Author: catstark

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Mom didn’t sleep with all of them. There were only three that she actually slept with.” Her anger bit through her words.

“She let them think she did. They left knowing of her intimately, whether or not they had actually seen her. Isn’t that just as bad? She had to tell them enough of herself to be convincing. And I fell in love with her. When she told me her trick, I fooled myself into thinking it was ok to be with her. Then I saw you, and knew the true power of temptation.”

He sounded like Lucas, but Lucas had had the voices in his head. Donald was a fanatic and possibly insane. During his soliloquy Natalia moved her arms back and forth, to test her range of motion. He’d done a poor job of tying her; she could maneuver her arms to the edge of the chair. She could gather the fabric in her hands. This allowed her to reach her jacket pockets, which still contained her stash of anti-vampire weapons. She needed the knife though, and that was in the pocket on her right side, which was the side closest to Donald.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia felt the calm she felt pass to her lover through her blood. Rather than take it away, his feeding seemed to spread it and complete it. When he pulled away and turned her around to kiss her, she could see the same look on his face she felt on her own.

Vincent placed his hands on her checks and drew her lips closer. Every movement seemed to take a lifetime, but there was no longer any hurry to his thoughts or anxiety to his actions. The kiss was long and drawn out, unlike his usual frantic embraces when he tasted his blood on her tongue. The slow seduction continued, unhindered by the absence of time. Vincent knew that at any moment, someone, probably Joseph, would knock on the door and disturb this calm, slow dance. As time passed and no one knocked, his thoughts faded away and he became one with the touch of her.

Vincent placed on the counter, caressed, and kissed her softly which caused her head to spin. Her smile of earlier continued to grow, until it was nearly a laugh. To laugh, she would have had to think, and the fog of her mind was too complete for something as complex as thought. She knew nothing but his touch and his stroke, as he had somehow found his way inside her. Euphoria set in slowly, climbed up their bodies and surrounded them in a hazy cocoon.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“You wish me to break your control on your woman? And why would that be?” Joseph smiled and watched as Vincent’s hands formed into fists.

“I want a willing, experienced woman with a mind of her own. Not a child who needs to be told what to do at every movement.” He paused, took a breath, and calmed his raging emotions. “Go break my hold.”

Joseph’s smile grew wider. “Does this order supersede the order that I’m not to touch her while she’s yours?”

Vincent grabbed Joseph by his shirt, pulled his friend into a standing position, and stared him down. “I could locate Mierka and have both women for the night. Would you prefer that friend?”

Joseph pulled his master’s hands off his shirt, and smoothed out the wrinkles. He indicated that Vincent should lead the way and followed his master up the stairs to the bedroom. Vincent’s hold on Natalia was easily broken, as she wanted her usual lover and not a stand in.

From Protector of the Grey House:

The first demon bellowed and advanced on Vincent, who watched in terror as the other went for his woman. He had never seen these demons before and had no idea how to banish them. They were taller than he by a head and twice as wide. They were formed by broken pieces of mirror, glass, razor blades and what looked to be hypodermic needles. Their hands were broken glass, with long bits acting as claws. Their mouths resembled sharks’ mouths, with row after row of needles. Their eyes looked like bent spoons. Vincent could see no flesh. The thing before him bellowed and he backed off to assess the situation. Joseph stood by his side, handed him a short sword, and brandished an identical one.

“Help Natalia.” He gave the order as he took the short sword. He had a better chance at fighting this thing than Natalia did.

Joseph shook his head. “The wolves are her protectors. I am yours. I stay by my master’s side.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

“That’s pretty powerful stuff, but if someone has a stronger will, then they might be able to.” She shrugged. “I mean, who has controlled you so far?”

“Vincent, Joseph and Mierka.”

“Do you trust them?”

Natalia opened her mouth to speak, then stopped and thought about it. After a moment she nodded. “I was going to answer yes rather quickly but wanted to think about the answer.”

“It’s still yes, isn’t it?”

Natalia nodded.

“You trust them. Maybe that’s why it worked.”

Natalia nodded slowly.

Rebecca sipped more of her beer and finally spoke again after a few moments of silence. “Look, I’m not trying to tell you what you should do, but Mierka is waiting for you and she wants to seduce and control you.”

“I know. Mind if I talk this out a little?”

Rebecca chuckled. “I think that’s why I’m here tonight. To make sure nothing goes awry.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Edwin yelled the three short lines of Latin he knew and watched as two pillars of smoke formed into hideous beasts in front of him. Christopher taught him the lines when he had placed him in charge, and told the younger vampire never to utter the words unless absolutely necessary. The demons the words called forth were unpredictable at best and would only perform one task for their temporary master before running off.

Edwin stared at the horrors that stood before him, pointed to one then to Vincent. “Kill him.” He pointed at the second then at Natalia. “Kill her.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Vincent smoothed out the deep purple shirt, and tucked it into his waistband. He strapped on the cummerbund, slipped on the fine Italian suit jacket, and buttoned two buttons. He took a calming breath, and felt his scar tighten and the cummerbund squeeze his mid-section. He stared at the dress that hung on the closet door. It was deep purple and went well with her red stone necklace that also hung from the wooden hanger. Natalia was not here. He had not seen her since the night he placed Morgan in the oubliette. She left while he and Anthony talked, and said she needed to retrieve something from the bedroom. She took some of her clothes and left with no word.

Two days ago, she tried to contact Charlie. Why him, he wasn’t sure and didn’t really care. Charlie reported her frantic voice and her short words, and the near scream at the end. He called the number back and nearly ran out of the house after hearing her command. Joseph stopped him, and informed him it was still daylight. By sunset, Charlie and the others were well on their way. Joseph convinced him of his duty. Vincent stayed but cursed himself for letting Diana go. The healer was in North Carolina, on a mission for her house. His woman was dying or dead, and he was stuck here.

From Protector of The Grey House:

“Who is this?” Dominic stepped forward to ask the question. He had a lecherous look on his face as he looked Natalia up and down.

Natalia stepped away from her man, and faced the bold vampire down. He was the same height as her. Natalia stared at him coldly until he looked away and took a step back. She still scrutinized the man, and assessed him as he tried not to meet her gaze. He fidgeted in his new suit, uncomfortable with the tight cotton. It was obvious he almost never wore anything so formal. Vincent had sent his Lieutenants suits and dresses, as he knew that most did not own formal wear. The new clothing made half the assembled look uncomfortable.

As Natalia stared down Dominic, another voice echoed the question. This voice was more submissive, more admiring. “Yes, Vincent. Who is this?”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Natalia took a step closer. The question had been simple, the confusion on Ashley’s face made Natalia rethink her strategy. She had always wanted to help the woman find her place in the world. Maybe now, with no Slayer to interfere, she had the chance. “What do you want out of life? Have you ever really thought of that before?”

Ashley blinked for a moment before she shook her head.

“Do you want time to think about it?”

She gave a terrified look at the people around her. “Here?”

Natalia took another step. “Ashley, no one is going to hurt you unless you try to hurt them.”

The young woman looked around again then burst into tears and fell to the ground. She sat there and allowed Natalia to come close enough to hold her. Natalia’s heart broke as she took Ashley in her arms. She didn’t know what to do for the woman. She looked to Vincent and saw no emotions in his eyes. This was her call.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“He hired two Slayers and a priest to be his bodyguards. He’s going in for heart surgery in two days. One Slayer and the priest will be with him at all times, the other Slayer will be outside the door, watching.”

“How did you learn so much?” Kari sounded suspicious and awed.

“She has her ways.” Anthony’s voice held the ever-present bite as he gave Natalia a hard look. His tone of voice still the others; he would be the only one to question her motives.

Vincent moved to behind Natalia and paced slowly. “How do you know who these people are?”

“I called their names into the hospital. Carl Garvin, Father Sulta, and Donavon.”

The room became hot and sticky with the news. Carl Garvin was more bounty hunter than Slayer. He could be bought off easily; double the bounty usually did the trick. Father Sulta was a crackpot. He didn’t seem to understand that the usual tricks didn’t affect all vampires. Then there was Donavon. He had been around for some years and seemed to understand too well how vampires moved, thought, and acted.

“Has Father Sulta seen you?” Vincent knew of her run-in with the Slayer.

“Yes. But he’s been convinced I’ve changed sides.”