Promise Me Anthology

by Tara Fox Hall

  Krystin wiped at tears that were running freely down her cheeks.

  David grasped her hand, squeezing gently. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but not telling you was worse, especially if I don’t make it—”

  Krystin hugged him fiercely, trying to order her frantic thoughts, and lock away her urge to scream at him not to go. She needed to be strong now not just for herself, but for him. She took another deep breath, then let it out, moving back from him and drawing herself up regally.

  “I know this is important to you. I can’t say I’m not scared of losing you, David.” Krystin kissed his lips. “I am.” She kissed him again. “Remember I care about you, and good luck.” She kissed him a final time. “There’s a lot I still don’t understand, but I’ll take that on faith, for now. My stay’s up on Saturday. Call me on my cell if you need to.”

  David kissed her. “I have the number. Take care, my sweetheart.” He hugged her a final time, then left without a backward look.

  Krystin watched him drive off, then sank down on the couch, dissolving into tears.

  * * * *

  The next two days passed agonizingly slow. Krystin checked the phone each hour, hoping for a missed call, but there were none. She walked for miles on the trails, trying to exhaust her body so it would sleep. Yet she still woke frequently in the night, hoping each time to hear David’s music wafting in on the night wind. But there was only the sound of the wind in the trees, and the far off rumble of the falls.

  * * * *

  Saturday morning came. Resigned, Krys awoke, then began to pack. There was no use delaying the inevitable. Even if David was fine, she still had her job to consider.

  She was just putting the final pair of socks in the suitcase when her phone rang. She ran to it, looking at the number. It was a New York Area code, but the name listed wasn’t David’s name. It was a Devlin Dalcon.

  Krys stared at the phone. This was Devlin; the lord David had spoken of. There was only one reason he would be calling her. He was calling to tell her David was dead.

  She drew a shuddering breath, then hit the green button. “Hello?”

  “Hello,” a melodious voice said. “This is Devlin. Is this Krystin?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “Is David—?”

  “He’s recovering,” Devlin said agreeably. “He was badly injured, but you’ll be proud to know he succeeded—”

  Krys let out a loud cry of relief, sinking onto the bed.

  “Not in my ear, please,” Devlin said sharply. “You could whisper and I’d easily hear you.”

  “I’m sorry,” Krys apologized, then quickly added “Lord Devlin.”

  “You do have manners,” he answered, pleased. “But please, just Devlin will do. You and I may be on a much more familiar basis before long.”

  Was he coming onto her? No, he must be alluding to something; maybe to her and David being a couple? “That would be nice,” she answered awkwardly.

  “I’m glad you think so,” he said smoothly. “I’ve arranged for you to stay an extra week at the park, so that David may spend some time with you there after he leaves here. This is my congratulatory gift to him. I understand it’s a very romantic setting.”

  “Yes, it is,” Krys said happily. “I highly recommend it.”

  There was a pause that stretched into a full thirty seconds, then beyond.

  Krys waited in trepidation, unsure of what to do. Should she compliment him? “Devlin, I really appreciate your calling to let me know that David—”

  “You know what he is,” Devlin said, his tone utterly changed from gentle to bitter ice. “If you stay this course, there will be other attempts on you. I guarantee it. David had enemies, Krystin. He has more now he’s Colorado’s State Ruler. Are you ready for that?”

  “I know that,” Krys retorted coldly, trying hard to keep a rein on her flaring temper. “He told me this. I—”

  “If you stay with him, there are going to be consequences. I am willing to help with some of that, as I’ve already said. Go into this with open eyes. Wide open.” Devlin paused. “Some fates cannot be changed once they begin.”

  “My eyes are wide open, Devlin,” Krys said meaningfully, enunciating each word deliberately loud. “I want to be with David, and he wants to be with me—”

  “That’s how it always starts,” Devlin said with a sigh. “I’ll say no more. Expect David in a few days. Adieu.”

  Krys put the phone down, the dial tone loud. What had he meant?

  After calling her boss and arranging another week of vacation, Krys hung up the phone and began unpacking, doubt invading her thoughts.

  * * * *

  Sunday afternoon, Krys watched from the cottage porch as a van parked in front of the Chalet, several couples disembarking in the night air, laughing loudly as they brought their luggage inside.

  They looked so happy. Would David and she be that happy, when he returned? There was one thing for certain; they would never even be outside together on a fall afternoon like those couples. If she stayed with David, her world would be the night world: moons, stars, darkness, maybe the occasional firefly. Could she adapt to that?

  There was also her old life, not to mention her job. It was a safe bet that when David came back, he was going to ask her to go with him back to Colorado. While part of her wanted to, the real truth was she’d only met David a week ago. While the connection they shared was real, did she really know him well enough to uproot her life for him? The situation had been life and death, the most romantic encounter she’d ever experienced. But was that a basis for a real relationship? Could David and she sustain a romance when he wasn’t preparing for a fight to the death?

  Krystin wasn’t sure what course to take, no matter how many pros and cons she sensibly went over in her mind. Her mind said this could work, but it could also fail. Her heart absolutely told her to go for it, that what mattered was being with David, and the rest would fall into place.

  * * * *

  David returned the following night, his truck pulling into her driveway around midnight. Krys awoke and came downstairs; opening the door as he slowly came up on the porch with effort.

  “Your left leg,” she said, taking his hand. “Is it—?”

  “It was broken in several places, but its healing slowly,” David said, locking the door behind him. He sank onto the couch with a grunt.

  Krys sat beside him, looking him over. His face had some bruises, but otherwise he looked the same. She kissed his cheek, and hugged him.

  “Devlin said he called you,” David said softly, slipping his arm around her. “I’m glad you waited for me.”

  Krys wiped her eyes, then looked up at him, a smile forming instantly. “What else was I going to do?”

  David kissed her gently, then moved back, wincing. “I don’t suppose you’d mind if I stayed here with you tonight?”

  “No,” Krys said. “I’ll help you up the stairs.”

  Carefully, they made their way to the second floor, Krys supporting David’s left side. She eased him onto the bed, then closed the window, drawing the curtains, plunging the moonlight room into deep shadow.

  “Thank you,” David said gratefully.

  Krys climbed in beside him. Again, David slipped his arm around her, his happy sigh loud in the darkness.

  “Will I be able to leave to eat breakfast in the morning?” Krys asked tentatively. “Will I wake you?”

  “I sleep like anyone else,” David said, amused. “I’m not going to die overday—sorry, during the day—, or anything dramatic. You leaving or coming in won’t be an issue, just please keep the curtains shut.”

  “Will you need my blood?” Krystin asked curiously.

  “No,” David replied gently. “I brought some. But I thank you for offering.” His lips brushed her cheek. “And before you ask, I’m not hundreds of years old. I didn’t see the Civil War, or even the World Wars. I’ve only been a vampire about thirty years.”

  “Are there many that are o
lder?”

  “Some, like Devlin, are easily two, maybe three hundred, or even older. They’re usually crueler the older they are. But maybe you can’t help it, seeing the world change and morph into something unrecognizable.”

  She should let him rest. Yet Krys was too worried over Devlin’s warning to keep silent. “Devlin said he and I might be ‘on familiar terms, before long’. What did he mean, David?”

  “That being with me will eventually kill you,” David whispered, clutching Krys tightly. “I dreaded telling you this, even though I knew I had to. I know we’ve only known each other a short while, but I don’t want to lose you.” He kissed her cheek gently. “I’m also scared about hurting you—”

  “No vagueness, David,” Krys said sharply. “How would you hurt me? You forget yourself and drain my blood?”

  “I’m not an animal who is starving and a slave to instinct,” David said, irritated. “I do not lick blood off the floor, nor do I go wild when I drink some. Maybe there were some vampires who were like that, over the years, but—”

  “So you just drink and ho hum, stop when you’re done?”

  “Yes,” David said, affronted. “We usually contract with humans we call donors, though animal blood suffices for someone my age, and that is easily bought. As for humans, we pay them well for their services—”

  “From who? Not transients, or prostitutes—?”

  “Do you eat a cookie off the floor covered in dirt?” David said scathingly. “Would you have unprotected sex with a man you knew to be diseased, no matter how handsome he was? Of course not. Nothing is more repulsive to me than those stupid movies where a vampire is staring at some girl’s neck like it’s the Holy Grail and slavering. We contract with people who know what we are that take very good care of themselves—”

  She’d offended him royally. Cringe. “I’m sorry. This is all new to me. I just feel like I’m at a party I arrived at late and everyone else knows what’s supposed to happen but me.”

  “I don’t mean to be so touchy,” David said gently. “I’m just tired, and my healing body is painful.”

  “Let’s talk in the morning, then,” Krys offered, snuggling into his chest. “Everything else can wait until then.”

  “No, I need to say this now.” David paused. “What Devlin meant is that a human who is bitten repeatedly eventually begins to react to what makes us vampire. You felt nothing when I healed you, or possibly it felt good—”

  That was what had made that last time so intense. “It was wonderful,” Krys whispered with a sigh, shivering.

  “—some call it the vampire virus, some call it magic. But its effect on a human is always the same: once the lethargy starts, the human gets weaker until death comes.” He kissed her brow. “But that doesn’t have to happen with us. I don’t have to take any of your blood, ever.”

  Could she resist, now that she knew how good it felt? Unlikely. “What if I want you to?” Krys asked tentatively.

  “Then we’ll be very careful,” David assured her. “Get some sleep, sweetheart. I’ll be here when you wake up tomorrow. We can figure out the rest then.”

  * * * *

  Krys awoke about ten. David was lying beside her, sleeping peacefully. Carefully, she got up, and grabbed some clothes, then tiptoed out and down the stairs. After dressing, she made herself breakfast and went over her options.

  Before David’s confession last night, she’d been ready to commit to relocating. But hearing she would probably die as the eventual result was a definite mark in the cons column. Rethinking the conversation, Krys thought she knew now why Devlin had mentioned it. When she got close to death, David was planning on helping her become what he was. He either needed Devlin’s help to do it, or his permission...

  “Krystin,” David called from the other room. “Please come in here. I’d come in there, but there are no drapes.”

  Startled, Krys got up, and went into the living room. There David sat, a blanket draped over his head and shoulders, sunlight shining in the window behind him.

  Krys closed the drapes, then sat next to him, sliding the blanket back. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

  “Because I’m scared you’re reconsidering,” David replied, taking her hand in his. “You’d be crazy not to, after what I’ve told you.”

  “Did you come down to convince me otherwise?” Krys said, squeezing his hand.

  “I came down to enjoy being with you,” David said, looking into her eyes. “If we only have a few days, I can accept that. But I’m not going to waste any of that time apart from you.”

  God, he was lovable. “Go up and sleep,” Krys said affectionately, her heart melting. “I’m just going to pick up more groceries. I’ll be back after.”

  “Good,” David said, his eyes mischievous. “Because I wanted to play something for you tonight, if you would like to listen.”

  “I’d love to,” Krys replied eagerly. “Give me an hour, tops.”

  * * * *

  That next week was heaven. David healed most of his injuries that first night, awakening the next with just a small limp. He and she walked each night in the dark, admiring the falls by moonlight, and watching the deer as they came out to feed. They made love in the mornings, then slept late into the afternoons, limbs entwined. And each day at dusk, David would play for her, sometimes on his keyboard, and sometimes the violin, the compositions stirring and magical as the notes flowed over her.

  Krys had never been so happy. So what if the moon was in the sky and not the sun? What mattered was she had someone to share her life with and each moment that made it special. Maybe this wasn’t a happily ever after. But she was happy now with David. She would trust him, and take whatever consequences there were.

  On their last night at the park, David led her in front of the falls, and then turned to her.

  “Will you come with me?” he said softly, taking a ring from his pocket.

  Krys blinked at him, then at the diamond. The ring was a broken loop, with diamonds set into either end. “That’s...I’ve never seen a ring like that before.”

  “It was the most unusual design they had,” David said sheepishly. “I wanted something special. But I can get a traditional one, if you’d prefer that.”

  “You want to marry me?” Krys whispered, her eyes still staring at the sparkling ring.

  “I do,” David said, kissing her hand. “But I’ll settle for you agreeing just to come live with me in Colorado, if you’d prefer that for now. I don’t want to rush you. But I also can’t imagine going back without you, Krystin. I want you with me. But do you want that, too?”

  “Yes,” Krystin said seriously, putting her hand over David’s. “I’m scared about what you’ve told me, but I also don’t want to lose you.”

  “So is that a yes?” David asked hopefully.

  “Yes,” Krys said, nodding. “Yes. I love you.”

  “Good, because I’m in love with you,” David said, his face breaking into a wide smile. “Now kiss me, sweetheart.” He leaned in close.

  “I’m sorry,” a voice said excitedly. “But I just wanted to tell you that this was so romantic, proposing right here at the falls. Congratulations!”

  Krys and David turned to an older couple, both of them beaming.

  “Thank you,” David said graciously. “We’re very excited.”

  “Actually,” Krys said, rummaging in her purse and producing her phone. “Can you take our picture, please? We’d love to capture this.”

  “Of course,” the man said, taking the phone. “I’ll take several. Now just smile, you lovebirds.”

  David turned to Krys, then kissed her hand gallantly, then took her in his arms and kissed her, the phone flashing again and again.

  “There are some good ones,” the man said, handing the phone back when they were finished. “You make a lovely couple.”

  “Thank you,” David said, handing the phone back to Krys.

  Krys stashed it, then looked up at David. His look was r
elaxed and confident. “You know, you never told me if Devlin liked it,” Krys said coyly. “Your song, Night Music.”

  “Your song,” David corrected. “And yes, he loved it.”

  Krys stared at him. “My song?”

  “‘Night Music for Krystin’,” David said formally. “I changed the title.” He smiled. “Your name added just what I needed to make it remarkable.” He kissed her hand. “You are just what I needed.”

  “So are you,” Krystin said, blinking at her filling eyes. “I’m so glad I found you, David.”

  David took out a handkerchief, and wiped away her tears. “What would you like to do first, my fiancée?” he asked lovingly. “We should celebrate.”

  “I want you to kiss me, of course,” she said sexily. “We’ll wing it from there.”

  Her lips met his once more, her happy bliss making the kiss perfect. At that moment everything was possible, the future shining out before them like an unwritten sheet of paper. Two weeks ago, just the thought of being this happy had been impossible. Now Krys had found not only lasting love, but a new start. Together, she and David would find a way to make it work.

  Tears and Rain

  Rain poured down on the tall man standing before the newly etched gravestone. The drops that struck his exposed skin sizzled, then became steam.

  “I got her for you, brother,” Terian said softly.

  The stone wept tears of rain that seemed to mock his words, showing them for empty verse. That’s what they were. Why should Keriam care that his murderer had been punished? He was dead now and no spell known to sorcery could call back a soul from Heaven. Even if there had been one, Terian wouldn’t have attempted it. He was half demon. Just the thought of Heaven was enough to give him a headache.

  I’d surrender my soul if it would bring you back. But do I even have a soul?

  Just a few months ago, Terian’s life had been simple, if miserable. Terian had lived with his mortal brother, Keriam, most of his life. His small skill in potions—learned from a sympathetic “white” witch long ago—had been enough to bring in a small income. His brother’s new wife, while not exactly compassionate, had been okay.