Chapter 56
Fifty-Six
JULIAN
Maris came back.
My beautiful stubborn wife came back. Why would she do this? I know why she did. She did it to save me from her fiend of a relative. She doesn’t know that Isla was never a match for me. Her hold lasted long enough for her to direct me to Maris’ room.
“This is mine. Just like you,” she said, putting a hand on the side of the seashell bed I’d held Maris in. “Now come here.”
I’d taken one step. One single step with Maris’ scent around me.
Everywhere I looked I saw her. It made breaking free of the Siren’s Call simple.
I’d thrown her through Maris’ bedroom door.
We’ve been fighting since then. Her blood guardians are an annoyance.
They help her any way they can, but it isn’t much. They can’t touch me.
Anne’s magic on me holds, even now centuries later. Isla’s power can’t compare to the power spelled into me. I thought I’d end her and burn this house down before I went to find my wife. At least convincing her to leave wouldn’t be an issue with the house destroyed but here Maris is.
She came back for me.
“Julian!” Maris steps forward. The blood guardians move towards her but my attention isn’t on them. It’s not on Maris either. It’s on the five vampires standing around her.
The Varcolacus.
I know each of them by name: Marcus, Ethan, Delilah, Anders, and Hugo. They might not know me but I’ve kept a careful record of them and their abilities. Marcus and Ethan have telekinesis, Delilah controls emotions, Anders is a shapeshifter, and Hugo, the oldest, reads minds.
I watch as one of them moves too close. He looks like he’s going to touch Maris.
The fucking council is here now. No doubt the town turning called them.
Whatever deal Maris struck with them was a foolish one.
The Varcolacus have no oath they hold to.
No honor or promise that binds them to keep their word.
What did they promise her?
Whatever it is, it’s her they want.
“Get away from my wife!” The vampire freezes. It’s Marcus. He’s young and stupid. Annoyingly so. Of course he would be the one to break his promise first. “Touch her and I will give you the Final Death.”
“The Final Death?” Marcus’ eyes narrow. “You would die for this human?”
I hear what the little fuck isn’t saying. That there is no way to stop him. He really thinks he’s the only one with power here.
The fool.
I vault over the banister and charge past Isla and her guardians. The energy I pull in makes the air go frigid. The floor ices over and I have Marcus by the throat before he can touch Maris.
“Someone has to.” I slam him to the floor. Wood splinters and the floor collapses beneath us. He tries to use his powers on me, but it’s no use. I feel the pressure of invisible hands trying to pull me off, choke me but I capture them and siphon their power into me.
His eyes go wide when he realizes what I’m doing. “What are you?”
“Her husband.” Marcus’ neck snaps and I keep turning until I hear the satisfying crunch of bone separating from his body. I give his head another brutal jerk and toss it to the side. I wipe Marcus’ blood off my hands on my shirt and point at Hugo.
“What business do you have with my wife?”
He inclines his head in greeting. “You are Maris’ vampire, I presume.”
“Julian!” Maris throws herself at me. I catch her and put her behind me before the remaining Varcolacus can get near her.
“I am her vampire. Now answer my question, Hugo.”
The old vampire raises an eyebrow. “You know me. I’m flattered.”
“He killed Marcus!” Delilah screams. “How can you just talk to him like everything is fine?”
“Because his little wife did not lie. There’s the siren.” Hugo nods towards Isla. The siren looks confused. She’s not used to not being the most powerful being in the room. Her blood guardians move around her like they’re poised to fight. Maybe they can do something against the Varcolacus.
“The siren was promised to us. I see no reason to penalize young Maris for Marcus’ choice.”
I bristle when he calls Maris that. He likes her. I’ll kill him if he places a finger on my wife.
Delilah isn’t of the same mind. She grabs Anders. “You’re not going to let him get away with this. We can’t.” Delilah is influencing Anders. It’s easy to see even if the other vampire can’t tell. He snarls and lurches forward to drop onto all fours as a grizzly.
“Get out of my house!” Isla’s Siren’s Call hits us full force. The Varcolacus buckle. I see them turn to the door but Maris shoves forward.
“No! Eat her. I command you to kill her!”
Like magic, the other vampires move to do her bidding, all but Hugo. He’s so old that he’s beyond it. He stands and watches the other three circle Isla and her guardians.
“Defend me!” Isla screams. Her form changes and she’s not a beautiful woman anymore.
She’s half-serpent, half-woman. Scales and claws emerge to fight off the vampire.
As strong as Isla is, she’s no match for three vampires and Maris’ voice undoing her her Call each time.
The guardians will have to tip the battle into her favor.
One of the guardians wraps around Delilah’s feet and yanks her to the floor.
Another throws itself on top of her. Anders’ bear swipes at them.
His paws and fur stain with blood but the guardians don’t budge.
They reform and wheel to face Anders. Ethan sends a grandfather clock sailing towards Isla.
She dodges it, picks it up and throws it back at him.
“You trespassers! This is my home. My hearth! I’ll not let you defile it. You will fall by my hand in his house.”
“You should go,” Hugo says softly. He’s watching the fight with tired eyes. He looks bored. There’s a look in a vampire’s eyes when they’ve seen it all. Hugo has it now. I didn’t think I’d see such a thing in one of the Varcolacus. He’s a dichotomy. Power and exhaustion.
“What? I-but what about Rosanna?” Maris grabs my arm. “You can call her. Bring her here somehow, right?”
“I could,” I tell her while I watch Hugo.
He doesn’t seem all that interested in joining the fight raging in the house.
The vampires, Isla and her guardians are in the hall now.
Most likely in the dining room from the sound of silverware hitting the floor.
Glass shatters and I hear Isla howl with frustration and pain.
“I’ll kill you!” We both turn to see Rosanna in the doorway.
She has a lighter in her hands, another bottle of clear liquor and a rag in the other.
Rosanna is back and trying to pick up where she started earlier with Maris’ house.
She still can’t come in so she stands in the doorway.
She points at Maris. “I’m going to eat your heart.
He’s mine.” She flicks the lighters and a flame appears.
“Everything you have is going to burn, bitch.”
Maris doesn’t even hesitate. “Come in, Rosanna.”
Rosanna stumbles forward in surprise. She catches herself on the doorway. “What did you-” she laughs when she realizes Maris has invited her in, “you idiot, mermaid. Stupid, disgusting, vapid mortal. You think you could take what was mine from me? Julian and I are going to drink you dry.”
“Stay, Rosanna.”
Rosanna freezes and I watch as my maker realizes she’s in a trap. “What-no.” She looks at me. “Julian. Julian, get her to let me go.”
Maris steps in front of me. “You knew what I was before I did. How could you think I wouldn’t make you pay like this? Did you think you were stronger than a Siren’s Call?”
Rosanna screams with frustration and swipes at Maris. She’s trying to break the hold but it’s slow going for her. She’s not spelled the way I am. She’s not as strong as Hugo is either.
“Julian, please!” Rosanna pleads.
Hugo looks her over before he glances at Maris. “She didn’t think the trap through, but you counted on that, didn’t you, siren?”
Maris hesitates but nods. “I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist if I let her in but I didn’t know she’d come on her own.”
“She was behind me,” I tell them. “I chased her to Alaska then remembered what mattered most to me.” I put an arm around Maris. Rosanna shrieks in frustration.
“No! I-I did everything for you. I saw you and wanted you. I got rid of Claire, that witch, I made you mine. You can’t do this to me, Julian!”
Maris smiles up at me before glaring at my maker. “Shut up, Rosanna.” A gale of wind sweeps through the house and slams the door shut behind Rosanna and she falls silent. Maris nods. “That’s better. I gave her to you like I said I would. Are you going to hold up your end of the deal?”
I watch Hugo for any sign that he’ll turn on her but there’s nothing.
“My compatriots have no honor. They will not like that I’ve let you go.
There will surely be a price to pay.” Maris tenses but Hugo goes on talking.
He clasps his hands behind his back and starts to circle Rosanna, looking her over.
“This vampire has caused us much trouble lately. She’s impulsive, bloodthirsty, greedy.
We’ll collect from her. Your debt is hers now. ”
Rosanna thrashes but can’t take a step towards me. Hugo nods places a hand to the back of her head. He closes his eyes and sighs. “She’s plotting your downfall even now. Fantasizing about ripping your lover’s throat out.”
“My wife,” I correct.
Hugo opens his eyes. “As you’ve said.”
“She can’t come after us if she’s dead,” Maris mutters and turns to look for something to kill Rosanna with. “Where’s my gun?”
I loop an arm around her waist and haul her against me. “You can’t, Maris.”
“But-”
“The Varcolacus have marked her. She’s theirs alone to deal with. Anyone who interferes forfeits their life.”
Maris slumps back against me. “Fine.”
I look at Hugo. “What is your plan for her?”
There’s the sound of wood breaking and then a door comes flying down the hallway and into the foyer. A second later, Isla appears. She’s bleeding and her dress is ripped but she’s showing no signs of backing down.
She stops and looks at us. “I’m coming for you, granddaughter,” Isla threatens before she sprints up the stairs and vanishes. Her blood guardians slide up the wood after her and a moment later the Varcolacus sprint after them.
“That’s taking entirely too long,” Hugo mutters with a frown. He looks at me. “The blood Rosanna sold on the market was from you, yes?”
“She stole it from my hospital. I had no part in her scheme. That’s why I came here. I never wanted to see her again, but there’s no scraping her off. I thought I would get a reprieve when she was jailed by you.”
“She’s cunning, but you know that. We won’t make the same mistake again.” Hugo looks down at Marcus' body and tsks. “He was reckless. He’s the reason she escaped.”
“How?” Maris asks.
“Vampire or not, men are men. Don’t forget that, siren.” The lingering look Hugo gives her has me on high alert. I bristle and growl. Hugo glances my way and smiles. “I’m far too old to tempt her, but she is something exquisite. If I were a few centuries younger, I’d kill you and take her.”
Maris jerks back into me. I squeeze her waist. Hugo isn’t going to do anything. He’s at the end of his life.
“But as I’m not, enjoy her for me. I’ll deal with Rosanna. She won’t bother you again.” He looks at Rosanna. His meaning is clear. She’s not going to get a trial or a second chance. Hugo is going to give Rosanna justice in the old ways.
Maris doesn’t have to be told twice. She grabs my hand and starts dragging me towards the door. “Come on. We have to get out of here.”
I follow her, only pausing when we get to Hugo. “I’ll not forget this,” I tell him. It’s a twofold statement. I won’t forget what he’s done. Letting us go while the rest of the Varcolacus wouldn’t, ending Rosanna. But also there’s what he said about Maris.
Hugo smiles. “As you shouldn’t.”
“Your car is outside. The town is going insane. We need to just drive and not stop,” Maris says.
She’s practically running when we get to the porch.
I see my car in the road like she said. I stop her when I see the lighter Rosanna brought.
It’s on the porch next to the bottle of alcohol she intended to ignite.
“Wait.” I pick up the lighter and bottle. “We have to end this.”
“What are you doing?” I don’t answer Maris. I open the bottle and pour it out on the porch. When I strike the lighter and bend to light the alcohol, Maris grabs my arm.
“You can’t. Not the house.”
“Hugo is giving us a gift, Maris. If this house stands, there’s a chance all of this is for nothing. Isla will come for you.”
Maris bites her lip and looks down at the porch. “It’s the only home I’ve ever had,” she whispers.
“Not anymore. You have me.”
Maris takes a deep breath and holds her hand out for the lighter. “I’ll do it.”