Heiress to a Curse

by Zandria Munson

  The alarm clock chimed loudly. Alexandra awoke suddenly, traces of the dream lingering in her mind. The events of her nightmare had been different for the first time in her life—this time the young woman had been given a name, and although she hadn’t been forced to witness Vivian walking mindlessly into the blazing castle, she’d felt the same searing anger. So consuming had it been that even now she felt the dissipating prickles of its intensity. She also wondered if Vivian’s suicide had been related to the wrong done to her.

  She sat up slowly and realized that she was still wearing her evening gown. After returning home, she’d been too emotionally and physically drawn to do anything other than collapse on her bed and fall into a restless sleep.

  Memories of the chaotic night she’d had came rushing into her mind. She’d left the roof in an attempt to make a hasty retreat, knowing full well that the place was already swarming with police and reporters. April had cornered her before she could escape and had grilled her relentlessly for every detail. Unwillingly, Alexandra had told her everything, anything to get out of there. Then, with much difficulty she’d been able to convince April to keep her name out of the whole thing. She’d actually bribed April with the prospect of getting a close-up picture of the gargoyle for a future article. But she was willing to bet that the entire ordeal was plastered on the front page of every newspaper in New York City by now.

  And what would they say? Reporter Prevents Capture of Central Park Creature! Or better yet, Reporter Caught in Secret Rendezvous on Rooftop with Creature!

  She groaned again. She wouldn’t be surprised if every journalist and newscaster in town was waiting outside her building for an interview. Just to be sure, she pitched out of bed, unlocked her sliding door and stepped onto her balcony. The street below was congested with its usual early-morning traffic, but there was no sign of any stampeding paparazzi.

  She breathed a sigh of relief—was it too much to hope that her part in the night’s events had gone unmentioned? She bit her lip and headed for the front door—her morning paper should be waiting for her by now.

  The last thing she expected to find when she opened the door was Marius Drakon. As she bent to retrieve her newspaper from her threshold, she noticed his form in her peripheral vision. She could do nothing but glare at him, for she was well aware of her appearance. This was the second time they crossed paths where she didn’t look her best. On this morning she just had to be sporting a crumpled satin evening gown that he’d seen her in the night before, a wild twist of bedraggled hair and smeared mascara.

  He stood leaning against his own doorjamb, regarding her with half-lidded eyes. She wondered what he was thinking in that gorgeous head of his.

  “Good morning,” he greeted her.

  Alexandra blinked, feeling silly. “Uh, good morning.”

  “Looks like you had a very interesting night.” When she fixed him with a confused look, he held up a copy of the New York Herald.

  From where she stood, Alexandra could read the bold title on the front page.

  Central Park Creature Terrorizes Police Ball!

  She tried to mask her trepidation as she moved toward him and quickly skimmed the article. Her pulse slowed when she finished reading the last line. She looked up to see Marius watching her. Her cheeks pinked when she realized that, in her excitement, she’d snatched the newspaper from his hands.

  As if he could read her mind, he offered her a half smile. “Did you see this infamous creature?” His voice was low, very absorbing.

  She found that she couldn’t take her eyes from him. “Yes, but just a glimpse,” she lied.

  The last thing she needed was for Marius to learn that the gargoyle had taken a special interest in her and that she’d probably saved him from being captured. If Marius thought that she was some kind of closet Goth who went around cultivating relationships with weird beasts, she was sure his interest would stray elsewhere.

  “And?” His stare was insistent.

  She blinked at him. “And what?”

  “Does he really look the way the newspapers describe him?”

  “Actually, he doesn’t. He seems more of a man than a monster.” She became thoughtful. “It was just the look in his eyes. He seemed sad, lonely and maybe even a little confused. I almost felt sorry for him.”

  He watched her quietly for a moment before speaking. “You gained quite a bit from a mere glimpse,” he commented.

  “Well, I’m very perceptive,” she told him.

  A silence lapsed between them. Alexandra knew that she hadn’t been imagining the disappointment in Marius’s eyes when he’d spotted her with Bradley. He was such a mystery to her—a dark and sensual mystery.

  She told herself that she was a fool for wanting to know more about him. The man had disappeared for three whole days without an explanation—not that he was obligated to provide one, but his absence could mean that he was in a relationship. And if he was, she needed to know.

  His gaze dipped to the wrinkled bodice of her gown, and Alexandra was reminded of her appearance. She handed him the newspaper. “Thanks. It was nice chatting with you, but I really have to get cleaned up now.”

  “It was nice talking with you, too,” he said quietly.

  She nodded and turned away, then after a thought, faced him again. “You know, I was going to invite you to attend that ball with me, but when I couldn’t get in touch I asked Bradley,” she said as lightly as possible.

  Marius smiled. “I am sorry I disappointed you. I had to leave the city for a bit.”

  “Oh.” She nodded impassively. Honestly, she didn’t know what she’d expected him to say. He owed her no explanation about his whereabouts. “Well, I do have to get going now.” She glanced at her watch.

  When he said nothing, she turned and headed back to her door.

  “Alexandra,” Marius called when she was about to enter.

  “Yes?”

  “Have lunch with me.”

  Alexandra blinked. Are you kidding? How do I know you’re not in a relationship? How do I know you’re not married with kids? “Sure.” Good God! I don’t have anything to wear!

  Pelos was a cute little Greek restaurant in the downtown area. Marius sat opposite Alexandra at a table near a wide glass window. She looked beautiful in a soft coral dress, and he found it difficult to take his eyes from her. Behind his curiosity lay a dark and dangerous yearning. Last night he’d come so close to taking her. Never had he desired a woman so. Even now he tried relentlessly to douse the flames that burned within him.

  “Go ahead, try it.” Alexandra laughed.

  Marius glared reluctantly at the uncooked shellfish on her plate. “It’s not prepared.” He stated the obvious.

  She laughed again. “Of course not. That’s how it’s eaten. Now go on. Give it a try.”

  When he stared at her, she grabbed a spoon and scooped an oyster from its shell then brought it to his mouth. “Open wide.”

  His eyes darted around the room and he caught a few smirking couples watching them. “Alexandra, people are staring,” he informed her.

  “Of course they are. They’re wondering why you’re so afraid to eat this delicious oyster.”

  “I think the word repulsed would better fit my present mood.”

  She shook her head. “I just love the way you say things. Now come on, give it a try. It may look unpleasant, but it’s really very good. Mmm.” Her pink tongue darted out.

  His attention shifted to her lips. He had better ideas for that mouth.

  “Come on,” she urged again.

  Marius met her encouraging gaze and sighed. With those wide hazel eyes fringed with thick and curling lashes, she could probably get him to eat a four-day-old rat corpse if she tried hard enough.

  “Very well,” he said at last, and reluctantly opened his mouth.

  Alexandra leaned closer and slipped the oyster in. Then she sat back and waited for his reaction. And so did the two couples observing them.

  Witho
ut chewing, Marius forced the repulsive glob down his throat, nearly gagging in the process. He chased it with the remainder of the wine in his glass then dabbed his mouth with his napkin.

  “Well?” she asked expectantly.

  “It was…interesting.” He didn’t bother looking around when he heard the soft giggles in their immediate area.

  Alexandra wore a beautiful I-told-you-so look that made her cherry lips pucker and her eyes twinkle. Surprisingly, the embarrassment he knew he should be experiencing didn’t surface. Instead, a subtle mirth took its place. It was the gentle look she gave him that made him feel unashamed.

  “You are so charming. How is it that you’re single?” The thoughts spilled from his mouth before he could contain them.

  The question was obviously unexpected, but she managed to maintain her composure. “Enough about me,” she said. “I want to know more about you.”

  A few seconds ticked by before he inclined his head. “As you wish. What would you like to know?”

  “Well, to start off, how is it that you came to be in America? Romania is a long way away.”

  “Business,” he said simply. “I am an antiques dealer and I am considering starting my own business here. I have been supplying several of the major antiques stores here in the U.S.A. for some time now, but I am ready to settle down with my own store.”

  She took a moment to absorb what he’d said. “I see. And did you come alone? I mean, do you have any family here?”

  He smiled knowingly. “If you are trying to ask me if I am in a relationship, the answer is no. I have family here, but I traveled from Romania alone.”

  She nodded and flashed him a subtle smile. “Tell me about your family. Do you have any siblings? Are your parents alive?”

  Marius experienced a brief moment of guilt; the last thing he should be doing was discussing his family with his enemy. He took a sip of his wine. “I have two older brothers and yes, my parents are alive.”

  “You’re the runt of the litter, I see.” She laughed lightly.

  The sound was like the gentle feathering of fingertips along his spine. “I don’t exactly consider myself a runt, but yes, I am the youngest and most favored by my mother.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. She and I are very much alike. We are quiet and calm and prefer the peace of a moonless night to any activity. We’re passionate about many things, and those we love are always our first priority.”

  Alexandra watched him intently. “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

  Marius felt his mouth curve into a grimace. “How old do I look?” He’d expected this question, only not so soon. It seemed that Ms. Barret was true to her profession.

  “Well…” She inclined her head, causing the wealth of her hair to spill over her shoulders. “If I consider your gray hairs, hunched back and facial wrinkles, I’d say you were about thirty-five or thirty-six.”

  By the time she was done, he found that his grimace had mutated into a smile. He nodded.

  “Which one? Thirty-five or thirty-six?” she asked.

  “You pick.”

  She reclined in her chair and raised a sleek brow. “And who said only women were afraid to reveal their age? In case you’re curious, I’m twenty-eight and quite proud of it,” she announced.

  “Yes, but will you be saying that in ten years?” he countered.

  “Of course I will.”

  She began to laugh, but something beyond the glass window drew her attention and Marius watched the smile fade from her lips. He followed her gaze to the busy street.

  “What is it?” he asked. When she didn’t respond, he reached a hand across the table to touch her arm. “Alexandra…”

  “He’s there,” she said softly.

  Her attention snapped back to him, and for a moment she looked as if she didn’t recognize him. He searched her face, noting the distant look in her eyes. It was as if she’d just seen a ghost.

  “I have to leave,” she announced breathlessly as her attention returned to what Marius now realized was a blue van parked across the street. “There’s something I have to do.”

  The tremor in her voice didn’t go unnoticed. A frown crossed his face. He could tell that something was severely amiss. From her hasty desire to leave, he guessed that, as before, she was going to walk carelessly into danger. And that he couldn’t allow. He needed her alive. At least until he completed the final step of the ritual.

  She snatched her purse from the foot of her chair and started to stand. “I’m really sorry about this, Marius, but I need to leave.”

  Making a quick decision, Marius placed a firm hand on her arm, stalling her. “Will you allow me to go with you?” he asked.

  His offer was initially met by silence as hazel eyes searched his face. He could see the battle waging within those pools as she decided if he could be trusted or not. Her answer was irrelevant though. There was no way he was going to allow her to leave alone.

  Alexandra pushed open the door to the book and antiques store that sat opposite the Greek restaurant. A small bell chimed and she paused to look around. It was a congested little space with tables of tattered books and vintage items spilling into the aisles. He’s here. From the moment she’d seen the blue Mercury van parked on the curb, she’d felt that Mady’s abductor had entered the store.

  Behind her, Marius eased the door shut. She was glad that she’d accepted his offer. She wasn’t sure why he’d made the proposition, but having a tall and sinewy man at her side did bolster her courage. Admittedly, she was still shaken from the ordeal in the alley a few nights ago and didn’t expect to be rescued by the gargoyle a second time.

  Marius moved to her side, his gaze combing the vacant room. He remained silent, but Alexandra had the odd feeling that he’d assessed every inch of the place within those few seconds. Something within her fluttered, but she dismissed it. This was definitely not the time for fanciful thoughts. Somewhere in the building was the man she was sure was the Penn State Serial Killer. She didn’t have a plan of action in mind and could only hope that if she came face-to-face with him, she would be able to glean something that would assist her in finding Mady.

  Her gaze fell on the small notebook in her hands with the license plate number of the van scribbled on it. She stashed it in her handbag just as an old man appeared from a room behind the counter.

  He greeted them with a smile. “Hello, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. How may I help you?”

  “Hi,” Alexandra said as they approached the counter. “My husband and I are looking for a gift for his mother.” She shot Marius a glance and was grateful that he didn’t react to her announcement. In fact, he seemed to be playing along. She could feel his lean fingers moving to span the small of her back.

  The cashier’s smile brightened. “Ah, are you looking for anything in particular?”

  “Not really. I thought we’d just have a look around,” she replied.

  “Go right ahead.” He nodded. “Be sure to check aisle two. Everything’s from a recent estate sale. Just let me know if I can help you with anything. I’ll be right back there unpacking some boxes.”

  “Thank you. Oh, wait, there is something you can assist us with.” She affected a look of concern when he turned to face them again. “There’s a blue van parked out front. Do you, by any chance, know who it belongs to? I’m afraid I scratched it while parking.”

  The old man massaged the graying stubble on his face. “Can’t say that I do. There were a few folks in here earlier, but they’ve all gone now. Maybe it’s someone’s from across the street.”

  “Perhaps.” She nodded. “Thank you. We’ll let you know if we find something we like.”

  She turned to Marius once they were alone again, pretending not to notice the contemplative look on his face. She could just imagine what he was thinking. His hand remained on the small of her back and she felt as if a hole was being burned through her clothing in that spot.

  Unexpectedl
y, the hint of a smile tugged at one corner of his firm mouth. “You are quite the actress,” he commented softly.

  She turned away, breaking the intensity of his silver stare. “I become whatever my job requires,” she told him before stepping away to look down one of the aisles.

  The cashier had said that the store was empty, yet strangely she felt the presence of Mady’s abductor. She couldn’t determine if he was still there or if he’d simply passed through. A wooden door at the rear of the store drew her attention and she headed toward it. Marius was close behind.

  “Will you tell me what your purpose is here?” he asked.

  “I’m looking for someone,” she replied. She wasn’t exactly sure how or if she should mention her premonitions. The last thing she wanted to do was give Marius the impression that she was some psycho enthusiast who went around stalking people.

  She gripped the handle of the door. “He has important information on a story that I’m following,” she told him then slowly turned the handle.

  The door eased open with a soft creak and Alexandra exhaled a shaky breath. A small 1940s-style bathroom with a flickering light and leaky faucet was revealed. It was also empty.

  Marius raised a brow and a humorous glint registered in his eyes. “Did you expect to conduct your interview while he attended his personal needs?”

  She sent him an exaggerated look of annoyance. “Hold this, please.” She handed him her purse and entered the bathroom.

  The feeling that overcame her was an odd one. She felt the killer’s nearness, yet there seemed to be something that separated him from the establishment. Apart from the door, a small window near the ceiling was the only other portal. She shot Marius a look, feeling very much embarrassed about what she was about to do. She was sure that after today she was either going to gain his admiration or his disapproval.