Cathedral (Cradle of Darkness 1)

A sculpted brow arched, Jade’s hands coming to her hips. “You want to play board games and watch a movie?”

Is that not what humans did? Yes. Yes, it was. Jade loved human things, human toys, human bodies. Modern human customs…

It was adorable, reminded me of my long-lost youth.

I drove the point home. “If you’d rather, there is a hunt planned throughout the premises for tonight’s entertainment. The humans are to be set free from the pens, led to believe they might escape, and chased for sport. A great prize is being offered to the vampire who gathers the most ears.”

Like me, she knew what the prize would be “A night with me…”

“There is no greater prize than you, Jade.”

Shifting her weight, my love took a step toward her bathing chamber. “I don’t want to terrorize humans and cut off their ears.”

Exactly my point. “Then we’ll stay in and avoid unpleasantness.”

As she soaked in a tub crafted of solid gold, as she washed off the other male and her disgusting perfume, I chose her clothing for the night. Modest silk pajamas and a blue robe to adorn her limbs.

Hair wet, face devoid of paint. Purely herself with the artifice scrubbed off, she took a seat, drank her wine, and faced me over the game board.

Of course, I let her win.

The film of her choosing was Seven Samurai, a movie so long it assured the sun would chase me away before the story concluded. Smirking, I allowed her this rebellion, horrifying her a moment later when I drew her feet to my lap and began to carefully paint her toenails a soft pink.

I didn’t need to read her thoughts to know she grasped it was this or be fucked by a creature she hated even more than herself.

I’m not a doll, her eyes screamed. You can’t just dress me up and paint me!

Blowing on her toes, I ignored the silent protest, too caught up in the fact that I was touching her, that the arch of her foot rested on my palm… that it might be centuries before I’d be permitted to do something so intimate again.

Before dangerous thoughts might follow on that wave of realization, I switched off feeling. I became blank. Then I met her eyes and stated, “The new feeding schedule will be enforced starting tomorrow—every evening, under my supervision, until you can learn to feed without killing your prey.”

Lips curling, a hint of undescended fang catching the light, Jade threatened me like a kitten poking a tiger. “I thought you wanted me to feed from you.”

“The option stands.” Chest puffing out, arms flexing as if I’d already had her pinned, I smiled right back. Unlike my timid kitten, I let the full length of my fangs slip down. “But even at your worst, you don’t stand a chance of overpowering me.”

“We’ll see.”

So I offered my wrist, knowing she’d reject potent blood half the females in this flock would kill to taste.

Nose in the air, she turned her head. Predictable. Adorable. And mine for another two hours.

Chapter Ten

When the sun’s approaching rays began to pinken the sky, I felt the burn itch and scratch anywhere flesh was exposed. Still I sat beside my Jade, her film nearing an end, and her easy snores divine.

She’d fallen asleep in my near presence, a thing that had not happened since she was a child.

What a human thing to do. After all, vampires didn’t sleep; not in this way.

We became dead, we even rotted. Another reason immortal vanity was an endless cycle. Wake, bathe and deny the rotting truth with paint, and silk, and rare jewels.

Coffins were not entirely out of fashion, they kept the smell at bay. Until our eyes opened, until that heart began to beat again, whatever damage done in our rest immediately mended so long as we fed. Death reversed. Beautiful under the pus, tempting once the worms worked free… I don’t miss the days of digging a hole underground when moved to slumber.

In those foundling years, sleep could last for months. But with age came freedom from the grave.

With the passage of time came extravagance.

A windowless room where I might lay naked so expensive clothing would not smell of decay. Solitary and hidden in the hive while death took what it felt it was owed. After waking, bathing was a chore and a luxury in this era. I recall going years at a time, stinking putrefaction stuck to my furs. Not that it would be noticed under the foul odors unwashed humans emitted.

Even when circumstance required I’d lived in the mud, I’d always had a penchant for cleanliness. Typically, when I’d dined, I’d devour a family person by person, leaving the most industrious to wash, stitch, weave, or prepare whatever I might require.

Often enough, that person was female.

Had they performed to my standards, I’d even turn them so their service might continue. Well, unless they refused to stop weeping over their dead husbands, brothers, fathers, children. A lesson all vampires learned young. Don’t waste eternal life on those who might bear an endless grudge.