Christmas Consort

Evil Spruce

"Before you say anything, remember you're the one who told me to make nice and try to get her to stay. I figure it's almost Christmas and this would make things more homey."

Lara blinked at the huge spruce tree, the decorations, and Silas in complete shock. It was simply not possible for him to appear any less the evil master. Could Franco see in here from the car? Lara asked him to stay there so she could ease the way with her master. The faux antebellum house played right into her plot up till this moment.

"I brought someone home."

Silas stepped toward the door. "Another one?"

"No. Please don't be mad, please, please. I'll do anything, just don't--" Lara needed to play this to the hilt because her new vampire friend couldn't see what was going on but he could still hear every word.

"A vampire friend?"

"Yes. He's never consorted and I thought how great it would be if you could teach him like you taught me. Please don't be mad at me."

"Well--"

"Where's the girl? Is she locked upstairs?" With those words Lara kicked the door closed and hoped Franco had heard enough.

"Never mind. I'll go check on her."

The door to the bathroom hit the wall and startled Kylie whose lungs tried to jump up her throat.

"What do you think you're doing?" said Lara. "Get out of there and get dressed. Terrific. You won't smell like the train wreck I was hoping for but--get dressed and get to the living room."

They both heard the front door slam open. Lara repeated a little louder and in a very strange tone of voice, "He will be very angry if you're not down there quick. Please Kylie, come quick."

Then Lara darted out the door leaving it standing open.

A crash from down the hall made Kylie tug on her clothes as fast as she could. She ran down the hall to find a large man straddling Silas and Lara tugging on his shirt futily.

"No. Please. Franco. He will teach you to consort. Right Silas, it's not a problem, right?"

Silas did not fight back, seemed stunned that the younger man attacked him.

Not a man. A vampire. A huge vampire whose flat pale eyes had no irises. Kylie ran to Silas and threw her arms between him the other beast. "No. Please, leave him alone."

Franco wanted to bash Master Silas' head through the floor and then cut the damn thing off. The young woman's heart was beating frantically, her ragged breathing so close reminded him of someone he wanted to forget. He could be a bit of a hot head, but he had good instincts. Those instincts were telling him something was off. Franco Cayne shoved off the male vampire and sat on the floor. Listening and smelling, trying to get a feel for the situation, Cayne waited.

Lara spoke first. "Thank you, Franco. Thank you." She gave his arm a squeeze and helped pull him to his feet. She was small and yet still strong. Something niggled at his mind.

"Silas, I'd like to introduce you to Franco Cayne. He is something special. Please don't hold this against him."

Silas rose quickly pulling Kylie up with him. "Misunderstandings do happen. Will you shake my hand, Mr. Cayne?"

Silas put his hand out and it took Franco a moment to take it. "You really are blind, aren't you? I've never heard of such a thing."

Silas didn't shake hands like someone used to pressing their will on others or making power plays. Of course, now the vampire knew challenging Cayne was useless.

"And this is Kylie. She's our guest too."

Cayne put a hand out toward the young woman who backed away and said nothing. A moment later she swallowed and took his hand. Did Silas prompt her to do that? Her pulse quickened till she retreated behind Silas.

"Well, looks like we have two guests who are unfamiliar with consorting."

"Can we do it now, Silas? Show them?"

"That's a bit irregular, Lara. I've hardly made Mr. Cayne's acquaintance. But if you have no objection, Mr. Cayne, I would be glad to show you the ropes."

Silas was doing what Lara wanted, whether from fear of Cayne or for another reason it was hard to say.

"Grab a few of the dining room chairs, Lara. Kylie needs something to eat, and I heated up some hot soup alphabets for her. Please excuse me. I'll return directly."

As soon as he was out of the room Cayne closed with Kylie shooting her pulse rate out the roof. He whispered, "Are you a prisoner here?"

She took a long time to answer, moved a bit as if to look over his shoulder which could mean to the kitchen or Lara.

"I was but I've decided to stay on for awhile," Kylie said.

"Further venom will not do anything else for you. You can leave with me right now if you want."

Lara stepped forward, "Franco, please."

Kylie was shaking her head, "I don't need that. It's something else. A private matter."

Silas was returning to the room with soup bowl and spoon in hand. He frowned at Cayne and Lara but did not say anything. Kylie's pulse definitely relaxes with Silas there. He wished he could see, read their faces, their bodies. Losing his sight felt like the right punishment though for the way he'd let his loved ones down.