"You will not say a word." Isaac murmured as the doors opened and a pair of dark-suited men looked us over. I almost wanted to laugh at the black shades and earpieces. At the same time, they reeked power, and I knew they were the real deal. So I kept my mouth shut like I was told.
Isaac nodded at one of the guards and the man grunted. The other closed the doors behind us as his partner moved deeper into the large house. Isaac followed, pulling me along.
Inside, everything seemed so bright. The floor was polished marble, like that of a ballroom, but as we moved closer to the parlor doors at the end of the hall, I could see the edges of wall-to-wall bookshelves beyond. I don't think I'd ever seen so many old books in my life. I love to read, and any other time this place could have held me fascinated for hours, but my eyes were now locked on the young woman sitting at a plush armchair near a large stone fireplace.
Her smile was bright when she spotted Isaac and she clapped once. He nodded back. The guard in front of us bowed to the girl, turned on his heel and walked out.
"Colette." Isaac released my hand and strode forward. He seemed to glide across the floor rather than walk it. I was still too confused. This was Colette? The powerful vampire who had Isaac at her feet with the snap of her fingers. It couldn't be, this was just a girl!
At most, she was in her late teens, but adolescence was still shining in her. She had long wheat-blond hair, and eyes the color of forget-me-not's. Isaac knelt in front of her chair to kiss the pale, slender hand she presented, then remained on his knee. The girl gave another brilliant white smile and titled her head at him.
"My dearest Isaac." Her voice was soft and youthful. "You've come home to me."
"You requested my presence, I had no other choice."
At that she gave a tight smile and sat back in her chair, legs crossed at the knee. "Then we must have business together."
Was she serious? Was this some sort of vampire joke? I was lost. The door opened suddenly at my back and I jumped forward, startled. The young man who walked in was tall and foreign. His dark brown eyes skipped over everything in the room to find Colette and did not leave her after. He offered a gorgeous smile hanging by my side and watched the old vampire.
"Oh, Philippe." The man beside me jerked into excited motion and hurried to her side. Colette turned to Isaac who had taken a seat at the couch across from her as the man, I was beginning to suspect her Shadow, knelt at her side like a dog. "He's the cutest thing, isn't he?" She asked, stroking Philippe's jaw with her long fingernails.
Isaac chuckled. "I don't know if I'm the one to judge that, my lady."
Colette rolled her eyes, "Oh please, Isaac, There's no need for posturing." Then she paused. Philippe had begun to kiss her palm, completely absorbed in his task. "That reminds me, where is your human?"
I went still by the door, watching them warily. I'd started thanking Isaac for leaving here, but now it seemed I had to join them. Isaac turned, starring me strait in the eye.
"Come, Mira."
I'm not really sure what I had expected of Colette. A cruel faced regal woman who scowled at us the moment we entered the staggeringly large library. Perhaps a frail looking old woman, with power in her eyes. It was not, by any means, the young blond creature perched on the overstuffed armchair near the fire. She was small, thin, and beautiful, but far too young to be an Elder.
"Appearances are often misleading." Her voice was that of a child, soft and light and it startled me that she read my expression so easily. Her cornflower blue eyes sparkled as she looked at me, then turned to Isaac. Apparently I had already lost her interest as I sat at Isaac's side. The pale, crème dress she wore swayed just below her knees as she stood and smiled at her childe. "My sweet Isaac, look how handsome you've become."
My captor flashed his wicked grin and took my hand, lacing our fingers. "And I wasn't before?"
Colette waved her hand dismissively. "I did not care for that grungy, degenerate look you favored. I had hoped you would outgrow it."
"That was in the Eighties, Colette." He chuckled, obviously having been through this argument before. It was like a mother and her son, which made me uncomfortable. This was just strange. And so far, everyone seemed so normal and kind…except Sanura, but she seemed like a bitch anyway. Where were the blood thirsty monsters now?
The library was thankfully void of any other vampire at the moment, which gave me little comfort, but still helped.
"Colette, I would like to officially introduce Mira, my new plaything." Isaac smiled, gesturing toward me. I bulked at the title, but bit back my anger. Colette didn't seem like the patient type, despite her apparent youth. She turned her cold blue eyes one me and took in everything. I felt like I was standing naked in a spotlight onstage. Her gaze was so calculating, and disinterested. To her, I was nothing special, and she moved on quickly,, again without comment. Simply ignoring me.I have to admit, it was more than a bit insulting.
"You're assignment was successful, I assume." Colette sat back in her throne-like chair and crossed her legs at the knees. Now, she seemed mature beyond her years, it simply radiated from her. I could see the Elder in her now, like she had gained 20 years just by changing positions.
Phillipe hurried from her side and out of my saight for a moment, returning with a glass of wine (red, of course) and handed it over wordlessly. She motioned him back to the door and inspected the glass not acknowledging him further, then took a sip, watching Isaac.
"The hunters will no longer be a nuisance." He nodded, squeezing my hand lightly. My jaw clenched and I starred at the hardwood floor. He was a bastard.
"I'm told you made quite the mess with them." I could hear the smile in Colette's voice and closed my eyes. Of course she would find their massacre amusing. "The cleanup was a real chore for my boys."
Isaac's thumb stroked the back of my hand idly as he chuckled. "Perhaps I was a bit overzealous. They're just as dead though."
"And yet there is the girl."
My attention snapped back to Colette as she stared at Isaac coolly. The humor was gone from her expression and with it the warmth of the room.
"The girl is how I found them." Isaac insisted politely. "She invited me inside to finish the job of her own free will. She was never a hunter."
The old vampire didn't look convinced. She swirled the wine in her glass, watching him over the rim.
"Not a Hunter yet she traveled with them?"
So here it was. The reason she had wanted to meet me. She thought I was another vampire killer and a danger to her Seethe. Isaac had lost his smile now too. He did not look away from his maker's eyes. Feeling very much in danger, I rushed to my own defense.
"They took me in when my family was killed."
Colette glanced my way, her expression still cold. Isaac tightened his grip on my hand in warning, shooting me a glare. I sucked in a breath as my bones rolled together painfully. Apparently I was not to speak. He hurriedly finished for me as if to divert her attention.
"An act of pity when they failed to protect her family."
Colette skimmed her long, slender finger around the rim of her glass and stared at me a moment before speaking. "And the creature responsible? What was it you needed protecting from?" She was trying to sess out whether or not I had reason to hate vampires.
I gulped, still suffering Isaac's painful grip. "A werewolf."
At that the vampire made a distasteful sneer. "Filthy beasts."
"I agree." Again Isaac tightened his grip, popping the bones in my hand. I whimpered, angrily trying to pull away, but he refused to let go. Colette looked at us a moment before setting her wine flute on the glass table between us. Her Shadow quickly removed it and disappeared again.
"So, girl, you betrayed your saviors to become a monster's plaything."
My mouth fell open in protest, but Isaac squeezed to stop my retort. My fingers were starting to tingle.
"You plan to keep this traitor?"
Isaac nodded, "For now."
Colette sighed, "I assume I can not change your mind, then."
"You can not," he said slowly. The old vampire nodded once then looked to me.
"Normally I would not spare the life of a human who aligns herself with hunters." Here, Colette looked me right in the eyes and I felt the power in her pressing on me like a wet blanket. I felt as if too much of her stare could whither me like a dead flower. "Being that it is my Isaac who claims you, however, I will allow this folly."
She glanced down at our laced hands with a slight smirk, making me wonder the cost of her mercy.
"Thank your master, child. He has just spared your life." She giggled softly, the sound delicate and eerie.
For a long moment, I didn't know what to do. Did she mean for me to say the words? Embrace him? What? Isaac answered that question for me.
His free hand turned my cheek and he looked down at my lips, then to my face. The message was clear. I was to kiss him. Simple. I however would rather drink water from an electrical socket.
I didn't move to comply, even frowned. Somehow, she must have guessed at my reluctance and was toying with me. I leaned away, but Isaac was in no mood for my games. His grip on my hand tightened until it crunched and white hot pain shot up my arm. My scream was muffled by his lips.
"Your plaything seems reluctant to please you, sweet boy. Is she worth this trouble?" Colette's smile was cruel now, as she watched us and Isaac growled softly.
This time, I felt the warm ooze of blood seeping between our fingers when he squeezed them. He'd broken my hand! The bastard was crushing it!! My eyes filled with tears and I let out a soft cry, but parted my lips for him. His tongue brushed mine and Colette laughed.
"She will be difficult to break. Are you sure you're up to it?"
Isaac pulled back to smile wickedly. "I like a good challenge."
Again Colette laughed, then stood. "There are days when you remind me so much of Daniel. He never took the easy ones either."
"And look where it got him." Isaac snapped suddenly angry. Colette's smile turned wistful and sad as she turned to gaze across the library. "His crazy little bitch fed him glass and tried to burn him alive."
"Yes, well…She is gone now, made to ash."
It was silent a long time before Colette turned her attention back to us and gave a cruel smile.
"So, I am curious," she nodded toward me, "Have you tasted her yet?"
I was very still, eyes wide. This seemed to amuse her while Isaac dropped my ruined hand. Hissing away the pain, I drew it close and cradled it to my stomach.
"There has been no time, unfortunately." He sighed.
"There is time now." Colette said this with her gaze directly on me, waiting for my reaction. She knew it scared me. Isaac chuckled. "By all means." The bitch gestured toward us to begin, her smile wicked. "I insist."
Those were the magic words.
"Give me your hand, Mira." Isaac turned on the couch to face me and held out his fingers. I laughed harshly and shook my head.
"You've done enough damage."
He snatched up my wrist so fast I didn't see him move and jerked it closer. My fingers were black and red, setting at awkward angles. Actually looking at the horrible sight made my stomach roll. The vampire gave it no mind and pulled up the sleeve of his free hand with his teeth, then bit into his wrist, gashing it open as if it were nothing. When he lifted it toward me, I jerked away, but he pulled me against him by my wrist and forced the bloody thing to my mouth.
His bloody was like licking a battery. It tingled on my tongue, and seemed to shimmer when it caught the light. The color was a deep, unnatural red, but when I tasted it, I couldn't stop myself.
Hesitant at first, I drew at the wound and the warm powerful liquid slid down my throat, warming me like brandy from the inside out. I breathed a sigh when the pain in my hand dulled to a quiet ache then disappeared completely, then Isaac took his arm away and I was left frightened that I had so easily succumb to drinking his blood.
What was wrong with me?
"Now it's your turn." He smiled and lifted my wrist to him lips.
"Isaac…" but I trailed off when his kissed the tender flesh of my wrist and his fangs slid down from their sheaths. Curled and terrifying, like a snakes, he gave me only a moment to see them, then bit down into my wrist.
I gasped, half in surprise, have in pain and went completely rigid. It hurt! Oh god, it hurt and when he first drew at my wrist it began to ache. His hold on me was too tight to pull away from, but I tried. Damn the Elder and what she thought of me, I didn't like this!
"Isaac, please!" I cried, whimpering when he bit down harder, eyes rolling closed. His tongue curled against my skin, catching the blood as it rolled down my arm. Deep in his chest, I heard the beginnings of a pleasant growl, but it was soft. More purr than anything else.
"Nnh-Isaac!" I tried to shove him off and Colette began to laugh. My wrist was going numb, turning the sensation of his teeth into something indescribable. When it became almost bearable, I jerk from him. With a groan, he ripped pulled his fangs from my skin wetly and nipped his own tongue, dripping the blood over the wound. I watched in amazement as the skin knit itself back together right before my eyes, closing the large wound. Isaac kissed away the last of the blood and ran his thumb across the thin white scar. (The indentions of 4 sharp teeth)
"I would never put up with such annoying complaint." Colette shook her head, sighing. "You must work on that."
He chuckled, glancing over at me, then throwing an arm around my shoulders. Again I cradled my arm against myself, but no longer could hold anyone's eyes. I stared blankly at the polished floor. What would happen when he demanded to feed from me the real way? That cluster of nerves where my shoulder met my throat…How would it feel to have him rip into them and drink deep?
What scared me the most was that I didn't know if I would hate it.
Sorry this took so long to post, I keep sitting down to write, but find myself lost in future scenes.
This story it about to change dramatically, I just wanted to warn you.
Who knows though, you might be as fascinated by Cernunnos as I am. -cough-
For those of you who know pagan mythology at all, this should be...neat. :D