Death be Charmed

by Epstein, Katie

  “‘It’s not you, it’s me?’” He laughed. “That’s usually my line.”

  “Look …”

  “No. Don’t.” He pushed away from the wall. “You made it clear from the beginning. I probed at old feelings. I’m sorry.”

  Well hell. He didn’t need to go ahead and make me feel guilty. Now I felt like crap. Pushing my hair back from my face, I made a walk of shame to the bed and sat down.

  “There’s two reasons why I won’t go there with you,” I explained. “Even if my whole body is screaming out to be with you right now.” I let out a deep breath. “Want to hear them?”

  “Only if you don’t mind me lacing some wine with blood from the fridge.” He walked off to the kitchenette. “I need something to take the edge off.”

  I said nothing as he made his drink and then poured a glass of wine for me. He turned off the lights so only the crystal lamps remained on. The light glow in the room created a haven of comfort.

  Kicking off his own shoes and removing his jacket, he took the bloody wine off the nightstand and joined me on the bed. We made ourselves comfortable, leaving a safe distance between us.

  “What’s up?” he asked after taking a drink. And it was there and then I confessed everything about Cole. I told him about my awkward feelings toward my boss and how I knew it would end in disaster. And I told him about the kiss and what Cole had said before I left. I made him swear to secrecy that he wouldn’t tell another soul, especially Kaleb.

  “I should say I’m not surprised, but I kind of am,” he told me eventually. “I could see you and Kaleb together more than I could see you and Cole. But the heart wants what the heart wants.”

  “I think I have issues.” I pouted and took a large sup of my wine.

  Bernard chuckled at that. “Don’t we all. But you can’t help how you feel. None of us can.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I didn’t mean to lead you on. I promise. It was just … when you kissed me downstairs, everything got confused. Kissing you is like kissing fire itself, and I think my hormones forgot themselves for a moment.”

  “You turned me on. Not led me on. There’s a difference.”

  His comment made me laugh and settled the tension in my stomach. “Trust you.”

  “Life is life, my dear Terra. Sometimes we drive through the bumpy terrain to get to our Eden. And sometimes we choose to live in fear and stay exactly where we are. We all have a choice.”

  “I swerved before I hit the bumpy terrain with you.” I sighed. “Why can’t I swerve with him?”

  “Maybe because we got to test things out first. We were together for a while and we enjoyed it. A lot. But then life got in the way. We decided we would be better off as friends before someone got really hurt. And then we came together for a little nurturing every now and again. Maybe a little nurturing with Cole will set the record straight. And who knows? Maybe he has a small penis.”

  “That’s the least of my worries,” I said with laughter. “But maybe you’re right. That leads me to my second reason why I can’t go there with you.”

  Putting my drink down on the nightstand, I lay down on the bed and turned to face him. He did the same and shuffled down next to me. And that’s where we lay. Facing one another. Holding hands. With a couple of safe feet between us.

  “And what’s your second reason for not going there with me?” he asked me once he was comfortable.

  “The lust was no longer enough. Even when we got together afterward, it was great. And I mean really, really great. But once we got the sex part out of the way it started to feel empty. Cold. It started to hurt. Emotionally.”

  “Yeah. I know.” He rubbed his thumb against my hand to comfort me. “You don’t need to explain. I think there will always be fire between us. But the more we build on our friendship, the weirder coming together will be. I get that.”

  “So we’re okay?”

  “Always. We’ll always be okay. But stop beating yourself up about shit. Especially when you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s quite annoying, and it’s no wonder your hair is the color of a bruise.”

  “Oh you’re freaking hilarious. But thank you.”

  “Why did you accept the dance with Parris Avar tonight?” he asked me, his voice free from accusation. He seemed confused by my acceptance of Parris’ offer more than anything else.

  “I remember what you said about him cutting people down in public. I didn’t want him to cause a scene.”

  “He’s dangerous,” was all Bernard said. That really stoked my curiosity.

  “Why?”

  “I knew you’d ask that. But let’s just say that the rumors about him and his house are always hovering. They’re more like a cult in their beliefs than a house that respects the beliefs of others. He truly believes all vampires should have free reign over Portiside to bite whoever they wish.”

  “Do the other vampires agree with him?”

  “They didn’t used to. They used to laugh at him when his back was turned. But the problem is, vampires live for a long time. That means boredom can set in very quickly. And a lot of the vampires are bored of playing by the rules. Ramses is worried Parris is bringing more people on side with his radical ideals.”

  “And are the houses going to do anything about it?” I asked him, knowing how dangerous the vampires could be if they wanted to create ripples across our world.

  “What can they do? He’s allowed to his views. And he hasn’t done anything to break the law. Plus, they have to be careful with someone like him.”

  “Because he could snap at any time?” I asked, thinking of the darkness that oozed out of Parris’ pores.

  “I meant that he would no doubt cause problems for each one of them personally. What made you say that?”

  “Nothing.” I shook my head and debated over what to tell him. “I just got a bad feeling about him when he touched me, that’s all. But he’s a vamp, so …”

  Bernard snickered. “There you go, generalizing again. And here I thought you were softening to the fanged.”

  “I am. Some of them. But I can’t help but be on my guard. It’s alright for you. You’re stuck on top of the food chain.”

  “And where are you, may I ask?”

  “If you ask a vampire it sounds like I should be on the evening menu.” I smiled. “But no, I’m at the bottom, stuck in a place where I’m severely outnumbered by some very powerful predators.”

  “I’ll protect you,” he said, playing with my fingers on the hand he held.

  “Well, that really helps my ego,” I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for that.”

  “You’re welcome. But right now, you’re my wife. So it’s my job to protect you.”

  “We’re under a lot more scrutiny than I thought we would be,” I said on a sigh. “You’re like a celebrity or something.”

  “I doubt that. But I’ve riled their curiosity by bringing a human to their door. I can’t see why they’re so surprised by that, though. They’re always trying to provoke me with their petty comments about living among the humans. It’s not that far a reach that I would end up marrying one.”

  “Fake marrying one,” I corrected him. “Do you think they could be listening in now?”

  “Well, they’re not going to hear anything if they are, so don’t worry about it.”

  “But won’t they become suspicious if they don’t hear anything at all?” I was beginning to feel like Mayra with my paranoia. Being around the vampires had a lot to answer for. “I mean, if they’re listening in for any reason, then won’t they be surprised not to hear anything after the show you gave them downstairs?”

  “They might,” he said with a raised eyebrow, finally understanding what I was getting at. I figured that this was the perfect time for a little vengeance.

  I studied him for a while then pushed a loose tendril from his face. “We could still have a little fun, you know?”

  “And what do you suggest?” he asked, running a hand up my leg, his bre
athing labored.

  Leaning in as if to kiss him, I diverted at the last moment and stood up on the bed. The words to disengage the silent magic of the stones fell from my lips, and his face was a picture when I stood up on the bed and started to jump up and down on the mattress.

  “Oh, oh … Bernard!” I shouted, laughing when it dawned on him what I’d meant. “Come on lover. Touch me there. Right there!” I kept bouncing, and he rolled his eyes while calling on all the patience he had. “Oh … oh … oh yes! Keep going. Keep going!”

  “I’ll give you something to shout about, woman,” he growled. Then he got up and did something that I would never have imagined a vampire doing. He jumped up and down on the bed and had fake sex with me.

  Now, that is what I call being a good friend.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  DREAMS. MY DREAMS had been foggy and strange. That’s all I could remember when I woke up the next morning.

  Strange dreams weren’t unusual though. My dreams were almost always strange. But they hadn’t felt right. As if they weren’t my dreams at all.

  Stupid, I know. But something felt off about the images that haunted my good night’s sleep. I couldn’t quite make them out. They were vague. As if I’d been watching them through frosted glass. But I could remember feeling scared. Uncomfortable. And I wondered if my gift was finding a new way to tell me something.

  Pushing the dreams aside, I got up and showered. I was grateful Bernard didn’t snore, but he was a damn cover hog. I’d woken up feeling freezing cold.

  Noticing a small cut on my arm in the mirror, I looked closer to inspect it. There was another one, I noticed, as I lifted my arm to inspect the first. They were sore, but shallow. I brushed off the worry of where they could have come from. I must have grazed myself yesterday without realizing it. I was often covered in bumps and bruises from one scrape or another. You learned not to feel them with the job I had.

  Pushing the thought of them to the side, I woke Bernard up and headed off to get dressed.

  By the time we’d finished getting ready it was almost Mid Cycle. We’d fallen asleep not long after our exercise the night before, and I’d slept like the dead—even with the disturbing dreams. Bernard wasn’t an early riser anyway, but it surprised me that we’d slept so late. That meant we didn’t have long to grab a quick bite to eat before meeting Vienna at the House of Sanguis in time for our tour.

  I wanted to use the time with Vienna to check out the area and see if I could subtly grill her on the things I’d seen in her vision. I also wanted to see if she knew anything about Romeo Lovejoy.

  Bernard was a bit more solemn than usual as we headed over to Sanguis. He looked tired, as if he had something on his mind. I hoped it wasn’t anything to do with my confession last night. It would surprise me if it had. Bernard wasn’t one to hide his true feelings, and I knew it was only lust that stirred in those vampire loins of his where I was concerned. We both knew deep down that we were ill-suited as a couple.

  Vienna was waiting for us by a fountain in the gardens when we finally arrived. She was reading from a book, but even from where we were I could tell she wasn’t interested in what the book had to say. She was too busy glancing over her shoulder to be reading anything in depth.

  “Hi there!” I said as we neared, so as not to startle her. As soon as she saw us, her relief was evident, and her posture somewhat relaxed.

  “Hello!” she replied as she walked the short distance to meet us. “I hope this isn’t too early for you to be meeting?”

  “Not at all. I can’t wait to see more of this place.”

  “I thought I could take you for a tour around the House of Atlantis first, if that is okay with you?”

  Bernard didn’t look too pleased but he smiled regardless. “That would be wonderful,” he said. “But may I query as to why we’re not seeing your own house?”

  “We can finish with a tour around the House of Sanguis but a colleague of mine, Cadence, has invited us to go there this cycle while she’s available to aid with the tour of the Atlantis House.” She hesitated then said, “The Heads of Houses have called a meeting today. The Courtiers will be in attendance. They won’t be available until Final Cycle so things will be pretty quiet in the houses.”

  “A meeting?” Bernard asked, and Vienna nodded.

  “They weren’t due for one for another week but they’ve pulled it forward. They do that sometimes.”

  Bernard and I shared a look. It was no coincidence that they were calling a meeting only one day after my arrival.

  “The House of Atlantis is fine,” I told her. “I would love to see inside.”

  Vienna flashed me a grateful smile. “Wonderful. Let’s head over there now shall we?”

  Walking into the House of Atlantis was like stepping into a museum. The depth they’d gone to show their beliefs was mind blowing.

  Cadence enraptured us in the history of Atlantis. She weaved a magical story of intrigue, beauty, and corruption as she spoke of those in power not seeing the prediction of their own downfall. She explained that Atlantis was an island on Earthside that was once filled with peaceful, spiritual and intellectual human beings. They loved beautiful things and appreciated their lands on the surface. Yet, buried deep underneath their peaceful facade, there were many who craved power and destruction. They ruined the lands so much with their deceit and their manipulation that all races suffered. And vampires, named the Durnarai back then, were one of them.

  Artwork dominated the halls that Cadence walked us through as she continued with her tale. The paintings demonstrated what they thought the architecture of Atlantis once looked like, with circular buildings surrounded by maze-like walls. A bright yellow sun shone down on spotless sands that met crystal blue oceans. And the same fashions of people wearing long, whit8e robes and what appeared to be crystals on a piece of twine around their necks, flowed from image to image. Tropical flowers of shapes and hues I’d never seen before popped out of the ground in many of the paintings and tapestries, thriving in and around trees that looked more fitting in a jungle. The detail of it all was breathtaking.

  When Cadence showed us the scrolls of an unknown language locked away in glass cabinets, my mouth fell open in awe once again. Bernard had pushed it closed a few times during the tour, and each time it had earned him a scowl. But this was incredible, and I was a like a child in a sweet shop as they took me around the place.

  As we moved onto the second floor, two vampires exited one of the doors in the long corridor. The taller one, with dark skin and deep red hair, nodded hello in Cadence’s direction. The other one with a blonde bob completely snubbed her. They both looked extravagant in their dresses, as if they were going out for a night on the town. But if they lived here then they must have been Courtiers. Then I remembered that all the Courtiers were in a meeting. Maybe they were just visiting.

  The blonde one caused my instincts to tingle. She reminded me of someone I’d seen before, but her side profile hadn’t triggered my memory box. Maybe I’d seen her in the city somewhere. A lot of vampires would venture out to Portiside City every now and again to mix with us lower classes. But I couldn’t quite place her to placate the niggling in my mind.

  Pushing it to one side as Cadence directed us to another portrait on the wall, I focused on what I was being told.

  Another hour later, we were saying our goodbyes to Cadence and heading off to the House of Sanguis. Part of me was looking forward to it after seeing the passion behind the art and artifacts I’d seen of Atlantis. But the other part of me knew I needed to start prodding at Vienna to see what was going on. How I was going to do that, I didn’t know, but as we neared the house I had a light bulb moment.

  “Ow,” I said as I pretended to go over on my ankle. My crash to the floor was a little dramatic but, thankfully, both Bernard and Vienna seemed to have bought it.

  “Are you okay?” Vienna asked as she crouched down to check me over. Bernard raised an eyebrow at my performance.
Was it really that bad?

  “It’s my ankle. It hurts a little. I think I’ve gone over on it.”

  Bernard helped me up and set me on my feet. I yelped when I put my foot to the floor, and Vienna took my arm.

  “Maybe you should take her back to your room,” Vienna said to Bernard with worry. “We have some doctors here onsite who could look at her.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I told her, not wanting to mess this stupid plan up now I’d gone for it. “Honestly. A little rest and I’ll be as right as rain. But I think going to the room is a good idea.” With appeal in my eyes I looked at Vienna. “Will you please come with me and tell me more about Sanguis?”

  Vienna gnawed at her lip then looked back at the house before making her decision. “Of course. For a short time. I have a lesson to give soon.”

  “Brilliant!” I said giving her a gleaming smile. Bernard then swung me up into his arms.

  “Are you sure you two don’t want any privacy?” Vienna hesitated as she walked beside us.

  “We’ll have plenty of privacy later. Won’t we, Bernard? And our room has a lovely view we can take in while you tell us all about the history of your house. The Atlantis history was amazing, and I would love to hear your take on the history of Sanguis.”

  “Then I will be happy to keep you company,” she said with a little more enthusiasm. I was lucky that she was quite sweet and didn’t want to piss off Ramses’ guests of honor.

  “Oh, I’m so pleased. Bernard is lovely company but when it comes to describing anything such as this he tends to get a little boring.”

  “I could drop you on your ass right here, right now, woman,” he growled in my ear, and I chuckled.

  “See, Vienna? Bernard just has no sense of humor. A total bore.”

  Vienna smiled, and I knew there and then we’d gotten to her. It was time to bite the bullet and expose my gift.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN