"Oh Ice, of course we have time to greet a guest. I am Beth, and you are?" Walking forward head high, back straight she faced this woman, who somehow knew Vlad well enough to gain entry to his home.
"I am Talia darling, I am sure Vlad has mentioned me." Her smile was totally fake, with hungry eyes, and too much make up, the woman was from another era. The way she was staring at Beth made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on edge. The hunger reflected in those red eyes was not to be taken lightly. Ice was stood directly behind her waiting for a chance to leave with her.
"I don’t believe he has but don’t worry, I am sure you just slipped his mind." And the game was now on. Beth watched the smile drop a little, the eyes almost glowing in annoyance. Beth ignored the look as she continued talking, presenting as ambivalent to the tension flowing between the women, like lightening. The air had turned a little cooler and although there were three people in the room, the silence was building.
"Actually Ice, I think we should hold off on that appointment. I have some things I need to check with Albert and some calls to make." Beth was the first to break the silence; she was also the first to leave the room with a grace and ownership that left Talia staring at her receding figure.
She could feel Ice's eyes boring into her back, her heart was pumping blood around her body so quickly, and it threatened to explode from her very pores. It hadn’t however dulled her hearing, as Talia enquired as to 'who exactly she was'. Beth decided that rather than wait for Ice to answer, she would save him the trouble.
"Sorry I forgot to say, how silly of me? I am Vlad's personal assistant, his right hand so to speak."
With a wink she turned into her office, leaving Ice a little speechless. That in itself wasn’t unusual, although Beth had a feeling that this woman wouldn’t appreciate her sticking around. Which meant only one thing, she was sticking around. Already she knew that she honestly did not like this woman at all.
Chapter 13
Dropping the bags into the first room he found, Vlad could feel the question coming from Albert even though he had not yet asked it.
"Before you ask, I do not know how long she will be staying Albert. Not long, if we are lucky."
He had chosen the rooms furthest away from everyone else; they were also some of the rooms Albert had wanted him to have decorated. Thankfully neither Albert, nor Beth had managed to leave their mark here. He didn’t want Talia to feel welcome, leave her in the dusty old wing of the house. Maybe she would miss the luxury that she was used to, and leave.
"Of course sir, I understand the predicament you are in. Please do not forget my previous offer it still stands."
Clapping the old man on his back he smiled. "As much as I appreciate the offer please do not try to take her down, I would not want anything to happen to you. Could you imagine the war that would cause old man? Could you ask, Jorge to help you out here whilst she is in residence?"
Jorge was Albert's son, and when Albert decided to step down Jorge would take over. He helped out in the daily running of the grounds surrounding the house, but if Jorge was inside Albert would be less likely to do something stupid. Vlad was fiercely protective of Albert, he had warned Talia not to touch the humans in his employ a long, long time ago.
"I have already called him sir. But can I ask about your plans with the mistress?"
"You mean Beth. Why do you call her mistress?" He had been curious for some time; Albert had never referred to any female as mistress. Not that many females came through these doors. Albert had certainly never called Talia anything that resembled mistress.
"Well Sir. The name suits her as does this house, and she is very charismatic not to mention good company. However I am already concerned for the mistress; anyone in the presence of HER risks being tainted. I would not want her to taint something as pure as the mistress. You know now that I think about it, the mistress would be a good match for you Sir."
He could see the worry etched into Albert's face, he had already become quite protective of Beth. He wasn’t surprised she had this way that endeared people to her.
"Firstly do not jump to conclusions or engineer anything between either of us, do you have any idea of the repercussions of that? Secondly I have no intention of letting Talia meet Beth. Now I suggest we make our way downstairs and try to limit the length of this trip."
Despite his words Vlad was worried. He despised Talia and had done so for centuries. It wasn’t himself or any of his warriors he was concerned with but he was worried about Beth. Talia would see Beth as a challenge, one to be removed and he didn’t want to put her in harm's way. By the time, he and Albert came down the stairs. Vlad realised that he was too late; as he caught sight of Beth walking into her office looking immensely pleased. Talia and her minions were only seconds behind Beth, God damn it.
"Ah I see you have met my PA Talia. Why don’t we head to the morning room for drinks, while you tell me what brings you to New York?" He glared at Ice. It occurred to Beth that Talia seemed to know her way around the house. There was a certain familiarity in Talia's movements, a familiarity that unsettled Beth.
"If you will give me a few moments to conclude my business, I will join you shortly. Albert will serve you." He pointed Talia in the direction of the morning room, from the open door she saw Talia trail her hand across Vlad's chest as she passed him. Beth's hands instinctively reached out like claws that wanted to rip her eyes out.
Seemingly from out of nowhere, Vlad nodded when Shaun and Imogen arrived. From the expression on Imogen's face he could see she had been briefed on their guests. "Shaun, please use your charm to occupy our guest whilst I deal with Ice. Imogen can you busy yourself out here just in case any of our visitors manage to find their way out of the morning room."
After they had left he turned to face Ice. His expression was hard which unfortunately, did not concern Ice. "Please explain why Beth is still here?"
Vlad was surprised that Ice had not followed his orders. Both Ice and Shaun had met Talia before, and both detested her, they also knew she was deadly. The woman had no compassion a complete narcissist; her life was aimed at ensuring the world around her jumped to her beat. Anyone who hindered this had to escape her clutches and quick, she rather enjoyed pain and suffering.
"Don’t think I didn’t try, we were almost there when Talia stopped us. Even then I could have gotten her out of here. Unfortunately Beth had different ideas. Either she has a death wish or she is just plain stupid." He didn’t wait for Ice to continue, his anger palpable. Beth had no idea the position she had placed herself in.
Walking into her office he was utterly gobsmacked to find her on the telephone talking to one of his suppliers; acting like she didn’t have a care in the world. Well anyone else would have believed that, not him though, Vlad had been watching her. He knew how Beth twisted her bracelet when she was anxious. It was the bracelet he had given her, closing the door gently he waited for her to finish the call.
She didn’t rush her call, which gave him time to appreciate the smooth curve of her neck, accentuated by the lack of hair which she had pinned up. He drank in the pink lipstick, the way it made those lovely lips look luscious and downright kissable. As she rolled her eyes he wanted to laugh at her easy way with people, he wanted to kiss that lipstick off, and silence her pretty tongue that was slightly protruded.
What the hell was wrong with him? He had Cruella DeVil waiting in another room and he was admiring Beth's lips! His plan had been to berate her for her stupidity, just as soon as the phone was on the receiver. If he had refrained from wandering thoughts he might have gotten the opportunity to explain how displeased he was, he didn’t and she beat him to it.
"I have to say I really don’t like that Talia woman. I mean she is just a bitch, one who thinks she owns you. What does she think she looks like with that hair and those clothes? Anyone would think she fell out of another century. Damn it's okay to be old, I mean look at you. But to be old and not have learned any fashion tips, de
fies belief. Anyway now I have had my rant tell me how soon is she leaving? Oh and you before you try it. Do not bother I am staying."
During her tirade, Vlad had been thinking of all of the reasons Beth had to leave; now all he had left was a somewhat empty brain.
"So you think I have good fashion sense?" What the hell was he talking about? With everything that was happening around him, he had clung to a half compliment. Catching himself Vlad started again.
"I don’t know how long she will be here for. But while she is, you cannot be. Ice is going to take you back to Silver's; you shouldn’t be at your apartment until she is out of the city." He couldn’t risk Talia taking a disliking to Beth. It would not take much for Talia to find Beth's address. Still she sat at her desk; Vlad could almost see her brain ticking through the possibilities. So he cut her off first trying a different tack.
"This does work out well; I need you to visit some of my offices across the city. This way you can keep some normal hours and even email reports to me. I will have messages sent to each of the managers ensuring they co-operate with you, and provide access to all areas of course. I trust you to make decisions for me." He knew she was going to argue. "As your boss Beth, this is non-negotiable the decision has been made. Now I suggest you take my offer before I rescind it."
Her face dropped the shock at his domineering tone evident. "Believe it Beth; I don’t rule the vampires because I am nice and sweet. I am ruthless, dangerous and the boss. I think you need to remember this. Now is there anything else we need to discuss before you leave?"
She couldn’t help it; she had never liked dominant men. She liked control but tonight Vlad's strength and steel, had sung out to her very core. Now her body had become tingly, her nipples hard, and hot. "You have no idea what your words have done to me." Her pupils were dilated, her hand near her throat. Pleased that Beth had listened, and understood the danger he posed to her Vlad made to leave.
"Vlad, Is she really that bad?" She had moved forward to sit her bottom on the edge of her desk giving him a full view of her profile. He took one last look drinking her in.
"No she's worse, and until she is gone I do not want you here." As Beth stepped forward he waited for her response.
She moved so close to him, he could smell her scent under the perfume, he could hear her heart beating away; see the pulse pounding in the crook of her neck. Standing on tiptoes he watched her eyes, then her mouth as she pressed her lips to his, she was so soft, and delectable.
"I will do as you say on one condition." He could hardly breathe the temptation to take her was riding him. He wanted to mark her as his, to possess her body and soul.
"What?" He croaked as he had bent his head so that he was now staring into her eyes. Again she pressed her lips to his a little harder this time. "Promise me, that you will be safe."
"I will."
This time he kissed her, just a quick gentle touch. He hadn’t meant to, he knew he shouldn’t kiss her, but he had to. The reactions she inspired in him were too much, his erection pressed against his trousers. His whole body wanted to claim her, make her his. Beth could feel the swell of his erection; she had known she was playing with fire when she kissed him. She wasn’t sure how he would react, but when he bent to kiss her, the gentleness of his lips almost drew a sweet sigh from her. She felt the butterflies in her stomach, her heart beat accelerated, her insides were trembling while her brain flew straight to heaven.
And then she was outside her house, well her mom and Ben's house. Vlad had teleported them here.
"I will email you the details of what I need you to do. But please Beth, make sure you stay away from Talia."
She stepped back from him.
"Only, if you promise to remain safe too." She saw him nod and knew he was going to leave.
"Oh and Vlad, you do have some small measure of fashion sense. The rest I will teach you." She turned and headed up the stairs to her family home, listening to the sound of his laughter as he poofed out of Silver Pack Land.
It was late in the evening and she knew her family would be sleeping. She forgot that Ben would have sensed Vlad, so when she closed the front door and found Ben coming down the stairs, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Jesus Ben, why aren’t you sleeping?" Even though he had been woken up by Vlad's poofing, he looked alert, and ready for action. Although clearly he didn’t need to be wearing many clothes to deal with any problem, as he was clad only in jeans.
"I felt Vlad here, why are you home early? Are you okay?" She could sense him scrutinising her, looking her over for injuries or illness, always the protector.
"I am fine; Vlad had some bitch woman arrive so he wants me to work during the day, until she leaves. I personally think he is over reacting, but who the hell am I to have an opinion?" For some reason she was now pissed off. Beth suspected it was the knowledge that she may not see Vlad for a while. With a sigh, she made her way to the kitchen with Ben following her.
Opening the fridge she saw Ben's surprise as she grabbed a beer, and popped the cap. She was predominantly a wine drinker; tonight though she just grabbed what was closest to her.
"Want to tell me her name?" Vlad and Ben had been friends for over two hundred years; the alliance that the two species had developed made them a strong force to be reckoned with. Even more important and unusual was their trust in each other.
"Some bimbo called Talia; I mean seriously he even wants me to stay here while she is in New York."
With a sigh Ben sat down, her step father looked to be in his thirties yet he was over three hundred years old. Tonight his dark brown hair was slightly wavy, but it was his eyes that startled her. At the same time he emitted a slight growl, his eyes flicked silver. Beth had only seen this at times when his wolf wanted to reign, normally when he was upset or angry.
"He is right Beth, while she is in New York you do need to be here particularly at night." This told Beth that Ben also knew this woman.
"Who is she, and why is she so dangerous?"
"It is not my place to say who she is, that's Vlad's business. She was last here about one hundred and fifty years ago, I wasn’t the Alpha then, rather my dad was. Anyway even though we didn’t have the alliance with the vampires then, we were not at war or even fighting. Vlad had never caused the wolves any problems so we didn’t them; dad also knew that Vlad and I were friends. Talia had expected there to be animosity between the two groups, as is the case in most places. It was Theo who she approached in the first instance asking him for a meeting with dad."
Beth couldn’t help but interrupt. "But Theo would have been able to read her energy signature, if she is truly that bad Theo wouldn’t have given her the time of day." Theo was one of the wolves, with one magical parent, and one wolf parent, Theo had been blessed with gifts from both. The ability to read a person's energy signature was one of these gifts. He could look at a person and gauge their true personality; it had been a very valuable gift on several occasions.
"Theo did read her energy signature and no, he wasn’t happy, but the thing that you learn with age Beth is to step back. If Theo had been aggressive the pack could have been put at risk, when you make a hasty decision you get messy consequences. Dad met with Talia, she told him how Vlad intended to dominate the wolves and take him down. Now Theo had already told me and Connor......"
She watched his face drop at the mention of Connor his death and the unanswered questions were eating away at him, and her heart pained at the grief evident in his eyes.
"Anyway I was a little younger then and slightly hot headed. I felt betrayed and angry, Vlad was my friend. So there I was a wolf on a mission, I made contact with Vlad through Shaun. In those days Shaun was the go to man, actually he still is. The meet was arranged, and there we waited. I was all ready for a fight, but the vampire that greeted me was the same friend I had drunk with the week before. Initially I was too angry to see that. Instead I hit him and watched the shock on his face. I won't go into details suffi
ce to say that when we sat down like men, it was apparent that Talia was manipulating things. Essentially she wanted to rile up the wolves so that they would take Vlad out."
Beth was so far into the story that when he stopped, she waited and waited.
"So what happened then?"
"Vlad discreetly met with dad and they confronted Talia together. I was there although only as muscle. Would you believe that she denied it all, said that dad had gotten things confused and she was actually trying to engineer a truce. Anyway she caused havoc for a while until the man she had pissed off calmed down and she left. I was hoping that would be the last we saw of her."
"What man?" She felt like a child again being told a bed time story, except this fairy tale had a witch who was likely to cause havoc with her happily ever after.
"I don’t recall his name; I think he was the head of the French vampires. Anyway everyone was relieved when she left including me. We had a slight altercation following her attempt at manipulating the pack. Do you know she actually tried to seduce me, she wasn’t pleased when it didn’t work mind you?"
Talia tried to seduce Ben, Beth wasn’t too sure what her mother would think of Talia. She certainly wouldn’t think twice about kicking her ass if she came near Ben. Her mom was no puppy dog; she was more vicious than any wolf when she was riled.
"Why doesn’t Vlad, just stake Talia? If everyone hates her why doesn’t someone stake her?"
"I can't tell you why Vlad doesn’t; just believe me when I say he doesn’t have a choice. If he could have he would have staked her a long time ago. As for anyone else please remember Beth that all actions have consequences. Talia is a strong Vampire Beth and you should know that by now with your gifts you know how strong she is."
With a sigh, she nodded her agreement; she had seen how strong she was. Ever since she was a child Beth had been able to see what species and gifts other people had. Before the other species came out, Beth had thought she was not quite right in the head. When she looked at people she saw strange things like vampires, animals, witches, and they were just the common ones.
Two Halves of a A Vampires Soul (The Silver Series) Page 7
