Black Heart: Coeur de Sade (Black Heart Series) (32 page)

            "I wish I knew where they are, Sable.  Really.  Antoinette has developed an interest in them, too," he said.  "If she catches them before you do, you will
not
get your money back.  Antoinette will keep it."

            "Is she after them to spite me?"

            "No.  She really wants Lorelei," he said.  "Antoinette's witch is seventy-seven, and not long to this world.  She wants a replacement before he dies."

            "And Lolita?"

            "Call girl," he said.  "She will force her into prostitution."  He shrugged.  "That's what she does.  It's an obsession with her.  I think if Antoinette had her way, every woman in the world would be a hooker under her control."

            "I hate her," I said.

            "So do I," he said, and shrugged.  "But I still have to obey her commands."

            "Don't remind me," I said, scowling.  No help in the Giorgi sister front.  "What do you know about the talisman?  Is there anything I should know about it that might help me?"

            "I never heard of it until vampires starting committing suicide," he said.  "I only know what Antoinette told the council."

            "Like what?"

            "It is quite ancient.  A witch created it for the second Frankish king, right after they kicked the Romans out or something.  That king gave it to the de Sade family, commissioning them with the task of killing vampires," he said.  "So, the infamous Marquis de Sade came from a long line of vampire hunters."

            "Really?  From what I've heard of his tastes in the erotic realm, I would think he was more like a vampire than a hunter," I said.

            "Well, he was the last de Sade vampire hunter.  In fact, according to Antoinette, he used the Coeur de Sade to capture vampires so he could indulge his unnatural appetites upon bodies that could take the punishment.  He made the mistake of falling in love with one of his captive vampires.

            "Antoinette said de Sade’s wife was from a family of vampires, and they went after him.  Though him, they captured, killed, or Changed all of the de Sade's into vampires," he said.  "They tried to unite all of France's vampires under their control using the Coeur de Sade, but it was lost when a small army of German vampire hunters burned down their family chateau about fifty years after they got the talisman.  It has been bouncing around Europe ever since."

            "Did you hear anything useful, like how to neutralize its power?"

            "Sure."

            "Tell me."

            "If no one is holding or wearing it, then it is magically inert," he said.  "Also, if you possess it the talisman has no power over you."

            "Okay, I knew or figured that out on my own," I said.  "And some."

            "Oh?"

            "Nothing I want Antoinette or Council to know, in case I have to kill them all," I said, and smiled.

            "It's not wise to threaten the ten most powerful vampires in Dallas," he said.

            "Just make sure they understand it isn't healthy to mess with my family," I said.  "You tell them."

            I got out and walked over to my Ninja.  Boney followed me over, looking worried.  Settling into the seat, I smiled up at him.  It was comforting to see him so concerned.

            "Fritz is trying to force one of my vampire friends to commit suicide at sunrise.  I plan to be there to stop it," I said.  It was still many hours until sunrise.  Originally, I had vague plans to kiss and make up with Boney, and then have some great make up sex.  Vicki killed that idea.  So now I had a few hours to kill before Roger showed up at Victory Square.  "Tell council, despite my threat, I am still on the job, and I've come very close to getting Fritz and the talisman."

            "I'd rather just tell them that part."

            "You tell them everything.  I want them to understand I will not allow them to hurt my family," I said.  I stood up, straddling the Ninja.  He leaned over and we kissed deeply, passionately.  It was never chaste with Boney.  I wouldn't want it any other way, either.  "Later, lover.  Wish me luck."

            Heading south on Harry Hines, I took it all the way into downtown, and rolled over to Victory Square.  Victory Square was within spitting distance of the West End, and that was at the edge of downtown.  Victory Square and West End were across downtown from Deep Ellum.

            It was the first time I'd rode through West End as a vampire, and was surprised when I didn't spot a single vampire.  With so many people, all having a good time and their blood up, you'd think vampires would flock there.  I'd have to ask Boney about it.  Maybe it was some kind of off limits zone for vampires, or council's exclusive hunting grounds.

            Victory Square stretched out before the American Airlines Center main entrance.  Both the local professional hockey and basketball teams played there.  It was late Friday night, and something was going on there.  People were flooding out, laughing and joking.

            Wandering through once, I used my vampiric senses to look for Roger.  If Fritz sent him, he would make a spectacle of himself and stress out all of the mortals.  He wasn't there.  But there were more than a few other vampires there, mostly mingling inconspicuously with the mortals.  There were enough of them present to fill the air with vampire pheromones, getting everyone a little excited and scrambling my senses a tad.  So I found a quiet corner and pulled out my new cell.

            There were a lot of people I should call, just to let them know I was still alive and kicking.  But one of them called to me more than the others.  Dane.  Not because I was obsessed with him, or anything.  Oh, no.  He was close.  I could feel it.  Uptown, and moving south.

            "Hello, Dane," I said when he answered.  "Heidi not monitoring your calls?"

            "Not funny, Sable," he said.  I felt his heart beat ramp up, and the pleasure his gruff phone demeanor tried to disguise.  He was pleased to hear from me.  Momma happy about that.  "What's up?  Do you know how late it is?"

            "I'm a vampire.  I know exactly what time it is, lover boy," I said.  I wanted so badly to tell him what Heidi did, but I was afraid he might approve.  Or not care.  I held my tongue.  "I almost got Fritz tonight.  He slipped through my fingers, though.  But enough about me, what are you up to?  Find out anything useful?"

            "Nothing you don't already know," he said.  "I saw what you did at the Harvest Moon, and the pile of cars down the street.  You've been busy."

            "Did you see Fritz?"

            "He was already long gone by the time I got there," he said.  "I'm looking."

            A commotion caught my attention for a second.  But they settled down, with no unusual spike in tension.  I looked up, all around, hoping to see Roger.  Would he fly around above the crowd?  Or mingle within?

            "Where's Heidi?" I said.

            He hesitated.  I felt him tense up.

            "What is it with you two?  She is always asking about you, like I see you ever ten minutes for sex or something," he said.  My link proved he really was agitated, not just acting to divert my attention.  "And now you are asking about her.  God, sometimes I don’t get women at all."

            "Don't worry, we get each other," I said.  He just grunted, something I loved to hear.  I'm weird.  But the subject was making him edgy.  I could sense it.  So I changed the subject.  "You moved.  I hope it wasn't anything I said."

            "No, it was what you
did
," he said.  "Namely, show up.  You might want to stay away from our place.  I don't like moving."

            My phone beeped.  Another call coming in.  I glanced at the display and scowled.

            "Later, lover, my boss is calling," I said, and hung up before he could respond.  I felt his frustration through our link, and liked it.  "Hello, Jeff.  Long time no see.  How are the kids?  Last time I saw you I believe you were playing fireman."

            "Fireman?" he said, and I grinned.

            "Yeah.  You remember, Dallas' top fang whore, Valerie St. Clair, was sliding down your pole," I said.

            "Jealous?"

            "Disgusted," I said.  "What do you want, Jeff?  Or need I ask?"

            "Why haven't you been keeping us updated on your progress?" he demanded.  "I haven't heard from you in a week."

            "Are you senile?  I spoke to you the day before yesterday," I said.  "What do you want?  I can stay on the phone with you all night, giving a running commentary on my every step, but I don't think I'll get much accomplished."

            "Council's not pleased with your progress."

            "I'm not pleased with council," I said.  "If you recall, I didn't volunteer for this job.  I was volunteered against my will."

            "We don't like your attitude," he said.

            I smiled.  "You've spoken to Bone Daddy?"

            "No, but I spoke to Antoinette.  She relayed the message you left with her man," he said, voice dropping menacingly.  "We don't appreciate young vamps who are too full of themselves just because they have a brand spanking new set of fangs.  Threaten council again, and you will live to regret it.  But not much longer."

            "Hurt my family, and you won't survive long enough to regret anything," I said.

            "Sable, I like you.  I like your spunk, but you better learn your place," Jeff said.  "Don't make me regret going to bat for you with council."

            He went to bat for me?  Why would he support or defend me?  And when?  Was he the only one keeping council members' fangs out of my family's throat?  Perhaps I should be more careful whose toes I step on.

            "Jeff, if you kept council from acting rashly toward me or my family, then I am sorry and I owe you big time," I said carefully.  "But I don't want anyone to dismiss my determination to protect, or
avenge
, my family."

            "Good, we understand each other," he said.  Jeff sounded mollified, though I don't know why.  "You're time is running out.  Deliver Fritz's head and the talisman in the next couple of days, or council will unleash the families to resolve the issue in our own bloody way.  It will be a bloody melee with the furballs, but we will win.  You and your family will not fare well, either."

            "Fine," I said, royally pissed and ended the call on that note.

            Next I called Desiree to check in.  She was still highly aroused, so I knew I was interrupting something good.  She was panting something fierce, punctuated by grunts of pleasure as we spoke.  She really only had one thing to say to me.

            "Call Gabe.  Ooooh, yes.  The bastard is driving me...umm...crazy," she said.  A bed was squeaking, two
men
were panting in the background.  Butterflies began dancing in my belly, and envy erupted within my heart.  "Tell him to stop calling me.  I made the mistake of feeling sorry for him...Hmmm...but...but not again.  He is one
rude
bastard."

            And she hung up.

            I took deep breathes and fanned myself with my hand.  I was so damn horny, and I could feel Desiree getting it big time.  If I concentrated hard, I could almost feel what she was feeling.  Then it was all spoiled by first a flash of anger from Dane, followed closely by supreme agitation from Gabe.

            Dane calmed down, but Gabe didn't.  When was the last time I spoke with Gabe?  It was within the last week, but I couldn't for the life of me think of what night it was.  So I called him.

            "Hello,
Gabrielle
.  Miss me?" I said teasingly.

            "Sable!  Hey, did you call me Gabrielle?  Don't do that.  I don't like it.  Now, where have you been?" he said.  For once speaking to me wasn't brightening his mood.  He was more agitated now.  Seemed I was the cause all along.  Surprise me, huh?  "Jesus Christ, woman, talk about leaving me in the lurch.  I'm dying here.  You were going to be my personal nurse."

            "I was?  I don't recall that part," I said.

            He hung up.  Gabe had ever done that to me before.  His agitation flared into intense anger.  I sat there a long moment, feeling it.  Absorbing it.  Okay, I might even have cringed a little bit.  I called back.

            "Gabe, I'm sorry," I said before he could hang up again.  That calmed him down a bit.  Not much, but it was a start.  So I rushed on before he could decide he still was mad at me and hang up.  "But I've been running for my life since I started this damned search, and now the vampires are threatening to do bad things to my family if I don't get them their damned talisman fast."

            Okay, there might've been a little whiney baby going down there.  I know it's manipulative, but I couldn't stand to know Gabe was angry with me.  I appeased him, and he loosened up.

            "Okay!" Gabe said.  "I understand.  How tightly do I have to be wrapped around your little finger?"

            "You're the bestest, babe," I said, grinning.  "Now tell me, what did you do to Desiree to piss her off so much?"

            Silence.  I felt him still.  Was that a bit of alarm?  Regret?  In Gabe?  Now I was shocked.

            "I don't know," he said.  He was lying.  Even from half a city away I could tell.  "Oh, I seduced her with my manly charms, and might have made the mistake of calling her a
'slut ho'
or
'slutty ho'
in the middle of sex."

            Oh, that pissed me off!

            "What!  No wonder she's pissed," I said.  His shame spiked, which was the only thing that saved him from a severe tongue-lashing right then and there.  "You had better not
ever
call me a name like that while I'm making love to you.  If you do, it'll be the last time."

            "I wouldn't.  Besides, it just slipped out accidentally.  I mean, she's a hooker and all," he said.