Kiss of the Vampire (The Vanderlind Realm Book 2) (10 page)

“No, it’s not like that,” I insisted. “Haley and I…” I couldn’t think of what I wanted to say. It was just so bizarre for Ilona to show up in Tiburon. What was she up to? It was obviously more than a social call or destination layover. “Haley and I have worked things out. Everything’s fine now.”

“So you’ve fallen in love with your little fledgling after all. Is that what happened?” she asked, her eyes gleaming.

“No. Nothing of the sort.” I tried to make my voice decisive and firm. “I’m just training her. Giving her tips on how to feed when she has to eat in the field.”

I had to be careful. Ilona was a fan of making mischief. She also had a jealous streak and could be very territorial about her former lovers. I had obviously not been in a good frame of mind the last time I saw her. Confiding in the vampiress was not a good idea.

Ilona was staring directly into my eyes. “She has no idea you’re here. Does she?”

“Of course she does,” I scoffed. “I told you, I’m training her.”

The vampiress tilted her head back and let her eyelids be heavy as she looked me over. “Then call her,” she said.

“What?” I’d meant to play it cool, but the word slipped out.

A smirk flitted about her ruby red lips. “Call to your progeny. Tell her she’s had enough to eat for the night. Bring her over here so we can be introduced.”

“I’m not going to do that,” I said in a voice that left no doubt that I was saying no. “She is with a mortal. And everyone talks to everyone in these small towns.”

Ilona shrugged. “We’ll wait then. The night is still young and I can be patient.”

“Fine,” I said, as if her plan didn’t worry me in the least. “She might be awhile. Haley usually likes to linger over her meal.”

She shrugged again. “I have all the time in the world.”

I knew I was going to have to change tact if I was going to prevent an embarrassing confrontation between Haley and Ilona. So I started with, “I can’t imagine you flew all the way to America just to check up on the progress I’m making with my progeny.” I reached over and took her hand. “And you look too lovely to just be roughing it in the boonies of Ohio. What have you been up to? On your way to a glamorous soiree, I have to assume.”

“I do enjoy being social,” Ilona said, neatly avoiding answering the question. “But only with the right kind of undead. You know I don’t approve of vampires increasing our numbers with no thought to the consequences.” She glanced at the car where Haley was feeding. “And fledglings can be no end of trouble. They always think that the rules don’t apply to them.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I said, still holding her hand. “I’m just so glad that Haley has decided to listen to reason.” Ilona had a powerful maker and friends in high places. I didn’t want her bad mouthing Haley to anyone too far up the food chain. That would definitely lead to trouble. “There was a brief time when I was concerned, but that’s all over with now. As you can see,” I said, gesturing with my free hand toward the car.

“I’m sure that’s quite the relief,” Ilona said, narrowing her eyes at me. “And you say there’s nothing between you?” she asked. “No spark. No whiff of romance?”

“She’s not my type,” I assured the vampiress. “You know I’m only attracted to worldly women.” I gave her a knowing look. “Maybe in a hundred years Haley will grow in appeal, but for now…” I brushed my hand through the air to show how little she attracted me.

“Wouldn’t you rather just stake her?” Ilona asked. “I mean, is she really worth all this trouble?”

“Is it worth the trouble to train a good hunting dog? Or learn how to deftly drive an Italian sports car?” I pointed out. “I may not feel an attraction toward Haley, but she shows promise as a member of the undead.”

“I can’t wait to meet her,” was Ilona’s reply.

I knew that Haley could be done feeding at any moment. I had to lure Ilona away under any pretense. “I’m growing a bit peckish myself,” I said after a moment. “I wish Haley wouldn’t make such a production out of these things.” I glared in the car’s direction.

“I still say you should call her over. You are her making. She shouldn’t keep you waiting.”

“I really don’t mind,” I said, casually. “Let’s go back to the castle and wait for her there. If she can’t find me when she’s finished, she’ll know to follow me home.” Before Ilona could answer, I launched into the air. “There’s some fresh AB negative that you just have to try,” I called over my shoulder as I flew. A few moments later and relief passed through me when I realized that Ilona was following me.

Having Ilona in the castle was not a great idea. But it was better than me trying to deal with Ilona and Haley. I knew that Ilona was up to no good, no matter the reason she claimed to be in Tiburon. Leading her away from Haley, but to the castle was about the equivalent of me climbing out of the fire and into the frying pan.

“I wonder if I’ve even been here since your grandfather made the move,” Ilona said, once I had her ensconced in the salon and sipping from a goblet. “It looks wonderful.”

“Entirely my aunt’s doing,” I assured her. “I only wish I could take credit.”

“Yes. Where is Aunt Alice?” Ilona made a show of looking around. “And your handsome cousins.”

“Out at a party, I presume.” I widened my eyes at her as if it was not unusual to find no one roaming the castle in the middle of the night.

“And they left you here? All by your lonesome?” she asked, batting her eyes at me.

“Actually I wanted to stay,” I insisted. “I have been spending a great deal of time focusing on Haley’s training and besides…” I took a long pull from my own goblet. “I haven’t felt much like socializing lately.” I sincerely doubted she would take the hint, but thought I might as well try.

“How very unlike you,” she remarked, scrutinizing me over her wine glass.

“Vampires change,” I said with a shrug. “Eternity is a long time to stay exactly the same.” She was still looking skeptical so I kept talking. “That’s why I’m so glad to have Haley as my protégé as well as my progeny. I’ve been so bored these last couple of years that I was afraid I was becoming positively dull. But training Haley has reinvigorated me.”

“Are you sure that’s all that’s reinvigorated you? Training her?” Ilona asked coyly. “Or has your little fledgling also rekindled some heat in your pants?”

I knew the vampiress was laying a trap, but I really didn’t know which way to jump. If I lied and said that Haley and I were lovers, would that enrage Ilona or dissuade her from harassing me further?

“I’m surprised at you, Miss Firenze,” I said, allowing my voice to carry a hint of judgment. “I never knew that you were the type of vampiress who wanted to put a label on everything. I always believed you enjoyed life being more fluid than that.”

I caught her off guard for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “Well, well, well,” she exclaimed. “My how things have changed. It’s hard to believe that you’re the same vampire as the sniveling mess that was crying on my two-thousand thread count sheets just mere weeks ago.

“I wasn’t sniveling,” I protested.

“Dorian,” she said, reaching over and squeezing my knee. “I’m the one who had to listen to you drone on and on for half the night. I can assure you, there was sniveling.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Why are you really here, Ilona?”

“I have some business to attend to,” the vampiress insisted. And then she feigned hurt. “You act like you're not happy to see me.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” I assured her, patting the hand that was still clutching my leg.

“Good.” She gave me a smoldering look. “And if you’re really not with Haley, then I think we should head upstairs. After all, I remember there was a time when we used to have quite a lot of fun together.”

Ilona was a beautiful woman. She had obviously been quite attractive as a mortal and that beauty had been amplified by her transformation into the undead. But the thought of lying with her was repellent to me. I’d seen too much beyond the red lips and full breasts. She was dangerous and hateful in a way that was unique to the undead. And maybe a few special people in Hollywood. Plus there was Haley. I knew that it was unlikely that Haley and I would ever be together. But somehow lying with somebody else felt like a betrayal. My heart belonged to my scion and I guess that meant my body did too. I was ashamed of the way I had behaved on my recent stay in Europe, even though I was trying to forget her.

“I love you for asking,” I said to Ilona. “But I feel like that would be taking advantage of my aunt’s hospitality. You know how I hate to be rude.”

The vampiress sniffed. “I thought you were entitled to your fair share of this pile of rocks. Isn’t it part of your legacy?”

“True, but I stay here so infrequently that I almost feel like a guest.”

Ilona leaned forward, searching my eyes. “What’s happened to you, Dorian?” she asked. “You used to never shy away from a quick romp in the sheets. It’s like you’ve transformed from Casanova into a monk.”

I gave a casual laugh. “Oh Ilona. You always did have a flair for the dramatic.” She was trying very hard to get my goat and I was trying desperately hard not to let her.

“Well if the old Dorian is still in there, then take me upstairs now,” she insisted. “You can work off some of that frustration you were feeling over your scion.”

“Yes, but that’s all over with now,” I said, countering her again. “And I’m expecting Haley any minute. Don’t you think it would be a little crass for her to discover us?”

“Not if she wanted to join in,” Ilona insisted, her eyes practically boring into me.

“I told you,” I said, trying to force my voice not to sound tight. “It’s not like that between us.”

“I know what you said. But are you sure your little fledging feels the same?”

“Yes,” I told her. “Without a doubt.”

Chapter 13

Haley

I caught myself feeling excited about my date with Tommy. I guess it was just a leftover habit from when I was mortal, which really wasn’t all that long ago. I was stretched out on my bed in my blacked out room trying to plan what I would wear. My uncle used to call me a slut if I tried to leave the house in a mini skirt and tights, but those days were over. I could wear whatever I desired and had the body to back it. That was definitely a perk of being a vampire.

When I was first turned, I started torturing Uncle Kevin for all the abuse he had rained down on me for the last several months. But then he had kind of a nervous breakdown. Bullies really didn’t like it when the tables were turned. He confessed to how miserable he was in his life and actually apologized for taking his anger out on me. He said that he just felt lost, and frustrated, and he didn’t really know how to handle it.

I wasn’t sure if forgiving him was the right thing to do. It sure wasn’t the easy thing to do. But I began to wonder how it felt to actually be Uncle Kevin. His wife had left him for a richer man, his daughter only showed him affection when she was trying to shake him down for something, and his job wasn’t exactly well-paying. Plus he drank too much. And he gambled away any cash he earned that his kid couldn’t squeeze out of him. He seemed to always be in a bad mood, which probably meant he was depressed. I knew alcohol was actually a depressant, so it wasn’t the best thing a person could do to feel better. But Kevin guzzled bourbon like it was soda.

So I decided to try a little experiment. Instead of torturing my uncle and making him even more miserable, I decided to try to help him improve his life. I used my influence to get him to cut down on the booze and cut out the gambling. Then I delved into his mind to find out what career he might actually want to pursue. After that it wasn’t so hard to get him to sign up for some classes. And fix up the house while he was at it. I didn’t even instruct him to stop being his daughter’s doormat. He figured that out all on his own. Ashley fought him tooth-and-nail, of course, but Kevin held strong. And I think they were both better for it. Although Ashley probably wouldn’t have agreed with me.

I began to think about how I would handle my date. Tommy Sherman was an asshole. There was no getting around that fact. He had used me and humiliated me. But what was a fair act of revenge? Ripping his throat out seemed over the top. I guess the best thing I could do was to make Tommy fall madly in love with me and then give him a taste of his own medicine. I would figuratively rip out his heart rather than literally rip out his throat. Something similar would have to go for Sheila, the Maybe-Lauras and even Ashley. They had all been horrible to me, too. Some teenagers could be so heartless unless it came to their own suffering.

I’d recently acquired a new cell phone. I’d lost mine in the crash that ended with me being transformed into a vampire. A cell felt like a weird possession for a creature of the night. I wasn’t even sure if it was something that other vampires carried around. It seemed very modern and being a vampire felt like a very old-fashion thing to me. And the sad truth was, I didn’t have anyone to call. Or text. I didn’t even have a Facebook page. So maybe I did make a good vampire because I definitely wasn’t engaged with social media like a modern teenager. On the other hand, I probably would have been a media addict, if I knew anyone to engage with.