La Luxure: Discover Your Blood Lust

by Cd Hussey

  "You couldn't stay away from her, could you? Such an easy target. Such a willing Victim." Darus' feet dangled well above the ground. "And I'm the arrogant prick?" Armand hissed.

  Darus struggled against Armand's grasp, but it was pointless. Blood oozed from wounds crisscrossing his face and his right eye was already swollen shut.

  A small crowd had gathered, among them were a few of the bouncers. They didn't seem inclined to interfere, and when Julia caught the doorman's gaze, he just looked away.

  Armand took a massive, ragged breath, drew in a second, calmer one, and then pulled a phone from his pocket, dialed quickly, and pressed it to his ear. "It's Armand. Are you on patrol?" Pause. "Head down to The Cell, I have a perp for you." He clicked off the PDA and slid it back into his pocket.

  The doorman approached him with a hint of caution. "Hey Armand, you might want to ease up and let him down," he said, jutting his chin towards the incapacitated man at the end of Armand's outstretched arm.

  Darus' face was turning blue and a line of blood infused spittle was dangling from his mouth. Armand barley glanced his direction before dropping him. "Keep an eye on him," he told the doorman.

  Julia was too busy staring at the fallen man to notice Armand headed her way. She couldn't believe how fast and strong he was. He was easily as swift and deadly as any of the great predators routinely showcased on the nature channel.

  His fingers were soft and warm as they caressed her jaw. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern replacing the rage.

  She blinked, trying to clear the daze. "Yeah...Fine." Her voice came out breathy with a bit of a tremble.

  "Are you sure?" His fingers trailed down her skin until they locked on the back of her neck. His touch was so gentle, it was hard to imagine it belonged to the same hands that, seconds before, had nearly squeezed the life from another man.

  She lifted her eyes from the quivering heap that was Darus, and settled on Armand's multicolored orbs. God, he was so amazing looking, with his gently furrowed brow and concerned eyes...she could just burrow herself in his touch and never come up for air again. "I - ah - um."

  Without thinking and without hesitation, she grabbed his face and pulled him in, enveloping his mouth with hers in the most fervent kiss she'd ever planted on a man. Initially, Armand seemed startled, but it was barely a moment before he wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss.

  His lips were the softest and most sensual she'd ever tasted. And warm. They were surprisingly warm.

  His tongue danced in her mouth, sending shafts of heat through her body with each thrust. She tightened her grip on him and he responded by drawing her closer until her body pressed into his. Light moans that originated somewhere deep in his throat told her he enjoyed the kiss as much as she did.

  "Jesus, Armand. Did you have to rough him up so much?"

  Reluctantly Armand pulled back, and Julia lifted her lids languidly. He stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Let me take care of this and then we'll get out of here."

  Julia's throat was unable to make a coherent noise, so she just nodded. Armand studied her for a moment, a tiny smile dancing on his lips, before he pivoted on his heel and joined the police officer kneeling over Darus. Though the narrow opening to the street, Julia could just make out two police horses "parked" outside.

  "Thanks for coming, Tim," Armand said.

  The cop rose from where he hovered over Darus' limp form. "What the hell is going on?"

  "I believe this is the man that murdered Melissa Schwartz."

  "Do you have proof?"

  "No," Armand admitted. "But if you take a DNA sample, I'm sure you'll find his saliva matches the bite-marks on her body."

  Tim shook his head. "I can't arrest someone on a hunch."

  "How long have we known each other, Tim?"

  "Too fucking long."

  "Do you trust me?"

  The cop hesitated. "Yeah, sure, of course."

  "This is your man."

  Tim sighed. "I can't just take a sample," he said. "It'd never hold up in court." He glanced down at Darus. "Fuck, he's in pretty bad shape. You've got to watch that temper of yours."

  "He was being drunk and disorderly," the doorman piped in. "Armand was merely assisting us in subduing him."

  "And you'll provide a written statement to that effect?"

  "Of course."

  Tim rolled his eyes. Turning back to Armand, he said, "Jesus, you're the fucking king of the vampires, aren't you? One of your subjects crosses the line, you rein him in, and the rest of your populace covers your back." Armand just shrugged. "Well, thank God you police your own group. I'd hate to be called in every time one of your kind got out of hand."

  Julia was amazed by the cop's casual reference to the vampire culture she'd just discovered and accepted. Obviously, everything and anything really did "go" in New Orleans.

  "So you'll take him in then?" Armand wondered.

  "Sure. Hope you're right. I'd like to find the bastard that killed that girl." Tim hefted Darus to his feet. It was no easy effort. Darus was, at this point, essentially a 170lb lump of clay.

  "How are your wife and daughter?" Armand asked out of the blue.

  "Good. The baby's almost a year old. That's how often you visit. Last time was at her christening."

  Armand's expression was amused. "I apologize. I'll try and make it by more often."

  "Better. You owe me."

  "I do."

  The cop pushed Darus toward the street. The vampire walked unsteadily and every stride looked painful. They obviously weren't the undead kind of vampires and Julia's subspecies theory was confirmed. Or virus, it could still be a virus.

  "Hey, we're going crabbing next Tuesday if you're up for it," Tim called over his shoulder.

  "Sounds good," Armand replied.

  "Do I need to bring one of those huge umbrellas to protect you from the sun?"

  "That would be appreciated."

  "Fucking blood suckers." Tim laughed, shaking his head. "I'll call you," he said, right before shoving Darus towards the Paddy wagon that had just pulled up. Faintly, Julia could hear the Miranda rights being recited.

  As Armand headed back to where she stood dumbfounded, he paused long enough to bump fists with the doorman.

  Chapter Twelve

  "Shall we?" He offered his elbow and Julia slipped her arm through the opening. The gathered crowd stepped back as he led her from the bar, giving them ample room to ease from the confines of the small courtyard.

  She felt a pair of eyes burning into her and caught sight of the midnight-haired vampire Armand had been speaking with upstairs. Standing perfectly still in the shadow of the adjacent building wall, he watched her intently. The expression on his beautiful face wasn't sinister, but it filled her with dread anyway. In fact, the longer she held his iridescent gaze, the more panicked she felt until finally, she forced her head to turn away. Her arm linked through Armand's was the only thing that made her feel safe. She wished there was an easier way to tell the good vampires from the bad besides her panic instinct.

  "Julia, do you mind if we take a walk?" Armand wondered once they'd pushed passed the mob that had gathered around the Paddy wagon. "I'm strung a little...tight. A walk usually helps calm me down."

  She glanced up at him. The tendons on his neck were like steel cables, and she could actually see the tension working his jaw. "A walk sounds wonderful."

  "Have you been to the river yet?"

  "No, but I've been meaning to."

  "Good." He was silent for a moment, weaving effortlessly through the gaggle of stumbling tourists. It was like he could anticipate their movements before their brains could even summon one electrical impulse. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I try very hard not to let my temper get the best of me."

  "I think you were justified. I mean, do you really think Darus killed Eve?"

  "I'll let the DNA determine his guilt or innocence, but yes, I do believe he was the last person to see Eve alive."
r />   "How often is a Donor is killed?" The word Donor felt strange as it meekly rolled off her tongue.

  "Rarely, but once is too often. It should never happen." Armand glanced at her. "Donating is usually safe," he assured. He must have read the fear and doubt on her face. "There are some inherent dangers, of course. Hitting a major artery, tendon damage, infection...but these are easily avoidable with a little education. Contrary to popular myth, it is virtually impossible to 'drink someone dry'." That was a relief. "A person has to lose about 40% of their blood to die. A small woman like Eve or yourself has about 8 pints of blood. That's a lot of blood to lose, and a lot to consume."

  "How much does one usually drink?" Drink felt even weirder coming out of her mouth than Donor had.

  "About a shot glass." Julia remembered the skinny guy at Luxure being served a shot glass filled with thick red liquid. She'd originally thought it looked like blood and then laughed at the thought. It appeared her initial impression had been correct after all.

  "But there are some that require much more." He caught her gaze and held it captive. "You do understand what Luxure is, don't you? I mean, it is a legitimate bar, complete with liquor and business licenses, but we cater to a different clientele?"

  "I know."

  "I thought you did. I just wanted to make sure."

  "If donating is safe, how was Eve killed? The paper said she died from blood loss."

  "I don't doubt that, although I imagine there were drugs involved too. She'd been coming into the bar daily for a week, leaving with different patrons, four, sometimes five times an evening. I didn't fault her for her promiscuity, so to speak, but at some point it ceases to be safe, especially since she was usually high. I finally kicked her out. Victims like Eve are dangerous to have around."

  "Victims?"

  "Donors that literally want to be someone's victim. There's usually a bit of delusion and Hollywood fantasy involved. Since drama always follows Victims, they tend to be more of a nuisance than anything. But every so often, a Victim like Eve comes along and manages to fulfill the fantasy. And unfortunately, there are members in the Community, like Darus, that are happy to help."

  "What about that guy with the long dark hair you were talking to at The Cell? Is he dangerous?" Just thinking of his eerie, pale gaze made her shudder.

  Armand's face was dead serious when he turned to her. "I'm not sure, but stay away from him. He's not right."

  Julia nodded tightly. She only needed the one warning.

  They'd passed Jackson Square, crossed Decatur, the trolley tracks, and were climbing the stairs to the river levee where a walking trail lined with park benches followed the crest and curve. Without the shelter of the tight buildings, the wind pressed through the thin material of Julia's dress, lifting goose bumps in areas she didn't realize she had them. The temperature had dropped at least 20 degrees, and she wrapped her arms around her chest in a feeble attempt to block the wind. The attempt wasn't needed for long. One glance her direction, and Armand shrugged out of his frock coat and slipped it over her shoulders.

  "Aren't you cold?" she asked.

  He smiled. "No."

  Of course not. Why would he be?

  She slid her arms into the heavy brocade coat. It was ridiculously big on her, but warm, and the silk lining felt luxurious against her bare skin. His scent wafted up from the folds of fabric and she inhaled deeply, savoring the spicy, earthy smell.

  The wind whipped across the levee, twisting the coat around her legs. She pulled it tighter and shivered. "I can't believe how windy it is. Or how much colder it's gotten."

  "The storm has changed course. It's heading inland."

  She stared at him, remembering the massive swirl churning its way across the TV on the news this morning. "The one in the Gulf?"

  "Yes, but don't worry." How was she supposed to not? "They usually lose energy by the time they reach the city." Usually did not make her feel better. That meant sometimes they gained energy. "If they reach the city at all," he assured. "It might miss us all together." He spied her from the corners of his hazel eyes. "Do we need to make a trip to the St. Louis Cemetery to ask Marie Laveau for another favor?"

  "No, that won't be necessary," she said, a little embarrassed at the memory of her last request and the obvious way he teased her about it. Maybe his teasing was well founded. She did tend to over worry things. If Armand didn't seem worried that the storm had changed course, she probably shouldn't either.

  Although, duh, vampire.

  "Have you been through many hurricanes?"

  "More than I can count." He turned to her. "But we've talked enough about me; I want to hear about you."

  She'd really rather hear about him. "There's not much to tell."

  "Humor me." He sat on one of the benches overlooking the river and gestured for her to join him. Sitting dangerously close to him, she snuggled into his coat and cast her gaze over the vast expanse of the Mississippi, barely making out the outlines of a few navy ships. A barge churned through the murky water, gurgling and chugging along at its steady, turtle pace. Off in the distance, just past the downtown skyline, a cruise ship was docking.

  The water lapping against the riprap lined banks was almost as soothing as waves crashing on a beach. She could sense Armand waiting for her to speak, and she had every intention to indulge him, she just wished his desires ran towards the less clothed side.

  "There's not much to tell. I live alone with my cat in downtown Alton, Illinois. I work my 40 hours a week as a public servant of sorts, read entirely too much, and socialize primarily with my sister. I'm pretty boring."

  "Boring is not a word I'd use to describe you, Julia. Understated, perhaps, maybe even unassuming, but definitely not boring."

  She wasn't sure who he was talking about, but it couldn't possibly be her. "If you say so."

  "What's your cat's name?" It was an abrupt change in conversation.

  "Beelzebub."

  "An appropriate name for a cat."

  Did that mean he didn't like cats or he knew that all cats were really the devil in furry little bodies? "It suits him."

  "What is downtown Alton like?"

  "Small, made mostly of brick, with a few bars, restaurants, and plenty of bikers and antique shops."

  "Do you like it?"

  "It's okay. Alton can be a weird mix. It's an old, industrial city that's trying to become a destination town. I don't feel like it's found its niche yet."

  "So why did you become an engineer?"

  Maybe his life was so crazy that her dull, mundane existence actually seemed interesting to him. For a man like Armand, was her boringness exotic, so completely foreign and therefore enticing? It was the only possible reason he found her attractive.

  "Well, I was always good at math, and when I went to college the funds weren't exactly flowing, so I needed something with plenty of scholarships. I love water, so civil engineering seemed logical."

  "I love water too," he said quietly. "Do you enjoy the work?"

  "Most of the time. Since I work in the public sector, I can see the benefit to the community. It's nice to feel like you're helping society in some small way."

  "I wouldn't say it's a small contribution. Being in New Orleans after Katrina made me truly understand the importance of infrastructure and how we take it for granted. It's one of those things that usually isn't appreciated until it's gone."

  "Like trash service."

  "Exactly."

  "So, you stayed during Katrina," she left the statement open, hoping he'd volunteer more information. She was glad to be able to bring the conversation back to him.

  "I did. Foolishly perhaps, but it was an experience I wouldn't take back."

  "Why is that?"

  "I was able to see the city, and the world, with fresh eyes. It helped put things in perspective for me." He turned to her, shifting the conversation again. "Thank you for coming down here with me. I'm feeling much...calmer."

  "The river is soothin
g," she agreed, letting the gentle lapping and the steady chug of the passing barge lull every last piece of tension from her body. The encounter with Dave, then Darus, then the other creepy vampire, had left Julia's shoulders in knots.

  "True, but it's more than that," he smiled at her and she smiled back under heavy lids, a yawn sneaking out as she did. She covered her mouth in a hurry.

  "I'm sorry. It's just really late."

  "No apologies." He rose, holding his hand out for her. "But I think it's time to tuck you in."

  She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Momentum carried her within inches of him, and she waited anxiously, chin lifted to the sky. His mouth lingered above hers, but he just stood there immobile, looking down at her with those gorgeous eyes. God, if he would only kiss her.

  "If I kiss you now," he whispered, as if he'd read her mind. Heck. Maybe he could. "I won't be able to stop there."

  The wind whistled across the river, finding its way beneath her skirt. At least the cold air managed to bring the heat between her legs down to a temperature that wasn't about to spontaneously combust.

  "Then don't."

  Armand's lips pulled across his teeth in a crooked smile. "As much as I'd like to lay you down on this park bench, I'd rather savor you in a more...appropriate setting."

  The way the word "savor" rolled off his tongue sent flames and ice sickles down her spine at the same time. It was like two fronts meeting and a tornado was brewing. She might want to give every part of her body to him, but she still couldn't decide if the thought of him drinking from her scared or turned her on more.

  Nevertheless, she was disappointed that her back wasn't pressed against the hard metal bench.

  He stepped back. "We really should head back before I do something that'll get us both arrested."

  "Alright," she conceded grudgingly.

  Keeping her hand firmly in his, Armand led her back through the city. The conversation was light and easy. He inquired more about her boring life, ignoring her attempts to shuck the questions. Julia wasn't interested in talking about herself, and finally succeeded in turning the conversation to more generic items. She was surprised by the amount of things they had in common. Political views, world views, places they'd like to visit...judging by his appearance alone, she would have never thought they shared so many of the same life philosophies. The more she spoke with him, the more she realized the attraction and connection she felt towards him was much more than physical.