My Vampire and I (16 page)

 

"What you and your friend find so amusing," Marcus said,

 

"is what I call the charlatan side of the gift. Some of those people might indeed have some knowledge of what they purport to know, but they squander it in the name of entertainment and profit. True psychics," he continued, "seek to use their gift for the betterment of mankind."

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by J. P. Bowie
"I can't think of one who does that," I said, frankly.
"They are rare beings—perhaps one per century—and, I agree, there does not seem to be one alive today."

We sat on the bed, and I unbuttoned his shirt, slipping my hand inside and rubbing his nipples with my fingertips. I was rewarded by his gasp of pleasure.

 

"All I know is this, Marcus," I said, gazing into his beautiful eyes. "I love you, more than I ever thought it was possible to love anyone. Whatever you want from me, you can have.

 

Whatever you wish me to be, I will be. If I have reservations about Andorra, it's not out of jealousy or fear that you might listen to her opinion of me. I don't know if it's psychic intuition or simply a gut feeling I have, but all is not as it seems."

 

He held my face between his hands and kissed me tenderly. "And I will not ignore what you say or think, my beloved," he murmured. "But you think so highly of her," I said weakly. The effect his closeness had on me was beginning to show through the denim of my jeans. I eased him onto his back and lay over him, pulling his shirt open wider and kissing his chest.

He smiled up at me. "I'm sure both of you will be friends,"
he said. And that was the end of that particular conversation for the next hour or so.
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153
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie

Chapter Thirteen

When Marcus and I returned to the living room, Andorra and Tony were sitting on a couch by the fireplace, conversing in low voices. His arm was around her shoulders, and her head rested on his chest. I couldn't help but think they looked the very model of domestic bliss. Boy, can appearances be deceptive. Andorra raised her head as we approached, her dark eyes flashing in the firelight. She gave me an unsettled feeling, and I just couldn't figure out why. Tony seemed so nice and totally in love with her. What was it then that I sensed? Marcus, feeling my hesitation, gently massaged the back of my neck then put a protective arm around me.

"So Andorra," he said, smoothly. "Have you and Tony made yourselves at home?"

 

"Thank you, yes. The room is superb, Marcus." She rose and, once again, seemed to glide towards us. Her eyes held a hint of humour as she stared at me. "Roger, I do believe you do not like me, yet. You and I should be better acquainted.

Marcus, would you mind if I took your lover outside for a stroll?"
Before he could reply, I said, "I'd like that very much, Andorra." Why not? She couldn't really try anything with Marcus so near. Tony rose and stretched his lanky body. "Great idea.
Marcus and me can sit and shoot the breeze. It's been about fifty years, right Marcus?"
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"Has it been that long? It seems like only yesterday,"
Marcus remarked, watching Andorra and I headed for the French doors, her hand on my arm.
"Don't worry," she purred. "I won't spirit him away, dear Marcus."
"Better not," he replied, with a small smile. "I'd hate to have to hunt you down at this time of the night."
She laughed gaily, steering me outside across the veranda and down the steps that led to the wide garden below.

"He has become very possessive of you, so quickly," she said, in her smoky tones. "I have not known him to be so enamoured of another since Thomas." She pronounced his name, Tomás. "But of course, he has been so lonely since then."

I didn't miss the barb. "I'm only glad I can be the one to ease his loneliness," I said, evenly. "Marcus is an incredibly special man." "Yes, he is. He and I were lovers, you know."
"Yes, he told me. He said you brought him comfort after Thomas died."
"You don't mind knowing that?"
"Of course not. I wasn't even born when all that happened.

I don't think my ancestors had even come over on the boat from England." I smiled into her impassive gaze. It suddenly occurred to me that she could not read my mind, and I wondered why. "But why do you ask me those questions when you must already know the answers?"

"Why do you say that?" she asked, a little surprised.
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"Well, I know vampires can read minds. Marcus does it to me all the time."
"Ah..." She fixed me with her deep, dark eyes. "He obviously hasn't told you that he has blocked your mind from everyone's but his own." "He has? No, he didn't tell me."

"He was afraid that d'Arcy or the monster Gregory could reach you with their mental powers. A safe assumption, I fear. Therefore he took steps to thwart that possibility. So you see, he has protected you from all of us."

 

"Do I need protection from you?" I asked, looking her squarely in the eye.

 

She laughed lightly. "Only if you betray Marcus's trust."

"Then I guess the answer is no," I said, still holding her gaze. "Because if there is one thing I'm certain of, it's that I would die before I betrayed him. We may have only known each other for a short time—in your existence, a mere second, I'm sure—but love knows no time constraints or conditions. I love him—
have
loved him from the first moment we met. I hope you believe me, but, I have to tell you, I don't really care if you do not. The only one who must believe me is Marcus, and I know that he does."

"My, my..." Her eyes dropped away from mine for a moment. "Such intensity in one so young." When she looked back at me, I thought I saw her eyes glisten. "I'm beginning to understand why Marcus thinks so highly of you."

 

She placed a hand on mine. "You have nothing to fear from me. I know I come across as a rather scary woman sometimes. Tony will tell you horror stories, if you let him.

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Marcus may have mentioned something of my previous experiences with d'Arcy?" I nodded as she paused. "I'm afraid he made me what I am. Cold, bitter, and at times, lethal.

 

"Tony has mellowed me somewhat, but even he cannot rid me of the inherent distrust I feel when a stranger gets too close to someone I love. I noticed you also distrusted me.

 

Even though I could not read your thoughts, I sensed it in the way you looked at me. I hope that we can now be friends." So that was it. She had, for some reason, equated me with those who had destroyed her family. Jeez, but what a terrible burden to carry through life, always mistrusting those you do not know.

"Andorra," I said quietly. "I'm glad we've talked. It's cleared up some misgivings I had about you. You and Tony ...
you seem very close."

"As do you and Marcus, my dear." She smiled and touched my cheek. "I can only wish for you and my dear friend Marcus the same happiness Tony and I have found. He has brought a light to my life that was missing for many, many years. One day, perhaps, he will totally rid me of my bitterness." Marcus looked up with some relief, when Andorra and I walked back into the living room, arm in arm. His eyes locked on mine, and I sent out the thought,
Everything's all right
. He smiled and patted the couch cushion next to him.

 

"Young Roger is wiser than his years," Andorra said, sinking effortlessly to the floor at Tony's feet, and resting her head on his knee. "Even if he does think the sun shines out of your arse, Marcus," she added, teasing him.

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"He knows class when he sees it," Marcus kidded, tousling my hair, fondly.

I smiled at him, then looked across at Andorra as Tony absently stroked her long black hair. I fancied I heard her purr under his touch, so like a cat was she—a beautiful cat, relaxed now but senses alert, sinews coiled, ready to spring and defend those she loved.

"D'you think d'Arcy knows you're here?" I asked her.
Her dark gaze met mine. "Undoubtedly," she replied. "He is most likely gathering his powers to strike at us, even as we speak."

"Don't worry." Marcus took my hand in his. "He and Gregory will have to face us without assistance. I have reached out to all who know them, and no one wants to soil their hands with their dirty work."

"But no one wants to help, either," I said bitterly.
"Rules of the game, Roger." Tony smiled ruefully at me from his seat by the fireplace. "Vampires' honour, and all that."

"Yes, Marcus explained that to me, but it seems crazy, in a way, that you can't rally some forces to get rid of these guys once and for all. Everybody hates them, but they've been allowed to create havoc for a long time, without anyone stopping them. Isn't there some kind of justice system?" "A vampire Justice League," Tony chuckled. "That's a helluva idea. What d'you say, Marcus? We could start by taking out d'Arcy and his sidekick, Greg the Gross."

"Not amusing, Tony," Andorra said, giving him a reproving look. "For a start, there is no 'we', my dear. You and Roger 158 will stay well away from d'Arcy and Gregory. When Marcus and I meet them in battle, we do not want to worry about protecting you at the same time. You know better than that, remember?"

Tony's smile faded as she spoke, and it was obvious he was remembering something pretty awful. "Yeah, I haven't forgotten," he muttered. He looked across at me, his eyes filled with sadness. "So Roger, you and me, we get to stay home and watch TV and hope and pray that they come back."

I listened with horror as a sob broke from his throat.
"Tony..." Andorra reached up and stroked his face gently.
"We've talked of this before."
"I know, I know. It's just that..." He stumbled to a halt as Andorra placed a finger on his lips.
God
, I thought,
he's terrified for her.
My stomach lurched at the thought that this might turn out very badly. What if—
"Nothing will go wrong," Marcus said, gripping my hand.
"Andorra and I have formulated a plan."
"But won't they know what you're planning?" I interrupted.
"They can read minds too."

"But not ours. I told you my powers are greater than theirs. I have blocked all of our minds from theirs. They may know of Andorra and Tony's arrival, but that's all they know.

They cannot eavesdrop on our conversations or our thoughts.
This gives us an advantage over them."
"Can you read their thoughts?" I asked.
"Not d'Arcy's. And Gregory's is a jumble of half-thoughts and hatred. He is the one we will vanquish first. His stupidity will make him easy prey." 159
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The question that had been running around in my mind now sprang from my lips. "Where are they exactly? Are they in LA?" Marcus shook his head. "The Comte
was
here. That's how he was able to get to your friend Mark, but he has now returned to Rome." "
Rome
? But..."
"That is where Andorra and I will meet them. In the catacombs beneath the city. The Comte d'Arcy has already sent out the challenge." Sent out the challenge? Oh, dear God. "Marcus, Tony and I must go with you and Andorra."
"Yeah, Roger! Way to go," Tony exclaimed.
"No!" both Marcus and Andorra shouted at the same time.
Andorra jumped to her feet, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Such a suggestion is sheer stupidity," she cried. "Roger, I thought better of you than that."

"Sorry," I said. "But there's no way you're leaving us behind. How d'you think we're going to feel, separated by thousands of miles from you two? We don't have to be on the front line with you, but at least let us be nearby in case we can help. We could be decoys or something." "
No
," Andorra shouted again, and this time I saw fear in her eyes as she looked to Marcus for support. Of course, I thought, she's afraid for Tony. "Roger." Marcus held my hand against his lips. "You are a brave and wonderful man. Andorra and I truly appreciate what you're trying to do, but we cannot allow it. You and Tony will stay here."

160
"No, dammit!" Tony jumped to his feet, his fists clenched in anger. "No, I won't let this happen. Andorra, for the love of God, what if something happens to you and Marcus? D'you think d'Arcy and that troll will let Roger and me live after that? I would rather die at your side than have to face those monsters alone. You
know
what they'll do to me and Roger."

I had a feeling I didn't want to know what they'd do, but the look on Marcus's face told me he was weakening. His eyes met Andorra's for a split second, then he sighed and turned to me, his eyes searching my face.

 

"Roger, do you have any idea the horrors you and Tony might face?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter, Marcus," I told him with as much conviction as I could muster. "What will matter is if I'm left without you." I looked over his shoulder at Tony, who was hanging on my every word. "Tony and I, we're a part of you and Andorra, and like him, I would rather die at your side than face a life without you. Don't leave us here,
please
."

I watched his brilliant green eyes fill with tears, and I flung myself into his arms. I was barely aware of Tony's voice coming it seemed, from somewhere far off.

"Well," he said, quietly. "That's settled, then."
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161
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie

Chapter Fourteen

I awoke in Marcus's bed, the room darkened and still, the space beside me empty. I knew he would be somewhere in the house, talking with Andorra, while Tony and I slept. I was worried, though, that he and Andorra might slip away in the night, reneging on their promise to take us with them. Our insistence that we accompany them had not sat well with Andorra. In her mind, she had not even considered that she and Marcus might fail in their attempt to put d'Arcy out of business. Andorra struck me as the type who didn't acknowledge failure as a possibility.

But in that, I sensed danger for them. Maybe Marcus was right. Maybe I was becoming a tad psychic. Maybe I could be of some help to them if I concentrated on this...