NEVER FALL FOR THE FORBIDDEN (NEVER FALL SERIES) (8 page)

Chapter Thirteen

             
“I have to leave town for a few days, maybe a week. Sorry to tell you on voicemail but this could not wait and you haven’t been around too much lately and I wanted to tell you in person, but we can talk about it later I guess.” Annasara left the message, her voice full of disappointed sorrow.

             
Triton and Annasara’s relationship barely existed after the incident at the mansion. Afraid of getting too close, Triton spent more time than usual in his quarters, which concerned Umbriel. He knew Triton better than anyone did, he could tell his friend was suffering but gave him space enough to deal with it. Umbriel never mentioned the night to Triton, knowing he would not want to speak of it, although he did not understand what was going on. Triton tried his best to distance himself from Annasara. Barely calling her, Triton told Annasara he needed a break from their love affair, even though it was the last thing he wanted. Guilt ate away at Annasara’s stomach everyday, she knew this was all her fault and wished she had never followed him that night. She felt responsible for driving a stake between them. The tone of her voice broke Triton’s heart even more than it already was. Tears streamed down his face, streaking his cheeks, landing hard onto the keys of his laptop.
No more
, he thought
, I can’t take it anymore, I love her I can not stay away…away she just said she’s going away.

He continued listening to the message, “
I am on my way to Parkville to appraise an estate full of art and I have to organize it all, sort, pack, and ship it all to the family in London.  I will call you when I get there. I miss you.” Annasara’s voice trailed out the last three words on his cell phone. Triton has saved the message, saddened that he would not be able to see her before she left. Then his sadness turned to fear.
Parkville! Parkville! That is in the heart of Januar’s what territory. Would she be safe?  Would they detect any vampire connection?
  Triton struggled to keep his calm demeanor as a group of vampires passed him in the hallway of the mansion.

             
As the time passed, the minutes seemed like hours although only two had passed since he listed to her message. Pulling his phone out, he played the message again. He listened just to hear her voice. The mere sound of her enthralled him. Calmed him.  If something happened to her, he could never forgive himself.  Temptation and fear drove him to press her number in, and held his breath until she answered.

             
“Hello?” she answered as Triton blurted out. “Are you okay?”

             
“I’m fine, you sound upset?”

             
“Where are you?”

             
“On the train. I haven’t even made it to the city yet.”

Triton’s voice calmed,
“Good.”

             
“I hope you are not mad that I left? I just could not tell you in time to make the train. I had just found out myself and I needed to be at the estate tomorrow morning.”

             
“No, no I just, just be careful.”

             
“I'm not planning on lifting sculptures; I am just appraising a collection of the recently deceased railroad the tycoon J. Richards. I was first person to get dibs on his whole collection can you believe it, what a find.”

This did not ease Triton’s heavily worried mind. Old houses and old money always smelled of vampires. Large estates big enough to hold clans or smaller subsets of clans usually occupied old homes in the
Parkville territory. He himself had looked at the estate online once to twice in his research on trying to locate the enemy. His concern grew tight in his chest.
Why her, why now?

             
“Where are you staying?”

             
“The Ritz. The estate is springing for my hotel as well as all my meals and expenses.” Annasara said.

             
“So you’re not staying at the mansion?”

             
“No. I actually had been to the estate in college. The family would let the art students in to view the pieces and I had an opportunity to study the paintings there once or twice. They actually owned a Picasso. I am surprised that they requested me personally; the family said I made quite an impression on my knowledge of their collections and they did not want anyone else. They are paying me twice the normal fee.” Annasara finished hearing the silence that fell between them. “Triton, hello?”

             
“Sara, I have been a fool. I miss you tremendously. Please forgive me.”

             
“I’m sorry, this was all my fault. I should have never gone there, I should have trusted you.”

             
“It doesn’t matter now.”

             
“I’ll be back in a week.”

             
“I don’t like to be away from you for this long. I miss you already. Come back.” He said.

             
“This is a great opportunity for me and I couldn’t pass up this chance. I really need the money; sales have been so slow at the gallery.”

             
“I will triple whatever they pay you.”

             
“I can’t take your money.”

             
“Why not?” he snapped harshly.

             
“I can take care of myself.”

             
“I didn’t mean you couldn’t but you could have everything you desire, you would never have to work again.”

             
“I like working and what I really want is you. I want you with me all the time, not part of the time.”

             
“I want that too.”

             
“Do you miss me?”

             
“More than anything.”

             
“Will you be there when I get home?”

Triton heart tore open;
if you make it home.

Chapter Fourteen

             
Annasara’s taxi arrived in front the posh hotel. A regal marble and glass structure centered in the heart of the downtown, she looked up at the high rise as the bellhop quickly scooped up her luggage and escorted her in. Checking in and headed directly to her suite, Annasara thought of Triton and wished she had invited him along.
Very nice,
she thought as she looked around the plush suite. The bellhop who appeared too old and too creepy for the position, held her bags at the threshold. Before she could even shake off her coat, she felt cold wind trickling down her neck. Spinning around she found the bellhop directly behind her staring hard.

             
“Where would you like it?” he asked.

             
“Like it?” she replied.

             
“Your luggage, where would you like me to put it?” he said staring directly into her eyes. “Yes, please come in and put them in the bedroom.” The bellhop started to laugh lowly. Unknowingly she just invited the vampire into her room. He seemed to take forever. Peeking in, no sign of the bellhop made concern washed over her. Annasara walked two steps towards the door until she felt cold breath falling on the back of her neck again. Swinging around to find him, directly behind Annasara swallowed hard.

             
“We will enjoy having you here.” He said looking over her face and neck.             

             
“Oh, thank you.” Annasara outstretched are hand to handing him a tip, but he remained staring at her.

             
“This is for you.” She put the money into his cold clammy palm. Looking down at her touching his hand he raised his head and smiled a perversely toothy grin.

             
“If you would like a bite, the salon and the kitchen are open until 11pm.”

Annasara
pulled back her hand, “I will keep that in mind.”

             
Taking the money, the bellhop smiled again, and walked slowly out of the room closing the door behind him. Annasara shuttered.
Creep
, she thought and tried to put him out her mind. What her mind was focusing on now was food. She could not remember eating anything all day except a soda for breakfast.
Might as well check out the bar, have a drink and maybe a burger.

              The salon held a large square bar in the middle of the room. Only one couple sat at the opposite end of the room and Annasara longed for Triton to be with her. Taking a seat, she barely raised her hand and the bartender was in front of her. Tall, blonde and skin as pale as Triton’s, he stood before her giving the same creepy smile as the bellhop had earlier.

             
“Wine list?” she asked. Without breaking eye contact, the bartender reached under the bar, produced the leather bound book, and placed it open before her. Annasara averted her gaze scanning the choices. “I will have the Riesling.”

             
“It’s very sweet,” he said. “I myself prefer the bitter.” He said leaning slightly forward on the bar. Annasara closed the book, considered getting up and walking out.
This one is creepier than the bellhop was
, she thought. However, she was here and that would be rude.

             
“Not for me, I will have the Riesling.” She said giving him a closed mouth smile. Straightening up, he turned and walked off. Annasara blew out of breath of relief,
Is every guy in this town strange or what?
Maybe I am just tired.
The train ride was long and she had not slept at all. The thought this new job and the extra money had excited her too much to sleep. And then there was the excitement of Triton’s phone call where he described in great detail how he would make her laugh and squeal when they were together next. She wished he was here now, a shame to have such a beautiful room and be all alone. Lost in her thoughts of hotels rooms and Triton, she had not noticed the full glass of wine the barkeep had placed in front of her.

             
“All alone.” He said.

             
“Excuse me?”

             
“Not often I see such a beautiful woman all alone, here. Business or pleasure?”

             
“Business.” Annasara’s radar went up.
This creep is hitting on me.
Spilling a bit on her, she set down the glass before even taking a sip. He probably slipped something in it and she needed an exit.

             
“Oh, Damn, I am so clumsy.” She said.

             
“Let me get you another.” he offered.

             
“Thank you, no. I am actually quite tired from traveling.” She said and placed cash on the bar and left. The bar tender’s face grew emotionless as he grasped the glass, shattering it in his hand.

              The remnants of dinner from the mini bar in her suite lay strewn across the nightstand. An empty bag of cashews and three tiny wine bottles had fulfilled her enough to bring a slight buzz that induced the well over due sleep her body begged for. Thank goodness, she remembered to ask for a wake up call or she would have sleep until noon.

             
“This is your seven a.m. wake up call.” A bright and cheerful female voice sang through the receiver.
Glad it was not creepy or really creepy calling
; she thought, threw the covers back, got up showered, and headed down with plenty of time to indulge in the mile long breakfast spread. She wished Triton would take her to breakfast once and while. His condition never allowed him out in the morning and if he did stay over, they would be up all night making love and he would sleep under the covers all day long
. Thinking of the devil
, she told her self as her phone vibrated.

             
“Good morning, do you miss me already?” she asked in her softest voice. His voice as harsh as her was smooth. “I called you last night, why didn’t you call me back?”

             
“Sorry, I fell asleep. I raided the mini bar in my room for a liquid dinner.”

             
“Liquid?” He was the one who had the liquid dinners. “Was the kitchen closed?”

             
“No, the guy who waited on me was so strange; He creeped me out.”

             
“What do you mean?” Triton asked alerted.

             
“He looked at me like I was a slab of beef, like he wanted to eat me, him, and the bell hop. They must be hard up for single women in this city.”

Triton’s heart raced, her words reverberated in his ears. He thought back to what Umbriel said, humans were becoming scarce in Januar’s territory. Decent ones anyways.

              “Listen, I want to you be extremely careful.”

             
“I will be fine. Listen, I have to run, my taxi should be here. I will call you tonight.” Annasara hung up leaving Triton listening to the dial tone. Tossing his phone down on to the comforter, Triton rolled over set his alarm to wake him at dusk; as soon as he awoke, he would leave for Parkville.

             
It was a night not so long ago that he came to rescue her from another human, which was a simple effort, but to keep her safe from ruthless blood thirsty vampires, hours away, in a strange town he knew nothing about, amongst his enemies tore at his soul. His body ached to be near her but how could he get into Parkville, the heart of Januar’s territory keep himself undetected, keep Annasara safe, all the while not revealing who he was and why he had to protect her.  The treaty forbad each other’s clans from entering into each other’s space. Death would be emanating if they caught Triton in enemy territory. His detection would give direct cause for Januar to declare war upon his clan, which was brimming and about to start
. If I do not go, she surely will be subjected to certain fate.
Triton had to go, the thought of Annasara being a delicacy for an elder or having her throat ripped out by some random vampire, his love, a victim of the curse he unfortunately was party to, turned him sour. He cared her too much to allow it happen. He knew the games and manipulations of the dark world, the deceit, and lies created. Triton was aware; he too played them for centuries. Then the thought hit him sharply.
They sent for her.