Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger

by Theresa Hissong

  The knock on the door had me floating toward the smell of blood coming from the other side. Michelle grabbed my forearm and pulled me back, “Sit on the bed, my lady. I will get it for you.”

  The oversized bed was the softest thing I had ever felt. It actually felt like I was sitting on clouds and the softness distracted me from my thirst, but only for a minute.

  Michelle returned with a tray holding two goblets of B positive. I took the first one and made quick work of the liquid inside. Granted it was bagged blood, but it worked. After the second one, I felt better, but not quite satisfied. I would have to glutton myself on human blood now to satisfy me. Drinking Dragus’ blood is richer than humans. This made me need more human blood just to get an equivalent to his.

  Michelle sat with me for a few hours talking about our past and my future as the First Lady of the Krieger. She was changed at the age of twenty five during the Vietnam War era. She had been engaged to a man in the Army, but he was killed in combat only months after being sent overseas. Bastian and Michelle had been married almost fifteen years and she loved him more than eternity itself.

  “Where are you from, originally,” I asked at one point.

  “I was born in New York City. It’s been years since I was home. Most of my family has passed away. I have a few cousins that are still alive, but they don’t know who I am.” Michelle’s face dropped when she spoke of her family. Obviously, she didn’t like talking about them much.

  “Where is Powle’s wife? I haven’t met her yet.” I asked.

  “Lady Elise, she usually stays at their home. She doesn’t come out very often. I’m sure she will come over to meet you soon,” she shrugged. I sensed there was something she wasn’t telling me. I hope she was as nice as Michelle, but the way she talked about Powle’s wife had me concerned.

  “What are our roles here?” I asked because I need to know what I had gotten myself into.

  “Being First Lady of the Krieger, you will be in charge of the estate. Anything you say shall be done. Master Dragus has always taken the role, because he is the head of the area. Lady Elise and I are your subjects. Sort of like your right hand women.” She laughed and her voice sounded like wind chimes.

  “Honestly, I have no idea what to do. Will you help me?” I begged. This new life was confusing. The formalities were breed in me long ago and that’s the easy part. I have encountered a few Lady of the Krieger, but have never spent a lot of time around them. They are always heavily guarded and if you were to get close to one, it was a miracle. A Lady of the Krieger usually had one or at the most two bodyguards with her at all times. I had to laugh because Dragus had already appointed my two.

  “Sure, my lady, that’s what we’re here for.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  Sunrise was about an hour away and Michelle left me to go back to her family home on the estate. I jumped when I heard a clanging sound outside the windows. I looked over and saw panels sliding down sealing the windows tightly. I’d thought about buying those for the house a few years back, but decided I was happy with my basement bedroom.

  There was a marbled Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom that had twelve jets. (Yes, I counted them!) The thing was so huge that we could have probably fit five people in it. I found some bubble bath under the sink and filled the tub almost full of water and bubbles. A relaxing bath was not something I should be doing while my lover was out fighting the Lycans, but I needed it to calm my nerves. Most likely, I was feeling some of Dragus’ stress as well as my own. He was even braver than I had ever realized.

  Suddenly the pull for him lessoned and I knew he was coming home. It wasn’t long before I sensed him entering the room. I was still immersed in bubbles when I heard the door to the bedroom open.

  “Mi amor?” Dragus called to me. His voice was strained.

  “In here,” I called out to him. His heavy footsteps pounded as he walked quickly into the bathroom. We both breathed a sigh of relief when our eyes met. I reached for a towel to get out, but Dragus used his speed to snatch it out of my hands. I looked at him confused.

  “Don’t get out, I like watching you in our bath.” He leaned over to kiss me. Once our lips touched, my panic seized, and all I wanted to do was to pull him in with me. But I had other questions.

  “What happened at my house?” I reached out for the towel again, and he surrendered it reluctantly. As I stepped out of the tub, Dragus pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my shoulder. I wrapped myself in the towel and looked at him, wondering why he hadn’t answered. “Dragus, answer my question.”

  “We were able to dispatch most of the Lycans, but not before there was some damage to your home,” he paused. “It’s going to need work.”

  “How much work are we talking about?” I bit my lip waiting for the answer I knew was coming.

  “They were able to gain access to your main level and did quite a bit of damage.” His eyes never left mine while he waited for my reaction. What could I do, get mad and scream? Surprising to me, I remained calm. There was nothing I could do now that would change the situation.

  “Well, I have insurance. I need to sell it anyway, since this is my new home.” I shrugged and leaned into Dragus for support. Sometimes all I needed was to smell his musky male scent to calm my nerves. “Please tell me that I can still get my clothes out of the house?”

  “Yes. I’m sending someone over there during the day to pick up your personal items. They should be here by sunset tomorrow night.”

  “How bad are the attacks?” I asked, nervously. I watched as he grimaced slightly.

  “Nowhere near as bad as the attacks in London a hundred years ago,” he shrugged. He seemed so unconcerned over the threat these Lycanthropes were posing. Obviously this wasn’t the first time he has dealt with an attack.

  “Why are they attacking? Adam said that they wanted the humans for their own.” I was confused. It made no sense to me. I thought that full blooded Lycanthropes had lost all of their human qualities once they turned.

  “They are more animal-like, but still have human-like thoughts. They know how to reason or to justify what they are doing. Unfortunately, the Lycanthropes want us to suffer as they have over their life span. They are angry creatures. Who could blame them?” That made a lot of sense; they were human and turned against their will into animals. I was thankful he could explain some of the questions I had, but I was still worried. His explanation shed some light onto their nature that I had been clueless about.

  I didn’t have much more to say, because morning was coming and I was almost dead to the world. Dragus retrieved my night gown from the bathroom and helped me dress. I fell asleep comfortable in this oversized bed made for a warrior.

  Chapter 12

  Charity

  The next evening I awoke in Dragus’ luxurious bed to the sound of the shower running, but I just wanted to stay in bed. The softness reminded me of the feather bed I had when I was a child. My mother knew that I liked my bed super soft. She stuffed my mattress with as many feathers as she could so that I would be comfortable. Sometimes I really miss my mother. Like now, when I know that I’ll soon be mated. She would have been so happy to be the mother of the bride.

  Rosanna Harwood was a woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer. We looked very much alike, except if I remember correctly, her hair was a little longer than my own. Once my father died, she took over the house and the land, working until her hands bled and she couldn’t hold her head up at dinner. Thinking of her made me sad and I didn’t want to cry in front of my mate.

  I tugged the covers up to my chin and waited for him to come to me. My cell phone rang, demanding my attention. I reached over and snagged the contraption, flipping it open.

  “Hello,” I grumbled.

  “My lady?” the voice on the other end was Lydia, in all of her morning perkiness. I really hate morning people.

  “Lydia, if you call me that again, I will reach through this phone and strangle you.”


  “Sorry, Charity, old habits die hard,” she laughed. “Dragus sent Ashby to retrieve me. I’m on the way to see you. This is so exciting. I’ve never been inside a Krieger Estate.” Lydia was beside herself at the opportunity to look around the mansion. There was no way I would let her go snooping around here; she would just have to wait until I could give her a detailed tour.

  “I’m assuming they are going out looking for the Lycans again tonight. I want you to meet Lady Michelle, Bastian’s wife. You will love her.”

  “Sounds great! See you in a few.”

  I tossed the phone back on the table and rolled over in the bed. The water cut off and shortly before the bathroom door opened. Dragus stood in nothing but a towel. The steam from the shower rolled out into the cool air of the bedroom. His hair was out of his usual ponytail and hung across the tops of his shoulders. Little beads of water rolled down his muscular chest. I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Good evening,” I purred. His breathtaking smile had my body aching for his touch.

  “You’re still in bed?” he asked.

  “Too comfortable to get up, that’s all.” I stretched showing off a little cleavage to get him going, but I sensed he was in no mood. “Are you not interested?” I whispered.

  “Oh, I am very interested,” he sighed. The knot forming against the towel told me he was speaking nothing but the truth. “I have to meet the others shortly. I only have time for our feeding then I must be going.”

  Knowing it would be a losing battle to argue with him, I reluctantly got out of bed. After I brushed my teeth, Dragus pulled me onto his lap. It was hard, but I managed to feed without groping some part of his body. Dragus wasn’t as gentle when he tossed me on my back and took my vein.

  “Oh, Charity,” he growled. “Do you know how hard it is to leave you here alone in our bed? It’s just unnatural. A beautiful woman should never be left alone in their lover’s bed.” I beamed at hearing him say ‘our bed’. Everything seemed too perfect. I was feeling more and more like a princess.

  “That’s okay, my love,” I sighed. “I understand.” I spoke truthfully. It was not safe for anyone. The Lycan’s needed to be stopped. Now was not the time to be thinking of my own needs.

  I stayed in the bed watching him get dressed. I loved the way his black Krieger shirt hugged the muscles in his arms. His tight button-fly jeans accented his assets perfectly. He reached up to the top shelf of the closet and retrieved a gun holster that held two handguns. Lastly, he pulled on his leather coat.

  Dragus left with the other Krieger and I was then alone. Soon after he left there was a light knock on the door. I opened it to find a very petite dark haired girl standing there with big yellow eyes. Soft pouty lips turned up at the corners when she saw my face. “Lady Charity,” she curtsied. “My name is Lady Elise, Powle’s wife.” Her voice had the same accent as Dragus and I wondered if she was from Romania.

  In turn, I returned the curtsy and smiled, “Please, come in.”

  Elise looked to be no older than nineteen when she was changed. She wore a baby pink gown that cinched tight around her breasts and the pleated fabric flowed down to her ankles.

  She took a seat on the couch and patted the spot next to her, “Come, sit my lady.” Once seated, she leaned in and looked me over like she was almost star struck. “Do you own that club by the river?”

  The question threw me for a second. She seemed more interested in what I did more than who I was. “Yes, my lady. I’ve owned Nights for a while now.”

  “I’m sorry to be so nosy. It’s just that Powle and I have been together for a long time and I’ve lived on a Krieger Estate for most of my existence. I don’t get out very often,” she shrugged.

  “Why not?” I asked, confused. Was she not allowed? The thought depressed me terribly. There was no way in hell that I would be held a prisoner here. How could she stand it?

  “Well, Powle doesn’t like for me to be away from the estate. Plus, I enjoy my time here. I don’t know if I would fair very well outside with others.” It really made me mad that she acted like a kept woman; my biggest pet peeve.

  “Why wouldn’t you fair well?” Oh, Elsie and I were going to have a nice long girl to girl talk, if Powle is holding her here against her will. Damn warriors!

  “You see, I am a Born Blood,” she paused to take in my reaction. “I hope you understand what that is?” My new golden eyes must have bugged right out of my head, because Elise winched and then leaned away from me.

  “Yeah, um…you were born a vampire?” I asked, stunned. There hasn’t been a Born Blood vampire in like, forever.

  “It’s very important that I stay hidden. The estate is the safest place for me,” she shrugged and casually tossed her hair back over her shoulder. The ring she wore on her left hand was a red ruby encased in diamonds. It was rather large and a little too gawky for my taste.

  “No offense, my lady, but I thought there were no Born Bloods left. The hunters eradicated them a few hundred years ago.”

  She tucked her chin as if she was embarrassed. “I was born in 1702, in Romania. My Seasoning was complete around time I turned eighteen. About a year later, I met Powle and fell in love. We have been together ever since. I have stayed hidden from the hunters for a very long time.”

  The Seasoning, for a Born Blood, is similar to human puberty. Once the transition period is over, they are a full vampire. Until then, they can survive on a diet of human food and blood. They need both to survive. From the age of twelve until the conclusion of the Seasoning, the cravings for human food will diminish. The last process is the completion of growing the fangs. An adolescent Born Blood will have tiny sharp fangs to help them learn to take blood, usually from small animals or their own mother’s wrist. As they mature, so will the fangs. Turned Bloods, like me, will awake from their changing with a full set of sharp, pointy fangs. The only difference between the two of us now, Elise can bear children and I cannot. The jury was still out on how I felt about that bit of information.

  “I understand, Elsie. Your secret is safe with me.” I promised. If word got out to the hunters, they would stop at nothing to kill her. They’ve hunted born vampires to what I thought was extinction. This is why she is not allowed to leave the estate. Although I felt bad for her, I understand the need for her to remain hidden.

  “I just wanted to come by and introduce myself and welcome you to your new home,” she smiled. “Anything you need, don’t be afraid to ask us or one of the servants.”

  “Thank you, my lady, same to you. If you need anything, please come see me.” I felt sorry for her. The only other lady in the compound was Michelle. How could she stand to be hidden for three hundred years?

  “Thank you, my lady. I must be going,” she paused when she approached the door and turned around. “You know, Dragus loves you very much. Go easy on him. He can be a bit of a horse’s arse sometimes…and welcome to the family.” After a petite curtsy, she vanished out the door.

  Lydia showed up with Ashby a little later than expected. When I invited them inside the room, Ashby stood outside the door with a slight shocked look on his face.

  “Ashby, you can come in,” Lydia urged.

  “No thank you, my lady. It is custom to not enter another Krieger’s chamber when his mate is unaccompanied. Now, if you ladies will excuse me,” he gave each of us a hand over heart bow and retreated down the hall. I turned to Lydia and she looked puzzled.

  “That was weird,” she shrugged.

  “Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s that whole ancient warrior crap they all abide by. It’s their possessive nature. Trust me when I tell you, it’s a strange feeling to be like that.” Lydia looked at me like I had lost my damn mind.

  “Do you feel that way about Dragus?” she asked, a little stunned.

  “Yes, I think it is part of the bonding. Possessiveness and protectiveness all wrapped up in a nice tight emotion. Remember the boots,” I asked and she nodded. “Well multiply that times a thousand
.”

  “That’s just weird,” she sighed. “Anyway, you need to call Mistress Kai. I worked with her, over the phone, early this morning. We think she has finished the potion.”

  The news couldn’t have come at a better time. Kai may be ready to treat the infected vampires at the hospital. If this worked, I would demand that Dragus take me to my house. Adam would only listen to me, because he did not trust the Krieger. And if he refused, I would go by myself.

  Kai’s number was on speed dial. She answered on the third ring. “Lady Charity,” she whispered.

  “Mistress Kai,” two can play at that game. We both chuckled before I continued, “I hear you may have a potion to try.”

  “Yes, we’re just preparing the patients now. Do you want to come here and observe? I don’t think Dr. Mason will mind.” Kai sounded so sure of what they had accomplished; I actually felt a little hope.

  Dragus was busy patrolling the city preventing any more attacks. I should probably tell him where I will be. For a minute, I weighed the good and bad about telling him. By no means was I going to ask his permission, but I felt obligated to at least tell him where I was going.

  After a few minutes of coming up with a plan, I texted Brilliam.

  Need escort to hospital. Tell Dragus = Your death!

  Lydia and I laughed at the tone of my text and within seconds there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, I found Brilliam standing their huffing like they wanted to yell, but knew better of it because of my new found status.

  “They may have found a cure, we must go,” I stated. Without another word, I walked passed them and into the hallway. Lydia laughing behind me, like a hyena. I could have sworn I heard one of them say, “We’re so fucking dead.” I smiled as I got into the awaiting Hummer.

  Kai was relieved we made it. She introduced us to Dr. Mason. He was young for his immortal age. The doctor held an old world charm that made me feel comfortable. He reminded me of a nerdy chemist on television, with his short, pudgy stature and bright white lab coat that didn’t quite fit around his belly. I sensed he was somewhere around thirty at the time he was changed and he was less than sixty years old, since his actual birth.