Roman (The Clutch Series Book 1)

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “At least I’m not a cheater.”

  Roman nods. “The fact that you think I would cheat on you, to break the bond we share, is laughable and yet, heartbreaking. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t bite another female. I went to Clutch to feed after I found out some very upsetting news in regards to my business dealings. I chose a man to sate my thirst. Not a woman. I would never do that to you, Fiona.” His grip on my arms loosens as he relaxes a bit.

  “Are you…?” I swallow hard. “Do you like men?”

  He shakes his head. “No. I’m all for your tantalizing pussy and your glorious jugular. I need no one else to satisfy me.”

  “Okay.” I pull Roman into a hug and tell him I’m sorry, showering him with kisses.”I’m sorry for accusing you, Roman. Let me make it up to you. Let me feed you.” My jumping to conclusions needs to stop. I need to trust Roman. Trust him when he tells me he won’t do anything to hurt me. When I go to pull his shirt off, he stops me.

  “I’m sorry, I need to calm down before I fuck you.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Because today hasn’t been very good, Fiona. Coupled with the fact you thought I cheated on you, I’m a bit agitated right now, and I’m afraid I might hurt you.”

  “Oh. Is there anything I can do?”

  He shakes his head. “Tell me everything’s going to work out.”

  “I mean, sure? Maybe you should tell me what’s going on.” I move over to the couch and sit down, waiting for Roman to follow. After a long beat, he finally does but leaves too much space between us.

  “I went and saw my real estate agent today and found out I was outbid. So while I’m being patient and waiting, someone swooped in and put more money on the table. I don’t know how much it’s going to cost me, but I’m at my breaking point, Fiona. If you can’t get your father to give me the license I need, I’m going to pay him a visit.”

  Roman’s angry, this much I can gather by the tone of his voice. Usually, he speaks to me softly, but not now. Each word is harsh, threatening. I don’t know how I’m going to tell him I’m the one who outbid him on his project to ensure he received the license. “Um… Roman, I have something to say.”

  “What is it?”

  I clear my throat and instead of sitting up to face my vampire, I slink back into the cushion. I had no idea this would upset him so much. I tell him about the visit with my father and how I presented the project as my own so I could assure that my father would issue the license, and how my dad is completely on board. “This way, you get what you want.”

  In the time it takes to blink, my coffee table, chair, and wet bar are shattered into pieces. I cower and use my arms to shield my head. “YOU,” he roars. “You’ve defied and stolen from me.”

  “It’s not like that, Roman. I’m trying to help because I believe in what you want to do and I know my father will never issue anything to a vampire, let alone the one who to tried to kill him and is screwing his daughter.”

  Roman picks me up, his eyes are beady slits, and for the first time, I’m terrified for my life. “I’m done with this.” He tosses me onto the couch like a rag doll, and storms out of my apartment, slamming the door so hard it splinters. I call out to him, but it’s no use. He’s gone. “Oh, God, what have I done?”

  29

  Roman

  I can’t believe she's defied me this way. I’m starting to think Selene's right when she said human consorts are nothing but trouble, like having babies that need to be taken care of. They have an inability to see our differences because of our human appearance except when it suits them. I storm from her house to mine where I pace feverishly, wringing my hands. I’m trying to calm down, to formulate a plan of action, but all I feel is nothing but betrayal.

  I can just outbid her, there’s no way she has enough money to beat me in a bidding war, but she’s taken my plans as her own without consulting me. Not only is this a violation of her role in a multitude of ways, but it’s also just shitty. She says she loves me, but how is stealing my plans love? It’s not. Even a vampire knows this.

  I can’t think straight, and I decide that being alone is simply making me crazy, and being with humans is off the table right now. I’m so pissed that I head back to Clutch. While Selene will likely just tell me she knew this would happen, she’s my kind, and she will know what to do.

  When I arrive, Corban is standing outside as usual. “Back again so soon?” he asks.

  “Yeah, my afternoon plans fell through,” I lie. He doesn’t need to know my tale right now, and I’m pretending I’m not in the mood to rip this whole fucking city apart right now.

  “What are you doing back here?” Selene raises an eyebrow from her seat at the far end of the bar where she was talking to an attractive bartender I’ve never seen before.

  “Long story.” I want to tell her what’s going on, but I’m so angry I need to just sit for a moment.

  “Go.” She gestures for the young lady to leave. “Something’s happened. What is it?” I’m not sure if her concern is for me, or something else.

  “I was outbid on my casino project,” I reply.

  “Seriously, Roman? That’s your problem? You have plenty of money. This is a problem you can throw human money at to fix. You’re really turning into an emotional human.” Her sarcasm isn’t lost on me, and I narrow my eyes at her.

  “I was outbid by Fiona.”

  Selene’s dark eyes widen, and a smirk forms. “Well, well, well. It seems the little angel has a dark side after all. Why on earth did she do that?”

  “She did it so that the license would be granted to her since she is a human.”

  “Well, I hate to take her side, because… well, because I don’t care for the whole human-vampire relationship. However, she’s right. She did this for you. What are you so pissed off about? Is this male ego bullshit? If it is, go find someone else to talk to, or I’ll have to fight you out back like it’s the seventeenth century and remind you who’s stronger.”

  Well aware that Selene is stronger than I am, I’d rather not have my ass kicked today on top of everything else that’s happened. “It’s not my ego, it’s her defiance. She should have discussed this with me. She continues to jump to conclusions and make assumptions, and I’m done with it.”

  “I’m quite sure you’re not done with it, but why don’t you go get one of the consorts and relieve some stress? Get a little drink.” She winks at me as if we are talking about a refreshing cocktail of some kind.

  “I’ve already fed today, I don’t need more.”

  “You’re allowed a treat now and again, Roman. Feeding more than you need to sometimes feels so good.” She licks her red lips, her fangs peeking out just a bit. “You’re always so stuffy. What you need is to fuck it out, but I’m sure you’re still committed to your little mortal, so go get some juice. It’ll take the edge off.”

  I contemplate what she says. Rarely do I feed more than I need to for survival. It provides a bit of a euphoric, almost drunken state for a brief period of time, and it can be incredibly addicting if you don’t keep it in check. I’m angry with Fiona, and while I said that I was done, I shouted it in anger, not in truth. I won’t fuck someone else, but I will feed again. Nicolai was clean, young and delicious. And he was soft spoken and agreeable even when I was rough with him earlier.

  “Where's Nicolai? I want him,” I demand, a thirst rising inside me.

  Selene, my good friend, and the worst influence narrows her eyes and grins. “Now we’re talking. There’s the vampire I know and love. I will send him back to you.”

  I walk back to the same room that I was with him in earlier and look around. It's been cleaned, even though we didn’t leave a mess behind. I haven’t done it in a long time, but there was a time that I might visit a room like this with a woman, and bite, and fuck and bite and fuck for hours, which could very well leave a bit of a mess.

  Nicolai’s soft knock on the door brings my thoughts back to the now. Part of me knows I need to
be careful, a feeding frenzy can get out of hand quickly. But the other part of me needs the high. Like Selene said, to take the edge off. He enters the room, looking at me quizzically.

  “I understand you requested to see me?” he asks.

  “I did, Nicolai. I want more. Do you have more to give me?” I ask, examining his features. He’s young but has the mannerisms of someone who’s been taught how to behave appropriately, almost subserviently. If I were into men, he would appeal to me. I like pussy far too much to switch though.

  “It would be my pleasure to service you, Roman,” he says, smiling.

  Service me. Yes, that’s what I need. To be serviced; to be in charge. I move to the couch and sit, motioning for the young man to kneel before me. It feels good to get my way. “I want to taste you again, now,” I demand gruffly.

  Nicolai faces me and rests his hands on my thighs. I observe him, he's not new to this, and yet retains an innocence as he moves closer to me. I lean forward, tilting his neck to the side, examining the marks I left earlier. I lick them again, to help them heal, causing him to suck in a breath. It occurs to me that he enjoys this, and I may as well enjoy it too, after all, it’s not cheating. I grab a fistful of his hair, roughly holding him in place, and sink my teeth into a new spot. As his blood begins to flow, coating my tongue and filling my mouth, I groan.

  The euphoric feeling sets in quickly. It's only been a few hours since I’d had any, and it was far more than I needed. As a human, I don't believe I used any illicit drugs, and they didn’t exist as they do now, but I would imagine this overwhelming sensation is what keeps addicts coming back for more. I continue to drink, binging on him until he grabs my legs so tightly, I stop to see what’s wrong.

  I made a terrible miscalculation. The life force is leaving Nicolai's eyes. I rise up in a panic. “Fuck,” I mutter as he slumps onto the floor in a heap.

  Quickly, I run to get Selene. I drank too much, and he’s close to being drained; she will know what to do. When she arrives in the doorway, she takes one look at Nicolai and pulls me back into the room, slamming the door behind us.

  “What have you done, Roman?”

  “I don’t know. It was a mistake! We have to do something!” I exclaim. I knew this was a bad idea. Fuck my life. Fiona won’t have to forgive me for killing a human because the Sisters are going to kill me anyway.

  Selene drops to her knees and starts performing CPR on him. “He’s not responding, Roman. This is so fucked up. So. Fucked. Up.” She is angry, and I’m freaking out when suddenly she freezes. Her actions halt, and she stands up, ramming herself against the wall of the room as if someone shoved her there. Her gaze is blank, staring off into space.

  The next thing I know, the door flies open, and the Sisters are in the room. All three of them, standing before me, with blood dripping down my chin and a dead or dying human at my feet. I am so fucked.

  Atropos grabs me by the neck, shoving me into the wall next to Selene, her nails burning into my skin. “What have you done, Roman?!” she demands.

  “I... It was an accident. He is still alive!” I choke out, her strength far more significant than mine.

  All three Sisters look at Nicolai, who's flat on his back and clinging to life. Atropos still holds me to the wall, where Selene is seemingly suspended in place as if to be kept out of the way. Lachesis lets out a cackle of a laugh, startling me; the noise apparently causes her sisters to smile. Their evil grins all turn back to me.

  “We will make him reborn,” she says, her wicked laugh following her statement.

  “Yes!” Atropos agrees.

  “Oh! A new child! How very exciting!” Clothos clasps her hands together enthusiastically. “I want him to keep his human name. I adore the name Nicolai.” Her childlike nature is disturbing.

  “Humans receive new names, that is our rule,” Lachesis replies.

  “But I like his name. It’s perfect for him. Look at that sweet face of his.” Clothos leans down to touch his face, stroking it gently. I’m choking less now, but I dare not move, for I don’t know what my fate is.

  “Keep his name. I don’t care. We make the rules. Now, what do we do with this one? Death seems like such an easy way out for him.” Atropos turns her attention back to me.

  “I agree,” Lachesis says.

  “He will become Nicolai’s watcher.” Atropos lets me down, and Selene falls to the floor, waking from her trance and looking utterly confused at the same time.

  “Oh yes, this is wonderful!” Clotho kneels beside Nicolai and begins to wave her hands over him as if she’s putting a spell on him. “He is just barely still human, we must do this quickly.”

  Atropos moves beside Nicolai, grabbing his wrist violently, as it begins to let off smoke. The smell of burning flesh fills the room. His skin pales further, and any life that appeared to be left in him fades with her grip. “He is ready.” She looks to Lachesis, who is standing by, watching.

  The mark of the Fates is left where Atropos held Nicolai’s wrist, embedded into his skin for eternity. I’ve never seen a vampire made, and it’s not lost on me that I was once in Nicolai’s place. I turn my attention to Selene, who is watching in horror as Lachesis takes Atropos’s spot, kneeling next to Nicolai. Lachesis extends her arm out over him, and with the other, slices her own wrist, causing a steady stream of blood to flow. As it drips off her arm, she positions it over Nicolai, letting it stream directly into his mouth.

  Within moments, his eyes fly open, and he sits upright, his gray eyes as huge as can be. Selene and I both step back, as Clothos begins to clap in delight.

  “Oh, my baby! So precious, my Nicolai!” she exclaims. She’s crazier than I imagined even possible, her childlike behavior bordering on psychotic now. The Sisters all stand across from Selene and me, while Nicolai pushes himself up off the floor, holding his throat with one hand. “He’s thirsty! We must get him something to drink. Keeper!” she yells at Selene. “Go fetch a human for him to feed. Now!”

  Selene runs from the room, and the Sisters all turn to me. “You are responsible for his well being. For teaching him our ways. If anything happens to him, you will die a thousand deaths, do you understand?” Atropos says to me.

  Fuck. Me. Did I just become a dad to a fucking vampire coed? “Yes, I understand,” is my reply.

  “That is not your only punishment. Your human will suffer for your actions as well. The bond you share will be broken, and she will receive a visit… from us.” Atropos and Lachesis cackle together, while Clotho is obsessively watching Nicolai, who is now cowering on the bed in the tiny room, likely wondering what the fuck is going on.

  “Please leave Fi—”

  “Enough! You do not get a say in what happens here. You’ve done enough. Now tend to your apprentice!” Atropos yells at me. I stand subservient and nod, but I am not going to let them do anything to Fiona.

  “Goodbye, my child. Enjoy yourself here on Earth. The spoils of our wars are yours in which to take delight in,” Clothos addresses Nicolai as she prepares to leave.

  “We will be watching, Roman. Do not defy us,” Atropos threatens, as the door opens on its own, and the Sisters float out of the room.

  Fucking fuck. This is so fucking bad. I look over at Nicolai, who appears both confused and scared, and I know that he needs to feed immediately. Selene comes back, clutching the arm of a young female consort, and together we teach Nicolai how to feed.

  30

  Fiona

  “Thanks, guys,” I say to the team who rushed up here to install a new door. All while they were here I had to fight back my tears. I couldn’t let them know my vampire lover did this, they’d have him banned from the property, and I can’t have that. Although, I have a feeling Roman isn’t coming back.

  I thought I was doing the right thing by presenting Roman’s project to my father. I believe in Roman so much, I only wanted to help, and I know my dad will not work with a vampire. If Roman were to compel my father… well, I suspect my dad would t
urn Roman in, and I can’t have that. It seems now though, it doesn’t matter what I want. My good deed wasn’t what Roman wanted, which makes me wonder, did he really want me or was I the ticket to get his gaming license?

  I step out onto my balcony and notice the dark clouds rolling over the Strip. Down on the street, people scatter, looking for cover from the impending rain, but these clouds don’t bring rain, they bring fear. I remember them distinctly from before, when Roman disappeared, and now they’re back. I’ve never believed in omens until now. Something terrible is about to happen, and I’m going to be all alone, stuck in my penthouse, not knowing what’s going on and with no vampire to turn to.

  Stepping back inside, I lock the sliding glass door and press the button to darken the windows, but nothing happens. Already, the power surge is starting. It’s only a matter of time before city and state officials begin to ask questions as to what’s going on and why. Who’s going to answer them? Will a vampire step forward and tell the government that their creators got a wild hair up their ass and came to Las Vegas to party? What, if anything, can the humans even do?

  “Nothing,” I say aloud. “There isn’t a damn thing anyone can do.” Roman can preach equality all he wants, but his creators, the Sisters, as he calls them, rule the world. They aren’t following any human laws because surely depleting our energy and making us prisoners in our own homes while they conduct business would be highly frowned upon. Call me crazy, but I don’t think this is part of the ancient pact they signed.

  I resign myself to the fact that I’m stuck here until the witches of the underworld finish their business and go back to wherever it is they live. It’s been a while since I read, and pick the book up off my nightstand and situate myself on the couch. Only, once I open the book, I realize I don’t have a lamp on my end table because some temperamental vampire threw a temper tantrum and destroyed my furniture.