The Beloved, page 1
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Dedicated to:
You,
an immortal who needed to be brought to life.
She’s always going to be a better shot, though.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND PROPER NOUNS
ahstrux nohtrum (n.)
Private guard with license to kill who is granted his or her position by the King.
ahvenge (v.)
Act of mortal retribution, carried out typically by a male loved one.
Black Dagger Brotherhood (pr. n.)
Highly trained vampire warriors who protect their species against the Lessening Society. As a result of selective breeding within the race, Brothers possess immense physical and mental strength, as well as rapid healing capabilities. They are not siblings for the most part, and are inducted into the Brotherhood upon nomination by the Brothers. Aggressive, self-reliant, and secretive by nature, they are the subjects of legend and objects of reverence within the vampire world. They may be killed only by the most serious of wounds, e.g., a gunshot or stab to the heart, etc.
blood slave (n.)
Male or female vampire who has been subjugated to serve the blood needs of another. The practice of keeping blood slaves has been outlawed.
the Chosen (pr. n.)
Female vampires who had been bred to serve the Scribe Virgin. In the past, they were spiritually rather than temporally focused, but that changed with the ascendance of the final Primale, who freed them from the Sanctuary. With the Scribe Virgin removing herself from her role, they are completely autonomous and learning to live on earth. They do continue to meet the blood needs of unmated members of the Brotherhood, as well as Brothers who cannot feed from their shellans or injured fighters.
chrih (n.)
Symbol of honorable death in the Old Language.
cohntehst (n.)
Conflict between two males competing for the right to be a female’s mate.
Dhunhd (pr. n.)
Hell.
doggen (n.)
Member of the servant class within the vampire world. Doggen have old, conservative traditions about service to their superiors, following a formal code of dress and behavior. They are able to go out during the day, but they age relatively quickly. Life expectancy is approximately five hundred years.
ehros (n.)
A Chosen trained in the matter of sexual arts.
exhile dhoble (n.)
The evil or cursed twin, the one born second.
the Fade (pr. n.)
Non-temporal realm where the dead reunite with their loved ones and pass eternity.
First Family (pr. n.)
The King and Queen of the vampires, and any children they may have.
ghardian (n.)
Custodian of an individual. There are varying degrees of ghardians, with the most powerful being that of a sehcluded female.
glymera (n.)
The social core of the aristocracy, roughly equivalent to Regency England’s ton.
hellren (n.)
Male vampire who has been mated to a female. Males may take more than one female as mate.
hyslop (n. or v.)
Term referring to a lapse in judgment, typically resulting in the compromise of the mechanical operations of a vehicle or otherwise motorized conveyance of some kind. For example, leaving one’s keys in one’s car as it is parked outside the family home overnight, whereupon said vehicle is stolen.
leahdyre (n.)
A person of power and influence.
leelan (adj. or n.)
A term of endearment loosely translated as “dearest one.”
Lessening Society (pr. n.)
Order of slayers convened first by the Omega, and now by his son, for the purpose of eradicating the vampire species.
lesser (n.)
De-souled human who targets vampires for extermination as a member of the Lessening Society. Lessers must be stabbed through the chest in order to be killed; otherwise they are ageless. They do not eat or drink and are impotent. Over time, their hair, skin, and irises lose pigmentation until they are blond, blushless, and pale eyed. They smell like baby powder. Now inducted into the society by the Omega’s son, they no longer keep jars for their hearts, as they did in the past. Women now may be inducted.
lewlhen (n.)
Gift.
lheage (n.)
A term of respect used by a sexual submissive to refer to their dominant.
Lhenihan (pr. n.)
A mythic beast renowned for its sexual prowess. In modern slang, refers to a male of preternatural size and sexual stamina.
lys (n.)
Torture tool used to remove the eyes.
mahmen (n.)
Mother. Used both as an identifier and a term of affection.
mhis (n.)
The masking of a given physical environment; the creation of a field of illusion.
nalla (n., f.) or nallum (n., m.)
Beloved.
needing period (n.)
Female vampire’s time of fertility, generally lasting for two days and accompanied by intense sexual cravings. Occurs approximately five years after a female’s transition and then once a decade thereafter. All males respond to some degree if they are around a female in her need. It can be a dangerous time, with conflicts and fights breaking out between competing males, particularly if the female is not mated.
newling (n.)
A virgin.
the Omega (pr. n.)
Malevolent, mystical figure who previously targeted the vampires for extinction out of resentment directed toward the Scribe Virgin. Existed in a non-temporal realm and had extensive powers, though not the power of creation. Now eradicated, and replaced by his son, Lash.
phearsom (adj.)
Term referring to the potency of a male’s sexual organs. Literal translation something close to “worthy of entering a female.”
Princeps (pr. n.)
Highest level of the vampire aristocracy, second only to members of the First Family or the Scribe Virgin’s Chosen. Must be born to the title; it may not be conferred. Have been outlawed by royal decree, but underground factions do exist.
pyrocant (n.)
Refers to a critical weakness in an individual. The weakness can be internal, such as an addiction, or external, such as a lover.
rahlman (n.)
Savior.
rythe (n.)
Ritual manner of asserting honor granted by one who has offended another. If accepted, the offended chooses a weapon and strikes the offender, who presents him- or herself without defenses.
the Scribe Virgin (pr. n.)
Mystical force who previously was counselor to the King as well as the keeper of vampire archives and the dispenser of privileges. Existed in a non-temporal realm and had extensive powers, but stepped down and gave her station to another. Capable of a single act of creation, which she expended to bring the vampires into existence.
sehclusion (n.)
Status conferred by the King upon a female of the aristocracy as a result of a petition by the female’s family. Places the female under the sole direction of her ghardian, typically the eldest male in her household. Her ghardian then has the legal right to determine all manner of her life, restricting at will any and all interactions she has with the world.
shellan (n.)
Female vampire who has been mated to a male. Females generally do not take more than one mate due to the highly territorial nature of bonded males.
symphath (n.)
Subspecies within the vampire race characterized by the ability and desire to manipulate emotions in others (for the purposes of an energy exchange), among other traits. Historically, they have been discriminated against and, during certain eras, hunted by vampires.
talhman (n.)
The evil side of an individual. A dark stain on the soul that requires expression if it is not properly expunged.
the Tomb (pr. n.)
Sacred vault of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Used as a ceremonial site and, previously, the storage facility for the jars of lessers. Ceremonies performed there include inductions, funerals, and disciplinary actions against Brothers. No one may enter except for members of the Brotherhood, the Scribe Virgin’s successor, or candidates for induction.
trahyner (n.)
Word used between males of mutual respect and affection. Translated loosely as “beloved friend.”
transition (n.)
Critical moment in a vampire’s life when he or she transforms into an adult. Thereafter, he or she must drink the blood of the opposite sex to survive and is unable to withstand sunlight. Occurs generally in the mid-twenties. Some vampires do not survive their transitions, males in particular. Prior to their transitions, vampires are physically weak, sexually unaware and unresponsive, and unable to dematerialize.
vampire (n.)
Member of a species separate from that of Homo sapiens. Vampires must drink the blood of the opposite sex to survive. Human blood will keep them alive, though the strength does not last long. Following their transitions, which occur in their mid-twenties, they are unable to go out i
wahlker (n.)
An individual who has died and returned to the living from the Fade. They are accorded great respect and are revered for their travails.
whard (n.)
Equivalent of a godfather or godmother to an individual.
CHAPTER ONE
Rural Route 149
Caldwell, New York
I gotta bad feeling about this.”
As Mickey Trix’s cousin spoke, he wanted to beat on the fucker, but it was his own damned fault. Why had he thought bringing the deadweight on a hit was gonna help anything?
“Mickey, you hear what I say—”
Overhead, lightning rippled across the night sky and the snowy forest came alive, the bare branches of the trees turning into arms that reached forward to grab, the knee-deep drifts reflecting the all-wrong flash back to the freaky storm. When everything went darker again, Mickey had a split second of double-thinking himself. It was fucking January. You didn’t get thunderstorms in—
“Shut up.” He searched those trees, which seemed to stalk instead of stand still on their root systems. “Fuck, why you always talking—”
“Where are we—”
Mickey turned on the dumbass as thunder rumbled. All the fucking snow made the landscape glow so he could see too much of his cousin’s weak-dick chin and beady little paranoid peepers. The ski mask he’d given the fool was wedged up over a set of thin eyebrows, the layers of black wool a crown of bad intent that on anyone else would’ve been a warning that shit was about to go down. On Evan? It just covered up all the premature balding.
Even his fucking hair didn’t want to be around him.
And who the fuck couldn’t grow eyebrows. Even cue-ball-bald SOBs had eyebrows—except for when they had that shit, what was it called?
Alpaca.
“Mickey, we gotta turn back. I gotta bad—”
Mickey slapped that crap into silence, hard enough that his palm vibrated inside his glove. “I got business here, and you want to get into business, so we’re coming to take care of business, you fuckin’ asshole.”
As snowflakes swirled, Evan put his bare hand on the side of his face. “Why you gotta do that shit?”
“ ’Cuz you’re doing this shit.” He motioned back and forth between them, the sleeve on his parka flapping. “Now, come the fuck on. Fuck.”
Stomping off through the snow, he was not about to tell an adult male that he needed to put his goddamn mittens on. Besides, if Evan got frostbite, he probably wouldn’t even know what it was.
Ten fucking years, Mickey thought. Ten years and he was getting nowhere in the organization or with their uncle. He was twenty-nine years old, still roughing up idiots who didn’t pay when they lost at the book, still pushing small bags on the street. His pops had run the family at this age, and had been in charge right up until the old man had been shot twelve times on 19th Street.
Mickey was the fucking son of a legend, and there was a birthright to that. If his pops hadn’t been murdered over that territory dispute with the Southend gangs, Uncle wouldn’t be more’n a second-in-command of some crew on the secondhand side of the river—
Snap.
Mickey froze and scanned the woods.
“WhatwasthatohmyGod—”
“I stepped on something.” If he hit the guy again, Evan was likely to start crying. “Fuck, relax.”
As another lick of lightning flickered down, Mickey searched for true movement in the forest, not the shit that was an illusion. It was hard to tell, so he was going to stay where he was… until he was sure what was around them was safe. Well, safe-ish. Who the fuck knew what kind of booby-traps could be out here?
“Mickey, I know what you’re doing—and we don’t want to mess with him.”
Scanning. More scanning. “I’m just gonna pay the guy a little visit. Talk to him.”
“You’re not here for conversation.” When Mickey glanced over his shoulder, Evan’s eyes narrowed like he wasn’t completely stupid. “I’m not completely stupid.”
Time to get moving again. “Whatever.”
“Why don’t I get to have a gun? You never let me carry a gun.” Evan tapped him on the shoulder. “C’mon. Let’s not do this—”
“You know what—just fuckin’ go.” Mickey took out the key remote to the car they’d left up on the county road. “Wait for me like a pussy, while I do the work.”
“I’m not leaving you.” Evan shook his head. “I know nobody thinks nothin’ of me, but this guy, he’s dangerous. There’s something wrong with him.”
“He’s just another one of Uncle’s enforcers.”
“No, he’s not. And you brought me ’cuz you know nobody else would come with you.”
No, Mickey thought. He’d brought Evan because nobody else listened to the guy. But trading that kind of go-nowhere-gossip for what was supposed to be halfway decent backup wasn’t working too good.
Punching the remote into his cousin’s chest and holding it there, Mickey leaned in. “I’ll handle this. Like a man. You go wait in the fucking car. Like a goddamn child.”
Lightning fanned out across the base of the cloud cover again, and in the icy blue reflection, the fear on Evan’s face was like a third person standing between them.
“Go on,” Mickey ordered as his own resolve wobbled. “You’re so fucking weak.”
“I had a dream last night—”
“I hope she was good-looking.” Mickey pushed the car fob into the front pocket of his cousin’s parka. “In real life, you’re only pulling shit.”
“You’re gonna die, Mickey.”
“Great. At least then, I’m not dealing with you.”
“You don’t have to prove yourself to Uncle, you know. You’re enough as you are—”
Mickey shoved at his cousin’s shoulders, knocking him backwards into the snow. “Fucking asshole. I don’t have to prove myself to nobody.”
It was a goddamn relief to turn away—until he realized he was making a lot of noise with his heavy breathing, and that wasn’t the smartest move. He was also letting the pissed-off get the best of him, and that was not only dangerous, it put him on Evan’s basement-level, low-fi operating mentals. He was better than that.
He was the son of the rightful head of the family—
As movement registered in his peripheral vision, he glanced over his shoulder again. Evan was up on his feet, snowpack falling from his ass in clumps like he was taking a shit and it was coming out in black and white. With his hands tucked under his chin like he’d seen the boogeyman and his eyes all anime-tragic, Mickey was reminded that just because you were related to someone didn’t mean you had nothing in common with them.
Leaving his cousin, he needed to keep his focus where it had to stay so he put his hand into the front pocket of his snow pants. The USB drive was right where he’d stashed it, ready to be used in the second half of this operation. A gun to the head of some techie had gotten the job done, a fake data trail created on the blockchain making it look like bitcoin had been stolen on a large scale from the family’s digital wallets. He didn’t need to understand how or what was being typed on that fucking keyboard or scrolled on that monitor. All that mattered was that his instructions as to the outcome were followed, and he knew they had been: He had the IT guy’s wife tied up in his secret apartment on 21st Avenue—and hey, he was gonna let the Mrs. go, as long as his uncle came to the right conclusions when Mickey “found” the drive and turned it in—
A shot of paranoia had him glancing around, and he expected to see Evan trailing after him like a beat-down dog.
Nothing. Other than the gnarled trees, looking like they were an unholy army sprung from contaminated ground.
Fine, at least he didn’t have to worry about the dummy.
With the storm’s light show and grumbling guiding him, he kept going, pushing branches out of his way. When one snapped back and caught him in the ass, he wondered why the bastard he was going to kill tonight wanted to live out here in the fucking sticks. Then again, “Nathaniel”—chrissakes, what a street name to pick—was fucking weird. Never said much. Didn’t mix with nobody. Didn’t fight for the good jobs. Youda think he wouldn’t be no problem, but Uncle liked the guy too much for his being an outsider. Hell, for being anybody. Natty-whatever-the-fuck was getting assigned the eliminations, the real work, not the banging-on-doors, nickel-and-dime runs.
