"It is called salvi. Protection. Safety. It comes in quite handy. "
"As long as you aren't caught administering it and forced to drink it yourself. " Victoria looked at the small vial, then glanced at Eustacia, who'd been unusually silent during their exchange. It was almost as if she'd realized her intervention would be useless.
Could she actually drug Phillip?
Was it necessary?
If she didn't would he awaken to find her gone? If she wasn't beside him, where she'd become quite used to sleeping in the last two weeks, would he seek her out in her own bedchamber?
The liquid was nearly clear; just the faintest blue tinged the thin, watery fluid. She would have to. To protect him, she not only had to lie to him… but drug him as well.
For she could not chance his awakening and putting himself in danger again.
Never again.
"I am feeling quite exhausted," Victoria murmured into Phillip's ear as they sat in the box he'd let at the theater. "I would much rather be in bed… wouldn't you?" She dipped the tip of her tongue into the innermost part of his ear—quickly, like a tease—then moved away and returned her attention to the stage. Prim and proper she was then, with her hands folded neatly in her lap.
Phillip shifted next to her in a manner that told her he, too, was thinking of things other than the play… which she was rather enjoying. "We can slip out during the next intermission—ah! What perfect timing," he amended, as the actors exited the stage.
Victoria clung to his arm as they pushed through the bustle of people leaving their boxes to mingle and be seen.
Phillip handed her into the carriage and climbed in after her. Instead of sitting on the seat across, he settled next to her and drew her near, kissing her with promise.
"My dear, your neck is so cold! Are you quite comfortable?" he asked, pulling away.
"I am not chilled, but oh, Phillip! I left my indispensable in our box; I'm certain of it! And it has Aunt Eustacia's brooch in it… Could you hurry back in and retrieve it for me?"
"Of course, my darling. You wait here—I won't be above a minute!"
She hoped that wasn't true, and waited until she saw him hurry back into the theater before she slipped the stake from a hidden pocket in her underskirt and climbed quietly out of the carriage—hoping the groom wouldn't hear her.
The walkway was crowded, more with carriage grooms and hackney drivers than theatergoers. Victoria wasn't certain where the vampire was, but she followed her instinct and hurried around the corner. The street was darker here, and not so busy—but when she approached the third hackney in the row, she knew she'd come to the right place.
A deep, muffled groan came from inside, and seeing that the driver was missing, Victoria flung open the door.
The vampire was a woman and, from the looks of it, had just finished feeding—or, at least, had already started. She was dressed in a dark cloak, and her brown hair was arranged quite prettily in an intricate coiffure, complete with gemstones and ribbons. In fact, if it weren't for the bright red blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, and the odd-colored eyes, she would have looked like an innocent society miss.
"How nice of you to join us," she greeted Victoria. Quick as a flash she lunged forward and grabbed at her. It took little effort for her to draw Victoria into the hackney—mainly because Victoria did not resist.
But once Victoria was sprawled, half in, half out of the carriage, she took matters into her own hands and scrambled to a seat on the opposite side.
That was when the vampire saw the stake.
She drew back in fear, and her red eyes widened. "Venator!"
"Pleased to meet you," Victoria told her as she slammed the stake into her chest.
Poof! She was gone, and Victoria was alone with the man she presumed was the driver of the hackney, based on the less than elegant clothing he wore.
She shifted his body to examine the bite and determine whether he was still alive and able to be saved. The bite was deep and still running with bright red blood. She felt the other side of his neck, trying to find a pulse… but her hand came away wet. The vampire had already been there too.
If they had come out of the theater a few moments earlier, she might have sensed the vampire sooner, in time to stop this.
But there was nothing she could do for the man. He was already dead.
When Victoria opened the hackney door, she froze, then quickly shut it. Phillip was standing on the street, calling for her.
Damn and blast!