“What if I say no?”
He seemed surprised, momentarily taken aback. I had not only found my voice, but denied him the answer he wanted. I saw a flash of amethyst in the blue of his eyes and his smile became a definite one of appreciation. I was making him work for it, all the better.
“I am sure I can convince you otherwise,” he whispered, shifting his hips against me, making me go weak in the knees. He would have been able to tell, my weight suddenly heavier in his arms. “That is better, my sweet little one. How much do you want me?”
I flashed him a smile. “How much do you want me? Make it worth my while to capitulate. Make it impossible for me to say no.”
His mouth opened in further surprise. I don't think he expected me to challenge him so. He swallowed, blinked slowly and growled very low. It would have been impossible for anyone in the room to miss it.
I just laughed, but my heart was now racing. I was pushing Michel to the limit and that was never a safe thing to do with a vampire. Especially, it would seem, one in the process of laying a claim on me.
He was stunned, unable to reply, unable to move away, unable to close the distance. I gently pushed back on his hold, keeping eye contact, moving very slowly. He only let me, because, I was sure, he just wanted to see how far I would take it, how far I would actually go. He was mesmerised by my resistance, by my strength.
I took one step backwards, then another, then another, as he stood stock still in the middle of the dance floor, the music still playing but not a vampire in the room moving.
“You wanted a chase?” I said a little breathlessly. He cocked his head and smiled. “Come and get me.”
I spun away before he could reach me, dancing through the air in my Nosferatin spin. The room was suddenly alive with Sanguis Vitam, the tension not frightening, but exciting. The vampires approved. It only made me more determined to show them what Michel had got himself into.
He was a flash as he followed my every spin, but he was good. He let me have a few seconds, maybe a full minute, of a lead, he let me show my talent, the beauty of my moves to the room. He let them all see just what a prize I was and then he simply appeared in front of me when I landed, after a long spin and held out his hand, palm up, ready for me to take. I stood swaying for a moment, catching my breath, finding my balance. My face was flushed with excitement, my smile broad on my face, I bit my bottom lip and looked right at his outstretched hand, then let my eyes slowly shift up to his. The magenta was bright and clear, dancing in depths of the blue.
“Kiss me,” I breathed. “Please.”
He smiled and took me in his arms, tipping me over backwards in an old style romantic movie scene move, claiming my mouth with his. The room erupted in applause, the vampires now all on a high. They began to move and return to their conversations, allowing us a moment of privacy as he devoured my lips and tongue. And me.
“You are a challenge,” he breathed against my cheek as he righted me again, still holding me tight against him. “A worthy challenge.”
“I'm glad you approve.” I was still breathless, still quite flushed and excited. He purred again, that beautiful sound from so deep inside him that made his whole chest vibrate.
“I would have you, right here, right now, but we must play our part. The night is still young and I believe some of my line have yet to lay hands on you. It would be selfish of me to deny them that right.”
“Deny them for a few minutes, I'm sure they would understand.”
He growled and lifted me off the floor, not cradled in his arms, just up against his body. I could have wrapped my legs around his waist, but even I have my sense of pride, despite recent evidence to the contrary.
“Temptress. You shall be my downfall. I welcome it.” He kissed me this time fiercely, letting me feel his fervent desire, letting me see how much he did want to take me to his chamber and spend the next hour proving how much he really wanted me. But, he was right and also damn stronger than I had been giving him credit for. He gently lowered me to the floor and in a slightly cracked voice said quietly against my lips, “Go. Before I start stripping you of your clothes right here. I have instructed my line to hurry up and get communing with my kindred, my patience is running thin.” He was laughing as he said it. “You have no idea how much of myself you have made them see tonight. You are both my strength and my weakness. And now they know.”
Somehow I got the impression that that was a pretty big deal. He held my gaze for a moment longer, making sure I understood what he had just said and then he let me go and took a slow step back, adjusting his suit and keeping eye contact with me.
Later, he whispered in my mind and smiled. In an instant he had disappeared to a spot across the room, picking up a glass of what looked like Bourbon or Whiskey - straight, on ice - and downing it in one. He was shaken and he was desperately trying to get himself under control. Doug presented him with another shot and he simply downed that too.
I turned away, allowing him time to recover. Erika was at my side immediately and led me back to the table, her hand on my wrist; a reassuring touch. A small smile playing on her lips. Vampires brushed against me as we walked, not too much, just a brief touch here, soft brush there. Comforting, not claustrophobic. I relaxed into my seat and took a deep drink from my glass.
“Chica, you are amazing. I have never seen Michel so rattled before. He lurves you. He really, really lurves you.” She said the lurves part in a sing song voice, which Amisi found hard not to laugh at. I just smiled and shook my head. I could blame it on the claiming, but somehow I didn't think it was that. Michel was mine and now everyone knew it.
The next ten minutes were relatively relaxing, all the vampires making their way past our table, gently touching me, stroking my shoulders. None of it seemed weird. I flicked a glance at Amisi to see if she felt uncomfortable, but she had that slightly bored, been-there-done-that kind of look on her face. I guess this was well known in normal Nosferatin circles. I've just never been in normal Nosferatin circles before.
I had the sense, as time passed, that the vampires were feeling whole again, despite the loss of Bruno. Whatever this communing did for them, it was important and it strengthened Michel's line. I also couldn't deny the sense of peace I felt too. I had never considered I needed Michel's vampires for anything, other than the occasional protection squad and just an extension of who he was. But, now I realised it was more than that. I was joined to Michel, so I always knew I had kind of come under his line, but there was more to it than that. It felt as though, all of a sudden, I was part of them too. Or they were part of me, it was hard to define.
I'd always felt at home on my parents' farm. They raised me from when I was only a few months old, they nurtured me, provided for me, protected me and made me strong enough to venture off into the world without them. I will always be grateful for that love and care. But, since finding out I was a Nosferatin and they were not part of that side of me, I have felt alone. Nero had filled a gap, even meeting Tim had filled a gap. But sitting here, right now, in amongst vampires of my kindred's line, I felt more at home than I had ever felt anywhere else before.
I was a lost Nosferatin, but now I belonged. And it was not anywhere that I had ever suspected I would feel that kinship. Vampires are what I hunt, evil vampires are what I kill, yet here I was surrounded by vampires, save one Nosferatin and it was home.
You are home, ma douce. We are your home.
I couldn't see where he was in the room, but I felt him. In me, around me, with me. Is this what claiming someone as your own felt like? This utter calmness, this acceptance? Or was I just happy to share a part of me only with these vampires, with Michel? How would I know when I had given all of me? If I ever did.
You will know.
I felt his slight sorrow, when those words were whispered in my mind. It was familiar. I had felt it before. I couldn't place where or when, but I had a suspicion that when I did, I'd know I had made that final move and given myself complete
ly to Michel.
I prayed I could. I wanted to, but I also knew part of me was still holding back. I just didn't know why yet.
I was just reaching for another sip of my drink when I felt it. It seems that any significant sense of mine creeps up on me, taking me by surprise. I had forgotten all about my new found power. The Prohibitum Bibere. But here it was, flaring its ugly head and roaring through my mind. Not just one vampire, but several and they were close. So close. They had crept up on me as the last one had, surprising me, ambushing me almost. Trapping me.
I felt my heart rate quicken, my throat go dry and the awful sense that this was not going to be good at all flood through me.
Michel was beside me in the next instant, his hand on my shoulder. “I shall come with you. You will not be alone.”
Simple words, but tonight they seemed to mean so much more. I relaxed slightly against his body, as he stood next to my chair. Only to have a jolt of adrenaline rush through me as his cellphone went off and I knew, without a doubt, what it would be about.
He answered it crisply. I heard his sharp intake of breath and stiffened for the hammer blow.
He rang off with a few curt words and slipped his phone away. I had already stood to face him and knew what he would say before he opened his mouth, just not how bad it would actually be.
“The Taniwhas are at Albert Park and they have hostages. Humans. Your neighbours, your work colleagues, everyone you know in the city, save from mine.”
Rick had finally crossed the line and I wanted so badly to face him, but they called with a sense of knowledge for my predicament, although how they could know I was at a crossroads is beyond me. But, the six vampires waiting for my Drink were laughing and rubbing their hands together with glee.
Chapter 30
Fight Night
I turned to Amisi and said, “Phone Nero.” She was on it immediately. I needed back up and it couldn't be Michel.
He spun me back towards him, a look of pain on his face. “I will stay with you.”
I was already shaking my head at him. “No. You must avenge Bruno's death, you must lead your line against Rick. You know this.” I saw the acknowledgement in his eyes, mixed with fierce denial. He wanted to protect me. He needed to protect me. But, his line needed him to lead.
“Let me do my job, Michel. This is what I am.” If I couldn't face those vampires that came calling, then what was the point of me being the Prophesied.
He nodded, slowly, painfully, gripping my shoulders tightly. He pulled me into a close embrace and whispered, “You are my Light, Lucinda. You call to me. I will always hold you dear.”
I let a breath of air out in a rush, he could not have chosen anything more perfect to say. No doubt he had heard me think those words in my thoughts. I am the Light to your Dark. I call to you, as you call to me. I will always hold you dear. It's the Prophesy. Or part of it. I guess, you could say, it's the part that is me.
Michel kissed me on the lips lightly and then vanished out the door with most of his vampires in tow. A dozen of so were left behind and they all looked at me. Great. He'd left a contingent of guards at my disposal, one of which was Erika. The moment my eyes met hers, she shook her head.
“He has commanded me to stay at your side. I cannot disobey. And he asked, respectfully, if you would not counter his command with your glaze.” She held my gaze for a moment and then added, “For him.”
I have been able to overcome commands given by Michel to his line before, with my own glazing power. In particular, Bruno. The thought of Bruno made an ache creep into my heart, but also made me wish to honour this request from Michel. He had enough of his line with him to face the challenge the Taniwhas laid down, but I didn't want to scare the vampires I was going to meet with a huge entourage of people, so I nodded agreement to Erika and turned to Michel's vamps.
“Erika can come with me, but the rest of you stay here. If we need you, we'll call, but I have to see if we can meet these vampires half way and not scare the shit out of them with you lot first.” They all nodded, they were quite used to my turn of phrase by now, these were Michel's regulars. All vampires I knew fairly well.
Just then Nero flickered in to sight.
“I trust I am not too late, Kiwi.”
I turned and gave him a smile. The last time I had seen him I was barely conscious and the time before that, I had told him to rack off back to Egypt. I suddenly felt like an utter twit.
“Perfect timing as usual, Nero. We're just heading out.”
He smiled back and bowed slightly. It had been a while since I had seen him do that old slow bow of acknowledgement. I hoped it didn't signify a return to stiff formality between us, but if that was what he needed to be to remain around me, I'd let him have it. It was the least I could do.
The six Dark-filled vampires were waiting in Myers Park, which was closer to Sensations than Albert Park and smaller. As we headed out I sent my senses down the line to Michel, he had clamped himself shut. I couldn't gain an idea of what was happening, but just that he was OK, focused and on high alert. Perhaps, they had already confronted Rick and were negotiating, or perhaps they were surveying the scene before rushing in. I couldn't tell and he didn't want me to be distracted by it. His shields were held tight.
I decided to do the same with mine and fortified my walls accordingly. I turned to Amisi and Nero, determined not to have a repeat of last time.
“We go in as one group and no one moves unless I say so, OK?”
They both nodded immediately. I don't think they wanted a repeat of last time either. I let my senses seep out as we neared the entrance to the park. All the vampires were in the middle, in the open, no humans, just them. They hadn't needed to go to that extreme, they knew I was close and they knew I was coming. They were just waiting. I still hadn't got used to this.
“They smell of evil,” Amisi whispered, fingering her stake.
I always think it's a smell too, usually that they reek of it, but maybe Amisi just doesn't know that English word yet. Her nose was scrunched up in disgust though, so I'm guessing it was more a reek than just a smell. These guys were bad boys, through and through. Just what the hell was I supposed to do with all that Darkness? How was I to help them toward the Light and not kill them? I crossed my fingers and took a deep breath in as we walked up to confront them.
They had fanned out in a straight line. All of them dressed similarly. Dark clothes in good order. Their hair was a little wind swept, differing colours and lengths, but they all looked like they had travelled a distance to get here and not paused for a rest. They had been determined to see me without delay.
Six vampires together, unless they are of the same line, is unusual. Especially if hunting. Vampires are solitary hunters and if this lot wasn't here to hunt, then what? They didn't look hungry, not for blood anyway, well not for blood of humans, maybe just a little hungry for mine, I'm not sure. They kept steady eyes on me, aware no doubt of the group surrounding me, but only interested in its leader.
OK.
“What do you want?”
I couldn't deny the sense that they wanted something, I just couldn't quite fathom yet what.
The one in the middle, standing forward slightly, was obviously the spokesperson for the group. He had beady little eyes, all black with a hint of red and long brown wavy hair. His accent was European, perhaps Turkish, hard to say.
“So, you are the Prohibitum Bibere.” He looked me up and down.
“I know, I'm shorter than you thought I'd be, right?”
He laughed, a little darkly, but his words were darker still. “I am sure you will still taste as good as we believe.”
Okey dokey.
“Just what do you hope to gain by tasting me?” I was curious, why the attraction?
He rocked back and forth on his heels, his hands held loosely in front of him, he looked quite relaxed actually.
“Eternal happiness.”
Riiight. I just wasn't buying that one.<
br />
I glanced at Nero for inspiration. I may have been pissed off with him recently, but he is my only connection to the Prophesy and what it means. Of course, the vampires couldn't see him, he was Dream Walking. For all they knew it was just me, one other Nosferatin and a short blonde female vampire with a sword. Nero didn't exist.
“I do not know what to suggest, Kiwi.” He shook his head. “There is no guidance on this, save that the Lux Lucis Tribuo is meant to complete the exchange of Light. Somehow easing their burden.”
“And how does the Lux Lucis Tribuo achieve that?”
By now the vampires had started shifting uneasily. They knew Nero was here now, they could hear him, but still not see him. That's enough to put anyone on edge.
“I do not know," Nero said softly. "I am sorry. The Prophesy only says that the Light will capture the Dark and hold it dear.”
Yeah, yeah, I knew the Prophesy word for word, but still, how the fuck was I supposed to do that? Anyone?
Well, there was no way I was going to let them taste me, I had a sneaky feeling that once their fangs got in my flesh, they weren't going to let go until they had consumed all of me and a fat lot of good it would do them. It's not like Michel gets extra Light from drinking my blood. No, Light comes from in me and is directed by me. Well, most of the time.
So, here goes. I tried to gather my Light up inside me, I tried to bring it all together, build it up, ready for release. I was going for a burst of Light to cover all six of them hoping it would do the job and we'd be done. But, they could tell I was doing something, maybe I start to shine or something, or maybe I just give off lots of Nosferatin mojo, but they became restless and started to fan out more around us.
“Hold still boys. I've got a little something for you to taste.”
Perhaps warning them wasn't the best idea, because by the time I released the Light towards them, three flew straight up in the air, two more flashed behind us, so that only one got the full benefit of my Light. I needed more practice at this. But even then, the one that got the full frontal of Light, didn't seem that much Lighter, if anything he seemed Darker, just a little unsteady on his feet with a look of someone who had just had awesome sex. Yuck. I'd not tried to make my Light anything other than its normal manifestation, which embarrassingly, is my desire and lust and a metaphysical orgasm to boot. Damn. I really was going to get a name for myself at this rate.
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