Blood and Mint Chocolates

by Adrianne Brennan

  Blood and Mint Chocolates

  Adrianne Brennan

  Dedication

  With thanks to Robin for his lovely work as a beta reader, to Emmy for being a wonderful editor as always, and last but not least to Anthea for all of your vegan desserts which will surely conquer the world someday.

  Chapter One

  An Unexpected Gift

  A rather generous gift from one of her students sat on Merideth’s desk in her office within the Sanctuary’s library, begging to be enjoyed in many different and most sinful ways. She sampled it eagerly: rich, dark heaven with echoes of mint in just the right places.

  Oh, how she loved chocolate mints. And these Godiva dark chocolate ones embodied the definition of “exquisite.”

  Closing her eyes in ecstasy, she sank back into her chair and savored the taste. How fresh the taste of mint, and how decadent the chocolate. For a moment, she let her mind wander back to the days of her mortal youth. Merideth never had the privilege to have such indulgences in those days, and she refused to allow herself to be any less deprived as a vampire.

  Why should immortality restrict one from such delights?

  A knock came at the door. “Amaltheia? Are you there?”

  Oh, shit. Janius. With great haste, Merideth stashed the rest of the sweets in the desk drawer. She didn’t want to let the magister know about her addiction to mint chocolates and be forced to submit to his stern lectures on “maintaining vampiric purity” and the necessity of alchemical transformation through transcending physical needs typically ascribed to humans.

  Blah blah, no longer human, we’re above that nonsense, blah blah blah… “Sure—come in, Magister.”

  The door opened, and the magister briskly walked in and closed it behind him. Merideth gazed warily upon Clan Gladius’s leader. Janius earned his magister title on numerous occasions with his stern, albeit gentle guidance. Being the founder and head of the Clan, a fairly prestigious reputation within the magickal order of Ordo Draconis et Rosae—also known as the Order of the Dragon of the Rose—preceded him. She respected Janius a great deal and thought well of him. However, in spite of the fact that the two of them shared a strong friendship and had worked together as fellow magicians for decades—Janius often called her “the Clan’s favorite librarian”—Merideth thought little of his stuffy and pretentious demeanor, but she kept her opinion to herself. Sometimes she wished she belonged to another Clan within the Order. Perhaps Clan Corvus in New Orleans, or even Clan Diamhair Aingeal in Boston. Both lacked the taciturn nature which embodied the character of Clan Gladius.

  And neither, as far as she knew, upheld the ideas of vampiric purity by the letter of the law as much as its spirit.

  “Hello, Merideth,” he greeted her, addressing her by her real name versus Amaltheia, the one given to her by Clan Gladius as her Order name. Dropping the formality relieved her of any notion that the magister sought her out for any negative reason, and she was thankful for it. Only those who knew her well called her Merideth, and her closest friends called her Meri for short. “I hope that I have not caught you at a bad moment?”

  The elfish vampire was all sweetness with her smile, all the while praying that bits of chocolate didn’t show on her teeth. “Of course not, James,” she replied, dropping the customary Order tradition in return. They were behind closed doors, after all.

  “Excellent. Merideth, you’ve been working hard keeping the Sanctuary’s library the way it is, and I notice you haven’t taken any time off recently.”

  She blinked at him. “Time off, James?”

  “Well,” he shuffled his feet, “I notice you go on occasion with Theodotos to play darts in the common room, but you could use some time away from the library. As much as we know you like it here.”

  Blood have mercy. “James, I love it here—you know that. Do you have the impression that I’m unhappy or something?”

  The magister laughed. “Meri, don’t be silly. You’re a workaholic like the rest of us, and while some of us have our ways of managing time off, I thought that you alone could use a special… respite.”

  She fought down a smirk. Workaholic, indeed—James was certainly one to talk! When did he ever take a vacation? Had he ever taken a vacation? But she bit her tongue in her customary fashion.

  “Me, James?”

  “Yes, you.” He placed an envelope face down on the desk in front of her, and she stared at it curiously as if it might leap up and bite her. She hesitated and raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Plane tickets to Hotel Paradisio on Crystal Island. The flight will arrive at the airport near the resort, and an escort will be there to take you to your hotel well before sunrise.”

  Merideth began to sputter. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine that the magister would ever present her with such a gift. She would’ve been grateful just for the license to take the night off and attend an event at a nearby blues club with Asharael and Lyrael. “James, this is so…” she fought for a word adequate enough to describe how she felt, “frivolous. I just can’t—”

  He raised an eyebrow at her in an echo of her previous gesture. “You’re allowed to indulge yourself every now and again, Meri. Moderation and all that, you know. Oh, and by the way,” he added, “remember not to overindulge too much. You’re among humans but not of them. Enjoy some alcohol, but stay away from those silly confections.”

  Grateful blood-tears filled her eyes. “I… I don’t know what to say, James.”

  Her head swam. A hotel resort on a beautiful island. Granted, it’d take more than a few light spells to allow her even an hour’s comfort in the sun, but surely the nightlife must be sultry, grand—exquisite like her dark chocolate mints.

  “Say ‘Thank you, James’. Then get on that flight and have a good time.”

  “Thank you, James,” she mumbled, her voice not much louder than a whisper. What would she wear? What should she take? What would she do while she stayed at this hotel? But above all of her concerns she felt an enormous sense of gratitude. This generous time off touched her more than she could possibly express to James.

  “You’re welcome. Consider it a thank you from the rest of the Inner Circle for all of your hard work well done. Have fun!” With a big, almost goofy grin, he left her office.

  Merideth stared at the door in disbelief, a blood-tear finally coursing down her cheek.

  Chapter Two

  Hotel Paradisio

  The librarian of Clan Gladius stood in the lobby of the hotel with wonder, apprehension gnawing away at her stomach. She hoped she didn’t look as nervous as she felt.

  Merideth always sensed that she was out of place and out of touch with the world around her. In emphasis of this sentiment, her small, delicate-looking features often reminded people of elves and fairies. Her perky attitude yet shy smile put people at ease with Merideth almost immediately—but they never seemed to take her quite as seriously as she often wished they would. Her ears, which peeked out of her shoulder-length light brown hair, were not quite as pointed as her canines when she was feeding or feeling unusually passionate, but they gave her an air of otherworldliness which made her vampire nature seem almost ordinary in comparison. Merideth never considered herself to be pretty or conventionally attractive. She knew all too well that the label “cute” would be, perhaps, the best compliment to apply to her features.

  Certainly by no means did she see herself as gorgeous and sexy. And many of the people gathered at this luxury hotel appeared to fit such descriptions.

  Somewhat numb, she gazed at the other tourists. Most of them looked rich, decadent, and stylish. Believing her original choice of wardrobe to be pretty—an emerald beach dress which complemented her hazel
eyes—she now wondered if she were underdressed, outclassed, and very much out of her league. She felt herself sinking into the floor, a non-entity in a room of elegance. Hotel Paradisio was certainly no average rest stop, and she wondered just how much of the Clan’s resources James dipped into in order to send her here as an errand of mercy.

  Or perhaps pity. She brushed the thought away. James and Lynne were good friends of hers within the Inner Circle of the Clan, and there was no reason for allowing such ideas into her crazy little head.

  “Stop it, Meri,” she grumbled.

  Still, she pondered what a librarian of a vampiric initiatory order devoted to the study and practice of magick was doing on some fashionable resort island. Fighting back a sigh—an all too human sigh, which she wasn’t!—she made her way to the hotel desk and obtained her room key and number. The elfish librarian nearly laughed when she saw the number—156, in the Red wing.

  Ah, the number of Babalon. Wine, sex, and the blood of the saints indeed. Theodotos would be pissing himself on the floor laughing at this. Merideth, of all people, staying in the room that numbered a goddess in Thelema! The sacred whore Herself!

  Blood have mercy, she thought with wry amusement. This trip looked more and more interesting by the moment.

  Merideth had just hung up the last garment from her suitcase when a knock came at the door. Cautiously, she peered through the keyhole. A man dressed as hotel staff stood outside. Oh good, just someone normal. She almost expected someone from the Clan to follow her here to make sure she “stayed out of trouble.” She didn’t know why, but she felt very odd being so far away from the Sanctuary. She wondered if what she experienced was reminiscent of a child being away from her family for the first time in her life. With a sigh of relief, she opened the door.

  “Merideth Faye?”

  “Um… yes?”

  “This arrived for you.” He handed her a beautiful red envelope trimmed with gold. Curious, she turned it over. A gold seal closed its flap. “Enjoy your stay.”

  “I… thank you.” She fumbled in her pockets for a tip, but he’d already walked away. Blinking in confusion, she opened the envelope with care and produced a sheet of gold embossed stationery.

  “You have been cordially invited to attend the Annual Masquerade Ball at Venus Estate…” Merideth read aloud. The signature at the bottom revealed the invitation to be from “The Venus Club”, and the event was scheduled for the following evening.

  Oh, Blood, no. A fancy dress ball? What could she possibly have to wear? The whole thing just seemed crazy to her—a geeky librarian at a chic masquerade ball? Thinking earlier of the well-dressed, classy people whom she’d seen in the lobby and her own limited attire, she trembled but then remembered James’s oft-repeated words: Fear is failure and the forerunner of failure.

  With her lips pressed together, she jerked her head in a decisive nod. Of course she would go.

  She went back into her hotel room and stared at the closet in desperation. Then she pulled out the credit card James had insisted she bring with her on her trip.

  Fuck it, she decided. James would want her to go and relax. Blood, he probably pulled strings to get her to go to this party. Merideth completely expected it from him, and the image of him laughing at her shyness and fear produced a grimace. No way would she chicken out. As she surveyed the invitation with a small frown, she pondered what other surprises were in store for her during this bizarre little excursion the rest of the Inner Circle had sent her on. Hopefully she would manage to get home from this crazy costume ball before she turned into a well-baked pumpkin at dawn.

  With a groan, she grabbed her room key and purse and left the hotel room. She needed to go shopping—and perhaps receive a visit from a Fairy Vampire Godmother if fortune smiled upon her.

  Opting to choose an outfit which embodied her own sense of style and tastes at all costs, she selected a deep olive colored silk and lace gown at one of the dress shops. The accessories she picked were fairy wings of a lighter green than the gown and a matching green-painted leather mask which provided the perfect finishing touch to the outfit.

  Hours later, Merideth responded to the invitation by way of the enclosed phone number and managed to procure an escort to the ball from her hotel. To her astonishment, she discovered that the location of the event was on the other side of the island, but figured that the vacation resort area couldn’t be all that huge anyway—or was it?

  ———

  The following evening, she rushed around to get ready, showering then putting on her clothing and makeup. Her skin’s pallor shone beside the bright green, but it went nicely with her outfit and eyes. People might think she wore makeup to look that way on purpose, and at a ball it would go unnoticed. Perhaps she would only resemble yet another tourist whose skin hadn’t yet been touched by the sun’s rays. This realization comforted her. No one at the ball needed to know that her skin could never, ever see the sun for longer than necessary without the use of powerful spells. And those skills she most certainly did not possess.

  Merideth glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Overall, she looked like a character from Midsummer Night’s Dream. The elfish vampire couldn’t tell if this resemblance was a good or a bad thing, but she liked the effect and determined that this was what was important.

  With a strangely childish giggle, she grabbed her small matching purse—oh, how James would flip out at the bill, but shopping for all of the clothing and makeup had been so much fun—and ran out of her room to meet the escort.

  Oh, Blood, I hope that this will be a fun evening.

  Chapter Three

  Eyes Filled With Stars

  Merideth arrived at the ball on time, as was her nature. When she stepped out of the cab, her eyes took in the numerous colorfully dressed people wearing various styles of masks. Some costumes appeared classy, others struck her as being very sexy—she admired a rather well-shaped young woman dressed in a leopard-print suit and painted mask.

  Some party, she thought with admiration. Maybe she would have a good time after all. Besides, why not? How bad could it be?

  Some time later, she continued to delicately sip her sangria, mindful of James’s words about enjoying herself in moderation. She mingled with the guests and made polite small talk while managing to not trip all over herself—oh, thank the Blood for her amethyst ring with all the spells on it that allowed her to enjoy alcohol! In the middle of sipping her sangria, she nodded and smiled at a young man’s jokes—and heard laughter. Very familiar laughter.

  Merideth froze and with great deliberateness turned around. Not too far from where she stood was a tall, curvy young woman with short, shockingly black hair and pale skin. A tight black leather mini dress with knee-length, black leather high-heeled boots and a black vinyl mask molded to her body. Aside from screaming “bad assed dominatrix”, the dress poured over her curves, transforming the woman into a leather-clad painted canvas of sensual beauty. Like dark chocolate, even.

  As she continued to gaze at the woman, her senses reeled. Vampire. Someone from her Order, no less—she could tell by the woman’s aura—but more important, she knew the precise identity of the woman, and the knowledge made her stomach flip-flop.

  Kalia, the magistra of Clan Corvus!

  Merideth had harbored a secret crush on Kalia for decades and never imagined she would run into her while on vacation, let alone at the same party. With a greedy gaze she took in the vision, basking in its deliciousness. Kalia dressed most appetizingly in the hottest, dominatrix-style outfit she had ever imagined, let alone seen her wearing.

  Moisture seeped between her legs, and she continued to stare at the raven-haired beauty before her. Not in all of her wildest fantasies could she have ever pictured running into the magistra at such a place as this—and there she stood in all of her dark, sexy glory. The sight filled her head with just too many… ideas. She couldn’t recall the last time she saw Kalia, and the last time they met, Merideth was lucky to get a few word
s out in a cordial conversation with her. Kalia made her feel as awkward and tongue-tied as an infatuated teenager with her first crush. What could she possibly say to her now when she was dressed in such a way that she couldn’t think straight?

  Oh Blood. Merideth downed the rest of the sangria.

  “More?” the man dressed as a butler in a mask inquired.

  Just leave me the entire bowl, thanks. “Oh, yes, please.” Merideth couldn’t drink enough alcohol tonight and wondered if the ring she wore would hold up. If only she was like other vampires of her age and could get drunk without it. Of all of the fancy balls in the world, why Kalia? she thought ruefully. Her cheeks warmed as she stared at her, and it had nothing to do with the alcohol. What was she doing here?

  Time seemed to slip away from Merideth at the same speed as her inebriation. She made her way with as much caution as she could through the crowds of drunken guests, the realization penetrating her alcohol-induced fog that it would be best to leave the party indoors to get some fresh air outside. She turned towards the door, almost stumbling into another party attendee—a beautiful young redheaded woman carrying a huge, golden chalice which appeared filled with wine.

  “Oh, excuse me!” the redhead exclaimed, laughing.

  Her voice sang of music, pure music, and for a brief moment, Merideth wondered if she’d wandered into the realm of the Fae by accident. Not like it wouldn’t have been the first time… Then she realized that the woman didn’t wear a mask, and stars filled her dark, shining eyes.

  Merideth blinked, realizing her blatant rudeness in staring at her. Blood, am I that drunk? I’m hallucinating celestial objects in women’s eyes! “Um, yes, sorry. I—”

  “No worries. I was just on my way to find you. Merideth, right?”

  She blinked at the redhead again. On her way to see me…? “Uh… yes?”

  The redheaded woman beamed at her. “Congratulations! You’ve been chosen to receive tonight’s prize. Quick, come with me!” She clasped Merideth’s hand in hers, and something strange brewed within her. Inside, she burned. Fire, so much fire. And the moisture between her legs from the thoughts she’d had earlier about her and Kalia began to build again.