Chapter 13 #2
The Ancients were such an unknown quantity. They’d all but faded even from our lore. Mentions of them were few and far between. We didn’t even know what they were capable of. Simply that they were very old—the clue was in the name—and very powerful.
“They’re very definitely awake. They’re gathering, and their focus seems to be New Orleans.” He grimaced.
“But why here?” I couldn’t help my question.
“It makes no sense. The seat of Nic’s power is Baton Rouge.
His family has been in Baton Rouge long enough to capture their interest before now, surely?
” I didn’t usually use Francois as a sounding board or source of advice, but he had as much of an interest in fending off the Ancients as the rest of us did.
We didn’t know why they were here, how long they’d stick around, or if they’d spare any of us.
They’d already attacked Sebastian’s club and nearly taken Kayla, but they’d been suspiciously quiet since. So we could either assume that one Ancient had been a rogue, awake unexpectedly, acting alone… Or I could believe Francois and his information.
It didn’t seem like I had a whole lot of choice. I couldn’t ignore Francois when Nic had entrusted him with this project.
“My sources aren’t surprised.” Francois spoke without me asking another question. “They are said to be seeking the last of their number or a member of that Ancient’s family. An heir.”
“Here, in New Orleans? They expect to find an Ancient here?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice. “Surely we’d all be aware if an Ancient lived here. You’d know, wouldn’t you?”
The sound Francois made in reply was considering, but it wasn’t exactly a reply. Maybe I didn’t blame him for not being able to say conclusively what he’d know about New Orleans and what he wouldn’t.
“There are things…” He tapped his head. “Missing.” He seemed almost puzzled by this revelation. “I don’t always recall events as I should.”
I nodded. That made sense and pretty much went along with what Nic believed about his recovery—that there were significant blank spots in his memory. “Were you given any reason why they might be looking for someone?”
He leaned against the counter in the kitchen area. “They need a full coven of Ancients to be at their most powerful.”
“Why’d they want that?” Dread filled me. No reason could be a good one.
To his credit, Francois only rolled his eyes a little. “Really, Jason? Why indeed would powerful old vampires want to be at their most powerful?”
I sighed. “Nothing less than total submission.”
Francois nodded, and whatever had passed between our families before was truly past. The enemy of my enemy was my friend. Especially when we could all die.
“But they’re not at full strength yet?” I needed to make sure of the details before I spoke to Nic… Or maybe this was better to take to Sebastian.
He was on the ground in this city. I couldn’t cut him out. Not if he needed to be ready for an imminent attack. I wasn’t sure how much time we had to prepare.
“Non.” The word was short and sharp. “They are not.”
“Hmm… But they plan to be. Any word on when they plan to attack or how?”
Francois shook his head. “My contact didn’t know.” Then he looked out of the window. “Or if he did know, he felt it wiser not to say.”
Well, shit. That didn’t exactly help us, but maybe it was better that Francois’s source lived to provide more information another day. That was a positive aspect in this anyway.
“Think he’ll have any more information to share?”
Again with the Gallic shrug. “Time will tell.”
“Okay. And that’s all you know?” I checked my watch. I didn’t want to be late getting to Nightfall.
“Oui.” Francois turned away, appearing to lose interest. “But I think you must hurry along?” He made a small dismissive gesture like he was waving me on my way.
“Oui.” It was unkind of me to mock him, but neither did I like being dismissed by him like he was still in charge of my movements and whereabouts.
He raised an eyebrow. “When I know more, I’ll tell you. Let me be clear, Jason. Right now, we’re all in danger. It would do me no good to withhold this information.” There was a steel in his voice that was rarely there, and I shivered.
If Francois felt endangered instead of being his usual come-what-may self, that was very bad for all of us.
Sebastian had created quite the focus for the Duponts here.
Nightfall was always busy, always in demand.
Even with invite-only clientele, the line stretched down the block as all walks of supernatural life waited impatiently to gain entry.
Of course, humans wouldn’t see anything supernatural in the fidgeting crowd, but I recognized other vampires, shifters, fae, nymphs and dryads.
If they weren’t already fans of Sebastian, they were surely about to be. His hospitality, once someone had gained entry to the coveted star-filled interior, knew no bounds.
I strode up the steps out the front, bypassing the line but not immune to jealousy in some of the gazes tracking my movements.
If any of them knew my true history, they’d be jealous indeed—from a pauper dressed in rags, sold to a noble family, now the vampire sire of a king and treated like a brother?
I chuckled. Maybe mine was the true fairytale.
Kayla was due to sing tonight. It was my primary reason for attending, but now I had more news for Sebastian.
The Ancient who’d destroyed the club, who’d perished, hadn’t been the only one, but what was his place?
One of the coven Francois had spoken about?
Surely not, if their number was important. A footman of sorts? A harbinger?
Simply a dispensable warning, perhaps.
I sighed. I could discuss it all with Sebastian.
I automatically looked up, toward the false stars, as I entered, and I spotted Sebastian, leaning against the chrome railing of the VIP balcony and looking down at the stage as if his gaze alone could make Kayla appear there.
He worshiped her, and for the first time, I understood the depth of that.
My feelings for Ciara had deepened even further since she’d allowed me to touch her.
Everything about her was perfect. Her intoxicating scent, the silky feel of her between my fingers, the way her breaths had gasped softly in my ear. I would never be able to have enough of her.
I ascended the slightly curved steps to the balcony and accepted a drink from one of the servers up there. Whereas before, I might have cast a lazy gaze over her, she held no interest for me now. No one else did.
Sebastian nodded but didn’t look at me as I joined him and rested my forearms on the railing at his side. “All okay?” He kept his gaze trained on the stage.
“Yeah. Francois has limited information, but it’s more than we had.”
He glanced at me. The briefest of moments, but he chuckled. “Oh, Jason. I really think you believe that.”
I nodded again and parted my lips to speak. Then his words registered. “Wait. What? Of course, I believe that. Francois is gathering intel for us.”
Sebastian shook his head. Then seemed to reconsider. “Well, yes and no. Francois is certainly gathering intel. We are keeping Francois busy. Out of Nic’s hair, if you like.”
I didn’t like. I extremely didn’t like. “You mean…I’m babysitting Francois and he’s not the necessity I thought?”
Sebastian said nothing.
“Then who is?” My question was quiet but explosive. “And why the fuck am I babysitting?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Because someone needs to do it. And I’m busy here.”
I shook my head. That much made sense. Almost. Sebastian had always been like this—the golden boy very rarely got dirty until he tarnished himself over the king’s mate.
“It’s Temple, of course,” he murmured quietly as he dropped his head so no one could read his lips. He’d been so quiet that I was quite sure no one but me had heard him against the background music and light strains of music as Kayla’s band warmed up.
I almost snapped my fingers with the logic of it. Of course Temple was involved. If there were shadows, there was Temple. And New Orleans was full of shadows.
“And what do we know?” I pitched my voice at the same level as Sebastian’s, keeping our conversation private.
“Apparently word came from Europe.”
I lifted my eyebrows. I rarely thought of Europe anymore. Not since we’d left. I had no real memories of it. Only of mud and toil and the sensation of cold. In my head, Europe was the worst kind of hell.
“Have you heard of recent events in New York?” Again, he angled his head slightly toward me, but it was the only clue we had an active conversation.
“The terror threats and the bombs?”
He laughed, and the sound was harsh and too loud before he cut it off. “Certainly terror. Not bombs. Half dried out, hungry Ancients, bringing themselves back from the dead.” He shuddered. “The cover-up has been immense. They could have outed all of us.”
“How do we know?”
He was right. The cover-up must have been on a massive scale. Every news channel was reporting bombs. Not exsanguination.
“Nic sent Kyle up there after receiving word from Temple. He and Sam are investigating. But it doesn’t look good. The Ancients are no longer in New York.” He grimaced and shook his head,
“They’re here. Francois said they’re already here,” I whispered. “They woke up and they came here to find the one they’re missing. But why?”
“Death woke them,” Sebastian said. “The death of one of their own would ripple through their sleep and disturb it. Leia has been searching the Dupont archives and poring over the Book of Gray. It’s not a lot of information, but anything is more than we knew before.”
As Kayla walked onto the stage, Sebastian stiffened and stood straighter, his gaze darting around as he checked the club for signs of trouble.
Below, there was additional shuffling as bodyguards and doormen moved to different positions, the show of force obvious but still tasteful and in keeping with the atmosphere of Nightfall.
“So immortal vampires have just woken up and seek to avenge a death?” I paused. “No, that’s not right. Francois said they seek a replacement to complete their number. But then what?”
Sebastian grimaced again, his jaw tightening and he made a fist against the railing. “What indeed? There’s far worse to come, I suspect. Greater bloodshed and sacrifice.”
“And they’re bringing it to our door.” It was a thought that had simply slipped from my mouth, but Sebastian nodded.
“They’re bringing it to our door.”
Forgotten memories of war and blood splattered over our centuries filled my mind, none of them tethered down, none of them belonging to a particular location, but throughout all of them, Nic was constant.
He’d saved us and freed people and ensured our continued camouflage and safety. I had no reason to believe this war would be any different, but a shiver worked its way up my back anyway.
We’d never faced anything like the Ancients. They were unknown and untested. They had a kind of power we’d never faced.
I didn’t know if we could succeed this time.
But I swallowed and straightened my shoulders. There was no point voicing my doubts. They had no place in this kingdom. We succeeded because that was all we could do. Nic’s reign was a righteous one, and he was a good man.
We had right on our side. Surely that would be enough?