King 7

La Rochelle, France, 1995

Kasinda sat alone on the balcony, overlooking the ocean. She sipped on a glass of champagne and smiled as the breeze blew through her long, dark hair. She liked France and she loved the ocean, and she had been having a wonderful time these past few weeks. Her sire the King in private she called him Gil, but he would never allow that around others had brought her here because he had to meet someone, some other vampire king. Kasinda had decided a long time ago to try, for the most part, not to get too involved in the machinations which her sire and lover always immersed himself. The man was never satisfied unless he was waist-deep in some scheme to rid the world of some other force of good, some new fiend who had suddenly become aware of the presence of vampires and threatened to blow the lid off their existence. Like anyone would believe it, anyway. I would never believe it if one of them hadnt sunk his teeth into my neck and saved my life. She sipped on the champagne again and nibbled on a strawberry, sinking her fangs into it and savoring the sweet taste. She knew most vampires no longer ate human food, but she couldnt see why. It didnt nourish like blood, but it did satisfy the taste buds. And since her body didnt process the food the same way, she would never get fat. Sounds like a sweet deal to me. Behind her on the balcony the King stepped out into the night. She knew most other vampires feared him. He was older than the moon, and he was monstrously powerful. She doubted there was anything stronger on the entire earth than he. But she found him darkly handsome, wonderfully fierce in bed, and exceptionally intelligent. From her point of view, she couldnt have found a better mate. Especially not one she had never tired of in a hundred and fifty years. Being a vampire has its drawbacks, but they sure as hell dont compare to the benefits. He laid a massive hand on her shoulder. Kasinda wore a brief little red dress, snug against her slim frame, showing her entire back. The King ran his hand up and down her spine, and she smiled at the touch. Back so soon? she wondered, gazing up at him. He nodded. I brought them back here. Id like you to meet them. She smiled at him, wide white teeth and perfect red lips flashing. Of course. He leaned over and kissed her, the one woman he had met in thousands of years that he could not resist in any way. From her mane of jet black hair to her golden eyes to the way her whole face creased when she smiled, he could sit and look at her for hours, whether she slept or traipsed about their house in Yemen. He knew she didnt care for the Middle East, but he was loathe to stray far from his birthplace much any more. Occasions like this, sure, and he knew she loved vacations. He couldnt deny her much, and he hoped she knew that and that was the reason she had agreed to stay with him in Yemen. Dont be too nice to him, the King cautioned her. Id hate for him to get the wrong idea. No one could take me away from you, she teased back, patting his hand, then taking it as he led her inside to the richly furnished apartment they had rented. Inside stood two men who could not have been more different. One stood shorter than she but still managed to give off a gangly impression. Long, unkempt hair with a shot of green in it topped his head, and he wore a goatee. A leather jacket and black jeans with combat boots 285

completed his outfit. He drank deeply from the glasses of blood the King had set out before them. His dark eyes took in Kasinda and he nodded in appreciation. The other man was tall, but again small compared to the King. He wore his blonde hair trimmed at a moderate length, and his moustache set off his long, regal nose. Brown eyes flashed intelligence, and his smile felt warm as he reached forward and took her hand, kissing it. He wore an expensive suit, something Italian and silk, and a kerchief that matched his shirt peeped out from his breast pocket. Madame, Im charmed. Your sire told us of you, but never that you were such a great beauty. Kasinda could almost feel herself blush. The pleasure is all mine. Its an honor to meet any friend of the Kings. The blonde vampire smiled. Im not just a friend, my dear, Im a brother. Didnt you know? We share the same illustrious sire. She regarded the King. Is that so? He shrugged, massive shoulders tugging at the sweater he wore. Even I have occasional lapses. He squeezed her hand gently. Kasinda, allow me to introduce Lothos and his friend Amilyn. I believe they have a proposition for us. Indeed we do, Lothos agreed. As you know, that bitch slayer Felicia Halpern was recently killed in the line of duty. Tragic, Amilyn sniped, refilling his glass of blood. Yes, tragic, Lothos echoed. And we have some nothing vampire by the name of Penn to thank for it. He raised an eyebrow. Still, a good deed done in ignorance is nonetheless a good deed. What does this have to do with us? Kasinda inquired. Not that we arent grateful that someones killed a slayer, because thats always good news. But? Lothos nodded to her. I was just getting to that. It occurs to me that with dear old Felicia in her grave, we have a nice opportunity before us. Amilyn has been able to figure out which new potential slayer will be called. Lothos set his glass down. We will have the chance to get to the slayer before she is fully trained, before she can be a threat to us. Well have those bastards on the Watchers Council on the run, losing two slayers so quickly. And then Amilyn can tell us who the next girl will be, and so on. He chuckled. Theyll never recover. Well get one up on them and then stay ahead of them. His brown eyes lit up. Dont you see, King? This could be it. This could be the start of all of it. The start of all of what? Kasinda wondered. The end, Amilyn supplied. He looked at Lothos. Go ahead, you tell it better than I do anyway. Lothos clasped his hands in front of him. The writings of Wayland, a mad monk in the fifth century in England, talk of a war at the end of the world between the forces of light and the forces of darkness, with each side led by a great champion. And I think this could be the beginning. You said that about the Crusades, the King reminded his son. And look how they turned out. As if anyone could foresee that the Judge would have his own agenda, Amilyn put in. Stupid bastard should have worked with us. We would have taken over the world a thousand years ago. No one will ever have to worry about the Judge again, Lothos stated. You have me there, King I was wrong about the Crusades. But this time, this is it. Wayland specifically says

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the final war will begin with the death of seven champions of light by one dark hand, and that that hand will be the one who leads the soldiers of darkness on their final crusade. Seven maids all in a row, Amilyn spoke. Thats right, seven consecutive slayers, Lothos concurred. Seven slayers in a row? Kasinda echoed. Thats impossible. Its not impossible, the King corrected her. Its just very difficult. He folded massive arms. So what do you propose? That we chase after the next seven slayers and kill them? Exactly, Lothos answered. You would make the prophecy self-fulfilling, the King pointed out. Lothos gave him a look. Im looking at the playbook a little. So what? Wayland never said we couldnt read his prophecies and arrange events accordingly. Lothos gestured to the King. Look at it this way. Im being proactive. Seven kills by the same hand, who becomes the champion of the dark, the King reminded him. You. Better me than Penn, whoever he is, Lothos remarked. The King smiled. You really think youre destined to be the King of the Darkness? Fortuna audentis juvat, Lothos responded. Fortune favors the bold. Why not me? At least I am aware of the prophecy, I know how to make it come to pass. He looked at the King. Why not join us? With you at my side, theres no chance that anyone could stop us. The son becomes the father and the father the son, the King murmured. Im not sure I like the idea of being your right hand man. There cant be two Kings of the Dark, Amilyn brought up. But we already have a King, right here, Kasinda argued. Lothos folded his arms. Not every slayer will come to you, sire. Youre going to have to go to some of them. Which means leaving Yemen, leaving Europe, going wherever you need to find the girls. He gestured at his sire. You seem not to want to go to that trouble, though. Dont provoke me, Lothos. Im a lot older than you are. Im not provoking you, Lothos argued. Im trying to create a world where our kind rules undisputed. I just thought you would want to help me, thats all. The King sighed. All right, Ill give you this. You kill this new slayer, just this one, and you let me know. You give me proof of her death, and Ill come join you, Kasinda and I, and well usher in a new age of darkness. But you get it started. Thatll be easy enough, Amilyn promised. Ive killed slayers before, Lothos pointed out. Not as many as you, my sire, but I have my share. He exchanged glances with Amilyn. And this one will be an easy one, I have no doubt. He laughed, smiling. Her name is Buffy Summers. How tough a slayer could she be?

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