Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Set the proverbial fire and then step back and observe the destruction of Felipe Grenaldi’s political career, his impending downfall. I pondered how our plan had unfolded upon the high seas, impatient for it to be over.
Sunaria, however, had remarkable patience – a hint of her longevity.
She’d found us a residence near the Ocean View Manor. I delighted in her find and had been more than pleased to take refuge in such luxury.
I was done with cobwebs.
The great house was nestled amongst sprawling hills. Inside, the décor paid homage to decadence. The previous residents had adored all things French, their expensive tastes evident in the fine furnishings. It was the consummate hiding place.
Sunaria and I continued to bond and my dependence on her was transforming into an intense love.
She bewitched not only me, but everyone who came into contact with her.
She eloquently conversed with strangers in their own language.
She’d even mastered Welsh. Her worldly knowledge and the ease with which she faced each night also reflected her maturity – other women seemed sheltered compared to her.
Sunaria couldn’t shake off her old ways, much to my delight.
Up until the moment she’d slaughtered her master she’d been a perfect lover.
By the time she’d reached adulthood, she’d been groomed to satisfy every one of her master’s needs.
She thought of her lover’s desires before her own.
A born nurturer, she delighted in spoiling me.
I’d find myself standing naked in a hot tub of water, leisurely being bathed by her, or she’d present a victim to me, still surprised by my discomfort. Confliction was still an issue for me.
Sunaria’s talents as my lover left me breathless. Her easy access to my thoughts ensured awareness at the deepest level of my heart, thus she understood me. She calmed my fears and satisfied my yearnings.
I’d wake to find my clothes laid out on the end of our bed. She chose the most distinguished outfits for me to wear. I delighted in the rare books she left for me on the bedside table, and I devoured them all.
I became obsessed with her.
With my passion came a desire to fulfill her every need.
Perfect lovers, unchanging, we tumbled through time, two inseparable nightwalkers drunk on their desire for each other.
We’d mingle with high society, enjoying hunting amongst the privileged.
Women offered themselves to me willingly and men would surrender all too easily.
I had to tame my ability to cause havoc in rooms full of mortals; not only could I walk on consecrated ground, but I found it easy to seduce anyone.
I’d stand in the center of a room and marvel at the crowd that gathered around, all eager for play.
Sunaria insisted that her royal blood had bestowed my unique gifts.
Here in our lavish bedroom, I lay on the four-poster bed and watched her dress, a dark goddess of the night.
I savored her ethereal figure moving dreamily before me.
Again, as on so many occasions before, she disappeared into the night.
Her habit of leaving me alone seemed to be her way of intensifying my fixation.
I’d lay back, staring up at the ceiling, fantasizing about what I’d do to Sunaria upon her return, and then lure her back with my erotic imaginings.
Our endless infatuation with each other heightened our mutual dependence – my new life balanced precariously beside my old one.
Not ready to face my sister with the whole truth for fear of her rejection and of losing Jacob, I kept up the mortal facade.
Miranda hovered close, a constant reminder of a promise I’d once made.
I’d managed to delay acting on her request but wasn’t sure how long I could hold her off.
Expensive gifts and a great deal of flirting seemed to placate her, but I knew it would only be a matter of time before she demanded my dark kiss.
By October, Miranda and Alicia had settled into their new life.
Although still in hiding, we all had a sense of impending freedom. They both trusted my ability to deal with Felipe and, though the details were rarely discussed, they showed remarkable faith in me handling our affairs.
During my frequent visits to their house, I savored spending time with Jacob. Alicia would very often complain that I kept Jacob up late. I’d smile and shrug, avoiding Miranda’s critical stare.
Ricardo’s unruly temperament became troublesome, and I often had to pull him off Jacob, his jealousy a frequent cause of the fights.
Although I tried not to show Jacob favor, this wasn’t easy.
Ricardo, a troubled child, needed a father’s discipline.
Where I could, I tried to help Alicia raise him, but Ricardo reminded me of my past and I’d not yet forgiven him.
Having experienced firsthand Ricardo’s swordsmanship, weapons were banned.
Of course Ricardo had no memory of impaling his uncle, but for me, it was impossible to forget.
However, he would often be found outside acting out sword fights, taking on an invisible opponent, stabbing yet another victim to death.
This wretched boy was the reason I couldn’t see the sun ever again.
I would watch Jacob sleep, and at times had to be dragged away by Sunaria, who had snuck into the house to get me, minutes before daylight. The next evening, I’d be back again, witnessing my son flourish, wanting him to have everything that I never had.
One late evening, I found the strength to show Jacob his mother’s locket. He gazed down at Annabelle’s image rendered perfectly in the left side of the locket that I’d removed from her neck soon after her death, the silver chain dangling.
“You can hold it if you like.” I closed the clasp and tucked the memento into the palm of his small hand.
Jacob squeezed his fingers around it, smiling up at me.
His innocent eyes glimmered with the hope of my salvation.