Dark Ones - Last Of The Red-Hot Vampires Part 14

"Well, hel-lo there, beautiful."

I turned to face the speaker. A man wearing a skimpy tank top and black and turquoise biker pants leaned against a light pole, giving me a salacious once-over. "You must be new. I haven't seen you around the Court. The name's Gabriel."

"Gabriel? I'm surprised to see you without your trumpet." I didn't protest when the man took my hand and gave it a rather sloppy kiss, although I badly wanted to wipe my hand afterward.

"Alas, I am notthat Gabriel," the man said with a smile that bordered on a leer as he not-so-subtly eyed my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. I crossed my arms over my chest. "I am a cherub, not a vessel."

"A vessel?"

"Gabriel. He's a vessel. So, are you here alone?"

"You arenot a cherub," I said, willing to be polite, but not made a fool of. I casually stepped to the side, to put a little s.p.a.ce between us.

His leer got a bit brighter as he leaned closer. "Winged babies, right? In diapers, flitting around from cloud to cloud? Cupid and all that?"

"That is the standard image of cherubs," I agreed. "I'm sure I don't need to point out that you're far from that." "It's a common misconception amongst the mortals." He suddenly touched my neck, mumbling something about a bit of lint on my collar when I backed out of his reach. "The truth about us is much more pleasant, I think you'll agree. You are new here, aren't you? You must have a tour."

"I'm actually waiting here for someone," I said as Gabriel the not-so-very-cherubic took my hand and tucked it into his arm.

"This won't take long. It's best to think of this incarnation of the Court as a giant wheel, with the main square here as the hub. There are three areas on the outer edges of the town, all reachable from this square," he said, ignoring my protest. He waved a hand toward the people at the well. "That's the equivalent of the office water cooler. Those are shops along the edges."

I had a bit of trouble coming to grips with the idea of a celestial shopping mall, but managed to get my mind to overlook the trouble spots and move on. "Shops. All right. Does the...er...does the sovereign change the appearance of the Court often?"

Gabriel shrugged, and escorted me down one of the four cobbled streets that led away from the square. "Whenever it gets the urge to, I guess. Over here is the pet.i.tioner's park, and through that archway is the library."

I caught a glimpse of a green open s.p.a.ce as Gabriel whisked me by an arched doorway into another area. "You'll forgive my ignorance, but what exactly does a cherub do?"

"Communication, for the most part. I'm in charge of the Internet. See that building? That's the athonite. Don't go in there if you don't want to be bored to death. It's full of hermits who prose on about nothing for hours on end."

"You are in charge of the Internet? In charge how?" I asked, little warning signals going off in my mind. I stoked up my "go with the flow" intentions, and told myself I'd sort it all out later.

"Oh, this and that. It's mostly automated now, so it doesn't take too much effort to keep running. Leaves me time to spare for more pleasurable activities, like showing a lovely lady around the Court."

"You've clearly devoted much time to flattery. It's second to none," I said with a smile I didn't really feel, gently extracting my hand from his arm as we walked through a tunnel.

"Why, thank you, sweet lady." He kissed my hand, then gestured widely as we emerged through an arched doorway into the third area. "Behold, the sanctuary."

"Is the sanctuary a, for lack of a better word, holy place?" I had tried to keep an eye on where we were going, memorizing as best I could the twists and turns through the town so I could find my way back to the main square. I gave up doing that as soon as I realized there were frequent signposts like the one Theo had consulted.

Gabriel laughed, and gave my fingers a squeeze, replacing them in the crook of his arm. I gritted my teeth against the desire to remove my hand. "I can see you're going to need some help understanding how things work here. Holy has no meaning in the Court."

Portia? Where are you?

Shoot, I keep forgetting I can mind-talk to you. I'm in another section of the Court. I'll be right there.

I do not like to be kept waiting. Where are you?

Keep your girdle on, I'll be there in a couple of minutes. Someone is showing me around.

Who?

"And here we are. The sanctuary is the area containing the offices and living quarters. No tour is complete without a visit to the grand apartments." Gabriel gestured toward a bridge leading to a square-turreted castle that, for some bizarre reason, reminded me of Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland. "Hang on one minute, now," I said, coming to a stop. "I am not going back to your apartment with you, if that's what you're thinking. I told you that I'm with someone, and he's waiting for me, so if you don't mind, I'm going to return to the square. Thank you for the tour-it was edifying in a number of ways."

He grabbed my hand to keep me from leaving. "What's your rush? Your friend will wait. My apartment is very special. I think you will enjoy it...and me."

I gawked at him, unable to believe I was hearing what I was hearing, but the lascivious look on his face left me in no doubt as to the meaning behind his double entendre. "I have no intention of enjoying you."

Portia?

Coming!

"Why not?" Gabriel winked at me. "You could do a lot worse than a cherub, you know. We're known for our s.e.xual skills."

"I wouldn't be surprised to find out that you're in charge of p.o.r.n sites on the Internet," I said, s.n.a.t.c.hing my hand back and turning on my heel to walk back the way we'd come.I'm on my way.

Overhead, thunder rumbled.

"You are making a mistake, Portia Harding," Gabriel called after me as I stormed into the stone tunnel. I stopped and looked back at him. He was leaning against a signpost, a knowing smile on his face. I wanted to slap it off.

"How do you know who I am? I didn't tell you my name."

He laughed, pushing himself off the post to saunter over to me in a blatantly carnal manner. The air grew thick with static electricity.

"Word gets around. The latest rumor is about a mortal who had the cheek to get rid of a virtue in order to pardon her boyfriend. I have to admit, I like strong women, women who are not afraid to give in to temptation. I particularly like how they struggle before submitting." He brushed a strand of hair off my face, his fingers stroking my cheek, leaping backward with a startled look on his face when two thin snakes of lightning struck the ground immediately in front of me.

"You dare!" he snarled, his face turning red as he backed up another couple of steps.

"I'm sorry. I don't seem to have much control over my little storm cloud, but it should be clear to you now that I don't intend to take you up on your...er...offer." I mentally dismissed my cloud, and was relieved when it dissipated to nothing, the air losing its charged feeling.

"b.i.t.c.h! You will find that we are not as easy to fool as your lover. The Court takes a dim view of murderers and cheats, Portia Harding."

There was no reply I could make to that which didn't involved some pretty rude language, not to mention more in the thunder-and- lightning area, so I simply turned around and walked away as fast as I could. I got lost twice despite the signposts and Theo's mental threats to hunt me down, but finally arrived back at the square to confront the furiously scowling vampire of my dreams.

"You can stop looking like that-I didn't leave willingly. I was hauled off by a cherub to go on a tour of the Court."

His scowl turned blacker as his eyes lightened to a slate grey. I followed as he started off in the opposite direction. "Don't you think you have enough trouble without getting involved with that randy lot? Come along, we don't have time to waste."

"Where are we going?"

"The library. One of the mares has agreed to meet with you." "Excellent. I have much to say to her."

"I'm sure you do."

I peeked a glance at Theo, but his face was unreadable.

"Are all the cherubs like the one I met?"

"Yes."

I b.u.mped my hand against his a couple of times, but he didn't take the hint, so I ended up sliding my hand into his, smiling to myself when his fingers tightened around mine. "You might have warned me, you know."

"Consider yourself warned: Stay away from the cherubs. They're a heartless group."

"They certainly don't fit into the idealized vision of angelic," I said, pondering that point for a few minutes while we walked along the narrow path that ran alongside a tall stone wall. "You said this isn't heaven, but I rather expected the people who hang out here to be more or less good. If the cherubs are such bad news, why are they allowed to stay?"

Theo stood aside as I pa.s.sed through a narrow wooden doorway. Ahead of us, a building dominated the area. Tall, with high, stained-gla.s.s Gothic windows, and pointy spires that seemed to stretch up to the sky, the building looked more like a cathedral than a library. "You have such a black-and-white view of the world, Portia. You're going to have to adjust that to include shades of grey."

"Meaning, everyone who resides in the Court is not good? I suppose it follows that everyone in Abaddon isn't evil?"

"As you have had proof, having visited it just a few hours ago." Theo marched forward, to the marble steps that led to wide double doors.

"Touche." It was cool inside the library, the sunlight beaming through the windows not doing much to raise the temperature. As I gazed around at shelves of books that seemed to be at least fifteen feet tall, I wondered if the climate was artificially controlled.

Some of the books that lay open on pedestals appeared to be old, and no doubt fragile. There was a hushed atmosphere of subdued reverence that seemed to seep into my bones, leaving me with a slightly itchy feeling, and the propensity to whisper.

"Whereabouts is the mare?"

"This way." Theo's voice was quieter than normal, making me feel a bit better about my own reaction. He led me to the left, to an area that would have been a small chapel if this had been a cathedral. We wound our way through the maze of books until we came upon a door almost hidden by a rolling ladder that allowed patrons access to the upper shelves.

Theo stopped before the door, fixing me with a dark look. "Although the sovereign does not enforce strict formality in the Court, mares are usually treated with a bit more circ.u.mstance than the rest of the officials. They are referred to as 'your grace' in conversation."

"I have no intention of being rude," I a.s.sured him. "Credit me with having some amount of tact."

"You will need more than tact," he answered rather ominously, knocking firmly on the door.

A voice bid us to enter. Theo stood aside for me to go in first. I will admit that I was beginning to have second thoughts about the wisdom of tackling someone so high up in the Court organization, but a reminder of what I'd cost Theo had me walking into the mare's office with my head high, my back stiff, and my determination immovable.

A young woman in her early twenties looked up from a laptop. She looked like any other successful businesswoman, from expensively dark brown hair, to a smart, jade green suit with matching shoes. "You are Portia Harding, yes?"

"Yes, I am." Theo, standing beside me, brushed his hand against mine. "Er...your grace." "Good." The mare stood up, raising her voice. "Portia Harding, you are hereby charged with the murder of the virtue named Hope.

Bailiff! Take the prisoner into custody!"

Chapter 13.

"Murder? Hope was murdered? When?" I asked, backing away from the muscular young woman who bowled in through the door.

"I had no idea where she went, let alone what happened to her, but I certainly haven't killed her!"

Theo, what's going on here? Murder?

I don't know, but the mare must be handled carefully. This is a serious situation.

You ain't just whistlin' 'Dixie'!

"I fear there has been a misunderstanding about my client's situation, your grace," Theo said suavely, positioning himself between me and the bailiff.

The mare stared at Theo for a moment, thawing visibly when he smiled at her.

Oh, that's subtle,I thought at him.

Subtle doesn't win the fair maiden.

I sent him thoughts of what I'd like to do to him at that very moment.

You are a bloodthirsty little thing, aren't you? You can stop mentally sharpening your neutering knife. I simply mean to win her over to our side, not seduce her.

"You are the champion?" the mare asked, giving Theo a much more thorough eyeing than I thought strictly necessary.

"Theondre North at your service, your grace," he said, bowing, charm positively oozing off him.

Just see that you don't. I like to think of myself as a generous person, but when it comes to men, I don't share.

Neither do I, but that's not the issue at stake.

I won't say the mare actually cracked a smile, but she stopped looking like she was going to have me gutted on the spot. "One moment, Mathilda," she told the bailiff before turning back to me. "Am I to understand that you did not seek an audience with me in order to turn yourself in for the crime of murdering the virtue named Hope?"

I lifted my chin and gave her a polite smile. "That's correct. I am here to discuss the continuation of the seven trials I have been forced to undergo. I also wish to discuss the process for submitting a pet.i.tion. And finally, I want to lodge a complaint about two old ladies who beat me up without due cause."

The mare's eyebrows rose, her eyes chilly. "I see."

"I can rea.s.sure you that my client is not the type of person who would commit murder for her own gain," Theo said, moving closer to me in a show of faith. As a gesture, it warmed me to my toes. "She is innocent of the charge you have laid at her feet."

The mare didn't look at all like she believed him. "And did you take on the role of her champion before or after she summoned the virtue?"

"After, your grace. I discussed the situation with her at some length-" If you could call almost choking me to death discussing the situation.

Hush.

"-and determined that she summoned the virtue without knowing that she was doing so. The virtue a.s.sumed she wished to take on the position, and since she was desirous of leaving, she pa.s.sed on her powers without Portia being aware of exactly what she was committing herself to."

"Save your defense for the hearing," the mare said, gesturing to the bailiff.

The bailiff grabbed my upper arm in a grip that would no doubt leave bruises. Above my head, the cloud began to form.

"Your grace, please, we ask that you recognize the extenuating circ.u.mstances of this situation, and grant leniency." Theo sent the mare another sultry smile.

I'd really appreciate if you could stop doing that.

Saving your life, you mean?

No, sending her those wicked smiles.