Reign of the Vampires (8 page)

* * * *

Danika was working in her study when the desk phone rang.

“Lord Danika, the Regency House van has just pulled up.”

“Thank you. Please bring the humans up and send for Doc and Mr. and Mrs. Jankowski.”

“Yes, m’lord.”

Danika set down her phone. Mason wouldn’t be with them, but she was nervous nonetheless. If she got this wrong, she wouldn’t be the only one who suffered. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if anything happened to Sinya and the baby.

A shadow stood near her dresser.
“It’s you and me, Kitten. Now and forever.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It wasn’t real. He wasn’t real.

There was a knock.

“Enter.” She stood, shaking off the bad memories.

Two guards from Regency House as well as Siad led in the humans. Whitey had his hands shoved deep in his pockets. Ike’s eyes darted back and forth, taking everything in.

“Whitey, it’s nice to see you again.” Danika motioned for the guards to remove his shackles. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, thank you.” Whitey took in the entire room. His hands shook as the guard removed his handcuffs.

“You will address the coven lord as master or my lord at all times,” said one of the guards.

Whitey blanched and then swallowed. “My lord.”

“I think we are good here.” Danika dismissed the guards with a wave and waited for them to leave before turning to Whitey again. “Have you ever been in a Vampire’s home before, Whitey?”

“No, my lord.”

“Have you ever met a Vampire before?”

Whitey shook his head. “I’ve only seen them.”

Danika nodded. “Do you know the difference between a minion and a slave?”

“No, my lord.”

“A slave is a human who serves his master and is subject to the collar, or the bracelet, like you’re wearing. That bracelet or collar ensures that the slave cannot run away. There is also a blood bonding, since you will be my personal slave. We will transfer blood, you and I. This will give us a connection that will allow you to experience my feelings and needs. You’ll be the closest person to me as long as you’re mine. The exchange of blood also allows your life to extend so that you can be with me longer. A minion is a vamp or vampyr assistant. Minions do not have a tracking device, they have rights as a citizen and may exchange blood with the Vampire to whom they are in service, but it’s optional. Do you have any questions?”

“Yes,” he managed to whisper. “Does it hurt?” Whitey’s handsome, boyish face looked confused and overwhelmed. He swallowed hard again, and she thought he might pass out.

“No. It’s very pleasurable for you. It will take three times of us trading blood for the bond to be completed. We’ll do it over a three-day period so your body can take the mingling of bloods.”

“When?”

Danika crossed to her desk and leaned back against it, folding her arms over her chest. She’d planned on starting right away, but she got the feeling it might be too much for Whitey. “Most Vampires do it right away. But since you haven’t been a willing participant in this, we can start with giving you a bracelet and then make the change when we’re sure it’ll work out.”

She turned to Ike. He wasn’t fragile. He wouldn’t need time to accept his new position. He’d need to be put under the bond tonight to make him comply.

Sinya and Lance walked in, followed by Doc. Danika smiled and motioned for them to come over. “Lance, Sinya, this is Ike. He is a fifty-five-year-old human marine, and I believe he will serve your needs. He’s already acquired most of the skills needed for a guardian. However, anything he doesn’t know, I’m sure you, Sinya, can teach him.”

“Thank you, Lord, this is a most generous gift that will be most beneficial to both Sinya, as well as myself.”

Danika rounded her desk and began to return emails and calls while Doc gave both humans a thorough check up. An hour later, Doc pronounced them healthy and ready to work. Lance and Sinya left with Ike.

Danika looked over Whitey, who still stood with his hands shoved deep in his pockets. They weren’t at the office, and she had no intention of going in today. The best thing to do was show him around the house.

“Come, Whitey, let us take a stroll, and I’ll show you where everything is.” He rubbed his wrist where Doc had put his bracelet on. “You’ll get used to it,” she said. “And hopefully you won’t need it for too long.”

Whitey nodded.

Danika walked out into the corridor and toward the room that had been Xenock’s. Her throat went dry as she unlatched the lock. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open, ready to see, yet again, an image of Xenock. She sighed when she didn’t see him.

“This will be your room. You may do with it as you wish.”

She swallowed back the dryness, remembering the last time she’d been in it. Whitey inspected everything in turn. A full-size bed waited in the middle, with many pillows and a plush, dark comforter on top. There was a honey-colored nightstand with gold inlay, which her father had brought over from Russia, and a dresser and wardrobe to match. Heavy drapes framed a large picture window, but they’d been opened to let in the moonlight. A bathroom stood off to the side.

After several minutes, she continued with the tour, through the dining hall, study, library, kitchen, game room, and Doc’s office. Whitey’s eyes stayed wide and his mouth hung slightly open by the time they finished.

“Since you’re my personal slave you won’t be in the barracks with the rest of the house slaves. The bracelet on your wrist will prevent you from leaving the grounds. Should you try to run and escape, the bracelet will emit an electrical charge that will intensify the further away you get from the receiver I carry on me. Up to ten miles.”

“What happens at ten miles?”

“Your heart explodes. Or so I am told.” She shrugged. “I cannot know what this is like for you. But I’m a fair person. I do no ill to those who do me none. As long as you are in my service, I will treat you with respect. But in return, I expect your complete loyalty, as well as your willingness to learn and be the best you can. Will you do this for me, Whitey?”

“William.”

“I’m sorry?”

“My name is William. They called me Whitey as a nickname because I am so pale. But my real name is William.”

“Very well.” She nodded in approval. “William, will you do this for me?”

“Yes, Lord Danika, I will do my best.”

“I have some work to finish up, and I’m sure that you’ve had a stressful few days. Why don’t you take a shower, pick out something to wear. Grab a bite to eat if you’re hungry, then come and meet me in my rooms. I have a few phone calls for you to make.” She headed to her room. When she reached her door, she turned. He hadn’t moved. “Are you all right?”

“Aren’t you going to... I mean... Aren’t there any guards?”

Danika pointed to his wrist. “The bracelet, remember? Unless you give me a reason not to trust you, I do. Now, go, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

“Yes, my lord.”

She watched William disappear into his room. The bands of tension about her decision loosened. She stood in the hall waiting for Xenock’s mocking smile, but he didn’t appear.

She turned the knob to her room. Now she just needed to find out the fate of her more expensive prize.

Chapter
6

Mason sat on his bed, changed and washed, when three Vampires led by a vampyr dressed in black approached his cell. They stood between six foot two and six foot four. The tallest was an inch or so shorter than Mason and he easily had fifty pounds on all of them. Mason and the squad sized each other up. Their faces were calm and unreadable, but their eyes said volumes. Mason’s beast roared at the nearness of them. He wanted out and he wanted to exact revenge for the things that had been done to him. Mason squeezed his fists shut trying to stave off the mounting anger.

“Oh wonderful, you were able to make it.” Clive sauntered across the courtyard, his shoes clicking on the cement floor as he neared them. “Let me open the door.” He punched in the code and stepped aside. The man in front, a vampyr with long, light hair, and the telltale light blue eyes of a vampyr, stepped forward. His face was chiseled and hard.

“Collar.” He flicked his tongue over his protruding short fangs and put his hand out. A second man handed over the black, metal-looking dog collar. Mason recognized it. It was the same as the one Clive had taken off him the hour before. His fists squeezed closed harder.

“I am Neeman. I’m in charge of the Tracking Squad. We’re the elite guard of the Vampire society. You’ve been given to us for the next thirty days to train. Your new master has paid quite a lot of money and is highly regarded by both myself and our entire society. That is why we made this break from protocol and agreed to train you. You will come with us and learn what we teach you. If you don’t comply, there will be consequences. You’ll wear this collar until we deliver you to your new master. Do you understand?”

Mason nodded. What he wanted to say was,
Screw you!
But he didn’t because getting out of this fight alive would not be an easy task. So he would wait until the time was right, and then he’d strike and kill as many of them as possible before winning his freedom. But to do that he’d need to take them one at a time, or at least fewer than four of them. They were too strong as a unit.

Neeman raised the collar. Mason’s temperature rose and he fought to keep the anger out of him as the skin on his back stretched and moved.

Neeman neared, and then stopped, his eyes narrowing. He moved forward again and quick as lightning clicked the collar shut on Mason’s throat. Mason swallowed hard. The collar was thick, but not as uncomfortable as others he’d worn.

“Follow me,” Neeman commanded. He strode from the cell and down the courtyard, leaving Mason and the Vampires behind.

Mason blew out a breath and unclenched his fists. He stepped out of his cell humming his ancient chant.

* * * *

Danika had slept without nightmares for the second day in a row. The renewed energy refreshed her mind and body. She felt like feeding again, but decided to wait. Too much too fast led to as many problems as not feeding enough.

The evening before she’d eased William into his duties. He’d been scared as a rabbit in a trap, but he’d made the calls, followed the instructions, and got it done. For now, that was enough.

She walked to William’s room and knocked. The door swung inward.

“Good evening.” He bowed. His eyes were tinged with red. Puffy bags swelled underneath. The new schedule would take some getting used to. Slaves and minions were sometimes needed during daylight hours, as well as sundown hours. When Vampires took over a year after the outbreak, the new workday switched from sunlight to moonlight hours. Midnight was the new noon.

“Good evening, William, I have a business meeting and a package that’ll be arriving at the office. After it does, we need to come home so I can deal with it.” She walked down the hallway toward the stairs.

The house was a bustle. Vampires said their goodbyes to their mates as minions and slaves rushed around to collect any last-minute items their masters needed. The house slaves were already set about their work cleaning. Cars lined up outside with drivers waiting to deliver their patrons. Everyone stopped to say hello to Danika, and eye William as she advanced to her vehicle.

“Evening, Lord Danika.” Paul bowed.

“Paul, this is William. He’s my new assistant, and you’ll take him anywhere I should send him.”

“Very good, m’lord.” Paul nodded to William.

Danika slid into the backseat of the sedan and moved over to allow William in. Her phone rang and she pushed the button on her Bluetooth.

“Chase, you’re out dark and early this evening.”

“I came in to check on a few accounts and happened to notice that your personal account had a major withdrawal yesterday. I wanted to make sure everything was all right.”

“Yes, everything is fine, thank you for checking.”

“Do you mind telling me what you needed to withdraw over ten million dollars for yesterday?”

“You told me to purchase a new slave. I did.”

Chase sucked in a breath and Danika rolled her eyes. As if he hadn’t already heard the news.

“Danika? Ten million dollars for a slave?”

“Three.”

“What do you need three slaves for?” His voice held a condescending tone.

It was like trying to convince her father that she
did
need a new toy. “Two were for me. An assistant and a guardian. The other I bought as a baby present for Lance and Sinya.”

“A guardian? Nika, are you in trouble?” Chase’s voice softened.

Danika massaged her brow. She didn’t want to go into it with Chase. He’d think her suspicions were silly that Xenock hadn’t been working alone when he’d attacked her. And she wasn’t about to tell him of her nightmares and visions of Xenock.

“My position is becoming more and more public, Chase. There are other lords who I’m sure would be more than happy to have me out of the way. That and with my ever-increasing appellate duties, I need more protection.”

Chase was silent for a moment. “I agree, but ten million dollars? I wonder whom in the world you had to bid against.”

“Garon.” She glanced over at William. He stared out the window. She wasn’t used to people overhearing her private conversations. It was something they’d both have to get used to.

“How did you find that out?”

“Non-private auction.”

“Danika! That was very unwise. And bidding against Lord Garon is even more unwise.” His Russian accent had become heavy, as it did every time her uncle got upset. He’d spent hundreds of years trying to rid himself of it, but anger tended to bring it out in him. He sighed. “Can I assume then the auction had something to do with the memo I received this morning, stating that you’ve authorized the delivery company to charge us for his shipping for the next six months.”

“I wanted to keep this personal, but unfortunately I was unable to.”