Zamani Page 7

Zofia reached in her bag and pulled out a ring. “I have something for you.” She placed the ring on the coffee table. “Put it on.”

  Sasha picked up the ring. It was odd looking. “How do I wear it?”

  Zofia grabbed Sasha’s right hand and slid the ring over the end of her index finger. “When worn as a piece of jewelry, the piece fits flush against your fingertip, almost like a half thimble, following the curve and the tip fitting just under the edge of her fingernail. Slide it around the other way,” here, Zofia slid the ring around to demonstrate, “and the ring becomes a cutting tool as precise and sharp as a razor.”

  She sensed Sasha’s revulsion at the realization of the ring’s purpose. “Sasha, you belong to a community that believes that vampires can feed humanely. Unlike Wren you will receive training to ensure that you act ethically.” At the mention of Wren’s name, Sasha was even more shaken. Zofia caught a glimpse of the violent attach that had left Alex as good as dead and that led to the creation of Sasha.

  “Our family doesn’t kill for sport, nor do we allow ourselves to become reckless. We’ll continue to work on skills regarding mind control for now, but we are working up to your first real hunt. You’re more ready than you know.”

  Sasha sighed in relief that at least they were not hunting today. “That trick you pulled yesterday with the lighter—I want to learn telekinesis.”

  Zofia smiled. “That is a good goal and once you show me you can keep me out of your mind, even with distractions, I’ll teach you how.”

  For the next few hours, Zofia worked with Sasha and showed her how quickly she could shut her out mentally. They then switched roles with Zofia launching mental attacks on Sasha, trying to read her thoughts.

  Her reward for her hard work was free time in the courtyard between her carriage house apartment and Lucy’s house. Lucy, Caleb, and Steph gathered there in the late evening, and when Zofia sensed that she and Sasha had reached the end of their productive time, she suggested they join the others.

  Sasha was glad for the break and to see her new friends. The nightmares she’d had of Liz rejecting her the night before had been hard to shrug off, but once Steph grabbed her hand and brushed her lips against Sasha’s she felt accepted and safe.

  Lucy was the first to ask about the training. “So, you’ve been hard at work in there tonight. Zofia, how is she doing?”

  “She’s coming along quite well. She’s learned enough about cloaking her thoughts and controlling her impulses that she can go out with me tomorrow. It’s important that she begin to hunt as soon as possible.”

  Sasha hid her own surprise that they would be going out so soon. She turned to look at Steph, expecting her to seem hurt or uncomfortable. Instead, she was smiling and she gave Sasha a wink.

  Zofia continued. “Part of the reason I wanted to talk to the three of you tonight is that Sasha’s reluctant to hunt and wants to merely continue to feed from donors. I think she should hear from the three of you.”

  Sasha interjected with, “You three are the only friends I have right now. I need to know we’ll all be ok with this. I also have some questions about the whole donor relationship and how that works. For instance, Lucy and Caleb seem fine, even though they obviously have interactions with other people that would be enough to break up most couples in my old world.”

  Lucy nodded. “That’s just it—that world and its relationships aren’t yours any longer. New rules apply. You probably haven’t thought about it, but you weren’t jealous of Caleb when you found out he and I are together. The exchange between a vampire and donor is completely different than the relationship between two donors or the relationship between two vampires. It is more likely you’ll feel jealousy of another vampire who trains with Zofia than it would be for you to feel jealousy over another vampire feeding from Steph, for instance, or even of a relationship between Steph and a fellow donor.”

  As if to test what Lucy said, Zofia approached Steph and kissed her lightly on the lips before sliding the blade shaped pendant she wore out of its sheath and slicing through her skin along the curve of her neck. She turned to smile at Sasha as the blood rose to the surface of the cut. As she ran her tongue over the wound and then pressed her lips there, Sasha didn’t experience jealousy. On the contrary, she felt the sweetness that Steph felt, the drowsy glow and stirrings of arousal.

  The lack of jealousy surprised her. She felt no less close to Steph than she had before; if anything she felt closer. There was no malice here, no competition.

  She also considered that her own attraction to Wren probably had more to do with Wren’s abilities, untrained or not, to draw her in.

  Zofia smiled, Steph’s blood like smeared lipstick on her teeth. “So, you see that there isn’t the need to worry about betraying Steph by hunting any more than Lucy would worry about you and Caleb running off together to live happily ever after. You can’t exist in a single pairing or relationship any longer; you have to hunt because you are now a part of something larger.”

  Sasha looked at Steph. She felt no different about her than she did before; she still wanted to curl up with her, to feel her next to her. Steph squeezed her hand again. “She’s right. You have to feed; by doing so you become stronger. You can then share that strength with me and through me to other vampires in our community who feed from me.”

  “Our community? How large is the community I am part of?”

  Lucy was the one to answer. “We’re relatively close-knit, but we are growing. Zofia and I are the leaders—she of the vampires in the group, and I am the leader of the donors. There’s a lot that you don’t fully know yet, but you’re beginning to realize. Olivia Holmwood is gathering her own network, and we have to be a strong community if we’re going to hold our own against her.”

  “I don’t understand. Why are we fighting her?”

  Zofia spoke. “I’ve been chasing her for a long time. Just as she had no qualms in turning your friend, she didn’t hesitate to turn me to make a gift for someone else. She’s reckless and heartless.”

  Lucy nodded. “We both have personal reasons to end her, Sasha. And, you do too.”

  “I’m more angry with Wren than with Olivia. I realize that Wren didn’t start the whole thing, but I’m not sure I feel anger toward Olivia.”

  Lucy and Zofia locked eyes for a moment and then Zofia simply said, “We think she’s after Liz.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The next night, Halloween, Zofia took Sasha across the river. The revelation the night before that Liz was involved helped ensure that Sasha would cooperate and continue to train. Steph offered to stay with her, but Sasha needed some time alone. As she left, Zofia instructed Sasha to be dressed and ready to go by 9:00 the next night. Sasha wasn’t surprised to see that Zofia drove a sleek black convertible. “Nice car,” Sasha said as she slid into the passenger seat. The night was clear, so Zofia had the top down.

  “Thanks. It’s a 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster. It’s a fun little car.”

  Unlike Lucy, Zofia didn’t take the ferry; instead, she headed toward the Crescent City Connection. “I figure you’re due for a little speed in your life and would like to celebrate being free for a bit; Lucy said you haven’t been out much at all. I don’t like taking the car on the ferry, as everyone wants to touch it and ask questions. Besides, what’s the fun in letting someone else drive?” She smiled a wicked smile, and they sped on their way.

  Zofia pulled in front of Hotel Monteleone for valet parking. Sasha didn’t bother asking questions. She simply let things happen; she knew Zofia would tell her what she needed to know. She followed her into the Carousel Bar. “I know the bar is a bit cheesy, but let’s have a drink before we head out. I have to confess, a drink here is part of my Halloween routine.” She flashed that wicked smile again as she led the way to one of the small tables as far back from the door as possible.

  As they moved through the crowded bar Sasha suddenly felt a pressing need for something more than she’d had from donors--a hunger th
at she wouldn’t have been able to describe if asked. Zofia didn’t have to ask--she already knew. She tried to push the hunger down. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Zofia and she also was frightened by the intensity of her hunger.

  Zofia ordered Sazeracs for both of them. ”Another part of my tradition,” she said, smiling after the waiter with a twinkle in her eye. “So, the plan is we sit here for a bit and then go out for a hunt. Tonight is perfect for it as the Quarter is full and people are not going to think twice if their buddy disappears for a bit. These are the ground rules—I will hunt with you first. Depending on how that goes, we’ll decide if you can have some time to yourself. We don’t bring anyone back here, even though we have a suite reserved.” She sipped her drink. “Once you are on your own hunting you can do things as you please, but I personally do not eat where I sleep. Besides, it’s less likely to have your prey remember the entire encounter and stalk you if you don’t leave a trail for them to follow. The more they are in their own element and comfortable, the more likely it is that the encounter will be a pleasant one for them.”

  Sasha felt the old hesitation to hunt trying to return. The night before Zofia had stressed the ethics of how they hunt. “When you select carefully, you have something to offer your prey in return for what they have to offer you. You’ll see what I mean.” Sasha hoped that she wasn’t disappointed. She considered how free Lucy and Caleb were in their interactions with Zofia and with her. They so willingly gave of themselves and the exchange was comforting to all involved because it was a voluntary one.

  But that voluntary aspect also meant that there was still some part of her that was left unsatisfied. Despite her initial cockiness, Sasha realized that Zofia was right about how different donor feeding must be from a true hunt. She’d told her, “It’s a completely different experience, Sasha. It’s easy to get carried away. Our goal is not to kill, though--it is merely to feed. And we don’t want to indiscriminately turn people into our kind.” Sasha could feel her excitement building as she finished her first drink and Zofia waved to the waiter for another round.

  After their third round they headed out to mix with the revelers. Halloween had always been one of Alex’s favorite holidays in the city. For one thing bar patrons better tippers during special events and holidays, so she always made out like a bandit at work. What she enjoyed most was the spectacle of it all. Liz, a talented painter, had always been happy and willing to help disguise Alex and their friends, doing elaborate face and body paint as part of their costumes. They would spend Saturday afternoons combing through vintage and second-hand shops for just the right outfits and accessories every year. Tonight, she’d felt like simply playing Sasha was costume enough.

  She wondered where Liz was tonight and if she was dressed up. She didn’t feel her presence, certainly not in the way she had in the days leading up to her memorial service and during the service itself, but she was unsure if that was truly a sign Liz was not in the city. As she and Zofia wandered through the crowd, she looked for Liz’s face whenever she saw a woman of her height and build. But none of them were Liz.

  The Quarter was packed. That was a normal state of affairs for Bourbon Street at this time of night on any given day. Mardi Gras and Halloween spread the revelers out beyond Bourbon, and Royal Street was fuller than normal. Sasha felt a surge of energy move through her as she and Zofia stepped out onto the sidewalk. The booze wasn’t the main intoxicant she was feeling. The crowd with it’s human heat made her head swim. She felt someone brush up against her, the crowd pressing people close enough that personal space was non-existent. The closeness of one young man's body in particular caught her attention and held it.

  Just as she felt with Steph, it was the closeness she wanted, the intimacy and the surrender of someone responding to her. She wanted to press herself against someone, to feel the yield of their flesh against her, to feel the warmth they generate and hear the small gasp of a lover enthralled. She knew that while her closeness with Steph was wonderful it was also tempered by her donor status. She felt Zofia's cool hand circle her wrist and the contact pulled her out of her trance long enough to follow where Zofia led. They took the next corner onto a side street with fewer people so Sasha could regain her composure.

  "Was I too open? I'm embarrassed if you could see my thoughts just now. That's not quite fair." she grinned sheepishly.

  Zofia assured her, though. "No, you did well in controlling your thoughts; it's just that being in a crowd like that is tantalizing to me--I know it has to be overwhelming for you, given how long it's been since you’ve been around non-donors.” Sasha nodded and sighed with relief; she didn’t want to seem weak to Zofia.

  "So, what do we do now?" Sasha asked.

  Zofia smiled and said, "I want you to let your instincts guide you as much as possible. You should be the one to choose who you fancy; I do reserve the right, however, to veto your choice if for some reason it doesn't seem a good one. I think, though, that you're ready, and I have faith you'll choose a good mark."

  They stood for a moment where they were, watching people dressed up in silly costumes jostle by, trying to avoid bumping into each other and spilling their drinks. Sasha nodded at Zofia and stepped into the crowd.

  She saw him relatively quickly—the man who had brushed against her. She mentally reached out to Zofia and indicated she was interested in him. He was young and gave off a clear sense of vitality and health. While he’d been drinking, he wasn’t drunk and the clarity of his skin and the shine of his hair told Zofia that he was healthy and could withstand the feeding. She reached out with her mind and found him both innocent and trusting. All of these qualities made him an excellent candidate.

  She nodded to Sasha in encouragement. The two made their way toward him. He was dressed as a pirate, decked out with eyeliner and plenty of bangles and ear rings. The androgyny suited his slender frame, and his features were delicate and his hair long.

  Zofia was the first to speak to him. She slid up next to the young man, smiling as she put her hand on his arm. “Jonathan? Is that you?”

  The man smiled at her, obviously attracted to her. He shook his head and said, “I wish I were. This Jonathan person must be a lucky man, indeed, to know you. My name is Silas.”

  Zofia played coy. “You remind me so much of an old friend. Perhaps you’ll become a new one? This is my friend Sasha. Perhaps you would like to come have a drink with us?”

  Silas, immediately taken with the two women, was more than happy to agree to a drink. Sasha sensed his arousal and curiosity. The nearest bars were full to the point of people spilling out of doorways into the street. Zofia led the way, and they followed her as she moved toward Conti and the Bombay Club. On this edge of the Quarter, things were a bit more quiet and reserved. The bar was housed in a hotel with its entrance situated off the street that helped to keep the traffic down. Zofia knew they could find a table where they could have some privacy. She also already knew Silas had a room upstairs.

  As they walked, Sasha asked if Silas was any specific pirate. “Why, I’m Jean Lafitte, of course!” was his reply. “This is my first New Orleans Halloween. Are you local?” he asked.

  Sasha nodded and slid her arm through his. Once they were in the bar and ordered, Sasha could barely control herself. She knew she needed to follow Zofia’s lead, but she was impatient. She realized, though, that Zofia was controlling Silas. Once she calmed down enough to pay close attention, she realized that everything that came out of Silas’ mouth was spurred by Zofia’s mental direction. Before their drinks were empty, he’d finally come out with it. “I don’t normally do this kind of thing, but would you two like to come up to my room?” She could tell from the slight blush on his cheeks that he wasn’t lying. She could smell the fear of rejection on him, and she marveled at how even though this was exactly what she and Zofia wanted him to offer that he wasn’t aware of their influence.

  In preparation for Sasha’s first hunt, Zofia explained to Sash
a that their influence was a type of hypnosis; while they could influence people, they couldn’t typically make them do what they didn’t truly want to do unless they exerted a high level of force. She’d assured Sasha if she listened closely and was sure to read people she need not feel as if she were victimizing them. “You will know if you are crossing the line; that’s not to say that some of us don’t do so, but most of us are ethical in choosing those who truly want to be chosen.” She’d added, though, that some vampires enjoy the rush of forcible feeding and suggested perhaps that’s why Wren had been so forceful. “Most likely, though, it was a matter of lack of training and supervision.”

  After a round of martinis in the bar, the three made their way through the parking garage to the elevator that would take them to Silas’ room. Once the door of his room closed behind them, Zofia pressed Silas against the wall, and he bent his head to kiss her. As their lips touched, Zofia put out her hand and reached for Sasha. She ended the kiss and stepped back from Silas. Sasha felt lightheaded as she felt Silas’ hands circle her waist and he dipped his head down to kiss her. She felt his willingness and the last threads of lingering hesitation dissolved. She cupped his face in her hands as she kissed him back, then moved her lips to his chin and slid her hands down to his shoulders. On her right hand she wore the ring that Zofia had made especially for her. She drew the blade across his shoulder and felt him shudder against her as she replaced the blade with her mouth before a single drop of blood could escape her.

  Zofia allowed her to feed alone, helping her to understand when to stop to prevent harming Silas. She was grateful for Zofia’s presence as Silas’ submission to her was complete, and she could have easily gone too far, draining him. She felt all of Silas’ self as she fed; she realized later that donors were trained in much the same way that she had been trained to contain their feelings and desires. While she’d felt the magnified raw lust and desire from Steph, she’d not seen her life in pictures. She realized in a flash that while Steph’s feelings and desire were palpable to her it was only that way because Steph had allowed her to feel it.