Blood Lust

by T. Lynne Tolles

She bit her lip and entered the huge terminal where she saw Devon in the First Class line looking a little annoyed. She walked quickly to the line, getting her ID out for the woman behind the counter. After depositing their bags at the counter and receiving their boarding passes, they headed for the line through security. Darby had completely forgotten about security. Normally she would have worn shoes that were easily slipped off and she certainly wouldn’t have worn a belt.

  After being searched, probed, disrobed (at least of her belt and shoes), and walking through a metal detector, she gathered all her items and sat down to put on her shoes. Devon was already done and standing impatiently at the security exit waiting for her. At least he waited for me this time, she thought.

  Following behind Devon, who seemed to be on a mission, they came to gate 6A and found a seat near the window. There was still a half an hour before boarding so Darby walked to the gift shop to get a book. Since things had been so quiet in the car, she figured the chance that things were going to get any better on the plane was slim. She looked through the shelves of books and found a new Jim Butcher book she hadn’t read yet, so she grabbed that and some mints and went to the register.

  Book in hand and mint in mouth, she headed back to find Dominic sitting silently next to Devon. Ugh, she thought, and so it begins. She walked up to the two handsome men, reaching in her bag and offering each of them a mint, to which they both declined with a quiet “No, thank you.”

  She tried small talk with Dominic, who seemed politely annoyed at her attempts. Glad I got a book. Should have bought ten. Guess I’ll be doing a lot of reading for the next couple of weeks.

  Over the loud speaker it was announced that first class passengers were now boarding. Both Dominic and Devon stood, grabbing their coats and Dominic his hat. Darby grabbed her book and made her way toward the smiling woman collecting boarding passes. Silently, they walked down the jet way ramp to the awaiting plane to be greeted by yet another smiling woman welcoming them aboard and pointing to their seats. Devon offered the window seat to Darby and deposited her coat in the overhead compartment along with his coat and briefcase. He sat down next to her and Dominic sat in the seat across the aisle.

  It was almost a thrill to have the stewardess ask her if she wanted a mimosa as she had been without conversation for so long. “Yes, please!” she said enthusiastically only to get a disapproving eyebrow from Dominic, who waved off the stewardess, as did Devon. Darby had never been in first class before and was amazed at the attention they received from the stewardesses. She was going to say something about it to Devon when she looked at his stern face staring straight ahead and thought better of it. The first mimosa went down quickly; even before everyone had boarded, the stewardess was bringing her another. When she caught another disapproving look from Dominic, she thought, if the guy is going to be mad at me I might as well make him good and mad and have a good time doing it. She could have sworn out of the corner of her eye that she saw Devon smile, but she wasn’t certain, and she really didn’t care.

  Devon slept, or at least pretended to sleep through the entire flight. She was a good two-thirds of the way through her book when they landed in Hartford, Connecticut.

  As they departed the plane, Darby thanked the stewardess only to see Dominic yet again disapprove of her conduct. They meandered to the baggage claim and waited. A chauffeur was there waiting for Dominic, who pointed to his bags, as did Devon. Darby tried to grab her bag as it went by, only to be stopped by the chauffeur. She thanked him for his help and he smiled at her. They followed the chauffeur out the door and to the car waiting at the curb. He quickly opened the door for Dominic and headed for the other side to open it for Darby. She offered the seat to Devon, who shook his head and opened the door next to the driver and got in.

  Swell. I hope this isn’t going to be a long ride. She sat there in the backseat with Dominic. He glanced over at her book in her lap and she met his eyes and smiled.

  “He’s quite a good fiction writer if you like that sort of thing. He’s very comical. The series is about Harry Dresden, who’s a wizard for hire and a part-time private investigator. He…”

  “I only read the classics, Miss Darby,” Dominic said.

  “Oh, my mistake. When you looked at it, I thought it was out of interest, but I see it was disapproval. I misunderstood. At least now that I know quite a few of your disapproving looks, I’ll make a mental note of them for the future.”

  She turned to look out the window in the silence again. It was dark and she couldn’t see much of anything, but it didn’t matter. She pulled out her cell phone and texted Blake and Rowan that they were on the ground and safe in Connecticut.

  Arrived safely in CT. Having a BLAST! U better b right about Devon, Blake, or I’m going 2 hunt u down n cast a spell on u that u will not soon forget. ;(

  She looked up to find Dominic watching her.

  “Would you like me to read it to you? Just a note to my sister, the werewolf, and Blake.” Dominic cringed at the word werewolf.

  “Told them what a blast I’m having with you two. It also says that Blake better be right about Devon telling me what the heck is going on here, or I’m going to hunt Blake down and cast a spell on him he won’t soon forget. That’s right, Mr. Larsen, I’m sure you have surmised I am a witch, as is my sister. For centuries and centuries, that’s all we O’Riellys have been, at least until last June. That’s when we came across the maniac who tried to kill Devon and Blake. He concluded that Blake must have turned my sister to a vampire and then thought it would be fun to inject her with werewolf blood to kill the vampire in her. Lo and behold, there was no vampire blood in her and it turned her to a werewolf.”

  By now the tears were pouring down her face. All the silence of the day had made her even madder than she had thought. “I’m sorry you don’t approve of my friends and my family, Mr. Larsen, but that doesn’t change anything. I still love your nephew with every ounce of my being, at least I did until you showed up and he changed. I don’t know what is up with you two or why I’m here, or what the heck is going on, but I am not going to spend the next few weeks in total silence like I have for over twenty-four hours now.”

  She wasn’t sure what the emotion was that she saw on Dominic’s face. Devon never turned around, so she had no idea what his reaction was. Dominic said, “No one has spoken to me like that since Gail died. No one.”

  “Well, I don’t know who Gail is, but maybe you needed it,” Darby said.

  Then she heard a familiar voice from the front of the car. “Gail was my mother. Most people called her Abigail or Abby for short, but Dominic always called her Gail.”

  “Yes. She was the only one who got away with speaking to me like that.”

  “Great. Too bad she’s not here to smack you both around a bit,” Darby said looking out the window at blackness.

  Dominic started to chuckle which grew into a full out belly laugh. Darby looked at him as if he were crazy. Devon turned around looking as though he had never seen his uncle laugh. Could that be true? Dear Lord, that couldn’t be true, could it? Dominic’s laughter died down and he said, “Oh, Miss Darby, thank you. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so heartily. Dear Lord, I think you must be the reincarnate of my Gail.”

  “That’s just gross, Dominic, I am not dating my mother,” Devon said.

  “Oh, Devon. I didn’t mean it like that. She was one of a kind. She was sweet and sassy at the same time. She spoke her mind, but not with the intent to hurt. She felt so strongly about things. She was always trying to fix something or help someone. She was a beautiful and free spirit, strong and sappy sweet. I miss her so much.”

  “She sounds nice,” Darby said as she continued to look out the window. “How’d she end up with a crabby guy like you for a brother?”

  “Who knows?” Dominic quietly chuckled. “Guess I was just lucky.”

  They turned off the main road and went through a gate. She couldn’t see much through the tinted win
dows in the dark, but the road sounded like crushed stone. They pulled up to the biggest house Darby had ever been near. Oh sure, she’d seen big places in pictures and on television but had not actually been inside one. It was thrilling and ominous at the same time. The chauffeur stopped the car and rushed to let Darby out first. He was smiling at her as if he had truly enjoyed what he had heard from the backseat. She smiled back coyly and stretched. It had been a long day.

  Dominic was helped out of the car and Devon walked around the front to the steps of the house.

  Landscaping lights showed off the house’s perfectly manicured hedges and pristine shrubs. Adorned with graceful dormers, clapboard, and a wainscoting of river stone, it backed up to its own glorious pond that looked more like a lake, with a boathouse and dock. There was also a mother-in-law-house on the property along with tennis courts, formal gardens, and an amazing pool. She would have spent more time outside exploring if it weren’t for the temperature. A California girl, unprepared for winter in Connecticut, needed to get into the house ASAP.

  They were greeted in the foyer by Dominic’s servant, Bernard, and a peppy, golden-red dog that looked to be at least part Shar-Pei. With his tail standing straight up and slightly curved towards his head, he looked much like a rhinoceros might if strolling through a house with a tennis ball in his mouth. His name was Sammy and he seemed to have some kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder in regards to the tennis ball he was carrying. He set it down in front of Darby, but when she didn’t immediately bend over to pick it up, he ran to it, grabbed it, and set it in front of her again. Darby started to lean over to throw it, when Dominic said, “If you start throwing the ball there will be no end. Trust me.”

  Then he turned to his servant. “Bernard, please take Devon’s bags to his old room and Miss Darby’s bags to Lady Gail’s favorite room.” Bernard looked shocked.

  “Oh no, Mr. Larsen,” Darby protested. “I couldn’t possibly. Please, any other room would be just fine.”

  “I insist,” he said. “If she had known you, she would have insisted too. It looks over the pond and the formal rose garden. Trust me. It is absolutely perfect for you.”

  “Are you very sure, Mr. Larsen? And Devon, I couldn’t possibly accept without your approval.”

  “Dominic is right. It suits you, Darby,” Devon answered.

  Darby’s gaze traveled up the long staircase to the portrait of a woman on the balcony. With shoulder-length chestnut hair, inviting blue eyes, beautifully structured cheekbones, a complexion to kill for, and a knowing smile. She seemed to be looking right at Darby.

  “Who is that?” Darby asked Bernard.

  “That is Mrs. Larsen, Miss Darby.”

  Darby turned to Dominic to find he too was staring at the painting. “She is so beautiful, Mr. Larsen.”

  “Yes, she was. Her name was Sophia. She captured my heart the first time I laid eyes on her.”

  “I can see why,” answered Darby.

  They continued up the stairs past the enormous portrait. Sammy followed Darby, all the while carrying his tennis ball. As Bernard set down her baggage on the small loveseat in the room, she bent down and scratched Sammy’s floppy, velvety ears as he sat on her feet, claiming her.

  As Bernard retreated from the room, a large Himalayan cat with gorgeous blue eyes sauntered in, rubbing himself on the doorjamb. Everything about the cat oozed “snobby,” from the way he carried his tail to the way he looked at Darby as if she were only there to please his every whim. He jumped on her bed and smelled her coat. And just to prove how unimportant she was, he decided to clean his privates right there on her coat. She gave him a little rub on the chin and thought about her own large kitty Harry, thousands of miles away, probably enjoying her entire bed right now. Probably, his head was on her pillow, and he was lying on his back exposing that ever-growing belly of his.

  The cat on her coat purred at her chin rubs almost reluctantly. His bright blue eyes refused to make eye contact with this lowly human.

  “Ah, I see you’ve met Sammy and Mr. Chow. You should feel quite privileged. Mr. Chow does not usually grace anyone with his presence so early on in a visit,” Dominic said. “Is there anything you need this evening before you retire? Are you hungry? Would you like some tea? Something sweet, perhaps?”

  “No, Mr. Larsen, I’m good. Thank you for the lovely room, but again, if you’ve changed your mind, I’m fine with anything.”

  “Don’t be silly. This room needs a little sunshine and laughter. If you won’t be needing anything else, I will bid you a good night. This old man needs some shut-eye after such a long day.”

  “That’s right; Blake said that you rarely leave Connecticut. Is there anything you need? Are you feeling okay?”

  “You are sweet, Darby. No, there is nothing you need to bother yourself with. I’m going to enjoy your visit very much. I’m sorry I was…well, such a ‘sour puss’ as Gail would have put it. I hope you will forgive my rudeness towards you earlier.”

  “Of course, Mr. Larsen, but don’t let it happen again,” she joked. He chuckled quietly as he turned and headed down the hall. He was very handsome when he allowed himself to smile, Darby thought. She continued to pet Mr. Chow and rub Sammy’s belly with her foot as she appreciated her room, which was done in light blues and lilac with a touch of green, all on a background of snow white. The bed was humongous. Darby felt she, Sammy, Mr. Chow, Devon, and maybe five other people could sleep in it comfortably. For that matter, the room was the size of her whole house.

  She was disappointed there was no sign of Devon. A huge room in a gigantic house with two new animal friends, and yet she still felt so alone. At least someone was talking to her now. She opened her suitcase, took out her personal items, and brought them to her own private bathroom along with flannel jammies. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and piled her long hair on top of her head with a large barrette. Sammy was waiting for her, wagging his whip of a tail. He dropped his ball in front of her, practically tripping her in her bunny slippers.

  She shivered as she went to the bed and pulled back the silk coverlet. She was definitely going to have to go shopping to get some warmer clothes. Off the foot of the bed, she grabbed an afghan that looked like it was made of cashmere. Wrapping it around her like a cape, she walked out of the room quietly and headed downstairs. She had no idea where the kitchen was, but she was going to make herself some hot tea or hot chocolate to warm up. She found it was impossible to be quiet, what with the creaking stairs and the clickity clack of paws that followed her. She looked back at Sammy and smiled, and found that Mr. Chow was also following her. Soon, she stumbled on the kitchen and found a teakettle to warm up. She stood in the kitchen clutching the afghan around her, kicking a tennis ball every thirty seconds for Sammy to run after. This dog needs some Valium.

  The teakettle started to whistle and she quickly turned off the gas, so as not to wake anyone. She found a large cup and some orange pekoe tea. A tiny bit of sugar and it was off to the bedroom again, if she could find her way without a map. She passed a large room with a light on at the desk and peeked in to find Devon sitting there in front of a computer.

  “Hey Sweetie, can I make you some tea?”

  He looked up, surprised to see her. “No, thank you.” Her entourage followed her into the room as she sat herself on the arm of an extremely large leather chair in front of the fireplace. Above the fireplace was yet another portrait of an amazingly beautiful woman. She had strong features, sweeping blonde hair, but it was her eyes that Darby noticed the most. They were deep blue and kind, but also piercing, as if they could see into your very soul. Her demure smile gave her the appearance of having a secret.

  “Who is that gorgeous woman above the fireplace?” Darby asked as she took a sip of her tea.

  Seemingly annoyed, Devon answered without looking up at the portrait or at Darby. “Abigail Larsen Bloomington.”

  “Your mother? Oh Devon, she is so beautiful.”

  “Yes, sh
e was,” Devon answered curtly.

  Darby was silent for a moment and then said, “Please talk to me, Devon. I’m so alone without you. I’ve got this gigantic bed upstairs and I’m cold and out of my element. Please open up to me. I love you so much; please trust me enough to confide in me.”

  The tears again welled in her eyes as she pleaded and Sammy nosed the ball toward her feet. “Have I done something to make you angry?” Mr. Chow was now on the back of the chair, rubbing himself on her back and elbow.

  “No, Darby. It’s nothing you’ve done. I’ve told you that already.” He seemed irritated at having to reiterate this fact. Deeply disappointed, she nodded and stood up, exciting Sammy and making Mr. Chow jump down from the chair.

  “I’m sorry, you’re right. You did already tell me that. I’ll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing. Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well.” She turned away from him, pulling the blanket tight around her neck. The tears spilled as she left the room with her entourage following her. She couldn’t control her crying this time and she found herself making more noise than she wanted to as she starting sobbing at the foot of the stairs. She couldn’t walk anymore; she sat down on the steps, and set her tea down with Mr. Chow rubbing himself on her legs. Dear Lord, you’d think the cat hadn’t been petted in a month. And of course there was Sammy, dropping his ball at her feet every couple of seconds.

  She was definitely going to give Blake a piece of her mind. ‘Oh, he’s fine. He loves you. He’ll tell you when he’s ready.’ My butt!

  She sat until the sobbing subsided and sipped her tea when she saw, in the shafts of the landscaping lights, through the wall of glass looking towards the pond, white flakes coming down like tiny pieces of down. It was snowing, little white snowflakes floating ever so gracefully down to the ground. She walked to the window, holding her blanket tightly around her neck with one hand and her cup of tea in the other. She wished she had someone to share it with, besides the cat and the OCD dog dropping his ball on her foot. Rowan would love this, she thought to herself. Wouldn’t it be cool to be a wolf running in the snow? I bet Rowan and Dean would love chasing rabbits in the snow on a full moon. Again she thought that she’d need to go shopping for some warmer clothes, maybe even some boots, for the snowy days to come.