A Tempest In The Night Part 12

"Starving like a bandit." The food in the take-out carton had a gelatinous consistency to it. It would take five rounds in the microwave to make it look semi- fresh.

Ilida pressed the foot lever on the bottom of the garbage can. The lid popped up and she tossed the carton in.

"s.e.x makes you hungry, Ilida."

Ilida slammed the refrigerator door and pointedly stared at Beverly. She was a little to close to the truth for her comfort. "I'm ordering take-out and staying in my room."

"Seriously, are you okay?" Beverly asked following her.

Ilida considered her question and her own state of mind. She so needed advice, but didn't want to go into great detail.

Standing in Ilida's bedroom doorway, Beverly waited patiently. Ilida took a deep breath and said, "Have you ever had...sympathy s.e.x?"

"Oh yes I have. Is that what happened tonight?"

"Let's just say comforting took on a whole new meaning tonight."

"Was it good?"

"It was incredible. I surprised myself." Did she surprise herself? She'd never had s.e.x that way before. Her last boyfriend showed her pictures of a couple having a.n.a.l s.e.x. It looked painful. It was painful half a second then a burst of pleasure. "Have you ever cried after having s.e.x?"

"Sure. It was so bad I cried while digging my vibrator out of the trash. He made you cry?"

"Like a virgin. It was intimate." Her body was different. She was different, and even if she never saw him again, she'd have this feeling to carry her into next week and beyond. I'm a s.e.xual being! Hallelujah! She cleared her throat.

"How did you surprise yourself?"

Ilida cradled the cordless phone in her hands. "I'm not terribly s.e.xual. Well, that's what I'd thought."

"I know. You've had the s.e.x life of a nun since you broke up with Kevin."

"Thank you for the sideline commentary."

Beverly crossed her arms and gave her a knowing look. "So will you see him again?"

"I don't think so." She hunched her shoulders wishing she could talk with her best friend about Daedalus. She didn't want their friendship to suffer because of her unwillingness to talk about him. "It's complicated."

"Do you regret what happened with whomever tonight?"

"Oh G.o.d, no. It was amazing."

"Okay, so go with the flow."

"Just like that? Whatever happens, happens?" Well, the committed way hadn't worked. Wait a minute. No, one day she would find the right guy. All right until then she would wait and see.

"Why not?"

"Maybe I will."

Chapter-Eight

I have five minutes. That was good enough.

In Alec and Tania's penthouse apartment, I pulled of my gauntlets and black top to my Ninja outfit. Folded that neatly. I took off my pants, then the tabi socks.

They'd offered me an apartment across the hall from them months ago. It takes up the other half of the floor. We would have access to each other's apartments. I'd declined the offer. It would have been too much togetherness too soon, but miracles I heard do happen. I don't think they happen for the likes of me.

"Daedalus?"

I b.u.t.toned my shirt reaching the bottom when Alec appeared holding a garment bag. "Yeah?"

"I have a suit..." He stopped dead in his tracks and looked me over from head to toe. His bottom jaw hung open. "No suit?"

"No suit."

"Why not?"

I pulled on my pants, tucked my shirt in, and zipped up. "I hate suits. This is good enough."

"One night you might have to wear a suit."

"It won't be tonight."

"The idea is to look highly competent and to match the new Haemo High Council's look."

"To look competent is to be confident in one's self. Tailored pants and a silk shirt is my look."

Alec dropped the suit on his bed and crossed his arms looking every bit the blue-blood grouch he is. Not getting his way was killing him.

"Relax old man."

"Ready, Daedalus?"

"Let's go."

We waited for the high-speed elevator that would take us down to the ground floor in the lobby then we'd have to make a left turn to the conference room. The tension radiated off him.

The bell rang and the art deco doors opened up to birch wood, bra.s.s detailing and oriental carpeting. The familiar warmth spread over my body as we stepped in the elevator.

Daedalus.

Ilida? I thought you'd had enough of me.

You're still in my head, Daedalus. Can't get rid of you.

I'm heading into an important meeting right now.

Yeah, I know.

You know?

I had a feeling something important was going on with you.

What do you need? I looked at my image in the mirrored panel checking myself out. My forehead was creased with worry and the muscle west of my ear pulsed. Ilida's pinging me held my attention.

Nothing. I won't bother you anymore.

Ilida?

Yes?

Take care.

"Daedalus?" Alec's concerned voice got my attention. Ilida was practicing. I felt her close the connection with skill. I didn't know how much I missed hearing her voice until she pinged me. Our connection was so strong. Is this how Alec and Tania feel?

"Thinking. I'm allowed."

"Is there something you want to talk about?"

"No."

"One day you'll trust the me enough to open up."

I didn't answer him lost in my own thoughts and yearnings. So many yearnings.

Alec lost his patience and started another topic. "You've told me how you felt about the Council. " You should learn diplomacy when dealing with them. This is a new group."

"I'll be myself as always."

"That is what worries me."

Why would Alec have the confidence in me to do the job? It's the same old story repeated through my life. "Then you should not have offered me the job, Alec."

"They're in there."

"Yes they are. I grasped both door handles, took a deep breath through my mouth and out my nose, and opened the doors and walked in. Showtime.

The two oldest members, Rachel and Nafi wore their customary black leather garbs and flowing capes.

All eyes fixed on me at the head of the table. I have two t.i.tles now: Daedalus Prince of Vampires and now the Head of Security for the King and Queen of Vampires.

I leaned over the stylized oval table and glared hard at each new and old member of the Haemo High Council.

The newest members-but certainly not fledglings- watched me with awe. Some would say I'm full of myself. I'm not. The look was on their faces for all to see. The older members, the Nosferatus, waited, rapt with attention.

This was for Juliana. I had to make a compelling argument to go after a group of Vampiric drug dealers and to make her death mean something. Finally, after the long ominous silence, I drew breath. "The Jacquerie is out for blood. I don't have to tell you how many vampire and human laws they have broken already. I want full authority to kill without trial or hearing. My Tyrian Guardsmen will dismantle and destroy them."

"We have never acted without trial, Your Highness. This is most irregular," Nafi said.

"Starving to death would be irregular, for us," I countered smoothly.

A murmur of surprise went around the room. The Council exchanged furtive glances. Rachel the oldest of the Nosferatu and the Council spoke. "Your Highness, it would help if you told us why you want full authority."

I nodded agreeing with her. The Nosferatu, save Rachel, spent all their time at Visegrad in Romania. They had no clue of what was going on here in the States and what would eventually take over all of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. "The Jacquerie has introduced a drug on the streets of New York City and its five boroughs. The drug, Red Queen, is highly addictive for humans and vampires. It can even kill."

"But vampires are immune to drugs, Your Highness," a council member spoke.

"Not anymore. The Jacquerie, specifically the leader, Terra Escalante, has broken the code. Vampires are equally, if not more, susceptible to the drug's effects."

"Please elaborate?" Nafi asked.

I gripped the desk as I thought of Mike, strung out on Red Queen and tearing up my townhouse. It had been a pathetic sight. Mike clawed at imaginary enemies, tried biting his own wrists, until I'd restrained him, and purged the poison out of his system.

I hung my head for half a minute lost in memories, new and old, until I addressed the council. "On the drug, vampires can become unpredictable, blood thirsty, uncontrollable, and aggressive. They can be subject to hallucinations, as well. Imagine a vampire, high on Red Queen, arrested by the human authorities. One drug-crazed vampire could wipe out a precinct and keep going. It will shed an unfavorable light on our existence. Vampire hunters would come out of the woodwork. Our food supply will be tainted. We need all the blood we can get."

Blood, or the lack of it, always caught the Council's attention. Another blanket of murmurs went around the room.

"And for humans, Your Highness?"

"I'm sure it has disastrous results for humans." I've yet to find that out. This was enough to get the Council interested.

"What is in this drug?" another council member asked.

"Heroine and ancient vampire blood."

"Ancient blood? Whose?"

"I don't know."

"Is the death of your daughter related to the Jacquerie, Your Highness?" Rachel asked.

"The Jacquerie killed her." Now they're in my business. Juliana was off limits, not up for discussion. I was careful to keep that information from leaking to the Council. All vampires were telepathic to some degree. Through loss of control of emotions, thoughts could leak out. I had to be careful.

"We cannot usurp the King and Queen's authority. Nor can we act on personal grievances." Rachel said.

Bile-I didn't think it was possible-rose in my stomach. "I'll make this clear to all of you. I dislike advisory councils. You are the embodiment of red tape, but I respect the ancient laws. Give me the authority to kill those sons of b.i.t.c.hes and the kingdom will be stable again."

"I give my brother full authority to kill the Jacquerie, Rachel." Alec said.

"And the Queen?" Nafi asked. Nafi was another Council member who'd served Alec's grandfather well. He is almost as old as Rachel is. He's an ancient African Nosferatu with mediating skills. Would he vote against me on the full authority appeal?