Kiss of Crimson Samantha Coville (best short books to read .TXT) 📖

could say something similar. I do keep a bank of value, but not of money. Money is far too easily tracked.”

I lowered my voice even further. But why I did that, I’ll never know. No one cared about our conversation, anyway. “Well, I know you don’t keep a bank of human blood. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here at the ball of a blood trader. So now you have me curious, Master Jerith.”

To my surprise, our dancing stopped. He kept my hand tight in his and led me away from the dance floor and to a corner where a couch sat between two large potted plants. He sat me down and took a seat next to me.

“I would not normally discuss my business so quickly. But you are a forward woman and I think my business and your own mother’s business could work together beneficially.”

I did not like the way he was looking at me or the way he leaned in with dark excitement in his eyes. Even more, I hated how he squeezed my hand tighter with every word. I glanced around the room quickly, but my mother had not yet made her arrival. Why was I so eager for her to hurry up and saunter through the doors?

“You see,” Jerith continued. “I keep a bank of human slaves. I see that look on your face, but don’t be worried. They’re all wretched creatures. Some were starving homeless, some were women of a less reputable business. None of them are missed, and many of them I have saved their lives. They would have surely starved or frozen to death if left to their own devices.”

I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip was fierce. I swallowed hard and hoped my face did not look as blanched of color as it felt. My whisper was harsh and quivered in fear. “What are you possibly doing with them?”

“Nothing as of yet. I don’t have the time or resources to use them to their full potential. But your mother does.”

My eyes went wide and my mouth dropped open. “What could my mother possibly do with something like that?” I was mortified and offended that he’d think we would become involved in anything like that.

He looked somewhat agitated that he had to spell it all out for me. “Your mother’s business runs on stolen human blood from blood banks across the globe. Humans donate blood for any number of reasons, and your mother skims off that supply. It’s quite costly to keep the manpower to get into blood banks, steal from them, and get them across borders unnoticed. Imagine how much more money Madame Leona could make if the blood were sustainably drawn from a supply of humans that were kept on my farm of sorts.”

He grumbled the next sentence, obviously annoyed. “I, unfortunately, do not have the tools or network to properly collect, preserve, transport, and distribute that blood. That is why I propose a symbiotic relationship between your mother and me. But I need your help to seek an audience with her.”

Like lightning, I pulled myself up from the couch, my hand still imprisoned by his. My face turned red with rage and I fumed. “How dare you even talk to me about something as horrendous as that! You should be ashamed!”

Master Jerith was shocked, to say the least. I had all but screamed at him and people took notice. Luckily, the one person that mattered most in this situation was among those who noticed. My mother hurried across the ballroom and slapped the vampire across the face with a resounding smack. His hand finally released mine, and he soothed his cheek with a stunned impression.

“Remove yourself from my mansion and do not ever try to return,” she commanded with absolute authority.

He rose from the seat, but my mother’s glare was hellbent on him. “You don’t even know what happened, Madame. Let me explain.”

She raised her hand as if to slap him again, and he flinched. “I don’t need to know what conversation you two shared. The second a lady is uncomfortable, and the man refuses to release her, is the second that he is not welcome here anymore. I will send letters out in the morning to some of the other traders whom I am sure will be cautious in any dealings with you in the future. Now get out!”

Her voice boomed loud and clear, and he looked to his fellow vampires. None of them came to his assistance. A passing hint of anger crossed his face, and I took refuge behind my mother. As a vampire, he would feel that my mother’s actions as a human against him were unforgivable and beneath him. But his colleagues would not dare stand up for him and risk their access to the blood they craved.

He turned away and tried his best to boldly and confidently walk out the front door. But I could tell his ego had been seriously bruised. His reputation was damaged at best, ruined at worst.

My mother looked to her guests and kept a stern look on her face, but softened just enough to show that she was not angry with them. “I expect the utmost manners when in my house. If you follow the rules, there is no reason you should not enjoy the finest wares and merriment available. Please, enjoy a sampling of what I have to offer.”

The servants entered the ballroom then with large silver trays crowded with glasses of blood. Smiles returned to the guests’ faces as they hurried to grab a cup or even two in some cases. With her potential clients occupied, my mother ushered me into the entryway.

With a hushed voice, she worriedly looked me over. “What happened, El? Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I reassured her. “He was sharing a business proposal to use captive human slaves to harvest blood to sell instead of stealing from blood banks. He shared it a bit too excitedly.”

My mother’s jaw clenched as I spoke.