Chapter 23
After leaving Club Ampersand…
Betsy's POV
"I was having a great time" I whined as I pirouetted down the darken street. Sinclair was right behind, smirking (which is the closest he'll go towards grinning) at my actions.
"I love seeing you like this, Elizabeth. I would have taken to an establishment of that variety when we first met. Maybe things would have been easier." He mused. In all fairness, I DID tell him this back then.
"Hey! I mentioned this then, so I'm not "totally" responsible for our 'difficult beginnings'. And why are you bringing me down?" I accused as I halted my spinning to face him. Then, he did the most amazing thing.
"Would you like to see something you've never seen before?" His question caught me off guard and all of my bitchy comments died in my throat.
"Yes, Eric" I screamed as I jumped into his arms. I pulled back and looked at him. His brown eyes almost sparkled as he looked into mine. Moments like this usually occurred after surviving some type of cluster-fuck. This is my term for some situation where he, I, or our entire family is on the edge of destruction. But this was different. Something about seemed more deadly…sinister on a level Sinclair and I hadn't encountered yet. I put those thoughts out of my mind and focus on the here and now.
He led me to the famous Lafayette Cemetery. We walked down the broken, brick path, passing ancient headstones and tomb entrances. I was in awe of this, although a normal person would have been a little grossed out. The feel of the warm air with the breeze coming from the Gulf caressing our skin was exhilarating. I was gazing at the star and then turn to look at my husband. He had been focused on me the whole walk, eyes filled with love and curiosity. Just as the butterflies began to flutter, I felt something that halted my steps. It was another vampire.
We stopped dead (Ha!) in our tracks. About 20 yards in front of us stood a being that would become the vain of my immortal existence. The man, if he should be classified as ever being one, was older, about fifty when he was turned. He was bald at the top with his remaining white hair cut low. His Spanish heritage was more than evident by his dark skin with a beard the same stark white color. He was wearing a tailored black suit with a charcoal dress shirt. As we glared at each other, the smug bastard began to smile in a way that would scare the shit out of the hardest C-block inmate.
"Good evening, Mrs. and Mr. Sinclair." His accent was very thick, although he had more than mastered the English language.
"S'up. You're interrupting a tender moment. And we don't have any change. So…" I drawled as I moved to continue walking. Sinclair tightened his grip and held me in place.
"Excuse my intrusion, but I assure you that you will appreciate the information I have come such a long way to deliver, personally." He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. His theatrics were beginning to piss me off and Sinclair knew it better than anyone else.
"I am here to pass along a message to the King of Louisiana. You are one of his acquaintances, are you not?" he asked.
"Obviously, you already know the answer to that" I spit. I felt Sinclair push into my mind, "Stay calm, don't let him see you upset." I sighed heavily and listened on.
Laughing softly, he continued, "Yes, you are right. We, as in my associates and I, will stop our assault on his kingdom and all his allies if he surrenders the state and pledge eternal fealty to us. In return for his compliance, we will allow him to keep his family and will cease further movement. We believe that this is a fair arrangement and our willing to offer this solely in respect to Louisiana."
I was about to blow a gasket but Sinclair beat me to it. "Who are you to address this woman, who you know to be a Queen, in such an informal manner? By law, she or I as Consort can order you to the true death right this moment. Identify yourself, immediately." His muscles were tensing and flexing under his skin.
"I forgot my manners indeed. I am Tomas de Mada. I understand your current hostility, but I implore you both to consider you next words very carefully. Their weight affect the lives of many you love and care for, including Dr. Sprangler." I never thought that I would ever learn to control my emotions. That had always been something I struggle with in my human life, but I did at this moment. Marc! This son of a bitch has him, but he doesn't have Jessica. She was closer to me, and just as important. I just need to hold my fury a little longer and I will destroy this man.
"His Majesty has three nights to make his decision. I will return here at 8:00pm. He can both present himself and come with me or…we will go forward with our plan to give every single being that is associated with his retinue the true death. Have a wonderful evening." He vamped away and I was paralyzed.
"Elizabeth!" Sinclair screamed in my face. I returned to the present and whipped out my phone. As I smashed in the #3 to the point of cracking the plastic, her ringback of 'Bad Girls' by M.I.A. blared in my ear.
"Bitch! It's about fucking time..." she began before I interrupted her.
"JESS! You need to call Marc! Do not stop calling until you speak to him directly! Call his cell, the hospital…shit, call EVERYONE! You have 15 minutes!" I hung up.
"We have to get back to the palace." He was calm and I know he didn't even realize how much I need him to be right then. We took off to gather the forces.
Cole's POV
Whew! All this jumping and yelling I've been doing during this 2 Chainz after-party has made me very thirsty. Not that I'm really complaining. I'm young, handsome, rich, and can kick major ass. What's reason is there to be mad. You only live once.
Only those closest to me know of my love for Hip Hop. Since I'm on hiatus, I figured I would party it up in Vegas. After the concert at the MGM Grand, I met up with said performer. He's a down-to-earth kind of guy. We traded stories over some Hennessey and a joint of Grandmaster Kush. His tales were about the hood and the rap game. Mine were about gun battles and the many disgusting creatures I've encountered over the years.
Signally for the chick currently sitting on my lap to move, I head to the bar for a few Jaeger Bombs…got to stay true to my roots. I placed my order and watched as the bartender prepares them. As he completes the second of three drinks, a beautiful blonde is staring seductively in my direction. She's lucky that I'm single for the time being (my soul mate is only 10 years old at the moment…long story for another day), so a one-nighter wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings. Well, maybe hers. Just as I was about to say hello, my sensitivity kicked in and the warning bells went crazy. Vampire. Too bad.
"Can I buy you a drink?" She asks as she moves closer. The skin tight, red dress was hugging her curves so closely, I could hardly keep my eyes forward.
"I'm good." I reply dryly. History has taught me that I should be wary of any non-human and not engage this strange woman more than I have to.
"Are you sure? This may be your last…night to live." The underlining meaning of her statement isn't lost on me, so I decide to play it cool.
"I'll take my chances. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to tan in the morning." The slight twitch of her left eye lets me know that she knows that I know what she is and I'm not impressed. As the silence between us begins to become awkward, I am praying to all the Gods I know that I don't have to kill her in this club. I like Vegas. And the last thing I need is to hear Vayl's mouth about saving my ass again over a misunderstanding. I slam the first J Bomb.
"Unfortunately, I think you are a tad overconfident in your assumption." She says calmly. Now, I'm getting tire of this bitch's bullshit.
"What do you want?" I asked annoyed.
"Simply, I want your 'friends' to comply with the demands of my group of associates. If they do, then you will be able to go on with your pitiful waste of a life. Otherwise, they will have order your death." Now knowing that she is outright threatening my life, I analyze my current state of affairs. There are five other vampires scattered within the club that are acting as her back-up. One at each exit and the others mingled in the crowd. My weapons check lets me know that I have my silver and iron bolo on my left leg, silver nitrate mace in my left pocket, and my .40 caliber Smith and Wesson in my waistband. However, I will probably have to do hand to hand combat. Rolling my shoulders to prepare for fight, I slam the second Bomb.
"What makes you think I can influence these 'friends' you speak of? You haven't even told me who you are or who you are referring to exactly?" My irritation was so obvious that the bartender, who had been causally drying glassware, move to the far end of the bar. I still hadn't looked at her directly for obvious reasons, but at least the Jagermeister bottle was in reach. I had the strong feeling that it would be making contact with this cunt's head in about 10 seconds.
"My name is Salome. The friend I am referring to is a vampire named Vayl, but not him specifically. He is in the company of someone I need, but they seem to like being difficult. I hope you aren't the same way. Are you Cole?" she drawls. Why do I always have to get the crazy bitches? No sane or dumb ones, mostly the crazies.
"Well, Salami…Sally…whatever your name is, I will see what I can do about getting a message to him. As you can see, I'm kind of busy at the moment." I raised the last Bomb to my lips which I didn't get to finish. As she slapped the drink out of my right hand, I pulled my gun and shot her in the head. Of course, this caused the club patrons to go into a frenzy trying to escape.
"WOW! That felt great!" I yelled before I was restrained by her goons. As I watched the bullet slowly fall from her skull, which healed (fucking vampires), she jumped up from the stool and stamped her high heeled foot on the ground.
"You bastard!" she screams. "I will enjoy your torture, but first you need to make a phone call.
Vayl's POV
As I lay in this overly large bed with Jasmine lying on my chest, I am content. Retiring was the best thing we could have ever done after everything we've been through. As I twirled the stark white and blood red strands of her hair in between my fingers, my phone began to ring with a sound of something ghastly.
"I see you have been playing with my phone again." I said as I leaned over to grab it off the nightstand. With a heavy sigh, I answer it.
"Hello, Cole. How is Vegas coping with your presence?" I asked as I could hear the loud, obnoxious noise that is considered music these days playing in the background.
"Vayl. I am with a bit…woman that says she needs you to deliver a message. Someone named Eric Northman needs to turn himself over to her pals at 8:00pm three nights from now. If not, then…what? FUCK YOU, BITCH! Mmmm….uuggh" I sat up so quickly that Jazz' face bounced off the mattress.
"COLE?!" I yelled into the phone. Before I could speak again, a woman that I haven't seen or spoken to in nearly 250 years was on the other end for this phone.
"Vayl. Hope all is well. I hear you have settled down. What a shame. And I'm right that it is with a human, no less."
"Who is this?! What have you done to Cole?" At my words, Jasmine was off the bed and fuming.
"Is that anyway to speak to an old love, V? As your little pet here stated, I want you to pass along a message. I will hold keep Cole alive until we have Mr. Northman's answer. Hopefully, we can get together soon, reminisce about old times…" she purred into the phone. Jasmine launched herself towards me, trying to get my phone, but I vamped out of her reach.
"Know this, Salome. If any harm comes to him, you and everyone who has associated with you will die slowly." I was seething.
"I doubt that. You would miss me too much and besides, it just a lowly human. But I will take your words into consideration when I am skinning him alive. Northman has three nights. Consider this the first one. Oh, I almost forgot. Tell him to bring Lucrezia with him. His failure to do so may cause the death of Cole or some other pets to be even more excruciating." With that, she hung up. I looked at Jasmine, who had just pulled her Incubus t-shirt over her head, her eyes were bloodshot with the anger she was suppressing.
"Make sure Bergman is safe. And fill Dave and Cassandra in on this. I will go speak to Eric." Knowing that time was of the essence, she bound out of the room without a single word. I put on a t-shirt of my own and made my way to the Master Suite.
Author's Notes:
Tell me what you think.
*Betsy belongs to MaryJanice Davidson. Cole belongs to the late Jennifer Rardin. Tomas is infamous for his role in the Spanish Inquisition. All other characters belong to the respective authors.
**I OWN NOTHING**