vampires mage 02 - witch hunter (7 page)

“Orcus seemed perplexed, too.” She frowned. “But what made you certain Nyxobas hadn’t sent them?”

“He’s the god of shadows. He doesn’t like to draw attention to himself.”

“I see.” Her muscles burned as she climbed the steps. She rubbed her arms, her damp clothes chilling her to the bone.

At last, he stopped at a door, pushing it open into a long hall that seemed to stretch on forever. She crossed into the high-ceilinged hall. Moonlight shone through tall windows.

“I’ve secured this wing for you,” Caine said, walking quickly. “No vampires are allowed in, so you’ll be perfectly safe from all the monsters.” He arched an eyebrow. “Apart from me.”

“Thank you, Caine.” Her teeth chattered. That fountain had been pure ice, and the vamps weren’t big on heating in here. “Do you think Miranda would have given Tammi over to the Brotherhood? My sister seemed completely brainwashed. Although if she was working for the Brotherhood they wouldn’t have let her put up the ward. You know how they are about magic. All I know is, the Brotherhood have the motivation.”

“It’s true—they would use her to draw you out of the shadows.” Moonlight washed over his golden skin. “Tomorrow, when you’re rested, we’ll search for both of them with a powerful spell. But we must stay focused on our objective. Our first priority is retrieving your sister.” Caine’s silver magic whirled from him. “And, in the future, you’d be wise to limit your emotional attachments. The Brotherhood will prey on them. It gives them an advantage.”

“Right. Loyalty is a weakness.”

“It can be,” he said, looking straight ahead.

Drew’s family motto was
Loyalty binds me.
Apparently he was at odds with Caine on this issue, too.

Caine approached an oak door, stopping to turn the knob. He opened it into an enormous, dark-walled room. “This is where you’ll be staying.”

The room was beautiful, but strangely forbidding—not unlike Caine himself. A tapestry hung on one wall, depicting a beautiful vernal scene: a grove of trees and plants blooming. A canopied bed stood against a wall, opposite an expansive bay window draped with sage green curtains. A fire burned in the fireplace, and a stone table stood by its side, set with drinks and food. Across from the fireplace stood a tall, oak armoire.

Caine turned, letting his gaze slide over her. “You need to eat, and sleep. I need you at full strength.” He pointed to another door by the armoire. “There’s a warm bath already made up for you, and you’ll find clothes in the armoire. You should have everything you need. I’ll be back after you’ve rested.”

“And we can’t search for Tammi or Miranda until then?”

“The spell we need to use to search between dimensions will require a tremendous amount of energy from both of us. And you can’t perform any powerful magic until you’ve rested. I’ll admit, I kind of like the tired and drenched look on you. Your soaked clothes leave nothing to the imagination right now, and your eyes look like I’ve kept you up all night. On the other hand, they also tell me you won’t be particularly helpful when it comes to magic.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. He had a way of distracting her, but her mind resisted the idea of sleep. It would be even harder to turn off her brain now that she knew Tammi was in danger. “I’m not sure that I can sleep.”

“It’s about time you did something useful for once, and you need strength for that. Bathe. Eat. And sleep. In that order.”

She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. “You’re quite bossy in Lilinor.”

He took a step closer, his pale eyes rooting her in place. He moved with that strange, preternatural grace that always caught her off guard—the same way she was caught off guard when he seemed to stare at her without blinking, or when he sometimes fell completely still, forgetting to wear his mask of humanity. “It’s in my nature to order people around, and it’s in my history. I’ve been leading an army here for centuries.” He shifted closer, and she could feel the heat coming off his body, warming her through her clothes. “You’re alive now because you serve a purpose to that army.”

“Is that the only reason I’m alive?”

He closed the distance between them, resting his hands on the wall, boxing her in. He smelled amazing, and Rosalind’s eyes lingered over his perfect skin. “Are you asking if I could find another use for you?” He let his gaze roam over her body, leaving her with the distinct impression that he could see right through the pink lacy bra she was wearing under her T-shirt. “Because I can think of at least one.” His words were cold, but his tone was pure velvet.

Suddenly, her clothes felt much too restrictive, and she wanted to pull them off.
Is he distracting me with his seductive spell?
She stared into his glacial eyes, reflexively running her tongue over her raspberry lip gloss.

He watched her lick her lips, his chest rising slowly in a deep breath, and his aura whispered over her skin like a breeze. He inched closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers. His leg slid between her thighs, and his eyes blazed with intensity.

She wanted to run her hands all over his perfect body, but she swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus. “I want to know the answer. Why do you and Ambrose want me here? How are Miranda and I supposed to protect the city?”

He pulled away from her slightly, staring at her for so long she thought he wasn’t going to answer. At last, he said, “Daywalkers. You, Miranda, and I are going to turn Ambrose’s army into vampires who can walk in the light.”

“And that’s how you plan to fight the Brotherhood.” She shook her head.
There it is. The purpose I serve to him.
“Is that even possible?”

“It’s been done once before, or so Ambrose tells me. King Cranaus of Athens, with three powerful mages. Just like us.”

His aura slid over her skin, distracting her. She was still fighting the urge to pull him close, to feel his body against hers. “If you didn’t need me for this daywalker spell, would you have come for me after the ker massacre?”
Would you have pulled me from the house before it was bombed?

The air around them cooled. “I’m not going to engage in pointless hypothetical questions.”

Her fingers tightened.
Who exactly are you, Caine Mountfort?
“How about a factual question? What did Erish mean when she said you were the son of the shadow prince?”

He backed away, taking his delicious aura with him. “Unless you need help bathing, I’m going to be on my way.”

She exhaled slowly, watching him walk away. “I’ll manage fine, I think.”

Standing in the doorframe, he turned. “I’m sure I don’t need to explain to you what could happen if you leave this corridor.”

“Death by vampires.” She nodded. “I know.”

He closed the door behind him, and she pulled off her boots, then walked over to the fireplace. Thick, thorny hawthorn boughs hung over the hearth, blossoming with red berries and white flowers. She ran her fingers along the petals.
Hawthorn blossoms. He must have told the servants I love them.

Her muscles burned, and she wanted out of these frigid clothes. Shivering, she tried not to think about what Tammi might be enduring.

She
did
need sleep, and she wouldn’t get that by dwelling on her worst fears.

She lifted up her soaked shirt, pulling it off while she crossed to the bathroom—an octagonal room with a silver clawfoot tub in the center. Thin curls of steam rose from the water. Sharp-peaked windows overlooked a stony courtyard, and candles guttered in sconces. She let her shirt fall to the stone floor.

Maybe
Miranda
was drawing her into a trap, for her own deranged reasons. She pulled off her soaked pants, which stuck to her legs as she rolled them down her calves. She’d sensed Miranda in two places—near Abduxiel Mansion before the ward went up, and at the massacre tonight.

She unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the floor. Goosebumps rose over her skin as she pulled off her underwear.
Is my own twin a complete monster?

She dipped her foot into the hot water, letting it turn her skin pink. The bath smelled of lavender and mint.

The water warmed her legs as she stepped into the bath, soothing her muscles. Her thigh still burned slightly where she’d been shot, even if Drew’s juniper potion had almost completely healed it. His magic had left behind only a faint, white scar.

She inhaled the steam. When was the last time she’d actually bathed? She wasn’t sure she had at Abduxiel Mansion. She’d been too creeped out by Orcus to spend much time naked.

Orcus.
An image of his body flashed in her mind, and her muscles tensed. She sat up, pushing herself out of the bath. It didn’t feel right luxuriating here after she’d just watched an entire city street slaughtered. She just wanted to go to sleep, so she could get enough rest to try the damn scrying spell as soon as possible.

She stood, letting the water drip from her body, then stepped from the bath. After toweling off, she stepped back into the bedroom.

And when she did, fear slid through her bones.

Three women stood in the center of the room. Three pairs of shining white eyes burned into her.

Keres.

The ker in the center wore a shimmering white gown, and a crown of pearls threaded into her pale hair. She opened her mouth to smile, revealing long, sharp teeth designed for tearing human flesh. Two other gaunt-featured keres flanked her, dressed for battle and built of pure, lean muscle. Sharp blades glinted at their belts.

And Rosalind stood before them, wearing nothing at all.

Chapter 8

Her pulse sped up.
So much for the safety of this corridor.

The keres looked just like the ones in Harvard Square, only these didn’t have wings.

And as she stared at them, she realized that wasn’t the only difference. Their auras were different. Magic curled off them in black plumes that smelled of charcoal and felt rough on her skin.

I really wish I’d kept that gun on me.

Staring at them, she tried to steady her voice. “Who are you?”

The crowned ker cocked her head. “Come now. Is that any way to greet the queen of the keres?”

Rosalind’s leg muscles tightened, ready for battle. “What were all the keres doing in Cambridge tonight?”

One of the shorter ker scowled. “She said she’s queen. You’re supposed to bow to Queen Antu.”

“There are an awful lot of queens in Ninlil Castle.” Rosalind narrowed her eyes. “And I don’t really know how they’re are normally greeted, but I’d expect it to involve clothes. I don’t suppose you could give me the chance to dress myself before we meet formally?”

Queen Antu’s eyes roamed over Rosalind’s body. “But I like you the way you are.”

Rosalind folded her arms in front of her chest
.
“I thought Caine protected this hall.”

The ker queen shrugged. “Perhaps he doesn’t really care if you die. He has been with many women.”

Irritation flared. “Are you here for a purpose? I just saw a city full of humans attacked by keres exactly like you.” She cocked her head. “Except they had wings. What happened to yours?”

Antu flashed her long teeth. “That is none of your concern, human slave. You should be more concerned with your
own
impending mutilation.”

Fear bit into her ribs.
Okay. Time to scan the room for weapons.
Rosalind backed away, her gaze landing on the table laden with crystal decanters and glasses. A fireplace poker stood by the hearth—just like one she’d used successfully on Bileth.

“Thinking of ways to kill me?” The queen arched an eyebrow. “I believe that’s treason.”

“I’m not your subject.” Rosalind forced a smile. “And I’m just seeing if I can offer my queen anything to eat.” She held out a hand. “You’ll find food and drink over there.” What she needed was a stake…

Her pulse sped up.
The boughs.
They weren’t merely decorative. Of course they weren’t—Caine didn’t do sentimentality. They served a purpose.
Now what are the chances I can get to them?

She took a step forward, and two of the keres pulled out knives, silver blades glinting in the firelight.
That answers my question. The chances are not good at all.

The queen licked her lips. “We’re not supposed to kill you. We’re going to take you with us. And before we do, we’re supposed to make your pretty face a little uglier.”

A chill rushed over Rosalind’s skin.
Holy hells. They’re going to carve up my face.
Her pulse sped up, and she frantically searched the room for an escape. Could she make to the door? And even if she did, was it wise for a human to run naked through a vampire castle?
No, it is not.

Before Rosalind could make a move for the boughs, one of the keres lunged, knife extended. Rosalind’s hand flew out, grabbing the creature’s wrist. The demon was fast, but lightweight, and Rosalind controlled the ker’s arm, swiftly driving it toward the other, oncoming ker. The blade plunged between the second demon’s ribs, and the creature staggered back, clutching her bleeding chest.

Rosalind elbowed the first in the face, and the ker snarled, leaping on top of Rosalind to bite her neck. Pain seared Rosalind’s throat, and she fell to the floor, head cracking against the stone.

She raised her hips, throwing the ker off balance, then yanked her off by her hair. She threw the creature down, straddling her, then punched her hard in the face, one hit after another. Black blood poured from the ker’s nose and mouth. The creature’s eyelids fluttered.

Rosalind had seen what these monsters had done to the humans in Harvard Square, and she didn’t want to stop—

A sharp tug on her hair wrenched Rosalind off the ker, and another hand clamped around her neck. Queen Antu was gripping her by the throat, and slammed her against the wall. Rosalind’s feet hung suspended in the air, and her ravaged throat screamed with pain. The queen was much, much stronger than the other two, and Rosalind’s heart thumped hard.

Antu narrowed her pearly eyes. “I want you to know a few things. One, humans are vermin, a plague on this earth. Two, you cannot defeat your demon superiors.” Antu’s fingers tightened on Rosalind’s neck.