Red-Headed Stepchild

Page 20

“What powers?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
“You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?”
He didn’t respond, just smiled, revealing pointy yellow teeth.
“Look, I need to get back out there. Change back into a cat.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but before a sound came out, the room sizzled with electricity and the green cloud returned. When it cleared this time, Giguhl the cat sat on the bed glaring at me. “That hurts, you know.”
“Sorry, but I can’t imagine Vinca would appreciate a naked demon strutting around her apartment. I promise I’ll take you on more walks. And I’ll let you out when Vinca’s not here. But you can’t go around acting like an animal.”
He raised brow. “Forgive me, but you’re the one who wants me in cat form. If I act like an animal, you have no one to blame but yourself.”
“Fine! Jeez. Would it help if I got you some cat toys or something?”
He sniffed. “Don’t insult me.”
“I was trying to be nice. But if you want to sit here and sulk, be my guest.”
I left before he had a chance to get in the last word. The door was just closing behind me when his voice carried down the hall. “Don’t forget the catnip!”
15
I’m surprised to see you back so soon. Is your new living situation satisfactory?” Clovis reached for my hand and placed a soft kiss on my knuckles. My skin tingled where he’d touched me. I pulled the hand back when he seemed to linger over it.
“Yes, Vinca is very nice,” I said. “May I?”
He gestured to the chair opposite his. “Please, make yourself comfortable. I’ll admit I’m intrigued to learn the reason for your visit.”
I settled into the seat as I gathered my thoughts. I didn’t want to seem too eager.
“I’ve given it some thought and I’ve decided that joining you is the wisest course of action.”
His smile was immediate. “That’s excellent news. However, I’m curious about your sudden change of heart.”
“You can thank Vinca for that,” I said. “She’s convinced me that I can trust you.”
He steepled his fingers and regarded me closely. “So it has nothing to do with needing shelter from the Dominae?”
I shrugged. “I’ll admit that factored into my decision. But I would never take your offer if I didn’t believe your cause was worth joining.”
He nodded. “I can’t say I’m not pleased with your decision. If you’re amenable, we can take care of the initiation tonight.”
He said it casually, as if he referred to filling out forms. I knew better than to relax. As powerful as Clovis was, he wouldn’t take my word. I’d have to prove myself. And from what Vinca told me, I wouldn’t enjoy it.
“That would be fine.” My tone was businesslike. But inside, my impatience and anxiety took the form of nausea.
“Let me summon Frank and we will begin shortly.” He stood to call his assistant, but I stopped him.
“What exactly do these rites entail?” I couldn’t help myself. I needed something to go on to prepare myself for what was to come. Surprises weren’t something I dealt with well.
“Patience, my dear,” he said with a smile. “You’ll know soon enough.”
Soon enough turned out to be an hour later. As I waited in his office, I fidgeted. I’d tried to sit still for as long as possible, but ended up moving around the room looking for something to occupy my hands. According to his bookcases, Clovis seemed to have a fascination with the Spanish Inquisition, which did nothing to calm my nerves. He also had quite a collection of spell books, many with cracking leather spines. To distract myself from my nerves, I thumbed through a few, looking for a reversal spell that might help me with the Giguhl situation. The problem was most of the spells were written in something that looked like Sumerian. I decided to “borrow” a few anyway.
The door opened a few moments after I hid the books in my bag. Frank, looking solemn, asked me to follow him. He led me down a labyrinth of corridors. We passed a guard here and there but no other people or beings crossed our path. As we approached a set of doors, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This place smelled different from the common areas I’d seen so far. It’d been a while since I’d had any, but it was hard to mistake the scent of sex—musky and sweet. Instinctively, I knew we were about to enter Clovis’ private rooms.
Frank paused just outside the doors. Watching the wooden panels, I saw him produce a blindfold from his back pocket.
“Turn around,” he said quietly. I stared at him for a moment. What was it with this guy and blindfolds? It’s not like I couldn’t find my way back to this room. His face betrayed no emotion as I considered my options. I didn’t have any. I nodded slightly and turned with my head held high, not wanting to seem subservient. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it for real. No cowering or fear about what was to come. Grandmother would have been proud.
The wall disappeared behind the veil of the black cloth covering my eyes. Frank tied it on tight, but not painfully so. I rolled my eyes around, adjusting to the darkness. Not a sliver of light passed through the cloth.
I felt Frank’s hand on my shoulder as the doors in front of me creaked open. A slight breeze escaped the room. The air was even more saturated with the carnal scent.
Even with the blindfold, I could tell the room was large by the echoes created by our footsteps. Refusing to appear dependent on Frank, I walked forward confidently—no careful shuffling. The clicks of my heels told me the floors were concrete, which might also account for the cooler air in this room. I’d taken several steps before a slight pressure from Frank’s hand indicated I should stop.
“Don’t move,” Frank whispered in my ear. His footsteps echoed as he walked away. When I heard the doors close behind me, I assumed he’d left me standing there alone. I tried to remain calm, yet prepared for anything. Unfamiliar vulnerability hung around my throat like a noose. Remembering my hands weren’t bound, I ignored Frank’s last instructions and I lifted one toward the edge of the blindfold.
“Do I need to bind your hands, as well?”
My body jerked at the unanticipated sound of Clovis’ voice. He was standing uncomfortably close. As I dropped my hand slowly, I cursed myself for not having sensed his presence. The fact he’d caught me off guard put me even more on edge. Doubts started creeping in, but I pushed them aside.
“Sabina.” He breathed in. A warm palm cupped my cheek. I jerked from the unanticipated contact. Silently, I cursed my inability to control my own body. I took a deep breath. That’s when I realized the scent I’d detected earlier—the sex—was actually coming from him. It was as if his body was throwing off narcotic pheromones.
“Please forgive the blindfold. I’m afraid it’s a necessity.” His voice was different—deeper with a husky timber. Jesus, he even sounded like sex.
I nodded to acknowledge his statement, not trusting my voice.
“Are you frightened, Sabina?” Instead of concern, I heard amusement in his tone. I gritted my teeth, trying to regain control.
“No.” My voice broke a little bit. I cleared my throat. “I just don’t like these games you’re playing.”
“Just wait. They get even better.” He chuckled. “Are you ready to prove your loyalty?”
“Bring it on,” I said, raising my chin to show him I wasn’t intimidated.
He took my hand and led me forward. We walked a few feet before he halted me. “Please sit.” His polite manner held an undertone of menace. He helped me lower into a chair with wooden arms. I’d just settled myself when I felt a cold metal cuff click over my right wrist. He quickly cuffed the other hand before I could react.
I struggled against the bonds, kicking out with my feet, but only hitting air. “You bastard!” I said. I strained against the cold metal, hoping my strength could break them. They didn’t even budge. The shackles must have had copper lining, which weakened my strength.
“Are you quite finished?” Clovis asked from behind me.
My breath puffed in and out harshly, making it hard to respond. “Why?” I managed to ask.
“It’s for your own protection, really,” he said. “If you fight me while I feed from you it will arouse my predatory instincts.”
My blood turned to ice, even though I’d already suspected what his test would entail. Again, I wondered how my grandmother could ask me to do this. She understood the gravity of allowing another vamp to take a vein. By letting Clovis do this, I was, in essence, saying he was now my master. The thought caused my stomach to clench.
I took a deep breath to quell the rising panic. The combination of blindfold and restraints was making me feel claustrophobic and my other instinct threatened to take over—survival.
“Take. Off. The. Blindfold.” I was gasping for air now, not caring that I was betraying a weakness.
Almost instantly, the cloth disappeared. I blinked against the dim light in the room as my eyes adjusted. I looked around, trying to get my bearings. The chamber was vast, with candle-lit sconces along the walls. My eyes shot to Clovis, who stood in front of me now, just out of kicking distance. He wore a long, black silk robe with a red dragon embroidered over his heart. He stood patiently, seeming content to let me finish my scan of the room.
To his right, about twenty feet away, stood the largest bed I’d ever seen. Carved ebony posts stood at the four corners with a red silk canopy balanced on top. The real kicker, though, was the yards and yards of black satin covering the mattress. The thing looked like something out of a Goth porn film.
My eyes shot back to him. He smiled wide, showing his fangs for the first time since I’d met him. “Shall we begin?”
It was do-or-die time. If I balked or said no, it would destroy any chance of succeeding in my mission. But deep down, the primal part of me yearned to cry uncle and run away with my tail tucked between my legs. Not only did I not want to submit to Clovis, or anyone else for that matter, but I also didn’t like the idea of him taking some of my power along with my blood. He’d be taking part of me—the very life force that made me who I was. My grandmother’s words came to me then. I didn’t have the luxury of being squeamish. I had a job to do, and dammit, I was going to succeed.