Minty Read online

  He kissed her one more time and said. “Listen to Rad and Misty. They have been through this before. There are special clothes to wear. Rad will also expect you to be a surprise to someone. I know you will make me proud.”

  He was gone. The limo took her back to the house. Misty met her and drew her aside. “Minty, I would like to take you over to the lab. We know that there are some similarities between you and me, but it isn’t like we came from the same parents.”

  She took Minty’s hand and led her down the stairs and along the lighted hallway. “We have a lot of problems here with water.” She pointed out a couple of pumps that were running quietly. “No one builds below ground in Louisiana—the water tables are at ground level and sometimes above. We actually brought in huge cement pipes and built this tunnel to keep the soft mud and water out so that we could travel hidden from one location to another, so our nightwalkers could move around comfortably in daylight. You probably know that most of them can go out in the sun, but the younger they are the more uncomfortable it is.”

  Minty looked at the door she had spent the night behind with her Master, but said nothing as they went down the hall. At the end they entered a hallway that had many rooms leading off of it that she could see into, as they had glass on the hallway side. They seemed to be labs or computer rooms. She recognized some of the equipment.

  Misty entered a room with a comfortable computer set up including several monitors. She sat down and motioned Minty to pull up a chair so that she could sit beside her.

  “This is where I do my research. Here, look at these sites—this is where I followed the trail back to where you and I were dropped off at the orphanage. Then look here.” She brought up on another screen what were probably DNA sequences. “This one is me, this one is you. Up on the top screen is a normal mortal, beside it is a normal nightwalker. As you see, there are a lot of differences, so we don’t see much in the way of relationships. But yours and mine are similar. Yet we are different from both the ones above. So it looks like we are possibly the third intelligent life force on Earth. Yet there is something that draws nightwalkers to us.”

  “Wait.” Minty put her hand on Misty’s shoulder. “I just learned that there are really Vampires. I am still getting my head around the fact that my lover is one. You are sitting here telling me that there are a whole bunch of them and that these others…” She pointed at the lab workers out in the other work areas she could see through the glass. “You are telling me that some of these are Vampires or at least know about them?”

  Misty turned in her chair to look at Minty. “I am so sorry. I get wrapped up in my own work I forget about people’s feeling. I forget how it felt when I found out Rad was a nightwalker. It was a big adjustment and I was so scared, so angry. Now you got a double whammy. Not only are there nightwalkers but there is also a relative of yours, even though you had been told all your life that you were an orphan, alone in the world.”

  Misty started hitting keys and bringing up files. Minty looked at them and turned to the keyboard in front of her.

  “Does this work?”

  Misty smiled. Of course her relative would work computers. She flipped a couple of buttons and Minty was into the computer.

  * * * *

  So this was where Rad found them for the next two days. They were searching for their beginnings and they were searching for others. They took their meals here and they spoke a language that both he and Marco did not understand, but any geek would have loved it.

  In the meantime he and Marco made arrangements for their trip to Rome. The only thing that they found unusual about Minty was she requested the lights be turned off in her bedroom. She also needed a night mask. She explained she could not sleep except in absolute darkness.

  One of the servants reported blood on a nightgown in the breast area. When Misty questioned Minty, the woman apologized. Explained she cut herself shaving her legs, happened to grab whatever was handy. She offered to pay for the gown but Misty just laughed. Money was not a problem for a woman attached to a Council Lord.

  Finally, entering the computer lab, Rad broke them apart. He announced it was time to go. Minty was put on a plane, going the long way through Atlanta to Switzerland via SwissAir. Here, she was met by special servants of Rad’s, who dressed her then drove her in secrecy to Rome.

  Radames made a formal request to be heard in front of the Council. He and his mate, along with an entourage traveled through New York direct to Rome. They stayed in the usual hotel, but in one of it’s finest suites with service sent over from some members of the Council. The clothes that were to be worn to Council were unpacked. Arrangements were made for the meeting.

  The time of the meeting was to be at midnight. This was a compliment to Radames as their most powerful enforcer. Misty dressed in the long white, low cut dress, as did her female attendants. All the females put on floor length cloaks. They pulled up hoods that covered their heads, hid their faces. They joined the men all dressed in black with the dress warrior swords at their belts.

  Six entered the elevator, buy seven exited. No one noticed the extra female in the cloak. They took a limo to the building. Even though it was midnight, the building was lit up. There were people in the lobby. The elevator was waiting for them.

  As they entered the conference room, Radames stepped forward. Everyone else held back, the women keeping their hoods in place.

  “I thank the Council for attending my meeting. I request an official roll call.”

  There was silence in the room. Besides the five Council Lords sitting in their chairs, there were attendants and servants. Some of the Lords kept an attendant at their side at all times, a Lieutenant who acted as a protector and sort of a symbol. There were also females, one a mate.

  Calling of the roll wasn’t totally unheard of, but it was usually reserved for more formal meetings. One nightwalker raised his hand. A servant stepped forward and a small gong rang.

  “I am Chisim, Council Lord.”

  “I am Staven, son of Staven, Council Lord.”

  “I am Alexander Bider, Council Lord.”

  “I am Adromeda DeMedia, Council Lord.”

  “I am Medero Melano, Council Lord.”

  The servant rang the gong one more time and announced formally. “The Council is complete, all in attendance, meeting is to commence.” He stepped back.

  Radames took the hand of Misty. As she stepped forward she unhooked her cloak, letting it slip to the floor. She had her hair up and the white long gown was beautiful on her, with her neck exposed by the low cut of the neckline.

  “I formally present my mate—she has not met any of the Lords except Alexander Bider. Lord Bider she knew as a friend. May I now present my mate to you as respect to your position?”

  Alex nodded his head. Rad placed his hand on Misty’s neck. Misty nodded her head in the correct manner.

  “I would like to make a second presentation. It concerns Lord Bider. I should like to present for him to the Council his chosen mate.”

  Misty stepped back. Another figure stepped forward, letting her cloak fall to the floor.

  “Minty Macik, may I formally introduce you to the ruling Council? Lord Alexander Bider, whom you know so well. But I need to formally introduce the rest that you are meeting for the first time.”

  She laid her hand on Rad’s arm. “Kind sir, and Lord Council, I mean no disrespect, since I am not familiar with protocol at this exalted meeting, but I have already met one other Lord. I met Lord Medero Melano when I was kidnapped and held in a warehouse in Kansas City, Kansas. He asked me if I knew Lord Bider. I am sorry Lord Melano, I would have been more truthful with you if I had known your position on this Council.”

  Alex immediately flew across the table with a knife at the neck of Medero. Medero’s Liertenant was trying to protect his mentor. Rad was on top of the table moving to see that no one interfered with Alex and Deck, the Protector of Alex. Deck was also on the table, knife out, his back to his Lord so n
o one could approach from behind. The two men with Alex drew arms and gathered to protect Misty and Minty as they pushed the two women against the wall in a defensive movement.

  The servants ran from the room. The three remaining Lords were on their feet. All three had protectors in front of them, but Chasim stepped forward and slammed something hard on the table causing everyone to freeze.

  “Rad, Alex, does the female have proof?”

  Alex sat down on his heels in front of Medero, with the knife that had moved from the throat to the area of the chest protecting the heart. Medero was pressed back in his chair as far as he could go. The arm of his Liertenant, which had reached over the chair with a blade, had Rad’s knife pinning it to the back of Medero’s chair.

  Rad stepped back as he drew out another blade, still standing on the table. He also pulled out a phone and brought up a screen, pushed a video, handed it to Chasim. It showed the warehouse, the rescue. It showed the interrogation of two nightwalkers. Chasim watched it twice, handed it over to Staven who watched it with DeMedia looking over his shoulder from his chair.

  Chasim sat back down. “Can we have order?”

  Alex shook his head. “No. This scum has brought a deep insult on my female. Through that action upon my name, I demand the right to dust at this instant. I will face whatever penalty the Council decides thereafter.” He pushed the knife until a thin trail of blood showed thru the white shirt of the fancy outfit the Council Lord had chosen to wear.

  Chasim shook his head. “We are trying to be civilized.”

  “Then you should have started with this piece of shit. One of his men put a bruise mark on the face of my female. They handled her. They submitted her to indignities by not allowing her privacy when she need bathroom usage.” The more he talked the angrier he became, the deeper the blade went. Everyone heard the moan from Medero.

  Chasim looked over at Alex then up at Radames. “Lord Bider, we have seen some impressive proof. It saddens us. There are already precedents in place for actions against Council Lords. It is best that we take that route. Please sit down. Let us put that into place.” He spread his hands placating and hoping.

  Alex looked at Rad. He then turned to look at his female, finally at Chasim. With his most photographic smile but without looking at Medero, he pushed the knife forward. Medero was dust. Rings hit, rolling, but for the rest there was only silence.

  Alex stood up on the table next to Rad. They both turned, walked to the end and dropped down with grace. Rad did not turn but Alex looked back. “Lords, I think we have just set a new precedent.”

  Finally Radames turned and scowled at the Council with the retinue that still remained at the other end of the table. One servant was helping the nightwalker remove the knife that had his hand pinned to a chair back.

  Rad’s voice was low but could be heard by all—more important, it was felt in their heads. This was different, this was a strength he knew they had never seen before. “This is the second time we have been betrayed by someone on the Council. This is the board that is to rule, that is protect us. You need to elect another—you need to put into effect some checks to make sure this no longer can happen. If you don’t, I and Alex will be glad to act as a monitor for all of you. Consider this not a threat, but a fact.”

  He turned and reached for his expanded family. They all left quietly.

  Epilogue

  Alex entered his home in Rome. It was on the outskirts of the old city where it was cool. Although the villa was old with history, it was new for him, as he had always stayed in the hotel when he was required to attend conference business.

  His mate had refused to stay behind in the New York penthouse that she had refurnished. It had a new room outfitted with electronics that he did not intend to ever understand. She simply put her foot down and refused to be away from him for the long periods that he needed to be in Rome.

  So, much to the relief of his headaches and everything else, including one night when she actually refused to go to a dark room, he had given in and bought a palazzo to please her. She had set to work remodeling, it including outfitting another computer room.

  The twilight was setting in. The lights were on throughout the house, but he could hear the voice of his mate. “I don’t care, you are a bumbling idiot. I want you out of here. I will finish the job myself. Get out, now.” She had a lovely voice, but in anger it could stop traffic.

  He smiled as he headed in the direction of her voice. He was passed by several men, carrying boxes of equipment, hurrying to leave. They were accompanied by several servants. One stopped to bow to him.

  “May I serve you, sire?”

  “No, I am going to my female—close up the house and retire. We will need privacy this evening.” Alex went down the hall with long steps.

  He found her on her knees, her head under a counter with wires hanging down from above. What he saw was the beautiful shape of her rear, raised up, moving back and forth as she balanced on her knees, her head lower as she tied wires together to a box on the floor.

  “That is a position I want you in later tonight.” His voice was husky, his canines were throbbing as they pushed out.

  She jerked, then started backing out. She finally got far enough to be able to raise up on her knees, turn around and give him a big smile.

  “Alex, my love, these Italian electricians don’t know anything. I am so sorry, I didn’t hear you coming.” She jumped up, threw her arms up around him, kissing him deeply, as if it was still the first time and not a year later.

  He laughed inside and kissed her deeply but he felt a need arise as his body reacted to the soft female pushing against him. “Let’s go to the bedroom, I have a present for you.”

  He took her hand and they started down the hall, down a stairway to a lower level which finally led to their bedroom. It was one they both had created. It was theirs, but it was beyond description because it was for his dark side and for her dark panic.

  He led her to the bed. “As I said, I have a present.” He pulled out a black velvet box that had a small gold crest on it.

  “Alex, you spoil me.” But she reached out, taking the box to open it. Inside was what looked like a beautiful necklace. It was gold, almost sixteen inches long, with plain leather attachments that would close like a belt.

  The links were each about half an inch long and they were beautifully heart shaped with an engraving. There was scrollwork around the shape of a knife on each heart. But when the item was turned over, there were sharp barbs on the back side, one of the top and one at the bottom of each heart, making a long row of fangs the length of the necklace.

  She gently took it out and held it and looked up at him. “It is beautiful, but what is it, exactly?”

  He smiled. “It is called a Cilice, they are made by nuns for the use of some devote Catholics who feel they must have pain to pay for their sins and evil thoughts. I requested this one especially made for you. I told them exactly what design had to be put on it as it will replace the knife, but this will let the knife always be with you.”

  “What would you have me do, Master?”

  “I am going to turn all the lights out. In the dark you will strip and place the Cilice around your upper thigh and pull it tight until it draws blood. We will continue in the darkness.”

  She shivered. In her mind he heard no pain no darkness no pain no darkness. But before the lights went out he saw her smile.

  About the Author

  Many would call M. Garnet one of those Grande Dames who has led a long and exciting life and must now sit in comfort with a secret smile as those around her are extremely polite and careful with their language and sexual innuendos.

  Married thirty-one years to a Soldier of Fortune (oops we were not supposed to tell anyone what he did, but he is dead now, so what the hell), her lovers included a professional golfer, a highly successful nightclub owner, and of course a sports bookie. She has traveled to most countries and still plays poker, but now she prefer
s it from her small office, surrounded by her Mac, her PC and her flat screen Sony with Cayo, her King Charles Spaniel, begging for attention.

  Her long and interesting life, starting as a child on an old fashioned farm in Kentucky, tours through foundries and automobile assembly plants, running a International Engineering Consulting Company, has all given her a wealth of detail to draw from to add to the background of the stories she puts on her ‘puters.

  She can be reached at [email protected]