Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series
folder
Vampire › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
23,327
Reviews:
696
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Vampire › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
49
Views:
23,327
Reviews:
696
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Haven
I love AFF. I do. I have one complaint, but keep it in mind that it could be my computer and my dialup connection, I can’t get all my reviews. I have to keep clicking refresh to get to the end. I’ve tried to get the reviews to do a Q& A for this Sunday morning, however I can only get up to chappie 22….so, whenever I can get higher than 22, I’ll toss out kudos and thankies and answer questions. (Not that I’m whining, but is it because of the amount of reviews? Or is it me and cornfield connection?) Big Sigh
Yeah 10,000 + hits. MAAAUUUHHHH!
Oh, I have the ending for this book - it came to me in a traffic jam (well it really solidified then). There will be a book 4 because everything is still not resolved. There are still about 10 chappies left in this one….don’t hold me to it though. Could be more, could be less.
_________________________
My inner bitch has been appeased with vanilla ice cream. I think it is my dialup connection. I do have a satellite internet option, but I think I’ll pay my mortgage instead…soooo I will shut up now.
Q: Why did they Alphas take blood-packs with them? It doesn’t work.
A: X was trying to get rid of the branding scar. He actually did heal the branding wound Haley had with the Healing light. It was still raw and bloody. The blood would act like an icy gel pak and would ease the pain but wouldn’t heal them. If I knew I get getting a hot poker applied to my skin, I would take anything and everything available to make it bearable. :)
Q: What are the triplets names?
A: Callia, Raissa and Alexander(Lex)
Q: Why is there so much tension with Vlad? There isn’t so much with Claudia.
A: Claudia isn’t waiting around the corner to pounce on any of the brothers and if she did do a little pouncing, Xavier would still be able to walk afterwards. Remember, Haley almost killed him and he’s runty.
Q: why does Haley know Xavier is Hashmallim? The other Lycan have seen his phoenix, why don’t they know? Shouldn’t Britta think twice?
A: Haley as a Prince of Britta’s bloodline, was raised in safety and luxury, until Grandma ordered his death. He learned the history and legends of his Nations as a matter of course. Other Lycans, would have the matter of survival in the modern to worry about first before they can get to history lessons.
I’m sure Britta has thought more than twice what to do about the troublesome Lord Emperor. (see this chappie)
Q: The Von Drachenfeld glyph. What does it mean?
A: Er…hmmmm, I just thought it looked pretty. I can’t even come up with a really good bullpucky answer – “the mouth of the dragon protects the Nation be it by sword, fang or blood.” What it really is is a capital “D” turned 90 degrees with the letter “v” placed inside it. Von Drachenfeld. (and you thought I could draw…ha!)
I love you guys. Mauh! Huggies and pats on the head. Thanks for taking the time to review and give opinions, suggestions. Sometimes a little glint of inspiration can be panned from the R&Rs which actually leads up to this chappie. Mauh to the Loyal: Jenna T.; a.taste.of.insanity (x4); shiden; rosei; k; Spirit; Laur; Reaper K (welcome) Mihara; Lioncourt; meadows_peak; eiriyukithewriter; sesshomarunaraku and Demon Akasha
WARNING: THIS TURNS INTO A DARK RIDE FROM THIS POINT ONWARD
Chapter 127: Haven
The inventor of the cell phone should be shot…no branded. I was sprawled across the back seat on…none other than Vladimir. He was stroking my hair and was generally being a good pillow when my cell phone went off. My back was screaming in agony. I fumbled with the phone. “Yah…”
“Edward…I mean Xavier.”
That voice…whose was that?
“This is Detective Nolan. You asked me about a missing persons report.”
I forced myself up off of Vladimir. “Have you found him?”
“He has been sighted at a nightclub down on called the Haven on 19th. It’s one of those Goth, children of the night places. It hasn’t been confirmed, it was just a tip.”
“Thank you, Detective.” I snapped the phone closed. “Turn around.” Ping was driving. She met my eyes in the rearview mirror. We all groaned and slammed into the right side of the car as she spun the wheel and turned that massive amount of metal on a silver dollar.
“Turn left on 19th. There is a wannabe vampire bar along there somewhere..” It was only about 1 am so there was still a chance that the little werewolf was still there hiding.
“Why are we going there, Lord Alpha?” Ping questioned.
“There is a werewolf running for his life. He escaped his family’s murder and those that did it, know he’s out here somewhere. He’s been on his own without protection for about 8 maybe 9 days. He’s probably only about seventeen in human years.”
“He’s just a little whelp.” Ping returned with a hiss of motherhood.
I guess a whelp was younger than a pup. “We need to get to him before those hunting him do.”
Vladimir rumbled to life, “Who’s hunting him?”
Haley spoke up, “Vampires my Grandmother hired.”
If it wasn’t so serious I would have laughed out loud. It was in total unison that the Lycan turned and looked at Haley with an expression of total shock on there faces.
“I have no proof other that this.” Haley touched the other ragged brand. He had fought against those who held him down back in his Grandmother’ Den. He had lost but the brand was proof that he had resisted.
/Brother?/
/Az…/
I grimaced. /Sex, where’s X?/
/I finally got him to go to the beach. He’s pretty well fucked in the head still, not as bad as before, but he’s no use to us right now./
/You know what I did?/
/Couldn’t have got ink done, eh?/
/We needed a bond with the pack. This should do it./
/I need to take over. I can’t heal them all with just a burst./
/I have a bad feeling about this little were-guy, I’m just hoping it might not be too late./
/You know, we just might heal up completely. Your noble gesture might be for nothing./
/Then you can get branded at the next Run./
“Fuck that, little brother.” Oh hold crap, this was sheer agony. I gasped and gently touched my shoulder. It burns so cold and throbs so hot at the same time. Gees, Az how the hell can you function?
“Yo, everybody who’s got a burn on them, link up. I’m going to try some healing. Azrael has a feeling that little pup might be worse off than we want him to be. We need to be…” What had Marcus called it, “money.”
“Lord Sex.” Vladimir sat up and tried to untangle our legs. Gees, I didn’t even notice how intertwined Azrael was .
“Touch Baojia, Vlad.” I laid a hand on his shoulder then reached out for Sang Kyu Everyone was physically connected. I took a deep cleansing breath I wanted the Healing light to burn bright and hot but like a stream, a trickle I could direct. I couldn’t remove their brand, but I could age it, heal it, turn it into a silvery scar. I still had my wing scars They were just like a pencil line, nothing like they had once been. I wanted the brand. Azrael was right this would a sigh of bonding between us and the Imperials. Besides, it was a bitchin symbol and it was my Glyph and I didn’t ever want to be branded again. Good god that hurt.
The light faded and so did the pain. I looked at Vladimir’s arm. His mark had healed and it looked rather elegant. I reached over my shoulder. Vladimir stayed my hand He pulled the blood soaked cloth from the mark. “It is healed.”
“Is it still there?”
He looked it me funny. “I don’t get scars.” He reached out and touched a less sensitive patch on my shoulder.
“It is there, Lord Alpha.” He shifted and I felt him move closer then he halted.
“Oh, go ahead and kiss it.” Warm Lycan lips pressed against my shoulder.
“This will show everyone who sees it that you are our Head.”
“Everyone else healed?” Haley handed back a cold blood pack. I got an affirmative from everyone,
Vladimir whispered in Russian. “May I have the honor?”
What? I turned as he offered up his neck to me. “My blood is fresher and warmer than a blood pack.”
Which was true. Vladimir had a shield, it wasn’t bad, it was better than Ping’s father but it was thin and I slipped under it easily. I was going to have to show all of them how to make a better shield. There were some fresh and current memories that could have been enough to hide the pain of my bite, but this Lycan had po’d me. Since I was here…the Alpha trials were brutal. Deaths were common and expected. Vladimir was a deadly force when he was motivated and man he was motivated. Why? I saw him staring up at that kilt poster, but his favorite was the funky fitted black jacket and the gold shirt with leather pants. He took one look at that poster and fell in love. Oh Crap. It wasn’t puppy love. It was Lycan forever. Even if he had not received the summons, he would have pined for the red headed model who lived half a world away.
I didn’t understand.
Also there was the fact that he knew what the hell I was doing.
‘You have lost weight from that photograph, Lord Alpha. Weight you can’t afford to lose.”
“You are so fucked up.”
He smiled. “Tell me something, I don’t know. I knew you wouldn’t be alone, I just never thought how claimed you would be. Drink Lord Alpha. I want more from you, but if all I can ever be is a blood source for you, I will take comfort that my blood runs in your veins and that you have claimed me once.”
I lapped at his neck. This was all in Russian. Pyotr made a point to look forward ignoring us. Manu didn’t make any effort at privacy. I could see his white teeth bared in a wide grin. I fanged Vladimir. Hmmm, tasted like rabbit. I drank Father’s way. Pooling that elixir of life in my mouth, savoring that taste that was pure White Russian. Lycan blood was more potent than Vampire’s but it didn’t have the same kick to the groin of a human’s. I pulled back my fangs and licked him healed. He growl groaned deep in his throat and if I didn’t know any better, I thought he ejaculated. He whispered, “Prostite”
Damn it! I scrambled off him.
His face held that special look of post orgasmic flush. Just from me biting him.
“I think this is it.” Ping pulled the wagon over and we looked at the dark crypt mausoleum type entrance flanked by a couple of wanna be Loyals. The name of the bar was in red claw marks. I snorted. What did they want to be, vampires or Lycan? I scrambled over the second seat and climbed out of the wagon. I’d leave Vladimir to whatever he was going to do about his condition. “Haley.” He popped up beside me. He flashed his silvery brand in my face proud to wear it.
“Now, we are brothers.”
I never thought of it that way. The brotherhood of Lycan. Tres Cool. “This is who we are looking for.” I reached out and touched his forehead. I brought up the photograph in my mind’s eye “He’s either Robert or Ronan. He’s just like you were, Haley. He’s alone, he’s hunted and…”
“You will rescue him Alpha.” Blind trust is frightening.
“I will try, Pup. I couldn’t save Derry. Can you pass that on, or do I have to touch everyone?”
“Ping can send it.” Haley headed back to his petite wife and pressed his forehead against hers.
I turned my attention to the Haven. I didn’t have the fine control to pick out one individual out of the fifty or so that were still in there. I couldn’t tell if any Bloods were in there or not. I was going to have to sit down with Marcus and learn this. For all our sakes. At least the only pain ripping through little brother was the branding. If Azrael could bounce, he’s be ping ponging off the sand dunes he was so deliriously happy. I let a wry smile tweak my lips, little brother deserved it. We’ll see if this Marcus lasts. He’s not been known for his staying power.
There was movement behind me. Apparently Ping gave everyone their marching papers. Baojia, Sang Kyu and Pyotr disappeared down the block heading for the back alley.
“Vladimir.” Ping’s voice was sharp.
He slid out of the back door of the wagon. “Apologies.” He gestured to Manu and they headed up to the front door of the bar. Our little group had caught the interest of the doormen but they thought it nothing out of the ordinary. “Haley and I will enter first, Lord Alpha. This will be the way of things from this point on. Your safety is paramount.”
“When are you due, Elek?”
“In August. Haley will become a father around the same time as you.”
“This is your last mission, Ping. I don’t want anything to happen to those pups you’re carrying.” Vladimir sucker punched doorman number one. Manu did something to the other doorman’s face and he dropped like a stone. There is something to be said for pressure points. “That’s another direct edict.”
“As you command, Lord Alpha.” I’d pissed Shayne off enough to understand that tone of voice. This was going to come back and bite me in the ass somewhere down the road. It might not be tomorrow, or next week, but sometime before I left this world, I was going to pay the mighty Ping. So be it. As long a five little Halpings were born, I would pay it.
Ping turned and lead the way into the bar. Haley stepped in front of her as Vladimir held the door for them. I skipped up the steps only to get an arm bar across my throat. “Wait.”
/There are Vampire here. Two./ Pings voice floated through my head. I sent my own thoughts out. I couldn’t find them. If they were shielding, it was cloaked because I came up completely blank. I could feel Ping and Haley but…wait…a faint signature – was it the wayward little werewolf?
/We spied him, Lord Alpha. At the bar, in the dark, closest to the door. He’s just a whelp and he’s absolutely terrified./
/If he’s hiding from Vampires, Lord Alpha, you going in there might just send him running./ Vladimir cautioned.
/Kyu?/
/In position./
/Send in Lord Alpha./
You ever walk into someplace and as soon as you put on foot down you know you are in the wrong place. Detective Nolan was right, this was a wannabe children of the night, Goth bar….and I was still was palest thing in here. I might as well as announced my arrival with a megaphone. There was a parting of the black sea, everyone was dressed in the darker color palette, leading to the postage stamp size dance floor.. The black light made my white hair glow.
/Is everyone looking at me?/
/You are gorgeous. The pheromone levels in here just jumped up 3 times. You are something to be coveted, Lord Alpha./
/Vladimir was right, I can’t approach the werewolf. He’ll take off. Haley should go and make contact./
Since I was the center of attention, whether I wanted it or not, I’d just do my job and mask what my infiltrated Lycan were doing. There was a little cutie in a matrix coat without the white face paint. Couldn’t tell if it was male or female though. Not that it mattered. I wasn’t going to have sex with it.
“You’re that billboard guy.” Male.
“You can call me Sex.”
His voice squeaked. “Sex.. Louis.”
I reached out and touched his brittle black hair. This boy needed Infusium 23 in the worst way. “You know, you don’t need to dye your hair black.”
“I don’t think I could pull off white. It looks good on you.” Louis reached out and returned the favor.
“Care to dance?”
“I’m not gay.”
“I’m not asking for sex, Louis, I just want to dance.” I turned on the charm. “Are you going to make me beg?” I widened my eyes and let my jade peepers blink innocently at him. Father would have smacked me up the side of the head if I tried this with him. I held out my hand. Sure enough, the young man was ensnared in my Siren’s call. And I didn’t have to mindfuck him. When your hot, your hot.
The dirge like music they were playing only lead to swaying. That was okay. I could make a spectacle of myself just plastering myself against Louis. I saw Ping saunter up to the werewolf. I let mind sweep over the crowd. I couldn’t find the two vampires. They were shielded really good. Just like Sasha. Actually, I never asked how Sasha left no trace. I assumed it was a shield, maybe it was something else. I opened my eyes and scanned the bar. I swayed Louis around in a slow circle. I couldn’t find them visually either.
“Time for you to go, little boy.” I voice sounded right behind my ear. I released Louis as a hand closed around my throat, nails raked lightly along my flesh. Louis looked past my shoulder and backed away.
“Sex, isn’t it?”
I attempted to move and the nails dug in deeper. “And you are…?”
“Not as naïve as you would like me to be. You cannot get past my shield, even with your impressive gifts, Sexy.” I got pulled back to his body. He was taller than me. Surprize, surprise. “You have stuck your nose into business you have no business sticking your nose into. Britta wants it bitten off.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“You underestimate Britta’s influence, Sexy. Your little Pup is forgiven. She wants him home. You on the other hand, you killed her Alpha Pack. At least, that is what the rumor is, there is no proof that you did any such thing.”
Okay, now I knew that the Vampires were dead zones, I just had to rescan the room and where there was nothing, that was what I was dealing with. We were center of attention. I lifted my hands and brought them behind me, cupping his flanks and pulling him to my back. He wasn’t expecting that. I swiveled my hips and turned us more so I could search the room.
There he was. I narrowed my eyes. He was one of the five. He looked like a scrappy version of Leonardo Dicaprio from that gangs movie. He had been glaring at Ping and Haley then he turned that spiteful gaze to me and my dance partner. I knew now that if we had been a minute later, the remaining twin would have been in their clutches. I couldn’t get a lock on him at all. Can’t break a shield if I can’t find it. His was easy to read though. If it was just my two Lycan and me, they would have taken me on but he felt the two at the front door and three at the back.
“A Pretty Piece of Flesh” started playing. A blade got pressed against my stomach Damn it. The one behind me took the advantage of my momentary distraction. “Leo” moved from his position and wove his way through the crowd, pushing aside a few who didn’t move out of his way. Just the way he stalked me, he was the Alpha Vampire of this murdering group. He slammed his body hard up against me, forcing the blade through my shirt and pricking my skin just below my rib cage.
“You should have just stayed on your back like the little fuck toy you were intended to be.”
Shade had said that I would know when I met a Blood who’s soul had died. Here he was. I looked up into his eyes. They were dark with fury. They also reflected the Vampire that was holding me from behind. This one was groomed into an inch of his life. His jet hair was brylcreamed right to his scalp and his had a meticulous moustache and a little patch under his lip.
He brought his hand up to my face and he ran his thumb along my lower lip. “Fuck toy.”
“Not yours.” I voice was arctic.
Hades smile was creepy. This guy’s just froze my blood. “I could make you mine. You’ve grown up in safety, fuck toy. Claudius maybe Number One, but he works within a set confined of rules. I don’t “ He cut the pad of his thumb my fang. He looked at it, squeezed out more blood then ran it under my left eye, leaving a bloody trail with a light scent of earthworms after a spring rain.
“Such beautiful eyes. Next time we meet, I’ll take one home with me.”
He moved fast but I was sandwiched between these two. He tangled his hand in my ran and wrenched my neck to the right. He rammed his fangs at full extension right into my neck. Moustache moved hand and fanged me from the other side. Leo grabbed my crotch and forced his thigh hard up between my legs. I couldn’t move. Both of them had worked a binding on me
The click of a cocking revolver sent Leo’s head back, wrenching out of my neck. This time I couldn’t keep my cry muffled. “Time for you to go, or you can die here.” Ping held the Glock easily pointed at the back of Leo’s head.
“Someone else who doesn’t know their place.”
“My place is before my Alpha.”
I bit back half a scream as Moustache was ripped away from my neck on the other side. He staggered sideways from the punch Vladimir gave him. Leo didn’t give Vladimir or his partner in crime a second glance. He keep that soulless gaze on me. “Alpha? You dare to challenge Britta?” He chuckled. It had nothing to go with mirth. “She will cut off your balls, fuck toy. I’ll still want you after that. If I cut off your wings and give them to her, she’ll let me keep you. If that little scream is anything to go by, you’ll be an A-class fuck.”
“Not that you’ll ever get the chance.” Vladimir ripped me out of Leo’s hands, pulling me back against him.
Leo looked at the Lycan’s possessive hold and his face turned into a mask of disgust. “You soiled yourself with lesser Bloods. I’ll have to peel your flesh off to remove all signs of taint before I can fuck you.”
“Go now.” Ping ordered.
The binding dropped. My bones had been sucked out by them and I plummeted. Vladimir kept me from crashing to the ground. My neck was out of alignment from the force of his bite.
Leo licked his crimson stained lips. “Cinnamon. I was expecting something a little lighter from you, more sweet. Keep the kid. He wasn’t much of a challenge any way. Think of me, Fuck Toy. Think of what pleasures there will be when you’re mine. Well, at least I will be getting pleasure out of it.”
“You will have to kill us all first, Vampire before you touch Lord Alpha again.”
“Looking forward to it.” Leo and Moustache ghosted into the crowd.
Holy shit. I lifted a hand to my neck. I was still bleeding. /Retreat!/
Ping stepped up and flicked my hair back. /Get him to the car now. Blood pack on both wounds and on his fangs. Make sure he drinks it./
They were strong. Hades never showed his full strength and I wasn’t stupid enough to really believe I could take him on if he really wanted to win. But these two…and they’re were five of them. Vladimir caught me up in bridal pose and rushed me out the door. The human Goth children weren’t concerned…they didn’t see it? Or it happened so fast? Or where those two powerful enough to wipe the memory of everyone in that club. The run down the stepped jarred me neck painfully. I groaned.
Vladimir stepped up his pace. I ended up in the middle bench seat propped up against Vladimir. True to Ping’s orders, he forced a blood pack in my mouth then poked a hole in two packs then end them against the gaping chasms in my throat. Werewolves didn’t stand a chance against them. Caged or not. A lone Lycan would be dead meat as well. I shuddered. Leo meant everything he said. How the hell was I going to kill someone who was already dead, twice over?
The pack plus one ran up to the car. Ping jumped into the front behind the wheel. Haley pushed the werewolf in beside her then squeezed in himself. Manu climbed in beside me then snagged Pyotr and sat him on his lap. Since their relationship was out in the open in the pack was the point in pretending it wasn’t. Besides Pyotr didn’t mind sitting on Manu. Baojia and Sang Kyu climbed in through the backdoor and nobody said anything until the Nomad was rumbling and on the road.
Ping looked into the rearview mirror. “What the fuck was that?”
I think everyone blinked to have swear words come out of her mouth. “That is what has been killing off werewolves.” Vladimir returned. “I’ve never seen their like before. Alpha?”
My neck was stinging. I tried to sit up but Vladimir tightened his hold and Pyotr pulled my feet up and rested them there. “I couldn’t sense them. I didn’t even feel that one come up behind me.” I hissed as I straightened up my head. There was a loud crick as my vertebrate snapped back into place.
“Everyone, this is Ronan.” Haley still held the trembling youth. He stared at everyone. Werewolves for the most part there ignored by purebred Lycan. Sort of like the bastards that nobles would leave behind in their conquests. Something like me. Until an heir is needed then they come sniffing around.
The teenager was barely holding it together. He survived his family’s brutal slaying only to be hounded by their killers for a week. He turned and looked at me, terror flickered in his eyes. Vampires were not friends to him. “I was going to say you’re safe, but we all know that’s a lie. I can say you’re not alone anymore, Ronan. It’s safe to say we’ve all just made the hit list.”
The poor werewolf broke down completely. Haley gathered him close. Ping reached out and stroked the little boy’s hair. The terror…yes, the absolute dark terror that Leo had driven into my own shiny soul hit me hard as well. I threw up on the floor. He meant everything he whispered to me. I would be a one eyed, wingless, skinless eunuch of a fuck toy if he got his way. That last lingering dead eyed glance told me that Leo always got his way.
* * *
Yeah 10,000 + hits. MAAAUUUHHHH!
Oh, I have the ending for this book - it came to me in a traffic jam (well it really solidified then). There will be a book 4 because everything is still not resolved. There are still about 10 chappies left in this one….don’t hold me to it though. Could be more, could be less.
_________________________
My inner bitch has been appeased with vanilla ice cream. I think it is my dialup connection. I do have a satellite internet option, but I think I’ll pay my mortgage instead…soooo I will shut up now.
Q: Why did they Alphas take blood-packs with them? It doesn’t work.
A: X was trying to get rid of the branding scar. He actually did heal the branding wound Haley had with the Healing light. It was still raw and bloody. The blood would act like an icy gel pak and would ease the pain but wouldn’t heal them. If I knew I get getting a hot poker applied to my skin, I would take anything and everything available to make it bearable. :)
Q: What are the triplets names?
A: Callia, Raissa and Alexander(Lex)
Q: Why is there so much tension with Vlad? There isn’t so much with Claudia.
A: Claudia isn’t waiting around the corner to pounce on any of the brothers and if she did do a little pouncing, Xavier would still be able to walk afterwards. Remember, Haley almost killed him and he’s runty.
Q: why does Haley know Xavier is Hashmallim? The other Lycan have seen his phoenix, why don’t they know? Shouldn’t Britta think twice?
A: Haley as a Prince of Britta’s bloodline, was raised in safety and luxury, until Grandma ordered his death. He learned the history and legends of his Nations as a matter of course. Other Lycans, would have the matter of survival in the modern to worry about first before they can get to history lessons.
I’m sure Britta has thought more than twice what to do about the troublesome Lord Emperor. (see this chappie)
Q: The Von Drachenfeld glyph. What does it mean?
A: Er…hmmmm, I just thought it looked pretty. I can’t even come up with a really good bullpucky answer – “the mouth of the dragon protects the Nation be it by sword, fang or blood.” What it really is is a capital “D” turned 90 degrees with the letter “v” placed inside it. Von Drachenfeld. (and you thought I could draw…ha!)
I love you guys. Mauh! Huggies and pats on the head. Thanks for taking the time to review and give opinions, suggestions. Sometimes a little glint of inspiration can be panned from the R&Rs which actually leads up to this chappie. Mauh to the Loyal: Jenna T.; a.taste.of.insanity (x4); shiden; rosei; k; Spirit; Laur; Reaper K (welcome) Mihara; Lioncourt; meadows_peak; eiriyukithewriter; sesshomarunaraku and Demon Akasha
WARNING: THIS TURNS INTO A DARK RIDE FROM THIS POINT ONWARD
Chapter 127: Haven
The inventor of the cell phone should be shot…no branded. I was sprawled across the back seat on…none other than Vladimir. He was stroking my hair and was generally being a good pillow when my cell phone went off. My back was screaming in agony. I fumbled with the phone. “Yah…”
“Edward…I mean Xavier.”
That voice…whose was that?
“This is Detective Nolan. You asked me about a missing persons report.”
I forced myself up off of Vladimir. “Have you found him?”
“He has been sighted at a nightclub down on called the Haven on 19th. It’s one of those Goth, children of the night places. It hasn’t been confirmed, it was just a tip.”
“Thank you, Detective.” I snapped the phone closed. “Turn around.” Ping was driving. She met my eyes in the rearview mirror. We all groaned and slammed into the right side of the car as she spun the wheel and turned that massive amount of metal on a silver dollar.
“Turn left on 19th. There is a wannabe vampire bar along there somewhere..” It was only about 1 am so there was still a chance that the little werewolf was still there hiding.
“Why are we going there, Lord Alpha?” Ping questioned.
“There is a werewolf running for his life. He escaped his family’s murder and those that did it, know he’s out here somewhere. He’s been on his own without protection for about 8 maybe 9 days. He’s probably only about seventeen in human years.”
“He’s just a little whelp.” Ping returned with a hiss of motherhood.
I guess a whelp was younger than a pup. “We need to get to him before those hunting him do.”
Vladimir rumbled to life, “Who’s hunting him?”
Haley spoke up, “Vampires my Grandmother hired.”
If it wasn’t so serious I would have laughed out loud. It was in total unison that the Lycan turned and looked at Haley with an expression of total shock on there faces.
“I have no proof other that this.” Haley touched the other ragged brand. He had fought against those who held him down back in his Grandmother’ Den. He had lost but the brand was proof that he had resisted.
/Brother?/
/Az…/
I grimaced. /Sex, where’s X?/
/I finally got him to go to the beach. He’s pretty well fucked in the head still, not as bad as before, but he’s no use to us right now./
/You know what I did?/
/Couldn’t have got ink done, eh?/
/We needed a bond with the pack. This should do it./
/I need to take over. I can’t heal them all with just a burst./
/I have a bad feeling about this little were-guy, I’m just hoping it might not be too late./
/You know, we just might heal up completely. Your noble gesture might be for nothing./
/Then you can get branded at the next Run./
“Fuck that, little brother.” Oh hold crap, this was sheer agony. I gasped and gently touched my shoulder. It burns so cold and throbs so hot at the same time. Gees, Az how the hell can you function?
“Yo, everybody who’s got a burn on them, link up. I’m going to try some healing. Azrael has a feeling that little pup might be worse off than we want him to be. We need to be…” What had Marcus called it, “money.”
“Lord Sex.” Vladimir sat up and tried to untangle our legs. Gees, I didn’t even notice how intertwined Azrael was .
“Touch Baojia, Vlad.” I laid a hand on his shoulder then reached out for Sang Kyu Everyone was physically connected. I took a deep cleansing breath I wanted the Healing light to burn bright and hot but like a stream, a trickle I could direct. I couldn’t remove their brand, but I could age it, heal it, turn it into a silvery scar. I still had my wing scars They were just like a pencil line, nothing like they had once been. I wanted the brand. Azrael was right this would a sigh of bonding between us and the Imperials. Besides, it was a bitchin symbol and it was my Glyph and I didn’t ever want to be branded again. Good god that hurt.
The light faded and so did the pain. I looked at Vladimir’s arm. His mark had healed and it looked rather elegant. I reached over my shoulder. Vladimir stayed my hand He pulled the blood soaked cloth from the mark. “It is healed.”
“Is it still there?”
He looked it me funny. “I don’t get scars.” He reached out and touched a less sensitive patch on my shoulder.
“It is there, Lord Alpha.” He shifted and I felt him move closer then he halted.
“Oh, go ahead and kiss it.” Warm Lycan lips pressed against my shoulder.
“This will show everyone who sees it that you are our Head.”
“Everyone else healed?” Haley handed back a cold blood pack. I got an affirmative from everyone,
Vladimir whispered in Russian. “May I have the honor?”
What? I turned as he offered up his neck to me. “My blood is fresher and warmer than a blood pack.”
Which was true. Vladimir had a shield, it wasn’t bad, it was better than Ping’s father but it was thin and I slipped under it easily. I was going to have to show all of them how to make a better shield. There were some fresh and current memories that could have been enough to hide the pain of my bite, but this Lycan had po’d me. Since I was here…the Alpha trials were brutal. Deaths were common and expected. Vladimir was a deadly force when he was motivated and man he was motivated. Why? I saw him staring up at that kilt poster, but his favorite was the funky fitted black jacket and the gold shirt with leather pants. He took one look at that poster and fell in love. Oh Crap. It wasn’t puppy love. It was Lycan forever. Even if he had not received the summons, he would have pined for the red headed model who lived half a world away.
I didn’t understand.
Also there was the fact that he knew what the hell I was doing.
‘You have lost weight from that photograph, Lord Alpha. Weight you can’t afford to lose.”
“You are so fucked up.”
He smiled. “Tell me something, I don’t know. I knew you wouldn’t be alone, I just never thought how claimed you would be. Drink Lord Alpha. I want more from you, but if all I can ever be is a blood source for you, I will take comfort that my blood runs in your veins and that you have claimed me once.”
I lapped at his neck. This was all in Russian. Pyotr made a point to look forward ignoring us. Manu didn’t make any effort at privacy. I could see his white teeth bared in a wide grin. I fanged Vladimir. Hmmm, tasted like rabbit. I drank Father’s way. Pooling that elixir of life in my mouth, savoring that taste that was pure White Russian. Lycan blood was more potent than Vampire’s but it didn’t have the same kick to the groin of a human’s. I pulled back my fangs and licked him healed. He growl groaned deep in his throat and if I didn’t know any better, I thought he ejaculated. He whispered, “Prostite”
Damn it! I scrambled off him.
His face held that special look of post orgasmic flush. Just from me biting him.
“I think this is it.” Ping pulled the wagon over and we looked at the dark crypt mausoleum type entrance flanked by a couple of wanna be Loyals. The name of the bar was in red claw marks. I snorted. What did they want to be, vampires or Lycan? I scrambled over the second seat and climbed out of the wagon. I’d leave Vladimir to whatever he was going to do about his condition. “Haley.” He popped up beside me. He flashed his silvery brand in my face proud to wear it.
“Now, we are brothers.”
I never thought of it that way. The brotherhood of Lycan. Tres Cool. “This is who we are looking for.” I reached out and touched his forehead. I brought up the photograph in my mind’s eye “He’s either Robert or Ronan. He’s just like you were, Haley. He’s alone, he’s hunted and…”
“You will rescue him Alpha.” Blind trust is frightening.
“I will try, Pup. I couldn’t save Derry. Can you pass that on, or do I have to touch everyone?”
“Ping can send it.” Haley headed back to his petite wife and pressed his forehead against hers.
I turned my attention to the Haven. I didn’t have the fine control to pick out one individual out of the fifty or so that were still in there. I couldn’t tell if any Bloods were in there or not. I was going to have to sit down with Marcus and learn this. For all our sakes. At least the only pain ripping through little brother was the branding. If Azrael could bounce, he’s be ping ponging off the sand dunes he was so deliriously happy. I let a wry smile tweak my lips, little brother deserved it. We’ll see if this Marcus lasts. He’s not been known for his staying power.
There was movement behind me. Apparently Ping gave everyone their marching papers. Baojia, Sang Kyu and Pyotr disappeared down the block heading for the back alley.
“Vladimir.” Ping’s voice was sharp.
He slid out of the back door of the wagon. “Apologies.” He gestured to Manu and they headed up to the front door of the bar. Our little group had caught the interest of the doormen but they thought it nothing out of the ordinary. “Haley and I will enter first, Lord Alpha. This will be the way of things from this point on. Your safety is paramount.”
“When are you due, Elek?”
“In August. Haley will become a father around the same time as you.”
“This is your last mission, Ping. I don’t want anything to happen to those pups you’re carrying.” Vladimir sucker punched doorman number one. Manu did something to the other doorman’s face and he dropped like a stone. There is something to be said for pressure points. “That’s another direct edict.”
“As you command, Lord Alpha.” I’d pissed Shayne off enough to understand that tone of voice. This was going to come back and bite me in the ass somewhere down the road. It might not be tomorrow, or next week, but sometime before I left this world, I was going to pay the mighty Ping. So be it. As long a five little Halpings were born, I would pay it.
Ping turned and lead the way into the bar. Haley stepped in front of her as Vladimir held the door for them. I skipped up the steps only to get an arm bar across my throat. “Wait.”
/There are Vampire here. Two./ Pings voice floated through my head. I sent my own thoughts out. I couldn’t find them. If they were shielding, it was cloaked because I came up completely blank. I could feel Ping and Haley but…wait…a faint signature – was it the wayward little werewolf?
/We spied him, Lord Alpha. At the bar, in the dark, closest to the door. He’s just a whelp and he’s absolutely terrified./
/If he’s hiding from Vampires, Lord Alpha, you going in there might just send him running./ Vladimir cautioned.
/Kyu?/
/In position./
/Send in Lord Alpha./
You ever walk into someplace and as soon as you put on foot down you know you are in the wrong place. Detective Nolan was right, this was a wannabe children of the night, Goth bar….and I was still was palest thing in here. I might as well as announced my arrival with a megaphone. There was a parting of the black sea, everyone was dressed in the darker color palette, leading to the postage stamp size dance floor.. The black light made my white hair glow.
/Is everyone looking at me?/
/You are gorgeous. The pheromone levels in here just jumped up 3 times. You are something to be coveted, Lord Alpha./
/Vladimir was right, I can’t approach the werewolf. He’ll take off. Haley should go and make contact./
Since I was the center of attention, whether I wanted it or not, I’d just do my job and mask what my infiltrated Lycan were doing. There was a little cutie in a matrix coat without the white face paint. Couldn’t tell if it was male or female though. Not that it mattered. I wasn’t going to have sex with it.
“You’re that billboard guy.” Male.
“You can call me Sex.”
His voice squeaked. “Sex.. Louis.”
I reached out and touched his brittle black hair. This boy needed Infusium 23 in the worst way. “You know, you don’t need to dye your hair black.”
“I don’t think I could pull off white. It looks good on you.” Louis reached out and returned the favor.
“Care to dance?”
“I’m not gay.”
“I’m not asking for sex, Louis, I just want to dance.” I turned on the charm. “Are you going to make me beg?” I widened my eyes and let my jade peepers blink innocently at him. Father would have smacked me up the side of the head if I tried this with him. I held out my hand. Sure enough, the young man was ensnared in my Siren’s call. And I didn’t have to mindfuck him. When your hot, your hot.
The dirge like music they were playing only lead to swaying. That was okay. I could make a spectacle of myself just plastering myself against Louis. I saw Ping saunter up to the werewolf. I let mind sweep over the crowd. I couldn’t find the two vampires. They were shielded really good. Just like Sasha. Actually, I never asked how Sasha left no trace. I assumed it was a shield, maybe it was something else. I opened my eyes and scanned the bar. I swayed Louis around in a slow circle. I couldn’t find them visually either.
“Time for you to go, little boy.” I voice sounded right behind my ear. I released Louis as a hand closed around my throat, nails raked lightly along my flesh. Louis looked past my shoulder and backed away.
“Sex, isn’t it?”
I attempted to move and the nails dug in deeper. “And you are…?”
“Not as naïve as you would like me to be. You cannot get past my shield, even with your impressive gifts, Sexy.” I got pulled back to his body. He was taller than me. Surprize, surprise. “You have stuck your nose into business you have no business sticking your nose into. Britta wants it bitten off.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“You underestimate Britta’s influence, Sexy. Your little Pup is forgiven. She wants him home. You on the other hand, you killed her Alpha Pack. At least, that is what the rumor is, there is no proof that you did any such thing.”
Okay, now I knew that the Vampires were dead zones, I just had to rescan the room and where there was nothing, that was what I was dealing with. We were center of attention. I lifted my hands and brought them behind me, cupping his flanks and pulling him to my back. He wasn’t expecting that. I swiveled my hips and turned us more so I could search the room.
There he was. I narrowed my eyes. He was one of the five. He looked like a scrappy version of Leonardo Dicaprio from that gangs movie. He had been glaring at Ping and Haley then he turned that spiteful gaze to me and my dance partner. I knew now that if we had been a minute later, the remaining twin would have been in their clutches. I couldn’t get a lock on him at all. Can’t break a shield if I can’t find it. His was easy to read though. If it was just my two Lycan and me, they would have taken me on but he felt the two at the front door and three at the back.
“A Pretty Piece of Flesh” started playing. A blade got pressed against my stomach Damn it. The one behind me took the advantage of my momentary distraction. “Leo” moved from his position and wove his way through the crowd, pushing aside a few who didn’t move out of his way. Just the way he stalked me, he was the Alpha Vampire of this murdering group. He slammed his body hard up against me, forcing the blade through my shirt and pricking my skin just below my rib cage.
“You should have just stayed on your back like the little fuck toy you were intended to be.”
Shade had said that I would know when I met a Blood who’s soul had died. Here he was. I looked up into his eyes. They were dark with fury. They also reflected the Vampire that was holding me from behind. This one was groomed into an inch of his life. His jet hair was brylcreamed right to his scalp and his had a meticulous moustache and a little patch under his lip.
He brought his hand up to my face and he ran his thumb along my lower lip. “Fuck toy.”
“Not yours.” I voice was arctic.
Hades smile was creepy. This guy’s just froze my blood. “I could make you mine. You’ve grown up in safety, fuck toy. Claudius maybe Number One, but he works within a set confined of rules. I don’t “ He cut the pad of his thumb my fang. He looked at it, squeezed out more blood then ran it under my left eye, leaving a bloody trail with a light scent of earthworms after a spring rain.
“Such beautiful eyes. Next time we meet, I’ll take one home with me.”
He moved fast but I was sandwiched between these two. He tangled his hand in my ran and wrenched my neck to the right. He rammed his fangs at full extension right into my neck. Moustache moved hand and fanged me from the other side. Leo grabbed my crotch and forced his thigh hard up between my legs. I couldn’t move. Both of them had worked a binding on me
The click of a cocking revolver sent Leo’s head back, wrenching out of my neck. This time I couldn’t keep my cry muffled. “Time for you to go, or you can die here.” Ping held the Glock easily pointed at the back of Leo’s head.
“Someone else who doesn’t know their place.”
“My place is before my Alpha.”
I bit back half a scream as Moustache was ripped away from my neck on the other side. He staggered sideways from the punch Vladimir gave him. Leo didn’t give Vladimir or his partner in crime a second glance. He keep that soulless gaze on me. “Alpha? You dare to challenge Britta?” He chuckled. It had nothing to go with mirth. “She will cut off your balls, fuck toy. I’ll still want you after that. If I cut off your wings and give them to her, she’ll let me keep you. If that little scream is anything to go by, you’ll be an A-class fuck.”
“Not that you’ll ever get the chance.” Vladimir ripped me out of Leo’s hands, pulling me back against him.
Leo looked at the Lycan’s possessive hold and his face turned into a mask of disgust. “You soiled yourself with lesser Bloods. I’ll have to peel your flesh off to remove all signs of taint before I can fuck you.”
“Go now.” Ping ordered.
The binding dropped. My bones had been sucked out by them and I plummeted. Vladimir kept me from crashing to the ground. My neck was out of alignment from the force of his bite.
Leo licked his crimson stained lips. “Cinnamon. I was expecting something a little lighter from you, more sweet. Keep the kid. He wasn’t much of a challenge any way. Think of me, Fuck Toy. Think of what pleasures there will be when you’re mine. Well, at least I will be getting pleasure out of it.”
“You will have to kill us all first, Vampire before you touch Lord Alpha again.”
“Looking forward to it.” Leo and Moustache ghosted into the crowd.
Holy shit. I lifted a hand to my neck. I was still bleeding. /Retreat!/
Ping stepped up and flicked my hair back. /Get him to the car now. Blood pack on both wounds and on his fangs. Make sure he drinks it./
They were strong. Hades never showed his full strength and I wasn’t stupid enough to really believe I could take him on if he really wanted to win. But these two…and they’re were five of them. Vladimir caught me up in bridal pose and rushed me out the door. The human Goth children weren’t concerned…they didn’t see it? Or it happened so fast? Or where those two powerful enough to wipe the memory of everyone in that club. The run down the stepped jarred me neck painfully. I groaned.
Vladimir stepped up his pace. I ended up in the middle bench seat propped up against Vladimir. True to Ping’s orders, he forced a blood pack in my mouth then poked a hole in two packs then end them against the gaping chasms in my throat. Werewolves didn’t stand a chance against them. Caged or not. A lone Lycan would be dead meat as well. I shuddered. Leo meant everything he said. How the hell was I going to kill someone who was already dead, twice over?
The pack plus one ran up to the car. Ping jumped into the front behind the wheel. Haley pushed the werewolf in beside her then squeezed in himself. Manu climbed in beside me then snagged Pyotr and sat him on his lap. Since their relationship was out in the open in the pack was the point in pretending it wasn’t. Besides Pyotr didn’t mind sitting on Manu. Baojia and Sang Kyu climbed in through the backdoor and nobody said anything until the Nomad was rumbling and on the road.
Ping looked into the rearview mirror. “What the fuck was that?”
I think everyone blinked to have swear words come out of her mouth. “That is what has been killing off werewolves.” Vladimir returned. “I’ve never seen their like before. Alpha?”
My neck was stinging. I tried to sit up but Vladimir tightened his hold and Pyotr pulled my feet up and rested them there. “I couldn’t sense them. I didn’t even feel that one come up behind me.” I hissed as I straightened up my head. There was a loud crick as my vertebrate snapped back into place.
“Everyone, this is Ronan.” Haley still held the trembling youth. He stared at everyone. Werewolves for the most part there ignored by purebred Lycan. Sort of like the bastards that nobles would leave behind in their conquests. Something like me. Until an heir is needed then they come sniffing around.
The teenager was barely holding it together. He survived his family’s brutal slaying only to be hounded by their killers for a week. He turned and looked at me, terror flickered in his eyes. Vampires were not friends to him. “I was going to say you’re safe, but we all know that’s a lie. I can say you’re not alone anymore, Ronan. It’s safe to say we’ve all just made the hit list.”
The poor werewolf broke down completely. Haley gathered him close. Ping reached out and stroked the little boy’s hair. The terror…yes, the absolute dark terror that Leo had driven into my own shiny soul hit me hard as well. I threw up on the floor. He meant everything he whispered to me. I would be a one eyed, wingless, skinless eunuch of a fuck toy if he got his way. That last lingering dead eyed glance told me that Leo always got his way.
* * *