19
Matilda
For all of the slimy bastard’s faults, he wasn’t as stupid as most sociopaths or overinflated pissants. I’d give Lloyd that. He used his smooth tongue well but knew when not to push or who not to push with. He tested limits like a child but immediately backed down and apologized well.
While amused which irked me. I hated that sort of behavior. We all ate shite and apologized, but mocking it like you were better than someone you were apologizing to pissed me off. Mostly because—no one liked to be the villain in someone else’s story. No one.
And when you didn’t deserve it—when it came from a sociopath it was extra insulting and egregious.
So I went to another snake who I was shocked to find was reforming.
Princess Anise didn’t take offense, shrugging even since we were alone and had dropped the posturing. “I’ve done a lot to protect myself and this coven. We all have. It’s the only way we’ve known, but hearing Aether chose others to receive a dream—that there were others in Her good graces and I wasn’t…”
“That’s powerful,” I accepted, finally admitting what I’d wondered. “I don’t know that I would have received it if my son wasn’t in Inez’s heart. I truly wonder and worry. It’s why I strive every day now to deserve Aether’s faith in me and to be the mother-in-law of Her champion.”
“And you have from what has even reached my ears. I, too, want to do better and be—I want to receive the next dream if there is one. I certainly don’t want to become someone Erebus’s champion thinks to align with.” She let out a slow breath. “So what can I do to help your daughter-in-law even if that doesn’t lead to an alliance with her?”
“She hasn’t blocked us from trading with our allies,” I hedged. “Just certain ones that are against her, enemies, or those who behave in ways she firmly believes against—Aether would.”
“None of us want to be micromanaged, but my coven is starving and we have many humans around us who need help—shifters I don’t want to see die, so I’m willing to do a lot. More than a lot.”
“I honestly think you do all of it now. You don’t treat humans as blood cattle. You might need to push a bit more equality, but—we can talk. Either way, I’m more than willing to trade with you and definitely for you to help kill corrupted. And I know Inez will reward your coven handsomely for this help.” I smirked at her. “Or more pay for the embarrassment.”
“Oh no, you have your plotting face on,” she chuckled darkly. “Tell me who we’re killing.”
She laughed when she realized that was what I really wanted. I filled her in on Lloyd and she did laugh.
She shrugged. “Sure, I’ll kill him. Why haven’t you?”
I sighed and flicked my hair over my shoulder. “The git is popular among idiots who can’t see the slime. No, I shouldn’t even pick on them. I missed it right in front of my face from the man I thought…” I shook my head, my chest physically aching still when I thought of Henry’s betrayal.
“We’re tied into knots so young and beaten down as we’re given crowns and power that—it’s a miracle we’re not all houses like Priest or Dranga, Matilda. I hear Olivia is doing well this time around. You should be proud. You broke the cycle with her, and she has a chance to thrive like we didn’t. I don’t know my daughter will… I failed her.”
She really had changed. The Anise I’d known wouldn’t have put that on herself but blamed everyone else. Then again, how could we not change in the bloody apocalypse?
“The git is unfortunately smart. I can kill him, but he is a sociopath, so no one can sense his lies. I can’t make him a martyr for Inez to handle. I need him to be a reason they pull their heads out of their asses and get in line.”
Understanding filled her eyes. She was a descendant from the House of Liu, and after I’d seen Tian at work, I was hoping some of that was in her. “I heard my very distant cousin came out of the darkness to protect Aether’s champion. Some of us are worried about that because that house is said to be of Erebus.”
I snorted. “He’s in love with her.” I nodded when her eyes went wide. “He scorches the ground around her when no one is looking. He just doesn’t understand why he’s doing it yet. I worry what happens when he does realize why he does it, and he doesn’t have the ability to love. He’s so broken I’m scared what he might do to Inez then.”
“Okay, well, something to give you nightmares about since you love her too. Let us take care of your snake problem since my coven really is starving.”
The plan was simple but took time because Lloyd wasn’t a fool. One did not live for thousands of years—survive a house as crazed as Darbandi and not be smarter than most.
Plus, we’d shown our hand on what we wanted to do with him. That had been ego on our part, and now I regretted that because he was always on edge and defense—the model aide and noble.
Pissant.
But I also came to Anise because of her location. She was so deep into Africa, it was a good section to hunt corrupted while we could. While the eyes of Erebus and those who served Him were other places.
And that was what I let Lloyd and others believe. I spoke honestly in front of Lloyd that Anise accepted the deal to help us hunt—would put all of her people on it and shifters too as long as we gave them meat they were desperate for.
Inez agreed, immediately sending a comically loaded ship since it wasn’t safe for a plane to land given what was all around us. Shifters came out of the woodwork to see what was going on—even humans took the risk from their settlements that had long since learned of us.
I also warned Anise that the corrupted were getting better at climbing and moving with the rise of Erebus’s champion. They’d noticed they couldn’t sense them anymore, but I gave her all of our intel. She’d learn it from her people now that we were hunting, but I didn’t want to risk anyone dying.
But I also let Lloyd have crumbs of this and that. I knew Anise was also putting information into his head, using her power to do it. Most didn’t know she was of the Liu bloodline. Some dismissed it even because almost everyone was part of each bloodline in the end given how we’d all been bartered like trading cards as Inez said.
She wasn’t wrong but some more recently than others and with gifts of those bloodlines to pass down.
It took weeks but it finally worked.
Finally .
Moving him around like a mouse in a maze and with Anise’s power, Lloyd finally made a move to try and push himself into the future ruling princess’s bed. He could cloak himself and I’d let it “slip” several times that this coven was ridiculous for how stuck in the old ways they were. That we were beyond forcing matches if someone fucked.
And how I wouldn’t ever do that to Olivia and rumors passed. To hear that Anise had almost forced her own daughter into a match just because of an easily explained situation like a noble in the wrong hallway and whispers they were lovers was unforgivable. The coven was known for being rigid and traditionalist, their princesses nuns until taking an oath from a noble.
Other vampires or shifters? Sure, fuck the lot of them. They didn’t matter like that or to give vows to. But nobles, those born of princesses were a completely different story.
It was all bollocks and Anise hadn’t bought into that shite in years.
Lloyd clearly didn’t know that.
Anise set it all up and pulled the trigger. Warning her daughter when it would happen. Lloyd would think it was really bad luck that after his weeks of watching her schedule and studying her routines that this one time she had a nightcap with her mother she didn’t return alone to her room like she had been since our arrival.
No, she returned with one of her nobles for some fun. That would be the story.
Instead, they found Lloyd in her room cloaked and all hell broke loose.
Perfect.
I only smirked at him when he begged me to help and that it was all a misunderstanding. The vampire went pale so fast realizing he’d been played that it was amusing.
I went into actress mode and threw myself at Anise’s feet, begging her to let me make this right. That I would speak to my daughter-in-law and pay a handsome price for the crime the vampire who was a guest at her coven had committed. Blah, blah, blah, we both had trouble keeping straight faces, but we’d done worse.
Aether would be on our side of this for sure.
Except an earthquake happened and interrupted everything. There was chaos for a bit, but at least Lloyd was locked up and the deed was done.
“Now Erebus would take our last of everything and even the resources we could trade later?” one of Anise’s nobles complained, not knowing I was right there and speaking freely. “That mine was beautiful even if never touched again and a wonder—evil has no limits.”
“I loved going to visit there to clear my head. To collapse it—”
“What collapsed?” I demanded, horror filling me.
They both flinched and bowed to me, the first answering. “No one was hurt and we’re safe, Princess. It was a gem mine and—”
“Take me there at once,” I demanded. I almost let out my anger when they hesitated. “Now!”
Anise must have received word because she joined us not long after. “What are you so upset about? It’s probably not Erebus. People are panicked about the idea of Him having a champion and all of that and blame Him for everything now.”
“It wasn’t Him,” I whispered, putting the pieces together of a puzzle that I didn’t think I wanted to. “It was Her.”
“The champion? No, she is too young to affect all the way over here and why would she?”
“No, Aether.” I moved closer and then turned towards her, seeing the disbelief on her face. “Anise, please, trust me now. Is there another way to enter this mine? Do you have someone who can move earth?” I looked to Jacob. “Get word to those knights. Trisha. They communicate with the satellites now, yes?”
“I think one. What are you worried of, My Princess?”
“That this is the new Albuquerque and Aether is trying to alert us or save someone—a coven specifically maybe?” I gasped. “Is there a mine near the castle?” Fear raced through me when his eyes went wide. “Go!” He raced away and I looked at Anise, quickly explaining what I was talking about and how the corrupted had gotten under the human settlement.
Her eyes flashed worried. “You warned me of that. We checked the settlements around us and yes, found some hiding in spots like that too.”
“What if that was the distraction and places like mines where we’re ignoring was the goal? How long could they hide and gather right under our noses if we can’t detect them anymore? They don’t need food.”
“Terrifying.” She gave orders and dozens of vampires came over and started using their powers to move the earth from the collapse.
And I was right. I had to lean against some of the piles of rock they’d moved away to stay standing when I saw the first crushed corrupted.
“We are unworthy of your love and protection, Aether,” Anise whispered as she slowly lowered herself to her knees.
Yes, yes, we were. I joined her and gave my thanks, begging Her to protect Inez and my own coven and family as well.
Jacob showed up right then and took in what was going on and found my gaze. “Clearly, you were right, My Princess, and Princess Inez was just as wise. She realized the same and the mine nearest to them was loaded with corrupted as well. More than that…” He glanced around at all of the people and cleared his throat.
“Is she okay? What has happened?” I demanded.
“She is fine. Physically at least but shaken.” He sighed when I pushed. “She knows why Aether didn’t send her a vision to warn her but earthquakes instead. The ghosts are blocking Aether or—I don’t understand. All I heard was Princess Inez say the ghosts are like a barrier all over the castle and she can’t be there.”
I gave Anise a look that I would kill her and hers if she dared try to use that against Inez.
She let out a slow breath. “I’m not Aether’s enemy nor Her champion, Matilda. We have all had too much to fear. I’ve been—even I wouldn’t take things too far like this. The two main Gods are warring. No, I don’t want to step into the middle of that but will help as I can.” She took in a deep breath and met my gaze. “Tell me what to do and I will do my best.”
“Thank you,” I rasped, but then another thought hit me as I focused on Jacob. “Warn Nora. Go to Hanna and have one of her nobles—”
“Forgive me, but Sebastian already went to Jamelle and Ceawlin to Hanna since Winston is much older and could protect Inez when not at the castle,” Jacob explained. “Whatever Inez was seeing terrified her, Matilda. She was shaking and—it broke my heart.”
“And she is not one to be afraid of much,” I said more for Anise.
Jacob snorted. “No, and apparently she raced outside and decked Erebus’s champion when she came near the castle. She is some sort of deadman’s switch. Aether warned Inez. That was the last vision Aether could give Inez or her husbands. Keres cannot be killed directly, but Inez also figured out she is some sort of undead. She doesn’t heal normally.”
“I worried about that as well,” I admitted, giving a half shrug when they both simply stared at me. “Who would be the best champion for Erebus? A princess who died and was brought back to this world, right? Inez gives new life and seeds from ghosts and death. Keres controls the undead. Who would do that best?”
“One who experienced death,” Anise hissed. “Vile and unnatural.” She met my gaze. “Get me the lure and I swear to you in Her name that we will kill as many as we can and I will talk to the covens I know, Matilda. Even if they will never be friends, I will get them to kill for food and make sure they do. We’re all too hungry and scared to do much.”
“Don’t fail Aether and finish clearing the port by you and I’ll get you ships to fish even,” I promised her, nodding when she seemed shocked. “That was my plan for Lloyd. Real ships with motors, not the wind and what you’ve been scraping by with.”
I turned my head when I felt someone racing towards us, but then I recognized the person. Vaguely.
He slowed down at the last moments to signal he wasn’t a threat and bowed first to Anise since it was her territory and then me. “Princess Matilda, Joi of the Sisters of the Earth has sent me with a message for you. Mozell has had a vision and there’s information you need.”
“I believe we have already pieced it together, but thank you,” I accepted as I took the envelope but also gestured to where we were standing and the visible smushed corrupted. I opened it and read exactly what we’d learned, Mozell putting it together as well. My eyes went too wide. “She has warned Inez of this?”
“Yes, Princess. I don’t know what, but a message was dispatched to her as well. A partial vision if I understand it correctly,” he answered.
I grunted and read the rest before turning to Anise, not hiding my shock well. “Mozell, one of the Sisters of the Earth, has visions. You know this, right?”
“Yes,” she hedged.
“She had one of this moment as we’re standing here now,” I told her, nodding when she elegantly blinked at me in shock. “And then saw you gorgeous and thriving again. Clearly later. She writes whatever we are discussing is the right path. That’s all she knows. The last paragraph only if you please.”
She nodded and I handed over the letter, her eyes going too wide as she read it and then gave it back. “Well, I wasn’t going to screw you before, but now I really won’t. This is all a bit too…” She shook her head.
I understood. I felt that way all of the time. “Poor Inez.”
“She’s blessed to be Aether’s champion,” Anise said with a snort.
“Think of how you just felt. She deals with this all of the time. Moved around like a chess piece—her life not her own even worse than we always know. She’s a child , Anise. She’s not even thirty and fighting for Aether in the apocalypse.”
She held her hands up in surrender when it was clear I was going to yell more. “I apologize. You’re right and I’m—no, I do not want to take her place. I will help though.”
Good.
“Give me ten of your oldest vampires to help guard her while she’s not at the castle,” I muttered, studying the mine. “Please. Whoever is your best. I can’t—we can’t lose her. I promise it will be worth it.”
She considered that a moment. “I will do you better. I’ll send my oldest and most lethal noble to stay at her side until I’ve received my pound of flesh and payment for the noble of her coven trying to rape my beloved daughter. Just as Nora sent Jamelle but under other pretenses. I will send others to help with hunting and watching her castle, not fight. I won’t sign them—”
“I understand. I do. Yes, I understand.” I let out a long breath.
I more than understood.
We packed to leave, and right before we did, I had to sit down as both Nora and Hanna sent word that they had mines near them loaded with corrupted as well. Nora’s note was full of her charm saying it was lovely they gathered so they could drop big booms down it and bury them, but I could sense it shook her.
Me too. I was glad that Olivia took it seriously, but so far she hadn’t found anything. I was the one really helping Inez and I was moving around to do it. Nora and Hanna were the smart targets especially for someone limited and young like Keres.
Still, we wouldn’t make the mistake of leaving the mines open to be used next. We would have to get maps of everything still open or—we’d have to fill everything in.
How long would that take? How many weeks would that distract us and keep us chasing our tails instead of killing more of Erebus’s soldiers? The thought left a bad taste in my mouth already, so when I arrived where Inez was, I was less than thrilled that the first person I came across was Sundar.
He didn’t hide his surprise well. “Matilda? Why are you here?”
“My daughter-in-law is here,” I drawled. “Why are you still here? I thought you never wanted to be a part of any coven or the insanity of serving a princess? And yet you served one of the worst, so I figured you’d—”
“I wish to do my part in saving this world I live in just—”
My power lashed out without me making the decision. I’d had it under control for over a thousand years, but Henry’s betrayal and realizing so much of my life was a fucking lie left me a bit more unstable than I liked to admit. A small gash formed on his shoulder, cutting through his sweater as well. I almost smirked when he didn’t hide his shock.
But really, all I felt was pain. Some hurts never really died.
“First, you don’t address me as you should and now you interrupt me? I knew you never respected me as you should, but please try to have some sort of manners, Sundar,” I bit out. “Sharing a princess with my son doesn’t make you my equal or friend.” I looked him over. “You burned that bridge long ago.”
I swallowed a sigh when Jacob went stiff next to me, clearly not knowing of our history. No, few did, and I doubted that Sundar even told Ceawlin.
It probably wasn’t important enough to even bother with given how long ago it was.
Important enough to him.
“I never disrespected or looked down on you, Princess,” he whispered as he moved closer. “I made many mistakes, and I regret so much of—”
“Save it,” I bit out.
He searched my eyes. “I don’t understand this anger. We have met since and—”
My power lashed out again and I cut his other shoulder before I turned away to find Inez… Except she was watching with steam coming out of her ears. She looked at me like she’d never seen me and so disgusted like I was being a bitchy princess who she’d misjudged that it hurt my heart she could think it of me.
Bollocks. I have to tell her the truth.
“I can explain, and please give me the chance to,” I breathed in her ear as I leaned in and gave her a hug. “Please, we have history.” Relief flooded me when she gave me a genuine hug then.
“Come with me.”
“We need to put on a performance first,” I warned her, nodding to who was with me that she didn’t know… And made Vitor nervous because he was old. Not as old as Vitor but damn old.
Inez glanced around and relief filled her eyes, guessing what it was about given who was missing from my party. She nodded and led the way, rambling about eating and whatever I needed, apologizing that they weren’t at the castle and asking if we had the latest updates.
She really was too precious, and I loved her to bits.
I frowned when I saw Inez flinch almost as if someone smacked her upside the head, but there was no hand. I turned to find Kristof because she always found comfort in him. Fear raced through me when I saw the worry in his eyes. Something was wrong.
Something was very wrong.
I could feel it in my bones and the extra powers I had as a princess. I turned back to Inez to grab her and get out of there, but she wasn’t standing where she’d been. Looking in the different directions, I saw her down the hallway almost to the front door.
I raced after her, but she turned to me after she was outside and gave me a sad smile as she held up her hand towards me. I felt the barrier just before I hit it, falling back anyways as if I’d bounced off of it.
“Inez, we must leave,” I yelled. “I can get you out of here!”
“Everyone can’t evacuate in time, and I won’t be saved just because I’m Aether’s champion and matter,” she mumbled as she held up her hands. “I got this.”
I felt the charge of her power in two different forms—one visible to see like lightning almost… And then my power—the power that warned me of danger that princesses had—stopped. The danger was gone. I was so shocked that I didn’t even realize someone was holding me, having caught me when I’d started to fall.
“Don’t come out yet,” Inez said as she stepped towards us. “They might hurt from that distance.” She moved under the overhang of the building but was still looking up.
I waved my hand and felt the barrier gone. I motioned for everyone to stand back and moved next to her and hugged her to me. “What could hurt, love?”
“The energy beads. We have a traitor, Matilda. I don’t know what to do about that. I never wanted that, and I don’t want this to cause division with the humans. I’m not a bad leader.”
“No, no, you’re not, poppet,” I whispered, kissing her hair. I might have said more, but energy beads landed all around where she’d been standing and some on the roof from what I could hear.
“I heard a jet but ignored it because we hear them all the time now, but I can’t hear one anymore,” someone muttered behind me. “Did she just disintegrate it while in the air?”
“And the bombs they tried to drop on us because they know we’re here,” Inez said sadly. “Someone we took in can’t stand having me as a leader and a future without the real United States of America, so they went to the people we left at Fort Knox. They snuck in and stole a jet with help. It hurts when Aether sends me warnings like that.”
“I would bet,” I mumbled, hugging her again. “You did well, poppet. I will handle it from here. You rest.”
“Thanks for wanting to save me. You’re the mom I wish I’d had,” she rasped before fainting against me.
She wouldn’t have turned out as she had if she’d been my second daughter and grown up in my coven. She was the darling she was because of the life she’d had and we needed her to be that way.
But I swore to Aether that I would give her all the love I could now as my daughter because I did love her as one. I might not have given birth to her, but I did love her as one.