Chapter Six
Zane found himself entranced by Ella. She’d been pretty before in a little match girl kind of way, but now with her hair elegantly coiffed, a light application of makeup, and a gown that showcased her slender, yet shapely, figure, she was breathtaking. It took quite a bit of will power not to bury his face in the smooth expanse of her exposed neck, and a moment’s trepidation flashed through him at the thought of where he planned to take her.
Perhaps he should have dressed her like a nun, but the hiding of her neck would have been an insult. A slap in the face to the one he went to for aid that said “I don’t trust you.” Of course, he didn’t trust anybody, not even himself at times, but the fact remained, in order to play the game that his kind indulged in out of boredom, he had to put Ella at risk. It would have been better if he’d been able to mark her the night before. Then again, his inability to do so was what now led to their current outing.
Damn. I only met her a few days ago and already my life is so much more complicated. But complicated or not, he would change nothing. The anticipation that coursed through his body was more addictive than any human drug. For the first time since my turning, I am alive.
“Where are we going?” she asked seated next to him in his convertible.
“We are off to see an acquaintance of mine who may be able to shed some light on your voices.”
“Another vampire?” She asked this with the wide eyed excitement of a child inquiring of Santa, her naivety endearing, but so dangerous.
“Yes. Actually there may be quite a few vampires and other beings present. You must promise to stay close to me and not speak to anyone.”
“I’ll be glued to your side,” she solemnly promised. “Anything else I should know?”
“Try not to look anyone in the eye. Most of us have the ability to beguile humans.
You won’t even realize it is happening.”
“Is this like the sleep thing you tried to do to me? The one that didn’t work.” She smiled at him impishly, her eyes dancing.
Zane almost pulled the car over, he so wanted to kiss her. His lust barely in check since he’d beheld her in her finery, roared to life. He growled. “Yes, just like that, but some of them might be stronger or take you unaware. I’d rather not test and see if you are immune to everyone.”
Ella giggled. “I think someone is still upset his little spell didn’t work.”
“This is no laughing matter, moonbeam.”
“What did you call me?” She stopped laughing and looked at him seriously.
“I called you moonbeam because you have the same beauty and glow.”
“Oh.”
Zane could smell the tears she held in and for a moment wondered at their cause.
Then like a sucker punch to the gut, he understood. She’d probably never had a nickname, or at least not an affectionate one. He needed to bring back her smile. Tears and vulnerability would get her eaten alive where they were going. “Moonbeam also suits you because you make me want to get naked and dance in your light.”
Silvery bells rang out as she laughed, just as he’d intended. Reaching out to twine his fingers around hers, he didn’t know if he should curse or rejoice at the way she kept drawing out the humanity he’d thought was lost forever.
* * * *
Ella gawked at the mansion they stood in front of. She’d thought Zane’s place grand, but this … this was insane. She clung tightly to Zane’s hand and he smiled down at her reassuringly.
Striding up to the massive metal embossed doors, she tried not to trip in the slipper-like shoes Anna had found for her. They’d vetoed heels for Ella had never walked in a pair and they’d both feared she’d twist an ankle.
The double doors swung open at their approach and Zane didn’t pause at the entrance, just strode into the well-lit vestibule that gaped around and above them. People milled around, elegantly dressed, talking and smiling, but something about them made Ella shiver. A sense of otherness emanated from them and she caught more than one flash of canine, and in one case, ruby red eyes, as Zane strode through their ranks headed for a specific destination. Okay, maybe not people after all. And unlike Zane who makes me feel safe, these folk make me wish I were huddled back in the safety of the institute. She’d have to be crazy to not realize some of these beings were dangerous.
Ella ducked her head and held Zane’s hand tightly. She trusted him to keep her safe, but if these things pretending to be human came at them all at once, it would get ugly.
But if she’d found that the crowd in the front entrance gave her the creeps, it was nothing to the chill that went down her spine when they entered the lavish ballroom. A hush fell over the ensemble and Ella blushed, self-conscious, as dozens of pairs of eyes swung to peruse them. Even though she held Zane’s hand, one of the voices in her mind finally dared whisper.
“Danger. Danger. Oh, dear child, what have you done?”
What indeed? Finally, Zane stopped his steady march and Ella raised her eyes to see a dais with an ornate throne, like something out of medieval times. Perched on the golden chair, pure power was encased in the form of a young girl. Ella moved closer to Zane, not understanding why this slip of a girl frightened her. She didn’t look mighty, but Ella knew without a shadow of doubt that she was the most dangerous thing in the room.
“Zane,” said the girl in dulcet tones. “I see you’ve brought me a gift.”
“Not quite, Felicia,” Zane said stiffly, his fingers tightening around Ella’s. “I’ve come to ask for your expertise in a matter.”
“What? The mighty Zane asking for help? I’m shocked,” said Felicia with a titter.
She stood up from her throne and took dainty steps down the dais until she stood in front of Ella. Eyes of pure black peered at her, and Ella held tight to her bladder, fear coursing through her. “It will cost you,” Felicia finally said.
“It always does,” Zane sighed.
“I assume you’d rather we not do this in front of my court?”
“Please.”
“Very well” With swinging hips, Felicia led them around the dais to an entrance hidden behind. A man stood guard and he opened the door, never taking his yellow, slitted eyes from Ella. She shivered at the coldness they emitted.
They entered a large office with wall to wall bookcases filled with books, and if Ella’s eyes didn’t deceive her, scrolls. Zane seated Ella in an armchair and perched on the arm rest, his long fingers resting lightly on her neck.
Felicia dropped her seductive pose and leaned against her desk facing them. “Where did you find her? I haven’t seen one of her ilk in a long time.”
“Her name is Ella. I found her in a mental institution. She hears voices and they do things.”
“I’ll bet they do,” murmured Felicia. “Move away from her, Zane. I will not hurt your protégé, but your very nearness prevents me from fully seeing what I sense she is.”
Ella wanted to protest and ask him to stay close to her. She didn’t understand what was going on, but Zane seemed to think this Felicia person could help with the voices. As soon as he moved, her friends upstairs filled the silent void in her mind. They whispered and gibbered incoherently, their fear palpable.
Felicia’s eyes dilated and Ella forgot to look away. She found herself drawn into those bottomless depths and the voices keened, whirling in her mind. Several thumps and an unladylike curse later, Ella found herself released from whatever spell Felicia had put her under. Ella hugged her arms to herself trying to calm down, and in turn the voices, which in their frenzy, pulled books and scrolls from the walls. The impromptu missiles hovered in the air menacingly.
Irritation marked Felicia’s face. “I might remind you she came to me.” A book sailed at her narrowly missing her head, but Ella realized that Felicia spoke to the voices, not her or Zane. Did that make her crazy, too? Felicia’s face tightened. “I mean her no harm, so stop before I forget my promise of aid and do what you are afraid of instead.”
Instantly the voices quieted and the levitating objects dropped to the floor in a thumping rain.
Ella let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “I’m sorry. The voices get violent if they think I’m threatened.”
“And the doctors thought you were crazy? Idiots,” Felicia mumbled shaking her head. “I am curious. How many voices do you hear Ella?”
“I don’t know. A lot. I tried counting once, but after the first hundred, I figured what was the point.”
Her words took Felicia aback. “By the dark one, Zane, you’ve found yourself a mighty prize. I don’t suppose you’d reconsider giving her up. I’d reward you handsomely.”
“She’s mine.” He growled the possessive words and Ella smiled at him even though what she really wanted to do was throw herself in his arms and kiss him. She’d wait until they got out of there for that. Zane moved back to her and sat on the arm of the chair again, his hand draped possessively on her nape. “You still haven’t told us what she is.”
“I forgot. You never trained in the arcane arts. Although, even if you had, she is a rarity that few know about. She is an ánima veneficus, or in English, a soul sorceress.”
“I’m a witch?” Ella’s brow creased.
“Bah, nothing so crude or petty as that. You, my dear, are a very rare soul sorceress, capable of mighty feats.”
“I’m sorry,” Ella said with a shrug. “I still don’t get it. I hear voices, how does that make me a sorceress?”
“The voices you hear, they are the souls that have attached themselves to you, drawn by your innate ability.”
“You mean,” Ella whispered. “I hear dead people.” Then she laughed. “Oh, that’s funny. You think I’m psychic?”
Felicia sighed loudly. “Zane, would you make her understand this is no joke.”
“Ella, listen to what Felicia says. If the voices are souls, then I’ll bet that means you can find a way to control them so that you can have peace even when I’m not around.”
“Can you make them go away?” Ella held her breath.
“No and why would you want to? You are powerful child and if your benefactor were anybody but my old friend Zane, I would either capture you for my own use or kill you.”
“Oh. So I’m stuck being thought of as crazy then.”
“Of course not. Silly girl. You simply need to learn how to control them. From the sounds of it, they attached themselves to you young, a hard thing, I’m sure, especially with no one to teach you. But you are a woman grown now. It is time you took control.
Remind these spirits that you are the one in charge.”
Felicia made it sound so easy. “And if they don’t listen?” Ella had been trying all her life to make the voices shut up, and look where it had gotten her.
“Until you learn how to control them yourself, use Zane to keep them in line.”
“What do you mean?” he asked. “The damned things tried to give me a concussion.”
Felicia scoffed. “They panicked and you forget who you are, vampire. Drinker of souls.”
Ella looked up at Zane who had a thoughtful expression on his face. “I’d forgotten about that aspect of our curse. I haven’t drained a human since I was first turned.”
Ella waved a hand. “Um, do you guys mind explaining to the human over here?
What the hell are you talking about?”
Felicia chuckled and Ella shivered, it wasn’t exactly a pretty sound. “When a vampire completely drains a human, he can also ingest the soul. It used to be a common practice until our kind finally realized that the spirits we took in became a part of us, permanently. The clashing psyches can often be quite alarming. Some vampires have even gone crazy. Now we simply sip from multiple humans instead of sucking them dry, it’s healthier for our sanity. It also makes us less noticeable to human society.”
“Okay, I guess I understand that, but how can Zane help me with the ghosts in my head? It’s not like they have bodies he can suck dry to get rid of them.”
“Aah, but that’s just it, you are the body for the souls. If they refuse to listen, then simply let him feed on you. As he feeds, he can draw on his vampiric abilities and siphon spirits from you. Of course, if he takes in too many of them he may go insane, but he can rid you of quite a few spirits before that happens.”
“But I don’t want him to go crazy. I’d rather keep the voices instead.”
Felicia rolled her eyes. “Humans are so emotional. I didn’t say he had to, just that he could if the voices refused to obey. Warn them to toe the line and listen, else you’ll sic Zane on them. And you’ll only need to use that threat until you learn how to control them yourself. You have the power to do so. You just need learn to use it.”
To find out she wasn’t nuts, just possessed, okay maybe it wasn’t an improvement yet, but it sounded like she had a possibility of gaining control of her mind and life. “But how will I learn?” Ella looked at Felicia beseechingly.
Felicia sighed. “Damn Zane, I am not into girls, but even I can feel her pull. I will help you, but, for this you will owe me a favor.”
“Done,” said Zane.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” said Felicia slyly. “I want a favor from Ella.”
“Sure,” she said.
“Ella, don’t be so quick to say yes. You don’t know what she wants of you yet,” said Zane, concern in his voice.
Ella tilted her face towards Zane’s. “All my life I was told and thought I was insane.
For the first time I have the chance to be normal. Well almost normal. I don’t care what she wants. So long as it’s not you, I don’t care.” Ella turned to face Felicia. “What do you want from me?”
Felicia smiled in triumph. “I’m not sure yet. Consider it a favor owed. One day I will collect upon it. Now, I really should get back to my guests. Zane, bring her back tomorrow night when things will be quieter and I will begin her lessons. In the meantime, if the spirits continue to give you trouble when indulging in certain delicate past times, just remember what I said about threatening them.”
With a throaty laugh, Felicia left them.
Ella stood and threw herself into Zane’s arms. “I’m not crazy.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. You are hanging out with a vampire voluntarily,” he teased.
Ella giggled feeling more carefree than she could remember. Zane’s arms tightened around her and she tilted her face up towards him in time for the kiss.
Hard lips slanted over hers, their electric touch sending a jolt through her body, one that set her heart racing and made wetness pool between her thighs. She clutched at his shoulders, unsure if her legs would hold her. She needn’t have feared. He wouldn’t let her fall. His hands cupped her bottom through her silky gown and he pressed her against him, his erection evident against her lower belly.
“My sweet, and now powerful moonbeam,” he said when he let her come up for air and she wondered— Do vampires have to breathe? “You make me forget where we are when I touch you. Come, the night is still young.”
Ella, befuddled, followed when he led her by the hand through the crowd that still filled the ballroom.
The room seemed more packed than when they’d entered. Zane forged through the press of beings who moved out of his way, their curious eyes flicking from him to her.
Ella, as instructed, met no eyes, but that didn’t stop someone from snagging her around the waist, ripping her hand free from Zane’s grasp.
Startled, she looked up and only got a brief impression of dark skin and possibly horns before she found herself moved too swiftly to follow behind Zane’s rigid back.
“You dare touch what is mine?” said Zane in a cold, controlled tone.
The demon—for she knew not what else it could be—had obviously been drinking too much, for he laughed. Not a really good idea judging by the anger that radiated from Zane’s whole body.
Quicker than lightening, the demon ended up on the floor, his head hanging at an odd angle and his eyes unseeing. Ella held her breath in shock, while her friends upstairs cheered Zane’s action. Apparently, he’d finally done something they approved of.
The ballroom had gone silent and the press of bodies moved back from them, leaving them in a cleared circle.
Ella knew she should be horrified. Zane had killed someone for just touching her.
But, and she might burn in hell for thinking this, she thought it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her. In a perverted way, she also found it romantic. She finally had someone who wanted to protect her. My very own vampire in dark armor.