An Unhuman Journey

by Candace Blevins

  “Say whatever you need to say to get whatever closure you need, and then I’ll make sure you have Gavin’s contact information. I’d prefer you reach out to him instead of me if you have a need to communicate with any of my people.”

  “Seriously?” The word sounded loud even to me, and I tamped my emotions down. I needed to appeal to the vampire’s logic. “We fucked, it didn’t work, and now we’re going to agree to stop. I’m ticked at you for going behind my back and claiming me when I made it clear I belonged to no one, but I’m not declaring war or refusing to speak to you over it.”

  “I have a certain reputation to uphold. When I’m done with you, I have to be done with you.”

  “Or maybe you can find the maturity to tell people we’re no longer an item but still friends. Hell, you can tell them we’re still fuck-buddies if you want — though I don’t intend it to happen, I won’t deny it should someone ask.”

  He shook his head. “I’d like to invite Gavin in so we can ask you about the Celrau.”

  “Not yet. Maybe you need closure, too? Say whatever it is you need to say, please.”

  “You know what and who I am. To expect that I wouldn’t claim you was naïve.”

  God, what a condescending prick. Someone needed to slap that smug look off his face, but it wasn’t going to be me. Instead, I reminded him, “You told me you wouldn’t. You’re saying I was naïve to trust you?”

  “Right now you’re under the protection of the Dragon King, the Lion King, and a powerful Wolf Alpha. If you weren’t, you’d be mine whether you liked it or not.”

  “Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. You’re used to having what and who you want.” I used my best therapist voice, trying to talk to him instead of argue with him.

  “I am, and it would appear you are out of my reach.”

  “And you aren’t used to that?”

  He just sat and looked at me, his expression cold, without emotion. He wanted me to see the ancient vampire — and I did — but I also knew there were hurt feelings beneath those cold stone walls he’d put up.

  “Look Abbott, I get it, okay? I can’t continue to be an item with you, but I’ll do whatever I can — within reason — to help you save face. You broke my trust and…” Accusations weren’t going to help; he knew what he’d done. I got back on subject. “We aren’t going to work out but it was good while it lasted. What can I do to smooth things over politically for you?”

  “Don’t go immediately into the arms of another. There are rumors about you and the Amakhosi.”

  I laughed. “Not going to happen. We’re friends and he’s helped me a great deal, but there’s nothing sexual between us.”

  “Mordecai?”

  “You know what we do behind closed doors, and you also know we aren’t an item.”

  “Bran?”

  “Bran helped me out, and I’ve agreed to have dinner with him in the next two weeks, but I don’t intend anything to happen.”

  “Promise me you won’t go into the arms of another powerful supernatural.”

  “I can’t make the promise indefinitely. I don’t intend to do so, and should it happen I doubt it’ll be in the next couple of months, but I can’t make that promise.” I sighed. “If I do, though, I’ll work with you so no one has the idea I chose them over you. Everyone will know we had a short fling and it was over before I started seeing the other person.”

  He looked at me a few seconds and finally said, “If you fuck or date anyone belonging to me, I’ll either kill them or you. That one can’t be negotiated.”

  The human in me wanted to send a blast to his head and take him out, but the part of me that understood how supernatural politics worked, understood.

  “I’ll give that one to you for a year. I won’t have romantic or sexual relations you don’t approve of with any of your vampires for a year.”

  “My threat goes beyond a year, but we’ll see where we are when we reach the deadline.” Without giving me a chance to respond, he added, “I’d like to bring Gavin in now, so we can discuss what you learned about the Celrau.”

  “I want you on this side of the desk. Please don’t act as if anything major has changed between us. We’ll still hug and be friendly, still talk. It was a fling and it’s over, and will only be a big deal if one of us makes it so.” Was I really having to explain this to an ancient vampire?

  Apparently, I was. I suppose from the standpoint of someone who could have anything and anyone he wanted, it made sense. This was new for him.

  He didn’t move and I told him, “If you want to hear what I have to say, you’ll do so on this side of the desk. We can at least pretend to be civil.”

  He walked around the desk as the door opened. Gavin nodded to Abbott and said hello to me before taking a seat in one of the chairs. Abbott sat in another chair, which left me on the loveseat by myself.

  It’s second nature for me to observe how people choose to sit. Abbott and Gavin were both facing me, when either could’ve chosen a seat more beside me and facing each other. Or, we could’ve been in a triangle, if they’d chosen.

  This likely meant they saw it as the two of them against me, but I was going to choose to view it as them seeing themselves as my audience, with me on stage.

  Sometimes, acting as if it’s so, makes it so.

  “I assume I’ll have to give this info again later at a larger meeting, what do ya’ll need specifics on?”

  “You’ve likely briefed Mordecai and the Amakhosi already, right?” a Gavin sked.

  The point being he thought they were just as important, and should also know the information before the meeting. I nodded and told them as many facts as I could come up with off the top of my head, without giving a narrative of everything that happened to me. I told them how many Celrau I’d seen, the few names I’d heard, and the fact the newly made vampires were staying out of this realm until they all came at once for whatever big war the Celrau were planning.

  “Did you get the idea the people waiting to be turned were there of their own free will?” asked Abbott.

  “I don’t think there was a way for me to know. Once they have some blood in them or on them, all the vampires of that bloodline can control them, right? Or is it just the strongest?” I wasn’t sure exactly how it worked and was hoping they’d confirm, but they didn’t.

  Gavin sighed. “If they’re recruiting, we might be able to find them and slow them down, but it they’re abducting humans and turning them against their will…” He shook his head. “We might be fucked.”

  “Do you know if they’ve gotten information from the Celrau you brought back?” Abbott asked.

  I shook my head. “Mordecai had him taken somewhere, and assures me they’ll get to whatever information he has in his head, but he hasn’t told me anything yet.”

  They were silent a moment, and I had the distinct feeling they were talking telepathically.

  “Rumor has it you were intimate with Xaephan,” said Gavin. “Is this correct?”

  “I got Celrau blood on me, and enough soaked in they said I’d have triggered the Concilio’s sensors if I’d returned. The Lord of Lust helped me burn it out of my system so I could come home. Nothing more.”

  They were both quiet another couple of dozen seconds and I said, “It’s rude to telepath with me sitting here. I’ll answer your questions and I’ll try to help you understand what’s happening as best I can, but if you have something to say then please do so out loud while I’m sitting right here.”

  They both just looked at me for a count of fifteen or twenty, with no one saying anything, and I stood to leave. “Okay, I’ll take that to mean you don’t have anything else you need from me.”

  I was a few steps from the door when Gavin said, “No one leaves The Abbott’s presence without being given leave.”

  I walked to the door and turned with my hand on the knob, but I talked to Abbott, not Gavin. “If you try to punish me for breaking up with you, you’re going to look silly. Also, i
t’ll make people wonder if you aren’t using mind-games to keep other humans from breaking up, if you don’t know how to react when a human who isn’t susceptible decides it isn’t working out. I hope we get a chance to speak again before the meeting, and I hope you’ll have decided to be friendly and not antagonistic. I cared for you, and I still care for you, but you put the word out I belonged to you when we’d agreed I didn’t. I can’t be with someone I can’t trust. I’m sorry.”

  I looked at Gavin. “Whichever of you contacts me with questions — I’ll answer what I can.”

  No one said anything as I stepped out and closed the door behind me. Someone I didn’t know met me at the end of the hallway and walked me to my car. The message was clear — I now needed an escort. I was no longer trustworthy.

  I’d cared for Abbott, and breaking up with him had torn me up inside, but if I couldn’t trust him then we didn’t have a healthy relationship. Being escorted to my car ticked me off — it was Abbott saying I was the one who isn’t trustworthy. I let my anger push the hurt to the side a little, and then tried to let it all go.

  It didn’t work, but it would eventually.

  Chapter 17

  I was nearly home when my phone rang, and I was a bit surprised to see Abbott’s number. When I answered, he didn’t bother with any greetings, just said, “I’m sorry. I’d like you to either please come back, or I can come there for a moment, to give you a proper goodbye hug between friends and show you I can handle this.”

  Did Gavin tell him he was being childish? I’d have loved to have heard that conversation. “We can hug the next time we see each other. Thanks for the phone call, though, this is a huge weight off my shoulders. I really didn’t want there to be animosity between us.”

  “You were right. Between my money and my charisma, humans don’t turn me away. I don’t need to dip into mind control to make them want to stay — the humans I bring to me are amongst those who automatically want to be around my kind. It’s true there are some humans with instincts that make them want to put distance between us, but there are far more who are fascinated in all the right ways. It’s rare someone isn’t affected at all, as with you.”

  I wasn’t prepared to get into why I wasn’t affected by him, as curious as I was about it. I was about to change the subject when he said, “I’m arranging a five o’clock meeting tomorrow morning at The Billiard Club, with all the major leaders who are able to make it on such short notice. I hope you’ll be able to come, so everyone can hear directly from you.”

  I told him I would, but warned I’d only have about an hour and a half.

  I drove past my house and to a store not too far away. I parked near the end of the row, but still amongst cars, and got the box with the communications device from my trunk. I hadn’t wanted to take it into the house, so for now it was locked in my trunk. Soon, I’d need to find a way to hide it in the walls of the poolhouse, because it wasn’t as secure as it should be in my trunk.

  I sat in the back seat so I’d have room to bring my legs up, locked the doors, and turned on some classical music. I got into position and did what I had to do to make contact, and within a few moments I heard his voice in my head.

  Hello, Chère.

  You bastard. You could’ve warned me.

  His sexy chuckle went straight to my clit, no matter that I was pissed at him.

  I could’ve made it hurt less, too. I beat off while you were screaming, Chère. Awesome orgasm. Thanks so much.

  Instead of getting even more pissed, I listened to what he was really saying. I wasn’t sure, but… Hurting me worse benefitted me somehow, didn’t it?

  If you want to make me into a good guy, I won’t stop you.

  No, you were cast as a bad guy and you seem to be having fun with it, but there’s something you aren’t telling me.

  What I haven’t told you could fill a hundred libraries, Chère.

  Why are you being an asshole?

  I’m no longer obligated to be nice.

  He said it so matter-of-fact, and it reminded me this is who he is. Being angry with him was like being mad at the snake for doing snake things. Still, I was angry, and for some reason it was important to me that I tell him.

  For the record, I’m pissed you didn’t tell me about the tattoos, or how bad the whole thing was going to hurt.

  Are my feelings supposed to be hurt, Chère? Do you think I’m afraid of you because you’re pissed?

  You know what? I know you’re an asshole, and it’s your nature, and it’s a waste of energy and time to get butthurt over it, but can you do my one tiny favor and not call me ‘Chère’ when you’re being an asshole? It isn’t like I thought you and I had something special, but I grew close to you while you were being nice and I’d like to keep my memories of you calling me ‘Chère’ to those times. I took a breath and blew it out in a huff. Fuck-it-all. Never mind. We aren’t going to be speaking enough for it to matter. Good-bye, Demon Lord.

  I was about to break the connection when he said, Wait, tiny human.

  He’d used something other than ‘Chère’. Did that mean he was going to give me my favor? After a few seconds of silence I said, I’m here.

  There are rules against beings with your specific abilities coming into our realm unless they are either one of us, or the property of one of us. The Prince of Hell gave the leader of the Celrau dispensation so he could’ve kept you here if he’d been able to capture you before you left, or even after. However, I’ve since thrown my political weight around, and the Celrau no longer have permission to bring you here.

  I started to thank him, but then caught his meaning and I chuckled. Thanks for not using ‘Chère’, and I appreciate your help, even if you did have ulterior motives.

  And what might my motives have been?

  You just wanted to make sure they don’t change me, so you’ll have a chance to enslave me and trap me there later.

  His laugh once again went straight to my clit, and I had a feeling he knew it. He didn’t confirm or deny my accusation, just said, Take care of yourself, love. I set the communications device up as you asked, so you can contact me through my aura but I can’t use it to contact you. However, I can make your tattoos vibrate and itch. I won’t do it lightly, so if it happens, please use the device to contact me.

  I’m not making any promises, but thanks for letting me know what it’ll mean.

  Chapter 18

  To say I was grumpy as I stepped in the front door of The Billiard Club at a little before five o’clock the next morning would be understating things. However, someone had arranged for gourmet coffee and mouthwateringly divine pastries, so I sat and consumed them without bitching as everyone arrived.

  I only knew a small portion of those present, though all seemed to be either an Alpha or royalty, depending on their animal group’s organizational hierarchy. I was the only human in the room, and Nathan sat on one side of me, Randall on the other, while Abbott and Mordecai were at both ends of the table.

  The Owl King said something about Aaron getting us all into a war we weren’t prepared to fight, and Nathan quickly shut him down and let him know we were here to discuss the Celrau, and not the South Carolina supernaturals. I looked to Abbott, as I seemed to remember something about South Carolina not being under his jurisdiction, and that the supernaturals there could have all the slaves they wanted as long as they didn’t come under scrutiny from human law enforcement.

  Before I could think on it too long, they were asking me questions about what I’d seen in the Hell realm, though it seemed everyone had a different name for it.

  I told the group what I’d learned about the Celrau’s activities in Hell, ending with the fact Nathan and I had brought one back. I looked to Mordecai and asked, “What have you gotten out of him?”

  “It appears they finally have someone in a leadership position who’s come up with strategy that brings many of the evil factions together as a team, which doesn’t bode well for our side.” He sighed a
nd looked around. “Those of you who’ve been getting intelligence information from the Concilio know the Celrau’s activities have dwindled in recent years. They used to concentrate in the largest cities so they could feed off the homeless and runaway populations without drawing attention to themselves. The sensors stopped picking up their movement in the large cities, and we’d occasionally see a handful in smaller cities, but there’s been no issues with human law enforcement around the new moon, so…”

  He shook his head. “They’ve been congregating in smaller groups in tourist towns, and restricting their movements for some time. I’m assuming this was so when the Concilio checked on their new habits, they’d see the change — which was legal so long as they didn’t draw attention from human authorities. However, in the long run this has meant they could keep a large contingent in the Underworld without being missed.”

  “Tourist towns?” asked Gavin.

  “The closest to us would be Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. They’re also in Panama City, Daytona, Orlando, Las Vegas, Branson. The vampire we interrogated is from Gatlinburg, and he tells us they have a nest of eighteen vampires. They spread out in six groups of three and feed from Knoxville, Nashville, Ashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Charlotte, Bristol, and other nearby cities as needed to spread the homeless and runaway disappearances around.” He shook his head. “Every third month they branch farther out, in three groups of six. It’s all very organized, with someone at the national level coordinating which cities are hit so they have the best chance of not showing up to law enforcement. The catch here is that they take a circuitous route back and collect humans to take to the Underworld, to be turned into Celrau. They’re very good at finding the portion of the population who won’t be reported missing.”