Revenge is Sweet

by Berni Stevens

  Daniel scuttled off to do as he was told. He was definitely learning. Jez leaned heavily on Will as he guided him to the kitchen and pushed him into a chair by the table. Jez sat with his head lowered as if it were too painful to sit upright.

  ‘What happened?’ Will’s voice was terse, and full of anger.

  Jez lifted his head, slowly, at the question, almost in obedience at a command. Leaning back in the chair, he sighed. ‘Stupid …’ he began, and Will raised a dark brow without comment.

  Jez opened his eyes, his bloodied face looking all the more horrific with his dark eyes staring out. ‘Careless mistake,’ he continued. ‘We followed the newest fledgling to a lair in Belsize Park …’

  ‘We?’ Will prompted.

  ‘Two of us – Me and Jon – didn’t think it would notice being new an’ all …’

  Will made an exclamation of disgust. ‘You had no proof it was new, so careless and stupid indeed.’

  Takes no prisoners my man, that’s for sure. He looked angrier than I’d seen him in a while, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be in Jez’s shoes. Jez closed his eyes again briefly, then opened them again as he continued. ‘It was a trap. Thomas and the woman were there, they’re strong Will – very strong …’

  ‘Jon?’ Will interrupted icily.

  ‘They … decapitated him.’

  The words hung like stones between us. So Thomas had killed one of our people.

  A premeditated trap, resulting in cold-blooded murder. I knew Will wouldn’t let that go. It had been horrific enough, attempting to clear up after Thomas and his revolting turnings, but the murder of humans left for all and sundry to see, and now the murder of one of our own, had things almost spiralling out of control.

  Right on cue, my mobile rang. I looked at Will, and he nodded. ‘Answer it, but do not pass it to me.’

  I pressed the answer button. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Put the Elder on.’ Thomas’s voice sounded relaxed and confident.

  ‘He’s busy. I’ll take a message.’

  ‘I have no wish to leave messages with the Elder’s floozy.’

  Floozy? Now there’s a word you don’t hear too often. What did it even mean?

  ‘Then put your own floozy on, and I’ll talk to her.’

  Daniel gave a snort of laughter, which stopped abruptly at a glare from Will.

  ‘You are arrogant for one so young; it will be my pleasure to teach you a lesson.’

  ‘Do you have a message for the Elder?’ I made my voice sound deliberately bored.

  The phone went dead. I shrugged. ‘Clearly not.’

  Will didn’t look any less angry. ‘Luke, we need to hold a meeting for everyone.

  Tonight.’

  ‘At the club?’ Luke was already at the door.

  ‘Yes, after closing, and I want everyone there – no exceptions – do you understand?’

  Luke nodded.

  ‘Anyone who does not deign to turn up, I will kill myself.’

  ‘Can I go too?’ Daniel looked almost excited.

  ‘I did say everyone did I not?’

  ‘Wicked cool. I’m going to change.’ He almost ran out, leaving the rest of us bemused at the exuberance of youth.

  Will turned back to Jez. ‘Would you like to shower?’

  ‘Please.’ The man did look a sorry state.

  ‘I’ll show you the way,’ I offered, as Jez got painfully to his feet.

  ‘I think we should all follow Daniel’s enthusiastic example and change our clothes,’ Will said to me. ‘I have a feeling this meeting is going to be a difficult one.’

  Will’s Journal, 24th May

  I am filled with anger at Jez’s foolhardy actions this evening. After specifically telling him to call me immediately, should he learn anything, still he goes off on his own. I know he is relatively young compared to myself and Luke, but he has been around long enough to have more sense. His carelessness tonight cost Jonathan his life.

  The one fact now, so obvious, shows Thomas to be an old vampire. Something I have suspected for a while. He turns humans with such ease, and he tracked Daniel to my house, all evidence he is of considerable age. That I did not sense him in my territory also shows he is more than averagely adept at covering his tracks. I cannot help but wonder how long he has been in London, and why he chose to target me. His luck cannot surely hold for much longer. We have lost one of our own now, and my people will demand justice. Part of me knows him, I cannot say why, but I feel he must be from somewhere in my past. Could he somehow be connected to my own Maker, Khiara? Elinor always thought Khiara accepted defeat far too easily last year. She is astute for one so young, but I sincerely hope she is wrong about this.

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘How formal do you want me to be?’ I stood in front of a confusing array of clothes on the bed. I’ve never been a natural at dressing elegantly, preferring comfort over style. However, knowing Will’s current mood, I thought it prudent to ask his opinion. Usually I don’t have time for the kind of women who defer to their control freak boyfriends, but this wasn’t a normal situation. Actually, I don’t think I’ll ever complain about normality again. Whatever that is.

  Will came to the doorway of the dressing room, looking like every woman’s darkest fantasy. He leaned against the door-frame, gorgeous and dangerous, dressed in a dark red shirt and black leather trousers which clung to his slim frame, and made me think wicked thoughts.

  ‘You really should come with a health warning,’ I commented, as I held up a black dress and wafted it at him. He sauntered into the room, and took the dress from me.

  ‘Whose health am I affecting?’ Holding the wisp of fabric away from him, he studied it. It wasn’t a whole heap of dress to be honest. Spaghetti straps, decorated with diamante studs, supported the tight-fitting bodice, which joined a straight short skirt. Couture of course. Will was nothing if not generous.

  ‘Mine actually,’ I said. ‘I just want to have my wicked way with you.’

  ‘What a difference a year makes.’ He held the dress against me. ‘You may very well need a health warning yourself in this excuse for a dress. In which case I think it will be perfect.’

  ‘Not too short?’

  ‘Put it on.’

  I went in to the dressing room, in case Jez decided to walk through the bedroom as I changed. I wriggled out of my jeans and T-shirt, sighing as I slipped the dress over my head. I smoothed the skirt over my hips, and it felt perfect. A huge plus of being a vampire, meant never putting on weight, and I knew I still had my dancer’s tiny frame – even if I couldn’t see it. I looked up to see Will devouring me with his expressive green eyes.

  ‘I think if there are any wicked ways to be had – I shall be instigating them first.’

  ‘Feel free.’

  I twirled around for effect, but he grabbed me before I finished the twirl, pulling me close. ‘I hate that you are in danger again,’ he murmured against my hair. ‘This Thomas is a very old vampire, cunning and adept at concealment. If his plan is to take London, I fear we have a war on our hands.’

  ‘There are only two of them.’

  ‘I think not. I believe he has other acolytes, whom he has yet to summon.’

  ‘Why do you think that?’

  ‘The creature that lured Jez and Jonathan into the trap, was no fledgling. The three of them overpowered two of my strongest men, decapitated one, and severely beat the other. That is not the work of fledglings.’

  A knock at the door signalled Jez was back from his shower. Will called out to him to enter. The shower had improved his appearance no end, but the many abrasions on his face now showed clearly. Some kind person had even pressed a silver cross to his cheek, and I knew he would carry the scar forever.

  His shirt was torn in several places, and Will frowned, pulling a blue shirt from his own wardrobe. Handing it to Jez, he suddenly spotted my lack of footwear.

  ‘Shoes rather than sandals I think,’ he said.

  I raised my eyebr
ows.

  ‘Something with a heel,’ he continued.

  I put my hands on my hips, and his lips twitched.

  ‘More formal.’

  I sighed and going to the wardrobe, pulled out a pair of Louboutins with a peep toe and skyscraper heels. I loved the scarlet soles … they were very … Victoria Beckham. I waggled them at Will.

  ‘Do these meet with your approval, oh stylist of mine?’

  ‘They do.’

  When Jez and I had both passed the style test, we all trooped upstairs. Luke and Danny were already in the hall. Danny looked like a different boy, dressed in a charcoal grey pair of trousers and a blue shirt. His hair still stood up in spikes and I wondered whether Jake had bought him his own hair wax.

  ‘Nice dress Elles.’ Danny nodded his approval. ‘Wicked shoes, they’re like the ones Victoria Beckham wears.’

  Danny was full of surprises. Who knew he would notice the kind of shoes Mrs Beckham wore?

  ‘You’ve scrubbed up pretty well yourself.’

  ‘Daniel, you may sit in front with Luke, the three of us will sit in the back.’ Will stopped the fashion talk from continuing.

  We left the sanctity of the house and immediately I felt exposed and nervous. Will took hold of my arm, and I pressed against him, worrying about the camera.

  ‘No-one is to speak until we have left in the car,’ Will said softly.

  He secured the house, and keyed the code into the panel in the wall, which opened the gates. We all filed through silently, and he closed the gates behind us. His sharp gaze flicking back and forth, Will ushered Daniel round to the front of Luke’s car and Jez to the back door furthest from us. I scooted across the seat to sit in the middle, and he slid in beside me, taking hold of my hand in both of his. Even at a time like this, he instinctively knew how I felt at being out of the house. Exposed, and far too vulnerable. The thought of the meeting made me nervous. I had only ever seen the other vampires all together once, and that had been another traumatic evening, resulting in death.

  Luke pulled up outside Dusk, where Zachary, the huge security man, stood. Will got out, and reached back to help me. There are a lot of advantages to living with a Duke from the eighteenth century, and one of them is being treated like a Duchess. He took hold of my arm, and guided me to the pavement. In these heels I needed all the support I could get. Although I liked being six inches taller, because for once, I very nearly came up to Will’s shoulder. Luke drove the car round the back to the staff car park, and Zachary came over to greet Will.

  ‘Good Evening Sir,’ he said, his deep, rumbling voice sounding heavily accented, giving away his Jamaican roots.

  ‘Zachary, how are you?’ As usual, Will was the epitome of charm.

  ‘Disturbed by recent events Sir,’ said Zachary.

  ‘As are we all.’

  Daniel stood close to Jez, staring up at the big West Indian. I’d almost forgotten that he hadn’t seen many other vampires, except us and his maker.

  ‘Is the boy with you Sir?’

  ‘Yes, he needs to be present for the meeting. I think as the club will be closed to the public soon, it is permissible.’

  Zachary nodded.

  ‘Please join us inside, once the public have left.’

  ‘Yes Sir.’

  We all trooped inside, and I noticed with distaste, the abnormally aggravating Tanya gracing the reception desk with her odious presence.

  ‘Hello Will, you’re very late this evening, we’re about to close.’

  ‘Good evening Tanya.’ Will favoured her with a smile. I hated her. Eyelash-batting bitch. If ever there was a floozy – it was her. She didn’t bother to greet me at all this time, but she eyed Daniel with suspicion.

  ‘Excuse me saying Will, but the young man doesn’t look twenty-one.’ She pouted as she spoke. I wanted to tell her she looked ridiculous.

  ‘The young man is with me, and therefore not your concern.’

  Well that shot her down in flames, and I resisted the urge to poke my tongue out as we swept past her. Daniel’s eyes were almost out on stalks as he stared around at the elegant club. Most of the humans were already leaving, except for a few drunken stragglers.

  Stevie nodded a greeting as he deftly took glasses away from the people at the bar. There were a few mutters of annoyance, but somehow I didn’t think too many of them would argue with him. Luke left us to lend some muscle just in case, and the rest of us went straight upstairs. It was empty, except for Errol wiping down the bar.

  ‘Hey – how’s my favourite lady?’ He called out as he spotted me. I liked Errol, another big Jamaican with a very dry sense of humour. I smiled at him, as we walked over to the bar.

  ‘Hey Boss, when you going to give up Ellie to a real man?’

  Will arched a brow, but his eyes glinted with amusement. ‘Trust me Errol, you could never afford her.’

  ‘Hey – I’m standing right here,’ I said.

  Errol’s deep laugh made the glasses shudder on the shelves, and he winked at me as he put his cloth away under the bar. ‘That’s me done for the night Boss.’

  ‘Then please get a lift home with Stevie tonight,’ Will looked serious. ‘There are bad people out there.’

  ‘Sure. I’ll go down now.’ Errol came out from behind the bar. ‘Goodnight lovely Ellie. Give me a call when you get bored with the Boss.’

  I laughed. I could always rely on Errol to make me laugh.

  ‘Good night Errol,’ Will said dryly.

  Will led the way to our usual corner. We sat down on the sofa and Jez and Daniel sat opposite us in armchairs. Daniel was still looking around in awe. The club did look pretty impressive I had to admit. Even after many visits, I still found its interior elegant and just a tiny bit overwhelming. I spotted Luke coming up the stairs carrying a tray of drinks. Just what I needed – watered down wine again.

  When Luke reached us, he put the tray on the low table in front of us. He handed a glass of whisky to Will, beer to Jez, what looked like coke to Daniel and wine to me. Picking up the last bottle of beer for himself, he took a swig as he looked around, his blue eyes narrowed. He seemed unnaturally on edge tonight, and that worried me.

  ‘Can we drink alcohol?’ Daniel addressed his question to Will.

  ‘We can – you cannot.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because you are too young, both in human and vampire years.’

  Daniel grimaced, looking pretty much how I felt actually. Bloody watered down wine.

  At fifteen, he shouldn’t even be in here, but I was twenty-two, or was it twenty-three – or did I start at one again now I was a vampire? Confusing. I sipped at the excuse for a drink. I didn’t even like white wine, I’d always preferred red.

  ‘You are not enjoying that drink I assume Elinor?’ The amusement in Will’s voice didn’t improve my mood. I put the offending glass back on the table.

  ‘It’s nothing a very large glass of Chateau Neuf du Pape wouldn’t cure,’ I said.

  ‘I should see whether everyone is here.’ Luke turned and strode back towards the stairs.

  ‘He’s a bit antsy,’ I said as I watched his tall figure lope downstairs.

  ‘As are we all.’ Will finished his whisky and put the empty glass on the table. ‘Daniel, I want you to stay up here with Jeremy. I do not want you to speak to anyone else. Is that clear?’

  Daniel nodded.

  ‘The less the others know of you the better.’

  Luke reappeared at the top of the stairs and nodded to Will. Standing up slowly, Will offered me his hand to help me stand too.

  ‘Can’t I stay up here too?’ I had a really bad feeling about this evening and it wouldn’t go away.

  ‘I am afraid not. As my chosen partner you have to be at my side.’

  Daniel pulled a cheeky face at me as we moved to go downstairs and I narrowed my eyes at him. I hoped he would behave himself, but I had a bad feeling about that as well.

  I had a horrible feeling of déjà v
u as Will and I walked down the stairs, coming to a halt halfway down. A small crowd of vampires stood looking up at us, and I remembered the night of Trials last year. Will had introduced me to a crowd of vampires that night too, from this very step. We had waited for Khiara to make an appearance, but instead the decapitated body of one of the Italian vampires had been ‘delivered’. According to Will, Khiara’s sense of the dramatic has heightened over the decades. She had instigated Trials in the first place, all because of my arrival. Vampires can be very jealous.

  ‘Thank you all for coming at such short notice,’ Will began, cutting through the murmurs that had started up at our appearance. ‘As you may already know, Jonathan lost his life tonight, courtesy of our new friend Thomas.’

  Several people started shouting questions at once and Will had to hold his hand up for silence.

  ‘What are you going to do about it?’ A burly shaven-headed man called out.

  ‘Yes Elder, what are you going to do about it?’ A woman’s voice called, arrogant and confident. I started. Surely Thomas’s woman wouldn’t be so stupid as to turn up here? It wasn’t her, however, but someone I’d never seen before who walked towards us. The other vampires parted to let her through.

  She couldn’t have looked more different to the blonde “Bonnie”. Small, with a mass of unruly dark, shoulder-length hair, she appeared about twenty. Casually dressed in a pair of old, dirty jeans, an oversized checked shirt and with old leather sandals on her filthy feet, her dark eyes appraised Will first, and then me, a slight smirk on her face.

  Will signalled to Luke and Jake, and they sprang into action, grabbing her by the arms. She made no attempt to try and free herself, merely continued to smirk, with an arrogant, defiant look in her eyes.

  ‘Hold her still.’ Releasing my hand, Will walked with a slow predatory grace to the floor, and when he reached her, grasped her by the neck, forcing her head to tilt back.

  ‘You dare to come here?’ His voice sounded so cold that I barely suppressed a shiver.

  ‘I bring news from Thomas.’