by C. L. Quinn
“As far as we know, yes. I doubt he has any vampire or supernatural working for him, so I think that’s a safe bet. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Completely. It’s the one thing I know I’m good at. I was a good soldier.”
Eillia and Koen exchanged glances.
“I agree with him,” Koen said. “He may be able to move about unnoticed.”
Sighing, Eillia leaned forward to touch Marc on the knee. “Okay, but I want to do something first. Marc, I can trace your whereabouts if you have my blood in you.”
She didn’t need to say anything else, he got it from that statement. “You want to feed me.”
“Yes, I do. Not only will it give me a blood trace for you, but it will increase your strength and speed. You will need that if I’m sending you down the throat of a tiger.” She moved to the floor in front of him and touched his face. “It won’t be too bad. I’ll use impression to make it palatable, and then we’ll get you an excellent breakfast.”
Squeezing his eyes closed, Marc thought about how fucking nuts this whole situation was, then opened his eyes and nodded. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Koen stood up. “I’ll get a towel.” He disappeared into the bathroom, brought out a bath towel, and handed it to Marc. “You’ll need this.”
Eillia stared hard at him. “Koen, you’re such a shit. Marc, honey, it’ll be fine.”
Her hands slipped up his arms as she pressed him back against the sofa.
“Relax,” she whispered, and he felt his entire body and mind do just that. He felt her warmth against him as she leaned over him. Using a sharp knife Bas handed to her, she slit her arm, which seemed shocking to him, and then held her wrist to his lips.
“Just begin to drink, it’ll go easier after you’ve started.”
Koen had been right. It was awful, both the smell and taste made him want to gag, but he tried to swallow, to keep the nasty, thick fluid down. He could feel Eillia’s fingers sliding against his neck, and some of the natural urge to fight eased. At some point, Marc began to feel a lethargy, and raised both of his hands to hold her wrist closer to his mouth. At that point, he began to suck harder, suddenly wanting the blood to flow faster. It didn’t taste any better, it was still awful, but something inside of him seemed to crave it.
“Stop now, Eillia.”
Marc barely heard the masculine voice speaking above him, and then her arm was gone and someone held the towel to his face. Moments passed before he was able to look up and focus on the three vampires watching him casually.
“Nasty stuff, first time, yeah?” Koen asked, smiling.
Marc shook his head to clear the fog that seemed to surround him. “Uh…” was all he could manage.
“Yeah, I’ll get you something to eat.” Koen walked away while Bas walked back up and handed a wad of wet paper towels to Eillia.
“Clean him up and I’ll give him a work out after he eats.”
“Are you okay?” Eillia asked while she cleaned her own blood away from Marc’s face and chest. “This shirt is soaked. We’ll need to wash it or pitch it. I’ll have Koen pick up something for you. Just try to relax, you did very well. And now I can find you, if something happens, if they discover you’re not really one of them. You’re a good man, Marc. Tamesine is lucky to have found you.”
“She says the universe put us together.” He could finally get words out again.
“That may be true. It affects our lives more than any of us ever really know. We make our choices and they guide our lives. Mostly. But there are destinies, fates, and providences that come from an order far beyond any of us.”
An expression of disgust crossed Marc’s face as he moved his tongue in his mouth.
“Food will help. Koen will bring back a feast, that I promise. The man knows food.”
The door opened from a room in the back of the suite and Park came out toweling her hair. Marc watched her, captivated. He wondered if anyone could see this woman with ruby hair and not watch her every movement. She was grace personified, so beautiful, the eye just lingered on her, and strangely, he could feel something when he looked at her. Power? Self-possession like he’d never seen? He didn’t know, but when his gaze wandered back to Eillia, she smiled.
“Lovely, isn’t she? The first blood gene is extraordinarily kind to us, and particularly to Park. She’s had a tough life, before she found her family. She appreciates how good it is now. And she’s learned to love Tamesine as much as I have, so we’re grateful you’ve remained to help. We couldn’t go into that facility incognito like you can. You’re right, this is a better way.”
“Anything I can do.” Marc paused. “My life is changed forever, like you said.”
“It is. But knowing about us is more a very special blessing than a curse, I hope you feel that at some point. We’re very good people, Marc.”
“I think I already know that. I feel it.”
The entry door opened and Koen came through with the huge grin Marc was getting used to from the big man.
“Breakfast!” He called out, and pulled a wide cart in, laden with plates, numerous stainless steel containers, and bottles of wine.
Later, alone in an alcove, Eillia waited for her call to be answered as she held her cell phone gently against her ear.
“Baby.” Daniel’s voice traveled through space to her, curled up on a small divan, her knees drawn to her chin.
“Please tell me you’re nearly ready to come home,” he said immediately afterward.
“I hope so. I miss all of you so much. The kids, they’re doing well?”
“As well as possible without you here, gorgeous. Ahmose’s people are great with them, especially Chione.”
“I knew she would be, she’s a very special young lady. Has Alisa come home yet?”
“Tomorrow. She’ll miss Koen as much as I miss you. Make it soon, baby, or I’ll have to come to you.”
“No. The kids need you. I promise, the moment I can, I’ll be on my way home. I love you, Daniel.”
“Only a fraction as much as I love you.”
“We’re silly, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Be well, my love.”
Eillia slipped deeper into the divan, a warm smile on her face as she closed her eyes and pictured Daniel here, holding Caedmon, and smiling back.
Lamont choked it down. This was his third day trying to gag down a tall glass of Tamesine’s blood. It was dreadful. This was the nastiest part of his journey to becoming a god. He hated the taste of blood, the idea of doing it for the rest of his life nauseated him.
Worst yet, so far, there was no indication that he was changing into a vampire. He still manifested his unusual strength and speed, and a few odd abilities, but he knew his body wasn’t becoming something different. No one on his staff, no one that he knew of personally, really understood exactly how the conversion occurred. He had just assumed that, if it were a virus, all he needed to do was to get it into his body and let it begin to take over. But it wasn’t happening. Fuck it all, he needed the bitch’s cooperation.
“Get Claude back,” he yelled to Viktor, who waited across the lab after bringing this newest glass of the vampire’s blood to him. Viktor had been responsible for bleeding Tamesine twice a day and bringing the blood to Lamont.
Viktor bowed and left. Shaking his head, Lamont looked at the still half-full glass of vile red blood, then glanced up at the door, still swinging after Viktor’s hasty retreat. That man was a real ass-kisser. Lamont wanted everyone to react exactly that way when he ordered them to do something. He wanted the power of compulsion. The vampire would change him or he would kill her if it was the last thing he did!
Eillia tugged at Marc’s shirt and straightened the collar.
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not a six-year old off to the first day of school.”
Smiling, she looked up into his eyes. She’d noticed right away that they were an odd color and that the flecks of white seemed to sparkle, and that was oddly abnormal.<
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“I know. And yet I still feel as if I’m sending you somewhere you’re not prepared. Be careful, Marc. These people are ruthless.”
“I already got that. But you don’t know who I used to be, what I’ve done. Honestly, you probably should be warning them.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I don’t want to lose you, either.”
Tilting her head, she laid a hand on his chest. “I’ve already kind of gotten used to you. There’s something deep, I can feel it when I’m near you, especially when I’m touching you like this. You’re more than you think you are. I think that’s why the universe put you and Tamesine together. You need each other.”
“I think I agree with you. A few weeks ago, I’d have fought this every which way possible. Damn, I’m even getting used to being surrounded by vampires.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fuck, did I just say that?”
“You did. All right, it’s time to go. Bas rented a car for you, so just head in. He’s coming with you to do the compulsions. He visited the bar last night closest to the hotel chalet and found out that the head of security is a man named Taggert. He’ll arrange for your employment with him. Here, take this.”
She handed him a sleek cell phone.
“It goes straight to me. You call me if you need anything anytime, you got that?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Marc said, and knew he did sound like a six-year-old blowing off his mom’s overprotective attention.
Bas gestured. “We need to go. I want you in place by the time that second shift arrives in half an hour.”
“Okay.” Marc took one last look at Eillia standing in the center of the room, worried for him. Worried for him. Two of the most beautiful, fascinating women in the world, and they cared what happened to him. How his life had changed…
He turned and joined Bas in the hallway.
“I’m going to come in with you, we’ll find Taggert, and get you hired. You have the cell?”
“Yeah, Eillia gave it to me.”
“Good. Don’t hesitate to use it if you need to.”
They entered the building through a basement access door, and Bas intercepted a young man who’d entered with them.
“Can you tell me where to find Taggert?”
The guy looked at him strangely until a moment later, blank-eyed, he answered.
“He’s up the stairs, first door to the right. It’s his office.”
“Thanks,” Bas said, “Go to work, nothing unusual happened and you met no one new. You’ve never seen me before. Go.”
The man walked away quickly.
Marc watched, fascinated. “You guys must never have a problem with anything.”
“You’d think that…but you’d be wrong. Case in point.”
“Yeah, sorry.”
They walked quickly, passing only one other man, and entered Taggert’s office.
The large man that looked up at them had a full beard and bright blue eyes.
“Yes?” He said, immediately suspicious, his hand resting on a bulge under his shirt.
“Hi, I’m here about the job,” Bas said, moving closer.
Taggert started to move back, but stopped in his tracks as Bas caught his eye.
“This is Marc. He’s been working with you from the beginning, but just got here a week ago. Marc is one of your most trusted specialists in security. Actually, you’ve known him for years, and he’s like a brother to you. You will answer anything he asks you honestly and without question. You will do anything he tells you to do without question because you trust him completely. Nod your understanding.”
Taggert nodded.
“Good. I am leaving now, you will not remember seeing me.” Bas turned to Marc and took his hand in a strong handshake. “Good luck, buddy. This guy is your best advocate now. Use him however you need to get information and stay safe. Come back to the hotel when your shift is over tomorrow morning.”
Marc squeezed Bas’s hand and watched him leave, then turned to Taggert.
“Hey, there, friend, what’s going on tonight?”
Slowly, Taggert faced Marc, blinking. He looked confused, but Eillia had told Marc he would.
“Hey, buddy, you okay? Too much partying tonight?”
Suddenly, Taggert’s eyes moved around the room and back to Marc. He blinked again and shook his head.
“Um, what? No, no, too much to do tonight. Evening, Marc. Hey, you’re out of uniform.”
“Sorry, yeah, I kind of messed up on time. Barely made it here. Maybe it was me who was doing too much partying. You got a spare uniform for your trusted ally?"
Taggert smiled and relaxed. “Sure. Come on.”
Two doors down, what used to be a storage room for canned goods held a row of lockers and a rack of uniform shirts.
“Pick one out. Where’s your weapon?”
“Left it here last night.”
“Okay. Hurry up. Boss wants us to finish construction on that new cage for his vampire doll tonight. He’s moving her in as soon as it’s done.”
That statement confirmed everything. This was where that man had brought Tamesine. Thank God, they’d found her!
“All right. It still amazes me that they’ve been able to keep her,” Marc commented.
“Me, too, brother. In the beginning, the serum didn’t work well, so he just kept her shot up as soon as she started to rouse. But now, it’s working better, probably because it’s been in her system twenty-four hours for several days. Of course, it won’t matter after tomorrow anyway.”
“Tomorrow?” Marc asked, while he buttoned the charcoal gray shirt with an SRS patch on each shoulder.
“The new serum will be ready. If it works as promised, it will completely control her and her abilities. She’ll be defenseless. Lamont will be able to force her to do what he wants then.”
“And what was that again?”
Taggert punched Marc in the arm. “You know. She’s going to make him into a vampire. And then, buddy, I think I’m going to head for the hills. He’s unpredictable and mean now, I don’t want to be around when he’s invincible.”
Taggert paused, his fingers resting on the grip of his 9 mil. “I really wish we could just get her out of here.”
Marc’s heart stilled. This man could be an ally if he really felt that way.
“Why don’t we?”
Taggert looked up at Marc, his eyes soft, a slight smile on his face.
“I wish. It’s too late. We’re surrounded by layers of security. If I’d had any idea what this job really entailed, I would never have taken it. So, once he’s made this change, I know I don’t want to stick around. Let’s find some tropical island somewhere and fuck our way through all the pretty locals. What do you say, bro?”
Marc grinned widely and hoped like hell he looked sincere. “Fuckin’ A. Let’s go do this thing.”
Taggert led him out of the room.
“The new serum is ready?” Lamont asked, anxious.
“It is, sir.” Bill Holiday kept his distance from Lamont as he answered. He didn’t like him, but that didn’t stop him from taking his very generous payday for developing this unique sedative.
“And you’re sure it will work? The other one doesn’t work very well on a first blood vampire.”
“This one is coded for her own genetics, though. It’s targeted for only one subject, your little blonde vampire. So while I can’t guarantee it, I honestly think it will work perfectly. I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t. This serum is actually way ahead of the other one, technologically. I could never have done it without such a steady supply of her blood and DNA.”
“Splendid. We will try it tonight.”
“Can you give me one more day? I want to do one last test on the sample for longevity. You’ve only given me three days to perfect this.”
“And you’ve risen to the task. I don’t see where that is a problem, she’s contained for now. I’d like it so that I can safely move her to the new level tomorrow.”
Bill
didn’t mistake Lamont’s statement. What he meant was it had better be ready tomorrow and it had better work.
“Absolutely, sir. Thank you for your forbearance. It will only make the serum more successful.”
“I like success!” Lamont yelled out, and walked out without any further comments.
One of Bill’s assistants looked up from an active centrifuge. “You better hope it works.”
Nodding, Bill picked up an empty glass vial. “We all better hope it works. We know what that man is like when something isn’t a success.”
Marc just stood and stared at the monstrosity. He couldn’t believe anyone was this evil, and he’d seen quite a lot of evil in his days.
“Startling, isn’t it?” Taggert said.
“Um, yeah.”
“He gets her in here, especially if that new sedative works, and she’ll die here. He even found a supernatural who he forced to ward the cage against vampires.”
“What does that mean?”
“Some kind of magic. It’s supposed to keep other vampires from being able to open the locks. I tell you, I don’t know how much more of this supernatural shit I can take. I know when I hired on, they made it clear that vampires were vicious and dangerous, but I just don’t believe in the mission anymore. It’s tough to see that poor woman collapsed on the floor of that cage. But this cage, damn!”
The cage in front of Marc was built to be a permanent residence for a vampire. It was large, a good thirty feet wide, twenty or so deep. Located dead center of the cage, a heavy iron post held a flywheel that could turn 360 degrees, and attached to that, two long heavy chains. A toilet had been placed in the back, with no privacy, and just barely within reach of the chains. The bars of the cage were at least three times the thickness of any cage bars Marc had ever seen, and he noticed a sleek column next to it.
“What’s the purpose of that?” he asked Taggert.
Taggert shook his head. “It’s a control panel. The bars are electrified with enough voltage to kill a human being and enough to stun a vampire into incoherence. It’s the finest prison ever built.”
