Chapter 9

Darci's head was spinning as she came out of her trance and fell forward into Will's arms. She had felt as if she were trapped in Will's body, experiencing everything with him: the pain, the fear, the horror. She was hyperventilating, and she tried to take some long, deep breaths to steady herself. Will's arms were wrapped around her, supportive but not oppressive, as he waited for her to regain her composure.

When she was ready, she sat up and looked at him. Knowing what she now knew, it was like seeing him for the first time again. His face was taut, the strain of past memories still visible in the lines across his brow and the curve of his mouth.

"I am so sorry, Will," she said, reaching up to brush a strand of coppery hair away from his eyes, tucking it back behind his ear.

"It was a long time ago."

"Yes, it was," Stefan said, sitting down beside them on the bed. "The more pressing issue now is what to do about Draken. They clearly know what you are, Will, and you need to get out of here."

Darci shook her head. "Wait; go back a second. Who is Draken?"

"He's the ruler in these parts," Will explained. "Most major cities in the world have a vampire population of one size or another, and the most powerful among them is the leader. Vampires wishing to visit or move here have to announce their presence to the local ruler. Draken has a particularly vile reputation and is known to be searching for a Day-Walker."

"So you've met this guy and he didn't realise what you are?" Darci asked, her mind still racing with the overload of new information.

"No, I only spoke to his adjunct, Artur, who deals with most matters on his behalf. I have been here several months without incident so I assume their suspicions about me have only recently been formed."

"It's because of me, isn't it?"

"It's not your fault. I was the one who took unnecessary risks."

Stefan dropped his hand onto Will's shoulder. "I can have a plane ready within the hour to take you anywhere in the country. After that, you are on your own."

"You have to leave now, this minute?" Darci looked between Will and Stefan, waiting for one of them to tell her she had misunderstood.

Stefan's forehead deepened into a frown. "I'll go and make the arrangements." He gave Will a pointed look then slipped from the room.

As soon as the door was shut, Darci flung herself into Will's arms. "Take me with you!"

She suddenly knew beyond any doubt that she loved Will and she couldn't bear the thought of ever having to be apart from him.

"I can't. It's too dangerous, and I couldn't ask you to give up your life here for me, give up your career."

"I can sing anywhere, Will, and there's nothing else holding me here."

"You don't understand. You haven't had time to fully comprehend what I am and what my life entails. I drink blood to stay alive, human blood like yours, Darci, and I will live forever. Even if I don't hurt you or kill you accidently when the hunger rages, I will never age even a single day and you will begin to resent me for it as the days become months and the months turn into years. One day you will look in the mirror and realise you have wasted your life on me, and you will hate me for it. No relationship between a vampire and a human can ever work."

She turned her gaze away, her mind racing as she fought to find a solution. She would do anything to stay with Will. In desperation, her mind ran through every vampire movie she'd ever seen, every book she'd read, until the answer came to her. "Then take me with you as an equal. Turn me." She flicked her hair away from her neck, exposing her throat.

Will recoiled, leaping from the bed, putting distance between them. "You have no idea what it is you're asking for. You've not thought this through. You would become a monster, Darci, and I would never inflict this existence on you."

"But you'd happily condemn me to a life of loneliness and regret instead by leaving me behind." The tears she had been fighting back could no longer be held in check, and she sobbed openly, tasting salty tears on her lips as they coursed down her cheeks.

Will returned to her side, hugging her tightly. "I would never rejoice in doing anything that would cause you grief; you must realise that. I care for you more than I have for anyone, human or vampire, in many years. For hundreds of years, I've shunned the world, wallowing in self-pity over the monster I'd become, hiding in the shadows. Then one day I saw you. I watched you walk towards Elder Hall, the sunlight catching in your hair and glowing on your skin, and I had to know you. You've brought me back to life, given me a reason to live. But this is for the best. One day someone else will come along, and you will live a good life, a human life, with him. Trust me, Darci."

She dried her eyes, feeling a little foolish at her display and yet knowing she had meant every word of it. She had always believed herself to be modern and independent, and she hated to feel like a weak woman, unable to live without a particular man by her side. But if Will left now, he would take part of her with him. He had come into her life and made her feel more strongly than she ever had before. If he left, her world would turn from technicolour to black and white, as if she had gone the wrong way over the rainbow and couldn't find the way home.

The door opened, and Stefan entered. He let his gaze hover over her, pursing his lips, but he made no comment on her clammy face, for which she was thankful.

"Everything is ready. A taxi is downstairs to take you to the airfield."

Will stood and held out his hand to Stefan, who hesitated a moment before taking it. "Thank you, Stefan. I'm sorry about all this."

"Yes, yes, too late now."

"I have one more favour to ask."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"See that Darci gets home safely."

"I will take her myself if that would make you happy, although you will now owe me two favours when next we meet."

"Thank you. I won't forget the debt." Will turned back to Darci and held open his arms.

She flew into his embrace, hugging him closer, knowing it would be for the last time. He was the first to pull away, and she had to let him go. His lips brushed her forehead in a soft kiss and then he was gone, so swiftly that she did not even observe him leave the room.

She had no more tears left to cry, but she was aware of an empty hole inside her that was drawing all emotion into it, drowning everything in darkness. She glanced over at Stefan, who waited patiently by the door. When he beckoned, she followed him without a word through the gloomy corridors of the house and out into the night.