Yes, that must be it. I’d gone mad, insanity brought on by the unnecessary heartache heaped upon me by an uncaring world. Either I’d gone crazy, or he was crazy—some unstable man, who just so happened to look exactly like the man of my dreams, and who also knew my name and other important, personal details a stranger would have no way of knowing.
A low, deep rumble escaped Lucius’ chest. “Sweetheart, I am very sane, and so are you. Stop questioning what is happening; trust yourself to know the truth.”
“I don’t understand,” I said “Why me? You don’t even know me, Lucius.”
“I have heard your heart cry out for so long now, your soul broke through the hardened walls of my cold heart and sang to me a lullaby so serene, I knew immediately you were my chosen. Make no mistake; I am yours for eternity.”
Oh, good God, he can’t mean what he is saying. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, and my face flushed a violent blush. I desperately looked around, searching for something, anything to distract my wanton body and delirious mind. I knew then as I do now, I was falling dangerously in love with the man in front of me. How he could capture my heart so quickly unnerved me to no end.
Lucius smiled at me, stroking my cheek. “Hush, little one. Stop your fretting, and allow me to explain how I awoke and came to you.”
I found myself leaning into his touch. He caressed my cheek so tenderly; every cell in my body came to life, awakening to Lucius.
“Ivy, dear, several years ago now, I awoke from a long sleep and found my heart beating. I could not comprehend what had done this—my kind only comes back to life when we meet our chosen one, so that we are then able to love for all eternity. However, I searched the world over, Ivy, and I could not find my chosen one. Had fate played some cruel joke on me, in order to punish me for my previous sins? I truly believed it to be so. And then, in a moment of sheer frustration and utter despair, I heard you heartbreaking sorrow. I could not bear the pain you were going through. I began searching once again, but I could not find you, to help you, to comfort you. You had to call me forth, to release me so that I might come and find you. For years, sweet Ivy, I listened to your soul’s agony. I will spend my lifetime trying to heal your hurts; I feel I have failed you by not being there when you needed me most.”
I shuddered at Lucius’ revelations; surely, he did not know the evils that were done to me. No one knew; I refused to speak the words out loud, thinking, somehow, if I didn’t tell anyone, then the events truly never happened in the first place. Of course, a psychiatrist would have a field day if he heard my tortured logic. Lucius’ sorrowful moan brought me crashing back to the present.
“Darling Ivy, what happened to you is very real, but no longer will you hang your head in shame. You survived a brutal assault, and yes, you have scars—both mentally and physically—but Ivy, you survived. A great many would not. I will help you come to terms with this. You must, you know, or we’ll never have a chance to become one. But don’t be afraid; I am here for you.”
My eyes smarted at this beautiful man’s caring words. Never in my life would I ever have believed someone could feel so strongly about another person, the way I was feeling for Lucius right then. Of course, what did I know of how relationships progressed? My record was dire, at best.
Lucius slid his hand around my neck and pulled me into him, and just when I thought my heart couldn’t beat any faster, my dream man proved me wrong. Breathing grew painful, and I gasped as I stared into those beautiful, molten eyes framed by thick, curling, dark lashes. Neither blemish nor scar marred his porcelain skin, and I found myself reaching out to trace a finger along jaw. Such angelic features and yet, his eyes spoke of true torment and pain. Who or what was this man before me? Where did he come from? He’d said something about my calling him forth. What did he mean? Just when I believed I’d found my voice to question him, all thoughts fled as he dipped his head and placed a chaste kiss on my tingling lips. Oh, dear heavens, how could something so innocent create such a volcanic reaction throughout my entire body?
Every hair on my body stood up, goose bumps formed everywhere, and my nipples hardened, making me fear he’d think I was easy prey. Ha! Who was I kidding? He had me in the palm of his hand, and he knew it. His nostrils flared, his eyes darkened, and his breath came fast. I found my body reacting before my brain could register. I reached up and pulled his face toward me, and just before our lips met, he flashed a smile. A flood of moisture drowned my panties. Trouble . . . this man meant nothing but trouble for me.
Lucius’ dangerous smile faded as he closed the distance between us and claimed my lips. My brain ceased working, allowing my body to function on its own and respond wantonly. The feel of his mouth on mine was the closest thing to divine, this side of heaven. He drew my upper lip between his, suckled it tenderly while rubbing the back of my neck. I pressed my body against his, and Lucius pulled me tightly into arms. I heard a moan and realized the sound came from me. Lucius took advantage of my parted lips, and his tongue found its way inside my mouth. I gasped, but he quickly vanquished my fears with his gentle expertise. So skilled was he, I briefly wondered how many lovers he’d had, upon which to practice and fine tune his technique. But I soon became caught up in a duel of tongues that sent my temperature soaring and my insides quivering. If I died right then, I would not have cared; the kiss had more passion in it than any intimate union I had ever had.
Lucius suddenly pulled back, and my body immediately protested the sudden distance between us. I moved toward him, but he held me back.
“Ivy, no, we have much to learn about each other. Now is not the time for this. I need you to trust me completely before I claim you as my chosen.”
My mind was slowly returning to a functional level. God, what he must think of me, throwing myself at him like that. My cheeks burned.
“Ivy, dear, I would never think badly of you. You reacted to me because I am your chosen; it is natural for us. Your body recognizes mine. My sweetest heart, understand me when I say I love you. No matter we’ve only just met, in the flesh; it truly is that simple.”
Chapter Two
Lucius took my hand in his and helped me to my feet.
“Come,” he said, and guided me along the cobbled path through the cemetery. We’d only gone a few feet, however, when he stopped suddenly and rubbed my tender wrist. “Ivy, how long have you had this marking?”
I shrugged casually. “After something that happened to me as a teenager.”
Of course, I didn’t want to tell Lucius about my past. About how I could not defend myself from a horrific assault that ended up taking my innocence, in more ways than one. The small scar symbolized the loss of all of life’s joys, an outward symbol of the memories lurking in the dark recesses of my mind. Memories I refused to consider ever sharing with anyone.
“Ivy, this is very important to me, to my kind.”
I did not truly understand what Lucius was going on about, and I did not want to talk about my scar or the things the tiny mark represented. I tried to pull my hand out of his, but he held onto it effortlessly.
“Ivy, we need to talk as soon as possible. Come, let’s go somewhere more comfortable.”
I let Lucius lead me for a while, as I did not want to talk. I felt uncomfortable, almost naked, now that Lucius found my scar. I never liked being venerable, and now, here I was, feeling insecure all over again.
“When we get to my house, we will sit, and I will listen to your entire story, and you will tell me, Ivy, all of it.”
I stopped walking and held up my free hand. “Stop, Lucius, I cannot go with you. This is crazy. Why would I want to tell you things I’ve never told anyone? I don’t even know you. I think I should just go home, now. It’s been different, but this is where it ends.”
Lucius’ eyes turned dark, nearly black, and a red outline formed around his pupils. His face changed before my eyes, his cheekbones becoming more prominent and fangs dropping from his upper gums. I gasped and jumped back from
his reach. What the—? I blinked rapidly, closed my eyes against what I knew must be an illusion. When I opened them, Lucius looked normal again. I released my pent-up breath on a relieved sigh. Surely, the atmosphere—having encountered this man . . . the man of my dreams, here in a cemetery—had caused me to hallucinate. No other explanation made sense. My brain seemed to have lost the ability to think rationally. After all, what was I thinking, talking to a man about whom I knew nothing? In a graveyard, of all places, in the middle of the night! Surely, no good could come from this.
Lucius growled a low, deep resonating sound that rumbled from some dark place in his soul. I shuddered to think what such a strong man might be capable of doing. His eyes grew wide. Had he once again guessed the direction of my thoughts? Read my mind?
“Ivy, please; give me a moment. Do not fear me, ever. I would never hurt you. I would rather kill myself than see fear or pain reflected in your beautiful gaze.”
I stood there quietly, taking this in. I truly did not know what to think. Logically, I should run away, as fast as my legs would carry me, but something about Lucius held me captive. He’d enthralled me. His very heart spoke to mine in a language I had yet to understand.
Lucius took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, their coloring, too, appeared normal, back to their beautiful molten hue. He held out his hand slowly. I stood there wondering what to do, but my body apparently knew how to react. A moment later, I found myself holding his hand.
I knew then my life would never be the same. I truly felt as if I were stepping off a cliff into an abyss. I had no idea where I would end up or if I would even live through this grave exchange. No pun intended.
I nodded, silently indicating my temporary agreement to continue our conversation.
We walked from the cemetery to a beautiful, sleek, black Jaguar. Eyebrows raised, I turned to give Lucius an inquiring look, only to finding him gazing down at me, grinning wickedly.
“Sweet Ivy, I am ancient. I have lived many, many lifetimes, and over the years, I have amassed a vast amount of wealth, both physically and monetary.”
Of course he did. He was perfect in every way; stupid of me not to have guessed he’d also be wealthy. But what could he mean when he said he’d lived many, many lifetimes? I shook my head. Nothing about this night made much sense.
Lucius opened the passenger door, but I hesitated, pausing a moment to gaze into his eyes.
“Trust me, Ivy; just trust me.”
Again, my body reacted before my mind could reach a rational decision based on all the facts. A second later, I found myself pulling my seatbelt around me and snapping it into place.
Lucius drove us through town and onto the country roads. Once again, I questioned my sanity. No one knew where I was or who I was with, and yet, I felt at peace. At least, for the moment. I sat there silently staring out the window, taking in the beautiful October night. The full moon now shone brightly in the clear sky, and fall leaves floated on a soft breeze, performing their traditional autumnal dance. I found myself being lulled into a sense of relaxation watching this seasonal display of beauty. Lucius took my hand and gently kissed the inside of my wrist. A burning sensation flared where his lips met my skin, and I gasped. I pulled from his grasp and tried to see what had caused my flesh to become so overly tender. I could not see very well in the car, but I could feel a change in the scar. In addition to feeling hot beneath my fingertips, the once smooth, flat, tiny mark now rose a bit.
“Ivy, I can explain to you why that is happening.”
“What, Lucius? How could you possibly know why my scar is so sensitive tonight?”
“I can explain many things to you tonight, all of which you will find very hard to accept, but in time, everything will make sense. All you must do right now is trust me completely and believe me; can you do that for me?”
I sat there staring out the window. Could I? Could I trust a person—a man, no less . . . a stranger to me—and do as he requested? I’d gone off with him, alone, so obviously, some small part of me already did believe he wouldn’t harm me. Oh, what fun the psychologists would have right now, if they knew I’d actually come to trust someone. A man I’d only just met, no less.
All too soon, we pulled onto a long, winding, dirt road. We drove along endlessly, as the country lane ran up and down and meandered for what seemed like miles. Eventually, a house came into view, an old colonial, no less. I gasped and sat forward to take it all in. A welcoming candle lit each window of the beautiful home.
“Lucius, it’s gorgeous, truly; I’ve never seen a house so exquisite.”
Lucius gave me a heartwarming smile. He parked the car in the driveway and rushed around and opened my door. He reached out, and I took his hand.
“You didn’t think I lived in a coffin, did you, little one?”
I felt my cheeks flame and looked down at my feet. Of course, Lucius knew what I was thinking. His loud chuckle made me look up, and the sight that met my gaze stole my breath. Lucius had the most beautiful, smiling eyes. His grin created dimples in his cheeks that took years off his normally somber face. There truly was so much more to the man than what I could have imagined.
“Come, Ivy, let us go inside and talk. Time is passing all too quickly.”
Chapter Three
We ascended the porch steps together, and I walked into a house where time stood still. Even though I had little experience in home décor, I knew that each piece of furniture, each painting on the wall, had to be priceless or very close to being classified as a rare and costly antique. I didn’t know where to stand; I was so nervous I’d break or damage something and ruin it forever. Lucius took my hand and pulled me into the living room. I felt my jaw drop. The room was huge, bigger than my entire apartment, which wasn’t saying much considering I lived in one of the tiniest flats available in a part of town where the poor could find affordable housing.
“Sit down, please. Relax. This furniture has stood the test of time. It truly is a lot more durable than you think it is.”
I relaxed slightly and sat down on the edge of a fancy, high-backed chair with a fleur de lis print. The design was one of the few things I recognized, and suddenly, I felt out of my league. Swiftly, Lucius knelt in front of me. He lifted my chin and gazed into my eyes.
“Ivy, never again think so little of yourself. You are worth far more to me than any piece of furniture or painting in this house or any other house I own around the world.”
I smiled weakly in return, but his kind words did little to ease my insecurities. If anything, his mention of owning other homes around the world only made matters worse. I squirmed in my seat and avoided his intense gaze.
Lucius rose, “I will be back in a few moments. Please make yourself at home.”
As soon as Lucius left, I stood and began pacing and wringing my hands. The circumstances were so extraordinary; what was I to do, to think, to feel? In the space of just a few hours, a man had turned my world upside down. My beliefs—what few I had—were suddenly conflicted, my emotions in turmoil. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, only then noticing the throbbing coming from the scar on my wrist. I looked down and gasped. The living room light showed clearly how angry and red the mark had become. Why was it inflamed now, so many years after the attack? I stood there troubled, and to distract myself, I took to wandering around the room. Never in all my years had I seen such beauty in a house, such care for each chosen treasure, for surely there was love in this house.
I stood near a low table, admiring a Tiffany lamp, when Lucius came back into the room. He stopped and smiled at me.
“I procured that while on a shopping expedition in Paris.”
I returned his smile and shook my head. A shopping expedition in Paris, hmm? We obviously lived in two different worlds. What I wouldn’t give to experience such things.
Lucius sat down on a loveseat, and I chose the chair nearby, realizing the time had come for us to talk. He’d said he had m
uch to tell me—had brought me here so we could speak alone, in comfort—and so I settled in, praying I had the nerve to listen to what he had to say. I took a deep, slow breath and looked into Lucius’ eyes.
“Ivy, what I’m about to tell you may be difficult for you to accept. It concerns me and my religion, and as with any religion, it will require much faith on your part to believe. I’m asking you to have that faith—faith in me, if nothing else. Do you think you can do that?”
I did not know what to say, so I simply shrugged. Religion was a very sore subject with me. In my darkest hours, I had cried and screamed, asking whatever God that might be passing by to hear my pleas, to save me from certain downfall. But, alas, my cries went unheeded. No, I did not believe in any religion; I only depended on myself. I felt a hand on my arm, the pressure pulling me back to the reality of my situation. Again, I found myself looking into Lucius’ warm eyes. I tentatively smiled and found myself holding my breath.
“Many, many years ago, a man struggled with his soul. He had a job to do, one which required him to have complete faith in his king. In order to do his job he had to harden his heart, for if he did not, he would never have done the cruel things required of him. Back then, it was not all that unusual for a man to act out of loyalty to his king and do everything that was required of him. Those were very dark times, Ivy. And so, this man became a hardened man, a man who ruthlessly killed when asked, all for the love of his king. He left his family and friends; he responded to no one, unless a summons came from court. He travelled under darkness and carried out acts so heinous that even the devil himself would have bowed down in reverence to this dark knight. My dear, it pains me to admit to you . . . that man was me.”
Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) Page 44