The Vampire's Masquerade

by Kiersten Fay

  “I...no. I never did.”

  They went silent for a moment. “Do you mind one more question?”

  “Not at all.”

  “You, um. You didn’t compel Mr. Dixon, did you? You know, to let me have the day off for the wedding?”

  “No.”

  “But he’s giving me the day off with pay. He never does that if he doesn’t have to.”

  Lex chuckled. “Oh, that. I simply offered him VIP tickets to next year’s masquerade.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s it. Folks would give their right arm for VIP access to an Ever Nights Masquerade Ball.”

  “Huh. And I barely even wanted to go.”

  He barked out a laugh. “I’m very glad you did, though. I’ll have to send Brian a thank you card.”

  “Don’t you dare! I thought he was going to blow his top when he saw that ridiculous arrangement.”

  Rich, dark laughter rumbled through his chest. She was about to scold him again, but he playfully rolled her over and took her lips with his. There would be no more talking tonight.

  15

  Kasima padded carefully across the room, the wide strap of her weapon slung over her shoulder.

  Lex slumbered peacefully, unaware of the danger. Soft morning light pierced the shutters and slashed across his beautiful face. Still he did not wake. Even as she slunk even closer, her toes sinking silently into the beige carpet. Closer. She raised her weapon to strike.

  Click.

  The sound of the camera’s shutter caused Lex to stir. He scrunched his face up and squinted one eye open. “Hmm? What are you doing?”

  Kasima gave a wide, sly smile, and then snapped another photo. She giggled at his perturbed expression.

  His gaze narrowed. “You sneaky little minx.” His arm shot out and snaked her waist. She squealed as her body tumbled over his onto the mattress. He took care as he maneuvered her onto her back with his big body pressing down on her, their faces inches apart. “Those pictures are going to cost you.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Mmm,” he murmured, focused on her lips. It seemed as though he was about to kiss her, but by the time she realized his true intent, he’d snatched her camera.

  He went to his knees on the mattress, examining the buttons. “Now, how does this thing work?”

  “Oh, be careful.” She bit her lip.

  “I’m not going to break it.” He held it up as if to take a selfie, then with his free arm, positioned her in front of him. “Say cheese.”

  The flash nearly blinded her. Then his hand slipped down her belly and past the hem of her panties, and she was no longer concerned for her camera’s safety.

  Over the next three weeks, Kasima lived in a near-constant state of bliss. Even during work hours she could hardly keep from smiling—because she knew she’d soon be with Lex again. How long things could go on like this, she didn’t know, but was happy just to live in the moment with him.

  He’d taken to meeting her for lunch every day, which had caught Brian’s notice. Only once more had he approached her to ask, “How long do you plan to punish me like this?” That wasn’t her intention. She’d tried to explain that, but Brian had only left in a huff. They hadn’t spoken since.

  Lex stayed at her place most nights. When they weren’t going at it like rabbits, they talked about everything and anything. He told her about all the adrenaline-junkie activities he’d done after his transition into a vampire. Skydiving was among his favorites. Followed by bungee jumping and swimming with great whites. He said jokingly that it was like visiting distant cousins, then he’d smiled in a way that bared his fangs.

  She told him about her loving parents who tried to give her everything she wanted—or at least everything she needed. How they couldn’t always afford trips to exotic destinations, but managed to make local spots magical and memorable for her. Like the time they all went camping near Big Bear Lake. At her young age, the name alone had invoked anxiety—she’d feared a bear would rip through their tent in the dead of night and drag her away.

  She’d refused to sleep.

  Then her father had told her that they were staying in a very special campground where fairies lived. He said they didn’t like bears either because they ate all the tasty fruit, so the fairies used magic to keep them away. Kasima knew her father liked to make up stories, and said she didn’t believe him. “But,” she told Lex. “For the rest of the trip, I had secretly kept an eye out for little creatures with fluttering wings and human-like bodies.” That had made Lex smile. Later he confided more about his cancer. How he’d spent his seventeenth birthday in the bathroom being sick due to the chemotherapy.

  She’d spent her sixteenth birthday at the beach with her parents and a couple of friends. “I’m glad to know you have such happy memories,” he’d said sincerely, then teased her by postulating if they were kids together, he’d have hounded her for a date. “I might have been ill, but I wasn’t blind to attractive women. Especially ones in skimpy bathing suits, as I’m now imagining you in.”

  That prompted a midnight trip to the beach where they made love on the sand under the moonlight.

  One evening at sunset, he’d had her collect her camera and drove her to a bluff overlooking the town. When she insisted on making him her subject, he’d grudgingly humored her. She’d captured him from every angle, and would forever cherish every shot.

  She no longer feared his fangs. Instead, the sight of them aroused her, which he was very well aware of and used to his advantage at every opportunity. The man couldn’t get enough of her. Or she him. A part of her realized she was falling for him...hardcore...but she convinced herself she’d be fine when they were over. She’d have to be. The end was looming. Whenever she erred and gazed at him with something too much like love, he’d grow uncomfortable for a time. He had to know he was enchanting her. He had to be worried about that.

  So she devoured every moment with Lex like the last meal of a death row inmate, because one day it would be her last.

  16

  Ever Nights was closed to the public for the first time in ages—only guests of the wedding were permitted—still, the place was packed and literally dripping with elegance; the entryway was newly bracketed by two massive wall fountains, and behind the water, tiny lights sparkled so that it looked as though the liquid was glistening with diamonds.

  Hell, considering the source, maybe there really were diamonds back there.

  Note to self: Check fountains for diamonds.

  The lavish motif continued into the ceremony room with white floral arrangements three times larger than the one Lex had sent her posted along the walls every few yards. Strands of glittering lights hung everywhere, twinkling softly. Alabaster chairs, mostly filled with guests, had been set up on either side of a clear path that led to a beautiful blooming platform, which was situated under a silky plume of draped gossamer fabric.

  The room was abuzz with conversation, everyone chatting with their neighbors as they waited for the ceremony to start. It was a diverse crowd. Both humans and vampires mixed throughout. Riverstone was a unique town in that the two lived together with reasonably few reports of incidents, but the people here tonight were close friends and family of the bride and groom, so there was a sense of acceptance and ease throughout.

  After they took their seats, Kasima leaned in to ask Lex, “So, is the bride a vampire too?”

  Lex hesitated. “No.”

  Kasima’s head swung around. “She’s human?”

  “Mmm.”

  How…interesting. “How did the happy couple meet?”

  The question caused a small grin to sweep over his lips. “Well, the short story is Naia was hired to spy on Cortez.”

  “Like a private investigator?”

  He chuckled. “She’s actually a singer by trade…or maybe it’s more like by birth.”

  Performers often believed that of themselves. Kasima knew a girl who, in their teens, declared she was born fo
r the stage. The girl had two left feet and couldn’t hold a note. “So then why would she have been hired to spy on Cortez?”

  Lex leaned closer and lowered his voice as if he didn’t want anyone overhearing. “An old clan mate with a vendetta got it in his head that Naia had a special kind of…mystery about her that Cortez wouldn’t be able to resist. It was just about the only thing the prick had been right about. The two have been nearly inseparable since.”

  “Aw. That’s sweet. Well, except for that whole revenge bit.”

  “Some other shit went down, but I won’t go into that. As you can see, it all worked out in the end.”

  “So what happened to your old clan mate?”

  “Let just say he won’t be bothering us anymore.”

  That sparked her curiosity, but just then soft processional music began to play. The guests grew quiet. A handsome man, the groom she surmised, strode down the aisle with purposeful steps. His dark suit was pressed neatly, his chin proud and high. He exuded a unique mixture of confidence, respect, authority, and even a bit of danger that others might like to claim but could rarely back up. Based on the way he met and held every eye in the crowd, Cortez could back that shit up. When his gaze found Lex, the two nodded silently to one another. A man with a wild mane of blond hair joined Cortez on the platform looking just as dapper, yet ten times more uncomfortable in his tailored suit. He hooked his finger in his collar and tugged lightly, then threw someone a thumbs-up.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Ryder, the best man.” There was something slightly resentful in his tone.

  “Why aren’t you up there as a groomsman?” she asked.

  “Believe me, most of us wanted to be, but it would have looked a little uneven with a crowd of bachelors on the groom’s side and only the two bridesmaids on the bride’s side. So Cortez declared he would only have two groomsmen up there with him, and Cole, being the brother of the bride, was automatically allotted one of the slots. The rest of us had to fight it out amongst ourselves.”

  She digested that for a moment. “What do you mean by fight?”

  “Not physically, though, many of us would have preferred that.”

  “You would have preferred to fight?”

  He passed her a cocky grin. “Had fists been involved, I would have won.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Mmm,” he grunted. The rest of the guests had restarted light conversation when it appeared the rest of the procession was not yet appearing.

  “So what did you all do instead of bashing each other’s brains in?”

  He scratched the back of his neck and answered with slow reluctance. “We, uh, had to kiss a pig.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Victor, the club’s head chef, owns a ranch just outside town. One night, after all of us had been drinking and arguing about who should be the best man, he suggested a contest. He’d grease up one of his piglets, and the first one of us to catch it and—” he cleared his throat “—kiss it on the rump would be the winner.”

  She gaped at him for a moment, then had to cover her mouth to keep her laughter from bursting out.

  “I’ll tell you what, that little bugger was fast.”

  “I’d love to have seen that.”

  Looking perturbed, he said, “I suspect Kenzi might have caught the spectacle on her camera phone.”

  “Oh, then you’ll have to introduce me to her,” she teased.

  “I’m sure she’d make herself known soon enough.”

  The officiant took his place, and another shift in music declared the ceremony underway. For the first time, the groom’s regal facade cracked slightly. His Adam’s apple bobbed and his gaze had lasered in on the entryway.

  A dark-haired bridesmaid appeared wearing a long, delicate wine-colored dress with a deep v-neck and lacy straps. Her face was bright and eager for the attention of the room, which had gone silent but for the soft music and sporadic sounds of delight here and there.

  “That’s Kenzi,” Lex offered.

  Suddenly, the music shuddered and scratched like a needle to a record, and Kasima worried the player was malfunctioning, but then the hard beat of electronica took over and Kenzi strut-danced down the aisle, pausing halfway to wave her arms in the air and energizing the crowd. Everyone laughed and cheered.

  At the altar, she whirled and pointed to the entrance. A second bridesmaid danced down the aisle as Kenzi had, only her movements were a touch more risqué with a couple booty pops and a shimmy of her torso. Joining Kenzi, the two of them gestured back at the entrance.

  “Please stand for the bride,” the officiant said.

  Everyone eagerly stood. The music changed again, remaining just as electric and punchy, but with a sweeter undertone.

  Then the bride appeared in a glittering white gown that bloomed at the bottom like a thousand delicate petals, and everyone gasped. She was accompanied by a young man with short blond hair, the brother Lex had mentioned? The two marched to the beat of the music, not quite dancing, but with an elegant rhythm. At the halfway point, they paused and the man spun the bride in a circle while she rotated around him. The gown fluttered through the air, making her look like a music-box ballerina.

  The bride faced her groom with a wide, infectious grin. The groom’s returning gaze was smoldering, and Kasima could tell he deeply loved his bride. Happiness for the two plucked at her heartstrings, but then a tragic longing took over. Would she ever find a love like that? Her eyes began to sting with unshed tears.

  The electric beat fell away from the music, leaving behind a soft fanciful melody. The bride’s brother guided her the rest of the way down the aisle. Before they reached the end, he paused and gently pulled her around to face him. He whispered something in her ear, which made her bottom lip quiver and her eyes glisten. Then he kissed her gently on the forehead before handing her over to Cortez and taking his place next to the best man.

  The guests sat. The officiant launched into his speech, and everything seemed to happen so fast. When he spoke of the love between the bride and groom, Kasima’s throat grew thick. By the time the vows came about, she was swiping at her cheeks. Lex handed her a handkerchief.

  After the officiant instructed the groom to kiss the bride, the room became a whirlwind of excitement. Deafening cheers erupted from the crowd, most jumping out of their seats and clapping. A few sharp whistles zinged through the air. Cortez kissed his new wife like the crowd didn’t exist and only the wedding night occupied his mind.

  The bride’s hands ran wildly through his hair as if she couldn’t get enough.

  Then they faced the crowd, clasped hands, and raised them in triumph. More cheers and whistles rang out. Then they raced back up the aisle, smiling politely, yet dodging congratulations before disappearing through the entryway.

  Kenzi clapped her hands once to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, bitches! Who’s ready to party? The reception hall is open and we have a full bar, great food, and some amazing performers. The lovebirds will rejoin us shortly after they’ve… ahem… changed.”

  “Come,” Lex said, standing and offering her his hand. “We are seated near the newlywed’s table.”

  17

  The reception hall was like entering the land of Oz. Glittering lights transformed the ceiling into a starlit sky. Wispy clouds of gauze draped down. White rose garlands climbed the walls and columns, floral scents permeating the air. A half-moon of cream-clothed tables surrounded an open dance floor and a stage where a live band lured people to their seats with one of Kasima’s favorite hit songs—”

  “Oh my God, is that Sugar Mouse on stage?”

  Lex nodded. “You know their music?”

  “Uh, duh. Doesn’t everyone? I used to have the lead singer’s poster hanging up in my room,” she sighed. When the singer started in on the chorus, she suppressed a squeal, wanting to run up to the stage like a lovesick teenager. A few other guests were already there, starstruck.

  Lex must have read her
thoughts, because he said, “Go on. When you’re done crushing on the band, I’ll be over there.” He pointed to their table across the room.

  She grinned up at him, practically bouncing. “Okay, I won’t be long.”

  He leaned down and pressed a hot kiss to her lips. “No rush. I’ll have you all to myself for the rest of the evening.”

  Her blood suddenly rushed with lava, and she nearly suggested they start the rest of the evening now, but he turned to head toward their table and the band reached a thunderous crescendo, drawing her like a siren to the stage. For a few magical minutes, she danced and sang along, and even made contact with the lead singer’s hand when he reached out for the crowd, then she glanced back at Lex who was watching her with a light kind of smile she couldn’t decipher. It made her want to go to him.

  So she did, crossing the room as he watched her with heavy lids.

  He stood as she approached, and she went on tiptoes to kiss him.

  “Have fun?”

  “Immensely. This is like a wonderland,” she said, admiring the room.

  An unfamiliar male voice muttered from behind. “Yeah, it’s like dining in a room for fairies and unicorns and everything else that spits love and craps rainbows.”

  She turned to see a stoic man with a square jaw and wide shoulders. Though he wore his suit well, she got the impression he’d be more comfortable in biker gear or fatigues or something with a gun holster.

  “Dane,” Lex greeted coolly. “This is Kasima. Kasima, this is Dane, one of my clan mates.”

  At her name, Dane did a double take, and his harsh face actually softened. “Ah, Kasima. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard...well, very little actually. Lex has been keeping you pretty well under wraps. But don’t worry, vampires gossip like teenage girls, and we’ll know all about you soon enough.”

  A woman around Kasima’s age stood just behind Dane, sidling quite close to him as if for protection. She was glancing side to side like she expected an imminent attack. Dane sighed and glanced up at the ceiling, before slicing his gaze down at her. She didn’t notice his look of annoyance, busy eyeing the room.