by Raven Steele
Oz jerked his head toward her. "I own a tux."
"I'd say by their reaction, you look decent enough," Roman said. "Remember what I told you. Be mindful of what they say and take in everything about their surroundings. We may need it for later."
"I will. And you guys be careful. I may not be able to help you right away if you get into trouble, but text me if you do, and I will leave as soon as I can."
After saying a quick goodbye to Emma, I left Ironwood and headed to the warehouse to retrieve my vehicle. It felt good to be behind the wheel again, music blaring and windows down. It made me feel more human than I’d felt in days. I turned into a gated residential area where the houses rivaled the state's capital. I rarely came to this part of the city. Not much crime happened here that I knew about.
I located the address listed on the card Bastian had given me and turned onto a long driveway. The road cut through a line of cherry blossom trees and beyond them stretched meticulous gardens full of flowers and bushes. It was the opposite of every vampire nest I had ever destroyed.
It was almost half a mile before I reached the grand estate. The home looked more like a hotel with two wings stretching out from a large center, tall pillars dropping from a gabled roof to the ground. It had arched windows twenty feet high and balconies jutting out from several sets of doors on the second floor.
I parked behind a Lamborghini, taking note of the many other cars parked out front. Even though I drove a vintage Mustang, it paled in comparison to the others. Since I was early, I expected to be one of the first guests, but by the number of vehicles, I may be one of the last. Unless, a sudden thought occurred to me, maybe his guests had spent the night from the day before. Maybe they lived here. Bastian could have a large coven. A fancier version of a newbie vampire nest.
I stepped up the marble steps to the tall front doors where a human butler greeted me. This surprised me.
"Your name, sir," he asked, bowing his balding head. His eyes flickered to the crow tattoo on my neck.
"Aris Crow," I answered. Maybe he had been compelled to take employment here. I scanned his skin for bite marks but didn't see any. His blood smelled well enough, sort of like barbequed chicken cooked over charcoal. Maybe the vampire bites where hidden beneath his pressed uniform.
"Right this way.” He led me into the house. Over his shoulder, he said, "We've been waiting for you. Everyone is quite excited to meet you."
"Why is that?"
"Because you are doing great things for the city. Newer vampires should not be allowed to run free. They are much too destructive."
I startled at his words. He clearly knew about vampires, and yet he didn’t seem afraid. He’s got to be compelled, right? It just didn’t make sense for a human to willing hang around vampires. That’s like a lamb choosing to dine with a lion.
My mind stumbled over a new thought. I was living with humans, and the ones who knew that I was a vampire had chosen to stay. I didn’t ever plan on hurting them. Was it possible that Bastian and his friends could have the same sort of relationship?
The butler led me through a grand foyer with a set of sweeping stairs up to the second floor. Like the steps out front, these were also a pearly white marble with dark lines swirled throughout. Most of the furniture looked antiqued with its darkened cherry wood and faded upholstery, pale in color. It made me wonder how long Bastian had really been here. Had they just been waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves?
The butler stopped at two closed doors. "Your party waits for you in the living room. Dinner will be served in thirty minutes. If you want anything before then, my name is William. I will be happy to get you whatever you need."
He opened the doors and stepped back to allow me to pass. I hesitated briefly before walking into an enormous room that stole my breath. The ceiling had been painted to look like the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, but this version was slightly different from the images I'd seen. Adam was there with God, but instead of touching his finger, Adam fed from the Almighty's wrist.
In the corner of the room, a beautiful, human woman played a grand piano, a piece by Mozart, if I wasn't mistaken. A vampire stood next to her leaning over on the piano, seemingly lost in thought. In addition to him, there must've been two dozen other vampires sitting and talking with one another. But that wasn't all. There were just as many humans with them interacting casually. It was hard to take in as everyone appeared normal as if this was a common occurrence. There wasn't a hint of fear anywhere. Maybe I couldn't detect it because the whole room smelled like human blood. I swallowed the growing saliva in my mouth.
In the corner of the room, sitting in a lone chair as if a statue, was the witch, her long dark hair swept to the side and wearing a different black dress. It was form fitting and low cut. By the way she was sitting, all straight and with a tight expression, she wanted to rid herself of the gown as quickly as possible.
From across the room, I locked eyes with Bastian. A female held onto his arm. She was exquisitely beautiful with long blonde hair contrasting against her black cocktail dress. He smiled and motioned me over. Two other vampires, a man, and woman were with him.
I swallowed more saliva and walked over to them, gritting my teeth.
"You're early," he said. He extended his hand as if to shake mine, but I ignored it. He withdrew it, and added, "Friends, this is Aris Crow, the vampire I told you about."
The female grinned with a perfect set of white teeth and touched me on the arm. "It is so nice to meet you! I can't tell you how grateful we are for everything you’re doing.”
"Forgive my wife," the man next to her said. "Ginger has wanted to meet you for some time." He extended his hand. "My name is Frederick. It's an honor."
I tentatively shook it. This was not the greeting I expected from a room full of vampires.
Bastian turned toward the human woman on his arm. “This is Samantha, my date for the night."
"Did you have to compel her?"
Samantha smiled kindly. "That is hardly necessary. Bastian is one of the nicest people I've met in the city. If it weren't for him, my family would be homeless."
"She speaks too highly of me," he said. "Come, Aris. Let me introduce you to everyone else. They are anxious to meet you."
He proceeded to lead me around the room, introducing me to both humans and vampires. I had a hard time wrapping my head around everything I heard and saw. They were a contradiction to what I had been taught. Nothing about these vampires looked predatory, and none of them had any issues being near humans.
After fifteen minutes of small talk, I pulled Bastian aside. "How is it that these vampires can be around humans so easily?"
"Because they're well trained. We have a program for new vampires that teaches complete control of one's bloodlust."
I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I would love training like that. Maybe Samira would’ve given me something similar had I stayed longer in Louisiana.
"I don't know what you've been told about vampires, but we can be gentle creatures when we are trained properly. In fact, did you know it is against the Principes Noctis’ rules to force innocent humans to do anything?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Over time, we’ve discovered that if we treat them as equals, they will often give us their blood. This is all we want, a mutually beneficial relationship."
"And if they refuse to give blood?"
"Then we let them refuse. This is not difficult to understand. Does a car salesman make his customers buy a car? No. The customer either likes the salesman and buys the car or moves on. We are no different." He touched me lightly on the elbow. "Let me show you something."
He led me out of the room and down a long hall that smelled faintly of baked bread and cinnamon, both smells that used to be pleasing to me. A kitchen must be nearby. In a house full of vampires, I wondered how often it got used.
At the end of the path, he opened a door revealing a room no less grand than the others, but this one contained a
ll sorts of artifacts that looked like they belonged to another time. Most notably, the oil paintings hanging on the wall. Each of them painted with beautiful, careful strokes and brilliant colors. I’d never seen anything like them. "How old are these?"
"This one here," he said and pointed to the nearest one, “was painted in the twelfth century when King Henry the second ruled.”
I studied the exquisite details of a grand party in motion, people dancing and interacting with one another. Each face had been painted in incredible detail. My eyebrows rose when one of them looked familiar.
Bastian noticed my surprise. “You are correct if you think that is me. I was there at that ball, celebrating the new year with our human friends. That was a wonderful time in history when both vampires and humans existed together.”
He walked around the rest of the room, and I trailed behind him noting how the other paintings depicted similar scenes mimicking the same colors and brush strokes.
“Did one artist paint all of these?" I asked.
"His name is Jacob. He's a vampire and a close friend of mine. These paintings are of different eras when vampires prospered alongside humans.
"Why are you showing me this?"
He turned to me. "Because I want you to understand our vision. We have lived with humans before in peace. We have been trying to establish this in Coast City for nearly three decades. We came close with your father, Jonas Crow. He shared our vision, but then he was killed." His voice held a hint of bitterness. "We thought Victor would also join us, but he's proved to be quite difficult."
"I am no friend to Victor, and hope to kill him for what he's done to my family and me, but I don't see how he's resisting you. It’s vampires causing problems, not him."
"You still don't understand. We want peace, but someone is creating new vampires without our permission, and they are tearing apart this city. We think Victor is involved somehow."
"If you believe that, then why not just kill him?" I had no emotion when I said those words. Victor deserved what he got. If the bad guys took each other out, it would make my job easier.
"Because the Principes Noctis have rules. Either we must find proof of his deceit, or he must do something that causes harm to the vampire race. So far, he has obeyed our rules."
"But why would Victor want a city full of uncontrollable vampires?"
"To convince every human of, first, our existence, and second, how dangerous we are. When that happens, humans will go on a witch hunt to destroy us all. It's happened numerous times throughout history, but it doesn’t have to happen here, not if we can stop the spread of new vampires.”
"What do you want from me?"
Bastian checked the time on his silver wrist watch, probably checking to see how much longer until dinner. He looked up at me. "Victor seems to have a special affection for you. I believe he’s trying to court you so he can convince you to fight against us, but I can’t be sure. I want you to get close to him and find out what he knows. Pretend you're on his side. I suspect if he believes this, he will let you in on his plan to take us down. Once you find that out, I want you to report back to me."
"And why would I do that?"
“Because we both want the same thing—a safe city.” His head jerked to the left as if someone had shouted his name, but I didn’t hear anything. "Dinner is ready."
I followed him into the dining room, completely taken back by the turn of events. If there was any truth to Bastian’s words, and I wasn't sure if there was, then I should stop Victor, and whoever else is making new vampires. But Bastian could be lying. His words were convincing, but they weren’t enough to combat everything bad I had heard about them.
"You can sit next to me," he said.
I looked down the long table for another seat, but every chair was filled. Several people, vampires and humans alike, smiled innocently at me. Only the witch was missing from the room. I reluctantly walked over and sat on Bastian's left. Across from me, sat a beautiful woman with long dark hair that flowed in great curls down her red evening gown. She was a vampire, one of the prettiest I’d seen. She smiled at me shyly and bowed her head.
"Aris, this is Lady DuPont. She is visiting from England," Bastian said.
"Please, call me Annabelle.” Her eyelashes lowered over emerald-colored eyes.
I forced myself to play the role. To get to the truth, I needed them to think I was on their side. "How do you do?"
"I'm a little intimidated actually," she said. "I knew your father well. He was a great man, and I hear you are just like him."
I repressed a shiver. The last thing I wanted to be like was my father. He had controlled everyone around him, including my mother. He also let the Principes Noctis into the city, which was the beginning of Coast City’s downward spiral into crime and poverty.
A door leading into the kitchen opened and several humans walked in, carrying steaming plates of food. They placed one in front of everyone at the table. I stared down at the fish and vegetables wondering what in the hell I was supposed to do with it. I looked up. None of the other vampires seemed to think this was strange.
What I wanted was blood. I was tired of holding my breath, as it didn't feel comfortable.
I inhaled just then immediately smelling the blood of a human sitting four seats away from me. I sucked in air, my stomach cramping.
Bastian took the first bite, prompting everyone else to do the same. The room broke out in a chorus of polite pleasantries and gentle laughter. I kept my eyes down, sliding the food back and forth across my plate. I couldn’t wait to get out of here and abate my hunger with something I actually wanted.
"Is the food not to your liking?" Annabelle asked me.
I lifted my gaze. "It's not my first choice, but it's well prepared."
"Don't worry,” Bastian said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “The main course will be coming in soon.”
A few minutes later, the doors opened again, but this time, instead of the kitchen staff, a few vampires escorted in six barely-clothed humans, five of them males. All six were bound with thick cords and were expressionless, a glassy look in their eyes. I’d seen that look before. These humans have been compelled.
I sat up straighter in my seat ready to save them if necessary. Finally, the evil atrocities of the Principe Noctis would be revealed.
Chapter 24
Another human, one not tied up, entered the room carrying several folders. At the sight of him, vampires around the table whispered excitedly.
Bastian slid his chair back and came to his feet. With his hands, he quieted the crowd to silence. "Tonight, we have a special treat. Standing before us are six criminals who have committed horrible crimes against our human friends. Three of them are murderers,” he motioned to the two men and woman on his left, then glanced to his right, "and these two are serial rapists."
Several vampires hissed and growled.
Bastian continued. "This last man has been convicted of molesting several children.”
At this, vampires jumped to their feet, crowding the room with their anger. One vampire yelled, "Let's kill him first!"
My pulse raced at the sudden aggression in the room, and I had a hard time not joining in the frenzy.
Bastian silenced them again. "Before we begin, I'd like to welcome anyone who might have doubts about their guilt to come review their court files. In addition to a judge and jury finding these criminals guilty of the crimes they’ve committed, each individual has also signed a confession." His gaze found mine. "There is no question about their guilt, but we encourage everyone to verify for themselves. We would never want to harm an innocent human. Once we are all in agreement, we will carry out their punishments. This is how our symbiotic relationship with humans works, one of the benefits anyway."
I turned my attention to the other vampires in the room. Many were baring their fangs, some with salvia already dripping from the tips of their teeth, and their bodies were coiled tight, much like a snake before
it strikes its prey. My own fangs elongated, as the excitement in the room was nearly suffocating. If these six people were truly guilty of the crimes they were accused of, then what harm was there in killing them? Had I caught them in the act itself, I would easily take their lives. This was no different. It was just killing them after the fact.
A few vampires rose from the table and walked over to search the files. A female said to another, as she flipped through the paperwork, "I honestly hate violence of any kind, but if these humans are guilty, they must be punished."
The woman next to her nodded her head solemnly.
"Aris," Bastian said to me, his voice low. "You are welcome to see for yourself. This is our way and has worked for centuries."
I wanted to get up to confirm their guilt for myself, but that would bring me dangerously close to the humans. I was too afraid I wouldn’t have the strength to resist the pull of their blood in front of everyone. Already I was digging into the underside of the table just to keep me seated.
"I trust they are accurate," I lied. I had no reason to trust them, but since I couldn’t move from my place, I might as well let Bastian think I did.
He smiled at me appreciatively.
I averted my gaze. It fell upon the humans sitting at the table. Most of them were still eating, occasionally glancing up at the scene playing out before them. They held no fear in their eyes.
After the vampires examining the folders were satisfied and sat down, Bastian addressed the guards. “Prepare the humans.”
The guards stepped in front of the humans, eye to eye, and whispered commands, compelling them to remain still with their arms out from their sides and to keep quiet no matter what happened. They did as they were ordered, standing several feet apart until their fingertips almost touched.
"We all know the rules, but for our new guest," Bastian’s eyes flashed to mine, "I will repeat them. One vampire is not allowed to drain a human. You take your fill and stop so the next person in line may have a turn. There's enough blood for all of us to feel satisfied. We will begin at the end of the table. Six may come up at a time."