Page 86 of Only Fangs

The torch flickers and goes out.

I’m plunged into a darkness blacker than the night.

Chapter 45

Ari

Ahead appears around the door. It belongs to one of Andrei’s minions, a vampire I’ve known since I was a child running around Hele House. He refuses to make eye contact with me. He looks nervous and it instantly puts me on edge.

“We have him, Sir.” There’s an odd inference on the word “him”.

“You found Brody?” I ask, my heart instantly jumping into my throat.

No one answers me.

“Where is he? Have you hurt him?”

But again I’m met with a wall of silence.

“He’s just outside, Sir,” the minion says.

“Excellent,” Andrei says and stands up. He addresses Benedict. “Well then, perhaps we should bring him in.”

Benedict nods and a hideous smile snakes across his face.

“You know,” this time Andrei directs this at me. “I don’t know how you ever thought you could hide him. Never has one with so much promise, so much potential, made such a spectacularly poor run of decisions.” He shakes his head at me as if I’m an utter fool.

But it isn’t Brody who’s led into the room.

“Good evening, Ms Haywood,” he says, voice gravelly. “Long time no see.”

Victor makes the whole room seem smaller and less significant as he towers over Andrei and Benedict. At six foot eight, he’s tall even by demon standards, and that’s without including his horns. His broad shoulders and muscular frame are further accentuated by the black leather vest and trousers he’s sporting, his long dark hair creeps down his back and looks more than a little in need of a wash and detangle, his silver eyes flash in the gloom of the room. He has completed his ensemble with a mace hanging loosely from one giant hand. He looks like he’s on his way to Comicon to talk about the latest dark romantasy book starring him and a small blond waif-like girl who just “gets him”.

“Good evening, Victor,” Andrei says and steps forward to shake his hand. “Such a pleasure to see you again and I’m so glad you were able to make this meeting.”

The words are superfluous, Victor did not come here voluntarily. He was summoned in the way only demons can be; with the promise of a deal he couldn’t possibly refuse.

Andrei smiles and then turns to face me. “I understand you and Victor are already acquainted.”

I nod, even though it wasn’t a question. It appears Andrei has done his homework diligently. Extremely diligently. How the actual fuck does he know about the deal I made with Victor? Has he really been watching me that closely all these years?

Now, when I say deal, technically it was a loan. And yes, I am fully aware that the last person you should take a loan from is a fucking demon. But I was desperate. And I thought I had a fool proof plan to repay the money I borrowed, a guaranteed investment which would solve all my financial problems in a single moment. How wrong I was. And now I have six months to repay the debt. Or Victor will collect what I promised him.

Andrei directs his attention back to me. “You know Arianna, your grandmother would have been horrified at the very idea of you making deals. Such a terrible mess you’ve made. And you really do need someone to keep you in line. To make sure you do the right thing going forward. No more fuck ups and disasters to sully the family name.”

He walks over to the side table in the corner. Sitting on a long silver tray is a crystal decanter of amber liquid and four matching glasses. He takes his time as he pours a measure into three of the glasses and then hands one to Victor, one to Benedict and takes a sip from the third. He doesn’t offer me one.

“So, Arianna, what are we to do with you? How to we quell your errant ways.”

“I’m an adult,” I tell him. “I don’t need looking after.”

“Except you do.” He motions to Victor. “Case in point right here. No, I think you need someone to take charge of your life.” He grins at Benedict and slaps him on the shoulder as he walks back to the seat behind his desk.

“I’m not going to marry him,” I say through gritted teeth. Even though of course I will if it’s the only way to save Brody.

Andrei gives me a benevolent smile, the kind you might give to an unruly child.

“Umm…” Victor says, hefting the mace slightly. “I don’t want to be rude, but I’m kind of busy. Quotas to fill and all that.” He looks apologetic. He probably doesn’t want to be here in this room any more than I do.