In a blink Fletcher appeared, his hands clasped together and his eyes shining with enthusiasm. I realised that I had seen him at what looked like a reception desk outside the room. The feminine way with which he held himself and the fact that he was so colour coordinated to the extent that he sported designer gla.s.ses that had a navy frame to match his navy suit all told me one thing: Fletcher was h.o.m.os.e.xual. And so cute. He had the cutest baby face that looked almost perfectly circular and was framed by short, tight mahogany curls. The most adorable dimples decorated his naturally pouty lips. I just wanted to pinch his cheeks like a grandmother would do to a child.

"Yes you're Grandness?" He was a Londoner too? Even better. I could tell just by looking at him that we were going to have such a laugh.

"Fletcher, I'd like you to meet Commander Sam Parker. You may have noticed a new bureau and leather desk chair being brought in here. Sam will be working with Jared, so I hope you will be just as valuable to her as you are to Jared."

Nodding, Fletcher said, "That goes without saying, your Grandness."

Antonio returned his focus to me. "Sebastian will ensure that your Sire is notified of your employment here. I'm sure he'll be delighted about it." Wearing a sly smile he and his entourage left the room.

Fletcher approached me and held out his hand, "'Ello Commander, I'm -"

"Let me stop you right there," I said, smiling. "No Commander Parker I beg you. Just call me Sam."

"Oh my G.o.d, you're a c.o.c.kney like me! D'ya know, I was the only Brit in The Hollow 'til now."

"The Hollow?"

"That's what we call the place, luv. Hmm, I suppose the teleportation process didn't give you a great view. Come with me."

It turned out that Fletcher had a feminine walk too. This Keja just got cuter and cuter. He led me up two flights of stairs to the roof of the building. "There," he said, pointing down. "See?"

"My G.o.d." The place was humungous. Like a holiday camp or something. Several buildings were scattered around, forming a rectangle shape around a man-made, white-sanded beach that had a bridge in the middle. It had a real relaxed Caribbean feel about it. "Where are we exactly?"

"A little island just south of St. Lucia, luv. You won't find it on any map. The proper name for this exclusive community here is The Hollow. This here, as you know, is The Command Centre. It has ten offices; one for each Commander. You're now the eleventh, but of course you share an office with Jared."

"So there are ten squads in the legion?"

"Yes, with ten vamps in each one." He gestured to the main mansion which was to our left. "That's Antonio's residence. The only other vamps who reside there are Sebastian, his consorts the greedy git's got about fourteen of them and his Advisor. Oh and his personal guards, you might have noticed he's got plenty of them. He mostly stays there. Then to the left of the mansion is the Guest House. We don't get many guests as Antonio likes his privacy. Then there're two Residence Halls for his general staff like the chefs and maids and maintenance people and what-have-ya. Then the row of buildings directly facing us are shops and cafes and restaurants and bars, oh and there's a cinema and a bowling alley and even a nightclub."

"You're kidding?"

Fletcher grinned. "I'm glad I'm not. With all those bars and shops, this is my Graceland."

"Is there a clothes shop? I've only got enough stuff to last me till tomorrow. Something tells me that my Sire will not nicely pa.s.s along my belongings," I grumbled.

"Oh yeah, there's nothing those stores don't have. The idea behind Antonio's design of The Hollow was so that he wouldn't have to leave. As the Grand High Master, he has to worry about attempts on his life. If someone was to kill him then they would have the right to fight the Heir, which is Jared, for the position of the Grand High Master. So, Antonio built himself and his bloodline and his staff a nice little community. Or a world within a world, as he likes to call it."

"So...anyone who works here can't leave?"

"Oh don't worry, luv, it's not like a prison," he giggled. "People can venture out if Antonio gives them permission. I've never met anyone who wants to leave. All staff gets full use of that lovely beach there and plenty of time off, and the pay's good. Most important to them, they have the best vampiricprotection they could possibly have. There's no securer place to be."

I gazed around me, astonished and in awe of Antonio's little community. "What're these buildings to our right?"

"Oh, that's the Residence Hall for commanders and their consorts and personal a.s.sistants. Then you've got the Residence Hall for all the members of the legion, and another one for any humans. And that last building in the corner by the nightclub is the security lodge." He twirled on the spot and then urged me to the opposite edge of the roof. "Last but not least, we have all this."

The view overlooked the pool and gardens of Antonio's mansion, the arena where the tryout had taken place, the small forest that I had not long ago been chased through, and also a beach. It was absolutely breathtaking with the azure blue sea and white sand. So inviting.

"Only Antonio, the commanders, and the legion have access to this beach," Fletcher told me. "That's why he has the man-made beach for the other vamps.So...what d'ya think?"

I smiled at him. "It's alright, I suppose."

He elbowed me gently. "Give over. It's fabulous."

Back at the office Fletcher handed me doc.u.ments upon doc.u.ments about the history of The Hollow and the legion. I made myself comfy on my leather chair, balancing my feet on the bureau, as I settled with the files while Fletcher was in the process of gathering as much available personal information as possible on the new squad members to create their own personal files. I was eager to read them and get a proper idea of who I would be coaching a job that was in effect from tomorrow.

"Reading up on the history of the legion, huh," said Jared, leaning against his bureau gazing at me. He was getting a good look at my legs, like he was trying to see through my pants. Self-conscious not many people ever made me feel self-conscious I was itching to drop my legs from the table. But then he would know that he had made me feel self-conscious, and he would get off on that.

Then a thought came to me: How had I not heard him or sensed him enter the room?

As if guessing my train of thought, he said, "I can teleport."

"You have two gifts? How is that possible?"

"I have three, actually. My natural gift is electrokinesis, but Antonio has the power to pa.s.s on gifts. Twice he singled me out to receive two others as rewards."

"So what's the third?"

Telepathy, I heard in my head. It was like hearing him talk through a mobile phone.

"You can read thoughts?" I sounded horrified by the idea, which made him smile.

No, but I can communicate using my mind, he replied.

I was extremely relieved that he couldn't read my thoughts; no way did I want him to know how gorgeous I thought he was, or that I was trying so hard to not ogle, or that I was hoping to get a good look at his backside the next time he turned around. "Good for you." I tried to sound uninterested in him or his attempt at conversation and returned my attention to the doc.u.ments.

"You could have said that with your mind, you know."

"I thought you said you couldn't read thoughts."

"I can't. But if you direct a thought at me, I'll hear it."

I looked up at him and smirked. I'd like to slice off your salami and shove it up your s.e.xist a.r.s.e.

His smile became a mischievous grin as he arched a brow. So you've been thinking about my salami?

I scowled at him and went back to the doc.u.ments, but apparently he wasn't finished teasing me yet.

Well, you've been thinking about my salami so I suppose I could think about you naked, and then we'd be even.

"No, no, I do not want you thinking about me naked."

You really should've said something sooner.

I meant to scowl at him again but the intense red glow in his eyes froze me for a second. It was almost impossible not to get a kick out of someone as gorgeous as him wanting you, even if they were a sod. Recovering quickly, I asked, "So where're our new recruits?"

"My new recruits are having a tour of The Hollow, and then they'll get settled into their accommodation before dawn."

"Oh they're your new recruits, are they? So you're still intent on being childish."

He sighed. "Actually, I've been thinking."

"Sulking would be more accurate."

"Did you honestly think that I'd be thrilled that Antonio thought I needed help?"

"I knew you'd hate it. I knew you'd think you don't need my help. And I knew you'd try to make my life difficult hoping I'd jib it. But here's the thing Commander; you can't possibly hate this more than I hate working for my Sire, and there's nothing you could do that could be worse than what he'd do if I went back to him. So if I were you I'd stop the sulking and get over it."

He tilted his head. "Is that why you took the job? To get away from your Sire?" He didn't say it judgementally.

"That played a factor in it. But I wouldn't have taken up Antonio's offer if I didn't think I could make a difference. If you're really that immature that you can't bring yourself to work with a woman then we'll split the time. You can have the recruits from dusk till before lunch break, and I'll have them from after lunch break for a few hours."

"Sounds fair. But I still say I don't need the help."

"Anyone who's so narrow-minded needs help, being prejudiced just holds people back."

"Is that right?" he asked, smiling and crossing his arms over his chest.

"I can guarantee you that within seven nights you'll see a difference with our new recruits' control of their gifts. When that happens, you'll owe me an apology. A public one."

He strolled over, stopping only when he reached my bureau. The challenge in his eyes made me stand up. "Care to make that bet interesting?"

"Bets are always interesting."

"If you manage to improve their control in five nights -"

"Five? I said seven."

"What, you don't think you could make a difference within five nights?" His smirk was triumphant as he knew I wouldn't show any weakness.

"Fine. Five nights."

"So, as I was saying, if you manage to improve their control in five nights, I'll apologise. I'll even make a public apology if that's what you want. But if youdon't make any difference" he leaned across the table, leaving only inches between our faces "I get to taste you." His gaze wandered down to my throat and his irises began to glow red again. I'll reluctantly admit that I liked that tasting my blood was so appealing to him.

My instinct was to say You can sod off.' But that would be the equivalent of me saying that I wasn't one hundred percent confident in my ability. His grin was smug; he knew he had completely cornered me. "Fine."

"I'll look forward to collecting on my bet."

"Why would you want to give yourself false hope?"

In the s.p.a.ce of two seconds there was a tiny knock on the office door, a female voice calling out It's only me, sweetie!' and then a girl had barged into the office. Immediately I didn't like her because she was obviously Jared's girlfriend. With her shoulder-length pitch-black hair, her penetrating Keja-amber irises, chunky scarlet lips, and coal-black dress, she made me think of a witch. She was beautiful, yeah, but she was also so skinny to the extent that she was all bony. Her skimpy dress perfectly illuminated this fact.

I sent a thought to Jared. Oh come on, there's no meat whatsoever on those bones. And she doesn't even make up for it in the b.o.o.b department they're like bee stings. I really thought you'd have better taste than that.

He looked amused. Jealous?

Of a stick insect? Yeah, right.

He didn't look convinced, and well he shouldn't. I was jealous, which surprised me.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she saw Jared leaning across my bureau, but she quickly pasted a wide smile on her face and paced over to him. She held my gaze as she planted a kiss on his cheek. Possessiveness twinkled in those eyes. I really didn't like that. I was pretty sure that I'd later question why on earth it had bothered me so much.

I smiled pleasantly at her. "Hi, you must be Nancy." d.a.m.n if I knew any Nancy. I just wanted to enjoy seeing the possessive twinkle become paranoia.

Her own smile faded. "I'm Joy," she said emphatically before turning to Jared. "Who's Nancy?" Although she had clearly tried to sound aloof, she hadn't at all pulled it off.

Jared gave me a knowing smile. "One of the human girls." No idea why he was playing along. "Joy, this is Commander Parker."

She sn.i.g.g.e.red. "Since when does a woman or a Svente, for that matter work here?"

"Since she kicked my a.s.s."

"So she's the one who did that. But she looks so, well, ordinary."

Before I could snap her head off her twig-like body Jared said, "Joy, it's really not smart to irritate someone who could kill you easier than she can breathe."

The phone on my bureau rang, snapping me out of my planning what would be the most rewarding way to watch her die. I answered quickly, "h.e.l.lo?"

"Sam, luv, Sebastian's here to see you," Fletcher informed me.

"Send him in, Fletch. Thanks." No sooner had I hung up the phone than Sebastian was stood before my bureau. Jared backed away with Joy nibbling on his ear. He was more interested in what Sebastian had to say, though, by the look on his face. I already had a pretty good idea what this was about.

"One of my a.s.sistants managed to reach Victor and inform him of your new circ.u.mstances." I guessed right. Sebastian puffed. "He more or less indicated that..."

"I should get back there or he'll hunt me down and drag me back himself?" I supplied. That was the kind of stupid thing Victor would say, considering he had always viewed me as a possession. Losing me also meant losing his consort and his main weapon.

"Something like that."

Is Victor your Sire? Jared asked.

"The threat is pointless, of course," continued Sebastian. "There is no way that Antonio will hand you over to Victor unless you wish to go of your own free will. However, Victor insisted on you being personally given the message and for you to respond imminently as to whether you will be going back to him."

With all seriousness, I replied, "I'd rather lick my own a.r.s.ehole." Sebastian, apparently now accustomed to my occasional harsh language, only smiled. "You be sure he gets that message, word-for-word."

Sebastian nodded his head obligingly. "I shall do so, Commander. With extreme pleasure. Oh, I almost forgot to inform you that your apartment is ready for you."

"My a-what?"

"You didn't think Antonio was going to ask you to stay in shabby accommodations, did you?" He threw me a key card. "I'm sure Fletcher will take you when you're ready."

"Thanks." And I sincerely meant it.

Before leaving, Sebastian shot Jared a look of distaste, just as nauseated as me by how Joy was now moaning while dabbing Jared's neck with noisy kisses. I decided to take a leaf out of Sebastian's book and get out of there. Hearing Victor's name had made my skin crawl, I just wasn't in the mood to listen to some twig drool all over my colleague who I inconveniently found so gorgeous.

Tidying the doc.u.ments on my bureau I spoke to Jared as one professional to another. "Fletcher said he'll have the personal files on the recruits done by dusk, so could you leave them on my desk once you're finished with them? I'll need them before lunch break."

"Where're you going?"

He had asked that as though he actually thought he had a right to know. "Why? Do you need me for something?"