The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of Ash (17 page)

“An uprising?” A female voice rings out. “Please. As if mere
humans
could be a threat.”

I turn my head toward the speaker. It’s Deanna, the very last of vampires to be given a position in the Royal Court.

“There are nearly four hundred vampires living in The Haven,” she continues. “And what? Three, four thousand humans? A little more? I say, let them rise.” She looks at her nails. “A single vampire is easily the equal of ten men. It’s time to remind them
why
we
rule.”

The Queen looks around. “Does anybody else feel that way?”

Silence greets her. There are a few soft coughs. The tension is thick.

“Just as I thought,” Mother says. She sounds perturbed.

“How do you intend to strengthen our defenses?” a vampire ventures.

“Oh. That.” The Queen smiles. “I will seal the wards around The Haven. Until we discover how James escaped, not a single vampire, not a single being, not a single
soul
will be allowed in or out of the sanctuary. You will inform the coven vampires of my decision.” She looks around the Court. “You may go.”

PHILLIP

A chorus of voices rings out at my Mother’s announcement.

“No!”

“You can’t do that!”

“How will we get fresh blood?”

“The Royal Court will
not
stand for this!”

“SILENCE!” Mother screams. Her shout is accentuated by a loud clap of thunder—doubtlessly another of her spells.

It takes a few more moments for the commotion to die down. When it does, a heavy darkness hangs in the air.

“You’ve trapped us,” Bradley murmurs. “When word spreads of what you’ve done… well.” His voice goes an octave lower. “Humans revolting will no longer be your biggest concern.”

“You wouldn’t be suggesting I should trouble myself with worries about my most loyal
vampire
subjects protesting, would you?” the Queen asks sweetly.

“That is
exactly
what—”

He doesn’t get to finish.

Mother’s hand lashes out. A blast of blue light bursts from her fingertips. It hits Bradley square in the chest. He flies back and crashes into the wall, where he goes down hard. Smoke rises from his limp body.

Silence of the worst kind descends upon us. When the smoke clears, there is a gaping hole right where the blue light struck.

Right where his heart used to be.

“A shame,” Mother sighs. “To waste someone so young. Does anybody
else
want to offer their most sage council?”

Disgust and revulsion build in my throat. But I keep my thoughts to myself.

Nobody speaks. The Queen nods. “I thought so.”

I rise from my seat and immediately start out of the room. I cannot take being here in her presence.

“Phillip?” Mother calls out. “Do you have something you want to add?”

“I need some fresh air,” I grumble, and leave before I can witness any more atrocities.

On the other side of the door, I find Eleira anxiously waiting.

“What’s going on in there?” she asks. “I heard a crash.”

“Mother just murdered one of the members of her Royal Court,” I inform her flatly.

She gasps. “Raul,” she begins. “Is he all right?”

“My brother’s fine,” I say. The doors fly open and the remaining vampires storm out. None are happy with how events played out. In fact, most look furious. But if they didn’t know better than to go against my Mother before—they do now.

They cast menacing glares at Eleira as they pass. I step beside her to show them she has my support. It might not mean much, not from the strength-hierarchy perspective, but at least it lets them know she’s not alone.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they attempted to take out some of their anger on her, to get back at the Queen.

When all have passed, the doors to the meeting chambers remain open. Eleira and I walk inside.

Raul is in a heated argument with our Mother.

“Have you gone insane?” he explodes. “Incinerating a human slave is one thing. But attacking, and killing, a member of your Royal Court! It’s unthinkable! It’s maniacal. It’s—”

“Necessary,” she says smoothly. “I had to remind the Court who remains in control. It was a similar demonstration with the humans. The Haven is being threatened from the Outside, my son dearest, and I cannot have discord amongst my people.”

“Well, you’re going to have it now,” Raul snarls. He flings a finger at Bradley’s body. “Word’s going to reach all of the other vampires in minutes. Bradley was right. If you thought a human uprising was bad—”

“Raul.” She says his name calmly. “From one murderer to another, tell me… do you really care so much for Bradley’s life?”

My head swings to my brother. Suddenly, he looks a little pale.

“…What?” he murmurs.

“Come now.” Mother fixes him with a sweet smile and glides to his side. “Did you think you could hide the truth of my four most loyal guards’ death from me?”

Raul’s eyes flash. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh really?” Mother seems amused. She glances at Eleira, who’s watching all this with an unreadable expression on her face. “Did you think you could hide the fact that you murdered Andrey and his three companions from me forever?” She shakes her head. “How small your mind is if you thought you could.”

Disbelief washes through me. “You’re accusing Raul—” I begin.

“Yes, I’m accusing him!” Mother snaps. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense. He was always so jealous of James’s friends. Why wouldn’t he take the opportunity to do something about it, to
prove his strength
, in the commotion that he himself caused?”

“Raul…” Eleira says. Her voice is hoarse. “Is this true?”

Raul locks eyes with her. He looks caught, stricken, fraught with indecision. If I know one thing about my brother, it’s that he’s rarely undecided.

That makes his guilt plain as day.

Before he can speak, I step forward. “You placed those same deaths at Patricia and Jacob’s hands!” I say. “You already carried out their sentences! Jacob’s soul is locked in one of your horrid paintings for
eternity
because of what you did!”

Mother gives a casual shrug. “Better there than left running around unrestrained throughout The Haven.”

“You really are mad,” I whisper. “Do you understand the things you are doing?”

“Yes, I understand quite well,
Phillip
,” she snaps. “I’m tired of you and Raul second-guessing me. If you could be more like Eleira… my sweet, precious Eleira…”

She walks to the girl. Raul steps in her way. “You will
not,
” he growls, “approach her, Mother.”

“I am Queen. I will do what I want.”

“Your rule has gone too far,” he says. “The powers have gone to your head. You are openly killing vampires sworn loyal to you! You condemned your own son to become one of The Convicted. You throw chains on your other—” he points at me, “—to force your will onto the third! No—I will not let you use Eleira. Not while I am here.”

Mother steps back. She gives a coy and dangerous smile. “Given all that you’ve seen,” she whispers, “are you sure it’s wise to challenge me? Right now?”

“Somebody has to stand up to you,” Raul says. “Somebody has to have the courage to tell you when you’re wrong. I—”

He stops when Eleira puts a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looks at her.

“Is it true?” she asks softly

Raul looks ruffled. “Is what true?”

“Did you kill the guards?”

Before he can answer, Mother walks to both of them and puts an arm around their shoulders. “Yes, it’s true,” she says. “I found a witness.”

Raul’s eyes narrow. “Who?”

“The human slave you spared in the fight.”

JAMES

Hours pass and none of the vampires stir. None make conversation. They all sit in their spots, waiting for Dagan to give the next command.

All of this rubs me the wrong way. With every minute that goes by, my anxiety about being this close to The Haven increases. We’re just sitting ducks out here. We should be moving!

At one point, Dagan stirs. I look at him, hopeful that it’s time to move. But he simply rolls over to change his position on the rock.

I grit my teeth in frustration. Patience has never been my strong suit. Neither has idleness.

An hour later, Dagan actually gets up. I look at him and start to rise. He fixes me with a glare that tells me to remain absolutely still… and turns around to walk to the farther reaches of the cave.

I wait until his footsteps fade from hearing. Then I wait some more, until I can no longer pick out his presence in the underground tunnel.

Only when I’m absolutely sure he’s gone, do I stand up and approach Riyu.

“You,” I say. Riyu looks up. “You can do magic. How?”

He looks at me, unblinking. He doesn’t reply.

I leer at him. “Look,” I say. “You know who I am. If you were smart, it would do you well to get in my good graces. My Father is the leader of your coven, and if you—”

Riyu yawns, bored, and turns away.

My anger flashes. “Look, you worthless maggot,” I snarl, seizing him by the neck. “If you think I’m just going to take your insults without—”

A blue halo bursts around Riyu. A sudden chill washes over my body. My limbs seize up. The cold quickly spreads, until only my tongue is left working.

“What…”

Riyu slips from my grip. He gives a little smile, a sly wink, and suddenly I’m free again.

I stagger back. Now my rage truly flares. I focus all my vampire strength onto him. He should be trembling when faced with somebody as strong as me.
All
the vampires in these caves should, other than perhaps Dagan.

“Kneel, worm,” I hiss. “Kneel to me and offer your apology. I will not be made a fool of by the likes of you!”

Riyu looks at me… and starts to laugh. It’s a high-pitched, almost feminine sound.

It infuriates me even more.

By now, the confrontation has attracted the attention of the other vampires. All of those so much weaker than me. Humiliation takes me that I cannot control any of them.

I try blasting my strength at him again. The vampire hierarchy is universal.
All
should abide by it. It’s in our nature. It’s implanted in our very souls.

But Riyu only looks at me and shrugs. The waves of power wash off him like water off a duck’s back.

“Go to sleep, James,” he says. His voice has a dreamy, ethereal quality to it. “Everything will go so much better if you don’t fight.”

Then, as if he has any right to dismiss me, he simply turns away.

I stare daggers at him, anger and hatred rising to make a vile concoction in my throat. I spin around, challenging the other vampires with my eyes. I can feel all their individual strength.
All
are weaker! Why are they not supplicating themselves to me?

That’s the moment I feel Dagan returning. I cast one last menacing stare around and, almost like a sulky child, go back to my spot.

The vampires around me do not so much as whisper a single word.

Does Dagan truly have such a tight rein over them?
I wonder. I remember their laughs and jeers when they were kicking me…

The monstrous vampire returns. One look at our company and his cheek twitches.

“What did you do?” he demands of me.

I try to play it cool. “Me? Nothing. I—”

The words choke off in my throat. Dagan extends his power over me, and I find myself all too eager to tell the truth.

“I wanted to speak to the others while you were gone. I attacked Riyu in my anger. He made a fool of me with his magic.”

Dagan’s hold on me vanishes. I gasp. How easy was it for him to bring that confession out of me? Only a vampire who is magnitudes of times stronger would ever think about attempting to do something like that!

“That’s not the first time Riyu’s been underestimated.” Dagan snorts. Some of the others snicker.

Then they begin to laugh. Their laughter pierces my head, making my temples throb, making this feel like some sort of awful dream.

He cuts them off abruptly. The other vampires fall silent in perfect synchrony with him. I marvel at how easy he makes it seem, at how simple their coordination comes about.

“You used the Mind Gift on me!” I accuse. But something feels wrong about saying the words. It’s almost like I know they’re not true.

“No,” Dagan says. He swings the amulet around his neck once. “The confession came courtesy of this torrial.”

“AS YOU SAID,”
he booms in my head,
“ONLY A VAMPIRE WHO IS MAGNITUDES OF TIMES STRONGER THAN YOU WOULD ATTEMPT TO USE THE MIND GIFT LIKE THAT
.
”

Shock races through me. I know the torrial gives the ability for him to speak telepathically. But can he also read my thoughts?

Before I can do anything he turns away. “Get ready!” he booms at the others. “We’re leaving for The Crypts at once.” He looks at me. “You’d best prepare for the journey of your life.”

JAMES

As the other vampires make their preparations, I sit huddled alone on the spot assigned to me, thinking furiously.

Dagan’s voice was in my head. That shouldn’t come as a big surprise given what I’ve already experienced. But the fact that he
knew what I had thought…

It’s a terrifying proposition.

Every now and then I cast a glance at him. If he notices, he does not show it. I try to simultaneously keep my mind blank while maintaining my thoughts in the background, just beyond the edge of consciousness.

If he is in my head, how much can he glean? How much can he hear? Can he see my whole mind?

How far does the power of the torrial go?

Look at me, you big, ugly brute,
I think.

Dagan doesn’t so much as hitch his shoulders.

LOOK AT ME!
I scream inwardly.
SHOW THAT YOU CAN HEAR ME!