Fire & Ice (5 page)

The woman's hair was a fiery red which contrasted the pale skin of her neck
wonderfully
. Although I hadn't seen her face, the scent was enough to draw me in. Beauty meant little in the way of necessity. Several whores tried blocking my way, reeling from their last fix and begging for more. Irritated, I shoved them aside, determined to continue my pursuit.

Scanning the room once more, I detected her fragrance yet again. She sat alone at a dimly lit table, rimming a glass with her finger. Different sensations filled her aura; anxiety, excitement, reluctance, lust. I savored them all like a moth to a flame.

Sensing my bold gaze, she looked up for a moment and blushed. Sweet, sweet crimson painted her fair skin. I'd made the right choice. I knew her bashful demeanor was merely a ploy. It always was with women like her.

"Do you care if I join you?" I nodded at the empty seat beside her.

"That depends," she smiled shyly.

"On what?" I toyed.

"You aren't going to bleed me like
those other vampires, are you?" a
hint of excitement tainted her fear.

"Only if you asked me to," I winked.

"I would never! I couldn't imagine..."

"So is that a yes?" I smiled wide.

She smiled crookedly and nodded toward the chair. Without a word, I sat and draped my arm around the back of hers.

“I’ve not seen you here before. What brings you to our corner of the world?” I traced a finger along the back of her neck.

“I’m looking for someone,” she shivered.

“They must be quite the person if you’ve vent
ured here. Do tell, my lady,
” I drank from my glass as she squirmed.

“My sister. She’s been known to partake in the activities here. I’m trying to bring her home.”

“What type of activities?”
I chuckled.

“You know damn
well what type of activities, s
ir. Do othe
r women fall for your charms?” s
he shifted herself to face me. Frustration
poured off her in
waves.

“Charms? No, they fall for my gentlemanly ways and
overall good nature. I dare say
I rarely need to charm women. They’re smart enough to decide who they bed, wouldn’t you agree?” I leaned toward her, inhaling her scent.

“Ugh, you are vile.”

“I’m only vile because you are moist just from my mentioning bedding. You know I’d be a romp worth the chance. How about this, I’ll see if I can find your sister.  If so, I’ll leave you to bringing her home.  If not, my payment is an evening of your time.  If you decide I’m truly vile, I’ll disappear from y
our life and you won’t remember,” m
y hand traced up her thigh, but she didn’t stop it. Her eyes fluttered slightly and I knew she was just as starved as I.

“And
if I don’t think you’re vile?”
she whispered as I reached her treasure.

“Well, my lady, that could make for a very entertaining evening,” I pressed my lips to her neck and she stiffened a moment.

“Find my sister first, and then we’ll talk of payment.
Are you a man of your word?” s
he met my eyes with a piercing gaze.

“Inde
ed I am. Tell me of your sister,”
I kissed her neck again, allowing myself to indulge in her softness.

Her reaction to my dancing fingers was enough to break a man, but I was versed in discrete encounters. She gasped and grasped my wrist, plunging my fingers in deeper. For a moment, I’d forgotten our arrangement, but just as fast as it began, it ended.

“Not until we try to find her. You may have a way with words, and hands, but I have business to attend to first.
Surely you can respect that?” s
he held my hand to her thigh, panting from the ever so brief pleasure.

“I suppose I have to. Now, tell me of your sister.” I sat back and listened to her description while I sipped my scotch. She was an interesting woman. Part of my mind was detached while she talked, trying to recall a memory long forgotten. I wondered if I would have done the same for a sibling when I was human.

“How long has she been coming here?” I asked slowly.

“I’m uncertain. It hasn’t been long since she left home. Even there she talked of the excitement of places such as this. If father would have known, he would have chained her to the bed. Vampires are killed where I’m from.”

“But you know she’s here?”

“I received a telegram a week ago. She told me she was here, but I’ve been here for two days now and not seen her. I don’t know where else to look.”

“What is her name?”

“Alicia. She is about my height, but her hair is a darker red, almost brown. We look almost the same aside from that. Do you think you’ve seen her?” she asked excitedly.

“I’m not sure. Stay here. Don’t try to follow me. My scent is on you now, so no other men should bother you, but you must stay put. Forgive me for my rudeness, but I never asked your name?”

“Elise. And yours?”

“Christian. It is a pleasure,
” I bent low and kissed her hand.

“Well Christian, for what it’s worth, you certainly make an impression,” she giggled.

“As do you,” I smiled. “Now stay put until I return.”

Sure enough, I knew her sister well. I also knew she didn’t want to be found. She wasn’t a bloodwhore, but rather belonged to a fellow vampire. Alicia couldn’t leave him even if she wanted to. If she did, Darren would be in tow.

“How are you this evening, Christian? Enjoying the palette?” Darren laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.

“As always, brother, my tastes are far less loose. I’ve actually encountered a rather strange situation this evening. It seems the sister of your human is here to collect her.”

“Is that so? Well, did you inform her of her sister’s betrothal?”

“No, I wanted her to see for herself that her sister is unharmed and spoken for. The lady doesn’t know me from Adam. She’s no reason to believe me,” I chuckled.

“I see. Shall we pay the lady a visit
then? Alicia, we have a visitor,” t
he buxom red head cooed at Darren as she came to rest on his arm.

“Hello Christian!
Surely, you are no guest here. Who are you speaking of, darling?”

“I believe your sister is waiting.”

“Elise? What would possess her to come here?” she stiffened.

“It seems the telegram you sent, my lady, made her believe you were in harm’s way. She came to collect you. I didn’t think it would suffice for me to give her the news,” I stated matter-of-factly.

“I see. Darren, would you mind if I talked to my sister alone? Christian can accompany me,” she smiled briefly before turning to her lover.

“I suppose. Hurry back, though. We need to get g
oing. Sunrise is in a few hours,” t
hey kissed for an eternity before Alicia took my arm.

I led her to Elise, all the while trying not to react to her racing pulse. I was thirsty; much too thirsty to be among another vampire’s consort. She said very little as we wound around half-naked bodies and passed out women. She was clearly shaken by her sister’s appearance, but she was also frightened.

“O
h thank heavens you’re alright!”
Elise jumped and hugged her sister.

“Of course I’m alright! Why did you come here? I told you in the telegram that I was well. For heaven’s sake, Elise!” she berated her.

“I had to see for myself. You just left! Not a word about where you were going or why. Then I get a telegram that tells me you’re well and happy in someplace where good things don’t usually happen. Why do you come here? You aren’t like those other women, are you?”

The look of disgust on Alicia’s face almost made me laugh, “Christ, Elise, what kind of woman do you think I am! I belong to someone. His name is Darren and he’s incredibly kind and more human than most human men I’ve met. I’m forever his, Elise. I’m happy that way.”

“You…belong to him? That’s preposterous! No woman belongs to a man, sister.”

“Well I do. Go home, Elise. Tell mother and father I’ve gotten married and I’m happy and well. And the next time I send a letter, don’t follow me.”

Elise’s stricken expression stirred something inside me. She hadn’t expected to be dismissed so quickly and it cut her. After escorting Alicia back to Darren, I wished them well and made my way back to Elise. She still sat with the same expression as when her sister dismissed her.

“I have no way home. I spent the last of my coin to co
me here. What am I to do now?” h
er voice shook while she looked to me for answers.

“I’ll see what I can do, Elise. Come on, you can stay with me until we get you home.”

“I’m not sure I should,” she said as she wiped her eyes with her kerchief.

“I will be a gentleman. I’m not one to take advantage of a lady when she’s unwilling. Let us leave.” Reluctantly, she took my arm and never looked back.

Chapter 7

Colorado, Present Day

"A few human women wanted to be mine, but I
didn’t cross that line
.
I barely crossed it with vampires,” I smirked.

"What does that mean?" she shivered. I suspected it wasn't from the cold.

"
I wasn’t a one-woman-man back then. Jasmine and Alex had integrated me into their lifestyle, which was all about being free. I didn’t realize how stupid that was until later,
" I said slowly.

"So you liked being free?” she swallowed hard.

"
I wouldn’t say I liked it, rather it was all I knew. You have to remember, before I met them I wandered around killing people because I had no rhyme or reason, no understanding of who I was or what it meant.”

“Oh,” she made a face.

I chuckled, “What was that face for?”

“The person you’re explaining is much different than the one sitting in front of me. It’s like, instead of only doing away with the bad parts, you shut out the good parts, too. I understand not wanting to kill people, but did you really want
to keep people out so badly?” s
he chewed her lip.

“I don’t aim to push anyone away, but there’s something you need to understand. My emotions, vampire type emotions, are much stronger than a human’s. Take what you feel, knowing how strong it is, and multiply that times a thousand. Even that probably wouldn’t be sufficient enough to describe it.

“When I hurt or mourn, it’s so painful I cry tears of blood. When I am happy, it warms like the sun. When I love, it’s…”

“It’s what?” she eyed me.

“It’s supposed to be all encompassing. Like my breath isn’t my own. Each day is lived only as a means of being with the object of that love,” I drew a shaky breath. “But what is worse, is the fear. An unsh
akable, gut wrenching fear that
if I allow myself to fall in love, something will happen. I’m not even sure I know what love feels like,” my voice trailed at the end. I knew what it felt like, but I didn’t want to cross the line.

“How do you know so much about it, then?” she accused.

“I lived with Alex and Jasmine a long time. Even though she and I were lovers, she didn’t love me. Alex was her love. They lived and breathed for one another. For Alex, the sun wouldn’t rise if she wasn’t beside him. And for Jasmine, she couldn’t be without him for long before she itched for his touch. While it was irritating at the time, I don’t know if I’ve felt
the same way,
” I watched her squirm under my gaze.

“I see,” she said quietly, looking anywhere but at my face.

"Are you alright?" I asked when she was quiet for some time.

"I'm fine
," she glanced at me briefly.

I shook my head, “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?” she played coy.

“You pretend like I can’t tell when you’re lying. We may be outside, but I can cut the tension surrounding you with a spoon,” I gestured in the air.

“It doesn’t matter what I say, Christian,” she shook her head sadly. “Please, just continue with the story.”

I sat there, staring at her blankly. Harsh words sat on the tip of my tongue, but I held it firmly between my teeth. Lashing out when I was angry was never a good thing, especially with Lia.

"
Fine,” I shifted so I was facing away from her. “
After Europe, we moved through Asia, Russia and Africa. Things
started to get complicated the
longer we stayed because people were beginning to fight back. In some countries, there were brotherhoods that would set traps for us at night. They'd use young men and women to draw us out and then ambush whichever vampires were there. They mostly used wooden stakes, but some became familiar with old world lore and started using chained silver."

"I thought silver was only lethal to werewolves?"

"To be honest, we are both susceptible to death by any of these. Werewolves are human with heightened immune systems and numerous other specialties
,
so they can be killed fairly easily if weakened by silver. Vampires are harder to kill because we're usually faster, but silver weakens us just the same. For us, our death is only met with a stake or by
UV rays
. Either way, it's no picnic," I laughed morbidly.