A Cursed Bloodline (WG 4) (20 page)

Someday scientists may discover a cure for my delusions of hope.

Frantic knocking woke me around 3:00
A.M
. “Come in?” I croaked. The Catholic schoolgirls raced in with Hank, Tim, and Chef. Their terrified scent struck me down to my toes. Suddenly I was wide awake. “What happened?”

Thunder boomed in the distance. They crouched like the roof was caving in. When the noise settled, they glanced around at one another and shoved Hank forward to speak on their behalf. “We need to sleep with you,” he muttered.

“Excuse me?”

“Not in that way, Celia.” Edith winked. “Although you look really cute in that nightie.”

“It’s a tank top.”

She hurried forward and sat at the edge of the bed. “Are you wearing panties?”

“Of course I am.”

“The lacey ones that look like thongs?”

I gave up on Edith and focused on Hank. “What’s going on?”

Hank straightened and puffed his chest out…a little too much. “Celia, our master’s absence has weakened our bond and temporarily robbed us of our courage. There’s only one way to get it back.” Again with the puffy chest. “We must get close to you because you are so close to him.”

“Meaning…?”

“We must spend the night with you.”

The vamps met me with eager if not lecherous grins. “If you’re telling me I have to have sex with you, you’re out of your damn minds!”

Tim moved toward me. “Perhaps I should explain.”

“Uh, yeah, please do.”

“Of all the family, we are the closest to the master. Hank and I, because we guard him; Chef, because he interacts with him several times a day; and the girls…well, because of the multitude of times they’ve had sex with him.”

“I can give you some pointers,” Maria offered.

Tim continued unaffected, unlike me. I was ready to run out of there screaming. “By spending the night in your presence we will be reenergized by your aura, given your link to the master.”

“How will it affect me?” I asked, more for my baby’s sake than my own.

Edith sighed. “Celia, don’t worry. If we munch on you, we’ll only screw ourselves. You’re the only one keeping us together.”

Liz sensed my growing apprehension and tried to sweeten the deal. “Let us in bed and we’ll give you tips to please the master. There’s this one thing I do with my thumb that—”

“Uh, thanks, Liz, but I’m good.” I pulled the sheet up to my chin. “Tim, will this weaken me at all? I need my strength to…keep things running.”

“Nah, the worst that’ll happen is that our dreams will invade yours.”

Terrific.
The thunder blasted and everyone jumped into bed with me. “Are you guys normally afraid of thunder?”

Maria answered with her head buried beneath a unicorn. “No. But like Hank said, de distance from our master has left us weakened.”

I took in the trembling bodies huddled around me. “In other words, if we’re attacked you’ll be too scared to fight and I’m on my own.”

“Yes,” the bastards answered without so much as a hesitation.

Maria poked her head from beneath the fuchsia bedspread. “We’ll watch helplessly while some evil creature plays with your intestines.”

Awesome.

Edith patted my hand. “Don’t worry. The other vampires are still fine and we should regain our strength come sunrise. However…”

“Yes?”

Edith yawned and snuggled closer. “The rest of the family will probably join you tomorrow night.”

Why does the universe hate me?

Misha would laugh if he knew his gigantic bed had come in handy for something other than an orgy. As the vampires settled around me, I was reminded of that scene from
The Sound of Music.
Except I was no Julie Andrews, and I’d bet my life none of the von Trapp children ever tried to cop a feel.

“Edith?”

“Yes, Celia?”

“Get your hand off my butt.”

I was afraid to fall asleep, worried how the vamps would affect my dreams. Eventually exhaustion won and I drifted off. My mind wandered to that same open field from my visions. A high noon sun shone in the beautiful deep blue sky. Flowers surrounded the brass bed I lay in with Aric. He rested beneath a soft white sheet with his hands clasped behind his head, naked. Scars marred his face, arms, and chest, yet all I cared about was that he was with me. He watched me closely. I reached out to him with my fingertips, smiling when he allowed my touch.

“I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you,” I whispered.

He sat up and leaned toward me. “So am I,” he added quietly. His lips met mine. The dream was so real. That wonderful heat that bound us took away my pain, grief, and fear; only our passion remained. His sweet tongue tickled mine as he pulled me against him and unzipped my long white dress. My breasts fell against his chest. He deepened our kiss and rolled on top of me. “I want to make love,” he murmured between kisses.

“I do, too,” I moaned.

He pushed himself inside me and flipped me over, allowing me to take control. I arched my back, moving quickly, desperate for my release. Aric groaned and reached for my breasts. His rough hands scratched against my nipples. I didn’t care, I wanted him so much.

“You’re doing it all wrong,” Liz said from out of nowhere.

“I told you, I can give you pointers,” Maria chimed in.

I froze. They were leaning against the brass rails at the head of the bed. I yanked at the sheets, trying to cover us.
“What are you doing here?”

Liz rolled her eyes. “Trying to help you.”

“Your technique needs serious work,” Maria said, pointing.

Aric moaned beneath me and spun me onto my back. “Just ignore them, they’re only vampires.”

“It’s no wonder you’ve only had sex twice.” Agnes stood before a fire pit roasting huge sausages. She lifted one in my direction. “I like to pretend they’re penises,” she admitted.

Aric continued to make love to me, but the presence of the schoolgirls freaked me out too much to enjoy it. “Aric, I can’t do this now….”

A horse whinnied from atop a grassy knoll. Coming at us full dash was Edith riding a giant pink unicorn. “Bear down, Celia. Bear down!” she yelled as she galloped past us.

Looming darkness and the smell of rot replaced the breathtaking sunshine. The only light flickered from a single burning candle. I walked toward it. Against its subtle glow, I found Misha, naked and dirty, kneeling on the cold stone floor. Thick, matted strands of dirty hair hung over his face. Except it wasn’t enough to camouflage his glowing eyes, shining bright green with bloodlust. Fear kept me from drawing too close, but I recognized his need to communicate. He pointed to the tequila bottle gripped in his hand, and I immediately woke up.

The vampires surrounded me protectively, crouching to attack and charged by my terror. “What is it, Celia?” Hank asked.

I tried to catch my breath. “It’s Misha….He’s in Mexico.”

Chapter Eighteen

The digital unicorn alarm clock told me it was only 6:30. “Liz, call Uri. Agnes, I need a map of Mexico and all the countries to the south of it.”

Tim moved closer to me. “Where is he, exactly?”

I closed my eyes. Words, thoughts, and images swarmed my brain in a mad rush. “In Palenque, but they’re planning to move him to Guatemala.”

“The shape-shifters?”

“No. There’s someone else involved…a witch and some vampires.
Weres
are there, too—” My lids flew open, stirring the tension and excitement around the room. “The Tribe! The Tribe is responsible.”

Hank leapt off the bed. “This means the Alliance has to help retrieve the master.”

Liz bolted back into the room with Emme right behind her. She handed me the phone. “The Grandmaster is on the phone.”

Agnes returned with several maps in her arms and spread the largest one on the bed. I scanned it quickly before taking the phone. “Have you found my son?” Uri asked anxiously.

“Sort of. Right now he’s in Palenque. They’re moving him sometime this morning to Panajachel in Guatemala.” I passed my finger down one of the highways. “Their ultimate destination seems to be somewhere in El Salvador.” I paused. “Uri, I saw Misha in my dreams. He has bloodlust.”

Everyone held their breaths, waiting for Uri to speak. “They are not fools, Celia,” he said. “They will feed my son if they expect to control him.” Uri was right; the more they starved Misha, the more dangerous he’d become. “Celia, I shall arrive in Tahoe by nightfall, but this matter cannot wait. Go to the Den and plead your case before the Elders. The sooner the Alliance assembles, the quicker we will retrieve my son.”

All the color drained from my face. Uri was literally asking me to throw myself to the wolves.

“Celia? Are you there, my sweet?”

Hank held me and kept me from falling over. “Celia doesn’t appear to be well, Grandmaster.” Like all the other vampires, he probably wondered what the hell was wrong with me.

I fought the urge to vomit. “It’s not a good idea for me to go, Uri. I’m not welcome at the Den.”

“Celia, it is my understanding that you and the Elders have had your differences as of late. Nevertheless, you should not fear. As members of the Alliance they are forbidden to harm you.”

Yeah, right.

Danny hurried into the room in full intellectual bullshit mode. “Uri, Celia’s emotions have been extremely fragile and unpredictable. I’m afraid if she has another outburst in front of the Elders, she may ruin your chances of getting Misha back. She’ll hold up better with you at her side and together you’ll present a united front.”

Uri and I weren’t close. He’d shown me respect only out of love for Misha and because he considered me a strong ally. While he appeared the charming and dashing gentleman in public, he still remained a grandmaster vampire—one of the world’s most lethal predators and one who didn’t appreciate a werewolf telling him what to do. I suspected some major fuming on the other end of the phone.

“Excuse me, Grandmaster?”

“What is it, Agnes?” Uri snapped.

“While our mistress has led us well, she does appear to be stunned by the master’s current state. I have no doubt that your greatness will aid in strengthening her. Perhaps it is in the master’s best interest to wait until your arrival?”

“I’ll go for her.” All heads turned toward Emme.

Uri’s terse response didn’t go over well with me. “How will your presence be better than Celia’s, my dear?”

Emme clutched my hand. “Being her sister, I’m the next closest thing.”

“Emme has been a guest in our home, Grandmaster,” Hank interrupted. “It will give the impression the Wird sisters stand with the vampires.”

Nothing else Hank could have said would have pleased Uri more. The undead lived to drop names. The pleasant tone returned to Uri’s voice. “Very well, dear Emme. I shall arrange a meeting between you and the Elders. Celia, when I arrive we will attend the wolves together.”

Danny nodded, giving me the okay to run with it. “Okay, Uri. I’ll go with you when you arrive.”

The vamps prepared for Uri’s arrival while I met with Danny and Emme in Bren’s room. “Thanks for doing this, Emme.”

She hugged me tight. “It’s okay, Celia. It’ll give me an excuse to talk to Liam in person.” Her cheeks turned a pretty pink as they often did when she spoke of him.

“You’re going to ask him to get back together. Aren’t you?”

Emme played with her hands. “I love him, Celia. My life hasn’t been the same without him.”

Liam was the best thing to come Emme’s way. They’d made the perfect couple. Or so I’d thought. This time, I took her hands in mine. “Emme, your relationship ended when you came to terms that you weren’t his mate. What happens if he meets her while you’re with him?”

Emme shrugged. “I want to take the chance, he’s worth it. There’s no one else for me.”

Danny elbowed me slightly. Based on the rising bedsheet over Bren’s pants, he disagreed.

—

I worried about Emme facing the wolves alone and sent Michael along to accompany her. I paced the whole time she was gone, unable to remain still. She returned an hour later, crying. I rushed to the foyer, where the vampires had gathered around her. “What happened?”

“Anara told me he wouldn’t help Misha.”

I clenched my teeth while the vampires swore and hissed. “What about Martin and Makawee, were you able to gain their support?”

“I asked to meet with them. Anara refused and told me to leave. I sought Aric, hoping he could at least arrange an audience with the Elders, but the only wolf I found was Liam.” Her voice shook and her tears ran faster. “He’s engaged. You were right, he found his mate. She’s one of the
weres
who fought in Chaitén.”

I froze. “Oh, God, Emme…I’m so sorry.”

Edith stomped her foot. “Who gives a shit? What about our master?”

I glared at her. “Back off, Edith. Can’t you see she’s hurt?”

Liz rammed her file into a small wooden table. “You don’t get it, Celia. If our master dies, one of the others will kill you and claim us.”

My growls had her backing away. “Do you honestly think I’m not trying here? Contrary to popular belief, I want to live, too!”

Liz dropped her gaze, but angry tears welled in her eyes. For a moment, no one said anything.

Agnes inched her way toward me. Like the other schoolgirls, she’d begun to cry. “You don’t understand the peril of our situation, Celia. Most masters aren’t as kind as ours.”

Her words surprised me. Misha could be unbelievably sweet—to me. The way he ruled his vampires, though, was harsh at times. They feared him, and rightfully so.

Tim put his arm around her as she wept, a feat of compassion I’d never seen. “There are some who will kill us just for sport.”

“And others who will force us to commit unthinkable acts,” Edith added.

I blinked back at her. For Edith to consider something unthinkable was scary as hell.

Michael stepped forward. “I used to belong to Petro. Power had made him cruel, as it often does most masters. He would…” Michael shuddered and stared at the blue slate floor, unable to continue.

I sensed the vampires’ anger, but their growing fear masked their fury. Shit. What would happen to them if we couldn’t get Misha back? “Would Uri be able to take you on as his?”