Kenneth deferred to Luca with an outstretched offering hand to the older Italian gentleman. Luca, looked a bit surprised at the sudden breach of etiquette. It was a small thing, and it might be seen as a great honor for him. Luca turned to the girl he had escorted and leaned in softly to whisper something in the woman’s ear. Luca gripped the woman by the back of the neck calmly and gazed into her eyes, speaking softly to her. The woman was held fast and unable to move. She tried to open her mouth, but no words came out. In a moment the woman’s eye’s fluttered and closed as she slumped limp and heavy against Luca’s shoulder. The gentleman stood up and carried her from the room.

  This garnered the almost simultaneous explosion of questions and concern from the others women who had been brought into their banquet hall. “What did he do?” Where is he taking her” What kind of place is this?” “Is she drugged” “Will she be alright?”

  Kenneth looked over at the girl now sharing his table. None of these questions exited her lips.

  Kenneth turned back and watched as each table leader, one by one, mesmerized and silenced their table girl and carried them out of the hall. With each girl that was subdued and taken, the questions became more desperate, louder. Some girls even tried to get away, to stand up and run. Of course, the humans couldn’t overcome the strength of the vampire who now held each fast to their chairs.

  Kenneth sat in stunned awe of Nova. She observed the scene with the same calm confidence that she had first greeted Kenneth. Either she was a complete idiot and totally unaware of what was going on, or she simply refused to believe what was happening in front of her. There was a third option, as completely preposterous as it sounded. Perhaps she was accepting of, or maybe even enjoying, the scene that played itself out in front her.

  The House members remaining at their tables began socializing. Glasses were drained of wine and refilled. Nova watched the scene serenely from her place at the head table. Kenneth couldn’t help but be preoccupied with this woman. She wasn’t anxious, nor was she nervous; she sipped at her wine with the calm confidence of a Queen at a royal feast.

  “What are you?” Kenneth breathed aloud without really meaning to.

  Nova simply turned to look at him, “I am merely an immortal spirit inhabiting this shell for a time.”

  Kenneth found himself gazing into her dark brown eyes and not really wanting to look anywhere else. “You do know that I pretty much run this whole place, right?” Nova simply nodded that she did before turning back and looking over the banquet hall.

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  Kenneth almost laughed, “Is this some kind of American girl playing ‘hard to get’ thing?”

  Nova shook her head, “Nothing of the kind, Ken. From my point of view all these things are transient. One day my spirit will pass on from this world to the next. My experiences here will be mostly forgotten when my spirit finds a new shell to inhabit in the next life. I have accepted that which is around me, both good and bad. Money, like life, is something that can corrupt as well as please. It is but part of the great tapestry; no more, or less important than a first kiss, or the first rain of spring.”

  Kenneth was caught slack jawed at the calm reassurance of this woman. To her way of thinking everything he had worked so hard for was no more, or less important than a tree or blade of grass. Her words couldn’t be born of genuine belief. There was no way in hell that a mortal could be this comfortable with dying, or living. To actually think that she would be just as comfortable living here, or a palace, as she would be living in a half way house on a dirty mattress was absolute madness.

  And yet, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. The gentle curves of her body were accented by the firm undertones of strength from her toned muscles. The soft curve of her neck was brought into sharp focus as it met the strong line of her jaw and high cheek bones. Everything about her body spoke of soft femininity, but it was supported by the strength which her body obviously possessed. He made up his mind at that moment.

  “What if I told you, you didn’t have to die, ever? What if I told you, your spirit could inhabit this mortal shell forever. You would never have to grow old and you could experience everything that you have ever wished. What would you say to that?” Kenneth asked trying to sound calm and nonchalant.

  She looked at him with her calm self-assuredness, “Then I would be deprived of the experience of growing old and dying. My spirit would wither in this immortal shell, deprived forever of the joy and freedom of moving on the next world.”

  Kenneth’s jaw dropped and looked at her dumbfounded. The response was so delicately delivered and yet so powerful in its message. Who was this woman? Her response only made him want her more. He felt stirrings deep within his being, deeper than that of his physical body, though the signs of lust were definitely starting to make themselves known. He had to have this woman. There was no other option. He gazed deeply into her eyes.

  “Nova, I want you to do something for me,” Kenneth began. “I want you to let your body start to relax. Let yourself feel the gentle warmth of the very fine wine you have drank, and just start to deeply relax…”

  The double doors at the far side of the banquet hall opened and Kenneth’s eyes were ripped away from Nova’s. Kenneth grit his teeth at the irritation of the interruption. But perhaps this was better. Perhaps he needed some time to clear his head a bit.

  Nova faced forward as well and watched as a long train of linen covered carts were wheeled into the banquet hall. Each leader of his or her table walked beside a single cart. The carts each held a large covered bowl with a small blue flame heater under each. The cart also held three finely crafted steins, each covered with a silver topper, with steam rising from each.