The
vampires make plans to go to the vampire council. Tommy wants to
come, but Margo and the others are adamant.
Drea
made a trip to the cleaners just before it closed. She brought back a
magnificent suit for Kirk and a fine evening dress for herself.
"I
forgot these were there," she said with a contented sigh. "At
least the buggers didn't get them when they trashed our apartment."
"We'll
meet you at your place at nine," Kirk told Margo. "And
Tommy?"
"I
know, chef. I'm not coming. I promised."
"No
being the curious, stupid, heroic type, right?"
"I
promised that too, chef."
"You're
a good kid, Tom. For your own protection, you can't be anywhere
around."
"I
told Margo I wouldn't come," he said emphatically. "How bad
can they be, though? You three are the best people I know."
"They
aren't like us there," Drea said, her eyes wide. "There are
factions who hold to the old ways and those who hold with the new. We
are of the new breed. Sometimes even we aren't welcome. If they think
that our involvement in Jay's death has put the rest at risk, they
will shun us, cast us aside without a thought. We risk everything by
being day dwellers, striving for normal lives. Phillida and her
followers would cut us loose without a thought, but they don't dare."
"Why
not?"
"Because
my sire is our leader," Drea said.
"He's
the one who turned you?"
She
nodded, not wanting to look at him. It wasn't something she was
particularly proud of. One of the most bloodthirsty vampires of all
time, Andres Cavedo, was her sire. He and Phillida were among the
first and oldest in the country. He was the leader, but she sat at
the head of the Council. Phillida could not abide Drea, but unless
she wanted to risk the wrath of her lover, she did her no harm. Since
he was probably among the few who could, or even would, dare to give
her the true death, she obeyed his rules.
"He's
a cold, heartless bastard," Drea said quietly. "But for
some reason, he cares about me. He has done much to protect us over
the years because of it. However, I do not willingly cross him.
Andres has his limits and he is not a patient man."
"But
it's Phillida you're going to see?"
"She
is head of the Council. Andres is their ruler, but even he must
follow the laws, many of which he put in place. The Council is like
the British Parliament. They make and pass laws, but Andres has final
say in most things."
"Is
he an old vamp or a new one?"
"Andres
is rather more progressive than some of the others. It is his
innovation that came up with the artificial blood. He also developed
the sunscreen and the medicine we take. He's an absolutely brilliant
scientist."
"But
not a nice guy," Tommy concluded.
"No.
I'd say that nice guy was about as far as you could get from his true
personality. I think the words evil, blood sucking fiend would
describe him better," Kirk answered.
"I'm
decidedly staying home," Tommy said with finality. "And I
may never leave the house again," he added. "You've just
added greatly to my paranoia," he told them.
"He
knows nothing about you, Tommy," Margo tried to make him feel
better. "He will leave you alone. Don't worry." But she
didn't feel very sure of herself.
Margo
came by as planned and the three vampires went to Andres' mansion
together. If it was possible for a vampire to feel butterflies in her
stomach, Drea had them. Clutching Kirk's hand, she walked up to the
front door with Margo close behind. The door opened before they got
to the front porch. Inside, twin male vamps bowed deeply to Drea,
less so to Kirk and Margo. They had been pets of Phillida's before
she turned them twenty something years ago. Handsome, buff, sexy,
they were no less wicked and nasty tempered than she. Drea hated
having them behind her, but could do little about it.
They
were joined in the foyer by friends of theirs. These men provided
security for Andres, though they had also accompanied Drea in her
early years. Both of them were more loyal to her than to their master
and sire, but neither of them advertised it. Drea didn't feel as
worried about the twins with Theo and Rolf at her back.
"He
is in a good mood," Rolf murmured as he hugged her. "She is
not."
"Lovely,"
Drea whispered. "It's her I need to speak to."
"Not
tonight," Theo said, shaking his head a tiny bit. "Been a
bad week, with one thing and another."
"What's
wrong?" Margo asked softly.
Theo
started to tell her, but was interrupted by Andres' entrance. More
specifically, Andres and his entourage. He never went anywhere
without at least six others, mostly female. Drea noticed that
Phillida was not among them.
"Drea,
my dear!" He called from the stairway across the huge expanse of
foyer. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
He
greeted the three of them effusively, hugs and kisses, compliments
and smiles. Of course, they had to greet each of his entourage as
well. Drea knew most of them, some she even liked. He had adorned
himself with the four most beautiful women in the coven and the two
least attractive men. One of the women, the one on his right arm, was
unknown to Drea. She had too much color in her cheeks to be a
vampire. Drea assumed, rightly, that this was his new pet. Now she
began to see why Phillida would be in a snit. This young woman was
far more lovely than she had ever been.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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