When Twilight Burns (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles 4)

Lilith moved closer, her breath hot on Victoria’s bare neck, where the vein lurched and throbbed, pulsing as though ready to surge free. Dimly, she felt her fingers loosen and the stake fall as she struggled minutely, desperately.

The slide of fangs into flesh is rarely painful. They cut so cleanly and smoothly that the incision is little more than a terrifyingly joyful release . . . the warm blood at last free from its confines, flowing into the waiting vessel.

Victoria was stupidly conscious of the warmth of Lilith’s upper lip and the chill of her lower one . . . of the way her tongue lapped against her flesh and the fangs bored deeply . . . the suction of cold and heat tugging deeply through her as Lilith drank, swallowing against her in an absurdly gentle manner.

And, suddenly, the vampire queen pulled away. She stepped back, staring at Victoria with wide eyes. All at once her guards dropped their hands, and she was free.

“So it’s true.”

Victoria lunged for her stake, forcing herself to ignore the warm trickle of blood leaking down her neck. From the corner of her eye, she saw the darkness staining her yellow gown as she surged upright.

She faced the vampiress, her fingers tight around the stake. “Is my blood too pure for your taste?”

The shocked look faded from Lilith’s face, to be replaced by one of unadulterated pleasure. “Oh no, not at all. It was my error . . . for I discounted the tales told me. I could not believe you could drink from Beauregard, and he from you, and the turning not take place.” Her eyes narrowed with malice. “But I have tasted the truth. You have vampire blood rushing through your veins, Victoria Gardella.”

She turned and walked back to her throne as casually as if she were entertaining a guest. “I meant to destroy you . . . but there’s no need. If I let nature take its course . . . not only will you become despicable to him, but you’ll become bound to me.”

“I’m no vampire.”

Lilith looked at her again, her full blue-gray lips curling into a smile. “I see it in your eyes. You know that I speak the truth. Already you feel it, don’t you? You’ve been fighting it, likely for months now. And it’s getting stronger.” She shook her head, the smile tickling her mouth like that of a coquette. “But how could it be?” she murmured, almost to herself.

“I’m too strong for it.”

The laugh surprised her—eerie, high, and yet, like smoke. It curled and disseminated itself through the room, chasing away any other sound for the moment. Filling Victoria’s ears, and her consciousness. It echoed there, and settled itself in place as if to confirm her own deep-seated fears.

Eighteen

Wherein Our Heroine Conducts an Unsuccessful Interrogation

Settled in her massive stone chair, Lilith seemed to feel far more companionable toward Victoria now. Her odd eyes lit with unholy humor and anticipation, and she seemed almost relaxed.

As though they were having tea.

Seeing the vampire queen in such a state unsettled Victoria. Her veins were still humming, though not as violently. But her breathing and heartbeat had eased into a more normal rhythm.

Could Lilith be right?

She drew in a deep breath, the scent of roses and wood smoke filtering into her nostrils and lungs, and calm crept slowly over her. She was obviously in no danger at this moment, nor did Lilith seem inclined to release her . . . so, at the very least, Victoria felt that the situation should be used to its advantage regardless of what was to come.

Boldly, she walked over to one of the heavy wooden chairs that lined the wall and sat. Lilith’s chin lifted, but with a nod of acceptance rather than condemnation. “Of course . . . do make yourself comfortable.”

“I will indeed. Perhaps while we wait—for whatever it is you await—you’ll assuage some of my curiosity about the vampires that move about in the daylight. Clearly, the formula for the elixir found its way from Beauregard into your hands . . . but I’m mystified as to how that happened.”

The queen slanted her an arrogant look. “It was brought to me by that blonde Regalado girl. She obtained it from one of Beauregard’s followers, who meant it as a token to her as the new leader of the Tutela. Apparently you killed her father?”

“Is she drinking the elixir then? And what about you, Lilith? Don’t you wish to see the sunlight again?”

Now the creature laughed again, this time more contemptuously. “I? Drink of that poison? Of course not.”

“Poison?”

“My, how naive you are, Victoria Gardella. I shall quite enjoy watching your innocent veneer crack and dull.” Lilith sat upright in her chair, her bony wrist resting on the curved arm. “The plant which makes up a large portion of the formula is very rare, and grows only once or twice per century. It also happens to be poisonous to the undead.”

“It doesn’t kill them.”

“Not immediately . . . but the benefits of the potion last for only a short time—no more than a few hours. The daytime vampires, as you so quaintly call them, drink it as needed—whenever they wish to move about in the sun, or to remain undetected by you and your comrades. But for every use of the elixir, those who consume it age one year, perhaps more . . . it is not an exact— science, so to speak. If one uses it enough, one ages, and eventually cannot stop the aging process, even if the elixir is stopped . . . and the undead dies quite rapidly and unexpectedly. Without the unpleasantness of your stake or sword.” She smiled, her fangs dipping gently into her lower lip. “Of course, I did not tell them of the hazards . . . for, as you can see, I had use for undead that could move about in the day. And the elixir is more addictive than opium.”

“Them? Sara and George?”

“The elixir would do Sara no good,” Lilith admitted. “She has not turned undead. And as for the others . . . well, I do not feel like being charitable. If you do not know, then I don’t care to enlighten you.”

“But why not? If I am soon to join your ranks.”

Lilith made a sound almost like a giggle . . . but more ominous. “Ah, you are a clever one. But, no. I’ll divulge no more. I will be amused watching you attempt to figure it out.”

Victoria was not about to give up her chance to extricate more information from the vampire queen, even as the back of her mind formulated possible ways of escape. If she could get away, she would send for Wayren and tell her of Lilith’s awful prediction. She’d find some way to stop it.

“And so you have come to London for what purpose? Do you not recall how you fled the last time you were here and believed you had me in your power?” Victoria asked with great condescension in her voice.