Of Gods and Goddesses: Book 3 (Lords and Commoners Series)

by Lynne Hill-Clark

  “When you put it that way…” Val laughed.

  “I am grateful that you did not head south. I dreaded the thought of having to follow you.” He kissed her lips and her neck as he unbuttoned her dress. “Let me help you get out of this uncomfortable thing.” He untied her corset.

  After all these years Elijah knew exactly how to please Vallachia. They knew every inch of each other. They took it slow and enjoyed each other to the fullest.

  Every moment Val could spare was spent at the orphanage. The first time Elijah came to visit he was dressed in his best. He looked beyond handsome in his tailored black suit and top hat.

  “May I help you, sir?” Gwen asked.

  “I am looking for my wife.” Elijah said. “Apparently I have to come here if I want to see her.”

  “You must be Vallachia’s husband. I imagined her husband would be handsome …”

  Val chuckled, as Sister Gwen appeared lost for words. Val had been preparing the midday meal for the children but could easily hear what went on in the orphanage. Val headed for the main entrance. They had moved Gwen’s desk so that it was by the front door. Val had suggested this change in hopes of deterring slave traders from slipping in and taking the colored children.

  “Darling, I’m so glad you decided to visit. This is Sister Gwen.” Val gestured to the nun behind the desk.

  Elijah took Gwen’s hand and kissed it. Gwen’s cheeks turned the color of roses.

  “It is an honor to meet you. Vallachia has told me about you.” Elijah swiftly moved around the desk and took Gwen’s arm in his. “Perhaps you could give me a tour.”

  Gwen looked as if she was going to faint. Elijah could make a nun want to reconsider her chastity vows.”

  As he was being shown around, Elijah made it clear that this place would simply not do.

  “Tell me Sister, who owns this building and how do I find him?” Elijah asked.

  Val knew that Elijah was planning to buy the place. When he set his mind on something there was no stopping him.

  The next day Elijah came in with the deed to the building in his hand. Renovations began at once. They added a separate large kitchen and larger bathrooms. Riddick and Samuel built wooden forts and climbing structures on the playground. Mary and Val made bookshelves. They were not fancy but they did the job. Soon they were filled with books of all kinds.

  The children were completely terrified of Riddick. They stayed well away from him. Riddick worked to gain their trust, usually by bringing them sweets. Such delicacies the kids would only have seen in candy store windows, yet never could have afforded. This worked well to win the children over.

  Once the children became used to Riddick they loved to climb all over him. They constantly asked him to twirl them around and toss them up in the air. He would then take turns spinning or throwing each child high into the sky and gently catching them.

  The first time Gwen observed this she screeched and ran to stop Riddick.

  “Don’t worry he will not drop them,” Val said.

  “How do you know that?” Gwen asked.

  “He has … very sure hands.”

  A little boy chimed, “My turn! My turn!”

  Riddick started to pick the boy up but pretended the boy was too heavy. “You are so big. I don’t think I can lift you.”

  Gwen shot Val a concerned look — terrified might be a better word. Val tried to ease Gwen's mind with a smile. Eventually Gwen had to smile as well, as the little boy squealed with joy while flying through the air and landing safely in Riddick’s arms.

  “It is surprising that you don’t have children of your own,” Gwen said one evening while they cleaned up after putting the children to sleep.

  “There will be no children for us.” Of course Val still wanted children more than anything but she had let that dream slip away long ago. There was no pain in her chest and no tears formed in her eyes.

  “I’m terribly sorry to hear that.” Gwen’s eyes were filled with sorrow. She was a kind soul and cared deeply for others.

  “Don’t be sorry. There are plenty of children who need us. In fact, I have sixty children now.” Val smiled.

  “You know, you act as if you are much older than you are.”

  Val nodded — Gwen had no idea.

  Elijah and Val carried on managing the orphanage for many years. They watched the children grow until it became apparent that they were not aging. After a couple of comments about their continued youthfulness, they became less active in the direct happenings of the facility. In order to keep their ancient secret, the Court continued to support the orphanage from afar.

  Chapter 8 New York 2000 A.D

  Vallachia and her friends thought the world had changed quickly throughout the Renaissance and beyond, yet they could never have predicted the changes that were to come and how fast they would be upon them — like an avalanche. And there was nothing to prepare them for it. Slavery ended, cars were invented, humans learned to fly!

  Many of these new technologies were incredibly useful. The two greatest inventions, as far as vampire were concerned, were blood banks and sunglasses.

  The Chastellains owned the world’s largest company supplying blood to hospitals and of course, to the Court. They no longer had to hurt humans in order to feed. This made life as an immortal all but perfect. There was nothing for Vallachia to feel guilty about. In fact, life could not have been better for the leaders of the High Court.

  Thanks to UV sunglasses, the sun was no longer a nuisance. Even though life was easier in many ways, they struggled to keep up with this changing society. Once again, the city grew up around the Court’s manor, as it had back in Copenhagen. They turned their home into a resort for humans and the Court left New York City. Since they did not feed directly from humans anymore it was better for them to remain largely isolated. This helped to ensure their secret was kept. They built a new two hundred room mansion in upstate New York to accommodate the growing vampire population. Like humans, vampires were growing in number. Of course, humans were being turned to vampires at only a fraction of the rate that humans were born.

  Vallachia entered her new bedchambers to find Elijah resting on the bed. He had obviously been waiting for her. She appeared on top of him in a flash and lowered her lips to his but he pushed her away enough to look her in the eyes.

  “There is something I need to show you,” he said.

  Val tilted her head in confusion.

  Elijah pulled his shirt off and there was a large white bandage above his right chest muscle.

  Val jerked back. “You’re hurt! What happened?”

  “It should be healed by now.” He ripped the bandage off to reveal a large red and black tattoo of the Chastellain coat of arms.

  “You … you got a tattoo … and you did not tell me?”

  Elijah frowned. “Do you like it?”

  Val ran her hand over the tattoo, tracing the large “C” with her finger. “It’s beautiful.”

  He exhaled with relief. He gave her that look that still made her weak in the knees.

  She brushed her lips over the tattoo and then her tongue. She pushed him down with her hands on his shoulders. She continued to kiss down his chest and slowly worked her way down his stomach. As she went lower he moaned with pleasure …

  Elijah slept soundly. Val studied the elegantly detailed tattoo. When she laid her head on his chest, she noticed something sticking out of the pocket of his jeans, which lay on the floor beside the bed. She gently unwound herself from him, trying not to disturb him. She pulled the paper out to find that it was a drawing of the Chastellain Crest. A receipt that read Matrix Tattoos accompanied the picture. This gave her an idea. As carefully and quietly as possible she dressed and left.

  Val knocked on Mari and Samuel’s chamber door.

  Mari answered the door in a robe and her hair was a mess.

  Val smiled at the sight; it was odd to see Mari when she was not perfectly groomed.

  “What do yo
u want?” Mari whispered with a hint of irritation.

  Val laughed. “Sorry to bother you. I was hoping you would come to the city with me?”

  “Right now?”

  “Yes, now. While Elijah is asleep.”

  “What are you up to?”

  “You will see.” Val gave her a mischievous crooked smile.

  “Very well. Let me dress.” As she shut the door Val could hear Mari tell Samuel that she had to go and he moaned in frustration.

  Val also convinced Mary, Elizabeth and Sonia to accompany her. They made their way through the crowds on 52nd Street as if they were normal humans.

  Men openly gawked at this assorted group of lovely “young” women.

  “I may never get used to how rude men are nowadays. Men used to have to be discreet when they ogled women. Now they outright stare and make obscene comments or whistle. It is disgusting,” Mary complained.

  “At least our breeches and your short hair are no longer novelties that attract attention,” Vallachia said.

  “That’s true,” Mary said. “At least now we can wear our hair and clothes however we see fit.”

  “In fact, I don’t know how we survived without blue jeans,” Elizabeth said.

  “They sure as hell beat corsets,” Sonia added.

  “I can’t believe you pompous ladies ever wore such evil contraptions,” Mary said. “I never would have been caught dead in such a thing.”

  “We have tried for centuries to help you gain a sense of fashion but you are simply hopeless,” Mari said.

  “What exactly is it we’re doing here?” Sonia asked.

  “Hopefully Val is taking us to a new clothing shop,” Mari said.

  “Here we are.” Val pointed to a sign that read Matrix Tattoos.

  Mari’s mouth fell open.

  Chapter 9 New York 2000 A.D

  Vallachia laughed at Mari’s expression. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to get a tattoo. I’m getting one and you all may do as you wish. I didn’t what to … do this alone.”

  “I have not been drinking nearly enough for this,” Mary said. “Hopefully they sell booze?”

  A young man, completely covered in tattoos, greeted them. Pieces of metal adorned his face. He gave the attractive ladies a broad smile. “How can I help you?”

  “It looks as if he fell face first into a tackle box,” Mary whispered.

  Val chuckled.

  “Apparently, she wants a tattoo.” Mari gestured to Val.

  “Great. Is this your first?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Val replied.

  “Awesome, virgin flesh,” he said.

  Val rolled her eyes and Mary let out a disgusted sigh.

  The tattoo artist was not deterred. “Pick the one you want.” He pointed to several thick binders full of artwork.

  “I know what I want and where I want it,” Val said.

  “I like a woman that knows what she wants.”

  “You mean, a woman who knows what she wants.” Val corrected his poor English.

  The boy's stare was blank.

  “Never mind.” Val pulled out the picture of the Chastellain Coat of Arms she’d stolen from Elijah’s jeans and handed it to the tattoo artist. “With a red C and black surroundings. I want it right here,” Val placed her hand above her right breast. She wanted hers to match Elijah’s.

  “I did this same tattoo on someone else.”

  “Yes, that was my husband and you did an excellent job. That’s why we are here.”

  The man frowned. “Husband? You’re too young to be married.”

  “Sometimes I feel as if I am seven hundred years old,” Val said.

  Her companions laughed.

  The man didn’t know what to make of this odd comment. “Well, your husband is lucky. This way.” He led Val to a well-worn chair. It looked like it belonged in a dental office.

  The man went right to work. The needle was a bit irritating but not painful to a vampire. Val was careful to hold perfectly still. Since she would have this on her body for an eternity, she wanted it to be perfect.

  “I can’t believe Elijah got a tattoo. Is that what started all this nonsense?” Mari said.

  “I’m only surprised because the two of you are such prudes,” Mary said.

  “We’re not prudes!” Val retorted.

  “Please,” Mary snorted. “You two act as if you’re from the thirteenth century or something.”

  “We were quite progressive for the thirteenth century,” Val said.

  “My point exactly,” Mary said.

  “What in the hell are you talkin’ about?” the tattoo artist asked.

  “Nothing.” Val glared at Mary, warning her to drop it. “Besides Elijah is far older than the thirteenth century, and he was the first of us to get one.” Val spoke quietly so only vampires would hear.

  When the artist was done, he handed Val a mirror and wiped the drops of blood away. It is superb, she thought — exactly like Elijah’s, only slightly smaller.

  “It is quite lovely,” Mary said.

  “I want the same,” Elizabeth declared.

  “No way. You’re not going to get a tattoo before I do,” Mary said. “I’m next.” Mary had always been overly competitive. She had to be the best or first at everything.

  “You’re all going to get tattoos because your king and queen have them?” Mari crossed her arms. “You’re nothing but a bunch of sheep.”

  Val glared at Mari, trying to shut her up.

  “You girls are weird,” the tattoo artist said.

  They were clearly making the poor young man uncomfortable. He was the one who was used to freaking people out, with his piercings and his tattooed body. “You didn’t even flinch,” he said to Val. “Most first timers, girls anyway, find it very painful.”

  “I suppose I have a high tolerance for pain.”

  “Who’s next?” he asked.

  Mary and Elizabeth fought each other for the chair. They wrestled each other to the floor. It looked like a serious fight until Mary pressed her lips to Elizabeth’s.

  The artist’s mouth hung open.

  “That is quite enough ladies. Remember your manners.” Val easily pulled Mary off Elizabeth with one hand.

  “Unless I can join you.” The artist looked hopeful.

  “No chance in hell.” Mary quickly took the chair before someone else could.

  “Very well. Mary will go first,” Val commanded.

  Elizabeth issued a disappointed sigh. “I wanted to be first for once.”

  “Your Queen has spoken,” Mary said.

  “Would you shut up?” Val smacked Mary’s arm.

  Mary turned to the tattoo artist. “Do you have any scotch?”

  “Uh, we don’t sell alcohol here.” He turned to Sonia. “And I’m gonna need to see your ID.”

  The ladies broke into a fit of laugher.

  Sonia presented her fake ID.

  Mary had the Chastellain C inked on her upper arm.

  Mari ran her finger over Val’s healed tattoo. “I do like it. Yet, I’m afraid Samuel will be furious.”

  “Surely not,” Val said. “He will simply have to get one as well.”

  “Why would you all get the same tattoo? What does it stand for?” the tattoo artist asked.

  “We’re all kin and it’s our family coat of arms,” Val answered.

  “‘Coat of arms?' Where are you from?”

  The women all answered in unison…

  “London,” Mary said.

  “Ludus,” Val said.

  “Copenhagen,” Mari said.

  “Constantinople,” Sonia chimed.

  “Const-what?” The tattoo artist said.

  “Never mind all that,” Val said.

  “And you’re all family?” He looked confused and skeptical.

  “Yes, we’re family,” Val confirmed.

  He shook his head and went back to work on Elizabeth’s ankle. This group of odd ladies was more than he could make sense of.


  Mari gave in. She decided to get the C on her right shoulder blade. She thought it would be easier to hide.

  “You know, Samuel will see it,” Val said.

  “I know. I hope he approves.” Mari twirled a strand of hair around her finger and paced as she waited her turn.

  “He’ll love it.” Val tried to reassure her. “In fact, he’ll head straight down here to get one for himself, followed by Riddick and Aaron,” Val said.

  “I hope you’re right,” Mari said.

  “What about John? Do you think he will get a tattoo?” Sonia asked.

  “Never,” Val laughed.

  Five hours later they were done. Val tipped the man a couple extra hundred dollars.

  “Come back for your next tattoos.”

  But Val had the feeling he was not sincere. He looked relieved that they were leaving.

  Chapter 10 New York 2000 A.D

  Val found Elijah reading on their bed.

  “There you are.” He barely looked up from his book.

  Now that it was done, Val was worried. What if he doesn’t like the tattoo? She stood in silence at the foot of the bed.

  When she didn’t say anything he stopped reading to give her his full attention. “What’s going on?”

  Here it goes. With one hand and in one quick motion she pulled her shirt off, revealing the new tattoo.

  Elijah’s lips parted. In a flash he stood in front of her.

  “You didn’t,” he stared at the blood red C above her bare breast.

  Oh no. He doesn’t like it. Her heart beat faster. “What do you think?”

  He ran his finger across it. “It’s real?”

  “Of course.”

  “You truly are mine?” he whispered.

  This took Val back. She had to push his head up with her fingers on his chin to get him to look her in the eye. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

  Elijah pressed his body to hers. “Sorry, my love. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I know you love me and that has always been enough. Yet you also love him.”