Tales From Mysteria Falls

by St. Giles, Jennifer

  Or was it his desperation to have as much of her as possible before she learned everything? Would she leave then? Would she hate him for luring her to him? Could she possibly forgive him?

  Gently covering her lithe yet lush nakedness, he went in search of a cold shower and the strength to face the approaching dawn. He had a promise to keep, and even if she were only his for this one night, he would pay the price.

  Krisana wasn’t Anya, but Anya’s spirit lived within Krisana. After last night, Jameson’s heart and soul knew it completely and he would do anything for them both. Always.

  From the moment he’d first seen Anya in that concentration camp hell, he’d lost all reason and control. Though it was strictly against the rules for a paranormal to expose his gifts to humans, Jameson had picked Anya up in his arms and flew straight up out of the camp to disappear into the clouds. Hundreds of soldiers and prisoners had seen him. He’d taken her to a London hospital and assured that she got the best doctors money could buy before reappearing with his unit back at Bergen-Belsen. He’d expected to face a lot of questions, but nobody said a word. Jameson later learned that Phineas had wiped the memory from the soldiers who had seen Jameson’s flight. And nobody really listened to any of the prisoners’ stories about the flying soldier. They were all very ill. The Paratribunal had reprimanded Jameson for his infraction, but had suspended any punishment in light of the circumstance among horrific times.

  But there was no escaping facing the Paratribunal this morning. He’d given his pledge and it was time to fulfill that promise.

  Krisana awoke slowly. Sunlight and an unbelievable delicious feeling of being thoroughly loved, warmed her being. The words mon âme soeur whispered over and over in her mind. She stretched against the satin sheets, reaching for the man whom she could still feel and smell, but found the bed empty.

  Frowning, she sat up, wondering if she’d imagined it all. But the cross between her breasts, her nakedness, and the remnants of seductive candles, told her that her lover had been real. Then she found a note propped against his pillow.

  Dear Kris,

  Forgive me but I had unavoidable business to attend. Believe me, I’d much rather spend today as I had last night. Think of me, as I am of you.

  Yours, JD

  The note warmed her from the inside out. Wincing at some unaccustomed soreness, she slipped from the bed and spied her suitcase and purse standing in the doorway of a luxurious bath. JD had moved her things from the room Martha had given her to his. It made it convenient for her this morning, but she wasn’t about to move into his room with him.

  Kris quickly showered and dressed. It was Valentine’s Day and her birthday. Two important days that would now be marked by two important events. She had papers to sign to officially give her half of the opera house and she had an opera to sing for a dear old man. She never performed without practicing first, not even for small audiences. A lot to do in a short amount of time.

  Leaving his room with her bags in tow, she headed for her bedroom to look at the opera score Lord Daniels had given her. Reaching her room, she started to get to work, but couldn’t focus on the music. She had to know what JD meant by mon âme soeur. She Googled it on her phone. Soul mate. It was French for soul mate.

  She shivered, secretly thrilled. Yet a part of her mind wondered how he could feel that way in a day?

  What about you? Don’t you feel the same? Within a day, you gave him everything you’d saved for the man you would one day love.

  Did she love him? She shook her head. Not in the traditional sense of the word. That would take time and knowing. She didn’t even know him. But…she did know him on a level that went deeper than facts. She shoved the musings aside and focused on her performance tonight. She hoped JD would return soon. It would help to go to the opera house and do this on stage with him accompanying her on the organ. For now, she went to the ballroom where she’d seen the grand piano.

  She lost herself in Anya’s work. The story told in Come Back to Me grabbed Krisana by the throat and the heart, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She knew deep inside her that Anya had loved James with a passion that would accept no bounds on Earth, Heaven, or Hell. It was a love so powerful and consuming that it made Krisana’s spirit soar and her heart ache. It made her think of JD making love to her, gazing into her eyes, loving her with deep purpose and passion.

  There was more between them within a day than what any human would consider possible.

  When she returned to her room after hours of practice, she found a hundred roses along with an old fashioned, gossamer and silk dress the color of soft candlelight—a dress not unlike the one Anya wore in her portrait presiding over the ballroom. The accompanying note said:

  This is for tonight. Let’s plan on starting at 9:00 pm. Thank you for humoring an old man and his dreams. JD will go with you to sign the opera house papers late this afternoon.

  Fondly yours, Lord Daniels.

  For a brief instant, Krisana had the urge to run, to go back to her life and pretend. But pretend what? That I’d never come here? That last night never happened?

  “No.” Her lone voice rang in the empty room. No matter what, JD had made last night more than she imagined possible and she wouldn’t regret it. She’d embrace his toast from last night. To her, and to him, and to interesting possibilities.

  She’d just settled down to read Anya’s diaries when a soft knock at the door revealed Martha with two women pushing carts in tow. They were from Resurrection Spa. Upon seeing Krisana, one of the women oddly exclaimed, “We can make the dead glow. She is already beautiful. By the time we finish, she will be like an angel.” The diaries would have to wait for another day. For the next few hours, Kris was massaged, mudded, steamed, and buffed until she did literally glow. The women even managed to lure her into a restful hour’s sleep. With treatments like that before a performance, a woman would be invincible on the stage.

  There’d been a light tray of cheese and fruit fixed, but Krisana couldn’t eat. The closer the time came for the performance, the more JD was on her mind. Why had he been absent the entire day?

  When Martha told her he was waiting in a limousine downstairs, Krisana practically panicked. Her mouth dried, her palms dampened, her blood rushed, and her heart raced. For a moment, she thought she’d faint.

  Martha reached out and caught her arm. “Are you all right? You should have eaten something.”

  Krisana sucked in air. “I’m fine. I’m always nervous before a performance.” She put on coat.

  Martha smiled. “Well, you look stunning in that dress. I see he gave you his cross.”

  Krisana blushed. “Yes.”

  “That means you’re more special than you can ever know.”

  Krisana grasped the cross. “Where did he get it?”

  “You’ll have to ask him that.” Martha shook her head and muttered something about foolish love as she led the way downstairs. Krisana followed, her insides fluttering with a host of wild butterflies.

  Jameson sat in the back of the limo, emotion and nerves strangling the life out of him. It was done. At dawn he had faced the Paratribunal and had gone through the excruciatingly painful ceremony that stripped away his immortality—the price he paid to have Anya’s spirit reborn.

  He was now mortal, and every cell in his body ached as if he’d been tortured on a medieval rack. He’d only regained consciousness an hour ago. Thank God he’d had everything prepared for Krisana in advance, for her performance, for her birthday, for Valentine’s Day. For his last performance as Lord Daniels. He hadn’t realized just how much his plan to ease her into the truth about their past and make her fall in love with him anew would twist him apart inside. He was beginning to wonder what chance their love would have now if deception was at the root. But what was done was done.

  The only loose end he’d yet to tie was the shadow that had frightened Krisana at the opera house. When it came to Krisana’s safety, he wouldn’t make the mistake he’d ma
de with Anya. The slightest blip on the radar would be investigated until he had an answer for it.

  Sensing her presence, he looked up and she appeared at the top of the stairs. Groaning, he exited the limo and went to meet her, carrying her Birthday-Valentine present.

  She gasped and stopped a moment when she saw him and he grinned. He preferred jeans and leather but the expression on her face was worth the discomfort of the formal tux. He held out his hand and she descended to him.

  “You’re breathtaking,” he told her, kissing her fingers and then her lips. “Happy Birthday and Happy Valentine’s Day.” He breathed in her breath and her scent, drawing strength from her presence. She could turn any hell into heaven. A mortal finite life with her was worth an eternity of eternities without her. He handed her the special bouquet he’d made.

  “How did you know?”

  “An old man told me.”

  She laughed. “I will have to thank him too, but you first.” She tiptoed up and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him.

  Pain bit at him and he groaned. His body was so sore it throbbed as if being poked with sharp needles everywhere. But he needed her too much stop. He pulled her tighter and deepened the kiss, drinking her and the pleasure she brought into his soul. He longed to tell her how much he loved her, but then had to remind himself that Krisana wasn’t Anya. Krisana had Anya’s spirit, but they were different people. He had to get to know the new woman she’d become and love her for who she was now.

  Still, her touch helped ease his hurt, even if it was just in his mind. He ended the kiss. “We need to hurry. We’ve a lot to do before going to the opera house.”

  “What about your uncle?”

  “He’ll meet us at the opera house for the performance. We’re to see Phineas shortly for you to sign the papers.” Leading her to the limo, he helped her inside and joined her.

  The driver headed for town. She settled back into the seat and brought the bouquet of golden-hearted red roses to her nose. “These are exquisite, I’ve never seen roses this color before.”

  “They’re special, like you.”

  “What’s this?” she cried. “Setting the bouquet in her lap, she loosed the jewelry case he’d nestled in the middle of the flowers.”

  “Well, Valentine-Birthdays call for a present, don’t you think?”

  “The cross is worth a hundred birthdays. You shouldn’t have done anything else.”

  “I had to. You’ll see. This is something special for you from me. Besides, the cross is ages old and not new.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with things ages old.” She laughed and opened the box. Her laughter turned to a gasp. Her hands shook. “Endless Possibilities,” she whispered.

  “Yes,” he said. Taking the engraved bracelet from the box, he clasped the gold around her wrist before kissing her palm. “I’m looking forward to what they might be.”

  “You leave me speechless,” she said softly. She looked at the bracelet then met his gaze.

  He laughed. “Then you know how I feel. You leave me speechless and breathless.” Leaning down, he meant to give her a light kiss, but her response set fire to his barely restrained want.

  When the limousine came to a stop, Jameson snapped his head up in surprise. They’d traveled all the way into the town and were now at Phineas Cruz’s law office. He shook his head, more than shocked at his lack of awareness. Now that he was mortal, he needed to be more diligent. “We’re here,” he said, easing her back from his lap. He tugged his tux back into place and helped her smooth her disheveled appearance. There wasn’t much he could do about her kiss-swollen mouth and flushed cheeks.

  Phineas would be sure to note them, too. The vampire had better mind his own business and not blow Jameson’s cover as JD.

  “Ready to officially own half an opera house?” he asked as the climbed the steps.

  “Ready to be my partner?” she replied.

  “Oh yeah,” he said.

  “Good. I’m glad you’re with me. This guy’s a little strange.”

  Jameson stopped and grabbed her arm, turning her his way. “What do you mean?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “Nothing really. It’s more of a feeling I got. Like he was, I don’t know, a smug cat playing with a dangling mouse.”

  Jameson supposed that humans would feel that way in the vampire’s presence.

  The office door opened, and Phineas stood on the threshold. “There you are,” he said. “I’ve all the papers ready.” The vampire focused his gaze on Krisana then flashed a knowing look Jameson’s way. “It would seem congratulations are in order.”

  Krisana frowned. “Congratulations?”

  “Yes, on your new partnership. You both look very happy about it.” The vampire alluded to the opera house, but Jameson knew Phineas referred to sex. Jameson glared at him, promising consequences if the vampire didn’t shut up.

  Maybe Jameson might agree a little with Harry about some expansion for the city. Mysteria Falls needed more than one lawyer. Jameson caught Krisana’s hand and escorted her inside. “We’re anxious to get this show on the road. Hope you don’t mind hurrying.”

  “Not at all. I’ve a Valentine’s date myself.” Phineas led them to a conference room and the papers were soon signed.

  Jameson breathed a tiny sigh of relief. Now that Krisana was legally his partner, she’d have to at least look at him again at some future point even if she couldn’t accept or forgive him for what he’d done. Tonight, after her performance, he would tell her the truth.

  As they left Phineas’s office, the vampire called out. “Life is short, so have fun.”

  Not an unusual parting, unless you’re a centuries-old vampire speaking to a phantom the same age. Did Phineas somehow find out that he was now mortal? Jameson thought. He wouldn’t put it past the vampire to have a spy within the Paratribunal. He was just surprised that the vampire would chance getting caught and punished with no real cause for subterfuge.

  Jameson pushed the question to the back of his mind and turned his focus on Krisana. He wasn’t sure how she’d react to his next surprise. They left the law office for the opera house, and his stomach wrenched with knots. It was time.

  Chapter Seven

  Krisana felt JD’s growing tension. It began on the steps outside of Phineas Cruz’s law offices and now that they were on their way to the opera house, it was worse. Though it had started when she’d commented on Phineas Cruz, she didn’t think that was the reason. Phineas had been less of a cat this time and more of an odd bird.

  The weather had turned suddenly wild, as well. Dark clouds hovered and the wind whipped like a chained demon. She wondered if JD was regretting the papers they’d just signed. She’d been so wrapped up in her own situation that she hadn’t given thought to his. Anya’s ghost aside, for JD it must not be easy to have his uncle give away half of a valuable property to a relative stranger.

  “You’re upset,” she said, sliding her hand over his fisted one. “Is it the opera house? Now that the shares are mine, I can give them to you. You’ve put so much work into it; you really should own it all.

  He was startled, as if she’d smacked him. He grasped her hand. “Lord, no. Whatever gave you that idea? Having you with me is a relief. I can maintain the place, take care of business aspects, but artistically I’m clueless.”

  “You want me to take care of putting the place on the map, so to speak. Make it the Metropolitan Opera House of Virginia, where people from all over come to hear the best classical music has to offer. I can make that happen. I’ve met great artists from all over the world. My only concern would be getting a large enough audience. How many people does the opera house seat?”

  JD’s jaw dropped. “I really hadn’t thought about it thoroughly. I guess in the back of my mind, I’d envisioned putting on a few events for the town. It seats three hundred.”

  She laughed. “If I remember the sign right, that’s almost the entire populati
on of the town.”

  “Well, yes.” He exhaled. “Don’t worry about it. We can work out all the details. I know the old man wanted music to fill the place for Anya’s sake. But you must make the opera house a place of your dreams if it fits into them, not hers.”

  She smiled. “How can a place of such beauty and acoustical perfection not fit into my dreams? If you’re not worried about the partnership, then what?”

  He sighed and gazed out at the storm. “I’m anxious about tonight. That it will all be enough. That I will be enough.”

  “Nerves before a performance?” She leaned over and pressed her head into the crook of his neck as she hugged him. “That’s normal. But don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”

  He didn’t say anything, but his mouth sought hers in a kiss that was more desperate and more needy than any before. Krisana kissed him back and felt tears sting her eyes. She hadn’t realized how vulnerable this powerful man was. She wanted to comfort him, but wasn’t sure how.

  By the time they reached the drive to the opera house, lightning was slicing open the night sky, letting bellows of thunder escape. The rural peacefulness of the area suddenly teemed with a dark menace. Krisana’s spine tingled, either from the storm or from how magnificent and palatial the opera house was upon the hill overlooking the town. All lit up on the outside and on the inside, it glowed like an angelic beacon.

  Another limo was out front and the driver pulled directly behind it, close to the marble stairs. He opened the door. JD helped her out and they climbed the stairs together. At the top, he stopped to face her. Time seemed to stand still, though the wind continued to twist and turn about them. He didn’t say anything, but his blue gaze was intensely serious as if marking a monumental moment. He brought her hands to his lips, placing a kiss upon her Endless Possibilities bracelet. “Later tonight, we need to talk about us and this amazing thing between us. I hope you feel it as I do.”

  She smiled. “I do.”