Broken (6 page)

"Thank you," he said and turned away from the small man. "I'm sure we will be fine."

The dim candlelight inside flickered over the blood red cloth that covered the walls. It cast a reddish haze throughout that did little to illuminate the shadowed corners. He suspected the color and sparse lighting were supposed to help set the mood for the vampires and humans gathered within to exchange blood and sex, for a price. It was an unnecessary visual reminder as the scent alone was enough to reinforce the club's purpose. The room reeked of the mineral scent of testosterone, the sweeter aroma of human blood and the musky scent of arousal just like every other club he'd been in over the years. Every club had their differences of course but no matter what country it was in, or what language was spoken within them, they were all basically the same.

The thirty or so vampire men gathered within this building were amongst the wealthiest and most powerful in the land. There might be some members of The Council within, but for the most part the men in this room were their offspring, nephews, cousins, and so on. Most were men that got to experience the life of money and luxury without the responsibilities that came with it. He envied their ability to do as they pleased, he would never know what that was like.

There were probably one or two others within that were as trapped as he and Merle were. His uncle Nyles was on The Council, not because of the line he shared with Atticus's father, but because he was a stand-in for Merle's mother's side of the family. She had been lost in a fire fifteen years ago and Merle had been too young to take her place. As the only living member of his mother's line, one day Merle would rise to take his father's place, but he wasn't in any rush to do so and his uncle Nyles wasn't in any hurry to step aside.

When he'd entered this building the last time, excitement and lust had burst through him at the promise of what was within. Now his stomach churned with disgust and it took all he had not to walk out, but there were appearances to be kept and reputations to uphold amongst his kind.

Grinding his teeth together, he brushed off the grasping hand of a human. When she grabbed for him again, his lip curled in a snarl that sent her reeling backward a few feet. The nearly transparent, sheer red skirt she wore hung enticingly low on her hips and almost tripped her up. His gaze raked over her half-naked body but instead of finding her exposed breasts appealing, he felt as cold as an English lake in January. The brown eyes of the woman across from him became a pair of raven colored eyes, her pale blond hair blurred into a shimmering black that reflected the glow of the sun.

He shook his head in an attempt to clear it of the disconcerting mirage and turned away from the woman. "If I didn't know you so well, I'd think perhaps you had decided that it was no longer women that appealed to you with the way you've been behaving," Merle said with a nudge of his elbow. "If that's the case though, there are plenty of men in here to keep you entertained."

It was a comment he would have laughed off before, now he had to bite back a sharp retort as he fought the urge to drive his fist into his cousin's grinning face. He turned away from Merle and made his way over to a dim corner of the room. Leaning against the wall, he folded his arms over his chest and stared around the crowded room. Though most of the vampires waited for their turn to go into the back rooms with the human men and women, there was a few that weren't so discreet in the recessed alcoves of the room. He could hear their panting and moans, but what had once been something that wouldn't have bothered him, now made his skin feel as if centipedes were crawling over it.

The men and women who worked in here had been brought up with the sole purpose of knowing how to please the men that entered these clubs. The aristocratic and noblewomen that weren't married, or had been set free from their marriages, had their own clubs to go to, but he imagined they were much the same as the men's clubs. Maybe even worse from what he knew of women.

The experienced professionals in here weren't what he desired right now though. In fact, his thirst for anything within this building was about as much as it would have been for the gutter rats running through the shipyards. Unfortunately, his hunger could not be denied.

Another blond approached him but he shook his head at her and pointed to a brunette across the room. "Send her over," he commanded gruffly.

The woman nodded and hurried away from him. He spotted Merle in a chair with two half- naked women sitting in his lap. He took hold of the wrist of another standing behind him and drew it forward to rest it on his chest. The women giggled and laughed as they fawned over his good looks and known prowess. There was nothing his cousin enjoyed more than a beautiful woman; it would probably be his downfall one day as there was no one he refused to bed, not even the married ones. To be fair though, just weeks ago Atticus had been much the same way and would have had a couple of women sitting in his lap too by now.

The brunette that approached him had dark brown hair, deep brown eyes and an enticing figure. She wasn't even close to the woman he really wanted but she would do for now. Taking hold of her wrist, he tugged the woman into the back hall and past the closed doors to one of the open ones near the end. In every club there were always a few more elaborately adorned and larger rooms set aside for the nobility. He entered one of those rooms now but he barely noticed the massive bed, or the silk hangings lining the walls.

She smiled seductively at him when he closed the door but he grabbed hold of her hands before she could touch him. "I'm only here for your blood," he growled at her.

Disappointment filled her face as she took a step away and ran her gaze over him. "Oh."

Even though she was being denied what she wanted, she brushed the hair back from her neck to expose the vein that pulsed just below the surface of her skin. His eyes latched onto it but when he caught her vanilla scent, he realized that he couldn't stand to move any closer to her. Lifting her wrist, he sank his fangs into the inviting blue vein. She winced but didn't try to jerk away from him. Unable to look at her anymore, he closed his eyes and drank deeply.

June 15, 1050

It's been almost two weeks since I last saw Atticus. I don't know what I expected. I had said I was being a silly girl and yet despite all of my reservations, I still got my hopes up. I'm a fool, I know it, but I still couldn't help myself. Life is full of disappointments and now it is time to move on. The only problem is that I find myself struggling to do so. For someone I'd known for only two short days, he managed to dig his way beneath my skin and he's still festering there like a bad splinter.

The other night Felix's beating was exceptionally brutal, I'd brought him more money than I usually do, but it still wasn't enough to ward him off. He broke my forearm this time. It's healing well enough now but I couldn't move it yesterday and there are still faint purple and yellow marks upon it. The beating was so bad this time that I wasn't able to go to town for two days. I was able to return there yesterday though and I took three good-sized purses. I buried two of the purses out in the woods with some of the stash for Camille and I. The minute Camille stops aging we'll have enough money to get us far from here, and established somewhere else. I'm counting down the days until then but it cannot come fast enough.

I think Felix's temper was even fouler than normal because Marie hadn't been home for two days. She returned last night though, with a pouch full of money for him in order to smooth things over. I didn't ask where she got the money from, and Felix didn't seem to care either. The money, and her return to this hovel, was too late to keep him from coming so violently after me though, but that's not something that she has ever cared about.

Camille has gone off to watch the orphaned vampire children again. She doesn't bring in much money by doing so but we'll take anything at this point. I must go into the woods today to find something to feed on. I never got the chance yesterday, as I had to spend most of my time stealing for Felix. Feeding today should speed up the recovery process with my arm, but I know the real reason I want to return to spend some time in the woods is that maybe he will return today.

I really am just a silly, fool.

***

Genny pushed back the branch on a tree and climbed down the embankment to the clearing. Moving aside a rock that weighed about fifty pounds, and was settled at the base of an elm, she checked to make sure that the money hidden beneath it hadn't been touched. There were ten separate spots throughout the forest where she hid the money she stole. Just in case someone stumbled upon one of her stashes, they wouldn't be able to take all of the money if she had it safely spread out.

She put the rock back into place and rose to her feet. Striding across the clearing in the woods, she slipped into the trees that had offered her so much comfort and solace over these past months living with Felix. She slid down a hill to the edge of the riverbank where she discovered a deer drinking from the stream. Striking faster than a snake, she took the animal down before it even knew that she was there. She took her fill of the doe before releasing it to the woods.

Her head tilted back, her shoulders relaxed as she absorbed the sun filtering through the leaves above. She lifted her broken arm and turned it over; flexing her hand she was relieved that the motion no longer caused her any discomfort. Turning her attention away from her arm, she reached down to undo her belt so that she could pull off her tunic. She placed the belt over a tree branch, pulled her heavy tunic off and draped it over the end of a log that had fallen across the river. Bending down, she undid the laces of her boots before pulling them off and dropping them on the bank.

She relished in the air moving through the much thinner linen material of her chemise as it slid over her heated flesh. When she was in the forest, she didn't have to be concerned about money or Felix's next beating. When she was here she could just be alone, she could relish in the beauty of nature that surrounded her and the peace that it gave to her.

Placing her hands on top of the moss covered tree she lifted herself onto it and walked out to the middle of the log. She settled herself onto the log and dipped her toes into the cool water running beneath her. Slowly kicking her feet back and forth, she smiled as droplets of water flew from her toes to the stream beyond. The drops caused little circles to break across the surface of the river. It was all normally calm and relaxing, but she couldn't shake the discomforting feeling that had settled in the pit of her stomach since the last time she'd seen Atticus.

She was angry at herself for thinking that he would come back, for thinking that their time together had even meant anything to him, she should have known better. There was no reason for him to come back and see her. She was a common vampire, a villager who made her living by stealing it. Why would he come back? They had shared a few kisses but that meant nothing, at least not to him anyway. He'd probably kissed dozens of girls, probably done far more than that with them; she was just another one of the many.

That was fine by her, she was glad he was gone so that her life could get back to normal. She told herself that over and over again yet she couldn't shake the ache in her chest and she couldn't deny the fact that she still yearned for him to return. No matter how much she said she didn't care if he came back or not, she did.

Her feet stopped swinging as her head bowed down and she stared into the clear water beneath her. Brown trout darted in and out, swimming with the flow of the river as they headed to some destination that only they understood. They were beautiful and something that she normally found joy in watching, but just now she only felt sadness.

"You would really scandalize the humans if they came across you like this."

Genny was so startled by the sudden intrusion that she almost toppled off the log when she jumped a little. She managed to catch herself before she fell into the water below and turned her head toward where the voice had come from. Atticus stared back at her with an amused smile curving his full mouth. His hand rested against the trunk of an oak tree; his long legs were stretched out to the side as he leaned against the oak. The sun filtering through the leaves lit his eyes and made them appear almost incandescent.

Pushing himself away from the tree, he climbed down the small embankment and stopped at the end of the log to shed his boots and hose. She was still trying to accept the fact that he was truly there when he began to unknot his belt before pulling off his outer tunic. "What are you doing?" she managed to squeak out as he placed his bare foot on the log.

"You shouldn't be the only half-naked one here," he informed her.

The log shook beneath his weight as he rapidly made his way toward her. Genny's head tipped back to look at him. He obscured the sunlight as he stood over top of her, grinning like a child who had just been handed a sweet. She couldn't stop staring at him, couldn't bring herself to believe that he was actually there even as he settled onto the log beside her. She'd missed him so much over the past twelve days that she almost believed he was a mirage, something she had conjured in her mind.

His finger touched against hers, the contact sent a thrill of pleasure throughout her body that caused her to start. Her eyes flew to his hand as his index finger slid over the back of her hand again. The uncomfortable feeling she'd been experiencing ever since she'd parted from him last time vanished at the contact. Tears of relief filled her eyes but she hastily blinked them back, she refused to give into the childish urge to cry as her fingers sought out his.

Awe filled her; she lifted her head to meet his eyes again. The air between them crackled and pulsed with something almost palpable. He held her gaze for seconds that slid into minutes as his hand continued to hold hers. The smile had vanished from his face, his eyes appeared almost troubled but before she could ask what was wrong his head was bowing to hers and he was kissing her. She'd thought that the feel of his hand had eased her tension, but the sensation of his lips moving over hers was like being transported to an entirely different world.

Where she'd failed to find any solace by being in her beloved woods today, the taste of him brought her a comfort she'd never thought to experience. His hand pressed against her cheek and slid back to grasp her head as his tongue slipped in to take possession of her mouth. In this world, the one where only he existed, there was only happiness and a feeling of belonging. She never wanted the feelings he could arouse in her to end and she eagerly met his thrusting movements as his kiss became even more demanding.

His hand slid around her waist and he pulled her closer against him. The feel of his chest pressing against hers through the thin layer of her chemise was the most intimate thing she'd ever experienced. Unable to escape the rising tide of passion he aroused in her, she gladly gave herself over to his demanding kiss. She rested her hands upon his solid chest. Her fingers curled into the linen of his tunic, she pulled him nearer in order to feel more of him as his hands ran over her shoulders. He pulled one of her sleeves down, allowing spring air to rush tantalizingly over her exposed skin.

"Wait," she whispered as his hand burned into the flesh of her bared shoulder and caused her stomach to flutter. She pulled away a little to meet his eyes. Her hands pressed flat against his chest as she tried to gather her scrambled thoughts. "Wait."

"What's wrong?" He tenderly brushed back a stray wisp of her hair.

"It's just…" her voice trailed off as she continued to search his face. She didn't know what it was. She'd been hoping for his return, to feel his lips against hers, to have him hold her once again but this was all moving too fast. This man made her feel as if she was the only woman on earth, he made her wretched existence immeasurably more tolerable, but she didn't know him. She'd been sad and lost these past twelve days without him but if she continued to allow this to happen between them, he would leave again, probably often, and one day for good. She'd be even more lost when that day came. "I'm not the kind of girl that you can just show up and kiss whenever you feel like it."

It was a lie, she'd yet to turn away one of his kisses. He appeared to know it was too as amusement lit his eyes and his head tilted. "And what kind of girl are you, Genny?" he asked in his seductive voice. His time on English soil had caused his English accent to become more pronounced.

Her chin jutted out. "Not that kind," she replied haughtily as she jerked the sleeve of her chemise up.

The amusement faded from his features. He rested his hand on her cheek and rubbed his thumb across her skin. "I didn't think you were." Despite her plan to place some distance between them, and not just physically, she found herself believing his words as his eyes searched hers. "That's not what this is about."

"What is it about then?" she inquired.

He leaned so close that she could see the flecks of brown in his eyes. He was mesmerizing to her as she caught the minty scent of his breath. "I'm not sure but I enjoy being with you. Do you not feel the same way?"

"I do," she finally admitted. "But you turn my life upside down."

There was that smile again, so cocky and beautiful that she didn't know if it irritated her or melted her heart. This man was used to getting what he wanted but she never gave anything that she wasn't willing to give. That's what she told herself anyway, but all she could focus on were those lips just inches away from her, and all she could recall was just how exciting and addicting his kisses were.

"I'm going to take that as a compliment."

She couldn't help but laugh over that statement. "Where have you been?"

His forehead briefly rested against hers. "I had to go to London for the first Council meeting."

Genny's hands slid away from his chest as she sat back from him. "What is a Council?"

He released the back of her head but took hold of her hand again. "The aristocrats have decided there will no longer be a king."

Genny couldn't stop her mouth from dropping open. "But what will we do without a king?"

"The aristocrats will be ruling and making the decisions together."

"Will they be capable of working together in order to do that?" she inquired.