"You look good, too sexy. Red is your color." He made a face after, realizing the absurdity of what he'd said.
And yours too, Count.
"Yes, it does seem so—red, blood, and life." I winked, threading my arm through his.
"It's the three of us, you, me and Yuri. Wolfram will serve." He led me along the corridor, past paintings and tapestries depicting scenes from history. I stopped to pull my scarf-wrap around my shoulders.
"Cold?" Nix gave me an odd look as though he were immediately suspicious.
"The dress is light and I can feel the turn to evening. The sun was getting lower in the sky and I figured this being a castle, it might get chilly."
"I'll be certain to have Wolfram keep the fires stoked."
"This dress doesn't cover your branding, even with it being lower." It was a one shoulder dress, but covered the opposite side to where Nix had branded me. The use of a wrap would allow me to keep it hidden.
Nix reached, trailing his finger from the base of my neck, down to his mark.
"I see no reason to hide it. It will remind our guest who you belong to."
Belong to?
I pulled away, backing up a few steps.
"Belong to? I don't belong to anyone but me, is that understood?" My heart was pounding hard. I wouldn't tolerate that from anyone, ever.
The tall vampire bowed his eyes full of pain.
"Please, forgive the clumsy manner in which I worded that. I meant that I want Yuri to see that we are together."
"We need to slow this down. I'm not ready to make any decisions, Nix. I really like being with you, but I need to get my own life together before I can share it with anyone." I needed to get away to the beach tomorrow, to be alone and work out the details of my plan.
"Will you let me in on it when you know what you want?" Nix had been reading my thoughts. Part of me instantly regretted the branding. Could he literally listen in on me?
"No, it really isn't like that. I can read your thoughts and much more easily when you're close. If you wish privacy, I will back off and leave you to a day beside the ocean. I suspect you'll want to sketch, you haven't had much time for that as late."
"Thank you. I know tomorrow is Christmas and my birthday, but if you want to give me something, an afternoon alone would be the perfect gift."
Nix nodded, trying to smile. "Yes, I'd like to give you that. I am sorry, I don't own you and branding or not, you are an independent woman. Can we go in now?" He held his arm out and I took it.
"I haven't had anything like this in years, since my parents. We always had a Christmas dinner." Suddenly my head was filled with the noise in our small kitchen at the old house, my mother preparing the meal while my father sat in the living room, watching television. Lizzie would help with the potatoes and vegetables. I'd offer to help, but my mother would get that painful smile, the one that let me know she didn't really want me there. She'd shake her head, telling me to go watch the game with my father. A smoky haze hung in the living room, the glass ashtray filled with cigarette butts and my father with his gaze glued to the television. He was absorbed in the game and didn't even notice when I sat on the other end of the couch. It was like I wasn't even there...
"Rachel?" My shoulder was being shaken. I came out of my fog to find Nix staring at me, clearly alarmed.
"It isn't like that here. All of that past is over, you need to let go."
A wave of shiver went over me. I nodded at Nix, letting him know I'd heard his words. The truth was that I did need to let go of what had happened, and to stop defining myself by the cruelty of my family. They'd been awful, but I hadn't earned that. I wasn't responsible, they were. It was Christmas Eve and my birthday tomorrow. I would be eighteen and only because the vampire next to me had intervened the day of the house fire.
"Thank you, Nix. You saved my life that day and I am grateful. I want you to know that. He went to say something but I held up my hand. "It doesn't matter what the reason was, I wouldn't be celebrating an eighteenth birthday if it hadn't been for you." I went up on my toes to kiss his cheek.
We didn't speak, but walked through a massive archway into what I guessed was a salon for guests to mingle before going into the formal dining room. Over by the fire, a figure stood, pushing at the logs with a long metal tool.
"Yuri?" I'd spoken softly, but he turned, facing me.
"Merry Christmas Rachel." Yuri's smile carried across the room.
"Merry Christmas Yuri, I'm happy you were able to join us." Nix inclined his head at his guest.
"Thank you for including me. To be honest, I wasn't certain what to do this year. I could have gone back to my place, but it's difficult for me—remembering." His wistful tone told me much.
Yuri would be remembering his family, his wife and child that were long gone. I felt Nix beside me, close, but not clingy.
"Are you well, Rachel?" Yuri's question left me hanging. Was I? I wasn't certain I was well, but I was fine for the moment.
"I'm determined to enjoy this Christmas and my birthday. Tomorrow is the big eighteen."
The two creatures were eyeing one another. I could feel the tension building and hoped this wouldn't turn into something unpleasant.
"If either one of you ruin my Christmas or birthday, I'll never forgive you." The shocked looks told me I'd hit the mark.
"Better listen, Nix, she's good at carrying things." Yuri's expression was one of surprise, but there was more, it was as though he was proud of me.
"I'll behave. I already put my foot in my mouth before we came in. I don't think I have many more chances left." Nix bugged his eyes out, making a face.
When Wolfram appeared to announce dinner, it was a relief.
"Please follow me to the table. Dinner is ready." Wolfram indicated for me to go first.
He led me through another archway and into the main dining area. A round table sat close to another massive hearth.
The table was draped with a deep red cloth, and set with china, crystal glasses and real silverware. I sat where Wolfram indicated, happy it was the chair closest to the fire where I'd be able to keep warm. A large flower arrangement sat in the center, a mixture of white gardenias and red roses. Greens and baby's breath filled in the spaces, bringing the fragrant piece to life. Several large tower candles surrounded by evergreen boughs and pinecones burned bright, bringing a soft light to the table. It was one of the loveliest tables I'd ever seen and about to have dinner on.
I liked that the table was round and wondered if Nix had chosen it to forgo the usual, who sits at the head of the table, dilemma. With the table being round, we were all equal and able to see one another without having to crane our necks.
"You look lovely," Yuri said, taking the chair next closest to the fire.
"Thank you. It's odd that we three are together, don't you think?" How strange that after all their efforts trying to recruit Rein, we'd end up at a table having dinner together on Christmas Eve. Was it irony or fate? I wanted to believe it was fate and not the universe having a lark.
Wolfram served the first course of salad. It was filled with fresh vegetables and I managed to eat most of it before Nix and Yuri had made it through half of theirs.
Yuri held his glass up. "To Rachel turning eighteen, may your next year bring happiness and all that you desire."
I touched my glass to theirs, allowing a moment before commenting.
"Thank you. I have some ideas about my next year, but I'm still working it out. When Rein made his choice, everything in my life changed. I'm hoping to find a more normal road to walk. I'll be attending Abby's Road in January. I don't know how it's going to be, but I don't want to return to Lonsdale, despite Marion promising to get me reinstated."
"Wouldn't Lonsdale be the better school? And wouldn't you graduate early?" Yuri pushed.
"Yes, but I'd be subjected to those rich little shits all week. It was bad enough before, even with Rein as a buffer, but now I'd be a walking target. I'd rather take my ch
ances and start fresh at Abby's Road. Lonsdale is for rich teens with rich parents and they make it clear they don't want anyone like me around." My salad was finished, but Nix and Yuri still had some on their plates.
Wolfram and another servant entered, quickly clearing away the plates. The next course was roast chicken, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. I suspected we'd be having the turkey tomorrow. Despite the coffee, sandwiches and cake earlier, I was hungry.
"Whatever decision you make, I'll support you in it and I'm certain Yuri will." Nix started in on his plate of food. I sensed he was uncomfortable about the subject, though I didn't understand why. It wasn't as if he was the one having to attend school.
"Nix is right. I'm with you no matter what you decide. I didn't want to bring this up, but I feel I should. Tristan has been making threats against you. He thinks you're behind what happened to him. You aren't, but he's convinced you put me onto him for payback, when he attacked you at Hall's place."
"I'll deal with it. He's harmed Rachel enough and I won't allow anything more." Nix's voice held a sinister promise and I was glad I wasn't on the receiving end of his wrath. I wasn't naive; I knew there was the dark vampire side to Nix. It was the side of nightmares and lore and terror.
"I won't be anywhere near him. I've been mulling over some ideas about how I want my life to be and I'd like to move. I don't want to live at the Hall's place anymore. I want my own place." Nix and Yuri stared, both processing what I was asking.
"What about the case worker? Won't she have something to say—" Yuri stopped when I gave him the look.
"I'm not interested in the system, boys, I want my freedom and that means my own place. I'm sure Nix can afford to help me with that. I want to complete my schooling. Abby's Road is a long way for me to go each day, but if I lived closer..."
Nix held his glass by the stem, tipping it back and forth. The wine sloshed, but didn't spill.
"Christmas Eve and you're negotiating with us?" Nix's gaze narrowed.
Yuri came to my rescue.
"I wouldn't have expected anything less from Rachel. We've put her through hell and she's managed to come out ahead and alive. I think by now we owe her some kind of compensation for all that she's been put through. She needs money and we have loads of that. The only question I have is about the system and being eighteen."
"If I choose to strike out on my own, they won't care. It will be one less check they have to send out every month. I'll contact my caseworker and let her know I've decided to go out on my own. If she objects, I'll tell her to stick it." I sat back, feeling the heat from the flames making its way to me.
"How did you come up with this and I didn't know?" Nix seemed more annoyed than angry.
I ignored his question.
"I want my freedom and I want my life back. If I live under someone else's roof, I'll always be at a disadvantage. What if they decide they don't want me there? The Halls weren't very nice about my being forced out of Lonsdale, despite Marion being responsible for that. I'm tired of always being the one who has to worry and jump through hoops. I want a nice place, my own freedom and not to have to answer to anyone. Face it boys, I've got what you want and I'm learning how to use it to my advantage."
Shock. They both stared at me as if I'd grown another head.
Suddenly Yuri started clapping. A smile broke out over his face and he turned to Nix.
"I'd say Rachel has won this round, wouldn't you? I'll back you, Rachel, but not because of the component in your blood, but for how strong you've become."
"You will?" I'd wanted them to agree, but I hadn't fully expected it.
Nix stared, his mouth open, as if I'd punched him in the gut.
"Rachel, there will be questions if you drop out of the system." Nix fussed with his napkin, folding it only to undue it again.
"Let there be. I'm eighteen tomorrow and I'm not interested in being under their thumb any longer. Besides, you two can cook something up. Change my paperwork and be a long lost relative that suddenly came to light. They'll be only too happy to wash their hands of me and save the money. You both have powers—use them for my benefit—please."
"Why go to Abby's Road at all?" Yuri studied me. "Why not go to a better school elsewhere? We have the connections. You could live here or at my place and finish your school with private tutoring and art classes, that way Nix and I could ensure your safety."
A better school elsewhere...good point, but I wasn't about to agree. Before, when Marion had managed to have me kicked out of Lonsdale, I'd been pissed. Everyone knew about the bad reputation at Abby's Road and I'd felt as if I'd been thrown into the volcano as the sacrifice for her pain. But after Marion had told me her grandmother's story, I'd felt a pull to go there. Part of me felt as though I shared a connection with Abigail Westshire-Butler. We were both rule-breakers and dreamers and walked roads filled with potholes and ruts. I'd had to bow to rules I didn't agree with due to life circumstances, and so had she. I didn't understand why I needed to go to that school; I just knew I had to.
"I'm going to Abby's Road and that's the end of the debate, boys." Such sass! Where had this young woman emerged from? After Rein, I'd found my voice, not afraid to state what I wanted and needed. After taking off that blindfold, I'd realized there was someone I needed to care for and look after in my life—me. I wasn't going to live in anyone's shadow.
Yuri nodded, silently drinking in my resolve. Nix tossed the napkin aside, taking a healthy sip of his wine.
"Done." Nix turned to Yuri. "There's no arguing with her, she has the power, and I'm not talking about the ring."
Yuri laughed. "Yeah, I know. She has more power than the both of us; I found that out the first time I met her."
As soon as he said it, tiny tingles erupted over my skin and I got the feeling there was much more to his words. I decided to call him on it.
"And what power would that be, my dear creatures of the night."
"You have an energy that is hard to resist." It was Yuri that spoke and I found myself momentarily panicked, afraid how Nix might react. I didn't want anything to shatter our Christmas Eve.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Now, I don't mean to push, but is there dessert?" I gave Nix my best smile. Yuri had covered well, but I knew there was more to what he'd said.
He shook his head, his eyes sparkling in the candlelight. "I wouldn't dream or dare not to have dessert for you." He clapped his hands and Wolfram appeared.
"How may I serve you, Count?"
"Dessert and coffee, but I believe we'll take it in the other room. I want Yuri and Rachel to be able to enjoy the tree. See that the fire is stoked high and don't be shy about bringing in spirits to drink." Nix waved his hand dismissively and Wolfram scurried off.
What did Wolfram get out of all this? He was a servant and appeared human, but was he?
"He's human," Nix said in answer to my thoughts. "He's a devoted minion and someone I trust to keep my home in order. There aren't many I'd trust to be here."
"What is it they get from serving you?" Since both Nix and Yuri were here, it seemed the right time to ask questions. Perhaps I could finally be on the other side of that globe I lived in. This time I wanted to be the one doing the shaking, making it snow on them.
"They get to live." It was Yuri who answered.
His tone had left me chilled, but my reaction was interrupted by Nix getting up from his chair.
"Let's go and enjoy the tree, shall we?" He held his arm out, indicating dinner was over, but was the conversation? I wasn't about to give up that easily.
As I entered the great room where the tree and decorations were, I was awestruck all over again. Nix had outdone anything I'd ever seen and I was sure Yuri would be impressed.
I went over to the hearth, using the fire as an excuse to check out the stockings. Still empty. Was I supposed to fill Nix's? Was he going to stuff them both? I noticed there was another one hanging with Yuri's name on it.
"You put one up fo
r Yuri." I turned to find Nix studying me.
Yuri's face colored and he seemed at a loss for words. "You don't have to do that..."
"Nonsense, of course I do. I want you to share Christmas with us. Rachel lit up as soon as she saw you." Nix went over to pour drinks.
Had I detected sharpness to his voice? I thought about what Nix had said before—about Yuri being interested in me, but he was wrong. I didn't believe that he had feelings like that. Despite the vastness of the room, it felt stifling and small. I went over to the tree, needing to distract myself.
Without knowing why, I plucked one of the silver bells from the bough and rang it three times. Suddenly there was pressure on my arm. Nix stood beside me, an alarmed expression on his face.
"Are you insane? What are you doing?" The silver of the bell I was holding appeared dull next to what was going on in his eyes.
"Rachel, what have you done?" Yuri's face contorted even more, making him that creature of lore.
"What? What's wrong with ringing a bell on Christmas Eve?"
Nix held his hand over the bell, preventing the clapper from hitting against the side.
The two creatures exchanged looks and my gut stabbed at me. Something bad was on the horizon and by ringing a bell, I'd brought it on. A flash of the bell carved on the wall over the archway went through my mind and I remembered the huge 'X' through it. Had it been a warning? And when Wolfram had removed that bell from the dresser in my room, and what he'd said about a ring-wearer—what did it all mean?
"You can't ring a bell while in a dimension. It can allow intruders through the barrier I have set up and leave us open and vulnerable." Nix took the bell, hanging it high on a bough I couldn't possibly reach. A futile action considering there were numerous others all sitting within my reach.
"Why would you have chosen bells?" Yuri's tone did little to help ease what was rapidly deteriorating into a tense moment.
"I wasn't thinking. I liked them, they've been in storage for so long and I thought they'd look good on the tree." Nix took a linen napkin, dabbing along his brow. "I shouldn't have chanced it."
His gaze reached me, and my mood sank.
Abby's Road Part 1 Page 11
