by Raven Steele
Aris looked Naburus up and down, giving a few extra seconds to focus on the blood draining from the IV bag and into Naburus’s arm. He flared his nostrils in disgust. He played the villain well. “Samira and I do not have to believe the same thing. Just like you and I don’t have to agree that a vampire who can’t feed normally is an insult to our kind.”
I flinched, worried Aris might’ve taking it too far, but Korin only laughed while Naburus sneered.
“I’m glad you came,” Korin said. “You must join us for dinner. We have a special treat for Samira. Sit. We’ll eat soon.”
I lowered back into the chair across from Mateo while Aris sat on my left.
Teddy cleared his throat. So far he’d gone unnoticed. “Do you require anything of me, my Lord?”
Korin slowly turned toward him. “Come here.”
Teddy did as he was asked, his chin high. He stopped just in front of him.
Korin stared deeply into Teddy’s eyes. “It wasn’t like you to disappear for weeks. Tell me where you’ve been.”
His compulsion sent a powerful wave of energy throughout the room. It made my head ache. I’d forgotten how powerful it could be. I glanced curiously at Aris, realizing how strong he must be to be able to erase Korin’s compulsion over others.
Teddy made his expression go slack. “I found a human woman. She was especially pretty. I followed her home and took my time with her. She was pleasant, nice even. She let me drink from her.”
“Did you kill her?”
“In the end, yes. My bloodlust was too strong.”
“Were you sad about it?”
The question caught Teddy off guard as he contemplated how to answer the question. For a brief second, his deadpan expression almost broke. I sucked in a silent breath, but then Teddy said. “Yes. I liked her.”
Korin studied him for a long moment. “It is good to kill things we like. It makes us stronger.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“You may go.”
Teddy obediently left the room, casting me a worried look over his shoulder. Korin moved to the head of the table, while Naburus sat on his right between him and Mateo. Korin lifted a bell near his place setting and rang it.
For the next thirty minutes, two servants brought out the finest foods a vampire could eat, most of it extremely spicy. Since human food wasn’t as appealing as it used to be before we were turned into vampires, whatever we ate now had to be full of flavor to truly enjoy it.
Korin kept the conversation light, completely ignoring Mateo, who was still slowly turning the knife in his hand. The smell of his blood would be the ultimate enticement for me, except for the fact he was only bleeding because of Korin’s cruelty. And so, instead, it made my stomach curl. My foot found his under the table and touched it lightly, if only to show my support. He held my gaze the entire meal.
Aris pretended he didn’t exist, playing the indifferent act well, while Korin mostly spoke to him about the Ministry and the other eight members. Korin was familiar with all of them.
“I must ask,” Aris began, “why aren’t you on the Ministry? You have the social standing and the power to do so.”
Naburus snorted and picked at his food. He was unable to eat, the transformation into his vampire-ism gone so badly that it messed up his digestion permanently. But Korin still required him to sit and watch while we enjoyed the food.
Korin waved his fork in the air. “The men and women of the Ministry possess limited imaginations. If only they could conceive what this world could truly become!” His tone softened. “But, for now, their purpose is necessary.”
“And what would you like to see this world become?” Aris asked carefully.
Korin picked up his glass of wine and swirled it around. “A world where supernaturals rule over humans would be a good start, but I believe in going one step further. First, there are too many humans. Their population should be cut in half, at least. Second, vampires are the supreme race. They should rule over all other supernaturals.”
Aris didn’t flinch, didn’t show any disdain. He only nodded his head thoughtfully. “I agree vampires are far superior, but our numbers are not as strong as other species. How would you rectify that?”
“You, Aris Crow, of all people should know it is not impossible. Were you not created because of scientific advancements?”
For the first time, Aris’s expression cracked. “Are you saying you can genetically create vampires from humans?”
I listened intently, also horrified by the possibility. It was one thing to take a vampire and use the modified version of Scorpion’s Breath to make him into a Hyde solider, but how could he scientifically turn humans into vampires? Turning a human required a vampire bite, and even then the process was very technical and often failed. Even experienced vampires struggled to get it right.
“That, my friend, is a conversation for another time. I wouldn’t want you running back to tell all my secrets to your Ministry friends.” Korin clapped his hands. “Let’s have dessert, shall we?”
The two servants returned.
“We are ready for more,” he told them. His gaze turned on Naburus. “And replace my son’s blood bag. He’s almost out.”
They nodded obediently and scurried away.
Korin turned his attention to Mateo. “I want you to be a part of this. Look at me.”
Mateo shifted his gaze toward him.
Once again, the strength behind Korin’s compulsion filled the room. “You are free to pull the knife out of your hand and participate in this conversation.”
Mateo instantly yanked the knife out of his hand, not flinching as he did so, and placed it gently on the table, as if it were part of the dinnerware.
“What do you say to your generous master?” Korin asked.
Mateo bowed his head. “Thank you, sir.”
“Do you often compel your subjects?” Aris asked.
“Only when they think they know more than I do.”
“I apologize, Korin,” Mateo said. “I meant no disrespect. After considering your words, thinning the city of humans and other potential opposition soon is a good idea.”
My heart skipped a beat, and the blood drained from my face. Is that really what Korin was planning? I glanced back at Mateo worriedly. He took great risk revealing that information.
Korin’s expression darkened. “I’m glad you see it my way finally, but next time, think before you speak.”
Mateo bowed his head. “I apologize.”
“Thinning humans, huh?” Aris said, as if considering the idea. “I’m not opposed to it, per se. On some city blocks, humans outnumber the rats three to one. I prefer the rats.”
Korin chuckled and thumped the table in agreement.
Aris rubbed at his short beard. “But wouldn’t killing so many bring unwanted attention to our species? The last thing we need is a war with the US military.”
“It’s easy enough these days to assign blame to someone else. I hear the terrorist threat in the country is at an all-time high. Besides, it won’t be long before the US military will be a non-issue.”
“It’s about time,” Naburus moaned.
Mateo and I shared a glance.
Aris didn’t have time to question him further. The door to the kitchen opened and in came the servants followed by two women, both barely dressed. One of them, much fuller than the other, stepped forward. Her skin was white, so white I could see her pulse thumping in the veins beneath her skin. Her glazed-over brown eyes stared past us. The other one was older, maybe in her fifties, and appeared to be in excellent health with muscles well defined.
“What is this?” I asked, swallowing down my bloodlust.
A slow smile crept up Korin’s face. “This is dessert.”
Chapter 23
“We got them for you.” Korin turned to me. I could see a flicker of anger in his eyes and the small show of emotion washed over me like a tidal wave. Korin had once skinned a person alive for hours with zero emo
tion on his face. I could tell he was very angry with me for destroying his drugs. I would prefer a raging temper tantrum to this cold and calculated response.
Show no weakness, he always believed.
But instead, he would torture me by getting me to do something he thought would bring me closer to my inner darkness. I smiled inside, because he didn’t realize how far down that path I’d already trod. He didn’t need to tempt me to drink from these women. I’d do it willingly.
“Me?” I tried to pretend my aversion to it, although my heart was slamming against my ribcage in excitement.
“I heard you’re drinking from the vein now and wanted to celebrate with you.”
Air passed through Naburus’s thin nose in what sounded like a wheezing chuckle.
Had Rocky told him, or did Korin have men watching me? Either way, I had been careless. I shouldn’t have fed with Mateo that night in the club for all to see. “My feeding habits are none of your business.”
“Of course, they are. You are my daughter after all, not a very obedient one, but one nevertheless. I’m invested in whatever you do, more so than you know.”
“Let’s get on with it,” Aris said in an impatient voice. “I have to return to the city soon.”
Korin shifted his gaze to me. “You heard the man. Take your pick. Drink to your heart’s content.”
“I can’t …” I said, still pretending to resist but even as I said the words my body began to move toward the larger woman. The rhythmic beat of her veins called to me like the lullaby of a mother offering sweet milk from her tit.
Korin’s eyes found hers, and his compulsion flowed over the room as he spoke. “You are very afraid. This woman is going to kill you.”
Her fear spiked the room and she cried out, instantly sobbing. The sound made me hesitate, and my nostrils flared at the smell of her dismay. But my feet kept moving towards her as my stomach lurched in anticipation. A true hunter only grew excited at the fear of their prey—the chase was more exciting than the catch.
The woman lurched on her feet, running away from me, but there was nowhere for her to go in this closed room. I followed her slowly, almost nonchalantly. She was no match for my vampire speed.
“There you go,” Korin cooed. He reached out to me in passing, his fingers grazing across my arm as if he could feel my hunger. “Drink, my child. Give in to your darkest desires.”
The woman screamed and ran for the door, but when she tried the handle, it didn’t budge. I inched forward, licking my lips, and she turned around, holding her hands out in supplication, falling to her knees. “Please,” she begged. “Please don’t hurt me.”
I yanked her upwards, her pleas falling on deaf ears. My hands slid up each of her arms, feeling the pulsing beneath her flesh. My lips parted, and I sucked in a breath as bloodlust overcame all sense.
“Join her, Mateo.”
I was too enthralled with the blood of the woman in front of me to know if Korin had compelled Mateo to come to me or simply requested it. But when Mateo stepped into my vision, my heart thudded even faster than before, heat flowing through my veins. I stared into his eyes as I sank my eyeteeth into the meaty flesh at the crook between her neck and shoulder. Warm blood coated my tongue and ran down the back of my throat. Mateo kept his focus on me as he lifted her other arm. His tongue ran up her flesh before biting into it.
We stared into each other’s eyes, drinking together. The intensity of his gaze made my stomach clench and need swell between my legs. I moaned, and he reached his hand forward to brush his fingertips across my cheek to my neck, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.
I flicked my tongue at the blood pooling on her skin instead of sucking it in. Mateo’s eyes watched the motion, and I imagined running it over his skin. I gasped as his hand tightened on my neck, pulling me closer to him. Lifting his head, he rubbed his lips on my cheek, smearing her blood across it until he reached my mouth. My tongue flicked out, lapping at his lips as I stared into his eyes.
My hands clenched on the girl, who had been fighting weakly against me but was now beginning to grow weak. She made a soft noise of defeat, which made Mateo smile. He struck her with his teeth again and pulled even more blood into his mouth. I joined him, and the feel of his hand on me while blood coated my tongue overwhelmed me in the best way possible.
In a muffled voice, I heard Aris say something to Korin. A moment later, he appeared next to me. Surprisingly, he also bit into the woman on the same side as Mateo. My current euphoric state didn’t mind him joining our threesome.
From the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of silver. A sudden white-hot pain seared the inside of my ribs. I unlatched from the woman and gasped for air. My reaction also made Mateo let go of the woman as he rushed to my side. Without the support of all of us around her, the woman collapsed into Aris’s arms.
I stared straight ahead, anger and hunger combating for control over my emotions. Aris had done something to me. The pain at my side and the warm blood running down my hip spoke the truth. I lowered my gaze to Aris, who gently laid the woman’s head on the floor. The handle of a knife stuck out the end of his pocket. He had stabbed me? Rage burned through me, and I wanted to tear him apart.
“Samira.” Mateo’s voice in my ear gave me pause. I looked into his soft eyes, instant warmth replacing the anger. I sucked in another breath just as Mateo stepped back from the woman. I did the same.
Aris gently laid the woman’s head on the floor. “This one didn’t have much in her, did she? But she tasted delicious.” He paused, his hand over her chest. “Oh wait. She’s still alive.” A hint of disappointment stained his voice.
But it was all a show.
My mouth fell open and the last of her blood dribbled down my chin. I’d almost killed her. If Aris hadn’t stabbed me, I would have.
I kept my arm close to my side so no one would notice the wound and stepped back. Mateo frowned and moved to come toward me, but I quickly shook my head. He had done it with me, and he wouldn’t have cared if she had died. But I would have. I reached out and placed my hand on the table for support. What was happening to me?
“If you’re still hungry,” Korin said to Aris, “you may have the other. I have plenty.”
My head jerked to Korin. Did he keep a stash of humans here in Winter’s Cove? Had his bloodlust grown so large? In the past, he would have a human brought to him every few days, but he had never stored them. Maybe being given the power of fire required he feed more frequently. I’d heard of that before, a vampire needing more blood to be able to wield powerful magic.
Aris straightened. “Don’t mind if I do.”
He took hold of the muscular woman and pierced her neck, drinking quickly. From Korin’s point of view the action looked swift and brutal, but I saw the way Aris had slowed at the last second. He didn’t drink long, only enough to make the woman’s face pale. He snapped his head away from her, smiling. “She’s just as sweet. Do you do something to them?”
The corner of Korin’s mouth turned upward. “Well done. Not many notice the slight difference in taste, but I give my humans an IV saline solution infused with sugar.”
I couldn’t stop staring at the woman on the floor.
Aris wiped the blood from his mouth. “I’m quite fond of it. Would you mind if I take these humans off your hands? I’d like to keep them for the rest of the night. Maybe even tomorrow.”
Korin thought about this, his gaze shifting from the woman to Aris. “The flavor doesn’t last, but you’re welcome to them. Just dispose of the bodies properly.”
“I understand. Thank you. You’ve been a most gracious host.” Aris glanced at me. “Samira, would you mind assisting me with these bodies?”
“I can do it,” Mateo said quickly, but Aris pushed him back.
“I said Samira.”
Mateo’s fists tightened, and he glared at Aris.
Naburus snorted. “Looks like Samira has another suitor. How do you do it?”
I ign
ored him and moved to pick up the woman off the floor, but Korin’s hand snapped out and latched onto my wrist. “Before you go, my son wants another taste.”
My chest caved within itself. I had already humiliated myself enough in front of Aris and Mateo. Finally they would see me as I truly was. A weak and loathsome creature who used others and let herself be used.
Aris looked from me to Naburus with surprise. “Your son can feed on vampires but not humans?”
“He has a special taste for it. Samira’s makes him feel extra good, isn’t that right, son?”
“Yes, Father,” Naburus answered, his lip turned up into a smirk. “It gets me especially excited.”
“Please, Korin,” I said, my voice low. “Not tonight.”
Aris cleared his throat. “Is this really necessary? I really must be going.”
“Yes.” Korin’s voice was sharp and demanding. “It is. Samira has offended me in the worst possible way. She must be reminded what the consequences are for her behavior.”
“Fine.” Aris shrugged, looking bored. “But make it quick.”
“It will take as long as necessary. You may be in the Ministry, but remember, Aris, the ministry has no authority over me.”
Aris’ eyes flashed. “And you remember the power the Ministry can hold if we choose to combine it against a single supernatural. Just teach her a lesson and let me finish my other activities for the evening.” His eyes roamed over the human lying on the floor at his feet. “I’m still hungry.”
Korin’s lips curved up into a grin. “The young these days. So impatient.” His face snapped to Naburus. “Do it. Now.”
“I apologize for destroying your lab,” I said quickly, knowing my words would most likely go unheard, but I had to try. “I should have thought through how it might hurt your business in Rouen. It was rash and immature.”
“Hurt me?” He laughed out loud, an uncharacteristic action that sent ice down my spine. “Do you think my operations so small that you destroying one lab would ruin me?”
