In Darkness We Must Abide (The Fallen King, Episode 8) by Rhiannon Frater

him to see the truth.
    “ I’m dead to the human world.” Roman gestured in the general direction of the party. “That world out there is the only one I exist in anymore. So, yes, I’m already dead.”
    “ Roman, I know you don’t buy into my powers or Alisha’s-”
    “ The witch stuff,” Roman said, nodding.
    “ Right. But you’re a freakin’ vampire! You’re alive when you shouldn’t be! How can you not believe us?”
    With a sigh of exasperation, Roman jerked a chair out from beneath the table and sat down in it. “Vanora, all my life I’ve listened to the predictions of the women of this family. Some came true. Some didn’t. I believe that what came true was mere coincidence. Alisha shows me her paintings and gives me an interpretation. I look at those same paintings and see something entirely different. I can look at those paintings and make my prediction based off them completely true. I can’t base my life off of your fears.”
    Swallowing down the painful lump in her throat, Vanora said, “Rhonda is dead. I don’t want to lose you.”
    “ Did you dream about her death?”
    The question hurt and Vanora flinched. “Yes, but I didn’t realize the meaning of the dream until she was gone.”
    Roman lightly tapped his fingers against the surface of the table. “Okay. So you didn’t know how to interpret the dream then, right?”
    “ Roman, the dream I had about you was really clear! You were dead!”
    “ My point, Vanora, is that your dreams are subjective. Let’s say your dream is true. I am dead. Dead to this world.”
    “ You were dead before a throne!”
    That visibly started her brother, but he quickly recovered. “I’m no king.”
    “ If our family hadn’t hidden our lineage from us, maybe you would have been. We are of the House Corvinus. But beyond that, Roman, you’re a king to those vampires out there!”
    “ Again, two interpretations of a dream.”
    Leaning toward Roman, Vanora said, “Two vampires tried to kill me last night and Armando saved me.”
    “ What?” Roman shot to his feet. “When?”
    “ On the road. On my way here.”
    “ You saw these vampires?”
    “ I think I kinda saw one of them. Next to the road.”
    Roman ’s eyes narrowed. “Armando was with you on the road?”
    Vanora nodded.
    “Armando was in Austin with you?” Her brother’s tone took a decided turn toward angry father.
    “ That’s not the point.”
    “ Oh, I think that is the point. Since you ran away to Austin, he has not been about that much. I thought it was guilt over what he did with you.”
    “ Did with me?” Vanora exclaimed. “What does that mean?”
    “ You tell me!”
    The Socoli tempers were getting the best of them and Vanora realized they were dangerous ly swerving off topic. “Armando brought me home to save you!”
    “ So Armando is behind this!”
    “ No, my dream is behind this! I dreamed you were dead. Then he came to see me and told me you were in danger. Alisha painted your death. This isn’t a coincidence!”
    “ Has Armando been seeing you in Austin? Alisha told me you were seeing a human.”
    “ Oh, my God, Roman! This isn’t about me and Armando! This is about you!”
    Wagging his finger in her face, Roman said, “Armando is too old for you and he’s a vampire.”
    Vanora glared at her brother, ignoring his admonition. “Roman, this is about you! You being in danger! Armando saved my life!”
    “ From vampires you didn’t see!”
    “ Do you really think Armando is making stuff up? Why would he do that?”
    Roman flung up his hands. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s about you! He got you back here where he wants you!”
    “ No, no, no! Armando loves you! He’s trying to save your life. He wants us to leave Houston!”
    “ And he’ll go with us?” Roman shook his head with disbelief. “Our life is here, Vanora. My life is here. I’m not going to abandon it.”
    “ But it’s true, Roman! There are vampires out there who don’t like what