She wondered how the rest of the evening had gone for Bethany and Jeff, and where Thomas had disappeared to. Though he had not called her back, she could not imagine he wanted her just for sex. They had been friends, and though he was a great lover, he paled after her night with Christian. She washed her hair with something that smelled like grapefruit, and then grabbed one of the thick black bath towels. After putting on a body lotion that smelled like lavender, Amanda went to find some clothes.
She rummaged through the neatly stacked jeans, shirts, and sweaters, but she could not decide what to wear. How could he know my tastes? She settled on a pair of black jeans, a white boat neck sweater, and a short gray woolen jacket. He had socks, underclothes, and several pairs of boots for her as well. She got dressed quickly, and then went back into the bathroom to blow dry her hair. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was after three. She checked her messages and decided to call Bethany and check in with her. While she was dialing, she remembered the card accompanying the flowers. The call went into voice mail, and she left a brief message.
“Hey, Beth, it’s me. It’s around three o’clock on Friday afternoon.
I … I spent the night with Christian. I’m on my way home. See you later.”
She hung up and opened the small card beside the flowers. In neat black ink was the following:
My Amanda,
I am at a loss for words.
My heart beats only for you and love runs through my veins.
C
Amanda sniffed the roses and noticed that there was one lily in the bouquet. How does he know this is my favorite flower? The meaning of the lily, I dare you to love me— was not lost on her. He had offered her everything, including an invitation into his world, and at that moment it all seemed possible and perfectly rational—Yet he was a vampire, a blood drinker who was nearly three hundred years old. As she ate a chocolate croissant and drank another cup of coffee, Amanda pondered his presence in her life. Clearly he knew everything about her, but why? And what kind of future could they possibly have together? When she finished her breakfast, she forced herself to leave.
She stopped before the portrait over the fireplace one more time, curious about this woman who had so captured his heart that he still could not let her go centuries later. How can I compete with her? She was tempted to touch the painting again, but then thought better of it. It was time to go back to her post WWII apartment and her average life. Fearing the flowers would not survive the return trip in the cold air, she left them in the vase on the night table. Taking a pen out of her purse, she turned the card over and scribbled a quick note to him.
I double dare you … Amanda
With her purse over her shoulder, Amanda tiptoed down the steps. She stopped in front of the French doors to confirm that the living room was just as beautiful as she remembered it. She opened the doors and slipped into the elegant room. The furniture and antiques appeared muted in the late afternoon sun. Amanda walked over to a window and glanced down at the traffic on Fifth Avenue and the museum that was her world. Can I have both? She slowly buttoned her coat and headed downstairs, hesitant to trade this sanctuary for the cold New York City afternoon.
On her way out, she stuck her head in the library to thank Tony, but her attention was drawn to something on the mantle. She approached it carefully, feeling as though she were hallucinating. Was it one of his valuable antiques, or no, it could not be? She hesitated at first, thinking it merely a coincidence that he would have a terra cotta statue on his mantle. Amanda tried to remember if it had been there the other night.
There’s only one way to find out, Amanda. Turn it over.
She tiptoed over to the mantle just as Tony came in behind her. A rush of images hit her: a feminine bedroom with blue walls, a chandelier filled with candlelight, a woman’s laughter.
“Did you find everything okay?”
She debated whether there was enough time to turn the statue over and look for an accession number.
“Yes. I was just admiring this sculpture. It’s beautiful.”
He came up beside her, and his amber eyes met her gaze. “I never noticed it before. He sure does love his antiques.”
She set it back down on the mantle, willing her hands not to shake.
“Thanks for everything, Tony.” She smiled, trying to get beyond his cold façade.
“Just doing my job,” he smiled and followed her back to the foyer.
Amanda kicked herself all the way home for not turning the statue over while she had the chance. Was I not fast enough, or did I just not want to know the truth? She turned the key in the lock of her apartment and stepped inside. As she hung up the rich woolen jacket, she surveyed her apartment. It suddenly felt jejune compared to where she had just spent the night.
She had just gotten online when she heard the front door open.
“Amanda?”
Her bedroom door opened and Bethany stuck her head in. She looked refreshed, dressed entirely in black with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Are you just getting home?”
“Didn’t you get my message?”
Bethany sat down on her bed hesitantly. “What’s going on, Amanda? You don’t have a date in over a year, and within the space of three days you sleep with two different guys?”
“I don’t know … It just happened, Beth.” She ran her hand through her hair, wondering the same thing herself.
“Nice clothes.”
How could she explain that a vampire just happened to know her shoe size and her favorite brand of clothing? None of it made sense. It was like he knew everything about her. She had never withheld anything from Bethany, yet now she was privy to a secret world, one that most people did not believe existed. How could she tell her the truth?
“Amanda, look, I know this last year has been really rough. I can’t even imagine what you must have gone through. I never doubted your story …” she shrugged and smiled at Amanda. “Okay, I had a hard time believing that vampire’s killed Ryan and a guy with a machete saved your life. But you proved me wrong about him. He does exist. I guess what I am trying to say is, who am I to judge you? I happen to like Thomas, but if you want to sleep around, hey, just practice safe sex.”
Amanda realized she had not used birth control with either of them. It was not like her to get swept up in the moment, but with both of them the experience had bordered on mystical.
“Thanks, Beth. So how did Jeff like the Grey Wolf?”
She shrugged. “He was so drunk by that point I’m not sure if he even remembered going there, but it was a nice party, don’t you think?”
“It was great.” Amanda smiled. “You two seem so happy.”
“There’s something you’re not telling me, Amanda Monique Perretti.” Like Amanda’s mother, Bethany only used her full name to denote a serious tone to any conversation.
“You need to sit down Beth, there’s something—”
Cole was on the line. Amanda flipped open her cell phone.
“Hi, Amanda. I’m glad I caught you at home. Have you seen the news today?” She put her hand over the receiver. “Beth, put on the TV.”
Bethany ran into the living room with Amanda close behind.
Staring at the two women from the television screen was a photo of Detective Burt Ross and footage of his hysterical girlfriend, Melinda.
Amanda held her cell phone by her ear as the three of them watched the story.
“He’s wanted for questioning Amanda. NYPD are looking at him as a possible suspect.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
SOLANGE ROLLED OVER in the darkness into the arms of her newest lover, Augustin. He was a powerful vampire for one so young. At only one hundred years old, he had acquired a reputation for being dangerous and extremely arrogant, qualities she needed in a lover and admired in a companion. He reminded her of Gaétan in many ways, yet he was more ruthless, bordering on vicious. Solange needed Augustin. He loved making her happy, not just in bed but anywhere else t
hey managed to find themselves, too. He was a skilled hunter, and they would wander in the Bois together for hours, making a game out of stalking prostitutes before killing them savagely. She studied his protruding jaw, heavy-lidded dark eyes, and dirty blond hair. His face appeared softer than usual, an indication that he had good news.
He touched her cold face and ran his hand over her high cheekbones as she smiled coyly up at him.
“We take him tonight, just before dawn.” His deep voice filled the bedroom and Solange began to tremble with excitement.
“Are you sure Gabrielle has no idea about this, Augustin?” She brushed his hair away from his face.
They had been preparing for weeks now, waiting for the right moment to attack the illustrious vampires. Solange was not sure of the exact moment she had realized that Gaétan might never return to her. Augustin had tried to convince her that he was either dead or had fallen for the young mortal and chosen to remain in New York. At first Solange dismissed his accusations, calling him jealous and petty but lately she had begun to accept it. She and Augustin had an understanding; he would never replace Gaétan. When the older vampire returned, Augustin would leave her bed willingly; but they were spending every night together now, and she began to see herself as his only lover.
Their plan was two-fold, and they rehashed it constantly after being sated with blood and love-making; kill both Gabrielle and Étienne, and with the older ones dead they could rule Paris together. At first Solange had not thought it possible, but her spies had recently informed her that the two ancient lovers had parted. Gabrielle had retained her apartment, while Étienne had returned to the catacombs. All Augustin needed was the right opportunity to strike, and the rest would be easy.
“It is as I told you, Solange,” he whispered. “They are no longer together. The stupid mortals I hired will drag him away just as he falls asleep and chain him in the Bois. When the sun rises, he will die a slow death in the winter sun.”
Solange giggled and sat up, naked. “What about that bitch?”
“Have no fear. She will be taken as well, just as the sun rises. She won’t know what hit her until it is too late. They can watch each other die.”
Solange jumped up out of bed. “If this works, there is nothing stopping us.”
She kissed his chest slowly. “I need food, Augustin.”
“I have a surprise for you.”
Solange waited alone in the dark and then the smell hit her. A mortal was in the house. As the scent grew stronger, Augustin came closer with a tiny woman pressed up against him. Solange knew by her eyes that Augustin had hypnotized her, rendering her weak and disoriented. She was dressed entirely in leather; her dark eye makeup ran down her cheeks from her tears.
“Isn’t she just lovely, Augustin? Come sit by me my pretty one,”
Solange purred, patting the spot on the bed beside her. She could barely contain herself with the mortal’s heartbeat pounding in her head.
Augustin pushed the whimpering mortal down on the bed as Solange got up on her knees. The woman began to cry harder as Solange pulled her close. Her pulse quickened under her lips as Solange kissed and licked her neck. The woman screamed as Solange latched on to her, sucking hard and fast as the women tried to fight. Augustin grabbed her arms and bit into the other side of her neck. The prostitute ceased struggling, her pulse weakening under their strong grasp. Sated and on fire, Solange and Augustin drank until he tossed the dead woman off the bed and climbed on top of his vampire lover.
Christian picked up Ross’s scent just outside the precinct. He followed it around the west side of the reservoir, then north over the Great Hill to Block House No. 1, where it ended. Christian sniffed the air and leaped up onto the top of the structure. The smell of blood assailed his senses and he knew in his heart, even before he touched the sticky, wet snow on top of the dilapidated structure that it was Ross’s blood.
He sniffed the air again and wondered where his body was hidden. The powerful vampire jumped off the roof and kicked in the rotten padlocked door that led to a small room underneath. The room was empty. He checked his watch. It was almost nine. As he headed back toward the museum, skirting the reservoir, he smelled something. He left the trees for the running track and noticed something on the ground up ahead—a wallet. He picked it up, and Ross’s scent hit him again. Christian opened the wallet and counted one hundred dollars in loose bills. This had not been a robbery. Christian imagined Gaétan hoisting the detective’s body over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The wallet must have fallen out of his pocket as he was carried away. But where had Gaétan disposed of him?
He smelled Amanda’s scent before he rounded the corner; he was glad she was waiting for him. He wondered if she had any regrets about sleeping with him. The loss of his mortal friend seemed too much to bear at the moment and the vampire shoved his grief aside as he came around the museum toward Fifth Avenue. He prayed that Ross had not suffered for Christian’s arrogance and stupidity.
How could I have expected him to face Gaétan alone? Am I losing my mind?
Chapter Twenty-Five
AMANDA CHECKED HER watch. It was just after nine o’clock. A warm front had brought an unusual amount of joggers and walkers to the park, more the usual for a Friday night this time of year. She had forsaken her hat and gloves and was enjoying the warm weather, although she knew it would be short lived; after all, it was only early February. She climbed the steps to the main doors of the museum to get a better view of Fifth Avenue. She was eager to see Christian, but also nervous. She wondered about the terra cotta statue and made a mental note to ask him about it.
She knew now that Christian’s presence in her life was more than coincidence. It was kismet, just as she had told Michel. As she reached into her purse for her cell phone, she noticed him at the bottom of the steps with his hands in his coat pockets. How long had he been standing there? She smiled, taking her time to walk back down the steps.
“Hello,” he said with a smile, his voice making her knees shake. You came … I wasn’t sure …”
Amanda felt herself blush as she remembered the previous night. “Did you get my note?”
He nodded and she instinctively placed her hand through his arm as they walked toward the park. They had not gone very far when she brought up the news story about the missing detective. His dark eyes caught hers assuring her that Ross had nothing to do with the crime. Just when she felt ready to ask him about the statue in his library, he changed direction.
“Where are you taking me?” She asked, stopping in her tracks.
“It’s one of my favorite places in the world.” He smiled, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. She kissed him back more passionately.
“Will you come home with me again tonight?” He whispered, taking her hand again.
She smiled up at him. “It was never a question.”
They approached Bethesda Terrace in silence, stopping at the stone railing that overlooked the fountain. Christian held her in his arms in front of him.
He tried to block from his mind the fact that Gaétan was her special friend Thomas. The man on the phone; the same man who had thanked her for their night spent together. Amanda had been seduced by him, and the last thing Christian wanted was for her to confront the ancient vampire. He knew she would, and it would only get her killed, or much worse. It was time to tell her the truth. He began talking into her hair; it smelled of his own shampoo.
“Your brother was executed because he possessed something very threatening to the vampires that attacked you both in the park. Actually, they came here to kill you both that night, but fortunately I was able to stop them.”
He felt her tense up at the memory of it.
“What is it they want from me?”
Christian thought it best to just say it without beating around the bush. “You and Ryan are the descendants of a mortal woman and a vampire. They want your blood, Amanda. It is very powerful.”
She turned to face h
im. “Holy shit, you’re telling me I am the descendant of a vampire?”
Christian ran his hand through his hair. “The blood you possess gives us the power to walk in the daylight.”
She began to back away. He knew it was too much to comprehend, and he worried that he would lose her.
He approached her slowly. “Amanda, listen to me. For some of us this would be considered a great gift, to walk freely in the daylight.”
“But these vampires don’t believe that, do they? That’s why they killed Ryan.”
“To them you are a threat to the natural order of things; an abomination that must be destroyed. I have watched over all of you mortals and after I discovered your unique gifts, I have been trying to protect you without involving you. After you saw me in the park, I figured I could erase your mind and you would have no memory of any of it. Unfortunately, it was more difficult that I had originally anticipated. I could not erase your thoughts.”
“Do you see me that way, as an abomination, a freak?”
“I can’t believe you have to ask me that, Amanda. Of course not, but they are afraid that I will take your blood for myself which would make me strong enough to return to Paris and overthrow them. They don’t understand that I don’t want that kind of power.”
As he explained their thinking to her, he felt like a hypocrite, and he hated hypocrisy more than almost anything else. Perhaps she had no idea what he had done to her in the heat of passion.
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