Mother of Chaos Read online

  “The angel still came?” Derek asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Did it accept your body as an offering?”

  “No.”

  “That was the problem!” Michael said, sounding as excited as a child handed a bucket of candy. “She rejected you because she wanted someone willing. That also—to me at least—suggests she may not be evil, which is not to say she’s good—she’s fallen, after all, but—”

  “That is not the problem,” Ruxandra protested. “The problem is that she turned me into a vampire and turned me loose on the world!”

  “You are a remarkable creation,” said Michael. “And you are good; I feel that. Who’s to say she did not foresee what you would become?”

  Ruxandra made a noise in her throat and turned away. Did he not hear the part where I murdered innocent villagers?

  “What else happened that night?” Derek asked. “What of where they performed the ritual? Was the pentacle they used similar to this one?”

  “The same.” Every face at the table was rapt with excitement. It made Ruxandra feel as if she had wasps under her skin. “If she turns one of you into a vampire, you will slaughter everyone around you, too, no matter how much you care for them. Your lover. Your friend. Your child!” She raised her voice with each word, and their excitement dimmed slightly.

  “Or you could not summon her,” Ruxandra said.

  Kade put a hand on her arm. His fingers curved over her wrist, and for the first time she noticed how the long and strong they were—damn that Alchemist!

  “They must summon her,” Kade said. “Or Anna will kill them.”

  “She will send us back to the torture chambers,” Michael said, his voice quavering. “I am too old to survive it twice.“

  “We must find a way to contain her when we summon her,” the Alchemist said. “Barring that, a way to send her back if things go badly. The empress expects the fallen angel to be summoned at the winter solstice. This is four months away. Plenty of time to for us to search for a solution.”

  She stood up and curtsied to Ruxandra. “My princess, will you allow us more time? To find a proper solution?”

  Chapter 12

  Ruxandra stomped out and headed for the house. Between the Alchemist’s “examination” and the argument about the angel, her frustration was beyond all measure on several levels. She wanted to ride someone for an hour or kill something large and dangerous.

  “Bon soir, Princess.” Alexi’s voice floated through the air.

  Ruxandra stopped, looked around, and sniffed the air. He stood beside the house closest to her right. She waited for him to become visible.

  After a few minutes, she growled in frustration. “Alexi, don’t make me throw something again.”

  “My apologies,” Alexi said, and then, in Russian, “Appear.”

  With that he materialized beside the house.

  “Why are you here?” Ruxandra asked.

  “Just to talk.”

  “I’m not in the mood.”

  “Because they won’t agree not to summon the fallen angel?”

  Spies everywhere. “You didn’t have any men in the library. How did you overhear?”

  “That is a secret, Princess.”

  “Share it,” she demanded.

  Alexi shrugged. “What will you give?”

  Ruxandra rolled her eyes. “I promise to not hunt you tonight.”

  “You can’t touch me, Princess. You tried on the bridge, remember?”

  Ruxandra sighed. “What do you want, Alexi?”

  “Do you intend to stop them from summoning the angel?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “Your friend, Kade, will be very annoyed if you kill them.” He offered her his arm. “So will the empress. Shall we walk?”

  She took it. It felt strange. Her arm, though threaded through his, didn’t touch him. It floated in between his elbow and his ribs. The force that had prevented her from touching him on the bridge held her in place.

  “That feels odd,” Alexi said.

  “You should try it from my side.”

  “So what will you do if they decide to go ahead?” Alexi asked. “What will you do if the empress opposes you? Try to kill her?”

  “If I intended to,” Ruxandra countered, “would I tell you?”

  “I don’t know. How confident are you?”

  “Depends on whether I can get through the barriers that surround the Kremlin.”

  “In that case, she is quite safe.”

  “I don’t know,” Ruxandra said. “How confident are you?”

  Alexi smiled. They walked in silence. The downpour had long since ended, but the ground was still soaked. Mud slopped on their clothes with each step. Clouds covered the stars, portending more rain to come.

  “I cannot tell Anna to stop her plans on the word of a vampire,” Alexi said.

  Ruxandra stopped walking. “You believe me?”

  “I believe you believe what you say,” Alexi said. “Show me evidence.”

  Ruxandra tapped her chest.

  Alexi chuckled. “You, my dear, may be responsible for the deaths of many, but you’re just one girl. Yes, yes! I believe you! And most of all that you are not really the girl you look. But I need more than that. More than what you perceived as the angel’s intent and motives. Find me documents detailing the horrors that this creature wrought. Tell me of the cities she destroyed and the lives she ended. Something strong enough to convince a person as . . . headstrong as Anna.”

  “Will that stop her?”

  “It might make her reconsider.”

  “Why?”

  Alexi shrugged. “Moscow is Russia. The court is here, the empress is here, the nobles gather here like deer flies searching for a bite of flesh. If the fallen angel destroyed the city, the entire country would suffer. Anything less will not impress Anna.”

  “I see.”

  “You have not yet made her afraid. That is your task.”

  “She is a fool.”

  “She is an empress. I must go. I trust you’ll manage to return by yourself.” He released her arm and bowed. “You are going back to Kade’s house? Not out to visit the nobility?”

  “Yes, I am going to Kade’s house.”

  “Good. I hate to see a lovely lady fall into such disreputable company.”

  Ruxandra’s brows lowered over the bridge of her nose. “Are you teasing me, Alexi?”

  “I would not dream of it.” He smiled, bowed again. “Also, there is a trunk waiting for you.”

  “What’s in it?”

  “Vanish,” Alexi said in Russian and disappeared.

  Everyone wants to annoy me tonight. Ruxandra picked up speed, holding up her skirt to avoid the mud. But now I know all is not calm in Anna’s court if the head of her secret police worries about what she is doing. I have made him afraid, I think.

  He is not a fool. Kade is not; the Alchemist is not. We may be able to head off this calamity without more bloodshed.

  ***

  The next night she carried the trunk to the library and called for the Alchemist.

  The woman whistled when Ruxandra opened it. She picked up a dress and held it up to admire the stitching.

  “Read this.” Ruxandra held out a note.

  The Alchemist took it. “Dear Princess Ruxandra, I could not help but notice the condition of your clothes when we met. Please accept these. They should fit you, and will look much better if you decide to appear in court. Alexi.”

  That self-serving . . . He asks me if I will murder his empress, then almost dares me to try.

  “The secret policeman admires you,” the Alchemist said, her voice cool. “Why is that?”

  “My charm.” Ruxandra picked out a green dress and a white blouse. “Come. Help me. And help me find some things.”

  “What sort of things?” the Alchemist asked as she followed Ruxandra to the baths.

  “First, anything that tells of what trouble the fallen angel caused
when summoned.” Ruxandra looked at the dress in her hand and thought of Alexi’s smile before he vanished. “Second, anything that can stop or dispel the fallen angel. Third, how human magic works on vampires.”

  ***

  Two weeks later, Ruxandra spoke Russian well enough to understand and make others understand her. She read basic Cyrillic, though the longer words escaped her. Meanwhile Kade and the Alchemist worked together on the ritual, translating the words and working on pronunciation. They worked slowly but steadily, always having progress to show at the end of the day.

  Meanwhile, Ruxandra searched the library for every book, scroll, or tablet on fallen angels or on banishing the supernatural. Kurkov helped her. The blustering personality was always present, but beneath it sat a strong, organized mind with a love for books and learning far greater than his love for crude jests and puerile observations. He spent hours in the stacks, searching and cataloging the books. He’d divided the shelves into history, magic, mythology, philosophy, and science. Some books Kurkov suspected were made up whole cloth, but given what they were dealing with it was impossible to separate truth from fiction.

  Kurkov found every scroll and book that spoke of angels, fallen or not. He gave Ruxandra the ones written in Latin and Greek, as she had learned both languages back in the convent. What he brought her made for fascinating reading.

  One book said the angels had once acted as gods, using the world as their plaything for thousands of years. A scroll told how God called the angels, dark and light, away from earth at the birth of Christ. A third spoke of war among the fallen angels for control of earth and hell. It failed when a fallen angel risked flying up to warn heaven. She returned with God’s army to drive the fallen ones back to hell.

  Still other books detailed encounters with the angels. Much to her annoyance they were in Cyrillic, Aramaic, and Sanskrit. Kurkov helped Ruxandra learn the first. Michael read Sanskrit, and Derek knew Aramaic. Together they marked the stories of fallen angels dealing with humanity, and any passages on banished creatures of hell.

  To Ruxandra’s disappointment, no books mentioned major disasters in relation to fallen angels. Every person who summoned a fallen angel met misfortune, but nothing more. No disasters, no huge acts of destruction.

  If the creature destroyed a city, it would have destroyed any record of it, too.

  Which wasn’t helpful.

  Or maybe they can’t act except through men. But that made no sense. The angel had created her—an act of vast power.

  She couldn’t find any information on magic that worked against vampires, either.

  “The secret police took it,” Kurkov explained. “From here and from our library. Apparently they don’t want anyone learning their secrets.”

  “Bastards.” Ruxandra shoved down her frustration. If she could counter the secret police’s magic, she could help the magicians escape—if they were willing to leave. She could not hope to stop Anna’s secret police if she could not counter their magic. If she could not defeat them, the magicians would not leave.

  They will try to summon the angel, and then . . .

  One evening Kade knocked at her door while the sun still sat low in the sky. Ruxandra put on a robe—also from Alexi—and opened the door.

  “The nobles’ party happens tonight,” Kade said.

  Ruxandra frowned. “You are being watched. Alexi told me.”

  “I suspected as much. Still, they expect us to join them.”

  “Us?” Ruxandra’s eyebrows rose. “You want me with you?”

  “If you wish to come.” Kade smiled. “Think of it as a chance to spend an evening enjoying yourself, instead of burying your face in books.”

  The rain had stopped, leaving the ground a sloppy wet mess. A strong north wind sprang up, sending a chill through the city. Ruxandra picked a light-blue dress with a matching cape to wear. Kade chose black—boots, breeches, and a jacket. He tied his hair back with a black ribbon and wore a sword.

  “You look beautiful.” Kade caught her hand and bowed over it, his lips grazing the skin. “Far too good for this group.”

  “You looked dressed more for a battle than a party,” Ruxandra said. “Should I be armed?”

  “On the contrary, I want them to underestimate you. It will make your skills more of a surprise.” He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

  Ruxandra kept her eyes, ears, and nose open wide on the short walk to Prince Belosselsky’s house. She spotted no one. To her surprise, Prince Belosselsky’s house stood dark save for a single lamp burning in the parlor window.

  “Not much of a party,” Ruxandra said, using vampire tones and speaking Romanian, in case the police were nearby and listening.

  “The prince’s definition of the word differs somewhat from yours.” Kade spoke the same way. “He is . . . circumspect in his entertainments.”

  “Especially when they involve betraying the empress?”

  “One hopes.” Kade knocked. “Shall we find out?”

  The blond-haired servant opened it, bowed, and pointed them toward the parlor. Inside, each holding a glass of wine, sat four men and a woman.

  “The man arrives,” Prince Belosselsky said. “You know everyone, I assume?”

  “I do,” Kade said. “My companion does not.”

  “Introduce her.” Belosselsky took a sip of his drink. “After, we can get on with it.”

  “Gentlemen, lady.” Kade nodded at the others sitting there. “May I present Princess Ruxandra.”

  “Princess Ruxandra?” the woman frowned. She looked young, perhaps twenty, and wore a plain green dress. She might have passed for a merchant’s daughter, except for the diamond necklace around her throat and the gold-and-ruby ring on her finger. “Princess of what?”

  “A far region,” Kade said. “Princess Ruxandra, meet Princess Khilkoff, heir of Prince Khilkoff, whom the empress executed three months ago.”

  “Murdered.” The princess’s face twisted in anger. “She murdered him. He did nothing wrong.”

  “He sought to restrain Anna’s power,” said a tall, handsome man with dark hair graying at his temples. “Prince Gagarin, at your service.”

  “Pleased to meet you both.” Ruxandra curtsied, though not so deeply as to acknowledge them her superiors.

  “What an interesting accent,” said the third man. He was short, round, and nearly bald, and had small eyes that glittered with intelligence and malice. “Prince Delfino. Where are you from, Princess?”

  “Italy, most recently,” Ruxandra said. “Many other places before that.”

  “At such a young age,” the last man said. “I envy you.”

  Ruxandra doubted it. He had plain features, plain brown hair, and plain gray clothes, yet she could tell he thought very highly of himself indeed. “Prince Dolgorukov, at your service.”

  “And now that we have finished with that,” Belosselsky said, “let us discuss the matter at hand.”

  “Starting with the absurdity of calling this a party,” Dolgorukov said. “One hoped at least for a buffet.”

  “Or better wine.” Princess Khilkoff held up her glass. “This is appalling.”

  “Beggars can’t be choosers.” Belosselsky took another drink. “And make no mistake: we will all be beggars once Anna finishes with us.”

  Kade took off his sword belt and sat on the couch opposite Belosselsky. He rested the weapon on his lap. “Why do you think so?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? She wishes to take the nobility’s money and lands for herself.”

  “Has she attacked all the nobility?” Kade asked. “Or only those who tried to restrain her power?”

  “Does it matter?” Dolgorukov’s voice went nasal as he let out his annoyance. “An attack on one is an attack on us all.”

  “Does she reward the loyal ones?” Kade’s gaze turned on Dolgorukov. “Does she not give them land and money?”

  “She gives nothing to anyone save those blockheaded Germans she brought to court with her,” Delfino s
aid. “She listens to them and lets them guide our country. As if such as they know anything of the Russian soul!”

  Kade’s mouth twitched.

  He, too, sees nothing soulful in this greasy prince.

  “Regardless of our soul, their guidance is to our detriment in the more important question of money.” Belosselsky leaned forward. “This is why you must help us destroy her.”

  “Must?” Kade’s eyebrows rose. “Not the word you wish to use.”

  “Is it not, Kade Volkov?” Gagarin looked at Ruxandra. “I think obeying us would be better for you than refusing.”

  “Obeying?” Kade chuckled. “Again, not the correct word.” Oh, he is enjoying this, Ruxandra thought. This is why he likes politics. No matter what he says of purpose.

  Belosselsky shook his head and chuckled. “Gentlemen, Kade is not one whom threats sway, either to his person or his . . . companion?”

  “I find all men respond the same when their lover is threatened,” Dolgorukov said in his whiny voice. “Women are always a vulnerability.”

  “I did say they would underestimate you,” Kade said to Ruxandra.

  “You did.” Ruxandra spread her mind wide. “Shall I disabuse them of the notion?”

  “Please.”

  “There are eight others in the building: four men, four women. The men are Belosselsky’s servants. The women are prostitutes, no doubt procured to give you gentlemen some entertainment after the meeting. My apologies, Princess Khilkoff, that he did not supply someone for you.”

  The princess’s lips tightened into a white line across her face. Ruxandra breathed deep, smelling the building.

  “The four men each carry pistols and knives,” she continued. “Two sit in the dining room and two in the kitchen, drinking your tea.”

  Belosselsky kept his expression bland. “I should be impressed?”

  “You should be frightened,” Kade said. “Ruxandra is the greatest hunter of men it has been my pleasure to know.”

  “Is she?” Princess Khilkoff leaned forward, her eyes shining. “How does one become a hunter of men?”

  “Forgive me if I disbelieve you,” Prince Delfino said. He stood and circled Ruxandra. “She possesses great beauty and I suspect has well-practiced abilities in bed. One knows the look—that mix of innocence and abandon only the young and amoral can pull off. But fucking a man and killing one are two different things. Especially an armed man.”