CHAPTER 13 - WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT

MICHAEL

“Ma, we have to do something. I can’t…”

“And you won’t, sweetheart!”  She rubs my arm to try to calm me down. “You and David will accede, then you will have the power to banish Christopher for his impertinence.” 

“But what about Queen Jennifer said?! I didn't mean to…” I blub.

“Of course you didn’t. You never thought you would get Herma, let alone bring it back here!” 

“She said his could be unlocked too!”

“Michael, calm down!” She snaps at me before stroking my face. “I know you didn’t mean any harm, but for once, Chris’s intelligence and his adoration of you worked in our favour, hmm?”

I sniff, then nod. “Yeah, he found the cure by creating a milder strain that keeps it contained and controlled so that I can live my life, well fuck life, as before!”

“Indeed he did…” I smile at that thought, I don’t know how I was persuaded by the orphanage to take Christopher as well as Michael. He doesn’t even resemble us with his blonde hair and blue eyes, but they were always together and they didn’t want to split them up. And at first it was fine, but then as he grew older, he became more interested in being a proper halfblood instead of taking advantage of being the Master sons of the Lord and Lady! I love being looked after, not having to do anything myself. Michael and I are the same in that respect. “...but one of the disadvantages of locking a mind is that it locks away the feeling that were previously had…”

“Pity…” I begin to smile. “...I think he is a fine specimen, and…”

“Michael! He’s almost your brother!” Ma shrieks.

“Almost, but not quite!” I laugh. Slowly she smiles. “So, did you find it? The phial you dropped?”

“No, but we can make up another batch whilst they’re at their oh-so-important, but terribly clandestine meeting!” She harrumphs. “Now come on, let’s go!”

CHAMBER OF ALDERMEN ELDERS, ICELAND - SAME TIME

BRIAN

I glare at Justin, who looks furious. “Can we please have this discussion later?! We need to focus on this now!”

“He is on a replay!” He snaps. “Oh for crying out loud! You did that to him?!”

“Justin!” I growl. “Focus!”

“What is going on here?” Ben smiles. “Oh you are kidding?! You two are having a row?!”

“I am not having a row, he is having a fit of jealousy over a guy I fucked over twenty years ago! And if he stopped reading him, like that, he could calm the hell down!”

“Can you please take this to the ante room and make up?” Alderman Caroline smiles. “He still is having control issues, both his powers and emotions. We won’t reconvene without you.”

I look across at an embarrassed looking Justin and just point. 

ANTE ROOM - A MINUTE LATER

JUSTIN

“I’m sorry!” But it’s too late, he has me pinned to the wall, but I deserve it. “He is gorgeous and…”

“Not interested. Now if you used your reading for good you would know that, and you would know something else as well.” Brian drawls.

“Not...” I frown.

“Try, read him without a jealous eye.” He lowers me to the floor. 

I search for Brandon and cringe slightly as what Brian says is true, not only did his thoughts of Brian vanish as quickly as they appeared but he is thinking about someone else, my eyes widen. “Yeah that.”

“Wow, doesn’t look the type.” I mutter. “Shall we go back then?”

“Nope…” He glides towards me. “...we need to make up remember?”

“You want to?” I ask getting my answer when his fangs retract. “Guess so.” Five minutes later, we float back down. “So apart from that, how else do you know him?” 

“Of course, you won’t know, since you are new to the pure Vamp game. Brandon is the only three quarter vamp in the world.” I blink at him. “And it is him and only him can administer the punishments they have decreed.”

“Did...did he?” I begin as I think of our parents.

“No, that was his father.” Brian pulls me closer.

“How do you know?” I whisper.

“He told me, when we first met, he told me.” He sighs. “Justin, you have got to stop seeing any remotely good looking guy as a threat.” I nod. “And I think we need to go and see Ethan after this meeting.”

“Why?” I frown.

“Did he say how or where he caught Herma?” I shake my head. “But he’s sure he got it from crossing sexual paths with Michael as you put it?”

“Yes. So we’re going to try and track backwards, see where it came from, how it got here?”

“Yep. Now we have settled on that. Tilt head please.” I frown but do as I am told then gasp as he runs his fang down the vein at the side of my neck. He applies pressure. “Oh you smell so sweet, like honey and fresh mountain dew.”

“You can smell my blood?” I moan as his fang tracks up and down.

“And you can smell mine. Try.” I nuzzle his neck. “What’s my scent?” The question is like a gentle breeze on a hot day.

“Musk, rich and heady musk. You smell…” I sniff again. “...of the catacombs of Copper Creehan and musk.”

“We should go back.” He mutters before stepping back. “This is not the place for our first coupling.” I stare at him, then a slow smile blooms across his face. “You little devil! Wait till I get you across that tabernacle!”

LIBERTY PITTS COVEN - NEXT AFTERNOON

GRAND HALL

KING CRAIG

Sighing, I watch Jennifer and Lindsay, wondering why they think me foolish or a dullard. Jennifer is very lucky that I grew to love her in my own way, after she compelled me, for I know she did, but for her to teach Lindsay how to do it, rests uneasily with me. 

“Craig?” Brandon pulls me out of my musings. “Does she really think she has a chance with Mel?”

“Oh yes!” I laugh. “If there is one thing that Lindsay thinks, is that she is a great catch! That anyone would want her. As a matter of interest…”

“Absolutely not! No offence, but just no. But maybe we can make this interesting, I like the look of Mel…” He smirks. “...well?”

“Oh yes, I think you and Lindsay fighting for Mel’s favour will be fun to watch!”

“Will you ever tell Jennifer you know what she has done to you and taught Lindsay?”

“Only if I have to, I don’t see them involved in whatever is unfolding, but I know she knows something. But I can’t quite reach it.” 

“Neither can I. I don’t think we should involve the Aldermen at this point, bit by bit let them let us in.”

“Good idea. But I think we should let the Master Lieutenants know that Le Mont Washington Coven is not the only one with secrets!”

BRATISLAVA AIRPORT - A DAY LATER

BRIAN

I breathe out again, fascinated by the plume of air. There is a thick layer of snow and once more I steady Justin as he stumbles. He’s not said much and I have not read him. This is not the time for that. 

“You need to feed.” I tell him. “Come on, there is a bank across the street.

“Okay.” He lets me lead and once inside, I quickly hook him up and wait for him to speak. “We’re back to square one aren’t we?”

“I am sorry, but it looks like it.” I rub his knuckles. “But King Craig has requested an audience, maybe he can give us some insight into Lindsay.”

“Hmmm. I am glad though.” I say nothing, just wait. “Glad that Ethan died happy and surrounded by people who loved him.”

“If it cheers you up a little bit, Michael got 2% on his last paper.”

“How come?!” He giggles, the first happy sound I have heard since we got here.

“Seems he cribbed the wrong notes.” I smile. “Chris got 97% and David 84%. Gus and JR are waiting for us to come back before deciding on a suitable punishment! They said he keeps asking when we are coming back.”

“Does he now? Well, since he is such an eager beaver, I think a couple of days in Lithglow are in order.”

“What’s in Lithglow and where is that?” I ask as I hook up another bag.

“My place in Australia. I want you to see where I live.”

“I look forward to it.” I murmur retaking his hand, I don’t take my eyes off him for the next two hours, and when I finally read him, his mind is at peace, for now.