by Nicky Graves
“Ow! According to you, I’ve never helped. Why start now?”
They locked gazes. I rolled my eyes.
“I’ll go to Larue.” My best friend was the queen of sweaters and long skirts. “She has plenty of conservative clothes.”
“She won’t tell anyone she’s seen you, right?” Lawson asked, concerned. “I know she’s your best friend, but with you on your mom’s radar as missing and now Ranger too, I don’t want her to make the situation worse.”
“She’s as levelheaded as they come,” I said. “Kind of reminds me of you in that respect, Lawson. Well, except when you’re around Vance.”
Vance grinned.
“I’ll be careful,” I added.
Now that the idea was in my head, I didn’t want to change my mind. I desperately wanted to see Larue, even if it was for a few minutes. She was my tie to my past and my sanity.
Was she still in high school or did she graduate? Being in different realms, I lost track of Earth time. Maybe she had already started college.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Lawson asked.
I shook my head. “No. Where should we meet?”
“Your pod,” Vance said. “Two hours.”
I gave a nod and shifted to Larue’s bedroom closet. I didn’t want to startle her or accidentally drop in while her parents were in her room. Larue’s walk-in closet was dark, but I knew I wouldn’t trip on anything. She was notoriously tidy.
Listening at the door, I didn’t hear anything. Slowly, I twisted the knob and peeked out. A book flew at my head. I ducked back into the closet, narrowly escaping the hardback.
“Larue?” I called.
“Riley?” she asked, opening the door. She grinned at me before swatting my arm and then dragging me into a hug. “You scared the hell out of me! Where have you been?”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I hugged her back and then let go. “I didn’t want to shift into your bedroom right away. I wasn’t sure if you’d be alone.”
Larue picked up her book with a frown. She stroked the spine as if easing its pain at being flung across the room. She then set it on her bed and placed her hands on her hips. “Your mom has been sick with worry. She looks horrible.”
I didn’t want to hear it. There was nothing I could do. Whether it was now or later, we would lose each other. And while I didn’t want it to be now, wouldn’t it be more hurtful to make her go through this pain twice? Since I didn’t have an answer, nor did I have the luxury of time to explain, I plowed ahead.
“I need to borrow an outfit,” I said.
She looked at my current ensemble. “When did you start wearing pink? And tiny shorts?”
“Since a few months ago. Not by choice.”
She raised a brow. “No one is forcing you to do things you don’t want to do, are they? Are there reaper authorities you can go to?”
“It’s not like that,” I said. “It’s a long story.”
“I have time.”
“And I have about two hours.”
She grinned and plopped down on the bed, patting the open space next to her. “I’ve missed you so much.”
I grinned and sat cross-legged on the bed. “Not nearly as much as I missed you. Are you still dating Finn?”
She blushed. “Yes.”
“From your red face, I take it you’re getting serious.”
She nodded. “We decided to go to the same college.”
“Really?”
She nodded again. “I’m so glad you’re here. Even if it’s for too short of a time. I have so much to tell you. And I want to hear what you’ve been up to. But first,” she said, hopping off her bed and dashing into her closet to pull out a dress. “What do you think?”
I eyed the elegant black dress with peek-a-boo cutouts on the bottom of the skirt. “It’s beautiful. What’s the occasion?”
“Prom, silly!”
Prom. That four-letter word cut at me. While I never thought I’d go to prom, this made me realize that I’d never have the opportunity. Larue’s reality and mine were drifting further and further apart. She would go to college, get a good job, get married, and have kids.
And what was my fate?
“What’s wrong?” Larue asked. “Do you hate it?”
“No. It’s gorgeous. I just realized how much I’m missing. But forget that for now. Pull out your most conservative outfit and tell me everything.”
She looked almost pityingly at me before ducking back into her closet. She lovingly hung up her dress before digging through her closet to find a starched white button-down shirt with a lace collar. Then she found a lilac cardigan, black houndstooth skirt, white knee-high socks, and thick-soled baby doll shoes.
“Well, I asked for it,” I said, eyeing the outfit.
She gave a small laugh and then launched into a lengthy detailed timeline of all the events in her life that I had missed.
It was a lot.
Including the fact that my conservative best friend was no longer a virgin.
Which made Wiltone stir inside of me. She brought up images of both Lawson and Vance in their most gorgeous, delectable states.
It’s not going to work, Wiltone, I thought silently.
It’ll happen eventually, Riley. I know your heart.
She might know my heart, but there were too many circumstances that made any kind of love life impossible. But maybe someday.
Someday . . . it sounded like a fairy-tale wish.
5
It was later that night when I was sure we had arrived in Transylvania . . . well, it looked like the old movie depiction of Transylvania, anyway. I had no idea where we actually were.
Between the looming castle with spiky spires and the dark brooding clouds that gathered overhead, this had to be Dracula’s lair. The ancient moon hanging above seemed like a beacon for all creatures of the night.
I leaned over to Vance to whisper, “What did you say the vampire’s name is?”
“Michaelo Venetta. Why?”
“Does he fly around like a bat?”
He looked at me as if I was absurd. “Vampires don’t turn into bats. Nor do they sleep in coffins.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “However, I have heard of a few sleeping in them for fun. But that clan is nuts.”
“Can we get this over with?” Lawson asked. A scowl permeated his brow.
“He was never much fun, even as a kid,” Vance said.
Lawson flung a lethal glare in Vance’s direction and then turned his gaze toward the castle. “How many are in there?”
“With that size castle, you’re probably looking at a few hundred vampires.”
“I don’t like this,” Lawson said. “Vance, you go in. Riley and I will hang out here.”
“Michaelo said he needs to see the claim, which means he needs to see Riley and me. But you can wait out here by yourself,” Vance added with a smirk.
“I’m not waiting out here by myself.”
“Suit yourself. But like I told you before, my claim protects Riley, not you.”
Lawson crossed his arms as he stared at the castle. He was nearly as brooding as the darkening clouds. “Let’s get this over with.”
As Lawson marched ahead toward the castle, Vance leaned over to me and whispered, “I don’t normally go for the librarian look.” He then took in the length of me, including my cardigan, lace-collared top, and knee-high stockings. “But it’s rather hot.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Anything gets you hot. After five hundred years you’d think you’d be over this game by now.”
“It’s the only thing that keeps me going,” he said with a wink.
Instead of engaging further with Vance, which would only prove irksome, I followed Lawson to the castle. I needed to focus on the vampire ahead. And not the one that walked behind me and was probably staring at my houndstooth-covered butt.
Due to the foreboding castle’s looming gargoyles, ancient stained-glass windows depicting bloody bodies, and ov
erall darkness, I was surprised when the heavy door opened to reveal a petite elderly woman with a mob cap and a broom. I had been expecting a tall male with slicked-back hair, pointy teeth, and a billowing cape that would become his bat wings when he transformed.
“You must be Riley,” she said, eyeing my outfit with approval. “How did a sweet thing like you get mixed up with a vampire?”
“She’s not sweet,” Vance said.
“You must be Vance,” the woman said with a tsk.
She turned and began walking down a marbled entryway that sparkled as if recently buffed. “Well, come with me.”
Her short steps were accented by the click of her functional heels on the ground. As we followed her inside, I couldn’t help but look around in awe. There were no cobwebs to be found or dripping candles. Everything was clean and lit with electricity. Where was the dusty organ that played creepy music?
We followed her through the entryway and over to double doors with cherry-red varnish. She gave a courtesy knock before pushing the doors open.
“Inside,” she said.
As I walked in, my gaze swept through a grand library with shelves that lined the tall walls from floor to ceiling. Leather-bound books filled every shelf. A large mahogany desk with a leather executive chair sat at the end of the room. Several comfortable sitting areas accented with potted plants were stationed throughout the room.
“You like the library,” a voice behind us said.
I turned to find a man in his forties. Well, by human standards he was probably forty. But he didn’t have the tired look that I noticed in some middle-aged people. No, this man still had energy and hunger.
“I do like it,” I said.
He ran a hand through his dark hair sprinkled with a touch of gray as he looked fondly at his library. “I’ve been collecting for quite some time. It is my refuge.”
I wasn’t sure what he would need to take refuge from, and I wasn’t about to ask. While he seemed friendly, he was still a vampire.
As Michaelo passed by, he said, “You smell of tainted blood.”
“She’s a reaper,” Vance said.
Michaelo’s lips curled slightly with a hint of distaste, but he refrained from further comment. “Make yourselves comfortable,” he said, gesturing to the largest cluster of furniture.
I was about to sit in a red Victorian chair when Vance nudged me over to the couch. He then sat next to me. Lawson glared at him right before sitting in the chair.
Michaelo eyed the brothers with interest before taking a seat on a chair near me, opposite of Lawson. He gave a soft clap of his hands, and a moment later, two women dressed in flowing black lingerie brought in refreshments. They placed the trays on the coffee table. Without a word, they left.
I warily glanced at the beverage selection. There was a glass pitcher filled with ice water, a carafe of coffee, perhaps, and then one pitcher that could only be blood. Vance greedily eyed that one in particular.
“Thirsty?” I asked.
He flicked me with an annoyed glance before helping himself. I tried to stop the shiver that ran through me as he brought his glass to his lips and drank from it.
Michaelo eyed me. “Your kind will never understand mine.”
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Lawson said, looking as uncomfortable as I felt watching his brother drink blood. “Can you break the claim?”
“What is your interest in the claim?” Michaelo asked Lawson.
“Riley has enough on her plate without adding a vampire to it,” Lawson said. “They don’t even like each other.”
“It’s true,” Vance said. “We don’t like each other.”
“Then why did you make the claim?” Michaelo asked.
“Because Juliette Villes threatened her. We all know what can happen when Juliette holds a grudge.”
Michaelo smiled as though thinking of a tender memory. “Yes, she does have a tendency for dramatics. But that’s still not a reason to make a claim. You brought old magic into this. It’s something that’s not easily fixed.”
“I know,” Vance said. “But Juliette threatened to hire Bornor. Riley is immortal. I couldn’t allow that.”
“Why?” Michaelo asked. “You’ve already admitted that you don’t even like Riley.”
Vance glanced at me before saying, “But I don’t hate her either.”
“Stand next to me,” Michaelo said to me.
While I thought the summons was a bit abrupt, it was nothing compared to what happened when I didn’t obey him immediately. His voice penetrated my mind with the same order, making me want to obey him. I stood and walked over to him. Even though I fought against his control, I found I more wanted to please him.
“That’s a good girl,” Michaelo said with a smirk.
Lawson stood as if to intercede, but then he sat back down. From Lawson’s fierce expression, I had a sneaking suspicion that Michaelo was controlling his mind as well.
Just how powerful was Michaelo?
“Looks like you have a bit of old magic as well,” I said to Michaelo.
He smirked again and then stood to face me. A deviousness played in his eyes right before he lowered his head, his fangy teeth touching the pulse point of my neck. I couldn’t do anything but stay rooted to my spot. Not even Treble or Wiltone were able to take form. If the life stones weren’t able to engage, this guy was extremely strong.
Before Michaelo could sink his fangs into my flesh, Vance rushed at him. With a single flick of Michaelo’s hand, Vance was shot back onto the couch.
“So, you don’t like her?” Michaelo said to Vance as he straightened. My neck was forgotten. “I felt the lie, but I wanted to confirm it.”
“It’s the claim that makes me want to protect her,” Vance said.
Michaelo stepped away, and I was released from his mind spell. As he walked through the library, his fingers drifted along the spines of books.
“You are brothers,” Michaelo said. “One a vampire, the other a reaper. A very interesting mix. I find myself intrigued.” He brought out a book and headed to his desk. Sinking into the chair behind the desk, he leafed through the pages.
“Both brothers. Both immortal.”
“Why is that so interesting?” I asked.
“Something I read ages ago.” He leafed through a few more pages. “Let me see if I can find it.”
I sat back down as I waited for Michaelo to find whatever he was looking for. He made me nervous with the way he so easily controlled us.
I wasn’t sure how many minutes passed, but the silence in the room grated on my nerves. I stood and wandered, reading the titles of the books to see what kind of collection it was. Most of the titles were in foreign languages.
I paused at one book with looping letters. The Art of Kinetrites.
“I wouldn’t read that one if I were you,” Vance said.
“I didn’t say I wanted to read it,” I said. “I’m just looking at the titles.”
Vance stood and walked over to me, his fingers grazing over mine as he touched the books. He read the foreign titles. His soft voice was like a melody.
I glanced at him. “How many languages do you know?”
“A dozen or so.”
“That many?”
He gave a nod. “Do you find that odd?”
“I didn’t think you cared about anything beyond yourself.”
Lawson snorted. Vance glared at him before looking at me. “And because I’m a little self-absorbed, I’m therefore stupid.”
“I didn’t say stupid. But you have to admit you don’t come across as scholarly unless the subject happens to be about women.”
He turned his back on me and retreated to the couch.
Did I offend him? My assumption was his thoughts were occupied by women and blood. The fact that he knew a dozen languages was a bit shocking. What else did he know?
When I returned to the couch, I sat next to him as a peace offering. He didn’t move away, so I took that as a sign that h
e wasn’t overly upset.
Vance finally said, “When you’ve lived long enough, you learn things.”
Michaelo shut the book and stood. “I have to do a little more research. You will be my guests tonight.” He gave a soft clap again, and the double doors opened. The women who had brought in the beverages entered.
“Ladies, escort the gentleman to their quarters.”
“What about Riley?” Lawson asked, not looking as repulsed as he should have when the vampire wrapped her arm around his, linking them together.
“She’ll stay with me for a little longer,” Michaelo said.
Both Vance and Lawson said, “No.”
Michaelo raised a brow at the pair of them. “You are my guests as long as you follow instructions. If you defy me, I will have to deal with the matter.”
I had a feeling that was Michaelo’s polite way of saying Vance and Lawson would be in for a world of hurt if he had to “deal with the matter.” Lawson and Vance looked mutinous but followed the women out. From the rage in their eyes, I was sure they weren’t moving of their own accord and Michaelo was using his mind tricks.
Great. Just the person I wanted to be left alone with.
6
When the library doors closed again and I was alone with Michaelo, I tried not to panic. I didn’t know what to expect from him, which had my heart racing.
“I can smell fear,” he said casually as he set the book down and walked toward me. “Your blood pressure spikes, and it’s a calling signal to vampires. You’re not in any danger from me.”
I felt like he should have included the word “yet” or “but” or even “however.” Telling me I was in no danger from him was like telling a deer that it was in no danger from a wolf.
“I sense many things from you,” he said. “Fear, confusion, anger, loneliness. You’re filled with emotions. But I also sense a strength in you and . . . passion.”
“The passion is Wiltone the Red.”
He eyed me. “Ah. Yes.” He gave a nod and proceeded to a bookshelf. “Not many can hold the power of the life stones. Vampires have tried in the past. The closest they came to bonding was being able to wear the stone as an accessory and taking the essence of the stone.”
