Immortal Legacy
Dark Seduction
Lorraine Kennedy
Copyright Lorraine Kennedy 2016
All rights reserved
Lavine Press 2016
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Lorraine Kennedy
Chapter One
Nicole
Alec’s mouth was hovering so close to mine that I could feel the electricity arcing in that tiny space that separated our lips. When those smoldering blue eyes locked with mine, I was sure my knees would buckle right then and there.
It was in the way he was looked at me as if he was a man starving and only I could quell his hunger. No man had ever looked at me in quite that way.
He still had his arm around my waist and was pulling me against his hard chest. All I could think about was running my hand over those rugged bulging muscles.
Alec brought his free hand up to clutch my hair. Using a hand full of my hair to force my head back, he lowered his lips to mine. As his tongue danced with mine, shivers of desire raced through me.
His touch was chilling, but still, I felt as if I were being consumed by fire. Never before had I craved a man’s touch so intensely.
When the kiss ended and he backed away, I had to fight to catch my breath, while at the same time I wanted to scream at him not to stop. I wanted him to kiss me. I needed it.
But I didn’t beg him for more. Instead, I looked away. I knew I should be thankful for the fact that he seemed so intent on preserving my life and soul, but my heart ached every time he pulled back.
“What is this place?” I asked when I could finally trust that I could speak without my voice trembling.
“At one time, an old voodoo woman by the name of Bellea lived here.”
“And how did you come by it?” I asked, suspicion gnawing at my insides.
Ignoring my question, Alec motioned to the stairs that led up to the tiny covered porch. “Shall we?”
Sighing, I cautiously placed a foot on the first step. It seemed sturdy enough so I climbed up the remaining stairs. The entire time, Alec stayed close behind me. When I reached the porch, I stepped aside so Alec could enter the shack. I decided that since he was a vampire, it was less risky if he ran into any creatures that might have taken up residence in the old place. After all, it wasn’t as if they could kill him. On the other hand, I’d probably die of a heart attack.
“I knew Bellea’s grandmother,” he said as he was pushing the door open.
I was totally lost until I remembered just how old Alec really was. It was hard to believe he could have known someone from that long ago, but that was reality.
I followed him, but only as far as the moonlight made it inside.
Alec was rummaging around in the dark. A minute later, the room was aglow with soft light. Not only had he managed to find a lantern that still had some fuel in it, but he’d also found some matches that had survived the damp Louisiana air.
At first, the light was such a shock to my eyes that I had to shield them from the glare. It wasn’t that the lantern was extremely bright. I’d just been in the dark too long.
When my eyes finally adjusted to the light, I studied the two-room shack. Although it was dusty and some Spanish moss had managed to make its way in through a broken window, it appeared to be reasonably intact.
“So you knew her grandmother? Did you continue to visit the family? Is that how you knew Bellea?” I asked, still not entirely satisfied that I wouldn’t happen onto the old woman’s corpse somewhere.
Alec smiled but I was sure I saw real sadness in that smile. “No. Once you become a vampire, you must be dead to the world,” he said, shaking his head.
“Bellea’s grandmother and I were partners for a while. I helped her and she helped me. They were slaves of course, but I was very close to the family. I have always watched over them. Old Bellea though, she was sharp. I think she could sense when I was around.”
“So the grandmother knew about the vampire thing?” I asked.
Alec nodded. “But only her and only because it was necessary. Magdeleine could brew concoctions that would take the edge of the hunger. She was good to me, so I promised that I would do my best to look after her family when she was gone,” he explained.
I felt a smile coming on. The fact that Alec held onto enough of his humanity to watch over the family of an old friend was heartwarming.
“So what happened to Bellea?” I asked.
“She died a few years back. Now, the only family left is her niece and nephew. They both live near here.”
“What if they discover I’m here, squatting in their aunt’s old house?” I asked, suddenly alarmed that the shack actually belonged to someone.
Alec shook his head. “They don’t come anymore. At first, her nephew came here to grieve, but he hasn’t been around for a long time. Besides, I’ll be back for you soon.”
“How is it that you know so much about this nephew’s routine?” I was curious.
“This is where I come when I want to escape. I am very tuned into the creatures of the swamp. If there were humans hanging around here, I would sense it in the animals,” he informed me.
“No kidding?”
Alec continued to stun me with the strange beauty of his world.
“Did you have anyone special in your life, before …?” My voice trailed off. I wasn’t sure how exactly to phrase the question, tactfully.
“Before I was turned into a vampire?” he laughed.
I nodded. “It still sounds so insane to say it out loud.”
Suddenly, he was standing so near that my pulse started racing. I could sense that he wanted to reach out and touch me, but was holding back.
“I have to go,” he said without answering my question. “Omar is waiting for me, but if I am too long he will send others to search for me, and you,” he added.
“What do I do for food and water while you’re gone?” I asked.
“There is bottled water in the bedroom, but I have to confess, the food part didn’t cross my mind. Don’t worry. I will be back for you soon.” Alec leaned down and kissed my forehead.
I wanted so bad to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his mouth, but I wasn’t going to throw myself at him.
Alec disappeared into the night and I was left alone.
Chapter Two
Alec
The Cell was an old warehouse that had been converted into a nightclub. This area of New Orleans was sparsely populated and littered with abandoned warehouses. It was the perfect location for Omar to house his vamps, though it wasn’t the only nest he had in the city.
They used the nightclub to lure their victims. If one were to make the mistake of getting too close to an immortal, death was a certainty, and if you were lucky that death would come quickly. The unlucky ones were sentenced to become feeders and their deaths
would be slow and hellish.
I was certain this was the fate that Omar had in mind for Nicole. She’d already known so much misery in her life, how could I possibly let her experience that kind of suffering?
From where I stood, the Cell appeared to be deserted, but I knew better. It was well past midnight. Soon, Omar’s brood would scatter to hunt. The nest couldn’t sate their hunger with just the Cell’s victims alone. Taking too many of them would draw unwanted attention.
It would not be long before they left the Cell to prey on the city of New Orleans. With their numbers thinned, I would at least have a fighting chance if Omar turned on me.
I remained in the shadows, watching the building. It wasn’t long before they began to emerge and disappear into the night, one - two - three at a time. A few would remain, but at least I would have a better chance.
At last, they were gone and I started across the road, toward the gray concrete building that was the rage in the underground. The Cell was where all the Goths wanted to hang out, even more so than the Dark Wind.
I still had no idea how I was going to get Ethan away from Omar, but what I did know is that I would die trying. I figured I owed the little nerd that much.
When I stepped through the entrance, I wasn’t too surprised to see the carnage. Those vampires that had stayed behind were feeding on the unfortunate souls that made the ill-fated decision to stay at the Cell and party.
Near the bar, a woman lay sprawled on the floor, terror still visible in her unblinking eyes. Her death had been a surprise - a horror she hadn’t expected to find when she’d decided to go out and party with her friends.
A young vampire lifted his head from where he’d been feeding at the throat of another victim. His eyes were literally glowing with immortal light and his lust for blood.
My step faltered. I hadn’t fed yet, and the scent of blood was intoxicating. It was a battle to keep my hunger at bay, but I had to. There would be time enough to feed after I’d dealt with Omar.
Stepping over one of the many corpses that littered the room, I made my way to the back where I knew I’d find Omar.
The double red doors that led to Omar’s quarters were shut. I was tempted to rush inside and demand he release Ethan, but that would be foolish. As an ancient, Omar commanded respect. It was best to play along, for now.
Knocking on the door, I stood there and waited for permission to enter.
“Come in,” a deep raspy voice called from behind the door.
Turning the knob on one of the doors, I pushed it open. At the back of the dimly lit room, Omar sat in a large chair that resembled a throne.
It had been a long time since I’d set eyes on Omar. I tended to avoid the old ones and their vamps as much as possible. It had been my experience that the ancients were nothing but trouble.
Omar hadn’t changed at all, but vampires didn’t change. Not really.
They might change their hairstyle, some would push themselves to change their style of dress, but real change never happened.
Omar had no hair. His scalp was as bare as if he’d shaved with a razor. Like usual, he was wearing a long red robe and there was a medallion dangling from his neck. The medallion was disk-shaped and embellished with strange symbols that I’d never seen anywhere, except for on Omar’s medallion. In the middle of the disk, there was a small crystal that created prisms of bright color whenever the light hit it just right.
The red robe and the medallion were like Omar’s trademarks. The ancients had always resisted change. Omar’s sense of fashion was a good example of that. He reminded me of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
Before I said a word, I scanned the room, searching for any sign of Ethan. Of course, he wasn’t there and I hadn’t expected him to be. Omar was too smart for that.
The ancient vampire leveled cold gray eyes on me. “I don’t see the girl.”
“Where is Ethan?” I demanded.
Omar clucked his tongue. “Alec, you fail miserably as an immortal. Such concern for your creation will be your undoing.”
“I have not come to converse with you, Omar. Where is Ethan?” I asked again, returning Omar’s hard and impassive stare.
“How dare you speak to me in such a way!” Omar bellowed.
I stepped forward, not in the least intimidated by Omar’s anger. “Why do you want the girl?”
“She knows too much.” Omar’s eyes cut through me.
“Who is she going to tell? Who will believe her, even if she were to say something about what she knows?” I tried to reason with him, in spite of the fact I knew the excuse about her knowing too much was more of a ruse than an actual reason.
Omar didn’t respond. He continued to cut me to shreds with his cold glacial eyes.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever been human at all. If he were one of the originals, then he wouldn’t know what it was like to be human, which explained a lot.
“I don’t believe that’s the reason you want the girl.” I knew my statement would be considered a direct challenge to Omar, but I didn’t care.
Instead of erupting in a fit of fury, as I’d expected, Omar continued to stare at me with eyes as cold as the arctic night.
“Tell me, Alec, what is your interest in this girl? She isn’t your progeny. Why should her fate concern you?”
She’s my feeder,” I lied, hoping Omar wouldn’t detect my deceit.
Omar laughed out loud. “You don’t expect me to believe such nonsense, do you? If that were her purpose, you would have no qualms about giving her to me.”
“What do you want with her and why can’t you just go get her?” I answered with my own questions.
This was something that had me puzzled. I’d hidden Nicole as a precaution, but I was no fool. If Omar wanted, he could easily have taken the girl instead of Ethan in the first place.
Why hadn’t he?
Omar jumped to his feet, obviously agitated by my outright defiance. “What I want with the girl doesn’t concern you. I’m your elder and you are to do as I command.”
I smiled, not in the least moved by Omar’s wrath. “Tell me about the secret of what we are. The truth is that it isn’t a curse. Am I right? There are also places in other dimensions where we can live in the light. Feel free to stop me anytime, if I’m wrong,” I told him before continuing. “But the vampire is forbidden in these dimensions.”
Omar was stunned. “These things you talk about are nothing but myths, perpetrated by the Light Seeker rebels. You should be aware of that by now.”
I offered a cold smile. “I don’t believe you. You’re keeping something from us.”
Omar turned his back to me and stared at the throne he’d been sitting on. “I’ll make you a deal, Alec. If you bring me the girl, I will tell you what you want to know.”
Now I was the one shocked.
Omar wasn’t exactly known for being fair or making deals. It was either his way or death. He desperately wanted to get his hands on Nicole, and for some reason, he couldn’t do it himself.
Chapter Three
Nicole
The loud splash outside the shack sent shockwaves over my already frayed nerves.
Damn! It wasn’t like the old place wasn’t creepy enough. Now I couldn’t get my mind off the slithering things that populated the swamp and the fact that they were just outside the door. If I let it, my imagination would have me scared witless.
The lantern provided enough light inside, but outside it was pitch black. The canopy of trees and Spanish moss that covered the shack kept away any light the moon might have provided.
Partly to keep my mind off the gators that might find their way inside at any time, and also because I was thirsty, I picked up the lantern and went into the bedroom where the water was supposed to be stored, according to Alec.
The room was cramped but it appeared as if the old lady had kept it neat and clean. Although the entire room was covered with a blanket of dust, everything had its place. It was obvious
the previous occupant had taken pride in her home.
Just like Alec said; there were bottles of water stacked neatly in one corner. I hoped whoever was responsible for storing the water had remembered to add chlorine so it didn’t go stale.
Picking up one of the jugs, I unscrewed the cap and sniffed the contents. It smelled clean, though there was the slight odor of chlorine. Replacing the cap, I took it into the kitchen. In one of the cupboards, I found a glass. Holding it over the little sink, I cleaned it by pouring water into the glass and swishing it around.
Just as I was ready to repeat the process, I heard a creaking noise from behind me and I froze. Holding my breath, I slowly turned to see what was making the noise.
The rocker that sat in the corner, near the tattered old couch was actually moving. It rocked back and forth, and as it moved the floor beneath it creaked.
But the chair was empty.
The door was still closed so it was unlikely someone had started the chair moving while my back was turned. Besides, I would have heard them come in.
I set the jug of water on the kitchen counter and made my way to the rocker. Holding up my hand, I checked for a draft but there wasn’t one.
Creak – creak, the chair continued to rock.
I placed my hand on the back of the chair to still the rocking. When I removed my hand, it remained motionless.
Sighing with relief, I turned back to the kitchen but as soon as I did, I heard the creaking again. Spinning around, I saw that the chair was rocking again. A chill traveled up my spine, bringing on a shiver.
There were no such things as ghosts.
But of course, I hadn’t believed vampires were real either.
Clearing my throat, I called out, “Who is it? Who’s here?”
There was only silence, apart from the continuous creaking noise from the chair’s movement.
I wasn’t left with much choice but to shrug it off. Sharing the old shack with its ghostly resident was probably the least of my worries at the moment.
Dark Seduction: A Vampire Romance (Immortal Legacy Book 2) Page 1
