Night Train Part 11

Anthony peeked up from his arms. He glanced up at Elaine then at Rafael.

Dimitri turned to glare at Anthony.

Anthony buried his face back in his arms and tried to huddle smaller.

Sephonie, appeared at the bottom of the stairs as if by magic. She curtsied, gracefully, resplendent in a low-cut full-skirted black velvet gown. Her dark blue-black hair was down about her shoulders but still studded with diamond stars. The diamond choker blazed at her throat. She flicked a hard look toward Dimitri then smiled at Rafael. "I am here, my prince."

Rafael nodded. "Countess, have you met Anthony?" He held out a hand toward the boy at her feet.

Sephonie looked down at the huddled boy. "Why no, I have not." She knelt, her black skirts billowing around her. She leaned close to the shivering Anthony and whispered.

Anthony looked up from his arms and fell straight into Sephonie's gaze.

She whispered again and held out her hand.

Anthony's mouth dropped open. He nodded and took her hand.

Sephonie smiled deep into Anthony's eyes. "My prince, I accept."

Rafael sighed very softly. "Thank you, Countess."

A liveried young man knelt at her side and offered the countess a tall clear tumbler full of what looked like water. She took the glass and held it out to Anthony. "You must be very thirsty." Anthony took the glass and gulped down the drink. The countess plucked the glass from his hand just as he began to slump. With a soft sigh, Anthony fell over, barely conscious.

Sephonie stood, gestured to someone and stepped back.

A man in a plain black suit knelt and lifted Anthony from the floor and carried him away.

Sephonie turned to Rafael. "All hope is not lost. I may still be able to recover him, with time and proper care." She glanced hard at Dimitri. "But he has been severely damaged." Rafael nodded. "Thank you Countess. If there is anything my offices can do to assist, please notify me at once."

"Of course." Sephonie curtsied and left.

Rafael settled back on the coach and sighed. "Now that that small matter is attended to, what ever shall I do with you, Dimitri?"

Dimitri glared at Rafael, stiff with obvious outrage. "I have endured one too many insults - from him!" He jabbed a finger toward Aramus. "I demand satisfaction!" Elaine sat up. Was Dimitri actually asking for an old-fashioned duel? Rafael grinned. "Dimitri, are you serious? In this day and age?" Dimitri clenched his hands into fists. "As my right as an elder, I demand blood!" Rafael leaned back. "Dimitri, if anyone is going to shed blood on my floor, it shall be I." Dimitri flinched but held his ground. "I demand satisfaction." Rafael sighed. "You are determined on a duel?"

Dimitri's eyes gleamed. "Nothing less will satisfy me." Elaine focused on Dimitri's posture and bearing. His stance was arrogant, his movements sharp, precise and very stiff.I wonder, how long has it been since he was in an actual fight? She strongly doubted he was any good at hand to hand. It was possible that he had been at one time, but she seriously doubted he'd bothered to learn anything new, like Judo. Elaine sat up and licked her lips. "How about a modern-day fight, barehanded?"

Rafael frowned at Elaine. "Boxing?"

Elaine narrowed her eyes at Dimitri. "Free-style, boxing, kicking, grappling...whatever."

Aramus grabbed her arm. "Elaine..."

"Her idea has merit." Rafael nodded to Dimitri. "You may have your duel, but no weapons."

Dimitri focused on Aramus. "I demand blood."

Rafael narrowed his eyes at Dimitri. "The victor shall drink his fill. That shall be your blood."

Dimitri lifted his chin. "Agreed."

Rafael looked over at one of his waiting staff. "Prepare the large salon, thick rugs, no furniture." The man

bowed and left. Rafael focused on Dimitri. "You may go."

Dimitri bowed and stepped out of the alcove.

Rafael rose from the couch and rolled his eyes. "It seems we are having a duel."

Elaine stood up and caught Rafael's sleeve. "Let me do it."

Rafael blinked down at her. "You?"

"Sure, it will drive him nuts." Elaine rubbed her jaw. It was seriously starting to ache.

"No!" Aramus came over and grabbed her arm. "You will do no such thing! He is immeasurably older than you." Elaine rolled her eyes. "He's immeasurably more set in his ways too. Did you look at him? He's stiff as hell! Look, I took you down, I can take him."

Rafael choked out a laugh. "She took you down?"

Aramus shot a glare. "She surprised me."

Elaine grinned. "Trust me, I'll surprise him too."

Aramus caught both her shoulders. "Elaine, he's a vampire."

Elaine shrugged. "So am I."

Rafael cleared his throat. "Do you have any training for this?"

Elaine smiled. "Does twelve years of Judo count?"

Aramus frowned. "I thought you said four years?"

Elaine nodded. "I was a champion in high school, but that was only the last four years. I've been in fight training since I was little."

Rafael shook his head. "Dimitri was a soldier and a general long before he began teaching art."

Elaine folded her arms. "I seriously doubt he's practiced in a long time. He's too stiff."

Aramus tightened his hand on her shoulder. "In his day, he was very, very good."

Elaine raised her brow. "Yeah, but how long ago was that? And does he know anything about the oriental arts?" She rubbed her jaw again.

"Elaine." Rafael caught her head in his hands. "Open your mouth."

Elaine opened her mouth.

Rafael peered in. "I think perhaps we should let her fight."

Aramus stiffened. "What?"

Rafael straightened. "Her teeth just came in. Her appetite will follow very soon after." He delivered a sly smile. "Can you think of a better target for her first hunt?"

Elaine blinked.Her teeth? She probed with a tongue and discovered points along the flat line of her teeth. Four points, two on top and two on the bottom. She stabbed her tongue. "Shit..." They were sharp.

Aramus caught Rafael's arm. "Rafael, she could be killed..."

Rafael shook his head. "Not without a heart stab or removal of her head. She'll recover from anything else."

Elaine swallowed. Gee, that's nice to know.

Aramus's eyes darkened and his mouth tightened. "He'll rape her."

Rafael's gaze turned to ice. "He will try. He will not succeed."

Elaine looked up at Aramus. "I've handled rapists before." She smiled grimly.Once you break a bone or two,they stop.

Aramus's hand visibly tightened. "If he finds a weapon?"

Rafael raised his chin. "If he gains a weapon, then he forfeits the duel and his blood is ours."

Aramus folded his arms and turned away. "Dimitri challengedme. "

Rafael stepped behind Aramus and looped his arms around his shoulders. "He challenged us all." He pulled him back against his chest. "Truthfully, my heart, how much training do you have?"

Aramus sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "What you have given me."

"A handful of years of fencing will not be useful here."

Aramus hunched his shoulders. "I know."

Rafael closed Aramus in a tight hug then looked down at Elaine. "What do you need to prepare?"

Elaine rubbed her hands together. "My big suitcase and a place to change."

In the midnight master bedroom, Elaine's suitcase was propped open on Rafael's scarlet bed. Left alone to change, she pulled out her brush and dragged it through her long mane, then plaited the whole pile into a long tight French braid.

She let the velvet robe slide from her shoulders and reached into the suitcase to pull out her competition silks. Her outfit wasn't anything like a judo gi, but no one had complained when she'd walked into the ring. With the speed of long practice she pulled on the black silk trousers and knotted the ties around her waist. The full pleated trousers were far closer to Japanese hakima than the simple pants worn by most martial artists, and incredibly comfortable. She tugged on the snug sports-bra, the plain sleeveless black t-shirt and then pulled on her short hip-length scarlet silk kimono top.

All the loose fabric looked deceptively easy to grab. She'd discovered quite by accident that the heavy silk was incredibly slippery, making grappling difficult - for her opponents.

Last, but not least, she unrolled the long length of thick black silk that stood for her rank. It wasn't a proper belt, it was more of a sash and equally difficult to hold onto. She was betting that Dimitri would not realize what her black belt meant. She knotted the silk around her waist with a feeling of ferocious satisfaction.

It was time to kick some ass.

She stepped out of the master bedroom and walked over to Aramus and Rafael who were speaking by a tall oriental vase.

Rafael's mouth fell open. He burst out laughing. "Ah! Now, you see? It is clearly destiny!"

Elaine stopped. "What?"

Aramus shook his head. "You are wearing the heraldic colors of his house."

Elaine frowned. "Black and red?"

Rafael grinned. "Of course, blood and night." He waved a hand toward the hall. "Shall we go, my hearts?"

Aramus groaned as they walked down a narrow staircase. "Dimitri is going to explode."

Elaine raised a brow at him. "I thought that was the point?"

Rafael chuckled. "Very astute."

The large salon was a huge cream and gold room with an entire wall of floor to ceiling windows showing black night. There was absolutely no furniture, not even drapes. Brilliantly costumed chatting guests lined the walls. A number of them sat on the floor but most leaned against the walls. Layers of thick India carpets were strewn across the center of the black marble floor.

Elaine nodded.Perfect.

Dimitri stood facing the windows, barefoot and wearing only his dress slacks. His entire upper body was muscular and gleamed with oil.

Elaine stared at the oil.Okay, that's gonna make grabbing difficult. She'd have to make damn sure she had a firm grip before she tried anything. If he hit those carpets often enough, the oil would eventually rub off.

Rafael raised his hands and all speech stopped. The liveried staff fled, closing the doors behind them and leaving the room to the vampires.

Dimitri turned around and focused on Aramus. He smiled.

"The rules are simple," Rafael called out. "No weapons, remain on the carpets, and no interference. The first to succeed in pinning and biting wins the right to drink to their fill."

Dimitri walked toward the carpets.

Elaine stepped out to meet him.

Dimitri stopped and flung out his hand. "What is this?"

Elaine propped her hands on her hips. "You wanted me, you got me. The question is, can you take me?"

Dimitri scowled. "You stand no chance against me, girl!"

Elaine stepped toward the center of the carpets. "Then what the hell are you bitching about old man?"