Though she had faded into invisibility, Bram turned and looked directly at her. The servant peered around his master, curious to see what had drawn his attention, and frowned when there was nothing but an empty room.
Where is he? Bram asked, turning back to the servant.
In the Green Drawing Room, my lord.
Ill be down directly.
Bowing, the servant withdrew.
She tried to reach out to Bram, tried to speak, but with John so near, she became an empty shell incapable of words. Damn and hell, she had to keep Bram away from John. The other mans poison would infect Bram.
Youre still here, he rumbled. I can feel you.
Dont go to him, she tried to say. Theres still a chance.
She had no mouth with which to speak. No hands to grab hold of him. Rage at her helplessness burned through her.
He turned and strode from the chamber.
Chapter 3
A lone footman stood outside the closed doors to the Green Drawing Room, candle in hand.
No one disturbs us, Bram said.
Bowing, the footman backed away. Bram stood alone in the corridor, his hand upon the door, his muscles and thoughts taut. How to face the man he once considered one of his closest friends? The man was now a murderer. Was he here to kill Bram as well?
In a fight, John would be no match for Bram. Yet there were new measurements of a mans capabilities beyond physical strength. Bram himself had witnessed the Devil bestowing more power upon John, though what that power might entail was yet untriedupon Bram, at any rate. The Devil had tried to give Bram more power as well. The ghost had prevented it, however, stepping between him and the bolt of magic. Because of her, he possessed only his original gift.
She might be his savior. She might be his destruction.
He didnt want saving, and his destruction was assured.
Something brushed along his neck, cool and electric. It moved through him in volatile waves. Her. He knew the feel of her presence, her force and purposeful cunning. He knew no living woman
anything at all. He stepped closer, the light from the fireplace paring his face into sharp yellow planes. Mr. Hollidays gifts were twofoldwe were given power, and we also learned which of us were weakest.
Whit and Leo werent weak. Bram had known Whit for most of his life, long before either of them had seen the worlds true face, full of ruin and loss. They had stalked the streets of London together, haunted its glittering ballrooms and smoke-shrouded gaming hells. When Bram had returned from the Colonies, unable to do much beyond drink and fuck, Whit had not judged him. Hed given Bram acceptance, when Bram could not accept himself.
No? John scoffed. Even with the power they were given, both were misled by women . That Gypsy girl, and Leos insipid wife. No man of strength could be so deluded by a woman. He smiled. Not you, Bram. You know exactly what women are forbedding, and nothing else.
Fool, Livia fumed in Brams mind.
Bram took another swallow of brandy. So my cock makes me strong.
John seemed to make the decision to be amused. How marvelous that you are so little changed.
Was Bram the same as hed been before? He barely recognized his reflection in the water of his washing basin. The face he knew, but what was beneath it, that had been irrevocably altered. Witnessing one friend murder another tended to do that.
Its not usual, Bram said, for a man to attend the funeral of the one he killed.
Johns face tightened. The damned fool stepped into the path of my blade.
Not enough regret , whispered Livia. Not nearly enough.
The blade that was meant for Leo.
This, at the least, John did not dispute. Hed turned against us, turned his back on the Hellraisers. He could not suffer to live. His voice was cold and hard as frost.
This is Leo were talking of. The man you once carried home on your back when hed been too fuddled with drink to walk. You and he used to debate for hours about phenomenally dull finance policies.
That was before. His mouth hardened. Weve learned valuable lessons since then.
I was never much for education.
Stepping closer, John said, Bram, think. Consider everything weve been given. You and I arent like the others. We wont fall to the wiles of females. We know how to use our gifts to our best advantage. With our abilities, anything we want can be ours, anything at all.
Ive already got what I desire.
Yet you could have more . His eyes burned like coals. Mr. Hollidays power is great in me. All thoughts are mine to read, from the limbless beggar to the mightiest lord.
Tell me what Im thinking now. In truth, Bram wished John would, for his own thoughts were tempestuous and made for rough navigation.
John made himself look rueful. All minds but the Hellraisers. Those are illegible to me.
Perhaps that was for the best. He felt Livia close, agitated and angry.
Inconvenient, answered Bram.
But I dont need to worry about what youre thinking. John narrowed his eyes. Do I, Bram?
Bram did not answer. Nor did he look away. He only stared at John until the other man chuckled.