by J. A. Smith
“Good luck” Henry said trying not to laugh as he walked back to his car. Once gone I noticed we were completely alone, everyone else had already gone home. With speed I could now use, I ran up to Quinn’s truck window and smacked him in the back of the head.
“What the hell do you think your doing” I asked in an angry tone causing him to chuckle as he rubbed the spot I had just hit.
“Trying to reacquaint myself with an old friend?” He made it sound like a question making me wonder if he didn’t know what he was doing either.
“I really don’t have time for this conversation Quinn” I said firmly as i watched the sun go down. “Damnit I’ll talk to you later” I said throwing my keys in his lap. He seemed confused for a brief moment until I started to undress, but before he could get his door open to try and stop me I was already in tiger form, tearing off towards my home. Quinn’s curses had me feeling a little better.
I was thanking heaven I wasn’t like most shifters at the moment as I ran like the wind, getting home in half the time it took me in the lotus. I shifted back as I hit my porch and ran inside, I showered quickly and picked out a grey dress that accented my eyes. Thank god I had been fast because just as I was done curling the ends of my hair, I heard a knock at that door. I had only been home for 15 minutes.
“Lana you look lovely” Andre complimented after I opened the door.
I couldn’t say anything back as I looked at him. He wore black leather pants, a white shirt covered with a matching black vest. But it wasn’t just the outfit that had me speechless; no it was the red bundle of roses he held out to me.
“Thank you” I said as I felt a blush spread across my face as I took the roses to place in a vase I had in the kitchen, Andre followed not needing to be invited in my home for him to enter. Pulling the vase down from the top of a cabinet I filled it with water, before taking a pair of scissors and cutting the ends off so they could keep growing a little before they died. I was stalling as I arranged the bouquet several times, trying to come up with something to say. Andre had seated himself at my table, I didn’t have to turn around to know he was watching me, but when I couldn’t procrastinate anymore I turned with the vase in my hands and placed it in the middle of the kitchen table.
“You seem tense tonight; does my presence alarm you so much?” Andre asked gently. If I didn’t know any better I’d sweat he sounded like I had hurt his feelings. Looking at him finally I nearly laughed at his pouting face.
“Why are you here Andre; I have been free of your kind for a while now so I have no idea why you have sought me out” I said this as I crossed my arms still standing. His face was a blank mask; vampires had the best poker faces that was a fact.
“Can I not simply want to get to know you” I snorted out a laugh which caused him to finally reveal an emotion; anger.
“Is it so difficult for you to understand that maybe just maybe I am attracted to you and want to see where this leads? I know you feel something for me, even if it is just lust at this stage in the game. I cannot get you out of my head; I do not believe you realize how odd that is. I am the oldest living vampire in the world, I have bedded thousands of women over the long years, nameless, faceless women that I do not care to remember. But one evening with you and I feel like a jealous boyfriend, it is unseemly for one of my stature to feel melancholy because the female I want is not around, if I didn’t know any better I would say you were a witch that had cursed me, but since you are a shifter that is not the case. So tell me Lana, what have you done to me that caused my cold dead heart to soften and beat once more” I stared at him for several moments in shock. I felt like I had been hit with a two by four in between the eyes; he couldn’t be serious but from the expression on his face he very much was.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. The one time we have encountered was nothing more than an emotional breakdown of sorts on my part. I was angry at you for sending Richard and Amelia away, for making me feel abandoned once more in my life. I agreed to go with you tonight because you threatened those I care for, again a vampire is taking control of my life, how am I supposed to feel anything but resentment towards you” I was so angry I was vibrating with the need to change and tear him apart, but thankfully I did not have a death wish this evening. Andre sat back hard in his chair regarding me with something close to heartbreak, he kept rubbing his chest as if it hurt, I would have felt sorry for him if I didn’t despise him so.
“Yes I knew you wouldn’t go with me unless I threatened bodily harm against someone. Though I must say you have a vicious tongue; I just poured my deepest fears out at your feet and you stomped on them, so I will play dirty and keep my threats going. Now shall we go” He said standing seeming just as angry as I was now. Without any more words we made our way outside to his Mercedes, he didn’t bother opening my door which I was grateful for because it gave the excuse to slam it shut once I was in.
Not words were exchanged the whole trip which took about two hours until we pulled up to a mansion; dread made my stomach clinch. It reminded me of Richard and Amelia’s place in California. A tall Victorian home with giant white columns holding the rood of the luxurious porch; the soft glow of lights seemed to make it glow like a Christmas tree. Many others were already here, pulling up to the door in limos of every kind, Andre pulled up as well, when his door was opened by a valet he causally stepped out and adjusted his vest. Those that saw him immediately began to bow making my suspicious correct; the whole place was swarming with vampires. I waited hoping he had forgotten about me, even when the valet got into behind the wheel and looked at me expectantly to get out I stayed. I watched as one of the vampires attending walked up the steps of the mansion, behind him a shifter wearing a collar and nothing more than a pair of shredded shorts followed his master inside. When my door was suddenly opened I growled loudly knowing it was the vampire I hated the most at the moment. Andre let out a board sigh before he grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the vehicle, struggling wouldn’t help me at this point, he was too strong to get away from.
“I can walk my own damn self” I said trying once more to yank my arm out of his grip, his hand loosened a bit but he didn’t let go completely, just curled my hand around his arm as if nothing was amiss. His head came down until his lips nearly touched my neck “You will behave tonight Lana or I will go through with the threats I have given, now be a good little date and giggle” he said pinching the underside of my arm. Gritting my teeth knowing he wasn’t lying in the least I let out a chocked giggle that didn’t seem real even to my ears before we started ascending the stairs to the mansion. Several vampires stopped us to speak with Andre all of which were trying to get on his good side where I wanted to do nothing more than kill him. A few women purred as they spoke trying as hard as they could without being obvious to rub themselves on him. I didn’t say anything until the sixth woman approached, it was taking us entirely too long to get this night over with and we hadn’t even made it into the dining room yet.
When the perfect blonde wearing a skin tight dress saturated over to us I let out a growl of impatience causing her to stop with his arm midair as she tried to reach out to touch Andre. Wide eyes stared at me for a moment before she smirked and latched onto his other arm.
“I believe your pet doesn’t know her manners my lord, that filthy animal growled at me” she said with a pout causing me to roll my eyes.
“Why don’t you two go fuck, since it’s clear she’s gagging for it; I mean seriously could you be any more obvious” It flew out of my mouth without warning but I didn’t care I was already done with tonight and wanting it to be nothing but a fading memory. Andre chocked out a laugh before trying to hide it behind a cough. Blondie glared at me with such menace I expected to burst into flames right there, I just raised an eye brow in silent challenge.
“She speaks as though she has a right to, I can smell from here you are nothing more
than an animal for our entertainment, I so do hope our lord lets you enter the ring, I would love to see the ground covered in your blood” I couldn’t help it I laughed outright, now it was her turn to growl. Andre stepped back clearly enjoying the exchange between us, he wasn’t the only one either, the entire room had fallen silent as they waited to see what would happen. I felt the air change in front of me a second before I caught the blondes hand that was about to strike my face. My laughter died but I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as she stared at me wide eyed.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, I have been known to have a very bad temper you see and I would hate to disrupt this party as you all would like to call it” I said squeezing her hand until I felt it shatter under my grip, I kept talking even over her screams but didn’t release her even though she was trying to get away.
“I have been in the ring many times and have yet to lose, I am not as proud as I once was but know this” I said twisting her arm back causing her to fall to her knees before me. “I am no one’s pet anymore and if you so much as look at me wrong again I enjoy ripping your head from your body and bath in your ashes. You are a waste of a vampire in my eyes just like I am a waste of space in yours. Are we clear” I said the last part in the sweetest voice I could muster. Once she nodded I let her go and waited for her to strike back, but she just whimpered and left the building, holding her now healing hand close to her chest. I flung my hair back as I looked around. All of the vampires were now looking at me like I was a wild animal that you didn’t get to close to or it might attack; they were too far off. I smiled sweetly at Andre “Ready to finish the evening” I asked. His eyes were heated as he took my arm once more. Vampires were stumbling to get out of our way as we finally made it into the dining room. Andre pulled a chair out for me at a table that “surprise” was empty though it had just been full. The night was looking up in my opinion. Andre sat next to me; a proud smile on his face, his chest was even puffed out more than it usually was.
I paid him no more attention as I scanned the room, many vampires had their human snacks and shifters next to them. Many of the shifters kept glancing my way as if I was their only hope of survival, it broke my heart but I couldn’t interfere any more than I had already. The showdown the blonde had secured my safety for tonight, but if I messed with a shifter that belonged to someone else all bets were off and they would attack like a pack of wolves on a wounded deer. Though I felt like shit doing it I ignored those stares of hope until I could look at no one else but Andre who had been staring at me since he sat down.
“You handled Gloria very well tonight Lana, though I must say I am surprised at your level of strength. If I had known you had a jealous streak I wouldn’t have been so flirty”
“I was not jealous so don’t get what I did twisted Andre, I was simply board and wanting the night to end faster” A smile curled his lips up showing me the tips of his fangs before he leaned forward and whispered “Liar” ignoring him once again I waited for the festivities to start.
After watching the blood donors come in and get sucked on I was ready to leave but I knew with a sinking dread there would be a fight tonight and I was going to have to watch, at least I wasn’t going to be a part of it; the thought of taking another one of my kinds life made me want to throw up.
“So tell me about the young man you seem attached to that was at your house last night” Rousing me from my disturbing thoughts I whipped my head around to look at Andre who was wiping a few drops of blood from his meal off his face with a linen napkin.
“Why?” I asked cautiously.
“Because I want to know if I have any more competitor’s for your attentions” Warning bells were ringing in my head, I was going to have to convince Andre that Quinn was nothing to me.
“I grew up with him, he is like a brother to me” I said calmly like it didn’t matter in the least. Andre watched me silently before leaning back in his chair.
“From what I hear he wasn’t looking at you like a sister” When I said nothing at all he continued after throwing the soiled napkin on the table a clear sign of agitation.
“It doesn’t matter, you are with me tonight, and that makes me very… . content for this evening” He whispered that last part causing me to break out into goose bumps, my inner tiger growled from within me but I wouldn’t let it come out of my mouth. I wasn’t sure if she wanted to kill Andre or fuck him, neither I was willing to do at the moment; not with so many witnesses at least.
“Attention!” Andre yelled standing up, it was so unexpected that I jumped a little before glaring at him. I knew from personal experience what he was about to say. “If you would all please make your way outside, we may begin tonight’s entertainment”. He yelled. I stood up with Andre and we were the first to walk out of the room with everyone else behind us, which I thought was a very bad idea but again ignored it as best I could.
We walked outside and I saw another coliseum, smaller than the one I was used to; it was only the size of one football field instead of two making fighting much more challenging with such little room to maneuver.
Andre and I made our way up to the top of the arena until we sat down on the velvet chairs. I began laughing a little when I examined the bottom of the arena walls.
“What’s funny Lana” Andre asked curiously.
“You put support beams around the arena” I said looking out into the empty space where the fight would take place.
“Yes I did, though an arena has never been demolished until you; I didn’t want to take any chances” he said reaching for my hand that I purposely placed on my lap. He knew holding my hand while I watched others die was wrong and yet he still snatched my hand and pulled it up to his mouth for a kiss, not letting go after he was done. I let out a sigh and settled back trying to think of T.V shows I had watched over the months so I would be distracted from what was about to happen in front of me.
A tall man walked out from his caged prison from the left side of the arena, naked as the day he was born; he had a head full of brownish gold hair that reminded me of an afro, since this man was white it didn’t seem to make since to me.
A very dark skinned tall woman, covered in muscle’s came out from the right. Andre’s hand tensed as it held mine making me wince from the pressure. Every vampire in the stadium seemed to become externally tense when they saw this woman. She had several long braids of black hair that hung down to her knees.
“Owe” I told Andre as his hand squeezed harder. He loosened at little but didn’t let go; he seemed paler at that sight of this woman.
“Change” Andre yelled causing me too jump once again from the unexpectedness.
I watched the man change in to a lion with ease, but the stillness of the crowd even when the man roared was what informed me something bad was about to happen. All thoughts of T.V shows fled my mind and I had to watch, it seemed like everyone was waiting for the women to change now.
Half of the vampires had gotten up and were now standing closer to the exit. I started to shake with the fear coming from the humans as they registered there vamps tense nerves.
“Don’t move” he whispered causing my heart rate to spike as I looked at him if I didn’t know any better I would say he looked scared.
The woman hadn’t changed yet she just stared at the lion as if it was an ant that needed to be smashed.
Her eyes change color first from dark brown to a dull yellow with a black slit in the middle, he neck began to stretch upward, I cringed as I heard all of her bones in her body breaking down. Her arms seemed to melt into her sides, he legs mended together then lengthened so were she was nothing but a long torso. Her color was changing into a dark green and brown, her sides seemed to have shades of red, orange and light green. She kept stretching out until she at least fifty feet long.
“What is she?” I whispered to Andre though I had a pretty good
idea I needed clarification.
“She’s an anaconda, I haven’t seen one for thousands of years, we had to kill them off because they were so large and dangerous to us, I didn’t even know any of them still lived” Andre said watching the anaconda very carefully.
“Why were they so dangerous?” I asked while the anaconda coiled into a very large ball, her head was already almost as tall as the arena.
“It can take up to ten strong vampires to even wound one, they are very fast and strong” Andre told me in hushed whispers but it seemed to echo in the silence. I heard the lion roar at his opponent before he leaped into the air towards the giant snake that seemed to be waiting for him. She caught him midair and coiled her big body around him then just stretched out. The sound of every bone in the lion’s body being shattered had me shaking in my seat. The lion was long dead and yet she kept stretching until she was the length of the arena from head to tail; wringing out a wet rag came to mind when I looked at the poor animal this snake held. In a quick motion that was hard to follow, the snake threw the lion up into the air like he was a stuffed animal with her tail catching him in her mouth I was in awe as she swallowed him whole. I watched the lions back legs twitch as he descending into the snake’s mouth until he was in the middle of the beast body. The woman did nothing more than let out a large burp before she changed back like nothing had happened.
She started to walk back to the cage without bowing to the king as was required, but just before she went through the gates she stopped and turned around.
“I am Ainia princess of the amazon anacondas. I seek out the Siberian to challenge” My heart that had been racing seemed to stop in my chest, since no one knew I was the Siberian tiger, I hoped she was just trying to tell the crowed about her challenge and not singling me out personally. I wouldn’t be changing anytime soon around this place and maybe not even the next moon. I was terrified to say the least; after all of the shifters I had killed it seemed almost poetic that the most deadly creature I had ever witnessed wanted to end my life. I started to shudder but held it down so no one would see. After the women made her quick speech she went back into the cage, I felt sorry for whoever was in there with her.
