Claimed by the Immortal

“You did, Schatz. I drank from you. Your experience was fully mine.”

Lingering weakness wouldn’t allow her to raise her head to look at him. “Really?”

“Really. It’s one of a vampire’s blessings.”

“Awesome.”

“It is,” he agreed, sounding a little amused. But not entirely amused. There was tension in that tone somewhere, and she’d learned him well enough to hear it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“We didn’t ruin the ceremony, did we?”

“I wouldn’t have done anything that might do that.”

She believed him and contentedly let her head remain on his shoulder. Well, she believed him about not ruining the ceremony. But she was also good at reading voices, especially when they were concealing something.

Her brain cells felt as if they had scattered to the four corners of the universe, so she waited a few minutes, collecting them, trying to clear the hazy fog of completion out of her overly contented mind.

“Something’s bothering you,” she said. “I could hear it in your voice.”

“Frankly, mein Schatz, I’ve never experienced anything like that before. Not really. The intensity was...breathtaking.”

“It certainly was.” Then a thought struck her. “You’re worried about claiming me.”

“After that, I’d be a fool not to.”

“Should I move? Go away?”

“No,” he said forcefully. “No.”

So she remained, straddling his hips, her head on his shoulder.

“Your warmth feels so good to me,” he murmured. “It’s such a gift you can’t imagine it.”

“Then enjoy it. It must be awful not to feel warm.”

“It’s not awful. I don’t really notice it. It’s not like I lack something. It’s just so pleasurable when I can feel it.”

She tried to imagine but failed. Then her thoughts wandered in a different direction. “Why did you have to become a vampire?”

“I didn’t have to,” he corrected gently. “I was asked to.”

“But why?”

“Near immortality and some impressive powers. Every religion wants to impress its followers, and having a priest who never aged, outlived all the others and could perform some amazing physical feats was useful.”

“But just one?”

“There were several of us at different locations.”

“Are the others still around?”

“I’m one of the last, unless there’s something I don’t know. Sometimes my kind weary of existence. And we do age, albeit slowly. There is, I believe, one older than I, far older, but if she still exists she keeps entirely to herself. Some suspect she may have given rise to the legends of Lilith, but I really don’t know.”

“It would be fascinating to find out.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps not. With my kind, one must be leery of intruding on territories. We’re terribly territorial.”

“Then how do you and Jude get along?”

“Some of us manage. For a while. There are presently four vampires in this city. Jude knows us all, but how many have you met? Even when we feel friendship, we don’t form tight-knit groups.” He paused. “I know the others, of course. But it’s not like we hang out together, unless there’s a good reason.”

She liked how he sometimes sounded so formal when he spoke, while at other times he spoke slang with ease. “Are there other vampires where you live? Cologne?”

“Only me.”

“That has to be lonely.”

“I’ve never really noticed. It’s just the way it is.”

She wondered if she would be able to stand that, then wondered why she was even asking herself. Maybe something changed when you became a vampire, but since that wasn’t on her current list of options there was really no point in thinking about it.

This vampire, the one whose lap she straddled, did seem to be enjoying companionship, though. Enough pondering, she decided. As he said, there were mysteries, not the least of them the way she responded to him.

She closed her eyes and just decided to savor the moment. Tomorrow night would come soon enough.

Chapter 12

The next night brought some news that shook them all up. There had been another inexplicable death.

Just as Jude was getting ready to join Damien and Caro so that he could ward her apartment once again, Chloe stopped them.

“Another guy associated with Pritchett is dead,” she said. “Apparently he was part of the board of directors for the Pritchett business. It’s all over the news tonight, but not because of the connection.”

“Was killed?” Jude asked.

“Let me call Pat,” Caro said. “Maybe she knows something.”

“Terri might be on the scene, too,” Jude remarked. “You call Pat. If you don’t get anything, I’ll call Terri.”

Pat answered her phone on the first ring. “Matthews, Robbery-Homicide.”

“Pat, it’s Caro. We just heard one of Pritchett’s business associates is dead.”

Pat fell silent a moment. “It’s true,” she said finally. “But there’s not a mark on the body. The M.E. is going to have to figure out this one. He was walking into a restaurant with his wife when he collapsed on the street. It could be anything. Absolutely no evidence of foul play, so the case will probably be closed if the M.E. doesn’t find something suspicious. Are you doing all right? The captain is starting to make noises about bringing you back.”

“I’m doing fine and I’m not ready to come back. You tell me, Pat. Do you think this is all unrelated?”

“Coincidence is always possible, but my hackles are saying otherwise. And you didn’t just hear me say that.”

“It won’t pass my lips.”

“Then I’m going to tell you another thing that won’t pass your lips. We found a bookstore owner dead yesterday. And guess whose business card was on her desk.”

Caro froze. “Jenny Besom is dead?” She saw Damien stiffen.

“Apparent heart attack. But pardon me if I find the presence of Messenger’s card there too coincidental. You tell him he may get a visit, although probably not. Cause looks natural. And I’m not going to ask another thing. I need to stay clear of this crazy shit. You know that. Keep your nose clean.”

When she disconnected, Caro relayed the information. Jude immediately pulled out his own phone to call Terri. He hung up not two minutes later. “Too early to tell about the guy, but Besom appears to be an ordinary heart attack.”

Caro, however, had gone into investigator mode. She looked at Chloe. “Did the board say anything yesterday or today about continuing with the demolitions, with Pritchett’s plans?”

“Let me look.” Chloe bent to her computer, tapping rapidly.

Caro looked at Damien. “You said Jenny Besom was being prevented from telling you something.”

He nodded.

“Well, she must have known something, then. We’re running out of time, Damien. I was afraid of this.”

“I know you were, but yesterday you were too weak.”