The Watcher, page 18
part #1 of Fleur de Lis Series
They were gorgeous. I quickly put them on. They fit perfectly. Now all I needed was to style my hair and put on some make-up.
I left my bedroom door unlocked and walked past the silver throne chair. My brother's wooden door looked medieval with a carving of a Siren in the center.
“I hope you are dressed,” I said loudly, knocking on the door.
“Come in,” he said.
I turned the large knob and walked inside. Hazel was fixing her tight red dress, and Christian was tucking his shirt in his dress pants. They were standing next to the bed.
“You look beautiful—sister,” Christian said and sighed.
He had not seen me in a dress since Uncle Shu's birthday party, around last Christmas.
“Am I interrupting something?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“No, not at all,” Hazel said with a nervous voice. “You look fantastic. I love that dress and your hair.”
“Thanks.”
My hair was up into a bun, and I let some loose strands fall by my face.
“Hazel just brought me this tuxedo. Nice—isn't it?” he asked.
There was an opened black box laying on top of the bed with white tissue paper sticking out of it. Christian was putting on a black bowtie and staring at himself in the vanity mirror that was shaped like a teardrop. He then inserted his feet into black patent leather shoes that looked expensive.
“Very nice...you look like 007, except your hair is a disaster,” I said.
That was proof enough that he was fooling around with Hazel. I walked around the room, admiring the Gothic designs. His room looked like mine, except for the hunter green colors with gold. He had been drawing and had taped up sketches of vampires from Aaron's yacht.
“Fernan was just here. He took most of the drawings with him. I really couldn't sleep so I watched Aaron. Those are sketches of Guardians he met when the yacht docked—somewhere in Europe. I think it’s Italy. He is planning something and is getting a lot of Guardians involved,” Christian said, putting hair gel on his hair and setting it high.
“Fernan will find out soon—where he is,” Hazel said.
The front of her platinum blonde hair was pinned up, and the back of her hair looked like a cascade, reaching her hips. The mermaid dress she wore sparkled with hundreds of sequins, and her red stiletto heels were five inches high.
“Aaron has also been calling people from his phone. The only problem with that is, I can't hear his conversations, but I did get to write down some names and telephone numbers of the people he spoke to. Fernan thinks they are his human contacts—in Europe. They are tracking them down,” Christian said.
“You have been busy,” I smirked.
“So, have you,” Christian said with a sly smile. He had been watching me—with Zachary. “I guess I was wrong about Sebastian,” he said arching his right eyebrow.
“I guess you were...and you know that's not fair,” I said, trying to compose my anger in front of Hazel.
“Sorry, there have never been secrets between us,” he said with disappointment. “And you shouldn't start now.”
I looked at Hazel. “It's none of my business, and I don't care to know. Maybe we should go downstairs,” she said nervously, trying to prevent us from arguing.
“I wasn't trying to keep secrets,” I said with frustration. “Hazel is right. We should go to dinner now.” It was annoying to constantly be watched, not only by Zachary but also by my brother.
Christian and Hazel followed behind me down the spiral stairs. Zachary was waiting for us in the drawing room. His eyes instantly changed to a glowing aqua-blue as he stared at my dress.
“You look exquisite,” he said and gently kissed my hand.
“So, do you,” I sighed.
His black Victorian tuxedo had a long tailcoat and a thick green ascot tie. His hair was slicked back and tied with a green ribbon. He wore his dragon ring, and on his other hand, a knuckle ring with spikes—dazzled with emeralds which covered most of his middle finger.
“You can almost pass for a gentleman,” Christian said.
“And so, can you,” Zachary nodded at him.
Hazel giggled.
“Are we ready?” Zachary asked looking at Hazel.
“Yes, let's begin,” Hazel said.
“Please, don't be alarmed at what you are going to see. It is our world and what happens when we dine with an Elder. No one will get hurt and everyone will go home safely,” Zachary said.
“What do you mean, everyone will go home safely?” I asked.
“You will see,” Hazel said. “Don't worry, just try and enjoy yourselves.”
Zachary opened the door to the central hall. The tall pillars surrounding the room were covered in tiny lights, and the candelabras on the walls lit the entire room. The antique dining tables were silver and had white tablecloths. The dark wooden chairs had elaborated designs on them. The tables were placed in a U shape, around the enormous room, leaving an open space in the middle where acrobats performed, wearing Gothic clothes and masks designed as birds with long beaks. Aerial fabric acrobats performed above on red scarves, stretching their bodies in ways I never thought anyone could. They had transformed the hall into someplace magical.
An orchestra played music as an opera singer's voice put everyone in a trance. She stood on a high pedestal, wearing a purple Gothic Victorian gown that covered most of the pedestal. Her smoky eye make-up made her green vampire eyes look wicked as they glowed.
Salazar was sitting on his throne chair at the center of the tables. He wore a medieval aristocratic black tuxedo. A large black bow held his slicked hair back. Ora was sitting across from him. She wore a strapless dress with electric blue embroidered designs. Enrique was seated to her left side, matching his Gothic tuxedo vest to his mother's dress, and Fernan sat to the right side of Salazar, wearing a black medieval frock jacket with a blood red vest that had large silver buttons and a silky ascot tie.
We approached the table and bowed. The large mirrors behind Salazar, allowed the people facing the wall to see the performers. Salazar had a welcoming smile as he admired my dress, and Ora's reflection in the mirror showed her lifeless expression. She seemed miserable and bored, being a vampire.
“Good evening,” Fernan said rising to his feet. “Please sit next to me, Skye.”
I nodded my head and walked around the table. Hazel followed me. “That's a beautiful dress,” Fernan said and smiled, holding his hand out for me.
“Thank you, I said, gently touching his hand. Fernan led me to my seat and greeted Hazel, who sat next to me. Zachary sat in front of Christian and me sat in front of Hazel.
“You continue to amaze me. Your homes are magnificent,” I said to Fernan.
“We do aim to please. There are many vampires in this Covenant. My father has two formal dinners a month, inviting 500 guests to each, making sure no one misses the fun,” Fernan said.
Vampire guests danced in the middle as acrobats performed and did flips near them. Tristan was among them, wearing a tuxedo with a tail jacket, and dancing with Suyin Li—the pretentious vampire I met in New York. Her jet-black hair matched her one-shoulder satin dress that reached her right ankle, while the other side revealed her left leg, up to her thigh. Tristan ballroom danced with her, turning her and dipping her seductively.
I wondered if Rachael accompanied Suyin. I looked around the hall. There were too many guests to notice a tall brunette beauty. I examined Zachary's face to see if he knew Rachael was here. He seemed to be calm and interested in Enrique's conversation—not uncomfortable or nervous at all.
“You need not to worry, we are all friends here,” Fernan whispered in my ear. “How do you like your room?”
I gawked into his eyes, remembering I could not hide my thoughts from him. “It's very unique and comfortable. The bathtub is my favorite,” I said.
Fernan smiled brightly.
Charlie arrived with John, wearing modern black tuxedos. They sat at a table next to Salazar with other Guardians that were laughing loudly and drinking beer, mixed with blood.
The music suddenly changed to something more intense. Everyone went to their seats, and the Guardians placed steps at the end of each table. Naked women and men entered the hall, walking in a straight line. They were all attractive and each walked to an end of a table. A beautiful woman with wavy brown hair walked up the three steps and laid on her back, directly in front of us. Her dark eyes stared at the ceiling without any emotions.
In an instant, the acrobats arrived with trays of food. They climbed on top of the table, pouring melted chocolate on the woman and doing flips around her. It dripped on her large breasts and between her thighs. She didn't even flinch. Another acrobat poured a mixture of fresh fruit, starting from her neck down to her toes. Her knees were in front of me. They had waxed her body, removing all her hair, even on her arms.
I stared into Zachary's eyes, understanding what he meant. These people were supper and hypnotized not to remember. Christian's mouth widened in shock, but his eyes gave away his joy as Zachary whispered something in his ear.
“We use our mouths—only,” Ora said, looking at me.
I was surprised, she spoke to me. Her lifeless eyes looked away, and an acrobat placed a glass of red wine in front of me.
Salazar rose to his feet, raising his wine glass. “Tonight is a special night. My son has brought new members of his Covenant that helped capture Bari. We celebrate and show them respect. Aprovechen.” (Enjoy.)
“Salute,” everyone said raising their glass and taking a sip.
Salazar leaned forward and began tasting the chocolate and the fruit around the woman's breasts. All the guests were now enjoying their dinner. I peered down at my dress, thinking how pretty it was and how ruined it was going to get. Christian didn't mind staining his new tuxedo. His head dove in, tasting the fruit on her leg and licking the chocolate.
I carefully tasted the fruit on top of the woman's thigh, trying not to let my lips or tongue touch her skin. Zachary licked her thigh, smiling at me, then he penetrated his fangs into her leg. Enrique bit the side of her stomach and so did Fernan. Salazar extracted blood from her nipples, and Ora favored the woman's neck. I didn't know where to look. I froze in shock, then I glanced at Hazel, who was indulging herself on the woman's toes. Blood dripped down all around her naked body, mixing with the chocolate and the fruit.
“No mas” Salazar said, loudly.
Everyone stopped and licked the wounds on the women and men, healing them. They wiped their faces with cloth napkins as the acrobats helped the people climb down from the tables. More acrobats approached us, quickly removing the beverages, the tablecloths, and the dirty napkins, replacing them with new ones.
Christian was stunned but excited. “You missed a spot,” he said to Hazel, touching his chin and smiling mischievously.
Hazel wiped her chin. “Is it gone?” she asked and turned to look at me.
“Don't listen to him,” I said.
Hazel gave Christian a hard look and laughed. “You're a mess,” she said.
He's the one that had chocolate on his neck and collar with fruit stuck on the buttons of his shirt.
“No, not me...this makes me look sexy,” Christian said, rising to his feet and moving his hips like a stripper.
Hazel smiled, while her eyes undressed him.
“Behave yourself,” I griped, slamming my hand down.
Enrique and Ora had the look my uncle gives us when we are acting like dreadful children.
“Okay,” he muttered, sitting back down with a serious facial expression. “My sister is the only one in this room with a clean outfit. Now that just isn't fair,” he snickered, glaring at me.
I moved my lips without saying a sound in Chinese, “Bi zui (shut up).” I rolled my eyes away from Christian and looked at Zachary.
“I can always buy you a new one,” Zachary said.
I thinly smiled. Chocolate and blood had stained his white collar and green ascot tie.
The music changed again but to something more soothing. Another group of naked people entered the hall. This time a man with an athletic body, tousled brown hair and hazel eyes, laid in front of us, facing the opposite direction of the woman who was here a few minutes ago. His ripped abdomen was directly in front of me.
“Isn't he yummy?” Hazel said with glistening eyes.
“B negative” Enrique sighed with approval.
Enrique's eyes glowed green around the rims of his pupils. He was the youngest vampire in the room. His youthful skin was radiant, making him look more angelic than Fernan.
The acrobats came back with trays filled with delectable rolls wrapped with rice. A female acrobat elegantly jumped on the table and poured brown sauce on the center of the man's body and on his legs. Three other acrobats carefully place the small rolls on the sauce. It was not sushi, but rolls filled with meat and vegetables. Without hesitation, Enrique's canine teeth ripped into the man's thigh. The man did not flinch. His facial expression revealed exhilaration like he was having a heavenly dream. Hazel was moaning and enjoying the man's chest, biting into his nipples.
“These rolls are awesome,” Christian said with food in his mouth.
“Try it,” Zachary said, waiting for me to eat before he fed.
I nodded my head and licked the sauce dripping down the man's ribs. I moved my tongue toward his belly button. Zachary's tongue touched mine. He sucked my lips, tasting the sauce, and then he bit into a roll, placing it into my mouth. It tasted great. The meat had Spanish seasoning and the flavors popped into my mouth.
Zachary's fangs slashed into the man's side. He drank from him, healing his wound after with his long tongue. Blood dripped down his chin and his fangs remained protruded. His aqua eyes glowed brightly. He looked beautiful. I know that sounds crazy but blinded by my infatuation—he was not a monster, but an extraordinary creature to behold.
Dessert was served next. A caramel colored woman laid on her belly, while the acrobats placed pastries and vanilla ice cream on her back, buttocks, and legs. She didn't feel the cold from the ice cream. She had her eyes closed and was in a deep sleep as the vampires fed on her. The ice cream was outstanding. Zachary fed me pastries with his mouth and then bit into her side buttocks.
I didn't feel uncomfortable anymore, and I also didn't mind that my dress was ruined. After the woman was healed, she woke from her deep sleep—elated and walked off the table in a trance-like state. The acrobats cleared the tables and ended the event with expensive vintage port wines and a variety of after-dinner liqueurs. We laughed and drank wine for the next hour.
“Will you excuse me? I need to use the ladies room,” I said to Fernan.
“Of course, it's to the right. You must follow a narrow hallway down, to the end. It's a bit of a walk,” he said.
Vampire’s eyes stared with curiosity. They all seemed to be inhaling deeply as I passed them by, checking to see if I had vampire blood in my veins. I made a right into a narrow hallway that was dark and only lit by a few candles. The bathroom door seemed to be far away and lit by a chandelier, hanging above it.
The heavy wooden door had extravagant designs engraved on it. It slammed hard behind me. The bathroom floor was made from grey stone. There were two gold sinks mounted to the wall, shaped like shells, and a large mirror above them. The stall door was covered with the same wood and design as the outside door. I grabbed a small towel and placed it underneath the elongated faucet, wetting it. I wiped the food stains on my neck and tried to remove stains from my dress.
I saw a flash of an acrobat, wearing a mask that looked like a crow. Yellow burning eyes penetrated through the almond-shaped slits of the mask.
The heavy door slammed shut and a female acrobat, wearing black tights, a velvet cape, and high leather boots, walked toward me. Underneath the crow mask, her vampire eyes were gleaming yellow. I wondered what she wanted from me, and I was ready to hurt her despite the two glasses of wine I had.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
She removed her mask. Her hair was tied back. “Rachael,” I said in shock. “Let me guess...you are still stalking him,” I said with a sly smile.
“You think you are the first woman he has fooled around with—behind my back? He always comes back to me. He loves me,” she said.
I could see the hatred in her eyes. “You are so pathetic. Move on and move away—before you get hurt,” I said.
“You don't scare me. You're white trash and a freak,” she scoffed.
I saw red. The anger rushed through my veins and ended at my fingertips. Her haughty laugh pierced into my soul. “Freak,” she kept saying.
With rapid speed, I pressure pointed her lung, her spleen, and then her jaw. She did not have time to groan in pain. Her body fell forward and with fury, my knee impacted her nose—breaking it. She cried out on the floor, blood gushing from her nose. I pulled her hair hard and grunted into her ear. “Leave us alone!”
Zachary rushed into the bathroom, pulling me back from her. “Let go,” he said to me.
I held on tight to her hair, ripping pieces from her scalp.
“She's crazy,” she screamed. “What are you doing with her?” she grunted, holding her broken nose.
I saw the fear in Zachary's eyes. Rachael was a bloody mess.
“Go inside!” Zachary said, holding on to my shoulders. “I will talk to her.”
“She started it!” I groused.
“I know, just go inside,” he demanded.
I walked back slowly, trying to compose myself. I didn't mean to hurt her. I let my anger get the better of me. I could hear my Uncle Shu speaking—more like lecturing me—how to control my emotions. Always reminding me, I am a lethal weapon. Zachary was disappointed in me. His dark blue eyes said it all. Rachael's game had worked—upsetting me like that brought the worst out of me.
Club music was playing, and the central hall's dance floor was packed. Christian was the center of attention. He was break dancing in the middle and battling with Charlie. He managed to bring some light into Ora's eyes. If anyone could make her laugh it would be my brother. Christian did the backspin and ended it with the spider. Charlie did the moonwalk, the arm-wave and then moved into a hand glide. Salazar laughed and clapped next to Fernan and Ora.
