Dark Rapture (53 page)

“She?” Scarlet offered to Rico’s back.

“My sister,” he said as the notes grew deeper and slower. He gestured with a nod toward the Mucha lithograph that depicted a mahogany-tressed woman dancing in pink silks. “Catrina Fiorenza Bellange. A lovely woman in the eyes of any man. As are you. Has she met the others?”

“Just introduced her to Blake,” Vince said. “He’s on the phone planning the festivities.”

“Wonderful. Then she will be staying?” Rico spun around, flashing his bejeweled hands across his knees.

“I don’t think so.”

“Forgive me.” Rico offered his hand to Scarlet. “Federico Bellange, master of this house and friend to any and all who shall call themselves vampire.”

Finding herself transfixed on his odd-colored eyes, Scarlet reached out.

Rico pulled her hand to his lips and pressed a chivalrous kiss to her knuckles. “One is mine and the other is my sister’s,” he said cryptically. “But that is something you shall never understand. So! Vince tells me you share your life with Sebastian DelaCourte?”

“Yes. Do you know him?”

He shrugged. “I’ve seen him on the music television and read stories about him in the magazines Blake has lying about. He’s an excellent guitarist, unmatched and quite unrestrained. Though it seems as though his life may have many restraints.”

His last statement was more a question and Scarlet glanced to Vince.
Just how much had he told Rico about her and Sebastian?

She replied automatically. “When you have a busy life such as his and you spend much time in the public eye your life must have guidelines. Total chaos is not a part of Sebastian’s vocabulary.”

“Nor is freedom,” Vince added with a snicker.

Scarlet cast him a cold glare and Vince settled back into the couch, justly admonished.

Blake popped into the room followed by Rowdy. “We’re gonna get things going pretty soon, Rico. You interested?”

“I don’t know. What do you say, Vince, would the lovely lady be interested in attending the evenings’ festivities?” His gaze faltered and jumped for a moment to her breasts, accentuated by the tight bodice of her black rayon dress, and then he settled back on her eyes, which seemed to hold him entranced.

“What sort of festivities?” Scarlet asked.

“No, she wouldn’t.” Vince stood and pulled on her hand.

Not sure what was being discussed, Scarlet stood also.

“She’s not ready for this, Rico.”

“Ready for what?” Was this it? The answers she had been seeking?

Scarlet looked from Vince to Blake and the other whom she had not been introduced to yet. He had corkscrew curls and a mouth that curled up on one side exposing a glint of hound dog fang. Blake caught her glance and smiled slyly.

“Vince, what are you guys talking about?”

“I think she’d be cool about it,” Blake added.

“We’re talking about—”

“No, Rico.” Vince clutched Scarlet’s hand to his chest but she shook him off.

“Wait, Vince. I want to know what you guys are talking about. You say this is your new family, that this is your home. I want to know what makes you happy, what it is that you share with these men that makes you part of their family.”

“We share the vampire nature, lovely one,” Rico began in a deep voice that seduced instantly. “We share the fear—”

“Rico,” Vince admonished through a tight jaw.

“The adrenaline rush.” He ignored Vince’s pleas.

“I think we should probably go now.”

“Vince.” Rico laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, I don’t wish to overstep my bounds. But it is her right to know.”

Scarlet watched as the two men stared each other down, Vince’s jaw pulsing tensely.

“Why deny her what is rightfully hers?”

“What do you mean by the adrenaline rush?” Scarlet pulled from Vince’s grasp and stepped back. She looked from him to Rico, feeling at once the tension, the battle of wills, and the silent urging from Rico to step forth. Become one. Step into the families’ embrace. “I don’t understand.”

Vince shrugged and laid an acquiescent hand over Rico’s. The two clasped hands as good friends do and he gestured that Rico continue.

“The adrenaline produced when fear is present is the drug I speak of, Scarlet.” Rico mastered her curiosity instantly with his seductive voice. “We all do it, it’s only natural.”

“I don’t get it. Are you saying if someone is afraid of you, you get a sort of rush? What do you do, jump out from the shadows and flash your fangs like some horror movie icon?”

Blake laughed aloud as Rico stepped closer to Scarlet. The smell of cedar and wine tickled her nose, though it was not on Rico’s breath, it seemed more a part of him physically. As if a shroud.

“I would never hide in the shadows. But I do
flash my fangs
, as you say.” He chuckled deeply, inducing the two stooges to mumble their own chuckles. “I never kill until I see the fear in my victim’s eyes, then I know the adrenaline has begun to flow. Shall I show you?”

Feeling Rico move closer with each breath, as if he hovered without walking, Scarlet stepped back. “I don’t know…” She looked to Vince who stood with arms crossed, legs spread, concentrating on her actions. “I’m sure I believe you. You don’t have to bring a victim in here.”

Rico closed in on her. “Are you afraid of me, Scarlet?”

“N-no.” Though, right now, she wasn’t too sure. Rico was such an overwhelming presence, she had no idea of his intentions.
Why was Vince just standing there?

“You’re not afraid at all? You have no qualms regarding me? You know everything there is to know and are confidant that I am sane and of a sound mind? Can you be so sure I’ll not leap forward and pin you to the wall and rape you before all present?”

Scarlet backed away, madly searching Vince’s eyes, finding no support. Rape? She didn’t like this anymore. As much as she had been compelled to come here, she wanted to leave. Now.

“I see it,” Rico whispered.

“See what?” she replied shakily.

“The fear!”

Scarlet let out a scream as Rico leapt for her and in less than a thought, he tilted her head and touched his fangs to her vein. His daggers pierced her flesh and he began to suck. She pushed against his chest and was relieved when Vince pulled him back.

She stumbled back to the wall, her hand slipping over the bloody lacerations on her neck. Rico grinned from behind a woozy facade, revealing red-stained teeth.

Vince slipped his arm around her waist. “What the hell did you do that for, man?”

Rico licked his lips. “She wanted me to prove a point. I did. You believe me now, don’t you, precious one?”

Melding closer to Vince’s protective stance, Scarlet could only nod. She was ashamed Rico had been able to jump forward so quickly without her expecting it. And he was right, she had been scared. But now she was nothing but pissed. This was the man Vince raved about? The leader of a family that cradled Vince with open vampire arms? She did not come for this!

“I can’t believe you did that, Rico.”

“He’s just playing,” Blake chimed in defense.

“Forgive me,” Rico said and swiped a hand across his lips before offering it to Scarlet in a truly apologetic gesture. “I am a man of contrasts. Actions speak louder than words for me. And you, Vince, I must beg your forgiveness also. By no means did I mean to tread on your territory. The point has been proven, she knows of what we speak. Now, will you be staying?” He lowered his eyes on Scarlet.

“No,” Scarlet broke in before Vince could speak. The wounds had started to heal on her neck but the adrenaline still ran rampant. “I think I should go home now.”

“I hope it’s not because of me you choose to flee so quickly?”

All eyes, including the mismatched pair belonging to Rico were on Scarlet, the room fell silent save for the flutter of the candle flames. “I imagine I should be quite upset with your ways, Mr. Bellange, but…”
You wanted to learn more
. “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one evening.”

“I’ll take you home.” Vince draped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her out the door.

“How can you trust this man after knowing him for such a short time, Vince? You saw what he just did.”

“Rico is my friend. I’ve told him everything I’ve been through since I’ve become a vampire. I can talk to him, he’s a good man.”

“Oh yes,” she said, easing her fingers across her neck. “I noticed.”

“I shouldn’t have let him do that. But you’re no worse for the wear, are you?”

Stepping outside into the fine mist, Scarlet pulled on Vince’s hand and he stopped on the top step. “So that is your passion now? You instill fear in your victims before killing them? Isn’t it bad enough you kill in the first place, but now you’ve—”

Her angry, confused words were stopped by Vince’s lips. He kissed her fiercely, pulling her body tight to his as she first struggled, but then gave in to his silent requests. And while his kisses were laced with the sweet surprise of a new lover’s passions, Vince’s kisses also scared her. She had never betrayed Sebastian’s love before. But he didn’t have to force her mouth open as she succumbed to his demands.

“Enough angry words. You know what my passion is,” he whispered. “And if you don’t, then you’ll know soon enough.”

He pulled her down the steps and across the pebbled drive. Looking about, he pointed to the enormous willow tree that freefell across the front lawn, its thin silvery leaves glistening beneath the moonlight with tears of summer rain.

“But Vince!”

They ducked beneath the spidery arms of the tree into the inner canopy and Vince drew Scarlet down to the wet grass. “They’re all inside getting high. No one will bother us.”

She stared at him, aghast, yet strangely excited by his actions. He pulled his t-shirt over his head, revealing a hard muscled, pale chest that shivered to goose bumps as the rain lightly dusted it. Drawn forward to kiss the hand that waited her, she was suddenly halted by a shooting pain in her chest.

“What is it?” Vince pulled her close, his movements shaking the canopy of leaves and showering them with warm rivulets of rain.

“I…I don’t know. Oh, it hurts so bad.” She pressed her knuckles to her breast, trying to lessen the choking pain as it wavered like a wild animal trapped inside her ribcage.

Overhead, a crow cawed.
Not this way
.

“Oh, Vince, I…I can’t do this.” She pulled away from him and ducked under the hanging branches.

“No, Scarlet, don’t go. It’s just…you’re scared!”

She closed her car door and swallowed, watching as Vince waited her return. No, I can’t, she thought.
I can’t betray Sebastian.

***

“Oh, man, are you all right?”

Sebastian jerked his elbow to shrug off the roadie who’d come to his assistance. The sudden clutch in his gut had literally pulled him to the floor. “No problem. Just a little exhaustion,” he lied, and allowed the man to help him to his feet.

A black wooden box containing his guitars wheeled past him, en route for the waiting truck outside. The roadie gave him one last questioning rise of his brows before turning and grabbing hold of the side of the box to help its direction.

Settling against the brick wall, Sebastian breathed in the shadows like a restorative elixir. The pain in his gut, upon further perusal, seemed to come more from his heart. Was this what it was like to have a heart attack? Could a vampire even have one?

“What the hell is going on?”

Sebastian closed his eyes. He couldn’t sense her. Had Scarlet left? If she were anywhere in the arena he should have been able to pick up on her presence. Why would she leave? Were those damned diaries so compelling they meant more to her than him?

“No.” The adrenaline rush from the performance, the numbing roar of the crowd, they still worked to disorient Sebastian’s thoughts. “You are thinking like a fool again. She probably had good reason for leaving. I hope.”

***

The radio had announced the end of the concert over an hour ago. Scarlet sat in the garden behind the mansion, the heady scent of roses calming her apprehensions. Her ears picked up the sound of softly treading feet and her skin flushed over as her body sensed the arrival of her blood master.

“I looked for you after the concert.”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t feeling well. I had to get some air. What are these for?”

Sebastian laid a bouquet of white roses bound with a soft red ribbon on Scarlet’s lap and sat beside her on the iron bench. She had lit two garden candles, one to either side of the bench, and the golden light caught in Sebastian’s eyes like molten lava simmering in the center of shiny black coal.

He traced a finger over a velvety white petal. “They are used by mortals as a gesture of love, caring, and kindness. Though I fear I may have borrowed the tradition as a means of pardon from all I have done wrong…whatever that may be.”

Scarlet folded a petal between her fingers and sniffed the frilly roses. She wondered where Sebastian had gotten flowers so late at night. Ah, the perks of being a celebrity.