Zen and the Art of Vampires

Frederic looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded toward Mattias.

Mattias shoved Kristoff through the door he'd unlocked and slammed it shut, locking it before he marched over to the door on the opposite side of the room, quickly opening it.

A maw of darkness gaped open before me as he flung open the door.

"Alec?" I said, taking a hesitant step toward it.

"Pia?" From the obsidian depths a shadow appeared, stumbling out. "Love, is that you?"

"Love?" Kristjana said, her voice dripping with scorn.

"Are you hurt?" I hurried over to him, but Mattias leaped in front of me, his normally placid face hard and unyielding. "Mattias, please."

His eyes narrowed on me. "You marry me, but you are his Beloved? I did not believe that of you, Pia."

"I'm sorry about that, but there were… reasons…"

"I'm all right, just a bit bruised," Alec said as I stopped. He peered over Mattias's shoulder at me. Like Kristoff, he'd been handcuffed, although his hands were bound in front of him. "I'm sorry I didn't give you enough time to get away, however."

"I did. We came to rescue you," I said with a wry smile.

"We?"

"Kristoff is here, too."

"He always did have more brawn than brain," Alec said, his gaze warm on me despite the circumstances. He turned to consider Frederic. "I take it you have plans to use Pia to destroy Kristoff and me?"

Kristjana started to answer, but Frederic held up a hand to stop her. "You are Dark Ones. We are obliged to purify you. However, the Zorya has asked for a chance to speak, assumedly in your behalf."

"Yes, I would like to do that." A tiny little flicker of hope rose despite the situation. "I think if you could get to know them as I do, you will see that they are not the murderous, vengeful monsters you paint them."

"Just yesterday two of our brothers were injured, and a third killed. By all accounts, the murderer was the Dark One you name as friend."

"There were extenuating circumstances," I said, licking my dried lips. "Your people attacked Kristoff and me without provocation. The man who was killed held a knife to me and threatened to kill—"

Frederic raised his hand again. "We will save this discussion for the Zenith to hear."

"You're not going to let her go?" Kristjana asked in outrage.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I believe that would not be wise. However, we will allow you to have your say, Zorya Pia. As you know, the liturgy of light is to be held tonight, to endow you with the powers of Midnight Zorya. We will hold a convocation then to bear witness to all you wish to say. Following that…" His gaze went to Alec, who glared back at him. "We shall see."

"I'm glad someone is willing to listen," I said, holding up my hands, which, unlike those of the two men, had been bound together with duct tape. "I'd appreciate it if you could take this off me. It's beginning to chafe."

Kristjana looked like she wanted to chafe the rest of me, most likely with a chainsaw or large tub of explosives, but Frederic simply gestured toward Mattias.

"Love, don't let them—" Alec's voice was cut off as he was shoved back into his hellhole, the door slammed after him.

"Is that really necessary?" I asked Frederic as Mattias flicked open a penknife and cut through the tape on my wrists. I peeled off the grey wad and absently rubbed my tender flesh. "Couldn't you at least give him a light and something to read?"

He ignored my comment, still watching me with an impassive gaze. "You will understand that we cannot allow you to roam freely until the convocation and the liturgy have been conducted."

"I don't understand, but I have resolved myself to confinement," I said loftily.

"We only have two secure cells," Kristjana said, her expression doubtful as she looked at Frederic. "You do not intend to leave her with her Dark One. The two of them together… they could be dangerous."

"I am not so convinced of that as you are," Frederic answered slowly. "But I agree that it would be unwise to leave them together."

"I'm perfectly happy staying in a hotel room," I said with only a little nudge of my conscience about leaving Kristoff and Alec behind. "Or I could—"

"Place her with the other one," Frederic pronounced before turning and starting up the stairs.

"What? No, wait—"

Before I could rally a protest, Mattias grabbed my arm, unlocked Kristoff's door, shoved me inside, and slammed the door closed behind me.

"Hey! I'm the Zorya, remember?" I threw myself back into the door and pounded on it. "Mattias, let me out! I promise I won't run away or marry anyone else, OK? Mattias? Hello?"

"Perhaps you shouldn't make such hasty promises," Kristoff's deep, rich voice rolled around in the darkness of the room. "You never know when you might wish to take a third husband."