A Stone-Kissed Sea
Page 90
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“Sounds like a fun night.”
She shrugged. “It’s not political wrangling followed by death and destruction, but it should keep us busy for a couple of hours.”
“Does Tenzin know that some of these humans are likely to be hired guns and maintenance staff? We shouldn’t kill them just because they’re ignorant of who they’re working for.”
Brigid smiled. “She’s not as ruthless as she pretends to be.”
“I heard that!” came a voice from across the warehouse. “And yes, I am.”
Lucien couldn’t see her in the shadows, but clearly she was listening. “Don’t kill the humans just for fun, Tenzin.”
“I’m not a sociopath.” She paused. “Or would that be a psychopath? I’m honestly not sure what the difference is.”
“Don’t kill anyone unless they try to kill you,” he said. “How’s that?”
“What about the scientists who are making this poison?”
“I’ll take care of them,” he said. “Right now let’s focus on shutting this down.” He turned back to Brigid. “How many plants?”
“Two more. Oleg has taken care of them. This is the largest and the one farthest from his territory. It’s also the one where the final Elixir is produced. The others are satellite plants that make some of the serums that are blended here with the vampire blood to activate the formula.”
Lucien looked over all Brigid’s plans, but he couldn’t find fault with any of them. “This looks good. Clean. In and out with minimum engagement.”
“High praise coming from you, General.”
“Who told you about that?”
“Carwyn.” She grinned. “And I thought you were just an egghead.”
Lucien knew that Brigid Connor was a girl that Ioan had loved like a daughter. The fact she was immortal and appeared to be happy would have pleased Lucien’s old friend. “Ioan would have been very proud of you,” he said. “He loved you so much.”
The swift grief rose up in her eyes, but just as quickly, it was wiped away by fierce pride. “Thanks. I know.”
They boarded the boats in Crotone, vampires of various elements and wide allegiances, all joined in a single purpose: depose the Greeks and set up a new world order… which was actually more like an old world order.
“This is mad,” Makeda said. “Have you ever heard of an army going off to war with this little stealth?”
Carwyn said, “You have to remember, all of them conquered in a time before stealth technology and radio silence. When they needed to communicate, they used horns and drums.”
“But the Athenian council—”
“Is expecting them,” Carwyn said. “Yes. And they know that. Look at them, Makeda. Do any of the ancients look concerned?”
Arosh lounged on the deck with two nubile young vampires—Elia’s daughter, Kiraz, and a vampire from Inaya’s harem—hanging on his arms. He looked alternately bored and amused.
Ziri hovered overhead, a silent shadow perched on the bridge. Makeda hadn’t even tried to read him.
Kato sat on what could only be called a throne, conversing with several of the soldiers who’d been sent by various vampire lords. There were around twenty waiting to speak to him, no doubt all wanting their share of the glorious new regime.
And Saba was swimming naked in the pool while curious young vampires watched from the edges.
“It looks like a party boat,” Makeda said.
Carwyn chuckled. “And welcome to ancient conquest, my dear. As much pageantry as battle. If all goes according to plan, our ship will be welcomed into the hidden harbor of Alitea, and Laskaris will know his time has come to an end. He’ll bargain for exile or something that will leave him alive, and Kato and Saba will take over the way they intend.”
“But will Kato and Saba grant him exile?” Makeda tried not to sound horrified. She was far from bloodthirsty, but Laskaris and his people had killed her, murdered countless humans all over the globe, and driven hundreds of vampires mad.
“Oh no,” Carwyn said. “I’m sure they’re going to kill him.”
“Doesn’t he know that?”
Carwyn cocked his head to the side. “Probably.”
“Then why on earth does anybody think this is going to go according to some plan?”
The next night, Tenzin dropped Brigid and Lucien on the roof of the factory on the outskirts of Plovdiv. From the outside, it looked like any number of cosmetics factories in the region, but Lucien could smell it immediately.
The sickly-sweet smell of pomegranate permeated the air.
He saw Brigid curl her lip and knew she’d smelled it too.
“Just the scent of it…,” she muttered, and he felt her heat up.
“Calm,” Lucien said. “I know it’s hard to resist.”
“I forget that you were infected too.”
“I survived. Others will too.”
“I hope so.” Brigid stepped lightly as they crossed the roof.
Lucien could feel a human on the other side of the door, no doubt taking his turn to check the roof as their surveillance had indicated. Brigid waited for him to open the door, then she grabbed the gun pointing from behind the door, yanked it forward, and before the man could call for help, she had her hand on his neck. He could see the heated imprint of her hand on the human’s skin.
She shrugged. “It’s not political wrangling followed by death and destruction, but it should keep us busy for a couple of hours.”
“Does Tenzin know that some of these humans are likely to be hired guns and maintenance staff? We shouldn’t kill them just because they’re ignorant of who they’re working for.”
Brigid smiled. “She’s not as ruthless as she pretends to be.”
“I heard that!” came a voice from across the warehouse. “And yes, I am.”
Lucien couldn’t see her in the shadows, but clearly she was listening. “Don’t kill the humans just for fun, Tenzin.”
“I’m not a sociopath.” She paused. “Or would that be a psychopath? I’m honestly not sure what the difference is.”
“Don’t kill anyone unless they try to kill you,” he said. “How’s that?”
“What about the scientists who are making this poison?”
“I’ll take care of them,” he said. “Right now let’s focus on shutting this down.” He turned back to Brigid. “How many plants?”
“Two more. Oleg has taken care of them. This is the largest and the one farthest from his territory. It’s also the one where the final Elixir is produced. The others are satellite plants that make some of the serums that are blended here with the vampire blood to activate the formula.”
Lucien looked over all Brigid’s plans, but he couldn’t find fault with any of them. “This looks good. Clean. In and out with minimum engagement.”
“High praise coming from you, General.”
“Who told you about that?”
“Carwyn.” She grinned. “And I thought you were just an egghead.”
Lucien knew that Brigid Connor was a girl that Ioan had loved like a daughter. The fact she was immortal and appeared to be happy would have pleased Lucien’s old friend. “Ioan would have been very proud of you,” he said. “He loved you so much.”
The swift grief rose up in her eyes, but just as quickly, it was wiped away by fierce pride. “Thanks. I know.”
They boarded the boats in Crotone, vampires of various elements and wide allegiances, all joined in a single purpose: depose the Greeks and set up a new world order… which was actually more like an old world order.
“This is mad,” Makeda said. “Have you ever heard of an army going off to war with this little stealth?”
Carwyn said, “You have to remember, all of them conquered in a time before stealth technology and radio silence. When they needed to communicate, they used horns and drums.”
“But the Athenian council—”
“Is expecting them,” Carwyn said. “Yes. And they know that. Look at them, Makeda. Do any of the ancients look concerned?”
Arosh lounged on the deck with two nubile young vampires—Elia’s daughter, Kiraz, and a vampire from Inaya’s harem—hanging on his arms. He looked alternately bored and amused.
Ziri hovered overhead, a silent shadow perched on the bridge. Makeda hadn’t even tried to read him.
Kato sat on what could only be called a throne, conversing with several of the soldiers who’d been sent by various vampire lords. There were around twenty waiting to speak to him, no doubt all wanting their share of the glorious new regime.
And Saba was swimming naked in the pool while curious young vampires watched from the edges.
“It looks like a party boat,” Makeda said.
Carwyn chuckled. “And welcome to ancient conquest, my dear. As much pageantry as battle. If all goes according to plan, our ship will be welcomed into the hidden harbor of Alitea, and Laskaris will know his time has come to an end. He’ll bargain for exile or something that will leave him alive, and Kato and Saba will take over the way they intend.”
“But will Kato and Saba grant him exile?” Makeda tried not to sound horrified. She was far from bloodthirsty, but Laskaris and his people had killed her, murdered countless humans all over the globe, and driven hundreds of vampires mad.
“Oh no,” Carwyn said. “I’m sure they’re going to kill him.”
“Doesn’t he know that?”
Carwyn cocked his head to the side. “Probably.”
“Then why on earth does anybody think this is going to go according to some plan?”
The next night, Tenzin dropped Brigid and Lucien on the roof of the factory on the outskirts of Plovdiv. From the outside, it looked like any number of cosmetics factories in the region, but Lucien could smell it immediately.
The sickly-sweet smell of pomegranate permeated the air.
He saw Brigid curl her lip and knew she’d smelled it too.
“Just the scent of it…,” she muttered, and he felt her heat up.
“Calm,” Lucien said. “I know it’s hard to resist.”
“I forget that you were infected too.”
“I survived. Others will too.”
“I hope so.” Brigid stepped lightly as they crossed the roof.
Lucien could feel a human on the other side of the door, no doubt taking his turn to check the roof as their surveillance had indicated. Brigid waited for him to open the door, then she grabbed the gun pointing from behind the door, yanked it forward, and before the man could call for help, she had her hand on his neck. He could see the heated imprint of her hand on the human’s skin.
