Blood Life Seeker (21 page)

“He has been detained, but I will take you to him.”

“Can't I sit in the front with you?”

He smiled more brightly. “A lady should travel in style, the front has not been cleaned since a companion spilled his evening meal last night.” I so did not want to know what his evening meal had consisted of and so I blame my squeamishness for what happened next.

I nodded and went to get in the rear of the van. He was only a blur in my peripheral vision, a flash of light and colour and long, long hair. And then he had one arm around my shoulders and the other holding a cloth to my mouth and nose.

I fought not to inhale, I struggled as best as I could, but he was prepared for all of that and he simply bent my head over and went in to bite my neck. I felt his fangs on my skin, felt my skin give as they slid in and I screamed.

Of course to scream, you have to take a breath in and that's all it took for me to watch the world turn blurry and the colours all fade to black.

I woke with excruciating pain in my neck. Not where the vampire had bit me, but at the back. And I realised it was because I was sitting up in a chair and my head had been hanging forward on my chest. The next thing I realised, was that my arms were tied behind the back of the chair and my feet to each of the front two legs. I was friggin' tied to a chair. At least I wasn't gagged and blindfolded.

I moved my head up from my chest, resisting the urge to groan at the stiffness in the movement and rolled my head from side to side to loosen up a bit. The room was fully enclosed, no windows, but lit by two overhead lights hanging from the ceiling. Both shaded with a rudimentary cone shade above a naked bulb. Classy.

It was a large room, I didn't know what was behind me, but I wasn't backed on to a wall. In front, however, was a kitchenette off to one side, complete with fridge and a dining table with four chairs on the other side. A door was between the two, closed. Sitting at the table playing  a relaxed game of cards were old Pipi Longstockings and Snow White. Great.

My mouth was dry and there was a nasty after-taste of something not altogether sweet, a little bitter, but furry at the same time. Yum. I swallowed twice before I attempted to talk.

“You know, you didn't need to drug me, I was getting in the van.” My voice was husky, it probably would have sounded sexy even, given different circumstances.

Luxor/Longstockings looked up and smiled. Still pleasant, still friendly. “Then you would know where we are. Can't have you communicating telepathically with your kindred vampire.”

Oh, I got it, this was all part of
the test.
See what Michel did when he came to save me. I almost laughed out loud at that.

“It won't work you know.”

“What makes you think that?” Luxor again, old Snow White was just leering. Probably something to do with the fact that my jacket was off and my T-Shirt was stretched rather tightly and thinly over my protruding chest. Not to mention my short mini skirt had ridden up my thighs and he was no doubt getting a good flash right now.

“He won't come for me. He won't do what you think he will.”

“You're his kindred Nosferatin, of course he'll come for you.” That was Snow White, he did have a voice after all.

I smiled, it wasn't at all sweet. “Not all kindred joinings are created equal.”

He stared at me blankly. OK, he can talk, the lights are on, but nobody's home.

They didn't say anything, just kept looking at me, watching me, almost studying me. Eeew.

“Where's Gregor?”

“
The
Enforcer
is on his way.” Oh that's right, we were in the zone of
Iunctio
business, I couldn't call him Gregor.

“Can I get out of this, or do I have to stay tied up like a criminal?”

Luxor's smile widened, always a sign I was betting, that he's about to play a trick or do something nasty. I hadn't known this guy long, but he just fit that bill.

“You kill vampires, is that not a crime, Nosferatin?”

I sighed. “Don't tell me, you're on the bandwagon for free vampire rights. Let the Nosferatu take over the night, the way it's suppose to be. Good in theory, not so good when you exhaust your food source.”

“
We are at the top of the food chain, we do not need a half-human to tell us what to do.” This time Snow White. All he really needed to complete the picture was a small
Swastika
sewn onto his sleeve.

“Can I at least get a glass of water? That drug tastes disgusting.”

“We wouldn't want you to suffer, as our master did when you staked him and ran.” Luxor - and no he wasn't smiling any more. Yippee. He walked to the kitchen and then glided towards me with the glass full of water. Tap water, nothing bottled or chilled. I was betting the glide was to emphasise the difference between him and me. He, heap big vampire; me, half-human tied to a chair.

He held the glass to my lips and let me drink it, then leaned in close, his own lips brushing where his fangs had struck, his breath a hot line down my skin. I didn't shiver, it didn't have that kind of affect.

“You know you taste different from others, so light and full of honey. Tasty. I think I could go for some more.”

His fangs flashed down in the light of the room and he pulled his lips back slowly. It wasn't the usual grimace some vampires seem to have before they feed, this one was for pure show. Maybe, it was because he was hamming it up, that I didn't believe he was actually going to do it. Maybe it was because I sensed Gregor nearby and I suddenly felt safe, but all I could do was laugh at him. And it felt good.

He wasn't impressed. His staged grimace turned into a real one and he hissed, a low nasty, hiss. I blinked. I don't think I'd ever heard a vampire hiss before, growl yeah, but hiss? Are you kidding me?

He didn't get to do much more because Gregor had arrived. Luxor pulled back and stepped aside as Gregor strode in the room. He stopped inside the door and took the scene in. His eyes running over me, taking in Luxor and the glass of water and then turning to survey the rest of the room, including Snow White.

“Have my children been looking after you, Hunter?”

I glanced quickly at Luxor, he didn't make eye contact with me, just stared straight ahead. He was still, not vampire still, but waiting. Ah hell, I had goaded the guy.

“Yeah, just peachy. Thanks for the water, Luxor.” He did glance at me then, a strange look in his eyes and then the mask was back in place. He nodded and walked back to the kitchen.

Gregor smiled. I didn't think I'd fooled him, but he didn't raise the issue further. He came and sat in a chair by the table, turning it to face me, crossing his legs as he sat. He was dressed in a fine suit tonight, silver grey, like his eyes. The lapels a darker colour, making the line of the jacket stand out even more. His shirt, again high collared and grey, complementary to the suit. He was just spiffy, wasn't he?

“What has amused you, Hunter.” What no
little
Hunter tonight, we
were
on formal ground then.

“Your suit, Enforcer, it's lovely.”

He laughed, that rich, deep, melodious laugh. I felt it run up my bare arms and tickle me at my neck. I did move my head a little to try to rub my neck against my shoulder, but then who wouldn't?

His smile broadened. “Do you know why you are here?”

“I'm guessing, because you said so.”

His smile dimmed slightly. “Now, now, Lucinda, I'm sure you can play the game a little better than that.” His voice had gone flat. “Why do you think you are here?”

“You want Michel to come for me.”

“Yes.” Soft, intimate. Bastard. “Do you think he will?”

“Do you?”

“I am no longer so sure. You seemed somewhat upset when you returned to your apartment this evening. A lovers quarrel?”

“You'd like that, wouldn't you?”

“I do not wish for your pain, Lucinda, but perhaps it is for the best that you see your kindred as he truly is.”

OK, I'd bite. “And what's that, Enforcer?”

He shrugged and it didn't escape me that he made shrugs look just as elegant as Michel can. Man, did these guys go to the same vampire training school, or what?

“A manipulator, a user. Someone who will do anything to advance their own power base.” Well, if you want to rub it in, thanks.

“You don't like him much do you, Gr...Enforcer.”

“Not really.”

“
But you
were
friends once, weren't you?”

“A long time ago. Did he tell you why he left?”

I paused, did I really want to give him more ammunition when he was in this persona?  Curiosity did kill the cat, they say. Meow.

“No.”

His smile twisted slightly. “He heard a rumour, that it had been foretold, that the strongest Nosferatin in all our time would be discovered in the New Land.”

“You mean New Zealand?”

“Yes. That is what our kind called your country.”

“And you think he came here to find them? You think I'm that Nosferatin?” My voice was surprisingly level, neutral even.

“It remains to be seen, but he gave away much for his pursuit. Why?”

I knew the answer to this one. Easy. “Power.”

He cocked his head at that. “You are not surprised?”

My turn to shrug, I doubt it was as suave. “I know what Michel craves.”

“That does surprise me.” He leaned forward in his seat, elbow resting on his crossed knee and placed his hand up to his mouth, loosely fisted, thumb to lips. A bit like that famous sculpture
The Thinker
. “It does not worry you, as a Nosferatin, that you have fed this hunger for power in one of my kind?”

I thought about that for a second. I knew what he was asking. Nosferatins have for so long denied the vampires our powers. We've hidden and died for that belief, why not me?

“I wasn't raised by Nosferatin parents, I never knew what I was until I came to Auckland, until I met Michel. I grew up on a farm, in the fresh air, surrounded by lambs and nature and life. My Aunt and Uncle loved me, showered me with their love, gave me everything I could have ever wanted. They instilled in me a love of life, a love of people, of nature, of what this world can be.” All the vampires had stopped moving and were watching me avidly, devouring every word. You'd think they'd never heard a person's life story before. Jeez. “It wasn't a conscious decision. I mean, I knew what I was doing when I joined with him, but it wasn't for him, or for your kind, or for mine. It was for me. I didn't want to die Gregor, I wanted to live.”

I knew I'd used his name, not his title, but I was trying to make a point. I held my breath to see if he'd bite.

He sat still, as still as the other two vampires in the room and didn't say anything for a long time. Finally he sat back in his chair and just looked at me.

“
You are a mystery, Nosferatin. Not many of your kind would have divulged so much, not to the
Iunctio
and you know by now that I am the
Iunctio
here. Are you not afraid we will use this information against you? Get to you through your love of your family? Through your very honourable outlook on life?”

“Are you threatening me, Enforcer?”

“It would be my prerogative if I were. Answer the question.”

What did he want to hear? What would stop this madness and make the
Iunctio
go away? I've never been good at second guessing psychology tests. You know those ones that ask
would you prefer to party with a group of friends or walk alone on a beach at sunset?
What the hell did they want to know? So, I chose honesty. It is the best policy I've heard.

“Yes. I'm afraid.”

He blinked slowly, then smiled. “Good. Then you are learning.”

I let a little breath out, one I'd been reluctant to let go.

“But why tell me, Nosferatin? If you are afraid we will use this information against you, why tell me?”

“Because if one of us - and I mean either the Nosferatu or the Nosferatin - doesn't take that leap of faith, then no one will.”

He laughed, a short huff. “You are an idealist. Perhaps you do not understand our world at all.”

“No. You're wrong. I understand better than you.”

He stood then and came towards me, a stalk, not a glide. He didn't need to impress, only intimidate. When he came within a foot of me, he crouched down, smoothly, sleekly even and stayed crouched in front of me, his eyes now level with mine. I was momentarily stunned by their sheen, silver platinum with flecks of lustrous grey, my
Sigillum
making the colours stand out even more. Like they were dancing under one of those multifaceted glass disco balls, sparkles of other colours glinting at the edge of your vision, making the silver or grey seem so much more than it really was. I felt myself leaning out from my chair to get closer, the only thing stopping me was the tight binds at my wrist behind the back. I even yanked against them.

He smiled and that did wonders for my pulse.

“What is it you understand better than me?” His voice was low, a whisper, running along my arms, down my chest and spreading out over my legs. The thought that he would try to affect me when acting as the
Iunctio's
henchman brought me back from the edge. I slowed my breathing down and met his gaze.

“I am the Light to the Dark, Enforcer. You call to me, as I call to you. I will always hold you dear. You know what I am, why fight it?”

I have no idea where that came from. Just popped into my head and out my mouth and whoa! What the fuck?

He pulled back, a slight look of shock on his face. Then abruptly stood and said in a low growl, “Leave us.” I'm guessing that wasn't for me, because I kind of couldn't move a muscle. The other two vampires didn't question him, just turned and left, closing the door behind them in a blur.