Skin Trade(176)
If he had wanted to hurt me in that moment, he could have, because I was mesmerized with the damage and that he’d survived it.
“If I could have died of infection, I would have, for there were no antibiotics when they did this to me.”
“If you want to die, wait here, I’ll get a gun and help you out.”
“There was a time when that was what I sought, but no one was powerful enough to slay me. I took it as a message that I was death, because death could not touch me.”
“Everything dies, Vittorio,” I said, and I couldn’t keep my gaze from flicking between the daughter and the father.
“So fragile, humans, aren’t they?”
“Did you bring them with you to use as hostages?”
“I found them in the crowd. I thought at first”-he hugged the girl-“she was a whore, but she is only pretending.” He kissed the top of her head, and she snuggled against him. “She reeks of innocence and untried things.”
“What-do-you-want?” And I let each word hold the anger that I was really having trouble fighting off. I’d have given almost anything in that moment for a gun.
He stared down at the girl as she cuddled against him, her arms deep inside the sweatshirt, wrapping her arms completely around him. She gazed up at him like he was the best thing since sliced bread.
“She sees what I was before. I was beautiful once.”
“Then you do the big reveal, and that’s part of the thrill for you. I get it.”
He spoke looking at me, not her. “I can leave this place with this family or with you. Will you trade your freedom for theirs?”
“Don’t do this,” I said, voice softer.
“You will come with me to save them?”
I looked at the man, with his unseeing gaze, and the besotted girl. “You don’t kill children or men. Unless the men are strippers. These aren’t your victims of choice. Let them go.”
“Should I wake the father up enough to see and know what we do to his daughter?”
“What do you want, Vittorio?” I asked.
“You,” he said.
We stood staring at each other. He had a slight smile on his face; I didn’t. “Me, in what way?”
He laughed, and it was a bitter sound. “Oh, your virtue is safe, Anita; the Church took care of that long ago.”
“Is it about your vampires in St. Louis? Is that why you wanted me here?”
“Revenge is for the small-minded, Anita. You will learn that I think larger thoughts, grander ones.”
The girl began to kiss the ruined side of his chest. She began to make small eager sounds in her throat.
He’d done something else to her, mind to mind, and I hadn’t felt it. I was standing feet away from him, and I hadn’t felt a damn thing. I hadn’t met a vampire in years that could do that to me.
“I have spies in Maximillian’s camp. He knows, and I know now, that Jean-Claude has not given you the fourth mark.”
I fought to keep my face blank and knew I failed by a widening of the eyes, a catch of the breath, a speed of pulse.
“Your master has left the door open for others, Anita. Bibiana wants Max to walk through that door. She believes that if you loved Jean-Claude you would have allowed it and married him by now. She sees your indecision as proof that you haven’t found your true love.”
“She’s old-fashioned that way,” I said, because what else could I say? He’d know if I was lying. Vampires and wereanimals are like walking lie detectors if they’re powerful enough, and he was.
“But do not worry about Max and his bride, for I have decided it is my door to open, not his.”
I blinked up at him, the anger dying under the confusion. I’d thought of a lot of things this nut-bunny could have wanted from me; that hadn’t been one of them. “You want to make me your human servant?”
“I do.”
“Why?” I asked, “Everyone knows what a pain in Jean-Claude’s ass I am. Why do you want to deal with that?” I couldn’t call for help in any way, or someone else died. I couldn’t go all lycanthrope, because it wouldn’t help me. What could I do? What the fuck could I do without a gun?
He laughed again, but this time it was lower, more attractive, more seductive. “The power, Anita. You are the first necromancer in centuries, and with so many other powers.” He moved a little closer, drawing the girl with him. The man followed a step behind like some kind of robot.
Vittorio reached out with the hand not wrapped around the girl. I stepped back. All vampire powers increase by proximity, and especially touch. He’d done things that were almost impossible; I did not want to find out what his touch could do.