A Vampire's Rise (23 page)

“Why thank you.”

He grimaced. “But my men buried you.”

“I’m pretty resilient.”

“No, you’re something demonic.”

“Time to take responsibility for what you created.”

“Unchain me.”

I trespassed into his thoughts. “Start talking.”

“Not until—”

“Talk!”

He flinched. “Ricardo caused a rift between Roelle and his father.”

“Go on.”

“Not until you promise to let me go.”

“I promise to wrap that chain around your neck.”

“Señor Bastillion wanted to adopt your brother, give him what belonged to Roelle.”

“Was the bull your idea?”

Felipe’s smile was defiant.

“You named your son Ricardo, why?” I asked.

“Ricardo was a brilliant bull fighter, the best.”

“And yet you murdered him.”

“So you say.”

My fists tightened.

“Your brother stood to inherit money from the Bastillion legacy,” he said. “He threatened Roelle’s birthright. His father favored Ricardo, he saw his potential. Your brother reminded Señor Bastillion of the old days when he’d once been crowned as Spain’s greatest bull fighter. Roelle paled in comparison to Ricardo’s talents.”

“What did that have to do with you?”

“Roelle promised to fund my political career.”

“My brother threatened that?”

Felipe glanced at Sunaria and then back at me.

My stare forced him to look away. “And Aaron?”

“Aaron was misguided.”

“You sent him to kill me?”

Felipe tugged, trying to pull his wrist out of the metal cuff.

“And Roelle?” I said.

“Roelle wanted to keep you quiet.”

“You wanted him to kill me?”

“Then why didn’t he?”

“That’s what you couldn’t understand.”

He turned to look out of the window. I could smell his fear.

I followed his gaze. “I imagine they’re searching for you, yes?”

He shrugged.

I tried to subdue my hatred, fearful that I’d kill him too soon. “It was you who planned Ricardo’s death?”

He yanked at the shackle. “Where’s my son?”

“Have your political achievements been worth it?”

“And what do you have to show for your life? A mere horse breeder?”

“Ask me in a millennium.”

His eyes widened.

I smiled. “Yes, I am.”

He barely formed the words.

“Forever and ever, amen.” I bowed.

He stared at Sunaria then back at me. “Vampires.”

“And capable of more love than you can imagine,” I said wistfully.

“A weak emotion.”

“You love your son.”

“He has yet to earn it.”

I glanced at Sunaria. “And I’m called cold blooded.”

“Your soul is damned.” He spat at me.

“Just like yours.”

“You’re not going to kill me.” Felipe leaned back against the fireplace.

I tilted my head and felt a sense of calm.

He cowered. “I’m Ricardo’s father.”

“Were.”

“Is it money you want?”

“I remember everything.” I nodded. “The night before the bull fight.”

“What?”

“You were holding the cudgel.”

He looked horrified.

Sunaria approached Felipe. “Or we can offer you something else.” Her fingers traced his unshaven face and then moved lower and hovered at his neck, lingering there.

“Make me into what you are?” His eyes were full of terror.

Sunaria gazed coquettishly at him. Filled with envy, I stepped forward, but her hand shot up and she gestured I was to stay put, and then she turned to face him again.

Felipe had caught our interaction.

Rip out his throat.

With a pointed fingernail, Sunaria stabbed Felipe’s neck, striking an artery. He flinched as the warmth snaked its way down and he stared aghast at his shirt, which was fast turning red. He slumped to his knees, pressing against the hemorrhage, though blood seeped beneath his trembling hand.

Sunaria dipped a finger into the flow and sucked on the tip, causing Felipe to whimper.

She stepped back and gestured for me to approach. Ready for the truth, I leaned in and followed the scarlet trail to its source, biting hard, cringing at Felipe’s wails. He thrashed, but I held him still.

Raping his mind, I trespassed into his streaming thoughts, and a dreamy haze unfolded back over time. With the coursing of his life source came the images of faces, conversations, and decisions, an argument: Roelle and Felipe discussing my brother, silent words flowed and delivered a torrent of truths. Felipe had decided Ricardo’s fate, and then he’d persuaded the others to join him.

For my brother, I kill you, for Annabelle, Eduardo, for Miguel, for what you did to Salvador. My sister’s pain . . . for desecrating my life.

Felipe’s jaw went slack.

Sunaria tugged at my shirt, but I ignored her and continued to drink. For every life you’ve destroyed.

Again she yanked at my sleeve.

I pulled away. “What?”

Sunaria shoved me aside and bit into her wrist, and then thrust it firmly against Felipe’s mouth.

“No!” I shouted in disbelief.

She crushed his lips with her wrist and Felipe’s mouth gaped as he tried to catch his breath and find air, and in a daze his tongue lapped at the bloody slash on her arm.

Sunaria tilted her head and smiled at me.

Felipe sucked, enjoying the drink, seemingly aware that salvation came with this very act. Pulling on his restraints, he thirsted for more, mouth wide open, gorging on her.

Filled with jealousy, I wanted to rip out his heart.

What are you doing?

Felipe convulsed, fighting the impossible, a violent transformation as his age softened and he writhed in ecstasy. I wondered if the expression on his face had been similar to mine, upon my turning.

Fear tore a yell from him so primal that I backed away. Hating this moment, I tried to find the words to tell Sunaria that she’d made a mistake.

She neared me and whispered, “Then you admit that this gift is only for the worthy?”

I held her stare for the longest time as that dark gaze of hers reached deep within me, until she got the answer she wanted.

Felipe was studying us with a mad expression. “I feel strange,” he murmured.

Sunaria assisted him to his feet. “It’ll pass,” she said, her tone comforting.

He glanced at her half in terror, half in awe, and Sunaria guided him toward the window.

“Look,” she pointed outside, “see how perfect the world is now.”

Felipe’s eyes bulged and his thin lips slid into a smile. Silhouetted at the window stood my lover and her new fledgling.

My jealously was so fierce that it burned me up from the inside, and, as though hearing my inner screams, Sunaria’s attention turned to me, her stare so shocking that it silenced them. But something about the way her mouth curled and then pouted and the glint in her eye as she arched a brow, in that very gesture she gave me her permission.

A long sigh, not sure if it was mine or hers, but it elicited an inner calm.

Felipe examined his hands fascinated with their appearance. “I am immortal.”

“That’s the good news.” I bolted forward and shoved him.

Felipe tumbled out through the window.

We both leaned over the sill and peered down to see Felipe clambering to his feet, seemingly impressed with himself that he’d survived the fall. He stared back up at us with a crooked smile.

Sunaria pulled the curtain closed and we leaped back.

Silence followed, as those perfect seconds dissolved and the air stilled with nature poised ready, just moments before the arrival of daybreak.

Felipe’s wails carried.

“And that’ll be the bad news,” I said.

Chapter 31

FELIPE’S WAILS FOLLOWED us down the back stairs.

Sunaria threw her head back and laughed. “Did you see his face?”

I opened my arms to her and she softened into me. I thanked her, silently showing my gratitude that she’d delivered closure. We lay in the dark corner, snuggled up together, and for the first time since I’d been turned, sleep came easily.

Upon awaking, I strolled out into the night and glanced up at the window ledge that Felipe had tumbled from. Scooping his ashes, I let them slip between my fingers and the grey dust disbursed.

Our new life beckoned.

Sunaria’s unpredictable nature promised eternity would not be boring and, despite my desire for independence, I found comfort in her presence.

I craved excitement and Sunaria satisfied that very need. She’d enter a room and all would gaze at her. Though her demeanor reflected that of an innocent woman, she was the worst kind of hunter, easily mingling with her prey. We passed for aristocracy, wooing guests at parties or lavish functions, finding no trouble in seducing those whom we chose to satisfy our primal needs.

It seemed to be getting easier.

I wanted it all—luxury, indulgence and the most exquisite of comforts. My dark desires manifested before me as Sunaria created a home for us, ensuring fulfillment of our every craving. She found us a large villa, deep in the countryside, and made sure that we had no curious neighbors to bother us. The Ocean View Manor could be seen from our bedroom window.

Frequent visits enabled me to steal precious time with Jacob, and evenings in his presence ensured my somewhat shaky grasp on my humanity. Watching him flourish gave me such pleasure. A precious reminder of another life, now fast faded, though the memories still selfishly guarded.

His strength gave me mine.

Chapter 32

SEASONS CAME AND WENT, unfolding irrevocably before me.

My sophisticated style revealed itself. During the days that followed, my true nature arose. No longer hindered by my former life, I felt free to self-examine, still calculating, though now with an intuitive streak that gave me the ability to predict a victim’s weakness, a striking intensity that for the most part I was unaware of. This gift, I know no other way to describe it, had provided me with the ability to seduce anyone, a supernatural capacity to entrance. It refined my abilities, enabling me to possess anything that I coveted, and control anyone.

But I craved normality too, and found it at the Ocean View Manor. Evenings were uneventful. Here I could feel like my old self, that is until Miranda would search me out and kindly point out that I lived a lie.

Like she did now.

With Alicia and the boys asleep upstairs, Miranda had cornered me yet again.

“What more is there for me to know?” Miranda stood before me with her arms folded.

I peered up from my book, Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, pressing a finger against the page so as not to lose my place. Miranda had brought the book back from London years ago. I’d found it in the lounge.

“Don’t ignore me.” Miranda curled her fingers into fists.

Over the last seven years, I’d always managed to placate her, but not today. Her expression conveyed she wasn’t going to let me change the subject this time.

I stared back down at my book.

“I’ve thought about it.” She sighed. “Changed my mind and changed it back again.”

“Doubt is your heart telling you no.”

“You haven’t aged.”

I gestured exasperation. “I don’t want this life for you.”

“Who are you to decide what is right for me?”

“Your friend.”

“You can’t hide it from Alicia anymore.” She sat in the chair next to mine. “In a week, I turn forty.”

“We’ll throw a party.”

“Funny.”

I glanced up briefly. “Face it, this is never going to happen.”

Her hand rested on my knee. “But you promised—”

“Please don’t ask this of me.” I glanced at her hand moving up my thigh.

“I’ve done everything you have ever asked.”

I lifted her hand off. “For that, I’m grateful.”

“Why are you being difficult?”

“You have no idea what it is that you’re asking.”

“You promised.”

“To talk about it, in hope of talking you out of it.” I looked away.

“Why won’t you tell us what happened to Felipe?”

“Please don’t go there.”

“He escaped from prison and yet you were unaffected by such news.”

“Just know this. You are safe.”

“Did you kill him?”

I turned a page.

Miranda sighed. “Take me with you when you go out tonight.”