Immortal Fire Series; The Trilogy ~ Eighteen Summers, Severina, Rising Bloodtide

by K. M. Liss

  “You are all that is important to me.”

  “But Miche...”

  “No buts, no ifs, no nothing... Look at me.” She tipped her face up to his. “What do you see in there, in my eyes? Look closely.”

  “I don't know...” She hesitated and looked away uncomfortably. It was too hard to look at him like that. Way too deep and so intimate and personal. She wanted to say what she saw, but her tongue wouldn't form those words.

  “Well you should know. Let me tell you what I see in yours.”

  “Go on...” she replied, almost in a whisper. She held her breath and waited for him to say it.

  “What I see is a lot of love for me.” He kissed her softly and her heart exploded for him. “I don't believe you couldn't see that in mine, I might as well have it stamped across my forehead.”

  “Of course I did, but I didn't know how to say it.”

  “No... Surely you're not shy with me Sevi... Come on. Not after the things we've done...?” he chided with a smile.

  “Where those types of feelings are concerned, I'm shy full stop.”

  “You are the cutest, sweetest little thing I've ever known.” He chuckled softly giving her another kiss.

  “Cute and sweet? I'm a complete bitch sometimes, I'll have you know!” She added proudly.

  “All women are. It must be hard coded in their genes.”

  “But what makes me special to you?” She had to know, because she didn't feel that wonderful or loveable as a person at all lately.

  Obviously Saba didn't think so, the way he'd been behaving...

  “Jesus, where to start... So many reasons. But I shall try, from the very beginning... You cared enough about an old human doorkeeper to stop whatever you were doing and insist he have a new life, immediately in fact! I loved the taste of you. That very first mouthful of your blood imprinted you in my brain forever. How could I not love you after that wonderful experience? And ever since that moment, you grew on me more and more. You cared for me during my turning, took me into your beautiful life and bought me things and didn't ask for anything in return. You had no need to do any of that. You loved being with me and wanted me around, despite what I was before. I was nothing Sevi. Nothing. Until you gave me my new start. Everything was over for me. Being young and handsome again has given me opportunities I could never have dreamed of. I have money and a job I adore. And now I have everything I could ever wish for, because I have you. You are kind and caring. You have strength and determination. Ambition and desires. A delightful hot temper and inner confidence. But the one thing that has shocked me most of all is the way you make me feel inside. I burn for you all the time. With so much passion it's really painful. My whole being feels high when we're together intimately, I can't even begin to describe that side of things. There aren't words...” He paused and stared at her open mouthed adoring face. “So there you have it, when I first felt love for you and now why I'm in love with you.”

  “Oh my God...” She choked with the tight constriction in her throat, her eyes blazing into his with the intensity of his revelations. Her heart was alight with emotion and fluttering like mad.

  “And yes, I do believe there is a God now. I wasn't so sure before, but since you came along, I'm convinced of it. He sent you to me.”

  “No! I'm not heaven sent. I'm not even very nice. I've cheated on Saba with you in Naples. I have dreadful, wicked thoughts all the time. I'm jealous and smart mouthed. I even wanted to murder my own family. Admittedly, I didn't know they were my own family, but even so...”

  “Saba cheated on you too. And anyway, it was with me. How can that not be nice? Wicked thoughts, well, show me one living person who doesn't have those? I'm sure that even nuns do, from time to time. And as for your desire to murder Nico and Cali, you were full of anger and wanted revenge for the loss of your loved ones. It's only natural, isn't it? That's what's driving Enrico to set this army against us, I'm sure he isn't the devil incarnate either. Look, you're not perfect and neither am I. I don't want a flawless person in my life. I want you and all your imperfections. You're lovely as you are. Don't change or dislike anything about yourself.”

  “And you Miche. Don't change anything either. I love everything about you. And I really mean that.”

  “I have my faults too. Maybe you haven't noticed them yet.”

  “Such as?”

  “I can be indecisive, moody, far too intense, and introspective. Probably a lot of other things as well.”

  “Who wants a perfect man?”

  “Exactly. Now then, wicked, smart mouthed female of my dreams, let's have some love filled time together. I want as much as I can get before we're off to war.”

  “What about Mercedes? She's expecting you at work soon,” she reminded him.

  “Fuck Mercedes and fuck work, it can wait a half hour, I want to fuck you instead.” He growled out, nibbling her neck and sucking at her earlobe.

  “You're so very arousing and manly.”

  “And about to get even more so.” He pulled off his top and undid his pants, sliding them and his boxers off and tossing them on the floor impatiently. He quickly dispensed with her skirt and blouse. He took in her nakedness with a lustful snarl and his long teeth descended fully, his eyes full of heat and love.

  “Mmmm, lovely, no underwear again.” He licked his fangs in delight.

  “None of the Giannis wear it. It's a habit I acquired living with them in London.”

  “Keep it up. I can get to you faster.” His head descended down her stomach, his lips caressing her skin, and his fangs nipping at her gently. She sighed deeply with pleasure and opened her legs for him. She grasped his hair as his tongue began to stroke at her clit and probe deep inside her. Her mind was being blown away, as it was every time he did things like this. But she had to stop him. Just for a minute. Something had to be done first, to be said.

  “Miche my love, come up here for a moment, please?” He moved back up her body, dropping little kisses everywhere. His face finally arrived in front of hers.

  “What's so important?” he murmured.

  She took hold of his face in her hands.

  “I really do love you.” She stared at him seriously, so he understood this wasn't just a spur of the moment sexually motivated comment.

  “I know. And I really do love you too.” He stared back just as seriously, sinking his fingers in her lush curls.

  “We didn't actually say it, did we?”

  “Well we definitely have now, so can I get on with my physical demonstration?”

  “Mmmm, please, please do.”

  They lay nestled in each other's arms for an age. He knew he had to get up and get to work, but he really didn't want to move. Suddenly his phone rang. He swung his legs out of bed and leaned down to the floor with a sigh to retrieve his pants and get the phone from his pocket.

  “Yes Mercedes, I know I'm five minutes late. Something came up.” He smiled wickedly at Sevi.

  “But this is our biggest client Miche. How dare you keep us waiting? Where are you right now?”

  “In a hotel with my friend.”

  “I see. And who is this friend? No, wait a second, let me guess. A certain supermodel with dark curly hair and fangs?”

  “Well done. How did you know?”

  “Xavier told me about her visit while I was away. He hasn't stopped gushing about her for the last ten minutes, it's sickening. What convenient timing that was Miche.”

  “It wasn't planned. it was a complete surprise... Look I don't want to discuss this on the phone. I'll see you later, preferably after the shoot at the apartment, if you don't mind. Apologise to Xavier and the client for me, for running late, I'll be there in less than twenty minutes. And I'm bringing Sevi along, so it's up to you if you want to hang around to meet her or not.”

  “I'd love to meet the little slut. Tell me something, is she collecting male models for fun? First Saba and now you. How many others have there been I wonder?” she said in a nasty to
ne.

  “Never speak about her like that, ever. Do you understand?” he snarled into the phone while trying to get dressed one handed. He ended the call in disgust and threw the phone on the bed.

  “Oh dear, it doesn't sound like we'll be getting on very well.”

  “Don't worry about her. She's just being the bitch queen from hell, like usual. Hurry up.”

  “Maybe I shouldn't come along this time.”

  “I insist. Everyone loves you. In fact that's why Mercedes is so riled up. Xavier has given her an earful about how much he loves you.”

  “I do like Xavier. He and I click really well.”

  “I know. Perhaps when you do some future work in Paris, he can handle it for you, hmmm?”

  “I'd love that. I suppose I'd better get dressed then, unless you want me to go au naturel?”

  “For my eyes only, get dressed,” he said in a possessive tone, looking at her tempting naked form standing next to the bed.

  * * *

  “Hey, Rico...” Jax slapped his back and they hugged, man style, for a moment. “And the very lovely Anna. Welcome.” He held his arms out for an embrace and she slipped into them with an embarrassed giggle.

  “How's the gear?” Rico wasted no time in getting down to the talk.

  “It's topper, no lie. Where did you get it?”

  “My contact Quin, in the States.”

  “He's done you a real good turn, Boss. It's all brand spanking new, top quality, and no kidding we've enough ammo to blast a hole through Mount Everest.”

  “I'll be sure to pass on your compliments. I gave him a hard time over it.”

  “Want to see the RVA?”

  “RVA?”

  “The men. Your Ristorian Vampire Army.”

  “This I must see. Anna, keep close by me honey, we're going in,” he laughed and the other two joined in, breaking the tension a little.

  They walked through the main building, a disused warehouse in the middle of a disused industrial area. After emerging at the rear, they were right in the thick of it. There were small groups of well built, extremely badass looking men relaxing around in the yard, smoking, and talking amongst themselves. They all stared and leered openly at Anna. Rico growled at them in warning.

  “Men, remember this is our Commander, Enrico Fernandez…” Jax explained and they nodded their heads at him respectfully, all traces of the previous leering disappearing from their demeanour in a second.

  “To attention...” Jax barked and they all shot into position, into a well ordered triangle of fifteen straight backed, armed men, in a bat of an eyelid.

  “Impressive reactions.” Rico smiled widely at them.

  “My men are always impressive,” Jax boasted. “Because I train them my way, more specifically, the SAS way. Want a live ammo demonstration?”

  “That would be more than interesting.” Rico squeezed Anna's hand and gave her a little grin. He didn't know why, but she didn't look too happy at the moment.

  “Uso, scenario one simulation. Get it underway, the usual ten seconds.”

  “Yes sir,” Uso said, and set about barking out instructions to the other men, who all suddenly disappeared behind cover in the large, rubbish strewn yard.

  Jax ushered them back to the doorway of the old warehouse to watch.

  “Three, two, one,” Jax counted down and it all took off. There was a sudden swoop of men and gunfire as they reappeared en masse, in tactical positions, shooting full-on at their dummy target. The head and arms were blown to smithereens, and the noise reverberated so loudly in the yard, that Anna put her fingers in her ears and Rico's head hurt. “Good work men. That was 4.2 seconds. A record. Treat yourselves to an extra whore each tonight, on the house.” That was greeted with a lot of whooping, yelling enthusiasm by the RVA. “We have another ten scenarios, for different locations. Now that I've seen the target and completed my recon, I'd say we had a good chance of it being over in less than a minute from the first toe inside the boundary,” he explained.

  “I don't doubt it,” Rico said in open admiration.

  “Will you be joining us?” Jax enquired.

  “Of course. It's my fucking show. I want to see the bastards fall.”

  “No baby, please. Let these men do it. They don't need you there,” Anna appealed with a fearful look on her face.

  “I'll be fine,” he insisted.

  “I'll have his back,” Jax assured her.

  “Who'll have his front? I don't like it. Please don't go,” She whined.

  “Anna shut the fuck up, will you?” he snapped, giving her an extremely annoyed look.

  She stood there sulking and pouting even more than ever. He was torn between kissing her madly and slapping her face for showing him up and suggesting he couldn't handle himself. Not that he ever would actually slap her. She'd probably slap him back so hard he'd have whiplash.

  “When do you want to do it?” Jax asked him.

  “I don't know. When do you suggest?”

  “Give me a few more days to polish the men up. The sixteenth, in the evening, say 11p.m. That's a good time.”

  “Okay. That's it then. I'll be over some time in the next day or so, without Anna...” he added pointedly. “We can discuss more details then.”

  “Sure. It's been great meeting you Anna. Catch you later then, Rico.” He shook his hand firmly, and waved at them as they both left.

  Anna was silent in the car. She looked out of the window, still sulking for Spain.

  “What's up honey? I'm sorry I spoke to you like that, but a man has his pride, you know?”

  “I have the most dreadful feeling Rico. Dreadful. I'm not just saying this so you don't go. But I don't think you'll come back.”

  “For fuck's sake!” He raised his voice in exasperation.

  “I know. I'm really freaking out about it!”

  “But why are you thinking this?”

  “I don't know, but you're all going to die. Every last one of you. I can see you all lying there on the floor in my mind. It won't go away.” She started to look panic stricken. He tried to calm her down, stroking her hand and speaking to her in a reassuring manner.

  “Anna, you know you're being ridiculous. You've seen the men and what those guns can do in 4 seconds. How can they survive that kind of assault and kill us all as well?”

  “What if they have lots more men and lots more guns?” She stared deeply into his eyes, appealing to him silently.

  “They won't!”

  “You are assuming they don't know, and assuming they are unprepared for you.”

  “That's because it's a fact.”

  “There's no point talking about it. You've made your mind up, haven't you?”

  “Baby, please. Don't unsettle me. Not now. I really need your support.” He didn't like to admit it but she'd really rattled him. Her desperate look of appeal had made him think twice, hell three times even.

  “I'm sorry, but I just can't give it. I love you too much to happily support you as you go off to die. I don't want to discuss it any more. I'm going to pretend it's not happening because that's the only way I can cope my love. Now then, subject closed. Take me out for a feed. I am suddenly ravenously hungry.”

  Chapter 6

  They sat outside the Hotel Scribe in Miche's car for a moment.

  “I'll pack and wait for you to call. We need to be at the airport by 8.30 this evening. I hope it doesn't go too badly with Mercedes.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek gently.

  “Give me a proper one.” He pulled her back for a very enthusiastic long kiss. “Mmmm, that's much better. I needed that to keep me going through the verbal acid attack awaiting me in my apartment.”

  “I love you. Call me soon.” She got out and went inside with a little wave from the door. He sighed with adoration.

  Sevi you make my whole world shine so bright.

  He moved off the hotel forecourt and returned to his apartment. He was at least grateful that Mercedes had the decency t
o leave before they had arrived at the shoot. But now he was kicking himself. He should have gotten this over with before, when she came back last night, instead of sneaking off like he did on some 'urgent business'. He didn't like lying much, but then he'd never said he'd loved her and neither had she, despite the fact she lived with him, there had been no open declaration of affection whatsoever. She'd made all the moves and had taken unfair advantage of her position in his life. Hopefully they could end this part of their relationship amicably, although something inside of him doubted it.

  He unlocked the door and opened it. The sight that greeted him made him gasp out loud.

  “Fuck no!”

  He shut the door and stood inside, surveying the scene.

  His apartment was trashed. Completely and utterly. Every part of it was wrecked. Mercedes had done a very good job in ruining his place. His anger grew when he entered the bedroom and saw what was on the wall. Large red letters adorned the white paint above the bed “SLUT + BASTARD = THE END”, his bite came down in a flash and he growled long and low at the obvious menace in her words. The end of what? Their relationship obviously, but what else? Their lives, his job, Severina's good name? He called Sevi quickly. “Get your things and check out. Get in a cab and come over will you.”

  “Okay, but what's happened?”

  “You need to see this.”

  In fifteen minutes she was standing at his side in the bedroom.

  “Oh God, this is just what we need. On top of everything else. A crazy ex-lover. Have you tried calling her? Maybe she's calmed down by now.”

  “She's not answering her phone.”

  “Drop a message through the door of her office on the way to the airport. Try and smooth things over in a letter or something.”

  “Yeah, I will. I don't think she's going to be very easily smoothed though. She thought she owned me, lock stock and barrel.”

  Severina picked her way through the debris strewn on the floor of the wrecked apartment feeling very upset for Miche. He had worked hard for all of this. His prized TV and sound system were broken up and smashed on the floor. His beautiful Seine sunset oil painting had been ripped to shreds. The sofa slashed all over. Every glass and bottle of wine had been broken and smashed in the kitchen. The walls were covered with red paint everywhere. His clothes were cut up and ripped. Even his shoes were covered in paint. Bottles of expensive cologne lie in pieces in the bathroom sink, including the one she had bought him as a gift. There was nothing left in here he could ever use again, except maybe the bed. That seemed to have escaped her attention somehow. He was sitting on it in a depressed mood. She put her arms around him and held him close.