“That might work. I would rather she come to that conclusion on her own. It would be a more permanent solution. Can you take me to the manse now? Maybe we can give Helena and Julian and Andrew a bit of a break for a while.”
“Sounds good. These girls won’t go anywhere in the few seconds I can transfer everyone. Why don’t you call Julian and tell them to be ready.”
Sebastian calls, and I check on Lilith and Hannah. They are dead to the world. By the time I’m done, Sebastian is off the phone.
“Julian says they welcome a break. The change has taken hold of Liam and he is beyond all reason. Andrew is in a tither. He may end up having to stay here as well, Julian says.”
“The more the merrier.” I sigh. “We have to make sure Lilith is okay first.”
“Yes, let’s go.”
I take Sebastian’s hand and we leave my flat to go to the manse. The second we land in the kitchen I know Liam is experiencing something far different from Lilith. He growls and scratches at the door. He howls between pacing the perimeter of the wine cellar.
Helena can’t hide the relief on her face when we pop in. Andrew is beside himself. He’s sitting on the other side of the door in tears.
Julian finds us. “We have to hurry. I suggest Sebastian stay here while you take all three of us at once. Liam is secure, so you should be safe, Sebastian.”
Sebastian nods.
I gather them up and take them to my flat. Summoning movies for them to watch and some wine and food for Andrew, I leave them to sort it out and pop myself back to the manse. Sebastian makes tea while Liam howls. He smells fresh blood —Sebastian—though fresh is a relative term when talking about a vampire—and it is driving him crazy. It is going to be a long three days.
I have an idea.
“Sebastian, do you remember when I put Lilith in that trance to keep her from feeling the pain while we cleaned her wounds?”
“Are you thinking of doing that to Liam?” His eyebrows climb as he stares.
“I don’t know if it will work, but it’s worth a try. No need for Liam to suffer if I can do something about it.”
“By all means, give it a try.”
Liam is at the slit in the door as soon as I open it. I whisper and point to him. He lies down and curls into a ball and sleeps.
“That’s better,” Sebastian says. His shoulders drop into a relaxed pose.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a choice on whether he becomes a vampire or not. Anything has got to be better than this madness. The poor man. I don’t know how long the trance will hold.”
“We should call Julian and tell him what we did. He will want to record this.” Sebastian shakes his head.
I call Julian this time and explain what I did. Julian is excited about the trance possibilities. He tells me they have settled in and are watching a movie. The girls are still sleeping. As a precaution, Julian and Helena want to get Andrew out of my flat before Lilith wakes up. No one knows how she will be. I make arrangements to pick him up. Sebastian drinks his tea. Julian’s chess set sits on the kitchen island.
“Would you still like to play,” he asks.
“Very much so.” I move a chair into place.
We spend hours playing chess and talking about the world and things we have lived through. I get to know the man Lilith is pledging her life to. I hate to admit it, but I am learning to like him. I think the feeling is mutual. Liam is still in his trance.
“It’s almost time for me to get Andrew. You okay while I do that?”
“Oui, why don’t you go now and I’ll make some coffee for Andrew. Hopefully he slept while he was over there.”
“I’ll be right back.”
I pop back into my flat and find Helena and Julian snuggled up on one end of the couch watching a movie. Andrew is passed out on the other end.
“He was so tired. I think he fell asleep five minutes after we got here,” Helena explains.
“I want to get him out of here before the beautiful one wakes up,” I say with a wink.
Julian laughs.
“You should have seen her eyes. They were huge and silver. I’ll let you stay and take Lilith watch for a while if you want and we can watch over Liam for a while longer,” I tell them.
“That would be excellent. I’m sure Sebastian will have a fit. You might have to bring him back,” Julian says. “See what he can live with.”
“I will. Now let’s wake up sleeping beauty.”
Andrew wakes up with a little coaxing. I explain what I’ve done to Liam. He is eager to get back and see how his friend is doing. When we land back in the kitchen, Sebastian tells us that Liam is still out.
Andrew’s voice is unsteady when he thanks me.
“I believe you have deep feelings for our friend Liam, Andrew,” Sebastian says.
Andrew nods. Blushing, but serious.
“Congratulations, Andrew,” I say.
“Thank you. I think he feels the same way, but we are too worried about his illness to explore what that means. It will make such a difference to see how Miss Lily does. If he can be turned and it lessens his symptoms, then we might have a future together, especially when I become a vampire.” He’s given it a lot of consideration.
“It’s a lot to think about Andrew. Vampire—Human relationships can be very exciting too,” Sebastian says.
“Yes, but I owe you and Miss Lily pay back for all the noise you have been making.”
I snort, Sebastian shrugs, unabashed. Another chess match is out of the question because Sebastian is too restless. He rumbles about being there when Lilith wakes up so I pop him to my flat quickly. I am back in a matter of thirty seconds. We have hours in front of us. May they be uneventful. Andrew offers to teach me the finer points of a game called Scrabble.
I wake up slowly. Sebastian is next to me. I take stock of my body. I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.
“How do you feel, Cherie?”
“Stiff and sore. I feel like my joints are not quite lining up—don’t think they’re happy about it. Mentally, I’m a bit groggy, but other than that I’m okay.”
“Really? How’s your hunger?”
“Okay. I think I’m thirsty for some coffee though.”
“Let’s see if Aidan has some around here. You have no idea how glad I am to hear this. Your eyes are still silver and large.”
“Do they gross you out?” I know how they look, but he’s never told me what he thinks.
“No, they’re kind of sexy,” he answers.
It feels good to laugh.
“That’s a pleasant sound,” Julian says from the main room.
“She’s doing great, Julian,” Sebastian raises his voice slightly to respond. “Why don’t I let you take a shower.” He pats my leg then smoothes my night gown over my shoulder. “I’ll go fill him in. I’ll see if I can find some coffee for you too.”
“Don’t you need to take a shower?”
“I’ll take one when you’re done. I don’t think I want to push Aidan too far. We played chess and talked for quite a while and I’m starting to like him. I want to respect his feelings while we’re staying here.”
“I should have thought how he would feel about it. Can’t Aidan just summon the coffee, by the way?”
“He’s at the manse with Andrew and Liam. He put Liam in a trance to calm him down and Helena and Julian are here for a while to see how you are doing. I think if you continue to do well, we might just take you home.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll just hop in the shower.” I gather clean clothes from my bag.
“I love you. See you soon.” Sebastian caresses my cheek as he lowers his mouth to mine briefly.
I get up and watch him leave the room. Aidan has stocked my favorite products in the bathroom. He has the most wonderful shower, jets from every angle. The mirror is soon steamed over, the water turned high and hot. My night gown hits the floor and I climb into the water fall. Stiff muscles unclench and soreness melts away.
Finally when I should be a shriveled prune, I get out. Sebastian comes in just as I finish dressing.
“Aidan left a French press and some coffee for us. I do have to admit, he always thinks of everything. I made you some coffee, Cherie. I’m going to hop in the shower now.” His caress on my cheek is gentle as he heads toward the bathroom.
“You’ll love his shower. He’s got all my favorite products in there so don’t freak out. It’s from when I stayed here.”
He stops. Grumbles under his breath about my “running away” and strips down. I stare at him, loving the show. He leers then kisses me long and hard before he smacks me on the butt.
“Go on, before I change my mind.” Threat or promise, I can’t decide.
I leave him reluctantly, and return to the main room. Helena and Julian are cozy on the couch. Julian writes in the hardbound notebook that he sent over with Sebastian. He is ready to take more notes on me.
“Now, tell me everything, don’t leave anything out. Wow! Look at your eyes!” Julian exclaims.
“They are spectacular,” Helena says her own eyes wide.
“Thanks. I’m not quite used to them yet. I can see the temperature of your blood. I see the heat in the walls from the pipes. It’s very weird.” Julian is busy scribbling in his shorthand that no one else can decipher. He refuses to move up to an iPad or other electronic transcription for his primary notes. He loves his paper.
“Have some coffee, dear.” Helena offers me a cup of sweetened brew. “Sebastian seems to think you are well enough to go home.”
“I think so. I’m a little muzzy, stiff and sore, although the shower helped a lot. I was crazed with hunger last night. I’m sure they told you. I would have drained someone if they hadn’t stopped me.” Thank goodness I wasn’t alone. I couldn’t live with myself if I had needlessly, selfishly took a human life. “I definitely will have to have help with that in the future.”
“I’m sure that is your metabolic rate trying to keep up with the changes in your body. You seem to be walking a little differently too,” Julian says.
“My joints feel funny.”
“I think the best thing would be for you to come home when Hannah wakes up and we can run the tests on you again while you are in this phase. We might learn a lot.”
“Celine is hanging around. Maybe it would be beneficial to have her meet you while you are changed. It might be what convinces her to give up this ridiculous vigil,” Helena says.
“Celine. I have a few words for that bitch.”
“Not that I wouldn’t like to watch that exchange, but it might be better to keep you two apart until you are recovered,” Julian chuckles.
“Besides, this may be good news for our friend Liam. He has the choice to be turned now. He has suffered terribly. It was awful. Andrew is a wreck,” Helena says.
“I’m glad Aidan was able to put Liam in the trance,” I say.
Sebastian joins us refreshed by his shower. He kisses me, then helps himself to a cup of coffee.
“When will Hannah be waking up?” he asks.
“About another forty-five minutes,” I say, stretching.
“Good. I’ll call Aidan and make arrangments. We’ll have Helena and Julian go back and then Aidan can bring the rest of us.”
Sebastian puts on his blue tooth and uses it for a good cause, for a change.
“Aidan said all was calm on their front. Andrew was beating him at Scrabble.”
Everyone laughs. We tidy up as best as we can. Aidan doesn’t have a garbage can so we have to leave things out for him to take care of. Before long we hear Hannah stir.
“Rise and shine, sunshine,” Helena says.
“How’s the she-wolf?” Hannah asks.
“Doing pretty good. How about you Ganja Girl?” I answer.
“Desperate for a shower,” she says as she stumbles out from behind the screen. Her hair is tumbled, every flaming purple strand of it.
“Help yourself, Hannah. The shower is free,” I say.
“Thanks. Uhmm, you guys didn’t do anything in there, did you?” She gives me a pointed look.
“No! Go take your shower,” I say pushing her towards the bathroom. Thankful that Sebastian stopped me from ravaging him this morning.
I feel a familiar warm rush of air.
“Aidan.”
“Good afternoon, everyone. Lilith, you smell wonderful,” he says as he stoops to kiss me on the cheek.
“Thank you. Were you expecting something else? Maybe wet dog?”
“Well, let’s just say Liam has a definite doggie smell about him.”
“Another thing to be glad about,” I mumble.
Aidan waves his hands and the dishes and the remnants of Andrew’s food vanish. He does keep a tidy house.
“Are you ready, Julian, Helena? I don’t want to leave Andrew there too long by himself.”
“Yes, we are. Let me grab my notebook on Lily. I want to take more notes. We’ll see you shortly.” Julian waves.
“Bye, sweethearts,” Helena says.
Aidan, Julian and Helena pop out and Sebastian puts his arms around me. I feel his warm breath on my neck before his soft lips touch me behind my ear sending goose bumps down. Every nerve in my body is on fire and I start to climb up his body.
“Soon we will have a bit more privacy, ma petite. Then I can show you how much I love you,” he promises as he gently lowers me to the ground.
“I hope I don’t tear you up. I am feeling especially strong right now. And frisky.”
“Hmmm, we’ll have to see what happens. I’m sure Julian will want to have all the details.”
“Oh God! Just promise me he doesn’t have explicit details.”
“No, not explicit. Those are mine and mine alone. We better pack our bags. Aidan should be here any moment.”
“Did I hear my name?”
“Hello, Aidan. Impeccable timing, as usual.” The Djinn makes my mouth curl up to my ears—I can’t help it.
“That’s me. How did you sleep? I didn’t get a chance to ask how you were feeling.”
“I slept well. I am a little stiff and unsteady. My joints feel funny. I feel really strong. Stronger than normal.”
“Julian was already getting his lab set up for you. He is excited about running tests,” Aidan says, mischief firing him up. I know he suspects how much I hate the tedium of scientific process.
“Greeaat. Just what I wanted to do today.” I groan for his benefit. “But seriously, I am a little curious too.”
“I think we all are,” Aidan says. “Celine is gone. She must be sleeping. I’m sure she’ll be back. Helena is going to call the Queen and give her the good news about you.”
“Good! Then we can stop worrying about them trying to kill Lily. I would give anything to watch Lily take Celine down though,” Sebastian growls.
Aidan meets his eyes and they both grin wickedly.
At that moment Hannah exits the bedroom dressed in skinny jeans and a tee shirt. She has her usual accoutrements of leather bracelets and a necklace or two. Lots of make-up. Her hair is spiked today.
“I’m packed up. I heard you talking about going back to the manse. I have to say, Lily, you are proving to be somewhat of a disappointment. I was ready for some action,” she says with a wink.
“Thank goodness you were around to help with the feeding frenzy, Hannah. I hope that’s all there is, that would be manageable with help from my friends.” I squeeze her hand. “I’m going to pack our bags, Sebastian.”
Aidan follows me into the bedroom while Hannah and Sebastian talk in the other room.
“Liam was so crazed. You have no idea how relieved and thankful I am to see you doing so well, Lilith. I would have been by your side no matter what, but it would have broken my heart to see you suffer as he is.”
“I love you for all your support, Aidan. I count on it. Poor Liam. It was very clever of you to think of putting him the trance. Hopefully he will not be so worn out when the cycle is over this tim
e.” His arm is warm when I touch him and I shiver. Aidan cocks an eyebrow at me but continues talking.
“That’s what we’re hoping. Then I think it would be wise to turn him. I can’t believe I would ever say that but I couldn’t imagine a lifetime of the torture he would endure otherwise.”
“We would be there for him, but I don’t think he wants that life either. I think he’ll want to turn. He and Andrew seem to be close.”
“Yes, Andrew talked quite a bit about him while we were together this morning. I think he loves him.”
“I suppose we’ll have to soundproof another room,” I say with a sigh.
Aidan’s eyes glow and he grimaces.
“What’s wrong?” Hannah asks.
“Lilith was lamenting about having to soundproof another room if Andrew and Liam become vampires.”
Sebastian looks away. For the first time since we’ve been together he looks uncomfortable about our sex.
“I suppose you’re right. We might have to find another butler too. Although Andrew always said he wanted to remain on as our butler. I think he would be lost without his job. I know we’d be lost. Liam of course could go back to work as a lawyer. They could always live in Liam’s condo.”
“I think they would be lonely without our charming personalities,” I pipe in.
Sebastian snorts.
“Are you all packed up, love? Ready to go?” Aidan asks.
“Yes. You will have to make your bed. I don’t seem to have the knack to make a round bed.”
Aidan shrugs and the bed is made.
Hannah is ready, bag in hand as we meet in the living room with our bags. We link hands and transmanifest to the manse. Aidan makes a temporary bedroom in the parlor for Hannah so she can store her bag there. She is going to stay to see this to the end and with Liam in the guest room and our new suite under construction, our available bedrooms are limited.
When Sebastian and I climb the stairs to put away our clothes, he lingers to kiss me. He says he needs to get re-familiarized with my body. He soberly explains he hasn’t been able to touch me properly for over twenty-four hours. We regretfully go back down stairs.
“Miss Lily, you don’t know how happy I am to see you doing so well.” Andrew wraps his arms around me and we hug a long comforting time. “Liam has a chance to be sane now.”
Sucking Bites (San Francisco Vampires Series #3) Page 15