Blood Lust (5 page)

Landscaping lights showed off the house’s perfectly manicured hedges and pristine shrubs. Adorned with graceful dormers, clapboard, and a wainscoting of river stone, it backed up to its own glorious pond that looked more like a lake, with a boathouse and dock. There was also a mother-in-law-house on the property along with tennis courts, formal gardens, and an amazing pool. She would have spent more time outside exploring if it weren’t for the temperature. A California girl, unprepared for winter in Connecticut, needed to get into the house ASAP.

They were greeted in the foyer by Dominic’s servant, Bernard, and a peppy, golden-red dog that looked to be at least part Shar-Pei. With his tail standing straight up and slightly curved towards his head, he looked much like a rhinoceros might if strolling through a house with a tennis ball in his mouth. His name was Sammy and he seemed to have some kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder in regards to the tennis ball he was carrying. He set it down in front of Darby, but when she didn’t immediately bend over to pick it up, he ran to it, grabbed it, and set it in front of her again. Darby started to lean over to throw it, when Dominic said, “If you start throwing the ball there will be no end. Trust me.”

Then he turned to his servant. “Bernard, please take Devon’s bags to his old room and Miss Darby’s bags to Lady Gail’s favorite room.” Bernard looked shocked.

“Oh no, Mr. Larsen,” Darby protested. “I couldn’t possibly. Please, any other room would be just fine.”

“I insist,” he said. “If she had known you, she would have insisted too. It looks over the pond and the formal rose garden. Trust me. It is absolutely perfect for you.”

“Are you very sure, Mr. Larsen? And Devon, I couldn’t possibly accept without your approval.”

“Dominic is right. It suits you, Darby,” Devon answered.

Darby’s gaze traveled up the long staircase to the portrait of a woman on the balcony. With shoulder-length chestnut hair, inviting blue eyes, beautifully structured cheekbones, a complexion to kill for, and a knowing smile. She seemed to be looking right at Darby.

“Who is that?” Darby asked Bernard.

“That is Mrs. Larsen, Miss Darby.”

Darby turned to Dominic to find he too was staring at the painting. “She is so beautiful, Mr. Larsen.”

“Yes, she was. Her name was Sophia. She captured my heart the first time I laid eyes on her.”

“I can see why,” answered Darby.

They continued up the stairs past the enormous portrait. Sammy followed Darby, all the while carrying his tennis ball. As Bernard set down her baggage on the small loveseat in the room, she bent down and scratched Sammy’s floppy, velvety ears as he sat on her feet, claiming her.

As Bernard retreated from the room, a large Himalayan cat with gorgeous blue eyes sauntered in, rubbing himself on the doorjamb. Everything about the cat oozed “snobby,” from the way he carried his tail to the way he looked at Darby as if she were only there to please his every whim. He jumped on her bed and smelled her coat. And just to prove how unimportant she was, he decided to clean his privates right there on her coat. She gave him a little rub on the chin and thought about her own large kitty Harry, thousands of miles away, probably enjoying her entire bed right now. Probably, his head was on her pillow, and he was lying on his back exposing that ever-growing belly of his.

The cat on her coat purred at her chin rubs almost reluctantly. His bright blue eyes refused to make eye contact with this lowly human.

“Ah, I see you’ve met Sammy and Mr. Chow. You should feel quite privileged. Mr. Chow does not usually grace anyone with his presence so early on in a visit,” Dominic said. “Is there anything you need this evening before you retire? Are you hungry? Would you like some tea? Something sweet, perhaps?”

“No, Mr. Larsen, I’m good. Thank you for the lovely room, but again, if you’ve changed your mind, I’m fine with anything.”

“Don’t be silly. This room needs a little sunshine and laughter. If you won’t be needing anything else, I will bid you a good night. This old man needs some shut-eye after such a long day.”

“That’s right; Blake said that you rarely leave Connecticut. Is there anything you need? Are you feeling okay?”

“You are sweet, Darby. No, there is nothing you need to bother yourself with. I’m going to enjoy your visit very much. I’m sorry I was…well, such a ‘sour puss’ as Gail would have put it. I hope you will forgive my rudeness towards you earlier.”

“Of course, Mr. Larsen, but don’t let it happen again,” she joked. He chuckled quietly as he turned and headed down the hall. He was very handsome when he allowed himself to smile, Darby thought. She continued to pet Mr. Chow and rub Sammy’s belly with her foot as she appreciated her room, which was done in light blues and lilac with a touch of green, all on a background of snow white. The bed was humongous. Darby felt she, Sammy, Mr. Chow, Devon, and maybe five other people could sleep in it comfortably. For that matter, the room was the size of her whole house.

She was disappointed there was no sign of Devon. A huge room in a gigantic house with two new animal friends, and yet she still felt so alone. At least someone was talking to her now. She opened her suitcase, took out her personal items, and brought them to her own private bathroom along with flannel jammies. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and piled her long hair on top of her head with a large barrette. Sammy was waiting for her, wagging his whip of a tail. He dropped his ball in front of her, practically tripping her in her bunny slippers.

She shivered as she went to the bed and pulled back the silk coverlet. She was definitely going to have to go shopping to get some warmer clothes. Off the foot of the bed, she grabbed an afghan that looked like it was made of cashmere. Wrapping it around her like a cape, she walked out of the room quietly and headed downstairs. She had no idea where the kitchen was, but she was going to make herself some hot tea or hot chocolate to warm up. She found it was impossible to be quiet, what with the creaking stairs and the
clickity clack
of paws that followed her. She looked back at Sammy and smiled, and found that Mr. Chow was also following her. Soon, she stumbled on the kitchen and found a teakettle to warm up. She stood in the kitchen clutching the afghan around her, kicking a tennis ball every thirty seconds for Sammy to run after.
This dog needs some Valium
.

The teakettle started to whistle and she quickly turned off the gas, so as not to wake anyone. She found a large cup and some orange pekoe tea. A tiny bit of sugar and it was off to the bedroom again, if she could find her way without a map. She passed a large room with a light on at the desk and peeked in to find Devon sitting there in front of a computer.

“Hey Sweetie, can I make you some tea?”

He looked up, surprised to see her. “No, thank you.” Her entourage followed her into the room as she sat herself on the arm of an extremely large leather chair in front of the fireplace. Above the fireplace was yet another portrait of an amazingly beautiful woman. She had strong features, sweeping blonde hair, but it was her eyes that Darby noticed the most. They were deep blue and kind, but also piercing, as if they could see into your very soul. Her demure smile gave her the appearance of having a secret.

“Who is that gorgeous woman above the fireplace?” Darby asked as she took a sip of her tea.

Seemingly annoyed, Devon answered without looking up at the portrait or at Darby. “Abigail Larsen Bloomington.”

“Your mother? Oh Devon, she is so beautiful.”

“Yes, she was,” Devon answered curtly.

Darby was silent for a moment and then said, “Please talk to me, Devon. I’m so alone without you. I’ve got this gigantic bed upstairs and I’m cold and out of my element. Please open up to me. I love you so much; please trust me enough to confide in me.”

The tears again welled in her eyes as she pleaded and Sammy nosed the ball toward her feet. “Have I done something to make you angry?” Mr. Chow was now on the back of the chair, rubbing himself on her back and elbow.

“No, Darby. It’s nothing you’ve done. I’ve told you that already.” He seemed irritated at having to reiterate this fact. Deeply disappointed, she nodded and stood up, exciting Sammy and making Mr. Chow jump down from the chair.

“I’m sorry, you’re right. You did already tell me that. I’ll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing. Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well.” She turned away from him, pulling the blanket tight around her neck. The tears spilled as she left the room with her entourage following her. She couldn’t control her crying this time and she found herself making more noise than she wanted to as she starting sobbing at the foot of the stairs. She couldn’t walk anymore; she sat down on the steps, and set her tea down with Mr. Chow rubbing himself on her legs.
Dear Lord, you’d think the cat hadn’t been petted in a month.
And of course there was Sammy, dropping his ball at her feet every couple of seconds.

She was definitely going to give Blake a piece of her mind. ‘
Oh, he’s fine. He loves you. He’ll tell you when he’s ready.’ My butt!

She sat until the sobbing subsided and sipped her tea when she saw, in the shafts of the landscaping lights, through the wall of glass looking towards the pond, white flakes coming down like tiny pieces of down. It was snowing, little white snowflakes floating ever so gracefully down to the ground. She walked to the window, holding her blanket tightly around her neck with one hand and her cup of tea in the other. She wished she had someone to share it with, besides the cat and the OCD dog dropping his ball on her foot.
Rowan would love this
, she thought to herself.
Wouldn’t it be cool to be a wolf running in the snow? I bet Rowan and Dean would love chasing rabbits in the snow on a full moon
. Again she thought that she’d need to go shopping for some warmer clothes, maybe even some boots, for the snowy days to come.

She stood there in awe for a minute or two with the cat on one side and the dog sitting on her bunny slippers, when she heard footsteps behind her. She wiped her eyes and spun, hoping to find her handsome vampire. To her disappointment, it was Bernard.

“Miss Darby, are you quite all right?”

“Oh sure, Bernard. Just admiring the beautiful snow. I don’t get to see it snow very often, so this is quite a treat. I was just thinking how nice it would be to have someone to share it with and you showed up.”

“I’m sorry, Miss. Shall I go fetch Master Devon for you?”

“No, Bernard. Master Devon wants nothing to do with me this evening or last, for that matter. I meant you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, would that be okay? If you just stood her for a minute with me watching the snow?”

“I, well, I…”

“You don’t have to, Bernard. I’m just feeling so lonely and it’s so beautiful.”

“I guess when you live here you take for granted the beauty of the falling snow. Yes, Miss Darby. I would be honored to join you.” He stood there next to her and they watched the snowfall. He put his arm around her and she put her head on his shoulder.

“I suppose the snow just means more work for you and the staff, making sure the walkways are clear and all that.”

“Yes, it does pose its problems.”

“Can I help with the shoveling tomorrow?”

“Oh no, Miss Darby. The Master would never allow such a thing. A guest shoveling snow? No.”

“I guess it would be improper of me. I’ve already had enough disapproving looks from Mr. Larsen.”

“Really? He seems quite taken with you. No one has used Lady Gail’s room, well,l since Lady Gail was last here. That, in itself, is a huge declaration of his approving of you.”

“Well, he wasn’t so taken with me before I yelled at him.”

He pulled away and looked at her with shock. “You yelled at the master?” He started to chuckle. “I would have loved to have seen that. Oh Lordy, that would have been something.”

“It wasn’t all that great, but he did start laughing quite heartily after. Even Devon turned in his seat as if this was something he had never seen.”

“The master had a good belly laugh too? Oh my! This gets better and better. You, my dear, are going to bring life back into this cold crypt of a home.” He put his arm around her again and she put her head back on his shoulder. She could hear him chuckling.

“Tell me, Bernard, how is Anton doing? Any better?”

“Oh no, my dear, far worse. He seems absolutely depleted of all energy. He can barely stand on his own.”

“And nobody knows why?”

“It’s quite a mystery, indeed.”

“Are there any vampire doctors that could look at him?”

“There are those that are doctors who are vampires, but there’s not much need for such a thing. Although sometimes setting a bone speeds the healing process. To my knowledge there are no known vampire diseases. The Master’s doctor friend, has checked on Anton, but can’t find any reason for his illness.”

“Are you a vampire, too?”

“No, Miss, just a humble human.”

“Just like me then.”

“Hardly, Miss. You are like the sunshine after weeks of doom and gloom. A breath of fresh air, so to speak.”

“You flatter me, Bernard.”

“That was my intent, Miss.” She sighed heavily. “What is it, Miss?”