The Kingmakers(23)

“Too much. It’s overwhelming. I can barely hold it in.”

“You must!”

Gareth looked up at the vampires descending toward them, and Adele immediately knew what he was contemplating.

“No! You can’t win against all of them. I can hold this. I just need time.”

Gareth tensed and then stepped away from Adele, veering from the church. The vampires landed, encircling him. All of them wore the festooned wardrobe of soldiers, a mix of different styles and periods, but all military in design. Their very physique was different from the three at the gate. All muscle and attitude. They challenged Gareth in their native dialect. It always sounded so guttural and harsh to Adele’s ears.

Gareth responded to their call in French. “I am Prince Gareth of Scotland, son of Dmitri of Britain, and I’ve come to see King Vittorio before this city falls to the humans clawing at your doors.”

Gareth could play the haughty prince nearly as well as his brother, but with far less embellishment. The gathered vampires stared past Gareth’s long form and Adele tensed, wondering if they could see her. Then they stated the obvious, as if it were a joke. “You are alone.”

“I do not bring my packs unless I know you are worthy of aid. But they are close enough if I choose to save Grenoble. However, if you are not interested in my offer, I can leave and lend my assistance to your neighbors.”

The vampires hissed their displeasure at being slighted, or compared to their neighbors, the bumpkins of St. Etienne and the pretenders of Lyon.

When one leaned to confer with another, Gareth quickly stepped menacingly to them, straightening his tall frame and stiffening with anger. It was better not to give them opportunity to ponder why he was alone and unescorted. “Soon your city will be flattened and your herds will be seized or scattered. You make the decision for your king, here and now.” Gareth struck the flat of his hand against the vampire’s shoulder. He waited another few heartbeats and then turned on his heel. “Very well. Send my regards to former King Vittorio.”

Two vampires grabbed his arms to prevent his leaving.

“How dare you touch me!” He yanked away his arm, drawing blood as it tore from their clawed grip.

Adele broke into a sweat as more excess power surged into her looking for release. Her body burned with the effort to contain it. She felt like a crumbling dam holding back a destructive wall of water. Several of the vampires glanced around wildly, sensing the change in the energies around them. Adele dropped to one knee and closed her eyes in concentration, silently repeating over and over a calming mantra taught to her by Mamoru.

Gareth snarled. “You are wasting my precious time.”

Another series of explosions shook the ground, and in the distance, dark shapes fell from the sky in pieces.

“Very well!” a vampire hissed. “Come with us.”

They all lifted into the air and aimed for the Bastille high above. Gareth followed, although this time he did look back. His gaze brushed over Adele, but clearly he did not see her. He turned back to his new companions and went to keep his appointment with the king.

Adele concentrated on maintaining her control, trusting Gareth to deal with his brethren. With time, the pressure eased inside her and the roar in her veins abated. Awareness crept back as she stood shakily and noticed a young human girl staring at her. The girl was dressed in filthy rags and her face was devoid of expression, sapped by the hopelessness of her situation. She was watching Adele with the same disassociation one would watch life pass by a windowpane.

To Adele’s surprise, when she moved, the girl stepped forward to follow her. The empress knelt and smiled, lifting a finger to her lips for silence. The girl’s brow furled and her head tilted to the side, the way a puppy would listen to a new sound. Ever so slowly the girl’s eyes brightened and the muscles in her face lightened as her lips drew into a matching smile, and she came to Adele’s side.

Adele reached out and touched the dirty cheek. This surprised the girl, whose eyes widened to twice their normal size. Adele again cautioned silence, and the girl’s own finger lifted to mimic the empress.

Adele’s heart swelled. This was the reason she was here. These people weren’t the mindless cattle most southerners believed them to be. They deserved a new chance. In a few short hours this child’s life would change. She would be free of the tyranny.

“Soon,” Adele whispered. “You’ll be safe soon.”

A tile hit the street with a startling crash. A vampire dropped to the ground beside them. He couldn’t see Adele but, with horror, she realized she had placed the child in danger. She had brought the girl to the attention of a hungry creature.