The Brethren Of Tavish [Vampire Coven Book 1] (15 page)

Tavish equally enjoyed strolling in the sun.
His kind killed mostly at night under the cover of darkness in the early years.
It didn’t mean they couldn’t walk in the sunshine, it just meant they weren’t
stupid enough to kill in broad daylight. Perpetuating this myth, of sunlight
being harmful to vampires, had been an effective way to cover any daytime
blunder. Tavish had liked it best when humans stopped believing in
vampires
altogether and passed them off as myths and
fairytales. Now it didn’t matter. Vampires ruled the world.

It had been an enlightening experience to
humans in years gone past just how much their myths had aided in a vampire’s survival.
With Lord Byron’s Fragment of a Novel in the early nineteenth century Tavish
had shrugged the book off, thinking it interesting though inconsequential.
Tavish had taken great delight in Bram Stoker’s Dracula story. Like some
things, a fairy tale can be based on a modicum of truth. Then again, it set all
the silly little myths in motion. Because Tavish was so old, the new theories
were highly entertaining and amusing at the time.

A vampire wasn’t suddenly struck evil when he
was turned. They still had the flesh of a human being. Galf had been quite handsome
and Tavish had witnessed his father’s success with the ladies. Tavish still
lived, laughed and loved. Killing your food wasn’t heartless. He considered
himself a higher evolved species. If he were to cease to exist, his brethren
would not die. His men would not be crippled. Tavish had given them the skills
and memories to survive.

The pandemonium in the first years of the ice
age aided Tavish’s endeavors. Flocking to churches had only corralled humans
easier. Holy water was just wet. A stake through the heart killed, but only in
aiding to remove the heart completely. Even a vampire needed a heart, which was
irksome considering it only beat once occasionally to remind them at one time
they were human. That was why they needed the blood. A vampire could no longer
make their own. It still needed to flow through their veins, to push that one
sporadic irritating beat harder and
function
their
limbs and brains.

With each new victim came cell memory for the
short time their blood flowed. It was what enabled vampires to see the memories
of their victims. Without human blood a vampire would be rendered completely
emotionless, mindless killers. That was why they were so dangerous when
starved. It was in a human’s best interest to feed a vamp’s emotions.
Especially the emotion of compassion.
It was why his
vampires treated the humans so compassionately. Their thoughts, their cell
memory was innocent and pure. It kept his men even-tempered and grounded.

Tavish took Jarrod by the arm. Jarrod didn’t
resist or struggle, but Tavish heard him sob once then quiet. When they landed
over the wall, Tavish released Jarrod, thrusting him from him. He stumbled but
recovered quickly. Most ice dwellers were sure footed, for survival reasons.

“You’re free to leave,” Tavish said.

Jarrod looked surprised then suspicious.
“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”
Tavish was no longer
smiling. He kept his expression blank. He could hear Druid’s approach. “There
are creatures in this world crueler than myself or my men. But if you don’t
want my protection, then I won’t give it. Just remember, the choice is yours.
Either way you’ll live with the consequences. How long you live is up to you.”

“Oh no,” Jarrod whispered.
“Oh—no.”

Tavish knew Druid was directly behind him.
Jarrod was watching the animal, wide-eyed and horror-stricken, past his shoulder.
The animal wouldn’t attack just yet. He would wait to see if this was a human
that was being introduced, or was one for feeding on. A noise caught Jarrod’s
attention and Tavish thought the man might faint when Lucile made her presence
known. Lovel stalked into the small clearing followed by Rhino. All of the
Anivamps wore their white eyes. Their fangs had grown and looked impressive.

“Well?” Tavish said.

The pounding of Jarrod’s heart filled Tavish’s
ears. Tears now ran in rivers down the man’s pale face. He had his mouth open,
but no sound emerged for long moments. He just kept turning around and around
as the creatures stalked him. Druid growled when Tavish made no attempt to
introduce them and no warning growl was returned in challenge. Lovel had his
lips pulled back and his teeth so exposed he looked like he was all fangs.
Lucile beat on her chest. The echoing pound of Jarrod’s heartbeat almost
matched the intensity of the huge beast. Rhino must have been rolling in dirt
because when he snorted, dust rolled from his nose making it look like he could
breathe fire.

“No,” Jarrod wept.

“No what?” Tavish asked. “No you don’t want to
leave? No you don’t want me to stay?”

“Don’t—leave—me.”

“Don’t think for a second you won’t be cast out
if I hear you have disobeyed me again.”

“I won’t,” Jarrod whispered. His entire body
was racked with quivers. Tavish was surprised he was still able to stand.

“I won’t what?” Tavish said.

Jarrod lifted his face and met Tavish’s gaze.
Defeat was written all over him as the Anivamps closed in. “I won’t disobey you
again, Master. Please help me.”

Satisfied, Tavish gripped Jarrod and took to
the sky. He viciously sank his fangs into Jarrod’s neck. Jarrod whimpered, but
there was no fight in him. Every frightening image Tavish brought from his memories
was embedded into Jarrod’s mind. Tavish wouldn’t have a man near him who might
sneak up behind his back. He wanted Jarrod too terrified to try anything. Never
again would Jarrod tell his little cub she should be dead.

Tavish didn’t kill him, but he took a great
deal of his blood. There was a certain taste that flavored blood when a victim
was terrified. Normally Tavish wasn’t fond of it. But as he sucked harder he
found enjoyment this time. The only reason he hadn’t left Jarrod to fend for
himself was because of Mercy. He knew there was no way Jarrod would turn her
against him. He also knew Mercy would be heartbroken if Tavish killed him. But
the words Jarrod had used with her enraged Tavish.

How dare the man tell
his
Mercy she should be dead? She was too good to be related to
this bastard. Senseless killing of human toward human was reprehensible. Didn’t
they realize they needed one another?
Especially now, in this
era, to survive?
When a vampire killed a human, it was for food. They
tried not to kill humans otherwise. Once a human was gone there would be no
more blood from it, ever. When a vampire killed a vampire, it was for the
preservation of food. Humans killed humans from cruelty. They fed their own
dark sides.

Each drop of Jarrod’s blood grew sweeter with
Tavish’s victory. Jarrod slumped in his arms. There was no resistance left, and
at that moment Tavish planted an image so horrifying into Jarrod’s thoughts of
what would happen if he disobeyed, he would have many a sleepless night. Tavish
would remove the image only if and when he was satisfied of Jarrod’s humble
obedience. When he finished, he brought Jarrod to Caine and dumped him on a
bed.

“Don’t give him anything but plain water when
he wakes,” Tavish ordered. “I want him to recover on his own. Clean the wound
but keep it uncovered. Every time he looks into a mirror I want him reminded of
our meeting.”

Caine smiled wryly. “I suppose he’ll wake
screaming.”

“You can remind him he’s lucky to wake at all.”
Tavish left.

Chapter 8

Mercy was pacing Tavish’s room. After she had
calmed down, she returned to the hall to try and once more reason with her stubborn
cousin. No one at the table would answer her questions. Tanya sat grinning at
her, Tate looked uncomfortable. When she noted both Tavish and Jarrod were gone
Mercy was livid. She remembered Tavish’s threat of reprimand and wondered just
what that entailed. Mercy thought her heart would fall to her feet when Tavish
swaggered into the bedroom looking very satisfied. Mercy raced to him.

“What did you do with him?” she whispered in
terror.

“With
who
?” he asked
innocently. “Oh, you mean Jarrod?”

“Yes,” she practically howled.

“I showed him around. Let him get to know the
perimeters.
The boundaries.”

“Where is he?” Mercy asked suspiciously. She
felt herself pale.
“Oh no, Tavish, not the Anivamps.”

“Let’s just say he won’t be too eager to be
leaving. In all fairness, I gave him a choice.”

“Some choice,” she muttered.

Tavish scowled. “I thought you liked being
here, with me. No one has abused you. I would never hurt you. Jarrod never
should have spoken to you like that. He’s lucky to be alive after his words of
treason.”

Mercy relaxed realizing Tavish was being
protective. She realized she had hurt Tavish’s feelings. She didn’t want that.
Tavish was right; Jarrod should have kept his opinions to himself. He was her
cousin after all. He should care for her at least a little. That he hadn’t
cared about her emotions had hurt. “Is Jarrod okay?”

“He’ll be fine. We got to know one another,”
Tavish said then smiled so sinisterly Mercy repressed a shudder.

Mercy knew exactly what he meant. She went and
sat on the bed. She knew Jarrod was more than likely sucked close to death and
no doubt treated to a few images he would rather forget. She hoped Tavish hadn’t
scared him stupid. Jarrod was a follower. He would have followed her father
into death. Either Tavish had terrified him into hiding the moment he appeared
or Jarrod would be wandering after Tavish singing his praises. One never knew
with Jarrod.

Tavish came and sat beside her on the bed. He
stroked back a lock of her hair. “Do you like being with me even a little?”

Mercy was surprised he would even ask. She
thought for sure he knew she loved him. She felt contrite—she had hurt him and
she felt horrible. You could only truly hurt someone if they cared for you. Her
heart filled with joy; he must love her at least a little.

“I love being here with you.” She lifted her
hand and fingered his hair.

Tavish leaned closer and kissed her. He tasted
like the fine wine he had let her try. His private stock was filled with all
kinds of bottles. He had thousands of bottles of wines and hard liquors in a
basement that ran the length of the house. Mercy had loved the fireball. She
had loved tasting it on his lips. Tavish knew she hated the flavor of blood on
him. He must have swished his mouth out.

When Tavish fondled her breasts she moved
closer. She knew he had satisfied his blood craving, but she hoped he wasn’t
too gorged to take from her and share more of his memories. Through him, she
was treated to fascinating sites. Beautiful stone mountains called pyramids
reached to the blue sky.
Humans dwelling in houses and
skyscrapers.
Sunrises and sunsets off every coast.
History was a fascinating subject and she couldn’t get enough of his knowledge.

It was so interesting to learn of ancestors who
lived in the sunshine. What she wouldn’t give to ride a creature called a horse
or a camel. Elephants and mammoths were a marvel.
Creatures
so different and yet so much alike.
Like humans and vampires. Amazing
wonders had belonged to a world above ground, surrounded in warmth.

“Teach me more,” she whispered.

Tavish chuckled. “So you can live vicariously
through me?”

“Show me the coliseum again, please.
With the chariots and men fighting lions.
Show me the
beautiful gowns women wore to castle balls. The dances, oh Tavish, show me the
dances. And then sing me to sleep. Your voice is breathtaking.”

He grinned at her cockily and she knew he had
forgiven her for hurting him. “I’ll show you what I can as quickly as I can. Later
tonight while you sleep you can dream of the places slower. All you need to do
is give yourself to me. I can make certain the images are planted. It will be
like you went there with me.”

“I would like that. I want to be with you.”
When his memories came, it was as though she was there. He would wrap her in
his arms and point out beautiful images, much more clear than picture books.
Tavish had many books she had looked through. None were as impressive as his
memories.

“What else would you like?”

Mercy wouldn’t ask to see Jarrod. The man had
to obey the laws to live, or choose not to and die. Mercy wanted to live. After
so many restrictions, she didn’t care about the cost. She had already paid the
price with twenty-two years of her life. Yes, she had been loved, but there was
so much more to existing amidst words. She wanted a child or children. Tavish
would take care of them long after she was dust in a grave. That thought made
her frown.

“What is it?” Tavish asked
,
crease lines furrowed his brow in a way she loved.