“What are you up to?” I asked, putting my fork down.
He laughed at me. “Why, nothing for you to worry about, my dear. I was just thinking this family breakfast would be better if we had, well, you know ... the whole family.”
The door swung open at precisely that moment, and Krista Mangum was shuttled into the space.
Chapter 8
Vance pushed angrily away from the table, standing up to glare at Damien. “You have Mom?” he roared, his eyes flashing red before he turned to go toward the demon who held Krista. “Take your hands off of her!” he ordered the man, his voice flat and hard.
To the credit of the demon, he didn’t budge or flinch with Vance bearing down on him, instead turning to look at Damien.
“Let her go. You’re dismissed,” Damien said with a nod, and he released her, turning to make his way back out of the room.
Krista stood staring at Vance, and I realized she had to be more than a little nervous. She hadn’t been around him since he’d lost the Awakening. He was a much harsher individual than she would be used to now.
“Are you okay, Mom?” Vance asked, his voice growing sensitive, and he reached to hug her, belying the very harshness I was concerned about.
The tension in her body dissolved away, and she wrapped her arms tightly around her son. “I’m fine,” she whispered, and I saw tears shimmering in her eyes. She pulled away slightly, sliding her hands up to place them on his cheeks. “How are you?” She looked him over carefully—sorrow, love, and heartbreak etched clearly there for him to see.
“I’ve been better,” he said through a clenched jaw, wrenching his face from her grasp when he turned to glare at Damien again. “Mom, why don’t you come and eat breakfast with us?”
Krista came to the table, but didn’t go directly to the chair he pulled for her, instead coming over and bending down to give me a hug.
“Hey, sweet girl. How you holding up?” she spoke softly in my ear.
I embraced her back, shaking my head slightly as an answer to her question. Krista moved away with a look of sympathy, giving my shoulder a knowing squeeze before she sat down.
“Well, isn’t this delightful?” Damien grinned at us. “All of my family, finally together at last, just the way we were always meant to be.”
I almost felt like laughing because the situation bordered on being comical. Glancing around the table at the somber stares that met me, it was easy to see that no one present, besides Damien, could find any joy in this outcome what-so-ever. In fact, we all looked as if we were attending a funeral.
The door opened, and a woman in a maid’s uniform hurried in to place a setting in front of Krista, before quickly leaving the room again.
“What do you want, Damien?” Krista asked point blank while she reached out to serve herself from the dishes in the center of the table.
Damien smiled at her in a sickeningly sweet way. “Why, to have breakfast with my family, of course. Is that too much to ask?” He placed a bite of food in his mouth.
“You know what I mean. You most certainly didn’t bring us all here for a little reunion. Now what do you want?”
I had to give Krista credit, she didn’t let Damien rile her the way I did. She kept her voice calm and even, as if this were the most normal conversation in the world.
Damien looked at her appreciatively, and I saw the heat in his gaze as he did. It never occurred to me he might actually still be attracted or care for her in anyway, but maybe he did.
“I have a project under way right now,” Damien replied. “It’s something I’m going to need some assistance with. Having Vance and Sean here, allowed me to secure Portia’s help in this task of mine. Having you and Portia will procure Vance’s promise as well now. So, I guess you could say that you’re … incentive.”
“And what exactly am I promising to do?” Vance piped up, looking at his dad with a tight expression.
“You and Portia are going to help me obtain some artifacts I need—keys actually.”
“Keys?” Vance questioned. “What kind of keys?”
Damien looked at him for a moment before answering. “I’m not ready to reveal that yet. All in due time. But for right now, just know I just need your help in obtaining them.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because these keys are all ancient artifacts that have been enchanted with different spells and curses,” Damien replied.
“So by enchanted you mean they have been protected by someone to keep them from falling into the hands of the wrong people, say, like you,” Vance said.
“Pretty much,” Damien chuckled. “But it isn’t going to stop me, now is it?”
“What happens if we can’t get them?” I wished I could wipe the smug look off his face.
“Then I’ll consider our promise null and void and someone will have to die,” he replied, looking pointedly at me. “Failure is not an option.”
“Damien, let the kids go,” Krista spoke up. “You can put a stop to all of this madness right now. You’ve proven you’re superior to everyone. Why do you need to continue this charade?”
“This is no charade, Krista,” he said, his expression darkening. “I’m fully intent on accomplishing my purpose, and nothing will dissuade me from it. So don’t bother trying. Besides, you’ll all see how right I am when everything is said and done. I’d even wager you’ll wonder why you ever doubted me.”
Silence ensued at the table after that with most of pushing our food around our plates while we were lost in thought. Only Damien appeared to be eating with relish.
“So when do we get to hear the plan,” Vance said finally, and I knew then he had made up his mind we were going to do whatever Damien asked us.
“As soon as you finish eating,” Damien said, determined to force us all to eat our meal.
I took another bite, finding it totally irritating to be such a puppet on a string, but I hurried to finish anyway, wanting to know what my fate would be.
When we were done, Damien leaned back into his chair. “Vance, you, Portia, and myself are all going to be taking a trip very soon. I need you to pack enough things for about three days. We’ll be attending a large charity ball so I will be sending you some evening clothes to choose from. We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.”
“And where exactly are we going?” Vance asked, folding his arms over his chest and staring at Damien with a scowl.
“You’ll find out tomorrow,” Damien smiled, scooting his chair away to stand up. “See that you’re ready to go on time.”
“That’s it? That was your big reveal?” Vance prodded.
“For now it is,” Damien answered smugly.
“What about Mom?” Vance asked.
“She’ll be staying behind, as extra incentive to help you do what you need to do.”
“May I see my dad?” I asked softly, more than nervous.
“No,” Damien said flatly, without even considering it.
“I just want to know you’re still keeping your end of the bargain,” I said, lifting my chin a little.
Damien’s eyes narrowed at me slightly. “I give you my word—he’s no worse off than the last time you saw him.”
That wasn’t very comforting, but I knew it was all I was going to get. I stood and walked over to him.
“See that he stays that way, Damien, because if anyone here has the power to kill you, it’s me, and I would be oh-so-happy to oblige!” I walked away, but I could hear him chuckling after me.
“Portia, Portia,” he said, and I looked at him. “What a woman you are!” His gaze traveled over me, and I felt the irritation burst from Vance as he stepped in between us so Damien couldn’t see me.
“I think it’s time for you to go now,” he said through clenched teeth.
Damien nodded at him curtly. “See to it you’re ready to go on time, son.” He turned to Krista. “Come along my dear. We’ve got some catching up to do.”
“Leave her here,” Vance said, stepping
in front of his mother. “She can stay with us.”
Feeling an argument coming, I moved quickly to Vance’s side.
“Your mother will be staying with me,” Damien said firmly. “End of discussion.”
“Over my dead body,” Vance snarled, taking a step toward Damien.
“I’m willing to make that happen if you insist,” Damien said, not backing down an inch.
“Stop it! Both of you!” Krista said, moving forward. “Enough of all this fighting and bickering. You two are worse than kids on a playground who demand everything to be their way.” She turned to Vance, placing her hand against his cheek. “It’s okay. He has had me here for several days, and he has treated me well. I’ll be fine.”
I sensed her lie to him, as I was sure he could. Whatever she’d been through lately hadn’t been pleasant for her, of this I was positive. He may not have damaged her physically, but the emotional scars he’d been inflicting would be running deep.
“I don’t trust him with you,” Vance said, and I felt the concern for her rolling through him.
Krista smiled. “He has no reason to harm me, otherwise he loses your cooperation,” she reminded.
Vance swallowed thickly, before giving a slight nod, stepping toward me.
Damien offered his arm to Krista as if he were the greatest gentleman in the world. She took it, allowing him to lead her out.
Vance and I stood there for several moments, staring after them, before he glanced at me.
“I guess we should pack,” he said, before brushing past me.
I gave a dejected sigh. Apparently he was still angry with me.
Following him into the closet area, I walked over to my side to look through some of the hideous clothing Damien had chosen for me. I carefully selected a few outfits I could call fairly modest, and folded them into a small pile on the table, before gathering night clothing, delicates, and some beauty supplies together.
Vance didn’t speak a word as he went through his things, though I heard him grumbling under his breath, and I knew he was frustrated with his choices as well.
When I was finished, I walked past Vance out into the main area of the cave. I found the table was still there, but had been cleared of the breakfast items. There was one large suitcase, and one carry-on bag sitting on it waiting for us.
I grabbed the luggage and took it back into the closet.
Vance briefly looked at me as I entered, his gaze traveling to the luggage before he turned away from me once more.
I packed up my belongings and left the suitcase open on the table so he could pack his, before grabbing some other clothing and going into the bathroom to get cleaned up for the day.
Vance emerged from the closet a shortly after, laying clothes for himself on the counter before leaving the room, abandoning me there to finish my routine.
When I came out later, it was to find him lying stretched out on the bed with his hands folded beneath his head. He looked up when I entered and walked over.
“Vance,” I began, but he sat up abruptly cutting me off.
“Save it, Portia,” he said sharply, getting off the bed to go into the room I just vacated, closing the door behind him.
I stood staring—trying to tell my heart not to be hurt, but I couldn’t help it. He had seemed so close to me. This mood swing of his was shifting all of the balances again, and I didn’t like it.
I crawled into the center of the bed and curled up in a ball, feeling like everything in the world was starting to work against me.
Not wanting to be mad at Vance, I tried to figure out what I could do to fix things between us. I could see right away one of the major problems was he needed more blood. I wondered if I could convince him to at least take a little from me, just to take the edge off.
Of course, getting him to talk to me again would probably help too. He didn’t seem to be interested in what I had to say though, and I knew he would only grow even more hot headed until I could get him to feed.
I climbed off the bed, determined I wasn’t going to take this attitude from him anymore. I could sit here, mope, and be a victim, or I could go do something about it. I intended to show him I wasn’t going to let him bully me around. Two could play at this game.
I glanced down at my clothing. I was wearing a hideous spandex outfit that clung to my every curve. I paired it with a loose, wide necked, shirt that slipped over my bare shoulders, leaving only the tank top straps of the spandex in place. The benefit of this disastrous outfit was it made my neck look long and I hoped tempting.
I brushed my long, silky, hair over on one shoulder to reveal my beating pulse better, and I went into the bathroom.
Pretending to ignore him, I walked past Vance, who was still in the deep tub, and into the closet to retrieve a hairbrush and hair band. Then I returned, going to stand in front of the mirror over the sink.
I proceeded to comb my tresses out with long and luxurious strokes, before pulling it into a ponytail, twisting my neck this way and that while I looked in the mirror, acting as if I was worried over whether it looked just right.
The sounds from the tub stilled, and I knew he was watching me with avid interest. It was all I could do to try not to let a smile dance around the corners of my mouth. I could feel his hunger and desire for me.
I looked at him, my eyes meeting his enflamed ones.
He swallowed thickly. “Get out,” he said harshly.
“W … what?” I stammered, his reaction throwing me completely off.
“I said get out. I’m not drinking from you anymore.” His hard eyes glittered, daring me to defy him.
“No.” I lifted my chin stubbornly. “I won’t leave. You need me, and I’m not going to let you treat me like this!”
Vance sloshed up out of the tub, reaching for a towel, wrapping it around his waist before grabbing me roughly by the arm and pulling me from the room.
I winced in pain as his grip bit painfully into my skin.
“I said get out!” he snapped again, enunciating every word to me like I was a dumb child incapable of comprehending him.
“No!” I argued back, wrenching my arm free.
It was at precisely that moment the door to the cave opened. Damien came in, followed by a young lady who was very beautiful, with long blond hair that curled naturally around her soft, rosy complexion. Her full lips had a natural pout to them, and her wide blue eyes made her look innocent.
“Who is this?” Vance asked, displeased with the interruption.
“This is Sara,” Damien introduced. “She’s volunteered to be your blood source.”
Vance looked over at me before a cocky grin spread across his face. He strode across the room, still clad only in his towel, and grabbed the girl, hauling her to him as he sank his teeth into her flesh.
My heart felt as if it were being ripped from my chest as I listened to the moaning sounds the girl made while Vance held her so intimately. She was clearly in to whatever he was doing to her.
The tears begin to swim in my eyes, and I looked at Damien, who was smirking in my direction.
“Some like it rough,” he said with a shrug, and I knew he was enjoying watching me suffer while Vance fed from a very real, very live, source.
“I hate you,” I mouthed, unable to get the sound of the words to travel past my choked throat.
“I know,” he mimed back, coming to my side. “But you know what they say, don’t you?” He reached out like he was going to stroke my face but paused when I stiffened, as if he suddenly remembered his part of the bargain.
“What do they say?’ I asked in a whisper, not really wanting to know.
He smiled at me. “They say love and hate are emotions that aren’t that far apart.”
I wanted to vomit as he laughed, but the sound of a hard thud drew my attention back to Vance.
He had dropped the girl carelessly to the floor, and he turned to face me. He wiped off his bloodied mouth with the back of his hand as his demon features mo
rphed back into his normal ones, except for the red eyes and a few telltale dark veins that were still receding.
“Take the girl and leave,” Vance said as he strode past Damien to grab me by the arm once again. He led me away from his father.
I was surprised when Damien didn’t argue, instead going over to gather the unconscious girl into his arms and disappearing through the door.
Vance waited until he was gone before turning to me.
“Now, you and I have some unfinished business,” he said hotly, and his mouth descended into a crush upon mine.
Chapter 9
I lay curled up on my side in a ball, Vance’s arms wrapped loosely around my form, listening to the sound of his deep breathing as he slept.
My heart hurt.
I couldn’t complain, really. Vance was always attentive to me, even when he was feeling very aggressive, taking extreme care to make sure my physical needs were being met, and this time hadn’t been any different in that regard. I hated what was making me hurt—hated facing it.
Jealousy. I was jealous of the little blood wench he had fed from. I felt like he’d violated something between us, some type of understanding we had with each other.
I let out a huge sigh, not wanting to admit the whole truth of the situation to myself. I felt sick and depraved.
I liked it when he fed from me, I realized. It was intoxicating, powerful and extremely intimate. I loved that he needed me that way, and I’d grown used to being the only one to provide it for him. To see him go so willingly to another source was almost bordering on some type of infidelity to me.
I knew I was being ridiculous. After all it wasn’t as if he hadn’t fed from others before. He’d done so on several occasions.
With relish, I added to myself. Even to the point of enjoying taunting me with it.
That was what this dig was. He taunted me with his blood source, and he enjoyed it. I hated him a little for it. It felt abusive.
Tears came unbidden to my eyes and rolled silently down my cheeks, dripping to the sheets beneath me.
I didn’t think I was making any noise, but I felt his arms tighten around me, and his head slipped into the crook of my neck.