Blood Rebellion (Blood Destiny #7) Page 5

  "Let me see," Wylend stood and walked down the steps, the two Warlock guards remaining at his side as he descended. King Wylend Arden was beardless, wore only a simple gold band on his forehead, dressed richly in a silk shirt and trousers and wore a heavy gold chain that circled his neck. His eyes and his height were Griffin's—there was no mistaking them, as well as the brown color of his hair. Narissa had been shorter—very close to my height. Kyler and Cleo had gotten their beauty and rich auburn hair from her. I was staring at my grandfather. Had I ever thought to have one? My mother always said her parents were dead and Howard Graham's were deceased before I was born.

  "Let's see," Wylend examined me carefully as he circled Erland and me. He stroked his chin lightly as he considered the conundrum I presented. "Do I get the standard three questions?" Wylend was still walking around me, much like a large cat might consider its prey.

  "If you wish it, my King," Erland repeated, grinning wider, now.

  "Very well. Is she human?"

  "Not human," Erland was enjoying this. I wanted to elbow him in the stomach. Instead, I was forced to stand there and bear the King's scrutiny. Honestly, I had no idea what to do or how he might react when he learned he had a granddaughter (or great-granddaughters, for that matter). How was Griffin going to deal with this? He had a living father. I think he imagined his father was dead and merely wanted to know the name. Who knows—with his ability to bend time, he might have gone back and watched his father from afar. That wasn't necessary. His father was here and staring at me intently.

  "Is she pregnant with your child?" Wylend asked his second question.

  "I may hold hope in that direction, but no," Erland chuckled.

  "I didn't think you'd switched allegiances again so quickly," Wylend said and came to stare into my eyes.

  "I have not, my King, although I still have desires where this one is concerned." What had he meant by switching allegiances? I was going to have to do a little digging myself.

  "Is this the new Queen of Le-Ath Veronis?" Wylend stood back, a look of triumph on his face.

  "Yes, my King, but there is something else that you must know about her," Erland vibrated with excitement.

  "I guessed correctly!" Wylend seemed quite happy with his skill at this game. "Welcome, Queen Lissa," he took my hand and kissed it.

  "My King, may we retire to your study so I may give you the last part of my information in private?" Erland asked.

  "Of course," Wylend pointed us toward a small doorway off to the side and the two uniformed guards led the way. Wylend strode before us and Erland and I followed at his heels.

  The study was luxury itself, with priceless antique maps hanging on one wall while another wall held a huge painting of a seascape. It made me think of Edwin Church's depiction of Niagara Falls—the handling of the water was very similar. The painting was breathtaking; I wouldn't mind having something like it hanging on the walls of my suite.

  Wylend sat and then asked us to sit in chairs before his huge, elaborately carved dark wood desk. "Now, Lord Morphis, what news do you bring to me?"

  "Do you remember Narissa?" Erland asked. How had he gotten that name? I hadn't given it to him.

  Wylend's face went dark with anger. "I remember. She was such a temptress when I met her."

  "And then she turned into the biggest bitch ever," Erland nodded in agreement. He was acting as if he knew her—had met her, even. I was now staring at Erland in alarm.

  "Tell me what happened when she left, Wylend." Erland coaxed. I had no idea what was going on between these two. Erland was behaving as if he and Wylend were close—closer than I imagined. I was trying to sort that out without Looking—I felt it would be rude if I tried.

  "That bitch was pregnant with my child," Wylend was even angrier, now. "I know what her kind do with their quarter-blood children. She was half; I determined that for myself. She took my child away, Erland. I cursed her for it, but she took it anyway, out of spite. I had no way to find it, they gate so often, and the Elemaiya are generally beyond even our skills to track. My child is dead now and I have not been able to produce another." Wylend was acting as if he truly cared about that. It made the breath catch in my throat.

  "I have information for you, my King," Erland left his seat and knelt ceremoniously before Wylend's desk. "Your child is not dead," he announced. "I was not able to bring him immediately," Erland lifted his head and gazed up at Wylend. "But your granddaughter sits before you now."

  I always knew Erland had a flair for the dramatic. He certainly pulled out all the stops for this announcement.

  "Erland Morphis, get up from there this instant!" I smacked his shoulder, causing Wylend to roar with laughter.

  * * *

  "Where is Lissa?" Amara asked Gardevik, who'd come back inside the suite.

  "Erland Morphis came and squirreled her away," Gardevik didn't know how he felt about that. Griffin still looked pale but Cleo was tending him and he was better than before.

  "He took her to Karathia," Griffin leaned on his granddaughters as he stood. "If Cleo hadn't already handed out a sentence to my mother, I might be tempted to do something myself," Griffin heaved a weary sigh.

  "Em-pah, this is no different from Lissa finding out she had a father," Cleo rubbed his back affectionately. "Or Kyler and I when we found out our father was still alive. We love Daddy and we wouldn't trade him for anything."

  "I hope my father enjoys a good laugh," Griffin muttered. "His son, older than he is."

  "How can that be?" Gardevik was curious, now.

  "The ones who approached me with an invitation to become the first Saa Thalarr came forward in time, when I was dying. I was taken back to the time when the Ra'Ak began to take the worlds of light, over a hundred thousand years ago. My father, Wylend Arden, is King of Karathia and twenty-seven thousand years old. I am nearly four times his age." Griffin snorted at the irony.

  "Did you ever have the abilities the Warlocks have?" Gardevik asked.

  "They have a rite, similar to that of any other Wizard clan. The ability must be wakened by an elder. Ask my granddaughters—they have both been through the ritual for the Grey House Wizards. This is so any stray children will not cause chaos if they are reared away from the family of Wizards or Warlocks." Griffin rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. "It also wakes the near immortality. Otherwise, they live a normal life span and die. No wonder Lissa exceeded all expectations," he muttered. "She was a quarter Bright Elemaiya and a quarter Karathian Witch."

  * * *

  "You are truly my granddaughter?" Wylend had moved Erland away and now sat in the chair next to mine, holding my hands in his.

  "It looks that way," I said. "Griffin went into shock, I think, when Narissa admitted who his father is."

  "How is he still alive?" Wylend asked.

  "He was the first Saa Thalarr," I said, gazing into eyes that were so much like my father's, sprinkled with gold flecks.

  "My child became the first Saa Thalarr?" Wylend sounded proud.

  "He is now called the Oracle," I said. "Because he has foresight that none of the others have. He was a King Vampire before he was made Saa Thalarr."

  "And you became the Queen Vampire of Le-Ath Veronis," Wylend nodded. Erland sat casually on the corner of Wylend's desk, swinging a foot leisurely as he listened to Wylend's conversation with me.

  "Yeah. That's me, all right." I couldn't keep the sarcasm from my voice. I was thankful Gabron had cleared my calendar. The day was becoming more complicated than I'd anticipated.

  "Can you set up a meeting with your father for me?" Wylend was almost begging. Here he was, King of Karathia and perhaps the most powerful Warlock on the planet, begging for a meeting with his son. I felt dizzy, for a moment. Things were turned upside down and inside out for a few fleeting seconds. Narissa, my grandmother, should have been the loving soul and the Warlock should have been the cold and indifferent parent. Exactly the opposite was true.

  "Child, you look
pale," Wylend said, his voice coming from far away.

  "She's fainting," Erland's voice was even farther away and hands were reaching out to keep me from hitting the thick, expensive rug in Wylend's study.

  * * *

  "Did you think I wouldn't know how to treat my Queen?" Erland's voice was soft and his hands were gentle. "Just because I am in a female cycle doesn't mean I wouldn't want you, or wouldn't treat you properly."

  The term female cycle caused my eyes to open faster than they wanted to and the light blinded me for a moment. I squinted as the light dimmed around me. My grandfather was sitting in a chair beside a bed and Erland was propping me up on the bed, stroking my face and hair. "That's better," Erland leaned down and kissed my forehead.

  "Erland," I raised a hand and rubbed the space between my eyebrows.

  "What, love?"

  "What are you saying? Female cycle?"

  Wylend cleared his throat and I glanced over at him. "We are nearly immortal," he offered. "And we go through cycles—male and female. We can change our appearance and anatomy if we wish, but many of us do not. Therefore, every hundred years or so, our attraction to males or females changes. Erland is in his seventieth year of a female cycle, which means he is mostly attracted to males. He and I are generally opposites and yes, we have been lovers in the past."

  "Erland, I always thought you were weirder than holy water in hell, now I know it's true," I mumbled.

  "If we find a mate or mates, we still love them, no matter what cycle we are in," Erland lifted my chin and gave me a kiss. "Wylend and I have not been together in that way for some time. We lean on one another—that is true, but sex is no longer in the picture."

  "Erland, this isn't awkward or anything," I shook my head in confusion.

  "I will give up my friendship with Lord Morphis if it will make my granddaughter happy." Uh-oh.

  "Your granddaughter already has ten members in her Inner Circle and can't keep up with all of them," I admitted, feeling my face go hot. "And why should you give up your friendship with Erland? That's silly."

  "Pfff," Wylend tossed an arm in the air. "Having that many mates or more keeps them interested," he was smiling. "The powerful always draw multiple mates. And Erland and I have been close for a very long time. I am grateful you do not mind our relationship. Here," he did the Warlock version of Pulling and suddenly had a drink in his hand. "Drink this, it will help."

  "What is it?" I sniffed it, attempting to determine what it was.

  "Fruit, berries and protein," Wylend smiled and convinced me to try it. It was a smoothie and very good. I'd barely had breakfast before Griffin hauled me off to Kifirin—the planet, not the Lord of the Dark Realm and mate to yours truly.

  "Lissa my love, I am getting urgent mindspeech from nearly all your mates, demanding to know where you are," Erland grinned. I figured that grin was his way of saying I have you to myself right now, so I'm not answering the call.

  "Who is sending mindspeech?" I asked, slurping more of my drink.

  "Karzac is the one who is most demanding—Gavin is cursing in multiple languages, Gabron is considering slicing and dicing and Drake and Drew aren't considering it—I think they're about to sharpen their blades."

  "If Gavin is using mindspeech, it's time to go," I said, sliding off the bed. "He never does that unless he's forced to."

  "Lissa, your continued absence may result in a national emergency upon Le-Ath Veronis." Connegar and Reemagar folded in. The Larentii could find me, even if nobody else could.

  "I was just about to leave," I handed the empty glass to Erland, who caused it to disappear.

  "Lord King, the Oracle is waiting at the palace in Lissia," Reemagar nodded to Wylend.

  "Then I will come as well," Wylend stood and flicked imaginary lint off his clothing. "I wish to meet my child. Inform the others that I will be back shortly." He jerked his head in the direction of the two guards, who stood in a corner. I'd scented them earlier but hadn't paid much attention to them otherwise. They bowed to Wylend and left the room.

  "I can't recall that I've ever had Larentii in my bedroom before," Wylend smiled. The Larentii in question folded us to Le-Ath Veronis.

  * * *

  Griffin stood straight and tall as we landed in the library of the palace. Amara stood beside him and she was the one who gasped when she saw Wylend. "Brenten, you look alike!"

  "Child, I wish I could have been a part of your life," Wylend said and that's all it took. Griffin was pulled into a huge embrace and both of them looked a little misty when they parted.

  "Where have you been?" Karzac had fists on his hips, giving me the once-over.

  "She fainted," Erland stood at my side, handing out information when he should have kept his mouth shut.

  "Can somebody send to the kitchen and have drinks and snacks brought up?" I had to say it over my shoulder; Karzac was hustling me out of the library, closely followed by Reemagar and just about everybody in my Inner Circle.

  "Karzac, are we gonna wrestle here in the hall?" I asked. I shouldn't have said it. Connegar pulled me into his arms quickly and all of us were folded to my suite. Kifirin was there, waiting for us.

  "She needs to drop her corporeality or she will continue to faint," Kifirin accepted me from Connegar.

  "But my grandfather is in the library," I said, or at least I got most of it said before Kifirin and I both disappeared. And disappeared might have been an understatement. We were pure energy, floating over the surface of Le-Ath Veronis. Kifirin was in charge, now, spreading me out somehow until I was everywhere. It scared me.

  Avilepha, do not be frightened, his voice came to me in the thunder over a valley on Harifa Edus—the werewolf planet. Night had fallen there and a full moon would have been shining across a portion of the planet, except for the rain. We became a part of Evensun and I saw that the exodus from the High Demons' world had begun. The new occupants were busy fighting with each other, for the most part. They should have been building shelters together and searching for food, but that behavior was foreign to them, it seems. We flew away from Evensun, skipping lightly over the world that held the black Ra'Ak. So many empty worlds populated the Dark Realm; the only life they held was vegetation, insects and a few animals. No other inhabitants. None of the ones for whom the worlds had been created. I felt the sadness in Kifirin as we passed them by. He'd constructed those worlds so carefully, yet it had taken only one of his creations to destroy all of them.

  We'll make it right, I sent to him.

  Lissa my love, are you gathering energy? It is there for you to take, m'hala. Kifirin showed me how—I hadn't done anything except observe up to that point. I thought it might be similar to the Larentii feeding off sunlight, only we could gather energy from anything. I was doing it now and realized how weakened I'd become. Maintaining a corporeal shape prevented me from drawing the energy I needed to keep going. And I could only do that while I was energy; stuffing that much power into a fragile, humanoid body was like placing a flame inside a plastic container. If the flame became too hot, the container could be destroyed.

  Kifirin pulled me along as I replenished myself. We even wandered into the worlds of light, scooting here and there. I heard voices—talking, laughing, crying, praying. Dark spots cropped up, too, now and then. Those dark spots consisted of worlds the Ra'Ak had taken; now empty of life except for the usual plants, insects and a few stray animals. Other worlds we passed over were not quite dark, but growing increasingly dim. Worlds not worth saving, Kifirin's voice came to me. I want you to see Beliphar—it is one of those, but there are vampires there, love. Some of those may be worth saving, but it must be done soon.

  Let's take them now. I was getting information from that planet; we were right above it and the vampires there were used as slaves. It was awful. They were controlled by electronic cuffs that boiled their blood if they misbehaved, or the cuffs were employed at times merely because their human controllers wished to see the vampires suffer. Some of the vam
pires were criminals, but many were not—falsely accused and turned as punishment. How had this gotten past me for so long?

  Send mindspeech to the others and I will gather the ones that should come to Le-Ath Veronis, Kifirin informed me. I sent mindspeech to Gabron and Flavio, telling them that the city ten miles east of Lissia was about to be occupied. Kifirin guided me and I assisted in gathering the vampires who would be welcome on Le-Ath Veronis. Kifirin was the one who turned the others to dust—I couldn't bring myself to do it, although they were better off. You should have heard the angry shouting as vampires disappeared across Beliphar. Kifirin and I rushed our vampire cargo to Le-Ath Veronis and we dropped them gently in the wide, circular courtyard of their new city.

  Roughly twenty-seven thousand vampires stared at Kifirin and me as we materialized before them. Flavio and Gabron were there quickly, followed by most of the Council from Lissia. Drake, Drew, Gavin and Tony were there in a blink.

  "Where are we?" A vampire made his way through the crowd, which parted to allow him passage. Another, younger vampire was at his heels—he was only days old as a vampire; I could tell by the scent. The other was old—at least seven thousand years.

  "You stand upon Le-Ath Veronis," Flavio replied. "That means Heart of the Vampire. Lissa, Queen of this world, and Kifirin, Lord of the Dark Realm, have found you worthy. This is your new home."

  The older vampire pulled the younger one against him. "Davan, we are home," the old vampire wept.

  * * *

  "This is blood substitute? It tastes like blood," Jeral, the oldest vampire from Beliphar remarked as he emptied the bottle. Davan, his youngest charge, was also drinking happily. We were poring over a map of the city with a committee of new arrivals—vampires that Jeral had handpicked. They were also quite old and I could see the City Council forming already. Davan was a baby vampire and I didn't want to interfere with his teaching at Jeral's hand.

  "This blood substitute was developed here," I informed Jeral. "The manufacturing plant is just outside Lissia."

  "Do vampires run this facility?" Jeral asked.