I looked over my shoulder only to discover Meredith no longer stood beside me. She was already inside the shop, mimicking the woman’s actions as she displayed the London Bridge Cellar’s business card with confidence.
The man behind the counter glared at her for a minute with scrutinizing eyes. He then nodded and headed to the back of the room.
“Kiera!” Mer hissed, waving to usher me in. “Come on!”
A little uncertain, I pursed my lips. After a few seconds of hesitation, I made up my mind and followed Mer through the shop, into the mystery that waited behind the worn-out curtain.
It was a bodega.
A pantry filled with wooden boxes of vegetables and meat lockers. A bit disappointing, but what was I expecting?
The man moved past me. “Through there,” he said with harshness, pointing at the corner with a crooked finger.
“There’s nothing there,” I rebuffed, still lingering by the entrance. Was this even safe? What if this guy turned out to be a kidnapper or something?
“Stairs!” Meredith said, already ahead of me. “They lead underground… This is amazing.”
Amazing was not the word that came to mind. I moved further inside the room, and there it was: an opening on the floor with chiseled stone steps that led into a pitch-dark cavern. It was a gaping mouth to the pits of hell.
Goosebumps shot up my arms. Not a good omen for any witch. I slowly shook my head. “I am not going in there.”
“But we’ve come all this way, Kiera!”
“Are you kidding, Mer?” I said, baffled. “All this place needs is a sign that says: ‘Abandon all hope, ye who enter here’.”
“That's not the way in,” the man suddenly said, stepping between us. “There’s an elevator.” He pointed out, heaving a sigh of exasperation.
The slabs of stainless steel had blended so well with the rest of the freezers that one could hardly notice them. The stranger pushed the button, and the doors opened, revealing a rather narrow cabin with mirrors on its walls.
“Press minus one,” he added begrudgingly.
Great. A different way to enter the pits of hell. Mer jumped in and I followed reluctantly.
“John could have mentioned all of this, you know…” I mumbled as the doors closed.
“He probably didn’t want to spoil the experience for us.”
“Yeah, probably.” I scoffed.
The elevator stopped with a hard bounce. A bell chimed and as the doors slowly opened, my heart jolted inside, racing with anticipation as all this mystery piqued my curiosity once more, leaving little room for worries.
Chapter Four
The elevator doors opened to the most enticing ring of hell, a hallway lined with raw stone walls, the remains of a Victorian cellar. Tall candelabrums stood on each side of the entrance, both alight with over a dozen flickering flames. The air was warm and moist and fragrant with a subtle mixture of greenery and expensive colognes. A sullen beat, hypnotic like a siren’s call, bounced off the room’s ancient foundations.
We moved further down the hallway, compelled by the promise of decadent delights waiting inside. Soon, we came upon a dim-lighted chamber. Pale blue flashing television screens interrupted the darkness and outlined the silhouettes of at least a hundred men and women clustered on the dance floor.
As my eyes slowly adjusted to the room’s obscurity, I noticed a man standing a few feet away. He was waving at us. His lips moved, but the loud music muffled his voice.
“There’s John!” Mer said, waving back gleefully. Not a second had passed before she jostled through the crowd to meet him.
Mer and John ambled to the end of the den. The furnishings were far from modest: burl walnut parlor chairs upholstered in burgundy red velvet, lavishly carved tripod walnut tables, peacock green velvet draperies hanging from the walls... A vast array of foliage twined with exquisite marble sculptures carelessly arranged across the area, making their discovery a treasure in itself. I saw busts of lords and ladies unknown, shy angels concealing themselves with their wide wings, all objects of delicate beauty that captured my senses. How could I not linger to appreciate these details in full detainment?
My fingers glided on the luscious drapes, pushing the fabric subtly, only to discover more wonders behind them. Another chamber lay hidden underneath. I had to look inside.
The room was empty. This part of the nightclub strayed from the Victorian flare. A black leather Chesterfield sofa stood in the center, and next to it, a bottle of wine chilled in a bucket of ice. Music videos played on the wall from an 8mm projector.
Looks like a VIP room.
Outside, the music changed. The jarring shift made me peer through the curtains. A small group of people headed towards the room, so I left fast.
The crowd on the dance floor stirred with excitement. Hands holding drinks rose in the air as a vague chant soared above the sullen music. When the horde gently receded, a small group of people appeared in the center. Two men and a woman, gorgeous creatures all; their alabaster skin gleamed under the club’s lighting, which made their eyes twinkle like precious gems.
Were they famous singers, actors maybe? I had no clue. I wasn’t keen on watching television or keeping up with the world of show business.
Though both men were incredibly handsome, one quickly became the cynosure of all eyes. About six feet tall, well built; stylish in a black leather jacket and casual t-shirt, the slick, expensive kinds. He seemed to be in his mid-twenties, but his five o'clock shadow furthered his years. His dark brown eyes drew me in; they shone like glittering garnets. His smooth lips were full and chiseled to perfection.
I heaved a sigh.
You are so good-looking.
In a flash, his eyes fixed on me. Had he heard me? How could he? I was certain I’d not spoken a word, and the music’s loud volume would have never allowed a sound of mine to travel to his ears.
My face felt warm, and grew warmer by the second.
Fuck.
I wished I had wanted to look away. But such beauty compelled my eyes beyond reason. I found it so hard to believe that his attention would fix on me that I studied him even more, trying to make sure his interest was real, not my imagination acting up as usual.
He remained motionless. His was an appraising stare, the kind that's determined to unravel a mystery. I meant to do the same.
Time froze. And in this trance, a soft beam of light descended on his face. The striking glimmer of his eyes bewitched me, and I sensed myself moving towards him, attracted to this man as if by pure magnetism.
There was something daunting about this guy. Not only did his beauty defy all ordinary standards, but his sole presence shook the room. Like everyone else in the Cellar, I yielded to his power, helplessly lured by him, a prisoner of his fascinating spell.
The woman in his party approached him. She was stunning in a tight short black dress and high heels, gold embroidered coat. Heavy locks of wavy dark hair rippled over her shoulder when she leaned close to his ear. The woman's eyes glimmered with a piercing shade of blue. A subtle smile curved her sensual, carmine lips.
As this goddess spoke into his ear, the gorgeous man responded with contained amusement. Never once taking his eyes off of me, he whispered something back to her and the woman then left.
Was this over, whatever this was?
It wasn’t. The handsome stranger now ambled through the crowd, tantalizing as he stepped out of the dance floor, walking straight towards me.
I swallowed hard. A million thoughts rushed through my mind. Should I stay and see what happened? Part of me wanted that, but at the same time, every fiber in my being instigated me to run, which made no sense at all. My racing heartbeat throbbed in my throat and ears.
And then I understood. He was a lion on the hunt, determined to catch his prey, and I was a bedazzled gazelle, too wounded to know when to start running.
Double fuck.
I chose to flee. My skills as a seductress... well, that was it
. I had none. That expertise would certainly not develop in the following seconds.
One step back, then another, and I bumped hard against someone.
“I’m so sorry!” I said, flustered as I turned.
“Careful there!” a familiar voice said. Brown suede shoes, designer dark denim pants, pristine white shirt and a brown leather jacket. Strong jawline, cleanly shaved. Thin lips curled in a wry smile. Delicate nose, deep-set hazel eyes. Ashen blond hair, carefully arranged.
“Kiera?” Ransom said, stricken with false grief.
A nervous smile quirked my lips as I pulled a lock of hair behind my ear. “Hey, Ransom...” He was not alone. The third girl was with him.
This is my worst nightmare come to life.
Ransom stroked his girlfriend’s arm with fondness. “Watch where you’re going, will you?” he said, aggrieved. “You almost crushed poor Laurie.”
“My name is Audrey,” his girlfriend said with a light scowl.
“All right then, Audrey,” Ransom dismissed. “No harm done, love,” passing his arm around Audrey’s waist.
My lips moved, but no sound came through. I saw the light then. My body had warned me to run earlier, not because of the gorgeous man, but because it had somehow sensed Ransom's presence. I had to get out of there.
“Listen, Kiera,” Ransom said, scratching an eyebrow. He moved closer. “Your aversion towards these places is hardly a secret, so I can only assume you’re here because of me.”
What the hell is he saying?
I opened my mouth, willing to prove him wrong, but Ransom interrupted me and carried on with his loathsome speech.
“If indeed you are stalking me, then I am terribly sorry for you.” He pursed his lips, shaking his head. “You must move on, old girl,” he added. “Our story was never meant to be.”
I furrowed my brow, my mouth now agape. “No,” I stuttered. “I’m… I… What?” How could he even say those vicious words? “You know what? I should go.”
I stepped to the side, impatient to slip away, but Ransom's body blocked me.
“Don’t get me wrong, Kiera.” Feigned concern emerged on his face; for a moment, I almost believed it. “I’m happy you’ve ventured out at last… even if it is just to spy on me.”
I scowled. The blood in my veins sizzled. “What did you say?”
“No hard feelings, you know,” Ransom said, embracing Audrey's with one arm. “Best of luck to you and all that.”
I smirked. “Yeah, take care.”
He then turned, and Audrey followed his lead. Both dipped in the crowd, disappearing in an instant.
Take care? Had I actually spoken those words? Ugh, I hated myself for not being able to confront him. Hideous man!
The room’s atmosphere suddenly became stifling and unbearable, each breath drawing sickening air into my lungs. I’d had enough of this place, this crowd, this roaring pandemonium surrounding me.
As I moved through the jostling mob, I remembered the VIP rooms. That’s just what I need.
Struggling to contain the fury boiling in my core, I pulled the heavy curtain aside and stepped into the quiet chamber. Once inside, it came to me as a shock that this room was not at all what I expected.
Chapter Five
I moved further in the dark tunnel. The club’s pandemonium muffled with each step leading me away from the Cellar. Good. I needed to leave that place behind, to put as much distance between me and Ransom and poor lovely Audrey.
Tears loomed in my eyes as I replayed the entire scene in my mind. At this point, I was somewhat relieved to learn that my feelings towards Ransom were not at all what I’d feared. There was no love for him lingering in my heart. I hated the damned warlock with all my guts.
At the end of the damp corridor, I found a door. A sliver of light filtered through the crevice. The metal panel froze my palm as I pushed it.
A fresh gust of wind lashed on my face as the door opened, revealing an underground garage. I felt free the minute I stepped out of the tunnel; free to explode, to say the words I’d kept clutched in my throat ever since I’d stood before that rotten bastard…
“Fuck!” I cursed, breaking the stillness of the room, thinking of all the things I should have said and done. What a fool I’d been to remain silent!
If there was no love left for him, then how could I explain the strange power Ransom had over me? I hated him for it and hated myself even more for allowing him to step over me. And his indolence, his absolute disregard for the relationship we’d once had… as if that time had meant nothing at all!
I should have punched him.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I muttered, shutting my eyes close as I leaned back against the wall.
“That’s one too many fucks, I’d say…” someone spoke.
I opened my eyes. After a quick glance, I found no one. There was a red sports-car parked in the middle of the garage, a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider… a real beauty. Then I saw him. A man, standing a few steps behind the vehicle. My lips parted as I recognized the black leather jacket, and later, his face.
Bright red cinders gleamed between his silken lips. He took a deep drag off his cigarette and slowly puffed out the smoke.
Say something, Kiera. Speak!
“Yeah, well… It’s been one hell of an evening.” That was something, at least.
The gorgeous stranger I’d first seen on the dance floor tossed the cigarette to the ground and went up to the car. His shoulders broadened as his firm hands landed on the hood. He pushed it down, immediately gliding his hand beneath it and tugging it up to make sure it was closed.
“Aren’t you a lucky woman?” he said, a smirk curling his full lips.
“I don’t believe in luck,” I mumbled, trying to zip up my jacket, but failing thanks to my quivering fingers. And as much as I hated to admit it, my hands did not tremble because of the weather; this guy was hot as hell, and I’d never expected I’d bump into him like this.
He turned and stared at me appraisingly. “Curious,” he said, a slight frown on his face as he drew closer. “I thought all witches trusted in their crystals for good luck,” hinting at my clear quartz pendant, raising his chin a little.
He said witches.
Now that broke any poise I’d gathered so far. Flustered, I said, “How do you…?”
Hot guy joined me by the wall. He leaned next to me, his wondrous cologne slowly penetrating my lungs, clouding my mind. It was a glorious fragrance, like that of the fresh scent of woods after the first spring rain.
“How do I know you’re a witch?” he said with a low sensual voice, so intimate that it shot gooseflesh up my arms. “I guess you could call it a gift.” He turned. In this nearness, as his eyes fixed on mine, I recognized a flash of magic inside them. That and the hint of pointy fangs as he half smiled told me everything I needed to know.
“Shit,” I whispered. “You’re a vampire.”
“Ah,” he uttered, slightly raising his brow. He lowered his gaze and sighed… Was he ashamed of being caught? But never mind that.
“Now I get it,” I mumbled. “The vampire glamour, the general hotness about you…”
“Hotness?” He tilted his head and locked stares with me again. “Why, thank you… I guess.” He paused. “I saw you back in there, staring at me.”
I gave him a mirthless laugh. “Funny,” raising one eyebrow. “I was just looking around, but I thought I saw you stare at me for quite a while.”
My rebuff amused him.
“Who are you?” he purred in my ear, sending endless ripples of desire through my core.
“Just a witch from Kennington.” I shrugged.
“Well,” he added with a sultry tone, leaning closer, “Witch from Kennington… My name is Drayce.”
Now he drew closer, close enough that his cool breath landed on my cheek. My heart raced and pounded hard against my chest. And to make matters worse, I knew his vampiric senses could pick up that from me, and more.
It was wrong. It broke all manner of ancient laws that had kept vampires and witches apart for centuries. I should have left right then. I should not have engaged in the vampire’s game of seduction… I knew all that and yet… and yet, I stayed. And I stayed because at that moment, I didn’t fucking care about the rules, or behaving like a righteous witch.
I welcomed his nearness, all the while fighting off the desire to run my hands over his chest and gently pull away every layer of his clothing.
His hand was soft and cold as marble as it glided over my jawline. “God,” he whispered with a velvety voice. His eyes, gleaming gems that caught every source of light in the room, examined every detail in my face with complete fascination. “You are so beautiful…”
Fuck it.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I narrowed the distance between us. And it was I who sealed his mouth with my lips in a feverish kiss. In a flash, he pinned me against the wall with his firm body, kissing me with a voracious hunger that only instigated my lust for him.
I moaned as his tongue licked my neck, his grazing beard brushing up to kiss my lips again. Pressing his hips against mine, Drayce forced my knees apart. This encounter suddenly became a little more than foreplay, and I wanted it, all of it. I wanted him inside me, to feel his escalating need for me until he could no longer resist the pull and both of us exploded in the purest ecstasy.
A voice spoke inside my mind right then. It was subtle yet persistent at raising an alarm, meaningless at this point. The words echoed in my head so many times that at last, I listened.
“He’s a vampire, a blood drinker… Does he want you or your vital liquid?”
My eyes flew open.
Drayce buried his face in my shoulder. A low groan escaped his lips. I recognized struggle in that sound. Was he fighting his lethal instinct to stab my neck with his sharp fangs?
“Drayce…” I moaned as his hands smoothed up my thighs, pushing up my skirt.
A Cursed All Hallows' Eve Page 97