by Raine Miller
As Tatiana sat down in a chair across from her, Sasa repeated her words in her head. My Vasilije. Every insecurity from earlier came flooding back, and she had to fight the urge to ask Tatiana exactly how she knew him. And what did she mean by old? How old was he?
“Does he trust you yet? I want him to completely trust you so he senses nothing before I go to him.”
“Not yet. It’s only been a few days. I think he will, though. As you said, he’s old, so that might make him naturally suspicious.” Sasa waited a moment and then asked the question she had to know the answer to. “How old is he anyway?”
Unsure if she’d shown the wrong interest in him, she made her expression as vacant as possible, hoping Tatiana wouldn’t see how much she wanted to know the answer. For a second, it seemed as though Tatiana was suspicious of her question, but as quickly as it came it left and she began to talk freely about what she knew.
“He’s an old one. Has to be over four hundred now. I met him when he was a brand new vampire. What fun he was! More than once we enjoyed a night of feeding. So sensual...the vampire you see now is old and cynical, past his prime, but long ago before he turned to picking up prey in nightclubs, he was the one every vampire in England desired.”
Before she could stop herself, Sasa quietly murmured, “Oh.”
As Tatiana seemed to enjoy a memory of what she’d described, Sasa worked to tamp down the jealousy that threatened to explode out of her. Everything she’d imagined was true. They had been lovers. And by the way Tatiana talked, there had been many others.
“So what have you done to gain his trust, my empath friend?”
God, she hated when she referred to her ability as if that’s all she was! An empath, not a woman. Not a person who was so many other things than someone who could sense the emotions of others.
“I listen to him reminisce about his friend. He does that a lot.”
Tatiana sat back in her chair obviously pleased by Sasa’s report. “You’re a very bright girl, Sasa, to have figured out at such a young age one of the most important things about men. They love it when we listen to them. Very bright. I knew Quiterie wouldn’t steer me wrong. Just be careful, dear. He can still turn on the charm like few others can. You don’t want to find yourself in a compromising position with a vampire like Vasilije.”
“Why? Am I in danger?”
Sasa was sure she wasn’t, but she was curious to hear Tatiana’s opinion.
“Always with vampires there’s danger. I could rip your neck apart in a split second and drain you, if I so chose to right now. Vasilije won’t hesitate to do just that if he finds out you’re spying on him, my dear.”
“Oh. Well, I’ll be careful.”
“And don’t let yourself be seduced into bed with him. We can manipulate humans, especially sexually, and you could find yourself in a very dangerous place if you sleep with him.”
Sasa didn’t hear anything after Tatiana admitted vampires could manipulate humans. It had been some special vampire mojo, after all. She knew she hadn’t begun to fall for him on her own.
Tatiana rose to leave and began to make her way to the door. “And just as important, don’t let him drink from you.”
“Why?”
Sasa regretted asking the question as soon as Tatiana turned around, her expression one of pure suspicion.
“Has he had your blood, Sasa?”
Fighting the impulse to touch the spot where he’d drunk from her, Sasa shook her head. “No. He hasn’t even asked.”
Tatiana smiled her perfect smile. “Dear, he doesn’t need to ask. We can hypnotize you and take what we want.” She stood staring at her for what seemed like minutes and then said, “Let me see your neck.”
Sasa froze in terror as the woman walked toward her and began examining her neck. In her hurry to get home, she hadn’t even looked to see if there was any evidence of what she’d let him do.
Tatiana’s long fingers ran up and down the sides of her neck as Sasa silently prayed to God there were no holes or traces of blood left. Each touch made her shiver in fear, but quickly Tatiana seemed satisfied that he’d not tasted her.
Looking into her eyes, Tatiana smiled as she reminded Sasa of the plan. “Remember, you need him to trust you. Keep his attention on you but no sex or blood.”
“That might be more difficult now. He’s got a new vampire, Jeremy, so he’s got to deal with him.”
Tatiana raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Jeremy? Hmm...interesting. Well, remember what you’re supposed to be doing in exchange for me making your mother better. I’d hate to see her have to go.”
Sasa watched as the vampire turned on her heels and left, her thinly veiled threat still hanging in the air. No matter what she claimed about Vasilije, Sasa was surer than ever which one was more dangerous. Now she had to make sure no one she cared about got hurt while she fulfilled her deal with Tatiana.
CHAPTER 10
Vasilije watched in confusion as Jeremy primped in the bathroom mirror. Liquids of all different types seemed to be of the utmost importance, if the array of bottles lined up on the counter were any indication.
“Jeremy, how much longer will all this take?”
The brand new vampire shot him a look of disgust as he continued to fuss with his hair. “You could learn a thing or two from me. Women love this look. They want a man who takes care of himself. That means skin, hair, the works.”
Vasilije raised an eyebrow as he compared his look and Jeremy’s in the mirror. “Women want a man who spends hours in front of the mirror to look like he just rolled out of bed?”
Undeterred, Jeremy messed the top of his hair. “I’ll tell you what, Vasilije. I bet I could get more women tonight than you could. That dark and mysterious look can’t stand up to what I’ve got going on.”
The idea that Jeremy’s arrogance, ignorance, and overdone metrosexuality could attract anyone amused Vasilije, and he laughed out loud at the reflection in the mirror. “Some other night, Jeremy, I’ll be happy to show you how wrong you are. Tonight, we have work to do, so stop fucking with your hair and meet me outside.”
“Okay. Hey, is that girl coming with us? I was hoping to see her again.”
Possessiveness raced through Vasilije. “Sasa’s mine,” he warned.
Jeremy stopped staring at himself and shifted his gaze to the reflection on his right. “Oh, I just figured she was someone we could share. You know, like a vampire thing, since she seemed to want me last night.”
“Take this as your only warning. Sasa is not a thing or to be shared.”
Jeremy seemed to sulk for a moment but quickly rebounded to finish his hair. “Whatever.”
Tired of watching him, Vasilije turned to leave, hoping he’d get the hint. Checking the time, he made his way outside as he wondered if Sasa would show up. Her note had said she had errands to run and to wait for her. Vasilije looked up at the starry night sky, disgusted that in such a short time he’d allowed not one but two others to dictate his comings and goings.
His time as a vampire had been a solitary one, for the most part. Except for a chosen few, those he sired were kept around only as long as necessary and then let out into the world on their own, called back only when he needed them. Favorites like Brandon and Teagan he preferred to keep close because he liked their company, and the females he tended to keep with him for obvious reasons, but they were never permanent and he liked it that way.
Now he had two new vampires, neither of whom he liked at all, who he looked forward to releasing as soon as possible, and Sasa, a human woman who had somehow become someone who meant something to him. Closing his eyes, Vasilije breathed deeply as he reminisced about ages past, missing the solitude of those days.
He sensed Sasa approach him, smelling the sweet scent of her shampoo as she made her way down the sidewalk. As he opened his eyes, she stopped in front of him and looked up with a quizzical expression on her face.
“What are you doing?”
“Wai
ting for you, pet.”
“Really? You’re standing here waiting for me? How long have you been out here?”
“A few minutes.”
“Did you know I was coming? Is that some kind of vampire superpower you guys have?”
Vasilije smiled. “Superpower? No. And I didn’t know you were coming now, but your note indicated you’d be back. Now all we have to do is wait for Jeremy.”
Sasa’s curious appearance vanished, replaced by a look of pain. “Oh, he’s coming?”
“He has to. He’s too new to be left alone.”
In some tiny spot in his mind, Vasilije was happy to see her unhappiness at the news she had to spend time with Jeremy.
“Any chance he doesn’t remember last night?”
Shaking his head, Vasilije saw what was bothering her. “Don’t worry. I already explained about you to him. I’m his sire, so he won’t be a problem.”
Sasa turned her head but began to speak. “I’m a little embarrassed about that. I can’t believe I did that. Or...”
Vasilije took her chin between his thumb and forefinger to make her face him. “Look at me, love. Or what?”
She slowly opened her eyes and looked up into his. “Or that I let you bite me and drink my blood.”
“Do you wish you hadn’t?”
Sasa sighed. “No, but...Vasilije, do you have some kind of vampire mojo or something that makes me want to do things with you?”
Shaking his head, he chuckled. “No, not unless I hypnotize you.”
“Well, I know you can’t do that, so it must be something else.”
Humming at the thought that she couldn’t be brought under his spell, he considered trying again, nonetheless, but Sasa continued talking.
“I just don’t understand why then.”
“Why what, love?”
“I don’t just jump into bed with men. I mean, I’m not a virgin, but I’ve never been one to sleep with a man so quickly.”
Vasilije couldn’t imagine Teagan waiting very long to sleep with any woman, even Sasa. “I’m sure it’s because I’m a vampire. It probably went the same way with Teagan.”
Sasa shook her head. “No, we knew each other for almost a month.”
“Really?”
As Sasa explained how they met and their first month together, Vasilije considered the possibility that he really didn’t know the man his friend had become in his time in New Orleans. In the hundred years he’d known him, never had Teagan been willing to wait a month to bed a woman. In fact, he’d outdone Vasilije on many occasions when it came to their conquests. True, there had been a few he’d technically courted as more than one-night stands, but even those never took a month.
Perhaps Teagan had truly been in love with Sasa, and despite his cheating, had seen her as the one he’d wanted to sire. That could explain his waiting a month to sleep with her. Or maybe he had an old-fashioned streak in him that only she brought out.
Or perhaps Sasa wasn’t what she claimed to be.
A hand came down on Vasilije’s shoulder and he turned to see Jeremy, all ready for his evening out, standing next to him. “Let’s roll. Where we headed?”
“To the Quarter. The vampires there might have some more information about who killed Teagan.”
Sasa’s face looked like the picture of concern. “The Quarter? Is this going to be like our visit to the Archon? Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
Vasilije studied her closely, more suspicious than he preferred. Now she didn’t want to go hunting Teagan’s killer?
“Don’t worry, love. You’ll be safe. None of those vampires are as old as I am, and Jeremy will help if there’s a problem. I need you to look for the person who did this.”
“Yeah, and no need to worry,” Jeremy chimed in. “Even if Vasilije can’t handle them, I got you, sweetheart.”
Irritated by his new vampire yet once again, Vasilije groaned and began walking. “Let’s go.”
The French Quarter buzzed with activity with people packed tightly against one another. Vasilije watched Jeremy carefully as he snaked his way toward the first place he could get a drink. Sasa held his arm tightly as they weaved through the crowd and followed the younger vampire.
Vasilije saw fear on her face now. Leaning down, he said loudly next to her ear, “You live here. Why do you seem so uncomfortable in the French Quarter?”
Sasa moved her head side to side as she watched the mass of revelers near them. “I don’t like crowds. I feel uncomfortable in them.”
Squeezing his arm tighter, she said, “Is the place we have to go nearby?”
He sensed her discomfort and pulled her toward a spot where the crowd had thinned. Gently, he pushed her back against the wall and looked down at her face. Fuck, she did something to him that made him not only possessive of her but protective too. Whatever it was, it made him want to take her into his arms and kiss away all her fears.
Out of the crowd, he could speak in his normal tone. “Sasa, I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you. I’d sooner stake one like me before seeing you harmed.”
Sasa stared up at him with wide eyes. “Please tell me you put some kind of spell or something on me. Tell me there’s a reason why every time you’re this close to me I want you more than I’ve ever wanted any other man.”
Her words hit him deep inside and made his cock stiffen hard as a rock. The thought of being inside her right then made his mind race with possibilities. Unable to stop himself, he dipped his head down to let his mouth softly touch hers and slid his tongue between her lips.
Sasa arched her body toward his and tugged on his hair passionately. Tiny, whimpering sounds escaped her mouth as she returned his kiss with desire that only aroused him more.
Reluctantly, Vasilije pulled away and cradled Sasa’s face in his hands. “Love, there’s no spell. And as much as I want to be buried inside you up to my balls right now, we can’t. Jeremy can’t be left alone here, and we need to find out who killed one of my vampires.”
“I know and I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
Tracing her lower lip with his thumb, he whispered next to her ear, “There’s nothing wrong with you. When we finish here, I promise to show you just how much effect you have on me.”
He kissed her and took her hand to lead her to where Jeremy had gone. The fear he’d sensed earlier was gone, and by the time they found the younger vampire, she was giving him the run-down of the Quarter’s history.
As they entered the bar, Vasilije spied Jeremy attempting to charm some redhead. Her body language told him he wasn’t interrupting anything serious, and tapping him on the shoulder, he reminded him of why they were there.
“I’m busy. Can’t you do it without me?” Jeremy whined.
Looking past him, Vasilije saw an empty bar stool. “You’re not busy now. Let’s go.”
Jeremy made his usual sulking expression and followed Vasilije and Sasa outside. “Dude, you’re such a cock block. I’m never going to get laid with you around.”
Growling, Vasilije said, “Just follow me and keep your mouth shut.”
The building that housed the French Quarter vampires looked like any other in the Quarter. Two stories with a balcony, it had black painted wrought iron metalwork along the roof, the architectural effect broken up by hanging plants in full bloom. The door on the ground floor was painted a turquoise blue and appeared as festive as everywhere else that surrounded the place.
Vasilije squeezed Sasa’s hand and turned to face her. “Don’t be frightened. They’re just like me.”
Sasa smiled. “Got it. Just follow you and keep my mouth shut.”
Groaning, he turned back to face the door. “That mouth is going to get you in trouble, love.”
“Promises, promises, Vasilije.”
Vasilije drew up the heavy door knocker and banged it against the door twice. He hoped these vampires would be as willing to help as last time. The leader, a vampire named LeClerc, had left a message saying he had
what might be a lead about Teagan’s killer. Maybe he’d found out something more by now.
A tall, bleach blonde female answered the door in nothing but beads and a g-string. Sasa’s hand tightened its grip on his hand and before Jeremy could say anything, Vasilije shot him a look and mouthed, “Keep your mouth shut.”
“We’re here to see LeClerc.”
“Hon, that’s a damn shame. I’ve got beads to give out and you’re just the man I’d like to give ‘em to.”
Before Vasilije could politely decline, the blonde spun on her four inch heels and began leading them to the back of the building. He knew Sasa’s eyes were boring holes through him and as the three of them walked, he turned to see her eyebrows raised in a look that seemed to accuse him of something.
“Something wrong?”
With a big smile, she said, “Seems I’m not the only one you have an effect on.”
Leaning down next to her ear, he said, “I may be reaching here, but I’d guess every man has that effect on her. Even Jeremy wouldn’t strike out with her.”
“Thanks, man. But you’d probably cock block me on her too.”
Vasilije shot Jeremy another threatening look and turned back to see the blonde had led them to the room he’d visited his last time there. LeClerc sat at a table with three other vampires drinking and playing cards. He stood to welcome them, and Vasilije shook his hand.
“Thanks for seeing us.”
“Sit. Can Yvette get you anything?” LeClerc asked referring to the almost naked woman who’d escorted them there.
“No, thanks.”
As he, Sasa, and Jeremy sat on a couch near the table, Vasilije quickly scanned the room, just in case this group of vampires had ideas like the Archon had about humans. Other than the three average sized males who sat with LeClerc and Yvette, two other females sat on another couch at the other end of the room. As of yet, no one seemed to care that Sasa wasn’t like them, but he knew that could change in a flash.
“I’m glad you came. After you left the last time, I put some feelers out to see if anyone knew anything about your man. I got nothing until last night. You know anyone named Jasper?”