Cruel Stakes: Vampires & Vices No. 2, page 13
Adrian meets me at the door. When he sees me all dolled up, his face darkens. “Get out,” he commands the women. They scurry away, and then we’re alone in the little windowless dressing room.
“Please,” I ask one last time, “please don’t make me do this.”
When he doesn’t respond, my breathing starts to speed up and my vision blurs. My hands begin shaking and waves of anxiety crash over my body, drowning me alive. “I can’t . . . I can’t breathe.” My knees buckle, and Adrian catches me before I’m on the floor. He sits down and holds me in his lap, trying to shush me. I can barely even tell he’s there. In a corner of my mind, I’m aware that I’m having a panic attack. I’ve never had one before, and they’re as terrifying as people say. But even though I’m partially aware of what’s going on, I can’t seem to stop it, nor can I distance myself from it.
No, I’m stuck right here in the middle of it, forced to feel every bit. The more I think I can’t breathe, the more it comes true. I claw at the back of my dress. I have to get out of the corset. I can’t have something choking my lungs like this. My fingers fumble with the laces, but I’m completely stuck. “Get it off me,” I beg, tears streaming down my face.
In one quick move, Adrian rips the back of the dress completely in two and then the corset underneath. The sound of fabric tearing is right here but it’s also like it’s a million miles away. Everything slows and then speeds up as I’m freed from the gown. I scramble out of it, wearing only the cream slip the ladies use for underwear here. I gasp for breath and let it filter through me.
I lie back on the floor.
“Here,” he says, lifting my knees up, “try to talk to me. What’s your favorite color?”
The question is so out of left field it catches me off guard a little. “Umm.” I swallow hard, trying to clear the panicked haze from my mind. “Green.”
“Any particular shade?”
“Nature. Any green that comes from nature.”
“Good choice,” he replies, “I feel that way about all colors.”
Except he can’t see nature anymore, unless it’s in the dark. And who would want to go enjoy everything our beautiful planet has to offer in the middle of the night? Something nags at me, a memory from his penthouse suite. “Is that why you always have a bouquet of fresh flowers in your living room?”
“I enjoy it how I can, even if it means killing it first.”
I sit up, my breathing finally stabilized. “Spoken like a true vampire.”
“I have a plan, you know,” he says, “I don’t want to turn you, either.”
“So don’t.”
“I won’t if I can help it. Like I said, I have a plan.”
“So tell me about it.” My voice cracks.
“I can’t tell you everything,” he says, “it’s not safe for you to know. But I’ll tell you that Brisa likes us to use the catacombs for the business of making our prodigy. When we take you there, you have to stay for three days and nights.”
I shiver, thinking of The Cask of Amontillado. We had to read the ominous short story by Edgar Allan Poe in high school about a man who buries someone alive in a catacomb. The final line was “in pace requiescat,” which our teacher said meant “may he Rest In Peace.” Yeah, guy was still alive in there!
No, thank you.
“But what about Hugo’s venom?” My heart squeezes. “Will I be yours?”
He shakes his head. “This isn’t easy for me to explain.” He grimaces in pain. He’s fighting whatever it is that keeps him from going against his maker’s wishes, and when he speaks again, it’s through gritted teeth. “You’d have to be down there for three days and nights before you’d rise as one of us. Sometimes vampires can rise a little early or a little late, and they’re still one of us, but they may be a little weaker or even stronger. Three days, though. Remember that number.”
He won’t say more but I can tell he wants to.
“What if someone were to be able to leave before their time was up?”
He opens and closes his mouth, then groans in frustration. He can’t speak it. So I’ll say it for him.
“Would they stay human?” I study his face as memories flood him.
He nods and then shakes his head. “They’d be human, but they’d have . . .”
“Heightened senses,” I whisper.
He just looks at me, but I know what he’s trying to say and something loosens in my chest. I take a deep breath and think back to my own experience. “Heightened senses and an ability to be able to hunt down the vampires in that bloodline.”
Because I’d done it before. That’s how I was able to kill Hugo’s children so easily.
And then Hugo himself.
Sure it had been a fight, but if I hadn’t had that venom, I would’ve been far more disadvantaged.
“I can see why this information is a guarded secret among your kind.”
He gives me a hard look. “And if it were to get out and be traced back to me, I’d face the true death. Brisa wouldn’t stake me either. That’s too clean. She’d most likely put me out in the sun to burn alive.”
He’s trusting me with something that he shouldn’t. I mop up my tears and straighten my shoulders as I speak. “I don’t understand why you’re telling me all this. You used my friends against me to blackmail me into coming here and get me to agree to be turned, and now you’re telling me how to get out.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously? That’s your answer?”
“It’s time to go.” He stands and helps me up, looking me square in the eyes. “Please go along with whatever Brisa says. You must. If you don’t, we’ll both die.”
“What did she do to you?” The question I’ve been dying to ask for weeks finally bursts out. I know the bloodlines make it so he has to obey her commands, but there’s more to the story. I see it in his eyes every time he speaks of her.
Adrian hates Brisa. It’s a loathing that I’ve never seen before.
His shoulders go rigid, and he glares at me as he speaks. “Brisa is charming and beautiful, but never forget that she’s cunning and cruel.”
“You can tell me,” I say softly. I take his hand in mine and squeeze. I don’t know what’s come over me, maybe it’s the lack of oxygen to my brain or something, but I want to comfort him.
“She never gave me the choice to be her prodigy,” he bites out, “and I will do everything in my power to make sure I never do the same to another human.” But there’s got to be more. I drop his hand, willing to let the conversation go, but he keeps talking. This time he doesn’t look at me. “I woke up in darkness. I didn’t know what had happened to me. I was so thirsty and confused. I dug my way out from my grave and stumbled home. When I got there, my wife was asleep in our bed and I––” His voice cracks, and he doesn’t say anything more. He doesn’t have to. I already know.
Adrian killed her.
But it wasn’t his fault, not really. He’d been turned without even knowing what a vampire was and had no direction or help from his master when he awoke.
“She was pregnant,” he continues, and my heart drops. “Brisa found me later that night and made me think she was helping me. For years, I didn’t understand what had really happened. But when I eventually lifted out of the bloodlust, I knew what a monster I was. And I knew it was because of her.”
I would hate her too. “You’re not a monster,” I lie. And maybe it’s not totally a lie. Like he said, things aren’t always as they seem.
He finally looks back up at me. “Don’t worry, Angel. I don’t need you to make me feel better, but I do need you to do this for me. We’re going to this ball tonight, and tomorrow, and every night we have to, and when Brisa decides it’s time, I turn you. You will lay in your grave, and you will act happy about it. And if you do those things, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you don’t stay down there for three nights.”
“I thought you said vampires can’t make promises.”
“We can’t.”
Chapter 21
The servants have to get me dressed again. I expect them to be upset, but they’re not. They don’t really seem to have many emotions at all. I wish I could free them from this place, and maybe someday I will.
I want to kill Brisa.
So badly.
I know that it’s not a smart idea, that cutting the head off the snake will breed many more with even worse venom, but I hate that I can’t just drive a stake through her heart and end her tyranny over her “children” and so many others.
I force all of that to the back of my mind as I prepare for what comes next. The servants keep the jewels on me, but choose a silver gown instead. At first, I think it’s not as pretty as the blue one, but once it’s on and I look in a gilded mirror, I change my mind. I’m dressed like a winter princess. It’s not my style in the slightest, but considering how drafty and cold the palace is, I decide to count it as a blessing.
“I got this for you,” Remi says, handing me a notebook and pencil. “It’s not much but it’s a drawing pad. You can use it to sketch or journal. Whatever you want during the times you’re not otherwise occupied.”
It’s a small gesture but it means everything. “Thank you,” I say, wrapping her into a hug with the book between us. “Will you put it in my room for me?”
“It’s locked,” she says sheepishly, stepping away. We’re probably not supposed to hug given the way Casper glared at her for speaking out of turn. “Adrianos has made it very clear that nobody else is allowed in there. I’m not even sure he’ll give you a key.”
“Oh, he will,” I supply, “I’ll make him.”
Her smile quirks and she takes the notebook and pencil back. “Either way, I’ll leave these here and you can come back tomorrow to find them. Right now it’s time to go meet the queen.”
I swallow hard and nod. Remi offers a smile of assurance but I catch the sheen of worry in her hazel eyes. Her hair is tucked up into a bonnet, her would-be curly blonde locks hidden away. I need a friend here––I feel so alone––but I’m not sure it’s safe for anyone to be my friend at this point. All I do is bring friends down and put them into danger.
Adrian is back to his stoic self when I’m ushered into the hallway. He doesn’t say a word about my appearance, and I don’t about his either. He’s heartbreakingly, earthshatteringly beautiful. And I’m aware “earthshatteringly” isn’t even a word. But it is one in my book now, and right next to it is a picture of Adrianos Freaking Teresi.
It’s not fair that he makes it so easy to hate him while simultaneously making it hard.
The orchestra music, melodic and sweet, leads us to the ballroom, and we enter with our heads held high.
My hackles rise instantly. Vampires of all ages, shapes, and ethnicities are scattered throughout. More than I’ve ever seen in one place! They watch me with hungry eyes, and, for the gazillionth time, I’m reminded of my virginity. It’s not like it’s hard to go find some willing guy to lose it with, but I’d been holding out for someone I love. I thought I loved Felix. Maybe I still do love Felix. But I’m not sure we’ll ever find the right timing.
The crowd splits like Moses parting the Red Sea as we head toward Brisa. The queen is like a beacon unto herself––everything about her glows. From her warm-honey colored hair, to her sparkling eyes, soft skin, hourglass figure, and the natural way she carries herself––commanding the room with both power and grace, Queen Brisa is everything I’d imagine a vampire queen to be.
She’s surrounded by what I can only assume are guards. They are vampires dressed in all black garb, and their eyes constantly scan the room. They have huge guns. I’ve never seen vampires with guns before but it makes sense. Vampires can’t be killed with bullets, but humans certainly can. And who are their enemies if not humans?
And whatever the energy demons are––maybe guns can kill them too. One day, I will find out what Tate is, and I will find out how to protect my friends from whatever his kind is. Tate won’t get away with continuing to put innocent young human lives at risk for his own goals. But right now, I have to focus on Brisa. As we approach, I dress myself in my most winning smile and cling tighter to Adrian’s arm. I want her to think I’m enamoured with him, with this life––the true mark of a fledgling.
Brisa turns, as if sensing I’m there, and looks right into my eyes. Her gaze is mesmerizing, locking me in like a hypnotist. Her posture hardens, and her mouth frowns for a second. Is she jealous? Territorial? Hard to please? Maybe I shouldn’t hang off of Adrian. I relax my arm and slip away from his hold. Brisa notes the move and tilts her head at me, as if studying that too.
I wonder what kind of abilities she has, what her strengths and weaknesses are. If Adrian can levitate, can move objects with his mind, and can compel humans better than most other vampires, then what does the queen have in her arsenal besides her obvious power over the bloodlines?
“There she is.” Her voice is smooth like butter, with a silky hint of a French accent. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting the girl who’s convinced my Adrian to add to our family again.”
“Hello.” My voice comes out too nasally. I offer a curtsy. “Your Highness.”
“Hello to you too, Mother,” Adrian’s voice is light and playful. It’s nothing I’ve heard from him, it has to be fake, and I almost lose my nerve right then and there. “Please, don’t forget about my Kelly so soon.”
She hugs him, her arms slipping around his neck. “How could I? She was a lovely woman who will be missed.” She steps back, her voice growing icy. “It’s a real shame those hunters in New Orleans have grown so strong lately, Adrian. How many deaths are there now? By my count, you’ve lost six vampires from your coven in less than two months.”
He frowns at that and she turns to me. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you, Evangeline?”
Can she tell if I lie? Will my heart speed? I don’t know what to do because I don’t know how much Adrian has told her, but Sabastain came on her errand. So she must know enough by now. I can’t lie to her.
But before I can speak, Adrian cuts her off. “Mother, you know Evangeline has infiltrated the hunters for us. She happens to be an old friend of one of them and convinced him to bring her into their organization. She’s spying on that vile Leslie Tate for me.”
Well, that answers that. I nod in agreement, hating that my cheeks are burning the entire time. I always thought I could play it cool, and then I met vampires.
“And what have you learned of Leslie Tate?” she asks me.
“I know that he wants Adrian dead,” I say, gaining courage, “and I know that you’ve lost some of your princes recently, haven’t you? I’d wager that Tate and his organization have played a large part in that. In fact, Tate left for a little while last month and didn’t tell anyone where he went. When did you say your sons died?”
The question hangs between us for far longer than I’d like. “Very astute observation,” she says at last, and then she waves us away. “But this is supposed to be a party. Please, go enjoy yourselves.”
We’re dismissed for now.
So we end up dancing and trying to enjoy the party, as per Brisa’s wishes. It’s not easy for me, but Adrian lets himself relax in a way I haven’t seen before. I think back to Brisa’s instructions and wonder how far her commands reach into these people. If she told them all to go jump off a bridge or to walk out into sunlight, would they?
Adrian introduces me to the vampires who inquire after us––a sea of beautiful new faces––but otherwise it’s just the two of us. He’s probably used to coming to these things with Kelly, and I wonder what he thinks about being here with me.
“What’s that look on your face for?” he asks, pulling me against him for a slow dance. We sway to the music, and I’m surrounded by him to the point that I can hardly think. “This is supposed to be fun.”
I sigh. “You know this isn’t easy for me.”
He nods once. “But you’re doing a good job.”
“When do you think it’s going to happen?” He doesn’t have to ask what I mean. All I can think about is the turning ceremony and being taken underground in those catacombs, laying among a bunch of old bones. I want to scream just thinking about it.
“I don’t know. Could be tonight, could be tomorrow, could be in a month from now.”
A month! “How long are we going to be here?” I swallow hard.
“As long as she wishes. Time is different to vampires, especially one as old as our queen.”
I sneak glances at the others as we dance. Everyone is dressed in the same fashion, like we’ve traveled back in time. The other guests occasionally look our way, but mostly keep their distance and mingle amongst themselves. I wonder what kind of reputation Adrian has. He’s a prince, so he’s important, but that’s all I know.
“I haven’t even gotten to say goodbye to my mom,” I whisper. “I want my phone back.”
“Your phone is in New Orleans.” He pulls me even closer until our bodies are flush against each other. “You already know Brisa doesn’t like technology.”
“That’s pretty hypocritical––”
He cuts me off, literally putting a hand to my mouth. My eyes go wide at the fury in his expression. “Come.” He leads me from the ballroom and out into the midnight courtyard. Even in the darkness, it’s stunning and smells like fresh spring flowers despite it being early October. There are lawns that seem to go on forever, and more gardens than I could possibly count. Off in the distance, a shoulder-height hedge maze weaves endlessly. Party guests roam about out here, some couples finding the darkest corners, but most have stayed inside where the action is.
He keeps walking me out until we’re well away from the glitter of lights. “There are listening ears everywhere,” he says, voice dark and low, “so I will only say this once.”
Chapter 22
