Romeo & Juliet & Vampires (5 page)

“G
ood evening, my lady.”

Four words. That is all it took to shake the protective wall around Juliet's heart down to its very foundation. A simple greeting, yet, at the same time, the most glorious thing she had ever heard a man say. It was the “my” that stuck with her. He had said the word as though he had been searching for her for many years, perhaps even his entire lifetime. This courteous and undeniably handsome gentleman—with soulful eyes, thin, pink lips, and a hint of stubble along his cheeks and chin—could not stop gazing at her either. Juliet had no idea that being singled out in a roomful of people could feel this wonderful.

But she knew better than to wear her heart on her sleeve. Over the last two years, her nurse had given her plenty of advice on how to relate to men, and the
number one rule was that women should be mysterious, coy, and say very little. Considering how dry Juliet's mouth had suddenly become, not speaking would be effortless indeed. She also remembered that her nurse had mentioned that men loved the thrill of the chase. But with her legs feeling as though they were about to melt like the hot wax of a candle, she realized that it was too late for her to run.

But why would she want to? One look at this man and instantly Juliet hoped to stay with him—until the moon and stars died, and all that survived was sunlight.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

The sound of his voice was so full and melodic, Juliet was mesmerized and still could not speak. She just nodded her head in response.

“I see.” He briefly lowered his eyes to his feet, then engaged her with a small grin. “Well, I must admit, I feel as though it is my duty to watch over you until your suitor returns.”

Juliet smiled back. “That is kind of you, sir, but what makes you think I am waiting on a man?”

“Well, I, uh…” He trailed off and glanced up at the sky as though he were praying for the right answers. After a short pause, he looked Juliet in the eyes, his smoldering gaze sending chills throughout her body.

“I was going to say something about your stunning
beauty, my lady. But you appear far too intelligent to fall for flattery.”

Juliet put her hand over her heart in hopes that she could slow it down. “That's probably the nicest compliment I have ever received.”

“So have you ever been to a place with more nefarious creatures?” he said, peering around the room.

Juliet nearly laughed at the unintended irony of his question. “I suppose you are referring to the vampires.”

“Not necessarily,” he replied. Then he leaned in close and whispered into Juliet's ear. “I have a funny feeling that a lot of the humans here are lawmakers and politicians.”

Juliet laughed. “You are probably right, sir. What, may I ask, is your profession?”

“Would you like to take a guess?”

Juliet tried to prevent herself from revealing her attraction to him, but she couldn't help herself. She was smiling too much, staring too long.

But then again, so was he.

“Well, you are not a vampire, so that is one point in your favor,” she said.

“And thankfully neither are you,” he said cheerily.

Juliet started wringing her hands and biting her lower lip, two detestable habits that both her nurse and mother chided her for. Obviously he hadn't noticed her paling skin, or that she wasn't wearing a cross pendant
like all the other humans here. What would he think when he found out the truth? He would certainly forsake her—any human would do the same.

“However, I am not a prince, so I suppose that is one point against me,” he joked.

“Two points, actually. You also smell like garlic,” Juliet quipped, but instantly regretted her words. He must think she was the rudest woman on the face of the earth!

However, the gentleman who stood before her did not seem to care. “That's what I get for keeping cloves of it in my pocket.”

Juliet could not recall when she last felt this alive. Was it months ago? Or never?

“To be honest, I'm working for my father. Temporarily, that is,” he continued.

“Why is that? Do you not like the work?” she inquired.

The gentleman looked down at his feet and nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “No, I don't.”

Juliet sensed that she had brought up a delicate subject, but for some odd reason, she felt very comfortable asking him to say more. “Is it because the two of you don't get along?”

“Not really. My parents have been out of the country since the peace treaty was passed,” he explained. “They are taking a much-needed vacation in Serbia.”

Juliet let out a light laugh. “I couldn't be more jealous.”

“Because of their vacation?” he asked brightly.

“No, because you are free of your parents for a while.”

The gentleman's lips curled up into a dashing smile. “I have to admit, it is quite liberating being without them.”

“Or their rules,” Juliet added, her eyes beaming.

He nodded in agreement. “Or their criticisms and unrealistic expectations.”

“Or the plans they make for you without your consent, or the way they patronize you when you talk, or…” Juliet trailed off, realizing a little too late how bitter she must have sounded.

So much for her nurse's lessons in flirtation.

Thankfully, the gentleman was not turned off by her complaining at all. He just gave her a reassuring grin and said, “It seems to me that your parents do not know how lucky they are.”

Her cheeks flushed several shades of pink. “Perhaps.”

Suddenly their eyes locked and they were silent for a moment. Juliet could feel her body temperature rising as she gazed at him—she had the strangest feeling that she'd known him all her life.

“What about you? Are you going to inherit the family business someday?” the gentleman asked, breaking
Juliet out of her thoughts.

“If my parents have their way, yes,” she said.

“Ah, I could tell from across the room that you were a rebel.”

Another one of the gentleman's wide grins nearly melted Juliet's heart.

“Is that so?” she replied. “What else could you tell?”

“That you are a passionate person,” he said with an intense stare that practically had her spellbound. “That you stand up for what you believe in.”

“What else?” she murmured.

The gentleman inhaled deeply, like he was about to dive underwater. “That you need someone to be on your side. Always. Regardless of the circumstances.”

Juliet was in such awe of this magnificent creature, and his ability to see right through her, that she was rendered speechless.

“I suppose I shouldn't say such things when your suitor could be lurking around the corner,” he said.

Juliet's pulse was racing uncontrollably. “Actually, I do not have a suitor.”

“I am surprised, but so very relieved,” he was quick to say, his eyes brightening the room like flashes of lightning in a midnight sky. “Though I would have fought him for you if he had existed.”

Juliet quickly shifted her gaze away from him. While other women might have found his words
romantic, she didn't particularly like the idea of anyone fighting over her. There was too much turmoil in her family already.

The gentleman took Juliet's hand in his, noticing how quiet she had suddenly become. “I only meant to say that I would try to win your heart.”

Juliet's skin tingled on the softest part of her palm. She sighed as she glanced down at their hands and how their fingers were intertwined, but when her eyes drifted toward his jacket, she saw a wooden stake sticking out of an inside pocket.

“What is that, my lord?” Juliet gently slid her hand out of his grasp and gestured toward the object.

His eyes immediately became cloudy. “Oh, this? It is just…a family heirloom.”

“Wouldn't an embroidered handkerchief be more appropriate for the occasion?” Juliet mocked him playfully.

“Perhaps, but everyone in my family carries one of these. I know it seems strange, but when you meet my family, you will understand.”

He reached for her hand once again, and Juliet could not pull away, even though she could hear her nurse's voice ringing inside her head, practically begging her to. The magnetism between them was immeasurable.

“And they will adore you as I do,” he said, pressing his lips to her fingertips.

“Pardon me, my lady,” a voice chirped from behind Juliet.

She used all the strength in her body to take her eyes off of this extraordinary man, craned her head over her shoulder, and met the glowering stare of her nurse.

“Can you not see that I am in the middle of a conversation?” Juliet asked.

“Yes, and I do hate to intrude.” The nurse took Juliet by the arm and yanked her hand away from Romeo. “But your mother is requesting your presence at once.”

“I am sure whatever it is can wait a few minutes,” Juliet said pleasantly, wishing she had her mother's ability to make things disappear.

“I'm afraid not.” The nurse stepped in between Juliet and the man, and said to him, “We bid you adieu, sir.”

“Adieu, ladies,” he said with a cordial bow.

Within moments, the nurse had pushed and pulled Juliet through the crowd and out of the Great Hall. Juliet was so furious, it almost made her dizzy. Once they reached the castle's orchard, which was currently deserted except for the fruit flies, she broke free of the nurse's clutches and let her have it.

“How dare you humiliate me like that!” she cried, her cheeks flushed with shame.

“Believe me, if I had not interrupted, you would have suffered far worse,” the nurse shot back.

“What do you mean? That gentleman was nothing short of perfect!”

“Juliet, that gentleman was Romeo Montague,” the nurse said firmly.

“You…you must be mistaken.” Juliet could barely hear her own voice. It sounded faint and weak, like a phantom echo from another time and dimension.

“It is the truth, child. I swear it.”

Juliet didn't need to look the nurse in the eyes to know she was being honest. She covered her face with her trembling hands and surrendered to the waves of grief that were suddenly crashing down upon her.

There was no way in hell that a Montague would have anything to do with a half-breed, let alone a full-fledged Capulet vampire. Not only that, but when Juliet thought of Romeo and his “family heirloom,” she couldn't stop herself from imagining how many of her kin had been executed with something just like it. The weight of this revelation was just unbearable.

“Please, Nurse, do not follow me,” Juliet murmured. Then she whipped around and ran out of the orchard with tears rolling down her face.

R
omeo was dumbstruck when the girl and her nurse disappeared around the corner while his body was still bent at the waist in a bowing position. He was clueless as to why the nurse had disrupted their unexpected rendezvous, but one thing was certain: he had to uncover the girl's identity so that he could see her again. Romeo glanced at the people who were scattered around him, searching for Benvolio and Mercutio, but all he saw were ruby-colored eyes and skin as white as snow.

A determined Romeo decided to approach the most reserved-looking vampire: a petite golden-haired woman dressed in a black gown. She was sitting quietly on a purple settee, observing the crowd. The corners of her mouth turned up when Romeo came before her and bowed. This respectful gesture was probably a
bit much, but he was willing to swallow some of his pride in order to learn the name of the woman who he wanted by his side for the rest of his life.

“I am sorry to trouble you, my lady, but did you happen to see me and a young maiden talking over there?” he asked.

“Yes, I did,” she replied.

Romeo swallowed hard. “Do you perchance know her name?”

The woman's eyebrows raised, but not one wrinkle formed on her forehead—another perk of immortality, Romeo thought.

“I was wondering why you were pursuing her to begin with. But now this makes perfect sense. You are unaware of who she is.”

Romeo became defensive at the caustic tone of the vampire's voice. “On the contrary, I know everything I need to, with the exception of her name. Please, do not toy with me.”

“Or what?” The woman snapped, leaning forward in her chair and glaring at Romeo. “You will pull out a wooden stake and run it through my heart, just like your father did to my father?”

Apparently, Romeo's disguise was not as good as he had thought. A part of him wanted to apologize to this woman on behalf of the Montagues. But when he recalled how the Capulets had butchered and fed
off of thousands of innocent people, his urge to make amends quickly vanished.

“No. I will simply take leave of you,” he said, backing away.

The woman's haughty smile returned to her face as she declared, “Her name is Juliet…and she is Lord Capulet's only daughter.”

Romeo stumbled over his own two feet, but he was able to catch himself before spilling onto the ground. The woman of his dreams was not just a Capulet—she was the child of his father's worst enemy.

“Juliet,” he said to the vampire, his voice faltering a bit.

“In three days, she will fully become one of us.” The vampire's tone was quite jovial now that she could see she had succeeded in rattling Romeo. “Does she know who you are?”

Romeo felt as though his throat was going to close up. He could not bring himself to respond.

“I can guarantee that when she finds out, you will be dead to her,” the woman crowed. “Like all her kin who have died at your family's hands.”

Staring into this vampire's vindictive eyes, Romeo almost considered showing her the wooden stake hidden under his jacket, but he was above making threats. Instead, he walked away, out of the Great Hall and through the long hallways and lanes until he reached
a courtyard with an orchard. He hoped he could be alone there and compose himself.

Romeo was about to collapse onto a stone bench when he heard the sound of two very familiar voices coming from behind a wall in the orchard.

“Romeo! My cousin Romeo!”

It was Benvolio, bellowing like a senseless lout. Romeo shook his head in frustration, hoping that he would not be discovered. The last thing he needed was more ridicule from his friends.

“Be quiet, man. He is probably in bed with the half-breed, having his ears nibbled on.” Mercutio chuckled.

“Wouldn't she be more interested in his arteries?” Benvolio asked.

“You're right,” Mercutio replied.

“Maybe we should search upstairs, where the bedrooms are,” said Benvolio.

“Actually I think I have had enough of the house of the damned for one night. Romeo can find his way home on his own,” Mercutio responded.

“Yes, we might have helped Romeo sneak into the castle to romance one of these bloodsuckers, but I want nothing more to do with them,” Benvolio said in agreement.

Romeo listened closely as the sound of Mercutio's and Benvolio's footsteps tapered off into the starry night. He leaned back against the wall and ran his hand through his hair, wondering what his cousin
and good friend might do to him if he revealed that he had fallen for the daughter of the most powerful bloodsucker of them all. But he was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of window shutters opening three stories above him. His eyes darted upward and his mouth broke into a smile. Standing on a balcony, her face partially illuminated by the light of the moon, was Romeo's new reason for living.

“Juliet,” he gasped.

Moments ago, Romeo was shocked to learn of Juliet's bloodline, but none of that seemed to matter now. In fact, he was so happy to see Juliet's face that he nearly ran out from behind the latticed fence and proclaimed his love for her.

But then common sense reeled him back. Here he was, enamored and heartsick and consumed by desire, but did Juliet return any of those feelings? Or would she hate him when she learned that he was a Montague? Or worse, be too far gone in her transition from woman to vampire to see him as anything but a source of human blood? Until he knew with absolute certainty, he would not make another move or utter another word or think another thought.

But he would allow his eyes to watch and his ears to listen, until his heart was fully satisfied.

Or until he became undone.