Tall, Dark & Fangsome

by Michelle Rowen

  Also, I do believe I admitted last night to the “Red Devil” that not only did Gideon kiss me, but I might have enjoyed it. Whoops.

  “Do you think I’m having an affair with Gideon?” I asked.

  There was a long stretch of silence. “Are you?”

  “I can’t believe you have to question that.”

  “That wasn’t a clear yes or no answer.” His voice was tight. “But it’s really none of my business either way, is it?”

  “Now that you mention it, I guess it isn’t.” I pushed my annoyance away and turned around to spot him in the shadows to the side of the hotel a little off to my right. “Why don’t you just go ahead and tell me who you are? I’ve never been a big fan of game playing, unless it’s Twister or spin the bottle.”

  I’d give him a chance. This was his big opportunity to come clean with me once and for all.

  “It would be best if you kept your distance from Gideon,” he said quietly, without even attempting to answer my question. “I don’t need to tell you he’s a very dangerous man.”

  “So are you. In fact, Gideon tells me you’re basically a vampire of mass destruction.”

  “He said that, did he?”

  “My words, but that’s what he meant.”

  There was a pause. “And what do you think of me?”

  “The jury is still deliberating. All I know is that Gideon will hand over the grimoire so I can break my curse if I hand you over to him. So I’d watch my step if I were you.”

  “Do you plan to help him? Is that why you can’t seem to stay far from his side?”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” All I could see in the darkness was the outline of his body and a slight glitter in his shaded eyes behind his mask. “There’s a lot on the line for me at the moment and I feel like I’m all alone in the world.”

  “You’re not alone.”

  “Sure feels that way.”

  “You didn’t seem so alone this afternoon with Quinn. Perhaps there is still a chance you and he can be together if that’s what you want.”

  There was a familiar unfriendly edge as he said Quinn’s name. Obviously the kiss had not gone unnoticed. As much as I’d had it with the jealousy, I did feel a twinge of guilt. More than a twinge. It felt like lately I’d been gallivanting all over the city attacking the lips of everyone I passed. Thierry had a right to be questioning the fidelity of my lips or, for that matter, the rest of my body.

  “I’m not in love with Quinn. Never was, never will be. Also, his fiancée would rip my head from my body with her new fangs. You know very well who I’m in love with.”

  “Do I?”

  I sighed heavily. “Why don’t you take the rest of the night off? I don’t need protection from anyone right now, especially not somebody who hides behind a stupid mask.”

  “Perhaps I’m not protecting you as much as I’m protecting others from you.”

  I tried not to cringe. “Is that so?”

  “You are a dangerous woman right now, currently treading a very fine line of self-control. You pretend you’re normal when you’re anything but.”

  “Yeah, well.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat and absently touched my gold chain. “That’s what I want to fix. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  I started to walk away but he grabbed hold of my hand.

  “Sarah—”

  “What?” Just as I turned to face him he let go of me and stepped back into the shadows.

  A long moment of silence stretched between us. “Promise to be careful.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Frustration again welled inside me. Why was it that Gideon told me everything about himself, but Thierry told me next to nothing? The balance seemed wrong there.

  He’d had ample opportunity to tell me the truth. Did he honestly think I didn’t know? That I couldn’t see past a flimsy mask?

  But of course that’s what he thought. If no one had ever seen past his masks in God only knew how long, then why would he expect me to? But I could. And I did. Despite our many differences I saw who Thierry truly was underneath it all even if nobody else did.

  I was sure there was a metaphor in there for something.

  Up on the fourth floor of the hotel Gideon was waiting for me. When he let me in, I scanned the room quickly and saw that the bed was unmade, the sheets in disarray.

  “Had a fun afternoon with your visitor?” I asked dryly.

  His lips quirked. “Just a relaxing afternoon nap.”

  “Right.”

  “Would you be upset if I sought affection elsewhere? After all, you did leave me in a state last night.”

  “Yeah. A state of denial.” Then I had to remind myself that I wasn’t there to insult him or make him mad. I was there to get that glorified cell phone of his. Sugar, not vinegar, was the main ingredient of the evening. “Sorry. I’m just tired, I guess.”

  “It’s fine. Please make yourself comfortable.”

  I chose the armchair by the window and sat down uncomfortably in it.

  He sat down on the edge of his messy bed. He was fully dressed in a designer suit even Thierry might envy. Half the buttons of the white shirt were undone so I could see a glimpse of his muscled chest—still free from any scars, thanks to his glamourizing wristwatch. And I was willing to bet the BlackBerry in question was in his suit jacket pocket.

  “You had a visit from your young wizard today,” he said after a moment. It wasn’t a question.

  My mouth went dry. Why was I surprised? He obviously had one of his spies stationed somewhere outside George’s house. I was concerned enough about George’s current state of mind without his finding out that every move he made was being monitored. I did get the feeling Gideon’s spies were never close enough to overhear conversations, just close enough to witness who I was spending time with. At least, so far.

  “He returned my money from yesterday. No big deal.” And he’d also been possessed by a demon, but I didn’t think that was information Gideon needed at the moment.

  “He seems very powerful for his age.”

  I remembered his grip on my throat and the whack he’d given me that knocked me out. “You could say that.”

  “A talented witch or wizard is a rare breed. There are so few who can actually work the darker arts at their whim. Your—Steven, is it?—could prove to be very dangerous. You should be careful.”

  “I appreciate your concern.” I tried to look comfortable and knew I was failing miserably. “Feeling better than yesterday?”

  He nodded and gave me a dazzling smile. “Your blood worked wonders. It only confirmed what I already knew. Tomorrow at midnight everything will change and the ritual will work exactly as planned.”

  “You’re sure you still want to go through with it?” I asked, my mouth dry. “I mean, you have your shiny new glamour Rolex and you don’t have pain anymore. Why take the next step into a life of fangs and blood-drinking if you don’t have to?”

  “Because all of this—” he waved a hand over his face “—is only an illusion. Damage sustained from hellfire is not the same as any other injury. I’m looking for a more permanent solution.”

  “Immortality is just about as permanent as you can get. Almost as permanent as a tattoo.”

  “Exactly.” His smile widened. “Sarah, I want to apologize for my behavior last night. It wasn’t right to attempt to force my affections on you.”

  I shook my head. “I overreacted.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Did you?”

  “I guess I felt a bit overwhelmed with you and my curse and everything. And when you kissed me…” I cleared my throat. “Well, I felt a little confused. Obviously.”

  He stood up from the bed and closed the small distance between us in a couple of short steps. He held his hand out to me and I tentatively took it. “I want to show you something.”

  I forced myself not to pull away from him. Honey, not vinegar.

  He led me over to the desk in the corne
r of the suite, slid open the top drawer, and removed a worn-looking, black leather-bound book with gilded edges. He flipped through the pages to show me that it was handwritten with diagrams and sketches.

  I couldn’t believe my own eyes. “The witch’s grimoire?”

  “It is.” He turned toward a page in the middle. “All of the evil spells she used to ruin people’s lives are in here. Here’s the one she must have used on you.”

  With wide eyes I looked down at the book to see the small, precise handwriting of the crazy-assed evil witch who’d cursed me. It was titled with:

  NIGHTWALKER (DARK VAMPIRE) CURSE

  The writing itself looked to be Latin, but that was only an educated guess from all the supernatural TV shows I watched. She’d drawn a picture of a happy face with sharp fangs and a small notation in blue ink: “Perfect for Sarah Dearly.”

  She’d obviously been thinking ahead.

  “This is unbelievable,” I managed.

  He turned the page. “And here is the incantation to remove your curse.”

  And, yes, it was actually titled:

  NIGHTWALKER (EVIL VAMPIRE) CURSE **REMOVAL**

  This one was illustrated with an unhappy smiley face. With fangs.

  The witch may have been crazy, but she sure was organized.

  I reached out for the book, but Gideon slammed it shut on my hand.

  “Ouch.” I pulled my hand back.

  “Sorry. But I can’t give all my secrets away that easily.” He grinned. “Not before you help me track the Red Devil.”

  I inhaled sharply. “Right. About that.”

  “You are reluctant to tell me anything about him, aren’t you? Even with the grimoire as your reward.”

  “It’s not that, I…” I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

  “I understand,” he said.

  I looked at him with surprise. “You do?”

  “Of course. You don’t want to hurt anyone. I admire that, Sarah.”

  “You do?” I said again.

  “Yes, I do. However, it doesn’t change anything. The Red Devil must die. And you’re my link to find him while he’s still in the city.”

  “And if I don’t, you won’t give me the grimoire.”

  “I can give you so many things.” He stroked the hair back from my face. “Anything you desire. I’m a very rich man—even if everyone thinks I’m dead.”

  “I don’t want your money. Or any gifts. I just want the grimoire.”

  “And I want the Red Devil.”

  “I’m sure he’d be flattered.”

  He slid his hand down the side of my face to my throat and neck, where he drew a line with the tip of his index finger along my gold chain. “I don’t think you should break your curse at all. Do you know what being a nightwalker really means?”

  Gideon was way too close to me, our bodies were nearly touching. I could feel the heat coming off him in waves and smell the scent of his skin. Humans did smell like food to vampires when they got too close—warm, edible, and delicious. I was thankful that, while my chain was on, I had control over my thirst. I’d mostly stayed away from humans since I was sired and replaced my casual acquaintances and friends from my old job with new vampire friends. It was a bit disheartening how easily they’d accepted that I’d moved on to a new social group, but it was safer that way.

  However, Gideon tended to get a little too close for comfort.

  Close enough for me to feel the hard outline of his BlackBerry in the pocket of his pants.

  At least… I think that was his BlackBerry. Or maybe he was just happy to see me.

  Or both.

  Damn.

  Maybe I should answer his question, I thought. And stop focusing on what he has in his pants.

  “Being a nightwalker means I’m an out-of-control monster who needs to be staked before I hurt somebody,” I finally said.

  He shrugged and drew even closer to me until my back was pressed firmly against the wall. “Or it means you have oceans of power at your fingertips. Along with your special blood, you could take your curse and make it an asset. Maybe you shouldn’t try to stop the inevitable. Don’t you believe in fate?”

  “I believe in not using humans as chew toys. It’s kind of been a rule of mine.”

  “So well-behaved for a vampire.” He lowered his head so we were eye to eye and slid his hand around to the small of my back. “Do you ever think about how it would be if you just let go of all that control? I bet you’d find it very pleasurable.”

  “As pleasurable as you found your afternoon… nap?” I asked pointedly.

  “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Sarah.”

  I braced my hands against his chest. “I’m not jealous.”

  “Admit it—to yourself and to me. Despite who I am. Despite who you are. You like me.” His lips curled to the side and he focused on my mouth for a moment longer than was polite. “And I bet your nightwalker likes me, too, doesn’t she?” He touched my chain and let his finger trail boldly down the front of me. “The part of you that wants to be free and wild and unrestrained?”

  Something deep inside me shifted and surged forward. It was a healthy burst of lust that agreed wholeheartedly and without reservation to what Gideon was saying.

  He was right. My inner nightwalker wanted Gideon so much she was fighting me right now for control even with my gold chain on. She wanted to make his bedsheets even messier than they already were.

  I thought back to what Veronique had said that morning about the Carastrand’s magic only being a temporary thing.

  If so, there was no time to waste.

  “It’s true,” I said. “I do like you.”

  He raised an eyebrow at the admission.

  I was so close. I wanted to slip my hand into his pocket and grab the BlackBerry and then run as far away from Gideon as I could get—he was much too dangerous to me on too many levels.

  “That’s right,” he whispered approvingly into my ear as my hands slid lower on his body. “I knew you wanted me.”

  He covered my mouth with his and he kissed me. I kissed him back as I attempted to maneuver my way into his pocket to get what I’d come there for.

  Unfortunately, despite his healthy libido, Gideon wasn’t stupid. It would have been so much easier if he was. He knew what I was after. His hand clamped down on my wrist just as I felt the cool metal of the cell phone.

  “Someone has wandering hands,” he said.

  “I thought you wouldn’t mind.”

  “But I do.” He stepped back from me and eyed me with sudden distrust. “I’m disappointed in you, Sarah.”

  I felt frozen. Caught. Exposed. And a little bit dirty.

  “I… I don’t know what—”

  “Get out,” he said quietly.

  “But I thought we were—”

  “Leave now before I get angry and do something I might regret.” His eyes glittered and his hands were clenched in fists at his sides. “I will contact you about the ritual tomorrow.”

  Feeling defeated and embarrassed, I slunk out of his hotel room without another word.

  Great plan, I told myself dejectedly. Now he trusts me even less than he already did.

  Total failure.

  What else was new?

  I started walking along Spadina Avenue. I needed to clear my head and think things through even though I knew it wouldn’t change a damn thing. Red Devil Thierry didn’t come out of the woodwork again. He was probably pissed off at me, too.

  Take a number.

  I tried to make things better and they just got worse. It was a talent, or something. I should teach classes at the Learning Annex.

  After ten minutes of wandering in the cold night air with only my self-deprecating thoughts to keep me company I passed the entrance to Darkside. Like any self-respecting secret vampire nightclub, it was completely nondescript from the outside. In fact, it appeared to be a boarded-up used bookstore with a For Sale sign in the front window. If I concentrated and used my st
ronger vampire senses, I could hear the dance music from inside, but the insulation was very good. No humans, including hunters, would be any the wiser.

  The bouncer—the same one from the other night—stood outside with his back to the club. To anyone who didn’t know better he looked like some guy loitering all alone and definitely unapproachable if you knew what was good for you. He smoked a cigar and eyed me as I passed. I remembered the last time I’d seen him, when he’d let me run after the fledgling-in-distress because he wasn’t paid enough to put himself in harm’s way.

  Still charming.

  “Slayer of Slayers,” he said with a grin.

  I forced a smile onto my face. “Thought I told you that wasn’t me.”

  “You told me but I don’t believe you—I know who you are. Honestly, you should be proud of such a rep. I’m impressed.”

  “Then my work here is done.” I looked up at the building. “I heard a rumor this place has been sold. Please tell me it’s not closing down.”

  He shrugged. “No idea what’s going to happen next. Nobody tells me nothing.”

  It would suck if the new owners shut it down. No more vampire clubs in Toronto would be a major bummer. Maybe I’d teach myself how to knit.

  “Anyhow, good to see you again.” I wanted to move along toward my comfortable bed and try to forget tonight ever happened, as if that was remotely possible.

  “Yeah, you, too.” He leered at me and it made me uncomfortable enough to start walking, quickly, away from him.

  Creepy men seemed to come in the fanged and nonfanged varieties.

  After another minute I came to the alley where I’d nearly had a fledgling midnight snack, and I repressed a shudder at the memory. Would I really have hurt her? I had no doubt I would have bitten her, but would I have stopped before it was too late?

  “Hey,” the bouncer said, and I froze and looked over my shoulder. He’d trailed after me from the club. “Can I ask you a question?”

  I swallowed, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. “Sure.”

  “How many slayers have you killed?”

  “That’s a bit hard to answer.”

  “That many, huh?” He gazed at me with obvious appreciation of my deadly prowess. “That’s pretty hot.”