“Wait a minute,” I said. “Are you telling me that Sebastian is marrying someone? Did he make arrangement for our marriage and didn’t tell me?” I said smiling. Finally he has come around and I will be his bride. The vampire will have a bride, I thought.
When I turned to Robbie, I saw his eyes. They lowered. His expression turned to evasion. He walked away. When I turned to Terry she had something in her hand. I pulled it from her cold hands and read it.
With tremendous excitement and pleasure you are invited to the marriage of Francesca Forza known as Samantha to her friends and family. She will marry Sebastian Vesper heir to the Vesper throne. They will be married in Manhattan, New York on the last Saturday of this month.
If you are planning to attend, there will be a private jet which will be waiting to take you to New York, and a limo will be waiting for you if you decide to attend.
When I woke I was lying on a sofa in the great room where Robbie had a fire burning. “What happened to me?”
“You read this invitation and then you collapsed on the floor. Robbie brought you in here,” Terry said with equal distress written on her face.
“Did you know about this Terry?” I said with a weak shrill voice.
“Of course not.”
“I knew nothing about this either, Zoey,” Robbie said. “The letter was brought to the house and dropped in the mailbox. When I was out getting my exercise I checked for mail and there it was.”
“Does anyone know outside of us where your home is located?” I asked.
“Of course not. I thought it was safe here other than Terry making that bumbling mistake the other night by leading that detective here.”
A buzzer sound came in from the intercom and we all jumped. “Someone’s at the gate,” Robbie said walking to the intercom. When he came back he said, “That detective Ryan Cole is looking for you,” he said to me.
“You didn’t tell him I’m here,” I begged.
“I had to. He would just park out there at the gate and wait for you.” Then the bell at the door rung.
“Terry get out of sight.” She looked at me, “Please,” I begged. Robbie walked to the door and said something to him and he walked into the room. He stood at the door and looked around before his eyes saw me lying on the sofa covered by a blanket.
“What’s the matter, Zoey? Are you sick?”
“No, just a cold.” I hoped that would deter him from coming closer. But he sat near me and reached for my hand. I didn’t know why I was so receptive. Maybe I missed Sebastian. Or maybe I was angry. When I was a teen, and Ryan came to get me in England and take me home, he was the closest I came to feeling needed and wanted by anyone except Sabastian.
Although he was older by a few years and handsome, I never thought of him the way he’s looking at me now. He’s in love with me or so he said. But I couldn’t help wondering if he’s trying to solve the case of my father’s death and all the other deaths that have plagued Seattle. And I was a connection. Was that his interest in me?
“You came here Ryan for a reason. Does it have to do with my father?”
“I came because of you. I wanted to make sure you were ok because of the strange way your father died. I don’t know what I would do if that happened to you.”
That was a curious thing to say. He must like me more than I thought. I brightened up and turned to him. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I am perfectly safe here.”
Ryan sat up in the chair but still held on to my hand. The coroner’s report hasn’t come in yet, but I think it’s connected to all the unusual deaths and disappearances in the area. I’m close to finding out who killed the zoo keeper although I don’t think my superiors will like what I found.”
I listened but Ryan changed the subject. I didn’t ask him any questions and he would have probably answered them, but I didn’t want to know. It was Terry and the rest had to do with Samantha. Looking at each other we stared in silence then the door opened.
“I just came in to check on Zoey,” Ann said.
“You’re back. I’m feeling better. Did you see the invitation to the wedding?” Ann was startled for a moment. Her eyes grew larger. I knew then she knew about the invitation.
“Well, I’m going and Ryan is going to escort me. Aren’t you Ryan?” I gave him a wide smile.
“Of course. You just tell me when and I’ll be happy to take you there.”
“It’s in New York, this Saturday,” Ann said as she glared at me and then her eyes fell on Ryan.”
“No problem. I have a vacation coming and I haven’t had a chance to spend any money. I have to get a tux, air fare for two, hotel,” and he looked at me, “of course separate hotel rooms.”
“All that will be taken care of Ryan. We have very rich friends. Their jet will be waiting and we are to stay at their mansion. Isn’t that thrilling Ann?”
“Yes, thrilling. I can’t wait.” There was heavy irony to her voice. Ann trudged off after saying goodbye to Ryan.
“She doesn’t feel too happy about that does she?” Ryan asked.
I made an excuse by saying that all that money makes her uncomfortable. But by the size of Robbie and Ann’s home, Ryan couldn’t see the difference.
He would soon see the contrast.
Chapter Nineteen-Zoey
It was Saturday and time to leave for New York. I didn’t know it would come around this soon but it had and I was glad it did. I needed to get this out of the way. All week I paced around wondering what I had done to cause Sabastian to hurt me in this way. Wasn’t I enough for him, apparently not, since he is going to marry what’s her name, Francesca fucking Forza.
No wonder they call her Samantha. “That bitch,” I murmured. I swore all week into the air hoping I would look around and Sebastian would be standing there telling me to stop cursing. It isn’t lady like. “Fuck that. If a bitch of a witch can get a man...There I go. He’s not a fucking man you moron. He ditched you for that fucking witch then he deserves her. I have a man that says he loves me and he will marry me if I want,” I said looking into a mirror getting out some of my anger.
There wasn’t enough time in the world or enough curse words to make me feel better.
When I looked up, “Are you ready?” Terry said. “You look beautiful.”
“How can I, when I’ve been crying for a week, and trying to summon Sabastian to talk to me. I want to see him one more time before he’s gone from me for good.”
“What about Ryan? He’s a man.”
“But he’s not Sebastian and you don’t understand.”
“How about telling me. You have been moping around and not eating like you are sick,” she said. She didn’t know how close she was.
“It’s time to start thinking about being human and not hoping to become the bride to a vampire.” I laughed. Terry had been trying to make sense with me all week when I discovered that the wedding was this week. Ryan took his vacation to accompany me. He didn’t ask questions and I was happy about that.
A knock came to the door, “The limo is downstairs to take us to the airport. Robbie thought it would be better to travel that way,” Ann said. “Ryan said that he had some last minute things to do and he would meet us on the plane. I hoped he made it because I needed a man at my side so I wouldn’t look like a complete loser in front of that unholy witch, after all she had tried to kill me and now she’s marrying Sebastian.
I didn’t know how to get over the idea because I couldn’t. Bringing Ryan was like a Hail-Mary pass to get Sebastian back. I didn’t like using him but I had no choice.
We stepped into the limo, Robbie and Ann sitting and holding hands and me and Terry. It was quiet until Terry said, “I wonder if Aare will be there?” Robbie turned to her with a strained look and blood in his eyes.
“I don’t like going to a place where there are vampires and witches. I’m doing this for you and Zoey,” Robbie said. Then he turned back to Ann and put his long arm on the back of the seat behind her head.
“You aren’t doing this for me. You owe Sebastian a favor. He wants you along to protect Zoey,” Terry said turning around to meet Robbie’s glaring eyes. “If he invited me, then why do I need protection?” Robbie looked at Terry.
“What is it I don’t know?” I asked.
“When I read the note that came with the invitation from Sebastian, he said to bring only you and Terry. I didn’t tell him that you were bringing that detective,” Robbie added, “but I did send a RSVP saying there will be one more person coming,” Robbie said.
“But you didn’t say that it was Ryan.” Before Robbie could answer the car stopped at the private air field, and Robbie jumped from the car to place the luggage on a cart.
“They have people for that Robbie. You don’t have to do that,” Ann said as she exited the car. But he never looked up and continued loading it. And then we strode on to the air plane.
“This is fancy,” Ann said. “Look at the initials on those leather seats.” She placed her hands over the letters SV. “This is his plane?”
“It’s a jet,” Terry said as she found her a comfortable cream leather chair in the rear of the plane. A young man emerged from the back who caught Terry’s attention.
“And what’s your name?” she asked with a seductive purr. Terry stood so close, only her large breasts prevented them from touching each other’s private parts. And the way they were looking at each other it wouldn’t be long.
“Loren,” he said. His voice not deep but not high. He had a voice of a boy changing into manhood but I recognized him for what he was—a young vampire.
Terry didn’t think to ask him his last name because she was charmed by his handsome youthful face, and strong tall muscular body, and she had been a sucker for blonds with blue eyes and he was all that and more.
It appeared he had been turned at the height of his approaching manhood.
“Can I do something for you? Wine? Food?” Terry’s tongue passed across her lips.
“I would like a glass of your most expensive wine,” she said. And Loren smiled with impeccable white teeth and turned and walked to the back. When he returned, a woman dressed in a uniform came with him. On her dark pantsuit were the letters SV on the pocket. With her she had a bottle of Chateau Margaux and two glasses.
“I’m sorry I thought you were the...” Terry stopped short.
“Servant,” Loren said with a sparkle in his eyes. “I’ve been mistaken for that but as you see I’m not that at all. But I’m willing to be your servant or slave.” And he sat on the side of her and looked her in the eyes. “Is there something else I can get for you?” he said.
Terry drank the glass of wine and said, “I’ve never seen a jet before. Do you have a compartment where I can sleep?” She said with a sly smile.
“Of course.”
“Can you show me around? I’m feeling a little tired.” And she opened her mouth as if to yawn. He handed her his hand and with a wide smile on both of their faces they disappeared into the back.
Just when I heard a door close, Ryan entered the plane.
“My god this is outrageous,” he said looking around “talking about discretionary spending. I knew there was a word for this, but I never dreamed there were jets like this. He dropped his carry-on and someone came and picked it up and placed it in a compartment and disappeared.
I had found my seat near Terry and the beautiful looking blond that had Terry tied up in the back of the plane, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to think he was doing just that by the way she had been acting since she became an almost vampire.
Feeling nervous, I reached for the bottle of wine they left on their table and raised my hand for the stewardess. “Bring two more glasses we want to drink that wine. We shouldn’t waste it.”
“You don’t have to drink that bottle. We have one more that’s unopened,” she said.
“That won’t be necessary,” I said.
Ryan looked at it, then picked up the bottle and turned it around observing the label. “This is Chateau Margaux 1787.”
“Can we drink something that old?” I asked not knowing anything about wine.
“The question is where did the person get this? I never got the chance to ask you
the names of the people who invited you to their wedding?”
“You wouldn’t know them. They are an old family who I happen to meet by accident. They are like royalty,” I said tongue in cheek. It wasn’t exactly a lie. He didn’t know them, and they were an old family, and in their world I hear they are royalty.
As Ryan and I made an unhappy day for me pleasant, Ann and Robbie were acting as if this were going on a honeymoon. They were kissing, smiling, and whispering to each other. It would have been a beautiful thing if I wasn’t so miserable. But Ryan managed to keep me entertained by telling me about his family.
As soon as we finished eating our meal, we were landing. Terry didn’t come out, and when she did, she announced to me with Ryan observing her, “I will ride with Loren,” her blond boy toy. “He’s my companion now.” At the time I didn’t understand what she meant, but I could see in Ryan’s eyes and body language that he understood completely.
They would stay on the plane for a few more minutes and then they would meet us at the mansion later.
As we were leaving the plane, Ryan turned to me and slanted his head. “There is something strange about Terry. Have you noticed?”
“She has always been strange. I’ve known her since high school and we were in college together. She does her own thing. She dances to her own music and she doesn’t care what people think of her.”
“That’s not what I meant. She has a strange look about her. In her photographs her eyes are a different color. When I see her now her eyes changes from day to day.” We were walking down the stairs to the tarmac to reach the limo and he was still trying to engage me in a conversation about Terry. I looked away and pretended not to hear him.
Ryan opened the car door for me because the driver stood on the right and held the door open for Ann and Robbie. When we entered the car, Ryan was still stuck on the same conversation.
“She is so pale. I’ve never seen someone that pale unless it was a corpse. I’ve seen lots of dead people and she is the only one I’ve seen that looks the way she does that is still walking.” I thought he said that to have me talking and I didn’t want to disappoint him.
“I think she applies white powder on her face. She likes that dead look. Some days she dyes her hair pink and green.”
Ryan must have been satisfied with that answer for now because he let it go as that and turned to watch at the people out on a Saturday shopping in Manhattan. Mainly they appeared to be window shopping. The real shoppers were the men and women hopping out of limos and entering into the high end stores.
Glancing around and then looking at Ann and Robbie, they appeared to be very happy. “I’d love to go to New York just to visit on my way to Rome,” she said to Robbie. He reached for her hand.
“One day.” And he turned and caught my eyes. Robbie knew something he wasn’t telling me about or he thought going to this wedding would be a bad idea, but nonetheless, we were driving up to the stately eighteen-century mansion, and we parked in front.
It looked like something out of a gothic novel. There appeared to be a mist surrounding the stone masonry of the mansion along with two gargoyles perched on the façade of the building. If it wasn’t for all the lights outside we would have never seen the wooden doors with their brass handles.
We were all hesitant, all except Ryan. He appeared eager for this new adventure. I don’t think he knew enough of what we were up against to be afraid. Stepping out of the car and not waiting for the driver to open the door, Ryan took my hand and we walked up to the front door.
As Ryan reached to ring the bell the door opened. It was as if we had just entered an old horror movie. We were greeted by a man and a woman with wide smiles dressed in black and white clothing. The man middle aged in
a black tux with tails. He wore white gloves, and the woman young in a short French maid’s uniform with black stockings and spiked heels.
From what I knew, and had seen at the castle in Italy, these were humans. Whether they were aware of what was going on, they never gave any indication of it. All the human servants were friendly, but they had to know something I remembered thinking.
“Where are the guest,” I said.
“They will arrive for the celebration around Midnight,” the man said. Ryan shot me a curious glance as he raised his eyebrows and smiled. I think Ryan liked the idea of midnight, but I didn’t understand his smile until later.
“Your rooms have been prepared for you, and we’re here to make you comfortable with your stay. The Wolff’s will be on the same floor, but in the left wing and you, Ms. Miller, will be in the right wing with your companion.”
The old mansion had been refurbished with modern furniture and the windows appeared smaller than you would see in a mansion the size of this. There were large chandeliers dotting all over the house. Those chandeliers appeared to have been installed with the house but they were cleaned and bright. We stood at the foot of the stairs which were so large and wide it had to be right out of Gone With The Wind.
One servant walked to the left of the stairs with Ann and Robbie following behind. Ann smiled and waved at me. Robbie looked to the left and right as if planning an escape route.
Masterpieces hung on the walls. As we were hiking up the stairs, Ryan whispered to me, “This must be a fake because this was stolen during World War II in Paris. No one has ever seen these paintings since then.” I glanced at him.
“I was a history major in college,” he whispered.
“That accounts for you knowing about wine and paintings,” I said with a closed smile.
“Not really. My parents are rich and they wanted to make sure I had a well-rounded education. My mother the Liberal Arts major and my father all business. But it was you who made me want to be a detective.” He squeezed my hand. “You should have heard my father rant about all the advantages I grew up with and, “now you want to look at dead people and find missing little children,’” he said to me after many arguments.
The Soul of a Vampire Book 2 Page 10
