“
I’m
140 years old
! Does
that
change anything?”
Magellan laughed. “Your looks can be deceiving, I suppose.”
“
You’d better watch your tongue before I
give
you a reason to think me of ‘the Devil Himself’!” Traith said, not even trying to look at him anymore.
“
All I know is that I’ve done much more
field
work
than you have; your name has never been on assignment. Does that have anything to do with the fact that you’re a
vampire
?”
Traith felt a hand press his chest. A woman’s hand. For a split second, he thought it was…it wasn’t. It was Lorena. She pushed him back.
“
Calm down, Traith,” she cooed. “Magellan, you should leave, right now. Do you have any idea what power he has over you? You’re a petty novice for God’s sake!”
“
You can
take
my next bloody assignment, then!” Traith yelled to the man as he walked away. “Do me the honor!”
The man puffed. “I
will
!”
He was still steaming when he heard Lorena laugh. “Good day to you too, Traith,” she said, teasing. “Trouble never ceases to find you, does it?”
“
No. It’s beginning to flat out run
into
me.” He tried his best to stare at her without recoiling from the bright light. “What in God’s name is his problem? I never even spoke a word to him before, and he wants to fight.”
“
His attitude isn’t his greatest asset, and I think he has a thing against vampires.” She giggled, and Traith felt his brows lower in frustration. “Come in here,” she said. “No shirt today?”
He sighed and mumbled. “My—”
“
Your back. I don’t mind that I see you half dressed of course,” she laughed. “But I see your bite marks!”
He gave her a half smile of anger. “Oh, amusing.”
She took his arm, and part of him felt wrong allowing her to do so. What if Rein awoke? No, she wouldn’t. She’d just fallen asleep.
They walked into a room down the hall that was very dim. It was a reading lounge, like a small library. He remembered that room.
“
I bet you need an update after all those years alone, don’t you?” she said, sitting at a table in the center of the area.
He took a seat across from her, blinking quickly to get rid of the glare in his eyes from the harsh light. “Yes, I do. Although I was on that ship with Carden Romanoff, you know. I wasn’t completely alone.”
“
Isn’t he the one who kissed your sister, Ana?”
Traith froze with anger. “Lorena, don’t start with me!”
“
It was only in jest!” she said, laughing. “I thought you might need a laugh after all that’s happened. Perhaps
more
than a laugh…”
“
The update will suffice,” he said, raising his voice.
She sighed and put her elbows on the table, leaning forward on her hands. “All right,
Grim
.” Her manner went suddenly from giddy to grave. “We lost over half the Council, Traith,” she said. “Anytime we tried to avenge someone, or help someone the Mardinial Council tried to take, we lost.”
He felt himself shudder.
“
Does that surprise you?” She paused and took a breath, staring at him, but not at his face. “God, I never knew your chest was that scarred.”
He felt himself boiling at her coolness. “I apologize for not introducing you to my
damaged
exterior
.” He forced himself to further hold his sarcastic tongue for a moment. “What of the Mardinial Council, Lorena?”
She shook her head. “No one, in all of the time you were gone, was able to find anything out and come back alive. Helena still lives, along with a stronger rivaling council. We really needed you. And missed you.”
He felt ill at her words. He was that strong that Mistress lost half of her council when he wasn’t at her side?
“
All we do know, that you do not yet, is that your sister does actually know Helena’s weakness.”
He stood, hands grasping the table. “What?”
She nodded, not looking at him…at least not at his face. “No one has seen her since she cursed you onto that ship, but we have gotten information that she, as Helena’s alchemist, was told Helena’s weakness.”
He felt faint.
“
Having you back also brings a chance of getting more information. You’re the only person I could ever imagine she would speak to.”
“
After she cursed me? You think she’ll talk to me?” He was becoming unnerved.
“
Why else would she hide away and not battle anyone?” Lorena said, slouching back in her chair. “Mistress said she feels that Ana is—was grieving and contemplating what she had done, but that Helena frightens her so terribly that she would not dare disobey her and attempt setting you free.”
“
God
,” he murmured.
He felt so feeble. His eyes were blurred, unfocused.
“
One thing fortunate for us is that Mistress has told no one her weakness; therefore, no one from the Mardinial Council can find out about it without numerous failed attempts. You of all of us should know that either council would cease to be in existence if its leader were killed.”
“
I didn’t lose my memory, Lorena. I just wanted an update.”
She smirked. “Last I recall, you did lose your memory.”
Traith turned around and attempted to leave, not saying anything more to her. His anger level was already too high. Damned woman never knew when to stop…
“
Lord
, your back looks
terrible
, Traith!” she called from behind him.
“
Thank you,” he replied, throwing his hand out as if to bow.
She became quieter. “But nothing else looks terrible.”
He swore under his breath and slammed the door as he left the room. He could hear her laughing from inside. He needed a few hours of sleep. It didn’t matter that it was daytime; he was exhausted.
But how the hell was he going to sleep with a back burned to a crisp?
A cool breeze whispered onto her bare throat and curled around her neck. It stirred her, and she turned onto her side under the blankets. Her eyes blinked open, and she saw through the open window that it was nighttime.
It was nighttime? She had slept through the day? Traith had held her, and that was the last she remembered.
But she’d had another dream; the same woman was speaking to her.
“
You’ve not been introduced to anything this vast before. Unfortunately for you, you had to learn through love. My First Hand meant no harm, I assure you, and once you become used to your new lifestyle, things will start to work out for the better.
“
However, you must now choose your own fate, Rein.
“
You are still capable of returning to a human state, but you will also reside in death; or you can live as a vampire and continue living morally, as most humans do.
“
You must clear your mind of your rancor.
You are dead
. Nothing else in the world can change your fate but this. It is not a comforting choice of destiny, I assure you, but you will be able to adapt. And if you live awhile and still detest yourself, you can always go back, though it isn’t usually a pleasant experience.
“
Smoke was the first harmful substance you were near after your alteration. Now you must make no contact with it. The effects it will have on you may very well be close to torture, yet it will not kill you.
“
Also, you should know that it was Traith’s sister who cursed him onto the ship. His sister.”
Her head rose quickly off of the pillow. What had been talking to her? This
Mistress
? It was the strangest dream she’d ever had; it was words and no faces or images, just darkness, like the room she resided in now. She was still on the divan.
She sat up and scanned the room around her. Smoke was her weakness? Like Traith’s was fire? What about Traith’s sister? Where was she?
She nearly stood, but she heard talking directly outside the door. It was Traith. Then his voice rose.
“
You expect me to wait longer?” he shouted, and his voice was loud even through the door. He moaned; perhaps he swore, she wasn’t sure. Another voice was quieter, a man’s voice. She couldn’t hear him, but she heard Traith speak again. “About bloody time!”
She heard something hit against the door. It made her stand, warily, and walk toward it. To her surprise, she was completely revitalized from sleep. But how long had she been sleeping? She was utterly confused.
Her hand reached out and pulled the door handle down. The latch clicked, and the door opened. To her relief, there were no blinding lights. They were dimmed.
A heavy weight lifted off of the door, and she saw Traith standing, still without a shirt. His hands had been leaning on the door, and he caught himself as she was opening it. As he caught sight of her, he sighed as if to let out his anger so it wasn’t noticeable.
He approached her, and she quickly backed up into the dark room again. He peeked in with an unnecessary knock.
“
Can I come in?” he asked.
“
Of course,” she replied, taking her seat back on the divan.
He must have seen her shaking as he came in and sat next to her. “Rein, I’m sorry,” he nearly whispered, looking at her hands. “What do you want me to do for you? Anything you need.”
“
Traith, who is behind these dreams?” she asked in frustration.
“
In a few moments everything will be explained,” he murmured, leaning over, wiping away a tear with his thumb. “To you
and
to me.”
The gesture made her weak.
“
I’m furious, Rein, that she’s made you wait so long.
I
haven’t even been able to see her yet. I haven’t seen her in—” He stopped. He had a sort of immediate hesitance when it came to tallying years. “They told me she would see us in a few moments. Things will get easier, all right?”
She didn’t reply.
“
I love you, Rein,” he said softly.
She was baffled at his sudden words, smiling.
“
Please forgive me,” he continued. “I know I can’t fix this situation. I don’t want you to fear me or look at me as though I had enjoyed what I had to do. I wanted to give you some sort of chance. I wasn’t ready for you to die.”
“
I don’t fear you at all, and I never did,” she said, inching nearer to him. She laid her head on his arm and found the feeling perfectly cozy. His arm wrapped around her waist. “I didn’t mean what I said. I don’t think you made the wrong decision. I don’t want to die, Traith. She told me in the dream that I could choose, and that my weakness is smoke, and your sister—”
“
My sister?” he repeated, shocked.
She looked up at him.
“
She told you about my sister?”
“
Yes. But Traith, I want this, and I want you,” she whispered. “I just have so much to ask.”
His face was gentle again; that softness was there that made her feel safe. “You will get all your answers, I assure you.”
She smiled slightly, but her gaze was deep. “Traith, I love—”
A knock on the door and a woman’s voice interrupted them. Traith rose slowly, still looking at her.
She smiled, “you. I love you.”
He didn’t smile, but his eyes were immersed in her. He turned to answer the door at the second knock. She saw his back for the first time.
It was burned as though it had completely caught fire. It was damaged terribly, covered in open wounds and dried blood. It looked fresh.
“
Oh Traith,” she said.
He turned back, raising an eyebrow.
“
Your back…didn’t you let anyone try to bandage it, or something?”
He stared at her for only a moment before there was another knock. “No.”
He answered and walked into the hall. It was a girl she hadn’t seen before; she had smooth, darkened skin, eyes as green as emeralds, and long, curly, brown hair that flowed down her shoulders. Who was she? Not the Mistress?
The door closed partially; the brown-haired woman’s hand was on it. She was whispering, but her eyes batted like she had an eyelash stuck in them. Rein felt an unfamiliar anger rising in her.
She couldn’t see Traith, but she heard him softly talking to the lady. It wasn’t like he did with her. Less gentle. He was frustrated.
He turned back into the room, facing her, and didn’t look back at the girl behind him. “Come with me, Rein,” he said. “She wants to see us now.”
Chapter 32
The room was dim, and Rein was comfortable in it. Traith stood beside her. It was as if they were awaiting a grand entrance together into some sort of ball.