“Your father,” Michel answered, before I had even formulated the question. Which one of my parents was Nosferatin?
“How do...?”
“I had to be sure, my dear. It has been so long since I have encountered a Nosferatin, there are not many of your kind left, I'm afraid.”
My father. My Aunt and Uncle, my Mum and Dad for all intents and purposes, they cut off all contact with my father's side. I'm not exactly sure why, but I think there was a falling out of some sort. My Mum had always told me that they were different. I just thought she had meant they weren't Anglicans.
OK, so this sucked. It sucked big time, but I'm not the sort of girl to play the victim. I'm not into that damsel in distress crap at all, so this was not going to get the better of me. Besides, I had a reputation to uphold and despite how nice and caring and all let's work together and be friends crap that Michel was spouting right now, he was still one of the bad guys. Maybe not evil personified, but a vampire all the same.
I know, I know. It had occurred to me too. I was going to have choose a vampire to join with, or let myself die. Part of me and I admit it was just a very small, very teeny part, was considering the lets just see what happens if I say no road. But, the thought of having to choose a vampire was still hovering in the back of my mind.
I grabbed that thought and shoved it deep, deep down inside. I'm not usually the one for denial. I mean when I met that first vampire, I didn't curl up in a ball and cry for mummy. No, I started researching and arming myself with as much knowledge as I could. I am not a push over. But I am practical. We still had a mega-master vampire out there gunning for my soul.
“OK, so, there's still a lot I want to know, Michel, about all of this... this crap, but,” I took a breath, “it can wait. For now.” I looked directly at him, daring him to say otherwise.
He just smiled. “Of course, my dear, of course. Whatever you say. But, you will have to face facts soon, Lucinda. And the sooner, the better, to save your life.”
Trust Michel, he couldn't just agree. He had to have the last word. I tried not to let anything show on my face and took a seat in the armchair opposite him.
“Max,” I said.
“Yes, indeed.” Michel took another sip of wine. Ever the casual sense of ease, despite having to talk about an evil piece of shit like Max. “He is proving troublesome. And he is a threat to you.”
“Can he force me to join with him.”
“Yes, I dare say he could. Quite easily, in fact.”
“How so?”
“His Sanguis Vitam, unfortunately, is greater than mine. He is close to 900 years old.”
Whoa. I knew he was off the scale powerful, but I had never heard of a vampire living that long before. Usually a stake through the heart would see to that. No vampire had, that I was aware of, managed to live to such an age without attracting attention from a Hunter. Or at least a few vampire enemies gunning for their final death. How had old Maximilian survived?
“That's old.”
I considered telling Michel that I was unable to gauge Max's age or power level, that he had appeared as just a void to me when I was with him, but I didn't want to admit that fault. And it did feel like a fault to me. For some reason, Michel's respect of my talents was important to me and not just because it's always good to keep up appearances with the bad guys.
“Why has he not just followed us here?” I asked.
Michel looked a little uncomfortable at that question. “You are safe here, my dear, do not fear.”
“No. That's not an answer, Michel. Why has he not come here?”
“I do have a few tricks up my sleeve, Lucinda. I have masked us sufficiently for now. He cannot sense where we are.”
Now, call me a sceptic, but I wasn't buying it. I'd got pretty good at reading Michel by now. Most vampires of his power level can hide their true feelings well. And ordinarily, he's pretty damn good at it. But lately, I've noticed, I can sense more than usual from him. I can almost feel what he's feeling. Spooky, huh?
“I'm not buying it.”
“Buying what?” He tried for the innocent look and on anyone else it may have worked, but I was getting a bit angry now.
“Stop being the evasive Master and just cut to the chase. Why. Is. He. Not. Here?”
Michel sighed and started rubbing his forehead. “I am too tired to fight you on this, my dear. Last night took a lot out of me.”
I felt momentarily alarmed. Michel had never shown any signs of being anything other than fighting fit. Ever. I guess I wasn't reading him as well as I thought I was.
“Are you OK?” I regretted it as soon as the words were out of my mouth. Stupid. Don't let them see you care. I didn't really. I'm just a nice person, that's all. Really.
He smiled that damn knowing smile again. “Thank You. I shall be fine. I have fed.”
I so did not want details. Luckily, he wasn't giving any.
“So?” I ventured, a little less aggressively. “Why's he not here?” Never let it be said that I don't follow through on something. A bit like a dog with a bone. I don't let things go easily and I wasn't giving up on this, just yet.
The mood, however, changed. Power filled the room.
“Oh God, Michel. I thought we were through with this.?”
“It is a question I am unwilling to answer, right now. I suggest you drop it.”
Maybe there is a limit to Michel's patience after all. Maybe the animal that is vampire deep inside him, just can't be contained. But I got the distinct impression that he would fight me on this, despite him saying he was too tired to do so.
The silence stretched out awkwardly between us. I was damned if I was going to speak first.
But then, I'm not a vampire and I can't do that preternatural calm they do. That sitting absolutely still, not breathing, not blinking, not anything. I sincerely hope I can never do that.
Rather than give in, because I admit it, I can be stubborn when I try, I just stood and left the room. A breath of fresh air wouldn't go astray right now.
There was a large expanse of perfectly trimmed lawn in front of the house, towards the view of Lake Taupo and the township. It stretched out about 20 metres or so and then disappeared, I'm guessing over a cliff face. I had the impression we were up quite high. I decided to walk to the edge to see.
Along the sides of the property, leading towards the cliff, were trees. Acacias, Cherry, even a Pine or two. A mixed bag, but they all seemed to work together nicely, providing privacy and protection from the wind. As I made it to the edge of the lawn and confirmed my suspicion that there was indeed a cliff there, straight down to the water, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eyes. It was only then that I sensed his Sanguis Vitam.
Man, my mind was distracted right now.
A vampire came out of the trees to my left. How long he'd been watching me, I could only guess. He wasn't in a hurry. Just sauntered up and stood next to me looking at the view.
“Hi, Bruno.”
“Luce. Getting a bit of fresh air?”
“Mm-hmm. What are you doing out here?”
“Sentry duty. You don't think the Master would have the place unguarded, do ya?”
I quickly looked around to see if there was movement anywhere else. “You won't see them, or feel them for that matter. They've been told to hang back and give you space.”
“Give me space? Since when?”
“Since you walked out on the Master just now.”
Great. Michel was giving me space. How considerate.
“So, why are you disobeying him?”
He smiled at that. That evil smile he can do so well, the one he uses if you piss him off outside one of the clubs he's bouncing at. I'm sure it scares the pants off Norms, but I can take it.
“I have different orders.”
OK, I'll bite. “What would they be?”
“If I tell you, I'd have to kill you.” A twinkle in his eyes.
“Sure, somehow I don't think the Ma
ster would appreciate that.” I'd call his bluff on that one.
He chuckled. “I'm your guard. I go where you go from now on.”
Oh no. That was not what I wanted to hear. God damn Michel, I was not a child to be baby-sat!
Bruno must have sensed my anger, hell it couldn't have been hard, I was boiling in it. He stiffened slightly and said, “What did you expect, Luce? You are in danger and he can't watch you 24/7, he is the Master of the City.”
“I don't expect him to watch me at all! I am not his property to take care of!” I was fair shouting by now, my fists in balls at my side, my heartbeat thumping a staccato rhythm in my chest.
He looked at me as if I was mad. It didn't help my temper one bit. “But you are his, Lucinda. He would not let you be harmed.” He said it as if it was special, a gift. I should be lucky to have the Master of Auckland City claiming me as his own. Yeah ri-ight.
All at once Bruno turned swiftly towards the house. “That will be all, Bruno.” He was gone, so quickly I didn't see him move. There one second, gone the next. Poof.
I could feel Michel standing right behind me. My back was stiff, shoulders rigid. My nails digging into the palms of my hands, drawing blood. Then a wave of peace washed against me, almost making me drop to my knees. I fought it, I really did. I so did not want him to be able to do this to me. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I don't know why I was crying. It could have been the anger, but part of me reluctantly acknowledged it was my disappointment. Disappointment at Michel using his powers on me again. I thought we had passed that.
All at once he was in front of me, brushing those tears away with his hand. It felt warm and soft and oh, I did not want him to stop.
“Ma douce, please do not cry.” His voice cracked ever so slightly, the French lilt unmistakable.
“Why do you do this?” I looked at him, his eyes a deep blue and indigo swirl.
“I cannot help it. You are in pain.”
“I was angry, Michel. That's different. I should be allowed to be angry at you.”
“Yes, you are right.” His hand was now holding the side of my neck, caressing it softly just below the ear. He brought his head down and kissed my forehead, lips lingering on my flesh. “I am so sorry, Lucinda. Truly I am.”
“Then why do you do it?”
He sighed. “I am connected to you in a way I have never been to any other before. The pull is so strong, I cannot fight it.”
“Cannot? Or will not?”
He smiled, a rueful smile. “You know me well, my dear.”
“I am not yours, Michel.” No harm trying to reiterate the obvious.
“Oh, but you are.”
“No.”
The tears were still coming, why couldn't I stop them? I hate crying, it's all puffy eyes and snotty nose and completely and utterly unattractive. I do not cry in front of people. Ever. But for the life of me, I couldn't stop crying now. Because, I knew, I knew he was right. From the moment I first saw him in the bank that wet, cold, cloudy day. I knew he was mine too.
All of a sudden I realised his power was no longer there, it hadn't been for a while. Perhaps he'd even pulled it back as soon as I challenged him. All I knew was I felt bereft and then quickly the anger returned.
I took a step back and struggled to calm my breathing. Michel looked pained, as though he hated seeing me upset. Well get used to it, buddy.
“What are we going to do about Max?” Business as usual, see? I can be professional.
“We strike before he has a chance to regroup.”
Now we were talking.
It was only later that I realised that he had won this round. He hadn't answered my question of why Max hadn't found us at this house.
Chapter 9
Truce
It didn't go exactly to plan. Michel had located where Max had retreated to, but when some of his vamps did a reconnaissance trip, to scope the place out, he had fled. Less than 48 hours after the battle Max had vanished.
More and more of Michel's vamp underlings came and went, keeping him abreast of what was happening in the city and throughout the country. At least that was one thing Michel could say, even though he was Master of a two-bit city in the south pacific, far away from the big boys, he has actually got the whole country to himself. He doesn't have to share with another master controlled city.
You see, New Zealand's not that big. We've got about four million people, 30 million sheep and several hundred vamps. There's Taniwhas dotted here and there. Rick's Hapū aren't alone, but they don't mix well together. It's a natural instinct to fight. Top dog and all that. We've got an untold number of ghouls, but they stick to Auckland, they don't like open spaces for some reason, so travelling out of the city's a bit of a no-no for their kind.
Vamps can roam. There's a few down in Wellington and maybe even on the South Island, but they keep a very low profile. It's a lifestyle choice not to hunt in a city the size of Auckland or larger. They've basically shunned their natural instincts. Not impossible, but it takes control. You don't usually find a rampaging vamp anywhere other than Auckland here. The ones that choose to live elsewhere are pretty tame.
So, it didn't take long for Michel's men to scour the country and come up empty handed in their search for Max. He wasn't here, he'd left our shores to regroup. Just as Michel had feared.
We hadn't been quick enough.
Michel insisted that we stay at the holiday home while they searched. He had covered at the bank for me, having one of his vamps glaze my supervisor into believing I had a few days leave owing. I wasn't happy about that. I find glazing akin to assault. There's no defence of it, but I couldn't help thinking at least that was one thing I didn't have to worry about. Bad me. I couldn't stand the thought of losing my job though, it was my lifeline to reality. The only thing that kept me sane.
Rumours on the Iunctio were concerning. There were indications that Max was garnering support overseas. Some very strong and powerful vampires were rallying to his cause. He had them believing that I was his and that Michel had usurped his position with me. I don't know what was more frightening, the fact that they believed him so readily, believed that I could want to be with that man, or the fact that they were older Master Vampires. Either options scared me.
After three days of looking at the view from the windows of Michel's holiday home, I'd had enough. I had never been very good at sitting still and just relaxing. My vacations have always been back on the farm, helping Mum and Dad with the sheep, fixing fences, feeding lambs. I don't do reclining by the pool with a magazine.
Besides, even though I couldn't feel the pull of my hunter instincts, I knew that didn't mean that there weren't any wayward vamps out there taking advantage of my absence from the city. I was just too far removed from the source to feel it here. The need to hunt was overwhelming.
Surprisingly, Michel did not fight me on it. We all returned to Auckland five days after the battle in Parnell. Nothing was said, but I didn't for a moment believe that Michel had lowered his guard and allowed me to walk away from him, back to my apartment and life, without leaving Bruno somewhere hidden in the shadows. I couldn't fight him on that one, but if Bruno stayed out of my way, then I'd stay quiet. For now.
Waiting on my doorstep was the familiar round of gifts. Flowers, cards, a basket with stuffed bunnies and chocolate cats. Must be a shape shifter joke. I couldn't face the entire Hapū's affections right now. I needed to get physical. So, after the usual rounds of catch up house keeping, I headed to the Gym.
Grabbing a backpack with my toiletries, change of clothes and my silver, I was set. After being taken at the bank in broad daylight, I wasn't risking it ever again. Silver would be with me 24/7 from now on, I'd learned my lesson. I headed toward the gym. If I was lucky, Rick would be there and spar with me for a bit.
Tony's Gym is in an old brick building, two stories high. Painted a lighter shade of grey with a red trim, it kind of looks like an old fire station from a distance. There's not much parking
to speak of nearby, but I don't have a car anyway, so it doesn't bother me. Some of the other patrons grumble a bit about it though.
The kick boxing area is on the second floor, towards the back. Although an old building, it's all modern and refurbished inside. Air conditioning makes it pleasant in the heat of an Auckland summer. It wasn't hot out now, but not cold either. Usual Auckland temp.
I found Rick sparring with a client. I popped my gear away and donned my gloves. I watched their moves from the corner of my eye as I warmed up at one of the bags hanging a few feet away. It wasn't long before Rick had worn the poor guy out. He looked a newbie, all flailing arms and awkward kicks. Nothing landing where they should.
Finally, Rick let the guy go. I couldn't help smiling at the relief on the chap's face.
“Hey, Luce! Didn't know you were back.”
I'd been in touch with Rick of course, told him where I was and not to worry. The Hapū had heard about the battle in Parnell. Every supernatural being had been aware of the power force unleashed that day. Hence the gifts waiting on my doorstep.
“You up for a round, or did that guy wear you out?” I asked, a small smile playing on my lips. Shape shifters, never wear out.
“Yeah right! Come on, let's see if you've gone soft on me.”
Rick's been my kick boxing teacher ever since I came to Auckland. All shape shifters tend to work in a physical role, or labour intensive environment. All that testosterone I suppose. He held back when we first met, but it didn't take him long to see I could keep up with the big boys. It was only when I'd passed all his “tests” in the ring, that he let me meet the Hapū. Even well behaved Taniwhas can be dangerous. He wanted to make sure I could fight if needed.
We quickly fell into an easy routine, in the quiet, yet echo sounding kick-boxing area of the Gym. I'd feint, he'd counter, until finally we started to connect. It felt good to land the first punch, followed swiftly by a semi-circular kick, but Rick was expecting it and jumped lithely out of the way. He rounded on me with an upper cut, but missed as I dodged and came back with a back kick. Got him good with that one.
Kindred (Kindred, Book 1) Page 9
