2 Sean Hayden (7 page)

"How about if we threaten him?" Thompson realized the futility of it as soon as the question left his lips.
What would keep him from telling us what we wanted to hear, and then blabbing about me once he touched down in Europe?
"Never mind," he finished.

"I wish we could just tell him I wasn't a vampire," I said, thinking aloud.

The silence in the room made me look up. Thompson and Marcel sat on the couches staring at each other with raised eyebrows. "We couldn't blame it on lycanthropy," Thompson said.

"But she had a mother, and she does work for the U.S. government. She could have been the result of a genetic experiment. She could be a cross breed of lycanthrope, vampire, and human. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our answer," Marcel said with a smile.

"Oh, joy. I get to be an experiment."

* * *

We pulled up to the Governor's Mansion and I fought hard not to start shaking. I wasn't afraid, or at least I didn't think I feared Strozzini, but I wanted nothing to do with The Council. I just wanted to be left alone in my own little world. I don't mind what I do for the FBI; it kind of offers a buffer between me and the vampire world. I'm an outsider keeping an eye on them; I don't want to be one of them.

"Remember, Ashlyn, stick to the story," Marcel said before he opened the door and stepped out into the night air.

"I'm a genetically engineered mutant. I got it," I said to myself, but Thompson must have heard me because he gave a rough bark of laughter.

I opened my door and followed them up the hewn granite steps to the front door. Before either of them could knock, the door opened and Samantha Barnes, Greer's personal assistant and aide, stood there waiting. Without so much as a hello, she led us up the stairs to Greer's office. I half expected her to take us to his study.

"Go ahead in, he's expecting you," she said and left us.

Thompson opened the door and went in first, leaving Marcel and me to follow. I couldn't see the governor or Strozzini until Thompson sidled out of the way. When he did move, I spotted Greer at his desk on the phone, and Strozzini standing behind him staring at Marcel. At first he looked surprised, but I recognized hatred when I saw it. I glanced to my right and saw the same look etched on Marcel's face. I coughed in an attempt to break the staring contest and Marcel looked at me with a small smile.

The governor set the receiver into the cradle and stood to greet us. "Welcome back, agents. A helicopter is on its way and we should be in the air in about fifteen minutes. May I introduce Antonio Strozzini of The Council," Greer said with his usual charm.

"We've met," Strozzini and Marcel said in unison.

"Marcel, it is very good to see you again," Greer greeted Marc.

"You as well, David. It has been a long time." He never took his eyes from Strozzini. "What brings you to California, Antonio?" Marc turned the focus of his conversation to the Italian vampire.

"The Council has concerns regarding David taking a position of authority over the human population. They sent me here to investigate when I came across the little treasure you've been hiding."

I'm a treasure?
I tried not to laugh.

"A treasure indeed, Antonio, but be wary of her. She not only has her own protections, but also that of the United States Government," Marcel informed the smug vampire.

"You will have to explain all of this to me, in great detail," Strozzini shot back.

"All in good time, right now agents Ashlyn and Thompson have the governor to attend to," Marcel replied.

"Oh, this is a story I can't wait to hear," Greer chimed in.

"I'll have to say no to that, Governor." Thompson spoke for the first time. "Ashlyn is a puzzle wrapped in an enigma and the U.S. Government wants to keep it that way. We received special dispensation to share her secrets with The Council to keep them placated, but that's it. I'm sorry, Governor," he added almost as an afterthought.

The governor gave a sheepish nod, but Strozzini stared at us with open disbelief. I would bet even money he wasn't going to buy Marcel's story. He opened his mouth to say something, when Marcel held up his hand indicating he should wait. He nodded and moved from his spot from behind Greer.

"I do have to ask you something, Mr. Strozzini," I said. "You said you were here to make sure the governor's oath of office didn't break any of The Council's rules. You wouldn't know anything about the attempts on his life would you?"

"No, I don't. I know a vampire used a gun that shoots the silver stakes, because I saw him on the rooftop of the building next to the hotel, but I became so engrossed in watching you I didn't look for him until later. He fled, taking everything with him, so to answer your question, no,
il mio piccolo tesoro.
"

"Thank you," I said politely.

Vetters had been right. It seemed a vampire, or vampires, wanted Greer dead. I just needed to figure out why. I tried every plausible avenue I could come up with mentally and rejected each one. "Who would want to kill a vampire governor? We know it wasn't a human, so we can rule out any extremists who didn't vote for him. A vampire took the shot. A vampire wants him dead."

Thompson looked at me while I pondered out loud. "But why kill another vampire? Maybe it's not because he's governor," he added to my train of thought.

"Maybe it's because he's the master of Sacramento?" I tossed out there.

"I'm not the master of Sacramento. I'm the master of San Francisco," Greer spoke up.

Thompson looked at me and me at him. It couldn't be that simple. I knew from my studies that vampires were highly territorial, to say the least. If this boiled down to a turf war I would be pissed. Either way, we had our first lead.

"Who is the master of Sacramento, Governor?"

"Ramon Santiago," he supplied.

"How does he feel about you being in his territory?" Thompson continued the questioning.

"He's not happy about it, but he understands the necessity. We have a meeting scheduled next week. I offered to give him some sort of compensation for my being here. That seemed to make him happy."

"Maybe not happy enough, Governor. Where can I find him?"

"I can take you to him," Strozzini said, moving closer to where I stood. I really didn't want to have to spend any time with him or be indebted to him in anyway, but what the hell.

"Ashlyn, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

I looked at Thompson and nodded. I made my way to the door. Thompson beat me to it and opened it, giving me a scowl as I passed through. Once out in the hall, I spun to face him, but he walked past me to the stairwell. Apparently, he didn't want anybody to hear us. He stopped at the top of the landing and turned.

"I want you to go with the governor; I'll go with Marcel and Strozzini," he said, leaving little room for argument. Of course I did anyway.

"No." I shook my head.

"This isn't open for discussion. You're going with Greer."

"I would, if I weren't better suited to questioning the vampire suspect and you know it. Plus, I want to, actually let me rephrase that, I need to be there when Strozzini wants his explanation. I know my body better than anyone and if he has questions, I'm sure I can come up with answers."

"Ashlyn, I want you to trust me on this."

"Thompson, I need you to trust
me
on this." He paused to think about it, sighed, and nodded. I couldn't believe I won the argument. I was proud of myself, but didn't jump around like I wanted to. Instead, I closed the distance separating us and threw my arms around the mountain of man. "Thanks, old man," I said and released him before he became uncomfortable.

Chapter 8

Marcel, Strozzini, and I stood by as the helicopter lifted off the ground carrying Thompson and Greer off to San Diego. I didn't have a clue when they'd be back, but Thompson told me he'd call when they touched down. I just hope they stayed safe.

"Are you ready?" I didn't know if my question was meant for the two vampires standing next to me or myself.

They nodded and we walked to the Suburban. I pulled out the keys Thompson gave me and clicked the unlock button. The hazards flashed and I opened the driver's door. Climbing in, I needed to scoot the seat forward all the way. I cursed being short as I started the ignition.

"We have time to talk before we get to Santiago. I want to hear your explanation," Strozzini muttered from the back seat before I even put it into reverse. I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell, but Marcel beat me to it.

"Just remember, Antonio, what we are about to tell you is one of the largest secrets the US Government has at the moment. To spread this information is to make yourself a target. You may give the gist of it to The Council, but I wouldn't go into detail. Please also remind them seeking to harm Ashlyn in any way would bring about retribution," he began solemnly.

"Is that a threat?"

"One does not threaten The Council. I am simply warning you. To touch Ashlyn would be considered damaging government property. They don't think of her as a person; she is their creation," he said and paused to let the information sink in to Strozzini's head. It didn't take long.

"
Perdono
?"

"You heard me. Ashlyn isn't a vampire, or not entirely. They genetically engineered her to be as she is."

"Engineered, like Frankenstein's monster?"

"
Exactament
, they wanted a way to fight back against us, and she's it. They tried to make more, but have been completely unable to duplicate the results. She's one of a kind so far," Marcel told him and gave me a wink out of the eye Strozzini couldn't see from the back seat.

"I don't believe you, she's pure vampire. I felt her in my head."

"Show him your claws, little one," Marcel bade me.

I released the steering wheel with my right hand and reached behind me, exposing my talons to Antonio. I heard him take a deep breath and tentatively reach out and touch one. I wanted to pull my hand back and clean it with something, but I let him explore their strength and sharpness.

"I still don't believe it. How did they do it?" For the first time I thought maybe we could pull this ruse off.

"They added vampire and lycanthrope DNA to a human embryo. I don't know the exact details, but it worked. The only problem is, they can't reproduce the effect. Ashlyn is effectively a new type of being, both lycanthrope and vampire, and neither at the same time. That is why I warn you, if any harm comes to her the United States Government will be very, very unhappy," Marcel finished.

"Would they permit The Council the opportunity to meet her? If I promise no harm will come to her?"

"I can't promise anything, but I will ask," Marcel told him. I hoped jokingly.

"And what is your involvement in all of this anyway?" Strozzini asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Where do you think they got the vampire DNA?" Marcel lied smoothly.

* * *

"Pull in the parking area on your left," Strozzini called from the back seat. He'd been giving me directions for the past half hour while we made the drive from the Governor's Mansion to the downtown Sacramento area.

I did as he said and pulled in, finding a spot in the back. The sign by the road stood nearly thirty feet tall and illuminated the name, "Bare Fangs." I didn't get it. I assumed it had to be some sort of nightclub.

The name became clearer once we walked inside. Little leather chairs surrounded a raised platform complete with three brass poles. A statuesque vampire danced quite provocatively on the stage without a stitch of clothing. The meaning of "Bare Fangs" became quite evident.

"Welcome. There's a ten dollar cover for each of you," a large human seeming bouncer said from the counter to our right.

"Agent Ashlyn with the FBI," I told the man. He didn't seem shocked when I flashed my badge. "We're here to see Ramon Santiago. Is he around?"

"Have a seat, he should be back shortly. I'll let him know you're here," he said and motioned us through. I would've taken the closest set of chairs, but Strozzini walked down by the stage and sat at one of the smallish round tables right at the edge. I let out a sigh and made my way over to him with Marcel right behind me.

I tried not to face the stage, but Marcel pulled out the chair closest to it for me to sit. I didn't want to be rude so I sat, trying to stare off into the distance. It became extremely difficult to do so when the blonde vampire ambled her way to where we sat. I caught her movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to look. I gasped as I saw everything the gods had given her just a few short feet away. I tried to turn away in embarrassment, but she squatted down right next to me, opening her legs and giving me a clearer view.

I couldn't look away. The smoky smell of the club faded away and I caught the scent of vanilla wafting from her skin which happened to look like unfinished marble. I had the strongest urge to reach out and run my finger along the vein glowing just under the skin one her thigh. The vanilla smell became stronger until it filled my senses. I wanted to taste it. I can smell when a vampire or lycanthrope is afraid. I didn't know, until that moment, that I could smell desire. A low rumbling growl started in my throat as I stared at her thighs and what lie between. I've never wanted anything more.

Her hand interrupted my view as she cupped herself and ran her hand along her sex, letting her fingers part her flesh. My gaze followed her hand as it ran up over her belly and then her breasts. She brought her fingers up to her mouth and sucked them in making a soft, slurping noise as she did. Her lips were painted red, a beautiful contrast to her pale skin and green hued eyes. I caught myself licking my lips as she put on her little show. She smiled at me, stood, and turned around giving me a view of her buttocks before bending over and looking at me from between her legs.

I expected her to dance away, but our gazes met. I could feel the pull of her power drawing me in. I fought the pull and remained in the real world while the beautiful vampire licked her lips, making me want to taste her. She brought her lips together into a little o and blew a puff of air across her mound and into my face. Marcel's hand slid down my arm and over my wrist and he squeezed painfully, breaking me out of the trance I'd slipped into. I blinked my eyes several times as the girl vampire gave a throaty chuckle. I watched her as she stood up straight in a sensuous movement and continued her dance for the remainder of the patrons.