I could feel how painful it was for him to talk about his past, and I held him tighter as he continued. “They needed someone who could heal quickly in order to withstand a werewolf attack. The people unfortunate enough to have inherited my curse die with the dawn. However, I go into more of a regenerative coma during most of the day. It is not a true death, but closer to sleep.”
“When did you first realize something was wrong?”
“I looked in the mirror one day and realized I had stopped aging. I looked young, even for a wizard. Forever trapped at thirty-something.” He smiled ruefully. “In trying to make me stronger, they had made me immortal. That is when the thirst became stronger. For a time I lost control completely. I was horrified, not only at what had been done to me, but by what I had become. I was more of a monster than anything I hunted. I was also more contagious than I had thought. But it was too late. Vampirism was already spreading beyond my control. The Vampire Council believes me to be the original, as do many others. I am not certain this is true.”
“Have you ever met a vampire older than you?”
“No. But I have heard rumors of such. There are many types of vampires, all with different abilities. The virus mutates differently when it comes in contact with new DNA. That could easily explain the variety of vampires. However, there could have been vampires long before me. I had never heard of them, but that does not make it any less plausible. Perhaps they were nearing extinction and the doctors who experimented on me used strands of their DNA. Maybe their intention all along was to make me a super monster instead of a superior Hunter. Who knows? I have often speculated about the possibilities.”
We were both silent for a moment before he said, “I tried to kill myself several times. I have stayed out in the sun until I caught fire, only to regenerate at sundown.”
“What made you volunteer for something like that?”
“Revenge,” he said vehemently. “When I learned the werewolf who had killed my family was still free, I went into a rage. I did not understand how God could allow this to happen to good people. So, I decided that if God would not grant me vengeance, I would take it for myself. But I was a fool. I found the one responsible.” He paused and placed his hand over mine against his chest. “I slaughtered his family first … like cattle, and then I went after him.”
He was quiet for several heartbeats before he continued. “But it was not enough. Too late I learned that there is no revenge for what was done to my family. Do you know why I am an idiot?” he asked suddenly. “Because vengeance is MINE sayeth the Lord.”
I found it interesting that Dracula was religious. For a being like him who had seen so many awful things to still believe in a higher power at all was pretty amazing to me.
“And this is why you believe you’re cursed?” I asked softly.
“This is why I know I am cursed,” he said. “I have done horrible things, Lilith.”
“I’m not your judge,” I said as I reached for the shampoo.
He grew quiet once more while I washed his long dark hair. When it was time to rinse, he slid forward and dipped back in the water, putting his head in my lap.
“How did you go from such hatred to getting high with the Jamaicans?” I asked.
He smiled sadly as he replied, “Like I said, there is no revenge to satisfy such injustice. I eventually began to understand that every werewolf was not my enemy. Many were just as cursed as I.”
“You pitied them?”
“No, I understood them. They had not asked for what happened to them. At least I had the opportunity to volunteer.”
“And the one who gave you those scars?”
“Those scars are the handiwork of a pack of werewolves. They caught me by surprise, chained me to the ceiling, and nearly whipped me to death. They cut me loose, thinking it would be ironic for a vampire to bleed to death, I suppose. But that was their mistake.”
“Your turn.” As he said this Dracula sat up and faced me again. Water flowed smoothly through his hair and down his chest, making me hungry for him again. I rested my head against his chest as the vampire’s long fingers massaged their way across my scalp.
“Do you have any body oil?” he asked.
“Mmhm.”
“I would like to rub you down once we get out,” he said, and made it sound like a delightful sin.
“That sounds great, but why?”
“Like I said, I do not expect you to love me in the morning. This might be my only opportunity to do the things to you I have dreamed about. I would not want to miss my chance.”
I slid down in the tub to rinse my hair as I considered what he had just said. Would it be his only chance? I simply couldn’t say.
“For all we know, the world might end before morning,” I said as I turned to face him again, “and we might all never have another opportunity to do the things we didn’t have the nerve to do today.”
He reclined against the tub and I leaned into his embrace. Without warning tears began to fall from my eyes and my vision blurred.
“I miss Alfred,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said softly as he held me tighter. “You probably always will.”
I looked up into his emerald eyes as I pleaded, “Heal me from this pain. Make it go away.”
“My angel, I cannot.”
“Yes, you can,” I insisted. “You helped me release some of my anger and pain. You can heal a broken heart, I know you can. It’s one of the things I sensed about you in my dreams. That’s why I always dreamed about you more after a bad relationship, or after someone hurt my feelings. You can heal me, you just don’t want to.”
“I cannot make your pain go away,” he admitted, “but I can help to make it more bearable.”
“Then help me,” I begged.
“I do not have the strength,” he said sadly.
I straddled his waist as I looked deeply into his eyes. “Then take my strength.”
“No.”
“As amazing as it was, what we did before only calmed the beast. My heart is like an open wound. I would give all I have to be rid of even a fraction of this pain,” I cried. “Please, help me.”
“You do not know what you are saying.”
“I’m a grown woman,” I said, echoing his earlier response, “and I knew what I was getting into when I brought you home.”
Chapter Thirteen
“I do not think anyone ever knew what they were getting into when they brought me home,” he said with a smile.
Instinctively, I knew how to coax him into agreeing to my request; I would have to seduce him. But if I used my power, he would know. He kissed my cheek and I pulled his lips to meet mine. The faint salty taste of my tears mingled with his own tantalizing flavor and I moaned in spite of my heartache.
“Help me,” I whispered against his lips. “I can help you as well. Through my touch, I have the ability to ease the pain of others, but I cannot help myself.”
When I looked into his eyes again they were filled with tears. “No one has offered to relieve my pain since before Mathias passed. I thought I was the only one left with such ability. You would do this for me?”
“Yes,” I said and kissed him again. “I will take your despair if you’ll take my heartbreak.”
“We might end up draining each other completely. I have never attempted anything like this before, and I am weakened.”
“Take me,” I insisted again. “Take what strength I have and use it.”
He held my face between his hands and his eyes glowed the deep and solid emerald they had before when he became a part of the storm. No pupil was visible as I gazed into his eyes.
“If you are sure,” he said, making it a question.
“Yes,” I answered, “but don’t hypnotize me.”
“It will hurt.”
“I want to feel it,” I insisted. “I want to be aware.” He kissed me again and I reached underneath the water between our bodies. “And I want you inside of me.” He grew ha
rd as if by my command, but not quite as hard as before. I think he was running low on blood. Once more I slid him inside of me as I pressed my hips against him.
He moved down my throat, kissing softly, moving closer to my jugular. My heart beat faster and I wasn’t sure if I was afraid or excited. He nibbled and sucked at my throat as I quickened my pace. The anticipation made me frantic with desire. He moaned against my throat as my pussy squeezed him tight and I couldn’t hold back any longer. It was too much. I felt my muscles spasm around him as he sank his fangs into my neck. The pain was immediate and sharp. But no sooner had it begun than it started to subside. It felt as if he were pulling me into him with every breath, and with every pull another wave of orgasm shook me. He held me tighter as he drained my blood and I felt him grow harder inside of me. My arms became limp where they had gripped his shoulders and he released me instantly.
I gasped as he thrust into me and ran his fingers through the back of my hair.
“Do not fight it,” he whispered near my ear. “I will not kill you.”
He thrust into me again, harder this time and I screamed, but not with pain. Dracula wrapped his arms more securely around me and I began to feel the tightness in my chest lifting. The horrible cold ache in the pit of my stomach began to subside and I started to cry with the release.
He deserved to have the favor returned. I placed my hands firmly on his back once more and unlocked the power inside me. I felt the loneliness of centuries began to pour into me. For a brief moment I knew desperation so intense I would have done anything to escape it and realized this must have been the feeling that made him try to end his life.
“NO,” Dracula cried as he pulled back enough that I lost contact. “You cannot take it all, it would destroy you.”
“Did I help?” My voice sounded weak. “Do you feel better?”
“I am fine.” He smiled. There was a warmth in his eyes I hadn’t noticed before. If possible, he seemed more beautiful, and more alive.
A rush of weakness ran through me and I fell against him.
“It is all right,” he whispered softly. “This is normal, you will be fine.”
Dracula continued to murmur words of comfort as he wrapped me in a towel and carried me to bed. I sat up and used the towel to dry my hair while he lit the bedroom candles.
“This light is easier on my eyes,” he said as he continued to smile at me.
“You’re easy on my eyes,” I said as I stretched out on my stomach across the bed. “How long will you stay?”
“As long as you need me to. Actually, I own some property not far from here, an hour’s drive maybe. I bought it around the time Vincent built this house,” he said as he gestured around the room. “Are you cold? It is normal after losing blood to have a chill.”
“A little,” I answered.
The house had a few central fireplaces which ran through more than one room. The one at the foot of my bed also ran through Alfred’s room downstairs. I felt a loss when I thought about him, but I no longer wanted to tear my heart out.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice still sounded faint. “I feel better.”
“You are welcome.” As he began to build a fire he confessed, “I have not felt this good in centuries.” He walked to the corner where I kept a large basket of neatly folded blankets. “Come here,” he said as he spread a black velvet throw in front of the fire.
The candlelight reflected in his eyes seemed appropriate for he must have been the devil. Nothing that bad for me had ever looked so good. As I stretched out in front of the fire I noticed he had already located the bottle of body oil and had it warming beside the hearth. I lay on my side, staring into the flames for a few minutes before saying, “I’m sorry. It was wrong of me to take advantage of you.”
He pulled me to a sitting position again and looked me in the eye. “How sweet. You are genuinely concerned for my feelings. I assure you,” he said with a slow, sensual, smile, “I wanted to be taken advantage of.” I must have still looked doubtful because he added, “You have not used me, my angel. I do not expect your undying loyalty in exchange for my body tonight. I understand that you are hurt and you have unresolved feelings for the werewolf. You can get back to me.” He winked. “I have all the time in the world.”
“You’re very understanding.”
“I have my moments.”
He motioned for me to lie back down and I stretched out on my stomach again. The fire was warm against my back. The feel of the hot oil combined with his knowledgeable touch was better than any sleeping pill.
“Do you wish me to stay with you until the morning?” he asked.
“Won’t you burn in the sunlight? Even with the curtains closed, there’s still a good bit of light in here.”
“As long as I am not in direct sunlight, I will be fine. I can rest in soft light. Besides, it should still be raining tomorrow. I doubt we will see the sun.”
“Will you stay with me then?” I asked, and my voice sounded more wounded than I would have liked. I needed him with me, and it was obvious by the way I asked him to stay.
“Of course. Sleep,” he said softly as he massaged the backs of my shoulders. “It is only an hour before dawn. I will put you in bed when the oil has dried.”
“But there’s blood on the sheets,” I said. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten that.
He laughed softly. “I am a wizard, remember? I already cleaned the sheets before we got in the tub. Magic can be useful for things like that.”
For a moment I listened to the crackling fire and breathed in his scent as he bent down to kiss my face. It seemed only minutes later I was in bed. Silk sheets felt smooth against my skin as I curled underneath the covers. I saw Dracula sitting at my writing desk, and for a moment I thought he was talking to someone on my communicator. I convinced myself this was a dream and closed my eyes.
Chapter Fourteen
Last night the dark stranger in my dreams had done something I had waited years for. At long last his face was made clear to me along with every inch of his beautiful body. He had made love to me as if my body was the only thing standing between him and his sanity. My heart beat faster and I opened my eyes to find the arms that held me were no longer in my dreams.
The curtains were closed, and though a storm rumbled outside, a soft light still crept across the floor. The clock said it was nearly noon. As I recalled, Dracula didn’t wake before four o’clock, so that gave me plenty of time to just look at him. He had slipped back into the pajamas, and I ran my hand over the dark silk covering his thigh. I moved his arm where it rested across my shoulders in order to get a better look at him. He didn’t look a day past thirty-five. I brushed a stray hair back from his face and smiled to myself at the memory of the night before. What had I gotten myself into? I couldn’t keep him forever, especially with the way I was sure Marco would feel about the situation.
He was right, I did have unresolved feelings for Marco. But, looking down at the man in my bed, I couldn’t bring myself to feel more than a passing twinge of guilt. Alfred and I were finished. No matter how much the thought hurt, it was true. I knew Marco cared for me, but we were not promised to each other. He might not feel the same way, but last night I was a free woman, and I had freely given myself to Dracula. He helped to ease my pain and reminded me I was desirable. With Marco I felt loved, but with the vampire, I had felt cherished. I rose slowly even though I knew I wouldn’t wake him and went to my writing desk. Images of candlelight and his gorgeous body filled my mind as I wrote:
Devil
The candlelight reflected in your eyes seems appropriate, for I’ve always seen the devil in you. My polished red apple, my original sin. You manage to entice me with your charming grin.
I hadn’t submitted anything for publication in a while. Something told me the media had not yet realized I was also a poet. It didn’t matter. I liked the poem and intended to submit it to my publisher as soon as possible.
After putting down my pin
and paper, I walked back to the bed. I couldn’t seem to stop looking at him. What would I say to Marco? I didn’t want to hurt him, but I wouldn’t lie and say I hadn’t wanted Dracula. Needing to tame the beast had only given me a convenient excuse. The only times I had ever felt anything similar to what Marco referred to as the beast, I had been fighting for my life. Maybe that’s why I hadn’t noticed it so much. He said violence would calm the beast, so in those instances it was immediately satisfied.
Nothing could have prepared me for what had happened with Alfred. I just wasn’t ready to let go of him, but I had no choice. I also wasn’t ready to give up Marco. But after spending the night with Dracula, I might not have a choice there either.
I leaned over the sleeping vampire and pressed my ear to his chest. A faint heartbeat could be heard and I almost cried at the thought of that heart ever stopping. He had been lonely for so long. I would not insult him by pretending I hadn’t enjoyed being with him. He had been so willing to accept whatever I wanted to give, and that meant something to me. No one had ever trusted me so completely. Was it just because he had nothing more to lose, or had he known I wouldn’t hurt him? At least, not until he asked me to.
When I lifted my head I found him watching me. He remained completely still, but there was a smile in his eyes before it ever reached his lips.
“Did you think you had killed me?” he asked with a slow smile.
“No, but isn’t it early for you?”
He looked to the clock and grew very serious. “It would seem I have gained something from you,” he said softly. “I have not risen before late afternoon for a very long time.” He looked back to me then. “Do you feel all right? Have I harmed you in any way?”
I considered the question for a moment. “Actually, I feel good, very good considering how yesterday went.”
He fell back on the pillows again with a relieved sigh. “You will let me know if that changes? I would hate to think that the first person in centuries to care if I lived or died suffered ill effects from spending the night with me.”
Lilith Mercury, Werewolf Hunter Series (Boxed Set, Books 1-3) Page 62
