Crimson Crown Read online

  I wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth or just trying to cover her butt now that her power was gone and she was vulnerable. My money was on the latter.

  “You sent Reece to assassinate her,” I said.

  “I did, but I reconsidered after you two left. I was going to tell him when he checked in with me, but it was already too late. In the end, I decided family mattered most.”

  Lunging toward Kannon, she grabbed the dagger from his belt and whirled back to face me, advancing toward me with the wickedly sharp blade and sneering.

  “I won’t make that mistake again... daughter.”

  Thankfully, Imogen’s vampire speed was no longer present. Kannon stepped in front of me, easily blocking her path in time. I was worried she’d stab him instead, but that didn’t happen.

  With a scream, she dropped the knife.

  At first, I thought she was simply frustrated and giving up because she realized the futility of her actions. Kannon was so much larger and stronger. But then she crumpled to the floor.

  She writhed there, letting out an ungodly howl. What was going on? Was she having a tantrum?

  “What’s the matter with her?” I asked, trying to peer around Kannon’s large form. “What’s happening?”

  He held his arms out to the side to keep me safely behind him. “Stay back. This could be another one of her tricks.”

  A minute later, all noise and motion ceased as Imogen went silent and still. Everyone in the room stared, watching and waiting for another sneak attack.

  Then Dr. Coppa launched into action, moving toward her and dropping to his knees beside her. He placed two fingers to her carotid artery.

  He looked up at us, his forehead creased. “She’s dead.”

  “What?” Larkin rushed to his side and crouched beside Imogen’s motionless body, feeling for a pulse in her limp wrist. “Are you sure?”

  The doctor nodded. Apparently not finding a pulse, Larkin let Imogen’s hand fall to the floor.

  I’d seen vampires die of beheading. I’d seen the piles of ash left over from a few who’d chosen to daylight themselves. But I’d never seen one die of old age.

  We watched as Imogen’s body decomposed, sinking into itself and shrinking with every passing minute until all that was left was a horrific skeletal version of the woman.

  After all the terror she’d inspired and all the havoc she’d wreaked in her life, it was over. She was gone.

  “Oh my God,” I gasped. “Why did that happen?”

  Larkin shook her head, her brows pulled tightly together as she stared down at the mummified corpse. “I’m not sure. It must have been an effect of the cure.”

  Dr. Coppa nodded in agreement. “I think when her humanity returned, her real age caught up with her.”

  My stomach clenched, and my eyelids dropped closed. “Then it’s not going to work for any of the older vampires.”

  After another second it hit me. “What about those who turned after being gravely injured... like me? Do you think our human injuries would return along with our humanity?”

  Larkin gave me a sorrowful glance. “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s too risky to find out though. Who would volunteer for a trial?”

  “I would,” I blurted.

  Kannon practically shouted, “No.” Then he followed it up by explaining, “She’s too important to our people.”

  Larkin nodded rapidly. “Of course. I wasn’t thinking of her.”

  “All of our people are important,” I argued. “Why shouldn’t I be the one to test it?”

  Kannon pulled me to the side, speaking in a low voice. “See, this is why you’ll be a great leader. You’re willing to sacrifice yourself for others. It’s not the time and place though. If Larkin is going to do any further research, she’ll need support. You can give that to her better than anyone but only if you accept the mantle of queen.”

  I was quiet for a moment, considering it. On my own I had no money, no power, no ability to help.

  Dammit.

  “You’re right.” I sighed. “She’ll need help and resources, and I can only give that to her if I’m in a position of leadership.”

  My hope was I wouldn’t have to stay in the position for long. As soon as we got a cure that would work for everyone, a vampire queen wouldn’t be necessary. I planned to give Larkin all the help she needed to make that happen.

  Unaware of my inner escape-hatch thoughts, Kannon visibly relaxed, his rigid posture loosening along with his tense facial muscles.

  “Great. I’ll arrange an assembly of the population in the Grand Dome. Imogen’s official records and the crown are in her chambers—I mean your new chambers.”

  Everything was changing so fast I felt like my head spun. “What am I supposed to do with them?”

  “You’ll need to take the records to Eudora to be preserved, now that Imogen’s reign has ended. You’ll also need to consult with her about the right amount of queensblood to mix into the Bloodbound’s rations. I never watched Imogen do it, but Eudora’s been around a long time. She’ll know. As for the crown... you should put it on.”

  He smiled. I couldn’t return the gesture.

  “I’m not too sure about that part. When do you think Reece will get back?”

  “Hard to say. They went radio silent a little while ago—tracking down a rogue and didn’t want the radios to spook him. I’ll tell him to get back here to base the minute I hear from him.”

  4

  The Way It’s Always Been Done

  Abbi

  It was an otherworldly feeling, entering Imogen’s chambers—former chambers.

  Every other time I’d been here, the calcite walls of this cavern had seemed to pulse with malice.

  Now... it was just a set of rooms, decorated with items she’d collected from her travels around the world—things I’d never have chosen for myself. If I were planning to stay, which I wasn’t, I supposed I’d start a collection of my own and have all these priceless relics removed.

  Maybe I’d go ahead and do it anyway—the removal part. They probably should go into the archives with Imogen’s records.

  The Bastion did have a museum, filled with art pieces depicting vampires throughout history as well as carefully preserved and framed news headlines and articles from the 1960s when Sadie and President Kennedy had signed the Crimson Accord and vampires had finally emerged from the shadows and into public life.

  The personal art collection of a former queen would be an appropriate addition.

  So would the Crimson Crown—once it was no longer necessary.

  I studied the bejeweled headpiece on its stand in an alcove. Comprised of onyx and ruby red jewels, it sparkled darkly in the candlelight.

  It looked... heavy.

  Shaking off a shiver, I moved to a tall antique cabinet with glass doors—my mother would have called a piece of furniture like this a “secretary.” Behind the panes of glass were rows of books, including the leatherbound journals that held Imogen’s records and private notes from her time as queen.

  Though I was alone in the room, I glanced back over my shoulder before opening the bookcase, as if I was a naughty child sneaking Mamm’s homemade candies from the box in the cupboard.

  Carefully, I removed the record books containing Imogen’s flowing cursive script. The sheer number of them spoke to the length of her reign.

  Then with Kannon and another guard, I headed for the Bastion’s archives where Eudora served as the community’s historian—when she wasn’t teaching newly turned vampires.

  Kannon knocked. After a few moments, the heavy door opened. The ancient historian’s eyes went wide at the site of us and our cargo.

  From the expression on her face, she understood instantly what our visit meant. She bent at the waist and dipped her head low.

  “My queen. Please come in.”

  It was bizarre to have the distinguished elderly woman who’d been my instructor when I’d first arrived now bow to me. Bizarre and very uncomf
ortable.

  I entered the room but corrected her. “I’m still just Abigail.”

  Eudora’s eyes squinted, and her head cocked to the side as she threw a glance at the collection of journals. “You are not queen then? Imogen lives?”

  “No, you’re right about that—she is dead,” I confirmed. “I’m about to hold a gathering and tell everyone... something. I’m not quite sure what to say to them.”

  My stomach somersaulted every time I thought about standing in front of the whole population of the Bastion. What would I say, assuming I could get any words out at all?

  Eudora stayed stoic, not seeming surprised or alarmed to hear of Imogen’s demise.

  “Well then, you are my queen,” she informed me. “I know she was angry with you when you left, but she made it clear you had queensblood. You’re back now. All hives must have a queen. If Imogen’s dead, then it’s you. You’re her heir. There is no one else.”

  A new surge of terror washed down my spine.

  “I know. It just... feels a little weird right now. And I’m not sure I’m really the right person for the job,” I told her. “I’m still making up my mind about whether I’ll even stay on the throne.”

  “Making up your mind?” She let out a loud snort of laughter. “Destiny has made up its mind on your behalf. If you want to abdicate the throne, you’d better get busy with your drones and create a little princess.”

  She gave Kannon a lecherous look that was comical considering she appeared to be about a hundred and was in actuality much, much older. “This one looks like he could get the job done.”

  A shocked look crossed his face. Apparently it hadn’t yet occurred to him what it would mean if the tradition of the queen mating with all her Bloodbound soldiers continued with me in place of Imogen.

  He was thinking of it now.

  The two of us exchanged wide-eyed glances and then headshakes of tacit agreement. That would be a hard no. For one thing, neither of us was interested in each other that way. For another, if we were, Reece would murder his friend.

  “Mustn’t play favorites though,” Eudora went on, oblivious to the unspoken conversation going on between Kannon and me. “You’ll need to spend time with all your Bloodbound to improve your chances of conceiving. The sooner the better—you’ll start tonight if you’re smart.”

  I concluded it was a very good thing Reece was out on patrol right now and not here to overhear the elderly vampire’s advice.

  “Isn’t there another way?” I asked her. “Surely with all your years as historian... well, there must be another... option.”

  She nodded, motioning for me to hand over the journals, which I did.

  “That’s the way it’s always been, and the way it always must be,” Eudora said. “You could do what Imogen did. Search for a girl with the right pheromone combination, and when you find her, turn her. Train her and let her take on the responsibility. Could take some time though. Imogen looked for decades before finding you.”

  Ugh. Besides the time factor, it didn’t feel right to foist this burden off on some other poor girl.

  Not for the first time I found myself asking, What would Sadie do? I wished I had her journals to consult instead of Imogen’s. If I had to be a leader, I wanted to be one like my old mentor, not like the woman who’d turned me.

  “What if the vampires had no queen?” I asked, desperate for a way out of this. “What if there was like, a governing committee or something? Or a spokesperson, like Sadie Aldritch was with the VHC?”

  “That particular organization was about peace, was it not?” Eudora asked. “And look how that turned out. Poor Sadie. What she never understood was being an effective leader is about power. And you, my dear, are powerful—never doubt it. I’ve seen a lot of queens come and go, and your power is among the greatest. Your only challenge will be deciding how to wield it and when.

  She carried the stack of journals to a tall bookcase and began climbing the ladder leaned against it.

  “As far as whether vampires can get along without a queen, you only need to look to bee colonies for the answer.”

  Eudora slid each of the books, one after the other, into an empty spot on one of the higher shelves.

  “Without a queen bee, the worker bees become agitated and aggressive,” she said. “The whole colony becomes vulnerable and cannot survive for long. You could simply do away with the hive, with the Bastion, altogether, but the outside world isn’t exactly a hospitable place right now.”

  Backing down the ladder, she stepped to the floor and turned to face me.

  “In my opinion, this hive is more necessary now than it’s ever been at any time in history.” She shrugged. “But of course the decision is up to you. Just keep this in mind... any mistakes you might make in ruling the people will pale in comparison to the damage you’ll do by deciding not to rule.”

  Kannon and I excused ourselves and walked back toward my new quarters so I could prepare for the public address. When we reached them, it was obvious word had started to get around. The guards on duty bowed when they saw me.

  At my invitation, Kannon followed me over the threshold into the receiving room. He hung back near the door. “It already feels different in here. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

  I turned to him. “Are you sorry she is?”

  “Well, I can’t say I’ll miss her exactly. I’m just wondering what’s next, you know?”

  “You and me both. I feel so out of place here. And the thought of putting on that crown and going out there in front of the entire population of the Bastion makes me want to run up all those stairs till I reach the surface and keep going.”

  He chuckled. “You’ll be fine. Just do your best impersonation of Imogen.”

  Ugh. That idea sent a wave of shudders through me. The last thing I wanted was to resemble Imogen. But I could do my best to act like Sadie did on the many occasions I’d seen her address a crowd.

  “I’ll just be honest with them,” I told Kannon. “I’ll just tell them what happened to Imogen and ask them for their patience and trust while we figure all this out together.”

  His face contracted in that I’m-not-so-sure-that’s-a-good-idea squint. “Or... you could keep it short and sweet. Just tell them you’re the new queen, let them see the Bloodbound following you, and they will too. Imogen certainly never explained herself.”

  He had a point. “Well, it probably doesn’t matter too much what I say. The whole population will probably have heard what’s happened before I can even tell them.”

  “They won’t hear it from the Bloodbound,” Kannon assured me. “You have their loyalty—for now at least. Reece and I will ensure it lasts until you can start giving the soldiers your queensblood in their rations. I noticed you didn’t ask Eudora about the formula.”

  I walked around the room, studying the ornate antiques, priceless artwork, and luxurious rugs, wrinkling my nose at the red satin bedsheets.

  “Maybe I spent too much time with Sadie, but it just feels weird to coerce their obedience with my blood. How is that any different from drugging them?”

  Kannon shrugged. “You just have to. You heard Eudora—it’s the way it’s always been done. Sometimes we’re called to do things we’d rather not do. My grandma used to say, ‘You don’t know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.’”

  “Is she available?” I asked. “Sounds like she’d make an excellent queen.”

  5

  Total Honesty

  Reece

  My team and I returned to the Bastion, tired, dirty, and more than a little frustrated about our failure to capture the rogue.

  He’d been surprisingly fast and agile and had evaded us at every turn—kind of like I’d done when I was the rogue being hunted by a Bloodbound team.

  Finally, we’d had to call it and head home before the sun came up.

  We’d try again tomorrow night. The last thing we needed right now was a sloppy newbie vampire terror
izing the area surrounding the Bastion and drawing widespread attention.

  Our stronghold was still a secret from our human enemies, and we couldn’t risk the authorities congregating in this area and searching it.

  If we were to lose this refuge, I wasn’t sure what would happen to the refugees who’d come here and to all the vampire families who’d made the place their home.

  It was the only place Abbi and her friends Kelly and Heather were safe now that they were wanted “criminals.”

  Speaking of, I could hardly wait to check in with Abbi. I missed her, and I didn’t necessarily like the way we’d left things. Plus, I wanted to see if there’d been any change in Imogen’s condition. And find out what the change in Shane’s condition would mean for us.

  Abbi had assured me she didn’t want him—that I was the only one she wanted to be with.

  But the way she’d jumped up and run to the clinic when someone had alerted her he was awake made me wonder.

  When my team reached the entry chamber, I was surprised to hear the stalag-pipe organ chiming loudly through the caverns, its echoing tune signaling a summons to a gathering of the full community.

  The other warriors and I fell into step with the crowds of chattering, whispering vampires streaming toward the Grand Dome. What did the impromptu gathering mean? And who had called it?

  I looked around for Abbi. Was she still in the medical clinic with Shane?

  Suddenly I hoped she had left the Bastion with him—or without him. If the cure had failed and Imogen had awakened still a vampire, this was the last place Abbi needed to be.

  Yes, I wanted to be with her, but more than that, I wanted her to live. I wanted her to be safe. If that meant never seeing her again, then so be it.

  My misery at being parted from her wasn’t going to last long anyway. Imogen would know I’d broken my vows. She’d have me beheaded this very hour.

  Which was just as well. I couldn’t serve her any longer, and I’d never be able to “service” her as she expected all her Bloodbound to do eventually. I would literally rather die than be with anyone other than Abbi in that way.