by Gallier, TW
That confession was unexpected and startling. For a moment I forgot what we were talking about. Antoinette turned Desiree into what she was now? She was a "good girl" before?
"Well, I met another vampire with that same power," I said. "And today he had his way with me seven ways to Sunday."
Desiree groaned and rubbed her legs together. I thought she was going to climax on me, except her emotions were raging. She was filled with warring emotions. Longing. Revulsion. Lust. Disgust. Heart racing, she fought a silent battle and all I could do was watch.
"Stay away from him and Antoinette," she finally said. "Take my advice, and stay away. That power is addictive, and before you realize it he will own you." She shuddered. "Body and soul."
Spooky. That wasn't like Desiree. She wasn't the cryptic type, and she never warned anyone away from a vampire.
"Is that what happened between you and Antoinette?"
"Yes," she said. "I'm totally helpless around Antoinette even now. I cannot say no to her, for anything. He will do that to you, too. Stay away from him."
Coming from Desiree that was a potent warning. But I couldn't stay away from Roger. He was too close to my sister. Roger was teaching me to grow wings. I had to have them. I'd risk anything for wings. And, he was already getting under my skin.
Brandon’s house was a rather spectacular Antebellum mansion overlooking White Rock Lake. Oil money, according to Desiree. He inherited a lot. Hundreds of millions. And yet, with all of that, he was a vampire groupie, risking his life and soul on a nightly basis.
When we pulled in, there were two other cars in the driveway. The first was a red Jaguar convertible. Very pretty. The second car was a silver Mercedes Benz SUV. I could smell blood in both cars as we walked past them. Were other vampires coming to pay their respects?
“The Jag is Brandon’s,” Desiree said.
We walked up to the front door and knocked. A moment later a tall, austere middle-aged woman answered. She knew Desiree, so let us right in. Brandon was in the north sitting room, so she led us to him. He was not alone.
“Desiree!” Brandon called upon seeing her.
His face lit up as he hurried over to hug and kiss her. Lip kisses. Kinda deep and lingering. Better friends than I was led to believe, it appeared. Brandon was younger than Desiree, maybe twenty-five. My age.
“Brandon, this is my special friend, Sable,” Desiree said, which I had learned was fang whore code for “my vampire.” We shook hands as she continued, “Sable, this is Brandon Wesley.”
“Pleased to meet you, and I’m so sorry for you loss,” I said.
“Thank you, Mistress,” he said. “Lydia was a very special woman to us all. She will be sorely missed.”
Despite that, he looked me over closely. The aforementioned Lydia was, after all, a black-haired woman in latex. His interest was piqued. I could smell it. His aura did that shimmy thing.
With Brandon were two other women. The fact they were sisters was quite obvious. They could almost be twins. Both looked young, teenager young for one, with the same brown hair, brown eyes, nose and mouth. The sisters were tall and athletic looking, and very sassy and sexy. One was a vampire.
“These are my friends, Lolita and Lorelei Giorgi,” Brandon said.
Lolita was the vampire, and the older looking of the two. Neither one of them felt young, though the mortal sister, Lorelei, looked sixteen. They were wearing low-rider jeans and crop-tops, showing off their diamond navel rings.
“Hello, Desiree,” Lolita said, and they shared a smoldering look as the vampire headed towards her. Another vampire Desiree has slept with? Was there one she hadn’t slept with? “Long time no see.”
“Hello,” Desiree said with a husky voice. She swallowed, clearing the knot in her throat. Lolita was soaking the air with vamp pheromones, getting everyone riled up. They hugged like friends, but that was followed by a deep, lingering kiss. That kiss left Desiree a bit disconcerted. “I’m sorry about your loss, too. I didn’t like Charlie much, but I know what he meant to you.”
“Charlie?” I said, feeling left out.
“Charles Healey was the Sire of our family,” Lolita said, giving me an “I don’t like you” look.
We stood just two feet apart. She stood eye to eye with me, despite me being in heels and her in athletic shoes. I was shapelier, bustier, but she looked like an athlete. If it came to a knock down drag out, most would wisely bet on Lolita. Unless they knew I studied Krav Maga. I believed my martial arts knowledge gave me the deciding advantage when I fought other vampires.
“Ah, yes, the suicide that got me involved in this,” I said.
“It wasn’t suicide,” Lorelei said.
Beside the low-riders and crop-top, she wore a pink baseball cap and matching Converse sneakers. I very well may have worn the same thing in High School.
“I know,” I said. I spotted a large ruby set in a gold ring on her right middle finger, and thought of the Coeur de Sade with a flash of panic. But I was not captured by it, so it wasn’t the talisman. Even so, that ring radiated power. “That’s why I’m investigating. There’s been a rash of unexplained vampire suicides, that aren’t suicides.”
Both sisters noticed my interest in Lorelei's ring, and their eyes narrowed. Lolita started looking me up and down, circling me. I started walking in a circle, too. We circled each other like two pissed off dogs.
“Sable’s been charged with finding the murderer by the council,” Desiree said.
She looked worried. So did Brandon. I was beginning to think no two vampire girls could get along, and girl-on-girl vampire fights might not be so uncommon. I know I couldn't look twice at a female vampire without ticking her off.
"You don't look so tough," Lolita said.
"Funny thing, everyone who's ever said that to me is dead now," I said. That was followed by a smug look that I do believe rattled her resolve just a tad. "Four of them over five hundred."
"Oh my God!" Brandon cried, looking totally horrified. "You're Black Heart! The vampire killer."
"She only kills rogues," Desiree said, coming to my defense.
"Why you?" Lolita said, stopping her incessant circling and facing me. "I would think you'd be the prime suspect."
"I was, but they ruled me out," I said. "Council knows how the vampires are being killed, so it couldn't be me." I looked meaningfully at Lorelei. "Vampires cannot practice magic."
Everyone's eyes went wide, especially Lorelei's.
"You know about the Coeur de Sade?" Lorelei said.
"You do, too?"
The sister's smiles were smug and secretive. I realized then they were after the talisman, too. Somehow I don't think they had vampirekind's best interests at heart.
"You're looking for the killer, too?" Desiree said.
"Is that why you've been asking about werewolves?" Brandon said. "Did a werewolf kill my Lydia?"
"Probably," I said. "Did you see Lydia with a werewolf before she started acting strange?"
Brandon looked at me, then at Desiree. Finally, he shrugged.
"How would I know? Unless someone has morphed into a wolf, I can't tell," he said. His eyes glazed over as the considered, thought back. We all waited impatiently. I didn't like the idea of Lolita and Lorelei learning the same information as me. "There was just that one guy. Tall, long dark hair, dressed in leather like a rock star."
"Would you recognize him if you saw him?" I said.
"No," he said. "I only saw him from behind."
"Would — " I started, and Lolita threw her arm out to stop me. Lorelei began to chant something quietly. I stepped back from Lolita, and cut a look at Lorelei. "You won't live to finish that spell if you don't stop."
Desiree and Brandon both gasped. Lorelei stopped, eyes big, then looked at her sister.
"I won't let you hurt my sister," Lolita snarled.
"You can't stop me," I said.
"Want to bet?"
"Yes, do you?"
"No!" Brandon crie
d. "I won't have vampire blood shed here. Get out. All of you — out."
"As you wish," I said, slowly moving away.
If Lorelei began casting her spell again, I was going to be all over her. She kept quiet as she and Lolita collected their purses and followed us out. I didn't trust them, so kept a close eye on them both all the way to the cars.
Pulling out, I headed down the road and watched my rearview mirror to ensure they headed the other way. They did, and I relaxed. So I headed home.
"What do you know about those two?" I said. "Are they a threat?"
"Very much so," she said. "Charles Healey and his family were all ruthless, power hungry bastards. He was the most powerful vampire on council, and ran it like his own personal kingdom. Few members of council mourned his death."
We drove straight home. I needed to see if Dane or Gabe had found out anything, then plan my night. So when we got home, I took my midnight meal and Desiree went to the den to catch up on her recorded programs. Then I went down to the basement and started making calls. First, I called Gabe to see if his telephone and internet search had yielded anything useful. It didn't. Dane's phone was off, so I left a voice mail to call me. Then I called Jeff, then Tara with updates. While speaking with Tara, I realized Desiree's emotions were spiking.
What was that woman watching now? She usually only reacted like that during sex. Or when being bitten. Then I felt the other mortal. It was a woman. Not unusual for Desiree's friends to drop by for a little nookie action, and all three of us usually ended up in bed or my coffin together. But I didn't like threesomes with all girls. I wanted at least one man.
Knowing my night would end with girl-on-girl-on-girl kinda irritated me. Frowning, I headed up to see who the cat dragged it. She felt vaguely familiar. If I'd had sex with her before, I would recognize her feel.
"Desiree, who do you have up — oh!" I said, spotting Lolita buck ass naked and sprawled out on the den couch. Desiree had shed everything but her shoes, and was giving the smug vampire cunnilingus. There were multiple fang punctures on both sides of Desiree's throat, all still oozing blood. My friend was mesmerized by the vampire. Fury consumed me. Lolita's clothes were no where to be seen, so I knew instantly what happened. I was such a fool. "Bitch. You'll pay for following us home."
Lolita changed into a bat and followed us home. I did nothing to make it hard for her. Never suspecting a thing, I drove straight home. I was getting sloppy.
"I don't think so," she said. "I'll kill sweet Desiree if I even think you will attack me."
Heart thundering, I gawked at the beautiful vampire. She had me where she wanted me and knew it well. I hadn't felt that helpless since Yuri captured me. Then I heard footsteps behind me and my blood ran cold.
"Hello, Lorelei," I said.
"Hello, Sable," Lorelei said softly, then brushed her fingers through my long black hair. "Kneel."
When I hesitated Lolita drove two fingers straight up under Desiree's chin. Her fingers penetrated her soft flesh, and then the vampire clamped her fingers down and held tight.
"Aaaaaiiiieee," Desiree wailed, broken out of Lolita's power by the severe pain.
"Lorelei said kneel," she said, dark eyes narrowing dangerously.
I dropped to my knees. What could I do? They would kill Desiree. I had no doubt about that.
Lorelei locked my ankles into steel shackles attached to a spreader bar. My wrists were handcuffed, and that attached to the middle of the spreader bar via a chain. I had no doubt everything was vampire proof. Then Lorelei drove a sanctified silver dagger deep into my left shoulder. That would keep me from transforming into a bat and escaping.
Lolita cast Desiree aside like a broken doll and strode over to me, eyes blazing. She kicked me in the face, and then yanked my latex dress down to expose my boobs. Bound, stripped, yeah I was feeling helpless and vulnerable.
"Yeah, I was right," Lolita said. "You're rep is way blown out of proportion."
"What do you want?" I said.
Lorelei stepped up. The sight of her filled me with dread. As far as I knew, vampires were not immune to magic.
"If you fight my magic, we will kill Desiree," Lorelei said, cocking her head and smiling sweet and innocent. "I promise."
Lolita came up behind me. She swept my hair back from my neck, then began licking and nuzzling my neck as she fondled me.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"I want to, but Lolita wants to leave you alive," she said. Lolita sank her fangs into my jugular, and began sucking greedily. I groaned and writhed. I know, pathetic, but it felt so good. "So once we get the Coeur de Sade, she can make you her personal servant. Her beautiful, deadly, tamed slave."
She shrugged. Lolita released my neck, cocked my head the other way, and sank her fangs into my carotid on the other side of my neck. Then I forgot about Lolita, because Lorelei pricked two fingers on each hand. I knew enough about magic to know some spells required a blood sacrifice from the witch.
The witch started muttering as her eyes glazed over. Lorelei's hands were glowing a black-tinged red that radiated cold. Then her eyes refocused on me, and narrowed.
"What are you doing?"
"We have questions," Lorelei said, and both sisters giggled darkly.
Lorelei placed her hands on either side of my head and held tight. That blackened red engulfed me, as icy cold claimed my entire body. It saturated me and froze me, and consumed my will.
"Do you know who is killing the vampires?" Lorelei said.
"No."
All I could do was answer with perfect honesty. I understood what was happening, but I had no self-control or willpower.
"Do you have any ideas of who might have the talisman, the Coeur de Sade?"
"Yes."
"Using magic to question is like pulling teeth," Lolita said.
"But it is one hundred percent honest and truthful," her sister said. Then to me, "Sable, tell me the name or names of the persons you think could be committing these forced vampire suicides."
"A werewolf named Fritz. I have three names of werewolves with Fritz in their names," I said. "Fritz Simmons, Fritz Rotmensen, and Alfred Fritz-Haeg."
"Good girl," Lorelei said. "Now, do you have any other clues? Anything at all?"
"No."
Then Lolita whispered in my ear, "Do you have any money?"
"Yes. A lot."
"Give us all of your money," Lorelei said. "Give us all of your account information and passwords."
There was no denying them anything they wanted. The magic ensured I obeyed their every command without hesitation. I watched them get on Desiree's computer and transfer all of my money to their own secret accounts. Then they revived Desiree just enough to get all of her information and rob her blind, too.
Halfway through stripping away Desiree's money Lorelei got a call on her cell. My vampire ears let me eavesdrop in. The man on the other end found Fritz, and gave an address he would be at in about one hour. It wasn't that far away.
I listened to them start making plans to capture him as they began a systematic search of the house for easily portable wealth. Apparently Lolita was the bait, and Lorelei was going to use her magic to waylay him while he was distracted with her sister.
CHAPTER 12
Before they left, the Giorgi Sisters went through the house, taking anything of value and easily transported. Yeah, they stole all of our jewelry. They also took my vampire staking gear, and then stole my Mustang.
They left me still secured in the leg spreader and manacles, to which they added a ball gag. That really pissed me off. Gagging someone was worse that tying them up. Only spitting on someone was worse. In my opinion.
"Don't go anywhere," Lorelei said as they left. They giggled at their joke. I didn't think it funny. "We'll be back after we kill Fritz and get the Coeur de Sade, then we'll show you what it can do."
"Yeah, then we're going to have you get the council together for us," Lolita said. "Should be an eventful night, don't y
ou know?"
I had no intention of waiting for their return. The last thing I wanted out of life was to be the magically enslaved whore of some witch or vampire.
Hobbled as I was, I crawled across the den to Desiree as best I could. She was barely conscious, just softly whimpering and groaning. She was laying face down in a small pool of her own blood. The thought of how much blood she'd lost so far made me dizzy with despair.
All I could do was make muzzled noises, trying to get her to understand. She had to remove the dagger of blessed silver before I could escape my shackles by morphing into a bat. It took a good twenty minutes before I realized she understood what needed to be done, but she didn't have the strength to do it.
I rolled over on my side, putting the dagger's hilt as close to her hands as I could. Over the next thirty minutes, Desiree tried five times to reach up and pull out the dagger. She got it on the fifth try.
Yes! I silently cried as I turned into a bat. A second later I was beside her in human form. I immediately healed all of the bites. I couldn't do anything for her blood loss. "Hold on, Desiree! I'm taking you to a hospital right now."
I quickly pulled my clothes back on, and picked her up. She felt so light and fragile. The Giorgi Sisters stole my car, so I grabbed both of our purses and headed for her car. Soon we were racing down the road in her red Charger. I went straight to the emergency room of Medical City.
"Help!" I cried as I carried her inside.
No one moved. They just looked at me.
"God damn you, she's been attacked by a vampire," I cried, setting her on a gurney. That got them moving. "She's lost a lot of blood. A whole lot."
"Are you all right? Were you attacked, too?" a young doctor said. He was looking at my neck and chest, which were also covered in blood. My blood.
"I'm fine," I said, and when he looked doubtful, I showed him my fangs. "Like I said, I'm fine."
Someone gasped and one of the emergency room nurses yelped. They scattered, the stench of their terror filling the air.
"Did you do this? Is this your fang whore?" the doctor said, backing away from me.
"She is my fang whore, but another vampire did this to her," I said.