Black Heart: Coeur de Sade (Black Heart Series)

by Gallier, TW

  That brought frowns to the faces of most of the seated vamps, and the Chinese vampire even shifted uncomfortably. I glanced at the vampires arrayed behind him, all Chinese, too. Did he distrust them? I would.

  "So, if I had the talisman and captured Tanya, I could command her to kill you, and she would do it?" I said.

  "She would try," Jeff said, prickling.

  Tanya cut a hateful look at me. I smiled back.

  "Is there a defense against the talisman? Like wearing sunglasses?" I said.

  "None anyone knows about," Tara said. "Even mirrored glasses are useless."

  Killed that idea. I knew what the talisman could do, and how fast is sucked all free will out of a vamp. Me and Antoinette were probably the only survivors in Dallas of encounters with it.

  "And you want me to get it for you?" I said. Just the thought sent a chill down my spine. She nodded. "Are you out of your mind? As soon as I walk up to the person with the talisman I will be captured, and forced to kill myself if he stays true to form."

  "You don't really have a choice," Tara said. She looked at the blonde standing beside Apollonia. "Heather, if you will, please."

  Heather was a tall, willowy ash blonde, and even prettier than Apollonia. She was dressed much the same, but her dress was hot pink. From her I received a large manila envelope. Then she smiled wickedly at me, showed her fangs and snapped at me.

  Despite myself, I jumped. Heather and Apollonia giggled like school girls as Heather rejoined her little vampire family behind Tara. Both girls looked to be in their late teens.

  "Open the envelope," Tara said.

  Oh, I really didn't want to open that envelope. There was no doubt I wouldn't like what I found. Everyone else in the room was looking at me with supreme confidence, if not out right gloating. Strangely enough, Angelique seemed the most pleased.

  "What is it?"

  "Open it."

  "Now!" Antoinette demanded.

  I jumped again. Damn her. Other vampires were snickering. Mostly the female vampires. Why did female vampires dislike me so much? Was this like vampire high school? Were catty remarks and backstabbing next?

  "Just open it up, Miss Sable," Jeff said. He looked and sounded determined. "Then we can get down to business in earnest."

  Licking dry lips, I fumbled with the bendable clasp. Once open, I reached in and found a small sheaf of eight by ten photos. The top one was my little sister Sabrina, stepping out of the front door of her apartment.

  My heart sank, hands beginning to tremble uncontrollably as I stifled a sob. All my thoughts froze. I almost blacked out. This wasn't even a subtle threat.

  "Oh God," I groaned as I looked at the next picture. My mother in her car. The next was Sabrina again, in class. Then my father in the church parking lot, followed by my middle sister, Yvette, and her entire family grilling in their backyard. "They are all innocent. They've never done anything to you."

  "And they will all die," Tara said. "Unless you cooperate."

  "Why me?"

  "Because you were so good at tracking down Clive and Yuri," Jeff said. He actually looked rather pleased by that, especially when he glanced at a scowling vampire to his left. So, support for Clive wasn't universal. That was good to know. "And then killed them. Rather dramatically, too. Who better than you to track down and kill the werewolf hunting all of us? You do seem to have a talent for it."

  I looked at the pictures of my family, then at the picture of the talisman. The Coeur de Sade. The thought of facing that talisman again terrified me. I didn't want to be commanded to commit suicide. I didn't want to go to Hell so soon.

  "If —," I said, throat dry. I cleared my throat, licked dry lips again, then continued. "If I do this, then you will never, ever threaten my family again."

  "Sorry, can't promise that, young lady," Jeff said. "We'd be lying if we did. This council does what it has to do to protect ourselves and our constituents."

  "Ha! Constituents? You sound like a politician."

  "Not far off, Miss Sable," he said.

  I graced him with a doubtful look, and he nodded. Texas politics was cutthroat enough without inviting in vampires.

  "You have no choice, Miss Hart," Tara said. "We all know it. Time for you to get to work. Find the werewolf. Kill him, or bring him to us and we'll kill him. I don't care which. But, most importantly, bring us the Coeur de Sade."

  "Before any more council members are killed," Jeff said.

  Okay, I panicked a tad bit. I knew vampires, so I could hunt and stake them. But this was pure magic. I knew almost nothing about actual magic. Like most, I knew that crystals made the best talismans. After that, I was clueless. And I knew only a tiny bit more about werewolves.

  "Who is the werewolf with the talisman? What is his name? What does he look like?"

  I know. You'd think I would know what he looked like. Unfortunately, the talisman captured me before I could get a good look at him. I just had a faint mental image of a dark-haired young man.

  "If we knew that then we wouldn't need you, now would we?" Angelique sneered.

  "I'm putting you at the top of my 'To Stake List,'" I said, eyes flashing. I didn't care who I ticked off at the moment. I was rewarded by a very brief look of fear on the French vampire's face. "Sleep tight, Angelique."

  "Quite enough, Miss Hart," Tara snapped. I've finally pushed her too far. She leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "You are wasting time. He is killing almost one vampire a night."

  "If...when I find him, and get this talisman for you, how do I contact you?" I said.

  My mind was spinning. I was trying to not think about the threat to my family. At the same time, I was trying to figure out who I could ask about werewolves. Who would know enough to give me names? I needed the name of an Alpha, just to get started.

  "Mickey," Tara said, and the pretty boy behind her stepped out. He was tall and muscular. Weightlifter muscular. I couldn't help but admire the way he moved with feline grace and power despite that bulk. He was oozing vampire pheromones when he stepped up to me, getting me all hot and bothered, too. He handed me a cell phone with a smug smile. "There are just two numbers programmed into that phone. Mr. Howell's and mine. I would prefer you called me when you have secured the talisman, but either of us will do. Then we can arrange to get it from you."

  Yeah, I'd like to give it to you, all right, I thought. But out loud I said, "Great. I'll be in touch."

  CHAPTER 4

  It was Saturday night. Ten minutes until midnight, and yet the gym parking lot was full. I was a member. Joined yesterday, when I learned that Dane took a job there as their new self defense instructor.

  As a full member of the gym, I was entitled to go to any class given. I was automatically enrolled, so Dane couldn't deny me access. Of course, if my ex-boyfriend told them I was a vampire they would probably revoke my membership. I doubt he'd do that, since if I told them he was a hunter they would fire him. Mutual assured destruction works to keep the peace, right?

  "It's already been a long night, and only halfway through," I grumbled.

  I called Desiree as soon as I woke up from the second chloroforming of the night, to find myself in the driver's seat of my Mustang. The vampire council was intent on keeping me in the dark about where their little council chamber was located. I would find it one day, but that was the least of my concerns.

  Desiree was aghast when she heard what happened, and the task that was forced upon me. She sounded so worried. She should be. Desiree was my number one fang whore. Okay, she was my only fang whore. Desiree was the one person I knew without doubt I could rely upon in any situation.

  Slipping out of the Mustang, I grabbed my gym bag from the back seat and headed inside. I was still wearing the damaged and slightly bloody Cowboy t-shirt, but now it was tied below my breasts. The hole and blood were hidden inside the knot.

  I garnered no undue attention walking to the dressing rooms. In no time I was dressed in my workout clothes — white athletic bra unde
r a gray midriff baring tank, matching boxers and a pair of expensive cross-trainers.

  I planned to slip in unnoticed, hiding in the crowd. Unfortunately, seven people did not make much of a crowd. I was the only girl, too. Kinda stood out, you know.

  I thought these self defense classes were for women? I thought, scowling at the assembled men.

  The men ran the gamut, from young and gawky twenty year olds, to middle-aged, balding business man. They were all having a difficult time not looking at me. I started warming up and stretching to avoid the uncomfortable preliminary conversation attempts.

  "Hello, class," Dane said as he strode in. "I am the new night instructor for self defense, Eddie Sinclair."

  Eddy Sinclair? He had an alias now? Figures. Truth was, I thought he would leave town and not come back. Our vampire hunting friend Wendy Craine had gone off to bury her cousin, Anson, and never returned. We never expected her to come back. Dane, Wendy, and Gabe were known vampire hunters now.

  "Where's Andy?" a very tan, thirty-something man said. Though a tad weather-beaten, he was the best looking of the group. I had the impression he was a construction worker, since he was deeply tanned and had the most callused hands I'd ever seen.

  "Andy's working days now," Dane said, but locked eyes onto me. "What are you doing here?"

  "Uh, taking Krav Maga classes, Eddie," I said. "The self defense class you teach will be Krav Maga, right?"

  His hesitation was almost indiscernible.

  "Your name isn't on the list," he said, gray eyes narrowing.

  "I have a full membership, so can attend any class I want," I said. Everyone was watching. I turned to the others and smiled weakly, sadly. "We have a sordid past together."

  "There was nothing sordid about our past," Dane said. He frowned at the others, who were listening in with such interest. "We'll talk. Later. Okay, boys and girl, we're all experienced here. No novices according to the list I've seen. Anyone new? Good."

  Dane led us in the warm up and stretching exercises. Finally, we were ready for some training. After donning padded helmet/face-shields, body pads, foot pads, and light kick-boxing gloves, Dane arranged us in two facing lines.

  "I want to see each of you in action, so we'll start out with a little light sparing," he said.

  I found myself facing the construction worker.

  "Hi, I'm Sable."

  "Hello. I'm Kale. K-Kale Pritchard," he said, suddenly becoming painfully shy. "I...I've been studying Krav Maga about two years, off and on. I'm pretty good."

  "Good. I've been studying it about a year and a half, pretty steadily. We ought to be well matched," I said. I gave him a mischievous grin as I picked up a pad and tossed it to him. "Why don't we start with kicks to the groin?"

  "Ouch," he said, and laughed. But he did turn bright red. I kinda felt bad. Maybe I shouldn't have started with groin kicks. "Okay, ready. Go."

  And I went. I snapped one kick after another, in amazingly fast succession. Everyone stopped to gawk as I drove Kale back across the room. I didn't stop until I had him backed up against the wall. I didn't even break a sweat.

  Kale leaned over close enough to whisper. "I suggest you pretend to be winded, or they will figure out what you are," he said.

  I froze. That was foolish of me. Only a vampire or werewolf would have the stamina to do what I just did without getting winded. So I took a deep breath, held it, and them blew it out with gusto.

  "Whew!" I said. I paused to huff and puff, then bent over with hands on knees. "Wow, sorry, Kale. I don't know what came over me."

  They bought it. Everyone returned to their partners. Except Dane, who frowned disapprovingly at me.

  The class went as normal after that. No one seemed to suspect I was anything but a young woman eager to learn to protect myself like an Israeli commando. I kept my speed and strength down to a more normal level, which wasn't easy to judge. Kale saw to it he was my partner all night, and I noticed a few of the men looked put out by it. But I wanted Kale, too. He knew what I was, and was helping me keep it secret.

  Dane kept a professional detachment throughout the night. Our interactions were the same. He did seem to be avoiding me, though. Everyone got lots of personalized help, except me. And Dane had his gym bag in hand heading for the door when he called the class to an end.

  "Son of...," I grumbled, and hurried to gather up my stuff. He headed straight into the men's dressing room. I headed over to the women's room, and quickly changed into my jeans and Cowboy's t-shirt. When I came out I just caught sight of the back of Dane's head, as he hurried out the front door. "Bastard."

  Halfway to the door, I spotted him in the parking lot. He was slipping into the passenger side of a silver BMW SUV. I saw a whirl of blonde hair in the driver's seat, and the SUV drove off.

  "I've already been replaced?" I said, incredulous as I stepped outside in time to watch the BMW's rear lights vanish around the next intersection.

  "I don't think he's that interested," Kale said from behind.

  I jumped. "Eeks!" I cried. Then I whirled on him, blue eyes blazing. "Don't ever sneak up on a...on me. Never. Ever."

  I could feel the fear erupt deep inside him. I could smell it on him. I could also smell his desire, his need. My mouth began to water as my blood hunger came alive. His blood filled my vampiric senses, surging hotly through his body. I so wanted a taste. I remembered I forgot to drink lunch.

  "My bad," he said, stepping back. His hands were up in a placating gesture. But his ardor was rising, too. It kicked my own libido alive. "Sorry."

  His shoulder length hair was still damp from the shower. He wore a very dirty, very faded Motley Crue t-shirt, equally faded jeans and work boots. Oh yeah, construction worker.

  "No, I'm sorry," I said, embarrassed. If I wasn't a vampire, I would've blushed profusely. "I'm not having a good night. A terrible night."

  "Would you like to talk about it over coffee?"

  My eyes snapped onto his. For a brief second I mesmerized him. He was mine, body and soul. For one second he would do anything I asked. Absolutely anything. But I released him as fast as I captured him with my gaze.

  "Sorry again," I whispered. "Instinct. I'm so sorry."

  Released, he swayed just an instant. Then he licked his lips. My eyes locked onto his lips. Full. Kissable. And I hungered again. I needed something to eat. I was too stressed to be out among mortals.

  "I understand," Kale said. "Coffee? Interested?"

  He was bright red. I could smell his fear. I'd forgotten his shyness.

  "Yes," I said, and smiled at him. Nothing sexual. Not really. I was pleased he knew enough to know that vampires could drink coffee. Most people thought we were cursed to drink only blood for all eternity. "But I am not safe to be around right now. Rain check?"

  Did he look relieved?

  "Deal," he said.

  We shook hands. Smiling awkwardly, we turned to our vehicles. I stopped after two steps and turned back. I guess he sensed it, for he stopped and turned back to me as well.

  "You've been with...someone like me before?"

  "Yes," he said. He looked embarrassed. "It was about ten years or more ago, but yes."

  "That long?"

  "Got married. Two kids," he said. "Divorce was finalized six months ago."

  Great. A rebound fang whore.

  I watched as he climbed into a late model Ford F150 pick-up, extended cab. It was maroon and looked well kept. The back bed was empty, except for a black tool box, which surprised me. I was expecting something dirtier and more cluttered. After he left I returned to my Mustang.

  Dane didn't want to speak with me. Great. Why was I not surprised? I could force the issue, since I had a link to him. Now, he didn't know for certain I was linked to him, but I think he suspected. I knew exactly where he was at that moment. Probably not a good idea to use it to find him. Not yet.

  Who else might know something about werewolves? Gabe probably would, but he was still in the hospital. Gun shot
wound from that big battle with the Big Nasty Bad Guys. We won. Barely. At great cost.

  Gabriel Preston was Dallas' most successful vampire hunter, if you only counted the number of successful stakings. As a normal human being, he was a wash. A lost cause. Many might rightly think he wasn't much better than the vampires he hunted and killed. But he was good. He knew a lot about the supernatural world. And, most important, he was my friend. One of the few I had left.

  And he was a werewolf.

  "Naw, he'd be asleep," I said, loath to wake him at the hospital. He was shot by a shotgun full of blessed silver. Poor Gabe was suffering silver poisoning, but would make a full recovery. "The nurses probably gave him a sleeping pill, too."

  Gabe was a full blown horn dog. On steroids. He hit on every woman, and was far more successful that one would believe. If the nurses wanted any respite from his lusty comments and suggestions, they'd have to drug him.

  Wendy Craine, another vampire hunting friend, was out of town for her cousin Anson's funeral and probably not coming back. His was the name I put on the exorbitantly high cost of stopping Clive and Yuri earlier in the week. That only left one person.

  I dialed Bone Daddy's cell. His voice mail picked up right away.

  "Boney, this is Sable, we need to talk. Soon. Call me."

  I snapped the phone closed, frustrated. How did I get myself into this situation? If I had minded my own business, and not gone to investigate that last suicide, would the vampire council even have thought of hijacking my life to go off and find their unholy talisman?

  They did have those pictures. Waiting and ready. Why? Was there something else they wanted from me?

  When Boney hadn't called back in five minutes, I knew it would be a while. He was probably tending his vampire mistress's base yearnings. I know that was what I'd want from him if he belonged to me. He was that good in bed. Better, really.

  "Brings me back to Dane," I muttered, frowning at the intersection I last saw him.

  I reached out with my senses and found him instantly. No longer moving. And not far away, either. I so longed to go to him, to be held and caressed by him.