Real Vampires Know Size Matters (38 page)

“Why not? Tell me why he won’t be mine.”

“I’m not telling you anything.” She gasped and waved her arms wildly, trying to summon her spirits. I trapped one arm under each knee, straddling her.

“Stop it. Now tell me what you’ve done to him.”

“He’ll always belong to me, heart and soul. There are words that must be spoken or he won’t ever love another.” Her eyes were wild, her smile triumphant. “You’d better believe
I
won’t speak them.”

“He wasn’t yours a few minutes ago. He came to me on the stage. He said he loved me.” I snarled, let her see my fangs and the urge to kill in my eyes.

“That’s because I’d failed to mark him. But I did just now. Look and see. He carries my mark and will be mine forever or until my mark is removed.” She was still defiant, even though I could almost see the life draining out of her with each gasp as I tightened my grip on her throat.

“Go, Gloriana. See if she’s telling the truth. I’ve got this.” My mother touched Mel and she was instantly paralyzed. “See if you can find this mark she’s bragging about. We will make her take it off. No matter what we have to do to her.” Mother’s smile was cold and determined.

I couldn’t have a better ally. I glanced at the zombies. Or what used to be the walking dead. Now they were two piles of ashes.

“What can I do to help?” Rafe was there beside my mother.

“Don’t let anyone come into the alley. Can you stay by the door?” I’d been worried about that. This bizarre scene didn’t need any spectators or distractions.

Rafe helped me to my feet. “You can count on me.” He squeezed my shoulder then rushed to stand against the door.

I ran back to Jerry. Mark. I hadn’t seen her touch him but maybe she could have thrown something or her spirits might have been capable of carrying it. Did I even believe her? But she’d done something to make him first freeze, then fall unconscious to the ground. Then I looked closer. He wasn’t unconscious. He stared at nothing, now just like one of her walking dead. Oh, God.

“Gloriana, let me help.” Mars stood next to me.

“How? Do you know anything about these voodoo curses?” I ran my hands over Jerry’s shoulders and back. I knew his body so well. If there was anything new here, I wasn’t finding it.

“Loa. Melisandra claims she talked to Loa. Believe it or not, that’s one of my other names. This religion is one of my minor ones. I
am
a god, you know. Some people choose to worship me. Gods of war are popular. We have power and that appeals to people. But I don’t like it when their worship is twisted like this.” He frowned at Mel where Mother stood guard over her.

“Yes, I’d say Mel’s gone off the deep end.” I still hadn’t found a mark. Where could it be?

“This woman has invoked my power and abused it in a way that displeases me.” He lifted Jerry to his feet, making it look effortless. “Check out his upper right thigh, under that loin cloth. That’s where such marks are usually found.”

“I can’t believe . . .” I shook my head. “Never mind. I don’t think I’ll ever figure out Olympus and all the bizarre happenings there.” I sank down to study Jerry’s thigh, tracing an old scar. He’d won it in a battle centuries ago, before he’d been turned. There, just inches above the edge of that skimpy leather, was a small black mark like a brand. It looked like an
x
, with the bottom turned into an upside down heart. I rubbed my finger over it and it throbbed, hot to the touch.

“This must be it. Can you take it off?” I wished Jerry would moan, something. Instead, when Mars let him go, he just slumped in place, like a puppet left to hang from a hook by its strings.

“I’m afraid, my dear, that only the one who puts on the mark can remove it.” He stalked over to Mel. “Let her up, Hebe.” He stood glowering down at the priestess.

“Are you sure?” My mother frowned down at the frozen woman. “I could end her here and now.”

“And leave Jerry like this? I don’t think so. Thaw her out, Mother, and back off. Please?” I stood next to Mars.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, both of you.” She tapped Mel then moved back. Mel jumped up, wild-eyed.

“What have you done?” She raised her arms, ready to bring in the ghouls.

“Stop.” Mars fixed her with a commanding gaze. “I am Loa, the god to whom you pray. Do you know me, my child?” His voice had gone deep and guttural. It made my insides quiver.

Mel fell to her knees. “My lord Loa. You honor me.” She bowed until her forehead touched the rough pavement. “How can I serve you?”

“Remove your mark from this man, daughter. Set him free. Your attachment to a blood drinker does not please me. Have you not learned that we despise such creatures?” Mars stalked around Mel in a circle.

“How can that be your wish when you helped me gain his love in the first place?” Mel hadn’t looked up, and said this to the pavement.

Mars sighed. He touched the top of her head and she froze again. “This is what comes from having so many supplicants. I should listen more closely to their pleas. Get a few more assistants to handle incoming calls. If I’d known it concerned you, Gloriana . . .” He shrugged. “Well, this is a tough one. I’m not supposed to intervene once I’ve given the green light.”

“Let me talk to her. Like Jerry said, we have this potion. If he can thaw out and then toss it at her, it’s supposed to make Mel hate him.”

“What’s it called?” Mars gestured. “Let me look at it.”

“I can’t pronounce the name but here it is.” I slipped it out from behind Jerry’s belt.

Mars opened the vial and sniffed. “Good news. This will work. Talk her into thawing out the man and then, if he throws it in her face while she’s looking straight into his eyes, it
will
make her despise him. She’ll take off the mark willingly, unable to bear the sight of him carrying it.” He glanced at my mother. “Hebe, we need to get out of here. The woman will be insufferable if she remembers Loa himself deigned to speak to her. I think Gloriana can handle things from here.”

“Can you, dear?” My mother glared at Mel. “I don’t like leaving you with that woman. She means you harm. And of course she’s taken her religion to a very dark place. Sorry, Mars.” She linked her arm through his. “Perhaps I can comfort you later.”

“I wouldn’t mind that at all. But we must go back inside. I saw someone I think I recognize. You must tell me if I am right or not.” He smiled at her. “Gloriana? I’ll erase her memory of ever meeting me. Are you happy with this plan? Sure you can carry it off?”

“Yes. I’ll do whatever it takes to get her to thaw him out. Jerry knows what to do with the potion. Unless what she’s done to him will erase that memory.”

Mars walked over to Jerry and stared at him intently. “I think he’ll be fine. Inside his muddled brain he knows two things. He loves you and hates that bitch. I take that to mean this Melisandra.” He swept his gaze over her one more time. “Good thing Hebe didn’t incinerate her. She’s one of my priestesses. From now on, I’ll pay closer attention to what’s going on down here. In the future, this woman will have a rude awakening. Loa will come to her in her dreams and she’ll see the light, so to speak. Voodoo is a fine religion when practiced properly.”

“Glad to hear it. Now please go. I can’t stand to see Jerry like this.” I brushed my lover’s cheek but he didn’t move a muscle. Finally I tucked the open vial into his hand and sent him a mental message, reminding him what it was for. I tried to read his mind but I wasn’t as powerful as Mars because I couldn’t make the connection. “Ready.”

“Fine. I’ll release her, and your mother and I will vanish at the same time. Good luck, Gloriana.” He touched Mel and, true to his word, he and Mother disappeared.

“How do you like Jeremiah now, Gloriana?” Mel was back in her usual bitingly sarcastic form.

“You can have him. When I think of all the nights you two were together it makes me sick. Yes, it was cool that he came up onstage like that. I couldn’t have planned it better myself. It made for great theater. But, honestly? Why would I want your leftovers?” I shrugged and started toward the exit door where Rafe had been a silent observer. “Here’s my guy. Rafe, baby, can you take me somewhere not polluted by evil spirits and crazy women?”

“Sure, Glo.” Rafe pulled me close. “Mel, enjoyed the pep talk the other night. Gave me lots to think about. Big plans for the club here for instance. Glory and I may come to another one of your seminars. You give great advice. We left there totally inspired, didn’t we, baby?” He kissed my cheek.

“I admit it. I want to own the world.” I patted Rafe’s butt. “I hear the music’s still going. Let’s go inside and dance.”

“Fine. I’ll take your money.” Mel turned to Jerry and waved her hands again. “Jeremiah, lover. Are you ready to go?” She stared into his eyes.

“More than ready.” He tossed the liquid in the vial into her face.

“What have you done?” Mel’s screech would have been heard inside except Ray’s band was loud enough to hear through the closed door. She wiped away the liquid, which looked like egg yolk, from her eyes and face. “This burns! What the hell is it?”

“A little something a doctor I know whipped up in his lab. It’s supposed to be a love potion. What have I done? I’ve shown you just how I feel about you.” Jerry watched her closely as she pulled a black handkerchief from between her breasts. She’d worn what I’m sure the audience had thought was a costume but were probably her work clothes when she was talking to Loa. The floor-length black caftan plunged low in front and her headscarf had symbols in gold around the edge.

“Leave the potions to the experts, Jeremiah. Clearly you were tricked.” She looked him over, her lips curling. “How pathetic. What did I ever see in you? A bloodsucker.” She shuddered.

“You said you liked for me to drink your blood, Mel.” Jerry smiled, showing every inch of his very long fangs.

“No! I seem to remember . . .” She put a shaky hand to her forehead. “By Loa’s light, what was I thinking? I don’t know why I wasted my time with you. You’ll not wear my mark another moment!” She swept her arms around in a circle, murmuring words that I certainly couldn’t understand. Then her whole body jerked as if she’d pulled something out of Jerry. I hoped that meant what I thought it did.

“Are we done then?” Jerry crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re leaving me? Just like that?”

“Oh, we’re done. Do not cross my path again.” She snarled, while spirits came howling out of her fingertips to circle her in a frenzy before finally disappearing like they’d gone down a drain. She faced Rafe and me and, eerily, there was no sign of crazy Melisandra.

“My next seminar is in Dallas, next weekend. I’m sure you signed up for my e-mail list. Perhaps I’ll see you there.” She looked down at the two heaps of ashes. If she had any regrets for her two minions, she didn’t waste time sharing them. Instead, she swept down the alley, her head held high.

We all stared after her, frozen in place, as if afraid that wasn’t the end of it. But she finally turned the corner and walked out of sight. Then I ran to Jerry.

“It worked! You’re free.” I held on to him then smiled at Rafe. “Thanks for helping. I didn’t think this would ever be over.”

He laughed. “Can you believe she plugged her business at the end? That woman is a trip.” He leaned against the door. “And don’t you have friends in high places. Mars. Wow.” He shook his head. “Glad it worked out.” He disappeared inside.

“She
is
a trip. And I’ll believe she’s gone when I get the e-mail that she’s in Dallas and ready to do her seminar.” I sighed, still afraid to relax.

Jerry kissed me, taking a good long time with it. “At least Ian’s potion worked as promised.”

“I was worried about it. And what about Mars? Could you hear everything when you were in that weird state Mel put you in?” I couldn’t let go of him.

“Oh, yeah. Mars/Loa. Whatever you call him, he seems a true warrior. And very fond of you. Did something go on with him I should know about?” Jerry raised an eyebrow.

“Are you kidding? You heard him make a date with my mother. Olympus is hinky with lots of inbreeding, but I think I’ll leave him to her.” I shivered in the cold night air. I knew Jerry had to feel the chill in his next-to-nothing outfit. “Hey, you promised me a turn with this sex slave thing. You still willing?” I really wasn’t so sure I wanted to go there. I’d hated the way Mel had treated him and he still had the collar around his neck. Part of a chain dangled down his chest.

“Glory, I’ve always been your sex slave. The clothes or lack of have nothing to do with it.” He kissed my sudden smile. “You want to head to my place and pull my chain, let’s go.”

I ran my hands over his back then patted his butt. “One thing first. Let me see your right thigh.”

“You can see more than that at my place.” He kept touching my velvet dress. “Did I tell you how beautiful you looked on that stage?”

“Thanks. Really. Now hold still. I need to make sure Mel’s mark is gone. Humor me.” I pulled back. “Okay?”

“Fine. Whatever. I don’t remember any silly mark. But she could have done anything during my death sleep. And don’t think that wasn’t hell. Hitting the sheets at sunrise and not knowing what would happen while I slept.” He looked grim.

“God, Jerry, I’m sorry.” I dropped to my knees and studied his thigh, going past the scar to the place where the mark had been. Then I spotted it. Oh no. The
x
was still there. The only thing that had changed was that the heart at the bottom was missing and it was cool, not hot, to the touch. What did it mean? Was he still in danger?

“See anything there that interests you?” He was smiling because of where I had my fingertips.

“Of course. But I’m not taking this further in a dirty alley.” I stood and looked into his eyes. He seemed fine so I wasn’t going to share my concerns. The mark wasn’t in a place where he’d notice it, especially since we couldn’t see our reflection in mirrors.

“Then let’s head to my place and my king-size bed. Unless you’re determined to go inside and speak to your adoring fans.” He took my hand.

“I can live without that. Let’s do it.” I held on tight. “Shall we shift?”