"Enhard," she said by way of greeting. She stared coolly at the other six vampires watching her with varying degrees of shock and fury. After all, she had just entered their haven without having been invited. Remembering that Christian's life hung in the balance, she moved toward Enhard and was immediately surrounded by four snarling vampires. "Wait!" she said. They ignored her, their faces feral. She was the enemy.
"Confuto," she said, waving her hand. Incredibly they all froze, unable to move. She could feel their shock and hatred burning through her as she walked toward Enhard whom she had left free of the hold charm. She knew that they were stunned that she had been able to use magic against them in their own space. Too bad it wasn't warded for blood magic. Knowing she had to be careful whom to trust, she turned to Enhard.
"I need to speak with you privately," she said urgently. Just because she had put a hold charm on the other vampires didn't mean that they couldn't hear what she was saying. Enhard stared at her and then nodded. She released the charm, and the vampires exited staring at her with caution. She waited until they were alone before beginning. Enhard stared at her, guarded but curious as to her intent.
"Enhard, I need your help," she said. His dark eyes reflected their surprise. "Christian is in great danger and I know that he is considered a royal—" She had barely finished the sentence when he jumped to his feet. She could read the alarm in his face.
"You know of Le Sang Noir? What my people call the Cruentus Curse?" she asked. At his nod, she continued. "Well, it's real." Enhard's face remained unmoved. Victoria took a deep breath and looked him full in the face. "I'm the one you've been looking for."
Enhard's went from surprise to disbelief to shock and finally to anger. "What do you mean?" he snapped.
"How do you think I was able to do magic here, in this place?" she said. Enhard still looked unconvinced. She sighed; she had expected this and there was only one way to prove it to him beyond the shadow of a doubt. "Do you have a knife?"
Victoria did not want to take out the amulet even though she was there requesting Enhard's help. That was private.
"Are you serious?" he said. "You do remember what I am, what we are here?"
"Yes. A knife, please."
Enhard reached into a drawer and handed her a small pocketknife. Without hesitation, Victoria ran it across her palm, the black blood welling. She healed it immediately and watched Enhard as he struggled for control, his eyes bright and wild. It was a losing battle she knew, her blood was like an aphrodisiac even to the most seasoned vampire, and she was unsurprised when he bounded over the table in one leap snarling hungrily. Victoria wasn't worried, she'd been under a shield charm since she had entered the chamber—he couldn't touch her. Still, she didn't prolong his agony and reached out to gently touch his hand.
"Vicissitudo normalis," she said, watching as his glistening, sharp teeth retracted and his wild eyes calmed in immediate response to her command. He stared at her in incredulous silence.
"What did you do? Am I human?" he asked, running his tongue against his blunt teeth and still smelling the blood but feeling no answering, immediate desire.
"No, not really, I just took away your hunger temporarily," she said. "My blood would have killed you had you taken it. But it was the only way I could make you believe that I am who I say I am."
Victoria explained what had happened with Gabriel and finally to Christian.
"Do you have any proof that what you say is true?" Enhard said.
"Call Lucian and ask if he can reach Christian. He'll know."
She waited as Enhard made the call and watched as his face darkened. He shut the tiny cell phone and stared at her. "He said that Christian is fine."
"He's lying!" Victoria said. "Enhard, listen to me. You know our secret, I love Christian, but I also know how you feel about us, and yet here I am in front of you asking for help. You want to see Christian with your own eyes, here!"
Victoria grasped Enhard's face and shoved the images of her last view of Christian into Enhard's head, not even knowing beforehand whether it was possible or even dangerous. She just did it, demolishing his walls like tissue paper, and watched as knowledge followed by horror crossed his face. She pulled back and he slumped in his chair.
"We must be quick. Tell me what you need me to do," he said weakly, after he had regained his composure.
A plan in place, they made their way to the lobby. They would meet in New York at Enhard's home. In spite of the precious added time, Victoria didn't trust herself to teleport Enhard safely. If anything happened during the transfer, all would be lost. She needed him, and she could only pray that Christian would hold on.
"How fast can you get there, Enhard?" she asked, her face worried.
"I will fly."
Victoria calculated the distance and time in her head, panicked. "But that's seven hours if we're lucky!"
"No, you misunderstand me, I can fly," Enhard said calmly. Victoria looked at him, confused, until comprehension dawned.
"Oh," she said. "I didn't know you could do that."
"I will meet you there in an hour," Enhard said. "Do you have transport?" Victoria lifted an eyebrow, and he inclined his head at her silent jibe. She would teleport from somewhere safe. She entered the elevator.