by L. C. Son
“We should go,” Decaux says in an almost comforting tone. “Our young lord has guests to attend to and a jilted bride to console.”
Dalcour’s eyes glass, but there are no tears nearing release. In all his long years, he’s mastered keeping his emotions at bay. Pulling me into his embrace, Dalcour holds me tight and kisses my forehead.
“Lady Grenoble,” he says, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. His tone is more affirming than the condemning tone just moments before. Even more, it’s the new notable, Lady, now attached to my name that warms the hollowed remains of my heart. “Wherever I am shall always be your home. The day of your making shall not be discounted in my memory. It shall be celebrated! For whatever you are—I am. Never forget that!” Dalcour exclaims and pulls me once more into the cavity of his hold.
Before I have an opportunity to reply, Dalcour disappears from my view in a flash, leaving me alone with Decaux. A lone tear falls to my cheek at his exit, and I look up surprised to find a warm smile glazing Decaux’s face.
“Shall we?” he says, widening his arm, allowing me to loop my arm in his.
As I do, we begin walking down the corridor and I stop shy of our exit.
“Why?” I question, curious as to Decaux’s intentions.
“For Calida,” Decaux starts, he flits his eyes up to the ceiling and bites his lip. At the mention of her name, the typical mischievous and grim expression on his face softens.
He absolutely loved her. I think to myself as I observe the tenderness in his eyes as he speaks her name.
Forcing aside the memories of his beloved, Decaux turns to me, forcing a tight smile and continues, “Because I was unable to save Calida. I owed it to her to save her little sister from certain death. If my brother even caught an inkling of what you have done to Master St. John, I have no doubt you would meet your end. Although I am unsure how you’ve amassed such power in only a little time, I ‘d rather have such a power at my side than destroyed.”
“Then at your side I shall be,” I reply with a smile matching the wickedly beautiful one looking back at me.
Locking our arms tight, Decaux takes us in flight through the museum and into the night.
The one man who I thought would be my reckoning has become my salvation.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Six Months Later
1809 Natchez, Mississippi
Being with Decaux is nothing as I expected. Knowing he was most callous of the Marchand brothers, I knew life with him would be different than the brief time I spent with Dalcour, but this is beyond anything I could imagine.
While Dalcour’s intent was to make me a tamed vampire, worthy of thriving in civility with humans, Decaux’s strategy is quite the opposite.
Not once has Decaux attempted to temper my growing appetite, nor does he balk when I bring food home. As a matter of fact he rather enjoys it.
Of late our routine has been to lure unsuspecting couples seeking a swinging good time of wine and song and feast upon their flesh until we’ve had our full. Decaux prefers masters of large plantations, but I’ve talked him into more inconspicuous patterns that don’t place the enslaved in precarious predicaments.
Although the Changeling curse prevents me from killing women, it yet allows me to lavish in their blood. One such woman, Tabitha, a seamstress I’ve known for years, was the first person I made vampire from my bite. Surprisingly, she took to her turning well and soon joined our ranks. That is, after DeLuca persuaded Decaux to sire him as well.
Once DeLuca learned of my place at Decaux’s side, he left Dalcour and made his abode with us. Decaux wasn’t too thrilled about it at first but seeing the advantages of some of DeLuca’s skill as well as the fact that somehow, DeLuca can still abide in a slither of light, Decaux welcomed him into our family.
Also surprising, DeLuca and Tabitha have been inseparable. In every way imaginable. It would almost be nauseating if I didn’t know just how much DeLuca deserved to finally find some happiness.
Even if it is not with me.
“We’ve got to slow it down, Red!” DeLuca snarls as he and Tabitha hold their latest victim down across Decaux’s long oak table. “This has been the third night on the hunt!” he says slurping the wrist of the slain man beneath his grasp.
“Who’s counting?” Tabitha groans, coming up from air, allowing her long tongue to wipe the blood from her lips.
“He’s right, Chartreuse!” Decaux yells back from his corner where he holds two naked women at his sides. Looking at him, I’m thankful the long brunette hair of one woman covers his manhood. Much like me, Decaux prefers to seduce his victims before feeding. He says the rise in pheromones makes their blood more delicious.
Still the sight of him naked sends me into a frenzy. On my first night with him I attempted to be with him, but he refused citing that my being Calida’s sister made it odd. But the thought of him was just too much to endure, so I tried everything.
I hummed but soon discovered that somehow, he is impervious to my lure. I think it has something to do with my sire bond with Dalcour, but I am not sure. Either way it didn’t work. When that did not pan out, I pulled out all the stops.
I even started walking around his manor naked.
While I could tell more than his interest was piqued, he remained unattainable.
For some reason, the thought of not being desired doesn’t sit well with me, so I needed to at least see if I could seduce him. I wanted to see how long he could resist me.
He was stronger than I thought.
It was only the first night we fed on a couple together that he took me. Drunk on blood, we soiled the couple’s body, knocking them off their own bed and grinding mercilessly into one another.
Decaux was like no other lover I’ve ever known. He was more unrelenting than Titan. Taking me on all fours and sides, Decaux wears his beastly nature in full stride when we drink and pleasure together. There are no caring words, nor gentle and sweet caresses. Only the savagery of two monsters indulging in the highest form of depraved desire without regret or dismay. But once the moment ends, it’s as if nothing happened.
After my ego learned to cope with the reality of what we are to one another, I’ve accepted both what is and what is never to come.
“Fine, this is my last one!” I shout back as I drain the last drop from the piano player I brought back with me from the pub. I really wanted to leave this one alive, but I couldn’t help myself. My feeding frenzy has become quite problematic. Most tamed vampires are capable of feed and release, leaving their donors alive to wonder what happened to them in the morning. But not me. Once my teeth snare their flesh, I cannot stop. It’s as if the wraith boot of the Changelings is on my neck, holding me hostage until I feel the last breath leave their body.
Both DeLuca and Tabitha can go days in between feeding. I can go a half day at best. The fact that I drain most of my prey also makes remaining inconspicuous difficult. Still, Decaux barely chides my predilections and seems rather revived by my otherwise monstrous campaign. DeLuca, on the other hand, grows noticeably irritated. Quite a monster himself, DeLuca would rather we live a bit more unassuming than what has been our recourse.
The beautiful blonde piano player’s limp body falls to the ground just as I take the last drop and I wipe my hands together, licking my lips as I savor in the taste of his sweet blood at the corners of my mouth.
“He was a lovely lad,” Tabitha says coming to my side, faux pouting while twirling her tiny fingers through her long brown tendrils. “I suppose it would be better if the ugly tasted better.”
“Oh now darling,” DeLuca begins, rolling the fallen to a corner now piled with other slain souls. “We both know Red here has no interest in the unattractive. I was the last pigeon nosed pauper she gave a lick of care about.”
“But you are indeed the cutest pauper I’ve ever seen,” Tabitha coos in his ear. “And now you’re all mine!” The two laugh, nuzzling one another and I
smile. It does me good to see my friend happy.
“We do need to do something about your feedings.” Decaux is robed up and at my side before I have a chance to take my eyes off DeLuca and Tabitha. “If the Guard has to clean up anymore of your prowling, Dalcour will be forced to act. The last thing I need is to have him sniffing about. I have too many dealings in the works and I need him to stay focused on the task at hand. Not worrying about you! Balancing the supernatural order, reestablishing the Dunes Pack, and mending the factions.”
Annoyed, my eyes roll to the side as I plop onto a side chair and sigh. Why Decaux is so fixated on Dalcour’s work is beyond me. As much as he seems to revel in our lewd acts, there remains a part of him that yet roots for Dalcour’s success. Even though I understand the bond of siblings, I’ll never understand his interest.
“So to help you wane your cravings, I’ve had DeLuca working on a special project,” Decaux says, snapping his fingers and waving DeLuca over to our side. Giggling, Tabitha keeps her hand intwined with DeLuca’s as she paces at his heels.
Sitting up I look at the wide smiles etched on each of their faces and a shrill of trepidation flows up my spine. “What are you three up to?” I ask as DeLuca pulls a black velvety cloth from his rear.
Holding it in his palms toward me, DeLuca smiles as Tabitha throws her head on his shoulder, cupping her mouth to mute her excitement. Decaux folds his arms across his waist as a sly smile dances at the corner of his mouth. “Take it,” he orders in a gently commanding tone.
Slowly, DeLuca opens the velvety cloth, revealing my father’s pearl handled dagger. However, this time it looks different. “My father’s dagger!” I exclaim as tears well in the corners of my eyes. Leaving all my belongings at Dalcour’s estate, I never thought I’d see them again. Doing my best to stay far from Dalcour, I assumed whatever I left with him was forfeit. “How did you get it?” I ask, looking to both Decaux and DeLuca.
“Your friend here is rather resourceful,” Decaux begins, patting DeLuca on the back.
“When I went back to New Orleans some time ago, I made it my business to collect your effects,” DeLuca says while placing the dagger in my palm. “But we made a few adjustments.”
“A ruby stone?” I question, tracing the crown of the hilt where the large red stone now sits.
“No, it’s actually red jasper. A chakra stone used for healing, endurance, and protection. We believe it will help you with your cravings. Balance you a little,” Decaux replies as he sits down next to me. “Being from Biloxi, DeLuca knew of a few healers and Shaman who were willing to help us with this.”
“Yes, Red, and I hope you don’t mind the changes we had to make to your heirloom. The stone had to be placed in something you held dear. Now we can only hope having the stone in your heirloom will help curb your cravings,” DeLuca adds with the same caring eyes I’ve known since the day I met him.
Soft tears cascade down my face, as I hold the blade in my hands and smile. “Thank you! Thank you all!” I exclaim. This type of happiness is unexpected. Since my turning I’ve endured more heartache than I thought possible, but these last few months with my new family have brought me more joy than I deserve.
“Okay, can we see if it works now? Please?” Tabitha pleas with a bubbly laugh, clasping her hands tight and bouncing.
“Fine! Go get him!” Decaux gruffly answers, covering his mouth with his hands.
“What is going on?” I ask, looking up while wiping the remaining tears from my face.
Running to the back room, Tabitha is out of my sight in an instant. I look up at both Decaux and DeLuca, but they avert their eyes from me, keeping their smiles covered.
“Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on?” I question, confused.
“Well, poppet, we want to be sure this thing works. Since you’ve indulged quite a bit tonight, by normal standards you shouldn’t be hungry. Keeping the stone with you at all times, you should now be able to quiet your frenzy. So we were hoping to put it to test to see—if well—”
“To see if you can manage to keep me yet breathing,” I hear a familiar voice call from the distance.
Tabitha’s squirrely giggles ring aloud in my ears as she comes from the shadows of the back room with a tall and large form at her sides. A recognizable scent hits my nose, but it’s not one I’ve smelled in months. The distinct aroma of Meade and Ripley’s rum punch permeate the large room and I jump up from my chair as my eyes grow wide, watchful of the gargantuan figure amble out of the darkness at Tabitha’s side.
“Scotty!” I exclaim as I see my oversized saloon mate now standing before me.
“In the flesh,” he chuckles as DeLuca’s eyes grow wide with an even brighter smile to match.
“The gang’s all here!” DeLuca laughs as he stands on top of the slain piano player to wrap his arms around Scotty’s neck.
“What are you doing here?” I squeal with both excitement and a tinge of fear.
“Oh, I’m just here to keep you safe, as usual,” Scotty heaves with a faux sigh. DeLuca laughs merrily at Scotty’s gripes as another freefall of tears hit my chin. Tabitha’s smile is bright as she clings to both DeLuca and Scotty and a remnant of my would-be-heart is overjoyed to have my dearest friends with me once again.
“Ah-hem,” Decaux adds, forcibly clearing his throat as he stands from his seat. “While this little reunion is indeed touching, it’s best we get on with the matter at hand.”
“The matter?” I questionably repeat.
“Yes, Little Calida—this matter.” Before I have a chance to react, Decaux’s sharp fangs are in Scotty’s neck in an instant. Scotty moans deep in Decaux’s tight hold but he keeps his eyes on me. Tabitha’s eyes grow black with hunger as her sharp row of razor fangs protrude from her mouth. DeLuca’s eyes also fill with bloodlust, but he works hard to maintain his composure, keeping his sights on me.
Thick warm blood runs down Scotty’s neck and the invitation it brings calls to the pit of my core. But this time something is different. I feel no need to attack him. No urge or pull to dive into his flesh. Looking down at the blade in my hand, I watch in awe as the red jasper stone glows bright.
“It’s working!” DeLuca exclaims, joyful. “I think we did it Red! I think we did it!”
For the first time since my turning, a new peace washes over me. Self-control.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
While I enjoyed indulging in troughs of blood night after night, knowing it was the power of the Changelings at work instead of my own, left me feeling powerless and lacking control. Now with the help of my friends and the new stoned hilt of my father’s dagger, I alone control my fate.
Decaux promised Scotty that should he survive my test he would turn him vampire. Although he made it clear he would not sire Scotty as he’d done for DeLuca, Decaux held his end of the agreement. While Tabitha cleaned up the parlor and disposed of our carnage, Decaux took Scotty to the cellar to begin his transformation.
Unlike Dalcour, Decaux doesn’t ascribe to the taming well method of transformation, but he does work with his new made vampires to ensure they can at least survive their first twenty-four hours. The hardest period for the newly made. Most either make damning mistakes such as walking in the sun, running into a Skull herd, fights with other Scourge or feeding in public which lead to their demise. Hopefully, Scotty will take everything to heart so that he too can join our growing family.
“Red,” DeLuca says as he walks toward me after cleaning himself and changing out of his soiled clothes.
“Yes,” I smile up at him while holding tight to my dagger.
“I’m glad you like it,” he says sitting down next to me.
“I love it. Decaux gave me a holster so that I can keep it at my hip. I can’t tell you how much better I feel knowing I can gain some control over my feeding. I was really starting to scare myself,” I mutter, keeping my eyes on my blade.
“Yeah, I was starting to get w
orried too. I can’t imagine all the pain the Changelings put you through.”
“What?” I snap, startled by DeLuca’s knowledge of the Changelings. Looking around the room I fear either Tabitha or Decaux heard him. Grabbing his knee, I narrow my gaze into his and see a small flickering resting deep behind his eyes. “What do you know of Changelings, DeLuca?”
Pushing my hand from his knee, DeLuca sits back and folds his arms behind his head. “I know more than you think,” he says with a sly smile.
“Tell me!” I demand, shoving his shoulder hard.
“Did you really think you could fool me, Red? Me? Of all people! Vampire—Scourge or not I know my oldest and dearest friend. Even if you can’t see the difference between love in your face from a meddling fly, I know you, Red!”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I sigh, pushing the blade in my holster. Despite his obvious affection for Tabitha, he never fails to find ways to suggest the affection both he and Scotty always had for me. Perhaps I was too blind to see it or chose to ignore it, I don’t know. As I’ve told him time and again, that was a part of my human life and I am no longer human. To which, DeLuca replied by promptly mating with Tabitha. I suppose he was tired of waiting for me to see him in that manner. Still, whatever truth he’s digging for now is beyond me.
“For once Chartreuse this is not about us. I’ve long let that ship sail. But I refuse to see your ship sink!” DeLuca shouts.
“Then speak plainly!” I bite back.
“I don’t know how, when or why you did it, but I know a Changeling influence when I see it. Either Decaux is blind to it or doesn’t care, or both, I knew right away something was different about you. You don’t look like a Scourge when you turn and you’re much stronger than most. At first, I wondered if it were your sire bond, but I knew better. Your feeding frenzy and ravenous hunger, all point to signs of Changeling control.”