by D. R. Rosier
He said, “Very well, I will return tomorrow after lunch, with the vampire if she agrees.”
Silas spluttered but the necromancer cut him off.
“I will not force her, bond or not. I believe that is the whole point.”
He turned and froze, staring right at me. His mouth open. He really needed to work on his poker face. He recovered after a few seconds and walked out with a thoughtful look on his face. I shrugged, to be fair I had a shit eating grin on my face when I saw him at first, I could hardly hold his lapse against him.
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped when I saw two of the ghosts were staying behind. So that was how he knew they were plotting last night. Too funny. I smiled apologetically to Silas when he glared at me, but wasn’t about to explain. At least Willa was happy to see me, she winked then sat back down. I realized then she must have been shielding assface from necromancy the whole time.
The awkwardness died down as they got on with things, it got a little boring after the demon left. People requesting help for this or that. That was good to see, that was the purpose of the council, to protect from outside threats and to help those they protected when needed. If people could still ask for help maybe Silas wasn’t as much a heartless brutal dictator as I thought. Still, there was something up here.
When the day ended I couldn’t help but ask Willa what the real deal was. The answer didn’t surprise me, but it should have.
“Well, the vampire is a known witch that was taken from around here a long time ago. She was presumed dead until that vampire saw her the other day. Vamps that were once witches or really, any supernatural, are more powerful, a lot more powerful. Stronger, faster, sometimes gifted in other ways like levitation, flying, telekinesis and other abilities. Silas is desperate to get control of her.
“That’s why vampires have laws against turning anyone but normal humans, it can throw off their age/power/seniority setup. Normally the power curve with age is very predictable, not so in a vampire paranormal. Still, forbidden or not, when one turns up they are coveted if the head master is old enough to be stronger, and usually targeted for death if the new vampire is stronger.
“It worries me, I think Silas just wants to see her to measure her power, then he will decide to either try and kill her or steal her away from Vince. It’s the only reason I can think of for him backtracking, he absolutely needs to see her to decide. Unfortunately no matter how distasteful the rest of us find it, it is an internal matter for the vampires.”
I shrugged. “You know, that was about the nicest necromancer I ever met, you should just give him a seat on the council. Then both he and the vampire girl would be required to defend the city.”
Willa laughed. “Yes they would, but Vince is more powerful than Silas despite his youth. Silas would never give up head council. I know that’s wrong, the city should come first. But to be honest I’d be a little worried about a necromancer in a position of power, not to mention getting to know us on a day to day basis, we’d be too vulnerable.”
I nodded, “I would trust him, but I know my opinion doesn’t count.”
She looked askance and asked, “Why?”
“Because he meant what he said with every fiber of his being, he finds the idea of binding others against their will evil, it disgusts him that he had to do it. The only thing worse in his mind would have been killing her, since in his mind she is an innocent. My lie detection is a bit more refined than most others.”
Willa just nodded so I changed the subject, “So what’s the plan for tonight, can I impose on you one more evening, my stuff will be here tomorrow morning.”
“I would enjoy your company very much,” she briefly touched my shoulder while speaking, I have to admit it made me tingle a bit. Okay, maybe more than a bit. In my defense it’s been a long time.
I reached over and took her hand, long before we got close to the park with the oak tree. I guess we were eating in tonight, Willa verified with her next words.
“We are having dinner at the house tonight, there will be a few others from the coven who are curious to meet the new girl in town. Hope that’s okay?”
I squeezed her hand and said sincerely, “I’d love to meet anyone from your coven.”
They had to be good people, it was just the way it worked. Morals, beliefs, how to treat others, always came from the top down. Oh, there might be one or two sour apples, there usually were. As always, exceptions to the rule.
Something was bugging me, something obvious. I felt like the doctor who staring at the Ferris wheel looking for a large metal circle somewhere in London. It was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn’t bring it out. I gave up on it and enjoyed the walk with Willa, her soft hand wrapped in mine. How is it after so many centuries, something so simple could make my heart race, cloud my mind with lust and anticipation.
She opened the Oak tree gate, whatever it’s called, and pulled me through. When I got through my mouth fell open and she started giggling.
“A few more?” I asked, my voice coming out weak and edgy.
She nodded, “Two of them couldn’t make it, they were out of town.”
Twenty one people, how the hell will I memorize eighteen more faces tonight. I saw Lisa and Leanne wave us over, there were a couple of other ladies standing with them, probably in their thirties. Lisa looked speculatively at us, and I realized we were still holding hands. I smiled and winked, I wasn’t going to let go if Willa wasn’t.
There was a bonfire, and a picnic table covered in food, probably potluck. The night was fun, I did meet a lot of nice people and marveled that over half were older woman, in their thirties and forties, a couple in their sixties, all following this younger woman holding my hand. Willa was truly an amazing woman. This is how it should be, following power and wisdom, those with the talent of leadership regardless of age, but so often jealousy and bitterness from the older people get in the way of that, not here, not in her coven.
That was probably a good thing, we had enough of that going on with Silas.
At the end of the night they did a circle, just for a simple blessing having nothing more serious to do. Just for the joy of joining their power, communing and becoming one with the power of nature. I was wistfully watching. I would always enjoy and love the raw power, subtlety and infinite possibilities of wielding the five elements, but I wondered what it would be like, to feel the natural world around me, to be one with it.
Witches had some scary stuff they could do, but on the whole were much more gentle than sorcerers. More nurturing. It wouldn’t do to forget though, that nature can also be a merciless and entirely unforgiving force if not respected.
After the blessing we all headed to the house, I realized quickly that no one was going home tonight, they would all stay together. The house with twenty four bedrooms suddenly made perfect sense to me. Willa took my hand and led me up to her room, when she closed the door she looked at me with a question in her beautiful storm gray eyes. I didn’t leave the question hanging long, I leaned into her and kissed her full pink lips. I almost giggled at what I tasted. She was gorgeous powerful and completely sure of herself, but she was wearing pink lip gloss that tasted of strawberries. I swiped my tongue across her bottom lip and then inside when she opened up to me.
“You’re so beautiful Anise, I’ve never met anyone like you,” Willa whispered in my ear between nibbles on my neck, right below my earlobe causing me to gasp lightly and then sigh with pleasure.
I caressed her hair and ran my hands down her back, then tugged lightly on her shirt. She raised her arms above her head and I pulled her shirt over. She returned the favor before we started kissing again. Her lips were so soft, my nipples were taught and tingling as our breasts brushed together through our lingerie, sending tingling shots of pleasure to my core. I could feel myself getting hotter, and start to moisten up as my breathing picked up.
I took her skirt off as she fumbled with my jeans, I was intensely aware and sensitive every time her
body brushed against mine, it was sweet torture as we finished stripping each other. I pulled her by the hair lightly, tilting her head and attacking her neck with feather light kisses, breaths, and soft nips. I held her against me with my other hand as I explored her body. I could hear her heavy breathing and moans over my own as we slowly made our way to her bed amidst our explorations.
Her soft silky lips drove me crazy as our now naked bodies rubbed together in very interesting ways. My core was hot, wet, and aching to be touched. When her hand cupped my mound and her middle finger teased my labia slightly open I gasped into her mouth, eagerly returning the favor with feather light fingertips. We slowly pleasured each other, drawing it out almost painfully as we rose to pleasure.
Willa screamed in pleasure, “Goddess I’m cumming, oh Anise, don’t stop!”
Her body locked up and she gasped as her molten center greedily milked my fingers, her juices soaking my hand. I reached my pleasure a few moments later.
My whole body shook as my core erupted, my walls bearing down on her fingers as I soaked them in my juice. I was lost in ecstasy as we continued to move in each other, drawing out the orgasm as much as possible until we both collapsed onto the bed.
When we came down together, the initial fire put out, we took a shower, making sure we were fresh and clean from the day’s activities. We didn’t even talk about it, when we returned to the bed we moved into a sixty nine position. All the anticipation was nothing to the reality of her warm wet tongue running along my labia, circling and flicking against my clit. I returned the favor with pleasure, tasting her sweet molten core as we once again rose together to climax.
We held each other through after tremors, and I could sense her falling asleep. A part of me longed to join her, but a very small part. I accepted my nature long ago. But it was as she was falling asleep it popped into my head, the obvious question I couldn’t pin down earlier.
“Love? What was the name of that witch that became a vampire.”
I was in shock at her answer despite almost expecting it, “Amy,” she slurred sleepily.
Oh god. My granddaughter Amy was still alive…
Chapter 5 – Vincent
I still couldn’t sleep. That power I got from Kim almost two days ago now still roared through me, my demon side still sated. I wondered if I didn’t only hunt when I absolutely had to, if I would ever really need sleep. I vowed that was something I wouldn’t find out.
When I got home last night, Amy was less than happy to find out they wanted her to go there for some reason that neither of us could figure out. I didn’t trust Silas, not at all, but I was still hoping for peace. Hopefully whatever he found would satisfy him to leave us alone. Unfortunately I have no idea what he really wants. Maybe it’s just something that’s so commonly known that they didn’t have to bring it up? When Miri and Sara got back after the council meeting they said no one mentioned my situation again.
Amy had been surly about it, but had agreed. It made me angry as well, I did want peace, but a part of me just wanted to enslave the asshole, take the city, and be done with it. Luckily that side of me wouldn’t win.
Although I worried about if he gave me no choice. Would it be better to kill him?
I pondered that for a while, but I already knew the answer. Yes. Yes it would.
Amy was an innocent, forced as a slave to attack me. Silas is in control of his own actions, he doesn’t deserve a second chance, doesn’t deserve quasi freedom now and a chance at true freedom once my dumb ass figures out how to use my powers better. No, if I bonded Silas I’d have to stay in control, make him a slave. I wouldn’t do that, it would be better to just kill him if it became necessary.
I had a few hours before a morning job, the reason I told the council I would be back after lunch was I had shit to do. I wandered into the kitchen and grabbed a beer and made a sandwich. Amy came in and glared at me, plopping down into the chair. I managed to suppress a smile. How was it this surly verbally abusive woman never failed to cheer me up. No doubt there was something very wrong with me.
“Can’t you sleep?” she sniped, her voice rougher than usual.
I looked at her carefully, she looked like shit. Amy never looked like shit, but right now she was pale, and looked tired. Dark bags under her eyes.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked in my usual non tactful way.
She sighed, “I haven’t eaten, been afraid to leave the house.”
A pulse of anger went through me, and without thinking I said, “Feed from me then, you look like total shit, which isn’t normal.”
She glared up at me and said, “You are such an asshole. I won’t feed from you.”
I sighed, engaged my brain for once while sipping the beer, then asked, “Why not, I mean, I hate to see you like this,” then of course the anger disengaged my brain again, “It makes me want to go pound Silas into the ground. Maybe drag him to hell, I’ve never actually done that before, but he is a good first candidate.”
I nodded to myself, like I was wise or something.
She shook her head, “I have other gifts, because I was a witch when I was turned, one of them is to send thoughts, read thoughts, even share minds, feelings.”
I looked at her not getting her point and she said, “Well, that sort of happens involuntarily when I am feeding. So we’d be reading each other’s minds while going through pretty much ecstasy as I fed on you.”
She shuddered as if in horror.
I’ll be honest, that kind of hurt my feelings. “I’d be okay with it, it’s better than you starving yourself,” gah, I sounded so weak when I said that.
She shrugged. “With a human it’s easy, I just erase it all right after, except for a little pleasure. With you… that isn’t an option. You don’t want that memory.”
She chuckled and continued, “You couldn’t take the hit to your self esteem.”
I was insulted, at least for a second, then the fact that she just lied her ass off with that last sentence registered in my mind. Now I was really curious what she did think of me, but short of ordering her to do it, which I wouldn’t, I wasn’t going to find out.
I changed the subject, curious despite myself, “So, what other abilities do you have?”
She peered at me a moment before answering, “I can use compulsion without speaking, compulsion works really well combined with the mind reading, sending and modifying thing. Other than that I am just faster and stronger. It’s like I’m still connected to nature, by a very thin thread, and I can pull on the earth enough to magnify my physical abilities.”
She looked at me sheepishly for a moment, “I’m sorry I never told you, I think that is why Silas either wants me under his control or dead,” her face grimaced, “There is one more thing.”
I took a sip of my beer and just waited, giving her the choice. I was curious as hell but repressing curiosity is simplicity itself after suppressing a demon’s, my, appetite to gorge on human souls.
She said reluctantly, “It is another side effect of the same gift really, I can completely block compulsion, no matter how powerful or old the other Vamp is. I’m immune to everything but a necromancer’s bond that way. I think it’s because compulsion affects the mind, the necromancer bond works through the magic itself, directly into my soul.”
Shit, if Silas learns that he is going to want her dead for sure.
I frowned, “You need to eat, does it have to come from the source?”
She furrowed her brow, “What do you mean?”
“Well, what if I bleed into a cup, will that sustain you? I am thinking the mind connection thing will probably only happen if you bite into me,” I made a face, “Unless of course it will work anyway, through the bond. Will you try it? I’m pretty sure I can block you out with shields if we aren’t touching.”
She sighed her voice going soft, “Thank you Vince, but let me think about it.”
“I suppose you could join me this morning, grab a snack on the way to the clien
t? I don’t think they will bug you with me there.” At least, I hoped not.
She giggled. “That might work.”
We sat in silence for a while as I finished my early AM meal. As usual for the last twelve hours my mind wandered to the golden haired woman I saw right before leaving. She glowed, a bright white field surrounding her body. I almost squinted at first, until I realized it was my other sight. My first thought was she must be an angel, but that’s absurd, isn’t it?
She had also smiled at me, as if she was looking at something that amazed her, which was unexpected considering where I had been and what I am. She was quite beautiful physically as well. I took another sip of beer and tried to shove the memory down, but the curiosity was killing me. Who was she, more importantly what was she?
I shook my head, it didn’t matter. I was a demon, I needed to stay the fuck away from her. I could sense her purity of purpose, her greatest desires were to help, heal, and have a family. All things I was utterly incapable of because of my very nature. Well, the last two anyway. Was it any wonder I had anger issues?
I switched tracks, thinking through what it would be like if Amy read my mind. Awkward summed it up rather well as I was very conflicted in my feelings toward her. I was protective, I wanted to give her freedom, but I was afraid she would leave if I did. I loved her like a sister, but she wasn’t, so I was also very attracted to her but determined to ignore that for various reasons. But I would feed her if I had to.
I got up and jumped in the shower, getting ready. The client, Cindy, was a human who swore she was being hunted by her dead ex-boyfriend Steve. I may have mentioned this before, but I hated dealing with humans, they never completely believed in the supernatural even the rare few that had the proof sitting right there. Even the believers looked at me askance, like I was a con man trying to steal their hard earned cash.
I put on a polo shirt, a pair of Dockers and some shoes. Business casual was a must with humans. With other supernaturals it wouldn’t matter if I showed up in jeans and a t-shirt, they could feel my aura, my power, humans not so much. I tracked Amy down, she was passed out on the couch not looking good at all.