Svetla stood silhouetted in the doorway for a second; then she was in and the door shut again, plunging the room back into darkness except for the moonlight filtering through the diaphanous curtains. For a vampire, it was light enough. Without a moment’s hesitation, she stole toward the crib and scooped Lilith into her arms. Lilith woke, cooing softly.
Tatiana’s heart ached, fearful that Lilith might be scared. She squeezed the arms of the rocker. The one in her metal hand cracked.
Svetla looked up. “Who’s there?”
The time for hiding was gone. Tatiana burst out from behind the screen, throwing the light switch as she did. “You’re kidnapping my child!” she screamed.
“What? No.” Svetla blinked. The compulsion was wearing off, but Tatiana couldn’t call the Castus until there were witnesses.
Daci barged in a few moments later. “What’s happening? I heard loud voices.” She turned to Svetla. “What are you doing with Lilith?”
Octavian skidded to a stop in the open doorway, Lords Timotheius, Syler, and Zephrim following along behind him. “What’s going on? Who’s got Lilith?”
Tatiana pointed at Svetla. “She’s trying to kidnap my child.”
The other lords looked appropriately dismayed. That was all the witnessing Tatiana needed.
“Samael,” she bellowed. “Help me!”
The shadows in the room pulled together into a dark column. A great flash of lightning shattered the space and the jagged sourness of brimstone and unclean flesh cut through the room until the stench was unavoidable. Samael stepped out from the column, the shadows giving way to reveal him in all his fetid glory. From the waist down, his body was hidden by a skirt of shadows shifting with tortured faces and clawing hands. From the waist up, he was nude, his skin the burnished red of dried meat.
Tatiana had never been so pleased to see the monstrosity who’d fathered her kind. The others bowed their heads at his sudden arrival. After a quick bow herself, she took a few calculated steps toward him. “My lord.” She spoke without waiting for his greeting, something she prayed he’d forgive. “This one”—she pointed at Svetla—“is trying to kidnap the child you gave to me to raise.”
His mouth pulled back in a grimace as he twisted toward Svetla. “How dare you?” His voice grated the air to brittle shards.
Svetla cringed. “I…”
Samael charged forward. “You think you know better than I? That you should be the one to rear this child?”
She shook her head, clearly terrified. Lilith began to cry. Tatiana rushed to Svetla and took Lilith, cradling the child against her body. “Mama’s got you,” she soothed Lilith, bouncing her gently.
Svetla backed away, but Samael followed. The Dominus looked on with mortified interest. He turned to them. “Which of you is her Dominus?”
The three shook their heads. Only Syler spoke up. “Her Dominus is Lord Grigor. He has already retired for the day.”
“Get him,” Samael screamed.
As if on cue, Grigor stumbled in. Kosmina had seen to it that his last brandy had been laced with a touch of laudanum as well. He rubbed at his eyes. “What is the ruckus?”
“The ruckus,” Samael spat, “is your Elder has defied my command.”
Instantly awake, Grigor assessed the situation. “Svetla, what is the meaning of this?”
“I am just doing what you told me to.”
An audible gasp went up from the others. Tatiana almost smiled.
“What?” Grigor howled. “I never told you to do any such thing.”
“Lies. Typical.” Tatiana scowled at him. “You’ve never been a friend to the House of Tepes.”
Kosmina entered from the adjoining dressing room. “My lady, my apologies, but Lord Grigor’s car has been brought around front as he requested.”
Tatiana praised the day Octavian had hired the woman. The kine was as good as he had been as her head of staff. This improvisation would earn her a bonus. “Kosmina, now is not the time.”
“Yes, my lady.” She bowed and ducked out as Samael began to rage again.
“Enough,” he growled. “I told the council that Tatiana and her family were to be protected. I promised that any harm that came to them would be assuaged with the ashes of those responsible. Did you think me a liar?”
All had gone to their knees but Tatiana and Grigor. They responded as a group. “No, my lord.”
Grigor stabbed a finger at Tatiana. “You’re to blame for this.”
“Silence or your life will be forfeit as well.” Samael turned toward Svetla, now crouched against the wall, shaking and crying.
“Please,” she begged. “I meant no harm—”
Samael grabbed her by the waist. His fingers wrapped easily around her body. She pried at his hand, but to no avail. Smoke rose in wisps from her clothing. She swatted at him, terror unlike anything Tatiana had ever seen turning her eyes into glowing silver flares. She wept bodily, screaming, “No, no, no!”
Then a whoosh filled the room and flames swallowed her whole. A few seconds later, they died out. Samael opened his hands and let loose a flurry of ashes to the floor. “For your part in this transgression, Grigor, your power of mind reading is revoked. As for the rest of you, let this serve as a reminder.” He stomped his foot and a cloud of ash puffed up around it. “Disobey me at your own risk.”
Another flash of light and he was gone, leaving in his wake a silence so loud, Tatiana’s ears burned with it. Somehow, during all of that, Lilith had fallen back asleep. Tatiana turned to Octavian. He came to her, pulling her into his arms. “It’s all right. Lilith is safe.”