The Dark Blood of Poppies by Freda Warrington

angel?”
    “‘Envoy’ is the more accurate term.”
    “Less romantic.”
    Simon looked up. His eyes were sunlit orbs: single-minded, pitiless, alien. “How to describe it? I simply
knew
. God spoke to us from within the light. We had power, and knew many things that ordinary vampires did not: how to find individuals with special gifts such as Sebastian, Kristian or Lancelyn. I always knew what to do. Make Kristian a vampire and he’ll be a magnificent ruler. Watch over Lancelyn because he has a destiny. Watch Violette because she is God’s enemy… Even while we slept in the
Weisskalt
, we remained sentient. Isn’t that proof of God’s existence?”
    “I have no idea,” Karl said flatly.
    “When we woke and became whole again, we became the angels tasked with taming Lilith. Such deep knowledge can’t be explained. But Karl, it was glorious!”
    “And then it ended.”
    “Rasmila and Fyodor were ready to accept defeat,” he said with contempt. “They were lost souls. They clung to me like children, as if I could restore our status! And I grew sick of them.”
    “Callous,” said Karl.
    “Am I? Are angels callous, even disempowered ones? Perhaps. I need vampires around me…”
    “As an audience? Lovers? Slaves? I suppose Rasmila and Fyodor were all of those.”
    Simon’s eyes glinted. “I need to be at the heart of events! I can’t bear to see everything fall apart.”
    There was naked pain in his voice. Karl felt no sympathy. “Go back to sleep in the
Weisskalt
then. Your suffering will be over.”
    “I find your attitude unhelpful.”
    “So you’ve lost your friends and your power? I fail to see what I can do about it.”
    “But it’s partly your fault, Karl.” Simon came closer. “There’s a task I must complete before God will let me back into the fold. It’s a test. I must prove myself to Him.”
    Karl laughed. He had no time for God. Simon’s pupils contracted to points.
    “You could have been my equal, Karl. Confronting the three of us in the
Weisskalt
, you showed no fear, only world-weary insolence. That reveals incredible strength! You slaughtered Kristian and almost killed me. Other vampires saw this power in you and begged you to lead them. You could have been great, yet you threw the chance away. Diminished yourself for the sake of a quiet life. Is this really what you want?”
    Karl observed Simon carefully, gauging whether he might turn violent. “I have no interest in the power that Kristian or Lancelyn craved. I don’t see it as diminishment, but even if it is, what does it matter?”
    “Ah. So you’re content for vampires to remain a leaderless rabble?”
    Karl laughed. “Quite so.”
    “You find this a joke?” Simon said, raising his eyebrows. He walked in a slow loop around the table, glancing at Karl’s book as he passed. “
Myths of Babylonia and Assyria
,” he read. “How interesting. Lilith as wind-hag.”
    Karl, normally placid, was growing irritated.
    “I see,” he said. “You’re here to establish where I stand on the question of leadership. But why?”
    “Things are going wrong, Karl. Raqia is growing hostile. You might say that heaven has turned against us – and this is Lilith’s doing! We had to tame her, but we failed. Without control, she creates chaos. We gave you a very clear warning, but you’ve done nothing.”
    “Violette’s only interest is ballet. I don’t think touring
Swan Lake
or
Coppélia
is going to destroy the world.”
    As he spoke, Karl thought of the visit from Stefan and the others, their description of Violette’s behaviour.
She tore off Matthew’s head with her bare hands.
Karl recalled the steel-calm way in which she’d dispatched Katerina under the wheels of a train…
    “And you approve, do you?” said Simon. “A vampire flaunting herself in public?”
    “God, I’ve heard enough of this,” Karl murmured. “It’s up to her.”
    “But it isn’t. You think she’s harmless? She will ruin us all!”
    Karl