RBC05 - Bloodline (23 page)

“I won’t need you for a while. You may go,” I said without emotion and then walked away and up to the waiter’s podium.

“A table for one; inside by the window if you please.”

I had been told where Meil sat each day, so of course that is the table I chose. The waiter tried very hard to talk me out of it. I just smiled while looking him deep in the eyes and of course he not only allowed me to sit where I wanted, but brought me their finest red wine on the house.

Meil always walked to the brasserie from the government house, so he would no doubt be here any minute. I scented him long before I saw him. I picked up the menu and motioned for the waiter.

“Crème Brule,” I told him as Meil entered.

I didn’t look in his direction, ignoring the argument that he was having with the waiter.

“I am sorry Monsieur, but the young lady was here first.”

I looked over and smiled, motioning for the waiter to come over again.

“Is there a problem?”

“This is Monsieur Meil’s usual table I am afraid,” he said sheepishly.

“Perhaps the handsome gentleman would join me.”

This seemed to brighten the waiter’s mood. He turned, gave his vest a downward tug and went to address Meil once again.

I noticed Meil look over, smile and then nod in agreement.

His smile widened the closer he got.

“Adolph Meil at your service.”

He was a tall handsome man, who looked to be in his thirties. His hair was dark and slicked back; eyes, light brown and on the small side. His scent of course was human, but I knew better. I had left my scent vampire, only making it unique to Suzette. These new Jinn powers were, oh so very convenient.

“Suzette DeMarques.”

“A pleasure,” he said as he seated himself. “I received an invitation to your masquerade tomorrow evening which, now that I’ve met you, makes me very happy to have accepted.”

“Please, sit. I look forward to entertaining you as well,” I said coyly.

The waiter brought what I assumed was the minister’s usual wine. He also brought Crème Brule for the both of us.

“I see we have similar tastes,” he said letting his eyes trace my face and then my ample cleavage.

“So, Adolph is there a Madam Meil?”

“No, I am a widower I’m afraid.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, it’s been many years now. I am more interested in talking about you. A beautiful woman such as you must have had many options. What made you chose this one?”

“You would think so, but indeed that was not the case. My family was killed by…hunters. I more or less grew up on my own. I would go village to village looking for food. I noticed in those days that those with money visited the local entertainment dens nightly. The women there dressed in beautiful gowns and had money to spend. However these women were so… shall we say fragile, and were easily discarded by the elite.”

“So you found your niche,” he said.

“I found the most beautiful, voluptuous girls in all of Europe and brought them here. Paris is at the very center of all that’s happening in the world these days.”

“Yes, yes it is. I have heard you have taken on partners. I would be very careful Suzette.”

“Strange, I have heard the same thing from them. Don’t worry about me. I do what is necessary for my survival. It’s been lovely to meet you, Adolph. I look forward to tomorrow evening, but now you will have to excuse me. There is so much I need to do.”

“If there is anything that I can do to help you in
any
way, please ask,” he said as we stood.

“That is very kind, Adolph. I hope that there will not be a clash between ruling powers which would hurt my endeavors. That would be very upsetting since I have spent most of my inheritance to relocate here in Paris.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that, Suzette. Things have a way of working themselves out just the way they are supposed to.”

“You seem very confident. That is encouraging. See you tomorrow then?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

I offered my hand and let Meil kiss the back of it; then walked away without looking back.

Alex pulled the coach forward and Jonathan opened the door and helped me in. I felt relieved as we pulled away. I had used my power to open a door with Meil and had planted my image into his subconscious. He would think of me more and more until I became his obsession. It was dangerous, but the only way I could think of to get him to let his guard down.

When we got home I found almost everyone was in the parlor.

“What have you been up to, Suzette?” Kate asked as I joined them.

“I had a little rendezvous with Meil,” I said as I unpinned my hat. “We’ll see if it had any impact tomorrow. How about the rest of you, what did you find when you went to the schools?”

“You were right; the enemy has been contacting the young; enticing them with gifts and club ‘privileges’. So far they have been resisting and after our visit it will be easier for them to do so.”

“We explained the consequences of betrayal,” Letta added. “The girls seemed quite taken by our male persona.”

“I’m glad it was productive. How about the party plans? Are we ready?”

“As ready as we can be. Every invitation was accepted. And an extra one was offered to the Arnaunts,” Kate said.

 “Hmm, yes, we hope to meet the illusive Auguste.”

“You wanted to see me?” Alex said as he paused at the door, hat in hand.

“Yes Alex. There is something that I want you to do for me. I need you to find us a training ground not too far from the city, someplace private that we can protect. We need to be ready to fight.”

“It would be my pleasure. I’ll go right now. That is if you don’t need me?”

“No, I think I’m in for the night.”

“You made his day. I hope he finds something quickly, I can’t wait to train,” El said excitedly.

“I agree, it’s been far too long,” Rosa said. “How are we going to pull this off?”

“Oh, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but I’ll save those for when Alex finds us a secure site.”

We noticed the bright light of the portal and went to investigate. What we found was two beautiful creatures, dressed in black; long swords slung across their backs. Their thigh length black hair was pulled back in a full braid. Brown Asian eyes, full of strength and power surveyed each one of us.

“We are Hun Lee’s sisters. I am Luna and this is Ling. What can we do to help?”

CHAPTER TEN

L
una, Ling, welcome and thank you for your service,” I said.

Over the next several hours we explained everything, identifying the enemy, outlining our plans and describing our allies.

I found them intelligent and reserved, just like Hun. They were amused by the plan.

“Asian culture views the pleasure business with high

regard and acceptance. It will be easy for us to blend in to your ruse,” Luna said, as she and her sister removed their swords and accepted our offer to sit.

“Tell us about Hun Lee. How is he? I know he was deciding whether to move the entire family to the new world if there was any threat in Asia,” I said.

“He’s well, thank you. Although there is turmoil in

Asia, Mother refuses to leave her home. With father gone, Hun is head of the household. He will stay with her now,” Ling said.

“I brought tea,” Sarah said, a full tray in front of her. “Amparah and Charmaine are on their way down. They both slept and now seem fully recovered.”

“Sarah runs the house. We couldn’t get by without her,” El said. “Sarah, this is Luna and Ling, Hun Lee’s sisters.”

“Good to meet you. Your rooms have been prepared. If there is anything that you need or prefer, please let me know.”

“We will need accommodations for our Watchers, of course,” Luna said as she sipped her tea.

“Only one Watcher is with us. Our persona is non royal, and as non royals would not have them,” I said.

“I assure you they will be very discrete. In fact I doubt you will ever see them,” Ling assured us.

“Here are the girls now. Dinner will be served in about an hour.”

“Thank you, Sarah. You two look so much better, come meet our new arrivals,” I said.

“We are better, thank you. So much so that Niranjana went home,” Amparah said as she and Charmaine took a seat.

“Amparah and Charmaine, meet Ling and Luna.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Charmaine said excitedly. “I have to tell you something. Since we’ve recovered we have both found that our powers have, well been altered somewhat.”

“That’s right,” Amparah added. “I am a witch, that hasn’t changed, but now I found that Charmaine and I seem to be linked like she is with the other Belnovus.”

“And I seem to have some magical powers, and I found that I can leave my physical body and take my spirit wherever I wish, invisible to those around me!”

“Amazing, that should be very useful,” I said. “I wish we had more time to explore those traits, but the party is tomorrow and I hope we are ready.”

“Remember what we have always been told,” El said. “We will be given help when we need it most. The way will be shown. That’s been true all along. And I see no reason that this time would be any different.”

“Don’t be over confident,” I warned. “Every instance is very different and this time we have no idea just how powerful these foes will be. I would rather err on the cautious side.”

“We will do everything we can to help. Our gifts are many,” Luna offered.

Before I could ask Luna to elaborate, we heard the back door open and soon Gruen, Liridon and Yanna entered.

“We need a bigger room,” Rosa quipped.

“Auguste is in Paris and headed here, right now!” Liridon panted.

“What! How do you know it’s him?” I exclaimed.

“Yanna, tell them.”

“I don’t know how,” Yanna said, “but now I can see people’s truth, unless it’s being blocked like you are doing now. Gruen smelled this Noctu as we headed home.”

“He wasn’t far behind us so we just went into the shadows and waited for him to go by. Yanna and I changed form and split up leaving Gruen alone.”

“I waited and then just started walking towards him as he got closer. He’s a nasty one, he is,” Gruen said holding his nose.

“I was further up the way,” Yanna added. “He turned and looked in my direction as he passed the alley where I was waiting. His eyes glowed red and he called to me with his mind. ‘
Be gone Were. You want no part of me
.’ And then he just continued on, when he did, my mind seemed to continue to be linked with his. I saw conversations, memories and an address. It was this address. He’s almost surely somewhere close by now.”

“That’s when we took the short cut and came straight here. What do you want us to do?”

“Gruen did he see you?”