Sweet Cravings (15 page)

Risa took a shaky breath and hugged herself as if all the grief, all the coldness in the world, was thrust onto her. “Mas—Shaed. Shaed’s dead?”

“One might put it that way. My lovely,” he made a sweeping indication with his hand toward me, “was kind enough to impale her through the heart.

“I’ve answered your questions,” Darius said to Risa.

“Thank you. Thank you for helping her.”

A sudden fury flashed in his eyes, which were now pure, illuminated, amber pools. “Leave.”

Lune grabbed Risa’s tiny hand and hastily led her from the room. I looked up and Darius backed me against the wall and clasped my right arm so it bent over my head. My legs began to feel numb and heavy. His otherworldly energy flung off him like icy needles. I was suffocating on his power and found myself choking. “What’re you-you doing?”

“It’s not enough.” He leaned into me, lightly grazed my cheek with a fang, and then lapped the small line of welling blood. “Do you know how troublesome it is for me to keep myself controlled while in your presence? Can you fathom how great my excitement is? It’s been too long. Far too long. Why should I resist when you’re here, and I have your face in my hand?” His voice lowered to something like a purr and a growl. “You’re mine now.” He pressed his smooth lips to mine roughly, passionately. Without restraint, I responded, tasting him like some delectable foreign candy.

In my peripheral vision, Sang opened his mouth to speak but decided not to. I would’ve given him a thumbs-up since that was the best thing he could’ve done, but my limbs were peculiarly paralyzed. He laughed into a napkin and left.

When Darius was finished exploring my mouth, he planted a row of fiery kisses down the length of my neck to the top area of my chest and froze. I vaguely evoked a long past irritation, took a fistful of his hair, and jerked his head up to mine. “You’re not supposed to stop,” I heard myself say wickedly, and bit into his neck.

This isn’t like me. I don’t want this. Not now.

I reluctantly ended drinking from him and turned my head. “I’m going to bed.”

He stepped away with a grin. “I expected you to try and reject me again, but it seems your liking to me has increased.”

“Tired.” I yawned, doing my best to keep a straight face. “Going to bed.”

“Where would you like to sleep?”

“Somewhere away from you. I’d like my house, but you probably wouldn’t like that, would you? I guess the place where I woke up will have to do.”

“Tomorrow will be so enjoyable.” He chuckled and started to walk to his room. “Good-night, my dear.”

I grumbled through my teeth, “Night.”

The next day I got a call from Haru asking if she could come over and see us. I ran the news through Sang, who ran the news through Darius. Darius was fast to agree, and I texted Haru back saying to come at about two. She said she had some news about NEXUS and some other stuff. I wondered heavily on what that
other stuff
could be.

While I waited for her to come, I lay on my pink curtained bed and became engrossed in deep thoughts about last night and my current situation. What had happened last night, anyway? I was shot, yes, shot, and when I touched my chest where the bullet had entered, it was smoothed over with skin, as if I was never wounded in the first place.

As I thought about Darius and my life…er…undead life, I slipped out of bed and wandered around the mansion. Then, I seemed to stop automatically at an intricately designed door with carved dragon heads jutting out as if breaking free from an egg. The knob was in the shape of a golden heart, and the door itself was a dark, rich mahogany. It smelled so musty and good, and I couldn’t help but open it. I entered inside and quietly shut the door, the small wind from closing it lifting and ruffling my nightgown around my legs.

Soft, classical music played in the room, and it was so calming and peaceful. The room was heavily curtained from the outside with deep purple drapes with tassels, and in one corner stood an old but beautiful grandfather clock carved into roses and twisting vines. There was a dresser with ivory wolves on each end and mother-of-pearl knobs. The ceiling was pure white and had hanging lights in spherical shapes. And then there were the paintings.

Paintings hung on every wall of different flowers, animals, and a woman who looked peculiarly like me. They were so vivid and alive, like they could pop from the canvas.

The paintings of the women especially were in very fine detail, down to each stroke of an eyelash to each personality in an eye. They all had blonde hair, blue eyes, and the same faces, but they all had different poses, smiles, and scenarios. The one riding a majestic black horse made me gasp in admiration; the horse could leap from the frame and prance about if I stared long enough.

As I searched the room, the classical music became louder and louder, and I found another dresser with a black lace blanket thrown over it. Beside it was a matching chest, and I curiously lifted it up and saw all sorts of jewelry and gems. It was so breathtaking, all these vintage and priceless items all jumbled together. They were arranged neatly in rows; one row for earrings, one for rings, and another for pendants. I was awestruck by their brilliance and captivating craftsmanship.

Just as I closed the lid, the music died down a little, and I crept behind another dresser covered with a white sheet to see Darius standing in the middle of about ten easels, one on which he was painting. I edged closer to see what he was painting, and I could feel the rush and the excitement of being unknown, of having my presence concealed, when out of nowhere Darius said, “You can watch, my dear.”

And I nearly fell back on my ass, because his voice penetrated the calmness so quickly.

“You like to paint?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

His answer was soft and subtle. “Yes. It is very relaxing. Do you having something you do from time to time to relax, my dear?”

I smoothed my nightgown down, cleared my throat, and replied, “Well, I kinda like to write.”

“Good.” He concentrated on his work, his eyes focused on the tiny glimmer in the eye of a white unicorn. It was just beginning to come alive on the canvas, the rest of the body finished, all the shadows and lights in all the right places; now just the head and the background remained.

“I didn’t know you liked unicorns.” I teased as his brush stroked the canvas.

“I didn’t know you liked to sneak around like a mouse,” he countered wryly.

I puffed my cheeks and let go of some steam. He always had something smart to say. “Last night was, um, interesting.”

Darius set his brush down on a small round table which held his other brushes and paints. “Yes it was.”

I stepped closer to him. “Who’s Risa, and what were you talking about? She was just a little girl. Little kids can be vampires?”

“Anyone can be a vampire, my dear. Risa was turned for the best as she was sick and dying. Her master, Shaed, had been sick of late and came to me to ask if I could temporarily
kill
her. So I did as she wished, but it seems she did not tell her blood-daughter,” he said.

“What do you mean, temporarily kill her?”

“Old ones, such as me, cannot simply die. Shaed wanted some peace, so I granted her wish.”

“Oh.” I still didn’t completely understand. I noticed he was wearing a white apron, which was stained with paint and looked like a kindergartner’s art project, and under that was a beige dress shirt with belled sleeves and tight black leather pants. He wasn’t wearing any shoes, not even his slippers, which I found odd. His feet were pale like the rest of him but somewhat beautiful all the same.

Yes, Lily, feet were beautiful.

I mentally smacked myself in the head. Was it his charm? His powers? Or was it me? Was it me who thought he was gorgeous, that he could sit in a museum and have people gawk at his mere magnificence? I really didn’t know.

“It is you.” His voice sliced through the silence like a knife through butter. “I’m not using any
tricks
. My dear, it’s you.” I shivered at his voice, how low and smooth it was, how it made me feel like I was being enveloped in a chrysalis of silk.

He was behind me now, and I could see the whole of the painting. I hadn’t seen it before, but to the very right of the canvas was a man who resembled the artist in every small detail, lying next to a mossy stump as the unicorn approached warily but curiously. The man’s eyes were closed, and they were in the beginning of a yet-to-be-finished forest, with a wide stream near the left. It was amazingly crafted; I was awestruck by the fine features, the pop of the textures of the painting, and the stunning work that went into it.

“You’re good,” I whispered, although good could not describe the feeling of wonder I experienced at seeing such a masterpiece. “Really, really good.”

Darius’ cold palm wrapped around my eyes, and he combed a hand slowly through my hair. “I can feel your admiration.” He breathed, pulling my head back ever so gently.

His lips hovered over mine and our breaths mingled together. His smelled nice and of rose tea. Just as our mouths were going to touch, Lawrence rapped at the door and hollered, “Haru’s here.”

I didn’t really have an opinion of Lawrence. I knew he was Darius’ butler and he was in his mid-forties, but other than that, I saw no show of personality from him at all. He was tall, about six feet six, with a bald head with small tufts of white hair around it. He was slim too and had this regal air about him that I couldn’t quite figure out. To top everything off he was human, not vampire, and it killed me to know why.

Darius always called him by his name, and he, in return, called Darius “Sir” or “My lord.” I heard Darius was rich, powerful, and old, but in his old life had he been someone of high status? Like a duke or a lord? Possibly even a prince? I didn’t know, but I’d ask when I had the chance.

Darius had Haru sit in the main guest area, which was a lavish room with golden rose wallpaper, three leather couches, and several recliners. It also contained two chairs, a long glass coffee table, and an exquisite Persian rug underneath it all. On the ceiling hung five small crystal chandeliers shaped liked horses, and there were two rearing horse statues on either end of the room, one beside each door. Did Darius like horses? He had some in his paintings, so I wouldn’t put it past him. I sat on one of the couches, and Darius sat in one of the chairs next to me. Sang settled next to me on the couch, Hira sat in a chair opposite Haru, and Caen took a spot on the other couch.

When we were all situated, Darius clapped his hands together and spoke. “Why are you here so early in the morning, my lovely?”

It was ten, so it wasn’t that early, but I guess to Darius, who slept most of the day, it was.

Haru looked at him with a gaze of wonder and bewilderment, and then answered, “I have some news about NEXUS. I know you want it gone because it’s in your territory, and it’s going against your regulations.”

“What do you mean his territory?” I asked.

Darius answered, “My dear, I am the vampire who resides over the northeastern territory of North America. Vampires have the world split into territories, and the old ones have claim over land. Those which preside over the land have certain duties, one of which is to follow their own code of ethics. Mine is to not mingle with humans, which this drug crosses in multiple ways.”

I mumbled, “Like a pack of wolves.”

“Precisely,” he uttered, amber eyes on me.

Haru cleared her throat. “Well, I’ve found out the main location where they make the drug. They take in vampires, pay them, and then use them for the drug. It’s in the basement of a house in town.”

“And how did you find this out?”

“I can’t say.”

Darius drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair and smiled faintly. “You know the exact location?”

“Yes.”

“Then we will take a look the day after tomorrow.”

Caen intervened, “Darius, are you sure? You don’t have to be involved in this. I’m sure the Court will handle it.”

“Like they handled the last drug?” he snapped. “Caen, let me remind you that your precious Court is no longer any of your concern. You are bound to me now, and if you are bound to me, you relinquish all connections to the Court, is that clear?”

Caen nodded hesitantly. “Yes, my lord.”

Darius ran a hand through his thick hair and sighed. “I’m glad you understand.”

I didn’t really understand what
the Court
was, but it sounded like something political, and I didn’t want to get involved in something political.

Haru spoke. “Anyway, if we can nab the two people at the top, we got this in the bag.”

I remembered my dream about Nyx, and how she and someone she knew were involved in the creation of the drug. “I know one person who might be at the top,” I declared.

“Who?” Haru’s face brightened with renewed interest.

“Nyx, and her sire.”

Darius said, “Yes, I believe them to be at the top, too. However, I cannot get the Court involved. I loathe the Court. So, we will take matters into our own hands and rid the world of these atrocious drugs for good.” He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. “This discussion is finished. I expect my servants to be in the dining hall for dinner.”

Sang whispered into my ear, “He means everyone but Haru.”

“I’m not a servant!” I growled.

“I know, he likes to tease too sometimes.”

Darius stood, adjusted his collar, shook hands with Haru, and then exited the room; Sang walked briskly after him, and Caen and Hira left through a different door. Haru came over to me and let out a long sigh.

“Boy, that was tense! I’m so glad we’re finally alone!” She stretched her arms over her head.

I gave her a huge smile. “Hey.”

The redhead sat beside me on the couch and gazed into my eyes. “Oh, you’re so pretty! I wish I had blue eyes. Anyway, I just want you to know that you don’t have to do this with us. You can stay here and wait for us to get it done.”

I shook my head. “Nah, that’s okay. I wanna go. I don’t want anything bad to happen to any of you.”