Obfuscate (21 page)

“Ready to hunt?”

“
I
t’s called
L’ Art de la Piquant
,” Khaldon whispered deliciously in my ear with a lovely cockney accent, a bit different from his normal London formal British.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder while we headed toward the dance hall. “Quite literally, the French phrase means the ‘art of the prick.’ I want to teach you how to evoke a sense of empowerment over a human, arouse their senses, stimulate their blood flow, and have them crave your touch.”

I gulped at the idea of consciously enslaving another person for my midnight snack and thought it would be wise to pay attention in case I ever needed to hunt on my own.

Can I do it by myself? Will I have the guts?

“What you’ve seen in movies isn’t that far off from what vampires do,” Khaldon continued as we strolled toward the Helena Cathedral from the downtown parking area. “But there’s much humans don’t know about us. Most importantly, how effortlessly vampyre can take what we want without humans ever realizing it.”

We stopped outside the building where the line queued up for admission. We had left the ranch to hunt at the “Race Across the Sky” dog sledding benefit, which was Montana’s version of the Alaskan Iditarod.

“Cheyenne, I’ll admit I can’t believe there are people in town at a fundraiser with the electric power going out everywhere.”

“Are you kidding? If anything, Montanans will be out in droves because of all the craziness. These folks are ready for the world to end, and they’ve totally got their shite together. The last place any foreign country wants to invade is Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, or the Dakotas. These people will kick your ass and forget about the names. You’ll just be gone. Sure, there’ll be people running to clear the grocery store shelves for last-minute items, but most people here are waiting for the zombies to attack.”

Khaldon squeezed me in tight. “Daft, if you ask me.”

“Let me put it to you this way—a couple years ago, when Harris pranked the TV stations after the public announcements aired, Montana citizens called the police departments asking how many feet did the zombies have to be inside their property lines before they could legally shoot them. Montanans weren’t afraid of the deaders—they were ready for them.”

I summoned up my best news anchor voice, “The bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living. Do not engage or attempt to apprehend these bodies as they are extremely dangerous.”

Khaldon rolled his eyes at me as if I were making up the story.

“Check out the videos on You Tube if you don’t believe me.”

“He published them? If the FCC learns he was the one—”

I put up my hand to stop him. “Are you serious? This is Harris we’re talking about. He teaches hackers how to hack.”

“Indeed he does. So this dog sled benefit, is this a drunken party fest or a real fundraiser?” Khaldon queried. “I prefer sober people to teach you on how to properly execute
the
piquant
.”

“There will probably be a few drunktards, but most everyone is here just wants to have a good time and blow off some steam. Who knows what we’ll find in there?” My mouth salivated at the possibility.

“Relax, m’lady, this is a rite of passage in every new vampyre’s life. We need to celebrate on the eve of your vampyric virginity.”

“Vampyric virginity?” I scrunched up my face. “You make this sound like prom night or something.” The music blasted as we stood in the corridor waiting to purchase tickets.

Khaldon handed me my drink ticket as we rounded the corner into a wall of microphone feedback reverberating from the stage. I was conscious of his hand guiding me at the small of my back.

“Vampyric virginity sounds cornball, I know. But think of it this way.” Once inside, he reached for my hand and encompassed it in his warm palm, intently staring me in the eyes. “When will you ever have this opportunity again? This will be you first conscious hunt without killing anyone. I want your inaugural solicitation to be a memorable event that you’ll cherish for an eternity. Plus, I have a surprise for you afterward.”

He playfully tapped me on the nose with his index finger. That Cheshire cat grin reappeared, revealing he was definitely up to something.

“Solicitation? You make it sound like I were going to ask my prey for a date.” My eyes questioned his choice of words.

“Hunt, solicitation, inquest, steeplechase—call it what you may.” He dismissed my question and let go of my hand and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight into his belly.

He skewered me with his green eyes, and with just his gaze, he awakened something inside my vampyric DNA that craved—if not demanded—to escape. My insides ached, wondering with expectancy what the rest of his body could do to me.

The live band music made my toes twitch with anticipation. Recent months of immortal activity had robbed me of any sense of fun. I couldn’t remember the last time I had let loose and danced with abandon. Even if the most of the world’s population was without power, tonight, I didn’t care. I needed to forget. I needed the titillation of the hunt, the thrill of choosing my prey. I needed the sexual release this night promised.

Gawd, it’s been waaay too long!

I knew this was the moment that would change my life forever. A conscious, pivotal moment that I willingly succumbed to embrace this vampyric lifestyle. I just hoped that with this new change, deep down inside, I would still be me and not that crazed creature who kills for sport.

The thought of a premeditated quest aroused me even further and I knew immediately that something inside me was taking over my normal human emotions—sensations I’d never entertained before—and they made me feel alive in every meaning of the word.

Once inside the dance hall, each person with whom I exchanged eye contact instantly became my potential first meal.

Should I choose a guy? Would Khaldon think I was hot for some other fella? I’m not sure how I would charm a woman. Would that be considered a vampyric faux pas? What if I messed this up?

With each writhing body on the dance floor, the possibilities were endless. I covered my face and tried to shake off the torrent of bad B-movies churning through my head. Would I walk out of this place how Stephen’s King
Carrie
walked out of that highschool?

This night could end so badly if I mess this up. How will I ever choose. There’s more choices here than a Las Vegas buffet.

“You need to quell your nerves, m’lady. You’re giving off such a nervous pheromone cloud, you won’t be able to arouse a mouse.”

I uncrossed my arms from around my chest, shook out my hands, and inhaled a deep breath as I tried to hide my sheepish naiveté.

He’s right … try to loosen up, relax. I can do this!

All of the sudden I felt as if I was Chevy Chase in the movie
Vacation
getting ready to jump into a pool with Christie Brinkley. I whispered under my breath. “This is crazy, this is crazy!” I unbuttoned the top of my blouse and allowed my fingers to linger in my cleavage, enjoying the full embodiment of my arousal.

Narrowing his eyes to seductive slits, he followed my fingers and stole a peek into my blouse. He lifted one eyebrow as though inquiring if the night had more to reveal after our feast. Khaldon kissed my forehead. The heat from his torso inflamed my thirst, my desire, and my imagination. I fantasized a scene where we bathed in a claw foot cast iron tub of blood after a night of luxurious lovemaking.

“Let’s drink up, dance for a while, and scope out tonight’s menu, shall we?” Khaldon handed me a fiery sex on the beach cocktail, startling me back to this reality.

Perusing the crowd, my eyes feasted on the delicious appetizers dancing around us. “That’s just it, babe. I’m having a real issue with who or what my potentials should be.” My hands propped onto my hips and my questions poured out of me. “What if I botch this escapade and we end up in jail for assault? Couldn’t we find an elk or something in the mountains?”

He considered me for a moment and then tilted his head, thinking about my questions. His face held a kind, knowing half-smile for me. “You’ve got a lot to learn, my poppet.”

We found a place to rest our drinks, and Khaldon pulled me through the crowd and out onto the dance floor. The band played “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches and Herb. Khaldon clasped my hand and twirled me around without another word. He let go of me and settled into his own rhythm. For an old vampire dude, he sure had the moves. I let the beat urge my feet, finding the pulsating jive.

For the first time in months, I allowed my body to let loose. The pounding of the bass pulsed fire up and down my legs as I shook my groove thang in front of Khaldon. He seized my hips and proceeded to show me how dirty dancing was done right.

It wasn’t long until I sensed the growing awareness of how other people watched and mimicked our dancing. Several couples licked their lips as if they wanted to taste us. I couldn’t tell if it was an unconscious gesture or one my mind conjured up.

Khaldon energized the floor when he invited another couple to dance within our circle. The couple might have still been in college, or their early twenties. Surprisingly enough, the guy with short-cropped brown hair danced well with an open cup of beer in his hand. Not a drop spilled. His date for the night seemed rather awakened by the invitation of Khaldon’s eyes. Her ponytail bobbed while she mimicked his body language, and I followed suit.

Mr. I’m-Not-Spilling-My-Beer guy muscled his way in closer to me. He offered me a sip of his drink. I shook my head no, but I teased him instead by dancing in and out with my shoulders. It wasn’t long until I caressed Khaldon’s hips behind mine, and I reached back to graze his excitement.

Khaldon evoked a sense of ease with the couple, hell even with me, as though we’d been dancing here for hours, but in all actuality, it had only been twenty minutes or so. After watching Khaldon’s suave charisma come to life, I realized that it wasn’t until tonight how I understood the dynamic of the dance. But as I watched Khaldon marinate our dinner, I had an
aha
moment and realized dancing was the body’s primal invitation of unspoken sexual possibilities.

The band finished rocking out to a classic Prince tune, “1999”
,
and took a thirty-minute sound break. How appropriate to end on an apocalyptic song when the rest of the world was in a panicked frenzy and I was at a heightened state of arousal.

Before Khaldon could say a word, Beer Guy said, “Hey, I’ve got something outside in the car. You two interested?”

I shot Khaldon a nervous grin.

Khaldon winked at me and then put his arm around Pony Tail. I reached for Beer Guy, and within seconds we were out the side door scuffing through the snow-filled park and out to the cars.

Khaldon stopped us before we arrived at the parking lot and said, “I’ve got what you two need right over here.” Khaldon gave a wink.

Beer Guy shrugged. “Dude, I’m game.”

Khaldon tramped deeper into the snow and over to a grove of huge pine trees with limbs that bowed out at least fifteen feet to the ground. We had to duck under the tree limbs to climb inside. Once we were safely ensconced behind the branches, I was surprised to learn how warm it was as the branches blocked the crisp night air and set the stage for our romantic dinner in the park.

Khaldon swished his hands in front of the couple, which looked like the Jedi mind-hand trick. Both the man and woman fell silent like they weren’t even there anymore.

“What did you do to them? Are they asleep?” Sucking in a breath, I squealed similar to when I did the first time I killed a boss in a video game all by myself. Giddy with delight, I snapped my fingers and smacked their faces to see if they would respond. “Wow—it’s like you used a freeze spell on them or something. Are they hypnotized?” I was way too easily amused at their submission. “Not even a blink.”

“I want to explain to you about the
piquant
. This is how you commove them to the point of acquiescence.”

“Huh—commove? Acquiescence? You mean something like … they’re so excited they can’t move?”

“Precisely. That’s a splendid way to explain it. I have them in a moment of repose, if you would.”

“Then why couldn’t you just say that? Where do you come up with these wild words?”

He ignored my question. “The trick to galvanizing your quarry is in your pheromones, which by the way, were spilling over capitally on the dance floor.” Khaldon’s grin revealed he was up to no good again. “It was all I could do to not eat you right there and then.” He pulled me in sharp, so close I wanted to forget about the couple and dive straight into him.

Jealous words stammered out of my mouth, “I—I couldn’t quite tell by the way you were dancing with Miss Chickadee if you wanted her—”

He cut off my words and kissed me with fierce abandon. We hadn’t kissed like that since the night I found out he was Roxas Morgwain, my online boyfriend for over two years. Khaldon had been afraid to confess his true vampyric nature while I was human, but after the rogue vampire attack, and my transformation, he was able to finally divulge his actual self.

Since our plunge into the nightmare of kidnapped sisters, dhampir breeding dens, and illegal blood orchards, we hadn’t had much time to rekindle our previous romance from our online avatars, Lady Cazenove and Roxas Morgwain. I had hoped now we might have a bit of quiet until we planned out the rescue for the remaining captives held on North Sentinel Island.

I was ready to take our relationship, in this physical world, to the next level.