Angel's Curse (19 page)

“Whatever,” I said dryly. “Keep your eyes open and don’t let go. You should enjoy the ride.”

I wanted to give Drake the full angelic experience. As we took our first step I altered the scent of my genetic code from vampire to angel. I could feel Drake staring at me, his eyes trying to pierce through my skull to see what was going on in my head. He didn’t say a word, just continued to stare.

On the fourth step we entered the lights. The colours were perfect, exactly as they were when Danny had transported the two of us. My heart ached, yet I took my time, marvelling in their beauty. The colours of the lights I reproduced as myself — wearing my natural scent — were a pale comparison to Danny’s, and while on the one hand it hurt — a painful reminder of what was lost — it also made me feel closer to him.

Eventually I let the lights fade and we stepped into a largish chamber, containing a number of rows of chairs, none of which were occupied. The chamber must have been used for meetings. I doubted it would be for Sunday Mass, unless it was a black mass. My scent changed as we solidified, so I once again smelled like a vamp.

“That was quite remarkable,” Drake said, “but I had thought it would be quicker. We seemed to be in between places for a long time. And the
smell,
is it always like that?”

“I wanted you to experience it as if an angel had taken you, hence the change to my scent. As to how long it took, that was my fault. I lingered there, lost for a moment.”

“You
changed
your scent?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s no big deal. I can only choose from a few scents.”

Drake nodded his head thoughtfully. I knew he was wondering what other scents I could recreate and whether it was a skill that could be taught, or was unique to me. He was thinking about what sort of weapon it could be, the ability to change your scent. I cleared my throat to bring him out of his reverie.

“My apologies, Helena, my mind was elsewhere. You were saying you were lost. Lost as in you couldn’t find you way, or lost in your memories?” he asked.

“Memories,” I said. “They’re so much more vivid as an immortal.”

“We
never
forget,” Drake said. “Every memory — even mortal ones, and for me they’re from a long time ago — remains as fresh as the day they were experienced.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing,” I said. “They hurt too much.”

“The pain will pass.”

I let Drake’s hand drop. There was no longer a reason to hold onto it, though I felt him resist. I looked at him, trying to figure out what devious little plan he was working on now, and saw nothing but a wishful look on his face.

“Your hand is so hot. It’s refreshing when all you feel is the cold,” he said.

I thought I detected a note of resentment in his voice, not that I was hot, but that for most of his life he had only felt the cold.

“Tell me, would you like to sit here and discuss things further, meet some of the others, or retire to my chambers?” When I raised my eyebrows he was quick to add, “For comfort only. The chairs in my chambers are much more comfortable than these.”

I wondered what his chambers might look like. Surely they would be better than the rooms I had seen previously, with multiple cots and sparse furnishings. What
did
an ancient vampire decorate his rooms with? As usual my curiosity won out.

“Your chambers I think, but don’t get any ideas,” I cautioned him.

As we walked through the hallways Drake was greeted by many vampires and I was given a strange look, or two, or three …

I didn’t recognise any faces, although a few of the scents were familiar. There were more vampires here than I’d thought.

Drake opened a door and motioned for me to enter. It was far more decadent than I would’ve imagined. Modern art nestled between renaissance paintings — were these originals no one knew about, and what would they be worth? Many colourful tapestries hung on the walls, in addition to the paintings. Plush carpeting covered the floor and a huge four-poster bed — complete with a canopy and organza curtains — stood against the far wall. It was the biggest bed I’d ever seen.

A large comfortable-looking couch and a single armchair sat in middle of the room, separated by a coffee table. What was it with coffee tables and immortals? A wardrobe had been built into one wall, the only wall that wasn’t adorned with paintings and tapestries. There were no lamps or lights. Everyone who ventured down here could see perfectly well no matter the conditions.

Drake closed the door behind us and bowed with a flourish. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

“Humble,” I laughed. “You call
this
humble?”

“Compared to my other dwelling, it’s very humble,” he said, sitting in the armchair.

“That’d be something to see,” I mumbled.

“We can go there, whenever you wish,” he replied, a little too eager. “I can show you where it is and you can take us.”

“I think I’ll pass for now. We have more pressing business to discuss.”

He inclined his head, “As you wish.”

“Why do so many vampires, and werewolves for that matter, gather here, and why now?” I asked. “I know Anna said you trained the vamps, but why would the werewolf numbers increase as well?”

“This is a training and hunting ground, for both sides. Only the strongest survive, which is how it should be. For thousands of years we have been at war against each other … but now the apocalypse approaches. We can
feel
it. Can’t you feel it, Helena, somewhere deep inside?”

“No.”

“We can. Perhaps you haven’t been one of us long enough to detect the subtle changes. We now work together, a truce of sorts, though we disguise it well from our enemies. We need to be strong to survive what’s coming.”

“And what’s that?”

Drake moved from the armchair to the couch, sitting so close I could feel his legs sapping the warmth from me. He leaned towards me, his arm across the back of the couch, almost behind my neck.

“Why, haven’t you figured it out yet, Helena? Satan himself will rise up and lead the battle against heaven once again!”

“Like I
care,
” I snorted. “He’d be doing me a favour.”

“It’s still a long time off by mortal standards, yet he is coming, so we make our preparations.” He leaned in a little closer and I pulled back. “You should learn something about your vampire heritage,” he whispered.

That probably wasn’t such a bad idea. I needed to learn as much as I could about
all
the immortals.

“Such as?”

He smiled, “Do you know how we make love?”

I tensed. He just didn’t give up.

“I’ve seen it,” I replied dryly. “It’s filthy and disgusting and I want
no
part of it.”

“Amateurs,” Drake snorted in disgust. “They haven’t been around long enough to get it right, to appreciate the finesse. It’s like fine art,” he waved his hand around the chamber, “it takes time to get it right, but the end result is worth it. It’s a very
sensual
experience. I thought Shae had potential, but like the others all she wanted to do was bite, bite, bite. That’s
not
how it’s done.” He sounded disappointed in Shae. “But you, my dear Helena, I think you could show the proper restraint.”

“So there’s no biting involved?” I asked curiously.

Stop now and bite your tongue!
I told myself.

“Oh yes, but only one point of contact, at the wrist. You
share
your pleasure on so many levels.”

“Sorry, I’m not into biting at all.”

“Has he scarred you so deeply you cannot embrace something new?”

“I’d kill you,” I replied matter-of-factly. Danny had nothing to do with it, though I was sure it would be nothing compared to what we’d shared. “My body would act defensively and you’d die, all for the sake of
pleasure
. Is that something you’d be willing to risk?”

“I think you have much better control of your body than you let on. You use it as a reason not to get close.” He trailed a finger down my cheek and I pulled my face away. “I could ease your pain.”

It was time to change the subject before my curiosity demanded that I had to see if what he was suggesting was possible. In my head I fought a battle to keep control. Damn my insatiable curiosity!

I don’t want this!
I thought to myself.

Are you sure?
That nagging voice in my head asked.

Yes, I’m sure.

You still have needs,
the voice said.
You need something to fill the void
…

I ignored the voice in my head.

“When I was attacked in the temple, how did your ninjas know I would strike when I did? Do they have some special talent?”

Drake sat back and sighed. He must be used to getting his way, and I was proving somewhat of a challenge. He probably
was
very persuasive with his own kind.

“They’re specialists, not ninjas, and they didn’t know when you’d turn up at the temple. They’d been waiting patiently for three days before you struck. Their dedication, when assigned a task, is admirable, but they are costly.”

“They were so quiet. Not one of them cried out in pain.”

Drake smiled. “That’s because they have no tongues.”

“Ah!” I said. “That explains the sign language. How many do you have?”

“As I said, they’re quite costly. I had to import them into the country, you know. I currently have nine.”

“And do they all have throwing stars coated in demon’s blood?”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that,” Drake said. “Three throwing stars, I heard. It would have been enough to kill a vampire, werewolf, or ordinary angel, yet you escaped death. Did Danizriel find you and heal you?”

“No, on both counts. I couldn’t risk him to save myself. If everyone thought he was dead he was safe. He did try to heal me though, and his blood did nothing. I healed myself eventually.”

“
You drank his blood?
” Drake asked in astonishment.

“No. He cut his palm and let the blood drip onto my wounds. In the past it had worked.”

He shook his head. “As I’ve said before, you are
truly
amazing.”

I laughed. “You’re not the first man to tell me that. Besides, I’m no
ordinary
angel.”

“Indeed,” he nodded. “It seems you’re a girl of many talents.”

“Now, getting back to the throwing stars,” I said.

“Yes. Demon’s blood is even more costly than specialists.”

“And it can kill an angel, if the throwing star penetrates deep enough?”

“Yes. You’re the only one that we know of who has survived. You should be dead. Now if we’d had Satan’s blood … nothing can survive
his
blood.”

I nodded my head. I wasn’t about to let him in on the fact that because of the demon’s blood I’d been out of it for over six weeks and at my most vulnerable. It was interesting to know that Satan’s blood was the most potent of all, interesting indeed.

“I promised you angels’ heads on platters.” This time I leaned closer to Drake. “Would you like to know how I plan to deliver?”

“Of course,” he said.

“Very soon large numbers of angels will be gathering, and they’ll be focusing on something other than us.”

“What do you propose to do?”

“Kill them all, Drake, kill them all!”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“Demon’s blood, your suicide vamps and specialists, group attacks and my own abilities, which have grown considerably. I think it’ll be a killing field of
my
making, not theirs.”

I could hear the excitement in my voice, and Drake was quick to pick up on it.

“You’re very passionate about having your revenge, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.” I was buzzing at the thought of all those angels dying.

“I’m very passionate too …
about you,
” he whispered.

“We’ll see,” I said, feeling energised now that I’d voiced part of my plans.

Drake leaned back, satisfied he’d planted the seed in my mind, one he intended to nurture and grow.

I felt I was starting to lose control. The high was too unnatural. The vampire in me was trying to take over or break free. The buzz at the thought of killing angels belonged to a part of me I didn’t know. I had to retain control.

“Sorry, Drake, I need to leave for a while. I’ll be back in a day or so. Don’t wait up.”

Before he could protest I transported myself to my room at the hotel, blinking out as I did so, in case the housekeeping staff were there. The room was empty, and for that I was grateful. Something was wrong with me and I couldn’t put my finger on it.