The Blood Covenant

by Emily Bex

  Kate hadn’t seen any of the staff living quarters at Castello. She had decorated this building as she would a guesthouse.

  “It is a home, Gi. It’s your home, and Theresa’s, and Reynaldo’s. I hope you’ll be happy here. And feel free to change things to your personal taste. I didn’t know when I was working on it who would be living here. So, shall we keep going? Reynaldo, your room is here.”

  Kate led him to another room that had a very masculine feel. Reynaldo nodded approvingly as he entered the room, taking stock, walking through the bedroom, sitting room, and his private bath, a large smile on his face.

  “I hope you like this. Get some rest, and tomorrow, I’ll show all of you the main house. And Reynaldo, I’ll turn the kitchen over to you. It is quite large and has just been remodeled. But I’m the only one that eats, so I’m not sure how busy you’ll be.”

  “This is perfect, my lady. And don’t worry. At Castello, with master away, there were no events scheduled, so there was no one to cook for. I will look forward to shopping for you and preparing only the best.” He nodded his head as Kate started to think about her waistline.

  Kate turned to Theresa. Like all vampires, Theresa was very tall. She was quite slender but lacked the hard-toned body like Sabine. She wore her brown hair pulled back in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Her face was pleasant, but she wore no make-up, no jewelry. Kate had only seen her wearing her uniform, a black dress and white apron, and the small white cap sitting atop her head. Kate led her to the one room decorated with a feminine touch. These rooms had large windows, letting in lots of light. Kate had used light colors in the sitting room, and a beautiful old iron bed in the bedroom. Theresa seemed delighted with her space.

  “Shade said you were all day-walkers. Theresa, I thought you’d like this room with all the natural light, and a view of the gardens, although there isn’t much growing this time of year.”

  Kate pointed out the fourth room. “This one is Luciano’s. He comes and goes, but you probably know that already. I never know when to expect him, but he’s here sometimes, overseeing the vineyards, and then he leaves for the California vineyards. I think Shade said he still oversees the vineyards in Europe as well. He hires migrant farmworkers, who are mortal, but I think most of the people who actually produce the wine are vampires. He moves people around, so I can’t say I know them very well. You may recognize them, though. There is a patio out back, with a beautiful view of the vineyards and the mountains. So, that’s it. Just make yourself at home. Add what you want. Change what you want. I hope you’ll like it here and let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”

  Gi stepped forward. “My lady, we are here to see if there is anything we can do for you, not the other way around.”

  Kate looked at Gi with his kind face and his white hair, always impeccable in his black waistcoat and bowtie.

  “Well, I’m not used to being waited on, so can we just figure this out as we go? Do you have any personal belongings? No luggage?”

  Gi nodded. “Our personal belongings are being flown over on master’s private jet. They will be arriving tomorrow.”

  “Well then, take your time. Get settled here, get some rest, and explore the grounds. Whenever you’re ready, just come to the main house tomorrow and I’ll give you a tour and we’ll figure everything out.” Kate said her goodbyes to them, and she and Luca walked back to the main house.

  Luca had remained quiet during their tour of the staff quarters. He turned to her as they walked back along the garden path. “That house is quite lavish compared to what they are used to, my lady. You need not worry. They were all honored to be selected to come to Virginia to serve master and his new mate.”

  She gave him a sideways glance. “I hope so, Luca. I know it’s important to Shade they’re here.”

  Luca opened the rear entrance door that led into the back hallway and allowed her to enter. He closed and locked the door behind them, checking the style of lock as he did so. Kate looked at him inspecting the door.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “I will have these changed, my lady. All of the locks will be changed to eliminate keys and will open on fingerprint recognition only. Is there a security system installed? I don’t see anything.”

  Kate shrugged. “Uh, no. You mean like alarms and stuff?”

  Luca smiled. “Yes, my lady. Alarms and stuff. Surveillance cameras. Laser motion detectors. We should have them around the perimeter.”

  Kate smiled to herself. The perimeter? “Yeah, well, you can discuss that with Shade. I’m out of my league here. Do you want to see the house?”

  He nodded and held his arm out for her to lead the way. She headed down the hall back to the front of the house.

  “Right, so let me show you the first floor, we have the living room, or living quarters, as I think Shade calls it. And if you'll follow me?” She felt a bit awkward showing him around, especially since he seemed so quiet. She reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out her phone.

  “Any musical preference, Luca?”

  "No, my lady, whatever you choose will be fine."

  “Okay then, I'm more of a potluck kind of girl. I like to just hit shuffle and listen to whatever comes up.”

  She hits shuffle and The Hollies started singing, “The Air That I Breathe”. She smiled, as she listened to the lyrics and her heart ached for him. “Do you feel me, lover? I am missing you already.”

  “Si, mi amore. I feel you, and I feel what is in your heart. I will be in your bed before you know it.”

  Kate realized she was just standing still, staring at the phone, and listening to Shade in her head as Luca stood by patiently. Jeez, he must think I am a complete ditz. Get moving! She led Luca down the hallway, pointing out the rooms.

  “Okay, here’s the downstairs powder room, and there’s a dining room over here, where we never dine.” She started laughing and noticed that he cracked a smile. “And here is the kitchen, with a personal chef for one.” She was laughing harder, and Luca had started to chuckle. “There’s a sunroom on the back of the house, and there are exits from the living room, sunroom, and your private suite that lead out to the patio and rear gardens.” She led him into a hallway and back to the front of the house to another room.

  “This room is a study for Shade. And then down this hall, you will have your private quarters. Your quarters will be close to Shade’s study. That way when he’s here working, you’ll be close by.”

  She opened the door that led into his suite of rooms.

  “This will be your bedroom. Right now, all we have is the bed, but I’ll get furniture for you. If there’s something in particular you need, just let me know. Over here is your private bathroom, there’s a huge shower stall as you can see. It has multiple showerheads. Shade said as a warrior, you’d appreciate that.”

  She led him out of the bathroom and into a living room. “And this is your sitting room. It’s a pretty large space, so we can modify it to accommodate whatever your needs are. It has a lot of built-in bookcases. Shade said you loved to read, so plenty of room for your books. And the light is really nice in here during the day. Shade explained you were a day-walker. The rest of the house has been modified with electronic blinds that are on timers, and are also sensitive to light, so they automatically close at sunrise and open at sunset, but you can modify the timer to your own needs. You have these French doors that lead out onto the patio. You can come and go as you please when Shade is home. If you smoke, you can slip outside onto the patio...That’s what Shade does. There’s a fireplace on the patio if you like sitting out here at night when the weather is cool.”

  She turned to look at him as she finished showing him his space and he had a slight frown on his face. “Is there a problem, Luca?”

  "No, my lady, this is so much more than what I was expecting. As a warrior, I lived in a barracks with other warriors. I’ve never had my own space. I’m an artist. I love to paint. I may use some of this sitting room
as an art studio. There is more than enough room for it.”

  She was standing in amazement. It was almost beyond her comprehension that he’d never had his own private space. But then, so much about Shade's world was beyond her comprehension. A warrior with an artist’s soul, you don’t see that every day.

  “Do you need to see the upstairs, Luca?”

  "Yes, my lady, I need to be familiar with your surroundings as that is how I will best be able to protect you."

  “Okay then, follow me upstairs, but I need to warn you, the last night we were here...there was an…uh...altercation.”

  "An altercation, my lady?"

  They walked into the master suite with demolished furniture, shattered glass, the broken window, and blood-spattered walls. Luca stepped into the debris field and put one hand on a dagger sheathed at his waist.

  Kate looked around the destruction. “Let's just say one of Shade's ex-girlfriends was less than pleased with his choice for a mate.”

  "Sabine," he said under his breath.

  “You knew her?” Kate asked.

  "Yes, my lady, and we heard rumor of the 'altercation' as you call it."

  “Yeah well, things ended badly for Sabine.”

  "Clearly," he answered.

  “So,” she said and looked at him. “Now you know why you’re here.”

  "Yes, my lady, master has made it very clear, and you have nothing to fear. I will lay down my own life in protecting you."

  Kate kicked at the pieces of broken furniture under her feet. “Wow, that seems really heavy, doesn't it?”

  "Heavy, my lady?"

  “Heavy? Like a big freakin’ deal? I mean, you don't even know me, Luca.”

  "My lady, this is what I have spent my life training for. It is the highest honor to be chosen."

  She looked over at him. “I understand that. I mean, I'm trying to understand that, Luca. This is all just a little overwhelming for me. I'm a mortal girl who fell head over heels in love with a vampire, and not just any vampire. Oh no, I have to fall in love with royalty! At least I have good taste, huh?”

  He smiled and shook his head. Kate continued talking, “I mean three months, Luca. Three months ago, I was a normal mortal girl living in a normal mortal house and I didn't even believe in vampires, and now I'm being teleported all over the world, have houses too big to furnish, and cars I don't know how to drive, some vampire bitch who tried to kill me in the middle of the night, and a protector who calls me ‘my lady’ and has taken a vow to protect my life with his own. That's heavy, Luca. That's the definition of heavy.”

  "I understand, my lady."

  “Really? Because I'm still struggling here. I mean, I love this man. I really love this man, and I have no regrets about my choice to move forward with him. I wouldn’t change anything. But I realize, with every passing day, there’s more that I don't know than what I do know. He’s teaching me, guiding me, but it’s a long road and I have a long way to go. And so much of this...including you, feels unearned.”

  "Then you are just like me, my lady."

  “Just like you? How so?”

  "You were chosen, my lady, by my master, to be his mate. And from what I have observed…if I may speak openly?"

  Kate threw up both hands. “Please! Please speak openly. And don't ask for my permission.”

  "From what I have observed, my lady, your devotion and love for my master is quite evident, as is his for you. The act of choosing makes you deserving, just as I was chosen as your protector."

  “You make it sound so simple, Luca.”

  "Because it is, my lady. I can assure you that my master doesn’t feel you haven’t earned the right to these things and much more."

  “No, you’re right about that. He’d give me the world if it was his to give. And maybe it is.” She laughed as she asked, “He already gave me the stars. Can he give me the world, Luca?”

  "No, my lady, I don't think even master can give you the world, but he can show you all that’s in it,” as he cracked a smile once again.

  “Yes...I’m sure he can. Okay, let's finish up this tour, shall we? Over there used to be walk-in closets, and over there used to be a master bath. Clearly, I won’t sleep in this room tonight. I guess it’s a good thing we were renovating anyway. If you'll come with me, we have many other bedrooms on this floor. I haven’t furnished all of them yet, but I’ll show you where I’ll stay tonight.”

  They stepped over the broken pieces of furniture, leaving the destroyed room, and walked down the hall and into each bedroom. She pointed out the room where she and Shade last slept. "We’ll stay here until the master bedroom is cleaned up. And that’s it. Do you need anything else from me?”

  “Yes, my lady, I need to walk through the entire house again, check all entrances to the facility, as well as scout the outside perimeter."

  “Outside perimeter?” She was laughing again. “You mean the yard, Luca?”

  He laughed. "Yes, my lady, the yard, and all of the property here. Also, master mentioned a bunker?”

  “A bunker? Oh…that room behind the wine cellar. Follow me.”

  She led him down the stairs to the main floor, and down the second flight of stairs into the wine cellar. She went to the door to open it but saw the large black padlock.

  “Oh. I don’t have the key.”

  Luca stepped forward and took the large padlock in his hand and willed it open, pushing the huge oak door inward.

  Kate laughed. “Well, so much for security. Exactly how do you keep out other vampires?”

  “The key is to never let them get close enough, my lady. Nothing keeps them out if they want in. We have laws in our culture, just as you have in yours. Since we can teleport anywhere, it is against our laws to teleport into the home of another vampire uninvited. To do so means certain death as dictated by Council.”

  “So, I guess the whole garlic defense is out then, huh?”

  He laughed as he walked around the room, checking the walls in this windowless space. “I understand garlic is great on Italian food, but it has no impact on us, my lady. I’ve heard when we drink from mortals who’ve eaten garlic we can taste it in their blood. But I haven’t experienced that for myself.”

  Kate was thinking this might be the strangest conversation she’d ever had. “Okay, Luca, you can scout away. I'm feeling rather tired, so I’m going to go to lay down now.”

  She turned and left the bunker and he followed her back up the stairs.

  "Yes, my lady. I’ll remind you I cannot hear your thoughts as clearly as master, but if you call out to me, I’ll hear you." He stopped in the hallway as she headed up the second flight of stairs to the bedroom.

  "Thank you, Luca...and Luca?” He paused and turned to look at her. “Thanks for listening to me.”

  He bowed his head and said, "It is an honor and a privilege, my lady."

  She gave him an exaggerated bow in return. “Yeah, yeah...now get out of here.” He smiled as she turned and continued up the stairs.

  45

  Waking before the sunset, it was still light outside. Shade rolled over to find bel snuggled deep under the blankets, naked, with her crimson waves tangled across the pillow. Kissing her softly on the forehead, he made sure the covers were tucked in around her. Pulling on a pair of jeans, he padded barefoot down to his new office. He loved the heavy leather sofa and chairs and the massive desk she’d placed in this room for him, and he didn’t fail to notice she’d hung the painting he won at the art auction. It made him smile.

  He dug out the boxes that contained the security system for the house, all the cameras and motion detectors, internal monitors as well as the central monitoring station, along with the plans to assemble it. This was the same brand of equipment he‘d installed at the Dead House, and it would be added security for bel. Even with Luca here, he liked the idea of having the house and grounds constantly monitored.

  Reading through the instruction manual, he propped his feet up on the desk and decid
ed he needed to wake Luca, so they could get this installed. No more did the thought cross his mind than he saw him leaning against the stone arch to the study.

  “Luca, did Kate get you settled in last night?”

  “Yes, master, she did. We went through the staff quarters as well as a tour of this house. I’m glad to see the security system. I was going to suggest it, along with a few other measures.”

  “Other measures? What do you have on your mind?”

  “Master, I noticed all the windows have the electronic blinds that close on timers and light sensors, but I’d suggest all the windows be replaced with bulletproof glass. And the standard key locks should be removed and replaced with the locks that use fingerprint technology.”

  “Good idea, Luca. I will have Kate work with the contractors who have been doing the renovations to do both.”

  “My lady showed me the bunker. It’s an excellent location, couldn’t have asked for better. Do you wish for me to start ordering weapons from our Florence inventory, and supplementing where necessary?”

  “Si. I have sent a weapons order for Alec’s warriors as well, such as they are. But if you could start working on a list for here, let me see what you come up with, and then we will get the bunker supplied. Talk with Gi about a conference table and chairs. I don’t want Kate bothered with this part.”

  “Of course, master.”

  “Make sure the electrical is up to code in that room. We will want a security monitor inside, and internet connections, cell connections, so we may need to run some cables.”

  “I will take care of it, master.”

  “Now, come help me install this system, all the feed we get on the monitors is recorded, so it can be played back, and we can hook this up to our cell phones. That way I can check on things here when I am away at night. You will be able to check in as well when you have a night off. I think this will make bel feel safer.”

  “Master, she mentioned an altercation with Sabine.”

  “Si. I was foolish to think I could isolate her here and keep her from being exposed to our world. I left her unguarded. I knew Sabine was in the States. She confronted me in D.C., but I had no idea she would try to attack bel. What I had with Sabine...I am not sure you can even call it love. More like a dark sickness. I thought I had ended that relationship. I had not seen or heard from her since. I had no reason to think she would show up here, which just goes to show you I don’t know when something from my past will play a role in my future, and I cannot let Kate suffer for it. So…Sabine is no more.”