Ambrosia (Nectar 2)

“Move!” Celia hissed, “I will kill it!”

Suddenly, Lyle, Sam, and Adrian were all in the space, too, as if they were providing back-up to Tristan. Celia’s throat was in Tristan’s grasp. Celia started to turn blue and reached for Tristan’s wrist. Kyla could see that Tristan was using considerable strength.

“You won’t get my cock, Celia. Those days are done.”

“What is she?” Celia choked out, “She’s not vampire. What the fuck is she? Let me at her!”

Claudio’s voice rang through, “Celia, I order you to back off. You touch Tristan’s pet and you’ll answer to me.”

“Tristan’s pet?” Celia was astounded, “What is she? How did she? No…I don’t give a damn. I’m gonna kill her. You know I have every right with Tristan. I’ll program these minions so they’re all rocking in the corner and sucking their thumbs in about three seconds if you don’t move right now.”

“Let her at me!” Kyla shouted, stupidly, feeling that cold rush bursting again.

“Baby, stop,” Tristan said over his shoulder, still holding Celia’s throat.

Kyla held her tongue and the cold fizzled out.

“Clear this fuckin’ room!” Tristan demanded, “Lock her down and get me and Kyla escorts back to our suite. Now.”

Adrian opened the door and then grumbled, “She’s already played with our door guards. Give me five minutes.”

He disappeared from the room.

Kyla didn’t have a clue what that had meant.

“Is she an un-turned royal, Tristan?” Celia demanded but her voice had gone funny.

“Back off, Celia.”

“Tristan! You need to answer me. Now! I’m warning you…”

“You don’t boss me around, Celia. You know your shit doesn’t work on me.”

“What is her deal?”

“Fuck, Claude... get her locked down.” Tristan bit off.

Claudio stepped up to the group casually, like it was all the same to him.

“Celia, darling. Come.” He put his hand on her shoulder.

She let out a little breath and her features relaxed. She was staring over Tristan’s shoulder at Kyla now. Staring right into Kyla’s eyes. Kyla stared back and her eyes narrowed on Celia.

“I want you to slit your own throat,” Celia demanded, staring deep into Kyla’s eyes, “You will not to allow yourself to see morning.”

Kyla felt a little spark biting behind her eyes but she still had her faculties.

“Do you hear me you little, bitch? Answer!”

Kyla laughed, “Fuck. You.”

“Kyla, shut your mouth,” Tristan demanded, his hand tightening on her waist.

“Is she blocking my orders? Bark like a dog, you little bitch!” Celia was in shock.

Kyla laughed, “Uh, meow,” she said instead, “Now why don’t you moo. You cow!”

“Enough!” Tristan snapped.

“Yes, enough. Tristan, release her throat,” Claudio said.

Tristan didn’t move, “Dagger.”

“What? No. Not necessary,” Celia said, alarmed, “I’m done.”

“I don’t believe you,” Tristan said.

Adrian was back.

“Dagger her, Adrian,” Tristan ordered.

”It’s not necessary, Tristan.” Celia pleaded.

“Adrian, do it or Kyla and I are leaving.”

“If you leave then I can’t help you through the next few trying weeks,” Adrian reasoned.

“Dagger. Her. Now.”

“Just release me. I’m over it. I’ll behave.”

“You won’t,” Tristan replied.

She snickered.

Tristan had obviously read her right.

“You’re getting so strong,” she said with a smile, “You shouldn’t be able to read my mind for another fifty years. What’s happened, Ade? Have you developed some sort of accelerant?”

The room was silent. Kyla suspected that if a pin dropped it’d pierce the silence in the room like a bomb.

Celia glanced at Kyla, “She’s the accelerant? Un-turned royal and an accelerant?”

Adrian stepped up, producing a small jewel-handled dagger that looked like the one Sam had in the hotel room that day.

“Don’t. I’ll behave,” Celia stated, “I get it now…” but Adrian leaned over and thrust the dagger into her lower back and she looked confused for a split second but then went limp. Tristan released her and she sagged to the floor.

Was she unconscious? Dead? Kyla didn’t know.

“Get her out,” Tristan ordered and Sam got to Celia’s shoulders and Lyle got to her feet and they hefted her up and carried her out. Adrian followed.

Only Kyla, Tristan, Claudio, and a server remained in the dining room.

“This has been an absolute cluster fuck,” Tristan snapped at Claudio, still holding Kyla behind him with his left arm that had her plastered to his back.

“I’d say,” Claudio looked pissed.

“Adrian is outta control. I have no doubt that Celia being invited to the compound was a test. He’s coming.”

“It was a test. And look at the results,” Adrian walked in, pointing out he’d heard them, “The strength that came from her, that was a surprise! A very pleasant one.” Adrian gestured to Kyla, “She’ll be strong. She already is. I’ve never seen that before turning. I heard a rumour of it happening once, in my own family in fact, but that was well before my time. I’ll need to dig into the Constantin family history.”

Tristan still hadn’t released her. She was still clutching his jacket, feeling crushed against the wall. He spun around and held her in his arms. His hold was tender, protective, but the look in his eyes? Yikes.