07/02/2021
“Why did you strike me down and shut me away like a corpse?”
“You know damn well why,” Wilder said.
“I don’t believe it was because I hurt Velvet. Not entirely.”
“All right, I’ll tell you. Why not? I gave you all of my properties, a large sum of money, my children even. I did that for her, not you. I suddenly realized not only was she not in love with me, but she also didn’t want to be either. Without Velvet, there was no point in humbling myself. I wanted my power back and the time was perfect.”
“With me helpless on the floor writhing in pain with no skin. You had no compassion for me?”
“No. It was easy.”
“Oh, you bastard.” Jerome flexed his fingers, extending his nails to form his claw hands at his sides. His brow remained smooth while his eyes flashed. Angry to the point of near rage but Wilder doubted Jerome was about to attack him in his own parlor. Not yet anyway. “You used me, Wilder. All these years I was devoted to you.”
“I loved Velvet, you fool. I told you she was more precious to me than my own beating heart, yet you couldn’t stop baiting her and going after her. If you’d left her alone-”
“Don’t say you would not have betrayed me! I see it all now, Wilder! You kept me by your side to strengthen your position in society while I did the work in the streets you were too good to do!”
“If that is what you wish to believe.”
“You never loved me,” Jerome accused. “From the moment you made me, you saw someone to use.”
“Now, you are rewriting our history?” Wilder snapped furrowing his brow. Anger and hate between them was one thing but to attempt to erase the truth of the past was too much. If there was to be a conflict he wanted the record to reflect it accurately. “What are you up to?”
“What the hell do you think? You stole my life and I’m demanding it back!”
“To be clear, you do understand you will have to fight me to the death?”
“I hoped for the sake of the brood, you’d be reasonable.”
“Not tonight,” Wilder said. “Or any night. I am lord of this house, only death will remove me.”
“You’d kill me?” Jerome backed up positioning himself directly in the path to the doorway and transformed to his full-blown demonic appearance. “Are you prepared, Father?”
“You know I have to take any challenge seriously.” He shed his suit jacket and removed his necklace but didn’t transform except to push out his fangs and claws. When was the last time he sparred with his sired? Not that he believed Jerome was suddenly stronger, but he sure looked ready for a vampire recently out of his coffin. His healing factor kicked in rather quickly too. Wilder wondered if he were being goaded into something he wasn’t ready for. After all, Jerome was one of the trickiest bastards he knew. But no, even with backup, Wilder knew Jerome was not his match. Besides, Wilder was not about to back down in his own study.
“You should have killed me before hiding me away in that old fool’s closet.”
“I had no reason until now to take your life. I hoped when you rejoined us you’d adjust your attitude and accept your position.”
“You mean accept you as master of the city.” Jerome snorted and shook his head. “Never. You even made it impossible to be true partners again. Why did you choose a mistress?”
“It was time, Jerome. And there is no one more qualified or more devoted than my Deborah.”
“At least she’s a vampire,” Jerome snarled before his face foiled. He rushed Wilder and struck him on the top of his head with an elbow then brought his knee up sharp and hard to Wilder’s pate. As Wilder stumbled backward Jerome slugged his mouth and nose bursting both.
“Come now,” Wilder said planting his feet steady on the marbled floor. He smiled after tasting his own blood. “You better be faster and hit harder than this. Or your ass is in trouble.”