Misty (7 page)

She opened the door slowly and he was gone. She walked through the house carefully, finding the doors locked and no Vampires lurking anywhere. She went back into the bedroom, dressing quickly in a cotton bra, panties, and plain loose top with her usual jeans. She pulled her hair back with a scarf and decided a pair of flats would complete her effort. She went to the kitchen, taking a moment to look out the front window
—
nothing and nobody. She made a quick breakfast then went to her computer.

She spent the next few hours working on a design in Illustrator and In Design, and having to redo lines as she jumped at each noise. But through the morning and into the afternoon she was alone. She finally got wrapped up in her work and forgot the world around her.

She sent a couple of designs to the printer and raised her hands and arms over her head in the chair to stretch and he had his cold grip around her hands. She froze in position, felt her heart beat so loud in her ears that she was sure it was booming in the room. She sat for what seemed an eternity but she knew was only a moment or two. She gave a pull but he did not release her. She finally did what she really did not want to do, she tipped her head back and between her arms she looked up at him.

“I see you missed me. Get dressed in something nice and I will take you out to dinner.” He let go and twirled the chair around to face the door.

“I don’t understand. You don’t eat
—
do you drink? Why would you want to go out in public? No, I don’t want to go out like everything is normal in my life.” She sat back in the chair and gave him a stubborn look.

He took a deep sigh. “You really are going to make this difficult. You don’t eat properly. You need not worry about me, you should worry about yourself.” He went into her bedroom and she heard him in her closet, pushing clothes hangers from one end to the other. She jumped up and followed him only to see him pulling out a red dress covered in thin cleaners plastic. He threw it on the bed.

“I am not putting that on.”

“I think I would really enjoy dressing you, but I have the feeling that you won’t want me to. Make your choice because you have an hour.” He walked around the bed and out of the room. She watched his back until he turned the corner then she sank down on the bed. What was this all about? First he wanted her to stay in, now he wanted her to go out, and to a nice restaurant.

She got up and looked in the living room but he was gone. How did he do that? She went back and sat on the bed. After about fifteen minutes she realized she did not want him to dress her and she had a vision of them wrestling over the red dress, her naked and him with the dress in his hands. She realized it was slightly erotic so she shook herself. Sure he was a great looking guy, but how could she even have the least bit of thought about him and anything involving sex?
Geez, Misty, get a hold.
So she got up and started getting dressed.

She found the right kind of underwear, red and lacy
—
when had she bought them? Oh, yes, one time with Terrie, when actually Terrie had bought them for her. The dress was acceptable, not too daring, not too low at the top and not too short. It had long sleeves and although the neckline was not too low, it started at the edge of each shoulder and left her shoulders and neck bare. It also dipped much lower in back. But it was the color, it just shouted out. It also seemed to bring out the red in her reddish brown hair. She looked in a mirror and could not decide what to do with her hair.

She went into the bathroom and used a curling iron to curl the ends. She put a little eye makeup on and a touch of color on her lips. She went back to her closet and found a pair of black heels and slipped them on. During the whole process she kept asking herself what the hell she was doing.

* * * *

He had discovered something interesting when he took on the two prowlers who were looking for her
—
they had been sent by a strong older warrior who was supposedly the male in charge of this area. The man had been in this county for a hundred years and had built up quite an army, had a lot of control over politicians and police.

It seemed that this old Vamp was feeling like it was time to thumb his nose at the Council, maybe declare some independence. This would-be
King of the Hill
felt that others would follow his defiance. He might be able to build a bigger army of followers. The Lord of the Province had probably been planning this for a while, just waiting for the right time or event to give him an excuse to flex his muscles.

Rad had dusted the two creeps so there would be no reports to go back, but he decided it might be time to wave a little bait out there and see if the rat took the cheese.

* * * *

When she went into the living room he was there, dressed in a black suit, white shirt open at the throat. It made him look very handsome and very dangerous, like a gangster from the movies. He even had the white handkerchief in the pocket.

He looked her over critically and she held her breath. He walked around her and went into the bedroom. She did not know what to do, but just stood and waited. He came back out with a couple of black clips that had been in a tray by her bed.

“When you go out with a Vamp, you must leave your neck uncovered. It makes a statement in case any other Vampires see you.” He handed her the clips and waited while she took them. She stood and looked at him for a long moment. She felt a shiver run down her back.

“You want me to pull my hair back?”

“Just a little, behind your ears. It is charming hanging down your back.”

She took a deep breath. What was he saying? Other Vampires might see them? “Please,” she caught her breath, “give me a moment.” She took the clips and walked through the bedroom and into the bathroom to the mirror. She looked at her reflection. She felt she could do this. She caught her hair back on the sides and pulled it up high and clipped it. She went back into the bedroom and opened a drawer and pulled out a large black lace scarf that she could wear around her shoulders. She picked up her small purse.

He opened the door for her. She went through and hesitated. The vehicle was a large black sedan. It had a BMW emblem on the front. He went around her to open the door. She got in and waited until he got in behind the wheel before she asked, “Is my house locked?”

He smiled that crooked smile. “Believe me, no one will bother it.”

She watched her house as they backed out. “What did you do, pee on the lawn like a wolf?” This came out with a snap to her voice.

“You really have an imagination.” He glanced over at her and then his eyes returned to the road. “Or are you just trying to agitate me?”

They drove in silence for almost forty-five minutes. She recognized that they had moved into a busy area with dark bars lit by neon signs and long lines. Finally he pulled up in front of a restaurant that seemed to be very busy. It had valet, but there were several cars already at the curb. He just pulled up beside one of the cars and got out. Someone seemed to recognize him, because a young man immediately ran over to take his keys as he came around to open her door and help her out.

She pulled her lace wrap around her as he assisted her to weave between the cars and walk up to the double doors that were being held open for them. He held her lightly by her elbow as they entered and the maître d’ approached, all smiles. He indicated that their table was ready. She did not say anything but just turned and followed the smiling man in the tux. She felt him let go of her elbow but he also pulled the lace wrap down and off. She glanced back at him but there was no expression on his face as he laid the lace over his arm.

They were seated at one side, in a corner that left her back to the room and left him where he could look at her, but more important, over her at the entire room. She wondered if when he went out, he always chose a location for himself that let him see what was going on. She found this preferable, as she did not want those cool pale eyes on her all the time.

A waiter came and she heard him order for them in his low velvet voice but she couldn’t have repeated what they were getting. It was a short time and drinks were set in front of them. White wine for her and what she guessed was whiskey over ice for him.

“You drink?” She tipped her glass towards his.

“I have acquired the taste for a good malt whiskey over the years.” He raised his glass and saluted her.

She looked over her shoulder at the rich surroundings and the well-dressed people in the well-spaced tables. This expensive restaurant had given all their guests room for privacy with lots of plants, marble statues and some classic dividers. “Exactly what is this all about? I don’t understand this lesson. I sure didn’t like the first one but at least I understood it.” She looked down at the wine glass and moved it around to have something to do with her hands. The waiter brought a soup and set it down in front of her. She noted that none was put in front of him. There was also a plate with some flat bread put in the middle of the table.

“Eat your meal.” He sipped his whiskey and sat back in his chair. She frowned, picked up the spoon and tried the soup. It was really good. She decided to look down and just enjoy. After all she could not afford such an expensive restaurant. She was half way through the bowl when a sudden chill hit her back and she sat up suddenly, looking at him. It was not him, but he was watching her closely. She put the spoon down and sat up straight. She was trying to decide to look around the room when he spoke very low.

“So you did feel him. Interesting. Don’t look around and when he approaches don’t react. You are under the protection of the Council and I am their arm. Sometimes it has to be tested.” His voice was almost a whisper.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw three men approaching. They were all dressed very properly and were very handsome men. The middle man, who approached as the other two fell back a step or two, had an air about him of being use to giving commands and having them obeyed. He would have looked very natural in a uniform of a general.

“Radames, how good to see you. I am disappointed that you would visit my home and not pay me the honor of calling on me. May I join you?” One of the men held up his hand for a waiter.

Rad looked up at the tall imposing figure. “I don’t think so, Bathromo, even you can see I am entertaining.”

“Funny, I had heard you were working. But I smell something delicious. What have you ordered for dinner?” He stepped forward towards Misty.

She looked up at Rad and he held her eyes with his pale ones. But he spoke to the standing man.

“You would not make the mistake of touching my lady.” She knew that she was doing everything she could to keep from flinching at the possessive comment from the man across the table. But she also felt that for some reason it was important that she sit here and not show any emotion. For once it was important to keep her temper. But boy, was he going to get it when they got out of all of this.

“Perhaps she might choose a different protector?” The two men moved in closer to the man who was speaking.

“There has been a report to Rome that you’ve been a little too loose on the rules around here, Bethromo. If you can’t get things under control, they might send in an enforcer.” Rad spoke in that velvet voice and still looked at her, but she heard the stress on the word enforcer.

It was at this time that a waiter and his helper brought the meal. He moved around the three men without saying a word, removed her soup and the tray from the middle of the table and set a plate of veal parmesan in front of her. They placed a large basket of warm bread in the middle and large plates of butter and cheese. One of the men topped her wine and there was a fresh whiskey glass placed in front of Rad.

“I guess it would depend on whether anyone was worried about enforcers anymore.” The man spoke as he reached over, took a roll and split it in half. He took a pinch of it and dipped it into the sauce on her plate and put it into his mouth. “I have developed a small taste for some foods. Strange the habits we pick up when we grow old. I see you have a taste for whiskey. I will see that some good single malt is sent to you.”

Rad continued to hold her gaze as he spoke to the man. “I think sometimes a person can developed bad habits and get careless as we grow old. We do not heed the proper warnings.” He suddenly stood. It was so fast that it was almost invisible. The three men stepped back. So they were afraid of him. Suddenly Misty found that reassuring.

The maître d’ appeared and had a couple of waiters with him. The three men stepped back and the leader nodded and turned. They quickly made their way out of the restaurant.

“Sir, is there a problem?” The maître d’ was almost bending over at the waist.

Rad reached in his pocket and pulled out a fold of money. He counted off five one hundred dollar bills and laid them on the table. “The gentleman ruined our meal. I am afraid I must take the lady somewhere else.” He held his hand out to Misty. She hesitated only a second, took the offered hand and stood up. Okay, smallest meal in the fanciest restaurant in her life. This whole thing was getting more and more surreal.

He led her to the front and they went out the door to wait for the car. He had her lace scarf that he put it around her but he slid his arm around her waist and she gasped as she felt him slip his hand inside the vee of the dress in the back, against her skin. She bit her lip, trying not to let the valet see any reaction as the cool hand pushed gently against her bare back, to guide her to the passenger seat. She got in as fast as possible to end the contact.