Merry spooked him. There was a weight to their words, their host tuned to a different frequency than the rest of the world. All bargains had a price. The impending fallout loomed over Johnathan’s shoulder. The birdsong seemed muted after their brief exchange. He retraced his streps through the garden, following the path from memory while he mulled over his encounter with the other vampires. Like the woman by the hearth, Alazar possessed the same magnetic draw, though he’d ruined the effect when he opened his mouth. Johnathan pondered what sort of relationship Vic could possibly have with the older vampire. Alazar clearly thought little of werewolves, though beneath his acidic insults he seemed almost spooked by Johnathan.
“Shit,” he muttered. He’d stopped Alazar from attacking Merry, a strength he matched. Were werewolves weaker? Had he surprised Alazar because he interfered, or was Johnathan stronger than he thought? At least the potent salve did as intended, masking his scent. Though the charade wouldn’t last long if he gave away the game with another blunder.
A door opened directly to his left. Vic pulled him into the unlit room, and closed them in. His hands landed on Johnathan’s shoulders, fingers biting into the muscle before they eased. The bitter tinge in Vic’s scent betrayed the worry hidden by dark.
“There you are,” said Vic, his voice tight. “Why didn’t you wait for me?” His hands fluttered down from Johnathan’s shoulders, over his arms and chest, as if to assure Vic he was unharmed.
“Where did you go?” Johnathan submitted to the touch, bemused.
Vic huffed. “Alazar came barreling into my room. Barely had time to scrub myself.”
Johnathan’s amusement wilted. “You weren’t dirty.”
“I had to hide your scent too, John,” said Vic. His hands rested against Johnathan’s chest. “I’m sorry for this ruse. I worry about them seeing you—”
“Already have,” said Johnathan. He bit the inside of his cheek. “How strong are werewolves?”
Vic released a strangled noise. “I dread to ask, but what happened?” Johnathan relayed the altercation between Merry and Alazar, omitting the details of his conversation with their host. He wasn’t ready to bumble his way through Vic’s romantic history, not certain he would ever be ready, but his curiosity piqued when it came to the older vampire.
“He didn’t retaliate?” The fluttering motions of his hands resumed until Johnathan captured his wrists.
“No, but he did look surprised. Merry did impress upon him that I arrived with you.” Johnathan wished he could see Vic’s face. His night vision had vastly improved, but this room was so dark he could barely see the outline of the man in front of him. “Why are we having a clandestine meeting in a closet, Vic? Alazar and whoever he brought with him are waiting for us.”
“It’s not a closet,” snapped Vic. There was a pregnant pause before he spoke. “He only brought one other, but you must be very careful John. Tamara has had encounters with the Nether before, and her hatred of demons runs deep. You must not reveal the quirks of your nature to her.” The temperature of the room dropped at the implication in his words.
“I don’t have that level of control,” hissed Johnathan. “Should I return to my room?” Except the female vampire knew he was here. Their brief encounter was unnerving enough, he couldn’t imagine what extended time in her presence would do to him.
Vic’s cool breath gusted over Johnathan’s face. “After you’re encounter with Alazar, we can’t risk your absence.”
“I’ll help you,” Katherine chirped.
Johnathan swallowed a yelp, while Vic cursed. “Fuck, Katherine, you know I hate it when you do that.”
“Language,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Such uncouth speech is not meant for a lady’s ears.” The chill grew more pronounced, hovering in a dense patch nearby.
“Katherine,” Vic growled. Johnathan’s brows rose. He hadn’t heard that level of exasperation from the man since they met.
“Oh, stop being so dramatic,” she teased. The air shimmered as she appeared, her pale skin luminescent in the dark. It cast a faint light around her, illuminating Vic’s face. She folded her arms. “You know that salve won’t fool them completely. He started smoking when he got distressed.”
Johnathan blinked. The last thing they needed was a display like that in front of either vampire. “How would your presence help that?”
She peered up at him. “It won’t be pleasant, but the cold would make your breath naturally fog. And Alazar won’t question it if I keep you close company. He doesn’t like my kind either.”
“He doesn’t seem to like anybody,” Johnathan grumbled.
“Alazar sees himself above us paltry creatures,” said Katherine. She nodded to Vic. “Your presence will be another distraction. Between the two of us, Victor, we should be able to keep their attention off him.”
Why would the attention of the two older vampires be so diverted by Victor? The harried expression on Vic’s face made him bite his tongue.
“Fine,” said Vic, “let’s get this over with. It would have been better to take our chances in the woods.”
Katherine grimaced. “Not with those Society Agents out there. Honestly, Victor, it can’t be worse than dealing with those buffoons.”
Her opinion made him cringe. Johnathan had been one of those buffoons until very recently.
“You underestimate Tamara’s ire,” muttered Vic.
“And you overestimate her attentiveness,” Katherine retorted. She cocked her head, listening to something Johnathan couldn’t hear. “Merry is almost ready. Let’s not dally, shall we?”
“They can damn well wait,” Vic muttered. He fussed over Johnathan, tugging, and pinching at his clothes before finger combing his hair. His fingers rain over the light growth of bristles on Johnathan’s chin. It’d been a few days since he’d taken the time to shave. “This looks rather dashing on you,” said Vic. Warmth stole through his agitation. “Are you sure you are up for this? Suspicions be damned, I will make excuses for you if don’t want to do this.”
He wanted Johnathan to know the choice was his, an invaluable sentiment. He reached for Vic’s hand, holding it to his cheek. “I can do this.” How could he not, when Katherine and Vic both put themselves on the line for him?
Relief flickered through Vic’s face. “I wish we had prepared better but do your best to keep the Hound leashed tight tonight. They will find your appearance unusual, but with that salve, they won’t recognize your nature.” He caught Johnathan’s chin. “Promise me you’ll be careful. Leave the room if you must.”
A kernel of apprehension took root in his empty stomach. “I will,” he said.
“Come on, you two.” Katherine hissed her impatience. “Unless you want Alazar to come looking for you.”
Suitably groomed and far more apprehensive, Johnathan fell in step behind Vic as they exited the room. They headed for the firelit room he’d visited earlier. Katherine glided a few steps ahead of them, at a far enough distance so they wouldn’t arrive together.
They were the last to join the party in the common room. Merry sat on the ground at the low table, their back to the hearth. Katherine hovered by the door, waiting to see where Johnathan would sit.
The well stoked fire flickered shadows over the other two guests. Alazar sprawled on one of the couches, one leg bent, a lazy perch for his arm. Across from him, sitting up straight with her hands clasped over her knees, was the woman who snared his mind, Tamara.
Her dark gaze lit up at their entrance. She rose to her impressive height, eye level with Johnathan, and moved forward to embrace Vic.
“Victor,” she crooned. Her lilting accent enriched the sound of his name. “It’s been too long.” The woman brushed her lips across his cheek. Her arms enveloped him, the hold long enough to make Johnathan twitch.
“Hello, Tamara.” Vic returned the gesture. He beckoned Johnathan to his side. “May I introduce you to John?”
Tamara’s attention shifted to him, dark amusement in her gaze. “Greetings, little lamb.” She looked him over with an appreciative eye, an obvious show for the ornament on display. “Such stunning eyes. Would you consider giving me a taste of your young paramour?” Tamara clearly didn’t share the same level of disdain for werewolves Alazar held. She spoke as if they were a rare delicacy.
Johnathan stiffened, but Vic’s congenial smile didn’t waver. “Now, Tamara, it’s never a taste. I must insist you keep your hands and your teeth to yourself, or I shall be upset.” Beneath the amiable expression, a thread of steel laced Vic’s voice.
The vampiress merely laughed, revealing the impressive length of her fangs and a mouthful of teeth filed to fine points. A cosmetic adjustment she must have done while still human. She playfully swatted Vic’s arm, making him stagger. “You are still amusing, Victor.” Her nails tapped Vic’s chest. “It’s why I haven’t ripped your heart out.”
A low snarl built in Johnathan’s chest, silenced at the subtle shake of Vic’s head. “We both know it would be a waste. You’d miss my charm,” said Vic.
Tamara pursed her lips. “You’re fortunate I find you so pretty to look at, my northern jewel.”
“You wouldn’t rip the wings from a butterfly,” Alazar rumbled from his relaxed position on the couch. He didn’t rise to greet Vic, but his expression was far calmer than earlier. “Thank you for joining us, Victor. You must introduce me to your friend later. I’ve found him quite… interesting.”
Vic shot Johnathan a look, letting Tamara pull him down until he was halfway in her lap. With the vampires sprawled across the couches, there was no space for Johnathan. A tactic Alazar likely meant to intimidate him, but he was grateful for the excuse to keep his distance. Even if Tamara’s constant contact irked him. Johnathan settled on the floor across from Merry, the thick carpet comfortable enough. From his expression, Vic longed to join Johnathan on the floor rather than keep the vicious Tamara company, but she threw her arm around him and pinned him to her side. The air around Johnathan grew frosty when Katherine sank down next to him.
Tamara pursed her lips at the Geist’s presence. “So rare to see you here rather than haunting the basement, Lady Katherine.”
Neither vampire had an ounce of tact, but plenty of backhanded compliments. Katherine’s smile was sharper than a razor’s edge. “This meeting is important, even for the addle-brained dead.”
The vampire’s mouth opened to retort when Alazar cleared his throat. “Let us proceed.”
Though the alliance was a precarious one, they all looked to their host, who sat in a trance like state. Merry’s hands rested on the table, palms up, fingers curled in repose. With their back to the fire, shadows cleaved their face. Their eyes glowed like chips of jade. “Ask your questions.”
The chill that pricked his skin had nothing to do with Katherine’s icy presence.
“What is the Society’s next move?” Alazar’s deep voice intoned.
Vic’s expression closed, masking his emotions. Johnathan dug his claws into the underside of the table to keep from reacting. He realized that Alazar asked Merry directly. The events proceeding their arrival happened so fast, he’d failed to glean the nature of their host.
The Society’s Chapter houses were widespread, they presented purpose to protect humanity from the dark appetites of preternatural creatures. The events of Cress Haven exposed the darker ambitions of Johnathan’s former Chapter house, but Alazar’s simple question hinted at something far more sinister and far reaching. The kernel of apprehension burst. Johnathan’s stomach clenched.
Merry’s head fell back, blank eyes wide. Their hands flipped on the tabletop, nails digging into the wooden surface as their body seized. Power coiled through the room. Merry’s head slowly dropped down, their green eyes swallowed by a white light from within.
“The Mad Man of the North’s gamble has failed.” A discordant voice poured from their host’s mouth, reverberated throughout the room. There was a doubled quality to it, as if two people spoke at once, a man and a woman, perfectly synced with one another. Pressure pulsed against his temples. Shadows lengthened and swallowed the firelight. They crawled up the walls, living writhing creatures. Johnathan ignored them, entirely focused on that compelling voice. “The Nether remains closed, a bargain done.”
“Thank the Gods for small favors,” Alazar droned. “Do we know what tried to come through this time?”
Johnathan’s ears rang. The name swelled on his tongue, pressed against the back of his lips. His claws cut long grooves in the wood. Better that than his palms or thigh. Bleeding in present company would be disastrous. Katherine’s hand settled over his, the icy burn of her touch grounding him.
“Cernunnos,” said Vic. Hearing it caused a visceral reaction, a full body shiver, but the others weren’t looking at Johnathan, their focus on Vic.
Tamara raised a speculative brow. “Ah yes, weren’t you staying in that territory? Another misguided attempt to pass among the living.” She ran her tongue over her pointed teeth, leaving a streak of blood. “How long did this little experiment last?”
Alazar flapped a dismissive hand, ignoring her affronted hiss. “Enough, Tamara.” He straightened with fresh interest. “Were you close to the incident, Victor?”
“Yes,” he responded. Alazar’s gaze narrowed when he failed to elaborate. The ancient vampire appeared ready to press for more information when Merry spoke.
“Cernunnos was sealed, his seeds destroyed.” That emptied gaze shifted, almost imperceptibly, in Johnathan’s direction. Whatever force currently rode their host had lied for him. He hadn’t the faintest idea why.
“And the Mad Man of the North?” Alazar asked, his tone clipped.
“Status unknown,” said the echoing voice. Alarm shot through Johnathan. His gaze flicked to Vic, who appeared equally shocked by the news. Evans was dead. Johnathan tore out his throat and watched him bleed out on the ground. How could his fate be unknown?
Alazar growled, echoing their frustrations. He pushed off the cushions to pace in front of the hearth. “These damn heretics are worse than locusts.” He scowled at Vic. “Shame you couldn’t nip that threat in the bud while you were there. How, exactly, were you involved?”
Vic remained stone faced. This time it was Tamara who broke their dance of tension. “Does it matter why or how he was involved, Alazar? The matter is closed. The Society is akin to one of those monsters from the Grecian myths. Cut off one head, two more grow in its place. What do the new heads pursue?”
“The Hydra,” Johnathan murmured, familiar with the story. An apt comparison. The Society’s threat seemed endless, a dozen unseen heads rearing to attack.
“The Scarlet Sisters continue to search for this new divine vessel. The Herald guides them to the twice blessed.” Merry paused. Their breathing grew labored. Blood pooled in their mouth. “The Herald sings a song of triumph. They will soon be at our door.”
Tamara stiffened. “They are coming here?”
“Even if they manage to locate the Estate through the wards, they cannot break them,” said Alazar. He stroked his chin. “Do we know who they seek?”
There was a pause, two voices inhaling in tandem. “The divine touched. Twice blessed.”
Alazar stepped closer. The shadows stirred in his wake, tugged at his cloak. Irritation flashed across his face. “Blessed, divine touched, yes, but who?”
“What would you do with a name? Kill them?” Vic’s hands curled over his thighs, flint in his wintry gaze.
“If necessary,” Alazar snarled.
Tamara shook her head, the long dark veil of her hair rippling with the motion. “That would be foolish,” she purred. “A waste of power and resources. The heretics would simply turn their focus to the next potential candidate.”
“You are pushing our host to their limit,” warned Vic.
“That’s enough, Alazar,” Katherine cried out, rising to her feet. “You have enough information.”
Alazar’s jaw set. He fixed his attention on Merry, who swayed. Blood dribbled from the corner of their mouth. “What of the Other?”
“The heretics will ignore them,” insisted Tamara. “They can’t be bargained with or manipulated to do their bidding.”
Alazar shook his head. “What of the Other?” he repeated.
Katherine’s hands flexed, but she did not interfere. Johnathan wondered if she could or if doing so would injure Merry further.
“The influence of the Other continues to wane beneath the progress of mankind. The ground, the air, grows more poisonous to them with each passing year. Soon they will pull away from this realm completely and sever all ties to the children of Adam and Eve.” The blood vessels in Merry’s eyes began to burst.
“Enough,” Katherine shrieked. She staggered forward, her face stricken.
Alazar glared at her and held up a hand to stall her interference. “We put down several stirrings in the south, but the Society continues to be a persistent presence. What is their intent?”
Johnathan’s gaze darted around the room. Didn’t they have enough information? Why did they continue to push when this force was overwhelming Merry’s body?
“Unrest will continue to grow between the factions of man,” said Merry. “War is a whisper in their minds. Time is short to shift the tide.” Their body seized and tipped sideways. Vic caught them, settling them on the couch Alazar had vacated. Katherine rushed to Merry’s side, cupping their face. The contact elicited no reaction from their host.
“It seems I’ve missed a great deal of the Society’s activities,” said Vic. He cradled Merry’s head in his lap, tilting their neck so they didn’t choke on their own blood.
Katherine produced a flask from her skirts, carefully dripping the contents into Merry’s open mouth.
“That’s what happens when you shut yourself away to live among the primitives,” said Tamara, her tone drenched with disdain.
“Not all of us need to be worshipped as false idols,” Vic quipped.
A cruel smile played along her lips. “There is nothing false about it. To my people I am the goddess incarnate.” She smoothed her hands down her bodice to emphasize her point. “What have you sacrificed to hide among these ignorant children?”
There were differences between the two vampires though Johnathan suspected that had less to do with Vic’s methodical feeding than Tamara’s age. The fire painted Tamara in gilded hues, otherworldly compared to Vic’s cultivated appearance. She would never blend among the citizens of Cress Haven. Whatever sacrifices Vic made, his humanity wasn’t one of them.
Alazar ignored their biting banter. The flames seemed to absorb into his dark skin. He was another ancient vampire who lost the ability to blend because he was an asshole.
“We are sorely stretched to turn up our nose at allies, no matter how we feel about them.” The statement likely encompassed everyone who was not Alazar. Tamara’s mouth pinched into a pout. Alazar resumed pacing. “The Society has long been a nuisance to our kind, but they served their purpose, culling the population and disposing of those too impulsive to keep a low profile.”
After meeting these two ancients, Johnathan knew the Society was sorely out matched. Tamara and Alazar oozed power from their skin, easily capable of wiping out the Society if they chose to. Why tolerate their presence at all?
“Yet here we are. Once again, they dabble with powers they do not understand,” sneered Tamara.
“I think they understand the Nether and the Benign more than you think.” Johnathan pressed his lips together the moment the words left his mouth. The older vampires had mostly ignored his presence, dismissed him as Vic’s tolerated companion. The status allowed him to observe and keep a low profile. Now he’d injected himself into the conversation, bearing the scrutiny of their ancient stares. Katherine glared at him, but Vic remained calm, continuing his ministrations to the unconscious Merry. If they tried to intervene on his behalf, it would appear he had something to hide. He needed to tread through this conversational gaffe alone.
Johnathan folded his hands under the table. “The Society has spent centuries erasing all mention of the Nether and Benign from human history, reducing them to watered down stories of demons and angels while they hoarded the knowledge for their own use. I don’t think they understand the reality of these beings, but they know more than enough to be dangerous.” An understatement after the events in Cress Haven.
“The lamb speaks with authority.” Tamara pushed her hair over her shoulder. “How does such a pretty face know such sordid details?”
“Because he used to be one of them,” said Vic. Katherine went wide eyed, her jaw dropped. Alazar’s gaze turned thoughtful, but the reveal delighted Tamara.
“Victor, you caught yourself a Hunter. How quaint.” Her smile vanished as she regarded Johnathan. “Clearly, they’ve also forgotten their history. They do not comprehend the ruin they invite, vying for the power of these creatures. Their machinations have already drawn too much attention. The Benign and the Nether have begun to stir. They seek a foothold in our world, exerting their influence. Whispering in the minds of mortals to stir conflict.”
“Humans believe us to be monsters.” Alazar grimaced. “We’ve witnessed the horrors they do to one another. This country was built on split blood and broken backs. A wealth that thrives on the pain and suffering of slaves. Their choices splinter between the minds of this nation. That divide will continue to grow with or without interference of the realms. But the Nether and the Benign will use such a conflict to tip the scales in their favor.”
“Conflict and strife drive humans to desperate measures, to bargains and concessions they would not make otherwise,” said Tamara. Her expression was haunted. From Vic’s brief warning, Johnathan wondered if she’d seen firsthand how the darker aspects of men opened them to demons. One man’s greed allowed Cernunnos into their world.
That the Society believed they could control denizens of the Nether seemed mad, but Evans came closer to success than Johnathan wanted to acknowledge. They’d underestimated Cernunnos’s power, but despite the high cost of life among his Agents, they came prepared with silver cages and nets, and weapons that overpowered the demon. If Vic hadn’t freed Johnathan to mete his revenge, he wondered if the Society would have ultimately emerged the victor.
Johnathan’s thoughts derailed when Merry began to stir. There was something strange happening to their host. Their body shifted beneath their loose-fitting clothes, thickening in some areas, and slimming in others. The curves of their breasts flattened, hips growing narrow where the bones adjusted. Muscles swelled while the angles of their face sharpened, the jaw losing its elfin delicateness in favor of a more masculine edge.
Merry’s eyelids fluttered open, the transformation complete. Katherine helped them sit up, gently wiping the dried blood from the corner of their mouth. Johnathan stared in awe, though none of the vampires appeared surprised. Merry turned to Alazar, their expression glacial despite their evident exhaustion. “Did you get the answers you sought?” Their voice was a rich tenor, melodic beneath the ice.
“Adequate,” Alazar grit out. “Thank you for your contributions, Merry Goodkind.” The dismissal was incredibly insulting, but Merry didn’t respond. They struggled to rise from the couch. Katherine slid her arm around them, but Merry winced from the cold. With Alazar and Tamara’s attention no longer on him, Johnathan rose and braced Merry from the other side. Their host was now the same height. He easily took the bulk of their weight off Katherine. Merry sank against his warmth in apparent relief. Katherine sent him a grateful look, fully aware of the unfortunate effect she had on her friend.
Vic returned to his position between the two ancients but his gaze lingered on Johnathan.
“Victor, would you elaborate on your encounter with the Society in the north?” Alazar dismissed their presence now that he’d gotten what he wanted from Merry. “We need to assess the progress these heretics made. It may be time to call in our allies before this contingent arrives and makes passage difficult.”
The level of banked aggression in the room was bad enough with three vampires. Johnathan would hate to see what a room full of them would do.
“John, why don’t you and Katherine help our host to their rooms,” said Vic. His tone held the same callous dismissal as Alazar, but there was a pleading note in his gaze. Johnathan knew Vic wanted him well away from the other two if they intended to pry any details of what happened in Cress Haven from him.
A show was a show. Johnathan turned his back on the trio with a huff. Merry struggled to hobble across the carpeted floor while Katherine fretted on their other side. Their host made it through the door on their own feet. Johnathan caught them when their legs gave out, carrying them down the hall. He couldn’t shake the feeling he’d abandoned Vic, though the man was far more capable of handling those two vipers. It still bothered Johnathan how easily Vic sank beneath the aloof mask in their company.