12. There’s Always a Price
“What’s this?” Elsa demanded, standing immediately and shooting the head a disgusted look.
“You told me to bring you back the queen. Well, that’s what’s left of her.” I cocked a hip, wondering if she could see the glow surrounding me like I could.
She glared at me, eyes burning like embers and fangs bared. “You think because you are Julian’s you are safe?” Her words, spoken softly, sent a chill down my spine.
“I didn’t kill her,” I answered, avoiding her insinuation that I was some sort of pet instead of Julian’s mate. Or that I needed him to protect me. “The unseelie king, Bres, did. And I was lucky to escape with my life.”
Pausing in a way that had me holding my breath, Elsa cocked her head and curled her lips into a dangerous smile. “You may end up regretting not taking a quick death.”
“Are you threatening me?” I asked, refusing to tremble. I’d faced far worse than this woman and come out on top. And with the royal fae blood coursing through my veins, it was hard not to feel invincible.
“I don’t threaten, dear. If I give warning before I strike, consider it a favor. You have much promise as a vampire, but you also have much of your impulsive, prideful human self that it appears your sire is too soft to squash out of you.” She stepped into my personal space, but I refused to budge, holding my head high despite her having several inches on me.
“What you’re referring to is personality, and I don’t believe anything needs to be squashed. Julian loves all of me.”
Elsa brushed some hair from my face, still covered in sticky black blood, and I was suddenly aware of the wretched state of my appearance, clothing no more than rags hanging from my body awkwardly, covered in grime and blood.
“It is kind of him,” she said with hooded eyes. “But ultimately, it’s far kinder to you to get it over with.”
I swallowed, suddenly recalling the way Julian had run because of the impulse he’d had to punish me. What if that was some horrible built-in vampire thing between mates? Instead of bringing true love into forever, were we condemned to lose it? Like bloodlust that couldn’t be avoided, what if it was evolution of some sort that forced vampires to lose their humanity in favor of guiltless violence?
Even the man I loved with all my heart showed no compunction about killing when he deemed the victim unworthy, particularly if that individual threatened my well being.
Elsa stepped back, too much understanding in her features. “I haven’t given up on you, Charlotte. You come from a strong sire. You have the gift of enough demon DNA to retain your psychic powers. You could be one of the greatest of our kind someday given the right guidance and time. But I will not be as forgiving as your mate. Think about that. If you are still here by morning, I will assume you are amenable to these terms. As for that—” She gestured to the head, staining the cream-colored carpet. “Remove it from my sight. I will find a suitable alternative. This is merely a setback and not a dead-end. I blame myself for sending you so unprepared.”
Elsa turned, stepped over the head, and sat back down on her sofa where she crossed her legs and picked up a tablet, immediately engrossed as though nothing had happened.
Hesitating, I glanced down at the queen’s filmy eyes and shuddered. I supposed removing it made sense since I was already covered in gods knew what, and I had been the one to toss it there. Still, I felt that somehow doing as she asked sent a signal that I was subservient to her.
“If it were me, I’d glamour a human into doing it,” Elsa said without looking up from her tablet.
Fine. I marched forward, picked it up by the hair and left. I had other issues to deal with, and the first was taking a scalding shower.
After disposing of all excess body parts and cleaning up, I discovered Julian was nowhere to be found. I sent off a quick text as I slipped on my red heels to match the wraparound dress I’d picked out for it’s soft fabric. Blinking dots immediately appeared on my screen, and I grinned, warmth bubbling in my belly. But they disappeared just as quickly, and the phone buzzed in my hand.
Julian appeared and I smiled.
“Seeing your face is exactly what I needed right now,” he said, and the warmth intensified. “I was worried.”
I knew that was an understatement. He must’ve been beside himself when I raced off to poison and bring back the queen. The memory of being glamoured suddenly flooded me. Bres’ blood must have cleared it. It meant Elsa knew what the queen planned to do with the heart, or she wouldn’t have poisoned it with iron. I blinked away the thought and beamed at Julian instead.
“I’m okay. The queen is dead.”
“I see.”
Why was he being so…reserved?
“Where are you?” I asked, noting the wooden wall behind him.
“Zoe and Hazel asked if I would stay with Em while they checked on the cottage’s progress.” Julian tilted the screen so that Em’s head popped up. She wore a ponytail today and smiled, revealing her crooked teeth.
“Hi,” I said, immediately changing my tone. “Having fun with Julian?”
“Yes!” Her enthusiasm nearly made me laugh. I couldn’t imagine what he was doing with a child. “He’s really good at twenty questions and hide and seek. But I Spy isn’t fair because of his vision.”
“You two should play a game of Twister,” I suggested, imagining Julian stretching into awkward stances with his fresh pressed suit.
My vampire’s face returned, dark promises burning in his expression. “Perhaps Monopoly. Would you like me to come home, love?” He asked the last part softer, concern showing.
“I’m okay,” I promised. “But we do have to talk tonight. Stay with Em until they get back and then we can…hang out.” I winked.
“Don’t pick it up!” Em yelled over Julian’s shoulder. “I found Twister, Uncle Julian.”
The phone clicked off, and I laughed, shaking my head. It sounded like I had a few hours until he was back. And we had to figure out where to go before the morning, or I’d be agreeing to Elsa’s nebulous statements about submitting to her harsh rules and consequences. I had no intention of doing that, and now that I was done dealing with both demons and the fae queen, there was no reason to stay in this stuffy, outdated, gothic nightmare any longer.
But sitting in my room for hours wasn’t possible. Not with the fae power still flowing inside of me. I decided to take a walk. For some reason, instead of going all the way downstairs, I hesitated at the landing on Merlin’s floor.
The memory of the last taste in that vial played on my tongue, and I found myself headed to the end of the hall, stopping at the door to his rooms. I set my palm against the wood, inhaling the intoxicating scent wafting through the space, but forced myself to stay still and simply scent him.
It wasn’t as if I were hungry after feeding on Bres. If anything, I was still high from the power of him. But Merl’s blood had that something about it that was so close to Julian that flashes of us tangled in the bed, feeding on each other sent a jolt of need through me.
My fangs pricked my lip, and I forced them back up. Get ahold of yourself, Char.
Releasing the door, I stood back and took one last long inhale. Smells were free after all. Starting to turn away, I noticed a folded bit of paper on the floor.
Don’t, said Pythia sharply just as I bent to retrieve it. I hesitated, hand outstretched. Then I remembered Em’s words before they hung up the phone. “Don’t pick it up.”
I stood quickly, glaring at the little piece of paper, and wondering what the hell was on it. Then I shook my head and turned to leave.
The door clicked open behind me, and I froze as the scent strengthened, letting me know Merl was behind me in the frame.
“Were you just going to stalk me? Or would you like to join me for dinner after all?” he asked.
I spun around, arms crossed in front of me. “Frankly, I don’t trust you.”
He took a step outside his suite. He was wearing an honest to goodness red velvet smoking jacket and brown corduroy slippers. I nearly laughed.
“What?” He looked down at himself. “You don’t approve of my outfit? This is one of my favorite bits of fashion from the last few centuries. Quite comfortable. And I do love good tobacco on occasion.”
“Have a nice evening,” I said, ready to take my leave.
“I have something you may want to see.”
“Oh? And what’s that?” I asked, forcing myself not to take another step closer now that I realized I’d been doing just that since he opened the door.
“It’s a surprise,” he whispered loudly for show. “The only charge is joining me for dinner.”
“Like I said, I don’t trust you.”
“You have good reason not to. And yet, we clearly enjoy each other’s company.”
“Julian will rip you to shreds if you try anything. That is if I haven’t already.” I was face to face with him now.
“You are a feisty woman. I like that.”
“Don’t call me feisty.” I went to move away, and his hand shot out, catching mine. A zap of electricity sparked where we touched, and we both stared open mouthed at the point of contact.
“Forgive my old fashioned turn of phrase,” Merl said after a moment, meeting my eyes. “Surely you have questions, and I have answers. I’ll offer those as well.”
“Why do you want my company so badly?” I whispered, staring at the pulse point on his throat, visible beside his jacket lapel as the rush of his blood throbbed in my ears.
“You are something new, Charlotte. Something that hasn’t come along in hundreds of years. Possibly since I was born. And I like shiny new things.” He tipped my chin up until I was looking in his eyes again.
“I’m only new because other people made me a fucking experiment.” The rage I hadn’t had time to dwell on burst forth, surprising me. But Merl’s expression stayed curious.
“It must be difficult when everyone in your life has stolen your independence.”
I shifted uncomfortably but did not drop my hand. “Julian?—”
“Is your mate. He can’t help it, but that doesn’t change the fact that by becoming a vampire, he cemented your future. You exist for him.”
“He did it to try and save me, not to condemn me.” I was trembling now. He’d hit a nerve.
“He shouldn’t have tried to save you. He should have let you save yourself.”
My mouth snapped shut, teeth clicking as I closed my mouth. Julian had only done what he had to out of love. It had been the Middle Ages for fuck’s sake. He wasn’t like that anymore. But our fates had been sealed regardless. I choked back tears of frustration that this man could see more of me than I had.
“Let me go,” I said, unable or unwilling to remove my fingertips from his.
“That would be such a loss,” he said, unmoving. “Come inside.”
“Said the spider to the fly,” I recited.
Merlin threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Clever fly you are. I’ll tell you what. If you agree to have dinner with me now, I will tell you exactly why I am so interested in you, answer any three questions you ask, and give you the surprise I promised. I haven’t offered such a bargain in several hundred years.”
I knew I shouldn’t. I knew Julian would be furious. But maybe that was exactly why I stepped over the threshold. I needed him to know that no matter what we were, I still had agency to do as I pleased. Especially considering he’d indeed set us both up to be imprisoned in this ridiculous vampire domination hierarchy so long ago.
As I stepped past him, Merl bent down to snatch up the small piece of folded paper on the floor, stuffing it into his pocket. Then he closed the door behind him and spread his arms with a grin.
“Welcome to café Merlin. Tonight we will be serving roast lamb, sauteed asparagus, and all the blood you can drink.”
“I’ll pass on the blood thank you,” I said, taking a seat at the table where he’d already had two places set. “I see you were expecting me.”
“I’d hoped. And I believe the art of manifesting has to do with acting as though it’s a done deal.” Merlin waved a hand, and platters of food floated from the warming oven to the table. He grabbed a bottle of wine and lifted the cork with a gesture before pouring it into the crystal glasses before us.
“Romanee-Conti,” he explained, lifting the deep burgundy to his nostrils and swirling it. “It costs more than this mansion. I hope you like it.”
I sniffed my own glass and tipped it to my lips. Merl settled into his own seat, seemingly quite satisfied with himself as he heaped food on his plate. Despite the delicious aroma of his cooking, the scent of his blood rose above it all, singing until my veins vibrated.
“Question one,” I said, setting down my glass. “You seem to be trying to get me addicted to your blood. But even if I had to start paying, there’s always the danger of me being unable to stop.”
“That’s not a question.” Merl said after swallowing a forkful of lamb.
“Haven’t gotten there yet. The question is, how can that be worth it for you?”
Merl swallowed a gulp of wine and ran his tongue along his teeth as he thought. “It isn’t worth it. But that’s not why I do it. I like dancing on the edge. It keeps me young. Next question.” He motioned with his fork to keep them coming.
“I think I’ll wait until you share why you want me so badly.”
“Eat first.” He shoveled a spoonful of potatoes into his mouth followed by a spear of asparagus before he’d chewed the first bit.
“Okay then,” I held a forkful to my nose, scenting it to be sure it was free of his blood before eating.
I managed to help myself to a decent amount as he gorged himself, and when he finished, he threw down his napkin and waved the entire mess away, leftovers and all. Then he leaned back in the chair, spreading his jacket and hooking his thumbs in his waistband. His chest was bare beneath the coat, flat, toned stomach peeked out despite his eating style.
“Glad you appreciate the work it takes to maintain this body,” he said, making me snap my gaze back up to his face.
“You use magic,” I answered sipping the wine. “Don’t pretend that’s from working out.”
“Touché. Now, down to business.” He clapped his hands together and leaned forward over the pristine white tablecloth. “I already said you are new, and therefore interest me, but I feel it only fair to be upfront since you’ve asked me to be.”
Sure, now that he’d already tainted my food with his blood enough to make me hunger for him to the point I still considered lunging across the table. It was a good thing I’d fed on Bres. “Go on,” I urged.
“I have a theory of my own. You see, Elsa is looking at things from a vampire’s perspective. She’s picturing consuming blood. I am a wizard, currently safe from said Blood Queen since I helped her secure dear departed Kayora to drain instead. Don’t look at me that way, kill or be killed and all. So judgy.”
“So, it’s true. She did drain Kayora.” Julian’s suspicions were correct. Elsa now held the power of one of the strongest witches to ever live. That confirmation sent my mind reeling. There’d be no stopping Elsa if she set her sights on something. The urgency to leave the estate grew tenfold.
“Julian, I assume?” Merlin poured himself some more wine and sipped. “Yes, he knows how these games are played. Pity his moral compass prevents him from doing the same. Or perhaps it’s better for him that way. If he tried to come after me, I’d have to destroy him, and what a waste that would be.”
“You are the same as everyone else you seem to sympathize with me about,” I said. “You use others and don’t even hesitate to take lives in order to secure your own.”
“So sure I didn’t hesitate are you? Well, you aren’t wrong, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. I used to, though—hesitate, I mean. I learned those crucial moments can be the difference between life and death, so I don’t anymore. There will be plenty of time to meditate on it later if necessary.” Merlin tapped the table then stood, coming around behind me to set hands on my shoulders and lean over me, cheek to cheek.
I stiffened at the scent of him so close and didn’t dare move.
“In any case, from my perspective, the question becomes how to get demon, fae, and vampire DNA into my own system in order to become this invincible being?” He patted my shoulders and stood, still behind me.
I had all of the above in me. I was up and out of the seat so fast it was on the floor in front of him, me all the way back at the front door in the space of a second.
He held up his hands. “I make deals. I haven’t convinced you yet. That’s okay. But you may want to finish hearing me out.”
“I think I’ve heard enough. I’ll keep my DNA, thank you very much.”
“Yeah, but you won’t have the fae blood forever since you didn’t actually drain him like I’d hoped you would, did you?” Merlin picked up the chair and set it back by the table with force.
“How do you know that?”
“I have eyes and ears everywhere, dear. Now sit down, or I’ll kill your friend Lydia.”
With a snap of his fingers, the kitchen wall spun around to reveal Lydia hanging limply, held up only by silver cuffs on her wrists and ankles.
My vision turned red, and I rushed forward, only to be stopped halfway by an invisible wall I could not scratch through. My snarling and raging intensified as he smiled almost sheepishly.
“I’m prepared to deal with you,” he said and sent me flying into the seat he’d occupied during dinner. “I spent all that time feeding you my blood to make sure you’d show up tonight. As I was saying, I have my own theory on how to make this work. I’m going to need to become a vampire for a very short time, which is where Lydia comes in.”
“You only need one vampire for that,” I countered, trying to calm myself so I could think.
“Yes, but if you turn me, then I have to listen to you, which would stop me from draining you before I turn back into a human. Do you see how that would pose a problem?”
Cold washed over me like a tidal wave as his intentions clarified. He wanted to drain me as a vampire to take the powers he needed. I was a one stop shop for demon, fae, psychic, witch, and vampire blood at the moment. But…
“You can’t become human again,” I said, uncertainty lacing my words.
Merlin held up a finger and rushed to a side drawer in an antique looking buffet piece near the table. He fished inside for a moment then held up a syringe full of something I immediately recognized.
“That’s my cure,” I said dumbly. “There was only one left, and it was lost when my lab was destroyed.”
“Yes, well, it turns out it survived, and I have a talent for locating and retrieval spells.” He bopped his head back and forth with a smile. “All I need is one.”
“Lydia won’t allow you to drain me either.” I stared into his self-righteous eyes.
“She’ll be dead. You’re going to kill her.”
“I will not.” I shoved against his magic using telekinesis and stood, calling up the fae power within me.
“Mmm, I think you will.” Merlin seemed unphased by this demonstration as he set the syringe down on the table. “That’s part of the surprise.”
I narrowed my eyes. It was unwise to attack until I knew what he had up his sleeve. He was expecting it, or he would have reacted differently. I had to play this smart.
“I know, you probably thought Lydia was the surprise. And I suppose she’s part of it. But the real one is that I cheat on the rules a bit when it comes to witchcraft. I use necromancy.”
My head snapped around as a door to what I’d assumed was his bedroom flew open, and three bodies stumbled out, sending my stomach plummeting to the floor.
No. No. No. No. No. No.
Three walking corpses. Three sets of vacant eyes. Three familiar faces that made me want to both vomit and rage. Carmichael and Silas had been sewn back together with coarse threads of silver. But my past vampire tormentors were nothing compared to the horror of seeing my own mother lurching her body at odd angles and gnashing her teeth.
“You fucking asshole!” I screamed, lunging again.
Merl snapped as I tackled him, fangs out and no doubt throbbing dark veins covering my face and neck. The Silas and Carmichael zombies took hold of either of my mother’s arms.
“Do it, and they’ll rip her apart again. She’s in there somewhere, Char. You know it. You can feel it. And I’m not releasing her until you’re ready to make a deal.”
“You’ll release her because you don’t want your fucking neck snapped,” I growled, tightening my fingers around his throat.
His pulse beat against me, fast and strong with fear.
He snapped and the corpses pulled, my mother’s arms coming off as she screeched a horrible noise. In a flash I was across the space, tearing Silas’ head from his body just as Julian had done. I repeated the move, taking off Carmichael’s head. Both of their bodies continued moving, flapping their limbs like they were in the dark.
“Mama,” I cried, pulling her toward me, yet avoiding her bite. I reached out with my senses, trying to feel if what he’d said could be true. Had he trapped her in there? How could I do what had to be done if she was?
“I lied,” Merl said over my ear as he snapped a silver cuff onto my wrist. “It’s just a shell. I’m a wizard not a god.”
Killwas the only word in my mind, but a dense fog had rolled over me, taking my will to move as my eyelids grew unbearably heavy. The pain encircling my wrist spread to the other one just as I lost consciousness.