“Hey!” Laurence complained. “That’s not true. Well, maybe it’s true of Elliott...”
Elliott smacked his friend on the side of his head. “Lies, Devereux. All lies. We’ve had more than our share of triumphs with women, but even if you’re right about our success rate with females in the past, we’ve gotten better.”
Devereux raised a brow.
“Seriously. You can trust us. We’ve learned our lessons. We don’t believe anyone anymore. Mostly. But as I was saying, you have something special — some extra ingredient that makes all women lose their minds and want to tear off their clothing in your presence. Lucky bastard! You don’t appreciate the gift you’ve been given. I wish you could bottle it. Maybe I should drink your blood to see if the vibe will transfer to me.” He bared his fangs and pretended to aim for Devereux’s neck.
Grinning, Devereux swatted Elliott away. He really did appreciate his carefree friends. Existence would be unbearable without them. Even if they did make horrible decisions about women. At least his friends tended to give others the benefit of the doubt, no matter how convincing the evidence to the contrary. Despite the pain of their former lives, they’d kept their dead hearts open.
“But we’re not talking about the hormonal masses. What we mean,” Elliott retracted his teeth, “is someone you might actually want to be with. Someone important. Meaningful. I’ll bet you haven’t had such a woman for a long time. ”
Is there such a woman? I once thought there might be.
Devereux repressed the despondent feeling that washed over him and gave his friends a lighter answer. “It is simply easier to remain uncommitted. I have so much work to do, both in my individual businesses — like this club — and my self-appointed task of keeping vampires safe from discovery. I have never met the one you speak of. In fact, I no longer believe she exists. I do not have time for foolish games.”
I used to dream of her, but I was deluding myself.
“Foolish games, is it? After all the effort we put into this surprise? And don’t even try to pretend you actually spend time running this club. You have a well-oiled machine here, quite the efficient management team. You rarely come here if you can avoid it,” Laurence said. “I’ll have you know we’ll be completely offended if you won’t even meet with the three women we’ve scheduled. ” The corners of his lips kept quirking as he fought a smile, totally negating his efforts to appear stern.
“That’s right,” Elliott agreed with a toss of his hair. “So offended we might not ever come and keep you company in this tedious club of yours. It’s absolute torture to have to be here with all these succulent humans. Smelling all that blood and knowing there are so many of them and only one of me.” He smiled and looked at the clusters of women hovering nearby.
“Yes.” Devereux arched a brow. “It must be hell for you.”
“Come on, my friend,” Laurence said, nudging Devereux with his elbow. “Have some fun. You really have nothing to lose. You might even find the woman of your dreams. Or, at least a woman who can make you smile.” He sobered. “Seriously, Devereux. Indulge your old chums. We’re concerned about you.”
“There is nothing to be concerned about...” He studied a photo of a woman in a demon costume and started to dismiss the silly idea, but then intercepted an unprotected stray thought from Elliott’s mind and the words caught in his throat. They feared he was preparing himself for true death, that his lack of interest in the things the three of them used to share meant he had given up. They all knew it wasn’t unusual for old vampires to grow weary of existence and to yearn for the final night, as they called it. He hadn’t realized his existential angst had become so apparent. Well, that explains some of the strange looks I have gotten over the last few months from coven members. It would not do for them to question my state of mind.
What would it hurt to go along with his friends’ outlandish idea? He knew them well enough to know they had good intentions. Even if they held true to form and the dates were disasters, at least the experience would be something different. He toyed with the notion and tapped his finger on the table. At worst, he’d be bored. But what else was new? Lately he was bored wherever he was. If he were honest with himself, the idea of true death had occurred to him, albeit in a detached, academic sort of way.
“All right.”
“What?” Laurence said, a skeptical look etched on his face. “Really?”
“Yes, you are right,” Devereux admitted. “I have allowed myself to become too work-focused. It would be nice to relax, maybe even to distract myself.”
Laurence and Elliott exchanged confused glances.
“Well, good,” Elliott said tentatively, studying Devereux. “Wait — is this a trap? You’re being too calm. Are you agreeing, and then you’ll do something awful to us? Chop our heads off and hide them so we can’t reattach them? Even with our heads nearby, you know how long that takes to heal, and I really like this shirt. I’d never get that much blood out of it. Or maybe you’ll add the coup de grâce and rip our hearts from our chests to make sure we’re truly dead. I know how much you used to enjoy that.”
“No.” Devereux laughed. “No heart ripping. It is not a trap. I am accepting your sincere attempt to provide me with a pleasant evening, or to drive me insane with more evidence of your total ineptitude with women.” He saluted them. “I appreciate it. It is helpful to be reminded that isolation is not good for anyone, even vampires.”
“Hmm. Okay then,” Elliott said, appearing grudgingly convinced that Devereux was telling the truth. Back to being his impetuous self, he clapped his hands. “Let’s tell him what we arranged, Laurence.”
“Oh, yes! So, we’ve followed Charlie’s story line, the three visitations, starting at midnight.”
“Who have you selected for me? You said the first would be someone from my past. After eight-hundred-plus years, that does not narrow it down much.”
“It wouldn’t be any fun if we told you in advance,” Elliott said. “As in Charlie’s story, we want it to be a surprise.”
“So, I am to have three dates in the span of one night? How will that work?”
“This is the ingenious part,” Laurence said, bumping fists with Elliott. “You will meet each woman at a pre-arranged location, one hour apart. But, of course, you will move through time to keep on schedule. That way, you can stay with each date as long as you wish, and still be punctual for the next.” He gave a thumbs-up gesture. “I don’t know about you, but aside from drinking blood, I think traveling via thought is my favorite part of being an old vampire.”
Devereux grinned. “I must admit that is one of my favorite things, too.” Although his ability to shift through time and space made it too easy for him to retreat into the past — to avoid accepting and joining the current century. But so far he simply hadn’t found any reason besides business to want to engage with the contemporary world. Certainly, he enjoyed being wealthy and successful, but some essential spark was missing, and without it, existence felt hollow.
Elliott reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a paper. “Here. We worked it all out and made the arrangements with the women. Each will meet you at the time and place we’ve recorded.” He handed the sheet to Devereux. “Then, after all three assignations, you’ll come back here and tell us all about it! We’ll be waiting. How does that sound?”
Devereux was tempted to say it sounded ridiculous, but the hopeful looks on his friends’ faces stole his words. “It sounds like fun.” He forced a smile. Maybe it would be nice to get away from his life for a little while. Perhaps an adventure would shake him out of his lethargy, distract him from the sadness gnawing at his heart. It could be challenging to find ways to fill the endless years.
“Splendid,” Laurence said, patting Devereux on the back. “Everything is arranged. The moment you think about the first date being over, you’ll be immediately transported to the next coordinates. Elliott and I asked Houdini to whip up a little spell to keep you from getting cold
feet during the process.”
“You used magic to bind me?” Devereux asked, incredulous. He raised his chin. “I thought you knew my word was sacred. And Houdini? Please!”
“Oh, now don’t get your panties in a wad, Dev,” Laurence said. “Of course your word is gold. But we also know about your legendary tendency to do exactly what you want to do. If you don’t like the first date, it’s totally within the realm of probability that you’ll bail and then withdraw for a while so we can’t give you a hard time. So, we’re using a little mystical tough love.”
“Yeah,” Elliott said, “and even though you don’t like him, you have to admit Houdini casts one helluva spell. Even you said he was good.”
Devereux sighed. “I do vaguely remember saying that. All right. I will keep my word.”
“Excellent!” Laurence said. “And you’re right on schedule.” He pointed to the large bat-shaped clock on the wall. “It’s five minutes ’til midnight and unless you want to disappear here in front of the humans, you’d better hurry off to somewhere private.”
Devereux continued to stare down at the paper.
“Well?” Elliott asked.
“Yes, yes. Very well. I am going.” Devereux rose from the booth, and walked toward a supply closet next to the bar. He looked back over his shoulder at Laurence and Elliott, who waved enthusiastically and made adolescent hand gestures. He shook his head and let himself into the closet. Why the hell not? How bad could it be?
***
“He’s really going to be pissed off at us, you know,” Laurence said, mentally signaling one of the women who’d turned to watch Devereux’s departure. Since his master was no longer there to protect, the guard had wandered off. “Lucky for us Devereux is too polite to read our thoughts. I don’t think I could block anything from him if he truly wanted to know.” A petite, pink-haired woman hurried up to the booth. Laurence opened his arms, pulled her onto his lap and licked her neck.
“Well,” Elliott patted the seat next to him and a voluptuous blonde scooted in. “Jung said it would be better for Devereux to be angry than depressed. He’s our friend. We have to do something.” He turned the woman’s face so he could lock eyes with her, then her head dropped back against the seat. He sank his fangs into her neck and drank.
“I suppose.” Laurence lifted his guest’s wrist, gently pushed his incisors through her skin and sucked. After a few seconds, he raised his blood-covered mouth. “Carl’s usually right about these things. But you’ve got to swear that we’ll never tell Devereux we knew what the women planned for him. He’d never trust us again. I’d rather have him believe we’re idiots.”
“Yeah,” Elliott mumbled against the blonde’s skin. He retracted his fangs and barked out a laugh. “That’s a no-brainer.”
Date #1
At the stroke of midnight, Devereux thought himself to the designated meeting place for his first rendezvous: the ruins of a castle in Northern England. He recognized the place and smiled. He’d been there many times before for pagan rituals and vampire celebrations, but not for at least a century. Everything looked the same as the last time he’d been there, with perhaps a bit more overgrowth.
A dense forest surrounded the ruins, which provided extra privacy and quiet. Add to that the waning moon, and the environment was perfect for clandestine activities.
Devereux strolled around the perimeter, appreciating the silence, looking for signs of the presence of his first date. Since he couldn’t detect the energy signature unique to vampire brains, he assumed he’d arrived first. He leaned against a tall stone that used to be part of the castle’s chapel, attuned his keen vision to the dark landscape and waited, recalling some of the more memorable nights he’d spent at this place.
As he rummaged through his memories, he became more and more enthused about the possibilities for the evening. Maybe it was time to have some fun. He chuckled, thinking that there were quite a few women associated with these ruins he’d be pleased to see again.
First among them was Belinda, the beautiful harpist with whom he’d shared many a sensuous Beltane celebration. He closed his eyes and recalled her full, rosy-nippled breasts bouncing as she rode him energetically. Or Celeste, the gorgeous seamstress who gave new meaning to measuring one for clothing. He felt a sensory rush as he remembered her nimble fingers stroking every inch of his body. Then there was the delightful Orlene, and her uninhibited — and vocal — enjoyment of sex. His smile widened. Together, they’d rewritten the book on erotic pleasure.
Oh, yes, he thought, his body stirring in anticipation, he’d have to show his appreciation to Laurence and Elliott for this brilliant idea. He wondered why he’d resisted his carnal urges for so long.
A noise, like the cracking of a branch underfoot, drew his attention to the nearby clump of trees, but as soon as he turned his head to investigate, feminine laughter sounded on his other side. “Devereux, my sweet. It never used to be so easy to sneak up on you. I hope all your reactions aren’t so slow.”
He recognized the voice immediately and his stomach tightened. Oh, no—
Maeve.
“Yes, my darling — after all these centuries, your favorite goddess has returned.”
Unaccustomed to someone being able to read his thoughts so easily, he slammed down even more protective barriers around his consciousness, hoping that might afford him at least a modicum of personal privacy. Not that anything he did would really keep someone as powerful as Maeve from doing whatever she wanted. As he well remembered, nothing could keep her from her painful agenda.
Maeve laughed and glided toward him. “Well, now. I do appreciate that you’ve become stronger in my absence, but what is this sudden anxiety, my dear? We both know it isn’t me you’re afraid of.”
She was right about that. Maeve really was a goddess, in every way: a supernatural creature with powers that dwarfed anything a mere vampire could contemplate. The problem wasn’t her taking away his willforce. It was him surrendering it.
She looked exactly the same: breathtakingly beautiful, very tall, with hip-length dark auburn hair, silver-flecked green eyes and a lush, curvaceous body, which was fully displayed in her see-through robe. Maeve was the most potent goddess still in existence, the only immortal on earth powerful enough to control him. He had no choice but to do whatever she wanted. And because she’d never been human, that could be scary territory.
The last time they’d been together, he’d barely escaped with his life. Or his unlife. Already he could feel his self-control slipping away as his body became aroused by her essence.
“I was not expecting you, Maeve.” He stalled for time as she undulated toward him, trying to figure out how to postpone the inevitable. His useless heart pounded without his conscious decision to allow it to beat, a side-effect of being near Maeve. It reminded him of being human and experiencing terror, centuries ago. “How did Laurence and Elliott get in touch with you?”
Did they betray me on purpose? How could they? They know the story.
She gave an evil, gorgeous grin, her eyes sparkling wickedly, and read his mind. “They didn’t realize it was me they were talking to. I disguised myself and pretended to be that tedious Elizabeth woman you had an affair with. The one who went berserk as a result of being turned and killed all those young girls so she could bathe in their blood. I hear you spent a couple of years trying to bring her back from the edge of madness.”
Devereux tried to shut out her voice — to distract himself, to stop himself from being pulled into her web — by mentally counting the coffins stored in the basement of The Crypt. He barely made it to twenty before his effort failed. Her words took on a life and a shape of their own, caressing his nipples from a distance. He groaned, his body tingling with need.
“Oh, my.” She batted her long eyelashes and licked her full lips. “I see you’ve started without me. Anyway, your friends were very excited about setting you up with that obnoxious cow. They seemed to think you needed help finding women. They
were so pitifully eager to give you a good time that it was easy to manipulate them.” She snapped her fingers. “Bathory! That’s her name. I didn’t see any reason to let them spoil my surprise so I kept them in the dark.” She stepped close and rubbed herself against him. “Besides, you have been so naughty, avoiding me.” She retreated a few inches and he felt the tingle that let him know she was studying him with her supernatural senses. Her aroma wafted on the breeze and he groaned again. She smelled like lavender with a cinnamon edge, which was her natural fragrance. Impossible to resist. At least for him.
He made another valiant effort to regain control of himself, which took more strength than he possessed. “You know why I avoid you, Maeve. When you are near, I have no will of my own. I become your slave, and I do not want that.” A willing slave, but a slave nonetheless. Already his erection strained against the zipper of his pants. His hands moving of their own accord, he unbuttoned his jacket and dropped it on the ground.
“Oh,” she ran her hands over her breasts, “but I do. I’ve rarely encountered anyone who could please me as you do. But let me ease your mind. I will be here for only a brief time. After we give each other unimaginable ecstasy, I will set you free. For now.”
Entranced by watching her touch herself, but expecting her usual deception, he frowned. “Why would you do that?” He knew he shouldn’t give her any ideas, but he couldn’t believe she was being so reasonable. Without thinking, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. “I always had to escape before. What is different about this time?” Who was he fooling? He hadn’t escaped so much as she’d temporarily lost interest and let him get away.
She caressed his bare chest with her eyes, then her hands. “Things are very complicated right now,” she admitted. “There are two minor gods fighting over me and I’ve enjoyed using both of them. I can’t let them damage each other. I have plans for them so they both must remain healthy. Therefore I mustn’t be gone long. In fact, I’m sure they’re both out looking for me already.” She leaned in and nipped at his lower lip with her white teeth. “It’s a good thing you have all that vampiric speed and resilience.”
Devereux- the Night Before Kismet Page 2