The Elixir Maidens: Crimson

by Kate Hill

  The Elixir Maidens: Crimson

  Kate Hill

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright ©2006 Kate Hill

  No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Changeling Press LLC.

  ISBN (10) 1-59596-287-5

  ISBN (13) 978-1-59596-287-4

  Formats Available:

  HTML, Adobe PDF,

  MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader

  Publisher:

  Changeling Press LLC

  PO Box 1561

  Shepherdstown, WV 25443-1561

  www.ChangelingPress.com

  Editor: Sheri Ross Fogarty

  Cover Artist: Sinamin

  This e-book file contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language which some may find offensive and which is not appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to adults, only, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  Chapter One

  In between sips of her favorite wine and bites of a delicious vegetable and steak tips dinner, Sondra studied her Creator carefully. She’d suggested dining at Burgundy Peak because she knew the vampire hangout was Nigel’s favorite. As busy as they’d been with their separate lives, it had been close to a month since they’d had a chance to see each other and had only kept in touch through brief phone conversations. He had appeared fine outside the club and greeted her with the usual hug, kiss, and smile. Since stepping inside, he seemed quieter than usual, though she didn’t think the look of annoyance in his eyes was directed at her. Still, his unusual behavior concerned her.

  When he glanced at his watch for the third time in ten minutes, she knew without doubt something was bothering him.

  “What’s wrong, Nigel?” she asked. “Am I keeping you from a date?”

  “Of course not.”

  She looked amused. “Why not? You’re a handsome, powerful old vamp and it is New Year’s Eve. I could be keeping you from some poor, unsuspecting --”

  “That’s quite enough about my love life,” he said, a slight smile twitching the corners of his slender lips. “Speaking of dating, I keep expecting you to bring home a long term partner for inspection.”

  “Inspection?” She laughed. “Nigel, I swear you get more attitude with every century. In case you haven’t noticed I’ve been on my own for quite a while now. I’m no longer a novice who has to do everything you say.”

  He snorted. “As if you ever did everything I said. Insolent young thing.”

  Sondra raised her eyes to heaven. She loved Nigel with all her heart, but he’d never been the easiest man to get along with. He was loyal, generous, and affectionate while at the same time arrogant, opinionated, and self-righteous. In short, a very difficult master for any vampire child to handle, yet Sondra had prided herself in doing well. She’d learned to appreciate her time with him while keeping secret the parts of her personal life she knew he wouldn’t approve of.

  “Seriously, Nigel, what is bothering you tonight? You keep looking at your watch as if we’re on a time schedule.”

  “I’d just like to be gone before tonight’s entertainment starts.”

  “You mean The Elixir Maidens?” Sondra’s stomach tightened. She’d completely forgotten the drag queen singing group had been hired to perform at the club through the month of December. There was only one thing Nigel hated more than vampires who used their powers to terrorize mortals, and that was men who dressed as women. While he’d adapted to many changes throughout his long life, he still possessed medieval mentality when it came to sexuality.

  “Nigel, it’s just entertainment.”

  “I do not find their vulgar performances amusing.”

  “How would you know? You’ve never watched their show.”

  “All I need know is that they do not behave appropriately for any self-respecting male, especially one of our kind.”

  “What does being a vampire have to do with men in drag?”

  “My point exactly. It has absolutely nothing to do with it. Our kind have garnered bad enough reputations with films and literature flooded with gay vampires.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”

  “Honesty, Sondra, sometimes I wonder if I managed to teach you anything over the centuries.”

  “And, Nigel, sometimes I wonder how a man as intelligent and basically kind-spirited as you can be so thick when it comes to certain things.”

  Nigel’s teeth clenched visibly and a muscle jerked in his smooth-shaven cheek. He removed his napkin from his lap, placed it on the table, and motioned for the waitress to bring their check.

  “Don’t tell me you’re really going to leave?” Sondra reached for his hand, but he tugged away.

  The crowd broke into applause as The Elixir Maidens took the stage. Sondra glanced quickly toward the three men in black beaded dresses who started singing to the accompaniment of their back-up band.

  “You’re welcome to join me and we can continue the evening in a more appropriate atmosphere,” Nigel stated and cast a disgusted look toward the stage. He glanced at the check the waitress handed him, opened his wallet, and paid her with several crisp bills.

  “This is ridiculous. Nigel --”

  “But before I go.” He stood and headed toward a booth where the owner of the club sat having dinner with his wife.

  Master Zigor was one of the only vamps with as much attitude as Nigel. Not a man to be trifled with, he instilled fear in even the most dangerous of their kind. He and Nigel had known each other for literally ages, but Sondra knew all too well that no matter how old the friendship, when one alpha vampire confronted another the results were potentially deadly.

  “Nigel, what are you doing?” Sondra grasped his arm and pulled hard in an attempt to stop him.

  “Remember your place, girl, and don’t vex me,” he snapped, his hazel eyes glaring into hers.

  With several long strides, he reached Zigor’s booth. The Master of Burgundy Peak turned to him with a penetrating blue gaze. His wife, Mel, smiled in their direction.

  “Nigel,” Zigor said.

  “Zigor. Melinda.” Nigel inclined his head.

  “Something you need?” Zigor asked.

  “As one of your oldest patrons, I’d like to lodge a complaint against your choice in entertainment.”

  Zigor lifted a black eyebrow. “Which entertainment is that?”

  “Them.” Nigel pointed toward the stage. “I find it hard to believe a respectable vampire such as yourself who owns one of the finest establishments for our kind would stoop to hiring those… creatures.”

  “And I find it hard to believe you would tell me how to run my business.”

  For a long moment the two males stared at each other, one more furious than the other. Sondra and Mel exchanged nervous glances.

  “Nigel, let’s go.”

  “I told you to be silent,” her master snarled without moving his gaze from Zigor.

  “Nigel, I appreciate your business,” Zigor said without sounding the least bit appreciative. “However, if you don’t like the entertainment, the door is right behind you.”

  “Vampires like that are a bad image for all of us,” Nigel continued, his fists clenched. “By hiring them you not only have no respect for yourself, but for all our kind.”

  Zigor stood, tall enough to dwarf Nigel’s six feet one inches.

  “Zigor,” Mel said.

  “Quiet, Melinda,” Zigor snapped, his fangs bared. He glowered at Nigel. “This is my establishment. I hire who
the hell I want. Now get the fuck out of here while you still have legs to walk on.”

  “Zigor --”

  “I said quiet, Melinda!” he roared.

  Sondra’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. For a moment she thought Nigel was going to push his luck with the master of Burgundy Peak. Though Nigel could more than handle himself in a fight against most vamps, Sondra feared Zigor would beat the hell out of him.

  After a moment that seemed to stretch forever, Nigel turned and strode out of the club. Sondra chased after him.

  “Will you wait a second,” she said, grasping his arm before he climbed into his car. He turned to her, fury gleaming in his eyes. “Nigel, you’re acting crazy. They’re only nightclub performers. Is this really worth ruining your friendship with Zigor?”

  “He’s an old fool. And if you see nothing wrong with those Elixir Maidenheads --”

  “Maidens.”

  “Whatever, then you are a young fool.”

  “Nigel --”

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with you, Sondra, but I suggest you seriously review your beliefs. When you’ve come to your senses, we’ll talk again.”

  Before she could reply, he drove off, leaving her in a cloud of exhaust.

  Muttering to herself, Sondra strode back into the club, feeling torn. She loved Nigel and wanted to remain loyal to him, but she disagreed with many of his views. By returning to Burgundy Peak and finishing The Elixir Maidens’ performance, she almost felt as if she was rebelling against her Creator. Ridiculous for a woman with a few centuries behind her to act like a disobedient teenager, but she couldn’t help it. Not when dealing with Nigel.

  Back at the table Sondra finished her dinner while watching The Elixir Maidens perform. They were talented singers and their act entertaining enough to help her briefly push aside her argument with Nigel. Two Maidens were so lithe and lovely that Sondra actually forgot they were men. The third member, though beautiful, had a distinctly masculine cast to his face. Sondra guessed by his wardrobe choice he was concealing more muscle mass than his leaner companions.

  Partway through the show, Mel approached Sondra’s table and took a seat.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  Sondra nodded. “Hey, I’m sorry about Nigel.”

  “It’s not your fault. It kind of threw me because that’s the first time I remember him having words with Zigor.”

  “As long as nobody got hurt.” Especially Nigel, thought Sondra.

  “Are you enjoying the show?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry. My Creator’s prejudices don’t extend to me.”

  Mel chuckled. “I wasn’t insinuating that. Are you going to stick around after the show? We’ll be partying until the ball drops.”

  “Yeah. I’ll hang out for a while.” Usually Sondra would have already been chasing after Nigel, begging to make up with him. For once she was going to stand by her convictions. As much as she loved him, he had to understand that his way wasn’t hers. She loved him unconditionally and he’d have to learn to do the same for her.

  “It’s none of my business, but if you’re upset about fighting with Nigel and need somebody to talk to…”

  Sondra forced a smile. “Thanks, Mel, but I’m fine.”

  “I know what it’s like not being on your Creator’s good side. The few times I’ve had bad arguments with mine have been pure hell.”

  “I just can’t take it when Nigel gets opinionated. I mean, nobody’s asking him to put on lipstick and a skirt, so why can’t he just leave guys like The Elixir Maidens alone?”

  Chuckling, Mel raised her eyes to heaven. “There are times when Zigor can be like that. What’s the phrase? My way or the highway.”

  “I think Nigel invented that term.”

  “If you want to join us instead of sitting by yourself, feel free.”

  Sondra cast a wary glance in Zigor’s direction. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Zigor won’t mind. What’s between him and Nigel will stay between him and Nigel.”

  “Thanks anyway, Mel, but I think I’ll stay here. There seems to be a lot of single cuties around tonight,” Sondra said, glancing around the room.

  “Go for it.” Mel winked and rejoined her husband.

  Several moments later, Sondra was enjoying her dessert -- chocolate cake with caramel icing -- when The Elixir Maidens took a break between sets. Two walked to the bar and ordered drinks while the other joined a handsome dark-haired man seated at a corner table. Sondra recognized the man as the famous illusionist Sir Hagen. She briefly recalled reading in the local newspaper that he was involved with one of The Elixir Maidens.

  When she finished her cake, Sondra accepted an offer to dance from a cute young mortal. Afterward they shared a couple of drinks, but when he offered her his blood she politely refused. She knew he was hoping for sex in conjunction with blood sharing and while he seemed nice enough, he just didn’t “do it” for her. By then Zigor had left the club’s main floor and Mel sat with a table of friends. Sondra joined them until the end of The Elixir Maidens’ performance, then the group went to the game room to play pool. It was nearly midnight when Sondra decided she should probably call Nigel and see if he’d cooled down.

  She headed back to the club area and walked toward the pay phone by the restrooms when her gaze riveted to the sexiest vamp she’d ever seen. He stood at the bar talking to a couple of waitresses who seemed to hang on his every word. Tall and lean, he wore snug jeans and a black shirt open at the throat. Thick brown hair hung slightly below his ears with a tousled look that made her long to run her fingers through it. Blue eyes gleamed with mischief from beneath wickedly arched eyebrows and a roguish grin curved his full lips.

  As if feeling her stare, the stud turned in her direction and caught her gaze. Sondra moistened lips that had gone dry. Her heartbeat quickened like a newbie vamp about to take her first bite.

  With a deep, masculine chuckle that sent little ripples of desire down Sondra’s spine, he touched one of the waitresses on the chin and excused himself. Sondra’s legs went weak when she noticed him heading in her direction.

  “Hey.” He smiled.

  “Hi,” Sondra replied. Calm. Remain calm. It was so difficult now that those gorgeous blue eyes were mere inches from hers.

  “Would you have a drink with me?”

  Sondra glanced at the waitresses. “Are you trying to create your own harem?”

  He chuckled again. “Just a couple of acquaintances. I’ve been staying at the hotel.”

  “Ah.”

  “Will you join me or are you here with someone?”

  Sondra lifted an eyebrow. “Direct, aren’t you?”

  “When you get to be as old as I am, you outgrow playing games.”

  “What makes you think I’m not older than you?”

  He shrugged. “Instinct. Does the direct approach bother you?”

  “Not yet.”

  Smiling he gestured toward an empty table where he pulled out a chair for her. An old fashioned gesture that she found rather endearing. It reminded her of Nigel. Nigel. She really should be calling him instead of flirting.

  Rather than take the seat across the table, he sat in one near her, his hypnotic blue eyes fixed on her.

  Maybe Nigel could wait a while longer…

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “Sondra.”

  “That’s pretty.”

  “And you are?”

  “My name is Richie, but my friends call me Richie.”

  Sondra giggled and shook her head. “That is so tacky.”

  “But it made you laugh.”

  A waitress approached and took their order, then Richie stood and offered her his hand. “Want to talk more on the dance floor?”

  “Why not?” In truth she loved the idea of getting closer to him. His delicious scent of citrus cologne and raw male stroked her libido and she realized she’d been inhaling that same wonderful aroma throughout the night. H
ow could she have possibly missed seeing him when he’d been right there all along? It wasn’t like he was the sort of guy one could easily miss. With his build and handsome square-jawed face, he looked like a cover model for a romance novel.

  She took his hand, loving the sensation of his warm flesh, and allowed him to guide her toward the dance floor. A love song drifted through the club, perfect for close dancing.

  “We can dance formally, if you want,” he said, “or do you prefer to dance modern?”

  “Modern?” she asked.

  Placing his hands on her waist, he spoke close to her ear, his rich voice just above a whisper. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Feeling only a bit apprehensive, she slid her arms around his neck and enjoyed the warmth and hardness of his body so close to hers. She tilted her chin and met his gaze, her entire body tingling with desire.

  Damn, this was one sexy vamp. A little on the goofy side, but hell, after so many years with Nigel’s straight-laced influence, she appreciated a man with a sense of humor.

  “You said you’re staying at the hotel,” she began. “Are you here for business or vacation?”

  “Business. How about you? Do you live around here?”

  “I have a place in the suburbs.”

  “Is this your first time at Burgundy Peak?”

  “No. My Creator and I used to come here a lot, but we’ve both been busy.”

  “Was that the guy you were with earlier?”

  Sondra’s brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”

  “I couldn’t help noticing you when you were having dinner. I’m sorry. Have I made you uncomfortable?” His smile faded and he appeared genuinely concerned.

  Actually, she was rather flattered that he’d noticed her. What bothered her again was that she hadn’t noticed him.

  “Yes, he’s my Creator.”

  “Are you and he --”

  “That’s a little personal, isn’t it?”

  “Yes and I’m only asking because I’d rather like to get personal with you.”

  Sondra’s pulse raced. Though it was common for many vampires to share blood and sex with partners they’d just met, she couldn’t help feeling taken aback by her unusually powerful attraction to Richie. Looking into his eyes, inhaling his scent, and feeling his body so close she found herself longing to fuck him. She wondered how he would taste. How would it feel when he pleasured her with fangs and cock?