Death be Charmed

by Epstein, Katie

  “Thank you so much for collecting me this evening, Mr. Avar,” I told him nonchalantly, acting as if there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. “Bernard will be so grateful at such a kind gesture.”

  Parris chuckled as the partition opened behind him. “Are we ready to move?” Florin Thorne asked from the passenger seat up front. I could see the back of a female with blonde hair sitting in the driving seat beside him.

  “We’re ready,” Parris said, his eyes never leaving mine, and he waved his hand so the partition would close. Florin snapped it shut. “I’m sure Bernard will be very grateful,” Parris continued as the car started to move. “If he ever wakes, of course.”

  Paralyzing fear gripped me at those words, and the thought of Bernard being harmed or hurt had me in a spin. “What have you done to him?” I snapped. But Parris only shrugged his shoulders at my demand.

  “You shall see. For it will be an honor for me to unite husband and wife once more. But until then, let’s sit back and enjoy the music.”

  “I’m not keen on your type of music,” I told him, gripping the clutch I’d brought with me as if it was my lifeline. I had no weapon on me, aside from Mayra’s necklace, which I still wore around my neck. Then there was the watch comms strapped around my leg. But neither of them were of use to me right at this moment.

  “Are you sure?” Parris asked, and he pressed a button on the door to turn the song down a little. The decrease in volume did nothing to stop the crescendo of noises coming together to stoke old fears.

  “I’m sure.”

  “That’s a pity. I could have sworn it was one of your favorites.”

  “And how would you know that about me?” I demanded. Anxiety slowly clambered up from my stomach and into my chest at the thought of how he could know such a thing. The only time that music had played around me was when my old abuser, Dr. Warwick, had carried out his tests during my youth.

  “The connection a vampire gets from a donor is very satisfying,” he claimed, his posture relaxed, casual even. “It opens a channel where emotions and lost thoughts can be shared. I was able to share a little with you the night that Marco Perduto told me he thought you were a lot more powerful than a mere psychic.”

  “You drank from me?” I asked in shock, knowing I had no bite marks on me. But my hand rushed up to my neck regardless.

  “It was just a little taste,” he smiled. The edge to such a gesture reminiscent of promised death itself. “The first night you stayed at Darkwood. It was easy enough to have the wine and blood that Ramses had arranged for you in your room to be laced with an herbal remedy. A strong one, too. Enough to keep you both asleep.” He drew out the ‘s’ on the word asleep, reminding me of the slithering snake he was. “Ramses’ dear servants are so easily swayed with empty promises,” he continued. “They snuck into your room while we danced at the ball and did what I asked them to do. I stayed at the Osiris house late enough at the ball to then sneak up and see if you were fast asleep. Which you both were.” He laughed at the hand still on my neck. “I didn’t bite you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Go figure,” I snapped, remembering how quickly Bernard and I had fallen asleep the first night after our heart-to-heart. I should have known something was up the next morning when Bernard wasn’t his usual jovial self. And my dreams … My dreams had felt strange and wrong. They’d been trying to tell me something, even then.

  “Just a little cut, here and there, was all it took,” Parris explained. He moved his arm in a small cutting motion. “A little taster, if you will. It’s not as good as feeding through the fang but it confirmed everything I needed to know as I sucked the blood from your body.”

  Staring at him in disbelief, I recalled the cuts I’d found on my body the morning after. I’d thought I’d grazed them on the job, not been slit open as a tester for a vampire. Finding my voice I replied through gritted teeth, “You discovered how much I detest vampires maybe?”

  He laughed again. “Oh no. Nothing as ridiculous as that. But I did sense a few things and your fear of that song was one of them.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “Your nightmares were riddled with it. Haunting you in such a way that it made your blood taste even more delicious.” He grinned at me, a smile that held no humor behind it, only the promise of pain. “You bathe in the darkness of your dreams, trying to fight them through justice, thinking you’re taking out the criminals. It clouds you from what you truly are. And by drinking your blood, I discovered ambrosia.”

  “Is that right?” I was relieved when he sat back in his seat.

  “Marco was right in his assessment of you. I could sense the power in your blood. It thrummed through me, vitalizing every cell in my body. And that was just from one sip. Imagine what drinking you dry would do.” He laughed this time with purpose, as if he truly got off on my fear. “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on drinking you dry. That would be like crushing the beehive after one feast of honey. You, I intend to keep around for a while, drinking all that delicious blood of yours. Bit by bit. A never-ending supply.”

  “I’m sure recreational drugs would be a lot cheaper,” I retorted, and the predator in him rose to the surface.

  “I don’t want to keep you on tap for the thrill of it, you stupid human. I want access to your power. I want to be great again. And your power is the key to The Revolt.”

  “The Revolt?” I dared to ask. The car was still driving along, but I didn’t dare look out the window. The excitement in my kidnapper was escalating, and the mention of this revolt had fueled it.

  “Bringing together the vampires and the dhampirs to stand against the Consilium, of course,” he explained. “For too long have they tried to suppress our true nature, caging us with laws and rules. How dare they dictate to us how we should live. And how dare they to tell us how to feed. It is beneath us. We’ve gone far too long led by the nose by them. It’s time for change.”

  “Did you arrange for Romeo Lovejoy to escape from prison by any chance?” I asked, aware it was a bit of reach. But the timing of all this was off and my instincts were tingling. According to Bernard, there’d been a rumor for some time regarding Parris and the possibility of him forming a revolt. So why was he acting out now?

  “Oh no,” he replied, thoroughly enjoying himself. “That little gem fell into my hands without me even trying. Romeo was amazing leverage that I could use to get one of the most manipulative and strategic-thinking vampires on my side. Romeo was the key to forcing Marco Perduto to toe the line while he helped us instigate my plan.”

  “So you’ve been harboring Romeo?” I pushed, trying to piece it all together. My worry for Bernard and my own current situation edged to the back of my mind as I took advantage of the situation. Maybe I could use this opportunity to try and milk more information out of Parris while I had the chance. Kaleb’s instincts had been right all along in following the vampire, and I was determined that I was going to get something useful out of yet another deep mess I’d apparently fallen into.

  “I haven’t been harboring anyone,” Parris said, breaking into my thoughts and answering my question. “But it was in Marco’s best interests to have done so on my behalf. We have an agreement, you see.”

  “An agreement?”

  “My, you’re a nosy little thing, aren’t you? But considering I’ll soon charm you into become my lover; dramatically leaving Bernard for a step up in hierarchy, then I suppose it won’t hurt for me to satisfy your curiosity.”

  Trying to digest Parris’ words—lover and charmed being the two in that particular sentence that had me on my guard—I saw through the naivety behind his plan. It gave me a bit of faith that Parris was more power hungry than intelligent, and maybe I could use that to my advantage.

  “I’m all ears,” I couldn’t help but say, making him smile at me yet again. He slowly removed the black leather gloves he wore, passion ignited in his eyes. Was he trying to seduce me? I really hoped not.

  “Marco has an invested
interest in Romeo Lovejoy,” Parris began. “He always has. I accidentally fell upon the truth of Romeo’s heritage one day. Something covered up by Marco himself.”

  “Romeo’s heritage? Isn’t he a vampire?”

  “No. I’m afraid not. Romeo Lovejoy is the love child of Marco Perduto and a human he fell in love with a very long time ago. As facts have it, he hid Romeo until he came of age, then he brought him onto Darkwood lands as a vampire. He had the power to manipulate the paperwork. Then one set of Courtier trials later, Romeo became one of the most established vampires on the lands.” He chuckled. “If only people knew the truth.”

  “Romeo is a dhampir?” I asked in surprise.

  “That’s right. And if that information ever came to light, then Marco would lose the Head of House position that he loves so much. That’s why it gives me the leverage I need to bring him on board with my cause. And it’s worked ever since.”

  “So that’s why Marco pushed for Romeo to go to the prison when he attacked and murdered those women?”

  “Of course that’s why,” he sneered. “Marco knew that during the Pedeapsa trials Romeo would outed for what he was and Marco would lose everything. The stage where they stick them outside in the daylight to burn would have been a tell tale sign when Romeo’s skin didn’t blister. So, he pushed for the prison, believing that my hold over him was gone. And maybe it was, for a time.”

  “You could have told the other vampires.”

  “And make myself look like I was attacking his position with no proof? No thank you. Not when I was trying to gain their trust. I wasn’t about to ruin that. It’s vital that once I have the power I need, I also have their buy in to go against the Consilium. But it matters not. Romeo called Marco when he escaped from the prison, and Marco refused to help him. So Romeo called me. And I did.” He smiled. “See how things work out when they are meant to? I was able to arrange for Romeo to be brought back to Darkwood under a new guise. But Marco was the one who had no choice but to have him back in his house to keep suspicion away from me. That’s when my hold over him regained power once more.”

  “A great story, Parris,” I said not liking how long it was taking us to get to his intended destination. I assumed we were still on Darkwood lands as darkness still consumed the car, but where in Darkwood we were, I didn’t have a clue. I turned on him, my fear building. “Do you really think you can pluck me away from my duties to serve as your walking blood bag, and expect no one to bat an eyelid?”

  “It will be too late by then. You’ll already be beholden to me. A certain bond between vampire and donor, if allowed, is tight and unforgiving. Once that bond is in place, I will use the power your blood builds inside me to challenge the other Heads of Houses. Then the vampires whose ears I’ve been whispering into will stand with me, pushing The Revolt to go ahead.” He took a deep breath, as if inhaling the power he could already sense. “Marco did me a favor by pushing you into my path, and he served his purpose in aiding me. Now you will do yours. A time of great change is about to come.”

  The car finally slowed to a stop, and reality sunk in. I’d just been kidnapped by a powerful Head of House vampire who wanted to keep me as his personal blood donor. He was going to keep me hidden for as long as it took for him to turn me into his worshipping slave, and I shuddered at the thought of him succeeding. My nerves rattled around so much from what was happening that my head hurt. The inevitable had taken one step closer with a taunting smile, and all I could do was let it all play out and hope fate was ready to give me a helping hand.

  “Ah, we’re here,” Parris said with pleasure as if I was an eager visitor on his deluded journey. “Now the fun can truly begin.”

  Careful not to cause a scene that could have Parris discovering the comms on my leg, I got out of the car upon his orders.

  I didn’t know where I was but I could see the dark forest they were about to lead me into. Darkwood had certainly earned its name if this place was anything to go by.

  Florin stepped out of the car at the same time Parris did, and then the driver door opened. The blonde female vampire who'd been driving climbed out, and I recognized that haircut. Fleur. What the hell was she doing here?

  “Can we hurry along?” Fleur demanded, flicking her hair out of her made-up face. As she came closer, it finally hit me …

  “Wait a minute,” I said as recognition hit, the niggling of my mind finally registering what knowledge had probed at it in the first place. “Romeo?”

  “In the flesh!” he replied in a high-pitched voice. The red gown he wore was stuffed in all the right places but how anyone couldn’t recognize those creepy eyes of his was beyond me.

  “Are you telling me that people bought this?” I asked, trying to hold back my disbelief.

  “I said he had a new guise,” Parris said with humor, “and vampires in particular only see what they want to see. Why would they see Romeo Lovejoy done up in a dress when he was supposed to be in prison? It was the perfect way to hide him under everyone’s nose, and it worked. All the while keeping Marco playing to our tune.”

  “Oh yes,” Romeo said in soft tones as he retained his female persona. “Daddy was certainly surprised to see the new me. But staying under his roof makes sure that he does what he’s told.” His pretty features turned into a scowl, his sudden anger revealing him for the bitter killer he was. “He should never have turned his back on me when I left that place. He was quick enough to shove me in there to save his own skin!”

  “Who did you escape from prison with?” I asked him, the EFA in me unable to let that one go.

  “Wasn't my idea,” Romeo sniffed. “But I wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity. They were fools, all of them, so I dropped them the moment I left. Who sticks together when you're trying to stay hidden? Honestly.” He cackled and flung his fake hair back again. “I was lucky Parris came to my aid when my dick of a father sold me out.”

  “That’s enough questions, I think,” Parris said as I opened my mouth to probe further. He summoned Florin forward. “Take her to the cabin with the others.”

  “I’m not your lackey, Parris,” Florin snapped. But one long look from Parris had him biting back a retort and reluctantly obeying.

  When Florin grabbed my arm, I acted fast. Not wanting to go to wherever they were about to take me, I punched Florin hard in the face. Elbowing him in the stomach, I then hit him hard before taking off on a run. I had no clue where I was heading, but I raced with all I had in me.

  I wished I'd had the foresight to kick my heels off being doing so. Grass smothered the earth, and trying to run across the soft ground wearing spiky heels was just asking for trouble. Doing so with a very fast vampire on my rear was akin to a worm thinking it could out wiggle its way to safety from a swooping bird. It was hopeless.

  Florin came up behind me and tackled me to the ground. My chin hit the grass, hard, and then he yanked me over so I could see up into his raging expression. He punched me in the face, too many times to count, but the bloodlust in his eyes told me he wanted more. He wasn’t satisfied until darkness ascended over my vision, and my eyes finally closed from the pain.

  The pitch black became my relief.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  IT WAS TOO bright in here. That was all I could think as my eyes opened against my will. What stupid idiot had gone and turned the light on?

  Blinking my eyes rapidly against the burning glare, I let them adjust for a moment as I tried to remember where I slept last night. Had I fallen asleep next to Kaleb again? Or had I left my light on when I crashed at home?

  Home. That didn’t sound right. I didn’t go back home last night. And I was sure I left Kaleb at the Healer Hub. But then it all came rushing back.

  Oh no. I remembered everything as the blurred images around me started to swim into focus. It all came back as clear as day.

  Feeling a tightness gripped around my wrists, I couldn’t stop the groan escaping my mouth at the realization I was tied up. Again
.

  “Terra,” I heard a tentative voice trying to get my attention. “Terra …”

  “What?” I snapped, trying to adjust to my new surroundings. And then I saw her, chained up in the corner, opposite to where they’d stuck me.

  “Vienna?”

  “In the flesh,” she said with a nervous chuckle. We were in a barn of some kind, I could make that much out. Her hands were tied with reinforced cuffs, just as mine were. She was crouched on the floor, in the same position they’d left me, her face covered in bruises.

  “What happened? Why are you here?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice low so as not to bring our captors running.

  “Florin cornered me before the ball at the Strigoi House. He demanded to know what I’d told you. Then he knocked me out with something and brought me here. Bernard must have followed him because he came in not long after and they fought …” Her voice broke and I felt sick.

  “Where’s Bernard, Vienna?” She hesitated. “Vienna!” I snapped urgently.

  “He’s down there.” She pointed with her head and I saw a body, chained up and lying on top of a pile of hay in the corner. “They fought. But three against one wasn’t good odds. They’ve cut him up pretty bad, immobilizing him by loss of blood. He’s been unconscious since.”

  “Damn it, Bernard,” I muttered, hoping with all I had in me that he was going to be okay. His body was unmoving, and all I could see from here was the darkness of the suit he was wearing. Between both him and Kaleb being hurt in the matter of days, I didn’t think my heart could cope. My nerves couldn't hack it.

  “We’re going to get out of this, aren’t we?” Vienna asked me in a small voice. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an answer that she would want to hear.

  “I don’t know, Vienna. I really don’t.”

  “The female vampire who is with them …”