Ever After (18 page)

This was enough drama for all of us, but we had more to handle. Vincent was threatening to come back for William now to top it all off. Doc had sat me and Will down one bitterly cold afternoon and warned us. I held Will’s hand as Doc told us the chances of him coming back here were very good.

William’s cousins were watching out for him as well as the other coven members. Doc wanted to avoid any run-in with him. He wanted to speak to Vincent himself. I could not handle all this now, my body was too weak, and I was just too tired. I had to let William and Doc handle it.

Chapter 25

Th
e
Party

It was now the time of the Halloween party William and I had been planning. My dad had begged me to cancel it. William was worried I wasn’t strong enough for all that commotion. I really wasn’t, but I felt like it was my last big deal; everyone I knew and loved was coming. I desperately wanted to see my friends, just one last time.

I wanted them to remember me, as I was tonight, not as being sick and dying, but alive and happy. I did not know what my future was going to be. I tried not to think about it all. I did my best to hide any ill feelings. I wanted tonight to be perfect. I wanted to forget all my problems, just be happy, dance with William, and ignore my reality if only for a few hours.

I had decided to be an angel to contrast with William. He of course chose to be Dracula and yes, he wore fake fangs. His teeth were about the same as mine. He really had no fangs of his own. His “
real
ones
” were not visible to humans. That really amused Doc and all his cousins, to see him dressed as the infamous Dracula.

They too followed suit and came as vampires, fake fangs and all. I found a vintage ball gown on line. It was white with tiny crystals sewn into the silk fabric. It was floor length and beautiful. I had curled my hair and wore it down, and found a golden halo with sparkly crystals. I wore it like a tiara on my head. I used a lot of makeup, to look healthier than I really was.

William wore a black tuxedo, and his hair was slicked back and combed over stylishly. I had to laugh when he showed me his fake fangs. He winked as he bent over to kiss my neck as if to bite me. He was honoring my request to forget about my illness, just for tonight. I knew it was hard for him, but he loved me enough to try.

The house was all decked out. Dad had hired a party planning firm when I became too ill to finish the details. The drive way was lined with carved pumpkins. The trees were sparkling with tiny white lights, making the yard look like a fairyland. The house and yard looked amazing, as guests poured into the party.

The east half of the house, which in its heyday was an actual ballroom, was opened up cleaned and decorated. Dad had said it had not been used since the 1940s, and now it looked amazing; with more tiny lights all over and traditional Halloween garb everywhere. A dj had been hired and was playing all types of music to please the wide array of guests attending. I was so amazed at how beautiful it was, and so happy I had refused to cancel the party. It was a very good choice.

The party was in full swing and the house was packed. I had to guess everyone I had invited was here, and many of the uppity friends of my dad and Sara’s. I was pleased to see all of William’s family and all my friends from school had come.

I doubled up on my lower dose pain medicine and hoped it would keep me alert enough to make it all night. I danced several times with William and some with my dad and Doc. Roth and Taylor even snuck in two dances with me.

I could sense Will watching me closely for any signs of distress. He was very concerned about me tonight. I smiled as I watched William playing a game of pool with his cousins. Dad had set up a game room just off the dance area. Roth was being accused of cheating by the twins, and Lydia was observing. She winked at me as she laughed at the boys.

I jumped as one of the servers handed me a piece of paper. I quickly unfolded it. I was surprised it was in Will’s handwriting. I looked to him as he turned and gave me a dashing smile and a wink. I had to catch my breath. The note was simple. William wanted to meet me in the gardens behind the house; he had something to tell me in private.

I wondered why he sent me a note, but I did not stop and think about it. I made my way across the room; my head was spinning a bit so I stopped and held onto a chair to steady myself. I took a few deep breaths and headed outside to the gardens, following the path lit with small lanterns. I made my way to the rose garden passing couples and friends from college. In the center of the rose garden, four stone benches formed an oval.

I sat down taking a deep breath, as the pain started in my head. I assumed Will just wanted some quiet time with me and I was glad considering the way I felt now. The cool air felt good to me. I tried to ignore the pain, and I was sorry I had left my purse inside with my pills in it. I knew I was going to need them very soon. I was glad nobody was out this far, the gardens were so huge you could get lost if you were not careful.

A tall man in a tuxedo stepped out from the shadows. I nearly screamed. I had thought I was alone this far from the house. He looked at me but said nothing for a few minutes.

“Corrine, I presume?” His voice was low and smooth; it sent a chill down my spine as I watched him move closer to me.

“Uh, yes I am. Who are you?” I tried to hide my sudden fear of this stranger. I had a sudden urge to leave; something about this man was not good at all. I got chills standing there.

“Are you a guest of my father’s?” I struggled to remain calm, as I was starting to feel sick again.

“Oh… no lovely. I am not; I am a guest of William’s.” He winked at me. “He just doesn’t know I have arrived yet.” He smiled and glanced back at the house.

“Okay, well he’s inside playing pool if you want to speak to him.” I needed to get back in the house. I felt a blackout spell looming. “I’m really not feeling well, might you help me back to the house, and I can show you to William?”

“I know you do not feel well Corrine. I know all about you. I know you are very ill and your days are sadly numbered. Your clock is ticking down to nothing…tick…tock.” He laughed. “More so than you realize. I also know you have captured my William’s heart and thoughts of you consume his mind.” I shuttered, who was this guy and how could he know me?

“Excuse me, but I really need to get back to the party.” I felt another chill as he chuckled.

“You really do not know who I am, Corrine? Did he not describe me to you in great detail? I know he’s told you about me.” I moved back as he got closer, his face came into view. He was stunningly handsome, very much like William and all his cousins. I froze in terror. I looked into his eyes now visible from the tiny lights in the trees. They were dark and menacing. They were the eyes of a vampire.

“I have traveled very far to see William, my dear.” He leaned over close to my face. I could hardly breathe. “William… is my son.”

I couldn’t breathe, this was Vincent. It had to be, and he was right in front of me. He stood there, studying me as if I were a science project or a happy meal. I hated to think which one.

“You are William’s love, are you not? The one he’s so taken with?” He tilted his head looking me over. “I can see why, you are a lovely creature even for a mortal.” He laughed as he tilted his head to the other side, looking deep into my eyes.

I turned away. I had remembered Will’s warning that a vampire can put you in a trace and you never even know its happening. Vincent laughed and shook his head. “He has warned you about our powers, smart boy. He knew that others of our kind would see you as dinner and not his love.”

I was sick with fear as I sat there frozen to the bench, praying William would come and save me. I knew I couldn’t run. I knew no human could outrun a vampire and trying to outsmart him was impossible too. I had to pray he would make my death a swift one. I didn’t see how anyone from the party would even know I was out here.

Vincent stood there studying me; he barely blinked his eyes. They were so dark I could swear they were black. I looked away toward the house. I was trying to get my thoughts to Will, hoping he could sense my danger and come to me.

“He will come to you, my dear. He has a connection to you, of what nature and strength I do not know but…” He sighed looking down at his nails as if bored. “He will be here shortly, rest assured.”

“He’s going to kill you!” I snapped wrapping my arms around myself, as the night air seemed suddenly colder.

“Really Corrine? Did you not listen when wise old Doc was educating you on all William’s vampire traits? I know he must have. Old Doc is very thorough on his details…unless he’s slipping. ” He laughs as he pulls a small rope from his coat pocket. “William is nearly as vulnerable to me as
you
are. Oh yes, he is very strong a definite threat to humans of course, that I will admit. It does take a special effort to kill him.” He leaned over into my face. I leaned back away from him. “But I can kill him. He has not the strength to fight me off. You didn’t ever wonder why Doc and his coven are so protective over him. They know that if he should run into a dark coven member or a rouge vampire they would kill him. He’s not as super human as you fantasized about, little lady.”

I was too scared to speak, as I had remembered now how Will had told me he was not as strong as his cousins and other full- blooded vampires. I had known Doc said he had retained a very high amount of human traits, thus making him easy prey for the dark coven and for Vincent. I didn’t have time to think again. He jerked me off the bench with a force that made me lose my breath.

I tried to pull away. He only laughed as he pulled my arms behind my back and tied them with the rope he had been holding. I felt my head yanked back next as he tied a scarf around my mouth so I couldn’t scream. I choked and fought but he was too strong and I was getting weaker every second.

I tried to fight, but I knew it was a lost cause. Vincent would win no matter what I tried. I was at his mercy. I felt my head, starting to spin as he picked me up and carried me to a garden shed only a few feet from the rose garden.

“You have a rest here, while I deal with your lover boy who’s just about to arrive.” He had his nose raised, smelling the air. Vampires could sense one another easily like this.

I could see him walk back around the hedges, from where he put me I could see the whole garden. I heard William running down the walkway. He skidded to a halt when he saw Vincent. I could see the fear in his eyes. I wanted to scream to him to run, to get out of here, and tell him Vincent was going to kill him and me as well. “You did well my son, you heard her pleas for help did you not?” I could see Will’s lip curl and his eyes narrow in hatred. “You son of a bitch, if you hurt her, I will kill you!” Will was raging. He moved closer to Vincent, seeming to have lost his fear now.

“Ha, that’s very amusing, my boy, but we both know that is impossible. You see, I’ve come here to make you an offer.” William stepped back, his eyes fixed on Vincent for a minute. He was extremely intense now as he was scanning the area looking for me, I assumed.

“What are you talking about, you have nothing I want.”

“No, perhaps not but should you choose wrong…” He narrowed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. “I can promise you this will end badly for you and your lovely Corrine.”

“What then, what have you come here for, you know you are banished. Doc has told you that Corrine has nothing to do with this, you leave her alone.”

“
You
are what I’ve come for William; it seems that the secret of you being a half-blooded vampire has leaked out. This compromises my power as the dark coven leader. Should my coven believe I had only the strength to turn you halfway, they would oust me as leader for being weak. You already know this. I have told you that is why you were to follow me as my successor and never reveal you are not a full-blooded vampire to my dark coven members. I do not intend to let that happen. William, you must see what I mean. It will destroy me and all I have created. I am telling you that if you do not come back to New Orleans with me the others will learn you are in love with a mortal and that you are a true half-blood. I will kill you and your lovely girlfriend before I let that happen, no one is to ever know the truth about you.”

“No… never.” William snapped. “I will not come back to the dark coven. I am no longer part of you. I refuse to sink to your level.” William rolled up his shirtsleeves preparing to fight. “You will not hurt Corrine either. I will never allow you to touch her; you will have to kill me first!”

“How gallant you are, my son. Once again, I will ask you to return with me to the home you first knew. Where you belong, at my side. I’m running out of patience. You have made me sick enough watching you with her. It makes me ill; you know we do not play with our food!”

“No Vincent never! You will not win this one; Doc and our coven are already expecting you.”