5. Any Price
ANY PRICE
Alex
Disgust for physical contact had been my unwanted companion for years, since the day of my transformation.
My condition had bothered me, yes, mostly because it was a weakness, and enemies exploited weaknesses. But with Irene, I didn’t care about being weak. I trusted her. And not being able to touch her hurt like poison in my blood.
For the first time, I wanted to be normal, not because my fear was a weakness, but because my desire to be the man Irene needed was too strong, and I was tired of always being jumpy and in pain. As if the constant thirst and the vampire instincts weren’t enough.
How long would Irene accept the fact she wasn’t allowed to touch me? How long would I? What if she grew tired and left me?
Sitting on my bed in complete darkness after having slept all day, I watched the moonlight creeping over the carpet. When the silver light shone half an inch from the tip of my boot, it took another route as if it wanted to avoid me and leave me in the shadows.
But I didn’t have to remain in the darkness.
A while ago, the witch Carabosse had offered me a solution and a different future. A future without fear and filled with possibilities. A future where I held Irene, free from weakness.
I was aware she was a deceiver. In exchange for her help, Cara would ask for a piece of me, literally. A limb or an internal organ.
But I couldn’t live like a coward. What did I have to lose? If she wanted one of my legs to make me normal, I would gladly give it to her.
I rushed out of the bedroom, unleashing my power to enhance my senses. The hallway was dimly lit, and the air was thick with different scents, from Irene’s perfume to the aroma of white soup wafting from downstairs.
The east wing, where the witch lived, was flooded with moonlight pouring through the tall windows. The white marble floor and the white walls amplified the glow, shading the world in silver. I took it as a good omen.
I knocked on Cara’s door. “Cara? May I come in?”
No answer. I peeked inside. I didn’t mean to pry… Well, I did, but her room was so different from Irene’s or Myrtha’s that it piqued my curiosity.
No frilly curtains or pastel colours. The drapes were a deep, plain blue, not ugly but heavy.
The large walnut furniture choked the space.
Lit dark-coloured candles were scattered around, and despite their glow and the light from the gas lamps, the room remained tenebrous.
Books and rolls of parchment competed for space on the long table in the middle of the room.
Magic spells and formulas I didn’t understand filled page after page.
Witches and wizards spent their days studying magic and consulting ridiculously heavy tomes.
There was nothing unusual in that. But Darius’s desk wasn’t covered with drawings of decomposed bodies or monstrous creatures with too many teeth or limbs.
Darius’s room had colourful silk cushions everywhere, glittering drapes, and books filled with unicorns and flowers. Not to mention boxes of sweets that would make any child giddy with happiness.
I didn’t know much about magic, but Cara’s tastes were concerning.
I left a message on the desk, informing Cara that I was looking for her. Whispers coming from a corner made me pause. But there was no one in the room. As I searched the dimly lit nook, the whispers ceased. The moment I turned around, they started again.
I was a tall, big, and strong vampire and a former street criminal. Very few things scared me, aside from my condition. But the gloomy atmosphere of the room and the whispers caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.
I released a breath of relief when I shut the door behind me.
My butler would likely know where Cara was. He was always aware of the movements of the inhabitants of the mansion. As a low-level wizard, he mastered only a handful of spells, but I was sure that knowing where everyone was at all times was one of his powers.
I skidded to a stop along the corridor as retching noises came from a nook.
“I hate you…” That was Myrtha, sounding as if she’d swallowed a squirrel.
“Don’t talk. It’s better to stay silent. Trust me.” And that was Darius.
“What’s happening?” I winced at the sight.
Myrtha was crouched on the floor, face stuffed in a bucket. Her elegant, sophisticated white gown was a mess of creases and stains of different colours. That was the second time I’d seen her so dishevelled. Her appearance was usually impeccable.
Darius was elegant in a dark bottle-green suit, matching his eyes. Not a spot on his jacket. The two of them made for a stark contrast.
For a reason we hadn’t yet understood, Myrtha was losing her powers. The wilis she’d created last year had died quickly, and she lacked strength. I wondered if other aspects of her life were unravelling.
“Alex, good evening.” Darius waved, patting Myrtha’s back as she felt sick.
I frowned at the poor woman. “What have you done to her?”
“Excuse me? Why do you think it was me?” He scowled. “I didn’t do anything to Myrtha.”
She brushed her long dark hair from her flushed face. “He made me feel sick.”
“It wasn’t my fault. I often dissuaded her from reading De Mirabilibus Mundi.” Darius handed her a handkerchief. “I got distracted for a moment, and I’m not sure what happened, but she tried to read it.”
“Read it?” I grimaced at another retching noise. “You said no one, aside from a very powerful wizard, can read it without going mad or…” I glanced at Myrtha. “Or feeling sick.”
Myrtha sat on the floor, sweat glistening on her skin. “He did it on purpose.” She wiped her face with the handkerchief. “He wanted me to feel sick. He thought it would be hilarious.”
Darius looked hurt. “I understand that, as a wili, you distrust and loathe men, but I didn’t do it on purpose. And I’m quite frankly hurt that you might think so low of me.”
“I don’t believe Darius did it on purpose,” I said. “He isn’t cruel. He would never hurt you.”
She clamped a hand over her mouth.
“He might be easily distracted though.” I offered her my handkerchief as well.
She snatched it, turning green. “Of course you agree with your best mate.” She wasn’t joking. She was bloody serious, which was unusual.
“Maybe you should help Myrtha go to her room.” I gave a piercing stare to Darius.
“Of course.” He reached out to take her arm, but she scooted away.
“Don’t touch me!” Her tone was clipped and cold.
Myrtha’s and Darius’s favourite pastime was to argue, but they didn’t fight with venom. This time she was truly upset.
Darius stooped his shoulders. “I only wanted to help.”
“I don’t need a man’s help,” she whispered in a quivering voice.
She staggered to her feet and along the corridor, a hand on the wall.
“We aren’t all beasts!” Darius said to her retreating back. He pressed his lips hard, watching her leave. “Unbelievable.”
“Don’t take it personally.” I patted my own shoulder as a sign that I would pat his shoulder in sympathy.
He whipped his head towards me. “What do you mean? Of course it’s personal. She was yelling at me, and I’m a man.”
“She’s nervous because she’s losing her powers. You would be upset too if it happened to you.” I gave him a pointed look.
He scrubbed the back of his neck. “I would be more than upset. Are you going somewhere?”
We were best friends, but there were things that I would like to keep private. “I am…going out.”
“Doing what?” The strands of his hair started to point in different directions. “I wouldn’t mind a walk in the moonlight.”
“No. I need to be alone. Personal matters.”
He would ask me many questions and try to stop me if I told him I wanted to see Carabosse. His opinion of the witch wasn’t a good one.
“You don’t have personal matters.” He eyed me from head to toe.
“Don’t be nasty only because there’s something you don’t know.”
“Ravenhill! There you are.” Fiona was marching towards me, her flaming red hair whipping around her face.
Lavonia, another wili, was with her. “This is unacceptable.”
“What are you about to do?” Darius demanded of me with the tone of a copper interrogating a suspect.
Fiona and Lavonia talked at the same time in high-pitched tones garnished with many hand gestures.
“The west wing is for wilis only!” Fiona threw up a hand.
“The footmen shouldn’t be allowed to enter our wing.” Lavonia sounded as if she wanted to stomp her feet.
“We were clear we wanted only maids!” Fiona jabbed a finger in the direction of the west wing.
I opened my mouth, but Darius continued. “You’re never vague with me. You’re about to do something I don’t approve of.”
“Ravenhill!” Fiona and Lavonia shouted together, flailing their hands.
“Enough!” I raised my voice, my vampire power bursting out.
When they all shut up, I pointed a finger at the wilis.
“The footmen work for all of us and are doing their job. When maids aren’t available to work in the west wing, the footmen will cover for them.
” I angled towards Darius. “I just want to go out,” I said between my teeth.
“I want to be alone for once. End of story.”
“Then go out!” He shook his head and left, muttering under his breath.
I faced the wilis. “You complained about the butler because he didn’t understand your necessity, and I hired a lady-butler. Then you wanted a female cook, a female driver, and a female gardener. I accommodated your requests. Try to be understanding. There are two thousand rooms here.”
Fiona recoiled. “What an aggressive tone!”
“I’m not…” I touched my temples.
I needed Irene in moments like these. Among my ducal duties, dealing with direct complaints was what I found most challenging.
Peace and harmony, Irene had said.
I raised a hand and forced a smile. “I’ll try to solve the problem.”
Fiona nodded, and Lavonia stopped moving her hands.
Before they could complain about something else, I headed downstairs, leaving the two wilis stunned.
“Lowe.” I stopped my butler before he entered the dining hall. “Have you seen Carabosse?”