It went on like that for a few minutes and then I really found my pace. By the time we finished our fifth three minute round, he was puffing and had marks all over his upper and lower body. His short, usually spiky, light brown hair was limp against his head and his T-Shirt clung to his muscles like glue. I'd slayed him. He looked a little surprised.
“What have you been eating, Luce? Man, you haven't fought like that before.” He rubbed his jaw where I had landed a really great flying-punch.
“I just needed to let loose a bit. Sorry if I got carried away,” I offered as way of an explanation to his bemused and slightly shocked expression.
He looked at me a little strangely then and said, “I don't think that was it, Luce. You've never been that strong before. Honest, it's not my pride talking here, although that's taken a bit of a hit. Um, has something happened?”
When I looked at him with total confusion on my face, he went on. “You know, has Michel done something to you already?”
I felt my stomach drop. “He... he couldn't do anything without me knowing.” I wasn't sure of that, but I had been clinging to it throughout my entire stay in Taupo. I still wasn't sure what exactly Michel was capable of. He may have let me get closer than any other human around, but he still held a few things close to his chest. I didn't, for a moment, think he wasn't capable of a shit load more supernatural things than he had been letting on. Michel was a consummate actor, sometimes I thought he was just playing me. I really hoped he hadn't been the past five days.
Rick could see the look of distress on my face, so didn't push it. “Yeah, well, just a thought that's all. You were pretty strong.”
We got changed and had a coffee at the café downstairs. Neither of us mentioned it again, but it was festering in the back of my mind, my subconscious just wouldn't let it go. My life was changing all around me and I couldn't stop thinking Michel was to blame.
Rick brought me up-to-date with all the happenings with the Hapū. He turned a little red in the cheeks when he told me he and Celeste had had an official date. Surprisingly, I was happy for him. Not a hint of jealousy. Great!
By the time I left him for his next class, I felt good. My muscles had had a good workout, I'd caught up with my best friend and he was happy and content with his new girl. If only my life would sort itself out that easily.
The sun had started to set as I headed in the direction of my apartment. I'd made it perhaps a dozen steps when I felt it. That undeniable pull. Something evil was lurking in my city and it was about to strike.
I shouldered my pack and started running in the direction of that force, like being pulled on a string, or by a magnet. I didn't need to see where I was going, just follow my instincts. It felt good to go at this speed, legs pumping and arms swinging. The desire to face what was there was so strong, so deep within, it felt as though it was just a part of my soul.
I shot down Nelson Street and out onto Customs Street. He was in Britomart, near the train station. As I got closer, I slowed to a jog. I realised, the nearer I got, that he wasn't just close to the train station, he was actually down on one of the platforms. Usually my pull will tell me what rough location the evil is at, but it is only when I get closer, that an exact image of where they are appears to me. I paused to stash my backpack in a locker and grabbed my silver, surreptitiously hiding my stake inside my shirt and my sheathed knife in the top of my jeans.
Humans were everywhere, end of the day, businesses closed, but bars opening up all over the CBD. It was a Friday too, so it was busy. What was this vamp thinking?
I casually walked towards the down escalator, checking around for any surprises. After seeing a human driver for the goons the other day, and how much Michel relies on Kathleen and Matthew, I wasn't naïve any more. It had never occurred to me that vampires would work so closely with humans. I mean I'd seen the groupies at Sensations and other vampire haunts. I knew they existed, but I could not for the life of me understand why they would assist the vampires. Even Kathleen and Matthew had puzzled me. They referred to Michel as The Master, like he was their master too. Yet he treated them as more than employees, open and not afraid to show how tired he was after the battle. He trusted them. I'd never witnessed a vamp lower their guard around humans like that before, especially one as powerful as Michel.
The evil vamp was on the outbound platform, a train had not long left, so still fifteen minutes before the next arrival. I'd better get a move on though. He wasn't trying to hide himself from me. He was expending a little Sanguis Vitam, cloaking himself from humans across the tracks on the other platform, but that was all. He wanted me to find him. That scared me more than I wanted to admit.
I chose nonchalance as the best approach. Never let them see your fear. I walked casually towards him and his captive. A young guy, about 19 or 20, dressed for a good night out on the town. I didn't think he'd bargained for this kind of excitement. The vamp grinned, he might as well have been saying, come here, little Hunter, come let's play.
“What's up, deadbeat?” I asked conversationally.
His eyes flashed red. There was no other colour that I could see. Maybe black, but nothing remotely human. The red looked wickedly stark against his porcelain white skin. He didn't have a blemish on him. He would have been about 25, my age, when he was turned. Judging by his power signature he was about 100 now. Not young, but not old either. Handsome, with a haughty look to it. Slightly wavy dark brown hair, down past his shoulders. This vamp was a traditionalist.
“Hunter. You took your time.” Not an unpleasant voice, but not the kind you want whispering sweet nothings in your ear, that's for sure.
“I was busy.”
When he just smiled at me, just stared with those nasty red eyes and didn't say a word, I thought to hell with this. “So, you gonna eat that guy or what?”
He thought that was amusing. I'm glad someone was having fun. What the hell was going on here? He reeked evil, he had a human glazed in his arms and his fangs were down, but he was just standing there like we were having a conversation over the dinner table.
I withdrew my stake.
He growled at that. Oh goody.
“I have a message for you, Hunter.”
“Well, I knew you weren't here just for the sights.”
“The Master wants to offer a truce.”
Oh I got it, this was one of Max's slaves, sent to offer the hand of friendship. I didn't think so somehow.
“What? He couldn't be bothered visiting in person?”
“He thought it would attract too much attention.”
No shit, Sherlock.
“He wanted you to have time to digest his offer without interference.” The digest was said as though he was rolling a titbit of food around his mouth, savouring the taste. Yum.
“OK, so spill. What does Max want to offer?” It's not that I really wanted to enter into a bargain or truce with Max, but this was taking too long. The platform had already started to fill up with a few people down by the escalators and the next train would be here any minute. Party goers, ready for a night out on the town, would be pouring out in droves. I had to move this along.
“He asks for your hand in joining.”
Man, this guy was a one sentence kind of dude. “Aaaand?” He wasn't really telling me anything new, but I was sure there'd be more to it.
“If you come willingly, without any struggle or resistance, he will spare your city.”
“Spare my city?” OK, we were making progress, but still, come on already! I mean a threat to my city was kind of to be expected. He wants me, Michel doesn't want to let me go, Michel owns this city. I could do the maths as well as any six year old.
“If you resist, he will unleash the Jinn on your people. Your city will not know Light ever again.”
Wow. Two sentences.
The Jinn is another name for ghoul. It is believed that ghouls originated in the Middle East. Some people thought ghouls were devilish genies, but most of today's modern supernatural beings don't
go for that. The term isn't often used nowadays, but every now and then you meet an older vamp and he just can't help himself. This vampire wasn't old, but his boss was. I was betting he was reciting his message word for word.
“Well, thanks for the offer. I'll take it under advisement.” I shifted the stake in my hand. His eyes flashed on the movement.
“You would be a fool to refuse. My Master does not take no for an answer lightly.”
“And I don't go for blackmail, so we're even. Now, let go of the kid, and lets get on with this.”
For some reason, I didn't think he was betting on fighting me. I got the distinct impression he thought he'd deliver his message, grab a bite to go and head on home to Max. I'm betting Max knew this was a suicide mission from the get-go. You don't waste your best man on a message delivery service.
He dropped the young guy, who without any physical or eye contact from the vampire, or any long term command, scuttled away with an inborn natural urge to flee. Good for him.
I took a step forward. I wanted to get him off the platform, away from the crowd which would descend on us in all too short a time. There was a darker area off to the side. A maintenance corridor. That would do.
He stepped back at my approach. Go the big bad hunter, me! But quickly resigned himself to the situation. The mask back on, he flashed fang and crouched ready for battle.
“If you've got anything else to tell me, now would be the time. Wouldn't want to deliver only half of your master's message now would you.”
He growled, a low guttural growl, like a big cat, or rabid dog. “You have 48 hours to comply. Two nights, on the third night he will return for you”
“See, that wasn't so hard, was it?” And I sprang forward and down, with my left hand punching into his gut and my right following through with the stake. Of course, I may have been a bit faster in the ring with Rick than normal, but Rick's almost human. Taniwhas are tough and all, and have a bit of speed, but nothing compared to a vampire and this vampire was getting his mojo on now.
I suspect, his orders were to not kill me, but harm me? That, he could probably get away with and not meet the final death back home.
He slapped me away like an annoying fly. I sprawled out onto the floor, spinning as I came to rest, nearly knocking over the maintenance trolley that was shielding us from other people's view. I didn't stay down for long, jumping back on to my feet in a swift motion. He sprang, but I had already moved managing a slash along his arm with the stake.
He grunted, but controlled himself well. Not loud enough to attract attention yet, but I needed to end this. The less the average Norm knew about vampires the better. My usual kills were in isolated places; alleys, junk yards, behind dumpsters where no one wanted to get too close to that smell. This was as public as I had ever got and it made my stomach churn. I did not want some old biddy or lost toddler to walk in on this.
He came at me low this time, his eyes a blaze of red, his power level trying to accumulate, but having little effect on me. I could hear the humming, but it wasn't touching me at all. I smiled at his grimaced face and leapt over the top of him in an acrobatic somersault. Play fighting with the Taniwhas had taught me to think outside of the box. Somersaults, flips, rollie-pollies, whatever it took, you used. As I passed over his back I pushed the stake home.
Usually, it's easier to stake a vampire in the front, through the intercostal muscle between the fourth and fifth ribs. That's right above the heart and the most direct route to that organ. But, it's not impossible to have success through the back. The only thing you need to watch out for is the scapula. Depending on the positioning and angle, this can get in the way. Today though, my luck held. I pierced the heart and felt the blade slide home.
My momentum took me further, so I had to let the stake go, but by the time I landed it was buried in dust.
I stayed still for a moment to catch my breath, then realised the humming hadn't stopped. My stake was still over a metre away, could I reach it in time?
I hadn't even moved a muscle, when the source of the all that thrumming Sanguis Vitam came into view.
Chapter 10
L'Esperance
He sauntered along as though he owned the place. He probably did. At least he ran the city, from an undead point of view. Dressed in his usual near-black Armani suit, crisp white shirt and today, a burgundy tie. I preferred the blue, it looked better with his eyes, I wasn't gonna tell him though. Michel just smiled at me, his lazy, sexy smile, as I stood and dusted myself off.
“My dear, that did look like fun.”
“What are you doing here, Michel?” I bent down to pick up my stake, but I didn't miss the way his eyes followed my every movement. They looked particularly happy when I was leaning down waving the dust off my weapon. I stood upright again quickly.
“I was in the area, I thought I would say hello.” He shrugged as he said that, somehow making the movement seem elegant and quite practised.
I laughed at that outright lie. “Since when do you slum it with the rest of us?”
“The rest of us, Lucinda? Could it be that you count yourself among my kind at last?”
I rolled my eyes and ignored the question. “Are you keeping an eye on me, Michel? Didn't trust Bruno?”
“On the contrary, my dear. I was merely in the area and heard all the fuss.” He waved his hand around as he said fuss. A casual movement, intended to look relaxed and at ease no doubt. It worked. I still didn't believe it though.
“You can cut the bull, Michel. We were hardly making a sound and his power level was practically non-existent.”
He stilled and looked directly at me. “I can sense you, Lucinda. It was you I heard.”
Oh. That was a little creepy, but anyhoo. “I don't need a bodyguard. I don't need you breathing down my neck.”
“Are you sure about that?” he whispered into the silence between us and suddenly he was breathing down my neck, but not in any way I had intended. My body gave an involuntary shudder. “It could be quite enjoyable you know.” His voice stroked my skin at the base of my head, like a molten liquid of pure bliss, it rolled over my neck and around my shoulders, then down my chest and threatened to go further. I stepped away and turned to face him, but was finding it hard to control my breathing.
“You promised no more mind control.” My words were a little breathless, giving me away.
“I'm not using my powers, Lucinda.” He looked at me, as though trying to convey a message, willing me to understand. Whatever it was, I didn't get it. Give it to me straight or don't even bother.
When I didn't move or say anything he asked, “ Have you eaten, my dear? Perhaps you would accompany me to dinner?”
OK, being invited to dine with a vampire is bit scary, even one you halfway trust, like I do Michel. “My dinner or your dinner?” I couldn't help it, I had to ask.
He laughed. “You are welcome to watch me feed, my dear, but I dare say you would not like it.”
“I'd agree with you there.”
“Oh, not for the reasons I suspect you have.” Did I really want to know? I raised my eyebrows anyway. This uncontrolled body movement thing was going to get me into trouble.
“When we feed with willing donors, it can be a very pleasurable experience.”
My cheeks flushed with heat at the way he said that, all sensual innuendo and more.
He smiled slightly at my discomfort and then straightened his features into a more serious look. “I would like to take you to dinner, Lucinda. Would you care to accompany me, please?”
Maybe it was the please, maybe I was just hungry, but before I could stop and think about it, I said yes.
L'Esperance is in Viaduct Quay, overlooking all the super yachts in the marina. It's strictly a table by appointment only kind of place. I could understand the appeal to Michel, this was a five star restaurant and all, but the cutlery was usually pure silver. It didn't faze him in the slightest. He wasn't eating anyway and obviously did not fear any of the
patrons picking up a butter knife to have a go.
I did feel a little out of place in my jeans and pale blue shirt though, but I had luckily placed a cream cashmere jersey in my pack before leaving home, and that draped over my shoulders provided me some sense of encouragement.
The waiters fussed over us as soon as we arrived. Whether they knew what Michel was, I couldn't say, but they definitely knew who Michel was. A table was quickly made available, much to the disgust of a couple trying to get in without a booking at the door and champagne was brought out as soon as we sat, without Michel even having to ask.
It was all a little overwhelming.
After giving my order; Hauraki Gulf Snapper, wakame, gnocchi, watercress, tua tua and mussels - I am quite capable of branching out from lamb when given the opportunity - I took a sip of my champagne, trying not to sneeze from the insistent bubbles against my nose and levelled my gaze on the unnaturally beautiful vampire opposite me.
“What's the occasion?”
“Can I not court you in the old fashioned way, Lucinda?
I scoffed at that. “Somehow I don't see you as the roses and chocolates kind of man.”
“Would you like roses and chocolates? I can arrange it.” He raised his hand slightly, as if to call the attention of a waiter, I batted it back down. He just smiled.
“Are you going to tell me why you were at the station just now? Can you even admit that you're shadowing me, trying to protect me?” I asked.
“I had thought you might give me some credit for not intervening at all. You have no idea how hard it was for me to stand back and just watch. Enjoyable on so many levels, but difficult all the same.”
“You watched the whole thing?”
“Practically, yes.”
Well, that was an unusual sensation. I'd never really had an audience before. Part of me wanted to ask, Did I do OK? How did I look? Bad ass? But I mentally chided myself as soon as the thoughts entered my head.
“You are amazing when you fight.” He said it with such respect, reverence even, it sent a little shiver down my spine.
“I don't need your protection, supervision, whatever you want to call it. I don't want it. It has to stop.” When in doubt, just stick with what you're good at. Maybe after saying it a certain number of times the miraculous would happen and he'd comply. A girl can only dream.
Kindred (Kindred, Book 1) Page 10
