Savannah Past Midnight (6 page)

Maker?

My eyes take in the exquisite redhead whose regal
demeanor might be that of a queen. Her waist-length hair cascades
over an icy lilac-hued velvet gown that is cut so dangerously low
and tight that it’s a wonder her ample breasts don’t spill out. She
reminds me of a woman I once admired in a Botticelli painting from
a book that my father brought home from a business trip to Italy.
Her beauty is completely mesmerizing, nearly luminous, but it’s her
unusual topaz-colored eyes that shine with a heavy sorrow. This
woman has seen countless tragedies that are forever stamped upon
her soul. I can’t help staring, and only Severin’s deep voice pulls
my attention away as he continues to speak.

“I’ve watched you from afar since you were a baby,
Cosette. I’ve kept up to date with your impulsive, daredevil
behavior, which has inevitably landed you in these dire straits.
I’m here to make you a life altering offer, but I’ll warn you,
Cosette, you would be wise to think carefully before you give us
your answer.”

“An offer? What offer, Uncle?”
My curiosity is
piqued. If it has anything to do with reversing my condition, the
answer is a resounding yes.

Arms fold across his strong chest as his blue eyes
drill into mine. He says pointedly, “An offer of another life, a
different one, where your wild spirit might just be the very thing
that helps you survive.”

“I want it.” His final word has barely left his mouth
as I clamor my acceptance. I’m desperate for
any
way out of
the hell I’m trapped in.

Quickly, I add, “I accept your offer. Willingly.
Anything
is better than the barren existence that lies
before me.
Please, Uncle Severin, please help me.”
The final
three words emerge in a barely audible whisper.

His features are still and watchful. I’ve started to
worry that I’ve offended him and that he’s thinking of retracting
when he finally speaks. “That’s why I’m here, Cosette, to save you
from yourself. It’s the least I can do to honor Sabine’s memory.
But I refuse to have you turned until you know what you face.”

What does he mean by ‘turned’?
I bite the
inside of my cheek to quell the fear, not wanting to ruin
everything by asking too many questions. I watch his alert blue
eyes carefully as he continues on with his explanation.

“Assuming you follow both our leads and guidance,
then you have the potential to live forever, Cosette. You could be
immortal. However, as a consequence, you can have absolutely no
contact with anyone who knows you as you are now. That is the past,
and you will have to sever those ties for your safety and
theirs.”

Could I really never see Annalin again? My fiancé
already broke off the engagement, refusing to be burdened with a
crippled wife. How could I ever walk away from my grandfather? Yet,
if I refuse, he will be burdened with caring for me and eventually
have to endure the heartache of putting me six feet under. No, a
disappearance sounds less drawn out and in the long term easier on
everyone. Maybe one day Severin will change his mind and allow me
to see them.

Ever so slowly, I ask the imposing, impeccably
dressed man the crucial question, “Could you make me walk
again?”

“Yes, of course, Cosette, and much more than that.
That is why we are here. I care for you deeply. You’re my beloved
sister’s only child and ever since your accident I have wrestled
with my intentions about having you turned. It took today’s final
diagnosis of paralysis to convince me, however. You deserve to have
the choice I was never given. I have no regrets of how I came to
become what I am, and I’m bound and determined to make certain that
you won’t have any, either. Cosette, tell me, what do you know of
vampires?”

Dumbfounded, I can do nothing but repeat the word
back to him like a trained parrot, “Vampires?”

“Yes, that’s what I said. Have you heard the term
before, Cosette?”

The redhead is on high alert as her chin drops. She
watches me closely, and I can’t help but feel unnerved. Her
presence is both eerie and intimidating.

“I have heard of vampires, but only from folklore as
well as Heinrich August Ossenfelder’s haunting poem, ‘The
Vampire.’ ”

“Then you have a basic sense of what we offer
you.”

I have no choice. I’d consider a deal with the devil
himself at this point, and from the sounds of it, this decision
might be akin to that.

The words rush out, “I’ll take it. Do what needs to
be done, Uncle Severin, I beg you. Just don’t leave me like this—a
pitiful cripple. Heaven help me, but I was already plotting to take
my own life. I know that is a mortal sin—”

He cuts me off, obviously in a hurry, “Then the
decision is made. Listen closely. Katerina is going to have to
bring you to the point of death in order to turn you. We have
discussed it at length and feel that even though I am your blood
relative, it is best for her to accomplish this. I have yet to turn
another and her blood is undeniably stronger than my own. She is
quite experienced; you shouldn’t be frightened.”

“I understand and I’m ready.” Deep down the fear of
the unknown is fathomless but on the outside I remain unwavering.
I’m not dense; I know that if I show the slightest hesitation they
may retract their offer.

They exchange looks before the woman takes the single
step toward my bed, lowering her body down beside me while
simultaneously sliding one arm around my left shoulder. She lifts
me effortlessly until our faces are inches apart.

Glittering eyes stare deeply into mine as she says in
a feather light, siren’s voice, “Cosette, I’m going to drink from
you until your heart slows to the point that you would perish if I
left you. After that, I will slice my wrist and you will drink my
blood. There will be sharp pain as my fangs pierce you—it’s
unavoidable. I can’t run the risk of glamouring you because I need
you completely lucid as you drink from me.”

I swallow hard and nod. My mind is spinning with
anxiety and a heady dose of hope as I stare into the stunning face
of an exquisite vampire who appears to be only a few years older
than myself.

With her free hand she gently moves my heavy hair
away from the right side of my neck. Without another word, she
lowers her face down, away from my view. I catch the fleeting scent
of bergamot and vanilla—so lovely.

“Ah!” I can’t suppress my strained cry at the trauma
of her razor-sharp fangs piercing my sensitive skin, a pain akin to
being stabbed by twin daggers.

In a blur of motion, so fast my eyes can’t track it,
Severin hovers above us, his hand clamped firmly across my parted
lips. I struggle to keep from moaning against his cool hand as the
flaming pain swiftly recedes, changing to mind-bending pleasure.
Determined for the extraordinary bliss to never, ever cease, I do
my best not to move my head, to stay quiet and languish in the most
enjoyable sensations I’ve ever experienced.

Soon my thoughts turn foggy as if I’m swimming
headlong through a pool of water that’s pulling me down below its
murky surface, like a sinking ship dropping to icy black
depths.

I have a vague sense that she’s released me. The
pressure is gone, replaced by extreme dizziness. Severin moves away
and my chin is lifted high, my lips pried apart. Only a second
passes before warm wetness with the bitter taste of iron invades my
mouth. I’m too weak to gag as my throat contracts involuntarily,
struggling to keep up with the flow of rich blood that is entering
me. All disgust is forgotten as a blast of hot, potent energy
begins to ignite like a fire in my throat. The heat soon becomes
uncomfortable, almost to the point of burning.
Too hot!
I’m
about to plead with her to stop when it happens … I sense the
weight and pressure of my body lying against the bed.
Feeling!
It’s back! Yes, yes! My reeling brain explodes with hope as the
current of power rips through my body.

My hands, once again mobile, fly up to lock her wrist
against my eager mouth. My vision is now exceptionally heightened.
Perhaps this is what a hawk sees ….
I watch her serious
face as she nods for me to continue.

As if I could ever stop drinking from this life
source ….

My recently useless legs begin twisting back and
forth as I hold her tightly to me. I want to laugh in sheer joy.
They’ve done it.

She turns to Severin. “This one is so very much like
you, Severin—so very strong and willful. I’m impressed.”

“We need to finish this. Someone may come to check on
her soon. My father has been incredibly particular about her
care.”

With her free hand, Katerina brushes my hair away
from my forehead, and the brief sensation feels glorious. “Let go
of me now, Cosette. We are leaving and taking you with us.”

As much as I want to drink more of the healing
elixir, I’m set on showing her my gratitude. With reluctance I
unlatch my hands and pull my mouth away. She stares down and nods
once in approval. I’m about to swing my legs off the side of the
high bed when Severin leans in, scooping me up into his arms.

“Bind your hands around my neck.”

I obey and his lips twist into a small grin as he
says, “Glad you made it, Cosette. Welcome to your new family, your
new reality. I think you’ve finally found the heart-stopping
excitement you’ve always chased after.”

I gaze up at him and whisper in awe, “Thank you a
million times over, Uncle.”

“You’re very welcome, and let’s keep it to Severin
from now on. Wouldn’t want anyone to take me as ‘old.’ ”

Instead of laughing, Katerina is all business, eyes
darting back and forth between the door and the windows.

“Should I bother asking where we’re headed?”

Katerina answers hastily, “To our residence in Spain,
Cosette.”

“Spain? That will be a long journey indeed.”

They exchange brief, amused looks as Severin cocks
his handsome head and says, “Hardly. Now hold on tight and don’t
you dare let go.”

I know now that things will be forever altered. I’m
about to take a leap into the unknown and I can’t wait for my
second chance. Hopefully this new, unrestricted existence will
allow me to be who I really am—an independent free spirit, one who
has known all along that she’s been living in the wrong time in
history.

J
esus, fuck, there’s no
better sight on this green earth than her perfect leather-clad ass
on the back of that bad-ass ride. Hold your shit together, Colton,
you brought her here for answers, not to drool over her like a
horny fucking bull.

I drag in a calming breath and dismount, calling out
to her, “Nobody’ll mess with it in front of my place, if that’s
what you’re worried about.”

Her hair spills down as she removes her helmet and I
try unsuccessfully to wipe away the powerful vision of it tethered
tightly to my fist as I fuck her ruthlessly.

I fail to hide a groan of raw male appreciation as
she purrs out, “If you think I’m the least bit concerned about
where
I park my Ducati, then you have a lot to learn.”

I close in on her. Surprisingly she holds her ground,
all cool, unaffected grace. Staring down, I respond to her taunt in
a low whisper, “Oh, I look forward to learning more, wildcat,
a
lot
more. In fact, I was planning on it, whether you extended
the invite to me or not.”

Her lush lips tip up at the corners. “Such
confidence. One drink, remember, cowboy? Nothing more, nothing
less. And
I
choose what questions I’d like to answer
tonight.”

She sets my blood on fire with that feisty
attitude of hers
. I point a finger in the direction of my
weather-beaten Victorian, “C’mon then, sweetheart. You must be
thirsty.”

Like silk, the words fall ever so slowly from her
lips. “Oh, you haven’t a clue.”

“Well, we’ll fix that. Can’t promise you nothin’
fancy—no girlie drinks or that bullshit—but I’ll do my best to find
you somethin’ you’ll like.”

Her hips sway in a perfect sashay in front of me as I
stare in appreciation at her assets.
Fuck, those skintight pants
are doing things to my dick that my head can’t keep up with. Slow
and easy, Brennan.

“Oh, I’m sure you’re very capable of
accommodating
me, cowboy.”

That’s it.

I lean in mid-stride, grasp her elbow and spin her
swiftly back and around to face me. A look of amusement flares in
her unusual pale eyes as I tell her quietly, “You’d best not go
teasin’ a man like me, sugar. Consequences will follow if you
do.”

Breathy, wild excitement threads her voice as she
plants a small palm in the center of my chest and lands me with,
“Whatever you have to offer, cowboy, you’d better believe that not
only can I
handle
it, but I would come back for numerous
rounds. You see, I am quite voracious.”

Christ, this woman was built for me
.

“Fuuuukkk. You’re crazy, woman, you know that?”

“I’ve been called that and a lot worse in my
lifetime. Now, if we’re past the witty foreplay, how about that
drink?”

“Babydoll, haven’t even
begun
with the
foreplay, but yeah, get your little ass inside.”

“Are you always this much of a totally uncouth savage
around women, Mr. Brennan?”

“Not sure what the word before savage means, but it
ain’t often I chat one-on-one with women, especially not sober
women anything like you, so take it for what it is.”

“And what is it?”

“Male fucking interest. Pure and simple.”

Not waiting for an answer, I reach around her to
unlock the deadbolt. My knuckles scrape the wood as the key twists,
and peeling blue paint flakes off to flutter down onto the rotting,
tilted porch.