Thicker than Blood

5. Elias

CHAPTER 5

Elias

T he phone ringing draws a grumble of discontent from me. I have a feeling I should get used to the disruption of my peace until this whole mess is sorted.

I walk over to answer it, if only to make the shrilling stop. “Elias. State your business.”

“Hi. I mean, um, hello, Elias. This is?—”

“Geordi.” Simply hearing his voice makes me smile. I do love a flustered mortal. “What a pleasant interruption.”

“Yeah, sorry to bother you, but I think you wanted me to talk about the partnership or whatever we’re calling it?”

“You’re not bothering me. I am most interested in what you have to say.” I sit in my armchair near the fireplace in my sitting room, crossing one leg over the other. “Go on.”

“Okay, well I don’t know if you’ve heard but?—”

“I haven’t heard a thing yet. Have you?”

“Yeah. I was saying, Meredith, you know her?—”

“I do.”

Geordi blows out a breath. “Right. So she found out the attacks are isolated to our city.”

“Interesting.”

“So it’s a good idea that you and I work together and see what we can learn about who’s behind this.”

“Is that what you want?”

“It was Meredith’s suggestion more than mine, but I think?—”

“What does that even look like? Do we need to gather a group? How do we know who we can trust? How do I know I can trust you?”

“With all due respect, if you’d stop interrupting, maybe I could answer some of your questions.”

A smile spreads across my lips. “Touché. I’m afraid I got ahead of myself. Please.”

He clears his throat. “I think we can keep it between us. I have some research I can show you, and maybe it’ll help you narrow down who might be involved.”

“I agree. Would you like to come to my home? The sun is up, which means I stay in.”

“I thought that was a myth.”

“What?”

“That the sun burns you.”

“Oh, it has nothing to do with that. It’s purely due to my desire to avoid people and bright things.”

He snickers. “Oh. Okay then. I can come to you.”

“Do you need my address?”

“No, everyone knows where your house is. What’s a good time?”

“Whenever you wish.”

“How’s an hour then?”

“Perfectly fine. See you then.”

“Bye.”

I hang up the phone then glance around my home. It’s orderly and clean, of course—I wouldn’t have it any other way—but it’s been a long time since I’ve entertained a mortal. Perhaps I should have a drink or two available that isn’t laced with blood. Benicio will help.

I buzz the intercom, sensing he’s in the lower parts of the three-story Victorian home. I always know when he’s near given the strange history that entwines our lives. Sure enough, he appears in the doorway mere seconds later.

From his disheveled appearance, it’s obvious he’s allowed himself to partake in the fun. I don’t mind it. He’s a loyal friend and a discreet one at that.

“Sir.”

“Am I interrupting?”

If he could blush he would. Instead I’m greeted by a shy smirk. “Not at all. I was simply watching this time.”

“Are the triplets here?”

“They are indeed.” He drags a hand through his dark hair. “Can I help you?”

“I need mortal provisions. Do we have any downstairs?”

“Juice, soda. There may be some tequila left.”

“Bring me some juice and soda. Geordi is coming over to discuss a partnership.”

Benicio furrows his brow. “I don’t know which one that is.”

“He was at the scene. The one who looked the most out of place.”

“Ah. The curious natured man.”

“That’s him. Apparently, the mortals have chosen wisely and decided to accept my help in the matter. Speaking of, have you heard back about anyone specifically involved?”

“No. Many are quick to prove they aren’t involved and remain loyal to you, but none are brave enough to own it.”

My mood darkens slightly. “They’ve forced my hand. I am now obligated to see my threat through to completion.”

“They were warned, sir.”

“I suppose, but destroying one’s own kind is never pleasant.”

“No.” We both pause as a slight flapping noise and soft thud on the roof reach us. “That must be Braden.”

“I thought the gargoyle left us to join his lover in… what was it? Columbia?”

“Argentina. If he’s back, it must have gone awry. I’ll greet him and bring back the drinks for your mortal guest.”

“Thank you.”

Benicio leaves to greet Braden and lead him downstairs while I turn my gaze out the window. I do need to tread lightly with this endeavor. I have no idea who’s behind it or who can be trusted. My bond with Benicio is so pure that I know he’s good, but my bonds are not as vibrant as I’d like with others.

Over the centuries, we’ve all developed techniques to block others out, and even a vampire with as much skill and power as me has trouble reading thoughts and motivations sometimes. It’s honestly not mattered much to me until now. The vampires and other supes have enough natural fear of me not to cross me, but something has clearly changed. I wish I knew what.

Benicio returns moments later with a silver tray carrying a variety of options. Included are two glasses and a bucket of ice.

“I found a package of crackers too.” He shows them to me. “In case he’s peckish.”

“Thank you, my friend. Was it Braden?”

“Yes.” Benicio frowns. “He’s very sad about his breakup, so I dropped him off with the sirens. They’ll take care of him.”

“Good.”

“Are you coming down? They’ve asked about you numerous times.”

“Perhaps after the mortal leaves.”

Benicio nods, but I can see on his face he has more to say.

“Go on.”

“Tristan is here. He’s just as eager as usual.”

Ah, Tristan. “He’s lovely, but there’s something off. I can’t put my finger on it.”

“He’s loyal to you.”

“I know. It isn’t that. It’s something deeper. Hidden. Whatever it is, it keeps me at bay.”

“You should know that he’s very patient. He’s positive that one day you’ll give in and invite him to your bed.”

I chuckle at that. “I suppose we’ll have to see about that.”

The doorbell rings, echoing through the house. It’s been ages since anyone has shown up at the front door so formally. I’m on my feet, glancing at my watch. If it’s Geordi, he’s early. If it’s not Geordi, well… won’t that be interesting?

I swing the door open to find the adorably curious mortal on my doorstep, bundled up to the point where I can only see his face. His cheeks and nose are pink from the cold, and with the snowy backdrop, his hazel eyes pop even more. He’d look absolutely stunning splayed out on my bed.

“Uh, hi. I’m early. Really early. Sorry. I can leave if it’s too early, but I have a hard time waiting around for important things. Do you want me to leave?”

Smiling, I step to the side. “I want you to come inside out of the cold. I had no pressing appointments, so your early arrival is just fine.”

He blows out a breath and smiles. It’s a very genuine, pretty smile. Suddenly I’m the curious one. Geordi steps past me, glancing around the cavernous foyer. His boots are covered in snow, making me cringe inwardly that he’s getting the wood floors wet.

As if reading my thoughts, he kicks the boots off and shrugs out of his coat, which I hang on the rack by the door. There’s a small hole in his sock, revealing the tip of his big toe.

“We can meet in the sitting room.”

“Okay.”

He seems so small in my too-large home, making a protective instinct I haven’t felt in some time kick in. The last thing I should have on my mind is the delectable nature of this man, but he’s right here. I could scoop him up and carry him straight to my bed. Wouldn’t that be a nice change?

My gums throb as the desire for flesh and blood spreads through me, igniting the fading embers of pursuits long buried. It’s been… ages since I indulged. Funny that this wide-eyed mortal stokes the flame.

As he looks around, I smile, amused. His head looks like it’s on a swivel with the way he swings it from side to side, taking in every detail.

“Your home is amazing. It’s like a museum, but more inviting.”

“Thank you. It’s filled with details of my life. Places I’ve been, things I’ve seen. I suppose it is a museum in a way.”

“Neat,” he says, glancing over his shoulder then stumbling on his feet.

I grab his arm to steady him, balancing him with ease. “The floors are recently waxed and a bit slippery.”

“Oh, I’m just clumsy.” He blows out a breath that ruffles the hair on his forehead. “I used to think it was dyspraxia, because I definitely fit the definition of my motor skills being off kilter sometimes, and of course I’m neurodivergent. That’s probably obvious anyway, but it’s not that. I’m just clumsy.”

I tilt my head, listening to his torrent of words.

“I talk too much sometimes too.” He smiles. “Anyway, should we continue?”

“By all means.” I extend my hand to the left and he peeks in that direction, as if expecting a surprise.

As he enters the sitting room, his face lights up. “Gosh, Elias.” His voice is breathy, his smile wide. “You have so much to see. I could spend days here.”

I think I might like that. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”

He turns his gaze to me, his smile slipping into what I think is supposed to be a serious expression. “I have a million questions, so if I ask anything off limits, just correct me.”

“You’ll find there’s very little I consider off limits.”

He clears his throat as his cheeks pink. Delightful. “Right. Should I sit?”

“Please. I have a selection of drinks for you.”

Geordi glances at the tray. “That’s really nice. Thank you.” He takes a lemonade and opens the bottle, taking a sip before setting it down again.

I watch him choose between the settee, a velvet armchair, and a leather chair. He chooses the settee and flops himself down into it, bouncing slightly and smiling. Then he crosses and uncrosses his legs twice before settling on uncrossed.

“Are you nervous?”

He shakes his head. “No. I’m used to being around vampires.”

“Of course. How did you choose your line of work?”

A deep furrow spreads across his forehead and his scent sours slightly. Oh dear. I’ve hit a nerve.

“It chose me. I won’t be taking any questions about that.”

I nod. “Fair enough. I can respect a boundary.” He fixes his hazel gaze on me. “Tell me, Geordi, since you research my kind as a profession, what is your take? Are we mindless beasts driven by a lust for blood?”

“Obviously not. There’s nothing mindless about you. I do find bloodlust intriguing though. Most mortals are either repulsed by or indifferent to the sight of blood, but vampires are aroused.”

“We are.”

“I would be interested in exploring the connection between bloodlust and sexual lust though. I haven’t been given any grant money to expand in that area.”

“I don’t understand. How would you research that?”

“Well, that’s the thing.” He chuckles, shifting in his seat. “I don’t exactly know how to conduct clinical research when it comes to sexual proclivities. What I want to know is if it’s biologically different for you. Is there something that fires or triggers in your mind or your body that differentiates it?”

“I feel different when it’s blood versus sex.”

“I know, but I want to know why. Scientifically speaking.”

“Why?”

Seemingly ignoring my question, he focuses on his drink, unscrewing the top again and taking another sip. A bit of it dribbles down his chin, and as he swipes it away and licks his hand, I sense the slight uptick in his body heat. Interesting.

“I want to know everything about vampires,” he finally says. “Everything.”

“For the purpose of…?”

“Understanding.”

“And exploiting? You want to know our weaknesses so you know how to defeat us?”

He scrunches his face as if smelling something foul. “No. I don’t want to defeat you as a species. I don’t even think that’s possible.”

“But?”

He levels me with a serious expression. “Listen, I know the history. Up close and personal. I know what happened with the initial discovery, and I know what the military did to you guys.”

My chest tightens with the rage I still carry. It’s rare I allow it to bloom, and I won’t now, or I’ll end up frightening the mortal.

“I’m not like that, and most of us aren’t,” Geordi continues. “In my experience, vampires are like bees. If you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone, but if you swat at them, they’ll attack.”

“Accurate.”

“I’m simply fascinated. I want to know how you work, why it happens, and what’s chemically different between you and me.”

“And again I’ll ask, to what end?”

“Knowledge. Coexistence. In our current situation, I’d love to figure out nonviolent ways to work through this. I don’t want to see any more people die. On either side.”

Does he truly care about the plight of vampires? His words ring genuine, as does his body language and scent. He’s calm with me, something I’m not accustomed to at all, which is a positive sign.

“Unfortunately, more blood will be shed. Vampires do not share your desire to avoid it. They will do whatever is necessary to get what they want.”

“I know, but I can try. Maybe if they saw that not all mortals want them eradicated that would help.”

Smiling, I lean back in my chair and cross my legs. “I appreciate your perspective, however, it seems this particular group isn’t interested in peaceful coexistence. They want domination. They want to rule the mortal world and use it as a playground. They want to return to the old ways.”

“The old ways?”

I nod. “Before we were discovered we enjoyed the darkness of night, prowling and stalking unsuspecting mortals. We feasted on their blood and flesh, gorging ourselves until we could take no more.”

Geordi squirms in his chair as a soft whimper slips from his lips. Oh, interesting .

“We killed indiscriminately, choosing our victims based on nothing more than a feral instinct to feed. We watched from the shadows as law enforcement tried in vain to solve their murders or disappearances, all the while blending in with the rest of you, hiding in plain sight.”

Geordi is breathing harder now, his scent swirling around me like a decadent summer breeze of flowers and rich earth.

“But then it all changed. Those girls thought the world should know what they saw and exposed us. You of course know what happened after that.”

“Yeah.”

“The treaty…” I pause as sounds from the lower level reach me. What’s happening?

“The treaty?”

“Right. The treaty took away nearly all of our rights to exist in the ways that are most natural for us. No compulsion, no murders, no sex.”

Geordi swallows hard enough for me to hear it.

“We are slaves to your comfort,” I continue. “We comply because it serves us well to do so. Sadly, we can’t undo the knowledge of our existence, so we find ways to work around it. I’ve benefited from the change, but not all of us have. That’s what you’re dealing with, Geordi. A slave revolt, if you will.”

He’s silent for a few beats, simply holding my gaze, until he seems to form his thoughts into a sentence. “Is there anything we can do?”

“Of course. That’s why you have me.”

He twists his lips then sinks his teeth into the bottom one. Gods, he’s tempting.

“Why do you want to help? I mean, I know you have a stake in it, but you’re going against your own kind, and I know that’s not normal for vampires.”

“It’s very refreshing to interact with a mortal who understands me so deeply.”

He tucks a lock of hair behind his ear.

“The truth is… Shall I tell you?”

“Please.”

I move swiftly, settling next to him. His gasp stirs my desire once more. How I would love to spend days coaxing more pretty sounds from him.

“The truth is, sweet mortal, that I am offended. I’ve been betrayed, and I won’t sit back and allow it. If you want to eradicate a vampire uprising, you need vampires on your side, and that’s what you have.”

Geordi’s body heat hits like a wave as he shifts a tiny bit closer to me. The sound of his blood pulsing through his veins makes my mouth water and my fangs threaten to drop.

“Your pupils are dilated.”

“Are they?” I tilt my head. “So are yours.”

“It… it means you’re aroused.”

“I know what it means.”

He slips his tongue out and flicks it across his lips. “Why? Are you angry or…?”

“Do I seem angry?”

“No.” He shakes his head. “But the other possibility makes no sense.”

“You don’t think I could be aroused by your presence in my home?”

His brow creases. “Well I suppose if you’re less discerning, it could be valid. If you just want blood or something, but you can’t… not with me… be-because…” He huffs a breath.

“Because?” His lips move silently, and as his cheeks turn bright pink, I reach out to cup his chin. “You have no idea how appealing you are, do you?”

Shock registers across his features. “Wh-what?”

I know I’m playing with fire here, but gods of lore, this mortal is enticing. Maybe just one little taste wouldn’t hurt. Certainly, he’s willing. I wouldn’t even have to break the compulsion rule to sample the goods.

I move in, closing the space between us and giving him ample time to object. He remains silent, except for his rapid breathing.

“Sir.”

I close my eyes, silently growling. I turn to find a panicked Benicio in the doorway.

“What is it?”

“Listen.”

I focus my senses, then sit up straight, moving protectively in front of Geordi. “Why is this happening?”

“What?” Geordi asks, his voice slightly hazy.

“It seems there’s something unique about the mortal they can detect,” Benicio says. “They would like to see him.”

“Gods,” I groan.

“I believe they’ll be pacified if they can see the source, and of course, understand your claim.”

I turn to Geordi, who blinks slowly.

“Give me your finger, please.”

He raises his hand, still looking at me with confused eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on right now.”

“I’m about to show you, but first, you need a shield.”

With my thumbnail, I prick his index finger. Geordi gasps, but makes no attempt to get away as I squeeze a dot of deep red blood to the surface. I close my mouth around his finger, sucking the lovely nectar, and my cock instantly swells. All the gods, he is sweet.

“Why are you doing that?” he asks, even as he leans into me.

Forcing myself to stop, I lean back. If just a drop was that good, what would actually feeding be like? “I must show you something, but I had to put my scent on you to keep you safe.”

He releases a shaky breath. “More vampires?”

“Something like that. You’re about to get a crash course in your supernatural education. Would you like that?”

He nods eagerly. “Definitely.”