“Trust me, you do. This bag” —he pointed at the smaller piece of luggage— “is for the journey. The rest is for the trip. This bag is for the trip back.”
I sighed and ran my hand over the jacket. Bernard was right about the quality. It was a gorgeous color. And it was a much more stylish cut than a school blazer. So no, the jacket wasn’t bad. The pants, on the other hand…
But it was not exactly the sweatshirt and jeans I’d had in mind either.
“That’s going to itch.”
“Sorry, Soph.”
I cut a sideways glance to Bernard. “Since when do you call him Cay?”
Vamps couldn’t blush, but I would swear that Bernard did.
“You’re the one who has me abbreviating everything.”
I crossed my arms. “Dare me to call him that?”
Bernard’s eyes got wide. “Do not.”
I shooed him out the door so I could change. I sighed. It was an overnight trip by train, thirty-six hours in total. I had no doubt that I would have an equally uncomfortable nightgown to wear. I was going to be itching the whole way.
I stood on the platform, staring in awe at the train car. It looked much newer than the rest of the train. Cleaner too. And much, much fancier.
I’d followed Caleb all the way to the very back of the train while all the mortals gathered in several groups near the sleeper cars at the front. The center had dining and a bar car, and then there were the passenger cars with rows upon rows of seats. The people riding in those cars would board last.
“What is this?”
“The Cotswolds sent us their private rail coach. We won’t be disturbed once we embark.”
“Private? You mean they own this?”
He nodded. “Yes, and they pay a rather substantial fee to the rail company to tow it.”
“Substantial?”
“Significant.”
I blinked. “Who does that?”
He raised a brow at my tone. “Movie stars. Business people. Politicians. It’s not as rare as you think.”
“Oh.”
“Remember, my dear. From this moment on, we will not be alone. There are some things I was not able to tell you or prepare you for because I am not sure what exactly we will be facing. But I have no doubt in your ability to handle everything that awaits.”
“That sounds menacing, Caleb.”
“It sounds that way because it is. These Vampires may not follow the New Leaders, but it doesn’t mean they are going to welcome you with open arms. They will be looking for weaknesses. Don’t show them any.” He glanced at me. “I will be there to support you, but that is all. If you need specific guidance, you can always call on Maxim. He comes from their world.”
I gave him a sour look but nodded. Apparently, I was going to be running the gauntlet. I was not looking forward to it.
We quieted as a conductor in a smart uniform approached.
“Are you ready to embark, sir? Young lady?”
“Yes. We are.”
Caleb took my hand and helped me step up. The door to the private car was open. My jaw literally dropped as I stepped inside.
It looked like an old steamer car from an old movie. As if a luxury parlor from a century ago had transported to this exact spot and place in time. The walls were paneled with richly stained and polished wood. Heavy damask curtains hung from the windows. Milk glass chandeliers and Tiffany lamps lit the room with a welcoming glow.
There were no traditional train seats. There were heavy leather easy chairs and an area furthest from the door that had wide bunks carved into walls. These, too, were hung with heavy damask curtains.
The perfect place for a Vamp in transit to sleep.
“Nightfall…” I breathed.
“Come, young lady.”
I glanced at Caleb. He hadn’t used my name, neither my false name nor my true one. He nodded. I had a sudden premonition that he hadn’t prepared me fully for this trip.
That maybe… he couldn’t.
I stood up straight and found a place to sit.
Chapter 9
Private rail car was by far the best way to travel in style.
It was nearly a two-day trip, with layovers and our train car being shuffled between passenger trains several times to complete the journey.
But I didn’t mind, despite the stiff clothes—I’d been right about the scratchy cotton lawn nightgowns. I thought it was absolute paradise. I stared out the window, reading books and sipping tea and tasting refined food brought to us by a deferential servant. A human servant who worked for the Cotswolds.
Caleb had been right about dressing for the train. We were already being observed.
I noticed also that Caleb was treating me differently. He was treating me like royalty, not the snot-nosed brat he’d raised from near-infancy. I knew that was for the benefit of the unseen eyes watching us.
For a moment, I actually wondered if we were under video surveillance.
You are, Maxim told me. And then he went silent. I was grateful for that. It was pure bliss to be alone with my thoughts, to let them untangle themselves. I was practicing white lighting myself and using the steel box to maintain my privacy.
I spent my time running through potential problems and opportunities. I was strategizing for a war of words as well as actual battle, though hopefully, our side would be able to control when the fighting started. I thought about my familiars and my abilities and my friends’ abilities and different ways we could use them together. I thought about what skills I might be able to hone with practice and which new abilities might develop on my eighteenth birthday. I even thought about whether I should increase my blood intake, as Maxim kept suggesting. I thought about happy things too, like Bernard’s cooking. I thought about everything.
The one thing I did not let myself think about was what Karen had said. Anything Karen had said.
I wasn’t sure how strong that steel box was just yet.
“We will be arriving in just a few minutes, Your Highness.”
I cast a glance at Caleb. He nodded to my unspoken question. From here on out, he would be using my title, even in private. He had already warned me to assume that we were never truly alone.
Interesting.
I stood and straightened my jacket. I was wearing a blue velvet jacket over a snowy white shirt with a lace collar. My pants were black silk with a velvet stripe down the outer leg.
To be fair, this time, I actually did feel a bit like Katherine Hepburn. It was too bad Bernard wasn’t there to see it. I made a mental note to snap a selfie for him before I changed.
The outfit pretty much rocked, even though I’d only be wearing it for about forty-five minutes.
I was about to make sure all my things were packed when I caught the subtle head shake from Caleb. A princess would not be seeing to her own things. Besides, the train car was ours for the return trip as well. There was no need to make sure I had everything.
I perched on the back of my seat to watch as we approached the station. It was gorgeous. Old, ornate, the kind of things you rarely saw in this country. I’d always had an eye for classic architecture. As trashy and sensational as my taste in TV was, my taste in buildings and houses had always been old-school.
The older, the better.
Maybe that’s because you grew up in a castle, Princess.
Hmm, maybe. Now, hush. I need to focus.
I swayed slightly as we rolled to a stop. I picked up the clutch bag that held my phone, a comb, and a fancy new lipgloss, along with a solid perfume made of organic oils.
Except it wasn’t really my phone. It was a clean one with a new number. It wasn’t to be used except in an emergency. I sighed a bit at that.
Apparently, Caleb didn’t even want me to Google on it.
I almost laughed. How funny would it be for the Cotswolds’ spies to pick up my phone and see that I’d been Googling table manners? Or streaming Vampire shows on Netflix?
I had to hand it to him
, Caleb really knew me well. Too well. He was right. No Googling.
I sighed, fully expecting to spend the next three days bored out of my mind.
“Shall we?”
I nodded and allowed Caleb to take my hand and help me off the train. I wanted to jump down and run around. Being pent up in the train was tiring in its own way, even as much as I’d enjoyed it.
I had a lot of excess energy, especially after dining on the blood bag Caleb had given me earlier. I rarely needed blood anymore, but it gave me extra power and focus. And to be honest, it hit the spot.
Now, all I wanted was to blow off some steam.
Instead, I stood stiffly as a chauffeur appeared and led us to the front of the station. The other servant, the young man from the train, followed with our bags on a large rolling cart.
I’m not going to lie. Heads turned as we walked through the station.
As much as I understood the need for keeping a low profile, I also appreciated positive feedback now and then. It gave me a bit of confidence that I’d been lacking. I felt like an imposter when we first boarded the train. Now I did not. Caleb was doing an excellent job of presenting me like a celebrity, or royalty. That’s what I had to be over the next three days. If we won, when we won, I’d have to attend formal events and be in ‘princess mode’, though hopefully not all the time. This was good practice.
And I had to admit, it was kind of fun, scratchy clothes and all.
A massive Rolls Royce limo waited for us outside. I had to force my eyebrows to remain motionless. The car was gorgeous, gleaming and somehow ominous all at once.
So much for Vamps keeping a low profile. I figured that around here, there were just the haves and have nots. Nobody probably noticed that the Cotswold family were pale and favored evening hours. They only knew they were among the ‘haves,’ and there were plenty of those in Rhode Island.
The ride to the house was uneventful. We were quiet and reserved. I looked out the window, enjoying the fresh air that smelled faintly of brine. I loved the ocean, though I’d only seen it a handful of times.
The roads were quiet as we got closer. I caught glimpses of huge ancient stone mansions that were set back from the road, separated by rolling lawns, hidden by centuries-old hedges almost twenty feet high, and protected by gates.
We paused in front of an enormous set of gates that put the rest to shame. If there was a competition for the best gate, the Cotswolds had won it by a landslide. High and ornate, the black wrought iron was meant to impress and intimidate. A gold crest with the letter ‘C’ adorned each half of the gate. They swung open and we drove through. I glanced back to see that they shut again behind us. Behind the hedges was a high fence with wickedly sharp points.
So they were security conscious. That was good. Unless they were just as concerned with keeping things in as keeping them out.
The road was long and dark, lined with evenly spaced evergreen trees growing straight and perfect, like rows and rows of soldiers. The trees alone are worth the price of admission, I thought to myself. I could hear them singing softly to me. They recognized me as I recognized them.
They were sentries, yes, but they were so much more.
The road started to rise, and the scent of the ocean grew stronger. I nearly gasped when the house came into view.
House. Yeah, right.
It was a freaking castle.
The estate looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale. It looked like Buckingham Palace. Or Hogwarts, minus the turrets. It was magnificent. Perfect. The stuff dreams are made of.
I loved the house on sight, even if there was something… foreboding about it. The house didn’t want to hurt me. It was silly to think that way. I reminded myself that I wasn’t as sure about the Vamps inside it.
I had a strong suspicion they were meeting me more out of curiosity than a willingness to throw their lot in with us. But I also knew that most Vamps hated the New Leaders. Even if the Cotswolds didn’t care about humankind, the New Leaders were pretty much a bunch of pompous jerks.
They sucked. Big time.
So, at least I have that going for me, I thought.
You got this, Sophie. What it is, exactly, I don’t know. But you got this.
Thanks, Dyl.
Maxim was conspicuously silent since I’d told him to hush at the station. I resisted the urge to prod him, though it was hard to refrain. I was foolish by nature, obviously. I always wanted to poke the bear.
I felt a low growl come down the bond. So he was still there, listening and observing. And he hadn’t lost his sense of humor.
The limo rolled to a stop. I heard the crunch of the driver’s feet on gravel as he circled the car to get the door. Servants were waiting outside, like they did on that show, Downton Abbey, that Bernard made me watch. I’d ended up loving it, especially the Duchess, but I still gave B a hard time about it.
I could hear Dame Maggie Smith in my head. I decided to channel the duchess this weekend. Be the duchess… just a little less fussy.
My spine elongated just a little bit more as I pictured her in this situation.
You need to be a Viking Goddess, not an old woman. You need to intimidate them.
Oh, there you are, Maxim, I thought, rolling my eyes.
This is serious, Princess. They will test you. They may even try to assassinate you.
What?
I faltered as Caleb helped me out of the car.
You can handle it. Just be on your guard. And don’t box me out. I’ll be watching for trouble.
Okay, I won’t, I thought shakily. I took Caleb’s arm and walked toward the imposing structure. He squeezed my hand where it lay on his sleeve. I lifted my chin and pictured myself as a fierce warrior, proud, strong, and fearsome.
That’s it, Princess.
The doors opened and we walked inside.
“I trust your rooms were to your liking?”
I was seated in the parlor, trying to look confident. I had a slight royal sprawl to my posture. Proper, but also relaxed. I’d gotten settled into my room and changed into riding clothes at the request of our hosts. By the time I came downstairs, it was nearly eleven at night.
For them, this was the middle of the morning.
This much, at least, I had been warned about. I’d napped as much as possible during the day, sleeping late as well. The servant had looked at me oddly when I rose around ten and asked for eggs and coffee. So he knew his masters were Vampire.
Every servant in there knew what they were, but I doubted they understood what I was. I might be wrong. They didn’t appear to be glamoured, unless it was simply that they were told to keep their secret.
The Cotswolds would be fools if they didn’t do that with a staff this large, even I had to admit.
They want to become.
Like us?
Yes. Like me. No one is like you, Princess.
Ah. I see.
I didn’t bother to thank him or acknowledge his compliment. It was on the tip of my tongue to thank him, but I wasn’t there yet. As helpful as he was being, he was a liar. I was pretty sure I could tell when he was telling the truth through the bond, but I had no way of knowing what he wasn’t sharing with me.
A lie by omission was still a lie.
“Would you like a drink?” Elaine Cotswold offered. She was a stunningly beautiful woman in her late thirties or early forties. She was perfectly preserved and elegant. In her twenties, she would have given any supermodel a run for their money.
I shrugged nonchalantly.
“Caleb? Shall we indulge?”
He gave me a warning look and nodded.
“Yes. Thank you, Highness.”
This was a test. I knew it. They wanted to see my fangs.
I did not expect them to trot out a young woman and a young man in uniform. Part of the staff then. I wondered if they signed up to be fed upon along with a 401k.
I hid my shock and smiled, allowing my fangs to pop.
“Do try no
t to drain them. Good staff is hard to find.”
I nodded graciously to Sebastian, another of the Cotswolds. I had no idea how any of them were related, or married, or involved. That would have been nice to know.
The flirtatious glint in Sebastian’s eye told me he was single. Not that I was interested. But it was clear that he was. He was extremely handsome with his dark hair and eyes. His teeth were extremely white, and his smile was engaging, if not all that comforting. He was tall and strong. I was starting to wonder if only good-looking people were turned. Were there any ugly Vampires out there?
Not that I’ve seen.
Really? None?
I am flattered that you think I’m good-looking.
Ugh, shut up.
Of course, he was good-looking. Maxim was devastatingly handsome and he knew it. I found it more annoying than charming.
Look out for Sebastian. He’s a lady killer. Literally.
How so?
He likes to take lovers, human and Vamp, and he ends them when they start to annoy him.
Are you saying that I would annoy him?
I felt Maxim take a pause.
No. I have no doubt that you would be the exception. Just be careful if you decide to tangle with him.
I could feel the jealousy coming off him in waves, even miles and miles away. Actually, I had no idea where he was.
“I’ll take the boy,” I said with a predatory smile.
I was careful to leave my gloves on as the young man sat beside me. He was older than me by at least six or seven years. But I still thought of him as a boy. Mortal. Fragile. Hopefully, delicious.
He obligingly exposed his neck for me. The pulsing vein there was tantalizing, even if I preferred human food for moral reasons. I still enjoyed a rush of power and energy from blood, particularly when it was fresh. I sank my teeth into his warm flesh. The blood exploded into my mouth in a rush. I felt myself absorbing his vitality. His strength. His life force.
I got flashes of images and emotion. Working here. Fear of his masters. Carving wood stakes alone in his room.
I shoved the boy away and he toppled to the floor.
Rogue Prince Page 6