Kiss of the Vampire (The Vanderlind Realm Book 2)

by Gayla Twist

  “Hey!” someone shouted. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

  I glanced over my shoulder to see a guard dressed in a black uniform. I knew I had two choices. I could either run — which I was sure would cause him to pursue me — or I could brazen it out. I’ve never been a fan of fleeing a fight, so I spun around to face him.

  “Of course I’m supposed to be here,” I countered with a tone that conveyed I was his superior. I knew I looked like death warmed over, but it was all about the right attitude. “I am Dorian Vanderlind and I’ve been summoned here to testify on behalf of my progeny, Haley Scott. You need to take me to her, immediately.”

  The guard curled his upper lip. “Yeah, but Ms. Firenze…”

  I cut him off with, “Ms. Ilona Firenze is a close friend of mine. A very close friend. She was the one who insisted that I be here.” The guard didn’t look convinced so I had to take a gamble. Leaning forward, I looked him in the eye and said, “You could check with her first, if you feel like that is the right thing to do.”

  The guard stood up a little taller, even though his posture was already ramrod straight. “She said no one should be admitted into the building.”

  I digested the fact that he was taking his orders from Ilona, rather than the Bishops. Looking him dead in the eye, I said, “That order does not apply to me.”

  The guard led me up another flight of stairs and down a hallway. We passed several more offices full of furniture and office supplies, but with no occupants. Where was everyone? I had to wonder. Another guard was slouching in the hallway. He stood up straight when he saw us approaching.

  “What did you bring him here for?” the second guard asked. He looked familiar. I thought maybe he was one of the men who had been sent to accost my scion. “They’re just wrapping up the deposition.”

  “Ilona wants him here,” was my guy’s response.

  “That’s not what she told me.”

  “Gentlemen, why don’t we just speak to Ms. Firenze and we can iron this out together,” I said, slipping between them and continuing down the hall at a rapid pace, but without actually running.

  “Wait up,” the second guard called after me. And then, when I increased my speed, he shouted to his friend, “Grab him!”

  I went thundering down the hall with the guards on my heels. I still had no idea where they were keeping Haley, but I could make a guess. Near the end of the hall was a set of double doors. That seemed like a good indication of a conference room, which was where I assumed they would be deposing my scion. If I was wrong, then I didn’t like the prospects of what would happen to Haley with Ilona pulling the strings. Nor myself, for that matter.

  One of the guards grabbed the shoulder of my jacket just as I was reaching for one of the door knobs. Fortunately for me, my clothing was so charred that instead of detaining me, the guard only ended up tearing off my sleeve.

  As I suspected, it was a conference room filled with the undead, all sitting around a large oval table. Haley was standing, addressing Everett Bishop, who was seated at the head of the table. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. I didn’t know what this small faction of the Bishops had decided, but I could tell from Haley’s demeanor that it wasn’t anything good.

  “You can’t do this!” I practically shouted as I burst into the room. “You can’t condemn my progeny without hearing my testimony.” I caught sight of Ilona glowering at me from across the table. She shouldn’t have been there, but it didn’t surprise me to see her. “I have evidence that will clear Haley completely,” I said, even though I realized that I no longer had my satchel and my laptop. I must have left it in the grave or lost it when I was fleeing the sun.

  “Dorian!” Haley said, almost choking on my name.

  “You’re too late,” Ilona snarled. “If you cared at all about the fate of your progeny then you should have been here last night.”

  “I was here last night,” I fired right back at her. “But somebody arranged it so that my entrance would be barred from this building.”

  Ilona looked away. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  This made me laugh. “Yes, you do. And I’m guessing so do half the vampires here.” I glared around the table and at least five of the undead could not meet my eye.

  “They want to lock me in a coffin,” Haley said, wiping angrily at the tears on her cheeks. I so wanted to kiss them away. “For twelve years,” she added. “And then they want to send me to some kind of vampire reform school. And I haven’t even done anything.” She sniffed. “Or at least not anything so bad as to justify a coffin.”

  I couldn’t stand it any longer. I strode over to her and took Haley in my arms. Her tears came back in force and she sobbed against my neck, salty drops of water rolling down my chest where my shirt had been torn away. “It’s going to be alright,” I whispered in her hair. “Just hold on for a few more minutes while I get this all cleared up and then we’ll go to Cleveland. I promise.”

  “Okay.” She sniffed a couple of times and then lifted her head. “I didn’t think you were coming,” she admitted.

  I wrapped her even tighter in my arms. “Of course I was coming. I will always come for you. I just had a few unexpected challenges to get here.”

  “Isn’t this charming,” I heard a female say, but it wasn’t Ilona. Scanning the room I saw the judgmental eyebrows of Irene Bishop and felt my gut clench.

  “Irene,” I said, giving her the warmest smile I could muster. “I apologize for not greeting you earlier. I didn’t see you there.”

  The vampiress pursed her lips and gave a little sniff. “It’s okay, Dorian. I can see that you only have eyes for one person right now.” She nodded toward Haley. “I only hope it lasts.” Making eye contact with another vampiress across the table she added, “The world would be a safer place for the rest of us ladies.”

  I felt Haley stiffen a little in my arms. “Are there any members of the undead who you haven’t dated?” she whispered in my ear.

  “A few,” I told her. “None of the men, if that helps.” And then with a wink I added, “So far.” Haley tried to pull away from me, but I wouldn’t let her go. “Haley, I can’t change my past,” I told her, pressing her firmly against my chest. “But I can promise you that things will be different now that we’re together.” And then I kissed her. Not a lengthy, passionate kiss like at the end of a romantic movie, but it was a kiss to convey everything I felt about her and our future life together.

  Chapter 29

  Haley

  Dorian’s kiss meant everything to me. I knew from all my reading that most men never changed. But there were outliers. There were a few guys who turned things around because they fell in love. And Dorian’s kiss told me he could be one of those men.

  I ran my fingers over the exposed flesh on his chest. His skin was pink and shiny, like when you peel away a scab. His hair was very short in patches and long in others. It gave him kind of an eighties rocker look. He’d obviously been through hell to get to me and share whatever evidence he had that he thought would save my hide.

  There was so much I wanted to say to him. But not in front of a room filled with people who would obviously rather condemn me for crimes I hadn’t committed than deal with Ilona Firenze. “Please just explain to them that I’m innocent so we can get out of here,” I said in a low voice. “I want to get out of here. I want to see the world with you. I can’t wait for us to finally be together.”

  “But you won’t be together,” Ilona insisted. She’d apparently been watching our interaction with great interest. “Not for at least twelve years while your darling little fledgling rots in a coffin.” She was obviously speaking to Dorian. “And at least one more after that to make sure your progeny learns a few manners.”

  “Jesus, Ilona. What is your damage?” I couldn’t help but exclaim. If Dorian hadn’t been holding me I think I would have taken a swing at her.

  “Yes, we’ve already made our decision,” Everett said, holdin
g both hands in the air to try to keep the peace, “but I think it’s only fair that we hear the new information Dorian has brought with him.” He gave my maker an expectant look.

  “Uh,” Dorian stammered, shifting uncomfortably. “I did have it with me, but I lost it when I caught on fire after being barred from entering this building last sunrise.” That caused some muttering among the Bishops. “But I can easily get it again,” Dorian continued. “All I need is a laptop and an internet connection.”

  “No one here can help you there,” Ilona said as if she were in charge. “Your evidence is your responsibility. No one here uses a computer.”

  “Ilona, am I mistaken, or are you not an official here?” Dorian asked. “In fact, why are you even in this room? If you’ve already given your evidence, then you are expected to leave.” He turned to look at Everett. “Is there a reason for this?”

  “He’s right,” the lead vampire said, although he looked uncomfortable saying it. “It’s not customary. Ilona, your services are no longer required. Please leave the room so we can finish up here.”

  Ilona gave a laugh of outrage. “Try removing me,” she said. “Go ahead. Do I need to remind you who my maker is?”

  “Who is her maker?” I whispered in Dorian’s ear.

  “A very old and very powerful vampire,” he explained. “But that doesn’t mean she should have carte blanche to act like she belongs in an asylum.”

  “Yeah, but she seems to be doing it anyway,” I grumbled. Ilona’s maker must have been president of the vampires or something for the nutty way she was getting away with acting.

  “I saw plenty of computers on my way in here,” Dorian said, directing his words toward Everett. “If one of Ilona’s guards would please just bring one to us, then we can get this all settled.”

  “They don’t work for me,” Ilona insisted, sounding indignant.

  Dorian shrugged. “Yes, but they’re on your payroll.” He leveled her with such a steady gaze that she turned away.

  “Would one of your go get a laptop for Mr. Vanderlind?” the eyebrow lady, whose name was apparently Irene, snapped at the men in black uniforms. “I do have other things to get done tonight. If there is new evidence, then I for one want to know about it.”

  Ten minutes later and Dorian was pulling up article after article stating the dates that the teens had disappeared. “Haley’s maker’s day is December twenty-fifth,” he said. “Unless one of you has figured out the magic of time travel, then I think it is pretty obvious that my scion is innocent.”

  Everett frowned at the computer screen. “This seems to be a case of sloppy investigative work to begin with,” he said. “Haley should have never been charged with anything beyond being a bit willful.”

  “But she is willful,” Ilona interjected. “And that puts us all at risk. You have to admit that. She needs a few years of reform school at the very least.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” I groaned. I was not a tough girl. I didn’t know how to tag a building, or hotwire a car, or whatever it was that girls were supposed to do to get themselves sent to reform school. And the thought of being away from Dorian for another second was painful, never mind the years that they would probably sentence me. “If this is the standard you’re using to judge people, then every teenager in America should be in reform school.”

  The vampires exchanged glances, none of them willing to contradict Ilona. “Well…” Everett said, as if he was actually thinking it over. “Maybe only a couple of months just to…”

  “Who hasn’t been willful at one time or another?” Dorian demanded, interrupting the other vampire. “Especially after first becoming a vampire?” He turned to face the group. “I remember Irene telling me about a time when she snatched a mortal boy away from his flock of sheep and stuffed him in a belfry.”

  “He always teased my daughter,” she said. “He would dunk her braids in an inkwell. But I sure gave him the surprise of his life.” It was obvious the memory still gave her satisfaction.

  “And what about you, Everett?” Dorian asked. “Didn’t I hear that you and your friends used to steal cars?”

  “Just for joyriding,” the vampire insisted. “We always gave them back. And that was when I was a mortal, so it really doesn’t count.”

  “But you can see where I’m headed,” Dorian said. He turned to address the whole room. “Haley had a bumpy start when she was turned. We didn’t feel an instant connection and I was having trouble convincing her that vampires actually existed.” This made a few of the other undead laugh. “But she never killed anyone,” he continued, “which I think shows amazing self control, given the circumstances. And we do feel connected now,” he said, drawing me closer to him. “She’s been coming to me for advice on how to actually be a vampire. So reform school doesn’t even make sense. Not unless you think it’s appropriate to send her to reform school simply because an old girlfriend of mine has a grudge against me.”

  “I suppose you’re referring to me with that comment,” Ilona said, her voice scathing. “Well you can just get over yourself. I have no grudge against you. I was just concerned for the wellbeing of your community.”

  She was such a damn liar.

  “Well, good,” said Everett, clapping his hands together. “Then I think we can agree that Haley Scott has been cleared of all charges.” He turned to look at me. “Haley, you are free to go. And on behalf of the Bishops, I apologize for any inconvenience.”

  Everyone leaped to their feet as if they wanted to get the hell out of there before Ilona could make any more of a fuss. Dorian kissed me hard on the mouth. “I can’t believe I almost didn’t get here in time,” he whispered, his voiced jagged.

  “But you did,” I told him. “And now we can get the hell out of here.”

  He rubbed his nose against mine, nuzzling me. “Good point.” Looking up, he said, “Everett, sorry to bother you, but do you happen to have a change of clothes you can give me? I’d say that you can lend me, but I probably won’t be returning them. We intend to leave immediately, but I hate to travel dressed like this.” He looked down at his tattered shirt and jacket.

  Everett nodded. “I have some gym clothes in my office that you can have,” he said. “For when I play racquetball.” I found it weird that a vampire still played racquetball — or that anyone still played racquetball for that matter — but maybe he was turned in the eighties. I think racquetball was pretty popular back then. “Follow me,” he said, leading us out of the conference room.

  “Here you go,” Everett said, handing Dorian a stack of clean clothes once we were in his office. The room looked very corporate, all wood paneling and tasteful upholstery. “Consider it my gift to you as an apology for all the hassle.”

  “Thank you,” Dorian said. He was much better at being gracious than I was. Given the opportunity, I would punch everyone in the building right in the face.

  “And I think it’s probably a good idea that you two are getting out of town,” Everett said in a much lower voice. “Things are…” he searched for the right word. “Things are delicate around here right now. If I were you, I’d go someplace where you can relax and keep a low profile.”

  Dorian nodded. “I appreciate that, Everett. We were on our way to New Orleans, but maybe we’ll go to Savannah instead.”

  We’d never discussed New Orleans or Savannah. But I had the feeling Dorian was intentionally giving misinformation to throw Ilona off our scent, so I kept my mouth shut. Maybe if she didn’t see us for a decade or two she would calm down. Or at least find some other poor sucker to torment.

  “Let me just change clothes and we’ll get out of your hair,” Dorian said to Everett. I tried to follow the older vampire out of the room to give Dorian some privacy, but he grabbed me by the arm. “Oh no, not you,” he said. “I’m not let you out of my sight ever again.”

  “But you have to change,” I insisted.

  “That’s fine,” Dorian told me, tugging me a little closer. “You can
turn your back if you’re worried about preserving my modesty.”

  I faced the wall and tried to think about anything, but how delicious Dorian would look after shedding his burnt clothes. His golden hair was already growing back in, but it would definitely need a cut to even it out.

  A minute later Dorian said to me, “Okay, turn around.” And then he added, “What do you think?”

  I had to laugh. Dorian was not meant for a t-shirt, track pants and a fleece jacket. “You look…” I couldn’t even think of how to describe him.

  Dorian shook his head, a grin splitting his face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” He hooked an arm around my waist and tugged me close. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”

  We headed out the door, smiling at each other. It just felt so wonderful to be with him and coffin free. But then Ilona was waiting for us in the hall.

  “Oh,” I said and we both pulled up short. I’d been so happy I’d almost forgotten about her.

  “Think you’re pretty clever. Don’t you?” She had a weird way of making pronouncements.

  “Ilona,” Dorian said, and I could feel him clutching me a little tighter. “I know I’ve upset you and I want you to know that I’m sorry for whatever wrong you think I’ve done you. It was unintentional and I apologize. I hope you can forgive me so we can all move on with our lives.”

  I knew his apology wasn’t going to placate her. If anything, it would probably incite Ilona to even more malice. Women do not like it when men don’t know the reason that they’re angry.

  Ilona gave us both a tight lipped smile. Rage was causing her eyes to glitter. She looked like she could spit glass. “You should have gone with the deal,” she said, focusing her attention on me. “Twelve years in a coffin is nothing compared to what I’m going do to you.”