Real Vampires Know Hips Happen Part 12

"No argument." Bart had driven us here. "You will let them take you in the plane. I think a long shift would be too much for you. If you want to get your memory back, you need to conserve your strength."

"So this must be part of that shock therapy you talked about." Jerry managed a smile.

A joke? I hugged him then heard a squeal. Flo was coming down the stairs from the side of the plane.

"Gloriana! Jeremiah! You look wonderful!" She rushed toward us, arms outstretched. I met her halfway and hugged her tight, fighting tears. It was so good to see her again. I was dying to tell her everything-all about my witch of a mother, my dates, Jerry's condition. Later. She moved past me and hugged Jerry then leaned back. He looked awkward in her embrace and it didn't take her long to figure things out.

"Mio Dio, you don't know me?" Tears filled her dark eyes. "Don't worry. We will fix." She sniffed and gestured like she was checking it on her to do list. "Now. Who is this handsome man?" She turned to Bart.

"Bartholomew O'Connor, Jerry's doctor." He held out his hand.

"And I'm Jerry's sister Caitlin." Caitie had been chatting with one of the flight attendants who serviced the private planes but she had hurried over as soon as Flo appeared. Now she put a proprietary arm on Bart's. Interesting.

"Yes, please meet everyone." I ran to pull Richard forward to introduce him too. "This is Flo's husband, Richard Mainwaring. Jerry, do you remember him?"

Jerry smiled suddenly. "I think I do. Did we meet in Europe? Maybe it was Rome. Aren't you the renegade priest?" He looked at Flo. "Guess not anymore."

"No, I gave up the Church. At least as a priest." Richard slapped Jerry on the back. "That was centuries ago. You'd just been turned and were taking a grand tour, of sorts." He smiled as I introduced him to Bart and Caitie. "I hope to talk to you, Doctor. I've been doing some research of my own on Jerry's condition."

"Excellent. Your reputation precedes you and I could use the help. I have some cases to wrap up here and should be in Texas by the end of the week. But here's my card. You can call me, or we could set up a video chat." He pa.s.sed the card over then slid his arm around Cait. "I'm hoping to persuade Jeremiah's sister to come with me to Austin. She's never seen the Wild West."

"Is it? Wild?" Jerry looked around the group. "Gloriana a.s.sured me it would be civilized. A big city."

"He's pulling your leg, Jer." I flushed when Jerry actually looked down at his legs clad in jeans for the trip. "It's an expression. Means he's joking." I glanced at Flo and saw her getting teary again. "Does the plane need to refuel or anything or are we ready to go?"

"The pilot says we'll be here about thirty minutes before we can take off again. There's paperwork." Richard grinned. "If you'll excuse me, I'll use some of my vampire mojo to clear the way there."

"What does he mean?" Jerry looked at Flo.

"Oh, he does this all the time. He'll mesmerize the authorities to overlook things like pa.s.sports and all the little things they want to see when we land and take off. No matter. Come and get on board. CiCi, Freddy and Derek are inside. They are anxious to see you both. Best that they stay out of sight, though. These paper pushers-" Flo glanced at the airport security. "They don't need to get excited about all the people we are taking in and out of the country." She made a face. "Such a fuss we had in Paris until Ricardo got involved."

"You tried to smuggle out one of their treasures, my love." Richard was back. "Now let's go."

"Flo? What did you do?" I left Jerry and Richard to deal with our luggage. I saw them talking like old friends, which made me happy.

"It was nothing. A little trinket that belonged to Marie Antoinette. Some claimed it belonged to a museum. I say it belongs around my neck." She pulled a chain from between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She wore a to-die-for silk blouse in a deep green. The emerald on the end of the platinum chain was carved with a profile that did seem to resemble the beheaded queen.

"It's beautiful!" And had to be worth a fortune.

"Yes, and wasn't my Ricardo sweet to buy it for me? We got it from some shifters in the cutest little shop. But then they disappeared with our cash when the polizia showed up." She shrugged, typical Flo. "I don't care if they stole it. I won't give it back. It's mine now. The French, they are out of luck. Ricardo, he took care of everything." She tucked it out of sight again.

"Hmm. I hope so." We stepped inside the luxurious cabin of their rented jet and greeted our friends CiCi, Countess Cecilia Von Repsdorf, and her son Freddy along with his partner Derek. Then we had to reintroduce Jerry to them. Unfortunately he stared at them like they were strangers. This got CiCi upset and didn't make Jerry too happy either.

When the hatch was closed and locked, Jerry's mouth tightened and his eyes were wide. We all took our seats, Jerry beside me. I helped him with his seat belt, then held his hand. The whine of the engines starting made his grasp tighten.

"It will be all right, Jer. Once we're airborne, you won't even realize we're flying. We'll fall into our death sleep when it's dawn and wake up just before we land. Great timing." I smiled across the aisle at Flo.

"It's true. We always arrange our long flights this way. The pilot is an old friend of Ricardo's. He's a shifter and we trust him completely." She smiled at her husband and picked up his hand. "Once the seat belt sign goes off, you can get up and walk around." She frowned. "The pilot knows we can't be hurt when he takes off, but he insists everyone stay buckled in while he gets the plane off the ground. Says we will make the plane unstable or something. Pah!" She threw up her hands. "Stupid rule. So unnecessary."

"Florence doesn't like seat belts. Says they wrinkle her clothes." Richard smiled at her indulgently. "Are you all right, Jeremiah?"

Jerry nodded but I knew it for a lie. Flo and Richard whispered together.

"I remember my first time in an airplane." Flo threw up her hands again. "Madre di Dio! I was ready to smash a window and leap off the thing." She smiled at Jerry. "But I found that I loved it once we got off the ground. That was in the early days when airplanes were little more than sticks glued together. You remember those days, don't you, Ricardo? Glory?"

"She's right, Jerry. This is a five star modern jet." Which was now absolutely roaring. We had to raise our voices to be heard. I had both hands around Jerry's now.

"It's very comfortable. Your seat will lie back and we have movies you can watch, Internet once we're in the air." Richard frowned. "Oh, h.e.l.l. You won't care about that. Glory, anything we can do?"

"I don't think so." I leaned against Jerry. He wasn't saying a word, just staring panicked around the plane while the engines got even louder and the plane started moving with a lurch. It hit a b.u.mp and I saw him reach for one of his knives. "Steady. We're not under attack."

"You sure?" He pulled out his knife anyway and laid it across his knees.

Flo noticed. "If you are thirsty, we have every kind of synthetic blood you could want. I'll bring you something as soon as we're airborne." Flo wouldn't give up. "There's a new one that tastes like a strawberry milk shake, Glory."

"Interesting." I didn't think I could drink a thing, not with Jerry looking so freaked out. I held up my hand to let her know I was through with the chitchat. She nodded, picking up a fashion magazine and popping in earbuds, satisfied that she'd done her best as our hostess. If Jerry wanted to slit his wrists then let me drain him dry, it was our business. That was my wild imagination at work. I'm sure Flo just hoped I could calm Jerry down. I glanced over. Richard didn't look too keen on this experience either, his eyes closed tightly while he gripped his armrests.

"I have to get out of here." Jerry struggled to open his seat belt with shaking hands.

"No. You can do this." I turned his head toward me. "Look at me. This is easy compared to some of the things you've faced. Battles where you've been outnumbered. Fighting vampire hunters who had technology that put them at an advantage. You have no idea how much I admire your bravery."

"I lost that when I lost my mind." He gritted his teeth. "f.u.c.k!" He almost crushed my fingers when the plane hit another b.u.mp as it taxied toward the runway. "Sorry." He kissed my hand. "Mesmerize me, Gloriana. You know how to do it. Maybe it's the coward's way but make me think we're somewhere else. Anywhere else. Spin a fantasy for us so I'll forget I'm trapped in this metal box that, against nature, you say is going to leap above the clouds."

"Are you sure?" I hated to do that to him. It was the coward's way. So unlike him.

"Just do it, d.a.m.n it." He almost crushed my fingers again.

So I looked deep into his eyes and sent him a mental picture. We were in a forest as far away from here as we could get. It was very quiet. Not even the birds were chirping, asleep for the night as we walked together, hand in hand. The air was cool, leaves crackling under our footsteps. We came to a clear pond and sat down beside it. We threw off our shoes and dipped our toes into the water. It was perfect, not too hot or too cold. We kissed, taking our time to taste each other. Then we undressed, watching as clothing dropped to the forest floor until we were naked.

He pulled me into the water, swimming to where a waterfall tumbled over rocks and into the pond. The water showered us as we laughed and chased each other, our bodies brushing from hip to thigh to chest. Finally he found a flat rock behind the falls and pulled me up to lay me down. There he kissed every inch of my body. My eyes drifted closed. We were both well into the fantasy now.

Jerry's hands were everywhere, stroking me, finding those pleasure points he knew so well. I tasted his mouth on mine. We were all warm skin and slick heat as he entered me, his rhythm perfect as he sent me to that place where only he could take me. We rolled over, touching, kissing and pressing hard against that rock as we searched for completion. His mouth branded me his, devoured me and sent us both tumbling into the water. We kept falling, locked together, all the way to the bottom of the pond. We couldn't breathe but didn't need to.

He sank his fangs into my neck, his steady draw on me another pulse of fire inside me. I came again, just from the force of his pull as he drank. Finally we burst to the surface, the moonlight shining down on us as we climbed out to lie panting on the gra.s.s.

This was the only thing that mattered. That we were together. The world could end in a minute, a day, a week. The plane could plummet to the earth. None of that mattered. Because we were together. We'd found what we needed. Each other.

I opened my eyes and stared at Jerry. He smiled and let go of my hand.

"I think we must be up in the clouds now." He brushed my cheeks with fingers that were no longer shaking. "Is it possible?"

I reached across him and slid open the window covering. "Look." Sure enough there was nothing to see but black night sky and white clouds down below us. The plane was rock steady and the others were opening their seat belts and getting up. Flo stood next to me and held out a goblet.

"Try this. It's probably the best thing you ever tasted."

I leaned forward and kissed Jerry's lips. "Nope. This is the best thing I ever tasted. Right here." I laughed and leaned back. Life was good.

Until dawn hit everyone around me, and I was still wide awake. I looked around and saw a familiar figure strolling down the aisle like she owned it. She gestured to me and I followed her to a pair of empty seats near the restroom.

"What the h.e.l.l is going on, Mother? Why are you dropping in here? And why am I still awake? I a.s.sume this is your doing." I plopped down in the seat. Okay, staying awake past the dawn is cool. My friend Ray pays big bucks for a drug that lets him do that very thing. But in a vampire it's downright unnatural. The lights were dim and everyone else had pulled their chairs back until they were reclining. It was almost creepy the way they were laid out, still as corpses. Which is what I'd expected to be about now too.

"I thought you'd appreciate a little extra awake time." She smiled and waved her hand. My jeans and sweater morphed into a stylish pantsuit, black silk with a red and black print tank underneath.

"Stop that! I don't want to explain the wardrobe change. And I don't like surprises. I wish you'd get that." I glanced around. "Seriously. Put me back in my own clothes."

"But you look so much better now. Your friend Florence certainly knows how to dress for travel. Vintage Givenchy." She kissed her fingertips in a French gesture of appreciation. "And the countess looks divine in that new number from Chanel. Obviously she knows how to shop in Paris." She sighed. "Your friends have style and money. And look at you." She flicked her wrist and I was back in my jeans and old sweater. What could I say? It was the end of a long trip and I hadn't wanted to explain any of the clothes she'd given me to my friends.

"I'm a working girl. I do all right. Eventually I'll run across a nice Chanel of my own on consignment. Leave me alone." I tried to get up. She froze me in place.

"No, we need to have a little chat." She blinked and a gla.s.s of champagne appeared in her hand. "Want one?"

I licked my lips. I could have used a drink but didn't trust her. "No thanks. What are we discussing? Did you bring an antidote to that horrible spell Jerry is under? Can you cure him before we touch down in Texas?"

"Would that I could." She took a sip. "Mmm. Delightful. I only drink the best. Sure you won't have a gla.s.s?" She materialized a second flute and I took it in spite of better intentions. I sniffed and figured if it was good enough for her, it was okay for me. Hey, Mars had allowed me to eat, so why couldn't my mother figure out a way for me to enjoy champagne?

"Yes, you did dine with Mars." She smiled as she watched me sip. "He liked you."

"I kind of liked him." Uh-oh, her eyes lit up. "Not to run away to Olympus with but he was pretty cool. A warrior like Jerry. We came to an understanding. I could reason with him."

"Yes, he indicated as much." She frowned as she polished off her champagne and the gla.s.s disappeared. Mine she refilled.

"He give you a hard time?" Now this was good news.

"You could say that. He wants me to back off. Let you live your mundane little life with the vampire of your choosing. Can you imagine that?" She examined her nails and they changed color, a gold to match the trim on her beige wrap dress.

"I knew I liked him. He was sensible. Pay attention, Mother. Maybe he could help you find a cure for Jerry's amnesia." The chilled champagne tasted really good, the bubbles tickling my nose, and I finally started to feel sleepy.

"I suppose we could work together. He is a powerful ally. You did well there." She patted my hand. "Now I brought something for you to try. A sorcerer I know thought it might jog your man's memory." She opened her purse, a tiny jeweled number that had to have cost a fortune, and handed me a vial full of a bright green liquid. "Slip this into your lover's next meal. Blood I suppose." She shuddered. "Then see if he shows signs of remembering anything. If it works, I can get more, though the cost is high." She smoothed down her skirt. "The man is a freak and he likes me." She shuddered again. "He'll want me to, um, play his games in trade."

"Mother! Seriously? You'll have to sleep with him?" I set down my empty gla.s.s. "You'd do that for Jerry?"

"No. I'd do that for you." She smiled and touched my cheek. "But this man's games aren't exactly s.e.xual ones, thank the G.o.ds. They are much more complicated." She shrugged. "I can't explain them but, trust me, they are not to my taste."

"Well, thank you. I'll let you know if it works. I have your number. I'll text the results." I held on to the vial and stood, moving into the aisle. I felt that pull of sunrise and almost fell.

"Go, lie back before your sleep overtakes you. I can only keep you awake so long though I'm working on that. I'm sure you'd like to see more daylight, wouldn't you?" She stood and grabbed me for a brief hug. "Oh, how I have waited for a chance to do that."

I shoved her away. "Tipsy on champagne or not, I haven't forgotten why Jerry is in such sad shape that he's terrified to fly. And quit with the bribes. Nothing you can do for me will get me to Olympus. Nothing."

She frowned and the plane lurched. "Careful, Gloriana. I could make this airplane drop like a rock. Do you think your lover or any of your friends would survive a fall of thousands of feet into the ocean?"

"Neither would I. Are you ready to give up on me?" I held on to a seat back as the plane lurched again. Air pocket or Olympus temper tantrum?

"Stubborn brat. I could whisk you away in time to save you of course." She tapped her chin as if thinking about it.

"All you'd gain is a daughter who would never ever forgive you. Mars is my ally now. I bet he'd help me make you pay for a trick like that." I was getting woozier, stupid dawn.

"Look at you, into Olympus politics." She smiled proudly. "All right then. Try the potion. Let me know the results." And with that she vanished, the woman did know how to use an exit line.

I wobbled my way back to my seat, the vial stowed safely between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. At least she was trying for a relationship, but if she expected me to be a grateful daughter she would have to cut the threats and ramp up the cure efforts.

I looked at Jerry and sighed. He didn't deserve this, any of it. That was my last thought before I fell into my death sleep.

I woke up with a start. Everyone else was on their feet and milling around, pulling down their carry-on luggage from overhead bins.

"Where are we?" I pushed my hair out of my eyes.

"Austin." Flo stopped next to me. "You slept past sunset, amica. I helped Jeremiah get out of his seat belt. He and Ricardo are outside. Both of them were eager to get out of here. My husband doesn't like to admit it, but he's not comfortable with little places. Spent too much time in a cell as a monk, I think."

"I thought he was a priest." I undid my seat belt.

"Priest, monk. Are they not the same?" Flo patted my arm. "Come. It is good to be home."

"Sure. Just a minute." I felt for the vial. It was still there. Then I grabbed my purse and dug for lipstick and a brush. I had to look horrible and didn't want Jerry to see me this way. Oh, who was I kidding? I was stalling. I dreaded everything and everyone I'd have to face in Austin. Even if Jerry didn't get his memory back, I'd have to clue him in on what he'd forgotten. One thing at a time. I'd take him home. We could probably get a taxi. I headed out.

Well, we wouldn't need a taxi. Jerry's daughter, Lily, stood next to her father, holding on to his arm and talking a mile a minute. He looked a little dazed when she pointed to his car sitting next to a hangar. I hurried to join them.

"Glory!" Lily grinned at me. "Dad was just telling me that I'd have to drive. He doesn't remember how. Can you believe it?"

I couldn't believe she was acting like this was good news. Spoiled brat. "Lily, your father has amnesia. He's going to have to relearn some things. Give him some time to adjust." I took his arm. "Jerry? I guess you know by now that this is your daughter."

"Yes. And a bonny la.s.s she is too." He smiled down at her.

She laughed. "Knock off the accent, Dad. It's just too quaint." She quit smiling. "Oh, is that part of the amnesia? That you talk funny? I didn't mean..."

"Sorry." Jerry frowned. "I've been in the Highlands. At your grandda's castle. Everyone speaks that way there. But the modern talk's coming back to me. I'll try not to embarra.s.s you."

I sighed. This was not going well. "Lily, thanks for picking us up. How did you know when we'd get here?"

"Mother texted me. She got it from someone. Count on Mother to have spies everywhere." Lily picked up a bag. "Come on. Or do you need to tell somebody you're going?"

"Yes, let me thank Flo and Richard." I touched Jerry's back. "Go on with your daughter. I'll be there in a minute." I hesitated. I didn't live with them. Maybe..."Or I can catch a ride with someone else and you two can go on. Call me when you want to get together." Jerry had mastered his cell phone though he had no idea how or why it worked. I'd shown him his contact list. I was first on it, of course.

"No!" Jerry grabbed my hand. "We stay together, Gloriana." His grip was firm. "Don't give me any nonsense about it. Come home with me or we'll go to your place. Whatever you prefer. Lily, you understand, don't you? Gloriana is working with me to help me get my mind back."

"My place then." I saw Lily's face fall.

She looked from me to her father. "I get it." She dropped the bag. "Glory, you take Dad's car. I'll shift for myself. Mother explained everything. So I guess you owe him this TLC. Fix this, Glory." She stormed off toward the private plane terminal.

"What's wrong with her?" Jerry started to follow her. "What's TLC? Glory?"

"She's mad, Jer. Let her go. She's right to hate me now. Mara told her it's my fault you were hurt. I'm sure the way she spun it I practically gave the order. TLC is tender loving care. Which I'm glad to give you."

"I have to set Lily straight." He kept watching his daughter as she disappeared around the side of the large building. "Where's she going?"

"Somewhere she can shift without being seen. You can talk to her later. Give her time to calm down. I'll drive you over there and you can have a long talk. Right now let me thank Flo and Richard for the ride. Can you take care of our luggage?"