by Alisha Basso
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. His hands were everywhere. I was incapable of speech. My mind was drugged with lust. I pulled him to me. He bared his teeth and turned me around. Pushing my head down to the mattress he snaked an arm around my waist and jerked my hips up. I was on my knees; Seth nestled closely behind me. The soft strands of his long hair swept along my back and thighs. I gripped the sheets in tight fists and bit my lip as he entered me from behind. His teeth entered my shoulder, the sharp sting of pain masked by my intense pleasure. My orgasm ripped through me and I collapsed into the bed, my face buried in the soft fabric.
NINETEEN
I was breathless. Sleep threatened to claim my sated body. Seth was lying on his side, tracing slow circles on my back.
My mind had cleared long ago, and the realization of what I had done began to beat at my mind. I knew it was his wish. But I also knew it was what my body wanted. I could rant and rave, yell and cry foul. But it was a lie. I knew I wanted him and he knew I wanted him. The game I was playing was a farce and I was almost as ashamed of that as I was the rest of it. From the first moment I saw him, I wanted to feel his naked weight, slide my fingers through all that glorious blue-black hair and feel it sweeping along my body as he moved.
What the hell was wrong with me?
“You are so quiet, Sweet, are you coming back to yourself?” he whispered softly.
He sounded so calm, satisfied.
“Yes, I’m feeling like myself and you don’t have to tell me. This was my own lusty mind that jumped all over you. I know, I admit it. I lust after you. Sex with you is like a day at the sex circus, one thrill after another. You have ruined me for all other men, mortal and immortal alike, okay? Are you happy now?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I rolled over, glaring at him. “Yes? That’s just great. So now what? You’ve proven to me and yourself that I want you, but that doesn’t mean I like you, because I don’t. And the only reason I had sex with you was because I was compelled to. You never would have gotten me into bed at all if it weren’t for the ring, so remember that, Mr. Ego.”
As lies went, it was pretty sad.
As usual, he ignored me. “Your scent drives me wild, and now that I have tasted all of you, I fear I have become addicted.” He rolled over and took my hand. “You will be moved to my private quarters." He pressed a kiss to my knuckles. “You will stay with me. I want you by my side when I wake.”
I jerked my hand away. “Like hell, Seth! I’m not sleeping with you! Don’t you die during the day? Do you want to drive me insane? I think I’ll stay here, thank you very much.” I was severely freaked out. No way was I slumbering next to a dead man. Then I had a flash of intelligence. God, I could be so stupid. If I slept with him, I could steal the ring back.
He watched me like I was a bug under glass.
“I know what you’re thinking, Grace. Do you honestly think I am fool enough to allow the ring to be taken again?”
Shit, shit, shit.
“What do you mean?” I tried to sound innocent and failed miserably.
“The decision is made,” he said, ignoring my pathetic attempt at naïveté. “Now come, we have a big night ahead of us.” He rose off the bed, still gloriously nude. Clearly, this was a man who never felt bad about his body. His muscles bunched and rippled as he moved.
I got up slowly. My body aching from the merciless pounding I experienced only moments before. “What do you mean a big night? Isn’t the sun coming up soon?” I was beginning to hate this windowless room. I had no concept of time. “Just what time is it?” I asked.
“You must be prepared,” he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “You are the guest of honor at my celebration.”
“Celebration?” Now I was really confused.
“Yes, sweet, my people are gathering to celebrate my success in acquiring the Madea. All of my people will be here to show their fealty to me. I am now more feared than any other being in this world or any other. You should bathe again. I will send Nadia to assist you.”
He strode to the door, mindless of his nudity. Before he stepped out, I yelled, “I don’t need help bathing. I’m fully aware of how the soap works.”
“You will need assistance with your gown. It is… complicated.” With that vague statement, he swept through the door, shutting it quietly behind him.
I walked back to the shower. It looked inviting, but I needed a bath. My poor body needed a good soaking.
The tub was modern and very deep. I turned on the taps and pressed the stopper down. The collection of soaps and oils was unusual. The labels were in some funky language I didn’t understand, so, I was forced to smell all of them to decide which one I wanted to use. I settled on a spicy lavender scent. Pouring the soap into the stream of water, the bubbles began to grow.
I went to the little room that housed the toilet and took care of some much needed business. While I sat, my mind recalled this wild night. I wasn’t going to scold myself anymore. I knew my situation was pretty much hopeless. Unless I could get my friends out of here, or somehow steal the ring back, I was stuck. I knew I certainly couldn’t beat him up for it.
The water was rising, the bubbles billowing. I turned off the taps and gingerly stepped into the hot tub. I was amazed how hot the water was considering the shower ran entirely too long. If I were at home, a twenty-minute shower would have depleted my entire hot water supply for the next few hours.
The bath felt soothing. I ran my hands over my newly acquired bites and grimaced. I wondered if Seth was using me as his soul source of nourishment. I should be dead with all the blood I was missing. I wondered if being a Madea had anything to do with my endurance.
I soaked for a long time, until my skin started pruning. I was about to get out when a bright and cheery voice came floating in from the bedroom.
“Hello, dear, it’s Nadia.” She came bustling into the room, a whirlwind of motion. She was carrying a huge, black terry cloth towel. I stood, reaching for the towel when she walked right up to me and wrapped me up like a human burrito. I was bewildered. She didn’t seem at all embarrassed at tending to a completely naked woman.
I followed her rushing form into the bedroom.
“Uh… Nadia?” I asked as I stood by the bed.
She was spreading out a billowy black gown, some shocking underwear, thigh-high stockings and garters. All of this was, of course, in black.
“What is all of this?” I asked her as she pulled the towel from my body.
She ignored me as she patted the towel over my wet limbs. I just stood there like a lump, letting her manhandle me. Then, she led me over to the foot of the bed and started drying my hair with a smaller black towel.
“Oh my! You poor dear, he has left his mark on you, hasn’t he?” Her cool fingers traced the bite marks on my back and I flinched. I was now aware that this nice old lady knew exactly how I came to be here. “You are well and truly his now. I’m so pleased.” And she was happy about it.
“Well, I’m glad one of us is pleased. Not that I’m agreeing to the ‘truly his’ part, I think we’ll just agree to disagree on that one.”
She gave me a motherly smile as she faced me. “You will understand the way of things soon enough.” She patted my cheek. “Now, you are very pale, so you must eat first; then we’ll get you ready.”
She led me to a tray at the side table. Another pile of bloody red meat sat piled among a feast of vegetables. Yeah, now I understood. My iron supply needed a huge pick-me-up, but the sight of all the red fleshy juices made me a little ill. I took a few small bites and a few sips of sweet tea that Nadia poured for me.
I was surprised that my blood loss wasn’t making me ravenous. Pushing the plate away, I was led away yet again by Seth’s motherly assistant.
I sat at a small vanity near the bed. She began running an old fashioned comb through my long hair, gingerly untangling the thick strands with the patience of a saint. After what seemed like an
hour, my hair was silky soft and full from the blow dryer.
“Seth requested that you wear your hair up for tonight’s formal affair. He feels it will be more elegant.” She began taking pieces of my hair and twisting them into a complicated style atop my head.
By the time she was finished, my hair looked absolutely spectacular. The long, dark locks were styled in a way that I had never before thought possible. The front of my hair was parted slightly to the side, with a large piece pulled lower to frame my forehead. Small knots and braids formed a series of loops that were gathered at the back of my head. A single long tendril was left loose to delicately curl at my breast.
I was shocked by her abilities and quickness as I watched her apply my makeup. Pulling several containers and vials from one of the small drawers in the vanity with a practiced efficiency I’d come to expect from her, and in no time, she was finished.
My face was striking. Wow! I cleaned up nice. My lips were cherry red. It was the perfect shade for my fair complexion. My green eyes looked huge. She’d shaded them with a dark moss color and lined them in a dark brown. My eyelashes looked very thick and lush.
I stood, admiring my hair and makeup, mindless of my still nude body, but Nadia, being who she was, soon whisked me back to the bed and began to dress me. I put on the black thong underwear and garters, while she fiddled with the stockings. Soon my lower half was dressed.
Nadia held up the dress. It was peculiar looking. The skirt was very long and full with a small bustle at the back. It had a short train that fell to the ground in pleats. The top was a tight bodice with several thin leather straps that puzzled me greatly.
She helped me step into the heavy garment. It was soft and felt cool against my skin as she pulled it up. She stood behind me, fastening the hooks that closed the back. I felt like Scarlett O’Hara getting poured into a corset. The leather top fit snugly, shoving my breasts together and lifting them high. The long leather straps were fastened in a crisscrossing pattern across my shoulders. It was a little gothic, but somehow elegant at the same time. Nadia slid my feet into a pair of impossibly high shoes and I teetered my way to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
I looked like a cross between a Playboy centerfold and the Bride of Dracula. I stepped closer, the long dress trailing behind me as I walked. It was then that I realized what the hair and dress were meant to accentuate.
Each and every bite Seth placed on my body was featured in the openings of the leather straps, like little picture frames across my breasts and back. They stood out like big signs that announced to the world, Seth was here.
“You look lovely, dear. I know Mr. McPhee will be immensely pleased.” She patted my cheek again and turned toward the door. Before she left the room, she turned to me. “You will stay until you are escorted to the floor. Then you will be presented to the coven and shall take your place at our Lord’s side.” She smiled reassuringly then shut the door on her way out.
I walked to the mirror. I traced the small punctures on my breasts. They were red against the white of my skin and painful looking. I had more bites than I remembered receiving. Two stood high on the round swell of my left breast, but the bite by my nipple was mercifully spared scrutiny.
The first bite I received had already faded more than the others on my neck. I turned and looked over my shoulder. I had one bite on my shoulder and two a little lower on my back.
I sighed. It would be obvious to everyone that Seth and I had been intimate. There were too many bites in strange places not to suggest sex. I wanted to cover them up, but I knew doing such a thing might anger him. I feared he might hurt one of my friends, or according to that blond monster, give me to another vamp just to teach me a lesson. That was something I was not willing to chance.
TWENTY
I was pacing, the skinny heels of my shoes sank into the thick carpeting. I hated waiting. Damn, didn’t it take me long enough to get ready? I would have thought they would be standing at my door, tapping their toes with impatience.
Then finally, the door opened. I turned to see who would escort me to the party.
“Oh great, it's you two,” I whined, as Eden and Ael entered the room.
“Miss Allen, how delicious you look. I am so happy to see you up and about,” Ael sure was talkative. I knew it wasn’t Eden, only because he was glaring at me as if I were the devil. His stare was so intense; it made me fidget a little.
“We came to escort you to the celebration,” Eden finally spoke, his eyes losing some of their venom. His voice was gravelly, much deeper sounding than Ael’s, “You will come without a scene?” He held his hand out. I stepped back.
“You won’t try anything funny?” I asked, scared out of my wits. I observed his handsome visage; which was identical to his brother’s. Their attire was modern and much different from the last time I saw them. They both wore suits of burgundy silk that matched their hair perfectly, making it difficult to distinguish where the hair ended and the suits began.
They were incredibly good looking, but still no match for the raw masculinity of Seth, or Lucian, for that matter.
Thinking about Lucian made me steel my resolve. I stepped close to Eden and placed my hand in his. Plastering a smile on my face, I tried to be the picture of acquiescence. Ael quickly took my other arm and they led me through the door and into the long hall. I was tense, my mind on alert. Damn, of all the people to escort me anywhere, these two had to be the worst choice. Eden was breathing down my neck and Ael had a death grip on my arm that was sure to leave dents.
“Ease up a bit, guys! I’m not going anywhere.” I stopped walking, only to be dragged into step with them again.
“We must arrive with you promptly. Any delay will arouse Seth’s anger.” Ael sounded as if that were the worst thing ever. “He is testing us,” Eden sneered. “Behave,” he says, “as if we were dogs!”
They pulled me along for several more feet until we came to a halt in front of a pair of large doors. They opened to reveal the interior of an elevator. I remained quiet as we stepped in and descended. The doors opened and we entered a small room. It was Eden who broke the silence. ”We must wait to be announced; the crowd is in an uproar. They are all anxious to meet The Madea,” he sneered, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
My nerves danced wildly, making me shiver, I certainly wasn’t ready to be shoved in front of dozens of vampires and Lord only knew what else!
“Are you ready, beauty?” Eden leaned in and pressed his lips to my neck. The kiss was so quick; I barely had time to react. I turned my angry eyes to him a moment before a small door opened to our right. The twins led me through the door and I instantly knew where I was. It was the gaudy room where they had kept Ann. My God, how big was this place? This was not what I was expecting. I tried to control my fear, only to end up shaking in my strappy heels at the roar of conversations coming from the other side of the curtains.
I heard a woman’s voice booming over the din, which sounded very familiar. I had a pretty good idea it was my favorite little pixie. My nerves were willing me to make a run for it. Ael seemed to sense my tension and placed his hand on the small of my back. I heard the crowd cheering and suddenly, he pushed me hard through the curtains. I stumbled out. The light radiating from what seemed to be a hundred fires blinded me.
A warm hand grasped my arm in a familiar hold. The scent of spice filled my nostrils and I knew Seth was just handed my proverbial leash. My eyes adjusted to the light and I was able to see into the crowd. I was shocked. I expected to see a few dozen people, but the hall was filled with what appeared to be a few hundred.
A hush fell over the room as I was pulled forward by Seth’s strong grip. I looked around; we were on a large stage. In the center sat a huge throne gilded in gold. Black satin cushions made it look like a throne straight from hell. Several flat, golden pillows were scattered around the bottom of the flashy seat. I tried to take a step back. I would not sit at his feet like a goddamned Pomer
anian! My eyes scanned the rest of the room. People and other things milled about in huge groups. Some were staring at me, while others were staring at Seth. I let my eyes wander around the rest of the room, only to land on another view from a nightmare.
In the center of the room was a small round platform. It was about three feet off the ground and maybe five feet wide. A slender, white pillar rose from its center, shooting high into the ceiling, and a large ring hung about three quarters down. Long, white chains were looped through the center and shackled to them were my friends.
“Oh no.” I whimpered. They looked like they were waiting to be sacrificed to King Kong or the Kraken.
I quickly stifled a gasp and tried to jerk my arm out of Seth’s grasp, causing him to snap me to his side, a warning I knew and I looked at my feet.
We moved to the throne while the room continued to murmur. I spotted Chloe; she glared at me for a split second before she turned to the crowd once again. “Behold the slave, Madea.” She motioned towards me as her sneer resonated loudly throughout the room. I felt every eye slide over my skin. Ice water filled my veins and I was startlingly close to hurling all over the overdone chair. That would dampen the evening a little, I think.
The crowd burst into turbulent applause. The joyous cries of Seth’s loyal coven were surely the sounds of purest hell. Seth hugged me close, and then released me, keeping a hand on my arm. As if I could get away with this many monsters in the room? I’m optimistic, not stupid.
I turned my gaze to him. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and his hair was pulled tightly back from his face. He had it folded in a way that made it appear much shorter. My gaze traveled to his face. As always, he was startling in his beauty. He dripped sophistication and elegance as much as he threatened danger and death. Then his eyes met mine, shocking me. I was stunned to discover that they were silver and shone like mercury. What the hell had happened to him? I tried to pull away. His transformation fueled my fear.