by Emily Bex
After an hour of hunting, Shade had seen nothing, and he was restless and ready to strike at anything. Dropping down to street level, he decided it was time to walk the streets as the crowds thinned out, but they would fill soon with the second wave of mortals. The drunks who always closed down the bars and other venues would emerge in inebriated states, stupid and unaware of their surroundings and easy prey for the rogues. The rogues had no preference of target, old or young, male or female. They just took and took. Before he could even think, he was surrounded on all sides by four rogues, dropping down on him from the rooftops and Shade picked up no fucking scent whatsoever. In an area populated by mortals, he couldn’t use a noisy weapon and immediately crouched, fangs bared and ready, sword in one hand, shuriken in the other.
“Bring it, you fuckers, bring it good because you’ve just been dealt the death card!”
The first one came at him with no fear, just young and stupid, and Shade backflipped over his head, using his feet to hit the brick wall of the building behind him, bouncing over the rogue and snapping his neck. Quick kill. His adrenaline was pumping, and he relished the feel of it. This was what he was born to do. The dead rogue lay at his feet and he felt another coming at his back. Shade spun around, delivering a round kick, hitting the rogue in the throat, then flinging the shuriken to pierce his heart and it’s another dead rogue down. Two down, two more stupid rogues to go, and he remembered he needed to bring one in alive. Neither of the other two rogues knew what to do. Both were confused by how quickly their brothers had been dispatched. They were deciding whether to attack together or separately, and Shade knew they were being put out on the streets without much training. They were just pawns in some masters’ game, too young and hungry to even know they were nothing more than bait.
“Which one of you bags of shit wants to die next? Picked the wrong target tonight. Show me what you have. Come on, bring it, bad boys!”
Shade was counting on the taunt to fire them up and they both came at him at the same time. He twisted and lifted his body, rolled through the air, gliding like a kite, and they had no damn clue where he was. Shade landed on the smallest one and sliced his head clean off with one stroke of his sword. He looked at the remaining rogue, fear blazing in his eyes as Shade raised the sword and licked the blood from the blade then spit it in the rogue’s face.
“You can fuck with me and I’ll kill you now or you can just fucking come with me, but either way, you belong to me now.”
Shade’s eyes glowed a bright red, and he bared his fangs and growled, tempting the rogue to take him on. The rogue dropped to his knees in surrender and Shade had the bastard. With lightning speed, Shade blindfolded him, bound his arms behind his back and tied his legs before he teleported them the hell out of there. He let his warriors know the location of the mess he had just left on the streets and for them to get out there to clean it up immediately.
Getting back to the Dead House, Shade felt so alive he could howl all night. He was beside himself to torture this fucker until he knew everything, but he knew that wasn’t how Alec would want this to play out. Shade chained the rogue in the soundproof basement and kept stalking him, watching his fear build.
“Don’t worry, I am not the boss, just his henchman, you will know when he gets here. And you will pay for all your brothers’ deeds, and the deeds of that mysterious master of yours.”
Shade went to call Alec when his warriors started filing in and surrounding the bastard, as he hung from the ceiling in chains. The word was getting out they had a live one. Shade issued an order to the warriors, “No one touches him, no one!”
Walking out of the dungeon and upstairs to the command center, he called Alec as he lit up a smoke. Fuck, I need a damn drink!
Alec grabbed his cell phone and saw Shade on caller ID, “What news do you have for me, brother?”
“The rogue is hanging in chains, waiting for you. Get here before I decide to fuck him up good.”
Alec smirked, “I'm impressed. But don't do anything until I get there. I would hate to miss any of the fun. Give me a few minutes.”
He ran upstairs to let Rissa know he was going out and signaled Alto to have the car brought around. Rissa was already in bed. He went to her side and leaned down close to her ear.
“Rissa, I need to go out for a while. Don't know how long this will take.”
She responded, her head still cloudy from sleep, “Alec?” She reached for his hand. “Where, Alec?”
“I have to see Shade at the Dead House. They caught a rogue, alive. We need to see what we can find out. I don’t want you to leave this house under any circumstances, is that clear?”
She sat straight up in bed, pushing the hair from her face, “I won’t leave, I promise.” She squeezed his hand. “Please be careful, I beg you.” Laying her head back down, she was glad that something was moving on this rogue front. She could feel his blood surging and pumping.
He leaned down and kissed her lightly. “Sleep, I’ll be back when I can.”
He left the room, down the stairs and out the door to where Alto had the car running, holding the door open for him. He jumped in and they were off to the Dead House, arriving in about fifteen minutes. He asked Alto to park and wait. He entered the old Victorian house, and into the gutted parlor which had been converted into their command center.
Shade felt him coming and it was about fucking time. Why the hell didn’t he teleport like a normal fucking vampire was beyond him. Watching as he strolled in, Alec was all business. Shade gave him a fist bump and led him in, providing him details as they went. “Alec, I was on the streets, blocks from the Kennedy Center, and they dropped out of the sky. I smelled nothing whatsoever.”
He led him downstairs to the dungeon where the rogue was chained and manacled, fear burning in his eyes. The warriors backed against the walls when the two masters entered.
“No scent?” Alec frowned. “That could explain why Rissa never knew they were close to her. But how the fuck is that even possible?”
Shade shrugged. “I have no idea, but I can confirm Rissa would not have smelled anything. I had no warning, they just dropped from the rooftops. But I sure as fuck will be finding out how they do it.” Shade pointed to the rogue who was chained. “He is a punk rogue. All of them were, this master is using anything he can find, turning them and letting them loose with no skills, they are starving and have no direction, no training, no discipline.”
Alec walked around the rogue. “Well, that explains the chaos, and the bodies left on the street.” He sniffed at him, nothing. He continued the slow predatory circling, and he could feel the rogue’s fear.
Alec got in his face. “We're going to have a little talk now. Or rather, you're going to talk. If I don't like your answers, or if I don't get answers, this one,” he pointed to Shade, “will start to peel the skin from your body, one strip at a time. Understood?”
The rogue nodded, his eyes wide with fear.
Shade grinned, walking up to the slime and sliding the hooked blade across the rogue’s abdomen, letting him bleed just a little, holding the blade in front of his eyes, he showed his fangs and smiled. “Ever see one of these? This is a skin skimmer, and every inch of yours belongs to me now.” Shade spun the blade in his hand as the honed edge of the blade caught the light. “Tell the master why you have no stench, speak clear and loud.”
Shade was waiting for the rogue to make some response, but this was taking too fucking long and he was already impatient and punched him in the gut with the blade handle. “Fucking speak, you slime!”
As the rogue doubled over, coughing and groaning in pain, he whispered out a response. Shade thought he heard the word potion. Potion? He turned his head to Alec with a questioning look.
Alec stepped in closer, so he could hear the rogue, “What do you mean, potion?”
Shade’s eyes never left the rogue, as he spun the blade unconsciously in his hand, the rogue answered that his master had made a potion to hide th
eir scent, and Shade couldn’t believe his ears, a fucking potion?
Shade got in his face, “How do you take this potion? And I suggest you fucking tell the truth, or start praying, because you will think the devil took your soul.”
As the rogue answered you drink it, Shade looked to another warrior, and said, “Search him.”
They stripped the rogue and found nothing.
Shade was frustrated and angry, as he paced in front of the rogue. “Fuck! I have had enough of this bullshit, Alec. Let me take the rogue out strip by strip, my hands are itching.”
Alec shouted, “No! We need to find out who controls them.” He stepped up close to the rogue. “They are itching to strip your skin, do you understand? They have been chasing your ass all over this city, and now they want payback. I'm the only thing standing between you and a room full of highly trained, bloodthirsty warriors, so listen closely. Who is your master?”
The rogue hesitated, did not answer and Shade watched as the warriors circled, ready for the kill. Alec nodded and this fucker belonged to them. The rogue’s fear spiked as he was surrounded, and he spat on Alec and said, “Angel.”
Alec’s beast emerged as the young rogue spit at him. Eyes red and fangs bared, he screamed to the heavens, “There is no master named Angel. Kill him!” He watched as a frenzy of warriors tore into him, ripping his limbs free, tearing his head from his body, and leaving nothing recognizable when they were done. Angel. Who the fuck was Angel? And what hell was about to rain down on us now?
Shade watched as the blood spattered, and he turned his back and walked outside for a smoke. He was done for the night and ready to get the hell home to a shower and his woman.
Alec saw the warriors ripping the rogue to shreds and followed Shade outside to find him leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. “I know every vampire master on every continent. There is no master named Angel. Does Angel mean anything to you?”
Shade scuffed his heavy boots against the pavement, “Nope. And if you don’t know…” He turned his head to look at Alec, Shade’s bloodied hair and face in such a contrast to Alec’s. “…then we got more hell than either of us could imagine, brother.”
8
Leaving Alec, Shade teleported home, feeling good after a night of killing rogues and getting info, even though the Intel made no fucking sense. It was still better than being cooped up in the damn Dead House all night. Coming in, he looked like fucking hell. He went upstairs to let bel know her warrior was home, and to see if he could coax her into joining him for a long bath. He entered their bedroom to find her asleep, sprawled across the bed. Well, hell, no welcome home this morning, warrior. Reaching down, he pulled back the sheet that barely covered her and admired her lily-white skin, her curves and how her softness called to his hand like a lover’s caress. He smacked her ass and she groaned, burying her face in the pillow as he chuckled again. “Wake up, mi amore, your warrior is home.”
She felt the sting of his slap and startled awake, as he roared he was home. She had returned to their bedroom after her workout with Luca and had only lain down for a second before planning to take a shower. She must have dozed off. Good grief! How long have I been asleep? She started to sit up and felt her muscles scream in protest. “Lover, are you home early? I must have dozed off.”
“Early? It is almost sunrise, mi amore. Are you all right, you look tired?” He watched as she sat up slowly in the bed and he began to undress. “Mi amore, I need your assistance, can you help this waning old vampire with something?”
She pushed herself upright, confused from such a deep sleep, trying to clear her head and ignore the pain in her muscles. “Of course, what do you need?”
Standing as naked as the day he was born, he grinned at her and winked. “Will you wash my hair? I love your hands in my hair.”
He had stripped the soiled leathers from his skin and stood there looking, for all the world, as if chiseled from marble. She ran her eyes from head to toe, as she heard his request to wash his hair. Oh, I will do more than wash your hair. She threw back the last of the blankets and jumped to her feet, her muscles regretting her quick movements immediately. Grabbing his hand, she led him to their bathroom.
“What’re you gonna do, little minx?”
He wanted to play. They needed to play. Ignoring the ache in her muscles, she raised her hands and ran them through her hair, lifting her arms high in the air above her head, as she rolled her hips to the slow rhythm in her head. Her hands slid down her breasts, across her flat stomach, and between her legs, as she rolled her hips in a slow turn so her ass was to him. She tossed her hair back, as she looked over her shoulder at him. “Fight that, warrior.”
Fuck! This woman will kill me. He picked her up, crushing her to his chest. He nuzzled his face into her neck and sank his fangs deep and felt her instantly melt into him. He drew deep, just a hit, and then licked the wound. She moaned, and he could feel her need for sex, as he whispered in her ear, “That will teach you to mess with this warrior, you minx.”
Carrying her to the bathroom, he had their bath waiting, and the scent of roses intoxicated him as he stepped in, pulling her into the deep warm water with him. He willed the fire to burn in the gas fireplace behind the glass wall.
They both sank into the hot sudsy water. It had been so long since they had been playful. She loved the feel of his wet skin against hers, the slickness as they glided against each other in the water. His hands washing her and hers washing him. She sat with her back against the tub and had him lean his head against her breasts. She scooped the water over his hair and then poured the shampoo into her palm, and began the slow, sensual massage on his head and those dark tangled locks. She felt him relax into her and moan. She continued to massage his head and move down to his neck, his muscles tense and tight, as she massaged away whatever burdens he carried. When she had washed his hair clean, she used her hands to scoop up the water to rinse the suds away, but it was not enough to remove all the shampoo. She playfully slapped her hand on the surface of the water, creating a big splash soaking them both.
He felt the water splash his face and he was sputtering. “You wicked little minx.” Chuckling, he turned in the tub, pulled her into him and slid her straight onto his cock, already aching to be inside her. Nuzzling his head between her breasts, he suckled her nipples, so taunt and sweet, and pulled them gently with his teeth. He felt her head fall back, her body ready and willing to ride him. He moved his hips, thrusting them upward, filling her completely, as she began that sweet ride on his cock. He slid one hand up her back and into her wet hair, pulling her into his neck.
“Mi amore, feed, make us cum together. I need you, bel... as you need me.”
She bit him hard and felt his blood flow into her mouth, hot and salty, as she felt the explosion of heat between her legs. She gripped his shoulders with her hands, and rode him harder, feeling his cock throbbing inside her, as the water flowed like a waterfall over the side of the tub.
He felt her muscles tighten, gripping him hard as she unlatched and threw back her head. The blood trickled from her mouth, and it was the most sensual thing he had ever seen. He realized he had lived his whole life just to find the one who was his. He came hard, rocking her body, his voice raised to the heavens as he roared.
She felt his release, his cock throbbed and he filled her with his cum, pushing her to follow. She sank her nails into his shoulders, as she clung to him and rocked her hips hard against him, her body craved to feel him deep inside of her. She cried out with pleasure, but her cries were drowned out by his loud roar, his claiming.
9
Alec had his driver, Alto, return him to their home. He sat in the back seat, pondering the information he had just received. A potion they drink that blocks their scent. Brilliant! Wouldn't he love to get his hands on that? The real question remained, who the fuck was Angel? The masters were a close-knit community, even if they were not all allies, and there were no masters named Angel. Must be a cod
e name... angel of death maybe? Whatever. There would be more rogues and more clues. They would find this master who had decided to make Alec’s life hell, and they would wipe the floor with him. They arrived back at the house and Alec entered to find Rissa asleep. He sat next to her on the bed and ran his hand through her golden hair. She needed to know about the potion. “Rissa, wake up, my darling.”
Moaning softly, she opened her eyes. She could tell from his expression he had something to tell her. “Alec, what happened? I was certain I felt your beast emerge.”
“I got a call from Shade. They caught a live rogue. They were holding him at the Dead House, so I went down to interrogate him. There is something you need to be aware of. Seems our rival has developed some kind of potion that blocks the vampire’s scent. That explains how one of them was able to get so close to you at the gala without your knowledge. This is crucial, Rissa. You must be on guard. This master is turning mortals fast and letting them loose. He is going for quantity, not quality. They don't have the training or the discipline of trained warriors, but they are deadly nonetheless. So, I know you get your back up when I tell you to be careful, but I mean it. Be careful.”
Rissa took in the information about a potion. Was Max using a potion? “Yes, I need to be on guard and I promise I will be.”
He stood to leave her side, but then remembered the strange name and paused, looking back at her. It was not likely she would know the answer, but it was worth a shot. “By the way, when we asked the rogue the name of the master, he replied 'Angel,’ does that mean anything to you?”
His question made her head spin. Angel? Oh my god, it is Max! She tried to hide any reaction on her face. “Did you say... Angel?”