“And their progress?” This was the voice of the swordsman who had held her back by the diner.
“They’ve already wiped out the governments, their armies, and the media.”
“Leaders, defenses, communications…all in one move,” the swordsman muttered.
“In a single night, from the looks of it. They’re taking over,” said the second. “Most cities have already been overrun. Others have been wiped out completely.”
There was a pause as the silence settled.
“How much time?” the swordsman asked.
“If we leave them to their plans?” Aria imagined a defeated shrug she couldn’t see. “Few weeks. Maybe a month. That depends on how proactive the humans decide to be.”
“Humans,” Aria breathed, then held her breath.
“Is no one left?” the swordsman said. “Has anyone made any decisions to move?”
“From the looks of it, they had no time,” the second voice said. “Everything is already gone. The Weeches were thorough.”
Aria had no idea what that meant, but the worried sick she had at the diner was back stronger than ever.
“That doesn’t leave us much choice,” the swordsman said. There was a hint of defeat in his tone. “Round them up.”
“My Lord.”
Aria bit down on her fist. Despite the barrage of questions and confusion, she was certain “them” meant humans and she was doubly sure that whoever or whatever “they” were, were the rotting bodies that had surrounded her.
“Come out,” called the swordsman. “I know you heard every word.”
Making up her mind to stand tall, Aria pushed against the door that opened into a lavish sitting room. The rich mahogany and blood red velvet continued into this room.
A red lounger rested as the centerpiece before a crackling fireplace encased in stone. Despite the number of candelabras, wall sconces, and candlesticks only a handful were lit. Lavishly carved sofa tables lined the walls that dripped with velvet drapes.
Strange, she thought over the obscene lack of electrical lights.
Beside the lounger’s end, the swordsman stood. Behind him a pair of tall doors rose to the ceiling: the door of her cell. Aria looked back to her host. The pair of black eyes stared back. Set within a perfectly pale complexion, Aria could now see her captor clearly. His black hair was sleeked back and hung long to down his neck. He was tall and thin, but clearly strong...and powerful. She had no doubt the power harbored within his body. That was made very clear from where he stood. Aria assessed his full height at a few inches over six foot. He towered over her five foot four inches.
“Where is my father?” Aria asked, getting right to the only question that mattered.
“Your father?” the swordsman repeated.
“My father.” Aria’s words were dangerously close to shouting, but she held back. She wasn’t about to show him emotion. She had already decided he wasn’t worth it.
“For the life of me, I truly don’t know,” he answered too politely.
Aria decided not to push the issue just yet.
“What do you want?” she asked, forcing the question strong.
“A few things,” he answered then paused, taking a moment to look her up then down.
Visibly repressing a grin, he assessed her as if deciding her fit to ogle.
“Your question is vague,” he finally answered.
“Who are you?” Aria asked, slightly miffed at his admiration.
“Better.” He permitted a full grin to expand his mouth as his eyes shone with a satisfied gleam. “I am Caius.”
“Why am I here?”
“I brought you here.” Caius said this as if he had done her a favor.
“What were…” Aria hesitated. All the words that came to mind were ludicrous. Downright foolish.
“Zombies?” Caius finished for her.
“Oh, don’t say it,” Aria groaned. The whole thing was ridiculous. She cringed her face, showing the first sign of emotion since she woke. Knowing better, she cursed herself and recomposed her cool head.
Caius chuckled. “Not quite zombies, though they do look the part, don’t they?”
Aria stared with a disapproval she barely kept in check. None of this amused her and she wasn’t in the mood for games.
“What you saw was an invasion,” Caius said, circling the lounger. He settled himself onto the couch. Resting his arm across the back of the lounger, he crossed his legs. “The first of many. While you slept, nearly fifty more have landed—”
“Landed?”
“Your race is being wiped out.”
The blood drained from Aria’s brain and she felt herself sway.
“W—” She couldn’t speak.
“Have a seat,” Caius said, pointing to the place beside him. “You haven’t eaten in days.”
“Days?” Aria focused her attention back on Caius. “How long was I—”
“Three days, Aria.”
“How do you know my name?”
“You must be hungry.”
At the mention of food, Aria noticed the ache in her belly and how small her stomach felt. Based on the curve of her trim torso, she assumed she had lost almost ten pounds in those few days.
“I’ll have something brought up from the kitchens,” Caius said, standing from the couch.
“Where am I?” Aria asked.
“You’re safe.”
“I’m going.” Aria announced and, selecting the nearest route to the doors, brushed past Caius. She had made it a whole two steps before he was on her, in front of her, holding her. Aria had no time to respond. Caius was close, his mouth on her neck.
His breath grazed her ear.
“Chains and bars don’t hold you because we don’t need them,” he breathed, touching his lip to her ear.
Cold slid down Aria, and with it, an understanding. The power she had felt from Caius was no illusion. She felt it in his arms. With no effort, he could snap her in two and very little kept him from doing so. She doubted he would feel remorse for the action. If Caius wanted, nothing stopped him from taking. That was made very clear as he placed a gentle kiss to the edge of her ear and, still holding her at the waist, permitted her a step back.
Permitted.
“You have much to learn, Aria,” Caius whispered. “Xavier.”
Aria remained frozen as Xavier opened one of the vast doors enslaving her.
“Have the kitchens prepare something for Miss Danes,” Caius said. His request was polite and kind because, Aria was certain, he didn’t have to be anything else. She heard the same compliance in Xavier’s voice as before.
“My Lord,” Xavier bowed and closed the door behind him.
Aria gazed at Caius’s face and studied the callus emptiness there.
“Your heart is black,” Aria said. “I see it in your eyes.”
Caius smiled proudly as if swept away by her. Before Caius could answer, Aria took her gaze from Caius, and marched back to her room, slamming the door between then.
The chamber was bold and bleak. Even the fire in the hearth felt cold despite the dancing flames casting orange about the room.
“Well, this is creepy,” Aria muttered, gazing at the red drapes, matching linens, and thick plush carpets as deep a red as crimson blood. She hugged herself, rubbing her arms as one of the thick curtains moved. Aria paused a moment then bolted toward the open window hidden behind the curtain. She threw open the drapes and gasped.
The window was in fact a set of glass French doors left open to a stone balcony. Aria stepped out onto the terrace. From the terrace, she could see just what her prison was: A Gothic castle complete with crenelated stone parapets nestled on an island somewhere.
Night blanketed the world in beautiful black all save for the moon above, as clear and perfect and whole as ever. Ahead was a river so wide as to hide the horizon behind the shadows. The shadows that moved. Aria focused her attention on the line of black in the far of distance then ga
sped, her hand on her mouth. There, beyond the abstract of imagination, Aria could see the sloth movement of each zombie. As far as the eye could see, millions roamed like an infectious cancer that had seeped over the land and spread.
A harsh crash jerked Aria back from the horror and she spun about in time to see a small woman in English frocks from the 18th century. She was dangerously thin, almost clumsy as she straightened a silver tray laden with, what looked like the fixings of a lavish meal. Salted beef, red wine, ripe cheeses, and fruits dressed the platter. She lost her appetite though when a cold, gentle hand touched her shoulder. She didn’t have to see him to know Caius stood behind her.
“Leave us, girl.” Caius’ silk voice climbed her spine.
Aria moved to take a step as the English maid bumbled off. In a hurried state, she closed the doors behind her as if too frightened to raise her eyes from the floor. Aria turned to face Caius.
“I had a platter brought up for you.” His voice was too soft.
“Do you really expect me to thank you?”
“It would be nice,” he purred.
“Thank you,” she sneered.
“You’re welcome.” Caius smiled. In the moonlight, like this, she could too easily make out the fine white rows of his teeth, and the over pronounced canines that were only visible with a full smile.
With an amused scoff, Aria shook her head. “What is this?”
Caius tipped his head in question.
“You can’t possibly expect me to believe that they...,” Aria made a motion toward the window.
“The zombies?” Caius finished for her.
“Ugh.” Aria felt her stomach flip with the stupidity of it all. “And that you...” She looked Caius up then down.
Overall, he was quite stunning to look at. She would have found herself flirting shamelessly had she not been so worried about her father or the fact that she was standing in a 17th century Dracula mock-up, and a rather convincing one too. She wasn’t sure what she was trying to say.
“And what am I?” Caius asked.
“I don’t have to answer that,” Aria said.
Caius inhaled and took a step toward Aria who raised her head in defiance. She refused to stand down.
All he has to do is move, and he can break you. She repeated the mantra over as she stood tall. He was so close she could smell his sweet musk and feel the power he harbored, so close that her chin nearly grazed his chest.
“You are quite beautiful,” Caius whispered and slid a finger down her jaw line.
Aria slapped it away.
“If you don’t mind, my dinner’s getting cold,” Aria said.
“As is mine.”
Aria stiffened.
“I can wait,” Caius said, heading for the door. “I’m not getting any older.”
With a subtle bow, as if to bid her goodnight, he closed the door behind him.
* * *
CHAPTER 2
Aria ran toward the door and yanked on the handle. Convinced it was locked, she stumbled back a bit when it swung open. She recovered her balance and poke her head into the sitting room. Caius was gone.
Of course, he was, she mused.
Without hesitation, Aria closed the door. With how fast he could move, she was certain he was watching. If she was going to escape, it would have to be planned. Thought out. Carefully plotted.
“Hey.”
Aria all but jumped out of her skin and turned to a woman lounging too comfortably on an armoire shoved into the shadows against the stone wall. The umbra masked most of her presence, but not enough that Aria couldn’t make out the slender body wrapped in form fitted black leather. Slick leather boots stopped at her knees, and her lush brown hair dyed purple with subtle blue tips touched her thighs. The woman affectionately clutched a flask with a sleek manicure that left her nails painted black. Their sheen was striking in the shadow touched by slivers of moonlight as she tipped the flask back for a drink.
From the smell, Aria was certain she was chugging Merlot.
“Who are you?” Aria asked.
“Call me Cin,” she said putting the stopper on the flask and casually shoving it into her boot.
“Sin,” Aria repeated. “Are you one of them?” Aria asked a bit snarkier than intended.
Cin slid down from the armoires.
“Hardly,” she said. “No.”
“What are they?” Aria asked. “Where am I? Do you know where my father is?”
“Vampires-or the closest thing to what you would call vampires, the St. Lawrence River, and No. I don’t know where your father is,” Cin said.
Paying no mind to the first two answers, Aria’s shoulders dropped. She dug her hands into her eyes and crushed the tears that burned there.
“Are you alright?” Cin asked.
“I don’t…” Aria was running out of shock. She felt her strength wane and, as her body began shaking, she started crying. Any moment now she would fall to the floor blubbering.
“Hey,” Cin said, gently hushing Aria. “You’re okay. Here.” Cin pulled a second flask from the inside of her purple-black leather jacket. Accepting the flask, Aria threw back one long gulp expecting the dry thick body of a Merlot.
A moment later she was hunched over in a fit of coughs.
“What—” More coughs cuts Aria off. “Is this?”
“Absinthe,” Cin said.
After a moment, Aria’s coughing calmed down enough for her to stand upright again.
“Better?” Cin asked.
Aria nodded with a final cough.
“Good. Ready to go?”
“Go?” Aria asked as Cin walked to the terrace.
“Unless you want to stay here.” Cin paused for a moment as if unsure what Aria wanted. “Do you?”
“No,” Aria said.
“Alright then. This way.”
Aria followed Cin to the terrace and looked down where a long nylon rope secured with something that resembled climbing equipment. Aria studied the rope system with question.
“We have a guy who works for us. This is one of his own creations. Frickin’ awesome if you ask me.”
Aria nodded her understanding and listened to the instructions Cin gave as she secured the pulley system to her waist.
With Cin leading the way, Aria followed suit.
“You’ll kick and slide,” Cin said.
Aria nodded. “Kick and slide.”
Cin was already on her way down. A moment later, her feet touched the ground.
“Ready?”
Aria took a deep breath. “I got this.”
A cold hand slammed down on Aria’s holding her there on the terrace. Gasping, Aria looked up into Caius’ eyes.
“Going somewhere?”
“Aria, let go!” Cin called.
But Caius had his fingers twisted in Aria’s hair.
“Aria!” Cin cried.
Before Aria could call out, Caius was on her. His teeth sunk into her neck. Aria battled a surge of dizzy sleep as her grip relaxed on the rope.
“Shit,” Cin said from the ground. “Aria, let go!”
But already Aria was unconscious and asleep in Caius’ arms.
Pulling a small contraption from her belt, Cin snapped her wrist, and the contraption unfolded into what looked like a child’s flying toy. Cin threw the device. Propelled by internal mechanics, it sailed up to the terrace. The climbers’ equipment released itself from the balcony at the same moment that the device release a line of electricity that fired at Caius’s chest and held him there.
Calling out in pain, Caius released Aria and she fell.
“Aria!” Cin yelled, watching Aria fall from the terrace.
Before she could move to break Aria’s fall, a flash of black pulled Aria from the air.
Standing besides Cin, a woman, clad all in black held Aria. Fish net stockings grazed her legs between the platform heeled leather boots and the leather miniskirt. The bottom half of her black hair had been dyed with such deep a
red that her hair looked like it dripped blood. Her black lips parted with a coy smile, making her already beautifully cold skin all the paler. Dark eyeliner enhanced the mischief in her gaze as Aria began to waken still drugged and in a haze.
“Kylie!” Caius called down from the terrace. “Bring her here.”
Kylie gave an amused scoff. “Make me,” she said earning a pursed snarl from Caius.
“Here,” Kylie said, passing Aria to Cin.
“Kylie!” Caius shouted.
Kylie flipped a finely manicured finger at Caius. Her black polished caught the moonlight.
“Back down, Kylie,” Caius warned.
“Blow it out your hole,” Kylie said.
As Cin helped Aria find the ground beneath her, there was a flash from the balcony, and, gasping, Cin braced for an impact that never came. Behind her Kylie stood, the only barrier between Cin and Caius. Kylie’s outstretched arm pushed against Caius.
“Watch your sides, little sister,” Caius said.
“Watch yours.”
Caius growled.
“You better get going,” Kylie said to Cin. “If he gets mad enough, I won’t be able to stop him.”
As Cin began to move away with Aria, Caius attempted to shift around Kylie, but Kylie moved too fast. Her hands slammed into Caius’ chest, blasting him back several feet. Caius regained his balance and moved to shift again, but, in the time that it took Caius to recover, Cin and Aria were gone.
“Wench!” Caius said, raising his hand to strike Kylie who caught his fist.
Kylie smiled as Caius ground his teeth.
“I never should have pulled you back,” he said.
“No,” Kylie said. “You shouldn’t have.”
Caius pulled back his hand.
“I could have you killed here,” he threatened.
“No,” Kylie said. “You can’t or you would have ages ago.”
Without another word, Kylie sauntered on toward the gardens away from the castle and Caius.
“Get in my way again, Kylie, and you won’t survive the day.”
Kylie began to whistle a tune of her own making.
“There are other ways to kill an immortal who refuses to die!”
“We’ll see,” Kylie said, not bothering to look back.
“Trollop!” Caius shouted and Kylie gave a nonchalant wave from the gardens, her manicured nails with black sheen catching the moonlight.
* * *
CHAPTER 3
Cin dropped Aria into the small row boat that rocked against the water. Taking up an oar she pushed against the land, setting the boat in motion away from the island.