chapter 16
Peter opened the door for me and I preceded him in. The cool breath of the night air was alive with sound and taste, and I hated to leave it. I was also anxious about seeing my vampire friends again- as brethren. Leah had dropped in to visit a couple days ago. The unprepossessing blonde had perched on my kitchen counter and declared it was about time for me to come out among my own kind. As a human, I had thought her harmless. Now I could see her true nature- master vampire, coven leader, in possession of a very powerful aura. Maybe knowing her as a human had given me a false sense of security. I should have been terrified by the woman behind the ruthless elimination of an entire coven of vampires. Don’t get me wrong- I had a lot of newfound respect for the woman perched in my kitchen, but I wasn’t afraid of her. If I had to bow to someone’s wishes, I was relieved it was her. So I accepted her invitation. I don’t think I really had the option to say no, but she was kind enough to make it seem like I did.
I practically skipped through the door and into the dimly lit interior of the little vampire bar, loving the feel of my legs working in harmony with the rest of my body. Thanks to the quirk with my coordination, I could now pull off movements of agility that even Peter couldn’t duplicate, though I was no match for him in terms of speed or strength.
The bar had a cozy lounge feel, almost as if you were in someone’s game room, rather than an establishment. There were some humans here. I felt my fangs want to come out at the thought, but managed to control myself. I was still learning how to feed without causing fear or pain, and Peter was always there to guide me.
I swept the room with a glance, finding a Viktor lounging in a big leather smoking chair, with his back to us. Tossing my purse on the bar, I eeled my way to him, my movements fluid, graceful, and completely silent. Of course, he could sense a new aura, one that was unfamiliar to him. He would know I was young, and that I was with Peter would mean it could only be me. He didn’t move from his seat or pause in his conversation with his companions until I came around the front of his chair. I quickly placed a foot on the chair, between his legs. The ball of my foot rested on his crotch, exerting just enough pressure to make him stay put.
His gaze traveled from my foot to my face. When his silvery brown eyes met mine, he grinned in appreciation. I leaned forward and jammed a forearm under his throat, choking him. It would have really hurt a human, but it was merely uncomfortable for him.
“Hello Viktor,” I said in a sweet, melodious voice. “So good to see you again, you ruthless son of a bitch.”
His hands came up to grasp my hips familiarly. I shifted my foot, crushing his junk, and he dropped his hands immediately. I exerted just a bit more pressure to make my point, then stepped back, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring.
He only laughed, a rich guffaw. “Holy shit!” he rasped out, as if I’d actually damaged his throat. “I told you you’d thank me.”
Peter had come to watch, sinking gracefully onto a nearby loveseat. “F*ck you, Viktor,” I said without heat. “You’re a cold, heartless bastard.”
Vampires don’t get a buzz off alcohol the way humans do, but it has some effect if you drink enough. Sometimes it just tasted good- like a memory. I picked up his beer and drained it. “Thanks.”
Peter smiled in amusement. “I don’t appreciate your methods,” he said levelly. “However, I can’t fault the end result. Just don’t blame me if she holds a grudge.”
I stretched, feeling lean and powerful. The men’s eyes caressed my midriff as my silk camisole slid up, parting ways with my hip hugging jeans. It should bother me, but it didn’t. I was feeling glorious. Let them stare. I met Peter’s silver eyes and felt my own aura respond. I couldn’t control the teeth this time.
Viktor chuckled. “It’s okay girlie,” he said, gesturing to the bar tender for another beer. “You’ll get used to it. And in the mean time, you don’t have to try so hard. We can be ourselves here.”
I dropped onto the loveseat beside Peter, scooting sideways so my legs were draped across his lap. Dropping my head back over the arm of the couch, I closed my eyes and soaked in the soothing presence of my new family. Their auras touched mine lightly, and a relaxed feeling settled over me. Now I knew what Peter meant about the coven being a family. It was more comfortable with them around me.
Peter’s hand stroked the inside of my knee and I laughed, feeling beyond powerful. I levered myself over the arm of the chair, rolling like a gymnast, and landed on the other side. Making my way to the dance floor, I lost myself in the oddly upbeat music pulsing around me. I would never tire of being able to move this way, of being free and strong.
The bar had filled up, and I was high with the joy of my coming out. It took me a while to realize that the atmosphere was off. Even though the people scattered about the place looked relaxed, there was an undercurrent of tension that was unsettling. Peter and Leah were chatting at the bar, and I went to join them. There had been more fighting among the lesser covens lately, and several lower ranking vampires had made the move to takeover neighboring covens. Leah was trying to decide if this was just standard territorial squabbling, or if it was something her moderately sized coven needed to take notice of.
“Something about the whole situation makes me uneasy,” Peter admitted, toying with his glass of dark red wine. “There is always unrest, but it seems that it has increased lately. There has to be something more to it.”
Leah nodded, considering his words while she toyed with a little bowl of peanuts. I didn’t know why they even had them here. None of the vampires were going to eat them- the salt was terrible. I caught sight of one of the few humans, edging up to the other end of the bar. Maybe the guests needed some protein to balance out their revelries. The man’s brown eyes met mine, showing interest, then darted away as he carefully focused on his drink. My jaw ached, and I licked my lips. Not thirsty. I told myself firmly. You are not thirsty, you just fed.
I pulled my attention back to Peter and Leah’s conversation. They were pretty much completely ignoring me at this point. I felt like the only little kid at a table of grown-ups. “Maybe something is causing the vampires to be more aggressive than usual,” I suggested. “You know, full moon, or sorcerer or something like that…” I wasn’t sure what would make vampires edgy, but it was still a valid idea, I told myself defensively.
“Hmm…” Peter made a considering sound, but then continued with a completely un-related comment to Leah about politics. I leaned forward and thumped my head on the table dramatically. Neither one of them noticed. The bartender was staring at me though, so I sat up and pretended to be an adult.
Growing bored, and knowing that I wouldn’t be missed, I slipped off my barstool and headed toward the back door. I knew that if I left, the conversation would probably turn to me and all my oddities. I still wasn’t right, and I knew Peter was worried. Leah had dismissed his concerns last time I overheard them talking about me, saying only, “She will be what she will be- and there is nothing you can do to change that.” After that, I decided not to eavesdrop. I didn’t want to know how damaged I was.
All of the sudden I was tired of socializing. The thrill was starting to wear off. I just wanted to go home, where there weren’t so many reminders that I was just a baby- and an underdeveloped one at that. Some fresh air sounded like a very good idea. A vampire was lounging in the shadows on a tacky red couch, a pretty blonde clinging to him like a second skin. As I passed, I recognized Haine and gave him a little wave. I wasn’t surprised to see him off in the corner. For some reason, most of the coven avoided him- or at least weren’t as comfortable around him. I thought it odd myself. He was one of my favorite people.
I pushed open the heavy metal door at the back exit and took a breath of cool night air. There was a chill there, but not enough to bother me. The change in temperature felt good after the warm, stuffy bar. It looked like the employees took their breaks out here. There was a little flowerbed and a wooden park bench next to a cigarette butt disposal. They must employ some humans, I mused. Vampires would never smoke. The smell of smoke is absolutely repellant when your nose is as sensitive as a hound’s.
I sat on the bench and scuffed my feet. There was a little gravel footpath that struck out toward the riverbank, but I wouldn’t leave the area alone. Peter was right- not that I would ever admit it to his face- I still needed supervision. My instincts still weren’t one hundred percent under my control. I was leaning back, looking at the bright stars, when the door opened and Haine drifted out to join me on my bench.
“Whatever is troubling you, I don’t think the answer is up there.” His voice was warm and gentle, but I knew better than to voice my worries after his warning last time.
“Maybe not, but it’s more fun to stare at the stars than sit around listening to Peter and Leah babble on about politics.”
He snorted. “I can only imagine.” Standing, he started down the little footpath. “Would you like to come for a walk? I’ll chaperone you.”
I wasn’t sure how old Haine was, but he was powerful. I knew he was perfectly capable of controlling me if I went off the deep end and tried to eat a jogger. “I’d love to.”
We strolled along the path, listening to the last of the frogs singing for all they were worth. It wouldn’t be long before it was too cold for them. Then the water would be hushed with snow and covered with chunks of ice. I smiled at the thought that I would actually be able to enjoy winter this year, rather than being stuck in my wheelchair, confined to paved paths. Maybe I could convince Peter to take me sledding or ice-skating.
My mind wandered for a while before I realized that Haine was being very quiet. “Is there something on your mind?” I didn’t want to pry, but it was unusual to see the lighthearted man so thoughtful.
He sighed. “Melody, do you trust me?” His question caught me off guard, and I slowed to a stop, looking out at the river.
“Of course I do, Haine,” I said hesitantly. “But when you ask questions like that, I start to wonder…”
He laughed, and I could see his warm smile in the thin moonlight. “My master was a very ancient vampire.” I was surprised at the change of topic, but curiosity made me keep quiet. “As he aged, he began to isolate himself from the world. He became a venomous creature, hiding in the dark.”
I leaned against the trunk of a big willow tree and regarded him in a new light. He was old. I was beginning to add centuries to my estimate of his age. Was he worried because he was often isolated from the rest of the coven?
“I was his favorite, so he kept me close, even when I was of an age where I should have been able to begin my own coven.” He looked out over the quiet water for a moment before continuing. “Some of us have…abilities…”
I nodded. I had heard rumors that some vampires were just a little more talented than others. Leah could influence people’s moods, exerting a calming effect. Peter was a superb fighter.
“My master could slip into people’s minds. It only worked on the weaker vampires, but because he was my master, I had no resistance to him.” He sighed, dropping his serious mood like shedding a layer of clothing. “And then one day I grew strong enough to escape his influence.”
“And you came here to be with the rest of the orphan vampires,” I said softly. I was lucky that I had Peter. I knew, though I tried to forget it, that other masters were often abusive in their control over their children.
Haine laughed, a beautiful, rippling sound that carried over the water. “Orphan vampires. I like it.” He brushed his silvery hair back from his eyes. “It took me a while to find my way here. The other vampires tend to avoid me. I think they can sense that I’m stronger than any of them, no matter how I try to hide it. But I’ve been happy in this place.”
I went to join him by the water. “Then why do you sound so lonely?”
He snorted. “Lonely? Me? I’m above such things.”
I laughed and nudged him. “Of course, you have me for a friend, so what more could you ask for?”
He was quiet again for some time. When he spoke again, he surprised the hell out of me. “Melody, I want you to bite me.”
I didn’t know what to say. For a full minute, I just stared, thinking I’d heard him wrong. “What?”
He turned to me, his eyes liquid silver in the moonlight. “I have lived much of my life under someone’s control. I am happy to be free, but it is… lonely… to suddenly be without a connection to someone. I want you to bite me.”
I swallowed hard. Feeding from humans was one thing, but among vampires, a bite had more significance. The only time vampires fed from other vampires was if they were in a master/child relationship where the young vampire needed his master’s blood. Or if two vampires were a mated pair.
“Whoa…” I said, holding up my hands. My mind was stumbling over itself as I tried to find words. “Haine… I’m Peter’s mate.” I was glad for the semi-privacy the dark afforded. I’d never said it before. It sounded so medieval.
He took a step closer, slowly closing the distance between us, and I backed up until I hit the tree trunk. I froze as he reached out to caress my cheek, my heart beating faster than it should have been. “I know.” His eyes met mine and he must have seen the panic there. He withdrew his hand and ruffled my hair, giving me a reassuring smile. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I know you are Peter’s. I simply want…a bond.”
I took a deep breath of the night air, hoping to clear my head. Instead, I was filled with his scent. He smelled like fall leaves and the rain on grass. Not helpful. “I don’t love you,” I said firmly. Though it wasn’t exactly the truth.
Haine laughed. “Liar.” He could sense emotions far better than I could. “But I understand what you mean. You love me in the same way I love you. As someone dear, a sister, a coven mate.” He ran a hand through his silky hair and gave me a wry look. “Well, maybe I care for you a bit more than most of my coven mates.”
I relaxed a bit, realizing how foolish I had been to think that Haine was about to attack me. “I can’t bite you.” My voice wobbled a bit, damn it all.
He looked out at the water again, and I was able to breathe. “Melody, I’ve lived a very long time with no companionship other than that evil voice in my head. I simply wish to be connected to someone good; someone who isn’t able to exert control over me. I didn’t mean to make you feel conflicted.”
My teeth had elongated at the thought of tasting him. Crap. I squared my shoulders and pulled it together. He relaxed his posture, and I tried to match my aura to his, willing the tension to leave my body. I shouldn’t let myself get so worked up, especially not without Peter nearby to reel me in if I lost it.
Then I heard it- the deep, heavy rhythm of a warm, beating heart. Haine heard it too. He instantly closed the distance between us, pressing me against the tree while I fought a losing battle with my instincts. I was already on edge because of Haine’s little request. This was just too much. My breath came in ragged pants and everything went red around the edges, as if I was looking at the world through a bloody tunnel. My fists clenched and I ground my teeth together, but the jogger was coming closer. I could smell his sweat, and the joyful endorphins of his runner’s high. My throat ached and I strained against Haine, baring my teeth at him when he refused to let me go.
“Shhh...” he cooed. “Melody, take shallow breaths. You don’t want this. This isn’t you.”
I clawed at his imprisoning arms and twisted my body like a wild thing, doing anything I could to escape. I was almost there. I grinned, knowing I was about to slip Haine’s grasp. The jogger’s pace was slowing. He had caught sight of Haine and me. I could feel his mild worry. He was probably wondering if the man was hurting me. If he needed to step in and help. Yes, I thought hungrily. Just a little closer.
Haine glanced over his shoulder, taking in the jogger’s altered trajectory. Then he shifted his body to shield me from view. He wrapped his arms around me and bent close, as if for a kiss. With a soft growl, I buried my teeth in his neck.
His blood was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It flowed into me, filling me with power. Ecstasy lit though me like wildfire, and I pushed closer, pulling at him hungrily. Panic pulsed thorough me as I realized that I would never be able to stop on my own. He chuckled and stroked my head tenderly. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered. “It’s only my age. It’s not your fault. Take your fill.” The jogger’s steps faltered, then picked up again, a bit quicker than before. He hastened on his way, leaving the two lovers entwined under the spreading branches of an old oak.
I closed my eyes and lost myself in Haine, bathing in his ancient aura. Finally, he moved his hands to my shoulders, gently urging me back. It took more effort than anything I had ever done in my entire life just to let go of his neck.
I sat back, embarrassed. “Thank you.” I shuddered at how quickly I had almost murdered an innocent person. Haine stepped back and ruffled my hair, winning a glare. “Are we bonded now?”
He smiled. “You’ll probably only notice the connection if either of us are in danger, or in need of the other.” I continued to glare. He’d gotten his way, damn him.
“I asked if you trust me,” he said quietly. “There are other reasons for me to share my blood with you- reasons I cannot speak of. I can only say that I think it will be of some help in the future.” He was frustrated. I could feel emotions coiling around him like snakes, tangled and slippery. I thought maybe even he didn’t know what he was feeling. But he was asking me to trust him.
I closed my eyes, not believing what I had done. When I opened them, he was close, towering over me. He gazed down at me with those beautiful blue eyes. “Melody, this is very important.” He grasped my shoulders, squeezing hard for emphasis. “If I ever try to bite you, no matter what, let it happen. Don’t try to stop me.”
I nodded and stepped away, feeling awkward. Haine gave me a half smile and headed back down the path. “Come on, I’ll walk you back.”
Peter met us on the path just before we got back to the bar. He was furious. “Melody, how could you wander off? I trusted you to stay near.” His green eyes were irate, but he wasn’t vamping out, which was a good sign.
Haine held up his hands in surrender. “I took her for a walk. I made sure she was safe.” I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Safe from everyone but him.
The breeze picked up and Peter stiffened. “Melody, I smell blood.”
I bit my lip. If he smelled blood, then he knew who’s it was. “Ah…” I started to explain, but Haine stepped between us.
“Please don’t punish her Peter. There was a jogger on the path. I thought you would be angry if I let her feed without you, so I … distracted her.”
I rubbed my temples. Judging from the look on Peter’s face, things were about to get ugly. “Stop it,” I said firmly. I was buzzing with power, thanks to my little snack, and it was making me cranky.
I pushed past Haine and took Peter’s hand, drawing him down the path. Haine followed a bit behind, amusement playing at his features. “It was just a bite. That’s it.” I kept a grip on Peter when he would have spun and attempted to decapitate the other vampire. “I am not sleeping with him.”
Haine snorted with laughter and Peter’s muscles beneath my hand tensed with the urge to attack him, but he kept walking. “Then do you mind explaining just what the hell you think you are doing?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I’m new, remember?”
Haine piped up behind us, while Peter pretended the other vampire didn’t exist. “I’m honored to have been able to protect her, for both your sakes, Peter. I promise you that I am not trying to steal your child away.”
We managed to reach the back door of the bar before Peter lost it. He rounded on Haine, and his aura flared to life like blue flame. A cloak of menace seemed to hang about him, and a lock of dark hair fell forward to hide his sparkling, liquid silver eyes. Haine stood his ground with his arms crossed, unfazed, but his own aura had slowly risen into existence, a swirling cloud of red and gold. Peter was a skilled assassin, but Haine was much, much older. And with age, came power. This was going to be ugly.
I pushed between them before the first blow, stalling. “Just stop it!” Crap, there was nothing I could do to stop them once they got started.
The door banged open and Leah strolled out. She neared us and I felt my shoulders relax in response to her ability. “Gentlemen,” she said softly. “I would appreciate it if my coven members would get along.”
I could hear the frogs singing, and the dull sounds of voices and music from inside the bar, but somehow it felt as though the four of us were frozen in time. Then, ever so slowly, they both stood down and the world began to move again.
Peter had lost his aura of impending death, but he was still pissed. “He tried to bond Melody.” He said tersely.
Leah looked at Haine in surprise. “Is this true?”
Haine looked defeated. “Not out of love or servitude,” he insisted, making it obvious that he was tired of repeating himself.
Leah nodded and glanced at Peter. “Then I suggest you drop it.” Then she turned and went back inside. I thought she looked a bit more irritated than the situation warranted.
Peter and I followed, leaving Haine skulking about in the night. When we got home, I expected to feel the full brunt of my master’s wrath, but nothing happened. He simply shook his head and let it go. “You are too soft,” he told me seriously. “You cannot care for every stray dog that wanders onto your doorstep.”
I looked at the floor, feeling foolish. I felt like I had been tricked, manipulated. But even if the jogger hadn’t come, I would have eventually agreed to Haine’s request. He was the only real friend I had in this world, besides Peter. I was amazed that Peter was able to understand everything. I smiled wryly. I knew no one would ever understand the twisted inner workings of my mind the way Peter could.
“Thank you,” I said softly. He laughed and drew me close, dropping a kiss on my forehead.
“I trust your judgment,” he said calmly. “It just scared me to think that you had wandered off. I have to admit, I am glad the old man was with you. I don’t ever want you to have to experience the weight of taking a life.” He sighed. “I guess it’s time to work on your hunting skills.”