Cassius
THE SCREAMS OF PEOPLE I’D killed seemed to lessen the farther I walked into my house. It had always been a safe zone.
Quiet.
Where I conveniently forgot all the blood that was on my hands.
My heart, stupid muscle that it was, refused to stop slamming against my chest as perspiration collected around my temples. My knees buckled, my vision blurred. It wasn’t a heart attack, I at least knew that much.
No, it was more like deep rooted fear.
Fear she would find out before I had my chance to convince her of… of what? That I wasn’t as cruel of a bastard as she’d originally thought? That I loved her beyond what logic told me? That my entire being felt like it had been waiting—for her? So close to blurting out the truth—telling her everything.
And then what? She’d laugh in my face. The words about burst from my lips, but I knew no matter what I said, if my actions didn’t match them, the outcome wouldn’t be in my favor.
I was doing a damned horrible job of even getting her to see me as a friend—and as a lover? Something told me I was going backward when I should have been going forward.
Agitated, I clenched and unclenched my fists as I made my way through the dark house. I hadn’t returned since that fateful night with Sariel, not sure why, maybe because this house, this haven reminded me of who I was, and I was trying desperately to be anyone but that person.
I flipped on the nearest switch. Light flooded into the large living room. A place I’d spent many years sitting in, reflecting, reading, shutting out the world because as much as everyone would love to believe that I adored passing judgment on immortal and human beings alike, it wore on me. Half Angel meant that although I was damn good at what I did, I still ached for something more.
“This is…” Stephanie did a circle of the room, her eyes most likely taking in the floor to ceiling book shelves filled with dusty reminders of just how old I really was—manuscripts flooded the large oak desk, ancient scrolls were tossed onto the floor beneath it. A coffee maker older than Genesis sat in the corner near two large purple-cushioned chairs. The bay windows overlooked the lake, and large black velvet curtains were pulled back with gold rope, revealing the beautiful view. “So not what I expected.” She picked up a book and frowned. “You have an original copy of Pride and Prejudice?”
I shrugged. “Never read it.”
She gasped and then closed her eyes, in horror? Disappointment? I wasn’t sure, I wasn’t near as good at reading anymore, but I felt embarrassment wash over me all the same. “You’ve never read one of the most classic love stories of all time?”
“Love story?” I parroted, feeling like an idiot. Why hadn’t I thought of that? Books! I could read books about love! I could give her books.
Stephanie’s smile widened as she opened the first page.
“It’s yours,” I blurted.
She glanced up, her lips curving up into a dazzling smile. “Why, thank you, Beast.”
“Hardly the time to call me names,” I grumbled.
“Um…” She placed the book back down on the table. “It was a joke. You know, Beauty and the Beast? He gives her a library.”
Well damn, and here I just gave her one book.
Another fail.
“I don’t have a library.”
Stephanie pointed around the room. “ Kinda seems like you do.”
“I like to read.”
“I can see that.” Though clearly not romance.
Why was conversation so stilted? And why the hell was I tapping my foot like I was an impatient bastard? I’d never felt so uncomfortable in my life, confidence used to ooze from every cell in my body, I never worked for it, never had to, I knew what I was, and what I was capable of.
Now?
Uncertainty laced my every breath.
“So.” I coughed into my hand and turned around so she wouldn’t see the panic on my face. “I just wanted you to see.”
I felt her come up behind me; the chill caused goose bumps to rise across my flesh. Ice crystals formed along the edges of the windows. “You wanted me to see, what exactly?”
I bit my lip in frustration. “Me.” I hung my head. “I wanted you to see me. It may seem ridiculous, but when I’m not doing my actual job for the immortals or serving my sentence as I’d always put it mildly. I’m here. Reading. Relaxing.” I spread my arms wide, rejuvenating, pushing out the negative swirl of emotions that grate on a person like me—for doing what I did on a daily basis.
“I like it.” Stephanie finally said, her voice husky. “As far as lairs go yours is way better than Ethan’s. Much more gothic.”
I coughed out a laugh. “Yes well, we both know Vampires prefer light to dark.”
Stephanie touched my arm.
I flinched.
“Do I hurt you?”
“No.” I pulled away slowly. “I think it’s instinctual. Every time you touch me I shy away, not because it hurts, maybe it’s a deep rooted fear that all humans have, and now that I’m fully human…” I shrugged.
“Can I control you?” Stephanie’s eyes narrowed. “Technically, a Dark One can’t come into contact with an unmated human without them going insane with desire, lust— I mean, why aren’t you…?” She blinked and then looked down. “I can’t believe I just asked you that.”
“Why am I not overcome with insanity in your presence?” I chuckled. It was nice to see her uncomfortable for a change.
“Yeah.” Her chest rose and fell with even breaths, and I concentrated on her breathing; it made me calm, counting every inhale, every exhale.
“I imagine Sariel wouldn’t think it fair.”
“Fair?”
I clasped my hands behind my back. “But you’re welcome to try.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “How do you know I haven’t been trying?”
“Because I’m alive.”
Her eyes widened. “So if I try, I kill you?”
“Possibly, who really knows?”
“No thanks.”
“Take a chance.”
“No.” She stepped farther away from me, her back colliding with one of the book shelves.
I pursued, nearly slamming my body against hers, not because I wanted to force her but because I couldn’t help the aggression pounding through my veins. When she retreated I wanted to pursue. I couldn’t help myself any more than I could stop myself from breathing.
“Where’s your sense of danger and adventure?” I taunted, pressing my hands to her cold arms. “Try.”
“I could kill you.”
“I’ll try not to die.”
“Oh,” she muttered and cursed under her breath. “How reassuring.”
“Do it.”
“No!”
“Oh, so you’re afraid.” I nodded mockingly, “Don’t think I’ve ever met a Dark One who experienced fear.”
Her nostrils flared. “Don’t push me.” The room temperature plummeted.
I arched an eyebrow then very slowly leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Chicken.”
It was immature.
I knew that.
She knew that.
But it didn’t stop her reaction.
With catlike reflexes she pushed me across the room, I landed perfectly in the chair, she jumped into the air and pounced, straddling me with both legs. One tilt of her head and our eyes locked.
Hers turned white.
It was eerie, watching someone else do what I’d done thousands of times, this time with me being on the receiving end.
I was completely riveted by the way she looked at me—as if I was the only being in existence.
My breath came out in a gasp as the room dropped below zero. Ice crackled across the surface of the wood floor, moisture once clinging in the air frosted the windows.
“That all you got?” I licked my nearly frozen lips.
Stephanie leaned forward, her nails digging into my arm. “I’m not exactly practiced in the art of Dark One seduction.”
“The next step…” Why was I teaching her this again? When I was so weak? Right, because if I died, it would all fall to her. If I failed she was the last.
“Yes?”
“The Marking.”
Her eyes swirled back to blue then went white again. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea. How do I… what do I…?” Her focus wavered. She was unsteady, too new, too unpracticed. I imagined she wouldn’t have the concentration to actually kill me.
“Two choices.” The human side of me was ready to bolt out of the chair and find a weapon. I stayed put, even when her nails dug deeper. Warm blood started trickling from my arms. “You mark with your mouth or your hand.”
Stephanie nodded, the room got colder. Damn, maybe I’d just freeze to death. Clearly, I hadn’t thought through all the horrible scenarios.
“You take your palm and press it against the neck, cupping the human flesh, you simply force your will upon them, whatever it is. Do you need a slave? What about a task completed? How about undying love and devotion? What you need, you think, you force it upon them so heavily that it becomes the very air they breathe. Without you, they would die, you must believe it, so they will believe it.”
Stephanie nodded and pressed her palm against my neck.
The stirring of ice flickered through my veins.
“Or…” It was freezing, yet I felt cold and clammy, like being hot and cold at the same time. “You mark with your mouth… more personal, no drawing of blood, think of it as a love bite. It’s more personal because Angel blood is in every cell of your body, including your saliva, therefore, your blood comes into contact with the human. Regardless of how strong you are—it will work because human blood yearns for it.”
“Why?” Her eyes darted back and forth, she was tiring. Good.
I slowly moved my arms, her nails released. “Because humans want power, they were born wanting more, and the minute they experience a fraction of what more feels like—they want it all.”
My gut clenched as memories of the last time humans got ahold of immortal blood assaulted me. I’d destroyed them all—well almost all of them.
Demons were allowed to live. But at what cost?
There was no warning, no hesitation on her part.
One minute I was talking.
The next, her mouth was on my neck, her tongue swirling a devastating design across my skin, her breath freezing my veins in the most delicious way.
Visions of us together flashed through my brain. Kissing, making love, holding hands, laughing, and then the vision altered and I was on my knees in front of her.
Her… shaking as blood ran down her hands.
I was still as a statue.
And then she pulled the knife from my chest and tossed it on the ground, her eyes wide with fear as Darkness swirled around her like a smoke, invading her nostrils.
Sariel watched with sadness as I clutched my chest, but I wasn’t recovering. I was not healing.
A tear slid down his cheek as Darkness consumed me.
I fought.
I lost.
And light flashed.
Stephanie jolted back from me, her eyes filled with horror. “What just happened?”
My heart splintered in two. Rage consumed me. “You will betray me.”
“What? NO! I was trying to show you—”
“You were trying to impose your will…” I stood on shaky legs. “Instead, you showed me my future.”
Stephanie covered her mouth with her hands.
“I think we’re done for the evening.” Numb, I walked over to the light switch and flicked it off. “After all, Ethan will be expecting us.”
“Cassius, I had no I idea. Futures can change, can’t they?”
“I’m tired.” I ignored her question. “And so are you.”