chapter 5
It seemed bittersweet, to leave the cat in the very capable hands of the elder woman who lived downstairs.
But Mrs. Graham adored cats (she had four of her own) and Mika seemed to tolerate her well enough.
I didn’t want to give Mika up, not when it seemed as though we had finally come to some sort of arrangement, something involving cans of albacore tuna and occasional petting accompanied by purring. The night I came back from the Eldridge mansion, head whirring from the confession, I laid down in bed and Mika jumped on my chest, promptly purring herself into sleep. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept so soundly. I didn’t even have to turn on a light.
I was making progress.
And to give that up…
“And you’ll be back…” Mrs. Graham’s rheumy blue eyes widened. “When exactly did you say you were coming back?”
I paid the rent four months in advance. If things went well, I would be back in a week. If not… “I shouldn’t be more than a couple of months. I’m very sorry. This should make things a bit easier.”
She stared at the envelope in my open hand. “What’s this, dear?”
“It should be enough to help pay for Mika’s lodging.” A lump rose in my throat. I would not cry for a cat. “And perhaps some cans of tuna, every now and again. She seems to like Chicken of the Sea the best.”
Mrs. Graham closed my hand, the envelope still in it. “Oh, dear, I don’t need that! My retirement pays me well enough and in any case, I can’t imagine one cat eating so much I would have to spend more money on cats than I already do.” She smiled warmly and I basked in the glow. “They’re all I have left now, so I make sure to take care of them the best I can.”
In a way, it was kind of depressing. “No, please. It would make me feel better.”
The old woman gave me a piercing look. “Well, if it makes you feel better. But don’t be surprised if you come back and the envelope hasn’t been opened yet. You understand?”
I did. I understood very well.
Mika did not bite me as I rubbed her chin, opting to purr, her beautiful amber eyes closed in supreme happiness in Mrs. Graham’s ample arms. “Thank you, Mrs. Graham. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“You see that you do,” she said and then added. “Don’t do anything foolish.”
Don’t do anything foolish.
“Thank you,” I replied. “I’ll be back for Mika. I promise.”
She looked satisfied as she cradled the cat against her shoulders. “Promises are made to be kept, aren’t they?”
“Of course,” I said and felt a bit silly as I waved to the cat when she closed the door.
The hallway was quiet, and I was loathe to leave the relative safety of the only home I had known for the past five years.
I thought I would come back.
And it was that uncertainty that almost undid me.
Outside, a dark car with tinted windows waited for me. Courtesy of Jason Eldridge. The driver got out of the car, a tall, silent man with wraparound shades, and opened the back door for me before I could get there.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure. May I take your bags?”
I didn’t carry much, only one duffel bag filled with suitable, comfortable clothes and the nylon bag containing my sword. Hardly worth the assistance. “No, thank you. I’ll ride with them in my lap.”
He nodded stiffly. “As you wish.”
I slid into the cool atmosphere, the dark giving me pause and the driver shut the door behind me. I felt that familiar sense of panic, of drowning in the perpetual darkness worse than anything else, but managed to find the switch for the window before I could hyperventilate. It was cold, but I would sacrifice warmth for the tiny ray of light.
A vampire hunter that feared the darkness.
Had anyone known, it would’ve been too shameful.
Father thought he beat that particular trait out of me, but he hadn’t.
A shame. It could have been helpful.
The drive was not long and when the driver pulled into the driveway of a three story brownstone, I stared up at the building that looked like every other building on the street.
I opened the door and got out before the driver could come around to my side. Perhaps his lips twitched with displeasure, but I had always done everything myself. I hated waiting for other people. Things always got done fast if I did it. Besides, I am not so privileged to have other people open doors for me. I still had hands, still had power enough to do it myself.
“Is he here?”
The street seemed deserted and the brownstones on either side had their blinds drawn. They, too, seemed empty.
“He is.”
I thought I saw a shadow move across one of the windows on the second floor of the building in front of me. “Is it just him?”
“I am not sure I can answer that, Miss.”
Miss. It was strange hearing me referred in such a way. “What do I do? Do I just walk in?”
I wished I could see the driver’s eyes as he shrugged. They say eyes are the window to a man’s soul…most of the time, they’re right. “I had very explicit directions regarding this, Miss. Mr. Eldridge made it extremely clear I was to lead you here. Whatever happens after, whatever happens now, is strictly your choice. If you were to walk down the street, I could not stop you. Were you to get back in the car and tell me to take you back to your home, I would do it. Your choice is your own.”
An interesting idea.
But one that was inherently flawed.
After all, I had been led here, hadn’t I?
My choice had been made for me.
A gilded cage. Pretty to look at, but still a cage, whichever way you look at it.
I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder, so it sat more comfortably. “Is the door unlocked?”
He shook his head wordlessly.
Right.
I walked up the seven steps to the front door and heard the car start up. By the time I tried the doorknob, the car was already halfway down the quiet street.
The door was locked, just like he said, and I spared a glance at the brass doorbell button next to mailbox slot.
I could ring it, or I could simply call out to the small figure I could see standing behind the stained glass insets of the burgundy cherrywood door. Probably not Jason. “Do you want me to ring the doorbell?”
The door opened silently on oiled hinges.
“Are you Ran?”
The girl was beautiful, small and delicate like a doll, black hair loose about her slim shoulders, thick bangs brushing the tops of her faint eyebrows. Her skin looked white, almost like she powdered her face, but I knew if I touched her, my fingers would come away clean.
“I am. Who are you?”
She smiled almost shyly and I watched her canines elongate, ever so slightly, almost like watching a rose bloom in quick-motion. Disturbing, to say the least. “Reiko. Our names are similar!”
Appearance-wise, she seemed about ten. I would’ve bet she was at least ten times older. With one swift movement, she could stick out her foot and I’d end up halfway down the street. Moving with caution never seemed so prudent. When in doubt, flatter. “Nice to meet you, Reiko. You’re the cutest girl I’ve ever seen.”
She giggled and flicked a lock of hair over one shoulder. “Thank you. You have a nice face, too. Won’t you come in?”
You have a nice face, too.
Such innocent words, spoken with such an innocent expression. And yet, I knew, given half the provocation, she could rip the flesh off my bones and wear it like a cape.
The hallway was awash with light and I stepped in, my shoes silent on the lush green carpet. “Do you live here, Reiko?”
I didn’t mean to talk to her as though she were a child, but I couldn’t seem to stop. Not with a face like that. “Yes, I do.”
“Do you live here alone?”
“No. We’ve been waiting for you.”
On that rather ominous note, I followed her into the living room, beautifully designed with dark wood furniture that gleamed under the large chandelier hung from the wood paneled ceiling. Large ceiling to floor windows with silken yellow drapes looked out into a garden and I recognized Jason sitting in a plush armchair in front of a softly crackling fire.
Jason smiled, but it was the sort of smile that did not reach his dark eyes. “Welcome, Ran. I see you’ve met Reiko.”
I nodded and she put a hand on my bag. I’m ashamed to say that I flinched. I’d never been so close to a vampire and not killed it immediately. “Oh. I’m sorry! Did I scare you?”
An immediate answer did not come to mind. “I…I’m sorry, Reiko. I’m just not used to being around such a pretty little girl.”
A pale wash of crimson came over her full cheeks. “You are too kind. Can I take your bag?”
Instinctively, my fingers tightened around the strap. “No, it’s much too heavy for you.”
Silly words, especially when spoken to a vampire older than America.
But it seemed to work.
This time, her entire face blazed and if she’d been wearing a skirt, she probably would’ve curtsied. “May I lead you to your room, then?”
To be honest, I didn’t want to around her any longer than I had to. “Oh…what does Mr. Eldridge want me to do?”
If I expected any help from his corner, I was not going to get it.
He inclined his head to one side in a gracious manner. “Thank you very much, Reiko. After you show her to her room, I think Marcus will take you out for the night.”
Who was Marcus?
The little girl awarded him with a blinding smile, made all the more prominent by her jutting canines. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so unsure of my safety. “Thank you, Jason. Ran, won’t you follow me?”
Jason, almost as though he understand the moral quandary I was in, merely nodded, his black eyes never leaving mine. “It’s all right, Ran. While you are here, you are safe. For all she looks and knows, Reiko is to be trusted.”
Trust a vampire. It was almost too much to bear.
But bear it, I would. “As you wish.”
“When you are settled, I would be pleased if you could join me,” he said and I could only nod in agreement as Reiko led me up a flight of stairs, the railing polished and slightly waxy to the touch.
We stopped at the second floor landing and she pointed up the still ascending stairs. “Upstairs, that is where I am. If you need me, just come upstairs, okay?”
Like hell I would. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I would never willingly walk into a pit of snakes and this seemed no different.
There were several doors, all of them closed on this particular floor and I trailed a hand down the dark blue wallpaper, blooming roses with vines running up and down the walls.
She opened a door on the right. “This is where Jason wanted you to stay.”
As far as rooms went, it was quite serviceable. A large bed with dark blue sheets that matched the dark blue curtains, currently drawn against the night. Two closed doors, most likely the bathroom and closet. A small writing desk sat against the wall next to the window and I set down my bags on the bed that could comfortably accommodate a basketball athlete. “It’s quite nice.”
“Isn’t it?” If it wasn’t for her canines and that strange, dark aura, I couldn’t have believed this was a being capable of so much violence. “I like it, too. I think Jase has excellent taste, don’t you?”
“He designed this house himself?”
She nodded. “Yes. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I agreed and she gave the room a long, propriety glance that made me wonder just how long she had stayed here. “Well, I’m going to go out for the night, so have a good night. Don’t let the bedbugs bite!”
With that strangely apt saying, she skipped out into the hallway and I heard her spirited steps as she danced down the stairs.
The room was heated and for that I was grateful, as I had a rather distressing tendency to run cold, even in warm weather. Upon opening the two closed doors only solidified my suspicion. A small but clean bathroom that smelled not-badly of Lysol and a large closet that had more than enough room for my couple changes of clothes.
If Jason didn’t have a laundry on the premises, I was going to be in a bit of trouble.
Unpacking my things didn’t take more than five minutes, most of it spent trying to locate hangers, which turned out to be stowed in the small chest at the foot of the bed.
But I couldn’t stay in that room forever.
Sooner or later, I had to go down.
And go down, I did.
Jason had not moved from his seat on the dark amethyst armchair, one foot propped up on a matching low ottoman. “Did you find everything to your liking?”
“I did. Thank you.”
He waved a hand in the air in a nonchalant manner. “Don’t thank me. I did what I had to do. You are, after all, in this with me. If I can provide for you, I certainly will. Won’t you sit down?”
It wasn’t so much as a question than a command and I followed, taking a seat on the loveseat adjacent to him. The fireplace felt good on the right side of my body and I turned my body enough to feel that delicious warmth down my entire body. “Who is the…girl?”
A grave mistake on my part to call Reiko a girl.
“Reiko…yes,” he said quietly, eyes turning crimson in the leaping firelight. “A comrade in arms, I suppose you could say. She will be one of the pieces that will allow me entrance into Noir’s inner circle.”
“Hard to believe she would help you.”
He made a small sound of agreement. “Indeed. However, it seems as though she too harbors somewhat of a grudge. Not against Noir, but a member of his House. She will help me in exchange for his life. She can’t kill her enemy. I’ve promised her you would kill him.”
“Ah,” I said, somewhat bitingly. I refused to linger on the thought as to how I was going to kill something a four hundred year old vampire couldn’t. “How thoughtful of you.”
Either he didn’t hear the sarcasm in my voice or didn’t care. I thought it was more the latter rather than the former. “Yes, I didn’t think you would mind. A killer kills, doesn’t she?”
Said in such terms, it was rather offensive. “You make it sound like that’s the only thing I know how to do.”
The dark eyes watching me were like that of a python. “Isn’t it? What other use do you have to the Fellowship?”
I couldn’t answer and satisfaction gleamed in Jason’s eyes.
“Tomorrow, everything begins.”
A lock of dark hair fell over his forehead as he turned his gaze to the fire. I was grateful for that tiny respite. There was something incredibly unsettling about being in his vision. “What will you do? Will Reiko be the one to turn you?”
He nodded. “Yes. Once she does, I will be incapacitated for three days. During that time, I will be almost dead, unable to defend myself. Reiko is strong, but while she feeds me her blood, she’ll be greatly weakened and will not be able to help me. You will have to keep watch over us.”
A frightening thought. To actually ally myself with a vampire and protect him from harm…this almost seemed like a bad dream. “You’re ask a great deal from me.”
“Do I?” He gave me his not-smile. “On the contrary. I don’t think I am asking enough. After all, you’re not the one turning into a monster. I do this, so that you and I may enter Noir’s House without the slightest bit of suspicion. Once we are accepted into the proverbial fold, it will be much easier to do what needs to be done.”
I matched him smile for smile. “What makes you think I’m not going to kill you at your weakest? As you said, you would be completely incapacitated. If I kill you and Reiko, that would be two less vampires for me to worry about.”
“You won’t,” he said matter-of-factly. “You’re much too intelligent. You understand what must be done. And what’s more, I think I rather fascinate you.”
Too close to the truth for comfort. “Fascinating? You? Hardly.”
A corner of his lips twitched. “Liar.”
This conversation was starting to sound rather familiar.
Which reminded me. “I don’t suppose you’re aware there are vampires trying to warn me away from you?”
He didn’t pause at the abrupt change of subject. “Is that so?”
I inspected my fingernails in a nonchalant manner. “It is. Would you happen to have any idea why?”
He didn’t look derisive anymore, merely interested. “Not the faintest.”
“They seemed quite keen on keeping me away from you,” I said. “It was a female vampire. She said her…House was keeping an eye on you and would like to make sure that you continue living. They seem to think being around me would be detriment to your, ah, health.”
“Good,” he said, looking rather pleased with himself. “This is good news. It means we’re doing something right. You’re making someone nervous, and that is always a good thing.”
“Or it could be someone who merely wants you to stay alive and seems to think being around me would be the death of you,” I said dryly. “The female vampire might even be Shannon. Do you have any pictures with which I can identify her?”
He shook his head. “No. Not anymore. But it doesn’t matter. I always figured I’d find Shannon, sooner or later. I can wait, now that I know I’ll see her soon.”
I leaned back in my seat, watched the way the fire played with the shadows across his face. “And yet you loved her very much.”
“I did.” He paused. “I do. May I ask you a question?”
He was changing the subject. I let him. I figured all answers would come to the light…once we successfully infiltrated the vampiric society. So, like him, I could wait. “Can I stop you?”
He continued onward as if I never said anything. “Have you ever killed anything over a decade old?”
I could tell him the truth and listen to him laugh. Or I could lie and then die when the time came.
“I have been trained to hunt vampires,” I said carefully. “I…well, I suppose you can say I have a certain aptitude for hunting them that most humans do not have.”
He didn’t laugh at me. That was a surprise. “I can’t do this without you. I think I am glad you are to be my Ailward.”
Ailward. The traditional term for a vampire’s bodyguard. Never in my life. I would never protect a vampire.
Ever.
I shook my head. “I still can’t believe I’ve agreed to do this.”
“I can’t believe I’ve waited this long,” he said. “Perhaps I have been waiting for you.”
“Pretty words.”
He flashed me a smile with his normal teeth. For now.
This time tomorrow, everything would change.
I was not looking forward to it.