Stealing Time (21 page)

The two women were total opposites. With her black hair, lush lips, and large, liquid eyes, Mehisti looked like a Persian princess of old, which was probably accurate. Siobhan had flaming red hair that fell to her waist in ripples and creamy skin with a scattering of faint freckles. I noticed that all five Ancients had black eyes, so dark the pupils were indistinguishable.

There were well over a hundred vampires present now, representing all ages and races, of both genders. Leo spoke quietly to Gage, but I didn’t bother focusing to hear the words. My attention was on Abasi and his group.

The dark Ancient’s flashing gaze swept the gathered vampires and each cringed as if his regard stung. When Abasi’s focused attention fell on me, a blast of energy seared across my mind, echoing like a pounding headache as it slowly faded. It felt as if he was taking my measure, almost like a scientist with a biological specimen, checking gender, age, power level.

When my vision cleared, I was alarmed to see Abasi and the others striding toward our group. James shifted so he was in front of me and from the corner of my eye, I saw Leo’s hold on Gage’s arm. I took it as a good sign that the Ancient’s eyes had returned to their normal obsidian.

“Greetings, Leopold,” Abasi said, his voice grave. “James.” The Ancient peered at me and took a step closer. At his side, Amenenhep’s expression sparked with interest as he looked between Abasi and me. When his gaze met mine, the Egyptian grinned and his fangs were extended.

James stiffened and I sensed how very tightly he held himself in check. A growl rumbled in my chest in response to both his anger and my own territorial instincts—apparently, they roused when an unwelcome male displayed, and I struggled with the urge to drive off the transgressing vampire. It quickly became apparent that James and I, with our enhanced bond, needed extra control as our anger fed one another’s.

“Curious,” Abasi said, stepping closer still. “You are young and yet…not.”

I sensed James’s warning tension and kept my mouth shut. Nothing could keep my chin from defiantly lifting.

The dark Ancient let his lips curve in a small smile and he nodded, as if to himself. He said something to Amenenhep in a language I didn’t know and the Egyptian’s face lost its amused expression.

“Leopold, you do find the most unusual companions,” Abasi remarked, after gripping Leo’s forearm in greeting.

“I am blessed with good friends,” the white-haired vampire responded, grinning hugely.

Without acknowledging Gage, Abasi and the others continued to the center of the clearing. Kore and Duni hung back, and there was an unpleasant twist to the Greek female’s full lips. Moving closer to James, Kore placed a hand on his chest and gazed up into his eyes. She sniffed delicately and smiled. “Congratulations.” Glancing at me, she wrinkled her nose. “He’s quite a catch for one so newly changed.”

James wrapped his fingers around her arm and flung it away, the force of it unbalancing her. Kore’s having touched him ripped a vicious snarl from my throat and I clung to the one rational thought that my attacking her would bring the Ancients down on us in defense of their own. James would fight beside me…would die for me. And having sensed Abasi’s incredible power, I had no trouble imagining the outcome of a fight.

But nobody’d said that Kore’s bodyguard was off-limits.

Duni glared at me and I extended my fangs. Power and battle-rage burned through me, a combination of James’s and my own. “Bring it, bitch,” I growled in a low, barely human voice.

Leo got in Kore’s face. “This is neither the time nor the place for your childish games.” His voice was so stern and he spoke with such authority, that the Greek—by far the older of the two—looked thoroughly chastened. I’m not sure it occurred to her that she had the right to cry insult since Leo was just an Elder.

Kore lifted her chin and stalked away with all the arrogance of a queen, but Duni remained, her eyes locked on mine in a battle of wills. Bringing the full force of my strength into focus, I bared my fangs at her and crouched—never had I wanted to do violence the way I wanted to in that moment. A red haze crossed my vision and I snarled a vicious, primal challenge.

My mate
, mine,
kill the female, destroy her…

Leo stepped into Duni’s space and glared up—and up—at her, his diminutive size next to her statuesque form in no way reducing the power radiating from him.

“Move along,” Leo said, his voice hard and clipped. To my surprise—and vast disappointment—Duni did, looking back at me several times as she rejoined Kore and the others.

“You…” James breathed, turning to wrap his arms around me. I felt relief and pride and alarm rolling off him in waves. “Taking on a Masai…”

Leo rolled his eyes and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “idiots.” Gage was rooted to the ground and a stunned expression seemed permanently engraved on his white face.

Our little drama had gone unnoticed by all except those vampires closest to us. And when I looked around, it was clear that the crowd had grown while we’d been distracted.

Just then, Abasi’s voice rang out. “In peace we meet.”

“Peaceful met,” close to two hundred voices responded. I’d never imagined so many vampires coming together in one place and the part of me that constantly scanned for threat was on heightened alert.

Abasi stood tall, head up, shoulders back, his hands in fists at his sides. When he spoke, his voice filled the clearing. “I call this Gathering. I demand to be heard. Are there any who question this? Any who oppose my claim?” Silence greeted his words. “Would anyone speak?” he thundered.

James whispered to me that, as the oldest among us, it was his right to lead the Gathering, but he still had to follow the ancient protocol and declare himself. If anyone questioned his bringing us together, Abasi would have to fight the challenger. Fangs bared and with his incredible power radiating like a corona around him, Abasi was wholly terrifying and it didn’t surprise me in the least that no one dared respond.

“Witnessed,” Leo and about twenty other vampires spoke together. “There are no challengers. This Gathering is rightfully called.”

“They are the Elders,” James whispered. “Those among us who’ve not yet met their thousandth year.”

“What happens then?”

“They are eligible to stand for Ancient.” I felt a shudder go through him. “And very few of those who go through with the ceremony survive it.”

The ritual fulfilled, Abasi called out, “Leopold, come forward.”

Leo spoke to Gage, made a “stay put” gesture. Turning, our white-haired friend joined Abasi in the center of the clearing.

The Ancient gestured to Leo to speak and we listened again to the ghastly details he’d shared on the phone. I shifted so that I was tucked against James’s side, his arm tight around my waist. Gage came closer too, standing with his shoulder almost touching mine.

When Leo finished, the clearing was silent, as if everyone was holding their breath. Abasi demanded, “Are there any who would speak?”

There was a rustling on the far side of the clearing and a group of eight vampires came forward. Individuals shifted out of their way, for the large group was coming fast, shoving anyone who didn’t move aside quickly enough. The further into the clearing they went, the angrier the gathered vampires became, hissing and snarling as the eight strode through them.

Their leader, a tall, dark-haired vampire, stood before Abasi. When he moved into the open and became visible, I felt James go rigid and sensed his distress.

“What is it?” I asked, alarmed.

“It’s Philippe,” he said, his voice disbelieving.

Gage saw from our expressions that this was not a happy family reunion.

I studied the resemblance between James and Philippe, noting their similar coloring. Philippe was a little taller than James, although he did not have the breadth of his nephew’s shoulders. Like James, Philippe was handsome, but there the comparison ended. James’s face was warm and open, imbued with natural good humor and kindness. Philippe’s face couldn’t have been more different, with its thin mouth and haughty, dissatisfied expression. There was more than just a feeling of unpleasantness, though. Gazing upon Philippe was like standing over a treacherously slimy hole in the ground and looking down into the cold, empty blackness far below. Skin crawling, throat tight, you just knew whatever was at the bottom was something you wanted no part of.

With a barely suppressed shudder, I wrenched my gaze away from Philippe to look at his followers and hissed upon spotting Caleb and Nathaniel. The bastards looked disappointingly healthy after their nine-story free fall. Another vampire I didn’t recognize turned to speak to Caleb and I caught sight of Jack behind him. I sucked in air, alarmed and furious, since it meant our crossing paths outside the coffee shop hadn’t been so innocent after all. When I looked up at James, I could tell from his expression that he was thinking along similar lines and his echo was just as disquieted as mine.

Abasi stared at Philippe, enraged by his arrogance and behavior. The bigger of Abasi’s two bodyguards stepped forward, fangs extended, and I was shocked when Philippe laughed at him. The giant vampire snarled, coiling to attack, and Abasi snapped a command. The guard stepped back, but his cold eyes never left Philippe’s face.

“Pardon me for missing my cue. Traffic, you know,” Philippe said, his voice mocking.

Abasi drew himself up, enraged. “You wish to challenge me for calling this Gathering?”

In my mind, I was chanting
do it, do it, do it
since I was sure the Ancient would wipe the ground with Philippe.

With a deep bow, he said, “Certainly not. I wish to address our brethren and seek your leave to do so.”

Abasi was rigid with anger, but Philippe was following the proper protocol. At the Ancient’s grudging nod, he swept his bow even lower, eliciting raucous laughter from his group. Interestingly, the vampire named Jack looked away as if he were bored.

Philippe called out and his voice bore a faint French accent, evidence of his distant past. “Leopold spoke the truth, but there is far more that he does not know.”

“What is he doing?” James muttered.

I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I have a really bad feeling about this.”

He nodded, grim.

“Our noble Ancients,” Philippe gestured grandly toward them, “know nothing of the Church’s intentions or the slayers’ reaction. Nor do our wise and venerable Elders.” Pitching his voice in a high falsetto, he shrieked, “
Do the slayers know about their lost one? Do they care?
And, oh, my favorite—
is the treaty broken?
”

A voice called out from the clearing, “Why don’t you tell us, you freak!” Other vampires muttered in agreement and the crowd stirred restlessly. The sensation of so many unnerved immortals raised the hair at my nape.

Philippe’s movements were jittery and his speech, ridiculously theatrical. He shook his index finger in the general direction of the voice. “Sticks and stones!” Turning his back on Abasi—something even I recognized as a grave insult—he leaped onto a boulder, holding his arms out and pretending to balance like a tightrope walker.

I stole a glance at James and hugged him tight. His uncle was friggin’ nuts.

“Problem Number One—the slayers have been busy little bees, setting up new camps and recruiting more to their righteous cause.” Philippe paused, spinning in a circle on the boulder, his teeth bared. “But what exactly do they mean to do? Anyone care to guess?” His cruel laugh rang out. “Nobody knows, eh? Well, I will tell you after I take care of a little family business.”

Philippe pointed a finger at James. “You are looking hale and hearty, nephew. More’s the pity. Never would I have imagined you’d allow your mate to take the bullet intended for you.” The words came out clipped, as if he bit them off. “Hiding behind a woman. For shame, nephew. For shame.”

I snarled and made it three feet before James caught me. “This isn’t your battle, my love,” he murmured, close to my ear. I could sense his own rage and his effort to contain it.

Sneering at me, Philippe spat. “
Je vois vôtre petite putain survécue. Pitié.
Maybe next time she won’t be so lucky.”

James went rigid and his fury burrowed into my skull. He roared, “
Baiseur de mère. Je déchirerai votre gorge dehors si vous venez n’importe où près de elle.”
He surged forward, and Gage and I struggled to restrain him—even so, he moved us several yards.

Gage said, “That was cold, man.”

“You speak French?” I asked. “What did he say?”

“Philippe called you a who—an ugly name and said it was a pity you survived. James called him a mother-fu—I mean, a twelve-letter word and said he’d tear his throat out if Philippe came anywhere near you.”

James snarled something in French and Gage blanched. When I caught his eye, he shook his head. “You don’t want to know. But if Philippe has a shred of sense, he’ll leave you the hell alone.”

Philippe’s wild laugh rang out and he turned his back to us even as the French-speaking vampires in the crowd hissed in surprise at the brutal exchange.

Trying to calm James, I whispered, “He’s not worth it. Don’t let him get to you.”

“Making an ass of himself is one thing, Evie,” James muttered, vibrating with rage. “But to have almost killed you, to gloat about it and promise more…”

The strength of his fury leaked all over the place, setting my head to pounding and what felt like an ice pick jabbing in my left eye. He had himself under enough control, though, that Gage and I could let go. I pulled James’s arm around my waist and leaned hard into him, then reached blindly for Gage’s hand and squeezed it. We were now linked, James, Gage and me.

Philippe’s disturbing performance continued. “Problem Number Two—we’ve a dead slayer and one of us must’ve killed him. But hmmm. Who could it be?” He paused, allowing the tension to build. “Here’s the real kick in the ass—does the Church know and do they blame us?” His insane laughter pealed across the clearing.

“He did it.” James vibrated with horror. “The bastard did it.”