The Cursed by Blood Saga

by Marianne Morea

  Two male servants entered carrying the requested chairs, placing them each on either side of Sean. Lily slid into one of the comfortable seats, curious about what the vampire had just claimed. “I’m sorry, did you say auras?” she asked.

  Sébastien nodded. “Oui, c’est la vérité. Maggie, if you would be so kind as to indulge me.” He gestured toward Lily’s chair.

  Maggie stepped around Rémy’s chair to stand in front of Lily. She held out her hands and closed her eyes. The air around Lily started to vibrate, causing the little stray hairs from her braid to stand on end. A blue light formed between the female vampire’s hands spreading until it encompassed Lily entirely. Squinting, Lily tried to catch Sean’s eyes, but the light was so bright she couldn’t really see. Then as quickly as it began, it was over.

  “Well?” Sébastien asked, almost breathless with anticipation.

  Lily smoothed her hair down, trying to squelch the feeling of being the center attraction at a freak show. “Talk about experiencing what it’s like to be inside a light bulb!”

  The master vampire clapped his hands once in amusement. “And what say you, Maggie?” The woman stood back, turning to face both Rémy and the master. “She is a spirit walker.”

  Both vampires blinked, then turned toward each other in unison, all semblance of mirth gone before they turned to stare at Lily.

  Neither said a word, but there was a definite exchange, and just as Lily’s senses picked up on Abigail’s tacit resentment, there was a sudden air of fear swirling in the room at whatever Maggie had announced.

  Lily looked from Sean to Sébastien. “Excuse me, but what did she mean?”

  No one said a word, but Sean palpably relaxed, his body no longer giving off the numbing sensation she sensed whenever he went into tension overdrive.

  “Will someone please explain to me what just happened?” she tried again.

  Sean glanced at Jack, and then took Lily’s hand in his, turning it over to kiss her palm. “It means the channel Jack accused you of ‘tuning into’ while the two of you were arguing is the real deal. And not only can you pick up on frequency signals, you own the damn radio station.”

  “English please, Sean. What the hell does that mean?”

  “A spirit walker is someone who is gifted with the ability to call upon entities from other planes. Celestial ones.” He fixed her with a poignant stare.

  Lily opened her mouth to protest, but then thought better of it. Either the vamps would kill her now, or they’d think twice and let them walk, not wanting to tempt fate. “I see. I guess I’ve always suspected as much.”

  Sébastien cleared his throat. “So you’ve experienced communication with other entities?”

  Lily shrugged. “I suppose. I can talk to the dead, and they seem to seek me out. And I’m no stranger to the white light.”

  Maggie gasped, immediately dropping her eyes as it earned her a sharp look from Rémy.

  Lily knew the claim was a stretch, but she kept the image of Terry and the white light vortex she experienced clear in her mind, just in case Etienne decided to get nosy—and surprise, surprise, she caught the faint nod he sent his master, and the ensuing frown Sébastien wore before he censored himself, and was once again the epitome of charm and hospitality.

  He smiled, brandishing his hand in a flippant gesture, dismissing the obvious hole in his intelligence gathering. Although, from the set of his shoulders and straight back, it was clear someone’s head was going to roll. “As I said before, it is truly a shameful state of affairs that brought us together. We have been tracking Améile for weeks now, but, for some reason, she is able to evade us.”

  He sighed. “Sadly, I’m still not sure how to proceed once we do find her. She is, after all, my own progeny.”

  “With all due respect, Sébastien, she must be destroyed. There is no other way.” Sean interjected.

  For the first time, the master vampire looked like the killer he was. His face became void of chivalrous pretense and his gaze grew hard. “That is not for you to say, wolf. I, and I alone, deem what her fate is to be, and least you forget, yours, as well. So tread lightly. I care not that your witch can summon from on high or control the devil’s own hellfire. Heed me. You will not be given a second warning.”

  At that moment Lily knew what Carlos meant and she wondered what cost the centuries had exacted on his heart.

  She coughed, not out of fear but to draw the vampire’s eye. “Sir, if you please. I understand that human life is of no consequence to you, and the fate that befell the unfortunate Were we found in the morgue registers only slightly higher in your estimation. But that is not the reason for Sean’s outburst. Nor is it the argument that brings us to you tonight. Améile is rotting from the inside out.”

  “I’m aware of this.”

  Lily wet her lips, trying to stay calm, but Sean interrupted. “Then surely you must be concerned about how this affects not only you and yours, but everyone. The consequences are far more reaching than you imagine. At the morgue, we could smell the stench. Améile has not only infected her own progeny, but everyone she has fed from, so it’s only a matter of time before this situation becomes rampant.

  “We fought something similar at the Were Compound in Maine, and yes we’ve discovered a cure, but it’s DNA based, and since vampire’s no longer have living DNA other than that which is residual in the blood they ingest, it’s unlikely our cure will suffice—that is if it’s even the same virus—but based on the evidence we’ve collected, there is a real possibility it could be linked, and that means the virus is mutating.”

  The council’s valet and the bartender entered at that moment, carrying a tray with fluted champagne glasses and a crystal decanter filled with a crimson liquid.

  Sébastien exhaled sharply. “This is all too distressing to digest on an empty stomach,” he said, gesturing for the bartender to pour the drinks.

  “As requested, it’s still warm,” the bartender crooned, handing one of flutes past Lily to the master’s waiting hand.

  Lily glanced at Sean, whose nostrils were flared in revulsion too.

  “Stop!” she said, her hand shooting out to grab the stem of the glass as Sébastien’ tilted it to his lips. “It’s infected!”

  The flute crashed to the floor, and the blood seeped across the broken shards like an act of murder. Incensed, the master vampire pushed himself up from his chair, his fangs fully descended.

  “How dare you!’

  Fear gripped Lily’s stomach, and she squeezed her fingernails into her palms to keep her hands from shaking. “Please, Sébastien…it’s true, sir, can’t you sense it? Smell it?”

  Sean and Jack both stood, flanking her sides. They were so close to death they could smell it along with the fetid blood spreading across the rug.

  “I smell nothing but waste,” he slurred through his fangs and his anger.

  “You have to believe us.” Lily pleaded.

  Sean stepped forward, pushing Lily behind him. He kept his hands in plain sight, but was poised to phase if things got any more out of hand. “Sébastien, we came here in good faith, not only to help stop the bloodbaths, but to help you save your race. Surely you realize this is no joking matter, nor is it a bargaining chip. At least question where the blood came from. See if there is a tie back to either Améile or her redheaded progeny.”

  Sébastien sucked in a deep breath, and with it, his fangs receded. “Yes. Rational. That is the vampire way. You’ll have to forgive my lapse in manners, Sean. It’s just I have been craving all day, and I am not used to having my delicacies snatched from under my nose. Literally.” He turned toward the bartender. “Where did this come from? Who was the procurer?”

  “Lupo.”

  “Fine. Send him in.”

  Dismissing the bartender, the master sat down, straightening his clothing and once again crossing his legs one over the other. A nervous vampire followed the bartender back into the room.

  “Ah…Lupo. Tell me, my b
oy. From where did you procure this AB negative? I trust it is AB negative, correct?” he asked, indicating the remaining liquid still in the decanter.

  The vampire’s head bobbed up and down. “Yes, master. It’s AB neg alright, and it’s as fresh as it gets. I put the human donor in the holding chamber in case you wanted more.”

  “Good. And did you procure the donor from one of the shadow houses on the preferred list, or is it someone from a random hunt?”

  Lily’s mouth went drier than it already was at the images the conversation prompted. Shadow houses and willing donors were bad enough, but her stomach clenched at the memory of watching vampires stalk their victims on a ‘random hunt’.

  “Oh no, sir. Clovis supplied the donor tonight. She’s from the shadow house on east 67th street.”

  “Bring her in.”

  “Sir?”

  The master vampire hissed, and the vamp procurer jumped, nearly pissing his pants. “Right away, master… right away!”

  The grandfather clock in the corner chimed 11:00p.m., but before it reached its eleventh peal, the sound of hurried footsteps and rushed harsh words could be heard in the hallway behind Etienne.

  Both Lupo, and whom Lily could only guess to be Clovis, came through the door, carrying a half conscious woman. She was in a state of semi-undress, as was Clovis, and from the disgusted looks on the council member’s faces, it was obvious they didn’t much approve of procuring vampire’s extracurricular activities.

  The woman was already foaming at the mouth when they laid her on the floor in front of Sébastien. “Here she is, boss,” Clovis said, tucking his too shiny shirt into his unzipped pants. He was an unadulterated pig of a pimp, by any standards.

  Sean got up and knelt by the woman’s head. He took a deep breath and then coughed. The stench was so bad. With his fingers beneath his nose, he squinted up at Sébastien. “I find it inconceivable that you can’t smell this. It’s absolutely foul.”

  He spoke as much to himself as to the master vampire, but he didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he turned his attentions back to the girl. Careful not to get any of her spittle on his hands, he shifted her head to the side exposing a series of bite marks on her throat. “Looks to me like she’s been the appetizer for more than just a few vampires,” he commented, eyeing Clovis and the obvious proof of his duplicity.

  Lily didn’t think it was possible, but the procurer actually blanched.

  Wiping his hands on his thighs, Sean sat back down next to Lily. “From the look of things, I’d say you have an epidemic starting.”

  “Nonsense, we still don’t know how she was infected, or if she’s the only one,” Rémy interjected.

  Sean shrugged. “There’s only one sure way to find out.”

  Both men looked at Lily. Not wanting to gag, she was already breathing through her mouth. “Oh no! I can’t go through that again, Sean. The dizziness and the nausea—forget it!”

  “We don’t have any other option, Lily. It’s the only way we can prove to Sébastien and Rémy that this situation is rife.” His eyes were sympathetic, but resolute. She didn’t have a choice.

  She exhaled, and then stood up. “Okay, but only if we form a mental chain. I’ll touch her first to open a conduit and get a read.” She pointed to the half dead woman lying on the floor. “Then Etienne will have to channel my thoughts so you can see what I see as well,” she said, addressing Sébastien directly. “On our end, Sean and Jack can follow via the Hunter’s shared mind path. Sean’s right. If we want to eliminate all doubt, this is the way it has to play out.”

  Sébastien rose from his seat, motioning for Rémy and Etienne to do the same. The other vampires moved into position, flanking them, but with strict instructions not to interfere. They linked accordingly, with Jack and Sean each with a hand on Lily’s shoulders.

  She knelt on the floor next to the now unconscious woman, smoothing the girl’s matted hair in an effort to inject some humanity into this inhumane scenario.

  Lily inhaled through her mouth, but still gagged slightly. Sean squeezed her shoulder, and the cool feel of his confidence flooded through at his touch. She glanced up, giving him half a smile. “I love you, too,” she whispered, their eyes locking in a private moment.

  “You got this,” he feathered across. “Show them what my girl can do.” He winked, and she covered his hand with hers, giving it a squeeze.

  Foregoing another breath, she stretched a shaking hand out toward the woman, but stopped, glancing up at Sébastien. “Promise me you’ll show mercy and end this woman’s suffering as painlessly as possible.”

  Sébastien nodded. “We may be a master race, chéri, but that does not mean we are utterly devoid of compassion.”

  Satisfied the vampire would be good to his word, she placed her hand on the girl’s forehead, but this time it was Sébastien who interrupted. “You must promise me something as well,” he said, eyeing both Sean and Lily.

  Sean glanced at Jack before shifting his eyes back toward the vampire. “Of course, if it is in my power to grant,” he answered carefully.

  Time seemed to stand still as they waited for the other shoe to drop, but the master vampire exhaled as if relieved.

  “Good. To use your witch’s turn of phrase, if this ‘plays out’ the way we fear, I ask two courtesies: first, that you help us track and kill my sad progeny and her offspring, tonight. And second, that you lend us the olfactory services of your Hunters to help find and eradicate those infected within our shadow houses, both vampire and human donor alike. This is a sad business throughout, and killing one’s progeny is never easy, but for the greater good, I am left with no other choice.”

  Sean put his hand on Sébastien’s forearm. “I hunted my own brother for the very same reason, so I understand. We’ll help you clean house.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The sky was cloudless, but the air was damp and frigid. Lily stamped her numb feet on the red brick esplanade circling the Bethesda Fountain at the heart of Central Park. Her shitkickers were great for throw-downs, but their steel reinforced toes weren’t much jacket pocket.

  By now he’d seen her skepticism plenty to read the look on her face. Maybe he’d take the hint and go home where it was safe. “Well, good luck with that. Try not to get yourself killed,” she muttered, turning to scan the trees again.

  Ryan moved beside her, hands on his hips as he followed her line of sight. “I’m surprised the big guy let you take this area alone. What, no bodyguard?”

  Lily could feel the heat coming off his body, and as he stood watch, his intensity was equal to that of any of Sean’s hunters. There was no doubt Ryan would be an asset to the Compound, despite how much he bothered the crap out of her.

  “Look. Sean is the Alpha of the Brethren, and like it or not, I’m his alpha female…his mate. If you really want to be part of the supe world, you’d better learn that loyalty and trust are necessary evils. As to being on my own, Sean knows I’m a competent hunter, besides, Jack is around.”

  Ryan huffed. “I guess the fact he put me in such close proximity doesn’t count, huh.”

  “Nope. Not one bit. Until you prove yourself, you might as well be bait.”

  He frowned, his expression just shy of offended. “You seem to forget I’m a seasoned cop,” he replied quietly. “I came tonight because all you’ve talked about is my accepting who I really am. In order to do that, I need to reconcile the world I grew up in, with the world I’m genetically linked to. If this really is my world, then I need to test my own mettle. I need to see if there’s a place for me—as me. Get it?”

  Ryan’s posture was stiff, but insulted or not, she didn’t care. This was dangerous. “Listen, I didn’t mean to dismiss your abilities, but this is a whole new game with lethal players. Any badass mutt you’ve encountered in the past, will look like a cartoon villain after tonight. You want in? Then you’ve got to be prepared to step up and smell the blood on the vampire’s breath as you stake her. Literally.”
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  Lily’s gaze jerked toward the water.

  “Hey! We’ve got possible movement near the center of the park, somewhere close to Belvedere Castle by the turtle pond. Can you sense anything?” Jack’s voice floated across through the common Were path.

  “With all the supes Sébastien brought with him tonight, not a chance. The place is flooded with supernatural signal.”

  “Ugh…what good are you woman! What if you got closer? Would your antennae work then?”

  Ryan made a noise, grabbing Lily’s attention. “What’s going on?”

  She waved him off, sticking her finger in her ear, silently telling him to shut up so she could hear.

  “Jeez, Jack, could you make me feel any more like a bug? To answer your question though, yeah, getting closer would work. I’ve got a clear radius for two hundred feet as we speak, and if I know which guards Sébastien has lurking around, I can segregate their feel.”

  “Good. Then get to the castle. I’m at the Boathouse, so I won’t be far behind.”

  Lily’s hand went to her temple. There was an odd hum behind Jack’s voice that made her head throb. “Okay. Where’s Sean? Does he know there’s been a possible sighting?”

  “He knows. He’s with Sébastien at the lake. They’ll have to catch up.”

  “I’m on my way…”

  Lily knelt to adjust the stakes in her boot. “That was Jack…” she hesitated, looking up from her laces as Rémy stepped out from behind the giant angel at the center of the fountain. He launched himself in the air, turning a somersault before landing when it came to keeping her feet warm.

  “Come on, you fanged bitch. Show yourself,” she muttered, her warm breath puffing out onto her cupped hands. At least the rest of her was warm, having traded in her thin leather jacket and gloves for ones that were shearling lined. It was nearly two a.m., and still there was no sign of either Améile or her redheaded brat. Sébastien had warned that it could be a long wait, and so far he was right.

  The park was quiet, and she didn’t know if it was the cold and the wet, or the vampires scattered throughout, but either way she was glad the homeless had decided to move indoors. Maybe this way they stood a chance at keeping the human collateral damage to a minimum.