Michel took a deep breath in, the power that had accumulated around him when he sensed Bruno's arrival was in check, but his eyes still flashed purple flecks in amongst the blue and indigo swirls.
“What is it?” Even, low and very scary.
Bruno hesitated, looking at me, then glancing quickly away. He was obviously unsure whether to disclose what information he had in front of me, but Michel hadn't moved from my side, his hands were still holding my arm and neck. So still and slightly more firmer than before, as though he was trying to control himself by staying connected to me. He hadn't even turned fully towards Bruno, which in itself was a statement that he was the boss and unafraid to have his back to the intruder. But by staying by my side he was saying more than just that, he was saying that anything Bruno had to say could be said in front of me. He was including me in his world despite him not knowing what blow Bruno was about to deliver.
Bruno cleared his throat slightly. “It's Maximilian, Master. He has been found.”
The breath I was about to take in was forgotten, I tensed with unbridled fear. Michel began softly stroking my arm and neck and glanced over his shoulder to make eye contact with Bruno for the first time.
“Where?”
“Sydney, Australia.” He paused then, only a fraction of a second, but Michel pounced. “Speak to me, Bruno!” The power that rolled off him let me know he had sent a command to his vampire, a not so subtle threat to obey. He was obviously losing his patience.
Bruno blanched when he felt the command's power hit him and hurriedly went on. “He has found a Nosferatin to join with, Master, they are joining tomorrow night.”
Of all the things Bruno could have said I had not expected that. It's just as Michel said, there weren't that many of us around. I certainly knew of none in Australia, I could only assume he had found one somewhere else and had just taken them there. I hoped he hadn't found one of my friends from the website and was holding them captive, forcing them to obey.
“He has been busy,” Michel said slowly, as he moved to sit next to me on the couch. Bruno relaxed visibly and came further into the room.
I wasn't dumb, I knew what this meant. With a Nosferatin by his side, Max would be unstoppable and I knew without a doubt that the first spot on his path to worldwide domination would be Auckland City and the little unsolved problem of me, and Michel.
“This changes things.” Michel, stating the obvious. He sat still for a moment, obviously thinking things through. “Leave us, would you, Bruno. I will call for you when I am ready.”
“Yes, Master.” He was gone in a blur of speed, somehow managing to shut the door quietly, despite the fast exit.
I didn't like the look in Michel's eyes. I didn't like the way he sat there, so still. Not vampire still, but as though he was a tightly coiled spring about to unwind unexpectedly and scare the living daylights out of me. He sat there for a good two minutes. I didn't make a sound.
Finally, he spoke. “Ma douce, you know he will come here, with a certainty.” Yes, I did. “You also know, I will not leave my city undefended.” Vampires, by their nature, are territorial and proprietary, they do not give up something that is their's willingly. I had always known this about Michel. It was who he was, he couldn't help it, but, that also meant I knew what he was about to say to me and a very small, very tiny piece of my heart broke away and simply curled up to died, at the very thought.
“I cannot let you leave.” In his mind, he owned me too, that much was clear and as such I was something he would not simply let walk out of his life, even if I wanted to. “And I could force you to comply. I could invade your mind and make you think that it is the right thing, the only thing to do. But I do not want to, ma douce.” He took my hands then, they felt numb and cold, I could hardly feel the warmth coming through his fingers onto my skin. “Please do not make me.”
He wasn't asking me trust him, he was asking me to not make him break that trust, because basically, that's what it boiled down to. He could make me do this and I wouldn't even know he had done so until after the event. Despite my having a smattering of anti-vampire mojo skills and being more powerful than usual, Michel could do this. He is too strong and besides, his affect on my body would make his hold on my mind so much easier. I guess that's why when I do join with a vampire, they would no longer be able to do that, their powers having no effect over me unless I let them. I would of course hate him for it. I would never be able to trust him again and he knew this.
Now, I know what you're thinking. I'm going to have to join with a vampire before one month past my birthday anyway, or let myself die. Why not let it be Michel? He is charming, handsome, powerful and has way more light in him than dark, compared to most vampires. And I'll admit it, he pushes all my buttons, but if you have ever been forced into a corner by someone, forced to make a decision before you are ready to, then you will understand what I was feeling right then.
I stood up and walked over to the window, another large expanse of glass. I guess vampires get a bit sick of being locked in windowless chambers during the day, they seem to have an obsession with clear glass in their homes for the night. A cruise ship was slowly sailing past, heading out into the Hauraki Gulf. Small lights dotted the deck and deep sides and were reflected back on the surprisingly calm waters of the shipping channel. Right then, all I felt was how much I wished I was on that boat, heading off on some exotic holiday, no cares in the world.
He didn't crowd me, he stayed sitting on the couch, but I could feel him watching me, expectantly. Man, this sucked.
I am, if nothing, a practical person. I have always been able to break a problem down and work through its components to find a solution. It's just how my mind works. This was a little harder. Emotions were involved, even if I didn't really want to admit it. But the theory was the same. I thought about every detail that I knew. This was a decision I would have had to make in little under five weeks anyway, before one month past my 25 birthday, I just had to make it now, that's all. And the bottom line was this. Was I brave enough to walk away and die?
It's a question that has plagued me since finding out about this thing that I am. The one thing that I could not ignore or brush under the rug in an attempt to pretend it didn't exist. My ancestors had been brave enough, not only for themselves, but for their descendants, their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren too. They had done something that took a tremendous amount of courage, I had at first thought it selfish, making this decision for their first borns, but I now realised they had been strong. Stronger than I think I could ever be.
Because as much as I can see the romanticism of the notion, sacrificing myself in order to deny the vampires power, I also knew without a doubt that I wanted it too. I certainly felt repulsed at the thought of sharing power with Maximilian, but when I looked at Michel, the pull or connection or whatever it was we shared was undeniable. I didn't want to die, I wanted him.
I turned to look at him, the window to my back. His eyes opened slightly at what was obviously a look of acquiescence on my face.
“This changes nothing, Michel. Nothing. You understand? It is just a joining of power.” Don't ask me why, but that distinction seemed important to me. He may think he owns me, but he so does not.
He smiled his languid lazy smile, dripping in heat and sex and slowly glided over to take my hands in his. “Of course, my dear, of course. Anything you say.”
As I was soon to find out, a joining is not simply an acknowledgement or alliance, it is closer in fact, to an accord. I couldn't just declare to the world that I was joined with Michel, it had to be witnessed and there had to be a sharing of blood. It was considered an extraordinary event, and vampires loved any reason to have a bit of pomp and ceremony.
So, despite my protests, word was sent out immediately to all vampires in New Zealand. I'm guessing a notice was put on the Iunctio too, even though it would alert Max to our plans, it was considered an important part of the wheeling and dealing of v
ampire politics. Michel was letting the world know just how powerful he was about to become.
Ordinarily the preparations for such an event would take several days, hence Max's not occurring until tomorrow night. He'd rushed it, but for whatever reason that was the soonest he could get it organised. Michel on the other hand, was prepared to cut a few corners and by 2 am I found myself in the main bar of a recently refurbished Sensations. Vampire tradesmen can reach a deadline in days, where regular humans would have taken months. The bar was unrecognisable. There was absolutely no evidence of what had happened just over a week ago, the place had been given an upspec too. New furnishings, now incorporating more reds, than golds and browns, and a slightly different layout. It looked good.
The club had been closed to humans and when we arrived there were already some fifty odd vampires in attendance, including to my utter surprise, Jock, Enrique and Alessandra. I thought they had left the country already, but they had to have been nearby in order to make it to the club within the few hours from the invitation being extended. Vampires can move at incredible speeds over land or water, but still.
We didn't greet them when we entered, Michel's entourage whisking us straight past those congregating in the club's main room, to the privacy of his chamber. When the door clicked shut behind us however, we were alone.
I was already nervous, but the sound of the door clicking just seemed to ratchet that up a notch or two. Michel came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders, pulling my back against the warmth of his chest , nestling his head into the side of my neck, smelling my scent.
“There are some things you should be prepared for, ma douce,” he murmured into my skin. Great. He'd been holding out. Why didn't that surprise me?
“Not all Nosferatin and their kindred vampyre have an attraction to each other, such as we do. The joining will create some sense of longing to be with each other for them, but it is purely designed to make them want to stay by each other's sides, to not stray. It will not make them feel more than that, unless an attraction later develops. For those who are attracted to each other from the outset, which we so undeniably are, the connection is somewhat more.”
“Somewhat more?” I swallowed.
He had started kissing the side of my neck, up towards my ear and slowly taking my lobe into his mouth, nibbling, his breath warm against me, the sensation it created frustratingly intense. I felt my stomach contract and other areas tighten of their own accord too. “You may find it hard to resist at first, despite the surroundings, the initial rush of emotion can be overwhelming. It will subside, slightly, with time and you will get better at bending it to your will, but it may take practice.”
“So...so, you're saying, I'll want to jump you as soon as the joining is complete, even if I don't want to?” This didn't change anything. I could handle it.
He chuckled against my skin, the sound of it sending further waves of pleasure through me. “It will not make you do anything more than you already wish to, my dear, it will merely amplify your emotions and desire.”
When I stiffened, he turned me around slowly to face him and brought his head down to look me directly in the eye. His were swirls of blue and indigo, dancing and flashing in the light. I had a feeling that mine looked something like a deer's when sighted down the barrel of the hunter's gun. How ironic. “You will not be alone, ma douce, I too will be subject to its whim.”
Oh, now that was just fine and dandy, wasn't it. I was the one who always pulled away from that final connection to him, he was always more than willing and ready to take it that further step. Why did the thought of him being unable to control himself around me make me scared and also send a shiver down my spine?
I was out of time now anyway, the decision had been made. I was just going to have steel myself and brace for the moment of truth. At least I could appreciate his telling me now and not just letting it hit me unawares in front of all those people. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.
We changed quietly, he allowed me privacy to do so, turning his back in the dressing room and concentrating on his own clothes. An event such as this required a certain level of dress, my normal attire of knee high leather boots, tights, mini-skirt and tee wouldn't cut it. A dress had been laid out waiting on our arrival. How Michel had organised so much so quickly and in the middle of the night was astounding. By the looks of the dress some designer had been hauled out of bed and made to open up shop just for me.
It was the most gorgeous deep blue, almost purple. Soft and luxuriant to the touch, it draped off my shoulders with a slight cowl neckline, baring my skin and neck. I didn't think that was by coincidence. The bodice was fitting, boned but not uncomfortable and the skirt flared out slightly at the hips. It fell to the floor in folds of draping fabric, pooling at my feet. I'd need either really high heeled shoes to avoid tripping over, or I was just expected to shuffle along like a slug, either way it was making a statement with that amount of fabric, something along the lines of see, I can waste expensive fabric, it means nothing to me at all. There was no pattern on the dress, just an unrelenting shine that changed the hue of the fabric when I moved, making you think it was a moving picture, animated and alive.
My hair lay just below my shoulders now, but also spread out over them like a cape. I'd showered at Michel's house before we left, so it was dry and shiny and straight. The way it normally looked, but coupled with the fabric of the dress, you'd almost swear I had highlights in there, which I don't.
I turned to find Michel watching me. He was dressed pretty much as he always was, the only change was his tie, another blue, complementary to, but not matching my dress. That would have been too much. I guess his dress style was more fitting to the occasion than mine, no designer having to lose sleep outfitting him in the middle of the night.
His gaze was heavy, soaking me in, his eyes shone brightly. “You are beautiful, ma douce.”
My heart skipped a beat. Stop that! I chided it.
“Shall we?” He offered his arm, I paused.
“Just one more thing,” I said as I rushed out of the room and over to my bag.
I rummaged in it for a moment, then came out with my silver knife in a little slim holder. A silver stake will kill a vampire instantly. If entered through the heart, a knife, while not as good, can cause enough damage for you to get away. I have disabled a vampire with a silver knife to the heart before, but only long enough to reach my stake and finish him off, just before he moved. It's not much, but I'd feel better having it on me. I may be joining into this vampire world, but I still know my part in it. I'm a vampire hunter and always will be.
I didn't waste time, lifting my leg up and resting my high heeled foot on the side of the bed and hiking my dress up to attach the knife to my upper inner thigh. I only just realised who I was doing that in front of when a warm hand was suddenly tracing the knife's holder and strap along my skin, sending instant shockwaves through me.
“If you insist on distracting me, my dear, we may never see this through.” His voice was husky in my ear, the warmth of him enveloping me and pulling me towards him. I took a deep breath in an attempt to steady myself, only to immediately regret it, he smelled so good, so fresh and clean and like the ocean breeze. I sighed.
He pulled away, almost pained, and offered me his arm again. Here we go, I thought and walked out to face whatever destiny this life had in store for me.
The room stilled when we entered. A slight crackle of Sanguis Vitam around the edges, excited vamps can have some trouble reining themselves in sometimes. I'm guessing a few of these guys here were pleased their master was about to get a double load of power. Nothing makes a vampire happier than knowing they're on the right team.
A space had been cleared in the middle and we proceeded to its centre. I was finding it difficult to concentrate on my surroundings, the faces of all those vampires about me blending into one another. I could no further have told you where Shane or Bruno, or even Alessandra, was at that moment,
than fly to the moon. My heart had started beating at an alarming rate causing my head to pound and my vision to blur even further.
Michel leaned in to me and whispered so only I could hear, “Calm yourself, ma douce, they can feel it.”
He was right of course, every vampire in that room could taste my fear. It was not a good thing to show fear in front of a vampire. My anger and rage may be an aphrodisiac to Michel, but I was damn sure that my fear would go a long way to getting this lot excited too. I centred myself as best I could, concentrating on my heartbeat, like I had done to enter the dream state that let me shift to the battles, but not allowing myself to seek out the nothingness that lay beyond. Within a few moments, my heartbeat was back under control and my breathing settled. Michel had waited patiently by my side doing nothing to assist me, knowing this was not something he could interfere with. I needed to show all those here that I could control my fear in front of them, that I didn't need his influence to protect me. They would find it hard to respect me otherwise and as his Nosferatin, he needed them to.
Bruno approached then from the side. I hadn't seen him standing waiting there of course, but as soon as I had gathered myself he had started towards us. He too would have sensed just when I had myself back under control. He held a platter out to Michel, on it a stainless steel knife. It looked wickedly sharp.
Michel didn't hesitate, he picked the knife up with his left hand and sliced the palm of his right, turning it over and offering it hilt first to me. My lips were dry, my throat felt tight, but I forced myself to breathe and accepted it. My hand was only shaking slightly as I dragged the knife against the sensitive skin on my palm. It stung and started dripping blood onto the polished concrete floor of the room. The vampires around me visibly stiffening. Great.
Kindred (Kindred, Book 1) Page 19
