by Emily Bex
Kate points 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 is 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 farm workers, 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 will like it here and let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”
Gi steps forward. “My lady, we are here to see if there is anything we can do for you, not the other way around.”
Kate looks at Gi with his kind face and his white hair, always impeccable in his black waist coat 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 nods, “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 are ready, just come to the main house tomorrow and I will give you a tour and we’ll figure everything out.” Kate says her goodbyes to them, and she and Luca walk back to the main house.
***
Luca has remained quiet during their tour of the staff quarters. He turns to her as they walk 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 gives him a sideways glance. “I hope so, Luca. I know it is important to Shade they are here.”
Luca opens the rear entrance door that leads into the back hallway and allows her to enter. He closes and locks the door behind them, checking the style of lock as he does so. Kate looks 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 shrugs, “Uh, no. You mean like alarms and stuff?”
Luca smiles, “Yes, my lady. Alarms and stuff. Surveillance cameras. Laser motion detectors. We should have them around the perimeter.”
Kate smiles 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 nods and holds his arm out for her to lead the way. She heads 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 feels a bit awkward showing him around, especially since he seems so quiet. She reaches into her jeans pocket and pulls out her iPod.
“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 start singing “The Air that I Breathe”. She smiles, as she listens to the lyrics and her heart aches 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 realizes she is just standing still, staring at the iPod, and listening to Shade in her head as Luca stands by patiently. Jeez, he must think I am a complete ditz. Get moving! She leads Luca down the hallway, pointing out the rooms.
“Okay, here’s the downstairs powder room, and there is a dining room over here, where we never dine.” She starts laughing and notices that he cracks a smile. “And here is the kitchen, with a personal chef for one.” She is laughing harder, and Luca has started to chuckle. “There is 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 leads 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 opens the door that leads into his suite of rooms.
“This will be your bedroom. Right now, all we have is the bed, but I will get furniture for you. If there is something in particular you want or need, just let me know. Over here is your private bathroom, there is a huge shower stall as you can see. It has multiple showerheads. Shade said as a warrior you would appreciate that.”
She leads 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 is what Shade does. There is a fireplace on the patio, if you like sitting out here at night when the weather is cool.”
She turns to look at him as she finishes up showing him his space and he has 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 in training, I lived in a barracks with other warriors. I have never had my own personal space. I am 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 is standing in amazement. It is almost beyond her comprehension that he has never had his own private space. But then, so much about Shade's world is 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 walk into the master suite with demolished furniture, shattered glass, the broken window and blood-spattered walls. Luca steps into the debris field and puts one hand on a dagger sheathed at his waist.
Kate looks 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 says under his breath.
“You knew her?” Kate asks.
"Yes, my lady, and we heard rumor of the 'altercation' as you call it."
“Yeah well, things ended badly for Sabine.”
"Clearly", he answers.
“So,” she looks 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 kicks 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 looks 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 smiles and shakes his head. Kate continues 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 is more that I don't know than what I do know. He is teaching me, guiding me, but it is 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, my lady?"
Kate throws 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, my lady, 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 does not feel you have not earned the right to these things and much more."
“No, you are right about that. He would give me the world if it was his to give. And maybe it is.” She laughs as she asks, “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 is in it,” as he cracks 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 will not sleep in this room tonight. I guess it’s a good thing we were renovating anyway. If you'll come with me, Luca, we have many other bedrooms on this floor. I have not furnished all of them yet, but I will show you where I will stay tonight.”
They step over the broken pieces of furniture, leave the destroyed room, and walk down the hall and into each bedroom. She points out the room where she and Shade last slept. "I will stay here for tonight, and for as many nights as I need to get that master bedroom cleaned up. And that is 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 is laughing again, “You mean the yard, Luca?”
He laughs, "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 leads him down the stairs to the main floor, and down the second flight of stairs into the below ground wine cellar. She goes to the door to open it but sees the large black padlock.
“Oh. I don’t have the key.”
Luca steps forward and takes the large padlock in his hand and wills it open, pushing the huge oak door inward.
Kate laughs, “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”
“So, I guess the whole garlic defense is out then, huh?”
He laughs as he walks 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 have heard when we drink from mortals who have eaten garlic, we can taste it in their blood. But I have not experienced that for myself.”
Kate is thinking this might be the strangest conversation she has ever had.
“Okay, Luca, you can scout away. I'm feeling rather tired, so I’m going to go to lay down now.”
She turns and leaves the bunker and he follows her back up the stairs.
"Yes, my lady. I will remind you I cannot hear your thoughts as clearly as master, but if you call out to me, I will hear you." He stops in the hallway as she heads up the second flight of stairs to the bedroom.
"Thank you, Luca... And Luca?” He pauses and turns to look at her. “Thank you for listening to me.”
He bows his head and says, "It is an honor and a privilege, my lady."
She gives him an exaggerated bow in return. “Yeah, yeah... now get out of here.” He smiles as she turns and continues up the stairs.
45
Waking before the sunset, it is still light outside. Shade rolls 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 makes sure the covers are tucked in around her. Pulling on a pair of jeans, he pads barefoot down to his new office. He loves the heavy leather sofa and chairs and the massive desk she has placed in this room for him, and he didn’t fail to notice she had hung the painting he won at the art auction. It makes him smile.
He drags out the boxes that contain 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 is the same brand of equipment he had installed at the Dead House, and it will be added security for bel. Even with Luca here, he likes the idea of having the house and grounds constantly monitored.
Reading through the instruction manual, he props his feet up on the desk and decides he needs to wake Luca, so they can get this installed. No more does the thought cross his mind than he sees 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 would suggest all the windows be replaced with bullet proof 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 is an excellent location, could not 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.”
***
Luca absorbs this information. The outcome of the battle was pretty clear from the evidence displayed on the walls of their bedroom, but Shade was confirming what he thought to be true.
“So, my lady knows how to handle a weapon, si?”
Shade shakes his head. Cazzo, he has no fucking clue! “Bel has no knowledge of weaponry. Hell, even Italian mortal women will whip off a heel and take your eye out if necessary.”
Luca responds, “She is not familiar with weapons of any sort? She does not seem timid. Perhaps you would wish me to train her on methods of defense? Some basic weapon skills? I would be willing to train her, with your permission, of course.”
Shade stands up quickly and backs Luca’s ass across the room, as his fangs elongate, and he gets in his face. Luca doesn’t back down but growls his warning back at him. Shade does not raise his voice but speaks through his tight jaw.
“You take great liberties with my mate, Luca! Do not ever presume you can just handle her in any fashion you wish. You are her protector, not her teacher. That is my job and when I feel she is ready, I will handle it. Si?”
“Understood, master.”
Shade watches as Luca lowers his head, and Shade nods. “Now, get your ass in gear and help me install all these cameras. I need you to get on the roof. We need to figure out the best placement to view the property. We need cameras on the staff quarters and winery as well, and a camera at the entrance of the private road. We will put motion detectors around the perimeter of the property and at several points along the private drive. I do not want any alarms sounding outside. We will wire it so the alarms are quieter and only heard inside the house, your private suite, of course, and the bunker, also inside the staff quarters. We live among mortals. I do not want alarms going off. Let’s go.”