Imitation and Alchemy: An Elemental Legacy Novella (6 page)

“Maybe the Scourge of the Refrigerator,” she muttered. “That would be accurate.”

Ben must have realized that a dozen or so vampires were staring at the two of them because he straightened, cleared his throat, and whispered, “Sorry.” He stepped just behind Tenzin and to the left, instinctively covering her weaker side.

Tenzin, not wanting to piss off the vampire who would be paying her lots and lots of money if everything went according to plan, inclined her head and said, “Thank you for your generous welcome, Alfonso.”

“Welcome to Naples,” Alfonso grunted. “It is one of the few civilized places left on the peninsula.”

“I have found it remarkably civilized,” Tenzin said. “And very rich. In history. And… culture.”

And gold, but Alfonso would probably find that crass. There were a few artifacts in the archeological museum that Tenzin was considering liberating from their cases. Some things just shouldn’t be forced behind glass.

“As you are here, I assume you received my communication regarding the gold.”

“I did.”

“The Norman tarì are mine.” Alfonso’s eyes burned. “Whatever rumors you might have heard, any knowledge of them should be given to me. Withholding information that might lead to their return would be very unwise.”

“I have long welcomed,” Tenzin said quietly, “the opportunity to assist my… friends in the retrieval of valuable possessions, should those possessions be lost or misplaced.” She raised her voice enough for the other immortals to hear it. “But be careful, son of Kato. I do not respond well to bullying.”

❂

GOOD Lord, some vampires were stupid, no matter how long they lived. Ben repressed the urge shake his head. Who heard the litany of titles Tenzin carried—
the Scourge of the Naiman Khanlig?
What was
that
about?—and then proceeded to threaten the Scourge?

Tenzin was quietly schooling Alfonso, so Ben made mental notes about the Neapolitan court. Lucky for him, most of these vampires were traditional and completely ignored the human in their midst.

Filomena, he noted, did not. In fact, she was watching him more than she was Tenzin. And the slight curve at the corner of her gorgeous mouth told him she’d like to get to know Tenzin’s “yoga instructor” a little more.

Ben returned her smile with a wink.

Filomena’s eyebrows rose, but she did not look displeased.

Tenzin was speaking in a lower voice to Alfonso. The two leaned together, engaged in a private conversation. Alfonso scowled, but Ben didn’t get the impression he was displeased.

Filomena sidled up to him. “He always looks like that.”

“How? Pissed?”

Filomena clearly didn’t understand the American slang.

Ben quickly said, “Sorry. I mean angry.”

“Ah.” She nodded. “Yes, Alfonso nearly always looks angry. And he often is. But I believe he and your pupil are merely negotiating some arrangement regarding the coins she’s heard rumors of.”

Ben was confused. “My pupil?”

Filomena cocked her head. “You are her yoga instructor, are you not? I admit, I did not know that a warrior such as Tenzin was so spiritually inclined, but I find it inspiring that she is so. She must be very devout to bring you with her, even across oceans.”

“Right.” Ben tried to look very solemn. “Well, I’m kind of her… spiritual advisor too.”

“Of course.”

“So you find Tenzin inspiring, huh?”

She blinked. “She is one of the most ancient of our race. A woman of tremendous power and influence.”

“And you?”

“I’m young.” Her mouth curled into a smile. “But not so young as you.”

Filomena’s eyes traveled across his chest and up his neck while she let the edge of her fangs peek from her bottom lip.

It was the vampire version of a proposition, and Ben’s body responded with enthusiasm.

“Will you be remaining in Naples?” she asked.

I will be now.

Ben forced himself to remember his role. “That depends on Tenzin, of course.”

Filomena glanced at Tenzin and Alfonso, who were still locked in conversation. “And you do not belong to her?”

Hell no.

He put his solemn face back on. “I hope you understand that I take my spiritual commitments very seriously. I could never involve myself with someone under my instruction.”

Her fangs dropped lower. “I have heard that those who practice the eastern arts exhibit great flexibility and vigor.”

Ben didn’t even hear Tenzin approach until she interrupted.

“Yes,” she said. “Ben is very vigorous. Shall we go?”

He blinked. “What? I… Yes. I mean, if you’re done with your conversation with Alfonso. Then yes.”

She looked amused. “I am. Filomena, your master said you could see us out. The front door this time, please.”

Filomena glanced over Ben’s shoulder and nodded at whoever was behind him. Ben was assuming Alfonso, but he didn’t turn to look. Yoga instructors wouldn’t be that curious, would they?

“Of course,” she said, bowing a little as she motioned down a hall that was opposite the way they’d entered. “If you would follow me, my lady.”

“No bowing, please. And call me Tenzin.”

“I would be honored to do so.”

Ben fell in step behind them as Filomena led them down another stone hallway and up a set of torchlit stairs. Within moments, they were exiting through the front of a dimly lit nightclub. Vampire and human patrons turned to glance at them, then quickly looked away.

Once they were out of the building, Ben looked around and realized they were close to his hotel on Piazza Bellini.

“Convenient,” he muttered, looking around at the young people gathered across the street. Naples was alive with humans and more than a few vampires. The sound of music and smell of tobacco filled the air. Ben saw paint-spattered artists and earnest students. Young men with slicked-back hair and girls in snug cocktail dresses.

Tenzin and Filomena were all business.

“I’ll make contact when I locate the item,” Tenzin said. “I would estimate three weeks, but I cannot say for certain. This will require a trip to Switzerland, you understand?”

“Of course,” Filomena said. “We all understand the Swiss are… complicated. If he grows impatient, I will remind him of your words.”

“Thank you.”

“The thanks are mine.” Filomena inclined her head. “The tarì are part of our treasury. You honor Naples with your assistance in this matter.”

“I look forward to our continued cooperation,” Tenzin said. “Ben, let’s go.”

He followed Tenzin, throwing Filomena one more smile over his shoulder. She returned it before he lost her in the crowd.

“Careful,” Tenzin said.

“What?” He stopped looking for Filomena in the mass of people. “Careful what?”

“She’s powerful. Ambitious too. And she’s playing you.”

Ben felt a bite of annoyance. “Listen, Tiny, I’m not a teenager—”

“If you think she doesn’t know who you are, you’re kidding yourself.” Tenzin didn’t look angry, only amused. “You don’t actually think Alfonso’s second believes I brought my yoga instructor to Naples, do you?”

Well, yeah, but he decided to play it off. “Good. That means I won’t have to worry about bending into impossible shapes when we hook up.”

Tenzin laughed. “‘Hook up?’ You act as if you’d be catching a fish on a line. Trust me, if anyone is the hunter in this situation, it is not you.”

His cheeks burned. “This really isn’t any of your business.”

“On the contrary, it is certainly my business.” Her face grew serious. “Human girls are one thing, but she’s a three-hundred-year-old immortal. Have you had sex with a vampire before?”

He clenched his jaw in an effort to rein in his temper. It worked. Some. “That’s none of your business either.”

They walked into Piazza Bellini, the crowds of young people no less dense than they had been outside Alfonso’s club. Tenzin walked Ben to the gates of his hotel and turned to face him.

“Sex is one thing, Benjamin. Don’t let her bite you. We get possessive when we bite.”

“Yeah, I know that.”

She shrugged. “You’ll do what you want. Just remember, don’t sabotage this deal with your ignorant libido. Alfonso wants me to find his coins. You help me and you’ll get twenty percent of the finder’s fee, which is not insignificant.”

Sex he didn’t want to discuss, but money was always on the table. “Forty percent and I’m an altar boy until after we deliver the coins.”

“Twenty-five. You may flirt, but you’d end up being an altar boy anyway. You’re too smart to be her plaything.”

“Who said I wouldn’t be playing her? Thirty percent.”

She cocked her head. “Done. I’m going to Switzerland tomorrow night. Go back to Rome and look busy. Help Zeno in the library. Maybe head to Perugia for a few days of research. I’ll be in touch when I need you.”

“Sounds like a plan, Tiny.” Ben grinned. “Switzerland, huh? Don’t forget to take a sweater.”

Chapter Four

BEN SLEPT UNTIL NOON THE next day, then decided to wander around Naples and enjoy some of the street art the city was known for. More than one artist who’d gotten his or her start in graffiti had been signed by major agents in the past few years. It was fascinating to see the blend of styles. Art of any kind fascinated him, but street art, with its inherently fleeting nature, touched something in Ben’s soul.

He stood at the mouth of an alley, staring down at a small white figure painted on the soot-black stone of an alleyway corner. The figure was holding a tiny sword high against a flying dragon. A red feather was perched in his cap.

The painting might have been there for months or hours. Who knew when city workers might come and paint over it? Another artist could come and wipe it away with something darker or brighter or coarser or more colorful. But the artist had taken the time, probably in the dead of night, to put her mark on that wall, hoping to touch a passerby. For the moment Ben looked at that tiny figure fighting off the dragon, Ben and the artist were in the same space.

Fleeting.

Like the painting.

Here today. Gone tomorrow.

He was the tiny hero with the feather in his cap, fighting things impossibly powerful. He was the painting on the wall. No grand masterpiece preserved and admired for eternity. His life would be a blink. A quick glance from the immortal pedestrians of history.

No wonder the little figure flew a red feather in his cap. No wonder his sword was held so high.

Tiny hope. Foolish courage.

Ben pulled out his phone and snapped a picture before he continued to walk down the Spaccanapoli, the narrow road splitting the heart of old Naples. He stopped for some gelato, then wandered some more. Bought a few trinkets in a shop. Watched a drummer when he finally arrived back in Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, the spiked facade of the church a reminder of his meeting the previous night.

Naples was… odd. Fiercely different from other Italian cities he knew. Gloriously excessive. He wished that Beatrice could visit. He knew she’d love it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket with a text message from Fabi.

T called the house. She said to make sure you go to the archeological museum before you meet your new girlfriend.

Ben texted back:
Ha-ha.

??? Do I need to be jealous?

He shook his head. Leave it to Tenzin to try to cause trouble.

No,
he texted back.
And don’t you have a boyfriend?

Never hurts to keep your options open. ;) I want details when you get back. Stay safe.

Always
.

He pushed away from the wall where he’d been searching for shade and wandered back to the Piazza Bellini. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli was only a few blocks from his hotel, and while he’d heard about the mosaic collection there—famous for its detailed relics from Pompeii—Ben had a feeling it was the coins and medals exhibit Tenzin wanted him to visit.

He wandered the grand halls, fanning himself with the museum map. The marble-clad museum was shady, but not particularly cool in the sweltering June heat. Still, he didn’t hurry. It was better than fighting the crowds for shade outside.

The Pompeii mosaics really were everything the guidebooks said they’d be, but as he walked up the stairs to reach the gems room, he wondered what exactly Tenzin had wanted him to see. He’d seen more than his share of old currency. What was special about Naples?

The front desk had told him he was fortunate the rare coins exhibit was even open. As he entered, Ben was struck by the sheer number in the collection. Everything from Greek and Roman coins to medieval and modern. One room even contained dies from the old mint in Naples.

Norman
tarì
, Alfonso had said. Ben had looked up Norman
tarì
as soon as he’d arrived back at the hotel, but he didn’t notice any in the collection. What he saw was a mix of metals in all different states and a whole lot of empty space as museum visitors took in the more dazzling treasures of the museum.