Heiress to a Curse
Page 18
“So we must be wed?” he asked with some reservation.
Marriage was something he’d never considered, but if he ever decided to bind himself into a relationship, he would prefer to share a love that resembled that of his parents. He cared for Alexandra’s safety and there was no denying that he desired her body, but he didn’t love her. Yet he was willing to make the sacrifice to save them all from damnation. Especially if the only other alternative was killing her.
“It could be likely,” his mother replied. “Marriage in that time was considered holy and pure, the foremost method of joining any two houses.” Hooded eyes narrowed on him. “But, let me ask you this—have you taken her to your bed?”
He didn’t answer at first. Sex was hardly the topic any man, regardless of his age, wanted to discuss with his mother. Yet there was no time for uneasiness. If there was a way to break the curse then he was willing to reveal whatever was necessary.
He nodded. “I have.”
“Hmm. Then I suppose marriage is the joining that is necessary.” She stood and approached him, taking his hands within her own. “My son, is this something you are willing to go through with? Are you prepared to wed this girl, our enemy, just to spare her life?”
He squeezed her hands. “Yes. If Alexandra agrees, then I will. There is no other choice.”
“Do not make me regret revealing this to you,” she said with shimmering eyes.
Marius shook his head. “I promise you will not.”
She nodded and smiled, a soft and sentimental expression that never failed to calm him. “Tell me more about her,” she requested with an air of acquiescence.
Marius delved into his thoughts to find the words to describe Alexandra. He went to the window and peered out. “Her name, as you know, is Alexandra. She is smart and brave. She is also very kindhearted and selfless.” He turned to her then. “You would love her, Mother. She is so gentle and caring. She could never hurt a soul.”
Lady Amelia smiled wanly. “She must be very special if she drives my son to such lengths to see her unharmed.” Her eyes narrowed on him again. “Marius, do you love this girl?”
His brows drew together in a slow frown. Again he told himself that it was his ravenous craving for her body and his appreciation of her gentle personality that had forced him to such a state. Yet, deep within himself, he knew that more reason lay behind his decisions. Only, he didn’t know what to call it.
“I am concerned for her. That is all,” he said at last.
She accepted his response with a curious expression. “I only wish you had come to me sooner. There is so little time now, but if we hurry we can try to make things right.” She went behind the desk and took a seat.
“I have a few loyal friends within the country that I can call upon in such a time of need.” And she picked up the receiver of the brass Victorian phone that sat on the desk.
Chapter 17
Patience wasn’t one of Alexandra’s best virtues. She paced around the service station, checking her watch every few minutes. Marius had been right, the thing had stopped working, but she checked it anyway. She’d tried calling April several times already and had gotten only a busy signal. She was getting anxious now.
Ever since Marius had left her that morning, she’d been plagued by an unsettling feeling. Something, and she wasn’t sure what, was deadly wrong. The speculation was driving her insane. Could Marius have changed his mind about sparing her life? Would he return with his brothers? Or had something happened to Mady?
Her fingers strayed to the charm bracelet on her wrist and she thought of Mady. Was the girl still alive? Suddenly a blinding light seemed to flash before her eyes. She froze, uncertain of what to expect but knowing that her abilities were in gear. She watched as an image of Mady formed before her. Huddled on a dirty mattress on the floor, the child appeared to be sleeping. A tall shadow loomed above her, the menacing figure partially obscured by darkness.
The phone rang, jarring Alexandra out of her trance-like state. She gasped and leaned against a wall for support. She’d never been able to summon a vision before. It seemed her gift was getting stronger.
He phone continued ringing and with a shaking hand, she answered it. “Hello?”
“It’s April.”
She exhaled a deep sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. I need to get out of here right now.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Is Marius with you?”
“No.”
“Okay. Wait for me.”
April hung up and Alexandra continued pacing. Soon a black Jaguar slid to a stop a few feet away. A rear door opened, and April stepped out.
Alexandra hurried toward her. “I’m so happy to see you,” she said with relief. “We need to get back to the city.”
April paused, a strange look on her face.
Alexandra embraced her tightly. “I knew I could count on you. How long will it take to get back to the city?” She looked at April and her smile faded. “What’s wrong?”
It was obvious that April had been crying. Her pretty face was streaked with tears and she was wearing no makeup. Not even lip gloss, and that was highly unusual.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Alexandra frowned in confusion. “Sorry? What for? What’s wrong, April? Talk to me.”
April’s eyes fixed on the sleek black Jaguar. The engine was running, but the windows were tinted, obscuring her view inside.
Alexandra peered at the car. “Who’s with you? Whose car is that?”
“I’m sorry,” April said again.
At that moment, the two front doors opened and two men stepped out. They were both tall and beautiful—dark hair and swarthy skin. They wore sunglasses that shielded their eyes, yet they seemed familiar to her.
“Who are they?” She didn’t need a response when her eyes dropped to the heavy black boots one of them wore. The spikes that encircled the ankles flashed wickedly in the sunlight and she knew that the men were Marius’s brothers—the gargoyles who’d tried to kill her and who were probably going to kill them both right now.
Panic surged through her. She wasn’t about to die, not now and definitely not by their hands. If they wanted her they were going to have to catch her!
“Run!” she screamed as she grabbed April’s hand and headed toward the back of the gas station.
She heard the car engine shut off and the doors slam, then the heavy thud of approaching footfalls. She and April plunged into the woods, ducking to avoid the low-hanging limbs that barred their way. Alexandra’s heart was racing and she could hear April’s frantic breathing behind her. The smells of moist earth and vegetation were thick in the air and filled her lungs with each inhalation. Leafless arms snaked out to scrape at their exposed flesh, but they continued running.
It wasn’t long before the ground began to angle downward and the thick mud at their feet caused them to slip. They screamed as they went toppling down the slope, snapping extended branches and slamming into tree trunks. Their rapid free fall came to an end when they landed in a narrow stream at the base of the slanting hill.
Alexandra was on her feet immediately and urging April to do the same. “C’mon, get up! We have to keep going!” she said in an urgent whisper and cast a look behind them.
There was no sign of the two men, but Alexandra knew they couldn’t be far behind. The memory of the chase through her apartment building was still fresh and she didn’t think the absence of wings diminished their strength or speed by any significant measure.
April scrambled to her feet and they picked their way across the stream. On the other side the ground was level and the area was covered with a thin scattering of tall pines. Alexandra knew that they would surely be spotted if they didn’t find a place to conceal themselves. Then again, she wasn’t so sure hiding was in their best interest, either. The gargoyles had exhibited a frightening ability to sense her, and it was possible that it remained with them even while they were human. They had to keep moving no matter wha
t.
The trees thickened again and they still found themselves alone in the woods. April collapsed against a tree, using it to hold herself upright as she gasped for breath.
“Alexandra, I can’t go on,” she panted.
Alexandra, who was also tipping over from exhaustion, stopped and leaned against a tree. She bent over as she tried to steady her breathing. “How did they find you?”
“They must’ve followed me that night. When I got home one of them had broken into my apartment and was waiting for me,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t have a choice. He said he was going to kill me.”
“It’s all right. Anyone would’ve done the same thing in that situation. The important thing is that we got away. Do you know Detective Beckford’s number? We need help.” She pulled out her cell phone.
April nodded. “I have it memorized.” She smiled briefly, looking like her usual self in that instant.
Alexandra passed the phone to her. “Call him and tell him where we are. He should be able to initiate a search for us.”
Her friend accepted the phone and began dialing the number. Alexandra took a moment to scope the area for any signs of the brothers. She exhaled a shuddering breath when she was met only by the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects. The men had definitely been left far behind, but she wasn’t taking any chances. They had to get out of there.
Behind her, April was relaying the events of her kidnapping and the unceremonious chase through the woods. When Alexandra turned around, her friend was motioning for her to join her. As she hurried toward April, she realized that the woods ended and a paved highway was visible from where they stood.
They began weaving their way through the woods until they wound up at the edge of the road in waist-high grass.
April repeated the number of the highway over the phone then hung up. “He’s sending help.”
“Did he say how long it might take?”
“No, but he said to stay put and he’ll be here. I also gave him the license plate on that car.” She returned the phone to Alexandra. “By the way, I convinced him to check out that address you gave me. Tyrese got a warrant and searched the apartment. The rent was paid up until the end of the month, but the place was completely cleaned out.”
Alexandra frowned at her. “They found nothing at all?”
April didn’t have a chance to respond. She spotted a vehicle moving quickly along the highway and she grabbed Alexandra’s arm, stalling her. “Look!”
Alexandra could see a car approaching in the distance. Her heart began to thump in her chest. “Get down.” They crouched in the grass.
“What if it’s not them?”
“What if it is?” She peeked over the top of the grass.
As the vehicle got closer, it slowed and came to a stop. Alexandra ducked low, her heart racing. She looked at April and nodded. Had they been spotted?
The sound of a door slamming made her jerk. She and April were near enough to smell the exhaust from the engine and she spied through the grass to see one brother gazing around. He inhaled and said something to the other, who grinned and pulled a gun from his waistband.
The first brother took a step forward. “Show yourself, Descendant!” he shouted. “I can smell your fear!”
Alexandra lowered her head and met April’s terrified gaze. Together they remained perfectly still and listened as the sound of approaching steps grew louder.
He continued speaking. “You did not think you could get away from us, did you? We have a special evening planned for you.”
There was a clicking noise, followed by the soft tunes of cell phone buttons being pressed. April’s brows snapped together and she frantically patted her pockets. She met Alexandra’s questioning look and mouthed the words Turn off your phone. Alexandra quickly dug into her pocket and pulled out the item, but it was too late. The popular R & B song she’d set as her ring tone began to play.
Heavy steps moved toward them and in the next moment they were staring into the barrel of a revolver. Marius’s brother smiled and jerked his head toward the road. “Move it!”
With their hands up, the women stood slowly. Although he looked nothing like the gargoyles that had attacked her, Alexandra knew he was the one whom she’d cast the fire spell on. It was the intensity of his stare and the cautious way he watched her for any deviant actions. She wondered if he had just reason to be wary of her. Could she perform another spell?
He nodded toward the highway again. “I said, move it!” He snatched Alexandra’s phone from her hand and stuffed it into his pocket. “I’ll take that.”
They stumbled through the tall grass toward the second brother, who was waiting calmly near the Jaguar holding April’s phone. When they got near enough he tossed the phone to his brother.
“Secure that, Nicholas. We may have use for it again,” he said as he looked Alexandra over for the first time. So this was Simion.
Nicholas complied, stuffing it into his jacket. Then, with the gun still pointed at their heads, he motioned for Alexandra and April to get into the car. April slipped into the backseat and Alexandra was about to follow, but Nicholas gripped her arm, stalling her effort.
He lowered his head so that his lips brushed the soft place behind her ear. “Do you think that it was your fragrance that lured me to you?” He inhaled softly. “No, it was the scent of my brother. I can smell him all over you. Where is he?”
She wrenched her arm from his grasp and sent him a defiant glare. “I’d rather be burned at the stake before I tell you,” she gritted out before climbing into the car.
The door shut behind her, muffling his laugh.
They drove for nearly an hour, racing along the winding highway. The sleek Jaguar purred; it ran smooth as the wind, conforming to every bend in the road. Alexandra remained silent. She was busy trying to harness the power that she guessed lurked somewhere within her. The only problem was, she didn’t know how.
When she was about to go out of her mind, the car began to slow and she realized that they were pulling into a long driveway. A mansion sat at the other end, bathed in the saffron glow of the twilight. They circled the driveway and the car skidded to a stop. Simion stepped out and was greeted by an old butler. He whispered something to the man, who glanced at the car before hurrying back inside.
Nicholas joined his brother and they began talking. Alexandra turned to April, who was trying to pull up the lock on her door.
She slammed a shoulder against it, but it didn’t budge. “We have to get out of here! They’re planning to kill us!”
Alexandra gripped her shoulders and gave her a shake. “That won’t do us any good! We’re locked in. Just try to stay calm.”
The door on Alexandra’s side swung open then and Nicholas looked in. “There is someone who is dying to meet you. It is not wise to keep him waiting.” He stepped aside.
They climbed out of the backseat and Alexandra realized that they were alone with Marius’s brother in the driveway. She exchanged a look with April. Was there a chance for an escape?
As if reading their thoughts, the tall man pulled out his revolver. “Think carefully before you act. It would be a pity if I had to kill you before everyone arrived. Move, now!”
They were ushered into an elegant foyer that reminded Alexandra of one of the five-star hotels she’d stayed in with her parents. The stairway was no less grand. With its mahogany banister and polished marble steps, it could have been taken right out of the Mandarin Hotel.
Simion appeared again and whispered something to Nicholas. Nicholas’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at Alexandra.
“Come with me,” he said, and he took her by the arm.
April reached for her. “No!”
Simion pulled April in the other direction. Alexandra looked back to see her friend being dragged into a room at the end of the hall. Her trepidation rose a few notches and she wondered what would become of her friend. The gargoyles didn’t want April. They wanted her.
Nicholas continued to lead her up the stairway silently. When they finally mounted the last stair, he dragged her toward a set of tall wooden doors and swung one side open.
“His lordship awaits,” he said with a mocking bow.
She swallowed. She assumed he was referring to his father, Lord Victor Drakon. And if Victor Drakon was anything like his two eldest sons, then she had everything to worry about. She tried to maintain her calm. She had to convince him that there was another way to break the curse—she would try to use Necesar’s power to reverse the wrong that was done.
Slowly, she entered and the door closed behind her. The room was a large office with tall windows and a fireplace. A heavy desk faced her and a floor lamp glowed in one corner.
The chair behind the desk moved slightly. It was turned away facing one of the windows, showing only the top of what must be a large man’s head silhouetted in the light.
“Five hundred years ago a young man found love,” came a deep male voice. “It was rare in those days to wed a woman because she held your heart. Instead, an heir to a title was expected to fulfill his duty to his family and to his people. The consequence of neglecting this duty was often being disinherited by one’s family. A fair enough punishment, for sometimes a man is expected to make choices. But, should a man and his entire house be expected to suffer for centuries for such a simple folly?”
The chair swiveled around and a man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties looked at her. Alexandra knew better. If he was indeed Marius’s father, he’d be well over five hundred years old. He stood and ambled around the desk. He was tall, perhaps an inch or so shorter than Marius. His hair was heavily streaked with gray and he was dressed in a beautiful brocade coat that fell a little past his knees. The dark emerald made him look regal, like a king from a time long ago. A layer of white ruffles was visible near his neckline and at his wrists.
“My family has lived long and hard, and now it is finally time for retribution,” he continued. He looked her over as he approached. “Your ancestor’s dark sorcery has plagued my family for too long. It is time to put an end to it.”