Vampires Dead Ahead (16 page)

For her it was all still something sexual, just as it had been before she was turned. She had told Volod that there was nothing better than to bite, then finish the night off with him.

Volod watched as Monique caught Elizabeth’s eye. A look of hatred from Elizabeth told Volod that she was boiling from the fact he had not chosen her to assist him tonight.

Monique looked away to the other Vampires. “Janet,” she said, “take the big, and now not so bad, Werewolf.”

Monique smiled as she stroked Bethany’s arm. “I will take Miss Pretty here. The Siren.”

Volod felt almost intoxicated as he watched Monique take complete charge. He especially loved it when she took control over Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth, take the shriveled one there.” Monique pointed to Reginald, not even looking Elizabeth’s way.

Elizabeth looked disgusted. “I don’t need to be sick for days from biting a paranorm. There is no human to take after sucking on this wrinkled-up prune. Pick someone else, I won’t do it.”

“Katherine, the old guy is yours,” Monique instructed without hesitation. It was as if she had purposefully ordered Elizabeth to bite Reginald, knowing that the Vampire would refuse.

Volod saw some fear in the council but was amazed at how they accepted their fate. They were unlike most humans, who screamed like frightened little six-year-olds when they realized what was happening. And observing the council, which had almost destroyed him, was more satisfying to him than biting ten humans. “Dinner is served,” Volod said.

The paranorm Vampires stepped forward. Katherine walked up to Reginald. With her amazing strength, she gripped the old Shifter’s upper arms with her hands. She showed her fangs a second before she buried them into his neck.

His only response was to close his eyes. His body twitched.

Janet would not have been much of a match for Eric, Volod thought, had it not been for the restraint system. The belts went around his waist and through his crotch to hold his wrists taut behind his back. They even held his ankles and elbows in place.

Janet grabbed a chair in front of the desk and pulled it up to the tall Werewolf. Eric seemed to know that struggle was futile and only would make it all the more enjoyable for Volod. He obviously had resolved to not show emotion.

The Metamorph stood on the chair, looked into Eric’s eyes, and then slid her fangs deep into his neck. There was no movement from Eric. He stood there as if nothing was happening.

Impressive, thought Volod. The strength of such a Paranorm would serve the cause well once he was turned.

Just as Eric was taken, Katherine was all over Caolan’s neck, moving him back and forth like a lion trying to shake the life out of its next meal. Like Reginald, Caolan closed his eyes as he accepted his fate. Katherine continued ravaging him.

Monique tapped Katherine on the shoulder. “I’m glad you are enjoying the feast, but I think that’s enough, Katherine. Leave a little flesh on him.”

Katherine swiped her tongue over the bite marks, stopping the flow of blood, before she stepped back.

Volod smiled as he studied the Siren, who was watching in horror as her fellow council members were bitten. By the way her whole body trembled, he could tell that the blood dripping from the slumping paranorms and from the Vampires’ mouths was obviously too much for her.

Monique turned toward the Siren and moved forward. Volod knew that given a choice, Monique preferred to bite males, but she would still relish this little pretty. Volod loved watching her take another, especially a female, and Monique knew that.

Bethany was cuffed from behind. She worked her tongue out of the clamp and spit it out. “You will regret this, you bitch,” she screamed. “You were one of us. How can you do this? You were a leader.”

Bethany backed up. Her cuffs dropped to the carpet with a soft thump. With terror on her face, the Siren bolted through the unguarded door.

“Stop her,” Janet screamed.

Monique held out her hand. A half-inch-thick, twisted vinelike rope flew from her fingertips, extending through the door and around the corner.

A shriek came from Bethany, and Monique’s face lit up. She looked like a little kid who’d just hooked the big one. She pulled quickly on the vine. Bethany stumbled backward into the room, the vine wrapped around her neck.

Staying in place, Monique jerked hard on the vine, spinning Bethany around. She continued to reel Bethany in until she was inches from her face.

“Thank you for doing that, Bethany,” Monique said in a low, sensual voice. “I love, as Volod does, the futile struggle as he calls it, of such a prize. You made my night and his.”

The eyes of the red-faced Siren looked like they were going to bulge out as the vine strangled her. Therelede c was no more struggle left within her. Suddenly the vine disappeared and the Siren was left gasping for breath.

Monique grabbed Bethany in what could have been mistaken for a lover’s embrace. White fangs flashed before they were lost in the side of the Siren’s neck. Bethany began to struggle hard, but she was no match for Monique, who continued to bite, her breathing as loud as if she were being pleasured in Volod’s bed.

Monique finally pulled away from the Siren, who did not slump and quiet down like the others. The bite seemed to have little or no effect on her.

Monique looked to Janet. “Cuff her again. Use the full restraint system this time so there is no chance of escape. We will take her with us.” She turned to Volod. “I don’t see much effect from the

bite. You just might have a new adornment for your bed-bite. You just might have a new adornment for your bedroom.”

Volod nodded. “You know me well already.” How he loved to watch the enthusiasm of Monique’s attacks—no one he had ever known was a match for her.

“Have your team get them out of here, Monique,” Volod said as he looked at her. “Then we will return to the brownstone. I want to see you in my suite.”

She gave a slight bow of her head. “Of course.”

“Elizabeth.” He turned his gaze to the redheaded Vampire who stood just to his side. “Come with me.”

He didn’t wait for her, allowing her to walk in his wake. She would realize soon enough what her position with Volod had been reduced to. In the limo he chose not to talk with her. She did not break the silence.

While in the limo, Volod thought about how talented the Trackers were—yet stupid enough that he was able to take control of so many so easily. They hadn’t seen any of this coming.

If he had their powers for his own, he could rule all.

His plan would gain him the same result, though. He
would
rule all—through the paranorms.

Unfortunately, the Trackers knew what he was up to now. The element of surprise was gone.

SEVENTEEN

As soon as they entered the brownstone, Elizabeth followed him upstairs. What an amazing twenty-six hours it had been, Volod thought. To capture and turn Rodán, and now to have taken control of the Paranorm Council.

It was time for a reward.

After he strode through a door into the bedroom of his suite and Elizabeth had closed the door behind them, he said to her, “Take off your clothing.”

She paused and just looked at him. “Why?”

Volod narrowed his gaze and spoke with deadly calm. “You know better than to ask. Simply do as I have instructed.”

Elizabeth seemed to make up her mind. Her demeanor changed and she slowly undressed as if teasing him with every movement. She let her hands slide over her body as she slipped out of her long emerald-green gown, which matched the color of her eyes.

By the way she met his gaze and touched her breasts ever so lightly, it was clear she was attempting to seduce him. When she finished undressing she started to walk toward where he stood near the door to the suite.

“Stand on the rug.” He gestured toward the large oval rug at the foot of the massive bed. “And let down your hair.”

Elizabeth obeyed, reaching up and pulling out the pin that held the curls in place. Her long red hair tumbled over her shoulders down to the small of her back. He felt an ache of need as he studied the stunning, naked female.

When a knock sounded at the door, Elizabeth looked casually in that direction, a smirk on her face. Likely she thought he had chosen her alone to join him in his bed tonight.

Volod sensed Monique on the other side of the door. “Enter.”

Monique looked vaguely surprised to see Elizabeth, naked.

Volod gestured toward the rug. “Take off your clothing, put on the items laid out for you on the bed, and join Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. Monique’s lips parted as if she was going to say something.

“Now.”

Monique glanced at Elizabeth before she started to take off her own clothes. She had become accustomed to his insistence that in the brownstone she should wear elegant dresses that showed off her slim figure. She was to always appear as a lady.

Where Elizabeth wore gowns that reflected her station as a lady in a royal court centuries ago, Monique wore more modern dresses. Usually short enough to show off her legs from the middle of her thighs down.

Monique walked over to the bed. She removed the short black dress, as well as her stockings, panties, and bra. She looked at the items on the bed. Monique took a few moments to slide on the leather panties along with a skimpy bra made of thin leather strips encircling each breast. Small chains were attached and held the silver rings snugly in place around her nipples, emphasizing them.

She slipped on the high heels that would make her four inches taller than Elizabeth. There was a leather hood with a hole near the top. The face was completely open. At Volod’s instruction, Monique put the hood on and pulled her hair though the hole, making it appear there was a single ponytail coming out the top. The edges tightened around her face as she tied the laces behind.

Monique returned and stood on the rug beside the naked Elizabeth. Desire stirred inside Volod as he looked from one beautiful female to the other.

“Elizabeth.” Volod gave a nod in the direction of the bureau. “Take the two items in the top drawer out. You have used them before and know what they represent. Bring them back here and hand them to Monique.”

Elizabeth’s pale skin ss repeemed to grow paler yet. From her expression he could tell that she realized what was going to happen—she had been there herself, decades ago. Only she had been in Monique’s position.

Shock then a sort of rebelliousness was in Elizabeth’s gaze. He liked that. The fact that she would hate what happened next stirred him only more.

Elizabeth returned to the rug holding a stainless-steel collar with rings fastened around it. A tiny padlock was attached to a hinged fastener.

“Elizabeth, on your knees.” Volod pointed to the floor. “Monique, put the collar on her.”

Only Monique looked surprised. Elizabeth knew all too well what was going to happen next. Anger radiated from her although she was clearly working to keep it hidden.

She shook her head. “No.” She almost shouted the word as she shoved Monique away from her.

“Subdue her, Monique.” Amusement flickered inside him—and lust. “Do whatever you need to do to get her on her knees.”

Monique approached Elizabeth, who stepped away, hatred on her features.

The Elvin Vampire’s power stirred within her, a palpable thing. For the first time Elizabeth looked concerned.

Monique raised her hands. Elizabeth gasped as invisible power wrapped around her. She struggled against a force they could not see.

“Bitch!” Elizabeth screamed. “You paranorm slut. Let me go!”

Elizabeth’s mouth slammed shut, Monique’s power taking away her ability to speak, effectively gagging her.

With her magic, Monique forced Elizabeth down onto her knees. She tried to get back up but Monique kept her in place. She held her hand under Elizabeth’s chin and forced it up to look at her.

Unable to move, Elizabeth steeled her features as she knelt, but her whole body shook as she waited for Monique to put the collar on her.

“Monique, I want you to release the power you hold over Elizabeth.” His eyes focused on the green-eyed redhead. “Elizabeth, do not struggle or you will feel my wrath. You know how this works.”

Monique let go of Elizabeth. Her head dropped.

“Head up,” Volod commanded.

Elizabeth’s head raised and she stared at Monique with a look of both fury and sadness.

Monique seemed to recognize the symbolism, that she was being elevated to Elizabeth’s former position. She was now Volod’s. She kept her features calm, but he felt a sense of excitement and satisfaction radiating from her.

“Give her the collar and leash, Elizabeth,” said Volod.

Elizabeth handed Monique the items.

“Now put the collar and leash on her, Monique. Lead her to the doorway and back over here.” Volod crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at ElizabekedNoth.

Monique took the collar from Elizabeth. She opened it and placed it around Elizabeth’s neck. She secured it in place, closed the small padlock, and removed the key left in the lock. She then clipped on the leash. Elizabeth started to stand.

“I want you on all fours,” Volod commanded. “Walk her around the room now.”

Monique gripped the leash and started to walk but Elizabeth resisted. She pulled harder on the collar and began crawling slowly next to Monique.

Volod thought about the excitement of the vision before him. He loved the contrast of the power in Monique’s dress and the submissiveness in Elizabeth’s nakedness on the end of a leash.

The humiliation Elizabeth now felt gave him deep satisfaction. Another female Vampire had power over her. She avoided looking at Monique as she did what she’d been ordered to.

Monique led Elizabeth to Volod. When she was at his feet, she rose up onto her haunches. “Please, Volod.” She tilted her head. “Please don’t do this.”

Volod grabbed her by the collar and dragged her up high enough that he could put his face into hers. “I’ll always take care of you. That, you know.”

She licked her lips. “Yes.”

Volod kissed her, then he handed Monique the leash. “Now tether her collar to the ring on the frame at the foot of the bed. I want her facing me. Then join me in bed,” he added. “She will watch, first.”