Disclaimer See Part 1
I've have come to the end of Book Two in the Guardian series and I am once again surprised to find that many readers out there actually loved my story, broken English and all. To the readers, thank you for the feedback and cool e-mails I've received from you. Some of you raised interesting points which helped a lot in refining the story. To Allison, thank you first for offering to and reading the last two chapters of A Guardian's Love, your input is much appreciated.
Feedback: This is my first try and not being a native English speaker, it's so much more challenging. Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .
PART 10
(conclusion)
Chapter 14
“In hindsight, I think you would've been much safer with Mercredi than locked up in here with me at this stage,” Genevieve said suddenly and Inger felt an acute feeling of unease coming over her. The green eyes were looking at her peculiarly.
“What do you mean?”
The vampiress slowly stepped away from her.
“They have starved me for the past week and my strength is slowly fading.”
Inger nodded slowly. She got the picture, but she wanted this angelic-looking woman to put her fear in words. “What are you trying to tell me?” she asked softly.
Right before her eyes the green eyes changed to a deep glowing red.
“I need to feed…now.” The words sounded hollow and the atmosphere in the room turned slightly ominous.
When Genevieve took a step closer, Inger quickly took two steps back.
“I do not mean to hurt you, child, but my nature is that of a predator. I need to feed to survive.”
Turning to look at the closed door, Inger took a shaky breath. How ironic, she thought. She got saved from the monster only to be eaten by a beautiful soft-spoken vampiress who happened to be married to her uncle.
****************
Tahlia was worried about Paloma. The Assassin was standing at the window staring out as she had been doing for the past five hours since they'd returned to mansion. The ghouls had done major damage to their number, having seriously injured five of their seasoned warriors including Juan. After patching them up as best they could, they had quickly put the injured to ground to heal while the rest of them devised a plan on how to breach Mercredi's fortress.
Upon their return, they'd searched the mansion and everyone else had been accounted for except Inger. The staff and the Consortium members were found downstairs locked in the bunker and James and Rafina were found locked in their walk-in closet. But there was no sign of Inger. Jemima had frantically searched the house before collapsing in Tahlia's arms, sobbing as if her heart was breaking. It was at that moment, Paloma had entered the house. Her face was pale and she had a very dangerous gleam in her eyes. A gleam Tahlia knew all too well. Paloma was seething with anger.
“I followed the getaway car. They took her to a building in the city centre. There seem to be some kind of an underground safe house there,” she had said with a calm, which belied her true state.
Jemima was up and ready to go immediately, but Tahlia had held her back, making her turn her anger loose on the two of them. “My child is in the clutches of a ruthless killer and the two of you have the time to sit and make plans on how to go and rescue her. She might already be dead while you are sitting here wasting time,” she has screamed, pummeling Tahlia chest.
It had taken Pierre 's gentle explanation as to why a sound-proof plan was the optimal way to go, which finally calmed her down. Lucky for them James was nearby to take over from Pierre . That was five hours ago. Tahlia knew she had to keep a level head and not become emotional even though the thought of her baby, scared and alone, and in the clutches of Mercredi was too much to bear.
But Paloma truly worried her. The woman was unnaturally quiet, just staring out the window, waiting. Now and then she would lift a hand to her face and Tahlia knew that Paloma was wiping away tears. Paloma almost never cried and the fact that she was doing it now, made Tahlia uncomfortable. She wasn't sure how close to breaking point her friend was.
“We will get her back, Paloma.”
“Alive?” Paloma's voice was filled with so much anguish that Tahlia walking over to her friend and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Yes. We will go in there and turn the place upside down looking for her.”
“Good.” The silver eyes had turned to her and the coldness in them was unsettling. A killer's eyes , it echoed down the corridors of her mind. Throughout the ages, Tahlia had heard whispers of the Vampire Assassin's eyes. People had shuddered as they had whispered tales of the deadly vampire assassin, but she had never, personally, seen that look in Paloma's eyes. Until today. It didn't bode well for those who were not on their side today. “Then come with me and let me go get my woman, Tahlia.”
“I understand how you're feeling, but I think we need to wait for the Consortium to send more hunters. Mercredi will be well protected and he would've laid a trap for us by now.”
Paloma turned back to gaze out the window again, her broad shoulder slumped in defeat.
“They will also not expect us to attack during the daylight hours.”
That made perfect sense too and was the deciding point for her. She had to save her daughter and redeem herself in the eyes of her wife and her friend. The final decision rested with her after all. She just hopes they hadn't wasted too much time and that Inger was okay. Jemima and Paloma would never forgive her if Inger was hurt.
“Let's go.”
****************
Shrouded in complete invisibility, they entered the building through the underground parking. There were no guards in sight and even if there had been any they wouldn't have known of the two vampires slipping pass them. Inside the building, Tahlia turned to look at Paloma and was once again shocked by the deadly look in her friend's eyes.
“Remember, it's a grab and go. We locate Inger and Genevieve and leave. Mercredi and his goons we leave for later when the women are safe.” As she gave the order, she knew that even if Paloma answered affirmative, she had to prepare for whatever could come their way. She came for her daughter, but the flint-eyed woman next to her came for more than just the love of her life. She has come for her survival. The only reason for her existence.
“Yes.” The word came out smoothly, but there was a deadly undertone to the soft spoken word.
**************
The door opened again and this time Toro was accompanied by two burly guards, all armed with to the teeth. Toro's eyes swiped the room, confused; they came to rest on her. Inger gave him a shaky smile and just then the radio stuck on his left shoulder crackled.
“Get out of there now, Toro! She's on top of you,” a panicky voice sounded, but it was too late.
Death came from the ceiling and its punishment was swift. Genevieve went for Toro, grabbing him by the neck. She flung him against the granite wall and Inger watched him slowly crumpling to the floor, unconscious. When she turned her attention back to the rest of the fight, one of the guards opened fire and was shooting wildly into the room. She ducked behind the marble slab on which she had first woken up almost two hours ago. The shooting ended quickly and when she wanted to sneak a peek to see what was happening she found she couldn't move. A dull ache in her chest made her glance down quickly only to see a bright red stain blossoming on her tan dress. She'd been hit. She slowly lifted her hand to touch the stain, but she was swept up into strong arms.
“You've been shot. Hold on, Brave One. I will get you to safety.”
As if in slow motion, she saw them dashing down the long corridor, but before they'd reached the end, a male voice raise the alarm. With a soft curse, Genevieve changed course and turned back, running back the way they'd come.
A few doors down the hall, Mercredi looked up from where he was busy feeding on a teenage boy, his teeth stained with blood. He turned to look at the guards surrounding him. With flapping nostrils, he sniffed the air and growl deeply.
“What are you waiting for? They are here.” He threw the motionless body of the body away from him as if it was a piece of stained cloth. “The one who can bring me the head of any of the master vampires will be richly rewarded.”
******************
Both Tahlia and Paloma came to an abrupt halt when the shots rang out. They both groaned when they felt the ruthless pain of the bullet piercing skin, but before Tahlia could react to the sensation, Paloma was already speeding down the hallway.
Inger was hurt badly!
They turned a corner and were greeted by a hail of bullets barely missing them. Their presence had been detected. Doubling back, Paloma glanced at Tahlia. No matter what, her first priority was to see to the safety of her Queen.
A quick scanned confirmed that Tahlia wasn't hurt, but this time the Vampire Queen's eyes had darkened with emotion.
“We need to get to Inger.”
They were just about to turn the corner, when a cool breeze came past them and with guns blazing; the red-haired renegade came down the hallway, taking out four of the six gunmen. She ducked into a doorway and turned to look back at them.
“I will cover you. Go and save Inger and my mother.”
Tahlia stared at the woman for a few moments before nodding.
“Thank you. I am indebted to you.”
The green eyes that looked back at her were icy-cold. “Just make sure you save Genevieve and we can call it even.”
Tahlia nodded.
^^^^^^^^^
Genevieve was concerned as she looked down at the girl in her arms. She needed a doctor or she wouldn't make it. For a second she contemplated an option, but as quickly as it grazed her mind, she discarded it. Only once in her life had she turned a human and that was four hundred years ago. She had promised herself that she would never do it again no matter what. Luckily her daughter turned out to be a pure, caring soul, fighting the vermin that Drake and Mercredi created. The sounds of gunshots came closer and it pulled her out of her reverie.
< Pierre , I need you now.>
There was silence for a seconds or two before the deep calm voice of her husband came.
<I'm on my way. Tahlia and Paloma are close by. I am not far behind, ma cherie.>
Sighing with relief she held the girl closer to her. She will not let her die even if the odds were against them. This young woman had selflessly offered her life's blood to her a while back. She had been scared, but with grim determination held out her wrist for her to feed. Brave child, she thought and placed a tender kiss on the sweaty forehead. She was spurred into action by a ricocheting bullet which came too close for comfort.
The hallway was murky by smoke of the gunfire, but her supernatural sight saw past the dense cloud as she dashed to the closest doorframe. There was a lull in the gun battle and just as she was about to make a move for the next doorframe a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
Genevieve swirled around, her fangs barred and her eyes shining bright red. Ready to defend them with all she had. She encountered hard silver eyes. Paloma! The Assassin was already taking the unconscious girl from hers. The silver eyes softened considerably and yet she could still see the anguish in their darkening depts.
“Let me look at her.”
There against a steel door and with gunshots cracking around her, Genevieve saw what she'd thought she'd never witness. The woman whose exploits filled volumes upon volumes, tenderly pressed her lips tenderly to the bluish tinted lips of the girl and when she looked up, a lonely red tear trickled down her cheek. Love . No matter what they were, they all were susceptible to that one emotion. In that regard they were all the same. She watched as Paloma opened up the girl's dress and prodded the wound before bringing her wrist to her mouth. A soft tuck and her vein popped open. A few drops of potent blood were dripped onto the wound, before the bloodied wrist was placed against the pale lips.
“Drink, my love. Just a few sips.” Paloma gentle rubbed the girl's throat to help her swallow. A sip… a cough…a sip…and then a longer sip. A bullet ricocheted nearby and the silver eyes looked up again. This time they held a deadly intent.
“Get her out of here, Genevieve.”
Paloma gently handed Inger's body to Genevieve, but only after she'd placed a soft kiss on the slack lips of her lover.
*************
The horrendous stench grew stronger the closer she came to the room that Genevieve had directed her to. Standing outside the room between the two heavily armed guards who were unaware of her presence, Paloma felt the beast rearing again. The monster inside that was responsible for the pain Inger was in right now. Paloma felt an unholy fury surge through her as she looked at the two guards, but held back. They were renegades but still she felt it wasn't honorable to kill them without them being aware of her presence.
She dropped her invisibility cloak. The guards moved as one, drawing their weapons on her. Growling, Paloma let the beast loose. As if in a daze herself, she felt the bones cracked and snap into place. A searing pain cleaved through her as her frame slowly morphed into that of a huge white wolf. Paloma shuddered at the rush of power she felt as her human form fell away.
The beast jumped the guard closest to it. With blood dripping from its mouth, it turned to the next guard as behind her the first guard's body dropped to the floor. The second one turned and pushed through the doors, but she was on him in an instant. Its powerful jaws clammed down on the renegade's neck and with a loud snap the fight was over. The beast turned, its red eyes coming to rest on the creature standing in the middle of the room.
With his claws showing, Mercredi was flexing his muscled wings, flapping it loudly and making the furniture in the room scatter and shatter against the walls.
“We meet again, Assassin?” Mercredi rasped, spittle running down his deformed chin.”This time however, I believe we are on equal footing.”
The beast took a step back, knowing that the Queen was just a few seconds behind it. Paloma felt the creature's shock at her retreat, but she wanted to fight him in her human form, savoring the moment. The beast would be too eager to rip and kill. Mercredi deserved so much more. His name was written in blood on her list. He needed to suffer. In her present form, Paloma felt her mouth salivate at the idea of tearing Mercredi apart - piece by piece. She felt Tahlia's presence behind her and started the shape shifting process. As painful as it was she relished it knowing that once back in her human form she would enjoy destroying the creature more.
The beast's nature was to kill, but in her human form she could still toy with him before she sent him off to hell. There was a subtle movement and an army of gun trotting vampires appeared before them, surrounding both her and Tahlia. Paloma felt the anger rolling off in waves from the Vampire Queen.
Tahlia hated renegades and she hated them even more when they thought they could best her – like now. Just as she jumped into action, three more vampires appeared behind her. The cavalry has arrived. Jonas, Pierre and Jemima joined Tahlia. Her conversion was done and Paloma quickly waved her hand, covering her naked frame in a dark leather suit. Mercredi was still standing in the centre of the room and drawing her sword, she approached the creature.
The beady red eyes of renegade leader followed her every move as she came to stand a few feet from him.
“I have been dreaming of this moment,” he rasped in a guttural voice, flexing his claws. “You destroyed my son, my heir.” A claw reached out and a sharp-nailed digit was pointed at her. “For that I will tear you apart.”
Not justifying the threat with a response, Paloma's sword shot out and sliced upward, leaving a long red streak of blood in its wake. Mercredi blinked in surprise, but ducked quickly when the sword flashed once again in his direction again. When the sword came up again, he held out his powerful claw to stop the blow, only to stare at his severed limb lying at his feet.
The Assassin was staring at him with unblinking eyes. She was stronger and he got the feeling that she was toying with him. She took a threatening step closer and when he didn't budge, she smiled; a cruel turning of the lips.
“Many friends and honorable warriors died disgraceful deaths on your orders, Mercredi. Tonight I will avenge their deaths and make sure that you end up in hell where you belong.”
***************
She felt as if millions of tiny insects were running up her bloodstream and Inger shivered at the sensation. What was happening to her? Was she being turned? Was she a renegade now? Her eyes slowly creaked open and she was stunned by the darkness which surrounded her. Where was everybody? She groaned when she tried to sit up and deep pain shot through her chest. She fell back and searched her mind for what had happened to her. Slowly it all came back. Her abduction. Genevieve saving her. She tried to sit up again. This time she did it slowly and looked down at the bandage which was wrapped tightly around her. How did they expect her to breathe with this thing being so tight? Touching the bandage she groaned. A few more centimeters to the left and the bullet would have struck her heart, killing her. The door opened and she could make out the bulky figure of her grandfather.
“Grandpa,” she called softly and saw him rushing over to the bed.
“Hi, honey. You're not supposed to be out of bed yet.” He gently swung her feet back onto the bed and covered her. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, before pulling a chair towards the bed.
“What happened, Grandpa?”
“Genevieve and Trinity brought you here, before returning to help the others.”
She shifted through her mind again.
“Trinity?”
“Genevieve's daughter. You've apparently met before. She too is a vampire slayer.”
She slowly shook her head. “I can't recall having met her.” She turned to look at her grandfather with an unblinking stare. “I feel different inside, Grandpa. Was I bitten by a renegade?”
James shook his head.
“No. You've lost a lot of blood after being shot and Genevieve waited for Paloma to make a blood transfusion. She gave you some of her blood to reverse any internal damage.”
Paloma had saved her life, she thought tenderly. Even while she was locked up in there with a starving Genevieve, she'd known that Paloma would come and that nothing was going to happen to her.
“Where is Paloma?”
She saw the wariness in James' blue eyes, before he looked away. Panic slowly rose in her chest.
“Grandpa, what happened? Where is Paloma?”
“She was gravely injured during the fight and the others took her away to Romania to conduct an ancient healing ceremony.”
She turned away, trying to hide the tears that were trickling down her cheeks.
< Please don't die, my love. Wait for me.>
Fresh tears ran down her cheeks when after a minute there was no reply. She felt a soft presence in her mind and sat up, startling James.
<Paloma?>
<No, baby, it's me. I was just checking up on you to see that you are healing well.>
At the sound of Tahlia's voice, Inger almost cried. As much as she loved her mother, she was disappointed that it wasn't Paloma.
<Where is Paloma, Mother? Is she OK?>
<I will not lie to you, my child. Paloma is not yet out of danger. Mercredi has poisoned her and we are all trying our best to save her life.>
<I want to see her. Can I see her?>
There was a long silence.
<I would rather I don't. Paloma looks really bad.>
<I need to see her, Mother. I need to see her just in case it will be the last time I ever get to.>
This time she heard Tahlia sigh.
<I will be there soon. But I warned you. It's not a pretty sight.”
She swung her feet off the bed and before James could say anything, she held her hand up.
“My mother is coming to fetch me soon. She will take me to go see Paloma.”
James had a quizzical look on his face.
“But she's in Romania . Are you sure she'll be here soon?”
The shadows in the room shifted and Tahlia materialize. Jemima stepped out of the shadows behind her and came to the bed to gently gather her in her arms. Her blue eyes were somber as they searched hers, before they came to rest on her father.
“We will be gone a few days at the most, Dad.”
James still stunned at their sudden appearance just stared at her for a few seconds.
“Do you mean to tell me you came all the way from Romania ?”
Jemima nodded.
“But it's a few hours' flight from here?”
Tahlia shrugged nonchalantly and smiled weakly.
“You know…vampires.”
James pulled a face.
“I sometimes forget. Send my regards to Paloma and the guys.”
“Will do, Daddy.” With that said Jemima walked to the door. “It will take us a few hours to get there though since we can't teleport with Inger.”
James nodded again and came to his feet.
“Whatever you do, be safe.”
They raced through the house to the elevator and once they were on the first floor, Tahlia shrouded them all under an invisibility spell, giving Jemima the opportunity to use preternatural speed. The blurriness of the landscape passing, made her slightly dizzy and she closed her eyes.
She must've dozed off because when she opened her eyes, they were standing in a big opulently decorated lobby. Still in Jemima's eyes, she stared at the medieval paintings and tapestries on the wall. The room was well lit with numerous candles flickering, basking the room in a soft yellow light. The floors were covered in a thick Persian carpet which absorbed the sound their footsteps as they briskly walked passed a huge spiraling staircase to a closed door a few meters from them.
The door swung open when they reached it and Jemima easily carried her down a long flight of stairs leading to a huge cave-like room. Inger recognized Pierre and Jonas, but all her focus was on the woman who was leaning over the big rock slab in the centre of the room. The room was filled with hundreds of candles shedding light on the still frame lying on the slab.
<Paloma .>
Chapter 15
Jemima slowly placed Inger on her feet and held her steady until she was sure that she could stand on her own without swaying. The woman at the slab turned and Jemima stared back into Genevieve's concerned green eyes. They quickly flicked towards Tahlia who was standing behind her and Inger read the reprove in them. She didn't see Tahlia's reaction because her eyes were focused on the body lying very still on the slab.
“Is that her?” She jumped slightly when her voice bounced off the cave walls.
“Yes, but remember that I told you that she looks bad.”
Inger took a step forward. Paloma was lying so still that she wondered if she was even alive. When she came to stand next to her, she gasped and turned away quickly. The injuries were bad. Most of them were so deep that she could even see to the bone, but the worse were the slashes in her face. It was near impossible to recognize Paloma. Tahlia stepped closer, but Inger held up her hand and turned back to look at Paloma. She was shocked to find her eyes open, a steely look in them.
“What are you doing here, Inger? You should leave now.” For somebody who was so torn up, Paloma's voice still held authority. But Inger didn't come all this way, just to be sent away so easily.
“I came because you needed me,” she said softly in a broken whisper. “And because I needed to see you.” It hurt to see her beautiful lover so broken. Deep, oozing gashes marred her face and staining the slab she was laying on.
The silver eyes hardened.
“You shouldn't be here. Your parents must take you away from here now.” Even as she uttered those harsh words, Inger heard the underlying sorrow in the husky voice.
Inger took a step closer and reached out to touch a particularly deep gash on her lover's cheek.
“Why? Could it be that you are embarrassed of the state you are in now? You are a vampire – a powerful one – and you will heal quickly.”
Paloma turned her head away, but not before Inger saw the blood red tear run down the corner of her eye. “I can die knowing that you are far away from me. Having you here will be too painful to endure. I do not want to cause you such pain.”
She leaned closer and turned the scarred face towards her. The silver eyes were so sad that she felt her own eyes welling up with tears. Fearlessly, she lowered her lips to the bloodstained lips and kissed her deeply.
“I love you with all my heart, Vampire. I would rather be here, knowing that I can be with you if something goes wrong, which I really doubt.”
She smiled at the surprise on Paloma's face.
“If?”
“Yes, sweetie, if . We will talk later about how you got yourself in this state, but only when you are healed and back on your feet.” Inger turned to the other vampires who were shamelessly eavesdropping on their conversation. “What more can be done.”
She saw the proud smiles on Tahlia and Jemima's faces at her bossy tone. Even somber Jonas was grinning openly, staring at Pierre and Genevieve.
“I think you got more reaction out of her than we could over the pass four days,” Genevieve said.
“Four days?”
“Yes, my love. You have been out for four days too,” Jemima said gently.
Inger shook her head and turned back to look at Paloma.
“Do you mean to tell me that she's been lying here, courting death for four days? Shame on you, Paloma,” she said staring into the shimmering silver eyes. “I will need a bed to be brought in here so that I can be nearby to curb this blatant laziness.” She looked deeply into the glowing silver gaze. “You're not going to die…Not on my watch, you won't. You've promised me forever and I won't settle for less.”
A soft groan sounded from Paloma.
“Whose idea was it to bring her here? How did you gain entrance to village anyway?”
Inger smiled smugly. “My mother is quite powerful, silly. She knows people, who know people who could arrange for my permission to enter the village.” She turned to Tahlia with a frown, lowering her voice. “What village is she talking about? Or is she delirious?”
Jemima shook her head. “You were asleep when we arrived, but it's another story for another day.”
******************
The earth pulsed around her as Paloma gathered her strength as she rose. It was still early and the sun hasn't completely set yet, but she wanted to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Since Inger's arrival three days ago she had risen every night with the fear that her injured state had befuddled her brain and that it had conjured up Inger's presence here at the castle. But every time for the past two nights, such as it was now, she had found the brunette lounging on the big four-poster bed with the drapers pulled away, anxiously waiting for her to surface. Inger impatiently gestured with a flick of her hand and Paloma smiled.
Inger wanted her to clean up and get out of the soiled clothing. The earth here at the castle was the original rich dark earth that Lecrac himself had shipped from the deepest darkest recesses of the Carpathian Mountains . The rich soil in the mountains and its surrounding area had a wealth of healing properties which were in fact the lifeblood of their race, but typically human, Inger simply saw it as dirt. Dirt . The others would have a fit if they heard it referred to it as such.
“You're up early again, love. You must be getting well.”
With an economical flick of her hand, she was clean and dressed. Whilst at the village they all reverted to wearing medieval clothing. The tight-fitting black pants, white linen shirt and the black leather vest, had Inger's approval, judging from the appreciative look that came into the blue eyes.
“The daylight drug weakened my system slightly, thus delaying my healing process, but I'm starting to feel stronger everyday.”
“Do you need blood?”
Stunned at the straight-forward question, she blinked a few times.
“Why do you ask?
“Fresh human blood also speeds up the healing process …or so I've heard.”
Still a bit weak, Paloma came to sit on the bed.
“Are you offering?”
“Yes.” The word was uttered softly. As brave as she wanted to be, Paloma could still hear the uncertainty in Inger's voice. She leant closer and placed a soft kiss on Inger's cheek. She smelt nice – warm and alive. The beast inside reared its head and sniffed the air. Yes, blood, warm and thick was coursing through her veins. She pulled back and leaned against the headboard. Her eyes scanned the room.
The healing chamber had changed. Before Inger's arrival, it was simply an underground dig with a flat rock in the centre, which served as a table. It now had a big four-poster bed, thick carpets on the floor, lanterns and candles in almost every corner of the room. She felt Inger moving next to her and when she turned she saw the worried look in the blue eyes.
“I appreciate your offer, my love, but I don't like you in the role of a blood cow.” She lifted a finger and traced the shapely mouth. “I will only ask and take from you in the case of an emergency.”
She saw the tender look that crossed Inger's beautiful features.
“But it is an emergency,” she said in a sultry voice.
Frowning slightly, Paloma searched the blue eyes which were becoming hotter and hotter the longer she stared into them.
“What do you mean?”
Inger sat back, took hold of her tight t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Paloma gasped when her luscious naked breasts bounced free, the dark large nipples, stabbing in her direction, begging for her mouth.
“ I have an emergency.”
Inger reached out and cradled one of her own breasts, unintentionally drawing attention to the white surgical patch on her chest. As much as she wanted her, Paloma shook her head slowly.
“But we're both injured, baby.” Paloma protested lamely, her eyes mesmerized by the slow erotic movements of Inger's hand cupping her breast gently before her thumbs and forefinger moved upward to squeeze a ripe dark-tipped nipple.
“Do you want me to put my t-shirt back on?”
There was a long silence before Paloma slowly shook her head. She was being manipulated and she knew it. Knowing how closely her hunger and desire ran, Inger was trying to trick her into feeding, again. She never thought of Inger as a food source and never will either, but the offer of fresh young blood – blood of her lover – was too good to turn down. Inger's blood was intoxicating and after the past few days of surviving on Tahlia's live-saving potent blood she was excited by Inger's offer.
“I should say ‘yes', but I can't.” She reached out and her large hand cupped Inger's smooth cheek. “Take off your trousers, before I rip them off you.”
***************
Outside the chamber, Tahlia turned hot eyes on Jemima. They were about to pay a visit to Inger when a sudden heat wave rushed through both their minds. Jemima's lips formed a shocked ‘O' before she took a hasty step backwards.
“I guess we will have to revert to plan B.”
“A walk in the mountains it is then.” Tahlia said with a twinkle in her eyes which made her look so young and carefree that Jemima only stared. “I know of a few unpopulated caves. We could test and see how soundproof they really are.”
Blushing, Jemima pushed pass Tahlia.
“Well, what are you waiting for? A written invitation, perhaps?”
She saw Tahlia making a lunge for her and dissolved quickly leaving Tahlia grabbing air.
Shaking her head, Tahlia followed the soft teasing giggle which led her out of the castle and towards the ice-capped peaks of the formidable Carpathian range.
EPILOGUE
Fifteen year old Luisa Gonzales stopped and looked over her shoulder. There it was again. A soft pulsing in the air. She wasn't afraid of walking alone at night. Not in the Bronx , especially. Her brother was the leader of a feared ex-con gang and the whole suburb knew her. Nobody would be so stupid to try and harm her. But whoever or whatever was on her trail was a different story. It felt much more dangerous and powerful than even Carlito. She came to a halt under a streetlight and turned to survey the area. Silence greeted her, but the evil presence was becoming more ominous – the closer it got.
She turned on her heel and pressing the comic book tighter to her chest she ran. The house wasn't very far from here, just one more block and she will be safe. But she never made it. Out of nowhere a tall dark figure stepped out of the shadows, beckoning her to him. The compulsion too strong to deny. Like a puppet on a string, she felt herself walking toward him, her eyes riveted on his face.
The shadow-play against the wall showed a couple in a macabre embrace. The girl's mouth slightly open as she gasped for air, while the vampire drank his fill. Her heartbeat grew fainter and fainter, stuttered and just before it came to a final stop he pulled away and growled deeply. He threw his head back to allow the warm blood to trickle own his throat. He closed his eyes tightly.
This was his addiction – young, virgin blood.
Tonight he was sated. Drunk on potent virgin blood. He tossed the lifeless body away from him and with a fancy back-step and skip, he melted into the shadows. It was great to be alive again. With bright eyes he surveyed the world around him. How different it was from the Old World ? He wondered if he'd ever be able to adapt to the Old World when he leaves here again. If he ever leaves. His thoughts go back to the reason why he was here. His informant said he'd followed her here. To New York . The insomniac city; with its abundance of food. He was going to like it here. Whistling a cheery tune, he dissolved into fine mist.
THE END