Reborn Vampire Romance: Blood Courtesans (12 page)

“Your father has the reputation of bringing forth life, but what is born is twisted beyond hope of survival. Your father charged me with doing what must be done.” He clasped his hands in his lap and looked down at them. “For centuries I cleaned up after your father. He always thought the next baby would be different, but they weren’t.” He raised his head, his dark gaze falling on me. “Not until you.”

Feeling the need to sit down then, I sank into a chair across from Arlo.

“It’s evolution,” said Kristos, more to himself than anyone else. He moved to stand next to me.

Arlo raised a shoulder in a half shrug. “Of a kind perhaps. Vampires have always displayed a diverse range of abilities, just like humans.”

Kristos looked at me with wonder. “Myra, you could be something new. The first of a new species. Neither human nor vampire, yet both at the same time.”

I held myself tighter and hid my face from both of them. I didn’t know who or what I was anymore and that scared me. “Where is my father?”

The dark man gave a sad shrug. “I don’t know. I think he might have met the last death. No one’s seen him since before you were born.”

I whirled around to look at Kristos. “Do you know where my father is?”

He shook his head. “No, sorry, love.”

Bowing my head, I asked, “Why are you here then, Arlo? To kill me?”  I peeked at him wanting to see his response.

The dark man shook his head. “You are not twisted and malformed like the others, with stumps for limbs. There is no need to kill you, but every need to protect you. I think Kristos will agree with that. I am only sorry I did not know about you before or I would have been there for you.”

“What do we do now?” I asked Kristos.

He sighed. “You have to decide what you want. If you turn, you lose all your human potential.”

I raised my eyebrows, confused. “I thought the deal was I
had
to become a vampire.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I thought so too, but now, maybe not. There’s never been someone like you, I’m not sure what the right move is.” He was trying not to show emotion, but I caught a glimpse of happiness as he spoke. For some reason, Kristos liked the idea of me being human. Probably so he could keep feeding from me.

“Arlo?” I barely knew the man, didn’t know if I trusted him, but I wanted to hear what he had to say. He was the only connection to my father I had. Plus he wasn’t fucking or sucking me and was less likely to have a bias. At least I hoped so.

He waved a hand. “You are invaluable either way. It is up to you, tesoro.”

“One thing I do know is we can’t stay here anymore. We’re going to have to move,” Kristos gestured to Arlo. “He found us no problem and you brought an entire brigade down the street with your debit card.”

“Where will we go?”

He shook his head. “I’m not telling. You have a knack for exposing our location.”

I scowled at him, but he didn’t budge. Then the doors to the other bedrooms in the apartment opened all at the same time. Vampires were nothing if not punctual about rising the second the sun set.

They quickly observed that things were not normal and filed into the living room on high alert. Two flanked us on either side while one stood guard at the door and the remaining three fanned out behind us.

Kristos turned to give the two men directly behind him quiet directions and they bowed their heads in unison before going into our bedroom. Probably packing us up in anticipation of the next move.

“I’ll go with you,” Arlo said.

Kristos shook his head. “No. There’s too many of us as it is.”

“But I can help you.”

"How do we know we can trust you?" I asked, crossing my arms.

If I wanted you for myself, you'd be mine already. I'm here because your father would want it. It's nothing more than simple loyalty to my maker." Arlo waved at Kristos. "And I've always been a man of my word. He can vouch for me."

Kristos looked unimpressed. “If you want to help then lay some fake trails around the city. Keep the council busy chasing its tail. Don’t let them find her.”

Arlo pursed his lips, hands gripping his gloves tightly. He relaxed after a moment and said, “Very well, but I ask one favor in return.”

“What?”

“Proof. A taste of her blood.”

Kristos’ face contorted with anger, but his voice remained tight with control. “No.”

Arlo turned his hands palm up in a placating gesture. “I want to be sure she’s Devon’s. You have to understand as long as I’ve lived, there has never been a child like Myra.”

“You think I’m lying?” I asked, outraged. I was so angry I forgot not to look at him and lifted my head, eyes narrowed in an angry glare. “His name was on my birth certificate.”

Arlo nodded. “I’m not saying you’re lying, I’m saying I am afraid to believe in you. I thought you were impossible.” He held out a hand. “Just one drop and we’ll know for sure. You’ll have all my resources behind you, helping to keep you safe. And that is no light promise. When Devon disappeared, I became the master of his kin. I am stronger than even the Council. I can protect you...if you will allow it.”

I looked at Kristos who shook his head. He didn’t want me to do it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it, but I also wanted to know. There was an outside chance the man on my birth certificate just happened to share the wrong name. The odds were slim, but it could happen. The thought had occurred to me before and left me wondering if I was who everyone thought I was.

Maybe this was all a huge misunderstanding.

“Just one drop?” I wanted to be clear on the terms.

Kristos looked at me, alarmed.“Myra, you can’t—”

“One drop,” Arlo interrupted. He held up one finger for emphasis.

I moved to step forward and Kristos put a hand on my arm. “I’ve tasted you both. You are his daughter. There is no question.”

Arlo sniffed. “Forgive me if I distrust your memory, Kristos. He was my maker, I know his blood better than you ever will.”

I gave Kristos a hard look. “Are you sure it’s him? When was the last time you saw him?”

Kristos hesitated and that was all I needed to make up my mind. I shrugged off his hand. “I have to know for sure. Arlo isn’t the only one with doubts.”

I crossed the room and held out my hand for Arlo, ready for my vampire paternity test. Kristos didn’t try to stop me again, but his displeasure showed in the way his fists clenched at his sides.

Arlo’s dark eyes gleamed like polished obsidian and I averted my gaze so he couldn’t influence me. He gently took my hand in his, tugging me forward slightly. He paused for a moment to gently run a finger over my stitches. “I would have never let this happen, tesoro.”

I made a fist to hide the wound and pulled away. Offering him my other hand, I said, “Just get on with it.” The man gave me the willies. There was something too slick about him, like I would slip and fall at any second.

Arlo nodded. Baring his fangs, he touched them to my skin of my palm, and then, with a quick movement of his mouth, punched them through. Even though I saw it coming, I winced at the puncture. Being bitten outside of sex was unpleasant. No wonder vampires sexed everyone up, they had to or no one would agree to feed them.

Arlo was true to his word and didn’t take much blood, however, I didn’t see what he did next coming. Before I could even move to cover the wound in my arm, he stood and swept me into his arms. He pressed gummy lips against mine and forced his tongue into my mouth. The metallic tang of blood assailed my taste buds. Blood filled my mouth, too much to be the remnants of what he’d taken from me. He’d bitten himself and was now forcing his blood on me.

I tried to pull back, but he was vampire strong. It was like trying to move a mountain. Kristos came in and shoved Arlo by the shoulder. Arlo stumbled back, but kept his grip on me.  I flailed and yelled around his tongue, although I doubted anyone understood me. Mostly I said variations of ‘get off me’ mixed with some swear words.

“Let her go,” Kristos reached for me, his face dark with anger.

Arlo broke our kiss and shoved me behind him and then propelled us in tandem toward the door. “She’s mine by rights.”

Ah. So this was his true agenda. Well, screw that. “No I’m not. I don't belong to anyone,” I shouted, twisting in his grip hoping to find a weak spot.

Arlo squeezed my wrists in warning. “Hush, tesoro. You know not of what you speak.”

A jumble of images that didn’t belong to me rushed through my mind, strong as a gale wind. Arlo being overrun by children under the amused watch of a woman wearing medieval clothing. More domestic scenes played out and I realized he was in my head and thinking of his long ago human family. His thoughts of me were terrifying. He wanted to breed me just like he'd said the council did, not protect me like he’d promised. Arlo wanted to try and make a family to replace the one he’d lost. The joy he felt at the prospect was blinding.

“Get out of my head,” I snarled. I punched him in the back, but he didn’t feel it. We were almost to the door now. If something didn’t happen soon, I was about to be kidnapped and  worse.

I made eye contact with Kristos who had followed us across the room and silently pleaded with him to do something. He gave a grim nod and raised his gun. “Let her go Arlo or I’ll shoot.”

Arlo laughed, a cold sound. “You think you can shoot fast enough? Or how about I do this?” He thrust me in front of him. “You wouldn’t risk hurting her.”

That made Kristos pause and the gun wavered. He didn’t think he could make the shot. I put everything I had into trying to break free. I tried going limp. I jumped up and slammed my entire body weight down. I writhed like a snake. Nothing happened other than he shifted his weight a bit to compensate for the changes in mine.
Damn it.

“Be still, Myra,” Kristos said, his gaze urging me to comply.

I sagged in Arlos’ arms and tried not to move. Kristos’ eyes narrowed as he took the shot.

The discharge in such close quarters clobbered my eardrums like sledgehammers. I screamed and closed my eyes waiting for the searing pain I imagined being shot would cause. Behind me I felt the force of the bullet push Arlo back. His grip slid off me as he fell to the floor with a soft grunt.

I stepped away and whirled around to see the bullet had tagged him on the shoulder. Kristos didn’t waste any time making sure Arlo stayed down. The second I was clear, he was there, pressing the barrel of his gun over Arlo’s heart and pulling the trigger. Arlo jumped and shuddered as the bullet tore through him, but after that he was still.

“Is he dead?” I wrapped my arms around myself to hide how badly my hands were shaking. The position served a dual purpose, allowing me to rub my incessantly itchy palm over the rough skin of my elbow. The stitches were driving me nuts.

Kristos came over to me. “No, just incapacitated. It’ll take him some time to heal. Are you okay?”

“We swapped blood. He nicked his tongue in my mouth.” I said with a shiver. “When you and I did that you said we were blood bound. Am I linked to him now like I was to you?” The idea terrified me.

In response to my question, Kristos waved one of his men over. “The head.”

The man nodded and went over to the vampire. With business-like efficiency and enormous strength he ripped Arlo’s head off. Blood so dark it was almost black sprayed everywhere in a macabre Jackson Pollack pattern.

My stomach seized up. When the guy tossed the head into the living room like we were playing a fun game of bowling, I threw up. The sight of spine and raw flesh was too much for me.

“Was that really necessary?” I asked, fighting not to vomit for a second time. The metallic scent of Arlo’s blood was getting to me. I had tasted that blood. It was
in
me. Not a happy thought.

“It’s the only way to break the blood bond.” Kristos seemed calm and unaffected. Just another day at the office for him, I guess.

“I want a gun,” I said abandoning further discussion over Arlo. I wasn’t sure yet how I felt about what had happened. On one hand, he was the closest thing to family I had on my father’s side. On the other, he’d wanted to rape me until I had his babies.

Kristos’ gaze was cool against mine. “You ever shoot before?”

I shook my head. “No, but I’ll learn. I need to be able to defend myself.”

He pursed his lips. “You’ll need training.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Do I have time for that? I need a gun like yesterday.”

“Here.” He held out his, butt first. Gesturing toward Arlo’s body, he said, “Shoot him.”

I took the gun. It was heavier than it looked. Biting my lip, I aimed it at the headless body leisurely propped up against the wall as if certain its head would return any second now.  My fingers shaking, I pulled the trigger. The gun boomed, my arm flew up  and the bullet destroyed the drywall several feet above my intended target.

Kristos came to stand next to me and he unwrapped my hand to resume possession of the gun. “It’s not as easy as it looks.”

I shrugged. “No, but at point blank range it’s harder to miss.” I thought of how close I’d been to Arlo. A gun would’ve given us a different ending, maybe prevented the blood bond in the first place.

He tucked the gun into the waistband of his pants. “I don’t want you to be defenseless, but a gun right now is asking for trouble. You don’t know how to aim or how to compensate for the kickback.”

I started to protest, but he held up a hand. “I’ll arrange for some training, but until then,  I’ll be your gun.”

I jutted my chin out and glared at him. “And what if you’re not there?”

He held up his hands in defeat. “If I give you a different weapon, would that make you happy?”

“What kind of weapon?” I couldn’t think of any useful weapons aside from a gun.

“Something easy to hide and very dangerous at point blank range.”

I crossed my arms, skeptical of his offer. “Please tell me you’re not giving me a wooden stake. I am not a vampire slayer.” There were some slayers out there. It was a fringe lifestyle that no one took seriously and most of them died before the age of thirty.

“No, not a wooden stake.” Kristos paused to chuckle at the idea. “It’s a special weapon. I think you’ll like it and it has deadly accuracy.”