Immortal Confessions (24 page)

“It doesn’t matter,” Danial said tiredly.
“You had to do what you did to protect her. I would have done the
same.”

That was something like a compliment. I had
never heard Danial speak of me this way. There would never be a
better time.

“I’ve never talked of our past,” I began.
“Don’t you think it is time we did?”

“Don’t, Dev,” Danial said flatly. “Not
tonight. I need to go to Justine.”

He began walking, and I hurried after him,
grabbing his arm.

“Justine can wait, Danial. We need to—”

“No,” Danial said, shaking me off. “I told
her I might not make it, that she might never see me again. I
booked her passage and told her to leave if she didn’t hear from me
by dawn. I have just enough time to make it to her home if I
hurry.”

I nodded and let him go. He ran quickly to
the edge of the garden and vaulted the fence.

Quentin came out, prideful. “We are set,
Devlin. Samuel has read the letter, and he sides with us. He said
to tell you that you acted rightly, that Louis will be
disciplined.”

Relief crashed into me. “That is news worth
celebrating.”

“There is also better news,” Quentin said,
smiling widely. “Jezebel sends word she is recovered, that she will
welcome us any time past the equinox.”

“That is in three days. Send her word we will
be there.”

* * * *

That night, as I never had before, I dreamed
of Jezebel. She was before her fire, beckoning to me. Instead of
making her come to me dressed, I brought her into my arms naked.
Incensed by her eager cries, I drank her down as my hands roamed
her body. When she opened my pants, letting my organ spring free, I
barely noticed. But when she straddled me, my jaws went lax, my
mind overwhelmed.

The pleasure was pain it was so intense.
Every motion of her body on mine brought a howl from my throat and
hers. When I sunk my fangs in again I came, my climax white-hot
lava engulfing us both.

I sat bolt upright in bed, panting. My skin
was covered in sweat. Semen covered my lower body.

I slowly got up and went to the washbasin,
casting a careful look at Anna. She seemed to be asleep. I could
not hear her heartbeat in the thunderous noise of mine.

I washed my skin clean, and went back to bed.
As I got in, Anna woke.

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” I said, turning from her, my mind
busy. “Go back to sleep.”

Abruptly, my newly peaceful world exploded
like a powder keg. When I rose that next evening, a letter awaited
me from Jezebel. The butler brought it to me as soon as I’d
woken.

This could not be more news she was well
enough to see me. I took it into my study, leaving Anna sleeping.
Just as I sat down, Quentin came in yawning.

I hid it hastily. “Good night.”

“Danial is not here,” he said. “I knocked on
his door and there was no reply. When I went in the bed had not
been slept in.”

“He is with his lover, Justine,” I said.
“What is the schedule like tonight?”

“Nothing,” Quentin said happily. “We left
tonight open in case there was trouble with Louis.”

“Where is Rip?”

“In the cellar, eating someone.”

I grimaced. “When he is done, can you have
him come to me?”

Quentin nodded. “Of course. If you need me,
I’ll be with Levi. He wants to set up some sort of will for him and
Eva. I don’t know why he’s waited this long—”

“Fine,” I interrupted. “I’ve some personal
matters I need to attend to.”

Quentin looked at me curiously. “Such
as?”

“Anna is upset by what’s happened,” I lied.
“I’m going to have Rip teleport me to several jewelers to pick her
out some present.”

Quentin nodded. “That’s to be expected, poor
girl. Charge whatever it is to the store, and have them bill us.
Good luck.”

As soon as he left, I took the letter out and
opened it. There were only seven words.
Come to me. I’m in
danger.

Rip appeared. “Quentin said you wanted
me?”

“Yes. Do you know the Lady Jezebel’s
house?”

“Of course.”

“Can you take me there?”

“Outside the gates,” he said. “She has spells
in place to keep demons away. She’s made a good many enemies.”

“Take me there now.”

We were abruptly standing ten feet before the
gate.

“Wait here,” I said.

“Of course,” he leered. “Take your time,
master.”

I walked to the gates and they opened before
me. Two floating balls of light came toward me, taking up position
on either side. Thus escorted, I walked up the long drive to her
mansion door. Jezebel was there, waiting.

“And where is Quentin?” she said demurely.
“Have you finally come alone?”

I pushed past her, shutting the door and
locking it. “You said you were in danger. From who?”

“A goblin warrior,” she said with complete
seriousness. “He will attack tonight.”

There was a crash upstairs suddenly.

Jezebel cast fearful eyes upwards. “He’s
here.”

“Stay here,” I said, pushing her into the
closet. “Rip is near the gate. Go to him and teleport, if he gets
past me.”

I ran upstairs, drawing my revolver and
hoping like hell it would be of use. I had almost never fired the
5-shot Francotte Pinfire, except to test it at the time of
purchase. With my talons, fangs and strength, a firearm was usually
unnecessary overkill. I had only ever worn the gun for show. But I
needed every advantage tonight.

Just as I crested the stairs, a hunched
figure trotted toward me. It was loathsome with warts and bulky
muscle, its dress like that of a gladiator from olden times, a
short sword, and an axe hanging from its belt. It resembled a huge
toad, its squat stature not higher than my waist.

“Where is she?” it croaked.

I shot it at point blank range. The bullet
hit it, knocking it back a step, but it didn’t go down. I emptied
the gun, the smoke engulfing me, but the goblin warrior didn’t
fall.

It shook itself, then lumbered up to me.
“Leave, vampire, before you get your head cut off.”

Inspired, I drew my sword and ran it through.
It let out a screech and pushed into me, toppling me backward down
the stairs. I landed in a pile at the foot, my ankle badly
sprained.

“Stupid vampire,” the thing said, pulling out
the sword, and tossing it aside. It started down the stairs toward
me.

I struggled to get to my feet. The goblin was
small but swift. My ankle was healing, but not fast enough.

“This was none of your concern,” the goblin
croaked. “But I don’t mind another trophy.” It unstrapped its ax,
taking firm hold of it with both hands.

I got to my feet, backing away.

“Come here,” the thing said, its smile a
twisted parody.

“No,” I said, desperately considering my
options.

Before I could think of anything, the monster
attacked. It missed with its first swing, but the second laid open
my forearm, gashing it. It circled, looking for an opening.

I rushed it, knocking it over backwards and
getting the axe in my stomach for my trouble. The pain was
horrible. I opened my mouth to scream.

The goblin tried to heave itself up with one
arm. Instead, it pushed its forearm into my fangs.

I bit down hard, and the thing let out a
shriek. It dropped its hold on the axe, trying to get me off its
arm. I gripped it around the waist, holding on for dear life.

It took a hitching breath and then planted
its rocky fist between my eyes. I flew off it to land on my back,
all the breath knocked out of me along with the axe.

I was bleeding badly, but the wounds were
closing. I hurriedly got to my feet, but the goblin wasn’t
attacking, it was trying to stop the bleeding on its forearm,
putting pressure on with its other hand.

I launched myself at it, knocking it down
again, this time going for its neck. The thing pulled its neck in
like a turtle, letting out a screech, trying to fend me off with
one arm and draw its knife with the other. I bit quickly into its
other arm, and the thing let out another screech, this one of
terror.

I shook my head like a dog, trying to open up
as much skin as I could. The goblin began squealing terribly,
rocking from side to side as it tried to dislodge me.

I was knocked loose by its struggles, but I’d
found its weakness. I bit into the nearest flesh, its face, and the
thing found some backbone, baring its own small fangs and trying to
bite me back. As it moved its neck back out of its armor to reach
me, I seized the opportunity.

I turned and sank my fangs deeply into its
neck. It howled and scrabbled, writhing all over. I tried to drink,
but felt a sudden terrible tearing pain in my chest.

I ripped backwards out of his neck,
screaming.

The goblin gurgled, twitched, and went limp
beneath me. I looked down into its glazing eyes, realizing in my
scream I’d ripped out its throat.

“Hold still,” said a worried voice.

I looked over to see Jezebel kneeling beside
me. She carefully rolled me onto my side, making me cry out again
in pain. The goblin had driven his short sword into the hilt, and
its tip was poking out of my chest. She slipped it out of me with a
deft pull, making me shriek again. Slowly, the wound began
closing.

“Drink all you can of his blood,” Jezebel
said, pushing me over onto the goblin’s body. “Hurry. The blood
will solidify quickly.”

I did as she said. I’d drunk only a few
minutes when no more could be drained out. I got to my feet
shakily.

“Sit before the fire,” Jezebel said, helping
me to her chair. “You need to rest.”

I lay there and she covered me with a
blanket. Before I knew it, I was asleep.

* * * *

Blinking my eyes, I awakened. Where was
I?

I felt a soft tongue on my inner thigh, then
warm breath. The blanket on my lap was moving.

I ripped it off to see Jezebel crouched
between my thighs. She gave me a smile, then licked my already
stiffened penis.

I let out a gasp. Before I could do more, she
took the tip into her mouth.

“No,” I said, finally finding my voice. I
went to push her off and instead fell out of the chair onto her,
landing on the rug.

Jezebel let out a moan, rubbing her body
against me. Instantly, all my desire for her rose up in me, and I
bit into her throat. She let out a gratified scream and clutched me
close, her hips moving insistently against mine.

I might have killed her there that night
easily. The only reason I didn’t was that I was already full of
goblin blood, and was able to retain some control. After drinking
from her only a few moments, I pulled back.

“You should have told me how to kill it.”

She smiled up at me, touching my face in a
gentle caress. “I couldn’t bring myself to. He was my ex-husband,
you see.”

I gently pushed her hand away. She caught it,
bringing it down between us.

“Feel me,” she breathed. “I want you, Devlin.
I’ve wanted you since I first saw you. Take me.”

“No,” I said, rolling off her onto my back.
“We’ve been over this.”

Jezebel straddled me, just as she had in the
dream. I was so surprised I didn’t push her off. She moved on me
quickly, stroking my engorged penis with warm slippery flesh.

“Don’t you want to be inside me?” she
whispered. “Where it’s warmer still?”

I opened my mouth to protest and she leaned
closer, her taut nipple brushing my lips. With a cry, I latched
onto it, biting deep. She moaned, pushing her upper body close even
as she slid her hips rapidly, trying to get me inside her.

I rolled over onto her, pinning her lower
body so she couldn’t move. I began thrusting lightly against her,
driving her wild as she begged and screamed for me to enter her. In
a few seconds, I came roaring, my semen spattering her stomach.

I got up from her, and grabbed a nearby
blanket, wiping myself off.

Jezebel sat up, her face angry. “What the
hell was that, lover?”

“I’m not your lover, as I’ve just proved,” I
said arrogantly. “When next we visit, Quentin will sate you as he
usually does.” I grinned at her. “I wouldn’t want you to be left
discontented.”

Jezebel got to her feet, and stormed to me,
her hand raised to strike me. I caught her neck easily in my hand,
squeezing hard. Her eyes bulged.

“Do not play with me,” I snarled. “I was
nearly killed tonight by that monster. A few words from you would
have prepared me.”

“I just...I just wanted...to be with
you...alone...”

“I am alone with you, my dear. How are you
enjoying it so far?”

“Please,” she gasped. “Please, I just wanted
you.”

I let her go abruptly, making her stumble.
“You’ve had all I can give you, more than you’ve a right to,
Jezebel. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she said faintly.

“Stay out of my dreams,” I demanded. “Or it’s
your life.”

“I will,” she whispered.

“Quentin and I will visit you a week from
now,” I said, dressing in my blood spattered clothes. “You will be
ready, as you’ve always been before.”

“Yes.”

“Good,” I said approvingly. “See you
then.”

I walked out to find Rip waiting for me
anxiously.

“I felt you take a bad wound,” he said. “But
you are better now.”

“Yes,” I said tiredly. “Take me home,
please.”

“Aren’t we getting jewelry?”

Shit. I covered my eyes with my palms,
overwhelmed. “Yes, after. And you must sneak me in. No one must see
me like this.”

Rip nodded. “Of course.”

* * * *

Rip teleported me into the garden. I had him
go in, steal some of Danial’s clothes, and bring them outside,
where I was washing up in the pond. Smelling of algae was better
than smelling of semen.