Survive the Dawn (9 page)

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Then, madam, you know exactly what I am thinking and what I want.”

Tatiana opened her eyes and looked down. “Yes, I know.”

“Come in, the water will cool you on this hot night.” Sebastian pushed off the edge and drifted backward.

Tatiana watched her. “You are a devil. What a life you will have.”

“What a life we will have,” Sebastian corrected her and swam under the water. It did cool her off, but her ache was still there as she came up with her long hair streaming behind her.

“We have talked of this,” Tatiana said as she dipped her fingers in the cool water; she then stood. “However.”

Tatiana loosened the ties to her toga; it slipped silently to the ground. She stood naked before Sebastian, who grinned and shook her head. “You are the magnificent one. You are beautiful.”

Tatiana slowly walked down the steps into the cool water. Sebastian swam to her and stood in front of her. “I need you, Tatiana.”

Tatiana sported an exasperated look as she gently cupped Sebastian’s handsome face. “You do not need anything, darling. You take, you are a vampire.”

“I take, Tatiana. I see and I take. It is the way, I accept that,” Sebastian said as she reached in and fondled Tatiana’s firm breast.

Tatiana closed her eyes and sighed. “Yes, you are a devil. I knew I sired you for a reason. You will be great one day. But for now,” she pulled Sebastian close to her breast, “take from me.”

Sebastian let out a deep groan as she kissed her breast, her tongue lapping across her hardened nipple. She felt her hunger starting, her fangs beginning to protrude. It was something she was getting used to, but in such a short time, Sebastian’s hunger grew. She backed Tatiana against the side of the pool, then lowered her head, gently took her breast into her mouth, and suckled. She heard Tatiana sigh as she parted her legs. Sebastian took the offering and slid her hand beneath the surface of the water and into Tatiana.

“Yes, Sebastian. Feed from me now, darling. Gain strength, the strength you will need for centuries to come,” Tatiana whispered and extended her arms across the edge of the pool. She turned her neck, offering herself.

Sebastian saw the vein pulsating; she moved her fingers deeper within Tatiana. The warmth from Tatiana was exquisite. Centuries of being a vampire, all the life Tatiana had experienced, the hunger she sated throughout the centuries—all of this was intoxicating to Sebastian now.

“Give me strength, Tatiana,” Sebastian whispered, then sank her fangs deep into her neck.

Both vampires groaned deeply. Sebastian slowly and deliciously took from Tatiana’s life force and in turn, fed her own. The rush she felt through her veins was overwhelming. She thrust deeply when she felt Tatiana’s body shake.

“My turn, darling,” Tatiana hissed.

When Sebastian felt the fangs on her shoulder, she cried out as she still sucked from Tatiana. Her head was reeling as she heard Tatiana gently sucking against her shoulder.

Tatiana came then, her cry of ecstasy muffled against Sebastian’s shoulder. She pulled back as did Sebastian. They shared a kiss, sensually cleaning the remnants of their feast away.

Sebastian was smiling as she looked into Tatiana’s eyes. Tatiana shook her head. “You are a very bad vampire.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “No, Tatiana,” she said and swam backward, the cool water refreshing her overheated body. “I am a very good vampire.”

Sebastian smiled slightly as she stared at the ceiling. She wondered why she remembered that time. It was so long ago, she had forgotten. So many things were happening to her since she destroyed Leigh. Her strength was coming back; her powers that she knew long ago were surging to the forefront.

She tightened her embrace around the snoring Alex when she wondered what else would happen in the near future.

Chapter 7

Carey woke with a start and bolted up. Panic rippled through her as she looked around the bedroom; the last thing she remembered was being in the hospital. No, she thought, as she ran her fingers through her hair. She remembered the previous night, the crime scene, that woman… It was all a blur.

Her mind raced back to Dr. Sebastian. Fuck her, she thought. She’s responsible for all this. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw them and flinched. She swatted at the bats as they flew around her head. As quickly as they appeared, they were gone.

Shivering uncontrollably, she jumped out of bed and noticed the note on the dresser. With a shaky hand, she picked it up.

Do not try and leave the penthouse, Detective. Be ready this evening. You know there’s no way out, so make the best of it. I even have a change of clothes for you… Aren’t I nice?

A
bientôt
!

Nina

She crumbled the note and threw it on the dresser. “Fucking bitch!” she said with a snarl and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She cocked her head and leaned in. The gray streak of hair on her right temple was the first thing she noticed. Frantically, she tried to remember, to piece things together, but she couldn’t; it was a blur, flashing through her mind like a kaleidoscope of disjointed images.

“I did what they said. I got her in that fucking warehouse,” she said. She headed to the bathroom, absently swatting her hand around her head.

She finished showering and dressed in the new clothes. “I’m out of here.”

She headed to the front door and yanked at the doorknob, realizing it was locked from the outside. She then pounded her fist against the door, then kicked it.

“Mother fucker, goddamn it!” she yelled through her clenched teeth. It was then she heard the laughter.

You’re not going anywhere, Detective.

Carey stopped, cocked her head, and listened. She ran to the telephone; the line was dead. In a controlled panic, she walked to the windows and threw back the long curtains. She peered out the window and realized it was at least twenty floors.

Watch out for that first step.

“Fuck you!” Carey yelled at the ceiling.

Just sit back and watch ‘Oprah.’ I’ll return at sundown.

The laughter faded and Carey was alone. She gave her surroundings a quick nervous glance.

At least she thought she was alone.

It was twilight as Nina stepped over the drained body at her feet. Her victim came too easily for her liking; she enjoyed the hunt. She walked past the abandoned warehouse, noticing the police had gone, as well as the yellow tape that had surrounded the building, the building where Leigh was destroyed. Humans were slaughtered there, as well. She grinned, knowing Leigh destroyed them. When she heard that one poor soul was found holding his detached arm, she knew that was Leigh’s amusing handiwork.

She didn’t know why
Nicolae
sent her here or why he needed Detective Spaulding. She could have easily gotten in here to retrieve Leigh’s ashes. Perhaps there would be a nosy policeman or stranger hanging about, and though her mouth watered at the thought of ripping out their tonsils through their jugular, she knew they did not need any publicity.

But what does
Nicholae
want with the insane detective? And why bring her back to Romania? It was a puzzlement to her, but she was not about to ask. She was surprised David didn’t die from
Nicholae’s
wrath when she remembered what happened to David three years earlier.

“Are you sure this is what you want me to do?” David asked with concern.

Nina winced at his stupidity as
Nicholae
whirled around and flew across the room. He grabbed the old doctor by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

David gurgled and struggled as
Nicholae’s
eyes turned blood red, his sharp fangs protruded instantly. His fingernails grew to long points, and the growl that came from him made Nina shudder.

“You dare to question me?” he spat out as he shook the helpless doctor. “I have controlled your family for centuries. I made a deal with your ancestors: You do my bidding and I won’t destroy you or the rest of your pathetic family. Never question me again,” he yelled into David’s face and threw him across the room.

David landed on the stone hearth of the fireplace. When his head connected with the masonry, it made a sickening noise. He let out a cry, then he was still.

Nicholae
was breathing like a bull as he watched. He then ran his grotesquely long fingers through his long white hair to calm himself. “Nina! See if that idiot is dead.”

Nina scurried over to him and knelt down. “He’s breathing but bleeding.” She ran her fingers across the gaping wound on his forehead and lightly licked her fingers.

“Enough! Get him out of my sight,”
Nicholae
ordered and walked to the large window and threw it open. “I will not tolerate insolence. Remember that, Nina.”

And Nina remembered. She shook her head at the memory of that day and shivered. Once you incurred
Nicholae’s
wrath, there was no turning back.

Leigh understood this better than any vampire did. She knew the strength
Nicholae
possessed and the strength Tatiana had, as well. For a thousand years, they sat side by side, despising each other while controlling their world. She remembered Leigh telling her stories handed down through the centuries, of Tatiana in Rome and
Nicholae
in Romania, each winning and destroying against all odds, both becoming the hierarchy of the vampire world. It was a constant struggle for supremacy. Leigh told the stories with relish, and Nina was captivated by Leigh.

When they met nearly eighty years earlier, Nina was immediately under her spell. Nina wanted only to live for eternity and be sired by Leigh. Her life in England was nonexistent. She was on the precipice, ready to end it all on that foggy cold night; it was a worthless life.

Then there was Leigh…

“You won’t die before you hit the water, darling. And I guarantee it’ll be painful.”

Nina whirled around to see a tall blond woman standing there. She was smiling as she looked over the bridge and into the river below. She shuddered dramatically and pulled her black cape around her. “And it’s freezing, as well. What if you don’t die? You silly nit. You’ll get pneumonia…”

“
Wh
-who are you? What do you want?” Nina backed away.

“My name is Leigh and I want to save you from this wretched life.”

Nina was drawn by the sincerity in her voice. “There is no saving me. My life is worthless.”

“As it is now? Yes, darling, I couldn’t agree more. However—”

Leigh moved with such grace, Nina thought she floated toward her. She was captivated by her beauty. Her skin was milky white, her hair fell in flaxen waves around her shoulders, her eyes were a deep blue, but her lips, Nina noticed, her lips were ruby red and full.

While she desperately wanted to taste those lips, she remembered this was the reason for her taking her own life. Her family ostracized her for her sexual proclivities. She was condemned for loving another woman.

Leigh arched an eyebrow and nodded sadly. “You should not be ashamed for your desires, my darling.”

Nina was dumbstruck; she instinctively put her hand to her jacket as if she were exposed. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”

“Darling, you were going to end it all. Jump from this ridiculous bridge into freezing water for what? Because you enjoy the company and physical pleasures of another woman?” Leigh shook her head. “Darling, come with me. I will show you a life where you may have whatever you choose.” She closed the distance between them.