Dancing Dragon

by Nicola Claire

  I placed my bag on the floor in the corner and threw myself onto a pile of cushions. I'd picked up the technique of lowering yourself properly to the ground to lounge, whilst training in Cairo with Nero. Before he gave me some tips, I always seemed to look like a floundering seal on the rocks at the beach. It was not at all styley.

  “So, Gregor come here often does he?” I asked, innocently.

  Gregor has been chasing Amisi for some time now, but she has somehow managed to stay out of his grasp. No doubt her defiance and refusal to bow to his desires is only adding fuel to the flame for the vampire, but my girl is strong. I have faith she'll make him work for it.

  I hope she doesn't give in too quickly, like I did with Michel.

  Amisi flashed me a look from under her long dark eyelashes. “He always calls right on dusk. He should be here soon to drive me to the club. For work.”

  “Now hang on a minute. You're working at Desire de Sang?” Gregor's club is what you would call rank vampire, a little bit too base for my liking. It's all red and black with lots of leather and vinyl and skimpy, tight outfits in a dark and extremely creepy environment.

  Needless to say it is the most popular bar in the city and Amisi had always shown such distaste for it. The idea of her working there, let alone working for Gregor, just blows the mind.

  “I needed a job that would allow me to drop everything and go hunt. Most of the Nosferatins in Cairo work for the vampires. Of course we don't have clubs, but we have tea houses and the like over there. It makes sense to work for the Master of the City. I'm surprised you don't get a job at Sensations.”

  Well, I'd never really thought about it and it did make sense, but still, working for Michel, was just about as bad as taking a handout from Michel. And right now, that was the last thing I wanted to do.

  “Yeah. I guess it makes sense.” I had looked away when I answered, I didn't think it was an obvious movement, but suddenly Amisi was crouched down on the floor on a cushion in front of me.

  “What's going on, Luce? Why am I picking up such sadness from you?” She paused and looked at me, her focus wasn't on my face or body, but rather around it.

  I had forgotten that Amisi had been trained by Nero, my master Nosferatin trainer and friend, who had also been very good at reading auras. Nosferatins can read the aura or glow of other Nosferatins, if they concentrate hard enough. I have a Nosferatin glow and a Bond glow. Both would be looking decidedly sad right now.

  “Oh, Luce. What has happened?” Tears sprang to my friend's eyes and trickled down her face. I was surprised at her compassion, her empathy, her tears, this was a little new.

  “Why are you crying, Amisi?” Best I try to divert the conversation from things that could make me bawl.

  She swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and cleared her throat. “I've, um, recently discovered a new talent. I can not only see other's auras and glows, but if I concentrate hard enough I can receive their emotions too.”

  Hell, that was new. Almost like a Nosferatin power, but Amisi is only twenty, she shouldn't get her powers until she is 25, or there about. I came into my powers a little earlier than my 25th birthday, but that was unusual.

  “Is it a Nosferatin power?” I asked.

  She shrugged, a delicate movement of her shoulders. “I'm not sure. I guess so, but it didn't come in a blaze of Light, like others do. I just woke up one day and could do it.”

  I thought about that for a while. “Nut does work in strange ways. She must have a reason.”

  “That's exactly what I thought,” Amisi answered.

  Nut is our goddess. We are all descendants of Nut. Children of Nut. She is the Light that shines in us, she is our mother and sometimes she bestows powers on us without giving us the manual first. Hell, all of my powers have come without an easy-step-by-step-guide.

  Just then there was a firm rap on the door.

  “Oh,” Amisi said in surprise looking at her watch. “Oh. I'm not ready, he'll be angry.” She jumped up and ran into what had to be her bedroom and shouted over her shoulder. “Grab the door, Luce and let him in, would ya?”

  Okaay. Amisi flustered. Another new.

  I sprang up from the floor and thanked my lucky stars no vamps were around to see the unladylike and clumsy moment. I could already tell who was on the other side of the door though, not that it would have been hard, what with Amisi's flustering and sudden loss of her normal well maintained cool. But I still had a connection to the man on the other side of the door, even though I had successfully removed his Sigillum, so the pull I could feel as I swung the door wide felt familiar.

  “Master of the City. How nice of you to pay a visit.” I smiled up at the undeniably handsome face of Gregor Morel.

  His eyes shone a quick flash of silver, then reverted back to their usual lazy grey. The Sigillum surrounding them making me have to fight not to lean forward and touch his cheek, run a finger down his scar on the right side of his face. He didn't half look good tonight. Impeccably dressed in an Armani suit, dark grey with a light grey shirt, high collar, no tie. He towered over me as he casually leaned his muscular bulk against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Sanguis Vitam Cupitor. What a pleasurable surprise.” His voice sounded delectable, like something you could eat.

  I doubted it was a surprise though, he would have known the instant I entered his city limits.

  “Would you like to come in? The lounge is over there,” I said, pointing to the cushions. “Oh, that's right, you know your way around, don't you?”

  He just growled, a mock angry vampire sound and pulled me unexpectedly into a hug. His strong arms going around my shoulders, his chin resting on my head.

  “I have missed you, ma petite chasseuse,” he whispered in my hair.

  I don't know why, but I suddenly felt like crying. God dammit, but my eyes filled with tears and my nose got all snotty and my throat closed over. Crap.

  Gregor pulled back and leaned down to look at me. “Lucinda. What is wrong?”

  Oh, and here we go again. Couldn't I just hold on to some semblance of professionalism? Couldn't I put on a brave face and keep a few heartfelt secrets to myself?

  The answer was obviously no, because the tears kept coming and I sniffed in an undignified way and Gregor just led me further into the apartment and sat me down on a cushion, sliding onto one himself next to me, with all the grace of a sleek jungle cat.

  “Tell me, ma cherie. Why the tears?” His hand held mine and I felt his thumb tracing swirls over my wrist, above my pulse. So calming, so warm, so longed for from Michel. But this wasn't Michel and even if Gregor and I had been more than just close in the past, I didn't want him. I wanted my kindred.

  More tears. Shit.

  “Oh dear, Lucinda. What has Michel done.” He said the words under his breath, but I heard him.

  “How do you know it's about Michel?” I asked between sniffs, still trying to deny the obvious.

  “I have yet to see you cry like this over someone else. You are one of the strongest people I know and even when Nero died, your tears were not as heart wrenching as these.” His finger came up and softly brushed my cheek, wiping away only a fraction of the moisture that had appeared there. “Tell me. What has he done?”

  I hadn't expected to have to open up my heart to someone. Even with Amisi, I thought she would provide a distraction and I wouldn't have to go where my heart was so raw. But to talk about this with Gregor, I couldn't. I just couldn't.

  I shook my head at him and made a concerted effort to control the tears, reaching into my pocket for a tissue. Tissues, my best buds right now. They go where I go. 24/7.

  He sighed, but didn't let go of my wrist.

  “You know, I have known Michel for centuries, we were once very close.”

  Yeah, I knew that. Michel had told me, Gregor had hinted at it, but they'd had a falling out, when Michel left Paris and the Iunctio, where they both worked, to come to New Zealand, in searc
h of me. The Prophesied Nosferatin born in the New Land who would bring balance to the world. I am the Light to the Dark and Michel came here to wait for me.

  But Gregor couldn't understand why he would give up what they had so readily. I don't think Michel ever told him the reason why he chose to leave. Not then anyway. Neither has spoken of that time in depth and even now their relationship is strained, especially since Gregor decided he wanted me too.

  We had moved on from that, but if anyone knew Michel, Gregor would. I wondered what he would make of Michel's behaviour right now. Maybe it was familiar, maybe this is exactly what Michel did to him all the way back those many years ago.

  “Michel can be very single minded, I'm sure you are aware of that, ma cherie. Sometimes it can be to the detriment of those he loves. He can be blinded by his own desires and he fails to see the consequences of his actions until it is too late.” All of what Gregor was saying made sense. I knew what Michel was like when I got involved with him, but it still didn't make it any easier, did it? “I will say this though, Lucinda, he loves you, adores you, I have never seen him so devoted to another before. You are his life. Whatever he is doing right now, it will be temporary, he will come back to you. I am sure.”

  Somehow, without me even saying a word, Gregor had pretty much hit the nail on the head, but I didn't agree with him. I couldn't see an end to this, I couldn't for the life of me picture Michel coming back. This felt so final, so monumental. I couldn't see an end.

  I chanced a smile at Gregor and took a deep breath in. “I know, you're right,” I said with as much conviction as I could muster.

  His lips quirked slightly and a shot of silver flashed across his eyes. He didn't believe me, but he wasn't going to push either. Gregor could be a diplomat when he tried.

  I did, however, think he might be able to help me with one thing though. Gregor, although the Master of Wellington City, was also still an Iunctio council member. They called him the Enforcer and occasionally he would be called away to enforce the Iunctio's laws. It didn't happen often, because when the Enforcer was called in, it was pretty much the end of the road for the one being enforced, but he was still privy to most of what went on in the hallowed halls of the Iunctio's Palais.

  “Do you know if the Iunctio has requested a meeting with Michel?”

  His eyebrows raised at that. “A meeting, ma cherie?”

  Oh bugger, I guess I wasn't going to get any insider information here. I might as well keep on trucking though.

  “He's flying out to Paris the day after tomorrow, he didn't say what for, I just assumed it would be the Iunctio.”

  Gregor looked at me intently. I knew what he was thinking. Michel would normally tell me what was up, why he was travelling away. Hell, I'd normally go with him. If my tears hadn't have been a dead giveaway that something was not right in our joining, then this surely was.

  “It would not be a false conclusion to make,” Gregor offered, quietly. “But I have not heard of any planned meetings or investigations regarding Michel.”

  And with those softly spoken words, Gregor confirmed my worst fears. There would be no other reason for Michel to travel to Paris, Gregor agreed with me on that. It had to be the Iunctio, but what exactly they were after neither of us knew.

  I sighed, a weighty sigh. My heart was torn in two, my chest ached, my head hurt and now I was plain scared. Whatever Michel was doing, he intended to do it without me. Why?

  Gregor rose up off the cushions in the usual Nosferatu glide, puppet-on-a-string movement and turned to offer me his hand. With his help I didn't look nearly as awkward getting up, but still, vamps had a way of making you feel ungainly.

  “I suggest a night out on the town to wash away your sorrows, my dear. I promise, by the end of this evening I shall have you laughing and dancing and forgetting everything else but me. I have no doubt at all.”

  I had to smile, I had no doubt he'd try his darnedest too, but it wasn't until Amisi came out of the bedroom and Gregor's whole demeanour changed, from broad-shoulder-to-cry-on to awestruck-love-sick-puppy, that I truly started laughing.

  Dressed in skin tight black leather pants and an equally skin tight cropped black T-Shirt, showing a bronzed and toned midriff, with red blood dripping letters saying Desire de Sang Staff right across her breasts along with three inch high heels on her feet, Amisi looked older, sexier and infinitely more dangerous than I had ever seen her before. She took in the look on my face and then Gregor's and lifted her chin, then sailed passed us with all the grace of a catwalk model.

  Gregor was struck dumb and all I could do was laugh.

  “If you say one word, Lucinda Monk, I will slice you with silver. And Gregor, close your damn mouth, you're catching flies.”

  That's my girl.

  Chapter 4

  Blood Lust

  I chuckled the entire short trip in Gregor's car from the apartment at one end of Lambton Quay until the club at the other. Amisi just sat stony silent in the front passenger seat, arms crossed defiantly over her chest, with Gregor casting the odd covert glance her way. Taking in her profile, her body, the line of her neck. It was actually the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. The way he looked at her. It whispered of longing and desire and to a certain extent, worship.

  Gregor Morel, the Enforcer, the Iunctio's guillotine, worshipped the ground Amisi walked on.

  I might have issues with a particular vampire right now, but I am still able to appreciate that they are not all tarred by the same brush. Gregor has a bad boy bone, that was for sure, but he also had an enormous amount of Light within. He was a constant challenge, a borderline rogue, Nosferatin blood called to him in a way no other vampire could claim. That made him dangerous. But danger can sometimes be attractive. Gregor Morel wore danger like a dinner jacket, it suited him well.

  I couldn't think of a more appropriate kindred for my Amisi.

  The club, Desire de Sang, French for Blood Lust, was already at full capacity when we arrived. It had been open for a couple of hours, but by the time the sun set, it had got its groove on for sure. A mixture of high end dressers and Goth wannabes covered the dance floor and mingled around in the dark crevices bordering the central space. The music, along with the lighting, was seductive and alluring, an unusual combination of base and haunting riffs. No covers being played here.

  We followed Gregor in through the side entrance to the club, Amisi flashed me a smile then waltzed off to the bar and set up shop like she'd done it a million times before. Suddenly the men who had been waiting to be served by a male vampire behind the bar, switched allegiances and lined up in front of the tall, statuesque Egyptian. Gregor's low growl could only be heard by those next to us, all of which had luckily been vamps.

  He rolled his head on his shoulders and led me to a reserved table in the corner, drinks were immediately placed in front of us. A Bacardi and Coke for me and something dark and no doubt potent for Gregor.

  “You know, Morel, considering the country she comes from, having her serve alcohol behind the bar is a bit gauche,” I said, quietly, whilst sipping my drink.

  Gregor's eyes flashed silver, still fixed on Amisi at the bar, then slowly returned to look at me.

  “It was either that or have her as part of the entertainment.” The entertainment wore even less than Amisi had on, short-short leather mini skirts, minuscule leather straps and fabric strips as tops and six inch thigh-high leather boots. They also were tasked with enticing the clientèle into nefarious deeds, none of which I really wanted to be privy to. “Besides, she follows Nut. Nut would understand.”

  I couldn't argue, given the choice I'm sure Nut would, but it's more than that. Gregor was a Nosferatin before he was turned. Nut herself engineered the turning, he has met her, he knows her as well as I. It was not an arrogant vampire talking, but a former hunter like me.

  “I dread to think what you would have had me do,” I muttered under my breath.

  That received a winning smile, the tiniest
flash of fangs. “Lucinda, you would only ever have been my personal entertainment. The leather straps would have looked good on you.”

  “And they wouldn't on Amisi?” I asked, incredulously. He still comes on to me after all this time and with Amisi across the room?

  He paused, considered his words, then said, “Amisi is not exactly like you, ma cherie. She is... precious. She requires my protection. You are more than capable of holding your own with my kind.”

  Oh, he was so wrong there. “Amisi has more skill in her little toe than I do in my whole body, Gregor. She can take care of herself and she wouldn't appreciate you thinking otherwise.”

  His smile broadened. “I feel compelled to protect her. She is mine to protect.”

  And there you had it. The vampire within him had already claimed her as his kindred. I may have been an attraction to Gregor, a distraction from his self hatred at the time, but Amisi was now his sole purpose in life. If there is one thing to be said about vampires, they are proprietary. They mark something as theirs and they will not share.

  I smiled back. “That's better,” I said, holding his gaze.

  “Do I pass the test, little Hunter?”

  “Just in the nick of time. Any longer before you declared your undying love and I would have had to stake you.”

  He held a hand to his chest, above his heart and gave me a mock sigh. “You are so harsh, ma cherie. So harsh.” And then flashed a smile and a wink.

  We passed the next two hours just talking and teasing one another, it was a balm on a hot summer's night, a welcomed distraction from the pain in my heart. Gregor knew how to bring me out of myself, he knew how to make me forget my worries and concentrate on the here and now. Gregor had always been a closet hedonist. Hell, at one stage I don't think it was a hidden trait at all. But, he couldn't bear the thought of me suffering now and not try to make me find a way to have pleasure.