DeVante's Coven (9 page)

Nothing except his fingernails felt strong as screwdrivers and shone like glass.

Nothing except he felt great all over. And since dancing with the blonde-haired girl he felt a little drunk, too. His new friend, Roderick, seemed bent on tugging him this way and that through the city, teaching him things. But Tony was too drunk to learn. He wanted another dance. Just another dance.

A distant part of him knew he had drunk the girl’s blood, drunk it right out of the vein in her neck, for God’s sake! But he didn’t want to think about that. Didn’t want to face it. He just wanted to call it dancing and do it again as quickly as possible.

Roderick tugged on his arm. “This way, Tony, hurry. The dawn is coming and we have to go home.” His voice was urgent, almost panicked. “Do you feel it? Memorize this feeling. It will save your life many times over.”

“That’s how it works. You are my fledgling. I made you. I should be able to read your mind, but I can’t. And I don’t know why not. It’s driving me crazy. I shouldn’t have to explain everything to you in words, I should be able to pop inside your head and show your mind what I want you to know.” He sighed and tugged at Tony’s arm again. “Well, it doesn’t matter anymore tonight. C’mon, hurry.”

Roderick’s face screwed up as if he suddenly felt pain, “My first fledgling,” he paused. “I imagine you’ll meet him at some point.”

“No! You can’t. You need to stay with me because I need to teach you things. Like how to survive. Besides, is your place sun-proof?”

“Oh.” Tony felt a chill crawl up his spine. He didn’t feel dawn coming. He didn’t feel anything. He supposed that might be dangerous. “How did you sun-proof your apartment?” He didn’t remember anything unusual about the apartment when he woke up in Roderick’s bed last night.

They started walking again. Tony didn’t feel like a vampire. He felt like Tony. Except that he had absolutely loved drinking that girl’s blood. Putting how great he felt together with the girl and drinking blood made his stomach turn now. But still, he knew he would do it again. And again and again, even if he called it dancing. For the rest of his life. Forever. That struck a question. “Are we Immortal?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. My Master has been a vampire for hundreds of years, he says. But the sun
can
burn us to death. Which is why we are hurrying now.

“A stake through the heart... well, it’s never actually happened to anyone I knew, but I wouldn’t try it myself. Beheading?” He shuddered. “I sure as hell hope to be granted death in that event.

“We heal very fast. You can watch it. Bizarre. A wound that would be fatal to a mortal won’t kill a vampire. I was shot once. Hurt like hell. Healed damn near instantly. Found the bullets later in my shoe. Apparently my body rejected them.”

“Wow.” Tony was immediately pumped. This might be very cool. If it were true.

Roderick turned toward an apartment complex. “Here we are.”

It was set up like a resort. They were coming in the back, the courtyard, which was blocked in on three sides by sections of apartments. The courtyard had a pool, a single net tennis court, and a putting green. Small tables were scattered in between entertainment areas, each with an umbrella rising from the center. The umbrellas were neatly closed for the night.

Tony thought it looked like a hotel. But taller. Grander. He’d been so caught up in his night vision that he hadn’t noticed any of this when they’d left.

Roderick skirted the pool and went towards the western-most building, and pointed up. “Count up five balconies at the corner. The fifth one is mine. Then jump.”

Tony jumped. And gave a yell of shock as his hands closed around the railing of the balcony above Roderick’s head. The sixth balcony.

Roderick pulled open the door. It was windowless and steel. Funny. Tony turned around and looked at the building straight across from them. Rows and rows of sliding glass doors. He followed Roderick inside. “I see you have a custom door.”

Roderick snickered. “I hate to trust motel curtains to cover everything. Truly only the bedroom needs to be completely free from sun, but I just feel safer. You know.”

“We get ready to sleep. Come on.” Down the hall to the same bedroom Tony woke up in this morning. Er, last night. Roderick flicked a light switch and closed the door. Recessed lighting above the bed softly lit the room. The door had a dead-bolt lock. Roderick locked it and shed his clothes. He tucked himself into the bed and patted the mattress. “You’ll have to sleep here. The other bedroom doesn’t have good curtains.”

Tony nodded and shucked out of his borrowed clothes. He noted a light switch on the wall just above the bed. He curled up on his side, his back to Roderick. “I need my own clothes tomorrow. Tonight. You know.”

“Oh.” Tony wondered what happens when the sun comes up. He was about to find out. He felt along the wall until his fingers found the switch. Complete blackness.

There was not another word from Roderick.

Tony lay in silence for what seemed like a long time. He consciously relaxed one muscle-group at a time and let memories of that crazy party roll into his mind.

He dropped to his knees, excitement coiling in his belly. The hands curling into his hair were welcome. He let them pull his head down, nostrils flared and eager for the musky scent of the man’s crotch.

Tony felt the van begin to move. The penis was soft.

Not for long.

He let his lips trace the wrinkles and soft folds of skin, nibbling, tasting. The soft folds started to smooth out as the cock grew. The man had showered recently and smelled clean, tasted mildly of soap. Tony slipped his tongue along the shaft, curling it around the head, letting the cock spring into his mouth. A moan came from above him.

The van moved at a steady speed. A few miles, no more. The cock in Tony’s mouth was hard and warm now, gentle-flavored fluid seeping from it as he worked. The man’s breathing came in short gasps.

The van stopped. The man hadn’t climaxed. Tony didn’t raise his head until the hands encouraged him to do so.

“
Oh shoot, we’re here. Perhaps we can finish later.” The voice was a plaintive sigh. “I hope we can finish later.”

The van door slid open. Cool air rushed in. Tony’s arms were grasped and he was pulled outside. Hard urgent hands rushed his bare feet over gravel. He winced but tried to comply with speed. Tried not to struggle.

The click of a door. Inside. Warmth.

He wanted to know what was expected of him, but remembered that smart boys don’t speak. Maybe the fun for them was that he didn’t know what to expect. He didn’t know who ‘they’ were. They probably liked it that way.

He was pushed against a cold wall. He wasn’t alone. He could feel that his naked hip and leg were against another naked hip and leg.

Cool fingers brushed against his cock.

He gasped out loud. “What—”

The slap came so fast, and was so unexpected, that he almost choked on the word.

A generic explanation was offered by a generic male voice. “Some of you have been invited here before. You know the first rule is to never speak unless you are commanded. No one here wants to hear anything you might want to say.”

Tony got the message.

A draft of air moved around him and cold chain was laid across his throat. He found himself trembling. He envisioned the next hundred nights snuggled in his warm bed remembering this night, stroking himself, glad he’d waited on that street corner.

He felt a slight pull around his throat and heard the harsh snap of the chain being fastened around his neck. A sharp tug pulled him forward. Beautiful. He couldn’t ask for a more exquisite bondage fantasy. Well, except maybe losing the blindfold.

He heard the shuffle of other naked feet moving beside, in front, and behind his own, and the musical clink of other chains. His arm brushed against another’s skin. The air was warm but the floor was cold. The silence was an excited silence, anticipatory—forced yet desired. A feeling of well-being enveloped him—all here, including him, wanted to be here. This was a safe place. He filled his lungs, held the air in for a count of ten, and let it out softly.

Hands on his chest bade him to stop walking. One layer of his blindfold must have slipped a fraction, allowing the tiniest hint of vision, as though through a mist. In front of him was a doorway, naked bodies stepping through it one at a time. The hands turned him, pushed him through, and guided his feet into thickly padded white carpet. The floor was warm now, heated, the air cool. His nipples tightened and he took another deep breath. The light was soft and low and whatever vision he thought he’d just had was gone.

Tony hit the light switch and looked over at Roderick. The vampire was utterly still. He touched Roderick’s shoulder. Cold and clammy. Ugh. Tony scooted closer to the edge of the bed and stared at Roderick’s chest. No breath that he could see.

That’s ridiculous. There had to be breath. He put his hand on Roderick’s chest and held his own breath. Not only did the chest not rise and fall, but he couldn’t discern a heartbeat, either.

Wow, that was some kind of deep sleep.

Tony wasn’t even tired. He slid out of bed and got dressed in Roderick’s clothes again. He wondered if the sun was up or if Roderick had just fallen asleep.

He had to find out. He went to the window, took a deep breath, and pulled the curtain out a half an inch.

A slice of sunlight entered the room and beamed a yellow streak across the wall. Tony tentatively reached a finger out toward the beam. He flinched as the shadow of his finger blotted the stripe on the wall. But there was no pain.

Yesterday... the day he went to the party. Was it two days ago, even? He was very confused about time. He needed a calendar. And clothes. Maybe he should run home while Roderick was asleep. Go get some stuff, clothes and money. Talk to his roommate. He’d come back here and find Roderick later.

Wouldn’t he?

Chapter 11



How to make a vampire (take two)