Shadow's Light (36 page)

“Michel,” I said a little breathlessly.

“Ma douce,”
came his sexy, deep purr. “I gather you are flying solo today. Is that wise?”

“
Oh, not you too. You know, I can take care of myself. You guys all think I am some sort of fragile damsel in distress. I'll have you know, I can stake a level one
Sanguis Vitam
vampire in my sleep. I have two silver stakes, a silver knife and Svante sword on me. Plus, I am not stupid. The sun is up and I have a couple of hours before any of my vampire enemies come out to play. By then, I'll be back at the house or on the jet. Either way, I can do this.”

“
I know you can.” What? “I just asked if it was wise. One of your guard could have gone in the back of the car, shielded from the sun. Close enough should things go wrong, but allowing you to
handle
things on your own in the interim. Is it not too much to ask for a back-up plan?”

I didn't say anything. Mainly because that was exactly what Samson had offered to do and I had shot him down. Hearing Michel say it made me realise how much of a good idea it had actually been. But, to be honest, I was sick of feeling molly-coddled. I wanted to go back to the days when I hunted Dark vampires alone and returned to my apartment on my own.

Or did I? My vampires were my family. I loved being with them for more than just protection. They made me feel balanced, happy and content. Still, couldn't I have a few moments to do things on my own? I didn't have to have them with me every second of every day. Surely I was allowed a bit of freedom now and then.

“
This has nothing to do with your freedom, Lucinda.” Ah crap, he was receiving my thoughts and we'd progressed to
Lucinda
. Never a good sign. “This is all about timing. Right now, being alone is not a good idea. There are too many high players in this game and they all want you. Once this is all settled, you can go off and do whatever you need to do on your own with my blessing. But until we get this resolved, please think of more than just your independent and selfish desires.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it for a moment. Unbelievable. Selfish indeed. Who the hell did he think he was to boss me around like this?

“Fine,” I said curtly, before he had a chance to counter my thoughts with more insensitive arguments. “I'm at Gigi's address now, I have to check on her and time is running out. So, we'll catch up with this conversation later, shall we?” I hung up before he could answer.

Very mature,
ma douce
, came his dry thoughts in my head.
Can I not be concerned for your safety at all?

I didn't bother to reply, just built some sturdy shields in my mind and forced his thoughts back out. I wasn't trying to be childish, really. But, I just didn't have time to soothe his ruffled feathers. I had never been good at emotional confrontations. An argument with Michel, whilst not being the scariest of confrontations I could imagine, still fell into the category of '
later'
.

I slammed the door to my BMW closed behind me and pocketed my cellphone. Now I was irate and not in the best mood to approach a newly turned, reluctant vampire. I took a couple of deep breaths, in an effort to calm myself, counted to ten and then tried to loosen my shoulders and stiff back. None of it worked. Bloody men and their completely reasonable demands.

And bugger, wasn't that just it? Even though I felt smothered by all the attention to my safety, it was only made because it was needed. There were a hell of a lot of people after me and not all of them were restricted to the dark.

I pushed those thoughts aside and strode up the steps to Gigi's building. Samson had given me the code to get in the front door and I was soon climbing stairs to the third floor. It was a well maintained complex. No doorman, but who in New Zealand has one of those? Still, it was clean, nicely decorated in pristine white and black. Potted plants and tiled floors, with a gleaming handrail and bright lights helping the visually impaired.

In no time at all I was in front of her apartment and the familiar signature of a vampire met me from the other side of the door. Gigi. To my face she was a Nosferatin. To my senses a Nosferatu. I knew her signature, even though I didn't know her.

I knocked, thinking I may as well try, but not expecting an answer even though it was now late afternoon. The door swung open, but she wasn't standing across the threshold waiting. I guess the light on the landing from a window down one end put paid to that. I walked in and shut the door behind me, taking a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the dim glow in her main room. She had a nicely furnished home. Everything neat and tidy and in bright modern colours.

Abstract artwork on the walls, up-to-date electronics in the form of a large plasma screen TV, surround sound speakers and stereo. And a laptop sitting on the dining room table, which was just between the lounge and the small kitchen off to the side. A door led into a bedroom where I could see a bright blue, green, yellow and red duvet with a plethora of cushions and stuffed toys. On closer inspection the toys looked like the department store
Farmer's
,
Santa Bears. Maybe a decade or two worth of the white furred, red and gold vested, cuddly teddies.

“Hey,” I said turning to face her. She was curled up in an armchair in the corner. Knees under her chin, arms around her legs. Bright blue eyes watching my every move.

I walked over to the couch and placed the box with the stakes in it on the coffee table, then sat down.

“We were worried about you.” I thought I'd go with the combined approach, in case mentioning Samson straight off made her fangs elongate.

“I needed time to think things through. He was smothering me.”

I laughed. “I know that feeling.” Then ran a hand over my face and sighed. “Gigi, this whole thing sucks, I get it. Your life as you know it is over. Or that's at least how it feels. You have these new abilities, new powers and strength and your body doesn't feel like it's really yours. But your mind keeps trying to convince you it is. The world is upside down and spiralling out of control, and you can barely keep yourself from being sucked away.”

She stared at me. “Is that supposed to be a pep talk? Because it sucks.”

I shrugged. “I'm not going to tell you it's all going to be OK. I think it will be, but me saying it means jack shit right now. What I will tell you, is I have been through something similar. Not the same. But, like you, I am a little unique myself. And I have been where you are now. Trying to deal with so much change and not having any control over any of it at all. Sometimes, if I'm honest, I still don't have all the control I would like in my life.” I thought of my last conversation with Michel outside this building. Quietly, I added, “It's still a daily battle some days to make them understand I can look after myself. But, their concern, my friends' concern, is not there to annoy me. Or frustrate me. Or hinder me in any way. It's there because they care. They love me and they care.”

I looked up and held her gaze. “You can do this on your own, but you don't have to. And you do have to follow some rules. I'm not sure if Samson managed to get them all out last night. I'm guessing, even though it felt like he was holding court and reading from a twenty foot scroll, he held back. The only thing I ask is you allow him to tell you the rules. Then you can decide what you want to do." I watched her for a reaction, when none came, I asked tentatively, "Is that OK?"

She sat motionless for several seconds and then shrugged an agreement. It was the best I was going to get from the girl.

“I have to head overseas tonight," I went on, "so I won't be around. I wish I could help you more, but I'm guessing you need time to adjust anyway.” I stood up then and headed towards the door. “Just know this, there are three people in this city you will answer to. Jett, the Master Vampire of Auckland City. Me, Auckland's Nosferatin and your sponsor. And yourself. Everyone else can go the fuck to hell for all I care, as long as you follow the rules.”

My hand was on the door handle when she spoke.

“What's in the box?”

I turned back to her, slowly. “Your new best friends. Why don't you open it up and see if they work."

I held my breath as she reached for the box on her coffee table. This was going to go one of two ways. Either she couldn't touch silver, despite appearing as a Nosferatin to me. Or she could. Of course, if she could, I might be in for a battle. The temptation to stake me may be too big for the Nothus to ignore.

She stared at the two silver stakes for quite some time, then finally reached in and pulled one free. I saw it, the moment the stake rested in her palm. That sense of completion. She may not have realised that something was missing until that very second, but the moment she touched that stake she felt complete.

Gigi was a Nosferatin through and through. With a little vampire thrown into the mix.

She didn't look back up at me, I may as well have not been there at all. So, I turned away and walked out the door. Maybe it was a bit remiss of me. Dropping a set of stakes in her lap and strolling out the door. But, part of me recognised something in Gigi. Something familiar.

She was a loner, like I had once been. It would take time to pull her into the fold.

Good thing I had other issues to deal with right now. I'm not necessarily known for my patience. And something told me Gigi was going to take an awful lot of patience.

Poor Samson. He was in for a long, rough ride.

I made it back to the house at St. Helier's Bay before the sun dipped below the horizon. And without issue I might add. All four vampires were waiting for me in the hallway off the internal door to the garage. Marcus, Matthias and Sergei had their arms crossed over their beefy chests, biceps bulging. Samson was pacing. He was doing a lot of that lately.

“She's at her place and waiting for you to turn up at sundown to go through the rules,” I said to Samson, before the three angry musketeers could start in on me.  “She's going to require kid gloves,” I added and Samson snorted. The others continued to glare. “But, I know you'll have her best interests at heart. Introduce her to Jett tonight. They need to meet. And keep an eye out for any...” I stopped mid sentence, realising I was again about to divulge her secrets. This was frustrating, but until I could guarantee Marcus and Matthias weren't going to sell her out, I had to bite my tongue.

“I got it,” Samson answered, giving me a look that said he did. Not just her vampire side, but her hunter side too. He'd been around me long enough to know what it involved. He'd make sure she had an explanation if the pull decided to manifest between now and when I would get back from Europe and could train her up.

“OK. Good.” I went to turn away, but Samson stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. Marcus and Matthias looked uncomfortable, Sergei just fumed patiently waiting his turn to wring me out.

“Thanks, Luce. For everything,” Samson whispered in my ear. “I'll look after her while you're gone.”

I hugged him back and sighed. “It's not going to be easy. She's resistant, but she has to learn to accept it or die. You know the rules.” Then I added as an after thought, “Take my car when you go.” We'd need the Land Rover to get to the airport, he might as well use the BMW while I was gone. I felt him nod against my shoulder and then he pulled back with a sad smile and walked towards the stairs and his room.

I took a couple of seconds to catch my breath, worry over Gigi and frustration at not being able to stay and help Samson educate her making it hard to think clearly. Then turned to face the music. I held my hand up before Sergei could get going.

“Sundown is in twenty minutes. I gather we're out of here then?”

“Yes,” he answered succinctly.

“Good, then I gotta go pack my bag. I'll meet you back here when it's time to go.” I spun on my heels and followed in Samson's footsteps up to my room.

Sergei's voice drifted after me. “I am still pissed off at you, Mistress.”

I couldn't help smiling, but didn't bother with a reply.

Just over an hour later and after a very quiet car ride to the airport, we were boarding Michel's private jet. James, Michel's man-servant/cabin steward was waiting for our arrival. Face beaming, eyes sparkling. Practically dancing on the spot. He was an older human, slightly greying hair, impeccably dressed. Well mannered. I'd only ever seen him working on the plane, and only when we had a long distance flight booked. This flight would take close to twenty-four hours and would require three refuelling stops on the way. Even a
Gulfstream G650
couldn't fly direct from Auckland to Paris in one hit.

“Hey, James,” I said, as he took my hand to help me board the plane.

“Mistress, it is a pleasure as always. I gather we are retrieving the Master and bringing him home.”

“That's the plan,” I didn't say it was unlikely the Champion would let Michel leave Paris ever again. Unless he was on a top secret mission to assassinate someone for her. James didn't need to know.

“That is very good news, Mistress. Very good indeed.” He let my hand go so I could find my seat. I took the couch. It was where Michel always sat.

M&M and Sergei found armchairs to relax in and without further delay the door was secured by James and the plane began its warm-up, ready for taxiing out onto the runway.

I looked around the familiar cabin. Nothing had changed. Cream leather lounges and chairs, mahogany drinks cabinet with large flat screen TV on the wall above. Cream carpet with Michel's dancing dragon coat-of-arms dotted here and there. There was also a beautifully presented bathroom, with marble-like tiles and the dragon motif again. Plus a galley where James somehow manages to whip up little morsels of delight.

Just as the plane began inching forward out of its parking space by Michel's hangar, Sergei broke the silence.

“Was it worth it, Mistress? Going into town alone?”

Sergei was an excellent head of my guard. He was experienced, professional and competent. But, sometimes he was just too serious for his own good.

“Yes, Sergei, it was,” I answered pleasantly. “Although, those fairies who blocked off Greys Ave at both ends and made me cut through Myers Park were a bit of a pain in the butt.”

His jaw clenched preparing to fire a retort back at me, but when Marcus and Matthias burst out laughing he cottoned on quickly enough. “There were no fairies, were there, Mistress?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Sergei, I appreciate your concern. Hell, I even understand it. But, there will be times when I have to do things on my own and you'll just have to accept it. I am not a fragile human. I can look after myself.” Perhaps if I said it enough times, it would actually be true.

“With all due respect, Mistress. You are not a vampire either.”

We stared at each other for a moment and sadly I finally understood where I sat with Sergei. I would always be weaker in his eyes than a vampire. And as such, I would always need the protection of a vampire just in case.

“Oh, Sergei,” I said under my breath, but didn't go on. Sergei and I would have our disagreements about this in due course. But, not today.

James came back in the cabin with a silver tray. On it was a perfectly brewed fluffy coffee and a plate of chocolate biscuits. My favourite sort. He kept them on hand just for me. He smiled at my beaming face, but didn't stick around. James was all about discretion.

It didn't take long for Marcus and Matthias to crack open the drinks cabinet and start in on the Scotch. Even though Sergei warned them they needed to be sober when we landed in Paris, to take on their roles of guards, they were determined to get some relaxation in while they could.

I read a magazine for a while. Then watched a movie on the screen. Had another snack that looked like something from a top restaurant and tasted even better. Another coffee and then caved and had a glass of wine. Sergei eventually dropped the angry face, but never really joined in on the conversation with Marcus and Matthias. I could tell his thoughts were all for his sister. I didn't blame him. I was having trouble thinking of little else too.

I had no idea what would face us, but I knew better than to expect it to be smooth sailing. The Champion liked games. She wouldn't just hand over Nataliya and then let me join with Michel. I'd have to jump through hoops before she caved. But, I had every intention of doing what I had to do, to achieve my end goal. Two things mattered and little else. One, freeing Nataliya. And two, joining with Michel and getting my life back on track. OK, so that was three, but the joining with Michel part was really synonymous with getting my life back on track. One went with the other. I couldn't even imagine them apart.

The closer we got to France, the more agitated I got. I hadn't lowered my mental shields and tried to talk to Michel mind to mind. I was just too wound up to give it a go. I kept thinking something would go wrong and if I didn't have access to Michel's thoughts, I couldn't be told of something unexpected happening before we landed. It was stupid, but there were other ways for Michel to reach us if he needed to and I needed a little longer to live in hope.

The last time I had visited the
Iunctio's Palais
in person I had died. The Champion had arranged it, even if it had been Michel's fangs that carried out the task. I had met my Goddess Nut that time. She had returned my life to me, saying it was before my time to die. I wondered if I had achieved all I needed to achieve in this world and if the Champion would succeed this time. Not that she could have a hand in my murder. Nut had made sure that would never happen again, by connecting me to the Champion and making it impossible for her to harm me in any way. It was frustrating to the leader of the
Iunctio's
Council and just damn weird to me.

Because, I had a deep seated desire to protect the Champion too. Even if I hated her, despised all she stood for and couldn't stand to be in the same room with her at all. I still wanted to lay down my life to ensure she lived. Or, at least, fight really hard to make sure she survived.

I slept a little. Ate some more. Sparingly drank alcohol, but downed water bottles like I was in the Sahara. Air travel and dehydration. Not a good look. When we were about to descend into
Charles De Gaulle Airport
I freshened up in the bathroom and made sure my weapons were all in place. Including my Svante sword. I wasn't chancing placing a foot on the Champion's soil without being fully prepared.

As the plane taxied to a stop outside the
Iunctio's
hangar, I lowered my mental shields to see if Michel was anywhere nearby. My heart skipped a beat and I felt my breath suddenly quicken at the pleasant thoughts that drifted through my mind.

Michel was waiting at the hangar for us, watching his jet taxi in to its parking slot. Knowing I was on board and just about as excited as I.

I remained in my seat by force of will only while the plane came to a stop. But had unbuckled my seatbelt and stood, before James had opened the side door. The vampires had sensed my excitement and all stood silently to the side of the cabin. Fully alert, but not willing to get in my way.

They needn't have bothered about me. As soon as the stairway had been lowered, James jumped back out of the way to let Michel in.

He was a blur of colour until he stood before me. But the cessation of movement did not diminish his glow. He shone as brightly as a star. His
Sanguis Vitam
filling the cabin and replacing all air. I didn't think he had intended to light up like a Christmas Tree, but he was obviously very pleased to see me and was having trouble keeping himself under control.

His hand reached out to brush my cheek tenderly, while his eyes held mine. Swirls of magenta already taking over the blue. His control barely there.

“Leave us,” he commanded the vampires and crew. He hadn't raised his voice, but the force of the command made even me try to take a step toward the doorway. And he hadn't been directing the command at me at all.

His other hand came up and wrapped around my upper arm, halting my movement forward. The hand that had touched my cheek now wrapped around the back of my neck, stroking the skin there. We stood in that position for what felt like an hour, but was only long enough for the pilots, James and the vampires to disembark. The door to the plane was shut behind James quietly, as he was the last to exit the cabin.

As soon as the door was sealed, Michel pounced.

“
Ma douce
.” It was almost a prayer. So reverent. So worshipful. So divine. It was the last thing he said before his lips met mine and he pushed me back down on the couch.

Both of us were frantic to disrobe. Frantic to taste, touch, feel. There was an awkward moment as Michel had to help me out of my sword's sheath and holster, making us both almost fall off the narrow couch onto the floor. And as Michel was reluctant to stop kissing me, it was all done by touch alone. It took longer than we both wanted and by the end Michel was so frustrated he threw the entire offending object - sword, sheath and holster - across the cabin. Shattering the corner of the drinks cabinet where it landed with a loud thud.

He didn't pause. Next was my necklace, swiftly removed, but with care. Then my dress, not quite as carefully. I was sure he'd ruin the zip at the back, but somehow it lasted against his frenzied movements and finally the dress was off over my head. He did stop then. Pulling back to look at me. I was wearing lacy pale blue matching bra and underwear. Against my tanned skin, thanks to my recent stint in Rio de Janeiro, it looked pretty good. I think Michel thought it looked a little better than pretty good.

He buried his face in between my breasts with a groan. His lips and tongue laying a hot path down the middle. Then just as abruptly as his appearance in the cabin had been, he bit the skin on the side of my breast. Right beside one of his
Sigillums
. I gasped at the sudden painful sensation. But, I didn't feel any vampire power accompany this bite. So, it was purely his desire to taste me and nothing else. An action he couldn't have controlled. There are also no large vessels in the breast, but there's enough to get a taste of blood. He didn't pull too strongly, just suckled a little while his hands undid the clasp to the bra at my back.

He withdrew his fangs, not sealing the puncture marks, to remove the bra. Small trickles of blood escaped the wounds and trailed down my skin. Every millimetre my blood gained sent shock waves through my entire body. Michel watched both my reaction as I shuddered and the progress of the slow trickle of blood on my skin as though mesmerised. Finally, after I had started writhing beneath him, from the torturous touch of those small drops of blood on my over sensitised skin and the weight of his hungry gaze upon my body, he lowered his head slowly and licked the blood trails clean. Then sealed the wound.