Date with a Vampire (20 page)

“If you try any funny business, I promise you’ll regret it,” she warned.

Four large vampires emerged from the shadows and surrounded her.

“Put these on.” Gelda threw the clothes at her.

After Melody slipped on the undergarments—black fishnet tights and a satin corset top—she stepped into a petticoat, over which she pulled a black knee-length skirt. Gelda handed her a pair of boots very much like the ones she wore; then a pair of vampires began applying makeup to her face, encircling her eyes with black liner. One drew a small red heart beneath her right eye. Another vampire draped the cape over her shoulders and tied the silk cord across her neckline. Someone else pinned her hair up, then placed the headpiece on top her head. It was heavy and toppled to the side. Gelda caught it before it hit the ground.

“Careful,” she snapped, putting it back on Melody’s head. “Theo would not be pleased if this were damaged.” She took three tortoiseshell hairpins from a velvet pouch that hung from her wrist and used them to hold the headpiece steady.

Gelda took a step back and studied Melody carefully. “Almost perfect,” she purred. “Just one more thing.” She pulled a silver tube from the pouch and applied lipstick to Melody’s mouth.

The consistency was different from any Melody had ever worn. She ran her tongue over her lips, not liking the tacky feel of it or the salty taste.

“You’ll get used to it, my dear.” Gelda handed her the tube.

She turned it over and read the label. Blood Red. Oh Lord! That wasn’t just the color. There was blood in the lipstick. Her stomach churned, and she thought she might vomit. She rubbed at her mouth with the back of her hand.

Gelda laughed. “It won’t come off that way. It’s a stain. Has to wear off.”

Melody dropped the tube. It rolled up against the limestone table. Gelda snapped her fingers, and a vampire took hold of each of Melody’s arms. The others lit incense from the torches which lined the room. The strong smell of frankincense and sandalwood made her want to sneeze.

“Proceed,” Gelda snapped.

They marched Melody toward a tunnel. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see or know what they had in store for her next.

C
HAPTER
T
WELVE

M
elody? Guystof swore he heard her cry for help. Although exhausted, he ran toward the torchlight. The tunnel opened up to a heavily perfumed cavern filled with a smoky haze. His excitement turned to dismay. Melody wasn’t there. Could he have imagined hearing her voice? He scanned the room, his gaze landing on a limestone table with shackles attached to each end. He’d seen that table before. In Theo’s magic goblet. His pulse raced. Melody had been there. He had heard her cry for help. It wasn’t his imagination.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of metal. On the floor lay a silver tube. He picked it up and opened the top. Lipstick. Blood-red lipstick. As a boy, he’d attended Tessa’s turning ceremony. Blood-red lipstick was the final step in the preparation process. That could mean only one thing for Melody. It was just a matter of minutes before she would lose her mortal life.

Five tunnels led out of the cave and he had to choose the correct one. There was no time for a mistake. He rubbed his temples in an attempt to ease a pounding headache. It had to have been caused by that awful smell. What was it? The odor was vaguely familiar. Incense! That too had been used in the turning ceremony. He raced over to a tunnel and inhaled deeply. The air was clear. He ran to another, and there was no mistaking the strong odor. Melody had to have been taken down that passage.

He dashed into the tunnel and was plunged into darkness. It took a little while for his eyes to adjust to the lack of light, so he felt his way by holding his arms out at his sides and feeling the tunnel walls. They were wet and slimy, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was finding Melody. The incense smell was growing stronger with each step he took. Soon a pinpoint of light broke the darkness and he strode forward gingerly. He heard chanting. That could mean only one thing. The turning ceremony had begun, and afterward, Theo would make Melody his bride.

Guystof’s blood boiled. It took all his willpower to keep from charging forward into the ceremony, but that would be the worst thing he could do. They would take him captive, and then he would be of no use to Melody. He had to sneak up on them. Take them by surprise. If he could get to Theo, he could stop the proceedings.

He crept into the cavern and hid behind a huge sparkling crystal column. This chamber was like a king’s palace. Incredible shimmering stones lined the floor, ceiling, and walls. In the middle of the castle-like formations was an altar, and on it stood Melody.

The black cape she wore dwarfed her, as did the giant headpiece. Her painted white skin made her eyes so blue they looked like sapphires. A vampire untied Melody’s cape, and it fell in a puddle around her feet. Next, the vampire removed the giant headdress, and Melody’s glorious golden curls tumbled over her shoulders. With her lily-white skin, vivid blue eyes, and bright red lips, she looked like a porcelain doll.

He wanted desperately to wrap her in his arms and ease her fear, but he couldn’t do that. He needed a plan—a way to free her from Theo and his vampire clan. And he didn’t have one yet.

Theo stood beside Melody, wearing a military-style overcoat decorated with patches of ancient Romanian characters. Theo slipped off the coat, exposing his bare chest. His torso was bandaged with a sash tied in an X. Tight black pants accentuated his muscular thighs. A blond curl fell over his forehead, giving his face a deceptively boyish quality.

Theo took hold of Melody’s arm and pulled her toward him. “Now you are mine.” He opened his mouth to expose his fangs and dipped his head, biting the side of her neck.

Blood spurted onto her chest and into her gold hair. Her screams echoed through the cave. A vein in Guystof’s temple throbbed, and common sense vanished. He lunged forward, grabbing Theo around the waist. He was able to pull him away from Melody before Theo’s vampires tackled him to the ground. He struggled against them, but it was useless. They had his arms and legs pinned.

Theo stood over him. “You’re a bloody fool, brother. I didn’t want to have to hurt you, but you refuse to give up even when it’s obvious the game is over and I’ve won.”

“Not as long as I’m still alive you haven’t.”

Theo laughed. “Don’t be so melodramatic. I won’t kill you, but I will keep you from ruining my plans.” He snapped his fingers, and the vampires pulled Guystof up off the floor, keeping a strong hold on him, however. Theo walked over to Melody and touched her neck where the blood had started to dry.

“Don’t touch me. I despise you.”

“Ah, such a shame, my dear, since you’ll be spending the next thousand years with me. Perhaps over time your feelings will change.”

“Never,” she cried out and slapped him hard across the face. Theo didn’t flinch, but his eyes burned with fury, and Guystof knew that Melody had made a horrible mistake.

Theo grabbed her shoulders. “I was going to make this easy on you, but since you insist on fighting me, you will suffer the consequences.” He leaned over and plunged his fangs into her neck like a pitchfork, sending blood spraying.

“Stop,” Guystof screamed. “That’s torture.”

Theo pulled back from Melody’s neck, blood dripping down his chin. “How does it feel to be under my control, brother? To know that soon your Melody will be my bride? You’ll never again feel her lips on yours or hear her lovingly call your name.”

Guystof struggled against the guards. “You’ll never get away with this.”

Theo chuckled. “But I already have. Soon Melody will be one of us, and then I will make her my wife, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“When Father learns of this—”

“Father,” Theo spat. “I’m not afraid of him. Besides, what can he do? Disown me? I think not, for I shall be the one with the rich wife, while you will have nothing. You’ll be the one disinherited. Face it. Game’s over.”

“Not by a long shot.”

“I beg to differ. I’m a free man, and you, well, you’re my prisoner.” His laugh echoed throughout the chamber. “And I’ve had enough of you for one day. Ladies, indulge yourselves.”

The female vampires were all over Guystof like vultures. There wasn’t a part of him that didn’t hurt from their feeding, but despite his torture, all he could think about was Melody. Her life was slipping away, and he was helpless to save her.

— : : —

“Please…don’t hurt Guy.” Melody’s words were barely audible.

“I’d be more concerned with yourself.” Theo stroked her head. “I would have made this easier on you if you hadn’t fought me. I do care about you, you know.”

“Then let…me go.”

“Now, you know I can’t do that. You are going to die, my dear, but have no fear. It’s only temporary. When you awaken, you’ll be one of us.”

“I don’t want to…be like you.”

Theo tapped his finger against her lips. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. You were more than willing to become a vampire when you agreed to marry my brother.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but he clamped his hand over it. “Don’t sap your strength. I know what you were going to say. You love Guystof. Well, I don’t care, and I certainly don’t want or need your love. And you shall never have mine. All you can expect or hope for is my companionship, and you will need it, my dear, if you hope to survive. There will be assassins who will want to hunt you down. Without me, you won’t stand a chance.”

Melody felt lightheaded and was having difficulty concentrating. She started to sink to the ground, but Theo held her up by the elbows.

“Just go with it. Don’t fight it,” he advised.

Although she would love to succumb to the grogginess—it would be easy to close her eyes and slip into darkness—she refused to give in.

“It’s almost over, my dear,” he whispered.

She cringed at the feeling of his hot breath on her ear and then felt the pressure to her neck as he once again helped himself to her blood. Her eyelids felt like lead. She fought to keep them open, but sleep was winning. Despite her efforts, her eyes closed, and the faces of her loved ones flashed before her—Mom and Dad, Ann, Mags, Billy, Gizmo, and her beloved Guy—then unable to hold on any longer, she surrendered to death.

— : : —

Melody’s head lolled onto Theo’s shoulder. Her lifeless body collapsed in his arms. The female vampires stepped back from Guystof, but Gelda kept her fangs in his neck.

“That’s enough! Haven’t you had your fill?” Theo yelled.

She looked up at him with blood dripping from her mouth. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry.”

“Then come with me, and help get Melody settled. I want her to be comfortable when she wakes. The rest of you, take my brother to his room. When he comes to, Melody and I will be married, and he’ll no longer be heir to Dragesa.”

Theo scooped Melody up into his arms and carried her to a private chamber, where he laid her down gently on the bed, then covered her with a blanket. Although she would come to love the cold, it would take a while. He ran his hand across her cheek. Her skin was as soft as a rose petal. He was going to enjoy having her as a mate. He closed his eyes and imagined her beneath him, her smooth legs wrapped around his hips as he entered her. Oh yes, he was going to enjoy having her as his wife.

“Theo?”

Gelda’s voice roused him from his daydream. He turned to her. “What is it?”

“Shall I tend to her wounds?” Gelda knelt by the side of the bed and held a cloth soaked in herbs that would help with the healing.

“Thank you. When you’re finished, join me in my chambers. Unless, of course, you’re too full from dinner to have dessert.”

She smiled at him. “I’m never too full for you.”

“Good answer.” He brushed his lips over the side of her neck. “Don’t keep me waiting. You know how impatient I am.”

Theo left the room exhausted. Melody and Guystof had certainly made the turning ceremony more exciting than most. What he needed now was to nap so he’d be well rested for his wedding. When he entered his chamber, he removed his coat and the sash from his waist, then collapsed on the bed. He closed his eyes and within seconds fell asleep.

After what seemed like only minutes, he was awakened by a crushing weight on his chest. Gelda was sprawled out on top of him. Naked. What a vision! Not soft and delicate like Melody. Lean and muscular. “Ah, you are anxious for me.”

“Of course, as I always am.” She smiled, and the glint of pearly fangs peeked through her gum-line.

He kissed her hard. Her fang broke the skin on his lip, and he tasted blood. He pushed her back from him and smiled as he ran his hands over her breasts, across her flat stomach, then down along her hips.

She squealed and wriggled on top of him. His desire for her grew hot and hard, and he unzipped his pants, sinking his manhood deep into her. She cried out, then bit the side of his neck as he thrust into her again and again.

When he could stand it no longer, he curled his lip back and bit her just above the shoulder blade. Blood filled his mouth and trickled down his throat. Soon his hunger began to subside, and he took pleasure in their rhythm.

Later, when he lay spent, he found himself thinking about Melody. He turned his wrist and looked at his watch. 3:00 A.M. Melody would be waking soon.

He rolled Gelda off him, then turned on his side, his head propped by his hand. “You were fabulous.” He touched the tip of her nose with his finger.

“So were you.” She planted a soft kiss on his chest. “That mortal woman will never service you as I do.” Her voice dripped venom, and her emerald eyes flashed.

He leaned over her and cupped his hand around her long, slender throat. “Do I detect jealousy?” She struggled as his fingers pressed against her windpipe.

“Stop!” She choked, grabbing at his hand. “I’m sorry.”

He pressed a bit harder.

“Yes. I’m jealous,” she rasped.

He kissed her cheek and released his hold. “No need to be. You’ll always be my favorite.”