VAMPIRE’S LABYRINTH
Vampire’s Valentine Book Three
Rosette Bolter
VAMPIRE’S ETERNITY IS NOW AVAILABLE!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E1LT6RG
CHAPTER ONE
Backstage inside one of the dressing rooms of Geraldine Bloom Theatre, Elliot Prince was propped up on a mattress, resting on his left side. A heavy, muscular arm was wrapped around his chest, pulling him inward, as he was rigorously penetrated from behind.
Between Elliot’s high pitched gasps for air, and the low moans of his companion, an orgasm was the ultimate destination. Pleasure pulsated between each of their bodies for a series of blissful moments. And then his companion got up, walking to a nearby chair, grabbing hold of his jeans.
Elliot sat up a bit, his back against the wall. Still panting.
Reese glanced at him, but a glance was all it was.
Elliot continued to stare.
“Going so soon?”
“Yeah, I have business,” Reese murmured. “You know how it is.”
He stood up and looked around the room. “Have you seen my top?”
“It should be around somewhere,” Elliot replied. “Try behind the door.”
“It’s not there.”
Elliot reached along the floor and picked up his phone. He went straight to Facebook and began scrolling through his feed.
“Elliot?” Reese said. “Will you get up and help me?”
“I seriously doubt it’s a two-person job.”
Reese approached. “You’re probably sitting on it.”
“I assure you I’m not.”
“Get up!”
“No!”
“Elliot! Don’t make me wrestle you!”
Elliot dropped the phone as the pair fought with one another. “Stop it!” Elliot cried, as though he was being tickled. “Stop it, please!”
“Jesus Elliot,” Reese said stepping back.
“Can you show me your … can you do your thing…?”
“What?” Reese replied.
“Just do it,” Elliot said picking up his phone. “I want my friends to see.”
“You promise you’ll get up.”
“I promise, I promise. Just … you know…”
“Fine.”
Reese rolled his eyes, and then shifted into his wolf.
Elliot got up onto his knees, his eyes wide with child-like awe, and he snapped the wolf’s photo with his phone.
“Come here,” Elliot said. “That’s it.”
Reese stepped over to him, and bent his head forward so Elliot could pet him. The fur … was so pure. Sweet smelling. Soft. His body so warm.
Elliot leant into to Reese and kissed the top of his head.
“One more,” he said. “Both of us now.”
Elliot moved round to the side of Reese and positioned his phone in the air above them. He took the selfie.
“Time to update my profile pic,” Elliot beamed.
Reese moved away and shifted back to human form. “I have to say this is getting a bit demeaning.”
“Oh?” Elliot chuckled. “That’s the demeaning part?”
“Shut up.”
Elliot got up and went to the closet, retrieving his clothes.
“Hey!” Reese growled. “You were sitting on it!”
Elliot closed the closet door. “Was I?”
“Bloody hell, Elliot.”
Elliot chuckled and picked up his phone. “One more okay?”
“Put that thing away.”
Elliot’s smile lingered for a few seconds after that, but it was a smile that soon faded.
As Reese was putting on his shoes, Elliot sat down on the chair by the mirror, feeling quite gutted. He had to read the words a few times, before they properly sunk in.
“What’s wrong?” Reese asked.
“One of my old friends from high school. She’s in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“She was supposed to be getting married today … and her husband was killed. Set on fire.”
“That sounds dreadful. Did you know him?”
“No,” Elliot said. “But my friend … she’s apparently been taken.”
“Taken?”
“That’s what it says.”
Reese stood up. “Can I see it?”
“Would you?” Elliot said, quickly handing him the phone.
Reese looked at the posts made to Facebook by Christine Miles.
“This is no normal abduction,” Reese said.
“What’s that?”
“It says she’s been taken as the bride of a vampire.”
“I wasn’t sure how to read that,” Elliot confessed.
“You know,” Reese said handing back the phone, “I could probably help with this.”
“You? Help in what way?”
“I know a lot about vampires. More than any serious investigator would who gets involved in this.”
“Is that so?”
“I’ve hunted them,” Reese said with half a smile.
“Well if your bedroom antics are anything to go on,” Elliot said, “I’d hate to think what your hourly rate would be.”
“That’s right, it’ll cost you,” Reese said. “You or … whoever else. I’m sure you could get her family and friends to front you the money.”
“Are you serious?” Elliot said with bewilderment. “You would actually help me?”
Reese walked forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Despite appearances, you’ll find I’m quite loyal when it comes to my friends,” Reese said. “And besides. I fucking hate vampires.”
CHAPTER TWO
Prudence. I have to ask you a question. And I want you to be entirely honest. Do you… DO YOU –
“Do you understand?”
Prudence’s face was frozen. Expressionless. She’d heard Bastian’s question sure enough. The words were still ringing in her ears.
But they had no meaning. She might as well have heard nothing.
“Shall we start again?”
He hadn’t moved. When they’d entered the room he made sure that she sit at the edge of the bed. And then he stood in front of her. All she could see of him was his jacket. The shirt underneath. Every so often, the red gloves came into frame.
“Prudence … my beautiful … my angel … my … Prudence, you’re making this very hard on me. I don’t know what to do with you.”
Even if she did understand the words, she wasn’t ready to answer him.
All she could see was Michael. Michael, trapped in the flames.
He probably hadn’t even meant to harm Bastian. He just wanted to get his attention. Scare him away perhaps. Why … why did he have to die…? For that? For so little?
Another tear dribbled from her eye.
Prudence…
Prudence, I’m warning you…
“No,” she whispered.
“What?” Bastian replied.
Her gaze drifted up towards his soulless eyes. “No, I don’t understand.”
“Good, you’re listening,” Bastian returned. “We’ll start again. He wouldn’t have let this go. He loved you. You could see that, surely. For us to exist in harmony, there cannot be any third wheels. Had I spared him, you would have thought of him on occasion. Wondering what would have been if you had chosen him instead of me. That same doubt destroyed your relationship with him, and I wasn’t about to let it destroy our marriage. You have chosen. And your choice will be final.”
Empty.
Empty words without meaning.
“I want to go home,” Pru said. “I don’t want to be here anym
ore. I don’t want to be with you.”
Bastian stared at her. His eyebrows centered. His lips became small.
“That is the last time you will ever say that to me,” he said, waving one hand.
The air in Prudence’s mouth was taken away. Her feelings came to an abrupt halt.
Bastian turned his back to her.
Everything is okay. Everything.
Pru’s back arched forward. She reached out blindly, as if she was about to fall.
Your fear is gone.
Pru stood up, panic engulfing her.
Your anger is gone.
She bit her teeth together, her eyes focused on Bastian’s back.
Your pain is gone.
Prudence cried out in agony, and collapsed to her knees.
It is your will to be here. Your will to be with me.
“No,” Prudence winced, falling on her side. “Please, no…”
You love me. You love me and no one else.
She reached out across the floor towards him, in one final gasp of defense.
Bastian turned around to face her. “And you will do everything I say.”
CHAPTER THREE
I’m here now, Prudence. I’m with you. You’re with me. We’re together.
Prudence looked up from the floor. She felt dizzy.
Take my hand.
She turned sideways and saw his hand reaching for her. Something inside her, buried within, was crying out to her… But she couldn’t… She couldn’t exactly –
Take it.
Pru took his hand.
She got up from the floor and stood beside him. He put his left arm around her waist, and stroked her shoulder with his right.
Look at me.
His eyes were red with unnatural light.
“You’re mine,” Bastian said. “You’re all mine. And I know it hurts. It has to hurt. Because you’re a wonderful person.”
His hand moved from her shoulder to her forehead. He wiped her fringe away.
“I will never betray you,” Bastian said. “As long as we’re together, I’ll see you’re safe and protected. You shall want or need for nothing. Everything I shall give you.”
He picked her up and carried her back towards the bed.
“It’s not all there for you,” he said. “It’s not all true.”
He placed her down on top the covers.
“But I will fill in the gaps where I have to. You shall be perfect to me. As I will to you.”
He sat down on the bed beside her. His gaze searched her.
“Say something,” he instructed.
“I’m numb,” Pru whispered. “I can’t think right. You put me in a trance.”
Bastian’s eyes filled with concern. “And if I was to look behind that? What would I see?”
Pru’s senses huddled together. She sat up a little.
“This is wrong,” she whispered. “I’m being crushed.”
He looked away from her. “Is your heart truly this shallow? Do you feel nothing for me?”
Pru stared back blankly.
“Answer.”
“Not shallow. Just complicated.”
“I see. In time … I shall unlock it.”
Pru blinked a few times. “Bastian?”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do to me now?”
“Why? What prompts that question?”
Pru swallowed. “I’m afraid. Afraid of –”
But I told you that you weren’t afraid. All negative emotions, especially when felt towards me, must be extinguished. Please comply.
Pru closed her eyes. Her fear was properly draining this time.
She was aware that it was his doing.
That he was inside her head.
Bastian … Pru thought within herself. Bastian, can you hear me?
His expression altered. She’d caught him off guard.
Bastian, please don’t do this. If you love me, then don’t.
If you love me, let me go.
Bastian stood up and stepped away from the bed. She could tell he didn’t want her to see his face.
He didn’t want her inside his head.
Bastian, I beg you. Please don’t do it.
Not like this, Bastian.
Never like this…
CHAPTER FOUR
Christine was sitting on a ledge outside the hospital when Elliot and his friend arrived in a taxi. Raymond was still inside being treated with a fractured arm. Other than that he seemed okay, which was a relief. Thank God for small favors. She still wasn’t sure what Elliot and his friend were doing here. All she’d been told was that they wanted to help.
“Christine,” Elliot said stumbling over. “Christine.”
“Yeah, okay,” Christine mumbled, waving. “I see you.”
“Come here.”
She stepped off the ledge and he embraced her, apologizing for what had happened. Christine was a little too stunned to give much in way of a reply.
“This is Reese,” Elliot said once it was over. “He’s here to help.”
Christine shook the friend’s hand.
He had a firm grip.
“Sorry for your loss.”
“We don’t think she’s dead,” Christine said quickly.
“I meant, uh – I meant her fiancé –”
“Oh,” Christine murmured. She sat back down on the ledge. “I was … lucky not to witness it.”
“But you know what happened right?” Reese asked.
“Oh, I know. I’ve been made aware. It’s been a total living nightmare. Even if we get Pru back, no one will ever be the same again.”
“So who was this guy?” Elliot demanded. “I mean, why did he take Prudence? Why her?”
“There was … a ceremony,” Christine said darkly. “Prudence had already crossed over into the vampire’s world. She’d been there briefly before. She and the vampire had something of a romance. He was the reason she backed out of marrying Michael today. I hate to imagine the guilt she must be carrying now.”
“You mentioned a ceremony?” Reese questioned.
“Yes,” Christine replied. “We were all on the beach. Prudence and Michael’s families. Prudence herself. She was arguing with Michael. She wound up running away and … disappearing. Time passed. It got dark. Everyone was still around for a while. But then when we finally decided to leave a bunch of people showed up, wearing black hoods and…” She stopped herself, feeling faint.
Elliot knelt by her side. “It’s okay,” he said. “We’re here for you.”
Christine smiled. “Thanks, Elliot.” She cleared her throat. “Raymond sacrificed himself for me. Ran into a bunch of them so I could escape. Pretty pointless I suppose. He’s damaged his arm now, and no one else besides Michael was even hurt –”
“When did that happen?” Reese asked.
“Apparently, Pru and Bastian, her … vampire friend … showed up after I managed to get away. They held a wedding ceremony with everyone forced to watch. Michael tried attacking Bastian or something and then Bastian just blew fire into his face. His whole body was consumed by the flames. He died in agony.”
“And then Bastian and Pru left?”
Christine nodded. “So they say. She disappeared.”
“I see. Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“Well, she’s been fantasizing about this guy for ages. The first time she met him we were – well, you were there too Elliot. Back at the botanical gardens. It was valentine’s day. There was a maze at the front…”
“I remember that day,” Elliot said. “But I don’t remember Prudence ever –”
“Well, that’s where she claims she met him. And then she went back there years later and the guy was still there. It was … this afternoon that we went back there again. She disappeared through part of the hedge. When she came back she was wearing different clothes. So weird. So … creepy.”
“So this ceremony,” Reese said. “Were Prudence and the vampire actually
married?”
Christine nodded.
“So he’s taken her home with him one would think. I doubt she’s in any real danger. As long as she doesn’t upset him. Or he decides to…”
“What?” Christine demanded.
“Well, he might wish to turn her into a vampire as he is. You would think that would happen eventually. It would certainly impose some dependency on her towards him.”
“Whatever,” Christine shrugged. “Is there anything you can do?”
“Crossing over to the vampire’s plane would prove rather tricky,” Reese confessed. “The soundest way would be to somehow lure him here, into a trap. But now he has his bride it is hard to know what would make him surface. You can’t think of anything, can you?”
“What are you asking me for?” Christine said, getting up. “I’ve not met him.”
“That’s okay,” Reese replied. “I will engage with my contacts and see if anyone knows this Bastian character. Thank you, Christine. You’ve been most helpful.”
“How was she?” Elliot asked. “Today, before it all happened?”
Christine looked up at him, confusion marking her face. “Why? What do you mean?”
“It’s just been so long since I’ve seen you – either of you,” he said. “I feel kind of bad to be honest.”
“Yeah,” Christine nodded. “She … she wasn’t happy.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t what happiness she thought she’d find with Bastian, but… I’m sure she’s paying for it dearly now.”
CHAPTER FIVE
The room was empty. He was gone.
Pru had been aware of Bastian’s absence for some time, but hadn’t the will to get up and investigate. Crushed, was the word she had used. He had crushed her feelings. Crushed her spirit. Now that it was coming back to life she was once again faced with the sorrow. The horror of what she’d caused. She could almost see him in front of her. Saying that he loved her. Telling her he was sorry.
“Michael,” Pru’s lips trembled. “Michael… Oh no…”
The door to the room opened.
Pru sat up with a fright, and tried to compose herself.
She then saw it was Phillipa, Bastian’s servant. “Madame Prudence?”
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