For a few days things returned to normal and Rabon and Madirakshi were nearly forgotten. Erik sated his vampiric hunger then went off to conduct his business. Aidan visited one of the workhouses to feed herself as well as give food and money to those in need. She was headed back to the manor house, excited for the night's adventure. Erik had promised to take her to the British Museum, a feat accomplished by paying off the right people. She had always wanted to go and never could before. She had heard about its collection of objects from the South Seas brought back by Captain James Cook and couldn't wait to see them for herself. There was even a new area that had just opened in the last few years that boasted ancient sculptures and artifacts from Egypt, Greece and Rome. With all of Erik's extensive travel, she had no doubt he could tell her many things about the items.
Aidan smiled anticipating all she was going to see, but as she approached a dimmly lit street corner, her smile dropped. Stepping out of the shadows was Rabon Guntram, grinning ear to ear. Instinctively she started to cross the street only to have her hand be caught by the very person she hoped to avoid. She tried to pry her hand free, but the vampire caught her up and started to lead her in a dance without any music and laughing. Aidan couldn't help but wonder if he was mad.
"Ahhh, pretty lady, where are you hurrying off to," he asked, ending the dance but still holding on to her.
"I have to get home," she answered, trying to break free.
"I see 'Le Coeur Noir' has you under his tight control. You wouldn't want to anger him."
"He doesn't control me," she responded, offended by his implication.
"Doesn't he?" Rabon laughed, holding up her hand and showcasing Erik's ring.
"No. I chose to wear his ring. He doesn't make me do anything."
"That's what he wants you to think. 'The Dark Heart' controls everything. He might let you think you make your own decisions, but I can assure you that he has manipulated everything. He always has and always will. It's what he does." The vampire's icy blue eyes sparkled as he spoke, but whether it was insanity or just excitement Aidan wasn't sure.
"Why do you call him that?"
"What, 'Le Coeur Noir'? Because that's his well-earned name. It's what he does and who he is. Even as we speak I imagine your lover is being handed a bag of gold and some new generation of revolutionaries is walking away with a fine cache of weapons," he sneered. Aidan looked at him puzzled. She knew he always had 'business' to attend to, but he never told her anything about it. Rabon noticed her look of bewilderment and was immediately delighted by it. "Didn't he tell you? Of course he must have mentioned it, perhaps you only forgot." He waited a moment, but it was obvious that she knew nothing about it. "His hand is in every war, political assassination, uprising and revolution. He works brilliantly. All it takes is a whispered rumor in the right ear and the world becomes ablaze in hate, discontent and injustice with millions clamoring for blood." Rabon smiled triumphantly as he watched Aidan stare silently at Erik's ruby ring on her finger. "He has spent the last few years going back forth to London either in the employ of the colonists or for agents of Napoleon. The original goal was to make it look like George III died from illness, but instead he is slowly going mad. Either way it is working out nicely." Rabon laughed as though it were all a great joke, but Aidan just stared at him coldly. "My personal favorite was the little job he did for King Henry VII. I'm probably the only one still in existence who knows the truth, besides your master of course."
"Little job?" she asked softly. Aidan was curious to know the truth and yet she feared what she would hear.
"Yes, you see, when a man becomes king you have to make certain that it is secure for both you and your heirs. Henry became engaged to Elizabeth of York ensuring that the Plantagenet and Tudor houses would be united, but there were still two small problems being held in the Tower of London. He needed the Princes Edward and Richard out of the way because he feared that if they were rescued, an army would be raised and his throne taken. Most importantly of all he needed to appear blameless." He could see that what little color had been in Aidan's face was quickly draining away. "He was told of a great assassin that was very costly but well worth the price."
"So 'Le Coeur Noir' murdered the Princes and King Richard III had nothing to do with it at all," she said trying to seem unmoved, but her voice quivered slightly.
"For the price of a king's ransom in gold he snuck into the Bloody Tower through a window and drained them of their blood then licked the wounds erasing the marks just in case someone should find the bodies. He then carried them to a grave already prepared for them ten feet beneath the staircase of the White Tower." A look of feigned concern crossed his face as he looked into the pained face of the vampiress before him. "You look ill, my dear, is something the matter?"
"No," she answered as she pushed away all her emotions. From inside his coat he took out a sword with a pretty green handle that was carved to look like a snake. The blade had been broken and refashioned into a knife that was as sharp as any precision instrument. No doubt it could split a hair.
"Now this is the weapon he used when we were on the island of Öland just off the Swedish coast. There was a fort there and we were paid very well to make sure no one left it alive. We were so fast and so good at what we did that no one would come near the island out of fear for a long long time." He could see the horror in her eyes that she was trying desperately to hide and loved it. "I'm boring you, aren't I. You've probably already heard these stories a thousand times. As his current favorite, no doubt he has regaled you with his adventures, lovers, and his business dealings. I have heard Madirakshi speak so often of their times together and his prowess as a lover that I have the most uncomfortable feeling I was a voyeur watching them." He suddenly flipped the sword so that the handle was held out to her. "At any rate, perhaps you will give this to him as a token of my friendship." Hesitantly she took the blade, making his already dark smile even broader. "You know, seeing you hold that reminds me of another time when . . ."
"Mr. Guntram . . ." Aidan began, cutting off his line of conversation. She couldn't bear to hear him say another word.
"Please, I am simply Rabon."
"Rabon, please excuse me, I'm suddenly rather tired. I am sure it is simply fatigue from this evening's hunt and will pass. For now I would prefer to return to Osrik House and rest."
"I would be glad to escort you there." He extended his arm to her graciously, but Aidan was in no mood for company, least of all his. Without a word she took off into the night leaving the old Goth laughing at how deeply a few words of truth can hurt.
Her mind raced with a thousand questions. She was aware that he had existed for more than 2000 years and that there were many things he had done she might not be aware of, but never had she imagined this. It was hardly a secret that Erik had no love for humanity and the way he relished his nightly hunt was well known, but she had never imagined the levels of cruelty Rabon spoke of. Worse yet was the knowledge that he had only mentioned two incidents and that there were many more centuries she knew nothing about.
Stopping by the River Thames she suddenly sensed her lover's presence nearby. Looking around she saw him talking with a man as he leaned against the stone wall by the river. She saw his eyes momentarily glance in her direction then return to the man before him. He could sense her too, no doubt of it. Aidan quickly started to walk down a side street. She knew every expression and line in Erik's face, knew his tastes and preferences and in those moments when he let his guard down she had shared his emotions. Suddenly he was a complete stranger and she was a little afraid of him.
She wanted to go back to the manor house and think before talking with Erik, but that was not to happen as she saw his silhouette at the end of the street. Instantly she put up a mental block so he wouldn't know how uneasy she was.
