by L. C. Son
“Just as I cannot touch you—nor can you touch me,” I begin as we both circle one another’s steps.
“What do you mean?” He asks, curiously tipping his head to one side.
“Well, I would think a man such as yourself who worked so hard to procure his freedom would not want to nullify it by—well—you know,” I whisper, tracing my finger along my face.
“You think your white skin saves you?” He huffs back. “It didn’t help your sister,” Elias adds with a dark grin.
As much as I detest the thought of using the tone of my skin as a barter, I have no choice. The color of his skin doesn’t matter to me. All I see is my enemy. He could be blue, and I’d feel the same.
The sounds of the morning and people venturing out to the street begin to permeate the wooded lot as both Elias and I remain in our standoff. Looking around, Elias softens his stance, and he steps back onto the street.
“I have no idea what you want or why you’re here—but if you’ve returned for revenge—”
“As you can see, such retribution is not mine to take,” I quickly interrupt him, as I tire of his posturing.
“You will keep away from me. You will keep away from my family!” Elias warns with his fist slightly raised. Slowly, he takes a few steps from me, expanding the distance between us. “I mean it! If I ever see you near me or my family ever again—”
“Elias, you and your kin shall be safe from me, that I swear!” I promise, placing one hand at my once beating heart. Strange, I hadn’t noticed it stopped.
“Very well then,” he grumbles as he makes his way back out onto the main road. “And you can keep the dress!” he adds before kicking the leather garment bag toward me and runs from my view.
Picking the bag up from the ground, I look around and am thankful no one seemed to notice anything happened between me and Elias.
As much as the thought of Elias infuriates me he is no longer my concern.
I need to get to Sebastian before he makes the biggest mistake of his life.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Standing before Sebastian’s door my stomach is in knots and a thick weight sits at the base of my throat. I have no idea what I’ll say to him. Even more, I fear what he’ll say in return.
What if his fiancé is here?
What if Dalcour is here?
I have no idea how I’ll respond if Sebastian refuses me. But I know this, I will not give up easily.
Lifting my hand to knock, the door opens unexpectantly.
Frozen, I listen as the door creaks, stopping halfway while revealing nothing inside but darkness.
“Are you waiting for me to invite you in?” I hear Sebastian’s voice distantly call to me.
“Sebastian?” I question, stepping over the threshold into his house. While his home is markedly smaller than Dalcour’s estate, there is yet a grandeur to his modest Creole Cottage, centrally located in the lower Garden District.
His silence troubles me, but I close the door behind me and toss my garment bag on the side chair. I take note of the luggage assembled by the door, but I try not to linger on reasons for it.
“So I guess the rumors of Scourge needing permission to enter a home are only a myth,” Sebastian grumbles as I turn to see him leaning against the French doors of his dining area.
“I suppose I deserve that,” I mutter as I try to make out his face in the dark space between us.
“And you’re still walking in the sun, so I take it to mean either you didn’t go through with it or your final transition is not yet complete. Which is it, Chartreuse?” Sebastian’s clipped tone pierces my heart as he ambles past a sliver of sunlight beaming in from the transom.
“If you but let me explain,” I start, taking careful steps toward him.
“Yes, Chartreuse, please explain!” He shouts. “Explain to me how the woman I’ve shared the most remarkable moments of my life with, built all my hopes up, knowing full well she had every intent to regale herself a murderous leech!”
Gasping, Sebastian’s sharp words cut me to my core, hurting me as only he can. I step back, clasping my hands together at my chin rummaging through my mind for the right words to say.
However, a lingering fury within me will not allow me to succumb to his jabs for long.
“The reasons for which I’ve chosen a life as murderous leech rather than a pawn of poor parentage or slick-talking sires is my own battle to contend, Sebastian St. John!” I snap and Sebastian steps back, shocked by my outburst. This is not what I had planned when I arrived but I will plea my case. “And what about you, Master St. John?”
“What about me?” He shrugs his shoulders and pushes his hands in his pockets.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed your bags at your door, Sebastian. You mean to go through with it! You intend to marry her. Someone you don’t love! And why? Because your dead daddy said so!”
Sebastian’s eyes flash like fire before me and then back to their normal steel gray hue. His face softens and his boyish grin surprisingly forms in the corner of his mouth as he scratches his stubble.
“You know we’ve both got daddy issues, Chartreuse,” he quietly replies. “I just never thought their issues would become ours.”
“I’m sorry, Sebastian! I should not have said that—I didn’t mean it—”
“It’s all right, Chartreuse,” Sebastian begins, slowly walking back towards me. “But I am the son of an only son. My father’s only thought is that our bloodline continues.”
“And it is your duty to fulfill that obligation,” I add as tears pour from my eyes. Sebastian takes my chin in his hand and lifts my head to meet his eyes. “And that is not something you can do with a Scourge—with me.”
“Chartreuse, you know the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. I had no idea of my father’s plan until Lord Marchand came and told me.”
“Is that why Oliver called you away?”
“Yes. It was then that I learned you were sired to Dalcour.” Sebastian’s voice grows cold as he speaks, and he slowly withdraws his hand from my face. “How could you not tell me, Chartreuse? I meant for us to have a future together. If you thought that was your only option at one time I understand, but after we got together—I thought this meant something real to you!” He exclaims, turning away to go up the stairs.
“Sebastian wait!” I call after him.
The wood floors creak as I follow Sebastian into his room as he circles a small writing desk at the entrance of his room. Looking around, I smile thinking of more pleasant memories of the two of us in his home only days ago.
“Of course it was—it is real to me! When I made this choice, you weren’t a part of the equation and by the time we fell in love, I was too far gone.”
“So why didn’t you tell me, Chartreuse? Did you think I wouldn’t love you? I thought you understood the veracity of my affection for you. I thought you knew how much I loved you—how I love you still.”
If I still had a heart, it would stop beating in this very moment.
“You love me?”
“Yes, Chartreuse!” Sebastian replies almost exasperated. “I’ve never stopped loving you,” he says pulling me close to him.
“Sebastian,” I moan as he takes my chin in between his fingers and draws me in with his kiss.
His kiss is so intentional and sweet as his tongue gently explores my mouth. Sebastian’s breath grows heavy as he lifts me in his arms, swirling me around and pushing me against the wall.
“Oh my sweet hummingbird!” Sebastian says, kissing my neck and down through the helm of my cleavage. Ripping my gown open and freeing my breast, Sebastian grabs hold of me and carries his kiss from my mouth to my breasts and back again.
My dress is off me and on the floor in a matter of seconds as are Sebastian’s clothes and somehow, he manages to keep me in his tight hold.
“Please, Sebastian,” I whine as he lifts me in his arms and carries me to his be
d, laying me in the center.
No sooner than his name leaves my mouth, the strength of Sebastian’s manhood strikes my preciousness with such a hard blow I see stars. His grind into me is deep and willful as if he’s intent on soaking up every part of me.
“It’s good to see somethings haven’t changed,” Sebastian says with a crooked smile.
Keeping a firm hold at his back, I try to catch my breath, raising my eyebrow curiously. “Like what?” I breathe, gripping my hand along his back.
“I feared you wouldn’t feel the same after you became a vampire,” he adds, pushing himself harder as though he wanted to know just how far he could go.
“Do I feel the same?” I ask, with a light chuckle.
“Better,” he groans, slamming himself into me as he holds the oak headboard with his right hand. “My little hummingbird feels so good.”
“Oh Sebastian! Don’t stop!” I moan.
“Not planning on it. I need more!” he growls back.
“Take it, Sebastian please!”
He does that and more.
The seconds float into minutes and minutes turn to hours. I don’t know if missing a day caused Sebastian to store up everything he had for me, but I never thought he’d stop.
Laying in his arms now I feel as I’ve always felt since the first day he held me. Protected. Safe. Loved. It’s not a feeling I’m accustomed to, but in the short days I’ve been with him it is the only feeling I know. It is to his protective, safe, and loving arms that caused me to run from the taming wells with my only hopes of being in his embrace again.
“That was,” Sebastian begins, as his fingers softly etch the corners of my face through the length of me. His hands rests on my hip and he scoots me close, forcing me to drape my legs over his. “Wonderful.” He adds with a soft kiss on my lips.
“Yes, Sebastian. Every time with you is wonderful,” I reply, tracing my fingers along his chest. “Until now I never—”
“But it was our last time.”
My mouth remains parted as Sebastian’s harsh words strike a blow to my gut. Pushing up on my elbows, I look at him confused. His eyes are glassy as he stares back into mine and he tries to move from under me, but I keep my leg locked in his and bury the strength of my palm into his chest.
“What? Sebastian, what are you saying to me?” I snap.
“I’m sorry, Chartreuse, but as wonderful as this was—we can be no more.”
Sebastian’s mouth moves and I swear his lips don’t match the cadence of the words resounding in my ears.
“How can you say that to me? After what we just did! You told me you’d never treat me like a tipper and now here you are! I thought you said you loved me?” I say pushing myself on top of him, straddling his waist, with my hands now gripped at his shoulders, holding him down.
He doesn’t resist much, but he wiggles a bit and I can tell it’s uncomfortable for him.
I am stronger than I thought.
“I meant what I said, Chartreuse! I do love you!”
“You love me so much, you just wanted one last trite and now you’re off with your bags packed to marry someone you don’t love? That doesn’t sound like love to me at all!”
“I do love you, Chartreuse! But I must have an heir and you cannot give me one.”
Once more Sebastian’s words seem not to move in rhythm with his lips, but it is the words coming from his mouth that disturb me more.
Glassy pools of tears form in my eyes and his own eyes shimmer with thick droplets at the base of his eyelids.
Looking at him, all I see is the only man I’ve ever loved, but something has changed. Something about him seems off. But I know better. A person only says from their mouth what is already in their heart.
Perhaps…
Tears pour down my face and Sebastian reaches up and brushes my tears aside with his hand. His eyes plea with me to understand, but I cannot. He is breaking whatever remains of the hollow remnants of my heart.
Taking his hands by the wrist, I plant them on my breasts as I cry out. As I do I feel his manhood rise at my bottom and once more inspiration strikes. Although I never wanted to return to any part of me that resembled my life at the brothel and saloon, it’s all I can do. I need to remind him of everything I have to offer.
Lifting my hips just a bit, I find his manhood and lower myself onto him and he grunts in willful delight as he squeezes my breast tight. With his hands finding my waist he grinds upward into me, growling as he does, tossing his head back into the pillows, clenching his jaws tight.
But I will not let him control this moment.
Pressing him back into the bed I swirl my hips, and he yelps, tugging me tight on my rear as he screams my name.
Dark musings stir my mind and I wonder if I’ll have the same effects of him that I did on Titan. A low hum churns through me in rhythm with my grind and his eyes lock with mine as his eyes flash bright like a flame of fire. His eyes grow eerily distant as I continually hum my hypnotic musings, grinding deeper into him.
His hands warm along my hips and a bright golden light shines around him and a titillating sensation rivets through me as my serenade grows into a haunting melody while I feel my release churning within me.
“Chartreuse!” He screams bucking his hips upward as I feel him mounting to his own release. “Please, Chartreuse stop!” He shouts back as he grunts and moans, pleasure sweeping over us both.
“No!” I snap back and this time I notice my fangs have lengthened against my mouth.
“Chartreuse!” He moans while my pace increases as my release builds. “Ahh!” He growls as he explodes inside of me and the warmth of him fills the entirety of me.
As he does, I find my own release and I ride hard, waiting for my climax to subside. A loud, sultry, yet high note rises from me and I sing, holding out the note until I meet my release. My ears are muted as I sing out and a thick, grey mist encapsulates us. My body pulses all over at both the feeling of my orgasm and the shimmering misty dew now filling the room.
I buck and shout one last time as I ease down from my high and I blow out a deep breath, thankful for it all. Tipping my head back, another melodic note pours through me and I slowly look back down, hopeful Sebastian is as overcome as me.
Looking down at my hands, I notice Sebastian is no longer beneath me.
“Sebastian?” I shout, looking around the room, frightened.
Nothing but a gray misty film now outlines where I last saw Sebastian.
Calling his name once more, I turn about, peering into the bathroom and back into the hallway, but still I don’t see him.
Stinging tears trail my face as I search above and beneath the bed, but still I don’t see him.
“Where is he?” I scream to the thick, murky substance floating in the air. I’ve seen it enough times to know what it is. Changelings. Once more, I shout into the air, demanding to know of Sebastian’s whereabouts.
Return to dust those who sadden thy soul, end with surety, and take them whole.
Looking into the mirror adjacent to the bed, the phantoms form before my view and I cry out, fearful of their words.
“What did you do to him?” I cry.
“We did nothing. Ashes to dust, broken hearts built from lust,” the gruff Changeling adds with a cackling lilt.
“It was more than lust and you know it! Now tell me what you did to him!” I say, jumping from the bed and wrapping the bed linen to cover myself.
“Took him down and took him whole. Only Sheol now consumes his soul!” The phantom whispers back.
“No!” I belt out, breaking the mirror. The haunting sounds of their laughs taunt me as I hear as the cracked pieces of glass fall to the floor.
What have I done? I cry, buckling to my knees in tears.
“Madam,” I hear Oliver say as I look up surprised to find him standing just outside the bedroom door. “Where is Master St. John?” he asks concerned, looking arou
nd. “Everything is arranged, and I’ve come to take—”
Fate will not even give me the decency to wallow in my own torment before it reminds me that Sebastian and I are not meant to be.
Looking up at Oliver, snarls erupt from me and I spring forward and pin him to the ground.
“Madam, no! I’ve come to—I’m only trying to he—”
I do not wait for him to finish before my fangs pierce through his flesh. I’ll not hear another mention of Sebastian with another! Consuming him whole, his thick blood eases the pangs of hunger I’ve fought since I’d left the wells. Despite his age, his blood is surprisingly sweet, and I lap every drop until he stops squirming beneath my tight hold.
Titan warned me things may not go as I hope but hope is the one thing I no longer have.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I linger at the top of staircase landing for a few minutes after the last drop of Oliver’s blood hit my tongue. Noticing the wad of folded papers in his hands, I have no doubt he likely had some business to review with Sebastian before he was to wed.
Seeing Sebastian’s suitcases near the door is a troubling reminder that everything we intended was to end abruptly. Still, my mind rummages about with both pain and regret at thought of losing Sebastian no sooner than I thought he was mine. Instead of losing him to another woman or Altrinion obligation, I lost him to my own dark alliances.
I have no idea how Sebastian vanished during our bout of passion, all I know is the Changelings are behind it all. Just as I’d fought to steer clear of Dalcour’s would-be puppeteering, I knew not to avoid such a similar fate brought on by my dealings with the Changelings.
The loud sound of the nearby church bells for six o’clock mass ring aloud in my ear. As the chimes ring, I carry Oliver’s body down to the wine cellar beneath Sebastian’s home and put him in the vault along with all his belongings. Returning to Sebastian’s room, I clean up as much as possible, sliding the broken mirror under his bed, hopeful the shattered glass doesn’t draw much attention.
