The Chalice (Luna Vampire Series) (24 page)

             
"No, Lucien, you'd merely be in trouble instead," Amelia objected.  "It would've been better to come up with something else in the first place.  A plan that didn't include grand larceny."

             
"Desperate times, require desperate measures," I quipped, scorn deepening my voice. 
I mean, they should be thanking me rather than complaining.  With reliable transportation and money, we could travel in comfort basically anywhere our hearts desired.

             
"The problem is," Lucien groaned, exhaling and unclenching his fists.  "The king has men planted within law enforcement organizations throughout all the major cities in Kansas.  We can be sure that he's been informed of an unusual bank robbery in Lawrence, effectively painting a bull's-eye on our location.  And, if the vehicle you procured has been reported stolen, we can presume that he'll suspect the type of car we'll be driving."

             
Not good, I hadn't realized my activities could bring dear old daddy in our direction.  Damn.
  "Okay, I see your point.  And, maybe, well, maybe I messed up.  Either way, I'll discuss stuff with you guys
first
next time."  Stopping to survey the pair, I was relieved to see their tension easing.  "Consequences aside, we have to deal with this.  And, seeing that it's dark now, let's use the car to drive into Kansas City.  Once there, we can get a hotel and reevaluate things.  We can dump the car in another part of town and the city's large enough that, if we check in under a fake name, we'll be able to hide for several days."

             
"I like that idea," Amelia agreed, smiling tenuously.  "Room service food sounds wonderful."

             
Lucien nodded.  "Yes, it'll work.  I think we should stay in the Missouri side of the city, assuming that the person behind the assassination attempt isn't from sector three.  It'll make finding you more of a challenge, since the other vamps will need to obtain Lord Eric's permission in order to enter his territory."

             
"Unless they discover where I am and hunt me down without it," I interjected skeptically.  "C'mon, why would they abide by the rules in this instance when they blatantly broke them in the king's own home?"

             
"Trespassing on another vampire's lands is an overt act," Lucien reasoned.  "Moreover, it's grounds for war.  On the other hand, sending a human to assassinate you can be hidden and the punishment's likely to only result in the death of the assassin.  You're correct, though, whoever is after you might ignore traditional vampire protocol."

             
"Whatever, I guess Missouri's fine with me.  Truthfully, I don't care where we stay as long as it's not this torturous icebox."
  For real, the ditch sucked.
  Despite being back for less than an hour, my lumbar area was already beginning to throb.

             
Once they'd both agreed, we slowly crawled from the culvert into the starlit night.  I'd parked the car on a gravel road a short hike away, hoping it'd be less conspicuous than the shoulder of the interstate.  Schlepping along, each of us were absorbed in our own wordless uncertainty, until the shiny black paint job and the dark tinted windows came into view.

             
"Nice ride," Amelia mused in an effort at breaking the awkward silence.

             
"Yeah," Lucien quipped, curling his lips into a sneer.  "I hope it doesn't have LoJack."

             
"Oh, quit being so negative!"  Totally annoyed by his attitude, I resentfully punched at the remote on the key ring and unlocked the doors.  "Get in, I'm driving."

             
"Sorry," he replied in a slightly brighter tone as he marched around to ride shotgun.

             
Abstaining from our squabble, Amelia quietly arranged herself in the back seat, immediately noticing the briefcase.  "Is this the cash?" she asked, tapping her fingers on the top of its leather exterior.

             
Slamming my door shut, I glanced at her through the rearview mirror.  "Yep, you can count it while we drive, if you want."

             
"Okay, that way we'll know what your life's worth," she chided.  However, when I didn't reply, she nervously added, "Just trying to make light of the situation, sorry."  Then she popped open the briefcase's latch and started counting.

             
As we drove, the only sound came from the shuffling of money.
Sadly, I'd figured we'd be having a ball by this point.  I'd solved several of our major problems.  And, sure, I get it that they oppose my methods, but they still should've given me a teensy bit of credit.  At least I'd acted proactively...

             
"You're appreciated and loved,"
Lucien thought to me, obviously overhearing my private contemplations.  He also sent along a vision of him squeezing me into a bear hug.

             
"Seriously, you're becoming as bad about invading my mind as, well, uh, the guy I'm not gonna name.  Mister sector six,"
I responded testily.
 
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Lucien's sentiment.  Nonetheless, sometimes a girl needs to vent without receiving commentary from the peanut gallery.

             
He
Lucien
sniggered faintly. 
"I apologize, girlie.  In the future, I'll attempt to keep my ruminations to myself."

             
"So, um, can you hear all my thoughts?"

             
"Mostly, although, with effort I can ignore you."

             
God, at least I could keep
sector six
at bay by avoiding speaking or thinking his name.
  "Is it normally like this between maker and makee?"

             
"I've never heard of a connection so intense.  It's your power, Luna.  It bleeds through our bond."

             
Sighing, I slumped forward slightly, not knowing how to respond.  Luckily, I didn't really need to because we'd finally reached our destination, the Hyatt Regency at crown center. 
And, yeah, I chose some posh digs.  But why not?  I'd just robbed a bank for god's sake.  If there ever was a time to live a little...

             
"We have eighteen thousand, five hundred and sixty dollars," Amelia announced with a loud snap of the briefcase's hinges.

             
"Enough to stay here!" I bubbled, parking us in the loading zone at the main doors.  "See, aren't you glad we've got cash?  No more sleeping in the cold, no more driving rickety old trucks..."

             
"Yes, it's much better," Amelia replied, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.  "That being said, if Tsedaka catches us, I'll wish we were still in the gutter.  I wouldn't trade your life for all the luxuries in the world."

             
Lucien leaned over and squeezed my hand.  "Neither would I, girlie.  Nevertheless, I do agree that this is a welcomed improvement from the drainage ditch."

             
"Good.  Now, I don't have a driver's license to check in with, but I think I can push the illusion of one into the front desk attendant's head.  If not, I'll grease the wheels with a pile of the green stuff."  Pausing, I reached into the back seat and grabbed hold of the briefcase.  "You guys should wait in the car.  If my plan goes wrong, we'll need to blaze out of here."

             
"I'd prefer accompanying you," Lucien remarked.  "However, they're searching for three of us which means that you going in alone may be the more prudent option.  Plus, I'll be capable of monitoring your progress mind to mind and, if anything happens..."

             
"Oh, it'll be fine.  I can always stop the flow as a backup."

             
Then, on the heels of my cohorts hesitantly wishing me luck, I sauntered into the warm lobby.  I'd forever dreamed of staying in a fancy schmancy hotel, complete with bellhops and butt-kissing.  All things considered, though, I'd never had the money to do it. 
I can't believe I actually robbed a bank, a freaking bank!  Some vampire stuff was pretty damn cool!  It'd be a virtually flawless life if not for the eavesdroppers, the blood cravings, and the need to hide from assholes like Tsedaka.

             
Fortunately, everything went as expected at the front desk.  I told the check-in woman my name was Sandy Smith, nice and normal sounding, supplying her with a vision of my driver's license in corroboration.  And, within minutes, she'd handed me keys to the presidential suite and even put my fictitious credit card on file for incidentals. 

             
I had so much control over the woman that, although I paid, it wasn't a necessity.  I could've easily lied to the her about, well, essentially anything, and she would've accepted it as truth. 
I'd have to watch myself carefully with this ability.  It was unfair to steal another person's free will.  In emergencies, yes.  For fun, no.

             
The ramifications of vamp power abuse notwithstanding, my emotions were riding high as I approached the car.  "I did it!" I exclaimed as my cohorts jumped out with worry lining their faces.  "C'mon guys, no more nail-biting.  I landed us a room, easy as pie.  Just breathe."

             
"I'll find time for that when we're safe," Lucien grumbled.  "For the moment, you should go inside with Amelia.  I'll lose the car and rejoin you once I'm finished."

             
Reluctantly, I handed him a plastic key card, not looking forward to the muddled feelings that would inevitably be caused by our separation.  "Are you sure?  I could get her settled and come with you?"

             
"No, it's best for you to remain in the room," he cautioned, snatching the car keys from my grasp.  "They might've distributed your picture.  We've got no way of knowing for certain.  And quit stressing, girlie, I'll be back in a flash."

             
"Well, be careful then," I grunted, trying to act unconcerned as I about-faced and strode toward the hotel's entrance.

             
Amelia followed and before I knew it, we'd taken the elevator to the top floor where we found our extravagant set of rooms.  A black baby grand piano was an ostentatious centerpiece to the living area, surrounded by swanky red and gold furniture.  Large floor to ceiling windows, providing a spectacular view of the night sky and the city lights, covered the far wall.  To the right and left, there were doors leading to bedrooms with fluffy beds, flat screen TV's, and private Jacuzzi tubbed bathrooms. 
It sorta reminded me of high court except it lacked the goth vampire vibe.

             
Collapsing onto my bed, I allowed the soft comforter and hand-embroidered pillows to absorb my weight, closing my eyes in relief. 
Thank god!  I'm gonna sleep good tonight! 
After a few seconds, I looked up and noticed Amelia's uneasy stance in my doorway.  "You can order a snack from room service," I reassured.  "You gotta be starving.  The woman at the front desk said the menu's over here, on the bedside table."

             
Tentatively, she approached and retrieved the menu.  Several minutes of studying it later, she picked up the phone that was conveniently positioned beside it.  "You want me to order you food as well?"

             
Completely ravenous, I readily agreed.  Even so, I highly doubted food would satiate the severity of my needs.  Sigh.
  "Um, yeah, a hamburger, a large Mountain Dew, and their most chocolatey dessert.  Also, remember to order extra for Lucien.  He'll have to eat as well."

             
With this in mind, she called in our order and then flopped onto the corner of the bed when she'd finished.  "Luna," she mumbled, scrunching her button nose nervously.  "I'm unsure how to say this, um, or if I
should
say this..."

             
"Look, I want you to speak openly.  I won't be offended, no matter the topic."
  For real, would I ever understand the girl?  Sometimes she'd complain and disagree; other times she'd go all sheepish and scared. 

             
"Well, I can see how close you and Lucien have become since his change," she began, inspecting me intently with her scared eyes.  "And it's to be expected, but you must keep it in perspective."  Timidly, she glanced down at her lap.  "It's merely that, oh god, I shouldn't."  Abruptly halting, she waved her hands emphatically in the air while her freckled cheeks grew bright red.

             
"Come on, spit it out," I huffed. 
Dealing with her apprehensiveness was frustrating as hell.
 
What'd she think I'd do, beat her?
 
As if!  I wasn't creepy old Tsedaka
.

             
"Sorry, Luna, I'm confused because I promised Lord Ad..."

             
"Nope, don't say it," I interrupted, not permitting her to finish.  "Don't speak his name.  I'm not giving him the chance to barge in on me again, not today.  And, seeing that we both comprehend who you're referring to, go ahead, continue.  Just avoid using his name."