Julian administers our reflex tests next. My reflexes are instantaneous. Liam’s are just a hair less, only Julian’s instruments would be able to measure the difference.
“Very interesting,” Julian says. “I need to start comparing and observing the blood samples. You two are free to go and amuse yourselves.”
“Liam, let’s find you something to eat. Helena usually goes overboard when we have someone who can eat in the house,” Sebastian says. He’s watched everything is silence from the corner waiting while we’d been poked and prodded by the ‘mad doctor.’ When I see Julian in his lab or watch him doing research on something I remember that he studied with many of the great scientists and medical people over the centuries.
“Sounds good to me,” Liam replies. “I’m hungrier than usual.”
We stroll into the oversized gourmet kitchen where we find Helena cooking Chinese food. She looks adorable with an apron over her Stella McCartney dress and her high heels. Of course she is wearing diamonds—isn’t that appropriate for Woking? I roll my eyes but I can’t help admiring her sense of style.
“Helena, that smells wonderful! I’m starving,” Liam says.
“You have perfect timing,” she says and heaps a plate with various dishes.
Liam wolfs down his food. Oops, no pun intended. But really he’s ravenous.
“What would you like to drink, Liam?” Andrew asks.
“Anything is fine.”
Andrew fetches him a Coke and sits down to eat with him. Helena and I sit at the table with a glass of wine. Sometimes I long for human food. The textures are what I miss. I long to crunch something again. I really want to crunch something—crack bone, suck marrow. Marrow? Really?
“I see that look on your face, Cherie. You would only be sick in a few minutes so forget about it,” Sebastian says with a knowing look.
“Don’t you ever miss it, Bast?” I keep my disgusting craving to myself.
“Sometimes, but I gave up trying it about two hundred years ago. I had finally learned my lesson.”
“I can’t get over how old you all are. Helena, you are so beautiful. You can’t be almost a thousand years old,” Liam says.
“I am. There are days when I feel every one of those years. Then I have days when I discover something new and I feel blessed to be alive.”
I hope I live to have Helena’s grace and outlook on life. I still feel like I am bumbling through my first lifetime. I feel a whoosh and Aidan pops into the room. He kisses Helena on the cheek and then kisses me on the forehead. Then he makes himself at home.
“Did I miss the great bloodletting?”
“Yes, it was strange having it flow the opposite direction for a change,” I say. Laughs all around.
“That reminds me, Andrew, I want you to watch us feed sometime if you are still determined to become a vampire. It may gross you out and change your mind.”
“I’ve thought about it, Miss Lily, I’m ready. I’ll go with you the next time you feed.”
“It’s a deal.”
My next feeding may be on his friend and that may bring it closer to reality for him. Abstract images are one thing, the smell and look of fresh blood is another. All the better. He needs to know the bloody truth about the life we lead.
“Aidan, could you take me to get my things from your flat? I need to sort out your things from mine. Sebastian, it won’t take but a few minutes,” I say.
“Why don’t I come with you?” Sebastian offers. “I have yet to see your flat and I want to make sure it is a safe place for you to be in case you need a place in a month.”
“As you wish.” Aidan looks like he’s had his candy snatched. Sebastian takes my hand and Aidan takes the other and we transmanifest to Aidan’s flat. Sebastian stumbles when we touch down. He hasn’t had as much practice as I have and has a little trouble on reentry. He snoops around while I go while I go through bags in the bedroom. I had acquired quite a haul. I had wanted some alone time with Aidan to see how he was doing but I guess that wasn’t going to happen.
“Aidan, what do you want me to do with your things?”
“Just put them on the bed. I’ll put them away later,” he says from right behind me, startling me.
He grins.
“I still got it,” he says. You just can’t take the trickster out of the Jinni. I laugh just as Sebastian walks in the room.
“Cherie, let me help you gather up your things. You went on quite the bender, didn’t you?”
“I had a lot of thinking to do,” I say.
Aidan laughs and Sebastian produces a snort—he’s still not gotten over Aidan’s assisting me with my retail therapy.
“It’s a good thing you have a lot of money, love. I personally find walking does the same thing for me,” Aidan says. Now I feel guilty. Bast helped me make all that money.
“Not for a woman. Ask Helena. We can clear out Bloomingdale’s on a bad day.”
“Have you got everything now?” Sebastian asks, his patience reaching its limit.
“Yes, I think so. Oh let me get the clothes I left here. I need to dry clean that dress and I love those shoes.”
Sebastian’s expression is closed.
“Before you say or think anything, Aidan summoned me new clothes so I wouldn’t have to wear the same thing twice. Nothing to get worried about.”
“I will be the judge of that,” he mumbles.
I gather the rest of my things and am ready to leave. Sebastian takes my bags and we hold hands. Aidan takes custody of my other hand and just like that we’re out of there. In an instant we are in our bedroom at the manse.
“I’ll leave you to put your things away, Lilith,” Aidan says before heading downstairs.
“I don’t like that you stayed the night with him,” Sebastian says the second Aidan is out of the door.
“I don’t like that we fought the way we did. I don’t like it when you tell me I can’t be friends with people. I don’t like a lot of what was going on a few days ago.”
He sighs.
“You’re right. Let’s not fight about this too. It’s done and I trust you. I just don’t trust him. Here, let me help you put these away.” His tone of voice changing. “You made some beautiful choices. I can’t wait to see you in them.” He smiles crookedly. “Or out of them… you know we have a few minutes…”
“Sebastian, no! Be good. We need to get back downstairs.”
He kisses the back of my neck while I attempt to hang up a new dress. It’s very distracting. He lifts my dress up and pulls down my silk panties. I reach behind me and unbutton his jeans. The sex is quick and hot and we are both so turned on by it that I tear down half our closet, breaking one of the poles. Damn the vampire strength. We start laughing at the resulting mayhem. Sebastian helps me clean up as best we can. Then we clean ourselves up and go in search of some refreshment.
“Don’t you two ever get tired?” Andrew asks.
“That’s the beauty of being a vampire, Andrew,” Sebastian says pouring himself some tea. “You don’t tire out, comes in handy,” he says as he winks.
Liam and Julian laugh and I hide my face in Sebastian’s arm.
“Uhm, Helena, can you have one of the workers replace the pole in our closet? It seems to have broken,” I say.
Now everyone laughs but Aidan. I am so glad I can’t blush. I’m entitled to enjoy sex with Sebastian. But I decide I need to be more sensitive to Aidan and practice a little discretion when discussing it.
“Not a problem, Lily. Any other casualties?” Helena asks.
“A few pairs of shoes, nothing irreplaceable though. I’ll have a good cry over them later.”
“Why don’t you show them to me and I can fix them, love,” Aidan says.
“You could fix my closet too.”
“Nope, you are on your own for that. I don’t condone that kind of behavior.”
Yup, struck a nerve. I get some hand sanitizer out and use it. Aidan takes my hand, gives it a squeeze. We do the
best we can.
“I have been thinking about the were that turned Liam. I’m considering going to New Orleans and visiting him. I don’t think one such as that should have license to live for much longer,” Aidan says.
“Wait, are you talking of killing someone?” Liam asks.
“Yes, Liam. What that werewolf is doing is essentially turning serial killers lose into the world with no concern for the consequences,” Aidan says.
“I didn’t think of it that way. I suppose there is no one we could talk to about it?” Liam asks cautiously. He looks around the room from face to face, studying us, assessing whether he is safe. Andrew moves next to him and gives his shoulder a squeeze and Liam visibly relaxes.
“There is a Queen of Vampires we could appeal to if this had been a vampire doing something like this.” Sebastian says. “But I know of no authority to prevent this werewolf from acting this way except us. I’m going with you, fireball.”
“I don’t like to take any life, but I agree with you, Aidan. I don’t see any other way,” Julian says. “What do you think, Helena?”
“I think I would like to go with Aidan and help him find this other one,” Helena replies. “Your place is here, Sebastian.” Sebastian looks ready to protest then shakes his head and reluctantly agrees.
Helena has done her share of fighting and tracking but not in a long time. I only saw this side of her once, this past fall in our battle with the renegade witches and warlock. She’s like a Valkyrie beneath her nurturing ways and maternal behavior.
“Why do you want to go, my love?” Julian asks.
“I’m tired of the house in is this state and want to see what makes this creature tick. It’s been a long time since I have seen New Orleans and besides I could pay my respects to the Queen while I’m there.”
“You know I’m not your keeper,” Julian says carefully. “I’m just concerned for your safety. Aidan is not vulnerable to infection and we know this werewolf will not hesitate to bite.”
“Julian, do you think that after nine hundred and eighty-six years I don’t know how to take care of myself?” Helena asks hotly despite Julian’s attempt at tact.
“Of course not,” he backs off, the better part of valor. “You’re right, dear. I’ll miss you. When do you plan on going?”
“I thought I would leave this afternoon,” Aidan says. “Does that work for you, Helena?”
“Perfectly. I’ll pack a small bag. We have to check in with the Queen as soon as we arrive. It’s protocol. Then we can go about our business. I want to see if she knows anything about werewolf politics or has heard of any other attacks. She’ll want to know why we are in town anyway.”
“I’ve no good experiences with vampires, especially powerful vampires until I met you. I will defer to your guidance,” Aidan says with a slight bow of his head. I think we all remember that even though Aidan is genial and charming to us, he is a very old, very powerful fire element that hunted vampires for centuries. Even at his most aggressive times with Sebastian he holds himself back for my sake.
“Give her our best,” Sebastian says ungraciously as he throws himself down into the overstuffed couch in front of the fire.
Andrew perches in a chair next to me. “Have you met the Queen, Miss Lily?” he asks.
“No, Andrew. I’m not quite old enough. I’m still considered a youngster in the court.”
“How old is she?”
“I think around five hundred years or so,” Sebastian says picking up his cup of tea and grimacing because it’s cold. He glances at Aidan but Aidan pretends not to see him. I have to stifle my giggles. Aidan could heat up his tea in an instant if he wanted to.
“She’s young compared to Miss Helena. What makes her the Queen?” Andrew asks.
“You mean, how was she determined to be the Queen?” Julian asks. “She was voted Queen.” Andrew looks bewildered. “Vampire politics are fairly complicated,” Julian admits.
“Why didn’t they ask Miss Helena to be Queen? She would be a wonderful Queen,” Andrew says now in full dish mode.
“Who said they never asked me? I turned them down. I hate life at court. I’ve had my share. Besides I would be stuck in New Orleans and it frizzes my hair,” Helena informs him.
Even I didn’t know that. I’ve never been bold enough to ask Helena and she is too modest to have ever brought it up. I wonder what else I don’t know about my friend. Helena heads upstairs to pack. Aidan puts Liam in a trance to question him fully about the stranger that bit him. He wants to know every detail about him and where it happened. His trance works like hypnotism and allows perfect recall. Soon Helena returns.
“I’m ready. I spoke with the contractors. I gave them detailed instructions for when I’m gone—Andrew, you know what I want, will you oversee?” Andrew nods. “They shouldn’t have any problems. If they do, just call me on my cell. Come here, Jules and kiss me good bye.”
Julian kisses her, leaving no doubt in our minds about why their suite is sound proof. Then he swings her into his arms and carries her over to Aidan. He gently deposits her next to her bag.
“Say hello to Zoe for me. Please be careful and call me. Aidan, pop her out of there if you think she is in over her head. She is mindful and stubborn, I’m counting on you to know what is best,” Julian says. He may have backed down from telling his lover what she could or couldn’t do, but Julian is a male, an alpha male and a vampire to boot.
“I’ll look out for her, Julian. I promise. Come take my hand, Helena.”
And they are gone.
I bring us to an alley just inside the French Quarter. I love New Orleans because it feels old compared to the rest of America. It has a history, a rich history. You sense that the city is haunted with the past. Even Hurricane Katrina couldn’t destroy that impression.
Helena told me that the Queen’s home isn’t far from this address. We will find a hotel, that is convenient for us to stay at. I’m not sure why we need a hotel. I suppose for no other reason than to have a place for Helena to change clothes.
“Aidan, I know a lovely little bed and breakfast right around the corner. Julian and I have stayed there a few times.”
“You lead the way, Milady.”
She smirks back at me.
“How will Queen Zoe take to meeting a jinni?” I wonder.
“I don’t know. I think that she will be curious. Perhaps a little apprehensive. Be cautious, she likes to collect people. Always be aware around her and don’t underestimate her. She has a long memory and doesn’t like to lose.” She stares at me and nods. Perhaps she sees my hatred for most bloodsuckers.
“We have a couple of things in common.” Helena gives me a wry look over her shoulder. “I won’t be a surprise to her?”
“No, she knows you are a friend.” She grimaces. “Well, what she doesn’t know in this case is probably best to keep to ourselves.” She nods at a quaint sign. “Here we are. We can check in as a married couple to keep it simple.”
We register and go to our room. Helena retires to the bathroom to change into a beautiful Vera Wang dress. I snap my fingers and change into an Armani suit.
“Aidan, you look so handsome. I didn’t know you could be more dashing than you usually are but you managed it.”
“Put in a good word to Lily for me,” I say with a wink.
“Oh, sweetheart, you need to move on.”
“How can I, Helena, when my soul is enmeshed with hers? I’ve waited an eternity to find her. How can I move on from that? Tell me and I will.”
“I don’t know, dear heart. I don’t know.”
She wraps her arms around me and hugs me close. I smell her unique lemon and herb scent, craving the contact and her compassion and then it’s gone.
“Let’s go meet the Queen. Maybe you will meet someone at court.”
I roll my eyes at her and she touches my face.
We wind our way through the now—dark streets of the French Quarter and then I pop us into the Garden District w
ith all its mansions. Helena leads us to one of the grandest, where a driveway meanders up to an ancient building—by American standards. Its aged brick is covered in vines. Helena studies the trees that line the drive hanging with moss so thick it looks like a lady’s mourning veil. The air is full of the buzz of crickets and other nighttime insects. When we reach to the door, two vampires materialize from their hiding spots and ask who we are and what we want.
“Tell Queen Zoe that Helena and Aidan are here to pay homage,” Helena says. Her regal confidence almost sends them scurrying off, but one narrows his eyes at her. “I phoned,” Helena sniffs. “She is expecting us.”
“Yes, Madame Helena. Won’t you come in and wait in the parlor?” Goon number one asks after he bows low to Helena.
“Yes, that would be lovely.”
They lead us to a stately green room filled with French furniture, Louis XIV, if I’m not mistaken, and we’re invited to sit down. Strawberry wine is served to us immediately. I pass but Helena takes a glass. We are kept waiting only a few minutes.
“Please come right this way, Madame Helena,” a human serving girl says.
I notice she has a small bruise on her neck from a recent bite. She beams at me, but my temperature rises.
We enter a throne room that is quite exquisite. Murals depict the history of the Queen. From the looks of it she has lived most of her life in France and England. Her chair is just an ornately carved wooden chair. It is quite old though, perhaps as old as the Queen herself. She has an entourage of people in the room with her. There are more goons but these look like they mean business. They are dressed in black and wear stakes at their sides. A few women and men stand around in small useless groups—the Queen’s favorites. They can’t possibly serve any other purpose. I’ve seen many courts similar to this one. Now to see if the Queen is the real thing or merely a puppet. The energy is uncomfortable filled with fear and anxiety. Not a favorite dish.
The Queen raises her hand and the room quiets.
Sucking Bites (San Francisco Vampires Series #3) Page 8