“Autumn! I missed you. When I heard about what happened in Russia…” Evan shook his head. “What matters is that you’re safe now.”
“When did you get in?”
“Last night. No one will tell me what’s going on. Colette is being uncharacteristically tight lipped.” He sighed and ran a hand through that short brilliant copper hair of his.
“I thought you didn’t… what did you say… get on with Nikolai?” I smirked up at him, my mood instantly lifted by his welcoming smile. He would have done something about your fall.
“Colette made us see the… benefits of putting the past behind us. Isn’t that right, Nikolai?” Evan glanced over his shoulder at him. Nikolai wasn’t paying attention to us, he was stretching with his ankle up by his ear. Those pale icy pools had found new focus on his own face.
“Mhm.” He answered after a minute or two. He seemed so distant. Even Evan’s head twitched to the side.
“Aren’t you going to come say hi to Autumn? I thought you were…” Evan trailed off eyeing Nikolai skeptically. “Colette said you were…Are you?” He glanced down at me and I looked away.
“I would say yes, but… the t-truth…. Ask Nikolai because I don’t know anymore.” I crossed my arms and sighed a small soft sigh.
“Yes, we’re a couple, you vulture.” Nikolai hissed as he turned and narrowed his eyes at Evan.
“I need to sit down.” I rubbed my hip a little with a wince. I stepped around Evan and he gasped as I wobbled my way to the folding chair tucked in a nearby corner.
“Are you okay? What happened?” The concern was clear in Evan’s voice a he followed me to the chair and actually helped me sit.
“I fell while dancing last night, it's nothing.”
“If it was nothing you wouldn’t be limping. Are you bruised? Do you think you need a hot compress?” Evan doted on me as Nikolai continued to stretch, his attention focused back on himself.
“She’s fine.” This from Nikolai who didn’t even look up.
“Fine? Did you see the way she’s walking? Do you even fucking look at her?” Evan yelled over his shoulder before turning back to me. “Where did you land?”
I grabbed the waist band of my skirt and pulled it down a little revealing the deep purple bruise. Evan hissed through clenched teeth and reached out to trace the edge of the bruise with his fingers. The light pressure made me whimper.
“Ouch, I’ve been there… but not this bad admittedly. It’s a little swollen so you need a soak and to get off your feet for a little while…and none of these.” He tugged at my boot. I smiled down at Evan and ran my fingers through that oh so soft ginger hair. When I realized what I had done I blinked a few times and Evan and I stared at each other. You’re not going to be happy until you’ve fucked every last one of them, are you? Needless to say I now had Nikolai’s attention. However, he didn’t come over. He lowered his leg and stared at us.
“Ni-Niki.” I cleared my throat. “Niki, can you help me find somewhere to soak?” I asked as my turned my full attention to him. He didn’t say anything. With his eyes fixed on me he left the room, leaving Evan and I alone.
5
LOSS
EVAN HELD ME AS WE WALKED THROUGH THE HALLS WEAVING BETWEEN other Vampires and servants as they moved to their destinations. He carried me back to his room and into his bathroom. He sat me down on the counter and turned on the water to fill the tub, the water came from the ceiling in a small steady stream. His bathroom was different from Aleksi’s. The tub was almost the size of a hot tub all done in pink marble and big enough for four people, maybe more. Along the wall ringing the tub were a bunch of scented candles.
“Why are there so many people here?” I asked, watching him grab a box of bath beads from a nearby cabinet. He knelt on the stairs that lead to the raised tub and dropped a few in.
“Everyone’s been called home.” He spoke as he continued to ready the bath. “This is the first time since Vlad went to sleep that every vampire has been called home so to speak. Every actor, musician, dancer… travelling lecturer. Every vampire, so Crimson Hill is full.” He glanced up and smiled at me. He checked the temperature of the water before he stood and made his way back to me. I pulled off my sweater without hesitation. Whore. Miss Manners practically barked as I removed my jewelry, sitting on the counter in my bra, mini skirt and boots. I covered myself instinctually when I realized what I had done. Something about Evan lulled me into a false sense of comfort. Then again, I had seen him naked and in the middle of sex with Leslie and Tristan.
“Is Nikolai acting…strange?”
“Not really. Though… when you came in…he clammed up a bit.” He confessed as he turned from me, letting me strip down. I did hesitate at first, but then I shrugged it off. After all, I was in pain and he was my friend and just trying to help. “You don’t have anything to worry about…I haven’t fed in a few days.”
“Why?”
“Leaving London… it wasn’t exactly… a normal departure.” I glanced up at him as he spoke, he kept those gray eyes of his fixed on the far wall.
“Oh?”
“It was panic. I actually feared for my life. Which is strange since I’m a vampire now… but… that fear.” He shook his head and sighed. “Do you need help?”
“N-no, I’ll be fine.”
“Well… alright then. Do you… need me to leave?”
“Not if you don’t… don’t w-want to.” I smiled at him nervously.
“Mmn, but you’re still with Nikolai?”
“I don’t know…I…I… I really don’t. We haven’t…in two weeks… and last night.” I shook my head and wrapped my arms around my nude torso with a sigh.
“Last night Colette practically kidnapped him.”
“He didn’t call or text.”
“And you’re telling me… Aleksi always called or texted?”
“I wasn’t living with Aleksi.”
“Think about who his mother and father are… two of the most selfish creatures on earth.”
“I don’t know about Colette, but Aleksi has been through a lot… h-he just can’t see past his own p-pain.”
“And Nikolai’s similar…” His lips twitched into a small rueful smile. “I’m not exactly rooting for Nikolai… he’s not my favorite person but… he’s better for you than Aleksi. Though… admittedly… some of that comes from the fact that Aleksi’s threatened me on several occasions.” Again his lips twitched and he shrugged.
Ignoring him for the most part I hopped off of the counter with a small wince and hiss. I hobbling along I made my way to the pool sized tub. I stuck my hand in the water, it was perfect. The temperature, the smell, everything was perfect. I moaned softly as I sunk into the lush, decadent warmth. I leaned against one of the little raised seats in the corner and purred.
“What I’m trying to say…—and I cannot believe I’m saying it—is that you shouldn’t give up on Nikolai.” He turned towards me and crossed his arms.
“How did dancing Aleksi’s parts go?” I changed the subject as I attempted to relax.
“Horrible. The audience didn’t run screaming…but it was clear they weren’t happy. I don’t have that romantic look. No one demanded their money back though. That happened one time… when I subbed in for Nikolai… I think it was Sleeping Beauty. Apparently I’m an ugly ginger freak if you believe what some critics said.”
“I’d beg to differ. I think you’re handsome, Colette does too.” I smiled at him and stretched my neck. The heat made the ache in my hip bearable.
“Colette likes my body… and that I’m pliable. My face doesn’t factor in as much.”
“But you’re adorable, and those freckles! I love freckles.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you…” He pursed his lips and sighed with a happy little smile. “I’ll let Nikolai know you’re in here.”
I swallowed, part of me wanted to say don’t go. My mind kept flashing back to be
ing sandwiched between him and Aleksi, while he fed from me and Aleksi kissed me. My toes curled as I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip, recalling the press of their bodies. What the hell was happening to me? You’re becoming the whore Aleksi always wanted you to be. That criticism lingered but I still wondered what it would be like to be with two men at once… Evan and Aleksi…Nikolai and Evan…. Nikolai and Aleksi. There is something seriously wrong with you. Well… they wouldn’t be touching! You’re trying to rationalize away your perversion with your subconscious. What happened to you? You used to be so ladylike. I shook my head and sighed.
Evan was still lingering by the door, we stared at each other. Did we just have almost the same thought? Or was he thinking about having me all to himself in the tub. I couldn’t stop the lustful smirk from sneaking across my lips, pulling the flesh of my bottom lip between my teeth. Evan’s gray eyes darkened like the sky before a storm. His gaze could melt rock. But Evan was too nice for his own good. After pulling his hands back through his short copper locks he left without another word.
When Nikolai opened the door a handful of minutes later I was actually shocked. I hadn’t expected him to show at all. I expected him to just shrug when Evan told him where I was. I didn’t expect him to care enough to show. So I was doubly shocked when he stripped by the door and joined me in the massive tub. I stared at him with my mouth open like a trout. But my jaw wasn’t loose from admiration, oh no, it was horror. He was covered in bruises. Deep bold purple, yellow, blue, green, black and brown bruises. His neck and face were clean but his torso, arms and legs were covered in various contusions. Did he have someone do that to him? Or was he attacked? If he wasn’t so damaged you wouldn’t have to ask yourself this question. He’s not damaged… he just likes what he likes!
We stared in near silence, the only sound in the room the occasional sloshing lap of the warm, scented water. The tension in the room was thicker than the humidity. It made it almost hard to breathe. We both had a lot to say but neither of us wanted to be the one to start. Lips were licked, deep sighs hissed out and nervous swallows were had all around. Anything but words.
Nikolai was the one to finally break our streak of wordlessness. He swirled his finger in the water for a few minutes, watching the ripples. Then he took a deep breath and finally said something.
“If Aleksi isn’t up by the end of the month Colette’s offered to turn me.” The words fell from his lips with ease. With that easiness came my anger. Maybe I had simply had enough of being walked over, and having my feelings ignored.
“No, how’s your hip? No, I’m sorry about last night? No, how’re you feeling Autumn?” I laughed while I rubbed my face with my wet hands. “Ever since I brought up The Sun Cross you’ve pulled in on yourself like you’re determined to make me break up with you. What happened to the beautiful, nervous man I met in Moscow? The one who flattered me silly the first night. Where did he go?” He pulled his knees to his chest and leaned his cheek against them.
The sadness on Nikolai’s face took most of my anger away. Something was very wrong. There was no other reason for him to look so sad.
“I want to keep this to myself for now…” His attention went back to the water and his swirling finger.
“And the bruises?” My question brought his attention back to me. He unfolded and leaned his head back against the edge of the tub. “Did you—”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Usually when people say that, it turns out to be exactly what the other person thinks.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you cheating on me?”
“Why would I? My feelings haven’t changed… you’re…you’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Autumn.”
“Even though I don’t—”
“You’re all I need. I’ve told you a million times, what we do is enough.” He smiled at me.
“I don’t want to just be enough. I want you…satisfied.” I flushed a little and glanced down at my hands for a few moments before I raised my gaze back to him.
“I am. Look… things are just complicated at the moment.”
“I’m tired of things being complicated, Niki.” I sighed heavily and stretched pointing my toes, wiggling my feet. With a small warm smile he waded over to me and settled back into the water with me playful little smirk. His arm snaked around me and he leaned his head on my shoulder. He didn’t say things would get less complicated, but he rubbed my shoulders.
I must have drifted off in the tub because when I awoke I found myself alone in the tub. The only sign that Nikolai had been there was a heart drawn in the steam on the mirror. Someone had left clean clothes for me on the counter a satin robe and night gown in Aleksi’s bright shade of red. Soaking had helped my hip a lot, and I walked with less of a hobble. I quickly dressed and left Evan’s room. I didn’t know where I was going. Crimson Hill was still bright and alive, full of vampires laughing and joking as they passed me in the hall. My feet auto piloted me to Vlad’s shrine.
He was still there, sleeping on his altar. His powerful form draped from the waist down in heavy black velvet. When I first stood in the shrine I was taken aback by it. Then it seemed every bit a monument to the legacy of a great man. The vampires called him The Uniter, it was because of him that council was created. It was because of him that years of bloodshed were ended. Dracula was a force to be reckoned with, apparently he was the only vampire who could do everything myth and legend spoke of. Tristan had all but dismantled the shrine, the only things that remained were the Latin inscription above the altar, the ceiling with the black and red crest of a massive dragon eating its own tale and the marble altar itself.
Ever since the first time I had seen him I could feel his presence grow. No one knew why he was asleep. From what I gathered one day he just didn’t wake up. It wasn’t like Aleksi, Vlad’s lips still had their pinkish hue though he hadn’t fed in a century. His fingers twitched, his face held expression. The longer I stared the angrier I became. Why did he get a peaceful sleep when it was clear Aleksi was essentially dead? Why did he get that presence that I could feel looming and lurking around every corner here when Aleksi didn’t?
“You were wrong. Feed him? I fed him and he’s still asleep. Should I just give up on him?” I asked as I walked closer to Vlad’s prone form. His face was unreadable for the first time ever, that handsome face was expressionless. The shadows around me hissed wordlessly. As I loomed over him I inspected the crease of brow, from far away he looked relaxed but up close it was clear he was far from it. Something was bothering him. Whether it was Aleksi’s condition or Nikolai’s betrayal I didn’t know, but there was a tension there. I sat beside him on the altar and smoothed my fingertips across his forehead.
There was no answer, no hissed speech. The shadows however all felt like they were alive around me and I couldn’t help but to remember when Aleksi made the shadows growl when I called him from Moscow. Was he becoming like Vlad? I should have been content have to Nikolai. I shouldn’t have missed Aleksi like I did. Maybe it was like what Nikolai told me in Moscow. He felt balanced when he had both halves of himself sated—the dominant and the submissive—maybe I was the same way? The thought had never really crossed my mind before. I nervously fingered my pearls as I stared at Vlad’s body. I didn’t get closer to the altar, I was actually afraid of what would happen if I did. Last time I was close I ended up crawling over Vlad without realizing what I was doing.
Turning my back on the altar I left the barren shrine and made my way back through the halls. I could probably walk the path to Aleksi’s rooms blindfolded. My fingers played over the pearls at my throat as vampires and their servants passed me in a blur. That was until I saw Charlotte, pale, perfect and petite. She was undressed like every other human servant. Her small breasts were bare the pale pink nipples hard in the chilly air. A cyan colored lace thong adorned her ass more than covered it, and she wore white thigh highs with cyan ribbon tops. She was hanging off of so
me dark haired vampire I didn’t know. He wasn’t even half as attractive as Aleksi. I stopped and stared as she giggled in this vampire’s ear and fluttered pale lashes at him.
My hands balled into little white knuckled fists as I watched her pass down the hall. Why was I angry? Because he’s gone, and she could care less. She’s already become a servant to another vampire. She gets to have everything you wanted to have with Aleksi. I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed before unclenching my fists and walking back down the hall.
I opened the door to Aleksi’s room to find Nikolai on the other side standing over Aleksi. He was dressed in that bright red that I was, only he wore pajama pants.
“They want me to finish him.” Nikolai whispered as I closed the door. My brows furrowed. What?
“You said no, right?” I breathed, my voice barely making a noise.
“They said it’s you or him. It’s an easy choice but…” He trailed off and those pale eyes fixed on Aleksi. I noticed the syringe in his hand then.
“Don’t…if you do this…” I trailed off and shook my head.
“They’ll kill you if I don’t.”
“Nikolai, don’t…”
“I tried to tell them that we weren’t together… It’ll be painless. He won’t feel a thing.” He leaned over Aleksi and my heart stopped. Stop him! I darted across the room, my powers the furthest thing from my mind as I watched the needle sink into Aleksi’s paperwhite flesh.
“No!” I screamed as shoved Nikolai away from Aleksi. “No!” I cried as I watched as Aleksi’s body jerked. I sobbed as his body went into seizures. I had never felt so helpless in my entire life. The machines he was hooked up to started making screeching noises and the shadows in the room howled in pain. I clung to Aleksi, sobbing and shaking until the seizing stopped and he went still. His heart wasn’t beating anymore and I felt like someone had scooped out my heart.
Dark Awakenings (Danse Macabre Book 2) Page 10
