Dorian, Ethalia, James

A segment from book three of the Master of the Undead series. AKA, a series of books I am writing. I'm sharing this segment with you because I doubt it will make it into the final book. It's a bit much. But I think it's fun. Some background...the first book, which has Dorian's story, is the most planned out and is the most researched. It's further along than the others. But I'm not sharing any of that with you...yet. Here is a segment from book three, which is James's story. Not all of this will make sense, of course. Just FYI...Dorian is a vampire, created in a very unconventional and controversial way--seriously, my brother is concerned that I will be renounced by religious leaders (you'll have to read book one to find out more). Dorian is also the Master of the Undead, and rules all of the creatures and beasts mortals learn to fear. Ethalia is basically the last gargoyle in existence, since the rest of her kind were decimated during previous moments in time that were vital to our history and the history of the undead (you'd have to read book two to find out more about that). James is a hybrid of gargoyle and vampire. Dorian believes that Ethlia should teach James some fighting tricks. He also wants Ethalia and James to get together and hook up. Oh, and Augustus is one of Dorian's loyal guards. So, Dorian is about to introduce James to Ethalia for the first time. James has been left on the floor above Ethalia, above a secret trap door to her cage. A guard is waiting for Dorian’s command to drop James into the cage. Dorian is talking to Ethalia…

“I still can’t believe you want me to do this,” Ethalia murmured.

“He needs you, Ethalia, and whether you want to admit it or not, you need him.” I said as I circled Ethalia’s cage. Her eyes stayed locked on me, no matter how quickly I moved.

“You intend for us to mate,” Ethalia accused. “Don’t try to deny it, I can see it in your eyes, and you’ve been hinting about it for the last month.”

I shrugged. “Well the way I see it, you have three options. One, stay lonely for the rest of eternity. Two, mate with James. Or three, you could mate with me.” I stopped my pacing and looked at her. For once, her eyes left mine as she tilted her head back and laughed.

“You’re joking, right? Please, Dorian, we’re not even close to the same species. And besides, you’ve kept me locked up for DECADES. That means I am not at all interested.”

I frowned. “I don’t know. According to my studies of humans, a lot of mortals kind of like the handcuff-chained-to-a-wall thing.”

Her eyes met mine again. They were wide and full of disbelief.

“What?” I demanded.

“According to your studies? Really, Dorian? Why on earth is it necessary to learn that about mortals?”

“It’s good to know everything about your enemy.”

“Including how they decide to satisfy their libidos??? Where is that written in the Master of the Undead handbook?”

“It’s in there,” I growled. In all honesty, there wasn’t a Mater of the Undead handbook. I suppose if there ever needed to be, I would have to write it. I made a mental note to myself to include a chapter explaining that the Master of the Undead should learn about Karma Sutra, just so he could understand his enemies.

Noooot that I know anything about Karma Sutra. Totally past my mortal life span. I’m just saying it might end up being useful.

I didn’t think about such things long. Ethalia was always extraordinarily observant and could probably guess what was going on inside my head.

“Drop him, Augustus,” I said.

James suddenly came catapulting through the door above Ethalia’s cage. He landed closer to her than I intended, perhaps only three feet away from her right hand.

She spun around and was on him instantly. Sparks started to fly as the grinding began.

And no, sicko. Not that kind of grinding. And not those kinds of sparks. They’re gargoyles. Metallic stone, remember? Pervert. Ahem.

They began to fight. James hadn’t seen it coming, and he didn’t know what to do to defend himself, anyway. He was stronger than Ethalia, but she was more experienced and more cunning. Plus, she was angry. She hadn’t been in a fight for years, because, as she had pointed out earlier, I had kept her locked up.