Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen Chronicles (13 page)

“You killed her.” Despite its hard edge, the Angel’s voice was soft and sensuous.

Fernando glanced sideways. The Angel still faced straight ahead. “She is…was…nothing more than a titillating treat.”
 
He ignored the angry glare. “Oh come now, mortals are rabbits to us wolves. They have no value except for the blood they contain and the service they provide.”

He brought his stare away from the Noble. He had heard this many times and it still bothered him. “Did you believe this when you were mortal?”

Brown eyes became menacing. “Do not trifle with me,” sneered the Noble. “There is too much at stake.”

“To be trifled with is a small matter compared with how you view mortals.” The Angel’s voice reflected the impassivity of his well-devised mask.

Deciding to turn the tables, Fernando stated, “They have value to you. Why?” His eyes widened with insight. “That’s why that whore…that housekeeper, what’s-her-name-”

“Jeanie.”

“Whatever,” dismissed Fernando with a wave of his hand. “But the best way to see something’s value is to have it taken away.” He glanced up at the Angel. “Yet we both know this, do we not? Katherine is exploiting this even now. Do you not miss the day? The sun at high noon with its heat pressing down, lighting up everything in its brilliance? You value their mortality, the ability to walk in the sunlight, to live a mortal life. I refuse to regret anything, thus giving no value to them.”

Praying that the Noble could not see how his words stung him, he could not stop himself from saying, “I never had the day,” and stared into the black rain curtained sky.

Fernando blinked at the unexpected reply, a snippet of conversation with Bridget floated into his consciousness. One phrase lingered:
He was born a vampire.
Knowing this piece of gossip to be ludicrous left Fernando wondering. There were no others like the Angel, at least to his knowledge. Peering up at his strange partner, he asked, “What are you?”

The question caught the Angel completely off guard, shattering his carefully constructed façade. Spinning around to face the Noble, he halted their progress. Slowly the horror in his face became hidden as pieces of the mask slowly knit together leaving only sadness in his crimson eyes. “You are the second Chosen in nearly fourteen hundred years to ask me that.”

Fernando could only gape as the Angel turned to continue their journey.
Fourteen hundred!
His mind boggled at the antiquity of this vampire. If the Angel was that ancient, how old was his sire? His eyes widened further realizing that Katherine captured probably one of the oldest and strongest of their kind. His mouth still open in shock, Fernando shut it with a click and followed, taking the lead once again.

They walked in silence. The time crawled by. Row housing dark with sleeping occupants gave way to others where lights still flickered, and syncopating rowdy laughter joined boisterous music. Parties where money was as disposable as the champagne they drank. Defoliating trees reached skeletally to a velvet black embrace, searching for the moon that danced behind thick speeding clouds destined to unknown places. Cabs for private use lined the lanes. Sleepy drivers longing for their comfortable beds slept in their cabs or chatted congenially with each other, while others chose the comforting company of their horses.

The two Chosen walked unnoticed, watching everything around them.

Turning down yet another lane, he found his patience dwindling. How long have they been walking? Pulling out his pocket watch, he flipped the engraved golden lid.
Half past two!
He snapped it shut and put it back in his pocket. This was going on too long. Wherever Fernando was leading them, they could do it at a much faster pace and he decided to ask where they were going, a question he immediately kicked himself for not asking earlier.

“I have to deliver the bad news to someone who can possibly give us an explanation for Sebastian’s current state.” Fernando patted the pocket where the phial was securely tucked away. A grin painted itself across the Noble’s face into something maniacal. “I think you are going to really like it there.”

“Is it safe?” he asked, not knowing the answer, whether positive or not, would ease the sudden anxiety Fernando’s tone evoked.

“Well,” mused the Noble, “mostly safe. Don’t worry. Would I let anything happen to you?” Turning another corner, he led them down into a cul-de-sac lined with three story detached homes.

He could only stare at the Noble, rejecting the statement immediately, yet allowed him to be led away by a most anxious and surprisingly, happy, Chosen. This in itself seemed to be a paradox, considering the news Fernando had conveyed. Shaking his head in disbelief, he came to stand beside the Noble now halted before the flagstone path to a very large home with most of its lights still on.

Preening off any dirt from the journey, Fernando motioned to his partner to follow him to the door. “Come on, we don’t have all night.”

He fell in behind as the Noble lifted the large brass knocker and let it fall with a resounding bang.

Nothing happened and then a loud clunk of a lock being thrown back replied, followed by the squeak of the hinges as the door opened to reveal the head of a brunette girl of about twelve.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we are closed.” Her voice was small and nervous and her hazel eyes darted anxiously back and forth between the two strange men.

Fernando frowned, unused to this type of treatment. “Look dearie, it is obvious that you are new here, but I am an old close personal friend so take your pretty little ass and get her, now!”

The girl gasped in astonishment as the dark haired stranger easily forced the door open and strode in, the hooded man following close behind. She did not need to be told twice and darted towards the back of the large parlour, her sheer lingerie fluttering open to reveal soft pink curvaceous flesh.

“Madam!” she yelled in near hysterics. “There’s two strange—”

“Do not fret, Juliet.” A petite young woman, in the blossom of youth, dressed as if to receive an expected lover, walked from the kitchen. Her long blonde hair fell in waves that framed her china doll face. Ice blue eyes sparkled with satiated pleasure. “I know this dashing young man.” Her voice was lascivious, made even more so by her thick French accent. “But I do not remember if he ever had such a tall friend.”

Staring into the comforting darkness of his hood, the Angel wondered why he had considered trusting this rogue. To be brought to this whorehouse made him very uncomfortable, evoking memories he wished never to remember. Memories of being used and using others to fulfill a need he denied until Notus put a stop to it.

Fernando’s smile returned at the opening of the familiar game. “And I do not remember you ever checking up on me or my associates.”

Shocked at the reference to himself, he shot Fernando a look of surprise.

Fernando ignored the glance and gazed at the three nubile young women lounging on the plush deep furniture cascading the modern Victorian décor, recognizing them instantly as Chosen working the house. Judith, Anna and Beth each returned his smile.

“Someone has to keep an eye on you,” stated the Madam, her sheer white shift slipped off one shoulder as she slinked over to the Noble, revealing soft pale perfect skin.

Fernando’s eyes lingered momentarily on her alabaster neck before being drawn to her shapely breasts outlined in white silk.

“I see that you are keeping an eye on me as well,” she laughed, a sound like morning birds.

“Ahh, but my dear,” replied the Noble, huskily. “You are so much better to keep an eye on.” He ran his hand from her neck down her chest to cup one of her perfect breasts, her nipple hardening under the soft fabric.

His unease growing, the Angel turned his gaze from the sight of Fernando and the Madam, feeling suddenly the intruder.

The Madam allowed Fernando’s hand to linger and returned his smile. “Yes, that is true.”

“And where is that infamous female hospitality you girls are supposed to offer?” Fernando asked, removing his hand.

“Please forgive me,” she mocked, undoing the elaborate cloth hook on his cloak. The heavy material fell into the awaiting small arms of Juliet now standing behind him. Awkwardly, she folded it and laid it on the red velvet chair beside the door.

Leaning down, Fernando brushed the Madam’s blonde tresses away from her ear and whispered, “I brought you a little surprise.”

Confused, she frowned; a sight that did not take away from her delicate beauty, only enhanced it.

“And don’t forget my friend here,” added Fernando, speaking openly.

With a smile and a nod, she walked over to the tall stranger standing in the middle of the room, her professional smile back in place. “You must forgive me,
monsieur
. Fernando has again left me to introduce myself.” She shot an annoyed glance at the Noble.

 
Fernando stared back, unimpressed.

 
He took a hasty retreating step as the Madam raised her silky hands to unfasten the ancient clasp of his cloak, his heart pounding at the idea of being exposed.

“Let me be the proper hostess,
s’il vous plait
?”

Trap sprung, he tilted his head and held his breath, reluctantly allowing her to try to undo the clasp. Her frown increased as her balance on her toes made her fumble on the Celtic styled broach. Not being able to let her embarrass herself, he took over; his hands brushing hers caused her to smile for real.

He did not want to take off the cloak – to reveal himself. He felt safe and secure in the draping that hid his unusual colouring, but he also knew that it would be rude to stay undercover. Notus had taught him that much.

Hesitantly, he turned the broach as the woman stated, “My name is Bridget, and this is my home, and you are?”

The clasp released its hold on the material allowing the cloak to fall from his shoulders into Juliet’s waiting arms, revealing his long white hair and ruby eyes. He swallowed nervously, waiting for the reaction that always went with this revelation.

“Oh my!” exclaimed Bridget, her smile widening to reveal her lengthened incisors and canine teeth.

The others gasped and stood up at the sight of the legend standing in their midst, giving credence to the rumours they had heard. Juliet backed into the door with a thud, her mouth gaping open and her eyes wide with fear, his cloak forgotten on the ground.

“Bridget,” introduced Fernando, a mischievous smile curled his lips, “meet the Angel.”

“I – I am so very pleased to finally meet you,” she stammered, offering her hand. “I have heard so much about you.”

He peered into Bridget’s eyes that now seemed to sparkle without the help of candlelight. Movement caught his attention and he glanced to see Anna, Judith and Beth slowly moving towards him. The sight of their near nakedness made the pit of his stomach bottom out. Glancing back to the snickering Noble, he brought his attention back to Bridget, noticing her hand for the first time. He was trapped in a den of hungry lions.

Noticing the panic in his eyes, Bridget’s smile softened and she lowered her hand. “Do not fret,” she soothed. “You are safe here.”

Clearing his throat, he willed his voice to work. What came out was controlled by the nervousness he felt. “Fernando said that…that you may have…um…some information.”

The three girls circled closer, like vultures waiting for him to die.

Bridget glanced over to the Noble, her brows furrowed in wondering. “What information,
mon petit chou
?”

It was obvious that she was disappointed, but why? He did not even want to hazard a guess.

The smile left Fernando’s face at the mention of the pet name, to be replaced by a scowl. He crossed his arms over his chest. “
O Grande Puta
, we need your infinite wisdom,” he implored sarcastically.