Eternal Kiss of Darkness

"So how am I doing?" Kira asked, propping herself up to sit on his countertop. It creaked at the first touch of her hands, but she hadn't exerted enough force for it to break. Again, admirable progress.

He closed his eyes. Perhaps it would be easier to continue ignoring the urges of his body if he didn't keep looking at her. It was torment enough to have her scent filling the room, teasing him with her nearness.

"You are progressing very well. In another few days, we will show you how to feed from humans. When you're able to do that without assistance, you will have no need to remain here."

"I don't want to feed from humans," she said at once, that previous lightness fading from her voice. "I'll stick to the bagged blood. Heated up and in a mug, I can pretend it's really thick coffee. Biting into someone's skin . . . no, I don't want to do that." Mencheres didn't open his eyes. "You must, even if it's not your preferred method of feeding. If hunger strikes when you're in a place where bagged blood is unavailable, better to know how to feed without injuring a human than to accidentally maim or kill one out of your own inexperience."

He could almost hear her chewing on her lip. "You have a point," she said at last.

Mencheres didn't bother to inform Kira that once she'd tasted blood straight from the vein, it was doubtful she'd return to her bagged alternative. There was no comparison in taste between fresh blood and bags of plasma. Even the energy derived from fresh blood was more potent than the substitute.

"That crooked cop Radje, what does he have against you?" Kira asked, the change of subject surprising him enough to open his eyes.

He almost sighed. Even if he could sum up several thousands of years' worth of antagonism between him and Radjedef into a short explanation, he didn't want to.

However, since their bitter feud had resulted in Kira losing her mortality, it wasn't fair to refuse to answer.

"Radje came from a line of rulers where each heir was allotted a certain number of years to reign over their human subjects. At the beginning of each reign, the heir was turned into a vampire, granting the chance for immortality, but also ensuring that the heir could have no living children. Consorts were provided for the heir's wife, and of the children they bore, one was chosen as the new heir. This system was honored for many generations, until Radje. He was bitter after giving up his allotted time to reign. When his successor mysteriously died before the end of his reign, the responsibility of choosing a new heir fell to Radje. He delayed naming another and sought to retake power instead.

An heir was chosen despite Radje's objections, but then he refused to relinquish control, citing concerns over the new heir's ability to rule. When attempts were made on that heir's life, Radje's sire interceded and forcibly removed him from the kingdom. Later, a gift of power originally intended for Radje was given by his sire to the new heir instead.

Radje's hatred has burned ever since."

Kira stared at him, her face reflecting sympathy, understanding, and a touch of anger.

"You were the other heir, the one he tried to kill."

Mencheres inclined his head. "Yes."

That green gaze didn't waver. "And what was the gift you got instead of Radje?"

"It would vary depending on the individual, but what I received was additional strength, the ability to read human minds, visions of the future, and the power to locate and control people or objects with merely a thought."

She let out something like a laugh. "Oh, those trivial things. It's his own fault, but since he's too ruthless to admit that, no wonder Radje hates you. World wars have been fought over lesser jealousies."

Yes, and if he told Kira how many of the wars fought between humans over the centuries had stemmed from feuds spilling out between other Master vampires, she'd be amazed.

"So, before you became a vampire, you were some sort of chieftain?" Mencheres gave her a slight smile. "Something like that."

"No wonder you're used to doing other people's thinking for them," she murmured.

"Just like politicians today."

He stifled his laugh at the wryness in her tone. " 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely,' " he quoted.

She jumped off the counter, wincing as the floor creaked when her feet landed, but looking relieved when the tile remained unbroken beneath her.

"And Radje took his bitterness and became the vampire version of a cop instead.

Seems like an odd choice."

Mencheres lifted one of his raised shoulders in a half shrug. "Law Guardians are in the position of highest rule among vampires. Radje was denied one form of power, so he assumed another."

Kira looked thoughtful. "I wanted to be a cop. It didn't work out." He was intrigued. She had proven herself to be a very determined woman. What had been enough to deter her from this goal?

"What happened?"

She gave him a look. "If you want me to tell you, then I'm soaking my feet in your tub. I'll need something to relax me for this trip down memory lane." Now he was truly intrigued. Mencheres inclined his head at the side of the tub. Kira took her shoes off before carefully seating herself on the flat ledge. He moved his legs to allow her more room, but it wasn't necessary. He'd deliberately chosen a large tub so it would encompass his entire body when he rested underwater.

Kira let out a noise of enjoyment as her feet, then her calves, disappeared into the water. Mencheres kept his gaze on her face, not on the lovely thighs that were all too bare and close given the way she'd slid up the edge of her dress to well above her knees.

"I told you I get feelings about things. When I was seventeen, I had a feeling about my friend's older brother, and that feeling was danger. On the surface, there was no reason for it. Pete was athletic, popular, he came from a whole family of cops, and he'd just become a cop himself shortly after graduating high school. I think the only reason Pete noticed me was because I avoided him whenever I hung out with his sister." Mencheres couldn't contain a mild snort. "Of course, it had nothing to do with your intelligence or beauty."

She gave him a slanted look. "Pete had lots of girls after him just as smart and pretty.

But he started putting the charm on me, and I ignored that warning feeling about him because I hadn't learned to trust my instincts yet. We began dating. Things were good at first, but then Pete's jealousy started worrying me. He hated it when I spent time with my friends. Couldn't stand any other guy even looking at me. Right before graduation, I broke up with Pete. He was starting to scare me."