Kristie Cook - Devotion

A small smile played on his lips. "Rina has said it is sometimes easier when she closes her eyes."

I nodded, leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. A small part of me kept behind my shield couldn't help but wonder if this was a trick. After all, vamps could quite easily convince their prey to relax, to turn their backs or shut their eyes so they couldn't see the attack coming. Not able to help myself, I barely slit an eyelid open to peak at Solomon. He, too, sat back in his chair, his eyes closed. This is Rina's mate; he won't hurt me. I closed my eyes again and opened my mind to him.

Visions appeared in my head of vampires buying blood by the glass, bottle or box, as if it were wine. Solomon explained how Amadis vampires didn't drink directly from the source. Mages provided vamps their life-force by donating blood, and vampires absorbed many of their magical powers. The older they were and the longer they fed on mage blood, the more powers they gained and kept.

So that's how you can flash or close the door without touching it? I asked.

"Yes. Almost all Amadis vamps receive such basic powers."

Are Daemoni vamps the same?

"Not exactly. They prefer to drink from the source, not only because it is fresher, but more for the thrill of the bite and the drain." Disgust filled Solomon's silent voice. "They prefer the sweeter, unadulterated blood of Normans."

So they're not as powerful?

He explained that because their souls had not been saved, their demonic powers were naturally stronger than Amadis vampires. When they had seen the Amadis vamps' new powers, however, they tried taking blood from the mages. Their lack of self-control killed many, and they could not afford to lose any others.

"Occasionally they feed from the mages, but only in controlled situations and only when necessary, such as when they are preparing for battle," Solomon continued. "They do not need any more powers than what they already have to serve their primary purpose: preying on Normans."

Do they always kill?

"Not always. But often. The fresher the blood–and the more human it is–the more difficult it is to not drain the source completely. The Daemoni are not known for self-control, and vampires are worse than the rest. Sometimes, they are able to prevent a total draining so they may create a new child."

Before I could ask how new vampires were made, Solomon's thoughts came to me visually. A vampire nearly–but not completely, he emphasized–drained a human and then replaced the human's blood with his own. The vamp's blood healed the body and infused it with Daemoni magic, bringing the victim back to near-life. Because the master could only replace a small part of the body's blood without draining himself, the newborn came into its new life starving to the point of madness.

"Once they taste their first victim, the bloodlust becomes deeply ingrained. After time passes–for some, a few months, for others, several years–they need blood less often and begin to behave more civilized. Until then, they are wild animals with no fear, no control and only one thing on their minds. Their masters are supposed to parent them, but not all vampires, like humans, are very good parents."

Have you …? I couldn't finish the thought, not wanting to imagine Solomon as Daemoni at all. He understood the question, though.

"I have no children. I had no desire to bestow this terrible lifestyle on another being. I was turned against my will. It astounds me anyone would purposefully want this."

Are there many who do?

"More than you would think. Many Normans believe vampirism provides the solutions to their problems, not realizing all it entails. If they choose to be turned, their soul is more easily lost to us–we usually cannot save them. However, if they are turned against their will … if they really do not want to exist as a monster …"

They keep their souls, and we can help them.

"Correct."

Are there many turnings these days?

"At this very moment, no. But, the Daemoni plan to build their army. They will take dying soldiers, as usual, but with the recent infatuation with vampires, they will likely find many who are willing. More Normans will be reported missing, never to be heard from again, their bodies never found."

I gasped. My eyes flew open, and I jumped to my feet.

"Solomon!" I cried aloud, forgetting the telepathy.

He was on his feet so fast, I never saw the movement. His body tensed, and his eyes surveyed the area with alarm. "What?"

"My books! They helped create that infatuation. And now people will be turned because they want to be vampires. What have I done? What was everyone thinking?"

Solomon was suddenly sitting again, lounging in the chair. He waved his hand dismissively. "Relax, Alexis. You know the reason for your books–to create more awareness of evil so Normans will better prepare themselves. And they will. Those who want to be turned would want to anyway. You have done more good than harm."

"But can't we do something?" I demanded as I plopped into my chair.

Solomon's gaze swept over my face. "We try to prevent vampire turnings–and Were infections, too–whenever possible. We place our soldiers on the same battlefields the Daemoni target, and Martin's intelligence group tracks those vamps who have a history of turnings. We also maintain a heavy presence where Daemoni vamps prefer to gather."

"Such as Key West?"

"Key West has not had a turning in more than a decade because of our presence," he confirmed with a nod. "The vamps favor tourist havens, because their victims are often drunk, making them easy prey. The older ones, those with more control, can drink from the sources without draining them, and the Normans have no recollection the next morning. They remember–what is the modern saying?–a one-night stand."

I thought of the vampires in my books and how they could not only feed off fear, but also off lust. Biting and blood during sex provided the greatest satisfaction to both parties. The magic in the vampire's saliva entered the victim's bloodstream through the bite, creating a sense of euphoria. I had thought, at one time, I had taken that idea from when Tristan had helped me heal the deep gash on my leg, the night I learned who he really was. His mouth on my leg had nearly brought me to my first real orgasm. Now, I realized, Tristan's ability to do that–both heal me and excite me in such a strange way–came from the vampire DNA embedded in his genes. I suddenly wondered if Solomon and Rina … I blushed. No way could I ask him that.

"Do you drink only mages' blood?" I asked instead. "I mean … have you ever drank Rina's?"

Solomon's brows arched, creating several horizontal lines across his forehead. "Blood from an Amadis daughter is very precious. Very powerful, but very precious. I've only had her blood once, when I was dying, and only because she forced me."

An idea occurred to me. "Did you absorb any of her Amadis powers, such as telepathy? I mean, the same way you absorb mages' magic?"

"I did not drink enough. I do not know if it is possible, and it is best not to find out."

"Well, how much magic can you gain from a mage? Can you become as powerful as them?"

Solomon seemed to consider the question, rubbing his chin.

"I have never heard of a vamp gaining that much magic," he finally said. "Perhaps if they fed off a powerful warlock for an extended period of time or from a sorcerer … but we cannot risk our most powerful, and I doubt a sorcerer would allow a vamp within arm's length of their blood." He made a sound that almost sounded like a snort. "Thank goodness, too! We do not need a vampire loose with that much power."

Hmm. Could perhaps a vampire, such as Julia, block Rina's powers if they'd had the right kind or amount of blood? A possibility, although Solomon didn't seem to think so.