The Serpent's Kiss

by Claire Marta

  Out of nowhere several vampires rushed forward to grab her arms. Struggling she could not fight them.

  “Take her down to the main floor. Strip her naked and chain her up to a wall for everyone to see. Gag her if she doesn’t stay quiet. She will remain there until Kane comes for her at sunset.”

  “What of her husband?” Claus asked him. The dark skinned vampire had finally given up his vigil beside Sally’s bed. This had to mean Lexi was back. She was another concern he was going to have to deal with.

  “Tell him of her punishment and that he can have her back when Kane is done with her.” Asier sighed distractedly.

  “You can’t do this to me! He won’t allow it.” Selena screeched as she tried unsuccessfully to escape.

  Asier straightened to his full height. “I am the Master Vampire of London. I can do whatever the fuck I like. Your husband would never dare move against me for risk of scandal, or more importantly his membership here at my club. So don’t think he will save you from this.” Taking hold of her chin he wrenched it up cruelly so she was forced to stare into his uncaring gaze. “This is what you wanted, to be my slave, and this is what you will get, cara.”

  “No...Asier…please...” She tried to beg as they dragged her away. “Don’t do this to me. I swear if you do I will make you regret it.”

  “When you are finished with her I don’t want to see her within ten yard of this building, and nowhere near Jasmine. Capisci?” He warned Kane once the rabble had vanished down the stairs.

  “I’ll have some of our people keep an eye on your new plaything.” Kane rumbled back as he cracked his knuckles. “Selena won’t be a problem, I promise you.”

  Jasmine sat awkwardly in Gemma’s blue Mini. She couldn’t believe she had kissed her friend the night before, and she was not quite sure what to say. They had barely said a word since leaving Liquor and Lust. Biting on her thumbnail, Jasmine glanced out at the early morning street. Last night seemed to have been a lot of firsts. Most of it was still a blurry muddle in her head. Now she was going to have to deal with the fallout. Asier was certainly persistent. He’d had more than one opportunity to press his advantage and have sex with her, especially when her defences had been low. But he kept holding back. Kept asking her to give herself to him. It was something Jasmine did not understand.

  The Italian was the Master Vampire of London. From what she knew, he took what he wanted without reservation. She was actually surprised they had not had sex last night. Why had he stopped?

  The pop of a gum bubble filled the silence. Strawberry. Fruity and familiar. It filled Jasmine’s nostrils. Gemma darted her a knowing look as they stopped at a red light. “It’s ok you know...about the kiss. I know I’m fucking irresistible.”

  Jasmine giggled, nervously peeking back at her from the corner of her eye. “I thought this was going to be so freaking weird.”

  Her friend’s fine black eyebrow inched up at her words. “Why? Because you kissed a girl and you liked it?” She teased trying to lighten the mood.

  That just made Jasmine outright laugh. “Oh god, please do not play that song right now.” Turning in her seat to face her, she grinned.

  Gemma grinned back as the light changed and she eased the car forward into the early morning London traffic.

  “I still can’t believe we did that.” Jasmine admitted, pressing her hands to her warm cheeks. “That’s the first time I’ve ever been that drunk too.”

  “I think it’s part of Asier’s vampiric power.” Gemma replied idly as she changed gears.

  “What, you think he made us feel lustful for each other?” Jasmine had sensed his power. It had been hedonistic, enthralling. Everyone had been under his sway. The vampire was like a walking, talking Viagra.

  “Yeah. We were both drunk, our inhibitions lowered. Didn’t you notice his presence also influenced the mood inside the club? It sure as hell made me horny as fuck. Why do you think I had sex with Kane?” Gemma continued before steadily blowing out a large pink gum bubble. It burst with a pop.

  “You think he’s somehow causing everyone there to be more sexual?” Jasmine already knew the answer as she asked it. Asier was a master of seduction. With a power like that, it was no wonder women were falling over themselves to throw him their panties. It also had to be a boost to his business.

  Gemma nodded firmly, her attention on the road. “It wouldn’t surprise me in the least. But I have a feeling that’s not his main power. Haven’t you noticed that Vampiria always seem to have two?”

  Jasmine’s gaze slid sideways towards her friend. “I thought you had a thing with Conall…”

  She had been hesitant to ask. The fiery redheaded Vampiria had been with Eric in Prague. This particular Irish vamp had left Gemma tongue tied. Jasmine had never seen her friend so shy. Something had certainly sparked off between them. Even Conall had not been able to take his eyes off her friend.

  “That got kind of weird…” Gemma confessed with a sigh.

  “Weird how?”

  Reaching across she opened the glove compartment in front of Jasmine and desperately started to search for another pack of chewing gum. She suddenly seemed agitated. “Well, Eric was a dick to you and I was going to stop seeing Conall because of that. But we kind of saw each other for a week here in London, and then he told me I look like his dead wife...”

  Jasmine sat stunned at the news. “Erm...ok...that’s awkward.”

  “Hmm yeah. It’s over now so I really don’t want to talk about it...just get me some more fucking gum please.” Gemma scowled as she handed her the packet to open.

  A couple of days passed uneventfully. They were still no closer to finding out who was supplying the new drug. The new nightmare Jasmine had experienced had not returned much to her relief. The tremors that were terrifying the city seemed to be happening every day now. Yet the cause was still unknown.

  At work they were juggling cases. There had been a lot of sub-terrain supernatural activity lately. A lot of them had been surfacing and no one knew why. It had to have something to do with the quakes, but it was just another mystery. It was giving their department at Scotland Yard a hell of a lot more work. Keeping this all hidden from the public was becoming more than difficult. Saying it was a movie publicity stunt would only stick a certain amount of times. The supernaturals would also not talk. No one in her department knew what was going on.

  Already tired and grouchy, the last thing Jasmine needed tonight was a text from Asier to go to the club. Reluctantly though she had obeyed. Jasmine had assumed it was going to be another pole dancing lesson. She had been wrong. Instead she found herself being lead down a brightly lit corridor. All the doors they were passing were firmly closed. The sounds of moaning and groaning though were emanating behind each one. They weren’t of pain. Oh no, whatever was going on Jasmine was sure had much more to do with pleasure.

  “Tell me Jasmine. Now that we are friends, I would like to know how you know that I am not a human vampire.” Asier asked as he showed her the way. Tonight he was actually dressed. Not just in black yoga pants, this time he was wearing a matching black t-shirt which hugged his muscled chest in all the right places.

  “Eric let it slip in Paris when we first met that he was born a vampire.” She admitted quietly. “You also have an aura I can see when you use your powers.”

  Cocking his head with curiosity Asier glanced down at her. “Aura?”

  “Yours is amber and Eric’s is blue.” Distractedly, she began to tug on the bottom of her long armed top. “I think I saw Kane’s too. It was kind of fuzzy, and I was drunk at the time.”

  Asier had a strange, thoughtful expression on his attractive face. “Have you told your boss about this cara?” Halting at a door he turned the knob and pushed it open. Inside was dark and empty.

  “No. The only people who know are you and Eric.” Jasmine told him as she watched him turn on a light and step inside. “Mark knows Eric is a Vampiria, a born vampire already, although I don’t know
how.”

  “Good.” The vampire beckoned her to enter. “Keep this to yourself. Letting people know of this ability could be dangerous for you.”

  “Why?” She asked as she found herself in a windowless room. The walls had been painted a bright crimson and the carpeted floor was black. Padded white mats had been placed across the centre of the floor. It was very fifty shades. No...actually more medieval.

  An array of floggers, whips, and crops in different shapes and sizes were hanging across one wall. On another were manacles attached with chains which were connected to a pulley system on the ceiling. She guessed it was used to tighten the constraints once they were on. A large wooden cross stood in one corner. Thick leather shackles were attached to it, and Jasmine suddenly realised how easy it would be to strap someone up on it. What the fuck were they doing in here? Was this another attempt to seduce her? Or did he plan something else? Her gaze strayed nervously to a glass display case at the other end of the room.

  “Vampiria have always blended in unnoticed.” Asier’s patient accented voice jolted her from her worried thoughts. “If others of my kind discover what you can do, they will either hunt you down and kill you, or take you as a commodity to be used.”

  Jasmine tilted her head to the side. “Used for what?”

  The Master Vampire closed the door behind them. “We don’t always recognize our own. You could be used as a weapon. A weakness to root us out.”

  “Eric never told me this...”

  Asier prowled silently into the middle of the space. “Hmm he did not look after you as well as he should have. But that I already know, and now you do too.”

  Noticing he was barefoot, she toed out of her worn trainers and left them by the door. “He said he couldn’t tell me much...I guess it’s all a secret...” She told him, wiggling her toes in her white cotton socks.

  Crooking his finger at her, Asier indicated she should join him on the mats. “The pure bloodlines are stuck in the past with their traditions and rules. They see humans as weak cattle to be manipulated and herded. Turned vampires are just above that on their scale of feebleness. I am still surprised they went through with revealing vampires to the world, but again this will be all leading toward a master plan they are influencing. Eric is loyal to their ways and need for secrecy.”

  “You sound like you don’t like your own kind very much.” Nervousness growing, she edged gingerly forward to stand before him. This was the first time they had been completely alone when she wasn’t either drunk or sobbing in his arms. It felt dangerous. Even when he wasn’t flirting with her, Asier still had a raw magnetism. Jasmine could sense his powers of lust in every pore of his skin. She knew it would not take much for him to call on it.

  “Come let’s start the lesson.” He was staring at her with amusement.

  “What kind of lesson?” Jasmine asked unable to keep the suspicion out of her tone. They were in a pleasure/pain room in the middle of the vampire’s sex club, and her over-active imagination could only come up with one scenario. Kinky sex play.

  “Bella you froze the other night when that man attacked you. You need to learn to defend yourself properly.”

  Jasmine didn’t like the sense of disappointment that settled over her. Did she really want to have Asier play with her in all his wicked fetish ways?

  “I was drunk...”

  “Si, and so was your friend Gemma but she still knew what she was doing.” He pointed out, watching her closely. If he knew what she was thinking, like he usually did, he showed no signs of it. “I’m going to guide you, teach you some discipline and how to handle yourself. Stop slouching.”

  Jasmine automatically straightened her shoulders at his tone. Then realised what she had done and gave him a dirty look. She really did not like him telling her what to do. It was annoying.

  “The more you fight against me the harder this will be.” With a tread so soft he left no sound, he began to circle her like a predator sizing up its prey. “Do not hesitate. The moment you do it gives your attack the advantage to use his strength against you. Do not pay attention to his size. He will try to intimidate you and make you feel weak.”

  “You’re a vampire, you have supernatural strength...” She grumbled. He was stronger, faster, better. How was she supposed to defend herself against all that?

  “Not everyone you will face will be a supernatural, and everyone has a weakness, even a vampire.” Asier’s ebony hair flowed around his shoulders as he stalked her. “Just because your opponent is bigger than you doesn’t mean they know how to use it efficiently. If you know what you are doing then you can easily take them down.”

  She was only half listening to what he was saying. The glass display case she had noticed before had her more than curious now. Shuffling a little closer she moved until she could make out what was inside.

  “Jasmine, always stay alert to your surroundings.” The vampire swatted her bottom as he passed close behind.

  Jasmine jumped at the sting. His slap had not been a gentle tap. Tearing her stare away from the display of vibrators, ball gags, and other kinky toys she could feel her cheeks redden with embarrassment.

  “Sorry...” She mumbled, taking a hurried step back.

  Asier was smirking as he came into her line of sight. “I will happily show you what all my toys can do later.” He told her, voice quiet and intimate. “If you are a good girl.”

  “No thanks.” Jasmine squeaked.

  “Your attacker will want to hurt you, which is all he or she will be focused on.” The vampire continued as he paused to look her up and down appraisingly. “And I doubt very much they will consider what you are capable of, which you can use as a surprise. You’re far from perfect, and your inexperience shows. But we can smooth out the rough edges over time. Places to aim for...”

  “Eyes, nose, ears, neck, groin, knees, and legs.” Jasmine jumped in before he could finish. “I know, my boss gave me basic training.”

  Asier’s stance went from relaxed to battle ready. “Then you better start using it, cara. I am not going to go easy on you with this. Show me you’re not as weak as Eric claims.”

  Jasmine ground her teeth at his words. Anger began to grow swift and hot. How dare he bring up Eric! What the hell did this Italian vampire know? She wasn’t weak. Eric was wrong. Bringing her foot up, she slammed it into Asier’s knee with all her might. He didn’t even flinch. Jasmine gave a frustrated growl.

  Bringing his arm up, he bought it down in a fast blow. Reacting on instinct, she used her own arm to block. The force as it struck made her swear. Pain lanced up her shoulder making her stagger back. Jasmine realised then he was dead serious when he said he was not going to go easy on her.

  Rage surged up inside her. Roaring in her ears, it momentarily blotted out common sense. With a snarl she attacked. Charging forward she tried to kick him between the legs. Asier chuckled as he twirled away. His every movement was calm and calculated. Jasmine lunged for him again, striking out with her fists. Her chaotic emotions growing the more he remained unruffled. She wanted to pummel them into his beautiful face until he was bleeding as much outside as she was bleeding inside from her feelings.

  The vampire easily blocked her onslaught. Then he danced tauntingly out of the way. “Is that all you have Jasmine? You disappoint me. Mark has coddled you far too much. This is nothing but child’s play.”

  His words enraged her all the more. Spinning around she tried to take him off guard. Blindly, Jasmine jabbed out. Asier though seemed to know exactly what she was going to do before she moved. Darting to the left he was suddenly behind her.

  “Let it out Jasmine. The anger, the pain you have bottled up inside.” Asier urged passionately as he came to a halt. “Holding it in is not helping you.”

  Twisting around, Jasmine slapped at his chest. Screaming her rage she lashed out again and again. She pounded her fists against him. It boiled out of her, all the feelings of helpless bitterness as the blows became harder and more desp
erate. Tears slid down her cheeks. They began to pour out of her until they were streaming from her eyes. Jasmine felt so lost. A solitary boat in a monsoon of feelings she had no control over. Everything inside her had been unleashed.

  Asier’s fingers encircled her wrists halting her fury. In one quick movement he slammed her back against the wall. The pain made her gasp but the jarring cleared her head. Asier flipped her around. Twisting her arm cruelly behind her back, he pinned her to the hard wall of his muscled chest. Jasmine gave a little cry of pain.

  “Anger blinds you.” His breath was hot beside her ear which made her give an involuntary shiver. “You will lose every time if you let it take over your head Jasmine. Stop acting on your emotions. I know you are still hurting, but you must get over this. Take charge of what Eric’s blood is making you feel. Use it to become stronger.”

  Asier’s hips cupped Jasmine’s bottom, his thighs pressed intimately into hers. She tried to struggle but he easily subdued her with his strength. It frightened her just how quickly he could overpower her. Her tears forgotten, she stilled.

  The heat of his body was searing her skin through the layers of her clothes. Stealthily, the lick of Asier’s sway settled over her like a comforting blanket. A calmness she had been seeking for weeks invaded her as he continued to dominate. Something hard began pushing against her lower back. Realising it was his growing erection, Jasmine gasped. She had felt it before when she was drunk, but did not remember it being quite so...big.

  Before she could comment, she found herself free. Whirling around, she found Asier padding back across the room.