Age of Vampires- The Complete Series

by Caroline Peckham

  My heart leapt with surprised excitement as I moved my hand between us. He groaned in pleasure, pressing his muscular chest against me as if he thought I was trying to touch him in the same way he was pawing at me.

  I snatched the sliver of glass from my pocket before he could realise what I was really doing and slammed it into his side. He swore as I yanked the glass out again, rearing backwards to escape me and I slashed it across his face, cutting deep into his eye.

  The back of his hand connected with my cheek and my vision swam from the impact as I was knocked aside. I ignored the pain, twisting out from underneath him as I held the glass ready between us.

  Fabian snarled at me, his fangs bared like he might just bite me. Fear fell over me like a cold shower but I didn’t back down. I couldn’t give in to this monster’s demands. I refused to do what he wanted and if that meant I might die then so be it. I’d rather die a mortal death than face the fate he wanted for me.

  The door opened and a surprised laugh filled the air.

  “It seems your charms aren’t working on this one, brother,” the vampire said as he stepped into the room with a wide smile on his face. I glowered at the Belvedere who’d captured me, wondering if I should try to get my glass dagger into his heart while I had the opportunity.

  “What are you doing here, Miles?” Fabian asked irritably.

  “I thought I’d come and make sure you weren’t trying to sample the goods before your wedding night.” His gaze slid over me and the destroyed room as if he wasn’t sure what he’d just interrupted.

  I eyed the open door behind him like it held the answer to all my dreams. Freedom whispered sweet promises to me on the breeze from the corridor, beckoning me to take it.

  “She likes it rough,” Fabian said with a shrug as he moved to stand. I watched in stunned fascination as his eye mended itself and the skin surrounding it stitched itself back together.

  “Is that so?” Miles raised an eyebrow at me, taking in the robe which barely covered my nudity and the blood-spattered shard of glass in my hand. Something which looked disconcertingly like concern burned in his gaze. “You know you’re supposed to wait until after the wedding for all this? The rules are in place for a reason, Fabian.” He gave his brother a stern look and Fabian sighed dramatically.

  “I don’t need your help,” I snapped. The day I accepted help from a Belvedere would be a cold day in hell.

  “You see? She’s enjoying it,” Fabian said, giving me a knowing smile.

  I whipped my arm back and launched the glass at him. He turned at the last moment and it pierced his bicep instead of his heart.

  “Nearly,” he mocked as he pulled it out and tossed it aside. “You see brother, it’s just a little role-play. The slayer who gives herself to the vampire. You’ve gotta admit that’s quite the turn on.”

  Miles pursed his lips as if he didn’t believe his brother for a moment but wasn’t sure what else he could say.

  “I just thought I’d come and give Callie the choice all of the Courtiers get,” he said, his blue eyes meeting mine as he spoke. “Even though there isn’t time to for you to get to know us properly now, you should know that you can choose which Count to wed. You can pick me if you aren’t so keen on Fabian’s bedroom manner for example.”

  Fabian bristled. “You’re already going to wed that other girl. As the rules dictate, I will be the one to wed this one.”

  “The rules say that if a girl refuses to choose then she will have to marry the Count who was not selected by the others... but Callie still has the right to choose.” Miles smiled at me encouragingly and I glared at him in response.

  “If you are so keen to follow the rules then why didn’t you bring Erik along?” Fabian asked.

  My gut prickled at the name of the worst Belvedere. The vampire who’d stolen my sister from me. The reason the slayers had been wiped out. The only way I’d ever want that creature close to me would be if I was plunging Fury thorough his heart.

  “I think it would be a little inappropriate for Callie to share a husband with her sister,” Miles said dismissively. “Aside from any other reasons. So what’s it to be then, Callie? Would you rather share your marital bed with Fabian or me tonight?” He gave me a bright smile complete with dimples. Rage built in my chest.

  It wasn’t a choice at all. I didn’t want to marry either of them and I wouldn’t be forced to make some irrelevant decision just so that they could feel better about the fact that they were forcing me into this. Marrying either monster was exactly the same. It was a fate worse than death and I refused to play along with it in any way. I had no intention of going through with it and I wouldn’t even pretend otherwise.

  “I’m not going to marry either of you!” I shouted. “So you can take your fucking offer and your fake charm and shove it up your asses.”

  Miles’s smile dropped and he glanced at Fabian as if he wanted to say more but his brother grinned in satisfaction.

  “You really won’t make a choice?” Miles urged one last time.

  “If you want to know what I would choose, it’s this; I would choose for you to return my blade to me so that I might kill each and every one of you,” I hissed.

  “There you have it,” Fabian said triumphantly. “She’s mine.”

  Miles sighed and turned to leave, drawing Fabian after him.

  “I just hope we’re right about using a slayer for this,” he muttered.

  “I’m sure we are brother,” Fabian replied, his gaze falling on me one last time as he allowed Miles to lead him from the room. “And I may as well enjoy finding out either way.”

  They locked the door behind them and I released a frustrated scream as I was trapped yet again.

  A dull click roused me from sleep and I woke to find a steaming plate of eggs and toast on my bedside table.

  My stomach was so knotted from the broken night’s sleep, I couldn’t find it in me to eat.

  My heart was hollow. I only had one real desire left. Save Callie.

  Today was probably my last day with Erik. And I was already broken-hearted over the finality of that fact. But last night had changed things. The decision had been made when I’d voiced my fears. And if I got the chance to run today, I had to take it.

  How could you love a monster?

  Because he’s not a monster…

  A tidal wave of pain was on the verge of overwhelming me. I stepped out of bed and headed to the door, a purpose filling my stride. I longed to find him, to explain myself better so at least he could understand that I didn’t think of him as a monster. That he’d altered my beliefs and grown new ones in their place.

  I opened the door and came face to face with Nancy. Her dark curls hung close to her cheeks and she had the sort of expression that said she’d recently been berated. “Oh Miss Ford, good morning.” Her eyes darted down the corridor then back to me. “I have strict instruction from his highness, it’s best we get started.”

  I glanced longingly over her shoulder as she nudged her way into the room, pulling a large suitcase behind her.

  A voice caught my ear downstairs and I lingered in the doorway a moment longer as I listened.

  “Good morning, Count Erik. You told me to er, find you? About the promotion..?” I recognised the voice of the guard who’d remained out in the sun yesterday.

  “Get out,” Erik bit at him.

  “Oh, it’s just…you asked me to come to you after I finished my shift and-”

  “GET OUT!” Erik roared and the whole house trembled. I clutched my heart, backing up into my room and closing the door.

  I rested my forehead to the wood, my insides tearing down the middle.

  Go to him.

  Don’t go to him.

  “Count Erik is quite anxious this morning,” Nancy commented and I turned to her, taking in her concerned expression.

  “I think that’s my fault,” I muttered.

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she said, shaking her head. “A ma
n’s mood is within his own control. Besides, I see no reason why he’s down there pouting. It’s his wedding day and he has such a lovely bride.” She gazed over my baggy clothes. “Well he will have when I’m finished with you.” Her mouth hooked up in a teasing smile and I relaxed, glad to have a familiar face on a day like this.

  I sighed, moving toward her and gazing down at the suitcase. “What’s in there?”

  “Everything we need to turn you into a Countess.”

  “Great,” I grumbled. It wasn’t like I’d wanted this ceremony to ever happen, but at least yesterday Erik and I had been on the same team. Now we were miles apart on the most important day of my life. And not because I was getting married, because it was my only chance to save Callie. There wasn’t a force on earth which would get between us now. My father had already been taken from me and I’d walk to hell and back before anyone hurt my sister too.

  “I thought maybe…you and Erik had grown closer,” Nancy said as she unzipped the case. “It’s a shame to find neither of you smiling today.”

  My heart split open and suddenly I lurched toward Nancy, desperate for a hug.

  She gasped, hugging me back as I clung onto her for several long seconds. “By the gods, are you alright?”

  No. Not a bit. Not remotely.

  I nodded, pulling away from her. “I’m fine. Let’s just get this over with.”

  “As you wish.” Nancy guided me to a dresser across the room.

  We set into our old routine where she made me look beautiful whilst I watched the pale girl before me be transformed into a lie. She went overboard today, perfecting my face before adding a shimmer to my collarbone and a dash of glitter to the very ends of my eyelashes. When she was done, I looked like a strange, ethereal creature. Like something out of Dad’s stories. I vaguely recalled the term fairy and was sure it was fitting.

  Nancy weaved my hair into an ornate plait, winding a white ribbon through it before placing tiny jewels around it.

  When she was finished, she took out the biggest item in the suitcase: a white bag which clearly contained a dress.

  I stood from my seat, suddenly curious as she unzipped the bag and slid out the most elaborate item I’d ever seen. A white gown with a large, shimmering silk skirt and a lace bodice. Interwoven with the lace were gems just like those in my hair.

  Nancy handed me some incredible white underwear and I turned around before pulling on the slinky items. My breasts were pushed up so I actually looked like I had cleavage and the stockings clipped to my thighs made me look kind of provocative.

  Nancy helped me into the huge gown and took several minutes to do up the many tiny buttons. I glanced over my shoulder at the mirror on the dresser, taking in the beautiful lace which was entirely transparent down my back.

  When she was finished, she took out two white shoes with a small heel on them. “I know you don’t like the high ones,” she said with a smile and I was glad she’d remembered. I’d rather have gone barefoot than worn something I couldn’t run in. Especially today when I expected I might have to.

  She helped me into them and adjusted the puffy dress around my legs. I felt like a doll, wrapped up in so much finery. It was like a disguise for the girl I really was.

  The door flew open and Nancy dived in front of me with outstretched arms as if she was taking a bullet. If Erik’s expression could have fired one, she would definitely have been dead.

  “Rebel,” he snarled, stepping into the space and dominating every inch of it.

  “You cannot see her!” Nancy waved her arms, trying to hide me from view and I gazed at the back of her head in astonishment. “It’s tradition!” she begged.

  Erik’s gaze slammed into mine and my heart tripped over itself. Ever-so-slowly his eyes drifted to Nancy. “Do you know how many shits I give about tradition this morning?”

  “I-er-I-” Nancy stammered.

  “None. Not one. Not even half of one. Now get the fuck out.”

  Nancy stumbled as she tore out of the room and Erik slammed the door behind her, his expression hot enough to melt a glacier.

  “Erik-”

  “Silence,” he commanded and his tone sent an earthquake through my bones. The heels on my feet suddenly felt way too high to even try and outpace him in his furious rage. “If you haven’t caught on already, we’re going back to the old way of doing things. I tell you to jump, you say how high.”

  I folded my arms, seething as he tried to make me bow to him again. “I don’t recall ever doing that.”

  “Then you’re going to start now. I’ll help your sister today, then you can both help me end the curse. After that, you’re free. You can go live in the desert or up a damn tree. Frankly, I don’t care.”

  I ground my teeth, feeling so angry that he’d do this. Pretend that yesterday was nothing. That he hadn’t told me he loved me. That I hadn’t said it back. But if this was how he wanted things to be, then there was nothing I could do about it. And I wasn't going to let him see how much I was breaking inside. “Suits me.”

  I expected him to leave, but he didn’t. His eyes travelled down me and I felt more naked in the huge dress than I had done last night.

  “Passable,” he muttered and I bit down on my tongue, refusing to let him see how angry I was that he was reverting to his old habits.

  I took in his attire for the first time; his hair was swept back with a sleek iron crown atop it. He was dressed in a fine, black suit with a white flower attached to his chest beside a row of gleaming medals.

  “You’re mis-buttoned,” I commented, noticing the mistake and moving toward him with my shoulders pressed back.

  He watched me closely as I reached out and pulled the buttons free from his coat. Heat surged up my spine as I recalled doing this very thing last night. As I did them up correctly, I forced my fingers not to tremble as they had then.

  I glanced up at him and the glitter on the edges of my lashes caused a halo of light to shine around his head.

  “Passable,” I said, lifting a brow.

  An aching moment of quiet passed between us and I inhaled slowly, drinking in the closeness of him. It was possibly the last time we would ever be alone together.

  He visibly swallowed as I slid my hand up his chest and flexed my fingers over his heart. “You don’t have to be an asshole just because you feel something, Erik.”

  His jaw pulsed with anger, but his eyes told a different story. One of pain and loss.

  I leaned in closer, drinking in the scent of him and committing it to memory. “I’m sorry,” I breathed.

  He took my chin between his finger and thumb, gazing directly into my eyes. “I’m not. I’m the monster you always thought I was. Thanks for the reminder, Rebel.” He strode from the room, leaving me with the wind knocked out my lungs and a needle so deep in my heart, I was sure I’d never dig it out.

  I sat on the destroyed bed and watched as the water from the burst pipe flowed out of the bathroom and began mixing with the white feathers from the shredded duvet. I felt like it mirrored the mess of emotions which were stirring inside me. I was brimming with unspent energy but I was stuck here, waiting for a fate I’d never accept.

  The cut on my shin was still bleeding and I welcomed the pain. It gave me something real to match the ache in my chest. How could I have been so stupid? Valentina had led me right into a trap and I’d fallen for it like the naive girl from Realm G that I was. Why had I let myself believe I was something special? Just because I could access my ancestors’ power now, I’d begun to think I knew what I was doing. But I was still the same girl I’d always been. And when it came down to it, the vampires were driving my fate yet again.

  A knock came at the door and I stilled as I looked up. The shard of wood I’d used to shred the duvet sat beside me and I reached for it instinctively, tucking it beneath the torn sheet. I wanted to be armed against whoever came through the door next. Even if it hadn’t done me much good so far.

  “Callie?” a woman call
ed from the other side of the door.

  I didn’t reply. Why should I? These monsters didn’t care about what I wanted despite any use of manners or pretence of consideration toward my feelings. She could pretend to ask my permission before she came in but we both knew she’d be entering no matter what I said.

  After several seconds, the bolts slid aside and the door was unlocked.

  “Fabian mentioned you attacked him when he came to see you,” she said gently and my anger stirred again at the false display of concern. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t try that with me... okay?”

  “How about you just open the door and let me go. Then I’ll promise not to harm you,” I offered.

  “You know I can’t do that.” She sighed and pushed the door open. There was a sharp inhale as she spied the devastation that surrounded me and I allowed myself a small smile.

  After another few moments of hesitation, the woman stepped inside, lifting her pale blue gown high to keep it out of the water. My lip pulled back as my gaze fell on her unreal beauty. Clarice Belvedere was almost as stunning as the goddess, Idun.

  “When Miles told me you’d trashed the place I thought I’d be discovering a few displaced cushions. Maybe a smashed vase... this is... Well you’ve certainly surpassed my expectations.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t underestimate me,” I replied. Although I was beginning to believe that I’d definitely overestimated myself. I’d gotten caught up in the idea that the gifts I’d been bestowed had instantly given me what Magnar had spent years working to achieve. But that was foolish; I may have been given access to my ancestors’ memories but none of those achievements were my own. I was going to have to learn my own lessons about what it took to survive in this world ruled by my enemy and it looked like my first challenge was already upon me. I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I had to do something. Perhaps if I could figure it out then I might be able to make up for the terrible mess I’d made for myself.