Kindling Flames: Burning Nights (The Ancient Fire Series Book 6) (3 page)

“Yes, and you’re the only vampire I know of who can live off old blood and not see some drop in power level,” Elliot explained. “It’s unnatural.”

The smile on Darien’s face fell away.

“In the last few decades, I’ve traveled through the country and seen vampires who are forced to survive on old blood,” Elliot explained. “It’s horrifying. In most vampire courts, it’s used as punishment. Old blood doesn’t have enough life in it to support a vampire and they wither away in agony. The fact that you live on the stuff is insane.” He paused and studied the confusion in Darien’s face. “If you’re this strong now, could you imagine what your power levels could be if you fed properly?”

“Well…” Darien looked away. He knew his strength waned when he survived off drawn blood alone, but he hadn’t realized that it was that big of a deal.

“Besides.” Elliot broke the silence Darien had left hanging. “I’ve been living off your drawn blood, and while I have seen a drop in my strength, it’s nothing compared to the last time I tried to live off that stuff.”

“Maybe Odette is doing something to it to preserve the life?” Darien suggested.

Elliot shook his head. “There’s not nearly the life in it that we need,” he argued. “Darien, I think this has something to do with your blood.”

Those old memories tickled at the back of Darien’s mind again. “Can’t be.” He brushed the feeling away. “There is nothing special about my blood.” He turned to start the car, but Elliot grabbed his arm again, preventing him from reaching the key.

“Please consider it,” Elliot begged. “Did your sire ever mention anything about it?”

Darien let out a suffering breath. “That was over nine hundred years ago.” He turned to look at Elliot again. “How am I supposed to remember that far back?”

Elliot squeezed Darien’s arm. “Try.”

Darien studied Elliot’s face for a long moment before giving in to the younger man’s demands. If delving into his past was what it took to set his friend straight, he would work to revive some of those faded memories. Leaning back in his seat, Darien turned his mind to the thing that had been nagging at him. It took him a few minutes, but he was able to bring up some things from his distant beginning. “I don’t remember the fire that killed my parents, but I do remember that I was ten when the monks turned me over to Master Brian.” His voice took on the Irish accent from his youth. “That wasn’t my master’s true name, but it was the name the villagers gave him. He was their strength, their protector, and he played the part well.”

Elliot listened intently as Darien went on about his childhood. This was a topic that Darien never went into.

“The village supplied Master Brian with blood offerings in exchange for his protection. Since times were hard, he didn’t take from the men. They needed their strength for work. The menfolk disliked him drinking from their women, for obvious reasons, so that left the old, sick, and children. Master Brian wouldn’t take from the sick or old, so his food came mostly from the children.”

“Children?” Elliot asked horrified.

“It’s not what you think.” Darien turned his head to look at him. “Healthy children are resilient and can afford to donate a little blood once in a while. Master Brian was very careful with the young and rewarded their families well. There were always parents willing to offer us their children in exchange for having their needs met, and there were more than enough children to go around.”

Elliot nodded his understanding. As long as the vampire wasn’t abusing his people, this seemed a logical line of reasoning.

Relaxing back into his seat, Darien closed his eyes again and continued on. “When I turned ten, my turn came up and the monks sent me to Master Brian. I remember being terrified of him, but he was very soothing. I don’t remember the actual bite or what happened afterward, but I do remember waking up in the care of the ladies Master Brian kept. Apparently, my master took too much and nearly killed me. The girls had spent several days tending me, praying that I would live. Once they were sure I would survive, they sent me back to the monastery with orders for the monks to sequester me.”

“Sequester?” Elliot asked.

“I didn’t understand it at the time, and to a ten-year-old child, the order was devastating.” Darien explained. “I spent seemingly endless days in the libraries transcribing manuscripts not knowing why I was being punished. It was two winters before Master Brian called for me again, and again, he nearly killed me in the feeding. This time when I awoke in his castle, the ladies wouldn’t let me leave. I was terrified.

“After a few days, Master Brian came to me and explained that he was taking me in. He changed my name to Aodhan and gave me free run of his castle, but I wasn’t to go outside the walls of the bailey.”

“And did you?” Elliot asked curiously.

Darien turned questioning eyes to him.

“Go outside the bailey?”

“Of course, I did.” He laughed. “I was a kid.” He let out a happy sigh. “Even though I had scars from the fire, I had every maiden in town chasing me by the time I hit sixteen.”

“And what did Master Brian say about it?” Elliot grinned.

“Oh, he was furious.” Darien laughed again. “See, I was somewhat of an unlucky child,” he explained. “I was forever getting myself hurt. Mostly little accidents here and there. If something were going to break, it would do it when I was on it. I nearly crippled myself once when the horse I was on startled and threw me. Thankfully, the healer of the village knew enough to pull the bone straight before packing the limb in comfrey. That was the last time I was allowed out alone.”

“What happened after that?” Elliot prompted.

Darien sat up in his seat and grinned. “After those agonizing months, Master Brian felt I needed more of an education and started training me in magic. I was a pretty good hedge mage by the time I hit twenty-five.”

“As fascinating as your childhood is, it still doesn’t answer the questions about your blood.” Elliot pointed out.

“Oh, yes.” Darien cleared his throat, getting back to the point. “There are a few things that I remember, but they didn’t hit me as odd until later.”

“Like what?”

“I was the only male in Master Brian’s menagerie that he fed from.”

“That’s not unusual.” Elliot pointed out. “Lots of male vampires only feed from females.”

“True, but the ladies were on a regular schedule. Master Brian would only take blood from me once every four moons. And then, only if there were two others present at the feeding.” Darien explained.

“That is a little odd,” Elliot agreed. “What else was off?”

“Well,” Darien cleared his throat a little uncomfortably, “there was my turning.”

Elliot’s eyebrows rose in surprise. He had once made the faux pas of asking Darien how he was turned. The older man had skirted around the subject, explaining it wasn’t something he liked recalling. “Go on.” Elliot prompted.

“Yes, well, Master Brian had received an envoy from Rome and restricted me to the tower,” Darien said as he fidgeted in his seat. “I don’t remember what it was that I felt I needed, but I decided to make a quick trip to the buttery. It was the middle of the afternoon, and no one should have been up.”

“But there was someone up,” Elliot guessed.

“Yes.” Darien said, pausing to let out a long breath in regret. “I never made it. I ran into the Roman envoy in the halls. He claimed he couldn’t rest in a strange place, but he had managed to get quite a distance from the chambers where my master had put him up. I remember we talked for a bit and when I turned to leave, he attacked me.”

“Just attacked you?” Elliot said flabbergasted.

Darien nodded. “I don’t remember anything else until I woke up four days later, turned.”

“What did your master say?”

“He was livid.” Darien shivered, remembering the rage Brian had flown into. “It wasn’t until later that I learned one of the maidens heard the commotion and came to my rescue. Apparently, my master hadn’t fully trusted the visiting vampire and armed all the ladies with vials of holy water. She threw it on him, driving him off, but he tore out my throat as he let go.” Darien raised his hand remembering the old injury. “She tried to save me, but the wound was too bad. It took four people to drag me across the castle and wake Master Brian. And it was almost too late. He wasn’t sure I would survive until I finally woke up.”

“Wow.” Elliot didn’t know what to say. Darien’s change sounded very similar to his beginnings. He pushed the memories of his own traumatizing transformation away. “What happened to the Roman?”

Darien shrugged. “Master Brian had him staked out in the sun.”

Confusion made Elliot question Darien’s story. “Wait, not to be callous about your turning, but isn’t death by sun a little severe? What about the envoy’s master. Shouldn’t he have been notified and compensation paid?” He ran over the rules that governed all vampires.

Darien let out a light snort in disgust. “I didn’t think it was severe at the time.” He gave Elliot a pointed look. “The man killed me with no remorse.”

“True.” Elliot nodded.

“But once Master Brian allowed me to leave Ireland, I discovered that this punishment was extremely harsh.” Darien paused as he remembered his past. “Unfortunately, I didn’t make it back to Glendalough in time to ask my sire before the English razed the monastery,” he said in a forlorn tone.

Elliot reached out and touched Darien on the arm, giving him comfort. “You couldn’t have done anything, even if you were there.”

“I know.” Darien sighed again. “I just feel that I let them all down.” Silence fell in the car as the two men processed the story.

After a few moments, Darien shifted in his seat to face Elliot again. “Look. If you ever have a problem, I want you to bring it to me.” Elliot opened his mouth to protest, but Darien cut him off. “I know you’re a master unto yourself, but you’re also my friend, and I hate to see you suffering. Even if you don’t think I can do anything, just talk to me. Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

Elliot stared at him for a moment before nodding his head. “All right, but you have to promise me the same.”

Darien chuckled as he faced forwards and started the car. “Deal. Now let’s get going before Patrick sends someone out to find us.”

Elliot laughed as they pulled out into the night. Nothing had really changed, but his heart felt lighter than it had in weeks.

Vanessa slid the last of the pins into Vicky’s hair and pulled the veil into place. “I really don’t know about this.” She shifted the beaded material around so it hung correctly.

Vicky turned to look at herself in the mirror. “It’s horrible.” She groaned and dropped her face into her hands, trying not to cry.

“It’s not that bad, darling.” Ann tried to console her daughter. “It just needs…” Fluffing out the edge of the veil, she tried to think of something to suggest. The veil was beautiful, but it clashed horribly with the dress. “Something,” she finished, unsure what it needed.

“To be killed with fire,” Vicky practically sobbed, ripping the veil from her head.

This was supposed to be her perfect day and it was turning into hell. She started the day by throwing up before she even got out of bed. It was a good thing she had started sleeping with the wastebasket by the bed. Zak had tried to comfort her, but her nerves were stretched so far she had snapped at him when he wouldn’t stop petting her. The hellhound had backed off to give her space, but he refused to let her out of his sight.

Ann carefully took the fragile headdress from Vicky before she could sling it across the room. “Maybe we should try something else.” She studied the spider-silk dress Vicky had donned. The delicate material of the gown started at the top in an elegant V-neck front before wrapping around to a low back and falling into pools of white that glittered like moonlight on fresh snow. “I think flowers would work better than this.”

She placed the veil safely on the dressing table that had been brought into the area set aside for Vicky. “Beth.” She turned to the younger woman. “Come and help me gather some roses from the centerpieces on the tables. If we take one from each display, we should have enough for a crown without hurting the arrangements.”

Beth nodded and followed the older woman towards the main room. “Maybe we could get some baby’s breath and some of those little daisies.”

“That’s a good idea.” The two women slipped out through the break in the curtain that divided this room from the rest of the warehouse.

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Vicky hissed as her stomach rolled, showing its unhappiness.

Vanessa placed her hand on the back of Vicky’s neck and forced her to bend over. “Just breathe,” she said as Maggie grabbed the trash can and pulled it over to Vicky’s side.

Zak whined and rubbed against Vicky’s leg.

“I should have just gotten plastered with the rest of you last night,” Vicky griped. “Then I could at least have a reason for feeling like crap today!”

Shushing her softly, Vanessa rubbed Vicky’s back, trying to ease the tension in her friend. “It’s just nerves,” she reassured Vicky. “Just relax and breathe, everything will be all right.” Looking up, she caught Maggie’s attention. “Can you get her some more ginger ale?”

Maggie nodded and went to get the half-empty bottle waiting by the dressing table.

“I don’t want any more ginger ale!” Vicky snapped and surged up from her seat, moving away from her worried friend. Her anger took her the length of the room. “I want this to be over with!” She clutched at her stomach when it rolled again. “I should’ve just run off with Darien when he suggested it.” Pivoting on her heel, she stormed back through the small space. “We could have hit Gatlinburg or Vegas and been done with this whole damn thing.” An idea hit her and joy flashed across her face. “That’s it!” She turned towards the part in the curtain. “I’ll get Darien, and we can just sign the damn papers and be done with this.”

“Oh no, you don’t!” Vanessa grabbed her by the arm and turned her around. “Think about all the people who came out today to watch you get married. You can’t just leave them hanging like that.”

“Better to leave them hanging than let them watch me puke on Darien in the middle of the ceremony!”

“Stop and think of Darien.” Maggie took Vicky’s other arm and helped Vanessa lead the distressed bride back to her seat. “You know this is important to him. How would he feel if you just wanted to call it off?”

“Darien wanted to elope!” Vicky snapped as she let her friend guide her back to her chair. “It was my stupid idea to have a wedding. Besides, he’s like a thousand years old. He’s probably had oodles of girlfriends. This romance crap has to be old hat for him by now.”

“Yes, Kian has known many women in his lifetime, but only two have ever managed to touch his heart. Though many have chased it.”

Vicky whipped around to see Lady Aine step through the curtain uninvited. “My Lady!” Irritation raced through her as she stood there staring at the fairy queen. The woman was as lovely as Vicky had ever seen her. Today, her gown was the color of burnished gold with dark embroidery around the sleeves and hem. Her long, dark hair was pulled back and braided in an elaborate style, ending in the most amazing roses woven out of the hair itself. It wasn’t fair that she looked so calm and serene on Vicky’s special day while Vicky felt like utter hell.

Vanessa cocked her head in confusion. “Two?”

“Kian has only loved one other,” Lady Aine confirmed, ignoring the annoyed look Vicky was shooting her.

“What happened to her?” Maggie asked curiously.

A sad smile slipped across the queen’s face. “He killed her.”

Vicky’s teeth clenched in anger. Was the queen baiting her?

“Why?” Maggie asked before Vicky could say something scathing to the fairy. She couldn’t see Darien taking the life of someone he loved.

The queen let out a forlorn sigh as she remembered the tale. “She was a most beautiful woman. Fair skinned, long dark hair, graceful. Kian pledged his heart to her for all time and she accepted. When it came time for him to share his fate with her, things went horribly wrong. Her mind shattered in the turning, leaving her but a husk of what she had once been. Nothing he did could heal the hurt she had taken and his only recourse was to free her from her suffering.” The queen pinned Vicky with a penetrating gaze. “This is why your love is so important to him. You heal the wound in his soul.”

Vicky swallowed as she took this in. Her anger cooled as she thought about the turmoil Darien had to have gone through in his love life. It made her rethink her position on calling off the wedding. Her discomfort seemed unimportant compared to the pain he had been through.

The queen’s eyes ran over Vicky’s slightly rumpled hair and missing veil. They landed on the beaded headpiece on the dressing table. “Is this what you plan to wear?” She went over and picked the veil up.

Vicky turned to watch the queen as she moved. “It was,” she admitted.

Lady Aine clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “This will never do.” She chucked the headdress across the room.

“Hey!” Vanessa protested and went to retrieve the discarded item.

Ignoring her, Lady Aine turned to look at Vicky. Reaching up, the queen started ripping pins out of Vicky’s carefully styled hair. Once it was free, she ran her fingers through the locks, sending them bouncing around Vicky’s shoulders in tight curls. With a flick of her hand, Lady Aine sent a wave of magic tingling over Vicky’s skin that solidified into a shimmering veil. Stepping around the still bride, she ran her hand up Vicky’s back, bringing out the wings Darien had worked so hard to remove. Finally, the queen ran her hand down the front of Vicky’s gown soothing her upset stomach. Once done, the queen stepped back and smiled at her work. “Much better.” Reaching out she took Vicky by the shoulder and turned her around. “Look.” She held her hand out towards a mirror that was set up next to the dressing table.

Vicky stared at her changed reflection in the glass. She was more beautiful than she thought possible. Her skin and hair glowed while the wings sparkled in the soft light of the room. Her jaw tightened in aggravation, and she took a deep breath trying to squelch the bitterness rising in her. The queen had just given her something without asking for some form of compensation. After her many dealings with the fay, Vicky knew this was rare, but she couldn’t accept the gift as it was. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate what you’ve done,” she said, trying to choose her words carefully, “but did you have to add the wings?”

“It would be a disservice if I let you out in anything but your finest.” Lady Aine smiled as she rubbed her finger against the sensitive membrane. “I think they are most fitting for one of my court.”

Vicky shivered at the touch. “But, I’m not of your court,” she protested, turning to face the queen.

“Oh, dear lady.” Lady Aine’s grin widened as she drew a finger down Vicky’s jawline. “You are still more than half mine.” Turning, she stepped away from Vicky.

“Please, can’t you release me?” Vicky begged. She was starting to get tired of the bouncy curls and sky blue eyes. “Can’t I just be me again?”

Lady Aine paused and gave her a disappointed look. “Yes. I suppose I could release you if that is what you want, but you should be glad to be fay-touched. Many would kill for the gift with which you have been blessed.”

“What gift?” Vanessa piped up before Vicky could make her request again.

The queen shifted her gaze to Vicky’s friend. “Why, the gift of immortality, of course.” She looked back at Vicky. “It’s not often I allow the little ones to meddle in the affairs of mortals, but in your case, I saw fit to let them play.”

Vicky’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“Of course, you are not truly immortal,” Lady Aine went on. “You can die if killed, but you will never wither with age.” She smiled warmly at Vicky. “Your mortal life is just a heartbeat to a vampire. With this most precious of gifts, you will be able to remain with Kian for all of his days. And he won’t need to bless you with his affliction. Consider it my wedding present to you both.”

Vicky closed her mouth, trying to process this. Of all the things the fay had done, this was not what she had expected. “But the wings…” she protested weakly, unable to let them go. But her plea had lost its power in light of this new knowledge. How could she complain about anything when compared to what she’d been given?

“I’m sure Kian already knows what to do about those.” The smile on the queen’s face turned impish.

Vicky’s skin flushed with embarrassment.

The queen glanced at Zak watching quietly from near the opening in the curtain before turning her attention back to Vicky. “Who’s going to walk you down the aisle?” she asked before turning and heading towards the hellhound.

Zak wiggled over to meet her halfway.

Stooping, she ran her fingers through the small fay’s wiggly ends as she cocked her head up and turned her gaze to Vicky.

“No one,” Vicky answered. She and Vanessa had a long discussion about who would be best to give her away. With her father dead and no male role models in her life, she couldn’t come up with a single person who would be right escorting her down the aisle.

The queen stood up and smiled at her. “I think I may be able to help you with that.” Pulling a jeweled dagger out of her bodice, she stared at the tentacled horror squirming on the floor.

Vicky squeaked as the fay queen dropped to the floor and drove the sharp blade deep into the center of the hellhound at her feet.

The tip of Zak’s tentacles quivered as Lady Aine knelt beside him and chanted softly.

“You ladies may not want to watch this,” she warned, yanked the blood-covered dagger out of the little monster, and stood up.

Vicky watched in horror as Zak writhed on the floor and split open. Ignoring the sounds of Vanessa gagging and turning away, Vicky never took her eyes off the transforming fay. She had seen this once when the hellhounds had been called for a Wild Hunt, but this was different. Zak wasn’t taking on the form of a dog or a black horse. His flesh shifted and remolded into something that was distinctly more human. She watched as skin flowed over the raw flesh leaving a man curled at the queen’s feet.

Lady Aine knelt down and petted him, soothing away what had obviously been a harsh transformation. “They usually can’t take this form, but on this occasion, I thought it would be nice.”

Shock and disbelief swirled through Vicky as she took a step towards the man. His skin was pale and his hair was black with a dark green cast. “Zak?”

Zak turned his changed face towards her.

Fear shot through Vicky as she studied him. He was amazingly handsome, or would have been, if his eyes had been normal. As it was, they were an inky black without whites of any kind. It was a very unnerving sight in a human face. She saw emotions race across his face as he caught the scent of her fear. Sadness and sorrow filled those intelligent eyes. Pushing away her fright, she dropped to the ground and held her arms out to him. “Come here, Zak.”