"Deception is our survival.” she let go of her. “Do they know you are a vampire?"
"No."
"Then you have already deceived them."
Victoria laid her prodigy down in the coffin. Backgrounds could be discussed later. The sun was rising.
"It takes some getting used to.” She brought the lid down. “But you must sleep now. Sweet dreams."
She looked at the engraved J on the side of the coffin. “Is this Jean's coffin?"
"It was.” Samantha plopped in yet another Louis XVI chair.
Victoria turned to her. “Where is he? We need any help we can get, and this is somewhat his fault."
"Victoria—Gaston—whoever you are,” Samantha spoke firmly. “I will only say this once, so both of you listen good. Jean is dead."
Victoria leaned over the coffin and put her chin in her hand. “You know, what if we found a good looking body, killed him, and put Gaston in it?"
"Ugh.” Samantha looked disgusted. “You will never change, Victoria. I'm going home."
* * * *
The doorbell rang two or three times, and Samantha tried to find the end of the sheets twisted around her head. The door clicked, unlocked, and slowly opened. Samantha pulled the covers off her head and jumped.
"I let myself in.” Theodore put his index finger to his temple. “I located The Few."
Samantha nodded. “Victoria has a new recruit."
"Do we have any information on the enemy?"
She chuckled at Theodore's choice of words. All the vampire men had served in the military at some point. “No."
"I have a Professor friend,” he began. “He found some resourceful information among the ashes."
"Father's library?” Samantha asked excitedly.
"Apparently, some of Antonio's documents were saved."
* * * *
Victoria woke in the chair by Jean's coffin. Her internal clock was just right; she stretched and slinked up the spiral stairs. She let the side door slam behind her and stepped down onto the pavement. It was late afternoon, as she suspected, and she leaned casually against a column by the museum's main entrance. She looked at the people passing by and observed intently. They only vaguely glanced at her. Too busy, too rushed to wonder, question the world around them. She chuckled at the women in dress suits and sneakers.
Fools. What is that? Scrutinization. Whose eyes are on me?
Feverishly, Victoria looked around her, trying to pinpoint the location of her predator. The words to I'm Your Venus blurred and slowed as a man with a boom box passed by. There was the enemy. She glided down the street, and her long blonde hair bounced with every delicate step. Her off-white clothes fit and moved according to the contours of her body. Victoria cringed as the enemy gazed upon its prey...
Lilith.
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Chapter 34
Somewhere in Britain, 1555
The wooden door of Antonio's dungeon study opened, and Antonio stepped inside. Mestiphles was not far behind.
"What is this all about?” Antonio slid into his chair behind the desk. “You always come around at the most inopportune times.” Must he come and gloat at their below ground lifestyle?
"New word for you?” Mestiphles said. “I am here on business. Unfortunately, bad business, Antonio."
"What did I do now?” He put his feet up on the desk. His hair was shorter, and his kilts had been replaced by plain britches, but his stubborn manner was unchanged.
"It's what you haven't done that's gotten you in trouble,” Mestiphles continued even as Antonio stared elsewhere. “Gaston is done. The son you never knew is with you now always, harmless. I understand you've needed to rebuild a fitting residence, but it has been two hundred years! Certainly you could have made one or two vampires in your spare time?"
"We have Sarah,” Antonio said weakly. “And that Eric, who Ann made. I don't like him."
"I care not for your petty squabbles.” Mestiphles sighed. “The point being, you are behind schedule. Why do you cower in the face of upheaval? Something needs to be done.” He went to the door. “I present your new coworker—Lilith."
A young woman with flowing blonde hair and a long creamy gown brightened the dark room. Antonio was shocked and confused. Attractive, there was no doubt, but beneath the curled tresses and effortless gown Antonio felt jealousy and something perhaps more sinister than he.
"Am I being replaced?"
"You're not listening.” Mestiphles offered her a chair. “I said coworker. Lilith and I have worked together several times over the centuries."
Lilith softened. “Mestiphles said I am supposed to help in the disciple process.” Her voice was as innocent as a snowflake, or so it seemed.
Antonio put his feet down and sat upright in his chair. Mestiphles was bad enough. His charisma and charm in a woman? Never.
"Lilly, is it? I don't want your help, nor did I ask for it."
"Lilith is here by my invitation.” Mestiphles stressed her name. “All this hostility ends right here and now. Your covens will coexist for my benefit, and if you are smart, yours."
Mestiphles opened the door. “Remember, whatever happens, it all comes back to me. Problems between you two I will not take lightly!"
* * * *
Stephen knocked a soft rap on the bedroom door.
"Come in."
He opened the door slowly, peered inside and smiled. Lilith leaned back and fluffed her hair.
"Usually I'm the one summoning friends to my room.” His eyes changed color with his wild thoughts, but he blinked, and his blue irises returned.
"Really?” She played sweet. Stephen suspected her feminine ways served her well—be it recruits, victims, or personal pleasure. “Come over here and tell me about it."
He approached the bed, but the door swung open. Antonio's wayward son had been caught in his escapade by his mother.
"Let's go, Stephen.” Ann stormed into the room, and he slowly shuffled out the door. Ann lingered a moment more, then left.
Stephen hurried to the swording assembly to avoid his mother's wrath. He stood by nervously and watched the sparring practice. James bowed slowly, and Charles did the same. James’ sword was sleek and streamlined. Quiet but no less forceful, much like its owner. Ever contrary, Charles hoisted a hefty broadsword. They raised their swords, and the fighting instructor stepped away.
"Advance."
Perhaps he was skilled less than his younger brother, but James lacked Stephen's wild moves and killer instincts. Young Adam glanced at Stephen but turned back to the fight. He was Jessica's fledgling, but the impressionable youth looked to her sire for friendship and vampire know-how. Ann's vampire lover Eric looked on, and Slava observed as well.
James lunged and recoiled properly, but Charles created moves of his own. He swiped the sword across his legs, but James jumped up, missing the cut. Wasting no time, Charles rammed the handle of his sword into James’ stomach. He fell to the floor and gasped for air. Adam hurried to his side.
Stephen stepped over James and raised his sword toward Charles. “Is that how the fight will be played?"
"No,” James interceded.
"Gentlemen!” The instructor dismissed. “No more for today."
* * * *
"I want that woman out of my house!” Ann slammed her hands on Antonio's desk. Two blonde temptresses in this house simply would not do. Her blonde hair was loose and wild; her svelte dress the deepest shade of crimson. She didn't hide her vampiric nature or her anger for Antonio, Lilith, or anyone else. “Her angelic impressions and façade are enough!"
"This isn't your house. It is Elizabeth's.” Antonio stayed calm behind the desk and smiled at his wife. Ann's dark haired sister curbed whatever she thought and stood silent.
"Elizabeth agrees with me. She is up to something! She just doesn't want to coexist. Lilith wants it all. She has gathered henchman quickly. Mestiphles must be pleased."
Antonio scoffed. “You sh
ould be thankful she wasn't trying to kill Stephen."
"It's only a matter of time. One by one she is going to kill us.” She looked at Elizabeth. For once, they agreed on something.
"Isn't there something you can do, Antonio?” Elizabeth asked. “Talk to her. Warn her?"
"I cannot reprimand her.” Antonio put his head in his hands and leaned on the desk. “I have no authority over her. She is here to make sure we stay in line, not the other way around."
Ann headed for the door, but she could not resist the final word.
"Is it Lilith or Mestiphles you're more afraid of?"
Ann exited, but Adam waited by the door.
"I know James would never bring his case to you.” He held onto the handle of his sheathed sword. Already he had been a soldier and a blacksmith and a handful of other professions before finding his vampire destiny. “He would not want to start trouble, I know that, sir."
Antonio sat back in his chair, and Elizabeth stood statuesque but silent beside him as always.
"Why not let Stephen finish Charles?” Antonio tested the noble blonde. He was a lot like him. Gaston, as he should have been.
"This feuding in the lower ranks is not good, sir.” Adam was silent, then continued. “It does not make sense, my lady."
He brushed the fading scar on his cheek. “In addition to my own mark, Eric was also gashed upon the face by Jeremiah. Slava was stabbed by Bradley, and today's incident with Charles."
"Thank you, Adam,” Elizabeth said kindly. He nodded and left the room.
"He is very good, Antonio. Adam acts like a soldier in a dark army, the way it should be."
"Jessica chose well."
"Why is Mestiphles upset if we are making good vampires slowly? I'm sure he's met Pamela."
"He will take any kind of vampire, any way right now. What would he care of Stephen's fun? The fledglings have noticed something. My power has been undermined. The ranks will fall out from beneath us."
"Antonio, really.” She calmed him. Fidelity aside, Elizabeth's gentile nature made her the perfect wife. “If anything, we shall rally together and defeat this internal plague."
Antonio was angry. “We've got to do something about this Lilith..."
* * * *
Antonio sat at the head of the long wooden table as cooks filed out of the kitchen with several plates of meat. The dining room had been restored to its former glory, but grumbles of dissent stirred it again.
Antonio raised his hand and sent the cooks back to their domain. “If I may have a moment?"
Catrina nudged James several times, but he kept his head down and looked not on his fledgling. Eric tapped his fingers nervously beside Ann. Antonio shifted.
"We've—” The back door in the kitchen squeaked shut, and Victoria slid into her seat. He began again.
"I understand we have some problems with our house guests. There is no point in trying to deny there aren't any squabbles between ourselves and the Lilithan.” Antonio leaned back and put his feet up on the table. “However, I think it is in our best interests to tolerate Lilith and her fledglings’ behavior—for the time being."
"Tolerate?” Slava was no doubt irritated. His Cossack nature was not one of stillness. “They are not just competing to make fledglings. They are slicing us down left and right."
We've been through this before. Sarah looked at Adam's scar, then to Antonio.
"We can't just sit here, Father,” Stephen voiced his opinion beside his silent sister Samantha. “Things will escalate."
"If things escalate, we will not be the cause. Is that understood?"
"I guess so,” Pamela begrudged, and Jessica nodded.
"Yes,” Slava agreed.
"I suppose,” Eric finalized. “Can we eat now?"
The cooks came out again as Ann whispered to Antonio. “You think inaction is best?"
He took his plate. “Lilith must be doing this on her own. Mestiphles could eliminate us himself if he wanted. Let her stray from the course, not us."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 35
Philadelphia, 21st Century
The door to Samantha's apartment slammed shut and Victoria rushed in, out of breath and wide-eyed.
"I saw her,” she panted to Samantha and Theodore. “I saw Lilith."
"How do you know it was her?” Theodore sat in a swivel chair. He had not yet had the misfortune of meeting Lilith.
"We remember her. She stared us down. Scrutinized us! It was Lilith."
"Did a dose of your own medicine do you in?” Samantha taunted, then composed herself. Victoria hadn't noticed her second guest. “Victoria, this is Professor Anton James.” A balding, yet full man stood from the couch. “He has a few of Father's texts and is willing to share their contents."
Victoria went to the swivel chair and pulled Theodore out of it. He slid into the nearby recliner while she regained her selfish self.
"So,” she spun slowly in the chair, “what are you a Professor of?"
The well-dressed Professor cleared his throat. “The occult."
"I studied a thing or two with the Professor,” Theodore piped.
"How could this aging human know more than us?” Victoria sneered.
She never listens! “He has Father's books,” Samantha repeated.
"Yes,” the Professor interrupted. “An underground area of the building survived the fire. Many of the books were turned over to the authorities. When the police declared them rubbish, I requested the material. Eventually, the manuscripts were released to me."
"Is there anything in the texts about removing the vampirism?” Samantha questioned intently.
"We need information about the Lilithan,” Victoria said. “After this is over, you can walk on the moon for all I care, and Gaston agrees."
The Professor pulled down his glasses a bit and examined her. “Well, reading about you isn't quite the same as having your peculiar being right here before me."
"Where are these books?” Theodore asked the Professor.
"They are located at my personal library. In London."
* * * *
Victoria exited the flight tunnel, and the young attendant at the terminal shuddered.
"We're going to customs, and then we'll get the luggage.” Samantha pointed to herself and the Professor.
"The others will all be here by tomorrow,” Theodore said, he and Victoria sitting in a furnished section of the airport. “They're coming for themselves, not to see you, Victoria."
Victoria looked past him and grimaced. The swarm of people rushed around them, but the noise of the airport disappeared when Lilith passed through in the crowd. Theodore turned and glimpsed her. The Lilithan leader's white wardrobe hid her dark nature. A little boy dropped his toy and stopped before Victoria to pick it up. Her eyes shifted to the boy, but when she looked up, Lilith was gone.
Samantha, she's here!
* * * *
Samantha waited for her luggage to come around, and Professor James rented a car. “I have made the necessary arrangements.” He dangled the keys in the air.
"Good.” Samantha reached for the small kennel coming around the luggage belt. She carried the box to a bench and lifted the dark curtain over the door.
"Are you all right?"
"I will be, when you get me back to being human again!” A little black puppy spouted from inside the cage.
"You're not human anymore, Caine, and you agreed this was the only way you could travel in the daylight."
"You could have shipped the coffin."
The unnatural dog abruptly flattened his ears. He looked out of his cage and growled.
"I see him.” Samantha followed the dog's line of sight.
"See who?” The Professor adjusted his glasses.
"Him.” She nodded toward a tall man standing by a row of phone booths.
"I see.” The Professor looked intently. “Pale skin similar to yours. The enemy, I take it?"
"One of them.” Saman
tha slipped the dark cover back over the cage. “Let's go. Victoria is calling."
* * * *
The mysterious Lilithan fledgling waited by the phone booths until Samantha and the Professor walked away. He stepped toward a door marked ‘Storage,’ looked both ways, and entered the dark room.
"Jonathan, where have you been?” Lilith sat on an upside down crate and looked up at her lanky minion.
"Samantha and their human friend picked up the fledgling. He is inexperienced."
Lilith smiled. “Then, he will be easy to take care of. None of them has what it takes, not without Antonio. The Welshires are their own undoing."
A grimace slid over her fair face, and Jonathan cringed. The door opened, and the two Lilithan sighed. Lilith remained cool before Rain.
"I have no time for people who waste mine, even those who aide us against the enemy."
"You've got all the time in this universe and the next,” Rain retorted. “I'm selling out my maker, and you want me to be on time?"
"You help us take out Victoria and you live. That's the bargain. Or do you want to change it?” Jonathan smirked at the old Kiowa.
Rain quieted. “No."
"Good.” Lilith smiled again. “Let's go."
Jonathan made sure the coast was clear, then the trio entered the airport promenade.
"This is ludicrous.” Rain stood near the airport terminal. “We've already waited by two terminals and haven't seen a Welshire yet. Why not stake out the Professor?"
Lilith peered through all the tourists and looked for her enemies. “We must limit their number."
Rain snorted at her logic, but the tourists parted, and he recognized Catrina. James’ fledgling was as goth and sexy as ever.
"Who is that?” she asked with an edge in her voice. Self-serving as she may be, Lilith wasn't stupid.
"Catrina.” Rain's throat was dry. “Victoria never liked her. Why not leave them to distract each other? Why not let Victoria feel she has strength in numbers? Catrina can do us no harm."
"Go get her,” Lilith ordered. “And stick to my plan."
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Chapter 36
The Few Welshire vampires still looked the same to Samantha. She bent over slightly and offered a glass on her tray to Jessica. The sultry vampire took one, and the Professor looked curiously at the vampires sitting around his truly English study. Angelo took a glass and swallowed its contents in one gulp, but prissy Pamela scoffed at his behavior. Theodore counted slowly to himself.
The Vampire Family Page 13