Blood, Smoke and Mirrors (2010) (20 page)

"Uh-huh. Well then we're going to get one thing straight right now." I scowled, placing my hands on my hips. "Since you're obviously not familiar enough with it, let's go over the meaning of the word no.
No
means stop. It means
don't
. It means I'm
not
okay with what you're doing, and you need to cease and desist said activity.
No
is not an invitation to try and change my mind to yes.
No
does not mean ply me with more alcohol until I'm too drunk to speak coherently or become unconscious. You were a frat boy in college, weren't you?"

"It was expected as a family tradition." Though he was listening to me, I had the impression my speech wasn't really getting through to him, and I sighed in disappointment.

"Why am I not surprised. Look, I don't want you to bite me. Period. Not under any circumstances."

"I gave my word that you would remain unharmed."

"Yeah, you also said you had no intention of harming me before you bit me, so I'm not real convinced by that."

"I had no idea you would find it harmful, no one else has," he reasoned.

"Well I do."

"Now that I know that, I will make sure no one lays an unwelcome fang upon you, Catherine." There was amusement in his expression, and I shook my head in annoyance. I didn't find it funny at all.

"Okay. Now leave so I can change, please."

With a polite bow he turned and left, shutting the door behind him. I wasted no time in shedding my clothes and donning the new ones. I considered taking the time to shower, but I wasn't sure if I trusted my surroundings enough to be that vulnerable at the moment. Instead I searched the bathroom for something to clip my hair up with, and found some hair sticks that let me twist it up into a bun.

When I emerged into the sitting room the chocolate chip pancakes Lex had tempted me out of the bathroom with were waiting for me on the table. Unfortunately Harrison was also waiting for me, seated across from my plate as he had been at dinner the night before. Well, I wasn't about to let him keep me from eating, so I took a seat and dropped the white linen napkin into my lap. I picked up a glass of orange juice and took a cautious sip.

"Is there anything I can get for you?"

"A cab ride home," I quipped, and he smiled dryly.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. Anything else?"

"You could leave," I suggested, and he ignored the request. Hungrily I began slicing the pancakes as I considered his offer. There were a lot of things that came to mind, but many of them revolved around food in my famished state. I could use some email access. Lock picks. Maybe something to dig an escape tunnel with.

"I wanna have dinner with Mac. And not you," I blurted after swallowing a mouthful of pancake.

"Pardon?"

"Tonight. I want to have dinner with Mac. Just me and Mac, so I can catch him up on the gossip. Oh, and I'll need a Sears catalogue too, 'cause I'm not wearing Laura's clothes."

"Very well, I will arrange that. I must insist on dinner tomorrow evening, however. Oh, I would have appreciated being informed of the fact that Alexander is your soul mate before our dinner last evening. It's a foolish man who allows himself to get on the bad side of a Duquesne. I was prepared for him to be involved professionally with your stay here, but his personal involvement is another matter entirely."

"I thought you knew that, because they offered him Oberon."

The vampire's eyes widened, and I could've sworn his jaw dropped at my words. "The council offered him Oberon?"

"Yeah. You didn't know that, oh great and powerful Lord of the Tower?" Harrison seemed to know everything else about my business, it seemed odd he hadn't heard about that particular detail.

"No."

"Huh. They announced that I agreed to be Titania though, right?" I questioned, and he nodded. "Maybe they didn't say anything because Lex didn't--"

"Didn't agree to it?" Harrison finished.

"Yeah."

"Interesting. Well,
bon appetit
."

Harrison smiled as he rose from the table. I gave him a weak parting wave in reply as he left the room. I finished the pancakes in silence, enjoying the fang-free time. Unsure of what to do with myself when I was done eating, I decided to shower. After all, I might as well be neat and clean for whatever drama bomb exploded in my lap next.

I read for the rest of the day instead of parking myself in front of the TV again. Even my favorite book couldn't lift my spirits. I found myself making snide remarks at the hero and heroine instead of enjoying the romance. My mind kept drifting back to Lex and I in the snowy courtyard of Silverleaf castle on the night of my celebration ball.
It was my fault that you were attacked that night. I should've been there...
Well if he'd been in my apartment when Faust showed up, I wouldn't be here, either. Sure I was glad that he'd showed up to check on me today--I hadn't expected it--but it would've been better if I'd hadn't been lured to Vampire Central in the first place.

Mac showed up promptly at six o'clock. He stood near the bar, glancing around the suite as a waiter set the table for our dinner. I wasn't sure I could take another gourmet experience, but when the dishes were uncovered a simple meal of pasta was revealed. The waiter left, and Mac ducked around behind the bar.

"Nice place. What do I have to do to get my own bar?" he joked. Choosing a bottle of wine, he searched for a corkscrew.

"Let the head vampire molest you," I replied.

"I'm fine with that, he's gorgeous. I don't think I'm his type though. Pity." Tugging the cork free of the bottle, he crossed to the table and poured us each a glass of wine.

"He's pretty, but he's a jerk. Have they been treating you well since they nabbed you? Not using you for a blood donor?" Flopping down into the chair, I sipped at the wine. Not bad, but then again I knew Mac had better taste than I did.

"No. Most vampires aren't interested in dining on librarian. I've heard we taste too dry for them."

"So, what've you been doing?"

"Reading, mostly. They let me borrow some interesting texts about the history of a few of the Italian sorcerer families, which are completely sordid in a very daytime-television kind of way." Mac sat across from me and dropped his napkin into his lap. "I have to say, the food's not bad. I'm thinking of adding risotto to the dinner menu at the cafe."

"I have to get us out of here soon. The cafe's been closed. Your family's not sure what to do with it."

"We're out of here on the full moon?" he asked, and I nodded. "Well, that's good. I was a little concerned that they'd keep me here indefinitely. Congratulations on becoming Titania, by the way."

"I'm not Titania yet. Soon-to-be-Titania. They offered Oberon to Lex, he turned it down." I took a long drink of wine, emptying half the glass in one long gulp, and Mac stared at me.

"They did
what?
Is that even possible?"

"Apparently so. The council figured out that Lex and I are soul mates, so they offered to let him be Oberon to my Titania. Okay, technically he hasn't turned it down yet, but he said he'd think about it, and I know he's going to say no. He's not going to do anything that would jeopardize his guardianship. Guardianness. Guardianocity. Whatever."

Pausing with his fork halfway to his mouth, he slowly put it back down on his plate. "Soul mates?"

"I know.
And he
knew.
He knew when I touched his magic spear thing and he didn't tell me. Because he's a big dumb
jerk
."

Mac raised his eyebrows, surprised, but then he grinned. "You touched his magic spear? I'm assuming that's not a euphemism for something lascivious."

"Mac!" I gasped, and he laughed.

"Sorry, hon, I couldn't resist. Well, it's probably for the best. You knew he'd be moving on after this assignment anyway," Mac assured me. Looking down at my plate, I pushed the pasta around aimlessly. Ravioli in some sort of cream sauce--it smelled delicious, but I was rapidly losing my appetite. "Okay, Cat, spill."

"Lex and I...guess we kinda got back together for a bit. He started talking about plans for the future. Having me meet his family, get married in New Orleans, that sort of thing. Then they told him he'd have to give up being a guardian if he wanted to be Oberon. I'm sure you can guess how well that went over."

"Like a lead balloon. Do you want me to have a talk with him?" Mac's shoulders straightened as he sat up in his chair, sounding like an overprotective older brother. "Or maybe Tybalt should speak with him."

At the mention of my cousin's name I reached out, picked up my glass of wine, and drained the rest of its contents. "There was an attack on the castle, Tybalt was killed during it. By Dorian. Dorian really had a lot to answer for, I hope he's rotting in hell."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I liked Tybalt. Well, let's drink to Dorian rotting in hell," Mac suggested, refilling our glasses.

The rest of the evening was spent trading gossip and making plans. Words could barely describe how grateful I was just to spend time with Mac. It felt like a miracle that he was alive and well, like I'd been given a second chance to appreciate our friendship. We drank wine, watched trashy tabloid television, and did our best to pretend that we weren't the unwilling guests of some of the most powerful vampires in the United States. When his escort showed up at ten to take Mac back to his room, I gave my friend a long hug and silently promised that I'd make sure we both got out alive and safe.

Chapter Eighteen

After Mac left, I stayed up later than I should have, enthralled by nature specials in high definition and surround sound (nothing quite like hearing the sharp snap of bones when a lion snacks on a wildebeest). When I went to bed I considered dragging the reading chair across the room to barricade the door, but it was too heavy and I was too tired to deal with it.

Drifting off to sleep, I soon found myself standing in the grove once again. Turning, I spotted Lex standing a few feet away, his back to me. He was shirtless, and I could read his tension in the pinched muscles of his shoulders.

"I thought I told you not to let him bite you," he said, his voice accusing.

"
Let
him bite me? You think I
let
him do that? Like I was bored and just decided to open a vein for the hell of it?" I snapped in reply, offended.

Lex whirled around, crossing to stand in front of me in quick, angry strides. "Why not? You agreed to stay with him 'til the ceremony."

"Because he has Mac. He'll kill him if I don't cooperate."

"You could've called me, we could've gotten Mac out together. It's dangerous, Cat. You don't know what a vampire that powerful can do once he's tasted your blood."

A chill ran down my spine, and I rubbed my arms in reflex. It was true. I didn't know what sort of things Harrison could do to me, only rumor and old wives' tales. Vampires don't feed on the blood itself, but on the magic within it. I wasn't sure if that could be used against me.

"I couldn't call you, Lex," I replied, shaking my head.

"Why not? Why couldn't you call me?"

"We didn't exactly part on good terms. Besides, you're only there for me when it doesn't risk your reputation. You don't ride to my rescue unless it's convenient, or you're ordered to." I felt guilty the moment the words left my mouth, and I glanced away, unable to meet his eyes. Lex growled in annoyance, and then drew me to him. He kissed me, fierce and possessive, his fingers tangling in my unbound hair. I leaned into him, too weary to fight and too hungry for his embrace. After several long moments his hands fell to my waist, intent on untying the cord that belted my robes.

"Don't," I said, pulling away.

"Why not?"

"Because when I wake up I'll still be in the tower, and you still won't know whether or not you want to be with me."

"Then shouldn't this be a good dream?" he countered.

"I need more than a dream. I either need you with me, or I need you to leave. I can't live on the hope that maybe you'll find a way to work me into your life."

"I love you, Cat."

"I know. But that's not enough. It never was."

I turned to walk away, and the dream faded. The rest of my dreams after that were a jumble of images. Cool hands slid over my bare skin, Harrison's voice whispered to me, assuring me that everything would be better if I just stopped fighting. When I awoke I discovered a Gordian knot of sheets tangled around me, drenched with sweat, and the taste of blood in my mouth. A panicked dash to the mirror revealed that I'd bitten my lip, and because my neck was free of marks I let myself relax. The blood was just part of the dream, nothing more. I even managed to heal my lip completely by the time I was out of the shower.

After my shower, I emerged from the bedroom to find a gift bag tied with curling red ribbon next to my plate of pancakes. Fruit pancakes this time, I noted as I crossed over to the table. Untying the ribbon, I discovered several department store catalogues. Sitting down, I plopped the napkin into my lap and divided my attention between my food and the catalogues. Attached to the top one was a note, and I opened the envelope.

"Nice stationery," I commented to the empty room. Even Harrison's penmanship was polite. I'd never seen a man's handwriting be so legible. The letter was short and to the point: Harrison requested the pleasure of my attendance at dinner at six o'clock that evening. I hoped Harrison would be well behaved after Lex had promised to kill him if he laid a hand on me. While I couldn't speak for the vampire's ability to restrain himself, I was pretty damn sure Lex could take him in a fight. Well, he could if he still had his guardian abilities.

Alone again with nothing but the television to entertain me, I looked through the catalogues and wrote up a ridiculously large order. Not that I expected to need that many outfits, but I was about halfway through destroying Laura's fashion choices and had every intention of making Harrison replace everything I shredded.

I didn't want to have dinner with Harrison again. I really, really,
really
did not want to have dinner with him again. It would only end badly. I had almost no faith in his assurance that I would remain unmolested. He simply couldn't help himself--I was too much of a curiosity for him. I'm sure the supermodels he kept around as arm candy were more than happy to fall on their backs with their legs spread wide, and yet mousy little me couldn't stand the sight of him. Harrison probably felt like he was living in the Twilight Zone.

Well, I wasn't about to wear anything even remotely revealing. Hell, I would've worn a turtleneck if there'd been one in the closet. I settled on the most prim, proper, dowdy schoolmarm look I could manage with the wardrobe. Boxy khaki slacks, penny loafers, and a plain white long-sleeved blouse, buttoned as high as it would go. The white fabric washed all the color out of my face, not that there was much to begin with. I left my hair down for maximum neck coverage, and it looked limp and lifeless, as horrid as the "before" picture in a shampoo commercial. Gazing at my reflection, I decided I looked like a soccer mom out for dinner at a family restaurant chain. Fabulous.

I dreaded the arrival of six o'clock. Nausea invaded my stomach and camped out, refusing to leave no matter how much calm I mustered up. A few minutes before six the door opened and revealed, much to my horror, Lovely Laura Barrenheart.

"The hell do you want?" I asked, surprised.

Laura crossed the room and paused next to the couch, scrutinizing me with distaste obvious in her cold gray eyes. The vampire stood perfectly still, looking like an ice statue ready for a night on the town in a sparkling white cocktail dress. From her elegantly styled hair to the tips of her killer high-heeled shoes, Laura was the essence of grace and beauty. It was damn intimidating.

"I'm here to escort you to dinner." Something in her tone hinted that she'd enjoy escorting me down a flight of stairs, face first. "You're not wearing that."

"Why not? The invitation didn't mention a dress code."

"You look terrible, it's insulting to your host," Laura said.

"Which is exactly what I'm going for."

The vampire rolled her wintry eyes at me and turned, gliding toward the bedroom and the closet she had stocked with what she considered appropriate attire. Boy was she ever in for a surprise. Shutting off the TV, I got to my feet and followed her, eager to see her reaction to my closet renovation efforts.

Pausing in the doorway, the vampire gazed down at the pile of mangled fashion on the closet floor. I tried to destroy at least one article of clothing per commercial break, and it had been an advertising bonanza that day. Tension pinched her shoulders, and Laura turned toward me slowly. Expecting a fight, I'd put my shields up the moment she first entered the room, so I was prepared when she tried to slap me. Her hand bounced away, harmless, and I smiled broadly at her like a toddler inappropriately proud of the mess she created.

"We're going to be late for dinner," I pointed out. The vampire glared at me as though she hoped she could burn holes through my shields and reduce me to a smoking pile of ashes. After a long, tense moment, Laura sighed and walked around me into the suite's sitting room. I followed her, slowed by the effort of keeping the shields up and hoping to give her some space.

Opening the door to the suite, she paused in the hallway. "This way please." Laura motioned down the hallway, indicating that I should go first. Yeah right, like there was any way I'd let her get behind me.

"Oh no, after you." I smiled thinly, and the vampire smiled with equal derision and strode away. The hallway looked pretty much the same as I remembered it: earth tones, unremarkable decorations, soft lighting. I tried to remember the turns as we moved from hallway to hallway, but there was just no way I'd manage to memorize it. The decor all looked the same, and there were no visible numbers on the doors like you'd expect in a hotel setting. We reached the silver elevator and stepped inside, her high heels clicking sharply on the floor. Laura continued to remain silent, probably plotting my slow and painful demise, and I continued to concentrate on keeping my shields up to prevent said painful demise. The elevator moved down, which surprised me as I'd been assuming we were headed up to Harrison's penthouse office. Great, maybe she was taking me down to the parking garage to beat the sass out of me.

It was going to be a long night.

"Exactly how does a council member end up as an errand girl for a vamp who's got to be, what, no more than five years dead?" I asked, my tone light and casual. The sting of dying smoke filled the elevator as Laura struggled to control her temper at my rude outburst, and I held my hand under my nose to stave off a sneeze.

"I am no one's 'errand girl'," Laura replied through gritted teeth. "Zachary asked that I do this as a favor to him."

"You don't strike me as a woman who does a lot of favors for people."

"Zachary is special, a fact which you would do well to realize, Miss Morrow."

"I have enough special people in my life already, I don't have room for bloodsuckers."

"Typical. You witches are so disappointing, so much wasted potential. All that power, and your greatest desire is to have a home and a few squalling, needy brats to cling to your skirts. Pathetic." Laura scowled, her voice dripping with loathing.

"Yeah, well, the market on villains was already cornered by you undead assholes."

"There is nothing evil about pursuing power. In fact I've always thought it rather sinful to let your God-given abilities be squandered. I won't expect you to understand."

"You know what they say about absolute power," I muttered. The elevator doors opened and Laura stepped out. A short hallway ended in a pair of heavy wooden doors, and Laura opened them without hesitation. The room we entered was large and had a definite male feeling to it--dark wood, deep colors, lots of shiny, expensive electronic gadgets scattered around. A pinball machine and an old-school video arcade game were tucked into a far corner. There was a dining table set up in the same formal, overdone setting I'd come to expect of meals in Vampire Central. Laura drew to a stop next to the table and peered around, looking for Harrison.

"Good evening, ladies." We both turned toward the sound of his voice, and for the first time Lovely Laura and I had the same reaction to something: shock. Zachary Harrison, multi-zillionaire businessman and king of the undead castle, was wearing blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt. It was obvious from the cut and the color that these were designer jeans, and someone had taken time to distress them instead of letting wear and tear rough them up. Still, it wasn't a suit. He looked really good for a dead guy--like someone who might stop into the Three Willows for a sandwich on his lunch break, who I'd flirt with while refilling his coffee.

"What has she done to you?" Laura asked, horrified.

Harrison chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "I was reminded that denim is the American way."

The corners of my mouth crept up in a slight smile. As much as I hated him, it was damn amusing to watch Lovely Laura squirm in her pretty shoes. With a sound of disgust, she folded her arms across her chest.

"Which would explain why American fashion is tedious and inferior," she countered icily. "I'll leave you two to your evening." Nodding at Harrison, she turned and strode out of the room, her high heels clicking angrily on the hardwood floor.

"Gee, I think we're both in trouble now." I raised an eyebrow at her exit. "You might be grounded."

"It would appear so. Do you approve of the outfit?"

"Not bad." I shrugged, looking him up and down thoughtfully. "It gives you the false illusion of being a nice guy."

"I am a nice guy," he protested, appearing hurt.

"No you're not. Besides, even if you were nice for a vampire, that's like being nice for a shark or a crocodile. You're still a predator in designer jeans."

Harrison winced, seemingly wounded by my frank assessment of him, and I almost felt bad. The memory of locking myself in the bathroom and sleeping in a nest of fluffy white hotel towels kept me from believing his act. Nice guys don't drink blood, period.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"That's a very broad question."

"I thought you were going to leave me alone."

"I agreed not to harm you. I see no harm in having dinner and engaging in polite conversation."

"There wasn't any harm in it last time either until you decided to have me for dessert." I scowled.

"A mistake which I have apologized for, Catherine. Repeatedly. I didn't bring you here to bite you, I merely want to get to know you better." Spreading his hands wide in a placating gesture, he stepped toward me, sincerity shadowing those lovely green eyes. I stood my ground, watching him as he drew closer. I'm sure he intended to give my shoulder a comforting pat or some other benign social contact, but much to his surprise he collided with my shields instead. Blinking, he gazed at me in surprise, and I smiled sweetly. Harrison rubbed his hand where it had come in contact with the energy. His pride probably hurt more than his hand did.

"You don't trust me not to harm you, even though I gave my word."

"I don't trust you at all, Harrison," I replied, my hands on my hips.

"Zach," he said, and I frowned. "Call me Zach, please. I'm only Harrison during work hours." With a charming smile, he turned and pulled out one of the chairs in an invitation for me to sit down. "What would you like to drink?"

"A glass of wine, please." Reluctantly, I sat down and let him push my chair in. I wasn't going to win this argument, and since I was safe behind my shields I might as well play along with his plans. Zach nodded and crossed to the bar, producing a bottle from beneath it. After uncorking the bottle he poured the contents into a glass. I had a feeling the wine hadn't been on sale at the corner store, but I'd never be able to tell if it was fine wine or not.