A Fall of Water
Page 112

“She needs to drink. She hasn’t fed in over a week.”
“I know.”
Ziri, Arosh, and Kato had disappeared as if their presence had been a dream. Though rumors of the ancients’ appearance ran wild through Rome, the whole saga of Livia’s defeat, and all that had led up to it, was quickly becoming more vague speculation than actual knowledge. Wild tales rose up, but the Roman noblewoman was no more. Dwelling in the past was useless. Emil Conti was the power in Rome, and despite the loss of his wife, he had quickly gathered a strong group of allies around him. There was no question who had control of the city.
“Anything?”
“I think we need to stop asking.”
It was two weeks after Livia’s defeat that Beatrice found herself standing in the kitchen, looking around blankly. She couldn’t remember why she had come downstairs until the smell of a human reached her nose. She turned around with bared fangs.
“Whoa, B.” Ben held up his hands, quickly walked to the refrigerator, and pulled out a bag of blood. He tossed it to her, and she caught it, biting into the thick plastic and sucking the cold bag dry. Ben watched her, then reached in and pulled out another.
“Looks like someone’s hungry.” He tossed her the second bag.
She bit into it, ignoring the stale taste of the preserved blood. It was enough to take the edge off.
Beatrice asked in a hoarse voice, “Where is everyone?”
Ben took a deep breath. “Most of us are… around. Jean took off back to France for political stuff. Gavin and Carwyn cooked up something to do with the last of the elixir, so Gavin’s gone, but Carwyn stayed. And Angela’s here, of course. Tenzin’s even been staying here. All the family except for Dez and Matt. They’re back at the hospital.” She looked up in panic, but Ben was quick to continue. “The baby’s fine, but Dez had some bleeding again, so they think they’re going to do a C-section in the next couple of days. She’s a few weeks early, but the doctors think the baby’s big enough.”
“Lucien?” she asked.
Ben’s face fell. “He’s in his room. It’s not good. He’s mostly just sleeping. Though, I guess since we know that Kato survived… There’s still hope, you know?”
She nodded. “Okay. Good. Uh… you okay?”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah. I’m good. Just been worried about you guys. Is there any… never mind.”
She just shook her head. “No. Nothing so far. Everything’s the same with him.”
Beatrice turned when she heard a thump in the hall. “Who...”
Ben started toward the door. “It’s early, but the sun’s up; I thought everyone was asleep except for you.”
Her eyes narrowed and her senses went on alert, but she could detect no unfamiliar scent. In fact, she thought she smelled Lucien, but he wouldn’t be awake.
Then, she smelled the smoke.
She rushed toward the courtyard and pulled open the door, but reared back at the low light of dawn. No sunlight touched her, but she could still feel the agonizing heat from its glow.
Ben was right behind her. “What are you doing, B?”
“I think Lucien’s in the courtyard!”
Ben’s eyes grew wide. “Oh shit! I don’t know if I can—”
“You have to drag him in. You have to!”
Ben ran into the courtyard while Beatrice held the door open, aching with the proximity of the light. Her skin wasn’t burned yet, but she could feel the heat building. She heard a scuffling sound along with quiet curses, then Ben pulled a charred Lucien into the house, and Beatrice slammed the door shut.
His skin was blistered and smoking, and he clutched a letter to his chest.
“Ben, grab some blood from the fridge!”
Beatrice cradled him in her lap and rocked him back and forth. “Please, Lucien. Not you, too. I can’t handle this. It’s too much.”
She saw his lips move and put her ear down to his charred lips.
“Rada,” he whispered. “She is dead, Beatrice. The letter…”
She pulled the letter from his hand and smoothed it out. It was written in Bulgarian, and she could only read the date. It had been written the week before. She didn’t try to stop the tears that fell down her face.
“Too much,” he whispered. “I’m tired, B. I’m so tired.”
She pressed a kiss to his blistered forehead and closed her eyes. “Please, Lucien, don’t make me lose you. I’m so tired of losing.”
Ben held out the bag of blood and Beatrice held it to his lips, mouthing the word ‘Please’ again. Lucien’s eyes held hers for a moment; then he closed them and bit. She watched as he forced down the blood she knew he didn’t want. Lucien’s eyes closed after a few moments, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Beatrice was just stirring to lift and take him back to his room when she felt the pulse of energy coming from outside the house. The hairs on the back of her neck rose, and she crouched over Lucien, immediately on alert.
The sun may have been rising in the sky, but her instincts told her there was an immortal only steps away. It was the oldest amnis she had ever felt. She looked at Ben, and she could tell he felt the strange energy, too. It hummed as if the very dust in the air vibrated. The scent of dark earth came to her nose. The smell of green and living things. Of soil and leaves. Moss and flowers. Her ears pricked at the sound of a light step in the courtyard.