Sons of navarus box set.., p.24
Sons of Navarus Box Set #2, page 24
“Will do, sir. I’ll be in touch as soon as we find something.”
Marc sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. Everything was coming together. Soon the four who the Prophecy of Idolas said would be the key to it all would be eliminated and the Archon takeover would be cleared for success. That the assassin of Alexander Regas had been successful in finding out that detail before he was sentenced to death was a stroke of luck the Archons desperately needed. Knull’s silence was likely due to his death at the hands of the Sons, so his task of finding the last of Sampson’s vampires was also likely a failure.
But now the tide seemed to be changing. This new group of hunters would hopefully fulfill their assignment and rid them of that problem, at least. And with that chore out of the way, the Archons and Marc would be able to implement his plan to subjugate all vampires to their rule.
A knock on his office door roused him from his daydreams and he yelled, “Enter!”
At his command, the second set of twelve men filed in. Just as big and brutish as the last group, their assignment would be slightly different. They did as their predecessors had and stood silently against the back wall waiting for his orders.
Marc stood and approached them, looking to see who the leader of this group was. One man with pale eyes and very blond hair stood straight and looked ahead with the air of a military commander. Something in his posture told the Archon he was the one to deal with.
Stopping in front of him, Marc asked, “What’s your name?”
Without missing a beat, the man answered, “Albert Parker, sir.”
“Mr. Parker, are you the leader of these men?”
“Yes, sir. We’ve been sent by the adjutant to Magistrate Consera.”
“Very good.” Marc walked up and down the line of men and studied them to see the sorts who would be hunting such a precious commodity. Competent enough looking, they appeared to be slightly better than the first group, and Marc felt more confidence in their leader than the pock marked one from earlier.
“Your assignment is to find a woman. One single woman named Solenne Durand.” Cringing, he added, “She may be going by the name of Solenne Collins.”
“Yes, sir,” Albert answered. “Do you have a picture of her?”
Shaking his head, Marc said, “No, but I can tell you what she looks like. Red hair, blue-green eyes, average height, well-built. She has a house in France, but I don’t suspect she’d be there. My advice is to look in Greece, near the Order’s headquarters outside of Athens.”
“What do you want us to do with her when we find her? Is this a kill job or a capture?”
“Capture. She is not to be harmed. I want her brought to me here, but I want you to contact me first. Do not do anything with her until you’ve contacted me.” Marc grabbed a piece of paper from his desk and scribbled a phone number. “I want you to call me at this number only. I don’t want anyone to know about this. Mention it to no one. Do you understand?”
Nodding again, Parker asked, “If we need anything, are we to contact your secretary?”
“No, only me and only at this number. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir. Is there anything else we should know for this assignment?”
“Fail and I’ll have you every last one of you killed along with every vampire you’ve ever sired.”
Albert Parker’s face may not have shown fear at that statement, but the men around him looked stunned, as if his threat was unlike anything they’d ever heard. Marc smiled at them and waved his hand, satisfied that the meeting was over.
Alone, he thought about what he’d say and do when Solenne was once again in front of him. Even now, after months of being away from her, the mere memory of her blood on his tongue made his cock harden. The sweet taste of it as it slid over his taste buds toward his throat…the feel of her as he fucked her again.
Marc adjusted his pants to accommodate his excitement, but what really thrilled him was the thought of having her blood inside him again. Like a junkie, he craved what she possessed and dreamed of the moment when he’d have her again. Even better, when the Archons’ doctors got their hands on her blood, they could isolate what was so powerful in her blood and his plan for all vampires could be implemented. The idea was as thrilling as the thought of having her again.
“Marc, may I come in?”
The sound of Emily’s plaintive voice coming through the speaker on his phone yanked him back to reality, and he winced. He was still rock hard and there was little chance the hunters would find Lena tonight, he admitted to himself disappointedly.
Emily will have to do.
Four
Ramiel slipped back into his room and stood at the window looking back toward the mountains in the distance. His thoughts still on Larissa, he silently let his mind travel across the miles to the cabin they’d shared so many times. He felt her sadness even now and hung his head as the reality of life without her settled into his mind.
By the time he made his way down to Vasilije’s study, he hoped the meeting would be finished. He’d grown to dread these meetings when everyone looked to Thane and him and all they could report was the same old bullshit. Things had improved with Kali’s arrival, but what did that say about the two of them?
The idea that some vampire who was probably thousands of years old had decided he and Thane should somehow be able to solve some ancient prophecy none of the Order’s eggheads had been able to make much headway with pissed him off. It would have been nice if someone had asked them before thrusting this responsibility onto their shoulders. If they had, he would have been glad to tell them to go fuck themselves. This job was meant for someone who knew about those ancient vampires and their tricks, not him.
Opening the door to the study, he saw everyone waiting for him and braced for Vasilije’s sharp reprimand. He may not have been the official leader, but he sure as hell was the de facto one since they all got to stay at his house for the time being while they played at saving the world. Instead, he heard nothing. Vasilije and Terek stood near the desk, all smiles with their women and looking like newly married men. Sasa was laughing at something, and Vasilije pulled her close to kiss her while Terek and Ilona shot each other moony-eyed glances.
Jesus Christ. This looks like some deranged version of The Bachelor.
“Sorry I’m late. Something came up.”
Vasilije laughed out loud. “In your room?”
“Now that Ramiel is here, let’s get going. I’m eager to set out,” Thane said, his voice edgier than usual.
The lovebirds took seats near one another while Ramiel found a chair near Sion, whose expressionless face always seemed so calm. Or maybe bored. He could never figure out which. Thane and Dante sat next to one another on the wall, the reason he didn’t make an effort to join Thane in the discussion this night. That younger vampire was like nails on a chalkboard, and he wasn’t in the mood for his juvenile ribbing tonight. One wrong word from him and he’d take out all his frustrations on that boyish mug.
“Okay, Thane, since you seem to be chomping at the bit tonight, you can take the lead,” Vasilije said as he put his arm around Sasa.
“Here’s what we know from Nico. Ramiel and I need to find a vampire named Tarquin. He’s one like us. The Order believes he lives on a farm in Sicily. The other one we need to find is a girl named Noele. She’s five years old and a born vampire.”
Thane put an emphasis on the last words—born vampire—but none of the others seemed to understand his intention. Ramiel couldn’t blame them, really. It’s not like it was their duty to figure out the prophecy and had to spend hours on end working on it. But Sion had spent enough time with them to know the importance of those two words, and Ramiel saw out of the corner of his eye that Thane’s meaning had registered with him.
“You don’t see why that’s important, do you?” Thane asked in a voice tinged with disappointment.
Terek leaned over to say something to Vasilije, Sasa, and Ilona, and they quickly nodded to show their understanding. “Do you really think this is the born vampire you believe is mentioned in the Prophecy of Idolas?” Vasilije asked.
“We’re hopeful. And if it is, she may be able to help us find the key we need to figure out the rest of the prophecy.”
“A five year old girl is going to do all this?” Dante asked with his usual snideness.
Thane’s thin smile showed even his growing impatience with Dante. “We have to at least try. If she isn’t the answer, maybe she’ll be able to help in some way.”
Thane continued on to explain what he and Ramiel had to do and said, “We’ll be staying at one of the Order’s spies’ homes. Nico says this Hadrian will be able to direct us to possible sites where we can find the key, whatever it is. You’ll be able to find us there if you need us.”
Ramiel sensed Thane’s meaning and stood, ready to leave. “Let’s just hope it’s not a needle in a haystack mission. Wish us luck.”
Sasa silently rose and left, and Ramiel saw the sheepish look on her face. He had no real idea what was going on, but he quickly looked over to see if her sire had seen her expression. He seemed more impatient to speak but waited for her to leave. Once she was gone, Vasilije changed the subject quickly. “We’ll be doing what we can here while you’re gone. Delilah will be using her talents working to spy on the London Archon. Now all we have to do is find a position for Elizabeth.”
“I can think of a position perfect for her,” Dante said with a devilish grin.
“That position and many others are taken already by another,” Thane said without missing a beat.
Rage exploded from Vasilije. Fangs bared, he barked, “What the fuck does that mean? Be a fucking man, Thane, and say what’s on your mind.”
Before Ramiel knew it, Thane was out of his seat and standing toe-to-toe with Vasilije. Taller by a few inches but much bigger in size than the Romanian, he could tear him to pieces, if he chose. The blazing anger in his eyes told Ramiel he might just do it now. Stepping in behind Thane, he readied himself to pick a side in the fight between them.
“You don’t want me to do that, Vasilije. And this time, Terek isn’t going to be able to keep you safe.”
At the mention of his name, Terek stood and took his place behind his friend. Leaning in next to him, he whispered, “Vasilije, this isn’t the time for this. Let it go.”
Vasilije stared straight ahead, focused on Thane, whose fangs had lowered, ready for the fight. “Thane doesn’t seem to understand who he’s fucking dealing with.”
“I know exactly who I’m dealing with. A shitty sire.”
A deep growl sounded the end of Vasilije’s patience, and he swung at Thane, connecting with his jaw. Thane leveled him with a punch that sent Vasilije flying back against the wall, and in seconds, the two men were rolling around on the floor at each other’s throats.
“Guys! Guys! What the hell is going on? We’re all on the same side here,” Dante chimed in, clearly oblivious to what everyone else in the room knew or suspected about Thane’s feelings for Sasa.
Ramiel and Terek pulled the two men apart, and as he held Thane back from taking another shot at Vasilije, he saw the door open and Sasa gasp at the scene in front of her. As Thane turned to see her, Ramiel pushed him away toward the side of the room, away from her. “Let it go. This isn’t your fight.”
“What’s going on?” Sasa asked as she walked to the side of her sire. “Vasilije, what is this?”
His focus turned immediately to her, and he pulled himself from Terek’s hold to take her in his arms. “Nothing, love. Just our usual meeting. See what happens when you’re not next to me?”
An uncomfortable feeling hung over the room, and as the group broke up, Dante looked like he was about to make wisecrack. Ramiel felt the need to teach the son of a bitch a lesson, and he curled his right hand into a tight fist. One wrong word and he was finally going to learn the price of being a smartass.
Thane clapped Dante on the back as he spoke. “I wish they’d let me go with you. I know I’m not a chosen one like you guys, but I’d give anything to do more.”
“We’re going to need you once we find this key, Dante. That’s when being a clyten will make you the most important of us all.”
Jesus, Thane. The kid doesn’t need any more help with his ego.
“Thanks, Thane. Keep safe guys.” Dante turned to face Ramiel. “You wouldn’t want to miss your chance at kicking my ass, so stay alive, okay?”
“Something tells me I’ll have a lot of chances,” Ramiel said half-jokingly.
“Kid’s growing up, don’t you think?”
He turned to see Thane’s grin, as if one moment of not being a pain in the ass redeemed Dante.
“I’d like to talk to you two privately.”
Ramiel spun around to see Terek. His expression showed he was serious about whatever was on his mind. Unsure if it was about the problems between Thane and Vasilije or something else, Ramiel nodded, his suspicions on high alert. “Okay. What’s up?”
Terek waited until everyone but them had left and they were alone. When he spoke, his tone had a hint of worry to it. “When I was human, I wasn’t able to read minds until after my wife and son died. But for years I’d had dreams about demons and vampires. I didn’t know they were vampires at the time. I just knew they were beings always in the shadows. Then one night I saw a child in my dreams. My wife told me we were to have a child, and I assumed it was a coincidence.”
A look of pain came across Terek’s face and then disappeared. Ramiel knew about his losing his family as a human, but he’d never heard him speak about it like this.
“I stopped having that dream right after my son was born. Until now. For the past three days I’ve had that dream again. The people in the shadows are vampires and there’s a child.”
“Do you think it has to do with the little girl we have to find?” Thane asked. “Maybe you’re reading something in our minds. I don’t know about Ramiel, but I can’t think of much else than this trip to find her and Tarquin, asleep or awake.”
Ramiel silently admitted that while he didn’t seem to be subconsciously thinking of their trip or kids, his dreams had become odd in the last few days. He’d naturally assumed it had to be because of where they were going.
Terek shook his head. “I don’t know. The child in my dreams is a male and he’s a baby.”
“Please don’t tell me you think there’s a chance we’ll have to deal with an actual baby. A five-year-old is bad enough. Hell, I’m still hoping Thane isn’t joking when he says kids that old don’t wear diapers.”
Smiling, Terek rolled his eyes. “I don’t know who to be more worried about, you or her, Ramiel.”
“Me. Thane and I already have enough to do. We don’t need babysitting added to it.”
“Well, I wanted to let you know. I don’t know if it means anything, but it did last time.”
“Thanks, Terek. We’ll keep it in mind,” Thane said sympathetically.
Ramiel knew that Terek hadn’t brought this up when everyone else was around because of Ilona. Although it had never bothered him in the least, the realization that there could never be a child was often devastating to newly turned female vampires. He’d heard Jasmine and her talking about it in hushed tones the night before when he’d gone to the kitchen to scrounge up a late night snack, and if the look on Ilona’s face was any indication, she was having a hard time dealing with the reality that she and Terek would never have a child of their own.
“Take care of yourselves. This could be what we need to finish the Archons off, once and for all.”
Terek shook both their hands and walked out, leaving them alone. As he watched Thane busy himself with a mess of papers they’d spent far too many nights with, Ramiel felt a twinge of regret for how little he’d truly done to help with figuring out the Prophecy of Idolas. He’d been there night after night with him, Kali, and Sion, but it had really been Thane and Kali who’d done most of the work. Hell, Sion had probably done more.
Thane neatly stacked the papers that may hold the still hidden answer to how to defeat the Archons and grinned that silly smile he wore when he was feeling good. “I think we should check in with Kali before we leave. She’s going to have to keep working while we’re gone.”
“You’re really looking forward to this, aren’t you?”
Standing up, his arms full, he nodded and smiled even broader. “I am. It’ll be a nice change from that cellar. And it’s not every day you get a chance to be a hero either. This is our chance.”
Ramiel snorted in disgust. “Hero, my ass. We’re going to be lucky if we don’t end up fucking dead. If it were just you and me, fine, but the two of us with a kid and some guy? Fuck, I bet you he’s an old rickety thing.”
Thane laughed out loud and moved past him toward the door. “Thank God one of us is positive. I’ve got too much to live for, thank you.” Stopping, he turned around with an expression more serious than Ramiel have ever seen from him. “This is happening, Ramiel. It’s our destiny. We might as well meet it head on and show it we mean business.”
He didn’t wait for Ramiel to answer, probably knowing he’d see this whole destiny thing in a far different light. Alone, Ramiel looked around Vasilije’s study and wondered if he’d ever see it again. As much as he’d thought he’d hated living here with so many others, somewhere along the way he’d gotten used to it.
But leaving the monastery didn’t fill him with sadness so much as dread. He was returning to Rome for the first time since he’d been made vampire just months after he and his fellow Visigoths had laid waste to the city that held nothing but bad memories for him.
Just once, he hoped things would be different.
Five
Ramiel found Thane already discussing Terek’s dream with Kali when he arrived at the cellar. What had meant nothing to them seemed terribly important to her. Usually subdued, Kali buzzed around the table flipping through the pages of books he definitely was not going to miss when they left.
