Fateful 2-Fractured

by Cheri Schmidt

  She began to struggle more, but this man simply took hold of her arm as well as her hand, then halted abruptly.

  Confusion swamped her until she understood that he’d hesitated in his abduction because her security detail had arrived. Seth stood behind the man, his fists and stiff shoulders hinted at the threat he most likely meant to convey. She noticed from her peripheral that Cedric had moved in behind her, and she felt his hands settle onto her shoulders. Danielle sighed in relief.

  “Release Danielle now,” Seth warned in a harsh, commanding voice.

  “Gentlemen, I only wish for Miss Darcey to share the miracle of this cure with me. I mean her no harm.”

  “Release her,” Seth demanded, and the man finally let go. Danielle rubbed her reddened fingers.

  “You do not want me for an enemy,” the man countered. His once articulate voice was now seething with menace.

  “We are not saying that you cannot have the cure, but we need you to go through Beon and not Danielle.” Seth’s unfaltering voice was equally threatening.

  “But he isn’t mortal; he cannot offer the cure to me.”

  “Danielle is in his personal care, you will need to go through Beon. Please give us your name and we will have him contact you at a later time.”

  The man appeared to take measure of his situation, realizing it seemed that he had no choice but to back down.

  “May name is Laszlo Martine, I will await his call. I’m sorry to have disturbed you, Miss Darcey, please accept my apologies.”

  She smiled what felt like an awkward twist of her mouth, attempting politeness, though she was sure he saw through it.

  He left and Cedric rubbed her shoulders likely trying to console her. “Are you all right, Danielle?” That kind tone in his voice helped as well.

  “Yes, thank you, I’m extremely grateful you were both here.”

  “You’re very welcome, we’re happy to be of service.”

  “Cedric,” Seth said abruptly, “call Ethan and Beon. They need to know.”

  The younger vampire frowned. “I don’t think so. Ethan isn’t going to take this well. Neither one of them will. You make the calls.”

  Seth glowered. “I’ve asked you to do it.” She suspected that he came close to saying, Do it because I said so, young man, but somehow resisted the urge.

  “You’re the adult.”

  Danielle couldn’t help but laugh at that, and clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to hide it. Okay—so maybe Seth was over eight or nine hundred years old, while Cedric was only eighty-nine. That still made him the same age as her grandfather. His words repeated through her thoughts…. You’re the adult ... and she snorted with laughter again. The immortal bodyguards looked at her, but said nothing.

  “Fine, I’ll do it.” Seth turned and stalked off, whipped a cell phone from his pocket, pressed a button, and then jerked it to his ear.

  Cedric’s gaze lifted past her shoulder. “You should get back to your cousin now; it appears she’s getting restless.”

  Danielle nodded in agreement and returned to Brianna. However, later that day, she asked Beon if he would also assign guards to her cousin when she noticed that Mr. Martine and her security detail weren’t the only vampires trailing her. She was gaining a following and it made her concerned for Brianna’s safety as well as her own. Beon agreed and quickly set two men to watch her cousin, who remained oblivious.

  Ethan called her soon after he was told about the attempted kidnapping, but he was pleased with how it’d been handled, and told Danielle that he would be home soon, though he didn’t say exactly when.

  Chapter 5

  Fairytale

  Danielle went to bed early that night. But just as she’d tucked herself in, she heard a noise at her window, right before it began to open slowly.

  Her heart stopped.

  What now? she thought, and then breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was only Max. Her smile became a gape of confusion when she noticed he was carrying a huge bouquet of roses. He’d only given her one the other night, and that one flower had been an innocent shade of pink. These were red—usually meaning love, or at least that’s what she thought.

  “Er.... Hi, Max. What’s going on?”

  He ignored her question and went directly to the iPod on her dresser. “Do you happen to have any instrumental or romantic selections for this?” he asked while looking through the play lists listed in the interface.

  “What?” Now she was really perplexed.

  “Oh, how about ‘Danielle’s bedtime mix’?” His face brightened while he checked with her for confirmation.

  She stared blankly back at him.

  Max shrugged and had clearly decided his selection was acceptable without a single word from her. He connected the device into the iPod dock, but didn’t push play, and then turned to face her again, smirking broadly. “That’s just in case we make too much noise and need a cover.”

  What noises are we going to be making? she wondered. “Um, Max, seriously, are you trying to anger Ethan? Because this should do it…”

  He chortled softly, his huge shoulders shaking with it. Teasing her was apparently fun for him. “Oh, I know Ethan will not be angry with me.” A dauntless grin pulled at his lips.

  “How?”

  “Well, my love, while you certainly are worthy of such affection from me, these flowers are not from me. These are from the lowly chap standing outside.” He waved an open hand in the direction of the window, as though he was a game show host noting the fine prizes available.

  Danielle’s eyes enlarged as she slipped from her bed, strode eagerly to the window, and leaned out to see who was in the garden.

  He stood below her window, his guitar slung casually over his shoulder by the strap as he smiled up at her.

  “Ethan, you’re back!” She screamed and started bouncing cheerfully. The sound didn’t travel very far, because she’d screamed into Max’s oversized palm. It seemed Ethan had warned him that she had a tendency to do that when she got surprised, and they apparently didn’t want to draw the household to her bedroom.

  Max chuckled.

  Danielle mumbled under his hand, and he laughed harder, but kept the volume low. His hand remained over her lips, muffling her.

  “You can remove the gag now, Max,” Ethan informed him, looking slightly annoyed.

  “Oh, right.” The hand released her.

  Danielle leaned further out the window. “Hi. So you got back tonight then?”

  He nodded. “I came here directly from the airport, just to see you.” And then he bowed.

  There’s that Jane Austen hero she was in love with, and smiled. “Thank you. But why didn’t you come to the front door? I can’t hug you from here,” she complained, the smile slipping.

  Ethan ignored her protest, lifted his guitar and began playing. He brought to life an intricate melody as he plucked and strummed his fingers over the strings. The serenade he played was filled with complicated finger work and the tune was romantic and sweet, like something from The Princess Bride. She couldn’t help but be moved by it. Danielle rested her chin in her hand until he finished with the charming number and then began another.

  But while she loved listening to his talented and touching performance, she really wanted to hug and kiss him. She was frustrated that he’d returned from his trip, only to remain just out of reach— She turned to face Max, who looked slightly startled just before he dropped his eyes to the floor. “Take me down to him. Please?”

  His lips twisted into a rascally grin. “Yes, my lady.”

  Max swept her into his arms and bounded from the high window. Her stomach upturned because it felt like the quick descent of a rollercoaster. She hadn’t been prepared for that. He released her as soon as he landed lithely on the ground, but then had to catch her, before she stumbled to the grass. “Oh, sorry, was that a bit much for you?” She could hear the laughter in his husky tone.

  “I’m okay…” It seemed he didn’t be
lieve her since he kept one hand on her elbow as she regained her balance. Ethan, who’d stopped playing, swung his guitar behind his back and tugged her into the circle of his arms. She snuggled into his embrace and whispered, “Thank you for the roses and the beautiful music, but it’s you I want, silly.”

  Ethan smiled in reply and took possession of her mouth with his. When she opened her eyes, and pulled away from his kiss, she realized they were surrounded by his entourage and hers, while she stood there in her pajamas—kind of embarrassing. “Oh, uh,” she muttered as she felt her face heat up.

  “Don’t mind them, Danielle, it’s not like you’re standing here in your knickers.”

  At least they weren’t meeting her gaze, knowing their magic was at full intensity, and she focused on Ethan again. He took her face into his hands and brushed the tip of his nose across hers. “Danielle,” he whispered affectionately, “I’ve planned our next day trip for tomorrow. I need you to be ready at eleven.”

  “Okay.”

  “And wear your white dress. I desire to see you in that again.”

  “All right,” she said, breathless.

  She drew her fingers through his hair, noting how the moonlight bounced and danced from the lighter strands. She was about to go for his lips again, when Max interrupted. “Whoops!” he snapped, and then yanked her from Ethan, rolled her into his chest, and sprang back up to her bedroom. The sensation drained the blood from her head. She couldn’t recall any amusement park rides that went up so quickly, or at least she’d never been brave enough to try one.

  The knight stuffed Danielle in bed, hit play for the music, and then instantly disappeared from sight. She collapsed into her pillows, waiting for her stomach to return to its proper place from her toes.

  Then her door opened. “Hey, Dannie—er, I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

  “No, I was awake,” she replied, trying to not look guilty and dazed.

  “Oh good, may I borrow a rubber? I can’t find mine,” Brianna said.

  “A-a what?” Danielle could feel the horrified look on her face as she choked out the words.

  Her cousin’s eyes rounded and then she erupted into fervent giggles, doubling over with the intensity of it. “Oh!” She laughed some more. “I totally forgot!” She then started coughing she was laughing so hard and sat down on the edge of Danielle’s bed before she collapsed from mirth. “I mean an eraser.” She pronounced each syllable slowly.

  “Oh,” was all Danielle could muster in reply.

  “I’m sorry, Cousin, we call them rubbers because that’s what they’re made of. I haven’t a clue why you Yanks call them erasers.” She paused to consider that for a moment. “Okay, well I suppose that does make sense too. Anyway, could I borrow one?”

  “Eh, sure. There should be one in my desk.”

  Her cousin walked to the desk, shuffled around for the eraser, took it, then went back to the door. Danielle watched her cousin, wondering where the vampire was hiding, and what he was thinking of this insane verbal exchange.

  “’Night, Danielle.”

  “Goodnight, Bri.”

  She waited for Max to reveal his secret place and nearly shrieked when he slid out from under her bed. He was jerking with silent guffaws. He gave her a pat on the head and then jumped out the window. She followed and watched as he landed easily, and then disappeared around the front of the house.

  Ethan was still there. “Danielle, I must go home now. But I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for coming by.” She sighed as his guards took their places on either side of him.

  “Goodnight.”

  “’Night,” she replied.

  He also vanished into the night with the two-man security entourage he’d arrived with.

  * * * * *

  “Where are we going this time?” Danielle asked as they got settled into his car the next day, but realized that she’d failed at masking her impatience when he chuckled.

  “We’re going back to the ruins, and it should take about an hour to get there, and yes, I plan to carry you again,” Ethan replied, anticipating her next set of questions.

  Laughing, she said, “You’re getting to know me a little too well.”

  “We’ve been through a lot, Danielle.”

  “That much is true.” She reached for the blue silk tie he wore. “This is nice, it matches your eyes.” Then her gaze traveled over his charcoal pinstriped suit. He’d dressed up special this time, and she wondered why, though she did have some suspicions.

  “Thanks, and, as always, you’re lovely in this Edwardian-style dress. And I see you remembered the pearls I gave you. I’m glad.” His hand traced the inset lace on the skirt, and then swept upward to brush her hair aside, giving himself a better view of the jewelry.

  The drive went by quickly, lucky for Ethan, since Danielle didn’t feel the need to keep asking him how much longer. He parked the Jag on the shoulder of the road. Once out of the car, he lifted her into his arms to begin the long walk through the forest to the ruins.

  As Ethan made his way through the underbrush in a suit and polished black shoes, Danielle noticed that many more vampires than their usual guard were in the woods as she and Ethan passed through. It seemed they’d come out in droves.

  “Why are there so many?” she asked softly.

  “They just want to make sure we’re safe. We’re in a forest,” Ethan said.

  His explanation didn’t make a whole lot of sense, but Danielle was distracted by the sound of music drifting through the trees as they neared the ruins. It sounded like a strange mix of the fairy’s music and the vampire musicians from the ball. As her previous suspicions resurfaced, she asked, “What do you have planned?”

  “You’ll see soon enough.” Ethan grinned as he cleared the last of the trees and Danielle could finally see what he’d done.

  She gasped. The stone structures of his childhood home were decorated with white rose garlands, and situated in the center of everything was a table for two, covered with a white tablecloth and sprinkled with white rose petals, then in the center of that stood an empty white vase. The table was flanked by a pair of wingback chairs. She’d never seen living room seating used in an outdoor setting like that, but it was beautiful and ultra romantic.

  She tried to find the source of the music, but could see no one else in the area.

  “When did you do all of this?” Danielle marveled.

  “I didn’t, the others helped me.” Her gaze moved back to the surrounding trees and she noticed shadows of people moving within the shade of the trees.

  “What’s this all for?” she asked, although she had a hunch.

  “It’s all for you, princess.” He tickled her with a kiss on her neck as he advanced toward the table.

  She squirmed and giggled just as she always did when his lips touched that sensitive flesh. “Well, you’ve topped the ball this time.”

  Ethan bent down to set Danielle in one of the chairs, she was then startled to see Beon standing there holding the chair out for her. He hadn’t been there before and had seemingly materialized from out of nowhere.

  Beon was dressed in a black suit with a black necktie, and a white tuxedo shirt, his dark hair was slicked back, and he stood by the table like a stodgy butler. He even had a white towel draped over his arm. And the sight of Beon like this made Danielle want to laugh, but she pressed her lips together in an attempt to keep it in.

  “For you, Danielle.” The words came from behind her, and she knew Nadia’s voice instantly. She turned to see the folkloric immortal holding a single white rose out to her.

  Danielle took it. “Thank you,” she said as Nadia left, and then looked at Ethan curiously.

  The smile he returned bewildered her. His lips were twisted with a grin, but something she didn’t recognize danced in his eyes.

  “I’ll take that, dear.” Beon snatched the rose from her and stuck it into the empty vase.

  “For you, my lady.” Danielle shifted her
gaze again to find Cedric holding another white rose out to her.

  “Thanks.” She took the rose, only to have it taken by Beon again.

  Cedric chortled and ruffled Ethan’s perfectly placed hair as he left.

  Ethan scowled and combed through his dark-blond locks with his fingers to fix it.

  “Hello, my darling.” Sophia addressed her next, with yet another rose, and her famous hors d’oeuvres arranged on a tiered cake platter, which she set on the left side of the table.

  “Hello. Thank you, Sophia,” Danielle said as she took the rose and just handed it to Beon this time. She was catching on to the pattern here.

  Danielle looked over her shoulder to see Seth approaching next. Sometimes he still made her a little nervous. Perhaps it was because even as he strode toward her with a single rose in his hand, he did it with such an air of purpose and importance that he appeared almost regal. “For you, my dear,” he said holding the rose out to her.

  Danielle took it. “Thank you, sir.”

  Seth was followed by Max, who said, “Lovely roses for a lovely lady.”

  She laughed. “Thanks, Max.”

  Max handed four roses to her rather than just one. He then slid his hand flirtatiously along hers as he released the flowers. She knew Max only did it to taunt Ethan, mainly because it always worked so well.

  And she checked Ethan’s expression to see if he’d fallen for it. He did. “I saw that, Max. Watch it,” Ethan growled, his eyes narrowed.

  Never daunted by Ethan’s warnings, even when he’d been a vampire, Max gave Ethan a swift slug in the arm as he passed him.

  “Ow!” Ethan grimaced as he fought to keep his chair from tipping over from the force of the punch. “I’ll get you for that,” Ethan grumbled while rubbing his now dead arm.

  Danielle laughed, but stopped short and blinked when something soft bounced off the end of her nose. She looked into her lap and saw that it was a white rose petal.

  Ethan snorted, the sound was followed by a stream of chuckling.

  Suddenly after that, she was showered with many more petals as well as roses now.