Forbidden Drink (20 page)

I paused, trying to catch that note again, that beautiful sound, but the rushing noise of opposing notes just kept hammering away. It almost made me cry, I wanted that note, I wanted it badly.

While I was standing there trying to sort out the noises, the vampire slowly stepped out of the shadows, a human woman, dressed for the nocturnal pursuits of Fort Street's finest, hanging from his arm. She wasn't struggling, she was clearly unmoving. I ran my eyes over her neck and body, trying to see bite marks, but nothing obvious stood out. Her breasts were heaving under the restriction of her hot pink bra and black fishnet top - so, unconscious it definitely was, not dead.

The vampire just looked at me. Erika had taken up a stance behind me and farther back, almost in the shadows herself. She knew this was my game, she was here to watch my back, to keep me safe, not to interfere. I was really liking how Erika operated. She did not tend to crowd, not when I was hunting anyway.

It was a male, about 300 years old, not a baby, a level four master at least, but he looked about twenty, so young, so untouched, an almost baby-like face framed with wispy light brown hair down past his shoulders. He was dressed well, clean jeans and an un-tucked dress shirt in black. Simple for a vampire, but not Rogue, he belonged to someone, so why was he here?

“You called?” I always seem to be the one to start the dialogue, the vampires do either one of two things. They attack as soon as they see me or they stand there and just watch. Either one is perturbing, but for very different reasons.

“You seem smaller than I thought you would be.” He was American, his strong southern accent appealing, almost a drawl. I flicked a glance at Erika over my shoulder. She shook her head. She didn't know him. I guess it's kind of a huge assumption to think she'd know every American vampire that exists.

“Why are you here?” I might as well cut to the chase.

“I couldn't stay away. I tried, but I wanted to see you. I had to see you.” He seemed pained, I'm not sure if it was because he couldn't stop himself coming to see me, or because he had been dying to see me for so long it hurt.

“Well, here I am. Now what?” He wasn't exactly doing anything to the human. I don't think he had bitten her, just glazed her asleep, so pouncing on him with my stake didn't seem right somehow.

His hand came up towards me, he was still over two metres away, so he couldn't reach me, but he was obviously thinking about it. I didn't move. Never show fear. That's me. A vampire craning his hand out to touch, with a look of such longing on his face, but reeking evil, just doesn't make you feel safe, but you never show fear. Rule number one.

“What is it you want from me?” I just wasn't getting any of this. None of it made sense.

“I...I don't know.” He looked down at the woman under his arm, blinked slowly, as if it was the first time he realised she was there, but didn't drop her, just stood there, shaking his head.

Well, this was awkward, what now?

“Did you intend to feed on her?”

“Yes. No. I suppose so.”

I blew a breath of air out. “You don't seem convinced.”

“I would normally feed off her, right?”

He's asking me? How the hell should I know? This was crazy stuff right here. Weird. Bizarre. Surreal.

“Why don't you put her down and we'll just talk.”

He looked back up at me and for a moment, I really thought he'd do it. That he wanted direction, he wanted to be told what to do, that he was so confused, but so in need of whatever it is he thought I would give him, that he would just put the human down and talk.

But, that's when Nero and Amisi turned up, having made it down the block to Queen Street and back up Fort to us. I understood they wanted to help. I knew they had been concerned that I had approached the vampire alone, not that it isn't something I do on a regular basis, but they had just seen me have a mini breakdown because of a metaphysical attack from this vamp, so they were on high alert.

Unfortunately, they came at a run, no quiet approach, no stealthy assessment of the scene. They just ran towards us, stakes out, eyes flashing, ready to jump into the fray.

But there had been no fray, just talk, however the moment the vampire sensed them he stiffened, flashed angry red eyes at me and bit the woman before I could even get a breath in to scream.

Shit!

It was actually Nero who staked him. I was still too shocked and angry to move, and anyway, Nero is fast. He didn't hesitate, he just spun out towards the vamp, pulled the woman from his arms and placed the stake above his heart, following it through with a small grunt of effort.

Done and dusted in under two seconds flat.

Amisi went to the woman to staunch the flow of blood at her neck and Nero offered direction. I just watched.

“Are you all right,
chica
?” Erika's voice was soft at my side.

“He was going to put her down. He didn't deserve to die.”

“You don't know that and he did bite her.”

“Why are you defending them? They just killed one of your kind.”

“He broke the rules, even I obey them, Lucinda. He bit an unwilling donor. He wasn't just biting to feed either, he wanted to drain, he was lashing out. That is not good for business.”

Everything she said made sense, but I still felt hollow. I still felt like I had let the vampire down. Death is not always the answer. It can't be the only answer. It just can't. I couldn't stand myself if it was. I am not the grim reaper, I am not God, I have a part to play and no more. This could have been avoided, but it wasn't.

I slowly raised my eyes from the dust mark on the ground and found Nero staring at me. I quickly looked away. I couldn't meet his gaze, I couldn't face him right now. My mentor, the one Nosferatin I believed was above all others and I... hated him right now. I really despised his speed and efficiency, his utter conviction to the cause. His inability to think outside the square. Damn him for for being what he was. Damn me for not being able to accept it.

A car's headlights flashed down the street and we all jumped to the shadows, ensuring the woman was hidden while she came around.

“It's all right,” Erika said, stepping back out into the headlight's beam. “It's one of ours.”

I recognised the vehicle then, one of Michel's Land Rover Discoveries, all sleek black and tinted windows. Shane Smith was at the wheel. His shock of blonde curly hair standing out against the dark of the night. The car came to a stop beside us and he stepped out.

“Luce.” He nodded at me and smiled his shy smile.

“Are you here for the woman?” I had no idea why he'd turn up otherwise.

He shook his head and looked at Nero. “For him. I'm his ride to the Airport. Michel wants to see you. Now.”

It had been a long time since Michel had summoned me like this. Well, really, the last time was before I even knew what I was and Michel had just been the Master of the City, something to be scared of, but stand up to. I bristled at the return to master and servant status I had fought so hard to break from before.

No one said anything for a while. I guess they were waiting for me, but I really didn't want to speak to Nero right now, let alone drive him all the way back to Manukau and the plane. So, Shane's offer seemed to sound OK actually.

“You better go with him," I said, not really making eye contact, but kind of turning Nero's way.

He stepped toward me. “Kiwi?”

I sucked it up and looked him in the eyes. Despite my feelings right now, he deserved at least that.

“Just go, Nero. Michel doesn't like to be left waiting.”

“What have I done to offend you? Please tell me so I can make amends.”

I just looked at him for a moment, as though I was seeing him for the very first time. He was still Nero; handsome, regal, omnipresent, very easy on the eyes, but now I felt like I didn't know him at all. Like so much of my life right now, he was just another piece controlling me, but out of my control. I was his
Sanguis Vitam Cupitor
, his
Prohibitum Bibere
and his
Lux Lucis Tribuo.
I was no longer Lucinda Monk to him, I was more.

I didn't want to be more. I wanted to be me and right now Nero represented the loss of me.

“Please, Nero, just go.”

I might as well have hit him in the stomach, the look of pain and disbelief was so pure. I felt a little bad then. How many people would I take down with my anger and pain at being controlled? But, I took a shaky breath in and held it, forcing myself to strengthen under his gaze, to stand up for what I believed was right. Never show fear. Never give an inch. Always stay on guard.

I just hadn't thought I'd use that mantra against Nero.

Nero's path in this war was different from mine and I couldn't afford to let it sway me. I couldn't afford to become like him. I always thought Nero was so full of Light, but right now, I couldn't see it. I couldn't see the Dark either, but just because I was temporarily blind to it, didn't mean it wasn't still there.

We stood looking at each other for another minute, then I turned my back to him and started walking toward my car.

“Can you take care of the human?” I asked Erika briefly as I passed her. She nodded and walked to where the woman lay.

“Come on, Amisi. Time to meet the Master of Auckland City,” I said loudly over my shoulder, not stopping my progress away from the scene.

I made it to the car before her, of course, she didn't show for another few minutes. No doubt saying goodbye to Nero, I didn't mind. I switched the stereo on and listened to
Fergie
, she was still in the CD player. This time I went for
Losing My Ground
.

When Amisi slid into the passenger seat I could tell she was angry, but I ignored it as I pulled the vehicle out into the main flow of traffic. The song finished part way up Queen Street, so I switched the stereo off and listened to the strained silence between us. I've never had a problem with silence, but Amisi needed to calm down before she met Michel. Meeting the Master of a City when you're in a foul mood was not a good move. So before I reached K Road, I pulled over and switched the engine off.

“I know you think I was harsh on him back there and you're probably right, but it was either that or lose it altogether. We can't afford to be distracted like that Amisi. We can't let emotions get in the way of why we are here. He means a lot to you, I know that, he does to me too, but that does not mean he is always right.” I sighed and turned to face her, sitting sideways in my seat. She had her head down and hands clasped in her lap, her face was set in a grim frown, eyebrows down, forehead furrowed. She still looked beautiful.

I watched her for a moment, trying to think of what else I could say to make her see why I behaved the way I did. To make her at least understand, if not agree, but enable her to lose some of this anger before she met Michel.

“He loves you, you know.” She surprised me with that. I hadn't seen it coming, maybe a scolding of some sort, but not soft words of love.

“I know he cares, I do too.”

“No. He's
in love
with you.” She looked at me now and I could see unshed tears in the corner of her eyes.

“I don't think..." I paused and reconsidered what I was about to say. "He loves me like a sister, Amisi. He's just that sort of guy.”

She smiled sadly at me, as though I had lost a precious treasure and didn't even know it.

“I asked him out once, or at least from where I come from, I asked him if he'd court me. It's not normal for women to do that in Egypt, but I'm a bit forward for my time.”

I wasn't sure I wanted to hear any more of this confession, but it was like watching a train wreck happen before your eyes. You're horrified at what might eventuate, but you can't seem to shift your gaze.

“Needless to say," she went on, "he turned me down, gently, nicely, but it still hurt. I demanded to know why. Was it my age? Was it something I had done? He refused to elaborate further, just told me it was inappropriate.”

That made sense, he was her teacher, but from the look on Amisi's face, I was gathering she didn't see it that way.

“Eventually, I figured it out. By watching him.” She laughed a little mirthlessly then. “I practically stalked him. But, when I understood it, I confronted him. He didn't deny it. He just said it was irrelevant, it was his burden to bear.”

I didn't want to ask, I didn't want to know really, but my mouth had other ideas. “What was irrelevant?” My voice was quiet in the space between us.

“The fact that he loves you.”

I sat there numbed by what she said. At first, my immediate reaction was to say no. That's untrue. But, then I thought back over all the things he'd said to me in the past, all the actions he'd made. The moments he'd stopped himself midway between reaching for me and touching me, the look on his face when he realised he couldn't complete the movement. It all came flooding in and fell into place. I was stunned.

“He wouldn't have wanted you to know this," she said, still softly. "He would be mortified that I have betrayed his trust. But, you needed to know why he acted so forcefully tonight, Lucinda. He wanted to protect you, to take the decision to stake that vampire out of your hands. To give you one less thing to beat yourself up over. He had no way of knowing, you'd just go right ahead and do it any way.”

Well shit. Damn.

I felt like I had to say it, I don't know why, maybe the fact that I have such a bad track record with men in my life right now. I wanted to get this out in the open, no misunderstanding, no treading the wrong path by mistake. Again.

“I don't feel the same way about him, Amisi. He knows that, right?”

She shot me a hard look. “Yeah, Lucinda. He knows.” And turned back towards the front window of the car.

So much for calming her down before meeting Michel.

I sat still for a moment longer, then thought to hell with this, it was not my problem. Nero had chosen this path, not me. And right now, I was tapped out on the problem solving front. I started the car and headed towards
Sensations
.

The club was in full swing. Being a Tuesday, that was a little unusual, but then I realised what was happening. No Norms, all vampires and their invited guests, aka dinner or entertainment. I'd inadvertently walked in on one of these functions before, it hadn't been fun. Vampires get very territorial when in a group like this, if they lay claim to a human for whatever reason, they do not like to share, or be told to take their fangs out. So, I flicked a glance at Amisi, registering her tense demeanour and said, “Stick close, all right?” I was relieved she nodded and didn't make a snarky comment, she was all professional Nosferatin, ready for action and primed for defence. She moved closer to me and kept in step at my heel.

Good girl. Despite our recent argument, if you can call it that, she knew how to switch off the emotions and play the game right. Like I've said before, she was going to make a formidable mature Nosferatin in time.

I hadn't gone straight to Michel's office when we came up from the garage, but entered the club proper, thinking he would be there. But a quick scan of my senses let me know he was out back, so I headed over to the door marked Private that led to his quarters. No one stopped us, all too busy having a good time, so I breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed behind us and turned to Amisi.

“You ready?” I asked. She may have seen Michel before, may know all about him from Nero and Nafrini and may be here staying as my guest, but meeting the master is a big thing.

She nodded, looking a little pale. I squeezed her arm lightly, she managed a half smile and we pushed on towards Michel's office.

His door was open, so I didn't knock, just walked in like I had done a million times before. He was in front of me in an instant. Amisi took a step back and lowered her face to the ground, avoiding eye contact and giving us space.

“Are you all right?” Michel looked stiff and unsure, he reached out a hand and hesitated before touching me, then obviously thought what the hell and just did it any way, stroking up my arms and cupping my face. His thumb brushing against my cheek and jaw.

I frowned at him and pulled back slightly, but he just followed me. Not breaking contact and let a low growl out between his lips.

“What's going on, Michel?” He was acting all weird, possessive to the extreme. If I didn't know any better I'd think he was wanting to mark his territory. He was acting like a threatened mate.

He looked me over, from head to foot, his
Sanguis Vitam
brushing my shields, but I held them firm. He blinked slowly and took an unsteady step back, getting himself back under control. Putting some space between us again.

I was still puzzled, but now he was standing back from me I could get a decent look at him - and man he looked good tonight. He wasn't in his usual attire, but strangely jeans and a T-Shirt. The jeans hugged every curve of his legs and hips. God I couldn't stop looking at him. His T-Shirt was black and snug, showing off his broad chest and muscled arms, his dark brown, almost black, hair was loose around his shoulders and he smelled divine. Oh dear God, I had to force myself not to go to him.

He smiled slowly at me, picking up on my emotions, noticing the way my eyes lingered over his body. He reached out and stroked my face, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. Then he simply turned away and went and sat behind his desk. I was left breathless and unhinged by the exchange, unable to get a clear thought through my head.