by Pace, Pepper
“Yes, because I am old enough to know that my body is no longer the matter that you understand but something that we can willfully manipulate. Neratomay can’t turn into creatures. However, a very powerful Neratomay can manipulate his or her own matter. Even newly created Neratomay can mask their other worldliness or become supersized when angered. But what you did was turn into something different. Kim, what I saw was something I’ve never seen before.”
My limbs felt heavy. No! Not yet! I need more time …
“Alexis, what are you trying to say?”
“Kim. We both know that you are not like other Neratomay …”
CHAPTER 8
When my eyes opened I was no longer in the coffin. Alexis! No! What was he trying to tell me?
I squinted because I was so used to light bothering my eyes, but now I was back to normal and the artificial light from the lamp no longer caused me pain. I sat up to find Julie sitting at my feet at the end of a comfortable couch.
“Welcome back to the States.” Julie smiled.
I looked around. We made it. “Where are we?”
“New York.”
“Alexis?” There was no answer. Shit! I felt a sudden emptiness. We’d spent our last minutes together discussing that creature. I shivered.
“Are you okay?” Julie asked.
“I’m okay. Where is everyone?” We were apparently in a nice hotel room.
“Karen took Tyler to the hospital as soon as we landed,” Julie said. “She needed surgery to repair the break. The fracture was compound and pretty bad.”
“Is she going to be okay?” I felt so guilty. I hadn’t wanted Tyler or any of them to be in danger. Had it not been for Alexis’ intervention …
“She’s okay. She’s going to be released tomorrow.”
“Can you take me to her?” I asked.
“It’s late. We won’t be able to visit her.”
I sighed. “Well, at least we’re home. Almost home.”
“Tell me what happened when I left you at Epic Cu,” Julie said. “ I’ve pretty much figured out that you can withstand the sun. I don’t understand how, but you can.”
I sat. “It’s true. I’m a day-walker.”
“And there are others?”
“What I’m about to tell you is known by very few Vampires,” I said. “Tony doesn’t even know. But you are my core group and I can’t hide a secret like this from you. I’ve been told that there are less than one hundred known day-walkers in the entire world.”
Julie stared into space. She wasn’t moving a muscle, not even pretending to breathe, which like me, she did automatically. “It makes sense now.” She nodded. “The punishment had to be changed or everyone would know that you could withstand the sun. Then why the hell did they make you suffer so? Why torture you when you were scratching each other’s backs?”
“Because they suspected I was trying to trick them into saving Tige and getting out of my punishment at the same time. They didn’t want me in the sun. They wanted me dead. Alexis wouldn’t allow that and he went over their heads and got a punishment for me that would cause death but not a sentence of death. I thought it was all semantics, but obviously it wasn’t.”
“When you stayed there on the porch of Epic Cu, did you know for sure that you were a day-walker?”
“I didn’t have a reason not to believe him,” I said. “But I didn’t see how it could be possible. You see how long I sleep. Much longer than other Vampires I know. I was burning when he brought me in from the sun. He healed those burns and then took my other scars.” I shook my head. “Our bond is so strong now that I don’t know how I’ll be able to exist without him, Julie.”
“You love him,” Julie said, “but is it the bond? Do you really love the man?”
I was surprised at the question. Alexis was a mystery to everyone else, but was he that fucking creepy? Well, yeah. He probably was.
“I can’t say if I know what the difference is,” I said. “I’ve come to the realization that I’m me but I’m someone else—something else. My feelings are real. But which version of me is feeling it, that I can’t answer.”
Julie stared at me. “You are so different. I remember being human, but I don’t feel human. Oh, I can pretend … but you. You are human. And you’re Neratomay.”
“And apparently I’m some other kind of creature as well.”
“The girls described the way you changed.”
“Alexis doesn’t seem to understand it either. I’ve seen him turn into this horrible … monster. But he says that he manipulated his body and forced it into that shape. He believes that what I am is something that can turn … change. I don’t get it.”
Julie seemed to relax. “Well, I don’t believe that you’re the only one and don’t you believe it either. You’re not the only succubus or the only day-walker, and I don’t believe that you’re the only Vampire who can change when you’re provoked.”
I wanted to tell her about Paul, but somehow it didn’t seem right to speculate about it with her. I decided to change the subject. “Julie, do you know about Athena?”
“Hmmm. Athena created Alexis. It is rumored that Alexis’ unrequited love drove him to the brink. His reckless disregard for rules and his penchant for torture seem to be rooted in his unrequited love for her. I don’t know much about her other than she is powerful.”
“But not an Elder.”
“No. An Elder directly manipulates the activities of the world through the various Vampire Councils,” Julie said. “But above the Elder Council there is something else, something older and more powerful. She is a part of that world.”
“There are only a handful of day-walkers,” I said. “And she isn’t one of them.”
“And they’re all Elders I bet,” Julie said.
“Therefore, being a day-walker isn’t the most powerful thing out there.”
It was scary to think that there was something more powerful than the ability to walk in the day. Could the knowledge of such a thing really cause a Vampire war? I didn’t want to be in the middle of it if so.
Julie bounced in her seat. “So what else happened after Alexis brought you inside? Was he angry at you? Did he leap into your arms?”
I sat next to her and smiled. Leaving out the details of our lovemaking, I recounted the story, and I was happy to be able to relive it.
“The Alexis I know would never behave like that,” Julie said.
“I’m trying to tell you all that Alexis is not the man you all think he is,” I said. “He’s a better man than you all have given him credit for.”
“Perhaps.”
She didn’t seem to believe me, and I really didn’t care. I loved Alexis even though I knew of the evil he had done in the past.
“I wish we could go shopping since we’re in New York,” I said. “Monica didn’t leave us any money did she?”
“No. But I can have someone bring us money.” She sat back, her eyes glazed. “How much should we ask for?”
I shrugged. “Ten thousand?”
She nodded and her attention turned from me.
Being a Master Vampire had its perks. Sometimes I forgot to enjoy them while being preoccupied with healing from the burns and running for my life. I had millions in various bank accounts and investments. All of us were filthy rich. However, money wasn’t a motivation for aligning with the undead. Longevity was the real benefit.
I have to be honest. Money doesn’t mean the same thing since I became a Vampire. I can’t grasp the fact that I’m a millionaire because really I’m not that rich. I’m a prisoner of the Neratomay. I have responsibilities and rules that I have to abide by. I have thousands of people that are under my watch whether they know it or not. I juggle the Council, the Elders, and countless Vampires who serve under me who would love to see me dead so that they can replace me. When Vampires have beefs with each other, it’s never pretty. Nine times out of ten somebody dies. Since I don’t know half of what other Vampires intuitively know, I am constantly surpr
ised by some obscure law or newly acquired ability.
For instance, a month ago we received a report that a Master Vampire had enslaved a human as his sexual servant. When we found the woman, we discovered that she had been imprisoned by this bastard for close to seventy years. She’d had children with him! A Vampire had impregnated a human? How the hell was that possible? When I asked Tony about it, he shrugged and said that it wasn’t common but it could happen.
Nobody seemed to think that was mind-blowing news. The offspring were always human until they reached adulthood. Then the Vampire would kick in, and they would become impervious to death unless it was a Vampire’s death. The children—now adult Vampires—and their mother had been forced to live with him in some quasi-medieval love thing. We didn’t kill him although the Council banished him from the States for one hundred years. He was forced to give her half of all of his assets, and surprisingly, he didn’t argue.
And what about what happened in Epic Cu? Who knew witches were real and there were real spells out there?
I’m still learning and feeling as if I’m on the edge of a precipice. Feeling like that makes it difficult to stand still and look at the millions of dollars I have at my disposal. And when you’re all burned up with no eyelids, you really don’t give much thought to going on shopping sprees.
I haven’t had much of a chance to enjoy being newly rich until now, and I was pretty excited about hitting some of the hot New York shops and boutiques. Only one thing could make it better and that was if my family could be with me. But I didn’t think about that. My death had been faked and my estate was paying a great deal of money to them, including my best friend, Arnitra.
I went to the bathroom to freshen up. When I returned to the main room, which was a really large living room, I saw that Julie had been joined by her Vampire assistant, Ran. We all speculated that Julie chose Ran because he looked as if he could pass for her Dad. She was fair-skinned with golden brown hair, and Ran was, too. He had been turned in his mid-thirties and didn’t act like the old stuffy Vampires you usually see. Ran was hip and cool and kept up with current culture. He sported a short choppy haircut that was messy and styled all at the same time. Today he wore jeans, cowboy boots, and a pale blue Henley shirt covered by an unbuttoned, long-sleeved madras shirt, and over that was a brown leather jacket.
He turned to me and winked. “What’s up, Kim?”
“Hey, Ran.”
He dug into his pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. He fanned them and slapped them playfully into Julie’s hands.
“Thanks, Dad,” she said.
“Don’t spend it all in one place young lady,” he joked. He waved at me and then disappeared.
It never ceased to amaze me when I saw a Vampire disappear like that, even though I could do it, too. It looked so damn cool.
Julie looked pleased as punch whenever Ran was around. I know that Julie isn’t actually a child, but I think there are times when Ran actually is like a surrogate father for her. And then there are times when I think they are even more. Her parents had died of natural causes long ago, and Ran had never had children so I think they were happy with the roleplaying they did.
Julie handed me the cash. “The hotel called a limo for us. Where should we go first?”
I shrugged. “We’ll ask the limo driver.”
~***~
Our driver really knew his stuff and took us to shops where I could find urban gear as well as sexy sophisticated fashions. Julie bought quite a bit of gothic styled clothes. I always wondered about her having the mind of a woman but the body of a prepubescent girl. If it bothered her, she never showed it and seemed content with the benefits of being a child. If Ran was her lover, or if she had any other type of sex life, she never mentioned it. She seemed asexual.
When we got back to the hotel Monica and Karen were already there. I had spoken telepathically with them to tell them of our plans to shop.
We spent almost every bit of the money. I bought sexy lingerie and underwear. I bought Apple Bottoms as well as Dolce and Gabbana. I bought Jimmy Choo and Prada.
Julie had bags of spiked chokers and patterned tights. She bought combat boots and leather pants as well as expensive T-shirts bearing rock stars and anime characters. After we showed off our new things, I addressed my ladies.
“Look. I want to talk to you all about everything that’s happened.” I knew that I wanted to apologize to them, but I didn’t know how to start. “When Tyler told me that Alexis was being imprisoned I can barely remember how it happened, but I got so mad that I lost control. No, I felt like something else took control. I didn’t even know something like that could happen to me. I mean, I knew it was weird. I just didn’t know that it was wrong. Still … I didn’t try to stop the rage that brought that … that creature out. My actions were all my own.” I shrugged. “I can’t even say that I still wouldn’t have run over to Spain to try to save Alexis, but I know that I won’t ever let my own desires hurt any of you again. You ladies have been my friends and my confidants, my security … my family. I’m ashamed that I put you all at risk. I just want to ask for your forgiveness.”
Karen stood. “Kim, I’ve wanted to tell you this a long time ago. It’s a blessing having you in my life. I try to always show confidence in my work and in my life. But it’s all an act. Being around the Neratomay has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Before you, every day scared me. You never knew if you’d be served up on a platter for the pleasure of your Master or if you’d be killed in a fit. Yeah, you turned into something … but that monster had nothing on the monster we’ve all been living with for years. I accept your apology, Kim, but it’s not necessary. I’d do anything for you because you are my family.”
I swallowed lump forming in my throat.
Monica nodded. “Kim, for the first time in thirty-five years, I enjoy my life. Working with you makes me feel as if we’re returning something to the world. Setting up the shelter homes and ending the Vampire bondage of humans has …” Tears ran down her cheeks. “It has saved my soul.”
Julie patted her hand but watched me. “Thank you for apologizing. But even if you had torn into each of us, we’d still know that you are the best thing that has ever happened to us, to the Vampire nation. When we are overzealous in our attempts to protect you it’s not just because we don’t want you hurt. It’s also because we don’t want to go back to the way things were. And without you we would.”
I walked forward and hugged them all. I felt so blessed to have them, but it scared me to know how precarious our lives were.
Our safety all rested on my shoulders.
~***~
While Julie and I flashed ourselves back to the mansion, Karen and Monica had to wait until morning when Tyler was released from the hospital and then the three of them could fly back together.
I told Julie that she could flash herself back to her own home, but she declined the offer. Julie had a big ass mansion that was part funhouse, part modern contemporary.
Julie obviously didn’t want me alone in the mansion, and I welcomed her company. Mara and Kat, my other two assistants, had done an excellent job putting the house back together in our absence. Kat had even done some redecorating in the living room. I liked the improvements. As nice as the house was and even with my own touches, this house had never felt like my own. I rested here, I conducted business here, but it wasn’t home.
I went into the media room and relaxed on a leather chair. I needed to unwind with a collection of old Blaxploitation movies I had collected while human. I selected a movie that would stir up memories of my human life.
Claudine didn’t fit into the Blaxploitation category, but James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll made me forget for a moment my own sad love life. I’d just dumped—okay, I tried to kill one boyfriend. The other was going to be exiled for ninety-nine years if he could survive the wrath of his sire. I would know if he succeeded when I felt my innards being crushed from within. So far so good. And th
en there was Paul.
I wasn’t even going to consider what was happening there.
When the movie ended, it was close to dawn. Instead of retiring to my bedroom, I concentrated on staying awake. If I was a day-walker then it was time I reaped the benefits of it.
~***~
I don’t remember closing my eyes, but when I opened them I knew that it wasn’t day. I had slept clean through and it was night again. I cursed and headed for the master bath to wash and change. In the full-length mirror I couldn’t help but marvel at my smooth skin. I was again scar free. Alexis had thanked me for the scars.
Alexis.
I dressed in a new pair of jeans that hugged my rounded hips and rode low to show off my curves. Braless, I pulled on an ebony blouse that only buttoned up enough to cover my breasts. It had been a long time since I’d exposed so much skin. My belly was uncovered, and I still hadn’t gotten used to how tight and flat it was. I lost my crucifix in the fight at Gigi’s house and missed it. I replaced it with an 18k gold chain with a white gold diamond-encrusted crucifix. It was a beauty, but it was not mine and not the one that had been around Paul’s neck. Gold nugget earrings completed the adornment. My hair was loose yet perfectly coiffed.
I slipped on black mules and wondered if the girls had gotten back okay. I found Monica in the office writing in the planner.
“Tyler okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. She said she’d be here in a bit.”
“Good. What are you working on?”
“I’m getting your appointments together for the coming week.” She glanced at me. “It’s going to be busy.”
What was new? Monica told me that we’d have Monday and Wednesday devoted to hearings. So far there were fourteen cases to be heard Monday and eleven Wednesday. Usually we started hearings at midnight and ran through the night, so those two days would be shot.
I had a Council meeting Tuesday. I was not looking forward to that. For sure my Council will have heard about what had happened in Spain and the bad breakup between Tony and me. I know it was childish, but I was resentful of Tony’s involvement in hiding the truth from me. I felt sorry for attacking him, but our relationship was over. Not even his old- fashioned idea of chivalry was enough to make me forgive him. I didn’t forgive him, but I was sorry that I had attacked him.
