In Darkness We Must Abide (The Fallen King, Episode 8) by Rhiannon Frater

Author:Rhiannon Frater [Frater, Rhiannon]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2013-08-02T22:00:00+00:00

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After a hot shower, Vanora dressed in a long, wine-colored velvet skirt, black angora sweater, and black ankle boots. She wasn’t exactly sure how she should dress for a party she hadn’t even expected to attend, but she had found something suitable in her closet.

The house was strangely quiet when she emerged from her bedroom and hurried downstairs. Tonight, her body was tingling all over for the night was charged with danger. There was an ominous presence in the gloom that lay beyond the sanctuary of the house. In the kitchen she found Miss Robbins.

“Oh, you look so pretty!”

“You’re still here?”

“I don’t fear the vampires, darling.” Miss Robbins gave her a broad smile.

“A lot has changed.” Vanora admitted.

Ryan entered the kitchen, freshly scrubbed up after working hard outside all day. “Hey, Miss Vanora, you’re home safe and sound I see.”

It was strange being back in the world she had run away from and seeing how much had changed. Ryan had more white hair and was a little craggier in the face, yet his smile was the same. “Hi, Ryan. It’s been a long time.”

Ryan clasped her hand in his heavily callused one and shook it firmly. “It’s good to see you back.”

Miss Robbins set crystal goblets on two silver trays then centered crystal pitchers on them. Vanora observed with some discomfort as Miss Robbins poured the warmed blood into the pitchers. Ryan picked up one tray, and Miss Robbins the other.

“Time to serve their breakfast,” she proclaimed.

Curious, Vanora followed them up the back stairs to the second floor. Ryan set down his tray outside of Alisha’s room and Miss Robbins laid hers at Roman’s door.

“Now, we need to wait downstairs for them,” Miss Robbins said.

“Aren’t they already awake?” Vanora asked.

“They sleep in. Armando blames the pig’s blood. Doesn’t have the same kick as ours, he says.” Ryan explained.

Miss Robbins nodded, then cast a wary glance at one bedroom door. “Alisha wakes up first. She is always testy when she first climbs out of bed.”

Stifling a shiver, Vanora trotted down the stairs after the two servants. Miss Robbins and her husband hurried back to their tasks, leaving her to her own devices until her siblings appeared.

Already the house was becoming engulfed in shadows. Turning on lights as she moved through the house, she wandered about until finally coming to Roman’s study. It was bittersweet to step into the old familiarity of the room. Only a new computer and a large file cabinet had been added since her departure. Vanora impulsively opened one of the drawers of the file cabinet and discovered it was filled with letters. She skimmed over one that was gushing with adoration while praising Roman for his revolutionary ideas. Vanora flipped through a few more, all addressed to Mr. R. Law at a post office box. Curiosity gripping her, Vanora opened another drawer and found a large black binder full of names and addresses.

“Those are all the vampires who follow Roman. He insists on keeping a record of all of them.

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