Forbidden Blood: A House of Comarré Novella (7 page)

Chapter Twelve

F
or the third time, Marissa closed her eyes and tried to meditate, but failed. Twilight’s purple gloaming cast her suite at the Primoris Domus in long shadows. The moment she’d been working toward had arrived. She would face Arnaud, win her freedom, and begin the second part of her plan to give that same gift to her daughter.

She’d just hoped to see Dominic alone one last time.

A knock on her door brought her to her feet with a sense of hope, but then she exhaled. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be. Vampires weren’t allowed in this part of the Primoris Domus. Which meant…

She opened the door. “Rennata.”

The elder comarré pushed in, then shut the door behind her. “I cannot say enough times what a foolish, selfish thing you’ve done.”

“Apparently.” Holy mother, the woman was insufferable. Marissa pointed to the bags next to the door. “I’m packed and ready. When will the car be here?”

“It’s here now.” Rennata shook her head. “Do the right thing. Forget your training, ignore your instincts, and let him kill you. Protect
us
. Serve the greater good.”

Marissa’s jaw ached from clenching it so hard. “Twice I have given up children I wasn’t allowed to know, and now you want me to play the sacrificial lamb to protect this way of life?” She took a step closer. “We’ve all been raised to believe that someday we’re going to be called upon to rise up and destroy our host.” She poked a finger at Rennata. “How do you know that day isn’t today?”

Rennata shoved Marissa’s hand away. “Because you are a tiny cog in a very large machine, and that machine wasn’t built to save you. Or your remaining child.” She sniffed. “You should have stayed in the breeding program. At least you were good at that. Instead, you’re throwing your life away. Pointless,” she muttered.

Marissa picked up her bags and hefted the larger one over her shoulder. Too bad the sacre inside couldn’t come to the fight with her. She’d make short work of Arnaud if she could use her sword. “The only thing pointless is this conversation.” She shoved past Rennata, walked into the hall, then stopped and took one last look at the rooms she’d never see again.

Rennata scowled. “Having second thoughts?”

“Yes.” Marissa laughed with nervous energy, knowing it would only upset Rennata further. “About exactly how I plan to kill him.” With that, she turned and made her way through the estate’s vast corridors. One by one, doors opened and the comarré in residence stepped out of their rooms. Most stared at her as if she were a leper, but a few nodded as if they understood. As if they hoped they could be as brave.

As if they wished she could fight for them.

It buoyed her and when she finally stepped out the front door, her fear was gone, replaced by the calm of acceptance. What was to be would be.

A passenger door on the waiting limo swung open and Dominic got out. “
Cara mia
.” His smile broke with concern as he rushed to her side. Something unspoken danced in his eyes. “How are you?”

“I’m well.” She nodded and smiled back, hoping to reassure him. “And ready. Did you sleep?”

“No, but I used the time for good purposes. I have a plane waiting for us when this is over.” He took her bags and handed them off to the driver, who deposited them in the trunk; then Dominic ushered her into the car. “There is something I must tell you.”

“Me first.” She put her hand on his arm, her smile never faltering. “If it doesn’t go well today—”

“Do not say such things.”

She squeezed his arm and let her smile fade. “Listen to me. This is important. If things don’t go well, take me with you. I don’t want to be buried here. I want to be somewhere free.”

He swallowed but nodded. “
Si
, I understand. And I promise you, I will.”

“Thank you.” She stuck her arm out. “You should give me the serum now.”

His face fell. “
Cara mia
, that is what I wanted to tell you. The vial is gone, along with a few others I kept for personal use. All I can guess is that while we were incapacitated, Arnaud had my things searched. Anything that looked interesting, he took.”

Her calm ebbed away. “So I am to face Arnaud with only what the holy mother has provided me with.” She nodded. “Very well. Perhaps that is how it should be.”

He took her hands. “You can still do this.”

“I have to. I have no choice.” She slid back in the seat until the cool leather pressed against the thin silk of her tunic and reminded her that she was not going into the fight completely unarmed. She reached behind to her waistband. “I do have this.” She pulled out the slim wooden dagger given to all Primoris Domus comarré.

Dominic recoiled. “Holy magic. Just like Rennata’s sword.”

She nodded. “All comarré weapons are hot. Our sacres are quenched in holy water and this”—she hefted the narrow blade in one hand—“this is Golgotha steel.”

“I know what it is.” He kept his distance from it. “The things I could do with a sliver of the True Cross.” He laughed nervously. “I do not wish to touch it, though.”

“Neither will Arnaud, but he won’t have a choice when it’s buried in his chest.” She tucked the blade under the front of her tunic and into the tight camisole she wore before settling back in her seat. Dominic reached over and took her hand. She let him, accepting the comfort and the support with a thankful heart. Even if he was a vampire, he was a good man and on her side. Better to go through this with him than alone. Just his belief in her made her stronger. For that, she would be forever grateful to him.

She closed her eyes as the car wound through the streets of Corvinestri, taking them to Arnaud’s home. A thousand thoughts whirled through her mind, most of them trying to anticipate the fight.

Dominic’s hand tightened over hers. “Marissa, we’re here.”

The car slowed and she opened her eyes. Arnaud’s estate was a sprawl of weathered stone and climbing ivy. The house might have been enchanting had it belonged to someone else, but knowing who occupied its walls gave it a menacing air instead.

With a deep breath, she climbed out of the car.

The next few minutes passed in a rush. Arnaud’s servants pulled her away from Dominic and shuttled her to a small anteroom. She was scanned for metal and patted down, but with her flowing tunic, there was no chance of the Golgotha steel being detected in her snug camisole. “I assume you’re treating Lord Arnaud the same way?”

“Yes,” Rennata answered from behind her. “He’s being checked for weapons as well. You should be grateful he agreed to that much.”

“Yes, it’s such a boon.” Marissa turned. She hadn’t heard the woman come in. “And if he secrets one in anyway?”

“He probably will. You should be prepared for that.”

I am
, Marissa thought, but Rennata didn’t need to know that.

“Out,” Rennata commanded, and Arnaud’s servants departed. Once they were alone, Rennata sighed and took the nearest chair. “Are you certain you want to go through with this? You might still be able to apologize and—”

“No.” Marissa planted her hands on her hips to keep them from shaking. “If I die at his hand, at least I go out having tasted freedom and all its earthly pleasures.”

Rennata’s face scrunched in confusion, then flattened into understanding. “I don’t care to hear about your exploits with Lord Falconetti.” She stood. “I say, Marissa, you’ve given the whole lot of us a bad name and jeopardized everything we hold secret.”

Ignoring her, Marissa looked toward the door that would lead her into the ballroom. “Is Dominic out there?”

“He’ll be in there to observe as he was your witness.” Rennata’s mouth thinned. “And thanks to you involving him, so will the Dominus of his house.” She threw her hands up. “This whole thing has become a spectacle!”

“So that’s it, then? No words of encouragement in my last moments, just more condemnation?” Marissa had had her fill of Rennata. “You make me sick. All these years you’ve had it out for me and why? Because I was chosen for the breeding program and you weren’t? You’re a sad, small woman who will never see beyond the bars of her cage.”

A chime sounded.

“It’s time.” Rennata’s eyes narrowed as her lip curled. “May the holy mother have mercy on your soul.”

Chapter Thirteen

W
ith only five bodies in it, the ballroom seemed like a vast cavern. Every step rang hollow as Marissa made her way to the middle where Arnaud stood waiting. Rennata followed her, but stopped an equal distance away from where Dominic and Dominus Zephrim were on the opposite side.

Arnaud’s eyes silvered as Marissa took her place across from him. From his proud stance to his almost haughty disposition, everything about him said he expected to win. He hadn’t even changed out of his suit, the pompous fool. She kept her shoulders rounded and her head down like she was worried. Scared. Out of her depth. She wanted him to think that. To underestimate her. That would be her greatest advantage in the beginning.

Once he understood she knew how to fight…everything would change. Which is why she had to kill him as quickly and decisively as she had the fringe vampires at Dominic’s.

Thinking of Dominic, she slanted her eyes his way. He caught her gaze and nodded slightly, making a fist at his side and squeezing it in support. She held her blank expression, but her spirit soared and in that moment, she knew there would always be a place in her heart for him. He could sustain her in the years to come, no matter what trials they faced.

Just so long as she made it through this one.

“There are no rules to libertas,” Rennata announced. “Only that the victor is decided by death.” Marissa raised her head to watch Rennata as she went on. “Lord Arnaud, are you ready?”

“Quite,” he replied, studying his nails.

“Comarré Marissa, are you ready?”

“Yes.” Marissa kept her voice soft. Almost timid. She slid her left foot back and calculated the distance to Arnaud.

Rennata took an audible breath. “Then let the challenge begin.”

Just as Marissa had expected, Arnaud lunged immediately. She dodged him, but not enough to keep the tops of his knuckles from brushing her temple.

She twisted as he whipped around. Without pause, he went for her again, this time raking his nails across her side, tearing her tunic and breaking her skin.

The soft scent of her blood filled her nose. She ducked as he swung, but he was
fast
. For the second time, his knuckles made contact, catching the side of her head and spinning her around.

The blow stung, but it was nothing like it could have been. In fact, he’d touched her three times and barely done any damage. Realization dawned. Arnaud was playing with her. She turned and met the jackal’s gaze. The tiniest uplift in the corners of his mouth gave him away. She was right. Not only was he playing with her, he was punishing her. Drawing this out to show how superior he was.

The insight only made her want to kill him more. But the idea of letting him think he was superior for just a few moments longer appealed. He might get careless if he thought he’d been right about her, that he could finish her whenever he wished. He might even make a mistake.

She allowed a little fear into her eyes.

He took the bait instantly. “Regretting your decision already, I see.” His semi-smile stayed fixed in place. “What a hard lesson to learn. Fatal, even.” He struck with a closed fist.

She moved enough so that it grazed her ribs instead of her belly, but she bowed over anyway as though she’d lost her breath. She caught a glimpse of Dominic on the sidelines. His face was an angry storm, his body poised to move, even though they both knew he couldn’t lift a finger to help her.

Arnaud circled. “Pity you’ll have to die, but then I’ll get a new comarré, won’t I? Hopefully one without your…issues.” He lifted his foot to shove her.

Playtime was over. She grabbed his ankle and used his momentum to toss him across the room.

A second later he was on his feet and charging, clearly unhappy with her retaliation. His hand went inside his coat and returned with a three-finger set of steel knuckles in place. A row of sharp spines topped the weapon.

So much for Arnaud’s inspection. He swiped at her but she dropped to a crouch. A few strands of blond hair drifted down, sliced by the razor spines. Holy mother, that was going to hurt if it found her skin.

Kicking out one leg, she tripped him and sprang to her feet. The tactic gave her just enough time to free her Golgotha steel and hide it in her hand.

But Arnaud didn’t get up. He lay on his stomach, moaning softly. “Damn you, comarré,” he ground out.

Had he fallen on his own weapon? She inhaled. The pungent scent of vampire blood tainted the air. So he had. This was her chance.

She approached, dagger ready. An inch away and he leaped to his feet. Dominic yelled a warning. She twisted as Arnaud started to strike. The bite of the three spines across her low back told her she’d moved too late. Pain radiated up her spine. Then her legs went numb and she collapsed. Dominic’s yell turned into a howl.

Still gripping the wooden dagger, she used her upper body strength to turn over and prepared to look death in the eyes.

Arnaud pounced, pinning her with his cold, lanky form. His face was inches from hers, his fangs gleaming in the light of the ballroom’s glittering chandeliers. The scent of her blood thickened as the red puddle beneath her spread. Every nerve above her waist fired in pain. Below, nothing.

He leaned in a little closer until his silver gaze filled her vision. “You’re going to die now, comarré, but before you do, I want you to know that I feel no remorse. In fact, you’re going to get exactly what you deserve.”

“That’s what you think.” She got the words out between her gritted teeth. Her strength was leaving her, seeping out of her body with her life’s blood, but all she could think of was how she’d never hated anyone the way she hated him. Then Dominic’s words came back to her.
There is power in emotion. Harness it, and he cannot beat you.

“It’s what I know,” Arnaud hissed. Mouth open, he reared back to strike, no doubt to tear her throat out.

Holy mother, help me.
She focused on one small movement, one tiny use of the rage boiling inside her. Her fist came up, and as he descended, they met. Her dagger. His chest.

The look of surprise in his eyes almost made her smile. “Go to hell,” she whispered as her body went cold. A cloud of ash drifted down over her, quieting the sounds around her.

“Dominic?” She called for him, unsure if she was actually vocalizing or just hearing his name in her head.
Dominic, help me.

Each fragment of ash blocked more and more of the room’s light as it fell until the light dimmed to nothing. And then, nothing was all that remained.

At the sound of his name on Marissa’s lips, Dominic rushed forward, sliding onto his knees at her side. He cradled her head. “I’m here,
cara mia
.” She still had breath in her body but her heartbeat was weak and thready.

“Get help,” he snarled at the older comarré standing dumbstruck at the ballroom’s edge. “Now,” he yelled.

The woman shook her head. “No.”

“No?” he snarled. “
Porca puttana
, she’s dying.”

“She’s not dying. She’s comarré. Eventually, she’ll heal. But not here.” Rennata lifted her chin, but something close to envy glazed her eyes. “She wanted her freedom; she has it. With libertas, the Primoris Domus is no longer responsible for her.” She shifted her gaze to Marissa. “Comarré Marissa Lapointe, I hereby declare you free. The Primoris Domus no longer claims you and you may no longer claim it. You have twenty-four hours to vacate the city of Corvinestri. Be well.” With that, she turned on her heel and strode away.

“Be well?” Fury suffused the emptiness where Dominic’s soul had once been. He would have gone after Rennata, but that would not serve Marissa. She needed him. Carefully, he lifted her into his arms. “I’ve got you,
bella mia
,” he whispered as her blood soaked through the sleeves of his coat. “You’re safe now. Stay with me, my love.” He turned toward the door. “Stay with me.”

Lord Zephrim stood in his way. “You choose to side with this comarré?”

“
Si
. Now move.” There wasn’t time for this.

But he stayed put. “Are you mad?”

The moment for subterfuge was gone. “I love her. I plan to spend the rest of my days with her. Now get the hell out of my way.” Dominic started for the doors again.

“You love a comarré?” He stared, mouth agape, still blocking Dominic’s path.

“Yes,” Dominic hissed. “Enough that I would have killed Arnaud myself if she would have let me.”

Zephrim’s jaw snapped shut in obvious horror. “You leave me no choice. The rest of your days will not be spent here, nor will they be spent as nobility.” He shook slightly, perhaps in anger. “Dominic Falconetti, because of your association with this comarré and the death of one of our own she has caused, I declare you anathema.”

The word chilled Dominic, but he kept moving. It was what he had expected.

Zephrim yelled after him. “All your material possessions are considered forfeit and will be retained by the House of St. Germain for redistribution as I see fit. Do you understand me? As far as the council is concerned, you’re as much to blame for Arnaud’s death as she is. There is no coming back. You have
nothing
because of this. Nothing because of
her
.”

“You’re wrong.” Dominic turned so he could push the double doors open with his back and avoid jarring Marissa. “Because of her, I have everything.”