Survive the Dawn (36 page)

Alex and
Gaylen
followed Sebastian; Alex watched as she squatted down and took something out of her pocket that was attached to a chain or necklace. Sebastian placed the round object onto the floor. When Sebastian turned it, she opened a trap door.

“What is this, Sebastian?”
Gaylen
asked.

Sebastian stood and opened the door fully. “This passageway leads to rooms beneath Tatiana’s house. I had no idea it was here. Tatiana didn’t have time to show me.”

She led the way, Alex followed, and
Gaylen
took up the rear. “Close the door behind you, Gay.”

In the dark, Alex instinctively reached out for Sebastian’s arm. Sebastian took the torch off the wall, then took Alex’s hand. For a moment, their eyes locked. Alex searched Sebastian’s hazel eyes for some sign of something—anything. Her heart ached as she felt the tears once again threaten to overtake her.

The flickering flame of the torch danced across Sebastian’s brooding face. She gave Alex’s hand a reassuring squeeze; Alex smiled through her tears and held on tight.

“Okay, lovebirds, can we get out of this damp corridor?”
Gaylen
whispered behind them.

Sebastian led them to a large room, dimly lit by several torches strategically placed. She let go of Alex’s hand; Alex slowly walked around the room, her gaze settling on a very large chair. Torches blazed on either side. “This is where it was supposed to happen, isn’t it?” She had a vision of Tatiana sitting in that chair, with Sebastian kneeling in front her, waiting to take Tatiana’s place in the hierarchy.

“Yes.
Kasandra
showed me this place. While I waited for you, I’ve found some interesting passages. Let me show you.”

Alex and
Gaylen
followed her to the far wall. Sebastian once again held up the heavy necklace. “This is the amulet that was in the box.”

“This contains the power?”
Gaylen
gestured to the amulet.

“No, this is the key, along with my ring, that unlocked…let me show you.”

Sebastian showed Alex and
Gaylen
the ornate engravings on the top of the amulet. “It fits into this.” She placed the amulet into the engravings on the wall. When she turned it, the wall moved. Giving it a healthy push, the door creaked open and exposed yet another room. “I found this earlier.”

They walked inside the room, which to Alex looked like a private bedchamber. “Tatiana’s?” she asked as she walked around the room. She stopped at the large bed covered with silken sheets and pillows.

Sebastian nodded. “I can only assume so.”

“Very nice, Tatiana,”
Gaylen
said in awe as his hand ran along the silken material. “What a time she must have spent in here.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

Alex hid her grin as Sebastian scowled and avoided her glance. Alex walked over to the tall mahogany
chifferobe
and opened the doors. “Wow,” she said and reverently touched the silk robes. “Tatiana knew how to dress.” She then walked over to the dressing table and gently opened the jewelry box. She was shocked at what she saw. Suddenly feeling as though she was intruding, she closed the box; she felt Sebastian’s gaze upon her and looked up. Sebastian was frowning, as usual, but Alex saw her hazel eyes smile and her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

“You never knew of this room?”
Gaylen
asked and broke their connection. He studied the artwork on the walls. “These are originals.”

“No,” Sebastian said and looked away from Alex. “As I said, I only assume I would have, had the ceremony been completed.”

She watched Alex as she sat on the bed and picked up a book. She looked up. “Do you think Tatiana would mind? I know these are her private possessions.”

“No. Somehow I think she would want you here,” Sebastian said, then turned and walked out, leaving Alex.

Sebastian sat on the ornate bench outside the bedchamber and waited for Alex. For some reason, she knew Alex should be in that room, looking at and studying Tatiana’s belongings. Fear rippled through her then. She didn’t know if she wanted Alex to know everything or not. What would she do? Leave or stay? Which caused Sebastian more trepidation?

“What do I fear?” she mumbled and put her head back. She laughed inwardly as she thought of what she’d been through in the past twenty-four hours. She’d obtained the source of Tatiana’s power and left Romania with one dead elder and one infuriated
Nicholae
. She’d destroyed Damien; a self-satisfied grin spread across her face at the vision of him impaled to the ceiling of
Nicholae’s
library. She really wished she could have seen the look on
Nicholae’s
face when he found Damien—he deserved worse. Nina and Carey Spaulding were both dead. She would have to tell Alex this.

And then there was one resurrected Leigh. She closed her eyes and grimaced at the reality of having Leigh the Insane back again.

Sebastian had survived it all and now was afraid of letting Alex know all of this. She really hated how she felt right now. In over five hundred years, she had witnessed much, conquered many, and destroyed even more. What was it about this redheaded mortal that had her sitting on a bench in Tatiana’s private chambers unable to move?

She opened her eyes when she felt the presence of someone. There stood
Gaylen
in the doorway, arms folded across his chest and leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb. “The principal will see you now,” he said in a grave voice.

Sebastian scowled deeply but said nothing as
Gaylen
sauntered over to her. “
Scooch
,” he said playfully and bumped into her shoulder.

Sebastian groaned and moved over, giving
Gaylen
room to sit next to her. “Ah, remember the good ole days, darling? When we were strong and virile and masters of the world? Where no one dared defy us? Mortals and vampires alike swooned at the sight of us. What happened to those days?” he asked wistfully.

“You were never virile.”

“A minor point, darling.”
Gaylen
laughed. “What is it about The Adored One? She had me thinking of Samuel, and I haven’t thought of him in over a century. It’s all this love talk.”

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably. “Love nonsense.”

“Yes, it is, but it has you sitting out here like a wayward schoolgirl. Now before you go in and face your fate, tell me what happened here. I must tell you, there is unrest back in England. I feel it. Word of Kendra’s destruction has gotten around.”

She opened her coat and produced the amulet once again.

Gaylen
leaned away from her then and gave her an appraising eye. “You don’t look more powerful, although I do sense something.”

When Sebastian showed him the book,
Gaylen
raised an eyebrow. He turned it over in his hand. “I’m assuming you’re the only one who’s seen this. It looks ancient.”

“It is,” she said and looked past
Gaylen
. “What is Alex doing in there?”

“Don’t be so impatient. She found some letter. Leave her alone. Alex needs to know what she’s getting into. Now continue.”

“It was written in an ancient Celtic language.
Kasandra
showed me where to find it. The ring and amulet work as some sort of key to unlock it.”

“How are
Kasandra
and the other elders? I haven’t seen them in so long.”

“
Kasandra
is dead. And Leigh has been resurrected.”

Gaylen
frowned. “I take it
Kasandra
was destroyed by Leigh’s hand.”

“Yes,” Sebastian said with a deep sigh. “She was resurrected before I could stop it. I needed to procure the amulet first. She’s insane.”

“She always was, darling.”

“No, Gay, she’s different now. Leigh is more of a loose cannon than before. I don’t even think
Nicholae
will be able to control her.”

“That does present a problem. Where is she now?” Gone was
Gaylen’s
playful tone.

“I don’t know. I took the serum, and Leigh was, of course, unprotected from the sun. She flew away like the bat brain she is but not before telling me it wasn’t over and she would destroy me without destroying me.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means Alex. And anyone else I know.”

Gaylen
scooted away from Sebastian, who had to chuckle as her old friend’s playfulness returned. “Too late, my friend.”

“Will she follow us to England?”

“I sense her presence already.”

“Do you? You never spoke like this before. You can feel her presence?”

Sebastian nodded. “When you arrived, I felt it. When you said there was unrest, I knew it. She’s still here.”

“What do we do next?”

Sebastian held the book;
Gaylen
itched with curiosity. “How do you open it?”

“This ring.” Sebastian held up her right hand. “The metal casing around the book contains Tatiana’s blood. The ring pierces my finger, my blood flows with Tatiana’s, and the book is unlocked.”

Gaylen
nodded. “Extremely clever of Tatiana.”

“Yes, it was. You and I are the only ones who know of this. I’ll tell Alex, uh…”

“When you make nice-nice?”

Sebastian scowled. “She looks tired.”

“The Adored One hasn’t slept since you left.”

They sat in silence for a moment before
Gaylen
spoke again. “Am I the only one who feels silly sitting on this bench?”

Sebastian tried not to laugh as she cleared her throat. “There is much to do, Gay.”

“I know, and as I told Alex, I don’t envy you. She loves you, Sebastian, but…”

Sebastian stood and paced in front of him. “But she’ll realize it’s hopeless.”

“No, I don’t think that will happen. Alex is a stubborn woman, and I don’t believe she’ll give you up. Not without a fight.”
Gaylen
watched as Sebastian paced back and forth. “I’m not sure who scares me more, you or Alex.”

Sebastian allowed a laugh to rumble out of her chest. “I opt for the redhead.”

Gaylen
smiled and stood. “This thing that happened with Kendra.”

Sebastian frowned; she felt her anger rising once again.
Gaylen
continued, “What angers you about this?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Tell your face. I think you’re angry with yourself. You’ve allowed human feelings in once again.”

“I can’t bear the idea of someone touching Alex. Someone, anyone kissing her.”

“You’re so butch,” he said with a sigh and walked to the doorway leading to the corridor. “I’m off on a reconnaissance mission. We will head back to England together, yes?”

“Yes. Take great care,
Gaylen
. Don’t wander too far. We must leave soon.”

“I shan’t meander, Sebastian, but while I’m gone, settle this, or at the very least talk to Alex. You have much more to deal with and you need a clear head.” He started to leave, then turned back to Sebastian. “And you need Alex.”

Sebastian didn’t reply as
Gaylen
left. She walked over and sat on the chair, stretching her longs legs out in front of her. She glanced at the room and wondered what Alex was doing for so long.