Dark Heart Rising Part 23

'Saul?' she said abruptly. 'I remember that name.' She frowned. 'But that isn't your name. It isn't you.'

'It was my name ...' he answered her patiently. 'A long time ago. Lila ... I am so sorry.'

'I wondered where you had gone, but then they came for me and I forgot.' She looked suddenly very confused. 'But how can I be sure it is you?'

'I suppose you can't,' he told her. 'You just have to believe me.'

'I am getting married to such a lovely boy.' Lila said distractedly, confused. She looked eagerly round at at all of us. 'I must tell Luca that my brother has come.'

'I don't think-' Dalya started.

'No. I must tell him. He will be so pleased.'

I wouldn't count on it, I thought, as Dalya made furious eye contact with Soren.

'I would like to spend some time with you first,' Soren said lightly. 'Get to know you again ... You'd like that, wouldn't you?'

But Lila was uncertain, veering between believing him and uncertainty.

'Just a little time.' He held on to her hand. 'Just the two of us.'

Behind us I heard arguing in the kitchen a male voice, and that of an older woman. As long as they were involved in some debate there was less chance of anyone noticing us, I thought.

'For goodness sake,' muttered Dalya, 'she doesn't understand. She hasn't actually grasped what Soren has told her.' She looked up at me, aghast. 'I mean he killed her whole family?'

'Who did?'

Dalya jumped and, turning, we saw him. Standing there, looking anxious and angry all at once.

'Luca ...' I said, my breath catching in my throat. He looked questioningly at me, then at the others: his sister, Lila and Soren.

'Who are you?' he said to him, quietly furious. 'And what are you doing with Lila?'

'Luca ... this is not ... this is complicated. Soren was just trying to explain to Lila.'

'Explain what?' He pushed his hair back off his face. 'And what is he to you, Jane? What are you doing here with him?' He looked and sounded disappointed, or that's how it seemed in the dim light.

Soren is Lila's brother, Luca! Dalya was firm. 'You need to know-'

'Go back inside,' he told her. 'I don't know what you're doing here. But this boy is a vampire.' He stopped, and I could practically see his heart beating in his chest, the muscles in his arms straining against his jacket. Dalya stepped back, alarmed, and Soren pulled Lila protectively towards him.

Luca stepped forward, his breath coming thick and fast now. I heard the tear of his clothing as his body grew inside it.

'Luca?' Lila looked confused. 'Sweetest, what is the matter?'

He didn't answer, but his head dropped, then reared again, and I saw his jaw snap.

'You'd better run,' I told Soren. 'Really. Run!'

Soren's eyes narrowed for a minute and it looked like he was going to stand his ground. It occurred to me that as a werewolf himself, he could if he chose play Luca at his own game. But with a quick look at me, he tightened his hold on the clueless Lila.

'Luca,' I pleaded, not daring to touch his expanding body, 'this is not what you think ...'

'I don't know what you've become, Jane. I don't know what he has done to you. But you don't belong here.' Luca's voice was deep, harsh, though he wouldn't look at me.

'It isn't fair, brother.' Dalya defended me, but at the sight of her brother's changing body, she stepped away, and her words faded amidst the guttural growl coming from his throat.

'We'd better get out of here,' she said. And then, with a howl of pain, Luca pushed off after the disappearing Soren and Lila running with the speed of a panther.

'Soren, stop!' I screamed. 'Please, stop.'

At the sound of my voice Soren stopped, still holding on to Lila. Luca, no longer a boy, prowled in front of the two of them.

'This has all gone wrong,' sobbed Dalya beside me. 'What was I thinking? If Henora finds out ...'

'She won't,' I said, though my own anxiety was palpable. Lila was nearly hysterical at the sight of her fiancee, wailing like a little girl. Soren, trying to stop her from bolting, looked helpless for the first time since I'd met him. And behind us, a small crowd of kitchen staff had gathered to watch.

'Oh, G.o.d,' I murmured, remembering how tenuous my disguise was. I edged further towards the three of them: Soren, Lila and Luca.

'Where are you going?' Dalya tried to pull me back.

'I'm going to talk to your brother,' I told her, knowing that was the only way to diffuse the situation. If he would listen to me.

I was behind him now, saw the strange transformation of his slender, boyish body now bulked out and trembling aggressively. How could I speak to an animal? I just kept thinking about the time I'd seen him change before. And how he had summoned the strength to change back.

'Luca.' I kept my voice low. 'Please, trust me. Soren is not going to harm Lila. He just wants to talk to her ... He is her brother. It's the truth.'

The strange sound coming from him quietened almost imperceptibly and he turned very slightly. Hopefully, I edged forward.

'Will you just hear what he has to say? Then I promise you he will go ... and Lila will stay. I'll make sure of it.'

I held my breath until I saw his body relax, the muscles lose tension, and his form very slowly returning to boy-shaped.

Lila was still shaking, and her wide eyes were still trained on Luca. Soren shot me a look of relief perhaps grat.i.tude. I couldn't be sure.

'All right. I'm listening.' Luca's voice when he spoke was breathless and strained. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but this wasn't the time.

I had to let Soren explain.

Don't be arrogant, I willed. Please, Soren, be humble for once in your life.

'It's ... it's a long story. And when I've finished, you may want to try and kill me again,' Soren said slowly. 'But ... please don't.'

I moved to stand next to Luca and looked sideways at his expression. His normally pale face was flushed.

'Go on,' he said.

As Soren started to speak, I watched Luca's face return to its regular pallor. I couldn't face hearing the story again ... I turned to see Dalya, shooing the kitchen staff back inside.

'What in heaven's name is going on out here?' I heard the cook scold. 'You, young lady, should be with your family, dancing, not listening to a couple of boys spatting.'

I crossed over, linking my arm through Dalya's. 'Come on,' I said. 'Let's go.' Ignoring the curious looks, I half dragged her through the kitchen, down the corridor and into the Great Hall, firmly shutting the door behind me.

'What a mess!' I breathed, leaning against it. I felt exhausted.

Dalya looked at me, trying to smile. 'I know it didn't work out very well, but it was the right thing to do to tell her.'

'I hope he'll be OK ...' I gazed into the distance.

'Soren?'

'No ... Luca.' I sighed, putting an arm around her. 'This is all so hard for him.'

'You always think of him,' she said. 'More than yourself. You must still love him a lot.'

I shut my eyes, not knowing how to answer. My feelings hadn't changed. If anything they had only grown stronger. I took a deep breath.

'I care about him,' I said. 'That won't change.'

'Henora is going to be very angry.' Dalya smoothed her dress out absently, her little face tense and serious.

'She'll be angry if she sees me,' I said grimly. 'I think it's time I went home.'

'Not yet,' pleaded Dalya. 'Don't leave me here alone.'

'OK.' I smiled. 'I'll stay until we know Luca is all right.'

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.

'Something is going on in the gardens.' Celeste appeared at Raphael's side, her words almost dying amidst the sounds of the band.

'Oh?' Raphael shrugged. 'It is probably just a scuffle amongst the staff. Too much grape juice I imagine.'

She shook her head. 'No, dear. Cook is very worked up. She says there are two boys out there, in a very serious discussion.' She looked warily about her before lowering her voice. 'One of the boys is Luca.'

'Luca? That doesn't sound like him ...' Raphael was interested. 'And who is the other boy?'

'No one really knows. Cook says she thinks it is an acquaintance of Vanya Borgia ...' Celeste sighed. 'I was having such a civilised discussion with her earlier. I do hope she's not up to her old tricks.'

The Vampire Jazz Quartert finished the number, and paused to tune their instruments leaving the hubbub created by the room full of people.

To Celeste's obvious dismay, Henora was approaching, an irritated look on her face.

'Say nothing of it,' his great-mother whispered to him.

'Celeste.' Henora nodded. 'Lovely banquet.' She left a respectable few seconds before she added, 'I don't suppose you have seen that son of mine anywhere about?'

'Lowe?' Raphael shook his head, quite enjoying her discomfort. 'I'm afraid not. Have you checked the stables?'

'Not Lowe.' She failed to keep the edge out of her voice. 'Luca?'

'I I'm sure he's somewhere with that lovely young fiancee of his.' Celeste said nervously. Raphael didn't come to her aid. Contrary to appearances, she wasn't that unfamiliar with dishonesty, he thought. Let her fumble.

He held out his hand to Henora, who took it, uncomfortably.

'Why don't we have a look?' he said smoothly. 'He can't be far.'

Ignoring the alarmed expression on his great-mother's face, he led Luca's mother to the door.

As they walked through into the Great Room, an almighty commotion met them.

'What the ... ?' Henora started forward. 'Luca? What is going on?'

Raphael took in the boy, his shirt and jacket torn, and his face a picture of stress. He appeared to be in a world of his own, oblivious to onlookers. Behind him stood Lila, dazed, clutching the hand of the vampire-boy, Soren. And there, huddled into the corner together, stood Jane Jonas and Luca's sister Dalya.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

'Luca.' Henora's tone was deep with fury. She clasped her hands together trying to maintain some decorum. 'Explain to me exactly what is going on.'

Luca seemed to come back to the present then. He pushed a shaking hand through his hair and I saw the familiar tic that appeared in his cheek whenever he was distressed. I held my breath, waiting for him to speak. But he was hesitating and his eyes darted between Lila and Soren. Lila was sobbing quietly and unhelpfully, and I saw Soren's arm slip protectively around her. He looked calm enough, only his black eyes, shimmering slightly, gave him away.

'Well?' Henora lifted her chin, imperious and judgemental. 'Speak!'

Yes, speak, I willed him. Tell her the truth.

But Luca turned to Raphael, who was observing all of us suspiciously.

'This person should be removed from the palace,' said Luca. 'He has come here to cause trouble for reasons that are unclear to me ...' He paused, as though carefully thinking through his next words. 'He has fed Lila a dangerous pack of lies; cruel, inexplicable lies. He means to cause a rift between us. And he has dragged others into the mess.'

As he spoke the word 'others' his eyes came to rest on me. Following his gaze, Henora looked disdainfully at me.

'And who are you?' she snapped. 'Get back to the rest of your ... kind.' As she took me in, I waited for her eyes to widen in recognition.

'Dear heavens, it is you!' She glared at me, moving closer. 'I thought you were long gone from our lives.'

From somewhere behind her I heard Tilly's cackle, and I cringed. G.o.d only knew what I must look like. Black make-up all over my face. Hair sc.r.a.ped back.