Urban Vampire: The bookset 1-3

  “Well, other Vampires—they call themselves Neratomay, could sense me … especially one in particular; Tony. He came to bring me in. He was a Council member, which is a big thing in the Vampire world. It would be the same as being a Senator or a Governor. It was him that made me understand what I was, and he fed me and taught me how to find donors—willing donors, that would keep me fed.”

  I studied Sam’s eyes and saw that she was intrigued as if she was watching a good movie.

  “Well, the problem is that in the Vampire world if you are turned by a Second Generation Vampire, which is lower then a Master level—the result is a Third. Thirds are treated like…like…mistakes. It’s illegal to make a Third. Generally, Thirds are still mostly human, and they have no instincts but they have varying forms of Vampire abilities. They can be unpredictable and dangerous to the Vampire world. I was taken to a Council meeting to be tried and I was found guilty of being among the unpredictable, and ordered to be put to death.”

  Sam’s eyes grew big.

  “But, there’s a loophole. Any Vampire that can kill a Master or Council member in a fair fight can take their position and their belongings. Well when the Council was trying to kill me--in self-defense I killed a Master level Council Member. Therefore I attained his position, his belongings…but also his responsibilities. My secretary, Monica, made the transition easy, because she had been his Secretary and I really didn’t need to know all the ‘behind the scenes’ type information.’”

  Sam finished my thought. “So now you’re in a bind, because you never really learned the ‘behind the scenes’ type things.”

  “Yes. And I have trust issues. I’ve been p-punished.” I didn’t like how I stuttered. I must have been really tired. Paul didn’t like it either because his eyes flashed at me curiously.

  “Punished? What do you mean punished?” Sam’s eyes stayed cool but I could feel her heartbeat quicken.

  I had allowed myself to breath just to put Sam at ease. Now I took a deep breath. “When a Vampire goes against Vampire law they are judged by their Council…but a Council member is judged by an Elder Council. I was found guilty and was…punished. My punishment was to be wrapped in a curtain of silver.”

  Sam flinched and looked away. “God…That’s…HORRIBLE! After what I just saw, Kim that’s nothing less then torture!”

  “It was…torture,” I agreed.

  She looked at me again. “Can I ask what you were found guilty of?”

  I nodded. But on this topic I had to tread carefully. I couldn’t reveal all, not until I knew if she would really come to us. “The Vampire that had saved me—turned me, was found and tried and his punishment was to be death.” I swallowed dryly. I still hadn’t gotten over Tige’s death and it wasn’t easy to recount this. “I was told that there is one way to save a Vampire that has been tried and found guilty; if you are materially involved in the reason for the punishment, then you can take that punishment in his stead.” Sam frowned and studied me. I couldn’t meet her eyes again as I continued to speak. “I didn’t see any reason why I should continue as the undead…Vampires were trying to kill me left and right…and frankly I was afraid of the changes happening to me. There was…a desire to save him but a desire to…give up as well.”

  “Why didn’t you die then? The punishment, I mean?”

  Paul watched me closely, silently.

  “I’m not like other Vampires.” I looked at her long. Please don’t ask me anymore about that. I urged her silently and she took the suggestion, probably without even knowing that I had given her one. But it was obvious that she was a sharp one.

  “I don’t see why there should have been a punishment anyway, after all, it was a life and death situation in which he spared your life.”

  My chin felt good enough to remove the damp towel. “Politics. Vampires have politics just like humans do. They don’t like me so they’ve tried many things to get me out of the way.” I smiled sadly. “I have a good network of friends that help me, and so far I’ve been able to prevail over their desires. So far.”

  Sam nodded and then looked at Paul. “I … have a million questions.” She turned back to me. “But the only one that I need you to answer now is this; are you planning to kill me?”

  I gasped. “No! I would never do that—I’ve never killed a human. I never will.” As the lie slipped from my lips I immediately put my head in my hands and burst into sudden tears.

  “Kim!” Sam cried out in alarm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to imply-”

  Paul was suddenly lifting me into his arms. “Sam, I have to put my wife to bed—she hasn’t slept yet-”

  I uncovered my face. “No, put me down. I need to finish this.”

  Reluctantly he did but he hovered near me.

  “I k-killed Monica.” I squeezed my fists until my nails dug painfully into my palms.

  “Kim-“ Paul interrupted.

  “Let her finish.” Sam commented. “What are you saying? Your ex-secretary, you killed her?”

  I recounted the story surrounding Monica’s death. On this it overlapped with Paul’s story but she stared at me intently as I haltingly repeated the events that led up to my turning my friend.

  Afterwards she closed her eyes. Blindly she reached out and gripped my hands.

  “My love, you are a beautiful, wonderful person. Those other Vampires…they’re nothing like you. You just wanted to save her.” She opened her eyes and looked at me. “She gave her consent.” I squeezed my eyes closed feeling myself trembling and then she tugged my fist firmly until I met her stern gaze. “Kim, why are you taking responsibility for this?!” She moved her hands to my arms where she shook me and I looked at her surprised. “The Werewolves did this!” Sam stopped abruptly and stared in utter shock into the distance. “What am I saying … ?” She mumbled. “Vampires, werewolves. Please tell me you’re not having fun with me?”

  I dropped my teeth. After a moment Paul morphed just enough not to look completely human. Immediately we changed back.”

  Sam blinked and for a moment I feared that we had over played our hand.

  Please don’t leave… I pleaded silently.

  Sam stiffened her back. “I want to be your secretary, Kim. I have the experience—over twenty years--to assist you with your…professional dealings. But more importantly, I want to be your Personal Assistant because I don’t want you to EVER lose that human spark that you have right now. I’m going to stick around so that you will remember what it is to be like US.”

  In relief I lowered my head back into my hands. She was right. I couldn’t afford to lose my humanity…and that’s what all of this was leading to. This way of life was turning me into a monster.

  Fearlessly Sam pulled me into her arms and held me in a way that my husband, my lovers, my donors never could: she held me like a mother.

  CHAPTER 4

  As I said, my sleep is like death. As soon as Paul lifted me back into his arms to carry me to bed, I was out like a light. I hoped that Sam didn’t see it because to humans it can be very unsettling. The first time Paul had seen me like that he had wanted to rush me to the hospital.

  When I awoke, it was full dark. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand.

  Nine o’clock! Damn! I jumped up and hurried to the bathroom to clean up. I hadn’t slept this late in a while.

  Forgetting about the burn on my chin I was reminded of it instantly when I splashed soapy water on my face. It stung like hell. I examined the wound in the mirror, and although mostly healed it was still nasty.

  In my greed to take something that I should never have taken without permission—I had gotten my just deserts. Despite the pain, I was happy that it had happened. And I was happy about the new addition to my family.

  A weight had fallen off my shoulders…but only one of many. I shivered as water droplets slid down my face and neck. Instantly my hunger flared and with it came slow build up in tension in the pit of my stomach that ebbed and flowed erotically.

/>   I shuddered back the need for both food and sex and left the master suite, sending out feelers for the location of anyone home. Paul and the baby were the only two present and they were in the kitchen. I wondered how Sam had taken to things after I’d gone. I worried that because I hadn’t sealed the deal with a bite then she might…’come to her senses’, for lack of a better phrase. The bite promised more pleasure—without the bite there was nothing but fear or mind control. I had left her completely in her own state of mind.

  Paul gestured for me to be quiet as I stepped through the kitchen entrance. He was giving Julie her bottle and she was sleeping soundly in his arms. I loved watching this big deadly man act so gentle with his fragile child.

  Carefully he withdrew the empty bottle from her lips and when she didn’t open her eyes to wail a protest, Paul sighed in relief. “I’m going to put her to bed. Be right down,” he projected the thought at me, and then left the room with her.

  I drummed my fingers anxiously along the granite breakfast bar. “Mara?” I linked with her mentally. She was driving; on her way to my house. I was hungrier then usual and she was dinner. Most times I went to the food but Mara wanted to visit the baby. Truthfully, BJ was more than just my daughter; she was the daughter that none of my donors had. So I shared—BJ could not go wrong by having several deadly uncles and aunties to protect her.

  I was really thankful that my ladies had worked it out amongst themselves to sit for me. I could hire a human nanny—or au pair as Sam had called it, but I would never rest comfortably unless my daughter was with someone who could protect her, someone with enhanced senses, and someone that was family.

  “Hey Chica, I’ll be there in five. Everything okay?”

  “Yes…see you when you get here. Paul just put Julie to sleep.”

  “Well damn, but she never sleeps long. I’ll hang around until she’s awake.”

  “Cool. Her eyes have been changing. You gotta see it!”

  “I can’t wait. I’m pulling up to the drive.”

  “Use the key … and Mara … I’m sorry but the succubus…she’s not been fed—and I’m really hungry; both ways.”

  I felt her sigh but not totally in displeasure.

  The succubus surpassed sexual orientation. As far as I could tell none of my ladies were anything but heterosexual and yet any of them would gladly have sex with me. In the past we’ve pushed the envelope more times then I can count.

  Paul returned to the kitchen happily. “Baby is sleeping, we have a new secretary-” he gripped my waist and spun me around in a happy dance. I grinned too, but it had very little to do with finding Sam. I sniffed the air around him and felt the satin moisture of my desire against my panties.

  He was intoxicating. His animal wolf smell was just beneath his skin because the full moon was less than a week away. Sometimes…I just wanted to rip flesh—like now. It wasn’t a Vampire urge because I had it every month when the full moon was close—and right now it was very close.

  I gazed at him with carefully shielded desire of a different type. Paul’s Werewolf would never let me rip his flesh. But Paul would, if it wasn’t for the damned Werewolf…

  My God … what an awful thought.

  Paul lowered me to the floor carefully. “What does that look mean?” He still grinned a little…but just a little.

  “Mara’s coming.” I responded breathlessly, as if that was an answer to everything unanswered.

  Paul lifted his head and looked off into the distance. “Yes, she’s getting her keys.” He looked at me again, this time his brow drew together in concern. “We haven’t made love. Are you okay to take blood from her?”

  Honestly … I didn’t know. “I will make it quick.”

  “You can feed from me-”

  “She’s here now.” I turned to walk out of the kitchen and Paul took my arm.

  “Kim,” I turned back to him. “We’ve both been preoccupied and haven’t made love. Are you sure you want to loose the succubus on Mara? I mean-”

  I hushed him. “Right now all I want to do with you is to rip with my teeth…and eat and then drink you!” Paul’s heartbeat quickened. “With her I won’t want that.” I tried to turn around but he stopped me again.

  He sniffed long and his eyes glimmered between his and the Wolf’s. “I want that too ... ” he growled low. I looked at his hand on my upper arm.

  “Not now, Paul,” I pleaded. I was afraid. This was moving into a direction that we’ve barely talked about. “This is not the right time,” not when I was half out of control and about to feed on a human. He seemed to come back to awareness and then he released his hold on me. I hurried to the front room where Mara was hanging up her jacket.

  “Hi guys.” She took a double take, her brow crinkling. “My God…you two have it bad…I can feel your passion in the air. What’s been going on around here?” Her eyes narrowed at me. “Kim? Is that a burn on your chin?”

  I sighed and tried to release some of the pent up sexual tension. “I had a run in with a piece of silver.”

  “Around here? Who brought silver in the house?”

  I smiled. “Sam. She didn’t know any better.”

  “Who is Sam?” I stopped walking just inches from her. “She’s going to be my new Personal Assistant.”

  As I spoke I saw Mara’s breath come out in a fast pant and the blacks of her eyes magnify. She was a small woman, petite with long black hair. She was Brazilian, with brown skin and warm chocolate eyes. Of my ladies, Mara was the one that knew the most about the supernatural. It was her that taught Paul about the unknown elements that could give him superhuman abilities. It was her tales that convinced him that it was possible to become more powerful.

  Heat radiated from Mara and bathed me as she leeched onto some of my desire. I was hypersensitive to her now. I was in synch with her heartbeat, her breathing…even the way her scent exuded her growing desire.

  I placed my hands on Mara’s shoulders, otherwise I would embrace her…and that would be dangerous for the both of us.

  Just bite, Kim. Just bite and let her go. But as soon as my lips touched her flesh my succubus flooded me. Mara felt it even though I hadn’t yet bitten. She tilted her head, offering me her neck with no compulsion, no fear.

  My tongue traced the line of her pulse. Her body tightened and I could feel the goose bumps as they spread along her flesh.

  “Please … ” she moaned. I bit down luxuriating in the way my teeth sank into her flesh. Usually I made it fast because there is pain in being bitten, but I didn’t want it fast.

  Mara gasped and I was instantly ashamed, until I realized that it was a gasp not of pain but of pleasure. I did not know that about her.

  The succubus within me found her pleasure to be to its liking.

  Paul who had trailed into the front room, watched. I sensed this more than saw. He was concerned for the both of us…yet intrigued.

  Mara’s hands formed claws as she clutched at me—not to push me away, but to draw me closer. I had never done this before to anyone, but I opened my mouth dripping blood onto the both of us, and then I bit her again.

  Mara cried out pulling me tighter. I don’t remember us embracing but we were gripping each other in some type of strange blood dance. It was something Alexis would do, with his feet levitating from the ground.

  The two of us were hovering inches from the ground and I was spinning us slowly in a circle. I’ve never hovered and I was aware of it only from a detached, disinterested way.

  Not me … the succubus. That was its power. Alexis was succubus too and that’s why he hovered and moved without using his feet. Dear God …

  I suddenly felt Paul’s hand lightly touching the back of my neck. His other hand lightly touched the back of Mara’s. He was pushing us downward, back to the floor. When my feet touched the floor I wanted no more of this new ability. I pulled my teeth from her neck.

  Blood shot out on me. I’d made such a mess…but I didn’t trust myself to put my mouth
on her again. I reached out with my fingers—four of them due to the four holes that I’d left in her neck, and I staunched the flow.

  “Mara?” I called and the fear in my voice surprised me.

  She stared into space before dragging her eyes to me. She trembled suddenly.

  “It was inside of me…” she murmured.

  I frowned and shook my head. That wasn’t possible. “No…” but now it was my turn to tremble.

  Paul looked from one to the other of us wordlessly, but I could practically see the wheels in his head spinning. He still had his hands on the backs of our necks, like we would float away if he released us.

  Her eyes cleared. “It was in me Kim,” she insisted. “The succubus. I could feel it—moving through me. And then you pulled away and it went with you. I didn’t know that it was like that for you. Is that how you feel it, like another THING in you?”

  “No.” I was still shaking my head. “Mara, I can’t feel the succubus like its separate…at least not until just now.” I moved my fingers from her neck but it was still bleeding. Hell!

  “Still bleeding. I have to stop it.” Her eyes blinked slowly and she leaned forward anxiously. I covered the bleeding wounds with my mouth. Immediately I wanted more. But I could still feel Paul’s hand on me and it kept me rooted in more ways then one.

  I pulled away when the coppery taste of her disappeared.

  “Please…” she begged.

  “No more,” I said breathlessly. Mara had never begged me before. She was a pro. As a donor she was more experienced than any of my other ladies. I had messed up. Paul was right, I had loosed the succubus on her and now it as well as Mara was left wanting.

  I blinked rapidly, suddenly remembering something that hadn’t occurred to me in years. She can feel the succubus! She can feel the succubus! I kept chanting this in my mind. Dear Lord, she can feel it!

  Paul looked at me curiously and I must have looked hideous with her blood dripping down my face and a wild look in my eye.