"For how long?"
"Until the power of the ring releases its grasp and decides you have endured enough punishment or it keeps your energy imprisoned forever." Nix raked his hands through his hair. All that sexy and I wanted to have it, touch him, be with him.
He turned, his eyes spilling over with the need I knew must be plainly evident in mine.
"I've held myself in check, I've held back because I love you. When we were in the mirror and you allowed me to feed, I nearly lost my mind hearing you moan and seeing the pleasure wash through you. I told you that life and blood were one and the same. Your love is like blood to me, without it I would wither and slowly die."
"But you want my blood. You've become stronger and younger-looking. It's rejuvenated you. My blood can make you the most powerful vampire, is that not true?"
"There is no arguing that, but don't you think my actions lend credence to my declaration of love?" He was pleading. I had backed a vampire to the edge of a cliff and he was desperate, trying to figure a way to hold on and not fall.
"And I'm not arguing that you haven't been there, that you've helped me." Nix had been in the shadow of my life, silently working to make things better, whether it was having my file land in the right place to have me at the Hall's or leaving chocolate or clothing for me, it had been him.
"How can I prove my love to you?" All that sparkle and glow drained away from his gaze.
I didn't know exactly, but the beginning of an idea was bubbling. What I needed was time to work it out, to fine tune the details.
"We will spend Christmas and my birthday together, but you can't ask me for anything, deal? No blood, no more than kissing, no trickery or persuasion." I crossed my arms, keeping my hand with the ring at the front, in his sight.
"Nothing would make me happier." Nix smiled and it lit his whole face. I relaxed a little, feeling as if a weight had lifted. I was safe and there was still time to celebrate the season.
"Nix, does time behave differently at the hotel?"
"Yes it does. Yesterday was a rather long day, wasn't it?" He maneuvered the vehicle onto the highway, and we sped off.
By the time we reached the hotel, dawn was breaking. I'd napped on and off, waking to find a blanket covering me. The colors along the horizon left me pining for my sketch pad. Inside, I felt good, safe as if I'd weathered a storm and had got on the other side of it. There was a twinge or two about leaving Marion, but she had to walk her road and I had to walk mine. I thought of Lennox and what a shame it was that he hadn't revealed his true identity to her. It might have spared her some anguish knowing he hadn't simply left, but had been taken from her. Rein would be staying close to Marion, keeping her from harm. What an irony the one who made him was the one who took his father from him. I had no answers to the strangeness of the vampire world and their ways. Despite how much had happened I still knew very little about them.
"We're here, Rachel." Nix's voice cut through my thoughts as the car pulled into the grounds of the Betherington Mansion Hotel.
"It's like being in a loop, and we're starting again." It was meant as a joke, but Nix didn't laugh.
"Tonight is Christmas Eve and I have a few surprises planned at my place. Come, we'll need to stop at the desk and confirm our rooms. It's a requirement to pass through the portal to another dimension." He left the keys sitting on the console. "It belongs to the hotel. I borrowed it. "
Minutes later I found myself walking through the entrance and into the lobby for the second time in less than two days. As we approached the desk, I heard noise coming from the lounge area. Alistair and a group of vampires were sitting together, having drinks. Alistair caught my gaze, nodding. Even being across the expanse of lobby, I could see what burned in his eyes—fury. Nix was already at the desk, confirming our reservation.
"Ignore him," Nix muttered under his breath while the desk clerk was turned away. "He wants a confrontation. We need to get through the portal, only then will I know we are safe."
"But I'm wearing the ring."
"I'm not." Nix shot a harsh stare. "Alistair wants you and he'll do anything he can to get you. Wearing the ring doesn't mean you'll be left alone. Trust me, they'll surround you, and circle until they can break you."
The desk clerk nodded at me, but I didn't miss the reproachful stare. I couldn't help but feel the resent, drifting along like some fog of unease. I'd got the ring back and the vampires were unhappy and ready to do something about it.
"Will we make it through?" I asked, not certain about what was next. What if something happened to Nix while we were in another dimension, how would I get back?
"I've put every contingency plan in place I can think of." He took my hand, leading me along a different route, away from the elevators. "Time to go."
It struck me that the size of the outside and the inside of the Betherington Mansion Hotel didn't match. We went along a corridor until we reached a door.
Janitorial Area - Do Not Enter. The sign was in bright red and took up almost half the door.
"Through here." Nix had his hand on my back, guiding me along.
"Count, where are you going? I thought we could sit and have a Christmas drink. I would like to become better acquainted with your guest."
Alistair. I groaned and Nix heard. He gave my shoulder a quick squeeze.
"Stay perfectly calm and whatever you do, don't take off that ring. He can't come through the portal with us."
When we turned to face him, Alistair was already within a few feet.
"Drinks? It would be my pleasure to be your host." His too bright gaze landed on my skin like the unwanted feel of a bug.
"Thank you for your kind offer, but Rachel and I are expected back at my castle. I'm sure your friends are waiting in the lounge. Please, send my regrets and do wish everyone a Merry Christmas."
The manner in which Nix addressed Alistair was formal, but Alistair wasn't buying it.
He made a noise as if scolding. "Count Vicar, we both know who she is and what she can provide. I want her, as do many others. Rachel would make the most delightful acquisition. I'd be willing to pay anything you would want for her." He leered at me. "And it's not only the blood I'd want her for." He smiled, lecherous and without any hint of shame for what he was implying.
"Enough, Alistair, Rachel isn't for sale or for negotiation. As you may observe, she's wearing the ring and it was given, not taken, so beware. Any vampire that takes it will be engulfed in darkness. If you try to harm her, you will be the one harmed. We're leaving and you aren't invited."
Everything about Alistair gave me bad vibes. His stare could freeze me in place. The guy was creepy and evil and all sorts of bad-Halloween. I didn't care where we went, I just wanted to go.
"Merry Christmas Alistair." Lame, but I didn't know what else to say.
"Lucky for you, Miss Owens, the ring protects you and you have a powerful vampire that has his heart invested in your future."
What a strange way to put things. I didn't know how to respond to that.
"Rachel, walk ahead of me. Go through the door and you'll be on the other side." Nix gave me a little push and I stumbled toward the door.
I turned the doorknob, and stepped inside. The next thing, I found myself standing on grass and feeling something odd—warmth. I was outside, somewhere. The trees were heavy with green leaves and the grass was tall and filled with wild flowers. Wherever I was, it wasn't winter. December was kinder here.
"Rachel, come." Suddenly Nix was there, holding his hand out to me. "It's going on summer here. I thought you could use a good dose of sunshine and rest. Christmas is a wonderful time at my castle." He pointed and I nearly fell over. Further along the coast, nestled on the end of a peninsula, a castle rose from the rocks. The base was grey stone, but the upper portion was white limestone, topped by a tiled roof of burnt sienna that glowed in the blazing sunshine. It wasn't large, like the castles of medieval Europe, but more a large mansion house with castle features.
"It's amazing. The heat, I wish I'd packed some lighter..." I didn't finish my sentence. No need because as I looked down I realized I wasn't wearing the same clothes I'd left the hotel in. Replacing my jeans and coat was a light cotton dress and sandals. I blinked, not quite knowing how this was possible.
"I have more power and ability here, in this dimension where my home is. Every vampire does. It's one of the perks to spending some time at home."
We walked along a path of small pebbles and earth, dried and cracking from the intense sun. The sun's touch felt incredible. At one point, I simply stopped walking, and tipped my head back, allowing the heat to sink into my skin.
"Rachel, I should love to remember you just as you are in this moment," Nix whispered close to my ear. He tangled his fingers through my hair, pulling it out in a long raking motion.
"That feels wonderful." I didn't want any of this to end. I gazed at him, admiring how handsome he was in the jeans and linen dress shirt. He'd rolled his cuffs up, but still managed to appear elegant and noble. I couldn't imagine he wore shorts and flip flops, not the count.
"Please allow me to brand you."
"Too soon, you should have waited until you'd dazzled me some more with the opulence and splendor of your castle. I have a feeling the inside will leave me breathless." Sunglasses, a pair would come in handy right about now.
"Here, try these on." Nix handed me a pair. He hadn't been holding anything a moment ago, but they'd appeared in his hand.
"Are you certain you're a vampire? I'm beginning to suspect you're more magician than blood-sucker." I took the sunglasses, finding they fit well.
Nix delivered a sour gaze. "You insult me, Rachel. May I remind you I am Count Vicar? My ability is not slight of hand nor trickery, but true power." He strode past me, taking the lead. "We must hurry, they will be expecting us."
Oh dear, I'd ruffled the vampire's feathers...
The only thing I wanted was more of this sunshine and heat. If this was Christmas here, wherever here was, I was in.
"Where are we?"
Nix stopped, facing me again. "Not really in a specific geographical place, but we are in a dimension that I've created, as do most vampires. We can't live freely in the world without being constantly on guard. It wears one down to have to be alert to that level all the time. This was the obvious solution, to have our homes in other dimensions that humans aren't privy to. It works." He flipped his hands up, shrugging.
"If I lived here, I'd never leave." I said it without thinking, but froze when I saw the expression that washed over his face. "I can leave if I wish, right?"
He nodded, slowly. "Yes and to be truthful, without the ring no, but with it, yes."
Guilt and vampire don't mesh. My vampire was looking awfully guilty.
"Is there anything else you might want to enlighten me about?" The ring was giving me courage.
"Not really. I hope you like it here enough to consider that—never leaving."
His words stunned me into silence. I couldn't have responded if I'd wanted, I didn't know what to say. When we were first at the hotel, I didn't have the ring. Had his plan been to bring me through to this dimension and keep me here? A prison, no matter how beautiful, is still a prison. A fleeting thought hit me—should I have stayed with Marion? No, she couldn't protect me, although Rein might be able to since Caspian was his uncle and very powerful. But no, Rein wanted the same thing from me as everyone else—my blood and the power it would give him.
A tapping on my shoulder brought me back.
"Rachel, you do know I can hear your thoughts the same as if you'd spoken?" Nix shook his head at me.
We were nearly at the entrance to the castle. The path changed, widening and instead of pebbles and dry earth, there were cobblestones under my feet.
The first archway led into a courtyard of sorts, filled with plants and small trees, some bearing fruit.
"Are those oranges real?" I left him to go up to the tree. The fragrant scent of fresh oranges filled my nostrils. Nix nodded, gesturing at the tree. I pulled one off, peeling its bright orange coat away to reveal the fruit. The first wedge hit my tongue with an explosion of flavor. This was no ordinary orange. "This is incredible." I quickly ate the rest of the fruit, not caring if my hands became messy.
"It gives me pleasure to see you happy from something as simple as an orange. Have as many as you like. I guarantee the staff will have every kind of food you like and many dishes you may wish to try. This is Christmas and I love to celebrate." Nix indicated we should keep going.
We passed through the second archway to find the largest entrance I'd ever seen. The double doors were massive, at least ten feet in height, with elaborate metal designs scrolling through the wood. Above, a massive bell was etched into the stone, with an 'X' through it. Odd.
"Why is there a bell with an 'X' through it?"
Nix stopped, his eyes swirling with sparks. He swallowed, and I could see he was trying to come up with something.
"It's just a bell. Let's go, we're already late."
He pushed one door open and I stepped inside. It was cool, the floor beneath my feet a mosaic of colored tiles depicting an ocean scene with sailing ships and dolphins jumping. Small alcoves in the wall held large hurricane candles, their flames steady, providing soft light.
"Count, I am sorry I did not hear you come into the courtyard. And this is your guest, Miss Owens. Welcome to Castle Vicar, I am Wolfram and I serve the count." He bowed low to us.
I turned to Nix for direction.
"Thank you Wolfram. Rachel will wish to see her room and have her things brought. After, I would like to see the Christmas decorations."
"Yes, Count. Miss Owens, please allow me to take your things and show you to your room." Wolfram's smile was genuine and I had no fear of following him along the corridor and away from Nix.
When Wolfram opened the door to my room, I gasped. I'd expected some dingy little spare bedroom, but it wasn't that. Before me was a huge room with an ensuite and a sitting area. The bed was queen sized, covered in a duvet of stunning shades of blue. On one side, French doors opened onto a balcony. I went out, finding a view of the ocean and the many flowering trees around the castle. A soft warm wind wafted the long sheers out, making them dance to its touch.
"This is incredible," I whispered, almost forgetting Wolfram was with me.
"You like it? I am pleased, Miss. If there is anything you want or need, you have only to ask. The Count wants you to enjoy your stay with us." Suddenly he darted over to the dresser where a large silver bell sat. Wolfram grabbed it as though his life depended on it.
"That was close," he whispered. I could see he was shaking.
"Are you afraid I'm going to steal it?" I tried to make a joke, but from his face, he didn't take it that way.
"A ring-wearer must never be a bell-ringer."
His eyes were huge and he seemed so frightened that I felt sorry for him. I had no clue as to what it meant, but considering I was in another dimension...
"Okay...I'd like to unpack and wash. Will someone come and get me in about twenty minutes?"
"I will inform the Count immediately." Wolfram bowed his way out the door, holding the bell close to his body.
As soon as I heard the door close, I went back to the balcony, needing to drink in the view of the ocean and feel the sun on my face. It recharged me, the same way it had when I'd walked along the peninsula at the beach. I liked being in the sun. Tonight was Christmas Eve and I was excited to be spending it with Nix in this beautiful environment. Sure, it was another dimension he'd created, but I was okay with it all. I'd seen and heard and experienced enough over the past months that he could have said he was an alien and it wouldn't have bothered me. I shut my eyes, the wind stroking my cheek as I took in the moment. That idea I'd begun to formulate was starting to flesh itself out. Perhaps
there was a way to have the best of all worlds. I'd have to play my cards carefully. I lifted my hand, tilting it in the sunlight, watching the diamonds dance and sparkle.
Enough, I went to wash and brush my teeth. After, fixed my hair into a pony tail; it would be cooler on my neck.
A soft knocking at the door alerted me the time had passed. I opened it to find Nix waiting.
"Are you ready for your tour?" He held his arm out and I slipped mine through his.
"Lead the way." As we went along the stone-floored corridors, I didn't have a care in the world. My plan to enjoy myself hadn't changed from when I'd first landed at the Betherington Mansion Hotel. Knowing that Nix and I were safe here in this dimension, I could relax and get into the Christmas spirit.
Nix brought me to another archway, but stood, blocking me from seeing inside the room.
"Cover your eyes, and I'll take you in. Don't open them until I say, okay?"
"Agreed." I shut my eyes, allowing him to take me into the room. We walked, Nix directing me verbally and holding my hand, keeping me from stumbling into anything.
"Okay, open your eyes."
I blinked a couple of times, trying to understand what was before me. The decorating in the Betherington paled in comparison to what Nix had done with the Christmas tree and the room. The only words I could find to describe what I saw—opulent—extravagant—jaw-dropping beautiful. The tree was over ten feet in height, a blue spruce with full boughs draped with what appeared to be antique decorations. These trinkets weren't boxed sets from box stores. I held one up, it looked to be hand-painted and of a level of skill that left me in awe. There were small stained-glass windows that were actually stained glass and had scenes of winter landscapes—bells, trees, reindeer, snowmen and snowflakes. Some had more medieval depictions, bringing forth Christmas from old. Scattered throughout the tree were bells in what I would guess was real silver and miniature evergreen wreaths with tiny pinecones and berries and sparkling glass baubles and all tied with silver and red ribbons.
"I've never seen anything like this." Carved candles sat in holders of stained glass depicting winter wonderland scenes, their glow casting shadows onto the walls. Small white lights were woven through and along the deep green boughs, and up the massive stone walls, making the room cheerful and festive.
Abby's Road Part 1 Page 9
