NightFall: Book One: Bloodlust Is the Cure for the Immortal Soul (28 page)

night
club is because, well, I like to be involved in your life. You feel like a daughter

to
me and I want to share Paris with you even though I can’t be there with you. You

did
say you wanted to write something while vacationing there, right? What better

way
to write a story than on something, or some
one
you love.
Van.
I know you do

and
I know you’re proud to write from the heart. That’s what you do. It’s true that

you
can get that kind of information through internet sites. They’re okay, but I want

some
inside info. I wanted the true story of what it’s like. From someone who

doesn’t
make his or her home in France. I’m just afraid I would get a biased opinion

if
I asked a native. I couldn’t blame them. I would be the same way if someone

asked
me for my views of Alabama or the U.S.

“It may seem like small news to some but according to you, it’s not. Because you

care
about these people. I needed someone with a heart to write this piece. Not

someone
who’s generic in the emotion’s department. Okay, Simone? I hope this

answers
any questions or worries you had about the subject. Have fun. I can’t wait

to
see you.

Love, Davis Brant.”

Davis sent the e-mail, hating himself even more.

He couldn’t wait until this crap was over.

“Simone will never
forgive me if she found out,”
he murmured to himself pathetically.

“And she won’t find out if yo
u keep your mouth shut, Davis,”
came a menacing voice from outside Davis’ office.

Davis jerked his head up and saw Mr. Hobbs swagger into the room. His stance said that he knew something Davis didn’t. He didn’t like this one bit.

“Mr. Hobbs. What brings you here?” Davis asked, trying to sound as normal as possible. Apparently, it wasn’t working.

“Nervous, are we, Davis? Why? You haven’t disclosed
any
information to Simone, have you? I mean, you wouldn’t want anything
bad
to happen to her, would you? She’s like the daughter you never had. You wouldn’t want to lose that only daughter because of your carelessness.” Mr. Hobbs’ threat was as plain as the nose on his somewhat scarred face. If he didn’t keep his mouth shut, Simone would be killed.
All because of him.

Mr. Hobbs laughed darkly.
“Very good.
And you know, of course, if you do spill the beans, we have no choice but to do away with you as well. That is after you see Simone tortured first. How would you want her to beg for her life, Davis? Trade her around to some toughs I can hire in a minut
e? Throw her in a dark room with
no walls until she goes insane? We want you to take that guilt to your grave. Tell her what kind of a man you really are right before she breath
e
s her last breath. Tell me, Davis. Which way is best?” Mr. Hobbs asked with blackness in his voice.

Davis
aver
ted his eyes. He spoke slowly,
“I didn’t tell her anything. She won’t find out. I promise.” But, Davis Brant’s voi
ce grew in volume as he spoke,
“You will
not
hurt Simone,
do
you hear me? I’ll keep her in the dark, you just leave her alone!”

Mr. Hobbs curved his lips upward. Others would think he was truly smiling. Davis knew differently. It was a warning.
Plain and simple.
He left out of the office, leaving Davis to brood over their conversation.

*

Indea lay contently in Saldivar’s arms. She could hear him breathing on the back of her hair. She though that nothing could get any
better that this. Sh
e yawned and reached over to glance at the clock on one of Saldivar’s small w
ooden tables: two
:thirty
!
They’ve rested this long?

Well, they didn’t necessary sleep all that time. Tw
ice he pulled her to him and mad
e sweet, hot love to her unt
il she thought her body could take no more. After that, Indea
drift
ed off to sleep in Saldivar’s strong
arms.
She closed her eyes once more and drifted off again.

*

“What time is it, my sweet Indea?” Saldivar asked in a
hushed tone, waiting for Indea to come out of her sweet slumber. He hated waking her.

“Three o’clock
. Why?”

Saldivar shot out of bed.
He had rested with Indea far longer than
he should have. It wasn’t
that he didn’t want to have her in his arms all day and night but the sun will be up soon and he needed the security of his lair.
Indea’s brows knitted. Saldivar noticed and sa
id,
“Oh, Indea, I was hoping that we could have spoken on some very serious issues tonight, but I fear it is too late. I must be getting back home.
I wish it wasn’t so, but it is important that I get home before sunrise.
Promise you will meet me here tomorrow. I need to talk to you.”

Indea frowned.
Before sunrise?
Instead of questioning th
at statement, she just shrugged, forgetting to ask him about having breakfast with her.

Indea got out of bed, naked as the day she was born, and walked to him. “Okay, Saldivar. Is it something terribly serious?”

“It’s serious, but not terrible. Though
,
it may end up changing both our lives forever.”

Indea was puzzled by what he said, but said nothing as she got dressed. She kissed Saldivar passionately. He wrapped his arms around her and received her sweet kiss.

Indea slipped on her shoes
and dress
and retri
eved her purse. “I will be here
tomorrow, Saldivar. Then we can talk.” With a wave, she walked out of the cabin and went to her car and rode toward home.

Saldivar finished getting dressed, then tidied up the cabin. He could still smell the sweetness that Indea left
behind on the bed, the pillows and
the very air in the roo
m. No mortal could pick up on that scent
, but he co
uld smell every nuance of her.

No
w
tomorrow, he had to face her
and tell her what he truly was:
A blood sucking vampire.
He now wondered if he
even
deserved her.

*

Simone heard Indea come in about an hour later. The huge smile evident on Indea’s flushed face said it all. But Simone was still a little curious about what the stranger said about bite marks.

So, how was she going to look without raising an alarm to Indea? She would hate to ruin what seemed like the perfect night. She guessed she could figure it out. She would just play it by ear and see what developed.

Simone followed Indea into her room. Indea sat on the vanity and began brushing her hair.

That’s it!
Simone walked o
ver to Indea and asked softly,
“Could I brush you hair for you, Indea?”

Indea smiled
and handed Simone the brush. “Thanks, Simone.”

Simone began brushing, trying to maneuver her hair away from her neck. “How was your night with Saldivar?” She brushed once more.

Indea’s face took on a dreamy look. “Simone, it was perfect.
More than perfect.
It was like I had been waiting for Saldivar for centuries. But I know that it can’t be so. I haven’t known him that long but it feels like I have. Know what I mean?”

Simone thought of Van. “Oh, I most certainly know.” She brushed Indea’s hair away from her neck and stared. She found nothing on the left side. She looked to the right.
Again, nothing.

What did that stranger know, and why in the world did I listen to him in the first place?

Indea furrowed her brows at Simone’s perusal of her. “Simone, what are you doing?”

Simone’s eyes went wide for a moment. She tried to act natural. “Oh, not
hing,”
she said a bit offhandedly.

Indea’s eyes turned to slits. “You don’t sound too sure of yourself. We’ve always been honest with each other. C’mon, Simone. Something’s up. Tell me. Please?”

Simone sighed as she returned the brush to the vanity table. “Come sit over here and I’ll explain.”

They both sat on Indea’s bed and Simone began to tell Indea the whole detailed story of the mysterious stranger and what he warned her about.

By the time Simone finished, Indea was looking a little too bewildered and doubtful. She shook her head.

“Don’t tell me you believe this crap, Simone. The guy sounds like a freak.
And not the good kind.”

Simone chewed her lower lip. “Well, how did he know that you were out with Saldivar at that specific time? How did he know Van? Why
did he call me when I was alone
and ask for me by my first and last name? I don’t live here, so why ask for me specifically?”

Indea stood up and crossed her arms. “I think all this talk of vampires has gotten to you. A lot of people saw us at Bastille Day. It could be someone who was there and they knew about the hours kept by Saldivar and Van. Maybe he or she or they were jealous and they’re trying to ruin our relationships.” Indea closed her eyes and suddenly popped them open. She
explained in an excited voice,
“Wait just a minute here! Michael. It has got to be him. Saldivar fired him when he tried to take liberties with me. Michael knows about the club’s hours. He must know a lot about Van and Saldivar. It has to be him, Simone.”

“Maybe.
It didn’t sound like him over the phone, though. This guy sounded kind of French-American.”

Indea huffed. “
Come on,
Simone. Michael could’ve faked an accent. I mean, he faked being a gentleman pretty well.”

For some reason, Simone couldn’t believe that it was Michael. “This guy sounded too refined to be Michael.”

Indea still saw doubt clouding Simone’s eyes. “Look, I’m sorry this wacko ruined your night. Please don’t let him ruin mine. Talk to Van, okay? I’ll speak with Saldivar about it later. I’m going to bed.” Indea waited for Simone to get off the bed, then she turned down her cove
rs and said a small ‘good-night’, closed her eyes, apparently not wanting to talk about the subject any longer.

Simone trudged out of Indea’s room and decided to check her e-mail to see if Mr. Brant left her anything. She had wanted to check earlier, but found she was too worried about Indea.