Chapter 54
Chapter Fifty-Four
ORPHEUS
Alex hung from the shackles. He stared off into space, unaware that both Catherine and I had entered.
After leaving Jadeon, it took little time to calm her with the promise of far worse, should she show any more defiance.
Catherine ran to him, freeing his wrists from the harsh binds. Taking his full weight easily, she led him to the corner of the room, assisting him to lie down on the long wooden bench. She wiped away his tears. Taking the leopard skin blanket heaped on the floor, she pulled it over him.
“Was this really necessary?” She glared at me.
She sat beside Alex.
“Careful,” I warned her. “Don’t go and undo all my hard work.”
Alex was dazed, unaware of her presence.
I smiled at her. “My dear, it’s all part of the master plan. Be part of it or be a victim of it.”
“Your cruelty never fails to amaze me,” she said.
She couldn’t make me angry, no matter how much she tried, she was just too annoyingly pure.
It was like being haunted by a living angel.
Catherine was achingly flawless, infuriatingly serene, with beauty that seemed crafted to torment.
She moved through my world with disarming grace, all tender smiles and unshakable trust, a sweetness so pure it felt almost cruel.
Love for her had lodged itself in me like a shard. I hated her for it. Hated myself for betraying Sunaria’s memory. Even as I treasured stolen hours with Catherine, each moment unfolding, morphing into an exquisite darkness.
I shoved her off the bench and pulled Alex toward me, placing my arm around him. “Now, Alex, how are you feeling?”
Alex buried his face in my chest. He opened his eyes and saw her. “Catherine!”
“Yes,” she reassured him.
Alex averted his gaze. “Please.”
“Alex,” I said, “You’ve learned your first lesson in obedience.” I gleamed at Catherine, aware of her scorn and enjoying it. “Thirsty?”
“Yes,” Alex said.
“Let’s get something appropriate to celebrate our new and improved Alex.” I helped him to his feet. “No, Catherine,” I said. “Stay here. I’ll call you when you are needed.”
She protested, but this was futile. She drew close toward Alex, taking his hand affectionately, embracing him.
His flesh was hot, sticky from perspiration, and she could smell his familiar aroma, his sweetness.
She had missed him. What passed between them was not for my eyes. Catherine kissed his cheek.
Passively, she retreated.
Within my private chambers, Alex showered and was provided with fresh clothes—clothes specifically purchased for him, a white shirt and blue denim jeans, his usual attire. I hoped he would feel like himself once again.
“It’s time to test your readiness,” I said.
We headed toward the center of Belshazzar’s, always thriving and pulsating. Alex followed faithfully, staying close. His limbs ached, and though confused, he knew one thing—never to anger me again. He staggered, and I caught his fall.
Alex recoiled as a ring fell from his trouser pocket, rolling out on the floor in front of us.
It circled several times before coming to stop at my feet.
I peered at it then back at Alex before picking it up and carefully examining the small round object, recognizing the foreign inscription engraved upon its round surface.
“Where did you get this?” I asked him.
“I found it,” he said.
“These markings? What do they mean?” I asked, studying the strange shapes that encircled the ring.
“I have no idea . . .”
“You may keep it.” With a wry smile, I handed it back to him. “Fascinating.”
Alex tucked it carefully into his trouser pocket and judged my response.
“Better the devil you know,” I said.
“What does that mean?” Alex said.
“The path that ring leads to is an empty one.”
Snowstrom had something to do with the ring, tangled in lies, and confusion, and I wanted no part of it.
The elevator ascended.
“I know you’re hungry. I have something special for you.”
We were in the club now and a party was in full swing.
Alex detected mostly vampires with only a few humans within the room.
He realized the mortals were unaware of whose presence they were in.
Although there for the party, they were blissfully ignorant of the part they played.
With me in the lead, Alex and I pushed through the heaving crowd.
Bodies rubbed against bodies, moving and dancing to the mesmerizing music, stirring the appetites of the immortals.
Together, we made our way to the bar where the bartender prepared our drinks. Alex sipped the thick red liquid and gazed off. He stared in the direction of the doorway, thirstily gulping his beverage.
He was going to bolt.
I leaned toward him, squeezing his arm in an ironclad grip.
Clicking my fingers, two men responded to my signal and locked the door.
Such a gesture was a warning to Alex. He stared into my hazel eyes, realizing he was not going anywhere.
The drug-laced beverage took effect and soothed his nerves.
When he finished it, he was handed another.
“Ah, calmer already. It will make it easier for you to choose which one.” I looked out into the crowd, indicating for Alex to do the same. “Choose.”
Alex peered into the throng, admiring the dancers. He was enticed into the hypnotic mood. The liquid enhanced the ambience. He wanted to join them. Neon lights jumped and pulsed to the thumping bass.
Alex was seduced by the music. The poison raced within him, inflaming his every desire.
A handsome mortal stepped before him, staring at him.
Reading his mind, Alex detected the man’s intensions.
Alex held his breath, glancing at me for permission, and on receiving a nod, he stared back at the mortal.
Alex studied the man’s form, his height and dress.
The mortal enchanted him. Alex felt empowered and reveled to be found exquisite, beholder of an ethereal beauty.
He glanced again at me. The blood thirst overwhelmed him, and he allowed the mortal to take his hand and guide him into the center of the gyrating crowd.
The mortal moved seductively, perfectly in time with the bass.
Alex judged him to be no older than twenty-four.
Any previous doubt he had disappeared. Alex could no longer resist. Led on by obsession, he leaned in and placed his bared teeth against the balmy neck.
The gullible man snuggled in close, embracing him.
I placed a distracting hand upon Alex’s shoulder and drew him back.
Alex caught my gesture of disapproval.
“Not here. We’ll go into the private part of the club,” I shouted over the noise.
With the ghost of a smile and a tilt of my head, I promised without words that the heart of the club held pleasures yet unknown.
They both followed me.
On entering the lavish room, I nudged them to the furthest corner. The music thumped through the walls.
“This is more like it.” I sighed. “Now remember, slowly. Enjoy it, and not too rough.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” the mortal snapped. “You can piss off.” He headed back into the club.
“I am Orpheus,” I said.
He hesitated and turned. “It’s your club?”
“It is,” I replied.
“I . . . well, I’m just not into this kind of scene,” he said.
“Funny, that’s not what I heard, Edward,” I said.
“Have we met before?” Edward asked.
“No.”
Edward was confused. “Then how do you. . . ?
“Let him go, Daumia,” Alex said.
“Excuse me?” I glared at Alex.
“What I meant was . . .”
“I’m waiting,” I said.
“Waiting for what?” Edward said.
I checked my watch. “Perhaps, Alex, you would rather return to the basement and have a third round?”
Alex reeled. “Daumia.”
I stepped closer. “This is a form of torture, Alex. Put him out of his misery.”
Alex wavered.
“Right then,” I said, “back to the basement, now.”
“What the. . . ?” Edward staggered back, horrified.
Alex clung to him. He punctured Edward’s neck and sucked. It was a vampire kiss, merciless, yet drenched in seduction, a breathtaking violence that held you captive in its gaze.
I placed my hand on the back of Alex’s head, holding him against the man, sharing in the thrill of the assault. Edward’s jaw dropped. Alex submerged himself in the feed. He rocked, his hunger subsiding. Alex was enraptured.
“Alex, he’s begging to be let go. Don’t kill him!” I said.
Alex pulled back. He wiped blood from his mouth. Dazed, he stared at the young man whom I supported. I turned Edward toward me and bit into his neck, drinking what was left. Edward’s mortal coil quivered, then snapped. I dropped him to the ground, dead.
“Now bring me another. You have exactly two minutes,” I said.
Alex stared at me.
“Well?” I said.
Alex withdrew, heading back through the doors to the dance area of the club.
Pushing through the crowd, he searched the room, scanning for the one who would please me.
Vampires glanced in his direction, fascinated.
Alex ignored them and looked around for our next victim.
He wondered for a moment if this was his perfect opportunity to attempt an escape.
He admitted he was actually beginning to enjoy himself. Perhaps, he considered, for the first time that he could remember. This game was exhilarating. He looked for the most attractive victim to present.
Alex’s eyes fell upon him. He approached the tall dark-haired man, his raw arrogance discernible. The stranger offered him one of his cigarettes. Alex declined, taking his hand and leading him away from the dance area. Alex was relieved to see I had hidden Edward’s body.
“Meet Matthew,” Alex said.
“That was three minutes,” I chastised. “But you’re forgiven, as this one is an improvement on the first.”
Matthew sensed danger. “I’m out of cigarettes. I’m going to get some more—”
“We don’t sell them. But I can have some brought in,” I said.
He hesitated, looking from me and then back to Alex. “My friends have some.”
“You know that stuff can kill you?” I said.
Matthew rolled his eyes. He turned to go.
Alex grabbed hold of Matthew’s shirt, yanking him back.
“Careful, boy, the shirt’s Armani!” Matthew joked and headed toward the doorway.
“Matthew, wait,” I said.
He scowled. “I’m done.”
“Yes, you are.” I grabbed hold of him.
Alex watched in wonderment.
The music thumped on . . .
I sucked at Matthew’s sweaty neck, controlling his head by grasping his scalp, savoring his weak tussle. With each beat of his heart blood was forced into my mouth.
Alex and I locked gazes.
Though I was the one to drink, the pleasure was ours to share, a luxurious taking what was rightfully ours. It felt like a sacred ritual, and as I gazed into his eyes, a beautiful bond unfurled between us.
The man fell to his knees in shock, unable to move from the loss of blood, his expression one of horror.
I gestured to Alex to drink. “Mind the shirt. It’s Armani!”
Alex gave me a wry smile. He knelt down beside him and nuzzled in.
Stepping back, it was my turn to watch.
Matthew neared death. He was fading fast. He was giving us his life, and we received it with quiet gratitude, an exquisite gift, though plucked from the shadows of the darkest hours, lingering in the mind like a fragile, trembling flame.
Alex dropped him to the floor with a thump.
“Oh, no! I think you killed him!” I laughed. “Are we having fun yet?”
Alex nodded.
“Come here then.” I opened my arms to him.
Alex ran into them.
He was mine. Mine to claim, mine to hold and mine to shatter, mine to lift, and to exult, each fragment of him, trembling in my arms.
He followed me toward the private rooms. With a shove, he landed on the richly engraved wooden four-poster bed.
“Welcome back,” I said.
I prowled around him as though bound by some secret liturgy, eyes locked, breaths shallow, detecting his heart drumming a cadence that only I could hear.
I moved toward him, intent that every touch, every deliberate brush of skin would be served like a secret ceremony, each moment a sacrament of possession and surrender.
The air between us thrummed with unspoken vows, each gesture, heavy with the promise of two centuries worth of desires rising like a brilliant benediction of lust and power.
Finally, he was mine.
Never had he wanted anything with such intensity, never like he wanted this, like he wanted me.