Dianne Duvall: Darkness Dawns

Through a red haze of fury, Seth caught and held Se-bastien’s gaze as that one struggled to breathe. “Listen closely, Sebastien Newcombe,” he gritted in low menacing tones. “I will only say this once. I understand the despair coursing through you. I understand the rage that is eating away at your insides like acid. If you want to lash out at me, you are welcome to do so. You can even lash out at David and Darnell. But if you ever give me reason to believe you have been anything less than kind to the woman who resides here, I will strike your head from your body and you will go down in history as the only immortal I have ever killed. Nod your head that you understand me.”

Face red from lack of air, Sebastien nodded.

The ground gradually ceased its trembling. The castle quieted.

His fury abating, Seth lowered Sebastien until his feet settled on the floor, then released him.

Sebastien coughed and sucked in great gasping breaths.

“Are you all right?”

He nodded warily.

“Good. Now apologize to the woman in such a way that will make her think you no greater threat than a newborn pup.”

Seth stepped aside and turned toward the mystery woman.

She was barefoot again, clad in loose sky-blue pajama bottoms with bright yellow smiley faces on them and a matching yellow tank top. Her narrow shoulders were hunched, her arms wrapped around her middle, as she watched them anxiously.

David and Darnell had moved to stand on either side of her, close but not touching.

Seth felt regret suffuse Sebastien when he saw her. She looked so frail. The younger immortal felt bad for scaring her. A promising sign.

Brow furrowing, Sebastien made a few futile attempts to straighten his clothes and wipe the blood from his face, then cleared his throat. “Forgive me,” he beseeched her gently, his voice hoarse from Seth’s abuse. “I did not mean to frighten you and have no desire to harm you. You startled me and I overreacted. I apologize. It won’t happen again.”

When the woman looked to Seth, he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Returning her gaze to Se-bastien, she nodded.

“David, would you take our guest to his room and help him get settled?” Seth requested.

“Sure.” Strolling forward, David addressed Sebastien as casually as he would an old friend. “We weren’t sure whether you would prefer a room above- or belowground, so we prepared one of each. Both are safe for day sleeping.”

“Belowground,” Sebastien said uncertainly.

“Belowground it is. Right this way.”

Once they were gone, Darnell ambled over and surveyed Seth carefully. “You okay?”

Seth nodded, then proffered his own apology to the woman. “I’m sorry. I thought he posed no threat to you, otherwise I would not have brought him here.”

She nodded, her gaze lowering to take in the blood that painted his clothes.

What must she think, seeing him like this, and after all she had just witnessed?

“Did I hear you say you spared four of them?” Darnell asked curiously.

“Yes, one human and three vampires who have not yet succumbed to the madness. Like Sebastien, they were unaware of the others’ actions.”

“What are you going to do with the vamps?”

He sighed. “Help them any way we can.”

“Roland and Sarah and everyone else come through all right?”

“A little banged-up, but they’ll be fine.”

Darnell looked in the direction David and their unwilling guest had gone. “Sebastien doesn’t seem to appreciate your having come to his aid.”

“No.”

Seth felt a small hand touch his arm and looked down to find the mystery woman at his side, staring up at him.

Her lips parted. “I do,” she said softly. “Thank you for saving me.”

A tiny thread of joy wound its way through him at the sound of her voice.

He smiled.

Smiling back, she closed her eyes, then sank limply toward the floor.

Darnell leapt forward as Seth caught her and lifted her into his arms. “What is it? Is she sick?”

“I don’t know.” Frowning, Seth swiftly carried her to her room, Darnell right on his heels.

Darnell hastened to the bed and drew the covers back.

Seth carefully laid her down, then sat beside her on the mattress. Placing one hand on her forehead and the other on her chest, he sought the source of her unconsciousness.

When he found it, he looked up at Darnell.

“What is it?” Darnell asked apprehensively. “What’s wrong with her?”

Seth smiled. “She’s sleeping.”

Roland and Sarah were curled up on the sofa, watching the news, when his cell phone rang.

Retrieving it from the coffee table, he answered. “What?”

“Are you decent?” Seth’s deep voice drawled.

“Have I ever been?” Roland answered wryly.

“Put Sarah on the line.”

Frowning, he handed the phone to Sarah. “It’s Seth. He wants to talk to you.”

Eyebrows raising, she took the phone. “Hello?”

“Hello, Sarah. I know it tends to startle you when I pop in unannounced, so I thought I’d call and warn you this time.”

Roland mirrored her smile as she said, “Oh. Okay. Thanks. Pop away.”

Seth appeared just inside the front door.

Roland and Sarah both stood as she returned the phone to the coffee table.

“Calling ahead now?” Roland asked.

“Marcus thought it would be wise.”

“He told you?” Sarah blurted, face reddening as Seth joined them.

Apparently David had something of an open-door policy. Any immortal who knew the security codes were invited to come and go at will. He always welcomed company and was so powerful he sensed their presence long before they entered, so they needn’t even knock.

Out of habit, Marcus had let himself in without knocking the day after they had stormed Bastien’s lair and inadvertently walked in on Roland and Sarah making love on the sofa.

Sarah hadn’t been able to look Marcus in the eye since without blushing as floridly as she was now.

“Please tell me that didn’t make it to the Immortal Guardian message boards,” she begged.

Seth smiled. “No, he only mentioned it to me and David so we wouldn’t intrude.”

She groaned. “Oh, lovely. I’m sure that went over big. Don’t go home without calling first, David. They might be having sex on your couch.”

Roland laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as she covered her red face.

Seth’s dark eyes danced with merriment. “Actually, we weren’t given the details. He only said he had accidentally disturbed you when you were not prepared for company.”

Lowering her hands, Sarah stared up at Roland with rueful eyes. “Why do you even let me open my mouth?”

Roland dipped his head and stole a kiss. “Because I love that mouth and it says such entertaining things.” Sinking onto the sofa, he pulled her down beside him. As Seth settled himself in his favorite chair across from them, Roland draped an arm across the back cushion so he could toy with Sarah’s hair.

Two weeks had passed since they had cleaned out the vampire lair. Because Bastien had been unaware of some of his men’s activities, Roland had worried that Sarah may not be safe in her home. It had been the site of two confrontations with multiple vampires, and there was no way of knowing if any of Bastien’s followers had spoken with vamps who weren’t under his guidance. So when she had invited Roland to come and stay with her, he had instead talked her into remaining with him at David’s place until they could find a new home of their own to share. (Seth had assured him that Bastien had not disclosed the location of David’s home or the tunnels to anyone else. )

“We talked to Chris,” Sarah said, her blush lingering. “He seems a little worried about the vampires you guys saved.”