The Fires of Tartarus Read online

  I could see now, how this must have eaten away at him. Him the father of the race, he should be the one that was spoken of in hushed whispers, not a Master who had given up everything for the woman he loved. No doubt an act he would look on with contempt as a weakness. “I think it is time that particular tale was put to bed, in the appropriate manner.” The spite in his voice left me in no doubt of his intention as he sent a command to Corvus, but I still prayed I was wrong. I prayed that Corvus could fight him, even as I watched him bend down and pick up the knife as Ambrogio had clearly instructed him to do.

  “Kill her.”

  The words echoed around the still room with only the muffled snarls of the wolves to break the silence.

  Corvus stood with the knife in his hands, and I could feel how hard he was fighting the command. Ridiculously, I found I was smiling. My heart soared even though I knew I would likely not survive what was coming. He truly didn't want to kill me. He was fighting with all the strength he possessed even as Ambrogio screamed and shouted at him, repeating the command over and over. Suddenly Corvus flung the knife away from him and the clatter of it hitting the floor resounded around the room as it slid towards me. Ambrogio staggered like he'd been slapped. He couldn't command him.

  I could feel Corvus trying to peel away the remaining layers of power that held him still, the family urging him on, all of them trying to break Ambrogio's iron grip on their control, but I knew they would be too late even if they succeeded as Ambrogio turned his attention back to me. I lunged forward and snatched up the knife before darting back behind one member of his motionless entourage. Not that I thought he was beyond killing his own kin to get what he wanted.

  “I suppose you will believe the power of love won out?” His voice was low and venomous as he stalked me across the room, and I circled away from him, threading my way in and out of the silent vampires.

  “I do believe it,” I replied, breathing hard and watching a tiny movement in the far corner of the room. I swallowed and kept my eyes trained on Ambrogio.

  “Well believe all you want, but your husband is about to watch you torn to pieces before his eyes, and there will be nothing he can do to save you.”

  I ran and threw a volley of spells at him, but he was far too fast and they exploded harmlessly one after the other in the empty spaces he'd moved through. I would never be able to kill him or even transform him while his attention was fixed on me - he was just too fast. I needed a distraction.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw the movement again and knew my chance was about to come. There was a flash of tatty red fur and a familiar, large, battered ginger cat leapt onto the stage, settled down and began to wash, one leg stuck in the air as though everything going on around him was far beneath his notice.

  I began to move away, knowing that Ambrogio would mirror my movements, and he would be standing close to the stage. I flung the knife, far too wide to have a hope of hitting Ambrogio, but that had never been my intention. Ambrogio laughed, thinking my attempt failed as I ran directly at him to keep his attention on me. He just stood waiting, believing me running to my death, until the dagger plunged into his back, directly through his heart.

  Cain stood behind him, naked after transforming from his animal form and one arm tight around Ambrogio's neck as he pushed the knife home with all his strength. It should have been me to take his life. But as always Cain had stepped up when I needed him. Breathless, I stood before Ambrogio, throwing as much magic into him as I could to finish him off. Watching him die, I knew there was triumph in my eyes. With one last desperate act, he lashed out, his fist connecting with my jaw, and I flew across the room. His body burned and flames leapt as I smashed into the wall, landing badly and screaming as I felt bones breaking on impact.

  “Jéhenne!” I forced my eyes open at the sound of that wonderful voice, of the panic behind my name. “Jéhenne, are you hurt?”

  “Fuck, yes,” I muttered, clutching at my arm as tears streamed down my face, but the pain didn't worry me, not really. Not now. I was looking up into bright blue eyes wide with love and concern, and I couldn't focus on anything else.

  “Here.” He bent his head to bite into his wrist, but I stopped him with a shriek as I saw what was happening.

  “Cain!” I screamed. The vampires were all free from Ambrogio's control, but those he'd brought with them were in a frenzy. Their Master was dead and they wanted the killer. “Corvus, my brother, please!”

  I pushed his arm away and stumbled to my feet. “Jéhenne, you can't!” he objected.

  “Corvus, please!”

  “Dammit, woman!” he yelled in frustration, seeing the determination in my eyes. He yanked me close and kissed me hard. “Get him out of here when you can, I'll hold them off, and for the love of the gods be careful.”

  I didn't have time to thank him as Cain disappeared under a dark angry swirl of vampires.

  “Cain!” I yelled as Corvus disappeared into the mêlée. I ran towards the pile, cursing at the searing pain in my arm, and misjudged my timing slightly as I threw a spell that transformed a vampire a second too late, and he turned mid leap as he threw himself at my brother. The great wolf hit him with a heavy thud and Cain swore violently as it knocked him sideways, still managing to stake the vampire he was fighting with one hand and bellow at me over his shoulder as I ran to him. “Is that your idea of help?”

  “I'm injured, moron!” I yelled back, kicking another vampire in the balls as he lunged for Cain, who only held the Knife of Belial for protection. To be fair this made him quite dangerous enough, but he was rather more vulnerable than usual as he was stark bollock naked after the shift back into human form.

  “That is no excuse for sloppy spell work!” he ranted as a vampire went up in flames in his arms, and he spun away as the tower of ash collapsed.

  “Well fuck you!” I exclaimed, stung. “You'll make your own way out will you?”

  “Er, you're welcome?” he retorted, and I rolled my eyes at him, grabbing his hand with my good arm and pulling him out of the fight. He'd never leave of his own free will. “Well what took you so long anyway?” I demanded, the sentence punctuated by a scream as a vampire piled into me, crashing into my broken arm. I raised my knee and pushed him off me, and Cain promptly finished him, pausing a moment to grab the leather trench coat from his body before it went up in flames.

  “Your bloody wolves are what took so long,” he said, wiping blood and ash from his face and shrugging the coat on. “I was very nearly dog food.”

  I smothered a laugh, and he glared at me as he did up the buttons.

  “Come on, you stupid bastard,” I said, grinning wildly, exhilaration flooding my veins despite the pain. “We need to get you out of here. They want your head on a pike.” We began to fight our way out, back to back, and I felt a surge of triumph as I saw Corvus in the middle of the room, the air thick with ash and the stench of dying vampires, none of which were ours. I knew he was now in control. It was almost over and only a few die-hards remained. We had won.

  We ran through the Château, casting glances over our shoulders as we went. “You need to get away until this dies down, Cain,” I said as we ran outside. We skidded to a halt in the gravel ,and he laughed.

  “Shit, Jéhenne, don't kid yourself. I just killed the father of the race. I might well have just done the Senate a favour, but if you think they'll admit to that then you really are naive. They'll need to make an example of me to satisfy the race's wounded pride. They're going to hunt me down.”

  He ran into one of the outbuildings and began hauling out a hidden cache of weapons, clothes and spare boots, and I realised that, of course, he had prepared for this. I felt the bubble of happiness that had been growing in my chest disperse as I realised what he was saying.

  “No.” I shook my head and walked after him, grabbing him by the shoulder. “No, Cain. I will see you again.”

  He turned away to finish dressing, bending down to lace his heavy boots and shaking
his head. “You know ... Nina,” he said, those empty green eyes glancing up at me and quickly away. “I know you know,” he repeated, his voice quiet now.

  “I'm going to find a way to help you,” I said in a rush, knowing exactly what he was saying. That he was going to run until something came for him that there would be no running from. “Sariel said ...”

  He snorted and stood up, the sound of his boots crunching on the gravel as he paced filling the warm night air. “Don't, please ...” he stopped and took my hands in his. “Please, Nina. You are safe and alive, and it seems you have your man back. You will be powerful and worshipped just as you should be, just as you deserve. And I hope you will be happy. It is everything I've fought for, and it makes it all worthwhile. I hope ... I hope I have paid my debt now?” he added with a lopsided grin, and for a moment I saw a glimpse of a freckle-faced child, a glimmer of vulnerability that I knew no one would ever have seen before. I choked, half crying, half laughing knowing that he still blamed himself for letting me die, for letting them burn me despite the fact he was a little boy against the might of the Roman army.

  “Oh, Cain!” I sobbed and hugged him. “Don't be such a bloody idiot. There was never a debt and if there is now, it's because I owe you everything.” He stood awkwardly as I clung to him and then for the first time I felt him give in and really hug me back. He held me tight for a moment.

  “Take care, Nina,” he said softly. “And when you find your son, make sure you tell him what a scary bastard his Uncle was.”

  “I will, I swear it,” I said, sniffing hard and looking up into eyes so like mine, but so empty and alone. “The family will protect you, Cain, you know that, and I know Corvus will do everything to get the Senate to let you go, we both will. We won't rest until you're free.”

  He kissed my forehead and nodded, neither of us acknowledging the fact that he would likely be in far darker hands than the Senate's long before then.

  “Swear you'll get a message to me, let me know you're ... safe?” I shrugged at the incredulous expression in his eyes; Cain and safe were not words to put together.

  “Say a prayer for me, Nina,” he whispered as he let me go and swung the massive pack over his shoulder. And then there was nothing I could do but watch as he walked away, flashing me a grin and then turning as he started to run, disappearing into the night.

  Chapter 53

  I ran back to the great hall and into a sea of fur as the new wolves rushed around with excitement, barking and leaping up at me. “Down,” I commanded, and they all lay down in an instant, looking up at me with wide, anxious eyes. “There, there, it's alright. I'm not cross,” I soothed, reaching down to stroke a big head. The others who had no such caresses whined anxiously, and I sighed. I looked up through the room. The air was thick with ash, and I could taste it on my tongue, making my stomach roil. Making my way through the soft grey drifts that carpeted the floor, I found Corvus. Three vampires were on their knees before him, heads bowed as he stood over them.

  Our family was massed around him, and I could feel their happiness, the buzz of triumph and awe as they looked upon their Master once again, back where he belonged. All except Lucas. Our eyes met across the room, and I didn't need to feel his emotions, though he had cut them off so hard I could read nothing from him. It was all in his eyes. I felt my heart ache for him as he turned away and left the room. Why did someone always have to get hurt?

  But then Corvus turned to look at me and selfishly Lucas left my mind. He was here, he was really here and looking at me like I was the reason he existed. I hauled in a shaky breath, aware that everyone was watching us and that there were still enemies to be dealt with.

  “Jéhenne,” he said, managing to put so much feeling into just my name that I wondered how I didn't just burst into tears and fall at his feet. Instead I walked closer and looked around at the three kneeling before him. “It appears these three would like to join us,” he said. “They regret their actions here and are of the unshakable opinion that their kin ...” He nodded at the wolves who were watching me with anxious eyes. “And indeed the entire family, which are of quite significant numbers by all accounts, would also want to be of our blood.”

  I raised my eyebrows in shock. Our family was already one of the most powerful in the world, with such an addition we would certainly be the most powerful. Such power would draw attention and enemies. “What do you think the Senate will feel about that?” I asked him, trying hard to keep my mind on the job and not look at the curve of his mouth or notice the heat in his eyes as he looked at me. “You'll be more than a match for them with such numbers. How will they save face if they know they can no longer control you?”

  The heat in his eyes grew as a smile stretched that delicious mouth. “My, my, someone has been busy,” he said with admiration in his voice.

  I flushed with pleasure, pleased that he realised I had taken my responsibilities with all the seriousness they required. His face grew thoughtful as he considered the question.

  “You are right, Jéhenne, such a move will cause us problems, and yet ... I cannot cast aside those who come to me willingly.” He looked down at the three contrite figures in front of him. “I believe these are sincere in all they say. They have done what they could while Ambrogio slept. They have endured too many successions as Masters of equal status fought for control in his absence.

  They need a clear leader to shape them, and there are too many of them with too much power and yet not enough to rule and keep control. If I do not take them, they will need to be broken up and divided to avoid further chaos.” He looked back at me and shook his head. “I would not do that to such an ancient bloodline. It would be a crime.”

  I nodded at him, smiling. “Then it seems we have just gained a great many children,” I replied, my voice soft.

  He just stared at me, such emotion burning in his eyes that I didn't know what to do or say next. I was held in place by the weight of his gaze. A throat cleared behind us.

  “Yes, Decimus.” Corvus and I spoke together and Decimus looked from me back to Corvus, a slightly anxious look on his face.

  “Masters, forgive me the interruption, but Rodney and Inés, Kai and the others, they're at the gates and kicking up one almighty fuss.”

  “They're alright?” I demanded. “They're all safe?”

  He nodded and ran his hand over his hair with a nervous gesture. “Oh, they're all safe, and I told them no more of Ambrogio's are to die, they've put themselves in our hands, but that Inés ...” He shook his head. “She's one damned scary woman,” he muttered. “No offence, Master,” he added, quickly, looking up at me.

  I laughed. “None taken, she scares me too.”

  Corvus gestured to the guard. “Decimus, take as many as you need and secure our new kin until we have time to make things official,” Corvus said as his eyes drifted back to me. “I find I have more pressing matters to deal with at present.”

  Decimus grinned broadly. “Yes, sire,” he said, and I watched as he herded everyone out of the room, leaving us alone except for the wolves. Corvus' eyes were still on me, and heat washed over my skin, making me breathless.

  “We need to talk,” I managed, though my voice sounded a lot huskier than usual.

  He nodded, though his gaze never wavered.

  “Yes, we do,” he said. He looked a little more guarded now, though his eyes were still warm. I walked away from him, trying to allow my heart a moment to find an even rhythm. I knew it couldn't manage it when he was so close.

  “Stay,” I commanded the wolves who huffed and grumbled, watching as I walked out of the room. I felt Corvus' presence behind me as I walked and tried to get a grip on my emotions that were spiralling too quickly out of control.

  I returned to his room, feeling his eyes on my back with every step. It wasn't the room he'd been sleeping in of late but the one we had shared before the fateful journey to the Underworld. I hadn't been able to sleep there since the first days of my return and had
kept the room just as he had left it. I knew he'd remembered to have come here earlier, to get the suit he was now wearing. Somehow he looked as sleek as ever despite the battle, and I ran a nervous hand over my hair, feeling ash in the tangles.

  “You're more beautiful than ever, my heart,” he said softly.

  I turned to look at him, my eyes blurred with tears. “Is this a trick?” I asked. “Are you just using my memories against me.” The fear in my words was only too obvious, and I didn't know what I would do if he was. I wanted it too much to turn him away even if it was all a pretence.

  He looked stricken and shook his head. “No,” he said, his voice thick. “I swear it.”

  I just stood looking at him, breathing too hard and wanting so badly to trust him, to be absolutely sure.

  “What changed?” I demanded.

  “Truthfully? I don't know.” He took a hesitant step forward. “After I ...” He closed his eyes, looking as though he was forcing the words out. “After I attacked you, when Sariel...” He looked at me frowning. “I swear I don't know what he did. It was like missing pieces suddenly fell into place, and everything that had been so uncertain was suddenly so clear.” I watched as he shook his head, too scared and uncertain to do anything but breathe. “I cannot explain it and in truth ... there are still things I am unsure of.”

  He hesitated and took a breath. He was more nervous than I had ever seen him. “There are still pieces missing but ... I know who I am now.” I watched as he moved a little closer to me, seeing the fear in his eyes, fear that I could never forgive him. Strangely I knew I could forgive him for the attack, but Cyd ... that was harder. “I swear it's true, though I wouldn't blame you if you don't believe me.” I didn't answer him, didn't yet know what the answer was. “Do you think you can ever trust me again?” We stared at each other, and I knew the problem would be forcing myself not to trust him. I shouldn't. But I wanted to so much.