Chapter 5
Istood motionless until Laurent’s footsteps faded down the hallway. Only then did I allow myself to breathe. My hands were shaking. I clenched them into fists, forcing myself to think clearly. First things first, I needed to know my options.
I worked to open the windows. They swung outward, giving me a good view of the manor’s gardens. I groaned at the distance below.
I looked at the manor’s outer walls. There was nothing I could use to climb down. But that wasn’t enough to rule out the idea. I could use the bedsheets to make a rope.
I went to the door, next. When the handle turned, my heart skipped. I popped my head out into the hallway. Empty.
He’d left the door unlocked?
I shut it and frowned. Laurent didn’t strike me as careless. So, he’d done it purposefully. Or he was simply that confident in his ability to hold me captive.
I moved around the rest of the room, taking it in with wide eyes. Teenage me would be screaming with excitement right about now. This defied even my wildest dreams.
I exhaled, running my fingers over the bed’s silk comforter.
I’d heard Laurent say red room earlier and expected a bloody monstrosity.
This was…elegant. Dark wood walls and furniture to match, with deep red upholstery and bedding.
I examined the paintings on the walls, set in gold frames.
They were signed—all of them. But I didn’t know enough about art to know how valuable they might be.
Probably more costly than my mathematics degree.
And then there were the amenities. Fluffy robes, house slippers, a beautiful bathroom complete with a giant claw foot tub and shower, toiletries, et cetera. There were even extra blankets in baskets near the sofa.
A familiar ache twisted in my chest. This was the kind of life I’d fantasized about as a kid—getting adopted by a wealthy family, waking up to silk sheets instead of hand-me-down everything. The irony was bitter. I’d finally gotten my fairy tale, complete with a monster who wanted to devour me—
A knock sounded.
I whirled, my pulse accelerating. “Uhm. Come in?” I called.
A head popped in, short black bob swaying. In the light, I noticed beautiful streaks of red throughout the strands. The woman in question stepped over the threshold. “Well, now, he certainly wants you comfortable.”
“Uhm, hi?”
“Oh! Manners. Yes.” She strode across the room. I got the impression she could move much faster, but was putting me at ease. “Zola Pirani, darling. It’s an absolute pleasure.” Her voice was breathy, low, sensual.
My eyes dropped to her proffered hand. She nudged it toward me, so I shook it. “Lily Shaw.” The words came out uncertain. “Your skin—it’s not…”
“Cold? Of course not. You really believe all that nonsense?”
My mouth opened, then snapped shut. I wasn’t about to blame Laurent, even if he’d been lying. “So the rumors about vampires aren’t true? Holy water, crosses, garlic, all that?”
She laughed. The sound of it made my belly flutter. I couldn’t help myself. My gaze lingered over her long throat, down the length of her perfect body. What would it be like to be her? To live in a place like this? To wear dresses that cost me a year’s rent?
Her laugher cut off. She inhaled, nostrils flaring. They kept doing that around me. Inhaling.
A small, pleased smile curved her lips. “Don’t worry. I have that effect on everyone.”
“Effect? What…effect?” I stepped back, fisting the red fabric covering my legs. Heat crawled up my neck as my body responded in ways I didn’t understand. Was this one of their powers? To make humans lust after them no matter our sexual preferences?
Zola simply gave me a knowing look. She strode to my bed and flopped down, propping her chin in her palm to regard me. My lips parted at the sight. At how comfortable and natural she looked.
Once more, her hair shifted. “Why aren’t your ears pointed?”
“Would you like me more if they were?”
“Uhm…”
Her face changed. Her eyes blackened, skin turned to marble, and…the points of her ears stuck through her dark hair.
“Oh.” So she did have them.
“You like?” She lifted a hand, tucking her short hair behind one.
A nervous laugh burst from my lips. “They’re like…fae ears.”
“Yes. Fae ears.” A new smile stretched across her lips. This one made me shiver. It was a predator’s smile. I swallowed against the lump forming in my throat.
“So…” she said. “An amplifier, huh? Oh, come now. Stop looking at me like that. I’m not going to bite you. I had a little snack before coming up.” And just like that, her face morphed until it looked almost human again.
“A…a snack?”
“Oh, yes. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it for one moment.
I won’t touch you, no matter how badly I want you.
Besides, we’re going to be the best of friends.
I don’t dine on my friends.” My mouth opened but all that came out was a croak.
“Things have been so boring lately. Well, except for all the disappearing vampires.”
“Dis-disappearing vampires?” The words were little more than a squeak.
“Well, of course. Why do you think Laurent was at that party?”
“He said something about a demon.”
“A drug dealer, dealing something he shouldn’t. It’s called Red Allure.” My eyes widened. “Ahh. You’ve heard of it? I thought so. Wait, you didn’t have any, did you?” I shook my head. “Good girl. Drinking vampire blood would be very naughty. Very rude.”
“So vampires are allowed to take human blood, but not the other way around?”
“We only drink from the willing. Well, those of us who have morals.”
“And Red Allure?”
“I can assure you, no vampire gives up their blood willingly. Whoever is flooding the market is taking it by force, certainly not through honest means.”
My stomach turned. Those party-goers had been drinking vampire blood—stolen blood.
“But never mind that. Ugh. Depressing. I want to hear more about you. Where do you come from? What’s your story?
Do you have a lover in your life?” I blinked at the rapid-fire questions.
Before I could answer, she continued. “I’ve been looking for a new toy, any human recommendations?
Ohhh! Tell me all the humans you despise, and I’ll go find them, pay them a fun visit. ”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“I will even bring them back here, if you need revenge on anyone. I’m always eager for revenge. It’s so…satisfying.”
My eyes widened in horror as I struggled to keep up with her ping-ponging thoughts. “I… I thought you only took from willing victims.”
One moment she was on the bed, then she was surging toward me. A near invisible blur. I staggered back. My thighs collided with the small breakfast table.
“Darling, I can assure you they are all willing once I spend a few minutes convincing them.”
I couldn’t breathe. Her gaze caught me like a fly in a web. She appeared every bit the goddess with the power of one. My skin flushed with eagerness.
“You see?” she cooed. “I bet Laurent didn’t try this little trick on you, did he? Stuffy Laurent.”
“No.” The word was a breathy whisper.
There had been a moment or two when Laurent made me feel something I was embarrassed to recognize. But that was my own body betraying me. This felt different. Not a betrayal, but rather, a blissful submission.
A desperate desire to please.
Heat crawled up my throat. “I—I don’t generally like girls,” I blurted like an idiot. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I mean. I just…”
“Of course not,” she crooned, dragging a finger down my cheek. A caress that made me shiver with delight. “But you like me? Don’t you?”
“Mmm-hmm?”
She inhaled. “Divine! Such a scent. I would make it feel so good for you, darling. My bite. Older vampires have that ability. So much pleasure, you’d orgasm from it.”
“Uhh…”
That sounded good. Really good.
She laughed and stepped away, taking all my body’s heat with her. “I’m only proving a point, you see?”
“A… A point?” I licked my lips.
“Would you have let me bite you just now, if I’d asked?”
Confusion left me blinking.
“Well?”
“I… Yes.” The admission came out as a shocked whisper.
“See?”
The realization turned my skin to ice. A pleased smile split her lips.
Just as quickly, angry heat chased the ice away. “It doesn’t count as consent if you use vampire tricks.”
“Semantics.” She waved a dismissive hand and walked across the room, hesitating by the door. “I suppose your story will have to wait. Laurent did say I was merely to check on you, to see if you needed anything.” Her eyes darted over to the tea tray.
“I… I think I’m all right.” I didn’t want anything from these…people.
“What about clothes?”
“Oh. Right.” I glanced down at my gown. Her eyes followed.
“You’ve good taste,” she pointed out. “It’s last season, sure. But it suits you.”
“Believe me, I don’t have a shred of fashion sense.”
“Oh, darling! What’s that look for? Everything will be okay. You’ll see.”
Before I realized it, tears threatened my eyes. It would not be okay, not even a little bit. That’s why I had to get out of here.
Zola’s expression turned hard, knowing. “You’re supposed to think over Laurent’s offer.”
Laurent’s offer. Cooperate or die. What was there to think about?
“A word of advice,” she said, all the softness gone from her voice. “Take what he’s offering. It’s a cruel, cruel world out there, no?”
It was. I knew that all too well. But my version of cruel was vastly different from hers.
“Laurent is a man of his word. If he says he will protect you, care for you, he will. But if you cross him…” Her warning was like ice in my veins.
I only managed a nod. “Good. Then stay put. Enjoy your tea. I’ll bring some clothes by in a few minutes so you don’t have to sleep in that thing.
I’m sure you’re eager to get comfortable. ”
“Okay.”
One moment she was there, the next, gone. I moved over to the tea tray in a daze, wondering if I’d just imagined that entire encounter. What a strange woman. Despite everything, I think I liked her.
For just a moment, I allowed myself to picture the life I might have if I accepted Laurent’s offer. Maybe Zola and I could become friends. Maybe I could be happy here. But there was something else I needed to consider. Something far more frightening.
If I was an amplifier, the likelihood of Laurent using me for personal gain was high. Sure, he’d made a convincing declaration in the hallway. But I would be stupid to believe him.
Marco was right. If I stayed, I’d be nothing more than a lamb for slaughter.
Yeah…
I needed to get out of here.
A glance at the clock told me that dawn was still several hours away.
I could wait until the sun rose, then take my chances.
The door wasn’t locked, so perhaps once the vampires were sleeping, I’d just walk right out.
Down the main staircase, through that grand entrance hall, and out the front door.
Then what? I’d have to figure out how to get back to the city on foot.
My heart raced at the thought—half excitement, half panic.
Willing myself to stay calm, I poured myself some tea, adding cream and sugar. There was enough caffeine to keep me awake until dawn. I took a bite of the little cucumber sandwiches and groaned. Delicious! I began shoving one after another in my mouth, not realizing how starving I was.
Zola returned to find an emptied plate. Her eyes flared with approval. “Here you are. I hope it all fits.” She set a stack of clothing on the table. “Tomorrow, you and I will do some shopping. We’ll make sure to remedy your… How did you say? Lack of fashion sense.”
“I…”
“Oh, you’ll be here. You’re too smart to try anything foolish.”
The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. It’s almost like she knew what I was planning. And while I was smart, I was also desperate. I pulled my eyes away from her, picking up my teacup and draining it. “Thanks for the clothing, Zola. I really appreciate it.”
“Ah, don’t mention it, darling. Sleep well.”
And then she was gone, and I was left to count down the hours until dawn.