Entwined With the Dark by Nicola Claire Page A

threshold of the room and came to rest on the rug. I'd been too busy seeking , and ascertaining the size, shape and egresses into the room. All of which had only taken mere seconds, but the delay was long enough to cause a gasp of surprise to escape my lips when I finally raised my eyes to his.
    Amun Nadeem was the spitting image of my former Nosferatin trainer and friend, Nero.
    Right down to the colour of his eyes - coffee; the shape of his face - refined, high cheek boned and regal nose; his skin - warm milk chocolate brown; and his physique - tall, supple and muscular. A lump formed in my throat at memories of my good friend; laughing, fighting with exquisite beauty and ease, dying in a sea of red blood. I took a shaky deep breath in, realised both Sergei and Nataliya were glancing at me with concern, and Amun's lips had lifted in wry amusement.
    I lifted my chin, then remembered myself quickly and bowed low, hand fisted across chest. A formal greeting to a vampire of standing, appropriate for the Master of the City. I kept my head down as I spoke. "Master of the City, greetings from the Lux Lucis Tribuo . I am honoured to be in your presence and in your great city." I kept my head down, biting my lip slightly and waited for his reply.
    The greeting was perfect in every way, except it was four weeks too late.
    Both Sergei and Nataliya were in equally low bows at my sides, back a fraction, so as to flank me. Amun didn't say anything, for what felt like an eternity. I was thinking it was probably just a minute or two. Considering how angry he probably was at me, that was quite short a time. He could have ignored me for ten times that and it wouldn't have been uncalled for. I had been prepared for it, so when he did speak I jumped slightly. So not what a brave, fearless, vampire hunter should do.
    But then, he also sounded a just like Nero too.
    " Lux Lucis Tribuo , you are a little delayed, are you not?"
    "Yes, Master, my apologies. I have been waylaid with obligations to my Prohibitum Bibere role. There has been an influx of Dark vampires seeking the call." I had decided the best defence was offence. And repetitive reminders of my unusual Nosferatin skills.
    In all reality, I had been lax. I had been rebelling in the most fundamental, if not ridiculously stupid, way. And to be honest, it was not Amun Nadeem's fault. He was the Master of London City, he deserved my attention and respect. I had learnt a lot since I met my first Master of the City: Michel Durand. I had been inexperienced and uneducated in Nosferatu and Nosferatin ways back then. I had no such excuse now, so clung to a defence that could impress. At least I hoped it did.
    My back had begun to ache from the strained position I was in when Amun finally replied. He didn't suggest I stand, he just said blandly, "An admirable excuse. It is shame I do not believe it."
    I let a slow, shallow breath out and prepared for the backlash. Another minute or two and then finally he said, "You may rise."
    I did so stiffly, certainly not as eloquently as the two vampires on either side, and waited for further instructions. I hated this game. I have always had trouble with authority figures. To bow and scrape to someone who I don't really know and I have no reason to respect, other than the fact they lay claim to a title. What has Amun done for London? What has he done for vampire hunters? What has he done, even, for the Nosferatu? He was relatively new to this role, but I knew nothing of his previous history. Michel had just said he was powerful and not to be trifled with. I could feel his Sanguis Vitam now, it was formidable. Not as strong as Michel's and I wondered if that would play in my favour or not. Michel had said his meeting with Amun had gone smoothly. But then Michel had greeted him within a week of us arriving here.
    I kept my gaze adrift of Amun's face for several reasons. Not the least of which was that he could no doubt glaze with ease. Perhaps not glaze me, I