by Susan Firtik
Cold and lemon flavored, the iced tea hit the spot. The fact that Tashi was missing when they returned helped both of them relax a bit more. It wasn’t so much that she was a tyrant...except she really was, but she tried to micro-manage everybody and although she did it with a great deal of love and good intentions, it didn’t always come across that way.
Netta was in the hammock and Lina in her favorite glider chair, both sipping tea and listening to the silent chaos of early evening. There was just enough of a breeze to keep it from being muggy and it also kept the mosquitoes and gnats away.
"This is just perfect." Netta sighed as she swung slightly back and forth.
Her color looked better but Lina knew not to get her hopes up. She’d had breakthroughs before, only to have even bigger setbacks. The illness was beginning to take a toll on everyone, not just Netta. Worry was wearing on both Lina and Tashi but she was loved and that had to be enough for now.
Just as they both relaxed enough to almost become drowsy, and the sun was beginning to fall behind the trees, a long black limo pulled into the front drive. Netta was so comfortable in her hammock, she’d gone into a light sleep, so Lina stood and shading her eyes against the last rays of sun with her hand, tried to see who was driving, but the windows were blackened out. Curious. As the limo pulled to a stop, no one moved to get out and the engine did not stop. Okaaaaay.
Just as the sun had totally set behind the treetops, the chauffeur’s door opened. He walked crisply around the front of the long, sleek auto and opened the rear door for the passenger to exit. Lina’s eyes widened in both surprise and delight as a man with movie star good looks, climbed out and stood gracefully beside the car. Eye candy! He had to be at least seven feet tall with long, almost white-blond hair flowing in thick waves to just below his waist. He was dressed completely in a black robe. A toga? In this heat? His hands, gloved in black leather, also proved he did not belong in south Arkansas during summer.
"My lady. May I present…Mr. Victor LaFontaine.” The driver bowed to her then to Mr. LaFontaine. He actually bowed? Lina didn’t know if she should curtsey, bow, shake hands or just wave “Howdy.” She giggled.
Finally her manners kicked in. "How may I be of service, Mr. LaFontaine?"
She did not approach him though. There was something, unnatural about him. She had the gift, as her mother called it, this ability to communicate with the dead. This tall, pale man was causing her alarms to go off. She sensed death was either a close friend or a dangerous enemy of this man. Either way, she sensed death and wanted to stand clear until she knew for sure who or what he was.
"I apologize for intruding unannounced, but the matter I must discuss with you is urgent.” He stepped toward the porch and Lina took an involuntary step back. He smiled, understanding.
"I am harmless, Ms. Maddox, and I believe I can actually help you with a problem from which your family is currently suffering."
Lina immediately felt him probing her mind. Vampire! The thought came into her head, unbidden, yet she knew it was true and still didn’t quite believe it. While he attempted to probe her mind, he must have shown his true self. Sure, she kinda thought they existed and she did talk to the dead after all and vampires were dead, weren't they? But to have one in front of you was totally freaky and then have him sift through your thoughts, like it was permitted and acceptable? Not!
"Please stop nosing around in my mind, Mr. LaFontaine, it’s rude.” She stood with her hands on her hips, waiting for him to apologize or try something shady.
"Ahhhh, so you are aware of my...talents, shall we say? I offer my apologies." Now he was bowing. This was getting weird.
"What I do understand Mr. LaFontaine is that you are a vampire, you have arrived unannounced offering your help, when none was requested, and then probed my mind, uninvited I might add.” She felt proud of herself for staying calm – well she sounded calm anyway.
Netta was awake now staring at Lina and the visitor with her mouth wide open. "Lina? Are you okay? And uhhhh, wait a minute. Did you just say vampire?”
Lina took a step away from Victor and closer to Netta. "Yeah, I know this is freaky and even I'm surprised I'm not screaming and running for my life, but something tells me that I should hear him out, but,” she turned to the vampire, “before we go any further, Mr. LaFontaine, can you and will you guarantee our safety? That is, if I can even remotely trust you. Then I must also know what reward you would ask for this information you seem to think we need. Vampires seldom give anything away...freely."
"Lina? Answer me!” Lina could hear the panic in Netta’s voice.
"It’s okay, Netta, this gentleman...is indeed a vampire—not sure how I know—but none the less, he is. He has offered his help with a problem he thinks we have. And if you ever watched TV or read a vampire novel, you’ll know these three things."
She began counting on her fingers.
"One: Never invite them into your home. Two: always ensure you have ALL the facts of their offer. And three: Always ask the price. Am I correct Mr. LaFontaine? "
"Please, call me Victor. And may I call you Evangelina? And you are Antoinetta?” He was avoiding the answer to her question.
He again spoke in Lina’s mind. "Forgive me for intruding once again, but rather than be blunt, I must inquire of the lady sitting with us. Is she the one with the blood disorder?"
Netta was gnawing on her lower lip and looking anxious, but Lina thought she actually looked better than she had in days. It could the excitement of meeting her first vampire.
"Yes, Mr. Uhhh...Victor...she is ill. Alright, so you can help us? With what problem and how do we proceed?”
Lina was cautious but curious. Vampires drank blood, raped bodies as well as minds, stayed out of the sun, slept all day, basically lived forever, and never aged. What else? Nothing else came to mind. Lina did have some questions. Like can they fall in love, with someone other than themselves? Can they procreate the regular way or were they sterile? Sheesh! What did that have to do with anything? What did Mr. Vamp want? Best way to find out...just ask.
****
Tashi came around the house from the backyard where she’d been sketching ideas for the antiques store, to find Netta, Lina, and a gorgeous man sitting on the front steps talking in hushed tones.
"What the devil is going on here?" She demanded.
Her sisters nearly jumped out of their skins, but the man hardly moved, until he slowly turned...no wait...he rotated, to look at her. Time stood still. His eyes! They were silver with just enough of blue to make them seem...almost human. Tashi had goose-bumps on her arms and suddenly her nipples were hard and showing thru her t-shirt. But his eyes…icy blue and glowing? She wondered if he was human. She should have been scared to death, but he was something else. She sensed it but why? He was not normal but O.M.G.! He was the most studly-stud she had ever met!
She drifted closer, unable to stop herself. Just then he frowned, all the time staring deep into her eyes, as he stood to greet her.
"Allow me to introduce myself beautiful lady. I am Victor LaFontaine. At your service, now and always.”
Wow, now that was an introduction!
“How do you do? I’m...uh…my name is... I mean, I just…well I was just walking around the corner...then I was here and... I uhhh...I was coming...I mean... I’m glad to meet you.”
Duhhh! What was the matter with her? She was acting like a teenager meeting some celebrity from a wall poster on her bedroom wall! Good lord! She was past blushing and well onto light headed, passing out from embarrassment.
"I don’t believe I could have said it better, as I was coming also." He smoothly whispered in her ear as he held her hands captive in his. All she could do was stare at his chest and arms and oh… those eyes.
****
"Ahem!" Lina trying to politely get their attention, and get back to discussing this problem for which Victor supposedly had a solution.
"Ahhhh yes…business first. Pleasure, perhaps later
?" He turned to face Lina. "I have more than an idea of how to cure your ailing sister from her blood disorder. And you have to admit, I could be called an expert on blood.”
He left the meaning to that unspoken. Tashi shivered and gave him a raised eyebrow. The universal Tashi what the fuck look.
"I’m sure you could but how could you even begin to know what ails my sister? And what could a vampire do to change anything—other than drain that very blood and leave my sister to either die or become a blood sucker like you?" Lina was angry and getting more so by the minute. Arrogant bastard, she thought towards him, while smiling all the while.
"Uhhh, Lina? Who is a what? Tashi whispered, and then almost screamed, Oh! Noooo! Victor? A vampire? Noooo!" Tashi barely squeaked out the last word, as she stumbled back and plopped down hard, into one of the lawn chairs. She’d gone white and actually looked more like a vampire than Victor did.
Lina almost laughed until she realized her sister might have a heart attack or seizure… wait… Tashi had a thing for Victor? Oh my God. This can’t be good. Groaning...she turned to sit down in her glider and looked at Netta, who was now avidly interested in Victor and the interaction between him and Tashi!
****
"Yes, lovely lady, I am a vampire. But I assure you, I am not, nor will I ever be, a danger to you or your family of beautiful sisters. I am here to help and am presently more than delighted to have made your acquaintance, although you have yet to honor me with your name.” He couldn’t take his silver-blue eyes off her! She was perfect. She drew him in as he watched her every move. She was so familiar as if he recognized her…from somewhere else. He felt his heartbeat quicken. Impossible! She couldn't be...could she? His thoughts were interrupted by Netta's explaining.
"Mr. Whatever...that’s my sister Tatianna or Tashi, who usually has more verbal skill than she’s exhibiting at the moment. And I am Netta. Apparently I’m the subject of this discussion, and now I would prefer to participate in the conversation rather than be the pathetic, sick shadow on the sidelines.” Netta sounded calmer and stronger than she looked. Victor’s one eyebrow rose, just like Tashi, as he regarded the tiny human with what appeared to be a measure of respect.
“So... exactly why are you here?” Netta brought him back to the situation at hand. He reminded himself that the matter of Tashi would be dealt with, however not soon enough to suit him.
“It has come to my attention that you, Ms. Netta, have been the focus of a rather nasty individual, a witch to be exact, and she has, as an example of that focus, infected you with a spell. I can offer you a means to counteract that spell and at the same time, it would offer me a small amount of pleasure at her dismay. It will, let me see, how shall I put this? It will free me of an obligation.”
****
Man, he was smooth! It didn’t even matter what he was saying. It all sounded so deep, dark and delicious! Tashi couldn’t take her eyes off his hands as he spoke. Well except when she was looking at his chin, his lips, his hair, his wide shoulders, his smooth hairless chest as it showed thru the deep V of his...robe? Seemed an odd garment, but on him? Oh yeah! Yummy! Oh...and it really showed off his ass, and she couldn’t tell if he wore boxers? Or briefs? Or was he commando? Oh! Dear Lord! Now she really was dizzy. And she swore she heard him gently laughing in her head.
"I am without under garments, lovely lady. If you gaze upon me any further with that look in your eyes, proof of that lack of barrier will be evident below my waist, and...at your eye level.”
She gasped and immediately moved her gaze to his eyes. Wrong move! He was inside her head, touching her soul and whispering soft love songs in her heart. How could she know this man? Yet she felt he was someone she'd always known.
"Oh my God!" Tashi’s eyes glazed over and she fell back in the chair, limp and unresponsive. Netta rose to go to her, but Victor was at Tashi’s side before Netta could blink. Literally.
"She will be fine. I believe I may have overwhelmed her with my...attentions.” Victor assured them as he stroked her hair with a gentle, soothing motion.
"Okay. Everybody. Sit!” Lina was losing patience.
“Now, tell me again. A witch put a spell on my sister and now she’s dying? Do I have that right? And now, would you explain how you can help with that?"
Lina’s voice was pitching higher with every word. Netta gently pulled her arm to get her to sit down and calm herself. “No sense pissing off a vampire”, she whispered. "It’s okay, Lina. Let’s hear what he has to say. Tea anyone?”
CHAPTER SIX
The tree frogs were chirping, the moths circled the porch lights and four people, make that three people and one vampire, all sat comfortably chatting about witches and spells. Lina chuckled at the thought. After Victor joined them on the porch, he explained the situation. He owed another witch a small favor. If he could dismiss the spell, his words, it would take the black witch, Martiss, down a notch in witch-hood, so to speak. Her master would not be happy with her over this mishap. This would make her more vulnerable to spells cast by other witches, and with that, the witch to whom he owed the favor could be-spell Martiss and gain notoriety for herself. Something to be prized in witch-dom apparently. Martiss then would not be able to be-spell the sisters and her other powers would be greatly diminished.
His plan was simple but dangerous. He had to get Martiss alone, but that was the simple part. She had a thing for Victor, and he would use that to his advantage. The three sisters had to help him bind her with a simple chant. That was the dangerous part. Martiss would attempt to stop them from chanting and she could be deadly. She wasn’t the good witch. This would not be a walk in the park.
This is just fucking great. Victor seemed to think everything would be fine, but Lina was having her doubts.
"Martiss will, of course, try to prevent you from uttering a single word. However, there are ways to keep her from throwing a spell. That can be accomplished by holding her hands and arms against her body, as she must gesture for any spell or ward to be sent out from her dark soul."
Tashi interrupted. "Can you get that close to her? Won’t she suspect something? Will you be in danger?"
****
It almost sounded like she cared, sweet Tashi. Victor was not happy that he had to get that close to her, wishing it could be Tashi he was holding. She had looked so lost after her discovery of his vampirism. Not that he blamed her for that reaction. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen the fright in someone’s eyes after meeting him. However, he knew she would come to love him. He just knew. She was his one. His only.
After eight hundred years no other essence had ever drawn him in like hers did. None other had mesmerized him with just the sound of her voice. It was obvious to him, but now to convince her while fighting a powerful black witch. No problem! Child’s play! Maybe... He would not allow any of the sisters to be harmed because of his actions, but he felt sure he could distract Martiss from the sound of the sisters chanting.
Martiss had always teased him that one day he would beg for her company and he would have been happy to prove her wrong. Her darkness was so pure evil, it became painful to gaze upon her face. Her eyes so black and empty, it invoked hopelessness and despair, and could drive almost any being insane. Many a stronger man had committed suicide after meeting her eye to eye, something Victor was striving to avoid. Especially now he had Tashi to look forward to.
"I doubt it will be a problem, as Martiss has a fondness for me and has spoken of such.”
He sighed as he thought of the time he had spent keeping Martiss at arm's length for. Tashi was regarding him with a lethal glare and he smiled. She did care. That was enough for now.
****
"Such a shame you have to put yourself out. Want one of us to twist your arm?" she gritted out, and then went into the house to help Netta grab some food for the humans.
She stomped into the house mumbling to herself. "He’s a vampire, damnit. Why? Sure, the one guy I really like and he’s not even human! H
e eats them! God! I still want to touch him or better yet have him touch me! His eyes are so warm and inviting. And those arms!"
His upper arm was almost as big around as her thigh. Oh crap! Now she was thinking about his thighs and what she might have been trying to see during their first meeting. She giggled as she thought of that. His robe, tented in front just by talking with her? Crap. This thinking was just getting her into more trouble. She figured if he stood and took her hand, even just to say goodbye, she’d be lost and would do anything he asked.
She felt a whisper-soft touch and heard in her mind, "Anything love? I will have many requests of your obvious attributes. Would you allow me the chance to wander through your fantasies and produce one you might like to attempt?”
Tashi stumbled. "Get out of my mind! How rude!" All she heard in response was his deep, sexy chuckle in her head.
"Until later then, love."
Weird. She missed him as soon as his presence lifted from her. In just a few hours she had become used to his deep timbre and his scent. It was just a hint of the ocean...that perfect day at the beach.
She smiled and had the sudden thought. “Why not?” She could date him and see where it went. He promised he wouldn’t hurt her or her sisters. Can vamps even be trusted? Mr. Toothy had better behave. “Or what?” she asked herself. She didn’t have any defense. But then she didn’t with a human male either, not really. She puttered around in the kitchen giving her time to think and mutter out loud. “I’m turning into Lina!”
Victor seemed nice and he seemed to be such a gentleman, when he wasn’t whispering naughty thoughts in her ear. She took a deep breath. “Time to take control and make the first move.”
"Victor?”
"Yes, love?
"Will you sit with me? In the back yard, at the gazebo.”
"For you...anything."
Oh, trouble. Big trouble. She just loved the way he spoke, so eloquent and so formal with just a tiny amount of an accent to be very sexy. He sounded European or Russian. She'd have to ask him later.