Bound Through Blood

by Alexis Kennedy

  Heloise once more pointed out the possibility of danger. "I am still not certain what to make of this, but I know it's not good. It's not your truelove, so there has to be another. You must be careful, Salena. Keep your eyes open to that danger while you keep your heart open for your truelove. Now, I must end our visit. I need to check up on a friend in the hospital." She walked Salena out and drove off to see her friend.

  Still more than a little concerned about all of this, Salena headed back to New Orleans to check out a vampire tour for the very first time.

  Salena found out that the tour didn't begin until 8:30 p.m. and would last two hours. She prepaid for her ticket and grabbed a brochure to read.

  Back home, after reading the brochure—filled with intrigue and spookiness—Salena decided to do some internet research on vampire myths. She thought aloud, "I have time to kill before going to the funeral home," then winced at the bad choice of words. Bringing up her internet browser, she typed vampire myths and legends into the search engine. While that loaded, she glanced at her painting thinking she should finish it soon—and something was off—something was different. She thought hard about the other night when she worked on it to relax; she had worked on the swan, not the fountain, but now it was completed. She stared intently at the fountain and the wide, firm brush strokes—they were definitely different from the small, delicate strokes she used. So, the one who gets in and out of her house like a ghost is artistic, too. She admired the perfect curves and detail of the fountain. Then she looked around the tidy house wondering what else he has touched and, still, how he could be getting in; she had to find out—especially before he assaulted her again. Was it assault if you enjoyed it? Shaking her head at the complex mess her life had become lately, she turned her attention back to the computer screen; her search had finally loaded. She clicked on the first link available, and it took her to legends from Europe, of the undead drinking the blood of helpless victims in the darkness of night. She read the myths about crucifixes, garlic, caskets, sunlight, and holy water. She scoffed at those—he'd left the lilies during the daytime, and she has a crucifix hanging above her bed. Also, there was the garlic butter she had put on her seafood the other night—she grimaced—the night Jane was killed. Speaking of Jane, why didn't he drink her blood? Since when did vampires strangle people? Maybe it was someone else who had killed her—Salena actually felt relief. Wait, no, the detective said the prints matched from her house and the other women. It had to be him. Unless it was the second killer's prints that were found on Jane. She needed to find out. Then she thought it strange that she would want to exonerate a vampire. If he is in fact a vampire; she still wasn't sure she believed. But, what other explanation was there? She couldn't think of any.

  She wondered if she should tell the detective why his fingerprints weren't in the database. You won't find them, Detective, because he is, oh, about three hundred years old—at least. Do you have any wooden stakes? Yeah, that'd go over real well, Salena mused. She looked at a couple of more links on her search. It was just more of the same; including if a person survived a bite, they'd turn into a vampire. So far, she didn't think she was one. She looked at the family tree, still laid out. Her grandmother… How could her 10th generation great-grandmother love a vampire? And what did it have to do with her now? She needed answers.

  There was some mention of vampires in the US, especially New Orleans. Mostly it was just advertisement for the vampire tours, though. She then searched for vampires falling in love. She did not find any love stories involving vampires in the United States; she only read a couple of stories of suspected romances in Europe. The stories spoke of women falling in love with the most handsome and charming of men, who only came around them at night. Shortly after the men started showing up, the women were found dead and drained of their blood. They would then disappear from the morgue or their abandoned graves. They'd become part of the undead and would wander the streets at night, seeking fresh blood. "Gee," she said to the empty room, "that's exactly what I'm looking for." Looking at her watch, she saw it was time to go to the funeral home. She quickly changed into a suitable black dress and headed out, with her eyes already swimming in tears.

  On her front porch, Salena found a black cat. She was certain it was the same one from before that had caused her to burn herself. Today, as if to apologize, it went right for her leg—rubbing and purring. "Shoo!" she grabbed the broom she kept there and swatted at it, but it just sat there looking up at her, purring. "Whatever," she said to the animal before going on her way. At the bottom of the steps, though, she turned and looked at the cat again. It was the same one from the night Eric was there, she was certain of it, but could it be the same one from the farmer's market? That is about six or seven miles from her house; could it be? Nah... She shook her head and got into her car.

  At the funeral home, Salena talked with Jane's friends and family. Salena had met her parents one time before. Their grief now, from the loss of their daughter, brought on a new onslaught of tears. She didn't know any of Jane's coworkers and Rob, the one Jane had wanted to fix her up with, wasn't there. Someone told her he had sent his regrets, but he was too ill to make it. Just as well, this isn't exactly the best place to meet guys.

  Soon, it was time for the vampire tour. Which also wouldn't be the best place to meet guys; so why is it that her soul mate is one?

  Salena got in line with several eager tourists. She was probably the only one who didn't look eager—she was there for answers, but was afraid to hear them—and didn't really expect to find any here; she'd probably just find more myths.

  The tour guide, a tall and very dark man named Clive, was really into his character. He was wearing a long black cape over his eighteenth century attire and plastic fangs; at least Salena hoped they were plastic. His ensemble reminded her of a photo she'd seen online while doing her research. Apparently, Clive had done his research as well.

  Clive looked around the crowd, "How many vampires do we have with us tonight?" A few costumed individuals raised their hands, and laughter erupted from the others. Then Clive looked at all of them with a very serious expression. "Now how many real vampires do we have tonight? If you dare reveal yourselves that is," he said with a wink. Everyone looked around the group, and slowly, a couple of people raised their hands. This caused more laughter, especially when Clive said, "Well, please don't eat any of us tonight." He waved his arms in a grand gesture and bowed to the group. Looking into their excited faces, he spoke to them in a spooky vampire voice, "Shall we?"

  They proceeded to walk slowly down the dark streets of the French Quarter. With no moon or stars visible in the overcast sky, it was pitch-black out. Clive, however, seemed used to the darkness, while the rest of them bumped into each other and stumbled over pits and cracks in the quiet street.

  Salena could see fog rolling in as well. As they walked, she smelled garlic on the couple walking beside her. They must be believers. If they only knew.

  As they traveled the haunted streets, Clive regaled them with some vampire history; particularly how they came to New Orleans. He enthralled the group with the eighteen hundreds' story of the "Casket Girls." He shared the account of how French families sent their daughters here to marry. Supposedly the girls brought trousseaus with them which were casket shaped; thus, giving the girls their nickname. When the girls were matched to suitors, the trousseaus were presented to the men, but they were empty. It was rumored that vampires had been smuggled to the French Quarter inside them. "So, watch out!" he said to them, bringing his hands, adorned with long vampire fingernails, up to his chest and showing off his fangs. "Vampires may be lurking nearby; especially in one of the vampire taverns." He gave them an eerie laugh, which seemed to bounce off the streets and dark buildings.

  Surprised, Salena found she was actually enjoying the tour and its theatrics. She wasn't sure if the anecdote was real or not, but she certainly liked the way Clive presented it. Unfortunately, she didn't see who was enjoying her.r />
  Gabriel ran his tongue over his fangs. This is too easy. He had blended into the group and followed closely behind a woman with midnight black hair; she was his prey. She was a beautiful creature, and he could smell the honeysuckle and lavender scent radiating from her skin. Oddly, it took him back to Abigail; he remembered her always smelling like that too. In fact, this creature was just as enticing as Abigail had been—someone you can really sink your teeth into. He watched the soft sway of her hips as she walked. Her curves were sexy as hell, and he couldn't help but imagine taking her from behind, with his hands on those hips, driving her hard and making her squeal with gratification. He would definitely use her for his self-indulgence before sinking his fangs into her soft shoulder and drinking every drop of her blood. And he would enjoy every single lascivious minute of it.

  The group headed into a famed vampire tavern to check it out. There definitely was a sinister group of men and women in there, but, thankfully, it was a small one. Salena tried to avoid eye contact with them, especially when she heard a few low growls. The sound reminded her of the low growls from her mystery lover, although his had not been threatening sounds; they'd been sounds of pleasure. Blushing now, she kept her eyes on the backs of those walking in front of her.

  Gabriel did not avoid eye contact at all. He stared all the posers down. The men put up a front until he got closer and gave them a growl of his own; then they backed down in obvious fear. The women watched him admiringly. Naturally, a woman pretending to be a vampire would desire an actual vampire. He was getting hungry… Looking again at the posers, he could sense that one of them, indeed, was one of his kind. He looked them over one-by-one, breathing in their essences and looking into their eyes—all were black, but not everyone had contacts. He found the one, a blonde woman, who was the real deal. They smiled equally sinister grins at each other, and Gabriel put his finger to his lips.

  She nodded in return—they'd keep each other's secret. Gabriel could tell she'd picked out the man two seats down from her by the way she kept looking at him. Then she stood up, approached Gabriel looking from him to Salena, and then back to him again. She whispered in his ear, "I'd do her," and smiled a venomous smile. Walking out, the beautiful vampirette tapped her dinner on his shoulder, and they left together, no questions asked.

  Gabriel's dinner, or appetizer anyway, followed him outside from the bar likewise. One of the posers was about to get her wish—to meet a real vampire up close and personal.

  Figuring he'd give the tour group a real vampire show, he pushed his groupie up against the wall and bit savagely into her neck. Her scream caught everyone's attention, and they were transfixed. The blood dripping down her blouse brought cheers and applause. Then, when he turned to them, licking his lips and rubbing his belly while she slumped to the pavement, the crowd went crazy with excitement.

  The crowd, except for one, that is—Salena could tell this was no show. And while he was tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome, he wasn't her mysterious vampire. Maybe he was the other one Detective Wagner spoke about. Maybe he was the other killer. She trembled in fear. I could solve these crimes for them easily. But would they believe me? She guessed not.

  Gabriel bowed over the dead woman and was about to get back into line with the group, when he could smell something in the air—Devin. His brother was getting close. Maybe he'd decided to hunt in this area as well. Gabriel was looking forward to the family reunion, but he wasn't about to let his dinner get away. He'd find Devin again, afterward.

  A man approached Gabriel while he was scanning the dark for Devin, "Hey," said the clueless man, "That was so cool! It looked so real!" he held his hand out to shake, and Gabriel looked at it with an expression of distaste.

  While staring into the man's brown eyes with his own midnight black ones, he took the hand and squeezed—hard. He could have crushed it, and normally would have, but Devin's scent was getting stronger, and fog was blanketing the night. If he wanted to make his move on the woman, now was the time.

  The man gasped in pain. "Wow, dude, you are really strong." He could barely get the words out.

  Gabriel snarled, dropped the man's hand, and fell back into the creeping fog.

  Salena watched him vanish, whereas the others were chatting about the show they'd just witnessed. She felt it was strange that no one was checking on the lifeless looking woman, still lying on the ground. She didn't need to check and was about to make an anonymous call to the police, when the fogged crept upon her as well. It was so thick, she couldn't even see inside her bag to grab her cell phone. But something, or rather someone, grabbed her.

  Salena tried to scream, but a large hand was over her mouth, as the enormous person tried to drag her away from the crowd. She couldn't see anything in front of her or the person behind her, but she felt herself pressed up against a large, rock-hard body, and she was being held with an iron grip. She wondered if this was the end then. Having no idea which one had her, but assuming, either way, it was a vampire, she didn't think she was going to survive, even though one of them is supposed to be her "truelove." That should provide her a flicker of hope, but it did not. Just as she thought it was coming to a close—since she was several feet away from the tour group now—she heard a shout and felt herself knocked to the ground.

  Putting her hands and knees into motion, Salena scrambled through the pea soup fog as fast as she could move. She felt cuts from sharp rocks as they dug into her delicate skin, but it didn't matter. All of her adrenaline was pumping and forcing her to keep moving away. Then her hopes were once more dashed as she felt herself being grabbed yet again. This time, though, the hold was much gentler, and the hand over her mouth was warmer and softer.

  Her captor spoke to her, "Shh, it's alright. I have you now, and you are safe with me. I swear I'm not going to harm you."

  His voice was deep, familiar—and still very sexy—however, he could promise her the moon and everything under it, and she still wouldn't trust him. The word "vampire" somewhat says it all, and she fought hard to break free from his hold. Her efforts were futile, though, because he apparently wasn't going to loosen his grip.

  Devin shifted and turned her around. As soon as he removed his hand, and she was about to scream, he plunged his tongue into her mouth and kissed her with all the love in his heart.

  Salena's scream was stifled by a firm tongue; it seemed to be searching her mouth for acceptance. Then she noticed the musky fragrance for the first time. It was him. It didn't matter, she bit down as hard as she could, and as soon as he let go in pain, she ran. The fog had begun to lift enough for her to see a short distance in front of herself, and she ran to her car as fast as her legs could carry her.

  Devin watched her flee. He was in pain, but he didn't blame her; she had been terrified by Gabriel. The fog had carried a scent to Devin when he was looking for Salena. It wasn't just any scent, though, it was someone from his past—his brother, Gabriel. Relief filled him to the core now, as he thought about how he had gotten there just in time. Gabriel had been ready to sink his teeth in when Devin had knocked him out of the way. He had gotten away, for now, but at least Salena was safe. Devin couldn't sense his brother's presence anywhere. Well, anywhere but on a dead body he came across. He could smell Gabriel's scent on the lifeless woman, whose body was still just lying there near a pile of garbage. He looked into the blackness of the night. Why would his brother be here after all of this time? More importantly, why did he go after Salena? There were several women in that tour group.

  Concerned, Devin left in search of Salena.

  Gabriel got away, but barely. He was so close too; he was just about to sink his fangs into the tasty woman's neck when his brother intervened. This made him wonder if Devin had been after him or the beautiful prey; he'd have to find out. Well, at least now Devin knows he's back. That should make things interesting. Still hungry, he left in search of prey. He may not have gotten the dark-haired woman, but there were plenty of others to choose from, and he wou
ldn't stop with just one.

  On the mad dash to her car, Salena's thoughts about what just happened to her screamed in her head. She couldn't even be sure of what happened because she couldn't see anything. Her hunch, though, was that her first captor was the same man—or vampire, she safely assumed—who had killed the woman while everyone watched. She replayed that horrible scene in her mind. The way he'd smiled, a purely heinous smile, with the woman's blood running down his chin while he bowed to his audience. Yes, he's a vampire. There, I said it. I guess I do believe. Her admission made tears flood her eyes, and it made her run faster.

  Why is everyone, well those with "gifts," telling her she is supposed to love one of these monsters? Even if the other one saved her from the first, how could she accept her fate with him? None of this was rational.

  As she was running passed some shops to her car, and had the vehicle in her sight, someone grabbed her—again.

  A Gypsy woman had grabbed her arm and sent her three feet into the air with a squawk. "Madame Zoyla knows what you seek, and I can help." She gave Salena a very stern expression. "You need to contact her for answers." She tugged Salena's arm, "Come inside. Your answers are in here."

  Salena reluctantly went with the eager Gypsy. She didn't think vampires would follow her inside a Gypsy's lair, so it was probably as safe a place as any right now. And she wouldn't be alone, either.

  Madame Zoyla locked the door and then lit the candles around a table in the center of the room. She motioned for Salena to have a seat at the table.

  "What is this about?" Salena asked while sitting down.