The Vampires' Birthright (40 page)

“Whoever among us is still on the fence about traveling north with Txema and Alaia, they need to make a decision very soon,” said Gustav, studying everyone’s faces as he scanned the room. “With what we’ve learned tonight about Huangtian Dadi’s allegiance and with Ralu’s fate unknown, we must be someplace far from here by dusk tomorrow night. The only exceptions are for those who have expressed an interest in rebuilding the palace with Koimala.”

“I’ll be here for as long as it takes to get that done, and then I’ll return to Paris,” said Franz. “It might give Armando enough time to decide what he wants to do.”

I had no inkling that Franz and Armando were not planning to accompany me on my next adventure. Armando’s hesitation was far more painful than my German companion’s decision to forego the trip, since more than any other vampire I’ve known, Franz likes to come and go freely. It doesn’t mean he cares any less about my fate or Alaia’s, but I already knew he prefers to be called upon only when the need is most dire.

As for Armando, I felt crushed, since he has always been the catalyst for a great time among our group. I could only think of two possible reasons for his hesitancy. One certainly was the misadventure he went through in saving Peter. The other dealt with Racco’s presence in my life. When I finally had a moment to tell him what had transpired over the past few weeks, anger deepened his gorgeous blue eyes to where they almost turned purple.

Gustav nodded at Franz’s response.

“Please tell me we won’t have to wait for a decision from you until dawn,” said Gustav to Armando. He smiled slightly, as if he would miss Armando’s antics, as well.

“I can give you an answer right now,” said Armando, as an elfin grin threatened to erase his sullen expression. “I need to understand why we all can’t go back to Paris. Why is it so ‘absolutely necessary’ to travel into the Alash hills to visit that miserable mine shaft?”

“Because the only way we will ever escape Ralu’s or anyone else’s hatred for your type of vampire is to make sure Txema and Alaia are protected in the same manner as Marissa,” said Racco, angrily.

His tone told me there had been harsh words spoken earlier, away from my presence, that night between him and Armando. As for the mention of Marissa’s name? I hadn’t even considered she was still alive, but it made sense. I remembered Chanson stated the average lifespan for Racco’s offspring was four hundred years, and how my cousin became a vampire ‘two hundred and ninety-three years ago.’

I looked over at Chanson, whose expression was stoic. No doubt, she wanted Franz and Armando to accompany us, but had resolved for them to do so only if they really wanted to come along. The destination sounded a little austere, definitely more Himalayan than Maldivian. Everyone else in our group seemed quite familiar with this place and none of them were looking forward to it. Even Tyreen grimaced at the mention of a northern locale and a ‘mine shaft.’

“The only way?” Armando said, lashing out at Racco, for the moment ignoring Gustav’s hand raised in warning. “You, better than any of us, should know
all
of the hideouts we have yet to access this century beneath the streets of
‘Gay Paree.’
Why would we want to deal with a crazy witch like Marissa?”

“We need her amulet,” said Racco. “I require it only long enough to make two more―one for Txema and one for Alaia. Then we’ll get the hell out of that place.”

“And you think she’ll be content to see us together for the first time in more than a hundred years, only to watch us turn around and leave her again? Are you ready for what that will do to our only living daughter, Racco?” Chanson was angry. “Do you not remember how she cried for weeks on end, the last time we did this? Gabrielle told me last year that it took nearly two decades before she quit asking for her father. She’s gotten used to the idea that you’re dead, and it’s only her vampire mother who checks up on her regularly.”

A single red tear flowed down my cousin’s left cheek, and her brilliant green eyes took on a yellow tint. Racco couldn’t bear to look into those eyes, and he was avoiding Armando’s gaze too. He glanced at me warily before deciding to study the wood stain pattern of the long oak table we gathered around.

“Ahhh, so perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned here in how you, Racco, handle your paternal affairs, no?” said Armando, twirling as he stood up from his chair. Despite the growing anger I’m sure we all felt from both Racco and Gustav, he wasn’t finished with his latest taunt. He leaned across the table toward Racco, after first winking at me. “This should definitely be included in ‘Responsible Daddy 101’ for Txema.”

“Responsible?” Racco said, looking up from the table. His face was flushed and his intense blue eyes misty. “I have paid a fortune trying to make sure Marissa, my beloved daughter―who barely survived an attack by a bloodsucker like yourself―is safe from
all
harm. She has protection, she has companionship, and there is an entire town whose rich annual endowment from me makes sure she is entertained in every way imaginable.”

“Oh cut the
shit
, Racco. She’s stuck in a fucking mountain that’s only accessible by your goddamned train. A train that has killed
more
vampires in the past one hundred and seventy years than Van Helsing could’ve ever dreamed of,” said Armando with mixed look of disgust and fear on his face.

“That’s quite
enough!”
shouted Gustav.

His thunderous voice reverberated throughout the room, commanding everyone’s complete attention. He glowered at both Racco and Armando, before casting a more compassionate look toward Chanson, who wept next to me. I sought to comfort her, as did Tyreen and Raquel, while we waited for the melodrama to end.

“We have the important business of finding a permanent solution to keeping Txema and Alaia safe and healthy,” said Gustav, once he had everyone’s full attention. “It’s imperative that we get this done as quickly as possible, since our alliances throughout the world are fragmenting faster than we can repair them. Ralu is only the beginning, as other rulers who resent the lofty privileges we’ve exclusively enjoyed for nearly two millennia have begun to undermine us.”

He paused to make sure we were with him, and we all nodded for him to go on.

“I fully support Racco’s plan, and will be accompanying him, Txema, and Alaia to Kazakhstan at dusk tomorrow,” he said. “I hope you all will join us on this journey, as we can always use the company. Remember also that refuge will be temporary, a week or two, at most. Isn’t that correct, Racco?”

Racco nodded, while glancing cautiously around the room, like a little boy making sure his buddies still wanted to play with him. Tyreen and the rest of the females, those I had now come to think of as my ladies in waiting, nodded along with him, as they had already sworn they’d never leave Alaia and me. Xuanxang also gave his hearty support to our trip, which made me feel better since it wasn’t too far removed from his stomping grounds. Familiarity with the area could prove invaluable.

As for the males in my vampire entourage, it didn’t look so easy to resolve.

“Am I correct to assume that you won’t be coming along, Armando?” said Gustav, when Armando started playing a game on his cell phone.

“I tell you what… why don’t you ask Garvan what he wants to do, and I’ll let you know right after he tells you,” he said, his tone aloof and apathetic.

“I’m going to see Kahn Tengri for the first time in almost ninety years,” said Garvan, to which Armando shot him a surprised look. “The last time I was there, it was snowing at the top of the second highest peak in Kazakhstan. Do you remember, Chanson? Maybe this time, since it’s summer, we won’t get stuck in a blizzard.”

He chuckled, and many in the room chuckled along with him.

“So, I guess everyone is going except for Franz and Armando,” Gustav said. “Let’s move on to other things we need to take care of―”

“All right, I’ll come,” yelled Armando, his attitude still surly. “But if I get sick from that fucking train, it will be everyone in this room’s fault.”

I wanted to rebuke both Armando and Racco for their childishness. However, if their feud reignited, we might never get moving.

“We will make sure that everyone gets on and off the Silver Train safely,” said Gustav, smiling.

With that taken care of, Gustav moved on to the logistics of getting from point A to point B, which took up the rest of the night and while important, wasn’t terribly interesting.

When it was finally time to go to bed, I lay down and closed my eyes. I feared another visitation from Ralu would prove the entire affair had been a waste of time and lives, but I slept peacefully, for the most part.

Right before I woke up the morning we were to depart, I dreamed of a woman who looked like Chanson, though with a bit more red to her hair. She sat, surrounded by broken dolls, on a bed, and cried. As I approached, she twisted around and stared straight at me. A voice, half aloud and half a whisper in the back of my brain broke the silence.

“Tell my daddy he’s wrong. It won’t work this time.” The woman picked up one of the dolls and cradled it, her motions those of a child trapped in the body of an adult. “Someone’s going to die.”

I think her name was Marissa.

The End.

To be continued in:

Blood Princesses

(Lifeblood Legacy #3)

n explosion shook the ground—maybe the world. Senses returned, and with them… pain.