I slipped away from her and out of the parlor. The entrance hall was empty. Two doors stood across the hall. The front one was open and revealed a large dining room with a long table. The places were set with half a dozen utensils and the napkins were folded into hats.
The second door to the left was partially hidden in a narrow hallway and behind a large suit of armor. My ears detected the faint sound of voices. I walked across the hall and placed my ear against the door. The knob hadn't latched and the door gave way a few inches, allowing me a view into the room.
It was a study with large bookcases and a giant globe. An oak desk stood opposite the door, and in front of the desk stood Mr. Gemmarius. His arms were crossed over his chest and he had a frown on his lips.
"Really, Simon, I thought you would be more reasonable, but I can't offer you sufficient protection at such a small price," he commented.
Cruor stood to the right just out of my line of sight. His tone was one of bemusement as he chuckled. "I thought perhaps you might feel that way. As it is I will accept your offer as a token of our friendship."
Mr. Gemmarius dropped his arms to his side and grinned. "Excellent! I knew you'd see things my way. Let's shake on it." He stretched out his hand, and Cruor's hand came into view. They joined hands and shook.
I shrugged and turned away, but Cruor's calm voice brought me back.
"Now if you would kindly tell me the location and combination of your safe, our business will be finished."
I frowned and looked over my shoulder. Gemmarius stood stiff as a board, and his face was devoid of emotion. His eyes were wide and vacant. Cruor released his hand and it dropped lifeless to Gemmarius's side.
When Gemmarius spoke it was in a flat tone. "The vault is behind the picture of Queen Elizabeth the first," he revealed. "The combination is 1-25-52."
Cruor chuckled. "Your birthday? That's very unwise of you to use such a known date, Mr. Gemmarius." The man didn't reply.
"Simon! Simon, where are you?" Eileen cooed.
I swung around in the direction of the hall. My shoulder hit the door and swung it open. Cruor turned to me. My hand flew to my mouth to stifle my gasp. His eyes were as red as coals and his teeth were long and sharp, like fangs. I stumbled backwards until my back hit the opposite side of the narrow hall.
Cruor was one moment five yards from me, and the next moment his hand slammed into the wall to the left of my head. He leaned his face close to mine. Those blood-red eyes stared into mine.
"Say nothing of this," he hissed.
I felt a strange tingle in my mind. My mouth bobbed up and down. I couldn't release the scream I so desperately desired.
Eileen appeared around the corner. "Simon! There you-oh."
Cruor face reverted back to human before he looked to Eileen with a smile. I ducked under his arm and rushed behind her. My shivering hands grasped her shoulders and my voice choked on my tremble.
"H-he's a monster!" I told her.
Cruor raised an eyebrow, but I noticed his body tensed.
Eileen glanced over her shoulder at me and frowned. "What are you going on about?"
I nodded at Cruor. "He's some sort of monster! I saw it! He had red eyes and was doing something to Gemmarius!"
At that moment the aforementioned gentleman stepped out of the study. He was all smiles as he nodded at us. "Well well, we have quite the crowd here, don't we?"
Cruor stepped aside, but his eyes never left me. His smile had no warmth and there was a shadow in his eyes that made me shudder. "Yes. I was just telling Miss Luvena about the view from the shoreline."
Eileen beamed with pride. "Yes. Papa bought the house specifically for the view. It was a nice deal, too."
I stepped out from behind her and pointed a finger at Cruor. "Are you listening to me? He's not human!"
Gemmarius raised an eyebrow and his eyes flickered to Cruor. "Is your date quite right in the head, Simon?"
Cruor closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm afraid the light in the study has played a trick on her." He stepped towards me and stretched out his hand. "Perhaps we should leave."
Eileen gasped. "Leave before dinner?"
I stepped away from his outstretched hand and shook my head. "Like hell I'm leaving with you."
Eileen turned to me, and all three of them stared at me with disconcerted eyes. She glanced at Cruor. "I think perhaps you should take her upstairs to let her lie down."
I'd seen enough movies to know where this conversation was headed. Neither Eileen nor Gemmarius believed my story. Heck, even I couldn't quite believe what I saw, but I still had faith in my eyes.
That's why I turned away from their concerned gazes and rushed to the door.
"Faith!" Cruor yelled.
He was the last person I would stop for. I rushed out into the night. The limo was gone and the driveway was empty. Worried voices echoed in the entrance hall behind me.
"What's going on?" Mr. Eres boomed.
"Midus! Midus!" Mrs. Gemmarius called.
"Faith!"
The last voice was Cruor. I rushed down the driveway. My feet pounded against the pavement in the direction of the gates. They were shut, and there was no guard to call to open them. I grabbed the bars and shook them.
Footsteps behind me made me look over my shoulder. Cruor stood five feet behind me. The driveway behind him was empty. His arms hung by his side and in the dim light his eyes glowed that unnatural red color. I swung around and pressed my back against the bars. Now I felt the full foolishness of my choice to come with this stranger, this monster.
He held out his hand to me. "Come back to the house with me, Faith."
I frowned and shook my head. "Hell no."
He took a step towards me. "You trusted me before."
I looked him up and down. "What the hell are you?"
"Your friend, if you will allow me, and something more if you wish it," he promised. He took another step towards me.
I slid along the bars to the right. "That doesn't answer my question."
He dropped his hand and a coy smile slipped onto his pale lips. "Do you wish for the truth, or the lies I give to others?"
"I want the truth," I insisted.
Cruor sighed. "Then I will tell you I am a vampire."
I frowned. "I said the truth."
He folded his arms across his chest and shrugged. "That is the truth. I haven't lied to you."
I snorted. "No, you've just omitted some pretty important facts. Like this." I held out the ruby in my necklace. "This ruby was stolen from the Gemmarius's, wasn't it?"
His smile danced across his lips. "You are very astute. Perhaps that's why my powers have no control over you."
I frowned. "What powers?"
Cruor repeated his speed trick. One moment he stood four feet from me, and the next there was barely a few inches from us. I gasped and squeezed against the bars. He leaned down. His red eyes swept over my face. My heart thumped in my chest.
When he spoke his voice was soft and seductive. "I find I cannot control you as I do those puppets inside the house." He reached up and cupped my cheek in his hand. I shivered against the cool feel of his hand. My body ignited with heat as he leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. "But perhaps because of that I find myself irresistibly attracted to you."
He pressed his lips against mine in a strong, possessive kiss. His arms wrapped around me and captured my body against his. The heat inside me burst into a warm, delicious flame. I grasped the front of his shirt and groaned into the kiss.
He pulled us apart. I panted. He didn't. A warm blush covered my cheeks as I blinked at him.
A sly, crooked grin slipped onto his lips. "How very intriguing."
I leaned back and frowned. "What's that mean?"
He chuckled. "It means you don't detest me. Most humans have a natural abhorrence for my presence, but you seem to delight in my physical co
ntact."
My eyebrows crashed down and I tried to push him away. "I just want you to let me go!"
Cruor leaned down and captured my lips in another sensual kiss. I was paralyzed by lust. His hands slid up the smooth back of my dress and massaged my ass. I gasped and broke our kiss. He pressed soft, hot kisses down my neck. I leaned back and closed my eyes. His teasing nips stopped where my neck met my collar bone.
I felt two sharp pinches against my flesh, and then ecstasy. My body filled with a thick, agonizing heat that pooled between my legs. He pressed me closer to him and deepened his bite. I gasped and moaned. My flesh was consumed by a deep, aching lust. I craved his body, his touch, his bite. Every trickle of blood he took from me was a small orgasm.
I whimpered when he broke from me. His wide eyes shimmered in the darkness and now he, too, panted for breath. A few droplets of blood from his fangs slipped down his chin, leaving streaks of red against his pale skin.
A sudden fatigue washed over me. My knees buckled beneath my weight. His arms kept me from dropping to the ground. I had trouble keeping my eyes open.
"My god. . ." he whispered.
"Mr. Cruor," a voice spoke up.
Simon clasped me close to his side and spun around. In the middle of the driveway and ten feet from us stood our driver. His pale skin stood out in the darkness.
Simon relaxed his tense body, but kept me clutched close against him. "What is it, Certus?"
Certus bowed. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is trouble."
Simon frowned. "Fledglings?"
The driver straightened and nodded. "Yes, sir."
Simon swept me into his arms and looked down at me. His red eyes softened. "It seems our evening must wait."
Certus stepped up to us. "Would you like me to take her home?"
Simon pursed his lips and shook his head. "There isn't time, and she would be safer with us."
Certus's eyes flickered down at me. His eyes widened and he started back. He looked to Simon. "You've marked her?"
Simon carried me past him and towards the house. "We haven't time for this discussion."
Certus bowed. "Yes, sir."
CHAPTER 7