Forbidden Nights with a Vampire(55)

 

They soon had Hermes chained to the wooden table and the table standing on its edge.

 

"We could practice throwing knives," Austin suggested. "Like a circus act."

 

"Good idea." Phil grinned. "But I think it would be more effective after he wakes up." He checked his watch. "That should be in about ten minutes."

 

"Let's find something to eat." Austin wandered into the kitchen area and rummaged through the cabinets. He found a loaf of bread and some chips.

 

Phil checked the refrigerator. It was stocked with synthetic blood but also had bottled water and lunch meat.

 

They sat in the easy chairs, eating their dinner, while they waited for Hermes to wake up.

 

Austin told Phil about some of the adventures he'd had as a former member of the CIA Stake-Out Team. "One time, I shot a Malcontent full of silver bullets and he was still able to teleport away."

 

"Really?" Phil bit into his sandwich. "That's interesting."

 

Austin swallowed a bite from his sandwich. "I asked Angus about it, and he said silver needed to be external to keep a vampire from teleporting. It acts like a boundary that they can't get through. But silver inside a vampire would hurt like hell and eventually kill him. I guess silver bullets would kill your kind, too?"

 

"Yeah. Silver inside me is like poison. But externally, it's not a problem. I can touch it without it burning me."

 

"Roman can touch silver, but he's the only Vamp I've ever known who can." Austin took another bite from his sandwich.

 

"I've noticed that the older Vamps can do things the younger ones can't," Phil said. "I've seen Angus teleport two mortals at once. And Jack and Ian have both managed to teleport me while I was armed with silver bullets." He recalled how Vanda had been unable to teleport him with the silver chain in his pocket.

 

"Yeah, the older they get, the more powerful. I wonder how old this one is." Austin motioned to the prisoner. "Oh, look. He's waking up."

 

The prisoner's body jolted. His chest heaved, straining against the silver chain as he sucked in his first breath. His eyes opened, then narrowed on Phil and Austin. His nostrils flared. He struggled against his chains, shaking the table.

 

"You know." Austin grabbed a handful of chips out of the bag. "I think he wants to bite us."

 

Phil drank some water. "I've noticed they're extremely hungry when they first wake up."

 

"Yeah," Austin agreed. "I heard it can get really painful."

 

Hermes glared at them. "You are inferior creatures," he grumbled with a thick accent. "You think you can hold me? Where have you taken me?"

 

Austin gave Phil a confused look. "Is he asking questions?"

 

"Looks that way." Phil finished his sandwich. "Maybe he hasn't realized yet that he's the prisoner, and we ask the questions."

 

Austin nodded. "They can be amazingly stupid sometimes. You would think they'd acquire a certain amount of wisdom over the centuries, but no—"

 

"Silence, mortal!" Hermes growled.

 

A surge of cold air pressed against Phil's brow. The prisoner was attempting to use vampire mind control on them.

 

You will release me at once.

 

Phil quickly tapped into the power of his inner wolf to keep his mind protected. He glanced at Austin to make sure he wasn't affected. He'd heard Austin was psychic but wasn't sure how strong he was. "Are you all right?"

 

"Oh, yeah." Austin lifted a hand, and a bottle of water flew from the kitchen counter to land in his hand.

 

Phil drew in a sharp breath. "You're telekinetic? You must have more psychic power than vampires."

 

"Yep." Austin unscrewed the top of his water bottle. "It really pisses them off when they realize they can't control me."

 

"I will not be ignored!" Hermes thundered. "Obey me."

 

He hissed at them, and his fangs sprang out.

 

"Now that's just nasty." Austin drank some water.

 

"Really." Phil helped himself to some chips. "Someone should tell him about whitening strips."

 

Another wave of cold air circled about the room.

 

Come to me, mortal. I must feed.

 

Austin gave Phil a wry look. "Do I look like breakfast to you?"

 

Phil studied the prisoner. "I think the hunger's getting to him. He's sweating."

 

"And his legs are quivering," Austin added. "I think he would fall down if we didn't have him chained up."

 

Hermes hissed at them. His arms strained against the chains, his hands fisted.