"No, it wasn't. And that's what's bothering me." Blade did look serious. "My expert traced it to a local store here, but they've sold dozens of them."
"But surely not sharp enough—" Lacy looked at me.
"No. Someone sharpened one end." Thank goodness Blade didn't whip out the cross for us to study.
"Poor Sebastian. He was a poet. Very gentle. So undeserving of such an end." Flo stepped back and dabbed at her eyes with a lace hanky she'd had tucked between her breasts. The Kevlar was my size, not Flo's. She could be carrying a change of clothes in there. "But what does this mean, Jeremiah?"
"Obviously Marguerite wasn't killed by the same group staking other vampires in Texas." Jerry stood with his feet firmly planted, hands behind his back, every inch the Highland warrior.
I'd like to see some religious fanatic try to take him out. Wait. No, I wouldn't. Blade seemed invincible but we were all vulnerable in some way. Blade's weakness, if you could call it that, was his protectiveness. He'd be taken out riding to some damsel's rescue. I prayed I wouldn't be that damsel. I eased closer until I could lay my hand on his arm. Solid. I wanted to believe he'd be here forever.
"Someone else killed Margie? A copycat?" I glanced at Lacy. "Pardon the expression."
"No problem." Lacy shrugged. "I didn't know Margie. Did she have enemies?"
"I'd only met her once myself." I looked at Florence. "Flo, you knew Margie better than we did. What do you think?"
"If she wasn't killed because she was vampire," Flo locked eyes with Blade, "then I would suspect a lover's quarrel."
"Kenneth?" Blade was taking Flo's outrageous suggestion seriously.
"Or someone who wanted Kenneth for herself." Flo tucked her hanky between her breasts again. "He or she will not get away with it. Glory, you thought all along it might be another vampire. I'm afraid you might be right." She squared her shoulders. "Kenneth will be at Damian's party. I'll question him myself."
"For God's sake, be careful, Flo. If he staked Margie then he's capable of anything."
"I have on your Kevlar, Glory." Flo had a hard look in her sea green eyes. "And I have powers Marguerite and Kenneth never bothered to develop. If he killed her so he could be with another woman…"
Lacy frowned. "There's nothing worse than a lover who betrays you."
"Exactly, girlfriend. I took Kenneth as enough of a man to ask for his freedom." Flo's eyes misted and she took a deep breath. "But Marguerite made him. She might not have wanted to release him."
"Slow down, Flo." I could practically see the lynch party forming. "Wait until you talk to Kenneth before you jump to any conclusions."
"Florence and I will question him together. And we'll know the truth when we hear it." Blade strode to the door. "Ladies, allow me to drive you to the party." He opened the door, then bowed at the waist.
A party. I felt like I was on my way to another wake. I wasn't about to turn Blade down, though. I had a gut feeling that something bad was going down tonight. I had been working on my powers and if I could help make things right, I would.
Could Kenneth have killed his own life partner? We'd already figured out Margie wouldn't have been in the alley unless she'd known her attacker or been forced there. And with her vamp strength, only another vamp or half a dozen mortal men could have forced her to go anywhere.
"Jerry, how do you know it wasn't the same group that did the other vampires? Maybe they ran out of their stake of choice and had to improvise."
Jerry stood up straight, his face grim. "The group was led by a religious fanatic. My friends in Dallas caught him and his followers. Before justice was served, the man admitted to his killings. Only one in Austin, a man who appeared drunk, obviously Trevor."
Before justice was served. Ye Gods. I sure didn't want a blow by blow of that confrontation.
"Maybe he was lying."
Blade put his arm around me and guided me out the door. "No, Gloriana, he wasn't lying. You know a mortal can't lie when a vampire orders him to talk."
"Oh, yeah, the whammy." I glanced at Lacy. We'd both seen the truth of that with Ryan. She looked good, if a little ragged around the edges with a bitter twist to her lips. She'd piled on the makeup tonight. Like she didn't want us to notice that she'd spent the last twenty-four hours crying and had probably skipped sleeping altogether.
I let Valdez out then locked the door. Despite the colorful costumes and the jaunty orange and black kerchief around Valdez's neck, we were a pretty somber bunch trooping downstairs and out to Blade's car.
But you can't keep an immortal down for long and the mood lightened as we reached the small Mercedes convertible. Blade had parked in front. He and Valdez were obviously alert and kept looking around as we stepped outside.
"You're kidding. You expect me to ride back there with that mangy mutt?" Lacy glanced meaningfully at the front passenger seat.
"Oh, no, you don't. I've got shotgun." I held back the seat so she could climb in. Blade stood behind me, still obviously very watchful. "Valdez had a bath yesterday and I ran out of his usual flea soap so—"
"So I smell like a damned fruit salad." Valdez had been sulking ever since. "Talk about animal cruelty." He hopped into the backseat. "You think I want to sit next to a kitty wannabe?"
"You 'wannabe' singing soprano, fur face?" Lacy sniffed, her hands on her narrow hips.
"I'll sit next to you, doggy." Flo got in next. "But put the top down, Jeremiah. I never should have given Valdez that onion dip."
Lacy squeezed in the tiny backseat, still grumbling. Blade helped me into the front, slammed the door and strode around the car. He'd offered me the keys when we were coming down the stairs, but I didn't dare drive. Between lack of oxygen and the horrific idea that Kenneth might have… Impossible. Margie and Kenneth had been a couple for over a hundred years. Surely they could have just decided to go their separate ways, like Blade and I had. No one had to resort to murder to end a relationship. No one civilized anyway.
"Don't fash yourself, lass." Blade took my hand and held it while he drove slowly down Sixth Street. The area was party central on Halloween night and people in every kind of costume imaginable thronged the sidewalks, sometimes moving the party into the street. Music changed by the block—country, rock, heavy metal. Something for everyone on a street lined with clubs, restaurants and bars. I welcomed the cold air as I indeed "fashed" myself over a love affair gone wrong.
"We don't know anything yet, Gloriana." Blade stopped at a red light and pulled my hand to his lips. "But some lovers are more possessive than others."
Was that a slam? A not so subtle reminder that I'd cut Blade loose without fighting for our relationship? Maybe if we'd tried harder to make it work…
"Hindsight, Gloriana. All we can try to control is our present and, to some extent, our future." The light changed and Blade dropped my hand to begin negotiating the climb up the narrow streets of Castle Hill.
Gee, wasn't he Mr. Philosophy all of a sudden? But he was too right.
When we finally pulled up to Damian's iron gates, a security guard checked our names on his guest list then waved us through. The castle was ablaze with lights. White tents were set up on the expansive lawn and the lights of the Austin skyline provided a spectacular back drop.
Control my future? I was living moment to moment, waiting for the next arrow to fly or cross to come at me. I'd been working on a little self-defense, but hadn't really tested it. I hoped I never had to. I glanced back at Flo, safely wrapped in my Kevlar vest. Maybe I'd been stupid to go for sexy over safe. But as we drove up to the house, I could hear lively music coming from the wraparound porch and laughter from a group clustered in front of a tent.
Party time. And vamps do know how to have a good time. I determinedly shoved all my worries to the back burner as Blade parked the car behind the house. There were already over a dozen other cars there.
Damian grinned when he saw me. I threw up a block, wincing when my head throbbed. Damn it, I wasn't going to be
controlled by anyone.
"Gloriana." Damian stepped behind me and removed my cloak. "Ravishing." He dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder. Okay. I watched Blade's reaction and preened a little.
"You might be cold without your cape, Gloriana." Blade wasn't smiling.
"Nonsense. The night is a bit chilly, but the tents are heated." Damian handed my cape to a hovering servant and nodded to Lacy. "Welcome, Lacy. Another beauty." He hooked arms with both of us and headed toward a large white tent. "I have a surprise. A new synthetic blood that I swear tastes like it's fresh from the source." He patted Lacy's hand. "And would kitty enjoy a little milk punch?"
Lacy laughed and kissed his cheek. "If you weren't my landlord, I'd show you what I think of milk punch. I assume you have an open bar. I'll take a Scotch and make it a double."
"Damian, is your sister invisible?" Flo stepped in front of us. "Aren't you going to greet me?"
"Sorry. I was distracted." He squeezed my hand. "Welcome, sister dear. I recognize the Kevlar. Good choice. Your lover is inside. In my library coveting my latest acquisition, a Thomas Aquinas manuscript. Breathtaking illuminations." Damian looked at me, though his eyes never got above boob level. "I'll show you later, Gloriana."
"Damian." Flo wasn't budging.
"Your lover is waiting, Florence. Shouldn't you join him?" Damian was staring at my breasts as if hoping they'd pop free of the bustier. Which would almost be a relief. But what was a little pain when you could make hunky vamps pant?
"In a moment." Flo tapped her foot. "Look at me, Damian."
"What?" Damian dragged his eyes to his sister's face. "Whoa. You look steamed. What's going on? Has Mainwaring done something?"
"No, not him." Flo glanced at Blade. "Have you seen Kenneth Collins this evening?"
"Not yet. But I saw him last night, driving a new Jaguar. Grief seems to agree with him. He also contacted my realtor about a new home in the hills."
"Will you let me know when he gets here?"
"Sure. Whatever." Damian patted Flo on the shoulder then moved her out of the way. "It's party time, ladies."
Flo shook her head. "Jeremiah, you should come with me. Talk to Ricardo. He may be able to help us with Kenneth."
"If you're sure you'll be all right, Gloriana." Blade ignored Damian as thoroughly as Damian ignored him.
"I'll be fine." I squeezed Damian's arm. "Anyone aims a stake at me, I'll throw Damian in front of me."
Lacy laughed and I eased away from Damian in case he'd lost his sense of humor.
"You are a little devil, aren't you? No one will be aiming stakes here. Security is as tight as Jeremiah's ass."
"By God!" Blade put his hand on his sword.
"Ignore him, Jerry." I smiled at Blade. "Damian hates to be ignored. Go with Flo. We'll see you later."
Damian reached up to straighten my horns and gave me one of his smoldering looks. "Later I will show you my dungeon, Gloriana. Where I put bad little girls."
Blade and Valdez snorted in unison. Both turned away. Blade to follow Flo into the house and Valdez to settle next to the door of the tent.
"I haven't been a little girl for a long, long time, Damian." I smiled and fiddled with the ties of his black satin cape lined with red. Damian was Dracula incarnate in the cape over a black tux, snowy shirt and bow tie. His hair was brushed back from his forehead and his fangs were full out. The overall effect was definitely sexy. "As for being bad… the night is young. I could go either way."
"Come play with me, Gloriana." Damian was doing his best to do the whammy on me. I could feel his intensity. But my blocks were strong and holding. I do so love to feel my own power.
"Maybe later. You have more guests arriving. Go play host." I gave Damian a finger wave and sauntered into the tent, making sure to twitch my devil's tail. A crowd was gathered around a steaming fountain in the middle of the tent. The new synthetic blood poured out and could be caught in crystal goblets. The smell was pretty amazing. I was heartily sick of Bloody Merry. If this stuff tasted as good as it smelled, I was switching brands. My fangs ran out and I looked around to be sure no mortals were going to gasp and point.
Not to worry. Among the vamps and shifters, the mortals looked twice as weird, scary even. I'll take natural vamp fangs over deliberately sharpened teeth any day.
Lacy immediately latched on to a good-looking shifter. This one had a slight wolf smell to him, a werewolf. You'd think a kitty would avoid her natural predator, but then Lacy was gulping Scotch like it was water and had a "What the hell" look to her. I got the feeling she could take care of herself. She was definitely on guard against predatory men.
I drifted around the room, greeting the vamps I knew. CiCi was a very sexy Glinda the Good Witch. Her companion, the handsome vamp she'd latched on to at the meeting, struggled with a Tin Man costume that clanked and seemed on the verge of falling apart. Freddy was the Cowardly Lion while Derek dribbled straw as the Scarecrow. The capper was Sheba, her kitty self draped over CiCi's shoulder, a dog mask over her face, clearly impersonating Toto.
"What is this? The vamp cast of The Wiz?" I looked around. "Where's Dorothy?"
"I knew we forgot someone." CiCi frowned and looked me over. "I don't think you would do, Glory, unless you lost the Girls Gone Wild look and we found you something a little more… innocent."
"Don't let her get her hooks into you, Glory. You look great. Unlike some of us." Derek shuddered and pulled a straw out of his hair. "I don't know how I let CiCi talk me into this."
"Mother is very persuasive when she puts her mind to it." Freddy's yellow tights didn't leave nearly enough to the imagination and he made a pretty impressive lion. His mother tapped Derek with her wand.
"I think we'll win the prize this year, Derek. Be patient," CiCi said sternly. "Where's Valdez? Sheba would love to see him." The cat hopped down and stretched, the mask slipping down to hang around her neck. Her blue eyes gleamed as she looked around.
"Sitting outside the tent." I grinned, imagining Valdez's reaction to the Toto costume. Tin Man's funnel hat fell off with a clank and I left the group arguing about how to get it to stay on short of the nail gun a glowering Derek proposed.
"A prize?" I smiled at the body-builder vamp I'd met before. I couldn't think of his name. Tonight he was Hercules, his skimpy costume showing off a seriously buff body.
"Sure. Damian is famous for his costume contests. Last year a Lady Godiva rode up at the last minute on a horse." Hercules laughed. "Of course she won, especially when a breeze showed everyone at the party that she'd taken the riding naked through the streets part seriously."
"Sorry I missed it." I looked around.
"If you'd been here, Gloriana, you would have won. You look hot." Hercules moved closer. "Can I get you a drink? Damian's imported the good stuff. Fangtastic. From Transylvania."
"Thank you. I'd love to try it." Maybe just a sip wouldn't hurt me. I took a cautious breath. Hercules' eyes bugged and his jaw dropped. He almost backed into a tray of glasses on his way to the drink fountain. I looked down to make sure I was still decent. Barely. But got to love the boobs-galore effect.
"Forget him." Damian was back in the tent and handed me a full goblet of his imported synthetic. "Taste. Tell me what you think."
I smelled. Mmm. AB negative, much better than Ryan, the sneaky spy. I allowed myself just a taste. Have mercy. This was enough like the real thing that I could close my eyes and imagine…
A kiss brushed my lips, deepened. Leave it to Damian to take advantage of a blood lust moment. I leaned into it. The man kissed like an artist. Red, green, yellow and violet swirled behind my closed lids. His hand slid around my neck—
"Mr. Sabatini, Mr. Sabatini."
I leaned back with a sigh. "You're being paged, Mr. Sabatini."
We both turned to stare at Tony Crapetta. Typically clueless, the mortal had interrupted just when things were getting interesting.
"What is it, Tony?" Damian picked up a goblet of his own and took a d
eep swallow. "This had better be good."
"The guards down at the gate caught a guy trying to get inside who's not on the list. Maybe you should do your mind reading thing on him. See if Westwood sent him."
Damian got a look that made even me shiver. "You're right. I'm coming. Stay here and take care of Miss Gloriana. See that she gets whatever she wants." He winked at me. "I think I'll take Hercules with me. In case we need to get physical with our gate-crasher."
"Sure, boss. I'll stick to Miss Gloriana like glue." Tony looked at my drink and grimaced. "You mind if I get me a real drink first?"
Damian nodded and Tony headed for the bar. After a short discussion with Hercules, Damian strode from the tent. He was followed by Hercules, who sent me a mental "catch you later" message before he disappeared. I'd better ramp up my blocks if a guy I'd barely met could communicate with me. A shame, really. I wanted to relax and have fun, not give myself a headache. I decided to forget blocks as long as Damian was out of the way.
I looked around at the crowd. I saw more than one witch, though CiCi was the only one who hadn't gone over to the dark side. Then there were the Draculas. Most of them were mortals who'd painted their faces white and their lips red with fake blood dribbled at the corners of their mouths. Yeah, right. Like we're pigs who slobber our supper and never use a napkin.
There was a flash and a puff of smoke as a wizard turned a startled man, dressed as an Elizabethan courtier, into a frog. The wizard glanced at me and shrugged, like "What are you going to do," then walked away. Oops. I'd say Froggie had made Wizard mad about something. Apparently Froggie's date, a finger for Queen Liz I, wasn't going to just let this go. She picked the creature up and headed outside, hot on the heels of the Wizard. No one paid attention to her screeches of rage.
Various vamps that I'd met at the meetings we'd held recently smiled and nodded to me. It was definitely nice to be part of what Richard had called the vampire community.
"I'm back, Miss Gloriana." Tony had a stiff drink in his hand.
I probed his mind. Nervous. Sticking with the vampires, no matter how much Westwood offered him. He wasn't the idiot everyone took him for. He wanted to live, in Austin, for a long, long time. Maybe forever if he got up the nerve to ask one of the fang masters to turn him vampire.
Full-Figured Vampire 1 - Real Vampires Have Curves Page 27