Jude Stephens (18 page)

I was laughing so hard that I had a hard time
catching my breath. When I finally was able to speak again I said,
“I’m sorry that Cheve hit you, but it may have sounded like you
were coming on to him. You asked him if he thinks you’re
handsome.”

I started laughing again picturing Cheve’s
reaction.

“
Okay, now I’m embarrassed. He
probably thinks that I’m still in need.”

That made me laugh even harder. When I could control
myself I said to Alex, “When I first met Cheve I thought he might
be gay, and now he thinks you were hitting on him. This is too
funny.”

Alex’s grin was evil. “You know we could have some
fun with this.”

I shook my head no. “Don’t try and antagonize the
man. He is my friend.”

“
Okay, I’ll let him be, but I do
owe him one for socking me in the jaw.”

I changed my shirt and we left the room. Alex threw
my bag back in the car. Cheve was still leaning against the
car.

“
Cheve, Alex is going to feed and
then we’ll be ready to leave. I’m going with him.”

He gave Alex a dirty look. “Do you
think that’s wise?”

Alex looked at Cheve with a steel glint in his eye.
“I would never do anything to bring harm to Wren. I value her life
above my own.”

Were these two ever going to be able to get along, I
wondered. “Let’s just get going Alex.” I pulled him by the arm. “So
who are we going to bite tonight?” I asked him.

He looked around and nodded towards the hotel’s
office. “How about the desk clerk?”

I took a deep breath. “Okay let’s go get you
dinner.”

When we opened the door the desk clerk looked up and
smiled. “Hello, how I can I help you this evening?”

He continued smiling as Alex walked up close to the
desk. Alex smiled back and said, “Do you have a map? I’m afraid
we’re a bit lost.”

The clerk replied, “Of course. Let me just go in the
back and get one.” The clerk stepped into a small room behind him
and Alex and I followed. I closed the door as Alex went behind the
man, slightly leaned in and the next thing I knew the man was
slowly being lowered to the ground by Alex.

“
What did you do to him? Did you
mesmerize him? I’ve seen that in the movies.”

Alex turned towards me and rolled his eyes. “No I
didn’t mesmerize him. I applied pressure to his carotid artery and
he passed out.”

“
But you barely touched
him!”

“
I’ve had years to practice the
technique. I can tell by the flow of blood just how much pressure
to apply. This man’s arteries are clogged with cholesterol. The
blood flows slowly. He only needed a slight pressure to bring him
down.”

Alex lifted the man’s arm and rolled his sleeve up
baring his wrist. Without ceremony, his fangs slid out and he bit
into the man’s wrist. Alex didn’t drink long and when he was done
he licked the wound. He rolled the man’s sleeve back down and
lifted him into a nearby chair.

Alex’s eyes met mine. “Now you know the reality of a
vampire’s life. It’s not either all good or all bad. It’s life
trying to survive.”

I had to admit it was kind of anticlimactic. I had
expected mesmerizing eyes and commanding words and had gotten bite,
drink, done instead.

“
Will he be okay?” I asked as Alex
opened the door and escorted me back outside.

“
He’ll be fine. He will wake in
about fifteen minutes feeling a little groggy that’s all. I didn’t
take much from him.”

When we got back to the cars both Mark and Cheve
were waiting. Cheve pushed himself off of the SUV and said, “I
think it’s best if Alex rides with Mark again. There’s no way of
knowing if he will get into the same state again.”

I began to protest when Alex interrupted, “I agree.
At the moment I’m fine, but I don’t want to test it. I apologize to
everyone for the hold up.”

Mark shrugged. “Bullet enjoyed taking a walk.”

Alex looked at Mark and nodded. I was surprised at
Mark’s show of support for Alex.

I wrapped my arms around Alex. “See you soon
handsome.”

Alex kissed my forehead and
grinned at me. “That’s right. You called me handsome before. You
think I’m sexy, don’t you?” He wagged his eyebrows at me and hopped
in the car next to Mark. I walked over to the SUV and slid into the
front seat beside Cheve.

“
Fucking Vampires,” was all he
said as he pulled out of the parking lot.

Chapter 18

We got to the swamp an hour before sunrise. We had
to walk the last two miles and kept a brisk pace. Bullet loved
it.

When we got to the edge of the swamp I said, “Where
the hell is Leeds? He promised that he would meet us here.”

“
I’m over here, Sugar
Lips.”

I turned around and sure enough there was Leeds
standing tall at close to seven feet. As always my breath caught at
the sight of him. He truly was gorgeous. His long black hair was
loose and flowed just past his shoulders.

I knew from memory that his body was rock hard. He
had muscles that bulged in all the right places. The only thing
that took some getting used to was the fact that his eyes glowed
red, but that was only at night.

I ran to him and threw my arms around him and hugged
him tight. “Oh Leeds it’s so good to see you again.”

“
Awww, Sugar Lips it’s good to see
you too. Um, have you been working out?”

I laughed even as Alex came over and took Leeds
hands off of my butt.

Leeds looked at Alex and then at me. “Awww, don’t
tell me that you got rid of one vampire and then got another
one?”

Alex glared at him and Cheve laughed. I somehow
remembered my manners. “Leeds I want you to meet some of my
friends. This is Cheve. He is my Sensay trainer, and this is Mark,
my friend.”

Leeds looked at them, nodded and to me said, “I
really wish that it was only you here. I could use your help.”

“
My help? With what?”

“
I’d rather not say.” Leeds’ face
went blank and he began to rub himself.

Alex swore. “Holy hell, Leeds. Control yourself!
Don’t you think we better get moving if we want to get to your
cottage before sunrise?”

Leeds shook himself out of his trance. “Okay. Bloody
hell, you vampires are a pushy lot.”

Leeds led the way to a row boat. I looked at our
group. We weren’t all going to fit. “There’s no way we’re all going
to fit. Bullet will have to wait and have someone come back for
him.”

Leeds looked at us, “Which one is Bullet?”

“
Bullet is my wolf.”

Leeds eyes looked around wildly, “Wolf? You brought
a wolf with you?”

Alex chuckled at him, “Are you afraid of a
doggie?”

“
Alex, please. Leeds there’s no
reason to fear Bullet. He is as gentle as a lamb.”

Leeds didn’t exactly look afraid, he looked
pissed.

“
Leeds, Bullet is a special wolf,
and I promise he won’t cause any trouble. If it makes you feel any
better he can sleep in the work shed out back.”

Leeds still looked angry but said, “Okay. I don’t
want no wolf running through my house.”

Having solved that crisis, I called for Bullet who
was out doing God knows what in the woods. He came trotting through
the bush and once again I found myself admiring this animal. I
leaned down and rubbed his head. “We’re going to go over to the
cottage now, Boy. Mark will come back for you in a little while.
Stay out of trouble okay?”

As usual, Bullet looked at me with complete
comprehension and lowered his huge body to the ground and laid his
head on his paws.

We climbed into the boat and headed off. I saw Alex
glancing at the sky and knew it would be cutting it close to dawn.
I reached over and squeezed his hand. The electricity crackled
between us and I quickly dropped his hand. It seemed that the lust
the blood bond created was still there.

Thankfully the trip across the swamp was uneventful
and since we were all just carrying a backpack, there was no need
to unload the boat. With the exception of Mark, we all took off in
the direction of Leeds’ cottage.

As soon as the cottage came into view I asked Leeds,
“Is it all right if Alex and I stay in the same room I was in last
time?” I wasn’t thrilled to be in the same room that Roberto and I
had shared, but I knew that there were no windows in there and
would be better protection for Alex.

Leeds mumbled, “Sure. Why don’t you tuck your latest
vampire into bed and I’ll make breakfast for the rest of you.”

I glared at him over the latest vampire crack. Leeds
opened the door to the cottage and everything was pretty much as I
remembered it; however, there was an odor that I had a hard time
defining. It almost seemed animal in nature but that wasn’t quite
it. Oh well, I thought to myself, one never knew with Leeds and
what he was up to.

I looked admiringly around the room. It was a
surprisingly lovely cottage that could make one believe they had
stepped into a cottage in the English countryside, which is what
I’m sure Leeds was trying for. His family was comprised of English
settlers who settled in this area in the 1700’s. A stroke of fate
and genetics made Leeds what he is today. The so-called Jersey
Devil.

I led Alex down a short hall to the bedroom that I
stayed in last time. Alex was unusually quiet.

I dropped my backpack on the floor and said, “Thank
God we made it in time. I was worried.”

Alex smiled at me. “I’m gladder than you are. It
sucks being caught out in the sun unconscious.”

“
Has that ever happened to
you?”

“
Just once when I was young.
Annika and I were out playing hide and seek. I got lost in the
woods, but luckily when the topor came upon me I was in some pretty
thick brush. Our servants found me before the midday sun burned
me.”

“
I remember Roberto telling me
that a vampire is just sensitive to the sun.”

“
That’s true, but when you’re
young the sun is much more dangerous. A young vampire is more
susceptible in a number of ways. When we’re young, our need for
blood is higher.

“
Think of it as a young human, you
go through growth spurts and need to take in more calories. It’s
the same thing with our death sleep. The topor comes on very
quickly for the young, but as you age, you may be able to hold off
a little longer and wake a bit earlier.”

I realized how little Roberto had told me about
vampires during our time together and voiced my opinion, “I don’t
know why Roberto never told me these things.”

As Alex began undressing he said, “Do you remember
me telling you once that there is a great divide between the old
vampires and the young?”

I nodded trying to concentrate while Alex stripped
off his shirt as he continued, “Well, it’s more like a war then a
divide. The council of vampires in which Roberto is a member, does
not want to budge their stance on issues. They believe things must
remain the same. The oldest vampires rule with an iron fist.

“
They have a long list of rules,
no mating outside the species, no divulging our strengths, no
humans for food, no other councils may be formed, no breaking of
bonds. They are absolute in their ways and will not even consider
change.”

“
What kind of change?”

“
We mainly want to have a say and
representation on the council. Many on the council hold on to the
old ways and do not embrace the changes in the world. We would
bring the vampires of the world together with the technology that
is available in order to help each other.”

I could see that Alex was passionate about his cause
when he grasped my hands and said, “Wren, there are vampires in
this world that are ashamed of what they are. They are led to
believe that they are abominations and mistakes from God. It is
heartbreaking to see a young pup hating himself for being
different. Just like in human society, there are those vampires who
live in ignorance.”

I wrapped my arms around him, my heart melting at
his compassion.

“
How can the council ignore such
things?”

“
They live in the past, Wren. They
don’t see a need to change things when it’s worked this way for
hundreds upon hundreds of years. That’s why Roberto never told you
too much about vampires. That is the way of the elders.”

I was glad that Alex explained things to me. It made
me understand why Roberto was more reserved and why he had never
explained things to me. I said, “Thank you Handsome, for trusting
me and bringing me into your world.”

Alex took my chin between his thumb and forefinger
and tilted my head back so he could look into my eyes. “You are my
world.” He lightly brushed his lips over mine and I could feel his
body begin to relax as the topor overcame him.

“
Damn,” was all he said as he let
go of me and made his way to the bed. I helped him off with the
rest of his clothes and right before he succumbed to his death
sleep he whispered, “I love you.”

Knowing that he couldn’t hear me, I whispered back,
“I love you too.”

I stared at his handsome face a few minutes before I
made myself get up and head to the kitchen to find the others.

Cheve was seated at the table staring at Leeds with
his eyebrows furrowed as Leeds stood by the stove cracking eggs and
humming the Benny Hill theme song. I sat down just as Cheve said to
Leeds “So Big Guy, you like the Benny Hill show?”

Leeds didn’t turn around when he replied, “Huh?
Never heard of it.”

Cheve glanced in my direction with a slightly
alarmed look on his face. I just shrugged in response. Mark walked
in and sat down.