Love is Darkness (A Valerie Dearborn Novel) (28 page)

A moment passed as though Rachel was deciding if she was going to harm Valerie, her gaze flicking to Lucas then back to Val's clasped hand. Then she lowered her lips quickly, the merest brush of her lips against Valerie's hand. Her lips were chilled, but not as cold as Lucas could be.

Desperately, Val wanted to leave, be away from these people and things and their petty politics. She was just a pawn. Everyone she loved was part of their game and they were all going to die at the whim of these monsters. She felt her throat close with tears and tried to calm herself down.

“Valerie.” Marion's voice was like ice, brittle and discordant. “I am sure I know you, Valerie. Guess, my dear.
Guess,
how I know you.” She gave Valerie a real smile, enjoying Valerie's discomfort, and Valerie knew this woman could bat at her like a mouse, play with her while her chest was ripped open and think nothing of it. Worse, she wouldn't even remember it, just another murder for Marion.

Val shook her head slightly, struck dumb and waited.

“
Jack
. I know you, because of my boy Jack.” Each word was said slowly, clearly and lovingly. Marion watched Val hungrily, waiting to see what affect her words would have.

Valerie stared at Marion's well shaped eyebrows, not looking her in the eyes, deciding no response was better than saying something inflammatory like, 'I'll be sure to pass along your regards' or 'Funny, he's never mentioned you'

Marion laughed, as though someone had something amusing, turning to look at Rachel who was giving everyone a small, benign smile.

“And you, Lucas.
A Hunter’s daughter?
What sort of father must she have that she runs straight into your arms?”

She looked back and forth between the two of them, as though waiting for one of them to tell her the punch line from a joke.

“Keep him close, darling. He's a tiger, but once he gets bored... and with the things he'd seen
and done
, he gets bored quickly.” It was clear she wanted to sound like she was giving motherly advice, but
a bitterness
underlay her words, unintentionally or not, Valerie couldn't decide.

Lucas stayed quiet, watching Marion lazily as she spoke and poked at Val with her barbed words. Val wondered why he didn't do something and clearly Rachel wondered it too. Her free hand was atop Marion's, squeezing her fingers as though to urge caution.

His voice was calm, “I would speak with you later. Where will I find you?”

Marion's voice was breathy, her grip on Rachel's arm tightening so that her fingers appeared even whiter. “Paris. I'm at the Paris flat.”

Lucas smiled slightly, “I thought you were at the Dorchester.”

Marion raised her free hand, bringing her black silk clutch purse to her chest as though for protection while Rachel looked to the ground studiously. “Why do you think that?”

Lucas gave a tired sigh, his voice weary and low, “Do not, Marion. How many times do you think you can be forgiven?”

A look of fury flashed across her features and Lucas moved his arm, draping it around Valerie and tucking her close to him, almost shielding her as they stepped around Marion and Rachel, careful to keep her to the outside of them. He was walking towards the open French doors where Val could see a balcony, the city below.

“Lucas, wait.”

He turned back to Marion and then he was pushing Valerie against the wall, shielding at least part of her body with his own. She felt the cold begin at her feet, felt the press of his hips against hers, the way his arms were bracketing as much of her body as possible.

There was the faintest whisper and thud, a hiss in her ear from Lucas—then the cold died.

There was the slightest vibration in his body and she smelled burning flesh. She looked down and saw two arrows embedded in his side, smoke curling upwards and stinging her eyes. He exhaled and it sounded wet.

People were screaming
,
the floor trembling as everyone ran for an exit at the same time. Of course, the vampires would
leave,
their humans too vulnerable to risk.

 
“Silver and poison.
I need a moment. I will get you
— ”
Shots rang out and she felt his body jerk with each shot.

He made a slight noise, almost a growl, near her ear and then his head fell forward, his silky hair sliding in her face and he began to sink, his weight pulling her down to the ground with him.

She felt his blood on her gown, dripping down her hands. He was so heavy. Lucas was dead. Still. No breath, his limbs slack, a corpse pulling her down into the grave.

She tried to scream.

The crowd was panicking, some of them leaping from the windows, others standing to the side to protect their companions while most of them fled to the doors for a quick exit or dematerialized.

Several guards came for them, following Marion's direction as they pulled Lucas off of her and towards the center of the room. He was unconscious, two guards carrying each arm, his head lolling forward. They were moving quickly, Marion trailing them with a gun in her hand. She’d shot Lucas.

But he wasn’t dead. Couldn’t be dead or he’d be ash, wouldn’t he?

Rachel leaned down for Val and grabbed her hard by the elbow, yanking her to her feet.

“I know what you're thinking. If only you'd known, you would have worn black to hide all that blood. I’ve been there.” Then she gave Val a look, like they were high school friends who talked smack about each other and tried to steal each other’s boyfriends.
“Lucas
and
Jack?
I’m impressed and surprised.”

Rachel jerked her along, forcing her to follow Marion and Lucas. Marion was almost preening, hips swaying, spine straight in victory. Lucas was still unconscious, his clothes shredded and bloody. The shots were fired at almost point blank range, but through the fabric she could see skin.
Whole, unblemished skin that was knitting together as she watched.

 
Please be alright.
Not just because she wanted to get out of here alive and she suspected that would only happen with his help, but because she didn’t know how she’d react to his dying.

She stared at him hard as though trying to
will
him back to health.

And then his head snapped up, feet planted to the ground as he brought his arms together and the guards holding him crashed into each other head first, unable to let go fast enough.

Lucas was free. Turning and eyeing the guards who rushed forward to restrain him again. But Marion was there, back at Val's side, her arm around Val's neck and the gun at her temple.

“Stop!”
Marion yelled loudly making Valerie's ears ring.

Lucas paused, drenched in blood like Carrie at the prom, looking Valerie over in a quick sweep to make sure she was uninjured. He waved a hand in acquiescence and walked to the dais that the guards had been leading him to in those brief moments that he'd been unconscious.

Climbing the steps slowly, as though tired, he sat on the throne, his jacket gone, white shirt shredded to pieces and hanging from him in bloody strips, while his long golden hair was matted with blood.

He sat in the
throne,
the wood so dark and ornately carved that Val knew it was centuries old.

 
Anger blazed from him, every moment that passed allowing him to heal and regain his strength back. But his skin was paler than usual and he didn't have the same rock-like hardness he usually had.

After a quick glance, Lucas didn't look at her but watched Marion. He made an expansive gesture, his palms facing up and outwards. It was a regal, 'Here I am, now what?’ gesture. Marion gripped Val tighter, the gun pressed so hard to her temple that the pain was constant and distracting.

“I’m sure I could guess what you want, but it seems a shame to deprive you the pleasure of making your demands.”

“Restoration,” she said with a hiss.

He gave an ugly laugh. “What does Rachel get? And your followers- have you any? I fail to see how anyone besides you benefits from your restoration to power.” His eyes scanned the room, calling attention to its emptiness.

“I have followers. Step down, tonight, restore me and this will go no further. You can take your little Hunter home and be done.”

He laughed. A deep, hearty and human sound, “You would not let us go!”

He slammed a palm down on the wooden chair and leaned forward, his blood stained hair sliding forward over his shoulder, full lips quirked in a bitter smile.

Val blinked
dazedly,
she'd never seen him so animated, so life-like as he settled back into his chair nonchalantly, confident and brazen.

“Let me tell you what is going to happen.
Nothing.
”
The words were a snarl, “You will release us if you want to
live
. You have made enemies Marion. Rachel is so weak others will use her at the first opportunity. You are a stalking horse and nothing more. You think to rule in my stead and for what purpose?”

He leaned back in the chair, hands curled over the arms’ edges. “Are you bored again, sweetheart?” His tone was seductive, his gaze trailing Marion’s body lazily as though he had the antidote to her boredom.

Val shivered at the pleasure radiating from his voice. She saw the fine hairs raise on Marion's arm, his voice affecting her as well.

He shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose as though he had a headache, his mood instantly changed. His voice was tired, maybe pain filled, when he said, “They will not follow you. You will bring war upon our race.”

She laughed hollowly. “How does that compare to you? You who want to give us to the Fey?
Back to the wolves?
How can you do that to your
children
?” Her voice held genuine grief.

Noise exploded, two shots fired into Lucas without warning. There was a hole in the chair where one had missed, but blood bloomed from his shoulder where the other bullet struck him.

“I'll keep you so full of silver you won't leave, do you hear me Lucas? God
damn
you!
And this girl here too.”
She pushed the gun against Valerie's temple, pushing so hard Valerie could feel her skin being scraped away.
 
She cried out, tears stinging her eyes.

Lucas was still, almost frozen as though not to startle anyone.

Marion hissed at him, “Tell me she means nothing. Tell me and I'll prove you wrong.” She cocked the gun and Valerie felt tears roll down her cheeks.

Lucas watched Marion intently, never
wavering
his gaze, ignoring Valerie and her tears completely.

“I will not leave so long as you hold her. She is your hold upon me, Marion. Be careful lest you break her,” he said calmly.

Lucas shifted his weight and crossed his legs, a king at ease. He flexed his bloody arm and Valerie saw his large biceps bunch and
tighten
, straining the shirt. Blood flowed freely, a small black river of it gushing out before a silver bullet writhed out of his arm and fell to the ground with a ping.