Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Bartlett, Gerry (epub e reader TXT) 📖

course. Please be assured that Patrick and I wouldna mind offering any other service you might need. If I am not being too bold to say so.”

I looked around at the crowd to make sure no one was listening. I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. Thank the gods, coins were changing hands and the men were too busy settling bets to care what we discussed.

“I mean no disrespect, of course, mistress.” Brian stared down at his dusty boots.

This time I was the one who flushed. Brian and Patrick had grown up in the town below Castle Campbell. The mortals there knew about vampires and their needs. They willingly gave their blood in exchange for good jobs with high wages or coin. The casual way the mortals accepted us there was still hard for me to understand though I was grateful for it.

“Thank you, Brian. You understand me very well. Madame daVinci and I appreciate your willingness to serve us.” I ignored Valdez, a looming presence at my back.

“What is this? He knows what you are, what we are?” Florence clearly had read his mind.

“Quiet, Florence.” I hurried her toward the open drawbridge. We were expecting supplies this night and it was open. As soon as we were yards away from the men still noisily discussing the fight, I leaned close to her.

“Yes, he is from the town below Jeremiah’s home castle.” I explained the arrangements between mortals and vampires there. “Surprising, isn’t it?” I kept walking across the drawbridge, our footsteps noisy on the wooden structure. “I hope you have more coins in your purse.”

“Yes, of course.” Florence almost danced down the path beside me. “Angus should have told me about this. Our own willing donatori di sangue.”

I hushed her, though I was sure not even the guards we passed could overhear us—or understand her words. Soon we were on the path that led through the forest and toward the beach. A turn, and the castle was out of sight. I was glad of our two extra guards in the gloom.

“Signore, Madame Gloriana tells me you might be willing to give blood to your mistress or to me. Is this true?” Florence looked up at Brian, her eyes gleaming, and showed him her fangs. Unlike the rest of her, they were not tiny, but long and lethal.

“Aye. Gladly.” He didn’t shrink when he saw the size of them. “I am healthy and have plenty of blood to spare.” He pounded his chest as he had done before the fight. “I have done it many times for others of your kind. It doesna hurt and I like…” He flushed again. “the feeling it gives me. After.”

“Ah.” Florence took his hand. “I hope you do not mind, Gloriana, if Brian is my special friend tonight?”

“Not at all. I hope Patrick will be able to serve me.” I was surprised and, yes, a little shocked at her eagerness. It seemed to be for more than just the blood. Oh, I was imagining that. She was surely loyal to the laird. But then I didn’t know her, did I?

“Come with me, my champion. If you please me, I will please you.” Florence smiled before she walked with him off the path to a stand of trees.

My mouth fell open as I watched them leave. I didn’t dare wonder how Florence was going to please Brian. I turned to the mortal Brian had picked out of the crowd. He was a fine-looking man and I could smell his blood, fresh and free of disease. My own fangs were down, eager to get on with this.

“Patrick, are you willing as well? If you don’t wish to…” I didn’t like the way my voice quavered. I should be used to taking blood by now. It was for my own survival after all. But the Campbell way was still new to me. I’d done it once when we’d stayed at the castle, Jeremiah by my side to ease the awkwardness. In London I’d had to stalk mortals, put them in a kind of daze, then take their blood. Afterwards, I’d erased their memory of it. That had made me uneasy, as if I had stolen something from them, though I always left coin or food for them in exchange. In Edinburgh, the Campbells’ longtime servants had cut their own veins and served us goblets of fresh blood. Truly, it had been a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford.

“Mistress Gloriana, it will be an honor to serve you.” Patrick smiled. “Your guard, however, is looking at me like he might slit my gizzard with that knife of his. Will you call him off?”

I whirled to face Valdez. Yes, he had pulled out a knife. “What are you doing?”

“I am only trying to help you. You need to cut his wrist, do you not? Unless you are in a mood to rip it open like a savage?” He glanced at Patrick, who had paled when Valdez said that.

“You know very well I would never do such a thing. Hand me the knife.” I had my own, but Valdez seemed determined to act hostile about this. He flipped the knife in the air and handed it to me by the handle.

“Since Patrick is willing, I will stand guard while you go about your business.” Valdez pointed to a spot off the path. “There’s a fallen tree where you may sit. I will make sure no one disturbs you. Patrick, Mistress Gloriana wants your blood and nothing more from you. Do you understand?” He gave the man a hard look. I didn’t doubt he’d heard Florence and drawn his own conclusions. Was he making rules for me now?

“Aye. I would never treat Mistress Gloriana with anything but respect.” Patrick pulled off his cap and shuffled his feet. “You have nothing to worry about, mistress.” He glanced at the trees where Brian and Florence had disappeared. “I owe my loyalty to Lord Jeremiah, to all the Campbells. I