by Sophia North
Turning back to study her second painting, she noticed it was more abstract in design. Much of it was painted in various tones of red with streaks of bright yellow. There was no clear, discernible image to be seen at first.
But after staring at it for a little while, Penny got the impression she was looking at fire. It was like a close-up of flames, burning and spitting up into the air. At the top of the canvas she had used grey and black paint to represent smoke.
As her eyes adjusted to the abstract nature of the picture, she noticed a pinkish shape with a dark outline extending out from the centre. At first, it was difficult to distinguish, as the flames and smoke obscured parts of it.
Horrified, she suddenly realised what it was.
Burning in the flames, was a super-imposed close-up of a hand. The startling closeness of the image was why it was difficult to spot. Two of the fingers pressed a small crucifix against the palm, while the other digits stretched outwards, melting flesh dripping from them.
Was she really seeing this? She took another step back from the large painting to make sure she had the right perspective. From that distance, it became even clearer. It was a hand, alright. Burning in the flames. No denying it.
She stood there, her mouth hanging open, at the sheer power and intensity of the painting. How could she not recollect painting any part of it?
This unconscious method of hers was getting way too weird. The image must have come from somewhere deep within her psyche. And although afraid to admit it, deep down she knew what it represented.
It depicted her ancestors, twins, who had been burned at the stake back when such cruelty was common place. Both were innocent women, whose only crime was caring for the ill and infirm.
But in times when ignorance and superstition reign, such women could be branded as witches. Not that Penny's ancestors were without unique gifts, but they'd never practiced any form of black magic. They were just psychics and healers, able to utilise mysterious forces for the welfare of their community.
And yet, in 1669 they had been executed barbarically. This is what Penny had captured in her painting.
It was as though her ancestors had somehow planted the image inside her mind. And she, in turn, had acted as a kind of medium, by making their deaths come alive on canvas.
Vlad came up behind her and handed her a drink, having deposited the bottle of whisky he'd managed to find onto the coffee table. "When did you paint these?" he asked softly in her ear. "They are unlike any of your other work."
Penny shivered, but not in the pleasurable way being close to Vlad usually elicited. "It must have been last night. After you...left." She drank her whisky down and padded away to pour herself another one.
Vlad moved closer to inspect her latest creations. Art was one topic where the two of them agreed most. He had an excellent eye for beauty and she always appreciated his viewpoints. He was an honest critic of her work, never indulging in flattery just to charm her. And if she was being candid, his feedback over the past few months had helped hone her natural abilities in ways she'd never imagined.
"They are incredible," he said admiringly. "This new style you are utilising, what is the inspiration behind it? It is like Turner with a twist."
Penny didn't know how to respond. She'd always talked about her past with him in a joking manner, claiming her ancestors had driven his Viking forefathers from Scotland back in the day. What she'd failed to add was the fact her bloodline were also renowned for being witches. Why freak him out anymore than he already was at the prospect of being with her?
She slipped Vlad's coat off and placed it on the arm of the sofa. Trailing her fingers along the blood red piping on the collar reminded her of the reason why he was really there. And it wasn't to discuss her art.
"Tick tock, Elder Barath. Sunrise in two hours, twenty-two minutes," she mocked, emulating the voice of his car's computer before turning to face him. "What on the Goddess's green earth do you want from me? You act like you care, then take off for days without so much as a text. And when I dare to be upset about it, you throw 'duty' in my face as if it absolves you."
Whoosh, and the fire between them was lit.
"You think two hours, twenty-two minutes long enough for this particular discussion, love?" Vlad enquired dangerously.
"Who knows? But I think we've both grown tired of having long, hard talks," she said, deliberately drawing the conversation to the source of her true frustration: their lack of intimacy, despite their obvious desire for one another.
Yes, she was angry with him for humiliating her in public tonight. But if the two of them were really on a path to nowhere, she'd be damned if she let it end before they had shared one night of passion.
Slowly sliding her long black skirt over her hips, Penny let it slip from her fingers to pool at her feet. "Wouldn't you agree?"
Chapter Nine
VLAD WAS PRETTY SURE Penny had just said something. But he could not recall a single word. All he could focus on were laces. The ones on her corset and the ones on the black, chunky high-heeled combat style boots she wore to her knee.
His logical brain completely shut down when he noticed she was wearing a black stringed thong. There the lace theme continued most unexpectedly. He liked it. A lot. Yes, laces were incredibly distracting.
Penny walked suggestively towards him, each step accompanied by a sway of her hips. It reminded him of how a cobra danced when it was about to attack. But in his present state of desire, a lethal bite from Penny would be worth taking.
"Is that what we should do?" she asked, provocatively marching her fingers up his broad chest. "Talk?"
The way she emphasised the 'k' at the end made his dick hardened.
Undoing the buttons of his shirt one by one, she continued. "Hmm, you're very quiet. Don't you have anything to say?"
He had plenty of ideas about what he wanted to do with his mouth. Conversation wasn't one of them.
Penny took a few steps back, leaving him standing with his shirt open to the waist. She loved his powerful body and wanted to admire him.
With his long blonde locks falling provocatively to his shoulders, the odd wavy strand caressed the hard lines of his cheekbones and rugged jaw. The firm muscles of his chest and six-pack were stark white against the black of his shirt, making him look like a marble god, waiting for her to breathe life into him.
Vlad froze, letting her look her fill. He wanted her more than anything, but feared the desire she unleashed in him. Feared its power, its consequences.
Awash in emotions he'd never experienced before, Vlad's stormy gaze met hers. She met it unflinchingly, as her fingers trailed along the mounds of her breasts to the top of her corset.
Swish. The sound of the leather string being released from the first set of eyelets was like the lash of a whip to Vlad's heightened senses.
Their locked gaze unwavering, Penny slowly undid the black leather top, each swish igniting the growing desire between them.
Her disrobing complete, the corset joined her skirt on the floor. "I think I'll keep the boots on, don't you?" She put her index finger to her lips and swayed gently from side to side. Her full alabaster breasts, with large pink nipples, rocked gently back and forth in time.
Every candle in the place suddenly blazed to life.
Leaning over the arm of the sofa, on top of his coat, she asked, "Didn't you mention earlier you had to hold yourself back from...how did you put it? Bending me over your knee and thrashing me?"
"Penny..." he growled. In a flash, he was behind her, admiring the way her firm pert ass looked against the black leather of his coat.
"Yes?" she whispered seductively, sending him a look of pure carnal invitation.
"You play with fire. Are you certain you can withstand the heat?"
She preened against his coat, spreading herself open to him. "Can you?"
Vlad smiled down at her. He loved a challenge.
Tracing the length of her spine with the tip of his fi
nger, he continued down until it reached the string of her black thong underwear. Slipping his index finger beneath the satin string, he followed it between the cheeks of her beautifully tight heart-shaped ass to lightly touch the heat of her womanhood.
Damn, she felt good. Hot, wet and begging for further exploration.
Penny moaned and circled her hips, urging him to do exactly that.
Vlad wanted her, but not like this - a supplicant begging to be dominated.
He flipped her up into his arms effortlessly, bringing them face to face.
Shocked by her sudden new position, Penny stared at him in surprise.
He chuckled at her wide-eyed astonishment before capturing her lips with his for a long, deep kiss. Penny responded eagerly, wrapping her arms around his thick neck in order to surrender completely to his onslaught.
Vlad carried her up the loft stairs and tenderly laid her down on the bed. Her thick red hair seductively caressed the curves of her body.
Shirtless, he loomed over her. His long golden hair mingled with hers as he licked her nipples. Molten fire met the sun, Penny trembled in delight as she watched him pay homage to her full breasts.
Teasingly tracing the hard nub of her nipple with his tongue, Vlad slipped his hand down to gently caress her through the black satin of her underwear. She writhed in pleasure at the renewed contact.
He wanted to be gentle, but when she breathlessly whispered 'please, make me yours' in his ear, he lost all restraint. Tearing the thong from her, he slipped an index finger into her pussy, groaning at how tight she was, how wet she was for him. "Fuck, you are delectable, my sweet honey pot," he rasped, adding another finger to stretch her out more. "I'm going to suck every drop from you."
Vlad bent down and ran his tongue where his fingers had once been.
"Oh yes, yes Vlad," she begged, the feel of his tongue on her was beyond anything she could have imagined.
He plunged his tongue deep inside. She tasted fucking fantastic. He wanted more.
Penny bit her pillow to muffle her shouts of pleasure. Vlad reached over and tossed it away. "Oh no, baby. I want to hear you."
He went to work. Licking, sucking, rubbing her clit. He fucked her with his tongue and fingers like she'd never been fucked before.
"Jesus, Vlad...fuck. I'm going to cum," she panted, her fingers digging into his hair, urging him on. "I'm going to fucking cum!" And she did. Spasms of pleasure racked her body as she climaxed multiple times.
Her cries of ecstasy nearly caused him to spill his load, but he managed to keep control. It was his first time pleasuring a human woman this way - ever.
Vlad spooned with her, gently massaging her nether region, as she continued to orgasm. "I can't stop..." she groaned.
"Easy, baby. Let me slow you down," he gently coaxed.
She laid in his arms, completely satiated. Eventually, she stirred to look at him. "I've never known such pleasure. But..."
He pressed a finger to her lips to shush her. "Sometimes, darling, there is greater pleasure to be had by being the giver. Sleep, my beauty. Sleep."
Penny’s eyes felt so heavy. Within moments she gave in.
Vlad nestled against her and closed his eyes.
"SUNRISE IN THIRTY MINUTES."
Vlad's eyes snapped open at the sound of his watch's programmed reminders. Untangling himself from Penny, he reluctantly got out of bed to prepare to return to his quarters in Lowerton. Staring down at her sprawled nakedness, he smiled softly to himself when he saw she was still wearing her boots.
Sitting at the bottom of the bed, he began to unlace them, enjoying how the sound they made reminded him of their night together. Penny barely stirred. His Dragon slept like the dead.
Another 'extraordinary' thing he loved about her to add to his list.
His breath caught in his throat. It was true. He loved Penny. Fuck, how had it come to this? He'd sworn to himself that he'd never be weakened by this 'thing' humans called love. Love had only ever brought him pain.
Covering her naked body with a duvet, Vlad crouched down to gently rub her exposed shoulder. It was impossible. He couldn't love her. Theirs was a destiny already weaved with loss and pain. He was a vampyre and she a mortal. It could never be.
He needed to run. Expel the pain he was feeling. They'd had one night together and that's all they would ever have, even if it killed him. Which in all likelihood it would.
But he couldn't go without one last kiss. Turning Penny to face him, he pressed his lips to hers. "Good bye, my love."
Then, in a flash, he was gone.
Chapter Ten
"GENTLEMEN, THE VOTE has resulted in a draw. The motion to reopen genetic research has failed to gain consensus. This means we will vote on the matter again at our next meeting. And we’ll keep on voting until a majority position is reached," Alessio announced, the disappointment evident in his voice.
As Grand Elder, he would not cast the deciding ballot. His role was simply to implement the Council of Elders decision. Although technically, Alessio was the absolute ruler of Lowerton. But he'd promised himself he'd maintain some semblance of democracy when he could.
Vlad shifted uneasily in his chair. He was one of the dissenters, albeit an anonymous one. On votes of great import, the Council adopted a secret ballot system. The practice was meant to minimise any attempts at lobbying Elders to influence the way they voted. It sounded good in theory, but as with all political systems, in practice there were always loopholes.
"If there is no further business, we shall adjourn for the evening." No one raised a hand.
As the Elders shuffled from the Starr Chamber, Alessio called out for Darius and Vlad to remain. Elder Walpole took exception.
"May I remind the Grand Elder about the strict protocols we on Council adhere to regarding private meetings between members," his nasally, imperious voice whined.
Alessio merely smiled graciously at the pompous vamp. "Many thanks, Elder Walpole. You are quite right, the Starr Chamber is not an acceptable place for personal business. Come, friends. We will retire to my quarters to speak. A good evening to you, Edward."
There wasn't much the prick could say. Vlad and Darius were his son's best friends long before they were Elders.
Vlad opened a door, hidden cleverly within an elaborate wall mural. "Oh look, his quarters. Shall we?" He couldn't resist making the point that the Starr Chamber was but a door away from the Grand Elder's apartment. In many senses, it was more like his office than an official public space.
Walpole was snookered and he knew it. With a stiff smile aimed at the trio, he quickly departed.
Moving to sit next to a roaring fire, Alessio lit a thin cigar and blew out a large puff of smoke. "Thank you for joining me. I appreciate you've both recently returned from travelling and would prefer to be catching up on matters during your absences."
Vlad eyed Alessio suspiciously. He acted as if he hadn't commanded Vlad to go out in search of Dante and Darius the other night. What was he playing at?
Darius grinned and lit a cigar. "I used last night to blow off some steam, so you needn't be concerned about my focus. I'm back up to speed. How about you, brother? Did you end up having an enjoyable evening?"
Not for the first time, Vlad wanted to punch the arrogant smirk from Darius's face. He'd always been a wind-up merchant who liked fucking with his mates heads.
"So the reports are true. Both of you were in London last night, not Broadstone Heath," Alessio barked.
"Broadstone Heath - why the fuck would I have been there?" Darius asked somewhat incredulously.
Vlad answered. "Because Dante's gone missing and Alessio thought you were aiding him."
Darius's dark eyes smouldered. "Aiding him to do what exactly?"
"Find Wilhalf in order to prove Haan is still operating on this plane," Alessio replied.
"Yeah, that sounds like me, doesn't it?” Darius quipped sarcastically.
Vlad laughed. The vamp may be a prick, but sometime
s he couldn't help liking him for it.
"Then where the hell is my son?" Alessio exclaimed. "Vlad, did you even go to Broadstone Heath as you promised?"
Shit. This might get tricky. Vlad had no intention of revealing his encounter with Wilhalf in front of Darius. The things the old vamp told him were too personal to share right now. Plus, there was the small matter of Darius's intentions towards his woman. He'd been far too cozy with her last night in the booth.
"I was about to search the Lang's North Tower when Alfred rang me with news of Darius being at Mitchells. Naturally, my first instinct was to speak with him about Dante's location. So I immediately drove back to London." The lie fell so easily from his lips. He really was becoming a seasoned diplomatic professional.
"Ah, so that is what you meant when you said you'd 'deal with me later'," Darius remarked slyly.
"You mean to say the two of you have yet to speak on the matter?" Alessio asked aggressively. "What happened last night to delay the conversation?"
"Things became a tad complicated," Vlad explained lamely.
"You cannot mean to tell me your scene with Penny at Mitchells interfered with your duty," Alessio snapped. "Don't misunderstand me. I like the young woman immensely. She has been a wonderful friend to my daughter-in-law. But I have never been completely comfortable with how active she's become in our world. She is human after all. And she has a tendency to be dramatic with a worrying consistency."
"Don't be too harsh, Grand Elder. In my brother's defence, her presence at Mitchells was attracting far too much attention from male vamps. Vlad was right to see her home safely," Darius offered convincingly.
Alessio sighed. "This illustrates exactly why having accurate records for finding a compatible Mate are needed. My apologies, Vlad. I did not realise Penny was yours. Congratulations and best of luck. You're going to need it."
Fuck, the vamp had to be kidding. Vlad was breaking up with Penny, not making her his Mate.
"Save the champagne, Alessio. My brother here will never mate. Made some fucked up vow against it centuries ago and has stuck to it ever since. I swear, if it weren't for the whispers of content from most of the female vamp population, I'd believe him a eunuch."