Don't Kill Dinner (The Rules Trilogy) (5 page)

When we arrived at the ballroom it was painfully obvious something huge was going on. Some people were getting out of limos while others were arriving by mule and carriage like us. The tourists had stopped in front of the beautiful gothic building with cameras at the ready, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous. We exited the carriage in proper form; the men first, offering hands for Brittany and I. Brittany knew this was a huge party and she thought it was for my new job at the law firm. I was very interested in seeing how they kept that a secret. Maybe Tim would have to compel her again but I really hoped we could avoid it.

We
walked into the grand building we headed toward the sign in table to receive our assignments for dinner. We received our table assignments and an unexpected surprise of masquerade masks. Ihrin really did love a party. My mask was a stunning black metal die cut mask with Swarovski crystals set to line the eyes.   Arthur’s was a solid black that complimented mine very well. Timothy and Brittany’s masks were both a beautiful champagne color.

We entered the room and
I was completely stunned as I looked around at the white and gold details along the walls with the painted ceiling rivaling the Sistine Chapel. When I felt a hand on my shoulder I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. It was Aurel, assistant to the Sef. He whispered that Ihrin would like to see Arthur and I in her reading room and we left Timothy and Brittany to enjoy the party.

Aurel had come with Ihrin when they had established the coven in 1718.  His name meant golden and he was just that. He had blonde hair, golden eyes and a voice that just sounded rich with his still present Romanian accent. He was Ihrin’s right hand man. We all secretly wondered if they were lovers but no one dared ask.

Arthur and I quietly entered Ihrin’s reading room and found her sprawled on a chaise lounge in a beautiful black gown that accentuated her ethereal beauty perfectly. She welcomed us into the room and ushered us to the couch. We commended her on such a beautiful ball and I finally got to hear about the business I missed out on earlier.

“I don’t want to put a damper on the party,” Ihrin said apologetically, “but rumor in the community is that there may be a new group of paranoms trying to infiltrate our city. It is just a wh
isper for now, but after tonight we need to make sure we are listening to everything. I will not be overrun with pixies or fae or any of those other creatures. New Orleans is our city and will forever be. Now onto the fun stuff, how do you feel about a grand reveal?”

I bowed my head slightly and replied “What about the humans in attendance? I smelled more than just mine in the ballroom.”

Ihrin smiled like a proud mother and replied, “It is ok my dear, we will be delicate yet honest about who you are.”

I nodded and responded, “If it is your will, then so shall it be.” She hopped up off her chaise, clapped her hands and said “Let’s Party!” and with that she was gone. Arthur and I looked at each other confused and busted out laughing. It was wonderful to know that Ihrin felt comfortable enough around me that she could be herself.

Once we contained ourselves we walked back into the expansive hallway and donned our masks. We heard Ihrin’s beautiful speech about the new generation of youth and what they mean to the community. She wrapped up her speech and said “Without further adieu, please welcome the newest member of our community and our new Grande, Kenna Tate being escorted by her mentor Arthur Harrison.”

Arthur held out his arm and I laid mine on top of his. As our energies entwined
, we became one and glided down the stairs into the crowd of vampires (and some humans) welcoming me to the “community.” I laughed at the unspoken knowledge of what was really going on and let it fuel my fun for the evening.

After a bout of dancing, dinner was served. It was a wonderful surf and turf with filet mignon and lobster tail. After dinner we continued dancing to the entrancing sound of the 40-piece orchestra and accompanying rock band. The entire evening felt like a scene from a movie. I was dancing with my Prince Charming in a beautiful gown surrounded by people congratulating me.

The party finally stopped when we saw the sun rising through the large windows in the ballroom. The four of us decided to walk to the Café before we went home for some breakfast. It was wonderful seeing my old friends from Café du Monde and as we sat in Arthur’s old table it seemed like my life could never get any better.

When we got home Timothy and Brittany went upstairs to sleep and Arthur and I changed into our gym clothes and met in the library. The party was over and it was time to get down to business. We had to find out which paranoms were trying to invade our city. Thirty books and six hours later Arthur and I finally had a place to start.

We had narrowed it down to species that would flourish in our wet city and then looked at who would be big enough and dumb enough to try and take over. When Brittany walked down the stairs with Timothy she had that “girl we so need to talk face” and so did Tim. Arthur and I looked at each other and agreed it was time for another girls day slash boys day.

Brittany and I donned our jean shorts and tank tops and headed out to Margaritaville for some tequila and burgers. The conversation was generic and typical until our first sip of Off to see the Lizard, my favorite margarita. She finally broke down and told me about her night. Her and Tim had danced and enjoyed the meal then he had asked her to take a walk around the grounds. On their walk he started getting into the nitty gritty about her life in Los Angeles. He wanted a relationship with her. As I fought to keep my anger in check she laughed and said, “Kenna, calm down. I actually like it here a lot and Tim is a great guy. I’m not gonna move in with him or anything but how do you feel about me moving to Nola? We could be together again like high school… with Tequila Tuesday!”

How the hell was I supposed to explain to her she couldn’t fall for a vampire! She would get old and
die and he would forever be a twenty five year old. Not to mention they could never have children and with the threat of whoever they were, this city was not safe for her, anyone else sure, but Brittany was the sister I never had and I would always protect her like family.

Finally I replied, “I think it would be awesome to have you here but if you do decide to come you have to move here for you, not for Tim. He has a lot of secrets Brittany and I don’t want to have to hide his body if he breaks your heart.” She punched me in the arm and said with a wink, “It’s ok, I know just the swamp. I will think about it.” That was the end of that conversation, Thank God!
We spent the rest of the afternoon like any two normal girls in NOLA, shopping!

When it was finally time for Brittany to go back to LA Timothy drove her to the airport and Arthur and I went straight to the basement. I needed to talk to Tim but until I did
, Arthur would have to do. He told me what I needed to hear: that Tim really was in love with her, still hadn’t bitten her and wanted to try a real relationship. Apparently, he was jealous of what Arthur and I had, but then again who wouldn’t be. He said he had no intentions of turning her and that he would approach Ihrin for permission to include her into our world if she decided to move here. After these revelations, I was in dire need for a workout. When Tim came back to our house I was much calmer. I reiterated the fact that I would still rip his throat out if he hurt her and that he better make Arthur look like an evil boyfriend if he really wanted to be with Brittany.

We continued our research on the different species for a couple hours before we had narrowed it down to three, then it was time to scout. We scouted the wraith hangouts first. They usually hung out near hospitals and the seedier parts of town and they were easy to track. Nothing new was going on there and we heard no whispers about anything being afoot with them.

Next were the Weres. We headed over to the old Blacksmith Shoppe which was actually a bar now. The Weres loved hanging out there. Thankfully we had a few friends in the Were community who we talked to while we were eavesdropping. They had also heard of a new group arriving in the city and assured us it wasn’t them. They liked things the way they were and didn’t want someone else creeping in on our home. With the wolves as our new allies we were onto the last group, the Sirens.

Sirens were evil. They preyed on everyone. They don’t care if you are good or evil and they are all about consumption. We need your blood to live but not all of it. Sirens took everything. Sucked your soul right out of your body. They were ferocious warriors and had the ability to turn anyone into their play toys. They liked being near the water so we headed for the docks.

Older vampires were able to resist the Siren’s song but young ones like me hadn’t mastered that skill yet. As the guys headed down the docks I decided to stop for a snack. About half way through my meal I felt someone watching me. I finished feeding and sent him home knowing something was lurking in the shadows. I turned around and scanned the area for who or what was staring at me. I could smell their scent. It smelled like cedar and cloves. It was yummy and I was smart enough to know the yummier the smell the worse the creature. I decided it was time for me to head back towards the quarter and the scent followed.

I made three left turns and a right and then I was sure I was still being followed by my mystery creature and I was not going to play rat in a maze anymore… I made one more turn to get the wind blowing the right direction and once I had zeroed in on my prey
, I pounced. My fangs stretched out of my gums and my eyes glowed as I grabbed the sexy man who had been following me by the throat. I had the element of surprise and took the time to take a whiff and make sure he was the creature I was after. He was, but I still didn’t know what he was. Finally, the swirls crawled up his neck confirming that he was a Siren.

I used our mental bond to reach out and tell Arthur I caught one, knowing I’d pay for it later. He was young, no older than
fifty, and still very inexperienced. I felt him try to capture me with his song but I was easily able to block him. “Why are you following me?” I asked with a hiss. He replied with a cocky grin “I like my food to fight.” As I tightened my grip around his throat I whispered in his ear “I am no body’s food.”

Arthur and Tim arrived just in time. I had never wanted to kill anything so bad. How dare he think he could overpower and kill me. As I let the boys take over the interrogation
, I started picking at my nails trying to figure out why they would be dumb enough to send a baby out on their own.

Sirens were able to reproduce naturally but their offspring didn’t develop
their powers until they were fourty. They stopped aging before then and started working on their seduction before the actual need for essence became a requirement. This kid, who was apparently named Destin, was only fifty three. He still didn’t have full control over his powers but was apparently well bred because he was able to give us some information before we had to kill him.

Ok, I say we
, but Arthur did the deed. I had never killed anyone and I hoped I never would. I respected life but understood that Destin needed to disappear and now that he knew the vampires were onto them he would go right back to their leader.

After we took care of business so to say, we went straight to Ihrin with what we learned. Once inside the compound we went to the strategies room. This room was very different from the Throne room. It had glossy black marble floors and a long cherry wood table in the center that was littered with maps and books. We obviously weren’t the only ones looking for the group threatening our home, but we were the first ones to figure out who it was.

As we stood around the table, Arthur told Ihrin about our research and the footwork we had done with the Wraiths and Weres before we decided to check on the sirens. He told her what they had found on their search before coming to interrogate Destin. What Destin had said was frightening to say the least. The sirens had scouted the city and wanted to take it over and eradicate the vampires. They were still amassing a following in the city but they planned to take every last one of us out.

This was not going to end well for them. You do not become the number one paranormal species by playing nice. We all talked about the best plan of attack and which members of the coven should go on the mission. This was a dangerous mission and only the best warriors were suited to attack their pod before they hit us. This was the moment I had been waiting for. It was my turn to protect the coven that gave me a new lease on life.

I knew quite a bit about strategy from my work with Arthur so I stepped in to help. The building the sirens were using had three main entrances a
nd roof access if we sent in three teams we could corral the Sirens out the remaining door and lead the ambush into an environment more suited for us. Ihrin and Arthur loved the idea and started assigning teams, Arthur took team one: the roof squad, Aurel got control of team two, Gavril would be leading team three, Radu had four and Nicu took team five.

WHAT? I was the new Grande Viclean Razboinic and I didn’t get to lead a team. It was my idea to begin with. I thought I would be on Arthur
’s team to learn more, ok, I didn’t like it but I got it. Nope! After the teams had been given their members I was still standing at the table completely dumbfounded. Trying hard not to lose my temper, I looked at Ihrin and asked, “What about me? Which team am I on?” Ihrin looked to Arthur who walked up to me and put his hand on my arm and said, “Sorry Kenna, its too dangerous. You haven’t built up an immunity to the Siren’s song yet. Going in there would do more harm than good.” I tried to control myself but I could feel my eyes beginning to glow.

With a low growl, I replied “Did you forget who caught him? Or how about that I am the new Grande? Don’t tell me I can’t do something because there is nothing, I repeat NOTHING I cannot do. How dare you Arthur, I thought you knew me.” I stormed out of the compound with a feeling I have never felt before.

I was so angry I could kill someone. As I stalked through the city trying to calm down nothing worked. I was still angry. I could feel the power from my anger flowing through my body like electricity. I had spent enough of my life being told I couldn’t do something. I was not going to spend my eternity being with someone who had the same ideas.