Bliss (The Custos) (8 page)

              "What if I get bitten?" I was suddenly sick to my stomach and the fear was winning by a landslide. I’m a strong woman but this was suicide mission stuff and I was scared shitless.

              Cacius walked towards me and came in close to my side until my thigh stopped him. The shot of lust from such a simple brush was terrifying in its own right. Two seconds ago I was scared for my life now I wanted to open up and say Aah. "Liston Princess...." He said his raspy voice smooth and calming. "Nothing will harm you I swear and so does Preacher. I'll cover all the signs in the Van."

              I knew I had a choice here. I could trust Cacius and Preacher and do everything they tell me to or I could run as fast and far as possible and hope to make it, but I knew I would choose them, I would choose him. "OK, I trust you."

              "Good Princess, very good."

Cacius

             
London sat in the back with me while Preacher drove to Cally Tavern, a shithole rundown bar in the desert. I took the opportunity to discuss what to look for. It was that or sit and fantasize of all the ways that bath tub scene could have traded the X rating for a XXX. Damn, but she was beautiful. She had the thickest shiniest deep brown locks and she smelled of jasmine and vanilla, the soaps I gave her.

              For some reason the fact that she used what I gave her made the cave man inside of me puff out his chest and pull a Tarzan. But it did that when she said she would trust me to keep her safe. God I was in trouble with her. Get in get out damit.

              Yeah get in was all I cared about.

              Feeling my cock wake up and demand attention I decided a quick change of subject would kill my mood.

              Vampires’ mood enhancement: forget Paxil and Prozac, we have liquid silver, UV rays and a wooden stake through the heart. Side effects: Flaccidity.

              Ding ding ding.

              "Ok there are signs of vampires and good or bad they are all the same. The older the Vamp the harder it can be for a human to sense but I will be near and so will Preach."

              I looked at her eyes bulging from her head as she listened with the intent of a virgin in a whorehouse.

              "So here is a list for you to keep with you. Study it, learn it but make sure you know it."

              "1- A male Vampire will always mark the infatuation immediately, by touching an arm or hand, hair ect. This contact when applied directly will enhance the humans need to listen and obey because the touch will always feel sensual and erotic, even if they are smacking the life out of you all a human will feel is bliss, absolute erotic bliss."

             
"So wait why when I was attacked did I feel such immense fear?" Fuck. I forgot about that. Fuck Fuck Fuck!

             
"I'll explain in a minute." Before I could continue I caught sight of Preacher as he looked over his shoulder, his look said what I knew. I had to tell her that we met before the attack. Even without drinking from me, my infatuation was still a stronghold on her and Jack and Ripper couldn’t over power what I had on her. To her, they were simply monsters, bad guys. Had she not met me that night..... I didn’t finish the thought. I knew she would have been dead, she would have welcomed it.

             
"2-              A Female Vampire will most likely take a mild approach, most females stay with male humans for the attention but if a female should try and infatuate a human the key points are as follows. They will not touch, simply talk close to the ear or neck, eye contact will never falter and a human would find it impossible to look away. If a female were to touch a human female it would feel warm and comforting the infatuation taking a different roll towards what a human female may feel towards an actress or famous person ect. The feeling would be star struck and wonderful happiness, even if they were killing you."

             
I looked at her briefly but she seemed to have no questions so I moved on.

             
"3-              They will always have a scent that is unlike any other. Vampires do not wear perfumes or colognes because of the strong sense of smell they survive on. While you are with us we ask that you not wear any but also be careful with soaps and hairspray. Our senses are too keen and they could get smothered at the wrong time. We can smell fear, sadness joy any emotion but if you are doused in perfumes we may not catch it if you are in danger.

             
I paused again to look at her and I smiled as she sniffed her shirt. "Your fine now Princess, we took anything that would have been too strong."

             
"These scents are unusual scents that most humans use to make a home smell clean and fresh inviting. They are usually earthy for males, as you stated before I smell of Thunderstorms and the forest. A woman would smell like jasmine or peaches. The key point will always be to try and filter the scent of alcohol from the Vampire, a human will smell of liquor, a Vampire will not it’s a dead giveaway no pun intended."

             
"Why liquor? Is that what Preacher meant earlier about other vices?" God damn it she made it hard to think. She was too close and I wanted desperately to mark her. I was so fucked here. I rubbed my hand over my face before answering.

             
"Yeah. Custos are technically do gooders but we need help. Alcohol or if your Preacher; drugs keep us from bloodlust and it lessens the Infatuation. It mellows us out but without it, we would be mobbed. I drink Jim Beam and Preacher smokes weed."

             
She gasped in air before tsking Preacher. "Preacher I’m shocked."

             
"It's from the earth Cookie, wine and liquor is not."

             
Not wanting to get Preacher started I went on.

             
"4-              If they want to feed from you, they will definitely ask to go talk somewhere private. In this situation humans do the same thing when intrigued by one another so always always always be armed."

             
Before she asked I stopped her. "You'll be armed well and dangerous, just wait." I said and continued.

             
"5-              Garlic, holy water and crosses are of no importance to Vampires, they will make you look stupid and ultimately get you killed. What does kill us is any form of UV rays, wood through the heart and silver will weaken us, killing us if enough silver penetrated the heart. Liquid silver is key for a human to arm with; Vampires consider it cheating and weak to kill one another so quickly. At the end of the day we are all evil, some just fighting for the good and evil likes to drag death out, silver is quick but cheating and a Vampire who uses it will be marked as a coward."

             
I looked at her to make sure she understands and she smiled nodding her head. "Speaking of wives tales and your immunity’s I have a question."

             
"What is it?"

             
"I assume you have no reflection? That or you despise the sight of it."

             
I laughed and I could feel her shock. Fuck was I that terrible? "We cast a reflection if we want. Preacher doesn’t have mirrors because he never has cast one. It's by shear will but he believes it's magic and he doesn’t believe in magic."

             
"Hey Preacher." She called over her shoulder; he met her stare looking over his shoulder.

             
"Yes Cookie."

             
"Get a fucking Mirror."

             
"Vanity is a sin Cookie, you should remember that." Preacher was true to his name I swear it.

             
"I’m confident, there’s a difference." She said with an edge in her voice but I knew she was joking.

             
"Over confidence shadows the soul Cookie. Be confident in how you perceive yourself."

             
I had to give her credit, she knew he was fucking with her and she didn’t back down. "I’m confident that I can drive you crazy long before you sin and kill me, an innocent, so settle the score now and buy a damn mirror."

             
Preacher laughed because he knew he was beat, fuck this human blindsided me, us. I wished I could go back four days ago. I would have driven faster, made it home ten minutes earlier, and I would have been deep inside of her driving her body to come when the fax came. The end result would be the same but at least then the fire would be sated.

             
Refusing to think of her naked and willing like she was the other night I went on.

             
"6-              Last but not least I will try and always be close but if for some reason I am not and you find yourself in trouble, there is only one rule I live by and so will you. Kill first and ask questions later." I paused to hand her a syringe and vial. "The vial contains enough liquid silver to kill a hundred Vampires. You only need a small amount, small as a speck of sand to kill one. Puncture a vein though, be certain of it because otherwise you will be dead before you can try again."

              The look on her face was simple and calm but she was throwing off some serious emotions. She was terrified and I knew I had gone into overdrive with the info, but I needed her to be on the ball. Then I looked down at her hands and it kinda broke my heart. They were shaking, quivering as she twined her fingers together and tried to appear like she was ok with all I was giving her. Her strength blew me away.

              "Fuck, I'm scaring you." I said and reached for her hand. I was breaking the rules with her but I was overwhelmed trying to keep her safe. Looking at her, her bright green eyes were big and full of 'I can do this’; her pouty lips making me want to scream in want. I brushed my thumb over her hand, stroking gently trying to calm her nerves. "We will always be close Princess. You won’t need to use that vial, it’s precautionary."

              She nodded and her eyes became curious. "How do you know I won’t use it on you?"

              Fuck, yeah good question. I wasn’t thinking strait. I gave her the holy grail of killers and didn’t even think of her turning on us. "Because I trust you enough to know that you believe we really want to keep you safe. Without us you
will
die." It was the truth and I seen the revelation in her eyes. She pocketed the vial.

              Good Girl.

              I knew Preacher was watching me, seeing what I was starting to feel for her. I wanted her and now I had given her the one thing that gave her the upper hand and his question was the same as hers. Why the fuck was I trusting her?

*

London

             
Finally at the bar I went to get out of the van and follow Preacher who I enjoyed more than panting over Cacius. Why did I want him? I thought I was past this infatuation thing? Then I remembered he didn’t answer my question. I grabbed him by the arm to stop him and I could feel the steel muscle beneath. He turned and looked at my hand on his and I scooted back against the tin paneling of the not so sheik van. "You forgot to tell me, why didn’t the Vampire Infatuation work with those Jack the Ripper guys?"

              He sighed and squatted on one knee and drew the other close. "Now's not the best time, ask me when we get what we need."

              His tone was accommodating and his eyes too kind and it made me melt sure but I wasn’t a fool. He was using his infatuation on me now, had to be. "No uh-uh Cacius stop because it won’t work." I lied.

              But his stare stayed kind and his voice. "It has nothing to do with my tone or how I look at you, I have no power to control you Princess, the infatuation broke."

              I recoiled and sucked in a deep breath. "What? When?" What the hell was wrong with me if it wasn’t Infatuation?

              He scrubbed his hands over his face and I knew he was keeping something from me. "I'll explain later."

             
"Fine then why are you being nice to me."

              He actually looked hurt for a split second but he recovered quickly. "I’m not a dick London. I’m short with you because you think I’m a fiend from hell, that I am a broker for the devil and a Mother Fucker. I wish I could tell you why I act so cold but it's for your benefit not mine. I think it's fair to say that though you want to fuck me, you still hate me and I don’t ever go where I’m not wanted, no matter how evil you perceive me."