Sinjin

by H. P. Mallory

  I knew Sinjin was fond of my sister; that much was obvious. His feelings of admiration for her surrounded him like a fog. But when partnered with that flinch I’d noticed earlier in his eyes, I could tell that fondness wasn’t where his feelings for Jolie ended. No, they went much deeper than that. I continued to study Sinjin: watching the way he eyed Jolie, and how his gaze remained steady and unwavering whenever he stared at her. Meanwhile, I also continued to pick up subtle clues as to his innermost thoughts regarding her. Although I still couldn’t receive very much, owing to Sinjin’s refined skills at keeping his feelings captive behind the barricade of his overt defenses, a warm feeling suddenly overcame me.

  And it was at that moment that I had an epiphany. Jolie was essentially the sun in the abysmal darkness that comprised Sinjin’s life.

  Yep, there was no doubt about it—Sinjin was in love with my sister.

  That piece of news stirred a slight jarring feeling deep inside my gut, something that strangely resembled jealousy. Confused and angry over my initial reaction, I immediately shelved the jealous feelings, hoping to use this weakness of Sinjin’s against him. How I would do that, and when the opportunity might present itself, I wasn’t sure, but I definitely recognized a chink in Sinjin’s armor that begged to be explored and revisited later. I filed this bit of information into the back of my head, to be investigated at another date.

  One of the first lessons, and one of the utmost important, that I’d ever learned in my training as an Elemental was to discern any weaknesses in my enemies. And once I identified said weaknesses, I was to exploit them.

  I had to smile when I thought that I was well on my way to discovering exactly what made Sinjin tick and using that confidential information to my advantage.

  “I would like you to assume responsibility for Bryn as her guardian as of this evening,” Jolie addressed Sinjin. He immediately nodded, his eyes still transfixed on hers and unwavering. I watched Rand cover Jolie’s right hand with his own, his attention also captured by the vampire. However, whereas Jolie looked at Sinjin with an expression of happiness and sincere friendly love, Rand’s eyes were narrowed into a hard expression. Maybe there was more to this triad than I’d previously considered. Honing in on Rand, I accessed my powers of telepathy. I was immediately blasted with heat, as if I’d just walked from an air-conditioned room into a hot Las Vegas summer day.

  “Of course, my queen,” Sinjin respectfully answered. “I will happily assume my post as of this very evening.” The vampire smiled at my sister, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. It was laced with sexual innuendo, pompous self-confidence and libidinous thoughts. It was the same expression Sinjin wore whenever he was in my company.

  Glancing back at Rand, I had to ignore the anger I felt coming from him because it only clouded his innermost thoughts. Weaving through his self-imposed cloud of resentment, I focused all my concentration on him, attempting to read his emotions. As soon as I became rapt in my efforts, his thoughts completely engulfed me. His anger was commanding him, and he wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding anything, really.

  I detest the way Sinjin looks at you, Rand said to Jolie through the bond that united them. You are his queen, but he looks at you more like you were his prey. It is highly presumptuous and insolent.

  Rand, we’ve been through this, she telepathically replied. Sinjin already knows where I stand where you’re concerned.

  Yes, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have ulterior motives. Sinjin seeks power, Jolie, and he always has. Despite the ‘friendship’ you believe you have now with him, a leopard can’t change its spots. Sinjin has been and always will be out for himself; although I’m convinced he still harbors passionate feelings for you.

  Don’t be silly, Jolie answered as she figuratively waved Rand’s concern away. Sinjin knows I’m pregnant with your baby. He knows we’re bonded, too; and most importantly, he knows I’m truly, madly and deeply in love with you.

  Rand inhaled audibly and smiled with tenderness and love at his mate. She patted him on his knee with the hand that wasn’t currently taken beneath his. Tugging my attention away from them, I began pondering the information I’d just uncovered. The candor in Rand’s thoughts actually surprised me, since I figured Jolie must have briefed everyone that I could read minds.

  The sooner I can call you my wife, the better, Rand continued. Perhaps our marriage would dissuade the bloody vampire from looking at you as precociously as he does!

  Rand, it’s just the way Sinjin is. I don’t believe he knows how to interact with women in any other fashion. It’s just his way. Then she smiled with delight. And as to the subject of our marriage: Christa is advocating that the four of us have a double wedding.

  I wasn’t sure who Christa was, but figured I’d probably find out at some point, not that I really cared to. Anyhow …

  Well, perhaps, you can convince her to speed up the date of her nuptials, Rand added as he glanced at Jolie and offered her a sexy smile. I am an impatient man!

  Tuning out of their private conversation, which was venturing into vomit-inducing territory, I considered the nature of Sinjin and Rand’s relationship. As far as Rand was concerned, he didn’t like Sinjin and certainly didn’t trust the vampire. Initially, I found it curious that Rand was so convinced the dapper vampire was only out for himself, but the more I thought about it, the more his opinion immediately made sense to me. In my experience, most vampires were out for themselves. More importantly, Rand was exactly right about Sinjin harboring feelings for my sister because even I knew he absolutely did. Jolie was either hopelessly naïve to deny it, or maybe it was more a case of wishful thinking on her part. Clearly, she cared for the vampire in some fashion, even if she didn’t reciprocate his ardor.

  Despite the extent of Jolie’s feelings for Sinjin, or his for her, one thing I knew was that Sinjin absolutely couldn’t be trusted. He was a snake if ever I’d met one. His easy manner and cool, calculating confidence were purely facades. Even though I couldn’t penetrate the safeguard of his defenses, I’d already received enough clues to learn that what existed in Sinjin’s mind was very different to how he tried to present himself.

  Hoping Rand and Jolie’s vomit-inducing mental conversation was finally terminated, I concentrated on Rand again. I hoped to glean more clues regarding the impenetrable vampire from Rand, since Sinjin clearly refused to allow me anything. Although I didn’t get actual words or images from Rand’s mind, I sensed there was a long history between the two of them; and I also deduced that their shared history wasn’t a particularly happy one. I was offered no clues regarding the specifics between Sinjin and Rand from Rand’s bank of memories, but I definitely felt that Sinjin had to have wronged Rand at some point in the past. That notion came from the deeply embedded anger that flowed rampantly through Rand whenever he thought about the vampire. That anger hinted to a long and difficult former relationship with Sinjin. Whatever had happened between Rand and Sinjin was a mystery; one I definitely intended to solve.

  With an inward smile, I realized the creatures of the Underworld weren’t quite as much of a united front as I’d previously thought. It seemed as though each faction of creatures was somehow prejudiced against one another and allowed that disharmony to exist even in Jolie’s council of advisors. And warring factions from within a kingdom were definitely a weakness, if ever I’d seen one.

  Do you really think you’d actually be able to use all this information against Jolie? Your own sister? I asked myself. If it comes down to it, Bryn, whatever you’re learning about her people now could mean the destruction of not only them, but her too!

  I am fully aware of that, I retorted mentally before that irritating voice inside my head decided to pipe up again.

  Jolie is your own flesh and blood …

  But I had to force those thoughts aside because I knew if Jolie were in my situation, she would do exactly the same thing I had to do. She would devise a way out of her predicament and her plan would, no doubt,
include a report of all our comings and goings to her own people. Even though I didn’t know how or when I would see my tribe again, my plan remained the same. At the end of the day, the ties that my sister and I had to our own people were much thicker than the blood she and I shared.

  My attention centered on my sister and Rand as a wave of melancholy snatched me momentarily. Despite my acknowledgment that Jolie and Rand were my sworn enemies, I had to admit Rand was a good man, even if his convictions were wrong. It was clearly obvious that he loved my sister. Although I didn’t know why, I felt a bit grateful to Rand for loving Jolie as much as he did. The feelings didn’t make sense to me right away; but after I thought about them longer, I knew that even if Jolie were on the wrong path, in her heart and core, I believed she was a good person. Who knew? Maybe with enough training, we could wash her head of the lies and propaganda that the Underworld had forced her to believe all this time. Maybe there would come a day when Jolie could be one of us, an Elemental. Maybe, for that matter, there would come a day when we could truly be the sisters we were born to be.

  Jolie faced me with an expression of concern, as if whatever she had to say wouldn’t please me. “With Sinjin now serving as your guardian, Bryn, he must be able to track you in case you should decide to try and escape,” she started hesitatingly with a deep exhale. Immediately, I knew where she was going.

  “He already drank my blood,” I nearly interrupted her, fully aware that the only way for a vampire to track someone was by drinking her blood. Throwing my hands on my hips, I scowled at her. “And that was the first and last time a vampire will ever feed on me,” I added.

  “Unfortunately for you, beautiful heathen,” Sinjin interrupted as he stepped in front of me to make sure he had my attention, or so I assumed. He stared down at me before a pleased smile appeared on his full lips. “Having sampled your blood so long ago, my tracking instincts could be quite impaired … that is, were they put to test.”

  “I don’t give a sh—” I started.

  “I’m sorry to have to do this, Bryn,” Jolie interrupted. She faced me with a pitiful expression in her big blue eyes. They were exactly the same as my own eyes, an observation which suddenly filled me with ire. It was unfair that my own flesh and blood would subject me to something that clashed against every fiber of my being!

  I shook my head at Jolie fiercely, setting my jaw in stubborn defiance. There was no way I would willingly allow this vampire, this revolting creature, to feed on me! Not after promising myself it would never happen again. “You’re going to have to come up with some other alternative,” I hissed between my clenched teeth. “I will never allow a vampire to drink my blood again.”

  “You have no other choice,” Jolie argued with a heavy sigh, looking defeated. I don’t have another option; don’t you see that!? she asked me in her mind. I must protect my people and my kingdom, which means I have to know where you are at any given second! It’s not my intention or desire to subject you to any of this, but you give me no choice, Bryn!

  Then just keep me locked up in my room! I snapped back at her.

  But she shook her head. Regardless of whether or not you have a guardian or remain imprisoned, this is a safety precaution I must insist upon. You are a danger to my people, Bryn, and I can’t, and won’t, jeopardize anyone’s safety.

  I don’t need your explanations, I spat back, knowing I was stuck. I could see Jolie’s reasoning; and were I in her position, I would have done exactly the same thing. Let’s just get on with it then, I admitted with unconcealed defeat.

  At least allow me to magic you so his bite won’t hurt, she pleaded with me.

  Absolutely not! I replied immediately. I was offended at the very idea of letting Jolie magic me. That would effectively drop all my psychic walls, and thereby allow Sinjin’s powers of persuasion to work on me. And I was no dummy when it came to underestimating a vampire’s powers of persuasion. Under a vampire’s spell, the creature could basically do anything he wanted to do to me; a horrifying thought if ever I’d had one! There is no way in hell I would willingly subject myself to whatever glamour Sinjin intends to try and work on me, I continued and adamantly shook my head. Who the hell knows what he’d do to me?

  Sinjin is a gentleman, Jolie argued. I simply raised my brows and frowned at her in an expression that conveyed disbelief and then some. He would never do anything to you that he didn’t think you wanted done.

  Really? I demanded. I never wanted him to drink my blood the first time around.

  Well, aside from that, anyway, she conceded.

  But I refused to have any of it. No. I’ll suffer my fate just like the warrior I was trained to be.

  Then don’t be surprised when it hurts, Jolie warned me angrily.

  I shook my head again, crossing my arms over my chest just to let her know how serious I stood on this point. I don’t care. I would rather be in control of myself as well as my emotions. It’s how I was raised. Pain doesn’t frighten me.

  Jolie didn’t say anything more; she simply looked past me to Sinjin, who stood behind me. She inclined her head in a quick nod before I heard the sound of his chuckle. It was a deep, low rumble that was as sexy as it was intimidating.

  “I shall very much look forward to this, my tasty, little morsel,” he whispered softly, the comment clearly for my ears only.

  “Sinjin,” Jolie interrupted, her tone of voice sounding suddenly stricken. “Please go easy on her.”

  “Of course, my queen, of course,” the vampire replied at the same time that I felt his fingers around my throat. He pulled my head to the side to expose my neck. I struggled in vain against him, becoming livid that he would actually attempt to bite my neck.

  “Now, now, my little minx,” he said with a hiss. “Do not resist me. Have you so soon forgotten what I told you last time we found ourselves in this exact situation?”

  He was referring to the time when he warned me not to struggle against him because fighting him only heightened his excitement. But I didn’t care. I continued to struggle, finding it increasingly difficult to free myself from his iron manacle grip. “I never allowed you my throat, you bastard,” I seethed in response. I thrust my wrist in front of his face when it became obvious he didn’t intend to release his hold on my neck anytime soon. “You can drink from me here.”

  “I rather prefer the intimacy of your supple neck, Bête Noire,” he whispered into my ear as he used his index finger to trace the length of my neck and paused just above my carotid artery.

  “Sinjin,” Jolie exclaimed, shaking her head as her eyebrows furrowed in protest. “Her wrist!”

  With a pouty face, the vampire dropped his hold on my neck and, raised my wrist to the level of his eyes, which he fastened on mine. He ran his nose across my skin as he inhaled deeply. Glancing up at me, his aqua eyes seemed to sparkle as they grew an even brighter shade of blue.

  “Are you a witch, little vixen?” he asked me.

  “No, I’m not, but I’m close enough to one that your inept attempts of persuasion won’t work on me,” I answered, my throat tightly constricted.

  Sinjin glanced from Jolie to Rand with interest. “May I ask, have either of you magicked her to not feel my bite?”

  “I tried to convince her to do it, but she refused,” Jolie answered with a sigh. She looked at me quickly as if to urge me to reconsider.

  “My mind is already made up,” I replied stonily.

  “Bryn,” Rand began, in a serious tone, but his expression softened once his gaze moved from Sinjin to me. “Sinjin’s bite will be …”

  “I know!” I interrupted. “I’m not afraid of the pain! I’ve already discussed this subject at length with my sister and I refuse to discuss it with anyone else.” Then I glared at Sinjin again and took a deep breath, expelling it just as quickly. “All life is suffering,” I quoted Buddha loftily, while raising my brows in an expression that told him to get on with it.

  “How apt and true,” the vampire agreed with his
trademark smirk. Then he raised my wrist to his lips. His emergent fangs appeared extremely long and sharply pointed in the low light of the room. “Bon appétit,” he remarked with a lascivious smile.

  “Jolie, I prefer that you don’t watch this,” Rand said as he stood up and reached for her hand, attempting to lead her out of the room. “This isn’t a good idea, and we need to take your condition into account.”

  “I’m not leaving,” she said firmly while shaking her head. “The least I can do now is suffer through this with my sister.”

  With no time or option to respond, I felt Sinjin’s teeth sinking into my flesh. The pain was acute and immediate and I fought to hold myself in place.

  Ignore the pain, Bryn! I chided myself. Brave the pain and ignore it!

  Sinjin closed his eyes when he bit down on me, but as soon as he pulled his fangs away, and my blood started to pump into his mouth, he opened them again and stared at me. His eyes seemed to be aflame as he lapped up my blood before swallowing it with a feverish passion.

  I narrowed my eyes, and told myself not to flinch, or reveal in any way, shape or form that his bite and subsequent draining of my blood really hurt. I wouldn’t allow him the luxury of knowing he could cause me so much discomfort. Instead, I held my wrist out to him steadfast and true, concentrating my attention solely on him, and refusing to flinch even slightly.

  First and foremost, you are strictly a warrior. Pain does not exist, and you feel nothing, I told myself. I will not cower before or submit to this lowly creature.

  Sinjin continued staring at me and I bravely held his gaze, refusing to allow my eyes to drop. Gritting my teeth, I even managed to smile at him, to prove he couldn’t beat me. If I could smile in the face of such intense pain, I knew I could do anything. Sinjin narrowed his eyes and studied me, as if he were trying to assess my level of discomfort.