This Blood

by Basso, Alisha

  “I’ll follow you in, but only to get my own clothing.”

  THIRTY-FOUR

  We opened the doors and entered the steamy chamber. The bathhouse was hotter today than the previous night. Several men, clothed and, well, less than clothed, milled around the bathing chamber speaking companionably to each other, taking absolutely no notice of each other’s nakedness

  Women lounged on cushions, rubbing creams and oils into their skin from the same jars Ann and I had used.

  “Should I feel awkward? Because I do!” My first impulse was to bolt, but I didn’t want to look like an idiot. It was obvious these people didn’t have qualms regarding nudity. It must not be such a social no- no as in our back-ass culture.

  I guess it was only me, however, because Lucian seemed as unfazed as the rest of them.

  “Ah, Lucian, my friend,” a friendly voice called from amongst the crowd, “I see you have decided to join us this fine day.”

  The man was tall and very well built. He was also very naked. He strode forward, his face smiling.

  “I see you have brought our honored guest. Please, join us in the bath. The water is very refreshing.” He slapped Lucian amicably on the back. “You will feel recharged after a fair soak.”

  Lucian smiled warmly at the man. “Well, Erik,” he said, “I would, but I feel more drawn to your cool river.”

  I was suddenly very worried. If Lucian left, I would be alone with all these men. I knew I was safe enough, but I still didn’t like the idea. I decided on the best of my shitty choices. I didn’t want to look like a total fool. I would suck it up and try to live as they did. Grasping Lucian’s hand, I said, “No, I think the healing water will do your body better than the river. Please stay” I squeezed his hand gently to persuade him.

  He got the point.

  “After your bath, you may help yourself to the hooks on that far wall.” The friendly man began to wade into the pool. “We have provided several suits of clothes for your small party. You may choose what you would like to wear and take the rest to your chambers, or you may simply leave them here.”

  “Thank you.” I said to his retreating back, as he joined a large group of men.

  They were huddled around a lovely dark-haired woman. She was laughing as she pulled a silver comb through her long hair.

  I felt a little uneasy. This casually sexual atmosphere made me more nervous than a night alone with Lucian.

  Looking at the far wall, I decided to find something to put on right after my bath. The hooks were jam-packed with beautiful clothing. I chose a white gown. It was gauzy and light as a feather. A basket held several silken undergarments.

  I grabbed a pair of the white panties and made a silent wish for a proper bra, but no such luck. Clutching the clothing in my hands, I walked tentatively to the edge of the pool. I set the clothes away from the side and scanned the room for Lucian. He was lying on the steps that led to the deep end of the pool. Half of his powerful nude body was submerged in the water, the other half was leaning on a higher step.

  He was speaking to a couple. The woman was blond perfection. She lay on a fluffy cushion beside the pool, one of her long legs dipping lazily into the water as she laughed at something Lucian said. The man beside her was just as lovely. I hoped he was her mate. With the lack of women around here, I knew every single one of them would be attached, but I also knew it didn’t matter. I felt a little sick as I watched them chat familiarly as if they had known each other for years. I hated feeling jealous, which was exactly what I was feeling. Damn it!

  I turned my back on them. Pulling the tunic and panties off quickly, I decided to join the party. After all, Lucian was my friend too, more so, in fact.

  I shook out my long hair, the tips lightly brushing my butt and began walking to the edge of the pool.

  Lucian looked up first. His eyes, once laughing, now looked shocked. Raw hunger seeped into his gaze and I knew I had nothing to worry about. If he had glanced at this woman with half the lust his eyes held now, I would have jumped off a bridge.

  “May I join you?” I asked sweetly.

  The two sat up quickly and the woman scooted aside allowing me to sit next to her.

  “Hi, I’m Grace,” I said, offering her my hand. Yep, that’s me, all goodness and friendliness.

  She smiled brightly.

  “We all know who you are, and we are very happy to have you. Please, my name is Cassie and this is my brother, Cain. We were just speaking to your friend here about the craft of brewing potions to enhance the libido. It seems he has a wealth of knowledge regarding plants and herbs.”

  I lowered my eyes to him, my head swimming at the only part of her greeting that I actually heard “You mean you can brew potions to increase sex drive?”

  She looked confused. “Well of course! We are trying to save our people from extinction, which means we must mate as often as possible. We find the task can become arduous after eight or nine couplings. The potions are what keep us going. Why, it’s in the bath we’re soaking in now.”

  I thought I was having a small aneurism. “I knew it!” I shouted stupidly. “I thought I was losing my mind!” Damn, I’ve wanted to jump Lucian’s bones since last night. He’s been driving me crazy.”

  Lucian looked startled. “You have? My God, Gracie and what did I do? Went to bed naked as the day I was born. I had no idea you were under the influence of a sex potion.”

  Cain was frowning at me like I was covered in bugs. “You fought it? Why would you not mate with him? He is healthy?”

  “Yes, he’s perfectly healthy, I guess, but we’re friends, we aren’t lovers.” I stared at their troubled faces.

  “What? What’s the matter?” I asked them.

  Lucian spoke. “They don’t understand how you would throw away a chance to procreate. They are always searching for new partners, always trying to contribute to their bloodlines. They mate with all of their friends. It’s what they have to do.”

  “Oh,” I said softly. “I guess I really don’t understand what it takes to cling to survival, but I’m learning. I mean I would like to make love to Lucian, but it would complicate things for us. Besides, any child of mine would be in too much danger.”

  I watched his face as I said this and his smile warmed me to my toes.

  I slid into the water, feeling way too embarrassed at my sudden and surprisingly stupid confession.

  “We better get moving,” I said nervously. “Places to go, people to save.”

  “Right behind you,” he said, as he swam in my wake.

  I felt him at my back so I swam to the deeper end. I dove under and went several feet, before resurfacing near the soap with Lucian right behind me.

  We bathed in silence. I could feel his eyes as I scrubbed my neck and shoulders. My hair was a soapy mass, balled at the top of my head. I grabbed a sponge, soaping it to overflowing and washed my more private parts. I was truly hoping I didn’t have his audience the entire time.

  I stole a glance at him. He was washing his face, his eyes shut, face full of suds. I took the opportunity and dove under again, the suds flowing away from me as I swam toward the shallow end of the pool. When I emerged, I was fully rinsed and smelling like paradise. I stepped out of the water and wrapped myself in one of the large absorbent cloths folded on a nearby table.

  I dressed quickly. Knowing I just soaked in love potion didn’t bother me as much as knowing that Lucian did as well. I guess I’d have to comfort myself tonight.

  I left the chamber. I didn’t wait for him. He could find his way to the hall alone. I didn’t want to be exposed to him any longer than was necessary.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  I tied my wet hair in a knot at the back of my head as I walked to the hall. I felt energized and broke into a jog, feeling a sudden urge to get this over with immediately.

  I entered the hall. It had been rearranged to accommodate a more business-type meeting. The tables were pushed together in a half circle and only a few seats
remained empty.

  Approaching the table, my purpose was clear, my mind made up.

  “Welcome, Grace,” Gavyn said, smiling. “We are most anxious to begin. We hope to work out the details quickly. We know how you must long for your home.”

  “Well, mostly I long for my ring,” I said bluntly, “and that’s what I want to speak to you about, before any of the details are worked out.”

  His smile vanished. “We shall take a walk, I think.” He grabbed my hand and almost jerked me outside. Pulling me along quickly, my feet stumbled over the uneven ground. He was moving like a wild man. I had barely enough time to gather myself and got really angry when we arrived at the back of the hall. His eyes kept searching the surrounding area. He was clearly afraid someone would spot us lurking behind the shrubbery.

  We came to a stop at the base of a huge tree. Its massive trunk hid us from view. He spun around and his grip on my arm tightened. I winced at his strength. Oh-yeah, he was pissing me off.

  “You said you would help,” he hissed through clenched teeth, “Are you backing out?”

  “No!” I snapped back. “I said I’d help and I meant it.”

  I yanked my arm from his grasp. “But when it comes time to work the mojo, it will be me, not you! I want the ring back, or nothing happens. Get it? That’s the deal. Take it or leave it!”

  I rubbed the soreness from my arm and glared at him. He was mad, and apparently didn’t know his own strength, because… ouch!

  He began pacing, and then stopped, looking into my eyes, I could see fear in the depths of his lavender gaze.

  “You will help?” his voice was softer, the angry pitch diminishing.

  “I promise,” I said. I was more understanding than I should have been, considering the growing bruise on my arm. “I will do all that I can, but that’s all I can promise.”

  His sigh was a mixture of defeat and relief. Then he smiled at me. The smile alone would have been enough to persuade me. Finally as if in a beautiful dream, he removed the ring from his finger.

  Time slowed down, I watched as the ring slid off his finger. He fisted it tightly, his hand floating slowly to my outstretched palm. He dropped it into my hand and the world tilted.

  I had one thought as electricity shot through my palm up my arm and into my body. I want it all. Now!

  White hot energy flowed from the tiny platinum circle. In a rush of heat, I was suddenly consumed. It was as if I was stripped from my skin, remade, and then fused together again. My skin was searing. I felt a fine sheen of sweat cover my body and my lungs fought to breathe as I was filled with an unbelievable rush of power. The jolt was so strong my knees buckled and I fell to the ground.

  Gavyn rushed to my side, his hands extended toward me. A look of concern flashed on his face, as he tried to reach for me.

  My body shuddered, but I recognized the power and I was able to swallow it down. God, it was so amazing! I knew I was only half-altered when the ring was first taken and the power hadn’t finished bonding to me. But now, I knew I could command it and I wanted it all in one dose. Finally, I was complete. I was now, as never before, a whole Madea.

  Catching my breath, I focused on Gavyn’s anxious face I could see his fear for me and I knew he thought the ring was hurting me. He believed the power was too much for my body to take. I laughed out loud as his thoughts exploded in my head. The feeling was leveling out and my body was once again my own.

  My legs felt stronger.

  “Well,” I said, feeling giddy and a little high, “first things first.” I placed the ring on my finger. My palm was already creased from the pressure of holding it. I shook my wet hair and it immediately fell around my shoulders in a soft mass of long, velvety curls. I added the curl and a little more length just for fun, Why the hell not?

  Gavyn’s eyes were as big as saucers. I laughed again. Well, if that impressed him, then he was in for one hell of a treat.

  “Now,” I said, smiling, “let’s go save your people, shall we?”

  Gavyn slammed his mouth shut, then offered me his arm, his eyes still wide and staring. We walked silently back to the hall, his arm as tense as a slab of marble. We entered the room to sounds of arguing. Lucian was there, his face angry as he pointed and spoke animatedly to the group. Everyone was standing, and I heard my name.

  “Looking for me?”

  The commotion ceased, like someone pushed a mute button. Everyone turned to look at us as we entered the room.

  A gasp rang through the Great Hall and I felt all eyes sweeping my body. It was like a lover’s tongue gliding across my skin. I felt each reaction, each thought. Surprise, wonder, lust, fear, joy; they were all a thick whirring soup in my head.

  “Grace.”

  Lucian broke from the crowd. He was at my side in a heartbeat.

  “What happened?”

  I registered the disbelief in his eyes. My hair wasn’t that impressive. What the hell happened? Well, there was one way to find out. I pushed my power into Lucian until I could see through his eyes. The action was automatic. I didn’t have to work anything out. It just happened, like reaching for a doorknob, your mind knows to turn it. You don’t need to think about it, or wonder if you’re doing it right, you just do it.

  The sensation was even stranger than you would imagine. I was seeing what Lucian saw. I couldn’t control his eyes or look where I wanted. I was along for the ride, so to speak. What he saw was not Grace Allen and that was not what I expected. Sure she looked like me, but she wasn’t. She looked supernatural.

  My hair was different. I already knew that, because I did it myself. It was my eyes. They were glowing. The green had been altered. They were now streaked with thick slashes of silver, the same silver that appeared in Seth’s eyes.

  They were at once beautiful and frightening. I wanted to stare at them, but Lucian’s eyes moved. He wanted to check out my boobs. Okay, I was outta there. I left Lucian slightly shaken, but not badly. I knew everything would be okay. I knew I had the power, and now I had the know-how. I turned away from him, my heart overflowing. I knew how to help Gavyn’s people. I knew! It was so damn easy.

  “Call the women,” I yelled. “We’ll need all of the women.”

  In a heartbeat, the men began rushing out. They didn’t question me; they didn’t speak at all. They saw the change. Amazing! I transform into the physical form of an otherworldly being and now, suddenly, I know what I’m doing.

  Men.

  I felt Lucian take my hand and it was just a hand. No electric spark of lust, no surge of uncontrollable hormones taking over my mind, just the hand of a friend, and nothing more. The love water had been rendered useless in my new form.

  Thank goodness.

  We walked to one of the nearest chairs and I gestured for Lucian to sit. I didn’t want to, however, I felt too energized, like I could fly. I wanted to run on the wind and I knew I could. I knew so much now and I accepted it. I accepted the ring as a part of me. That’s all it took to meld us as one. I knew the ring was empty. If I took it off now, it would be just a ring, a trinket. Seth said I would drain the ring over time. I never figured that I could just demand all the power to fill me at once.

  Excited voices filled the room. The ladies were rushing toward the table, their eyes filled with, eagerness. I could taste their exhilaration, like sugar on my tongue.

  “We are all assembled,” Gavyn said.

  “Okay,” I began, more confident than I had ever been in my life. “I know that we all agreed to discuss every possible solution and its consequences; but, given our recent developments, well, I’ll just say that lengthy discussions will no longer be necessary.”

  As if to punctuate my words, I felt my power stir. It wrapped around me. The violent wind I produced in my home not so long ago, was now a cool breeze wafting off my warm skin. It lifted fine locks of hair off the shoulders of the people nearest to me. The look of wonder I saw in everyone’s eyes filled me with more confidence.

  Watching Gav
yn, I began, “The solution I offer is very simple,” my eyes addressing the room. I looked at their faces and noticed with a little shame that Ann was nowhere to be found. Neither was Tobias, for that matter. God, could they still be at it? Knowing Ann, they were.

  I’d ask about them later, bigger fish and all.

  I moved around the tables to stand in the center. I held out my hand, palm up, “My solution… is this.” A delicate glass bottle appeared in the center of my palm, its contents swirling and glowing with supernatural light.

  The room was utterly still. A pin falling in Kentucky could probably have been heard from this place. I took my cue from the silence and marched on. “In this charming little bottle is a very potent potion. One drop is all you’ll need for a lifetime of natural fertility. If all of you women take one drop, you could be pregnant immediately! Well, at least as quickly as, well… you know.” God, I was babbling. I should really take some classes in public speaking, since it was never my forte.

  Questions began like machine gun fire. No way did I plan to stand there for hours of interrogation.

  “Silence, please. I’ll explain,” I yelled, backing up as the group began to crowd around me. I held out the tiny bottle. “The contents will never run out, and the bottle can never be lost or destroyed. It will be available to anyone who wants it for all eternity. All any of you have to do is ask for it and it will appear for you. There are no dangers of overdose, as one drop and one drop only is effective. If someone were to drink the entire bottle, only the first drop would be potent, the rest would be rendered as harmless as water. I have also arranged for this drink to heal your unborn children, reducing your infant mortality rate to nil. Now, keeping your children alive will be up to you, and, well, fate.”

  I pressed on before the questions began again. “Now, once you have taken the potion, and have given birth to all the children you want, you will need to practice some serious birth control. Since you will be as fertile as any healthy beings, you must take the responsibility seriously. Not everyone needs to drink it right away. You must think it over and decide how best to manage it. I know you were desperate once, but now there’s hope for the perpetuity of your race.”