Page 24 of Club Blood

Though I would never let him know it, what Carlisle Valore said kept ringing through my ears the entire flight home. I would need to harden, and become the God I was fighting to be.

I could do that.

I never believed in God or religion. It seemed juvenile to believe something was coming to save me, not after what I became. Now I believed in nothing but myself, and the kingdom that would become mine. I was a God, I was my own religion.

I dialed Narcissa’s number again, getting the same voicemail I had the last three times I rang her. Frustrated, I dialed Warren instead.

“Hello?” he practically moaned. I could hear the heavy breathing and panting on the other end, scrunching my nose on my end of the receiver.

“Warren,” I said pointedly. I could hear him moving around on the other end, hushing his partners and finding a room without such loud music pumping through the phone.

“Princess,” he replied in a taunting huff while I frowned. My aversion to the nickname was palpable, its connotations feeding the eternal underestimating of me and my power. Warren was the only one that would ever get away with it, half a dozen years of him being moved around in the Southwestern ranks kept us in constant contact, and I could feel the warmth that radiated from the word when it exited his mouth, so unlike the others that used it. He was more a brother than an enemy, even Nathaniel liked him. So he would be the only one to ever call me that and survive its consequences.

Despite being under different wardens and Keepers, we kept close contact. It helped that he fully understood my quest to rule, and fell faithfully by my side, waiting for that dream to come to fruition. Now that it was written in blood, my position as the Keeper of the Southwest formally recognized, I expected him to arrive at my manor in no time at all. His loyalty to me far outweighed his current boss, and to be frank, he hated the Arizona heat. Warren was far more useful than Narcissa; maybe not as bloodthirsty, or cruel, but equally as effective in his role as she was. He’d make a great addition to the coven, and I’d be happy to not have to kill him for knowing too much. That way, we all won.

“I see you haven’t yet left your drunken stupor,” I deadpanned, all traces of humor gone from my tone, though I’d known he would catch the softness there. My thoughts found their way back to Carlisle as I said it.Power. No weakness. No mercy. I shook my head to right myself again.

“I figured my last hurrah as an Arizona vampire could be spent with…company.”

“Figures,” I noted with finality. I had no interest in learning about his exploits as he took advantage of the conference, or the party caused by Nate’s untimely departure by my hand. “I won’t be long.”

“Then come out with it, Princess. When do you need me there?”

“You’re quite lucky I even want you.” My retort was met by more laughter. “I will be home in the next half hour. I expect you and Narcissa to both be here by sunrise. She isn’t taking my calls at the moment, so you better be the one to get through to her. Then we can talk about what’s next.”

“What did you do to piss her off this time?”

“She’s jealous of my newfound pet.”

“A pet? Oh,Mercy, you really have been up to something. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

I rolled my eyes, “Her jealousy is none of my concern. Truly, she is nothing but a child. I’ve been nothing but clear with my intentions with her from the start. She needs to be careful. I’m finding that Narcissa is becoming too comfortable and free in her conversations with and about me. Any more and she’ll have to be put in her place.”

“Oh, I do look forward to your cruel leadership.”

“I’ll make sure to make it as hard as I can on you both. Are you sure you want to work for me?”

“I’d like nothing more,” I smiled at his confidence. Warren was dependable, predictable, and consistent. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think our partnership had become more of a friendship as the years went by. Not that either of us would name it as such.

“And while I appreciate the promise, Mercy, I’m afraid I’d rather enjoy the promise of my company even more tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Make sure you get a hold of Narcissa,” I reminded him. There was silence on the other line for just a moment before the panting started again. I didn’t wait for his confirmation before I pressed the end button on my cell phone and shoved it back into the pocket of my leather pants.

The plane landed on the strip I’d crafted on the roof of my estate. When the loud engines finally cut, I stood and flattened the wrinkles in my blazer, correcting the button that sat just below my sternum and shifting it so that my breasts were hidden once more. Not that I'd have cared if Narcissa or Cecelia found me in my rugged, aroused state.

I walked down the airstairs, greeted by a handful of my hired help. They shoved water and articles at me, but there was nothing that could keep me occupied for very long. They were lucky they were vampires. If there’d been any humans in my presence, I’d have drained them dry. My blood-high from the conference was quickly waning. I was exhausted, incredibly distracted from the last few days, and coming to the satisfying realization that Vegas was now mine. Everything I could see from the roof of my home, all the lights and the money, all the dirty sins here, they were mine.

I needed blood.

It was then that I remembered that therewasa human in the manor. A human whose blood pumped so heavily in their body that I could hear it from where I stood now. My mouth dried from thirst, the need overcoming me.

So much for my pet, she was about to be my dinner.

I found my feet moving me towards the girl I kidnapped, towards Cecelia. I prowled through my home, slinking in the shadows, no better than the vampires I had warned her about. I so hoped she’d survived the last three days, I hoped she’d stayed alive for me.

My brain was frazzled, my senses heightened as I scented her, the animal in me taking no time to wait as it took control. She smelled like florals with accents of eucalyptus, absolutely mouthwatering. I stopped at the front of her door, my hand reaching out towards the handle. It was utterly silent, nothing but her steady breathing of her from the other side of the door.

I hesitated.

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