When we finally started to swim Alek asked me, “I’ve always wondered, how is it that he doesn’t sink?”
I laughed. “Because the oil on his wings keeps them from absorbing the water.”
“Well, that makes sense,” he said as the younger Alek made his way quietly through the trees. “Did you have sex in the lake?” he asked.
“You should have waited around to see,” I teased.
“Now that you have seen one of my favorite dreams, I think it is time for you to sleep.”
“Why is it one of your favorites?”
“Because for an hour I got to watch a beautiful woman who had no idea that she’s beautiful. The Icarum could not have looked more like an angel than you did that night. Now sleep,” he said forcefully, and I did.
*****
After that night, I didn’t have any more trouble sleeping. With Alek’s help, I could finally rest. I hadn’t had time to meditate enough to communicate with Mathias for a few weeks. I felt sick at the thought of explaining to him what had been going on. Then again, he could see the future, so he knew what would happen with Alfred and I long before I did. The son of a bitch could have given me some warning. But he would have considered that screwing with fate, I’m sure. Besides, I wouldn’t trade the happy memories with Alfred for all the warning in the world. My heartbreak would just become another scar that I carried.
*****
Saturday night would bring with it the Hunger Moon of February. Marco was preparing to lead the hunt for the pack on this night, so I wasn’t expecting to hear his voice when I answered the phone late Thursday.
“Can you come down here?” I assumed he was at The Dread Moon.
“Why, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“It’s not me, it’s Richard.”
“Richard?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “He showed up down here a few hours ago. He’s shit drunk, and really depressed.”
“Where is he now? You didn’t leave him alone did you?” Even as I asked the question, I knew Marco wouldn’t have been irresponsible enough to leave a depressed snakeman alone.
I was in the process of looking for something to wear when he answered, “No. Dracula is with him.” The emphasis he placed on the name let me know he wasn’t happy about it. I wasn’t sure what would make Marco tolerate Vlad in his club, and I didn’t think the time was appropriate to ask.
“I’ll be right there.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
As soon as I hung up I snatched the first thing out of the closet that looked like decent club wear. I didn’t want to draw more attention to myself than necessary by not fitting in. The Dread Moon was a little more upscale than the almost goth-punk look club Red had going on. I snatched on a pair of black leather pants and a blood red button up shirt. The shoes that I only stopped at the front door to put on were a sort of short dress boot. I snatched my keys while I yelled to Alek in the kitchen, “I’ve got to go, Richard is at The Dread Moon, and he may need my help!”
It’s a good thing I’m friends with at least one local cop, because I practically stood my car on its head to reach the club. I pulled around back and saw Marco open the door almost as soon as I got out of the car.
“Thanks for calling me,” I said as I hugged him.
Marco was wearing another black suit, and had I been there under different circumstances, I might have suggested we retire to his office. He looked tired and worried, but the smile he gave me seemed to erase most of that.
“It’s good to see you, Red.”
He kissed me softly and I asked, “Are you all right?”
“I’m just tired,” he said. Marco placed his hand in the small of my back and began leading me upstairs. “Aldan has been asking my opinion on the proposals made by the vampires.”
That surprised me. “Wow. Who would have thought a member of the council would ever ask the opinion of a werewolf? My uncle must really like you.”
“He does.” Marco smiled down at me. “Besides, he’s not like wizards used to be. He actually treats people equally. It hasn’t exactly made him popular in some circles, but for the most part, people appreciate what he’s doing. He has a lot of influence over the current president, whose vote is crucial in all of this.”
The recently elected President of the United Continental Terran Federation was Tynan Theron, and he was a djinn. He was the first of his kind to ever be elected to office, and had been relying heavily on the advice of Aldan Medwin. Since wizards and djinns both had powerful magical abilities, the council seemed to get along better with Theron than any of the previous presidents they had served with.
“Actually, I’ve got a meeting with Aldan tomorrow night.”
“The night before the full moon? That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
“It probably isn’t, but I can control myself better than most. It should be fine. He just wants to be sure that the rights the vampires have proposed will not give them anything that we don’t have. From what I’ve heard so far, they aren’t asking for anything extra. All they really want is to simply be tolerated.”
“Isn’t that what everyone wants?” I said sarcastically as we approached the same room I had found Dracula in before.
“Now, before we go in,” Marco said, “Richard is very distraught. I just want you to be prepared.”
He opened the door, and I found Richard sitting at the table the drunken Jamaican werewolves had previously occupied. Dracula was standing over his shoulder and appeared to be trying to talk some sense into him. Where the lighting had been set to dim the last time I was there, the room was brightly lit on this occasion. Every worried line on Richard’s face seemed to stand out in stark contrast against the dark blue shirt he wore. Normally, Richard looked good in blue, it brought out the color in his blue gray eyes, but not now. His eyes were the cold yellow of a snake once again, and he looked like he’d been crying.
“I ran some tests on myself,” he explained shakily as I sat down across from him. “As you know, the lycanthropy virus lengthens the life span. Well, apparently there’s something in reptilian DNA that lengthens your life even more.” He paused to take another gulp of his drink and drained the glass. “I’ll likely live three hundred years or so with this fucking curse,” he said miserably.
I looked up at Dracula, and he nodded as if to say it was true.
“But, who knows if my calculations are even accurate? I might end up living forever, just because I don’t have the balls to kill myself. I don’t want to live forever, Lilith,” he sobbed.
“Neither do I,” I said softly as I took the glass away from Richard.
“You do remember Mathias’s ability to take on some of the characteristics of his lovers?” Dracula asked me.
“Of course.”
“Well, my angel, after all we have …” He looked to Marco and seemed to reword his statement, “discussed, I am afraid that might be a moot point.”
“Fuck.”
“Yes, that is why it may be a moot point.”
To my surprise, Richard threw back his head and laughed at this, but Marco didn’t look nearly as happy about it. Honestly, I had never considered that sleeping with Dracula might lengthen my life.
“You’re the only person, whose life might be more screwed up than mine,” Richard chuckled. “But I doubt it.”
“Oh, ye of little faith,” the vampire drawled sarcastically as he took a seat beside me on the wrap around sofa. As he sat down, I took a good look at him. He was wearing a long black coat, and tight black pants that hugged his lovely thighs. His shiny knee-high boots seemed to set off the ensemble almost as much as the bright red shirt that fit close around his throat, and had no collar. We matched.
“Maybe I should color my hair,” Richard mumbled. “It’s prematurely gray anyhow. Can you imagine living three hundred years with gray hair?” he snorted.
Since he seemed to be calming down somewhat I looked to Marco and asked, “Did you give him anything?”
<
br /> “A sedative, it’s probably starting to work.”
“Ya shoulda let ‘im ave a smoke wit us mon,” one of the Jamaican’s said from the doorway.
Marco pushed the man back down the hall while Dracula laughed. His voice floated over my skin and I tried to pretend like I didn’t enjoy it. I had missed him, but I wasn’t going to say so, especially not in Marco’s presence.
“I’m not going to encourage someone else to start your bad habit,” Marco said. “And put that thing out while there are still guests downstairs.” Marco didn’t do drugs, and I was surprised he tolerated the behavior in some of his employees. I think it might have been as I favor to Jeremiah. According to Marco, they went way back. If Jeremiah said the other Jamaican werewolves were harmless, then I guess they were. As for the drugs, it wasn’t like they were selling anything.
“What brings you here?” I asked Vlad.
“I came to feed.” Marco glared at him and he added, “On willing victims, of course.”
“On the stoned Jamaican’s again?”
“No,” he laughed. “I got a taste before they started tonight.”
“That sounds dirty,” Richard said.
“Should I take him home?” I asked about Richard.
“Jeremiah said he could stay here tonight,” Marco answered. “He should be all right now.”
I left Richard to chat with the vampire and went downstairs with Marco. “I’m sorry I called you out here for nothing. I didn’t realize he would calm down so easily, but he was asking for you earlier.”
“It’s all right,” I said, placing my hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you did. I’ve been worried about Richard. Actually, I’m more concerned about him talking to Bade, than anything else.”
Marco and I had already discussed Richard’s strange friendship with Bade Garren, and he didn’t appear to be as concerned as I was.
“I really don’t think Richard would join with him to try to overthrow me as king,” he said. “Besides, for someone like Richard, Bade would probably be a good mentor for learning the change.”
“What do you mean someone like Richard?”
“No offense, but he’s very submissive. I think that’s why he gets along so well with Bade.”
“He’s not gay,” I said almost forcefully in my friend’s defense.
“Gay hasn’t got anything to do with it.” He smiled seductively with these words, and I forgot what I was about to say.
Since there wasn’t an event at the club that night, there were no reporters to be seen. Marco and I had a few slow dances together, before I decided to head back home. He walked me to the back door where I paused to caress his weary face.
“You look so tired,” I whispered.
Marco leaned into my hand and kissed my palm. “I’m exhausted,” he said.
“Don’t worry,” I teased. “I’m not going to molest you.”
His laugh was pleasant, but obviously weakened from his usual rough baritone. Marco kissed my forehead as he purred, “Goodnight, Red.”
As I drove home, the scent of Dracula’s cologne lingered on my shirt, and the feel of Marco’s lips pressed against my forehead lingered in my mind. When I took a deep breath, it felt as if the vampire was still sitting right beside me. But if I closed my eyes, even for a moment, I could still feel Marco’s lips. What the hell had I gotten myself into?
I tried to redirect my train of thought and said a prayer for Richard. I was nearly home by the time I finished.
After giving Alek a brief rundown of what had happened, I went upstairs, and called it a night.
*****
Alek and I were having dinner Friday night when someone began beating frantically at the front door. Dracula planned to visit that night, and was expected any minute, but I’d left my balcony window open for him. Alek motioned for me to stay seated, and he went for the door.
Richard came running in, gasping for breath, and followed closely by Alek.
“What’s the meaning of this?” the wizard asked.
“It’s David,” Richard gasped. His clothes were torn, and he had a cut on his forehead that had he not had the ability to regenerate, might have left a nasty scar. Richard dropped to his knees in the doorway as Dracula appeared behind him. His face was blank and unreadable as he looked down at Richard.
“They’ve taken him,” he panted.
“Who? Richard, what has happened to David?” I pressed.
“Williams,” he gasped, “they took him. I tried, but I wasn’t strong enough.”
“Where did this happen?” I asked.
“University,” he wheezed.
“Richard, did you run all this way?” Alek asked incredulously.
Richard nodded. “I panicked. I didn’t know what else to do, you’ve got to help me. They’ll kill him!” he pleaded.
“Why do they want him?” I asked, still too shocked to be upset by the news.
“Williams is planning to take control of the entire ‘animal population’ as he calls them. He wants to kill someone close to the only two known alphas in the area, so he took David for Bade.”
My heart lurched painfully. “Who else did they take?” I asked.
“They’re going after Luther next.”
“No,” I roared. Before anyone could blink I was on the floor shaking Richard by the shoulders. “Where are they?” I growled. “I’ll kill them.”
“I know,” he said, cringing at the sight of my outburst. “I can take you. I overheard them saying. They’re at an old farm house near where your friend Kat lives.”
“Shit, Marco’s on Terra tonight. He had a meeting with Aldan. He said we shouldn’t take on Dr. Williams alone, but he also said to call Luther if he wasn’t available. We’re fucked!” I yelled, slamming my fist into the table.
“Take me with you,” Dracula said softly as he stepped forward. “I would be glad to help.”
“And me,” Alek said.
“All right.” I sighed, regaining some of my composure.
“You might be able to get Bade,” Richard suggested.
Since I hadn’t seen either Alek or Dracula in action, and could remember vividly Bade’s ability, I thought that might not be a bad idea. However, as I pointed out to Richard, “I wouldn’t even know where to find Bade.”
“I would,” he said as Alek helped him to stand. “He’s at a place not far from here called The Dungeon.”
I cringed at the name, and Dracula smirked as if he knew something I didn’t.
“They won’t let me in,” Richard continued.
“Mason does not let just anyone in,” the vampire said silkily.
“You know him?” Richard asked.
“Yes,” we answered together.
Dracula raised an eyebrow at me and I explained. “It’s nothing personal. I just know who he is.”
Though I was loathed to admit it, I knew Mason. He was a vamp who ran a questionable establishment about a twenty minute drive from my house called The Dungeon. The Dungeon, like its name suggested, was not a place for the faint of heart. It was a hardcore whips and chains kind of operation. I knew Mason, because it was my business to know what creatures other than humans were in my area. I had also received numerous personal invitations to his place of business. It really didn’t surprise me that Bade would be there.
“Well, if you’re going, I suggest you wear vinyl if you’ve got it,” Richard said. “You’ll have a better chance of getting in.”
“I don’t need vinyl to get past Mason,” I growled, though I knew force would not be my best bet either.
“Here,” Dracula said, holding out his hand. “I have a gift for Mason. Give him this for me.”
He touched my hand, and a fire went through my veins. My body shook, and the pleasure that coursed through me nearly brought me to my knees.
“Shit,” I gasped. “How exactly do you know Mason?”
“I made him,” he said simply. “He was one of the men that I accidentally turned on the battl
efield years ago.”
“And why would you send him sex?” I asked, still shaken from Dracula’s touch.
“Because that is how he operates. Do not worry,” he assured me with a wink, “we were never lovers.”
Dracula promised to meet us outside the club, and I went upstairs to change. As quickly as possible, I put on my black vinyl catsuit. I’d had another made since my favorite got shredded last summer. I strapped on my numerous blades, laced up my knee-high boots, and set off for The Dungeon with Richard and Alek.
I tried not to let it show, but I was terrified of Mason. It wasn’t his appearance, or any of his abilities that frightened me. I was afraid of the things I wanted to do to him. That was the main reason I had never responded to his invitations: I was afraid I might like it too much.
Chapter Twenty-Six
From the outside, The Dungeon looked like an old abandoned castle, which was odd enough in Florida. My heart began to beat faster, and I tried to tell myself I wasn’t excited about seeing the inside of the building. Alek and Richard agreed to wait in the car, and with as much courage as I could muster, I began walking across the dark parking lot. The front door was massive, and looked almost like a drawbridge covered in iron bars. A slot on the door opened, and a pair of dark eyes peered down at me from much higher up than I had expected.
“What’s your business here?” a deep man’s voice asked.
“My business is pleasure,” I purred, as I switched on my seductive power. “I’ve come to see Mason.”
The door began to open slowly, but almost instantly after I made my request. Apparently, Richard and Alek were hanging out the windows because I heard him ask the wizard incredulously, “How’d she do that?”
As I walked through the door, I was greeted by the sound of goth metal music echoing off the walls. Tall stone columns lined the long hallway, and dim lanterns hung from the ceiling in small bird cages. To my left, stood the enormous bouncer who had answered the door. He seemed to be looking at me in anticipation of my next words.
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