Delia walked over to the armchair and found Herres sitting in it, gazing at the fire. Why hadn’t she realized he was there?
He looked at her and said, “Ah, Miss Hariel, I’m pleased you came. I was just thinking about you.”
“I thought the room was empty and I was about to sit in this armchair and wait. I’ve brought your books, so I’ll leave now. Would your driver be willing to take me home?”
“Do you think I wanted you to come here only to have you leave immediately? I plan to keep you in my home until morning.” He stood up and continued, “You were unaware of my presence because I made you believe I wasn’t in my study. Now, what would you like to drink?”
He can influence my sight without using the power of his demon eyes? His vampyre abilities were even more than she’d previously thought. She must leave his home before she became his willing victim. “I don’t want a drink and I have to leave. You may be very powerful, but I insist you let me go. And why would you want to pretend you were not in this room? That is bizarre.”
“I thought you would feel more relaxed without my presence, but I was also curious to see what you would do. It was just a little trick I played on you, so don’t be upset. Have a drink with me and we can get to know each other.” He walked over to an oak sideboard that had two decanters, an unopened bottle and several glasses on its polished top. “I have brandy, whiskey, and gin. Which would you like?”
“I don’t like spirits, and I want to go home. Please stop behaving as though everything is fine. You scare me because I know you want to take all of my life-force essence.”
Herres shook his head. “That’s not what I want to do.”
“Then you want to do something worse. I read in a book that vampyres love to corrupt women like me, or rather the angel inside them, with their demon sex.”
He came back to Delia, unbuttoned her coat and removed it before she could stop him. The vampyre draped it over another chair, put his arms around her, and said, “Hmm… That sounds interesting. Wouldn’t you like to be corrupted by me? I’m certain I could make you moan and shriek with delight. Didn’t the book tell you that vampyres are fantastic lovers?”
She struggled to get free, but he was much too strong. The muscles in his arms felt iron hard. She was aware of them even though he was wearing a thick, cable-knit sweater. Delia closed her eyes and tried to stay calm. Her angelic powers wouldn’t function if she was full of fear. She would need them to combat anything he wanted to do to her.
Herres stroked her back and whispered, “Doesn’t this feel good? Let me show you my vampyre passion.”
Delia wanted to scream “No!” despite feeling comfortable in his embrace. There was a pleasant aroma of musk and something indefinable coming from the vampyre. It soothed her mind and made her feel unbelievably safe. He must be using his powers to take her off guard.
His tight hold on her lessened, and he expressed, “Since you don’t like spirits, would you prefer wine? I have many bottles in my wine cellar.”
“I only drink white wine and not very often.” Why had she told him that? Already, she must be under his influence.
The vampyre walked to the door, opened it and called, “Steven!”
Delia couldn’t see who came in response, but Herres said something to that person. He came back to the oak sideboard and poured a measure of what appeared to be brandy into a glass. Swirling the liquid deftly, he informed, “He’s bringing a wine here that I’m certain you’ll enjoy. It’s old and from an excellent vintage year.”
This was ridiculous. He’d ignored the fact that she wanted to leave. “What do I have to say or do to make you agree to let me go? I don’t want to drink your wine, or chat with you, or be here. If there’s an ounce of decency in your demon body, you’ll allow me to leave.”
He laughed and questioned, “Is there an ounce of decency in a vampyre? I insist you stay and find out if there is. Ah, here’s Steven.”
The driver walked into the room, carrying a bottle of white wine. He explained, “I’ve opened the wine for Miss Hariel.” Steven handed the bottle to the vampyre and went out of the study. He closed the door quietly.
Herres brought the wine over to the sideboard and poured a generous helping into a wineglass. He gave it to Delia, and invited, “Taste this. You’re going to love it.”
Maybe the wine would strengthen her determination to leave. She could certainly do with something that might help. She accepted the glass and drank some of its contents. He was right, it wasn’t too dry, and no other white wine she’d ever had could compare to its flavor. Delia drank more and admitted, “It’s wonderful.”
The vampyre announced to the ceiling, “Delia loves my wine. Maybe she will learn to love, or at least like me.”
She couldn’t resist adding, “Or maybe you’ll make me.”
“Sweet Delia, you’re brightening my life. It was dull and boring, but you make me feel young again.” Herres took the glass, refilled it and placed both of the glasses on the small table at the side of the armchair. He grabbed her hand, moved to the chair, sat down, and pulled her onto his lap. “Now, we can get to know each other.”
She tried to get off his lap, but he held her tight. One hand moved up to her hair and undid the chignon.
“Your hair is beautiful, and this is the way I want you to wear it for me. That style may be tidy for work, but it hides your hair’s true glory. This is the way you were wearing it the first time I saw you. Now, do you like my hair?”
“I don’t want to sit on your lap or discuss your hair. Let me go!” Delia started hitting his arms.
Herres gripped both of her hands in one of his while the other one pulled her even closer. “As I warned you before, Delia, don’t fight with me. I’m much too strong and might accidentally hurt you.”
“Oh, would that be as opposed to deliberately hurting me?”
For a moment she felt his body stiffen, and then he said, “Going back to my hair. You must admit its length hides my pointed ears. Or, by any chance, are you into weird ears?”
What did he want from her? Was it possible he needed a compliment? Silently, she could admit that his hair was the color she liked. It was also thick and slightly wavy, but she’d die before she would tell him she admired it. His ears were strange, but not large like those of some demons. Delia didn’t answer his question.
“Drink some more of your wine. Then sit back and we’ll enjoy each other’s company.” He released her hands, lifted the wineglass from the table and gave it to her. She drank more, figuring there was little else she could do.
“That’s the way I want you to behave, my good little Delia. When you cooperate with me, there is no need for me to force you to do things.”
“I’m not your Delia and I’m not little. This whole situation is ridiculous, so why don’t you let me go? You can find a human to replace me and feast on her, or impose your will, or do whatever you want. Just let me go home.”
“I’ve had my share of humans and a few like you, but the latter were too pious for me. I sense you’re different, and I want to see whether I’m right or wrong about you. Lay back and I can discover who Delia is.” He removed the wineglass from her hand, placed it on the table, and forced her to lay with her head against his chest. “There, doesn’t this feel relaxing? We can enjoy the fire and talk.”
He wanted to talk? She’d suspected he wanted to steal her life-force essence, or kiss her and do some body explorations with his hand. Since she didn’t have the strength to break free, talking might be acceptable. His closeness wasn’t scary. It felt warm and comforting. If he was a man, she would be content to stay on his lap and learn more about him. However, she mustn’t forget he was the descendant of demons.
“Would you like to talk about vampyres? Maybe demgels or shifters interest you? I’m so old I know how and when those various species settled on Kurbridor.”
She was curious about demgels. Their mixture of demon and angel was odd. Perhaps she could ke
ep him talking about them, and, if his drink made him fall asleep, she would escape. “I am curious about demgels. I know they are half demon, half angel, but I can’t figure out how such opposite beings would ever want to mate and produce demgels.”
“That was a little demonic deception. As I’m sure you’re aware, certain demons and angels came to Kurbridor long, long ago. They loathed each other because they always have and they always will, but some of those demons decided to defile certain angels by having sex with them. They disguised themselves as angels, and then mated with the real angels. That’s how the very first demgels came into existence.”
“I couldn’t imagine how such ugly and beautiful beings would be attracted to each other, but I can now that you’ve explained the demonic trickery.”
“Not all demons are ugly. There are plenty in Abbadon who would astonish you with their handsome or beautiful faces and bodies. They put angels to shame.”
“Have you been to Abbadon?”
“Yes, I’ve visited that dimension many times, mostly out of curiosity about the home of my demon ancestors.”
“Oh. I’ve never been there; it’s not a place for angels, although fallen angels go there sometimes. Maybe they’re the ones you thought were handsome and beautiful?”
“No, they were demons. Also, don’t forget vampyres are extremely attractive, with the exception of me.”
He’d made a remark yet again that convinced her he thought he was ugly. Her angelic nature felt the need to reassure him. “I know you think you’re ugly, but you’re not. I’m sure the female vampyres like you.”
“You’re mistaken. They ignore me and I find them uninteresting. I’ve always felt drawn to humans, and now I’m becoming attracted to you.” Herres hugged Delia and she felt content for some unexplainable reason.
Chapter Five
Herres couldn’t remember when he’d felt this happy. Delia leaned against him and they talked. Her body was soft, warm, and curved in all the right places. She wasn’t short, being part angel, but compared to his vampyre height she was. It would be easy to use physical force on her, yet he wished that wouldn’t be necessary. So far he hadn’t used his strong will to make her do anything of importance; she seemed to be resigned to agree with whatever he said. Or maybe she was happy to oblige? No, most females never liked him. He always had to employ his vampyre power to get what he wanted from them. Herres hoped Delia was different and would willingly give him her body and little tastes of her pure essence whenever he asked for them. Yet it was an unlikely fantasy.
Delia reached over to the table and lifted her glass. She drank the rest of the wine, and then laid her head back on his chest. Was the wine affecting her or had she begun to feel happy because he held her this close? They rested together in the armchair without talking.
The vampyre stared into the fire, while sipping his brandy and thinking about the many women he’d taken in one way or another over the centuries. He never withdrew all of their essence, unlike some other vampyres who forced sex upon women and men before they drained them dry. Herres preferred to impose his will on women so that they believed they wanted to be intimate with him and allowed him to take some of their life-force essence. When the joining and essence taking was done, he would wipe their minds free of any knowledge that he existed. He wasn’t sure why he behaved differently from most of his kind, but it felt right to do so.
After a while, Herres decided he’d attempt to find out how much Delia would let him do. He cupped one of her breasts with his hand, expecting her to push him away. She didn’t, so he squeezed, but there was no annoyed response. Did she enjoy his hand’s action? Desperate to know, he asked, “Do you like that, Delia?”
She didn’t reply. He leaned down to look at her face and saw that her eyes were closed and she was breathing evenly. To make sure Delia wasn’t awake, the vampyre sat forward to see if she would react to the movement. She didn’t. This verified the fact she was sound asleep.
Herres finished the rest of his brandy, sat back and wondered what he should do with Delia. He could wake her and have Steven drive her home. No, he wanted to keep her close. How about putting her in his bed and when she woke up, he’d make love to her? He’d enjoy that, but he doubted she would be willing to share some intimacy. If he used his vampyre power, he would make her willing. Yet his usual method of gaining what he desired could emotionally damage her when she remembered what they did. He would have to erase her memory of him. For some unknown reason he didn’t want to do that.
Holding Delia safe in his arms, Herres stood up. He looked at the opened wine bottle and decided to take it with him. The vampyre knew he needed something to tone down his mounting desire for the humangel, and the wine might help. He grabbed the bottle, and carried Delia safely from the study before making his way up the staircase and into his bedroom. He lay Delia on the bed and sat beside her. This was his opportunity to take a closer look at her body, something he wanted to do. Herres removed her shoes and skirt. As he started to take off her blouse, she stirred and appeared to be waking. Immediately, he placed one hand on Delia’s brow and willed her to move into a deep sleep. This she did and he finished undressing her.
Now, only her bra and panties remained. He thought about removing them, but knew if he did he would take her while she slept. The vampyre wanted her to react in a positive manner to his lovemaking, and she wouldn’t because she’d be in a deep sleep. He could will her to wake up, but then she’d probably start screaming and fighting with him. Herres wasn’t a patient vampyre, yet knew he would have to be with Delia.
He lay her back down on the bed with her head on a pillow and her body covered by the sheet and comforter. She looked so peaceful, as though this bed was the right place for her to be. To his mind it was, yet he was certain she wouldn’t agree. In the early morning, he’d tell Steven to take her home so that she could get ready for work, but tonight Delia was his.
The vampyre took a gulp of the white wine straight from the bottle. It was very good and he hoped it would temper his desire for her. He got undressed and debated whether to remove his underpants, as he normally did. To have his naked body close to her would cause temptation to rule him. To go to sleep in another bedroom would be an even better idea, but he was desperate to feel her warm body touching his.
Herres drank the rest of the wine and eased his way under the sheet and comforter. He drew Delia into his arms, and his cock stirred inside his underwear. No woman had ever made him feel so in need of sex, yet there was an equal conviction that taking her without consent would somehow sully her. This was crazy. Vampyres didn’t concern themselves with moral issues. They took what they wanted when they wanted it. Humans considered having sex without consent was rape, but that notion didn’t bother vampyres. Why did he treat Delia in a completely different way than how he’d behaved with other females? Maybe her inner angel affected him in some way? This was strange because other women like Delia had soon soured his interest in them once he’d taken some of their essence.
He put one hand on her tempting round buttocks and pulled her in close to his erection. The underpants were a wise decision. If he didn’t wear them, by now he would be thrusting inside her. Herres shuddered. He told himself she would be his, but not right now. The brandy followed by the wine made him feel sleepy, so he kissed her brow and whispered, “You belong to me, my little Delia, and I will possess your body very soon.”
* * * *
Delia became partly awake, as she usually did, at six chimes. Had her alarm clock gone off yet? She opened her eyes and instead of seeing the clock, she looked at an unfamiliar bedside lamp. Now, she was fully awake. This wasn’t her bedroom; it was much larger and lavishly furnished. Where was she? Delia turned over, and was surprised to see the vampyre next to her. A memory from last night flashed instantly through her mind. He’d forced her to lie back against him in the armchair and despite not wanting to, she’d felt relaxed and sleepy in front of the warm fire. She must have fallen asl
eep and he’d put her in his bed.
Delia looked at the sleeping vampyre and wondered if she could get out of the bed without waking him. She pulled back the sheet and realized she was undressed. Had he undressed her, and had he done more than that? Wouldn’t she remember if he had? Maybe, as the book had described, he’d used his vampyre power to make her have no memory of what he’d done. Delia lifted the sheet to view him properly. He only wore underpants and that could mean anything. She felt angry and also alarmed. What if he’d…?
Herres shivered and opened his eyes. He pulled the sheet back down and warned, “Don’t do that. I’m always disgruntled when I’m cold.”
“Oh, we mustn’t let you feel disgruntled, but it’s fine for me to wake up in your bed, wearing only my bra and panties? Why didn’t you let me go home instead of doing whatever you’ve done to me?”
“I didn’t do anything to you other than put you in my bed. I behaved virtuously, which is very unusual for me.”
“You undressed me and yourself, so I’m supposed to think you did nothing else? Why should I believe you? Vampyres aren’t virtuous.”
“This vampyre was last night. I wanted to strip you naked and thrust my cock deep inside you, but I didn’t. Now, you can show your gratitude by letting me make love to you.” He pulled her hard against him and undid her bra.
She pushed against his chest and tried to get free. He held her with one hand while he used the other to remove her bra. He threw it on the floor.
“Let’s see if I can persuade you to have sex with me.” Herres brought his face down to her chest and drew one nipple into his mouth. He licked it and gently bit the surrounding flesh.
Delia cried out, “Please don’t do that. I don’t like it or you.” That wasn’t true. What he just did had turned her on. Did he use his vampyre power to make her like it? Was last night’s wine affecting her? If not, she’d betrayed her inner angel by liking the action of a demonic vampyre.
Vampyre Rescuer Page 4
