Love Bites

Henry sat with his back to the wall facing the door in a small bar off the main strip of downtown Toronto. He was waiting for a long time acquaintance and some time lover. The door opened and for a moment no one was there, then she walked forward into the dim light. Henry felt his heart skip a beat to see her after so many months. He savored the memories of their time together along with the taste of her blood and the heat of their lovemaking, then he remembered what drove them apart and frowned.

Sinead opened the door and waited until she caught sight of Henry before stepping over the threshold. She made a small gesture with her hand and nodded as his face turned from a frown to a welcoming smile. No matter what he thought, he was her vampire and she had no intention of letting him go.

Henry stood as she glided up to his table. Her brown eyes flashed with amusement as he pulled a chair out and gently pushed it up to the back of her knees as she sat.

She spoke softly, "Henry, I knew you'd call."

"You may have known I'd call, but do you know why?"

"Does it matter? We're here together and that's all that counts." She opened the handbag that rested on her lap and reached in for a small spray bottle.

Henry's hand darted out and grabbed the bottle before she had a chance to use it on him saying, "Enough! You've done this oce too many times for me to be fooled again." He dropped the bottle into his pocket and added, "If you play nice and tell me what I need to know, I'll give you the rest of the evening."

"Answer a few questions and you'll spend some time with me?"

"Yes."

"And after tonight?"

"Who knows?"

"I'm never going to have you to myself, am I?"

"No, my heart belongs to someone special."

"You know I'd be the better choice."

"No, I don't know that. I do know what I have now is what I want forever."

"Forget it. I'm not bargaining with you for a few hours of sex."

Henry started to speak and Sinead raised her hand to silence him. "Did you settle for the one you brought to my shop? I've warned you about her. She'll bring to you great pain and sorrow. Come back to my place and I'll give you what you need to be really happy."

Henry rested his hand on the table palm up and Sinead placed her hand on top of his. He tightened his fingers around hers and moved his thumb up and down the back of her hand as he said, "I did love you once. A part of me still does. It was your use of magic that drove me away. You see, that's why I can't ever trust you. Even knowing I love another, you'd use your arts on me."

The waitress came over and Henry handed her a twenty saying they were good for now. He looked at Sinead and said, "Answer this, are there any new covens or black circles in town?"

"There's nothing new. An older group is becoming more active, but you already know that."

"What do you mean?"

Sinead leaned forward, kissed his lips and exhaled into his face saying, "Ask your lover with the marks." Then stood and left quickly.

Henry, caught off guard by her words pulled in her breath and scent into his lungs. He felt his mind cloud as he stood to follow.

The dark haired woman at the other end of the room watched them leave, dropped a bill on the bar and followed at a distance.

Keeping up with Sinead, Henry moved in the shadows as she weaved her way through the back alleys to her shop.

The dark haired woman moved just as quietly to keep an eye on them both.

Sinead laughed to herself knowing that Henry was close behind. She had hoped he would go for the bottle and not remember her other little 'tricks'. Love potions came in many forms and one of her best came in the form of breath mints. A kiss or whispered word could hold the intendeds attention very nicely until stronger measures could be applied. Sinead had a supply of spells and potions waiting at her bedside to keep Henry where she wanted him.

Henry could feel the spell working, but he didn't care. The longing for Sinead overrode all his other instincts.

The dark haired woman recognized the street they were headed for and she hoped that he wouldn't be too enchanted to listen.

Henry came through the door after Sinead, grabbed her from behind, kissed her neck and massaged her breasts as his vampire hunger rose up and he bit down on the soft spot between the neck and the shoulder.

Deep in vampire thrall, Sinead and Henry didn't react as the door flew open in response to the hard kick from outside. Standing in the open doorway the dark haired woman said in a sharp commanding voice, "Fitzroy, I think you'd better stop before I'm forced to hurt you."

Henry's head snapped back and he snarled in challenge as he turned toward the voice. When he saw the woman standing there, his arms opened and Sinead dropped to the floor. He shook his head as though trying to clear it and said, "I didn't intend for it to go this far."

The woman came closer to him, touched his arm and said, "I know. It's a good thing we had a back up plan." She glanced an Sinead lying on the floor with blood dripping from the open wound on her neck and said, "Henry, give her your handkerchief. Her neck's still bleeding."

Sinead looked up from the floor, accepted the square of white cloth and pressed it to her neck saying, "You!"

Vicki laughed, held out a hand to pull her up and said, "Yep! Me. You really didn't think I'd trust my man alone anywhere near you? Now play nice and give us the information we need."

Sinead waved her hand at Vicki's arms and said, "Look at your marks. You've felt them burning. It's pull is becoming stronger."

Vicki looked at the marks on her forearms and saw that they were now outlined in red. She shook her head in denial and said, "No. They're not burning and the demon's not pulling at me. You're using another spell."

Henry snarled, called up his vampire power of persuasion and said, "Sinead! Hear me and pay attention, you'll tell us the truth. With or without pain, you'll tell us the truth!"

Vicki watched Sinead's confidence crumble and looked at her marks. Slowly the red faded away and even the black turned gray.

Sinead wanted to deny the tightening in her chest but couldn't and whispered, "There's a new Wicca coven forming and I'm not a part of it because I use the black arts. Since you called, I thought I'd have a little fun. It's no secret among the others you're back and living with her."

Vicki snarled at Sinead, allowing her to see her vampire as she pulled her lips back from very sharp small fangs and said, "As long as you know he's living with me you may as well know the rest."

Sinead turned her head from the pair of vampires, "You've got what you came for, leave. Stay away from me and mine and I'll stay away from you. Vicki, I'm warning you, he'll get tired of you soon enough. His long term track record is spotty at best and all together absent at its worst."

***

Sitting in their apartment Vicki said, "I think its safe to say that Lelia's daughter turned to the Wicca group. I'll try to track them down tomorrow. My friend on the force hasn't heard any news of gang violence escalating."

"Most likely. Sinead didn't mean any harm, you know."

"I guess not, but I really hope we never have to deal with her again. She does have a way about her that gets your attention."

Henry gave her one of his better grins, "I could say I was acting."

Vicki moved closer to him and nibbled on his ear, "It's safer to change the subject. You should know by now it's not wise to tease a vampire." Then she bit down on his earlobe drawing blood.

Henry's eyes gave off black sparks as he said before giving her a bite of his own, "And baby vampires should know better than to bite on adult vampires."

***

"Mrs. Anders, Wicca is not a gang or cult or a violent group of crazies. It's a form of religion based on the old beliefs before Christianity. Leah is not being held against her will. No, I haven't talked to her yet. I'm going to watch a celebration tonight. No, you can't come. I'm not invited. I'm going to be observing from a distance. Yes, I'll call after I get back. I'll try. If I can get close to Leah, I'll give her your message. No, don't give me a letter for her. If that's what you want, I can stop the investigation." Vicki paced the confines of the apartment as she listened and answered Lelia Anders endless questions. Henry followed her progress back and forth smirking as he listened to Vicki's end of the conversation. Finally Vicki said, "I'll call you. No, that's all right. I understand about a mother's need to know." Then she broke the connection.

She looked Henry straight in the eye and asked, "Would you like to watch a sky clad group of women tonight in my place?"

Henry shook his head from side to side, "While I find the thought of naked women standing under the full moon appealing, I'm not interested in dealing with your client or her daughter. I'll stay here and work on a new novel while you're watching them. I promise I'll get you under the moon and stars later."

Vicki thought about Henry's way of getting and said, "That's a promise you're going to keep. I'm going to try and talk with Leah and ask her to call her mother. I'm beginning to understand why she felt she had to leave home. That woman could give my mother lessons."

Vicki found a perch in a tree several yards from the sacred circle. Thanks to her enhanced vision she could see everything as the caped and hooded women and girls moved forward. The items of worship were placed in total silence and as the moon came up over the top of the trees they dropped their robes revealing sky clad bodies of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors. There was a beauty to be seen in each one as all ages of woman were represented, the maiden, the mother, and the crone (grandmother). Soft drums, harp, and flute music floated on the air. The ritual moved Vicki and made her feel connected to all womankind. She found Leah Anders among the group and studied her face, seeing a young woman who was right where she belonged. Vicki then looked down at her marks and knew that they held no power over her. Sitting and watching the Wicca's reverence for life and the blessings of mother earth, she knew that Astaroth would never have her.

Vicki waited and followed Leah back to the small residence hotel where she had been staying for the last several months. Vicki called out softly "Leah Anders, your mother asked me to find you."

Leah turned to face the voice in the dark, "Who are you?"

Vicki moved one step closer holding out her hands, "I'm Vicki Nelson, private investigator who was asked by your mother, Lelia Anders, to find you and give you a message."

Leah kept back from Vicki and said, "Why can't she leave me alone? Give me the message and leave."

Vicki nodded, "She asks that you call her. She needs to know that you're okay."

Leah made a half crying noise as she said, "She's a controlling witch that won't let me live my own life. If I call her, she'll find a way to get me to come home and start all over again."

Vicki spoke with an understanding tone, "I've been there and done that. I know how hard it is to convince a mother that you can't live up to what they want for you. I know it's better to face them, get it over with and let them know you're moving on with your life with or without their approval."

"So that's it then? Call mom, tell her I'm a big girl and whether she likes it or not, I'm going to live my own life."

"Pretty much."

"If I don't call, what are you going to tell her?"

"That I've delivered her message. You're working and have a comfortable life with good friends. I'll have to give her this address, but you don't have to remain here."

"Can you give me a couple of days? I don't know what I'm going to do yet. I need to think about it."

Vicki said, "I'll have to give your mother something tonight, but I don't have to tell her everything I know until she pays the final bill."

Leah gave a startled sound then said, "She paid you to find me? She really wanted to find me that badly? That's one of the reasons I left. She was too cheap even put halfway decent food on the table when I was a kid. Every penny was saved for 'someday', but she never told me when someday was."

Vicki backed up and answered, "Someday is a parent's greatest fear. Who will take care of me someday? Where will I live someday? Will I have enough money someday? Do what's best for you. My job is done."

Vicki was within sight of the apartment when warm comforting arms circled her waist and a cool breath whispered in her ear, "The moon's still out and we have an hour or two left before it sets. I plan to watch you dance naked with its light reflected off your soft white shoulders."

"I'm going to hate myself for saying this, but I need to give my client an update first. Give me two minutes to make a call and find your robe. I'll meet you in the park."

Henry laughed, kissed the back of her neck and handed her his red silk robe.

***

Coming back from dancing naked under the moon Henry and Vicki were both feeling very mellow. They were laughing and behaving like a young couple in love. Not paying attention, they were almost to their own door when they heard the yowling of unhappy cats and the swearing of a grumpy woman. "Crap and Damn. Where's that bastard son of a dead king?" She pounded on their apartment door, "Get out here. You called me! You should be here to greet me." She looked at the two old men holding the pet caddies, "Put those cages down and go out and find 'Fitz' ." The two old men set the cages near the wall and turned to see Henry and Vicki watching with open mouths.

The taller one said, "Madam. They're here."

The woman turned around to face them and smiled, "Good work, Sonny."

Vicki blinked at the most amazing sight. The woman was almost five feet tall, with long dark red hair shot through with streaks of white, penetrating grass green eyes, clear pale completion, with laugh lines around the eyes and very white teeth that became visible when the woman smiled. She was wearing a royal blue leather jacket and tight black leather pants and a bit of red lace showing under the jacket.

"Crap and Damn! Are you going to make me, my boys and pets stand out here for the rest of the night?"

Henry stepped forward first and gave a courtly bow, "Xenethia, welcome to Toronto and my humble home. Please allow me to open the door."

"WTF. Talk straight."

Henry looked back at Vicki shrugged and unlocked the door. Xenethia went in and said, "Come boys." The two old men with the yowling cats entered as Vicki followed behind and Henry bringing up the rear closed the door.