I couldn’t help notice how handsome Anton looked as he took my hand to assist me from the car. His Middle Ages garb fit him perfectly. The soft quilted black and gold brocade waistcoat was trimmed in the finest black velvet. The lapels and split cuffs decorated with etched metal buttons. The black suede trousers laced at the calves, just below the knees. Over the knee, cuffed boots of fine-grained leather completed the look.

  “You will be the handsomest man at the ball,” I told him as he tucked my hand to his elbow.

  His thousand-watt smile made my knees weak. “And you will be the belle of the ball, cher.”

  We circulated, greeting friends and acquaintances. Waiters moved through the crowd making sure everyone had a full glass of champagne and offering hors d’oeuvres. Anton stopped to discuss business with one of the attendees and I wandered alone, chatting amiably with any and all who stopped me. And then, I saw her, standing near an open door, flirting with a handsome young man dressed as a Viking. Celine. She turned, feeling my eyes upon her, and gave me a nod.

  I had to admit she looked radiant in her costume, the very picture of a wood nymph. Her gown of green and brown silk chiffon, cut low in the front and back, fastened beneath

  her breasts with gold braided cording. Tiny silk flowers and crystal beads were scattered in random patterns about the material, giving the impression she had just risen from a flowery bower. She had her long hair pulled back and held in place with an elaborate gold wire band, decorated with crystals and silk woodland flowers. At her neck, a crystal cross dangled from green silk ribbon. She looked enchanting, her companion obviously taken by her. To her chagrin, I made my way across the room to greet her.

  “Darling!” I exclaimed. “How wonderful to see you again! What an enchantress you are in that costume.” I gestured for her to spin around and she accommodated me, a pleased smile on her face at my accolades. I sighed. “Oh, to be young again and capable of pulling off such a romantic look.” I looked around. “But where is Fabiene? I cannot believe the beast is not hovering about to fend off the admirers.”

  Anger flashed briefly in her eyes, then she smiled up at the young man standing next to her. “Fabiene is a friend of mine,” she said demurely. Then she gave me a pointed look. “He was unable to attend tonight. Business.”

  I placed a hand on the boy’s forearm and leaned in to speak confidentially. “He’s a police detective, you know. Lead investigator on these horrible murders.” I offered Celine a sympathetic smile. “Perhaps he will show up later, non? I know he would not want to miss seeing you in your costume.”

  “Perhaps,” Celine said. Her sidelong glance at her admirer hinted she was doubtful Fabiene would arrive at all.

  I looked around the room. “Ah, there is Anton. If you two will pardon me?” I leaned in to kiss her cheeks and whispered to her. “Feed on the blood of innocents, cher, and this will not be the last you see of me tonight.”

  Anton handed me a fresh glass of champagne. “What is she up to?”

  “Hunting, of course. Fabiene is evidently working so she is at loose ends. I told her if she fed on him, this would not be the last she saw of me tonight.”

  Anton raised an eyebrow. “And her response?”

  I laughed. “Do you really think I gave her time to make one?”

  We danced to several waltzes, keeping an eye on Celine and the numerous men lining up to dance with her. Anton squeezed my waist and drew me off the floor. Celine slipped outside with a smiling young man.

  “Damn her,” I muttered as we followed behind. “Where is she taking him?”

  Ahead of us, Celine giggled like a young debutante, tugging on her victim’s hand. The path they followed led deep into the surrounding woods where they came to a protective bower Celine had apparently prepared ahead of time. A cashmere blanket laid spread on the ground. She dropped to her knees, dragging her young swain with her, laughing as he produced a bottle of champagne and two glasses he’d filched from the bar.

  “Later, Jeremy,” she purred. “If you do not make love to me now, I will perish from the need of you.”

  The foolish Jeremy tossed his plunder aside and tugged her gown down to reveal her breasts. She made sighing noises as he fondled her, before leaning down to suckle.

  “Kiss me,” Celine begged. He raised his head to do her bidding, kissing her. She returned those kisses, fervently, then nibbled at his jaw, his ears, and finally his neck.

  Anton and I stepped into the clearing as she opened her mouth, fangs at the ready.

  “Did I not warn you, Celine?” I said. The young man, deep in her thrall, made no sound or movement. She shoved him aside, screeching. She shot to her feet, facing us.

  “I don’t take orders from you, you old hag!” Celine shrieked.

  Beside me, Anton hissed in anger. I placed my hand on his arm to quiet him before he choked the surly wench. I drew myself up to my full height and took a menacing step toward her.

  “You dare much, speaking to me that way.” My tone was pleasant enough but she knew she had overstepped herself. I reached out and traced one of her breasts with my index

  finger. Her nostrils flared, then she cried out in pain as I closed my hand around her and squeezed cruelly.

  I lifted her chin, forcing her to look in my eyes. What she saw there made her tremble. “You know little about me, Celine, so I shall fill you in. I could kill you in a hundred different ways, girl. Perhaps a demonstration is in order.” I closed my eyes and pressed my palm against her breast, enveloping it in white heat. The smell of burning flesh filled the air and she screamed in agony. I removed my hand from a breast that was now a charred hunk of meat. I looked at her dispassionately. “Shall I burn the other one off, too? Perhaps Fabiene would prefer a matching pair, non? Or shall I heal you, hmm?”

  Celine dropped to her knees and grasped the hem of my gown. “Please, Lady, I beg you, heal me!”

  I looked at Anton, who nodded imperceptibly. “And you will curb your appetites?”

  “I will, Lady! I will hunt as Anton and Morgan do. No more innocent blood, I swear it!”

  “Very well, child.” My voice soothed her now and I slid the sleeve of my gown back, offering her my wrist. “Feed, Celine. T’will heal you.”

  Her fangs sank into my wrist and we watched as her breast returned to its normal state. “Enough, Celine. On your feet, girl.” I pointed at the young man on the ground. “Release him from your thrall and erase yourself from his memory.”

  As we turned to leave, I gave her a harsh look. “My blood courses in your veins, Celine. Do not disobey me.”

  Chapter Ten

  At last, Fat Tuesday arrived. Noise from the street woke us, so we decided to gird ourselves for a stroll to the Cafe by taking a long, hot shower. Steam filled the enclosure as we took turns soaping one another with our favorite clove-scented soap.

  Anton groaned as my slippery hands smoothed the spicy fluid across his back, over his taut ass, and around his hips to wash his now swelling cock and balls. My movements were deliberately enticing as I stroked him to erection.

  “You will pay for your impudence, woman,” he growled, pulling me to my feet.

  “One can only hope, non?” I laughed as he pulled me to him for a deep, lingering kiss.

  “Scamp,” he scolded, swatting my ass before turning me around.

  His touch was gentle as he soaped my body, massaging my breasts before his hands slid down my body and between my legs. Long, strong fingers parted the cleft and delved inside, thrusting gently. “Brace your palms on the wall, cher, and spread your beautiful legs so I can fuck you.”

  “Mmm,” I murmured as he stepped up behind me. I didn’t know he had the handheld shower until I felt the powerful pulsing between my legs.

  “Use this on your clit,” he ordered. “I love fucking you when you’re pussy’s twitching with an orgasm. You howl just like a cat in heat.”

  I snorted, but took the massaging showerhead and directed it between my legs. He entered me then, pumping slowly as the device began to work it’s magic.

  “Mmm, oh, that’s heaven, cher. That’s it, fuck me just like that.” My legs began to shake and Anton’s hips rotated, stirring me deep inside. “Ah…oh, I’m gonna come, baby. Oh, God, don’t stop!” His cock drove into me as I shouted at him to fuck me harder. The water massager pounded my clit as Anton pounded my pussy, and I came in a frenzy that buckled my knees.

  He caught me before I could fall and I turned to kneel before him, guiding his twitching penis into my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his thighs and pulled him to me, his cock deep in my throat as I nursed him. I felt his balls tighten against the backs of my hands and knew he was almost there. I released him for a moment. “Fuck my mouth, cher,” I urged, then sank back onto his cock with increased suction.

  His fingers fisted in my hair as he thrust against my mouth. “Ah, Lily, I’m co…”

  He always tried to push me away rather than come in my mouth, even though I assured him I enjoyed the taste of him as much as he enjoyed the taste of me. He uttered a hoarse cry and emptied himself into the back of my throat.

  The water was cooling as Anton turned it off. We wrapped ourselves in towels and staggered into the bedroom, giggling like children.

  “Christ, woman, you’re going to be the death of me!” he swore. The very idea of such a thing happening had us breaking up again and we fell on the bed shrieking with laughter.

  “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” I asked him.

  “Oui, madame, I do, and I thank the Goddess every day for giving you to me.” He looked at me for a moment then grinned. “Or should I say for giving me to you?”

  I chuckled and began to dry my hair. “I suppose it depends on how aggravated I make you on any given day, hmm?”

  “Oui, but never so much that I would wish things to be any other way.”

  *

  We dressed casually in jeans. As we crossed Jackson Square, women stopped to goggle at Anton in his favorite old jeans and drop shoulder shirt. Several made comments about his ass and his hair causing me to snicker.

  “Peut-être je devrais établir une cabine et les laisse tapoter votre âne pour un dollar, hein, mon bonbon?” I teased. Perhaps I should set up a booth and let them pat your ass for a dollar, eh, my sweet?

  I could tell by the look on his face he was going to say something impertinent, for it really did embarrass him when women looked him over as though he were an expensive cut of meat. But we passed a group of giggling college girls who screeched and gathered around him.

  “Who are you?” asked a breathless blonde with a Yankee accent. “You’re somebody, aren’t you?”

  He thought about it for a moment, drawing me close to his side. “Oui, peu ceux. We are all someone, non?” Occasionally the subtleties of modern language escaped him, especially when he had a point to make. However, Miss New Jersey didn’t go for his philosophy lesson.

  “Yeah, yeah,” she said, snapping her gum. “But you’re famous, right?”

  I pulled away from him, walking backwards. “Il a un robinet célèbre grand il utilise avec la grande competence,” I trilled, laughing as he blushed bright red. I had told them that he had a famously large cock that he wielded with great skill.

  He shook his finger at me as he spoke. “No, ladies, my only claim to fame is being husband to an impudent redhead.” He gave them a polite nod and stalked me across the square, grinning. “Jeune fille effrontée ! Je barboterai votre derrière pour cela.”

  I laughed. He’d called me an impudent wench and threatened to paddle my backside.

  “Madame!” A petite brunette from the group shouted. “Is it true? Does he?”

  I shrieked with laugher as Anton picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder.

  “Oui, cher, it is true!” I yelped as Anton smacked me on the ass, and waved goodbye to the girls.

  “Put me down, oaf!” I exclaimed as we approached the cafe.

  “Never, you cause too much trouble when you’re allowed to run free.”

  I could picture the shit-eating grin on his face simply by judging the grins on the faces of the cafe’s customers. Not to mention the laughter in Lizzie’s voice as she greeted us. “Bonjour, Anton, Lillith. We saved your table.”

  He threaded his way through the crowd of people to our usual table in the back and finally set me on my feet. I made a huffing noise as I pulled my sweater down, and opened my mouth to scold him, but he yanked me hard against him and kissed me soundly. When he released me, I could feel my cheeks heat as the other customers applauded him. He sketched a polite bow to the crowd, then quite properly seated me.

  “Snicker at me, will you?” he said, all too pleased with his performance.

  Our café au lait and beignets arrived, along with the morning paper and we settled into our morning routine. It wasn’t until Anton gasped, that I was aware something was amiss.

  “The back page, cher,” he said, his voice deadly.

  I flipped the paper over and there it was: “Jeremy St. Germain, 25, son of banking mogul, Phillip St. Germain, found dead.” I scanned the rest of the article, anger boiling inside me. A pair of teens on a late night rendezvous saw his nude body, floating in a Ninth Ward canal. Someone had beaten him. The apparent motive was robbery.

  I snorted. “Robbery. That little bitch. Well, it stops today, right now.”

  Anton nodded and tossed some bills on the table. “We should probably try Fabiene’s first. If you could not sense her intentions, she must have had some help.”

  I gave him a startled look. “But Fabiene? He’s a cop!”

  “Yes, but he is a cop in love. Who knows what he might do?”

  I shook my head. “No, he would not condone murder.” Anton slipped an arm around my shoulder and guided me away from the crowded cafe. “And who knows how many she’s made, Anton. The city could soon be overrun with fledglings.”

  *

  We headed east down Decatur to Ursuline, where we hurried north, past the raucous crowds on Bourbon Street. We slowed as we reached the corner with Burgundy. Fabiene’s house was a one hundred year old Victorian gem. At a little over seventeen hundred square feet, it accommodated three bedrooms and two baths. When he’d first purchased the home, it hadn’t been much to look at, but he’d spent all his spare time fixing it up. When Celine moved in with him, she’d added her touch to the inside, turning it into a warm and welcoming home where we had spent several pleasant evenings. It broke my heart to think the evil little bitch might have sucked him into covering up her crimes.

  Changes in the home were subtle but noticeable to anyone who knew the owner. Long forgotten flowerpots and hanging baskets played host to dead plants. The porch and stoop hadn’t been swept in ages. Most telling were the windows. Once, lacy curtains hung to let in the light. Now, heavy drapes blocked out the light. Even the front door had changed. What had once been a double Victorian door with leaded glass side panels, was now a cold wooden door with only a peephole.

  No one answered when we knocked, but we hadn’t really expected a response. We made a great show of looking at our watches and questioned aloud if they might be out back. Who knew if the neighbors were watching? We let ourselves in the side gate and walked

  around to the back porch. Again, no one answered our knock. I waved my hand at the knob and the door opened. We stepped inside to a silence so complete the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I looked at Anton. He nodded. Celine was in residence.

  We found her in the transformed third bedroom. What had once been a charming guest room, done up in shades of green and yellow, was now a soundproofed dark room.

  Celine opened her eyes as we walked in.

  “I warned you, Celine,” I said as I crossed the room.

  She bolted from the bed and backed away from me. “Stay away from me, bitch.” She opened her mouth, showing me her fangs.

  I laughed. “You think to harm me with those, little girl? Do you really have no idea what I am?”

  “What are you but a tired, old French whore?”

  I turned to Anton. “Would you like to take her or should I?”

  His smile was cold as the grave. “Allow me, cher. I haven’t quite your tolerance for disrespect.” He flew at her then, wrapping his hand around her neck and lifting her off her feet. “Open the curtains, cher, I find this darkness oppressive.”

  I moved toward the heavy blackout drapes and Celine began to beg.

  “Please, Lillith, don’t do this!”

  I turned to face her, furious. “I warned you, Celine! You gave me your word that you would no longer take innocents. You killed that boy! How many, wench? How many have you killed? Moreover, how many have you made?”

  She struggled uselessly against Anton’s steely grip. She was going to die, and she knew it. She laughed. “Dozens! Dozens dead and dozens of fledgings! You’ll never stop them all. Kill me and you’ll never know for certain!”

  “Prepare to meet your maker, fiendish bitch!” I yanked the curtain from its rod and flooded the room with sunlight.

  Vampires who turned to darkness required darkness to survive. The light from the afternoon sun scorched Celine, drawing screams from her that shook me to the core. This girl had been my friend. I took no pleasure in her death. Just once, she screamed Fabiene’s name.

  “Lillith,” Anton called. “Take her now.” He held her liquefying body against the wall as I placed my lips against her own, taking her last breath, and with it her soul, into my body.

  Anton held me as Danu’s arm shimmered into the light, reaching into my chest to wrest Celine’s black soul from my body. The Goddess’s voice filled my head.

  “You’ve done well, Lillith. Bring me her consort as soon as you may and you will have your reward.”