Pigalle Palace

by Niyah Moore

  “He’s been wearing that necklace around his neck for as long as I can remember. It has sentimental value because he almost lost his mind when he thought he lost it once. We all figured it’s a piece of jewelry that he treasures. Why would he give this to you?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think it’s a key of some sort when the pieces are put together.”

  “That’s a very odd-shaped key. Why do you think it’s a key?”

  “An educated guess.”

  “That’s not enough for me.”

  “Look, I called you tonight because I thought you would know something about it. Rain is hiding something very important and I want to know what it is. Don’t you?”

  I stared at her with a deep frown, causing my brow to wrinkle. Desperation was on her face. “You want me to help you?”

  “Yes…”

  “This doesn’t make any sense. Why would Rain trust you over any of us?”

  “Maybe it’s because he knew you all would betray him and his judgment. He chose me for a reason. Before he met me, he knew that I was right for him. Rain has more power and insight than he lets us in on. I’m sure he knows exactly what’s going to happen before it happens. He’s a Daywalker and because we don’t know any, we really aren’t aware of what kind of powers he has. Your birth mother passed on something to him that he has kept with him for centuries. He took his time to search high and low for a suitable wife. You must not tell your parents about this. This is something I want you and me to work on, together.”

  “My parents have to know. If they think I’m betraying them in any way, I will be disowned. As the oldest son, I have to remain loyal to my family.”

  “Does it bother you that Rain is the youngest son with these powers? Do you ever get jealous?”

  “Of course I get envious, but it is what it is. I respect the Divination.”

  “You respect it so much that you were willing to sleep with his wife to go against him?”

  I felt my anger rise. She was pushing all the wrong buttons. I stood up on my feet and yelled, “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  “Why are you getting so upset, Legend?” Her voice was calm as she eased her hands around me to sit me back down next to her. “You must gain your brother’s trust. You must find out what he’s been hiding. As the oldest brother, your right is to be aware. Why did your mother never pass this on to you? You were the first-born son. She didn’t know about the Divination, did she?”

  “She was murdered before the Divination was revealed.”

  “Do you see my point? He was chosen as a favorite from the day he was born. Why is that? Your mother was a human. She had no powers, right?”

  I stared at her with skepticism, but my mind was racing. Refusing to fall for a trap she was trying to set, I replied, “Well, I can’t help you ’cause I have no memory of anything that happened before I became a vampire. None of us do.”

  “Rain does.”

  My insides were starting to boil. Rain never let on that he had any memories. He rarely talked to us about much, and now it seemed as if Essence knew more than the rest of us. That didn’t sit too well with me.

  “You should leave, now.”

  “But, don’t you want to know what this is and what it unlocks?”

  I was very curious, but I was still confused. “If it is a key, why do you want to know? How will this benefit you?”

  “I’m not sure whom it can benefit, but Rain does. Rain said to keep it in a safe place and I have a feeling that it unlocks something in that palace.”

  I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to be a sucker for her, but for some reason, I had the weakest spot for her.

  “I’ll try my best to find out what I can.” I was waiting for her to say thank you, but the thought hadn’t crossed her mind. “Has he asked for it back?”

  “No. That’s the strangest thing. He hasn’t mentioned a word about it. It’s almost as if he knows I’m coming back to him.”

  “Maybe he forgot that he gave it to you.”

  She shook her head, crossed her legs, and bounced the right one over the left.

  “I doubt that,” she replied.

  “Are you going to stop fighting your feelings and go back to him?”

  “I love Rain. No one will ever make me stop loving him.”

  I shook my head at her and folded my arms across my chest. “I can’t believe you would feel that way, even after we’ve been together. If there’s any way to make me jealous, that’s one of them.”

  “Is that because you want me?”

  “You’re crazy... or maybe I’m going crazy.”

  She laughed at me. “I know the truth, Legend. I’ve been in your dreams, remember? I didn’t have to trespass, as you so called it. You called me in, didn’t you?” She scooted closer to me.

  “I did, but…”

  “Legend, you can’t stop thinking about me. That’s what bothers you the most, isn’t it?”

  I dropped my head, feeling lightheaded, confused, dazed, and stuck. She was trying to get into my head. She had already gotten into dreams and made it feel so real. The cruel game she was trying to play was actually working, probably better than she planned. I chewed on the inside of my jaw, thinking, looking at Essence, and wondering if all of this were a bad dream.

  “You don’t cheat on people you love, and you for damned sure don’t sleep with their brother.”

  She rubbed my arm and then placed a soft kiss there. “I’m sorry if I couldn’t resist your strong arms, your smile, and your dreads. What woman can resist you, Legend?”

  Though I knew she was stroking my ego, I allowed it. “When I came to you that night, you were so afraid and so lost. You didn’t understand why Rain did what he did to make you belong to him. I took full advantage, but you opened up for me, willingly.”

  Without hesitating, she replied, “I needed you. From the moment I laid my eyes on the both of you, I fantasized about having both of you at the same time.”

  I let out a good laugh. That was funny. It wasn’t like Rain and I hadn’t shared women in one bed before, but the thought of his beloved wife sharing a bed with his brother at the same time was ridiculous.

  “Essence, you’re so beautiful and you know that.”

  She grinned sexily. “You came to me, Legend, and now, we are both guilty for the sins that we’ve committed.”

  “Why did you have to tell him? It could’ve stayed our secret.”

  “You threw me off. Seeing you…him…standing there. The look of surprise on your faces… The whole thing threw me off.”

  “Here I am, hanging on to your every word. How do I know this all isn’t a setup? How do I know you’re telling the truth about the medallion that you think is a strange key?”

  “Why haven’t you ever paid attention to the necklace that’s around his neck?”

  “I haven’t. Once I find out more about this key, then what?”

  “Find out more and then we will go from there.”

  I wished she hadn’t come by. It was only to talk about Rain. I was hoping I could get inside of her again. The feeling she gave me when I came was a feeling I had never experienced, but it was time to let her go.

  “Is there anything else you want to talk about?” I asked.

  She sat in my lap. Her passion penetrated through me as she stared into my eyes. She kissed me easily and I didn’t protest as both of her hands took hold of my dreads.

  “Take me tonight.”

  The temptation was there, but I refrained and stood my ground. “If you truly love my brother like you say you do, and you truly want to be his Queen, then you need to stop this madness. There’s still good inside of you, Essence. I see it. Go to Rain and you make it right with him.”

  Tears came to her eyes. I continued, “Marry him. When you are Queen, he will reveal what that key unlocks. That will be the only way to find out.”

  Easing off of me, she smiled as if she were proud of me, as if I had passed some test she
had given. Her tears escaped her and cascaded down her cheeks.

  “That’s very noble of you, Legend. Your love for your brother is deep. You only came to me because that’s what your parents wanted you to do. You make things right with your brother, too.”

  “I will. Be good to him. Be good to yourself.”

  After placing one last kiss on my lips, in a flash, she was gone.

  CHAPTER 37

  ESSENCE

  It wasn’t hard to find Rain. He was sitting in his home, waiting for me. It was amazing how he could sense when I was coming. That’s how I knew our bond was deeper than we both wanted it to be. I wasn’t going to fight my feelings any longer. I was madly in love with Rain. I didn’t want to harm him and I didn’t want to see anyone cause any harm to him. Even if he would’ve never been crowned King, my feelings would’ve still been the same.

  I fought against him because I was afraid of what I was becoming. I was afraid of my power. I had to get out in the world and experience everything I could about being a vampire. The good, the bad, and the ugly. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy hunting down innocent people and ripping them to shreds. Their blood gave me a rush, but I wanted to have more control over my ill thoughts.

  Being with Rain was my destiny.

  He didn’t acknowledge my presence in the room as he stared out of the window. I wasn’t sure how to start the conversation, but looking at him, I could tell that he was a changed man. He was more confident, more handsome, and had the demeanor of a king.

  “Sleeping with Legend was a mistake,” I said. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m here to beg for your forgiveness, Your Highness.”

  He remained silent.

  I floated over to him and fell to my knees before him. Placing my head in his lap, I cried. I cried real tears. What I felt inside was something I had been fighting far too long. I discovered that I could control the dark side and I wasn’t going to live without Rain again.

  After a few moments of my tears soaking up his lap, his hands touched my head.

  I looked up at him. “Rain, I want to fix us. I want to be with you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I love you.”

  “I know you love me, but can I trust you?”

  “You can trust me.”

  “What about your brood?”

  “I let them go a while ago. They no longer follow me.”

  “Good.” His caress was gentle as he continued to stroke my hair. “You have to promise me that you’ll put your complete trust in me. You must not work against me.”

  “I’ll be by your side through everything for an eternity.”

  I was being sincere and honest. The hatred I held, I let go. I put the key out of my mind as well. Once he put the puzzle together himself, he would be able to tell me what the key unlocked. Since he couldn’t trust his family, I was all he had.

  “What’s going to happen to the family?”

  “I made a decision that I feel is best. From now on, everyone will have to do what I say. Only I know what’s best for Pigalle Palace. They have to learn the hard way that no one stands between us.”

  “I hope your mother and father will finally accept things.”

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head about them. I’ll deal with them. My job is to protect you. No one will bring harm to you.”

  “Does this mean that we’re getting back together?”

  Rain stared at me hard and he read my thoughts in a flash. He smiled once he could see that I was telling him the truth. Both of his hands cupped my face. When his lips met mine, his kiss gave me the answer.

  CHAPTER 38

  RAIN

  Essence and I were crowned the day after our wedding. My family attended and nothing seemed to make me happier. Château de Chambord was now reclaimed as our royal house and all was calm in the streets of Montmartre.

  On our very first night as King and Queen, Essence and I spent the night alone.

  “Let’s go for a midnight swim,” she suggested.

  “We can do whatever you want.”

  After she changed into her bathing suit, she noticed I was still in my clothes.

  “Aren’t you going to swim with me?”

  “I don’t really like the water, but I’ll watch you.”

  She giggled and took my hand in hers while we walked down the corridor. Once to the pool, she jumped into the water. I watched her poolside. Essence looked soft and angelic, much like when I first laid eyes on her. She was finally all mine. She was my Queen.

  When she was done swimming, we sat there, basking underneath the moonlight. Her hair was wet and hanging past her shoulders. Little droplets of water sparkled before dripping off the ends of her hair. Her amber eyes sparkled as brightly as the droplets of water.

  Her nipples were hard and poked out against her wet bathing suit. I could barely see the darker color of them beneath the white material, but I had memorized the way they looked. I looked back up at her face and that’s when I realized that she was gazing at me the same way.

  Not a word was spoken as we leaned toward one another.

  We stared into each other’s eyes before allowing our lips to touch. It was a soft kiss—a kiss of love, not one of sexual need.

  We were finally together.

  I brought my hands down her sides, feeling her figure as I kissed her chin. She threw her head back, allowing me to kiss her neck. I licked the water droplets from her skin, tasting the sweetness of the water and the slight saltiness of her skin.

  I was aware of the bats flitting about overhead and the splashing water fountain before us. Essence moaned and I began untying her bathing suit. She reached up and gently pulled my head between her exposed breasts. Feeling her hands on the sides of my face, her touch was so sensual. It was a touch of love. Her fingers slowly made their way to the back of my head as I moved my mouth to her right nipple.

  Once again, I heard her moan, barely audible over the gurgling waterfall as I grasped her nipple between my lips. I felt the hardness of it against my lips as I slowly slid my mouth around it.

  I don’t even remember her hands leaving my head, but the next thing I knew, I felt her lifting my shirt and I leaned back so she could pull it off over my head. She threw her shoulders back allowing me to remove her bathing suit completely. I looked down and saw how her breasts stood out. They suddenly became hard from the slight breeze of the night’s air.

  I licked the water from them and tasted her skin again.

  She put her hand against my forehead to stop me. She wanted me to look at her. She wanted me to remember how she looked at that moment. The first night she was legally my wife. Therefore, I did just that before I kissed the ends of her fingers.

  Focusing on her nudity, I stared at her exposed bellybutton, and then back at her breasts. I saw how her collarbone glistened in the wet sheen the spray of water had left. Then, I looked at her neck, her chin, and full lips. I looked into her eyes once more and knew I was right. It was what she wanted.

  She could see that my dick was hard and ready to fuck her until she couldn’t take any more, but we were going to make love that night. We were going to explore each other and make love right there, poolside with the waterfall in front of us.

  She pulled my swim shorts down while staring at me with pure love and acceptance in her eyes. Once I removed my shorts, I climbed over her. She sucked my tongue when I slid it between her lips. She lifted her chin when I nibbled on it. She arched her back as I kissed first one, then the other nipple.

  I licked my way down her body and bellybutton. I sucked at her skin just above her mound. I kissed her knees, licked her ankles, and kissed the ends of her toes. When I looked up at her, she slowly spread her legs, exposing her most secret parts to me.

  I was going to taste her, savor her womanly nectar, her essence.

  She moaned louder as I dragged my tongue along her inner lips. She gasped and pushed her pelvis into me as I penetrated her deepest parts with my tongue.
She moaned even louder when I gently blew on her clit. I covered her sweetness with my warm mouth, and when I pushed my tongue against her clit, she couldn’t help but orgasm. I left her with no other choice.

  Again, we found ourselves staring into each other’s eyes. It was easy to see what she wanted. She wanted to feel me inside of her, but first, she wanted to touch me. I will never forget the soft touch of her wet hand over my manhood. She felt it. She gently squeezed it along its length. She pulled me forward and gently placed a kiss on the end of it. I had to fight to keep from coming as I watched her open her mouth. I watched as inch after inch sunk into her soft mouth. For a few moments, she pleasured me. When she was done, it was time for us to join as one person.

  We both knew it.

  I looked down the length of her nudity. She was beautiful, much more than words could describe. I slowly moved myself up and down her clit. I loved the way it felt and the way she closed her eyes, I could tell that she did, too.

  I was entranced by her.

  She was still.

  I was still.

  We listened to our quickened breaths as I made love to her nice and slow. We felt the moon, shining down on us, and we both were aware this was a moment that could never be repeated the same way. This was a unique moment in both of our lives.

  Then, savoring the moment, each time I went inside of her, she drew a sharp gasp. Inch after inch slid into her until I was at the very bottom of her sex. It was as much as she could take. Our union was complete. We were now one again. I continued moving in and out until her gasps became moans.

  We shared an orgasm.

  When she opened her eyes, she looked at me, and whispered, “I love you, King Rain.”

  They were the first words that had passed between us since we lay underneath the moon.

  “Queen Essence, you possess a beauty that is worth pursuing, a beauty worth fighting for, and a beauty that is core to which you have revealed to me. Your beauty can be felt and it affects me. I made the right decision.”