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

by K. M. Liss

  She sat at the table in the dining room. He looked around the deep red room at her paintings and rich dark furniture. She had a classy and traditional way with décor. His eyes found hers as he took a seat opposite her.

  Mmmm, classy full stop...

  She picked up the Tarot cards in front of her.

  “These are my favourite cards. I have five different sets, but I love the Marseille Tarot the best. So colourful, don't you think?”

  She spread them in an arch in an experienced swoosh in front of him.

  “Wow, very bright and colourful! Tell me about them,” He said excitedly, almost blinded by the blues, reds and yellows in front of him.

  “Of course. I shall name the cards for you and then you shall pick your four. This is my way of Tarot. Not the traditional way. There are many ways of reading, but I find four cards give the most accurate results.”

  She set off describing the Majors and Minors and the suits of the deck, the devil, the lovers, the hierophant, the tower, death... cups, swords, wands... all were shown to him one by one.

  “Now I will mix the cards, like so...” She shuffled them with a speed and skill he had never imagined anyone could possess and placed them in a swish in front of him. “Take four and place them in front of me face down, as they are now, no twisting or turning.”

  He picked each card one by one with great excitement and laid them on her side of the table.

  “Good,” she said pressing her fingertips together. “Now I can begin.”

  She turned them over one by one slowly, and sat staring at them. He was pleased to see death was not amongst them. That was a good sign surely.

  “Oh yes! Four Major Arcana... Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, and the Devil, no reversals... What a positive man you are! I see luckiness and wealth lie in your life. But of course you know that already. The Strength and the Hermit, hmmm... you have an important and very personal event to deal with, a decision to make. An inner struggle maybe? A commitment perhaps? I am not sure. Oh now look, the Devil... in your case this surely signifies a growing addiction for something or someone, and a deepening in sexuality, perhaps an over indulgence for material things and a love of money? Does money give you a buzz in that way Saba?” She stopped briefly and looked into his eyes with a flash of yellow in hers and a sultry smile on her lips. He didn't have a chance to answer that as she was off again with excited enthusiasm. “Oh my, oh my, the wheel of fortune... What is this I see here? A big turning point and family gathering of some kind? A surprise? Yes, that is it. A big family surprise is coming your way. It is a life changing one. I wonder what on earth that could be. I do so love surprises, as long as they are pleasant.” She stopped and looked up at him with an overtly sexual sweep of her eyelashes and a lick of her lips and laughed heartily.

  He laughed with her. He was suddenly becoming most interested in all this Tarot card stuff and most interested in her as well. She put her hand on his, stroking his thumb with hers.

  “Finish your drink, I shall get us another bottle and we shall discuss your future together.”

  He was already feeling a little light headed. Still, he didn't have to rush back. He could be as late as he wanted. This evening might become even more amusing and perhaps, even better, more arousing.

  Sevi lay in a state of abject misery on her bed. Not even Michello was a comfort to her.

  She was going to steal him from her. From right underneath her nose. She couldn't bear the thought.

  How she hated her already, the cake baking bitch sister of Raffaele...

  Michello appeared at her door and made his way over to her side, sitting on her bed and watching her with his gorgeous eyes.

  “Sevi sweet, come along. Perk up my love... Look, I don't know about you, but I'm damn hungry. Shall we feed together?”

  She really wasn't hungry but got up anyway to accompany him. It might occupy her mind for a minute or two at least.

  “I suppose we could.”

  “This is rather excessive behaviour over a few Tarot cards. He'll be fine, I'm sure.”

  “It's not just that... It's her... She wants my man,” she confided in him and looked at him desperately.

  “Well I want his woman, so you're both in the same boat, aren't you?” he said quietly, hugging her slim shoulders tightly.

  “Miche, please, it's not the time for jokes.”

  “I wasn't joking. You know I do. A lot.”

  “Sshhh, Fro will hear our talk. He's still smarting over her. The bitch.”

  He placed a quick kiss on her lips and she had to say she felt more than a little better after that. He took her hand and led her out to the living area.

  “Miche is due a feed. I'm hitching a ride, want to join us?” she asked Fro, hoping he said no. He sat watching something about the life cycle of the tarantula on television. He obviously wasn't really watching it. It was just a horrible visual distraction from his deep inner sadness.

  “No, not now. I'm going back to my room in a minute. So I'll bid you goodnight,” he said in a dull tone. She really was getting concerned about him. He needed lively company and someone else to focus his heart on. Portia was never going to change her mind about him. He may be good looking, in his own way, but he wasn't quite handsome or rich enough, pure and simple.

  She picked up the key and her bag and left with Miche. They entered the basement and made their way out into the darkness at the back of the hotel. They wandered along hand in hand silently until a suitable soul came into view. She clenched his hand tightly as they neared, and then he sprang like a large Siberian tiger, full of powerful grace and large teeth. She sighed at his perfect technique and the awesome sight of him whipping his prey into the shadows. She joined him, watching him feeding with delight with a heated sensation growing rapidly inside her. His eyes hooked hers and then closed in a manly flutter of lashes as his lust grew. He sucked voraciously and she became very aroused. Her breathing accelerated like wildfire and desire suddenly took her over completely.

  This is far too stimulating. He'll have to feed on his own from now on. It's all I can do not to jump on him and ravish him to death.

  He detached and the human crumpled gently at his feet. They both stared silently. They knew what was going to happen. He took her hand and led her away, to the end of the road and into a small dark corner of a courtyard, behind some tall bushes and railings. He pulled her to him wordlessly and they melted together, their lips on fire.

  “Sevi, I want you so much it's torture. Please, just once? That's all I ask.”

  “I want you too. Come then.” She touched his lips with her finger. “Our secret, forever, hmmm?” She was just as desperate for him as he was for her. Her insides actually ached so badly she couldn't believe it.

  “I'm not the kind to kiss and tell. You know it.”

  They launched into each other with a wild snarling passion. He picked her up, held her against the wall, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him close. The next instant she felt him tugging her skirt up and out of the way and she could feel the hardness and pressure of him against her wet softness. She looked into his eyes and fisted his hair as he forced his way inside her in one hard thrust.

  “Oh please, dear God, this is all too much...” She gasped in shock.

  “How I've needed this, needed you...” His lips were against her ear and his voice was a low rumbling of sound echoing inside her head.

  He began to move inside her fast and furiously, making her moan with each movement.

  Their bodies and eyes heated wildly with passion and pleasure as they indulged their basest vampire needs. Their mouths joined in fiery bliss and their hands thrust beneath each other's clothes seeking out heated skin. She whimpered with pleasure at his touch. Their deep throated growls and long snarls sounded into the night as they coupled in many positions in their private dark corner. They finally came together in a loud heaving gasp as their minds shattered in ecstasy and they slithered to the floor. Her b
ody pulsated around his hardness, so gloriously tight and hard.

  “Ahhh... Miche... I'm in heaven. That was so, so good...” she murmured in rapture.

  “Sevi.... My love... I adore everything about you,” he whispered swallowing loudly and breathing heavily into her ear. He kissed her neck madly, and nipped her gently, holding her so tightly against him she thought she would break. Her heart melted clean away. She felt high on the emotion coursing through her veins.

  Surely she couldn't have such a depth of feeling for two men, could she? How could she let him go now? He belonged to her. Her blood ran in his veins, he'd possessed her so completely.

  What on earth had she done?

  Saba lay back on the sofa finishing his fourth large glass of wine. He had almost reached his limit. He was starting to feel incapable and drunk. Portia sat giggling at his side, stroking his hand with her finger. She unclipped her hair and shook her head as the glossy black satin fell about her body. They both looked at each other lustfully and then it all blew up in a raging hormonal storm. He wrenched her dress off her and she pulled at his clothes with an equal urgency. They surged against each other in passion and he entered her with a blind heat in his eyes and a raw desperate need that knew no bounds. They rolled onto the floor and around the room in a blazing tangle of limbs and heated kisses.

  “Saba, oh my, what a man you are!” She exclaimed, breathlessly.

  “Mmmm, honey you make me feel so fucking hot, I'm burning up...” he replied in a rush. He didn't think about what he was doing. He didn't want to. He was having a very enjoyable time. He was a male vampire after all. They weren't meant to be faithful forever.

  He awoke very early the next morning with a dry mouth and a muzzy head. He looked around him. He was in his hotel room, in his bed, although he had no recollection of his return there. He turned sideways and saw her dark curls spread on the pillow. A surge of guilt swamped him and he felt a little sick, both mentally and physically. More than a little sick in fact. He got up and entered the bathroom and took a shower and then came back to bed, feeling much cleaner of body at least. She was still asleep. He touched her shoulder and she woke and turned, looking at him silently and questioningly. He knew that he couldn't lie to her.

  “How was your evening?” she finally asked quietly, breaking the silence.

  “Fine,” he replied equally quietly, leaning up on his elbow.

  “Cakes, cards, and sex?” she asked bluntly.

  “Absolutely.” His reply was just as blunt.

  “I knew it,” she whispered, her eyes searching his. She looked so sad, his heart hurt.

  “How was your evening?” he managed to utter, taking her hand in his.

  “Very pleasant, thank you.” Her lip quivered appealingly. He ached to nibble it.

  “Miche and sex?” he dared to ask.

  “Absolutely.” Her eyes looked even sadder.

  “I knew it too.” He felt so dreadfully sad as well.

  “So where do you want to go from here Saba?” she asked in a faltering voice.

  “Where do I want to go? Nowhere my love. Why would I? I'm where I want to be, with you.”

  “She hasn't taken your heart away from me?”

  “Of course not. Has Miche taken yours away from me?”

  “No. But I do feel something in my heart for him Saba.”

  “As I do for Portia. That's only natural, isn't it?”

  “But we're good... As we were?”

  “We're better, aren't we? We know we want and need each other more than anyone else. Despite the charms of two of the hottest, sexiest vampires to grace this earth, other than ourselves of course. I love you to death and always will.”

  They kissed and made up again for a long, long time in a very loving way. Until they had exhausted themselves and Fro was banging on the door loudly telling them it was nearly lunchtime and he was bored with his own company.

  Saba got up reluctantly and left the room, letting him in, and returned to their bedroom with the box. He opened it and got out her cake.

  “Look at this. She made it especially for you.” He placed it in her hand and got out his admiring it yet again. He touched the soft yellow topping and subtly stuck his finger in his mouth for a quick lemon fix.

  “I don't believe it!” She stared at it with narrowed eyes.

  “I know. She's a whiz in the kitchen. Her cakes are works of art.”

  “No, she's spelt my name wrong. Look.”

  Sure enough there was an error in the spelling of Severina's name... Sewerina... ? His vision must have been blurred by the second glass of wine, because he hadn't noticed it. He stifled a laugh. She would not find this even vaguely amusing, he knew it.

  “That's just so typical of her. What a fucking bitch,” she scowled, throwing the yellow cake on the floor in disgust.

  Severina washed and dressed and went to knock at Miche's door. There was no reply. She assumed he was asleep or out for his first solo feed. He was quite capable. She made her way downstairs to feed herself and passed through reception towards the street.

  “Oh, Ms Basteri.” A young porter came running up behind her, pink faced, and looking at her with adoring eyes.

  “Yes?”

  “There's a letter for you. I was about to bring it up. The gentleman said to deliver it at lunchtime.”

  “A letter?”

  She followed the porter to the desk and he delivered it to her hand.

  She looked at the plain white envelope, with the word 'Sevi' on the front and her heart missed a beat.

  She ripped it open and began to read.

  "Dearest Sevi,

  I left Naples early this morning. I could not bear to speak to you about this as it would have weakened my resolve. I am returning to the Refugio, for a short time, while I establish and sort out my new life. I do not want to come between you and Sabato, as you are made for each other and you are both dear to me. I hope you do not mind, but I borrowed some money from you last night for my journey home by train. I couldn't ask you for it, could I? I will repay it one day, when we meet again, as I'm sure we will.

  Thank you for all you have done.

  I will never forget you and the kindness you have shown me.

  You have given me the world.

  Your loving friend,

  Michello X"

  A long gasping sob escaped her throat and she turned to rush back to her room in a speed run up the stairwell. She pounded on the door madly and Saba let her in. She thrust the letter in his hand and locked herself in the bathroom, dry sobbing for an age.

  He knocked on the door after a few hours.

  “Sevi come out, please?”

  “No Saba. Leave me.”

  “If I ever did leave you, would your heart break like this over me? I'm beginning to feel second in line for your affections darling.”

  She opened the door and fell into his arms in a red faced heated mess.

  “Please don't say anything, or ask anything. And I know it's for the best, that he has gone. Just hold me really tight and tell me you love me over and over. I need comfort and understanding for a while.”

  Chapter 8

  Sevi opened the door, and Portia glided into the room with her cat, a sly victorious smile on display on her face.

  “I am ready for the journey. I have brought practical clothing as we are in fact assassins and may need to move swiftly.”

  “How clever of you,” Sevi replied sarcastically. How she was going to cope with Portia for the following few days was beyond her. But they needed her assistance, badly. Fro had already said he didn't want any part of murder, whoever they were, and whatever they had done. But he would come along for the ride, to help if they got into difficulties.

  “What exactly do you intend to do, to finish them off?” Portia enquired, ignoring her sarcasm.

  “We will enter the home stealthily and wait for our opportunity. I will stab Calista in the heart. Nico will surely come to her aid, or we can summon
him and then you can cut his throat. It was he who butchered your brother. You can have the honour of dispatching him.”

  “I will try to remember that and keep focused on my poor lost love. I do not possess a violent personality by nature. Sadly, my bloodthirsty Ristorian roots are well and truly domesticated through my lifestyle. I'm far too soft and much too loving.”

  “So I hear... And Portia… Keep your hands off Saba. He's mine. Got that?”

  “My sweet Sevi, what do you mean?”

  “We're quite open with each other about our little dalliances. He told me all about it this morning while we enjoyed a very passionate and loving encounter for four wonderful hours.”

  “I see... Well, I shall try to control myself. He is so handsome and skilled in that respect though. It will be, ummm, very difficult not to indulge myself again. And much the same for him too I imagine. We have a connection, a strong physical one. Perhaps there is something missing between you two, something I can provide him with?” Portia continued unabashed. Sevi was amazed at her front and stood open mouthed for a moment at a loss for words. She really was a prize bitch.

  “There's nothing missing whatsoever! Shut up, I don't want another word said about your sordid fuck on the carpet.”

  “As you wish. I shall keep my thoughts to myself. Where is the divine Saba anyway?” she asked, as she glanced around the room.

  “He is with Fro, who obviously does not want to be around you. You have ripped his heart to shreds.”

  “Ah yes, poor Fro. He is a sweet man, but I cannot live with a man of no means at all. I have expensive tastes.”

  “I noticed! Where do you get all your money from? I know Raffaele wasn't penniless, but he had the household income at his disposal for his every need. I don't think he had a personal fortune.”

  “No, we were never rich. You are quite right. But I have had a few wealthy husbands... human ones.”