Burning Both Ends

“Arianna?” the voice repeated.

“Huh?” She looked up to see faces turned toward her. “I’m sorry. Did I miss something?”

Andreas picked up the slack. “Raphael asked if you had a good flight from the States.”

“Oh, yes. It was fine.” Unless she wanted to talk about the nightmare. Which she didn’t.

“I was explaining you have been away on business,” Andreas prodded.

“Um, yes, an emergency on behalf of my Magic Council.” Could this conversation get any lamer?

“I hope you were successful,” Raphael said in a bored tone. At least he was speaking to her this time, rather than talking about her.

She gave him a polite smile. “Thank you. It had a good outcome.” What was this with all the small talk? Talk about dull. She looked at Andreas and frowned. Get on with it already.

As if he took the hint, Andreas said, “We have been discussing Raphael’s future relationship with this court. It would be extremely advantageous to have the support of another master level vampire. Raphael has been in charge of the northern division of Sebastian’s territory for twenty years.”

“Division? I didn’t know there were divisions.” She waited for him to explain. When he didn’t, she added, “Have you gotten things settled?”

“We are making progress,” Raphael said. “There are still details to be ironed out. And,” he said, looking at Andreas, “the night is not growing younger.”

“A good reminder. Perhaps you and I can finish. I hate to bore our companions with the details. If I am not mistaken, there is live entertainment in the lounge.”

Gabriel immediately got to his feet. “I, for one, am happy to be excused. Arianna, would you and Marta care to join me? I’m sure Lewis and Etienne would like something more satisfying than wine to drink.”

At Raphael’s nod, the two male vamps broke their stone-faced watchfulness and lumbered to their feet. Ari cast a questioning glance at Andreas but allowed herself to be led away. She’d get her answers from Gabriel. Or he’d die at her hands. Painfully. Maybe not, but she was feeling pretty persuasive.

The lounge teemed with a live band, bottles of wine and carafes of blood on a corner table, and swaying dancers. The moment they entered the room, Gabriel grabbed Marta’s arm and walked away from Ari. Ari glared at his back, certain he was deliberately keeping his distance. Ready to drag him off to a dark corner for an intense interrogation, she spotted an alternate source of information. She made a beeline for Lilith and Russell, who were already sitting in the requisite dark corner.

“What the hell is going on?” she asked, standing over Russell with one hand on her hip.

“Shh. Not here,” he cautioned. “Andreas will explain later. Besides, I don’t know much, and I can’t talk about what I do know.” Until that moment, Ari hadn’t noticed Russell’s stiff pose or how sullen Lilith looked. They’d been fighting. The subject was obvious. Lilith wanted to know the scoop, and Russell wasn’t cooperating. “I mean it,” he whispered desperately. “Don’t ask me.”

Ari plopped in a chair and glared at him. “Don’t give me that. We’ve moved heaven and earth to get here, and now you can’t tell us what’s going on? That’s bullshit,” she hissed. Russell winced. “At least tell me about Raphael. Andreas said they were working out some kind of deal, and they seem to be getting along. If the problem’s been settled, why is everyone still so tense? Or isn’t it over yet? Surely you can tell me that without revealing any deep, dark super secret.”

Russell shook his head and avoided meeting her gaze. “What can I say? They’re vampires. Nothing’s ever over until it’s over. Besides, Raphael isn’t…” He stopped. “I just can’t talk about it.”

“Raphael isn’t what?”

Russell shook his head.

“He’s not going to tell us anything,” Lilith said with an ill-disguised flare of anger.

“I told you not to ask,” he grumbled. He made a zipping motion across his lips. No amount of threats, glaring or cajoling got him to reveal anything else.

When Ari looked around for another victim, Gabriel and Marta had disappeared. Unforgiving, but knowing none of this was really Russell’s choice, Ari unbent enough to help Lilith fill in the news from Riverdale.

Less than an hour later, Andreas and Raphael appeared in the lounge doorway, but Raphael didn’t linger long. Andreas, Ari, and Gabriel were soon bidding their guests good-night. The private talks had apparently been productive; Andreas and Raphael were relaxed and smiling as they shook hands at the door. At the last moment, Raphael turned and gave Andreas a pointed look that might have held a warning.

“I will let the others know that the witch has returned. It may buy you additional time. But if I were in your position, I would be prepared for anything.”

Andreas inclined his head, and the other leader left.

“What did he mean by that?” Ari demanded.

Andreas sighed, but before he could answer, Gabriel stepped in front of her. The look on his face, the look that had been there all evening, wasn’t exactly friendly. “A group of master vampires broke away from Andreas’s command. They’re a bunch of traitors, but they’re also cowardly and would never have been this bold if you had stayed here instead of running off to Riverdale.”

“Gabriel, that is enough,” Andreas said brusquely.

But Gabriel was on a roll. “If you had come back when I called, that would have helped. But what did you do? I try to tell you we’re in trouble, and you hang up on me.” He threw his hands in the air.

“Is that what you’ve been so pissed about all evening? That I hung up on you?”

“Not just that. But it didn’t help,” was his heated reply. “You were needed here. Obviously, you didn’t care enough to show up until now.”

Andreas had been trying to get Gabriel’s attention and finally grabbed his shoulder. Gabriel swatted his hand off, and Andreas pushed him back a couple of steps, away from Ari.

“If he’s got something more to say, let him finish,” Ari said, glaring at them both. “It’s about time somebody said something. First you’re gone, then you’re back. Everyone was in a panic. And now no one’s telling me what happened.”

Andreas turned and reached out a hand, but she stepped back, crossed her arms and frowned at him. “No more secrets. I don’t care how bad it is.”

Andreas spoke quickly as if to preempt anything Gabriel would say. “Gabriel does not understand our relationship or your Guardian responsibilities, and he has reached some false conclusions. You’ll have to forgive his ill-chosen words.”

“Don’t be apologizing for me.” Gabriel tried to interrupt, but Andreas kept on talking.

“The situation here is not unexpected, nothing more than ordinary vampire politics, which I can handle. It has nothing to do with you.”

“The hell it doesn’t,” Gabriel said hotly. He refused to be intimated by Andreas’s look this time. “She allowed everyone to believe she was your consort, then she took off. That’s what sparked the revolt.”

“Explain that,” Ari said. Her eyes locked with Gabriel. Had they been wrong about him all along? Was Gabriel finally showing his spots trying to drive a wedge between her and Andreas?

Andreas stepped between them again, facing the other vampire. “You are trying my patience. Our friendship means a great deal to me, but it may not survive if you continue down this path.”

Gabriel glared back. “How can you be so blind? My God, man—”

“Stop it. Both of you,” Ari said. She placed a hand on the arm of each, urging them apart. “Nothing is worse for me than not knowing.”

“She deserves to know, Andreas.” Gabriel turned back to Ari. “After Sebastian’s death, the word spread quickly about the power of the new prince and his fire-witch consort. Sebastian was hated by most of the vampires, and it looked as if Andreas’s authority would be accepted. Then you left without warning, no public explanation. The whispers started and spread rapidly that you had deserted him, and he was vulnerable. As a result, seven vampire leaders left the court that night.”

“Deserted him?” Is this what the vampires thought? Who had fed that rumor? Gabriel? She opened her mouth to protest until she noticed Andreas’s rigid, silent form. Oh, no. Is this what Andreas thought? It never occurred to Ari that anyone would see her departure in that light. She hadn’t left because she wanted to. Riverdale was her city, her responsibility.

“Andreas, is this true?” she asked.

“I swear, Gabriel…” Andreas’s words were low, his voice stretched tight, shimmering with anger. With sudden insight, Ari realized he was angry with Gabriel, not disappointed in her. His silent moments had been the vampire equivalent of counting to ten. He whipped around and grabbed his friend by both shoulders. “You don’t know what you are saying.”

Gabriel tried to wiggle free; Andreas’s hands tightened.

“Don’t I?” Gabriel’s gaze locked on Andreas’s face. “What have I said that was incorrect? Tell me you haven’t received word of multiple challenges. That they aren’t saying you’re weak because you can’t even command the loyalty of your own consort.” When Andreas dropped his hands and stepped back, Gabriel broke off, as if he realized he’d said too much. He sighed and looked at Ari. “I’m sorry, but there are many vampires here who are as old, or older than Andreas. They will only bow to superior power. He cannot hold this court without you by his side.”

Her eyes flashed to Andreas again. “Andreas?”

He didn’t answer her but continued to look at Gabriel. “All right, you have had your say. Now get out of here.” Andreas’s face turned cold, but his angry energy spilled into the room. “You and I will talk another time, Gabriel, but not now. I do not trust what I would say.”