RBC05 - Bloodline (5 page)

“No, only that it is probably not a Belnovus. It is more likely a Noctu and if I had to give you a guess, it would be Nevidius.”

“Do you know this…Nevidius?”

“He’s my brother.”

I must have looked surprised, because he smiled crookedly and then continued.

“There is nothing like family drama, is there? I won’t bore you with my personal story. My brother and I don’t see eye to eye and I haven’t spoken with him for several centuries, but I hear things. Belial herself enjoyed telling others about how close they had become, knowing that it would eventually get back to me.”

“What is he getting out of this now that she is gone?” Cathos inquired.

“Power I suppose. He always hated the day vampires, especially the royals, and joining with Belial’s vampires allows him a chance to rid the world of them.”

“Tell me about his power then. If he’s a Noctu he’s more vulnerable in the light, is that correct?”

He checked his nails as if becoming bored with this conversation.

“We are the more traditional kind of vampire after all, and we tend to sleep during the day. But yes, he is the most cunning vampire I’ve ever known, and he won’t be easy to find if doesn’t want to be found.”

“Is he gifted?”

“Very.”

He purposely paused, letting me think of all the gifts this elusive Noctu might have.

“He can smell you coming and his mind control is stronger than any other vampire, but especially when used on women. Even other vampires are easily controlled by him.”

“You are telling me that you think I would be vulnerable to his charms?”

“I have heard that you are very powerful in your own right and now having met you in person, I feel that you would be…”

He seemed to be trying to read my aura, but I had no intention of letting him know just how powerful I was.

“I don’t think your brother is going to charm Katrina unless she wants him to,” Cathos interjected. “You know what happened to the Dark Prince, don’t you, Rafael?”

“Yes, yes I do. But Nevidius, no doubt now has power gleaned from Belial to add to his vampire gifts. Tell me Katrina, how many of your so called Protectors have turned their backs on you?”

“Only one that I know of,” I acknowledged.

He smiled and finished off the blood in his goblet, licking the corner of his mouth to savor the last drop.

“Nothing like fresh human blood, don’t you agree Katrina?”

“I prefer to hunt.”

Rafael clapped his hands loudly in front of him, “Well, this has been fun. We should do it again sometime.”

He stood and started towards the door. “We’ll meet again, I’m sure of that. Cathos, if you would.”

Cathos waved his hand dismissively and Rafael disappeared.

“That’s quite a wry smile, Cathos. What have you gleaned from Raphael’s answers to my questions that I didn’t?”

“It’s not what he said Katrina; it’s what he didn’t say. He has more than one brother and the one he mentioned is
not
the one I would have chosen. No, the one that now I am sure is the leader you seek, is not Nevidius, it’s Auguste. He was telling the truth about one thing, his brother is ruthless, cunning and he has some of Belial’s power. As for Rafael, I marked him so that you can follow his every move and I am sure if you do, you will eventually find all
seven
of his brothers. You realize he was testing you as well. He needed you to confirm Damien’s defection, which you did.”

“Why would he tell me things knowing that you knew different?”

“I guess I need to explain Jinn power, especially mine. No inhabitant of the underworld knows of its true extent. Nor do I have any intention of ever divulging exactly how powerful I am. Certain things are written down, but it is rare for someone to have access to these writings. Yes, I could access his truth. When I searched Althar with my mind for a vampire who could help you, he was shown to me and I brought him here.”

“But he didn’t have to tell me anything, yet I felt he was going to help us.”

“Yes, whether he wanted to or not. Like every male creature, he’s drawn to you. Don’t look shocked, you must realize this by now.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cathos. Can you tell me where this brother is then?”

“No, but none of them are here in Althar or I would be able to detect them. And before you ask, there are only certain things that I am allowed to do in your world. These Noctu or night vampires are from the underworld after all, they may not all be evil per say, but they are very different from you and your kind. Their only goal in life is to prey on those weaker than them, feed and possibly grow their numbers.”

“Not so different from some of my kind after all. Vampires are carnivores, we all hunt. It’s only because we have consciously made a decision not to hunt humans that we are set apart. I could, of course say the same thing about Demon Kings.”

Cathos laughed, “You are right, we are of the darkness, but not all of us are dark. But Katrina, in all seriousness, I’m not sure you should take on these vampires right now.”

“I have to. I feel that with all of my being now! In fact could we capture one of them? If I could bring back some blood from one, I’m sure that would be enough.”

“Calm down, I’ll take care of it.”

He closed his eyes for a moment and a Belnovus female appeared. Before she could speak she slumped to the ground.

“Is she dead?”

“No, simply unconscious, I thought it would be easier.”

“Thank you, Cathos.”

“Before I send you back with her, promise me that you will do only what you need to do.”

He walked to me and offered his hand. I placed my hand in his and stood.

“I’ll do what needs to be done. We, as the Five are always in harm’s way, because we meet the evil in its domain. We know the dangers and do as much as we can to be safe.”

“Come back as often as you need to, Ceron and I will do whatever we can to help.”

“I know.”

I walked over, and stood next to the slumbering female vampire and then nodded giving Cathos the signal to send us back to the laboratory.

“Katrina, what’s happened?” Allwain said as he rushed to my side.

“This is one of Belial’s children, which I learned are called Belnovus. I thought we could find out if the water treatment worked on their kind, if we had a captive. You take her. I don’t want to know what you have to do.”

“They are our enemies, Katrina.”

“Well she isn’t, and after all she hadn’t followed the others into our world.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. The only reason more didn’t follow is because they didn’t have the power to do so.”

“That’s not what I’m feeling,” I said over my shoulder.

I left Allwain to deal with her. I wanted to hunt. I
needed
to hunt, so I raced away, out into the wilderness. I picked out a young bull elk and chased it until my blood pulsed through my veins at an exhilarating rate and I felt completely free.

I made the kill easily and savagely fed. When my hunger was finally satiated, I looked up to find Quinn leaning against a tree staring at me. There was no judgment in his eyes, but there was also no expression at all on his face to tell me what he was feeling.

After a moment, he uncrossed his arms and walked slowly towards me. I stood, still not knowing what to expect. After all, he had never witnessed my feeding like that before.

He said nothing as he drew closer, finally stopping inches away. His right hand clutched the back of my neck and pulled me to him. He smelled me, his nostrils flaring like an animal as he took in my scent, his breath on my cheek aroused my every sense.

“I love you,” he whispered. “I’ve always loved you.”

My stomach tightened and I could feel tears welling.

“I love you too, Quinn and I always will.”

He kissed me, beginning slowly and letting it deepen in passion. My fists filled with the back of his vest as time stood still.

“I don’t want to go back, not yet,” I said when the kiss finally ended.

He was so handsome. I reach up to brush the hair away from his forehead so that I could see those beautiful, blue, Voss eyes. They reflected the depth of his desire. He wanted me, but I could see questions there too. At that moment, indecision was cast aside, I wanted him too.

I backed away from him and without breaking our gaze, slowly started to remove my clothes. His expression remained unchanged.

He watched me for a few moments before he began mirroring my actions.

When we finished, he walked to me. He reached his arm out, curved his hand around my side and then ran a single finger slowly down my naked spine before lifting me up into his arms. His eyes raking my form as he , carried me to the thick moss-covered ground below an ancient pine and laid me down upon its lush, green softness.

We took our time exploring each other’s bodies. As we brought our relationship to a new level, he was so gentle and loving that I wanted these moments to last forever.

We finally drifted to sleep in each other’s arms. It was the most peaceful sleep that I had enjoyed in months.

“Wake up, Katrina,” Quinn whispered as he softly stroked my hair. “It’s time to go back before someone sends out a search party.”

“Allwain would be able to find us,” I said raising my head from his bare shoulder to give him a kiss.

Quinn sighed and dropped his head back down on the moss.

“What are you thinking?” I asked trying to read his expression.

“I know you’re going to leave soon, and that it will be my job to stay and make sure the Watchers are in place.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because it’s what you do. Don’t get me wrong, I have no delusions about our relationship. I’m just happy to be in your life and that as a vampire I’ll
always
be a part of your life.”

“I’m thankful for that too, and the fact that you never gave up on me.”

“Come on let’s go back. Maybe Allwain has good news for us.”

“
That
would be nice for a change wouldn’t it.”

We dressed and raced each other back. I won of course.

“I let you win. Besides, I was carrying an elk.”

“Look, Nathaniel is up and about!”

Quinn dropped the Elk and we raced over and joined Nathaniel where he stood with Kellen, one of the last surviving members of his clan.

“Good to see you’re up Nathaniel, how are you feeling?”

“Better, thanks to all of you. Now that I am fit, I want to help. What do you need me to do?”

“I know you want revenge, and I swear that you shall have it.”

“
Katrina, I need you to come to the laboratory right away,”
Allwain called.

“I’m sorry, Allwain needs me. We’ll talk later, I promise.”

I headed to Allwain’s alone, but was soon joined by the rest of the Five.

“Did Allwain call all of us?”