“Ah...so, she has no body heat anymore because of what you have done, is that it?”
“Yes. She is under my protection. Why are you hunting her? She found what she was paid to discover. Shouldn’t she be counting her bonus money and planning a trip to somewhere exotic as a reward for her hard work? Who wants her out of the picture?”
Casimiro rose and walked slowly across the room to get himself a wine bottle filled with a thick red liquid. He poured some of into two glasses and walked back to offer one to Yuri. He sat back down. They clinked their glasses together, then both took a sip.
“This is very fresh,” Yuri said, “And quite a young donor.”
Casimiro nodded. “Only the best for my old friends, Yuri. You and I are fellow countrymen, though there might be many years between our natal dates. So, I respect you and I won’t lie to you. I don’t have all of the answers you are seeking. I am only the moneyman. Remember, it’s my job to invest the money and to see that we make more of it. Apolinar told me to invest in this research because it suited him to see it completed.”
It was Yuri’s turn to raise his eyebrows with surprise.
“Is he here?”
Casimiro chuckled warmly. “In a big city like Chicago? In cold weather? Of course not. He’s in one of our places in the south. He has a studio in Arizona and likes to paint the surrounding areas. He keeps tabs on what’s going on up here and sent me up to be sure the research would be used correctly.”
“Just how is correctly?”
“My dear Yuri—just because you discover what makes a mind more intelligent doesn’t mean that was your original goal. Because for every action, there is an opposite reaction. If a serum can be created that will enhance intelligence—now that we know how it works—then a serum can be created which will decrease intelligence. That’s not the kind of news which needs to be disseminated to the general population...or even to the research community.”
Yuri frowned and put his glass down.
“So, the woman was hunted to stop her from sharing the news of her discovery with others?”
Casimiro nodded. “She worked alone. She, alone, knows what she has discovered. As long as it stays that way, she is safe.”
“But why? What is the point of wanting to make humans more dull-witted? Isn’t that happening already? Is it just not fast enough for you? What do you gain out of it?”
“Yuri, Yuri, I told you. I’m just the money man. I don’t know all of the ramifications of the research or the reasons for it. Personally I don’t care how stupid the cattle we feed on become. Their stupidity is the same as their intelligence to me. At my age—with my power—I can overcome any of their small minds.”
Yuri nodded. “As can I and I’m much younger than you. Then why? Who will benefit if they have stupidity bred into them?”
Casimiro shrugged. “Perhaps Apolinar may be able to answer those questions for you. One minute...”
Yuri watched and waited as the man communicated across the miles with his lover—the man he was with for centuries. His eyes were out of focus as if he was both talking and listening. Finally he nodded quickly and his eyes once again looked alert. He turned to face Yuri.
“He agreed to speak to you under one condition.”
“Which is?”
“That you bring her with you. We both want to meet her. If she is indeed intelligent enough to have finally solved a puzzle that many others have been unable to crack, then hers is a formidable brain we want to experience.”
“No. She’s too young in our blood. Your minds would crush hers.”
Casimiro shook his head. “Yuri, Yuri, Yuri...my comrade and countryman. Don’t you think we know how to be delicate? We have so many more years than you in picking through the minds of others. Will it satisfy you if we swear that she won’t be damaged in any way by us? You and she will be allowed to leave once your questions have been answered and any future contact between us will be voluntary on both of your parts.”
Yuri gnashed his teeth.
“Will you also swear that she will be under your protection? Not only when we are there visiting with you both but afterwards? I want your assurance that no harm will come to her through either of you or your agents.”
Casimiro looked off into the distance again for a few minutes, and then nodded decisively.
“We agree to your terms. When will you bring her?”
“To here or to Arizona?”
Casimiro smiled as if just remembering his lover made him happy. “Apolinar dislikes the cold up here. We would be honored to have you visit us in our adobe palace in the southwest of this country. Let’s say, in one night? That will give me time to finish my business up here and travel there to meet you. I will text you with the address of our estate. The guards will be told you are expected.”
Reluctantly Yuri nodded.
“Fine. I will await your text and we will see you tomorrow night.”
He rose from the chair, leaving the almost untouched glass on the nearby side table.
“You didn’t like the vintage?” Casimiro asked curiously.
“I don’t approve of draining even willing victims. So, no,” Yuri answered.
His host smiled. “You are still such an idealist. In some ways you are still so young. Do you think they thank every cow that dies for their burgers? Every chicken for their tenders? Every pig for their bacon? This is no different.”
“It is because those animals are not sentient as humans are. They are not intelligent. Perhaps that is why you plan to make them less intelligent?”
Casimiro looked angry as he responded, “I don’t care if they are thinking or not. Their blood tastes the same to me. I told you it is not my plan at work here. Perhaps we will both get some answers when you visit. Please convey my congratulations to the young woman for her achievement. I eagerly await her arrival.”
Yuri turned and left the penthouse.
The elevator seemed to take forever in its journey to the main floor. He strode across the lobby, anxious to be away from the threat he perceived from the man he just visited.
Once he was out in the cool night air, he took a deep breath before walking back to the alley. He launched himself into the air and flew rapidly back to his apartment, fully aware that the sun would come up soon. He hoped she would still be awake when he got there so he flew on the wind.
* * * *
Yuri landed on his balcony with a careless thud. He rapidly walked through the doors into the penthouse, accompanied by the early morning light penetrating the cool darkness of the night.
He called out, “Keisha? Where are you?”
When there was no answer, he was momentarily alarmed. Then he heard a small noise and headed into his bedroom. The black blinds were drawn against the light and there was a small mound of terry cloth in the middle of his mattress. He smiled when he saw Keisha’s feet sticking out of the pile of fabric.
He sat on the bed and leaned over to stroke her hair. She didn’t open her eyes but spoke as if she had seen him come in.
“I was studying the notes...started getting really tired...have to sleep now. Am I dying again?”
“No. You are resting. The blood gets tired and needs rest. Even more so when it is young. I will lie down with you and keep watch over you while you sleep.”
“Wha’ di’ you fin’ ou’?”
“Sleep. I’ll tell you when you awaken. Sleep now.”
Just like a light bulb turning off, she was suddenly out cold.
Yuri felt the heaviness in his limbs which signified the sun had risen. He stripped out of his clothes and pulled the covers back on the king-sized bed. He eased Keisha out of the bathrobe and over to the one side, covering her with the heavy quilted spread. Then he lay down next to her and pulled her into his arms. He couldn’t make her aware of his attraction to her yet. There would be time for that. He smiled as he realized how shocked she would be if she awoke to find herself naked and in his arms.
He knew he w
ould awaken first and have time to shower before she was even aware of herself again. So, he enjoyed the feel of her body in his arms and rejoiced in the reaction from his groin. It had been so long since he desired sex with anyone. He was determined to enjoy every step of his seduction of this truly remarkable woman. He planned how he would convince her that he was the only man she would ever need and still smiled when his consciousness left him.
Chapter Eight
Keisha drew in a breath and woke with a gasp. She sat up and looked around, getting her bearings.
I’m naked. How did I get naked and under the covers? He can be awake longer than me. I wonder if he...nah. He’s not that kind of man. I don’t know how I know that. I have the feeling that if he wants to have sex with me, he’ll want me awake for it.
She looked around for the robe and saw it on the floor next to the bed. She was in the process of grabbing for it when the door behind her opened.
Yuri enjoyed the brief glimpse he got of her naked body. The curves of her back and butt called to him in a way he had not heard for a long time, and the brown color of her skin made him yearn to rub his pale body against hers. He shook his head to clear his thoughts in order to be able to speak.
The woman who unwittingly enticed him quickly picked up the robe. She tied it tightly and turned defiantly to face him.
“Can I help you?”
Yuri smiled at the belligerent posturing from one so powerless yet so determinedly independent.
“I’m glad to see you are finally awake. I’m done in the bathroom so it’s your turn to shower. Then you’ll need to put on some clothing so we can catch our plane tonight.”
“Oh? We’re taking a plane? Not just leaping off the balcony? Why is that? Too long of a distance to flap your arms or do you have a craving for airline peanuts?”
“I don’t need to flap my arms, as you will learn soon enough. You are not yet able to fly independently and I’m not willing to carry you over such a long distance. It might be possible but would probably require frequent stops to feed. The states we’ll fly over have more cows than people—especially in the middle of the night. So, we’ll just do the conventional thing and fly on a plane.”
“I’m going to attract a lot of unwelcome attention in my blood-covered clothing you know.”
Yuri nodded. “I already thought of that. I took the liberty of checking the size of your tattered garments and found some clothing that should fit you for the flight.”
“From where? Do you entertain women here so often that you have clothing of various sizes just lying around?” Keisha was surprised by the note of jealousy she heard in her voice. She glared, hoping he wouldn’t have heard the inference.
Yuri understood perfectly and smiled at her again. His teeth were startlingly white even against his pale white skin.
“Jealous, young one? No need. As you might expect, since I’ve been alive over a century, I’ve had many female friends. Some stayed long enough to leave clothing here. Some didn’t. I have clothing from male friends in different sizes as well. One never knows where one will be when the sun comes up. Having friends in many places can be quite handy. Mi casa es su casa...a beneficial arrangement for all.”
“If you’ll excuse me, I want to shower now.” Keisha strode towards the door.
Yuri stood in front of it and didn’t move. She walked right up to him then stopped, expectantly waiting for him to move. When he didn’t, she looked up to see him studying her with an enigmatic look in his eyes.
“Take a picture...it’ll last longer,” she tartly informed him.
Moving faster than she could see—suddenly his arms were around her, pulling her so close that her feet left the floor. He held her suspended in front of him for a heartbeat, then bent his head down to crush her lips.
Even though she knew rationally that her heart barely beat anymore, Keisha actually felt her pulse, her blood racing through her body. She tried not to respond but it was no good. He held her so closely that she felt the hardness of every part of his body. He looked as though carved of stone. Trying to get him to let her go was a fight she couldn’t win...even if she wanted to—which she didn’t.
His lips pressed against hers mercilessly, then he drew back and his tongue delicately traced a path along her upper lip then her lower one. She unconsciously bit her lip, unaware that the sudden passion forced her fangs to descend. He licked the drops of blood from her lips as if it was the finest wine. He held her up with one arm but the other hand was busy exploring her curves.
He moved one side of her robe. His hand, underneath, traced down from her nape to the small of her back. He sighed heavily before his hand moved further down and his long fingers traced the curves under her butt cheeks.
She twitched, surprised that she’d be so sensitive there. She didn’t need to breathe either but old habits die hard. She panted with excitement.
He moaned when her glutes tightened and she pressed herself forward to rub against his hardness. The robe he wore opened under the belt. He hardened even more. His prick twitched forward, seeking her sex.
“Don’t we have a plane to catch?” Her voice was a husky murmur.
Yuri bent his head further down to slide his tongue along the side of her neck. He poked the tip of it into her ear, gently biting her lobe and blowing softly into her hair. When he spoke it was directly into her ear.
“We have some time before we need to be at the airport.”
“Enough time?” She felt brazen as the words left her lips.
He chuckled, a sexy low sound, as his chest moved up and down again. She remembered this from the dream he fed into her mind when he brought her into this reality.
“Perhaps not for all of the things I imagine doing with you. Enough to take the edge off my need...and yours too.”
His fingers traced the cleft between her glutes and continued until they reached the source of the moisture her body produced. One finger moved forward again to reach the tiny bud under the hood of skin—rubbing...swirling...rubbing.
With a small scream Keisha came, trembling with the intensity of her feelings.
“You see—becoming what we are makes our skin so much more sensitive. I haven’t desired anyone for many years. Now all I can think about is how much I want to act out that dream I gave you.”
“Which part?” She gasped.
“This one.” He pushed himself forward to part her nether lips with his cock. He held her suspended in the air so she wrapped her legs around his hips and pushed back against him. The feeling of being opened by him was overwhelming. Every hair on his groin rubbed against her skin. The delicious feeling of being parted and filled was followed by his withdrawing. All the while, her inner muscles squeezed against him, trying to hold him inside of her. Then he surged forward again.
Gravity forced Keisha downwards. She rode the rod as it entered her then pulled out and entered her again. The full weight of her body pushed her clit against his pole—its hood pulled back to allow her to feel everything. Even without needing to, she panted and shrieked out her passion. She rode him hard—aiming for more and more of the small orgasms rocking her world, blinding her with the flashes of light that played against her closed eyelids. Suddenly, she ceased all movement as she concentrated on the feeling that something big was happening...something huge was about to happen. Then she exploded.
The intensity of her orgasm slammed into her like a freight train. She screamed as much in surprise as in extreme pleasure. Every cell in her body pulsated with the blood pounding at the confined space of her body as if it wanted to explode outward. Then the pleasure peaked again and again and again. She was on a roller coaster of orgasms that kept riding up and down smaller hills. Each peak was higher than the previous one. Each orgasm made her tremble and shake. She gasped for the air she couldn’t get enough of.
Yuri held on for dear life as her pleasure rippled against his body. The pulsating muscles of her inner walls squeezed him with rhythmic force, making
it increasing impossible for him to hold out against its insistence that he come along with her. His legs struggled to keep him upright. The muscles twitched with the strain. With a roar he turned and pressed her against the wall. He surged forward one last time before he howled with the sudden release. The spurting of his orgasm felt like it came up from his toes and shot all of the fluids in his body into her in multiple muscular jerks, rendering him almost senseless.
“I...can’t...stand...anymore...” He gasped before falling backwards onto the bed. Still holding onto her, he pulled her down hard on top of him.
Keisha screamed again as the full weight of her body pushed her down onto his still-erect cock. The head slammed against her cervix . She twitched and spasmed again, her chest heaving against his. Finally she collapsed and lay still on his chest.
Neither of them breathed...neither of them moved as they enjoyed the after-glow and regained control over their own bodies.
Keisha looked up and smiled, then rolled off to the one side.
“I don’t want to crush you,” she began, and then realized how silly that was and giggled. She ran a hand over his chest and marveled at the hardness of it.
“So, I figure you don’t go to a gym and work-out to get these kinds of muscles, huh? It’s what the blood does to you?”
Yuri nodded before capturing her hand and drawing it up to his lips for a tender kiss on her fingertips. His tongue snaked out and licked her fingers. She gasped.
“Does everything feel so much better? Like I’ve never been able to really feel before?”
“Yes...and even more so. The blood does many things to our bodies...some unpleasant, some unimaginably mind-blowing. No one else besides me has ever really cared to learn how and why it does what it does. I hope you can help me find those answers.”
Keisha nodded her head against his chest, enjoying the smoothness of his hairless chest. She ran her hand down into the rough hair that surrounded his still partly-erect cock.
“I wonder if you hadn’t been killed at twenty-nine, would you have become hairier as you aged.”
Prophecy of the Undead Page 5