Aris Reigns: The Kingdom of Vampires. Devin Morgan

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      Colleen laughed into the phone when she heard Sarah’s voice from across the ocean. “You are the only person I know who would go to London and take off on a yoga retreat.”

      “I know; it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

      “Poor Gaby. How did she fare?”

      “She was great.” Sarah glanced at the Immortal curled in a chair across the room, the volume of Shakespeare resting on her lap. She appeared to be sleeping, but Sarah knew she was repeating the memorized lines of one of his plays to herself. “How are you and Bob? And how’s that sweet baby girl of yours?”

      “We’re all fine. What is going on with Carlos and the art world of London?”

      It had been days since Sarah heard anyone refer to Aris as ‘Carlos’. It was only humans who called him by that name, the name of her dear dead friend who had become host to the essence of the bodiless vampire. For months she thought in vain of ways to have everyone call him by his true name. In conversation she caught herself time and again remembering to refer to him as ‘Carlos’ barely in the nick of time.

      She answered her friend, “He’s doing really well. He’s being courted by an art agent who actually deals with members of the royal house.”

      “What’s up with that? Is he going to stay over there?”

      Sarah could hear her friend’s baby laughing in the background. For just a brief moment she felt homesick. “No, not permanently. But he won’t be able to come home as soon as we thought. He’s going to be touring.” She laughed at herself. Touring was a strange word for vampire war. She wondered what Colleen would say if she were told he was training an army of the undead to do hand-to-hand battle in the Pyrenees.

      “When are you coming home?”

      “That sort of depends on Bonnie. She said she could work with my therapy clients for a couple of weeks. I don’t know what she has on her agenda, but I’d like to stay a bit longer, so, if she has the time, I’ll be here until the end of the month. I’d like to travel with him for a while. I’ve never really seen much of England and it’s a perfect season.” Sarah was silently grateful she had a colleague such as Bonnie. She had gladly taken over Sarah’s practice while she traveled and Sarah knew she could trust her friend to treat her clients well.

      “Well, we miss you. I know you’re having a ball but don’t forget to come home.”

      “I won’t. Miss you too. Take care of that handsome husband of yours and kiss the baby for me. I’ll check in soon.”

      “We all love you. Don’t forget that.”

      “Same here. Talk to you soon.” She placed the telephone on the table and stared into the glowing embers of the dying fire. She pondered the dual life she was leading. “How can I choose one over the other and yet, how can I continue to live in two completely separate worlds simultaneously.” She found no answers in the glowing coals.

CHAPTER 5

      Shouting and the clash of metal against metal could be heard from the courtyard at the foot of the tower. DeMarco hurried to the window. In the rubble below, he could see two vampires battling to the death. A huge crowd surrounded them laughing and shouting and pushing one another. Before his eyes and without cause, another fight broke out and, within a minute, all of the spectators had become combatants. Knives were drawn and vampires fell dead in the dust.

      “Guard!” He rushed to the door. In an instant five of his personal bodyguards stood at his bidding. “Go to the courtyard, stop the fighting and get rid of the bodies. Go. Now.”

      “My Lord?” Julian stepped into the room. “I have news from London.”

      DeMarco pulled a chair close to the window and sat, watching his men clean up the mess left from the conflict. “Yes, what have you to tell me?”

      Julian was a young vampire, changed against his will to fight for Spain. Weak and frightened as a human, once bitten, he surrendered completely to his new powerful and wicked undead nature and fell easily into the vampire life. He had become DeMarco’s aide and confidant since the Queen’s treachery.

      “The woman is living in a flat with one of the Immortals. She is surrounded by them night and day. It has been impossible to find access to her.” It was obvious by his tone Julian feared the reaction of his King.

      Leaping to his feet, DeMarco flew across the room and grabbed Julian by the shirt, shouting in the face of his servant, “Impossible? What do you mean impossible?”

      His voice shaking, he replied. “If any of our people are seen by the Immortals, they will know what we are. We don’t want them to find us out. Who knows where they will take her if they know we are coming for her.”

      “I see.” Releasing his grip on the young vampire, the King walked to the window and stared out in silence. Julian waited to be dismissed.

      DeMarco’s words were thoughtful. “Then we will send a human. They would never suspect a human. Find the general. Tell him to find a corrupt man being held for food in one of our prisons. Offer him eternal life rather than being dinner if he completes the task. I want Sarah Hagan brought here to me, no excuses.” Menacingly he walked slowly toward Julian. “Do you understand?”

      “Yes, Sire. I do. But what of the war? What of the Queen?”

      “Be damned the war! Be damned the Queen!” His face turning crimson, he shouted, “Do you dare question me? Do as I say or be thrown into the fire.”

      “Yes СКАЧАТЬ