LITMIR.BIZ

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waist, so low that his forehead almost touched the floor. “It is my deepest honor to welcome the friends of my friend,” he said. Draping his body were sheer silks of deep orange and chocolate brown, which flowed like flames through the ether when he moved. He rose from the bow to his full height, with the words, “Please accept my hospitality.”

      Neither Beauty nor Isis moved. Josh bobbed his head, tentative and uncertain. “Thanks,” he said.

      Lon smiled beneficently. “Come, we shall eat.” He put his robed arm around Jasmine’s shoulder and escorted her out the door, speaking of old times and new alike. The others looked at each other, shrugged, and followed.

      They went down twisting passages, some lit, some dark, through a large natural cave dripping with stalactites, past an underground spring, and along another carpeted room filled with antique musical instruments of every variety – clavichords, pianos, French horns, oboes, dulcimers. They finally reached the dining room.

      It was enormous. Jeweled sculptures held court over one end of the room, their intentions made shadowy by the glow of ancient lamps. Objects adorned every surface, some powerfully magical, some merely exquisite. Scattered around the floor were scented animal skins: sheep, tiger, and bear. Against one entire wall an enormous fireplace crackled brightly with burning cedar. A long, low central table of two-inch oak, which looked like it could easily accommodate a banquet, sat stoutly on the floor. It was surrounded by dozens of pillows, large and small, multicolored in soft exotic fabrics.

      “Please, sit,” said Lon with an expansive sweep. He reclined on a pillow at the head of the table; Jasmine sat cross-legged on his right. The others sat comfortably on the floor around the table, propping themselves against the luxury of the down cushions. Humbelly, settling near the fireplace, immediately fell asleep.

      A man slipped in, whispered into the Vampire’s ear, received a long, whispered reply, then ran out again. Lon said something to Jasmine and she laughed. He turned to the others, an apology on his face. “First we shall drink,” he said.

      He picked a small glass bell off the table and jingled it softly. Instantly a beautiful, pale young boy came silently into the room, naked but for his jewelry, carrying a tray of liqueurs. He padded around the table, stopping to offer each guest a glass, placing a small bowl in front of Isis, coming finally to the Vampire host, who took the remaining glass and raised it. “A toast,” said Lon. The young boy scurried from the room.

      Lon went on. “Jasmine has told me you saved her life. For this act you may consider me your most loyal servant.” He bowed his head half an inch. “So. A toast. May servant and master find each other worthy.” He drank. The others raised their goblets in the rosy light like torchbearers at a secret ceremony. Isis sniffed her bowl.

      They were relaxing somewhat, but still uncertain. Joshua’s hand was never far from his knife. He was about to speak some of his thoughts when Lon raised a staying hand. “Please,” said the Vampire. “I can see you are suspicious and uncertain of my intent. I assure you I am sincere. Jasmine has told me what little she knows of your plight, but we can discuss this further after the meal. In the meantime, since you are apparently being pursued by Jarl’s Guard, let me tell you what I have done.” Josh and Beauty watched their host closely. He smiled and went on.

      “My spies tell me the JEGS were hard on your sign, inside the forest, still half a mile from the entrance of my cave. I have dispatched two of my fastest Humans, my prize palomino, and my cleverest Cat to continue your trail where you left it, flee north, and lead Jarl’s soldiers a merry chase through the forest. For a week, or until Jarl’s hired assassins are eaten by Accidents, whichever comes first.” He laughed heartily. “No, don’t protest. My people love a good chase, and in any case, they’ve been idle too long.” He drank again. Jasmine leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

      Josh closed his eyes. Beneath the fog of suspicion that filled him, a feeling glowed viscerally. It wasn’t rational, but it was real – like the sudden intuition of cool rain welling at the pit of a hot summer day. In a single motion, Josh raised his eyelids with his glass. “To our host,” he said, and drank. Isis nodded and lapped from her bowl. Even Beauty sipped.

      “Then let the meal begin,” answered Lon, ringing his little glass bell.

      Two boys and two girls entered, wearing shifts of rare silk, bearing appetizers on trays of silver: wine-soaked fruits, spiced morsels of fish, breaded game hearts, sweetmeats, and pickled lizard tails. And another round of drinks.

      The next course was soup: robin’s-egg soup, dove-liver soup, honey-grass soup. Every dish was a creation, visual as well as gustatory; every creation a masterpiece. Joshua sucked up the sensations like a dry sponge in water.

      Next began the music. The chamber quartet dressed in oranges and browns, the color of the house. Instrumentation consisted of a flute, a harp, a lyre, and a cello. The lyric strains seemed to haunt the room, subtle as memory, recurrent as the waves of a hidden lagoon. Josh had the peculiar sense that all this had happened before – that he’d been here, in this scene. These ornate decorations, this melodious hall, that pillow – the way it leaned, the fragrance of these oiled servants. He thought he’d been here; but, of course, that wasn’t the case.

      More wine. The main courses appeared. Stuffed geese, fried squid, and sautéed cow. The music changed to something lighter, the table conversation wandered gaily from bass to treble, and the evening warmed. Presently, the dancing began.

      Veiled young men and women danced as if possessed among the sculptures. Lon mentioned proudly they were his favorite concubines. He called one, whose name was Lissa. She ran over to him, sat beside him, and shared his meal as he fondled her. Another – a young boy named Peter – seemed jealous of the attentions Lissa was getting, so he came over to Lon’s other side and tried to press his favors on the Vampire. Lon grew distant, though, and dismissed them both back to the dance. Josh watched the two concubines return to the harem. As they passed, he saw their necks were bruised black and blue along the jugular tracks.

      Desserts. Custard, fruits, and cheeses. Brandies, coffees. and smokes. A ferret-faced man came out and did sleight-of-hand tricks for a short time, and then left. The fire simmered, the music calmed. Humbelly woke up, fluttered around the room a few times, sipped some mulled fruit wine from a dish, and fell back asleep. The night had become mellow.

      Puffing on a long-stemmed pipe, Lon settled back. Layers of smoke laced the room like thick, sleepy air. Previously exuberant figures began to curl in the corners. “And now,” said Lon, “the troubles.”

      Josh told him their story. Lon listened, keenly interested, nodding from time to time. When Josh was done, Lon spoke. “Jarl’s soldiers are no longer to be a problem for you, I trust. As for the other… I know this Sire Bal. He is Sangnoir. Bad blood.” Vampires always called other Vampires “Sire,” even when there was little love between them. Lon showed his distaste now by pulling his lips back over his teeth, baring his fangs briefly in the ritual grin of aggression.

      “It is not just Bal, though,” said Beauty. “Rumors are alive in the land. Humans are being kidnapped. Vampires are being named.”

      “And I’m not so sure we’re rid of the JEGS that easily,” added Joshua. “They found us over a trail I’d have had trouble following myself.”

      Lon nodded gravely. “Perhaps. As for the rumors you mention – something is happening.” He paused a moment, staring into his glowing pipe, then went on. “There is a new animal, in the south. So my people tell me. No one knows much about the creature, whether it be fish, fowl, or fiend. But some things are certain.” The others studied him attentively. He continued. “This animal is directing these abductions. Sires have been enlisted to organize the raiding parties, and the Humans who are taken alive are taken to the new animal’s den, somewhere near the Big Sticks River. What happens to them there is unknown. The Sires who participate in this genocide are rewarded – they are allowed to keep their pick of the Humans to fatten their harems.” He lowered his eyes in shame. “It is loathsome,

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