Forbidden Drink

by Nicola Claire

  Was it so hard to accept a gift from the man I loved, I asked myself. I stared out the window for a while, watching the lights of Auckland drop away and grow smaller as the plane defied gravity and rose into the night air. Damn it, it probably wasn't even jewellery. The key to his chamber? A new fighting tool of microscopic proportions? Shit. Just open the damn thing and get it over with.

  I ripped the ribbon off and snapped the lid open before I could think further about it. What stared out at me stole my breath away. His dancing dragon. A beautiful platinum dancing dragon, with bright blue gemstones for eyes. I was guessing blue diamonds, they didn't look right for a sapphire, the sparkle just too intense. The dragon also had a bolt of lightning through its heart, made up of smaller white diamonds, making the lightning bolt shimmer as though alive. I lifted it up out of the box with shaking fingers. It was suspended on a long fine platinum chain, it felt heavy in my hands and the thought of the delicate links in the chain being able to hold its weight briefly surprised me. It was a solid piece of artwork, beautiful and undeniably stunning. I loved it. But, could I wear it?

  I ran my fingers over and over the dragon, the metal becoming warm under my touch. I quickly tipped the box upside down to see if there was a note, but nothing else came tumbling out. Just the necklace. I don't really think it needed an explanation. Its beauty spoke for itself.

  I stared at it for a few more minutes and then thought, to hell with this. It was beautiful. It was him. And me. It was perfect. I slipped the long chain over my neck and watched as the dragon slid down my chest to rest between my breasts. I had to smile, he had even worked out the exact length for it nestle where he himself would no doubt love to be.

  Thank you, I heard in my mind, his voice so soft, so beautiful.

  I smiled and held the dragon tight, closing my eyes and letting him see just how much I loved him, from the images I played in my head.

  After a while I heard a soft clearing of someone's throat at my side, I opened my eyes and Michel's servant was standing with a small tray, the gorgeous smell of coffee wafted up to meet me with a plate of delicious looking biscuits on the side. James, the thought popped in my head. Whether that was Michel reminding me, or it just came flooding back from previous journeys on the plane with him taking care of us, I'm not sure, but the guy's name was James.

  “Thank you, James," I said as he placed the tray on a side table for me. His eyes flashed when he smiled.

  “My pleasure, madam.” He slipped away as quietly as he had appeared and left me to my thoughts and the blissful taste of freshly ground and brewed coffee accompanied by chocolate biscuits to die for. I felt loved and cared for and precious to someone and it eased my soul, relaxed my body and let me calm before the storm hit and all hell would no doubt break loose.

  We started our descent into Wellington not long after and before we had to belt ourselves in for landing, I moved out to the main area and joined the others. Enough of hiding, time to get together and face this as one. Erika's eyes flicked over the dragon and she smiled, Amisi squealed as she reached for a closer look and Jett just read the Herald, this time in paper form.

  “That is truly beautiful, Luce. What does the dragon mean?” Amisi asked fingering the pendant.

  “You know, I'm not sure, it's just Michel. It's here on his plane, at his chamber in Sensations, he wears it on his clothes sometimes. I just associate it with him.”

  “It's his crest,” Erika offered. “His family crest.”

  I didn't know he had one, he wasn't of noble blood, just a peasant from a village in France. Did they all have family crests over there?

  Erika must have picked up on the confusion on my face because she added, “It was the crest of his village, where he originally came from in France. When he was turned and had to leave his home forever, he chose the crest as his own, as a reminder of what he had lost and what he had to honour. It is now the Durand line's crest. For him to gift it to you, such as this, he is offering you everything he stands for. His past, his present, his future. It is a meaningful gift, not just a token of love.”

  So, not just a piece of jewellery then. Are you trying to tell me something Michel?

  All that I stand for is yours, ma douce. All that I am, all that I have been and all that I will be, is yours. Will you accept?

  You know I will, I whispered in his mind.

  The plane touched down then and I lost the connection, not intentionally, the jarring just brought me back to myself and my current surroundings. It didn't surprise me that there was no limo on the tarmac waiting for us, I hadn't told Gregor we were arriving a day early. Bad, I know, but the element of surprise was important to me. He always seemed to be one step ahead of me and I needed a little head start tonight. I glanced at Jett, his eyes came up to meet mine and he cocked his head.

  “I will take care of it,” his gravelly voice announced.

  Shit, could he read my mind too? I wanted him to glaze Gregor's humans in the hangar, so they wouldn't tell their boss an unannounced plane had arrived and parked itself in his hangar. Jett just smiled.

  “The master is conveying your thoughts.”

  Cut it out, Michel. If he stayed in my head this was going to kill him. I couldn't be worrying about his reaction to Gregor while having to deal with it myself. If I could, I'd lock him out altogether, but for the life of me, I seemed unable to right now.

  I shall leave, ma douce. You are correct. I felt his touch in my mind like it was a physical caress and then he was gone. I sent my senses out tentatively and found he had walled himself in. His shields thick and impenetrable. At least one of us had the ability still to block.

  We exited the plane and Jett dealt with the humans who had come out puzzled at our arrival. Erika was on the phone and within ten minutes a rental car had been delivered. A Mitsubishi Pajero, not our usual standard, but it would do. We piled in and headed towards the city centre, stopping briefly at our hotel on Lambton Quay to off load our bags and park up the car. Then, fortifying myself, we headed off to Desire de Sang. I may have wanted Gregor to be unaware of our arrival, but walking in his city without announcing ourselves first was just stupid. Best to get this over with.

  Friday night in the capital was pumping. Crowds of pub crawlers and party goers were walking the streets. It was bustling and alive and vibrant and kicking. And I noticed how Amisi took it all in. Her eyes were darting from one landmark to another, skimming the people, the faces, the scene. She was awash with excitement, but underneath it all I saw her assessing each alley, each side road, each building, like the well trained Nosferatin she is. By the time we reached our destination, she had already committed to memory the last few blocks, the most likely places for vampire attacks, the most desirable spot to confront the enemy. I was impressed, to say the least, but not surprised.

  We queued to enter, we didn't want to make a fuss and although the vampire on the door recognised me and Erika and was unimpressed with Jett, I quickly held his gaze and glazed his memory of us from him. Did I feel bad? Not a bit. I needed every bit of an advantage I could get tonight and I was prepared to cheat to get it.

  We entered with a group of humans, into the sordid world that was Blood Lust. It made my lips quirk just to be here again. It was so rank fantasy vampire, that it had to make you laugh. The look on Amisi's face was priceless.

  “I didn't know places like this existed,” she said, barely audible above the thumping of the music. I could tell she didn't approve. It just made me smile wider.

  We took a seat in the corner at a table against the wall, while we assessed the situation. Several vampires were dotted through the room, not all of them in the required uniform of leather and vinyl. Some obviously there for their own pleasure, some no doubt unobtrusive security, none of which looked our way.

  “Why haven't they noticed us?” I asked no one in particular.

  Erika smiled, it was the kind of smile you'd see on someone filled with pride. “One of Jett's skills is masking. He'
s masking us from them, all they sense is a group of humans.”

  I quickly shifted my gaze to him, he seemed relaxed, not working too hard at all.

  “So, I didn't need to glaze the guy at the door then?”

  He shrugged. “It's a team effort, isn't it?” His gruff voice murmured.

  I shook my head. “Don't do me any favours, eh?” I could so do without glazing, I hated it. He nodded in understanding.

  Just then Gregor entered the room from the private door at the back and stood talking to some vampires. I felt, rather than saw Amisi sit up straighter. I quickly shot her a glance, she looked slightly flushed and totally in awe. Shit. I never thought she'd find him attractive, but that's just stupid. Who wouldn't? Then suddenly she frowned.

  “What's wrong?” I asked.

  “He wears a Nosferatin Sigillum.” She glanced around the room as though she would see the Nosferatin who had given it to him. Huh. Had Nero never told her?

  “Yeah. It's mine.”

  She turned slowly to look at me and I had to hold my ground in the face of all that incredulity.

  “Why would you give him your Sigillum and not Michel?” She sounded appalled.

  I couldn't blame her, I was too. “He tricked me, all right. I had no idea I could even mark someone and he tricked me into doing it.”

  Now the incredulity was replaced with anger, so strong, so intense, I could smell it. Erika and Jett shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

  “No one...” - she paused to suck in a breath through clenched teeth - “no one should ever be forced to give their Sigillum without consent. That is despicable.”

  Whoa. Tell us how you really feel. She was ropeable. It kind of made me feel better. I pretty much felt the same way. I had never forgiven Gregor for cheating me out of that precious part of my soul. It was why I had promised myself I would never give my Sigillum away again. It was all I had left of me.

  Just then Gregor's eyes shifted across the room to me and locked on with a shadow of surprise. I could see my Sigillum glow with recognition, making the silver and platinum that swirled in his eyes dance with the colours of the rainbow.

  I felt my heart skip a beat and the undeniable pull towards him that I had felt in the past. And I cursed.

  Couldn't I, just once, catch a friggin' break?

  Chapter 37

  The Offer

  He glided over the dance floor towards us, taking his time, while people just stepped out of his way. The vampires out of respect, the humans out of intuition. They could no doubt feel the power rolling off him, even if they didn't know what it was they were feeling. His eyes never left me, the surprise now replaced with hunger. I shifted in my seat and Erika's hand came to rest on my own under the table.

  “Easy, chica. You can do this,” she whispered, loud enough for me to hear over the music in the bar.

  Jett stood slowly, to stand behind me, a sentry making a show of why he was there. Gregor didn't even glance at him. It was hard not to notice his body, under that beautifully cut suit, he was tall and lean and moved like a panther, all sleek lines and beautiful grace. He knew the effect he had on me and he was playing it up. I allowed my eyes to travel the length of him and then I shook myself awake, breaking whatever fucked up spell I was under. He was just a man, just a vampire, he might wear my mark, but he did not hold my heart.

  As soon as I thought that I realised how true it was. I felt it down to my core. I would always be attracted to Gregor, I didn't doubt it, but I also knew I could refuse his advances, I could choose not to play the game. I felt suddenly liberated. I wondered if I could have chosen this path before we crossed that forbidden line, but I didn't let myself dwell on it. The challenge had complicated things, I was angry with where my life had taken me and trying to banish Michel from my mind. And the Dark had taken hold. All pretty pathetic excuses on the whole, but I would cling to them. What had happened had happened, now it was time to move on.

  The detachment I felt allowed me to become more aware of my surroundings and I flicked a glance over to Amisi. She was having a pretty hard time taking her eyes off him too, but she had the determined look of someone who was not going to entertain any thoughts of the evil god who approached, despite the fact that he mesmerised her. I felt a momentary pang of sympathy for her. It was tough to covet something you despised. Trust me, I know. She'd learn to live with it, or get eaten up by it, but it was her choice and hers alone.

  Finally Gregor made it to our table and he simply bent down and took my hand from my lap, raising it to his lips, his eyes never leaving mine.

  “Ma cherie, you have entered my city unannounced. I should punish you, should I not?”

  I smiled sweetly at him and pulled my hand free, catching a look of surprise on his face, which he quickly hid with his usual sex-on-a-stick demeanour.

  “You were expecting me, Gregor. I am merely a day early and considering your last phone call, I would have thought you'd take my early arrival as a sign of my commitment to the task.”

  He cocked his head at me and smiled. “Not, it would seem, as a sign of your desire to see me again.” His eyes travelled down to the dragon on its long chain, delicately resting between my breasts. I couldn't tell if his attention was captured by Michel's crest or by my boobs, either way his gaze lingered longer than it should have.

  He stood up straight and glanced around the table for the first time. He nodded to Erika and just glared at Jett and then he finally found Amisi and the world stopped spinning. He blinked slowly, as though trying to rid himself of the vision before him, but he didn't look away. She glared back at him, unsmiling.

  Shit. I better intervene.

  I stood up and said, “Gregor Morel this is Amisi Minyawi from Cairo.”

  She stood, all smooth graceful Nosferatin lines, fisted her hand across her chest and bowed low, offering him the Nosferatu greeting of respect. Despite how she felt about him, she could play the dutiful Nosferatin well. While still bent over she uttered the greeting she had given Michel on meeting him the first time.

  “ Greetings from Nafrini Al-Suyuti, Master of Cairo City. She sends her thanks to you, Master, for your hospitality to one of her kind, as do I.”

  She rose then, but not before Gregor's hand had come out to help her up. I don't think he realised what he had done. She just looked down at it suspended between them and then back up to his eyes, returning a blank mask.

  He paused and assessed her, then smiled slowly, a little wickedly. I think he may have found a new challenge. His gaze returned to me and his smile broadened.

  “Two for the price one, how fortuitous.”

  He pulled a seat out and sat down, which I so had not expected. I hesitated and then sat myself down as well, I guess he was here to stay. Amisi slowly lowered herself into her chair, so delicately, so perfectly. Gregor's eyes watched her every move. Oh, how fickle the heart can be, I thought and hid a bubble of laughter.

  It's not that I wished Gregor's attention on Amisi, although I think she can take care of herself, she has been practically raised by vampires, she knows their number. But it did make it easier on me. I admit, I liked his attention elsewhere and was I jealous? Nah. Not in the slightest. I had already moved on.

  I did know that a part of me still wanted him to be saved, saved from himself, saved from the Dark. But maybe, just maybe, I could hand those reins over to Amisi. She was a Nosferatin after all, her desire would be the same as mine. To save as many vampires from the Dark and bring them toward the Light.

  I was a little concerned on how he would play her though. She was my sister in all but name, I did not want her hurt. So, I pierced him with a glare and raised my eyebrows when his eyes met mine. Of course, he took it the wrong way and smiled cheekily in return.

  “Jealous, ma petite chasseuse?”

  I held his gaze and tried to stop the blush that threatened to engulf me. I was not jealous. I was not jealous. I was just unable to stop my body from responding to his look. I was the f
irst to glance away, he just laughed.

  A waiter brought over a champagne bottle and glasses, pouring a drink for each of us, including the vampires at my back.

  “I think perhaps a celebration is in order,” Gregor announced as he raised his full glass. “To my... Sigillum shared Nosferatin.” He nodded to me and then he turned to Amisi. “And to the Nosferatin I intend to never share.”

  Oh God. This was not good.

  He drank from his glass, but the rest of us were frozen, unable to share his toast. He didn't pull us up on it, just smiled knowingly. I think we may have made his night.

  Back to business. Always a good thing to remember in the face of the wickedest of wicked vampires.

  “How's your little human problem going, Gregor? Any new updates?”

  He sipped his drink and then ran a finger around the edge of the rim on the glass.

  “They have had a few casualties. I think they have underestimated my resolve to remain in the city.”

  Great, more deaths of humans. More crap for me to climb over.

  “Has it stopped them attacking vampires?”

  “No, unfortunately.”

  “Then a good plan, huh?” I offered, taking the first sip of my drink out of habit more than desire.

  His silver eyes bore into mine. “I will defend my territory, ma cherie. From anyone who threatens it.” I got the innuendo.

  “I'm not threatening your hold on your territory, Gregor. I'm here to help. But, I gotta say, you're not making it easy for me. How do you think the humans will respond to all the killing? How do you think I can get them to toe the line now?”