knew Violette was far from harmless. Even Charlotte’s resolve to remain friendly with her was a subtle attempt at control.
“Vampires need unity,” Simon went on. “Fragmented, we cannot defend ourselves against her. We need a focus.”
“I hope you are not asking me to be this focus.”
Their eyes met. The look was a mutual challenge, the repulsion of opposites. Then Simon’s expression changed, softening to one of earnest hope, reconciliation. “Karl, don’t let us argue. We had such a fight, you and I; the torment you endured was tremendous. Yet you survived. I admire you greatly for that. Can you accept my apology?”
Karl stiffened. “It is hard to forget that you starved me almost to death, and made me attack my own friends. I admit, you seem more tolerable for not being drunk on power. If I were you, I’d leave it that way. Why do you suddenly want forgiveness?”
“You have such strength, Karl! Kristian’s followers offered you leadership, because they saw qualities in you that you can’t see for yourself.”
“I’ve given you my answer. No. If you’re so obsessed, why not seize power yourself?”
“Perhaps I should.” Simon leaned close to him, his tone passionate. “However, it’s not my vocation. If I tried, I’d be failing the test. God’s role for me is to be the kingmaker, not the king. That’s what we did with Kristian, and almost succeeded with Lancelyn. That’s my duty: to make the best choice. This time, I must not fail.”
Karl drew away. “Ah. The puppet master. Lancelyn empowered you by calling on your help. Now you want the same of me, while I become your puppet?”
“It’s not like that. You’re missing the point. I act for God, not for myself. We need a leader for the benefit of vampire-kind.”
“Even though these would-be leaders have caused all our troubles?” Karl said acidly.
“So take on the role and make it what you want!” Simon turned scornful. “I find you incredible, Karl. You do momentous things like murdering Kristian, creating Charlotte, protecting Lilith – then you sit back and say you want a quiet life?”
“You make it sound as if I’ve earned it,” Karl said mordantly.
“If I go to someone else, you will be sorry.”
“Please tell me you are not considering Sebastian Pierse.”
Simon grinned viciously. “Now wouldn’t he make a leader to be reckoned with?”
“He’d be worse than Kristian. At least Kristian had a code of behaviour, albeit warped.”
“You had the choice, Karl.” Karl sensed frustration behind the grin. And fear, perhaps. “One last chance to change your mind.”
“No. I won’t be blackmailed. You’ll never find Sebastian; even Kristian couldn’t track him down. No, I won’t change my mind. I once thought we might be friends,” Karl said sadly. “You reminded me of a human I once knew, a brave and decent man, a war hero. But you’re a liar. You enjoyed tormenting us. You speak of God’s plan, yet all you care about is getting your own way. You’re no archangel, never were. Don’t talk to me about the good of vampire-kind, when you secretly despise us all.”
Simon glared. Karl saw crimson fire behind his golden eyes, the worm eating at the rose. Finally he said grimly, “No, you’re right. You wouldn’t make a suitable leader. You’re weak. Love for Charlotte has blinded you to Lilith’s evil. I should have known better than to try reasoning with an atheist.”
“I’d sooner go to hell than bow to your cruel God,” Karl retorted coldly.
“How can you not believe?” Simon gathered himself like a tiger ready to pounce.
Yes
, Karl thought,
I was right. He’s deluded and dangerous – but he’ll never intimidate me.
“Many folk claim that God speaks to them,” Karl said. “Strange, that he says something quite different to each one.”
“I’ll find my way back to Him, and your blind heresy will not stop me, friend-of-Lilith. Traitor.”
Simon’s hands rose in claws and his
“Vampires need unity,” Simon went on. “Fragmented, we cannot defend ourselves against her. We need a focus.”
“I hope you are not asking me to be this focus.”
Their eyes met. The look was a mutual challenge, the repulsion of opposites. Then Simon’s expression changed, softening to one of earnest hope, reconciliation. “Karl, don’t let us argue. We had such a fight, you and I; the torment you endured was tremendous. Yet you survived. I admire you greatly for that. Can you accept my apology?”
Karl stiffened. “It is hard to forget that you starved me almost to death, and made me attack my own friends. I admit, you seem more tolerable for not being drunk on power. If I were you, I’d leave it that way. Why do you suddenly want forgiveness?”
“You have such strength, Karl! Kristian’s followers offered you leadership, because they saw qualities in you that you can’t see for yourself.”
“I’ve given you my answer. No. If you’re so obsessed, why not seize power yourself?”
“Perhaps I should.” Simon leaned close to him, his tone passionate. “However, it’s not my vocation. If I tried, I’d be failing the test. God’s role for me is to be the kingmaker, not the king. That’s what we did with Kristian, and almost succeeded with Lancelyn. That’s my duty: to make the best choice. This time, I must not fail.”
Karl drew away. “Ah. The puppet master. Lancelyn empowered you by calling on your help. Now you want the same of me, while I become your puppet?”
“It’s not like that. You’re missing the point. I act for God, not for myself. We need a leader for the benefit of vampire-kind.”
“Even though these would-be leaders have caused all our troubles?” Karl said acidly.
“So take on the role and make it what you want!” Simon turned scornful. “I find you incredible, Karl. You do momentous things like murdering Kristian, creating Charlotte, protecting Lilith – then you sit back and say you want a quiet life?”
“You make it sound as if I’ve earned it,” Karl said mordantly.
“If I go to someone else, you will be sorry.”
“Please tell me you are not considering Sebastian Pierse.”
Simon grinned viciously. “Now wouldn’t he make a leader to be reckoned with?”
“He’d be worse than Kristian. At least Kristian had a code of behaviour, albeit warped.”
“You had the choice, Karl.” Karl sensed frustration behind the grin. And fear, perhaps. “One last chance to change your mind.”
“No. I won’t be blackmailed. You’ll never find Sebastian; even Kristian couldn’t track him down. No, I won’t change my mind. I once thought we might be friends,” Karl said sadly. “You reminded me of a human I once knew, a brave and decent man, a war hero. But you’re a liar. You enjoyed tormenting us. You speak of God’s plan, yet all you care about is getting your own way. You’re no archangel, never were. Don’t talk to me about the good of vampire-kind, when you secretly despise us all.”
Simon glared. Karl saw crimson fire behind his golden eyes, the worm eating at the rose. Finally he said grimly, “No, you’re right. You wouldn’t make a suitable leader. You’re weak. Love for Charlotte has blinded you to Lilith’s evil. I should have known better than to try reasoning with an atheist.”
“I’d sooner go to hell than bow to your cruel God,” Karl retorted coldly.
“How can you not believe?” Simon gathered himself like a tiger ready to pounce.
Yes
, Karl thought,
I was right. He’s deluded and dangerous – but he’ll never intimidate me.
“Many folk claim that God speaks to them,” Karl said. “Strange, that he says something quite different to each one.”
“I’ll find my way back to Him, and your blind heresy will not stop me, friend-of-Lilith. Traitor.”
Simon’s hands rose in claws and his
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