Claude"s brow furrowed, and for what seemed a long time he focused his gaze on waves edging up the beach on a strong incoming tide. "Don"t get me wrong. I"d like nothing better than to have you forever as my dhampir slave."
"Dhampir?"
"That"s what you"d be. A vampire made from a mortal by the will of a vampire born." Claude paused a moment. "But turning you is not our only option. I can destroy your brother"s enemies if that is what you want. Or I can try to spirit you and your brother somewhere far away, where you"ll never have to worry about the patron or his enforcers again. What is it that you want me to do?"
What did she want, really? Marisa met Claude"s sober gaze, held it, imagining as she did what the rest of her life would be like if she took that fateful step into her Master"s shadow world. Reliving in fast-forward motion the years that already had pa.s.sed her by, her few friends and family members who had gone to their rewards. The smaller number she"d leave behind.
"Marisa?"
"Oh, pardon me. I was thinking. Thinking that if I went with you I"d leave precious little of value behind."
Claude smiled, slipping a hand beneath her elbow to steady her as they climbed the short set of stairs that led to the public parking lot behind The Strip. "I could tell. Now you must tell me. Do we fight or do we run?"
Fight? Run? Those were her choices, weren"t they? One fact stood out, crystal clear. Marisa wanted an eternity with her hero, her vampire lover who offered her freedom when all she wanted was bondage to him, a lifetime to service all his needs while he held her safe from harm. Although he might not agree to do it, she had to ask. "I want to go away. With you. I want to spend a lifetime as your slave. But I must try to get Raul away from the people who turned him from a good boy to a street punk. Could you..."
Claude stroked her hand. "Let me get this right. Are you telling me you want me to turn you and Raul into vampires?"
"Yes." As a vampire, her brother might live for centuries. And if he were a vampire he"d have no need for cocaine. As a mortal in the barrio, he was likely to die much too soon, either by the drugs or by order of the patron.
As though deep in thought, Claude paused and scratched his chin. "I"m not certain I can turn you. As I think I mentioned to you earlier, I"m very young as vampires go-less than a hundred years old. My powers are still developing. Perhaps it would be better if I destroyed all your brother"s enemies then flew you and your brother to Paris, away from potential harm. I know I can do that."
"Oh, I want you to do that first. I want you to use your special powers to destroy the patron so he can never ruin another young life with his evil. Unless...unless by destroying them, you put yourself at risk."
"No mortal is a match for me," Claude said, laughing as if that idea amused him. "Guns and knives have little effect on vampires, and mortals have little or no defense against the simplest of our powers."
"B-but the police? Won"t they chase you to the ends of the earth if you leave a string of bodies littering Miami?" Marisa wouldn"t be able to live with herself if she caused Claude harm.
"If you say the word, the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds will disappear without a trace. I"d never leave bodies littering the beaches. Trust me, I will leave no trail for the police to follow should they miss these vermin, which I doubt will be the case." He grinned then sobered as he met her gaze. "It is your conscience I worry about, little one. Can you live knowing you indirectly caused the deaths of these men?" Claude cupped her chin, made her look at him.
"I do not wish to play G.o.d or ask you to do so if it is against your own conscience," she said slowly. "But for the past five years I have watched the drug peddlers destroying lives, and there seems to be very little anyone can do to stop them. Yes, I know when the patron is gone, another will come in his place. But for a little s.p.a.ce of time, people like my brother may be able to break free of the cycle, conquer their addictions."
"All right. I will try, however, to destroy the threat they pose without ending their miserable lives, for I sense that is what you want."
"Turn me first. Please, Master, let me help you." Marisa couldn"t stand the thought of putting Claude at risk. Vampire or not, he"d be going up against not one but three men-maybe more-who had no conscience and no qualms about committing murder.
"I want to, but I cannot. I told you before. I"ve never turned a mortal." In hushed tones he told her the story of his nephew Stefan killing the woman he loved when he"d tried to turn her, admitting his own fear once more.
"Have you any older vampire friends who would turn me?"
"Not here. If I took you to Paris...but no, we don"t have time for that. Your brother has such a short time left to pay up or die. Normally I could fly you both there through time and s.p.a.ce, but I haven"t regained all my powers since I was injured." He shook his head. "No, that would be much too risky. You don"t know...there are things you"d give up along with your mortality. Things you undoubtedly would miss."
"Yes. I"m sure I will miss some things. The kiss of the noontime sun, the taste of familiar foods, the sense of my own mortality." The words caught in her throat, but she managed to look him in the eye and get them out in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "Not as much, though, as I would miss submitting to my vampire Master. Please, bind me to you for all eternity. If you care to have me as your eternal slave."
"I want nothing more than to take you as my mate. But you must be sure, for once I make you my dhampir slave you can never go back. Never be mortal again." He turned her, held her, made her shiver from the chill of his body as she absorbed the slow, almost undetectable beat of his heart beneath his white polo shirt...the insistent pulsing of his rigid c.o.c.k against her swollen p.u.s.s.y.
All Marisa"s doubts disappeared. This was the Master she wanted. "I am very certain, Master."
Claude frowned, his doubt evident. "If that"s what you truly want, knowing I might fail."
"Yes. That is what I want. Turn me and I will spend an eternity seeing to your every pleasure. Together we will destroy the patron and his henchmen and spirit Raul away. He will be better off anywhere but-"
"Dead? Because that"s what you will be if I try turning you and fail. As dead as Reynard"s victims, only you"ll leave me behind, suffering because I caused your death. Or I could turn you successfully yet inadvertently kill your brother, and you"d hate me for that eternity you"re talking about us spending together. I couldn"t stand that." Claude held her fast, the rising sun over the Atlantic illuminating his face, showing her the depth of his fear, his uncertainty at his ability to do as she asked.
She recognized his dilemma...and her own. "Then let the blame fall on me, for I would rather be dead than live without you. And Raul will die anyhow unless we manage to save him." She paused, hoping...but he said nothing. "This is my car."
Her heart sinking for he simply stared at her, she laid the key in his hand. For a moment she thought she was mistaken, that he did not feel as she did.
"So be it." Claude kissed Marisa hard, driving her fears away before opening the door of the clunker car she"d bought years ago when she first had started dancing at The Strip. "I want you to know I"m doing this because you ask. But also because it is what I want more than anything. I know the elders of my clan would tell me no, to wait, to let you live with me as a vampire for a while before taking this final step. But I feel doing this now is right. For both of us." He slid into the car after her, turning sideways behind the wheel to face her.
Her heart beat faster. She laid her fears to rest when she looked into his deep green eyes that seemed more protective now than dangerous. "I want you for my Master. And I trust you to carry me safely to your vampire world."
Slowly, his long fingers fumbling with each of the b.u.t.tons, he bared her to the waist, bent and laid soft kisses along the skin he"d uncovered. "I welcome you to my world, and if I succeed you"ll never need to fear mortal evil again."
"Oh, yes." The gentle sc.r.a.ping of his fangs on her sensitive flesh aroused her unbearably. Threading her fingers through his thick black hair, she drew him closer, encouraged him to take her, accept her as his loving slave.
"I accept you completely. With any luck you will be my dhampir slave when you wake up. But in case I fail, I want you to know I love you. I"ve felt since before we made love that we were soulmates, fated lovers." Turning slowly toward her, Claude positioned his hands on either side of her head, his fingers threading through her hair, baring her throat to fangs that had elongated as he"d prepared her for the taking.
He clamped down on her jugular vein and began to feed. The sensation aroused her more than anything in her memory, made her lightheaded...dizzy. It was as though she was floating, half-cognizant, somewhere between life and death, aware only of Claude drinking her blood. Making her his-forever. As her consciousness ebbed, she felt Claude withdrawing his fangs, cradling her limp body in his muscular arms.
Chapter Five.
Had he followed in Stefan"s footsteps and destroyed the woman he loved? Desperate, Claude felt Marisa"s throat for a pulse, found none. No rise and fall of her chest. No heartbeat. Her skin felt cold, clammy, not vibrantly warm as it had been or cool and dry as his was-as all vampires" skin must feel. She lay in his arms, pa.s.sive, making no sound, no movement to indicate she still lived.
Then he remembered. He didn"t breathe spontaneously. Neither did any vampire he knew. Since his heart beat so slowly his mortal lovers had often commented about it, hers might slow appreciably as well. "Wake up, my dhampir slave," he ordered, but she didn"t obey.
She did respond, though, with a long sigh. And she snuggled in his arms as though seeking warmth. Marisa was alive. Incredibly relieved to know he hadn"t killed her, Claude stroked her pale skin, felt the dampness start to subside. "Hang on. I will take you back to the hotel." Apparently, he figured as he laid her under the covers in his bed and pulled the drapes shut to keep out the morning light, it would take her several hours before she"d recover from the changing.
Several hours, his vampire senses told him, would be longer than her brother had to live. Gathering his strength, he donned his dark gla.s.ses and took to the air. His instincts guiding him, he circled Miami"s Cuban district, scanning the scene before him for...
There they were. The two b.a.s.t.a.r.ds who"d threatened his lover. Working over a skinny young kid who was no more a match for them than Marisa, they paid Claude no mind as he swooped down on them, landing a pair of stunning blows before they knew they"d been discovered. Claude kicked their unconscious bodies into a heap and fell to his knees.
He"d thought the boy was in trouble, hurried to his side. But was he too late? Blood poured from a chest wound, gurgled out from his nose and mouth. Raul? Claude had no doubt once he got a look at the pale features that were so like Marisa"s. "Don"t you dare die on me."
Raul wasn"t listening. His chest heaved twice then became deathly still. Claude felt for a pulse, found none. He had one choice, and he took it, not caring if someone saw him. For the second time that day he held a mortal in his arms while he drained the lifeblood from his veins. Satisfied that Raul might survive now as a vampire, Claude spirited him back to the hotel and laid him on the bed beside Marisa.
Returning quickly to the scene of the fight, Claude found the two goons where he"d left them, apparently trying to explain to the police officers who"d just cuffed them that they"d been a.s.saulted by some otherworldly creature. Stepping into the shadow of a crumbling storefront, he concentrated on the larger one while the cops led the weasel-faced one to a squad car.
Humberto Majore. It came to him, straight from the reeling thug"s mind. A name for the patron who"d ruined so many lives, who"d nearly turned his soulmate into a prost.i.tute to pay her brother"s debt. Claude concentrated harder, came up with the name of the store where the drug lord dished out his poison.
La FemmeFatale. A vintage clothing store by all appearances, with mannequins sporting club attire posed casually in the showcase windows. A pretty young clerk walked outside, crossed the street and entered a cafe with a sign in the window that said it specialized in black beans and rice.
The man he sought would be alone inside now. Striving for a casual look, Claude strolled inside, pretending to look at colorful gowns full of feathers and lace set out for display on crowded racks in the front of the store. He saw no one, nothing out of the ordinary. Had his intuition failed him?
He thought so until he spied a rotund man smiling from behind a counter filled with costume jewelry that had been fashionable when Claude was a child. It had to be Majore. The faceless patron of Marisa"s nightmares. Despite the almost cherubic look about the man"s expression, Claude knew. He smelled the aura of evil. Sensed it hanging heavy in the air.
Claude opened his mind, saw ghosts of this man"s victims parading before his eyes. Innocents in death, though the corruption of this man"s filthy products had tainted them, stolen their futures, their lives. The patron would have to go.
"How can I help you, amigo?"
"An ounce if you please. Raul Delgado tells me I can get my supply direct from you." Claude had to be sure, very sure, it was the right mortal"s life he was about to take.
The angelic face turned purple. The black eyes flashed with fury. "You tell that son of a diseased wh.o.r.e he wants more stuff to sell, he gives me my money. Better yet, let your bullet-ridden body tell him." Moving fast for one so porcine, the patron pulled a snub-nosed .32 automatic and peppered Claude with a barrage of bullets.
They stung. But they didn"t stop Claude. Majore"s eyes bugged out when he saw Claude coming. "No. Your bullets will not stop me. Now you will experience vampire justice." Slowly, for speed wasn"t necessary, Claude reached over the counter and snagged his victim. Consumed him until his existence was a mere memory, his mortal remains a million particles of dust caught up and disseminated in a silent gust of wind.
On the way out, Claude locked the door. The clerk who actually sold the vintage clothes might wonder what had happened to Senor Majore, but she"d never know. Neither would the police, if she cared to involve them in the patron"s disappearance. His mission accomplished, Claude hurried back to his dhampir mate and her brother, his plans already in motion to take them home.
How long she"d been out, she had no idea, for when Marisa woke she found herself in a dimly lit bedroom, its dark wood furnishings obviously priceless antiques. Claude stood over her, a worried look on his handsome face. "Raul?" she asked, her mouth feeling unfamiliar-different than it had before.
He sat beside her and took her hand. "Your brother is recovering nicely from the turning, as are you. Just now my mother had to send out for a new supply of A positive. It seems Raul has developed quite a liking for it, more than for the finer vintages she normally stocks here in the house. Don"t worry that he"ll get in trouble here. Maman can be a stern taskmistress."
"How-"
"After I turned you, you slept for a long time, much longer than I"d expected. Once I was certain you would be all right I went to find Raul. The two goons who threatened you had him cornered, so I was forced to deal with them."
"They are-"
"Quite shaken from their encounter with a vampire, I a.s.sure you. At the moment I imagine they"re cooling their heels in a Miami jail cell, thanks to the officers who came to investigate the fracas. I imagine by now they are spilling all they know about the operation of this patron who wielded so much power in the barrio."
"I a.s.sume you changed Raul too."
"I had no choice. One of the goons had stabbed him, and he was practically dead. I turned him and brought him to you in my hotel room. When I finished meting out justice to the patron, I came back to the hotel and made arrangements for a charter plane to bring us home."
"Justice?"
"The patron is no more. Once I realized how he"d used cocaine to enslave not only your brother but also so many other young boys in the barrio, I decided he had to go."
"I"m glad."
"It bothered me, seeking out a mortal to destroy him. In the end, though, I didn"t have to commit cold-blooded murder. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d emptied a gun into me when I asked to buy some stuff and said Raul had sent me." Claude shrugged. "Hard to believe a mortal would dare go head-to-head with a vampire, but he did."
"The patron thought himself above the law...above retribution. I"m glad he is no more, but gladder that you killed him in a fair fight."
"Not particularly fair. Still it eases my conscience, knowing he"d have killed me first if he"d been able to." Claude sat beside her on the bed, lifted her hand and intertwined their fingers. "Let us forget the patron, may he rot forever in mortals" h.e.l.l."
"Yes, let"s." Marisa glanced around the room, saw nothing familiar. "This cannot be a hotel room. Where are we?"
"My home. Paris." He shrugged, his expression suddenly sheepish. "Maman scolded me for turning you without her having met you first, but she says you make me a lovely dhampir bride."
"Dhampir?" She thought he"d used the word, but she couldn"t be sure.
"A vampire made by the love of a born vampire, ma chere. I do love you."
He"d said that before...before he transported her into his vampire world. Marisa looked at him, saw not only the Master who made her submission incredible pleasure but also a good man she could count on for a lifetime. A mate for more than mating, more than protection. Claude d"Argent was a mate meant for loving.
And she did. "I love you too, my darling Master. Why are you sitting there, fully clothed, while I lie naked on your bed, awaiting your pleasure?"
His wide mouth breaking into the same toothy grin that had intimidated her when they"d first met, Claude began stripping off his clothes. She loved his body-so pale, so muscular, the skin as soft as the velvet hangings on their bed.
Her c.u.n.t contracted. Her nipples hardened. Her c.l.i.t twitched so hard the little bell on it tinkled. She sensed her fangs growing with her arousal and wondered how she"d ever manage now to suck on her love"s huge, pale c.o.c.k. Eager to have him, she spread her legs and held out her arms in blatant invitation.
He sank into her wet c.u.n.t, filling her beyond full and baring his throat. "Bite me, my hot-blooded vampire bride. Don"t be afraid, you will not hurt me. I want you to drink my blood, the way I fed on yours to make you mine."
When she sank her fangs into him, he groaned, a sound that spoke more of ecstasy than agony. The salty, slightly metallic taste of him fed her arousal, turned her cool body warm. It felt good, so good. Euphoria set in as he thrust harder and faster into her welcoming c.u.n.t, when he turned them where she was on top and directed her movement with big, powerful hands on her a.s.s.
"f.u.c.k me, f.u.c.k me hard," he rasped out, and she felt his c.o.c.k swell and harden even more inside her. She sank down on him once, twice, three times more, mindless as delicious sensations washed over her. "Don"t stop. Oh yes. Squeeze my c.o.c.k. G.o.d yes, I"m coming." He bathed her womb in hot, hard bursts. Bursts that claimed her yet again. Made her know she belonged to him.
Long into the night under a new Paris moon they made love, two vampires dancing in the dark, sucking and f.u.c.king and sipping of the nectar of the life they"d share for an eternity together.
Epilogue.
A month later
Alina lifted her gla.s.s and sipped daintily at the fine vintage A negative that was her favorite, laced with a mere thimbleful of anisette. Then she met Claude"s gaze across his mother"s dining table. "I hate to disturb your honeymoon, Uncle, but we"ve traced Reynard to Chicago. I sense Stefan will need your help."
Claude clasped Marisa"s hand, gave it a rea.s.suring squeeze. "Of course. We will leave at once."
"Not we, Master. You. I"ve just learned we are to have a child, and that it"s somewhat of a miracle that we"ve managed to conceive. Your mama would visit me with some awful vampire curse if I did anything to risk this baby."
When she laid his hand over her still-flat belly, Claude imagined he felt movement there. "A baby? So soon?" The idea thrilled him. It terrified him too, if he were to be completely honest about the feelings rumbling around his brain following his mate"s announcement.
"Congratulations, Claude. It seems you must have inherited your father"s potency. After all, he sired four children, and no other vampire in the clan has ever managed to produce more than one." Alina beamed with obvious joy. "Of course Marisa"s right. She must stay here, take care of herself and my cousin." When she frowned, her brow wrinkled momentarily. "It is a cousin, is it not?"
"I guess." When one"s niece and nephews were centuries older than oneself, relationships tended to get confusing. Claude figured "cousin" sounded as good a t.i.tle as any for an uncle"s offspring. Suddenly aware there must be some danger in being pregnant, he turned to Marisa. "I don"t want to leave you. Not now. Still, this is the best chance we"ve had so far to corner the Fox."
"I understand. The world won"t be safe for any of us until he"s been destroyed. Go. I"ll be fine, getting to see all the attractions in Paris with Alina and your mama as a guide." Marisa smiled, her dainty fangs showing, reminding Claude she"d given him the gift of a lifetime by turning her back on her mortal life and choosing to join him in the shadow world.
A world where no vampire would be safe unless they destroyed Reynard soon. Unless they put an end to his senseless killing spree before he brought the wrath of all mortals down on every vampire on earth. Claude stood, ready to do his duty as his father had done nearly seventy-five years ago, even if duty meant destruction.
"Au revoir, my love" he said, giving Marisa a quick squeeze before taking to the air once more. "We"ll get the b.a.s.t.a.r.d this time. And make a safe world for our child."