The Caretaker of Showman's Hill (Vampire Romance) (18 page)

"What I meant was that she was making dinner for Jack. That's all."

"La Roux is cooking?"

"I showed her a few tricks. They're going to have a candlelight dinner out on the back patio, just the two of them, so don't interfere."

Basil felt a dizzy spell coming on and held onto the wall for support, the jar of blood wavering in his other hand.

"Patio? What patio? We don't have a patio at the Bat House."

"You do, but you'd never know it under all those weeds. La Roux and I cleared it all out today and found wild flowers and even a small vegetable garden growing under all that."

"Flowers? Garden? What kind of vegetables?"

"Not much. Just some wild collards, a few dozen cherry tomatoes and a huge amount of garlic."

Garlic. It figured. Just his luck his house would be surrounded by garlic.

Cassie kept chattering on and on and though Basil enjoyed the company, his stomach was growling, and he knew he had to feed in front of her. She didn't seem to mind it, so why not?

"Next year we can plant all kinds of vegetables. We can even have a bumper crop of fresh beets to make your borscht. I'll practice of course."

Next year? Did she say next year? That meant she planned on staying around. And she said
we
. Basil didn't know how to take this. He raised the jar to his lips and the aroma was tantalizing, alluring, so alive, so sexy, so sweet. And so different from La Roux's blood. He knew at once that it was Cassie's.

He lowered the jar and looked at her. She stopped talking and sat up straight.

"What?" she asked.

How could he take her blood in his mouth and not have the desire for more? She was an aphrodisiac to him, and he knew once he'd started drinking her blood he wouldn't be able to stop.

It was different when it was La Roux's blood. She was a virgin, but was also his daughter. Cassie was giving him her blood of free will, and it was damned tempting to just have a taste. Ever since he licked her wound, he could think of nothing else. Now being able to stop was no longer an option. A little taste could get him in a lot of trouble.

He put the lid back on the jar and stuck it in his pocket. Then he grabbed some fresh clothes from the upper vault and headed for the door.

"Where are you going and why didn't you drink the blood?"

"I'm going to the Bat House to shower and shave. I don't like you seeing me like this."

"What about La Roux's blood? Why aren't you drinking it?" She looked tired, and Basil studied her eyes. He knew she probably hadn't slept in a while. Besides, she was hiding something from him, he could feel it. Well, if she could have her secrets, so would he. He wouldn’t let on that he knew it was her blood.

"I just need some borscht in my stomach first. I don't like to drink blood on an empty stomach. Plus I want to thank La Roux for the feeding."

She jumped out of bed and her eyes popped open wide.

"Oh, that's not necessary. Actually, she asked me to tell you not to mention it. Especially in front of Jack. She feels embarrassed, I think."

"Oh really?" She was a horrible liar.

"Uh huh." She nodded her head like a little child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"Cassie, I want you to get some rest while I'm gone. I appreciate everything you've done with the garden and watching over me and all."

She let out a breath. "Oh, it was nothing. I would like to sleep though, as I'm awfully tired. I guess I'll head back to the Bat House with you."

"Why don't you stay here?"

"Sleep here? In a casket?"

"Forget it. It was silly of me to think you'd want to."

"Oh.” She looked to the bed vault and then back to him. He read her thoughts knowing she didn’t want to offend him or upset him when he was feeling so sick. She really did like him and wanted to please him.

“Uh, all right, I guess. Thanks.” She sat down gingerly on the bed. “I'll just take a little nap while you’re gone.”

She really was changing, thought Basil. This time, he didn’t even need to use his powers to convince her or to make her sleepy. He liked that a lot.

“You will come back, won't you?" she asked, and he noticed the nervousness in her voice.

"Keep the sheets warm." He winked.

She stifled a yawn and smiled, cuddling deep into the nest of pillows.

Basil knew she'd be asleep before he even made it to the Bat House. He opened the door silently and was stepping out when he heard her tired little voice.

"Don't forget to drink the blood, Basil. Please make sure you take enough. There's plenty more if you need it."

Chapter 22

Basil headed down the hill to the Bat House and immediately sensed the presence of La Roux and Jack on the newfound patio. Candles were lit on the kitchen table, which had been moved outside. The area was clean, open, a cozy little nook he never knew existed before Cassie had uncovered it.

Tall grass-like plants with balls of seed on top swayed in the evening breeze, and from the way it burned Basil's eyes and nose he knew immediately it was garlic. Funny he never noticed it before.

La Roux let out a small giggle and even without coming any closer, Basil's vision let him see the small kiss she and Jack shared before they realized he was there. La Roux pulled away from Jack, but the sheriff boldly held on to her hand.

"Basil,” Jack spoke up bravely. "I didn't realize we had an audience."

"Not an audience, just me." Basil walked up to the couple who were now on their feet. Their untouched dinner was still on their plates that sat atop the little flowered curtain, now serving as a tablecloth.

"I have every right to know what my daughter is up to," Basil added as an afterthought.

Jack looked nervous, glancing first at La Roux and then at Basil. "There's something we wanted to talk to you about, Basil."

La Roux tapped him on the arm and whispered, "not now, Jack."

"Then when?" he asked back. "La Roux, I can't wait a moment longer."

"Then out with it," replied Basil, already knowing what Jack would say and not sure he liked it.

Jack pulled La Roux closer and looked at Basil. "We're in love," he blurted out.

"She's too young to know what love is," rallied Basil.

"We want to get married and want your blessings," continued the sheriff.

Blessings? Hah! Basil didn't know the meaning of the word. What the hell did they want him to say? Yes, you've got my blessings as a creature of the night, and then he'd bestow them with all that was good - like he had that kind of power.

"I'm a bloody vampire, Killian. I don't give a crap about blessings."

"Then tell us you'll be happy for us," broke in La Roux, all the while clinging to Jack. "Release me so I can live a normal, healthy, happy life as Jack's wife."

"Normal life?" Basil felt his temper flaring. "We don't even know for certain if you're human, La Roux. And for that matter, what would happen to you if you were to become pregnant? If you'd . . . if you'd . . . "

"End up like mother?" She let go of Jack's hand and came to Basil's side. She threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. "I love you, Daddy."

Basil felt his wretched heart about beat from his chest. She'd never called him Daddy before. He'd never allowed it. She knew better than to do this. She was trying to get a reaction. All this nonsense about love. Vampires didn't love. Love was an emotion he lost the day he turned into a creature of the night. Lost and gone forever. Or was it?

La Roux's warm body crushed into his, and he felt himself wanting to reach out to her and return the hug for the first time since she'd been born. A strange sadness tugged at his insides, and he felt that he didn't really know his own daughter even after all these years. He'd never taken the time to play with her as a child, or read bedtime stories to her, or hold her and kiss her like a good parent should. Helga had done all that, filling in as the mother she never knew. He had just stood in the shadows and watched, not even being able to feel anything for his own baby. He was nothing more than an emotionless, empty shell. Damn his curse of being a vampire. It had ruined La Roux’s childhood, as well as the father/daughter relationship that should have existed between them.

She looked up at him with her big innocent eyes and he could see the tears she was holding back. He had the undeniable feeling he was about to lose her. Then he thought of Cassie, and the newfound relationship between them. He thought of her love for her sister, Didi, and just what she had risked to find her again. Suddenly, like a dam breaking, he understood everything perfectly. La Roux was willing to risk everything because of her love for Jack.

She loved Jack and wanted to be with him forever no matter what the cost. Who was he to take from her the only dream the poor girl had? Just because his life was damned for eternity, it didn't mean hers had to be that way as well.

She showed so many signs of being human that he knew now she was never going to turn into one of his own kind. La Roux had always had the emotions a vampire was void of. She'd even been out in the sunlight thanks to Cassie, and had survived. She ate real food and never sprouted fangs the way he did. She was human and he had to realize she no longer belonged with a creature such as himself.

He’d missed out on La Roux’s childhood, and now the fact she’d turned into a woman. Now he knew he was to blame, not his state of being. He didn’t like to admit it, but there was one emotion he’d always felt and just ignored. It was fear.

Fear had been the reason he never held her or kissed her, or loved her like he should have. He always thought that if he loved, then someday he would have to go through the pain of losing her, something he never wanted to experience again.

“I always knew there’d come the day, I’d lose you, La Roux. I apologize for not being the father to you I should have been.”

“Don’t say that, Daddy.”

“It’s the truth. I’ve lost too many people I’ve loved in my life. I’ve seen too many people die while I just kept on living.  I guess I just felt that if I never cared for anyone again, then I’d never have to go through the pain of losing them, but I was wrong.”

“You’re not losing me,” she assured him. “Just gaining a son.” She smiled and looked over to Jack, who was standing still, waiting for Basil’s answer.

Jack would take good care of her, of that he was sure. He had a good job and was a natural protector. He'd watch over her and make sure no one ever found out her father  and uncles were blood-sucking freaks. She was safe with Jack. Safer than she'd ever be living in a cemetery with beings that should have been dead nearly two centuries ago.

He’d always wished he’d died that day of the train crash, but now he knew why he hadn’t. If he had died, La Roux would never have been born. She deserved a good life, even if he wasn’t the one to be able to give it to her.

He looked down at La Roux and raised his hand to gently touch her cheek. He stopped the urge to crush her in a bear hug and tell her how sorry he was for all the mistakes he'd made. His emotions were coming more frequently now, but he was still a vampire and had a duty to do. If he became too emotional it would only be dangerous, as he knew then he’d never be able to keep the other vampires in line. Instead of showing her the love he’d wanted to, he stepped away from her and looked at Jack.

"Take good care of her," was all he said, and without looking back he entered the Bat House.

Antonio and the boys were there as well as Hope and Faith. They were leaning against the counter since the room was now void of the kitchen table and chairs.

"Talk to the little love birds out there?" Antonio unscrewed a jar of blood as he spoke.

"They're getting married," announced Basil. "And if I find any of you bothering either one of them I'll make you pay."

"Married?" asked Louie. Sefu waved his hands adding his surprise.

"That's what I said." They were getting on Basil's nerves. He didn't want to dwell on this any more than he had to. He went over to the swinging door, leaning his shoulder against it and peered into the bar. One lonely customer held a drink, talking with Andre. Charity stood next to him, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Where is everyone tonight?"

"Slow night," answered Hope as she walked up to peer out into the bar. "Business has been dangerously slow lately. One customer and three of us."

"Then why don't the three of you take him upstairs together?" broke in Antonio, swirling the blood around in the jar.

"Sorry, but I don’t think so," said Faith in disgust as she pushed past Antonio and went through the swinging door.

"How're we doing on the blood supply?" asked Basil, his eyes still glued to the bar room.

"Put it this way, - we're starving," answered Louie.

"We're down to our last couple bags of blood in the freezer, and the only jar we've got left is the one Antonio is about to drink," Hope informed him.

"Have the bats been fed tonight?" Basil looked at all the blank faces and knew if it wasn’t for him, no one would feed the bats. It was no wonder the poor things were already sick.

He walked over to Antonio and took the jar of blood away from him just as he was about to take a drink.

"What are you doing?" hissed Antonio.

"We need this for the bats."

"Says who? I'm starved." Antonio always thought of himself first.

"Says me. I'm the caretaker. Now do something about rustling up some more customers or we'll all go hungry tonight."

"Not all of us are as lucky to have persuaded innocent virgins like Cassie to give us blood so we wouldn't go hungry." Antonio knew too much, and Basil realized this was dangerous.

"What is that supposed to mean, dear cousin?"

"She came to me and asked me to draw her blood," broke in Hope. "She walked in after my performance and saw my customer giving blood in exchange for watching my sideshow. The poor girl thought at first we were whores." She laughed and shook her head. “Imagine that. I wonder what gave her that idea?”

"You drew blood from Cassie?” Basil was not at all happy about this. He had wondered how Cassie got her own blood into the jar, now he knew. “Why did you do it for her? Why didn’t you come and talk to me first?”

"She told me that you said to do it, Basil,” Hope defended herself. “That you wanted it for yourself.”

“And you believed her?” He was shocked to think Cassie had such persuasive powers over everyone in that house. If she had been a vampire, she would have been a powerful one indeed.

“Well, yes,” answered Hope with a shrug, looking at the others.  “We all know how close you two have gotten. I figured you were giving orders through her now.”

"I did no such thing,” Basil protested. “And if any of you ever think I’d give orders through anyone else, especially a human, than I should just punish you right now for your insolence. Cassie only said that so you'd help her take her blood. She brought it to me and tried to convince me it was La Roux's."

"Having spasms again, dear cousin?" asked Antonio. “Gee, that tells me you’ve been sipping again from the restricted bottle. I can’t wait to see what happens to you at the trial."

“There’ll be no trial,” announced Basil. “Not this All Hallow’s Eve or ever again.”

That got reactions, even from vampires.

“What are you saying?” asked Louie. Sefu waved his arms around to show his surprise as well.

“Madra appeared to me recently. She told me no one would be appearing to us again. It’s over. It’s all in my hands now.”

“You lie,” Antonio spat, his eyes glowing red in the process. “You are just saying that, because you want us to continue taking orders from you, when you know that you’ve done wrong by sipping from the bottle. You should have your caretaker rights reneged.”

“Believe what you want,” said Basil, “but you will never see Madra nor the old witch again. If any of you were aware enough, you’d realize you no longer hear the roar of my lions anymore either.”

“You’re right,” said Hope. “I haven’t heard them in awhile.”

“What happened?” asked Louie.

“She took them with her. To the other side.”

“So the guardians no longer reside at the door to the mausoleum?” Antonio seemed happy and Basil now regretted telling them the truth.

“Don’t think just because they’re gone the bottle is now unprotected,” answered Basil. “If any of you even think of trying to steal it, you’ll have to deal with me.”

The room went silent for a minute, then Louie asked a question for the silent Sefu.

"You didn't drink Cassie’s blood, did you?"

“Yeah,” said Antonio. “How do we know you haven’t already used the potion to save yourself?”

Basil moved across the room in a blur, fingers gripped tight around Antonio’s throat causing his cousin to gasp.

"Now, if I had used it on myself, I wouldn’t be able to do this, would I? Besides, I would have had to drink all of a virgin’s blood, not just some of it.” He released Antonio’s neck. “No, cousin, Cassie is still alive and that should prove to you that I am loyal.” He pulled the small jar of Cassie’s blood from his jacket pocket and sat it by the sink.

"Let me have a taste." Antonio reached for it but wasn't fast enough. Basil had already unscrewed the lid and was washing it down the sink.

"Damn you," shouted Antonio. "We could have used that blood. We're all starving.”

“Well this is blood none of us will ever feed on.”

“I have half a mind to go out and find some fresh blood of my own tonight," Antonio threatened.

"Being the night before All Hallow's Eve, you'd be sure to find some," added Louie. Sefu waved his hands and Louie translated. "Yeah, like Sefu says, we'll probably even have teenagers wandering right into the cemetery on a dare."