by Ciana Stone
"Well – well I guess it just seems unreal. I mean, I'm just me. Ex—dental hygienist."
"So you don't think you'll go back to that line of work?"
Laughter made her wait to respond. "No. I don't think so. Not that it was a bad job, but I'd rather do what I'm doing now."
The host laughed. "And from what I hear, we'd all like to be doing what you're doing now. And I'm talking about the male fineness that stole you away from a national book tour."
Layla felt heat infuse her face. She hadn't expected her relationship with Augustus to be referred to in quite this way. "Well, he is fifty shades of fine."
The crowd went wild at that comment and even the host laughed. Once the noise died, the host spoke up. "Well, we can't stand it. He's here isn't he?"
"Yes, backstage."
"And his name?"
"Augustus Thurinus."
"That's a mouthful. Okay, so let's get him out here. Augustus?"
Layla turned to watch as Augustus stepped onto the stage. The entire room went dead silent as he appeared, and then erupted with cheers and screams. Layla couldn't help but grin. Dressed in faded jeans, worn boots and a tight black t-shirt with his typical black Stetson, Augustus really was sex in jeans.
The host stood as Augustus approached and held out her hand. He took it and lifted it to his lips and Layla thought the woman's eyes were going to roll back in her head.
"Whew!" She fanned herself. "Mr. Thurinus, sooooo nice to meet you."
"My pleasure."
"Please have a seat."
Augustus took a seat beside Layla on the sofa and draped one arm behind her, the fingers of that hand stoking her shoulder. She reached up to lace her fingers with his and again the crowd cheered.
"I think you have some fans yourself, Mr. Thurinus."
"Augustus."
"So, Augustus, tell us, are the stories true that you swept Layla off her feet so quickly that she was willing to walk away from a national book tour?"
"Is that what the stories say?"
"Yes, it is."
He looked at Layla and smiled. "I think she's the one who swept me off my feet."
"Oh, my. Care to elaborate?"
"Let's just say she had me the moment I laid eyes on her."
Layla smiled up at him, thinking oh you're good. The audience was going nuts and she had no doubt that Augustus would end up with more fans than she. Oddly, that didn't make her jealous in the least.
"And when exactly was that?"
Augustus looked from the host to Layla. For a moment they were frozen, gazes locked. They'd discussed this and hoped to avoid the question. Augustus had flat out refused to lie.
Layla turned to the host. "Did I mention that Augustus is a rancher?"
"Why no, I don't think you did, but why don't you tell us—"
"Why don't you tell everyone that he's a Vampire?" The shout from the audience had everyone's attention turning away from the stage.
The host looked at the man who was climbing over other people, waving a handgun, and shouting. "Go on, tell them, Thurinus! Tell them the truth. That you're a Vampire and you murdered a woman in cold blood in her own front yard. Admit that you're an abomination from hell. You and all your kind must be killed. Exterminated!"
The ensuing silence was but a few seconds in actuality but felt like an eternity. Layla could literally feel the shock that rippled through the audience. It was followed by a bombardment of mixed emotions – fear and excitement being the most dominate by far.
The din that rose made it impossible to hear what the host was saying even with the microphone clipped to her blouse. Some of the audience fought their way toward the exit while others crowded the stage, shouting to Augustus with offers of their blood and more. The man who'd started the ruckus was fighting his way toward the stage with three others who wielded swords.
It was bedlam and when half a dozen women and two men broke free of the security that guarded the stage and rushed toward them, Augustus bounded to his feet, pulling Layla upright and behind him.
"No." He growled as the two men from the audience broke to the front of the ranks. Just as they drew near a young woman raced around them and threw herself at Augustus.
"Take me, please. Take my blood."
Irrational anger spurred Layla into action. She jumped in front of Augustus and collided with the woman. "Back off."
"No! I want him, I need him." The woman pushed Layla, trying to get at Augustus.
That tore it. Layla balled up her fist and slugged the woman with everything she had. A split second later, the two men rushed Augustus.
He simply raised both hands to stop their progress. And stop they did. Like they'd hit a wall.
"No more." Augustus said to them.
Both men stopped dead in their tracks and watched with slack expressions. Just then, gunfire erupted. The three men with swords rushed the stage as the man who fired the shots kept shooting.
A scream from a woman trying to get to Augustus had Layla looking in the direction of the scream. She saw the woman on the floor with blood staining her back.
The swordsmen attacked, but their speed was no match for Augustus. As one swung his sword, Augustus pivoted, turning a complete circle. At the completion of the circle, his right hand came up and under the man's sword arm. A second later, the sword was in his hand. Augustus kicked the man in the chest, sending him careening backwards to fall from the stage.
Augustus parried another attack with the sword he'd liberated from the first attacker and then kicked again, sending the attacker flying backwards. Augustus gripped the sword at both ends, broke it in half, and then tossed it away. The third swordsman fled without delivering a blow, colliding with the gunman who was taking aim at Layla.
Augustus turned, pulled Layla into his arms, and raced from the stage. Layla knew what everyone would have seen – a blur of motion. She prayed the cameras had not been rolling but feared they had.
Augustus didn't stop until they were back at the hotel, standing at the elevator.
"I'm so sorry, Augustus."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. Please put me down."
When he allowed her feet to touch the floor she looked up at him. "I shouldn't have asked you to do the show with me. I should have—"
"It was not your fault, Layla."
"Then who?"
"I don't know but I will find out."
The elevator door opened and they got inside. Layla felt sick about what had happened and worried about the implications. Before they'd reached the penthouse floor, her phone rang.
"Sheila, hi." She hit the speaker button.
"Girl, I don't even know what you need me for. That was freaking brilliant. They had to call in extra security to tame the audience and even EMTs because at least half a dozen women got into fights trying to beat the others to the stage and at least four people were arrested trying to leave.
"It was chaos and all live. This is going to be the only thing people are going to talk about for days. But we need to make sure we keep it at the forefront of their minds so I was thinking I'd reach out to some of the—"
"No."
"—big names who do the prime time interviews. If we can get you—"
"I said no."
"What?"
"I said no."
"Wh… well why the hell did we pull that stunt if you didn't want the publicity?"
Layla looked at Augustus in shock. His eyes narrowed but he remained silent.
"We?" Layla finally asked.
"I meant you." Sheila replied quickly. "And now we have to build on that momentum and get you and Augustus in front of as many—"
"No." Layla ended the call.
Augustus gestured for her to precede him as the elevator door opened. Neither of them spoke again until they were inside the suite. Layla headed straight for the bedroom and started gathering up her belongings.
"What are you doing?"
She cast a lo
ok at him over her shoulder. "Packing."
"You can't run from it."
"I'm not running." She headed for the bathroom and collected her things. "I'm just not joining the circus."
"Circus?"
"Come on, you know that's what it'll be."
"And you think leaving will change that?"
"No, but I'm not going to use you being a Vampire as a publicity stunt. And who knows what kind of problems it could cause? The news about your kind is still new and there are scared people. You saw that audience. Yeah, there were some who were damn near breaking their necks to get to the stage, but there were a lot who were just as eager to get the heck out of there.
"It will fuel the fire of the people who are afraid if we go along with it and slap them in the face with it. Not good for your people. Trust me on this. Those who want to hate you will use it. They'll turn me into some "entranced" fool of a woman under the control of a Vampire and they'll make you out to be a monster."
"They'll do that anyway."
"Maybe, but they'll do it without me."
"Where will you go?"
"Home."
"And where is that, sweetheart?"
"Texas. Sanctuary."
Augustus crossed the room to her and stopped her from zipping her luggage by taking her hands. "What about your family, Layla? Your home and your career?"
"I can write anywhere and I'll hire someone to check on my house. It'll be fine for the time being."
"And your family?"
"You mean my brother and my sister? That's all the family I have left. Well, there are some cousins but my parents have been gone a long time. My grandmother raised me and she died three years ago."
"And your brother and sister?"
"I haven’t seen my brother in years – ever since he got involved with a motorcycle club. And my sister is a doctor in DC, married to a lobbyist and I'm more of an embarrassment to her than anything else. I get a card from her on my birthday and a call on Christmas."
She could feel sympathy for her swell inside him and it embarrassed her, which naturally made her defensive. "Stop. I don't need you to feel sorry for me. I made peace with all that a long time ago. It is what it is and I'm not crying about it."
"You are a remarkable woman, Layla Storm."
"My name isn't Storm. That's just my pen name."
His eyebrows rose and she laughed. "You mean you didn't know? That surprises me."
"Then what is your real name?"
"Layla Anne Summerfield."
Augustus smiled at her. "I love you, Layla Anne Summerfield."
"And I love you so would you please take me home?"
"That I will. I'll call and have the plane readied."
She nodded as he pulled out his phone to make the arrangements and turned her attention back to checking to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
"We take off in three hours. The car will be here in two."
Layla sat down on the bed. "Okay, so what do we do until then?"
The look that came on his face had a delicious shiver of anticipation dancing over her skin. "Oh, I think we can keep ourselves entertained, don't you honey?"
Layla couldn't help but wonder if she was losing her grip on reality because with all that was happening, his question turned her mind to only one thing.
She reached for him and at that moment, his phone rang. His reaction had her dropping her hands as he hurriedly answered. "Thurinus."
Layla watched his expression change. Was that concern she was seeing?
"Yes, of course." He ended the call. "We need to leave."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"Oh, okay." Layla didn’t question the sudden change. She was happy to leave.
Less than five minutes later, they were getting into the back seat of a long limo. Augustus removed his hat, leaned back, and stared out of the window.
"Everything okay?"
"It will be fine, sweetheart."
Something about his words rang false, which was a first and that concerned her. But with all that had happened, she thought this might be one of those times when she should keep quiet. Let him work things out in his head.
The truth was, she had some things to work out herself. She couldn't let Sheila use what had happened at the studio as a promotion gimmick. That would just be wrong. And if she stuck to her guns on that, what did it mean for her career? Would her publisher pull her contract?
She was so caught up in trying to figure out what to do that she didn't realize where they were. Suddenly it dawned on her that she was seeing trees instead of buildings.
"August?"
"Yes?"
"Where are we going? I don't think this is the way to the airport."
"We're not going to the airport."
"Then where are we going?"
"I've been summoned to appear before the Head of the Council and your presence was requested."
"The—oh my god, the Council Council? As in the leaders of your people, Council?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"My guess that the incident this afternoon has garnered attention."
"So are they mad?"
"I don't know."
She fell silent for a few minutes, staring out of the window at the passing scenery. "Are you scared?"
"Pardon?"
"Are you scared?" She turned to look at him.
"Why would I be afraid?"
Layla shrugged. "I don't know. I figure it's kind of like the President demanding that I appear before him or something."
Augustus took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry."
Oh oh. One thing Layla had learned in life was that the phrase "don't worry" was most often used when there actually a cause for worry.
With a sense of dread, she clutched his hand. The decision to leave Texas now seemed like a really bad one.
Chapter Twelve
Right now, I'm kind of glad my folks and my Grannie aren't around to see what happened. Thanks to the perks of wealth, Augustus and I have been able to watch newscasts and online podcasts and videos of what happened at the television interview while we are on our way to his appearance before the Council.
I can't say I felt very proud when I watched myself slug that woman who was coming after Augustus. I'd like to say I was only trying to protect him but that would be a lie I couldn't even convince myself of.
The truth is, I was jealous because she wanted him and wasn't about to let her get her hands on him. It wasn't exactly one of my finest moments. Okay, none of it was if I'm honest. I was gloating over my success and my super-fine man. I had a smug expression on my face, sitting there on that couch with his arm around my shoulders.
How embarrassing. How did I become THAT person? Sometimes I wish Grannie was around to kick my ass. She'd always tell me when I was "getting too big for my britches" as she liked to say.
I don't want to be that person – that "oh look at me" woman. So why was I? Is that what success and fame does to you? Does it twist who you are into some warped version of yourself? Does it blind you to your own bad behavior and give you a screwed up sense of entitlement and elevation over others?
If that's what it does then maybe I wished for all the wrong things. I love to write and I'll never forget the excitement of seeing the sales of my self-published book roll in. I guess I sold out. God that sounds horrible but like Grannie said, you have to be honest with yourself or you can't be honest with anyone else. And the truth is, I did sell out. I could have just kept that book right where it was and let it ride – see what it would do.
But no, I had to latch onto that golden carrot that was dangled in front of my face. I could be a "big" name, a writer with a multi-million dollar deal. All I had to do was sign my name and all that fame and fortune could be mine.
Fuck. Sorry Grannie, but sometimes you just have to drop the F—bomb. It's part of that being honest thing. And honestly, I don't know where I'm supposed to go from here
.
Maybe this is one of those times when you have to go with Dad's philosophy. "Go with the flow."
Well, I am kinda doing that. And oh my god, I know where we are!
It was almost impossible to put a lid on her excitement and curiosity when Layla discovered where they were going. She'd read about, seen photos and naturally, watched shows on television about the lavish estates in The Hamptons but she never dreamed she'd actually visit.
Already wheels were turning in her head on how she could use the setting in a book. It was difficult to write about something you'd never seen. She stopped gawking at the scenery long enough to look at Augustus.
"So, the Council's headquarters are here?"
"No, we’re going to the home of Asha Amar Iltani, the head of the Council and Queen of Vampires."
"Oh yes. The one we saw on television. She's beautiful. But what makes her a queen? Was she born into royalty?"
"Yes."
"When? Where?"
"From one of the first recorded civilizations."
"Say what?"
"She is from what we now call Sumeria."
"Oh damn, are you serious? She's been alive since … okay, math are not me. So what's she like?"
Augustus' brows drew together in the slightest of frowns. "She is … complicated."
"So, you've known her a long time?"
"Since birth."
That intrigued Layla even more. "Really? So were your parents friends with her or were they – what, servants, slaves, nobles? Oh and are your parents still alive?"
Augustus' frown vanished, to be replaced with a smile and then a chuckle.
"What?"
"Your curiosity delights me."
Layla rolled her eyes. "Great, but that's not an answer."
"Here we are."
That diverted her attention. The car turned onto a wide road and stopped at the enormous metal gate. Massive stone columns supported the gate and a guard building stood on either side of the columns with two men positioned outside each.
Tall heavy metal fencing stretched out from either side of the stone columns as far as she could see in either direction, broken periodically by additional columns of stone.
The driver nodded to the guards on his side of the car and a few moments later the massive gates slid open to allow them entrance.