Reign of the Vampires (11 page)

He envisioned her curvy body as she’d walked into his cell at the auction house: her black jacket tight on her slim waist and flared out over her round, supple hips, her toned legs under the black skirt, her calves and feet corseted into her black boots. The sight was almost more than he could take, and before he knew it, he wasn’t calming down, but heating up.

The thoughts brought more images and sensations into his body. A stirring deep within gripped him, and he had to shake his head to stop from letting out a cry of longing. Stretching, he tried to calm down. He didn’t want to see her, didn’t want to want her. He slapped himself in the face, trying to clear his head. The door opened to the outer viewing chamber.

Neeman pounded down the ramp and Mason was hit by a wave of the most magnificent aroma. He went on high alert as he inhaled the scent, and he realized that it was hers.
Crap!
Neeman was covered in Danika’s intoxicating aroma. It made Mason’s blood jump ten degrees. He had to stretch again to keep from staring Neeman down. Studying his shoes, he tried to get ahold of himself, but it wasn’t working. His mind raced. She’d been there; she’d seen Neeman. But why? When he straightened, a dark look sat on Neeman’s face, and he remembered Kelvin telling him that she and Neeman were lovers.

“How about a bit of sparring, just you and me?” Neeman said.

More like Neeman working off his frustrations with his female on Mason. He nodded.

It was hard for Mason to concentrate with her scent lingering in the air. Every time Neeman got closer, it worsened. Repeatedly, Neeman landed a hit, kick, or both. And Mason took every one, blocking very few. After five minutes of getting kicked around, Neeman stopped.

“Where’s your mind, Mason? These are moves that you learned to block over a week ago. Are you trying to let me hurt you?” Neeman asked.

“I just... My head’s not in it tonight,” said Mason.

“Not in it?” Neeman demanded. “Who cares about that? It’s your job to protect your master with everything you have. You don’t have anything else in your mind. You don’t think about anything else.” Neeman punctuated the last four words with a series of kicks at Mason. “You. Do. Your. Job.” Mason blocked the last three. Neeman nodded as he did so. “
You
have no wants.
You
have no needs.
You
have your master, and that is all. You protect your master or someone ends up dead. Now let’s go!” He rushed Mason.

Mason forced his mind to concentrate on what was at hand. If he wanted to live through this night, he had to keep his head in the arena.

They sparred for two hours, and Mason had been right. Whatever frustrations were stuffed inside of Neeman, he worked them out. In the end, Mason had lost by a bit, but not much. Neeman managed to plant three hard hits to Mason’s face, causing Mason a cut eye and a bloodied lip. Neeman’s fangs gleamed, and he stopped after the sight and smell of Mason’s blood dictated he remove himself from the arena. Neeman excused himself, glanced up toward the viewing area, then headed up the ramp. Mason backed away, wiping the sweat and blood from his body with a towel.

* * * *

Mason performed poorly in the beginning for some reason, but after they started again, he was as good as Neeman. Danika was forced to unbutton her blouse and fan herself, watching the two males spar.

Neeman stepped up the ramp toward her, while Mason was left in the arena, hard-bodied and sweaty. Oh how she wished to go down to him right there, body dripping, and sink her teeth into his neck. She imagined the feeling, the taste of a blood that strong.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the smell of Mason’s blood on Neeman’s hand the moment the door opened. It was all Danika could do to stop herself from dropping him to the ground and licking the blood from his knuckles. Or better yet, pushing him to the side and rushing down the ramp.

Neeman’s eyes blazed with need. She had to admit, he was gorgeous. At that moment, she wondered why in all their years together, she’d never loved him. No longing to be with him again when he was gone. No willingness to put his needs before hers. She’d never felt complete being with him. He was strong, and sexy, but they did nothing to complement each other the way her parents had. As much as she’d tried to make it work with him, he wasn’t the one.

“He did satisfactorily.” She turned to the mirror, avoiding Neeman’s lusty gaze and buttoning her blouse. “He had a rocky start.”

“Like I said, he hasn’t learned to meditate yet. It was evident tonight by his words and his actions. He told me that his head wasn’t in the right place. This is what I tried to warn you of Danika. He isn’t ready yet. I need more time to—”

“No,” she said too forcefully. She coughed, turned, and tried again. “No. Do what you can, and the rest he’ll have to learn while in my service.”

Neeman opened and closed his fists several times. But in the end, he did what he’d always done when she put her foot down. He sighed and said, “Very well. He’ll be ready two weeks from tonight. I’ll deliver him to your home at eight.”

“Thank you.” She shook his hand, before letting herself out. She walked as fast as possible to the elevator and out of Neeman’s range.

As the elevator ascended to the first floor, she thought about the large human with his piercing eyes and warm aura. She imagined him protecting her. Pressing his body on hers and pinning her down beneath his tremendous weight as he shielded her from a threat. The image made her tingle all over. She threw her hands over her face. She was in so far over her head.

Chapter
9

Mason plagued Danika for the next few days. Unable to get any real work accomplished she became increasingly more impatient for the next two weeks to end.

William entered her office. His new haircut and business suits had changed him. He stood taller, moved stronger, proud of who he was now. In time, he’d reach his full potential. He’d be self-assured, diplomatic, and a great confidant.

“Yes, William?”

“My lord, the appellate court starts in an hour. We need to leave.”

“Of course, thank you. Please call down for the car. And let Chase know.”

Danika gathered her things. William returned carrying a file, a concerned look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“This just came from Chase. It’s another case for tonight. It’s an emergency case that hasn’t gone to the underlords. It came straight here because it was in need of immediate attention.”

“What?” She crossed in front of her desk and snatched the file from William in a blink of an eye. He stepped back. She didn’t like being unprepared. There was a note attached to the top of the file. It was from Neeman. Her stomach lurched. She flipped through the file. “Crap!”

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s a rogue vamp caught by the Tracking Squad, and they need me to pronounce judgment.”

“But if they caught it, shouldn’t the judgment be clear?”

“Yes and no. It is complicated. We have to go. I’ll explain it in the car. Is Chase coming?” She couldn’t believe he’d just gotten this to her.

“He said he’d meet us there.”

“Fine.” Danika stalked to the elevator. William ran to catch up.

On the ride down, she read the file, flooded with visions of Xenock for the first time in weeks. She cleared her dry throat and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to rid herself of his face.

She hated pronouncing judgment on rogue vamps. More times than not, they were so far gone you could tell just by looking at them. However, there were cases, such as this one, where the vamp was trying to control it. They had periods of lucidity, followed by terrible rages in which they killed and drained everything.

The elevator opened to the lobby, and Danika strode past the receptionist who tried to give her a message. Her eyes narrowed and the receptionist shut her mouth and sat down. William took the message with a smile.

Danika slid inside her car and pulled the file open again, reading slowly from beginning to end. William sat in silence. When she finished, there was no question that the vamp had gone rogue. Danika rubbed her temples with her fingers.

“So this is how it’ll work. The parties will come in and give their side of things. I will then converse with the underlords about the facts and make a decision at that time. You will stand to my left. Try to observe as much as you can about the parties involved. I may ask you before I issue my ruling if you have anything you’d like to add. Do not speak, however, unless I speak to you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Lord Danika.”

“Okay.” Danika blew out a long breath. "Have you ever encountered a rogue vamp before?"

William shook his head. "No, but I've heard of them. It happens when they drink human blood right?"

“Yes. Human blood is toxic to them. It causes them to go insane with bloodlust. We aren’t sure why, but it is believed that it has something to do with the fact that they are not real Vampires, but mutated humans.”

"I thought rogues were usually killed on sight."

“Some are completely crazed and must be destroyed. They will turn on other vamps, and even Vampires when they can’t find human blood. However, there are a few that are not all far-gone. Those are bled, then set on a strict synthetic regime that breaks the addiction. It’s rare, but it has been accomplished. Of course, the vamp is then set as a slave or a minion so he can be monitored.”

“What do you think of this one?”

“There’s no doubt that she somehow ingested human blood. Where she got it is the question. And how far gone she is will be the other question. From Neeman’s notes, she’s taking to the new regime. Before this incident, she was a good college student. So there is hope she will be rehabilitated.”

“Is it rare for a vamp to drink human blood?”

“Extremely. Vamps don’t hunger for human blood. Unless they taste it, they have no more desire to drink from a human, as they would a dog. The only place to get human blood is inside a Vampire’s estate, or possibly a bar, but vamps aren’t served human blood. This girl was not in the employ of a Vampire, therefore how she got the blood is a mystery.” Danika’s thoughts traveled to Xenock again. They never had discovered where he’d gotten human blood, either. That was the thing Danika regretted most about having killed him so swiftly.

William nodded. “Why is court held at Coven House?”

“Because that’s where my father held it. He believed that our Coven House was open to all those in need, and that those who came seeking judgment needed him the most.”

Twenty minutes later, the driveway to the Coven House was full of cars stretching almost to the gate. Paul pulled up to the front and stopped where a spot had been left for them.

Inside the entrance hall were at least two dozen people. Danika passed them without a word. When she reached the staircase landing, she turned.

“I’ll return in fifteen minutes to begin. Please relax in the dining hall. William will call your name when it is your turn. Thank you.”

When she reached her room, she slipped off her shoes and skirt, William stood in the doorway.

“Please fetch Matthew for me.” She dropped her blouse and then turned to find something suitable, yet comfortable to wear.

“Yes, mistress,” William said in a strange, low voice as he left.

Searching the closet, she found a pair of black knit pants. Paired with her red blouse. Not too formal, not too casual, and comfortable as well. She laid the pants over a chair and stripped off her slip.

* * * *

Danika took her seat in the makeshift meeting hall in the downstairs atrium. The chair, which had been her father’s, had been pulled into the middle of the large room. Her mother’s sat beside it, empty. Danika swallowed at the sight of them. Two chairs, equal in height and stature just as her parents had been.

The sides of the atrium were lined with flowers, plants, and tropical trees. The smell of the fresh foliage permeated everything. The roof was made of glass, letting in the moonlight. The stars twinkled in the clear, cloudless sky. Candles lit the way down the length of the burgundy carpet, which ran from the entrance to her chair on the opposite end.

Her underlords, Oliver, Isaiah, and Victor sat awaiting the hearings in three chairs on her right, a head lower than her high-backed wooden chair on the pedestal.

The first case on the docket involved two vamps who owned rival grocery stores. “Coleman and Sustin, please, William.” She motioned him to the entrance.

“Yes, mistress.” He walked down the lit pathway to the entrance hall.

“He’s a nice, pliable minion,” said Isaiah.

“Yes, a good purchase, I must say. But quite a high price, isn’t he?” asked Victor.

“No, not nearly.” Danika avoided the point. She thought about Mason for a moment and her skin tingled.

“He’s still wearing his bracelet, I noticed,” said Oliver. “When do you plan to bond with him?”

“Not that it is any of your business, Oliver, but we are waiting till we are both comfortable. I prefer not to be tethered to someone with whom I am unfamiliar.” She continued staring straight ahead.

“You will have to let me know how that works out for you,” said Isaiah.

William returned with the two vamps a step behind him. Coleman was a short, pudgy vamp with spiky white hair and a pig face. Sustin, on the other hand, was tall and thin, with no hair at all.

The men stopped at the edge of the platform and bowed. William continued onto the platform and stopped next to Danika.

“I’ve read your file and I have just two questions. Is it true that you cannot work together, combine your assets and your knowledge to benefit the both of you, thereby increasing your enterprise, as well as your holdings?”

“Yes,” said Coleman. “I cannot work with this vamp. He is a cheat and a liar, and I deserve the store, since I was first to offer to buy it.”

Danika turned to Sustin and nodded for him to speak.

Sustin bowed to Danika before speaking. “Thank you for hearing us this evening, Lord Danika. I would be a better owner for this store, and I cannot work with this man. The partnership would undoubtedly fail.”