In Darkness We Must Abide: The Complete Second Season: Episodes 6-10 (25 page)

Covering her mouth in horror, Vanora stared at Armando in desperation. “Do something.”

Armando whipped off his coat, muttering angrily in Spanish. Swiftly, he covered Roman with his coat before lifting him into his arms. In silence, Armando pushed past the trembling young woman and into the study where he placed Roman on the sofa.

“Roman, what happened?” Armando whispered.

“I should have listened to your warnings,” Roman said, his voice a thick rasp.

“You’re stubborn like me.”

Vanora could not move from where she stood in the doorway. Her body felt so weak, she could barely stand. Her heart was thundering in her ears and her lungs felt as if they had exploded.

Vanora felt a hand on her shoulder and cringed.

“What’s happening-Roman!” Alisha streaked across the room and flung herself at him. Armando caught her and held her back. “Take it out of him!” Alisha shrieked, reaching for the stake.

“We can’t, Alisha. It’s rosewood. Once it enters our bodies it starts to grow within us, sprouting thorns, twisting its way through us. Roman’s dying and we can’t stop it,” Armando explained in a soft tone.

“No, not Roman. Not like this!”

“Alisha, be strong for him,” Armanda urged, then released her.

Alisha fell to her knees at Roman’s side. “Roman...please...”

“Alisha, don’t cry. Please, don’t cry,” Roman whispered. “Everyone must die. Even Roman Socoli.” He forced a pained smile and gently caressed her cheek with bloodied fingertips. The blood vanished into her pale skin.

Vanora watched, her chest heaving and her lungs struggling for breath. The thick swath of blood Roman had left in his wake was now flowing toward him as though trying to catch up with his torn body. As quickly as his blood absorbed into his body, it gushed out of his wounds.

“Not you, Roman. You mean so much to so many people. I need you to help me survive. Vanora needs you, too. We all do. I don’t want you to leave us.” Alisha’s anguish was tangible and overwhelming.

Roman gently lifted her face as he whispered, “You’re strong, Alisha. You’re my legacy. My strength.”

Vanora shuddered as Roman’s blood ceased to return to him and instead crept up over Alisha’s body like long, red liquid snakes. Shivering, Alisha gripped Roman’s hand as his blood started to flow into her over her lips and into her mouth.

“Let it happen,” Armando ordered. “He’s giving you his power.”

Stepping forward, Vanora clasped her hands to her breasts. It was a terrible thing to see, Roman’s blood leaving his body to fill Alisha, yet she could feel the power flowing from her brother to infuse her sister. As gruesome as it was to witness, the moment was filled with love and it brought tears to her eyes.

Armando held out his hand to Vanora, beckoning her closer. “He’s nearly gone, Vanora. Say your goodbye.”

Stepping around her sister, Vanora crouched beside the sofa. Resting her head close to Roman’s, she gazed into his eyes. The life within them was dim. Gently, she laid her hand on his cheek. “I love you, Roman.”

“You’re my little Snow Pea.” His voice was barely audible. “My little sister. My little girl.”

When she pressed her lips to his brow, it was cold and hard like stone. “You were the best dad, Roman.”

That brought a small smile to his greying lips.

Thorns and roots started to puncture through his skin, but no blood flowed. Instead, his flesh fell away like gray ash.

“Roman,” Alisha sobbed, her lips red with his blood. “Don’t go.”

Vanora dared to touch Roman’s cheek. It crumbled beneath her touch, then sifted away in a cloud of dust. Falling back into her sister’s embrace, Vanora watched as Roman’s body vanished into a pile of dark ash piled around the twisted, thorny branch of a rose bush.

“It’s over,” Armando whispered, falling to his knees.

Roman was gone.

Epilogue

*
* *

The pale moonlight glinted on the choppy waves of the Gulf of Mexico. In the distance, the coastal towns were a necklace of sparkling lights. Aeron stood on the deck of the ship, his hands gripping the cold metal rail. Out of the darkness, the She-Wolf approached.

“It’s colder than I remembered, Leto.”

“It’s winter.” Leto drew to his side, her dark hair tangled by the wind.

Aeron chuckled. “Not like the winters of my homeland.”

“Of course not. We are in the summer lands.” Leto tilted her head, regarding him with her keen wolfen eyes. “I have word from Lorelei.”

“What is the word?”

“Roman is dead. Slayed by her hand.” Leto’s full lips smirked.

“So it begins.” Aeron stretched out his long arms, bones popping and muscles stretching. He was looking forward to the coming purge. Already he was yearning for a new battle. “How did she kill him?”

“Rosewood.” Leto leaned her hip against the rail and directed her gaze toward him.

“A brutal, painful death that there is no escape from. That’s my darling little one.” Aeron laughed with delight.

“They’ll flee now that Roman is dead,” Leto said.

Aeron’s white hair twisted about his head like snakes. It was longer than usual and gave him the appearance of an ancient warrior. “No, no, they won’t. Vanora will stay and fight. It’s her nature.”

“What of the Roman’s vampires? The rogues?”

“It doesn’t matter if they run. I’ll find them and kill them.”

Leto inclined her head. “Of course.”

“There will be no mercy for the bastard children of rogue vampires.”

“What of Armando and Carlotta?”

That Leto should question him about Carlotta was not surprising, but Aeron felt defensive in regards to Armando. “Armando is my faithful son and will watch over Vanora as I ordered. Carlotta will be angry, but she’s fickle. She’ll find someone else to direct her affections toward soon enough.”

“You don’t think she will turn on you for betraying her?”

Aeron shrugged. “I kept my word to her. I didn’t kill Roman.”

Leto slightly wagged her head. “No, no. You just ordered it.”

“My hands are not stained by his blood.” Aeron placed one of his huge hands on Leto’s chest, just above the curve of her breasts. His fingers and palm covered most of her flesh. He was always surprised at how warm the She-Wolf flesh was whenever he touched her.

Leto lifted her wolf-eyes to his, her full lips slightly twisted upward to reveal long wolf teeth. “You’re colder than the night.”

“You’re as warm as sunlight.” Boldly, he slid his hand under the collar of her knit top to feel the heaviness of her breast.

Slightly narrowing her eyes, Leto allowed him to touch her, but her long fingers were slowly sprouting claws.

“The breasts that fed the first of the wolf-children,” he said in awe, then released her.

The long, black claws of the She-Wolf tapped against the metal rail. “I have what you crave. A legacy of children.”

“What I
will
have. The purge will wipe clear the world of the undesirables and I shall begin again. My children will rule by sun and moon and no one will stand in their way.” Aeron straightened his spine and stood tall, facing the salty wind. “The Seven Sisters are dead. It’s a new era. Soon, the new Seven will rise to claim the world in my name.”

Leto regarded the sliver of the moon hanging in the dark sky above them. “As it was prophesied...”

“As it was prophesied,” Aeron agreed. “I will not forget my vow to you, Leto. The wolves will once again be strong and not feral beasts lurking in the shadows.”

“As long as you do not keep your promise to me in the same manner as you kept your promise to Carlotta, I will stand with you.”

Aeron regarded the woman beside him that was virtually a goddess. She was beautiful, deadly, cruel, and powerful. A worthy ally in every regard. If Vanora was not his prophesied future, he would have tried to woo Leto into his bed and make her his queen. Instead, he was determined to have the She-Wolf at his side as his most trusted general. Yet, he wondered how long their truce could truly last. Once he claimed the world, would she turn on him? He supposed he would have to wait and see.

“Leto, Carlotta is a child. You are a trusted ally. I will not break my word to you.”

Leto gave him a curt nod. “Then all is well.”

“All is well,” Aeron agreed.

The ship sailed onward toward Houston.

Episode 9:

The Purge

Vanora stared aghast at the viscous, red liquid covering the whiteness of her palms and fingers.

There was blood on her hands.

Roman's blood.

Kneeling at her side, Alisha sobbed so fiercely, her body shuddered.

On the sofa, Roman's ashen remains coated the gnarled, thorny branch of the rosewood stake that had killed him.

Vanora wanted to scream, or cry, or rage, but all she could do was stare at the blood coating her hands.

“Vanora,” Armando said, his fingers resting gently on her shoulder as he rose to his feet.

Wrenching away, she refused his sympathy. She didn't want to be comforted. She wanted her brother to be alive.

“It killed him.” Alisha stretched out her hand toward the twisted remains of the weapon that had killed their brother.

“Don't,” Armando ordered. “You'll disturb his remains and he deserves a proper burial.”

Face twisted in grief, Alisha nodded and withdrew her hand.

Vanora wanted to comfort her older sister, but she was afraid to. She had seen how Roman's blood had slithered across the floor and soaked into Alisha's flesh. The blood on Vanora's hands was all that remained of her beloved brother. She didn’t want to see it disappear into Alisha’s pale skin.

“What am I supposed to do?” Alisha whispered. “What am I supposed to do?”

“We need to tell the other vampires,” Armando answered. “They need to be warned that we're being hunted.”

“By who?” Alisha cried out. “Who killed my brother?”

“Lorelei,” Vanora replied. “Her name is Lorelei.”

“How do you know this?” Armando squatted next to Vanora and slanted his head to gaze at her face.

“Roman said he's been talking to her and invited her here tonight. She looks like a teenager. Really young.” Vanora was surprised she could even speak. She didn’t feel anchored to the world, but adrift in the darkness, not really in her body, or part of the terrible events around her. “He called her Lorelei.”

“Armando, do you know her?”

Armando answered Alisha with a brief bob of his head.

“Who is she?” Alisha grabbed Armando’s arm, her knuckles white as her fingers dug into his flesh.

Vanora watched Armando with unease, waiting for his answer.

“She's one of the old ones. The vampires I tried to warn Roman about.”

“Why didn’t you tell us her name?” Alisha tried to shake Armando, but he just stared at her hand as though it were a slight irritation.

“You didn’t know she was the one that was going to kill him, did you?” Vanora’s thoughts sifted through her dream. Even she hadn’t seen who had struck down Roman. It was difficult for her to believe that Armando wouldn’t have told them exactly who was after their brother if he’d known.

“No, I did
not
,” Armando answered emphatically.

It felt like the truth. Or maybe Vanora just wanted it to be.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Sheila asked from the doorway. Her thin face grew grim as she surveyed the scene before her. When her gaze finally settled on the sofa, she let out terrible sound of despair. “No!”

Alexander followed Sheila into the study and came to a standstill when he saw the ashes and stake. Though clearly mortified by what the scene before him, the mute vampire clutched his lover's arms and dragged her into his arms. Sheila clung to him, her cries filling the air.

Vanora wished she could cry, but all she could do was stare at the spot where Roman had died.

“What’s going on? Where’s Roman?”

Carlotta's voice.

Vanora raised her head to see the beautiful woman standing in the entrance to the room. Red lips parting in a silent scream, the woman gripped the sides of her head with her hands. Staggering forward, Carlotta's enlarged eyes sought out Armando.

“Carlotta, I'm sorry...” Armando said, moving to intercept her.

“No!” Carlotta snapped. “No! It's not true!”

Vanora pulled herself onto the chair near the sofa and stared at the twisted gnarled branch with its wicked thorns. “He's gone, Carlotta. That stake killed him.”

Carlotta flung herself into the ashes, soiling her dress. “No! No! He was mine! He was mine!”

Armando dragged her away. “Don't make this worse!”

“How can it be any worse? Roman is dead! I loved him,” Carlotta shrieked, her long nails digging into Armando's arms. “Who killed him? Who killed him?”

“Lorelei,” Alisha answered. “A vampire named Lorelei.”

Vanora saw recognition in Carlotta's expression, then the vampire woman let out an agonizing howl. “He promised! He promised me! I loved Roman! He said he was mine!” Carlotta fell to her knees, her hands covering her face.

“Carlotta, you must calm yourself,” Armando urged. He attempted to lay his hands on her shoulders, but she slapped at him.

“No! Don't you dare touch me! Did you know? Did you know that Roman would die tonight?” Carlotta hissed through her teeth like a snake.

“No, I didn't. I've been trying to get him to leave before something like this happened.”

“Did you?” Carlotta's tone was mocking.

Vanora stared at Roman’s blood with glassy eyes. The conversation unfolding around her was difficult for her muddled mind to follow. She just wanted everyone to leave so that it could be quiet.

“Of course! I loved Roman like a brother!” Armando seemed wounded by the accusation in Carlotta's words.

“He was trying to save him,” Alisha spoke up. “Just like me and Vanora.”

“Well, you failed!” Carlotta shrieked in despair and anger. Rising to her feet, she whirled on Armando. “Did you know Lorelei was coming tonight? Did you? Tell me the truth!”

“No, I didn't!” Armando shouted.

“Liar! You knew! You were toying with me earlier! You knew that it was all a lie! That Roman would never be allowed to live!” She lunged at Armando and Alisha caught her, preventing her from raking Armando with her long nails.

“He was trying to save Roman, you stupid bitch!” Alisha wrenched Carlotta away, then pushed her toward the doorway where frightened guests were beginning to gather. “You’re upset, Carlotta. Armando had nothing to do with this! A vampire named Lorelei killed Roman. Do you know her?”

“Know Lorelei?” Carlotta laughed hysterically. “I fear her! As should you!”

Vanora tried to focus on the words being spoken. She sensed important information was slipping past her due to her frazzled state. “Why did she do this?”

Carlotta pointed at Vanora. “You will know soon enough, you stupid little bitch!”

“Hey! Back down, Carlotta! We're all upset!” Sheila shouted, moving in to intercept the angry woman. “There’s no need to insult Vanora.”

“She’s the cause of all of this! She’s not the innocent mortal girl you believe her to be!”

“Carlotta, that is enough!” Armando said through gritted teeth.

The vampire woman was beyond reason. Face flushed and her dark eyes flashing with red fire, she lifted her chin haughtily.  “This is not the last death. My Master is coming for all of you and you will all die!”

“Who is your Master?” Alisha demanded, seizing Carlotta by the arms. “What are you talking about?”

Carlotta threw back her head, her sour laughter ringing throughout the room. She whirled out of Alisha’s grasp.

The gathered vampires stared at the enraged vampire with fear.

“I loved Roman but he was a fool! He was doomed to die! You are all doomed to die!” Carlotta’s dress drifted around her, melting into a blue vapor. She raised her hands high above her head before abruptly dropping them. Her body imploded into a swirling mist.

Armando dragged Vanora out of the chair and pushed her behind him. Drawing a silver dagger, he stood between her and vortex.

Out of the iridescent mist emerged a huge white wolf. It glared with glowing red eyes at the vampires then howled. It bounded onto Roman’s desk scattering books, pens and the laptop onto the floor before launching itself through the window, glass raining onto the lawn below as the wolf sprinted away.

Angel stepped toward the broken window. “She'd have to be drinking human blood to have the power to do that.” There was longing in his voice. “I used to be able to turn into a jaguar.”

The murmurs of the vampires were a distant sound as Vanora leaned against the bookcase behind her. She felt weak and tired.

“Should we go after her?” Sheila asked.

Alisha shook her head. “We'd never catch her. We're not that strong.”

A cold, damp breeze drifted through the window, stirring Roman's remains. Vanora looked down at her stained hands and let out a whimper.

Roman was gone.

Armando watched helplessly as the world Roman had so meticulously created crumbled in the wake of his tragic death.

As word of Roman's demise spread among the guests , the party outside ended as a wake took its place within the mansion. Roman’s friends and followers drifted into the study to pay their respects and seek answers. Sheila bravely took on the task of explaining what had happened to Roman, leaving the Socoli sisters to mourn.

Some wept openly while others appeared too shocked to react. The newer vampires hurried away, frightened with the turn of events. Those who had been with Roman the longest took it upon themselves to patrol the grounds in hopes of finding Lorelei despite Armando's admonishments. It angered him that they disregarded him when he told them the truth: that Lorelei was much more powerful than they were.

Meanwhile, Alexander helped Alisha carefully scoop Roman's remains into a decorative box so it could be placed in the mausoleum. Alisha had regained some of her composure and her lips were set in a tight line as she performed the grim task.

Vanora had returned to the chair near the sofa. Her lavender eyes were glassy and distant, and Armando doubted she was truly listening or even seeing what was occurring around her. When her gaze appeared to focus, it rested on her bloodstained hands. Vanora shrugged off any attempt to console her. She was lost in her own thoughts. Armando was certain it was a frightening place.

Armando took it upon himself to try to bring order to the household. It was difficult with so many vampires drifting through the house. He herded the remaining guests into the foyer and posted Zachery and Angel as guards near the staircase. The last thing Armando wanted was people wandering through the mansion if there was the possibility of another attack.

Once he was satisfied that things were under control with the guests, he searched out the only humans in the house other than Vanora. He found Miss Robbins and Ryan in the kitchen. Looking pale and quite nervous, Ryan held a shotgun in his hands.  Beside him, his wife dabbed at her tears with a clean kitchen towel. A butcher knife lay on the counter before her ready to be used as a weapon.

"Is he really dead?" Miss Robbins cried out when she saw the vampire on the threshold.

"You need to go. Both of you." He tugged his wallet out of his jacket and emptied all the cash onto the counter. "Take this for now. Consider it a form of severance"

"You're firing us?" Miss Robbins gasped.

"No, I'm making sure you're safe. I want you to take this cash, get in your car, and start driving.  Use the cash I gave you. Not your cards. When you reach somewhere safe, call this number. It's a service I use. They help relocate people. I will pay for everything."

"Like witness protection?" Ryan took the money and business card with a trembling hand.

"Yes. Exactly." Armando didn't want to frighten the mortals, but he knew they had to understand the truth of the situation. "There is a good chance all of us will be dead soon. Roman was killed by a powerful vampire. All of Roman's followers are now targets. You need to leave tonight before it starts. This was just the beginning. A warning of what is to come."

Ryan nodded somberly. "You'll take care of Vanora and Alisha?"

"I'll protect them, Ryan."

"I can't leave them!" Miss Robbins protested.  Fingers gripping the edge of the counter, she stared at Armando with a stricken expression. "I've been with them since they were babes! You can't make me leave them!"

Looking to Armando for his cues, Ryan's hands nervously caressed the rifle in his hands. "We need to go, honey."

"I need to console them! I just can't leave!"

Armando stepped toward Miss Robbins, catching her gaze with his own. "You need to go."

“I can’t! They need me!” she protested.

Armando unleashed his power and it seized her mind. Armando repeated, “You need to go.”

In a daze, Miss Robbins said, "I need to go."

Ryan gave Armando a sharp look, then let out a low exhalation. Acceptance in his eyes, Ryan gripped his wife’s arm and tugged her away from the vampire.

“Ryan, I need to go,” Miss Robbins repeated.

“Yes, you do. We both do.” The scrawny man led her toward the rear exit. "Armando, you take care of the girls. I have a feeling you're the only one who can."