Love at Stake Deleted Scenes

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  Our first night in New Orleans, Beauregard kept me on the riverboat and asked me if I would stay with him forever. Naturally, I thought he meant sixty years or so. And I thought he was proposing marriage. I was so deeply in love that I agreed. He transformed me that night.

  The next night, I was shocked to learn that I was supposed to go out and bite some poor unsuspecting person’s neck! And if that wasn’t bad enough, Beauregard took me to his mansion and introduced me to his harem! He was coven master of New Orleans with a harem of eight women, including me. Well, I can say I was a bit miffed. After all, I had thought I was special to him. Of course, he claimed we were all special. André assured me that I would soon adjust, and that I should be happy to be young and beautiful forever.

  Beauregard continued to have trouble keeping his trousers on and made another vampire very angry when he tried to seduce his woman. It was a stupid thing for Beauregard to do. Everyone knew that Giselle was Colbert GrandPied’s woman. Colbert challenged Beauregard to a duel, and my poor Beauregard ended up a pile of dust. It was a terrible scandal. A new coven master had to be found, and I didn’t care for him at all. I just wanted to run away, but where could I go? And how?

  I turned to André for help, and we came up with a dastardly plan. I wanted to leave, and André wanted his freedom. With Beauregard gone, no one had claimed ownership to his riverboat. So, André and I ran off with it! It was difficult traveling because of the unpleasantness between the States. And we didn’t have any help on the riverboat until André came up with another plan. We stopped at ports along the Gulf and absconded with runaway slaves. They helped us make the journey all the way up the coast to New York City. There, André and his merry gang of runaways sold the boat and divided up the money. I was sorry to see André go. He’d been a true friend. But he no longer wanted any part of the vampire world. During the voyage, he’d fallen in love with a lovely maid from Savannah, and they wanted to have a happy mortal life together.

  I was all alone in a strange city, but luckily, I found the coven master of East Coast Vampires and he agreed to take me in as one of his harem. He was a kindly older gentleman who took good care of us. I’ve never had to take care of myself before, so I would like to find a new master on this reality show.

  VAMPS AND THE CITY

  DELETED SCENES

  HAREM STORIES

  VANDA

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  On page 141 of Vamps and the City, Darcy interviews each of the five harem ladies. The interviews were later edited into the reality show. Vanda’s interview was scheduled to appear on the fourth show, the night she judged the men in the hot tub (page 268).

  Darcy: Hey, Vanda, tell us about yourself.

  Vanda: Sure. My name is Vanda Barkowski. I was born in 1917 in a village in Poland just south of Krakow. Times were tough. I came from a large family, and there was never enough food. My father’s answer to that was to marry off all his daughters the minute we turned fifteen. I resisted. I wasn’t interested in any of the men from the village. I wanted a more exciting life than that.

  I guess I got what I wished for. In 1935, my mother died, and since I was the oldest unmarried daughter, I became a mother to my younger brothers and sisters. In 1939, the Germans invaded, and the Russians did, too. They sliced up our country like a loaf of bread.

  When the German tanks moved toward our village, the men prepared a resistance. My father and brothers joined them. My father urged me to escape with my two younger sisters. I packed some food, and we fled south to the Carpathian Mountains. I’d been there before, and I knew there were some caves where we could hide. I...never saw my father or brothers again.

  The trip was very hard on my thirteen-year-old sister. By the time I found a shallow cave, Frieda could barely walk. I used the last of our water and food to try to strengthen her. My fifteen-year-old sister, Marta, went off in search of water and didn’t return. I wanted to search for her, but I was afraid if I left my youngest sister, she would die. Finally, though, I had to leave. We needed water. As I traveled, I searched for Marta, but couldn’t find her. I did find a stream, so I filled our water bags. I was headed back to our cave when night fell.

  When Marta stepped from the shadows, I was so happy to see her. I ran toward her. But she just stood there, so pale, with an odd look on her face. I asked her what was wrong.

  She swooshed toward me so fast, I didn’t realize what was happening. She knocked me down and sank her fangs into my neck. I was barely conscious when she carried me--she was suddenly very strong--to a deep cave and introduced me to the vampire who had transformed her. Sigismund. He transformed me that night.

  The next evening, I was still reeling in shock from what had happened. But I rushed back to my little sister to see how she was. She had died. All alone.

  Marta was madly in love with Sigismund, but I didn’t share in those feelings. I always blamed him and Marta for Frieda’s death. And then, there was the hunger that plagued me every night. I soon found a good purpose for it, though. I fed off Nazis and left many of them to die in southern Poland.

  After the war, I decided to leave. Too many bad memories. Besides, Sigismund and Marta were very happy together, and I felt like a third wheel. I journeyed to Paris and found more of our kind there. Eventually, I came to America. My life had been difficult up to that point, so I joined the harem here, thinking it would be wonderful to just relax and have someone take care of me for a while.

  Now, I’m going to be on a television show, and I’m real excited about that. When I think back on my life, I realize I was a lot tougher than I ever thought. So now, I’m not so sure I actually need a master. I guess I’ll find out.

  BE STILL MY VAMPIRE HEART

  DELETED SCENE

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  In the original version, Angus didn’t immediately release his harem after Emma’s transformation into a vampire. He believed she would want to transform back to a mortal. But Emma decided to stay as she was, and she went looking for Angus. Giacomo (Jack) and Robby took her to Angus’s castle in Scotland, and there she discovered for the first time, that he has a harem.

  “Harem?” Emma stormed into the Great Hall of Angus’ castle. “He has a harem?” Her strident voice echoed off the high-vaulted ceiling.

  “Now, now, bellissima.” Giacomo followed her. “As far as harems go, this is one is very small.”

  She whirled to face him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He gave her a wide-eyed innocent look. “Is it important?”

  “Of course!” She narrowed her eyes. “You rascal. You wanted to see how I would react.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “Amore is so exciting.”

  She glared at Giacomo, then switched her glare to Robby as he slinked from the parlor where the infamous harem was holding court. “And you! You could have warned me. Or did you come for the fireworks like Giacomo?”

  Robby gave her a sheepish look. “I wanted to make sure you dinna kill them.”

  Emma huffed. “I don’t want to kill them. I want to kill Angus!”

  Giacomo grinned. “What a shame he is not here.”

  “It’s not funny, Jack.” Emma rubbed her brow. She was getting a headache. Four harem women! She’d gotten her hopes up about seeing Angus, but all she’d found was four harem women.

  She paced across the stone-flagged floor. Her athletic shoes made little squeaky noises, and her head throbbed. Her fencing uniform itched. She glared at the parlor. Just moments ago, she’d waltzed inside there and cheerfully introduced herself to the four vampire women. Then, they’d cheerfully introduced themselves as Angus’ harem.

  Shit! She wanted to rip the tapestries off the walls or knock down the suits of armor. Was this why Angus was avoiding her? Was he afraid to admit he had a harem? Or did he prefer them to her?

  “He should have told me. Somewhere in the course of our relationship, he should have said, ‘By the way, I have four women stashed away in my castle.’” Emma
kicked a suit of armor in the shin and left a dent. “Why does he have a harem?”

  “It’s a tradition,” Giacomo explained. “All the coven masters have one.”

  “Like owning a luxury car?” Emma growled.

  “The British harem has been in existence for over five hundred years,” Robby added proudly. “Angus inherited them when he became the British coven master in 1950.”

  “He’s been with those women since 1950?” Good heavens, that was before she was born. Emma kicked another suit of armor in the foot. It rattled, but didn’t fall down. She’d have to kick it harder next time.

  Robby winced. “This is no’ something Angus could help. The harem came with the position. And Angus was so honored to become coven master. He’s the first Scotsman to ever have the position.”

  “Whoopi-do.” Emma paced about the Great Hall. She recalled the vampire reality show Austin had participated in. Those women had been Roman Draganesti’s ex-harem. It was probably true that coven masters inherited harems. But that didn’t make this any easier to accept. “He should have told me.”

  “I doubt they ever crossed his mind,” Robby said. “He hasna been here in ten years.”

  She halted in mid-stride. “You mean he doesn’t...require their services?”

  Robby shifted uncomfortably. “I doona know the details of his personal life.”

  “We know the facts.” Giacomo settled on a brocade settee next to the grand staircase. “He brought them here in 1950, and he has rarely returned.”

  Robby nodded. “And there used to be ten, I believe.”

  “Ten women?” Emma asked.

  “Actually, I think Angus only inherited seven.” Robby leaned against the wood paneling and crossed his arms. “During World War II, the coven was in London during the bombing. Two of the women left for fear of getting killed. And Princess Joanna left when Angus became master. She claimed he was a barbarian.”

  Emma shook her head, finding this all hard to believe. “So he inherited seven, but now, there are four. What happened?”

  Giacomo shrugged. “The women want amore. They fell in love with other men and moved away.”

  “Angus didn’t mind?” Emma felt a kernel of hope.

  “Nay. He was uncomfortable with so many women,” Robby said.

  Giacomo snorted. “That is because he doesn’t understand them. The women want attention, a few gifts, something to make them feel special.”

  Emma slanted him a wry look. “I suppose you could handle a harem just fine?”

  He grinned. “Of course. But Angus made a tragic mistake. He took the lovely women away from the parties and excitement of London and stuck them here in this moldy pile of stone. It’s a wonder they haven’t died of neglect.”

  Neglect. Emma could relate to that. “He shouldn’t treat women that way.”

  Giacomo’s eyes twinkled. “Perhaps he should be taught a lesson.”

  Robby scoffed. “He’s your boss, Jack.”

  Giacomo waved a hand in the air. “I serve amore first. And if Angus needs a lesson in love, I believe our dear bellissima is just the one to deliver it.”

  “You may be right.” A plan took seed in Emma’s mind. But she was going to have to interview the harem first. She took a deep breath and wandered back into the parlor.

  “Would ye like a cup of warm Chocolood?” Fiona asked.

  “Yes, thank you.” Emma perched on a settee next to Fiona and accepted the porcelain cup and saucer.

  Cecily eyed her over the top of her knitting. “You are very young, are you not?”

  “Twenty-eight.” Emma sipped the warm mixture of synthetic blood and chocolate.

  “You poor gel.” Elizabeth gave her snooty look. “You have missed so much history. The past was so exciting.”

  Cecily lowered her knitting to her lap. “Remember the balls we used to attend? The beautiful gowns and lovely music?”

  Elizabeth sighed. “I especially adored the Regency period. Everyone was so polite and well-mannered.”

  “You mean stuffy.” Cecily shuddered, and her blond ringlets trembled. “I much preferred the balls during the Restoration. Everyone was so wild and free! And our master then, he was so gallant. What was his name?”

  Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, trying to remember. “Buckley?”

  “Berkely,” Mary muttered as she worked on her needlepoint. “He said I was too plain.”

  “How rude,” Elizabeth huffed.

  Mary shrugged. “He left me alone. I prefer to be left alone.”

  “Not me.” Fiona sipped from her cup of Chocolood. “I want to meet a handsome young man who will sweep me off my feet.”

  “Yes, we know.” Elizabeth stifled a yawn. “You’ve been saying that for three hundred years.”

  “And it’s not likely to happen here.” Cecily resumed her knitting. “We might as well be dead.”

  “Och, doona say that.” Fiona lowered her cup with a forlorn look.

  “We don’t mean to complain,” Elizabeth told Emma. “Angus isn’t really so bad. He makes sure we have plenty of clothes.”

  “And yarn,” Cecily added.

  “But we are bored out of our minds.” Mary punched a needle through her floral needlepoint design.

  “You have no...romantic interest in Angus?” Emma asked.

  “Lord, no.” Elizabeth frowned. “He’s rather primitive, don’t you think?”

  Mary shuddered. “He frightens me. He’s always scowling.”

  Fiona sighed. “He doesna like us much, I’m afraid.”

  Cecily nodded. “I even offered to knit him a sweater, but he said no. He prefers to pay some mortal women to do it.”

  Elizabeth snorted. “How rude.”

  Cecily set her knitting aside. “You’re the first company we’ve had in ages.”

  “Then we must celebrate.” Giacomo sauntered over to the CD player and flipped through the music selection. “A-ha! The Viennese waltz. Would one of you lovely ladies care to dance?”

  “Oh, I would!” Fiona set her cup on the dainty coffee table. She stood and smoothed down her Regency-styled gown.

  Giacomo led her to the open area of the parlor. Robby escorted Cecily, and they all began to swirl around the room.

  As Emma watched, her plan grew in her mind. She turned to Mary and Elizabeth. “Do you know a vampire solicitor?”

  Elizabeth tilted her head. “I don’t, but Susannah might know one. She used to be part of the harem, but she left to live with Peter in London.”

  “Do you have her phone number? Could you call her?” Emma asked.

  An hour later, a vampire solicitor from London teleported to the castle. Emma left the harem dancing with Jack and Robby, and took Mr. Darnley into the library to explain her plan.

  He lounged in the chair behind the desk and crossed his hands over his ample belly. “You must understand, Miss Wallace, that I am a loyal member of the British coven. What’s more, Angus MacKay is our coven master. Are you really expecting me to cause trouble for my master?”

  Emma bit her lip. “I’ll pay twice your normal rate.”

  Darnley’s eyes brightened. “All right, then. Let’s get the bastard.”

  Sexiest Vampire Alive,

  The Engagement Party

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  Engagement Party for Gregori and Abby!

  “This is Corky Courrant, reporting for Live with the Undead, the most popular show on the Digital Vampire Network.” She smiles for the camera as she opens a door. “As you can see, we are now entering Romatech Industries where guests have arrived for the engagement party of Gregori Holstein and Abigail Tucker.”

  She pauses to give the camera a forlorn look. “Yes, dear viewers, it is true. Another one of our sexy male vampires is no longer an eligible bachelor. Gregori Holstein has been ensnared by one of those conniving mortal wenches. Those hot-blooded human floozies should leave our men alone!”

  She marches into the foyer and peers into the ballroom. “The party ap
pears to be in full swing. Lots of people invited. My invitation appears to have been lost in the mail, but I’m sure everyone will be delighted to see us here. This is the biggest social event of the year in the vampire world, so it is my duty as a professional journalist to cover this event and report back to you, my dear viewers.”

  She enters the ballroom and the camera pans over the area, then returns to her as she wrinkles her nose. “Some of the male guests are wearing those ridiculous kilts. But still, it’s not too bad of a party. I’ve seen worse. During the Spanish Inquisition.”

  She points toward the refreshment table. “I like the ice sculpture of Cupid shooting an arrow. Did you see the large banner on the wall that says ‘Gregori finally Grows Up!’ And there’s another one—‘The Mighty Gregori has Fallen!’ I suppose his friends are teasing him. Humph. Some friends. But what would you expect from barbarians who still wear kilts?”

  She shudders. “What is that awful noise? Quite frankly, I am shocked. Gregori has always had such marvelous taste in clothes. I can’t fathom that he would actually like this horrid music. Ah, my cameraman has informed me that it’s called Disco.”

  She gestures toward the dance floor. “And there’s Gregori now, dancing with his fiancée. Hmm, she seems a little short, don’t you think? What on earth does he see in her?” She motions for the cameraman to draw close. “I suspect this is not a love match. I hear Abigail Tucker is actually the daughter of the current American president, so the match may be politically motivated. It would certainly explain why Gregori was so quick to pop the question.”

  “Ah, here’s one of the guests approaching us now.” Corky waves over a well-dressed, older woman. “Would you care to comment for our show, Live with the Undead? Tell me-- are you surprised that Gregori Holstein, the most notorious playboy of the vampire world, is getting married?”