by Benson, SF
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Luc asks. “You really must learn to shield your thoughts. I’ve heard so much from you it’s giving me a bit of a headache.”
“Luc, she doesn’t—”
He holds his hand up. “Stop apologizing for her. She’ll need to learn.”
“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t speak about me like I’m not here.”
The vampire examines his nails. “Leave us, Victor.”
“But—”
“Now,” he demands.
Victor walks over to me. “I’ll be upstairs. My room is the first one on the right.”
“She’ll find it when I’m done with her. I will not ask you to leave again.”
Victor huffs and leaves the room.
“Sit, Kelsie.”
Reluctantly, I take Victor’s vacated seat. The tall, angular vampire across from me is intimidating. I don’t know if it’s his posture alone or his glowing light eyes. Perhaps it’s best I don’t test my limits with this being.
“Excellent decision, my dear. First thing you must do is to get Victor to work with you on those shields. Second, you need to work on respect.”
Since he can hear my comment, I keep it to myself.
“Do you know how old I am?”
“Should I?”
“Rhetorical question. Suffice it to say, I was created long before this town was ever built. Beaumont is older. There is a certain amount of respect we demand from those we’ve created. If Victor wasn’t so blinded by his love for you, he would have told you these things.”
Victor loves me?
“You didn’t know?” He frowns. “You’ve consumed his thoughts ever since he met you. It’s why he risked everything for you. Lilin like to think of themselves as the superior beings. Bull! You don’t take advantage of the one emotion that could truly connect you to humans.”
“And that is?”
“Love. It’s a pure emotion. Imagine how easy your job would be as a succubus if you just entertained it. You seduce, but you don’t love your victims. If you showed them love, they’d love you back. And with that love, there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for you.”
“I don’t see how any of that is relevant right now,” I reply.
“Of course, you wouldn’t. You’re the one succubus who thought she could be different. Thought you could start the movement yourself, didn’t you?”
“What movement?”
“Lilins falling in love. It’s an admirable endeavor, but you’d need to convince your community, just like your aunt convinced supernaturals to school with humans.”
This conversation is making me very uncomfortable. “Why are we talking?”
He tilts his head toward me. “Here’s what will happen. You will stay with Victor for the time being. You need someone to watch over you and see how this transformation plays out.”
“What if I don’t want to stay?”
“You can be forced.” Luc sits forward. “It’s more pleasant if you choose to stay. Compelling not only robs you of your free will, but it takes with it your memory. I don’t think Victor will be too happy if you forget your time together.”
“He won’t like that you’re threatening me.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Luc points to the ceiling. “He’s heard every word I’ve said to you. It pisses him off, but he also knows that interference would not be pleasant for him.”
I must be having a lapse in good judgment. I hold my chin high and challenge him. “You issue a lot of threats, Luc. What do you do to those who cross you?”
“Good question. I’ll be happy to show you. Come with me.”
He stands and reaches for my hand. I allow him to take it, and he leads me out of the study.
The wooden stairs creak and groan beneath our feet as we descend into the basement. It’s a dark, cold, and dusty space full of antiques, vintage clothes, and pictures of yesteryear. A couple of lonely spiders scurry down the handrail. Luc stops in a partially finished corner in the back of the room. A pile of bricks sits off to one side. A thin, silver spike rests on top of it. He picks it up and runs his finger along the edge of it.
“There are myths, mostly human based, about vampires. The best one involves the ability to kill us by driving a wooden stake through our heart.”
My chin trembles.
“It’s a myth with a nugget of truth in it. Stakes don’t kill us, but a well-placed silver spike can cause an eternity of pain. In the right position, that same spike can cause a long slumber instead until it’s removed. When you wake up, it will be as if you were transformed all over again. You’ll experience the same overwhelming hunger. Best of all, you’ll remember why you were spiked.”
“And the hole in the wall?”
“That’s where I like to place the body.” He grins. “I hate looking at someone in pain. This way I can seal them behind the wall and be done with it. If you’re asleep, you won’t mind the dark.”
Luc edges closer to me and runs the spike along my arm. I try not to move, but the trembling gets worse.
“Don’t do it. Please, don’t do it,” Victor begs from behind us.
A brittle laugh comes from Luc. “I’m not putting your precious girlfriend behind the wall. She asked what happens when someone crosses me. I thought a visual explanation would drive the point home.”
Victor comes up and grabs my hand. “She gets it. She’ll behave. Won’t you, Kelsie?”
“Yes. You’ll have no problems with me.”
“Good.” Luc returns the spike to the pile of bricks. “Victor, you’ll meet with the Najex, and then I’ll call a Council meeting. Hopefully, we can convince the leaders that you two should be together. Then, this whole sordid matter will be put to rest, and we can move on with other business.”
The tall vamp glides by us and heads upstairs.
“Victor, he scares the crap out of me.”
They are just words. Words can’t harm you.
Too bad you don’t believe that.
After Luc’s display of his superiority, Victor takes me upstairs to a room decorated in gold and cream furnishings. A queen-sized bed full of lacy pillows is in the center of the room. An ornate dresser and mirror take up one wall. In front of the window is a small, Queen-Anne style sofa covered in cream damask.
“Time to answer some questions for you,” Victor says and gestures to the sofa.
“Has Luc ever used the spike on you?”
He shakes his head and sits beside me. “He’s never even threatened me with it. I’ve never been behind the wall either.”
“So, his threats are reserved for me?”
“You did a great job riling him up.” He reaches for my hand. “Come on. Let’s change the subject. I know you have other questions.”
“Okay. Will I be able to go outside during the day?”
“Ordinarily the answer would be no. But Luc was created by one of the first vampires. There’s something about their blood that doesn’t restrict them to the night. I don’t know what it is, but you now have that blood flowing through you.”
“So, I’m protected?”
“We’ll have to find out.”
I sigh. “Next question. What am I? Vampire? Succubus?”
“I don’t have an answer for you. I saw your fangs. They aren’t as long as a regular vampire’s. You drank blood without a problem, though. There’s a chance you may still be succubus.”
“How can I be both?”
“There’s a being called a dhampir. It’s the offspring of a vampire and a human. It retains a lot of its human traits along with vampire ones. Think of it as a hybrid. You could be something like a dhampir. You’d have traits of both a succubus and a vampire.”
“So, some things that affect vampires might not bother me?”
“Exactly.”
“What about this shield that Luc mentioned?”
“I’ll teach you. It’s a strategy
to hide your thoughts from others. As long as you’re near anyone from the Coven, your thoughts can be heard. It takes practice, but I’m sure you’ll learn it.”
I stand up and pace the floor. There’s so much to learn about this life.
“Yes, it’s a lot to learn. But why are you comparing it to being a succubus?”
I stop in front of him. “I’ve never told you how cursed I feel being a succubus.”
“You feel like a freak. I understand that.”
“When I became a teenager and my powers first appeared, I wanted what I saw with humans. They dated and fell in love. I saw pictures of women in beautiful white dresses with gorgeous flowers.”
“Weddings?”
“Yes. I wanted that. I have a hard enough time being a succubus. How am I supposed to deal with this?”
“One day at a time is the only way.” His brow wrinkles. “Can I ask you something?”
I face Victor. “You know. Reading each other’s thoughts makes conversation a little weird.”
“True, but you’ll adapt. Continue.”
“Okay. You want to know why I’m so fascinated with humans.” I flop down on the sofa. “Blame it on my Aunt Lilith. She filled my head with stories about living with humans undetected. It sounded fun and exciting. Something I wanted to try. Then, she latched on to the idea of inclusion.”
“That supernaturals should go to school with humans?”
I pull my hair away from my face and close my eyes for a second. “Where was I? Oh! It was something else I wanted to do. So, I’ve been around humans ever since I was a little kid. You might say I don’t know any better.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Victor, tell me more about what Luc said.”
He asks, “About my feelings for you?”
“Is it true? Are you in love with me?”
“I won’t ever lie to you, Kelsie. I’m not sure how I feel about you. I risked everything to be with you because I didn’t want to exist without you.”
“Why do you call it existing instead of living?”
“Life is for those who are alive. I’m undead. I only mimic life.”
“Is it because you have no soul, or is it because you can’t die?”
“Both. Nathan seems to believe, however, that I’m still retaining some of my soul.”
“He did mention something about us being soul mates. I didn’t think it was possible.”
“Same here.” Victor pulls back the heavy gold-colored curtain. “It’s getting late. I probably should get you back to your place so you can pack a bag.”
“That will have to wait,” says an unfamiliar female voice.
Victor glances toward the door and smiles. “Hello, Ma.”
Victor’s mother is a beautiful she-vamp with black hair plaited into a single braid reaching to her waist. She’s tall and elegant in a long flowing black dress.
She extends her hand to me. “My name is Inès. I think we should get better acquainted.”
“Ma, we were just leaving.”
“It can wait. The Najex is expecting you at his home. Luc will accompany you.” Her dark brown eyes rake over me. “Kelsie will be fine without you.”
He shrugs. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Inès waits for her son to close the door before she speaks. “Now that he’s gone we can get down to business.”
Her tone is harsh. She doesn’t even know me. How can she hate me already?
“Hate is a very strong word. Don’t you think?” Inès sits beside me. “I’d say it’s more like a strong dislike.”
I tense up. Would I ever get used to having people inside my head. “Can I ask why?”
“You can ask whatever you like.” She crosses her legs. I get a glimpse of a black spiky heel. “It doesn’t mean you’ll get an answer you’ll agree with.”
“Whatever.” I think we’ll both be able to agree that I don’t like her.
She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I swear if you don’t learn how to shield your thoughts, I’m going to put you in a bloody wall just to shut you up.”
“I haven’t learned,” I snap. “What do you expect me to do about it?”
“Shut off the internal dialogue, please. Just say what you want. No more thoughts.”
“If that’s what you want, here goes.” I sit forward. “I didn’t ask for this. Okay? I was simply trying to help Victor get over his agony.”
She measures me with a steely gaze. “If you hadn’t let him bite you in the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“I couldn’t have stopped him,” I complain. “He moved too fast for me.”
“And if you hadn’t gone out with him, this could’ve all been avoided.”
“Enough already!” I shout and hold up my hands. “We can go back and forth all night. It won’t change things. What do you want from me?”
“I expect you to get with the program. Do what’s necessary.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re part vampire, at least that’s the thought. That makes you part of our Coven. You need to conduct yourself accordingly. Learn how to shield your thoughts. Most importantly, and the only thing I care about, prepare yourself to meet with Council. You need their permission to be with my son. Without it, both of you will have to leave town. I will not have Victor banished because of you.”
“And I don’t want to leave town.”
“Then, you’ll make them understand that it was your decision to be turned. You’re a stubborn, foolhardy succubus who doesn’t listen to her elders.”
“That’s not—”
“That’s the image you will present to the leaders. If they think Victor forced you, they will sever this relationship.”
I swallow hard. Her words make me pause. “How is that done?”
“Termination, dear child. Be advised that Luc will not harm my son.”
I swallow the retort on the tip of my tongue.
“Do you understand me?”
“Perfectly,” I tell her.
“Good. Beaumont can drive you to your house if you like.” She stands and heads to the door. “Shall I summon him?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I give Beaumont my address, and he navigates the silver Range Rover through the gates. I’m grateful he doesn’t question my silence. All I want to do is go home. Dealing with Cash and Mom is way better than being hated by vampires.
Beaumont pulls the SUV into the driveway. Before I get out, he passes me a plastic grocery bag.
“What is this?”
“If you’re serious about staying at your mother’s house, then you’ll need what’s inside.”
I open it and find a couple of bottles of dark red liquid. Blood. A visual reminder of what I’ve become. “Thank you.”
“Miss Kelsie, I understand that you’re having difficulty with all of this. Unfortunately, Victor’s mother is not the most tactful vampire.”
“She didn’t need tact to get her point across,” I point out.
“Perhaps not, but it would have made the medicine go down easier.” He cuts the motor. “You might not believe it, but we are acting in your best interest.”
“You have a weird way of showing it. Luc threatened to put me in a wall. Inès agreed with that decision. What do you want to do?”
“I’m not here to do anything. I promise. You need to forgive Luc and Inès. When Luc was first turned, I had to seal him up for a while. He was headstrong and thought he knew how the game was played. When authorities started looking for the creature on a killing spree, I knew it was him. He refused to stop, so I spiked him and put him in a wall. Luc slept for about a year before I let him out.”
“What changed him?”
“Victor’s mother. Luc had an ear for music. He discovered Inès singing in a Paris nightclub. He fell in love with her.”
“What’s with you vampires and your strange ways
of showing love? You don’t show someone you love them by turning them into a bloodthirsty fiend.”
Beaumont shakes his head. “You’re wrong, Miss Kelsie. Sometimes turning a person is done because you love them. Victor’s mother had been attacked. Someone had left her for dead in an alley. Luc found her. Turning her saved her. She would be permanently dead had it not been for him.”
“What excuse did Luc have for turning Victor?”
“His mother didn’t want him to live alone on the streets. He didn’t have a job. Without money, he wouldn’t have been able to afford their rent. Victor would have been a street urchin begging for food and shelter. Inès didn’t want that kind of life for him. She begged Luc to turn him.”
“That still seems wrong.”
“You can say that because you’ve never been human. Your life has been perfectly laid out for you.” Beaumont starts the engine. “Miss Kelsie, it’s time you wake up from your ideal little world. Bad things happen to humans and supernaturals. Love is more than just a good feeling you get when you’re with someone. It’s about sacrifice. Putting someone else before yourself. Victor deserves someone who gets that, not a spoiled brat. He needs a strong being by his side when facing Council. Are you really right for him?”
How dare he question whether I’m right for Victor? And to call me spoiled? No one has ever said that to me.
“I guess it was time someone let you know,” he said.
I grab the grocery bag and exit the car.
In a park-like clearing,the Gothic Revival mansion stands out like a candle in the dark. Its limestone walls, fancy turrets, and four-story towers belong to another period—another time and place. An ornate glass door swings open as if it expected us to knock, and it didn’t want to be touched.
“Don’t let that bother you,” Luc says. “Rumor has it that this house has a mind of its own. If it doesn’t want you inside, you’ll never get past the threshold.”
A chilling welcome to say the least. I step across the sill, half expecting a barrier to block my path. It doesn’t come, and we stop in a large foyer. Over our heads is a large wrought-iron chandelier suspended from a vaulted ceiling. The strange patterns cast on the stone walls and marble floor remind me of the creepy shadows that visited my room as a child—ghosts, goblins, and other supernatural images that I thought only existed in scary stories. Heavy footsteps, like blasts from a cannon, approach us. On impulse, my hands clench.