The tiger roared at them, exposing its formidable teeth and Tavish hissed. Both of their large fangs looked menacing. The tiger moved off, growling deep within his throat. Mercy thought she might wet herself. Next, a white wolf appeared. Mercy had seen the pelt of an animal like this before. It was more beautiful alive than dead, but a great deal more ominous. The wolf, also white-eyed, dropped his head and snarled. Fangs hung past his chin. Tavish snarled louder. Mercy was shaking so badly she knew if Tavish didn’t have his arm wrapped around her, she would have fallen. Tavish called the wolf Lovel. The next creature to appear Tavish called a wild boar and told her its name was Rhino.
Once Mercy had seen his Anivamps, she swore she would never run. In fact, she repeated it over and over until Tavish shushed her. Tavish looked convinced. He flew back over the wall with her. Mercy clung to him; she buried her face into his chest. She had a terrible thought and began sobbing. Tavish cupped her chin and forced her to look at him.
“What is it?” he asked. “They have been ordered not to harm you, little cub.”
“When my time comes don’t let them, Tavish; oh don’t let them—”
“I would never feed any live, loyal servant of mine to those creatures,” he said.
His words made her shiver. Now she understood why everyone obeyed so well. Just the thought of being turned over to these creatures was terrifying. Mercy knew each individual had been introduced to Tavish’s monsters. She wondered how many nightmares she would suffer from.
“The Anivamps were created three hundred years ago when I first started to build my utopia. I knew the ice age was inevitable. All of the signs were there.” Tavish held her hand as they walked along the fence perimeter.
“How did you know?”
“I was born near the end of the last ice age. Vast, open heated plains, floods. Massive icebergs. Severe weather extremes. Climate changes. Extinction of some animals, others that thrived, and some that adapted. It was unavoidable. Each solar storm worsening was a sure sign in the early twenty-first century. Throughout the years, humans had learned from the last one to adapt. This one, the humans were too ‘advanced’ to learn to adapt. They saw the signs but because of too many scientific speculations, the world went on its merry way. Who was right? More doomsday sayers?
“It’s hard to move forward when you’re thrust back repeatedly. You’re instinct is to fight for the familiar. It’s easier to be primitive man and creep along when there haven’t been such high standards of living to compare to. When I was born, change in humans was fought tooth and nail. New ideas were met with suspicion and fear. If someone had strange ways, they were killed or cast out. Humans were susceptible to mass hysteria. I’ve known of vampires who couldn’t adapt and have gone crazy with the inability to change.
“I’ll tell you about the Salem witch trials sometime. Humans are still highly susceptible to mass hysteria. You were born under it. Makes me wonder who the evolved one in man’s evolution actually was. Primitive man, who went on regardless but slowly, or or modern day man, who chooses not to continue.
“This took time to build,” Tavish said with a hand sweep of the vast area. “I began collecting humans long before the actual ice age struck. It was easy enough. A few went missing during a tornado in one country, a few in a tsunami in another. Earthquake in yet another area, avalanches and hurricanes. Even sunken ships. They were presumed dead. I gave them life.”
Mercy gasped. He must be thousands and thousands of years old. The idea made her head spin. “You must know everything,” she whispered in awe.
Tavish’s look was tender. “You would be surprised what I still have yet to learn, little cub. As the world changes, ideas change, new ones are formed. My father and I flew around the world just so he could show me people can’t fall off if they travel too far.”
Mercy was confused. “Your father? But you said vampires can’t have children.”
“My father chose to have a child. He loved my mother and asked her to breed with a man of his choice; she loved my father very much and was eager. When I was born, my father declared me his son to his coven. I was raised as his son. My mother was turned as her reward. I was turned at twenty-eight. It was one of the happiest days of my life.”
“What happened to your real father?”
“My vampire father was my real father. Once he turned me I was his by blood. More of Galf’s blood runs through my veins than the sperm donor’s. When a vampire bites a human our fluids mix. We take them inside of us. We learn who they are, what they are. I have no idea what became of the human man who mated with my mother. She was an amazing woman.”
“What happened to your family?”
“They were murdered.”
“Like mine,” Mercy said feeling sympathy for the both of them.
“My father would never have killed my mother. He sacrificed his life for me,” Tavish snarled. “Never compare your murdering bastard father to mine.”
Mercy was taken aback at his fury towards her. “He was terrified of his family facing the unknown. My father thought he was saving her.”
“By killing her?” he snapped. “Do you understand how stupid that sounds?”
“I’m not stupid. It was the way I was raised; it was the way my father was raised. He loved us; his way was just different than yours,” Mercy whispered, hurt and confused, and she turned to walk away from him.
Tavish gripped her arm and spun her around. He pulled her to his chest. “I’m sorry, little cub. It’s just that I haven’t spoken about my family in over a century and never with a human.”
“I know why you call me, little cub,” Mercy said, feeling sad.
“I already told you before. It’s because when I found you—”
“No, it’s because if you say my name, you make me real. I won’t be an object if I have a name. Like Perrin. She was given no name so she could be ignored, ostracized. You can’t ignore me and have no intention of doing so, so you do what’s second best and give me a name that’s not real. I can be an object to you but nothing more.”
“It’s not that. I have no trouble saying Perrin’s name or Kia’s.”
Mercy tilted her head. He looked embarrassed. “Then what? Is there something about my name you don’t like? You said it suited me.”
“I have only twice in thousands of years spoken your name out loud. Both were on the day I brought you home.”
“Mercy?” she thought about it for a second. She started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re afraid to say ‘mercy.’”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Then say my name.” Her arms crossed over her chest.
Tavish scowled. “What’s wrong with an endearment?”
“Little cub is an endearment?”
“Yes.” He sounded petulant.
“Saying my name won’t make you weak. It’s just a name.”
“It’s more than that to me when I was never shown any.”
Mercy placed her hand on his arm in understanding, now feeling contrite. Immediately, she remembered his family was murdered. How hard it must have been with no home. At least she had him. And for his loss to happen so long ago. How many vampires walked the earth then? Certainly not many more than humans.
“It’s all right if you call me little cub. You’ve shown me a great deal of mercy.”
“I have a great deal more to show you.”
Mercy shuddered. “More Anivamps?”
“No,” he said and chuckled. “You were born a child of the ice. Come and see more of my world and tell me if you like it.”
“I like what I’ve seen so far. Even your hybrids are interesting. Scary, but interesting.”
Tavish circled his arm around her waist. Mercy’s breath caught as they took to the pale blue sky. The air was sweet when void of ice cold. It was exhilarating, magical. A bird’s eye view of the entire compound was shown to her. People waved from beneath them. Children laughed and ran after th
em. Mercy had never had a more special day.
From the air, she could see everything for miles. She could see the people below, including the irritating woman named Tanya who was gazing up at them. She looked furious. Mercy didn’t care, the woman was boorish. Soon enough, they were away from her and Mercy saw large pools of water. She begged Tavish to show them to her.
Tavish landed by one. The water was a beautiful green and blue. Mercy stuck her foot in. It was warm. She squealed when Tavish raced past her naked, and dived head first into the water, making it ripple. He came up splashing her. Mercy laughed.
“Join me,” Tavish said. He was standing a few feet from her.
“In there?”
“Swim with me.”
“What’s swim?”
Tavish grinned and began rising from the water. “I’ll teach you, little cub. I’ll teach you to move through the water like a seal.”
“But there is danger in the water.”
“No danger. Everything brought in here I control. Nothing will harm you.”
Tavish took her hand; he removed her teddy and led her into the water until she was submerged to her neck. Mercy was afraid but excited. When she stepped deeper she floundered when the bottom was suddenly gone. She went under and came up spluttering. Tavish pulled her to his chest. He kissed her.
“You said you’d teach me to swim.”
“It’s always best to learn to tread water first.”
Tavish kissed her hard. His hands brought her hips to his waist. His erection pressed to her belly. Both of his hands squeezed into her behind massaging her. His tongue rolled with hers and Mercy buried her fingers into his hair to pull him closer. She let her head drop back and Tavish lifted her higher to ravage her neck with his teeth and lips.
Mercy was panting already. She clasped her legs around him wanting him. It was exciting to love each other in the water. They were alone, until Mercy saw the Anivamps. She jumped but Tavish held her tighter. He promised her she was safe in his arms. She peeked at the animals over Tavish’s shoulder. Druid yawned lazily. Lovel sat on his haunches. When Tavish slipped into her she gasped. Mercy, still wary, studied the animal vampires. They looked at Tavish with adoration. Mercy had an odd sensation they wanted to be noticed. For a brief second her hand rose and she twinkled her fingers in an attempt at a wave to Lucile, she being the seemingly less threatening of the foursome. The great ape rose high on her feet and raised a hand. Mercy relaxed.
She kissed at Tavish’s throat. He licked hers but took no blood. She did feel safe. Mercy closed her eyes and gave into the sensations he created. The smells, sounds and tastes of the foliage were in the air. When Mercy opened her eyes, Lovel was swimming nearby. Rhino was chasing a butterfly. Lucile watched them quietly, her eyes an open book of longing. Druid was harder to interpret, his big shaggy head rested on his huge paws, his eyes were half closed.
Tavish held her by her waist and behind. He lifted and released her so she would slowly slide back onto him, impaling herself. His muscles bunched and relaxed. With some surprise, Mercy noted they had floated into the middle of the pond. There was no bottom when she looked down. Tavish stopped letting her slide back onto him on her own. He was lifting her and pulling her down to meet his now eager thrusts.
The water began churning around them. Waves lapped at her cheeks and flowed across her shoulders. Mercy clung tight. Tavish held her crushed against him. She loved his tempered power. He knew exactly how much to exert without crushing her, yet making her captive. Mercy cried out when she came and heard Lucile grunt from the bank. The great ape began beating her chest. Tavish was growling as he built and moved faster. Mercy gasped in air in huge mouthfuls. Her moans grew louder with each heated hard thrust of Tavish’s hips. Mercy clung harder to him. The water made them both slippery. When Tavish roared his release Druid roared and Lovel howled. Rhino stopped spinning in tight circles and snorted. Lucile sat back on her haunches and grunted. Mercy laid her head on Tavish’s shoulder.
“I like swimming already,” Mercy whispered.
Tavish chuckled and gazed around as if noticing where they were for the first time. “Then I’ll have to bring you swimming often.”
Tavish spent the afternoon teaching Mercy to swim. He called it dog paddling. Lovel was a pro. At one point she took Lovel’s tail and paddled along. By the time they left the pond, Mercy’s fear of the Anivamps had lessened. No doubt Tavish controlled them, but after three hundred years, Mercy wondered at their intelligence. When Tavish took them both into the sky, night was fast approaching. Mercy cuddled close to his chest. The warm air dried them. She was happier than she ever remembered. And for the first time in her life she felt absolutely safe from everything in the world. It was an incredible feeling. Mercy thought it might be love. She was in love with Tavish and it felt right.
* * * *
The iceberg reeks of him, Master. There are females as well.
Tavish was alone in the hall with Ursus a week later. She had found Remo. “You have done well, my friend.”
Your little cub has family there. I could smell her scent.
“Interesting.” Tavish stood thinking. A family member would please his little cub. Tavish had annoyingly been thinking of ways to please her more and more. The way she took delight in the simplest of things was a breath of fresh air. She had cried in enchantment when he had shown her his library. She had a fondness for books. Normally, as a rule the humans weren’t taught to read or write. Mercy couldn’t write and her reading was slow, but it amused her and made her happy. What could be the harm in a few little stories?
“We will go tonight. Thank you, Ursus. You’re a big help as always.”
Tavish gazed deeply into her eyes for a moment before her huge paws wrapped around him in a bear hug. His face buried into her fur as he returned the almost bone-crushing pressure. He loved her. A small movement caught his eye and he saw Mercy hiding off to the side. She was smiling at him and Ursus in a fond way. Ursus noticed her too.
I like her, Master. She doesn’t run and cower from me. She has strength, heart.
Tavish stepped back from the bear. He had been thinking the same of Mercy. “Off with you, my friend. We will meet you there shortly.” Ursus grunted in the affirmative and left. Tavish looked at Mercy who crept out of the shadows; she was smiling at him.
“I didn’t want to intrude on her moment,” Mercy said.
When she drew close, Tavish wrapped her in his arms, exceedingly more gentle than he had been with Ursus. Her beautiful body molded to him. He lowered his head to smell her sweet scent. He needed to be more careful. She wouldn’t live forever and it was best he didn’t get too attached. He warned his men often enough about their own females.
Mercy nuzzled his chest with her nose, making him smile. Her teeth bit carefully at him before her tongue licked him over his shirt. She had grown very playful with him. She begged him often to share his memories and she gave herself to him willingly. Tavish knew she was in love with him. Her memories of her feelings flowed as fast as her blood. Tavish liked when they joined. She was the most exciting and yet innocent female he had ever met. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let her get a little closer.
Later that night, Tavish settled Mercy at the mating table. Tanya tossed her head like an annoyed mare and glared at Mercy, and for the first time, Tavish lost patience with the woman who was behaving more and more like a spurned bitch towards Mercy. Tavish didn’t normally raise his voice with his humans but he did with Tanya. To her deep humiliation, Tavish ordered Tanya to her room; she could eat alone. And she wasn’t to return until she could learn to behave like an adult. She left, racing from the hall, howling and sobbing with embarrassment.
A few of the men, human and vampire chuckled as she bolted, wailing at the top of her lungs in her drama queen fashion. Even Rhett howled with laughter and clapped. Tanya was under some disillusion that Tavish wanted her; he didn’t. Mercy didn’t look smug, Tavish knew she wouldn’t. She did look a little s
ad. She had, after all, done nothing to Tanya. She was too innocent to understand why Tanya was so jealous of her.
Tavish gave Tate strict instructions he was to deliver Mercy to Laken upon finishing their dinner. Laken was remaining behind to watch the coven while Tavish hunted his enemy. He had already informed his men it had taken Ursus a week, but she had been able to track Remo down. It was time for the renegade vampire and his coven of misfits to die.
Tavish and twenty of his men took to the dark sky. Though allowing Remo to live, Tavish had kept a close eye on him and his followers until the ice age struck. At one time, there were only ten in Remo’s coven. Tavish was uncertain as to how many more he had. It didn’t matter. Any he had gained would be two hundred years old or less and no match for Tavish and his older, more powerful men. Hopefully, Remo wouldn’t have turned many with the human food supply so diminished. Even a loyal vampire would turn on his sire if he hungered enough. Tavish hoped the volatile situation had made Remo show at least some self-control.
The iceberg Ursus took them to was massive. Deep caverns and halls were strewn throughout like a block of Swiss cheese. Before long, Tavish could hear the strong beating of a heart, then another faster heartbeat. The radiating warmth told him the two before him were human and no threat.
“Did you really think I would do this? Are you insane? Or just stupid?”
Tavish heard the angry voice of a man. The cavern was semi-dark. The humans had no idea they were surrounded. The larger male human had the smaller female human lifted off her feet, by the front of her furs, pressed against the ice. She was squirming and whimpering. He was hurting her.
“We have to,” the female whimpered and then sobbed.
“It is death,” the male snarled.
Tavish wondered if the female was trying to coax the male into running. It didn’t matter, they were his now. Tavish signaled Rhett to get both of them. Rhett moved quickly. Both humans were captured and silenced in mere seconds. Tavish examined the female first. She was young, small, pretty and most importantly, of childbearing years. The man was in his late twenties or early thirties, dark brown hair, a bit overweight but healthy. Tavish didn’t have time to fool with either, they were on a mission.
The Brethren Of Tavish [Vampire Coven Book 1] Page 9
