Dark Legion Read Online Free

listen to me. They obey me. They work for me.”
    The older of the five threw up a hand. “There is no such thing as a vampire king. Not even in our world.”
    Niall showed his fangs. “This isn’t our world. And I tell you, this is my kingdom you visit today.” He clapped his hands twice, summoning his latest servant. A fresh mortal turn that worshiped the very idea of Niall. Mortals were so pliable, even before turning. How many, especially in New Orleans, had built shrines to vampire-kind? Nightclubs. Films. Costumes. And it didn’t matter that most of their ideas about vampires strayed so far from truth. The Myth. That was what was important. The Myth that made mortals both fear and worship the vampire.
    The servant, a skinny boy scarcely older than seventeen years, entered the room. His skin was nearly as white as his hair was black. Silently, he went round the table and filled the goblets from the bowl in the table’s center.
    The guests watched, each with their own style of wariness. The eldest sneered. The younger female stroked her jaw. A young male leaned away from his goblet as if he thought it poisoned.
    He could smell the fear on all of them.
    The servant boy finished filling the cups and left immediately.
    Niall gestured with both hands to his guests. “Before you sits a cup of our kind’s most precious commodity. I provide this to those who accept my rule. You may drink and enjoy my hospitality. Those of you who deny my rule may simply let me know by leaving your cup untouched.”
    Every gaze rose to him.
    He smiled. “Again, I see the same question in all of your eyes. What possible reason would you accept me as your king? Simple. I shall give you dominion over a portion of my vampire legion. Your shown ability to lead will do more than merely help you survive as it has. It will allow you to flourish.”
    The eldest spat. “What legion? You make it sound as if you have an army to command. No vampire has ever submitted to such rule.”
    “No. Never before. Never before. But change is master of all things.”
    “Lies.” The eldest lifted his cup and dumped it on the floor. “I’ve had enough of this talk.”
    Niall looked to the others. “This one has made his choice. What of the rest of you?”
    The young female stared into her cup. “If vampires stood together as you claim, it could mean a whole new life on this plane.”
    “Indeed. No more hiding. No more starving. No more fear of the mortals that oppress us.”
    The eldest folded his arms. “A youngling like you would be so gullible.”
    She lifted her cup in toast to the eldest and drank deep.
    The older female beside her shook her head and slid her cup away. She bowed her head to Niall. “If you’ll excuse me, my elder. I mean you no disrespect.”
    Niall inclined his own head. “I gave you a choice. It is yours to make.”
    The remaining two vampires looked across the table at one another, then at the female who drank. Her lips shined deep red. Her skin turned a white as pure as sugar. Apparently the men liked what they saw, and both of them drank from their cups.
    The vampire directly to Niall’s right guzzled so fervently, the blood trickled from the corners of his lips and down his chin. When he had drained the cup, he slammed it down on the table and gaped at Niall.
    “You feel it, don’t you?”
    The vampire nodded. His own skin lightened like the young female’s.
    “Good,” Niall said. “Those of you who drank, I offer my first command as your king.” He looked pointedly at the two who had refused their cups. “Kill those who did not.”
    “Ha.” The eldest stood, knocking his chair back. “I’ll take the three of you on myself and show you the light.”
    The young female stood slowly. She gripped the female next to her by the back of the neck and lifted her out of her seat one-handed.
    The older female hissed and thrashed, but she could not break loose. “Put me down you bitch.”
    Instead, the young female