Rhiannon Frater - The Fallen King

Lifting the candlestick like a weapon, Vanora peered into the darkness. “Show yourself!”

“Soon enough,” came the mocking reply.

“Vanora, you don’t belong here,” Armando said from behind her.

Spinning about, she gasped with relief to see him standing in her shadow. “Armando!”

“Let me take you from here,” he said in a gentle tone, tucking her hair back from her face so he could cup it between his cool palms.

“Please do,” Vanora answered, the candlestick falling from her fingers.

As Armando’s sharp fangs pierced her throat, she saw the candlelight flicker, then die.

Waking with a start, Vanora lashed out, her hand falling to empty space beside her. Confusion filled her as she realized she had expected Armando to be at her side. Why would she think that?

With a soft groan, she sat up and clutched her head. Exhaustion ate at her mind, but she didn’t want to dream anymore. To sleep was to risk dreaming. The sunlight was filtering through the filmy curtains draped over the windows, casting the room in a blue haze.

Vanora checked her phone and saw messages from her extended family, school friends, and Rhonda’s mom. She ignored them. Austin and the life she lived there seemed far away and already a distant memory. Though her room was familiar and comforting, she felt adrift. The old house didn’t feel like home either. She had texted Alisha before getting on the road the night before, so she knew her siblings would be anxious to see her when they woke. The thought of seeing them both frightened and thrilled her.

With a grunt, she slid off her bed. Hunger was gnawing at her insides and she could use a good dose of caffeine. Leaving her room, she wondered where Armando was sleeping. Which of the guest rooms was he tucked within? It upset her to realize how much she longed for him. Her feelings for the vampire only complicated everything that was going on.

Vanora ran into Miss Robbins at the base of the stairs. The housekeeper’s face broke into a large smile.

“When did you get here, lass? Oh, look at how pretty you look! Your hair is so long!” she declared, then warmly embraced Vanora.

“I got here at sunrise. I just woke up from a little nap.” Vanora couldn’t help but smile at the older Irishwoman. She had sincerely missed Miss Robbins.

Miss Robbins studied her expression with the hawkish intensity Vanora remembered far too well. “I’m so sorry for your loss, darling.”

“Thank you.” Vanora lowered her eyes, trying not to let the tears come again.

“Rhonda was a wild thing, but a loyal friend.”

“She was the best.” A fond smile graced Vanora’s lips.

“I was always afraid she’d steer you wrong,” Miss Robbins said with a sigh. “I never wished ill on her though.”

“She didn’t deserve it.” Vanora rapidly blinked and took a deep breath. “It was awful.”

“There are monsters in this world,” Miss Robbins agreed, her eyes flicking upward to the second floor. “And I’m not talking about the vampires. Humans can be devils.”

“Neal was definitely a monster.”

“May God not have mercy on that bastard’s soul.” Miss Robbins fidgeted with her braided red hair that had a bit more silver in it now. “Are you home for good now? Did you really leave school?”

Vanora hesitated, not sure what to say.

“Why don’t you eat a bit of food and we can talk.” Miss Robbins lightly patted Vanora’s shoulder before leading her to the big kitchen. “I made your favorite. Irish Stew!”

Vanora didn’t have the heart to tell the housekeeper that the dish was far from her favorite, but she appreciated the sentiment. It wasn’t until she was seated at the kitchen table with a huge serving of the fragrant stew and a hunk of coarse buttered potato bread that she realized just how hungry she actually was.

“I’m so glad you’re here. Roman and Alisha miss you terribly.” Miss Robbins took a seat across from Vanora, her own serving steaming into the air.

Vanora broke apart a bit of potato with her spoon before shoveling it into her mouth. It tasted delicious.

“It was hard for all of us when you didn’t come home.” Miss Robbins’s keen eyes were filled with a bit of anger and pain.

“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t.”

“You ran away.”

“Yes.”

“Because the vampires killed the pedophiles.”

Vanora widened her eyes. “You heard?”

“Roman told me.” Miss Robbins shrugged. “They had it coming. It was justice.”

“I saw it.” Vanora wondered how the older woman could be so calm about a double murder in the house.

“I suppose seeing it is a lot worse than hearing about it, but those two got what was coming to them.” Miss Robbins continued to eat, looking eerily calm about what had happened.

“Yeah, it was horrible.” Vanora didn’t feel like eating anymore, but her body yearned for food. She forced herself to eat another bite.

“They don’t kill, you know. It was a slip.”

“I know.”

“You have to forgive them. They’re your brother and sister.”

Vanora lifted her eyes. “I love them. I have forgiven them. But it doesn’t change what happened.”

“No, no. It doesn’t. But is that the only reason you went away?”

Tearing off a hunk of her bread, Vanora nibbled on the still-warm crust. The vampires were terrible gossips apparently.

“Armando hasn’t been around nearly as much as he used to be.”

“He’s been living part-time in Austin,” Vanora answered, shrugging.

“Oh!” Miss Robbins eyes flew open.

“I’m seeing someone. It’s not Armando.”

“Oh!” Whatever lecture Miss Robbins had ready seemed to die on her lips.

Mentioning Dan was awkward. Vanora realized she hadn’t even told him she was leaving Austin. What would she even say to him?

“Well, I’m glad you’re here. Tonight is the big party.”

“Party?”

“Roman and Carlotta’s engagement party. They did tell you about it?”

Vanora winced. “Oh. Maybe. I don’t remember.”

“Anyway, Lord, I’m thankful you’re here. They’ll be so happy to see you. Of course, it’ll be a lot of work for me. What a mess they make! You wouldn’t believe! All of those vampires tramping through the house. Oh, they’re like children!”

Vanora realized with amazement that Miss Robbins did not seem to fear the vampires anymore.

“They all used to just sleep here, you know, whoever was still here at dawn, but I put my foot down. I couldn’t do any of my cleaning. I would have to keep the whole house dark because they just went to sleep wherever they felt like it. They’d be on the walls, hanging from the ceiling, all over the floor. But I told Master Roman that I couldn’t do my job so now he makes them leave before dawn.”

“Aren’t there a few here now?” Vanora bit her lip, suddenly worried about Armando.

“Well, he allows a few to stay, but not like before. They’re restricted to the guest rooms now.”

“So they’re having a party here?”

“In the dead of winter. Can you believe it? Ryan is setting up the outside heaters. I told him not to bother. They’re dead and don’t feel the cold like we do. But Ryan pointed out that you’re going to be here and Carlotta wanted the heaters anyway.”

“She’s here a lot?

Miss Robbins nodded, scowling slightly. “She has basically taken over the position of mistress of the house.”

“And Alisha let her?” Vanora asked over a bite of her stew.

“I think your sister likes being able to just paint and visit with Sheila. Besides, Carlotta isn’t here every night. Sometimes she disappears for days. Like last week, she wasn’t here for a few nights. Roman says that he has his life and she has hers.” Miss Robbins leaned forward. “They’re on odd pair, those two.”