by Claire Marta
Head tilting to one side, Gemma’s eyes narrowed. “And she’s agreed to this?”
“Yes.”
Her body language suddenly changed. Shoulders relaxed, the light of battle eased in her large doe eyes. Another pink bubble emerged from her pouty lips. This one did not last long. The moment it popped, she pulled the sticky chewy substance back with her tongue.
“Jaz might be a rookie, but I trust her instincts, so I’m going to allow her to stay tonight.” Her voice was brisk. A warning note rang in its tone. “But you better make sure she checks in tomorrow, in person. Our boss will be the one to give full clearance.”
Eric nodded. “I shall.”
Gemma pinned him with a hard cold stare. “If she doesn’t turn up, I will be back to get her and I will fuck you both up. You can be sure of that.”
Amusement glinted in Conall’s emerald green eyes. He was wise enough though not to laugh, even when his lips twitched.
Eric resisted the urge to smile at the absurdity of the threat. “Very well.”
Running a hand through her hair, Gemma breezed past them towards the door. She seemed unconcerned how much the nightie she wore revealed. In fact, she was strutting in her heels.
Conall couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her ass. The swaying of her hips looked like they almost had him hypnotized.
“Try to keep your dick in your pants this time vampire.” She called over her shoulder without looking back.
The door slammed hard behind her as she made her exist. They heard the tap of her heels as she made her way down the hall.
Conall rocked back on his feet. Pressing a palm to his heart he grinned. “She’s a feisty one. I like her.”
Amusement gleamed in Eric’s eyes. “I will have to agree with you there.”
He knew the Irish vampire had a fondness for a woman with fire. Conall tended to leave a trail of broken hearts in his wake. His Celtic easy charm made him irresistible to the opposite sex. That was of course until now.
“Do you really think it’s wise letting the lass stay?” Conall enquired, his expression becoming serious.
Sighing, Eric pursed his lips. “The alternative is far more dangerous. As a human servant in the house without a Master, she would be open for anyone to pursue.”
That was something he would never allow. She would be open to anyone’s touch or bite. They would toy with her and fuck her as they pleased. He would make certain no one could do these things. Not unless he allowed it.
Scratching his chin, Conall seemed to consider his words. “We can keep an eye on them too. I don’t like the fact that they might be getting in our way.”
Eric agreed whole heartedly with this. Their mission was delicate enough without interference.
The other vampire’s gaze ran speculatively over Eric’s dishevelled appearance. “I take it your reunion went well.”
He knew Conall could detect the smell of sex. Jasmine’s scent coated his skin, his clothes. This made it more than glaringly obvious that they had fucked.
Eric’s attention slid away from his comrade. “Her reactions have been...mixed.” He admitted softly.
“Uh huh.” Conall looked like he was waiting for him to say more.
Eric had never been one to share details of his sex life. Normally they were only a one night affair. He would find a willing woman and fuck her the night through. He always made a point of never seeing them again. Never did he sleep with the same woman twice. He never shared details. To him these encounters were private. The act was only a fulfilment of a bodily need.
This was a rule he had always followed. A rule that had served him well, until Jasmine had come into his life. Now things were different. Yet he could not explain why.
“I am not prepared to discuss it.”
Wary amusement shone in Conall’s eyes. “Raoul was right. This female does have a strange effect on you.”
Raoul, another vampiria, had witnessed first-hand Jasmine’s effect on him in Paris. The three of them had been staying in a hotel suite together. There had been no escaping it. Even now Eric could still not believe how much he had confessed to the female. These were things, which he had never told another living mortal. This was almost embarrassing.
Eric tried not to growl. “Yes, one I would rather not deal with right now.”
“I can always look after her instead if you like.” Conall offered with a smile full of male charm. “I don’t mind babysitting.”
A dark wave of possessiveness engulfed Eric. It burnt through his chest and surged within his blood. “No, she is mine and will remain at my side.”
Conall’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Alright then, she stays with you.”
Eric turned abruptly towards the door. He needed to get back. Enough time had been wasted here and he had the urge to set eyes on Jasmine once again.
“I have the welcome dinner in a while. I must prepare Jasmine for the ordeal.”
“You’re taking the lass to the dinner? Do you really think that’s a good idea Eric?” There was a thread of concern in Conall’s question. He would know what the evening would entail. Eric was not surprised at his question.
He paused, but did not glance back. “She will be safe with me. I just require her company. I will do nothing more.”
“Alright, I’ll make a start with my snooping then.” The Irish vampire replied seemingly satisfied with his response.
Eric slipped quietly from the room. A few things needed to be done before he returned to her. Things he believed she would appreciate. He found her garments, in the room that had been provided for the blood donors to change. He noted the leather jacket he had bought her in Paris, among the items. This pleased him immensely.
The time apart had cooled his ardour. Once more his grip on his emotions and control was absolute. Detachedness was what he strived for. Feelings and emotions were messy. Something he did not need. They only ever led to trouble and he had been taught this at an early age.
Jasmine was sitting on the edge of the bed. It looked like she had showered. A thick white fluffy robe now covered her body. Her coppery red hair was like a halo around her face. She looked innocent, sweet.
An air of vulnerability and uncertain hung around her that had not been there before. The moment she saw him though, it promptly vanished.
“I have brought your things for you.” Carefully he placed them on top of the dresser. “Your colleague now knows you are staying and has gone.”
“Ok.” She remained sitting on the bed, expression almost wary.
It occurred to Eric then that perhaps she felt awkward. The girl after all had no previous lover before him. No doubt she felt embarrassed and a little uncomfortable. He had neglected to consider her emotions or feelings. This was something he desired to correct.
“I am sorry that I left you in Paris with a simple note.” Eric jammed his hands into the pocket of his jeans. “I had planned to find you when I returned to London. I have yet to set foot back in the country or the city itself.”
Her eyes widened slightly. A glimmer of emotion sparked in their depths. Before he had time to identify what it was, it was snuffed out. She did not believe him. He could see it in her face.
“Eric you said from the start it was one night. I can understand us bumping into each other like this…might feel awkward, but you don’t need to lie.”
His conscience prickled. Eric realised that perhaps he should have informed her of his intentions in Paris. Slinking away at dawn now seemed like it had been a bad idea. Regret washed through him. Now it was too late to correct that mistake.
“Jasmine I am not lying to you.”
“Uh huh.” She glanced away.
“Have I ever lied to you before?”
She began to fiddle with the belt on her robe. “No.”
“I have not been able to forget you.” He admitted softly. “I truly did intend to seek you out, my lovely.”
Finally she raised nervous green eyes. “It’s a little ove
rwhelming seeing you again. I mean, I didn’t expect to run into you like this….I thought I wouldn’t see you again.”
Eric sighed inwardly. They did not have time to sort out what was between them. The dinner he had to attend was not long away. As always, the case would have to come first. Then perhaps he could sort out the mess he found himself in.
“Unfortunately now is not the time to discuss it.” He smiled apologetically. “Work must come first. Then we shall talk.”
“Do you know what happened to Kevin in Paris?”
Her quiet question made him pause. The boy hand been an innocent entangled with the Arms-dealer they had been investigating.
A look of regret settled over Eric’s features. “Unfortunately we could not locate the young man. There was no trace of what Marcel had done to him and no body was found.”
Jasmine’s expression shadowed with sorrow and regret.
“Doctor Dasyurus is also still eluding us.” He continued, deciding it was best to tell her all. “We continue to hear whispers of him, and like a spider in its web, his influence is growing within the criminal world. Yet his identity remains a mystery.”
The Doctor had been behind the arms-dealers actions in Paris. He was an enigma that kept popping up. A faceless mastermind which pulled the strings of his minions while safely remaining anonymous.
“That has to be annoying.” Jasmine murmured.
Eric turned to the dresser beside him. “Not at all. He may turn out to be a worthy adversary and I so do like a challenge.”
Pulling open one of the drawers he retrieved what was required. He placed it all next to her clothes. The large velvet box was just how he had left it. Reaching forward he opened it.
Eric’s fingers caressed the leather of the collar, before he pulled it out. For a moment he held it in his hand. He enjoyed its weight, the smell of the leather, which teased his nose. Then he turned back to Jasmine.
“This is for you.”
Jasmine stared at the collar with confusion.
“It that a choker?”
“A collar.” He replied softly.
Moving forwards he placed it on her lap. He watched her touch it. Her fingers brushed over it with curiosity. The whole time her eyes remained fixed on what lay in her hands. In deep red, it was a fine handmade leather piece. Leather trim was black on both the top and the bottom. A metal ring was secured at the front. The back bore a locking buckle.
“You are required to wear it while we are here.” He warned her quietly. “It marks you as my property. No vampire may taste you without my permission.”
He had no wish to frighten her, but she needed to know the truth. Once she stepped out of this room things would be very different. The dark world she was now in was full of carnal pleasure and danger. He was only doing this to protect her. Keep her safe.
She fidgeted nervously with the edge of the collar. “Your property? By taste you mean bite right?”
Eric continued to watch her patiently. “Indeed. You are in a vampire’s world now Kitten. Things are very different, especially in a nest such as this. It is a place of debauchery and decadence.”
Finally she looked up at him. “What am I now, your pet?”
“A favoured human is more than a pet.” A faint smile touched his lips. “They are cherished by the vampire, a companion. They are concubines, lovers.”
Jasmine raised an eyebrow unconvinced. The collar was still clasped gently between her hands.
Faint smile leaving his lips, Eric’s expression turned stern. “You must play the part correctly Jasmine. If you cannot then you should leave now…”
Determination quickly settled over her beautiful features. “I can’t leave and you know that.”
Yes he knew very well her stubbornness. She was also extremely brave. He had noted that the first time they had met. That though did not always lead to being wise.
“No one is preventing you Kitten.” He pointed out. Part of him wanted her to go. A stronger part demanded she stay.
She slid to her bare feet and stood. The collar dangled from her left hand. “I would be letting my team down if I left now and I can’t do that.”
Was she here proving herself to them? As a rookie she no doubt wanted to show her Boss and colleagues she had what it took. This was such foolishness.
Eric smoothly slid a vanilla envelope from another drawer. With a flick of his wrist, he spilled its contents across the expanse of the wide neatly made bed. The graphic photographs were not for the faint hearted. Strewn across the mattress they displayed the unrecognisable naked bodies of the female victims.
He knew they showed every horrific detail in brutal vivid colour. Flesh gapped open, long cuts across thighs, shredded breasts by claws and fangs. Blood-less broken corpses, their empty glassy eyes stared up from the pictures. The killer always dumped them in a red blanket.
Not a trace of DNA or hair had been left as a clue. Nothing to point to the culprit but the savagery of the acts. Jasmine paled. She looked sick to her stomach, as she tore her gaze away from the evidence of the serial killer’s handy work.
“I’ve already seen them. I don’t need to see them again.” Her voice was quiet, shaky.
“It must be clear to you what we are dealing with here before we proceed any further Jasmine.” Eric warned softly. He could not afford mistakes.
Her attention snapped back to him. “We’re dealing with a sick and twisted vampire bastard, who gets off on pain. He tortures them, does everything apart from rape.”
“Now do you understand why you will have to trust me and obey me while we are here? This is for your safety. You must heed my words. You will be mine, belong to me. This must come across clearly from the start or you will be vulnerable to the attention of others without my permission, this could include the killer.”
Eric noticed distractedly the way her little toes curled against the carpet. She was adorable.
Her teeth began to worry at her lower lip. Then she gave a deep sigh. “Fine….are you from a nest?”
Jasmine’s gaze strayed to his lips as he spoke. Desire darkened her jade green eyes. Tongue dipping out, she nervously wetted her own. She could not resist him that was more than clear. Eric was not surprised by the question. She knew little about him. He was sure her head was teeming with questions. Not all though he would be willing to answer. This one though was not a secret.
“I am indeed.” He confirmed quietly, watching her face for a reaction. “I am the patriarch of a nest in London. There are two in that city. The Master from the other nest is also visiting. He is more the Master of the city of London than I, though we do share the responsibility.”
This meant him and Asier, the other Master, governed over the vampire community there. All bowed to their laws. They maintained the balance between humans and vampires. They also dished out the justice.
“Do they know you’re different?” Jasmine nudged her chin towards the closed door.
Eric shook his head. “No Jasmine. Here, I am a mere vampire. You must keep that I am a Vampiria to yourself.” He warned her with a narrowing of his icy blue eyes. Like many born vampiria, Eric enjoyed the secrecy. This allowed him to move freely through the vampire world. If they knew, he could be seen as a threat. He also had no wish for unwanted attention.
“I’m guessing it’s a secret.” Turning slightly, she dropped the collar onto the mattress, head tilted to avoid the photos of the dead.
“Yes it is.” He took a step closer. “One I would rather have kept. We are harder to detect, which is why we blend in so well. I trusted you with this information and to keep it to yourself.”
Surprise and a hint of hurt showed on her lovely face. “I won’t tell anyone Eric…I haven’t told anyone. I won’t break my promise to you.”
“Good.” Eric directed his thoughts to what lay ahead. “How much do you know about this nest?”
“The Matriarch is a woman named Lida, she’s the big kahuna around here. There are about twent
y five vamps in total in the nest, all male. She’s also the Mistress of the City, so all vamps living here in the nest or not have to follow the rules she sets out.”
“That is all?”
She nodded.
Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. Even a rookie should have been informed of the vampire’s tastes here. They had let her enter with no clue. Was he dealing with amateurs?
“The Mistress here likes to surround herself with males. She is a vain creature at heart and this is why there are no females apart from the human companions. Vampires are very sexual creatures, as you well know. You will witness this while here. I wish I had more time to prepare you, but there is a welcome dinner we must attend in the next ten minutes.” Gathering a garment that lay on the dresser, he held it out. “You must wear this. As you are new they will allow it.”
Collecting the tiny piece of clothing, she examined it. Her eyes went wide. Then her lips made a perfect o with shock. The flesh coloured bikini set he knew would barely cover her. This though, was better than the alternative.
“I can’t wear this.” Her cheeks had flushed a lovely shade of red. “There’s barely fucking anything to it!”
“It covers what needs to be covered.”
Jasmine scowled. She seemed less than impressed with his chosen clothing.
Eric fought back the urge to smile. “Believe me you will thank me, when you see what the other favoured mortals will wear.”
“I bet I won’t.” She responded crossly, brow marred with a frown.
He chuckled. “We shall see.”
“Do I get my own room?”
The unexpected question caught him off guard. “No you will have to share with me. It will be expected.” He informed her with a curious tilt of his head. Did she not want to share his bed?
She glanced nervously towards the mattress.
“Look I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He noted the way she shifted fretfully from foot to foot. “We need to be professional about this. We’re both here to investigate and can’t let ourselves get…distracted.”
Her cheeks reddened again in a pretty blush. Something he found endearing. So many women had lost their ability to do it so naturally.
