by Jackie Ivie
Wow. She’d been insular. Using anger and hate like a shell. She hadn’t let anyone get through. She’d been self-absorbed and inhuman. And now it was too late. She was dead. What a lousy time to get hit with that realization. But...maybe it wasn’t too late. She could always check on the other skydiver. Maybe visit him. No. Wait. She was dead. Better not. He’d be close to sixty now. He’d probably have a heart-attack.
“This is it.”
Lucien spoke at her elbow, his robe-covered form making a darker black against the black night sky. Ashley glanced at him before looking back down at one palatial estate sitting on what looked like prime acreage. They were in Minnetonka, Minnesota, looking at lakefront property. She wasn’t into construction or real estate, but that house looked close to 30,000 square feet. The property was enclosed on three sides by an enormous fence and protected not just with a security system. Real guards were patrolling along the fence. This was Cranston’s property. The youngest Brinn brother. She’d researched Marston and Thurston, too. They both lived in upscale neighborhoods in the Twin City area. Not Cranston. She already had proof that he’d been the one who’d contacted the Vampire Assassin League. This estate was just icing on Cranston’s deceit cake. He was living the extremely good life. She didn’t even know what he looked like. He was probably in his late thirties. He was a bachelor. Probably due to his lifestyle. She imagined him as unfit. Corpulent. He wasn’t much of a sportsman, preferring billiards and card games. She’d also found his tastes led to expensive hookers, high-end art, and astronomically-priced cuisine.
And her inheritance was probably paying for it.
No wonder he’d wanted her dead. From the looks of things, he’d been siphoning from her trust for years. And without a dead body or a will, the case would be in probate for another good span of years. That gave Cranston plenty of time to steal the rest of her estate. Or cover everything up. Supposedly the other Brinn brothers were unaware of Cranston’s looting. But how could they not know? Or, at least, suspect?
She’d already debated it with Lucien. He believed the other brothers were innocent. At least, until proven otherwise. She was not so sure. But he’d promised to accompany her when she paid them a visit. After this one. And after Claudine. That one she was going to plan and savor. Ashley lifted the hood of her robe over her head. She had plenty of time for vengeance – exactly as Akron had promised.
“You have a plan yet, darling?”
Darling. Oh. She could get used to Lucien’s endearments. Very used to them.
“Not...really. I mean, I didn’t know we’d be looking at a house the size of a mini-mall. Paid for with my money. I mean...my life. He stole everything and that’s the best he could manage? A pleasure palace? Ugh.”
“It’s a status symbol, love.”
Love. There went another one. The heavy one. Ashley’s heart trembled and she felt it. That was probably another portend of what love felt like. She swallowed before replying.
“Men. And status symbols.”
“Women have them, too.”
“We do not.”
“I saw more than one brand name on your clothing.”
“You want to debate, Lucien, or you want to kick some ass?”
“With you, darling? Either. You have a plan of action?”
“I’m still working on it,” she replied.
“May I propose one, then?”
“Shoot,” she replied.
“I think swordplay will be better. It’s more personal...and a lot quieter.”
Ashley snickered. “It’s an expression, Lucien. For go ahead.”
“Are you laughing at me?”
“How about I go with a nice little ‘no’, and we move on?”
“That sounded like a laugh.”
“Lucien. Please. You’re a bit behind the times. That’s all. I found it amusing. Not enough for a laugh. More a chuckle. Is that sufficient?”
“I am not behind the times.”
“Yes you are. If I’m not mistaken, you’re probably still trying to turn lead into gold. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Not lead. Mercury. It was scientifically proven in 1924 in Japan. Bombard the nucleus of a mercury atom with enough electricity, and it will lose a hydrogen proton and become gold.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Only now, they use a nuclear reactor. An experiment was conducted recently. Mercury was changed to gold. I believe the cost is prohibitive. Using a reactor for almost twenty-four hours is a substantial outlay while the gold gained didn’t amount to a penny. However, you need to factor in that they didn’t start with a large amount of mercury. That does leave a hypothesis open. Who knows what the future holds?”
She held up a hand and stifled the smile. “Okay. You’re a bit more up-to-date than I thought. And really fond of wasting time.”
“Actually love, I was waiting for a full head count of humans.”
Love. There it went again. Ashley swallowed to get her voice to work. “Why? There are six.”
“Thirteen. Potentially more. But only one that counts.”
“What the—? Where are you looking? I see six men walking around down there. Six.”
“We see six now. This is probably one shift. I’m waiting to see if they have a change, when it occurs, and how many. That would be why I doubled it to twelve. I also added in one member of security to man the monitors for all the cameras posted about. Not to worry, love. We don’t photograph. And then I factored in our actual objective: Cranston. He’s the only one we’re here to exterminate.”
“Oh. Really? Didn’t you forget to run that by me? Maybe I want to kill everybody.”
“What will that solve?”
“Maybe it will make me feel better.”
“These are just hirelings, Ashley. They followed orders. Why do they deserve to die?”
“Did Akron ask you that when he showed up at your torture session? Or did he just slay everyone while you cheered him on?”
“Unfair comparison, Ashley. Completely different situation.”
“How so? If I allow your reasoning, weren’t they just following orders, too?”
Lucien sighed heavily. “Darling. They were involved. Fully. Every man involved with The Inquisition allowed his sadistic tendencies to surface. None of them were innocent of the vilest crimes.”
“Are you saying the guys down there are innocent? Is that it?”
“If it will make you feel better, darling. I’ll kill everyone with you. We’ll leave a bloodbath the authorities will never figure out.”
“No. That’s not what I want. I don’t even know yet. Are you trying to be my conscience, Lucien? Because I don’t like it.”
“I was actually waiting for shift change. And...here it comes. Watch close. And see if you can tell where Cranston is.”
Ashley watched as only three of the men were relieved by three more. Nobody stood out as being Cranston Brinn. Damn it. She was going to have to ask.
“All right Lucien. I give. I can’t tell. Where is he?”
He grinned and moonlight glinted on white fangs. “During the flight, while you were so assiduously working on the laptop, did you note me?”
“Hard not to,” she replied. His grin got bigger.
“You probably think I spent a lot of time sitting and looking into space. Yes?”
“Not really. I assumed it was a guy thing. Or, I should clarify. Make that...a ‘Medieval-Alchemist-guy-steeped-in-woman-hating misogyny’ thing.”
Okay. Now he was laughing.
“I was listening, Ashley. And then I was pondering.”
“Listening to what?”
“You talk aloud as you research. You gave me several clues. The lay-out of that estate. The interests of your target. The fact that he’s a billiards enthusiast.”
“Billiards?”
“Would you prefer the word pool?’
“No,” Ashley replied. “I would prefer to know where this line of thought is going.”
“Wh
en he’s home, Cranston Brinn is either found at his table or in his billiards room. Isn’t that what you quoted from one article?”
“Maybe.”
“Trust me. You did. So. I know where both rooms are.”
“Oh. Right. I’ll check them first.”
“You are not checking anywhere without me.”
“Excuse me?” Ashley inserted.
“Forgive me if you must, but I insist. You are too important. You are my mate. I didn’t know what that even meant....until you. I cannot lose you. I don’t think I could bear it. I...I love you.”
His voice trembled. It was far shy of her reaction. Every bit of her rippled with gooseflesh.
“Oh...Lucien.”
He cleared his throat. “And that is why I stay with you. At your side.”
“Well, at least you didn’t say in front.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Excellent answer, Lucien. Excellent. You’ll be at my side. I like that. We might have trouble getting through doors, but he probably has huge ones.”
“He will also have cue sticks.”
“And pool balls. And slate-covered tables. Where is this going, Lucien?”
“There are two foolproof ways to kill a vampire, darling. Regardless of their age or ability. One is cleaving the head from the body. The other is a wooden stake through the heart.”
“What about sunlight?”
“Oh, yes. Sunlight can also kill, but only if one is a newly turned vampire. Given enough years and exposure, it becomes nothing more than an annoyance.”
“That’s why we’re here at night? Me?”
“Very good. Did you catch the billiards part?”
“Of course. A cue stick is made of wood. That makes it a stake. But that assumes he has the ability to reason and react when he sees us. And that he believes in vampires.”
“Well. He did contact the Vampire Assassin League, Ashley. Even if he doesn’t believe, he’s forewarned. And if he’s playing billiards, he’ll be armed, too.”
“Oh. Yeah. There is that. You’re very sharp, Lucien. You know that? Never mind. Of course you do. So. What’s your plan?”
“I believe we’ll do a bit of incapacitating first. We have six guards to handle. The fresh three are my first targets, then the others. They’ll be a bit less vigilant. We can catch a bit of feeding while we’re at it. We’ll follow that with the hunt for your man...and then you can do what you want with him.”
“Feeding?” she asked.
“Lots of blood down there, Ashley. Shame to waste it. Don’t touch the muscle-bound ones, though. Steroids leave you with a reaction akin to inhaling nitrous oxide.”
“Laughing gas?”
“So they say. I avoid fitness nuts for that reason. It’s the same reason I’m partial to members of wine tasting clubs.”
“Wine tasting? Now, wait just a second. Are you really saying that blood has a taste? And a reaction for us?”
He laughed softly. “Oh Ashley. My love. I am so looking forward to showing you. Everything. But come. Your vengeance waits...and I’ve formulated a bit of a plan.”
“Shoot. I mean, go ahead. Tell me.”
“We’ll handle the guards as a team. You distract. I’ll handle disabling. If I find anyone worth feeding, I’ll tell you.”
“I’m supposed to distract?”
“Yes.”
“And how would you like me to do that please?”
“Not how you do it with me.”
He pulled her close for a quick hug. Even fully dressed in pants and shirt, with one of his monk robes covering the whole, she could swear they touched. It was magic. And it was definitely love. Full. And wondrous. And she should tell him so.
“Lucien?” she whispered.
“Hmm?”
Ashley swallowed and lost her nerve. “Uh...I’m ready when you are.”
He grunted, and took her airborne. Right at his side.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The first guard was a smoker. He was just finishing lighting his cigarette when Ashley landed before him, startling him enough that he dropped his smoke. She didn’t have time to say anything before Lucien delivered some type of blow to the back of the guard’s neck. Lucien caught the man as he fell, settling him soundlessly onto a pebble-filled path. Ashley stepped on the end of the lit cigarette, dousing it.
“You smoke?” Lucien whispered it.
“Hell no,” she replied.
“Then don’t touch this one. You’ll get dizzy. Nicotine reaction. Good work, darling. Next one.”
Guard number two was more vigilant. He gasped and his arm jerked for something beneath his coat even as Ashley landed in front of him. That was disappointing. She’d thought she’d perfected her landing. He didn’t get to his gun before Lucien chopped him at the back of his neck, too. She watched as Lucien settled him onto a spot of ground. They seemed in perfect tandem on this one. She didn’t need a warning and Lucien didn’t ask. It was obvious, even to a new vampire, that this guy probably used steroids. He was nearly as wide as he was tall. And it wasn’t table muscle.
Guard three was taking a leak against the wall. Ashley snickered as Lucien rolled his eyes, before handling that guard without her. He didn’t assist this guard to the ground, though. Ashley heard the slightest thud as the body must’ve dropped. Neither of them said a word.
Guard four saw her land. Ashley smiled at him, revealing her fangs.
“Hi there,” she told him.
His eyes went wide as he stumbled back, right into Lucien. This time she saw the move as Lucien smacked him with the side of his hand. Swift. Clean. The guard sagged into Lucien’s arms.
“You want this one?” Lucien asked her.
“Uh...”
“Watch then, love. You’ll get used to it.”
She watched. Lucien’s canines pierced flesh, and for a span of time the man’s body jerked and then stilled. And then it was done. Lucien licked at his puncture marks, settled the guard onto the path, and then tipped his head up, looking at her. And even her description of killer sexy wasn’t apt enough. Dim light glanced off his marked cheek before illuminating the rest of his face. Lucien’s eyes were black as obsidian, deep as any well, and they had a mirror-like surface that glinted as he blinked. That wasn’t the worst of it. A drop of dark red fluid left a tooth, staining his lower lip. She watched as he licked at it. A whoosh of sound hit her ears. It was accompanied by a solid thump through her ribcage, as if her heart had been kicked-started or something. And the next second, Ashley was locking lips with him and moaning in unison. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t smart.
It was still ecstatic.
Guard five was whistling softly to himself, clearly distracted. He didn’t see anything coming. He was surreptitiously texting something into his phone as Ashley landed in front of him. He was still texting when Lucien disabled him. This one she got to pierce and taste. And then soar. Pure liquid vigor filled her, pumped everywhere with each prolonged moment she sucked. It was accompanied by a buzz beyond what any energy drink delivered. Lucien stopped her. He held onto her, too. Ashley couldn’t seem to keep her feet grounded. Or her limbs still.
“Let’s switch places this last time, Lucien.”
“Switch?”
“Yeah. You be the decoy. I’ll do the hitting.”
“I don’t know Ashley...”
“Come on, Lucien. Let me take out the next guy. We’ve only got one more. Please?” She was making little jumps within his arms with excitement as she asked.
“It isn’t as easy as it looks.”
“Oh please. I’m a vampire. Are you saying it’s hard?”
“It’s not the blow that’s difficult, love. It’s the reining-back of it. You’re powerful now. And you’ve just gotten your first taste of what feeding does. You’ll need time to absorb and evaluate it.”
“Oh come on, Lucien. Please?”
“You might hurt him, Ashley.”
“So?”
“You might even kill him.”
“I can live with that. Or un-live with it. Or whatever we’re doing.”
“You certain?”
“Are you trying to be my conscience again, Lucien?”
“Uh...no. At least, I don’t think so.”
“Then exactly what are you saying?”
“I’m saying it takes a tiny bit of effort to disable a human. It’s akin to...I don’t know. Probably like waving at a fly.”
“Are you saying I can’t wave at a fly?”
“I’m saying I’m worried.”
Ashley smiled at him, and then flicked a fingertip against his nose. “I can handle it, Lucien. Honest. Whatever happens. Okay?”
“All right.”
He sounded worried. He looked it, too. Ashley was too full of something to notice. It was a combination of all kinds of sensations: Supreme self-confidence. Vigor. Power. Strength. Certainty.
Lucien had been right to be worried. He landed in the spot right in front of the last guard. Grinned down at him. The guy backed into Ashley, and she chopped at the back of his neck. There was a distinct cracking sound before his head fell forward and he dropped. Lucien caught him. Ashley was horrified. Giddiness was replaced instantly with something that made her cold all over. And shivery-feeling. Almost sick.
“Oh, Lucien. No. No. I killed him?”
“I’m not sure.” Lucien set the inert body on the ground. Even without checking, his head looked like a disconnected bobble-top doll.
“Please tell me I didn’t kill him.”
“Well. It looks like—wait! Ashley! Come close. Look at this.”
She was on her knees before he finished. The guard was large. He was filmed in sweat, too, even in the fall night weather. He hadn’t worn a jacket and he had his sleeves rolled up. And on his forearm she could plainly see a tattoo not unlike the ones she and Lucien bore...only this one was strange-looking. It took a moment to notice that it was sideways.
“Is he one of us? Oh Lucien. I think I’m going to be ill.”
Lucien shook his head. “Ashley, listen to me. Listen. This is a good kill.”
