PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  My eyes fastened onto the remains of what used to be a vampire. Never before had I either facilitated or witnessed an immortal killed and with this virginity now broken, I reflected on just how I felt about it. Most vampires I knew spoke of the death of our peers with disgust. I, myself, had wondered if killing a familiar would be difficult when the time came. Instead of being repulsed, though, I found myself smiling. The devil himself must have been dancing in the shadow I cast, for when I looked up at the others, they both retreated one pace, their skin paler than it had been moments ago.

  My focus settled on the shorter one with shoulder-length hair and my grin became more pronounced. Fate reduced him from vampire to experiment in mere seconds and he must have sensed it, because he turned and began to run. I adjusted my hold on the knife’s hilt, and then flicked it with the same focus I possessed while working with my instructors, yielding the same results. His back became a bull’s-eye, his startled scream a death rattle. He fell to the ground, transforming into ashes as well, and I laughed as I regarded the last one standing.

  He shook with fright and held up his hands, a man with short, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. I hissed and reached into my coat again, but he ran to the side and disappeared into an adjoining alley before I could draw another knife. Rather than pursuing him, I flipped my hand in his general direction, my demeanor apathetic. The death of the others more than expiated my fury. I retrieved my knife and stared at the pile of remains, wishing I could leave behind a calling card.

  Lacking an appropriate homage, I started back for the coven without the desire sated. That one would have to wait.

  When I returned, I beheld my brethren with different eyes, knowing I had turned a corner from whence I could not retreat. One night had changed me beyond being a mere vampire; I knew the demon I was capable of embodying with a newfound intimacy and I could no longer deny my carnal need to kill. It would remain part and parcel of my soul from that night forth.

  As I shut the door to my room and immersed myself in darkness, I removed my sunglasses and nodded to the silent jury of my weapons arsenal, bidding them all a good evening. I took each down to practice, placing them back into position reverently before moving on to the next. Night hastened into day and the shades protecting my windows began to lighten, provoking a yawn past my lips.

  I stripped my suit and slid into a pair of black, pajama pants, settling in for what would be a day of troubled rest.

  ***

  The next evening, a knock at my door woke me, forcing me from the twisted chokehold of nightmares that lacked any form or substance to articulate. I trudged for the entryway, slipping on my glasses along the way. Not bothering to locate a shirt, I opted to greet whomever this was bare-chested, hoping that maybe it might be Rose so I could ease my frazzled mind with a proper romp in the sheets.

  As I opened the door, however, I beheld something that did the exact opposite of soothing me. Robin stood before me, a serious expression on his face.

  I furrowed my brow. “Is everything alright, dear brother?”

  “Get dressed,” he said tersely. “The Mistress wishes to see you.”

  I nodded, watching him turn and walk away. Shutting the door once he was out of my line of sight, I frowned at the darkness enveloping me in silence once again. The tenor of my older, more regal brother’s words hung heavy in the air, his displeasure more than evident. I showered and dressed as though preparing for my execution, my deeds of the night prior still a fresh taste in my mouth.

  And perhaps a foul taste in Sabrina’s.

  My gait to Sabrina’s penthouse lacked the confidence of the night prior and although I strolled past her tall, stocky bodyguard, Paul, anticipating the worst tongue-lashing of my immortal existence soon to follow. I opened the door as slowly as possible before slipping silently into the vestibule. Quietly closing it behind me, I indulged in several steadying breaths before working up the courage to call out toward her living area. “Mistress,” I asked, “Did you call for me?”

  A deliberate pause preceded the authoritative voice of the siren who had gifted me immortality, the redheaded vampiress with a temper cleverly hidden beneath a veil of sensuality. “Hello, Flynn,” she said in a tone I could not interpret. “Come inside. I would like to have a word with you.”

  Chapter Nine

  I lingered in the vestibule for an additional moment, knowing I did so to my own peril. To keep the coven mistress waiting could mean my execution rather than my admonishment, but I found myself attempting to interpret Sabrina’s tone as though reading tealeaves in a cup. Even the costly additional moment of pondering did not give me any additional indication of what I might face when I finally stepped into her room, so I switched tracks and took stock of as much of the living area as I could see from my vantage point. I perked an eyebrow at what I found.

  In all of the times I had visited the palatial penthouse on the top floor of our building, a scattered collection of lamps had always been illuminated. This time, however, near darkness stared back at me. I stepped forward just one pace, casting a wary glance at the soft glow emanating from the corner of the room. When I saw it flicker, I reached up and did something I had never done before in any room besides my own.

  I grasped my sunglasses and slid them from my face.

  My eyes registered a slight tinge of pain from the candlelight, but it was not enough to burn. As such, I pocketed my glasses and stepped around the corner, into the sitting room where Robin and I had met with our immortal mother when she commissioned me to be her assassin. Thrusting a hand through my hair, I walked farther into Sabrina’s personal quarters. When I finally caught sight of her, my steps paused, my feet refusing to budge.

  Sabrina stood near a heavily draped window, her back to me, a raised hand parting the curtains just enough for her to stare into the night. Her posture did not speak as many volumes as her manner of dress did. A blouse clung onto her slender, yet shapely, frame and even from my perspective I noticed a few unfastened buttons of a parted collar that hinted at how much cleavage I would see when she turned around. I swallowed hard at the sight of a skirt formed to her hips, ending inches shy of her knees, and the stiletto heels that shaped her calf muscles into sensual curves.

  I began to suspect I was being seduced. And I did not mind it in the slightest.

  “What is it, my son?” she asked, her voice soft and smooth as silk.

  My skin prickled. I studied her, regarding the red hair cascading down her shoulders, and fought the compulsion to follow the sight of her further into decadent thoughts. “Nothing, Mistress,” I said, surprised at how subdued my voice sounded. “Why?”

  “You hesitated. I called you in here, didn’t I, Flynn?”

  “Yes, you did.” I nodded when she turned her head to line me in her periphery. “I am sorry. I simply did not know what to expect.”

  Sabrina released her hold of the curtain, allowing it to fall closed as she shifted to face me. The plunging neckline I had fantasized about her open blouse was offered forth as though meant to be a gift for my eyes. My gaze met hers and had I a pulse, it might have seized from the tension building in the air.

  My mistress pretended she was unaware of it. “When I bid you to come,” she said, “You are to come. Are we clear on this matter?”

  I nodded. “Yes, Mistress.”

  “Good.” Sabrina pointed toward one of her couches. “Sit. I wish to speak with you.”

  Nodding once more, I walked to the place where she directed and sat, settling against the leather upholstery and hearing it creak beneath my weight. Sabrina sat opposite to me and crossed her legs. Her arm rose to drape along the complimentary sofa, which was at once so close, and yet, so far away. Her hand touched her lips, which pursed while she studied me. “Do you know why I called for you?” she asked.

  I suppressed the urge to jerk at the collar of my shirt. “No, I do not.”

  “You don’t?” The corner of her mouth curled upward. “You don’t even want
to guess, my dear?”

  Indulging in a deep, steadying breath, my mind traced across the events of the night prior. I scratched the back of my neck, engaging in an internal debate. Should I come clean or hold my cards close to my chest? I relaxed in my seat more and permitted the ghost of a smile to surface. “I believe I know what this is about, but am not entirely certain.”

  “You believe you might know?” An eyebrow lifted as her gaze locked with mine, refusing to relent. “Then enlighten me.”

  “You heard about what happened last night?”

  “Did something happen last night, Flynn?”

  “Yes.” The ghost grin vanished, dissipating like smoke and giving way to an even expression I held on my face.

  Sabrina nodded. “Assume I don’t know and tell me anyway.”

  I nodded in turn and sighed. “I ran into three immortals from another coven. We exchanged words and things ended . . . poorly . . . for them.”

  “And what does that mean?” I could have sworn I saw the smile return to Sabrina’s face, but it might have been a hint of amusement present in her eyes and nothing more. “Did you do something to them?”

  Dipping my toe into the pool, I created a ripple to see where it would lead. “I was armed.”

  Sabrina did not crack a smile, but also did not cast a frown. “You were armed with a blade?”

  “Several throwing knives.” She did not need to know about the sword.

  “Why were you armed?”

  “Protection. Self-defense.” I paused. “To become used to carrying my weapons around with me.”

  Sabrina nodded. “And what did you do with these blades, Flynn?”

  “I murdered two of the three.” Inching forward in my seat, I held up a hand to stop Sabrina before she could shoot furious words at me. “But only because they were insulting you. They called you terrible names, Mistress, and insulted me in the process. When they threatened me, I retaliated.” I hesitated, but only momentarily. The time had come to be truthful. “I do not regret it. Not at all. I would do it again, in fact.”

  “How did it feel?”

  I furrowed my brow. “How did it feel to kill them?”

  Sabrina nodded, but said nothing more. I looked away, considering the question for a few seconds before my gaze returned to Sabrina’s and a sinister smile spread across my face. Her eyes glinted in recognition of this, almost reflecting evil as though a pool of water with me yet possessing a reflection. “I must confess,” I said, a tone inhabiting my voice which hearkened back to the first mortal I ever consumed. “I liked it a lot.”

  She perked an eyebrow at me, but her lips betrayed the neutral gesture by curling into a grin before my mistress could hide it by resting a finger against her bottom lip. My mind conjured the image of her licking the digit in a sensual manner, and giving way to double entendres flying between us until I took her into my arms and did the most erotic things to her. I swallowed hard. The thoughts seemed to be outside me and yet, I could not help but to succumb to their taunting. Her eyes melted into mine and although we both remained seated, I felt her presence overshadow me.

  “I can tell,” Sabrina said. “I’ve seen it in your eyes from the beginning. I still remember the first time you took that girl into your arms and finished her off. I knew I had a killer, Flynn. And a killer is what I see before me.”

  I stared, attempting to discern what it was I felt; what it was I wished to say in response. “Thank you, Mistress,” I managed, “But I have only just begun this journey.”

  “I know you have. And you desire more.” She nodded and stood, walking toward me while extending her hand. Our palms touched before I realized I had reached back to her. I furrowed my brow while she smiled. “Come with me, dark son. I have something I would like to discuss with you.”

  Standing, I nodded. “Where are we going?”

  “To the balcony.” Her footsteps slow, she tugged me in the direction of two French doors. “You might want to put your glasses back on, lest the moonlight hurt your eyes.”

  My free hand slid into my suit jacket, producing the dark spectacles that I secured over my eyes before we reached her balcony. Sabrina relinquished her hold on me to open the doors and as they parted, a gust of cold air blew past us, tousling my hair and kicking hers up behind her like a cape taking flight. I stood in the threshold while she strolled to the railing and only when she turned to peer at me again did I follow and assume a place beside her. Her gaze shifted back toward the distance and I looked in the same direction, losing myself in the sight of moonlight reflecting off the windows of a distant skyscraper.

  “It’s a rather interesting place, isn’t it?” she asked. “I’ve been to Hong Kong and New York City, wreaked havoc in Boston and Chicago, but none of those cities enamored me as much as this place has.”

  I nodded, allowing my eyes to drink from the sight as though just as enthralled with it as I was with Sabrina. “I have not traveled much,” I said. “Only from home to my aunt’s house and then to college. This is all I have known for the past decade.”

  “And to think you have forever to explore it all.” Sabrina shot me a smile, directing my attention back to her as an amiable grin touched the corners of my mouth. No sooner did I gaze at her, however, than did her grin dissipate, a frown taking its place while her eyes lifted toward the concrete jungle surrounding us again. She sighed. “I have many enemies. You could live over a hundred years like Robin and not have my list, and I have only had thirty years in this place to develop such entanglements. They’ve had thirty years to plot my demise.” She paused. “Jealousy amongst vampires is commonplace. The heads of the seven covens are not immune to it.”

  “I did not realize there was so much competition.”

  Sabrina issued a sardonic laugh. “Our peace with one another is always tentative and the slightest thing could snap our precarious coexistence. We maintain order only for the sake of common interests. No other reason.”

  “Why do they loathe you?”

  “They fear me.” A smile surfaced on her face again. “They know I did not come here to be some subjugated puppet on a string. I came to lead a coven and to protect the interests of my immortal children. They see me as a threat because they are too incompetent to manage their own affairs.”

  I huffed. “The three I encountered were definitely incompetent.”

  Sabrina turned her head, her eyes meeting mine. “Were they truly?”

  “Oh gods, yes.” I laughed again. “I only spared the third one because I did not think he was worth chasing after. I could have easily caught up with him.”

  “Yet, you didn’t.” She paused. “Isn’t it strange how fate works sometimes, my dear Flynn? How it brings us into these impossible situations and leaves us with an entirely different future as a result?”

  “I do not understand.” My voice sounded lost.

  “Because you spared the one, he returned to Matthew and informed him of what happened. My shadow in the night, you must not spare a one again, but this time, it was for a purpose. The name of Flynn has been spoken on the lips of an immortal quaking with fear. You have given them a reason to tremble.”

  Our gazes remained locked as Sabrina loomed over me, again without moving from her position. Rather, her eyes met mine and sank in deep, like teeth plunging through flesh to imbibe the lifeblood therein. I felt a chill run up my spine but confused warning with lust, allowing it to consume me. Our bodies drifted closer and Sabrina nodded as if to confirm we were bound in this death dance, mistress to fledgling.

  “Your aptitude has proven your readiness,” she said. “I have seen it with my own eyes as you and Robin have sparred and heard it from the mouths of your instructors. But now I must hear it from you. Are you ready to be my assassin?”

  “Yes.” My response drifted outward with ease. “I am.”

  “They underestimate us both.” Sabrina’s hand touched my shoulder. It slid across my back as she circled around me. I closed my eyes when another
shudder assailed me, but her voice continued wafting a wicked lullaby into my ears. “Matthew thinks you a neophyte in need of scolding, but you are so much more than that, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “What are you, Flynn?”

  “I am a killer. I am your assassin.”

  “You live to serve your mistress, do you not?”

  “Yes.” My fangs slipped from their slumber. Her body pressed against mine from behind, her lips touching my neck as she leaned in close to me.

  “And you desire me, do you not?”

  “I do, Sabrina.” I exhaled a shaky breath.

  “You have for some time.” I felt her tongue on my ear, caressing the lobe before she began to nibble on it. “Tell me,” she commanded. “Tell me what you want.”

  My hands gripped onto the railing, knuckles white from how tight I took hold of the metal. “I want you, Sabrina. I want you more than I have wanted anything.”

  “No truces,” she said. “No survivors. No mercy. Punish those I tell you to punish and I will reward you. Stain the streets red with the blood of my enemies and you will have all of those carnal fantasies you harbor. You are ready to be my killer and I will give you a taste of what your reward shall be.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Claim what your loyalty has earned.”

  I felt drunk, pivoting to regard Sabrina with my lids lifting to mere slits. The sight of her entreated me beyond all self-restraint. Lust dripped from her gaze, her lips more of a temptation than I could resist, and I captured them as though starved for their sustenance. Sabrina thrust her body against mine in response, and as she wrapped a leg around my waist, I consumed her in violent, passionate kisses, tasting nothing but poison and craving each embrace. Sabrina grabbed hold of the lapels of my jacket and ground against me once.

  Then she threw me onto the balcony floor.

  Jumping on top of me, Sabrina kissed me once more before pulling away. I craned my neck to capture her lips again, but she used the opportunity to plunge her fangs into my throat, producing a howl of pleasure from my lips. At some point in the manic, tawdry episode that followed, my glasses were removed. I clenched my eyes shut, savoring with my remaining senses the thrill of having every unspoken desire consummated by Sabrina.