The Monster Ball: A Paranormal Romance Anthology

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “You don't look so comfortable anymore,” Annice said.

  I laughed lightly despite the pain it caused.

  “This won't change anything. Lucas still won't bind himself to you.”

  “Please. You really are nothing but a distraction.”

  “If I were just a distraction, then why kill me? Distractions fade as quickly as they appear.” It was getting harder to speak, but I persisted. “You knew I was more than that the moment you saw Lucas’s arm around me.”

  I could feel my heart beating oddly and a larger stream of blood seeped down my front.

  “Do try not to get any on the chair. I think his mother and father would be quite upset with you.”

  My heart gave another shuttering beat, the pause creating an even bigger ache in my chest. I knew what was happening. I was dying, but I wasn't afraid. I was angry and sad for Lucas.

  I glared at the bitch, hating her. Finally, a normal emotion given the situation.

  “You took his sun,” I said as the room went dark.

  Chapter Nine

  Eyes Aflame

  Lucas

  Weaving my way through the crowd, I held the pilfered tray of appetizers in one hand and a large glass of water in the other. It wasn’t the feast I wanted to give Joseline, but it would do to replenish her so we could go home. Home. Satisfaction coursed through me.

  I sensed my father before I saw him.

  “Lucas,” he said, stopping me with a hand on my arm.

  Mother stood beside him.

  “Are things truly well with you when you’re with this new woman?” he asked.

  “Joseline,” I said, supplying him with her name.

  “You will stop trying to end your existence?”

  “I never was trying to end it. Just to regain what I’d lost. The sun.”

  Mother’s hopeful expression turned to worry.

  “Don’t, Mother. I’ve found something much better and understand what you and Father were trying to do. It’s Joseline. Only her that I will bind myself to for an eternity.”

  Mother beamed and hugged me, almost upsetting the tray. When she pulled back, she noticed my ripped shirt and chuckled.

  “It looks like you’ve spent your time wisely.”

  “Very. And I’d like to continue to do so. If you’ll excuse me, I left Joseline in a chamber with the promise of food.”

  “We’ll come with you,” Father said. “If you’re serious that she’s the one, there’s no need to wait. You shall bind together tonight.”

  Hearing the very thing I’d fought to avoid for weeks no longer upset me. I wanted nothing more. Joseline was everything. My life. My light. My love for an eternity.

  I hurried toward the corridor, my parents following in my wake, and hoped that Joseline would be willing to commit tonight. I’d watched her eyes when she’d promised never to leave and knew she’d meant it, but she was also tired.

  I pushed open the door with a ready smile on my face. The scent of Joseline’s blood made my mouth water. She sat in the chair where I’d left her, her head slightly tipped forward as if she slept.

  It wasn’t until I’d taken two steps toward her that I saw the stain of blood covering her chest. Too much blood. What remaining warmth Joseline’s blood had given me froze.

  “No!” I howled.

  I dropped the tray and drink and reached for Joseline.

  “Joseline,” I called, tapping her face. “Joseline.”

  Her head lolled to the side.

  “I closed the bite. I know I did.”

  I tried to lift her, but her body was caught to the chair. My gaze landed on the bit of metal on her breast. It wasn’t part of her dress. I grabbed it and pulled. A long ornate hair stick came out of Joseline. It had pierced her heart.

  A hand reached around me and felt at Joseline’s throat.

  “There is a pulse. There's still time. If she means as much to you as you say, you must turn her. Now,” Father said.

  I didn't need to be told again. I ripped into my wrist as I lifted her from the chair and pressed my wound to her mouth.

  “Drink, Joseline. Keep your promise. Do not leave.”

  My blood coated her lips and pooled just inside her mouth. I watched her throat, but it didn't move.

  “She's not swallowing.” I was losing her. Regret and despair clawed at me.

  “Give it a moment,” Father said calmly. “This is part of the process, Lucas. She's dying. She needs to die. And, your blood will bring her back. She will swallow.”

  I didn't believe him. She was growing paler. Her pulse was barely discernible now.

  “Please, Joseline,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You must swallow.”

  Her throat moved. She made a rattling cough noise, and her throat moved again.

  “She swallowed, Lucas. All will be well. You can stop feeding her.”

  I pulled my wrist from her mouth and closed the wound. Holding her tightly, I watched her shallow breathing until it stopped. Fear consumed me. Father set his hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  In the quiet of the room, we all waited for her to take the first breath that would signal the start to her eternal life.

  It didn’t come. Instead, her skin began to turn ashen. Fine cracks lined the surface. As I watched, it started to flake away like ash.

  “No,” I breathed. I jostled her. “Joseline.” More of her skin came loose and drifted away.

  I looked up at my father.

  “What's happening?”

  His troubling gaze met mine. Slowly, he shook his head. I looked back down at Joseline.

  “No,” I said, sitting in the chair and holding her tight. “You promised.”

  A drop of blood fell from my eyes to land on her forehead. Blood tears.

  I wanted to rage. I wanted to yell. I wanted to kill.

  “Who did this to her? I want blood.”

  My voice barely resembled human speech.

  I looked up at my father and mother. Both shed blood tears with me, telling me how hopeless my torment was. Joseline was not rising to a new life with me. She was gone. I bent my head, grief consuming me.

  My arms began to burn, and for a moment, I thought it was my anguish. Then, I realized Joseline’s body was growing warmer as it turned to ash.

  Thin lines of orange light began to show between the gray cracks. Mother gasped. Joseline grew too warm to hold, and I had to lower her onto the cold stone floor and back away a step.

  We all watched as the light streaming from her body grew brighter. Heat filled the room. In a burst of brightness that rivaled the sun, ash flew everywhere. I turned my head and closed my eyes for a moment. When I looked back, Joseline lay on the floor, perfectly naked and completely unharmed.

  She opened her eyes and looked up at me, her eyes fading twin flames.

  Joseline

  My skin felt hot, but the pain was gone, transforming into glorious amounts of energy and life.

  I opened my eyes, ready to kick Annice’s ass, but saw Lucas standing over me. His eyes a vivid red glow.

  “Hey,” I said with a soft smile.

  He fell to his knees and scooped me into his arms.

  “I thought you left me,” he said, his voice rough.

  “I told you I wouldn't leave.”

  He made a desperate sound and crushed me to him. I reveled in the contact and wrapped my arms around him. Over his shoulder, I saw we had an audience. His parents were watching only a few steps away. And, standing in the shadow of the door was Annice.

  Shock painted the woman's features. I was about to ask Lucas to let me go when footsteps came thundering down the hall. Two men entered the room and stopped short at the sight of me in Lucas’s arms.

  “I told you I thought I saw a light,” Ren said.

  “A light?” I said, confused.

  “You were Reborn.”

  Lucas pulled away from me enough so I could look at the two men.

  “Re
born how? I tried turning her, but it didn't work.”

  “A phoenix can never be turned because we can’t die. Not like that.”

  “A phoenix,” I said, looking at Ren. “Are you saying that’s what I am?”

  “Yes. I thought you looked familiar. But we weren’t sure until Eben saw you.”

  I looked at the other man.

  “How did you know?”

  “Because I’m your father.”

  I could only stare at the red-haired stranger in shock. Yes, I’d felt an odd familiarity, but father?

  “Why do you believe she’s your daughter?” Lucas asked.

  “Because she looks like her mother. I lost track of her for a few months after we hooked up. When I found her again, she told me we’d had a daughter she gave up for adoption. Because I hadn’t been around, I didn’t have any say in it and no resources to try to track you down.”

  “I am adopted,” I said.

  He gave me a small smile and took a card from his wallet.

  “Yeah, and I’m around now. Call me. I’m sure you’ll have questions.”

  Lucas’s father took the card from him with a nod. The two left, drawing everyone’s attention to the door where Annice still stood.

  “What are you doing here?” Lucas’s father asked.

  “She’s here to remove the distraction from Lucas’s life,” I said. “How’s that going for you, Annice?”

  “You?” Lucas growled. He gently set me down on the ash covered floor and stood.

  The moment he gained his feet, Annice just disappeared.

  “The proprietor won’t allow death here,” Lucas’s father said.

  “What about what Annice did to Joseline?”

  “Joseline can’t die. At least not by any means that Annice would know. It seems, Joseline was always safe.”

  “Vlad, Lucas, perhaps we can discuss what to do about Annice at a later time. Our poor Joseline would probably like something to wear and a moment alone with Lucas.”

  It wasn’t until she said something that I registered I was sitting butt naked on the floor on top of a bunch of ash. I quickly crossed an arm over my breasts and partially turned my back to them.

  Lucas took off his jacket and placed it over my shoulders before picking me up and sitting in the chair with me.

  “Cress is here,” his mother said. “I'll go get her and see if she can conjure up something for you to wear quickly.”

  She had barely left the room when Cress came zipping in.

  “Heard there was a bit of a problem in here.” She looked from me, my bare legs, then to the pile of ash on the floor. “The pair of you need to stop ruining perfectly good clothes. It's a good thing I noticed the light in you when I took your measurements. All is not lost.”

  She waved the wand at the pile of ash and it rose into the air, changing from grey to orange. The pieces started to string together, thinning and weaving to create a fine-mesh. With wonder, I watched my gown begin to reform. Instead of leaf embellishments, flames decorated the orange opaque material.

  “In you go.”

  One moment I was sitting in Lucas's lap, completely naked except for his jacket, and the next, I wore the remade gown. Although, like me, it had changed.

  Lucas stood and set me on my feet. I stared down at the transformed gown that hugged my curves the same as before. However, the beautiful greens were gone, replaced with rich, simmering reds, oranges, and golds.

  “I look like a flame,” I said, grinning at Cress. “It’s more beautiful than before.”

  “Of course. A dress needs to fit its owner. And you, my dear, burn bright like the sun now. I’d love to stay and chat, but I left a horny werewolf at the bar and don’t want to miss out on a booty call. Werewolves have all the stamina you know.” With a wink, she zipped out of the room.

  I laughed and looked up at Lucas.

  “I really like her.”

  His gaze drifted over my face as if he were trying to memorize me.

  “You all right?” I asked softly.

  Instead of answering, he set his lips to mine. The desire I’d felt for him before ignited anew. I sighed against his mouth, and he kissed me deeply until a man cleared his throat.

  We broke apart and looked at his parents.

  “We haven't been properly introduced,” Lucas’s father said. “I'm Vlad, and this is my beloved Anaya. Please, have a seat in the chair so we can properly welcome you to the family, Joseline.”

  My feet weren’t even a little sore after dancing away the remaining hours of the infamous Monster Ball. I smiled and leaned against Lucas as we watched the fireworks from the courtyard outside the castle, a finale and farewell to an incredible night.

  “We’re going to need to come up with something to tell my parents,” I said between booms and crackles.

  “The truth works surprisingly well,” he said, lightly kissing my temple. “After they get to know me first that is.”

  My parents would likely freak out. A very normal reaction for normal humans. I couldn’t have been happier that I wasn’t normal and that I’d gotten the invitation to prove it.

  “Think we’ll get invited back next year?”

  “I guess we’ll just need to wait and see. Until then,” he said as he turned me in his arms and grinned roguishly at me, “I’m sure I can find a way to keep you entertained.”

  Under the light of the moon, his kiss stole my breath, and I couldn’t wait for him to make good on his word for the rest of our eternity.

  The End

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  A Note From The Proprietor

  We monsters have many stories about how The Monster Ball came to be, but if you want to know the truth, it's this...I'm punny as hell and a bit of a bitch when hangry. What? Were you expecting a more dignified response? Come on. I can tell you the truth. It'll be our little secret. Right?

  Why The Monster Ball? Well, The Monster Mash was already taken. Hey, I'm nothing if not cleverly cynical.

  When my best friend suggested this crazy idea over far too many shots of tequila, my drunken self reluctantly agreed.

  Why would I choose a best friend who convinces me to do incredibly ridiculous things - like throwing the BIGGEST, BADDEST party the world will never see? Well, since we're being honest….she's my only friend. Which by default makes her my best friend, even if she is a lunatic. Besides. Tequila.

  Anyway, back to my story. I am a rather unique monster. No! You can't ask me what I am. That's totally inappropriate! Akin to asking a woman her age, and I'm sure as hell not going to tell you that either! Let's just say I have needs. I can fulfill them a few different ways. I wasn't born the monster I am today, at least not entirely. Unfortunately, all my time among humans has made me a bit disgusted with myself. Hence the hangry. Hence my Bestie (who shall from here forth be known as B). Hence tequila. Hence The Monster Ball.

  “We should totally throw a party.” I'd looked at her like she'd grown an extra head, which was entirely impossible because she was a witch, not a hydra. No, that's not a dig at her personality. She's literally a witch with magic and all that jazz. Don't ask her to twitch her nose though. She hates it and will reward you with a very different, yet equally well known gesture.

  “Are you insane? I barely put up with you, and yet, you want me to throw a party? For whom?”

  “It's your birthday,” she enunciated it slowly, like she was talking to a child, while rolling her eyes. “Not to mention, Halloween!” Lowering her voice, she whispered, “And we're creatures of the night! I mean, come on! Besides. You should eat. Your bitch is showing.”

  I bestowed one of those previously mentioned signs upon her before downing another shot. I laughed at the absurdity that was B.

  “There is NO WAY that is happening!”

  Two years later, we held our first ball.

  Present Day - The Morning
After

  B may be insane, but she's also a very clever witch. She knew we'd need to be careful to ensure humans never found out about the ball.

  We have very strict rules, and we follow them religiously to ensure each year goes off without a hitch.

  I still didn't think it was fair that I be stuck out here finishing up while she and the guests were off gods knows where, but the sooner I finished, the sooner I could sneak away to my solitude.

  Sighing, I began the last of my duties.

  My whispered words float on the breeze, echoing off the now abandoned castle as I strip it of my cloaking magic. There’s a slight pop as the last of the magic fizzles from existence, taking with it all traces of The Monster Ball.

  With a wave of my hand, my red gown transforms into typical backpacker’s garb. A small smile plays about my lips as as I reach down to grab my backpack, more than ready to move on to my next adventure.

  “Hey! What are you doing here? We’re not open to the public yet!”

  The words startle me from my reverie, and I glance up to see the groundskeeper walking toward me in the weak morning light. Great. It wasn't often I was caught doing cleanup, but each time felt like some awkward walk of shame. Except I wasn't missing my favorite bra and my hair wasn't mussed.

  I say a quick thanks to the gods that I was at least changed out of my gown. Lying my ass off was always preferable to wiping some poor schmuck’s memory.

  “I know. I toured the castle yesterday. I just came back to watch the sunrise, ” I call back, pointing to the view behind us. Fortunately, this isn't my first rodeo, and the lie rolls off my tongue like honey as I watch the man approach.

  “Um. I'm sorry, but . . . it's just that nobody is allowed to be here before we open,” the grounds keeper stammers, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. His face is flushed as he finally meets my gaze. “I mean . . . I could lose my job, and I actually kinda like it,” he says with a shy lopsided grin.