Her red lips curled, almost into a snarl. “Of course not. Disobey Theo and risk my own life? I think not.”
“Then at least tell me what’s going to happen.”
“You want to know your future?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to become one of us.”
“A vampire?”
“Not just a vampire. Part of Theo’s harem. Now shut up so I can prepare you for tonight’s ceremony.”
“Tonight? Ceremony?” Melody tried not to let her voice quiver, but fear shook her.
“Quiet!”
The woman walked out of view, and Melody thought perhaps she’d left the cave, but a few seconds later, she was back, carrying a gun. Oh Lord! The crazy vampire was going to shoot her. Melody’s heart skipped a beat. “Please, don’t shoot me. I promise to keep quiet. I won’t say another word.”
“Good.”
But to Melody’s horror, she took aim at her and pulled the trigger. Melody squeezed her eyes shut. In that tenth of a second before the bullet hit, her life flashed before her. She saw her mom and dad, Billy, Mags, Ann, and Gizmo. Thank goodness her friends would take care of her dog.
The last face she saw before the bullet’s scathing sting was Guy’s. Her impending death didn’t seem as tragic as the fact that she’d never see him again. They wouldn’t marry, and they’d never make love. A heaviness tightened her chest, and along with that, she felt blood—her blood—trickle down her side. Then the vampire’s hot breath was near her ear. What was she going to do now, finish Melody off with a bite to the neck? Afraid to look yet more afraid not to, she opened her eyes a sliver. A scream welled up in her throat at the sight of long fangs inches from her body. Oh, please, let it be over fast. Don’t make me suffer, she prayed, shutting her eyes again.
Blood spread over her stomach and down her thighs. She risked another peek. White? Her blood was white. She turned her head to the side, and to her surprise, the vampire was holding a large paintbrush.
“Did you think I was going to kill you?”
Melody nodded.
“Although I would love to—I am famished—that pleasure belongs to Theo. My job is to ready you for him. I shot you with a paint pellet.”
“Why?”
“Theo likes his women white. Extremely white.” She moved the brush along Melody’s legs, then over her arms and hands. She painted her face, even her eyebrows. By the time she moved on to Melody’s feet, her body was dry and beginning to itch.
“Please. Will you undo my wrist? I need to scratch my nose,” Melody pleaded.
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll unlock all the cuffs.” She moved around Melody, unlocking each clamp. “Now turn over,” she ordered, “but I warn you, if you try anything funny, I’ll make you wish I had used a bullet.”
Quickly, she itched the tip of her nose, then turned onto her stomach. In any other circumstance, she would have been mortified to be laid out naked, but right now her thoughts were solely on how to escape, and this was her opportunity.
She brought her elbow up, and, with all her strength, jabbed the vampire in the chest. The woman let out a howl of pain and grabbed her breasts.
There were numerous passages out of the cave, and Melody didn’t hesitate in selecting one. She didn’t know she could run so fast and over slick limestone, too, but there was no doubt the vampire was in close pursuit. She couldn’t let up, not even for a second. Melody ran down the dark passage, not knowing or caring where she was headed. Eventually she was bound to find her way out.
After what seemed like hours, the passage split. No footsteps rang out behind her, so she stopped to catch her breath before selecting which way to go. She leaned over and placed her hands on her knees. Her tired gaze rested on a pair of black leather boots, then slowly moved up to perfectly cut pants that hugged well-muscled thighs, and on to a white linen shirt open at the chest, exposing a blanket of blond curly hair. Her gaze continued up until it locked with a pair of deep chocolate eyes.
Theo brought a well-manicured finger up to his mouth. “Let me see. Which way should you go, to the right or to the left?”
Melody stood straight and used her arms to try to cover her nakedness, but it was useless. She was thoroughly exposed to him, like an insect under a microscope.
When she opened her mouth to speak, Theo put his hand out silencing her. “How about you turn around and go back the way you came? It’s bad luck for me to see my bride on our wedding day.”
She gasped. “Bride?”
He reached out and drew a line across her collarbone with his finger. “You must know, my dear, I find you very attractive.”
She shrank away from him, repulsed by his touch.
“Aw, what’s wrong? You don’t find me attractive?”
“You’re a monster,” she hissed. “I’ll never marry you.”
He moved closer to her. “I’m afraid you have no say. You’ll be spending a very long time with me, like it or not.”
“Never.” She tried to back up, but he wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing her against him. Nausea gagged her.
“I won’t lie to you. No matter what, tonight’s ceremony will be painful, but it’s your choice as to what happens after that.” He ran his mouth along the side of her neck, then held her out at arms’ length. “We can spend forever as partners, or you can join my harem and serve my every whim, and, I assure you, there won’t be an ounce of pleasure in that…for you.”
By the way his gaze scoured her body, she knew he would have his way with her, even if she did cooperate. “You might be able to control my destiny, but you’ll never have my love.”
His laugh was so evil it made her shudder. “Are you really that naïve? Do you think I care or want love?” He took her by the shoulders, spun her around, and murmured at her back, “My soft-hearted brother might think such emotions matter, but I have no use for them. Now, let’s go. We have to finish your wedding preparation.”
A figure emerged from the shadows. “Wedding?”
“Well, you finally arrived,” Theo snapped. “If I hadn’t intervened, Melody may have found her way out of the caves.”
The red-haired vampire stepped forward to stand boldly before him. “You never said anything about marriage. Only a turning ceremony.”
He pulled the vampire to him. “Since when do I have to fill you in on all my plans, Gelda?”
Her green eyes smoldered. “I don’t care what you do with that mortal, so long as you don’t marry her.”
He grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back. “When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it. It will serve you well to remember that.” He let go of her hair and rubbed the back of her head. “There’s no need for jealousy, my dear. You know I adore you. No other woman will ever change that.”
Gelda covered his mouth with hers.
Melody felt like a voyeur watching them kiss. Their passion for each other was palpable. She inched back, thinking this would be a good time to make a run for it.
Theo’s fingers curled around her wrist and tightened like a vise. His lips parted from Gelda’s. He shot Melody a steely stare. “And where do you think you’re going? Don’t underestimate me. I can have one eye on you and the other elsewhere.” He kissed Gelda’s cheek.
Melody seethed. “When Guy finds you, you’ll be so sorry.”
Theo chuckled. “We’ll see about that.”
— : : —
Guystof pushed past the young servant boy who’d carried in Melody’s luggage, nearly knocking him to the ground. He raced toward Theo’s quarters in the north tower, not expecting to find him there but hoping to uncover a clue that would help lead him to Melody.
He burst into Theo’s study and searched his desk, finding nothing of interest except some vials of potion in the bottom drawer. Had he drugged Melody? Guystof took one out and threw it at the wall. The vial shattered. A putrid green liquid sprayed out, creating a mottled mess on the wall. He picked up another vial and t
ook aim.
“Sir, might I ask what you’re doing?”
Guystof looked over his shoulder. Blakesley stood in the doorway. “The bastard has Melody.” He threw the second vial.
“Then shouldn’t we set out to find her?” The butler came to stand beside him and pushed the drawer shut.
“If I knew where she was, don’t you think I’d already be there?” Guystof yanked open the drawer and hurled another vial at the wall.
“Sir, wouldn’t it be wiser to take your frustration out in a more constructive way?”
“And how do you suggest I do that?”
“By using Theo’s magic to your advantage.” Blakesley pulled a key from his pants pocket. “I had this made some time ago, sir. I never trusted your brother, and since he always underestimated me, it wasn’t difficult to borrow the master key and have a copy made.” He strolled over to a gray metal cabinet and unlocked the door.
Guystof watched with interest. “Looks like Theo’s misfortune shall be my gain.”
“Indeed, sir.” Blakesley took out a gem-encrusted gold chalice and a beaker of blood. He set the goblet on the desk, filled it with blood, then ran his hands over it and chanted, “Plasa inca trea. Show me where Theo has taken Melody.”
Guystof peered into the blood as a vivid picture appeared. Melody lay captive on a limestone table while one of Theo’s vampires painted her back white. “What is she doing?” He looked at Blakesley.
“I believe she’s preparing Melody for the turning ceremony, sir.”
Guystof gasped in horror. “It’s against the rules for him to take my fiancée for his own pleasure.”
“Have you ever known Theo to play fair in the past, sir?”
Certainly not, but he never expected his brother to go this far. How in the world did Theo expect to get away with it? Once Father found out, he would banish Theo from the kingdom. “Why would he turn Melody when all he has to do is keep her from me until next week? What could he possibly hope to gain by this?”
Blakesley pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow. “As you stated, sir, he cannot steal your fiancée for his own pleasure, but what if he were to marry her? That would be another matter.”
“Damn.” Guystof slammed his fists on the desk. “He wouldn’t dare.”
“Now don’t you underestimate him.”
Guystof studied the picture inside the goblet more closely. Melody was held in a room full of strange, colorful formations and sparkling crystal pillars. “Do you have any idea where they are? Looks like they might be in a cave.”
“There are caverns under the castle. Your grandfather used to practice his spells in them.”
“What are we waiting for, then? Let’s go.” Guystof bolted for the door.
“Wait, sir.” Blakesley hobbled after him. “I don’t know how to get to them.”
Guystof groaned. “What good is this knowledge if we can’t use it to find Melody?”
Blakesley raked his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. “Just give me a moment, sir, and perhaps I’ll be able to think of something that may be of help.” He closed his eyes. “Each morning your grandfather would head off toward the unused wing of the castle. The entrance to the caves must be there somewhere.”
Guystof took off at a gallop. If Theo managed to go through with the ceremony before Guystof found Melody, there would be nothing he could do. He took a lantern from the wall to help light his way through the unused wing’s dark corridors. The musty smell nearly gagged him as he ran. When he came to a narrow stairway, he stopped and held the lantern out in front of him to illuminate the treacherous, mold-covered steps. Where those footprints in the mold? Theo’s footprints? His heart thundered, and it took great restraint to keep from bolting down the stairs, but a careless step could land him headfirst at the bottom.
He treaded cautiously, following the footprints. They stopped a few feet from the bottom step. He knelt and studied the floor. With his fist, he knocked on it. As he’d suspected, a hollow sound rang out, and he ran his hand over the slick, moldy floor, feeling for the outline of a trapdoor. He located a chiseled notch that allowed him to slip his fingers under and lift up the door. Blakesley arrived as he was about to enter the underground passage.
“Impeccable timing, my friend.” He smiled up at the old butler. “Watch yourself.” He crouched to avoid hitting his head as he moved through the low tunnel.
After what seemed like an eternity in the dark, the passage opened up to a cave—an underground wonder full of mineral deposits in exquisite shapes, textures, and colors. Stalactites dripped down like icicles, while stalagmites rose up from the floor like giant swords. From the cave ceiling, delicate white spikes spread in all directions. A spectacular malachite-colored lake glistened. Guystof looked across it at the series of tunnels, and the joy he’d felt at coming this far dissolved. “What now?” he asked glumly. “She could’ve been taken down any one.”
“You mustn’t give up hope, sir.”
“I wouldn’t think of it.” He ran his hand across his forehead. “I’ll search every one of these tunnels if I have to and won’t stop looking until I find Melody.”
“I suppose we need to swim across the lake, sir.” Blakesley looked apprehensively at the water.
“Not we, old man.” Guystof handed the lantern to his butler. “This is the end of the road for you. You’re not a strong enough swimmer to make it across safely.”
“I can’t leave you. Theo is dangerous.”
“Precisely why I need you to go back to the castle. If I haven’t returned with Melody by dawn, alert Father.”
“I don’t feel good about this. You don’t know what you’ll come up against.”
“I appreciate your concern, but Theo won’t harm me.”
Blakesley looked at him skeptically. “I wouldn’t put anything past that one, sir.”
“Theo’s ruthless, but he is my brother. I’ll be fine.” Guystof stepped up to the edge of the lake, then removed his shirt and shoes. “Wish me luck.” He dove into the green water. As he swam, he carefully avoided the cloud-like rock formations just below the water’s surface. When he reached the other side, he waved to Blakesley and watched the butler disappear into the passage that would lead him back to the castle; then Guystof chose which tunnel he hoped would take him to Melody.
He headed down a long, straight passage marred with deep fissures in the floor. To his dismay, the passage came to an abrupt end, and he was forced to turn around. Back at the lake, he chose another tunnel. He didn’t have time for mistakes. Every wrong move put him at greater risk of losing Melody forever. He ran through the inky blackness, not caring that the tight flowstone walls scratched his arms. Up ahead, the dark was broken by an orange glow, and smoke cut through the dank smell. Torches! Could Melody be close?
— : : —
Melody tried to think of an escape plan as Gelda painted her back. But what could she do? She was a prisoner cuffed to a table. Would Guy rescue her in time? By now, he had to have discovered her missing.
The thought of marriage to Theo repulsed her. How could she ever have found him attractive? She remembered the day in the airport when she’d thought him beautiful. His looks were certainly deceiving. The handsome facade hid a monster. And she was going to have to spend centuries with him. A tear ran down her cheek.
“Don’t be sad. Tonight is all about you, sweetie,” Gelda said sarcastically.
An evil glint lit the vampire’s cold eyes. She ran one more swipe of the paint brush over Melody’s back, then admired her work like an artist would his painting. “As soon as you’re dry, you can put on your ceremonial clothes. It won’t be long before you’ll become one of us.” She let out a cackle, then disappeared from view.
“Are you still here?” Melody cried. Only the occasional drip of water from the walls onto the cave floor broke the ominous silence. The dampness made her shiver and the smell of mold and mildew turned her stomach. “Help! Can anyone hear me?” She s
creamed until her voice grew hoarse. It was no use. No one could hear, so no one would come. Guy wouldn’t rescue her. She would be forced into a life of fear and darkness.
Footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Gelda appeared carrying an arm full of clothes and an elaborate headdress adorned with long black feathers. She placed the items on a mineralized pillar, then unshackled Melody.
“If you try any funny business, I promise you’ll regret it,” she warned.
Four large vampires emerged from the shadows and surrounded her.
“Put these on.” Gelda threw the clothes at her.
After Melody slipped on the undergarments—black fishnet tights and a satin corset top—she stepped into a petticoat, over which she pulled a black knee-length skirt. Gelda handed her a pair of boots very much like the ones she wore; then a pair of vampires began applying makeup to her face, encircling her eyes with black liner. One drew a small red heart beneath her right eye. Another vampire draped the cape over her shoulders and tied the silk cord across her neckline. Someone else pinned her hair up, then placed the headpiece on top her head. It was heavy and toppled to the side. Gelda caught it before it hit the ground.
“Careful,” she snapped, putting it back on Melody’s head. “Theo would not be pleased if this were damaged.” She took three tortoiseshell hairpins from a velvet pouch that hung from her wrist and used them to hold the headpiece steady.
Gelda took a step back and studied Melody carefully. “Almost perfect,” she purred. “Just one more thing.” She pulled a silver tube from the pouch and applied lipstick to Melody’s mouth.
The consistency was different from any Melody had ever worn. She ran her tongue over her lips, not liking the tacky feel of it or the salty taste.
“You’ll get used to it, my dear.” Gelda handed her the tube.
She turned it over and read the label. Blood Red. Oh Lord! That wasn’t just the color. There was blood in the lipstick. Her stomach churned, and she thought she might vomit. She rubbed at her mouth with the back of her hand.
Gelda laughed. “It won’t come off that way. It’s a stain. Has to wear off.”
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