Scent of a Vampire (13 page)

"Oh Alex. How is he?"

Leeds gave me a sly look. "He's fine. He had a lot of questions about you. How you are holding up? If you're getting any sleep. If you're sleeping alone?" I had a hard time looking Leeds in the eye when I asked,

"What did you tell him?"

Leeds stood up and came over to where I was sitting and knelt by my chair and lifted my face to his. "What's going on Olivia? Are you okay? Is anyone forcing you to do anything you don't want?"

"NO!" I vehemently denied. "It's not like that at all. It's just that when I first met Alex and Roberto I was first attracted to Alex and he said that he had marked me."

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"Ahhhh goddamn vampires. They have these old ass traditions that they abide by. According to vampire law, Alex has rights where you are concerned and Roberto has broken the law."

"Excuse my French but what the hell are you talking about? This is not the dark ages. I have a say in who I sleep with."

"That a girl. Will you sleep with me?" he wagged his eyebrows at me.

I had to laugh, which I guess was his intent. "Don't you ever give up?"

"No. Not when the prize is so sweet." He placed a quick kiss on my lips. "Can I make you something to eat?"

"No thanks. I can help myself. You should get some sleep."

"Actually I don't sleep that much. I only sleep once or twice a week. It's my metabolism."

"Can I ask you something Leeds?" He looked wary. "It depends what the question is."

"Why do you live out here like this? All alone. Don't you get lonely?"

"No"

"Not ever?"

"If you're by yourself then no one can betray you." He said nonchalantly as he opened the fridge and got out some milk and eggs.

"Is French toast okay?"

"That is fine. Did someone betray you Leeds?"

"Everybody betrayed me."

Leeds sat down. The French toast forgotten, as he seemed to go somewhere inside himself. "I was five years old when I felt changes taking place inside me. Contrary to what the

"legends" say I wasn't born a devil and my Mother didn't curse me. It was a normal existence until then. Well, normal for a family of thirteen children, a mother who was tired all of the time and a father who was a drunkard. One day I felt on fire on the inside. I lay on the floor too sick to get up. I was pretty much left alone, which was okay with me. Even at that age I knew it was better to be forgotten than to be in someone's way. That would have earned me a beating.

Anyway, after three days I felt stronger. I woke up before dawn and was able to go outside to relieve myself without anyone noticing. I had a terrible itch on my back and took my sweater off to try and scratch it. All of a sudden there was a cracking sound and terrible pain. I didn't understand what it was, so I ran into the house to wake my mother. My father was there and backhanded me. I flew into the corner and when I got up I heard my mother's screams. My
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father began to yell; abomination, evil spawn, yelling at me to get out, he began beating me and I had no idea why. I ran out of the house so afraid and in so much pain. I ran until I couldn't run anymore. I fell and laid there for hours.

"When I stood, I felt off balance. I couldn't comprehend what was happening. I had grown wings. No wonder my family hadn't wanted me. I was an abomination.

"Crying, dazed and confused, I thought if I got rid of the wings then my family would take me back in. I stumbled around and found a sharp rock. That was the first time I tried cutting my wings off. God it hurt like hell. When it didn't work I was hoping I just would bleed to death. But that didn't happen. My fast metabolism healed me too quickly. So, I learned how to survive. I stole food and supplies but only what I needed. Sometimes I would go back there, watch them through the window; my tired mother, my drunken father, it wasn't too bad being on my own. I was strong and growing larger everyday. The worse thing was the loneliness but you get you used to that."

When Leeds finished, I stood up and went over to him and threw myself on him and cried my eyes out. At first he didn't know what to do. He just sat there stiffly. Then slowly he began to rub my back.

"Ohhh Leeds. I'm sorry for all of the pain you had to endure. You were just a child. An innocent child. God, how could anyone treat another being like that?" I sobbed harder.

"Shhh, don't cry Olivia. No one has ever shed tears for me."

When the tears quieted down I said, "Leeds you are a whole lot of weird, but for some reason I like you. You are so free. You say what you want, do what you want and make no apologies. I wish that I could be like that." Leeds pulled my chin up to look into his eyes, "You can and you will Olivia. I just hope to God, for your sake, you won't learn it the way I did through pain and betrayal."

I laid my head on his chest and marveled at the circumstances that brought me to this point; sitting on the lap of the Jersey Devil who had just possibly become one of my best friends, in the middle of the swamp and in love with a vampire. Damn, nothing could top that. I was sure, until out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blur of movement and was flung from Leeds' lap onto the floor.

I scrambled up, imagining how it must have looked to Roberto when he saw me sitting on Leeds' lap. Only it wasn't Roberto pinning Leeds to the wall by his throat, it was Alex.

"Alex! Let him go! Leeds and I weren't doing anything." I tried grabbing Alex's arm but it was like solid steel. Now this was a man that worked out everyday. Why that thought came to me in
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the middle of him killing Leeds was freaking strange.

"It looks like he was rubbing your back and you were sitting on his lap with nothing on but his shirt! Leeds you asshole, I told you on the phone that she was mine."

"First of all Alex, I'm not yours. I am my own person. No one owns me and second Leeds is my friend. I was comforting him.

"Well technically sugar lips, you were crying and I was comforting you."

I think that Leeds had been playing along with Alex because he took a hold of the arm Alex had around his throat and with ease removed it. Alex looked surprised and rubbed his arm.

I decided to ignore their manly posturing. "What are doing here Alex? Is Janel with you?"

"No. Janel is on her way to Italy."

"What? Why is she going to Italy? She can't go to Italy without me!" I shouted.

Alex came to stand beside me. "Roberto sent her to his estate in Italy until he thinks it's safe. I came here right after she left to make sure you were okay." Before I had a chance to protest he pulled me into his arms and kissed me softly on the lips and stiffened. He sniffed my neck and said in a voice filled with anger, "You've been with Roberto."

Roberto walked into the room. "I suggest you get your hands off of her Alexander or I will." Alex swung towards Roberto. "You bastard. You did this on purpose. Why? Why would you do this Roberto and risk everything?"

Roberto gave Alex an annoyed look. "This is none of your concern Alexander. You will keep your mouth shut!" The way Roberto was sneering at Alex gave me a feeling of apprehension. I couldn't reconcile this Roberto to the Roberto I had been with these last few days. He seemed different, not gentle like he was with me.

Alex looked like he wanted to argue farther but he looked at my face, where I'm sure he could see that I was scared. "I will keep my mouth shut for now, but this isn't over Roberto. What you are doing is wrong and you know it." I had enough. "Enough of this crap. I want you both to know I make my own decisions. You are arguing over me like I'm a piece of meat and not a person with feelings." Roberto let go of Alex and came over to me. "Of course, you are correct piccolina. Please forgive me. Vampire politics can be quite archaic. Why don't you and I go for a walk? I have already fed. I went out when I heard you and Leeds talking earlier. I hadn't expected Alexander to show up here this evening." He gave Alex another annoyed look.

"Alex, how did you get here? It's just getting dark now?" I asked with confusion.

He smiled at me as he answered, "We have ways of traveling if the need is urgent. It's not easy.

But it was only a few hours ride so it wasn't too bad."

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"How do you do it?" I questioned. Being close to vampires these last few days hasn't given me much knowledge about this new world in which I find I'm now a part of.

"Well, we are put into a body bag by some of our most trusted employees while we are

"sleeping", with some good timing, you are at your destination by the time you awake."

"But how do you get a body bag out of your hotel?" I wondered.

"Very carefully." Alex replied again with his easy smile that made me want to smile back.

Roberto cleared his throat and asked me, "Are you ready for that walk?"

"Sure." I replied but asked, "Shouldn't we be heading to Buffalo now?"

"We will get started shortly. Alex and I have to regroup after he feeds so that we can re-strategize now that he has joined us."

Leeds who had been quiet until now said, "Yeah, well while you all go off on your little errands, I'll go hunt for some game to make Olivia a decent meal before she leaves. Olivia, do you like duck? There are a lot of duck around here and I have some great ways to prepare them that I know you'll love."

"Mmmm I love duck. Thank you so much Leeds, you are the best." I went over and stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

Alex and Roberto looked at each other with raised eyebrows but didn't say anything.

Leeds growled at the two men. "What? Assholes. You don't know how to treat a lady."

I smiled, "You are so right Leeds my love, they don't know how to treat a lady. Now excuse me gentleman, I'm going to shower quickly and dress properly in the clothes that Leeds bought for me today. Roberto, I will see you in fifteen minutes."

I sauntered, yes sauntered, from the room so proud of my calm demeanor singing, "Puff the magic dragon that lived by the sea."

I was going to kill Leeds. The no good, whore-mongering scoundrel.

I stood looking in the mirror at the stranger staring back at me. When I got back to the room I had barely glanced at the pile of clothes on the dresser. I had just run down the hall to the bathroom, stripped off Leeds' borrowed shirt and hopped in the shower. When I came back with a towel wrapped around me and picked up the clothing I almost had a heart attack. There was no way I was wearing these clothes. I looked around for my old clothes but couldn't find them anywhere. Short of going naked I had no choice. I groaned out loud when I saw the underwear he had left. A red thong and matching see through lace bra. Cursing, I put them on.

It seemed the only thing Leeds had done right was the sizes, as they fit remarkably well. I pulled
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on the black satin pants with no great ease. The black blouse was easier to put on but was very low cut and off the shoulder. To complete my lovely new ensemble was four-inch red stilettos.

As I stood looking in the mirror, shaking my head I did the only thing I could do, held my head high and walked out of the bedroom singing, "You better watch out cuz I need a man who can keep me satisfied."

I found Roberto waiting for me outside, leaning against the side of the house. He looked up when he heard my approach and I swear his eyes bugged out like a cartoon characters when he saw what I was wearing.

"Ummmm, interesting outfit. You said Leeds picked this out for you?"

I nodded my head in misery, "Yeah, I don't think we'll be able to go for a walk." I held up my leg for him to see my red stilettos.

"Don't worry piccolina, we don't need to walk. I noticed earlier there is a swing around the back of the house. We can sit there and talk. We really haven't talked much have we?

Circumstances have thrown a lot of things at us in the last few days."

We walked around to the back of the house and much to my surprise there was a splendid flower garden and in the middle sat an old oak tree with a wooden swing hanging from it.

"Our friend Leeds is full of surprises isn't he?" I marveled as I sat.

Roberto raised an eyebrow, "Our friend? You seem to have grown close to him in a few short hours."

I sighed. "He grows on you, I think he's really lonely. And despite buying me these atrocious clothes, he's been very kind to me. Has he ever told you about his childhood?"

"No, we don't have that kind of relationship. Our paths sometimes have crossed over the years.

I've helped him with a few business dealings and he let me stay here when I was out hunting."

"He shared some things with me tonight. He is a lost soul Roberto. And I want to be his friend."

"The two of you seemed pretty cozy back there. Are you sure your not letting your Sensay feelings cloud your judgment?"

"Are you serious? I am a grown woman. Stop treating me as if I were a child who doesn't know my own mind. I may not know crap about being a Sensay but I know a lot about being a friend.

Speaking of which why did you send Janel to Italy?"

"I am sorry piccolina. I am only trying to guide you with your newly found abilities. I don't want to see you overwhelmed with something you can't handle. Of course I trust your judgment. You
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are a very intelligent woman. On the subject of Janel you must trust my judgment. I vowed to you that I would keep you and your friend safe and I'm sure that by now the Guardians have marked your friend to get to you. She would not be safe here. Alexander put her on a plane to my estate in Italy. There she will be protected by my brother Cristoforo."

I laughed. "And who is going to protect your brother?"

Roberto smiled. "Yes she is quite a handful, that one. I don't think I've ever seen Alexander flustered before. Your Janel gave him a run for his money. Speaking of Alexander, I think we need to discuss this situation." I didn't really want to discuss this. I was confused. Both Alex and Roberto made my heart race when they were near. But with Roberto it was different. Roberto made me feel safe and protected. I thought back to last night when I had confessed my love to him, thankful he had been sleeping. It would take me a while to get up the nerve to tell him face to face. Maybe it would be easier after he met my parents. He could stay a few days with us in Buffalo.