June 2008
Disclaimer See Part 1
Feedback: This is my first try and not being a native English speaker, it's so much more challenging. Constructive criticism if greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .
PART SEVEN
Chapter 20
Three days later
Her hands were shaking and she brought them up for closer inspection. She can't remember ever being so nervous that her hands shook. She looked at her hands long and hard willing them to stop shaking and only looked away when the shaking had slowly subsided. She quietly retuned to the task she was busy with.
Cleaning up Jemima.
After having brushed the blonde locks and sponge-bathed the pale body, she stood back and surveyed her work. Jemima looked gorgeous and she was eager to see her bright blue eyes after not having gazed into them for three days.
This is another first for her and this time she was scared. What if Jemima's attraction to her had simply been because of the romanticized appeal humans had towards her kind? Men and women had succumbed to amorous attentions of vampires over the centuries and all of it was mostly because they were attracted to the danger and enhanced sexual appeal vampires exudes. What if, being a vampire herself, Jemima might not feel the same about her again? What is she chose someone else? She felt her heart lurched at the thought and her hands starting to shake again.
There was only one way of finding out.
She steeled her nerves and awakened Jemima from the deep healing sleep. She heard Jemima's heartbeat first before she heard the air being drawn into her lungs. Her knees almost buckled when the eyelashes flickered a few times before the eyelids lifted and she stared into the familiar bright blue eyes.
Tahlia noticed how Jemima knew exactly where she was instead of looking around first. Already she was making use of her newfound powers to locate an object simply by listening to its heartbeat and picking up its scent. The blue eyes softened the longer they stared into hers.
“Come here, Tahlia.” She said softly and smiled when Tahlia hesitated. “I won't bite, you know.” Looking at Tahlia closely she realized that she was only really seeing her lover now for what she was, thanks to her newfound vampire powers. Her blue eyes slowly traced the taut form of the ancient. Tahlia was dangerous, extremely dangerous. Her power enfolded her tall frame like an invisible cloak. “I would never have guessed how powerful you really are. It is only now that I know the true power you yield.” She held out her hand, her blue eyes tender. “Come to me. I need to touch you, baby.”
Tahlia stepped closer and Jemima swung her feet of the bed and almost immediately doubled over, clutching her stomach. She felt the searing pain cutting through her and she closed her eyes.
“You need to feed. I have gone out earlier to make sure that I have enough for the both of us. You can take what you need from me.”
Tahlia came to sit on the bed next to Jemima and lifted her hair, exposing her neck. Jemima stared at the pulse beating in Tahlia's neck, transfixed by the sight. Her instincts told her to latched onto the pulsing vein and drink her fill, but she still held back. Her body was screaming for nourishment, but even though she asked to be converted, she hadn't really thought about the fact that she would be drinking blood for the rest of her existence.
“It's OK, my love. You will get used to it. Just close your eyes and follow your instincts.” She took Jemima's hand and shuddered slightly as a thrill of desire coursed through her. When she looked up into the blue eyes, she found them warm and a knowing smile cured up the corners of the beautiful full lips.
“You leave me breathless too”, Jemima said softly and without any warning she flipped Tahlia on her back, abusing her newly inherent strength and taking advantage of Tahlia's distracted state.
The shock of being taken off guard made Tahlia hiss, her fangs exposed and her eyes glowing bright red. She frowned when Jemima burst out laughing.
“What now? I'm sure that my insubordination deserves punishment, Your Highness.”
Relaxing against the cool sheets of the bed, Tahlia smiled too and reached out a hand to push back a few loose strands of hair from Jemima's face.
“You are so beautiful, my love.” She moved so fast making Jemima shriek when she found herself lying underneath Tahlia staring up into warm black eyes. Grinning, Tahlia placed a gentle kiss on Jemima's lips. “You still have a lot of time ahead of you to learn how to counter an attack like that, little one. You are still so young, but after a few years, I'm sure that getting you to submit won't be as easy.”
Not smiling anymore, Jemima reached under the loose white shirt which covered Tahlia's breasts and with eager fingers started to knead them softly. “I demand my punishment now, my Queen.”
Groaning softly, Tahlia's dark head lowered and she started to kiss her. Gently at first and then with so much hunger that Jemima felt an insistent pull between her legs.
It was true what she'd said earlier, being a vampire herself she was acutely aware of Tahlia's immense power. The Vampire Queen could've forced her into submission – but never once did she attempt to. She felt her heart melt at the thought. Tahlia could've used this particular power a long time ago. Instead she had waited patiently and allowed her, to make her to fall in love with her at her own pace. If this wasn't a sign of her love for her that she doesn't know what was.
With a mushy warm feeling in her chest, she reached out to cradle Tahlia's head in her hands. She opened her mouth wide, clasping her lips around Tahlia's in a raw lustful kiss. Tahlia's fingers reached for the hem of the white gown, but before she could lift it, she quickly got off the bed. Confused Jemima reached for her lover who was now standing at the foot of the bed.
“What's wrong?”
Tahlia fumbled with her shirt, looking into the blue eyes with a wry smile.
“Your father is on his way here.” She walked over to the door and pulled it open, smiling faintly at the shocked expression on James' face.
“You seem to forget that I'm a vampire, my friend. I know where you are at all times.”
Unconsciously, James touched his neck, looking up into the warm eyes.
“If my memory of vampire lore serves me right, you can only have a link with me if you'd taken my blood before.”
Tahlia nodded.
“I did when Jane was about four months pregnant. I needed to make sure I could alert you when she needed you.” She looked into the blue eyes waiting for the horror and disgust. Instead James just shrugged and pushed passed her into the room with a mumbled “Interesting.”
He walked to where Jemima was sitting on the bed and stopped a few feet from his daughter. He turned to look at Tahlia.
“Yes, she's still our Jemima,” Tahlia said gently and closed the door. “I was just about to feed her, before you came.” There was a tiny bit of worry in her voice. Even though Jemima would not hurt her father, after three days without any sustenance, as a fledgling Jemima's bloodlust was very strong and not fully controllable.
James nodded and walked over to his daughter and hugged her.
“I'm so glad that you are okay, my baby.” His blue eyes were teary and Tahlia saw that Jemima's eyes were also filling up where her face was buried in her father's neck. Alarm bells went up in her head the moment she sensed Jemima's hunger peaking and she quickly stepped closer, gently pulling James out of the embrace. Jemima's eyes were fixed on the pulse in her father's neck before she quickly blinked and flew off the bed to stand on the other side of the bed. Her blue eyes registered her horror at her thoughts.
“I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm really sorry, but you will have to leave for now.” Her voice chocked up and Tahlia quickly stepped in. If Jemima saw that her tears were made of blood she would surely be spooked.
“Don't panic, my love. Let me quickly feed you and then you can visit with your father.” She walked over to Jemima and pulled her into a crushing embrace. She felt her heart flip when she sensed Jemima's fear and the stark hunger that ravaged her body. With and elongated nail she made a small incision on her wrist and held it to Jemima's lips not wanting to make her drink from her neck, because the act was too intimate and could spark their passion quickly.
Without preamble, Jemima latched onto the oozing cut and Tahlia sighed deeply. Who was she kidding; just having Jemima's lips on any part of her body was arousing her to fever point. She turned her head and looked at James. He was staring at them, his blue eyes filled with horror.
She knew then that he too hadn't really thought about the fact that his daughter will need to drink blood to survive. When he found her black eyes on him, he quickly closed his eyes.
<Its okay, James, you will never have to be privy to a moment like this ever again. She urgently needed to feed after three days without any nourishment.>
James nodded and turned away to give them privacy .
<You have helped me through so many things before, Tahlia. I hope you can do the same this time and help me cope with this too.>
After Jemima had taken a few pints of blood, Tahlia pulled her arms away and flicked her tongue over the wound. Looking into her face, Tahlia nodded her satisfaction. The pale grayish color of her face was making way for a healthier and fuller complexion. She placed a fingertip under Jemima's chin and looked deep into her eyes. She could still see faint traces of fear and horror in her eyes.
“You will be okay now, Jemima. Talk to your father for a while. I will be waiting outside.”
When she took a step away from her, Jemima pulled her closer.
“I am scared of hurting him,” she whispered, panic in her voice. Tahlia nodded and took her young lover's hand, leading her to where her father stood.
James just took one look at his daughter, saw the terrified look in her eyes and pulled her into his arms. No matter what, she was still his baby. For a few seconds, she was rigid in his embrace, but the longer he stroked her back and arms, she gradually started to relax.
“I'm sorry for earlier, Daddy,” she whispered softly and put her arms around her father's waist, hugging him fiercely. Not yet accustomed to her new strength, James grimaced at the vice-like grip and Jemima quickly loosed her grip. They stood like that for a long while before James took a step back and looked down into her eyes.
“We will get through this too, OK. We will make this work.” His deep voice was filled with confidence that he wasn't really feeling at that time. He looked at Tahlia and smiled. “She's a baby again, Tahlia, and our job starts afresh.”
Tahlia smiled and opened her arms when she saw Jemima walking over to her.
With her head resting against Tahlia's heart, Jemima sighed deeply. As long as she had Tahlia with her, she was going to survive this new phase in her life. The thought of drinking blood was disgusting, but she was surprised at how Tahlia's blood had rejuvenated her.
Before she had even opened her eyes she was first assaulted by a wealth of sounds and smells. She could smell the roast beef Rafina was cooking in the kitchen a floor above her and she could also hear her father's voice where he was playing chess with Jonas. Then she heard the loud thudding close-by and she almost immediately recognized the sound. It was Tahlia's heartbeat. She was nervous at how she would react when she opened her eyes.
Opening her eyes though had been another experience. Pinpointing Tahlia's exact position using her senses, she had opened them and the first thing she saw were those bottomless black eyes staring straight at her. They didn't say anything to each other, but the longer she had stared at Tahlia, sensing her fear and awaiting some kind of retaliation, she'd realized that all she wanted to do was to hold this strong dangerous woman close to her heart. Not even the cleaving hunger could distract her for long from what she wanted to do to Tahlia once she had taken off that tight black jeans and the white shirt.
Her arms crept around Tahlia's waist and she held on tightly. She felt the pounding of Tahlia's heart and she smiled softly. This was where she belonged.
James still hung around for a while to assure himself that Jemima was indeed feeling better before he greeted them with the promise to see them again later.
The second the door click shut behind her father, Jemima pushed Tahlia back towards the bed and undressed her with a burning urgency.
************************
Three hours later Tahlia was lying on her stomach, her breathing erratic and her body buzzing from the multiple orgasms Jemima had wrung out of her.
She opened her eyes to find Jemima looking at her with a gentle smile. Tahlia couldn't help but notice the smug smile which quickly replaced the gentle smile. Yes, she was thoroughly ravished and the blue-eyed seductress knew it too. Jemima had undressed her quickly – so quickly she'd popped a few buttons on her shirt just so she could get to her breasts.
After having paid homage to her breasts, Jemima had licked her all over her body, kissing and biting her at times, but the most pleasurable was when she'd scrapped her fangs over her hot sensitive inner-thighs, before biting down and feeding again. She had exploded with a violent orgasm that had shaken the bed and almost unseated Jemima.
After only a few minutes to catch her breath, Jemima had started anew, kissing and rubbing her body all over until it had become so sensitive that she couldn't even dare to touch her clammy skin for fear or erupting in another series of orgasms. She had hoped that she could return the lovemaking later, but Jemima had kept her drained for a bigger part of the night. She lifted a hand and cupped Jemima's cheek.
“I hope the demons you wanted to exorcise are gone now.” Her black eyes were moving over Jemima's naked breasts.
“I haven't even started yet, my baby.”
At hearing the endearment, Tahlia cracked a toothy grin. She simply loves it when Jemima calls her that. The rest of the night was spent in bed and when the long grey lights of dawn touched the horizon, Tahlia took the hand of her young lover and led her down the stairs to their hidden chamber. Down there she willed Jemima into a deep sleep before taking her to ground.
____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 21
For the next two weeks, Tahlia patiently taught Jemima how to harness her new powers. Tahlia was immensely proud of how her young lover was taking to her new body and the powers coming with it. The only hick-up they were experiencing was Jemima's reluctance to hunt. The thought of stalking a human, enticing it and take blood from the victim, was too much for her to bear. That left Tahlia to hunt for the both of them and later in the privacy of their bedroom shared her blood with her young lover. Not wanting to pressurize her, Tahlia had bide her time, knowing that one day the bloodlust would get the overhand. She only prayed that she was with Jemima to ensure that she didn't hurt her victim in her haste to sate her hunger.
That night came sooner than she thought.
Tahlia had taken her to a shady neighborhood one evening where a known brutal gang was spreading their reign of terror, raping, robbing and killing at will. The idea behind this excursion was to show Jemima how she went about enticing her victims. But at that exact moment of their arrival, a brute of a man was busy robbing a young woman from the items she'd bought at a convenience store nearby.
Standing in the shadows next to Jemima, Tahlia could read the man's mind and knew that the worse was still to come for the woman. He was thinking of raping her afterwards. The stench of violence which clung to him was nauseating and her instinct to protect was triggered immediately. Just as she was about to step in to rescue the woman, Jemima had placed her hand on her shoulder.
“Let me.”
With that she had slowly walked over to where the man was holding the woman against his body, his one hand clamped over her mouth to silence her. She was almost upon him when he'd become aware of her presence.
Standing ready to protect Jemima, Tahlia's tense body was ready to pounce on the man if he so much as touched her.
<I can take care of him, baby. He doesn't stand a chance.>
Smiling slightly, Tahlia had relaxed a bit but her black eyes were still fixed on the man. He was weighing up his actions now and she could sense his shock at seeing such a beautiful woman alone in a dangerous area such as this. The lust which welled up in him had made Jemima's fangs lengthen as jealousy spread through her body. Jemima was dressed in tight faded blue jeans and a white tank top which stretched tightly over her full breasts. Not even she could resist the sight, how was the poor mortal going to hold up to Jemima's charms.
“Hi, pretty lady. You seem to be lost.” His attention was now fully focused on Jemima, giving the other woman the chance to escape and run down the alley. The man had sworn under his breath at the lost opportunity with the woman, but quickly returned his attention to Jemima and smiled. This bitch was even better looking than the other one. He felt his manhood swell as his eyes scanned over the full breasts and licked his lips.
“Why don't you pick on someone your own size, Robert?” Jemima said in a slow, husky drawl.
Tahlia saw the man stiffen at the sound of his name.
“How do you know my name, bitch? You a cop?” His body language had changed immediately and he became more aggressive.
Tahlia had quickly searched his mind and found that he hated police officers passionately. It seems Robert's life of crime spanned decades, starting at age 15 when he committed his first crime. Since then he was in and out of juvenile detention centers and later upgraded to maximum penitentiaries across the State. It was in one of these prisons that he was brutally gang-raped. His hatred stemmed from the fact that a police officer was the reason he was there.
“No, but I believe in justice and you were about to commit an injustice to an innocent woman who were on her way from a job she hated, but have to keep because she has to take care of her terminally ill mother.” Jemima's voice was silky soft, but to Tahlia's ears the tones were clipped and the gentleness was forced.
But Robert's soul was so corrupt he didn't even hear what Jemima was saying anymore and reached out to grab her wrist.
A deep growl escaped Tahlia's throat at the sight of the meaty hand on Jemima's fragile wrist.
<I can handle it, Tahlia.>
<I know, but for my piece of mind, please remove his hand from your person, my love.>
“We all have our crosses to bear and I have had my fair share of trouble.” He tried to pull her closer to him, but when she didn't budge, he frowned. “You seem to be a tough cookie, but after I'm done with you, you will beg me to stop.”
Jemima simply reached out and took his hand, loosening his fingers one by one from her wrist. With her other hand she clasped her hand around his throat and lifted him slowly. Once his feet were dangling a few meters from the ground, the man started to scream insults fed by his fear and helplessness at being bested by a woman.
“Put me down, you … you… freak.”
Smiling Jemima did as he'd asked, but hadn't stepped away immediately. Without warning she'd tilted the man's neck to one side and bit down.
Tahlia had looking at the scene unfolding before her with stunned surprise. She had never thought she would see this happening soon. After a while Jemima dropped the man's limp body and alarmed, Tahlia stepped closer, anxiously praying that the man was still alive. She had meticulously imprinted all the laws of the Race on Jemima's mind, making sure that Jemima knew that taking a life during feeding was prohibited unless she had the power that she, Jonas and Pierre possessed.
When she reached Jemima, she could see the man trying to sit up, dazed and weak from blood loss and she heaved a sigh of relief. Looking into Jemima's eyes, she'd found them dark and unreadable. She'd quickly erased the man's mind, leaving a vague memory of an all-night drinking spree followed by a major alcohol infused blackout to explain his physical state. Turning back to Jemima, the blue eyes were confused and haunted.
She'd known immediately what had happened.
When she had bitten Robert, she had also tapped into his inner-most sanctuary, his deepest, darkest memories and fantasies. Jemima had relived each and every crime he had committed as well as the pain and fear his victims had experienced.
It had taken Tahlia a few hours of vigorous love-making later that night and a few more night afterwards to dispel the horrific memories mulling around in Jemima's head. A few days later, Jemima was back to her old self, playfully cracking jokes and making love with the same lustful abandon of earlier.
^^^^^^^^
The rest of the two weeks they had spent most of their nights together in the library where Tahlia narrated the rest of the Vampire Race's history and used a number of books on the shelves as references. It was during one of these sessions that Jemima stumbled upon an interesting piece of information.
The passage stated that a great number of vampire females were bisexual and that the men in the Race didn't object much to same-sex affairs amongst their women. Reference were made to the Great Vampire Queen who was the most sought after companion, but who's heart was held captive by a mortal woman. Reading further, Jemima found that despite knowing this, many women still tried their best to entice Tahlia.
There were claims over the centuries from a few women who stated that they were in fact bedded by the Queen. Jemima couldn't help the feeling of betrayal which bubbled to the surface. Tahlia never mentioned any other lovers. There had always only been her. In the month since she and Tahlia had become lovers, she had found her noble lover to be brutally honest and very trustworthy.
Knowing Tahlia, she would never lie to her or omit such an important piece of information. Even as she was telling herself that, she still couldn't help but wonder if maybe Tahlia did bed other women in between the years she was waiting for her to be reincarnated. She had first hand experience of Tahlia‘s insatiable sex drive. No matter how many times they made love during the night, Tahlia always seemed to generate more hunger with ever earth-shattering climax. Considering that, it must have been almost unbearable for Tahlia to withhold herself from the charms of other women for decades on end.
Just the thought of Tahlia in another woman's arms, unsettled her so much, that she slammed the book shut. She needed some fresh air to help her clear her mind. As much as it bothered her, she kept herself from approaching Tahlia about the issue. If it was important, Tahlia would've told her about her other lovers. But it still lingered just under the surface.
************************
She was sitting on a bench in the middle of Central Park , looking up at the stars, when she felt a presence behind her. Spinning around, she found Tahlia standing a few feet away. Her long black hair was loose and with her head tilted slightly to one side, Jemima couldn't help but stare at the incredibly sexy woman. Her woman. Wearing black as usual, Tahlia was standing with her arms clasped behind her back.
She felt Tahlia in her mind, trying to read her thoughts, but she quickly blocked her intrusion. She had been converted only three weeks ago and already she was bored by the routine she was following. During the day she and Tahlia slept in their underground chamber until dusk. Then they would go out to feed together and then it's back to the library to for her while Tahlia goes out to hunt renegades. If her father and Rafina are in, they would play chess and chat until Tahlia returns. But most of the time she was alone, watching TV or poring over the day's newspapers.
Tonight she had decided to do things differently. She never was the house-sitting type and as soon as Tahlia knew that the better. Tahlia was still standing there staring at her.
“Would you mind me joining you?” Her voice, gentle and soft, was carried to her on the cool night breeze.
Jemima nodded and patted the space next to her.
When Tahlia walked over to the bench, she couldn't help but admire the way she moved. It was so fluid … like that of a feline, her hips swaying slightly with every step. She smiled when Tahlia came to sit very close to her, so close in fact that their thighs were brushing against each other. She inhaled the natural earthy scent of Tahlia and sighed with appreciation. She smelled like the earth after the first rain. It was intoxicating and a powerful aphrodisiac. She leant closer and pressed her nose into Tahlia's hair. Yes, definitely an aphrodisiac.
Tahlia turned to face her and her black eyes were so tender, Jemima couldn't resist lifting her face for a kiss. The meeting of their lips almost brought tears to her eyes – it was so tender. She was truly loved - unconditionally.
“You looked so beautiful sitting here - bathed in moonlight.”
“Me?” Jemima grinned. “You should have seen yourself standing there just now looking at me. You are the sexiest woman I know.”
Tahlia laughed softly. The sound was so deep and husky that Jemima felt the heat starting to spread in the pit of her stomach. This woman had turned her into a nymphomaniac. All she thought about nowadays was the nights spend in Tahlia's arms.
“You do not have to flirt with me to get what you want, my love. When it comes to you I have absolutely no morals.”
They sat like that in silence for a long while, holding hands.
^^^^^^
Sitting here in the quiet park with the woman she loved more than life itself, Tahlia was truly happy. The only dark cloud smudging their perfect night was Jemima's refusal to trust her with whatever it was that has been bothering her over the past week. She was trying hard to hide her feelings from her, but she forgot that she, Tahlia, knew her better than anybody else.
She gently took Jemima's hand in hers and with her heart in her eyes, looked deep into the blue eyes. They were shadowed just like they had been for most of the week. She could read her mind, but instinct told her that Jemima would not forgive her if she did.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Instead of bringing Jemima's hand to her lips, Tahlia placed herself in a vulnerable position by bending her head to reach the hand she held in hers. This action hid her eyes as she intended, but it also served to relax Jemima. “And please don't say it's nothing, because I have sensed your inner turmoil for the past week.”
She heard Jemima sighing deeply, a sign Tahlia knew meant that Jemima was about to open up
“Have …Have you ever been with another woman besides me …the reincarnated me, I mean.” When Tahlia looked up into her eyes, Jemima saw the confusion in Tahlia's eyes and looked away. “I found a book in the library about Vampire social behavior and they made reference to you. There are claims in the book that you were sleeping with other women too. I know it was before my time, but … but …” She didn't know how to continue and closed her eyes. When she opened them again after a while, she found the black eyes resting calmly on her.
“You have been in my mind, Jemima. The memories you have been privy to were uncensored. You would've encountered these so-called lovers somewhere in my past.”
“You are extremely powerful Tahlia – more powerful than any other being alive. You could've blocked those memories from me.” Once the words were out, she regretted it immediately.
No matter in which century Tahlia found herself, she still lived by the Old World code. A world, where honor was highly rated and where retribution was sought if and when that honor was dented. Jemima knew almost immediately that she had insulted Tahlia, by virtually calling her a liar.
Looking into Tahlia's black gaze, they were expressionless. No anger. Nothing. Just those unblinking, obsidian eyes looking straight into her soul.
“There is still a few hours of darkness left before dawn. We need to leave now if we are to reach our destination in time.” With that Tahlia came to her feet and held out her hand. Rattled by Tahlia's composure, Jemima quickly came to her feet and took a step away from Tahlia. Looking closer at Tahlia now, she could see that Tahlia was indeed holding her anger in check and the strain it put on her mentally and physically, made her fury come off her in waves of barely concealed menace. “Are you coming with me out of your own free will or not.”
Rattled, but Tahlia's strange behavior, Jemima quickly placed her hand in Tahlia outstretched hand and almost immediately a kaleidoscope of bright colors engulfed them both.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 22
The next time Jemima opened her eyes, they were standing in a huge candle-lit room. Looking around, she stared at the numerous of priceless medieval artifacts and paintings around her. The room was furnished with antique furniture; thick draperies cover the walls and hand-made marble tiles stretched over the bottom of the floor. Jemima could only gawk at the immense wealth surrounding her. Whoever owed this place must be incredibly rich.
She turned to Tahlia and found the black eyes staring at her somberly. Her anger had mellowed a bit and her eyes have lost the blank look of earlier. She mouthed a cheeky ‘wow' and smiled when she saw Tahlia's eyes softened a little and the corners of her beautiful mouth curve upwards. She felt the tension leave her body at Tahlia's effort to smile. Knowing her lover, all would be well soon.
She didn't hear anyone approaching them, but saw the shadow reflected in Tahlia's black eyes. She turned to find a tall, attractive man standing behind her. His expressionless brown eyes were resting on her and only when Tahlia spoke, did the brown eyes move to seek out Tahlia's.
“Once you are done staring at my woman, maybe then you can remember you manners and we can have a civil conversation.” Tahlia's voice sounded faintly amused and Jemima looked at the man closely to see his reaction. She gaped at the vampire when he actually winked at her.
“She is extremely beautiful, Your Highness.” His brown eyes were warm as they rested on Tahlia. “Her presence here must mean that she is now one of us.” His handsome face split with a grin. “What a great addition to the Race.”
“Mendelone, we will be staying for a day. Please ask Sorokin to prepare our chamber for us.”
Mendelone . The author! Jemima couldn't help but stare at the vampire with a open of admiration. The great Mendelone! She had spent hours in the library reading bundle after bundle of his historical accounts of the Vampire Race. She can't wait to tell Joan that she'd met him. She would be so envious. She blinked when he winked at her again and quickly glanced Tahlia's way. The black eyes were staring coolly at a grinning Mendelone.
Tahlia turned her gaze on Jemima. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
Still puzzled by Tahlia's mood, she nodded quickly. Whatever she wanted to show her must be very important for Tahlia to imply the use of force had she refused to come with her.
With a flick of her hand, the heavy oak doors swung open onto a large balcony. Jemima gasped at the view. They were in some sort of a castle on top of a mountain and spread out below them was a village, surrounded by the harsh mountain range. There were small home fires flickering everywhere.
“Where are we?” She looked up at Tahlia and found a soft smile on her lips.
“We are in Romania – the cradle of our Race. We all trace our origins to this small village.” Her voice had a melancholic sound to it. “The village still looks like it did thousands of years ago.”
Jemima stared at Tahlia in shock. So this was Lecrac's hidden vampire village. She had read about it in one of the tomes in the library. The village was surrounded by a high thick wall and the streets were made out of cobblestones. Who would've thought there was a place in the 21 st century where time had ceased more than 2 000 years ago?
Tahlia continued: “It still looks the same as it did the night my mother brought me here to Lecrac's castle. Nothing has changed since then. Its exact location is shielded by a powerful invisibility spell cast by Lecrac almost three thousand years ago. Only Pierre, Jonas and I have knowledge of the spell and how to break it, but only if the three of us work at it together.”
Jemima touched Tahlia's arm and once the black eyes were focused on her, she asked her.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“I have a slight hunch on who might have been the source the author used in his book.” The black eyes were unreadable. “But since we are here, I could just as well show you around.” She pulled her closer against the body. “Hold on tight.”
With a lithe movement, Tahlia took two quick steps and propelled them into the air. Jemima held on to Tahlia for dear life, while at the same time trying to appreciate the view. The village was nestled in the curve of the mountain range, complete with a waterfall and a thick forest. If there were only vampires staying in the village, where do they get their blood from, she wondered absently.
They landed at the end of a quiet cobbled street and Tahlia took her hand into hers as they strode down the street. Jemima was surprised to find that a lot of the villagers called out greetings to Tahlia. She was obviously well-known around here. An earlier thought came back.
“If everyone here is a vampire, where do you hunt?”
Without looking at her Tahlia answered. “Not everyone here is vampire, but we hunt outside the village. The village was kept in a medieval state, but the rest of the world still lives in the 21 st century. Just across the mountain range you will find Bucharest , the capitol of Romania . Most of our Race is spread around the world, residing in major cities to hunt renegades.”
They'd ventured deeper into the village and came to a halt in front of a small house next to a crudely built chapel.
<I am standing outside, Gillian. Come out.>
Jemima looked at Tahlia and found her face set in a stern look. Whoever was on the other side of the door must've been very naughty indeed for the Vampire Queen to be so angry.
The door swung open and Jemima stared at the exquisite woman who stood in the doorway. Her blue eyes were smiling into Tahlia's dark ones, completely ignoring the look of reproach Tahlia was giving her. Stepping out, she bowed low, the action making her loose white blouse part to expose beautifully formed breasts to both Jemima and Tahlia's eyes.
Frowning, Tahlia kept her gaze unreadable and a low throaty laugh escaped Gillian's lips.
“Ah, I apologize for my attire, my Queen. I just got out of bed a few minutes ago.” She came up straight and even though she was tall she still had to tilt her head a little to look up into Tahlia's face.
“This is my mate, Jemima.”
The blue eyes which were smiling at Tahlia seconds ago came to rest on her with such intense dislike. Jemima knew instinctively that without much effort, they had managed to smoke out the source of the rumor. Gillian wanted Tahlia and would stop at nothing to get her. Why did she have to be the one who opened this anthill? And what for? Just because she was jealous? She turned to look at Tahlia. She too knew the identity of the rumormonger now.
“I've known for centuries what you have tried to do, but having your lies and fantasies put print? What were you thinking? That I would never find out about it?” Tahlia's voice was very soft, but with her newly acquired super hearing ability, Jemima could detect the violent undertone in her lover's voice. Jemima was oddly proud of the restraint her partner was showing.
But that didn't last for long.
Tahlia moved so fast, that neither Gillian nor Jemima saw her took a step closer. In the blink of an eye, Tahlia had Gillian pushed up against the door, holding her up with a flat hand against her chest. Startled, Jemima took a quick step closer and placed her hand on Tahlia's arm.
“Please let's leave now.”
Gillian laughed - an ugly, cold sound that almost made Jemima's teeth rattled. This woman was stronger than her and without Tahlia's protection; she knew that she will try to destroy her. She remembered what Tahlia had told her about Drake's plan. He was going to convert her and then destroy her, thus making it unable for her to be reincarnated again – ever. Gillian could execute Drake plan if granted the opportunity.
“What is it that you see in her, my Queen? As a human she was weak and needy, now as a vampire she is simply pathetic,” Gillian sneered, her blue eyes looking like shards of blue glass. She turned her gaze to Tahlia and smiled gently. “I have been groomed to be your partner. I have trained well and am also well-schooled in the art of love. I am everything you need in a woman.” She lifted her hand to Tahlia's face, but before it connected with Tahlia's face, Gillian's eyes widened and she gasped for breath. Her hands were clawing at her neck as if some invisible hand was constricting her airway.
Jemima was looking around, confused and scared. Tahlia's eyes were glowing blood-red now and her fangs were gleaming in the moonlight. Around them, the villagers were huddling together in the shadows; some make a hasty sign of the cross. All too aware of the power of their immortal protectors, they tried to make themselves as invisible as possible.
“You knew about Drake's plan.” Tahlia was shaking with anger now and Jemima quickly looked around for someone who could help her get Tahlia away from the other woman. “I picked it from your mind. You were working with him, a coward, a traitor…” Tahlia's voice faded away and Jemima genuinely feared for Gillian now.
Gillian eyes were bulging in their sockets now and Jemima once again placed her hand on Tahlia's.
“You can't kill her in the presence of the villagers, Tahlia. They are already frightened. Please, take me home?”
This time Tahlia turned her head to look at Jemima. Jemima felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up straight when she saw the look of death in Tahlia's eyes. Her fear and panic must have registered in her eyes, because Tahlia's eyes softened a fraction and she nodded. She turned back to Gillian.
“I want you to leave the village now and you will never be welcome here again. Pray also that we never meet again, because I will finish what I have started here.” She stepped away and Gillian fell to her knees, drawing gulps of air into her starving lungs.
When she turned away to leave. Jemima cast a quick look back at Gillian and felt her blood turn to ice. Gillian was staring back at her with so much hate; her blue eyes were glowing with the promise of retribution. Gillian was a very proud woman and shaming her in front of the villagers standing around, was the ultimate humiliation. Stepping closer to Tahlia she reached for her hand, hers shaking uncontrollably.
“I will not let her hurt you. I have sent a message to some of the hunters to escort her out of the village, she will never be allowed here nor will she ever be able to find her way back here again.” She pulled Jemima against her tall hard body, her black eyes were soft. “I should thank you for questioning the contents of the book otherwise I would never have known about Gillian's deceit.” With Jemima held tightly against her, she took two quick steps and propelled herself into the air.
**************
Tahlia was stretched out on the bed; following Jemima's every move with fixated interest. Since their return from the village, Jemima had been very quiet. She had shut her out of her mind, making it near impossible for her to read her thoughts. What she could pick up though, was her fear of Gillian and her increasing hunger. She hadn't fed tonight and Tahlia could see her lack of nourishment in the grayish parlor of her face.
Jemima jumped a little when she felt Tahlia's arm on her shoulder.
“You are vampire now, my love. You need not fold your clothing before coming to bed. Your new powers can make your life so much easier.” Her lips were very close to Jemima's neck and she felt the tightening in the pit of her stomach. Tahlia groaned softly, knowing that she first needed to ease Jemima's fear of Gillian before she took her bed, but her desire for this woman knew no bounds.
Jemima turned and looked up into the black eyes. She saw the desire in Tahlia's eyes and smiled tightly. Usually she was the one who wanted sex to erase unpleasant memories and situations, whereas Tahlia always believed that they'd first needed to sort out what was bothering the other before they made love. It had happened so often that she had seduced Tahlia even when the other woman was trying her best to get her to open up first. She reached out and gently touched her lover's face. Tahlia turned her cheek and placed a kiss in the palm of her hand.
“You need to feed, my love.” She took Jemima's hand and led her to the bed. Once seated, she pulled her hair away to expose her neck. She didn't have to look at Jemima to know she was staring at the throbbing vein in her neck. She could feel her lover's eyes transfixed by the blood pulsing in her veins. When after a while Jemima had not made a move yet, Tahlia resorted to a little begging. “Please, darling. You need to feed. I don't want you to fall ill.”
She felt Jemima's warm breath on her neck and she stiffened slightly when she felt her desire flaring up instantaneously. Jemima softly touched her tongue to the pulse in Tahlia's neck and she smiled when she heard Tahlia gasp at the sensation. She gently pushed her lover back against the bed and she saw the black eyes smolder in anticipation.
“Don't get your hopes up, my love. I am simply getting ready to feed for now. Maybe later I might have another itch to scratch.” Jemima said softly and slowly stretched herself over Tahlia's tall, powerful frame. Her lips nuzzled her lover's neck and she felt her fangs sharpening as her hunger peaked.
Tahlia's body stiffened and a deep growl escaped her lips when Jemima sunk her fangs deep into the vein at her neck and started to feed hungrily. After a few sips she flicked her tongue over the pinpricks to close them. She lifted her head and looked down into Tahlia's face. Her eyes were still closed and her chest was heaving with every breath she took.
“Do you want to talk about it now?” Tahlia's usually dark voice was husky with emotion.
Jemima curled up next to Tahlia's warm body. “I think I have made a mortal enemy of Gillian. I am really scared of her.”
“You need not be. Anyone who gets close to you from now on will have to answer to me. I will rip Gillian apart if she ever comes close to you. I will make sure that she is followed wherever she goes. I want to know where she finds herself every second of every night from now on.”
She turned her head to look into Jemima's eyes. The black eyes glittered with violence.
“But you will not be able to be with me every second of the night.”
“Believe me when I say, that any person who tries to hurt you will find parts of their bodies strewn to the four winds.” She sat up straight and looked down into the blue eyes. “I will not disappoint you again. I will protect you with my life this time.”
They stared at each other in silence.
“How's that itch coming along by the way? Don't you need scratching yet?” Tahlia said with such a hopeful note in her voice that Jemima couldn't help but laugh.
She opened her arms and Tahlia eagerly rolled into them.