House of Shadows

by Morgan Hawke

  Hey, this isn’t perfect; it works just like any normal conversation. He shook his head and rolled his eyes. Just ‘cause I can understand what you say in your thoughts does not mean that I can figure out what the hell you mean—and no, I can’t hear precisely what you’re saying without the blood-share, but you’re loud enough for me to figure out that you’re usually bitching. He grinned broadly. And every guy I know likes a screamer.

  Rowan’s mouth opened on a retort.

  Klaus interrupted them with a cough. “If you are through with your private conversation?”

  Rowan jerked around to look at the ragged vampire. Goddess, I forgot all about him...Can he hear us?

  I didn’t, and no, he can’t, but he can tell when we’re talking. Rick turned to Klaus and his smile bled away. “Were you saying that you’ll take blood from a glass?”

  Klaus dipped his head. “If that is all you will offer your guest.” He kept his chin down and looked at them from under his brows.

  Rowan stepped forward. “Why shouldn’t we just make you leave?”

  Rick squeezed Rowan’s arm and pulled her back. Will you keep quiet?

  Klaus leveled his crimson gaze at Rowan. “I have need of Rickart. There is no one else, unless you wish to provide?”

  “Keep her out of this.” Rick’s European accent became pronounced with his temper. “I might be willing to part with a glass or two—if you will swear not to take what I’m not willing to give?”

  Rick, are you insane? Rowan jerked on her arm. If he squeezed any tighter, she was going to have bruises.

  Klaus inclined his head with a small smile. “That would be acceptable.”

  Rick jabbed a finger at him. “Look, I don’t want to play the part of blood-donor indefinitely...”

  Klaus gave an indifferent shrug. “I have no plans to remain long.”

  Rowan projected strongly to Rick. Make him bleed and swear.

  I know, I know... Rick winced. And there’s no need to scream it! I can hear you just fine. Rick narrowed his gaze at the elder vampire. “All right Klaus, I want you show me some blood, then swear that you won’t take more blood from me than what I’m willing to give you.”

  Klaus frowned, his brows dipping low. His lip curled. “And if I do not?”

  Rick smiled grimly. “Then I let Rowan do her thing and you can go find your dinner elsewhere.”

  Klaus snarled, bearing his jagged teeth and lunged at them. The circle around the bed flared a vibrant violet. Klaus jerked to a halt with a hiss, throwing an arm over his eyes.

  Rowan felt a shimmer in her magic, swiftly followed by a sensual throb deep and low. A warm flush came over her skin. “Oh, shit,” she said softly. I’m reacting to the barrier, she thought to herself softly.

  Rick stepped forward, yanking Rowan behind him. “I mean it, Klaus. Swear on your blood or I’ll have Rowan send you packing...”

  Klaus backed away and the blazing ring dropped to a shimmer. He lowered his arm and turned his shoulder to them stiffly. “Very well. I will bleed for you and swear.”

  Rick nodded. “Good.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Do it right here and I’ll go upstairs and find you a glass.”

  Klaus raised his wrist to his mouth and stared at Rick. There was a flash of sharp teeth and dark blood began welling in a thick, syrupy rivulet down his arm. It began dripping, then streaming onto the floor and soaking into the carpet. A pool quickly formed on the floor.

  “That’s an awful lot of blood,” Rowan said softly.

  Rick’s eyes widened. “Shit, Klaus, you didn’t need to shed that much! A few drops will do.”

  Klaus shrugged and watched his blood pooling on the carpet. “It is my nature, as I do not have veins.”

  He doesn’t have veins? Rowan moved a few steps toward the bleeding vampire. “What’s to keep you from bleeding to death?”

  Rick jerked her to a halt. Don’t cross the barrier, he projected.

  Rowan suddenly realized how close she was to the glimmering ring and stepped back. She looked at the wounded vampire and saw him watching her.

  Klaus raised his brows. “Would you care if I were destroyed, ved’ma?”

  Rowan bit her lip. “I don’t want anybody to die.”

  Rick shook his head. “Just hurry up and swear that you won’t take any more blood than I’m willing to give, then we’ll bind that wound and get you fed.”

  Klaus’s head came up. “Are you both concerned with my existence?”

  “Well, yeah.” Rick gave him a sour smile. “You’re staining my carpet.”

  Klaus frowned. The bloodstain on the carpet continued to spread.

  “Damn it, Klaus!” Rick waved a hand at the pooling blood. “Just swear!”

  Klaus rolled his eyes the sighed. “I swear not to take more blood than I am given.”

  “Like this, Klaus.” Rick growled. “You swear that you won’t take any more blood than I am willing to give.”

  “So be it.” The elder vampire looked away from them. “I swear that I will not take any more blood than you are willing to give.”

  “Accepted.” Rick let out a heavy sigh of relief. There was a feeling of released pressure throughout the room.

  Klaus gave a small shudder and his face showed surprise. He abruptly collapsed straight down like a marionette with its strings cut. He lay in his own blood in a tumbled heap of crooked limbs.

  “Fuck!” Rick lunged across the barrier toward Klaus.

  “Oh, shit!” Rowan whirled and grabbed a pillow, jerking the case off. She turned and hurried toward Klaus. Rick was kneeling and using his hands to staunch the flow of blood from the elder vampire’s wrist. Her bare feet sank into the bloody carpet. Eww, gross... She held out the crimson pillowcase. “Here, use this to bind it.”

  “Not my pillowcase, those are silk.” He rolled his eyes. “There’s a first aid kit under the bathroom sink.”

  “In that case, let me hold his wound while you go get it.” She tossed the pillowcase aside.

  Rick stared up at her in surprise.

  Rowan looked down at him. “What? You’re faster.”

  “Nice of you to notice,” Rick said dryly. “Don’t let him bleed dry on my carpet and don’t go all glowing and burn him.”

  “As long as he stays out, he’ll be fine.” She dropped to her knees with a moist squelch on the wet carpet and made a face. What a mess... Leaning close to Rick, she reached for Klaus and he let go. Rowan closed her hands around the jagged tear in the Klaus’s wrist. His blood welled quickly and tried to ooze past her fingers. She shifted to cover the wound with her palm and gripped tightly. The vampire’s arm was solid, like wood and his skin papery to the touch. She could feel the hum of otherworldly darkness thrum across her senses. Oh yeah, this is so not a human being...

  She sat back on her heels, cradling his arm in her lap and felt the slimy wetness that told her that his blood was seeping through her pants. Now I have to change my jeans. I hope Rick has a washing machine.

  Rick was suddenly at her side with a white metal case and a dark hand-towel. She looked up at him in some surprise; she hadn’t noticed when he’d left. “Shit, you’re fast.”

  Rick flashed her a wry grin. “Good to know you think I’m useful. Use this to wipe your hands.” He tossed the towel into her lap, then jerked the kit open. Quickly, he dug out some stick-on sutures, a handful of sterile pads, gauze and surgical tape.

  Rowan released Klaus’s wrist and blood poured past her hand. “This is pretty bad. Do you think he needs stitches?” She wiped her hands on the towel, but the blood proved difficult to get off. It was as thick as glue.

  “I hope not.”

  “He looks like a jumbled doll.” Rowan tilted her head to one side, trying to make sense of all the angles that represented the fallen vampire. “That position can’t be comfortable.” Klaus’s arms and legs appeared to be all tangled up with his head sitting perched atop the pile. No human could achieve that kind of a collapse unless every bone
in their body was broken at the joint.

  “Who gives a shit whether or not he’s comfortable? He’s the bad-guy in this little soap opera, remember?”

  Rowan raised brow at him. “And you’re not?”

  Rick gave her a cheeky grin. “Oh, hell no, I’m the hero.”

  Rowan rolled her eyes. “You wish...”

  In less than a minute, Rick had the wound taped closed and tightly bound. “Looks like I got the bleeding stopped.”

  She handed him the towel. “Good, because he looks like he lost a gallon on your carpet.” Rowan bit her lip and looked up at Rick. “Now what?”

  Rick wiped at his palms. “Now I go get a glass from the kitchen.” He sighed and shook his head. “He’s going to need to put back all the blood he lost.” He worked to get the blood off his hands and frowned at the towel. “I hope this shit comes out in the wash,” he mumbled.

  Rowan’s brows shot up. “You can’t afford to give him this much.”

  “Let’s hope he doesn’t need this much, I usually don’t.” He rose to his feet in a smooth motion that looked like he’d been pulled with strings.

  Rowan suddenly realized how careful Rick had been to use slow and human motions around her. I guess I forgot that he’s as inhuman as Klaus.

  Rick raised a brow at her. “I’m not nearly as bad as Klaus. I won’t bleed to death from a scratch.”

  Shit... She cringed. I forgot that he could read my thoughts, too.

  “Not all of your thoughts...” He grinned. “Just most of them.”

  Rowan frowned. “Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

  Rick sighed and held out his hand. “Come on. I want you to go back inside the barrier and stay there ‘til I get back.”

  “But...”

  “No ‘buts'.” Rick shook his head. “He’s oath-bound, so he won’t bleed me, but he hasn’t sworn not to bleed you.”

  Rowan took his hand and stood up then frowned. “I can protect myself.”

  “Just do it.” He shook his head. “Look, it’ll make me feel better about leaving you alone with him.”

  Rowan threw up her hands. “All right! Just be quick, I want to get back in the shower—this stuff is all over me.”

  “I intend to.” Rick smiled grimly. “I want ‘in the shower’ too.” He pointed at the bed.

  Rowan sighed and walked back over the barrier. She needed to get some clean clothes out anyway. She pulled at her T-shirt and noticed dark smears. How the hell did I get blood on my shirt?

  “And stay there!” Rick called out.

  Rowan turned, but he was gone already. “Pushy bastard,” she growled then knelt to dig her suitcase out from under the bed. Damn good thing I packed few changes of clothes, but I didn’t think I was going to need to change before breakfast. She pulled the suitcase out and lifted the lid.

  “So, ved’ma...”

  Rowan turned so fast she nearly fell.

  Klaus slowly drew himself straight upward, like a toy on a string. His skin was very gray, almost blue and tight against his skull. Only his crimson eyes held color.

  “How are you feeling, Klaus?” He looks awful...

  Klaus regarded her with a puzzled frown. “Why did you not try to destroy me?” His voice was not much more than a whisper.

  Rowan slid her suitcase around so she could rummage without losing sight of the vampire. “Just have a seat, Klaus. Rick has gone to get you a glass for your, um, dinner.”

  His lip curled with a sneer. “Rickart was gone long enough for you to burn me to oblivion with your witchcraft.” He tottered toward the circle. “Why did you not?” Violet began to glow in a soft ring around the bed.

  “Whoa! Stop right there.” Rowan put out a hand and slowly rose to her feet. “The barrier is still active, don’t hurt yourself.” Rowan nibbled on her lower lip. The low sensual throb in her belly was growing more pronounced. Shit, if he keeps activating the barrier and triggering my magic, I’m going to have to sneak off to masturbate or I’m going to end up sleeping with the vampire... Again.

  Klaus frowned at the circle’s glowing edge, then pinned her with a glare. “Tell me, ved’ma!” He raised a fist and the barrier began to rise.

  “All right! Just don’t hit the ring!” I’m already soaking my panties as it is! She took a deep breath. “It’s like this; you can’t hurt me and you’re sworn not to feed off of Rick, so you’re not a danger to either of us. Okay?”

  Klaus’s brows rose. He took a step back from the glowing barrier then tilted his head to the side thoughtfully and frowned. Abruptly he collapsed straight down into a vaguely sitting position.

  Rowan stared in surprise. “Are you all right?” She moved to the edge of the circle and stopped. What the Hell is taking Rick so long?

  Klaus shook his head slowly. “You, I do not understand.” He flung up his hand and waved it at her. The bandage was a stark white against his gray skin. “I am your soul’s enemy and yet, you rush to save me from harm.” He waved his hand towards the stairs, then drew his wrist close and poked at the bandage with a finger. “And he binds my wound to keep me from...” He barked out a laugh then a twisted and sour smile curled his lips. “Bleeding to death.”

  “It’s part of being one of the ‘good guys’, we’re supposed to save people if we can.” Rowan rolled her eyes. “Why? Do you want to die?”

  “I can not die.” Klaus curled a lip, showing his long teeth. “I am not alive.”

  Rowan snorted. “For a dead guy you’re awfully mobile.” She knelt to dig through her suitcase. “And a pain in the ass,” she muttered.

  He leveled a venomous glare at Rowan. “You, ved’ma, stink of this ‘goodness’...” He jabbed a finger at her. “And yet you have allowed one of the damned—a vampire, to drink of you.”

  “Yeah, so? It wasn’t all that bad.” She swallowed with the vivid memory. Yeah, well, the bite wasn’t that great either.

  Klaus bared his serrated teeth. “You have also defiled yourself with his body; the very air reeks of your... Pleasures.” His voice was a low rumbling.

  Rowan flinched and her cheeks grew warm. “Well I wouldn’t call it defiling, exactly...” She felt something moving in her thoughts.

  That’s good to know... Rick’s mind-voice was clear, but it sounded a little hollow and very German.

  Rowan looked up at the ceiling. “What the Hell is taking you so long?”

  I’m on the phone.

  “On the phone?”

  Yeah, it’s Thursday. Remember? I have a business to run.

  “I’m happy for you, but you have a guest waiting, remember?” Rowan glanced at Klaus, still hunched into something resembling a seated position.

  Keep him busy.

  “What?” Rowan stomped her foot then grimaced. Gods, that’s nasty... Her foot was covered in blood and sticking to the carpet. “Are you insane?” She pointed at the ceiling. “You can call them back, Klaus is about to pass out from starvation, down here.”

  I’m hanging up; I’ll be there in less than a minute.

  “You’d better be,” she snapped.

  Rick was suddenly at the doorway tall, dark, devastatingly cute and grinning. “Or what?” He twirled a glass in his hand.

  Rowan jabbed a finger his way. “I can still make you hurt, Fang Boy.”

  Rick waggled his brows. “Do you promise?”

  “I give you my word, but first things, first...” Rowan waved a hand at Klaus who was watching the exchange with interest.

  Rick turned to look at the elder vampire and frowned. “Right...” He pulled a small and wickedly curved dagger from his belt. “You don’t look so good, Klaus.” He glanced at Rowan. “Come over here and give me a hand with this.”

  Rowan walked over with a grim smile. “Do I get to slice you open?”

  Rick smiled sourly. “No, you get to hold the glass.” He held out a clear tumbler. “Hold it right here.”

  Rowan took the glass and held it close to his wrist. “Why do you get to
have all the fun?”

  “’Cause I’m the bad guy, and you’re the good guy; that means I get to do all the blood-letting.” He tilted his wrist sideways to the floor then positioned the dagger at a spot on his wrist. “Hold it close, it’s going to fill fast and don’t spill, I’ve got enough blood on the carpet.”

  “I thought you wanted to be the hero?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  He looked at her. “Have I told you that you’re a sarcastic bitch?”

  Rowan raised a brow at him. “Yes, you have. Do you want to do this by yourself?”

  He took a deep breath and huffed it out. “Just hold the glass steady.”

  “Alright already, let’s see the color of your blood.”

  Rick frowned, then jerked the dagger at his wrist. Red flowed thick and fast.

  “Mother of us all!” The glass filled quickly in her hand and got heavy fast. It seemed almost hot. “Do all you vampires bleed like faucets?”

  “Looks that way,” he mumbled. “Don’t lose any!” He jerked his wrist away and licked the wound. It closed almost immediately.

  Rowan frowned.

  Rick shot her a quelling look. I can hear that thought forming in your head—I was not about to lick Klaus, so stop thinking about it.

  Rowan bit back a smile. You’re homophobic!

  Rick snorted and took the glass. Actually, I’m not. He gave her a sour look. I just didn’t want to get my mouth near Klaus’s blood. Rick turned and handed Klaus the glass.

  Klaus came up from the floor and snatched it from Rick’s hand. He downed the whole thing so fast, Rowan barely saw him tip the glass. Klaus licked his lips, then studied Rick with a frown.

  “What?” Rick asked uneasily.

  Klaus shot a glance at Rowan then looked steadily at Rick. “I taste her power.”

  Rick frowned. “Well, yeah, you saw me take her blood last night.”

  “I do not taste yours.” Klaus raised a brow. “If I had known, I would not have sought you out.”

  Rick took a small step back. “Known what?”

  Klaus wiped a hand across his mouth “That you are not fully vampire.”

  “What?” both Rowan and Rick said together.