A Dark Heart (The Elders and Welders Chronicles) by Foxe Margaret

Author:Foxe, Margaret [Foxe, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret Foxe
Published: 2013-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

9

TWO nights later, a horrible, animal cry arose from Elijah’s room, followed by a resounding crash of porcelain, bringing Christiana instantly out of her half-sleep. Pulse pounding, she glanced at the wall clock, just visible in the moonlight. It was three in the morning. He’d regained consciousness at last, for she recognized that cry. It was the same one he’d used as a little boy, when the terrors would invade his dreams night after night and he’d come awake screaming.

She struggled into her robe, lit her bedside lamp, and was in the darkened corridor separating their rooms just as another scream of pure terror rent the silence of the night.

She hurried towards the room and found Matthews just coming awake from his vigil in a chair set next to the door.

“Must ‘ave dozed off, milady,” he muttered blearily, struggling to his feet and reaching for the door.

She put a hand on his forearm, stopping him. “I’ll handle this.”

Matthews frowned. “Milady …” he began doubtfully. “I know I talked all that blather about you being his best medicine, and all that. But I’m not sure I trust him in the state ‘e’s in.”

He wasn’t the only one. The staff had been sent away hours after Elijah’s arrival, and the Bartholomews were tucked up on the other side of the house with Fyodor to guard them. Aline and Sasha had taken the twins across town to stay at Llewellyn House at the earliest opportunity, so the house was nearly deserted. No one had wanted to be around when Elijah awoke. Except her. She’d been waiting for this moment for more years than she cared to count.

She raised her chin. “I trust him.” But she winced when another crash sounded from inside the room, shaking her conviction.

Matthews’ lips pursed. “’E’s a bloomin’ vampire, milady. And wounded. ‘E’s liable to be violent. You should wait until ‘e’s calmed down.”

“How do you propose to calm him down, then?” she demanded. “Morphine?”

Matthews frowned, his eyes flashing with anger.

“I am what he needs, Constable,” she said quietly. “It is time for him to accept that. He won’t hurt me.”

He looked unconvinced, and she could tell his mind worked for a way to deny her words. But in the end he shook his head in resignation. “I hope you know what yer doing, milady,” Matthews said.

She didn’t, not at all, but she wasn’t about to reveal her doubts. “Wait in your room, Constable,” she said.

His eye widened. “Milady, you might ‘ave need of me.”

“I shall be fine.”

He shook his head in dismay but obeyed. She waited until she saw Matthews skulking around the corner, then faced the door with a heavy sigh.

Elijah would not hurt her. Much. Deep down she knew what would happen when she walked through that door, and some of it was going to involve a bit of pain. But Elijah would never intentionally harm her, no matter what he was. No one else trusted him – Elijah didn’t even trust himself – but she did.

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