Mortal Bite (Golden Vampires of Tuscany) (12 page)

Dag transported himself to his flat in San Francisco so he could pick up
his Harley Road King. He liked to scare the mortals as he fired up the beast
and drove at midnight over to the little coven library his uncle ran in the
heart of the Tenderloin. His black leather spiked saddlebags were full of
mayhem, but he also kept a spare change of clothes in case his encounters got
messy.

The storefront said
Mystical Books
,
but everyone in the coven knew it was just a ploy to bring in young
unsuspecting college-age coeds who wanted to dabble in the black arts. It was a
storefront even the homeless didn’t dare sleep under.

They’d had séances in the library. But after the séances, there were some
mighty fine orgies, which usually left half the attendees dead. For those who
survived, unless they were special, and it was getting difficult to find
special ones, their memories would be wiped and they’d never return.

No one ever commented about the fact that the store was only open at night.
Daylight hours were spent recovering from the roaming nights of sex and death.
Although most the dark vampire hordes didn’t sleep in coffins as the old myths described,
they did have to stay out of the sunlight. Even a pinhole in a shade or drape
could cause burning and pain.

It was another reason Dag never brought any mortal to his own bed. And he
detested other dark vampire women, mostly because they were not easily scared.
Therefore, he would be heirless, since darks could only successfully breed with
other dark vampires. And unlike Goldens, darks became blood-sucking babies and
toddlers prone to feasting on their nannies and housekeepers.

So be it.
Dag didn’t want the
little shits running around his household causing chaos, anyway. Besides, it
could be something someone could hold over on him. He made a point of not
having anyone around him he couldn’t do without. The little blonde was already
becoming a problem, messing up his focus as his anticipation heightened for
their next encounter, but he knew it was way too early to tell how that would
turn out.

Colin was sorting a box of books that had come in the mail. He was “made”
later in life, so he looked more than twice Dag’s age, more like Dag’s
grandfather than uncle, despite the fact that they would both live forever. The
older vamp had been despondent over the theft of his younger wife’s life. She’d
been turned by a warring coven that used her as a pleasure doll for nearly a
year before she was found. The fact that she had strange desires and needs
after the turning made their reunion pure hell, so Colin begged the Supreme
Leader to be allowed to join her in vampiric form, and was granted the request.
It was Dag’s last turning before he himself became Supreme.

And then Dag and his cohorts took care of the coven, eliminating its members
one by one in a slow and excruciatingly painful death, as an example to other
covens. No one ever questioned their power again, until the Supreme Leader
began to make nice with Golden vamps, which was something Dag and his family
could not tolerate, so they eliminated him as well.

And now there would be a satisfying, blood-spewing purge to take the
final solution to its last stages. It had been foretold in the book. The book
Dag needed to find in order to complete his plans.

“Uncle Colin, what have you found for me today?” Dag knew his uncle
didn’t necessarily like him, but he respected his power and authority. Colin
had no taste for the vampire wars or politics.

“‘Fraid nothing, Dag. Everyone’s into eBooks these days, and we haven’t
had any large scale invasions lately, so no looted libraries, sorry to say.”

“What have you got here?” Dag pawed through the opened brown box with the
Priority Mail sticker on it.

“Not much you’d like.” Colin took a leather-bound book from Dag’s
fingers, “
King Arthur’s Witch—
somehow
I think that wouldn’t interest you.”

“Pictures?” Dag smiled. “Even black and white ones? Naked mortals?”

Colin flipped through the gold edged tome and shook his head. “Not a one.
Sorry.”

“You know we’ve heard the Bat Book has surfaced?”

This got Colin’s attention. “Yes, I know. Where is it?” Dag wondered if
Colin was keeping something from him.

“A bookseller in Prague has sold it to someone. We’re trying to locate it
now. Can’t believe it was there practically under our noses all this time.”

“Was beginning to think it was another urban legend. You really think
this book exists? Sure it’s not a hoax?” Colin asked.

“Not many mortal men can withstand the kind of pain we dispensed to find
out.”

Colin frowned and mumbled something to the armful of books he took back
to his desk. It didn’t bother Dag in the slightest that Uncle Colin was afraid
of him. He liked it that way.

“So you will let me know if you hear of this book, or anything about it,
won’t you, Colin?”

“Of course,” Colin said to the desk.

“How’s dark Vicky?” Dag was referring to Colin’s young vampire wife, who
had been spared death by the competing coven because of what she could do in
the bedroom. Whispers still surrounded her whenever there was a gathering.

“She’s shopping.”

“At midnight?” Dag noticed Colin’s expression was pained and suspected that
his aunt, who had expressed an interest in her own nephew, was not exactly
faithful to her dumpy
 
librarian of
a husband.

The front door opened with a tinkling bell. Two very thin male vamps in
their twenties with spikes in their ears and lips entered. Dag regarded them
carefully. There was something a bit off about their appearance, and he didn’t
recognize them. They also had the smell of Vicky on them.

“Hey pops, we found a couple books at a garage sale and thought perhaps
they might be worth something,” the slightly taller one of the two said. He
nodded to Dag, obviously not realizing he was the Coven Supreme Leader.

Dag considered a punishment, but decided to table it. If these two were
Vicky’s new playthings, then perhaps Colin might enjoy the sport at a later
time. He doubted it, but stored it away in his memory just in case.

“Boys, first I’d like you to meet the Supreme Leader, Dag Nielsen,” Colin
blurted out before the young vamp could hand him the book. “You’d be wise to
address him with respect,” he continued. To Dag, he added, “They’re Vicky’s
progeny.” His uncle’s bloodshot eyes shifted from side to side. Dag could tell
Colin was nervous as hell. “Just babes, really.”

Colin shrugged and started to examine the first of two large books he’d
been handed.

The young vamps bowed and left their heads cowed, avoiding eye contact.

That’s way more like it.

“Sir, we mean you no disrespect,” the other vamp whispered. “New to this
fiefdom.”

Dag inhaled briskly, like he’d been slapped. The younglings darted quick
glances at him. “That smacks of attitude.” Dag pounced in front of the taller
boy. “You like fucking Vicky? What’s she like?”

“S-s-sir. I’m sure I don’t know.” The boy was trying to get Colin’s attention
and help.

“Liar.” Dag grabbed him by the collar and shook him until the boy’s head
rocked back, exposing bite marks under his jaw line and purple hickeys like a
collar of blueberry jam around his neck. “She’s a mean bitch, isn’t she?”

Dag heard the sound of water running and realized the youngling had peed
his pants, and all over Dag’s shoes. The boy’s friend stepped away, out of Dag’s
reach and separating himself from
 
the whimpering vamp. Dag took a bite from the boy’s neck and
only drew a mouthful before he released him and spit the blood out.

“You filthy, dope-smoking, pieces of shit. What’d she do, offer you free
sex for the rest of your miserable lives? Tell you to bring her husband books
to keep him happy and occupied while you fucked her brains out?”

“Dag—” the librarian pleaded.

“Why do you let her humiliate you so, uncle? Wouldn’t you love to watch
your wife’s lover have his dick torn off?”

Colin looked horrified. Dag wasn’t sure if it was the retribution Vicky
would bring down upon him if the boy were harmed, or whether he was really
averse to the violence. In an uncharacteristic act of mercy, Dag released the
young vamp, sending him to the floor. The two scrambled out the door.

“This is getting out of control, Colin. You have to teach your woman how
to respect you.”

“I know. I am just not her type. Ever since—”

“First you begged us to turn her so she wouldn’t die. Then you begged the
Supreme, which really pissed him off, to turn you so you weren’t such a
disappointment to her, with her new appetites. Now what? I can’t undo what is
already done. You’re gonna have to man up, Colin. Or, do you want me to show
you how it’s done?

“Dag, she’s your
aunt!”

“By marriage only. But believe me, I’d have to hold my nose if I fucked
her. No telling where that twat’s been. Most men, especially vamps, would love
a woman who wants to have sex 24/7. And you’re complaining?”

“Not when she’s—“

 
“You think I’m stupid, Uncle
Colin? I know she doesn’t fuck when she sleeps. But I’ve done it. Left my cock
inside them while we slept and resumed screwing at sunset when we awoke at
night again” Dag picked up one of the books and fingered the spine. “Of course,
now I only fuck mortals. I have no taste for vamp whores. You should try young
human flesh again. Perhaps give you good practice for Queen Vicky.”

“Dag, it’s no use. She doesn’t fancy me.”

“Then glamour her.”

“I don’t have the gift.”

“Then get a potion.”

“Where?”

“Damn it, man. You’ve got books all over the place here. Do a little
research.”

“I suppose—”

“Tie her up, make her submit to you. I think she’d actually like that.
You’re too easy with her. She liked it rough before, am I right?”

“Yes. A little.”

“And that’s what you liked, too.”

“She got rough with
me
. I
didn’t—”

“She was trying to egg you on, get you to be a man. Don’t you get it?”

“I just want to love her. I don’t want to cause her pain. I don’t care if
she hurts me. If that’s what she likes, I can take it, especially now that I am
vampire. I heal within 24 hours.
 
I
just don’t want her to leave me.”

Dag spat on the wooden floor. “I can’t believe we are even blood related.
You are a fuckin’ disgrace.”

For the second time today he took pity on someone. Dag hoped it wasn’t
going to be an annoying trend. Looking at the shaking form of his uncle, his
hair disheveled, shirt barely tucked into his banana slug yellow-brown corduroy
pants, his jiggling pot belly taking up all the extra slack and making it
impossible for him to wear a belt, Dag felt sorry for him. He knew Colin to be
a gentle soul. Not many vamps had any real family, so they would have eternity
to work out their relationship.

He gripped Colin’s shoulder and stared back at him across the length of
his outstretched arm. “Let’s talk about books, shall we? That’s a more pleasant
topic.”

Colin’s eyes lit up. “Yes.”

“How can I get a track on that book? Where it got shipped to?” Dag asked.

“If it was a credit card order, they would have the record. If you get me
that detail, I can perhaps have an answer within a few hours. Will the
bookseller cooperate?”

“Not now.” Dag said with a scowl.

Colin backed up just a hair. “I see. Well, then, perhaps someone else who
manages the shop can find it. He has a family?”

Dag cleared his throat. “That’s a problem, too.”

“Ah. Well then, take his computer. It would all be done online. He have
an Amazon account? It would be easier if it were through eBay or Craigslist.
But the credit card company would be best.”

“I’ll get the computer and see what we find and have it emailed to you.”

“No problem. I’ll drop everything and devote my day to it. I promise,
Dag.”

“Thank you, Colin. You’ve been a great help already.” Dag slapped his
uncle on the back. “We’ll work on that other problem, too. I think I can help
you there in exchange.”

“No. Not necessary, but thanks anyway.” Colin was in visible distress
again.

“No? Well then, I want you to promise me one thing.”

Colin hung his head, clearly afraid to hear what kind of an order Dag was
going to deliver.

“I want you to try tying up your wife when she’s asleep. Bind her hands
and feet to the bedpost. Let her squirm. Use silver if you have to. You have
some silver chain?”

“I do. I know Vicky has some in her underwear drawer.”

“Your wife’s a fuckin’ freak, Colin.”

“I know this, but I love her.”

“Well, tie her up with the silver—her own silver for fuck’s
sake—and make it really secure. Don’t worry yourself about the wounds;
you know she’ll heal. But she’ll think twice before hurting your heart again,
believe me. Let her stay there for a day. Careful not to let any light in while
you are taking your sleep. Ask her first to be more docile and tell her you’ll
let her go if she can act convincingly. She’s going to be mad as hell, but
she’ll like the game I think. See if she’s interested in playing along. Can you
do that for me and report to me in a day?”

Colin appeared to hesitate.

“Colin. You know you are required to master her. Otherwise, she’s a loose
cannon. I cannot afford to have someone out of control so close to me. You
understand how it would look?”

“Yes.”

“Try it. You might discover a part of yourself you never knew existed.”

Dag chuckled as he rode his Harley back to his rented flat. There was
going to be one of two outcomes in the next twenty-four hours. Either the
problem of wild Vicky would be solved, or Colin would wind up with a hatchet
between his eyes.