by Tiana Laveen
Mother took some time to answer.
“Everything was lined up perfectly… the stars, the moon, the planets and the sleeping sun that plagued our people for so long, erasing them from existence. The night Venus came into the world, you were angry. You were a young man, a new king, feeling things you were told you were never supposed to… things like loneliness.” He hung his head. “You missed your family, and though you never told me, son, I always knew you craved that. The planets never lie; they choose who we are destined to love and be. Her mother named her after the Goddess of Love, Venus… right there under the stars. Your surname is the same as your father’s, and his father’s, and his father’s… Marseille. Mars… Venus… Mars… Mars is the planet of war, leadership, rulers. It is masculine. Venus is love, creativity, intelligence and beauty. It is feminine. What a perfect blend…”
“That’s incredible. You took it as another sign? The names?”
“It most certainly was. You are the last of us, Alexandre. Your father and I knew that our last two surviving sons were our last hope. We also knew that Victor did not have the temperament to rule properly. Those were private discussions that you were not privy to. So, we made a decision and sought out assistance… predictions. I declared that I needed to find you a proper mate, someone worthy to carry on our name. It was time for our people to embrace change. It was time that we accepted and allowed Turned Vamps as the mates of our offspring, because to me, this was proof that it was meant to be. I figured, if she was strong enough to get away from that plantation and find me, then she’d pass the final test if my suspicions were correct. It began with your Sorcier Cadieux, but yes, I had to investigate, to ensure it was her… make certain we had been right. So much was riding on this, child.”
“So… you knew how I felt as a child. I was never to speak of it. The loneliness you mentioned was true. I wanted friends, but being Royal, I had few. My brothers and sisters were dying, and after a while, Victor and I were the only ones left. He never cared for me, and I never cared for him… but I helped protect him all the same. I gave him too much power, allowed him to pretend to be in control at times, anything to make him feel better… but nothing helped. He was determined to do what he did.”
“Yes, because everyone has a true nature, Alexandre. You stayed angry for centuries. That is how you ruled so well… you were so callous and hard. It was beautiful. But you weren’t happy. You stayed angry until the night Venus reached that cabin in the woods. Something within you seemed to realize that your loneliness would soon be coming to an end, because suddenly, I heard that you’d—”
“Thrown a party…” His eyes watered with blood as he recalled that very night. “I’d looked up at the sky and thought it was so nice out. I threw a big party in Paris. It was the first time I’d been happy in—”
“Since you were a little lad who’d met a new friend, that little human boy who smiled at you.”
A trail of bloody tears fell from his eyes. The shame he’d felt from that incident never left him… his entire village practically destroyed. He rubbed his hands together, looking down, shaking, falling apart.
“Alexandre, I shamed you. Your father shamed you. We never spoke to you about it, but we shamed you because we’d warned you to steer clear of the humans and you disobeyed. But, as time went on, I realized I should not have done that, for were it not because of a Black slave woman, a human being in terrible pain, crying out to the Heavens for her newborn baby girl to have freedom, you may never have smiled again… ever. Venus proved herself, and so have you.” They both drew quiet. “I must now attend my son’s wake. I must go. I will see you when the time comes.”
“Mother…”
“Yes?”
“Before you go, I have another question for you…”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Have you ever felt… love? I don’t know how to describe this, but… that is the only thing that comes close to how I feel for Venus. I haven’t told anyone but her, but… yes, this is strange to me. It’s happened. Mother, I am in love. Of that, I am certain.”
“Venus has a power over us all, Alexandre.” He could hear the smile in his mother’s words. “Her mere existence caused this. I believe it is because of her resolve and also because of how she changed after I claimed her. She never wished to fully let go of her life as a human, despite my trying to convince her otherwise. She wanted to blend in, to keep drinking coffee, teach art history and lick the sweetest of chocolate candies. The night I bit her, I felt different, too. No, my son, I’ve never felt love, but I have experienced deep levels of concern and caring since I’ve known her. I believe that, in her own way, while I travelled the world with her, teaching her, molding her and training her, she was teaching me, too. Perhaps, things were not as they seemed. Just maybe, we needed her as much as she and her mother needed us…”
Nuit Noire was filled with vendors selling juicy peaches infused with blood and expensive vases created by some of the most talented artists in Paris. These works of art were stuffed with herbs, talismans, and instructions on how to win love… as if it were a game. Venus walked around in black leather leggings, thigh high boots, and a fitted black turtleneck. Though she’d fed from her mate that morning, she was still hungry… in desperate need of some deer meat better known as Fawn…
She sniffed the air, her nostrils flared as her curly hair bounced from each hurried step. She paused upon turning a corner, picking up the distinct sounds of two vampires fucking on the side of the road, tearing at one another as if their lives depended upon it. One had long blonde hair, her legs in the air as a male vampire jammed his short, fat cock deep inside her, plunging away. Venus drew closer, inspecting the situation. She hoped the bitch getting plowed was Fawn, but no such luck. Turning away, she kept on, feeling the delicious chill in her bones as she drew closer to her prey.
Oh yes, there you are…
Fawn was standing nearby with her luggage at her side, talking to a vendor as she waved a blood candle about. Venus smirked and shook her head.
Bitch, what do you know about Hoodoo? Put that candle down. You should have spoken to the women in my family. They could have schooled you. She glanced down at her watch, then quickly approached. “Hello, Fawn.” The Vamp jumped, then laughed nervously.
“Oh my! Hi Venus! Wow!” Fawn grabbed her scarf and closed her eyes, as if she needed a moment to catch her breath. “I didn’t, uh, expect to run into you here! Aren’t you supposed to be getting married? How could you have time to shop?”
Venus grinned at the woman and put her hand on her hip.
“Oh, today I got time, cuz…” Venus yanked the bitch by her arm and hauled her away from the vendor, candle still in hand.
“You have to pay for that!” the vendor screamed out in a thick French accent.
“I’m about to be Queen!” Venus replied. “I’ll make sure you’re squared away.”
“Get your hands off me!” Fawn yelled out, her eyes big as saucers as she tried to break away. “What do you think you’re doing? I am telling Alexandre about this.”
“I don’t think he’ll be interested.” Venus approached a red limousine and tossed Fawn inside like the trash that she was. The doors immediately locked. Sitting across from the bitch, she noted how her chest was heaving up and down.
“What is this about?! Where are you taking me?!”
“It’s a shame for you to skip out on your boyfriend’s funeral.” Fawn blinked several times. “That’s right, Fawn. I know all about what you and Victor had going on, how you threw my mate under the bus over and over again. Look, I’m sorry that you had feelings for Alexandre. I have nothing to do with that.” Venus threw up her hands. “But what I do know is that he chose me, and instead of being a grown ass, mature woman about it, you went and sought revenge with one of his few last living relatives—his brother. You knew that motherfucker was crazy, but you were so hellbent on being queen one way or another, you took the risk.”
“I do
n’t know what you’re talking about. Whatever Victor may have told you are lies! He approached me about taking Alexandre down and I refused! Now sure, I tried to talk sense into Alexandre about you, but he didn’t want to hear it.” She shrugged. “I accepted that. I was even planning your wedding… it was going to be beautiful! Does that sound like someone who can’t get over Alexandre?”
“Hmmm.” Venus tapped her chin with her finger, pretending to mull over the matter. “In fact, it does. See, Fawn, you and I were both once human, unlike Alexandre and Victor. We have a menu, if you will, of those tricky little things called emotions that we can choose from at any given time throughout our lives. Alexandre and Victor don’t know much about all of that. Consider it a weakness… and it can be, but in times like these, actions are quite revealing. I know you still recall what it felt like to be in love, to wish and dream, to be sad. Those emotions stay with us. They are not as strong as they used to be, but we never forget them.”
Venus’ eyes hooded as she tapped the side of her head, and then she leaned forward. She caught her reflection in the window—her eyes had turned the glowing amber color she’d seen for the first time during her blood bath. Fawn must’ve noticed too, for she trembled and recoiled to the farthest corner of the seat, as far as she could get from Venus.
“Where are we going? To Alexandre so he can kill me?”
“Ha! You wish.” Venus made herself comfortable in her seat, tucking her thick hair behind one ear. “Nah, got a little surprise for you…” Venus reached into the center console and pulled out a chilled bottle of champagne. She poured herself a glass then downed it. Minutes later, they arrived at a place that looked as if it had been bombed. Fawn swallowed hard and looked out the window.
“Where are we? What is this place?”
Instead of answering, Venus leisurely got out of the limo. The driver stepped out and opened Fawn’s door.
“You son of a bitch!” Fawn screamed as she looked up at Whiskey.
The bastard wore a hat that was far too small for his head. He grinned at her. Grabbing her by the waist, he hoisted the bitch over his shoulder then slammed the door closed behind him. The three walked a few feet then stopped when a strong stench filled the air.
“Oh my, smells like someone here is sick, got that dirty ass Bottom Feeder disease. Who could it be?! Eenie, meenie, miny, moe, catch a Bottom Feeder by its toe!” Venus chuckled.
“No… no!!!” Fawn’s fangs descended as she wiggled about on Whiskey’s shoulder, but it was simply no use. Several Bottom Feeders came out from their homes, looking around, feasting their eyes.
“Don’t worry, they’ve been paid in advance to handle you. Now, isn’t this fitting? This is called irony!” Whiskey chuckled at her words. “You tried to have me destroyed by B.F.s… Victor hadn’t even come up with the idea—that was a Fawn original!” She cackled. “Like Netflix. Red is the new black, huh? I’ve had a blood bath, I feel abso-fucking-lutely rejuvenated! They put blood in there from Queens all over the world. It’s magical. You see, I learned a little something from my fiancé. Our greatest fears and desires are what truly rule us. That’s why he’s so good at what he does, ya know? You were afraid of never having any true power in this life, and it’s sad, because you had more control than you realized. If you had been decent to Alexandre, although he still would’ve never loved you, he would have looked out for you, made sure you didn’t want for anything. You were the only woman he let get close to him before I came along, Fawn. Instead of seeing that as an honor, you tossed it in his face.”
Whiskey set Fawn down, but held her close so she wouldn’t run away.
“You stupid Black bitch! He doesn’t love you! He doesn’t love anyone but himself!” Fawn’s voice quivered as she looked around, the fear stark in her eyes as the Bottom Feeders stared hungrily at her.
“First of all, you do know that he loves me. That is why you’ve gone to such lengths to do what you’ve done. Secondly, that whole racial thing is lame and played out, Fawn. I am Black. And proud of it, I might add. I can be a bitch at times, but stupid is something I could never be. Whiskey, let her go.”
Whiskey released the woman and Fawn made a mad dash in the opposite direction. Venus and Whiskey got back inside the limo and waited… The prey was loose, and the games would soon begin.
The Bottom Feeders gave chase like a pack of hyenas. A few of them stopped and looked inside the limo, possibly trying to figure out if it was worth attacking her and Whiskey, too. She was prepared for that as well. She and Whiskey had more ammo, guns, and bombs on them to light up their entire township like the 4th of July. Venus rolled down the window a hair and peered at one who was loitering a bit too close, and for too long…
“Listen here, motherfucker… I was a Queen before my King even knew my name… now try me if you want to.”
The Bottom Feeder stood up straight then went on his way. It was only a matter of minutes before they heard Fawn’s earsplitting screams in the near distance. Whiskey started up the limo, and without another word, turned to drive away. As they left the area, Venus took notice of one of the Bottom Feeders holding a fistful of blonde hair… the ends stained in blood. Another held shreds of the Vamp’s clothing, the expensive garments soaked in red essence. It was time that Fawn was returned to her people, for she was no better than them… at least they knew what they were and accepted it, feeding and feasting off peoples’ pain and weaknesses.
“All right, Blood Queen… we’ve had our fun. Let’s get you back to where you belong.”
“And where’s that, dear brother?” She smirked as she picked up the blood candle on the floor and gave it a sniff.
“In your rightful place… on the motherfuckin’ throne…”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Here Comes the Blood Bride…
Venus sat on the slate and stone floor in the cozy white cottage, the Queen Mother nestled behind her, enveloping her in a soothing cocoon, working a golden, wide-toothed comb through her thick tresses for her wedding night.
A fire was lit before her, the warmth so delicious, kissing her skin. The gentle tugging motion relaxed her after a hectic day, which she was certain was what her mistress had intended. Last minute preparations for her wedding were in full effect, but she didn’t mind allowing Syà to take the wheel and drive it to the point of no return. The Vamp was into showy, beautiful, sparkly things, but Venus and Alexandre wanted a garden wedding, something traditional like the unions of previous French monarchs. The final touches to her gown were complete now, but she didn’t look forward to being placed within the elaborate thing…
A frenzy of professional this and that had her in their clutches. She’d had a pedicure, manicure, and now sported deep burgundy nails with a glossy topcoat. Her skin was buttery smooth after she and her appointed bridesmaids, all of whom turned out to be truly lovely upper echelon ladies, had a spa day. The finishing touches to her makeup had also been made, and the results were shocking to say the least. Syà insisted that the best makeup artist in Paris do the work. A man by the name of Louis Bernard, had turned her into a damn goddess. When she’d looked in the mirror moments prior, she barely recognized herself. She’d never seen such an impeccable makeup job, but she appreciated her own natural beauty as well.
How am I going to get into my dress without messing up my thousand-dollar face? Oh yeah… they pull it up from the bottom… Goodness gracious, this isn’t my bag. I don’t know if I’m coming or going…
Now here she sat in her bra and panties, while her soon-to-be mother-in-law styled her hair. It was apparently tradition—something else new for Venus to know. The fire crackled, and long moments of silence webbed between them. Gentle hands moved along her scalp as the Queen massaged it from time to time, soothing the sting after ridding the locks of occasional tangles.
“Geneviève, thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, dear.”
Even though she couldn’t see the woman, she could sense the
smile through her words.
“I do. All of this time we’ve… I don’t know.” Venus smiled and lowered her gaze briefly, then looked back into the fire. “I missed you so much. You told me it was time for me to go, and I didn’t know what that meant… but now of course I do.”
“My acts were selfish, and I have no shame in that. You were a good match for my child, Venus. Had you not been, we would not have gone on this journey together.”
“I understand that, but you still cultivated me. You cared for me. There were things that arose that I asked of you. You could have simply said ‘no’ and still had me… but you didn’t. You can call it all selfish, but I disagree. You helped me solve problems, then taught me how to solve them myself.” She took a long deep breath then gathered her knees beneath her chin and hugged her legs. “So that is why I am grateful to you. Not only that, you have a wonderful son… and you trusted me with him. At the very least, that deserves a thank you.”
“You are as much his gift as he is yours.”
Venus nodded; those words warmed her within. “What did you think of me the very first time you saw me, Geneviève?”
“When I first saw you, I thought to myself, ‘What a beautiful young lady’,” Geneviève began. “You’d already arrived at the cabin, letting me know you were built to last. Anyone who could escape from such a situation surely was made of pure grit.”
She paused, dipped her finger in olive oil and rubbed it along her scalp, then continued to comb through her hair. “After I fed you, I ran you a bath and looked at your naked body. You were built to bring my son’s offspring into the world, too. Alexandre comes from hearty genes. We’re robust, strong from birth. You have nice rounded hips to carry the descendants, full breasts to nurse… a beautiful specimen you are.” Venus cringed at the word ‘specimen’, but knew that was simply the way the woman spoke—she meant no disrespect. “When I took you with me to travel the world, you proved to be a quick study, quite intelligent and charming, too. Men—humans and vampires alike—fawned over you, but I knew you were spoken for.”