Judas and the Vampires (47 page)

Vampires were everywhere, roughly sixty by my count. Every one of them unique in their eccentricity of style and clothing, they were also uniformly beautiful—like male and female fashion models that had never seen the light of day. They flitted about between a long, heavy-oak table in the room’s center and huge gold vats nearby. No one had to tell me what was stored in the vats, or within a large crimson crystal punch bowl on the table’s center that they crowded around. 

“Welcome Txema Ybarra!” shouted an especially pale man sitting on a glistening jeweled throne at the end of the table. His skin was almost alabaster, emitting a soft glow under a massive crystal chandelier that hung above the table. “Welcome indeed to ‘Le château de douleur’!!”

The man appeared roughly the same age as Racco, and he suddenly rose into the air and drifted toward me—nearly a hundred feet from where I stood. Dressed in a long white robe bearing unusual symbols etched in red and gold, he donned a very tall, matching hat that reminded me of what a Pope would wear. He seemed to glide just above the floor, his robe lightly touching the marble squares. As he drew closer, this one’s ethereal glow and longer incisors clearly announced him as the leader amongst the others. That, and the fact the other vampires deferred to his presence, some even bowing as he passed by on his way to where I stood.   

“Txema…I have long awaited this moment!” he enthused. His voice mellower than any of the others, he smiled, revealing two smaller fangs next to the more prominent incisors. “I am Gustav Domnul-delael—presently the reigning king of Europe’s civilized vampires.”

I tried not to think long on his silly attire, afraid to laugh. He seemed stranger than anyone else, and therefore, much more dangerous. It was as if he could obliterate my entire existence with just a thought. When he took my hand, he did so gently, and I could tell his fingers alone could crush mine into dust. Maybe that’s what living for several thousand years will do to you.

His eyes were a mixture of blue and gold—hard to define in a continuous flux of color as they glowed preternaturally. They were much more intense than any of the other vampires’ eyes.

“This is quite a place you’ve got here,” I told him, unsure what to say to such a person. 

I mean, king of the undead, and apart from that fact scary as hell? I could tell the former human was once quite a looker in his day, with a sleek nose and high cheekbones. Perhaps Gustav would still be considered comely…in a ‘Friday the Thirteenth’ sort of way. Think about it…do you know someone with kaleidoscope eyes and skin whiter than snow? Other than something in an old Beatles cartoon? I think not…
hopefully
not, anyway.

“Yes-s-s…it certainly is,” he said, studying me as if trying to piece together the rampant thoughts colliding in my head. 

His French accent was barely discernable, and only in certain English words. There was another accent, too, harder to define since camouflaged beneath the French. Perhaps it was much older, and disguised on purpose. 

“You must be hungry. As you can see, we have included a unique variety of entrees tonight,” he said, motioning to the table filled with far more delectable items than was present on Racco’s yacht. “Some of it comes from what Armando told us that you like, and other offerings might take some time to acquire an appreciative taste. I believe you are an adventurous girl, Txema, and as such, would be game for something ‘different’ this evening.”

The way he said this last part sent a chill up my spine—far worse than the vampire’s close proximity to my body. Hell, with so many of them gathered in one room, I wished to God I brought a jacket to keep me warm, despite roaring fires burning in the two fireplaces on either side of the room.

“Dear father, I do not believe she will be sharing a taste of anything warm and wet with us tonight!”

I whirled around when the voice behind me erupted into uproarious laughter. Armando stood behind me, wearing an impish grin, and Franz stood smiling nearby.

“Armando? I should’ve known it’s you!” I could scarcely control my enthusiasm. It was so good to see him—and not just because the Vampire King gave me the willies. “Where have you been?”

He stepped back, feigning offense, although surely he understood my rebuke was intended as a playful jab.

“Franz and I had ‘things’ to take care of back in the States,” he said, motioning to his companion, who nodded supportively. “But, we are here now.”

He allowed the grin to widen to a gorgeous vampire smile. Both he and Franz were dressed in the black leather ‘rocker’ attire they wore when I was taken to the cave in the Smoky Mountains the week before.

“Chanson told me that you were in Tennessee,” I said. “Can you tell me about Peter, as well as Tyreen and Johnny? Are they all okay??”

He eyed me with compassion that seemed almost human in its sincerity.

“Come, let’s talk,” he advised, gesturing for permission from Gustav, who nodded while smiling at me.

I shivered, turning my attention to the table while Armando guided me to it. The aroma of roast beef awakened the raging hunger Gustav had sensed within me. One of the servants from Racco’s yacht offered to carve a few slices for me. I then added some vegetables and a small salad to go with it. Not to be picky or rude, but I hoped they understood that I do eat other things beside dead cow.

“Would you like some wine, Txema?”

Racco’s soothing voice immediately surrounded me with warmth, and once I turned toward it, I nearly ran into him.

“Whoa! I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said, laughing while carefully keeping the glass of merlot he had poured for me from spilling on the white dinner jacket he wore. 

He set the glass down next to my plate, and then seated himself to my right, while Armando eyed him sullenly from my left.

“Your boyfriend, Peter? He is fine, and anxious for your reunion!” Armando announced, and I could tell from the way he looked beyond me that this news was intended as much for the ‘Lord of this Manor’ as for me.

“Reunion? You mean, I will see him again…soon?”

I experienced the weirdest feeling right then…. It was such a mixture of joy and guilt, for both the man I’ve loved and the one I lusted after the past few days.

“Yes!”

Armando offered more exuberance at Racco’s expense. I could feel Racco bristle next to me, as if this wasn’t a development he had anticipated. Meanwhile, the heat of embarrassment rushed to my face.

“So that is good news, no?” Armand continued, reveling in the moment. I looked up and caught a glimpse of Garvan, who stared at us from across the room. Dressed as if still part of Marie Antoinette’s court—with a powdered white wig to boot—his face bore a satisfied smile that told me that he was listening intently to our conversation. “Tyreen is okay now, too.”

“She is? Oh, thank God!!”

It was like an incredibly heavy load suddenly lifted off my shoulders.
Tyreen survived her attack!
Since Saturday night’s abduction, I worried something terrible would happen to Tyreen, that her wounds from the Chupacabra vampires would somehow prove fatal — like what happens to vampire bite victims in campy horror flicks. 

“And, Johnny?” I persisted. “He’s okay too, right?”

“Yes, he seems fine,” Armando assured me. “Maybe when this crisis is over, we can invite them all for a little visit, no?”

“I wish I could go home and see them,” I said, feeling so homesick that I thought I’d cry at any moment. “I really miss them all!”

“There, there, my chérie,” Racco whispered in my ear, placing his left arm around my shoulder as he drew close. I began to weep. Meanwhile, Armando’s playful smile disappeared, fading into a look of sullen anger. But it was nowhere near the look of disdain that Garvan shot me from across the room. In an instant, he traveled across the room to us.

“You should court someone your own age, don’t you think?” said Garvan, disdainfully, supported by hearty head nods from both Armando and Franz. “Perhaps if we care to list the recent steady string of female company cavorting about your bedchamber, Txema would take her leave from you…forever.”

“I’ve got the list!” Armando exalted. He launched into a twirling dance, pantomiming exaggerated arm and hand movements to illustrate an endless series of pages.

“Is such childishness necessary?” Racco’s tone was much more acidic than what I’d heard previously from him. “Perhaps we could toss your caskets out into the meadow behind the castle. As long as the local gentry will ignore their presence, you could last a century or two!”

He squeezed my shoulder and drew ever closer. The scent from a virile spice cologne embraced me, and with each passing moment, this was getting worse…at least for me.

Racco made it seem like a joke, but no one near us laughed. I just wanted to get as far away as I could from all of this. Garvan seemed the most put off by Racco’s behavior, his fangs elongating while he growled menacingly.

“It isn’t like either one of you can keep her warm at night, and deliver the daily human companionship she deserves!” taunted Racco, wearing a smirk that clearly announced he was unafraid.                                                                                                                                                                                        

It only took a moment for the three vampires to appear around me, each taking a threatening stance against him. I expected some kind of a fight to erupt from this, but suddenly a green blur appeared in front of me. Something cold grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the four of them.

“Grab her plate and wine!”

In the next instant, I was transported to the very head of the table, next to Gustav, who had returned to his throne. I started to feel sick, but then I noticed Chanson stood beside me. She was dressed in a beautiful forest green gown with a matching petticoat. Cumbersome clothing to race around in, unless one happens to be a vampire.

Raquel stood to her left, holding my plate, while Nora held the glass of merlot I had yet to taste. The two of them were dressed similarly to Chanson. In addition to the rose gown with a pink petticoat she wore, Raquel’s face was adorned with diamond and ruby chips in swirling designs that I assumed were pasted to her ashen cheeks. Like some avant-garde punk rocker born a few centuries too early, but obviously free to express her wilder side amongst her peers. 

Nora’s gown and undergarments consisted of elegant lace, completely black. Very fitting for the matron among these vampires. A quick glance around me confirmed that these three were among the most striking females gathered there that night. 

“Men and boys never change when it comes to trying to impress the object of their affections,” Chanson observed, shaking her head with a wry grin on her face. “Surely you were more than ready to be rescued, cousin!”

“Yes…I must admit, you’re right about that,” I agreed, disappointed by the simmering hostility among male immortals. 

I took a moment to look back at the angry vampire trio and their alchemist counterpart. Armando and Garvan eyed me sullenly while Franz stood stoically behind them. Racco still seemed indifferent to their collective disdain, raising his half-empty glass of wine in salute while he shot me yet another seductive look.

“You should be grateful we rescued you when we did!” teased Raquel, revealing a beautiful smile I had only seen glimpses of—the sure sign her initial reservations had given way to at least some admiration for me. “Eat before your food gets too cold!”

She motioned for me to sit down again at the table, with the three females standing around me. Gustav smiled, and he also encouraged me to eat my dinner. My hunger had steadily worsened, urging me to forgo the use of my utensils in a ladylike fashion. Instead, I dug into the contents of my plate like a starving peasant. I managed to ignore the fact that each of my current vampire companions carried crystal goblets filled with a thick crimson liquid. Obviously blood, it normally wouldn’t matter if it was human or not to make me squeamish. But, I cleaned my plate just the same.

“How do you like your room?” asked Chanson, pouring me another glass of wine after I drained my first serving.

“It’s a little big,” I said, thinking how cold my bedchamber was despite the presence of a large canopy bed piled high with thick blankets. Not to mention the enormous fireplace in the middle of the room. “But, I like it.” I
loved
the crazy big entertainment system.

Thinking about how cold the room felt, I glanced at Gustav, who looked amused. He seemed less sinister and frightening to me on a full stomach. Maybe it was the wine. 

“All of us will be pleased to show you around,” said Nora, her English accent sounding more refined than when we were on the ship. “It may take some getting used to, but you will lack for nothing in terms of comfort.”

I smiled and nodded politely, thinking to myself how I didn’t want to get used to this place. Not at all! In my mind, it remained a short vacation. I hoped to get back home soon...maybe in the next few days.

“You must be wondering why we have gone to such trouble to bring you here,” said Gustav, pausing to allow the ‘petticoat trio’ to refresh their goblets with fresh plasma from the punch bowl and return to their seats. Raquel sat next to me, on my right, and Chanson and Nora took the seats across from me. Gustav’s throne loomed above us all to my left. “Truly, it has been many centuries since something this severe has befallen us. If not for recent events that have resulted in only one of your kind left in the world—one ‘
porteuse saine de sang’
, we would have waited until you are older to become fully acquainted.”