Four Centuries (Damned and Cursed Book 7) (8 page)

"That's part of everyone's job now," she said.
 
"I like Kate.
 
She'll be a good fit up front.
 
But let's talk security.
 
You're going to need more than a pretty lady in a dress and a guy watching the stairs to keep people from just walking in here."
 
She smiled and playfully lifted her chin, pretending to be a model.
 
"Like I did."

Frank sighed.
 
Obviously the topic had been on his mind.

"The guy at the stairs doesn't work for me.
 
He works for the club, and I just kind of
borrow
him."

"Tell him I'm sorry I broke his wrist."

"Shit.
 
I was wondering why he was huffing and puffing on the radio."
 
He shook his head in frustration.
 
"Well, before you came busting in here, I was in the middle of a job interview with Michael.
 
For security.
 
I guess I have to lose his resume."

"No.
 
He'll do fine, but you'll need a few more of him.
 
Don't worry.
 
You're not going to have any other vampires wandering in like me."

"Of that, I have no doubt."

Frank hovered in between flirty and obnoxious, neither of which was a good fit for him.

"I have a feeling I could get a team of ninja assassins to guard this place, and you'd still get in."

She finished off the bottle of blood.

"And you'd be right."

He laughed shortly and grabbed a notepad.
 
Victoria was surprised once again when he started scribbling notes of their conversation.
 
He was taking Victoria seriously, which was his best course of action.

"So," he said.
 
"You're the queen bee of Baltimore?"

"That's a little strong.
 
I just watch over things."

"Well, you're a lot prettier than the last vampire boss I dealt with.
 
And nicer, too, although Michael might say otherwise.
 
I tried to set a place like this up in St. Louis.
 
Not only did the bloodsucking asshole take five percent, but he wanted a list of all the clients.
 
I refused, so it was time to leave."

"Wow.
 
I have to say.
 
I'm impressed."

He laughed shortly.
 
"Thanks.
 
While we're here talking, is there anything else?
 
The last thing I want to do is piss off the queen bee."

Victoria was amazed Frank was so receptive.
 
She wished she had more input, more ideas.
 
But it was Frank's business.
 
She was certain more would come, but all she could think about at that moment was getting home and packing for her trip.

"I don't think so.
 
I'll be in India for two weeks or so—"

"Wow, no shit.
 
India.
 
Business or pleasure?"

The thought of Bradley and the upcoming trip made her frown.
 
She was interrupting her life and going across the world for him, no other reason.
 
She would tie up the loose ends caused by his death, and go home as fast as she could.

"Definitely business.
 
I'm not trying to sound menacing or anything, but I'll be checking up on you when I get back.
 
Thank you for the blood."

She rose to leave, but stopped short of turning when he gestured for her attention.

"Uh, Victoria.
 
One more thing.
 
I hate to ask this, and I have the feeling I'm going to regret it.
 
But let's be honest with each other.
 
The whole time you've been here, I'm sure you've been sizing me up.
 
I'm trying to do the same.
 
If I were to ignore everything you said, what would you do?"

She treated him to her full smile.

"Frank, I
almost
like you.
 
So I really don't want to think about that.
 
But let's see…I'd shut down the Vermilion."

"Really?
 
That's…that's all?"

"And if people got
hurt
because you ignored me…I'd break every bone in your body.
 
Twice.
 
Don't let the pretty face fool you."

He swallowed hard.
 
"I, uh, think we understand each other."

"Glad to hear it.
 
I'll see you in a few weeks."

The last time Victoria had flown in an airplane was over fifty years ago.

She hated it then, too.

Commercial aviation and vampires were a bad combination.
 
Flying during the day was impossible.
 
A delayed flight, unexpected layover, engine trouble, any of these things were annoyances for a mortal.
 
For a vampire, it was death.
 
A short flight in the same time zone could be done, with a lot of planning and precaution.
 
But anything beyond that was a risk not worth taking.

Only the wealthy could afford the special care required for extended flight.
 
A private plane, crew, arrangements at the take-off and landing site.
 
Victoria could afford the expense, although she simply didn't enjoy flying.

The fact that taking off and landing felt like being in an elevator didn't help.
 
How Alex did it, she would never know.

Her immunity to sunlight allowed for far more convenient flight, but she still needed to keep up appearances.
 
The only other vampire that knew of her condition was Bradley, and she knew he didn't share that information.
 
Only the very few in her inner circle knew the sun wouldn't harm her, and it was going to stay that way.
 
So she arranged for the private flight.

It was amazing what having money could accomplish.

She awoke from yet another nap somewhere in the middle of hour fourteen of the seventeen-hour journey.
 
She hadn't exactly slept during the flight.
 
That was simply impossible.
 
Frequent naps were the best she could do.
 
Anxiety was a major factor.
 
Even beyond the terrible sensation of flying, there was the simple fact that she wasn't looking forward to being in New Delhi.
 
She supposed it was an honor, being invited to fill in for Bradley, engaging with such influential members of their race.
 
Still, she'd rather be in Baltimore wearing her sweatpants.

Another reason she couldn't sleep was the sheer absurdity of the travel conditions.
 
It was a strange atmosphere, being the only passenger aboard a 747.

Opening one eye, she saw the two flight attendants, standing near the bathrooms.
 
They were sharing stories about their families.
 
Denise, the older of the two, laughed as she rested her hands on her knees.
 
Liz was animated, her hands waving, as she discussed her dog running through the house after a bath.

Victoria had gotten to know the two women quite well over the past fourteen hours.
 
Two flight attendants were perhaps two too many for a flight with one person, but that's what her money bought.
 
She imagined it was simply for the buyer's sanity.
 
Being completely alone, with only two pilots locked away in the cockpit, didn't sound like something that would read well on a brochure.

The words were never spoken, but Denise and Liz knew exactly what Victoria was.
 
Everyone involved in the flight did.
 
People that were in the business of private airline travel knew their clientele.
 
Neither attendant batted an eyelash when Victoria asked for an empty wine glass, and poured a bottle of blood from the cooler she kept on the floor next to her.

The airplane shook slightly, a normal occurrence the entire flight.
 
It was a sensation she would never get used to.
 
She must have let out a tiny squeal as she gripped the armrests with both hands.
 
Denise stayed behind as Liz approached the vampire, concerned.

"Victoria?" she said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
 
"Hey, sweetie, are you okay?"

She laughed at the term of endearment.
 
A woman centuries younger was trying to console her, like she was a child.
 
She was glad every window on the plane was covered.
 
The sky was the last thing she needed to see.

"I'm fine.
 
We're surrounded by the ocean, ten thousand feet in the air, where people aren't supposed to be.
 
But I'm okay."

Liz laughed and sat in the seat next to her.
 
They both had plenty of room, since it was first class.
 
Liz frowned at the movie playing on the screen in front of them.

"This is terrible," she said.
 
"Want me to switch it to something else?"

"No, thank you.
 
I'm not really watching it.
 
But please, leave it on.
 
I like something moving in the background."

"Uh, Victoria?"

"Yeah?"

"You're breaking the armrest."

She looked down to see she'd loosened the armrest, nearly ripping it from the seat.
 
It was nothing that couldn't be fixed, but she was embarrassed regardless.

"Shit.
 
I'm so sorry."

She waved away her concern.
 
"Don't worry about it.
 
We'll just say it was like that."

Victoria laughed.
 
Having Liz nearby definitely helped, which was no doubt a part of her job.

"So, is this a big business?" Victoria asked.
 
"Flying around people like me?"

Liz kicked off her shoes and got comfortable.
 
Leaning into the aisle, she saw Denise was content alone up front, sipping on water.

"It's bigger than you'd think.
 
Mostly just private party type stuff.
 
And of course the eccentric, snobby rich guy, and whoever he's trying to show off for."

"How do you know I'm not snobby?"

"Please.
 
You've treated us better than our last five clients.
 
Our last client was a billionaire's son, on a trip to Australia.
 
He kept trying to get me to the back of the plane, away from his friends.
 
You can guess why."

"Yeah, I can take a wild guess."

"Of course, not every client requests a nighttime departure, with every shade drawn, and the plane completely to herself.
 
You see a lot with this job."

"I'm sure you do.
 
Have you seen enough to know we're going to land fine?"

She squeezed her knee.
 
"We'll be fine."

Victoria drifted in and out of consciousness over the next few hours, twenty-minute naps here and there.
 
Liz stayed with her the entire time, helping to keep her mind occupied.

Finally, she was pulled from a dream by an unintelligible voice over the intercom.

"What did he say?"

"It's about time to land," Liz said, buckling her seatbelt.
 
"You okay up there, Denise?"

"No!" Denise shouted back.
 
"Will you hold me?"

"Smartass," Liz muttered.

"It's about fucking time," Victoria said, glancing at Liz.
 
"No offense to you.
 
You've been wonderful."

"It's okay.
 
I'm getting a little cabin fever myself.
 
I would let you hold my hand, but I'm afraid you'd crush it."

Victoria smiled.
 
That was a real possibility.

She felt several of her organs waging an internal war as the plane started to descend.
 
The wheels touched the ground and the plane slowed down, all without incident.
 
A much smoother landing than she remembered five decades ago.

"Okay."
 
Victoria unbuckled her seatbelt.
 
"Let's get off this thing."

"Whoa," Liz said.
 
"Not just yet."

"Are you serious?"

"Well, yeah," she said sheepishly.
 
"It's three in the afternoon here.
 
We can't use the terminal, and special arrangements have to be made for you.
 
The sun…will hurt you, right?"

"We've been known to have our disagreements."

"So, just a little longer.
 
We want to make sure your ride is here, too.
 
Don't worry, leave everything to us."

Victoria wanted to scream.
 
It was very tempting to cast aside the illusion she was maintaining and jump out the nearest window into the day.

"I knew I should have had Kevin draw one of his damn portals."

"Huh?" Liz said.

"Nothing."

Several minutes after the plane came to a halt the door to the cockpit opened.
 
Out walked the two pilots.
 
Denise opened the door leading outside, letting the outside light spill in.
 
The pilots left without a word.
 
Denise leaned on a seat as she looked at Victoria and Liz.

"I've got to get out and get some sun."
 
Her face turned red when she realized her words.
 
"Oh, God, I'm so sorry, Victoria."

"It's quite alright."