Real Vampires: A Highland Christmas (The Real Vampires series Book 14)

by Gerry Bartlett

  Did he hope the vampire heard and would be warned off? If I’d learned anything in the time we’d been together, it was that vampires were not easily dissuaded once they had their minds set on a course. I kept glancing around us, thinking I saw movement in the shadows. I was terrified that it was Devlin and perhaps scores of his minions bent on taking me away.

  What could the man possibly do to new vampires that would break them? We were supposed to live forever. Yet they didn’t survive Devlin’s torture? I shuddered, my imagination going to places so dark I couldn’t bear them. I finally hid my face against Jeremiah’s strong back and prayed that Devlin would see Jeremiah’s determination and decide I wasn’t worth the trouble.

  I tried to concentrate on the novelty of being up on a horse. We were moving as fast as the wagon could go, the wind in our faces. I had to admit it was glorious. I couldn’t wait to learn to ride on my own. To control a horse and feel its power beneath me. Imagining riding like a lady in a beautiful habit was almost enough to take my mind off the danger lurking around us. Almost. But then I would inhale and there it was. That scent of death and decay. Jeremiah didn’t reek like this vampire did. Neither did Robert. Whoever this Devlin was, he must be really ancient. Because he carried the stench of the grave.

  I could only lean against Jeremiah and pray that the inn was close at hand. Surely we would be safe surrounded by mortals. It would be folly for a vampire to attack then. Besides, soon it would be daylight. No matter how ancient, this Devlin would fall dead just as we would when the sun rose. We would be safe then. I held onto Jeremiah and took comfort in his strong presence and the inevitability of the sunrise.

  4

  The inn was a busy place even in the hour just before dawn. When Bran pulled up in front of it, the ostlers took one look at the shabby caravan and ignored it. Then Jeremiah rode up on his fine horse and we suddenly gained their full attention. Yes, despite his attempt to dress in ordinary clothes, my lover had the look of nobility about him as he dismounted then helped me down. He walked with an air of knowing his rightful place. It didn’t hurt that he tossed a coin to the young boy in the innyard. Then he asked for the landlord and bespoke a room for Maggie and me.

  I wobbled, my legs almost numb. I was not used to sitting astride on a horse or sitting on a horse at all. In the inn, we would have hot water and a place for both of us to lie down for a while. Fergus tenderly helped Maggie out of the back of the caravan. She looked pale and I touched Jeremiah’s sleeve.

  “She does not look well. Can we stay here for the day and night, just to let her rest? It will give you and Robert time to look around. See if you can find Devlin and warn him off.” I saw the innkeeper bustle out of the inn, then frown at the wagon. “I would love a bath.”

  “It is not a bad idea. Here comes MacDonald now. One day’s delay will not upset my plans. Let me talk to him. Go on in. I will deal with the innkeeper.” He pulled a gold coin from his waistcoat and approached the man.

  I took Maggie’s arm and helped her inside. “Fergus, fetch our bags, if you please. We will stay here a while so Maggie may rest. The wagon’s motion is making her ill.”

  “Are you sure we can stay?” Fergus looked back at Jeremiah. When his master nodded, he climbed into the wagon. “Thank you. Let us bespeak two rooms then. We will sort out who sleeps where in due time. If it pleases the master, we can always leave at sunset to continue our journey.” He emerged from the caravan with two bags and jumped to the ground.

  “It’s arranged. A bath for my lady as well.” Jeremiah took my arm and escorted me to the door of what looked to be a prosperous place. “Supper in our chambers. The innkeeper assures me he serves a fine roast beef.” We were all aware of listening ears. He was being wise. No one would know who would actually eat and who would not.

  “Gloriana, MacDonald and I will leave you in Fergus’s hands. Bran will stay with you.” Jeremiah kissed my cheek. “We will be back as soon as we can. The innkeeper knows that we travelled through the night and will not disturb your rest this day.”

  “Be careful.” I clutched his sleeve. “If you do something reckless, where will that leave me?” I hated being a burden to him but had never meant anything more. I was a new vampire in a world of mortals. I barely knew how to go on. Yes, he’d taught me to hunt but I hated it. Hated what I had to do to innocent mortals to live. Without Jeremiah, I was merely a monster who would roam the earth looking for prey. At least by his side I had someone who loved the new me and a reason for being what I was. Without him? It didn’t bear thinking of.

  “Such dark thoughts.” He pulled me to him, seeming not to care that the people in the crowded tap room watched us. “I am always careful, my love. As you know. You are my responsibility. If something should happen to me, God forbid, Fergus will take you on to Castle Campbell. I have written a letter which Fergus carries.” He nodded at the shifter. “My family will take you in. So you see? You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Nothing except your safety.” I patted his chest. Did he really think his family would welcome a woman he’d found in an alley with open arms. I forced a reassuring smile. “I know you are a fine swordsman but have a care. What you’ve told me of this Devlin does not relieve me of my worries.”

  Jeremiah kissed my forehead then let me go. “I won’t take chances, knowing you are waiting for me. Now relax, have a bath and get ready for sunset. It is only an hour away, so I will not be long. If I’m not back by sunrise, rest assured, MacDonald and I will have found a safe place to bed down.” He stared into my eyes. “Do you believe me?”

  I was horrified that he’d even mentioned not returning before daylight. But I swallowed and gave him another of what must have passed for a smile. “Of course. You are more than up to the task of ferreting out some disgusting brigand. Go and hurry back.” I ran a finger down his chest where his linen shirt lay open. “I will be fresh from my bath and waiting.” I turned and followed a waiting maid up the stairs, Maggie behind me.

  By the time I stood in front of the door where we would sleep, I was shaking. I had never spent a day since I’d been turned vampire without Jeremiah by my side. I could only pray he made it back to me. To fall dead without him? I couldn’t imagine it.

  Maggie patted my back. “Go on in, dearie. Your man was generous with his coin. I’m assured it is the best room in the inn.” She reached around me and opened the door. “Oh, look! It is a fine big room with a fire already going.”

  “I’ll bring up the water for the bath right away, missus.” The servant curtsied and hurried away.

  Maggie settled in front of the fire. “How do you like that? We are called missus and being waited on. I could stay here forever.” She sighed and reached down to take off her shoes. It wasn’t easy since her feet were swollen.

  “Jeremiah did arrange for us to stay the day. You can sleep on a pallet in front of the fire if it won’t upset you to be in the same room with, um, us.” I knew she must have looked in at us when we died at sunrise.

  “We have two rooms. The men will take turns guarding this room with your kind in it.” Maggie flushed. “I’ll be more than happy to stay in the other room with my feet up. Not that I mean any disrespect …”

  “I understand.” And I did. Who would want to sleep in the same room with a corpse? Before I had been turned I’d seen Jeremiah during the day and had wanted to shriek at the sight of him lying dead, unmoving and cold. That was when vampires were truly monsters. Well, no, the fangs were worse and seeing us drink blood. I realized Maggie stared at me. Was she afraid I thirsted even now for her blood?

  I turned my back to her. Of course I did! It called to me, rich and nourishing for the babe inside her. I stared out the window, ashamed. I would never drink from my good friend and certainly not now, while she was breeding. I wasn’t starving at the moment but if I did hunger, there was the maid who would bring in the water for the bath. It might be best to use her, to keep me from becoming out of control as it got closer to sunris
e. God, but I truly was a monster.

  “You are safe from me, Maggie.” I faced her, my fangs under control as I said it.

  “I know that, Gloriana. But I am here if you get desperate. I would hope it wouldn’t harm the babe, though.” Maggie sighed then stared into the fire. She was trying to be kind by not saying what she really felt. She was loyal to me for getting her out of the Globe Theater. I’d introduced her to a man who loved her and who had given her a child when she’d lost all hope of having one. She and Fergus would be married once we got to Scotland. It was her dream come true. She might despise what I’d become, but she would serve me for as long as I asked it of her because of what I’d brought into her life.

  Her offer brought tears to my eyes. “As those Scots say, ‘Don’t fash yourself,’ Maggie. We will stay here until tonight at sunset. Rest and eat whatever you can stomach. I would drink from a sheep before I would risk harming you or your child.” I pressed a hand to my own middle as she chuckled and wiped a tear from her cheek.

  “Thank you, Gloriana. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”

  I had nothing to say to that. Introducing her to a shapeshifter and the vampire world was hardly an act of friendship. I only hoped she didn’t come to regret it. The knock on the door meant someone had arrived. I opened the door to a burly man with a hip bath. He set it down, doffed his cap then left. I certainly wouldn’t use him for a blood source. He stank of sweat and the stables. Yes, it would have to be the chambermaid. She was clean enough and would be back soon with hot water.

  “I think I will go to our room. Unless you need me, Gloriana?” Maggie got up with a groan. She picked up her shoes. “They should be bringing up supper soon for the rest of us. I think we are next door.”

  “Yes, go.” I answered a timid knock. It was the chambermaid again. We quickly found out that Maggie’s room was across the hall.

  Then the girl brought in the first buckets of water. “I’ll be right back with two more, Madame.” She smiled and hurried out.

  I decided then and there that, as soon as she came back, I would have to use her. I hated to take advantage of such a kind young thing, but what choice did I have? At least she was plump and obviously well fed. When she came back I gave her a coin then asked her to help me undress. She chattered about her lad, the one she was to marry.

  It was a relief to find out that, despite her young face, she was almost twenty and known for her strong back and good health. I told myself the extra coin I’d give her would help with her wedding as I stared into her eyes before I took the vein in her wrist. I remembered to count, careful not to take too much. The blood was fine, tasty and clean. It helped to know she felt no pain and wouldn’t remember a thing.

  With a sigh I closed the wound, leaving no sign that my fangs had touched her. I reminded her to come back later for the dirty water as I put extra coins in her hand. I sank into the warm water and washed thoroughly. Sunrise dragged at me as I hurried. I needed to be fully dressed again before Jeremiah and Robert got back and the sun rose. I couldn’t let Robert catch me in the bath or Jeremiah would draw his sword. Heavy draperies hung at the windows and I closed them carefully. Not a single ray of sunlight could creep into the room.

  The maid and the man came to empty the tub and take it away. I told her to serve supper in the other room and pretended that I would join the rest of our group there. As soon as the servants left, I hurried to the window and peeked out. No sign of Jeremiah or Robert, but I could see a glow on the horizon. I wasn’t surprised since my eyelids were growing heavy. I shut the drape again and crawled into bed. I couldn’t lock the door or the windows in case the men shifted and rushed in at the last moment before the sun rose. Thank the gods Fergus or Bran would be sitting in the hall, guarding me.

  I pulled the covers up to my chin. The bed felt very empty without Jeremiah beside me. I could only pray he and Robert were safe somewhere, hidden well away from sunlight. One stray beam and… I shuddered. Jeremiah had assured me he knew what to do. He had hundreds of years of experience staying safe during the day. He’d even told me tales of burying himself in the ground if caught without adequate shelter. I couldn’t imagine such desperation. I had a prayer on my lips when all went dark.

  I woke with a start, just as I always did, and reached for Jeremiah. It took me a moment to remember why I was alone. Of course. He hadn’t come home at sunrise. Then I sat up and looked around. Not the cozy room in the inn. There was no glow of fire in the fireplace and the air was so cold that I could see my breath. Where was I?

  The large room where I lay in a massive bed was made of stone and had no windows. The only other furnishing was a small stand with a bowl and pitcher. A canopy of black velvet loomed over my head.

  Move. I was beside the bed in a moment, my bare feet hitting the icy floor. Looking down, I realized I no longer wore the dress I’d donned before I went to bed. Instead I had on a sheer nightrail. Gods! What had happened to me? I would never have wanted Robert MacKenzie to wake and see me in such garb.

  “You are up, I see. My men have done well.” The deep voice came out of the shadows. “You are lovely.”

  “Where am I? How did I come here?” I grasped a heavy coverlet and jerked it off the bed, pulling it up to my chin. I’d been moved during my death sleep. Someone had touched me, picked me up and carried me away from the inn. The miracle was that I hadn’t been staked or laid out in the sun to die. I had somehow survived a vampire’s worst nightmare. I gathered my scattered thoughts.

  “Where are my clothes?”

  “You won’t need them.” The man laughed, a low growl of amusement that made me look for a weapon. “Shall I have those covers ripped from the bed as well, leaving you to sleep on a bare mattress? Not that a vampire cares where he dies during the day. Drop that. I want to see you.”

  I gripped the cover even more firmly. Then I inhaled. My stomach turned at the reek of an ancient vampire. “Devlin?”

  “Ah, you’ve heard of me. Lies told by Campbell, no doubt. He and I have met before. It was not a pleasant outing. But rest assured, I can be kind as well as cruel, my dear. It all depends upon you.” He stepped further into the room, a brace of candles in his hand. The light showed me a man with a beauty that made me gasp. This man certainly didn’t look ancient. But then vampires didn’t age in looks, did they?

  He had dark eyes, glossy black hair that fell to his shoulders and a full, sensual mouth surrounded by a black mustache and a carefully trimmed beard. He smiled at me so I could appreciate some of the longest fangs I’d ever beheld. In the King’s court, women would be swooning over him. But then they wouldn’t recognize the scent of death that made my stomach turn and my heart stop.

  “How did I get here?” I couldn’t just stand beside that bed, shaking and waiting for him to pounce on me. He kept coming closer until I could see that his black velvet breeches bulged with an eagerness to bed me. I wound the heavy coverlet around so I was covered from my toes to my shoulders and put the table between us. I reached for the pitcher, ready to toss it at his head if he tried to touch me. Not that such a paltry weapon would stop him. Oh, Gods!

  “Did you think I might be able to brave the sun?” He laughed. “If only it were so. But I have minions who will do my bidding. If they don’t, they know their lives are worth nothing.” He lost his smile. “I demand obedience from those who serve me. Never doubt it. You are the latest who will join my household.”

  “I would rather clean privies for the poor than serve you.” I spit on the floor. Foolish, I know, but I hated that he’d had me delivered here against my will. Jeremiah had said this man liked to break new vampires. My imagination and my terror made me reckless.

  “You are very easy to read. Foolish, reckless. I can break you of those bad habits. I will enjoy it, the breaking. You will not.” He was suddenly mere inches from me. He set the candles on the table, grasped the pitcher, flinging it aside so that it shattered when it hit the stone floor. Of course he could read m
y mind. It was another hated vampire talent that I hadn’t mastered.

  “Wouldn’t you rather have a willing woman?” I hit the cold stone wall as I backed away from him. I was trapped. “Fetch another female who won’t mind doing anything for your gold. My heart belongs to another. I will not betray him.”

  He laughed. “What would be the fun in playing with a willing woman?” He looked me over. “You are mine now. Resign yourself. I will use you any way I wish. What do I care where you give your heart? It is your body and your blood that interests me.” He inhaled and closed his eyes for a moment. “Especially your blood. It is different. Unusual. And promises to be delicious.”

  I had expected that. Vampires are all about the blood. My heart pounded as I eased along the wall, trying to get away from him. He hadn’t touched me yet. That was something.

  “I am not yours.” My brave words were belied by the way my hands shook as I held that coverlet in front of me. “You want my blood? Take my wrist. I fed before I died. I can spare some.”

  He laughed. “Your wrist?” He jerked at the coverlet until it hit the stone floor. Next he ripped my flimsy nightrail down the center then flung it aside. “Too, um, unfriendly.”

  “Beast!” I shuddered while he looked me over with a grin. I desperately tried to cover myself with my hands but it only made me feel foolish. I finally straightened, giving up the effort.

  “Tell me your name.” It was a command I couldn’t disobey.

  “Gloriana.”

  “Ah, what the English used to call their beloved Queen Bess.” He leaned in until his cool breath brushed my throat. “I like it. You will be my queen and a tasty morsel indeed. Campbell has made an excellent choice.”

  “Please. He is my sire. You must let me go back to him.” I was horribly aware that I was naked as I thrust an elbow into his chest, trying desperately to hold him back.

  “What if he is truly dead and cannot recover?” He slid his cold hands down to grip my arms. His thumbnails were long, ripped my flesh and made me bleed. His nose quivered, taking my scent.