The Dark Blood of Poppies by Freda Warrington Read Free Book Online

John.
    “But I didn’t act alone.” She willed Stefan to come to her defence, but he only shook his head, looking helpless.
    “It’s no good appealing to him,” Ilona said tartly. “Stefan may have helped in the transformation, but we all know you initiated it. And the fact that Katerina also took part did not inhibit Violette from slicing off her head.”
    Charlotte couldn’t look at Karl. “She acted to save my life. And I can’t know the truth about Matthew unless I hear Violette’s side of the story. Why are you trying to turn me against her?”
    “We don’t want another Kristian!” said Rachel.
    “Don’t be ridiculous. She’s not seeking to rule you.” As Charlotte spoke, a ghastly memory rose of the way they’d banded together to assassinate Kristian. She felt Karl’s hand on her shoulder and knew he was sharing her memories. Gods, were they proposing a similar lynch mob to destroy Violette?
    John said, “We need to know why you transformed her.”
    “What business is it of yours?” Charlotte said indignantly, but Karl’s hand grew heavier.
    “Tell them,” said Karl. “We have nothing to hide.”
    “All right.” Charlotte composed herself, determined to outface them. “It was my fault. I forced her. I can’t justify what I did. As a human she was beautiful and I was drawn to her… you know how it can be. But I never planned to change her – until I learned she had arthritis that would eventually stop her dancing. I couldn’t bear her talent to be lost, or to see her grow old and crippled. Was I selfish? I wanted her to stay perfect forever.”
    Karl’s fingers were now so tight that they hurt like the kiss of fangs.
    “And then she went crazy,” said Pierre. “Stefan told us.”
    Charlotte felt betrayed that Stefan had told others about such intimate and painful events.
    “Which of you didn’t go mad in the first moment of becoming undead?” she said. “Who wasn’t horrified by the blood thirst, who didn’t believe themselves damned?”
    “Damned, yes,” John said thinly, “but none of us became Lilith, the queen of vampires.”
    Charlotte said helplessly, “I can’t explain. It’s too complicated. I could theorise all night, but I have no answers.”
    “When you made her,” said John, “every vampire felt a darkening of the ether. Everyone knew! She’s sown a seed of darkness in the Crystal Ring that will destroy us all.”
    Charlotte didn’t reply. She had noticed changes in the Crystal Ring but couldn’t talk about them, even to Karl.
    “And what of you, Karl?” said John. “Have you nothing to say?”
    “Like Charlotte, I prefer to reserve judgement until I’ve spoken to Violette,” Karl said like the diplomat he was. Charlotte wished he would defend her wholeheartedly. She understood his distrust of Violette, but all the same, she hated it. He added, “Violette may present danger. However, I trust that you are proposing caution rather than assassination. We are not extremists, and like Rachel we all prefer a quiet existence. That is why we opposed Kristian. Let’s remember that we’re all on the same side.”
    “Of course we are!” said Stefan. John’s expression remained closed.
    Charlotte decided to speak plainly. “Yes, it’s my fault Violette was initiated, and I take full responsibility. You don’t know her! Until you understand her reasons, don’t pass judgement on her. All she cares about is dancing; why should she be remotely interested in any of you? Don’t pester her, and she won’t touch you. But if you approach her with threats, what do you expect? Leave her in peace and you’ll be safe. You have my word.”
    “You must be very sure of your influence over her,” Rachel said acidly.
    “I cannot forget Matthew,” said John. “An eye for an eye…”
    “If you go anywhere near her –” Charlotte flared, close to losing control.
    “I support Charlotte,” Pierre broke in. “The whole thing is ludicrous. What’s become of