HUNTERS OF DARKNESS

Taking a couple of days off work seemed like the wise thing to do, and going with the stomach ailment story fit right in with this plan. During the next day, she still did not sleep, but she did blacken out the windows with heavy blankets and quilts to keep the sunlight out. Then, it was time to get on the internet and learn all she could about vampires, and she read relentlessly.

Most of the information she found was based on books and movies. Works of fiction would do her no good so they were filtered out as best she could. She went back as far as she could, finally looking for the oldest records of vampires, and a logical place to start was Dracula himself. This turned out to be an eye opener as she separated fact from fiction. He was far more than she had imagined. Then, it was time to research these Roeskellovs, and what she found there was even more frightening. They were an obscure family and not much information was available, but what little there was gave them an air of mystery, and the more she learned, the deeper the mystery seemed to go. Spiritual advisors to Vladimir Dracul and later his son, they wielded far more power than anyone realized, and probably more than the information she found would reveal. And as suddenly as they appeared in history, they vanished.

During this all night study, Wendy never really got fatigued, but she did find herself having to deal with the hunger from time to time. The whole time she did not change out of the long tee shirt she normally wore to bed. May as well be comfortable.

On the second night, as she sat cross-legged on her couch with her computer in her lap, she read her latest find and held a big wine glass in her hand full of blood with a shot of rum and a couple of ice cubes. Finding a way to enjoy the blood was a task in itself and she experimented with every new glass. This latest concoction was something she called a Bloody Wendy, and it seemed to be the most appealing mixture she had come up with yet.

That second night was proving to be the most productive and as she sipped on her drink she seemed to anticipate the ringing of the phone this time and was reaching for it before it had a chance to ring.

Putting it to her ear as she continued to read, she simply answered with, “Yo. Hey, Sebastian. No, just playing on the internet. What’s up with you?” She clicked her mouse to read the next page. “Ah, sounds fun. So, you eat anyone important lately?” She smiled. “Not as good as me, huh? Okay, now you’re just sucking up.” Her eyes widened as she raised them from the computer screen. “It’s tonight? When?” Glancing about, she nodded and agreed, “Okay, I think I can be ready then. What should I wear? I’m guessing the Roeskellovs won’t like me coming in there looking like a hooker. Of course, we both know that you like that look. Okay, I’ll see what I have that’s kind of formal. Everyone dressing in black? Really! How about red? Red makes my hair look really awesome! Okay, see you in an hour.” She hung up and read a while longer.

Finally closing her laptop, she set it on the coffee table and curled up for a moment, drawing her legs to her and wrapping her arms around them as she stared ahead blankly for a moment. Vampire or no, she felt that nervous crawl in her stomach. She had been turned three days ago, her gallon of blood was almost gone, and now she would have to meet others, and she did not feel ready to do so. This was going to be hard, but such things were not necessarily new to her, and she would handle herself as she always did. Drawing a deep breath to calm herself, she blew it back out through pursed lips.

Time to get ready.

The car that Sebastian had sent her was a black, stretch limousine with blacked out windows and very little chrome on it. The wheels were also black. It parked out in front of her building and just sat there and she stared at it through her window for a time. Now dressed in a tight fitting bright red dress with a knee length skirt that was also very tight around her hips, she felt as ready as she was going to get. The top was very low cut and sleeveless, held in place by a single strap around her neck. A white sash around her waist was tightly in place. High heeled shoes the same color as her dress were in her hand as she worked up the nerve to go down to the car.

As she watched the car, a rather large fellow in a black suit got out and walked around to the passenger side. Once there, he stood by the door with his hands folded in front of him, and he was staring up at the window she was looking out of.

Wendy retreated from the window a few steps, just staring at it for another moment before she turned and headed for the door.

It was time to go.

With her hair restrained behind her in a barrette and dangling to her lower back, she had put on long, dangling earrings and a gold necklace, both of which had belonged to her late mother. She was used to walking in high heels and adopted the sultry strides of someone who expected to be treated as if she was very important.

As she approached the car, the big man reached to the handle and opened the door for her. Staying in character, she acknowledged him only with a glance as she half turned and slid into the spacious back seat of the limousine.

As she settled herself within and the driver closed the door, she lounged back, then froze as her eyes found Sebastian sitting across from her.

His hands were folded in his lap, his eyes fixed on her in an unblinking stare. He was formally dressed in a black tuxedo with a ruffled shirt, gold cufflinks, and a black cape was folded on the seat beside him. His hair was, of course, perfectly groomed. She couldn’t be sure, but he appeared to be wearing some kind of make-up to accentuate his pale features, but this could also have been the lighting. That predator’s stare of his still made her nervous, but she was learning to play that as well.

Keeping her cool like she nearly always did, Wendy decided she would pull some power plays of her own. As she folded her legs, she subtly pulled the skirt over her knee, locking her eyes on his and almost smiling as his gaze drifted to her legs. When he did not speak right away, she decided to break the ice with, “So, is this considered our first or second date?”

He shrugged and offered, “That will be your choice.”

Wendy nodded, then smoothed the skirt over her thigh and asked, “So what can I expect from these people when we get there?”

“You can expect them to behave like the aristocrats they are,” was his answer. “They are of an ancient line and they expect to be treated as the powerful people they are. That means with respect and dignity, with—”

“Kiss their asses,” she finished for him. “Gotcha.”

He sighed, clearly trying to restrain his patience. “Wendy, have you ever been in the presence of royalty?”

“Depends on what you mean by royalty. We tend to lock up a lot of drag queens for some reason.”

“I think you know what I mean, Pet.”

Her eyes narrowed. “We talked about that, Sebastian.”

“So we did,” he conceded softly. “Now, let me help you survive the night, would you?”

She raised her chin and folded her hands on her knee. “You want me to know about these Roeskellov people so I don’t screw up and piss them off.”

“For starters,” he confirmed.

“Ancient Romanian line,” she reported. “Count Ivan Roeskellov was an important landowner and aristocrat in Northern Romania in the thirteen and fourteen hundreds. They were pretty tight with a man named Vlad Tepes the second, who was accepted into the Secret Fraternal Order of Knights founded by King Sigismund of Hungary, who in fourteen ten became the Holy Roman Emperor. Within this order of knights he was given the name Vladimir Dracul, dracul being Romanian for dragon. Upon his death and the death of his oldest son, Vlad the third, or Vladimir Dracula as he came to be known, which means son of the dragon, took control and began a reign of terror that is still legendary to this day. What most people don’t know is that he was supported during his six year rule of Transylvania by an obscure noble family, the Roeskellovs, who acted as spiritual advisors to the young king and basically made policy for the country through him. Apparently, they had it in for the Ottoman Turks and fought them at every turn.

“Turns out Dracula was not a real nice guy, and later got the nickname Vlad the Impaler. He impaled tens of thousands of people, mostly Turkish prisoners, and left their bodies on those poles for months. He was something of a blood thirsty maniac and openly consumed blood with his meals as he watched people impaled or otherwise tortured to death. This made the Roeskellovs uneasy, apparently, and political support for him from them and Hungary kind of went away. The last time he marched out against the Turks he’s supposed to have been killed, but nobody knows for sure who killed him. They do know that the Turks were afraid of him enough to decapitate him and display his head in Constantinople while the rest of him was buried in Bucharest. The Roeskellovs managed to remain unusually neutral during all of this, but they sure knew how, when, and where to make their presence known. Not much else is known about them except nobody really messes with them and even the Nazis went to them for guidance during World War Two.”

“You’ve done your homework,” Sebastian observed.

“I skimmed over a few things,” she confirmed. “It’s pretty clear that Vlad the Impaler got to power with a lot of help from them, and then suddenly acquired a thirst for blood from his victims, and his enemies feared him enough to remove his head. And he died right about the time he fell out of favor with them.”

“That should tell you something,” he warned. “They still hold power over many sitting governments to this day. They are not to be trifled with, Wendy, and you’ll need to be on your best behavior. We wouldn’t want you to meet Vlad’s fate, now would we?”

“No, we wouldn’t,” she confirmed. “And I have to meet them tonight, why?”

“They already know about you,” he informed, “and they’ll be wanting to inspect you.”

She raised her brow. “And if I don’t pass inspection?”

“Then your fate will be sealed anyway, and my saving you would have been for naught.”

“Nice to know,” she grumbled. “You know, I’ve been out with a lot of weird guys in my life, but you really take the cake, Sweetie. I guess Vanessa passed inspection?”

“Three hundred years before you were born,” he replied.

Nodding, Wendy complimented, “She looks really good for her age.”

“Another aristocrat,” he informed. “Something of a spoiled girl when we met, issues with her father and all that.”

She smiled, adding, “And an animal between the sheets, I’ll bet.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, something like that.”

“And she’s just not doing it for you anymore and now you’re moving up to a redhead. Dangerous move, Mister Vampire.”

“I’m not replacing her,” he corrected.

“Uh, huh,” she said with a tone of disbelief.

“Will you know what to do when you meet the Roeskellov emissary?”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “But how will this emissary like their ass kissed? Little peck on the cheek? Wet and sloppy? A little tongue action? I ain’t doing that one!”

“Probably the less you say the better,” he advised. “It is expected that I will speak for you and you should let me unless addressed directly.”

“Undressed?” she asked. “Oh, addressed. Gotcha.”

He loosed another breath, shaking his head as he mumbled, “I should have spent the last couple of days tutoring you.”

“Oh, yeah,” she countered. “Vanessa would just love that, wouldn’t she?”

“Don’t worry over her, Wendy.”

“Oh, I won’t. She starts anything with me now I’m definitely kicking her ass.”

“Let’s not have any kicking of ass tonight, okay? It won’t be looked favorably upon.” He looked toward the window as the car turned and stopped, then he turned his gaze back to her and advised, “Remember what I said, my dear, everything.”

She offered him a little smile and assured, “No problem, Sweetie.”

The door opened and she found herself looking at the huge double doors of what appeared to be some kind of country club. They had traveled outside of the city and she did not know where they were, but this place looked very extravagant, very expensive, and very well maintained. This was a playground for the rich, the famous, and clearly the important. While impressed, police instincts emerged and she was careful to observe little details, like the address number on the side of the door in big, bold characters: 6900. She was sure she could remember that.

Stepping out, she almost expected to be ambushed by a mob of paparazzi, but the area was clear except for the dozen or so security guys in black suits who stood at the door to the huge house and were spread out over the front of the compound, all of them watching her as she stood near the car awaiting the emergence of Sebastian. They all appeared to be armed and she could not tell if they were vampires or not, only that they would be a force to be reckoned with if things went badly here. Looking around her, she observed that the car was pulled up to the front door and sat on a concrete circular driveway. Well manicured shrubs were evenly spaced, as were half grown trees. The lawn was perfectly cut all around the driveway. Looking beyond all of that, she could see that larger trees stood guard on either side of the driveway and formed near perfect lines all the way to the iron fence and huge, double gate that was just closing. No cars were driving by and she scanned the area more, this time with her new found vampire vision. In the distance she could see the lights of downtown, hear the traffic beyond. Scanning the area again, she absorbed as much detail as she could, though she struggled to figure out where she was.

Sebastian took her arm and led her toward the door, warning in a low voice, “Be on guard about your thoughts, too. Many of the older lines have powers that you cannot begin to imagine and many in there will actively read your thoughts and your emotions. Be aware of this.”

She nodded and offered a smile to one of the security guys as they approached the doors. “Good to know. You sure I can’t just tell them I’m sick?”

“Too late for that,” he informed. “Just don’t be nervous. Stay close to me and volunteer nothing. Just enjoy the party until we are summoned.”

Her gaze darted about again. “Where the heck are we, anyway?”

“A funeral home,” he replied dryly.

She stopped and just stared ahead at the crowd of people who milled about in the large meeting room.

Sebastian tugged on her arm and got her moving forward again. “I’m kidding. The Organization owns many properties and this one is used to entertain very important people.”

“Like the Roeskellovs,” she guessed.

“Like the Roeskellovs,” he confirmed. “It is out of the city and not under the attention of the authorities. The less we are noticed, the better.”

“So, it’s a country club,” she guessed with a nod. “Yeah, that’s pretty low profile.”

“It is very exclusive,” he informed, “and very well guarded.” He nodded to a group of very well dressed people as they paused to look at him and Wendy. “Nobody gets in who is not welcome.”

“And if they do,” she surmised, “they get eaten.”

“Something like that,” he sighed. “Just don’t do or say anything foolish or anything that might draw attention to yourself. Allow me to speak for you and otherwise just remain calm and quiet. We would not want you to be seen unfavorably to the aristocrats.”

With another nod, she grimly said, “Or someone might do something really bad to me like put a stake through my heart or something.”

“Just stay close to me and let me handle things.” His brow lowered and he glanced at her. “Did you say put a stake through your heart?”

The doors were opened for them and they strode in to a huge banquet hall that was full of people, about four hundred of them! At a glance she could not tell who was vampire and who was not, but it was a safe bet that most of them were. There were no trays of Champaign being carried around, no trays of food, no food or drink at all, really. People in formal dress, an equal mix of men and women from the look of them, milled about and were gathered in many smaller groups to hold low voiced conversations. The carpet was not one that she would want to look at long, the lighting was provided by five huge chandeliers and a few booths and tables were distributed evenly along the walls to both sides. Many of the people there paused to give her long looks, and she got a variety of looks from them. Some were looks of admiration, some almost lust, some scrutinized and clearly disapproved of her presence.

With so much attention focused on her, Wendy became more and more nervous, but she clung stubbornly to her composure, her dignity, and managed to offer some of them a shy and friendly smile as she and her escort passed.

About the middle of the room, she found herself under the attention of some middle age looking men whose eyes were locked on her in unblinking stares. They were standing in a group to the right and all were dressed very well, just like the others at the party.

Raising her chin to them, she offered, “Hey, how’s it going?” None responded to her but with those hungry stares.

“You sure this was a good idea?” she mumbled.

“Just relax,” he ordered, his eyes still forward. “You are required to be here so at least act like you are having a good time.”

“Like my life depends on it,” she snarled. “Remind me to kick your ass later.”

“Master Sebastian,” a woman summoned from behind.

And Wendy knew that voice. When she and Sebastian turned, she found the blonde vampire’s eyes already on her, and already filled with contempt.

Vanessa had adopted a sultry walk. She was wearing a white gown that fit her very tightly and was low cut between her breasts, almost to her navel. It was also slit up all the way to her hip on the right side. Only a thin strap held the top in place, leaving her arms and most of her chest bare. It was backless and her hair was worn long behind her, restrained with barrettes on both sides. She wore a silver tiara over her brow and a gold and diamond necklace around her neck with matching earrings dangling from her ears. Her shoes were, of course, high heeled, white and silver and very lovely on her feet.

Finally turning her eyes to Sebastian, Vanessa reached toward him, making sure that Wendy got a good look at the gold and diamond bracelet she wore, and the rings, and she offered a smile and observed, “I see your new pet found her way here. It’s so good to see she did not get lost.” Her eyes slid to Wendy and she still looked anything but pleased.

Taking the blonde vampire’s hand firmly in his, he squeezed it very hard and ordered in a low voice, “I do not want any more unpleasantness between you two, do you understand?”

The pain from her hand made it to her face and Vanessa nodded and complied, “I do, Master, I do.”

He looked to Wendy.

She shrugged and assured, “I’m cool.”

“Sebastian,” someone called from the crowd.

He looked that way and drew a breath, obviously knowing who it was who summoned him. “Very well, ladies. I’ll be back shortly. Remember I want no problems tonight.”

“As you wish, my Lord,” Vanessa assured.

Wendy watched him disappear into the crowd, then she looked back to the blonde vampire and folded her arms. “Well, it’s just you and me again.”

Not looking at her, Vanessa hissed, “He should have just killed you.”

“Yeah,” Wendy sighed, “Woulda shoulda coulda. So are you going to be a total bitch to me until I have to kick your little ass or do you think you can come around on your own?”

Vanessa slowly turned venomous eyes to her. “You should never have been and I am going to see to it that you are not a problem for long.”

“Yeah,” Wendy said with a nod. “Sebastian already knows you’re going to try something and he’s already ready for it.” She offered a friendly smile. “You should go ahead and get it out of the way so he can deal with you. The suspense is just unbearable!”

The blonde vampire’s lips began to curl back, then she regained her composure and looked into the crowd again. “I won’t have to. Lady Roeskellov is here and I don’t think she will be as forgiving of Master Sebastian’s mistake as I.”

“His mistake. You mean making me a vampire against my will?” Pursing her lips, Wendy turned her eyes down and nodded. “That could be a problem. Looks like she might end up taking out Sebastian for this little mistake.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened slightly and she looked to Wendy.

“Yeah,” Wendy continued. “That would be unfortunate. I wonder what they would do with you? Looks like you’d have to find someone else to take care of you.”

“What makes you think I would need someone?” the blonde snarled.

Finally looking to her, Wendy just shrugged and countered, “I really don’t give a crap if you need someone taking care of you or not. Just don’t try anything or I’ll finish what you started the other night, got it?”

“What makes you think you are a match for me?” Vanessa hissed, showing her fangs.

“I’ve been made a vampire, remember?”

“I can still kill you.”

“Yeah,” Wendy scoffed. “You just keep thinking that.”

“I’m still his favorite,” Vanessa snarled.

“I repeat: I don’t give a crap. Look, Blondie, I have no intention of getting between you and Sebastian. He wants to worship me from afar, that’s fine. He wants to bring me to his fancy parties, that’s fine, but get it through your hollow little blonde head that I’m not interested in him.”

“That isn’t what I see,” Vanessa grumbled.

Raising her chin, Wendy snarled, “If you were taking care of business a little better then he probably wouldn’t be looking around.”

Vanessa’s eyes flared and she turned fully toward her red haired rival, her hands clenched into tight fists as she snapped, “Are you just trying to provoke me, newborn?”

Wendy smiled in response and set her hands on her hips, countering, “Does the truth hurt, old woman?”

One of Vanessa’s eyebrows cocked up. “Did you forget that we stop aging after we’ve been turned? And I was younger than you when he took me, and I might add much prettier.”

Looking her up and down, Wendy took an opportunity to defuse the hostilities and nodded with a little smile on her lips. “Yeah, you are pretty hot, Blondie. Pretty hot.” She stroked Vanessa’s arm ever so gently and suggested, “Maybe we can just forget about Sebastian and start our own little clan.”

Wide eyed, Vanessa drew just the wisp of a gasp and took a half step back.

Wendy laughed and pushed her shoulder. “Oh, come on, Vanessa. I’m just messing with you! Okay, look. I’m not interested in Sebastian so he’s all yours. Just take the time he’s wasting on me and enjoy the break, okay?”

Vanessa still eyed her suspiciously, but finally nodded. “I’ll take you at your word, but you would be a fool to betray me.”

“Not even on my radar,” Wendy assured. She looked around, then stepped in close and said in a low voice, “You know, we could just share him for a while. We could take alternating days, day off on Friday or something and then maybe a little threesome action on the weekends.”

Slowly shaking her head, Vanessa mumbled, “You are very disturbed.”

With a little smile, Wendy slipped an arm around Vanessa’s waist and slowly pulled her in close. “Sweetie, if I’m going to be like this for all eternity, then I’m going to find ways to have fun with it.”

Bending toward Wendy’s ear, Vanessa whispered, “I’m not interested in you that way.”

Wendy smiled broader and whispered back, “I have ways to make you come around.”

Vanessa pushed away, unable to avoid an embarrassed smile of her own as she laughed, “Oh, back away you sick wench!”

They were suddenly aware that the whole banquet hall was dead quiet, and they looked around to find everyone staring at them.

Her eyes sweeping the onlookers, Wendy held her palms up and shouted, “What! Can’t a couple of chicks have a good time at one of these?” She looked to Vanessa, seeing her eyes a little wide and locked on someone who was approaching through the parting crowd. When she looked herself, she saw what appeared to be a middle aged woman of about average height wearing an elaborate and long gown that was satin black and trimmed in silver and red lace. It covered most of her and was full sleeved, ending in cuffs of that red lace and bejeweled bracelets. The neckline was high and very tight around her neck and throat, and here too it was trimmed in that red lace. A gold choker held a huge ruby that was surrounded by diamonds. Her black hair was worn up in a bun behind her head and long gold and diamond earrings dangled from her ears. Black eyes bored into Wendy in a scrutinizing and frightening gaze. Her face was very lovely, pale as most everyone else in the banquet hall, but wore no expression. Two men were behind her, both dressed in black tuxedos, and the one to the woman’s left side was huge! They also had their gazes locked on Wendy and their hands folded before them.

Vanessa stepped toward them, in front of Wendy, and she bowed her head to the woman, greeting, “Lady Roeskellov.”

The vampire matriarch acknowledged her only with a look and a slight nod before turning her attention back on Wendy.

Wendy felt that nervous crawl enter her stomach again as she realized who she was only three feet away from. Her eyes widened slightly and she drew a deep breath, and slowly she bowed her head as she greeted, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Looking back to the vampire matriarch, she did not see or feel anything even resembling approval from her.

Looking Wendy up and down, Lady Roeskellov observed in a voice befitting her station, “You would be the newborn, turned by Sebastian three nights ago.” Her accent was clearly Romanian and when the fledgling vampire nodded to her, she went on, “I’ve spoken to those around him, and now I will speak to you. Follow.” She turned and strode between her escorts and into the parting, silent crowd.

Leaning toward Vanessa, Wendy asked in a low voice, “Is this bad?”

The blonde vampire nodded, her eyes on the departing matriarch as she confirmed, “Yes.”

“You have any advice?”

Vanessa patted her shoulder and advised, “Don’t piss her off.”

Wendy was led into a conference room at the other end of the hall. Another huge vampire stood there with the door open and his eyes on her as she nervously passed. Once inside, the door was closed behind her. This was a very comfortable looking place. The carpet was a rusty red, there were paintings of landscapes on the walls, an old, huge desk at the far end and a sitting area right in the middle that consisted of four very comfortable looking chairs, a round, oak table beside each, and an ottoman right in the middle. All of the chairs were deep cushioned red velvet with high armrests. They were ancient from the look of them, and very comfortable.

Lady Roeskellov took the chair that faced the door, sitting gingerly and folding her legs once she was settled. She held her hands fingertip to fingertip as she watched the newborn vampire approach and her eyes were as stones. When she stopped about six feet away, the matriarch ordered, “Sit.”

Wendy went to comply, but stopped when the ancient vampire cleared her throat.

“In front of me,” Lady Roeskellov ordered “on the ottoman.” Again she watched as the young woman obeyed her. Her stare was an unblinking one, an unforgiving one.

A frightening one.

Wendy glanced about in the awkward silence, noticing that there were two other people present, both very young men in their teens.

A moment passed and nothing was said. The room was dead silent. Wendy could feel the eyes of the matriarch on her, but she could not bring herself to look back to her. Nervousness consumed her. Her legs shook up and down, perhaps to alleviate the tension and perhaps involuntarily. There was no way to know and she was too nervous to even think about it. With her knees pressed together and her hands folded tightly on top of them, she felt like she was a girl back in school, called to the Principal’s office to answer for something, and she had gone more often than most.

Swallowing hard again, she finally looked back to the matriarch vampire and offered a friendly little smile, one which was returned with the same stone-like expression and those steely, unblinking eyes. Another moment of that stare and Wendy heard herself ask, “So, how’ve you been?”

No answer, only that terrifying stare.

“So you’re the Queen of the Vampires, huh?” she asked in a shaky voice. “Um, that’s a really lovely dress. Victorian?” She raised her brow, hoping for an answer or some kind of movement, but it was not to be. Looking down, she murmured, “Yeah, okay.” Meeting the matriarch’s gaze again, she said, “Just say the word if I get too chatty.”

“The word,” Lady Roeskellov responded with a harsh tone that tore through Wendy like lightning.

Swallowing hard again, Wendy nodded and turned her eyes down to her hands, only then noticing how badly her legs were shaking, though she really did not care to try and stop them at the moment.

The door behind her opened and she raised her head slightly, but did not dare turn or even look over her shoulder.

A man behind her reported in a deep voice, “He is here, my Lady.”

Lady Roeskellov simply gestured with her hand.

Wendy could feel someone enter the room and draw closer and was relieved to hear Sebastian’s voice greet, “Lady Roeskellov.”

The matriarch nodded in a slight motion but never took her eyes from Wendy. There was another moment of that terrifying silence before she finally spoke. “Sebastian, tell me why this woman was turned.”

He loosed a deep breath, choosing his words very carefully, but finally reported, “I felt she could add strength and vitality to my clan, my Lady.” He loosed a hard breath and finished, “And I wanted her.”

“And did she want you?” the matriarch went on.

“Um…” he stammered.

“She did not make the choice, did she?” Roeskellov accused with hard words. “I’ve told you about turning humans against their will. They are our food and turning them must be by their choice and with the acceptance of those above you.”

He lowered his eyes. “I beg forgiveness, my Lady. My time was short and I had to—”

“Silence!” the matriarch barked. Long seconds passed again, and finally she said with calmer words, “We can overlook your indiscretion about seeking acceptance. It has happened and is done. What we have tired of is your ignoring the protocol that dictates one must make the choice. This is the third time, and it has not gone unnoticed. You know the dangers of doing so, and yet you choose to put us all at risk for your own lusts. This must be answered. Would you have anything to say before we pass judgment?”

“I have no excuse, my Lady. I only did what I did so to preserve her. Others wanted her killed and I acted foolishly and impulsively.”

The matriarch’s eyes found Wendy again. “And you would harbor great animosity for his foolish lusts and his impulsiveness. That is the danger. You will watch what happens when one breaks our laws, and then you will be dealt with accordingly.”

Wendy tensed up, then she looked away and said, “Well, I wouldn’t exactly say it was like that.”

“He did not turn you against your will?” Roeskellov asked with the slight turn of her head.

“Well, sort of,” Wendy tried to reply. Looking back to the matriarch, she said as convincingly as possible, “I think we just kind of had a little lapse of communication. You know, us chicks can kind of give off mixed signals, you know? He’s a hot guy, I was interested and one thing led to another… Next thing you know I’m writhing on the floor turning into a vampire.”

“Regrets?” the matriarch pressed.

Wendy shrugged. “Well, he’d promised me eternal youth and beauty, and all I have to do is drink blood and stay out of the sun. My tan will suffer but it sounded like a good trade-off.”

Lady Roeskellov leaned forward in her chair, wide eyes locked on Wendy as she hissed, “You are lying.”

“No I’m not,” Wendy corrected shakily and with a little girl’s tone, “I’m just not being entirely truthful. There’s a difference.”

Leaning back in her chair, the matriarch laced her fingers before her and informed, “You do not impress me, newborn.”

Raising her brow, Wendy countered, “You know, I don’t think impressing you is even possible.” When the matriarch’s eyes narrowed, she continued, “I’m not here to impress you. There’s no way I can. I haven’t lived the life you have, I haven’t had the experiences you’ve had, I don’t wield any power other than what my badge gives me…” She shook her head. “My upbringing was shaky at best. Both my parents died when I was a teenager and I lived with an aunt and uncle who were not that thrilled about inheriting another kid. I work in the worst parts of town and I do my best to take the worst elements off the street. That means becoming the worst of them sometimes. I look at myself and I sometimes see what I’ve been fighting my whole police career. I look at you and I see someone who has more class and style and dignity than I’ll ever have. No, I can’t impress you. I don’t even expect to walk out of here in one piece. But you won’t hear me whining about it.” She stood and set her hands on her hips. “My whole life I’ve played the hand I was dealt the best that I could. I did my best and I’m damn proud of what I’ve accomplished as a woman and a police officer. That’s something nobody can ever take away from me, not you, not anybody.” When Sebastian grasped her shoulder, she pushed his hand away, half turning her head as she snarled, “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of this. Now I guess I’m going to get killed for it. Again!”

Lady Roeskellov ordered, “Sit down.” When Wendy looked to her and defiantly folded her arms, she extended her hand to the ottoman and added, “Please, be comfortable.”

Hesitantly, Wendy complied, her eyes on the matriarch’s as she did.

Folding her hands on her knee, Roeskellov asked, “What do you intend to do if I allow you to continue living as one of us?”

“I don’t know,” Wendy confessed softly.

“I see,” the matriarch confirmed. “Will you continue your police work?”

With a shrug, Wendy replied, “I guess so. It’s what I do. I mean, it means a permanent night shift, but I think I can live with that.”

“How can that serve us?” Lady Roeskellov asked with the slight turn of her head.

“I don’t know,” was Wendy’s answer. “If you have some parking tickets I can probably make them disappear.”

“Would you do something in exchange for your life?” the matriarch pressed.

“Depends on what,” was the new vampire’s answer. “We wouldn’t want me getting into trouble or doing something that could land me in prison forever. I mean, a life sentence could be a really long time to us.”

Lady Roeskellov smiled ever so slightly. “Now I can see it.”

Wendy raised her brow.

“What it is that Sebastian likes about you,” the matriarch went on, raising her chin. “We think you can be useful to us after all, so I will inform the elders in the Old World that you are to be spared for now.”

Drawing her head back, Wendy offered in a slight voice, “Thank you.”

“There will be a price, of course, but I don’t think you will have much issue with that.”

“What price?” Wendy asked a little nervously.

“Very simple, child. You will follow our laws and customs. You will respect the aristocracy of the Vampire Clans, respect and obey the words of the Elders, and you work for the benefit of our kind.”

“So,” Wendy started hesitantly, “I just do pretty much as I did when I was normal.”

“Human,” Lady Roeskellov corrected, “and yes. But we will demand your loyalty and your obedience to the elders. Our laws are much different, and our penalties much more harsh.”

Wendy nodded in slight motions and assured, “I understand.”

“Good,” the matriarch commended. With a simple gesture, she commanded one of the young men across the room to approach her, and he did quickly and with the enthusiasm of a loyal dog. When she glanced at him, he extended his arm to her, and she took his hand and rolled his palm toward her, looking to his wrist as she said, “We have many servants among humans who aspire to be one of us someday. They are bound by the same laws, they face harsh punishments for betrayal and wonderful rewards for their loyalty. They serve us in any capacity we wish, whether it be as messengers, laborers, or the occasional snack.” She looked to Wendy and extended the boy’s arm to her. “He is from Romania, the purest that could be found in the lower farmlands. Would you care to try him?”

With a little smile, Wendy held her palm to the matriarch and said, “No, thank you. I ate someone before I came to the party.”

“As you wish,” Roeskellov sighed. She stroked the boy’s wrist with her hand, then drew his arm to her mouth and bit into it, drinking from him for a moment before she released him.

He was quick to remove a small towel from his back pocket and hold it to his arm, bowing to her as he backed away.

Smiling at the young vampire before her, the matriarch informed, “We don’t always have to kill. In fact, I prefer that we not.” She looked to her human servants almost tenderly. “I have many pets and all of them are eager to stay pure for me, to offer their blood to me, and their blood is always so sweet.”

Wendy nodded, then she heard herself ask, “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, child,” came the answer.

Leaning her head, Wendy inquired, “Did you know Dracula?”

Sebastian rubbed his eyes and groaned.

Lady Roeskellov smiled. “Dracula. I assume you mean the son of Vladimir Dracul. Yes, dear, I knew him. Why do you want to know this?”

Wendy shrugged. “I minored in history when I was in college and did a report on Vlad Tepes the Third and how his history weighs against the legends and the movies and stuff.” She blinked as she stared back. “Got a B. So, was he really a vampire?”

“No,” the matriarch replied almost in a laugh, “he was not one of us. He was a monster who deserved the end he got.” She looked down at her hands. “His father was not the villain that history has made him to be. He was worthy of the gift but… Well, circumstances were as they were.” She looked to Wendy. “Are you truly interested in our people and culture?” When the young vampire nodded, a slight smile took her lips. Her eyes shifted to Sebastian and she casually gestured toward the door. “You may go now, Sebastian.”

He bowed to her, then he turned and strode from the room.

Wendy turned and watched him leave, then she looked back to the matriarch, pointing back at the door as she asked, “Can you show me how to make him do that?”

Hours passed before that door opened. The party was breaking up, more than half the vampires had already gone and Sebastian and Vanessa waited anxiously for the vampire matriarch and newborn to emerge. Sebastian knew that Lady Roeskellov was unpredictable at best. Wendy could likely be a plaything for the matriarch, one that was expendable, one that would be killed as soon as she was no longer amused by her.

When the door finally did open, Sebastian turned anxiously to it, and his eyes locked on the two servants as they strode out.

Wendy walked out stride for stride beside the matriarch, her eyes on the slightly taller woman as she listened attentively.

Lady Roeskellov continued, “I was not turned until I was almost forty. I sometimes wish I had been sooner, but my sons needed a human mother until it was time for them to make their own way.”

“Well,” Wendy started, “I hope I look half as good as you do at forty.”

Taking the newborn vampire’s neck in her hand, the matriarch pulled her in close and informed, “You aren’t going to ever see it, my dear. You’ve stopped aging.”

Wendy smiled and looked up at her. “Oh yeah! I forgot about that.”

Patting the younger woman’s shoulder, Roeskellov told her, “Sebastian is going to have his hands full with you, isn’t he?”

“You’d better believe he will!” Wendy assured.

The two women enjoyed a good laugh as they approached Sebastian and he raised his chin to them as they reached him.

Lady Roeskellov folded her hands before her, looking to him with those steely eyes as she informed, “She is to be spared, and she has begged leniency for you.”

His eyes shifted to Wendy, then back to the matriarch.

She continued, “You will be watched. Keep your clan in line, and yourself. We’ve enough to contend with concerning the renegade clans and we will not tolerate further indiscretions from you.”

“I understand, my Lady,” he assured with a bow of his head.

“Yeah!” Wendy barked. “What she said!” Looking to the matriarch, she asked, “Wait a minute. Renegade clans?”

“I will not burden you with it, child,” Lady Roeskellov said with a motherly tone. “If you truly must know then Sebastian will answer your questions. I am going to retire for the day.” She took Wendy’s hand. “I enjoyed our chat, Dear, and your candor. I shall look forward to the next opportunity we have to see one another.”

Wendy grasped the matriarch’s hand with both of hers, her brow arching as she asked, “Are you sure you have to go back tomorrow? I was hoping you could stay longer and we could have some serious girl time.”

“Another time, perhaps. Just remember what I told you, remember that the Elders will be watching you.”

“I’ll be good,” Wendy assured with a wink.

Patting the young vampire’s cheek, Lady Roeskellov warned, “You’d better be, young lady.”

“Yes ma’am,” Wendy said with a smile.

With a nod to Sebastian, Lady Roeskellov turned and strode gracefully back to the conference room, disappearing behind the door as it closed.

Watching after her with a little smile, Wendy observed, “She sure is nice.”

The ride back home was a quiet one. Sebastian was nervous, clearly about what was discussed behind closed doors, and Wendy was glad of it. He would get what he deserved in little doses at first, but she was already plotting her next move. Not even looking at him as the car cruised toward her apartment, she acted like she was lost in thought, but she could feel from him how awkward the ride was for him. He had been in total control up until this point, and they both knew a shift in the power between them had taken place.

He cleared his throat, obviously to draw her attention, but she ignored him.

“So,” he finally said, “what did you ladies have to talk about?”

Her eyes slowly slid to him and she took her time before replying, “We touched on several things, but she was sure interested in vampires who break the rules.”

He nodded and turned his eyes down.

“I was happy with my life before,” she scolded.

Smiling, he countered, “Sure you were. Most of your family is dead or won’t otherwise have anything to do with you.”

She looked away.

He continued, “You don’t have a job that pays well, you live in squalor, and all you have is the work you do and all of the alcohol you used to drink.”

“That doesn’t go down so well anymore,” she snarled.

“You’ll get used to it,” he assured.

“I am so tired of you saying that.” She looked fully to him and raised her chin. “So, you wanted me and you had precious little time to save me from the bad guys before I was lost forever. I guess you didn’t think that I might not want you.”

“Never crossed my mind,” he said.

She nodded. “Well, you sure sound confident, Sweetie. I guess you thought you’d own me once you turned me. You wanted another Vanessa groveling at your feet.”

“No, Wendy, I didn’t.”

“That’s good, because it’s not going to happen. In fact, I talked Lady Roeskellov out of frying your ass and you seem to owe me now.”

His eyes became less pleasant. “I saved your life twice, little girl, and I can take it away just as easily. You’d be a fool not to believe that.”

“And you’d be a fool not to believe I can bring down the wrath of the Roeskellovs all over you with a phone call.”

A tense moment of staring followed.

Sebastian finally smiled at her. “And you wonder why I wanted you.”

“Oh, I didn’t wonder,” she assured. Sliding her hand down from her neck and slowly along her body to her thigh, she pointed out, “I’ve got all this.”

He smiled broader. “There’s much more to you than that.”

“Yeah,” Wendy sighed, “and if you’re a good boy you might see more.”

Looking more serious, he said, “Wendy, you have to accept things as they are. I made you and you are part of my clan, and I lead that clan, and that clan is your family now.”

“Well, every family needs that rebellious girl who goes out without permission, smokes behind the school and dates all these guys that Daddy really doesn’t like. May as well be the redhead, right?”

“Wendy…”

“You made this mess,” she pointed out, “you deal with it.”

He sighed and looked away from her. “I want you to get your affairs in order and move to the mansion with me.”

“Hey,” she barked, pointing to her hand. “I don’t see a ring on this finger, buddy!”

“Is that all it would take?” he growled.

“Oh, hell no,” she replied. “I want diamonds and a commitment and a white picket fence and a dog in the back yard—”

“Wendy!” he interrupted.

When he finally met her eyes again, she smiled at him and pulled her skirt a little higher up her thigh. “I should go ahead and warn you now. I can be a really serious bitch sometimes, especially if I’m not getting my way about something.”

“Is there a reason you are testing me so?” he grumbled.

“Just a preview of what’s coming,” she answered sweetly. “Okay, here’s the deal, stud. If you want my cooperation then I keep my own apartment, I keep working when I want to, I do what I want to and you don’t try to force me into anything.”

A sigh growled out of him and he looked out the window again. “And if I refuse all of this nonsense?”

“Easy. I make a phone call or two and you regret the night you bit me that first time.”

The car eased to a stop and Sebastian hissed, “You had nothing but death to look forward to before, you ungrateful—”

“I was fine with that!” she barked. The door opened and she looked that way, then back to him and added, “You want my loyalty, you show me I have yours first, and I’m not going to be the little whore you have on the side when you’re tired of Vanessa.” Swinging her legs out of the car first, she stepped out and pulled her skirt down before turning back to the car, this time with a sweet smile as she waggled her fingers at him and said, “Call me.”

A moment later she was watching the big limousine disappear around the corner and growled, “Oh, you’ve got yours coming, Sweetheart.”

Tossing her keys on the table beside the door, she scowled as she missed the bowl they were supposed to land in and slid off the other side of the table and onto the floor. “Okay,” she conceded, staring down at her keys, “you can just sleep down there tonight.”

Turning toward the living room, she shrieked as a light came on and she suddenly found herself staring into Ryan’s eyes from across the room.

He was sitting on the couch wearing a very tight fitting tee shirt and blue jeans that looked just as tight. His expression was not concern this time; it was a hard expression that told her something was very wrong.

Thinking back to how many times she had fantasized about this moment, her mood was quickly shattered by the reality of her current predicament. Instead of a friendly greeting, she set her hands on her hips and shouted, “For God’s sake you scared the piss out of me! What if I had shot you?”

“Then this would be a very short conversation,” he replied, his eyes fixed on hers.

“So what do you want?” she demanded.

He just stared back at her for a long, frightening moment with those deep, intense eyes of his, frightening eyes that were hard and scrutinizing. Being a vampire now, Wendy knew she should not feel intimidated by him, a mortal, someone she could feed off of, but she was. Something told her she should be. But more than fear as she looked into those eyes, she felt arousal and a multitude of old fantasies about him flashed through her mind.

She forced herself to snap out of it and raised her brow, folding her arms as she snapped, “Well?”

“Where did you go tonight?” he finally asked.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” she replied, “but I attended a party across town.”

“A party,” he said.

“That’s what I said,” she confirmed. “Why so worried about what I do at night? Oh, that’s right. You think I’m a vampire or something.”

“You called in sick the last couple of nights,” he reminded.

“Yeah. Are you telling me that you never have?”

“I never have.”

Wendy nodded and looked away from him.

“So what kind of party was this?” he questioned.

Raising her brow again, she looked to him and answered, “It was a vampire party, Ryan. Nobody allowed in but vampires. I would have sent you an invite but, darn the luck, you aren’t a vampire. Tell me something, Ryan. How long are you going to continue this vampire crap?”

He shrugged. “Believe me, sweetheart, I have a long time.”

“Yeah,” she mumbled, turning her gaze to the floor. “So do I.”

He sat up on the edge of the couch. “Feeling hungry?”

When she looked to him he was holding her mostly empty jug of blood up by the handle. Wendy raised her chin, her eyes widening a little. “That’s supposed to be kept refrigerated,” she snapped.

“Doesn’t it taste better warm? Like right out of the living body?”

She pursed her lips. “First of all, ew! Second, it’s not for that. It’s for something else.”

Ryan finally stood and slowly strode toward her, setting the jug down on the coffee table as he passed. “Okay, what else would it be for?”

Wendy backed up against the door and looked away from him. She could not answer and he seemed to know she did not have an answer for him. She drew a deep breath as he stopped only a foot away from her, but she would not look at him. Ice raced through her as his hand gently grasped her chin and turned her face toward his, and finally, hesitantly, she turned her eyes up to his.

“Your eye color’s changed, too,” he observed.

“I don’t have my contacts in,” she retorted.

“You don’t wear contacts, Wendy.”

Still in the gentle grip of his hand, she just nodded and stared up into those powerful eyes of his. Finally mustering her wits once again, she managed, “So, is this the part where you tear this dress off of me and throw me on the floor to ravish me like a barbarian?”

He looked away.

“Hello!” she shouted. “Is this the part where you throw me down and ravish me? Can you hear me?” She knocked on his head with her knuckles. “Anybody home?”

Ryan suddenly grabbed her arms and forced her back against the door, his eyes boring down into hers. “Wendy, listen to me! It may not be too late!”

“You’re talking crazy!” she cried. “Ryan, step back into reality with me!”

“Where were you tonight?” he growled.

“I already told you, I was at a party. Why can’t you believe me?”

“Oh, I believe you, and I also believe the part about the vampires.”

She pushed past him and grumbled, “Sarcasm is just totally wasted on you.”

Turning, he folded his arms and informed, “The chief wants to see you first thing in the morning.”

Reaching for the jug of blood, she froze, her eyes widening, then she took the jug and slowly turned toward the kitchen. “Sure. I’ll, uh—”

“About nine,” he continued. “You’ll have to go out during the day.”

“So?”

“I’ll be waiting for you there, too,” he added.

She made it to the kitchen and put the blood back in the refrigerator. “Well, it’s good to know that you’re in my corner, Handsome.”

“It isn’t too late, Wendy.”

“So you’ve said.” She adopted her sultry walk as she approached him again. “Okay, did you come here to talk like a crazy boy or do you want to get busy?” When she slipped her arms around his neck he grabbed her forearms and pushed her away from him.

“Nine o’clock,” he growled, “and you’d better be there.”

She was a little bewildered as he backed away from her and she just watched in stunned silence as he turned and strode out of her apartment, slamming the door behind him. Her gaze remained fixed on the door for a moment after he was gone, and finally she shook her head and mumbled, “Gotta be gay. That’s the only explanation.”

After a shower she donned her pink, terry bathrobe and her hair wrapped in a flower pattern towel, she curled up on the corner of the couch and picked the phone up, dialing her cell phone. She listened impatiently as it rang, and rang, and rang… Finally, someone answered and she greeted, “Hey, Sebastian. How’s it hanging? Hey, sweetie I have a couple of questions for you.” There was a pause as she listened and she shook her head. “No, not moving yet. Hey, how long can we spend in the sun, anyway?” She raised her brow. “That’s not good. Okay, so what about sunscreen? I was thinking something with a really high SPF. Uh, huh. You’re how old? And you’ve never tried that. Okay, I’ll wear sunglasses and be real careful. I guess tanning beds are also out, huh? Yeah, we’ll cook like bacon. I guess that’s the end of my tan, too.” She sighed. “Okay, I won’t bother you. Just get back to your coffin of dirt or whoever you were drinking from. Talk to you later.”

After hanging up, she just sat there for a moment, staring down at the coffee table. Slowly getting to her feet, she wandered to the kitchen and removed the jug of blood from her refrigerator, just standing there for a time as she drank directly from the jug. Lost in thought, she finally realized she had upended the jug and finished the last of it, and as she stared down at the red stained plastic she mumbled, “Uh, oh. Better get to the blood store.”