Shades of Gray (33 page)

Grigori grinned as she neatly changed the subject.

It was late when they returned to Marisa's apartment. Mike and Barb picked up their kids, and then left for the motel. Jack and Marge bid Marisa and Grigori good night and went to bed.

Marisa sat down on the sofa and pulled a pillow into her lap. "Well," she said, "alone at last."

"Indeed." He regarded her thoughtfully a moment, and then sat down beside her. "Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?"

"Nothing, really."

"Really?"

She blew out a deep breath. "Edward came by this morning."

"I see."

"There's been another killing. Did you know that?"

He nodded. "Go on."

"He said a lot of foolish things. It doesn't matter."

"I think it matters very much. What did he say?"

Marisa glanced at the hallway. "We can't talk about it here." She gasped as he took her in his arms and stood up. "What are you doing?"

"Going where we can talk."

Before she could protest, before she could ask where they were going, they were there.

He placed her on her feet, and then turned on the lights. "There's no one to overhear us now."

"I really don't want to discuss it."

"Don't you? Something's troubling you. I've known it all night. It's more than another killing. What is it?"

It was cold in the house. She wrapped her arms around her body, wondering if she was shaking from the chill in the air, or the coldness in Grigori's eyes.

He turned away from her. She saw him wave his hand, and in the next instant, there was a fire in the fireplace. He took several slow, deep breaths, and then turned to face her.

"Tell me, Marisa."

"He said I was crazy to marry you, that I should ask you how many people you've killed. He
— " She wrapped her arms around her waist. "He asked me if I wanted to be next."

Grigori swore under his breath. "Dammit, Marisa, what do you want me to say?"

"I just want the truth."

"I've told you the truth. I've killed people. I told you that. Maybe I glossed over it to spare your feelings, but I never lied to you about it. There were times, in the beginning, before I learned to control the Hunger, that people died. I can't do anything about that. Their deaths haunted me then. They haunt me now. But I can't change the past."

He crossed the floor to the window. Drawing back the curtain, he gazed out into the darkness. "Maybe I'm just kidding myself," he murmured. "I thought we could make this work. Maybe I was wrong."

The anguish in his voice, the loneliness, tugged at her heart. She went to stand behind him. "I love you, you know I do."

He could feel her close to him. Her warmth engulfed him; her scent surrounded him. "Maybe that's not enough."

"What else is there?"

"Trust."

"I do trust you."

"Do you? Can you tell me, honestly, that you're not afraid of me, that there isn't a part of you that doesn't wonder if Ramsey is right?"

"Search my mind, Grigori, and find the truth for yourself."

"Marisa…" Slowly, he turned to face her. "If you're not sure, if you have any doubts, tell me now, before it's too late. I told you before, once you're mine, I will not
let you go. There will be no divorce if you decide you've made a mistake." His gaze trapped and held hers. "Be sure."

He needed her. All her life, she had wanted someone who would love her unconditionally, someone who would need her, someone who couldn't live without her. "I'm sure."

With infinite care, he drew her into his arms. "I love you,
cara mia.
I will never love another."

With a sigh, she rested her head against his chest, felt his love wash over her, warm and sweet. This was right. This was where she belonged.

Friday was a pleasant day. Mike and his family came over for breakfast. Later, the kids watched TV while the adults played cards. It was just the kind of day Marisa needed. A time to spend with her family, to relax and have a good time with the people she loved most.

They discussed names for the new baby. It started out as a serious discussion and they suggested names like John and Mary. Eventually, as they tried to top each other, they were tossing out names like Heathcliffe and Hildegarde. It felt good to laugh.

They ordered pizza for lunch, and then went out for ice cream.

Back at home, Barbara put Danny down for a nap. Mike Junior and Nikki went to play on the computer. Mindy went into the bedroom to play with her Barbies. When the kids were all settled in other rooms, the questions started.

"So," her father asked, "what does Grigori do for a living?"

"He's a magician."

"A magician!" her mother exclaimed. "Really? I've never known a magician."

"Does he do children's parties?" Barbara asked.

"I don't think so."

"I've never heard of him," Mike remarked. "Does he use a stage name?"

"I don't know."

"You don't?"

Marisa shrugged. "I just assumed he used his own name. He hasn't been in this country very long. He's from Italy."

"You're not moving to Italy, are you?" Marge asked.

"No. Well, I don't think so. We never discussed it."

"I thought he'd be coming by today," Mike said.

"He had some last-minute errands of his own to run."

"I think he's pretty," Nikki said. She sat on the arm of the sofa beside Marisa. "Is he really a magician? Would he do some tricks for us?"

"I don't know, sweetie; you'll have to ask him. I thought you were playing "Doom" with Mike."

"He's hogging the computer. Is Grigori coming over later? I like him."

"Me too."

"You're not going to quit your job, are you?"

"No, Dad, why?"

"Well…"

"Well, what?"

"Well, can he support you? I mean, he doesn't seem to be working."

"He's got money, Dad. He just bought a big old house up in the hills. And who do you think bought my car? I certainly couldn't afford it. Not on my salary."

"I don't mean to upset you, honey, but you haven't known this guy very long. He seems nice enough, but there's something about him. I don't know what it is. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think you ought to hang on to your job until… well, you know."

"Jack, Marty's a big girl now," Marge said. "She knows what she's doing."

"Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Marty." Marge toyed with her necklace a moment. "Still, your Dad makes good sense."

"He always has," Marisa said. "I'm gonna get a Coke."

"Can I have one?" Nikki asked.

"Sure, sweetie."

Marisa went into the kitchen and pressed her forehead against the refrigerator door. She couldn't blame her parents for worrying about her. She had doubts, too. Marriage was a big step. She didn't want to be one of those women who changed husbands as often as they changed their shoes. She wanted it to be forever.

"Forever," she muttered. That was funny. Grigori really could give her forever, if she wanted it.

"You okay?"

Marisa straightened up and opened the door to the fridge. "I'm fine, Mike." She pulled out two cans of Coke. "Do you want anything?"

"No. Don't let Dad get to ya. He's just, you know, being a dad."

"I know." She closed the door, and then turned to face her brother. "It's all right."

"Well, you looked a little upset."

Marisa shook her head. "I'm not, really."

"Dad's right about one thing, though. You haven't known Grigori very long. Why the sudden rush to get married? I mean, you've waited this long."

"Not you, too!"

"Hey, I'm not criticizing, I'm just asking."

"I love him and I want to marry him. Why is that so hard to believe? Just because it took you and Barb two years to decide to get married doesn't mean it has to take me that long, too. Mom and Dad knew each other less than a year when they got married."

"I know, but — " Mike placed his hands on her shoulders. "Dad's right about something else, too. There is something strange about Grigori. He's different somehow."

"Mike, just drop it, okay? I know what I'm doing."

He squeezed her shoulders. "I know you do. We just love you, sis, that's all."

"I know." Their love was like a blanket, usually warm and welcome, but sometimes it smothered her.

Grigori arrived at sundown. Marisa was in the kitchen with her mother and Barbara, trying to decide what to do about dinner, when the doorbell rang.

A flutter in her stomach, a subtle change in the atmosphere told her it was Grigori even before she opened the door. As always, her first sight of him took her breath away. He was so tall, so incredibly good-looking. And his smile… a smile that was just for her, it made her insides turn to mush.

"Cara."
He bent down and brushed a kiss across her lips.

"Hi." He wore black slacks, boots, and a bulky gray sweater that emphasized his broad shoulders. "Come on in. We're trying to decide what to do about dinner."

His gaze slid over her face to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat. He felt the sharp prick of his fangs against his tongue and wondered if he would be able to control his hunger for her once she was truly his.

Marisa's heart skipped a beat as his gaze moved over her. He didn't say anything, but she knew what he was thinking. Unbidden, unwanted, Edward's voice rose in the back of her mind:
Then ask yourself if you want to be next.

She lifted her gaze to his. The sound of the evening news, the voices of her family, the traffic on the street, everything faded into the distance, ceased to exist, until there were only the two of them standing in the entry hall.

"Marisa…" He cupped her face in his hands, his fingertips moving lightly over her skin. "Give me a chance,
cara.
I'll make you happy, I swear it."

She didn't know what to say. His eyes were dark and vulnerable, filled with the pain, the loneliness, of two hundred years.

"I love you,
cara mia."

"I know you do."
Dammit, Marisa, he's a vampire.
Edward's voice rang out in her mind.
He's incapable of love.
She moved into Grigori's embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist. "And I love you."

"No doubts?"

"Just the usual doubts every bride has."

"That's all?"

She met his gaze again. "That's all. I'm not afraid of you, Grigori. I'm not afraid of what you are, only that I'll disappoint you."

"Never!"

He kissed her lightly, sweetly, and when he drew away, the world returned.

Because they couldn't all agree on what they wanted for dinner, they ordered pizza for the kids, Chinese for Marge and Barbara, and Italian for everyone else.

"So, Grigori, my daughter says you're a magician," Jack remarked.

Dinner was over and they were in the living room.

"Yes."

"Could you do a trick for us?" Nikki asked.

"What would you like me to do? Saw you in half?"

Nikki giggled. "No, I don't think so." She punched Mike Junior on the arm. "Maybe you could just make my brother disappear."

"I could," Grigori replied solemnly, "but I'm not sure I could bring him back."

"That'd be okay with me. Ouch! Mom, Mike hit me."

"That's enough, you two," Barbara warned.

Grigori glanced at Marisa. She grinned at him, one brow raised in amusement. Grigori grinned back, accepting the silent challenge in her eyes.

"I'll need an assistant," he said, rising to his feet. "Marisa?"

She rolled her eyes, then stood up and joined him in the center of the living room.

"Look into my eyes," Grigori said. "Forget where you are. We are alone in this room, just the two of us. Concentrate on the sound of my voice…. That's right… you are in my power now. You see only me, hear only me."

"I see only you," she murmured. "Hear only you."

"You will do whatever I tell you."

"Yes."

Grigori looked over at Marge and Jack, who were sitting on the sofa. "Would you get up, please?"

Marisa's parents exchanged glances, then stood up and went to stand near the fireplace.

Grigori lifted Marisa in his arms and carried her to the sofa. He laid her down, passed his hand over her face. "You will sleep now, Marisa, and will not awaken until I call your name."

Her eyelids closed.

He stood beside the sofa, and then, very slowly, he raised his arms, palms up. And she floated off the sofa to hover in the air.

"Wow!" Mike Junior exclaimed. "That's awesome!"

"Amazing."

"Impossible!"

"How can he do that?"

Slowly, Grigori lowered his arms. Light as a feather, Marisa landed on the sofa.

"Marisa," he called softly.

Her eyelids fluttered open and she sat up, blinking at him. "What happened?"

"He levitated you. Damn," Mike said, "how'd you do that? I've seen it done onstage, but… but I always thought it was done with wires." He shook his head. "I've got to hand it to you, that's the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

"Do me," Mindy said, tugging on Grigori's pant leg. "I want to fly, too."

"I don't think so." Barbara pulled her daughter into her lap. "You're not old enough to fly."

"Come on, man," Mike Junior said, "tell us how you did it."

"I'm afraid magicians are sworn never to reveal their secrets."

Barbara looked at her watch, and then stood up. "It's getting late. Kids, get your stuff together.

We've all got a big day tomorrow. Mike, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, honey."

There was a flurry of activity as Mike and Barbara gathered up their kids and said their goodbyes. A few minutes later, Jack and Marge went to bed.

"Looks like I cleared the room," Grigori said. "That would be a problem if I were a real magician."

"Did you have to do something quite so flashy? I mean, couldn't you have done something that could be explained? And why did you make me go to sleep? I've never been levitated before, and I missed it."

"I was afraid it would scare you."

Marisa tugged on his sweater. "I'm marrying a vampire," she said with a grin. "If that doesn't scare me, nothing will."