Opulent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (6 page)

“Behind you!” I yelled.

              Fitzray looked at me, confused. He could not hear me. I stumbled back and shouted again; this time he read my lips and turned to face the figure. Blood stained the glass wall as the sword mercilessly stabbed his chest. My bloodcurdling scream played back to me. Fitzray’s lifeless body fell and he failed to make another motion.

              The figure responsible for Fitzray’s demise only smiled slickly. His cloak hood covered his face. He walked up to the glass and pressed his fingertips to its surface.

              Shards of glass rained on me. The wall shattered and disappeared at his slightest touch. I expected him to pounce on me and kill me too, but instead only approached me and pulled me to my feet.

“What have you done? Who
are
you?” I stammered. Ignoring my questions, he leaned close to my ear. His words came slow and clear.

“I killed Fitzray.”

              His voice fell upon my ears as smooth and warm as silk. Every syllable was so clear it caused my skin to ripple as if he had touched me with his murderous hand instead.

“Who are you?” I managed to say again, forcing the words off my tongue.

              A devious smile revealed two pearly, nearly translucent fangs. “I am your Eternal Mate.” He remarked softly, almost greedily while his hands drew me close to him.

“You’re lying,” I hissed through my teeth.

              A chuckle formed in his throat and left his mouth so effortlessly that I tensed with envy. “I wouldn’t lie about that,” he whispered, his lips brushing the side of my face. “You are mine. And I love you more than anything,” his voice trailed off.

              I could almost taste his words, laced with artificial sweetener, on the tip of my own tongue. He was a good liar but he would have to try harder than that. 

A
final dose of morphine was our farewell gesture from the hospital.  After a couple of long weeks under close speculation it was finally decided that we could leave. For two weeks, the doctors needlessly quarantined us. We both suffered a few broken bones, although vampires were always notorious quick healers that could make fast recoveries, faster than any mortal could.

              Despite two weeks of separation, Fitzray and I had nothing to say to one another. We arrived at his house in silence. We helped each other climb the stairs to the master suite and, in exhaustion, stumbled into the room. Calvin and Minx waited for us on the edge of the bed.   

“You guys are so lucky,” he said, one of a hundred times since our incident. “You landed right in the reservoir and Taj’ was right there and-,”

“Relax Calvin,” I moaned, placing my fingers against his mouth. With difficulty, I took a seat beside him on the bed while Fitzray rested on his back beside me.

“We have some unfinished business to take care of,” Fitzray grumbled.

“And what is that?”

“The mermaid and our…
proposition
remember?”

“Right, I almost forgot. Do you think it will work?”

“Probably not.”

“When will we go?”

“Tomorrow, when this blizzard clears, we will go and meet Taj’.”

“Chenille, Amelia wanted me to give you this.” Calvin handed me a small, formal invitation.

“Amelia is having a dinner party tomorrow night.”

“I’m up for a dinner party.”

“Will you listen to yourself? We just got out of the hospital.”

“Exactly, we’ve been confined in dull, sanitized rooms for weeks.” He did not even have to insist. I knew we would be going.

              Calvin rushed his goodbyes, noting the inclement weather, and left us alone. With Calvin gone there was not much else to say and Fitzray turned his head away from me and fell asleep. Unfortunately for me, the previous nightmare kept me up.

              It was early, so early that the sun was not up yet when we got up, but luckily, the blizzard cleared, revealing a bright blue winter sky. Snow covered our path, hindering our walk to the City.

“Why do you think those wolves came after us?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Those wolves wanted
my
dragon. Who could be after me, I mean, I haven’t done anything.”

“I don’t know, but we’ll soon find out.”

              When we reached the reservoir, Taj’ rose from the water and peered down at us, expecting our arrival. “Hello my friends, you look well.”

“Hello Taj’!” I had to yell for the large snake to hear me. His head stooped low to meet our level.

“Where is your dragon the orange-eyed one saved?”

“He’s home. It’s too cold out here for him to travel.”

“We have a favor to ask you.”

“Anything my friend, anything at all for you,” Taj’ said.

“Will you come with us to the Frozen Waterfalls?”

“Having trouble with Princess Pest?”

“On the contrary, she has invited us to her lands.”

“Sounds too good to be true. She has never been sympathetic to anyone but herself and those who fall in love with her. I pity them the most, I do.”

“Maybe she’s changed.” I offered.

“
Changed
? You humor me.”

“But it’s
true
.”

              He looked over at me and flicked out his red tongue. “I must see this for myself then.”

              He slithered out of the water. His long black body coiled behind him.

“If you would like a ride,” I turned to Taj’, “come right ahead.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Just be careful of the spikes and you will be fine.”

              His body came up to my hip. His head came down and nudged me on with a boost.

“Onward to the Waterfalls,” Taj’ said.

              As slick as oil on water he glided over the land while Fitzray covered ground by foot instead.

              When we caught a glimpse of Princess Pearl, we found her sulking on her large rock in the middle of the frozen pond. Her vampires were out fetching the best pearls they could find and she was alone. Her eyes lightened as soon as Fitzray approached her.   

“You came back,” she said with a hint of relief.

“I came with a friend,” Fitzray added, nodding back toward Taj’.

              Her small hands clasped together and rested beneath her chin. “I knew I could count on you.”

              Once I dismounted off Taj’s back, he approached the Princess slowly and cast a wary glance at her. I reported to Fitzray’s side, quietly watching as the snake slithered up to the edge of the pond.

“Taj’ there is something I have to tell you.”

“What? You have troubled someone and you want me to help?
No
.”

“No, no not that! It’s just, well, you see…I know we have worked together to help the immortals in their time of need but-,”

“
We?
Since when was it the two of us? You could care less for the immortals and you know it,” the snake spat impatiently.

“But it’s not about the immortals Taj’, it’s about us. I haven’t told you how I truly feel.”

              The snake peered closer at her. “How do you feel Pearl?”

              There was a long silence as she nervously combed her fingers through her hair.

“My powers are fading Taj’ and I am growing old. I may not look so, but they are failing, you can see that. I was once able to lure
mortals
from over the Bridge, although recently I have had only enough power to capture a few hearts, not one of them yours. I do not want them. I will release them, for you.”

“You
arrogant creature
!” He rose up and flicked out his tongue in disgust. “I would
never
love a thing of your individuality.”

“Please, Taj’, give me a chance.”

              He shook his head and turned to us. “Is this a joke? A tradeoff?” His eyes narrowed in fury. “I trusted you!”

“She promised to help us, if we helped make you fall for her.”

              Taj’ eyed her sharply. “Is that true?”

              She looked away at the water’s frozen surface, her mouth open though unable to speak.

“You have exasperated me in the past, but this is your worst.”

              The Princess’s vampires returned and shoved beautiful strings of pearls in her face. They crowded her, all showing her what they’d found. They attempted to adorn her with beautiful things that were worth more than the skin they rested upon.

“Taj’, wait!”

“Do not send one of your captives for me, I will not respond. Your tail must ache from that rock you have been sitting on. If you must talk to me, you will come to me personally.”

“You don’t understand Taj’, I love you and no other! I don’t love them,” she cried, pointing to the immortals surrounding her.

“Is that because your powers are gone, like you’ve said, and you know one day you will have no one? I am outraged and I am sorry for you. I do
not
love you.”

“Please…Taj’-,”

“Have fun with your vampires Princess. Good day.”

              Angrily, she shoved the immortals away from her. They fell back into the icy water and scrambled to their feet as she screamed at them to leave. They retreated, slowly coming out of the trance she had cast on them. Then they were gone.

“You speak of the truth, for me,” the snake inquired half-heartedly.

“Yes, for you,” she said.

“One day I will reconsider, but not today, not today, for I speak the truth as well.” His steady bronze gaze rested over her. “You know where to find me.”

              Quickly he slithered off, back to his home, the reservoir. She turned to us, her face flushed pink. “If you may ever need my assistance you know where to find
me
.”

“Come on, we’re going to be late for the dinner party.”

              For the first time in weeks, I returned to my brother’s house. My brother of course was not home, though that did not concern me. I returned to the dump of a place for one thing and one thing only – a decent dress to wear.

              It was among my small collection of Earth-made clothes, worn clothes, that I found a dress. It was my only dress and it was the best I owned, though I felt I might be better off buying something Catastrophe-made. That meant spending money, money I did not have. I would have to settle for what I had.

              The tight-fitting ball gown dress had acquired many compliments on Earth. It still fit me perfectly, clinging to every curve that made up the shape of my upper body. Despite the slight stench of mothballs, it was perfect.

              The dinner party would be at Caspian’s home. Fortunately, it was not hard to find. Predictably, Fitzray was the first one to greet me. He did not have the slightest hint of discomfort regarding his broken ribs.

“Oh look at the two of
you
, dressed up like you were going to some prom together,” were the first words that spilled from my best friend’s mouth once she caught sight of us.

              An unavoidable nervous laugh left my mouth. “Amelia, please don’t embarrass me tonight,” I whispered.

“It is good to see you’re doing well Chenille,” Caspian said quietly, wrapping an arm around Amelia.

              His eyes swept over me as if he could see right through my dress to my healing bones. I wrapped my arms around myself, suppressing a shudder, suddenly feeling naked in the presence of the City’s finest doctor.

“Are you all right?” Fitzray’s concern snapped me back into my body, taking me back into the mansion. Caspian’s eyes settled elsewhere, so I felt my breath return to me.

“I’m fine.”

“Come on then, let’s sit. You shouldn’t keep your guests waiting,” Amelia chimed, gazing up at Caspian.

              Succulent fruit, meat, cheeses, and greens from both worlds decked the banquet table. The tile floor served as a dance floor for the hundreds of guests. Formality among the guests was expected. It was a privilege to stand in Caspian’s home.

              Considering the lives he saved and the countless surgeries he performed, he was a highly respected individual. Although he remained trapped in a body that resembled slightly over twenty, his eyes never failed to present the strange depths of knowledge he had behind them. He walked with his head held up out of self-respect.

              The immortal women flocked him but as soon as Amelia took her spot beside him, they gazed down at her as if she was unworthy to be so close to him. She was
ordinary
. She was an outsider, completely unassociated with the medical field as her companion was. Once the rumor of Caspian being Amelia’s Eternal Mate proclaimed true, the women retreated in envy.

“Amelia and I will be performing the Ceremony tonight,” Caspian announced later that evening.

              The majority of Caspian’s guests congratulated him while others barely showed interest. The women only gazed down at my friend as an unworthy specimen.       

“What exactly is a Ceremony?” I asked under my breath, fearing for scrutinizing eyes to turn in my direction.

“It’s a bonding ritual,” Fitzray replied simply. “In order to be reincarnated a Ceremony must be performed. One should only perform it with their Eternal Mate, but some of us break the rules. Still, Eternal Mates are destined to bond with each other. That is why a vampire seeks out the mortal he turned into his vampress. It’s courtship.”

“That’s not how it’s done on Earth.”

“Oh really? What do you call marriage then? It’s a similar concept.”

“But a Ceremony is so complicated, isn’t it?”

“It’s as complicated as you want it to be.”

“Doesn’t it entitle drinking each other’s blood?”

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t that seem
strange
?”

“Not to me. I am not surprised that bothers you, in fact, it should bother you. You are still young. I’ve been a vampire for years.”

“But you haven’t performed a Ceremony.”

“No I have not, nor have I taken a mortal to be my own.”

“Would you?”

              He hesitated. “I think it’s a little late for that.”

“What do you mean?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” He gave me a smile that mocked my inexperience.

“Mock me now, while you can.”

“Chenille, you and I both recognize your innocence. You and I both know there are some things you don’t need to know. Let’s face it, you are not ready for a Ceremony. If I asked you right now, you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself.”