by A. C. James
Victoria turned. “Of course.”
Arie turned to me and kissed me unexpectedly. The gentle, lingering touch of his lips brushing against mine felt as if he were taking the time to memorize the curve of my mouth before he left. He’d never kissed me in front of anyone else. I think it surprised Tessa and Victoria almost as much as it surprised me. His kiss was long enough that it left a tingling sensation in my stomach but short enough that it left me wanting for more. If a kiss could form words I think the one word his kiss could say would be good-bye. It was tender and romantic yet frantic and violent all at once. I didn’t want it end. And I wasn’t ready when he pulled away and followed Tessa away from our table. My tongue curled behind my teeth. As Victoria watched me I wondered if I’d ever feel our breath blend and our mouths merge as the tangle of his hands caught in my hair, or his fingers trailed down my curves, ever again.
“Damn.” It was all Victoria said and somehow that one expletive fit so well.
“She’s here. I know it. I can feel it. It’s really her.”
“Relax. I’m sure Arie and Tessa will take care of it. She’ll never get up here without a key card.”
The second act took the stage and it was the woman who recited the poetry while doing a striptease. I couldn’t focus on her words as her clothes were thrown out into the audience, who howled. I bit my lower lip, waiting for Arie to return. She curtsied while the audience cheered before leaving the stage. The woman with the suitcase who auditioned with her vampire boyfriend was the next number. Where is Arie?
Victoria’s cell phone rang. “Yes?”
She looked over at me. “Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Then she hung up the phone. “I have to go.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“Tessa’s head of security wants me to meet him in the lobby. I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere. Like I said, she can’t get to you without a key card.”
“Trust me, I’m not going anywhere unless you tell me to.”
Victoria nodded and left the table. I tried to focus on the performance on stage below but I felt keyed up, anxious, like something bad was about to happen. The lights dimmed and even though I knew it was part of the act, I felt my hands begin to shake. I wished Arie was here and wondered what was taking him so long. Suddenly, I felt my clutch purse in my lap begin to vibrate and realized it was my cell phone.
“Hello?”
“Meet me in the lobby,” Victoria said.
“What? Why? I can barely hear you.”
“But don’t…and you need…hurry.”
“Victoria, I missed half of what you said. I can’t hear you over everyone else.” The packed club made it too difficult to make out her words.
A clicking noise resounded in my ear as she ended the call without further explanation. I couldn’t decide whether I should wait for Arie or just go; surely Victoria wouldn’t tell me to meet her if it wasn’t safe. There had to be a reason. But still…
I decided to call Arie’s cell. He picked up on the first ring. “Holly, where are you?”
“I’m going to meet up with Victoria in the lobby.”
His muffled voice came through the other end but I couldn’t hear a word he was saying over the audience cheering below. With a sigh, I hung up, tossed my cell in my clutch and took the elevator down to the lower level. The club had filled up and wall-to-wall people made maneuvering difficult. Finally, I managed my way through the throng and found the lobby relatively quiet.
Toward the entrance a woman sat on a velvet bench talking on her cell phone and her date puffed on a cigarette while watching out the door, which was propped open. It seemed as if he were waiting for someone. I looked around for Victoria. She stood behind the ornate table where they checked people in, and someone in a mask stood behind her. Victoria’s skin stood out like a beacon. It appeared paler than usual, if that were even possible, and resembled freshly fallen snow. Her hyacinth-colored eyes darted like a wild animal’s.
And I knew something was terribly wrong. It’s a trap. The masked figure behind Victoria grasped her head between her hands, giving it a brutal twist. Snap. Her body wilted like a delicate flower to the ground. Her neck was slanted to an impossible angle. I didn’t know if that could kill a vampire, but I didn’t have time to think about it or stick around to find out. Run. A sadistic smile curved the most beautiful mouth I had ever seen—or rather, it would have been beautiful if not for the terrifying look of insanity. Too late. She removed her mask, but even if she hadn’t I would have known it was her. Katarina.
She wore a deep burgundy gown that looked like velvet with a boned corset body that was decorated with red crystals at the top which matched the ones in her hair. An ostrich boa lined the neckline. A funny thought occurred to me—that she wore a really appropriate dress for killing someone. I swallowed to keep my burst of hysteria from shattering the silence. I looked to the other end of the lobby but the woman still talked away on her cell phone, utterly oblivious, and I knew she’d be of no help. Her date seemed to have disappeared.
“Did you like your flowers?” she asked with a smile.
“That was you…”
“Who else? Oh, you poor girl. You thought Arie was being romantic. I’m sorry to tell you he’s not the flower type.”
“Why are you doing this? You’ve hurt so many people.”
“I came here for Arie. Every day I’d watch him buy coffee at your stupid little shop. It’s pathetic how he dotes on you.” She flicked a polished finger and reminded me of a cat with her movements, with her feline–like smile.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Then I watched the two of you at the loft, which was quite convenient after I got rid of your cat.”
“Mystic…that was you when I was in the tub.” And I remembered my dinner at WaterScapes with Arie. He’d mentioned that vampires could shapeshift, and I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that was why my cat had attacked me.
“I could have killed you anytime, but this is more fun. Or it was fun, except now I’m bored. I’ll give you a head start. One, two…”
When she started counting I quickly measured the distance between me and the entrance. I knew I’d never make it to the door when I had to move past her to get to it. My best chance was to find Arie and hope that a club full of people would deter her. I turned, running down the few black marble stairs, back into the club. One of my spike heels fell off as I stumbled down the stairs. Without stopping or turning around I kept going elbowing my way through the crowd as I tried to get to the elevators on the other side.
The audience was applauding as the blonde woman and the vampire returned to the stage, both bowing widely. Then the two earlier acts returned to the stage and the cheering grew louder as there were more bows and rounds of applause. I’d never make it to the elevators. There were just too many bodies pressing together. I felt a hand grab my upper arm. Katarina had me. It would all be over soon. She hissed at me just like a cat.
In a blur she twirled me around and trapped my arms, which struggled in vain. As she stood behind me I felt her fangs puncture my neck. I heard a guy in the crowd yell, “Hey, look over there. That’s hot.” The space around us cleared as people began to gather around, watching her drain the life out of me. I heard someone else question how this was possible because it seemed so realistic. Another voice answered that anything is possible with stage blood. On that last word, the fang-fakers seemed to focus and took up a chant.
“Blood, blood, blood, blood.” The chant droned on and on.
I could feel the warm trickle of blood as it ran down my neck and chest, soaking my corset bustier. I tried to force myself to scream, to beg for someone to help me, but I felt lightheaded and weak. Panic and fear surged through me. -Holly, I gave you the chance to leave.- Katarina’s voice filled my mind with its telepathic transference. It didn’t matter now.
“No!” I heard Arie just barely above the chanting voices surrounding me.
&nb
sp; When I looked up our eyes met and for the first time ever I saw fear etch Arie’s features as he stood on the balcony above. Except now I felt peace and calm wash over me. Arie would be with me in the end. That’s all that mattered. I blinked and he was gone, lost in the throng of people that had overtaken the balcony, watching my demise from above.
Time bent in a blur and I could see Arie now by the elevators but there were still so many people in the way. From out of nowhere two vampires grabbed him and were restraining him as he tried to get to me. One on each side held his arms tight even though he thrashed in their vice-like grip. “Let me go,” he screamed.
Katarina released my neck and the crowd applauded as I crumpled to the floor.
Katarina threw her head back and let out a haughty laugh. “Thanks to Anna and Katalin, you’re mine, little one. Arie can’t save you.”
I felt weak. A flash of blonde hair moved through the crowd. I thought I saw Rue wearing a sad sort of smile. You must remember. Take a deep breath. Then close your eyes and picture what you want. Everyone in the crowd seemed to disappear and all I could hear was Rue.
“The only way to stop the threat is to let light wrap around you and surround yourself in its love. The way to the light is found through darkness.”
I remembered Rue’s words when she came to me in my dream. Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes and held the locket with my mother’s picture. The locket grew warm in my hand and everything felt fuzzy. Perhaps I was losing consciousness. The warmth grew, traveling up my fingertips, into my hand, and then trailed up my arm until my whole body felt as if I were lying in the sun.
Now.
When I opened my eyes a glow surrounded my body. The crowd was hushed, whispering now, but their words were lost to me. It took every ounce of strength I could muster to push myself up from the floor. Katarina rushed toward me but I held out my hand, and when my palm made contact with her chest she cried out in pain. It was like she had been burned. I pulled her to me and placed both my hands on her shoulders. The light that covered me like a shroud seemed to transfer to Katarina and her skin began to glow as if it were burning her from the inside out.
It grew brighter and brighter until it shattered Katarina like glass and rained down dust that glowed, dimmed, and then grayed. Silence filled the club. All of a sudden, the crowd was cheering, marveling at the special effects and crazy light show. My knees buckled and I fell to the ground. Everything started to go gray.
“Holly, Holly…”
Arie’s face loomed above me. There was so much blood coming from the wounds in my neck. Did she nick an artery? I didn’t know. It didn’t matter. The world had been a kaleidoscope of bright light when I had touched Katarina but now it turned dull, gray, and as lifeless as I felt sure that I would be soon enough.
“I’m here now. If you want to live you need to drink. I love you. I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you now.”
His lips pressed mine and I felt sad when he stopped kissing me. It was too short for good-bye. Then the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth before darkness claimed me. I could feel my eyes roll in my head with a jarring motion. Fading in and out of consciousness—it felt a little like flying. The parking garage faded into the background over Arie’s shoulder. Then I was in a backseat and someone stroked my hair. It was the last thing I remembered before it blurred into gray spots and everything went black.
EPILOGUE
I propped myself up on my elbows, taking in my surroundings. I found myself in a spacious loft apartment with twenty-foot towering ceilings. It looked like it had been converted from warehouse space. I winced as I looked up at the exposed ducts and pipes in the ceiling.
Take slow, steady breaths.
Exterior brick walls and stained cement flooring gave the space a utilitarian presence. Along the spartanly furnished great room, I saw a glass wall that opened onto a balcony above the Chicago River. Arie’s loft. I’m at the loft.
I clutched at my stomach, trying not to heave. In front of me stood an oval coffee table, across from a brown leather chair that matched the sofa where I rested. Thankful for its cool leather surface, I looked down at a pillow that had cradled my head.
Looking around to get my bearings, I noticed the large bookcase that took up almost an entire wall. That’s strange. I could almost read the titles on one of the book spines without my glasses. But the letters doubled and I closed my eyes.
Hammering pain filled my head in the quiet apartment. Opening my eyes, I could see the sky outside was pink; either sunrise or sunset, I couldn’t be sure. I wondered how long I’d been out. Slowly, I tried to stand and managed to take two steps before I collapsed back onto the sofa, unable to support myself. Every part of my body hurt worse than any pain I’d experienced, and hunger ripped through my stomach.
I felt hungrier than I’d ever been. My first thought—a steak—seared through my mind, but not just any steak. Prime rib barely cooked, bloody rare, and damn near raw. I could almost smell its charred juiciness. Strange… I prefer my meat well done.
A deafening roar mixed with sirens, club music, and endless voices pulsed through my head. It caused such pain that I placed my hands over my ears to block it out.
What is this?
No matter how hard I cupped my hands over my ears, the noises swirled together in an infinite clamor. It made me lightheaded, and had I not been sitting, I felt sure I would have blacked out again.
“That will pass.”
The noises overwhelming my senses were gone, but left an annoying buzz in their place. I looked up at the intimidating stance of a tall stranger with short dark waves and steel gray eyes. He wore black pants, a black t-shirt, and a pair of expensive-looking tall black boots. The man stood leaning against a wall with his ankles and arms crossed. Wait. Not a stranger. Arie. It’s Arie. Relief flooded over me as I put a name to a face that I couldn’t imagine ever forgetting.
“Your senses are heightened. Sometimes they get overloaded, and it’s hard to block out all the sounds. But you will learn how to focus. It will pass.”
I saw Arie watch me as if studying me or sizing me up. His nerve-wracking gaze gave me the jitters. Had I not been exhausted, I would have been frightened, but couldn’t explain why. Images from the gala came back to me in blurry bits and pieces that seemed too unreal, impossible even. Too tired to be scared in my weakened condition, I just needed answers. I needed to be sure Katarina was really gone and I wondered if Victoria was indeed dead.
“Is she really dead?” I asked, my voice croaking out.
“Yes. You did it. You killed her.”
“But how?”
Without warning, images of light, transferring from my fingertips, burning Katarina into dust and everything that had happened rose in my mind. Its dreamlike quality left a stark reality that hit me all at once. All logic told me that the blood loss should have killed me. A metallic taste of blood lingered on my tongue.
“Tessa says she hasn’t seen such powerful magic in a long time.”
“How long have I been unconscious?” I rubbed my temples.
“Three days.”
“I died…didn’t I?”
“Yes, Holly, you died.”
“And you saved me. I’m a vampire. I will always be a vampire from now on.”
Arie uncrossed his ankles, pushing himself off the wall, and sauntered until he stood right in front of me. I gulped. His movements were so fast the human eye could not detect it. With my enhanced vision what would have appeared a blur to anyone else and had appeared that way to me before, came off as a cat-like stalk. He lifted me from the sofa, kissing my forehead.
“You drank my blood. You are a vampire. It’s what you said you wanted. And I had no choice. There was no other way to save you. Is it what you still want?”
He brushed his fingers down my cheek before releasing me and turning to lounge in the brown leather chair across from me. I staggered back into the sofa and landed where I had been seated only a second be
fore. Suddenly, I felt overwhelming nausea and fear. I felt my self-control slipping away. Don’t freak out. Don’t freak out. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to find my voice. I’m lying unconscious in a hospital bed and this is all some sort of sick dream my subconscious has constructed. Or Katarina killed me and my body is sprawled across the floor of the club.
“And what happened to Anna and Katalin?”
“They let go of me and took off when they saw what you did to Katarina, but they didn’t get very far. Tessa took care of them. I was more concerned about getting to you before you lost too much blood and then it would be too late.”
When I thought of how Tessa must have taken care of them, the thought of blood was just too much. I began to vomit blood over the leather upholstery, my head spinning from the revelation that Arie had turned me. I wiped at my blood-smeared mouth with the back of my hand.
“It’ll be okay. This will pass.”
“I think I need some Pepto-Bismol or I’m going to be sick again.”
Arie laughed uncontrollably and I wanted to hit him.
“No, what you need is to feed, or you’re not going to last the night. You could drink a gallon of Pepto and it wouldn’t do you any good.”
I’d wanted to be turned, but now that it was a reality, I wasn’t nearly as ready as I thought I’d be. Of course, I knew that I’d need to feed, but didn’t really put much thought into it before now. “I don’t think I can.”
“You can. And you will. But first you need to feed from me because you just threw up most of what I gave you. It won’t really give you much sustenance but it’ll give you the strength you need to hold down your first real feeding.”
Arie rose, opening a vein in his wrist, and offered it to me. I looked at the offering like it was a snake about to strike. Oh god, I think I’m going to be sick all over again. I tried to steady my breathing and come up with some reasonable explanation that didn’t include me becoming this blood-thirsty creature or going insane.
“If you want to be strong enough to leave this apartment you need to drink.”