Fall of Darkness (The Chronicles of Darkness) (31 page)

With a lopsided smile, he extended his
hand to her. “Giovanni Ridolfi, my friends call me Gio.”

Ah, Giovanni, Dominic’s favorite brother
.
Kate ignored his hand with a grimace. “Katerina Cacciatori.”

“Kate Murdock,” Giovanni corrected.

“She’s dead.” Kate replied flatly.

“She doesn’t have to be.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Kate
snarled at him, leaping up from her chair. Palms flat on the table in front of
him, Kate leaned in, facing him nose-to-nose.

“You have no idea what you’re talking
about,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

Giovanni answered with a cocked black
brow and a click of his tongue. He indicated for her to return to her seat with
a tip of his head. It was a battle of wills fought only with their eyes, one
she lost, because his were too much like Dominic’s for her to hold his gaze for
long.  Kate huffed, but dropped back into her seat.

“You destroyed my brother when you left.
Did you know that?”

“I highly doubt that,” she scoffed. His
words twisted like a knife in her chest. “You have to have a heart for someone
to hurt you, let alone destroy you. You’re brother doesn’t have a heart, so
there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Really?” Kate sneered. “About what?”

“Everything.”

Kate dropped her gaze to study the pale
fingers of her clasped hands in her lap. They were trembling.

Giovanni pressed on. “I know what you
believe, and you’re wrong. He wouldn’t have done it. He would never have hurt
you. You say he doesn’t have a heart, but you couldn’t be more wrong.

“You’re the one who needs a heart. His
may be broken, but at least it’s there. You turned your back on him, while he
sacrificed everything for you. I want you to know that.”

“Why?” Kate choked on the lump in her
throat. “Why risk your life to tell me this?”

“Because he gave all he had, lost
everything, and received nothing in return. Because I want you to suffer at least
a fraction of the pain you’ve caused him. I want every second of your
pointless, overlong little life to be filled with regret for the choice you
made. I want you to lie awake, day after day, hating yourself for throwing his
love away.”

Giovanni leaned in closer, his black
eyes narrowed to shrewd slits, his lips twisted into a cruel, sardonic smile.
“To tell you the truth, you did him a favor, leaving him like you did. You were
never good enough for him. My brother belongs with a woman who’ll trust and
love him, one who will stand by him through anything. You don’t deserve him,
never did.”

Kate dropped her face into her hands,
fighting back tears. No, she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t give him the
satisfaction. Sucking in a fortifying breath, she lifted her bloodshot eyes to
his. “Does he know you’re here?”

Not that it mattered, but at the same
time, it did.

“Dominic? Nah, he’d kill me if he knew I
was here. He rues the day he ever met you.”

Kate shook her head from side to side,
trying to block out his cutting words and hold back the sting of tears they
caused.

“That’s quite enough, Ridolfi,” Alex
growled, reappearing to hover over them like an avenging angel. He waved his
hand and two thick-muscled vampires in suits flanked Giovanni, seizing each of
his arms and dragging him to his feet. Kate rose to lay her hand on Alexander’s
arm.

“No, Alex. Please don’t. It’s okay.”

“No, Katerina. It’s not. He shouldn’t
have come here and he sure as hell shouldn’t have talked to you the way he did.
I can’t allow it. He will pay for his audacity and his biting tongue.”

“Now, can I shoot the fucker?” Massimo
growled. Alex hushed him with a wave of his hand. Massimo threw up his hands in
exasperation, but begrudgingly tucked his gun into the waist of his pants.

“Alex, please,” Kate begged, swiping at
the tears streaming down her face. Great, now everyone would see her cry. “I’m
okay. Really,” she insisted.

Alexander caught one of her tears as it
rolled down her cheek, gently wiping it away with the pad of his thumb. He studied
her face. “Are you sure?”

Kate nodded. Alexander snapped his
fingers and the suits dropped Giovanni to the floor. Massimo’s boot connected
with Giovanni’s face. Kate heard a sickening crunch as Giovanni’s nose
shattered beneath the blunt impact. Massimo spit on the fallen man.

“Massimo,” Kate protested.

Alexander placed a hand on Massimo’s
chest, restraining him from further attack. Giovanni rose to his feet in
silence, attempting to staunch the bright red gush of blood with the white
sleeve of his shirt. Katerina stirred within Kate, dark thirst spreading
through her veins like wild fire. Kate bit her lip and shoved the demon back
into the shadows where she belonged.

“He thinks he can come into my house,
insult my cousin. The bastard deserves a silver bullet between the eyes for the
things he said to her,” Massimo snarled, struggling against Alexander’s hold.

“I know. Believe me, I know. No one
wants to put it there more than I do, but now is not the time. Think about it. One
weak, defenseless werewolf against scores of heavily armed vampires. Where’s
the fun in that?”

Alex leaned closer to Massimo’s ear, his
voice dropping to a whisper Kate was pretty sure she wasn’t meant to hear. “Not
in front of Katerina. You know how she feels. Don’t worry, brother. We’ll kill
them all.”

Sucking his breath in through his nose,
Massimo gave a sharp nod and relaxed beneath Alexander’s hand. He glowered at
Giovanni, his hate palpable in the air between them.

“Be gone, Ridolfi,” Alexander commanded,
his voice hard enough to shatter diamonds. “But don’t mistake our actions
tonight for mercy. If Katerina had wanted your blood, she would’ve had it. It
is by her grace alone you leave here alive. Remember that. Stay away from her,
and tell your brother to do the same. For if I see either of you again, I will
take great pleasure in killing you myself.”

Beneath his hooked nose, healing in
crooked alignment, a twisted grin spread across Giovanni’s face. “I will relay
the message. I’m sure Dominic will be delighted by the challenge.” Inclining
his head in mock deference to Kate, he said “Sweet dreams, princess.”

Kate blinked her tear filled eyes and he
was gone.

 “Are you insane?” Dominic roared,
grasping the bridge of Giovanni’s nose. With one sharp jerk of his hand, he snapped
the poorly healed bone of his brother’s nose.

“Ouch! Shit, Dom. What the hell’d you do
that for?” Gio protested nasally, scrambling to escape Dominic’s wrath and the
pain his hands induced.

 “If I don’t straighten out that ugly
beak of yours, it’ll ruin your pretty face,” Dominic answered dryly.

“That’s a risk I’m more than willing to
take.”

Dominic glared at his brother. “What the
hell were you thinking, going to Noche de Reyes by yourself? Oh yeah, you
weren’t thinking. No man in his right mind would wander there in the dead of
night. You could’ve been killed. In fact, you should’ve been. I should kill you
for your stupidity. What on earth possessed you?” Dominic wrenched the tender
bone and cartilage into proper alignment with more force than necessary.

Gio squawked in pain and Dominic
released him. Scrambling to his feet, Gio backed away from him. Dominic’s
gangly older brother eyed him warily, his lips pursed as though he’d sucked on
a lemon. Whatever Gio had to say, Dominic knew he wasn’t going to like it.

“I went to talk to Kate,” Gio admitted
with a reluctant sigh.

Kate, the only word synonymous with pain
in his language. Fury blinded him and Dominic couldn’t find his voice. His jaw
twitched as it clenched and unclenched. Closing his eyes, he sucked in a slow
breath through his nostrils. He exhaled with a low hiss and opened his eyes
again. Giovanni looked ready to bolt, but held his ground.

“I told you never to speak her name to
me again,” Dominic ground out through gritted teeth.

 “I saw her,” Gio said, ignoring
Dominic’s protest.

Dominic closed his eyes again, refusing
to dignify the statement with an answer. Never in his life had he been jealous
of Gio. Until now. Perhaps a visit to Noche de Reyes wasn’t complete and utter
stupidity. It was suicidal insanity. He would gladly risk death to see Kate
again.  

Unabashed, Giovanni pressed on. “You
were right. She is beautiful.”

            Dominic
didn’t need to be told how beautiful she was. He saw her every time he closed
his eyes. Yet, his brother’s quiet words held the power to drive him back to
the brink of madness.

She was real. She was out there. And she
was no longer his. Shaking with rage and pain, Dominic turned to face Giovanni
and snarled, “I don’t care.”

            Facing
Dominic’s fury head on, Gio whispered, “She still loves you.”

            Dominic
didn’t dare believe it.  He raked his palms across the bristled surface of his
shorn hair and clutched his head in his hands. He’d shaved the unruly locks in an
attempt to erase the feel of her fingers tangled in his hair, to erase the
memories of the passionate paradise they’d created together.  It would take far
more than a new haircut to remove the brand of her touch from his skin.

Minutes ticked by in painful silence. He
finally lifted his pained gaze to meet his brother’s probing stare. “Don’t,
Gio, just don’t.”

 “Don’t what, Dom?” Giovanni snapped.
“Don’t tell you the truth? Don’t try to talk some sense into you? Is that what
you want? Somebody’s got to do something.

“You can’t keep going on like this.
There’s more to life than sulking and killing vampires. You need to live again.
Want to know why I risked my neck to go there tonight? Because I want my
brother back, that’s why.

 “You want her? Do something about it.
You love her? Do something about it. Otherwise, just get the hell over it. Get
over her and get over yourself. I’m done feeling sorry for you. Do something or
stop bitching and get on with your life.”

Dominic listened to his brother rant
with bitter amusement. “I meant don’t give me hope,” he said, his lips twisting
into a sad half smile. “Hope is a dangerous thing for a man without any.”

The wind stolen from his sails, Giovanni
gaped at him in speechless silence. When he spoke again, Gio’s tone was much
more subdued. “Do you still love her?”

Dominic glared back in response. It did
no good. Gio wouldn’t drop it. Heaving a weighted sigh, he said, “More than
anything.”

“Then fight for her.”

“It’s not that easy,” Dominic argued.

“It’s not as hard as you’re making it
either,” Giovanni countered. “Trust me. It’ll all work out.”

“Well, forgive me if I don’t hold my
breath,” Dominic muttered, walking away from his optimistic brother and his
painful words of hope.

He’d had hope once too. It didn’t work
out so great for him. The bad guy got the girl and he lost everything.

Chapter
28

Alexander dipped into a gallant bow, a
soft smile playing at his lips. “You look ravishing” he murmured. His leonine
eyes held Kate’s gaze as he dipped his head to press his lips to the back of
her gloved hand.

“Thank you. You look quite dashing
yourself,” Kate said, self-consciously smoothing the fabric of her skirt.

            “Shall
we?” Alexander asked, offering her his arm.

Kate smiled and accepted his proffered
arm, threading her white gloved hand through the crook of his elbow. They
strolled down the corridor to the grand ballroom together. Tonight, Cacciatori
Castle would host a ball in celebration of the winter solstice. Kate could
hardly wait. Surprisingly enough, Alexander seemed to share her enthusiasm.

A combination of male appreciation and
loving devotion shone in Alexander’s amber eyes, twisting Kate’s conscience
into knots. He offered to her his whole self, without reservation, but she couldn’t
do the same. Her heart wasn’t hers to give.

In the past few months, Alex had become
her closest friend, keeping her secrets and wiping away her tears. He indulged,
protected, educated, delighted, and infuriated her. Kate had grown to love him,
but with a tender affection far different from the consuming passion she’d felt
for another.

That man’s love and lies had burned her
world to the ground, leaving behind nothing but ashes. A stab of unwelcome
grief assaulted her heart at the remembrance, but she thrust it aside. Tonight
was hers. She would forget him, if only for one night.

Never in her life had Kate felt so
glamorous. With her raven tresses drawn into an elegant French twist and piled
high atop her head, a waterfall of curls tumbled around her face and bare
shoulders. Her vintage ball gown had once belonged to her grandmother, though
in which century she’d worn it remained a mystery.

The emerald satin dress, worn over a
hoop slip and corset to create a dramatic silhouette, was a timeless classic. Kate
felt part southern belle, part fairy tale princess in the full skirts and off
the shoulder style. The close fitting bodice pushed her modest bosom to near
overflowing, tapered to a cinched waist, and gave way to a billowing skirt of
ruched layers. Diamonds embellished the bodice, glittering with light as she
moved.

Breathing must’ve been deemed
unnecessary when her grandmother had worn the gown, for Kate found her own
breathing restricted to the point of alarm by the corset. On the bright side,
at least she wouldn’t have to try and eat in the restrictive finery. She’d
given up that nasty habit altogether.

Following the steady flow of beautifully
adorned couples, they neared the entrance to the grand ballroom. The faint hum
of voices, laughter, and music drifted gaily down the corridor, further fueling
Kate’s excitement. They reached the arched doorway of the ballroom and
Alexander escorted Kate through.

An extravagant display of grandiose
splendor spread before Kate’s eyes. It was like a dream. The enormous grand
ballroom extended the entire length of the eastern wing. Windows comprised the
three exterior walls, seamless panes of glass extending from the domed glass
ceiling several stories above to the gleaming white marble floor below. Stars
twinkled brightly in the winter night’s sky above them.

A full orchestra sat upon a raised dais
at the far end of the room. Dressed in elegant black and white livery, the
musicians played lively tunes as couples danced in colorful swirls on the open
dance floor. Scores of large, round tables and chairs were grouped about the
perimeter, dressed up in crisp white linens and gleaming silver and crystal.
Fragrant red and white flowers framed long white candles in the center of each
table, while larger floral arrangements of similar design lined the walls
alongside potted evergreens

Guests, young and old, in various levels
of stylish finery, socialized and feasted upon exotic delicacies. Servers in
crisp white tuxedo jackets and black bow ties weaved in and out of the growing
crowd, bearing silver platters of refreshments.

“Your grandfather has always thrown the
best parties. Impressive, isn’t it?” Alexander asked softly.

“Yes,” Kate agreed in a breathless
whisper. She felt every bit the gauche princess at her first ball. “It’s
breathtaking.”

“Not nearly as breathtaking as you are,
Katerina,” Alexander said with a soft smile. “Come, let’s go see your
grandfather.”

With Kate on his arm, Alexander strolled
across the floor and farther into the ballroom. He murmured greetings to
friends and nodded his head in acknowledgement of acquaintances as he pulled
her through the crowd. Kate’s senses whirled in a kaleidoscope of lights,
colors, music, faces, and fragrances.

Horror filled her. Humans. They were
everywhere.

Kate inhaled the sweet, heady scent of
their blood.  The lively thrum of their delicious pulses pounded like the
beating of drums in her ears. Her incisors pricked at her tongue in unwelcome
thirst, and she tasted blood. Snarling, Katerina awakened from the shadows. The
two of them battled within her, Kate’s human self struggling to repress the
bloodthirsty demon who roared for satiation.

Recoiling from the proximity of so much
humanity, Kate shrank into Alexander’s side. She squeezed his arm in a vice
like grip, clinging to the edge of control by her fingernails. She was grateful
she’d transfused less than an hour before. It wasn’t hard to imagine the
bloodbath sure to ensue if she failed to resist the primal urges awakened by
exposure to so much appetizing humanity.

            “Alex,”
she rasped. “I can’t do this.”

            “Yes,
Katerina, you can,” he assured her, squeezing her hand. “Think of them as
people, with lives and families. Hold your breath if you have to. You can do
it. I know you can.”

His use of her usual argument against
preying on humans amused her. His unquestioning commitment to her ‘diet’ filled
her with gratitude. But it was his utter faith in her that baffled her, as did
his unflappable air.

            “I
don’t get it. You don’t seem the least bit bothered by them, and you actually
like to eat people. How are you not killing everyone in sight?” she whispered
in strained gasps, her voice trembling with the strain of her labors.

Alexander sighed, “Time, my sweet, just
give it time. You too will learn to control your hunger. You’re already doing
much better. A month ago, they would’ve all been dinner by now.”

            “But
what are they all doing here?” Kate hissed, between labored breaths.

Alexander grinned at her. “Gustavo likes
to keep an open, friendly relationship with the villages and towns under his,”
he cleared his throat meaningfully, “protection. Your family’s status among the
humans fosters their trust and hides our true nature. To them, he’s a powerful
businessman and an eccentric socialite, not the leader of the most dangerous
species of predators in existence. We can hunt more freely this way.”

            “Oh,
that’s horrible,” Kate gasped, focusing on his words in an effort to ignore the
thirst raging within her.

            “Survival
of the fittest, Katerina,
”
Alex justified with a shrug. “We do what we
must to survive.”

Their discussion came to an abrupt end
as they reached her grandfather’s table, elevated above the rest on a platform
at the front of the room.

            “Katerina.
Alexander, there you are,” Gustavo greeted them. He took both of her hands in
his own and kissed each of her cheeks. “You look radiant, child.”

            “Thank
you, Grandfather. It’s the dress, I think,” Kate said. She gestured to their
elegant surroundings. “Great party, it’s beautiful.”

            “I’m
glad you approve,” Gustavo said with his usual half smile that never made it to
his sharp eyes. “I hope you enjoy yourself tonight.”

            “That
won’t be hard,” Kate assured him. But she doubted the truth of her words. How
could she relax and let guard down amid so much free flowing temptation? A
server approached their party with crystal flutes of champagne and wine on a silver
tray.

            “Have
some wine, Katerina. I believe you’ll find it of an especially fine vintage,”
Gustavo said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Alexander opened his mouth
to speak, but the wave of her grandfather’s hand silenced him.

Overwhelmed by her inner struggle, Kate
hoped replacing the burn of thirst with the familiar burn of alcohol would be
enough to ease her bloodlust.

“Thank you,” she said, eagerly accepting
a flute of the dark, purplish liquid.

Kate raised the flute to her nose and
inhaled the sweet, intoxicating aroma. The wine smelt so wickedly delectable.
Lifting the glass to her lips, she took a small sip.

Sipping was no longer enough. The inferno
the succulent fluid ignited within her demanded more. Kate greedily drained the
flute of its heavenly sustenance in two deep swallows.

Unlike anything Kate had ever tasted,
the rich wine heated her blood like the fires of passion. Its potent warmth fulfilled
and invigorated her. Katerina purred in satisfaction. Reaching for another
flute, Kate raised it to her lips.

As she chugged the sinfully delicious
fluid, Kate caught sight of Alexander’s astonished face. She could think of only
one reason he would look at her that way. Blood.

The glass fell from her hand to shatter
at her feet. In a violent spurt, Kate spit a mouthful of the ‘wine’ out. Kate’s
eyes locked with Alexander’s. He confirmed her suspicion with a slight nod.

A servant stooped to clean the crimson
spatters from the once pristine floor, while another presented Kate with a
linen napkin. Nodding her thanks, Kate accepted the cloth and swiped at her
mouth with frantic strokes.

Blood
.
No wonder it tasted so
wicked. No wonder it satisfied her thirst as nothing else could. Self disgust
raged through her. She’d consumed human blood of her own free will. Worst of
all, she’d liked it.

“Water?” Kate croaked at a server, who
obligingly provided her with a small glass of the clear liquid.

Gustavo watched her through narrowed
eyes, his dark gaze piercing through her. With a swish, Kate rinsed her mouth
and forced herself to swallow. She pasted a self deprecating smile on her face
for her scrutinizing audience.

“Sorry… I must have caught something in
my throat,” she said, coughing for emphasis.

Her grandfather arched a dark brow at
her, but let the moment pass without a word. Great
,
the last thing she
needed was for him to realize she refused to feed. He wouldn’t understand. None
of the vampires would.

To them, drinking blood was as natural
as breathing. Alexander said Gustavo would put an end to her transfusions if he
knew. He wouldn’t rest until he’d forced her to accept her dark nature. No, he
couldn’t know the truth.

Ever her champion, Alexander came rushing
to the rescue. “I believe they are playing a waltz. Would you care to dance,
Katerina?” he asked, extending his hand to her.

“I’d love to,” Kate agreed, filled with
gratitude as she accepted his hand. He led her toward the open dance floor.

            “Thanks,”
she whispered as Alex drew her into his arms. With little effort and his
signature grace, he led her through the dance steps

            “My
pleasure,” Alexander murmured. “I merely seized the opportunity to satisfy my
own selfish desires. Like all the men in the room, I sought an excuse to take
you into my arms.”

             “Yeah,
right,” Kate said with an uncomfortable laugh, shifting back to a topic unrelated
to the complicated status of their relationship. “So, blood instead of wine,
huh?” she asked wryly. The taste still tantalized her tongue

            “I’m
sorry, I tried to warn you. Special bottles are prepared and served to guests with
our particular tastes. Less temptation, more satisfied guests. What good is a
party without great food?” A wicked grin spread across Alexander’s face.

Kate shook her head at his abject
reasoning. Of course, the wine was a better idea than serving the human guests
as dinner. “I guess you have a point.”

At least the glass of blooded wine
helped to abate her thirst. Though the live blood around her called to her newly
awakened taste buds, for once she possessed the steady resolve to ignore her
bloodlust. Such respite would not come cheap. The taste of forbidden fruit came
with consequences. The time would come to pay the piper and she feared the cost
would be great.

            Kate
and Alexander danced in silence, floating and twirling to the music in graceful
patterns with the other couples on the dance floor. Dancing in Alexander’s arms,
Kate felt comfortable and safe. Yet her heart yearned for a different set of
arms to enfold her.

            Dance
with me, Kate.

But there’s no music.

Yes, there is. Can’t you hear it?