by A C Warneke
The woman reached out and drew a black talon along Jenna’s jaw, her eyes closing as an expression of ecstasy twisted her features. Her lips parted, she inhaled deeply and when she spoke her voice came out in a low purr, “Yes, you would be delicious even though your belief in magic hides beneath a thin layer of cynicism. I could scrape away the surface and feast on the creativity below.
“Ah, here is my floor;” she said abruptly, breaking the strange spell she was casting. The woman smiled suddenly, her teeth very white and very perfect and Jenna had the urge to become as small as possible to hide from the threat inherent in that predatorial smile. “It has been a pleasure talking to you, human. Perhaps we shall have another chance to become better acquainted.”
The doors of the elevator opened and the scary, beautiful woman stepped out, her wings fluttering in the wind. Except there was no wind and Jenna felt her stomach drop to the floor as she considered the possibility that the woman had been a real, genuine fairy, and not the sweet fairies of childhood tales but the terrifying fairies that drank the blood of virgins, or whatever fairies did.
Pressing her hand against her lurching stomach, Jenna leaned against the wall and laughed at herself because Melanie was the one with the over-active imagination. Jenna was just under a lot of stress since seeing her sister’s busted face on the television and not being there for Lenni when she needed someone. She was also dreading seeing Rhys after they had said their goodbyes for a second time, knowing now that it was out of fear and her overwhelming attraction to him, which really were the same things.
Of course she would imagine fairies riding an elevator.
The elevator lurched to a stop, opening to the decadent entry of the Nostuntres brothers’ home. Rhys was standing there with his arms crossed across his chest, his wonderful smile absent. As she took a hesitant step towards him, he opened his arms and all doubts disappeared as she flew to him. His arms wrapped around her and as he held her, as she held him and pressed her cheek against his chest and heard the steady rhythm of his heart, she felt as if she were home. “Rhys.”
He kissed the top of her head, stroking a hand slowly up and down her back as he murmured, “Jenna. I knew you’d know to come here.”
“Is she here?” she could barely get the words out in case she was wrong.
“Of course,” he assured her, holding her up as her legs gave out completely and she began to cry. “Shh, it’s all right now, Jenna. You’re here now and it’s all right.”
“But Lenni,” she sobbed, curling her hands into the material of his shirt, wanting to hold him close. She had to see her sister but she didn’t want to see her. She didn’t want to see the extent of Melanie’s injuries and she didn’t want to know how much Lenni had suffered when she had been unaware of all of it.
After a few minutes of soft, comforting words and reassurances, Rhys took the heavy winter coat off her and dropped it on the table. Sliding his arm around her waist and leading her into a luxurious living room, he murmured, “Why don’t you wait here and I’ll go see if she’s awake.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” She clung to his arm, not letting him leave her behind, not letting him answer her question. “I need to see her, Rhys, please.”
He looked at her with compassion in his brown eyes but shook his head no, “Sweetheart, she’s been pretty out of it since she showed up here and she hasn’t wanted to see anyone.”
“I’m her sister,” Jenna protested. “I don’t care if she looks like Frankenstein’s monster I just want to see her.”
“And you will see her,” Rhys promised, taking her hand and bringing it up to his lips. Kissing her knuckles, he looked at her with his melted chocolate eyes, “Just give her a moment to prepare herself.”
“You love her,” Jenna gasped softly, seeing the emotion roiling in his eyes.
“Of course,” he confirmed and a little piece of her soul shriveled up and died.
“She is Vaughn’s other half. She chose Vaughn and so she is my sister,” he continued, unaware of her soul’s sudden death and miraculous revival. “.Now, I’ll be right back.”
He pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips and then he was gone, leaving her to stew in everything that had happened since Melanie met Vaughn. When her body stopped dancing from the brief press of his lips against hers she wanted to chase after him and demand to see Melanie now. It didn’t matter how awful Melanie looked, Jenna would promise not to react.
“It’s been a week and a half,” a low, masculine voice resonated from behind her, scaring her. She had been almost positive that she had been alone… “A few more minutes aren’t going to hurt.”
No, she had been alone. Spinning around, her breath caught in her throat as she saw a man with long, flowing white hair. At first glance she had thought he was ancient because of his hair but he wasn’t old, he was young, perhaps Rhys’s age, which was probably mid-twenties. He sat sprawled in the leather recliner, his body relaxed and overtly masculine with its long, lean lines. He was unnaturally beautiful with twinkling hazel eyes, eyes that held the wisdom of infinite time. “Besides, I think you may want to stick around for a few minutes and hear what I have to say, since my plans have changed and they now involve you.”
Jenna’s brows pulled together in confusion. Was this gorgeous creature the elusive Armand? But hadn’t Melanie said Armand’s hair was short and black? Not almost as long as Rhys’s and white? He was as absurdly beautiful as Armand was reputed to be but… “Armand?”
The man threw his head back and laughed, the sound rich and decadent with more than a hint of sexual promise. “No, my sweet one, I am Omari and you are Jenna, my favorite human’s sister.”
“Uh huh,” she nodded her head, taking in his loose-fitting clothes and the multitude of rings on his long, slender fingers. She had the oddest sensation that he was a wizard, but not a wizard; something more, something… powerful. Chaos was spinning out of control in her brain and she shook her head in bemusement, “You’re the second one to refer to me as human since I got here. Why is that?”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his sensuous lips turning down in a slight frown. “Damn. I had hoped since you were her sister that you’d be able to indulge me but it seems Rhys has already staked his claim. I shall have to endeavor to get to one of you sooner if I ever have hopes of sampling a human’s delights.”
His sigh was so comically theatrical Jenna wasn’t sure whether she should apologize or applaud. Between this strange man and the exquisite woman on the elevator Jenna was convinced everyone in the building was a little crazy. Maybe it wasn’t an apartment complex at all but mad house for all the delusional people out there and Melanie somehow managed to get herself admitted.
Once more the man laughed and Jenna found herself shamefully aroused by the sound. It wasn’t natural to be attracted to one man while thoroughly lusting after another. “I do wish I had found you before Rhys. You’re simply delightful.”
“I’ve barely said more than a few words.” He was definitely mad….
“But your thoughts are charming.” She had the strange sensation that he was serious, that he could read her mind and that the building wasn’t quite what it seemed. While it was possibly an insane asylum she was starting to think that there was so much more to it, something that lay hidden just beneath a thin veil. “Ah, and you are beginning to see. Since the situation is so dire I believe the transition will be much smoother for you than it was for poor Melanie.”
“What do you mean?” she asked slowly, warily.
“The true nature of the world you inhabit,” he replied enigmatically, a slight smile playing about his full lips. “The world that has embraced Melanie as one of their own, despite the very humanness of her nature. It looks to be embracing you as well. Interesting since you are not as… open to the possibilities as Melanie has been.
“You are far too stubborn,” he continued to catalog her faults. “But I think you will be just as accepting and that is most p
eculiar.”
She wanted to ask more but Rhys returned, followed by an absolutely stunning piece of masculinity: the harshly beautiful, black-haired Armand. The man was dazzling, with eyes the color of the frozen sea if the sea were ever to freeze in the Caribbean, a green so pure it almost hurt to look upon. His jaw had been painstakingly carved by a master and he was devastatingly perfect and devastatingly cold. He was a marble statue come to life or a god sent to Earth to walk among the lesser beings. His beautifully sculpted lips were pressed together as he entered the room, as he filled the space with his disapproval and his magnetism.
The stunning man was scowling, his green eyes flashing as he glared at the white-haired Omari. “What are you doing here?”
“I come bearing gifts,” Omari grinned, rising to his feet and towering over Jenna, who suddenly realized how very tall all three of them were. He held his empty arms out and Armand’s scowl deepened. “Though they are a bit late for the Christmas festivities.”
“Ho fucking ho,” Armand grimaced, his eyes lighting on Jenna for only a moment before dismissing her and returning to Omari. “Unless you know how to get Vaughn back then your gifts are of no use to any of us.”
“Wait,” Jenna interrupted, confused and way out of her depths. What the hell did Lenni get herself involved with when she hooked up with Vaughn? “Where’s Vaughn?”
Omari gave her a pitying glance as he said, “He’s stone.”
Dumbfounded because that was definitely not what Jenna expected to hear and she didn’t know what the big deal was. It was true that Melanie wasn’t that fond of pot but Jenna doubted that would have been a deal-breaker, not with how Melanie practically glowed with love….
“He’s not stoned,” Omari laughed and once again Jenna felt that flash of arousal. Guiltily, she looked at Rhys who was watching her and she felt even guiltier. But then Rhys smiled and the arousal she had felt upon seeing Omari’s smile was no more than a shadow for the lust that swamped her body from Rhys’s smile. “He’s stone. He’s a gargoyle because Melanie didn’t make it back in time to accept his gift.”
“And now we’re attempting to figure out a way to bring him back,” Rhys offered, his eyes sparkling with laughter as he watched her.
“So we’re bringing another human into our world?” Armand sneered, dragging his hands through the thick, short strands of his midnight hair. He glowered at the room in general, saving a particularly contemptuous glare for Jenna but she wasn’t paying a great deal of attention, her thoughts on Omari’s words. “Great, just… great.”
“I understand the words you’re saying but they don’t make any sense,” she managed, speaking slowly in case everyone in the room was truly mad, including herself. “What do you mean that he’s a… gargoyle?”
Omari looked at her as if he didn’t understand why she was having difficulties with the conversation. “Well, usually it takes longer for the fates to allow this quick exchange of knowledge but the circumstances are grim so….”
“Oh, no, let me,” Armand scoffed, interrupting the white haired man. With a scowl, he spoke slowly, carefully enunciating each word. “He’s a gargoyle, just as Rhys and I are gargoyles, only he gave up his nights for Melanie and she didn’t make is back in time to accept his gift and now he is stone. Until she dies.”
“Enough, Armand,” Rhys growled.
“Dies?” Jenna gulped as her gaze flew to Rhys and he gave her a reassuring smile. She rasped, “I just want to see my sister.”
“In a moment, my dear,” Omari said, taking her hand and leading her over to a couch. With a gentle nudge, she found herself sitting on the plush sofa with Rhys on one side and Omari on the other, her legs pressed together by muscled thighs on either side. Armand sat in one of the leather chairs and continued to glower. “Now, as I was saying, I have a plan.”
“You said no such thing,” Armand bit out.
Omari cocked his head to the side and contemplated silently for a moment. Jenna had the impression that he was replaying the recent events to see what he said and when he said it. With a blinding smile, he returned to the present, “You weren’t here yet but I was telling the lovely Jenna that I have a plan.”
Needing some proof that she wasn’t dreaming or possibly unconscious after hitting her head on something, needing to connect with another person, she slipped her hand into Rhys’s. As he twined his fingers with hers and squeezed, she was oddly comforted and decided that she could face any manner of monster with Rhys by her side. She glanced up and caught Armand glaring at the simple gesture of her holding Rhys’s hand.
Then he lifted his gaze and cold green eyes pierced the depths of her soul and she had to remind herself to breathe. But the suddenly frigid air hurt her lungs and she could only wheeze. His lip curled in derision as he sneered, “Did Rhys give you hope, Jenna?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, trying to pull her hand from Rhys’s but he wasn’t letting it go. His fingers tightened around hers, grounding her as Armand taunted her with poisoned words.
“Shut up, Armand,” Rhys warned in a low voice which was so different from his usual, lighter tone.
“Did he wrap his arms around you and make you feel safe?” he continued to provoke, fury and rage and hurt twisting his face into a beautiful mask. “Did he make you feel special, Jenna? Make you feel as if you could fly, as if you could soar with the eagles – or the gargoyles?”
Hurt and embarrassed by the stinging words that were too close to the truth, Jenna turned her head and found herself staring into the warm depths of Rhys’s brown eyes. The world faded away as he reached up and brushed a strand of short dark hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek, “No one existed for me before you, Jenna. You’re all that there is.”
She knew that he had been with countless women but she understood his words. Her heart pounded thickly in her chest and she wanted to believe him and she wanted to risk almost everything to be with him. But now was not the time to be getting mushy, she had to think about Melanie…. “Is my sister in a lot of pain? Is she going to be okay?”
“She’s fine, Jenna.” At her look of abject disbelief – she had seen the photo – Rhys’s lips curved into a slight smile and his eyes danced, “Truly.”
“May I go to her now?” She didn’t know why she was asking permission. Without waiting for an answer, she started to stand up but she still held Rhys’s hand. Letting go, she was stopped when Omari wrapped his fingers around her other wrist and pulled her back to the couch.
“Sit,” he commanded, his fingers burning into her skin through the layers of her clothing. With a gasp, she raised her eyes and caught the desire blazing wildly in his half-shuttered hazel eyes. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply and his voice was guttural, “Two of your kind over such a short period… gods, I want a human so badly it hurts. It physically hurts.”
A low growl erupted from behind her and the desire melted from Omari’s face to be replaced with amusement. His smile was charming and nearly irresistible as he held her gaze and chuckled, “Don’t worry, Rhys, I can control myself…. It would have been easier if there had been a larger gap between Melanie and this one but I can control myself. After all, it is the only way to get Vaughn back before Melanie passes from this life into the next.”
Jenna’s eyes widened painfully as Omari’s chatted so calmly about Lenni’s death, even if the words weren’t as harsh as Armand’s had been. Frantically scurrying away from the crazy, beautiful person, she found herself on Rhys’s lap. A solid arm wrapped around her waist and a broad palm rubbed her back, “Breathe, Jenna. Melanie’s not going to die any time soon. Just breathe.”
Whipping her head around, she felt calmness rush through her as she met Rhys’s gaze. His nostrils flared as he exaggerated the act of inhaling deeply and, numbly, she followed his lead. She felt her head clear as oxygen rushed back into her lungs. Holding his eyes, she breathed with him. He murmured, “That’s it, sweetheart, just breathe.”
“And you wonder why I have to wait,” Omari said wryly, a smile in his voice. “Even without sex she breathes for him. She already belongs to him.”
“I refuse to lose another brother to these two girls,” Armand growled darkly.
“You don’t have a say in the matter,” Omari said softly but with finality. “If they are meant to be there is nothing either of us can do.”
“Now that’s not true,” Armand retorted, slaying Omari with his green gaze. “There’s plenty you can do but you choose to play your games and let the rest of us twist in the wind.”
“You cannot see the big picture, Armand,” Omari’s voice was suddenly weary with the knowledge and cursed understanding of the ancients, of an immortal. “Everything is changing.”
The silence that followed that announcement was heavy, oppressive. Everyone stared at the white-haired man and in that moment Jenna knew that Omari wasn’t human, that Armand and Rhys and Vaughn weren’t human. Melanie had been right all along.
Abruptly, the veil lifted and she was flooded with the realization that another world existed right before her eyes but she had refused to see it, even when Melanie and Ferris constantly pointed it out. It was a terrifying thing to discover; how much had she missed?
“You see so quickly,” Omari’s voice cracked the weighted atmosphere and Jenna shook her head, trying to erase the disturbing thoughts and recriminations. She could do nothing but stare at him as an entire world opened up to her.
“It’s too fast,” Rhys protested, slowly rubbing his hand up and down her back.
“So she breaks,” Armand scoffed, dismissing Jenna with a wave of his hand. “One less human to keep our secrets.”
“Fuck you,” Rhys growled, never ceasing in his caress.
“It’s the way it is meant to be,” Omari interjected, his voice calm, reassuring. “Now, Rhys, I want you to go to your mother and ask her for a vial of ambrosia.”
