Merrill settled my wrap a little better around me when Brock dropped us off outside a very large building on the outskirts of London. I hadn't paid much attention to where we were going; Brock had talked most of the way. Merrill let me ride up front with Brock while he sat in the back, watching and listening to his two youngest vampire children.
Vampires were waiting outside to assist guests when they arrived, some of them working as valets, others as escorts and doormen. The scents came as soon as Merrill handed me out of the car and I could have told you which ones were the oldest and which the youngest. Two vampires opened the double doors into the building, allowing Merrill and me inside. I didn't miss the look of shock on the face of the one closest to me; he inhaled sharply and almost banged himself in the nose with the heavy wood door.
I also learned that any Enforcers or Assassins that weren't out on assignment were there to watch the crowd. I spotted Russell against a wall, watching everything carefully while Will stood on the opposite side, doing exactly the same. I hadn't seen Will since I'd ridden in the Council's jet with him and I'd been chained to my seat at the time. I still appreciated his attempts to argue with Gavin over my treatment, however.
What I wasn't expecting to see inside the huge ballroom was the rather large number of human women there as dates and escorts. Merrill warned me they might be there, but I wasn't expecting so many. I guess vampires hated going to a do without a date as much as humans did. I smelled the human women intermixed with a heady, spicy scent of very old vampire. Once inside, Merrill led me to a cubicle where a vampire took my wrap and laid it on a shelf, handing Merrill a small slip of paper, which he pocketed. Merrill was decked out in a tux, just like all the other males. If the people who made the James Bond films could have seen him dressed like that, they would have swooned and tried to sign him on the spot.
"There's our little female." I remembered this Vampire Council member; Charles said his name was Flavio, who was also his sire. More than likely the most beautiful man in the room, although his eyes were very dark as opposed to Merrill's piercing blue. Flavio took my hand and kissed me, European style, on both cheeks. I returned the favor as well as I could. "You are well?" he asked me.
"Of course," I nodded. "It's nice to see you." At least he'd voted not guilty when the Council was deciding whether to let me live or not. Wlodek wasn't far away and I already knew that Wlodek had sired Flavio, just by the scent. Of course, I was keeping that information to myself—apparently, it was something other vampires couldn't tell for themselves.
"Come," Merrill said, leading me farther into the ballroom, where several vampires waited to greet us. Some of those vampires had very old names and the scent of extremely old vampire to accompany them. If I hadn't been too frightened to ask and if they'd been gracious enough to answer, I could have received a lesson in ancient world history from those who'd experienced it firsthand. I was given Greek names. Or Roman. I also heard French, Italian, Spanish, Russian—everything. Most, however, spoke excellent English and employed it. Many of them were also eyeing me speculatively, which made me uncomfortable. How could it not? I felt as if I was the meal of the month and they were all staring hungrily.
Merrill steered me toward the wall near Russell's post, asking the tall Enforcer to keep an eye on me while he went to run some errand of his own. That's when I was approached by three human women, who sidled cautiously up beside me.
"That hunk you're with is gorgeous," one of them ventured.
"You're welcome to tell him so," I said. She had blonde hair but it hadn't always been that color. The other two were darker-haired and showing off as much of their charms as they could. All three were dressed in low cut gowns, clouded in expensive perfume and wore jewelry that must have cost a mint.
"I may just do that," she said, her voice thick with a Georgia accent. Georgia in the U.S., not the Russian one. I didn’t think it would impress Merrill all that much if she expressed her interest. I'd seen the photograph on his bedside table following my fainting fit. The woman in that photograph was stunning, with pale blonde hair and blue eyes. No way could Miss Georgia compete with that. No way.
"You know Rudolf will object if you show interest in another man," one of the blonde's companions cautioned.
"Honey, you may as well call them what they are," the blonde laughed. "We all know they're vampires. Are you with him?" The blonde nodded toward Merrill, who was making his way through the crowd.
"It depends on what you mean by with," I said. "He's my sire."
"Holy Christ, she's one of them," the third woman spoke for the first time.
"Unintentionally, I assure you," I said.
"Did it hurt?" the blonde asked.
"I don't remember it," I shrugged.
The blonde took her chance, moving next to Merrill and touching his arm when he arrived. His voice and his compulsion were icy when he told her to run along. She and the two women with her trotted away. Briefly, I thought about Winkler and how he wouldn't have passed up the opportunity. Nope, not him. He probably thought I was dead now. The certificate that Weldon sent pretty well said as much.
A full orchestra was now warming up at the front, striking up a waltz quickly.
"That's our cue," Merrill bowed politely and took my hand. "Now," he told me, as we went twirling around the room, "a good, standard answer is always Thank you; I will consider your offer. You should know by now not to be rude." Actually, I was afraid to be rude, but I didn't say that to Merrill. And offer? What offer? What did Merrill mean by that? While we danced, I saw how the others nodded to my surrogate sire and gave him space. Merrill was powerful in the vampire community and, excepting Wlodek, was older than all of them.
The vampire who approached for my second dance was someone named Wellington. He appeared to be English, was quite old and of the nobility. And stuffy, on top of that. He blustered about the House of Lords and the House of Commons, regaling me with current events as they concerned the monarchy. As he blustered, I was afraid my eyes might glaze over.
Next came someone of Russian heritage who offered to teach me his native language. Merrill's standard answer came in handy on that one. One of the many vampires I danced with after that was Italian and introduced himself as Paolo Moretti. "I can make love to you so easily," he said. If my shoes hadn't been strapped on, I would have come out of them, I think. Merrill's answer didn't work for him. "I think I would have to know you better first," I said, which caused him to laugh. Mostly I listened, nodded, and concentrated on my dancing, except when my partner asked a question. Another one offered to take over my teaching, insisted that he knew Wlodek personally and could accomplish this immediately. I told him I would discuss it with Merrill and that caused him to back off. The worst one of the evening was also the best one in most respects. He was charming, handsome and funny—and also the one from whom I'd stolen the tiaras. No. No future in that one. I smiled, answered when he asked a question, laughed more than once and thanked him for the dance when it was over. If vampires actually sweated, I'd be hoping my deodorant wouldn't fail me right about then.
"This last dance is mine," Gavin smoothly cut in front of another vampire. I think it was all right—Gavin was older than the other vampire, who backed away immediately with a polite nod. And where had Gavin come from? I hadn't seen him the entire evening, yet here he was, claiming the final dance. I'd only gotten to dance with Gavin once before and I'd enjoyed it, plus, it was a relief not to make polite (and forced) conversation with him.
"So, what have you been up to?" I asked as another waltz began. I hadn't heard from Gavin for several weeks.
"Hoping you would call," he said softly against my ear.
"I was supposed to call? Who's making these rules? I want to have a talk with them. I don't call you, mostly because I don't want to interrupt if you're doing something important. Breaking bones and smashing heads require a lot of concentration, I hear."
"If I don't answer, then I am busy or dead," he info
rmed me stiffly. I'd offended him.
"Now there's a comforting thought; imagining that you're dead if you don't answer your phone," I rolled my eyes at his cavalier attitude.
"You'd truly worry over me?" That sounded a little warmer.
"Of course I'd worry over your sorry ass," I said tartly. "I can't help it. And you smell good," I couldn't help adding.
"I smell good?" Gavin sounded confused.
"To me, you do. You did from the start and I couldn't figure it out. I can't believe I was such an idiot, thinking you were anything but vampire."
"What did you think I was?" He was smiling slightly, now.
"I don't know," I said, puzzled over the whole thing. I didn't even know why I was telling him that and hadn't realized I'd said it aloud until he chuckled.
"If we weren't surrounded by this crowd, most of whom want to sleep with you, or take you home and then sleep with you, I'd kiss you," he said. "Wlodek may want to punish me for dancing with you anyway, but I have an invitation, just as many holdings as most of the others and am older than seventy-five percent of them. He—and they—can stew about it." He turned me smartly and we took off again.
The dance was ending when I heard someone having an orgasm off to the side. It was a female and she was having a good time, from the sound of things. Gavin growled. "They are not supposed to be doing that here," he said angrily. "Come."
Wondering if all vampires had that "come" thing down pat, I followed along behind, almost trotting to keep up with him. His legs were much longer than mine and he was moving swiftly. Russell and another vampire were already there and ushering the female (who was human) and her vampire lover toward the door. Wlodek stood nearby, looking thunderous. Merrill came up beside Gavin and me.
"What happened?" I asked Merrill.
"This is considered a public place, little one, and therefore the no biting rule applies. I know we haven't discussed this but I will explain it later. Suffice to say, they did wrong." I nodded, still a little confused. I did see two other vampires, their fangs out and eyes red.
"They get the smell of blood and it cannot be helped at times," Gavin whispered, leaning down and pulling me against him protectively. "It is warm blood as opposed to chilled, and it has a greater attraction, especially to the ones who were born in an era where only warm blood was available." That included him as well, but I didn't say anything, moving out of his embrace instead.
"Gavin," the vampire from whom I'd taken the tiaras walked over and greeted Gavin as if he knew him, and knew him well.
"René, how are you?" Gavin nodded politely.
"I saw you dancing with our little rose, here," René de la Roque said, offering me a lovely smile.
Stepping a little closer to Gavin, I looked up at René. If he ever discovered that I'd taken the tiaras—I'd seen his face and his fangs—I'd be dead, no doubt about that. Gavin placed his arm around me, his eyes locking on mine. Then he said something that chilled my soul. "René and I are cousins, turned by the same sire at nearly the same time."
I shivered under Gavin's arm and he pulled me tighter against him. Vampire politics and intrigue, indeed. Did Gavin know exactly where I'd been? Whom I'd taken those tiaras from? It hadn't come up in my conversation with Wlodek while Gavin had been there. I did my best not to let it show in my face.
"René, Gavin," Wlodek walked over to us and nodded at both vampires. "We have the problem sorted out now," Wlodek went on. He knew. I know he knew, but that vampire habit of showing absolutely no emotion was coming into play for him. Perhaps this was why they all cultivated it. No guilt or recrimination on either party's face.
"Always a pleasure," René nodded respectfully at Wlodek.
"Gavin, please bring Lissa and follow me," Wlodek commanded. Gavin had a hand at my elbow and steered me into Wlodek's wake. We picked Merrill up on the way out the door; he came along behind us, my wrap slung over an arm. "We are expected at Flavio's town home; it is nearby," Wlodek said, ushering Gavin and me into his limo. Merrill rode with Brock in the Rolls—we were all away in minutes.
Flavio's town home was very nice; a three story in an affluent part of London. "He only uses this when he must," Gavin told me quietly as we pulled up to the house.
Flavio arrived before we did and was waiting on us as another vampire opened the door to allow us inside. He showed us through a long hall and then into a very nicely appointed drawing room. There were paintings on the walls that could have been done by Gainesborough, but I wasn't about to ask. They were beautiful landscapes and certainly looked like his work. There was also a large fireplace in the center of the back wall. Faberge eggs and other little knickknacks were sitting on the mantle—all probably worth a fortune.
"I received two very strong offers for our Lissa tonight," Wlodek said as soon as we sat down, causing me to draw in a shocked breath. Flavio had not opted for period furniture, settling instead for modern sofas and chairs that were ultimately more comfortable. Gavin made sure I was seated next to him, and I wanted to huddle against him after hearing what Wlodek had to say. Offers? Someone had made offers? What did that mean? Was I being auctioned off? Was this what Merrill had meant earlier? I forcibly held back a shudder.
"From whom?" Merrill was still standing, his face showing no emotion.
"From Ivan Baikov," Wlodek began.
"The Russian?" Flavio asked. He didn't sound pleased. I couldn't help myself—I did huddle against Gavin. Gavin's gaze was trained on Wlodek, listening intently even as his fingers stroked my elbow.
"And the other?"
"René de la Roque," Wlodek said. I must have whimpered because Gavin placed both arms around me.
"There is a third offer," Gavin said, sounding a little angry.
"Which one is that?" Merrill asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Mine," Gavin growled.
Wlodek studied Gavin for a moment. "Then we have three viable offers," he conceded. "Lissa, you will not be bound by marriage to any one of them until your five years of instruction are finished," Wlodek said. "And perhaps not then if things do not work out, but accepting one of these offers now will prohibit the others from coming forward later and bombarding Merrill with requests. Each of these candidates is strong enough and old enough to make the others back away."
"And what if I don't want any of them?" I asked. I was terrified and being backed into a corner. "Is Merrill going to make this decision for me, even if I hate the one he picks?"
"Lissa, I will only make that decision for you if you will not choose for yourself," Merrill informed me. Why had they not told me this before? Why?
"I don't want to pick one and I don't want Merrill to pick one either," my voice was shaky as I stared at my hands. My fingers were laced together as tightly as I could make them, to keep the others from seeing how upset I was.
"Then they will struggle against one other, trying to win your favor and attention. None of those who danced with you tonight were disappointed," Wlodek's eyes were boring into mine as I looked up at him. "Wellington found you quite charming and interested in English politics and the Royal Family, with which he is obsessed." Wlodek almost smiled. "He only backed away when he learned that Ivan and René were making offers."
"Oh God, I may be sick," I said, hanging my head and trying to steady my breathing. "Please tell me the Italian guy didn't say the same thing."
"Oh, he was quite taken with you, but René gave him a look and he backed away for the time being."
I didn't realize it, but I'd somehow tangled my hands in Gavin's tuxedo jacket while Wlodek was speaking and was now hanging on for dear life. Where was my freedom? Where was my right to live my own life, away from sniffing hounds? The truth was that I had none of those things. The stark reality of being female and vampire was only now hitting me. Unless I was very, very old, like the two females on the Council, I was something in demand by the males of the race. "You're saying I need the protection of someone's claim? Is that it?" I tried desperately to keep the pan
ic out of my voice.
"Mine will only go so far," Merrill agreed. "They know I do not have an interest in that part of your life. I am only teaching you. Therefore, they feel free to make offers of this nature."
"These vampires may be willing to fight one another for you and we do not need such conflict within their ranks," Wlodek's voice was stiff and unrelenting.
I didn't know the evening was going to end this way. I realized that Wlodek and Merrill had most likely known all along and once again, nobody was telling me anything. I wanted to shout at them. Weep angry tears and throw priceless art objects at Flavio's tastefully painted walls. They'd trapped me like a wild animal. The inescapable power of the Vampire Council was herding me down a path I had no desire to tread. I couldn't escape, Merrill's compulsion saw to that. His was a velvet glove covering the steel of the trap, but it was a trap nonetheless. I'd had more freedom while Winkler was blackmailing me.
"You may put a stop to further offers if you accept one of them tonight," Merrill said. "You will be consenting to a lengthy engagement, with a courtship during the five year period. The Council will not allow a vampire to marry until he or she has successfully passed their probationary period." Yeah, Wlodek already said that. Obviously, Merrill didn't think it registered the first time.
"And I have to get married after the five years is up?" I had to know. I wanted to curl up in a ball and whimper. Hanging onto Gavin would have been frowned upon under any other circumstances. I was supposed to develop the mask they all had. None of them showed any emotion.
"Yes, unless you petition the Council to dissolve the engagement. And unless both parties wish to have the engagement dissolved, it will be put to a vote, I warn you," Wlodek informed me coldly. "Therefore, if they decide against you, your marriage will take place. Marriages between vampires last a period of one hundred years and may be renewed for additional periods of one hundred year intervals, from thereon."
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" I searched Wlodek's face for any empathy or emotion. There was none.
Blood Passage (Blood Destiny #2) Page 6