A Vampire's Bane

by Raven Steele

  The night wore on painfully slow. I looked for every opportunity to speak with Faithe, but she wouldn’t leave Korin’s side. I watched her from a distance, the way she hung on his every word, her adoring eyes trained always in his direction. He may have been the only person in the room. She might be compelled, but her eyes lacked the familiar glaze. Maybe it was something else. A spell, perhaps.

  Mateo didn’t speak to me again, but he stayed close by, his gaze flickering around the room, analyzing everything as if it were a threat. He may not be in charge of security anymore, but those protective habits never left him.

  The smell of blood, given freely by the humans, perfumed the air, and my stomach clenched in hunger. It had been too long since I’d surrounded myself with such temptation. Everywhere I looked, humans writhed on laps as the vampires partook of their life-giving blood. The smell was so strong, the hunger a driving demand within me, instinctual and powerful, making my heart pound with need, that I had to stop by the wall, clinging to it, to catch my breath.

  Mateo watched me struggle from across the room, his eyes moving over my body with his own desire.

  But he would not come to me.

  I had already rejected him once tonight; he would not give me the opportunity to do so again so soon. A human woman approached him, batting her eyes and trailing her finger down her neck towards her large breasts.

  I waited, still clutching the wall behind me, watching closely. Mateo’s eyes hesitantly left my gaze to eye her offered wrist hungrily.

  I held my breath, feeling heat ignite in my abdomen as he took hold of her hand and guided that sensitive skin to his mouth. His gaze slowly lifted to mine again. With our eyes locked, he pierced her skin. A moan threatened to spill from my lips as desire coursed through me. Even from across the room, I could smell her blood calling to me, mixed with Mateo’s heated gaze.

  His long tongue twisted across her wrist in a slow, tantalizing stroke. Then he moved his tongue up her arm, his eyes still boring into mine as if to tell me, show me, that this is what he would be doing to me right now if I’d allowed it. His mouth stopped at the top of her corset, his teeth scraping at the swell of her breast. He paused, for the barest moment. And then, she gasped as his teeth sunk into her, lips latching onto skin so tantalizing and fair. A drop of blood slid down, and I licked my lips in anticipation. My heart raced as fire skirted over my flesh, flaming my own need.

  Mateo knew exactly how to entice me.

  The dark prince of temptation.

  I stared openly at him, watching him drink from her.

  It would be so easy to give in.

  No one back home would even know, and one sip wouldn’t cause me to careen back into that lifestyle. I was stronger now, able to stop whenever I wished.

  Mateo’s eyes simmered with need. The side of his mouth lifted as if he knew I would come to him. His finger flicked forward, an invitation.

  I sucked in a shaky breath, my eyes still locked on his and took a step towards him.

  Then, a bell sounded, and all eyes turned toward open double doors at the back of the room. I caught my breath, forcing my feet to stop. A servant dressed in white announced, “Dinner is served.”

  I fell back, clasping onto the wall again, my hands trembling. Thank heavens for the bell. I looked back at Mateo. He had left the human and was staring into the dining room, his face pale. The smell of blood wafted into the air, the scent so strong it was dizzying.

  From my viewpoint, I couldn’t see what he was seeing. I walked toward him and peered into the long and richly decorated dining room. My heart stopped, and my legs weakened.

  Hanging from the ceiling by many wires, four humans, face down, had been punctured at various points in their bodies. Their blood dripped into strategically placed wine glasses. When one was full, servants would swap it out for another. By how quickly the glasses were filling, the humans had been given blood thinners. If they weren’t dead already, they would be soon.

  “Mateo,” I breathed, feeling myself grow faint. He was by me in an instant, his hand on the small of my back.

  “Don’t react,” he whispered low enough for only my ears.

  Others shared my same shock. The horrific scene before us might’ve been accepted in the fourteenth century, but we had evolved as a species and were no longer this barbaric.

  “What is the meaning of this?” a shorter, older looking vampire demanded. It took me just a second to recall his name. Petre. He had been with Korin almost as long as I had.

  Korin slowly turned to him. “I told you, things are changing. Soon, we will no longer have to hide in the shadows, and we can live as we were meant to be.”

  “As monsters?” Petre shouted motioning toward the humans. “This may have been acceptable centuries ago, but we’ve grown beyond this. It is abhorrent and no longer our way!”

  Several nodded their heads in approval.

  Korin glided toward the center of the room, noting their disapproval. “I have ruled this coven for over a millennium, and what is abhorrent is the way we’ve been forced to live. A new dawn is coming. You will either embrace it or move on.”

  Petre looked around. Seeing dread on the faces of others must’ve given him courage, because he said, “Then we move on.”

  He walked across the room, his head up, but before he could pass Korin, Korin lifted his hand, looked directly into my eyes and snapped his fingers. Petre burst into flames. He began to flail, screaming in anguish, and then, as if someone had poured concrete into his veins, he froze in horror. The flames intensified, cutting off his cries into tortured gurgles followed by bone-chilling silence as the crackling fire began to roar.

  Korin stared at me as the flames consumed Petre, his skin melting like candle wax. I stepped forward, determined to stop him, but Mateo wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me still. His lips came to my ear, whispering so softly that no one could hear him.

  “You may have once been Korin’s favorite, but that was a long time ago. Things have changed, Samira. He will make an example of you if you try to stop him.”

  My eyes darted back to the dining room. Naburus was also there, staring hard at Petre, mentally holding Petre in place. Together, Korin and Naburus slowly killed Petre as we all watched on in horror. The smell of burning flesh made me nauseous, and I bent forward in agony. Mateo held me tighter, forcing me to stand straight. Korin could not see my weakness.

  Just as I straightened, Korin’s eyes flicked to me, showing me that he had taken note of it. He grinned, his eyes glazed over in amusement. Then Naburus’s hold over Petre broke, and Petre writhed and screamed, a wretched noise like a dying animal. I would never forget that sound.

  Korin’s eyes drifted to Petre again, his mouth turned up in a smile, and Mateo stroked my hair, whispering in my ear again.

  “This is a test, specifically set up for you, a way to tempt you to stand up to him. He will cut you down in a second if you try it.” His voice lowered in a snarl. “And then he will kill us both because I will not stand by and let him touch you.” His hand tightened on my side. “We will have our moment, Samira. I swear to you this night that Korin will receive payment for what he has done to us.”

  I turned to him, surprised at the sharpness in his voice, the steel in his golden eyes. Before I could respond, Petre dropped to the floor, a burned stump. Before the flames could spread, Korin swirled his fingers. The motion extinguished the flames.

  Korin stared down at what was left of Petre and a look of sadness came over his face. “I truly am sorry that it came to this.” He bent over, touching him lightly, making a shiver of disgust roll over me. “Move on well into the next world, old friend.” He lifted his head and addressed the rest of us, his face hardening. “Anyone else want to move on?”

  When no one answered, he reached back for Faithe. She hurried into his arms. “Let’s eat then. I’m ravenous.”

  I remained where I was, rooted in my spot with raw terror, as the others filed into the din
ing room reluctantly. Mateo was whispering something in my ear, his hand pressing firmly on my back, but all I could see, hear, and smell were Petre’s terrified cries as he burned alive, the humans hanging from the ceiling, Faithe as she clung to Korin’s arm.

  Korin radiated happiness; he loved to see people fear him.

  His display of power worked. Fear coated my insides, burning brighter and hotter until it became a raging inferno. Korin would die for this. My vision focused.

  Korin was standing in front of me. “I asked you a question.”

  “She’s nervous is all,” Mateo said, covering for me. “Of course she’ll partake of the feast. She may not be a full member anymore, but she will honor our ways, as new as they may be.”

  My eyes slid to his. Partake? What was he saying?

  “Mother.” Faithe rested her hand on my arm.

  The touch brought me fully to the present, and I stared into her eyes. There was something there, something I didn’t expect to see. Fear. Regret. Horror. I blinked.

  “Come join us,” she said.

  I recoiled inside. Had I really been tempted to drink from a human only moments ago? Now, I had no desire to ever touch a human again. I hadn’t drunk from them in over two centuries.

  “Please?” Faithe’s voice held a hint of worry, big enough to draw my attention. If she was compelled, subtle hints would be the only way for her to convey her true feelings. Her large eyes stared into mine, as if begging me to stay.

  Was she asking for my help?

  The thought sparked me into action. Some part of Faithe was still in there. I had to help her get away from this monster. “Yes.”

  I moved to go into the dining room, but Korin stopped me and motioned Faithe and Mateo forward. Mateo looked from him to me, his muscles tightening, but I flickered my eyes to the dining room, telling him to go.

  As soon as they were inside, Korin leaned toward me and whispered his sickening breath into my ear, “Don’t even think about winning the fight against Michael. If you do, I’ll help your precious Faithe move on just like I did Petre. If you defy me, she will die tonight. Do you hear me? Die.”

  Chapter 15

  A painful lump filled my throat as I walked into the dining room, feeling Korin’s cold gaze on my backside. Throw the fight with Michael? The idea made me ill, but the sensation disappeared when I accidentally glanced at the humans hanging from the ceiling. I had no idea how I was going to eat. This went against everything I believed in.

  Michael rose from his seat across the dining room table near the head, where Korin was to sit. “I want you next to me, Samira. Before we fight, we should get to know each other again.”

  The rock in my throat became heavier, but I did as he ordered. This was not the time or the place to fight, not when I’d seen a glimmer of life in Faithe’s eyes. Play the part.

  Michael pulled back a chair, and I lowered next to him. Mateo sat across from me on the right side of Korin. His gaze shifted between Michael and me, his mouth turned down. Faithe sat next to Mateo, her eyes downcast. On the other end of the table, far from me, thank goodness, sat Naburus. Close to him, unfortunately, were Kristina and Teddy. I would’ve far preferred their company, but I was sure I had deliberately been placed away from them.

  Servants hurried through double doors from the kitchen and set plates of warm food in front of us, starting with Korin. Goblets of blood from the humans above us, hanging like grotesque chandeliers, were also served. Most of us remained still, staring at the blood as if it were some foreign, disgusting food.

  A man with blond, slicked back hair and sharp blue eyes took his goblet and drank it down quickly. A few others reached for theirs, as if now given permission to drink. They licked their lips and giggled, asking for more.

  But the majority remained motionless, fear and hate in their eyes. Korin stared down those who did not drink and some shifted uncomfortably under his cold gaze. When it was obvious most had no desire to drink the blood, Korin slammed his fist onto the table, making silverware and plates jump. “Drink.”

  At this command, veiled with deadly threats, everyone grabbed their warm glasses and tentatively began to sip. I reached for the goblet, my fingers slowly curling around it. The pull of warm blood so close, the smell so tantalizing, I couldn’t deny the want that swelled within me. It had been a long time since I’d had fresh human blood. Lately, I had to resort to animal blood as the blood bank I had been using lately was growing low. Probably because of the recent influx of vampires into Rouen.

  Feeling eyes on me, I looked over. Korin held his own glass, swirling the crimson liquid in his hand. He watched me beneath hooded eyes, his gaze honed in on my cup. I lifted it, sweat dotting my brow and, swallowing the lump in my throat, bowed my head slightly and poured the thick blood into my mouth. I closed my eyes to keep from seeing the dead humans above me, but groaned inwardly at the rich, coppery taste as it coated my tongue and throat.

  I had forgotten how good it could taste. So rich, so tantalizing. Like warm summer nights and cool breezes. I glanced at Mateo; it reminded me of him. Of long, passionate lovemaking, or even just talking through the night.

  He had waited for me to drink before taking his own sip, but when he did, he didn’t seem to struggle with it as much as I had. He was still accustomed to drinking from humans, something he didn’t have a problem with. Humans had killed his entire human family when they found out Mateo had been turned into a vampire. Though Mateo may not be deliberately cruel to them, he held no love for them either.

  I tore my eyes away from him, my fingers trembling in anticipation. I wanted more blood, and I hated myself for feeling that way.

  Before I could enjoy it further and to prevent myself for asking for seconds, I turned my attention to the roasted vegetables and smoked lamb on my plate. The taste of it, pale in comparison, replaced the tangy flavor of the blood in my mouth.

  Michael lowered his own cup and turned to me. “How long have you been in Rouen?”

  “Years,” is all I offered. I would not indulge him in pleasantries any more than I had to.

  “How many, to be precise?”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “He searched for you,” Faithe explained. “He sent several vampires all over the world to find you.”

  I looked from her to Michael, shocked. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because Mateo wouldn’t.”

  The realization stung more than I thought it would. After Mateo had rejected me, I thought when I disappeared he might try to find me after our history together, but apparently, it was my ex-lover who had taken the time. A part of me had hoped there was still a spark left between Mateo and me that he would’ve at least tried.

  “It’s none of your concern,” Mateo growled at him.

  I hated them all. “It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been in Rouen.” I gave Michael a cold stare. “I didn’t want to be found.”

  He slid his cold and clammy hand over mine. “But your place is with this coven, even if others think it isn’t. And despite our shaky past, I’m glad you are back.”

  My gaze flickered to Mateo. His expression tightened at the sight of Michael touching me.

  “I’m just visiting,” I clarified and removed my hand out from under Michael’s.

  Korin watched it all, a smile teasing the corners of his mouth as if he knew something the rest of us didn’t.

  “Why this city?” Korin asked, tilting his head.

  Michael’s hand moved to my shoulder where he played with the dress strap between his fingers. I tried to shrug him off casually, but he maintained the intimate contact.

  “Rouen suits me,” I said.

  Korin set his glass down. “Is it because of your roommates?”

  My blood chilled.

  “I find them fascinating. A Morgan witch and an Alpha. Both very powerful. I sense it inside them both. However did you find them?”

  I needed to change the subject and fast. I didn’t want Korin
anywhere near them. “There was an open room. That was all.” I turned to the servant passing behind me. “Could I have more blood, please?”

  He nodded and handed me a nearly full goblet from the middle of the table. The blood flowing from above had slowed.

  “You enjoy human blood?” Korin asked.

  I forced a smile. “It is in my nature, after all.”

  “And soon we will find out if you still have that fierceness I used to crave so much.” Michael’s fingers caressed my shoulder and down my arm beneath the table, then skirt up my upper thigh. My eyes widened at the closeness to an area I never wanted his hands near again.

  Mateo must’ve sensed what had happened because he jumped to his feet, nearly spilling his plate. Before he could cause a further scene, I gripped Michael’s fingers on my leg, raising my eyebrow.

  “I’m certain there are other ways of showing you how fierce I can be.” Then I snapped his fingers back until they popped from their sockets. Flinching, he jerked his hand away and bit the insides of his mouth so harshly, I could smell his blood. I gave him a smile. “But I’m happy to show you in the ring. When do we fight?”

  Michael pulled his hand back, his pained expression turning into a seductive smile. “Soon, pet. And when we do, I’ll remind you how much you enjoy my heavy hand.”

  “Stop,” Korin ordered Mateo. “Let’s enjoy our meal. It’s not time for entertainment.”

  For the next hour, I forced myself to interact with the others, pretending it wasn’t killing me inside to act like nothing was wrong, that I wasn’t dining with a monster beneath humans who had suffered and bled for our benefit. The only good to come out of it at all was my conversation with Faithe.

  She told me all about her life the last three hundred years. Much of it sounded sad to me, but she didn’t bat an eye at her talk of wars or being by Korin's side. She had helped him do things that used to horrify her. There was a moment, however, where we shared laughter. When the old Faithe came out and pure joy radiated from her eyes. It was brief and as soon as Korin’s eyes were on her, a fascinated look on his face, she stopped. However swift, it strengthened my resolve and gave me the courage I’d need to throw the fight with Michael.