by Unknown
When they entered the space, everyone watched her. The male vampyres, who headed the societies, checked her out, wondering if they could take her. The females eyed her men as if they were prizes to be won.
Yeah, this was going to suck.
The vampyres here wanted a hard core game. Boy, were they in for a surprise. She was old school hierarchy, and she’d show them how they did it centuries ago, long before they were even born.
There would be blood tonight.
“Mistress Jolie?” asked a man, heading toward them. His face was neutral, as he assessed the situation.
“Oui,” she answered, tipping her head in greeting.
“We’ve been waiting for you. Please be welcomed to our council. I’m Master Morris Visigoth.”
“Greetings, Master Morris. Please know that it’s our pleasure to be here. May I introduce my mates?”
There was a collective gasp.
Brogan was almost part of that group. Hearing her refer to him as a mate caught him off guard.
God, how he wished that was true.
Jolie got the response she wanted. Since most of the vampyres there were surprised, that gave her a way to gauge their ages. The older dead, like herself, had been known to take humans and vampyres as mates. The young only took humans.
Now, Jolie knew what she was up against. With the exception of the master before her, the undead here were younger than her.
She had the advantage. Immediately, her plan was set into motion.
“Yes, this is Jacques Degaul,” she began, “and this is Flynn Brogan. We appreciate you inviting us here.”
Once she finished saying their names, it was hard not to notice that Master Morris was eyeing up Jacques. Jolie could almost picture him licking his lips as he checked out her love. Right there, she wanted beat him to death.
“I have to say, it’s surprising to know you have two mates. From what we learned about you, there was only one.”
When he motioned to Flynn, the likely choice since he was the human, Jolie learned even more.
This council wasn’t that powerful.
If it were, they would have known that Jacques had been with her for centuries. They either didn't do their research, or whoever did was an idiot.
“Most choose only a human mate, and that is all.”
“I like to live dangerously. Now, shall we get down to business? I’m afraid we’re a little busy. My mate, Flynn, is a detective and has work in the morning.
There was another gasp.
Yeah, she was playing them well. No vampyre liked a cop. Now, not only were they wary of her, but now him too. To tangle with the police meant one thing.
An investigation.
That one sentence alone bought Flynn some protection. While a vampyre might make one of their own disappear into another society, a police officer who went missing would be noticed.
“I see,” stated Master Morris.
Jolie turned to the council, preparing to do her job. “Thank you for your kind invitation to join you this evening,” she said, nodding to the head of each family.
As Jolie was introduced, she kept her mind firmly blocked. When someone tried to access her memories, they were in for a shock.
At the next introduction, Jolie felt the telltale tickle of an unwanted vampyre trying to read her. There was no question who was trying to get into her head. Glancing over, her eyes locked with one of the women on the council.
The wicked grin said it all.
Jolie suspected this would happen, so they were prepared. Jacques was already securing her memories. What Mistress Delina wanted, and what she was going to get, were two different things. They gave her a peek at some false, pre-chosen memories.
This was her leverage.
As soon as the woman withdrew, Jolie knew the truth. The bitch was crazy, and she was going to take her one shot at glory and Jolie’s men.
“Now that the pleasantries are over, Mistress Jolie, we must discuss you entering our city without permission. In fact, we just found out about you being here. Why is that?”
Jolie told him of her forced removal from the council in Philadelphia. It all stemmed from retaliation against a fellow vampyre who snuck into her home and attempted to kill them all while they slept.
Master Morris stared at her. “You killed one of our own?”
Jolie’s laughter surrounded them all. Then, as quickly as it came, it was gone. “Yes, and I’ll do it again.”
Quite a few of the vampyres looked uncomfortable.
“I protect what is mine.”
Throwing that out, secured the men a little more. The vampyres there, who were skeptical of their ability to best her, would now leave them alone.
“How did they not succeed?” asked Mistress Delina curiously.
This was where she had to tread carefully.
“My human mate was awake and able to save us.” Jolie could feel the woman’s excitement at owning two such male specimens. Jolie stayed firmly in her mind, unnoticed. She planned on challenging her for the men. Delina had yet to choose a mate and was intrigued by both Jacques and Flynn.
Yeah, this was the last thing she wanted.
Jolie saw the horrific tortures that they would be forced to endure at her hands. Delina liked it rough.
Real rough.
While Jacques would survive the sick punishment because he was immortal, Brogan would not. He was easier to kill than their kind.
In that moment, Jolie knew that they had a big problem. No outmaneuvering would work. Delina was a true sadist.
No, make that a sociopath.
Master Nathaniel took over for Master Morris. “We can offer you a new society, but you must be willing to earn it,” he added, looking around the group. “Are there any challengers who wish to face Mistress Jolie for her right to our society? Are there any here who protest her admission to our clan?”
No one stood at first, and finally Delina made her move.
“I’ll willingly take the challenge,” she offered, eyeing up her potential prizes.
Jolie wasn’t fazed in the least. In her past, they’d fought meaner, faster, and more brutal killers. Before, she didn't have anything to lose. Now, she did. That meant the fight would be even more important.
To Jolie, this woman was a joke.
Analyzing the enemy, she needed to learn everything about her as quickly as possible. Delina was about Jolie’s height with flame red hair and black piercing eyes. She looked hungrily at the men, and Jolie could see the brutality she planned for them. If anything, Jolie wouldn’t let the woman near them.
Those fantasies would never happen.
She saw the daggers sheathed at her sides. Okay, so this was going to be a knife fight. Good to know. Jolie had been taught by the best to fight hand to hand. Glancing over at Jacques, he nodded regally. Immediately, her mind was flooded with so much information. The woman was right handed, and her hair hung to the left side, offering Jolie a blind spot.
“Thank you,” she whispered into his mind.
“What do you ask for your prize, should you win?” asked one of the members in the crowd.
“Yes, choose your reward,” Master Malachi added.
Delina didn't hesitate. “I ask for ownership of her mates and control of her surviving family.” There was a gasp in the circle.
There was no doubt what that meant.
“Delina! That’s a fight to the death. Are you serious about this?” asked Master Nathaniel in surprise.
“Oh yes, I am.” This time she did lick her lips and fangs. There was no question that she was going to win those two men.
“Mistress Jolie, do you accept this challenge?” asked Master Morris, looking warily at his friend Master Nathaniel.
This wasn’t what they had discussed. They had instructed the council to make her work for it. Not make her fight for her life. This little wrench in the works was going to be a problem. Their strong hold in New Orleans needed more members, not less.
“On
one condition, Master Morris,” she said. “I wish to choose my prize if I win.”
“Yes, that’s your right.”
“She wants something precious to me, and I ask the same. I want her position in the society, and I want protection for my own.”
There was another gasp from the onlookers.
Delina didn't hesitate as she glared at Jolie. “Agreed!”
Master Nathaniel sighed. “You may proceed, but no outside help. Do I need to remind you that you may only use the weapons on you right now?”
Both nodded.
He raised his hands and four guardians stepped into the circle. They menacingly headed toward Jacques and Brogan, ready to bid their master’s will.
Flynn tensed and Jacques reached for his mind. “It’s okay, mon ami. They want to just move us out of the way and secure us, so we can’t interfere.”
Brogan relaxed at his words.
“She’s got this. Delina is half her age. She’ll defeat her, and we’re good.”
Now, he was calm.
Jolie didn't take her eyes off the men in her life until she knew they were safe. While she didn't believe the men in charge of this council were evil, Jolie didn't trust new people.
When Jacques nodded and Brogan winked, Jolie knew they were not feeling threatened.
Now, it was time to take care of business.
Delina stepped into the circle to face down her adversary. She whispered under her breath to her, “I will make them scream for me for hours, especially the human. I wonder how much pain he can take while in my bed.”
“You’ll never know,” she replied easily.
Jolie slipped out of her jacket, tossing it to the closest society member as she tried to remain calm. It wasn’t easy. At that moment, she regretted that Flynn and she had yet to consummate their relationship. The last thing she would let happen would be this woman being his first vampyre.
She was going to fill that role.
Oh, and be his last.
“Before you concern yourself with them, Delina, you’ll scream for me,” reassured Jolie, as she backed away from her.
“I hope you’re stronger than you look.”
“Try me, Delina. I might surprise you.”
They started circling. Jolie measured her enemy, and didn't flinch when Delina’s claws came out. In fact, she allowed the woman the first strike. After all, it wouldn’t kill her. As Delina raked her claws down Jolie’s face and chest, tearing through the leather, Jolie was ready for the pain. As the scent of blood filled the air, both men in her life called to her mentally, makings sure she was okay.
As she faced them, the wounds healed, proving there was no damage done. Both men relaxed when she grinned, white fangs peeking from behind ruby lips.
“Face me, Jolie, and fight!”
Jolie prepared to go to war, but first, she’d have some fun. “Delina, you asked for a fight, but all you did was tear my clothes. I’ve news for you. That’s not a fight,” she said, stalking toward Delina. “This is a fight.” Anger pumped through her as she reached the vampyre, slamming her fist into her nose.
Delina howled in pain. Everyone around them visibly flinched at the audible crunching of bone.
When she dropped to the ground, blood pouring from her nose before it could heal, there was so much satisfaction. “That’s for thinking you’ll be touching my mates, especially my human.”
“You’ll pay for that.”
“That had to hurt like a bitch,” stated Jolie, stepping back. She watched Delina’s eyes flicker toward Jacques and Flynn, as she reached for her daggers. There was no mistake what her plans were.
She was going for Jolie’s heart, by way of her mates.
Well, this was going to hurt. They were silver and she was going to have to take the body shot of both daggers, or risk Delina striking the men.
Delina whipped them right at Flynn and Jacques, giving Jolie only seconds to react. Instinctually, she dove in front of them, her breath stolen as both daggers hit their mark. One sliced into her chest, and the other into her arm. “Son of a bitch,” she hissed when the burning started to spread.
They weren’t plain old silver. If they were, she wouldn’t feel this kind of distress.
“How does that feel, Jolie? I bet that hurts, A LOT,” Delina sneered, winking at Jacques and blowing Brogan a kiss. “Hey you, the one with the blue eyes,” she called. “Yeah, you,” she said, pointing at Flynn. “Be ready to have me show you what sex with a vampyre is really like.”
That pissed Jolie off.
Reaching behind her back, she pulled the nine millimeter from her pants. When she whistled, Delina turned. Silver to the heart could kill them, only because is slowed down the healing. Now, to some other part of her body, Delina would be feeling the pain.
“You want some more, Jolie?” Delina asked, turning.
It was the ‘pop-pop -pop’ that had everyone jumping. Jolie got to her feet as Delina stared down at her bloody hands over her stomach.
“The knives hurt, but not as much as a gut full of silver,” she said, glancing down at the two daggers protruding from her body.
Delina screamed as she oozed blood.
Jolie knew the woman wouldn’t die from the wounds. Already, the silver was pushing its way from her body. Well, at least it bought her some time. The poison, which the daggers were tainted with, was spreading through her body.
She was going to die.
Delina wasn’t worried. Pain didn't faze her. In fact, she loved it. Now, she wanted Jolie’s mates more than ever. “I’m going to let my guardian hold your mates down and use them until they beg for death!”
Jolie didn't doubt it.
“Let’s finish this!” Delina bellowed, as she raised her hand. Energy slammed into Jolie, and she slid across the ground, stopping at Jacques and Brogan’s knees.
“How am I doing?” she asked, spitting blood onto the grass before wiping the stream coming from her nose.
“End it, Jolie! You’re losing too much blood,” answered Jacques, eyeing the wounds dripping around the daggers.
They weren’t healing.
He knew what that meant.
“Go get her, tiger,” said Brogan. “It’s time for the kill shot, love.”
Jolie slowly stood her arm and chest burning like fire. “I have to end this now, Delina. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been fun, but I have to get home and spend time with MY mates.”
“Go ahead,” she said, taunting Jolie. “Try and save your pets. I can taste them already. Mmmmm… especially the human one. I will feed what is left of him to the hounds.”
It was all Jolie could take.
It was time to kill this bitch.
No one was hurting her Flynn.
Jolie put out her hand, focusing on Delina as all the energy that remained in her body crashed into the vampyre. The woman dropped to her knees, screaming in pain. There were collective gasps from the crowd as the victor had been decided.
“Die, Delina,” Jolie said, going to her knees. She watched as Delina’s flesh started to bubble and peel away from her body like burnt paper.
Yeah, it gave her great satisfaction.
The vampyre screamed in horrible pain.
“I told you that you’d scream for me,” she stated.
Almost all of the council members covered their mouths in horror, while the rest looked on in awe at the power and destruction. The air smelled like burning skin and hair.
It was vile.
It was well deserved.
Jolie crawled to the dying woman. “Lesson one, Delina. Don’t threaten what someone values most.” She flicked her wrists, causing the silver knives to slip from the dragon ornamentation.
Everyone stared.
“Lesson two is don’t underestimate your opponent.” She raised the blades, and then drove them into Delina’s heart, ripping it to shreds.
It was her end, and it was excruciating.
They all watched as what was left of the
woman bubbled in front of them.
Jolie looked up at the council.
“Who’s next?”
God, she hoped no one raised their hand.
At that moment, her body was on fire, and she was ready to pass out from the pain. If someone else challenged her, Jolie was screwed.
Everyone looked down at the smoking pile of ash, and no one said a word.
The silence spoke volumes.
“I do believe that you’ve won this challenge, Mistress Jolie. Delina’s seat and standing are now yours.” Morris walked toward Jolie with his hand out to pull her to her feet.
At that moment, she didn't think she could get up on her own, so she willingly took it.
“May I ask you a question?” he inquired.
“Yes.”
“How old are you? You must be an ancient to have that kind of power available to you.”
“How old did I feel when you and the countless others first slipped into my mind?” she asked, looking around the room. “Delina was three hundred correct?”
“I thought you to be around her age. I was very wrong, wasn’t I?” He smiled.
“I’m over eight hundred.”
There were gasps.
“Which brings us to lesson number three. Don’t read people’s thoughts when they can feel you doing it.” Jolie smiled sweetly.
Master Morris threw back his head and roared with laughter. “Welcome, Mistress Jolie and mates.” He waved his hand signaling Jacques and Brogan to her side. “Please take her home and help her heal. Jolie Harcourte is definitely a treasure to this society.”
Jacques was to her first, swinging her up into his arms, cautious of the silver knives. “Come on, mon amour. We need to get you home.” He started through the gawking vampyres who were curiously watching Jolie.
Brogan went to retrieve his gun, and as he reached for it someone approached him. When he glanced up, he was surprised to see his partner.
“I know, Flynn! I felt the same thing when I saw you,” she said, grinning.
“What are you doing here?” Brogan asked, glancing over at Jacques heading to the H2.
“Malachi is my mate. I suspected something when I saw Jolie, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it,” she admitted, “until just now.”
“Yeah, well I have to go. We’ll have to discuss this later.”
