Rivalry (War of Nytefall Book 3) Read online

  Hearing a loud crash, Xavier whirls around to find that one of the workers has dropped part of a glass dome that will go on top of the new rooftop ballroom. With a few waves of his hand, the Lord of Nyte repairs the damaged piece and nods to the old-world vampire, who is on the verge of tears. Seeing that the young man’s night cloak has ripped, the nobleman whistles at the foreman and points at the weakened worker. Xavier is slightly confused when he sees the vampiric orc draw a sword until he remembers that he is wearing his new weapons. The golden claws cover his hands perfectly and have drips of poison on their tips, the milky liquid never dropping from the polished metal. Another whistle stops the foreman and the nobleman flexes his arms to have his weapons flip into their wrist holsters. Getting the idea, the burly orc grabs an extra night cloak that he tosses onto the nervous worker, who immediately gets back to installing the glass dome.

  “You seem to have become comfortable with your new toys,” Kai Stavros states as he jumps over a wheelbarrow. The portly vampire bows when he lands and waits for a tap on his balding head before standing. “Archillious has proven his worth with his poisons. I’m sure he’d be happy to get some praise, but his ego is starting to run out of control. He might come to blows with General Decker if we aren’t careful. As much as I respect Kenneth’s skills, he’s only an old-world vampire and Archillious is a Dawn Fang.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t come here to discuss gossip,” Xavier replies while turning towards his city once more. Leaning over the railing, he catches sight of his wife in a courtyard and continues watching her tend to the flowers. “I will admit that seeing the sun catch Nadia’s fiery hair something that I enjoy. Though I still wish for my old form, I have accepted her philosophy that I should focus more on the positive. The food is delicious, there are beautiful things in the sun, and I have an incredible amount of power. Do not think I have given up on the war though. I still want Clyde and his anarchists wiped out because they are a threat to our future. We will come one step closer to that goal once our council is formed and we send them to revive the old fortresses. Do you have any more information on our enemies’ raid?”

  “Only that there’s a chance of it happening,” the spymaster answers with a shrug. He pulls his cloak tighter around his body, which he fears is becoming more susceptible to the sun’s effects. “Clyde is probably keeping this within his inner circle, so I won’t know anything until they’re on the move. Best to assume that he won’t pass up the chance to get in here. I do worry that you’re taking too big a risk. While defeating Clyde or at least fending him off with your new council would strengthen your reputation, you will lose people. Decker agrees with me that it is smarter to leave the wards up and have the guests enter through the tunnels. It might not be glamorous, but it’s safe.”

  The nobleman frowns at the idea, but cannot deny that his advisor makes sense. “That feels like an act of cowardice. There is also the possibility that Chastity or Luther have uncovered the existence of the tunnels, which means Clyde can still get inside. We cannot ignore Mab’s powers too, so I do not see a simple answer. Best to show strength and prepare for an attack. Besides, I already had Archillious set up a few surprises and General Decker has been working hard preparing the guards.”

  “I still have doubts, Lord Tempest.”

  “Would you feel better if I warded the ballroom?”

  “That would put my mind at ease.”

  “I swear, you have become such a worrier since this war started.”

  “And yet my fears always keep us safe.”

  “Archillious is not the only one with an ego in this city.”

  Yelps from the workers cause Xavier and Kai to draw their weapons and turn, their anxiousness briefly bubbling to the surface. They relax at the sight of a barely clothed calico standing only a few feet from them. Stephanie Talon’s violet tresses are a tangled mess and her four-foot tail is standing straight out. The thin Dawn Fang reaches up to scratch at the tufts of hair on her ears, which are bright red and twitching. For a brief moment, it appears as if a hand is pressing against her back and is on the verge of emerging from her white-tattooed flesh. With a deep breath that ends in a purr, she regains her control and sprints to the far side of the roof to grab a roasted chicken from the dining table. In the blink of an eye, she is back to being in front of Xavier and Kai, who are patiently waiting for her to explain her presence. Both men sigh and turn away when it is clear that Stephanie is more interested in devouring her meal, a habit that they have become accustomed to since her transformation into a Dawn Fang.

  “Food tastes so good,” the calico declares with a bone sticking out of her mouth. She crunches on the leg until it is nothing more than shards that she greedily swallows. “We need to be careful. Something is going to happen during the council celebration. I was scrying like Lady Sylvan told me to and then I was struck by a horrible vision. Lights were bouncing everywhere and there was a shadowy figure lurking within the smoke. Then, all of these jewels rose from the ground and smashed through the ceiling. After that, I woke up and hurried to tell my mistress, who sent me here. Why is Kai practically standing on the railing? Are you still scared of my power?”

  “Sorry, but I keep seeing fingers move beneath your skin,” the spymaster admits, his ebony eyes never straying from the ritualist. Not wanting to make a scene, he takes a seat on a pile of bricks and pretends to watch the workers. “That sounds like a very vague vision, so I’m not surprised you were told to share it with us. Not that I have any idea what it means. Could it be a warning that Clyde is going to attack, but it’s really to distract from a theft? We don’t know how Nytefall is doing economically, so they could be in need of resources.”

  “Considering they are led by thieves, I doubt they are lacking in treasure. Mab alone probably has more than the entire city of Gaia,” Xavier says as he casts a spell to create a small-scale version of the vision. He scans the calico’s mind to get the details, which causes her to shiver from the intrusion. “A curious display that is definitely a warning. I prefer when your scrying reveals clearer messages, but the clarity is beyond our control. Kai is right that this is about an attack and that makes me lean towards Clyde, who is probably that figure moving within the smoke. What if the jewels are symbols for the council and he is planning to kidnap them? His plan could be to have them join Nytefall or get Chastity to turn them into double-agents. Of course, we would only take the council back to destroy them and start anew, but . . . I sense you forgot something, Mistress Talon.”

  Activating her scrying powers, Stephanie lets blood flow from her eyes and holds out her hands, which sprout mouths to catch the ichor. “I see it now and have no excuse for forgetting this piece. A voice stated that the Vampire Queen will rise. It was uttered right before the vision ended. There is a rumor about such a person, but we’ve heard that one since before the Great Cataclysm. Could such a being exist and be ready to reveal itself?”

  “That would not surprise me,” the Lord of Nyte whispers, his brow furrowed to the point where his entire face seems to fold. Letting his flexible features return to normal, he peers down at his wife, who is directing her ogre bodyguard to move an entire tree. “The chances of such a creature being out there is not unheard of, but I doubt that is what the vision is about. The true Vampire Queen is down there because I will become the Vampire King. You may have seen a positive sign that we will be victorious even if attacked. Perhaps I am the one killed or captured, which means Nadia shall rise to avenge me with her full wrath. All we need to do is make sure I have extra protection.”

  “Decker and I will create a plan by dinner time,” Kai announces with a low bow.

  “Are you sure this is about Nadia?” Stephanie timidly asks. She hops onto the railing and stares down at her beloved master, who she wishes to jump down to. “My vision was scary and there was a sense of malice in the air. Neither of those are emotions I feel when I dream about Lady Sylvan. I also don’t understand the jewels.”

 
“You would sense fear and malice if my wife was truly enraged,” Xavier states with a wicked smile. Remembering the early days when Nadia was more warrior than noble, he fails to suppress a shiver of desire. “While she has not entered a battle in over a hundred years, I know that beautiful monster still lurks within her soul. The jewels could be symbols of a new type of golem army that she creates to recover or avenge me. Either way, I believe that the Vampire Queen of old is nothing more than a myth and will be replaced by a true ruler of our kind within two days. Now, continue preparations and tell nobody else about this vision. The last thing we need is a panic.”

  Kai nods and heads for the stairs, his hand going up to release a black butterfly that flutters towards the city walls. Unlike her fellow advisor, Stephanie casually steps off the railing and plummets into the courtyard below. Halfway down, she stretches her legs to plant her feet against the wall and runs the rest of the way. The calico hits the ground with enough force to leave a dent in the walkway, but she continues to move as a blur that has a red tint to its lower half. Stephanie stops when she reaches Nadia, who is startled by the unexpected arrival and how her trusted servant’s legs are a mangled mess that rapidly regenerates. Xavier continues watching the two women and waves to his wife when she looks up at him, his fresh fears about the upcoming ceremony safely hidden within the back of his mind.

  *****

  Standing amid the hovering tables, Lost struggles to focus on keeping them in the air and moving one in a specific pattern. Wearing a fresh pair of pajamas, the pointy-eared Dawn Fang is temporarily distracted by the warmth of her own clothes and nearly drops all of the furniture when she considers going to sleep. She closes her crimson eyes and tries to feel her targets with her powers instead of relying on her sight, but her sensitive hearing kicks in to reveal that a pair of mountain lions are fighting outside Gregorio’s lair. Fearing that she has already failed the test, Lost panics and hurries to stack the tables in a way that makes them resemble a dragon. She is almost done when one of the other students, who are gathered at the edge of the room, sneezes and causes her to turn in his direction. The vampire is about to yell at the boy when she notices that he has taken his shoes off and his socks are exposed. A foul smell of sweaty feet hits her nose and she immediately collects the furniture above her head. They crack and crunch together to form a giant stake that she aims at the other womb-born, who is frozen in terror. Before Lost can attack, a golden sheen coats the room and her telekinesis cuts off, which causes the heavy construct to fall on her head. Trapped beneath the wreckage, she can only shake her fist at the vampire as he scrambles through the nearest doorway.

  “Everyone can go back to their personal studies or relax,” Gregorio declares as he approaches Lost. The bald, vampiric gnome removes the power negation field and swiftly ducks to avoid his student’s pet bunny, which crashes through the wall. “It’s been two years and you’ve not made much progress. You’ve been exceptionally distracted and temperamental for the last month. I haven’t received nearly as many hugs from you as I used to. What’s been on your mind lately?”

  “Nothing and everything,” Lost answers while lifting the ruined tables over her head with one hand. She tosses the mangled wood to the side and goes about trying to piece the furniture back together, but she causes more damage. “Mom said I could live at the Scrumptious Siren once I turned eighteen. Part of me wants to since we’re getting along, but I don’t know if I can do it. Socks are a problem, but there’s more. There might be too many minds for me to tinker with, which means somebody will be left out of my fun. I still don’t have my mom’s chest, so I’d feel out of place too. See? No growth, Grandpa Roman.”

  “Seems we need to teach you shame and decorum again,” the ancient inventor states after he quickly stops her from lifting her shirt. He flicks his dark goggles over his sensitive eyes to get a better look at the half-elf’s face, which is etched with worry. “You’re making things up to avoid talking about your real problem. Follow me to my office and we can discuss this in private. I doubt anyone is going to blow anything up after your display. We’re probably going to find another pile of ashes that used to be socks too.”

  Calling her bunny to her shoulder, Lost silently follows the robe-wearing elder across the barren room. She abruptly darts ahead to open the door, the gesture enough to earn her a blood candy from Gregorio. Feeling happier, she skips into the office, which is filled with cabinets surrounding a desk that is too large to fit through the doorway. Taking her usual seat, Lost places her bunny on the chair next to her and watches as it sits with its decrepit ears standing straight up. Worried that the animal is too filthy for such a meeting, the Dawn Fang grabs a mug of liquid from the table and dumps it on her pet. The aroma of coffee fills the room and the rodent starts to spin in a circle in an attempt to catch its own tail. Before it can move from its spot, Gregorio slams a tall container over the bunny and chair. Clamps at the bottom of the tube slam into the stone floor and hold strong as the hyperactive animal rattles around inside. The clanging is enough to make Lost’s ears bleed, so she thrusts her hand through the side to catch her pet by the scruff of the neck and places it on her lap.

  “Bunny needs to stay away from coffee,” she explains with a smile. Stroking the animal’s knotted fur, she folds her legs beneath her and tries to rock on the creaky chair. “I wasn’t really lying. Mom wants me to live with her when I feel comfortable and we agreed that the youngest I could be is eighteen. I decided that my birthday was two weeks ago. The problem is that I don’t know if I really belong there. Maybe I should go to Nytefall first since I’ve yet to visit. Bob said I could stay with the other Vengeance Hounds and they have the best snacks. Clyde even offered to give me a cabin in the fortress, but I think he meant forest because nobody puts a cabin in the middle of a fortress. Then, there’s the boy I kissed last month, but that didn’t taste right. I’m worried about the brewing war between Serab and the Yagervan tribes, which a corrupt noble in Gods’ Voice is trying to create. The price of radishes is getting far too high in the village to the north, so they might have to find another vegetable for their afternoon salads. I keep hearing about this Vampire Queen too. Windemere has so many problems that I’m not sure if I should stay in one place or try to fix them. I can make the bad people behave, which will improve the world, right?”

  “That’s a lot to consider,” Gregorio says while he leans back in his chair. Kicking off his slippers, the vampiric gnome gazes at the blackened ceiling where he has painted several constellations. “Your final concern is one that I’ve thought about at length and I’ve yet to find an answer. Dawn Fangs have great power, which means they can reshape the world. If we wished, we could conquer Windemere and become either a scourge or a blessing to the mortals. All of us have felt the temptation to leave our mark, but that inevitably comes with a price. Such actions would expose our people to the world and Clyde is right that the time hasn’t come for such a revelation.”

  “But can’t we force the mortals to believe that we don’t mean them any harm?” the womb-born excitedly interrupts. Receiving a scowl, she stops rocking her chair and places her bunny on her head. “Guess using force doesn’t mix with telling them we’re harmless. Your thoughts are right that we would be undoing freewill and Gabriel might not be thankful for that. It’s not nice to anger the Destiny God even if it means we might get to see his black unicorn. Dominating others even in the name of peace is still wrong because you’re enslaving them. Still, I really want to help Windemere instead of helping my mom serve drinks, pies, and herself to customers. On the other hand, I would get to use the hot spring whenever I wanted and there’s one goblin who always sneaks me free treats.”

  “Considering you have eternity, you can work your way up to changing the world.”

  “But eternity is so many hours and I’m already bored!”

  “Is all of this the reason that you can’t focus?”

  “Well, that and the air outside smells funny.”
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br />   “How so?”

  Lost grabs a piece of paper and quill to draw two pictures, one a set of wavy lines and the other a mess of scribbles. “Normally, things smell like this neat one, but more condensed because of all the ordered scents. For example, this would be grass and this one would be a sparrow and the third one is you when you forget to bathe. I can sort through those as long as I concentrate. Lately, the air has been more like this and it takes a lot more work to sort through the mess. One scent that I can’t recognize keeps getting tangled with the others, but it’s not always there. Although, it’s been appearing more often lately and I feel like it’s something I have to pay attention to. Could one of the students have left steaks in the oven and forgotten about? It happened that time you visited Clyde and we all swore that we wouldn’t tell you about having to rebuild the kitchen. Oh . . . Do I have your permission to wipe your memory of that last part, Grandpa Roman?”

  “No, I’m going to pretend I wasn’t listening,” Gregorio replies with an amused chuckle. A rattling draws his attention to a wooden cabinet in the corner, which is shaking enough to shed thick layers of dust. “That’s strange. I’m not sure what’s in there, but something really wants to get out. If my faded memory serves me right then I think it was a gift from Clyde and Mab that they handed to me long ago. Definitely reminds me of a piece they had in their first hideout. No idea why they wouldn’t keep it, so my memory must be mixing things up. Help me move these out of the way, so we can take a look.”