I finished off the blood, which was now warm, and left. The cool night air washed over me as I left the club. I caught a taxi back to the apartment.
I paid the driver and got out, ready to close myself in my room and prepare for a long sleep. As I climbed the steps to the courtyard, I heard a screech echo through the quiet predawn sky.
I stopped and scowled at the owl. He was sitting on the roof of the building next to a TV antenna.
“Leave me alone,” I said. I felt kind of stupid talking to an owl, but I was beyond caring. It was all too much to digest.
Once again, the owl’s screech sounded like, “Sabina.” A shiver passed down my spine. What if Adam was right and this owl was a spy for Lilith? I laughed at myself. Why would the Queen of Irkalla and mother of all the dark races be spying on little old me?
“I must be more tired than I thought,” I said out loud. To the owl I said. “Go home.”
I continued into the quiet apartment, where Vinca had left a light on for me. I collapsed in bed after pushing Giguhl off my pillow. I was out almost before my head hit the pillow.
That night I dreamed of vampire owls feeding on David’s corpse.
14
I’m surprised you need guidance already, Sabina. Surely you haven’t already run into problems.” Lavinia’s voice sounded shrill as it came through the receiver.
I shifted on the hard park bench, trying to relieve a pressure point. The park was empty this time of night, except for a few drug dealers and other lowlifes. They’d make a good midnight snack once I got off the phone. “It’s not really a problem,” I said quickly.
“Well, out with it,” she said. I could hear chanting in the background as the acolytes prepared for midnight mass.
“He wants to feed from me,” I blurted.
Grandmother sighed, a deep inhalation that clearly communicated her impatience. “You’re wasting my time.”
“Can’t I just kill him?”
“Your mission is to infiltrate his inner circle and find out who is spying for him and what his plans are. You will not kill him until you are told to do so.”
I rubbed my forehead. “So I’m supposed to prostitute myself out until then?”
Her voice came through the phone like a slap. “I did not raise you to be weak. Your loyalty to the Dominae supersedes your pride.”
I looked down, ashamed I’d questioned her. But inside, my stomach was churning. Allowing another vampire to feed from you was the ultimate form of submission. All the Dominae’s underlings went through it as a sign of fealty once they came of age. But I’d never allowed anyone else to do it. Some vamps got off on the master and servant aspect of sharing blood during sex, but not me. To me it represented vulnerability—weakness—something I tried to avoid whenever possible.
“If you can’t handle this assignment, tell me now.”
My head snapped up. Her words stung my pride, and I suspected that was her intention. “I can handle it.”
“Excellent. Do not call again until you have real news to share.”
“Yes, Grandmother,” I said.
I pulled the phone away from my ear to disconnect, feeling confused by the emotions jockeying for position within me.
“Sabina?”
I put the phone back to my ear. “Yes, Domina?”
“Do not disappoint me, child. Is that clear?”
My teeth clashed, like my jaw had been wired shut. “Crystal.”
I hung up and went to go take my frustration out on a few of my fellow park visitors.
* * *
When I opened the door to the apartment an hour later, a black streak ran past. I turned to see Giguhl’s tail speeding toward the street.
“Hey! Come back here.” Before I could catch up with him, Vinca ran by. She caught him by the scruff just before he ducked under some bushes.
“Gotcha!” she shouted. Giguhl spit and hissed at her as his paws swiped at the air.
“What the—” I began. Vinca brushed past me as she lectured the cat. The wild-eyed cat mouthed “help me” as he went by.
I followed them in, glad for the distraction from the little chat with my grandmother. “What the hell is going on?”
She turned on her heel and looked at me. She now had the cat under one arm.
“Let me go, you freak!” Giguhl struggled to break free, but Vinca subdued him with a glare.
“What’s going on?” she repeated. “I’ll tell you what’s going on.” Her tone sounded conversational, but I detected cold steel underlining the words. “Hmm, let’s see. First, the demon cat escaped your room when I went in to leave fresh towels on your bed. Then the flea-ridden heap of fur decided to pee on my Maidenhair fern.”
I almost laughed, but her scowl made me smother the urge. She continued to tick off Giguhl’s sins on her fingers. “After that, he used my sofa as a scratching post. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he started humping my heirloom needlework throw pillow!”
I cringed as she pointed out where Giguhl shredded the corner of the couch. “Vinca, I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for the damage.”
“This cat,” she lifted him a little higher, eliciting a hiss from him, “is a menace. You’re going to have to crate him while you’re gone if you want to stay here.”
I was about to respond when Giguhl wiggled free and ran. I watched him go, figuring he’d hide in there until things blew over.
“Again, I apologize. I think he doesn’t like being cooped up in the room for so long.”
“It’s not just that,” she said, crossing her arms. “You totally disappeared last night.”
I sighed. If I wasn’t careful she’d kick us out before I could get my mission done. “I’m sorry. It’s just … well, I got waylaid by a mancy who’s been following me.”
“Still—” Her demeanor changed as she leaned forward with wide eyes. “Wait, a mancy?”
I nodded slowly, confused by her quicksilver change of mood.
“I had a vision about you and a mancy just last night. He has black hair, right?”
“Um, no. It’s kind of sandy blond.”
“Hmm. Was he wearing the color black?”
I thought about it for a second. “His boots.”
“Yes, that must be it. Well, my intuition is telling me he’s going to be very important in your life.” She stopped and looked at me with a huge smile. “I’m getting a major love vibe here.”