Falling Into Place (8 page)

Maynard laughed low, his hands rubbing
together. “Keep going. Let’s see what my old friend was up to when
this place went up in smoke.”

He let the time flow until his uncle dragged
an unconscious Elizandra into the room. She was too thin, but still
lovely, even as she was thrown onto the bed.

Sinclair tore her rags from her body before
tying her to the bed with her arms and legs outstretched. James
watched the scene unfold, wishing he’d been the one take her
innocence.

Then she woke up screaming, and all hell
broke loose. He learned one important fact though. Liz was the one
to kill Sinclair, and Tremaine was the one to free her, taking her
from there in nothing but his coat.

James stumbled back as Sinclair’s phantom
corpse landed at his feet, his flesh bubbling and melting as the
fire spread. He closed his eyes, turning away and the scene
faded.

Next he heard Jarvis retching in the grass
outside the room. Maynard gasped. “Elizandra was one of Sinclair’s
slaves?”

James walked up to Maynard and covered his
face. He reached in and took the memory of the scene as he fell
into the ash, unconscious.

He turned to Jarvis, the boy who always bent
to his will. James knew he didn’t have the guts to defy him. “This
stays between you and I, or I can take it from you as well.”

“I’ll not speak a word,” Jarvis
sputtered.

No, James didn’t suspect he would.

* * * *

Liz had managed to get the old fashioned
maroon gown on but she couldn’t lace the corset. She felt
ridiculous. Sighing heavily, she stomped out of her room, and
marched to Tremaine’s.

They were staying in another mage’s vacation
home. It was a castle, a huge castle in Canada. Tremaine had told
her it was the vacationing spot for British royals.

She would have rather gone to Ireland to
explore the forests, and old ruins. Instead she was going to a
masquerade ball in an old fashioned gown. There were so many layers
she wasn’t even sure she got them all on right.

She pounded her hand against the door.

Tremaine opened it and took in her
appearance. “I no longer like this plan.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Just
lace it, please. Or let me dress as a young boy. The file says
Edmond likes both sexes.”

He let out a laugh. “Yes, well this way we
can tell Kathryn you dressed as a proper lady at least once on this
trip.”

“Somehow, I doubt it’s going to do much good
when she finds out about Robert and me.”

“Turn around, let’s get you laced.”

She did and Tremaine went to work on the
corset.

He grunted. “Suck in a breath and hold it,
otherwise you won’t have room to breathe.”

“Wha… what?” She stammered.

“Just do it.”

She did and he laced her corset up. Once it
was done, he apologized. “Sorry, it’s how they work.”

She could breathe, but barely. Turning back,
she grumbled, “Is this really necessary?”

The amusement on his face galled her. “Liz,
you fit the role beautifully. Of course the dress is
necessary.”

There was an intake of breath. Liz looked
over to find Robert standing there with his mouth hanging open.
Shaking his head, he managed to say, “Wow, Liz, you’re
stunning.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. If she was
stunning, he was exquisite in his suit. “Thank you. You look
amazing.”

Robert took a few steps closer and took her
hand. “I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than you, Elizandra.”
Before she could argue, he placed a finger over her lips. “Don’t.
It’s true.”

She sighed and his gaze dropped to her
normally small bust, but the dress managed to push her up and out.
She heard him gulp.

“This dress is too much,” she whispered.

Closing his eyes, Robert took a deep breath.
“It’s not. I hate that other men are going to see you in it, but
you are breathtaking.”

Tremaine cleared his throat. “You need your
mask.”

Liz had nearly forgotten. She turned to go
back into her room. She slipped inside and grabbed the jewel
encrusted mask. With a sigh, she put it on, and fastened it in
place.

When she came back out, Preston swallowed
audibly, “Liz, is that really you?”

Her eyes widened. “I’m changing.”

She spun around, but heard the pop before
Robert spun her back around with a smile.

“You will not change. We need to go, and you
fit your role perfectly.”

“Too perfectly,” Tremaine muttered. “We
don’t want to be late. Let’s go.”

* * * *

Tremaine was beginning to think his
brilliant plan was too damned good. Edmond couldn’t tear his eyes
from Liz, who had started in Robert’s arms. Preston cut in after
several dances.

If Edmond didn’t make his move, it would
soon be Tremaine’s turn. If that happened, he would be tempted to
drag the three young mages back to the mansion and plan something
that didn’t put Liz in direct danger.

That would only offend her. Robert had
already suggested another plan, one that was sound, but again,
defeated his whole purpose in this mission.

Edmond’s eyes narrowed as he pushed off the
wall. He stalked across the room, toward Liz. As usual, Preston had
Liz laughing about God knew what.

Edmond moved beside Preston and Liz,
apparently cutting in. Preston stepped back with a bow and placed a
kiss on Liz’s hand.

Robert slapped his hand on the table.
Tremaine looked over with a raised brow.

“Yeah, I know, kid,” Tremaine told him. “I
don’t like this much better than you. She needs to do this though.
Trust me on that.” Tremaine hoped he could take his own advice.

Edmond wound his arms around Liz, pulling
her close as he dipped his head to speak into her ear.

Robert moved to stand.

Tremaine placed a hand on his shoulder.
“This is going to work. Give her a chance.”

“If he hurts her…” Robert snarled.

“Edmond won’t survive hurting her.”

“I’ll kill him,” Robert vowed.

“You won’t have to. He won’t survive,”
because he knew Liz would finish him. No amount of training had
fully tamed her magic. It was wild, and would erupt if anyone
harmed her.

Robert sat there, taking deep breaths, as
Edmond twirled Liz around the dance floor, his body pressed close,
his mouth at her ear.

Preston dropped into a seat. “You okay, my
man?”

Robert’s eyes narrowed. “No.”

“Don’t blame you. That guy has sleaze
written all over him.”

Tremaine pushed his hand through his hair.
“She’ll handle him. I know she will.”

* * * *

“May I have this dance?” The vampire asked
in an accent mixed from different parts of the world and lost
languages.

Liz looked up, and just shy of his turquoise
eyes. She knew that she that a vampire could enthrall anyone they
made eye contact with. “You may.”

Preston stepped back. He took her hand and
bowed low to place a kiss on her knuckles. She knew it was for
show, and fought the temptation to look back at Robert.

Preston disappeared into the crowd and Liz
turned to her mark. She smiled back at him.

Edmond looked a little too perfect with his
straight nose, sharp cheekbones and mane of dark brown waves that
fell to his shoulders. His mouth curved into a perfect cupid’s bow.
He would be beautiful if it weren’t for his square jaw. He was only
about her height, but he was built broad and thick.

The file said he had been a gladiator who
earned his freedom in the Coliseum. She could believe it. His arm
snaked around her waist, and he pulled her against his chest which
was a wall of solid muscle.

It took all her will not to shove him away.
Instead, she took a deep breath and followed his lead. His breath
was cool against her face, his temperature cold. It was a sign he
hadn’t fed in far too long.

He breathed against her ear. “You’ve been
watching me. I want to know why?”

Determined to prove herself, she played
along. “A lady can’t be curious about the exotic man watching her
every move?”

“You are not a simple human.” His nose
trailed up her throat and she fought back the spark of magic that
wanted to flare to life.

“Neither are you.” His mouth opened and he
lightly trailed his fangs down her jugular. “It’s not me you want.
You want something though.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she
whispered, keeping the smile plastered on her face so Robert,
Tremaine and even Preston would stay put.

He chuckled, his lips leaving her skin.
“What are you after?”

Her gut said he wasn’t the monster the file
made him out to be. Tremaine always told her to follow her
instincts. Well, she was about to, and she had a feeling Tremaine
was going to be angry.

“We need to talk, but not here.”

“Do you have a suggestion?” He
whispered.

“Somewhere far enough from here that we
won’t be easily tracked, and we need to disappear in the blink of
an eye.”

“Do you trust me?” There was a hint of
amusement in his voice.

“I trust myself, and I have no problem
killing a vampire. Be quick. My friends won’t wait long to find
me.”

She was swept into his arms as everything
blurred past her. He was through the open doors, and they were
falling from the balcony, before everything flew past in a
rush.

Moments later, she was set on her feet.

He took a step away and crossed his arms
across his chest. “You’re either very stupid, or very confident
that you can beat a three thousand year old vampire, maybe even a
little of both.”

She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I guess
we’ll see. I’m Liz, and I already know you’re Edmond.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “And what is
it you want to know?”

“We know you are turning children. Why? Give
me one good reason not to kill you for robbing children of their
lives.”

“You want a good reason?” He said, taking a
step forward.

Her brow arched and she raised her hands.
Fire and lightning danced in her palms, warning him that she would
light him like kindling if he made one wrong move. Though with his
age, he would be harder to kill. “Don’t try me, Edmond. My instinct
tells me you have a good reason. I’d like to give you a chance to
explain to my satisfaction.”

An amused laugh escaped him. “Why is
that?”

She let out a heavy sigh. “You are wasting
time.”

“Why don’t you kill me?”

“You could have bitten me, or
tried
at the ball. You didn’t. You could have killed me on the way here,
though that might not have gone as you planned. And you could use
your speed to strike now. You still haven’t. Something tells me you
have a valid reason. So prove it, or I can end you now. It’s your
choice, but you should hurry. We don’t have much time before
Tremaine panics and they come for me.”

“Don’t you mean Robert? The young man who
could hardly let you go when your friend swept in?”

She sighed. “You can consider Tremaine my
avenging angel. He’s a lot scarier than Robert when you piss him
off.”

Edmond chuckled. “Interesting, though I have
a feeling the boy would go to the ends of the Earth for you, with
the way he nearly came to put a stop to our dance.”

“Well, Preston will be the one leading of
them both here. Would you rather meet them? They won’t give you the
chance to persuade them. I will. Make your choice.” She shook her
hands, the fire dying out.

“Very well.”

There was a pop. She was whisked off her
feet, traveling too fast to see. She heard Robert scream,
“Elizandra,” but it faded before she could say a word.

* * * *

Tremaine’s hand was still on Robert’s
shoulder when the damned vampire lifted Liz off her feet and
disappeared. The crowd looked around as they breezed past and out
the doors.

Tremaine shot to his feet the same time
Robert did. Preston wasn’t far behind with a whispered, “Shit.”

Robert grabbed their shoulders and
translocated them outside. Panicked, he turned to his closest
friend.

Preston leaned against the wall, his head
dropped forward as he held up one finger warning Robert off.

“Where is she,” Robert said through gritted
teeth.

Tremaine shoved Robert. “Calm down. I had a
feeling Liz might give him a chance to explain. So slow down.”

“He’s a vampire, Trem. He took a sixteen
year old girl to God knows where,” Preston snapped. “That is not
okay.”

Tremaine spun toward Preston. “I didn’t say
it was, but you both need to calm down. We will find her, and she
will be fine.” He prayed he was right in his assessment.

Robert saw the concern mixed with doubt on
Tremaine’s expression. “You don’t seem so sure of that.”

“Trust me, she can handle herself better
than either of you.” Tremaine took a deep breath and pushed both
hands through his hair. He gave Preston a long look. “You ready for
another jump?

“Yeah. I don’t want that vampire getting his
fangs in Liz, regardless of what she might do.” Preston closed his
eyes and started chanting. When he opened them, they were glowing
an iridescent blue. He pivoted in his spot and lifted his hands.
“Elizandra Delacroix,” he whispered as gold, red and blue
glittering specks whirled around above his palms.

Preston blew the particles and they sped
forward, illuminating a path. He glanced at Robert. “Don’t mind me
if I puke on you.”

Robert nodded as he grabbed both Tremaine
and Preston’s arms. “You’ll be forgiven. Hold on.”

* * * *

All Liz could smell was the ocean. There was
another castle, on a small island, standing before her.

She shoved at Edmond who set her on her
feet, and she heard the spark as he jerked back. “You brought me to
an island? Are you mad?” She might have shouted her question.