Opulent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1)

by Isabelle Gallo

  “What are you doing?”

  The door slammed open from across the hall and I cowered beside Sebastian.

  “What’s wrong?” He put a hand to my shoulder and moved closer.

  The door flew open, nearly off its hinges and Pete stood in the doorway, his face full of rage. He inhaled deeply and took a step forward while waving a candle around. Sebastian stood up and walked over to Pete with his hand to his side.

  “Get out of here!”

  Pete acted as though he didn’t say anything. “I know you’re here Chenille,” he whispered, “I know you’re here.”

  “You’ve picked the wrong room. There is no one here named Chenille. Now go.”

  “I know she’s here.”

  “She isn’t here.”

  The vampire turned away and walked out of the room. By the time Sebastian returned to me, I was feeling deathly ill, worse than before.

  “He’s gone, don’t worry.”

  He took his place beside me and put the bandaged hand to my forehead. “You have a fever.”

  I held onto his hand, pulled it away from my head and turned my back to him.

  “Look at what you’ve done. You made it worse!”

  “I can get you better. I know at William’s palace, there are some of the best healers. I’ll take you there.”

  He began to pick me up, even though I started to yell and wiggle free from his grasp. “I don’t want to see healers! They can’t help me! They don’t know what’s wrong!”

  “Hey, don’t say that. You don’t know what’s wrong.”

  “Let me go!”

  “No, I’m going to help you.”

  “No.” The pulse filled my ears again like a song, like a spell, and I couldn’t fight it.

  He ran out into the rain, put me into a buggy and held me, letting the rapid pulse do its job to keep me in a calm state, making me not realize what was happening for a while until we arrived at the palace. He took me inside, half-delirious, to the healers. The three of them crowded around me, took my temperature and put some ice on my head.

  “Look at these bruises,” one of them remarked, gently touching my arm.

  “I tripped and fell,” I mumbled.

  “She said her stomach hurt.”

  “It could be a virus.”

  One of the healers led Sebastian away to talk to him while the healers tended to me. I would be calm for only a short while if he was gone, the rhythmic beating of his pulse subsiding as he moved away.

  “You will be fine Annabel,” he said once he returned.

  “What’s wrong with me?”

  “Well…you could have a virus, or a disease, but they’re not sure.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Well, there is one more thing.”

  “What? Tell me, what’s wrong with me?”

  “It’s just a possibility,” he said quickly.

  I waited for him to give me further information.

  “Are you going to tell me or not?”

  “I can negotiate.”

  “Don’t tell me you want me to bite you.” He didn’t say anything. “Tell the healers to leave.”

  “They’re already gone.”

  I gestured for him to come closer and began to take the strand of silk from his hand. Once I pressed my lips to his wound, he began to speak even though I would not dare let myself go any further.

  “They think it’s either a cold or virus-,” he began.

  “Get on with it.”

  “And they think…possibly…that you are pregnant.”

  “What?”

  “I said-,”

  “No, I know what you said. That is impossible.” I sprung to my feet, tossed the bag of ice from my head as if I had never been sick.

  “They said that’s what they assume.”

  I backed away, mumbled to myself. “I have to go,” I said quietly, finally finding an excuse to leave.

  “No, no you can’t.”

  “Nowhere is safe for me now.”

  “You…you can stay here or-,”

  “No, you don’t understand.” I knew Pete would find me now. It would be easy to find me if what the healers suspected was true, even though I was sure it was not. Regardless, I could use that to my advantage. I could get away from this immortal.

  I turned away, walked briskly to the front door. He followed but stopped short once I opened the door. Pete stood there, his eyes black, filled with rage. The smell of his poison knocked me out cold.

  I couldn’t even tell where I was when I woke. “Where am I?”

  “Don’t even recognize your own home?” He spoke darkly as if he was a different person.

  I looked around, looked out a nearby window. “No.”

  “Remember my old planet?”

  “No! You took me back here! How could you?”

  “I am tired of having to hunt you down. At least now I can keep an eye on you,” he hissed.

  He inhaled a breath of air and looked at me sternly. He paced slowly, then stopped, and just stood where he was.

  “Do you think I’m stupid? Do you honestly think I wouldn’t find you?”

  “No.” I sobbed.

  “Why did you run away?”

  “I just couldn’t take your belligerence.”

  “What am I going to do with you?” He lifted me up, pressed me close to his body. “I am sorry.”

  “Put me down.”

  “Didn’t you hear what I said?” He asked, an edge in his tone.

  “What you say means nothing now. It’s too late for apologies.”

  “How can I make it up to you?”

  “You can’t.”

  “There has to be something.”

  “No, nothing will change my mind. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

  He started to laugh. “I’m sure you don’t.”

  “Just take me back to Catastrophe.”

  “We are already on Catastrophe.”

  “I thought you said-,”

  “I lied. That’s what I do.”

  “Then just leave me be.”

  “I can’t, not after you pulled that little escape of yours. You’re going to be stuck with me until I figure out what to do with you.”

  “You must be angry.”

  “Yes, but that’s nothing that can’t be handled.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I have my ways,” he purred.

  “Put me down.”

  “Why? So you can run away again?” He put me down gently and I backed away slowly. My eyes began to fill up again.

  “I do regret performing the Ceremony with you.” I spat, watching as he tensed at my words. Even though a Ceremony had never transpired between us, I knew he wished it would have.

  “I didn’t want to hear that from you once and now you say it again?”

  “It was the biggest mistake I ever made,” I continued.

  “If you value being in the shape you’re in now, don’t say another word.”

  “And I do hate you. Nothing can change my mind about that.”

  “Hold your tongue,” he said a bit louder.

  “And one more thing-,”

  “I swear if you say another word-,”

  “Pete I-,”

  “If I ever find out that you go back to the North without me and see that immortal again I will make you regret ever meeting me. Do I make myself clear?”

  I looked down at the floor. My chest became heavy with fear.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes…I…I promise.”

  “Come here. Don’t be so afraid.”

  I looked up, but did not dare move from where I was.

  “Fine, have it your way. I’ll be right back,” he grumbled.

  He turned, left the room where I was. The space around me turned black and before I knew it, I was outside. Versailles stood proudly before me. Confused, I simply stared and then noticed a long piece of silk tied in her mane. I slipped it from her mane quickly and f
ound there was a piece of paper attached to it. I looked around, only allowing the unicorn’s inquisitive glance to settle on the paper once I unraveled it.

  Dear Annabel,

  Please come to my brother’s palace this weekend. There is going to be a ball and I would like it if you could attend.

  -Sebastian

  I crumbled the note in my hands, held it like that for a moment, and then unraveled it with a smile, hardly considering how he got the note to me. Regardless, I knew there would be no harm in going to a ball. I heard footsteps and quickly held the crumpled paper in my hand behind my back nervously.

  “Would you like me to take your horse back down to the barn?”

  My gaze rested over the stable girl. “Yes, thank you.”

  I walked back into the palace to sit on one of the couches in the sitting room. Sinking into comfort, I sighed and hoped I would not be bothered for the rest of the afternoon.

  “There you are.”

  Agitated, I lodged the piece of paper under one of the cushions and closed my eyes as though I had been taking a nap. I heard a soft laugh and I clutched my wrist, afraid he had suspected I was faking. I could feel a ghostly presence sitting before me, suspecting there was a steady fixed stare looking over me.

  “Chenille, are you asleep?”

  After silence enveloped the room, he picked me up and set me down on the old, large leather chair in front of the fireplace. I could tell he was tense, focused in some other direction, probably near the couch. That wretched piece of paper was most likely showing itself just a bit from the cushion and I knew against the black color of the couch, even the slightest speck of white would be evident.

  “Oh Chenille look at the fool I have become.” He whispered, almost to himself.

  I opened my eyes to slits, enough to see him. He was watching the flames in the fireplace. He watched them dance and pop and he continued, unafraid of their power. He simply listened to the fire’s story of cracking and popping and then looked back down at me. I looked at him for a second, pretended I had just woken up and scurried down to the floor, moving up near the fire to put my back to him.

  “You still don’t forgive me.”

  “There is no need to. If not now then some other time you will be demanding that I accept an apology from you,” I grumbled.

  He slid beside me, swift as a snake to put a hand to my head and hold it in place against his chest for several long minutes. I could tell he was wiping away some poison that fell on my shoulder. It had burned a small hole through my shirt, but he wiped it away before it could do any harm.

  “Your neck looks so scarred…so scarred to me.”

  As he looked closer to examine my neck, I felt him pull his head away, suddenly becoming stiff.

  “I don’t like the smell of that immortal.” His gaze shifted to the couch. “He has imprinted fear…such a fear I can tell you feel it in your bones…because of me. He fears me too, but you fear me even more now.”

  I did not say anything. I was too busy holding my breath. His fingers curved around my shoulders and at once, I felt him relax, his thumbs kneading into my shoulder blades. I remained quiet, enjoying his calm state of mind for once. I knew even the slightest hint of my discomfort would start up something with him. He inhaled deeply. The fire became intensely hot and uncomfortable. I shifted uneasily and sat up straighter.

  “I am going to-,”

  “You are staying here.” He interrupted, holding my shoulders tightly. I did not want to get him angry again and slumped back down, feeling him slowly creep closer toward my neck.

  “Hello Mistress.” It was Minx. I smiled relieved.

  “I have been looking for you.” I lied.

  “Yes…there was something I have been meaning to tell you.”

  “What is it Minx?” His face was turning solemn.

  “Citrus and Mullein have flown away without a say of where they were going.”

  “You know the dragons are able to fly freely to and from the palace.”

  “Yes but they flew away several days ago. They still haven’t returned.”

  “There is nothing we can do.” Pete grumbled, tracing his fingers against my neck.

  “But that’s not all. Prusaious heard…she said she heard from a couple of wolves that two dragons were captured and further sold to the leader of the werewolves.”

  “My father. I should have known.”

  “I will get them back.” Pete offered.

  “You? “

  “Mullein is my best dragon. I’m not going to lose him to those damn-,” he started.

  “Ok, don’t get yourself all worked up. I am sure you of all people could get them back. When will you leave?” I tried to make my voice not sound desperate.

  “Tonight,” he said. “So I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

  “You can take Minx if you want.”

  “Maybe I will. Now, go upstairs will you? I have to talk to him privately.”

  I got up and walked out of the room as he told me. This would be perfect. He would go for a few days to get the dragons back and I would get to go to the ball without him knowing. He would not suspect a thing.

  I made my way into the kitchen, put on a pot of tea for myself as a little inside celebration that he was leaving. I tried my best to conceal my happiness of him leaving, but it would be difficult. I was already feeling a thrill. There was a low voice in my ear and I turned. He was there, unmoved. Now almost positive I knew he could feel what I was feeling, I shrunk back into fear again.

  “I am leaving now.”

  “Now?” There was a tremble in my voice.

  “Yes, right now. I will return in a few days.” He drew himself close and lowered his voice so only I could hear.

  “You remember what I told you. If I find out you go up to the North again I swear I’ll-,”

  “Pete, I am not going to the North-,”

  “I’ll kill you,” he finished.

  His face stayed in its stern shape for only a few seconds and his jaw then softened. He kissed me, began to wrap his cape around me, but backed away hastily as if it had occurred to him that I was not going with him. He reached from around his neck and took off the heavy chain he always wore. He held it in his hands, wrapped it around his fingers and then clipped it around my neck. It was cold. It probably always was without a chance of ever getting warm.

  “Now I will know what you are feeling while I am gone. And now I will know if I have to come back early for any reason.” He smiled, his fangs showing slightly. “Goodbye.”

  I swallowed hard, feeling my plan had just slipped down the drain. I swear he knew it too. I tended to the tea now, almost feeling that deep inside he was laughing for his own enjoyment. I never quite knew how clever and manipulative he really was, but I knew now, I would always know now.

  “Goodbye.” I looked up. He was not there. I was alone at last. I felt the loneliness settle in quickly, but not the way I had wanted a few minutes ago.

  Chapter 41 - Preparations

  That night I spent alone was long and loathsome. I still felt apprehension from longing to go to the ball. No chain would bind my own free will, not even his. I tried to take it off, but there was no clasp. I only caught my fingers in the links, helplessly. I knew I shouldn’t have been so paranoid about it, but I couldn’t help but wonder if it was only a piece of metal to hang there only for my subconscious to scare me. After all, he could have been lying.

  I forgot about it the next day and met up with Prusaious to tell her all about the ball. She told me I was crazy and I should obey Pete’s wishes if I did not want to get hurt. I only laughed, being as stubborn as I was, and scoffed. He did not mean what he said. He would not have been that serious. She agreed about the chain though, only there to haunt me and make me as timid as a feral cat. I told her how tired I was and how weak I felt for reasons unknown. I told her how I wanted so desperately to break free from Pete’s rule and I was sick and tired of being his puppet. She did not
respond to what I had told her. She did not know what to say, so she brought my attention back to the ball and began to point out dresses that appeared in every window we passed. I had not considered what I would wear.

  “What kind of ball is it?”

  “I’m not sure. The note didn’t say.”

  “Should you wear a mask then?”

  “If it was that kind of ball, I’m sure there would have been an indication to bring one.”

  “Then what are you going to wear?”

  I thought back to my closet, to things I had not worn in months, to brand new things I recently bought. I thought of the red dress in the back of the closet, the way it almost glittered in the right light and the way the colored ostrich feathers trimmed the very bottom of the skirt. However, it came with a matching mask and looked incomplete without it.

  “I have no idea.” I sighed and pulled at the chain around my neck that was growing so irritably cold and chafing my skin.

  “Maybe you should wear that.”

  She pointed to a window where a marvelous gold dress trimmed with white fur at its sleeves and neck was displayed. It came with a matching shawl of white fox fur. Altogether, it was too pretty for someone to stage it on a plastic doll, but more of a person should have been wearing it, to compliment its beauty.

  “Put that on and you’ll outshine all of those snobby rich immortals.”

  “I don’t know. It seems too flashy.”

  “No, that’s perfect. Come on, let’s see how it fits.”

  She pulled me inside to see the storekeeper.

  “I want to see a dress, the gold dress with the fur in the window.”

  The shopkeeper glanced up to Prusaious with a raise of her eyebrows.

  “For you,” she inquired, her voice carrying a heavy accent.

  “No, for my friend.” She elbowed me.

  “No one has even come in to look at it. You want it?”

  “I don’t know. I want to try it on though.”

  “It is a very expensive dress. Very pretty dress.” She said.

  “I do like it.”

  “You can go into the room over there.” She made a gesture to the back of the store. “I will give you the dress to wear and you come out when you’re finished.”

  I nodded, taking the dress into the other room. While I put it on, I listened to Prusaious and the shopkeeper talk.