Baited Blood

by Sue Ann Jaffarian

  Gwen Maddox had been right, the home did look like a mini medieval castle plucked from a storybook.

  The large stone edifice matched the gate and was closer to the gate than the first house had been. There was still a large circular driveway edged with low-standing manicured shrubs, but there was less distance between the front gate and the actual house. In fact, the front gate almost spilled right onto the wide circular drive. Madison wondered if, although still grand, this estate did not have the same amount of acreage as the other houses she’d seen. With land so costly, it was common in Southern California for huge homes to be placed on smallish lots—or at least small by rich people’s standards. The shortened drive also allowed Madison to get a very good view of the wide front steps and entrance. To the left and right of the house, she could see evidence of smaller buildings built in the same matching weathered stone, probably the garage and guesthouse. A few cars were parked in front or to the side of the main entrance. While a couple were nice cars, some were not, which Madison thought strange. If the older, less attractive vehicles belonged to maids and other staff members, they would normally be parked around the back of the house. Then she noticed something else different from the other houses. This estate didn’t look quite as cared for as the other properties. On first glance, its appearance could even be called immaculate, but overall the property had a sense of abandonment or lack of emotional investment, like a marriage where neither party cared anymore but still kept up appearances. It was still beautiful—the lawn was mowed and the trees and shrubbery trimmed—but the beauty came from the architecture, not from any warmth or sense that this was a home. Madison wondered if it was because it was a leased property.

  She leaned forward to study the gathered vehicles, trying to memorize each for details and wishing she could see license plates. She still didn’t know if this was the house Keleta had been kept in, but it didn’t hurt to take notice of everything possible. Pulling out her cell phone, Madison began snapping photos through the bars of the gate. She’d show them to Keleta as soon as she could.

  She was snapping photos of the cars when the front door to the mansion opened. A woman walked out dressed in jeans and a light-colored pullover sweater with a long scarf around her neck. She was slim, with long, curly dark hair and took the steps at a quick pace. Just as she opened the door to a silver Honda Civic, another young woman appeared at the door. She was dressed in a gauzy pastel robe. Her long blond hair was tangled, giving her a just-rolled-out-of-the-sack look.

  “Where are you going, Libby?” the woman in the robe called to the woman getting into the car.

  “Just out to run some errands,” Libby called back. “I’ll be back in a hour or so.”

  The woman at the door looked nervous, glancing over her shoulder back into the house. She pushed her messy hair out of the way and turned back to Libby. “It’s getting late. Make sure you’re home before they get up.”

  Madison felt her ears widen like satellite dishes. Libby. Though not a rare name, it wasn’t that common either. Leaning as far as she dared, she focused in on the conversation.

  “They’ll be hungry, and you know how she gets if we’re not all here.”

  “I told you not to worry,” Libby replied in a hurried voice. Waving to her friend at the door, she climbed into the car.

  Madison, forgetting about security patrols and the unsure footing of her high heels on the pavement, ran back to the Range Rover. She barely had time to buckle up and start the engine before the gate opened and Libby’s Honda pulled out onto the road, heading in the direction from which Madison had come just a few minutes before. Madison pulled out and followed.

  Libby turned left onto Cold Canyon Road, then made a quick right on Piuma. When Libby reached Las Virgenes Road, Madison was surprised when she took a right. She had assumed Libby would turn left and make her way the few miles toward Malibu, where there were plenty of shops and restaurants.

  As she drove a safe distance behind Libby, Madison kept running the brief exchange between Libby and the other woman through the corridors of her mind. The word hungry had definitely been used. So had a reference to people getting up late in the day, and the specific mention of a she who was in charge. Had Madison stumbled upon Keleta’s castle via the helpfulness of a hassled TV star? Of course, she argued with herself, it could also mean the others in the household generally slept late. And most people were hungry when they first got up. It could be that she was the leader of a rock band who played gigs late into the night and demanded that her entourage be in attendance when everyone rose and got ready for their next performance.

  It could also be that she was Lady, and they referred to the male vampires she kept around for kicks or whatever purpose they served. If that was the case, there was a good chance Libby and her friend back at the house were two of the consorts Keleta had mentioned.

  Libby. Consorts. Had Madison unwittingly stumbled upon Notchey’s missing sister as a bonus? Madison struggled with both the excitement and the dread that crowded for her attention. If the Libby driving in the car ahead of her was Notchey’s sister, she’d been living in the Los Angeles area and had not contacted her brother—meaning there was a good chance she did not want to see him or have him know she was here.

  Madison had asked Keleta if the women at the castle were enslaved in any way—kept there by force for the vampires’ enjoyment. He’d been emphatic that they were not—that the women were employed and could leave anytime they wished, and in the short time he’d spent at the castle, several did come and go, though a few had been there the entire time he’d been in residence and appeared to have been with Lady quite a long time. He’d also said that most of the regular or favorite consorts lived at the castle, though some came in and out on a part-time basis or when called in by Lady.

  Madison watched the taillights of the Honda ahead of her light up as it slowed for a curve. Libby had gotten into her car and driven off without any indication that she was sneaking out or escaping.

  Continuing to keep her distance, Madison followed Libby up Las Virgenes for nearly five miles until she turned on Agoura. Up ahead was the freeway on-ramp. Again, Madison was surprised. Instead of getting onto the freeway, Libby pulled into the parking lot of an L-shaped strip mall.

  Madison continued down Agoura a half block then doubled back, entering the same parking lot from a different angle. She kept to the far end of the lot, pulling into a space that allowed her to watch Libby enter a Starbucks. Madison’s gut told her Libby was meeting someone. Either that or she had a big-time hankering for an overpriced designer coffee.

  Looking around the inside of the Range Rover, Madison spotted a black wool bucket-style hat Dodie kept in the vehicle. It sat low on the head, with a brim that was thin in the back and widest at the front. Scooping up her long hair, Madison twisted it up on top of her head and stuck the hat over it. She pulled the front brim down low enough to hide her eyes without obscuring her vision. Even though it was a sunny day, it was February and a slight chill hung in the air. The hat would not look out of place. With one final deep breath, Madison made her way into Starbucks.

  The scattered tables were partially filled, several occupied by individuals working on laptops. Libby was at the counter ordering her drink. Madison got in line two people behind her. When her drink was served, Libby took a seat at a small table next to a tall, square trash container on the other side of the room. She sipped her beverage without taking her eyes off the main entrance.

  Madison posted herself at a table on the other side, next to a window, keeping watch on her prey without getting too close. She studied Libby, looking for any resemblance to Notchey. Though she looked pale and tired, Libby was a lovely woman with an angular face, large dark eyes, and full lips.

  They’d only been seated about five minutes when Madison glanced out the window. Surprise nearly made her drop her coffee. A car she recognized had pulled up, and an equally recognizable figure got out and headed for the coffee shop—
Hyun, Samuel’s bodyguard.

  Madison shook off the surprise and put her brain in gear. She glanced over at Libby. She was sitting straight, her eyes bright and fixed on Hyun as he made his way through the parking lot toward the coffee shop.

  Madison shuddered to think what this meeting might mean. Hyun might have known all along the identity and location of Lady and withheld the information. Or he might be working for Samuel as a plant for Lady. Or Hyun was involved in the deaths of the vampires. Any one of the possibilities would be reason for the council to put him on trial, especially the last two.

  Madison quickly picked up her drink and rose. She wandered over to another table, pretending to glance at an abandoned newspaper. Hyun was nearly to the door when she spied a small table on the far side of the trash receptacle next to Libby’s table. The occupants of that table were leaving. Picking up the newspaper, Madison scooted over to the table, smiled at the folks leaving, and claimed it for herself, sitting with her back to the trash container. She wouldn’t be able to see Hyun and Libby, but with any luck she might be able to hear them. If she was wrong and Hyun wasn’t there to meet Libby, Madison might be able to connect with him herself and let him know what she’d discovered.

  A second later, she heard Hyun’s voice behind her. “Libby.” The name was said low and with longing, followed by the sound of several kisses. Hyun took the empty seat at Libby’s table, the chair next to the trash container, separated from Madison only by a block of plywood and used paper cups.

  Like creative lying, eavesdropping was another skill Madison had learned in foster care. The smart kid always found ways to listen in undetected on adult conversations. Otherwise she’d never learn what was coming around the bend to smack her world around. Most often the talks had nothing to do with her or the other kids, but once in a while it did, and forewarned was forearmed.

  “Libby,” Hyun repeated, his voice sounding like he was saying it for the first time. Madison pictured him clutching Libby’s hands across the table. “I’m so glad you called. I was afraid after the last time you’d never see me again.”

  “That was my intention, Hyun.” Her voice was clear and strong but not hard.

  Silence followed.

  “You want some more coffee?” Hyun asked.

  “No. I’m good.”

  More silence. Madison got antsy while the couple brooded about their personal issues.

  It was Hyun who broke the silence. “I love you, Libby. I have for years, and I’m very sorry about our fight.”

  “I know that, Hyun. And I love you. Very much.”

  “Then leave Lady.”

  When Madison heard Hyun’s words float her way over the top of the trash can, she nearly leapt from her seat with an Aha! The house on Timpangos was the castle, and the “she” referred to by the other woman was Lady.

  “Soon, Hyun. I don’t want to argue about this again.”

  Hyun sharply scooted back, hitting the trash container, which, in turn, hit Madison’s back. “I’m beginning to think you don’t want to leave.”

  “Listen,” Libby said, her voice becoming a low feline growl. “You knew when you met me at Leopold’s that I was a V-girl and what that entails.” She paused long enough to adjust the tone in her voice. “We need to stick to our original plan, Hyun. Between my work as a V-girl and your former runner days, we almost have enough saved to go anywhere we want and live well. Now that we’re both back in the States, it’s all falling together. You just have to be patient.”

  Madison heard Hyun let out a deep sigh before he spoke again. “Libby, leave Lady now. If you love me, change the plans and leave her right this minute. We have enough money. If you’re afraid of Lady, La Croix will help protect you. I’m sure of it.”

  “But that’s why I wanted to see you, Hyun. I have decided to leave earlier—at the end of May.” Libby’s voice turned upbeat. “I’ve already told Lady that I’m retiring on my thirtieth birthday. That gives me enough time to train one of the other girls to be head consort.” She paused, then added, “She was happy for me and wished me well. We’re meeting tonight to decide who should take my place.”

  “No, Libby. Now. You must leave now.” Hyun’s mood turned demanding but his voice remained low. “Trust me when I say all hell is about to rain down on Lady. And when it does, I don’t want you caught in the middle.”

  “What are you talking about?” Libby became alarmed.

  Their side of the trash can grew silent. Madison wondered if Hyun was deciding how much to tell Libby, if anything, to get her to leave Lady.

  Hyun cleared his voice. “Have any of the male vampires gone missing lately from Lady’s household?”

  “Missing? No. A couple have left, but that’s normal. Happened all the time at Leopold’s. You know that.”

  “At Leopold’s it was normal for vampires to come and go. But is it normal for very young vampires to leave and go off on their own?”

  “What do you know?” Libby’s voice grew alarmed.

  “A couple of vampires have shown up dead in the past week. And the local vampires believe Lady is behind it. If she is, it’s just a matter of time before they find her and bring her down.”

  “You haven’t told them where the castle is, have you?” The question was asked with hushed urgency.

  “No, I haven’t, and when Samuel La Croix finds out I knew all along where it was, who knows what he’ll do to me. But I had to get you out of there first.”

  “Those could have been any vampires, Hyun. What makes you think they’re from the castle?”

  “They all had brands at the small of their backs.”

  “But Lady isn’t the only one who brands before turning. I know, I’ve seen the same brand on other vampires, many much older than Lady.”

  “Yes, me too. But these were very new vampires. All except one.” He paused. “What do you know about a boy named Keleta?”

  “Keleta?” The surprise in Libby’s voice was monumental. “He’s dead?”

  “No, but he was left for dead. How about a young, bald vampire, heavily muscled, with tattoos all over his back?”

  “Duff?”

  “Duff?” Hyun’s question echoed Libby’s. “Wasn’t he the guy who bit you so badly a month ago that you needed stitches?”

  “Yes, that’s the one.” Libby’s words were full of bile. “If he’s dead, then good. He deserved it. Keleta’s a good kid. The girls all liked him. He was polite and treated us well. But Duff was a different story. As soon as he became a vampire, he started brutalizing us, even when Lady told him not to. A few mornings ago, he and Lady came back to the house just after dawn. Duff was totally amped up about something and demanded to be serviced before he retired. He savaged one of the new girls so badly she died. She was barely eighteen—a runaway from Oklahoma he had picked up in a bar about a month ago and turned into a consort. I thought Lady sent Duff away because she was angry.”

  Madison was appalled and couldn’t help wondering what had been done with the poor girl’s body. Had the knacker come and taken it away, hiding it from the authorities as part of his service to the vampires? And, if so, had it been Jesús? Or had the vampires simply dug a hole in the woods and dumped the girl like garbage? She shuddered. Last October, Doug and Dodie had killed someone to save her life, and the body had disappeared. About the same time, the council had executed a couple of beaters. Madison had no idea how their bodies had been handled. This was the sinister underbelly of the seemingly urbane council.

  “No, Libby,” Hyun said, “I think Lady killed him. Killed him and dumped him at the home of one of La Croix’s council members.”

  More silence while Libby digested all the horrible information. “You said a couple of vampires were killed. But Keleta’s alive, right?”

  “There was a second dead one. All we know is his name’s Parker and he was part of Lady’s entourage.”

  “Parker?” The gasp in Libby’s voice was so loud Madison didn’t have any trouble hearing it. �
�That’s impossible. Lady would never have killed him. Parker was different. For starters, she didn’t turn him. And they were a couple.”

  “Do you know who branded and turned Parker?”

  “He was already with Lady when she recruited me from Leopold’s court to manage her consorts. But I got the idea they’d been together several years. Are you sure it was Parker?”

  “Keleta identified him.”

  “Lady told us Parker had gone out of the country on business for a while. He’d done it before, so we had no reason not to believe her.” Libby paused. “They had been arguing a lot lately, but they’d done that before.”

  The silence on the other side of the trash container was so long and thick, Madison wondered if Hyun and Libby were speaking in such low voices she couldn’t hear them. Finally, she overheard Libby say in a sweet voice, “Let’s get our favorite room over at the motel and spend what little time we have left today not talking.”

  “You’re not understanding the serious nature of this situation, Libby. As soon as La Croix and his crew find out where the castle is, they will invade it and take Lady out. Trust me on this. That council is serious about not having anything disrupt their business and way of life, and someone dumping bodies in their midst definitely disrupts their agenda.”

  “I do understand, Hyun. I also understand that I want to be in your arms right now. I want to feel your body next to mine before I have to go back.”

  “You don’t have to go back. Leave your car here and come back to my place. We can start our life together right this minute. They will never know where you went, and if they do, you’ll be safe.”

  “I’ll be quite safe. Even if Lady is killing vampires as you suspect, she’s never harmed a consort. She treats us much better than she does the men in the house.”

  “If Lady is trapped, she’ll kill to save herself. Killing is in her blood. It’s part of all vampires, even those who wear thousand-dollar suits and have box tickets at the opera.”