Chapter 55
I gripped the steering wheel, staring at the house. His house. Next to me, Mia was uncharacteristically quiet.
“I must admit, I’m impressed that you stayed at a beachfront house without panicking. That he was able to provide that comfort for you,” Mia noted.
I’d told her about how he took me to the beach the night of the masquerade, and just held me as I tried to control my panic. Lilith was unable to see past her hatred of the monsters she’d been brought up to hunt. Despite all that happened, I couldn’t bring myself to hate Matteo. Mia was quietly seeing what he had done for me, helping me heal.
“Okay, ready?” I asked .
She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Ready to go into the home of a vampire in the middle of the night, while my girlfriend and her family prepare to kill him?” She choked back a laugh. “Sure. Why not.”
“He’s not here.” My attempt to reassure her felt like I was trying to convince myself to go inside.
“So, should we count to three and open the doors?” she asked. “Or are you just going to stare at the house? Maybe ease up on the tight grip; that can’t be good for your fingers.”
I relaxed my hands, pulling them away from the steering wheel. “Okay, let’s go.” I pulled my beanie over my head, then opened the door.
A cold wind pulled at my clothes as I climbed out, and the smell of the ocean swept over me. I turned on the light of my mobile phone, aiming it at the ground.
“How are we supposed to get inside?” Mia whispered.
“He never locks his back door.” I hesitated before leading her around to the beach.
“Of course he doesn’t,” she muttered. “I mean, who would be stupid enough to break into a vampire’s house? Aside from us.”
“This was your idea,” I reminded her, my voice equally hushed. “You’re the one who said I should take the painting before someone else finds it.”
Her footsteps behind me and gasping breaths filled the silence. Despite us both knowing Matteo wasn’t there, she was scared. I reached the beach-facing part of his house and turned towards the sea. Waves crashed in the dark.
“I shouldn’t have left him,” I admitted, overcome by regret. “I’ve never regretted anything in my life as much as walking away from him. If I had stayed, things would have been different.”
“Maybe it was a mistake bringing you here.” Mia said right next to my ear. “He’s a vampire, remember? He wanted to turn you into one.”
Memories emerged from the dark. His soft kisses. His gentle touch. That while he had wanted to turn me, he’d helped me through intense hunger for blood, ensuring that I didn’t feed. The feeling of the bond that had connected us now left me empty. Alone.
“I swear, I still feel him.” I said.
It had to be my imagination. That familiar presence, though faint, still whispered inside my mind. As if he had left a part of himself behind.
Mia put her hand on my arm. “Quinn. It’s cold, and pitch black, can we just do what we came here to do? Maybe Lil was right, and you can sense vampires. I’d rather not be standing out here in the dark when one shows up.”
I walked up the steps towards his door, wood creaking beneath us. On the deck, I stared at the seat we’d sat on.
“I don’t hate him,” I admitted. “I can’t. I know Lil wants me to, but you two didn’t see how he was. He wasn’t a complete monster. There is a gentle side to him.”
“I know you don’t.” Mia sighed. “I’m sorry, Quinn. I wish it could have ended another way. It’s too late to change anything now.”
The door slid open easily, and I shone a light around as I entered. His house looked the same as it had been the last time I’d been there. Our coffee cups sat on the bench next to his espresso machine.
“We danced in here.” I pointed. “I played music on my laptop that he’d never heard, and he still managed to find a way to dance to it.”
“I hope ghosts aren’t real, ‘cause he’s haunting you and he’s not even dead yet. Which way to the studio?”
Suffocating grief pressed against my chest. I led the way down the long hallway, pausing at his bedroom.
“Please don’t reminisce over all the sex you had with him in here and how he drank your blood.” Mia sighed. “Quinn, I know you fell for him, and I don’t hate vampires the way Lil does, either, but I don’t want to think about what he did to you. Please.”
“Well I wasn’t thinking about that until you brought it up,” I joked. Outside his studio, I pushed, and the door swung open, creaking slightly. The smell of paints filled the room, and I switched the light on.
In the centre was the leather seat I’d sat on, where Matteo had drunk from me, and claimed my body.
“Is that it?” Mia pointed, an easel and canvas remained still covered.
“I think so.”
“Are you going to look at it?”
I frowned. “Not while you’re here. I love you both to pieces, but not enough for you to see a nude painting of me. No one can see this.”
A heavy footstep made us both freeze, staring at each other in shock. A second one, closer. Inside. “It can’t be a vampire, they don’t have heavy footsteps,” I whispered to Mia.
Chilling laughter reached us. “Unless we want to announce our presence, of course.” An unfamiliar male voice echoed through the empty house.
I couldn’t breathe. Mia gripped my arm tight, nails digging in, gasping in my ear .
“Why don’t you come out?” his voice softened. “I’m not here to hurt you, or your friend.”
Mia shook her head at me, eyes wide, lips quivering. I couldn’t move. My heart beat so fast that my chest hurt.
The vampire sighed. “While I have more control than Matteo does in the presence of fear, it’s still irresistible. Please, get a handle on that. If I was here to hurt you, you’d already be drained and broken on the floor you stand on. Now, come out. I don’t want to have to come in there and get you.”
I forced my feet forward, pushing my fear down with a deep, shaky breath. Mia followed. We moved towards the lounge, surprised to find the light on. In the middle of the room stood one of the vampires from the cell. He had shoulder-length blonde hair and grey eyes, and his height had him towering over Matteo’s. His long goatee was fine, trimmed, and I realised all the others had been either clean-shaven, or had slight stubble. He looked to be in his mid- or late thirties. His mind brushed against mine.
He smiled. “Vampires don’t grow facial hair. Nothing changes about us from the moment we die. Many got rid of theirs in the modern times, but I’m hesitant to. Even as a human, I was rather vain with my hair.” His eyes shifted to Mia. “She’s still afraid. I can calm her, if that helps.”
“Mia?” I whispered. “He won’t hurt us.” I hoped he was telling the truth, but I didn’t relax.
She nodded but remained clinging to me. He moved too quickly to see and stood before us. Her grip tightened. His eyes had turned red, and he breathed in deeply.
“Ahhh, that smell really is delicious. But I need you to calm down. Take a deep breath, and as you let it out, release your fear with it.”
Mia did as was told, and he stepped back.
“Quinn,” he said, shifting those grey eyes to me. “I’m happy to finally meet you. I’m Erik.”
I realised his accent was different from those of Matteo and Carlos. “You’re not Italian.” I blurted.
He laughed. “No, I’m from Norway. From when you call the Viking Age.”
“You and the others, you protected me from her,” I said. “I’m grateful for that. Will she come after me?”
The laughter died from his eyes. “I think she might. She reacts badly when she doesn’t get her way.”
I stepped away from Mia, to face him. “So why are you part of her clan? Matteo clearly dislikes her. I see that same dislike in you. Why stay with a Queen you can’t stand?”
He watched me. “Carlos was right: You have courage.” He glanced over at Mia. “How are you doing? Feeling better?” She nodded, and he smiled. “Good.”
“Did you follow me here?” I asked.
He smirked, stroking his beard. “I’ve been following you since you left the hospital. A favour Carlos asked of me. For Matteo’s sake.” He glanced around the room. “I’m surprised you’d come back here, though. I heard you speaking of art. From singer to art thief. Interesting.”
My cheeks heated, and I averted my eyes.
A low chuckle rumbled from him. “I see. I won’t stop you from taking it.” He paused. “Back to your question. Many of us chose to join Gabriela’s clan. She was a strong warrior, turned by one of the original vampires. The Bloodking himself. I fought alongside Carlos in the war, and he didn’t hesitate to follow her when it was decreed that we form clans. She was an easy choice. So we became the first clan that formed: La Primera Familia. But power was a heavy burden on our Queen. One that she should never have accepted. She soon abused that power and denied any of us the chance to leave. We had no choice but to do as she said. Until you.”
“Me?” I really didn’t understand what I had to do with any of this.
“Those of us who heard you sing noticed that Gabriela has lost her hold over us. So for that, we will always protect you. I’ve been following you to make sure Gabriela doesn’t try to hurt you. You, and your friends, need to be careful.” He scowled. “Even the Hunter.”
I studied him. “You’re not as intimidating as I thought. Not like Carlos.”
He scoffed. “Carlos likes to be intimidating. He’s been a vampire for a long time and lives for it. Once you get to know him, and he gets to know you, he’s a big softie. He’s very protective of the clan.” He glanced towards the art studio. “Now, would you like my help with the nude painting, or can you manage it yourself?”
His strength and eyesight would make it easier to carry in the dark. “Help would be appreciated,” I admitted.
Mia gasped. “You’re letting a vampire help?” she whispered next to my ear.
Erik chuckled. “We can be useful, at times.”
He followed us back to the studio, and before I could stop him, he lifted the cover, dropping it quickly. “One of Matteo’s best works yet,” he said, his eyes red as he cast a look over me. I noticed the flash of fangs. “I do hope you appreciate what he’s done. A true masterpiece.” He lifted the canvas, careful to keep it covered. “Lead the way, dame.”