The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 38/The arrival of the great duchess

After the departure of Bratchet, things settled back to 'normal,' if living with Vampires could ever be considered normal. Outside, it was a soft autumn. After reading about myself, I began to worry if I was turning evil. I realized it didn't matter. I had found someone who I think loved me, and I loved him. I had to be part of his world because he couldn't be part of mine. If that meant I had to punish scum like Thame, who more than deserved it, then I didn't have a problem with that. I could play the cold-hearted beast in front of the vampires. This was, I think, what was really worrying me. I was so convincing playing the frozen-hearted witch from hell that I wasn't totally sure I was still acting all the time. I wasn't sure I cared much anyway.

Recently, the Duke had been very busy. When we were together, I regretted not having more time together in the dust of the old city. He still wouldn't 'touch me' in the keep. I felt he regretted giving in to temptation and saw the Fox as some kind of mythic warning. For a while, his duties meant I only saw him in the court and during trips to the nerve garden. In turn, I was becoming more skilled with a bullwhip for serious misdemeanors, like when a Doghead was caught attacking a peasant girl without orders or when Thame had been accused of assaulting another coven girl. Even so, I was beginning to wonder why the Duke kept scum like Thame around.

The few precious moments when we were together alone, we both wanted to treasure each other and not worry about the world outside. We had a universe of two, and that was all that mattered. When we were apart, I worried about what future we could have. If we wanted to be together, we would have to do something about the blood-God and the coven. It was during another court session that I discovered more about the visit from the Lobishomen coven. Apparently, the high priestesses of Lobishomen and the Meridian knew each other and had been conversing for many years. Mary said the Lobishomen had deep treasure troves of stocks of pre-fall weapons that the Duke wanted to gain access to. They were coming to negotiate an alliance of sorts.

That night I had sneaked into the Duke's private rooms. 

"The word in the Night Market was that you're organizing the Grandmother of all shows when the clans meet," I said. I listened as the Duke moved on the bed in his room.

"The high priestess doesn't want you at the greeting ceremony," the Duke replied, looking around. We were alone in his room.

"Why not?" I asked, rolling over on the silk sheets.

"Well, she's still ashamed of your position," he said, lying on the bed with me. "The problem with living a long time is that you don't accept change easily. She's offended by you being a non-believer... I'm lying; I don't want you to go."

"Why?" I said. "I don't see how you could do anything to distress me. Living with Vampires is like living above a butcher's."

He didn't look impressed. There was a way he could hold his cheeks, which was both cute but also indicated he was hiding something.

"We need to impress the Duchess of the Lobishomen, put on a ritualistic show; there will be a lot of bloodletting. I wouldn't be happy if you were there, being troubled by the bloodletting."

I wasn't impressed. "The stock is all willing, aren't they? I've grown accustomed to your feeding. What's the problem?"

"No, I'm still not letting you," he said, using an unarguable tone.

****

Later, I talked to Mary about it. She had been reticent at first. Then, a few drops of venom later, she opened up.

"I'm told the Duchess of the Lobishomen is the most beautiful woman in the thirteen covens. Men universally want her, and all women envy her. The spectacle of the coven meetings is quite lavish," said Mary.