Forbidden

Sadie throws up her hands. “No, Mom, I’m not joking. Will you please just put him on the phone?” She covers the speaker with her hand and turns on Gabriel. “This had better help Rose.”

  “It will,” he assures her as he returns his focus to the slick roads. “Tell him to meet us at the community building at the park on Travertine Street.”

  Gabriel knows the instant Nicolae picks up because Sadie’s face clouds over. Apparently their fiasco at the dance has placed Sadie right back to where she used to be—deep loathing of all things Nicolae. She quickly gives him the directions and hangs up. “He’ll be there in five minutes.”

  “Good.” Gabriel nods, pressing harder on the accelerator. His left leg bobs up and down, unable to control the nervous tension any longer.

  The Range Rover’s tires stutter over the ice as he slides into the deserted parking lot a few minutes later. No one in their right mind would be out on a day like this. It is windy, icy, and downright miserable.

  A lone figure stands huddled against the tall wooden community building. “Let’s go,” Gabriel says as he hops out of the car.

  The grass crunches underfoot as the three friends hurry toward shelter. Nicolae turns and enters the abandoned building as they approach. Sadie rushes inside, not waiting for either of the guys to open the door for her. “It must be ten degrees out there,” she groans through chattering teeth.

  A cold draft filters down from above since the roof is not completely covered. The building is used as a semi-outdoor movie theater in the summer but it offers a slight reprieve from the brutal winds, as well as some privacy.

  “Why am I here?” Nicolae asks, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He looks away, wary of meeting anyone’s glance.

  Gabriel is not fooled. “You have answers. We want them.”

  Nicolae’s callous laugh echoes from wall to wall. “I don’t have anything that can help you.”

  “What about this?” Gabriel snarls, shoving the incriminating picture into Nicolae’s face. “Recognize anyone?”

  Nicolae’s stony exterior crumbles as he shoots a worried glance at Sadie. “Alright, I admit it. I sent that picture to Rose. So what?”

  “You were threatening her with this, weren’t you?” William challenges, stepping closer to Gabriel’s side to provide a strong front.

  “No,” Nicolae protests lamely. “It is nothing. Just a picture.”

  “I’m not buying it,” Gabriel huffs, stomping forward. “You knew exactly what you were doing. Funny thing though…this picture was not in Rose’s room the night before the dance. So you must have slipped into her house after I left, or yesterday when you knew she’d be out dress shopping with Sadie.”

  Backed into a wall, Nicolae has nowhere to run. Sadie and William flank Gabriel. “Is this some kind of sick joke?” Sadie questions. “Why did you take a picture of Roseline’s ancestor at the art museum?”

  Nicolae’s meek demeanor shifts. He laughs as his shoulders straighten out of their slight hunch. The skin around his eyes releases the squinty look he always portrays. “Is that what you think I did?”

  Gabriel’s eyes narrow at the faint increase in Nicolae’s pulse that thumps in his ears. Why can he hear it? He shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He has to focus. “I want the truth, Nicolae. No more lies. Rose is in danger and I need to help her before she gets hurt.”

  Nicolae startles everyone with a bitter snort. “Trust me, she’s fine. Nothing can hurt her.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Sadie presses. She spins a lock of her short hair around her finger, needing something to occupy her hands while she plots to throttle him.

  “You wouldn’t believe me even if I did tell you,” he responds, averting his gaze. He doesn’t even try to hide his disgust now.

  Gabriel narrows his eyes as he leans in closer. A strange warmth builds along his neck and up into his cheeks as he stares Nicolae down. “Try me.”

  Nicolae pales as a faint blue glow emits from Gabriel’s eyes. “Holy crap,” he gasps, jerking back against the wall. “You’re one of them!”

  “What the heck are you talking about?” William paces back and forth.

  Nicolae turns to look squarely at William. “A vampire.”

  “See? I knew this was going to be a waste of time,” Sadie grumbles as she crosses her arms over her chest. “He’s full of crap, Gabriel. We’re wasting time.”

  Gabriel does not break eye contact with Nicolae. Something about the word vampire resonates with him. Nicolae doesn’t flinch, his voice doesn’t tremble, and there is no hint of anything beyond revulsion when he spoke the word.

  “You know something,” he says, stepping closer.

  Nicolae’s gaze sharpens instead of darting to the side like normal. He meets Gabriel’s glare head on. No hint of fear. No backing down. Gabriel can see the fire in his eyes and realizes he has seriously underestimated Nicolae.

  “Think about it,” he says, leaning forward. Gabriel stiffens but doesn’t back away. “Have you ever wondered why all of the guys want her? I’m not just talking guys our age. Ever see Mr. Robert’s stalking her down the hall? It’s creepy but proves my point.”

  “Go on,” Gabriel growls. The thought of that old tweed-loving fart following Rose sets his blood to boil.

  “What about how she talks? Surely you noticed that it took her a while to pick up on your speech patterns.”

  Sadie frowns. “She was pretty formal in the beginning, but that doesn’t mean she’s a freaking vampire!”

  “Any other proof you’d like to share, Nicolae?” William’s question drips with sarcasm.

  Nicolae scowls. “What about her house? Didn’t you think it was odd that the mom she claims to exist doesn’t even have a bedroom in that house? No food in the cabinets. No pictures of family or anything? What mom do you know would be willing to live in a dump like that?”

  Sadie and William exchange a glance. Gabriel doesn’t have to ask what they are thinking to know there is no way their mother, Mrs. Homemaker of the Year, would step foot in a home like that. “So?”

  Nicolae’s eyes widen. “So? So she’s a vampire. Have you all forgotten that she’s from Romania? Brasov, to be exact.”

  He pauses for theatrical effect but it doesn’t hit like he had hoped. He rolls his eyes. “Seriously? Nothing?” He sighs. “Ever heard of Bran castle?”

  William’s face lights up. “Sure. Dracula’s home.”

  “Exactly. Do I need to give you three guesses as to what her address is?”

  Gabriel shoves Nicolae back into the wall. “That place is a museum for tourists.”

  Nicolae laughs around Gabriel’s arm. “It’s all a ruse. Tourists are only allowed in certain sections of the castle. Why do you think that is?”

  Sadie’s brow furrows. “You seem to know an awful lot about someone who you apparently only met when you came here.”

  For the first time, Nicolae averts his gaze. His lips curl into a partial scowl. “When you live in Romania, you hear things.”

  “Myths and legends, you mean,” Gabriel says, pressing his forearm into Nicolae’s windpipe.

  Nicolae’s eyes darken as he pushes back against Gabriel’s hold. “Where do you think they came from? These aren’t just stories to scare children at bedtime or make Hollywood rich. The stories are true.”

  “So what are you saying then? Roseline is a descendent of Dracula or something?”

  “No, not a descendant.” He turns to meet Gabriel’s gaze. “His wife.”

  Nicolae gasps for breath as he falls to the floor. Gabriel staggers back, rocked by his claim. It can’t be true. It just can’t.

  “Okay, that’s it,” Sadie cries, stalking forward. “Are one of you gonna hit him or do I have to?”

  No one answers her. William leans back against the wall, his shocked gaze flitting back and forth betwe
en Nicolae’s wariness and Gabriel’s intense scrutiny. “Don’t tell me you actually believe this guy,” she scoffs, pacing back and forth, itching to rearrange Nicolae’s face.

  “I get that your country is riddled with tales of vampires or whatever, but to stand there and claim something that ludicrous about Rose is just plain wrong,” William scolds, crossing his arms over his chest. “Not cool, man.”

  Gabriel says nothing as he straightens to observe Nicolae. He watches every facial tic, every blink of his eye, and the way he grits his teeth. There is no doubt in his mind that Nicolae believes what he says.

  Something begins to stir in Gabriel’s soul like a long-awaited answer is brewing and he is about to get his hands on it.

  “Come on, Gabriel. We’re wasting time.” William tries to pull him away but he easily shakes William off.

  “I want to hear what else he thinks he knows.” He tosses his keys toward William. “Why don’t you two go get warmed up? We’ll meet you back at your place in fifteen minutes, but make sure you hide my car again. I don’t want you to have to deal with Steve.”

  “If you want to stay here and listen to his lies, then fine, whatever.” Sadie grabs William’s arm and heads for the door. “Just make sure you hurt him a bit for what he said about Rose.”

  Gabriel’s lip curls into a smile at Sadie’s protective hostility. He can’t blame her, but, unlike Sadie, he has something vested in this. The instant the door closes he snatches a fistful of Nicolae’s shirt and slams him against the wall. “Talk.”

  “So you’re taking Sadie’s request seriously, I see,” Nicolae smirks. His chest muscles ripple in response but he doesn’t attack.

  Gabriel grins. “Smart move. If I were you, I wouldn’t push me today. You know I can make it hurt.”

  Nicolae leans forward. “So can I, but lucky for you I’m in a talkative mood.”

  “So talk then.”

  He tilts his head to the side to observe Gabriel. “First I want to know more about you.”

  “That’s what you’re gonna tell me. And stop with the vampire crap. I’m not in the mood for your tall tales,” Gabriel growls.

  Nicolae’s bitter laughter fills the room. “Ah, Gabriel, I thought you of all people would be willing to listen to a history lesson.”

  The impulse to smash in Nicolae’s face is strong as he begrudgingly sets Nicolae on the ground. He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “I’m listening.”

  Nicolae nods as he smoothes out his sweater. “Good, because I’m only going to say this once. You are not human and neither is Roseline.”

  “You mean Rose.”

  “No,” he corrects forcefully. “Her name is Roseline. She shortened it when she came here but changing your name doesn’t change who you really are.”

  “Whatever.”

  Nicolae holds up the photo in his hand. “What do you see?”

  Gabriel stares at the image. “I see you standing in front of a painting. I’m assuming you took this on our field trip to the art museum.” Nicolae nods and waits for him to continue. “It’s a girl who looks like she could be Rose’s twin.

  “Not a twin. Take a look at the bottom of the painting.”

  Gabriel’s gaze drifts again to the photograph. Even though the wording is small it is still legible. “Roseline Enescue.” His blood runs cold.

  “Name ring a bell?”

  “Oh, god,” Gabriel gasps, holding his stomach as the contents churn violently. “She’s my step-mother?”

  “What?” Nicolae exclaims, rushing to Gabriel’s side, weaving with him. “What did you just say?”

  “Enescue. Lucien Enescue. He’s my biological father. Oh God, that’s why she passed out yesterday.”

  Nicolae’s fingers clamp down on Gabriel’s arm but he barely notices as Nicolae’s next words bring sweet relief to his tortured soul. “She isn’t your step-mother, Gabriel. Lucien is her brother-in-law.”

  The relief vanishes only to be followed by crippling grief. Gabriel falls to his knees, choking on the sobs that rise in his throat. “She really is married?”

  “Yes. To the man you would call Dracula. He has gone by many names in many cultures but his real name is Vladimir Enescue.”

  “This isn’t possible,” Gabriel groans as he rolls onto his back. He shoves his fists into his eyes and fights for control. “She can’t be married.”

  “It gets better,” Nicolae whispers next to his ear. “She’s over three hundred years old.”

  Gabriel’s howl shakes the rafters, sending nesting birds into the sky. Nicolae sits next to Gabriel, confused by his grief. “You honestly didn’t know?”

  “No,” he gasps, fighting for breath.

  “But you’re one of them…” Nicolae trails off. His brow furrows deeply as he leans in close, sniffing the air around Gabriel. “Your scent is human…so that must mean Lucien is your father and your mother is a human?”

  “You say that as if it’s an odd thing,” Gabriel snorts. He rises to his knees and run his hands through his hair. This is too much to take in. His brain feels ready to explode. Heat burrows into his chest as sweat clings to his body. He pushes up his sleeves to release the sauna within.

  “What the heck is happening to me?” he asks, dropping his arms with exasperation. They slam into his knees, like stone against stone.

  Nicolae’s eyes widen with shock as he leaps toward Gabriel. His shoves Gabriel’s forearms together and blanches. “It can’t be,” he whispers, backing away. His gaze is riveted to the jagged cross before it rises to meet Gabriel’s. “You’ve got to be kidding. You’re the one?”

  Gabriel frowns. “What are you talking about?”

  “The prophecy.” He slaps his forehead. “How could I have been so stupid?”

  Nicolae flips open his phone. His fingers blur over the buttons and then he waits. The instant someone picks up the line, a strange, beautiful language rolls off Nicolae’s tongue. Gabriel stares down at his arms, shocked to find the tattoo symbols glowing bright blue.

  “What the heck is going on?” he demands, rising to his feet. “What is happening to me, Nicolae?”

  Waving him off, Nicolae speaks a few more unintelligible sentences before snapping his phone shut. “I need you to come with me.”

  “Not until you tell me what you know,” Gabriel growls, unconsciously baring his teeth.

  Nicolae doesn’t back away from Gabriel’s threat. “I promise you will get your answers, but I need you to come with me, now.”

  “Where?” he asks, forcing steel into his wobbly legs. He feels like every ounce of the amazing strength he has been gifted with has been sucked from the marrow in his bones.

  “Romania.”

  Thirty-Six