Adduné - the Vampire's Game (74 page)

“
Now what were you babbling about out there? Something about clues? And a game?”

“
Yes, Miranda. Figgs, Weatherly, Pinckus and Blanding Movers. Who do you think arranged for the haunting of Weatherly? I’m assuming that stupid fool of a barrister Reginald Charles has conveyed at least some of what transpired to you. He would be an idiot not to. He knew all about me. I even treated him to a surprise visit. The question is, if he knew about me, why didn’t you?”

Miranda was not about to show her hand. She decided not to give anything away – especially not about someone on her side. She remembered what Stroker had told her. She’d use it to gain an advantage in finding out what Peter knew. If he were really fixated on this vampire legend, he’d have to acknowledge something.

“
So what you’re saying is that you put things in people’s heads?”

He took his hands off the back of the couch and twirled them in the air.

“
I can do anything, Miranda. You know what I am!”

“
Not everything. You could never convince anyone that you’re a gentleman.”

“
Really? So you allow people without manners into your drawers so easily?”

“
Don’t flatter yourself. You were a plaything. Nothing more.”

“
So you do play games?”

“
No game. Just working off tension – or so I thought. You know people with actual feelings are affected by the deaths of their parents, but then you wouldn’t know. You must have been hatched. You’re the perfect example of what came first, the chicken or the egg for you have both rolled up in you.”

Peter mockingly applauded her.

“
What is it liked to be ruled by emotions, you poor sick girl?”

“
More games? You don’t get to control this conversation, I do. Now what other clues did you leave? What did you mean about Jake?”

“
Jake.” He drew out the name as if pleasuring himself by his own hand. “He never knew what hit him.”

“
And his death is something you had a hand in?”

“
That’s correct.”

“
You murdered Jake?”

“
No, not me, but I did let it happen. I give the orders, Miranda. My underlings take orders from me much like your employees do from you. Only I have complete control. How would you relish that, Miranda? Taking orders from me forever and ever? Never being able to think on your own and only doing as I say?”

Miranda closed her arms around her until they were fixed across her chest.

“
I’d rather die!” she swore.

“
Interesting choice of words. What if you couldn’t die? What if I wouldn’t let you?”

She slapped her hands on the wooden armrest.

“
Oh, here comes the talk about vampires! Do you think me so daft as to believe any of this? Is this more of your insipid little game?”

“
So you dismiss what Reginald has told you? Even when you know he does things for your benefit? He even represents you in trying to reappropriate that tape. The absurdity in offering money! He doesn’t realize that he’s offering me the money and I could care less about that wretched commodity.”

“
Really? But you get pissed off over a glass egg and a few odd bits of furniture?”

His eyes took on a harsh gaze. His eyebrows pinched together making him resemble a hawk.

“
They were mine! They belonged to me and your father had no right to …”

“
You see! That is how stupid you are! No one is arguing that he did! You had merely to present your case to me and I would have given you back everything with an apology, but you go to these lengths for what? For what reason?”

His eyes glinted unnaturally. It was as if a secret light had been turned on. A spark of fire came from them as he answered her.

“
Revenge.”

“
Revenge? And you blast me for being ruled by emotions? Revenge is the most base, most foolish emotion of them all!”

“
It satisfies me.”

“
Then you have peasant tastes. Almost as mediocre and worthless as those items that were taken.” She had landed another punch. She watched his jaw tense. She liked him hurt. “Is that it? Reginald and Jake and who else was supposed to give me clues?”

“
Are you referring to your sluttish friend? Her memory is suspect I doubt she could even name the last ten men she’s fucked. No, she couldn’t be trusted to pass on anything more sophisticated than a venereal disease.”

“
Don’t talk about her that way! You’re just angry that she stood up to you. And it was Tiffany that saw through your very shabby exterior to the void it houses.”

“
Then I suppose you should have listened.”

“
So no one else?”

“
That is it.”

“
Then you believe that based on a conversation with Reginald, who you think is a fool, I’m supposed to believe you’re a vampire. Where is your cape? Where are the long teeth?” Miranda studied the way the sunlight fell on Peter, brushing his hair with luster and his pale skin with dramatic highlights. “And why are you out in the daylight at all? Sitting in the sun apparently not bothered by it? Why is this, Mr. Vampire?”

“
You believe lies. We are nocturnal creatures. Like bats or felines. It doesn’t mean we can’t go out in the daylight, it only means we don’t like to.”

Miranda waved her hand up in front of her.

“
Whatever. Is this all you needed to say? Are you done?”

“
No, I haven’t even gotten to the best part.”

“
Which is?”

“
Your father. Have you forgotten that I said he is not dead?”

“
You have a very poor sense of humor.”

“
No joke, Miranda. He is a vampire. He’s coming after you.”

“
Me? My father is coming after me? For what reason?”

“
To make you one also. You see, he is no longer your father, he is like me. Ruthless. A predator on the top of the world’s food chain. He fulfills the vampire’s need to proliferate. The more underlings we create, the greater our power, but we can’t create too many for …”

“
They would threaten you. Yes, I get it.”

“
You understand.”

“
I was read fairy tales many times. What you say is no different than anything they had to say.”

“
Fairy tale? Then you still do not take this seriously.”

“
As seriously as I take that,” she said pointing to her computer. The video was coming rapidly to the end. The sounds of Miranda moaning in pleasure increased and filled the room.

“
That will not be the only time I will hear the sounds of pleasure coming from your lips, Miranda.”

Miranda stood.

“
The only way you’ll hear them is if you play the video. Consider it a memento of the best thing you never had. Oh, and good luck getting off on the misery you’ve caused my family. As for the objects, give me a complete list and an address, and I will have them shipped to you. If you want money to cover your expenses, I will give you that also, but don’t take advantage. There will be no windfall profits in this for you. Now our conversation has concluded. Goodbye, Mr. Adduné.”

Peter was on his feet – looming over her.

“
You are such an ignorant, foolish girl. It will be such an immense enjoyment to see you lose everyone you love. Once it starts, the fire will engulf them all. Then the denouement – the coup d'état. It will be delightful to see your father turn on you and turn you into me. It will be my ultimate revenge.”

He strutted out the door, Miranda shutting it firmly behind him. She leaned against it, satisfied with her actions. She’d found out what she needed, and that was that Peter didn’t know about Stroker. Because he didn’t, he wasn’t aware that she knew her father was safely buried in England. He might be a good card player in that he knew how to bluff, but Miranda now knew exactly what hand he played – all thanks to Stroker.

CHAPTER 38

“
Miranda, you’ve got to be kidding me?” Tiffany asked incredulously, spooning her chocolate gelato into her open mouth.

She and Miranda had taken in a movie. Tiffany thought a comedy would take her mind off things. The film had done its job and relieved her of morbid musings. She had enjoyed a fun-filled couple of hours. Now she sat with Tiffany discussing what had happened with Peter. Perhaps it had been a bad idea. Tiffany seemed upset, and not just with what Peter had said.

“
No, I am not kidding.”

“
Honestly, Miranda, I could just shake you silly for letting him in! What are you? A glutton for punishment?”

Miranda let her spoon fall against the white china plate. In the center of it was resting the champagne glass filled with the scrumptious raspberry treat. They were seated in one of their favorite Italian restaurants, guiltily devouring homemade gelato. It had its own unique flavor and was so much better than the American-style frozen treat. In Miranda’s opinion, it couldn’t be beat.

“
I thought it was a good idea. And then he was goading me into it. Implying that I was afraid of him and …”

“
And you couldn’t not pick up the Frisbee in your mouth and let him in? Seriously, first you have your heart ripped out by this dick, and then you think you’re going to prove something by setting yourself up for more abuse?”

Miranda picked up the spoon and took a small bite of her dessert. It was so delectable. Just sweet enough, but not cloying.

“
When you put it like that …”

“
How else are you supposed to put it? I swear we have to hang around together more often. Maybe some of my common sense will rub off on you because, chickie, you have lost your mind. And I say that to you with the utmost respect and love.”

Miranda took another mouthful – a bigger one. She felt no rancor or hostility toward her best friend for speaking the truth. It’s what good friends and family should do. It was the only way to set someone straight. Besides Tiffany was correct. In one sense, Miranda had been wrong in talking to him. Her head was now filled with Peter’s new lies – or
game
, as he phrased it. He’d wanted to torment her. She resented him for all of it, but most of all for what he said about Tiffany and her father. He didn’t need to bring them into this. Her father was dead and had more than paid for any past sins and Tiffany – Tiffany was an angel. She was blameless, and only a very loyal person who continued to only want the best for Miranda.

The problem is that there was no other way for Miranda to find out what Peter knew. She’d left that part out of her conversation with Tiffany. She didn’t want to get into the whole sordid story, but maybe she should. Maybe she should just get it all out in the open.

Tiffany’s spoon clanked when it reached the bottom of the large serving. She’d finished it and was craving more.

“
Holy crap! Should I?”

Before Miranda could respond, she answered for herself. “No, I should not! First those croissants and now this? I’m going to look like a big, fat piggy. Tomorrow I hit the gym.”

“
Oh, right! I think it would take about a year before anything would catch up with you.”

“
Not so, chickie. So what are we going to do tomorrow? More shopping? A play?”

“
A play? Hmmm, that sounds interesting. It’s been awhile since I’ve attended live theater and it might be nice. Let me see how I feel tomorrow.”

“
Not a problem, chickie.”

“
I’m going to make a quick trip to the ladies room if you don’t mind.”

Miranda ran the napkin along the outside corners of her mouth. Tiffany did the same and then took out a small mirror and a tube of lipstick. She applied a quick coating giving Miranda a quick wink.

“
Like it?”

“
Yes! It’s a fabulous color. What is it?”

“
It’s a discontinued shade. I found out about this place that can duplicate any color you want. I had saved this old tube – for whatever reason. I tell you, this is the exact color! I am so happy because you know those cosmetic companies only wait until after we can’t live without something before getting rid of it.”