Bound to Remember, a Paranormal Romance (Book 1 of the Spellbound Series) (9 page)

“
Not really; I mean, I have, but I prefer not to hurt people.” He stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room.

“
I can imagine the pain; your fangs were pretty scary.” I chewed and talked with a mouthful of pancakes.

“
As I said, you need not worry. I am going to bed. I can feel the sun coming up and it makes me tired. You can sleep in the white room, or in mine, if you like,” he said before he left the kitchen.

I sat there and savored my delicious pancakes. I don’t think I’d ever dated a man who cooked for me — although I wasn’t exactly dating Ben. I finished every bite before heading up the stairs. I stopped at the white room, looked at the bed, and then decided to make my way to Ben’s room. It was pitch-black, as usual. I thought about the best way to make it to the bed without falling. I stood in the middle of the floor and took off my shoes, socks, jeans, and bra. I left my tank top on and crawled across the floor to the bed. I was halfway across the large room when I felt an arm wrap around my waist and my body, lifting me up. I wanted to scream, but I recognized his touch.

“
Did I wake you?” I whispered.

“
No, I was just getting comfortable when I saw you come in. I love the crawl approach.” He laughed.

“
How can you see anything?”

“
I am a nocturnal creature; I have night vision.” Ben laid me down on his bed.

“
So you can see me now?” I stuck my tongue out at him.

“
Yes, Antonia; now sleep,” he said as he pulled the cover over me. I felt his body next to mine. I extended my hand and touched his naked back. He grabbed my hand and wrapped it in his arms. The coolness of his body was the perfect contrast under the heavy covers.

“
I am glad you decided to sleep in here with me. Just be warned, I look and feel dead when I am asleep.” I rubbed my hand against his thumb.

“
Well, I thought vampires were already dead.” I propped my head up on the pillow to listen to his response.

“
No, I am alive; I can just travel between your world and the Underworld.” His voice was louder so he must have turned to face me in the darkness.

What does that mean?” I asked.

“
It means I am immortal and my soul is gone. That is why vampires drink blood. Their victims’ blood contains part of their souls.” I pulled away from him at the thought of him taking my soul.

“
So how does one become a vampire?” Such a simple question, but one that I had never had the opportunity to ask before. Ben leaned over me, pressing his half-naked body against mine, and turned the lamp on.

“
I only know how it happened to me,” he answered. I sat up as soon as Ben was back on his side of the bed. “I was in New York, looking for a job in the big city with the intention of getting married and starting a family. I was a late bloomer because my mother died of cholera right before I was supposed to leave for college, so I stayed to help my dad raise my younger sister and brother. By the time they were old enough to take care of one another, I was almost twenty-three; but I went on to attend the College of Philadelphia. I think it’s now known as the University of Pennsylvania.”

“
You went to U Penn? That’s crazy! I was accepted there but chose Berkeley instead. I’m sorry, go on.” I smiled as he continued his story.

“
Yes, well, I graduated and moved to New York City, where I worked in a bank. I met a young woman named Ruth who, well … she was a prostitute. She took me back to her parlor house and did things to me that I never knew existed. She was also a vampire, and she took too much of my blood. I lay lifeless until her Madame gave me her blood; she was a vampire too. Nothing happened, so the Madame gave me so much blood, I choked. Having made me, the Madame claimed me and made me her toy.”

I could see pain, then anger flash across Ben’s face. I pulled his hand to my chest as he continued. “A male vampire, Levi, came into the brothel and made a deal with the Madame and I left with him. He set me free. I ventured out west for the gold rush and I met Joanna. So, to answer your question, I think you need to die with vampire blood in your system.”

“
Ben, I am constantly forcing you to bring up bad memories,” I said apologetically as I kissed his hand before laying it back on my chest.

“
I feel better telling you. I love that you listen, but I must go to sleep. I need the rest.” Ben’s lips touched my forehead with a gentle kiss. His touch was cold, but I felt warmth and comfort in it nonetheless. We laid back down together as I turned off the light, and I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.

***

Around noon, I woke up in a cold sweat, dying of thirst. I moved Ben’s lifeless arm off my body as I climbed out of the large bed. I made it to the door without a bruise or bump and went downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water. Ben’s house always appeared darker than it was outside. I could hear rain coming down as I sat on one of the bar stools and drank my water.

After I finished the water, I made my way back up the stairs, but stopped at the study. I marveled at the books again before I checked out the desk; the laptop was closed, with various papers scattered around. I looked over some of the papers that seemed like bills, and noticed a deed to the house. I had to look.

The names listed on the deed were Joanna Hollander and Catherine Modlin. I sat and stared at my last name. I only remembered Ben mentioning Joanna’s first name, not her last, and that Catherine was his girlfriend who died. I would have to ask more about Joanna and Catherine later today
.
It puzzled me that he had never mentioned Joanna had the same last name as me.

For now, I needed to go back to bed. I made my way to Ben’s bedroom; after closing the door, I extended my hand in front of me. When I reached the foot of the bed, I knew I’d made it. I slid my hands across the bed and found Ben in the same spot. I climbed into bed and nestled down next to him, pulling the covers over me to get comfortable enough to fall asleep.

Despite all my efforts, I tossed and turned before I finally sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. I had too much on my mind to sleep. I looked in the drawer, hoping to find a book, but no such luck.
I guess vampires don’t get insomnia.
I did find the little box where Ben kept pictures of Joanna. I opened the box to get another glimpse of her, the vampire with my last name, and I found the picture with a letter in the box. I looked over at Ben; he was dead asleep, so quietly, I opened the letter.

Dearest Benjamin,

Sincerely,

Joanna

I guess he did love her like a sister.
I folded the letter back and noticed a picture of Ben and another woman. I assumed this was Catherine. She was beautiful, and I smiled as I thought how in love they looked. I sighed at the thought of feeling that way with someone, particularly Ben. As I picked up the letter and two pictures, I noticed a diamond ring that was loose in the small box. I pulled it out, staring at the large oval diamond surrounded by rubies. The ring was classic. I slid it onto my left ring finger.
Perfect fit,
I thought as I admired it in the faint light.

CHAPTER SIX

“
It is a beautiful ring,” Ben sat up in bed. I jumped, and the box fell to the floor.

“
Geesh, Ben! You scared the living daylights out of me.” I held my hand to my chest.

“
Sorry! I did not mean to frighten you.” He waited as I calmed myself with exaggerated breaths.

“
No, I’m sorry. I am really bad, going through your stuff.” I tried to pull the ring off my finger, but it was stuck.

“
No worries. You would not be human if you were not curious,” he laughed.

“
No, no, no; I can’t get the ring off.” I was frustrated at myself for putting the damn ring on.

“
Let me see your hand.” He took my hand in his and looked at it from different angles. “It appears to be a perfect fit.”

“
It’s stuck.” My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as a tear fell down my cheek. He twisted the ring a few times, but it didn’t move.

“
Well, not to worry; we can get it off later.” He let go of my hand as he repositioned himself in the bed.

“
You loved her.” I looked over at him as I wiped my tear away. We both knew I meant Catherine.

“
Yes.” He turned away from me as he lay down. “Busy afternoon, I see.” He looked at me over his shoulder.
He hates me now.

“
I sort of woke up to get some water and found the box.” I lay down with my back to him.

“
Catherine never received it. She died before I was able to give it to her.” I turned and wrapped my arm around his body. He didn’t react.
Yep, hate.

“
I’m sorry, Ben.”

“
No; maybe I should tell you, and then you will understand. I met Joanna and Catherine at the same time. They were friends and they lived together in this house. One afternoon, Catherine went to work to cover a shift for someone, and she was attacked. Joanna sensed her fear, and tried to save Catherine. Joanna was protected by the daylight spell that the witch had put on her, but the spell was removed, and she burned up when she left the house. I was here in the house, asleep. I woke up with my best friend gone and my girlfriend dead.” Ben turned to look at me.

“
Who do you think killed them?”

“
The only one who would know that Joanna had a daylight spell and that she would try to rescue Catherine.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess. Hades.” I sighed.

“
Antonia, this is not a joke.” He sat and faced me.

“
I believe you, okay.” I picked up the box and put the letter and the pictures back inside. “I think it’s weird that Joanna and I have the same last name,” I commented as I put the box in the drawer and lay down.

“
Can we talk about this after the sun has set?”

Yep, still hate
. I sighed, turned off the lamp, and lay down. Between Joanna’s letter and Ben’s story about Catherine, I was officially exhausted.

When I woke up, Ben was standing over me, fully dressed.

“
What time is it?” I yawned as I wiped my eyes.

“
Fifteen minutes to seven. If you give me your keys, I can get you some clothes.”

“
No, I brought some clothes with me; can you get me my bag?” I asked as I stood up.

“
Will do,” he answered and vanished, but was back in a flash.

“
I’ll never get used to that. Thanks.” I shook my head as I took my bag. He smiled and over-exaggerated his walk out of the room.

“
Uh, there are towels in the closet in the bathroom,” his voice said somewhere in the hallway. With both lamps on, I was able to look around the room. There were vaulted ceilings and a long dresser on the opposite end of the room. I looked down at my hand; the ring was still there
.
I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked into the large master bathroom.

I turned on the shower and looked at myself in the mirror as it fogged up with steam. I thought
, I met this man four days ago, slept in the same bed with him twice in two days, I’m taking a trip to Utah with him to see a witch, and I’m wearing his dead girlfriend’s ring. Oh, and to top it all off, he’s a vampire.
I shook my head, thinking this was a dream that I would wake up from soon.

I hopped in the shower and let the warm water hit my face. I showered quickly, remembering my conversation with Ben about Joanna. After drying off, I looked in the dresser for one of Ben’s shirts to hang low over my hand and hide the ring. I was dressed in no time and pulled my wet hair into a ponytail. When the intoxicating smell hit me, I went downstairs and into the kitchen to find Ben at the stove.