Arosh continued, “I come here with my friend, Kato, your ancient king, and our friend Ziri, who is often among you, to tell you what I know of this elixir that the alchemist made for us.”
Beatrice held on to Giovanni’s hand and felt his warm energy run up her arm. He stepped back and put his arm around her shoulders as she breathed in the rich scent of his skin. Then, she caught the bobbing blond head of Lorenzo from behind Livia’s guards. He was watching them with narrowed eyes. She tensed for a moment, but then heard the soft, steady thump of Giovanni’s normally silent heart. He was poised, but calm, so she tried to relax.
Arosh continued his speech. “I will not stay long. This is not my fight, but I do know this elixir and it is no cure. It is quite harmful and has made my friend, this ancient immortal before you, sick. Though it nurtures the body, it destroys the very energy that animates us. Do not believe this deceiver who claims to lead you.”
The low chatter in the room grew louder, and Giovanni stepped forward to speak.
“Vampires of Rome, I was trained by my sire to be the most rational of our kind. He desired that I exhibit knowledge and reason alone. I did not subscribe to superstition or magic. I believed only in what could be tested and tried.” Giovanni looked around the room, then down to meet her eyes. “But some things, I have learned, have no rational explanation. Some things are far greater than what can be seen.”
He looked around the hall. “We are not only creatures of the elements. Though these elements preserve our bodies, they are not the eternal energy of our souls. We are more. All of us. We are more than creatures of the physical world.” Giovanni turned to his grand-sire, placing a hand upon the giant’s shoulder. “We are creatures of the heart and the spirit. Of energy and things unseen. If we seek to preserve our bodies without accepting our need for humanity and what they offer us, we will be lost.”
He turned to Arosh, who gave him a respectful nod. Giovanni said, “We are not all-powerful, my friends. Even the greatest among us have been forced to acknowledge this.”
Arosh spoke again. “Be rid of this poison and be rid of your foolish pride. Though the great Kato grows strong again...” He glared at the vampires who surrounded them. “And will soon be as strong as ever—not even he could heal himself. Giovanni Vecchio has helped to heal him.”
A brave voice called from the back of the room. “But Giovanni Vecchio killed his own sire!”
Arosh frowned. “If he hadn’t, I would have. Andreas refused to grant me a favor.”
The room fell silent again. Beatrice wanted to ask why refusing a favor was such a big deal, but decided that it wasn’t the best time. She finally heard Livia speak. The favor thing must have been serious, because for the first time, the scheming water immortal’s voice held a note of calculation.
“My lord Arosh, forgive my ignorance. And forgive my earlier outburst. I was enraged by the thought of my mate’s murderer standing before me. But if you say Giovanni Vecchio has your good will—”
“I did not say he had my good will,” Arosh scowled. “That is not easily bestowed. I said he had granted me a favor, one that his sire would not.”
Livia nodded respectfully, her face a picture of accommodation.
Unbelievable, Beatrice thought, she was actually trying to get out of it. Livia continued in an ingratiating voice, “But if you would only forgive my earlier surprise. I had no idea that my husband had displeased you, or that his sire was in need of—”
“But Livia”—Giovanni stepped forward, still holding Beatrice’s hand—“you just finished telling this court that Andros had no secrets from you. Arosh, did you not tell me that Andros knew of the elixir and its effects?”
The ancient king shrugged. “Of course. I told him when I asked him to help his sire. He knew exactly what the elixir did. And, I’m assuming he would have told his wife when he stole the book containing this formula from my library and brought it back to Rome.”
Giovanni looked around the room. “Then surely Livia knew as well! For she and Andros had no secrets. Surely her ‘dear friend’ Lorenzo knew when he gave Lucien Thrax the fatal dose. They have deceived you, Rome. They hope to profit from this formula. To become rich as their enemies grow weak. They would use this elixir, not to cure bloodlust, but to kill us. To kill the humans we value. It is not the elixir of life. It’s the elixir of death.”
The water in the air that Beatrice had been holding began to shake again, as Livia quaked with rage. Beatrice pulled away from Giovanni and held her hands out, forcing the water away from the ring of flame that protected them from the multitude of black-clad guards. She eyed the one nearest her, measuring how quickly she could take his weapon from him.
Giovanni’s skin began to heat, and she saw the smoke rise above his collar. Arosh was looking around the room in amusement. “I see great fear on many of your faces. I believe some of you have taken this elixir already. Foolish vampires! Is your sire alive to heal you? I hope so, for your sakes. Come, my friends, you have wise immortals among you.” Arosh gestured toward Emil. “You are the people of the great sea! Kato’s heirs. Rid yourselves of this poison she has spread and appoint a leader worthy of you.”
Beatrice’s eyes flew to Livia. She was livid. The appeasing expression on her face had vanished and her arms were raised over the crowd.
Beatrice felt Giovanni’s hand tighten around hers and knew he had seen the insane glint in Livia’s eyes, too.