I could have laughed, but I was too damn weary and too damn disillusioned to do it. I was supposed to be the good guy, the one who protected the human innocents from the creatures of the night and here I was beating on their fragile human butts, to save the Nosferatu. What a screwed up little world I created for myself.
The humans finally got the message, those still standing grabbing their mates and hauling arse out of the alley and back towards the safety of the late night pub crawlers and the lights of Lambton Quay.
The vampires were all standing stock still.
Gregor was the first to make a move, slowly raising his hands and clapping, a huge grin across his handsome face. I hardly ever noticed the scar any more, his beautiful grey eyes, now laced with silver and platinum swirls, plus the recent addition of my Sigillum, an ethereal shine or light around said eyes, distracted from the 8cm jagged pink line that graced his right hand cheek. He was beautiful, not surprisingly, but it was my Sigillum, my mark and the fact that I wore his, that called to me. I fought it even now, not to rush into his strong arms.
“Ha. Ha," I muttered sarcastically. "What the hell, Gregor? How did you get cornered by a bunch of humans?” I asked.
“Ma cherie, how is it that you always find me in such compromising positions?”
Like I said, the first time I Walked to Gregor he was munching on a Nosferatin in Rome. The second was to his private chambers, his boudoir he called it, where he tried to have his wicked way with me. And the third, he was with a vampire named Alessandra, a supposed ally of Michel's. All three times, he was not behaving as a member of the Iunctio should. But that was Gregor. Bad boy, through and through. Why is it we all have a soft spot for at least one bad boy in our lives?
I stifled a sigh. “Well, if you guys are all sorted, I gotta go.”
I was cold and shivery, not to mention standing in the buff in front of three well dressed and equally well preserved handsome men and even if they couldn't see me, I was naked for God's sake! There's only so much a girl can get away with before she's caught out. I did not want Gregor to cotton on to my current predicament.
“We need to talk.” Gregor's voice reached out and wrapped around me, trying to pull me closer. I resisted, just. And suddenly, the two remaining vamps left us, vanishing into the shadows and leaving me with Gregor. Alone.
I took a deep breath in. “Can this wait? I'm kinda cold.” I could admit to that at least, he probably could hear my teeth chattering right now anyway.
He cocked his head to the side and smiled, his wicked boy smile, lighting up his eyes, making me cringe at what he might say next. Both in fear and mild excitement. Damn.
“Are you dressed in lingerie again, ma petite chasseuse?”
You see, the first time I Dream Walked to Gregor, I'd been asleep in a shortie slinky nightie. He'd loved it, of course. But, before I could formulate a reply to throw him off the scent, he was in front of me. Poof. Out of thin air. I didn't even see him move. They can really book it when they want to, vamps.
His hands ran over my shoulders, down my arms and back up my sides, sending shockwaves and tingles from the magical touch of his fingers against my flesh. He took a sudden step back, the look on his face, one of utter shock, almost making me smile.
“You're not dressed. And you smell of... mandarins.” He recovered himself slightly. “Were you bathing? Did you fall asleep in the bath, ma cherie?” And then he started laughing, really laughing, his whole body shaking with the delight of it.
I sighed, again, I was doing a lot of that lately. “I'm glad you find it amusing, Gregor, but I am cold.”
He tried to stop laughing, to pull himself together again, but I could see he was having a hard time and enjoying himself just a wee bit too much. Finally, he shook himself out of his dinner jacket and handed it to me. I gratefully slipped it on, wrapping it around me, as close as I could get it. It smelled of him. Chocolate coated ice cream and cherry trees in Spring. I couldn't stop myself from inhaling deeply.
He noticed and just smiled. I don't know exactly what I looked like in a Dream Walk to him. He sees my aura, my shape if you will, but I'm still not there. Just a haze of colours wrapped up in his jacket. Surreal. That's my life. But still he just kept smiling at me.
“So, you wanted to talk?” Best to get on with things, God knows if my body would suddenly sink under the water in the tub and snuff me out.
“I met your cousin,” he said, matter of factly.
“My cousin?”
“Timothy, I believe.”
Oh, my cousin. I've only recently been introduced to someone on my biological father's side of the family tree. Before then, I knew they existed, in a non-specific kind of way, but they had never come to seek me out before. My Aunt and Uncle decided, for whatever reasons, to cut off all contact with them. They are the Nosferatin side of my genealogy, my Aunt and Uncle have absolutely no idea what I am or what I do. I intend to keep it that way. But, Tim turned up on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, wanting to get know me and wanting to know about being a Nosferatin.
Nosferatin is in the blood. The first born is the vampire hunter, or Nosferatin, the second carries the gene and knowledge, passing on the hunter instincts to their first born and the carrier gene and knowledge to their second. I was an only child, I don't have a younger brother or sister to carry on the gene. My biological parents died when I was just a baby. So, there is no other gene carrier to pass on the genetics required to be like me. I'm the last of my line. Tim is the son of my father's younger brother. No gene, no Nosferatin mojo. Just a normal human related to a freaky supernatural. I wasn't surprised at his curiosity, but I was still cautious about the guy.
A friend of mine, well an acquaintance actually, warned me about Tim. A gut instinct, which may or may not be right, but I'd take Pete's gut instinct over anyone else's any day. It's just that, Tim seems so normal, so nice. The kind of cousin you could easily get along with. I guess, the jury is still out on this one.
“How did you meet Tim?” I asked, getting my mind back on the present.
“He came into the club, asked for me. Introduced himself as your Nosferatin cousin. He is not a Nosferatin.”
“No. He's not. What did he want?” What was Tim up to?
“He asked if I needed a vampire hunter in my city, to keep the peace. He offered himself”
To keep the peace. “Were those his exact words?”
“Yes.”
Gregor was watching me, not that I'm sure of what it is he actually sees when I'm Dream Walking, but I got the impression he was trying to see my reaction. To gauge just what my involvement here was.
“I don't know what to say, Gregor. I've not known him long and I knew he was curious about what I am, but to ask this? To want to be a vampire hunter when he hasn't even got the gene? I don't know what he's playing at. Really.”
Without the gene, Tim would just be a vigilante, roaming the streets hoping to find his prey. I, on the other hand, am born to do this. Natural vampire repelling skills, the evil-lurks-in-my-city pull and now of course, a bag full of Nosferatin joined to Nosferatu mojo. He couldn't possibly do what I do. But, here's the thing. Wellington did need a Nosferatin. Vampires were on the loose and humans were interfering. This was a recipe for disaster.
“You do need a Nosferatin though, Gregor. Things are getting out of hand.”
“Not him.”
No not him. I could agree with Gregor there. I needed to speak to Tim, but this also needed to be done face to face. I think a little sojourn to Wellington was on the cards.
“I'll deal with it. I'll come and speak to him.”
Gregor perked up then, picking up on the I'll come and speak to him part, not just an: I'll call him and speak to him line.
“You would be most welcome in my city. At any time. I insist, however, on providing your accommodation.”
“That won't be necessary, Gregor, I'm sure I can find a hotel.”
“If you are in my city, Hunter, th
en it is very necessary.”
“I won't be here to hunt.” And then I stopped myself saying anything else. If Wellington didn't have a Nosferatin and things were getting out of hand, then maybe I should be visiting more often.
There's not many of us left. A few centuries ago my ancestors decided to leave the creatures of the night to themselves, hiding us away, denying them our powers and in the process, condemning their first borns to death. Without a joining, I would have died. Thank God I got that transfer to Auckland. But, it has meant far fewer Nosferatin alive today, than previously. And therefore, far greater Nosferatu.
“You have decided something.” How is it that Gregor can read me when I'm just a haze of colour?
“Until we find you a Nosferatin, I think I should make regular visits. Weekends only, I've got a job that I won't let suffer because of this. But, you do need someone here to at least send a message to your rogues. Maybe that will be enough to help dampen the human interest as well.” You never know, you can always live in hope anyway. Keeping the Iunctio away from our shores was a top priority. Gregor was OK, but the whole force of the Iunctio? No way thanks.
I thought Gregor would argue, I thought he wouldn't want me interfering in his city, but he just smiled, that damn knowing smile he and Michel seem to share.
“Anything you say, ma cherie. Anything at all.”
Aw damn. I had so heard that before and it never bode well.
“Well, I really have to go now. I'm asleep in a bath full of water, not really a good combination.” There was no point denying it, Gregor already knew my predicament.
“Of Course, ma cherie. I would not wish you harm. But, perhaps... a goodbye kiss to tide me over?” He cocked his head to the side and gave me an endearing, if not wicked, smile.
I laughed at him then. “Not on your life, Romeo.” And then I let myself fade into the black of nothingness and return to my body before he could change my mind.
I woke up feeling heavy in the cooling bath water, realising I had shifted back to my body wearing Gregor's jacket. Anything minor that I have on me, be it clothing or scratches and bruises, comes back when I Dream Walk. I caught myself before I went completely under, spluttering the small amount of bath water I had swallowed out of my mouth, cussing a few choice words in the process and brushing my damp hair from my face.
When my eyes finally did adjust to the new lighting around me, they were unfortunately greeted with the face of a very pissed off master vampire, sitting above me on the side of my bath.
“Is there something you wish to tell me, Lucinda?” Michel said as he plucked at the wet fabric of Gregor's dinner jacket.
Oh, and here we go again.
Chapter 7
It's Not How It Looks
There was no point denying it. And Michel didn't look in the mood for half truths, so yet again another sigh and I prepared to face the music.
“I fell asleep. Gregor called me to him. I don't think he meant to. He and a couple of his line were fighting a group of humans, they were outnumbered, he must have just thought of me while they battled and I ended up in the middle of it.”
Michel slowly raised a single eyebrow at me. “I take it he survived?”
Yeah, that's just what Michel would like. Gregor to be taken care of once and for all. I just nodded.
“And you were naked?” His voice was flat.
Now we were getting to the pissed off part of the equation. Michel knew Gregor wanted me for himself, he had even kind of accepted that as par for the course, but me appearing in front of another vampire buck naked was not going to sit well. Even if said vampire couldn't really see me when I Dream Walked. Too much temptation methinks for vampires of any kind.
“He gave me his jacket.” I kind of thought that would cover Gregor's chivalrous side.
“Yes. I can see that.” He paused and looked at me, taking all of me in, in a sweep of his eyes; dripping wet, jacket clinging to my small frame, mandarin bubbles sitting in my hair. “How close did he get?” He gritted his teeth when he said that.
Michel may have acted like it was all OK for Gregor to try to seduce me, but underneath it all he was seething. He did not share what was his well. And unfortunately, I was his; a possession, nothing more. Sometimes, I really hated being reminded of that.
I tried to get up out of the bath water, but the jacket was surprisingly heavy and Michel just pushed me back down, with a firm hand on my shoulder.
“Answer me.”
Michel could be a real prick sometimes. He knew I didn't go for this you are mine Lucinda crap, but he still couldn't stop himself. It was a part of him that was so deeply ingrained he had no chance of stopping it when it started. Michel was just along for the ride, his jealousy and possessiveness took him on.
“Not close. He just handed me the jacket when I said I was cold.”
Michel's eyes flashed magenta. Ah oh. He knew I was lying, or at the very least not telling the full truth. This was just going from bad to worse, wasn't it?
“Why is it that I don't believe you, my dear? Did he touch you?”
I blew a puff of breath out in frustration. Michel was going to drive me crazy with all this ownership and controlling that he was lately exhibiting.
“Nothing happened, Michel, just drop it.” And I pushed up out of the bath splashing as much water as I could muster over his super-expensive Armani suit. I hope it goes in your shoes.
He stood up and back quickly. “Childish, Lucinda.”
That's it, I'd had enough of this crap. “No, Michel. I'll tell you what is so damn childish. You thinking you own me. You thinking you can control me. You thinking you can demand explanations from me and make me feel guilty for something that did not happen at all. Why don't you grow up for once?”
He looked a little shocked at that. I don't think he was used to someone challenging his authority. Michel tended to get his own way a little too often. So, for the real hammer blow.
“I'm heading to Wellington tomorrow. I need to sort out my cousin who thinks he can be a quasi-Nosferatin and the humans are getting a little hot under the collar. Gregor lost vampires tonight. This is going to reach the Iunctio's ears, we can't just sit back and let that happen. I need to get down there and help make the vampires step back in line, there's no other Nosferatin available, so it's up to me. I don't want the Champion anywhere near our shores.”
The Champion was the head of the Iunctio's council. She was formidable, scary as Hell and really wanted me dead. The good thing though, was that she couldn't outright kill me, my goddess of a mother Nut - we're descended from her apparently - made sure the Champion and I were connected to each other and she was now unable to snuff me out. A positive to be sure, but still, I had no intention of the plight of Wellington registering on her radar any time soon.
Of course, I expected Michel to argue. Going to Wellington was not something he would normally condone, it put me within Gregor's grasp. But, I was angry enough to push for this if needed. Michel had to learn I was not his to control. So, I was surprised he stepped back and leaned against the vanity with a look of thoughtful consideration on his face.
“I cannot go with you. I am not welcome in Wellington while a master is setting up his base. It would be considered a challenge.”
Huh. “But you agree with me, that I should go?”
He raised his eyes to mine, the magenta had gone, just traces of indigo and amethyst now in amongst the deep blue.
“I agree Wellington is a problem and that there is no other Nosferatin available to stand stead, but I am not in the least bit happy about you going.” I could tell that quite easily. “I shall advise our pilot that you will fly out tomorrow evening.” Michel owned a Gulfstream G650, handy for personal flights around the country and when summoned to the Iunctio in Paris.
“I was thinking of heading out at first light.”
He shook his head. “Erika can not travel to the airport in daylight. She will be going with you as your guard.” M
ore like chaperone, but I couldn't argue. At least I knew she could hold her own in a fight.
I nodded. At least I wouldn't have to drive, even if the BMW could have handled the ten hour drive effortlessly.
He suddenly reached up and stroked my cheek with the back of his hands, his face softening. “Ma douce, do have any idea how much you put me through?” I smiled and leaned into his hand. There goes that Karma again, I thought, making sure to keep the words well contained in my mind.
“But,” he added, “I would very much prefer it if you removed this monstrosity immediately and had it burned.” He threw Gregor's jacket off my shoulders and hurled it into the corner. “Now that, ” he said, his eyes flashing wickedly, “is more like it.”
His hand went to the back of my neck and he pulled me towards him. “I'll get your suit wet,” I offered meekly.
“It's already ruined.” This was whispered against my mouth, just before his lips met mine and his arm crushed me against him. I didn't fight him, I let him have his wicked way with me, some battles are just not worth the effort. And besides, this was a battle I preferred to fight willingly, wanted to fight with every fibre of my body. Have I mentioned how hard it is to say no Michel's charms?
Damn hard.
I fell asleep in his arms some time later. I had no idea if the night had ended and he needed to rest to, or if he just decided it was better to stay close to me, skin to skin, to keep me out of trouble. Or maybe, the thought of me heading off to Gregor's territory tomorrow was just a bit too much for him to bear and he craved the closeness just as much as I did.
I woke to Michel stroking my hair out of my eyes and realised he was no longer wrapped around me, but sitting on the side of the bed fully clothed. I rubbed the remnants of sleep away from my eyes and glanced at the clock. It was midday.
“Rise and shine, sleepy head,” he said and leaned in to kiss me on my forehead. “As you will miss the opportunity to train with Erika this evening, she has agreed to an early session during daylight hours and is waiting for you in the rec room.” Vampires don't actually need to sleep during the day, just to rest for a while and avoid the harsh light of the sun. So the fact that Erika was prepared to bust my arse didn't surprise me one little bit. Although I admit, I had hoped to skip it all together.
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