Besides, she didn’t believe in astrology bullshit, so she wasn’t about to fall for the hype. Saturday would be just like any other night. No soul mate crap. No doomsday apocalypse.
*
On Saturday evening, Roman was patrolling the rooftop with his deputy, Arto. The open area of this club gave him the best tactical view of Boston, although with obstructions from nearby buildings.
The moon had reached its fullest potential, looming bright and large over the city. Soon the eclipse would begin.
They surveyed for signs of trouble below. It was risky to have all these humans being lured into Boston. Always was when humans converged for massive events. Yet they wandered, clueless to any potential danger around them; oblivious that they were protected by those of his kind.
“Look at them pouring into the city,” Roman said. “Without a care in the world.”
“Who can resist the draw of love or sex—or both?” Arto replied. “All this publicity is hard to miss. Especially the billboards.”
Roman exhaled. Prime view for a gargoyle on patrol. “It doesn’t help with these wannabe witches declaring the cosmic significance of the event, making it the perfect night to meet one’s soul mate.”
“I bet they’ll pocket a lot of money this weekend, helping people find the one.”
Roman peered over to the nearby buildings and spotted a few of the Stone Sentries, his clan mates, perched at various vantage points. Gargoyles under his command had taken positions all over Boston, either in their stone forms on the exteriors of buildings or patrolling the city in their human forms, the way Roman and Arto were now. His gaze shifted to the humans lining up below to get into the club. “Nights like this make me wary.”
Arto stepped closer, although they were far out of earshot, and it wasn’t likely anyone would hear them over the music. “Do you sense something is wrong?”
“Yes. But it’s nothing definitive. That’s what makes it so bothersome.”
Arto nodded. “I will ensure all are in position and on watch.”
“Remember—watch for werewolves.” Roman hadn’t seen any since he’d taken command of guarding the region after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, but that didn’t mean they weren’t around. They were adept at hiding. “A powerful moon like this could unravel even those with the utmost self-control. Not that I trust a werewolf to have any.”
“Will do.”
As they approached the other end of the roof, Roman scanned the pedestrian traffic on Tremont Street and Boylston Street before surveilling the Boston Common and Public Gardens. Something caught his eye on the Common. A dome-like structure, newly built, and appearing out of place in the expanse of grassy land below.
“What is that?” He pointed at the dome.
Arto followed the direction of his finger. “I don’t know. Never seen it before. It wasn’t there last night.”
“How did they construct it so quickly?”
“Prefabricated structure?” Arto suggested. “Must be a temporary exhibit. I can’t picture the city officials letting something like that be erected on the Common.”
“Money can convince humans to do many things.” He raised his chin toward the dome. “Have someone look into it.”
Arto pumped his fist across his chest and nodded to acknowledge the command, and then walked away.
Roman scanned those gathered up on the roof, using his acute senses to pick up on anything out of the ordinary. A sultry heat lingered in the late summer air, scented with numerous potted florals that masked the exhaust of car fumes downtown. Many of the women were dressed in tight clothing that attracted male attention and displayed an abundance of cleavage. Most of the men wore dark colors, which fit the theme of the club—an eclectic mix of gothic design and B-movie kitsch. From the bold or furtive glances cast at the opposite sex, many were seeking a sexual partner for the night.
An uneasy sensation crept up his spine, ruffling the hair at the back of his neck. Something bad was going to happen—he was almost certain of it.
He glanced again at the moon. Humans thought the red tinge gave the night a romantic element. Fools. Their ancestors had dubbed it a blood moon for a reason. Violence often occurred when the moon shone with such an ominous aura. Bloodshed followed.
All his sentries were on duty tonight. Vigilant for anything—or anyone— questionable.
*
Janie came by Larissa’s apartment to give her the once-over before they went out.
She’d approved the sleeveless black dress. “Sexy but not slutty. Not bad. But you need to do something else with your hair. And add more makeup. And accessories.” Searching Larissa’s bedroom, she added, “Where have you stashed your necklaces and earrings?”
Larissa arched a brow. “The dress is enough.”
“Nope.” She removed the clip holding back Larissa’s hair and fluffed it with a brush so it cascaded in soft waves around her face.
Larissa tried to keep still and listen to the playlist she’d created earlier that week, which now shuffled to Audioslave’s Like a Stone.
“Ah.” Janie eyed an owl pendant hanging from a long silver chain near Larissa’s bed. Her grandmother had given it to her after Larissa’s mother had died when she was five, saying it was a talisman for protection. Janie draped it around Larissa’s neck. “Cute. Wide-eyed and suspicious, just like you.”
“Owls are suspicious?”
“They look that way. How about spooky and mysterious?”
“Great. Thanks. I’ve always wanted to look spooky.”
Janie laughed. “Mysterious isn’t bad, though. Guys will flock to you tonight, wondering what it is you’re hiding under that reserved exterior.”
When Larissa straightened with obvious discomfort, Janie added, “I don’t mean that secret. Chillax. Here, put on this lipstick.”
“Road Rage Red. Are you kidding me?”
“To go with a blood-red moon. And don’t forget plenty of mascara,” Janie insisted. “You don’t emphasize your best assets enough. By the time we leave here, you’ll be a vixen no man can resist.”
After Larissa had followed her instructions, Janie admired her handiwork. “You look hot. Thanks to me.”
Outside Larissa’s apartment, Janie pointed to the sky. “Wow, look at the moon. It’s incredible.”
Larissa glanced at the bright orb above them. Janie was right. It glowed with a reddish hue that was striking on the clear night. The size of it made it even more remarkable. Yet the most impressive part was to come with the eclipse.
Janie hailed a cab to take them to Beacon Hill. She’d booked a hotel room to make the most of their girls’ night out. After they’d dropped their belongings in the room, Larissa reached inside to retrieve her gun. It wasn’t often she left without it. But they were going into a club, most likely with security checks, which would lead to questions and hassles.
“Ready?” Janie asked.
Larissa released her weapon with reluctance. “Yes.” As they exited the hotel, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“Someplace fun, don’t worry.” When she’d hailed the cab, she revealed the surprise: “Rue Morgue.”
Larissa turned to her after she’d climbed in. “Not the new club with all the skull-and-bone advertisements? The really weird one with a dungeon?”
“It’s not a real dungeon.” Janie patted her thigh. “It’s, you know, a gimmick or something. All Poe-esque and shit. Near the Poe statue. With Boston celebrating his birth here, the club owners saw an opportunity to capitalize on it.”
“In other words, a money-making scheme.”
Janie spread her arms wide. “Welcome to corporate America.”
“I don’t know if that’s my kind of place,” Larissa said. Why hadn’t she asked which club Janie had in mind?
“Too late, you already agreed to come with me. Besides, it’s more than a dungeon area. There’s a main dance floor and a rooftop garden.”
When they first entered the club, the man
y appraising looks unsettled her. Guys never looked at her like that when she was in uniform. Well, maybe a couple of weirdos.
They descended to the club’s dungeon area where a dark, gothic-sounding song pulsed around them. After scanning the cages with rubber rats and bones inside, Larissa fixed her eyes on the pendulum hanging from the ceiling.
“I don’t think I’m going to find my soul mate down here,” she muttered.
Janie laughed. “Probably not. But it’s entertaining nonetheless.”
“Come on. Let’s grab a drink. Want to go to the dance floor or the roof deck?”
“Roof. I think I need some fresh air after being down here.”
When they’d exited onto the roof and bought drinks, Larissa relaxed in the open atmosphere with a less intense musical sound. The odd prickling sensation hit her again, stronger than it had been at the café earlier that week. She tuned out the music and breathed in the city air, trying to get a read on the source. The problem was that she didn’t see anything, just sensed things. Besides the ambience of a typical nightclub, with the scents of sweaty bodies and alcoholic drinks, nothing came to her.
“I know that look,” Janie said. “Twice in one week.” She clamped a hand over her mouth, then dropped it. “What is it?”
“Not sure.” Searching inside herself for insight, the only word that came to her was change. “I don’t know. It’s just—something is—it’s about change.”
“What?” Janie asked, her face scrunching as she attempted to scrutinize the cryptic reply. “Or for who?”
Probing deeper, Larissa found nothing more. “No idea.”
Janie’s worried expression snapped her back to the present.
Larissa’s insights usually indicated that something was about to happen, which had saved her ass many times in her years as a police officer. And at other times…
This wasn’t the night to dwell on enigmatic physical twinges. Not after all the trouble Janie had gone through to get her here. After all, she didn’t sense any negative vibes. Change simply meant change. It could be a move, a promotion—anything.
“It’s probably all this talk about the moon freaking me out,” Larissa said to pacify her. “We came here to dance. Let’s dance.”
*
While surveying the city from above, a dark-haired woman on the roof caught Roman’s attention. She stood ramrod-straight and she fidgeted with her glass. Something about her discomfort triggered his gargoyle instincts, making him observe her more closely.
When he scanned her from head to toe, he didn’t gain any insight other than how attractive she was. Her hair was rich and lush, flowing in loose waves over her shoulders. It had a burgundy tone from the various lighting fixtures around the deck. Her wide eyes searched her surroundings. What was she looking for? His gaze traveled down her body, studying how well it was encased in a form-fitting black dress. He lingered on her killer curves, fueling his imagination with sordid fantasies of what it would be like to touch them.
He snapped his eyes away. He was supposed to be gauging what had set off his senses, not visualizing her naked body.
Seconds later, his gaze returned to her, despite his admonition to himself. Her expression turned troubled. A strong reaction rose within him, one he couldn’t read. He rubbed the back of his neck. Something about her put all his senses on edge; he had to keep an eye on her, although he had no indication why.
She spoke to a blonde woman next to her, and he turned his head to focus on their conversation. With all the chatter in the room, he couldn’t catch it, despite his acute sense of hearing.
What troubled the brunette? An instinct to protect her kicked in. The pull toward her was compelling, a sensual onslaught that overpowered him.
Remember why you’re here.
He stepped back, both mentally and physically separating himself from the woman, and shielded himself behind the bar. That compulsion was one he’d never experienced, and not knowing what it meant bothered him all the more. All the uncertainty about tonight had him on edge.
Turning away, he gulped in the cool night air. It invigorated him for only a moment. What hit him next almost knocked him off his feet—a sudden whoosh of energy. It blasted past him with immense force and power, indicative of dark magic.
A gut feeling made him turn to locate the brunette, and he scrutinized her. He sensed something unusual about her than the other humans on the roof. Was she the source of that dark magic? He opened a mental link to communicate with Arto.
There’s a woman on the roof I’m going to keep an eye on.
Is she in danger? Or is she dangerous? Arto asked.
Good question. That’s what I plan on finding out. I sensed dark magic and will investigate further.
His triggers were now on full alert. Whoever she was, he wouldn’t let her out of his sight. Not until he figured out who—or what—she was.
And why she had that effect on him.
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Darkness Rising
Antoine Chevalier harbors a secret. Born a gargoyle shifter, he wants nothing more than to cultivate his art. His hard work pays off the night he completes his greatest sculpture. But the excitement of his accomplishment doesn’t last.
He’s drawn the eye of the wrong group—a clan of vampires. Antoine wakes into darkness, changed. Shattered. His dream of becoming a renowned sculptor is destroyed.
One question remains—how will he ever survive an eternity of darkness alone?
Darkness Rising is part 0.5 of the Chateau Seductions series by USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Carlisle. Readers have requested more on the dark and mysterious Antoine. In this short story, Antoine tells his tale, which continues in the series with Dark Velvet. Dark Velvet is written from Savannah’s perspective as a newcomer to an art colony who is intrigued by the proprietor.
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Dark Velvet
Grad student Savannah Evans is thrilled to be accepted as a resident to a prestigious art colony. Where else would she be able to focus on her craft of writing poetry in a setting like that of the medieval-styled castle? The remote New England island is a respite from her hectic city life. When she meets her benefactor, a mysterious French sculptor, her expectations for carefree days writing near the ocean are distracted by unprofessional fantasies about her sponsor.
Antoine Chevalier built Les Beaux Arts on DeRoche Island to bring purpose back to an existence that has lost meaning. He’s wandered the earth for decades and finds solace in returning to art. When Savannah applies for a residency, something about her words touches him. After her arrival, a physical attraction grows between them, which he struggles against. She deserves more than someone of his kind.
Antoine proposes they become lovers during her stay. But the situation turns complicated when Savannah discovers his secret. She had suspicions about his identity, but finds the truth overwhelming. Consumed by her desire for Antoine and faced with a tough decision, she is blind to the danger that has arrived at DeRoche Island.
“Dark Velvet has a dark eroticism that makes you want to be Savannah. It is a book that is a good, quick and darkly thrilling read.” ~ Books and Beyond Fifty Shades
“…insanely hot chemistry between the female protagonist Savannah & vampire Antoine. Their intensity starts off right away and you’re not a chapter in before it takes off like a rocket!” ~ Paranormal Romance Junkies
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It takes time before Gina Meiro warms up to people and her shyness is often misunderstood. She hasn’t had to worry about meeting new people at a remote art colony until a new resident arrives—a rock guitarist more suited for a billboard. Her carefree days of painting at the medieval-styled castle on a remote New England island are shattered when she stumbles right into his welcome gathering.
After a falling out with his band, Dante Riani wants nothing more at Les Beaux Arts on DeRoche Island than solitude to work on new songs. When a shy young painter asks to paint him at sunset, h
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Someone at the colony claims to know what Dante is and asks for his help. Dante fears his plans are coming undone, especially as grows more drawn to Gina. Her scent and vulnerability are too difficult to resist. But he must stay away from her—she would never understand his secret.
While it is a story about struggle, it is also about love; and doing whatever needs to be done to be with the one you are attracted to. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Gina and Dante. This story has the perfect amount of witty banter, sex, and romance.”
~ 5* Review of Dark Muse from Books and Beyond Fifty Shades!
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Dark Stranger
Wolf shifters come to Chateau seeking a missing pack member. During an altercation, Cameron Stevens, the manager of the art colony, is separated from the others. He ends up alone with Nadya, one of the female shifters.
Together, in the forests of DeRoche Island, they struggle against conflicting feelings. In addition to battling each other as well as their mistrust, they fight a powerful, inexplicable attraction to one another—one that leaves them irrevocably entwined.
They’re mates? Cameron can’t comprehend or accept such a thing is possible. They’re two different species and their worlds don’t mesh. He can’t fight the heated desire burning between them and her touch is impossible to resist. His heart and mind aren’t on the same page where she’s concerned. One thing is certain—Nadya is stamped on both.
***** FIVE STARS ***** – “I have read the first 2 books in this series and could not wait to get my hands on this one; and I was not disappointed. The thing I love most, is that while this is a story about paranormal creatures, you can still relate to the trial and tribulations that they go through. You can relate to how each character is feeling, even though you are nothing like them.”
~ Books and Beyond Fifty Shades
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Knights of Stone: Mason
Highland Gargoyles series, book 1
Gargoyles, tree witches, and wolf shifters have divided the Isle of Stone after a great battle twenty-five years ago. When Kayla, a tree witch, hears about the unconventional rock concerts in the gargoyle’s territory, she sneaks from her coven and into their territory to see for herself. Night after night, she returns to see one in particular shift into human form and play guitar at these unconventional shows.
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