Page 104 of Besieger
“Was it you… in the mirror?” Silvio asked; his voice sounded small and distant.
The stranger picked at the corner of his sleeve, worrying the fabric. For a brief moment he appeared absorbed by the sensation of his fingers rubbing the material, as though he expected the colour of the cotton to melt into his skin. He clicked his tongue, and Silvio caught a glimpse of the sharp teeth behind the wide mouth.
“Such a shame.” The man shook his head in a mimicry of concern; none of it reached his features or softened his voice. “With Ingenuar dead, they will come and undo everything you have built, Silvio.”
“They?”
“The Council. The other Regents. They can strip you of your title and cast you out. But if it is titles that you crave… you can go back to being a Count.” The mouth twisted in a grin, all teeth eager to bite and chew. “The Countess can be persuaded to take you back—if you beg her.”
Beg? Her!
Silvio had done his share of begging, had grown all too familiar with the pattern and stitching of his wife’s skirts while he trailed behind her. He had begged enough. He had waited enough as well.
He had to get out of this room, as far away as possible from the corpse and this foul creature. Once he was back in Béziers, he would take down that mirror and break it, along with every other glass surface he could lay his hands on.
“Or you could stay?” the stranger offered, clasping his hands behind his back. His whole frame stood frozen a few paces from Silvio; the only indication that he was alive and not a statue were the eyes—the silver gleamed and stirred, threatening to spill from the eye sockets and run down the cheekbones. “Stay and continue being theMarquis. I can help you retain the position of Regent by giving you something no other vampire here possesses.”
Silvio had to bite his tongue to stop himself from asking. He had risen thus far without anyone’s help, he did not need anyone.I already possess all that I need. Everything that is mine.
“I can give you theSultana’s face.” the thing said, finally.
Silvio let out a laugh so ugly and loud it must have echoed through the whole mansion.
“That woman!” he raised his voice further, and lifted a hand to cover his mouth. To push back the hysteria clawing up his throat. Oh, how this creature amused him! “That woman, if she even exists, can continue to be hidden. I have no need of herorher face! But look at you—haggling with another’s identity when you have not even offered your own!”
Before he could stop it, a voice pierced his temple with such force that the laughter died on Silvio’s lips. He hissed, fingers scratching at the floor, searching for support.
Youknowme, Silvio. I am the hunger that you dragged behind you across that godforsaken desert. I am the hunger that made you drain and turn your lover, so that not even Death could have him.
“I am the cowardice that gripped you through all those centuries as you watched your precious Rico scrape floors and bow to your wife because you did not dare leave her. Not because you were weak, oh, no…”
The creature flicked his hand and seized Silvio’s face, the taloned fingers twisting theMarquis’ chin up.
“…because you were frightened that your Mother was telling the truth.Without me you will die, Silvio.Is that not what she threatened you with every time she forced your hand to sign at the altar? And you did not want to stop gorging yourself on that man, not even for a second.”
His grip on Silvio’s face loosened, the claws gently stroked, tipping his chin up, as though to bow and offer a kiss.
“Your Mother… the All Father… they wanted you as their servant, to answer their every beck and call, to partake in their charades. Petty, mundane schemes,” the creature’s voice was calm. “I will not make such demands of you. Take me asyourservant, Silvio. All I need is to be fed, and you have such a fine palate. Let me feed off your scraps. I will be good to you but most importantly…”
The stranger pressed his thumb against Silvio’s lips, forcing them delicately apart. He began pushing the digit between the fangs, careful not to tear the skin and draw blood, before withdrawing it.
“…I will be good to your lover. I will serve him, as I serve you.”
“A servant?” theMarquisasked, but it did not feel like the words had come from his own mouth. He could not tear his eyes away from the pools of silver.
“Yes, one as gluttonous as you.” The creature nodded. One of its feet rested upon the All Father’s torso, his weight enough to crush the ribcage. “Do you know how to bind a demon, Silvio?”
Silvio felt his head move slowly, in the barest of shakes. Taloned hands cradled his face, lifting it like an offering. Fingers raked through his hair, combing it back from his eyes, so he could see better.
“If you possess a demon’s true name, you can command it to do anything. It will become your divine companion and willserve you forever. For this is how demons are made. Take my name… and my blood… and I will act through you.”
His bloodstained hands closed on the robe, not to push but to pull the creature closer. Silvio wanted those fingers back in his mouth so he could bite them, see what shade of life a demon’s blood held.
“Your name. Give me your name,” theMarquisdemanded, his grip unyielding.
The demon smiled and cocked its head back, teasing, a breath away from where Silvio wanted it. Too far away from his fangs and hungry mouth. He felt suddenly so thirsty. The last time he had tasted blood was in bed with Emerick; a playful nib, no more than a thimbleful.
“Felivar.” The demon answered and let him go. He tore open its wrist. The blood welled at the wound and dripped down Silvio’s face. It tasted old, heavy, like trying to swallow time itself, a living vein running through continents and millennia.
