Dark Nights Read online

  Traian glanced down at the mess of his chest. He had scarcely been aware of his wounds, blocking all pain until he could ensure Joie’s safety. He obliged Gary, mixing his healing saliva with the mineral rich soil of his homeland. Gary hastily made a paste, noting Gabrielle watched his every movement carefully.

  “You’ll have to sit up for me,” Gary said. “I’ll put this in your chest and then on her neck. You’ll need to go inside her to heal from the inside out to stop her losing any more blood before you convert her.” He spoke the obvious to the Carpathian so that Joie’s siblings would understand what was about to take place.

  Traian nodded tersely. “Hurry. Her spirit is moving away from me.”

  Gary packed the wad of mud tight into the hole in Traian’s chest under Gabrielle’s watchful gaze.

  “He has a healing agent in his saliva,” Gary informed her as he worked. “Teeth can inject the anticoagulant needed to keep the blood flowing and saliva can heal it. Combined with their natural soil, it is a better healing agent than anything we’ve got for them.”

  “Joie isn’t Carpathian,” Gabrielle said. “The risk for her to get an infection could be very high.” There was more question than statement in her observation.

  “Traian will have to bring her across to his world. She’s more than halfway there,” Gary said as he packed Joie’s wound. “He’s holding her to us through sheer will, which is why I’m explaining all this to you, not him. He can’t expend energy talking.”

  He looked around him. They were in the hall with a good part of the inn damaged and people milling around in shock. Mirko Ostojic rushed down the hall toward them, a shotgun in his hands. Behind him, Slavica, his wife, and their daughter Angelina herded the guests away from the area.

  “Tell us what to do to help,” Mirko said.

  Gary answered him. “Tell your guests that the storm damaged this part of the inn and the noise was thunder and lightning hitting the roof and going through to the first story. You have to keep them away from here, Mirko. The bats living in the eaves in this area came in, frightened by the lightning.”

  The innkeeper nodded and indicated Jubal and Joie. “Should I send for a doctor?”

  Gary shook his head. “We’ve got this under control.” He turned his attention back to the Carpathian hunter as the innkeeper went back down the hall. “I’ll protect your body while you do your best to heal her wounds, Traian,” he said. “Mikhail is sending Falcon.”

  “No,” Traian shook his head adamantly. “Tell Falcon to stay with the prince. There is another master close by, looking for a chance to kill Mikhail. Above all else, Falcon must protect him. We must do this ourselves.”

  Gary sighed. “So be it. Jubal, get on the other side of the hall and keep everyone away from us. No more than twenty feet in.”

  Traian blocked out all sound. Gary had shown remarkable knowledge of their ways and he had no other choice but to trust him. Still . . . Jubal, I will be out of my body. I do not know this man enough to put Joie’s life in his hands. Keep watch.

  Will do. Just save her. Jubal glanced at his sister. “Gabrielle, come here by me.”

  “I want to see what he’s doing,” Gabrielle said. “I’m a doctor.”

  “I need you here,” Jubal reiterated firmly.

  Gabrielle squeezed her sister’s cold hand. “Save her, Traian,” she whispered and reluctantly climbed to her feet to go to her brother.

  Jubal touched her shoulder gently in reassurance. Tell me if anyone comes toward us. I’m going to keep an eye on Gary, just in case. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but Traian will be in some danger and he wants my protection.

  Gabrielle gave him the briefest of nods. It was obvious she didn’t want to take her eyes from her sister, but Jubal made sense. She liked Gary, but she didn’t know him. They had thrown their lot in with Traian and only he appeared to be able to save Joie’s life.

  Traian blocked out everything, the wreckage of the room, the few remaining insects buzzing around, the bat clinging to the ceiling and the three humans surrounding him. There was only Joie and her cold body, her life slipping away. He had to repair the damage done in order to give her the strength needed for the conversion. He left his own body, a mere shell, damaged and bleeding, behind, to become pure spirit. His body was unprotected. He had no choice but to rely on Joie’s brother, Jubal.

  He entered Joie’s body as white healing energy, reaching for her spirit to lock her to him so she had no chance to slip away before he completed the complicated task of healing her from the inside out.

  Her neck was the worst, the artery needing to be sealed before anything else. It took time, precious time he didn’t have. It was more difficult than he had thought to keep from being in the present, aware of time ticking away and her spirit sliding further from him as he worked.

  She will die. You think you won, but I have killed you both. The voice of the third master vampire slipped into his mind. The undead had taken his blood in the cave and could reach him when he chose. The voice, after seeing him, nearly convinced Traian the unknown master could be one of the Malinov brothers. He didn’t have the strength to fight the vampire and save Joie at the same time.

  Unexpectedly, it was Jubal who placed himself as a shield between Traian’s mind and the vampire. You’re a coward, hiding behind insects, those supposedly less powerful than you and a few bats. You didn’t capture the Carpathian hunter, your little army wore him down, but in the end he defeated them and drove you away. You can’t do a thing to him and you know it. All you have is your empty threats.

  Behind the shield Jubal gave him, Traian worked quickly. The vampire sent waves of doubt and distrust, trying to build a wall between the Carpathian and the human. When he realized it wasn’t working he studied the human.

  Mage-blood. He spat the accusation. You have gotten a hold in his mind. How very clever of you. You are nowhere near as strong as I am. I have only to get a hold of you and he and all who are under his protection will be mine.

  Jubal laughed. I don’t really believe in you. You’re a maggot, nothing more. It’s a little difficult to take you seriously when you’re nothing but a voice threatening mayhem, but never really doing anything.

  “You’re playing a very dangerous game,” Gary cautioned. “If you’re doing what I think you’re doing, Jubal.” He could feel the energy building around Jubal and read the concentration on his face.

  Jubal didn’t glance at him. He kept his eyes fixed on Traian. The Carpathian grew pale before his eyes. He could actually feel the energy draining from the hunter and was determined that the vampire didn’t feel it. He kept disdain uppermost in his mind. It wasn’t that difficult. If this was the master vampire commanding all the others, he didn’t have the courage to fight his own battles. He thought himself the brains and sent his army, but in defeat, he retreated, running away because he wouldn’t fight unless he had a distinct advantage.

  I will face you, the vampire offered. Come out into the night alone without your friends. We shall see who survives our meeting.

  Jubal laughed softly. And leave you the ability to worm your way into the hunter’s mind when he is far too busy to bother with your endless empty threats?

  Black rage was thrust into Traian’s mind, battering at Jubal. Jubal kept his eyes on the Carpathian. If the man got any whiter he was going to be translucent. Jubal wanted to follow the path of Traian’s mind to see what he was doing to Joie, but the vampire was strong and all he had to defend Traian was sarcasm, keeping the undead’s attention on him rather than pursuing his attack on Traian.

  I will kill you and everyone you love. You are nothing.

  Jubal gave the mental equivalent of a sigh. I think you’re actually beginning to repeat yourself. You need a few new lines. You do know this is not the only hunter in the area, don’t you? I believe they are spreading out looking for you. Sooner or later, one is bound to cross your path and then they’ll band together and track you down.

  You will notice that it will take more than one.

  Jubal gave a sniff of disdain. It matters little to them. You are simply a duty to them. They remove all rotting corpses from the earth when they come across them. They have nothing to prove to you or anyone else.

  Traian blinked and became aware of the world around him as he slipped back into his own body. Weak, he nearly collapsed over the top of Joie.

  “We do not have much time. We need to get her out of this hallway and back into the bedroom where I can convert her. I will need blood,” he instructed.

  He became aware of Jubal shielding his mind, and realized the vampire had tried to prevent him from healing Joie’s worst wound.

  “You can step aside,” he said quietly. “I thank you for what you did.”

  This does not end here. I will find you again, the vampire promised both of them—and then he was gone.

  Tangling with a master vampire was never a good idea. They were vengeful creatures with long memories, and this one—and Traian was afraid he knew who the master was now—would not forget Jubal as long as he was alive. He would hate him with every breath he took and he would never stop plotting revenge. A vampire could live a long time and while the memory for Jubal would fade away, it never would for the undead.

  With a small sigh, Traian lifted Joie into his arms and carried her into the wrecked bedroom. “Gary, have Mikhail send a couple of our people to repair the damage here when we know the master vampire has left our region.” He laid Joie carefully on the bed and slipped to the floor beside her, weak, his body swaying.

  Gabrielle swallowed hard and stepped close to him. “You’ll have to use my blood.”

  Traian glanced at her pale, set face. She looked determined but very frightened. He half smiled. It was all he could do to give her reassurance. “Gary or Jubal can give blood.”

  She stuck her chin out. “They both have done so already and they’re wounded. Use mine.” She stuck out her wrist and closed her eyes. “I can’t cut myself, so just do it fast.”

  For the first time Traian was uncertain of what to do. He needed the blood. Time was slipping away for Joie, but this was her sister, sacred to her.

  “Do it,” Gabrielle hissed without opening her eyes.

  He raised his eyes to Jubal. The man nodded. Traian took the extended wrist gently and murmuring softly to enthrall Gabrielle so she would not feel any sensation, he took what she offered, drawing vital sustenance in order to provide enough blood to Joie for the conversion. All the while, he kept Joie’s spirit locked to his, preventing her from slipping away. She was no longer losing blood, but her human body was giving up the fight for survival.

  Very gently he closed the two wounds on Gabrielle’s wrist and woke her from the enthrallment. Gary swept his arm around her shoulders and stepped back, taking Gabrielle with him. “Only Traian can help her now.”

  Gabrielle swallowed hard. “What can you do?”

  “I will bring her fully into my world. She had consented to be Carpathian,” Traian said.

  Jubal met the Carpathian’s gaze squarely. “Do it. Whatever you have to do. Just don’t let her die.”

  Traian looked at their faces, swollen and red from the bites of the insects. Joie’s siblings were brave, but watching their sister go through such a difficult process might be too much for even them. “Should anything go wrong, I will follow her and care for her, but you must know, Jubal, that the chances of any hunter killing the one who got away are very slim and he will come after you. Never forget him and how he felt in your mind.” Traian glanced up at Gary. “I will need candles, herbs, soil. Everything to help her through this, and quickly.”

  Gary tugged at Gabrielle. “Come with me. Mirko will have most of the herbs and candles. I’ll need you.”

  They rushed from the room.

  Jubal watched every movement as Traian laid his hands on Joie’s wounds and bites from the insects. Once again, Traian left his own body and entered Joie’s. Jubal remained vigilant in case the vampire returned, ready to place himself as a shield between the Carpathian and the undead. He could see the lines deepen in the hunter’s face, his color paling visibly as if his strength was slowly being drawn from him.

  This time was much shorter. He swayed a little, his face lined with exhaustion, but he gathered Joie into his arms, cradling her now, close to his chest.

  Gary and Gabrielle hurried back into the room. Gary set a bowl of rich, dark soil on the floor beside the bed, and Gabrielle dumped various herbs into a second bowl.

  Gary handed candles to Jubal. “Spread these around the room and light them. We don’t want any artificial lights on, just the candles. Gabrielle, mix the herbs together in the bowl. We need the scents to blend.”

  Traian rocked Joie gently, holding her close, murmuring softly to her in his mind. He had done his best to heal her body enough to get her through the conversion. This was their moment. The conversion could easily kill her if she was too weak.

  Gary put his hand on Traian’s shoulder as if reading his thoughts. “She is strong. Her will is strong. Joie was a surprise to Valenteen. She was wonderful, unbelievable. She didn’t even hesitate. It never occurred to a vampire that a woman would stand between others and danger. And he certainly never thought she would be willing to plunge a knife into his heart.”

  “She used my memories,” Traian explained as he mixed healing saliva into the soil and packed the wounds in Joie’s throat with fresh soil. “She flattered him and stalled him, hoping I would get there in time. And when I didn’t, she did what she always does, she courageously put herself in harm’s way in order to get close enough to make certain she destroyed him.”

  Gary took handfuls of the mixture and packed more into Traian’s chest. “Even with all I know, the draw to go to him was so powerful, I doubt that we would have survived.”

  “He was a master vampire and he ran with another much more powerful master.” Traian lifted his head to look at Gary. “I never saw the other one clearly. He took my blood in the cave, yet he stayed in the shadows. I saw him for one moment earlier and if it is the warrior I remember from long ago, he is extremely dangerous. Keep Jubal away from him. Protect Joie’s siblings. I cannot go near our prince. You will have to relay to him all information. Until the vampire is found, and I very much doubt that he will remain in this country now, I will stay away from Mikhail. We cannot take a chance with his life.”

  “He won’t see it the same way,” Gary pointed out.

  “You know I am right. He should not chance his life by entering into battles in the way that he does. His purpose is to serve and lead our people, not hunt the vampire. We have many hunters and only one leader. His brother is strong and powerful, but he has been damaged by the torture he endured. He cannot lead. If the vampire or humans managed to kill Mikhail, I fear our race would be mortally wounded.”

  Traian smoothed his hand over Joie’s hair. He was reluctant to bring her over when she was so close to death. If he failed . . .

  “You have no choice,” Gary said. “She will die either way.”

  “Explain it to them. They shouldn’t be here,” Traian said.

  Traian didn’t look up at Gary to see if he agreed or not. He gathered Joie into his arms. You must accept my blood, Joie. This will convert you to my race, and it is not a pleasant experience to go through.

  He felt her touch, gentle, tender, on his face, yet she lay motionless in his arms. A faint smile appeared in his mind as if she found his warning amusing.

  “He will take her blood and then give her his own,” Gary said. “Her human body will die and if this works, she will become fully Carpathian. The process can be brutal on the body. Once he starts, there is no turning back,” he added gently to Gabrielle. “It is best if you leave. This will be painful for you to watch.”

  “We stay,” Jubal said. “The vampire may try to attack him again and in any case, if Joie goes through this, we stay to protect her.”

  Gabrielle nodded. “We won’t interfere.”

  Traian turned his body slightly, not wanting to drain his strength further by masking what he was doing from her siblings. If they chose to stay, they would see how very difficult the transition was regardless.

  The soothing aroma from the herbs and candles mixed through the room, driving out the foul stench of the vampire. Gary began to softly chant in the ancient language of the Carpathian people. The sounds of chanting filled Traian’s mind as other voices, far away, joined on the common communication path in the age-old healing chant.

  I offer life, Joie. Traian bent his head and sank his teeth above her breast, right where her pulse beat, shallow and slow.

  Her blood flowed into him, mixing with his ancient Carpathian blood. Come to me. Give yourself to me. Her spirit was weak, but she didn’t try to fight him. Instead, that bright light, fading slowly, moved weakly toward him.

  He felt her trust surround him. Warmth. Traian closed his eyes, savoring the feeling, sending up a silent prayer that she would survive the transition.

  Very gently he closed the small wound when he was certain he’d taken enough for a final exchange. You must take my blood for the third exchange. Your neck is torn and you are weak, but I will help you.

  He opened his wrist. She would not be able to take the blood herself. He would have to press it to her mouth and stroke her throat, forcing her to accept the gift of a life. At first Joie didn’t respond, and a few drops trickled from the corner of her mouth.

  “Joie, please,” Gabrielle said. “Please.” She suppressed a small sob and hid her face against Gary’s shirt.

  For our children. For me. For your family. You can do this, Traian encouraged. Try for me, Joie.

  It wasn’t about acceptance. Joie had already given her life into Traian’s keeping. It was finding the strength for that last effort.

  You are a fighter, Joie, and so am I. I will fight to keep you with me, but no matter what happens here, I will go with you.

  Joie’s mouth moved feebly against his wrist. Traian stroked long fingers over her throat. She accepted his blood just the way she did everything else where he was concerned, with complete faith. It humbled him that she did so.