by Alisha Basso
“I’m sorry, Stevie. I swear, I didn’t mean to act like that.” I looked at my hands, remembering how strongly I had reacted to him. “I was just startled. I mean, I was looking for my husband and then, bam! Hello gorgeous.” I smiled apologetically. “I think you’re really lucky.”
“Oh, no, no, no,” she laughed, shaking her head. “We aren’t a couple.” She smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “He’s just a friend of my brothers.” She shrugged.
Amelia snorted and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, they’re buddy, buddy alright.” She shook her head as I watched them in complete confusion.
“So, back to your husband.” Stevie turned to look at me. “Are you two staying in this hotel?”
I dried my hands after ringing out my dress the best I could in the tall sink. The garment was indeed done for.
“Yeah,” I sighed, “we’re in the Penthouse.”
“Penthouse.” Stevie blew out a long whistle. “Posh.”
“Yeah.” I met her eyes through the mirror. “Are you all staying here too?” I watched them look at each other. Stevie fidgeted with her earrings while Amelia opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
“We, uh, live here, actually,” Amelia sputtered out and I lowered my brows.
Something was up with these two.
“Really?”
They looked nervous. I opened my mouth to question them when Stevie’s cell rang.
“Hey.” She turned her back as she spoke under her breath. She shoved the phone into her bag and smiled. “Well, that was my brother. He’s getting annoyed, we better go.” She grabbed onto Amelia’s arm and started to pull.
“Okay?” I lowered my brows, watching them fumble out the door. I straightened my dress and sighed. It was time to find Lu.
The sound of the casino burst to life as we exited the ladies room. Amelia and Stevie had stopped just outside. They were speaking to Adam and another man. He was just as tall and broad as Adam, but where Adam was dark this man was golden. Adam’s skin was pale, making his silvery-blue eyes and black hair stand out in stark contrast. This other man was tan. His short hair was a dark blonde. His profile was striking. Golden, blond stubble dusted his strong jawline. I stopped and found myself moving toward them.
“Alice?” I heard Amelia call out as I slowly moved closer. “Are you alright?” Her voice was little more than a whisper as I neared. Ghostly fingers pulled me, urging me closer. I closed my eyes, then opening them, I found myself standing between the two powerfully attractive men.
Adam placed his hand on my shoulder and I shuddered. Something was happening that I didn’t understand.
“Alice?” Stevie moved to stand directly in front of me. “This is my brother, Andrew.” She looked up at the beautiful, blonde man and I followed her gaze. He met my eyes, his hand extended. I felt mesmerized as I took his hand in mine. Energy zinged from his hand to my shoulder, where Adam touched me. Like an electric highway, it hit Adam’s hand and then followed that same path back down to Andrew. I sucked in a breath as heat and light filled me. Stars sparkled into my vision as a chill settled along my spine.
What the hell? I wondered as I slowly slid, boneless, to the floor.
SIX
“Lift her up!”
Stars swirled inside my head. The jolt that had sizzled inside me was now a faint hum.
“Shit. What the hell was that?”
That’s Amelia. How do I know that? I recognize her voice. For some reason, I feel like I’ve always known her voice. It…comforts me. I wonder why?
“I don’t freaking know. You guys are the ones who touched her!”
That was Stevie. She’s panicking. Why can’t I open my eyes?
“It was some kind of magic. Crap, we have to get her up before he gets through that charm.”
“Oh, I’m afraid it’s much too late for that.”
Lu.
I jerked, suddenly fully alert. He had finally found me.
“What the hell happened?” I mumbled as several hands lifted me. Standing, I came face to face with my husband. “Where have you been?” I asked him quickly. My head felt full of helium gas. My vision was struggling to clear. “You just took off.” I accused.
His brows drew together. “It seems I was unavoidably detained.” Folding his powerful arms, he glared at my new friends.
“Hey, you don’t get to be mad.” I blinked and rubbed the inner corners of my eyes. “You’re the one who ditched me.”
I took a small step back and he grabbed my arm, jerking me to his side.
“Damn, Lu!” I yanked my arm out of his grip and turned, meeting his eyes and whispering a warning. “They’re nice people. They were only helping me after I fainted for cripes sake, so be nice.”
I turned back to them and smiled. “Well, thanks for catching me.” I laughed, watching them as they watched Lu. Their collective expressions as we moved to leave had me stumbling to a halt.
Frozen in horror was all I could think, and I frowned in confusion. “Um, well, I hope we can meet again,” I offered as they continued to stare at Lu with contempt.
He looked down at me and growled, flashing his teeth in a terrifying smile. I smacked his arm. God, he was being a total ass. I glared again and he sighed and straightened his suit. Then, smiling, he gently clasped my hand in his.
“Well, thank you all for being so conveniently handy,” he sneered, his lip curled as he spoke through his clenched teeth. “I’m sure we won’t be meeting any of you again.”
Without waiting for a reply, he spun and strode away, dragging me with him in his wake.
“Hey.” I squeezed his hand. “That was rude,” I chided as he pulled me along. I turned my head to look at my new friends. Meeting Andrew’s eyes, I saw something that made my breath catch. His face looked pained, his eyes filled with regret, as a tear slid down his cheek.
SEVEN
“They don’t matter.”
Lu kissed me as the elevator doors closed.
“I’ve worked too hard for a life with you, my darling. We have no time for petty souls. Yours is the only one I want to taste.” I let his lips travel a path across my face and neck.
I sighed, and then suddenly my body filled with heat as Andrew’s face flooded my mind.
Such sadness.
I was missing something big, I could feel it. So many questions. Why had I passed out at their touch? Why did I feel like I knew Amelia and Stevie? I had a feeling that the answers to these questions were just beneath the surface of my mind. If I could just grab them. But whenever I felt close enough, Lu would swoop in and distract me. Put me back in my place, tightly pressed to his side.
The doors opened.
“I have a surprise for you.” He rubbed his hands together, smiling.
“What is it?” I frowned at his playful attitude. I had too many uneasy feelings which made me feel guilty and suspicious all at once.
“Come, it’s all laid out.”
I let my shoulders fall as he moved quickly into the bedroom. I followed at a slower pace, afraid of what was waiting.
I jerked back and, grabbing my chest, I heaved out a breath and then met his eyes from across the room.
He stood, gazing at a gown so ornate it could only be for one thing. I frowned at him.
“I see the question in your eyes.” He smiled at me and then slowly ran his hand across the bodice. “Yes, it is a wedding gown.” He looked at me again, his smile was contagious and I laughed nervously. “I have arranged to renew our vows for our anniversary. We leave for home in a few days.”
I wanted to scream. God, what the hell was wrong with me? I had the most beautiful man in the world, who was wealthier than Midas, not only married to me, but wanting to do it all over again and all I could think of was Adam and Andrew. I wanted to see if Andrew was alright. I wanted to talk to them again and ask them questions. I knew something. I felt something when I was with all of them. I had to find out what was going on.
“You don’t look
excited.” Lu’s smile deflated. “What is it?” He watched me, his eyes scrutinizing my every cell. “You need more medication.” He reached into his pocket and removed the little golden box. “Here, take these and we’ll have a nice hot bath.” He placed the two pills into my palm and went into the bathroom. Returning, he held a glass of water. His eyes watched me like a hawk and I lifted the pills to my mouth.
“They’re terrible,” I mumbled and took the water glass from him.
“They are necessary, my love. Don’t fuss.”
He watched my mouth, unconsciously chewing his bottom lip. He looked nervous. That chorus of voices in my head screamed out their warning and I stopped before the pills went down. I closed my eyes, unsure of what to do, when all of a sudden the pills were magically no longer inside my mouth. I opened my eyes in shock and swallowed the mouthful of water I had been holding.
I opened my mouth. “There, all gone.”
I smiled as Lu’s shoulders visibly relaxed. He took my hand.
“Now we can relax, my love.”
I was reeling. What just happened? He was acting like he’d just roofied me or something. The delight on his face after he believed I’d swallowed those horrid pills made me want to run from the room. I knew it wasn’t about sex. We had no worries with that at all. So why in hell would he want to drug me?
EIGHT
“Grace? Finally, you have come!”
“Adam?”
I turned toward the voice. Wait, he wasn’t the same man.
“Who are you?”
I stumbled backward. It was Adam, but not. He was pale, his silver eyes shone like polished mirrors.
I looked at him. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.
“I know you?”
“Yes, Sweet. You most definitely do.”
He smiled, his teeth ran out to form stark white points.
Vampire?
I smiled, feeling no fear.
I watched him as he closed the distance between us. I reached out. He took my arm, pulling me into his embrace. I drew in a deep, cleansing breath. His scent filled my body, enveloped my mind. Oh, yes. He was my home.
“Seth?” I cried and pulled away to look at his face in wonder. He closed in, his lips inviting me to taste. I wanted his mouth on mine.
“I knew you would remember. I felt it. We will never truly be apart.”
…Remember? I can’t, he will never allow it.
“You traitorous whore!” My head ripped back, I screamed and grabbed my hair as Lu’s face filled the vision forcing the other man out.
“I don’t know how you’ve been pulling it off, but you will swallow these fucking things, even if I have to shove them down your treacherous little throat!” He roared his hands shaking with fury.
The bitter taste of Lu’s disgusting pills seared my tongue as he shoved them into my mouth. He moved his heavy body on top of mine, pinning me to the floor. His mouth latched onto mine, his tongue shoving the pills deeper into my throat. I gagged and coughed trying to breathe around his serpent tongue. I began to choke and still he forced them down. I felt them pop. The thick liquid burned my throat as it slid slowly down. I swallowed, hissing as he sucked my tongue into his mouth.
“You will fucking obey me, Grace.” He tore my clothing, adjusting his weight on my body. “Even in your dreams, you will fucking obey.” I closed my eyes as he kissed my tear stained face.
***
“No. she’s still sleeping. I’ll send for you a little later. She had a rather rough evening. No, just a few nightmares I think. Yes, as I said, later.”
He placed the phone quietly on the table and then turned and met my tired eyes. I felt a sudden jolt, my stomach tightened.
Damn, I needed to remember something urgent but it passed as soon as it had come.
“Good morning, my beauty. Are you feeling better?” He walked slowly toward the bed, a vision of masculine beauty in his thin pajama pants and bare chest.
I stretched and rolled to the side. I was sore from his attentions in the tub last night, and my throat hurt, which was baffling because I didn’t remember...
Well, my mind was cloudy. I frowned.
Sitting up, I yawned. “What time is it?”
He smiled and leaned forward, kissing me. I laughed and pushed his chest.
“Again? I can barely move this morning you insatiable man.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close. It was then that I saw it. Another tiny, silver bud had bloomed on the vine on my wrist.
I shrank back in horror. He smiled and shook his head.
“You really shouldn’t drink so much in Reno, my love. Tattoo parlors are like weeds. Let me see your latest?” He reached for my arm and I blindly followed his movements.
No way. I thought.
“When did I have the time to do this?” I demanded, watching him study the art, a smile of appreciation painted on his face.
“After we went to dinner last night. I couldn’t persuade you not to. You insisted. I must say it is lovely, so of course I got one to match.” He showed me his wrist and among the vines and poky things, sat a single, fully-bloomed rose. It was so innocent sitting there among the thorns, at home in a sea of danger. I sighed and looked at my tiny rose and tried to pull the memory from my damaged mind.
“Last night?” I scratched my head, wincing at the dull ache I found there. “I don’t remember.” I closed my eyes and fell back onto the bed. “I’m sorry.” I rubbed my throat.
He laughed, his muscular neck sweeping back. “Oh, my Alice. My dearest Alice. When we are wed again, I promise things will be different. Once at my home, our home, you will be treated like a queen. You will never have to worry about anything ever again. Our servants will bow at your feet and I will forever be at your side. At the snap of your fingers, your every need will be met.”
I looked at him, a laugh bubbled up and I shook my head. He frowned.
“You’re serious?” I laughed again and he stopped moving to get off of the bed and looked at me.
“You honestly think I want all of that? Why on earth would I want that? I’m not an invalid or some pampered princess. I may not remember who I am, but I know in my heart that living like some kind of spoiled brat is not the life I want.”
His brows lowered. “What do you mean? Every woman wants to be pampered and prized. Every female wishes to be a queen. I can give you all of that. Every woman I have ever known has wanted the world at her feet! Why are you being difficult?” He was genuinely confused.
“Really? Wow, you must have had a pretty shitty love life back then. I guess it’s good that I don’t remember what you must have gone through. They sound perfectly terrible.” I went to place my hand on his shoulder and he flinched back.
“I want none of your pity,” he spat. “The women in my past are who define the rest of you. Believe me, there have been plenty and they were all the same.” He shook his head, his lip curling in disgust. “You say you don’t want these things, but inside you know you are just as greedy and selfish as every other whore out there.”
I goggled. “Who the hell are you? I’ve never needed those things!” I shouted. “After all of these years together you should know me.” I tried to calm my voice. “All I want is the freedom to enjoy my life. The freedom to be myself.”
His shoulders stiffened. “Freedom?” he spat. “You mean freedom from me! You are a fool, you can’t even remember last fucking night and yet you think you know what you want!”
I shrank back, stunned. Where was this coming from? I hadn’t meant to make him so furious.
He shoved off the bed. “Why the hell do you think I have worked so hard?” His skin was beginning to take on a reddish flush as he grew more and more angry. “I have abandoned an entire world to be here with you!” he spun. “I have legions to command and I have tossed it all aside for you!” He leaned close, his face twisting with anger. “I am ignoring everything in order to make you happy, so when we return, you will have the life that I
chose for you!”
What the fuck? An entire world and… Legions? What the hell was he saying? I felt my stomach tighten as his beautiful face became more and more alien with anger.
He pointed his finger at me. “You will take everything I choose to fucking give and you will drop to your fucking knees and thank me for it! I will not be denied, Madea! Not this close!”
His words hit me like lightening. A shock of recognition coursed through my body.
“What did you just say?” I whispered as chills raced along my skin.
That word was a bolt to my brain. Madea. Voices began to chatter in my mind. He was keeping so much from me. What was he saying? I knew there was so much more. God, so many lies. I was shaking with anger. I stood. Fisting my hands at my sides I took a step closer to him. “Now that you have had your say, let me clue you in on a few things.” My voice was low and steady.
He curled his lip and folded his arms across his chest. “Please, enlighten me with your muddled, female prattle.” He sneered, looking down his nose.
The air around me chilled and I smiled. “You know nothing about me. The mewling, little bride you’ve been bossing around has left the building. You say we must restore my memories? Well, my darling, I sort of understand why I’ve chosen to block them out.” My hair began to lift from my shoulders and I shook it, feeling for the first time that I was coming out of my trance.
He slowly lowered his arms to his sides, his eyes focused on my hair as it snaked around my shoulders with a life of its own. My eyes felt hot as my vision sharpened. He took a step back, his face no longer the arrogant mask of superiority.
“You’ve been lying to me, Lu. I feel it. Now it’s time for you to cough up the God-damned truth.” I took a step toward him. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Something in the air shifted, he lowered his chin, his eyes focusing on mine like a cobra on a mouse.
“Well, now,” he snarled as his eyes bled crimson. “I certainly can’t have that, can I?” I sucked in my breath and fell backward in terror. He smiled and I scrambled back, my feet sliding as I tried to get away.