Immortal Fire Series; The Trilogy ~ Eighteen Summers, Severina, Rising Bloodtide

by K. M. Liss

  “What do you mean by 'intended'?” I'm hoping this means something else in vampire terms.

  “Your intended mate. He is the head of our family. A distant cousin of yours. It is a very good match.”

  I laugh with nervous tension. And then I'm suddenly angry.

  “What? Well you've got a bloody cheek, arranging a husband for me already. No fucking way, Jose...!” I forget the naughty word ban for a moment.

  “Do not fret so, My Lord is both handsome and charming and you will have some time together to become familiar before the arrangement is made final.”

  “Well I'm telling you, I don't like the idea at all to be perfectly honest. What about you? Do you have a mate?”

  “No, only the head of the household is entitled to a mate. Our Lord has been waiting for you, patiently, for a long time. He often speaks of you.”

  A strange coincidental thought passes through my mind, a chilling, disturbing one.

  “Does he speak Latin?”

  “Yes he does, and what an odd question. Why do you ask?” Nico looks at me in surprise.

  “I think I know him, from a dream I had.”

  “Surely that is not possible? You must be joking My Lady...”

  We both laugh but I'm not laughing inside. My intended was a sadistic lover in my dream. I hope in reality he is not the same. Not that he is my intended, not in any way, shape or form, not to my mind anyway, but I'll play along with it for now. I don't want to rock the boat too much the second I arrive.

  “And what preparation do I have to go through before I meet my Mr Right, hmmm?”

  “Sofia will groom you, so that you look presentable and not so dishevelled.” He picks up a strand of my wildly tousled and flyaway hair in mild disgust.

  “I'm not dishevelled, I'm casual, as nature intended.”

  “When you feed properly and become fully turned, you will naturally become more perfect, and polished. Until then, you will need grooming.”

  “Grooming...? You make me sound like a shaggy dog.”

  “Not so, it simply means preparing and dressing you in a manner more befitting to your station My Lady.”

  “Look Nico, if you call me My Lady once more, I swear I'll thump you.”

  “Yes, My Lady.”

  “Oh funny ha ha...”

  “What does My Lady want me to call her, Mistress, Madam, Your Ladyship, Royal pain in the backside perhaps?” He smiles at me after the last suggestion.

  “Cali will do.”

  “I do not think so! That would be highly improper.”

  “Well don't tell anyone this, but I'm a highly improper girl. I say fuck all the time,” I giggle with my cheeky tone of conversation.

  “Mmmm, I'm beginning to understand you are quite a handful. But even so, I'm not sure I should call you a 'pet' name. Perhaps I could call you Miss Calista?”

  “No, call me Cali. It's an order. It's my name and I can do what I like with it.”

  “That is of course true, but it is most irregular.”

  “Nico, shut up with your rules and regulations.”

  “As you are insistent, I shall call you 'Cali', when we are alone. At other times, which term of address would you prefer?”

  “I really don't care.”

  “I see.”

  “Actually, yes I do. Call me Mistress.”

  “As you wish.”

  “I like the term mistress,” I roll the last word off my tongue slowly. Then I blush wildly.

  I can't believe it... I'm flirting with him... Shit!

  “Is that supposed to be amusing in some way?” He is definitely finding it amusing based on his expression right now.

  “No, not at all, I was just trying it out...” I cover my sudden embarrassment by changing the subject. “Tell me something, are you my personal guard?”

  “Yes, I am honoured to guard, protect, and serve you until my death.”

  “I like the idea of that.”

  “Of my death?”

  “No, you looking after me.”

  A little too much in fact.

  “It's my duty and my pleasure, Cali.”

  God, I'm blushing again.

  My stomach is churning, I realise that this is because I am actually hungry.

  “Suddenly I'm damn starving. How about rustling me up some food? I don't want to faint on my intended now, do I?”

  “That would be most unfortunate, but perhaps entertaining... ”

  “Strangely, I could murder a coke and a massive pepperoni pizza.”

  “That sounds vile and truly disgusting.” He grimaces at my suggestion. “Let us find the Royal Pain something more suitable for her consumption. Follow me, please.”

  I follow him like an adoring lamb. I'm so very pleased with how our relationship has progressed in such a short space of time. Much less formal and far more 'friendly'.

  Mmmm, this 'lady' finds her guard to be very, very acceptable.

  * * *

  I sit in the white and scrupulously clean kitchen at a central dining island looking at the glass of pale red liquid in front of me.

  “What the fuck is it?”

  I must stop this horrid swearing, I can see him flinch every time I say that word.

  “Sorry, let me rephrase that. What the hell is it?”

  “It is a special plasma. A light blood cocktail. We drink it when we are thirsty, but not really hungry. It also controls hunger and cravings if feeding is not convenient.”

  I pick it up and look at it against the light. “It looks like Ribena to me.”

  “I am not familiar with Ribena. Come, drink it. We have things to do.”

  I sip a little. It doesn't taste that bad. A little blood like, but mild and sweeter. I gulp it down in my usual unladylike fashion, wiping my hand across my mouth afterwards and then rubbing my hand on my jeans. He watches me with raised eyebrows, his eyes flickering yellow.

  “Such wonderful manners... I see Sofia and I will have our work cut out with you.” He laughs a deep and rather sexy laugh and I squirm with embarrassment inside.

  I follow him out of the kitchen and down the stairs in the hallway. We are going to the basement it would seem. We go down three long flights of stairs and along yet another white marbled corridor, coming to a stop at the end, next to a large pale oak planked door. I'm amazed at how deeply underground we are.

  “Nico, how many levels are there in this house?”

  “Nine, three above ground, six below.”

  “Really?” I'm amazed.

  “It is an iceberg house. The tip of the iceberg is all you can see from the surface.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Twenty years.”

  “And before?”

  “Another large house in Oxford. For eighty eight years. And before that, a palace in Italy, near Lake Garda.”

  “How old are you?”

  “A fair age, in vampire terms, over 500 years. Most of my family are younger than I. Sofia is the youngest in this house at 200. Apart from you Mistress, of course.” I can't believe he is that old. He looks so young. Of course he's a vampire and I know they always look young, but still...

  “How old is my intended?”

  “He is a much older being than I. I'm not sure of his exact age, but he is at least fifteen hundred years old.” I gasp out loud with this fact. “Your father was older still, born from the ancient original bloodline. The first vampires ever to roam this earth. That is why you are so important Calista Isadora. You are the last of their direct line. The last Princess of the great house of Gianni. It is essential you are kept safe. Sadly, and I don't wish to alarm you unduly, not all vampires will wish for you to remain 'safe', when they discover your presence here. A lot of power and money is at stake. And it is all yours now that you are of age.” Although I am obviously concerned about my safety, my mind boggles wildly with his last comment.

  I'm rich and powerful as well...? This simply cannot be true...

  “Tell
me about my mother.”

  “She was human when she met your father, and changed when she became his mate. It appeared she was with child, when this happened. It is an unprecedented event, for a vampire to carry a child full term. We did not expect you to survive. You are a half-breed, a biological vampire. A vampire father and a human, turned vampire mother. This is also a relatively rare occurrence. So you see, you are quite the little miracle, Cali.”

  “I don't understand why I didn't feel cravings for blood before, when I was a younger child.”

  “That is the way. Although I do not have many examples to draw on, it seems that a child born in such circumstances will begin to exhibit vampire tendencies during later adolescence. At eighteen summers you are ready to turn fully, you are an adult, in body and mind. The first real feed will complete the process. It will be a strange experience for you, when your body finally changes. Presently you are still more human than vampire.”

  “But I did suck human blood. A cut finger. And some of my own.”

  I'm not mentioning the rabbit. I'm so ashamed of that.

  “You need a full feed. A few mouthfuls are not enough. And please do not drink your own blood again, it will simply make you hungrier and fuel your craving.”

  “I'd like to know something else. How did my parents die?”

  “Too many questions. Later. It is a delicate and lengthy subject. Let us take things slowly. I don't want to overwhelm your pretty little head.”

  “My dishevelled, improper head, you mean?”

  He studies me carefully running his eyes up and down me openly, but politely. “You already have such fair beauty, so much potential.”

  Yeah right... I know I'm not that bad, but a beauty? No... I really don't think so.

  “From what I've seen so far, all you vamps seem to be pretty good looking.”

  “Vamps, as you so vulgarly refer to us, are the most beautiful creatures on this earth. I am not speaking with vanity. It is a fact that we are humanity perfected. It would be a challenge to find an ugly one amongst us.” He smiles at me, beautifully, of course. “Some are more beautiful than others, that is the way of nature and also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, is it not?” He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tips my face up to his, looking directly into my eyes. I stare deeply into his in return glowing with warmth all over at his complimentary tone. His eyes flash with sudden sparks of heated yellow which vanish almost as soon as they appear. My insides clench up tight, everywhere. I hold my breath in anticipation.

  Our faces are close. I want him to kiss me so badly I feel light headed with it. If my eyes get any hotter they'll catch fire. I look away in heated embarrassment and confusion. I've never felt this kind of attraction before. Not with a real living being. My only experience has been my pathetic teenage crushes on pop stars and actors, and it was nowhere near as intense as this is. I would certainly have remembered anything like it. My heart is pounding like mad, my mouth is dry, and my legs feel wobbly beneath me.

  He turns and calmly gestures towards the door. “This is your room. I shall leave you with Sofia for a while and return in an hour or so. Rest and enjoy the experience.” He brushes his fingers across my face, tucking my hair behind my ear.

  I'm hyperventilating...

  He picks up my hand, dips his head and kisses it...

  I'm on fire all over.

  I have to stifle my gasp.

  Omigod, I so need to get myself under control and stop overreacting like this... It must be all the excitement of the day overwhelming me. Yeah, that and my total lack of experience with men, and incredibly handsome, well spoken, male vampires.

  “Until later, Mistress.” He opens the door and ushers me in, quietly shutting the door behind me.

  I take a look around in wonder and can't stop the massive smile that makes its way to my face.

  “I don't fucking believe it!” I say out loud giggling to myself.

  Talk about fit for a princess!

  There is a large white four poster bed dressed with pale blue silky drapes and covers and littered with a mass of blue and cream cushions. A sky blue velvet sofa and two chairs are situated next to a large fireplace and beautiful pastel artwork adorns the walls. My eyes scan the pretty light oak furniture dotted all around the room. This is a Royal Suite, and a large one. Windowless of course. I notice Sofia has appeared in a doorway at the corner of the room. My bathroom I presume. I walk across the plush cream rug towards her.

  “This way My Lady. Your bath awaits.”

  “Sofia, I can't stick all this 'My Lady' stuff. Up until this morning I was a normal 18 year old, doing A levels at school. I'm not any kind of a lady at all. Please call me Cali.”

  “I will if you insist, but under protest.”

  “I'm insisting. Nico protested as well, but I persuaded him too. In private you must both call me Cali, okay?”

  “I see. Well in that case, Cali... your bath awaits...” She smiles at me warmly. I enter the bathroom and am surprised when she begins to undress me.

  “It's okay, I can do it.”

  “No, I am to prepare you. I must do it.” I can't help but feel awkward and shy about this, I'm not into nudity much at all.

  But what the hell, it's only a bath.

  I am quickly stripped of my clothing and helped into the hot water. After she washes my hair, three times, lathering enthusiastically, she proceeds to scrub me all over with handfuls of a divine smelling concoction. I can detect the scent of coconut and jasmine and something zingy... I'm not sure what. It's rather yummy whatever it is.

  I push her hand away when she gets down to the private area between my legs.

  “Excuse me!”

  No way is she touching me down there...

  “There is no need to be so modest.”

  “Well I am. So leave me to finish it off.”

  “Soon you will not have hair in those parts.” I look at her in shocked embarrassment.

  “Why's that?” I ask her curiously, trying to calm my blushing.

  “It happens during the change. It's nicer. And so much better for recreation.”

  Despite my acute embarrassment, I do rather like Sofia. She is very forthright about telling me things. I think we are going to get on well. I want to know more about her; how she became this way and what her life was like beforehand. I won't ask yet, as we have only just met, but maybe tomorrow I can ask her more.

  An hour later my preparation is almost finished. I have been cleaned, moisturised, and my hair is dried and set in a very sophisticated style with ringlets cascading down my back. I watch happily as Sofia finishes her last sizzling curl with the curling iron.

  My face is given some 'cosmetic attention' as Sofia quaintly describes it, and I have large diamond-like stud earrings placed in my earlobes. Then I am doused in an exotic cloud of perfume.

  “This way now, for your attire.” I follow her through a set of double doors into a hidden second room. I gasp out loud with the sight that awaits me. There are dozens of ball gowns hanging on rails. Underneath that are rows of shoes and boots. Everything is dark coloured, velvet, lacy and silky. It's sensual and so sexy. I walk around touching and looking at the dresses, skirts and blouses, coats and footwear.

  “No way... this isn't all for me? Is it?”

  “Yes, they are all yours. And I have to admit I am a little envious of your wardrobe, even though I acquired it all!”

  “Borrow whatever you like Sofia. I couldn't ever wear all this.”

  “No, that would not be right. And anyway, these are made for you.”

  “But how did you know my size?”

  “That is my secret.” She grins at me.

  “So, what should I wear, for my grand unveiling?”

  “I think something from this selection.”

  I am shown the sexiest, slinkiest black gowns I have ever seen. This is vamp at its hottest.

  “What do you think? Choose one for me.” I rely on her judgemen
t.

  “As you are, shall we say, curvaceous, I think this one will look very fetching. We do not wear undergarments, by the way.”

  I take off my robe and slip on the tight, lace panelled, low backed, black dress which has long flowing sleeves. I love it. It does feel odd being naked underneath it though. It'll take a while to get used to air circulating around those parts.

  Finally, I'm given some high legged black boots with spiky heels.

  “There. Take a look.” She turns me towards the free standing mirror. I cannot believe this is me. I am the vampiest looking half vampire I've ever seen. From my corkscrew blond hair, to my well made up face and Gothic state of dress. I am not usually very concerned with my appearance, but suddenly I am. This is all of my wildest fantasies come true. I am so in love with this look.

  I secretly hope someone else will love it too.

  I sit and wait for what seems like an age reading one of the ancient books I find on my bookshelf. I so wish I had my iPod or phone to play with.

  “Is there a TV or computer anywhere?” I ask in desperation.

  “These are the bedchambers. We have media rooms upstairs. You will find they are well equipped with the latest technology.”

  “Can I get a TV or a laptop, for my room?”

  “No, the bedchambers are for quiet relaxation and recreation, not surfing the internet.”

  I sit silently with my mind racing and my stomach churning over Mum and Dad. I do hope they are not too upset. I can't imagine what is going through their minds right now. I feel so bad for them, for all of us... Maybe Nico will take me to visit them soon and when they see the new me they will be much more comfortable and accepting. I push these upsetting thoughts from my mind. There's nothing I can do about it now.

  Suddenly the door opens and I leave the sofa to greet Nico with a smile. He strides towards me with his arms outstretched and takes my hands. He is obviously impressed with my transformation, but I am more than impressed with his. He is wearing a well fitted evening suit, but much more dressy. I almost foam at the mouth at his black lace edged shirt peeking out, the neck slightly undone, exposing a small gold charm on a fine chain.

  This is so embarrassing. I just can't stop staring at him.