Bliss (The Custos) Read online

  "Hey Preacher." She called over her shoulder; he met her stare looking over his shoulder.

  "Yes Cookie."

  "Get a fucking Mirror."

  "Vanity is a sin Cookie, you should remember that." Preacher was true to his name I swear it.

  "I’m confident, there’s a difference." She said with an edge in her voice but I knew she was joking.

  "Over confidence shadows the soul Cookie. Be confident in how you perceive yourself."

  I had to give her credit, she knew he was fucking with her and she didn’t back down. "I’m confident that I can drive you crazy long before you sin and kill me, an innocent, so settle the score now and buy a damn mirror."

  Preacher laughed because he knew he was beat, fuck this human blindsided me, us. I wished I could go back four days ago. I would have driven faster, made it home ten minutes earlier, and I would have been deep inside of her driving her body to come when the fax came. The end result would be the same but at least then the fire would be sated.

  Refusing to think of her naked and willing like she was the other night I went on.

  "6- Last but not least I will try and always be close but if for some reason I am not and you find yourself in trouble, there is only one rule I live by and so will you. Kill first and ask questions later." I paused to hand her a syringe and vial. "The vial contains enough liquid silver to kill a hundred Vampires. You only need a small amount, small as a speck of sand to kill one. Puncture a vein though, be certain of it because otherwise you will be dead before you can try again."

  The look on her face was simple and calm but she was throwing off some serious emotions. She was terrified and I knew I had gone into overdrive with the info, but I needed her to be on the ball. Then I looked down at her hands and it kinda broke my heart. They were shaking, quivering as she twined her fingers together and tried to appear like she was ok with all I was giving her. Her strength blew me away.

  "Fuck, I'm scaring you." I said and reached for her hand. I was breaking the rules with her but I was overwhelmed trying to keep her safe. Looking at her, her bright green eyes were big and full of 'I can do this’; her pouty lips making me want to scream in want. I brushed my thumb over her hand, stroking gently trying to calm her nerves. "We will always be close Princess. You won’t need to use that vial, it’s precautionary."

  She nodded and her eyes became curious. "How do you know I won’t use it on you?"

  Fuck, yeah good question. I wasn’t thinking strait. I gave her the holy grail of killers and didn’t even think of her turning on us. "Because I trust you enough to know that you believe we really want to keep you safe. Without us you will die." It was the truth and I seen the revelation in her eyes. She pocketed the vial.

  Good Girl.

  I knew Preacher was watching me, seeing what I was starting to feel for her. I wanted her and now I had given her the one thing that gave her the upper hand and his question was the same as hers. Why the fuck was I trusting her?

  *

  London

  Finally at the bar I went to get out of the van and follow Preacher who I enjoyed more than panting over Cacius. Why did I want him? I thought I was past this infatuation thing? Then I remembered he didn’t answer my question. I grabbed him by the arm to stop him and I could feel the steel muscle beneath. He turned and looked at my hand on his and I scooted back against the tin paneling of the not so sheik van. "You forgot to tell me, why didn’t the Vampire Infatuation work with those Jack the Ripper guys?"

  He sighed and squatted on one knee and drew the other close. "Now's not the best time, ask me when we get what we need."

  His tone was accommodating and his eyes too kind and it made me melt sure but I wasn’t a fool. He was using his infatuation on me now, had to be. "No uh-uh Cacius stop because it won’t work." I lied.

  But his stare stayed kind and his voice. "It has nothing to do with my tone or how I look at you, I have no power to control you Princess, the infatuation broke."

  I recoiled and sucked in a deep breath. "What? When?" What the hell was wrong with me if it wasn’t Infatuation?

  He scrubbed his hands over his face and I knew he was keeping something from me. "I'll explain later."

  "Fine then why are you being nice to me."

  He actually looked hurt for a split second but he recovered quickly. "I’m not a dick London. I’m short with you because you think I’m a fiend from hell, that I am a broker for the devil and a Mother Fucker. I wish I could tell you why I act so cold but it's for your benefit not mine. I think it's fair to say that though you want to fuck me, you still hate me and I don’t ever go where I’m not wanted, no matter how evil you perceive me."

  "Is that what you want?" I couldn’t stop the words as they came out at their own volition but I wanted to know. This no infatuation sucked, it was a good fall back. "Is this because of the bathtub?"

  I saw the heat flash in his eyes and my body responded. "God you don’t get it do you?" He said his voice calm but his eyes were strong and angry. "But why would you...." He said barely a whisper.

  "You didn’t answer my question, is that what you want?" My celibacy be damned but I knew I would let him have me.

  He said nothing for like for-ev-er, but when he spoke his voice was deep and laced with need. "More than I should Princess."

  Those words stopped me in my tracks and I leaned towards him open to whatever he would give. I didn’t know where it came from or why I needed him to touch me but I knew if he did I wouldn’t yield. I would welcome it. With my guard down for a brief second it hurt when he leaned away from me, slamming the van door and locking me inside.

  *

  Cacius

  "Damit!"

  "What now?" Preacher asked even though I knew he heard it all, such manners.

  Fucking Preacher.

  "Don’t play dumb Preach." I said before storming inside. He knew me to well; he knew what happened before we knew she was the mark. That night in the club he seen it, I like a fool told him I wanted her, to feed and fuck. Before I made it to the bar Preacher was at my back.

  "You’re a damn fool to not try Cash. Kill the lust with a bottle of your bourbon and talk to the girl, she's sweet."

  This night couldn’t get worse, oh how the mighty have fallen. I a powerful Vampire was being advised by a near hundred year old Vampire Priest on how to get a girl. Oh god how the mighty have fallen. I clasped him on the back, "Thanks Preach I'll do that." And like that I set him off.

  It was nothing to be tossed on your ass twenty feet from your opponent in less than a second at mock speed in a Vampire bar, try that shit in a human bar and you'll be wiping minds for a week. I stood, teeth bared at Preacher who lunged through the air at the same time as I did, our bodies clashed as we both fell to the floor. This would be a doozy, fighting with Preacher always was but before I could throw the first punch he spoke, well more like hissed, "You damn yourself here Cacius Troy, you damn yourself but don’t damn her in the process."

  And it ended as quickly as it began. Preacher honored his nickname because he always said the right thing to make you open your eyes. I let him go and watched as he rubbed his neck where I held him with force to the ground. "I know." I said and walked to the bar.

  Preacher still on my ass sat beside me and continued. "Well what you gonna do bout' it? Let the girl outa' the van Cash."

  I would have given in but I saw The Nex informant and switched rolls knowing Preacher would catch on and play along. I handed the keys to the van to him under the bar. The plan was to run with London, strait to my permanent home in Vegas if anything got bad. Like a snap preacher caught on. "Do not fuck wit me again Lad, or I'll knock you on yar arse." His Irish accent thickened to the point of comedy I fought my smile, but the drunken brawl act paid off.

  "Sit down you dirty drunk." I said back and watched him stumble out the door. I kept my eyes down waiting for the informant to come over but something had him spooked and before I caught on he dashed for the door on
the opposite side of the bar. I was on his heels and followed him out the door.

  *

  Chapter Seven

  Cacius

  Vampires were fast just by nature, but this Nex was maybe six years in and to a Vamp of my four hundred plus years. It was like taking candy from a baby. I caught the tail of his jacket and flung him backwards through the air where he landed with a thump and a groan. Before he had the chance to stand my black boot was at his throat. "Know what happens to a vampire when his voice box gets crushed?"

  The kid like an idiot shook his head no as best he could. "No, let me tell ya." I leaned over him pressing harder watching his eyes fill with terror. I hated these fuckers, baby killers all of them, they raped women and fed from them never taking memories and only killing them by accident or a rare moment of mercy. Torture was fun for these fuckers, they got off on it and they would make London suffer. She was beautiful and funny and vibrant and they would never honor their deal with Walter Chase. He was human and the only thing he had that The Nex's wanted was a young, beautiful woman they could keep as a play thing. At least I thought.

  " .....iw....ewl...woo..." He tried. His voice box already damaged but was still able to heal on its own with time and blood, both he would never get.

  "You'll tell me?" I asked knowing it was what he said, I spoke broken voice box, hell all Custos Mercenaries did.

  The Nex nodded and I eased up a hair. "Tell me what? What happens to a voice box?" Now I was simply fucking with him.

  The Vamp tried to wriggle free but I just pressed harder. "Pussy." I spat the words. "This can’t kill you, but I will if you don’t tell me what the fuck it is you know."

  He gripped and pulled at my boot and I eased up enough to grab him and roll him to his stomach. He used all his power and strength to get free but he was no match for my years. With every year came strength and though against a human he would kill within seconds, against me it was pointless, at my age I could will a Vampire this young to be still with a single thought, I chose to use muscle, always Braun over Brain. "Speak fucker." I roared my voice dark and distorted, hell it scared me the first time I heard it. It was the don’t dick me voice and every Vamp had one. This piece of shit knew what that voice meant.

  "The Nex know you got the girl." The Nex said, his own voice distorted and had I not been about to kill him I had to give him props, he wasn’t begging. He was a rat sure but they all were.

  "What girl?" I lied through my fangs.

  "London Chase soul heiress to Chase Pharmaceuticals. Her Father put the hit out and the Nex know you got her."

  "You don’t know shit." I said and pressed harder, I felt it before I heard his spine break and his cry of agony rang through the night.

  "Cash, they know she's in the van, that Preacher is working with you and that you’re not guarding her now because your here with me."

  I ripped his head from his shoulders before I let him finish. Fucking Nex and their traps. Unaware of how many Nex were watching the van I rushed back and within seconds seen Preacher about to give a Vamp his last rights.

  Another soldier of the damned bum rushed the van and jumped meeting the Vamp in mid air. He was older a couple hundred years and he was giving me a fight. Fine I didn’t mind, too often they coward down and cried like bitches, fights were nice for a change.

  I reached for my dagger, my fighting hand free I palmed the blunt end of the steel and hoisted the wooden end clean into the heart. Another wives tale about vampires is that we fade to dust, which is true but only when left in the sun. Both sides in the war were courteous of this rule because if a body some four hundred years old is left on the side of the road to be found the CSI'ers would be busy for a century. Common courtesy or just the simple laws of war you left the body in the open, but hidden from traffic and let the sun do the dirty work. The Custos never left a man behind, The Nex left them where it was convenient.

  I spun looking for another attack but none came, so I leaned back and watched Preacher work his magic.

  "Tell me lad, any secrets you need to confess, I’m collection' sins before I send yar arse to hell." Every time, he was so theatrical he knew it too the fucker got off on it.

  "I just want it over." The vamp was about to have that wish fulfilled, but it was Nex like these that Preacher showed Mercy. He read the boy his last rights and staked him fast and cleans.

  "Not more n' a year old that one." Preacher said his voice sad.

  "At least he saw the error in his ways."

  "Only God knows." And aint that the truth.

  "What the bloody hell happened Cash?" He asked half laughing.

  "It was a trap for London. This is way deeper than Walter Chase, the Nex want her."

  "Fuck me." Preacher said knowing our fight just got a lot stronger."Guess we get more creative."

  I laughed knowing it was a true statement but we needed more help. "I'll call Leushus tomorrow and tell him what went down see if we can get a little help." Leushus was the Dominus, the leader of the Custos Nex, oldest Vampire known to fight for his soul like the rest of us and he was fucking bad ass.

  I opened the back of the van and looked into the eyes of one seriously pissed off woman.

  *

  London

  "You son of a bitch." I spat and jumped from the back of the van. I knew I had a shot in hell at killing him but I was mad enough to try. "I know it's been like a thousand years since you were fucking human but let me tell you what happens when you lock one in a van in the dead of summer in an empty desert for over an hour." I used the end of my black tank top to dab at my face as I lifted the hair off my neck. My body was covered in sweat and I was aching for some water.

  I watched both Cash and Preacher stare at me like idiots. "Get me fucking water!" I screamed completely hysteric and god bless him and I mean that but Preacher ran like his ass was on fire and came back with water from inside the bar.

  I gulped it down and took the second glass he offered. Finally a speck of hope that I may have calmed down Cash spoke. "Princess, it was my fault I was angry and-"

  "Oh don’t, 'Princess' me. I called you on your shit and the dark ages puffed out of you and taught the little lady a lesson." I stalked towards him and pointed in his face and spoke through gritted teeth. "I am not a fucking child so stop this shit."

  Cash stepped up into my face and his height towered me and caged me between the open doors of the back of the van. "Have you any idea what we just spent the last hour doing?"

  "How could I? You. Locked. Me. In. The. Van!" I may be small but I did not relent from him.

  Instead of saying sorry, he laughed in my face. "Come get me when you want the details. I need a drink."

  "Asshole!" I yelled as I watched him walk back in the bar. I spun on my heels and charged Preacher. "You tell me what his problem is or so help me I walk." I was past the point of anger now; they had driven me half mad with all this he-man save the girl shit. I wanted answers damit.

  But I overstepped my boundaries with Preacher, a line I didn’t know had been drawn and I crossed it. He came at me with rapid force and threw me back in the van jumping in behind me and slammed the doors. "Liston here little girl." He hissed. "I have the patience of a saint but you are getting on my last nerve. While you were in here sweating which we both are very sorry about, we were fighting off The Nex soldiers hell bent on taking you for themselves and fucking your father up the arse!" He roared the last part so loud the metal on the van rattled.

  "You want to know what’s wrong with Cash, I'll show you." And like that my head felt like it would combust into a million fragments the pain was so strong. My body bowed and I flipped back, I felt everything and heard every sound. Preachers voice deep in my ear, "Hang on give it a minute." And like that the pain eased and I seen exactly what he was talking about.

  Images flooded my mind, the night before my abduction at the bar with Chelsea, Brittany and Cassie but at the table with us was Preacher and Cacius,...no wait Cash he lik
ed to go by Cash. I wanted him and he wanted me and holy shit Preacher was totally making out with Brittany as we left. Cash dodging Dan in the car, me on the counter as he went down on me and then that fax, he was so mad about that fax. He suddenly knew who I was and he kicked me out. Prick. Jesus the mall he saved me and I knew it, I felt safe even though he was rude the night before he saved me from....Oh god my neck, my fucking neck was ripped open and I was bleeding everywhere.... Cash begging me to drink, drink now he was screaming....I drank....Oh God....I was a Vampire too.

  *

  Chapter Eight

  London

  "No you’re not a sodding Vampire. He healed the wound you bloody strumpet. Don’t you get it? He wanted you, was drawn to you before he knew you were our mark. He can’t want you Cookie. Don’t you see? He has to have a clear mind if he has any shot at saving your life."