Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Death was bad enough, but suicide added an additional pain to those left behind. One Tenoch apparently tried to prevent by making his demise look like an ambush by enemies . . .

Her gaze swung back to Mencheres as horror slid up her spine. His expression was impenetrable, his dark gaze fathomless as he met hers.

The warehouse. The ghouls. They'd been butchering him, but Mencheres hadn't even moved to defend himself before she'd arrived, even though he could have killed them at any time -

"No!"

Kira launched herself at Mencheres. He caught her, holding her very close, keeping his arms tight around her.

At the same time, she could feel the sun rise, sucking all her strength out of her. She tried to fight the pull of those rays, to stay awake long enough to demand to know why he'd done it, but even before she could speak, the darkness came for her.

Chapter 26

"She seemed quite upset."

Mencheres looked up from Kira's newly sleeping form to meet Vlad's level gaze. "I have some explaining to do once she wakes," he replied dryly.

"You, explaining yourself to a vampire not yet two weeks old." Vlad shook his head.

"From where I sit, Radjedef is correct in his claims that you've fall en recklessly in love."

"Does that make you wonder if his other claims about me are true as well?" Mencheres challenged.

Vlad's smile was wintry. "No. But I'm wondering why all of a sudden Radje decided to come after you this ruthlessly? Your animosity toward each other has long existed, but neither of you has openly acted on it. He didn't even back Patra during her war against you. That's what your other all ies are wondering as well. Why would a Guardian suddenly risk everything for an eons-old feud?"

"Radje did not back Patra because she meant to kill me, and he wants me alive," Mencheres replied, shifting Kira more comfortably in his arms. "Why now is because he fears if he tarries, I might forever slip his grasp, taking with me the one thing no one else can give him for a thousand years."

Vlad's brows rose. "And that is?"

"My legacy of power." Mencheres let out a soft grunt. "Many vampires raged when I passed it on to Bones, but none more than Radje. He feels it's his power that I unfairly stole, but if not for me, Tenoch would have given it to someone else. Tenoch knew Radje couldn't be trusted with such incredible power over vampires. Of course, Radje doesn't concede this point."

Vlad let out a snort. "I confess I was one of those vampires who thought I might be the recipient of that legacy. After all, you and I were close, and I was the last vampire Tenoch made, though he left you to care for me along with the rest of the dependent members of his line when he killed himself mere weeks after siring me."

"I was proud to call you one of mine until it was time for you to become your own Master," Mencheres said in a voice thickened from memories. "You know I care for you still. Fate chose Bones as my heir. I merely obeyed her choice."

Vlad's mouth dipped. "Yes, fate does have a whimsical sense of humor, doesn't she?" Then Vlad's usual, jadedly amused expression settled back over his face. "I have no complaints. You saved my sanity more than once in my early years when I lost my wife, then my son to death. You ever have my loyalty and gratitude for that. Yes, I will stand as your witness in your meeting with Veritas, repeating all that transpires if need be. You, however, will have the hardest job. You'll have to get her to come." Mencheres rested his head against the interior of the limousine. Convincing the staunchest member of the Guardian Council to meet with him secretly so Mencheres could accuse another Law Guardian of lying and betraying their race? And then ensuring that Veritas agreed to just let him leave after their meeting? Yes, that part would be a challenge.

Kira awoke with a sharp cramp in her stomach. She glanced around, but of course she wasn't in the limo anymore with Mencheres and the other infamous vampire. In fact, she was alone.

The room had no windows, but it was clearly a bedroom, as what she was lying on attested to. The residual sounds around her had a curious echoing quality to them, and the walls didn't look like plaster or concrete. They looked like highly polished rock, actually, and the air had an odd smell to it. Not unpleasant; just unfamiliar.

Another jab in her stomach took Kira's curiosity away from her surroundings. She hadn't eaten since feeding from that young man on the Haunted Mansion ride. Almost a day ago, her stomach reminded her with increasing insistence.

She rose from the bed, noticing that she was now wearing a maroon satin nightgown instead of the belted bedsheet. Mencheres must have switched her clothes, but he was nowhere to be seen now. Kira did a quick inspection of the bedroom, which thankfully had an antique armoire in the corner containing male and female clothes. She slipped into a cardigan and slacks with a mental apology to whoever the clothes belonged to, but that rumbling in her stomach was starting to become ominous.

Once dressed, she left the bedroom in search of Mencheres. To her surprise, the hallway that she entered was very tall, with more of those odd walls around her. She passed another three doors on her way to the top of what looked like a narrow staircase.

When she started down, Kira stared. The staircase was of polished stone, cut into steps, and it led to an impossibly large living area with a huge domed ceiling. Still, not a single window was in sight, and those grayish shiny walls were all around.

"Ah, you're awake," a lightly accented voice said from beyond her sight.

Kira went farther into the room, disappointed that the voice didn't belong to Mencheres. Vlad sat on one of the three sets of couches in the huge room, an open laptop in front of him, his hand idly stroking his bearded chin.

"Is Mencheres here?" Kira asked, that question more pressing to her than even the painful gurgles starting to build up in her stomach.

"No, but he should return soon. You're up earlier than we expected. The sun won't set for two more hours yet. Hungry?"

A flare of pain went through her even as she managed to say, "A little," in a tone that wasn't shaking.

"No trouble, I'll send someone in for you," he replied.

Some one? "Um, if you have any bagged blood, that would be better." Vlad let out a short laugh. "Bagged blood? You haven't taken those training wheels off yet? Of course, when I was changed, there wasn't any bagged blood. Criminals or enemy soldiers were thrown in with new vampires during those first few days." It only went to show how hungry she was that such a mental image didn't ruin her appetite. "If I can avoid treating people like food, that's my choice," she replied, bristling a little at the "training wheels" comment.