chocolates.” She leaned into him as they took the short ride to the penthouse. “So, what happens now?” Vicky asked.

“Now we wait until sunset and see what happens,” Darien said, resigned to his fate. “If the patch holds, then everything should be fine.

“And if it does not?” she asked.

He smiled at her. “Well, we don’t have to worry about going to work on Monday.”

Vicky shook her head as they got off the elevator. “Come on. I think I need a big bowl of ice cream.” She led the way to the kitchen with Zak clinging to her ankle.

“So do I,” Darien agreed as he went to get the treat so they could wait out the rest of the day.

Elliot leaned against the wall and worried about the two people cuddled together on the couch. He studied Darien as the older vampire rested against the arm of the sofa with his legs stretched down its length, Vicky curled up against him. Zak had his face buried into her stomach as she absentmindedly scratched deep into his bits. The tension in the air was palpable as they waited out the last few minutes of the day. With the curtains drawn, Elliot couldn’t see the light fading outside, but he could feel the sun’s progression towards the horizon. It wouldn’t be long before true nightfall would answer the question that everyone was asking. Would the strand hold?

If the patch did not last, there would be nothing any of them could do to save the woman sitting quietly in Darien’s lap. Elliot watched as Darien drew in a deep breath and buried his face into Vicky’s golden curls as that pivotal moment drew near. If something should happen to Vicky, Elliot was sure that the hellhound in her lap would take his anger and grief out on the vampire responsible. Darien could probably stand up to the hellhound, but he was more likely to sit quietly and let the fay rip him apart without protest. Elliot was sure that Darien wouldn’t be able to handle the loss of another love by his own hand.

Darien closed his eyes and squeezed Vicky tight as the sun slipped below the horizon and night stole over the world.

Vicky shivered at the unfamiliar feeling of nightfall. “What was that?” She looked around for something that might have caused the strange sensation.

“Nightfall.” Elliot pushed away from the wall to come over and check on them. “How do you feel?”

Craning her neck, she tried to see Elliot from where she sat squished between Darien and Zak. “Okay… I guess,” Vicky answered, a little confused. She had felt a little off all day.

Darien let out the breath he had been holding but did not release his hold on her.

Zak started purring as relief washed through the room.

Vicky wiggled in Darien’s grasp so he would loosen his hold on her. “Does this mean I’m going to be okay?”

Darien released her enough for her to turn and speak to the man standing behind the couch.

“Perhaps,” Elliot said, unsure what answer to give the woman. He had talked with Darien earlier about what Dakine had said. If the fay lord didn’t know, then it was anyone’s guess how this would all work out. “Darien?” Elliot pointed the question to the healer in the group.

“It looks like it’s holding,” Darien answered from where he probed Vicky lightly.

“But, what was that feeling?” Vicky asked, still worried about the strange pressure that had spread through her for a moment.

“What did it feel like?” Darien asked, curious to know what her answer would be.

“Like being dipped in cold water, but from the inside,” Vicky said, trying to explain the sensation.

“That was sunset,” Darien explained. It wasn’t quite how he would describe the wash of power that came with the end of day, but it was close.

“But, how?” Vicky couldn’t fathom how it was possible for her to feel sunset. “I don’t understand.”

“Dawn and dusk are transition times in the world,” Elliot explained. “The hour before and after sunrise and sunset hold stronger magic than most of the rest of the day, but the moment the sun passes the horizon is important. There is a power spike that can be felt by anything sensitive to magic.”

Vicky considered his words for a moment. “I have never felt this before.” She looked back at the man holding her. “Why do I feel it now?”

“Probably because you have a piece of a vampire’s soul now,” Elliot answered.

She looked up at him, concerned.

“Vampires are attuned to the cooler energies of the night. Sunset calls to us.”

“Does that mean I’m going to be a vampire?” Vicky looked to Darien.

He took a deep breath before answering. “I’m not sure,” Darien said quietly. “Dakine said that sharing a soul was impossible, so I have no idea what to expect.” He turned his attention to Elliot. “What do you think?”

Elliot made a thoughtful face before placing his hand on Vicky’s shoulder. His power washed over her skin, cool and green. He closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly as he delved into Vicky’s future. “It’s clouded,” Elliot said. “I see danger and a split in the path. There is a decision to be made soon, but I… I can’t tell what it is. I can see that it will be a major change in your life, but the paths that lead away are unclear to me.” Elliot drew his hand back and opened his eyes. He shook his head to clear it from the sight. “The only thing I can say for sure is that I don’t see vampirism in your near future.”

“What about the major change?” Darien asked.

Vicky just stared at the two men, lost.

“That’s a choice she will be given.” Elliot rubbed his temple. “I don’t think it has anything to do with your shared essence.”

“What just happened?” Vicky looked from Darien to Elliot, waiting for one of them to explain.

“Elliot is a seer,” Darien explained. “He looked into your future.”

She tried to wrap her mind around Darien’s answer. “Like fortune telling?”

“Yes,” Elliot answered. “But what I do is infinitely more accurate than anything you have seen before. It’s my special talent.”

“Special talent?” she asked.

“Like Darien’s ability to heal,” Elliot explained.

“Do all vampires have special abilities?” Vicky asked, curious to know more.

“Most find theirs by the time they become masters.” Darien nodded. “I have only known of two vampires whose powers hadn’t manifested by the time they were masters. Both are under two hundred years old and have lived fairly sheltered lives.”

“You mean, you don’t get your powers when you’re turned?”

“Good heavens, no,” Elliot answered. “We all started out as human at one point in time. The newly turned have no more power than your average human. They gain the abilities they need to survive, but they have to be taught how to use those powers. Fledglings are dependent on their sires for a long time. It’s one of the reasons the world hasn’t been overrun by vampires.”

“What if something happens to their sire?” Vicky asked.

An ironic grin spread across Elliot’s face. “Some fledglings find a way to make it on their own, or they die.”

“Or another master vampire steps in to take care of them.” Darien smiled back at his friend.

“But only a fool would take responsibility for someone else’s brood.” Elliot chuckled.

Darien laughed at the dig. “True, but we all do foolish things once in a while.”

Vicky looked at them, confused.

“I saved Elliot when his sire died.”

Enlightenment crossed her face as she finally understood their relationship. “That does explain a few things.” Vicky nodded. “So, what now?” She turned the conversation back to the matter at hand.

“I need to be heading out.” Elliot patted the back of the couch. “My girls are probably worried about me.”

Vicky shifted Zak off her lap and stood up from Darien’s lap so he could get up.

“Thank you for coming.” Standing, Darien went to his friend.

“Anytime.” Elliot took Darien’s hand and pulled him into a one armed embrace. “Someone has to watch out for you.”

Vicky and Darien walked Elliot over to the elevator.

He bowed over Vicky’s hand. “Good night, My Lady.”

She fidgeted as Elliot kissed her hand. “Good night,” she replied as he stepped into the elevator to leave.

“Oh, and Darien…” Elliot turned his attention back to his friend and put his hand on the door before it could shut. “Something’s coming. I’ve had a bad feeling growing for a while, but I can’t tell what it is.” Darien’s expression grew serious again. “Be careful.”

“Thank you.” He wrapped his arm around Vicky and pulled her closer to him.

Elliot nodded his head and let the door close.

“Okay,” Vicky said, not knowing how she felt about Elliot’s cryptic warning. She turned to look at the vampire next to her. “Now what?”

“We both need to get something to eat.” Darien led her into the kitchen.

“You’ve already had a pint today,” Vicky teased him.

“True.” He smiled at her. “But, black raspberry chocolate chunk ice cream isn’t real food in anyone’s book.”

Vicky laughed and pulled away so she could make her dinner.

Darien watched Zak and Vicky as they moved around the room collecting the stuff to make egg sandwiches. He loved to watch her doing normal things. Darien let out a sigh, glad the patch had held. Turning his mind to Elliot’s words, he joined Vicky in the kitchen. If trouble was coming, he was going to have to take precautions to make sure she was safe. He had let her stop wearing that silver medallion after the ifrit had left, but he decided it would be a good idea to get it back out. She would probably protest the large chunk of metal, but it would give him some peace of mind. Only once had he ignored one of Elliot’s warnings. The results were not pleasant to remember and had been one of the few times he had nearly died. He wasn’t about to let another slide past him unheeded.