Fire Nectar 2 (3 page)

Until their recent face-to-face introduction, Ludovico had been a stranger to him by sight, but in correspondence he had for five years been Joshua’s most generous patron. Ludovico had discovered the French composer through a conversation with a friend as they explored the topic of those who might change the world of music. The friend had heard a very young Joshua Cohen play in a private performance for a duke some years previously, and had been most impressed. The name had stuck to be shared that night with his passionate Minister of Interior. Curious and a talent-seeker, Ludovico had written at once, inviting Joshua to send his favorite work–for a fee, of course. Thus began a five year long patronage–with no end in sight–in which Joshua sent all his new compositions to the wealthy benefactor for exclusive enjoyment. In return he received a large sum paid into his accounts. The money kept him fed, but the encouragement kept him writing. Such was the way for the lucky struggling artists of the time, if they were blessed.

A knock at the door caused both heads to turn. Ludovico lifted his nose to smell the cause of the interruption and smiled. “Entre vous, Gabrielle.”

T
here was only
one person behind the counter, one person in front of it, and no one behind him. Joshua stared straight ahead as his foot tapped on the ground to the tune of impatience. The San Francisco airport was abnormally quiet, but he gave it no thought as he stood in line to buy a last-minute ticket. His mind was fixated on one goal: help Daniella.

The older woman’s voice echoed against the walls as she asked the female ticket agent a useless question: “What am I supposed to do until 6 A.M.?” Joshua observed her matching sweat suit and flip-flops with nostalgia for the time when people dressed up to fly. Where had people’s dignity gone, he wondered.

The female ticket agent informed the woman without emotion tinting her tone, “I’m sorry ma’am, but there are no flights until morning. There’s a curfew for noise prevention…and that’s just how it is.”

Joshua shot to attention and his mind raced frantically at the news. The curfew! He’d forgotten about the curfew. Damn it! Was it the same for Oakland, or was Los Angeles the problem? He could not remember. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t make it to Oakland, to L.A., and then to a safe place to sleep, before dawn.

He would not be on a plane tonight. Damn it!

He yanked his phone from his pocket to call William, but it rang in his hands as William’s picture and name appeared before him. He unlocked it and answered with a wry smile. “William, I was just about to call you. So like you to beat me to it! I’m guessing you’re in the same scrape I’m in.”

“Of course I beat you. I beat you at everything. And yes, it is unfortunate but there are no flights out, not until morning.”

“Well, that won’t do at all.” Joshua walked away just as the irate female customer gave up her arguments and left for a place to read.

“Sir? I can help you over here,” the attendant called to him.

He turned, phone to his ear and called back, “I was hoping to fly to LAX tonight but that’s a no-go, am I correct?”

“No, but…” she called back as she keyed a search into her computer’s database, coming up with a smile. She found him attractive, he could tell. “I have a flight at 6:05 a.m. That will get you into LAX at 7:36.”

“One moment, please.” Joshua walked away for a bit of privacy to tell William the bad news. “Nothing until sunup. Not going to work at all. What were thinking, old friend?”

“What I think, is that I was being overly optimistic by thinking I could make it there before sunup had there
been
a flight, so it’s lucky for me that there isn’t one!” William laughed through the phone.

“Well, you’re always up for a challenge. I suppose you thought you could persuade the pilot to hurry, had you seen the sun rising, mid-flight.”

“Aye, and I would have succeeded, too,” William assured him.

“I’ve no doubt. I’ve no doubt at all. Well, tomorrow night then?”

“Yes, I’ll call Elizabeth and let her know. Tomorrow night! I’ll look forward to it.”

“As will I, William. I shall look forward to it, as well.”

They hung up and Joshua walked directly to the counter to purchase a ticket for the following night. No wonder the airport was like a ghost town. He should have remembered the curfew but then again, he normally didn’t rush off in the middle of the night without planning. He was more careful than that, a trait he’d had to learn the hard way. Which reminded him, what must be happening in Los Angeles...to think of it made him shudder. He knew too well what Daniella must be going through
–
the terrible psychological pain and physical heartbreak.

Why did there have to be a fucking curfew?

I
n the door
sauntered a sophisticated and attractive woman of thirty-seven years, with hair naturally deep red with her curls pinned up in the current fashion. She wore a vibrant purple silk gown cinched snugly high under her breasts, to satisfactory effect. Her intelligent brown eyes danced and betrayed years of wisdom and confident authority. It was apparent to anyone why it was she who was Madame de le Chabanais.

“Monsieur, this letter has just arrived.” She gracefully handed to Ludovico’s outstretched hand the folded parchment. He took it and read, a frown creasing his brow instantly.

Gabrielle no longer gave herself to men now that she was in command and thus–with no male scent upon her to sully her aroma–she smelled exceedingly tantalizing to the newly turned vampire. Feeling the penetrating heat of a stare, she looked towards Joshua who, caught, tried unsuccessfully to hide his repressed, famished agitation with a hasty look elsewhere. His eyes then traveled back to her quickly where they rested firmly, unavoidably, on her neck.

She narrowed her eyes and tilted her chin upward in what was meant to be an off-putting gesture of aloofness. The mistake was that it further exposed her jugular and had the opposite effect she had hoped for. His insides crackled and with eyes alone, he looked to his maker, hopeful and hungry, begging for merciful permission. Let me have her, he begged silently. Let me have her. I cannot take this any longer!

Ludovico slowly folded the note closed and tossed it on the table in general annoyance. He was distracted by what the letter said and therefore entirely unaware of the silent communication directed toward him. “It was my hope to visit the lecherous rascal this evening, but it appears Wolfl is away to London, of all places. He was in Paris two months ago, was he not? Why could he not have stayed put and met his demise like a man?”

“I believe it is because he does not know his demise is forthcoming. And were he to know, he would run farther, for he is not a man but a coward,” Joshua seethed through gritted teeth. It was taking all his self-mastery not to launch himself at the ripened female. His eyes darted back and forth between her and his maker, who still had no clue that Joshua was in actual physical pain.

Jovially, Ludovico agreed, and leaned back to think. “Tis true. Tis true, indeed. Has fate stepped in and warned him to flee the country? No matter. I have other plans. I’ll make arrangement for our travel. We shall prevail and it will be such fun!” Ludovico caught sight finally of the hunger behind his fledgling’s eyes. A mischievous smile tugged at his lips and he looked at the object of obsession from the corner of his eye. “Tell me Gabrielle, how do you like my musical friend here?”

She smiled, keeping her eyes on Joshua. “He leans toward a shyer disposition, to be sure, but his imagination has ripped my dress from my body thrice now.”

Ludovico laughed loudly, his shoulders joyfully enacting his amusement with all the freedom of a man who cared not for what people thought of him. “Have they now? Indeed! How rude of my young friend!”

“His manner is a blade-sharp contrast to yours, Monsieur di Breme. I believe I prefer you, if that is what you’d like to know,” she answered easily, her hip jutting out to receive her resting hand. Joshua offered only a blink of the eye in response as he felt his thirst wane; his interest was wholly lost the moment she revealed her smile. A wicked smile was not to his taste. He preferred women to be more demure and less worldly–no matter how thirsty he may be.

“Indeed. And I, you. I have a taste for the fairer sex, and in abundance,” Ludovico grinned, looking to Joshua to share the private joke only they two would understand. “But I speak not of lovemaking, my dear. I speak of him as a man. Joshua here is a prolific composer with an ear for the subtle intricacies of the heart. My God man, stop blushing.”

Joshua grinned and shook his head. “Apologies! Hearing praise does not come easily for me.”

Ludovico waved him off. “Nonsense! Gabrielle, do you follow the opera at all? If you have, you would have heard the sonata ‘Non Plus Ultra,’ which I can see by your face that you have–like the rest of Paris. But what you have heard my dear, was a fraud. Music claimed to have come from the man Joseph Wolfl…the imposter, the thief– ‘twas not his own! No, indeed. Not a note nor chord of it. How am I so certain of this slanderous fact, you might wonder?”

“I am sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation, monsieur.” Gabrielle’s ears were extremely keen to hear more; she enjoyed gossip more than The Opera on its best day.

“I am certain because I received the very same sonata two years previously, with all the markings and corrections that are the signature belonging to my perfectionist friend here. I know his work better than any living being on this planet, save he. I will also say it to the heavens, that all five years I have been privy to the talent of the musician you see before you, have been an honor.” Ludovico bowed his head to Joshua from where he sat.

Joshua was speechless and bowed his head as well, but in humble gratitude. Gabrielle shifted her hips and weight, taking in the two men of quality before she focused her pointed attention to the quieter of the two. Her excitement at the gossip grew more serious as she understood what was being told her. Everyone knew how popular the sonata had become once it was presented, although it was said it could have been performed better had just a few tweaks been made to adjust it. She herself had said so, and now that she faced the true originator of the lovely, delicate piece, she knew had it been left in his hands, it would have needed no such critique. From the look of Joshua alone, he had all the markings of one who understood subtlety. While not a man of wealth like his louder, eternally smiling Italian friend, Joshua held himself with dignity and grace, as his music inferred would be the case.

“‘Non Plus Ultra is yours, monsieur?”

“Oui. It is mine.”

“I enjoyed it tremendously.”

“Merci, Madame Gabrielle. You are most kind.”

“Do you intend to confront the thief, monsieur?”

“It was my decision to leave the event alone and to continue forward with writing more work. The muse calls to me daily, and daily I answer the call with a willing heart and a poised pen.”

“Noble. I however, am not nearly so forgiving,” Ludovico announced, interjecting with a booming voice and sharply-raised eyebrow.

Joshua nodded in agreement. “Nor I, now. My decision has since changed, due to the tragic turn of events. Doubt me not. My forgiveness died with Dussek.”

Gabrielle’s eyelashes hastily flickered as she heard the name. To be certain they were speaking of the same man, she asked, “Monsieur Jan Dussek?”

“Oui.”

“Mon Dieu! Has he been summoned to the grave, then? Say it is not so.” Gabrielle brought both hands to her bosom with sincere shock.

Astounded, Joshua asked, “Madame, did you have the good fortune to know my friend Dussek?”

“Oui, I knew him well, if you get my meaning. Monsieur Dussek was a patron here for many long years before I rose to authority. While he liked the wine a bit more than he should perhaps, he was a kind creature, always gentle to the ladies, full of gratitude and flattery…unlike most of the brutes we meet. The girls will be most put out by this news, I promise you. How did he meet his most untimely end?”

Joshua looked to Ludovico and received a nod in response. It was not a story Joshua wished to tell, but he felt obligation to the lady as another friend to the deceased. It was not that he did not like Madame, it was that his anger was still fire-hot, the loss of his friend still sorrowful. He grew pensive, stood and walked to the window where he pulled back the curtain to look outward onto the sleeping street below, bracing himself for the tale. When he felt ready, he began.

“Jan Dussek was a fellow composer and a dear friend. A more loyal friend one would never know. We wrote side by side on many a long evening–discussing inspiration, dramatic departures from the norm, which instruments would best bring our muse’s dreams to life. Wolfl was in our circle and though we made light of his jealous leanings, he cultivated within himself an envy so great that it called to him to steal what was not his…my ‘Non Plus Ultra.’ On that night, he left our party early and with him took that which I had wrenched from deep within my soul. Indeed…a piece of my heart. Nearly a year to complete it…and he took it in one night!”

“The three of us had been deep in the bottle that night as on many others. Trusting them both implicitly, I failed to notice the missing sonata. How could I know that it had gone–my home was in such disarray! I am not the most organized of men–an artist’s failing, and one I vow to change for if I’d been more careful, a life would still be lived this night.”

He paused, staring out the window. The air in the room was thick as they waited for him with rapt attention.

“And so it came to be that unbeknownst to me, Wolfl published and performed my sonata as his own. ‘Non Plus Ultra’ was well received, much to my great horror. What was I to do? I could not risk my reputation should I fail to credibly expose him. What if I was not believed? I am a lesser-known musician with not as grand a circle as that scoundrel Wolfl. He could have ruined me, and he knew it.”

His voice, so filled with emotion, faltered then. “When my dear Dussek discovered the betrayal, he was furious and privately called Wolfl out. Wolfl laughed in his face! Had I been there I would have strangled him with my own bare hands. But I was not there, nor was I privy to Dussek’s decision to rename his own sonata. It was a call to arms, composer to composer. And thus he did the unthinkable, he changed the title of his ‘Le Retour a Paris’ to of all things, ‘Plus Ultra!’ In this unprecedented act, he slapped Wolfl’s face in front of all society…a society who came forth to ask questions.”

“Mon dieu! He did not!” whispered Gabrielle with great feeling.

“He did. Though Wolfl lied whenever asked as to the reason, as liars will.”

“But, what courage! And what loyalty you had in him!”

“Indeed. Dussek stood up for me when I could not, and for that I owe him a permanent place in my heart. He will have it from now until the end. Two months ago this very night, he was ripped from this world. A greater tragedy, I know not of. And Wolfl is to blame. It is known that Wolfl saw him last, having come bearing wine as an olive branch, to his home. I wish I had been wallpaper on the walls to hear what passed between them.” Joshua shook his head and struggled to finish. “When dawn came the morning following, Jan Dussek–loyal friend, gifted composer and even better man–did not wake to meet it. Nor ever would he wake again.”

Joshua turned, his face somber and committed. “They say the drink was his undoing and although he was indeed driven to excess, I believe that Wolfl poisoned him in a murderous vengeful rage. Of nothing have I been more certain.”

The tragic tale melted into their skin and no one moved for several moments.

Ludovico clenched his jaw twice, and made a decision. “My dear Gabrielle, have you a maiden who might be to Joshua’s…erm…taste? I believe his preference is the more youthful and gentle variety. A brunette perhaps?” Ludovico stood then and walked the Madame to the door, a hand comfortably resting on her lower back as guide. He was guessing at Joshua’s predilections. He only knew that Gabrielle was too smart to make a meal of. She would not be so easily bribed for her secrecy, and that was not appealing in any way.

Gabrielle smiled the smile of an experienced hostess. “Mais Oui! I have just such a girl. Not only is she naïve and gentle, but a virgin, too! I’ve been saving her for someone special.” She shared a knowing look with him before he closed the door behind her. Ludovico stood then with his back to the door and leaned upon it, deep in thought. They had little above two hours before the sun rose. Upon its climb, they must fall. A letter requesting a ship to travel with, must be sent at once so that arrangements would be in place on the following evening. He had a friend with humans in his employ who were paid handsomely and trusted implicitly, for travel abroad. These were tricky matters.

Walking to a paper and pen, he scribbled his requirements down, folded it and addressed it with a name Joshua did not recognize. In a beautiful scrawl, Ludovico wrote the name…William.

“Allow this coat of guilt you wear to vanish at once. I promise you, we will make the scoundrel pay. It’s men like him who keep us well fed.” He laughed and walked to heartily slap Joshua on the back. “Until then,” Ludovico whispered, “You need to eat. Let us see what our lovely Gabrielle has for you tonight, eh? But Joshua, you are not to kill this maiden.”

The skin on Joshua’s body aroused all at once at the word ‘kill.’ The thirst, no longer forgotten, blasted forth to quicken his heart. His eyes, so filled with hunger, glittered. A surge of unexpected and unwelcome anger rose within him. The words lashed round and round his mind. You are not to kill the maiden. You are not to kill the maiden. Voices hissed, taking hostage his weakened mind. Fury took hold and he watched Ludovico walk to the door. Why must he bow down to be told what he could and could not do? He would not! There was a force in him now. A power. It ached and pulled and tortured him, commanding him to listen. It must be satisfied. It whispered to him this: the girl must die.

With a speed and force greater than any he’d known, Joshua was unexpectedly thrown violently onto the ground. He had not even seen the attack coming! Ludovico pinned his shoulders to the rug and growled at him, “Joshua no!” Joshua growled back, fighting him off. The two vampires struggled against each other, the elder pinning the younger with his years of added strength and skill. Yet the fire of the thirst gave Joshua more power than Ludovico expected. This man was his first human turned and he’d not known this fight before, nor this need for training. Given no other choice he shot several painful blasts to Joshua’s head with his fist until he gathered the starving fledgling’s fiercely reluctant attention. “I see where your mind has gone and you must come back to me now! She is coming up the stairs and I will not open that door until you I see your blood lust in check! Do you hear me? You will starve this night before I endanger that girl’s life! Starve, I say! Nod if you hear me! Nod, damn you, or I’ll not release you. And do not think of lying to me, for I will know!”