To Vanquish Darkness (Le Sombre #1)

Chapter 16

16

1836 NORTHERN NORMANDY, FRANCE

A malie froze. The women were staring directly at her. She pulled back, then realizing she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t been noticed, stepped out into the archway. "I was only passing by."

The first woman motioned for her to come closer, and Amalie glanced down the hall. “I need to?—”

"You're the woman we saw arriving last night. With Theo?"

Amalie nodded. She needed to get out of there. But the idea of being rude to humans who were most likely going to be dead by morning made her queasy. Though, they'd survived this long, hadn't they?

"Theo is so mysterious." The first woman raised an eyebrow. "I’m Marie, this is Sarah and Penelope. Have you gotten to know him yet?"

Amalie tapped her foot on the stone. "No. I've been resting. In fact?—"

"It's exhausting isn't it?” The woman with red curls, Penelope, gave her a knowing smile. “The journey alone. Then settling in to someone else's room. Did you know Ramon has a closet filled with costumes? Suits and frills for every occasion. After our time together last night, I suggested we throw a masquerade. Just so I can see him wear something other than a tunic and slacks."

Marie winked. "I'm surprised you're up and about after the first night. I still don't leave Etienne's bed by choice."

"Especially since I’ve joined you." Sarah laughed, and Amalie thought she might be sick. When would he kill them? Would he do it one at a time or make the other watch?

The man with the close-cropped hair turned from a painting he was admiring. "Has anyone seen Clémentine recently?"

"Or Everly?" the second man asked.

Amalie clenched her jaw, nearly biting her tongue. Careful. But she was so angry, her hands were trembling. Knowing vampires lured humans into their beds and seeing the reality of it playing out in front of her were two very different things.

They were entranced. Obsessed. And it wasn't their fault.

"You spent the night here." Marie leaned in conspiratorially. "So tell us. How was he?"

Amalie wanted to scream. To shake them. To tell them to run. To get as far away from this place as possible. But she couldn't. Not unless she wanted to announce that she was different, that she knew exactly what she was walking into. It seemed like the worst possible choice since she wasn’t supposed to be out of her room in the first place.

"Excellent. He was an attentive lover." Her voice was tight, her cheeks on fire. “Anyway, it was nice to meet?—”

"I'll make sure to give him that glowing report."

Amalie spun to find Ren, Paul, and Etienne behind her in the hall. She scurried back, closer to the other humans as they entered the room.

Their glamours rippled through the space, and Marie, Sarah, and Penelope reacted as if they’d just been plunged into the copper tub she’d used the night before. Their eyes rolled back in their heads, their breath slipping between their lips in a soft hiss.

“I missed you.” Marie rose from her chair, but Etienne motioned for her to sit. She did so instantly.

Amalie exhaled, forcing her mind to focus. Four vampires. She’d left her room once and run into four vampires. If one of them didn’t kill her, Theo surely would. Stay calm. She only had to pretend she was socializing, there was nothing wrong with that.

Amalie drew a deep breath. Each of their influences felt different. Paul was smooth like melted chocolate. Etienne more vibrant, like a sour cherry or crisp apple. And Ren . . . she couldn’t sense him well. Or perhaps he was more purposeful in how he used the gifts of his curse.

Regardless, it only took seconds for her to push back the fog. Was she getting better at it, or did Theo affect her more than others? The idea sent a shiver through her.

"I've always wondered how Theo's lovers would describe him. I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to one of them in person." Ren sauntered closer. "How did he come upon you? He's been traveling so much, I was surprised he'd found a willing companion. Especially one so lovely."

Amalie stepped back, pressing her palms against the stone wall. "I was walking one evening.”

“Where?”

“Rennes,” she lied. “He was sitting on a bench in the courtyard. We struck up a conversation."

Paul chuckled. "A conversation with Theo? Must have been short-lived."

"Yes, please. Tell us what you spoke about." Ren's voice was smooth as melted butter, but there was an edge to it. It made Amalie's skin prickle. Could he have been the one to kill her mother? Could it have been Paul or Etienne? Why would they have left the rest of her family alone?

Amalie swallowed, her throat dry. She scrambled for inspiration to answer Ren’s question and landed on her last conversation with Olivie. "We spoke of politics."

Ren's eyes widened, and a moment later he burst into laughter along with Paul and Etienne. "Politics?"

It was a reach, but she couldn't very well tell them the truth. That she'd been hunting him. That she knew who and what they were, and that she despised them.

She forced a smile, playing the part of the enamored damsel. "His ideas are revolutionary." Amalie moved toward the open archway, noting how low the sun was in the sky outside the window. She’d thought it was only midafternoon, but she’d calculated wrong. It was nearly twilight. She needed to leave. To get back to the safety of her room.

Ren sighed, leaning against the armchair and playing with Marie’s hair. She nuzzled into him like a cat.

Paul yawned, and as he lifted his hand to cover his mouth, Amalie’s eyes narrowed. He wore a ring. One she’d seen before—one she’d taken off of Theo’s hand as he lay dead on the stone. Did they all wear one?

Amalie couldn’t get a good look without drawing too much attention to herself.

"And what happened after that? Did he ask you back here to continue your discussion?” Paul asked, dropping his arm.

Etienne laughed. “Whatever he said must’ve worked. Didn’t you hear her? He was an attentive lover.”

“Who is an attentive lover?” Theo’s voice sent a shock shooting down Amalie’s spine. Her head snapped to her right.

Theo stood in the archway. He wore clean black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a vest that fit him like a glove. And he was glowering at her.

Ren walked toward him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Amalie was just regaling us with tales of your love making.” Marie and Sarah, still seated in front of her, leaned toward Theo as if hoping for the briefest scent of him.

“No, I—” Amalie’s mouth snapped shut as Theo raised an eyebrow. She spun to face the window, searching for anything to burn that expression from her mind’s eye. Thank the gods he was at least fully dressed.

Theo cleared his throat. “I thought I’d find you in your room.”

Ren tsked. “Leaving Master Vallon waiting after his long journey. What a naughty girl.”

Marie and Sarah giggled, and Penelope sighed. “I’d never keep Ramon waiting.”

Amalie wanted to smack her.

"Did you enjoy the books?" Theo asked, and Amalie drew a deep breath before allowing herself to turn back.

She met his eyes. "I did. Thank you." Before she’d fallen asleep, she’d studied without breaking. She’d consumed the deep myth of Le Sombre and his relegation to live interminably in darkness after refusing a marriage to Leviathan. The eldest daughter of the sun god. She’d turned page after page detailing Le Sombre’s curse and the plague of vampires on humanity. It all held more weight than it had when she’d heard the stories as a child, but it hadn’t gotten her any closer to finding the sword.

Ren gave a lazy smile. “We’ve heard you’re interested in politics, Theo. Please, tell us what you shared with this lovely young woman that was so intriguing she followed you here.”

Theo’s lips twitched, then he leaned against the wall and scratched the stubble on his chin. The action was so human, Amalie almost forgot the truth of what he was. Then the soothing blanket of his glamour enveloped her, and she stiffened.

It almost hurt to look at him. The sharp angles of his face, the gloss of his hair.

Theo exhaled. “I believe our monarchy has become lax. We’ve all agreed to the rules given, and yet many refuse to follow them. Even when they serve as a protection to our citizens.” His words were sharp. Pointed.

Amalie’s eyes widened. He was going to play this game, was he? “An interesting statement, considering it’s only the wealthy who get to have their say.”

Theo took a step closer. “Do we not all benefit from the laws?”

“So they tell us.” Amalie stood her ground.

“You’re not convinced? Tell me, what would a king have to do to convince his subjects that he was only concerned with their safety?”

Amalie glared it him. “He could probably start with keeping their family alive. And telling them the truth in the first place.”

Theo’s jaw tightened. He was close enough now, his scent washed over her. She fought against it, but her body was suddenly liquid. Amalie put a hand on the wall to steady herself. He definitely affected her differently.

“Paul, would you lead our wonderful guests to the dining room for cocktails?” Ren gave a winning smile.

Amalie’s eyes flared as the other humans were herded from the room and she was left alone with Ren, Etienne, and Theo.

“As riveting as it is to watch the two of you posture, I believe you’ve broken one of your own rules, Master Vallon.” Ren crossed his arms over his chest, all hints of amusement gone.

Theo glanced at him. “Which one?”

Ren shrugged. “You’ve instructed us never to bring someone into the castle who understands our true natures.” He looked straight at Amalie. “Tell me, why do you flinch when I appear? Why do your hands clench into fists? Humans are always more relaxed in our presence, more docile, but you seem to be the opposite.”

Amalie’s throat worked. She could pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about, but he’d already called her out. How could she explain herself?

“Amalie is a historian.” Theo turned to face Ren. “She’s been studying our history, and since she’s only been reading human accounts, her research is hardly fact.”

Etienne groaned. “Theo, this again? Why does it matter?”

“It matters that humans know the truth.” Theo turned back to Amalie.

Ren's gaze flicked to her, then back to Theo. "A historian. And you brought her back here? Pretending she was your lover?"

Theo's lips twitched. "You heard her. I didn’t pretend anything. I only thought it would be . . . educational.”

A flush climbed up Amalie’s neck.

“She doesn’t seem too fond of you.” Etienne looked between the two of them, shoving a hand in his pocket.

Ren’s eyes narrowed. “It’s always fun to have a challenge.” He strolled forward, his eyes locked on Amalie's. "Quite the turn of events. A historian who pays attention to something other than human folly. What have you learned, then? Besides how tender Theo is in his lovemaking.” He winked at Theo. “None of us were surprised to hear it, by the way.”

Theo’s already thunderous expression somehow darkened.

Amalie wet her lips. “I’ve learned that the histories I’ve read are incomplete.”

Etienne dropped onto the chair next to her. “Because nobody has bothered to write our history.”

“Why haven’t you?” Amalie looked between the three of them. That was an honest question. With all the books she’d read, all the research she’d done, she’d never come across one reference to a story told from a vampire’s perspective.

Etienne laughed. “Humans would never believe it.”

Theo ran a hand lazily through his jet-black hair, smoothing it into place. "Human histories are necessary because your lifespans are short. Those stories must be recorded more permanently."

"And your stories aren’t worth recording?" How much time would it save them both if vampires or guardians had written anything down about the sword?

A thought struck her. Was it possible her family did have a record? She thought of the books her mother had once kept in her study. Where had they gone?

"We remember everything perfectly,” Ren said.

Amalie’s eyes narrowed. Everything? Did that mean he had been there at the beginning? Had all of them?

“I personally think the human histories are pure comedy.” Etienne stretched his arms over the back of the chair. “The way they think they can kill us with pieces of silver or stakes of ash.”

Amalie stiffened, and Ren locked onto the movement.

“Oh, don’t tell me you believed that was true?” He purred, dropping his eyes to the pockets of her trousers. “Theo, did you tell her she could bring a stake to protect herself?”

Theo shrugged. “I didn’t check her pockets.”

Ren’s eyes gleamed. “And yet you still let him have his way with you? Or was that for research as well?”

“Ren. Enough,” Theo growled.

Ren laughed. “I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive me. After living for centuries, I latch on too quickly to shiny objects. But I have to say, this conundrum you’ve brought to our attention is sparkling indeed.” He planted his hands on his hips and looked between Theo and Etienne. “What do you say we have a bit of fun in the courtyard tonight?”

“What are you proposing?” Etienne kicked a leg over the arm of the chair.

A slow grin spread over Ren’s face. “It won’t do for Amalie to perpetuate antiquated and dangerous beliefs. Let’s give her some hands-on research.”