Death Embraces by J. C. Diem

Author:J. C. Diem
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Speculative Fiction
ISBN: 9781490979489
Publisher: Createspace
Published: 2013-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

“Ishida has ordered a suite to be prepared for you. It will be far more comfortable than your previous quarters,” Kokoro told me. I hoped so, since my last quarters had practically been a bare cell.

I stood at the blatant hint that it was time for me to leave. The seer had retreated somewhere deep inside herself. Maybe she was seeing the future or perhaps she was eavesdropping on the thoughts of her people.

All but sloshing with information, I headed back down the dark corridor and took the stairs. The platform was waiting for me when I arrived at the top. It carried me back up to the surface in slow, dizzying spirals.

Emperor Ishida and his entourage were long gone when I stepped out of the temple. A single guard had been left to escort me inside. His face was stony as he led me back down to the hidden door. Pressing a button that was very nearly invisible, he entered the mountain passage first. The door swung shut behind me and I was back in the labyrinth of hallways again.

I’d thought my sense of direction had improved after becoming a vampire but the hallways all looked the same to me. I had no chance of memorizing the winding, almost random path we took.

As promised, I was taken to a suite of rooms then left to my own devices. The first room was a living area with the typical low black table and plump red and black cushions. I was glad to see a large bookcase filled with books off to one side. The paintings hanging on two walls were graceful and attractive landscapes. A bathroom, equipped with a tub but lacking a shower, was in the room to the left. To the right was a bedroom and it wasn’t empty of life as I’d expected. From the whispers and nervous shuffling of feet, several people were waiting for me.

Standing in the doorway, I eyed the line-up of human men in puzzlement. All ten were in their twenties and all were attractive. I was pretty sure none of them spoke English. “What’s going on?” I asked them anyway.

“The Emperor would have you choose seven of us, mistress,” said one of the men with a bow. I couldn’t tell if they were volunteers or if they’d been coerced into this.

“Choose you for what?” I asked suspiciously.

“For blood,” responded another guy.

“Or any other services or pleasures you wish,” replied a third. He sent me a smile that clearly said he’d be happy to help me out with that. Either they could understand me or they were guessing my questions with startling accuracy.

Only the thought that the emperor might be offended if I refused to choose from the men had me stepping into the room. I stood in front of the first man and gave him a good looking over. His eyes remained on his feet and he was quaking in fear. Nope. Too scared. The second guy stared at me boldly, dropping his eyes to my chest with a suggestive smirk.

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