Chapter One

 

 

Roman was far from an ordinary man. He was an extraordinary amalgam of both man and beast. The perfect combination for what Delilah needed. 

He was just leaving his cousin’s estate in Vegas where she got off on hosting human blood parties. They were usually a lot of fun, but Roman was just getting a little sick and tired of all the screaming and begging to be freed.

He was surprised when he heard the familiar voice in his head inviting him to the spirit world of Nirvana. The only way to enter this world was by invitation only. He didn’t mind being summoned by the spirits, in fact, it was looked upon as a great honor. What he did not like was their sneaky, underhanded tactics when dealing with the human realm. However, being called upon by a beautiful goddess had him highly intrigued. 

Roman was a man among men. Highly educated and intellectually stimulating, but one would do themselves no favor by being blinded by his dashing good looks and forgetting that he was a beast first and foremost, a bloodthirsty vampire to be exact. He wasn’t your typical run-of-the-mill vampire; he was an African vampire originating from unique species known as the Impundulu. Theses vampires never actually died. They were infected with the blood of the Impundulu while still very much alive; their souls lingered close to death; their body never having the chance to decay and their souls remained fully intact. This made them aberrantly human.

The Impundulu vampires had all the traits of humans and were to live as such with only one caveat. They had to keep themselves hydrated with the blood of humans. Fortunately for them they could go weeks between feedings, but make no mistakes; they were still vampires in every sense of the word. Each had their beast to contend with, needing to keep it fed, contained, and happy. It was the beast that Delilah was counting on to help her with her plan.

Delilah observed him attentively as he appeared across the room. It was important that she learned everything about the man as well as the beast. She needed to feel his true character; know the human side of him; to know what made him angry and what gave him joy. She never wanted to doubt his integrity because she was going to offer him a deal that was so sweet it would give him a cavity.

Her eyes were like pinballs bouncing over his magnificent physique. Men dressed in modern day attire of suit and tie triggered her mania. And this man was dressed well, coupled with his smooth finesse; he was aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Delilah was forced to smile and lean forward to capture a better look at the man who was once a slave in their palace. To look at him now, so manly and confident, one would think that he was born in a family of noblemen, kings, or gods.

She found herself getting aroused. In all honesty, she was highly aroused. Did this man have the ability to evoke sexual urges just from looking at him? It had always been the other way around, yet here she sat in an aroused state, breathing deeply and having a difficult time averting her eyes. How odd, she thought, but deliciously perfect.

Each step that closed the distance between them made her chest heave with excitement. She sat motionless as he went down on one knee.

 “My Queen,” he said, bowing his head. “Have I unexpectedly died and gone to Nirvana?”

A warm sensation rattled through her body from the sound of his voice and the kindness of his words caressed her soul. He was a man after her own heart; or perhaps he this charming and gracious with everyone?

“No, Roman, you are still very much alive. I have summoned you here to the spirit world. I am in desperate need of your help.”

The word desperate aroused the beast in Roman. Desperate people resorted to measures that usually always worked out in his favor. Now he was intrigued.

“How may I serve you, my queen?” He asked, balefully.

“Please rise.” She ordered.

Roman stood with his eyes downcast. From what he remembered from his days of living in the queen’s palace, no one dared gazed upon them without permission. Even though times had changed, and he was no longer a slave, he still wanted to show respect to a woman who was once a glorified queen.

Delilah was never one to stand on formalities; in fact, she detested any form of pompous ceremony and unnecessary rituals. She was a rebel; never following rules if it did not benefit her. 

“I am no longer a queen. Unlike you, I died many centuries ago. I am now a goddess. You may call me by name. And please, look at me.”

Roman could not imagine being so informal with the woman who was once the queen of Egypt. Though she was ruthless in her manner of dealing with people and problems, she was highly respected and well-loved during her reign. Her charm and intelligence were only a small part of her mystique. She along with the King made Egypt one the world's most powerful and wealthiest civilizations during her time.

“As you wish, Delilah.”

Delilah had to take a moment to gather herself as their eyes met. He was an exceptional creature with eyes as black as midnight. They seemed to look straight through her and touch a happy place in her heart. This time her clit throbbed causing her to blush. She cleared her throat before speaking.

“Forgive me for intruding in your life. I know that you must be very busy.” She said as she struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but who could blame her. He stood towering over her at six feet four inches. He was a powerhouse of raw manliness and unnaturally handsome!

“You have grown into quite the man.” She admitted as her eyes darted up and down his body. “You look extremely well.”

“Thank you.” He said, with a chuckle. 

   “My sources have informed me that you seek god-like powers. Is this true?”

Roman tried to blink away his embarrassment. Everyone who knew him knew that he was a power hungry mongrel, but in his defense, most of his kind were. It was their way of remaining the Alfa male and staying alive for so long.

“Yes. If this offends you, I ask for forgiveness. I am aware that I am not worthy of such great power. I spoke my desires in private to those I thought I could trust.”

For a man with such intrinsic power, the look on his face was one of humility rather than arrogance. Delilah knew she had struck gold.

“Never apologize for your ambitions. If you want something, you should always go for it. It is for that reason I have called upon you, and it is what I admire most about you.”

That was partially true. She also admired the beast in him; the bloodthirsty part that had no problem gutting a man without a second thought. She thought it best to save that discussion for a later time; for now, she had to gain his trust and offer him whatever it took to elicit his help.

She knew the history of Roman’s obsession; his lust for power and how he would do anything to be looked upon as the most powerful vampire of his kind; and eventually becoming ruler of the underworld. As it stood, that position was taken. Nevertheless, it never stopped him from trying to achieve his goal. One would think that a man in his position would be satisfied with what he already had; after all, he was a multi-billionaire with thriving companies around the globe. He was one of the wealthiest men alive. None of that mattered. Roman coveted one position and one position only. He wanted to be the king of his people. She knew that he would give away his fortune to make that happen.

“What if I could grant you those powers? How far would you go to possess them?” She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear him say that he would do anything. She needed to hear the words, to feel his sincerity.

Roman found himself at a momentary loss for words. The possibility of having even the smallest amount of god-like powers, just a fraction would serve him well. The mere thought of it made him dizzy and blinded him with all kinds of possibilities. Was she toying with his emotions like in the days when he was young and naïve? He remembered when the women of the palace would trample on his fragile emotions with no regard for his feelings. Well, he was no longer an innocent child, and that naïve little boy had grown wise beyond measure. Surely, she knew that he would go to hell and back, even part the Red Sea himself if he could obtain such powers.

 “I would do anything. I would gladly risk life and limb to obtain such great powers.”

A willing ally Delilah breathed as her beautiful lips curled up into a smile. It was hard to keep herself from standing and jumping up and down like a child relishing in victory. She always knew that Roman would one-day return to be her champion. Centuries ago when he was at the mercy of her sister Phaedra, Delilah watched him knowing that he was special. Her sister was too wrapped up with his phallus to notice. 

“Well, I doubt it will take losing your life or a limb, perhaps your sanity. But I am certain that a man like you will have very little trouble handling anything that is set before him.”

As a vampire, Roman had many supernatural powers. Delilah was a goddess. Her powers were far more superior, exceeding his immeasurably. These powers were sacred to the gods. Held close to the heart and guarded like precious relics. They would never consider sharing their powers.

Roman had to wonder what the beautiful goddess had up her conniving sleeve. She could have anything she wanted by simply thinking it. He knew that life on Nirvana was one of splendor and abundance, earned by living and dying with honor. This is where they would spend eternal life once they made the journey, passing safely from the human world to the spirit world. The size of their temple was a direct reflection of how they lived while alive. Looking around, Roman could tell that the gods favored Delilah. What exactly did the goddess want from him?

“Forgive my rudeness, but what will it take to acquire such powers?”

Delilah stood from her chaise and led the way into her room. The smell of jasmine filled his nose bringing back memories of the days when he lived in the queen’s palace as a sex slave to her younger sister. He had only caught glimpses of Delilah back then but heard many rumors of her great beauty and the hatred that brewed between the two sisters. Looking at her, he could now see why any woman would envy her. She was stunning.

He freely allowed his eyes to roam every inch of her body not caring that he was rude and gawking like an adolescent boy that had never seen a woman before. A body like hers was meant to be admired. Hell, it would be rude not to gawk. He could not help himself, and he openly enjoyed every second of his boorishness.

She was a pretty little thing, he thought. The way her jet-black hair fell over her left shoulder. It left the right side of her long neck exposed and ready to be bitten. The way her thick eyeliner made her almond shaped eyes appear larger. He loved the color of her pouty, red lips and the size of her large, perky breasts that were hidden in plain sight under the white, satin gown she wore. Yes, she was everything rumored to be and much, much more.

He followed as Delilah led him to a wall that vanished the second they approached. Together they stepped into a small room with marble floors and walls covered in tapestries of Egyptian gods. A round, crystal ball mounted on a podium stood in the center of the room, which sat on a dais. The entrance disappeared leaving them trapped and all alone.

The beast within him stirred, wanting a taste of her. Roman did his best to settle it, but eventually, the beast would demand what it needed.

Fortunately, for Delilah, the crystal ball began to rotate. As it did, it gave off a bright light that illuminated the walls. It was just enough to calm the beast, at least for a while.

“I know of your dreams and aspirations of dominating your world of vampires.”

Roman said nothing. It was true. He did have dreams and hopes of dominating the world of vampires. Only one thing stood in his way, one person who had become the bane of his existence; a constant source irritation like a bad rash.

“I know of your many talks to overthrow your lord and master. Let me say up front that talk is cheap. And let me add that he will crush you before you even begin.” She said with the utmost of certainty. “The eye of Horus is a powerful instrument. It has warned me of your imminent death.”

Roman’s eyes slid over to the large crystal ball known as the eye of Horus. It didn’t seem all that powerful to him. 

“The eye of Horus sees all,” she went on. “It has informed me that your approach is weak. It lacks the wisdom and the ingenuity it will take to defeat your enemy.”

Roman didn’t have a plan laid out yet so he couldn’t begrudge her for telling the truth. It was merely a pondering thought that he and three trusted friends considered one night while having a few beers. They decided to go for it, to overthrow their current ruler. The plan was in its inception, Roman was curious as to how she knew as much as she did.

“How do you know of this?” He asked, eyeing her cautiously.

“Does it matter? The fact that I know should be of greater concern. I would like to make a deal with you; Roman, but it will require great sacrifice on your part.

Sacrifice, Roman thought. What in God’s name, did she mean by that? What exactly would he have to give up to be granted god-like powers?

“Sacrifice?” He asked with a raised brow.

“Yes. Your time. It will require us to work together.”

 Roman wasn’t the work together kind of guy. The woman standing in front of him was just one of the reasons why he preferred to work alone. Most people were sneaky and devious, untrustworthy and corrupt. Roman had no time for such things. However, he was already there he would listen to Delilah if for no other reason than to have a few more minutes to gaze upon her beauty.

“Go on.” He urged her.

Delilah stepped in closer to him. So close that he could feel the heat from her body. Roman wondered if she was aware of the risk she was taking.

“Kourosh seeks knowledge and truth. He struggles day and night to uncover what he cannot find. Soon all will be revealed to him. When that day comes, you will have zero chance of ever being ruler of anything. He will always remain your master.”

“This is where you tell me you can help me?”

She was a goddess. Of course, she could help him, but it would cost him.

“It is. You have a coterie of three. They are impressive, but you are only four going up against one man who has the strength of a thousand men. The moment he learns of your treachery he will destroy you as he did the others.”

Well, that was comforting Roman thought as he looked down at the fragile woman who stood before him. Even though, she was a spirit, here on Nirvana she was as real as he was.

“And you know this because your crystal ball tells you so?”

She all but snarled at him. “Sarcasm will get us nowhere, Roman. Please, let us not waste time with it. You know as well as I the power the eye possesses.”

He slid his gaze back over to the oracle calling to mind the many rumors of its great powers. He never believed the hype intriguing as they were; Roman always required proof before he believed in anything.

Stepping away from her, Roman took a moment to walk around the object. He wanted a get a better look. Though it was quite beautiful, he expected it to look more like an actual eye. This was merely a bright ball. The Egyptian myth was that the eye was an agent of action, protection, and wrath. Known as the third eye and a symbol of good health, protection, and knowledge.

“What knowledge does Kourosh seek?” He asked.

“There is a long list, but at the moment he is pledged, or perhaps a better word would be tormented by dreams of a woman. It is this woman seeks.”

He should have known. At the root of every man’s torment was a woman, undoubtedly,  beautiful. “Who is she?”

Delilah turned away from him. This was the tricky part, the truth. She wondered how he would view her after he knew what she had done. Would he now see her as a monster or would he pity her? Either way, this was all a part of the plan, step three. The truth.

“Have you ever made a bad choice, Roman?”

Was she out of her mind, or forgotten what he was? Of course, he made bad choices and plenty of them. He was beginning to think that coming here tonight was one of them.

 "Haven’t we all?"

“Sometimes bad choices come back to haunt you. When they do, they seem to take on a life of their own. No matter how hard you try, these bad choices will not go away. Then you begin to panic in fear of everything becoming known. That fear of exposure takes over forcing you to make once again another bad choice.”

What Roman got out of all of that was that Delilah had fucked up somewhere in her life, apparently, big time, and now the chickens had come home to roost. Why did she not simply say that? Why try to sugar coat it with a bunch of unnecessary words that made no sense? Just say it. I fucked up! Hell, he was not a stranger to bad choices. He made plenty of them, but he was never one to panic over anything. He fixed it or killed it. 

So, the goddess was flawed he thought as he moved in behind her. Beautifully flawed. She was such a petite little thing, but there was a fire in her or was it her passion that made her seem larger than life.

He could smell the blood coursing through her veins, rich, royal blood. To him, there was nothing better than the blood of royalty. It was thicker in texture and much richer in taste. It sustained him longer, made him more energetic, which allowed him to go days, sometimes weeks before needing to feed. It was like being on steroids.

The beast inside him was now rattling the cage to come out wanting a bite of her. Unable to contain himself he growled low in his throat as his eyes flared from the excitement of being close to the Egyptian goddess. The beast was fighting hard, kicking to come out, but as painful as it was, Roman fought even harder to keep it in.

Did she not know the danger she was in trapping them alone in this room? There would be no one could hear her screams? Did she not know that she should never trust a vampire and certainly never turn her back on one? She was foolish for taking such a big risk.

He needed to move this along, urge her to get to the point before the beast consumed them both. “Have your bad choices reared their ugly heads causing you to panic, Delilah?”

“Yes.” She answered timidly.”

“Exactly what have you done?”

“It was necessary; carried out with nothing but good intentions.” She said as she turned around to face him. “I am well aware of the road that is paved with good intentions.”

“Which road did you take?” He asked, assuming that she had taken the road less traveled. Otherwise, she would not be in a shitload of trouble and needing his help.

Delilah waved a hand over the Oracle causing it to change into the iconic symbol of the eye of Horus. A bright light shot out from the center of the eye hitting the wall. As if staring into a television screen, images of Roman’s capture as a slave, chained, and hauled abroad a ship appeared. They watched in silence as Roman, along with the other captured slaves laid chained together like cattle in the hull of the ship; each one near death. Then magically out of nowhere, a man appeared before them.

“Kourosh.” Roman hissed. The hatred in his voice could not be missed.

It is what Delilah needed. It was what she was counting on. His reaction was one of deeply rooted hatred that matched her own. This kind of hatred made men do unthinkable things.

“Your lord and master is all things evil and depraved.” 

Roman was taken aback by her harsh words. Kourosh was a god; looked upon as sacred. If she showed no respect for them how did she expect others to do so.

“I will admit that I have no great love for the worthless bastard, but he is a god.”

“He is no god!” She retorted with a snap. “He may call himself one, but that doesn’t make it so. He has cleverly fooled all of you into believing his lies. I assure you, he is the furthest thing from godly than Satan himself.”

Could this be true? Had Kourosh fooled them all for centuries pretending to be something that he was not? Perhaps Delilah had it all wrong, or maybe she was trying to trick him into believing that Kourosh was less than a powerful god. Why go through all the trouble of calling upon him just to trick him? It made no sense.

“If he is not a god, then what is he?”

“He is a vampire, no different and certainly no better than you. Though, I might add that his inviolable hatred for the gods has given him a frightening edge.” She added. “He has become a master tactician and has cleverly aligned himself with many dark forces. One, in particular, goes by the name of Magnus Ziti, Ruler of the dark world.”

Roman was stymied and understandably so. He had many questions to ask her about this new revolution, but she continued before he could open his mouth to ask the first one.

“Do you know Satan?” She asked as if Satan was the next new rapper to drop a hot single.

Was he supposed to know every fucking low-life creature that walked the earth just because he was a vampire?

 “No, not personally,” He answered sardonically.

“Magnus is the one Satan runs to for answers. They have all become BFFs. The gruesome threesome as we call them. They must be watched at all times.”

Delilah could feel his aggravation and anger building. Her plan was working. She went on “Surely you must have sensed something evil about your master? Why else would you be plotting against him?”

“To help our people,” Roman replied defending himself. “He is a tyrant!”

Delilah huffed as she rolled her eyes. She knew it was more than just that. Vampires did not have an altruistic nature. “And to replace him on the throne; we must be perfectly honest with each other, Roman.”

 “Yes,” Roman admitted. Why hide his feelings anymore he thought? The cat was now out of the bag. “I want his place on the throne. And one day I shall have it.”

Delilah knew that the vampires were meritocracies needing no formal election or show of hands. The most capable leader ran the show. The others simply followed. Right now, Kourosh was the most capable leader. He created this race of vampires from his bloodline, so to Kourosh, he was their god. It would take more than good looks and charm to snatch away what was rightfully his.

The reason Roman wanted to overthrow Kourosh was of no real concern to Delilah. The fact that he wanted to overthrow him was enough for her. The fact that he was brave enough to try was even better. Delilah waved her hand, and a seating area appears before them. She pulled him down to sit with her.

“Magnus is the giver of whatever your heart desires. Good or bad, the sky is the limit. In return, one must give back to Magnus whatever he asks. Once a deal is made, there is no going back. Kourosh and Magnus have become great friends. They are deeply indebted to one another.”

Roman barely heard a word she said. He was livid. He wasted most of his life believing that Kourosh was a god. He could have started this crusade to overthrow him centuries ago. Hell, by now he could have been the new lord and master of his people. The seed of hatred was planted in him after Kourosh sent him back to Egypt to live as a mortal for twenty years. It was his way of punishing him for disobeying one simple rule. Roman was just a young boy of fifteen at the time. Now at the age of thirty-five, the seed was deeply rooted, and flourished into a tree of revenge.

“How can I help?” He asked with maleficence laced in each word that warmed Delilah’s heart and gave her a newfound respect for her champion. 

“I have a dark secret; one that must never leave this room. You must promise to guard it with your life.”

Roman had to fight hard to keep from laughing aloud. Beautiful woman like Delilah had many secrets. No matter how dark, he wanted in. He didn’t care what was up her dirty little sleeve. Overthrowing Kourosh was his number one priority.

“You have my word. Your secret will remain a secret.”

Well, at least he was willing. Let us see if he can do what was needed, she thought as she began to tell Roman a story that had never crossed her lips; not that the gods did not already know in every sorted detail. The point being, she had never told another living being what she was about to tell him now.

“Kourosh is in a state of perpetual suffering; no need to feel sorry for him because he apparently likes it there. He could have any woman he wanted, and trust me; he has had more than his fair share. But there is only one woman who can satisfy his appetite - My daughter.”

“How are their lives entangled?” He asked, not at all surprised that it was someone or something she valued dearly. 

“Bad choices.” She answered.

“You are a goddess. Surely, any child of yours would have innate powers to protect herself. Why do you worry so?”

“I was forced to lock her powers, to hide her in the human world at a young age. Her powers have never been used. She has no knowledge of who or what she is. She is defenseless; alone out there in the world waiting for Kourosh to find her.”

Nothing like a mother’s love, Roman thought.

“Kourosh has become more determined in his search. He has not sought out the help of Magnus yet, only because the price will be astronomical. The eye has warned me of what’s to come. It will only be a matter of time before he finds her.”

“And if he does?”

“He will hold all the power. Good and bad.” She went down on her knees nestling herself between his legs and taking his hands into hers.

 “I fear for my child’s safety. The gods will never allow this transfer of power to Kourosh. They will be forced to kill her if Kourosh gets near her. Not a moment goes by that I am not besieged with worry. Kourosh must never learn the truth of her existence.”

This was no way to have a conversation Roman thought. She was far too close and practically begging to die. As hard as he fought to contain the beast, it fought back even harder to come out. Did she not know that it was a constant battle to keep the damn thing contained? Did she not know what all of this was doing to him or did she not care?

She brought his hands up to her chest, her eyes begging for help. “You are my last hope. She needs a protector.”

“And you chose me?” He asked with his eyes fixated on the moisture that coated her neck and went down to the soft area between her breasts. If he could only lick her, perhaps that would be enough to satisfy the beast. 

“Yes. You know what this man is capable of doing. Who better to protect her than you? I remember how gentle and kind you were with my sister when you were her slave.”

“I am no longer a slave. Gentle and kind is no longer my nature. I am a vampire.”

“Yes, I know, but that only magnifies the man you have become. You seemed to enjoy your time with her. You were very good at pleasing Phaedra. As we both know, she is a hard one to please. To this day, she can’t speak of you without having a wild orgasm.”

Roman swallowed hard recalling the many days and nights he and Phaedra would go at it like wild animals. As a sex slave, Phaedra taught him the art of fucking and the beauty of lovemaking. Though Phaedra was never a true queen, to Roman she ruled in bed. She, along with Kama Sutra, educated him in the field of pleasuring a woman. It took him centuries to recover from the twenty years of lessons she taught first-hand in the art and skill of all things erotica.

“It is my wish that you and I can come to an agreement. You will meet my daughter. At that time, the shift will happen. That is when your lives together will begin. I have no doubt that you will find her to be quite pleasing.” 

Roman listened as if the queen was reading him an interesting bedtime story. If her daughter was half as beautiful as she was, and half as good in bed as her auntie Phaedra, then, damn, he didn’t see a reason he should say no. 

“The bonding ceremony may be problematic,” she chuckled. “Imagine the look on his face when he figures it all out. He bonded his betrothed to another.”

 Roman did not have to imagine that look. He had seen it plenty of times. It was not pretty. Kourosh could be brutal even when trying to be nice.

Delilah went on. “Once the consummation ritual is over and the collar of ownership is in place and securely locked, she will be yours forever. Dissolving any promises made to Kourosh.”

Roman was impressed as he looked down at her. She had done her homework on the Taghavii bonding rituals. She knew all about their customs, right down to the consummation ritual and the collaring. 

“What promise did you make to Kourosh?”

Delilah stood. She had a story to tell that would not be pretty. She began to pace the floor trying to figure out where to start. The beginning seemed to be the best place.

 “Kourosh simply appeared one day roaming the palaces like he lived there. No one knew where he had come from. No one cared enough to ask. He was a harmless child, bright and curious, always under foot and sneaking around like a playful mouse. I loathed him even then as much as I do now.”

Delilah paused for a moment gathering her thoughts. She wanted to word it just right so that Roman would not think less of her. “One night he caught me…”

She did not have to finish. Her hesitation said what she could not.

“Bedding someone other than the king?” He asked emphatically.

Delilah cut him a look that clearly answered his question. In those days, sex with multiple partners was of little regard. Being caught was different story.

“The deviant went running off to gossip, no doubt. I could never allow such a thing. The King would have ended my life. My soul would have lingered in purgatory forever. Entrance into Nirvana as a goddess would have been denied.”

“And what became of your lover? Surely he could have rendered a solution to this problem.”

“His identity remains a secret to this day. He is a god among gods; highly revered. I went after Kourosh myself. I promised him whatever he wanted for his silence. Gold, silver, his own palace, but he wanted me. Of course, that was not possible.”

Now Kourosh was no longer a harmless child. He was now a grown man with dangerous powers. He could easily destroy the world to find what was promised to him. Roman knew the resilience and the determined nature of his master. Kourosh would never give up until he found her. Once he did, he would take her.

“The little pervert was smitten with me; his eyes were constantly on me like snake eyes waiting to strike.”

Roman quickly looked away feeling much like a pervert himself with his eyes was on her the same way. In his defense, the woman was a tremendous beauty. He found it odd how he could not control his lust for her. The beast was one thing; the man was another. She had them both losing control and going haywire.   

“Since he couldn’t have me he asked for the next best thing. My first-born daughter. I obliged him with his silly little request and betrothed to him my unborn daughter. I was not with child at the time; still I planned to have him killed the next day. As you know that didn’t happen, and he was much too stubborn to simply drop dead on his own.”

That was the Kourosh that Roman knew and hated. He was stubborn, ornery, and downright atrocious. He would outlive them all just to throw it in their faces.

“Years went by before I was with child. By then he was no longer around. Somehow, the news of my delivery traveled to him; news that I had delivered a daughter. He arrived the next day as if I would hand her over to him as if she was nothing more than a sack of laundry. I told him that the child died at birth.”

You just could not make this stuff up, Roman thought. It was much better than any Lifetime movie. “What did you do with her?” He asked intrigued.

“Fortunately for me, Phaedra was in labor with twins. No one was the wiser when she had three babies instead of two.”

Yet somehow, the truth was revealed, Roman thought. It may have taken centuries, but Kourosh always found a way to the truth. He had his ways, and they always worked.

“How was I to know that he would become a vampire and outlive us all?”

“Well, who knows anything really?” He said cavalierly.

“I beg of you, Roman, don’t let this monster anywhere near my daughter. She is the goddess of the seven virtues, and he is pure evil. Incapable of loving her the way a goddess needed to be loved. But you can.”

“I am no different from Kourosh. We are both beasts.”

“Yes, but your heart is pure where his has grown cold and black.”

Pure? Well, that was stretching it a bit. Plenty would argue over that and most would win. His heart was far from pure, but it was also far from cold and black. He would place himself somewhere in between, perhaps gray, but leaning more towards the cold and black.

Again, she went down on her knees in front of him taking his hands in hers and holding them tightly to her chest. “Let us work together; combine our forces to help each other accomplish our goals. I am prepared to give you a fraction of my powers. With the powers you already possess along with the powers of your new Consort, you will be more than equipped to handle Kourosh.”

Now this got Roman’s attention. He was a power whore. He would do anything to acquire all he could get. Kourosh was powered up to the max. He had Jabari, the mighty sorcerer at his side. With those two alone there wasn’t anything Kourosh was not capable of achieving. Add in Magnus and, hell! Kourosh could destroy the world while eating his morning bowl of cereal.

“Tell me more of your daughter and her powers.”

Delilah had him right where she wanted him, eager to know more and anxious to get started. She wanted to smile, but she knew it would come off as looking malicious. She kept a straight face even though she felt just a little devilish.

“Her powers are untapped; pure god-like powers. Once she submits to you, they become yours. You will have more power than you can handle.”

“Really?” Roman uttered with interest and trying to imagine what it would feel like to possess the same powers as a god. 

“You will step into his arena as a formidable opponent; equals.”

She could see the wheels spinning in his head. They were turning so fast it was making her nauseous.

Roman wanted more than just a fraction of her powers the more he thought about things. Anyone could see just how desperate she was. The ball was in his court, and he was damn good at playing these games. He would take her offer, but he would make damn sure he came out smelling like a rose and appropriately powered up.

“How long will it take this daughter of yours to give herself to me? Days? Weeks? Months? ” He asked.

“If you are as talented as you once were with my sister, we are talking hours, but I would settle for days.”

“You admitted yourself that Kourosh has other forces working with him. I have seen what he can do by himself. I have seen him reach into the mind of a man and pull out his thoughts before he was able to think them. Surely he would be able to sense any god-like powers in me the moment I step into his presence.”

“I can fix that.”

“No offense, Delilah, I know how things work around here. You must present every move you make to the higher gods before you can practically blow your nose. You will be putting me at risk and at a great disadvantage.”

The thought of him thinking that she had to yield to anyone infuriated her; she answered to no one.

“You underestimate and insult me at the same time.” She said with a flame burning in her eyes. It told him that she was a woman with enough backbone and courage to stand on her own.

“I am quite powerful without the help of the gods. I neither yield nor wait for anyone’s approval. That goes for you also. You must not worry yourself over such small matters when what lies ahead is of greater concern. Your god-like powers will be protected at all times. Kourosh will be ignorant of everything.”

She was through begging for his help. She knew what he was after, more than just a fraction of her powers. “How much more do you require?” She asked pointedly.

Roman knew a good deal when he heard one. There was never a chance in hell that he would let this deal slip away. Never being an impulsive man, he planned and acted decisively to arrive at the right decision at the right time. Now that he knew that, he would have complete autonomy over every decision he was all in. He was pretty much all in the moment he walked through the door and laid eyes on her.

The vampire race was unlike any other; having strict rules that they lived and died by. Anyone brought into their world was forced to abide by the same rules. It was not an easy way of life, in fact, not many humans survived the month long mandatory training. It was brutal. He would feel remiss if he failed to warn Delilah of their unorthodox lifestyle.

“Your offer is quite tempting, but let me first caution you on the harsh ways of our people. Our customs are not advantageous to humans. We are a dominant race with a superiority complex. Simply being human would be no excuse for going against to rules.”

Delilah chuckled over his honesty, his willingness to admit their faults and idiosyncratic ways. She wondered if he saw them as flaws or as attributes. It didn’t matter either way; her daughter was out of control and needed taming.

“My daughter is not human. She is a goddess.”

“Still, she has lived in the human world all of her life; she has adapted their ways. For all intents and purposes, she is human.”

Indeed, she was all-human. That was only the half of it.

“I’ll admit that she is a little rough around the edges. It will be your job to smooth her rough edges. Remove any flaws.” Without killing her, she wanted to add. 

That would not be a problem for Roman; smoothing out rough edges was his specialty. “How will I know this daughter of yours?”

She will be the diva with the big mouth and bad attitude Delilah wanted to say. “The moment you see her you will know.”

“And will she be receptive to our customs, open to having a master for the duration of her life? Will she submit to me readily and willingly as you seem to believe?”

Not a chance in hell, Delilah thought as she laughed aloud. She knew that it would not be easy. Roman would have to display a great deal of patience. She knew it would go against every fiber of her daughter’s being and against everything; she stood for to be submissive, to obey readily the commands of anyone without question or retaliation.

“Patience is bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

Roman cut a suspicious glare Delilah’s way. He knew bullshit when he heard it. “Okay…And what does that mean?”

“It means she will not be receptive to your way of life.” She added raising a finger before he could speak. “But she needs disciple. She never had parents to guide her, to set boundaries or rules for her to follow. I make no excuses for her, but she has endured a hard life. Please try to consider that when you meet her. She is not a bad person, perhaps a little broken, but I know that you can fix her.”

She was putting far too much faith in him. This felt right. Unfortunately, her daughter would not sit still to be fixed by any ordinary man. It would take a man with Roman’s special abilities to rid her of the diva who made her such a bitch.

“What makes you sure that I can fix her?”

“You have a reputation. Even here, everyone knows you.”

“Really?” Roman asked raising a questioning eyebrow. “And just what does everyone think they know about me?”

“That you are an austere beast with a rigid and puritanical outlook on all you do. It is what she needs It is why I have come to you for help.”

Roman could not deny the fact that he was rigid to the bone, cold. Determined and callously domineering. He was not trying to win any awards for being Mr. Congenial. He didn’t have time to pretend as if he gave a damn. He was a vampire who gave respect when due and demanded the same in return.

“I am not one for games, Delilah. From time to time, we all enjoy innocent fun and games in the bedroom but understand that your daughter and I will not be playing a game. This will not be something that she can back out of when things get tough. It is our way of life, twenty-four seven. No safe word could save her. She would be mine to deal with however I see fit. Now, are you sure you want this for the daughter you claim to love so much?”

The way Delilah saw it, she was helping her daughter; helping to save her from a life with Kourosh. He would strip her of her powers and sentenced her to a life of pure hell at his side. If there was anyone who could help save her from Kourosh, it was Roman. His reputation for getting difficult jobs done was legendary. He was extraordinary, virtually flawless, knowledgeable, capable, and successful in everything he set out to accomplish. Roman met all of the qualifications and more.

What other choice did she have? No matter how stringent his rules and customs were, her daughter would have to find a way to endure them. What the gods were planning for her would be far worse. They would have every right to kill her to protect the world from Kourosh. There was no other way to resolve this problem. She only prayed that this was not another bad decision.

“Do you see another way?”

“Yes. Let the gods decide her fate. Trust in their decision.”

“No! She said defiantly, standing and taking a firm stance. “I have chosen this way. If you do not help me, I will find someone else who will.”

Roman had to admire her obstinacy. He wondered if her daughter had the same qualities. If so, Houston, there could be a big problem. He stood, “Tell me everything about her.”

“Your world is very cruel, Roman, especially to women. You should be thankful that you are a man. You will never have to experience racism and sexism the way she has. For this reason and many others, I gave her a spirited soul. An extra set of balls you might say. I knew she would need them in order to deal with the hardships that would come her way.” 

“Then you can remove this spirit soul from her.”

“I have tried. It cannot be removed. She has to freely give it up.”

Roman sighed irritably. “How much time do I have?”

“The gods are in council as we speak. They tend to make a celebration out of these meetings. Eating and drinking and, of course, no celebration would be worth celebrating without women. It could go on for days. But once the celebration has ended, they will get down to business making a decision within a matter of minutes.”

Roman was a busy man. He had corporations to look after, new vampires to keep an eye on and a revolution underway. The last thing he needed was an unruly woman to babysit. But, for the right price he would drop everything.

“My time is valuable. From the sound of things, your daughter is a hand full. I want to be well compensated for my troubles.”

She did not have to think about it. She would have given him all of her powers if he asked. “Half and that is all I will offer.”

 “We have a deal.” He said. “I will take your daughter as my consort and protect her with my life.”

Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, Delilah smiled a devilish smile that made Roman wonder what hell he had walked into.

“One last thing, Roman,” She added. “She believes her parents are dead. She must never know of my existence.”

Well, that should be easy. Who would believe such a tale anyway? On top of that, Roman was not the sharing type. “You have my word.”

Delilah placed the palm of her right hand over his heart. She closed her eyes for a brief second, and then opened them. It was that simple, Roman now possessed half of her powers.

“Your new powers will allow you to do amazing things. Please use them responsibly. When dealing with my daughter it is imperative that you refrain from the use of magic. Anything she agrees upon must be heartfelt and organic in order for it to be real. I am always here whenever you need me. Let’s work in tandem to achieve our goal.”

 “If the gods are willing,” Roman replied before he vanished.