“Yes.”
“You talk with Marcus and Paolo tonight?” Jeb asked.
“You mean, do they feel it?” Lionel wished he’d brought it up when Marcus called him at dusk to tell him he could have the evening off. “I’m sure they do. But no, I haven’t discussed it with them. He’s been pretty focused on Paolo and the girl.”
“She’s a stunner. Mortal, though, isn’t that right?”
“Very much so.”
“Paolo’s playing with fire. That one will get the whole family in trouble if he doesn’t decide which side of the gene pool he belongs to.”
It was true. It could get more than the Monteleone family in trouble. It could cost him on a more personal basis. Lionel was not only protector to the Goldens, he would do anything to keep his two brothers safe, being the elder of the three.
Though they’d never discussed it, Lionel knew Marcus was worried about his brother, and the little one Paolo was learning to raise. That was the hard part, he thought. The innocents who were in danger. The Goldens didn’t worry about defending themselves, but it was their children who were vulnerable. Hard to live forever with the loss of a mortal child, and he knew that was part of the strategy of the dark covens encroaching upon the Golden vamps and their community.
“I wonder how smart it is for Marcus to be set up here in California. Much safer, I would think, back in Tuscany, where there is a certain safety in numbers,” Lionel said.
“But I kind of dig it here. From what I can see of it.”
Both the brothers laughed. They lived in one of the most picturesque places in the whole world, except they couldn’t enjoy it because they only came out at dark.
“You want to go out?” Lionel asked at last.
“If you need me. Sure. But I had plans.”
“That would be that little red-headed witch you fancy, brother?”
“The very same. She’s been experimenting with some herbs, and I rather like the effect, if you know what I mean.”
“Be careful.”
“Always. You going to call Huge?”
The nickname was an apt description of the youngest of the three Jett brothers. Hugh Jett was the tallest by nearly five inches, and stood a whopping 6’7”, a tad taller than his employer, Marcus Monteleone. His size also made him a favorite of women of all species. It was with some regret that Lionel watched his youngest brother’s life roll out before him. The vamp would have made a good family man. But that wasn’t their fate.
No sense arguing with the gods.
“Right after you tell me you’ll not do something foolish. Like fall asleep in the sun. Remember, Jeb, to indulge in a little play, but keep your wits about you.”
“Most definitely. “
“In service, then,” Lionel said.
“In service, brother,” Jeb echoed.
Lionel pushed number three on his cell. He heard dead air space at first, then a lot of static as it sounded like the phone had been dropped right after it had been answered.
“Hugh here.”
“You all right, brother?” Lionel asked. Huge’s heavy breathing was a little disconcerting.
“Working out before they close. Why do they call it 24 Hour Abs when they close at nine o’clock?” Hugh exhaled and Lionel could hear the sound of a barbell either being dropped or thrown onto a rubber mat.
“You up for a little downtown time?” Lionel asked.
“Sure. I need a few to get cleaned up. Almost done. Got one more rep. Then I’ll shower.”
“Why do you go to all that work? You’re going to return to your natural state tomorrow, you know.”
“But what a glorious twelve hours I get, and it makes me feel double-immortal, if you can wrap your head around that. Totally awesome.”
“Okay, meet me at PRESS in half an hour?”
“Sure. This official, or recreational?”
“Kinda little bit of both. Just doing some digging around, but who knows, perhaps we could share a little sweet thing, if the right one comes along?”
“Hell yes. Didn’t get pumped up for nothing. I’m going to infect the whole square with my pheromones.”
“So I’ll have to keep careful watch over you. You feel the dark forces?” Lionel asked.
“Like a rash. All over the place. Wish they’d just come out and meet us directly. If it’s going to be a fuckin’ war, wish they’d just get on with it.”
“Could be part of the plan,” Lionel added.
“Or calm before the storm. Maybe they don’t have their ducks in line yet.”
Lionel laughed, thinking he heard it wrong. “You say dicks?”
“Those, too.”
They shared another throaty laugh.
“That’s why I gotta go rooting around, investigate. Things just aren’t adding up, Huge. Something major is brewing.”
“You know they have a new dark coven leader, this Dag fellow?” Hugh said.
“I’ve met him a time or two. Newcomer.”
“Like one of their dark toddlers. Hosted off the hands that created him. Not a good dude. Definitely someone to watch, if we can catch him.”
“Okay, well laters, and Huge—”
“Yeah?”
“Go light on the cologne, ‘kay? I was sneezing blood last time we made the rounds.”
Hugh’s chuckle was deep and rich like chocolate. Like what he’d tasted of chocolate, anyhow.
“Au naturel, but fresh soap. They won’t be able to keep their hands off me.”
“Let’s be discreet, though.”
“Always.”
“In service.”
“In service.”
Chapter 22
Downtown Healdsburg was balmy at night this time of year, though it was tickling winter on this particular late fall evening. Scores of tourists came too late for crush, when the newly picked fruit was placed in it’s first fermentation. But they were just in time for some early barrel tasting. Outsiders liked to demonstrate their ignorance, he thought. While they were imbibing wine and getting high, the dark coven hordes were feasting off the lifeblood of the tourist population, then glamouring them to forget their night of wild decadence The result was that the strangers would go back home and say they had a great time, but would remember little of it.
It was the same anywhere in the world where the innocent would gather and the dark creatures would come to host off them in their altered and unsuspecting state. Lionel had never before asked a man if he could sleep with his new young wife, but his brother had on numerous occasions. Hugh said he liked to watch the anger of the husband for a few seconds before he sent out the glam and put him in a most agreeable state.
“Sure, show her a good time,” they would say. Hugh would promise to do his best. He would promise the husband he’d send his wife back well trained to be a most avid sexual partner. And that is usually what happened. So, Hugh never thought he was doing anything wrong. He was, in fact, enhancing the human sexual experience, in his opinion.
But it gave Lionel problems. “Just because they don’t remember doesn’t mean it’s right,” he’d argued with his brother. It was the old tree-in-the-forest-with-no-one-to-hear-it-fall-argument. In Lionel’s mind, the tree fell whether or not anyone was around to hear it. If a woman was violated and forced to go outside of her marriage vows, it mattered little that she didn’t remember it afterwards. It was never right. Lionel would never take a woman who didn’t fully consent and wasn’t free to choose.
Young Maria Monteleone, Marcus and Paolo’s mother, had gotten dangerously close to Lionel on several occasions in their young adult years, after he’d been recently turned. He used to watch her close the drapes and ask him if he was comfortable on the few occasions he’d had to be alone with her, as her security detail. She knew he had to sleep during long sunny days, and had tried to make him feel at ease with her. But there was a dark side that had wanted to reach up and take hold of this woman and claim her for himself.
Thoughts. Just thou
ghts. He hoped his actions never revealed his inner feelings, but somehow he knew she did suspect his loyalty was more than just duty and honor. It was as close to a love as he’d ever experienced, though one-sided. That was more than three hundred years ago, and nothing had tarnished the bright memory of that lady since, even as he watched her age and wither, as he tended to her physical needs in the end, after the death of her husband, carrying her to the garden pools at midnight or pushing her around in the wheelchair by starlight. They’d watch the moon set together. She used to love the stars, and it was on one starry night that she died of natural causes, as a human. He’d made a solemn vow to protect her children throughout eternity. He intended to keep that promise.
Unlike the Goldens, dark vampires had no Council that ruled on disputes. Dark covens were created by leaders who risked their immortal lives to grow in power and stature, and their culture became, in a strange Darwinian fashion, a survivor of the fittest society, ruled by the darkest covens and the wars they could generate. Outside of a coven supreme leader, there wasn’t anyone in authority, unlike the Golden vampire community with its Council.
So where, exactly, did that leave him and his brothers?
Employed. They had nearly unlimited funds, but nowhere to spend it. Sexual powers and desires that would rival the Goldens, but no time to use them. They existed to protect the families of what Lionel had begun to believe was the master race of vampires. He’d never thought about whether or not it was a fair tradeoff. He’d never considered any other line of work.
Lionel was relaxed but wary as he strode down the wet streets of the little winery town. The heels of his scuffed Doc Martens pounded along the sidewalk, causing storefront glass to wobble. He made a point to go lighter, so as not to draw attention to his preternatural powers. He wanted to spend the evening without drawing undue attention, if he could.
His standard uniform was black leather jacket with the myriad of zippered pockets, his tight black Levis with more pockets, and the lace-up boots with the steel toes he wore everywhere except for a tuxedo affair. Since those only came along a couple of times a century, he still had a pair of pumps he’d bought back in the 1800’s made from pressed alligator—an illegal substance in today’s world—which were perfect and drew little attention.
PRESS was full of people tonight. The first thing that struck him was the giddy laughter coming from the bar and dark corners of the place, even though the lighting was darker than usual. It wasn’t the romantic quiet he usually found at a hook-up place. There were groups of people everywhere. Things were being said indiscreetly. Boundaries were being pushed. He was hit with glamour from all directions, indicating the dark forces were very present.
Perfect. Just what you wanted, right?
He felt his brother’s words coming from his right and he turned to find Hugh toasting him with a dark red glass of what was probably Meritage, his favorite blend of three wines, which matched his sexual tastes to a T.
That it is, brother. “You are eager tonight, Huge,” Lionel said as he took his seat in front of him and watched his brother’s features by light of the little votive candle on the shiny laminate tabletop.
“As ever.” Hugh nodded to a couple of new lovelies who had just walked into the den of sins, eyes as wide and blue-green as the ocean. Lionel knew they had no idea what was in store for them. They were expensively dressed, and obviously not aware of what a rough crowd they’d walked in on.
Hugh apologized to him, and stood, then walked over to the two mortal girls and invited them to their table. They had to crane their necks to look up into their host’s face, and then pulled a look around him to see Lionel sitting at the table. He nodded to them, and the redhead smiled and started walking right toward him. That left Hugh with the brunette, and Lionel knew that would be just fine.
The redhead’s light pink skin and fresh scent pounded a flush to Lionel’s groin area and his pants became unbearably tight. Then she touched his shoulder, balancing herself on him while she tried to sit down gracefully in spite of an impossibly short skirt and four-inch heels with laces that came to her knees. The dark shadow between her thighs made Lionel’s fangs ache, but he pressed them back up and swallowed. He’d surely bite himself if he couldn’t have her, and very soon.
But then he remembered himself and his mission. He needed to gather information about the dark hordes lounging here this evening, looking for recreation and perhaps willing to slip their guard a bit. He chuckled as the redhead removed her jacket to reveal an exquisite set of breasts that all but shouted his name, and this time his fangs dropped properly low and would not behave.
Did she see?
He send a little glam her way just as Hugh and the other girl slid past her shoulders and took a place next to each other on the bench seat across from him.
Hugh was having great fun watching him, Lionel could tell. Not that his brother hadn’t taken the time to adequately appreciate the redhead’s mammary glands.
Would be a shame to have a dark toddler suck those beautiful orbs and deform them, brother. Not that you were thinking along those lines, Hugh sent out to him.
Not possible, Huge. You know that.
No? With the powerful cum you’re going to lay inside her, who knows what could happen? I know you can see what she’d look like.
Keep your eyes on your own plate, brother, Lionel answered.
You suggested sharing…
Lionel squinted a dark glare at Hugh, who sat back, and draped his arm around the brunette. Her impossibly red lips parted and a whole new set of visions flooded Lionel’s head.
Hugh chuckled, raised his glass to his brother, and then motioned for a cocktail waitress. The redhead touched her bare thigh against Lionel’s, and through the jeans he felt the intentional caress of a mortal woman who had come to the bar to find sex. Well, he’d have to oblige, but not until his need for information was satisfied. Then he could satisfy himself with the knowledge of what she had barely covered up so with her panties. The knowledge of what it would feel like to slip in and out of her, what the taste of her blood would be as she moaned his name. He didn’t need to drink wine to get high. He’d get it from her.
The cocktail waitress went off in search of a very expensive bottle of Ravenswood Meritage, mumbling something about having to go downstairs to the cave storage to look for it. Lionel could tell Hugh had glamoured her too. Hugh had a fondness for taking his mortal conquests in wine caves and cool refrigerated private collections.
Lionel adjusted his jacket and the blue-green-eyed beauty on his right smiled as she appraised the leather and what lay underneath. “Can I help you with your jacket? You look hot.”
Her scent came to him like a blast furnace, along with the double meaning. It was good to be coveted, he thought. Nice that it happened without him having to expend an ounce of glam on her, too. Totally willing.
“Sure,” he said, adjusting his fangs before breaking a smile. She’d probably think he was trying not to smile, but he didn’t want to scare her, until it was time to do so. Just a little scare before the bite. Before the rapture of what it would feel like as he breathed into her ear, whispered incantations and took her. “But mind your hands. I have vera vera sensitive skin,” he added in a mock accent.
“Oh, I hope so,” she gushed. Her tiny pink fingers traveled quickly over his pecs, and tugged at the thick collar of the jacket, pulling it off his shoulders. He leaned forward, his face close to hers, allowing his dark hair to brush against her cheek, and felt her body shudder in response. She finished removing the heavy jacket and let it drape behind him on the chair. “Sorry, it’s very heavy, and a little too heavy for me. I’m afraid I’ve made a bit of a mess.”
You have no idea. He had practically come in his pants, but willed himself some control. He nodded, slowly perusing her chest while she watched him do it. “I don’t mind. I’m enjoying whatever your hands can do, and I can see you are skilled.”
The girl blushed. Had he glam
med her? If she caught a little breath from him, it wasn’t intentional. He loved that his proximity made her tingle, blush, feel self-conscious. It’s what he loved most about mortal women. He never liked women that threw themselves at him. Her combination of subtlety and grace charmed him, and he allowed it to be so. Even fantasized she could glamour him.
Lionel broke the tension by looking over at his brother. Hugh had his tongue down the brunette’s throat and had already a hand under the table, snaking up her red knit dress. He would be no use tonight, Lionel thought. He could feel his brother sending sexual fantasies into the lady’s consciousness, and could hear her slight moan in response.
So far so good. Lionel scanned the room just before the waitress returned with the bottle of wine Hugh had selected. She frowned when Hugh didn’t acknowledge it, being otherwise occupied.
“Thank you,” Lionel said to the waitress as he pressed a one hundred dollar bill into her palm. This got her attention.
“Oh, thank you so much. Let me know if you need anything else?” Her smile was brave, but Lionel could see she fancied his brother, as most mortal women did.
Lionel removed the cork and slowly poured the wine while tipping the glass, so that the deep burgundy substance rolled back in a wave that resembled thick blood. The aroma was excellent, but he put the glass to his nose anyway the way humans did when savoring a nice bouquet. He closed his eyes as he swirled the liquid over his palate, wishing it were the feel and taste of the redhead’s lovely life force.
There will be time enough for that.
“You like?” He said to her. She had been watching his Adam’s apple, almost like a vamp female. But her scent told him she clearly wasn’t.
“Yes, I like.” She looked him straight in the eyes. He could feel her saying words, although unclear, like there was a filter between them, but part of the telepathy was working. Take me, she was saying.
“Good.” He tipped the glass to her lips. She closed her eyes and mirrored his tasting actions, swirling the liquid over her tongue. She licked her lips and coated them with the fermented elixir.
Mortal Bite (Golden Vampires of Tuscany) Page 12