Kiss Across Time (Kiss Across Time Series) Page 10

  The Menzies Horowitz Theatre shut down in the thirties and was a lemon; every buyer who had attempted to get the building constructively operating in some fashion closed up a few months later, their money spent and their spirit conquered.

  The sad, defeated air seemed to wreath the inside of the theatre with shadows and damp dust, sucking it of color. Everything looked like a monotone shade of brown, to Taylor. But she was having trouble adjusting her vision after being blindfolded for so long. Even stationary objects were jumping around, her focus not quite keeping still long enough to anchor them in her mind.

  She tripped and would have fallen flat on her face if Tawny Eyes hadn’t been gripping her arm. He hauled her back onto her feet and pushed her forward, which put more pressure on the socks tied around her wrists, making the tendons and bones in her wrists ache just a little bit more.

  There was a set of rough wooden steps pushed up against the old fashioned stage and Tawny Eyes steered her toward them. As they reached the foot of the stairs, Taylor heard voices from backstage, coming closer. One of them sounded familiar. Male. But the ancient panels and stage flats were muffling the sound, making her uncertain.

  Then the owners of the voices stepped onto the stage.

  Tira. And Jeoffery.

  Taylor did trip, her whole foot and shin sliding down the front edge of the roughhewn step. Sharp pain speared her shin and she hissed. Because she couldn’t prop herself up, she fell forward.

  Tawny Eyes, as silent as he had been throughout the hour long journey to this theatre, yanked her up by her arm once more, saving her from smacking her face right into the edge of the stage. Only this time, he kept on lifting, his other hand boosting under her knees. She was tossed onto the stage, where she rolled a couple of times over the dusty old planking, to come to a sprawled stop on her back, her arms held awkwardly underneath her because of the sock-ties.

  “Who is…Taylor?” Jeoffery said. “What on earth are you wearing?”

  The urge to giggle was insanely strong. She lifted her head to look up at him. “You always had a problem with priorities, Jeoff. I’m lying tossed on the floor with my arms tied, barefoot, because you betrayed me to these monsters, and all you can worry about is what I’m fucking wearing?”

  “I betrayed you?” He crouched down next to her. “I’m doing you a favor. You have no idea what I have done, the strings I have pulled to get you here.”

  Tira stepped up to Jeoff and put her hand on his shoulder. She was inordinately pleased with herself.

  Taylor looked at Jeoff again. He was clueless. Pity trickled through her. “Yeah, I do know exactly what you’ve done,” she told him. “It’s you who has lost the plot.”

  He blinked. Then he cleared his throat and stood up and faced Tira. He towered over her, even though he wasn’t a tall man. “Are the bindings really necessary? Treating her this way is not what I had in mind.”

  “You wanted to speak to her,” Tira told him, her voice melodious and full bodied in comparison to his light tenor. “It was necessary to bring her here one way or another.”

  “This sort of violence is completely superfluous,” Jeoff protested. “We’re all civilized people. I just want to talk to her, to make her see reason.”

  “Too late, Jeoff,” Taylor told him.

  Tira reached up and tucked a stray lock of Jeoff’s baby fine hair behind his ear. “Far, far too late, my handsome one. Taylor understands far more than you do. But please go ahead.”

  “Untie her first,” Jeoff insisted.

  Tira smiled and kissed his cheek. “Very well.” She turned and crouched down next to Taylor. “Taylor knows very well how strong everyone in this theatre really is, and how weak she is in comparison. She values her life and won’t try anything silly. Will she?” Tira removed the ties and looked Taylor in the eye.

  Taylor sat up and rubbed her wrists. The top layer of skin had been burned away by the chaffing of the socks. “I’m not an idiot,” she told Tira.

  “No, I don’t believe you are,” Tira agreed. She stood up and stepped back. Then she waved Jeoffery forward. “Now it is your turn, Dr. Danforth.”

  “What, here?” he asked, astonished, looking around the dim interior of the theatre.

  “We won’t interrupted here,” Tira assured him.

  “She means, there won’t be any inconvenient witnesses,” Taylor interpreted.

  Jeoff shot her a look that was pure annoyance, but there was an expression in his eyes. He was troubled. Taylor knew he was listening to her and deep in the back of his mind, he was processing what she was saying.

  He cleared his throat. “Taylor…” He shook his head. “God, look at you. I can’t believe I’m offering a tenured position to someone who looks like they just walked out of an east side mall.”

  Taylor climbed slowly and painfully to her feet, giving herself time to hide her first reaction. “You’re offering me my job back?” she asked.

  “Your job and tenure,” he said.

  “If I drop my thesis,” she clarified.

  “Well, yes. But there were other promising lines in your research – I’ll help you find another one. You won’t lose all your work.”

  She couldn’t help herself. She glanced at Tira. “Validation, as long as I don’t mention Domhnall, right?”

  Tira smiled, showing perfect, white and very human-looking teeth.

  There was a steady buzzing in her mind, and a heavy thudding in her chest. Taylor looked at Jeoffery, trying to think past the noise in her mind. “You really think the history board will go for that? Taking me back?”

  “They’ve already agreed,” Jeoffery told her. “Once I explained that this silly Domhnall business would disappear, they were actually very pleased with the idea.”

  “And that’s the only condition?” she insisted, playing desperately for time.

  “Well…” Jeoffery gave her a smile. “I want you back, too, Taylor. But I won’t make that a condition.”

  She could only stare at him.

  “Why did you think I did this?” he asked.

  Tira’s smile broadened even more.

  “For power,” Taylor said helplessly. “For the influence Tira could give you. What bargain did you set with her, anyway?”

  Jeoffery’s warm expression fled and he looked at Tira. “You were right,” he said. “She guessed straight away.”

  “I told you she would not come back to you.”

  “How did you know?”

  “Let’s call it a woman’s intuition.” Tira rested her hand on Jeoffery’s arm and looked at Taylor. “Of course, there is a condition of my own, if you accept Jeoffery’s very generous offer.”

  Understanding dawned. Taylor looked from the queen to Jeoffery. “That was the bargain between you. He stalks me and finds me for you, so you can get me here and dangle his stupid offer, with your condition tacked on to it.” She pointed at Tira. “You’re not interested in Jeoffery at all. You want me.”

  Tira’s smile grew even more. “And you know the condition, too.”

  To be made a vampire. The queen’s vampire. A virtual slave at her command. Taylor shivered. “What if I refuse?”

  “Why would you refuse?” Jeoff asked. “You’ve worked for tenure all your life.”

  Taylor laughed. It wasn’t a healthy laugh. “Jeoffery, you’re out of your league. You need to shut up now.”

  “Taylor!” He sounded both affronted and shocked.

  Tira hissed at him.

  “Don’t hurt him,” Taylor told her quickly as Jeoffery recoiled, astonished.

  “He’s at the end of his usefulness,” Tira told her. “He’s in the way.”

  “He’s just a human,” Taylor replied. “He has no idea what is happening. You’ve used him. Let him go. There’s no need to harm him.”

  Tira studied her. “He betrayed you, quite willingly, and now you defend him. Yet you patently do not like him. Why do you do this?”

  “I value life. All life. You seem to ha
ve lost that focus.”

  Jeoffery swallowed, his throat working. Sweat dotted his upper lip, showing that he was following the conversation just fine, now. “What are you?” he whispered, staring at Tira.

  “You don’t want to know what it is you were dealing with. Just be glad it wasn’t the devil.”

  He shivered.

  “Leave,” Tira spat at him. “Now, before I change my mind.”

  He nodded and hurried backstage, almost running.

  It left Taylor and Tira alone on the stage, but Taylor knew that Tawny Eyes and the others would not be far away. Besides, Tira could probably tear Taylor’s head from her body without too much effort.

  Taylor took a deep breath. “You can speak plainly now. You want me turned. Why?”

  “There is something about you, Maggie Taylor Yates. You captured the hearts and minds of two of the most powerful vampires in the city, inside twenty-four hours. You are the first among humans and vampires that can travel through time with their mind the way I can. And you stand defiant before me, bargaining for the life of a mere human who has betrayed you.” Tira crossed her arms. “I want you by me, where I can watch you. I want you mine.”

  “And how is that any different from slavery?”

  Tira smiled again. “Slavery can be very comfortable.”

  “Taylor just walked away from love because she didn’t like the bonds that came with it. I don’t think she’s going to accept yours, Tira.”

  Brody’s voice. From somewhere above them and echoing around the theatre in a way that made it impossible to locate where he was.

  “Ah, the cavalry. Right on time,” Tira exclaimed. She looked around the auditorium, searching for a glimpse of them. “Shall I explain what happens if she doesn’t accept?”

  Silence.

  “What happens?” Taylor asked, feeling a deep sense of foreboding. Why was she even asking the question? Did she really want to know?

  “I can make your life such a misery, Taylor. I can destroy everything you hold dear.”

  “I’m alone in the world,” Taylor assured her.

  “First, I’ll make sure Jeoffery and his children are utterly destroyed in soul and spirit, one step after another.”

  Taylor drew in a shaky breath. Jeoff’s youngest was barely three and sweet and fresh as a daisy.

  “I’ll turn them all,” Tira assured her. “Then I’ll dismantle the life of your friend Andy, and his friends.”

  “Stop,” Taylor said, holding up her hand. “I get your point.”

  “But I haven’t finished yet. There’s still Brody and Veris to deal with.”

  Taylor sucked in her breath in shock. “But what could you…?”

  “They’re my subjects,” Tira assure her. “What I reserve for them will be the most creative punishment possible. They will suffer before the end, I guarantee it.”

  “End?” Taylor whispered.

  “Do you think I cannot end the life of a vampire, little one?”

  Taylor’s vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. “No,” she whispered.

  There was a rushing sound in her head, like a great wind. Thudding, as if her heart couldn’t strike properly. Taylor sank to the floorboards, her hand thrust out for balance, her vision fading as the tears multiplied.

  “Stop them!” Tira screamed.

  Taylor looked up, turning her head to glance down the ancient auditorium where the dusty leather seats sat in serried rows. In the wide, elegant corridor between them, Tawny Eyes was struggling. There was an arm around his neck, choking him from behind, and another arm holding his hand away from the gun at his belt.

  The struggling pair revolved slowly and Taylor saw that it was Brody behind Tawny. There were more people coming down the passageway, Tawny’s people. Brody was outnumbered.

  There was a whisper of sound above her and Taylor looked up in time to see Veris dropped from high up above the stage, onto the flooring with a heavy impact.

  Tira immediately turned and began to run for the backstage area, but Veris was faster. He leapt for the slender woman and grabbed her by the throat.

  Tira was powerful and old, and would have defended herself more than once in her long lifetime. As soon as Veris touched her she turned and grabbed his wrist and kept turning, trying to throw him. It would have worked, except that Veris lifted a stake to her chest and pressed it hard against her flesh. If she continued the toss she would drive the stake into her own chest.

  She drew instantly still, her chin lifted high over the top of his big hand.

  “You know what I want,” he told her.

  “Give me air to call out,” she croaked.

  His fingers eased.

  “Everyone…halt!” she called, her voice rolling across the auditorium.

  Veris stepped behind her, keeping his hand on her throat and the stake against her chest, so that everyone could see the threat to their queen. The struggling in the auditorium slowed, then ceased.

  Brody stepped around Tawny, then punched him in the face. “Slipped. Sorry.” He seemed cheerful as he climbed up onto the stage in two big steps, and helped Taylor to her feet. “I love the metal look on you,” he told her and kissed her hard.

  “I’m getting old here,” Veris complained.

  “I’m done,” Brody told him, and tucked Taylor up against his side. “Terms,” he told Tira.

  “Go to hell,” she spat.

  “You’ll never see Taylor again, without them,” Veris told her. “Or either of us. Think about that.”

  Tira growled. “Name your terms.” Her neck was still artificially stretched and extended by Veris’ hand around it and she was forced to look up and over everyone as a result.

  “Taylor is ours,” Veris growled.

  “Yes, yes, terms beyond the obvious,” Tira hissed.

  Taylor stiffened and tried to move away from Brody’s side, but Brody kept her clamped next to him by sheer force. He glanced at her and shook his head and she understood that for now she needed to stay there. She stopped struggling to move away.

  “You want guarantees that Domhnall is gone?” Brody asked Tira.

  Tira pursed her lips together. After a moment, she said, “I’m listening.”

  Taylor sighed.

  “In a decade or two, there will be no human left who knows his name or that he even existed,” Veris said quietly.

  “Human memory?” Tira repeat sharply. “You guarantee it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She nodded. “Then the matter is settled.”

  “Not quite,” Veris replied.

  “No?” Tira tried to look at him, but his grip was too tight.

  “The successful end of this negotiation ends this matter here tonight. There will be no more recourse once we have left,” Brody told her. “You don’t get a second dip at the well.”

  “I’m not getting a first dip!” Tira railed.

  “You are getting as much of a sip as we let you,” Veris growled, shaking her neck a little. “We could always call in the Council if you like. I’m sure you’d appreciate an oversight committee auditing your affairs.”

  Tira hissed. “I should kill you both for this.”

  “The affair ends once we agree to terms,” Brody reminded her. “Or we don’t agree and Veris shoves that stake into your heart.”

  “Agreed,” Tira snapped. “Get on with it.”

  “There’s the matter of compensation. By insisting that Domhnall pass out of human memory, you’ve neutralized Taylor’s career and wiped out seven years of expertise. She’s struggled for the last seven years to make a career out of a field of interest that technically doesn’t exist, which we should compensate her for too.”

  “That second one is a result of Brody’s mistake. You should be liable for that one,” Tira said, her eyes narrowed as she concentrated.

  “In matters of keeping history straight, we report to you, yes?” Veris said smoothly. “We came directly to you as soon as we realized the breach.”
>
  “Yes, you did,” Tira admitted.

  “Therefore, as our superior, the liability clearly falls on your shoulders.”

  Tira pouted. “Fine,” she snapped. “Seven years compensatory salary, plus what? Another seven years until she has another career?”

  “That seems fair,” Veris said smoothly. “Plus punitive damages. Fourteen years out of a human’s short life is a big chunk, ma’am.”

  Tira’s eyes widened, then she took a slow breath. “How much?”

  “Fifty percent of the compensatory salary,” Veris responded instantly.

  “Twenty-five.”

  “Forty.”

  “Thirty.”

  “Thirty-five.”

  “Northman,” she said, her voice thick with frustration.

  “My queen.” Veris released her and bowed low. When he straightened, he was smiling. “I’ll be in touch with your finance minister when he rises.”

  Taylor was bewildered at the fast exchange but she could feel Brody was laughing silently, beside her.

  “Go now,” Tira said, dismissing them with a wave of her hand.

  Brody bowed his head, picked up Taylor’s hand and pulled her across the stage.

  Veris was crowding right up behind them.

  Chapter Eleven

  Outside, it was deep, still night. Taylor had no idea what the time was. She had lost track of it and Tawny had taken her cellphone from her.

  Her bare feet were too sensitive on the rough bitumen and she couldn’t keep up with Veris and Brody as they strode down the middle of the deserted road. Brody turned back to her and saw her predicament. “You should have said something,” he chided her and picked her up in his arms. He turned and started striding down the street again, as if she weighed no more than a feather.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “My car. Then…we’ll figure that out,” he told her.

  There was an electronic warble and the flash of headlights that told her Veris had already reached the car. It turned out to be a very ordinary black Mustang. “I thought you’d go for something flashier,” Taylor confessed. “This seems…pedestrian.”