by O. M. Grey
How had I not noticed the resemblance the other night? It was quite uncanny.
“Charmed, Lord York. I’m ever so looking forward to the gala tomorrow night. Did you see? They’re having games at eight and tales of adventure by Doctor Nesbitt at nine. Then dancing and more dancing into the night. How splendid! I will surely not miss the tour of the ship tonight, or will it be star gazing for me? Such decisions! Then games tomorrow night. How I do love games/ Where is your lovely lady, Lord York. Did Miss Bainbridge join you on the cruise?”
Unfortunately.
“Yes. She’s indisposed at the moment, poor girl. But no doubt she will be out later. She does enjoy games. Tomorrow night, you say? Perhaps we shall see you there.” Sooner, if I had any say in the matter.
“Perhaps. I certainly love Charades, but I was sad to see they weren’t playing ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.’ That’s my personal motto anyway, but it is ever so much fun to watch the silly things people will do to try to get one to smile. Wouldn’t it be grand if people tried so hard to make others smile all the time? It would be a much more pleasant world, would it not, Lord York?”
“Indeed, dear lady. It would, indeed.” What a delightful woman. She seemed to think much like I did. Yes! No time for all this sadness and insecurity and emotional turmoil. We should all be happy, all the time. Genuinely happy. Especially women. I thought of Avalon puling in our cabin, and I grew wearier of her with each passing second in this goddess’s company.
Still, Avalon was like me now. Vampires were a lonely lot, and it had been nice to have had company of late.
“I must take my leave, Lord York. Perhaps I shall see you later tonight? Stargazing, I think. Indeed.”
“I sincerely hope so, my dove. Do save me a dance.”
“Of course, Lord York. I’ll save you two.” She flashed a knowing look with her amber eyes.
How I adored older women. So experienced and not at all shy. Chastity had at least a decade on Avalon, being closer to Lady Bainbridge’s age, and the experience to match, no doubt. Perhaps that was why I tired of Avalon. She just didn’t have the experience to keep me satisfied, and a man had needs, after all. I especially had rather refined needs.
Must find a way to get Chastity alone later tonight and satiate some of those refined desires. After I watched, quite intently, Miss Rosengarten leave my presence, I took my time and explored the ship.
Lady Pearson rather outdid herself, yet again. True, it had been a military vessel, so it lacked the finery of a passenger ship, but Lady Pearson more than made up for the commonness of the ship with her lavish decor.
Every surface held a centerpiece of evergreen with a lit candle in its center. Holly and mistletoe hung over each doorway and arch. Oh, yes. Mistletoe. Must find a way to get Chastity beneath one later tonight. Or Hazel Hamilton. I bet she would squirm. I did love it when they squirmed.
As we reached our traveling altitude, I donned the goggles everyone was required to wear to enable us to see once up in the aether. Over the side of the ship, down in the darkness below, I saw the silvery Thames snake through the center of London. Far in the distance, a small yellow circle glowed in the darkness. Big Ben. Darkness cloaked most of the city, but the gaslights along the streets provided a magical view of hundreds of points of lights below. It was as if looking at the stars above, only below. This would be a splendid journey. Yes, indeed.
I had to stay out of that blasted cabin as much as possible. Only to sleep. It would be perfect for that, as it wasn’t much larger than a coffin. Honestly, as absurd that it was for the mythos to claim we slept in coffins, I would rather, than sleep in that cramped cabin with Avalon. She was always around. A man needed his space, after all. So clingy and needy. I felt as if I was being smothered, slowly suffocating to death.
Once south of London, there wasn’t much to see but blackness, so I explored the lower decks.
The ballroom, or rather the room converted to the ballroom, was even more gloriously decorated than the rest. A tree as high as the room, which must’ve been at least thirty feet tall, stood in the center of the dance floor. Already couples were swirling around it, dressed in their day wear. They danced to their own joy, as the musicians hadn’t set up yet, and it was a lovely sight to see. I loved to watch people having fun, especially when they were in love. How had they found their perfect love, and I, after over three centuries, was still looking?
Of course, I knew the answer to that. I had had my perfect love with Catherine, and perhaps there was just no replacing her. Never replacing, but perhaps there was no matching her. Tried and tried as I might, every few decades or so, I would meet someone who was promising, but it always ended the same way. Disappointment. They were too human, too frail, too weak. I’d spit on love again and commence fucking for a while, and then another temptress would convince me, renew my hope, only to disappoint me again. Just like Avalon has done. It was always the same.
But not with Chastity. I had a feeling that it would be different with her. Finally.
Perhaps there was only one chance for true love in a lifetime. Perhaps that time had passed for me with my Catherine.
Bah! I shan’t accept that. Chastity would be the answer to my longing. She would be my perfect love.
Ascending the stairs, I slid my hand along the garland-trimmed the rail. The sensual prickly foliage of the evergreen delighted my fingers. On every fourth step, a brilliant red poinsettia adorned each end, its pot wrapped in a grand golden bow. The staircase led to the dining area where every table and chair was draped in white. Servants scampered about getting everything ready for dinner. Sprigs of evergreen and pinecones graced the center of red ribbons tied to the backs of each chair.
Finely dressed couples were already arriving and searching for their place card, so I must get dressed soon. I pulled out my pocket watch, and it had already gone six. Dinner started in thirty minutes, but if I hurried, perhaps I could have a quick romp with Avalon and a dash of blood to tide me over until I could find someone to eat later.
Upon arriving back to our cramped cabin, I was quite cross to see that Avalon was not there. Spoiling my fun again. The trunk was tucked neatly into the corner and her dressing gown was folded on the pillow of the top bunk. She had withdrawn my suit for tonight and hung it in the closet, along with my clothes for tomorrow.
Kind gestures, but what I needed right now was a quick poke. I had passed a chambermaid on my way up, perhaps her. Indeed. The help worked in a pinch, as they were quite good at keeping their mouths shut, unless I needed them open. Besides, she wouldn’t remember a thing. So a giggle and a poke it was.
“Excuse me, Miss,” I said, peeking my head out the door. The brunette woman dressed in a black and white uniform turned to me. She was plainly pretty and would do nicely. “Would you mind pressing my suit for dinner? It shan’t take too long, as it has been hanging for a while.”
“Yes, M’Lord,” she said, abandoning her cart full of linens.
“Actually, bring a few towels please?”
“Of course, M’Lord.” She grabbed three fresh towels and slid past me, keeping her head properly bowed in my presence, as she should. I shut the door behind her and shoved her against it, pinning her facing away from me. I caught one of the towels before it hit the floor and threw it over my shoulder. I’d be needing it shortly.
“Please, sir! Please! Don’t hurt me! Just let me go. I won’t tell no one, I won’t. Promise, sir. Please!”
“You won’t feel a thing,” I said in calming tones. “Well, that’s not quite true, you will feel me well enough, but you won’t remember a thing. No screams, all right? No screams and I’ll let you live. In fact, not a peep from you. Understand? I shan’t be long.”
Ah! Sweet variation.
She was quite well-behaved, as well, not a sound as I hammered into her. The scent of fresh blood sent me over the edge. She had broken skin while biting her lip to stay quiet, and I couldn’t resist anymore.
&nbs
p; Perfection.
The blood from her neck cascaded over my tongue, filling my mouth with her life, as I filled her cunt with my death.
Although she wept as I withdrew, she still didn’t make a sound. Good girl. Except for the quiet mewling. Why must women cry so much? All for just a few moments of something that should be fun. She probably hadn’t had a good jab for weeks, if ever. Certainly not by a viscount, indeed. She should be thanking me.
“Hold this,” I said, indicating the towel I had pressed against her neck after I had enough blood. Well, at least enough without killing her. Don’t want to have to dispose of a corpse, not with everyone heading to dinner.
Shaking, she held it against her neck, eyes wide. Lips quivering.
“Wipe your face. You look awful.”
“I’m sorry, M’Lord,” she whimpered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Nonsense.” As I moved toward her, she jumped, then cried anew. “Surely that wasn’t your first time.”
“Yes, M’Lord. I was a maid.”
“You’re welcome, then. You’ll always be able to tell your friends that a viscount had you the first time. Not bad, either. Quite sweet. Still. You won’t remember anything, no details anyway. Just a pleasant romp with a guest. Lucky girl.”
“You bit me.”
“That I did, but you shan’t remember that either.” Looking into her eyes, I compelled her. “You came in to press my shirt and seduced me into a quick romp, so excited at being on an airship. I, of course, couldn’t help myself, but my sweetheart must never know. It’s our secret. Tell your friends, if you must, but best just keep it to yourself. You don’t remember which cabin it was. You don’t remember what I look like.”
Her eyes glazed over and her mouth hung open. She’d be all right in a moment, so I took the opportunity to check the bleeding. Nearly stopped. I pulled the towel away and licked the two tiny puncture wounds, sealing them, then reset her collar to cover them.
“Will that be all, M’Lord?” she said, smiling.
“Yes, my dear. Fine work on pressing my dinner wear. Look at the time,” I said. “I must get dressed.”
“Of course, M’Lord. I’ll let myself out, sir. Thank you.” She turned back to me just before she shut the door and smiled the sweetest smile I had ever seen.
Ah. It was quite lovely to be me.
§
I found Avalon already at dinner, seated with her aunt and uncle, as well as several people I didn’t know.
“Good Evening, Lord Bainbridge, Lady Bainbridge. Miss Bainbridge. How are you all this fine evening?”
“Quite well, Arthur,” Emily exclaimed, her outfit even louder than she. It did help me find them in this crowded dining room, however, so there was that. “Forgive us, we started without you. Cheers.” She held up a glass of red wine as if to toast. Instead, she drank half the glass in one gulp.
“Yes, Arthur. We’ve missed you,” Avalon said, looking as lovely as ever. She wore a deep green gown with full black skirts, trimmed in burgundy. She was the picture of grace, as I had no doubt she would be.
“Apologies all ‘round. Got caught up in something and lost track of time.” I sat next to Avalon, leaning over to give her a quick kiss on the cheek, but she didn’t even smile. Rather, she kept her jaw set and eyes lowered.
Emily, on the other hand, was draped in a very light green, rather like the inside of a pea. It was accented in a much nicer color, the green of the surrounding evergreens adorning everything in sight. Then, in the style that was only Emily, it was also trimmed with the most hideous color, something between yellow and the pea green. Much like urine after eating asparagus.
And…perfect.
“Asparagus,” I said as the waiters placed the first course in front of each of us: five tall asparagus stalks tied together with a red ribbon.
“Lord York,” Lord Bainbridge began, “May I introduce Lord and Lady Ableson of Surrey and Lord and Lady McNairy of Crawley.
“How do you do?” Lady Ableson said. She was well past her prime. Around seventy, I would say. And Lady McNairy, who just nodded toward me, appeared even older than that. Oh, well. I had my fill for a few hours anyway.
“Quite well. It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance. All of you. What do you make of this grand ship? It is the experience, is it not? Lord Ableson? Did you ever think you’d live to see such a sight?”
“No, sir. I daresay I almost wish I hadn’t. It’s unnatural being so high above life. Unnatural, I say!”
“Forgive my husband. He’s an old fuddy duddy.” Lord Abelson huffed and spurted at this, making his white, bushy mustache bounce. “It is positively splendid, my dear boy. Splendid. Yes, indeed. Did you see London down below? It rather puts much into perspective, don’t you find?”
“Indeed,” Avalon said. “Makes one feel rather small, no?”
“Exactly! When I think of all the people down there. That’s all I could think of as I watched from the side, although I didn’t get too close, mind, for fear of falling over. All those tiny people milling about on the streets below, all hustling about their business. Makes one feel rather insignificant.”
Huh. Didn’t make me feel insignificant at all.
“It did, rather, but at the same time, I felt so very privileged to experience such a thing.”
“Quite right, Miss Bainbridge. Quite right.”
“It’s all rather old now, isn’t it? I mean, we did have the gala over the summer,” Emily said. “We have seen London from above before, haven’t we?” She finished her wine and held up her glass until she attracted the attention of a waiter, who promptly came and refilled it, then topped off the rest of ours.
“It will never get old for me, Aunt. Not at all.”
“Yes, well, Avalon, you have led a rather plain existence before cavorting with Lord York, here. If it wasn’t for me, you two would never have even met. Remember, it was I who invited you on that summer dirigible gala. Me. It’s your fault,” she said, nudging her husband. “Talk about old fuddy duddies. My husband wouldn’t come, and it just wouldn’t do for me to go alone. How scandalous.”
“That’s right. Have some more wine, dear.”
This banter entertained Lady McNairy, from the expression she held, being old enough to be outright weary of High Society pretense. I was with her on that one.
Lady Ableson, however, was not at all amused. “Quite,” she snapped.
Emily did not take the hint from either her husband nor Lady Ableson.
“Speaking of being scandalously alone, did you see that woman boarding alone? She looked altogether commonplace. Well, obviously. I wonder how she got invited to this. Honestly, Lady Pearson gets more altruistic with each passing year. First professors, then writers. The horror. And now country wenches, it appears.”
“As Lady Ableson pointed out, dear aunt, we are all rather common in the larger view. Some of us are fortunate enough to have been born well, but there are others who are good people, even though they are not titled.”
“If you say so, Miss Bainbridge. You are, after all, an expert on what’s common.”
Although Avalon likely just had a sip of pig’s blood before she came to dinner, her cheeks flushed red in her anger. I thought she would leap across the table and devour Emily at once. Fortunately, she didn’t, for that would’ve been rather inconvenient, but it was amusing just the same.
“Might I have everyone’s attention, please?” The chattering of the crowd quieted down after Blackwolf repeated that a few times. “We will be reaching The Channel within the hour. The moon is overhead now, and the view is real purty. Remember to use your goggles when on the top deck to protect your eyes. If you forgot to bring some, you can check a pair out down at reception where you came in. It’s between an eight to ten hour flight, depending on weather and wind and the like. But unless it’s necessary, I’m not going to touch down until the morning to avoid waking y’all from your sleep, but if you feel a bump in the night, it’s just that we’ve lande
d. No need to fret none. You will be free to spend the day in the city, but please be back on the boat by five in the afternoon. We’ll be lifting off promptly at six, so we can watch the moon rise over Montmarte. Remember, take it easy tonight. Big day tomorrow, and an even bigger party tomorrow night. Well. I suppose that’s all. All right, then,” he said with an awkward movement of his arms, I gathered to indicate we could continue our dinner uninterrupted. I hoped. “Mercee, and, well, um—Bone appiteet!”
Incroyable.
CHAPTER NINE
CONSTANCE
It was my complete pleasure to be seated next to the delightful Baron Vincent Von Rictus Baine. His sweet, yet proper flirtations throughout dinner caused me to lament my fate ever so slightly. Although as handsome as he was considerate, he dined alone. It always baffled me that the most warmhearted, genuine men were often the ones without companionship. If women only could see men for what they truly were, as I did, instead of only what they showed the world.
I promised him a dance later and said I hoped to be seated next to him again for dinner the next night.
“That is my wish, too, sweet lady,” he said, kissing my hand. “Might I be so bold as to ask if you might accompany me in Paris tomorrow for some shopping?”
“You may, Vincent, but I’m afraid I must regretfully decline.” Every single thing inside me wanted to spend the day in the company of this lovely man, but it would be cruel in the end, as I was unable to love for my own sake. It would be unfair and quite heartless to let him believe otherwise. For, unlike so many of my targets, I would never awaken love in a heart that I did not or could not love in return. I was charged with this duty, and I must fulfill my charge for the protection and safety of women now and in the future. Thousands, in the future, really, just as I had protected and avenged thousands in the past.
My heart sighed in disappointment, and I wished things could be different, especially when I saw the light in his eyes flicker and his sandy brown mustache quiver almost imperceptibly. Yet, he did not let his own disappointment show or his kind smile falter.