Blood Rebellion (Blood Destiny #7) Page 6

  "Yes. They are extremely meticulous, since they will be drinking quite a bit of it themselves," I said. "It is owned by the crown but everyone who works there earns a salary. They seem happy with the arrangement." I pointed out the spot on the map where the blood substitute plant was located. "We currently have nine worlds represented here—your world is the ninth," I said. Reemagar was standing behind me; Flavio and Gabron were on either side, helping explain things as much as they could.

  "What about the vampires on the Reth Alliance worlds?" Jeral asked. "There used to be many of them."

  "There still are," I replied. "But the Reth Alliance recognizes them as citizens and they are protected by Alliance laws. They are allowed to petition for citizenship here and we will entertain their requests as they are presented. Not all vampires will be accepted. I'm sure you see my reasoning in that."

  "I understand that you may not wish to import a criminal element," Jeral sighed.

  "Yes. That is exactly how we feel about this," I nodded. "I assure you, however, that if a crime is committed here, it will be dealt with immediately. I will not tolerate the breaking of the law."

  "Are there copies of the laws?" Jeral's face held hope, something he hadn't experienced in a very long time, I could tell.

  "As much as we have, at the moment. We are still hammering out some of them," I said. "Le-Ath Veronis, as it now exists, is barely seven months old. We are gathering vampires as quickly as possible but it is a slow process, as you might imagine." Gavin, Tony, Drake and Drew folded in, with electronic copies of the current laws; some of those laws temporary, since we hadn't decided on all of them yet.

  "What are the comesuli?" Jeral asked after reading the first law. The handheld devices could translate the laws into almost any language. The one spoken on Beliphar was common to the Reth Alliance, though it was no longer a member.

  "Are you interested in history?" I gave Jeral a slight smile.

  "In this case, I think I should be," he inclined his head. I explained what Le-Ath Veronis was in the beginning and what part the comesuli played. I described what had happened when the Ra'Ak attacked and how many of the comesuli had been sent to Kifirin, in order to save their lives.

  "And now they are back?" Jeral was intrigued.

  "Yes. How many of your vampires know how to take blood properly from a donor?" I asked.

  "A few," Jeral said. "The oldest, here, all know. The younger ones have not been taught."

  "Then teach them. I will not allow the comesuli to be harmed by an untrained vampire," I said. "They wear bracelets, with two numbers," I added. "Those numbers represent the dates on which they can be bitten and then only once on that particular day. They must be given two weeks to replenish their blood supply."

  We discussed many things that late afternoon, which wore on into the evening. Every vampire we'd brought from Beliphar was fascinated by the fact that this part of Le-Ath Veronis was in constant twilight and the sun would not force them to find a safe place to sleep. Maps were readily available on all the small, handheld computers, and each vampire was given a key that unlocked the door to his new home.

  No females were in this group of vampires and that was sad. I'd seen many of these vampires staring at me and I knew it was because they'd never seen a female vampire before. Jeral, Davan and the other, older vampires stayed when the rest left to find their new homes. Sadly, the twenty-seven thousand only filled a fourth of the city.

  "We need a Council from here—a governing body that will meet with me, Gabron and the other Councils to finalize the laws and the constitution," I told Jeral when the others left. "You can decide this any way you want—most of the others already had a Council in place before they came and they continue in that capacity. Since you had no official governing body, I will let you decide how to choose your representatives. I will only interfere if there is no agreement."

  "We have made nearly every vampire transported here," Jeral indicated himself and the six others with him. Davan was excluded; he was much too young. "There will be no problem; this Council is at your disposal, my Queen."

  "Very well, the next meeting is in two days. Gabron will send a reminder—there are comp-vids in each house. If you need help working them, you only have to ask. You have mindspeech, do you not?" I smiled at Jeral. I'd smelled the Bright Elemaiya about him—he was a quarter, as was Davan, at his side. That wasn't all I knew about them, however, but that information could wait. Davan needed more instruction from his vampire sire before anything else could be done.

  "My Queen, it will be the greatest of pleasures for me to be able to communicate with you in this way," Jeral offered a half-bow.

  "Don't bow, I don't expect it," I said, waving away the formality. Jeral straightened and smiled his first real smile since he'd landed on Le-Ath Veronis.

  Chapter 4

  Karzac had his hands on me the minute I was back at the palace and grunted his approval. Kifirin had been correct—I needed to come out of my corporeal shape one or two hours a day, just to replenish myself. Maybe I could hook up with either Connegar or Reemagar, when they went to feed. I hadn't really explored the light half of the planet, yet.

  "That doesn't exempt you from your evening meal," Karzac lectured as he, Roff and Gabron chased me around my suite, handing out clothing while I did my best to braid my hair. Giff and Rolfe had the day off and were out somewhere, I knew, enjoying each other's company.

  Drake and Drew were sitting on my right and left tonight. I was getting both Falchani in my bed; I just knew it. They often held a tag team event and I'd go to bed with one of them and wake up with the other. Not that it was a hardship, or anything. Shadow, whom I hadn't seen in a few days, folded in wearing a deep frown. Karzac pulled a chair out with power and Shadow sat.

  "Are you hungry?" I asked.

  "I've eaten," he sighed. "I heard a rumor," he added.

  "What rumor?" I set my fork down; I was done with my roast duck anyway.

  "That you're part Karathian."

  "Oh, that rumor," I said. "I didn't find that out until today. Daddy's bitch of a mother 'fessed up."

  "Lissa, this could turn into a problem if we ever have children," Shadow rubbed his forehead. Karzac was up and relieving Shadow's headache right away.

  "I'm vampire. I don't get kids." And thanks for reminding me, I silently added. I wasn't ever going to get kids. My fate had been decided the summer I was thirteen and barely having my first periods. Howard Graham had beaten my mother and me. He'd kicked me and pounded me in the abdomen. And then, when he was forced to take us to the emergency room, he claimed we'd wrecked the car.

  Howard Graham wasn't a nice man and we were too afraid of him to say anything. I'd spent two weeks in the hospital, then. Mom got out in a few days, but she was at the hospital whenever he wasn't home. He didn't want her giving me any attention when he was home at night.

  "I'm done," I tossed my napkin on my plate, rose from my seat at the table and misted away.

  * * *

  "At least she can't walk into the sun again," Gavin growled and rose from his seat, leaving the others behind.

  "What did I do?" Shadow gazed about him.

  "Female vampires have difficulty with the fact that they can't bear children," Gabron sighed. "A very high percentage of the few who are turned walk into the sun before they reach the age of one hundred, partly due to that fact.

  "Lissa was unable to have children before she became vampire, because her stepfather damaged her," Connegar folded in. "Is there any other information I may provide before I begin searching for my mate?" When there were no other questions, Connegar folded away.

  "Why would there be a problem if you were to have a child with Lissa?" Roff asked Shadow. He was troubled as well and wondered where Lissa had gone.

  "The ritual," Shadow replied. "Grey House would demand the right, but the Karathians might want it too, since Wylend Arden is Lissa's grandfather."

  "You're not likely to get a child with Lissa
," Karzac pushed his plate away. "You worry over nothing."

  "Well, I didn't think about that," Shadow said, running a hand through his hair.

  * * *

  "Little Queen, you should not be troubled." Reemagar had found me, somehow, and now sat beside me on the dome covering the palace rotunda.

  "I know," I said, looking over the city they'd named after me. Lights twinkled everywhere. Merrill told me once that Grace supplied the crystal for the solar panels that were collecting sunlight and feeding all those lights. I sighed. We needed libraries, theatres and all sorts of things for the vampires who were collecting on Le-Ath Veronis. And we still didn't have the laws hammered out. I worried over the application to join the Reth Alliance—we were supposed to get that information the following week and it would be a major blow if we were turned down. I realized I was saying these things aloud after a while and Reemagar sat there, listening patiently while I let it all come out of my mouth.

  "We need jobs and entertainment and ways to keep the population involved," I blew out a breath. "And as much as I hate to admit it, I think we may have to allow humans on the planet, at least to visit—these vampires are used to interacting with them and I think they miss it."

  "These vampires were all humanoid at one time; of course they would miss it," Reemagar agreed. "Perhaps we should put up taverns so the vampires might socialize with the comesuli, or create sports teams of some kind."

  "Maybe we should ask the vampires for suggestions," I said, leaning my chin on my knees. "Not just the Councils, but the vampires themselves. Ask them what they'd like to do or what kinds of entertainment they'd like to have brought in. We can't have a planet full of bored and restless vampires. That sounds like trouble in the making."

  "Your next meeting is in two days; I think we can prepare ballots by that time and download them onto the handheld devices they all have. I'm sure we can sort through the information we receive and have a workable solution in a short amount of time."

  "That’s a good idea," I sat up straight and patted Reemagar's arm. He smiled down at me. "Your face is transformed when you smile," I told him. "You should do that more often."

  "I will do my best," he replied.

  "In the meantime, let's go to Kifirin and visit the babies." I stood and dusted off my clothes.

  "I will be pleased to make that journey," Reemagar smiled again. I liked it. The blue of his skin was flawless. He folded both of us to the palace in Veshtul.

  "Lissa, what are you doing here?" Garde was walking down the hall toward Glinda and Jayd's suite. I'd been about to knock on their door.

  "We came to see the babies," I said.

  "Then we'll see the babies." Garde rapped lightly on the door before entering the royal suite. Glinda was rocking one of the tiny girls; the other was sleeping in a crib close by. Jayd was sitting on a chair next to Glinda's.

  "How are they?" I whispered, going to look at the one in her crib. They'd named the girls Jhase and Jheri, but I hadn't sorted out the scents, yet. It didn't matter; they were adorable.

  "Fine," Glinda smiled. "All fed and no longer fussy."

  "How's papa?" I looked over at Jayd.

  "As fine as I can be at the moment," Jayd sighed. "We got the last of the troublemakers off—Kiarra and Kyler accomplished this for us so we wouldn't have to worry about the girls' safety."

  "I'll bet Evensun is a wreck already," I muttered. "Those fools."

  "They'll bring in some of the others tomorrow," Jayd went on.

  "You'll have your work cut out for you, even with willing help," I said. "We'll help as much as we can—I'll try to get some of the farmers and such to come and teach them what they need to know. Surely some of the new ones will know how to cook and clean."

  "Little Queen, I think you should not worry; they are going to Wresha tomorrow," Reemagar rubbed a hand over my shoulders. "There are many on that world belonging to the lower castes who know much about those things, including how to plant and harvest. It is the highest castes who have ruined the world and brought it to its current status."

  "If you need something, let me know," I nodded to Jayd. He looked exhausted. "Did you get dinner tonight? Something decent?" I waited for an answer. "I'll be back," I said and folded away. Reemagar came with me; we loaded up quite a bit of food from my palace kitchen and returned with it. I fixed a plate for Jayd, Glinda and Garde and then sat with them while they ate. Reemagar even helped me clean up the dishes and the kitchen after they were done. I was familiar with Jayd's palace kitchen, after all—I'd worked there for a while.

  "Lissa, you don't have to do this," Garde came in while I was wiping off cabinets and countertops.

  "Yes, I do," I said, giving the counter one last swipe. "I took your help away. We just have to get you better help and get them settled. They'll have a big cleanup job to do in Veshtul; I can't imagine the others left it in good shape. I wish Jayd would let Glinda stay with us while you wrangle the new ones. And you're all welcome to come for meals, if nothing else. Can Glinda use her power, now? She can fold those babies in and out anytime. Giff would be more than happy to help her. Has Jayd given any thought to bringing in a nanny or something?"

  "Lissa, slow down," Garde put his hands on my shoulders. "The universe's troubles aren't all yours. We need to stand up and take responsibility for ourselves. We got us into this mess; we have to get ourselves out."

  "I just feel responsible," I said, rubbing my forehead to ease the tension.

  "Lissa, if you hadn't done what you did when you did it, imagine where we'd be right now. I don't think we could have beaten back what showed up on our doorstep, do you?"

  I didn't answer—we both knew the answer was no. Garde's hand moved to the back of my neck and he massaged it gently, beneath my hair, which I'd left loose. "Thank you for dinner," his breath fanned my temple as he leaned down to kiss my nape. "Go home, Lissa, and get some rest. You look tired."

  Reemagar folded us back to Le-Ath Veronis and I thanked him before he went toward his suite. "Connegar was going to come looking for you earlier," he turned back before I went inside my suite. "I asked him if I could come instead. He allowed it."

  "Thanks. I appreciate what you did for me, tonight." He smiled gently, so I told him goodnight and opened the door of my suite. Drew was waiting on me when I walked inside.

  * * *

  "There's our girl," Dragon said, greeting me. He and Crane were waiting at the breakfast table when Drake and Drew herded me to the dining room the following morning.

  "Hey, Dragon. What's up?" I went to give him a peck on the cheek. Well, I was fooling around with his boys and all. Didn't that make us in-laws or something?

  "Belen has given permission for all the former Falchani and their mates, if they so desire, to join the army on Falchan right now. There's a problem and the Falchani need our help. Don't worry," he held up a hand when I started to tell him I was busier than a ping pong ball in a tornado, "it's temporary and we can fold you back to this moment in time if you're worried you might miss a boring meeting." Dragon grinned at me. I didn't see him grin often, actually. He must really be looking forward to this. "Belen said you were welcome to go if you wanted. I just thought you might like to spend some time on Falchan. Look at it as a sort of honeymoon."

  "Uh-huh," I nodded. "Can I have breakfast, first?"

  "Why? There's breakfast waiting in the cooking tents on Falchan."

  "Tents?" I think my eyebrows must have risen alarmingly, because I was folded away before I could say no.

  * * *

  Dragon wasn't lying (as Saa Thalarr, he couldn't). There were cooking tents, all right, and Falchani warriors were lined up to get breakfast in front of a long, makeshift serving table. It was late summer there—I learned that much by Looking. After staring down at myself, I found I was now dressed in black leathers, just like everybody else. Dragon was making sure I fit in as well as I could. I think every Falchani who had joined the Saa Thalarr was there with me—Dragon, Crane, D
rake, Drew, Dragon Taylor, Crane Trevor, Pheran Tiger, Caylon Black, Veykan, Turtle and Rik. Devin had come along, too, I saw. I knew where she'd be sleeping.

  "Did you get a chance to say no?" Devin sidled up to me, watching both Dragon and Crane. Stoicism aside, they were happy to be treading the soil of Falchan again.

  "That answer would be no," I muttered. We both spoke the Falchani language; no need to arouse anyone's suspicions. At least my leathers were sleeveless, just like the others, and laced up the front. Devin's did, too—the guys just left theirs open—no doubt to show off multiple tattoos and sculpted abs.

  "Is this your company?" Someone walked up to Dragon as we stood in line for breakfast.

  "Yes, Lord Marshall," Dragon inclined his head slightly to the warrior. He had a long braid down his back, just as Dragon did and wore his vest open like the other males. His chest tattoo was a snarling wolf and smaller wolves wound around his arms, chasing one another.

  "Stop by the Warlord's tent after breakfast and we'll record the names," the Lord Marshall commanded.

  "Yes, Lord Marshall," Dragon dipped his head a second time as the Lord Marshall strode away.

  "That's Lord Marshall Wolf," Drake turned and grinned at me.

  "Nooo," I said. "Really?" Drake and Drew were ahead of me in line, which was fine. Devin was standing with me, letting hers go ahead of her, too. I guess rank had its privileges. Former Warlords and Generals got to go first. I could understand that.

  "So, who's Warlord now?" I asked, as we inched our way toward the serving line.

  "The Eagle Warlord," Drew said. "The Bear General is his second-in-command."

  "Why are we here?" I asked. I was stumped, I admit, and I hadn't gone Looking for any info, yet.

  "You see the mountain range north of here?" Drake asked. I looked, bending down a little to do so; the sides of the tent had been rolled up so we only had a roof over our heads for shade.

  "Yeah."

  "On the other side of that mountain range are the lands of the Reldani barbarians. They've organized recently, instead of raiding in bands as they normally do. They have a huge army waiting on the far side of the closest mountain, due north of here," Drake continued. "We're here to help convince them that attacking the Falchan side of the continent is a bad idea."