The Series that Just Plain Sucks: The Complete Trilogy

by Charissa Dufour

  Nikolai smiled down at me as he slipped my gloved hand into his arm again and whispered in my ear, “You ready?”

  “Why are there humans here?” I asked with what little breath I had left in my lungs.

  “I'm right here. I won't let you do anything naughty.”

  I could hear a smile in his voice, even though I was still staring at the men standing by the front doors in cheap, off-the-rack tuxes. They were doing a good job of ignoring our private conversation, even though it clearly concerned them. I swallowed, trying to force the first trickle of desire from rearing its ugly head.

  Nik nodded to them and one of them pressed a button on his ear piece. “She's here,” he said in a business voice.

  From inside the main room I heard the music stop and the voices go silent. I swallowed again, this time out of nervousness. I hadn't realized exactly how central I was to this whole thing. Suddenly I felt like a debutante, and I wasn't enjoying it. The two men waited for a short pause before swinging the large doors open.

  If I hadn't already been holding my breath, it would have caught in my chest. The scene before me was beyond anything I'd ever seen. Gorgeous, decadent—but in a really morbid sort of way.

  Chapter Three

  I stood staring at the opulence laid out before me.

  The far right wall was covered with many different sized flat-screen TVs. Normally the different screens played anything from sports to news reports to presidential speeches. Today the group of screens portrayed one giant image; it wasn't really an image like a cat or a flower, but a hodge-podge of shimmering colors and shapes. The image was frozen, as if the lack of music had stopped the gyration of the colors.

  The left wall held the balcony where a full orchestra sat, their bow strings poised for the start of the next song. Noticing them led my eyes up to the ceiling, which was covered with wooden lattice. The room was filled with the intoxicating, yet subtle, smell of jasmine plants which grew across the ceiling. I glanced up quickly, trying to figure out where the pots were hidden, and how they kept the dirt from falling on the heads of our guests, but it was beyond me.

  Normally the room was full of booths, tables, and chairs. For this occasion they had removed all the furniture, even the booths that were bolted to the floor. The center of the room, where a few people stood, held a temporary dance floor. Around the outskirts sat a few tables covered in black table cloths; black, no doubt, to hide any spilled blood. Each table was surrounded by chairs with black cushions and held elegant goblets in place of the normal place settings. The center pieces were delicate vases holding a mix of orchids and day lilies.

  The walls not covered with TV screens were draped in emerald fabric that matched my dress perfectly. Every few feet a strip of white silk hung to break up the dark green. At first I couldn't tell how the room was lit, but then I noticed that the white fabric glowed. My new-and-improved eyes could see the strings of rope light hidden by the thin fabric.

  The whole room was exotic and intoxicating. I needed at least ten minutes to adjust to its beauty, but I didn't have ten minutes.

  Mikhail, the primus of my soon-to-be seethe stepped out of the crowd and began to make his way toward me. The large room was completely silent except for the heartbeats of those dressed in emerald green vests, distinguishing them from the guests. All eyes were on Nik and myself. I felt my nerves double, and the butterflies in my stomach begin to attempt gymnastics, which is hard to do with wings.

  Mikhail reached us, his young-looking face lit up into a smile of genuine delight. It was an expression he saved for very special occasions. In general, Mikhail wasn't easily impressed. I suppose, after 345 years of life, little took him by surprise. He'd seen and done just about everything. Every once in a while, though, something caught his interest and he transformed into the young man he'd been before becoming a vampire. He had only been seventeen years old at the time; now he ruled the second most powerful seethe in the state of Washington.

  Of course, I didn't know any of this until Josh had told me some stories during my convalescence. Initially, Mikhail came and visited me at my apartment, but as I began to recover, his visits ended. For this special occasion, Mikhail looked like a young James Bond, his tuxedo jacket was open, his bow tie hung untied from his neck, and the top button of his shirt was left loose. His typically wild, curly hair had been cut shorter than normal and brushed back against his head in a sleek style.

  “Miss Ashley, you look enchanting.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Oh, please. As of tonight, you are part of this family. Call me Mikhail.”

  I forced a smile to my lips, but it felt unnatural. Mikhail took my hand from Nik's arm and looped it through his own. He led me through the crowd to the center of the room. I felt, rather than saw, Nik follow us. As we walked, I glanced around at the sumptuous decorations. The entire room was unrecognizable.

  “Let's get this pesky ceremony over with so that we can enjoy the rest of the night,” he suggested as we stepped onto the dance floor.

  I swallowed. “Please don't let me...” I trailed off, not sure how to finish the request.

  Mikhail chuckled softly. “Don't worry. I won't let you make a fool of either of us.”

  I knew that was the best promise I'd get. Mikhail would care more about him looking the fool than me murdering anyone, but it surmounted to the same thing. He wouldn't let me run mad and kill all the waiters. At the center of the dance floor he stopped and turned us back toward the entrance. Nikolai stood at the edge of the dance floor. I noticed Samuel standing on Nik's left, and Josh a few feet away. Unlike Nik and Mikhail, Josh's tuxedo looked anything but chic. I could imagine Clark Gable wearing it, and to top it off, it had tails. I smiled, realizing this was probably something Josh would have worn when he was playing piano for jazz clubs in the fifties.

  I quickly glanced around, knowing only a few of the other vampires by name. Many wore classic tuxedos that were neither ultra-modern nor outdated. A few though, I realized, were wearing the garments of the past—what had been customary when they turned.

  I pushed my focus back on Mikhail. He had pulled a small, ivory handled switchblade from his pocket and flicked it open. Without any preamble or ceremonious words, he cut his wrist and held it out for me. I quickly took it and took a long drink before the wound could heal.

  The problem was, the thirst that never left reared its hideous head. My fangs descended and the butterflies in my stomach transformed into battering rams. I clutched his wrist, trying to suck more liquid from it, but the wound was already closing. Mikhail carefully placed his free hand on my shoulder and squeezed. The pain of his inhuman grip was enough to clear my head long enough for me to remember the watching audience. I swallowed and licked my lips, making sure I hadn't made a mess.

  The exchange took no more than a second, and I knew Mikhail had been subtle enough that no one in the audience knew I had just lost control.

  Mikhail pulled his hand free and stepped behind me, making sure he missed the short train of my dress. He hesitated a second before bending over my shoulder and sinking his teeth into my neck. It felt no worse than two tiny pricks of a needle. In a mere second, he disengaged from my flesh.

  Like me, he licked his lips.

  “And welcome our new sister!” he announced.

  The crowd erupted into a sputter of cheers. I sensed the excitement was more for the party than for myself. Many of those in the seethe had lost friends, or lovers, in the battle against Richard's seethe, the battle which saved my life. In the end, fourteen members had died. I wondered how many of Richard's followers had perished.

  Mikhail pushed me toward the edge of the dance floor and gave a small wave of his hands. The music began again and the crowd shifted. “The worst is over,” Nik whispered in my ear.

  Boy was he wrong!

  Chapter Four

  Nik immediately wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me back onto the dance floor. In all the worst nightmares I
'd had about this evening, dancing with Nik had not entered the picture. It was far more horrifying than anything my imagination could create. I stumbled after him. I had never learned how to dance, though I'd always wanted to. Nik quickly realized it and began giving me tips in a soft whisper.

  “Back with your right.”

  I tried to stay relaxed as I obeyed. After a few awkward moments we started heading generally in the right direction. I stared more at his chest than his face; it was esier than meeting his gaze. I could tell he was looking at me, probably wondering what was wrong with me. I was wondering the same thing.

  Thankfully, before he could ask, a cold finger tapped me on the shoulder. Nik looked up from my face as I pulled free of his grasp. Periphetes stood on the dance floor, a slightly nervous grin on his face. He wore a basic black suit and tie, though it was clearly not off the rack.

  “Periphetes,” I said, not bothering to mask my excitement. Unlike many of my friends, I had allowed him to visit me on occasion during my two months of self-induced house arrest. Unlike my human friends, he didn't smell like food; he smelled like ice, if ice even has an odor. Still, he hadn't come often and it had been at least three weeks since we'd last met.

  “How are you?” I asked as I flung my arms around his neck. To do this I had to stand on tiptoe. Like most fae, he was a little taller than an average human being, with slim, elongated features. He gave me a tight hug.

  During our visits, I'd learned a great deal about the fae, though I knew it was only what Periphetes allowed me to know. They are a secretive bunch, those faeries. I knew now, never say “thank you” to a fae. If you do, they take it to mean that you feel obligated to them, and they will collect on the debt. I had thanked Periphetes for coming to visit...twice. It was natural to me. Thankfully—all pun intended—Periphetes considered me a friend. In the end, my payment for the two blunders consisted of an upcoming weekend with him in Seattle, during which I was not allowed to complain about the chosen activities. I was a little worried about what that might entail.

  “May I cut in?” he asked, directing his attention to Nik for the first time as he gently lowered me back to the ground.

  “Of course,” Nik responded in a formal tone. He sauntered away, glancing at us over his shoulder as he did.

  Periphetes pulled me into his cold arms, though he didn't force me to waltz, for which I was exceedingly grateful. I just didn't tell him that. Instead we kept our steps small and nondescript, a little like junior highers dancing. He smiled down at me, causing creases to form in his mobile features.

  “I thought you looked a little uncomfortable. I hope you don't mind me coming to your rescue.”

  “No. Actually I'm very tha—” I snapped my mouth shut before I could make the same mistake, again. “You have great timing,” I said instead.

  Periphetes smiled at me, his eyes sparkling with the knowledge of what I had just about said. “You're getting better at this, but you still owe me that weekend visit.”

  I nodded.

  “How about this weekend.”

  I felt a nagging impression that I'd already made plans. After a moment’s thought, I realized Nik was wanting me to visit Jordan and Chloe, and therefore him. Seattle suddenly seemed like a great excuse. “Actually, I think I am free this weekend.”

  The fae smiled down at me. “Perfect. I'll pick you up Friday afternoon.” With that statement, the music ended. “I should let you get back to your date.”

  I glanced around and noticed Nikolai crossing the dance floor to collect me. When he reached us, Periphetes bowed and made his exit. “How about a drink?” Nik suggested after watching the fae leave.

  “Good idea.” I wasn't sure if he meant blood or booze, but either sounded good.

  We shuffled our way through the crowd until we found someone wearing an emerald vest and carrying a tray of wine glasses filled with blood. I started breathing through my mouth to help with the temptation. The person turned around at the sound of our approach. I stopped in my tracks, too shocked and upset to even respond.

  It was Chloe.

  Her black, curly hair was pulled back in a large wad at the base of her neck. She wore a gem in her nose piercing to match the green vest. At the sight of me, her shoulders tensed, and I heard her heartbeat accelerate. I hadn't seen her since the night I'd been turned. She immediately turned her gaze on Nik and smiled brightly at him.

  “Nik,” she said in a familiar way before holding the tray out for him. He took two glasses for us and smiled.

  I finally pulled my gaze away from my long-lost friend long enough to take the offered beverage. With one more smile for Nik, Chloe made an about-face and began to walk away.

  “Chloe, wait,” I called out after her instinctively.

  “I'm working, Ashley,” she said over her shoulder in a cold, unfriendly voice before getting lost in the crowd.

  My feet stopped on their own accord. I'd never heard a harsh word from Chloe in my life. What had happened? I turned back to Nik. He was staring intently at his goblet of wine.

  “Why is she serving drinks?” I demanded.

  I knew he kept her as a food source. A horrid necessity both for our own existence, but also to keep the humans who found out about us in check. I hate it, but it was better than the two alternatives—kill them or turn them.

  “All the um... human guests of the seethe are required to serve at our functions, including Mikhail's. It's not like we can hire a catering company to serve us blood.”

  “They're not your slaves.”

  “Agreed, but that doesn't change the fact that they have to do a few things for us. Just like the humans who live at my house have chores. Jordan mows the yard each week. Chloe does the grocery shopping. Etcetera. I can't treat them like roommates.”

  I didn't understand what he meant by that.

  “They don't pay rent, or car insurance. Come on, Ash, we've been over this. I give them a good life.”

  I sighed before downing the blood in a very un-lady-like fashion, trying to give myself a moment to think. “Is Jordan here too?”

  Nik nodded.

  “Where is he?”

  “Just coming from the kitchen,” Nik said without looking around. Nik was attuned to the smell of his personal blood donors.

  I handed him the glass and headed toward the entrance. Sure enough, Jordan was pushing his way through the door with a laden tray just as I arrived. “Jordan,” I called as I got near enough for a human to hear me. He turned to look at me and smiled.

  “Hey, stranger!” he answered brightly.

  “Hey yourself.”

  “How are you? We've been so worried.”

  “We?” I asked dubiously.

  Jordan hesitated. He clearly understood what I was implying. I waited. When he didn't respond I asked my question out right.

  “What is wrong with Chloe? She won't even talk to me.”

  “She's kinda upset with you.”

  “No kidding. Why?”

  “Well... you just dropped off the face of the earth. And she really struggled with all this.” He waved his hand toward the general crowd of blood thirsty vampires. “And you weren't there to help her transition.”

  “Hey, it's not like anyone was there to help me out, and I was the one actually transitioning,” I added. “Besides, does she have any idea what I went through during my first week as a vampire?”

  “I don't know. Granted, you never let us visit. So we never heard what happened. Nikolai has avoided the subject.”

  I sighed in frustration and accidentally inhaled through my nose. The smell of the blood in the glasses, and in Jordan's veins, nearly sent me over the edge. I clamped my jaw shut until I could get a glass off his tray and to my lips. The drink helped. I regained my composure long enough to speak.

  “I was recovering from a damn Ashley-sacrifice,” I spat, slamming the glass down on the tray. Jordan barely managed to keep my fervor from toppling the tray over. Still, a large amount of blood was w
asted as it splashed over the rims and onto his tray.

  I turned and stormed off, nearly running into Nik, who had been hovering. He pulled me to a dark corner where I could recover my senses and my dignity. After a few moments of general fuming, I took a couple deep breaths. Before I could rejoined the party, Mikhail appeared, a cocktail in hand.

  “Ah, Ashley. Just the woman I needed to speak to.”

  I wasn't really in the mood to deal with my new leader, but I couldn't very well send him packing. Instead, I forced my face into a composed look, knowing perfectly well how Mikhail would react to a glare. After all, he was the godfather of this little sorority, and his word was law. If I pissed him off, he could have me beheaded here and now, despite the fact this party was theoretically celebrating me.

  “Yes, Mikhail?” I asked, infusing my voice with sweetness. It came out sounding like I was hitting on him. I glanced at Nik who seemed torn between a glare and a smirk. I cleared my throat.

  “We need to talk about your use of the seethe's blood bag supply. Now, I realize you've been through a lot for such a young person,” he added condescendingly. I felt my shoulders tense. Wherever he was going with this, I was pretty sure I wouldn't like it. “But you need to start finding other sources.”

  “But my control isn't very good. I'd kill people.”

  Mikhail just stared at me, stormy blue eyes blank of emotion. The look said flatly: “And?”

  “Right. Okay.” I nodded with each word. “I'll work on it.”

  The primus glanced at Nik. “See that she does, Nikolai. Just because she's no longer in danger does not mean you're job is finished.”

  I cringed. Great. I'd just been given a babysitter, again.

  “Mikhail, I will work so hard to get this... um... dealt with. But I'd hate to take up more of Nikolai's valuable time. I'm sure Josh would be very willing to help me with this.”

  Mikhail stared at me for a second before glancing at Nik. “Fine, Nikolai, you and Josh see that she is able to survive without the seethe's supply. I'll only put up with it for a few more months.”