Chapter 11
ELEVEN
the party from hell
Simon is at my side a heartbeat later. He takes my arm, looping it through his.
His warm touch offers comfort I didn’t realize I needed.
“I need something to drink,” he says, pulling me away from the spectacle in front of us.
“Would you care to join me?” He steers me through the surprisingly large crowd of visitors toward a heavy wooden bar in the back of the room.
The castle’s gothic appearance on the outside gives way to modern design within.
My lycanthrope host carefully places his finger against his lips, warning me not to say what I’m thinking. I don’t argue and return his gesture with a smile. “The architecture of this home is lovely,” I say loud enough for a room full of vampires to hear.
“Yes, it is,” he agrees. “I’ve always been a fan of medieval design, especially in Florida. It’s quite fitting, don’t you think?”
I resist the urge to laugh as a man wearing a suit similar to Simon’s stops in front of us. His shoulders are huge, and it’s clear the jacket he’s squeezed into is a few sizes too small. “How are you, nephew?” the man asks.
The confident lycanthrope who was next to me earlier shifts energy instantly. He stands straighter, losing some of the carefree body language he seems to carry so easily. “I’m well, thank you.”
“Who is this?” the man asks, sniffing the air in front of me. “She’s a vamp…”
“Yes, Uncle. She’s a vampire.” Simon turns toward me. “May I present, Violet Du Four? Violet, this is my uncle, Gabriel Ward.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” I announce before the giant is able to speak.
“You dating vamps now?” Gabriel asks.
“I’m with Cyrus, sir,” I answer.
The lycanthrope turns toward Cyrus, who is wrapped in Aurora’s arms at the moment. “Looks like he’s unaware that you’re with him.”
“Excuse us, Uncle,” Simon says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and ushering me away from whatever that was.
“What was that?” I ask once we’re away from the crowd.
Simon shrugs. “Some family drama I’d rather not talk about at the moment.”
I nod, accepting his answer. Looking around the extravagant room, there’s a mixture of energies blending into a bowl of confusion in my mind.
I feel both lycan and vampire energy, along with something else that I don’t have the words to describe.
“Is there something else here? Something other than vampire and lycan?” I ask Simon, hoping he understands what I mean.
He lifts a glass of wine to his lips, drinking half the goblet in one gulp. “Okay, that helped. See the short woman standing near Cyrus and…” He doesn’t fill in her name. I nod, spotting a woman no taller than five feet, wearing a solid black dress and boots. “She’s a witch.”
I take a minute, allowing her energy to fill the void I felt earlier. “A witch,” I whisper. “She feels different than Monique.”
“I don’t know who that is, but she’s a flower witch.
” He nods toward the woman again. “Hell, I can’t remember what they call themselves, but she’s good with plants and shit like that.
” He lifts his now-empty wine glass toward a man wearing a tuxedo that looks like it was custom-made for him.
Every hair is in place, and he’s standing perfectly still. “Old Zedekiah over there is a warlock.”
I stare at the man who is prettier than a man should be. His skin is flawless, and every hair is perfectly in place. “He’s handsome.”
“Yeah, don’t get too excited. You’re not his type, if you know what I mean.” He winks at me. I’m embarrassed to say it takes longer for me to understand what he means than it should.
“Oh, he likes…”
“Men,” Simon interrupts. “He likes men, Violet. It’s okay to say out loud.”
“So, he…”
“Has sex with men. Again, it’s okay to say out loud.” He shakes his empty glass in front of me. “I’m going for more. I’ll be back. Be smart, and don’t eat anyone while I’m gone.”
Being in this room suddenly helps me realize just how sheltered I was. There’s so much more to the world around me. I’m embarrassed to acknowledge the small world I inhabited.
“You smell familiar,” a woman says, moving to my side. I don’t remember putting perfume on, but I thank her anyway. “How did he trick you?” she asks.
“Excuse me?”
“Harrison. How did he trick you?” I stare, not sure how to answer.
I take a minute to explore her features.
She’s at least six inches taller than me, with hair the color of midnight.
Her ebony skin is highlighted by the copper tint of her eyes.
She’s quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I take a deep breath, catching the familiar scent of my maker. She smiles knowingly.
“I was dumb and went for a walk alongside the river.”
“Mine was a dark alley in Paris.” I catch a hint of an accent in her words. “Seems like we’re sisters of some sort.” She holds her hand toward me. “Victoria LeRoux,” she says, shaking my hand.
“Violet Du Four.”
“You are quite lovely,” she says, still holding my hand. “I don’t blame him for trying.”
My cheeks get warm. “Thank you. So are you.”
“I see you two have met.” I turn, finding Aurora standing a few feet away.
“We did,” Victoria answers. “I could smell our maker from across the room.”
“It’s only fitting, considering she will be joining us after her training.”
Victoria smiles warmly. “That’s nice. I’ve always wanted a sister.”
A cold hand slides behind my back, stopping me from saying what fills my mind. “I see you’ve met Victoria,” Cyrus says, pulling me closer to his side. His actions speak louder than words. I have no doubt these are meant as a warning to stay quiet.
“I did. She’s lovely,” I answer properly.
“That, she is,” Cyrus agrees before turning toward me. “Violet, would you check on Simon? He didn’t look well earlier.”
“Of course.” I step away from Aurora and Victoria, intent on following Cyrus’s instructions.
Cyrus’s words seem to anger Aurora. Her energy shifts instantly. “She stays here,” she demands. Turning toward my blood sister, she shouts more orders. “Victoria, it’s time for you to take care of what we spoke about earlier.”
Victoria bows slightly. “Yes, ma’am,” she answers, turning without another word.
Aurora turns her attention back toward Cyrus.
“I must make my rounds before leaving. You know how these things annoy me, but I’m required to play the part.
Being an ancient is more about the performance than strength.
I’m nothing more than entertainment for the masses.
” She steps closer, her energy shifting as she moves.
“Do not talk to Victoria again,” Aurora warns.
“I…I apologize. I didn’t realize I was limited on whom I could speak to.” My tone is snarky, and surprisingly, I don’t care.
Aurora responds differently than expected.
“Find the wolf who drove you here. Cyrus and I have business to attend to.” She turns toward my buyer.
“Don’t we, my love?” The smile that covers her face makes my stomach gurgle.
“It’s been a while since we’ve made love all night,” she continues.
I resist the urge to turn as she runs a hand down his chest, stopping at his groin and wrapping her hand around his penis. What the hell?
I look at Cyrus, not sure what to do. He nods so quickly, I barely catch his movement.
The vampire turns her attention toward me.
“Don’t play dumb, dear one. I can sense your energy from here.
” She steps within inches of my face. “In case you’re either too dumb or too na?ve to understand what my words mean, I’m going to fuck my husband until he’s barely alive.
When he heals, I’m going to fuck him all over again.
” I can’t hide the shock that covers my face.
“Does that make it easier for your young mind to understand?”
A warm arm wraps around me, pulling me backward slightly. “There you are,” Simon says, stepping between Aurora and me. “I have some people I’d like you to meet.”
“Oh, look. There’s your dog now.”
Simon bows grandly toward the ancient vampire. “Simon, the dog, at your service. Excuse us, please.” He pulls me away from the spectacle without another word.
“What...” I start.
“Later,” he interrupts, dragging me through a set of glass doors leading from the main room to the outside.
The limestone balcony is larger than the houses in my neighborhood.
The earthy smell of dirt, mold, and water fills my nose.
It’s a smell I recognize from home. I know without looking, below us sits a swamp full of marshy water.
“What the hell was that?” he asks, once we’re completely outside.
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I pause, staring at my lycanthrope friend. “She started it.”
The look Simon gives me is familiar. It’s one I received from my mother many times growing up. Muscles flex in the arms that are crossed in front of him. “She started it? What are you, twelve?”
“She told me she was going to…” I can’t bring myself to say the word she used. “Have sex with Cyrus.”
“Violet, you’re not human. The sheltered life you lived is over. I’m sorry that this happened to you, but you need to remember what you are. Human ways and naivety will do nothing but make you appear weak or, worse, get you killed.”
“Where is this coming from?” I ask the man I thought was my friend.
“It’s coming from a few glasses of wine and observations.
You have something inside that drew Cyrus to you.
He chose you to bring here, which, no matter what he says, is something he doesn’t do regularly.
He chose to help you, and that’s exactly what he’s doing right now. ” Anger fills Simon’s words.
“I don’t understand?”
“He stepped between you and Aurora. Do you think she was just conversing with you? That the two of you were just shooting the breeze about the weather?” I don’t know how to answer.
Instead of saying something dumb, I choose to stare.
“Nothing that woman does is an accident. Everything she does has a motive, Violet.”
“This was a test,” I announce, putting the pieces together.
“Not a test. This was real life, and you failed.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Cyrus stepped between you to distract her. Do you know how much he…” He stops his words, clearly upset.
“I don’t understand what I did wrong,” I admit.
“It’s simple. As a young vampire, you need to avoid danger. You did just the opposite. You opened the door and walked right in.”
I stare at the lycanthrope. “She walked up to me! You left me alone in a room full of vampires, lycan, and witches. How was I supposed to know what was expected of me or what was dangerous?”
“You stop thinking like a human and use the instincts you’ve been given.”
“What difference would that have made?” I spew.
“You would’ve known who to steer clear of and who was safe to talk to. Talking to Victoria was a beacon to Aurora. You might as well have waved a flag straight in her direction.”
Tears fill my eyes. “How was I supposed to know? I was human a few weeks ago. I never asked for this. I never wanted to be a vampire.” I wipe a tear, cursing it on my cheek.
“I should be in New York, designing clothes, not trying to figure out who I can and can’t talk to, because heaven forbid, it might be a trick or a lesson. ”
“It’s safe to assume that everything is a lesson. Stop thinking like the helpless woman who was tricked into becoming a vampire, and step into your power.”
“I want to go home,” I whisper, wiping another tear.
Simon sighs. “I’ll drive you.”
“No. I want to go to my house. I want to go to New Orleans.” Tears begin to flow freely. I can’t stop them from falling.
“You know that’s not possible.” Simon’s face softens.
“Violet, I’m sorry. Cyrus brought you here in hopes you would allow those instincts to kick in.
It’s not something you can be told to do.
It’s something that has to come naturally.
If I had told you, it wouldn’t be natural.
Any thoughts you had, you’d question. Any feelings you had, you would’ve manufactured.
This was his plan, and it’s what works.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Here? Nothing. We’re done.” He offers me his arm.
I wrap mine through his and allow him to lead me down a narrow staircase onto a wooden deck overlooking the swamp.
My mind plays through how I could’ve done anything differently, still not completely understanding what I did wrong. I’m ashamed to say, I don’t know.
Simon opens the back door of the familiar car, helping me inside. “What about Cyrus?” I ask, looking back toward the castle.
“He won’t be back for a few days.” Simon’s words make me even more sad than before.
We drive back into town, neither of us speaking.
I don’t want to think about what Cyrus will be put through tonight.
My mind plays through all the reasons for Simon’s anger and Cyrus’s need to protect me.
None of my thoughts helps me understand the cause.
“We’re here,” Simon says, holding my door open. I was so deep in thought, I hadn’t noticed where we were. He offers me his hand. “Come on. I’ll get you something to eat.”
His fingers link through mine as he pulls me through the garden and into the house. He sits me at a large table in the dining room before disappearing into the kitchen. Moments later, he returns with a glass bottle of familiar red liquid.
“I don’t feel hungry.”
“You need to eat. It will help.” Simon pushes the bottle closer. I drink the liquid slowly, surprised that I’m not gulping it like usual. “I’m sorry, Violet. I know how hard this must be for you…”
“Do you?” I stand, knocking the chair over with my movement.
“How could you, Simon? You’re a lycanthrope.
You were born knowing what you were and would eventually become.
I was born human, living a very mundane human life.
You have no idea how hard this is for me.
” I stomp off in true human fashion, heading toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“Fuck you, Simon,” I spew, continuing my trek. I can’t believe that word just left my mouth. Instead of the disgusting feeling I always feel when hearing it, I feel empowered.
“Good, Violet. That’s a great start.”