Romance with a Bite

by Tamsin Baker

‘So, are you going back for more?’

  ‘Luis, Luis. You haven’t shown this much interest in my life since I bought a pair of Jimmy Choos.’

  ‘I never knew my girl had a wild side before. She’s racing off with a patron and hooking up with a vampire. Anything else you need to tell Luis?’

  A knock sounded on the door and Isabelle’s voice called, ‘ten minutes ladies and gentlemen.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Katrine and Luis answered together.

  Katrine changed her shoes, then took Luis’ cloak from its peg behind the door and fastened it around his shoulders.

  He took a pair of fake fangs from their case on the dressing table, slid them into his mouth then gave Katrine a wide grin.

  The memory of the sting of Lucien’s fangs on her throat trilled through Katrine’s body and she playfully slapped Luis’ arm. ‘Behave. We’re professionals.’ Then she pinched his behind and swept out of the room.

  ***

  The lights lowered as Alain walked into Eternel. Time for Katrine’s performance. He wouldn’t interrupt the staff until it was over.

  The room was too dim for him to see much of who was in the room. Conversation had ceased and all attention was on the small stage.

  He’d seen Katrine dance before but watched with a different perspective tonight. She moved with grace and sensuality. He knew now she danced as her true self. A human self who had suffered at indirectly at the hands of a vampire. Knowing her story made her performance all the more poignant.

  He glanced around the darkened room, unable to determine who were staff and who were patrons. He’d talk to the barman Renee supposedly fancied. And to Lisette.

  He was still clueless as to what he was even looking for, but he’d check for story consistencies and look at everything with a different eye. And everyone. What, or who, was it about this place that had spawned a killer?

  Was it his imagination, or was there something undefinably extra in Katrine’s performance tonight? He allowed himself a moment’s self-indulgence to think it may have something to do with their recent time together. Hardly a great police deduction. More like wishful thinking.

  Her hair glowed auburn under the stage lights, its long waves swaying across her shoulders and arms as she moved. He much preferred it under natural sunlight.

  Her partner dipped her across his thigh, flung back his cape, lowered his fangs to her throat and the lights faded to black. The audience clapped and cheered as the lights came up again and Katrine and Luis took their bows.

  Alain didn’t want to think about what their reaction would be if they knew that two not so fake vampire attacks had taken place not so far away. Potentially by someone who might be in their midst right now.

  The curtain swept closed and the lights came up to their usual ambient dimness. Alain scanned the crowd for the Eternel women. The women who owned fangs had a certain vibe about the them. A confidence. He supposed being around for centuries would give you that.

  Katrine had that same sensual confidence, no doubt absorbed from living in this environment her whole life.

  Lisette was her mother figure. The woman who’d given her a home, and a family. He looked around the room again. No Lisette. He’d try her office, via the bar and a chat to the victim’s crush.

  It was easy enough to determine who that was, even if he didn’t already have the name. The bar staff were all more than passably attractive, but what woman wouldn’t be drawn to the tall and muscular young man currently making a production of pouring an icy blue liquid from a cocktail shaker.

  Alain waited until the barman came to him.

  ‘What can I get you?’

  ‘Orange and soda, and a few minutes of your time.’ Alain fished his ID from his inside pocket and showed the barman, who blinked, and nodded.

  ‘Here?’

  ‘No, no. I think Mlle Lisette won’t mind if we use her office.’

  Alain waited for him by the door and they both went along the corridor. He knocked on the office door, and when no one responded, Alain pushed the door open.

  ‘Have a seat, Paul.’ He indicated the two armchairs, taking one himself.

  ‘I haven’t done anything wrong,’ the young man’s voice was defensive.

  ‘I doubt you have. I just have a few questions.’

  Paul nodded and relaxed a little.

  ‘Are you familiar with this young woman?’ He pulled out ??’s driver’s license and showed him.

  He took it looked closely, then handed it back. ‘She’s been here a few times, with her friends. We’ve chatted, but no more than I do with any other customers.’

  ‘Do you remember talking to her last night?’

  Paul nodded.

  ‘What did you speak about? Did she happen to say what her movement would be after she left the club?’

  ‘I asked what cocktail she wanted. She said she had a baby at home, so she bought a mocktail. Her friends had a bit of a go at her about that. From what I heard, the friends were going to a party after here, but she was going home. Babysitter.’

  ‘You didn’t happen to notice how long she stayed?’

  ‘Sorry, no. Lisette might though. She was talking to the group at one stage.’

  ‘Okay, thanks. You don’t know where she is at the moment? I don’t think I saw her in the club.’

  ‘She should be there. I’ll find her and send her in?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  ‘Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Is the woman,’ he pointed at the license in Alain’s hand, ‘in trouble?’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t say at this stage. Thank you for your assistance, Paul.’

  The barman took the hint and left the room.

  Alain surveyed the room as he waited for Lisette. Comfortable chairs and a couch, antique desk. Probably the original, he mused. Lisette may well have bought it herself. A hundred years ago. The building had been associated with vampires for centuries.

  Pens and paper adorned the desk. No computer or mobile phone. He wondered how much these women even know about the changes in the outside world?

  Did Katrine talk about what she saw on her expeditions, or didn’t they want to know?

  He picked up a silver frame. Wasn’t silver like kryptonite for vampires? Or was that just silver bullets? Or was that all just myth?

  A picture of a teenage girl in school uniform. Katrine, with her luxurious auburn hair in two long plaits. What had she told her school friends about her home life, he wondered.

  ‘She’s even more beautiful now, wouldn’t you agree, Inspector?’ Lisette’s sultry voice surprised him. Alain put the frame back on the desk.

  ‘I’m sorry to intrude on your space. I needed somewhere to speak to a few people. Do you recall this woman?’ Alain proffered the license and Lisette’s fingers brushed his palm. Cool fingers. Deathly cool, he mused, as a slight shiver ran through his body.

  She looked at the photo, but nothing registered on her face.

  ‘I think so. Yes. For a few minutes. She was with a group of friends. Female friends.’

  ‘Did you happen to see her leave?’

  ‘No. Has she been killed as well?’

  Alain wasn’t sure if her emotionless demeanor was a vampire trait. Did having their humanity taken also take their empathy? He nodded. No need to give away that there were now two victims.

  ‘And because she was here, we are under suspicion?’

  ‘We have to follow all our leads. Can you account for the presence of all your staff here that night?’

  ‘I don’t watch them, Inspector. Sometimes someone might take a gentleman up to the roof garden.’ She sat behind her desk, leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. The silk of her full skirt rustled. ‘It’s quite romantic up there, in the Paris moonlight.’ Her red mouth curved slightly.

  For a brief moment he could see the allure for men to explore the intimacy of a vampire bite. Only briefly though, as the photos of Renee’s ravaged neck flashed to mind.

 
Lisette lowered her eyes to the silver frame on her desk, appeared to be deciding what to say next, then raised her eyes to meet his. ‘Katrine was out last night. She came in just before dawn.’

  Adrenaline kicked in Alain’s gut. What was going on here? Lisette knew their interest lay with vampires, and Katrine wasn’t one. Of course she didn’t know Alain was aware of that fact, so why was she throwing suspicion on someone who couldn’t be the perpetrator. Virtually her own daughter.

  ‘How did she seem?’ Had she been out with lover boy again? This time it wasn’t adrenaline that knotted his stomach, but she was a free agent. Free to spend time with whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted.

  ‘Fine. Same as usual.’ She paused for what seemed, to Alain’s police intuition, dramatic effect. ‘Perhaps a little more animated than usual.’

  Alain wrote nothing in particular in his notebook and wondered again why Lisette was pointing him to Katrine.

  ‘Do you want to speak to her?’

  Oh, yes. ‘Yes. Please.’

  Lisette stood, brushing imaginary fluff from her skirt and ensuring Alain had a long glimpse of her voluptuous cleavage before straightening up. ‘I’ll send her in.’

  Her skirts swished again as she passed.

  A few minutes later Katrine knocked lightly, and came in. Alain stood, and couldn’t help but smile. Something the professional Alain rarely did.

  ‘Hello, Alain.’ She walked to him and kissed him on the cheek. He slid an arm around her waist momentarily and returned the gesture.

  ‘Have a seat.’ He went to close the door.

  ‘An official meeting?’

  ‘On the surface. I can’t say more for now, but let’s just stay here for a short while.’

  ‘Very mysterious.’ She crossed her legs, gazed around the room and whistled softly. ‘Just let me know when it’s okay for me to go back.’

  ‘While I have your undivided, unofficial, attention Katrine, would you meet me for lunch tomorrow?’

  CHAPTER 13

  A soft breeze gusted, blowing strands of hair across her face. Could she ever really give this up? Warm sun on her face. The tickle of grass on her bare legs. A good-looking man by her side. A human man.

  Alain brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek, then pushed the strands of hair back from her face. ‘You’re getting freckles.’

  Katrine crinkled her nose at his delicate touch. So gentle. So caring.

  She could have more days like these, if she gave up her night life. It was becoming a more and more enticing option, but could she do it and not distance herself from the family?

  Lisette encouraged her to make her own decisions, but those decisions had always kept her life as it was. Would that change if she did move away from that life?

  Something tickled her chin. A piece of grass in Alain’s hand. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Just enjoying the moment. The sun.’ A man I can enjoy it with. ‘And the company.’ She leaned over and pressed her lips to his.

  He hadn’t mentioned her crazy life and she wasn’t sure if that was because he preferred not to think about it, or so she could keep the two separate.

  He tickled her chin again. ‘I’m enjoying the company too.’

  This was lovely. And addictive. And when she was out like this, like a real person, she could imagine not going back to the constant darkness of Eternel.

  And she couldn’t expect Alain, or any man, to buy into her lifestyle. They might accept, and even understand, but that was easy when it wasn’t their own existence. But it was hers. At the moment.

  For all the confronting things he dealt with, he had such a gentle soul.

  She glanced at her watch. A few hours still. Daylight hours.

  ‘We have to get back soon?’

  Katrine made a spur of the moment decision. ‘Not if you don’t want to. I’ll call the club as soon as they’re up and about.’

  ‘Lovely.’ Alain squeezed her hand and she curled her fingers into his. Warmth crept through her at his touch. Warmth, but not heat. Not like the heat that surged through her body at the merest touch from Lucien.

  She pushed that traitorous thought away. While she was in Alain’s company, he deserved nothing less than her complete attention.

  ‘Dinner somewhere along the river?’

  ‘Yes, please.’ She wasn’t going to admit she’d never been to a riverside restaurant or café. Even on the days she left Eternal she didn’t venture that far. A subconscious move to keep her tethered to the club and that life? To not give herself too much of a taste of what she was missing?

  A taste Alain was now giving her, and she was loving the Paris she was coming to learn. She lay back on the grass, resting her head on Alain’s thighs.

  His muscles tensed momentarily, then relaxed and he lay his hand on her stomach. A gesture suggested an intimacy they hadn’t yet reached. The warmth of his hand seeped through the thin fabric of her sundress, seeped between her thighs and she closed her eyes. But that only invited a searing memory of Lucien’s hand between her legs.

  How could she crave two such different experiences? Didn’t she, didn’t her body, know what it really wanted

  She wasn’t being fair to Alain. Katrine stood up, holding out her hand. ‘Let’s walk.’ Keep busy. Keep talking. Keep her mind on the man she was with. A good man who apparently was more than a little interested in her.

  He took her hand and stood up.

  ***

  The walk and dinner had been perfect. They’d eaten, shared a bottle of wine, talked about books and made up stories about passers-by. Katrine had even joked that no one’s imagination cold come up with the story that was actually her life.

  They sat at the tiny riverside table as the sun faded over the Seine and a sadness drifted over Katrine. She’d only ever watched the sun set from the night garden, and seeing the pinks and golds reflected on the water and the surrounding buildings only brought home what she’d been missing. She lived in a beautiful city that she’d barely seen.

  Alain kept a hold of her hand as they took their time walking back to Eternel. As they approached the imposing dark building Katrine wondered whether the case had been playing in the back of his mind.

  She moved to cross the road, but Alain drew her into the shadows of a doorway and slid his hands around her waist. Her arms slid around his neck.

  ‘Thank you for a uniquely wonderful day, Katrine.’ His mouth closed over hers. Soft, gently exploring when her lips parted. Although he pressed her hips closer, and was hard against her belly, he kept his hands on her lower back.

  He tasted of the coffee they’d just had, and he groaned softly as her tongue delved deeper into his mouth. Her impulse was to grind against him, but she sensed his restraint. She’d just absorb the warmth of his arms around her and the tenderness of his kiss.

  ‘Will you still work tonight?’ he said, when they finally pulled apart.

  ‘No, I don’t think I will.’ It wasn’t late, but Lucille would have stood in for her and she just wanted some solitude to reflect on the day.

  ‘Good. I’d like to know you’re ending the day as Katrine, the beautiful woman I spent the day with. Is that selfish of me?’

  She shook her head and looked across the road to Eternel with its wrought iron balconies and meagre yellow light in the lower windows. Dark and imposing. Making a statement. ‘You’ve brought something new to my life Inspector, and it’s taking some getting used to.’

  ‘I understand. Sleep well, Katrine.’ He brushed her lips softly with his, then her fingers.

  She looked over her shoulder as she opened the door. He was leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, watching her. She smiled and went inside.

  She didn’t have to pass through any part of the club to go upstairs. The muffled buzz of conversation came from behind the heavy double doors. Should she let Lisette know she was back?

  No. She was her own woman.

  CHAPTER 14

  ‘Up here alone
, cherie?’

  Lisette’s voice surprised Katrine.

  ‘Yes. Just getting some air and enjoying the night.

  ‘The night is magic, isn’t it?’ Lisette joined Katrine looking

  out to the lights of Paris. ‘Beautiful, dark and secretive.’

  ‘It does have its own beauty, yes.’ In her adult years she’d seen more night than day. Dark sky and city lights were her familiarity. She looked towards where the river, where she’d growing appeal.

  ‘So do you, my darling girl.’ Lisette pushed Katrine’s hair back behind her ear, then brushed her fingers along her cheek. ‘Come and sit with me.’

  She took Katrine’s hand, her fingers cool, her grip firm, and led her to the gazebo. They’d had plenty of talks, spent time together in conversation, or just companionable silence, but never up here.

  ‘You did such a wonderful job on this garden, cherie. You’ve done me proud in the woman you’ve become.’ She squeezed Katrine’s hand, and Katrine squeezed back.

  Lisette wasn’t one for many affectionate gestures. Hugs and cuddles had come from the other women in the house. While this unexpected affection warmed her heart, a tiny niggle of unease lurked in back of Katrine’s mind. Had she come up here to give her bad news of some sort?

  ‘Thank you, Lisette. Ummmm, is everything alright? Have these killings upset you?’

  ‘I’m worried about you, ma petite. Worried for you.’

  ‘What on earth for? The killer is targeting humans, and as far as anyone knows, I’m one of you.’ Everyone except Alain and Lucien. And it wasn’t Lucien.

  If he’d wanted to kill her, he’d had plenty of opportunity. She knew without reservation that killing was no longer in his temperament. Kill her with pleasure, maybe. She smiled to herself.

  ‘That smile, cherie. That smile is why I’m worried. Your head has been turned. Maybe even your heart. Turned away from here. From your life and your family.’

  She’d never heard concern in Lisette’s voice before. It brought a lump to her throat and a twinge of guilt about her increased forays into her human life. About liking it.

  Lisette had always encouraged her, but probably she hadn’t counted on her embracing it. Or had hoped she wouldn’t. Katrine had never had any reason to contemplate changing her life. Not until two very different but compelling men had come along.