Blood Lust (13 page)

“What about Libby? Did she come and go, like she does now?”

“Yeah, no real difference there.”

“So nothing about the relationship changed then?”

“No, not that I can think of, why? Do you think she has something to do with this?”

“Boy, I hope not. I did notice when I helped you with your shirt, that you have tattoos. Any new ones, say in the past few months?”

“No. I got these before I met Libby. Why?”

“I came across something once, where a demon was using his blood as tattoo ink, so he could collect energy through the person with the tattoo. It was just a thought, seeing your tattoos.”

“How unpleasant.”

“You have no idea. I also noticed you have what Devon calls ‘bug bites’ on your neck.”

“How close were you looking at me?” She rolled her eyes. He laughed. “Yes, a little fetish of Libby’s. She likes to have a little taste.”

“I didn’t think vampires fed on other vampires.”

“She doesn’t feed; she just has a little nibble.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know. Vampires don’t feed on vampires. They can’t control another vampire’s mind like they can a human. Feeding would deplete a person, weaken them, and I’d know if she were feeding on me.”

“But look at you, Anton. You are weakened, you look depleted of blood! Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he answered, seeming angry.

“Okay. I’m not trying to make you mad, Anton. I just want to help. Truly. I believe you if you say she’s not feeding on you; then there must be another explanation. Can I ask, though, in this fetish, do you have a little taste of her? Devon said that some vampires share each other’s blood, that it was a type of intimacy?”

“No, she’d never allow it. I tried once; she just about threw me out the window.”

“Yikes. Has she quite a temper?”

“You have no idea.”

“Hmmm. So is there anything I can get you? Some tea? A sandwich? Soup?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Really? You seem so lonely.”

“I’ve been lonely for years, Darby.”

“Well, how about I come back after you’ve had a rest and read to you, or play some cards or something?”

“Why? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“No. Your father is scared I’ll wreck the car, having never driven in snow. Your wife has my boyfriend captive in New York for the day, maybe the night. That leaves throwing the ball incessantly to Sammy or hanging with your dad.”

“Okay, so you don’t have anything better to do. Why didn’t you go to New York with them?”

“What would be the point?”

“To save your relationship.”

“That wouldn’t save my relationship. After this conversation and the one I had with Devon last night, I’m not sure there is a relationship left. You can’t carry a torch for forty years for someone and love another someone.”

“Somehow, I’ll bet Devon could. But then again, maybe he doesn’t deserve your love.”

“Maybe, maybe not. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens. So, what about later?”

“I’d like that. How about some cards? Cribbage?”

“Perfect. I’ll check on you later. Rest up, so I can kick your butt later and not feel guilty about beating a sick guy.”

“Funny too. Now I see why Dad likes you so much. You are an awful lot like Aunt Abby.”

Chapter 10

While Darby let Anton get some rest, she brought her cell phone down into the library and texted Blake and Rowan. Rowan was at school so it was just Blake.

So u R still there. Work things out with Devon?

Not exactly. We did talk & I no all about Libby, but guess who showed up in the interim?

Pleez tell me it wasn’t Libby.

It was. And they R presently living it up in NYC.

No. Y did u let him go w/o you?

What’s the point, Blake? She was practically naked bouncing up and down in front of him telling him they should get reacquainted by his taking her to the city. She thought I was his servant and she kept calling me every name BUT Darby.

That’s only because she’s threatened by you. The torch carrier has a new bedmate. Hard on an ego to know she’s lost her biggest groupie.

Bed mate, HA! He hasn’t touched me since your uncle showed in CA. So I guess she wins, because I was pretty sure his eyes were going to roll out of his head and HE would start calling me Debbie.

Who’s Debbie?

Men are so dumb sometimes.

Come on. I’m sure it’s not all that bad.

U no u’ve been saying that over & over & it just keeps getting worse. Haven’t u learned NEthing u goofy string bean?

If u r that worried about what he’ll do, Y didn’t u go?

2 save what, Blake?

OK now I no UR overreacting.

U no what Blake, That’s it. I’m done w/ talking 2 u 2.

Come on Darby, what did I do?

She turned her phone off.
Two gorgeous Bloomington morons, s
he thought.
No more.

Darby went downstairs to meet Bernard and Dominic, who had decided they’d go into town and pick out a tree to be delivered. Darby tagged along to give her opinion. Besides, it was something to do while she let Anton sleep, and it kept her mind off the sex fiend baiting her boyfriend in New York at the moment.

They went to a farm not far from the house just outside of town. Apparently, Dominic had been going there for years. They knew what size he’d want and walked them out into the woods to show them five different trees to choose from. All five were nice, but the third was the fullest and prettiest tree to Darby. She kept quiet through the viewing of all the trees and when they had seen the last tree, Dominic asked Darby, “So, was one of those trees to your liking?”

“My liking? It’s your home, silly, it should be to your liking.”

“My dear, our home has been without a woman’s touch for so long, it would be an honor to have you pick one.”

“Well, they are all beautiful, but I think I like the third one the best.”

Dominic smiled and said, “Frank, we’ll take the third one you showed us. You’ll deliver it as usual? Thank you. And thank you, Darby. It’s going to be a lovely Christmas with you here.”

Darby smiled as they headed back to the car and drove home. Once in the house she grabbed a deck of cards and the cribbage board and headed up to Anton’s room. She tapped lightly on the door.

“Come in,” Anton said.

She had two glasses and a bottle of wine with her. She set the glasses on the nightstand along with the bottle and set the cribbage board and cards on the bed. “First thing first.” She walked over to the chest of drawers and pulled the top two drawers out of the chest and walked to the closet, dumping their contents all over the floor. She then picked up the pile of Anton’s things and put them neatly back in the drawer. As a final touch, she tossed the wet towel she had used to clean up the floor on top of the frilly little things and shut the door. She walked over to the nightstand, poured them each a glass of wine, sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, and began to shuffle the cards.

“You know there will be hell to pay for that stunt?”

“Bill me. Besides, if she thinks I’m the hired help, then I might as well act like it. Maybe you and I should have an affair just to piss her off.”

“You are a handful, Darby. Have any sisters?”

“I do, and she’s more than Blake can handle.”

“Good for him. At least he’s on the right track.”

“Yeah, well, as of this afternoon I’m not speaking to him either.”

“Really, why?”

“Because he keeps telling me I’m overreacting and that things aren’t as bad as I keep saying they are.”

“Well, he always was a great defender of Devon’s.”

“He’s supposed to come once he finishes up some contract he’s working on.”

“Great. Will your sister be coming too?”

She looked at him suspiciously. “You’d have a better chance with me,” Darby said, laughing. “Besides, there is an issue.”

“What’s that?”

“This summer she was injected with werewolf blood and is now regularly turning into a werewolf on the full moon.”

“OOOoohhh! I’ll bet Dad just loved that! Yikes. Blake’s finally defying Uncle Dominic? Your family is turning this one upside down.”

“Well, it was not our intention.”

“Trust me; it needed a little turn of soil. The weeds were getting a little too comfortable. Wow. A werewolf.”

“If that makes you happy, then you will like to know that my sister and I are also from a long line of witches, and now we have a friendly werewolf and another witch living next door.”

“Wow. I have got to get better so I can visit California.” Anton laughed and shook his head for a quite awhile.

“Do you think she, Libby I mean, will, you know, draw Devon back to her?”

“If she can manage it, probably, but Devon’s quite a boy scout. He takes loyalty pretty seriously – too seriously at times. If anyone can keep her at bay, he can with his morality and principles.”

“But will he want to keep her at bay? You said it yourself; he’s been carrying a heavy torch for her for a very long time. And what about you? How do you feel about him being in NY with your wife?”

“A long time ago I gave up giving any credence to the word ‘wife.’ You say it like Devon says it. Like it has a deep spiritual meaning to you. I learned early on that she was only my wife on paper. She has no feelings for me, or the institution of marriage.”

“Why don’t you just divorce her and find someone to love and cherish?”

“I’ve become too calloused against marriage and love. It doesn’t exist to me anymore. There may have been a time when I might have searched for love again, but Dad wouldn’t let me divorce her.”

“Why? Catholics get divorced nowadays. It’s not that frowned upon anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. Maybe she had something over Dad, manipulating him as she has me. I’m not sure, but like I said, I don’t look for love anymore.”

“How sad. What gets you out of bed in the morning?”

“Not much these days, aside from a glass of water today.”

“Aren’t you lonely?”

“Every minute of every day.”

“Then do something about it, you bonehead. Tell her to stay away. Get out there and find someone.”

“Every time I’ve gotten close to someone, that someone miraculously disappears.”

“You don’t find that odd?”

“Sure I do, but what can I do about it?”

“Get off your butt and find them.”

“Well, if they left, what’s to find?”

“Maybe they didn’t leave. Maybe they were sent away.”

“What?”

“Maybe Libby found out about them and sent them away?”

“No. Libby’s manipulative, not cruel.”

“You sure about that?”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

“Okay, prove it.”

“How?”

“Give me three names of women you started a relationship with, that miraculously left.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I’m not, prove it. If you are so sure that Libby had nothing to do with it, give me three names and their last known whereabouts.”

“Fine,” he said and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and started writing. He handed the paper to Darby. “But this is stupid.”

“I’m sure it is, but won’t it be nice to find out for sure?”

“I suppose.”

“Good. Well you’ve beaten me twice; you must be feeling a little better. Sure you don’t want a little nibble?” she said, pointing to her neck. “Devon says it doesn’t hurt, just a little pin prick. Might make you feel better.”

“I couldn’t possibly, Darby. Very sweet of you to offer, but no.”