This Curse: (The Grace Allen Series Book 2 ) (4 page)

“I tried to slip in tonight without anyone being the
wiser, that was my mistake, but yours is assuming I’m powerless because of my
new Madea nature. I’m still here, the Madea is here too, but piss me off
wolf-boy
and I will push everything aside and boil the fur from your body!” To send my
point home, I sent a full five seconds of horrible searing pain all over his
body.

Five seconds seems like nothing, but believe me, it’s
all relative.

He shuddered, convulsing as tears stained his cheeks.
The music pumped in time with his agonized jerks.

My conscience prickled, but held. The pain was quick
but the after-effects lasted several seconds more. I think he got my point.

I forced a cold smile; glancing around the room, I
centered my thoughts on the dancing horde. A thought froze them instantly. 

I let go of a little more glamour. I had the idea
that my true Madea form would prove once and for all that, I no longer needed
the ring. It was the only thing I could think of to shove my point home. I
hated to reveal myself it saddened me. I was never going to be the same person
I was before all of this; I would always have to hide myself away.

The Jamaican beauty slipped away to reveal most of my
true form. Copper and fire replaced what was once basic brown hair. Silver and
green shards of metallic light colored my eyes making me look ethereal and
frightening.

Patrick dropped to his knees

Sweat broke out in a fine sheen along his face and
arms. His breathing became ragged as he gripped the fabric of his shirt. The
sound of the silk tearing was sickening.

I took a step backward and shook my head in
confusion. He was trying to rip his clothing off?

“Shit, what are you doing?” I gasped. I had to stop
him before he was too far gone. This was supposed to be just show but he was
reacting as if it were a brutal seduction.

I felt faint.
Oh, no!
Realization hit me in
the face as my body hummed with awareness. I was releasing pheromones. My mind
was whirling with the reality of what my body was trying to do. He had power, I
had power, and that was something he was definitely attracted to.

I hadn’t given him everything I had, but even then,
Patrick was primal enough to be affected. 

“Patrick, stop. Listen to me,” I tried to soothe him,
bring him back. His mind was slipping, reverting to the basic need to mate. I
could taste the lust in the air; smell his need.
Damn it, this wasn’t going
well at all
. I shielded myself completely, shrouding myself behind my
Jamaican cloak. 

I pulled in my pheromones, perfuming the air with the
wild scent of the club. The cloak of human bodies covered in human sweat.

Patrick struggled to his feet and sputtered liquid
onto the floor. “Woman,” he growled as he fumbled, “what have you done to me?”

With my glamour back in place, he was slowly gaining
control. I could feel the tension ease around me. There wasn’t much I could do
about his reaction; all I could do was try to be happy that it was so strong,
even though it wasn’t quite the type I’d counted on.

“Patrick, I don’t know what you want from me. I
already went through this with Seth.”
Well, not exactly, but he didn’t have
to know that. “
Tell the Council to stop their pursuit of me. I am free of
the ring and can not be used or manipulated. You’ve seen some of my true form;
you know I’m telling the truth.”

He shuttered; his face pale and drenched with sweat.
Thin strands of spittle ran from his lips. “I will give them your message, but
I don’t think it will change their pursuit.” He coughed and spat on the floor.
“Power is power, Grace, and you’re drenched in it.” He ran his sleeve across
his mouth. “I’m sure the only thing that will change is how they approach this
new development.
Lord!
I still feel the lust."

I moved further away from him.

“I want to take you, right here in the middle of this
dance floor.
What the fuck
, Grace?” He shook his head as if the idea
could be flung from his mind. “I’ve never felt this before. It’s fading.” He
glared at me, “It’s fading a lot, but I think if you don’t leave this place
right now I’m going to embarrass us both. I know your true form.
My God
;
I can’t get the vision out of my head.”

“Patrick, you need to stop. Don’t you get it? I
didn’t do this to seduce you. I had to show you that I am no longer human. My
Madea, form is who I am. No ring binds me. I cannot be used. I am no longer the
pathetic tool your people believe me to be. This must stop.”

I could see his struggle. Fists clenched tightly at
his sides, teeth grinding while pulling in great puffs of air.

“Calm Patrick, breathe slowly.” I whispered.

“Leave, Grace. Now. I will relay your message, but I
think you’ve made things worse for yourself. I have you in my head. I know your
power has been leashed, but I can still feel you. I smell you.” He took a small
step toward me. I held my ground, my chin raised. “I want a taste,” he
breathed.

“I’m not afraid of you Patrick. I already told you.
You can’t hurt me,” I shook my head, “you just can’t.”

“You mistake me Grace. I wouldn’t dream of hurting
you. I would devour you, but not as a wolf, Grace, as a
man
.”

My chin fell. I admit, my transformation into a true
Madea was a very short time ago, but the effects of my true form have never
been like this. I knew that I was capable of producing large amounts of
pheromones. But, I was the only Madea left. How the hell was I supposed to know
that my stupid body would try and attract anything strong enough to mate with?
Oh, this was just wonderful. Nothing like nature on steroids.

Patrick was strong, that I knew, and he was
beautiful, another plus. Unfortunately, my female parts only zoomed in on those
two things. The fact that he seemed evil to the core and hell bent on eating
people didn’t stop what had happened. 

“You don’t want
me
Patrick. Once I’m out of
your sight, this will all pass.” I turned and began walking. With a thought,
the crowd roared back to life as if nothing had interrupted it, swallowing my
retreating form. The soul thumping music made my head hurt, not to mention the
stress I was feeling with Patrick’s reaction to just a taste of the real me. I
waded through the crowd, zigzagging a path to the door. I wanted so much to
just zap myself home, but I had already broken enough personal rules for one
night. It seemed a little redemptive to have to schlep in super high heels
through smelly people while smiling and being nice. Penance, so to speak.

I could feel him at my back. A heat that was
indescribable. I turned on my heel ready to defend myself. His face was too
near, his breath on my face. The kiss was deep and shock stiffened my spine.
His taste was warm earth. I smelled the grass in summer and the trees in
spring. It was all things pure and clean.

I felt myself falling. My senses opened and I felt my
glamour slip. I spun, pushing him backward.
Fuck
it
. I thought
and I transported myself out of there with no regrets.

I appeared behind one of the tall trees that lined
the long path leading to my new house. It was very inconspicuous, a modest
three bedroom ranch style in a fairly quiet area just outside of Reno. I had a
decent amount of land. It was just enough to keep my neighbors safe, but not so
much as to leave me completely alienated. The fortune I inherited from Ann when
she left this world for her new life was safely ensconced in the bank. She
insisted that I spend it, but it made me feel better to have a big fat cushion.

The cool nighttime air felt amazing on my heated
skin. I needed to walk. My nerves were shot. I mean, what the hell was that all
about? Cripes, that didn’t go a bit like I’d planned. I just wanted to make my
point, take a stand. But no, I have to go and sex up the first werewolf I met.
And, he kissed me. Wow what a kiss. My toes were still curled. 

As I neared my house, I let the Jamaican glamour go.
Replacing it with my everyday face, the only one the world was allowed to see.
It felt good to be my old self, even though it was a lie.

“There is a taint of dog around you, Sweet. It
stinks,” a dark god stepped out from the shadow of a huge willow. His long hair
was loose, silky tendrils blowing lightly in the wind, sweeping and coiling
around his powerful body. Silver eyes caught the moonlight in a face that could
make angels weep. Pure masculine power caged in the perfect form of a Master
Vampire.

“Seth, what do you want?” I sighed. “I’m tired. It’s
been a shitty night.” I stopped walking. I didn’t want to lead him to my house.
I knew there was a nice fluffy bed in there and I really didn’t want to have to
battle my crazy pheromones again. Things could get complicated.

He watched me as if reading my mind. “You know what I
need. Don’t make me
take,
Grace, it’s so barbaric.” He said. His beauty
made my heart squeeze but his words doused any budding tender feelings. I
stood, watching his silvery eyes mock me with their reality. My blood, the
blood of a Madea, pure and straight from the source gave him strength he could
never have imagined.

I felt the memory tickle the back of my mind and I
sighed to myself as I looked at the large man. We were at a magical stalemate;
but he could still overpower me with sheer brute strength; which is exactly
what he would do if I denied him.

A small drink was all he ever wanted. I could even
give him a wrist if I chose, but he would not lose my blood. I couldn’t blame
him, and I could even understand, but he never just drank and left. He would
stay and seduce. He would work his tricks and play with every weakness I had,
and Lord help me, when it came to him there were still far too many.

It was nearly impossible to resist him, but I knew
that if we were to come together again I might drop my glamour. I couldn’t
chance it. Especially after the way Patrick reacted tonight.
My God
, I
can’t even imagine what my true form would do when presented to a man like
Seth, a veritable
god
in the world of men. It was way too risky.

Thank goodness, that after weeks of allowing him to
drink from my wrist, I finally grew a brain and placed my blood in bags. It was
my personal mission to keep this man away from my body. He held an attraction
that was definitely hazardous to my health.  

It had taken days to fill enough of the bags with my
blood, once I figured out how to do it. Part of me wanted to use my power to
just get the job over with quickly, but seeing my silvery blood inside those
little baggies made me feel so incredibly alien that I forced myself to trudge
through every step of the job. 

I shook my head and smiled to myself as I gazed at
his beautiful face.
Man was he going to be pissed!
 

“Relax Seth, I have no intention of refusing you, I‘m
just tired, like I said.” I began walking again, this time toward a small
detached garage I recently had built near the back of my property. “Just give
me a minute.” I twisted my long hair into a knot at my neck as his tension and
hunger beat at my back. I unlocked the door and left it open, then I reached
over and flicked on the lights to reveal two large stainless steel
refrigerators, a microwave on a single counter and a small table and chair
which sat alone in a corner.

I opened one of the refrigerator doors. Inside were
rows and rows of small bags filled with my silvery blood. The second
refrigerator was filled identical to the first. I grabbed a bag and tossed it
into the microwave, then turned to toss him the keys. “Here, this should keep
you sated for a few weeks at least. There are three keys. Two are on that ring
and the third will stay with me. I’ll fill the fridge when I think you are
running too low. Consider this your personal take-out restaurant, you’re
welcome and goodnight.” I turned to go as his cool hand closed around my arm. I
tensed for a fight, “God, Seth, what more do you want from me? What else do you
need?”

“You surprise me sweet, Grace, but I do tire of your
foolishness. You know I must sate my thirst from your body. I need your warmth,
your breath. The feelings I get when I touch you.” He took the bag from the
microwave then turned and ran his finger along my jaw. “This is an insult.” He
tossed it onto the table, “I am sad that you went through all of this trouble,”
he leaned in, smelling my hair, “but it will never do.”  

I pushed him away. “I’m sorry Seth, but it will have
to do. You don’t need any of those things. The blood is enough. Your wish to
seduce and claim me will never come true. I can’t have you always demanding,
coaxing. I don’t want you. Don’t you see? Even if I wanted to be with you, it
could never happen.”

“I see, more than you know.” He pulled me close to
his body. “You still want me to be the enemy. You cannot abide the feelings you
have for me, so you wish to be rid of my presence. Grace, you are a fool. We
are the same, you and I. There is more than lust between us. Forget your power,
your value to others. None of that matters now.”

“Who do you think you’re fooling?” I whirled away,
jerking out of his grip. “You have no idea what I’ve become! You think you’ve
seen my face? You think what you see now is what you’re getting when you ask to
have me? You are
not
my equal. I am stranger than even
you
could
imagine.” I could feel moisture tickling my eyes, threatening to spill over.
“You will never have me again. The woman who let you use her body so long ago
is dead.” My voice rose and I pressed my hands onto my chest. “Only this
creature remains. So please, do as I ask. Leave me alone.” I felt the sob
spring free and I turned abruptly, flashing out of the shed and instantly
landing onto the cool tile floor of my bathroom. I started the shower as my
tears spilled.