Blood Lines: Conduit Page 6

  “Hello, Lucy. Should I check for arsenic in my food?”

  Tad chuckled. “Only if you want to live.”

  Halfway through dinner, Bastian strutted into the kitchen. Copper’s breath quickened and her IQ diminished at the tight leather pants and open, button-down white shirt he wore. Six-pack abs displayed openly. Such a pale expanse of flesh made her want to run her hands over the planes and see if they were as defined as they looked. His erection strained against the leather. He was huge-fucking-mongous. She swallowed, hard.

  “Hello, Lucy. Tad.” He leaned over and kissed Copper until her vision swam. Nothing deep. Not even tongue. How on earth could he make her that wet from a light kiss? She clenched her thighs together. “Hello, Crimson.”

  Lucy had looked away during the kiss and still had her head turned. As if, if she didn’t see it, it didn’t happen. “Hello, Bastian. You’ve been away all day, locked in your room. I missed you.”

  Copper shook off the stupor his lips on hers had left her in. “I missed you, too, love.”

  His smile toasted her down to her toes, alighting delicious shivers. “Missed you, too, babe.”

  Tad paused, his fork in midair. “Any sweeter in here, and I’ll die of diabetic coma.”

  Bastian chuckled, going to the island and pouring himself a glass of wine. He sipped. So far so good. Tad and Lucy were none the wiser to who Copper was. And she seemed unaware that he knew who she was.

  “So when are you going to feed again? Since you turned me down.” Tad’s eyes shut lightly so he peeked through his lashes.

  Bastian choked on his wine, coughing deeply in his chest. Oh, shit. Copper probably had no idea he was a vampire. Talk like that continued, she would. “I’ll eat soon. Not hungry right now.”

  “Oh, Bastian. You need to feed. You’ve allowed yourself to go so hungry while Crimson was gone.” Lucy glared at Copper with pupils like thrown daggers.

  “I will soon. I promise, Lucy.”

  “You should eat some spaghetti. It’s delicious.” Copper twirled some around her fork. “Scrumptious, Lucy. You’ll have to tell me how to make it.”

  Tad looked from Bastian to Copper. Bastian made a motion for him to keep quiet. Damn it all to hell. So much for him being the only one knowing.

  “You open a jar of Ragu. Boil some water for some noodles. Oh, wait, I forgot. You don’t know how to boil water. And we could never allow you so close to all the sharp, pointy things in the kitchen. I keep telling Bastian he shouldn’t even allow you near his fangs.” Lucy’s voice rose several octaves.

  “Lucy.” Bastian’s voice dropped.

  She glared, looking down at her plate of spaghetti. Muttered something under her breath.

  Copper looked from person to person, her face an illustration of puzzlement. She didn’t have enough pieces to put it together yet. But she would if this kept up.

  “I’ll eat later, Crim.” He kissed her again. “I have to run out. Do some work.”

  “OK.” Copper shook back her hair. He wanted to run his fingers through the silky tendrils. His hand reached out but he quickly drew it back.

  “I’ll walk you out, man. We need to talk.” Tad pushed to his feet. “I’ll be right back.”

  They walked out the back door into the cooling evening air.

  “Tad ...”

  “Who is she?”

  Bastian ran a hand through his hair. “How do you know?”

  “Come on, Bastian. It can’t be Crimson. Whoever that is, she has much more insight than Crimson ever had, especially about people. But she’s stupider than hell about things she should know. Like you being a vamp. Tonight’s reaction proved that.”

  “She’s Crimson’s sister. Copper.”

  “Twins? And damn, Crimson and Copper? Their mom must’ve had some good reefer to do that.” Tad leaned back on his toes, stretching out his legs.

  “Yes. Not quite identical. But to you they probably are.”

  “Dammmnn. So Crimson’s still missing?”

  “Yes. I’m still looking for her. Have feelers out everywhere. I haven’t sensed anything that would be a threat to me.” Bastian’s frustrated tone sounded harsh. He needed to find her. He had plenty of motivations. But no leads.

  “Is she looking for her sister too?”

  “I think so. I think that’s why she’s here. And why she’s doing this little role reversal. She probably figures I had something to do with it. This way I can keep her here, contained. Keep her safe.”

  Tad pursed his lips. “I think you need to start thinking of enemies, Bast. Something happened to Crimson. Even as much as I don’t like her, this isn’t like her. She liked this setup too much to book on it.”

  “My enemies are all vampires. I would sense if they came into town. Only thing I’ve picked up new is some newly made ones.”

  “What are you going to do with the sister? Once you find Crimson.”

  Take her. “I don’t know yet. I ... I react to her ...” Bastian stopped. What would he do once he found Crimson? About Crimson and Copper?

  “Like a sailor coming into port with blue balls? Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

  “I’ve never had anything happen like it. And I still can’t read her.”

  Tad sighed. “So what do you want me to do, oh fearless leader? And I take it I’m not getting fucked by you anytime soon? I gave you ample opportunity in the bedroom today.”

  Bastian allowed a smile he was sure looked wry. Tad, so earnest, so young, so like he’d been. “She affects me like no other. I don’t know how I’m going to handle Crimson when I find her. But I have got to explore these feelings.”

  “You could ...”

  “No. No, I owe it to Crimson to find her.”

  “I bet sis freaks about vamps. She doesn’t know about you. Have you thought about how she’ll react?”

  “I know. I’ll deal with that when the time comes. As for what I want you to do, look after Copper. I need her safe.”

  “Well then, I’d better get back in there and make sure Lucy didn’t bean her or find sharp stuff to use on her. You do need to feed. We don’t want you getting too hungry.”

  “I will, Tad. Promise.” Problem was there was only one person whose blood he wanted right now. And she’d freak. One problem at a time, though.

  * * * * *

  Copper pursed her lips. Lucy folded her arms and leaned back in the chair. Shook back that mane of blonde hair. Glared at her with those glowing eyes of brown. A better “fuck you” look had never been given.

  Such an adversarial dinner, sitting across from Lucy at this small, dark wood table in the kitchen. Hard to get comfortable on stiff red cushions. Did everyone have that problem or just her? Maybe the kitchen didn’t like her either because no one else seemed to. So many people lived here with Bastian.

  Copper twirled some spaghetti around her fork. “How long have you been with Bastian?” She counted on her sister’s apparent self-involvement. She doubted Crimson and Lucy had ever had a conversation. This way, asking questions wouldn’t tip Lucy off she wasn’t Crimson.

  “What do you care?”

  Copper took a bite and chewed. “I thought maybe we could get to know each other.”

  “You’ve never once tried to get to know me before.” Lucy’s eyes hooded, shaded by long blonde lashes.

  “An even better reason for us to do it now.” Copper smiled, hoping she had no parsley in her teeth. It would ruin the effect.

  “I’ve been with Bastian three years. He rescued me. Like he does all of us.”

  Rescued from what? Bastian had surrounded himself with a lot of young adults. She’d assumed they worked for him in some way. Obviously not. She took a plunge to ask. “Who from?”

  “My pimp.” Lucy rolled her eyes. “You, of all people, know all of us came from the streets.”

  Copper nodded like she did know. Had she hidden her surprise? Bastian had taken all these people off the streets? What the hell was he doing with Crimson? If he didn’t li
ke people who had sex for money? “Why do you hate me so much?”

  Lucy’s eyes got round and big. Then her face clenched up. “Because you’ll hurt Bastian. And you aren’t good enough to be the dog shit he steps over.”

  OK. “Does everyone feel this way about me?” Yes, let’s establish who Crimson’s enemies were. She ignored the little voice quoting the statistic about more crimes committed against people by someone they knew. It couldn’t be Bastian.

  Lucy nodded. Taking her bite and severing through a meatball. “Yes. Everyone does.”

  That narrowed the field.

  “You should leave again. Take off. Be better on Bastian that way.” Lucy took another snagging bite off her fork. “If you disappeared.”

  “I’m glad to see no blood has been spilled on this fine spaghetti.” Tad walked back in grinning at them. He sat next to Lucy, who gave him a big smile. How quickly it turned into a glare at Copper.

  She sighed. Pretending to be Crimson in a kitchen full of utensils with people who hated her sister’s guts ... she’d better keep her back to the wall.

  * * * * *

  Bastian straddled his bike. A light snap. A twig. From behind him. He slid his helmet on. His nostrils caught the scent. He drove away, but doubled back. Ditched the bike and moved in close.

  The young vamp yawned, chatting on a cell phone. “He left. I’ve seen nothing of the girl. Tell Eva I can’t make things happen.” He snorted, flicking a stain on his AC/DC T-shirt. “I know she doesn’t like nicknames.”

  Bastian waited until the vamp hung up and pocketed the phone into his jeans pocket. Then jumped him where he staked out the back of Bastian’s house. Held him up by his throat, fingers pressing the heavy silver link dog collar into the skin.

  “What are you doing here?” Bastian didn’t need to ask. He could read all the vamp’s thoughts. Dart, his vamp name. He’d been a vamp about two months.

  “Get out of my head!”

  “Evangeline. Well, well, well ... That’s a name I haven’t heard in years.” Damn. The little boy vamp had no idea where his Mistress was. Out of the city. So Bastian couldn’t sense her. “Go tell your Mistress I know she’s here. If she wants me, she should come get me.” He dropped the little vamp on his rear.

  Dart leaped to his feet, one long blond shock of hair obscuring one eye. Psychic tendrils beat at Bastian’s mind, seeking entry. “You might as well kiss your ass goodbye. When she’s done with you, you’ll wish you had.”

  Bastian cocked his head to the side. “You are a cocky little son-of-a-bitch. The only ass I’ll kiss goodbye is Eva’s. And I’d hate to be you and go tell her not only did I find you, but that I know she’s nearby now.” He clucked his tongue. “She’s not quite that forgiving, unless she’s changed with age.”

  Dart’s face blanched.

  “Oh, you want to know who the girl is? She’s my girlfriend, dickweed. And Eva won’t be getting her grubby little hands on her.” Dart had been sent to watch. Damn, they knew about Copper. Well not exactly. They knew someone who looked like Crimson had come back. Dart had been assigned to find out who the hell she was. Bastian would bet his right fang Evangeline had Crimson. She had to. Now, how to find Evangeline? May pretending he didn’t know Copper wasn’t Crimson help in some way. “Now get out of here. And tell Eva, no more spying. Unless she comes here to do it herself.”

  Dart backed away, and then sprinted into the darkness. Evangeline would kill him. Or have others do it. She didn’t take to failure well. He ducked behind some bushes, following the unknowing vamp. Dart might not know where Evangeline was, but maybe he’d lead him to someone who did.

  * * * * *

  Bastian watched from a half a block away. Dart walked up to several other young vamps. One, a long-haired blond, looked familiar.

  They all ducked into the club they’d been standing in front of. Blade’s was a vampire hangout. Flash motion lights beamed colors around the dim, crowded dance floors. Neon glowed, taking attention off dingy walls.

  Bastian quickened his pace, his boots clicking on the wood, rushing not to lose the little group. He’d need to get one of them alone. Someone knew where Evangeline was. Bastian needed to get close enough to read their minds. No one of his line or Henri’s was in town, or he would do it over a long distance. He still could make connections and do some tracking from here, but he required the proximity to get the information he needed.

  The crowded club had wall-to-wall wriggling bodies. Humans and vamps, all pressed together. Even with the air conditioning cranked, the temperature matched the Sahara. The air, perspiration saturated. A cooler shirt would have been nice.

  No Dart. No group. Where had they gone?

  Pushing through the crowd, he scanned. Nothing. He blew out a deep breath. Continued his search.

  In the back of the club, by the iron steps to the upper floor, he found a pile of ash. A silver link dog collar lay buried in it. He pulled it out, fingering. Scenting. Dart’s.

  “Shit.” He swiveled around to scan the club. Long-haired blondie should be easy to spot. Or maybe not. He walked the perimeter. Saw golden hair down to the waist. Grabbed a shoulder. A pixie-faced woman turned around.

  “Sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

  She smiled, her cherry-red lips glistening. “I could be someone else. Anyone you’d like.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  He smiled. “Sorry. Looking for a man.”

  She sighed. “All the good ones are always taken or gay. Or dead.”

  He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You have no idea. Good luck.”

  No blondie. They’d probably left the club after killing Dart. At least, he did have a description of someone to find. If only he could remember why the vampire looked familiar. He made a few calls before heading back to his house. Better than what he’d had a few hours ago.

  * * * * *

  “He’s dust? You’re sure? How’d you keep him from screaming in the club? His tongue? Oh, good thinking. Now don’t you fail me, I’d hate to do the same to you.” Evangeline clicked off. Tossed the phone across the room.

  This plan should have worked perfectly. Except she hadn’t factored in a look-alike.

  Had there been no look-alike, she wouldn’t have had to send Dart to spy. Dart wouldn’t have gotten his stupid self caught. And Bastian wouldn’t know she was near town. The only good news was Dart didn’t know where she was. They’d always met somewhere outside St. Louis, never her place. So Bastian didn’t know everything, but he wasn’t supposed to know this much so soon.

  Evangeline shook back her hair, growling.

  She’d plotted this for years. Surveyed Bastian for weeks, her minions spying on his every move. Had wooed the girlfriend and used her. Now it all stood to ruin because of one little frayed end in the tapestry she hadn’t counted on.

  Crimson refused to tell her anything. Not even torture had worked. Not that she could rely on usual means. Crimson liked to be hurt, liked pain. And for a human, she could take a great deal. She’d pushed the unwilling girl. Sexually. And still Crimson protected whoever had taken her place.

  The identity didn’t matter.

  Bastian believed this girl was his girlfriend. Dart had confirmed that. He wouldn’t be looking. Which ruined her plans for him.

  She turned back toward the bed, her red leather corset cracking at the movement. Mike spoon-fed Crimson some soup. A bite on her breast and nipple healed nicely. Evangeline traced the fang impression. Crimson struggled; Mike dribbled soup down her chin.

  “Oh pet, you have some soup there.” She sighed. “Should I clean it up? Or Mike?”

  Crimson glared sullenly at her and bit her lip.

  Evangeline laughed. “Still fiery, I see. Since I’m done asking questions, Mike, you can clean it up.” He picked up a napkin. “I didn’t mean ... oh, never mind.” She missed Raph. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m done asking questions?”

  “No.”

  Mike scrubbed the soup off
Crimson’s chin.

  “Why not?” Evangeline’s eyes wrinkled, as did her nose.

  “Because you’ve proven you’ll tell me. You like the sound of your own voice.”

  “Pet, pet, pet. You are a funny one. The reason I’m not asking anything more about her is that it doesn’t matter who she is.”

  “Good.” Crimson sipped some more soup.

  “Yes, it is. When she’s brought here, she can tell me herself who she is.”

  “Brought here?” Crimson’s voice trembled. She didn’t like the idea of her double being brought there.

  “Well, of course, brought here, pet. I can’t have her keeping Bastian from looking for you. If he thinks she’s you, he won’t come looking. So soon, she’ll be my acquisition too. And then, we’ll have Bastian in my screws, won’t we?”

  Chapter Six

  Copper pressed a hand to her head. She’d tried talking to every person at the mansion. Crimson had a serious popularity problem. Yet none of them seemed like they wanted to hurt her. The only thing they wanted was for Crimson not to hurt Bastian. Which put her back at the beginning and knowing squat.

  She sat in the dark living room. She had started to wonder if they all liked living in a tomb.

  From her vantage point, she could see Tad had sauntered into the kitchen. One of the other guys, the grunge king, stood in front of the many-buttoned microwave making popcorn. Tad flirted and grabbed his ass.

  Maybe Bastian was gay. And Crimson was his cover story. Because Tad sure was. Maybe Crimson had threatened to out him? But, of course, that only worked if it was someone famous or you could lose your job or something. And Bastian didn’t seem to have any fame. And while he went out, he didn’t wear clothes you’d wear to somewhere that would fire you for being a homosexual. And he mostly went out at night.

  “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

  Copper jumped two feet in the air off the hardback chair with an “Aiieeeeeee!”

  Bastian quirked a smile. “Did I startle you? I’m sorry.”

  “Uh, yeah, you did. God, what are you, a cat? You make no sound when you walk.” She regretted her outburst immediately. Crimson would never say anything like that.