B0089ZO7UC EBOK (18 page)

She pulled out the chair to the vanity and I went to sit down in it.
 
“Do you know how he likes my hair?” I asked.
 

“Have you looked around this mansion?
 
It’s filled with paintings of you.
 
Trust me.
 
It will make him feel like he’s stepped back in time.”
 
Her hands were fast and precise with each strand of hair.
 
I could see her reflection as she worked.
 
Bobby pins were held securely between her dark lips.

“Is this what you wanted to do before Dante picked you for a gift?”
 
If it wasn’t, she definitely missed her calling.
 

Her eyes softened.
 
“Yes.
 
My mother taught me everything.
 
She has a successful business and I was going to start working for her after I returned from my trip.”
 

Dante had hurt too many people.
 
This had been about freedom for me, Marcus, and Antonio, but now it was for so many more people.
 
“I’m sorry.”
 
My voice was sympathetic.

“It’s fine.
 
I’ll go home again one day.”
 
She instructed me to turn in my chair and looked me over, then went to get my make-up.
 
“My twenty-first birthday is coming up.
 
Dante says if Antonio doesn’t claim me and change me, he’s going to do it himself.
 
Youthful beauty preserved or something.”
 

“Yeah.
 
He probably would have changed me even if I wasn’t on death’s bed.
 
It was just a matter of time.”
 
I told her.
 
Dante saved my life, but he deserved to die.
 
There was no reasoning or chance of redemption for him.
 
Whenever I wavered, I had to remind myself of how cruel he could be.

I would have preferred to do my own make-up, but
Taya
seemed to want to help and she did know what she was doing.
 
“Venice must have been romantic.
 
Master
Sanuto
must have fooled you on his true personality.
 
I’ve never seen anyone manipulate people so easily.”
 
She said.

“It was incredibly romantic and beautiful.”
 
A small sigh escaped me as I spoke.
 
“I thought Dante was just a rich gentleman and I enjoyed entertaining him.
 
When he saved me, I loved him for it.
 
I wasn’t in love with him, though, and being kept in captivity turned my feelings dark over time.”

Taya
listened intently.
 
I figured she’d heard some version of the tale before.
 
“Captivity?”
 
She asked and I explained how he kept me locked away.
 
“That sure isn’t the story we were told.”

We were finished getting me ready except for my dress.
 
“Tell me.”
 
It hadn’t dawned on me before.
 
All these people expected my return, but Antonio had said he thought I died in Venice.

“Well, the tale goes that your hunger was overwhelming when he turned you into a vampire. You couldn’t control your hunger around humans and lost your memory of the past after the change.
 
 
For your own safety, he hid your existence from everyone, even his own son.
 
Dante tells that you lived lavishly in hiding.”
 
I nodded.
 
He did spare no expense for my comfort, but that was the only truth I’d heard so far in her tale.

“Go on.”

She paused to check the time before continuing.
 
 
“When
Versaille
was stormed, he says that you went missing after killing a servant, a poor woman, and countless others.
 
He followed the carnage, but eventually lost the trail after your blood thirst had been sated and you left no more bodies.
 
The master returned to Venice with his son to mourn the heartbreak of losing his love.
 
 
Antonio didn’t know for a long time what had happened.
 
Some say he never believed the tale to begin with and that he was the one you actually loved.”

Awkwardly, I laughed.
 
“I was young and I was a courtesan.
 
I loved many men.”
 
My heart was thundering inside, but my voice came out convincing.
 
“There is little truth to his version of what happened, but perhaps, it is better that way.”

“The people fear you almost as much as they do him.
 
Some fear you even more.”
 
Her lips curled into a grin.
 
“That is why when you kill him you won’t have anyone challenge you outright. Also, I’ve been spreading a few rumors myself to scare them.
 
We will be very powerful.”
 
The smirk disappeared as she let the “we” part slip.

“You enjoy all this, don’t you?”
 
I eyed the girl suspiciously.
 
“The intrigue, danger, and vampires make your pulse race.
 
You want to be a real part of this, not just a serving girl.”
 
Taya
was more than she appeared.

Her face flushed and she cursed under her breath.
 
“I want to be a part of something amazing so Antonio sees me through different eyes.”
 
She paused and looked at me, speaking more softly.
 
“I want him to look at me like he does when he stares at the paintings of you.”

So she did know.
 
She was so young and foolish, but I had been the same.
 
Heck, I was still the same when it came to love.
 
With age comes wisdom….
 
Not quite.

“What if I declare you the leader of this vampire society after Dante’s dead?”
 
I asked and I was serious.
 
“You can be the princess or whatever the rank would be.”
 
The fact of the matter was that I didn’t want anything to do with it and if she did, I was fine with that.

“I’m…I’m not a vampire.
 
How could that work?”
 
The way she sounded when she spoke gave me hope that she was interested.

It didn’t all quite make sense in my head, but the idea was forming more cohesively moment by moment.
 
“If we even get that far…I’ll tell everyone I’m leaving you in charge while I’m away and that you’re under my protection.
 
Whether or not you want to become a vampire will be your own choice.”

Taya
stood up, pacing back and forth for a moment.
 
“Everyone knows I’m Antonio’s favorite, as well.
 
The people do love him.
 
He’s broods and is moody, but he’s far more likable than Dante.”
 
She took another glimpse at her watch and frowned.
 
Before I realized what was happening, her arms had wrapped around me and she embraced me.
 
“He’s going to return soon.
 
Good luck and thank you.
 
I would love to lead for you.”
 
The hug was delicate so she wouldn’t mess up my hair or make-up.
 
Then she was gone and I was alone again.
 

I’d slipped into the royal purple evening gown that was left for me and sat lost in thought at the desk.
 
My jewelry had gone missing, but I looked decent despite the lack of accessories.
 
As I sat there, every possible scenario I could think of raced through my mind.
 
The smuggled cutlery was in the top center desk drawer under some paper.
 
I thought it might be wise to spread out my weaponry. Oddly enough, I found myself longing for the vampire king’s return.
 
Much more time locked up in the room and I’d lose my composure.
 
Of course, time seemed to slow down and pass at an unbearable creep as I waited.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This needed to end soon.

Upon Dante’s return, I could tell he was up to something.
 
When was he not up to something?
 
He entered my room and I rose to my feet out of respect, smiling.
 
The dress moved delicately against my body as I walked forward giving a small curtsey and extending my hand for him to kiss.
 
He looked pleasantly surprised at my behavior.
 
The undershirt of his perfectly tailor suit matched the color of my gown exactly.
 
His hand gently took mine and he pressed his lips softly to the top.
 

“Master
Sanuto
, what are you hiding?”
 
I kept my tone as light and playful as possible.
 
He was keeping something hidden behind his back with his other hand.
 
It was risky, but I tried to reach for it.

“Do you think you deserve presents after abandoning me for all these years?”
 
He grabbed my hand and squeezed forcibly, just enough to hurt but not do any real damage.

I puffed out my bottom lip and lowered my eyes for a moment before looking up at him.
 
“No…but I want it, sir.”
 
Finally, after a few long moments of showing his power and force he loosened the grip and brought around the box.
 
I grinned mischievously before leaning up and engaging him in a long, deep kiss.
 
There was no holding back.
 
This evening’s performance had to be the best.

As I tried to usher him to the bed, he pulled back from my advances.
 
“After we introduce you to everyone,” he said affirmatively.
 
“You’re smearing your lipstick.”
 
He gave me a small shove into seating on the bed after the scolding remark.
 
I tried not to glance toward the pillows hiding my weapons.
 
Was I close enough and quick enough?
 
No…I had to wait until I was sure.
 
I kept having visions of him tossing aside the pillow and revealing what I’d been planning.
 
What if he’d had a camera in the room?
 
I should have thought of that. Why didn’t I think of that before!?

For the moment, my worries were unfounded and the train of thought was derailed when he opened the box with my present.
 
Dumbfounded, I stared at the most elaborate and intricate slave collar that I’d ever seen.
 
On the front were Dante’s
intials
in elegant script.
 
The black leather glistened and was studded with diamonds.
 
The D-rings, usually cheaper metal, looked to be made of white gold.
 
 
I’d seen some BDSM stuff through the years, but this was the most expensive symbol of owner ship I’d ever beheld.
 
It had never really been my scene, but I’d played around with some of my lovers.
 
This total power exchange terrified me.
 
It was already happening, but the collar seemed to make it all more real.

“Thank you, Master.
 
I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”
 
With shaking hands, I gathered up my curls dangling on the base of my neck to show him I was ready for it.