Fall of the Mortals (Book 1) (26 page)

Shaun noticed the dagger lay on the floor with some burn marks on it. He hurried and picked up the black cloth, wrapped the dagger in it and held his hands out to Kristof, looking straight to the floor.

“Kristof, sir?” said Shaun, trying to look like a loyal and humble servant but not daring to look up.

“Are you new here?” asked Kristof, taking the cloth-wrapped blade from him. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you before.”

“Yes, Kristof,” Shaun answered, hoping Kristof didn’t recognize him.

“What’s your name?” Kristof asked.

“Shaun,” he answered, relieved he wasn’t being recognized with orange eyes, fangs, long fingernails, pointy ears and pale skin.

“Well Shaun, I do appreciate your assistance,” said Kristof, taking the cloth wrapped dagger and turning away to leave.

“I can help you,” said Shaun.

“Really?” answered Kristof, turning back around in mid-air, drifting towards Shaun. “And what other assistance are you offering?”

“There’s a shortage of blood,” said Shaun. “You want to get to the ones in the tower. I know how.”

Kristof floated around Shaun, thinking about his offer. He glanced at Shaun trying to detect any amount of suspicion but saw none. Lucian, Seth and Adrian, the three male vampires closest to Kristof, approached from behind. They looked down at Shaun as if he was peasant.

“Who is this, brother?” asked Lucian.

“This is Shaun,” answered Kristof. “He knows a way to get into the tower.”

“Really? Vampires have died up there trying to get in,” said Seth.

“Even ones very close to us,” said Adrian, staring coldly at him as if vengeance had been on his mind ever since.

“So, I’ve heard,” Shaun replied, trying hard not to look nervous.

“Tonight I am having a party, Shaun,” said Kristof. “I want you to be there to share your strategy with us, regarding the tower. It’s the large house on the east end of Mulholland Drive overlooking the city.”

“I’ll be there,” Shaun answered.

“Excellent,” Kristof responded, turning his back to Shaun and floating away with Lucian and the others.

Shaun stood there watching them leave, trying to manage his stress and anxiety.
What the hell have I got myself into? I’m actually going to Kristof’s place. Kristof! The one who killed Jones and Trent and wants to kill everyone in the tower. Kristof, the one vampire that wants me dead too. What if he finds out I’m the one who killed the vampires in the tower? He can never find out. Never,
he thought.

CHAPTER TWELVE
The Arcos family legend

Shaun walked away trying to think how he was going to get all the way to Mulholland Drive being on the north side of the city. He didn’t know how to fly very well yet.

“Hello there,” said a female vampire floating closely to Shaun, in a sexy, whispery voice.

“Hi,” Shaun answered, adjusting his nerves, intimidated by her beauty. Her long, dark, curly hair flowed gorgeously down her back. The make up

around her eyes, her lovely white skin and her red lips were striking and pert.

“I overheard your conversation with Kristof. Going to his party tonight?” she asked.

“Yes,” Shaun answered.

“Wonderful,” she answered. “Take me with you,” she added, floating up face to face with him, behaving sensually, running her fingernail down his chin and neck gently. 

“Where?” asked Shaun.

“The party silly,” she chuckled. “You’re cute.”

“Who are you?” asked Shaun.

“Alessandra,” she answered, spinning around in the air with a glitzy smile then gazing into his eyes.

“I’m–”

“—Shaun. Yes, I know,” she stated. “You’re not serious about wearing that are you?”

“What’s wrong with it?” Shaun asked looking down at his dirty hoodie and jeans with a few holes in them.

Alessandra rolled her eyes.

“You’re about to sit down and talk business with the most powerful vampires in the world,” she stated.

“How powerful?” asked Shaun.

“Kristof’s family rules the world. They reign from Europe to Istanbul,” Alessandra answered.

“I see,” said Shaun.

“So, let’s get you out of those clothes and into something real,” said Alessandra, beginning to fly away. She stopped and looked back at Shaun. “Well, are we going?”

“I can’t, um…”

“What?” she asked.

“Fly,” Shaun answered.

“How is it you can’t fly?” Alessandra asked, descending to the ground next to him.

“Because I can’t,” Shaun replied.

Alessandra walked up to stand face to face with him. He was stunned at her boldness of drawing so close.

“What?” he asked.

“Believe,” she answered, staring into his eyes.

“In what?” Shaun asked, looking puzzled.

“That you’re one of us,” she replied with an evil stare.

“I am one of you,” he answered, gazing into her eyes.

“You still think you’re human,” Alessandra replied as if he wasn’t worthy to be vampire. “Tell yourself you are in your mind and in your heart,” she stated in a sexy, whispery voice.

Shaun stared at her for a moment and closed his eyes. He saw himself up close face to face in his mind. He flew away from himself leaving the old Shaun behind on the rooftop. The older Shaun watched him depart until he could no longer be seen. Dark clouds gathered around in his mind accompanied with fierce bolts of lightning striking to the left then to the right. He saw a burning skull face with fangs and sharp teeth grow closer and larger until it was a large, vivid image opening its gaping jaws making a roaring sound about to consume Shaun.

He opened his eyes and yelled, breathing heavily. He was floating in the air holding Alessandra’s hand.

“Did it consume you?” asked Alessandra.

“What?” he asked.

“The burning skull. Did you enter its mouth?” she asked.

“It scared the hell out of me,” said Shaun, his eyes still large from the horrifying imagery, catching his breath. “At least I’m floating now.”

“Now, see that sign over there that says
Men’s Shoes?
” she asked, pointing to the other end of the store.

“Yeah,” Shaun answered.

“Fly to it,” said Alessandra.

Shaun looked at the sign and took off like a jet across the men’s clothing department. He yelled, flying out of control clumsily towards the shoe sign.

“Not so fast!” Alessandra shouted.

Shaun flew eight feet above the floor over the cosmetics, jewelry and gift wrapping departments until he crashed into the sign. He landed on the floor but knocked over a large shoe display and rolled a few times colliding into a bench. Shoes were scattered all over. The Men’s Shoes sign landed, crashing into another shoe display and scattering more shoes everywhere, then against a mirror post, cracking it severely.

Shaun picked himself up slowly. Alessandra flew next to him and landed, chuckling.

“Well, that was awful,” said Shaun, standing up.

“You need more control, “said Alessandra.

“Obviously,” Shaun responded. “How do I do that?”

“Close your eyes again,” said Alessandra.

“Okay,” said Shaun.

“Perhaps this will help,” she said in a whisper.

Alessandra drew close to Shaun putting her hands on his cheeks gently. She closed her eyes and placed her lips on his. He placed his hands around her waist. Her shapely figure aroused him. He felt himself let go as their lips embraced. Her kiss was like a dream. Shaun saw himself flying around through dark clouds in a feeling of bliss, peace and comfort. He felt free and intoxicated. She teased his neck and ear with the tip of her tongue then returned to his lips. The feeling of the tip of her tongue caressing the top of his mouth tickled with a sense of euphoric joy. Alessandra released him and stepped back, gazing into his eyes. Shaun was still in a stupor with his eyes closed.

“Open your eyes,” she said softly.

“Wow. Do you do that to all the guys?” he asked.

Alessandra smiled. Shaun exhaled with a new feeling of power and confidence.

“Show me,” she said.

Shaun looked up and flew around the store. He had great control flying over the sales booths, counters and display shelves and tables below. He saw a pool table up ahead on the floor in the sporting goods department. He increased his speed and flew underneath it spinning his body around. He laughed at his new ability to fly and returned to Alessandra.

“This is wonderful,” said Shaun with a large smile and eyes of joy, staying afloat in the air. “Why would anyone not want to be one of us?”

“I think you’ve arrived,” she said, staring at him floating upwards.

“Tell me your name,” said Alessandra.

“What?” Shaun asked, confused.

“Your name, what is it?” she asked again.

Shaun was vacant. He couldn’t remember his name right off. Alessandra’s smile grew. She could see that the human was gone and that he was completely on the side of the vampire.

“Give me a second. That’s strange, I don’t remember for some reason,” said Shaun, trying to think of it. “Shaun! My name is Shaun! Right?”

“Great,” she smiled, taking him by the hand, waving her other hand in the air.

Shaun and Alessandra vanished and appeared in the men’s clothing department of a fancy department store.

“Where are we?” asked Shaun, looking around, amazed they had cleared such a distance.

“B.C. Marshall’s, my favorite store. Everything a gorgeous or handsome vampire needs to look sexy,” she chuckled, hiding behind some expensive suits and peeking at Shaun from behind the sleeve of one of the dark suits.

“I wonder if they have my size?” he asked, charmed at her sense of humor.

Alessandra snapped her fingers. A handsome dark suit with nice white shirt underneath appeared on Shaun instantly. He flinched from the sudden wearing of the new apparel.

“Wow! How did you do that?” he asked, amazed.

“Months of practice,” she answered with a smile, maintaining a calm reserve and floating up to Shaun wiping tiny bits of lint from his shoulder.

“What was your occupation before you changed over?” asked Shaun.

Alessandra looked at him and appeared confused for a moment as if she didn’t know.

“What’s the matter? Don’t you remember?” he asked warmly.

Alessandra floated upwards and looked around the clothing, jewelry, cosmetic and shoe departments. She closed her eyes remembering the sounds of people coming and going, purchasing things in a department store. A memory of her helping a woman at a cosmetic counter needing a facial flashed in her mind.

“Oh, you definitely have got to go with this shade,” said Alessandra to the customer getting a facial.

“You think so?” said the female customer.

“Absolutely,” Alessandra answered.

Alessandra opened her eyes and scoffed.

“Well?” asked Shaun.

“This,” she answered.

“This what?” he asked.

“I did this for a job. I remember now,” she stated. “I worked in a department store selling things to people.”

Shaun turned to the mirror to see his new suit but he was troubled that he couldn’t see himself.

“Hey, what’s with the mirror? Am I looking at it right?” he asked.

“Vampires have no reflection,” Alessandra replied, whispering in his ear sensually.

“How do I look?” Shaun asked.

“Stunning,” she answered. “Now, let’s get to the party.”

***

Kristof’s house was again filled with vampires at the front and inside on the dance floor. Loud thumping music blasted from his home as if a live concert was going on inside. The vampires in the front flew around in the air socializing, others stood on the roof.

Shaun and Alessandra landed at the front doors. Derek, a large, brawny male vampire stood guard at the double front doors. He was muscular with a shaved head and looked intimidating. He wore a sleeveless, black leather vest and gold rings on both hands.

“No one else goes inside,” said Derek in a stern, deep voice, glaring at them with his arms folded. “Kristof’s orders.”

“Tell him Shaun is here,” said Alessandra.

“Who?” asked Derek.

“Shaun, he’s expecting me,” Shaun replied.

“What would Kristof want with you?” asked Derek looking down at Shaun as if he was a worthless insect.

“What would he want with you?” asked Shaun snidely. “Oh wait, you’re his guard dog. Never mind.”

“You have a big mouth,” said Derek, grabbing Shaun by the throat, lifting him up one-handed and gnashing his fangs at him.

Shaun gasped for air.

“Unhand him! You dare touch a member of the Parasca family!” hollered Alessandra.

Shaun was cross-eyed struggling to breathe.

“He didn’t say he was a member of the family,” said Derek still in a crusty tone.

The music stopped inside the home and the double front doors opened. Kristof stepped out noticing Shaun being strangled.

“Let go of him,” said Kristof in a cold, chastising voice. “What are you doing?”

The guard looked at Kristof realizing he was disconcerted.

“Forgive me, my lord,” the guard responded, unhanding Shaun’s throat.

“Idiot,” said Kristof in a hard tone.

 “I didn’t know,” said the guard, hoping he wouldn’t be punished.

Kristof snapped his fingers. The guard turned into a black rat at his feet.

“Now go away, rodent,” said Kristof. “Go fetch some garbage to feast upon!” he added, kicking his foot, casting out the rat.

The black rat ran off. Shaun floated down to the pavement catching his breath, holding his throat which was nearly crushed by the guard. He was stunned at Kristof’s sorcery.

“Welcome Shaun,” said Kristof with a warm smile. “Please come in.”

“Thank you,” Shaun responded, still rubbing his neck.

Shaun and Alessandra followed Kristof through the front doors.

“Parasca family?” Shaun asked Alessandra quietly.

“I’ll explain later,” she whispered.

Shaun and Alessandra stood behind Kristof on the dance floor.

“Hey Kristof! Is this a party or what?” hollered a vampire from the dance floor, holding his arms out.

“Let the music continue!” hollered Kristof, raising his hands.

The music cranked back on. The vampires on the dance floor continued to dance. Some of them danced wildly, others grabbed one another and threw each other across the dance floor knocking some of the others over. They laughed having fun in their violent mosh pit.

Kristof turned to Shaun and Alessandra and waved his arms causing the three of them to vanish. They appeared in a quiet room of Kristof’s house. It was like a board meeting room. There was a long table in the middle. Kristof sat at one end, while Shaun sat at the opposite end. Lucian, Adrian, Seth and Alessandra sat at the sides.

“So, Mr. Shaun. Here we are in private,” said Kristof. “Forgive me for the loudness of my party and the rudeness of my guests.”

“No worries,” Shaun responded.

“I don’t believe you met my brothers, “said Kristof. “This is Adrian, Seth and Lucian.”