Vampiris Sancti: The Elf (45 page)

Her concern for
the Tyro perplexed and annoyed her. She had seen many creatures in
many predicaments, but seeing various factions squabble over
control over a small Vampire had provoked even her into response.
Watching the ignorance of this girl was like seeing a blindfold
victim walk off a cliff and for some reason this was painful.
Normally the concept of right and wrong, or good and evil didn’t
result in her interaction. It existed as part of the universe and
how it affected others was not of Elf interest. She had helped a
few here and there, but it was not something she sought. When faced
with an appalling offense against nature, the death of a cat—her
friend—had pure rage scour her. Instead of observing from a
distance she was on a strange world looking out for a young
Vampire, helping a Martyc retain control while revenge had the
illogical Elf suddenly logical with plans. To others a cat might be
a cat, except to Zyre she was part of the fabric of her being. If
she had bothered to look at herself she might have realised that
life suddenly was no longer about what caused the greatest
mischief. While she had not developed to the point of considering
consequences greatly before action she was starting to become aware
that they existed for others.

As if struck by
a sudden idea she stood up. “Where’s Florian?”

“He is no
longer here—he left to join the Runners.”

Zyre remembered
the solemn face of the dandy Florian Ribeni after a night of
tossing bricks upon the heads of Raiders—everything seemed to be
changing overnight.

“Very well then
drive me to Cardei.”

Her turnabout
confused him. “Cardei?”

“Yes
Cardei.”

The Vampire
couldn’t hide the reluctance tearing at him as it filled the study
like a scent while ideas clouded her mind. Normally she would have
stayed to annoy the Herald, but theirs was no longer the
troublesome relationship of mischief as everything was
changing—including their effect upon each other. Thoughts were
pressing upon her mind and while she knew the way to Cardei—she
needed to conserve her strength after the cytelja.

Estienne tried
to query her demand only to get a loud bah in response until
reality had him accept there was no controlling her. If he was
happy she was no longer enquiring about Balsescu he didn’t show it,
but Zyre hadn’t strayed from her idea as she was merely refining
it. Within minutes they were in the back of a luxury car and he sat
close as if clinging to the last of her while a Zhismi driver took
them away. The remains of the day fell into the night sky and Zyre
knew enough of their world to recognise it was the time of
Vampires, so the ones she sought should be awake.

Driving in
silence the longing of the Vampire flooded the car and unwilling to
address the emotion he failed to hide Zyre opened her window to let
the wind carry it into oblivion. She could not acknowledge that it
tugged at her demanding attention, because she was fuelled by
anger.

They arrived at
the end of the long drive of a large walled estate with massive
iron gates firmly closed against intruders. The driver stopped at
the gates to stare at a box on the side of a pillar and Zyre
wondered if he was waiting for an invitation. Bored by protocol and
never allowing anything to contain her she tried to remove herself
from the car, but Estienne put his hand on her arm. The sudden
contact had his eyes blaze with silver and his struggle was a world
written upon his face. The moment of suppressed passion startled
her, yet Zyre kept herself remote from the fire. Once back under
control his voice resonated with layers of regret.

“I wish to
greet my friends.”

Zyre looked
into the silver eyes tinged with blue and knew he was lying, he
knew she knew, but for her this wasn’t important so she waited. The
speaker crackled causing the driver to reply and a second later the
heavy gates opened for them. They drove up the curve of the drive
and she ignored the responses of dozens of creatures that bombarded
the atmosphere while enveloping the house in an invisible mist of
query. Estienne exited the car with lightning speed and she watched
as two very old Vampires, one almost an Aunsin, the other well on
his way to becoming one met him. The dark Vampire, the ebony of his
beautiful skin shining under the moon, greeted the Herald as equal
rank. The attitude of both paid deference to the pale one who was
obviously in command as the silver glints of age stroked his gold
hair and power lit his hazel eyes.

She didn’t
bother to eavesdrop for she already knew the conversation, Elf
wants Galt, Elf was trouble, blah, blah, blah, but she didn’t care
for she was going to do whatever she wanted. She exited the car
without hurry and watched the grounds come alive with dark figures
as patrolling Vampires turned towards the intruder. The roof barely
hid the presence of watching guards and waiting Zhismi stood
expectantly by the garage doors. Zyre was amused at her reception
and not one to lurk in the shadows she grinned at her
audience—happy enough to be part of the show. The ensemble watched
as she strolled over to join the conversing group.

Estienne nodded
towards Zyre, “May I introduce—.”

“Oh we be old
friends,” she interrupted, “tis Julius Azure and Lyov Cardei.”

“Yes, we met at
the Ball,” confirmed Julius.

With the
formality of the introduction over Estienne nodded to the Vampires
before leaving without a backward glance, but his reluctance was a
trail following his car back into the night.

Zyre smiled at
the two as if they had been friends for years. “Hello be lovely to
see you again. I have come to visit like I promised.”

The two
Vampires exchanged a puzzled look before ushering Zyre into the
large foyer and further back into the study set behind it. They
entered the large room furnished in a combination of old wares and
modern technology similar to the one Estienne occupied. The warmth
of the wooden floor gleamed as the black leather sofa stretched
across the room in solemn opulence and books filled antique wood
cases that lined the walls. In contrast to the ancient items
surrounding them the latest computer rested on a large oak desk.
Once inside Lyov closed the door and took over the
conversation.

“I don’t recall
you making any such promise. In fact you offered an invitation for
our Tyro to visit you at Veraign.”

The mention of
Veraign caused her kaleidoscope eyes to darken into teal and there
was no mistaking the immediate tension of the observing Vampires.
One didn’t require in-depth knowledge of the Reveal to be aware of
the flighty, unpredictable nature of magical creatures. The fact
that this particular one had recently been observed participating
in a violent skirmish reinforced the suspicion that magical
indifference was more façade than reality.

“Veraign,” she
snapped, “let my cat be killed.” While her tone became warmer the
teal of her eyes told a different tale. “And now I visit your
lovely house.”

Zyre watched
their eyes briefly meet at her unwelcome announcement, but she knew
her recent actions would mean the Ghuvk would want her continued
support. Since the problem of Taryst remained unresolved she
gambled that an open insult from Vampires would be unlikely.
Ignoring whatever concern her arrival had precipitated Lyov
questioned the Elf further.

“Veraign killed
your cat?”

Zyre scowled at
their thick-headed approach. “They be afraid of Galt—are you afraid
of Galt?”

What was not
visible to the eye was obvious in the air surrounding them as her
reluctant hosts tensed at the mention of Galt, but unlike the
Herald Estienne Lyov was almost a full-fledged Aunsin.

“The House of
Cardei fears no one,” he said calmly for the Aunsin had no need to
boast.

His reply made
Zyre grin because she knew that to be a lie. Vampires were afraid
of her, the Martyc, the Raiders, being found out by humans, and the
Daughters of Leleht.

Reminded of the
Daughters she posed the question Estienne couldn’t answer. “Where
do the Daughters keep?”

Neither of them
hid their surprise. “No one really knows where the Daughters are,”
said Julius. “No one has tried to find them—at least not
successfully.”

Contemplating
their lack of knowledge of the Daughters the Elf moved over to the
bookshelves and fiddled with a brass bookend in the shape of a
squatting monkey. Removing it for a closer look she appeared not to
notice the sudden topple of two dozen books as they lay down on the
shelf. Neither of the Vampires moved while their glowing eyes
remained fixed upon a creature they were unable to control or
influence.

Zyre held the
monkey up and gazed into its face. “I want to speak to the
Tyro.”

“Why?” ventured
a rather puzzled Lyov.

She put the
monkey down on the desk with a clatter as she gave the Aunsin the
benefit of her emerald eyes while her copper hair flowed like gold
fire to her shoulders and her ruby lips curved. The natives of this
world would have viewed her smile as a beautiful woman seducing a
man, but those from the Reveal knew better. The moment could be her
seducing, or about to employ the Salvae because with an Elf you
never really knew and this particular one played with dangerous
demons.

“Why? Why,
why—all you lot do is ask why! Because tis a moon—because I eat
oranges—because I am her friend.”

Julius shuffled
as if to dispute the last claim but Lyov, despite his Aunsin
status, had responded to the Elf and his interest tinged the room.
He shook his head slightly at the Herald before nodding to
Zyre.

“Of course,
please allow Julius to escort you to the living room to wait for
her.”

It was obvious
the Vampire was not pleased at allowing Zyre access to the House,
but he managed to restrain from holding onto her as he guided her
back through the foyer to one of the large living areas of the
house. The room was set up with several mini areas for amusement,
large sofas were placed in the centre as armchairs faced them and
an antique rosewood table was set up for cards at one end. Another
wall had a small bookcase with paperbacks while music from an
elaborate entertainment centre wafted gently upon the air. The
Vampires present murmured at her sudden appearance and the Elf
could feel there were many more in the other large rooms on the
ground floor. The house seemed similar to Veraign and had she cared
or known anything about architecture it would be obvious the same
hand had designed both.

It wasn’t long
before the confused girl was escorted down to the living area by a
beautiful amber Vampire girl who, unlike the males there, wasn’t
filled with the righteousness of vigilance. Though the Vampires
present had lived long enough to be aware of the legend of magical
beings the Tyro was innocent and her face lit up.

“Zyre! What are
you doing here?”

The Elf gave
her a saucy smile knowing it would make the Vampires even more
nervous than her usual mischief.

“Hey, come to
visit—a walk in the garden, yes, yes!”

She wanted to
walk in the garden to get away from their escort and recharge from
the energy of the life growing there. Vampires were such stagnant
beings trapped within perfection no wonder they were often mistaken
for dead. She was also having trouble keeping her eyes devolving
into the stark sapphire blue that gave her anger away.

Julius moved to
follow, except Zyre halted him with a regal wave. “Not you lot. I’m
not fearing of rogue Aunsin.”

His irritation
filled the spaces left behind them, but Zyre was burning bridges as
fast as she was crossing them because her anger had made her both
reckless and arrogant.

Once in the
garden the girl turned to Zyre as concern edged her wide grey eyes.
“So you were attacked as well?”

The Elf
shrugged and the Tyro was too novice to recognise the teal eyes
gazing back were the sign of magical anger.

“Galt sends me
a bloody message. So he likes to isolate you little Vampire, why
are you important to him—to all these creatures?”

The girl
laughed and the bitter experience of her new Vampire life already
showed in her face.

“I was created
by Galt as revenge against Bryre and Caden for stealing a woman he
once loved.”

Zyre didn’t
know of Bryre or Caden, but she understood about love driving men
and demons into Folly. Not wanting to lose her concentration she
left their story for another day.

The Vampire led
them to the floral garden that filled the Elf with the delights of
jasmine, rose, and lavender as their scents filled the air. They
walked until they came to stone benches where they sat exchanging
thoughts.

“So who
attacked you?”

Siah shivered
at the memory and Zyre could feel the rise of concern from eyes
watching from the house.

“It was a
brutal beast called a Revenant.”

The Elf nodded.
“Ah yes, the pet of Galt.”

Her eyes wide
the Vampire asked, “You know it belongs to Galt—for a fact?”

Zyre shrugged.
“Facts are not of meaning; they want the blood of proof as always
it is blood with them.” She looked at the Vampire. “With you.”

Siah shook her
head. “Don’t lump me in with them because I am not that crazy
yet.”

“You will be—if
you want to survive—tis the way of the Reveal.”

The Elf plucked
a rose and smelled the sweet perfume while considering her
question.

“Why set
Revenant onto you? He created so why harm you, why so careless with
his child?”

The girl
cringed at the mention of child, but Zyre was busy pondering the
truth.

“It nearly got
me if not for the Daughters of Leleht—Bryre calls them the bitches
from hell. They chased the Revenant away and killed it at the last
minute. I could feel them in my mind asking me to join them. The
whole thing was creepy and scary. The Revenant supposedly escaped
by accident.”