“They will burn to dust in the sunlight.” He hesitated. “Except occasionally they don’t, for some reason.” He didn’t understand how they could sometimes break the rules like that and walk outside during the day. It was frustrating.
Kara rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I have a good idea how they manage that trick and her –probably fake-- name is Tanya St. Clair.” She headed over to his chair and sat down on the ottoman in front of it. “Okay, look. What I’m going to tell you is the truth. I’ll sound insane, but I swear I’m not lying.”
“Oh, I believe you.” Damien had ensured her honesty with that water he’d given her earlier. He checked the clock on the mantle and saw that the drugs should have taken effect by now. She might be immune from his mindreading powers, but no one could resist the truth herbs. A few secretly sprinkled into her glass and the woman was incapable of lying to him for several hours.
The drug was harmless. Its only downside was a slightly hung-over feeling the next morning. It also worked on absolutely everyone, no matter their species. He would discover if she was a really Vampire spy within moments.
Being a sorcerer still had its perks.
Kara leaned forward, the firelight adding red highlights to her halo of curls and Damien nearly groaned. The woman had no idea how much he wanted her or she wouldn’t be sitting like that. She was killing him.
He’d never expected to feel anything but disgust towards Slade’s bride. Where the hell was this unexpected desire coming from? Why was he letting his prisoner wander around, distracting him with her presence and softness? Damien never let emotions get in his way, because he didn’t have any. So why was he hesitating to do anything that might intimidate this woman or make her stop talking to him like they were… friends?
The questions came at him again, louder than ever, and he nearly cringed at what they implied.
“I’m not from around here.” She began in a conspiratorial whisper. “I mean, I am from Chicago, but not this Chicago. I’m from the real Chicago.” She hesitated. “In the future.”
Damien stared at her.
She bit her lower lip. “And it gets even weirder, because this whole thing…” She waved an all-encompassing hand. “All of it. It’s fake. It’s a book, actually. A romance novel. A terrible one. You’re a character in it, at the mercy of this really horrible plot and lousy dialogue. Which I know is bad news, but it’s true. Somehow, I got stuck in here with you, when my elevator fell. I need to get home, only my building has vanished and I don’t know how. So, if you could help with that at all, I’d be super grateful.”
The truth herbs had obviously not taken effect, yet.
Kara frowned when Damien remained quiet. “I can prove it.” She reached over to grab a blue book of some kind from the table where she placed it earlier. “See this? This is Eternal Passion at Sunset.” She handed it to him. “This is the book we’re somehow living inside of.”
Damien had no idea why he was humoring her, but he flipped it open and scanned the contents. “Most of these pages are blank.”
“I know! The chapters keep appearing as we go along. We’re up to number four now, see?” She leaned over to find the page for him. The woman was either a consummate liar or deranged, but she smelled incredible. Damien fantasized about licking the honeysuckle scent from her skin as she shifted closer to him. “Slade’s supposed to be meeting with his Vampire buddies, mooning over Melessa, but instead he’s never even met Melessa.”
“Who’s Melessa?” Damien was pretty sure that wasn’t even a name.
“Melessa is his real Eternal-One. Didn’t you and Slade bother to find out the name of the girl you were stalking? She lives in that house. It was her engagement party. It’s just dumb not to know that.”
Damien’s head tilted. Why did that suddenly seem so logical? Why hadn’t he known the name of Slade’s Eternal-One beforehand?
Kara sighed. “Anyway, Melessa’s this gorgeous, perfect, fairy princess of a girl who any guy would just love to vamprically bond with. She’s the one both you boys want. Real Eternal-One material.”
He gave his head a clearing shake. “So you believe that Slade will forego his mating with you to possess this Melissa woman, instead?”
Impossible.
“It’s Mel-essa and yeah. Absolutely he will. And then, he’ll leave me alone.”
Damien snorted. For centuries, every woman Slade met had wanted him. They flocked to his side, ripping off their clothes in anticipation. And now the Vampire’s own Eternal-One was trying to foist him off on another girl. It was surely only temporary, but Damien still relished it. If for nothing else, he owed Kara for the pure enjoyment the irony provided him.
Kara missed his smirk. “We just gotta get those two lovebirds back together and everything will be hearts and rainbows for them. Then, you can kidnap Mel or whatever stupid plot-point Tanya has up her sleeve. We’ll all be happy.”
Damien took in her earnest face. He couldn’t imagine Slade being so blind as to choose another bride over Karalynn, but then it didn’t pay to underestimate the shortsighted, arrogance of the Vampires. Slade never questioned his divine right to do whatever he chose. Perhaps he thought he could have two women.
Regardless, Damien certainly wasn’t going to encourage Kara’s relationship with the son-of-a-bitch. She’d just start nagging to go back to the Vampire all the faster.
“You don’t want Slade?” It seemed almost impossible, but he had to be sure. “You aren’t here spying as some kind of Vampire plot?”
“Of course not! I’m here because I thought you’d help me get away from that jackass.”
“And I will.” It delighted him to ruin Slade’s wedding plans, just on general principles. But, more… Damien really wanted the bride for himself. He’d wanted Kara even before he’d known she was Slade’s. He’d seen her first, as a matter of fact. When she took off that bizarre woolen cap and shook out her incredible curls, lust plowed into him like a freight train. Damien had never experienced anything like it in his life. And now she was in his house, talking to him. The girl was just a means to an end, but she was his means to his end.
Kara baffled him, but he wasn’t in hurry to let her go.
After being alone for centuries, simply having Kara’s voice in his house was a remarkable experience for Damien. Having someone to talk to was amazing. Besides his raven and the random servant sightings, he’d been alone since the Vampires slaughtered his sister. Weeks went by where he didn’t speak a single word out loud. Suddenly, he had this human woman who filled up the huge, empty space with her vibrant energy. It was seductive. Irresistible.
Karalynn Donnelly, like all grand destruction, lured her victim willingly to his doom.
Kara’s eyes met his, catching him staring at her.
Damien looked away and cleared his throat. “Why would Slade’s love life feature so prominently in my book?”
She hesitated. “It’s not really your book. Well, I mean, you’re in it. But, you’re the bad guy. It’s really Slade’s book. He’s the hero.”
Damien’s mouth dropped open in indignation. He didn’t really believe a word of this novel thing, but still… “That bastard is the hero and I’m the villain?!”
“Kind of. Yeah. The number of times you say ‘vengeance’ is a dead giveaway.”
Muttering ancient curses under his breath, Damien began scanning the text for his name. There was no way he was the villain. None. He was fucking justified in his quest for vengeance.
Kara’s brows drew together thoughtfully as Damien read. “Ya know, the more I think about it, the more I think reuniting Mel and Conan is the key to this whole thing.” She continued, almost to herself. “I gotta get the plot back on track before it’s completely out of hand. I mean, the book has to end, right? And when it does, all the characters need to be in the right spots. Romance novels have happy endings. If this one doesn’t, than it can’t end. And if it doesn’t end, I can’t get out of here. You see?”
“No
t really.”
“Fine. Simple, straight forward, cut and dry version of my new plan. We need to get Slade in bed with Melessa, Eternally-Bonded and deliriously happy, before the last page of this book.” Kara tapped the manuscript with her fingernail. “Otherwise, I’ll be trapped here in the Bates Motel forever and you’ll be… Actually, I have no idea what will happen to you.”
Damien ignored that. His heartbeat slammed in his chest as he read his own words and thoughts printed in the pages in front of him. Things no one else could have known about him were spread out for the world to see. Twisted to make him sound obsessed, evil, wrong.
Like a creature.
“Did you write this?” His lips barely moved as he spoke the words. He hadn’t felt furious since he came back home from battle to find his people massacred.
“No. Tanya St. Clair wrote it. She’s my step-mother’s gym buddy. They met in pilates.” Kara eased back from him as if she was wary of his reaction. “That part where it says you’re salivating to capture Slade’s bride is kinda harsh, but…”
“It’s bullshit!” He surged to his feet, rage continuing to fill him at this new Vampire trick. “All of it. Pure fiction!”
“Exactly. Fiction. It’s a romance novel. You see?”
“It’s vampire propaganda!” He waved the manuscript at her. “This is not how our history went. The Vampires were not heroes, they were merely more plentiful. That’s how they defeated my people. The Wizard Warlocks were the victims of prejudice, persecution and unimaginable cruelty. How can anyone not see that?!”
“Hey, I’m not a Vampire apologist. The Wiz-Wars had it bad. I’m just saying that this book is from Slade’s point-of-view, so…”
“The Vampires killed my family!” His sister’s name started up at him from page three. Amalie. The only bright spot in his world. An innocent child, butchered by the Vampires for just being born. Damien couldn’t stand it. Slamming the book shut, he threw it into the fireplace, wanting to destroy its fabrications and deceit.
Kara let out a shriek of pure panic. “NOOOOO!” She launched herself across the room as the flames engulfed her blasphemous novel. “Are you insane?!”
Damien blinked. The woman stuck her whole hand into the fire trying to save the book, yelling like he’d consigned her to burn along with the pages. Human skin couldn’t touch flames. Didn’t she know that? She’d be burned. “Kara Lynn, stop.”
She didn’t stop. “I need that book!” The melting blue cover stuck to her skin and she shouted in pain.
Damien swore. He had no idea why, but he dropped down to his knees beside her and pulled her away from the fire. “Stop! You’ll be hurt.” His arms wrapped around her, trying to catch hold of her hands and examine them for damage.
Kara fought to get free. “I don’t care. Damien, please!” Desperate brown eyes locked on his, tears running freely. “I’m so scared that I won’t get home. You have no idea how scared I am. I have to save that book. It’s the only thing that I have to help me.”
That had to be the truth herbs at work. She never would have admitted how deeply terrified she was without the drug. Not Karalynn Donnelly. From what he could see, she hid any sign of weakness behind laughter and sarcastic remarks he didn’t understand. “No, it’s not the only thing you have. I will help you.” He must have been out of his mind, because he meant that. If she’d just be happy again, he suddenly would have done anything.
The woman was so dangerous.
“How can you help?! You’re the one who just ruined my life, asshole!” She slammed a fist into his shoulder and then cried out at the agony it caused. Her palms were already blistering.
“I’ll fix it. I promise. Please, calm down.” Damien tugged her against his chest and wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Why did he care that she was so upset? Why did he suddenly hate himself for making her weep? How could this woman affect him? He made a soothing sound as she sobbed against his shirt, his lips grazing her hair, speaking words without even hearing them. “Don’t, cari.” He couldn’t stand to see her tears. He needed to rectify what he’d done.
Damien glanced over at the fireplace and stretched out his hand. He was a sorcerer. The flames didn’t burn him. He easily pulled the manuscript from the cinders and gave it a shake. It was severely singed, the edges blackened, the strange blue cover bubbling and shrinking with a vile, rubbery smell.
Damien concentrated for a beat and used his powers to restore it. It was so simple. Any Wizard Warlock could have done it. Except he was the only Wizard Warlock left. “Kara Lynn.” He nudged her face up from his chest. “Here it is back, again. Please don’t cry.”
She gave a soft gasp as he held up the pristine book. Damp eyes flashed to his face in astonishment. “How did you do that?”
“Magicks.” He tried not to notice her soft, trembling mouth inches from his own. “I am sorry.” Damien hadn’t said that in longer than he could remember, but he meant it. He shouldn’t have tried to destroy her offensive one-sided story. How could he have taken something so small from a defenseless woman? It was something the Vampires would do. Something a creature would do. “It’s fine. Exactly as it was before.”
A pack of spiteful lies against his people.
“Oh God, thank you.” She reached for it. “You really saved it!”
“I did. Just wait, though.” He set it aside before she could grab hold. “Let me heal your hands first, before you’re injured even worse. The literary masterpiece is not escaping anywhere.”
“You can heal me?” She sniffed, her eyes staying fixed on the book like it might go up in flames again at any second, even just sitting on the rug. Still, she willingly held out her palms for his inspection. “How?”
“I was trained as a doctor.” Damien said, flatly. The burns on her fingers looked serious and it had been a long, long time since he’d healed anyone else. His instincts screamed that he help her, no matter what the cost. There was a deep, primitive part of Wizard Warlocks that caused the Vampires to label them animals. The sorcerers were less civilized, closer to their primal ancestors. Damien felt the wildness rise at the sight of the scorched flesh. A savage fury that she’d been hurt.
It was because she was his prisoner. Because she was in his care.
That was the only explanation he’d accept.
“You’re a doctor?” She sounded surprised. “Really?”
“I suppose your precious book skipped that part of my story, too.”
“I suppose so.” Kara swallowed. “But, I didn’t really read the whole novel, so maybe Tanya was going for a Hannibal Lector thing.” She released a long shaky breath and ducked her head, so she could meet his eye as he examined her wounds. “Thank you, Damien.” She whispered, in a sincere tone. “Thank you for understanding how much I need it.”
He grunted, uncomfortable with the gratitude.
His powers easily erased the blisters and redness from her skin. Taking the pain from her meant transferring it to himself, though, which didn’t help his mood. That was one reason he’d never been a very successful doctor. Damien wasn’t altruistic enough to want to take on the suffering of the world. He’d made a much better warrior. It was usually easier to kill than to heal.
Kara’s lips parted in amazement as she surveyed her smooth, unblemished skin. “Wow.” She shook her head. “My God. That was amazing.”
He shrugged and discreetly flexed his now aching hands. “It was a simple matter.” But, it would take several hours for the pain to work its way out of his system.
“No, I mean it. It was amazing.” Kara insisted. “You have such a gift. You fixed me. Thank you for that, too.”
“You’re welcome.” He stood up and nearly held out a palm to assist her to her feet, only to think better of it. He didn’t want her to know that healing her had cost him anything. “You should be more careful. Next time I might not be there to save you from your recklessness.”
Standing over her, he was abruptly struck by how fragile huma
ns were. How much smaller and weaker than the Vampires or the Wizard Warlocks. The woman would fight, but she was completely helpless against the monsters of the world. Slade or some other man could easily overpower her. Take her against her will or harm her.
Use her for their own selfish purposes… Just as Damien was.
She was so vulnerable.
If Damien could have felt anything beyond vengeance, that would have terrified him.
“Do you have a human male, back wherever it is you come from?” Slade’s Eternal-One should have been having an engagement party that night, but something still seemed off about that, now. Would another man be searching for her, too?
“No. I’m single.” She gazed up at him. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
He hadn’t been expecting that question. “No. Wizard Warlocks only have one true mate and I never found mine. I feel she must be long dead.” Killed by Slade and his brethren, no doubt.
The heroes.
“You have Eternal-Ones, like the Vampires do?”
“I am nothing like the Vampires.”
“But, you guys both have the one-true-love thing?”
“Well, yes.” He admitted. “Wizard Warlocks have an entirely different system for bonding, though, with much less blood.” He stalked back over to his chair. “We know the woman, but there is still freewill involved. Like the humans, we can choose to accept or deny the mating. Your people can bond with anyone, yes? ‘Marry’ them?”
“As long as that anyone marries us back.”
So, why hadn’t some man claimed her by now? Were the humans even stupider than the Vampires? Sometimes, Damien greatly feared he was the only being with a brain left in the entire world.
There were more important things to discuss while the truth herbs were still working, but he still heard himself ask the one question he most wanted to know: “Why did you refuse Slade and come with me, instead?”
“I told you, I like you better than him.”
“Why, though?” It made no sense.
Kara tilted her head, still sitting on the floor. As usual. The woman hadn’t used a chair since she arrived. “I feel safe with you.”
Not Another Vampire Book Page 9