A Bloody London Sunset (Sunset Vampire #2) - Page 7

The sole communication that Katrina and Caleb received from Paige following her departure from Atlanta was a brief text message she sent to Katrina's cell phone indicating she had arrived home safely. And while Katrina found that to be perfectly normal and expected, Caleb was less pleased with the development. However, he reluctantly honored his promise to his mate not to attempt further communications with Paige until an appropriate time had passed. The problem was that the term "appropriate time" was far too arbitrary for his satisfaction.

Still, life proceeded, and he was once again preoccupied with the progression of the spring semester and all the associated functions of teaching at a community college. He spent a great deal of spare time drilling with Katrina, refining his mastery of self-defense techniques, including his recently acquired knowledge of knife fighting. He admitted that she had been correct in stressing that, while firearms were effective, the proliferation of sharp, bladed objects made them more important for weapons training.

On the social front, Katrina and Caleb spent time with William and Tanisha Browning. Caleb was pleased that his mate enjoyed visiting with the Brownings and their excursions to dinners and evening events attending plays and films. They even went out dancing at a local club one Friday evening in early March. Caleb had enjoyed seeing Tanisha really let her hair down that night and had been amused to see a much less controlled version of his friend as she danced heatedly with her husband. Tanisha later kidded him that if he ever said anything to their peers, she would blacklist him from future social events. Of course, Katrina was quite a sultry dancer when she wanted to be, as on one occasion when she had lost herself in the moment, grinding against his body.

The weeks passed quickly as Caleb prepared for their upcoming trip to England. Katrina helped him confirm that his passport was in order and made the arrangements for their flight to, and hotel stay in, London. She was an excellent, detail-oriented planner, one of her many admirable traits. He marveled at the amazing woman who had selected him as her mate and thanked the Fates for the day he had met her. However, the day that his memory held as their first meeting was not necessarily accurate, and he looked forward to the opportunity to have his memory restored completely. Though potentially emotional, he wanted to understand the true nature of their initial meeting. He hoped that the doctor whom Alton had recommended was indeed as good as the reputation that preceded him.

It was a Friday afternoon in mid-March and the last day of Caleb's obligations at the college prior to the weeklong spring break. He chatted excitedly with Tanisha in his office as he crammed items into his backpack and tidied up his desk. She sat in his guest chair, listening with amusement as he described the anticipation of his first overseas journey. After a quick goodbye and Tanisha's good wishes for a safe journey, he hurried out to his car and barely noticed the drive home as he appreciated the spring temperatures and late day sunshine.

He pulled into the garage, and the door had barely closed behind his car before Katrina appeared at his driver's side door. She kissed him and smiled brightly as he rushed from the car, forgetting his backpack in the passenger seat, and hurried into the house to finish packing for their trip. With a pleased smile, she calmly reached into the car, pulled out the backpack, and carried it inside behind him.

She had spent the entire day packing while he was at the college so she would be available to help him with his own preparations. Her assistance included watching over him to ensure that he didn't forget anything important, such as his passport, new exclusive joint-account credit card, or his collection of notes and brochures on London that he had assembled meticulously during the past month. Additionally, she made arrangements for Devon Archibald to check in on the estate a few times during the week. She also left word with the security system monitoring company to make Devon the primary local contact at night, but to respond immediately to any daytime alarms.

Within a couple of hours, evening arrived in full. Caleb finished packing, and Katrina made a call to Sunset Air to send a car to pick them up. One of the company's additional services was to arrange for secure transportation to and from the airport, if desired. In order to avoid leaving their car at the airport, she had quickly decided the added cost was well worth it. Additionally, their luggage would be automatically processed and loaded on the plane.

"Are you ready?" she asked with a smirk as she noticed Caleb glancing at his watch for the third time in less than twenty minutes.

"Me?" he asked innocently, folding his arms across his chest. "Oh, sure. Yep, ready to go."

"You're adorable," she observed with a smile as she regarded his nervous energy. He had a contagious sense of wonder and anticipation about him, which she found endearing. You're definitely keeping life both fun and interesting for me.

Katrina's cell phone rang, and she gave the Sunset Air driver a temporary access code to enter the neighborhood gate. Then she manually opened the driveway gate to allow access to the front of the estate. Minutes later, a black limousine pulled up in front of the house, and Caleb hastily carried their luggage to the back of the car. His heart was beating fast as he anticipated what he hoped was the journey of a lifetime with Katrina.

Their aircraft was a three-engine airliner specially outfitted with oversized fuel capacity for non-stop transatlantic flights. The interior of the plane was laid out in a series of special oversized compartments reminding Caleb of miniature hotel rooms. Each compartment had locked and closed portal windows and was tastefully furnished using lighter colors. In the center of the room were four large seats facing a large flat-panel display inset into the wall panel.

The already roomy seats were fastened together in pairs so that a set of two could be turned into one large area, much like a small sofa. Mounted before each seating space and appearing to be adjustable forward, up, or down, was a small oak-finished table. Suspended directly above each of the four seats was a console with an individual drop-down LCD display, reading light, adjustable air vents, and buttons to summon attendants or control the display.

Set behind the single row of seats was a small bed and a large overhead storage compartment. Next to the bed was a small doorway leading into a private bathroom, including a small shower. All in all, it appeared to be a comfortable setup for long-term flights. Katrina had reserved an entire compartment for them, though Caleb had no idea exactly how many other passengers might be on the flight in the other compartments, if any.

She sat next to him in the set of two seats closest to the outer wall of the fuselage. She noted the curious expression on his face as he viewed the interior of their compartment.

"Geez, this is nicer looking than any plane interior I've ever seen," he observed with awe. "It's like our own little apartment. There's even a bed back there."

She grinned at him, pulled up the seat arm that was barring her from snuggling next to him, and commented, "That's right. This is your first time on a Sunset Air charter flight. It's unlike most anything humans are used to, for obvious reasons."

He scooted closer to her and placed his hand on her thigh. "Are there any other passengers on the flight?" he asked as the aircraft's engines roared to life.

"Passengers are asked to please buckle their seatbelts, remain seated, and secure any loose cargo until we're airborne," announced a pleasant female attendant's voice over a small speaker set into the console above them.

So much for snuggling, Katrina observed. Maybe later.

The two of them buckled their seatbelts as she replied to her mate's question, "I sensed three vampires and one other human."

"The human would likely be a –"

"Companion, most likely. Although I discovered one of the pilots is human, as well as two of the flight attendants."

He nodded at the information and felt the plane begin to move. His grip tightened on Katrina's thigh, and he inhaled deeply. He had never flown overseas before, and while not scared, he was a little nervous as to what to expect.

She noted his increased grip and turned her head sharply to look into his eyes. "It's your first time flying, isn't it?" she asked.

He offered a shy smile as he returned her gaze and shrugged. "Well, over water," he conceded. "I've usually traveled via trains, buses, or cars. My mother and I didn't travel a lot, except for short car trips. Money was tight for us when I was growing up, and flying around the country was pretty much out of the question. When I relocated to Atlanta for college, I drove down from Ohio, mainly to have my car available. My college baseball team flew a couple of times, but those were just short flights. So, this is my maiden flight over water. Kind of strange and lame for someone who's twenty-six years old, isn't it?"

She smiled back at him and noted how endearing his expression appeared to her. Sensing a sort of vulnerability in his eyes, she stretched her left arm across his shoulders supportively. "Not at all," she reassured him. "Are you nervous?"

"Nah," he retorted casually, though there was a tightness in his voice. "Although it's a big ocean we're going to be flying over, and I'm not too keen on swimming in it."

She looked at him with amusement. "So, you don't care for the ocean then?"

He frowned. "Well, I'm not fond of deep water at all, really. I can't swim."

Her smile faded as she took in that important fact to file away for future reference. Her protective nature kicked in, and she reassured him, "Well, there's no swimming on this flight, so you're in luck. And besides, Sunset Air has one of the safest flying records in the industry. It's one of the few airlines where the safety of its passengers really is their first priority."

A man's deep voice resonated over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, we're preparing for take-off. Please fasten your seatbelts at this time and remain seated until we're airborne. We'll announce when it's safe for you to move around your cabins. Thank you for flying Sunset Air."

Caleb rechecked his seatbelt and glanced over to ensure Katrina was buckled in. He looked up at her with a tight-lipped smile and gazed around the cabin as if seeking a distraction of some kind. She reached out to grasp his right hand in hers and noticed that his palm was slightly moist. Ah, he's a little nervous after all, she considered with a smirk. She found it somewhat endearing and made a mental note to be particularly reassuring towards him.

"So, Sunset Air only caters to vampires, don't they?" he asked absently.

Katrina nodded and explained, "Well, they're vampire-owned for a reason, but they cater to human customers using a separate fleet of aircraft. They're a legitimate business focused on a profit-making venture, after all. It's just that their vampire-supportive fleet specializes in safe, relatively anonymous, sunlight-free transportation. It's one reason why their fares are so exorbitant. Of course, the amenities are numerous as well."

He nodded silently as the aircraft seemed to shift abruptly. He thought it must be taxiing across the runway to prepare for take-off. Though, without a window view, it felt to him like riding in a closed box on wheels.

Minutes later, he felt a sensation of acceleration, and his body was pressed back into the seat cushion. He felt a tell-tale uplifting, tickling sensation in his stomach, as well as a feeling of being lifted upwards at an angle. He continued to feel that for a time, until the plane seemed to bank again before leveling off. In the end, it was a smooth and pleasant experience, and he sighed appreciatively.

"There. We're in the air now," Katrina commented softly with a small pat on his shoulder.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Richard Webber speaking," announced a deep, male voice over the loudspeaker. "We're airborne now and will continue non-stop to London. We welcome our human passengers and request on behalf of your safety that you please stay in your assigned cabins. Our staff will be happy to provide for any and all your needs, and we hope you enjoy the flight. Thank you for traveling with Sunset Air."

Katrina unbuckled her seatbelt, but Caleb merely stared up at her with a curious expression. "Let me guess," he ventured as he folded his arms before him. "That must have been the vampire pilot."

She smirked at his reaction. "Now, now. Humans are guests just like the vampire passengers. It's just that our kind are hesitant about mingling openly with humans in these circumstance. Please don't take it personally."

"But you can leave the cabin, right?" he pressed with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Her eyes quickly darted to him, and she looked over at the nearby plasma display nonchalantly. "Well, yes, I suppose I could. They do have a bar area set up for vampires to socialize in." But she brightly countered, "However, I plan on spending the flight here with you, enjoying my mate's company. It's our first real traveling experience together, after all."

He frowned slightly, but then shrugged and unfolded his arms with a sigh. "Yeah, I suppose it's nice to have some privacy together," he acknowledged with a half-smile.

She grinned slyly, reached over to unbuckle his safety belt, and tilted her head towards his to kiss his soft lips. Following a couple of additional kisses, a light knock sounded at their cabin door.

"Come in," Katrina replied.

A tall, brunette woman wearing a Sunset Air stewardess uniform peeked into the cabin with a pleasant expression and asked, "May I offer you warm towels?"

"Yes, thanks," Katrina replied as she sat up in her seat beside Caleb.

The woman entered, and Caleb noted that her nametag read Trish. She presented Katrina with a warm, moist towel using a pair of tongs and repeated the process for Caleb. He appreciated its warmth and happily rubbed his hands and face with it.

Trish asked about food and drink preferences, to which he asked for a menu and a Coca-Cola, while Katrina asked for a glass of wine. The stewardess departed, and Caleb set his towel aside on the small adjustable table before him.

"Kat, what else are you expecting to do while we're in London?" he asked. "I get the impression this is part business trip."

Very perceptive, she congratulated him. "Alton mentioned there are some vampire-related matters he wanted to discuss with me," she explained. "I'm not entirely clear on most of the details, but it appears a rift is forming in the vampire community. The implications are still being determined, although I can't help feeling that Alton is one of the leaders representing one side of the issue."

He considered that for a moment. "He wants to recruit you, doesn't he? Isn't that part of why he offered to set up the meeting for me with the vampire psychiatrist?"

She frowned, not wanting to consider her former mentor's actions as being so base or manipulative, but conceded there might be a hint of accuracy to her mate's assessment. "It's possible that Alton only wants to get my impression of things, but it's more likely that he wants my assistance in some form," she said. "However, he's becoming fond of you, and I think he sincerely wants to try and help if he can."

"Well, that's nice of him, at any rate," he conceded with a shake of his head. "I'm feeling both nervous and hopeful about meeting with- What's his name?"

"Dr. Roehl Guilhelm," she supplied. "According to Alton, he's supposed to be one of the best in his field. I did some preliminary research, and he does appear to be an actively practicing psychiatrist."

Caleb nodded, hoping again the doctor was as good as his reputation. He really wanted to get his blocked memories back. Somehow he felt as if some sort of important closure could occur, at least regarding his father, if not also for his initial meeting of Katrina, or rather, Amber. "That's good to know," he replied absently.

A few minutes later, Trish returned with wine, cola, and a menu, which Caleb perused at length before ordering a deli sandwich. Much to his surprise, it tasted freshly prepared. He and Katrina watched a recent blockbuster action film on the display and read novels they had brought in their carry-on luggage. He was amazed by the friendly, attentive service provided on the flight and became so acclimated to the smooth in-flight conditions that he felt comfortable taking a shower and napping in his reclined seat. Although Katrina was amused that he didn't feel so relaxed that he would concede to napping on the comfortable-looking bed.

"Fear of unexpected turbulence rolling me out of bed," he had countered with a yawn.

Soon afterwards, she took her turn in the shower, after which she noted he had fallen deeply asleep during her brief absence. She settled down to do some more reading while listening to some music on a set of headphones connected to the console above her.

When he woke, he realized that he had slept nearly six hours and was hungry. After a quick perusal of the menu, he was served an early morning breakfast of eggs, pork sausage, and Belgian waffles while Katrina enjoyed a warm glass of human blood. In a brief simultaneous exchange, each viewed the other's meal with mild disdain.

"Mine smells tastier than yours," he bragged with a smirk.

"You smell tastier than either," she observed with a predatory grin, to which he smiled and returned to his platter of food.

"You want a little nip?" he asked playfully as he poured hot syrup over his waffles.

"I would, but I've decided to spare you for later," she replied suggestively.

He merely smiled and shook his head. It was nice to be desired, despite the fact that he was the intended meal. He suddenly realized how comfortable he had become with being a vampire's mate in just a matter of months and how much he relished his role in Katrina's life. It was a source of both great pride and personal satisfaction.

As their plane approached the British Isles, the sun had already risen, and the human pilot who took control of the aircraft invited Caleb to the cockpit to view their approach to the mainland. As he approached the cockpit he noted all the other cabins had been closed and the bar area was devoid of patrons. He found the cockpit view fascinating and couldn't help but wonder what adventures awaited him as he observed the looming land mass of Great Britain. Upon his return to their cabin, Katrina glanced up at him from her mystery novel.

"Enjoy the view?" she asked with a smirk, though she easily detected how pleased he was.

He bent down to kiss her. "It was great! And I suspect I've got you to thank for that, as well."

"While you were napping earlier, I slipped out and let it be known it was your first transatlantic flight, and the other vampires and crew were kind enough to oblige my small request."

He smiled warmly as he sat down next to her, once again touched by his mate's seemingly endless kindness. "Thanks, Kat. You're the best."

She adopted a mock-smug expression, returned to reading her novel, and agreed, "Yes I am, in fact. And don't you forget it, my love."

It was mid-morning by the time the plane landed at a small airport just outside of London. They remained in the plane at length while the aircraft taxied into a completely blacked-out hangar, its doors closed to preclude any sunlight from entering. A special ramp was brought alongside the plane, and the few passengers disembarked.

They grabbed their carry-on luggage and proceeded through the quiet central hallway leading towards the front of the plane, though the only people they encountered were the human pilot and their two assigned stewardesses. Caleb shook their hands and thanked them for their service and safe flight, and each person seemed flattered and slightly taken aback by his friendly and appreciative manner. Katrina followed suit, though merely nodding, smiling, and thanking the crew for their hospitality and service.

"Such a friendly, polite young man," the captain whispered to the two crewwomen standing next to him.

"Cute couple," one of the women muttered, causing Katrina to smirk as she descended the ramp next to Caleb.

Two black limousines with tinted windows were already idling near the plane with their brake lights on, indicating their passengers were loaded and ready to depart the hangar. One lone black limousine remained near the bottom of the ramp. Its rear-most passenger side door was open, beside which a tall man wearing a tailored suit stood arrow-straight. His right hand was crossed neatly against his left hand as he stared ahead of him observing their descent to the concrete floor of the hangar. A man dressed in a traditional chauffeur's uniform stood next to the rear bumper of the vehicle as airport employees transferred the luggage from the aircraft into the car's trunk.

Caleb noticed Katrina's change in posture to a more aggressive stance as she deliberately walked a little ahead of him towards the man standing next to the car's open door. The dark-haired man seemed momentarily taken aback by Katrina's forward bearing, and he blinked once as he stared back at her.

"Ma'am," the man offered deferentially with a nod. "Welcome to London. My name is Simmons, ma'am. Mr. Rutherford sends his regrets that he couldn't meet you in person. He sent me to ensure that you and Mr. Taylor are properly escorted to your hotel."

The chauffeur approached Caleb and gestured towards his and Katrina's carry-on luggage, which he took and stored in the trunk for them. He nodded politely to Caleb, returned to the rear of the vehicle, and watched the other airport staff who were loading two remaining luggage items.

Katrina raised an eyebrow. "I see. And you're part of the security detail for Mr. Rutherford?"

The man nodded and replied in a crisp English accent, "Yes, ma'am."

Caleb knew better than to interrupt the interaction taking place and stood quietly behind and to the left of Katrina. He found his mate's sudden change in demeanor to one of immediate authority curious, but perhaps not surprising. She was an alpha vampire, after all, and she had no idea who the man was.

"Expecting trouble, Simmons?" she asked pointedly as she looked in the direction of the chauffeur, who closed the trunk and moved to the driver's side of the vehicle. He stood quietly, apparently awaiting word to proceed with the departure.

"Not expecting any, ma'am," Simmons replied crisply. "Mr. Rutherford merely wanted to ensure that your journey to the hotel was without incident given that it's daytime."

Caleb's eyes perked up with the recognition that the man fully understood he was addressing a vampire.

"Then I appreciate your service today, Simmons," Katrina replied politely. "Let's proceed."

Simmons nodded to the chauffeur and held the car door open for them. Caleb glanced back to the airplane, but all the people had suddenly disappeared from the area, leaving them seemingly alone in that part of the hangar. Katrina touched Caleb lightly on the shoulder to urge him forward to enter the back of the car before her. He ducked into the back of the limousine and scooted over to the far side of the seat to allow her to enter. She slid onto the seat, and Simmons closed the door. He got into the passenger side of the front compartment, leaving Katrina and Caleb alone in the roomy rear compartment of the vehicle.

Caleb looked out the passenger side of the car and noticed the hangar doors were opening, allowing the two limousines ahead of them to depart. A few moments later, their own limousine pulled through the hangar and into the daylight, although the darkly tinted windows kept any ultraviolet radiation from penetrating. He looked out the car window at the airport buildings and hangars and found that things looked very similar to the airports in the United States.

Katrina extended her left arm across the open expanse of space towards him and pulled him back to the center of the car next to her with one swift motion. He chuckled as he slid across the leather seat towards her and tilted his head up to kiss her.

"Welcome to London, my love," she offered. "Don't worry about the view for now. It will begin to look more scenic and noteworthy once we leave the area around the airport."

"That man, Simmons," Caleb noted curiously. "He reminds me of a secret service agent."

"Alton likes to hire former British military and intelligence service members in his security ranks," she told him. "Their experience and discipline lend themselves well to Alton's preferred style of performance and leadership."

He nodded. "You looked rather authoritative there for a moment, as well."

She shrugged and hugged him to her. "It was important to establish the pecking order with such types. They respect that, and it removes any role ambiguity."

He smirked. "I think I like you better this way."

She smiled back slyly and kissed him on the cheek. "Of course you do. But then, I've already established our pecking order, haven't I?"

He shook his head, rolled his eyes, and patted her thigh with his hand. He took a moment to take in the interior of the vehicle and realized that a small LCD display was built into a central console before him. There appeared to be a small bar and built-in cooler, and a leather seat was situated on each side of the console facing towards them. The interior would comfortably seat five, he noted.

"Nice ride," he said. He was impressed with the luxuriousness of the vehicle and anticipated that it must have cost a small fortune.

"One of Alton's," she noted. "I'll bet they even stocked the fridge for us."

He reached across to open the small refrigerator and found two bottles of chilled Coca-cola along with two plastic vials of chilled blood. He took out one of the Coke bottles, opened it, and took a swig. His dry throat appreciated it, and he looked up at Katrina.

"Want some cold blood?" he asked with a grin.

She frowned for a moment and reached over to the console to open a small wooden panel. Inside was a set of two clear drinking glasses, which were heated by elements surrounding the interior of the small storage area. A brief wave of heat flowed out of the interior towards them.

"Wow," he said with surprise. "Preheated glasses. Never seen that before."

She nodded, but closed the door again without removing a glass. "I seem to recall his telling me about installing heated glass holders in his cars. Novel idea, but I'm not terribly hungry right now," she replied, although she took the Coke bottle from him and took a small swig before handing it back to him.

Once they left the area surrounding the airport, the scenery looked somewhat rustic, though the most notable aspect was that they were riding down the opposite side of the road from what was normal in America. Caleb decided to not look forward, half expecting to run into an oncoming vehicle. As if sensing his personal challenge, Katrina ran her fingers down the back of his neck lightly, which caused him to shiver slightly.

"Try looking at the passing scenery instead of forwards for a time," she suggested. "It takes a little getting used to, I'll admit."

As they approached the outskirts of London, Caleb noticed that the buildings were a mix of the most modern constructions combined with architectures of less descript design. It was almost like one could see the varying generations of English architecture all combined into one stretch of the city. However, a number of homes and buildings really didn't look that different from designs found in the United States or Canada.

Once downtown, he wished that he could open a window to see a lighter version of the scenery around him, rather than the darkly tinted imagery, but he naturally didn't want to do anything to harm Katrina. He anticipated that he could stand outside of the hotel for a time once they arrived and checked into their room.

Again, Katrina seemed to sense his thoughts. "I'll see if Alton knows someone who can take you out for some daytime touring of the city. It would be a shame for you to only see the place at night."

He grinned back at her as he briefly turned from the window. "You're sure vampires don't read minds? Thanks, I'd love that."

She smiled in response and appreciated the engaged manner in which he tried to take in the passing scenery. Their trip had been very successful thus far, which pleased her. She was determined to make the trip as relaxing, fun, and enjoyable as she could manage, despite her daylight limitations.

As they proceeded further into London proper, the city became an anomaly unto itself. There were many modern buildings sporting both professional and creative architecture interspersed with sites of historical antiquity, and all were crammed into a metropolis thriving with both people and traffic. Certainly, most major cities supported a blend of architectures from varying periods, but London was the historic heart of Great Britain, and it was laid out in its glory for the world to see and traverse.

When they arrived at the hotel, Summit Towers, in the heart of the business district, Caleb was impressed by appearance of the fifteen-story building. The frontage offered a stately elegance that also appeared very modern. As the building loomed above them, he noted that the glass around the first and second floors, as well as the three top-most floors, appeared tinted, while the other floors appeared to have traditional glass. He wondered if that were to accommodate vampire guests more easily, though Katrina hadn't mentioned that the hotel catered specifically to vampires.

The limousine pulled onto a small access road leading around the periphery of the building and proceeded to a gated entrance into an underground parking garage that was manned by a uniformed security guard. Their limousine was admitted after a brief exc