Chapter Five
The journey was short and after Theodora had explained to Sam about the vampires in the bar, the rest of the drive had been silent, which she was grateful for. She’d needed the time to gather her thoughts.
They entered the Veil early enough, and even though the club didn’t usually get going for another couple of hours, the bar always attracted a few pre-drinkers because of its location. The music was playing a little lower at this time of night and Theodora was surprised to see several booths were already busy with what looked like several exclusive private parties.
Glancing at one booth, she watched as the revelers downed a round of shots. She thought it a little early for shots, they weren't going to last long. Then again, maybe a shot was exactly what she needed.
Lyzander abruptly turned, making a beeline towards a bar on her right and the bartender promptly made his way over.
“Mr Pierce. What can I get for you?”
“A shot of bourbon for the lady please, thanks Mike.” Remembering Sam was now with them, he said, “make that two.”
Theodora gave him a side-eyed glance of disapproval.
Stay out of my head!
It’s not something I can help doing. He watched Roman approach. Besides, I ordered what you wanted, so don’t be ungrateful.
Theodora’s side-eye morphed into a full on glare.
Oh, I’m grateful for the drink but I’d be more grateful if you didn't speak to me in my head.
She turned and Roman came to a stop in front of her. With a subtle bend of his head, he nodded in her direction.
Regina
She heard the words clearly, but for some reason, it sounded different.
You’re the one who started this conversation. It would be rude of me not to answer.
Lyzander smirked when he heard Theodora’s replying growl.
What does Regina mean anyway?
Roman’s eyes widened in surprise.
You heard that?
“No! No! No! Not you too.” She groaned aloud.
“What’s wrong?” Sam looked between her and Roman.
She can hear me!
Yet another shocking revelation for Lyzander to deal with. But with other vampires in the bar, especially the three intruders in his territory, he had to be careful.
We can’t discuss this here, Theodora. If you can hear and speak with both Roman and I, who knows if the other vampires can communicate with you too.
Theodora followed the direction of his gaze.
“What’s wrong?” Sam asked again, oblivious to the silent conversations.
“So, so much. I’m not even sure where to begin.”
Just then, Theodora caught the thoughts of someone else on the other side of the room.
There he is.
The thought came from a woman who was staring intently at Lyzander. This woman was one of the vampires he’d come to see.
“Now is definitely not the right time to talk about this, Sam.”
She looked over again to a table where two women and two men were sat, watching them.
Sam followed the direction she was looking in. “Alright but we will talk, later.”
Is that them? The vampires who didn't ask for permission?
Lyzander nodded in reply.
“Roman, would you mind keeping Sam company while I greet our uninvited guests?”
“Of course.”
“What if I prefer to wait alone?”
“No!” Both Lyzander and Theodora stated.
Realizing there could be other vampires in the room, she got the feeling it was safer if he wasn’t alone but Sam did not look happy.
“Come, Theodora.”
She smiled by way of an apology at Sam as Lyzander lead her away. She could tell he wanted to say a lot more and was grateful he didn’t. She couldn’t blame him for being upset though, he was already putting up with a hell of a lot for her.
“Come on, Sam, let’s get you another drink,” Roman prompted. “I have a feeling you’ll need it.”
◆◆◆
Roman took him to an outdoor balcony garden just beyond the VIP area he and Theodora had joked about when they’d first arrived at the club. Roman placed a drink on the table and sat facing him.
Sam pushed the drink away. “I’m really starting to hate that guy."
“I can tell. This is a lot to take in.”
“No shit.”
“I must say you’re handling all this remarkably well so far.”
“Like I have a choice.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I should be down there, not him. I’m her husband, I should be the one protecting her.”
“From the three very old vampires? I don't see how you’d manage that. No, Lyzander will protect her. She is his soul keeper and fated mate, which means they have belonged to each other since well before you were born. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I do believe a soulmate trumps a husband. ”
“And here I was thinking he was the asshole.”
“He is. I’m not being mean, Samuel. I’m being honest with you. He doesn't desire her as you do, and he cannot have her as a mate if he is to keep us all alive.”
“So let me get this straight. He really doesn't want her? If that's the case, why not just leave us alone?”
“Because that doesn't mean he can stop the pull towards her. This bond makes him need her and he’s never really needed anything in his life. He won't ever let her go, but he won't let anyone near her again without his permission either. That includes you. It’s our primal nature as vampires to protect what is ours and unfortunately, Lyzander can be more primal than the rest of us. He may not want her but he has most definitely claimed her as his. Their bond has begun to form and it’s strong. You need to accept that there’s no going back.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“Yes it is. I’m trying to explain things so you understand that she is safe.”
“Okay, I get it. No one is going to touch her. But where does that leave me?”
“It leaves you here with me. Don't worry, Samuel, I’m going to keep you safe. I won’t let any harm come to you.”
Sam eyed Roman wearily. “How do I know you’re not going to eat me?”
Roman let out a hearty laugh. “Because I don’t eat my employees.”
“What?”
“That would be bad for business, though I will take a sip if offered.” Roman teased.
“I don’t understand.”
“NocLife, Sam. You said it yourself when we met that you were due to start on Monday. As of now, you work for me. I called your office and spoke to Mr Prichard. I explained that you are now permanently a part of the NocLife family, exclusively. I’ve claimed you as mine.”
“What? How? No! I’m not gay.”
Roman laughed. “I know that, and neither am I. This is not a bond, but a claim and a vampire claim is protection from all other supernaturals. I told you before, we protect what is ours, and you, Samuel, are now mine.”
“Other supernaturals?” Sam groaned. “This is too much, I can’t handle any more.”
“But you must. Theodora needs you to. This is just the beginning. Something is coming and I’m betting it’s a shit storm of trouble. Lyzander needs to be strong, which means she does too, and when it gets really bad, she is going to need someone to lean on. That someone has to be you. So suck it up for all our sakes.”
“Shit!”
Sam reached across the table and grabbed the tumbler. Sniffing the glass, he recognized the whiskey and took a big swig.
“Other supernaturals? How many others are there?” Before Roman could speak, Sam cut him off. “You know what? I don’t want to know. Let’s keep that on a need to know basis and I don’t think I need to know right now.” He added before knocking back the last of his whiskey.
“As you wish.”
“Tell me about this protection claim. How does it work?”
“When a vampire claims a human, all other supernatural can smell the vampire in their blood. That’s how they know the human is protected.”
“What do you mean by smell the vampire in their blood?”
“The human must willingly accept and ingest at least one drop of the vampire’s blood for the claiming to take.”
Sam eyed Roman silently for a moment as his mind added things up. “You said you had claimed me!”
“Yes.”
“That’s not possible. That’s something I’d remember.” He said, panicked.
“It’s done.”
“When the fuck did I willingly drink your blood?”
Roman looked down at the empty tumbler in Sam’s hand.
Sam's eyes followed.
“Son of a–”
Sam launched the glass but Roman was across the room, leaning against the door before the glass could shatter at where he’d been sitting.
“You need to know that I would give up my life for Theodora, so I can’t risk her doing something stupid to protect you. Sorry, Sam. I actually like you. That’s why I volunteered to claim and protect you. It was a shitty thing to trick you like that, but I knew there was no other way you would accept my blood.”
Roman decided to give him a few minutes alone to calm down.
Halfway out the door, he turned back to Sam. “Welcome to our world, Sam. Trust no one.”
And then, he was gone.
◆◆◆
As they walked towards the booth where the vampires were, Theodora caught another errant thought from the woman.
One touch
She didn’t know what it meant but she could feel the desperation coming from the woman. Desperation was pouring off all three of them but it felt different with one of the men. With the other two, it was a malevolent vibe but he was more anxious. He needed something from Lyzander.
She wasn’t sure how or why she knew all this, but since drinking Lyzander’s blood, she felt more attuned to everything and everyone. On one level, she knew she should be terrified but something about it came all too naturally for her to feel real fear. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind for the time being.
She was so focused on trying to hear more she hadn’t noticed they had reached the booth where the three vampires had come out of and were now standing in wait while one of the women sat watching. She figured the woman had to be Gemma, Lyzander’s donor.
“Cleo, Chester, Gemma.” Lyzander said their names in greeting, and they lowered their heads in return. “Is Ora not with you?”
“No, not this time. Ora said she had errands to run, whatever that means.” Chester mumbled the last part.
Ora and Cleo, the hot and sultry twin daughters of a southern preacher, were turned vampires. Their maker, Atticus Forbes, took a liking to them and wanted to keep them for himself. Only, he couldn't quite control the feisty pair as they were a law unto themselves once he had turned them. So he decided to go back to their family home and turn their older brother, Chester, making him their custodian. Unfortunately, Atticus was killed by another vampire in a dispute a year later.
“Are they still giving you the run around, Chester?”
“Ugh, you have no idea,” he replied sounding defeated, running a meaty hand down his face.
Lyzander shook his head. He really needed to grow some balls.
“Lyzander, you are looking well. Your establishment is, charming as always.”
Theodora didn't think he meant it at all.
“Solomon Haywood, has your time finally come?”
Solomon, tall and thin with pale skin and long back hair down to his shoulders, tilted his head in question.
“I assume you wish to end your immortal life and have come to me for death. You must want me to put you out of your misery. I mean, why else would you show up in my territory without permission, unless you wished for death.
“My apologies, but there was no time to get permission.”
“They have these things now, Soloman, they’re called phones. You pick one up, dial a number to make a call and instantly, you can talk the person on the other end of that call.” Lyzander drawled sarcastically.
“You know I don’t own one of those things.”
“I forgot, you prefer the prehistoric days.”
“I hate technology.”
“Because you are stubborn and snobbish and refuse to learn.”
“I learn. I just prefer the old ways.”
“Pictographs?”
“Pen and paper, Lyzander. People don’t send letters anymore.”
“They do, just not to you. You could have had someone call for you but you chose to come to me this way. Why are you here?”
“I am here regarding my progeny.”
“Noah?”
“That impetuous boy will be the death of me.”
“Yes, you may be right, unless you have a good enough explanation.”
Solomon only smiled at this. He didn’t seem worried. “I do, but it is a delicate matter.”
He obviously didn’t want to talk in public. But before he could continue further, the female vampire interrupted.
“My, my, Lyzander. There’s somethin’ different bout you.” Cleo, a tall curvy woman with long wavy candy red hair, played with a lock as she took a step closer to him.
“Really?”
“Don’t get me wrong, you still look good enough to eat.” Cleo licked her lips and surveyed Lyzander’s body salaciously before finally finding his face again. “But you seem...different.”
Just a little closer.
Theodora watched the woman wearily.
Cleo was truly stunning and there had obviously been something between her and Lyzander. As much as she hated to admit it, those two things alone made her feel a pang of jealousy. But they weren’t the sole reasons she felt that something was off about this woman.
On some deep down level, she knew she should be afraid of this beautiful vampire, but she wasn’t. Something was going on, and it had her fight or flight kicking in instinctively. Theodora felt something root her to the spot and she knew without a doubt this wasn’t a day for running.
“I’m the same cold bastard I’ve always been.”
Cleo laughed playfully at Lyzander’s comment.
Just one touch.
“I see you’re still tightly wound. Maybe you need help with that, relievin’ all that stress you been holdin’ onto.” Cleo dropped the lock of hair she had been twirling and reached over to lay a hand on Lyzander’s chest.
It was as though time had slowed for Theodora.
He’ll never know what hit him.
“Stop!”
Theodora’s words were loud and clear.
Lyzander noticed Cleo’s eyes widen in surprise before she dropped her hand.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here” Cleo inhaled deeply.
What’s wrong?
Lyzander could sense the tension rising within Theodora.
I’m not sure, but something is up. You can’t trust her. I just feel it.
Lyzander felt the urgency as her thoughts came and she moved closer to him.
“Seems you’ been replaced Gemma, and it looks like his new blood bag is the jealous kind. Real pretty though, no wonder he got rid of you.” She laughed.
Theodora felt bad for the girl. She had gone red either through anger or embarrassment.
Cleo turned back and looked right at Theodora. With a smile, she reached over and tried to touch Lyzander once more.
“I said stop.” Theodora didn’t raise her voice but the authority in her tone came through.
Cleo frowned as she realised she was unable to reach forward.
“Don’t touch him. Don’t touch anyone in Lyzander’s club. In fact you need to leave, now.” Theodora didn’t know where this was coming from, but she felt it in her core that what she was saying was right.
“You’ gonna make me, precious?” Cleo goaded.
You need to get her away from here, Lyzander. She’s poison, or poisonous, or something. I don’t understand but she needs to go. Now!
“Leave.” Lyzander ordered sternly.
“What?” Cleo was taken aback.
“Leave now. If you are still within my area at sunrise, you will be put to death.”
“You’d cast me out just like that?” Cleo exclaimed, livid.
“Yes.”
“Bitch.” Cleo moved as if to take a step in her direction.
Theodora moved back on instinct and as she did, one side of her hooded top slipped, revealing part of the mark she now shared with Lyzander.
The three vampires inhaled sharply, but it was only Solomon who bowed his head at her.
Regina.
“Time to leave, Cleo.” Chester bowed and grabbed hold of his sister, pulling at her arm. Turning back to the booth, he called to the girl watching them. “You comin’, Gemma?”
Gemma looked longingly at Lyzander before shooting Theodora a look of disdain. Knowing there was no reason for her to stay, she stood up and made her way over to Chester’s side.
Lyzander watched as Cleo stared daggers at them as she was dragged away by her brother. He turned back to the remaining vampire before him.
“Come, Solomon. Let’s talk in my office. Maybe you can give me a reason not to kill you.”