Forever Black (Nightwalkers 2)

by H. N. Sieverding

  The Count let out a deep, tired sigh, his breath quickening as he tried not to let his anger go off.

  A man across from them spoke in a friendly tone, "Miss Brown." He was dressed in black and had a shaved head, a giant cross-like symbol tattooed on its shiny surface. "I loved that scene in your book…" His smile grew when she turned to him. "When that girl goes into the butcher shop looking for her lost sister and that vampire comes out and spears her with a meat hook. Wow. Awesome."

  Ashleigh laughed, her mood immediately lightening. "You did?" She leaned forward a little so she could turn her entire attention to him. "I've heard that from a few people. My favorite is the scene where Lady Sasson is in the catacombs trying to kill Nicolas and that huge army comes out. I loved writing that chase scene." She giggled as she recalled the memory. "I stayed up till four that morning because I just had to finish it."

  The Count's hand deliberately moved down the bridge of his nose and stopped above his top lip. He was listening. His brow lowered as he watched his alpha talk to Ashleigh, something he hadn't been able to do civilly since they had met.

  "I love your books." The man held out his hand. "My name's Neal. I'm one of his grace's head hunters."

  She shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

  "You as well, my lady." Neal briefly glanced at the Count then back at Ashleigh. "I read your working on the next book."

  "Yes." Putting her hands together, Ashleigh spoke excitedly, "It's called Forever Black. I'm editing it now, but it'll be out this summer. It's going to the best one yet. But—" She glanced at the Count briefly then back at Neal. "Caleb has my laptop, and I can't work on it. I get mean when I can't write. Right now, I'd love to be holed up in my room, working on it."

  Neal wore a big grin as he looked toward the Count. "Then, we'll have to get it for her, won't we, your grace?"

  The Count spoke, "Yes."

  "I don't want you to touch it." She glared at the Count, the anger in her voice returning. "You'll rewrite it, or something sneaky like that."

  The Count laughed. "I would never be able to write such filth and nonsense. I would not even know where to start."

  Her jaw dropped, and she stared at him blankly. His words hurt, and he knew it.

  Chapter Six

  Ashleigh had been sulking in her room the past two days. She refused to come out or meet the others. She was constantly fighting with the Count, which put them both in a foul mood. Something had to be done, and neither one of them seemed to be caving.

  When she heard a knock, she didn't get up to answer it. She pretended to be watching television, her angry eyes facing forward as the door opened. She was wearing a dress. It was something she hated, but the only thing she was given to wear.

  "I have a matter to discuss with you." The Count cautiously entered the room and sat down on the bed. He held his hands neatly in his lap. His eyes gazed at the ceiling briefly as he waited for her snippy response.

  She kept her eyes on the screen, her words soft, but angry. "Like when you're taking me home?"

  "Do you like bets?"

  She quickly turned to him. "Bets?"

  "Like the one Caleb made with Aiden." A wicked grin graced his perfectly plumped lips, his fangs kissing their surface. "Who will snag the famous author of the Nightwalkers series and make her their wife."

  She spoke in a deep, annoyed tone, "Get out." She turned the volume up, glaring at the screen and trying to ignore him.

  "What’s the likelihood that a man such as Caleb Mason—a musician with millions of adoring fans—would indulge in the sexual temptations presented to him? And do you honestly believe he's always been faithful to you? Haven't you ever doubted his fidelity?"

  She gritted her teeth. "Get out." Her breath quickened.

  "So, you have." He chuckled. "But if you have not, then the challenge which I will propose will make your faith in him stronger."

  "What do you mean?"

  "You will stay here for two months without protest. If, at the end of your required time here, you desire to leave, then I will allow you your freedom. But if you choose to stay, then I will make you into a pure blood."

  "What's a pure blood?"

  "A higher class of vampire." He motioned with his hands. "This will give me time to see you are not who I believe you are, and for you to test Caleb's fidelity."

  "Only two months?" Her voice was soft, but her anger was still present. "Can I still talk to Caleb?"

  He looked over to the side briefly before he answered. "If you wish, yes."

  "Okay." A small smile spread across her lips. Her body turned toward his a little more. "And—"

  "And," he interrupted her, an annoyed tone in his voice. "Can we be civil with each other now?" He held his palm up, his other hand waving over it quickly. Her laptop and phone appeared.

  Her face filled with a giant grin. She quickly ripped them from his hands. She clutched her laptop to her chest as if it were her child. "I can be very civil."

  "Good."

  "And I will make you see that you're wrong about me."

  "Yes…" He paused as he stood. He turned his head to the side, so she didn't see his frown. "That is my…hope."

  "Wait." She jumped up and quickly began searching for an outlet.

  "What?" He watched her try to reach behind the bed to plug in her computer.

  "Be civil and answer my questions." After she had her laptop plugged in, she quickly sat on the mattress. Then, she took her phone and typed a brief message to Caleb.

  The Count caught me at the airport L He's forcing me to stay here a few months. Will you wait for me?

  "Questions?" He regarded her strangely, suspicion in his expression. "What kind of questions?"

  "The friendly kind." She put down her cell then opened her computer. The shiny pink skull stickers on the surface glimmered in the light. She patted the spot next to her.

  "A beast such as yourself can be friendly?" He laughed as he sat where she beckoned.

  "I'm not a beast—I'm a writer." She brushed off his comment and opened a blank document on her desktop. "First question—what is the password to your wireless internet?"

  He shook his head. "I don't know. I do not care for those technological wastes of time."

  "Second question." She kept her eyes glued on the screen. Her background picture was of her grandfather holding a copy of the first book of her Nightwalkers series many years before. "Who knows the password to the wireless internet?"

  She turned to her phone when she heard it beep with a new message.

  Caught? WTF Ash? N a few months? Where'd that come from? U said u were coming home. Fuck it! I'll come get u myself.

  Ashleigh typed a reply.

  Settle down, and don't you dare do that. If I have my way, it won't be more than a week.

  "Neal should know such things. He is my head of security, so he is familiar with passwords and such things." He turned to the television. "Now would be the opportune time to pounce on those two." He pointed to the couple making love near a fire. The music was as soft as the lighting in the scene. "Engorged flesh…the blood pumping near the surface." He licked his lips as he laughed. "It’s almost as if it is jumping out of its flesh casing and begging me to drink it."

  She grinned at his reference, but she covered her mouth so he wouldn't see it. "Are you serious?" She shut her laptop and turned her attention to him, studying him for a few seconds. Her smile gradually faded. "Why did you give me fangs?"

  "Why?" He turned to her and grabbed the remote. "Do you not like them?" He turned off the television and tossed the remote on the bed. It bounced a little before settling on the soft surface of the comforter.

  "Well…" She gazed at her laptop as she ran her fingers over the slightly raised surface of the stickers. "Female vampires aren't supposed to have fangs."

  "Drinking my blood changes you. It's different than the others." He glanced down at her phone when he heard it beep. "Once it leaves your system, they'll disappear." />
  She read another message from Caleb. Her eyes opened wider when she saw the picture that came with it.

  A solo for my girl.

  She couldn't help but laugh. Caleb's long fingers were delved into boxers as he grabbed himself. A leather bracelet hung on his wrist, a small tattoo in the space between his thumb and forefinger. She knew it was Caleb because she immediately recognized the tattoos on his lower abdomen and hip.

  Minimizing the photo, she sent him a text back.

  As long as that stays a solo, I love it.

  "Really?" She looked up from her phone and caught the annoyed look on the Count's face. She smiled at him and set the cell next to her. "I didn't know that."

  "And you still do not know the password to the wireless internet." He laughed as he took out his phone. It was a fancy model that had a thick, black cover on it. "Let me inquire with Neal on the matter."

  "Wow…" She giggled as she watched him quickly type. "You text? And here I thought you were an old-fashioned guy."

  "My age is the only thing old about me." He didn't look up at her. It seemed he was writing something longer than "What is the password to the wireless internet."

  "You don't look old to me." A small smile peeked on her face. It was a shy expression, her head turning slightly downward and to the side. "You looked refined, like a gentleman."

  He looked at her strangely, but she was sending a text to Caleb and didn't notice. "Refined…like the sinful waters of hell that run through my veins."

  "I think I'm going to steal some of those lines." She playfully nudged his shoulder as she pensively bit her lip. "I bet you've got some great romantic lines, too."

  "So I am told." He glanced toward the door then back at her. "Do you wish to join the others tonight?" His eyes narrowed on her. "Can you conduct yourself in a respectable manner?"

  "Can I wear my own clothes?"

  "No." He turned to his phone when it beeped, reading the answer to her question aloud. "The password is killzone666." He laughed as he looked over at her. "Easy to remember."

  "I won't go unless I get to wear my own clothes."

  "No." His eyes narrowed on the screen of his phone instead of her.

  "I thought you didn't like technological stuff." She spoke teasingly as she watched him send someone another text.

  "I said your laptop was a waste of time. I was referring to your addiction to the internet." He pointed to her phone. "And apparently porn, as well."

  "Hey." She sent him a dirty look. Even though she was angry he had seen Caleb's picture, she tried to brush it off. "What's your number?" Her fingers poised to type it.

  "So you can send me those ridiculous—"

  "Fine." She pulled his phone from his hands and went to his messages. "Then, I'll take it by force." She laughed. "Gosh, your keys are so slick, like you text a lot." She quickly sent herself a text. Then, she snooped through the inbox of his phone, many of the messages from women. She went to open one, but he ripped it away from her before she could.

  "Please, don't—" The ding of a new message interrupted him.

  Remember me.

  A small giggle escaped her lips as she watched him read her text. "Save it."

  Instead of smiling, he quickly looked away. He put his phone slowly back into his suit jacket. "Dinner is at seven. I will see you then."

  "Can I wear my own clothes?"

  "No." He stood.

  "Then, I'm not going." She turned away from him and opened her laptop.

  "As you wish."

  "I—" She glanced up, but he had disappeared. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she rolled her eyes.

  She worked on Forever Black for a little bit, but she couldn't concentrate, so instead she called Natalie. She spoke to her for about a half an hour until she heard a knock at the door and quickly ended her call to answer it.

  "Lady Brown?" Neal was standing at the door. He had two large boxes in his hands. "These came for you this afternoon."

  "Thanks." She motioned toward the floor. "Can you put those right there?"

  "Of course." He set them down.

  It was about seven thirty, and she had missed dinner with the others. She could see the slight anger on Neal's face, but her eyes didn't linger on his long enough to care. He waited a few seconds for her to say something, but she didn't. Instead, she went over to the boxes and started going through them. She smiled when she picked up the note that lay on top of her clothes.

  Char picked up some stuff for you. Hope this works. Lotsa love, Caleb.

  "Would you like to come downstairs?" Neal watched her pick up a child's thermos, a small laugh escaping her lips. He looked at her strangely then at what was in her hands.

  "No, but—" She handed him the thermos. "Will you get me something to drink? I don't drink from live donors. I usually have Caleb do this for me, but he's not here."

  "I…" He gazed at the thermos. He turned it around in his hand as he stared at it in confusion. "Guess…I could."

  "Thanks." She turned back to the box.

  "Are you coming downstairs?" Neal still stood near the open door, motioning for her to follow him.

  "No." She waved him away. "I have to finish a chapter of my book before tomorrow. Just bring me some back."

  "Oh…" He sighed as he shook his head. "Kay."

  * * * *

  Ashleigh was tired of being cooped up in her room, but instead of going downstairs, she was having a texting conversation with Caleb. As she spoke, she did her hair and makeup in front of the mirror.

  How was the concert?

  Caleb responded quickly.

  Concert sucked. Kris was drunk and totally missed his solo in Might.

  What are you doing now?

  Gettin fucked up!

  Nice.

  Check this out.

  Her lips formed a deep frown as she studied the picture that came in the next text. It was of Kris getting blown by a fan in the limo. The sight of it infuriated her. She quickly sent him a reply.

  How do I know that's not you?

  Wah????? Y u ask that?

  When she didn’t respond right away, her phone rang. She answered it reluctantly. "What?"

  "What's with you?" Caleb's voice was louder than normal, and she could tell he was drunk. "I thought it'd make you laugh."

  "Why do you have fans in your limo?" She was curling her hair. The iron was wrapped around a long strand as she waited for the curl to set.

  "It's not me, babe—it's Kris. He picked up a few at the last bar we went to."

  "And how do I know you won't pick up some too?" She released the strand from the curler, waving the iron around in her hand.

  "’Cause I wouldn't."

  "Why?"

  "Why would you even ask me that?" Caleb's anger seeped through his tone. "And you know exactly why. Because I love you. You don't trust me, do you? That's what this is about, isn't it?"

  She turned from the mirror and set the iron down on the vanity near her. "No."

  Caleb let out an annoyed sigh, and she could hear his quick breath. "Why? Why the hell can't you trust me? You know I would never cheat on you."

  "I know how desperate some girls can get. They'd do anything to get a piece of Caleb Mason. You're a rock star—that kind of stuff just happens sometimes."

  "So does accidentally fucking the Count." There was venom in his words.

  "What? What does he have to do with anything?"

  "I don't fucking trust you, either."

  "What?" She stood and started to pace as the argument escalated. "You don't trust me? That's not fair. I wouldn't—"

  "It isn't?" He let out an annoyed huff of air. "So, you expect me to be a good little boy and let you fuck around on me while you're there? You think I'm just gonna sit here and say it's okay? Well, it's not! It's not fucking okay!"

  "You're drunk, Caleb." Palming her forehead, she closed her eyes and tried to cool her anger. "I don't—"

  "Fuck being drunk!" His voice raised. "This is
n't about drinking! It has to do with my fiancé living with another man and knowing he's fucking her, and I can't do anything to stop it! Fuck, Ashleigh! It's not fair!"

  Her nose squished upwards, a few tears falling from her eyes. She tried not to let the wetness affect her voice, "If we can't trust each other then maybe we shouldn't be together."

  "What the fuck, Ashleigh? What the hell do you want me to do? Huh? You want me to wear a fucking camera around my fucking neck so you can see I'm not cheating on you? I'm not! What the fuck—"

  "That’s it, Caleb. I'm tired of all this. I'm done."

  "What? So, now you're breaking up with me?"

  "I never said that." She slowly sat in the chair near the vanity.

  "Fuck you didn't! You just fucking said it!"

  "Stop yelling at me, Caleb."

  "Fine. You want to stay with that asshole and be his whore, don't fucking talk to me anymore."

  "Fine." She wiped at her nose. "Then, I won't."

  "I don't want to see you again either." Someone screamed Caleb's name in the background, and she could hear a car door open. Then, she heard the door slam shut. "Go sleep with the Count ’cause you're never coming back into my bed after you fucking cheated on me like that."

  "Hey." Charlotte spoke, her voice covering up Caleb's as she took his phone. "Ashleigh?"

  "I'm done, Char. I mean it." Ashleigh was crying harder now, her voice choppy and wet.

  "Come on, Ash. He's drunk. He doesn't know what he's saying. Just call him tomorrow, and—"

  "No, I won't. I won't call him, ever. I'm done with him and his partying."

  "Don't be like that." Charlotte sighed. Her voice was almost covered up by the sound of Caleb fighting with Kris in the background. "Caleb's upset. He just misses you, and he thinks you're doing that guy. Think about how he feels—"