Dangerous Love

by Stephanie Radcliff

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?” a male voice rang out over the crowd. Both women turned to look up at the stage and Sage heard Vayna curse softly.

  “I’ll be damned…”

  She shot her a questioning look, but the vampire merely shook her head as the man continued to speak, “Welcome to the new Café Scarab. Please enjoy the evening. We have a live band tonight and a new dance floor for all of you who like to dance. But don’t forget to spend that money you brought with you!”

  The crowd laughed softly as he walked off the stage. He spotted the two of them and his eyes widened a fraction before he sauntered over to the two of them as he asked, “And just what are we doing, Miss Chronos?”

  “Jeran Nikodemus,” she replied as she simply looked at him. Of course he would be here, she thought. The man always seemed to know where she was, no matter how hard she tried to shake him off of her.

  The man stepped closer to their table at her acknowledgement. Sage was able to see him much better now that he was closer to them. He stood wearing an old fashioned suit of pure black with a red ascot tied around his neck, the only spot of color on him. His dark skin looked deathly pale as he stood there, a grin on his face showing off his sharp fangs. He bowed low to her as he said, “At your service, my Pharaoh.”

  “I told you not to call me that,” she said as she turned around in her chair to face him. She took in the sight of his fangs and almost hissed, “What do you think you’re doing, showing off your fangs like that?”

  “Relax, Vayna,” he said as he held up both of his hands. His grin never diminished even as a group of humans passed them. He shook his head as he spoke, “You really need to get out more often. Everyone around here thinks they’re caps. Fake teeth. No one really believes they’re real fangs. Speaking of which, I take it this delightful morsel knows what you are?”

  Sage blushed when he took her hand and kissed the back of it, a small smile on her lips as she replied, “The delightful morsel does know, but I don’t quite enjoy being thought of as a snack, Mr. Nikodemus.”

  “Jeran, please,” he said as he straightened up and flashed her a seductive grin. If it hadn’t been for Vayna right there, she would’ve thought he was trying to bed her. And he would have, if it weren’t for the very loud growl that came from his Pharaoh, “If I knew the delightful morsel’s name, I would say that instead.”

  “Sage, Sage Loveren,” she replied as she gazed in amusement at her vampire. She didn’t have to have advanced hearing to hear the growl that came from Vayna. She glanced back at Jeran as she continued, “And I think that, what did you call her? Your Pharaoh? Doesn’t like you trying to seduce me, Jeran.”

  Jeran turned his head and all but pouted at Vayna as he said, “Oh, come now, Vayna. We’ve shared food before. Surely you’re not saying I can’t have just a little taste…?”

  As he said this he moved closer to Sage and Vayna’s eyes turned crimson for a split second as she barked out his name, “Jeran!”

  Said vampire immediately stood up straight and gazed straight ahead, “Yes, Ma’am!”

  Sage couldn’t resist the giggle that escaped her at that and she pressed a hand to her mouth. Jeran relaxed and shot a glare at Vayna, whom merely shrugged her shoulders at him and grinned as she said, “This one’s not just food, Jeran.”

  “Not just…?” he murmured as he looked between the two of them. He saw the look in Vayna’s eyes and his mouth dropped open as he asked, “You mean…?”

  Vayna simply nodded and he closed his mouth with a thoughtful hum. In all the years he had known Vayna, never had she taken a true lover. There were many lovers in her life, but no lovers. The kind that stayed for more than one night in her bed. To think that she was taking one in this human woman… He nodded his head as he said, “I understand.”

  Before any of them could do anything, a waitress came up and whispered into his ear. He nodded his head and replied to her as he looked over toward the bar. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he said, “You ladies will have to excuse me. My Pharaoh, I’m happy for you, and I have something to talk about with you privately later on at some point.”

  “About?” She asked with a slight frown. What could be that important that he’d have to talk to her privately about it, she wondered. The two of them hadn’t seen each other is so long… it could’ve been anything.

  “A certain group of people. Now I really must go,” he said as he bowed formally to her and disappeared into the crowd.

  Vayna groaned softly as she realized what he meant. She made it her life’s mission to avoid having anything to do with them and she had a feeling she just knew what it was that they were going to want with her.

  “Who…?” Sage asked as she looked between her groaning vampire and the one that disappeared seemingly into nowhere. She felt very confused at that moment as she wondered what was going on.

  “The council,” was all Vayna said as she rubbed her forehead with an annoyed sigh. Really, why did she have to form that damn council to begin with? She should’ve just left the vampire nation to fend for themselves. That council was more trouble than it was worth anyway.

  “Oh,” Sage said as she too frowned. The way her vampire acted, she was starting to get a less and less favorable impression of the council. It was easy to tell that Vayna didn’t care for the council one bit. She could be blind and still be able to tell that the ancient vampire wanted nothing to do with them. They must be worse than she thought they were…

  The two sat in silence for the next few minutes, both lost in their own thoughts. Vayna trying to come up with a plan to avoid the council, and Sage wondering how bad they really were. The two were so caught up in their thoughts that they failed to hear anything that went on around them.

  Chapter 8

  Reality came crashing back in on them harshly when a young woman, no older than Sage approached them and asked, “Sage…? Sage Loveren? Is that you?”

  Both women turned their heads and looked at her. Vayna eyed her suspiciously while Sage sat there nervously, a confused look on her face. She tentively nodded her head and said, “Yes, my name is Sage Loveren… who are you?”

  “You don’t remember me? What happened, did you get amnesia or something?” the young woman asked in teasing tone. Her hair was a fine, white-blonde and her eyes sparkling green. She had an air of youth about her that annoyed the ancient vampire for some reason that she couldn’t figure out.

  Vayna reached over and rested her hand on top of Sage’s, providing her comfort as she resisted the urge to hiss at this new woman. She intruded into their world rudely and uninvited. The ancient vampire did not like her. There was just something very off about the blonde woman.

  Sage felt her vampire tighten place her hand on top of hers and felt a small bit of comfort from the action. Though… she could tell that the ancient vampire didn’t trust this newcomer, and if her vampire didn’t like the woman in front of them… that told her that there was something wrong with her. She didn’t intend to judge, but… she wasn’t just about to ignore over 3,000 years worth of knowledge and instinct. Especially when her instincts were screaming to run away. She smiled politely as she said, “Actually, yes, I did. You know who I am?”

  “Are you serious?” the woman asked as she looked at Sage incredulously. How often was it that one encountered someone they knew, only to learn that they didn’t remember who you were? It was something straight out of a movie, in her opinion. She had to be joking. That couldn’t happen… right?

  Sage nodded her head, still looking confused as she gazed at the woman. She didn’t like the look of her. She seemed… the complete opposite of Vayna. Where Vayna seemed worldly and full of mystery, this woman in front of her was anything but. She looked like all she cared about was material possessions and the next party. Sage didn’t care for her.

  The blonde looked at her and shook her head. She switched her purse to her other arm and placed her hand on her hip with a sigh. This�
�� this was a terrible inconvenience for her. She looked over at the two and said, “It’s me, your best friend. Molly.”

  “I’m sorry, I just don’t remember you,” Sage said as she shook her head. She suddenly felt horrible for not remembering anything. She knew it wasn’t her fault, but she couldn’t help the way Molly made her feel. For the first time, she suddenly felt like a burden. She shrunk a little back in her seat, her hand gripping Vayna’s tighter as she looked down at the table.

  Molly sneered at Sage. She couldn’t believe how her best friend was acting! Like a meek and frightened little girl. That was not the Sage she remembered. She watched her shrink back into her seat and clench at the other woman’s hand and for the first time, Molly paid attention to who her friend was with. She eyed the two with disdain as she said, “Why are you touching another woman like that?”

  “This is Vayna,” Sage said as she looked over at the ancient vampire and saw the millenniums worth of confidence shinning back at her. She gave her a tiny smile before looking back at the blonde, “She’s my girlfriend.”

  “Your girlfriend?” Molly asked incredulously. Her best friend lost her memory and was dating a girl? No. No, that could not be happening. Sage did not date women. She looked at her with disgust in her eyes as she spoke, “You can’t be dating a woman. Don’t you know how disgusting that is? Do you want people to look at you as if you’re some kind of freak? Dating a woman is like the worst thing you could ever end up doing.”

  “Why you little…” Vayna growled as she stood up and took a step toward the bratty blonde. Sage carefully placed an arm on the vampire’s shoulder and stopped her from attacking the human. That didn’t stop her from growling dangerously as she clenched her fists and glared at the girl. People around them started looking in their direction and whispering to each other. Vayna glanced down at her human and smirked suddenly at the fire in her human’s eyes as Sage glared at Molly.

  “I don’t know who you think you are,” Sage said as she faced Molly full on. She raised her head up into the air and straightened her back. It was one thing to treat her horribly, but she was not going to let her treat the one person that reacted with kindness toward her like that. She glared down her nose at the blonde as she spoke, “But you have no right to speak that way. You may think you know me, but it’s clear that that is no longer true. This lady you’re so bent on being disgusted with for no reason has been kinder to me in the past 24 hours than you have been in the past five minutes. You are very rude and I no longer wish to speak to you. Good bye.”

  “That’s how you’re going to treat me? Your best friend for almost 9 years and this is what you’re going to do?” Molly said angrily. How could Sage do this to her!? They’d been friends for as long as she could remember and always stuck by each other. Now she was going to choose a woman over her simply because she couldn’t remember who she was? She was going to turn her back on the one person who stayed by her side when everyone else didn’t? It was no fair!

  “With enemies like you, who needs friends?” Vayna replied as she wrapped her hand around Sage’s tightly. This human made her very angry, and she would’ve loved to drain her blood completely. But she wouldn’t, and not just because they were surrounded by people. Sage knew her, and she wasn’t going to risk losing her human over a foolish little mortal like this one. No matter how much she wanted to both beat her up and kill her.

  Molly gaped at her, anger welling up inside her. How dare that woman! She would’ve slapped her, but they were already making a scene and she didn’t want someone to call the cops on her. She glared at the both of them as she said, “I was going to help you with your memory, but forget about it. I hope you both rot in the sewers.”

  “Excuse me, is there a problem here?” Jeran said as he appeared out of nowhere and stood just behind Molly with his hands folded in front of him. He had a polite smile on his face, but his eyes were hard with anger as he looked at them.

  “Get her out of here, Jeran,” Vayna replied as she stepped around the table and pulled Sage into her arms. She turned her back on the blonde woman and gazed down into Sage’s eyes with soft concern in her eyes.

  “I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Jeran said as he motioned to the door with his hand. Molly sneered at them one last time before stalking off, closely followed by Jeran.

  Vayna simply held Sage in her arms gently as her ears picked up on Molly’s parting words not wanting to be in a place that allowed “trash” like them. She turned her head long enough to look at Jeran and nod. The vampire bowed once again to her before disappearing into the crowd once more, Molly firmly escorted out of the building. She looked back down at Sage as she asked softly, “Are you okay?

  “Yeah…” Sage replied faintly. At that moment she felt numb. She wasn’t sure what to feel, what she should feel. She wanted to be angry, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be angry. Only sad that Molly would never understand the true beauty of finding someone who cared for you. Honestly cared with all of their heart. She vaguely wondered how ignorant one could be for focusing on something as petty as a body part. So Vayna was a woman instead of a man. Did it really matter when she took such tender care of Sage? She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against Vayna’s chest as she asked, “Can we leave?”

  “Sure,” Vayna said as she kissed her human’s temple. It was a very long day, and she knew Sage just wanted to think over everything that just happened. Perhaps later, when the young woman was sleeping, she’d pay a visit to Molly’s house. Leading her through the crowd and out onto the darkened street, she said, “Let’s go home.”

  Chapter 9

  The apartment was quiet when the two finally arrived there. The welcoming darkness of Vayna’s bedroom was a blessing to Sage’s mind. She just wanted to forget about everything that happened for a while. Well, all of the bad parts. The good parts of the day, being held by Vayna as they flew, dancing in the park, and meeting the very amusing Jeran were on her mind when she fell asleep, a smile on her face.

  Vayna lay beside her, still in the clothes she wore to the café as she watched her human sleep for a little while. She was reluctant to leave her there by herself, but there was something she wanted to take care of. Slinging her jacket over her shoulders, she left the apartment, making sure to lock it behind her. The night was still young by her standards, and the streets busy when she made her way back to the park. Her footsteps stopped outside of the now closed café and she took a deep breath, smelling the air.

  “And just what are we doing, Miss Chronos?” a deep male voice said from behind her. She turned her head slightly and took in the form of a young man standing just next to the tree, not paying attention to anything else but her.

  “Jeran,” she replied as she simply looked at him. Of course he would be here, she thought. The man always seemed to know where she was, no matter how hard she tried to shake him off of her.

  The man stepped out of the shadow of the tree and into the light of a nearby street lamp. The electric light illuminated his entire being, making it painfully obvious to her just what he was. He bowed low to her as he said, “At your service, my Pharaoh.”

  “I’m really getting tired of that,” she said as she turned to face him. It would figure that just as she was about to do something unethical, Jeran would be right around the corner. Of course, it was his café, but still! Sighing heavily, she said, “What do you want, Jeran?”

  “Oh, nothing much,” he said as he took a few more steps closer to her. He sniffed the air, smelling the thoughts of many different people. His head tilted as he said, “Are you sure Sage isn’t just a morsel, my Pharaoh?”

  She gritted her teeth in an effort to not punch him. He knew how much she hated being called that and he did it anyway. Taking a deep breath, she said, “She’s not a morsel. She’s my lover, you pompous asshole.”

  “Hey now,” he replied as he took a step back and chuckled. He just loved riling up Vayna. He knew how much she hated both him
and what he called her. He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture and said, “No need to get all violent on me. I’m only curious as to what you’re up to. You know the Council wants me to follow you to try and convince you. Not that I put much effort into it, but I do need to show them something on occasion.”

  “Yes, I know,” she said as she turned and began walking. Whether Jeran was with her or not, she wanted to get this done and over with as soon as she possibly could. Her human lover was waiting for her back in her apartment. Albeit unconscious, but still waiting for her.

  Jeran fell into step beside her, his hands folded behind his back as they walked. He was silent for a moment, not really saying anything before he asked, “So, what’s the story then, Vayna? You usually don’t interact with the humans unless you have to.”

  “This one has amnesia,” she replied as they left the street where the café sat and headed toward downtown Manhattan. She was picking up faint traces of Molly’s scent and could tell where she was going. It was going to be difficult following the smell everywhere the girl went, but with luck, it would turn out just the way she was hoping. She planned on doing this on her own, but with Jeran there… it possibly would be better for her, “Short story: ran into an ex-friend. Ex-friend was very rude and terrible to said amnesia affected human and now I’m going to take care of the job.”

  “Oh goody,” he said as he clapped his hands together, a grin of delight on his face. Jeran was old, not as old as Vayna, but he was old enough to enjoy the hunt. Back when they first met, he would often join her on the hunt. That was quite a long time ago, when they were both still lovers. Now, they were just friends. Well, more like acquaintances rather than friends. She enjoyed the intimate moments they had together years ago, but didn’t really care for him all that much as a person. Even less now that he was working for the council. He rubbed his hands together as he said, “Blood and carnage?”