Dark Heart Rising (20 page)

She let me believe
, he thought, another surge of anger hitting him.

The bugle sounded, and Raphael moved to stand ahead. His heavy military coat felt hot, suffocating. Symbolic of his life.

He entertained a fantasy in which he drew out the pistol from its holder on his thigh and shot into the crowd, then watched the crowd scatter and panic. As he smiled at the faces in front of him, he imagined the unrest, the frightened horses, the confusion on the faces of all those who trusted in this great majestic family.

The time will come
, he thought, his eye falling suddenly on a familiar face at the front of the assembled throng. He nodded, wondering where he had seen her before. There was something about the eyes, exotically made-up … She was beautiful indeed; one of Vanya Borgia’s cohorts, no doubt … The girl seemed uneasy with his attention and simply dropped her head, coyly. That’s when he realised.

She was no vampire. She was the mortal girl. She was Jane. And next to her, with a face that looked both too old for his years and youthfully handsome at the same time, was the boy she’d been with the other day.

Remembering, Raphael smiled broadly for the first time.

He didn’t know why, but this Soren character seemed charged with the same contempt for this place as did Raphael. He had known it the first time he’d met him – and then again when he’d come knocking on Vanya’s door to find him.

With the discovery that his father may not be dead after all, the stranger – and who he could possibly be – had faded a little from his thoughts, but seeing him standing there with Jane, Raphael recalled the book in the library and what he had read. He couldn’t prove it but something told him that this boy – man – was connected to this story.

A shout from behind him told Raphael that it was time to begin the procession. He turned to signal to the others that they must follow him.

As the horses trod elegantly towards the crowd, it parted respectfully to let them pass. Leading the way, Raphael was careful not to make eye contact – not until he passed the two of them. He saw Soren’s hand reach out subtly to take Jane’s.

Raphael dropped his gaze until he had her attention. Her dark eyes regarding him warily.

‘Hello, Jane.’ He mouthed the words, saw her lips part, confused, and lifted his head back as though he had not seen her.

‘H
e saw me …’ I looked up at Soren. ‘Raphael recognised me.’

Soren frowned. ‘You know him – a born troublemaker. He will forget about it soon enough.’ He smiled unconvincingly.

But my hand, still holding his, was trembling a little. My eyes focussed on the boy astride the black horse next to us.

‘Don’t,’ Soren said, as loud as he dared, but Luca had not seen them. I released my hand from his and instead reached out quickly to touch the horse’s flank, my head bent, hiding my face.

‘Careful,’ said Luca, not knowing me. Soren watched me look up at him.

‘Jane …’ Soren pulled me back, stopping me from revealing myself at this moment. And to his obvious relief I allowed myself to be pulled.

But though Luca continued, directing his horse through the throng, he suddenly stopped, and we both saw him turn, looking back curiously at me before the crowd began chanting, encouraging him forward and on with the procession, forcing him to turn away.

The rest of the people followed the horses, leaving Soren and I standing on the periphery.

‘That was close,’ breathed Soren. ‘You should have kept your head down.’

‘How will I ever get near him, talk to him?’ My shoulders slumped.

‘I told you, there will be time.’ Soren dodged a couple of small boys. ‘But really, you must learn not to wear every feeling on your face!’

‘I can’t help that.’

‘Personally, I think it’s charming.’ He smiled. ‘But this is a game you are playing. And a game involves strategy. Ergo, you need to be more strategic.’

‘Like a game of chess? I never was any good at board games.’

He laughed then, slipping an arm around me.

‘Well, thank goodness you have me here to teach you.’

I relaxed. He could feel a little tension easing.

‘Now,’ he told me cheerfully, ‘shall we try and have a little fun? I think I see Vanya and Valdar over there.’

‘Not them,’ I shook my head. ‘Vanya has this way of…’

‘Twisting things?’ He grinned. ‘At seducing you into doing things you would rather not do?’

‘Exactly.’

‘I know you don’t trust her, but really, she is a good ally to have.’

‘Hmm. And a dangerous enemy.’ I crossed my arms over my chest.

‘Listen, Jane. The truth is, you should never trust anyone but yourself … Not completely. The trick is to exploit the qualities you find in others – take from them what you need.’

‘Well, that’s not cynical at all …’ I gave him a playful shove. ‘You have this way of making the most obnoxious traits sound worthwhile.’

‘And you have a way of turning every minor problem into a disaster.’ He arched an eyebrow. ‘Of doubting everyone – and yourself most of all.’

‘OK, Dr Freud.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Shall we dispense with the amateur psychology and follow the procession?’

Soren crooked his arm, gesturing for me to take it.

‘I thought you would never ask.’

‘A
 good crowd today.’ Raphael dismounted as he addressed Luca. ‘Some interesting faces out there.’

Luca nodded, though he did not look at him, concentrating instead on lifting the heavy saddle off his horse.

‘You didn’t notice?’ Raphael probed. ‘You didn’t see them?’

The tic in Luca’s cheek betrayed his tension, but he still did not engage with Raphael. He carried the saddle over to its place at the back of the stable, taking his time. Finally he walked back over to his horse, brushing his hands on trousers.

‘What’s the matter?’ Raphael stood perfectly still. ‘Are you nervous about the wedding?’ His tone was subtly mocking.

Luca sighed, resting his palms on his horse’s flank, then leaning his forehead against it.

‘Not nervous,’ he said, though he didn’t move, still did not look at Raphael. ‘Just …’

Raphael pretended not to understand. ‘You are unwell?’

‘No!’ snapped Luca. ‘I am not unwell. I am simply haunted by something I cannot have.’

‘By “something” you mean Jane?’ Raphael spoke softly.

‘Yes.’ And Raphael saw that the boy’s eyes were wet with tears.

‘Luca,’ he said, unprepared, ‘I didn’t mean …’

‘Of course you did. You meant to be provocative. You always have. Even when we were young.’ Luca faced him. ‘And I never reacted. You were the beloved prince. Beyond reproach. It was meant to be an honour to be your playmate.’ Luca’s tone was low and he was as angry as Raphael had ever seen him.

‘I … I was only playing,’ Raphael said. ‘You knew that, I hope.’

‘As you are playing now, I suppose? Playing with other people’s lives. As you played with Jane …’

‘I’m not … it is not …’ began Raphael. ‘I mean no harm to you, or to Jane. But, don’t you see? This whole mess is symbolic of this wretched place. You are about to marry someone you do not love, you barely know. Allowing your parents to control your happiness – to destroy it.’

Luca said nothing for a few seconds, then sighed heavily.

‘There is nothing I can do – or will do – to stop this. I owe my parents this.’ Luca spoke eventually. ‘They would be devastated.’

Raphael snorted, he couldn’t help himself.

‘You don’t understand. I can make a good life with Lila. She is a sweet girl – a little naïve, but adorable. She just wants to make me happy, fetching me small gifts, making sure I am all right …’ he trailed off.

‘She sounds … a little dull,’ said Raphael. ‘If you will excuse my directness.’

Luca smiled for the first time, but wryly. ‘Since when have you ever cared for others’ opinions – or their feelings?’

‘That’s not fair …’ Raphael remembered his father with a pang.

‘I know you are still angry,’ Luca said, ‘about your father …’

‘Oh, you don’t know. Not nearly …’

‘But, perhaps life is just simpler if you make the best of it.’

‘But you don’t have to do this … You could make a life with someone you actually love – and who loves you.’

Luca shot him a look. ‘I did see her. Underneath all that make-up … But she was with that vampire boy – I saw how he looked at her.’

‘About him—’ Raphael started, but was interrupted.

‘The vampires are not concerned with family loyalty. They are a slave to passion. I daresay he can give her what I can’t.’

‘I think he is taking advantage of her,’ said Raphael abruptly. But as Luca looked up, the door to the stables opened.

‘You should come and join the party.’ Lowe stood, his tone was light, but his eyes regarded the two of them, suspiciously, perhaps even jealously.

‘In a minute …’ Luca looked over at Raphael, who was hiding his irritation well.

‘Now. We’ll go now.’ Raphael said with authority. He slapped his horse on its rump and it whinnied, moving forward to chomp on some hay.

‘The party …’ Luca shut his eyes and for the first time Raphael noticed the shadows undernearth them. He pushed a hand through his hair.

‘And I must find Lila. She and her mother will have arrived by now.’

‘Indeed, I have seen her.’ Lowe said. ‘The prettiest girl at the parade.’

Luca and Raphael exchanged a look.

The noise outside the stables was building, even though the crowds were some distance away.

‘Shall we go?’ Lowe swept his arm out theatrically. ‘We can’t disappoint the people.’

‘Of course we can’t,’ said Raphael with a hint of sarcasm. ‘That would never do.’

A
 small dark-haired girl broke free from a group of girls her age and ran across the palace fields. Picking up her skirt, her heart-shaped face beamed across at me, where I stood watching – with some boredom – a juggling troupe.

I squinted, hoping it was who I thought it was.

‘Is it you?’ the girl said, arriving swiftly at my feet. ‘I thought it was you.’

‘Dalya!’ I felt a rush of pleasure at seeing at her. ‘Is my disguise that bad?’

Dalya’s face creased into a broad smile. ‘Only to those who are looking,’ she said, before looking down at her feet shyly. ‘And I have been looking.’

‘Really?’ I glanced quickly around her, spotting Soren talking animatedly with Vanya some distance away. I pulled at Dalya’s arm. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here for a bit.’

Dalya took my hand and, feeling its warmth, its link to Luca, I held on to it tightly, happy and sad at the same time.

‘So,’ said Dalya, with the excited innocence of a child, ‘what are you doing back here? Is it true that you and the vampire-boy are in love?’

‘What?’ I stared at Dalya open-mouthed.

‘Oh … I didn’t mean … I thought …’ Dalya faltered, her sweet face troubled now. ‘Lowe is telling everybody.’

‘Is he?’ I set my mouth sternly. ‘Well you can tell that troublemaking brother of yours that Soren and I are just friends, and he’s not a—’ I checked herself. ‘He’s not my boyfriend.’

‘I’m glad then …’ Dalya blushed. ‘I know it’s selfish, but I can’t bear to think of you with a vampire.’ She squirmed a little to express her distaste. ‘The vampires at my school are always the sly ones. The ones who sit back and watch the rest of us get into trouble for fooling around. They’re always there, staring at you with their creepy white faces. And their mouths are too red.’

I laughed then, glad of Dalya’s chatter.

‘So, if he’s not your boyfriend, what are you doing with him?’ the girl persisted.

I hadn’t expected to have to answer this, and my face must have betrayed my anxiety because Dalya put a small hand to her mouth, her eyes widening.

‘Is it something to do with Luca?’

I sighed. ‘Listen, Dalya, it’s complicated. I met Soren back home – in the mortal world. It’s a long story, but he told me he could come to bring me back to Luca. That he would help me …’ I trailed off, realising how pathetic and tenuous that sounded.

‘I wish I could do magic,’ Dalya said, sadly, taking my hand again, ‘and have you and Luca reunited and my parents happy at the same time and everything just perfect.’ Her small shoulders slumped. ‘But I don’t know how to make it happen …’

I made sure my face did not betray disappointment. I think somehow I imagined that Dalya was going to tell me that Luca was pining for me, that he was willing to give up everything for me. Instead, I smiled uncertainly at her.

‘I think he came to me – in my dream,’ I said. ‘I’m sure of it. It was odd, because he wasn’t as clear as he was when we … well, when we first met. But I had such a familiar feeling. Maybe I am wrong …’