The woman on the dais leaned forward, a gasp issuing from her lips. If possible, her face grew even more pale.
aI did not think you would go so far to defy me,a Rodin said, his voice cold.
aI was not thinking of you when I took her for my bride.a aIt is obvious you were not thinking at all! To marry a mortal is forbidden. You know that as well as I.a Drake shrugged. aYou know the old saying,a he retorted. aLaws are made to be broken.a aThose who willfully defy the laws of the Coven invite destruction.a Still kneeling, Drake flung his arms out to his sides. aDo your worst.a aNo!a The woman on the dais rose to her feet, tension evident in every line of her body. aI will not have it!a aBe silent! I will not let him go unpunished.a The woman relaxed visibly. aOf course not, my lord.a Rodin didnat say anything, but suddenly, there were four burly men in the room. They surrounded Drake. He made no move to resist when two of them pulled him to his feet and dragged him away. The other two men followed behind.
Elena stared after Drake, overcome with a sudden fear that she would never see him again. She yearned to run after him, but every instinct she possessed warned her to stay where she was.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Rodin and the woman. If Rodin treated his son like that, what would he do to her, an uninvited, unwelcome stranger?
Rodin regarded the female standing before him. It was easy to see why Drake had chosen her. She was young and pretty, with a slender figure and vibrant brown eyes. He sensed a streak of valor in her that she did not realize she possessed. It amused him to think that her courage might be put to the test before the night was out.
Drawing himself up to his full height, he said, aI am Rodin and this is my wife, Liliana.a aIam Elena Knightsbridge,a she said, only then realizing she didnat know Drakeas last name. Perhaps he didnat have one.
aHas Drake told you of us, what we are?a Rodin asked.
Elena hesitated; then, remembering Drakeas admonition to tell the truth, she nodded.
aYou wed him knowing what he is?a aNo. I did not learn that until later.a aWhat has he told you?a aVery little.a aDo you know why I summoned him here?a aYes.a aYour presence complicates matters. My son is betrothed to another. Their marriage was to take place when the moon is new.a Not knowing how to respond, Elena remained mute.
Liliana took a step forward, her gaze fixed on Elenaas face. aAre you in love with Drake?a aYes,a she said, and knew in that moment that it was true. Somewhere along the way, she had fallen in love with him.
aAnd does he love you?a Liliana asked, her brow furrowed.
aI donat know.a aLove!a Rodin said, sneering. aAn overrated emotion, to be sure. It has nothing to do with Drakeas responsibility to the Coven.a Elena cleared her throat. aI would think that our marriage would negate his betrothal to another.a aOur race is very old,a Rodin said, resuming his seat. aOur men are strong and virile, as you undoubtedly know. However, in spite of their l.u.s.ty nature, they are unable to procreate until they have survived for five centuries. And because our women far outnumber the men, it is forbidden for males who attain that age to waste their seed on mortal women. Such unions do not produce offspring.a Elena stared at him. She had not given any thought to having children, had just a.s.sumed it would happen sooner or later. Now, realizing it would never happen filled her with an unexpected sadness.
aThe breeding season for our women is short,a Rodin continued. aThe woman chosen for Drake is young and fertile.a Elena clenched her hands. Drake had told her that Rodin wouldnat hurt her, but she was beginning to have her doubts.
aRodin,a Liliana said quietly, aI believe you are scaring our guest.a He grunted softly. aI must think about this. Take her to dinner.a Elena felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. Was she going to be dinner?
aCome with me,a Liliana said imperiously.
Filled with trepidation, Elena followed Liliana out of the room, down a wide candlelit hallway lined with portraits, and into a large dining hall. The walls were stark white, devoid of decoration. Dozens of young men and women sat at long trestle tables that were laden with bowls and platters and baskets filled with more food than Elena had ever seen. The women all wore long gray dresses; the men wore gray vests and pants.
The occupants all turned to look at Elena when she entered the room.
Liliana guided her to an empty seat at the last table near the back of the room. aPlease, sit down. I will bring you a tray.a Murmuring, aThank you,a Elena sat down, acutely conscious of the stares being sent her way. Some of the occupants appeared merely curious, but a few regarded her with obvious malevolence. She thought it odd that, for so many people, there was no conversation at all.
Liliana returned a short time later. She set a tray before Elena that held more food than she could have eaten in a week.
aI did not know what you liked,a Liliana explained, taking the seat across from her, aso I brought you a little of everything. Please, eat.a Smiling faintly, Elena picked up the fork, surprised to find the utensils were made of stainless steel and not gold-plated, like the utensils at Wolfram Castle. She took a bite of an individual-sized ca.s.serole topped with mashed potatoes.
aIs it to your liking?a Liliana asked.
Elena nodded. aMay I ask you something?a aOf course.a aAre all these people vampires?a Liliana smiled indulgently. aNo. They are sheep.a aExcuse me?a aThe Fortress houses a number of vampires, both old and young,a Liliana replied, as if that explained everything.
aI donat understand.a aThe Fortress is our primary lair. Our people come here when they feel the need of solitude, or time to heal. Others come to rest, or to mate. There is no hunting allowed within two hundred miles. As the Master of the Fortress and the leader of our people, Rodin is duty-bound to provide sustenance for those who take shelter here.a Elena paused, fork in midair. aSustenance?a She stared at Liliana in horror. aThese people are food?a aDo not look so shocked, my dear. We do not kill them.a aBut you feed on them?a Elena dropped her fork. It clattered loudly on the table, drawing more curious gazes from the other diners.
Liliana made a broad gesture with her hand. aAs you can see, they are well cared for.a aAre they free to leave here?a Liliana sat up straighter, her expression suddenly hostile. aPlease, finish your meal.a aIam not hungry. I want to see Drake.a aI am afraid that is not possible at this time.a aWhy not? Where is he? What have you done to him?a Merciful heavens, had they killed him?
aHe is being punished for his disobedience.a Relief coursed through her. And then anger. aIam his wife!a she exclaimed, rising. aI demand to see him. Now.a It was obvious, from the set of Lilianaas jaw and the look in her eyes, that she wasnat accustomed to being addressed in that tone of voice, especially with others looking on. She took several deep breaths and then rose gracefully to her feet. aVery well. Come with me.a Feeling suddenly apprehensive, Elena followed Liliana up a narrow flight of stairs. She had expected to find a room of some kind when they reached the landing, but it only led to another flight of stairs and then another until they reached a squat wooden door. There was no visible latch on the door, yet it opened at the touch of Lilianaas hand.
Elena peered into the room, which was lit only by a narrow shaft of moonlight shining through a slit in the roof.
aDrake? Elena wishes to see you. Call me when she is ready to leave,a Liliana said, and pushed Elena into the room.
Elena stumbled forward into the darkness to be caught up in a pair of welcoming arms.
aElena, what are you doing here?a aDrake! Oh, Drake!a She collapsed against him, her face buried in the hollow of his shoulder. aWe have to get out of here.a He brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, then kissed her lightly. aI cannot go.a aWhy not?a She looked up at him, wishing she could see his face. aWhy canat we leave the same way we got here?a aI am bound.a aI donat understand.a He lifted one leg and she heard the rattle of chains. aShackles,a he explained. aOnly Rodin can free me.a He caressed her cheek. aI never should have brought you here. Never brought you into my life.a aThey feed on people.a aHe told you that?a aI saw it. I saw them. The . . . the sheep.a Taking off his coat, Drake spread it on the hard cement. aCome, sit down,a he urged, and sat beside her, his arm sliding around her shoulders to draw her close.
aDid you do that? Feed on those helpless people?a aYears ago,a he admitted quietly. aWhen I was very young.a aYour mother said they donat kill them. Is that true?a aPartly. Accidents happen when we are changing. Sometimes there is a loss of control.a There were those in the outside world who preferred to kill their prey. There was no law against it, as long as there were no bodies drained of blood left behind. Vampires who went rogue and became a danger to the Coven were destroyed. But he saw no need to tell Elena that, not now.
aWhere do they come from?a she asked hesitantly. aThe sheep?a Drakeas gaze slid away from hers. This was another part of his existence he had hoped to keep hidden from her. aWe raise them. They have never known any other life.a Elena listened in mounting horror as he told her how the people she had seen in the dining hall were the descendants of three couples that Rodin had captured hundreds of years ago.
aAs I said, they are rarely mistreated. They are well fed. They are taught to read and write by their parents. Here, in the Fortress, they are given books to read and other things to occupy their time. Some of them work in the kitchens. Others in the laundry. They live in dormitories in the bas.e.m.e.nta"boys in one, girls in anothera"until they are old enough to mate, and then a select few are allowed rooms of their own.a aBut theyare prisoners. Itas wrong to keep people locked up for food, to breed them like . . . like . . .a aSheep?a aYes! How can you be a party to such a thing? Itas barbaric!a aI never said I approved. It is one of the reasons I do not stay here. The reason I left in the first place.a Elena frowned. If they raised the people for food . . . aWhere are the children? The babies?a aThey are housed elsewhere until they are grown.a aWith their parents?a aYes, until they are sixteen, and then they come here.a aBut, the children? Are they always locked up? Do they ever get to go outside and play in the fresh air?a aElena . . .a Her answer was there, in the tone of his voice.
Elena stared up at the sliver of sky visible through the roof, her heart aching for the people who were kept here against their will, for the children who would never know the freedom to run and play outdoors. These people deserved to be free, to live their own lives, to come and go as they pleased. She couldnat begin to imagine how they must feel. And yet, Drake had said they had never known any other life. She thought of the homeless people her uncle had told her about when she complained that she wanted a new dress. He had told her to be thankful for what she had, that there were children who lived on the streets in the big cities who had to beg for their bread, men who had to steal to feed their families.
She shook her head. As terrible as that might be, she thought she would rather starve than spend her life in this place, to have no other purpose than to provide sustenance for vampires.
Drakeas arm tightened around her shoulders. aI cannot change it, Elena,a he said. aIt has been our way for centuries. Were it not for the ready supply of blood that is here, Rodinas people would be forced to prey upon those in the outside world.a aAre there places like this wherever your people live?a aYes. Every country throughout the world has a similar Fortress, and each one is ruled by a Master Vampire.a aAnd your father ordered you here to mate with another vampire?a aYes. And to take my place on the Council, something I have resisted for three hundred years.a aThat empty chair. Itas for you, isnat it?a aYes.a aI noticed that the men all bear a striking resemblance to your father.a aThey are my brothers.a aAll of them?a aYes, though we do not all have the same mother.a aWhat does the Council do?a aThey judge those who have broken our laws, and execute them, if necessary.a Elena went cold inside. Were they going to execute Drake for marrying her? Surely not! Surely the members of the Council wouldnat pa.s.s a sentence of death on their own brother. She felt as if she couldnat breathe, as if she had tumbled into a nightmare from which there was no escape.
aIs that what you wish?a Drake asked, stroking her hair.
aWhat?a aTo escape? To be free of me?a She chewed on her thumbnail. Did she want that? Did she want to leave Drake and never see him again? Go back to her old life with her uncle? If she left Drake, he would be free to marry the woman Rodin had chosen for him and there would be no need for him to suffer anymore. She shook her head. How could she leave him? aI donat know.a aIf it is your desire, Rodin will erase your memories of this place and everything that happened since the night we met. It will be as if none of it ever happened.a aAnd if I stay?a aYou would be wiser to go.a She tried to see his face in the darkness. aIs that what you want?a aI am only thinking of what is best for you.a aDo you want me to go?a aNo. You are the only thing in my life that matters. But there is no place for you here. And even if there were, you would not be happy living among us, knowing what is going on.a He took a deep breath and released it in a heavy sigh. aIf Rodin offers you the chance to leave, you should take it.a It wasnat a decision Elena was ready to make, so she changed the subject. aIs this where you come to feed?a aNo. I hunted in the city.a He laughed softly. aIt is another of my sins.a aWhy didnat you come here? Where is this place?a aThe Fortress is located high in the Southern Carpathian Mountains. A veil hides it from mortal eyes, though there are those, mostly people with paranormal powers of one kind or another, who have penetrated the veil from time to time.a She started to ask what happened to those people, then decided she didnat want to know.
aDo all the Fortresses keep people to feed on?a aNo. Most of our kind prey on the general populace of whatever country they call home.a aAre all the vampires united?a That was a scary thought.
He shook his head. aThere are always those who l.u.s.t for power. Rodin has had to defend his territory on numerous occasions. There are rumors that the ruler of the Hungarian Fortress wants to take over Rodinas domain.a Elena frowned. How could vampires go to war with each other without the mortal world being aware of it? In this age of cell phones and digital cameras, it seemed impossible.
aMaster Vampires fight one on one,a Drake said, answering her unspoken question. aWinner take all.a aWhat does that mean, winner take all?a aThe victor takes the loseras Fortress and everything that goes with it. All those who lived there are forced to leave and seek shelter elsewhere.a aAnd they always leave, without a fight?a aMaster Vampires possess an enormous amount of power. There are not many who have the courage or the strength to challenge them.a aSo, do all the vampires in your fatheras command or whatever you call it live in the Fortress?a aNo. Usually only those of his own blood, and those who are in need of healing or rest stay here, although all the Carpathian vampires are welcome to visit. You are cold,a he said, drawing her body closer to his. aYou should go below.a She clutched his arm. aI donat want to leave you.a Who knew when, or if, she would be allowed to see him again? Smothering a yawn with her hand, she laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, her mind reeling with the events of the day, the things she had learned.
Sensing her distress, Drake let his mind brush hers, willing her to relax. A moment later, she was asleep.
Lifting her into his arms, Drake cradled her to his chest. He stroked her hair, caressed her cheek. In spite of the darkness, he could see her clearly. He had been certain that, given a choice to stay or go, she would leave this place. He had spoken truly when head told her it would be wiser for her to leave. He had no idea how long Rodin would keep him locked up, wouldnat put it past his sire to threaten Elenaas life in order to get Drake to end his marriage so that he might wed and bed Katiya. And even though Drake was certain Rodin wouldnat harm Elena, he wasnat willing to risk her safety or her life to prove it.
aAh, sweet wife, what am I to do with you?a he murmured, although the greater question might be, what would become of her if Rodin refused to let her go?
He glanced up as a chill wind eddied through the crack in the roof. Come morning, the light of the sun would penetrate that narrow slit. The fire of it, the feel of it dancing over his skin, would be excruciating beyond anything he had ever known.
There wasnat much in this life he feared, but being trapped in the sun, dying inch by slow inch . . . He shuddered at the thought.
How long would Rodin keep him locked in this accursed place? A day? Two?
How long would it take for the sun to burn away his flesh and steal his strength until nothing remained but a pile of charred ashes?
Chapter 14.
Elena woke slowly, a sense of dread making her reluctant to open her eyes. She heard whispered voices, the shuffling of many feet.
Squinting through half-opened lids, she saw a dozen faces staring down at her. Startled, she jackknifed into a sitting position, her gaze flitting wildly around the room. A momentas disorientation quickly turned to panic. Where was she? Before the question was fully formed, she knew.
She was in one of the dormitories.
With the sheep.
aYouare new, arenat you?a asked a girl with curly brown hair and slanted brown eyes.
Elena nodded.
aItas time for morning meal,a the girl said.
aIam not hungry.a aYou must eat. It is the rule,a the girl said with an airy wave of her hand. aCome along.a Elena shook her head. How had she gotten here? The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in Drakeas arms.
aYouall be punished if you donat eat.a A look of fear shadowed the girlas eyes when a bell rang. aWe must hurry! Weall be late!a Spurred by the trepidation in the girlas eyes, Elena sprang out of bed. She didnat know what kind of punishment vampires meted out, but she was certain it was something awful.
She followed the line of women down a high-ceilinged corridor. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the dining hall, all conversation ceased.
Elena took a seat near the back. She didnat belong here. There had to be a mistake. She glanced anxiously around the room, searching for Liliana, before realizing that the vampires were most likely resting at this time of the day.
Four large men patrolled the dining hall. Elena studied them, trying to determine whether they were human or vampire. Common sense told her they were human, but they were curiously lifeless, their movements almost puppetlike. They spoke in monotones, their eyes blank, their faces showing no emotion whatsoever.
Although she had declared she wasnat hungry, Elena ate everything she was served, surprised at how good it was. And then she grimaced. Of course, it only made sense that the vampires would take good care of their food supply.
When breakfast was over, two of the hulking men herded the women downstairs into a large rectangularshaped room with stark white walls and a stone floor. A large hearth provided warmth.
Once the women were all inside, the doors were closed and locked. The girl who had spoken to Elena earlier told her that the men had their own place to spend the day.
There were books in the room, easels and paints, yarn and thread and a half dozen looms, a potteras wheel, several chess sets, iPods with ear phones, as well as a largescreen TV and what looked like every movie ever made. Elena frowned. The TV was the first sign she had seen that there was electricity in the Fortress.
The women spread out quickly, each finding a task or a pastime to her liking.
Feeling as though she were caught in a horrible nightmare, Elena watched the women. They all seemed happy, perfectly content to be locked away in this dreadful place. She overheard s.n.a.t.c.hes of conversationa"two girls talking about men they hoped to mate with, one girl whispering to another that she thought she was with child, several other young women talking about which vampires they hoped would come for them that night.
aIam hoping for Cullin,a a pretty brunette said with a sigh. aHeas so handsome and his bite is so tender.a aYou can have Cullin, Marta. I want Dallin,a a tiny redhead said, a quiver in her voice. aHe only takes a little and then heas gone.a aDallin and Elnora, sitting in a tree . . .a Marta chanted, and burst into giggles.
aI donat care who it is,a remarked another with a toss of her head. aAs long as it isnat Vardin.a All the women within hearing distance nodded in agreement.
Eventually, boredom had Elena picking up a copy of Jane Eyre. She carried it to an overstuffed chair in the corner and sat down, one leg curled beneath her. She tried to read, but somehow, the fictional problems of Jane and Mr. Rochester paled when compared to the very real problems that beset her. Elena wasnat being kept in an attic, but in a very real prison. There were similarities, of course. Mr. Rochester couldnat marry Jane because he already had a wife. Drake couldnat marry the woman his father had chosen for him for the same reason. He already had a wife. Mr. Rochesteras wife, who was quite insane, perished in a fire. If she had to stay here much longer, Elena thought she, too, might go insane.
With a sigh, she put the book aside. She couldnat concentrate on the words, couldnat think of anything but Drake, locked up in a high tower room. She couldnat shake the feeling that he was in pain, that he needed her. How long would Rodin keep his son locked up? She pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp as a new thought pushed its way into her mind. There was a hole in the tower roof. Surely Rodin wouldnat leave Drake up there during the day, helpless to avoid the sunas light.
Worried for Drakeas welfare, she lost track of time.
She looked up when a woman entered the room. She wasnat a vampire, but a female version of the men who had guarded the dining room. Elena watched nervously as the woman gazed around the room, then strode purposefully toward her.
aYou,a the woman said sharply. aCome with me.a When Elena didnat comply immediately, the woman grasped her roughly by the arm and yanked her to her feet.
Elena followed the woman down the corridor and into a small room.
aUndress,a the woman ordered. Reaching into a cupboard, she withdrew a long gray dress. aPut that on.a She dropped a pair of black shoes on top of the dress. aQuickly now.a When it became evident the woman wasnat going to give her any privacy, Elena turned her back on her and quickly changed into the gray dress, and as she did so, she was overcome with the feeling that she had just lost her individuality.
Moments later, she was back in the recreation room, indistinguishable from the rest of the sheep.
Drake pressed back against the wall of his prison. It kept him out of the sunas direct light, but he couldnat escape the scorching heat. It enveloped him like an invisible shroud, burning through his clothing to the flesh beneath, adding to the pain of the heavy silver leg iron that shackled his ankle to the wall. But for the chains that bound him he could have dissolved into mist and escaped.
He groaned deep in his throat. He could feel his flesh blistering inside and out. Not wanting Elena to see him like this, or to suffer the heat of the day with him, he had called Liliana to take Elena away last night, after she had fallen asleep.
Elena. Where was she now? Closing his eyes, he tried to concentrate on her whereabouts, but the intense pain clouded his mind, making coherent thought impossible.
He spent several minutes uselessly cursing his sire, then lapsed into silence. He had known Rodin would be angry, but he had never expected anything like this.
The pain intensified his thirst. He felt his fangs run out in response. As the hours pa.s.sed, pain turned into agony. He felt his body shrinking in on itself, felt his veins constricting. The weight of his clothing became agonizing against his tender flesh.
A hoa.r.s.e cry tore at his throat as a ray of sun found him and he scuttled to the other side of the tower, his arms covering his head in an effort to escape the withering heat.
Cringing in pain, he summoned Elenaas image. Beautiful Elena, with hair like fine black silk and skin as soft as down. Elena, who cared for him in spite of what he was . . . or had her affection turned to hate now that she knew the truth about him, about his people?
aElena.a He forced her name through cracked, dry lips.
If he begged, would Rodin let him see her one last time?
The day dragged on. Elena took up the book again, pretending to read. She was aware of the curious gazes of the other women, but they seemed to sense she wished to be left alone, or maybe they were simply leery of a stranger in their midst.
Just when she thought the day would never end, the door opened and Liliana stepped into the room. Without a word, all of the women rose and filed toward the doorway. Elena hung back so that she was the last in line. When she reached Liliana, she stopped.
aWhere is Drake?a Elena asked anxiously. aI want to see him.a aI am sorry. That is not possible just now. Please, go to last meal with the others.a aI want to see my husband,a Elena said, stressing the last word.
A humorless smile played over the vampireas lips. aYou will see him at Rodinas pleasure and not before.a aWhy not now? Please, I must see him.a aIf you wish to see Drake again, you will do as you are told.a Without waiting for an answer, the vampire left the room.
Fighting back tears, Elena went into the dining hall and took a seat. Several human girls served the meal. Tonight, a pair of male vampires patrolled the aisles dividing the men from the women.
Elena forced herself to eat, afraid that refusing would keep her from seeing Drake.
The meal was almost over when the door opened and a dozen or so vampiresa"both male and femalea"entered the room. Elena stared at them. They were all beautiful. Male or female, they moved from table to table with a languid grace no human could ever match. Most of the men wore black, but not the women. Clad in brightly colored clothing or lounging outfits, they looked like a flock of exotic birds.
One by one, the vampires called out a name, and the man or woman called left his or her seat and followed the vampire out the door.
aElena Knightsbridge.a It took her a moment to realize her name had been called. There had to be a mistake, she thought frantically. She wasnat one of the sheep! She was Drakeas wife.
aElena Knightsbridge, come to me.a To her horror, she found herself rising as if she had no mind of her own, moving toward the vampire who had summoned her. He resembled Drake in that he was tall and had long black hair and blue eyes. But that was where the resemblance ended. There was a cruel twist to this manas mouth, a coldness in his pale blue eyes.
aPoor thing,a one of the women murmured as Elena pa.s.sed by. aTo get Vardin her first time.a Elena shivered when he looked at her. There was nothing of warmth when he smiled at her, no gentleness in his grip when his hand closed over her arm. This was a man who enjoyed inflicting pain, she had no doubt of it.