GOE 08 - Bound By Darkness [calibre 0.9.30]

She snorted, refusing to recall that since meeting Ariyal she’d felt like a woman for the first time in decades.

Surely she had enough disasters looming on the horizon without adding yet another?

“Can you lead me to the blood pit or not?”

Still, the gargoyle hesitated. “There’s bound to be an assortment of unpleasant creatures staying there.”

“Trust me, I can take care of myself.”

“Very well.” Levet’s wings drooped, but turning on his heel he led Jaelyn out of the house and down the path to the front gate. Once they reached the street, he turned east. “This way.”

Jaelyn was on full alert as they walked through the neighborhoods still slumbering in the pre-dawn hours. Most creepy-crawlies were too intelligent to attack a vampire, but she was still edgy from their earlier encounter and the thought of the dead wizard popping out of thin air did nothing for her nerves.

Neither did the covert glances from the tiny gargoyle waddling at her side.

At last she turned her head to meet his searching gaze. “Do I have something on my face?”

Levet shook his head, his expression one of blatant curiosity.

“I am merely wondering why such a lovely female would become a Hunter.”

She resumed scanning their passing surroundings, skimming over Nelson’s Column, which stretched toward the heavens, and the flanking fountains as they cut through Trafalgar Square.

“It wasn’t by choice,” she muttered, quickening her step in the hopes her companion would take the hint and drop the subject.

She might as well have hoped for a night with Robert Pattinson or world peace, she wryly acknowledged as the gargoyle churned his tiny legs to keep pace beside her.

“You were forced?” he persisted.

“After I was turned, it was discovered I had the heightened senses required for a Hunter,” she said, stripping her voice of emotion. It was a night she’d done her best to forget. “The Addonexus arrived at my lair and informed me I was about to become their newest recruit.”

She felt his gaze searching her profile.

“Whether you wished to be recruited or not?” he asked softly.

“Vampires have never embraced democracy. Not even with Styx as the Anasso.”

“Might makes right, eh?”

She shrugged. “Something like that.”

“So typical of that overgrown Aztec,” he muttered, abruptly turning on a dark street and leading her past the small, historic churches nestled among the taverns. “Were you held as a prisoner?”

Her brows lifted. How the hell had the gargoyle become acquainted with the most powerful vampires in the world?

A story for another day.

“Not a prisoner,” she said, “but I was ... encouraged to complete my training.”

“I can imagine the encouragement,” he muttered.

“No, you really can’t.”

A silence descended as her words sliced through the air with a bleak edge. Then, sensing the gargoyle was slowing his pace, Jaelyn turned to meet his sympathetic gaze.

“But now your training is complete?” he asked.

“Yep.” Her lips twisted. “I’m a card-carrying, full-fledged Hunter.”

“There are cards?”

She couldn’t halt her abrupt laugh. “If I told you I’d have to kill you.”

An answering smile curved his lips. “I never thought I would ever meet such a charming vampire,” her companion murmured. “You are truly unique.”

“I might agree with unique,” she said dryly, “but I’ve rarely been called charming.”

“I doubt you have much opportunity to reveal your softer side in your current profession.”

Softer?

Had she ever had a softer side?

“ No.”

“Can you quit?”

She blinked at the unexpected question. “Quit being a Hunter?”

“Oui.”

“It’s a position of great honor among vampires,” she mouthed the well-rehearsed words. It was true enough that most vampires envied those chosen by the elite Addonexus. They saw only the power and wary respect offered to the members, without ever understanding the cost. “Why would anyone wish to leave?”

He narrowed his eyes. “I can think of a few hundred.”

She came to a halt, the hair on the back of her neck rising at the unmistakable stench that filled the air.

“I smell trolls.”

The gargoyle gave a delicate shudder. “I did warn you that it was a low-class establishment.”

“So you did.” With a smooth motion, Jaelyn was bending to lay Ariyal on the hard pavement, sliding her hand over his hard body until she found one of the numerous daggers he had hidden. Gripping the ivory handle, she straightened and pointed toward the gargoyle. “Remain here with the Sylvermyst. I will return as soon as I can.”

“Where are you going?”

“To negotiate for a room.”

She had already turned to make her way down the steps that led to the cellar beneath the silent pub when Levet reached to grasp her free hand.

“Be careful, ma enfant,” he pleaded softly.

She glanced back in surprise. First Ariyal tried to protect her and now this creature was looking at her as if he was truly concerned.