“I have seen her,” he said. “I have seen Anat.”
I remember covering my mouth. “Where have you seen her?” I asked.
He took a long time to answer. “She is in hiding, fearful of me!” He wept. “She swore she loves me and always shall... and yes, before you ask—she knows what was done to me!”
CHAPTER 54
We found her in a cellar of an abandoned building. She tried to get away when she heard us. Ramet called out to reassure her. It was then that I saw her face. She was beautiful. Her skin was so pale as to be translucent. There was dried blood about her mouth. She saw my eyes pick it out and she rubbed it away.
Ramet began to console her when she would not stop crying. He was petting her and kissing her hand. She kissed his as well. It was such a tender moment I felt quite the interloper. At last he helped her to stand. “This is my princess.”
She nodded to us, but even though it was a bow, it was regal, that is she was regal.
Ramet guided her back to Raphael. He greeted her and told her how worried he was.
She was sorry and added, “I saw him, and when I did, I could not believe it.” Her eyes were fixed on Ramet. “He died for love of me!”
“I would do it again!” Ramet said.
Raphael was moved as were the others in the coven. They knew her and liked her. Each spoke to her to comfort her. I had the feeling she was very disturbed. In fact I felt sure she might run away. I told Gascoyne as I didn’t wish to upset Ramet.
Gascoyne disagreed. “I think it’s the sheer emotion of seeing her beloved again, Justine.”
Perhaps it was, but I was not convinced, I sensed trouble. There was her guilt over the affair and punishment. I told Gascoyne. The princess too begged Ramet to forgive her.
“I cannot forgive myself. You were punished for love of me!” she cried. Nothing we could say helped. Even Ramet could not dissuade her from her self-condemnation. That’s when I knew there would be further unhappiness.
Things appeared to settle down as Ramet and the princess were once again reconciled or appeared to be. They spoke for hours, with her telling him all about her creation and he telling her about his existence.
Later he told us that she had killed herself. “When she knew what they had done to me she died by her own hand. I had already been created and was living with the Sorcerer, Natalas. He was guiding me through the early time of my vampire existence, without his help I’d have perished by choice.”
He added that he did often wonder about the princess, but Natalas told him she was saddened and had gone away. “He assured me lying over and over she was well, so that eventually I came to believe she was.” Ramet shook his head. “We each feel guilty for the other. How can we possibly go on?”
I wondered that as well. I wondered too how the princess existed from that time to this. Ramet knew and he explained.
“She first went in search of me. This she did as she knew I was created as she was. She searched for years... centuries I think. After a time, she gave up and let herself be led by the most evil people...”
Vampire wanton...I knew something of that!
I spoke to Anat at last. I found her to be a strange vampire indeed. Her English wasn’t too good and we could not converse in French or in Egyptian so we plodded on as best we could with Ramet translating.
“You are his friends,” she said. “You and your love. Ramet told me. I am so pleased—it is a relief that can almost not be felt after such a long time. One gets accustomed to suffering and joy or relief seems to be diseases.”
I agreed and told her of my existence. She said she had been in Morocco in the past—centuries ago. It sounded the same sort of set up I had experienced. “There was love for me or lust shall I say, those sultans are gifted in the art of love and many of them have vampire mistresses and harems. It is an odd craving they have. Still humans differ as vampires do.”
We spoke of the plague next and she said as Ramet did, she recalled many such plagues, adding there would always be more. “I did think,” she said, “that they were the result of wars too. It is a strange thing, is it not? It seems the gods punish humans for their violence and turn them into monsters...”
****
Raphael had begun to look worried. We would soon know why. He was fearful of tainted blood. “I have heard of at least two outbreaks. It has gotten so bad we are less and less able to feed. Thankfully we have human friends...”
We all knew what that meant—friends that willingly were fed upon. He went on to tell us about a couple he knew. “I have known them for years. They are quite a well to do couple with aristocratic connections. Sophia and I met them in blood clubs. Yes,” he sighed. “There used to be so many.”
It sounded too good to be true—would we feed on them? I asked.
“Of course! They will love it. They always have. I will go and see if they are at home. Just to make certain so we don’t worry.”
This he did. He and Sophia both went. The sisters said they liked the couple although they found them strange. Interesting I thought, a vampire finding humans strange. Yet that was often the case.
Anat said they were well educated and cultured, but she added smiling that doesn’t stop them from being wild and savage.
I wondered just how savage she found them.
Raphael and Sophia did not return until the following night. They looked tired. “That was a lot of work,” Sophia said. Her eyes glistened and her natural pallor had turned rosy. Raphael also looked quite good, clearly they had fed.
“You can all feed from us if you like we’re floating in the stuff or you can go yourselves. The welcome mat is always out!”
That said the two of them disappeared then into an alcove where they coupled very noisily. The sisters giggled and said they always were like that after a good feed.
Gascoyne and I didn’t feel amorous or particularly hungry. We sat and spoke with Ramet and Anat until someone said dawn was breaking whereupon we crept into our little sleep spaces to rest until twilight.
****
Sophia came to speak with me the following night. She explained the couple wished to meet us. “And,” she added, winking at the sisters, “they would love you to come as well, Anat.”
Anat sighed. “If I must,” she said.
“Anat, we never force you to do anything! We wouldn’t think of it. But there are benefits for you, benefits for all of us.”
Anat finally agreed although reluctantly. She confided it was not something she enjoyed. “However, if it is of benefit to us, then I will go.”
This was a coven in the best sense.
We would go to their townhouse the following night. It was ironic but it was quite near Grosvenor Square. Gascoyne and I looked at each other and from his expression it was clear that he knew just how close we were. He whispered. “So near yet so far.”
I smiled. “What is in the past stays in the past,” I said.
****
The house was quite like what came to be known as Joy House. It was elegant as were its hosts, Martine and Andrew Surront.
The butler admitted us. He barely glanced at us, although he did acknowledge Sophia and Raphael. He made a sweeping gesture as he asked us to come in, a more snooty individual I have never seen.
“My master and mistress are in the library,” he announced.
What an officious character I thought. He was awfully full of himself. Gascoyne would remark later to me he probably was so proud of where he worked. It was beautiful, all marble floors and plush carpeting, much of it Turkish which was the current fashion.
The house smelled of flowers. There were great bouquets about, arranged artfully in cut crystal and china vases.
The doors to the library were open. A well-dressed couple greeted us. The woman first, insisting we call her Martine. “After all,” she said. “We share something in common.”
I thought she must have meant an affinity for blood. Though it was true, I thought it was odd to com
e out and say it like that.
They were stunning, if eccentric looking individuals swathed in scarves and long sleeves. That was to cover up the bite marks I knew had to be there.
Her husband was equally gracious and as eccentric. Neither of them was as aloof as their butler which was amusing. The husband or Andrew as we were asked to call him was quite taken with Anat. This was not something Ramet liked or approved of that was obvious.
However, Ramet was mindful of what Raphael had told him. In fact, we were all advised on our appropriate behavior before we came.
What we did there was restrained compared to past orgies. There was feeding and feeding only. That was the aphrodisiac for them. Although Martine liked the male vampires including Gascoyne to feed from her breasts as well as her neck. When she exposed them, I saw the many bite scars she had.
Good, I thought—serves you right.
I was surprised when Andrew led Anat away. Ramet watched as she was taken to another room. Raphael sighed and whispered to him, that he doesn’t usually do this. But there are times when he does. Apparently, this was such a time.
Ramet looked as though he could have torn the place apart—but did not. He had to be restrained for the good of all of us, including Anat.
They were not gone long and when Anat came out she took Ramet aside. “I do it for us,” she said. “For us all.”
The good of the coven.
We spoke politely after the feeding. Our hosts were recovered and, though a little pale—they were all smiles. We chatted as any guests would. We had by this time learned the butler was called Boland.
He had removed himself to change—as there had been some blood spatter on his coat. When he returned, he was as haughty as he had been. He bowed to our hosts and vanished like any good servant.
Martine smiled. “He is a treasure, a real find. Not all servants partake so freely!”
I had no doubt.
She began to tell us then about the club where they all met. ‘It was in Knightsbridge,” Martine said. “Quite elegant it was, too. It saddens me to think so many are gone.”
I wondered if she meant vampires or humans.
“Yes, we made many friends, actors and actresses among them.”
She began to rattle off names I had never heard of but I smiled and said I had. Gascoyne winked at me.
“I long for times like that again. I feel we shall never have them.”
Andrew agreed. “Of course we could seek one out. Somewhere...there might be such places flourishing. We won’t know unless we look.”
We began to speak of travel then. Possibly to exotic places—but Anat said she heard that the plague had appeared in Marseille. “If it is there it may likely be in Africa already. I had thought to visit Egypt...”
I saw Ramet’s eyes fill with tears.
Sophia confessed she had always wished to go to America. “It’s just a dream I’ve had. It is a world away—and I often wonder what it is like. One hears so much.”
“There are cities to become absorbed in, to indulge our requirements as well as our predilections,” Martine said. She looked flushed with excitement. “Perhaps we should think of going there!”
CHAPTER 55
That was the first time it was mentioned. Something struck me then. There would be change and I knew it. Such moments are memorable.
As for our new friends, the truth was I felt odd about them. That is, I confided privately to Gascoyne. “They are strange people—all humans that enjoy being fed on are worse than we are! We must feed, but they choose to be our prey.”
Gascoyne agreed. However, he made the point that our survival depended on feeding and if they are our only supply of food for the duration of the voyage—so be it. “You see, don’t you Justine?”
I did. I realized we would do it because it was a means to an end. If it insured our survival then it was important.
We stayed over in their home as we spoke until dawn, each of us enthused with this idea of travel. At last Martine said we’d best retire. She directed us down to the cellar.
The other vampires had been there before. Sophia whispered how nice it was and what a good rest we would have. And then we saw it. It was quite large and comfortable looking, there were pallets and cushions around, I saw with a mere glance that all the windows were shuttered. Boland assured us no light could come in.
I had by this time become enthused about our plans and would have loved to chat—but no one else wanted to. Gascoyne quieted me and told me to rest. “We shall speak tomorrow.”
I felt like a child that had been chided. Yet I felt relaxed and did not have to wait long for sleep.
The next night our plans began to become more detailed. We spoke about clothes and trunks. Martine said she had clothes galore and so did her husband.
“And because we travel often, we have acquired four steamer trunks too. Two were from our honeymoon but I have my parents’ as well. We can fill them as we like.”
The sisters were very excited. They chattered constantly about going, confessing how they longed to leave London. “I don’t know how long I have wanted to go!” Julia said. And her sister agreed.
Gascoyne seemed eager too. He said he had often wondered about it. It was Ramet and Anat that looked thoughtful and were quiet. I wondered why. I tried to sound encouraging, making the point that if we chose a large city we’d be less noticed.
That appealed to everyone even Ramet. “Yes, I agree,” he said. “New York I have heard is such a place. Many races reside there I believe.” He turned to Anat and spoke to her. They conversed in Egyptian so we could not tell what they were saying. Raphael had not lived in Egypt long—so he had never learned the language. He was as lost as we were.
When Ramet realized we were all watching him, he smiled. “I am telling my princess what we are saying.”
Anat smiled but her lips quivered and I saw fear in her eyes. I wondered if Ramet noticed. When she saw me looking at her she smiled. “I have existed for so long and have called many countries home. I wonder about this New World though. I think perhaps I am too old world.”
It was a touching thing to say and it saddened me. None of us spoke after that. This would be the time for yet more quiet reflection. Still, introspection is second nature to us. We are used to it.
When we went to leave on the fourth night, the Surronts invited us to remain. “If we are travelling to New York why not stay here. If you need anything fetched from your dwelling just tell us.”
It was a moment for laughter and tears. Raphael laughed and Sophia and the sisters did too but theirs was mixed with tears.
“We have so little, it is not worth going back for,” Raphael said.
So we remained, ensconced in safety and luxury. How different our world had become. Even vampires can get used to comfort.
****
The Surronts did our bookings for us. “We are sailing on the Nautilus in ten days! Think how utterly wonderful it will be to sail across the ocean again,” Martine said and her husband agreed. Even Boland was enthused.
Martine was studying us. “You realize dear ones,” she said. “You will have to mingle with the other passengers, and that means all over—in the dining room and salons—on deck too I should think. Just avoid the sun.” She nodded to Raphael.
“They think we are a theatrical troupe,” he said. “On our way to a series of engagements. We shall have leeway as we will be considered eccentrics.”
Leeway, indeed. We could be aloof oddballs—how perfect that was!
Everyone spoke at once. We were a coven of enthused vampires. Of course there were practical considerations. We had to plan where we would stay when we arrived. The Surronts wired ahead. They told us about a hotel they knew of.
“It is located in a most unique neighborhood. Greenwich Village is quite Bohemian. There are actors and musicians, writers too that live in The Albert Hotel. You will love it.” She beamed. “It’s a favorite place of ours.”
We wer
e all very excited, but thoughtful too. Gascoyne and I spoke privately and confided our worries. He feared he’d never see France again as I did. But then I kissed him. “My love, we will see what the future holds. How unpredictable is a vampire’s existence. We can never second guess anything.”
I felt so close to him during that time. Closer than I ever felt. Our lives were changing yet again. What had gone past would remain where it was and it was best that it did. We had survived near destruction and plague. What hadn’t we lived through? Odd word to use, ‘lived’ but it was true.
It was Gascoyne who said we had a right to happiness. At the very least, peace of mind he added. If we did, Ramet did as well and Anat. We all did.
****
It was overcast the day we left. And we were pleased. Still, we were heavily veiled—all the females, only Martine wasn’t. No, the Surronts and Boland only had to hide their necks instead. This they did with their swathes of scarves which made them look even more elegant. Even Boland said he felt quite fashionable.
Sophia and the sisters wore hats. Martine’s hats really suited them. Naturally they had heavy veils added, but it was done artfully. Martine had a milliner do it all, even mine.
Gascoyne complemented me, saying I looked like a vision. “You do truly.”
Raphael and Gascoyne tried to make the best of it. They were to board as quickly as possible. Although Raphael said the cloudiness helped and there was no reason to worry provided no one dawdled.
Ramet was dressed in a turban so as to go along with his exotic looks. Anat rubbed a balm on him she said would protect his skin from sunlight should there be any. She looked exquisite, with her dark good looks, dressed as she was in one of Martine’s exquisite capes.
The Surronts were planning on staying a long time in New York. They said they had friends there and were looking forward to once again entertaining. They said they were going to see about opening a club there. None of us were surprised at that. In fact, Gascoyne had confided in me he quite thought that was the sole reason they were going.
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