Chapter 10
Drifting
ALEK
“The dress suits you.” Alek said when Lanias entered his study.
He’d had the servants drop clothes off in her room during her shower.
Seeing her wearing the clothes he’d purchased pleased him.
He noticed her hair had been pulled back, the slight curl to it clearly an effect of her shower.
He glanced down; her feet were bare. He oddly appreciated the sight of them, “I wasn’t sure it would fit. ”
“It’s not my usual style,” she said placing a hand on her hip.
With her other hand she plucked at her sleeve. “Very virginal, I feel like I’m a sacrifice,” she said offering him a shrewd look. “Is that what I’m to be? A virgin offering.”
Alek smirked. “Not many would believe it.”
She shrugged, walking forward she took a seat across from him without an invite. “What others believe is the last thing I care about. What I need is a protector, and what I want to know is if we have a deal or not?”
“Didn’t I make it clear I have every intention of making a deal with you?” Alek replied casually while taking a seat as well.
“Vampires make deals with blood,” she countered. “You didn’t take a drop of my blood and left me without the sense of closure.” She lifted her chin, “I don’t like the feeling of being left hanging.”
“You are used to being in control,” he said watching as she narrowed her eyes on him. “Here, you’re not. I am.”
She quirked a brow at his words, “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”
He brought his right hand up to his mouth in an attempt to hide his curling lips. “I can’t say I’m not.”
“Don’t enjoy it too much, you don’t know what I’ll make you do once I have you in my hands.” A flash of her white teeth punctuated her statement.
“What makes you think this deal will give you complete control over me?” he mused aloud.
Even knowing that he would do anything for her she only had to ask. But that admission would give her a hint to his weakness. He knew better than to give this willy Witch across from him any advantage of the sort.
She sighed. “Alek, I’m tired and I have a lot of ground to cover so, are you going to make a deal with me or not?” she demanded.
He already noticed the darkening under her eyes that spoke to the fatigue she was fighting.
“Where are we anyway? Don’t you live with the rest of the Jackals in that dorm?” Lanias asked looking out the window beside her.
He shook his head, “Not any longer, my contract ended with Tiller, and now I’m handling other business that needs settling.”
“What kind of business?” She inquired casually, but Alek knew her better than she thought. The Witch’s ears were always perked for information she could use against someone. “Aren’t you some big shot Vampire in Veil City.”
“I wouldn’t use those words exactly. My sons have done well in executing my orders and replacing the Slavic’s with a covenant of their own order.” He didn’t feel the need to hide his son’s achievements.
“You know I’ve met Sorin before and I still can’t believe he’s your son.” A smile came to her lips. “He didn’t like what I had to say very much back then, I wonder if he remembers that time, I skewered his hand to his desk for being rude.”
Alek contemplated the memory, then decided he wasn’t going to introduce her to Sorin until after she was given his mark.
Otherwise, his son would act on his hatred and see only an enemy Witch.
He remembered hearing the story, but at the time he hadn’t known what Witch had been so cocksure but as he now knew Lanias, he wasn’t shocked in the least.
“Anyway, if you’re intending on having me stay here, can I get a ride to my apartment so I can grab a few of my things? There are some materials I need to pick up.”
“There is one thing you have yet to tell me and that is what exactly I’m helping you with.” And why your body was protected with Surrem magic. He left that last bit unsaid.
“I’m looking for someone,” she answered easily enough.
Those dark eyes empty of anything like nervousness or worry.
“Though I have no idea where to start and I’m not even sure if it’s worth all this effort. But I don’t think I can rest easily if I don’t take some action.”
“Does this matter pertain to why I found you in a crater at the center of the city?” He probed lightly.
“Maybe, but I only think I should share the particulars with my partner. You’re not yet that are you,” she said coquettishly.
He held back his bark of laughter; she was a cool one. “Indeed.”
“Indeed.” She repeated.
“Dmitri,” His son stepped out from the corner where previously there had been no one.
“Yes father,” his son said glancing at Lanias who glanced at him with a bland look. She recognized him as the man who’d come to the room with Alek.
She found herself observing his heterochromia eyes of blue and grey.
“Take Lanias to her apartment so she can get her things, and return her here with no stops in-between,” he ordered.
“Good choice,” she said standing and walking over to his son’s side. She looked him up and down before glancing at Alek. “I can say this; you Vampires make beautiful children.”
He smirked, “Would you like to make one?”
Her eyes widened just as she was wrapped up in shadow and her shape dissolved.
Once she was out of sight, his smile dropped. “Have you looked into it?”
Andrei sighed as he walked casually from the wall. “She’s been hunting down a man named Stanthos for the last two months.”
Recognizing the name, Alek stiffened. “Why was she looking for this human?”
His son shook his head, “I’m not sure, I couldn’t find any connection between the two.
Then again as you’d warned, her past is hard a puzzle, much is hidden.
A lot of hexes and memory charms have been used.
Some don’t even remember the case of the school bus that was hit by a land slide in the same way.
I spoke to six people each had varied stories. ”
Stanthos. Why would Lanias need to find the butler to the Surrem. Alek had searched for him at one time but swiftly had given up when he realized it was futile. His time was better spent killing Surrem.
Instead, he used the blood of his first kill to track them down. He clenched his jaw, what connection did Lanias have with those pests. “Keep looking, and when you find something new let me know immediately.”
“Will do.” With that Andrei left.
Alek could forgive many things but not the people who killed his people. He’d never forgive them for as long as he lived.
Lanias
Entering her apartment, Lanias barely looked at the mail that was piled near the doorway.
Dmitri followed her silently inside; she wasn’t sure how she felt having such a staunch shadow.
Some reckless part of her wanted to bolt, just to see the look on his face.
Her magic wasn’t ready yet though and getting caught would be more annoying than worth it.
Heading directly for her room, she wondered if this is how it was for Eliza when she’d run away with Malcolm.
She couldn’t help smiling at the thought, though she wasn’t being “kidnapped.” No matter how Alek thought he was taking advantage of her situation.
She was the one using him.
There was no way she could fight those damn Surrem alone. The memory of the pain she’d suffered was still fresh in her mind.
And one thing Lanias wasn’t, was stupid.
The best thing to fight against a god-like being, was an immortal who had a penchant for violence. She entered her bedroom, only to feel her shadow still behind her. She turned around, “Is it a custom of your kind to follow a woman into her bedroom?”
He frowned, “I was told to keep you safe.”
“Oh, no. I might trip and fall in my bed. Are you going to fall in with me?” She said her sarcasm was thick. “I don’t think your father wanted you to protect me in every situation.”
She gave him a slow once over. “Of course, if you insist, we may test the limits.”
He took a quick step back, those brilliant blue and silver eyes moving away from her. “I will wait here.”
She smirked, “I guess you’re not as brazen as your father.” With that she turned and entered her bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind herself.
Giving her room a hard once-over she clapped her hands together. The appearance of the bedroom disappeared revealing two men seated on a couch that was facing a map on the wall. “How long have you two been here?”
Jion glanced at his brother, his all-white eyes holding amusement. “Since you nearly died fighting a True One.”
Lyon shook his head, snacking on chips that he had in a bowl on his lap. “The fearless Witch being near death was interesting to watch.” He tossed a few chips in his mouth, watching her like she was a live video.
“I allowed you both to live with me and this is how you two treat me.” She clicked her tongue, as she marched toward the closet. “Unseelie are obviously not worth housing.”
“We offer you protection, but only if you give us the key we need to return to our realm.” Lyon said blandly, from where he sat now stealing a chip from his brother. “You needed to understand there are consequences in not giving us the key.”
“Well, I am here to tell you,” She shouted from the closet. “I’ve found someone else to watch out for me.”
Lanias poked her head out glaring at them. “Since you two cannot be trusted, and like I’ve said a thousand times before, that “gate” and “key” don’t just happen. The Prophesy was nothing more than a key code my father left his friends who might have wanted to return home.”
She retreated into the closet and manually grabbed her suitcase and started throwing clothes in it. “If anything, I need to figure out how to control this gift of mine.”
Once finished grabbing some clothes she knelt down to drag and place the suitcase inside the fake room. She then entered her bathroom. “Not that you two care. You’re both too obsessed with going to a realm that may or may not exist.”