In the Dark (19 page)

On the other hand, Armand could not deny that he
was
curious. What was she up to? Why was she sneaking out of the house this close to morning? What, if anything, did it have to do with Conrad's absence? He hesitated just a moment longer, then followed her out the door and down toward the gate.

“I figured you'd be back.” Brennan's voice carried clearly through the still air. Armand slowed his approach.

“Did you?” Purring in response, Julie slid into Brennan's arms. “And why is that?”

“I dunno. Must have been that look in your eyes when you came home tonight. I could tell you wanted…something.”

“Really?” Julie braced her hands on his shoulders, jumped up and locked her legs around his waist. “So, okay, since you know so much, tell me, what is it I want?”

“Don't know,” he repeated. Cupping his hands under her bottom, he fell back a step, until he was leaning against the gatehouse wall. “I figured you'd tell me. Whatever it is, I'm the guy to give it to you.”

Julie laughed delightedly. “Well now, you're very accommodating, aren't you?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Brennan replied, grinning back at her. “I am that.” He stiffened slightly when she tugged at his collar and Armand could see his throat work as he swallowed.

Julie pressed her nose close to Brennan's neck, breathing along the veins, picking her spot. Armand knew just when she'd found it. A tiny shiver ran through her and he could almost feel her anticipation.

“So, um, what's this thing your brother was talking about earlier?” Brennan asked, already starting to sound drowsy, even though Julie was still carefully washing the spot she'd chosen with her tongue, preparing the skin with such patient, practiced efficiency it took Armand's breath away. No doubt about it, the girl did beautiful work.

“What about Marc?” Julie murmured.

“He said someone was trying to kill you?”

Armand started in alarm. Well, this was news.

Julie glanced up at Brennan's face. She looked surprised, as well. “Why? Were you
worried
about me?”

Brennan shrugged. “Well, hell, yeah. 'Course I was worried. Why wouldn't I be? So, like, is everything okay now?”

A sudden smile illuminated Julie's face. Armand caught his breath, dazzled by the transformation. In a split second she'd gone from being a very pretty girl into a radiant goddess.

“Yeah,” she murmured, directing all that shimmering beauty toward the gatekeeper. “Everything's fine, now. Thanks for asking.”

Me
, Armand thought, still stunned.
I want that. Look at me that way.

“So what happened anyway?” Brennan asked.

Julie shrugged. “It was nothing really, just…oh, you know, there was some guy at a club who tried to get a little too friendly. Know what I mean? Nothing I couldn't handle.”

“Oh, that's right,” Brennan chuckled. “What was I thinking? You're one tough vampire chick, aren't ya?”

Julie nodded, her smile morphing into that of a tease. “Uh-huh. And don't you forget it.” Then she went back to her spot and sank her fangs into his neck with so fluid a motion Brennan didn't even flinch.

“Well, I'm just glad you're okay,” he muttered, his voice thick, staggering a little as the venom hit his system. “Oh, yeah, baby, that's good.”

Steadying himself against the wall, Brennan pressed Julie's hips closer and began to grind himself against the girl. Armand bit back a growl. Just how far were the two of them planning to take this performance? The night was just about gone and this was hardly a secluded location they'd picked for their little tryst.

Perhaps he should say something—like “get a room” or “move it along”. But, before he could make a move, Julie was already pulling away, once again taking the time to carefully run her tongue over the area where her mouth had been pressed, wiping away any lingering traces.

Armand watched approvingly. Her attention to detail was exquisite. He was sure that by the time she'd finished there'd be nothing to show she'd even been there. Any marks she left behind would likely be too small for human eyes to even notice. Nice.

“Whoa, where are you going?” Brennan asked as she gave his lips a quick kiss and jumped back to the ground. “That's it? No. Come back here, we're just getting started.”

Armand felt a fleeting sense of solidarity with the man. That's what he would be feeling too, if he were in his position. Come to think of it, that
was
what he was feeling, even now. What the hell was going on here? She couldn't be done already. There was no way she could possibly be satisfied after taking so little.

Julie patted Brennan's arm. “I know, sweetie. But my brother mentioned you might be getting worn out and I think maybe he's right. Your body needs a little time to regenerate. You should go and get some rest.”

“Your brother ought to mind his own business,” Brennan grumbled, but, now that he was listening for it, Armand could recognize the faintly winded tones, the rapid, shallow breathing. Shit. Why hadn't he seen that before? They were right. The kid was borderline anemic. No doubt, when Conrad got back, everyone would be given the order to lay off him for a while. It wouldn't be the first time they'd had to do something like that in recent years.

Armand sighed. Sometimes he really missed the old days. Those weekly parties may have been a chore to put on and a headache to deal with, but at least the food was always warm and fresh…

“Come home with me,” Brennan suggested, still trying to pull Julie back against him. “I'm just around the corner, right over the garage. Forget this regenerating bullshit. I'll show you who's worn out.”

“No way,” Julie replied, going up on her toes to kiss him. “I'm not going anywhere with you right now and the only place
you're
going is home to sleep. Maybe you should eat a steak, or something, okay? If you feel better later, I'll come by and play with you again tonight.”

“Tonight, huh?” Brennan's eyes lit up at the thought. “I guess I could wait that long.”

“As soon as you're back on duty then,” Julie promised as she turned to go. “But only if you get enough rest in the meantime.”

Brennan sighed. “Man, you are such a tease. I'm gonna be sporting one all day now because of you.”

“You're a sweet-talker, aren't you?” she said with a laugh. “Well, listen, pal, you'd better be sporting it in your sleep. 'Cause otherwise, you won't be getting any tonight either, and don't think I won't be able to tell.” She blew him a kiss and started back toward the house, then stopped and pivoted to say, “Hey. Thanks again for worrying about me.”

Armand watched her go, feeling more confused and conflicted than ever. He'd taken the twins for newbies—total neophytes. He didn't know what to think anymore. If they were new, then they were the strangest newly turned vampires he'd ever encountered.

 

 

“Well played,” Drew murmured as he and Marc finally headed back to the mansion. His voice was warm with approval, lazy and thick with satisfaction. Using his thumb, he wiped a final trace of blood from the corner of his mouth then licked the digit clean. “Very well played.”

Marc shrugged. “Yeah, it was fun.” Rousting up a couple of kids doing 'shrooms, chasing them through the misty woods and giving them a hallucination worth tripping about had done a lot to take the edge off his frustrated anger, but, all the same. “I'll tell you one thing, though. It's gonna piss Conrad off but good, if he ever gets to hearing about it.” As he spoke, he glanced around curiously, but there wasn't anything obvious to account for Conrad's supposed dislike of the place. In fact, while Marc could scent an abundance of life here, both human and otherwise, he was pretty sure he and Drew were, by far, the two most sinister things out and about in the park tonight.

Drew slanted him a look of surprise. “I wasn't aware you two were so intimately acquainted. You know Conrad well , then?”

“Well enough to know he doesn't approve of causing unnecessary fear.” Or running rampant in the park. Or doing anything that might alert the general populace to the presence of hunters among them.

Cruelty does not become us
, Conrad had insisted more times than Marc cared to remember.
There's rarely any need to indulge in it while feeding. Any wild beast can run its prey to earth and carelessly feast upon it while it still lives, but I've never found fear or pain to improve the taste of a meal. It takes skill and patience, qualities well worth developing, to finesse the full flavor from those you feed upon; to make them wish to give you everything you already intend to have from them.

“I don't know that I agree with you on that,” Drew replied. “Although, one man's necessity is very often another's luxury, I suppose. I've never known Conrad to shy away from the use of fear. It can be a very powerful deterrent. Certainly there are many people in this city with good cause to fear Conrad. And fear him they do.” Shooting Marc a small smile, he added, “Not that I've any cause to complain about that. It's a very good thing, in my opinion. Being on the right side of power confers many advantages, don't you agree?”

“I meant while feeding,” Marc clarified. “He's always told me fear doesn't add flavor.”

“Did he?” Drew chuckled. “Again, I must beg leave to disagree. It adds flavor, all right. It's just not everyone that can appreciate the piquancy. Perhaps it's an acquired taste? Or maybe not. I don't really know.”

“So, do you do most of your feeding at the mansion then?” Marc asked. He gestured at their surroundings. “Or do you prefer to take your chances out in the field?”

“Oh, the mansion, to be certain,” Drew answered quickly. “Or at the club.” Another swift smile broke across his lips. “There's a lot to be said for the convenience of having food easily to hand, I'll not deny that. But, upon occasion, nothing beats the excitement and uncertainty of the hunt. It's…therapeutic, wouldn't you agree?”

Marc nodded absently. He paused, once again, to search for any hint of Conrad's scent. Still nothing.

“So, what was it that brought on the need for tonight's therapy session?” Drew asked, after a momentary silence. “Or are you just not a fan of…domestic…vintages?”

“Someone got a little rough with my sister while we were out tonight,” Marc admitted with another shrug. “Damian didn't want me going back to look for him until tomorrow, so…”

“Ah-ha.” Drew shook his head. “A very bad business. I hate to say it, but some clubs do seem more prone to that sort of activity than others. You should have come back to
Akeldama
. We don't get as much of that low-class clientele there. If you do decide to go after him, however, be sure and let me know. It would be my honor to serve as your second.”

Marc's pulse began to pound. Could it be Jules was on to something? “You sound almost like you know the guy I'm talking about.”

Drew's eyes widened. “How could I? You haven't even described him to me. I'm just speaking in generalities. Although, I do meet many people, so it's not entirely impossible.”

“I think you'd know this guy if you saw him,” Marc said, watching Drew carefully, for any reaction. “According to Julie, he has only one eye and half his face is a mass of scars.” Was it his imagination, or did Drew blanch slightly?

“I see what you mean,” Drew said, his voice noticeably subdued. “That's not a face that could get lost in the crowd, is it? He'd be hard to forget, hard to mistake for anyone else.”

Marc snorted. “Hard? More like impossible, I'd say. What I can't understand is why anyone would turn someone like that in the first place.”

“Why indeed?” Drew was silent for a moment, then he smiled and clapped Marc on the shoulder. “If you want my advice, young squire, you'll forget about the riff-raff. Such a creature is likely living on borrowed time as it is. Come back to
Akeldama
tomorrow
.
I'll make sure you're well taken care of, and your sister too, of course.”

Chapter Ten

Saturday, December 21st, 1968

Suzanne arrived late for Conrad's Christmas party—long past her usual time. The mansion looked beautiful in all its decorations, but it was far more crowded than she'd ever seen it. As she made her way through the crush of bodies, she saw quite a few familiar faces, people she recognized from previous parties, and if it seemed their smiles were slightly more speculative than usual when they gazed at her, she was sure it was nothing but her own guilty imagination that made them seem so.

Not that she
had
any reason at all to feel guilty. Because she didn't. No reason at all.

She made her way from room to room, scanning the crowd for Conrad's face. Where was he, anyway? After failing to locate him anywhere downstairs, she headed back toward the entranceway. She was considering whether or not she wanted to venture upstairs to look for him. What if he was up there? What if he wasn't alone? Did she really want to know about that now, when she was all set to have the time of her life?

At least I got my party
. The thought made her smile. She glanced down at the two little gift boxes she held clenched in her hands. She had to force her fingers to relax when she realized she was in danger of crushing their pretty bows. She'd gotten her party and everything else she'd asked Conrad for. She had no right to expect—or even hope—for anything more. But that didn't mean she didn't, just the same.

She was staring at the wide, curving staircase, trying to decide—go up, or not?—when she spotted Armand. He was wearing a red cap set at a jaunty angle on his head, and a surprisingly cross look on his normally placid face. But at least he was here. Thank God. He was leaning against the balustrade, talking with a petite young woman who Suzanne could not recall ever having seen before.