She was right. It was very warm with a fire blazing in an enormous stone hearth. I was happy to be out of my damp cloak as well. But it made me very aware of my bare throat and low bodice. Marin actually licked her lips and stared at the vein in my neck, making me swallow nervously before I was distracted by the beauty around me.
Jeremiah lived in a comfortable place but it was plain and masculine. This home was like something out of a fairy tale. There were colorful rugs, silks and pillows everywhere. I could have been inside a palace. Gilt framed paintings hung on the walls with tapestries behind them. And jewel-toned velvet covered the cushioned chairs and sofas. If I had dreamed of a place to live were I to suddenly come into a fortune, this might be it.
“Gloriana, Marin asked you a question.” Jeremiah was clearly amused.
“Sorry. What was it?” I stopped gawking like a milkmaid fresh from the country and faced Marin.
“Would you like wine?” She held out a glass of red liquid. The color looked too much like blood to me and I shook my head.
“No, thank you. Perhaps just water for now.” I smelled something delicious and realized I was hungry. Of course I had to eat. Marin kept staring at the places where blood pumped through my veins. I was certainly on the menu for her.
“Relax, Gloriana, I will fix you a plate. Your blood did me much good. I am thinking about living again. Obviously there are still things, secrets, to be learned. I haven’t felt such curiosity in many, many years.” Marin nodded to Alain and he brought a fine china plate to the table. It was filled with roasted chicken, tiny vegetables and a savory cheese tart.
“It looks delicious. Thank you.” I settled into the armchair he held out for me and sipped a goblet of cool water. With Marin’s avid gaze on my throat, I was losing my appetite even though the food did look and smell wonderful.
Fergus stared at Marin disapprovingly. I smiled at him and got a small smile in return. He had been in a dark mood ever since we’d arrived at the door. I remembered that he had advised me to leave after Jeremiah had taken so much blood before. He had become a friend to me. Jeremiah watched me, too. Not as a friend, though. Something… else.
Marin hovered over me and handed me a fork. “Eat, relax. I can wait a while for another drink from you.”
“I hope so, Marin. Remember, we helped save you. I don’t owe you a continuing supply of blood from Gloriana.” Jeremiah moved closer to the table. “I will say it again. She is mine. This was a favor. Because, if you’d been taken out of the Tower in the morning, your destruction in the sunlight would have raised questions about our kind that could have harmed all of us.”
“Of course. I understand. You were very generous. And I appreciate the risks you took. The risks to your shifter and to Gloriana as well. She was especially brave.” Marin was clearly in charge here, waving a hand when Jean-Claude started to speak. “Non, C’est mon problème, je vais le résoudre.”
“The way to solve this problem, as you call it, Marin, is to have one last drink from Gloriana before we leave.” Jeremiah dropped his hand onto my shoulder.
“What if I pay you for her? I want her, Jeremiah. I must have her.” Marin moved closer to him, her face intent. They were making serious eye contact. I had no doubt there was mind reading going on that I would never understand.
“I am not an object to be bought and sold.” I tried to stand but Jeremiah’s hand was firm and I couldn’t move. All eyes were suddenly on me. “I don’t belong to you, Jeremiah.”
“You are wanted by the Tower guards. You aided a witch to escape from the Tower. And you know I can erase your memories of vampires and our ways. It’s best if you let me decide your future now. I can protect you. I promise to do it with my life.” His hand tightened on my shoulder.
I inhaled, shocked by the intensity of that promise. But to act as if he owned me? I bit back all the angry words I wanted to fling at both of them.
“Listen to me, Gloriana. If you left here on your own? Well, I wouldn’t give you five minutes before you landed in a cell, waiting for your own stake in the courtyard and a fiery death.” Jeremiah pinned me with a fierce gaze, a silent warning to stay quiet, before turning to our hostess again. “Now, Marin, where were we?”
“I believe you were about to name your price.” She smiled and ran a fingertip across my throat before he could stop her. “I will pay anything, Jeremiah. Anything to have her.”
Chapter Nine
“Exactly why is her blood so important to you, Marin? I have my own reasons for wanting to keep her.” Jeremiah gave me a smoldering look that made me shift in my seat. “But worth a fortune?”
Marin’s long fingernails slid across the vein pulsing in my neck, making me shiver.
“Listen and you might understand why I want her.” She sighed and glanced back at Jean-Claude. He quickly brought a chair for her. “Merci. I am still very tired from my ordeal.” She sat but never took her hand off my bare neck.
“This can wait, mon amour. You should rest.” Jean-Claude hovered close, frowning at Jeremiah who took a chair across from me.
“Gloriana is tired as well. I am taking her home with me. You have fed once. Surely that is enough.” Jeremiah frowned and stood.
“Non, I need more. You asked. Now I want to explain why I’m willing to pay a high price to have Gloriana.” Marin gripped Jean-Claude’s hand when he stood on her other side. “Listen to me!” She waited until Jeremiah nodded and sat again. “You see, when I was a young vampire in the royal household of Nefertiti in Thebes, I was exposed to many wonderful things. The Pharaohs were treated as gods and I do believe they were more than mere mortals. They had amazing powers!”
I wanted to fling her hand away when she kept stroking my neck. To shriek at them to stop this haggling over me as if I was something that had caught Marin’s eye in the market. But I was struck dumb. My will was gone and I couldn’t even move. Oh, but I hated these powerful vampires!
“Go on.” Jeremiah met my gaze. “Gloriana, trust me. Eat, regain your strength.” He looked deep into my eyes and I picked up a fork to stuff a bite of chicken into my mouth.
I tasted nothing, eating as he watched. There was silence in the room except for the crackle of the fire in the hearth and a sudden movement behind me.
Jeremiah frowned. “Fergus! You and Alain may step outside to settle your differences if you cannot be civil.”
Jean-Claude laughed. “It seems our shifters are territorial and very protective.” He kept his hand on Marin’s shoulder. “By all means, go outside if this conversation disturbs you two. I’ll not have brawling in my home. Alain can defend our honor quite nicely.”
“Gloriana deserves better, Jeremiah.” Fergus moved to the end of the table so I could see him. The shifter Alain followed him and attempted to shove him back.
“This is their business, not ours. Outside. Or I will show you the point of my knife.” Alain reached for it at his belt.
“Ha! It won’t be knives we’ll be using if it comes down to a fight.” Fergus shimmered and seemed to grow in size, as if about to change.
I wished I could beg him to be careful, but all I could do was keep stuffing food in my mouth, under Jeremiah’s command. Stab and chew--carrots, potatoes and chicken. I had no appetite for it but couldn’t stop.
“Enough! I will ask you to trust me as well, Fergus. Gloriana is under my protection. Now go outside.” Jeremiah’s frown worked. Jean-Claude nodded to Alain. The two men grumbled, broad shoulders bumping against each other as they left the room, the door slamming behind them. “Continue, Marin.”
“Of course. I was telling you about Nefertiti’s court.” She glanced at my plate which was almost empty, then slid it out of reach and took my fork. “That is enough, Gloriana. We don’t want you to become sick.”
I sagged in my chair. My hand twitched, wanting to take the fork again, but she squeezed my shoulder and I finally relaxed.
“She is right, Gloriana. Drink some water while we listen to Marin’s
tale.” Jeremiah pushed the goblet into my hand. “It had better be a good one.”
“Oh, it is.” Marin watched my every move, especially my throat as I drank until the goblet was empty. “Nefertiti was beautiful and surely a goddess. She could read minds as easily as you or I can, Jeremiah, and it pleased her to have vampires in her court. I was one of her favorites. My love bites gave her pleasure while we were in bed together and she allowed me to drink her blood.” She closed her eyes with a smile, obviously remembering.
“Her divine blood was so potent it made the finest wine seem like rank river water. And the power! I would feel strong, invincible, for weeks after just one feeding. Believe me, to serve such beauty… “ Her eyes opened and she studied me. “Gloriana’s blood holds the same thrill for me. That same je ne sais pas that reminds me…Well, it was a wonderful time in my long life.”
“I am sure.” Jeremiah’s look at Jean-Claude was as sharp as a knife cut. “No wonder you lost your will to live, Marin. An ordinary vampire’s blood must be a disappointment to you.”
Marin glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t let him tease you, Jean-Claude. You have never disappointed me and well you know it, chéri. I have always liked variety. Even then.”
“Yes, mon coeur, you keep our faire l’amour very entertaining.” He settled a hand on my back. “Gloriana, if you join our household, you can look forward to exciting times with us. Scotsmen are not known for their imagination in the boudoir. ”
Jeremiah leaned forward. “Take your hand off her. I won’t tell you again.”
“Ah, you are jealous, Jeremiah. Jealousy is something we have learned is a waste of our time, have we not, Jean-Claude? We share our love. Variety keeps our bed interesting for both of us.” Marin smiled at her lover. “Chérie, step away for now. Jeremiah and I are still coming to terms.”
And I was still taking in her story. Lover to a goddess? What did she mean? I had heard that women could be lovers. The theater folks were nothing if not adventurous, even the wives of the actors. But this was the first I’d heard that there could be gods and goddesses who walked the Earth. Marin didn’t remove her hand from my shoulder, instead sliding a bold fingertip across the edge of my bodice as if daring Jeremiah to object. It was driving me mad that I still couldn’t move when I wanted to push it away. She looked me over and licked her lips.
“Have you had a woman make love to you, Gloriana? It can be thrilling.” She laughed. “I see you are shocked and intrigued. Come live with us and you will learn many things that will give you pleasure.”
If she didn’t get greedy for my blood and kill me. I could see the thirst in her eyes, the desperation there.
“This has gone on long enough. There are no terms.” Jeremiah threw back his chair. “You are clearly ready to go on living, Marin. Send Jean-Claude or Alain out to find another blood whore for your purposes. I am taking Gloriana home with me. She is not for sale and never will be. I don’t barter for human lives. When we part ways, she will be free to do as she pleases.”
“But you promised! You said I could have one more drink from her!” Marin jumped up, her eyes wild. “And surely we can and will come to terms. She is a mere mortal. Why would you ever let her go free? She is much too valuable.” She grabbed his arm as he helped me up. At his steely look, she dropped it.
“Je vous demande pardon.” She looked down at her hands. “Perhaps my recent ordeal has overset my nerves. I am weak. I admit it. I let old memories and my weakness make too much of her.”
“Don’t try to stop me again, Marin.” Jeremiah warned Jean-Claude away with another look.
Marin followed us to the door. “Jeremiah, please don’t take her away yet. I must feed one more time. Even you admitted her blood is very potent. I need it.”
Jeremiah grabbed our cloaks and faced her. “Yes, it is. But not so extraordinary that I would liken it to the blood of a goddess from ancient Egypt. I think you are right. You clearly need rest and are still light-headed from starving yourself.” He glared at Jean-Claude when he suddenly stepped between us and the door. “Do you really want to fight about this? Now? When your woman needs you?” He stared into the man’s eyes. “Feed her yourself. I’m sure your own ancient blood will be just the thing to make her stronger.”
“Marin, he is right about that. Whatever you saw in this human, it can’t be as good for you as my own ancient blood, mon amour.” Jean-Claude threw open the door, startling the two shape-shifters who stood nose to nose in the corridor. “Alain, step aside. Our guests are leaving.”
“About time.” Fergus had a bruise on his cheek and blood on his knuckles. “We’ve done enough for these people, Jeremiah. Best be on our way. Sunrise can’t be too far off.”
“I know, I feel it.” Jeremiah glanced at Alain, who had a bloody nose and swelling around his eye, then turned back to Fergus. “Can you find a horse for us? We need to get back in a hurry.”
“Aye, I saw a stable close by when we arrived. I’ll meet you outside.” Fergus took off at a run.
I was feeling surprisingly strong, the benefits of my forced feeding. I took a breath and finally found my voice. “Do we have time to beat the sunrise? Perhaps you should go back without me. You know I’ll just slow you down. Fergus and I can come after you.”
“I can make it if we ride. I want to see you safely to our door myself. You and Fergus shouldn’t be seen together on the streets again so soon after Marin’s escape. There may still be Tower guards looking for you. He is too recognizable and they will take up anyone caught with him, whether they think she is a grandmother or not.” Jeremiah nodded to Jean-Claude. “We are done. Marin is safe for now. It would be best if you both left the city as soon as possible.”
“I agree.” Jean-Claude bowed. “Thank you for helping with the rescue. I am in your debt.” He glanced back into their rooms. “My pardon, Gloriana, for Marin’s demands. She is usually not so particular about her blood sources.” He smiled and reached for my hand but I kept it tucked inside my cloak which Jeremiah had thought to lay over my shoulders.
“Jeremiah’s right. Leave town before she’s caught. I won’t help try to rescue her again. It was foolish of me to do it the first time.” I didn’t resist when Jeremiah pushed me down the corridor. “We’d better hurry.”
“Yes, go. Be well. And safe!” Jean-Claude followed Alain inside then shut their door. We heard it lock.
Jeremiah picked me up and ran. He was so fast the stone walls went past us in a blur. Soon we were outside and there stood Fergus with a horse wearing only a bridle, no saddle. That didn’t seem to concern Jeremiah who handed me to Fergus, leaped on the animal, then took me in his arms again. Before I could do much more than hold onto him, we were off.
I had never been on a horse before that I could remember. But I felt secure in Jeremiah’s arms as we rode through deserted streets. I prayed we wouldn’t run into search parties of Tower guards and our luck held. The only people abroad in the hours before dawn were tradesmen setting up stalls and people like us, scurrying about doing things that were best not done in broad daylight. Fergus must have shifted because he was waiting for us when Jeremiah pulled up in front of the building where he made his home deep underground. Somewhere nearby a clock tower chimed five bells.
“You’ve only minutes to spare.” Fergus took the horse’s reins. “I’ll see this beast back to where he belongs. Go now. Gloriana, will you be all right if I leave you alone with him?” He nodded toward Jeremiah.
“I guess I’ll have to be.” I gave Fergus a smile. “Thank you for looking out for me. I know I’m only a lowly mortal to both of you.”
“Hah! So was Jeremiah at one time. It would be wise for him to remember that.” Fergus walked away leading the horse.
I thought about that as Jeremiah took my arm and led me inside the familiar doorway and down the steps to his lair. Yes, that was what I decided his home was. He had a place to hide during daylight hours, just like any nocturnal animal. But now I knew he’d be
en mortal once, just like me. Interesting.
“So you weren’t born a vampire.” I had to know about this.
Jeremiah escorted me inside after he’d unlocked the door. “No, I was turned vampire when I was eight and twenty.”
“Turned.” I took off my cloak and sat while he stirred up the fire. So much had happened it seemed an age since we’d left here. “How can you be ‘turned’?”
“Another vampire does it. It’s complicated. I made the choice at the time.” He cast off the long black cape that had allowed him to hide his sword from the guards who’d stopped us earlier.
He took off that sword and examined it, then set it aside for Fergus to clean. I noticed it still had blood from the guards he’d killed or wounded in the Tower and wondered for a moment if those men had left families who’d mourn them. Too late to consider that. Now I could grab that sword and... What?
Jeremiah didn’t seem concerned that he had left a weapon where I could reach it. Of course not. He would heal if I managed to hurt him. And where could I go if I did run from here? Straight into the arms of a Tower guard who would be happy to see me burned at the stake? I deliberately put my back to the sword and watched Jeremiah sit on a chair to pull off his boots. Getting ready to die at sunrise.
I picked up his boots and cape to carry them to the bedchamber. But then I remembered that he didn’t die for the day there. No, there was a locked room. He had followed me and pulled off his shirt. As always, I couldn’t look away from his broad and masculine chest. Was he thinking he had time for bedsport? How did I feel about that? I had yet to refuse him and wondered if I could. I did like the way he’d defended me against Marin’s attempt to “buy” me.
I dropped his boots next to the bed. “Who did it? Turned you vampire?”
“My father.” He sat on the bed but didn’t remove his pantaloons. “I see that shocks you. I told you my parents are both vampires. We are a family of vampires. As we gain maturity, we are given a choice of becoming vampire or staying mortal. Most of us marry and have families before we choose immortality. That’s how my parents had me and my brothers and sisters. Once we are vampire, our seed is no longer fertile.”
Real Vampires: When Glory Met Jerry Page 12