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Even though I remembered the parking garage under Remus Tower, I nodded my head as Quixon gave me directions as if I’d never been here before.
Stopping me by touching my arm, he warned, “Zeus will know when you enter and leave through the service entrance. He wants all the bugs in place before you leave. He’ll be monitoring them once you activate them.”
Fuck, I’d wanted to use my invitation Sander sent and enter like a guest, but that was out of the question now. I would have to enter like the takeout I was pretending to be.
Quixon’s eyes held an untold worry as he told me it would be okay. I debated how I would say goodbye before I gave in to my anger and casually walked away without a word.
The sky was dark by the time I made it to the entrance to be checked into the building with all the other staff. After they looked at my badge, I placed my hand in their scanner and was let through. I wanted to make my way to the real line to use my invitation too. Before I could sneak away, a concierge halted me. Then a bleeder working security said I was late and I needed to be escorted to my host. Grabbing me roughly by the arm, he checked my badge again. "Haven't I seen you before?"
I didn't have a photographic memory like some bleeders and most vampires, so I looked for his nametag with no luck. His uniform just said security. Not knowing what was customary for hired help to say, I just smiled, a closed-mouthed grin of course, and shrugged hoping he didn’t recognize me. Good grief. Zeus hadn’t just given me a fake identity, he’d made me, my bioscan and all, into a whore for one night. How embarrassing.
Security led me down an unfamiliar service hallway on the main floor. As we progressed farther, I almost laughed out loud. Stopping dead in my tracks, I giggled then clamped my mouth shut. There wasn’t anything funny going on here. The bleeder impatiently motioned for me to continue to follow him. I knew I was supposed to be anxious but the anticipation that coursed through me was the wrong kind. Happiness gave way to desire as pure lust invaded my being. When we reached our destination, my knees went wobbly. When security opened the door for me, I was sweating.
Sander stood alone, thankfully with his back turned, giving me a moment to compose myself. Even from behind, he was a male specimen of perfection, but he’d never smelled so delicious before. Honeysuckles and mountain laurel from my home entered my nose. Butterflies danced in my stomach just like in my adolescence. Who was I kidding? It wasn’t butterflies but rather huge bats. As I thought it, I uttered the common curse under my breath at the same time, “Bats.” This wasn't right. I fought the urge to run to him. I knew I had a history of not controlling myself around the authentic vampire, or more accurately, succumbing to his advances, but this was different. Sander hadn't even looked my way or spoken, but I wanted to jump his bones. Stilling my face as much as I could, I smiled demurely, not showing my fangs and held up a still hand as a greeting when he turned around.
Sander returned my smile with a knowing expression. He knew I was aroused. Hell, I could smell myself. Turning my head, I looked away from the guard who showed all his fangs as he smelled the air around me. At least, I made a convincing escort. Having been out in the fringe for a week, I’d not seen hide nor hair of a vampire. Meaning, I hadn't encountered any of the vampire pheromones assaulting me now. No wonder I was a mess.
With the flick of his wrist, Sander dismissed security. Stepping in close to me, he raised a sexy eyebrow and fingered the badge pinned to me. “Noir, this is a nice surprise, albeit a confusing one.”
Shit, right out of the gate he uttered my name like we were old friends. That put my fire out, some, leading me to my senses enough to wave my hands at him when security finally closed the door.
“Are you okay?” Sander wasn’t reading my signal.
Putting my finger to my lips, I searched around frantically for a piece of paper.
“What’s happening? Are you in trouble?” Quixon’s voice invaded my ears.
Sander grabbed my upper arms. I should have known a vampire would be able to hear the voice coming from my ear.
Placing my hand over Sander's mouth before he could say another word, I thought at him over and over, I’m bugged pointing to my ear.
Slowly, Sander let me go and produced a pen and small piece of paper out of his jacket’s interior. He scrawled, Where is he?
Seizing the pen, I wrote, Don’t kill him, with three exclamation points, only to get an icy glare in return. I added, Promise and I'll explain everything.
Sander agreed with a single nod.
The parking garage, black sedan.
The vampire didn't bother taking the pen. I heard his voice in my head as clear as Quixon's, Distract him. The old vampire ghosted away, moving with the speed we rarely use.
I began to tell Quixon everything was okay, confusing him with talk of our plan but listening to make sure no one hurt him. Suddenly Quixon quit talking. There’d been no scream or any other indication he'd been silenced. Gone was the heavy breathing too. I stormed around the locked room in a fury, waiting for Sander to return.
When he did, he entered the room nonchalantly.
"What did you do?" I shouted.
"I squashed a bug," he winked, brushing lent off his tuxedo sleeve.
"You promised you wouldn't hurt him!"
"No, I promised I wouldn't kill him,” he chortled, turning to the tall antique mirror. “He's not dead, but he isn't going anywhere for a while."
Placing my hands on my middle, I demanded, "Where is he?"
Straightening his black bow tie, not looking at me, he relented, "He's safe. I'll deal with him after the wake."
"About that, waking up. You never mentioned there was a possibility Sigmund wasn't really dead."
"It's highly improbable that Sigmund will wake, but it is tradition. Before he is cemented, his cloud needs to be sure."
"So why am I here?"
Sander finally looked at me through the mirror. "Indeed? Why are you here?"
I crossed my arms over my cleavage realizing where his eyes were pointed. "You first?"
"Noir, there is no need for a power play with me. Answer me. Why are you here?”
I didn’t respond, even when he approached me.
“For many reasons." His hand circled my wrist, lifting it to smell the lemony perfume he’d sent as he answered, "One being, you are my only witness."
I swallowed hard as his other hand’s finger ran down my neck. His nose followed as he inhaled. "I killed Sigmund, no one else," he told me as his large hands traveled down to my hips, tugging me in close. His cool lips landed in the crook of my neck in a flash, wandering to my bare shoulder. Voyaging the plunging neckline of my dress, his kiss and nose sought out the sweet fragrance as I regretted everywhere I dabbed the perfume. "But mostly because you belong here.”
Shutting my eyes tight as if it would block the pleasure he sent coursing through me, I muttered, "I'm not yours," stepping away from his sensual assault.
Instantly his dreamy face turned to cold and calculating. "Regardless, this is beneficial to us both. I’m doing you a favor."
I leaned against the door trying to appear as if I hadn’t been extremely turned on. "Enlighten me."
Sander’s amazing face showed a hint of displeasure. "For arguments sake, if you weren't mine, you were at least pretending to be the night Sigmund was killed."
I didn't need to think about pretending to be with Sander or really being with Sander for that matter. Ignoring him, I took in the room. Seeing the chaise in the corner made my unwelcome feelings grow stronger. "So this is where you bring your takeout?"
Disregarding my question this time, he stood in front of me again, studying my badge before taking it off by the clip, and placing it in the interior pocket of his tailored jacket. Taking his time again, he was making himself right, straightening his cufflinks. It was a very human thing to do because he’d looked perfect to me. As an authentic, his years of pretending to be human showed through the cold vampire mannerisms he could display now if he wanted to. I spied a glance at myself in the mirror and smiled at the way the dress accentuated my curves. "I'm taking it this is a formal event?"
Sander put his hand around my waist, resting it on my opposite hip, making us look like a very happy couple. Quickly, I yanked away before I started to enjoy it. He was the best looking man I’d ever seen after all, his gleaming blond hair and piercing blue eyes where just the tip of the sexy iceberg.
I asked, "What if I refuse to go out there?" It was a ridiculous question, wishful thinking to distract myself.
"I don't think your friend from the Sforce would appreciate you not keeping a promise."
"I didn't promise anything."
Sander drew the badge I wore in out of his jacket. "I've bought one whole night. You do work for this takeout service, don't you?" He asked dryly and then raised one eyebrow and gave me a look that meant I was on the menu. That subtle threat had settled it, but opened up a new can of worms, One Whole Night.
He checked his watch. "I'm still waiting for your explanation, but it will have to wait. We do have business to attend to." Sander took my hand, giving me something and when I looked, it was an ingest. “Take some protection. I can’t have you attacking me out there.”
I wondered what he was really worried about. Catching myself, I didn’t thank him but drank it down.
When we exited the room, Adela met us looking gorgeous as always. The tall vampire scoffed at the sight of me but led the way. Sander offered his arm, but I refused. "Come on honey, let's keep up appearances, you know, for the kids," he chuckled but gave me a serious look.
I’d been through this before, pretending to be Sander's date at a party. I guess I could do it again. Placing my arm in his so we could walk in like royalty, I told him, "This is only because she scares me, no offense."
"None taken. I am very proud of Adela. You two will grow to love each other, I know it."
I snorted, "Sure."
Elegant in a blue satin gown, Adela glided into the ballroom in front of us. Her hair caped her back in pale blonde silk.
My mind left Adela, Sander, Quixon and even my Zeus problem when we entered the grandest room in the tower. Back home, a funeral would have never been mistaken for a party, even if we were supposed to be celebrating the deceased's life. In the gigantic ballroom that took up at least four floors, the festivities had already begun. The lights were off, the whole room lit by a million candles. The band played a tune sounding too dark and upbeat for a funeral, not to mention clashed with the lavish attire of the guests who were dancing or feeding in corners.
Without us being announced, all eyes turned to us in unison as a way of greeting. My eyesight was almost as advanced as theirs so within a minute of looking around, I’d spotted many familiar faces, from Jameson, the mayor of Sanguis City to the feeble looking, accident, Caesar, Tombs’ boss and head of Her Gospel Hospital, my former employer. The picture perfect, Gloria and numerous other professors were among them, as well as the vampires from the night of Sander’s birthday party even if I couldn’t remember their names. I knew these vampires even if I probably meant nothing to them. Would they think I was one of Sander’s escorts, or worse, would they know about my connection to him?
Looking down, I wanted to hide from embarrassment. I noticed the outrageously gorgeous ring on my hand, and I saw Sander wore a similar one. Great, just as I suspected. I bit my lip, ready to bolt until I spotted another vampire I recognized, one from the night of Sigmund's death. Sander swung me onto the dance floor just as my legs were about to give out. To his satisfaction, I clung to his broad shoulders as my body felt useless.
Would Crow be here? Not that I particularly wanted to see him again until I could help him. Crow was one of Sander's cloud now, his crew of loyal vampires. Even if he had an involuntary urge to kill Sander, who he thought killed his master. Also, Crow wanted to kill me too, something deep within him knowing I was involved. Searching for his long dark hair, I felt my mind a drift as I swirled and swayed with no luck.
"Is Crow here?" I finally asked Sander when we left the dance floor.
"No." Sander frowned while he led me by the small of my back. The crowd parted and backed away instinctively, leaving Sander alone with his brother. Sigmund’s dead body lay out before us on a raised stone slab. He certainly looked dead, deader than usual. If his dark gray skin didn’t prove it, the smell did. I gagged, cupping my hand over my nose and mouth. Rude, I know but all the flowers and herbs surrounding him didn't mask the signature odor of rotting flesh. We didn’t preserve bodies anymore, knowing they could be reanimated. A well-preserved zombie would take decades to rot away.
Looking very much like Sander, but younger with his much longer hair, Sander’s twin was on his way to becoming earth. I thought of him as Sander’s eviler twin, Sander being quite evil in his own right. I fought the feelings of guilt threatening to surface. Knowing he was a despicable vampire and the reason Crow and I were separated, among too many things to count, I would not cry for my sins. That was at least what I kept telling myself. Sander certainly didn’t seem sad, and I knew he’d wanted him dead too. After all, it was partly his idea. I patted his back anyway, causing him to speak up. "Do you think he will rise to haunt again?"
"What?" I exclaimed.
"That's the usual question at these things. Many a vampire has been told to crawl from their earthly graves to take one last bite or to be spotted a country or two over. It's superstition, a comforting thought, religion, if you will... I’m not a believer."
I shivered. It gave me the willies. "When will they be sure he’s dead?"
"1 a.m. on the seventh day."
"Magical numbers and all?"
"No, after six days a dead vampire starts to smell like a human again. As for the time of night, well, it leaves just long enough before sunrise to pay respects before cementing the body in the ground."
"Cement?"
"And a silver coffin, so no other vampire can dig him up and gain control, nothing but the best for my dear old brother."
Sander’s eyes held a glassy haze, so I changed the subject. "When you say Crow isn't here, where is he?"
His voice was neutral. "He’s being protected, from himself. I assure you he’s safe."
“How can I trust you?”
“The only reason I’m protecting him is for you. Believe what you want.”
What a relief! I needed Crow to stay safe until I could free him from his madness. I’d ask Sander exactly where after the wake. I fiddled with the ring on my finger, appreciating I could use Sander to my advantage. If he wouldn’t hurt Crow, he wouldn’t hurt Quixon, right? I’d ask for his help with Zeus too.
He led me to the open bar, and feeling much better, I lifted my glass to the vampire I’d killed to rescue Crow. “To Sigmund.” I took a shot of cinnamon liquor.
Sander followed suit. “Sigmund loved a party.”
By my fourth shot, I’d listened to tales of multiple parties from various points in time. Sander was awfully chatty tonight, and I was mighty entertained. My human senses suggested that his brother’s death had caused him pain, but he was a vampire. One who helped me kill Sigmund, I wasn't going to feel sorry for him. However, having never seen him drink anything but a warm blood before now, seeing him take shot after shot made me take notice, and I was relieved when we headed back to the dance floor. This time I enjoyed dancing.
Near one o’clock, a too tall, too skinny bald vampire in a cloak greeted us with a bow of his head. Obviously having a role to play in this part of the ceremony, a vampire priest if you will, he silently gestured for Sander to follow him. Sander excused himself, leaving me in the care of Adela who unexpectedly appeared at my side. When she held out her arm, he gave me a pleading look so I reluctantly took it.
Walking me around the room as if we were on display, she was silent too, just like the vampire who led Sander away.
“What are we doing?” I finally asked on our second time around.
She whispered, “We are taking a turn about the room until Sigmund is to be buried.”
“Why is he being buried here and not in front of the Sigmund building?”
“He wouldn’t have wanted to be buried near his demise. He is to be laid to rest at a site he conquered, not the site where he was slain.” She squinted, studying me like I was an alien, oh, no, like I was the murderer.
I squashed my worries, having no idea whether she knew anything at all. Her face was soon an icy mask again, very much like her fathers. Shocked she’d answered me twice, I asked something I’d wondered all night, “Why is no one talking to Sander?”
She stifled a laugh. “Really, you are green aren’t you? It is custom to give a vampire his space until his kin is in the ground.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ve been talking to him all night, maybe more since no one else seemed to,” I confessed automatically.
She patted my arm. “Not you of course. Of course he’d welcome the comfort of his companion.”
Ugh. “So why is no one talking to me either?” I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.
“You two are one.”
Figures. “So, why are you talking to me?”
“Because you keep asking questions, shush, before I look rude,” she ended our conversation.
I continued my time with Adela in silence. She led, and I followed. On our fifth “turn” she led me down one of the many hallways to a bolted door. Pulling a key from her bosom, she unlocked the door before silently gesturing I enter before her.
Just one look and I immediately deduced the room held a museum worth of riches. “What is all this?” Marveling at it all as we walked through, I spotted gold coins, crowns, jewelry, richly colored paintings, pristine statues and loads of books. It was a large pile of booty, reminding me of pirates. Don’t get me wrong, we had a treasure room on the reserve. Our scavenging missions would produce heaps of once precious items the old folks insisted on preserving. But why was Adela showing all of this to me?
“I didn’t think you would know.” She smiled, looking like one of the vampire models on billboards downtown. “This is money, real money, not credits or worthless cash. This is Sigmund’s pocket change. His cloud’s inheritance, whatever my father didn’t keep.” Producing a clipboard, she announced, “Since you are one of us,” she cleared her throat, “as my father’s wife you get first choice. Look around and let me know what you want.” Her beautiful blue eyes sparkled as she waited expectedly. They were identical to Sanders but larger and lined dark, surrounded by a smoky shadow.
“I’m not one of you.”
“We both know that isn’t true.” Breaking our stare, she held up a diamond bracelet, admiring it. “I’ve heard you are down on your luck and won’t take my father’s help. At least take what is yours and help yourself out.”
“I don’t want anything.” I crossed my arms over my stomach, refusing to look further. The thought of taking something revolted me, like I didn’t just kill the vampire laid out in the other room, but I was robbing him too.
“Suit yourself,” she said nonchalantly. “I’m next in line so you can wait while I make my list.”
I made myself comfortable in a plushy padded throne in the corner, almost falling asleep as Adela “shopped”.
Soon a young girl with hair as pale as Adela’s and Sander’s summoned us. She took the vampire’s hand, saying we should all gather in front of Remus Tower.
“Noir, meet Bette, Bette, this is you’re great grandmother,” Adela laughed. The girl ignored me, tugging on the vampire’s hand, wanting us to come on.
“You have a daughter?”
“Of course not. She’s a loaner. I’m a sponsor.”
I followed them down the hall and out of the building, thinking the humans on the reservation would die if they knew the vampires here sponsored children, meaning Adela paid for the little human’s education and helped raise her until she was old enough to be her protégé, be transformed. It was a privilege reserved for only the most desired human bloodlines and the vampires could tell good genetics by a sip.
Sander stood before the crowd as the vampire in the cloak recited a long speech in the Latin I barely understood. Suspended on a chain, the silver coffin hung above a deep hole. Sander effortlessly held the other end of the chain. He said no words of praise or solace before he slowly lowered his brother into the ground. All eyes were on him as he was void of any emotion. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Was he sad or happy at this moment? Suddenly, I longed for him to come over and laugh, for his face to give me a glimpse of sentiment again.
When Sander joined us, I almost smiled at him before clutching his hand because that’s what we did at normal funerals. He didn’t complain. The vampire priest led out a black dog on a chain. It was huge with a sleek long body, beautiful but my brow crinkled in wonder. Okay, things were getting weird. “What’s the dog for?”
He whispered back, “Lodi was Sigmund's otherkind and will be buried with his master.”
“But the dog is alive.” I wasn’t quiet, causing heads to swing in our direction.
“Not for very long,” Adela whispered. She was on my other side.
“You mean they're going to kill it, right now in front of everyone?” I sounded as astonished as I felt.
Adela gave up and spoke normally, “Slit its throat.” She made the same motion. “It has no master.”
Poor thing “Can’t someone take it?” I asked, tugging on Sander’s sleeve like a child I grasped and stopped.
“No one would want Sigmund's dog,” Sander commented, leaning sideways.
“You can’t kill a dog!” It was a part of my life on the reservation. They killed any useless animals, fearing the harm they would bring in the form of infestation or infection, but I’d always thought it atrocious.
The vampire priest was speaking in Latin again, but I didn’t see a knife, yet. I still gripped Sander’s hand, so I squeezed hard, but his eyes were glued forward.
“Why not? It's tradition,” Adela went on, not looking at me either, “I asked everyone if they wanted the dog. He was in the cache, but obviously needed immediate attention. They all refused so tradition wins.”
Adela had given me a wonderful idea. “I’ll take the dog.” I yanked on Sander’s arm again.
“You want Sigmund's otherkind?” His eyebrows drew together as he glared at me.
“I want it,” my voice sounded positive, then I added, “As your wife, I get first dibs on the inheritance.”
Sander bowed and moved up casually to stop the next part of the ceremony.
As the vampires mumbled behind us, confused at the change in plans, Adela said, “I didn't think you would come. I thought I’d have to kill you.... I still might.” Glancing down at my hand, she faintly smiled. “However, you have given me a pleasant surprise. Take care of him tonight.”
I rolled my eyes. Did she think I accepted being his wife just then? Surely not. Satisfied, Adela left me to make polite small talk with everyone who recognized me, now that people were allowed to speak to me. Thankfully, no one asked the six million dollar question, “What was I doing here?” Being caught up in the tragedy and oddness of the event, I really didn’t know anymore. It was another half hour until I found Sander surrounded by vampires, sounding like they were telling stories about Sigmund. Staying back, I listened to them laugh and carry on. Soon I wandered off to the bar to wait. I didn’t need to be distracted by entertaining tales of vampires before my time. Feeling my leg for the tiny package I’d strapped under my dress, the bugs I brought to plant, I needed to get my head on straight. Quixon was incapacitated somewhere in the building. I had to get Sander to his room, plant some bugs, retrieve the bleeder and leave through the service entrance.
The lights were dimming, like half the candles had burned out, and couples started slow dancing. Hardly anyone had gone home. Vampires scattered around the auditorium feeding off their dates again and each other. At the other end of the bar, a vampire threw up watered down blood, unable to drink any more liquor. Staring down at my drink, I knew with nothing else to do for the last hour, even I’d had too many. Sander was still across the room reminiscing and still drinking. At this rate, he wouldn’t retire to his room before sunrise.
Meeting his fangy smile as I approached him, I began to waver. I could feel the effects of my protection wearing off. I’d been fighting the strong pheromones in the room for the last hour, trying to keep my cool and just thinking about what I was about to do made me tingle in all the right places. He patted his knee for me to sit, but I pulled up a chair suddenly not sure if I could even act attracted to Sander without going overboard. Listening for a while longer as he told jokes to Jameson and the others as they played a card game I didn’t recognize, I understood I may have underestimated the impact Sigmund's funeral would have on him. He was certainly not his stoic self.
Reeking of alcohol, Sander leaned over to whisper in my ear, “Adela will bring Lodi to you tomorrow.”
Sander could not be drunk, could he? It just didn't work that way. Although, it would take two times the amount for me to feel even a buzz, I felt it and more. It’d take way more for him to be... drunk.
After a few more shots, I saw no sign of an end to their party. I’d have to take matters into my own hands. Sitting in Sander’s lap this time, I walked my fingers up his chest and cooed in his ear, “I suppose your takeout would need to come up to your room since you’ve not had a bite all evening.” His hands tightened on my waist as he made his excuses to leave. Leading a vampire on wasn’t the smartest move, but really, what choice did I have?
