Sire (12 page)

"Okay," Caitlin said. "So she made you an offer, and showed you what vampire — what, society? — is all about. Is that when you said yes?"

"I never said yes, Caitlin. I never got the chance.

"I was part of the in crowd, then. Because of Angelica. Especially at Indigo. They treated me like family there, like I was a real big deal, and people wanted to be around me because of it. My roommate, Eric, and his sister Sarah would come out with us. They liked the special treatment, the attention.

"Liam caught Sarah's eye. She wanted to get to know him, she said, and I was such a big shot, I told her I'd make it happen." His face clouded, and he was quiet for a moment. "I introduced her to the man that killed her." His voice was thick.

"I didn't know what Liam was. I mean, I knew he was a vampire. But I didn't know that he was so ... cruel. Eric did. He knew right away that Liam was trouble. He confronted me about it, but I blew him off. He asked me to talk to Liam, to make sure his little sister was okay. Liam told me that Eric was just being an overprotective brother. I thought that settled it.

"And then Sarah died.

"She just dropped off the face of the earth. One night, she said she was going out, and she never came home. We looked everywhere for her. Filed a police report. But she was gone. Vanished. Into thin air.

"Eric ... Eric almost lost his mind. I went to Angelica, and she told me that she'd look into it. I waited for a week to hear from her."

"What did she say?" Caitlin asked.

"'I'm sorry.' Just 'I'm sorry.'

"I was furious. I screamed at her until my voice was raw, and she just stood there and took it. Then I asked her what she was going to do to him, and she said that he would answer for his crimes."

Michael laughed bitterly. "They brought him before the council, on the charges of killing a human. And he admitted it. With a smile. With pride. Told them that he was a hunter, and that he had hunted, and that was just the way of nature."

"What did the council do?"

"Liam is powerful. And popular. Politically, he's almost as strong as Angelica. And the council ... the council
fined
him. Ten pieces of gold was the price of a human life. A few thousand dollars."

"Oh my God!" Caitlin said.

"Yeah."

"And then?"

"That's when I told Eric the truth. The whole truth, from start to finish. And we decided to do something. Me and Eric, and Sarah's roommate, Morgan. We decided to kill Liam."

"What happened?"

"We failed. We ran. They got away, but I was caught. Because Angelica had had my blood, she always knew where I was.

"There was a trial, the same council that slapped Liam on the wrist. They sentenced me to death.

"But Angelica overruled them. She had the authority to commute my sentence, and instead of being killed, she said that I would be reborn. She tried to spin it by saying that she was turning me into what I had tried to destroy, but I know that she thought she was doing me a favor."

"How did it happen?" Caitlin asked in a hushed voice.

"The blood. Her blood. A little will heal you. A lot will addict you. But too much ... too much and you become one of them.

"And it does things to you. She has power over me, she can get in my head. Because she made me, and her blood is inside me. When she gives me a command, I can't resist. Can't say no. I belong to her. Just like the rest of this damn city."

He gestured around the house. "All of this is hers. I'm a pet, a kept boy. She gives me a house and a car and clothes, and makes me manage one of her hunting grounds. None of this is mine. My life isn't mine. She owns me."

Caitlin opened her mouth to say something, to apologize, to comfort him, but she was interrupted by a voice as soft as a cooing dove, echoing through the room.

"It's interesting to hear that from your perspective, Michael. I never realized how hurt you were over Sarah's death. I am sorry for that. And I'm sorry you feel ... mistreated here. You've never complained about our arrangement before."

Angelica.

***

Michael bolted from his chair and stood between Angelica and Caitlin. Caitlin couldn't see his face, but his fingers were tipped with claws, and the room was filled with a low rumbling sound.

Angelica shook her head and looked up at the ceiling. "Oh, please. Michael, sit down."

Her voice rang with authority. Caitlin could see the tension in Michael's body, see him struggling, but it was a losing battle. After a few seconds, he moved mechanically back to his chair.

Caitlin sat perfectly still. Her heart pounded so loud that it was deafening. She was certain that the vampires could hear it.

Angelica was stunning. The little black dress she wore revealed an acre of perfect skin. Her figure was flawless, trim and taut, but generously curved in all of the right places. A river of dark hair fell over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence. Her full lips were curved into the slightest ironic smile.

Caitlin would have been insanely jealous, if she hadn't been so afraid.

Angelica crossed the room, moving so smoothly it seemed like her feet didn't ever touch the floor. Caitlin thought about running, but that was stupid. Even if she could make her legs move, which didn't seem possible at the moment, Angelica would chase her down in a second.

The vampire stood in front of Caitlin, examining her. Caitlin felt bare, exposed. Angelica reached out a hand, and Caitlin flinched away, but Angelica touched her delicately, and lifted Caitlin's chin. Angelica pouted when she saw Caitlin's unblemished throat, and made a disappointed-sounding noise.

"You're right," she said, turning slightly toward Michael, who was still cemented to his chair. "She is pretty. I can see why Liam went for her."

She turned back to Caitlin. "What he told you is all true. It was an ... unfortunate situation. I really didn't want it to turn out that way.

"Liam's wildness was what attracted me to him in the first place. I was a lot like him, when I sired him. I've learned to adapt, but he's had a hard time adjusting to the modern world. He still sees himself as living outside of society, above the rules. And sometimes he gets off his leash."

"But, I thought you were the Queen or something? Doesn't he have to do what you say?" Caitlin asked. For the most part, she even managed to keep the terror out of her voice.

Angelica smiled. "In theory, yes. In reality, it's a lot more complicated. I'm the most powerful vampire in this city. I'm probably the most powerful vampire in America, except for when the Grandparents come to visit. But I don't rule this city alone. There's an entire council watching over St. Troy. I could kill any of them without breaking a nail ... but I couldn't kill
all
of them."

She looked back at Michael, and she actually looked sad. "And if I did what you asked, if I executed my own Scion for you, that's what I would have had to do."

"But can't you compel him?" Caitlin asked. "Like ... that?" She looked at Michael, still struggling to free himself.

Angelica's lips turned up. "Not for some time now. We grow stronger as we age. Liam has been able to resist my commands for some time.

"He's very popular. Particularly with the younger vampires, but he has his allies on the Council, too. They see his ... strong will as a throwback to the day when vampires ruled from the shadows. Some of them miss the dark ages, I think. Personally, I like being able to take a hot shower whenever I want, but whatever."

She looked down at the floor, like she was remembering something from long ago. "I am sorry, Michael. But even I have limits." Then she looked back up at Caitlin. "Now, as for you ..."

Caitlin's heart jumped up into her throat, and started pounding even harder. Angelica circled her, running her fingers up Caitlin's arm, over her shoulders, and through her hair. Michael growled, but Angelica just laughed. "Oh, shush. I told you, I'm not jealous.

"But you have to realize what she is, Michael. She's beautiful, yes. Her skin is almost flawless, and believe me, Caitlin, I can see flaws you wouldn't see with a microscope. The light shimmers in her hair. Her legs just go on forever." Caitlin's face grew warm when Angelica's eyes lingered over her chest. "She's even got a great rack.

"But she's dying, Michael. She's temporary. In a few years, that perfect skin is going to have wrinkles, and those perky breasts are going to sag. Twenty, thirty years from now, you won't even be able to recognize her. But us? We'll still be here, and we'll still be beautiful. And we'll still be together.

"So here's what we're going to do. Stand up." Michael did as he was commanded. Angelica sauntered over to him and practically poured her body against his. Michael never took his eyes off of Caitlin.

Angelica murmured in his ear, "You can have your little tryst. Befriend her. Make love to her. Feed from her. Whatever gets you off." She nuzzled against Michael's throat. "And I promise you that Liam won't touch her. From this moment on, she is forbidden to him. And I'll tell him that myself, to make sure there aren't any more misunderstandings."

She was still pressed against Michael's body, but she looked back at Caitlin. "But that doesn't change anything between us, Michael. You are still my Scion, and my subject. You still have obligations to me." She reached up behind her neck, and worked the clasp of her dress. The black fabric fell away from her body and fluttered to the floor. "And you will fulfill those obligations."

She threw her head back, tossing her hair out of the way, and looked at Caitlin. "Would you like to watch? I've had centuries to learn my way around a man's body, and I'm sure I can teach you a few things." She ran her fingers inside the neck of Michael's shirt, teasing it away from his skin ... and then tore it off. She stroked his bare chest and made a purring noise. Michael stood as still as a statue, staring straight ahead. Straight at Caitlin.

"Or you could even join us," Angelica continued. I know some things about a woman's body, too. I promise not to bite ... unless you ask me to."

Caitlin just stood there, tears brimming in her eyes, lip trembling.

"No?" Angelica asked. "That's too bad. You really are beautiful, and I'd love to see what you're hiding under all those unnecessary clothes."

Angelica traced a finger down Michael's chest, down his stomach, and hooked her fingers inside the waistband of his jeans. "My driver will see you home." She undid the first button of Michael's pants, and stared at him hungrily.

Then she walked away, her hips swaying with every step, the very picture of self-confident beauty. She stopped in the doorway and glanced back over her shoulder. "Michael, come to bed."

Michael stared hard at Caitlin. Anger shook his body, and his teeth were threatening to become fangs. Caitlin reached out toward him, but didn't touch him.

And then Michael spoke. His words broke Caitlin's heart.

"Yes, my Sire."

Chapter Seven

Caitlin walked out of the mansion, her arms wrapped around herself, fighting to keep it together.

"Where would you like to go, miss?" Angelica's driver asked.

"St. Troy University. The dorms, please." She was able to keep the emotion out of her voice. That was good.

As soon as the car's door closed and she was alone, she broke down. Tears flooded her eyes, and sobs shook her body. She felt so frail, so betrayed. It was crazy, stupid, but that's how she felt. Like Michael had betrayed her.

She wiped her eyes angrily. No, she wasn't going to be one of those girls. She wasn't going to get all emotional about a guy she wasn't even dating. God, he was a
vampire.
What the hell had she been thinking?

This wasn't some dumb movie. He wasn't going to take one look at her and decide that she was his soul mate, and drop everything to make her happy. She had just wandered into his life one night, and despite everything he had done for her, he didn't even really
know
her. He didn't owe her anything.

He certainly didn't owe her fidelity.

Caitlin closed her eyes and leaned back against the (very comfortable) seat, and settled in for the ride home.

The vision hit her like a physical thing.

Michael stood in the center of his bedroom. Caitlin could feel the anger beneath his carefully controlled exterior. Angelica stood before him, shameless and startlingly beautiful. She moved behind him, trailing her fingers along his skin, and massaged his shoulders.

Caitlin gasped when Angelica's fangs sank into Michael's flesh. Fire shot through her shoulder, quickly replaced with a warmth that spread over her like syrup. She felt woozy as the blood ran from the holes in Michael's skin. She could feel the strength in his blood, feel it being taken from him.

Angelica was standing in front of him again, blood staining the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were mischievous, and her smile promised all kinds of forbidden things. But Michael was as unyielding as granite. He couldn't move away from Angelica, but he wouldn't move toward her, either.

Angelica wiped the blood from her mouth and licked her finger, her eyes never leaving Michael's. And then her fangs appeared, and she bit into her own wrist. Crimson flowed down her skin, and she held her hand to Michael's mouth.

Michael resisted, but instinct compelled him. He latched on to Angelica and drank deeply. Angelica moaned.

Caitlin felt the blood enter him. It was the most delicious thing imaginable, tantalizing, impossible to resist. And the strength Michael had lost when Angelica fed was nothing compared to the strength he gained as her essence flowed into him. Hunger built inside of Michael. Caitlin wanted to devour Angelica herself.

Michael's will collapsed. He grabbed Angelica and lifted her into the air, then threw her onto the bed. Angelica rolled over and gazed at him with ravenous eyes. Michael stalked across the room, and then he was on top of her.

Caitlin could feel Angelica's skin, could smell her hair. She could feel her moving against Michael. Moving beneath him.

Angelica raked her nails down Michael back. He grunted, surprised, and Caitlin could feel the pain in her own skin as Michel's tore open. His fangs appeared—Caitlin could feel the change, could feel the animal inside of him taking control—and bit into Angelica's shoulder. Angelica tensed and cried out, then relaxed beneath him.