The Diary of the Vam’pir Jacques (The Diaries of the Immortals #1)

Chapter Seventeen.

T here was no sympathy for Ramedes as she squirmed about on the floor, and I wished her pain would last forever. Mine would, and the task of telling Pal and Mera remained.

Let’s not forget Inka. It was easy to guess what Inka would assume.

In emotional turmoil, I turned to face Nathan as he called my name. Before me, in soiled clothing, stood the two children I loved.

Rahmon looked smugly triumphant, and I understood why.

He and Ami could now be together indefinitely. Nothing could come between them, and I noticed a bite mark on Nathan’s wrist. Agitated, I glared at Nathan, and he shrugged.

I guessed what he’d been thinking: better to make them strong with the blood of two, for Kit and Rahmon would need it. Rahmon grinned and stretched. He was feeling the connection and awareness of life surrounding you. For a Vam’pir, everything seemed brighter, clearer, and more connected to the environment.

Slapping Rahmon felt tempting but offered little benefit. Rahmon was enjoying this, and he would, because it awarded him Ami.

“Are you happy? Do you know what this has cost me?” I snarled at Rahmon.

The little shit shrugged.

“Should have let Ramedes have you. After everything I risked for you,” I snapped.

“Rubbish. Nothing was jeopardised,” Rahmon retorted. “And nobody can stop Ami and me now.”

Nathan gaped at Rahmon before knocking him across the cave.

“Is this how you address the man who put his life on the line for you? Who rushed into a fire to save your worthless life and was seriously burned? Several times tonight, Jacques nearly died because of your ungrateful arse,” Nathan growled out as Rahmon got to his feet.

Rahmon’s eyes raked my body, and he lingered on the burn scars. Guilt flashed across his face. But Rahmon held himself tall.

Rahmon had turned into somebody I didn’t recognise.

“Should have saved Kit and let you rot. My previous words stand, Rahmon, you and I are no longer family,” I snapped.

Kit stared at us, her face pale from shock. But even Kit showed self-satisfaction. I’d no idea why, but there you go, that’s women for you. Contrary creatures.

Fear gone, Kit looked Ramedes in the eye. Ramedes lay on the ground gasping for breath, and Kit leant forward.

“This is ended, witch,” Kit said spitefully.

“Yes, it is now,” Ramedes replied, rising to her feet.

She gazed at me sorrowfully, and I held her gaze. Ramedes lowered her eyes first, and I allowed myself a small smile.

I grumbled, “This wasn’t necessary.”

“Jacques, I would not have released them. However, your solution was extreme, and I underestimated you. Tonight, a Vam’pir murdered two souls of the Viscerov. The Viscerov does not birth children anymore, Jacques. We watch for Viscerov souls to be reborn and then change the host to become Viscerov. And tonight, you trapped Viscerov’s souls inside Vam’pirs. Never will I underestimate you again,” Ramedes replied.

“I don’t understand,” I responded. “Kit and Rahmon’s personalities sound like they would have been destroyed, and the people they are, would have died.”

Maybe not a loss in Rahmon’s case, I thought, unaware that my thoughts showed clearly. Rahmon flinched.

“Not quite. Kit and Rahmon would have been enhanced. Their soul would have matured, and both would have come into their powers. Instead, now their soul grieves because they are less than they should have been.”

Panic flooded me as I gazed into Kit’s eyes and tried to see if she was in pain.

“Jacques, I feel fine,” Kit soothed.

“A lie, Ramedes!” I accused.

“No. Kit and Rahmon could have achieved greater things. Now, they are trapped in a Vam’piric body. They would have received Viscerov powers, and they could have chosen to stay with Pal and Mera. Too late now, Jacques,” Ramedes replied, sorrow flooding her voice.

“You’d have let them return to Pal and Mera?” I whispered.

“Of course. I am not a monster. I just wanted help the souls reach their potential,” Ramedes replied.

“I didn’t want to do this,” I answered. Worry and self-doubt were beginning to flood me. Had I made a mistake after all?

“However, you managed to finish my task in your own way. Kit and Rahmon are immortal, but the soul that is Viscerov will not know the peace and pleasure of being truly whole.”

“The twins have always been complete. Ramedes, it is you who underestimated everyone because you bought into the myth you’re a Goddess. Lady, being immortal doesn’t make you a goddess. You never offered the children a choice. Never gave any of us one. Now I have to explain that to their parents. If only you’d lowered yourself to explain.”

Apprehensive, I bowed my head, feeling sicker as the moments wore on. Nathan put a hand on my shoulder, offering comfort, and I touched it with gratitude. He would face Pal and Mera with me. Ultimately though, I’d bear the brunt of their anger.

Ramedes waved her hand, and the gate opened.

As we left, Ramedes called out, “One more thing, Vam’pir.” I pivoted to look at her. “If you had held on for just three more minutes, the twins would have been safe. Once the human body reaches a certain age, it becomes impossible to change them.”

Infuriated, I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Ramedes turned away from me, laughing, and Kit grabbed my hand.

“What is done is done, Jacques. We will tell Mother and Father together,” Kit said. She led me out of the place that had become home to my greatest shame.

◆◆◆

Pal, Mera, Inka, and Ami waited outside a cave back in Egypt.

Mera took one look at the children, and a hand lifted to her mouth. Pal stared, too, before he turned to me in anger.

Pal moved so fast that I never saw the punch coming.

I flew backwards to land in some trees. Then Pal was at my throat and was strangling me for all he was worth.

“Wait! Jacques had to!” Nathan yelled, rushing forward.

Inka tripped Nathan and sent him sprawling. Betrayed once more by my own wife. She who should’ve known me best.

Ami reached past Inka and grabbed Pal by the hair and pulled him backwards. Pal slowly loosened his grip, and I rubbed my throat.

“The children were dying. Ramedes had already begun the ritual. Jaq would have brought two corpses out, if he had not have acted!” Nathan yelled.

I stood up as they shut me out.

Inka turned her back, and Pal and Mera followed suit.

That was my answer. They would not even acknowledge my existence. There was no thanks for chasing the children, injured as I was. Just a simple, ‘Jacques’s been an asshole again’.

Then so be it. Aggrieved, I ran from everyone.

Nathan screamed for me to stop, and his voice rose in anger. I didn’t care. Kit yelled at Pal and Mera, and she began to follow.

In answer, I moved faster and was transported farther away. Greece and Egypt had become my nightmare, and I wouldn’t stay trapped in it.

That night was the beginning of the end for Inka and I. Inka’s betrayals came too frequently, and it was obvious Inka knew me very little indeed.

Rahmon left the following evening with Ami. A big argument had broken out, as Pal and Mera wanted to protect him, but Rahmon would not have any of it.

Nathan corrected their idea of what had happened, but their forgiveness was not required. All of them had betrayed me with their baseless assumptions. Even my so-called wife, Inka. Although I had expected anger, I had banked on a chance to explain. One which I was denied.

Rahmon still runs with Ami, and they are tighter than ever. I am glad for them, for Ami seems to have lost a great deal of her spite and Rahmon really does love her. Ami will never hurt Rahmon, and he does not deserve that. But I believe and always will that everyone has one great love. Rahmon and Ami had found theirs.

◆◆◆

The arrogance Rahmon displayed towards me, Ami knocked out of him, and he is much more respectful again. Rahmon is at peace, and his whole world is Ami. For many years, Rahmon shunned Pal and Mera, as they refused to acknowledge Ami as his lover. During that time, Rahmon grew in spirit and realised what he’d done to me was wrong. Rahmon desired to be a man but acted furtively, resembling a schoolboy. Enough time had passed that I could accept his heartfelt apology.

But a thousand years elapsed before peace was made between Pal and Mera, Rahmon and Ami. And it was Ami who forced it in the end.

As for Kit, she is an entirely different matter.

Kit found me; she would do. Kit, too, argued with Pal and Mera and left. She had tried to calm them down and finally lost her temper and accused them of wanting her dead.

Kit turned the tables on Pal and Mera when they naturally denied that, stating that would have been the case if I had not changed her.

That made them wonder, and Mera called to me years later, but I ignored her. To this day, I have not faced Mera. The pain that I caused was not intentional, but I was its cause.

Kit and I ran together for six hundred years. We stirred up no end of mischief, and we enjoyed ourselves fully. The flighty girl left me in the end for Nathan, but I hold no bitterness.

Kit is young and must enjoy herself. When she has lived as long as me, then maybe we’ll talk. Imagine what stories Kit will tell!

Kit once asked if I remembered when she asked what she should do if she was in love with someone that was already taken. I told her yes, and Kit stared from under her eyelashes, and I guessed she had meant me. But Kit remained the child of people who were once friends, so we never became lovers despite our six hundred years.

Kit had loved me all along; I had been blind enough not to recognise it. We enjoyed ourselves, and that mattered most.

Without love and fun, what is the purpose of life?

◆◆◆

At this point, I suppose that I should tell you the reason I am writing this story. Naturally, it is because of a woman. A special one, and I want Eden to understand me and the reasons why I say that we are destined.

In the past, I said that I have not truly loved anyone apart from Inka, but this woman and I are soul mates, and this is fact. See, I lost her once through death, and I met her years later with her soul reborn into another. If we weren’t meant to be together, then she wouldn’t have returned.

I’ll give you some background to this, and once more, the tale contains another of my biggest regrets.

It was in the year 1868 that Lady Caroline Hamilton was born. Caroline was beautiful, and the only girl of five children. Her parents owned a large estate in Somerset and two townhouses in London. Needless to say, Caroline was nobility.

Being the youngest and only girl, Caroline was desperately spoiled and denied nothing. This twisted what might have been a kind child into a brat. Unfortunately, in Caroline, I made one of my biggest mistakes to date.

I could only see Caroline’s beauty and its impact on her victims. My desperate need for a playmate clouded my judgment. Sadly, I hadn’t seen Nathan for a long time, and I was lonely.

Loneliness is no excuse for what I did to Caroline and her family. Yet, it is all I can offer. Vam’pirs try to live up to the principles we set. If you take human life, then ensure they are scum. Thieves and murderers, rapists, and soul destroyers. Over time, there have always been plenty of dark, spoiled souls to provide nourishment for us.

Vampires didn’t share the beliefs of the Vam’pirs. Nor did they abide by our rules. Vam’pirs ensured that the people we killed were evil or already dying from some illness. Vampires just took life and mixed it with black rituals.

They didn’t care whose life they destroyed, and that is why they are vampires and not Vam’pirs. A subtle difference exists.

However, Lady Caroline Hamilton was sixteen when she was brought to London for her debut. She looked like a porcelain doll, and I was mesmerised.

Caroline had blond ringlets that tumbled down her back in a riot of curls. Cat green eyes assessed a person’s soul, and a full mouth smiled happily. Caroline’s nose was small and pert, and her skin had a peaches and cream complexion. Her figure was tiny and curvy. There was a little scar at the corner of her chin caused by playing roughly with her older brother, James.

James was the middle child born and third in line to inherit her father’s title and estate. He soon became first.

I first saw Lady Caroline at a ball at the beginning of the season. Husband searching was not that intense, and the balls held were just to let people feel their feet. The serious balls happened later on, but these early ones were ideal for young ladies, such as Caroline, to get used to the attention.

Not that the vain madam needed to get used to it. Caroline already realised what a beauty she was and made no qualms about it. Her parents couldn’t see their angel’s true disposition and found it hard to accept that she had difficulty making friends.

In fact, I didn’t know Caroline to own one friend while I knew her. Caroline was antagonistic towards the other girls that she met, fearing that they might steal attention away. She was never rude, but her insults were veiled under politeness.

Caroline’s nastiness targeted those obstructing her objectives. Those deemed not a threat were ignored—or she was dismissive of them.

Her attitude didn’t matter. Members of both sexes always surrounded Caroline as the other girls came to realise quickly that she was going to be a main attraction. In their own ambitions, they overlooked her superior ways.

Honestly, Caroline needed a good spanking. When we first met, a friend who happened to be the second son of a duke had invited me to a ball. That evening was his wife’s birthday, and they were holding a surprise ball.

The chap rattled off several names that I knew from Whites (a gentleman’s establishment where gaming and such happened) that were coming and bored I thought I might go. No sooner entered the room when I saw her.

Caroline was glancing coyly from under her fan at some young rake and smiling behind it. His viewpoint was somewhat disadvantaged; however, I could see the smile and immediately knew I desired her. She wore the smirk of a practised hunter and that was something that I was attracted to. I noticed Lord Davenport, a close acquaintance of mine at the time, and he introduced me to Caroline’s mother. She was another beautiful woman, and I saw where her daughter got it from.

“Lady Hamilton, Victoria, allow me to introduce my close friend Marquis Jacques Du Mont,” Davenport said, bowing.

“How do you do, Lord Davenport, Marquis Du Mont?” Victoria replied, fluttering a fan. “May I present my daughter to you, Lady Caroline?”

Caroline turned towards me, and her gaze widened in interest.

I cut a fine figure in those days and had discovered a dye that allowed me to dull the whiteness of my skin.

Caroline herself was dressed in a silk dress, the colour of her eyes. And with one look, I was ensnared.

“Lord Davenport, Marquis Du Mont.” Caroline nodded slightly and curtsied like a true lady should.

Davenport began a conversation with the Lady Victoria, who he knew from old. I turned towards Caroline and asked an inane question.

“How do you find London, Lady Caroline?”

“London is exciting. It is nothing like Somerset, although I love it dearly. There is more to do here. I understand why my brothers come so often and hold places of residence here.”

I frowned slightly.

Caroline’s voice was childish and breathless. Perhaps beauty was her sole possession, and she owned little intelligence. I didn’t want a silly chit who would bore me with conversations about clothes.

Then Caroline belied her true self by following up with, “I do not believe that I have seen you in my brother’s presence before. Do you know my family, for I must admit I do not know yours?”

Bold little hussy! She was seeking my status.

“No, I rarely go to Somerset. My family has residences here, and estates in Norfolk and several other counties. I, myself, remain in London mainly.”

That was true about my estates I had purchased them many years ago. Typically, I avoided them for around ten years, rotating them on a schedule. It was easy to lead the staff to believe that one Marquis had died, and another taken his place.

I often went abroad to Spain and France, and that helped keep the illusion up. My staff saw me so rarely that they couldn’t say if I was the same one or not. I put the story about that the family likeness ran strong in our genes, and that was believed.

“Oh,” Caroline said, fluttering her fan lightly. “Is your family large?”

“Only I and a cousin residing in France.

Of course, the cousin living in France was me.

“You are an orphan. How sad.” How interesting , she really thought. That meant Caroline wouldn’t have to share the money if she snared me.

Cheeky little wench!

“Would you like to dance?” I asked as the musicians struck up a tune. Her mother looked over and nodded approval, and I led Caroline onto the dance floor. Away from Victoria, she opened up, and the simpering act disappeared. Caroline was well-informed of current events and proved quite insightful.

At the end of the song, I walked Caroline back to her mother and bowed over her hand before taking my leave. Davenport caught up with me as I made my way towards the front of the house. Outside, he threw an arm around my shoulders and chuckled.

“Now that is a first, Jacques. You actually danced with someone. Could it be that you are smitten?”

“Me?” I asked, amused.

“Yes, Marquis Du Mont, you.”

“Ah, Davenport, if only you knew!”

I laughed as we made our way down the street to Whites. Davenport reminded me a lot of Kait and Pari, and I needed a friend like him. He wasn’t a vampire, nor would he be one. I was entitled to my human friends, and Davenport was a good man.

Over the coming weeks, I searched out what balls Caroline would attend and made my way to them. Of course, I nearly always got an invite, I was a bachelor with a title and a fortune behind me.

Nobody knew just how much. But because my solicitor was Jonathon, who only dealt with the very rich, then it stood to reason that I had a vast amount of wealth. Jonathon, the son of a duke, had defied his father by becoming a solicitor and had been disinherited at first. (His life had been intended to be that of a priest, as was common practice in his family.)

Jonathon’s reputation, boosted by many positive comments, and his firstborn’s boldness led the duke to summon him home once again.

I stalked Caroline as she did me. Every ball I attended; I asked Caroline to save the last dance for me. She did, and this became a habit. Victoria encouraged Caroline’s efforts when she heard good reports about me.

I made friends with her brothers and thought they were fairly nice, if not boring, people. James was slightly stuffy and self-opinionated but, on the whole, was a good egg.

Davenport and several others teased me mercilessly, but I got my own back when Davenport fell for a sweet young lady by the name of Margaret. She was just what Davenport needed, and he paid court to Margaret earnestly.

Another of our friends, Andrew, Lord Haughton, was infatuated with a girl, and the three of us all played the same game. Unfortunately, many other men also stalked our chosen. But we were winning through to their hearts. We played the game as everyone else—but in a different way. My friends and I played to win.

In the end, the girls sought us out, and that was exactly what we wished.

Only my little sweetheart could play the game as well as I.

Caroline was totally disinterested, even though she saved me the last dance. She made polite conversation but attempted no other move than that.

Caroline kept me hooked and knew it. She had already had several offers for her hand but had refused them, as they were not suitable.

Caroline looked at me from under her lashes and said that she was waiting for an appropriate offer to come along. One that she would seriously consider. I laughed silently as Caroline was blatantly obvious about who she would contemplate a formal offer from.

Her brother James was not too amused at the game we played. James couldn’t see me as a genuine contender, nor was I serious about his sister, so he thought.

He was correct; I wasn’t in the way they both wished me to be.

Then, one night, a friend of mine, Lord Barrington, held a coming-out ball for his sister, and we were both invited.

Barrington had warned me about Caroline, seeing her coldness for what it was, and had listened to what his sibling had had to say about her. I listened to Barrington’s warning and ignored it. I didn’t want to see the truth, only the game, if only I’d heeded Barrington. Obviously, I was not in love with Caroline. But she held my interest, and I saw possibilities.

Barrington sighed and declared that he had warned me. If I ensnared her, then I was not to come moaning to him a year later about what a harpy I had married.

Married! Ye Gads, who said anything about marrying her?

◆◆◆

A few days later, at Barrington’s ball, when I entered, Caroline was surrounded by the usual admirers. For once, I ignored her as I spotted a familiar face in the room.

Hair piled high in an intricate fashion and clothed in a blue satin gown that showed her figure to its full advantage was Julia.

I marched across the ballroom to push through the crowd that encircled her. “Julia, dearest!” I exclaimed, taking her hands in mine.

“Jacques!” Julia squealed, pleased to see me.

Julia kissed me on the cheek, provoking angry mutterings among the young blades that surrounded her.

“Shoo!” Julia said, laughing. “This is an old friend, and I would like a moment alone with him.”

The crowd dispersed, and I studied her in the candlelight. Julia looked bloody marvellous and was blooming.

Proud of her, I told her so.

“When did you arrive?” I asked.

“Two nights ago, from Sweden. I fancied a change of pace, and London always provides a distraction. I do hope you don’t mind, I’m aware it’s your hunting ground.”

“Of course not, it’s good to see you. Stay as long as you like. After all, it’s been at least three hundred years.”

“Four hundred and twenty-four. But who’s counting?” Julia asked laughingly.

“Not me. Have you seen any of the others?”

“I saw Pari and Emil in Spain, and Tobais and Kait were haunting France along with Li’zel, Seti, and Ami. Other than that…” Julia shrugged delicately.

“Mihal is in London, using the name Michael. Apparently, Mihal is no longer a good enough name. I crossed Eduardo and Julius in Scotland, and other than that…” I shrugged, too, and Julia giggled.

Julia turned and asked behind her fan. “And who are you here for tonight?”

“Must there be someone?” I countered and Julia laughed again, drawing the jealous glances from those that had surrounded her.

“Jacques, I know you. There is a lady. Tell me who!”

“How about if I said Barrington?”

“Barrington!” Julia exclaimed, “Surely not!”

It was my turn to laugh.

“No. It is that young woman looking over here giving you dire looks. Usually, when I enter a room, I approach Caroline immediately. Tonight, I’ve ignored her for the pleasure of your company. No doubt Caroline is trying to work out who you are and if you are a danger to her well-laid plans.”

“Ah, she thinks she had ensnared you.”

Julia turned slightly to face Caroline, glaring across the room at her. At once, Caroline’s face changed, settling into disinterest, and she looked away.

“You thought you would make her jealous. I think it is working, Jaq. So, it was not delight in seeing me that brought you over. I am heartbroken at being used so shabbily.”

“No, of course it wasn’t,” I began and broke off, seeing the twinkle in her eyes. “Would you like to dance Madam Troublemaker?” I asked as the band struck up a fresh tune.

“Marquis Du Mont, that would be most acceptable,” Julia said, taking my offer. For the rest of the night, I ignored Caroline, and she seethed.

Julia encouraged jealousy as she flirted quite shamelessly with me.

Towards the end of the evening, Barrington came over, a pleased and smug grin on his face.

“Jaq! Wonderful news. James Hamilton has asked for my sister’s hand in marriage. He’ll put the question to Eliza tomorrow, but I think she will accept. It is a good match for her, even though James is the third son. Eliza has her own fortune that’ll help them, and I believe James has genuine feelings for Eliza.”

“Congratulations!” I said, pumping his hand, truly pleased.

In all honesty, I hadn’t really paid attention to his sister and couldn’t remember her name until he’d mentioned it.

“Apparently, the courtship has been intense, but Eliza kept it to herself. Eliza didn’t think that I would approve, but James seems a nice chap, and I have not heard anything bad about him,” Barrington continued. “Of course, I have sole custody of Eliza as father is dead and mother, well, you know.”

Barrington finished a little awkwardly.

Oh, I understood. Barrington’s mother had gone into a decline when his father died and was not able to help her daughter’s future.

Barrington took off to find the others who were our close friends and inform them. I laughed, pleased for him, and took my leave of Julia, leaving her my address. I had ignored Caroline all night, and I had no doubt that she was seething by now.

Amused, I left, leaving Caroline with the knowledge that I wasn’t putty in her hands as she had first thought.

As I walked slowly back to my town house, I sensed someone following me, and turning a corner, I glanced behind me.

A shadow flitted into a doorway, and I extended my senses, searching out for whoever it was. Ah, yes, a vampire.

Well, cross me and more fool you.

The silly thing followed again, and I slowed my pace, waiting for the inevitable attack to come. I was just passing the entrance to Hyde Park when it came.