Chapter Six
“You see, Masie? See how good life can be if you cease resisting and do as I say?” Holding me close, Stark and I swayed together under the stars on the restaurant’s outdoor patio.
A familiar classical tune played from several speakers hidden among the greenery surrounding us.
“Now, I want you to enjoy this music. Soak it in. What does it remind you of?”
“Angry Italians.”
“Ah. That is because it is the theme song to The Godfather. Quite beautiful, is it not?”
Actually, it was. “Reminds me of drifting in the air on a warm summer night.”
He looked down at me with curiosity. “That is a perfect description. I am so glad you are enjoying it.”
I was, but only because he’d ordered me to.
I enjoyed how his warm body staved off the chill in the air while we seamlessly moved to the music.
I was enjoying gazing into his eyes, and how, in their depths, I saw images of our future where he was my everything, and I was his.
I savored the strange sensation in my chest, like I somehow knew that time would never change our love because our hearts were joined by a connection that consumed us both.
The moment felt too beautiful to believe.
That’s because this isn’t real. Every second of this evening had been shoved down my throat. I don’t know what kind of spell you got me under, Stark, but I swear, the moment you free me, I’m gonna turn you into a puck and put you in a urinal at the Rooster.
“I am having a wonderful time,” I lied involuntarily.
“You did well with my friends. I could not be prouder.”
Again, it was because he’d literally ordered me to be charming.
“Smile. Be polite. Compliment their fangs.” I had to endure hours of chatting with creepy vampires wearing ruffled collars, garish velvet suits, or historical costumes from whichever place they’d come from.
One guy literally had on lederhosen. But everyone, and I mean everyone, eye-fucked me the entire night like wolves circling a steak.
“Thank you. I am here to enjoy,” I said robotically.
Stark dipped me and kissed my lips. “Sadly, it is almost time for bed. The sun will be up soon, and I have many plans for us tomorrow night. You will need your rest.”
“Aren’t you putting me in a box so I can go home?” I asked.
“After tonight, I’d hoped you’d change your mind and wish to stay—to relax, enjoy the night beach, and savor the natural beauty of the island. Let us see how you feel tomorrow evening. Come,” he took my hand, “I will walk you to your suite.”
You’d better not be thinking about sleeping in my bed! I’d sooner kick him in the acorns than let him get a nut from my lady-tree. “I would like that.”
As we strolled along the walkway, the first rays of sunlight appeared behind the horizon. Oddly, he didn’t seem to be in a hurry.
“Maybe we should walk a little faster.” I might be under his control, but that didn’t mean I wanted to burn up.
“Not to worry,” he said. “I have plenty of time. Besides, this sunrise is stunning today. Wouldn’t you agree?”
It’s yellow and orange, like I’m about to be if we don’t walk faster. “Looks…hot.”
“Sunrises are a vampire’s favorite,” he said. “While the world sleeps, we are here to greet it and admire its miraculous colors like no other species.”
I bet the early bird would disagree. Also bats, racoons, scorpions, bandicoots, catfish, fireflies, night monkeys, the wiry-fingered aye-aye, and every other nocturnal critter that went to bed at the crack of dawn.
“Yes,” I said, gritting my teeth, “it’s nice.”
With little time to spare, we arrived at my suite. Stark let me inside but remained on the walkway. He was cutting it close.
Good. Maybe he’ll sizzle.
“I hope you are not offended if I sleep in my own room,” he said, “but I do not think it appropriate we share a bed while you’re in such a suggestive state.
Just know, I commanded you to enjoy the evening because I wished you to experience what life could be like if you stopped fighting and accepted vampire ways, but I would never defile your body. To me it is a sacred temple.”
Oh, but you’d drug me and make me smile, greet your friends, and pretend I was having the time of my life all night long? I’d say he’d taken a big hot dump on my temple.
“Sleep well, Masie. When you wake, you will be free from my commands.” He kissed the top of my hand and left in a speedy blur. Dang it. He was probably going to live.
Exhausted both physically and mentally, I kicked my heels to the tile floor and crawled into bed, not bothering to remove my little black dress. I hadn’t realized it, but I was also wasted. Room spins, hot flashes, nausea.
Oh no. I sprang from bed and ran for the bathroom. After heaving champagne and moonshine, which I’d had both throughout the night, I finally felt better.
I rinsed my mouth and returned to bed, praying my new vampire genes would save me from another hangover to end all hangovers. So far, though, vampirism hadn’t given me squat. It had only taken—my trust in Stark, my love for him, my freedom, and a human life I’d adored.
This wasn’t living.
This was hell.
I was beginning to see why new vampires didn’t make it past the first month. Simply put, there was little motivation to even try.
I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of swimming at the beach Stark had showed me tonight.
Only, it was daylight now, and the sand felt warm and soft between my toes.
Above me was the most pristine blue sky I’d ever seen.
In the distance, the sounds of squawking seagulls mingled with the gently breaking waves.
Behind me, swaying palm trees lined the shore, giving way to lush foliage that ended at the base of an enormous jagged cliff. Beyond that, a snow-covered mountain.
I sighed, soaking in the impossible beauty of this moment, of this place. God, I’m going to miss this so much. Sunshine, green trees, and blue sky.
Suddenly, a man wearing a white guayabera shirt and black slacks came walking toward me, holding a pair of grabbers and a trash bag.
“Why are you out of uniform?” he asked. “The day-shift guards will fire you if they see you on the cameras. Then the night shift will use you for food.”
“Food?” I said. “I doubt I’m at risk for that. I’m a vampire.”
He gave me a strange look.
“What?” I said.
“Uh…if you were a vampire, you wouldn’t be standing in the sun.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I wish I were human. Do you know how lucky you have it? You get to wake up to this every day.” I swept my arms toward the shoreline. “But no… I had to get mixed up with Montgomery Stark, and now my life is fucked.” Sorry, Mamma. I’ll keep trying.
His expression turned bleak. “Did you say Stark? Are you…Masie Kicklighter?”
“I sure as hell hope so since this is my dream.”
The man looked like he was about to drop a brownie in his shorts.
He pulled a radio from his waistband under his shirt. “Ms. Tennison, this is Albert. We have a situation.”