She has no more bullets left when she turns to me and asks for more. I grin and shake my head at her.
“Sorry, no can do, Petal. I can’t afford to waste any more ammo, just in case. But do you feel better?”
She smiles. “Much better.”
“That was the plan. Now come on, let’s get back to the house. It seems you have a vamp party to get ready for tonight.”
“Do you really not want to come? Ethan said he’d ensure your safety.”
I wince, because she doesn’t realise how emasculating that sounds. So maybe we don’t think the same thoughts all the time. “No, I’m good. I have my heart set on a quiet night in.”
When we get to Cristescu’s, Tegan rounds up the gang and invites them all to the party at Crimson. Delilah and Ira are the only two who agree to go, with everybody else respectfully declining. We may be living in a vamp house, but that doesn’t mean we want to be in a club with hundreds of them, me especially.
Later on, Allora’s sitting on an armchair alone in the living room when I enter and she seems to blush when she hears me speak.
“Hey, Goldy. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good,” she answers in a quiet voice, rubbing at her arms.
The fireplace close to her is lit, so she can’t be cold. I like to think I might have given her goose bumps with memories of what I did to her this morning. I perch myself on the arm of the chair and when I trail a hand down her curly hair she instinctively sinks into my touch, like an animal seeking comfort. Sometimes it feels like I never really connect with people on this level – touching just for the sake of it. I continue to stroke her until Delilah and Ira enter the room and take a seat on the couch across from us.
Delilah watches me intently while Ira picks a book up from the coffee table and begins flicking through it. I raise a ‘what the eff are you gawking at?’ eyebrow at Delilah and she turns away with a little smirk. What is it with women and wanting to know everything about other people’s love lives?
Pure nosiness.
For a second I have an idea of asking Allora if she’d like to spend the evening in my room with me watching a movie, but then I remember how she can’t see. Hmm, what kind of activities can you do with a blind girl? Many, many completely inappropriate sexual things enter my head. But that’s just it, they’re inappropriate. I want to get to know her in a relaxed and casual environment, but I can’t seem to come up with anything.
Perhaps she’d be content with just listening to the movie? Nah, that wouldn’t work. I give her a quick kiss on the cheek and tell her I’ll be back later. I want to do a circuit of the city to keep an eye on things. When there’s a sorcerer in the mix, the status quo can change rapidly if you’re not paying attention.
Aside from Theodore, I haven’t seen a trace of any witches or warlocks. Marcel in particular has been uncharacteristically quiet this past while. Although saying that, I’ve found that in general the magical families tend to keep a low profile.
I drive towards Indigo only to find the place locked up tight. There are a few shops nearby still open for business, but most of them are empty of patrons. Every once in a while a couple of human police will walk by on patrols, but otherwise the streets are dead.
I sit in my van, biting at my short fingernails and worrying if this is what we have to look forward to from now on. People too afraid to leave their homes and vampires having the run of the place.
It’s evening by the time I get back and all I managed to do was save one old lady from being mugged by a group of human teenagers. I also gave a middle aged man directions to the nearest open grocery store.
You know, real hero stuff.
After so many years constantly fighting a battle, I’m itching for some action. Quiet periods only make me antsy.
Arriving back I find Tegan, Alvie and Amanda in the kitchen trying to prepare dinner. Emphasis on the trying part. They all seem to be working together to make a stew and the counter is a mess of chopped vegetables and meat.
“Ever heard of the saying ‘too many cooks spoil the broth?’” I ask humorously and sit down on a stool to watch them. I pick up a raw carrot and take a bite.
“Oh shush,” says Tegan as she turns back to consult the recipe book she’s working from. “I’m just not used to catering for so many people.”
“I say you give up now and just order in pizza.”
“I second that,” says Lucas as he enters the kitchen. Amanda tenses up at the sound of his voice.
“We’re not cooking for you,” she says, meeting the dark haired vamp’s eyes coolly. She stands with her hands on her hips, staring him down.
His gaze seems to move along her body appreciatively before he replies, “You used to love feeding me.”
Her expression turns frosty.
“Fuck off,” she spits as she turns back around and continues to chop up potatoes with a little too much fervour.
I wince and laugh. “I bet she’s wishing those spuds were your balls right now, mate,” I say as I take another bite from my carrot.
Lucas grins at me with teeth. “Well, that’s women for you, always crazy.”
Tegan whips around to face him. “Just get out of here. Amanda’s not interested in what you have to say.”
“Christ, everyone’s so bloody uptight these days,” he mutters and then raises his voice. “Just so you know, I have no intention of drinking from her ever again. I was trying to make a joke. I forgot humans had no sense of humour.”
Then he slinks out the door and I watch Amanda’s body slump in relief once he’s gone. Tegan puts a hand on her shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Amanda gives her a nod to show she’s okay and they continue to prepare the food.
“Funny, I always thought it was vamps who didn’t have a sense of humour,” I quip.
Tegan laughs. “Yeah, me too. Though when you spend more time around them you realise that they do, it’s just extremely morbid.”
“Huh.”
When Allora enters the room I call her over to me before pulling her between my legs and wrapping my arms around her middle, her back pressed to my front. I lean in and place a soft kiss to her neck and she shivers.
“You hungry?” I ask in a low voice.
“Mm-hmm,” is the only reply she gives and I can tell that she’s tense. She’s shy about me being openly affectionate with her in front of other people. Well, she’d better get used to it, because I have no intention of stopping.
I stroke my hand across her belly, and when Tegan begins gathering vegetables and dumping them into the pot she watches us curiously. The front door opens and shuts and seconds later Cristescu is strolling into the room. He laughs tenderly when he sees Tegan fretting over her concoction; the way he looks at her gives me pause. I’ve never really seen the two of them in an everyday environment like this before; it makes them both seem so normal…and so in love.
God, why do I have to notice things like this? It screws up those ideas the DOH drilled into me for years about vampires being cold-hearted creatures who are incapable of real emotion.
I’m so caught up in my own thoughts that I don’t immediately realise Allora’s tugging on my sleeve.
“Are you okay?” she whispers.
“I’m good,” I say and wink. “Better now that you’re here.”
The way she blushes and looks anywhere other than directly at me kind of makes me hard, so I have to think about other stuff so as not to embarrass myself…such as Theodore naked.
Brrr.
Yep, that did the trick.
We all sit through dinner once Tegan’s stew is ready and it’s actually not too bad. She overdid it a little on the garlic, but overall it was a good effort. Once night falls and they’ve all left for Ethan’s big birthday bash (I know it’s not his birthday, but it has a nice ring to it) I go to my room and plan on spending the night chillaxing for once.
I lie down on the bed, bunch up the pillow until it’s just right and close my eyes. Several minutes
later I start to feel cold and I realise that the room has dropped drastically in temperature. I glance out the window and there’s frost on the glass. The weather wasn’t exactly warm today, but it certainly wasn’t cold enough for frost.
Sitting up from the bed I walk over to the window, running my hand along the surface of the glass. I quickly withdraw my hand when a zing of magic flits through my skin. This is just too weird.
The frost has grown so thick that I can’t see out anymore. I jump when something moves across it, clearing some of the ice and my heart thumps when I see that it’s a hand. Someone is on the other side of the window, a window high up on the second floor.
Moments later a circle has been cleared and I find myself staring through the pane only to be met by Rita’s dark gaze. An unnatural grin forms on her lips as she crooks a finger at me.
Tegan
I’ll say one thing for this Nicu Arcos fellow, he really knows how to throw a party. I enter Crimson arm in arm with Ethan. Delilah, Ira and Lucas are behind us, and all I can see is glittering gold and red confetti as it falls from the ceiling. It’s sort of magical how the lights reflect off the confetti, making the entire place seem as though it’s sparkling.
The vampires crowded into the club all cheer Ethan’s arrival, some of them even thrust bouquets of flowers into his arms. If it was anyone else, they might look bewildered, but not Ethan. He takes it all in his stride with an urbane smile and genteel words of appreciation.
For a second I’m reminded of the victory march of an ancient Roman general, returning home with the spoils of war. Only I’m not sure that taking a hold of the reins in Tribane is really much of a victory. In my opinion it’s more of a poisoned chalice, considering how every single governor I’ve ever met, Herrington, Pamphrock, and Whitfield, has died a distinctly gruesome death.
A large table has been set up in the VIP section, and Nicu guides us all to it where we’re seated and offered glasses of champagne. It’s not that cheap Prosecco stuff either, as I glance at the bottle and see the recognisable labelling of Dom Perignon. I’ll be having my fill of that tonight, no doubt about it. Who knows when I’ll next get the chance to drink £200 champagne?
Perhaps I’ll even sneak a bottle home to share with the others.
You can take the girl out of the poor, but you can’t take the poor of the girl. Or something like that. To be honest, I think I’m already a smidge tipsy, and I’ve only had one glass.
Our table is a flurry of activity as vampires come and go, all wishing to have private words with Ethan. The two occasions where he showed them what he does to traitors must have made them extra eager to convince him of their loyalty.
I’m wearing a tight black sleeveless dress that’s moulded to every curve of my body. I’ve already caught a couple of vampires surreptitiously giving me the ‘I vaaant to suck your blood eyes’. I draw my magic to me as a precautionary measure, just in case any of them decide to act on their thoughts. Delilah and Ira are on the dance floor and I watch as Ira lifts her up off the ground and twirls her around as though she weighs nothing. I guess for a shapeshifter like him she probably doesn’t.
I realise I’m not paying enough attention to what’s going on around me when I feel a warm hand sliding up my leg. I turn to see Ethan’s intent eyes on me as he licks his lips and stares at my cleavage.
Knocking back a sip of my champagne, I ask, “Feeling frisky, are we?”
He smiles darkly. “With you, always.”
The next thing I know he’s leaning forward and capturing my mouth with his. His fingers move further up my thigh to my underwear and I gasp when he presses between my legs. His other hand sinks into my hair and grips the base of my neck, pulling me closer to him.
“Ethan,” I whisper hoarsely. “This is a little public for my taste.”
“Shall we go somewhere private then?”
I grin. “That would be terribly rude to your guests.”
The waiter walks by and replaces my glass of bubbly with a new one, while Ethan’s predatorily sexual eyes zone in on my tongue as it sneaks out to wet my lips.
“I suppose I’ll just have to get you later then,” he murmurs right before Nicu appears at the table with another old male vampire who wants to be introduced to Ethan.
I take the opportunity to pay a quick visit to the bathroom. After I’ve done my business I’m accosted by two lady vamps who ooh and aah over my dress and my hairstyle, complimenting me endlessly about every little detail of my outfit. I never realised just how much there was to be said about a plain black dress and matching heels, I think to myself sarcastically.
“You must come shopping with us sometime,” says the blonde one. “I know a little boutique that you’d just love.”
“Oh yes,” says the other, “and come for tea at my house. We always have small get-togethers on Thursdays and we’d love if you would join us.”
On and on they talk at me and it finally dawns on me what’s going on. They want to get in good with Ethan’s human, because getting in good with me is a step closer to getting in good with him. For a brief second the blonde’s eyes flash red and her fangs slip out. She seems embarrassed as she quickly regains her composure and her fangs disappear back inside her mouth.
“I apologise,” she says. “You just smell so good.”
The other one laughs. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I was thinking the exact same thing.”
Suddenly, I don’t feel all that comfortable stuck in the ladies’ room with these two, so I hastily make my excuses and leave. Sometimes I feel like a pot of honey next to a swarm of flies when I’m around vampires. All the champagne I’ve been drinking really has gone to my head, because I’m starting to edge into the realm of ‘too drunk for a vamp party’. Eager eyes seem to watch my every move as I make my way through the club.
I’m struck with the thought of how easily any one of these vamps could attack me right now and my heart skips a beat. Panic grips me. I really need to find Ethan.
The place is so crowded that it takes me forever to get back to the VIP section. I can’t see Ethan anywhere and my breathing quickens. Then someone’s gripping my arm and I turn to find Lucas standing over me, his expression surprisingly etched with concern.
“Tegan, are you okay?”
I swallow hard. “Um, yes. I mean, no. Yes. Uh, I think I might be having a panic attack.” I put my hand to my chest and rub, trying to calm myself down. “The crowd is freaking me out,” I say then and Lucas nods.
“Come on, I’ll take you to Ethan’s office. You can have a moment to relax in there.”
He leads me back to the office and opens the door to the empty room. I step inside and the space instantly makes me feel much better. Lucas steps in after me, but he leaves the door open a little and I’m grateful for that.
“Thanks,” I say to him finally. “There were these two women in the bathroom who wouldn’t leave me alone and I just panicked.”
“They wouldn’t leave you alone?” he questions.
“Yeah. Well, not in a bad way. Not really. There were just being nice, too nice. And then they started getting all fangy and saying how good I smelled and I had to get away.”
Lucas chuckles. “Fangy? Really, Tegan?”
I wave him off. “You know what I mean.”
Lucas walks into the adjoining bathroom and returns with a glass of water, handing it to me. “Drink this, it might sober you up a little.”
I snort. “I’m not drunk.”
The only response I get is a cynically raised eyebrow.
“I’m serious. This is what I call tipsy. Drunk is a whole other ball game.”
His eyes trail to the ceiling and he seems bored now. I sip on the water and study him.
“So, what was that all about with Amanda earlier? Ethan said you’d agreed to steer clear of her, and yet, there you were, being all provocative and shit,” I slur and I have to wonder if maybe I am drunk.
“I take it you mean provocative
as in provoking, as opposed to provocatively sexual?” he asks smartly and I scrunch up my nose at him.
He sighs. “I’m not the evil person you think I am. I actually have a bit of a soft spot for little Amanda if you must know. I’ve never had a blood donor stay with me as long as she did. I see how you and Ethan interact and it makes me wonder if maybe I could be with a human and not have to drink from her.”
Whoa. Um, okay. I’m not sure what to say to that. I simply stare at him, slack-jawed, and he laughs. He’s about to say something else when suddenly there’s the noise of a commotion coming from the main area of the club. I hop off the desk I’d been perched on and follow Lucas as he hurries out.
The vampires have all left the dance floor. Now they hover around the outskirts of the club, an air of fear permeating them. When I move to get closer and see what’s happening, my heart literally stops beating. In the centre of the dance floor are Theodore and Rita, and in front of them are ten people, each wearing a black bag on their heads and matching black jumpsuits showing numbers from one to ten.
Ethan strides from where he’d been sitting in the VIP section, his eyes glittering with silver and red, his fangs gloriously extended.
“What do you think you are doing here, Sorcerer?” he demands in a calm voice laced with undertones of simmering rage.
Theodore giggles in that high-pitched way of his before answering, “I thought I’d pay a visit so that we could play a little party game.”
“Go. Now,” Ethan tells him but Theodore shakes his head slowly and waggles something in his hand. It looks like a tiny black remote.
“Ever heard of a nail bomb?” Theodore asks and Ethan’s form grows very, very still.
“What have you done?” he seethes.
“No?” Theodore chirps, ignoring Ethan’s question. “Well, I’ll tell you. A nail bomb is just like a regular bomb, except it’s packed with nails in order to maximise the injuries it causes. I’ve always found it a fascinating idea and decided I’d come up with my own version: a stake bomb.” There’s a collective intake of breath. “Much larger in size and slightly more cumbersome, a stake bomb is a wonderful device when taking down vampires.”