Read In Darkness We Must Abide (The Fallen King, Episode 8) for Free Online

we had a chance.  I thought you were the one.”
    She didn ’t even know what to say in answer to that. Resting her forehead against the cool glass, Vanora stared down at the growing gloom surrounding the mansion.
    “ Is it because of that Armando guy?” Dan asked, anger lacing his voice suddenly.
    “ No, it’s not because of Armando. Like I told you, we’re old friends,” Vanora said, now wanting to get off the phone and leave this chapter of her life behind.
    “ Because there seemed to be something between you two,” Dan continued.
    Vanora struggled to keep the annoyance from her voice. “Dan, we’re over now. Let’s end this amicably.”
    “ I just don’t understand how we could have gone from being so happy to you running away.”
    “ Dan, the reality is I don’t love you. I don’t have a future with you.”
    “ And you have one with Armando?” The nastiness in Dan’s voice surprised her.
    Vanora didn ’t even know any more if she had a future. Fate seemed determined to drag her kicking and screaming into the darkness. “Dan, the truth is Armando and I were lovers and I never got over him. I’m sorry.”
    “ That’s all you had to say,” Dan said, and killed the call.
    With an irritated sigh, Vanora slid her phone into the pocket of her jeans. Turning around, she was startled to see Armando standing in the center of her room. Dragging a hand through his dark curls, he gave her a surprisingly sheepish grin.
    “You heard that, didn’t you?”
    Smiling coyly, Armando nodded.
    “You were under the bed, weren’t you?”
    “ Yes.”
    “ I’m over you,” Vanora said defiantly.
    “ No, you’re not.”
    Vanora found it increasingly hard to take a breath.
    “No more than I’m over you,” Armando finished.
    “ We’re doomed, you know,” Vanora said sadly.
    “ Yes.” Armando drew closer to her. “We are.”
    Every step he took made her heart beat faster. The vampire was almost to her, when he paused. Appearing a bit uncomfortable, he took a step away from her.
    “Armando?”
    “ I need to go. I need to feed.” He quickly opened one of her windows and perched on the ledge. “I’ll be back soon.”
    “ There is pig’s blood here.”  Fear flitted through her. Despite all the tension between them, Armando did make her feel safe. The thought of facing her siblings without him made her very uneasy.
    “ I have to drink human blood, Vanora,” Armando said simply. “I need to be at my most powerful to defend you.”
    “ You said we were going to talk!”
    “ We will. When I return.” Armando lashed out, gripped her hand, and drew her close. “I won’t be long. Speak to Roman. Stay close to the other vampires. Don’t leave the house.”
    As always, his touch did wonderful, yet terrible things to her nerves.
    Then he was gone in the blink of an eye.
    Closing the window, Vanora took a deep breath.
    It was time to face the vampires.
     
    * * *
     
    After a hot shower, Vanora dressed in a long, wine-colored velvet skirt, black angora sweater, and black ankle boots. She wasn’t exactly sure how she should dress for a party she hadn’t even expected to attend, but she had found something suitable in her closet.
    The house was strangely quiet when she emerged from her bedroom and hurried downstairs. Tonight, her body was tingling all over for the night was charged with danger.  There was an ominous presence in the gloom that lay beyond the sanctuary of the house.  In the kitchen she found Miss Robbins.
    “Oh, you look so pretty!”
    “ You’re still here?”
    “ I don’t fear the vampires, darling.” Miss Robbins gave her a broad smile.
    “ A lot has changed.” Vanora admitted.
    Ryan entered the kitchen, freshly scrubbed up after working hard outside all day.  “Hey, Miss Vanora, you’re home safe and sound I see.”
    It was strange being back in the world she had run away from and seeing how much had changed. Ryan had more white hair and was a little craggier in the face,