by Aiden James
I’m not sure if I even blinked, staring at this soulless idiot while my lower lip quivered, hurt and seriously pissed. I didn’t know what to say to him, which seemed to anger him more. Where Gustav’s face had been flush with contentment, this vampire’s face turned pink with rage.
In a split second, his hand came toward me, fingers splayed wide, fingernails like daggers aimed at my throat. I’m sure his intent was to remove my head completely from my shoulders. I couldn’t move, but as it turned out, I didn’t have to. Garvan came out of nowhere and removed me from harm’s way, taking my goblet of fake wine in his hand without spilling more than a few drops. My dinner, however, went everywhere.
A blur of motion preceded a howl of pain that overpowered the music. The letch fell to his knees. A pool of blood seeped out from under him as he screamed. Another vampire stood beside him, one foot on the kneeling vampire’s calf, holding him down. At first thought, I assumed it was either Franz or Armando, but they had formed up near me, watching for other aggressors from the onlookers who started to gather.
A thin gleam of light caught my eye, reflecting from a blade pressed up against the attacker’s throat. Even at this distance, it looked impossibly sharp, and cut into the cur’s throat a good quarter inch to keep him off balance. He was on his knees because the sad-looking man in the tuxedo had severed both of his hamstrings. Kazikli?
He held a cane-blade in one hand, the sheath in the other, and smiled wanly at me. He seemed to regret having to use brute force on the attacker, but the resolve in his eyes, and the swiftness and martial skill of his actions left no doubt he was prepared and skilled enough to use it when necessary. A thin wisp of smoke from where the blade was embedded in the attacker’s throat gave away some special property of the blade against vampires. I wondered at the past circumstances which necessitated such a thing.
“I will let you up, and then you will leave… you will leave this palace, and you will leave this kingdom, and you will never come back. You are exiled. If you return, you will find your head lying next to your body, and the last thing you’ll ever experience is the horror of watching your entire essence disintegrate into a ball of flames. Am I clear?”
Kazikli pushed the blade deeper when no response came. That’s all it took to get the other vampire to acknowledge the warning, and he did so with an emphatic nod while a pained whine escaped his throat.
“Very good. Make sure I never see you again, and that means at any time or in any place, exile. Otherwise, you will die, and before that, you will suffer horribly!”
Kazikli emphasized this last part with a menacing hiss in his voice. He lifted the vampire to his feet and hurled him to Franz and Armando. They seized his arms and whisked him off, to shove him outside. As they approached the door, Gustav appeared before them, and the vampire cowered in further fear.
I wondered if the undead could get intoxicated on something like blood, since no way in hell would a sane and sober member of Gustav’s ensemble act inappropriately in his presence. The chance of ostracism or death would be too great. The four of them left together, and the doors closed behind them, shutting the affair off to those remaining in the room.
You might think that after such an unpleasant experience the night was ruined. I know I did… but within a minute of this asshole leaving, the party was back in full force. The music and celebration among the rest of the vampires seemed even more fervent with joy than it previously had been—as if they wanted to make certain nothing else happened to disrupt this Christmas Eve party.
Even the mess made when my food went flying into the air had been cleaned up, and Garvan soon walked me to a small table where he and I could sit and visit. Mercel brought another serving of roast and vegetables, and an even bigger helping of raspberry chocolate cheesecake.
“Sorry for the unpleasantness,” said Garvan. “Like I told you before, they don’t all hate you. Most of them are deeply concerned about what happens to you and your baby to be, Txema. But don’t ever venture outside alone again—at any time day or night. I hope you understand that from here on out it will be far too dangerous, and with so much to lose. Others will be waiting for you to slip up.”
“And then what?”
I hated coming across so flippantly, but the adrenaline was dumping out of my system and my blood sugar had dropped to where my extremities were going numb. I had exactly zero fucks left to give. I didn’t wait for an answer, and dug into my food ravenously. It tasted fantastic, and I resented the fact my body wouldn’t let me savor this moment. I’m sure I looked like an animal in my gorgeous gown, only one step away from eating with my hands instead of the delicate cutlery Mercel had provided.
Garvan smirked sadly and shrugged.
“I won’t be able to protect you. None of us will be able to do a damned thing… I’ll be left to cry tears of blood whenever I think of you. Every day. Until eventually sorrow turns to anger and then rage as the last of our kind becomes extinct, and the unchallenged reign of Ralu begins.”
’m sure most folks would assume after such a statement that the night would’ve become a complete bust for me. It almost did. Luckily, Garvan lightened up after sharing the biggest glimpse into his soul that I’d seen up until then. The very things he feared as a vampire are not that different from those of us still human. All of my entourage likely feared the same things, and it would not surprise me if Gustav himself has similar misgivings. Not to mention that he did still have a soul, which was sort of surprising. I was getting very cynical and it kind of hurt my feelings to have this realization about myself.
It was easy for me to be selfish and self-centered. I was at least self-aware enough to realize this. I could blame it on being an only daughter, or on the generation to which I was born as so many seem to want to do. Or, I’m sure, so many other things if I spent the time to look. In reality I think it is simple human nature. Empathy was also human nature, and when we stopped looking inside for a bit and started looking at others, we could see how we hurt those around us without even realizing it. Once we realized we are hurting others is when we have to make a choice, and that choice is what defines us as being selfish or not. My choice was to start putting forth the effort to let Garvan know that I cared deeply about him as more than a guardian for me and my unborn daughter. As I picked over my dinner and the desert (amazing by the way) we talked about plans after she was born, and I reassured him I still wanted him to be in my life.
That seemed to be enough for him. It at least lifted his demeanor to where he wanted to dance and play like everyone having fun in the aerial waltz. Dancing with vampires is a different experience, since several times I was sent airborne by one—Garvan or Armando—and then caught gently by Franz or Chanson. And, like with the girls I used to go clubbing with back in Richmond and Knoxville, Raquel, Tyreen, and Chanson danced with me sans the guys. I even did the ‘Charleston’ with Armando where we nearly crashed into Nora and Kazikli. At least we had fun laughing about it.
Everything was strange in that way. But it was such a blast!
We partied well into the night, but by 3:00 a.m. security guards moved in to stop the festivities. Gustav stood before us, along with Huangtian Dadi and Xuanxang―the only time I saw either of them that night. After a brief Christmas benediction, Gustav dismissed us all.
It was even colder on the way back to our bedchamber, and I worried that the sheen of sweat from dancing would turn to ice, but it felt plenty warm once we were ascending the stairs to our floor. The door had been repaired, and the window had been boarded up and covered with an ornate rug, so the frigid air from outside could no longer reach us. Unfortunately, it held the pattern of a dragon, which crushed my spirits like a lead weight. I wondered whether it was the only pattern they had, some passive-aggressive dig from Huangtian Dadi, or a not-so-subtle reminder (threat?) of who wielded the power in this kingdom.
It was even warmer inside my room. After I changed out of my lovely evening wardrobe, I crawled under the covers. Despite everything
else, I felt more content than I had since I encountered my first vampire, Garvan, in my dorm room in Tennessee a million years ago back in early November.
“We will always take care of you, Txema,” said Chanson tenderly. “What happened yesterday won’t ever happen again if you stay within the reach of our protection. Merry Christmas to you, and know that we’ll always love you as our own.”
She and the others stood around my bed like overprotective guardian angels watching over me and keeping me close. I wondered briefly if her admonishment was directed at my earlier conversation with Mercel that night. However, exhaustion had already gotten the better of me, and my conscious awareness began to fade out.
“Merry Christmas to you, too, Chanson… and to you Garvan, Tyreen, Armando, and… Raquel.”
As I exited into the world of dreams from the one filled with vampires, each of them echoed my Merry Christmas wish.
I slept soundly and didn’t awake until mid-afternoon, Christmas Day.
For some reason, the Himalayan world seemed different upon rising from my bed that afternoon. All sorts of possibilities were at my fingertips, and I felt a sense of empowerment. The decision was mine to get the hell out of that place if I wanted to bad enough. My biggest fantasy was envisioning flying back to Europe with Franz and Mercel, and then being whisked away to Milan to meet with Racco and confront him for being such a fucking coward.
That was definitely a fantasy. Here’s what reality had in store for me that afternoon.
After getting dressed for the day, I hurried downstairs. By then, the late afternoon sun was already creeping down the higher peaks, and it would be dark within an hour. Not nearly enough time to search the entire complex for Mercel. My worst-case scenario was to wait for Franz’s to wake from his daytime vamp-nap and then ask him discreetly to take me to Mercel.
I felt certain Mercel wasn’t staying in the same building as me. If I was going to find him, I needed to do it quickly. There was no way the nervous Frenchman would venture outside without Franz or someone else from Racco’s staff accompanying him. It wouldn’t have surprised me if Mercel sought further protection inside Franz’s casket until dusk! I don’t suppose I should criticize him, he had many more years among them than I had and was obviously doing something right to still be living.
On the odd chance I might miss seeing either one, I skipped the meal of rice and chicken that had been set out for me. Knowing I had less than half an hour to search the other buildings before dusk, I set out in earnest to find Mercel.
He wasn’t inside the other buildings, where the empty echoes from my calls to him went unanswered. Still, I didn’t panic. I searched around the perimeter of the complex, being careful not to come too close to Huangtian Dadi’s personal chambers. A menacing growl from a darkened alcove near the main gate to his private realm was all the encouragement I needed to give it even wider berth than I was.
I became more and more convinced that my original assumption was mistaken, and that the pair was hiding inside the main building right up until I found the spot where Racco’s helicopter had been parked. The chopper bar tracks and footprints in the snow were already melting into each other, which told me that they had been gone for several hours.
Incredible despair rushed over me and I cried as I walked back to the main palace building. I hadn’t even made up my mind whether I was going to leave with Mercel or not, but that was beside the point. In that moment, I realized I was craving real human companionship as well as stewardship over my own destiny. There was no doubt in my mind that Garvan and the others cared for me, but even my closest friend, once turned, might devour me in a weak moment. Sure she’d feel bad afterward, but ultimately, that coldness always seemed to be there. That predatory glance at my jugular. At least that asshole last night was honest.
I went back upstairs and waited for Chanson to awaken, since she was normally first to rise. Tyreen was usually the last to get up, as I’m sure she still needs the most rest to ensure she grows up to be a healthy and successful vampire. Yes, that’s me being cynical yet again. The rest of the group wakes up randomly, and I knew I wouldn’t have long to speak privately with my cousin and main protector.
“So Franz did leave last night after all?” asked Chanson, once she cleared the bloodshot redness from her eyes. Normally she bounces right up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
“Yes, he did, and Mercel and the rest of Racco’s staff are gone, too!” I was unable to mask my disappointment.
“Oh, dearest Txema… you mustn’t worry about this. When the time is right, you will see them all again. I swear!”
She came over to where I sat, on the edge of my bed, and wrapped her arms around me. I wanted to cry more about it, but I felt so angry I wouldn’t let it out.
“I don’t know if that will be a promise you can keep.”
“You are being ridiculous,” said Chanson.
“I feel more and more that we aren’t welcome here.” I covered my mouth for a moment to help hold in the tears. “It gets worse every day. I felt someone watching me today―”
“Txema, that’s why you mustn’t venture outside―ever!” Chanson glared at me. Her eyes vibrated in their sockets as if she was trying to hold back her anger. “Didn’t you listen to what I told you last night?”
“I heard what you said, but I wanted to make sure I got to tell Franz and Mercel goodbye before they left.” The beautiful but stale palace drained the very life out of me day after day, and I didn’t care whether or not she knew if I was lying. “Now they’re gone, and I’m sure Gustav made sure I won’t see them again for a very long time―if ever!”
Chanson was taken aback by my accusation toward the vampire lord she loves and serves. Not that she wanted to hit me right then, but she pulled away to study me. She shook her head slowly before addressing me again. By then, most of the others had risen from their daytime slumber and were listening intently to our conversation.
“Okay,” she said finally. “We need to find some good Western distractions, so you can deal with this Eastern society. Something to read… maybe some games to play, movies to watch, whatever else you can think of.”
“If that old codger in the library had parted with his personal porn flick collection when I asked him to do it last month, none of this would’ve happened now!” said Armando, placing the back of his long-nailed fingers against his forehead as if he might faint.
“Actually, that does give me an idea.” Chanson’s pale countenance lit up.
“No vampire orgies, please.” I said, terrified at the thought.
Chanson looked at me as if she thought I were an idiot. Then she stood and moved to the door, listening. When satisfied it was safe to discuss what she had in mind, she moved back to where I sat and motioned for the rest to gather around us. “I think if we took turns each night to procure a collection of some things from the neighboring big cities, we could have this problem fully worked out before the New Year arrives.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make life easier for you, Txema,” said Garvan. “My only question is with so few big cities close by, it might mean a longer journey to procure everything. It might be best to return to France, since I know I can definitely obtain everything you need from there.”
“I could join you and make sure we get it all done in one trip,” said Raquel. We both know all the boutiques, book stores, and music stores.”
“I’ll bet we can find one of those electronic book readers. Or better yet, an iPod and iPad like she lost, or whatever the hell else she needs!” exclaimed Garvan, excited at the thought of making me happy.
I believe we all knew long before him that this sounded nothing like what he intended to say, me with my mock indignant look and everyone else grinning and shaking their heads in amusement.
“What did I―oh no, that’s not what I meant at all, Txema!”
“Sure you didn’t!” I said, trying to keep my forced frown from lifting. This was too much fun!
“No, I-I swear… all I want to do is find a way to keep you happy!”
“And to shut you the hell up, Txema, you biiiittttcchhh!” added Tyreen, with the same diva attitude she used to pull on Johnny back in college.
Hearing an echo of my friend and the easier days were too much for me and I couldn’t keep from laughing, and they all joined in with me―even Garvan sheepishly joined in.
“Well, we all know what will create a lasting solution, so now it’s time to figure out a plan so that we don’t get caught or make Gustav look bad,” said Chanson, once the laughter died down. There were a few knocks resounding from the thick stone floor above us, demonstrating once again that not every vampire from France brings a fun and warm disposition. She motioned for us all to move closer to her as she lowered her voice to a whisper. “A schedule that involves Txema not leaving her room for meals and such might work. Perhaps we can make everyone else think that Raquel and Garvan are up here playing nursemaid to some pregnancy ailment Txema has, while the rest of us make a show of ourselves each night to further sell the notion that we are all present and accounted for. I doubt Dadi would even notice, but we must use caution that Ralu’s hounds not catch our scent. What does everyone think of that idea?”
We were all surprised she came up with something that could work so quickly. Normally, there is a debate, usually a long one! When you are functionally immortal, it seems there is little reason to hurry on most things. In my brief company with my undead comrades, I completely understand the rumor that they’ve been bickering amongst themselves over a variety of issues for centuries.
Raquel beamed. “I think it’s a brilliant idea, Princess!”
She looked over at Armando, who nodded, followed by Tyreen and Garvan. That left only my vote.
“Just as long as neither of you gets hurt on my account, I’m fine with it. A better idea would have been to let me contact Racco and have him send the items with Mercel, but since I can’t be trusted with a phone, I suppose it is good enough.” I had to get one dig in at least and then I smiled at the prospect that life in the palace―and even in the proposed relocation much deeper into the Himalayas―would be less trying, at least mentally.