Crimson Psyche (17 page)

Finally, he lifted his head and locked eyes with mine. A circle of red surrounded the normal turquoise-blue-green of his irises and the colors swirled together. He licked his lips slowly, his tongue darting out to catch the crimson drops dotting his chin.

Jesus.
He was astounding, all that shining blond hair and dazzling eyes. Just seeing him with my blood on his face made me crazy. My breath came in rapid pants and I continued trying to twist out of his grip, still with no success. But at last he smiled, raised his hips to alter his angle and thrust deep inside me in one smooth motion. I was so wet, it was perfect. Still holding my wrists captive in one hand, he used his other to grab my hair again and this time while keeping my head immobile, he kissed me, as if he were feasting at my mouth, pulling the life-force from my body, all swollen lips and probing tongue.

It was awesome.

Devereux pounded himself into me with fierce determination, and now we were both making animal sounds as we pressed our lips even tighter together. My orgasm was building, and I matched his rhythm with my hips, the ferocity of his thrusts causing a mixture of pleasure and pain. He contracted inside me as he raised his mouth and spoke in the strange, lyrical language he sometimes used. The power of his release pushed me over the edge and I made strangled croaking noises, all my lacerated throat was capable of.

His pale skin was flushed, maybe from all the blood he’d taken from me, and his heart beat fast and loud. An almost-goofy grin slid across his perfect face. “Would you like more?”

Yes! But... maybe not right now.

The area between my legs was tender and raw. I’d had sex with Devereux more times than I could count, but he had never been quite as large before. He’d said it was possible for a vampire to transform aspects of his physical appearance. Good to know it was true.

“I think I’d better rest a while.” I grinned up at him. “You’ve made your point. You are indeed the Boink Master.”

He released my wrists and fell on the bed next to me, lying on his back. I examined, then rubbed, the red skin on my arms where he’d held me, before shifting my gaze to the nipple he’d gnawed on. The skin around it was bruised and swollen and the tiny fang holes still oozed. There’d be a rainbow of colors by morning. I turned my head. “Geez, Blondie, you really did a number on my body. I think I like this side of you. I’ll bet you have lots of sexual tricks to show me.”

He gave a lazy smile and balanced onto his side, facing me. He propped himself up with an elbow and rested his head against his palm. “I am always happy to find ever-more-creative ways to make love to you, but I wonder how
wild
you will wish our coupling to be after you are freed from the monster’s influence. I plan to do whatever I must to remove you from his power.”

“You keep saying I’m under someone’s power. I think you’re losing your marbles. I’m no different than usual, maybe just in a better mood. Are you complaining?”

“Of course not. I was happy with our sexual relationship before your personality changed, so you need not worry about my expectations.”

I laughed. “Your
expectations
? Do you believe I’ll ever be one of your handmaidens?”

He readjusted his position, lying on his back, his fingers laced behind his head. “No, but I am hoping you will respect the fact that I have been around much longer than you, and I usually know what is best for you.”

“What?” I sprang up and glared at him. “Like some undead daddy? You think you know what’s best for me?”

“Yes, I do.” He angled his head toward me. “I am very old and you will have to admit that I was right to protect your home and to order you to remain there until our appointment here at midnight. My actions kept you safe from Hallow’s madness. I wish to compliment you for your willingness to trust my judgment.”

“So, you’re saying that you just tell me what to do and then trust that I’ll follow your instructions?”

“Yes. I am very powerful. I offer protection. How could it be otherwise?”

“And you think I want to be protected?”

“Regardless of whether or not you wish to be protected, I intend to make it so.”

I couldn’t remember a large chunk of my recent past, but something about Devereux’s assertion that he’d ordered me to remain at home and I’d followed his commands wasn’t quite right. He sounded so confident that he could take my actions for granted. I didn’t know why that struck me as amusing, but it did.

He climbed on top of me and smiled, flicking his long hair out of the way. “Let us not argue. All will be well soon enough. Hallow will be taken care of, your personality will return to its normal charming self and we will continue to forge our future.” He kissed me sweetly.

I enjoyed the kiss, prolonging it as long as possible. After he pulled away, I gazed up at him and smiled. “So, let me just make sure I’m clear on the game plan, Gorgeous. Because you’re the undead Methuselah and one of the most powerful bloodsuckers on the planet, you get to decide what I will and won’t do with my life? You’ll make my choices for me?”

“I would not put it exactly that way,” Devereux said carefully, “but I will certainly give you the benefit of my expanded knowledge and experience. I will take very good care of you. You will never want for anything.”

Except freedom.

“Uh-huh. And what is the benefit to you for having me as your subjugated female? What’s the payoff for keeping your
mate
under your thumb?”

He appeared genuinely surprised by the questions. “Subjugated? Under my thumb? How could you think such a thing? You will be revered and cherished. Your life will be enhanced. The benefit to me of having my mate by my side is too complex a topic to discuss in your unnatural state of mind.”

“Hmm. I see. Too complex. Well, what about when my physical body ages, rots and dies? What’s the plan, then? Will you have me mummified and displayed in your penthouse? Maybe alongside my portrait?”

“There is a ritual.” His expression became serious. “You will be able to share some of my gifts. But we will speak of this another time.”

“Does it involve me drinking more of your blood? Are you talking about turning me into a bloodsucker?”

“I have told you it is not easy to become a vampire. For optimum results it must be freely chosen. Now, no more talk of this tonight.” He rubbed his erection against me. “Are you too tender from our previous lovemaking, or shall we have an encore?”

I grinned. “I’m ready if you are, Maestro, but this time I’m on top.” I straddled his hips, then impaled myself on him. I clenched my vaginal muscles, gripped him as tightly as I could and got a rhythm going. He planted his hands on my waist, holding me in place while he pumped his hips. He stared at me with those hypnotic turquoise eyes as his tongue played with the tips of his fangs.

I gave him my best innocent smile. “Do you want more of my blood, my Dark Prince?”

He hissed and pulled my upper body down to his. His soft, warm lips plundered mine, our tongues dancing, then he kissed his way to my neck and bit. We moaned in concert as our shared orgasm built between us and exploded.

When the aftershocks quieted, I sat up and gazed down at him. “Drinking blood must be good. Why is it that you won’t let me sample yours?”

He studied me for a few seconds. “Have you forgotten what you learned from the elders about drinking from me? The negative consequences? Even the fact that you do not remember such an important thing is evidence of your altered mind. You are currently incapable of making considered decisions, so I will take charge. I will not let you harm yourself. You have no need for vampire blood.”

“He is lying.” A familiar deep voice floated through my mind. “Break the glass on the nearby table and cut him — drink, and see for yourself.”

Really? Well, why not?

I glanced at the bedside table and saw a small vase sitting there. Moving oddly fast, I grabbed it, tossed the lone flower and its water onto the floor and smashed the glass against the table edge. A large piece broke away, leaving a sharp corner, and without hesitation or thought I drew the jagged edge of the vase along Devereux’s stomach and watched the blood blossom from the cut. I caught a fleeting glimpse of his shocked face before I bent, licked the blood with my tongue, then sucked hard on the wound.

Devereux grabbed a handful of hair and jerked my head up. Anger and fear fought for dominance in his face as he cried, “Stop! What have you done? My blood is
poison
for you — it could
kill
you!”

Devereux jerked into a sitting position and knocked the splintered glass from my grip. I watched the piece of vase sail through the air. He released my hair, snarling, and recoiled as if he’d been clutching Medusa’s snakes.

I swiped the back of my hand across my mouth, smearing his blood along my cheek.

“I don’t know about it killing me, but it sure tastes like shit.” I stuck my tongue out. “How can you drink that crap all the time? Do me a favor and stake me right away if I start to turn into a vampire. I’d rather be dead.”

Devereux’s scowl clued me in to the fact that he was no longer in a playful mood, but that was okay, because I’d started feeling weird. Suddenly, everything was too bright. My lips tingled, and my throat contracted, making it difficult to swallow. I could see Devereux’s mouth moving, but the sound dissolved into the abyss stretching between us before it could reach my ears. But even without the volume, it was easy to read his anger.

I slid off him and tried to say, “I think I’ve had enough fun for one night. I’m going to go home—” but my numb lips weren’t cooperating. “Uh-oh.” My head flopped onto the bed. The room spun and my stomach was cartwheeling.

***

I must have nodded off for a few minutes because the next thing I knew, I was loosely wrapped in the bedspread, lying in the center of a colorful pentagram etched into the marble-tile floor of Devereux’s room. Chanting bodies encircled me, their voices rumbling in a soft, monotonous drone. Lit candles cast soft light and deep shadows and a strong aroma wafted from incense burners scattered around the space, reminding me of a Christmas Mass I had attended as a child.

I recognized Luna, who was standing next to a Johnny Depp look-alike, but the rest of the participants were strangers. Scanning the expressions on their faces told me that whatever the purpose for their gathering, it wasn’t good.

Devereux knelt next to me and looped something around my neck. I shifted my gaze down to see what it was. My protective necklace. He must have retrieved it from my house.

“What’s going on?” Still slightly dizzy, I tried to sit up. “Why are you all standing around me?”

Devereux pressed me down to the floor with his hand on my shoulder. “No, Kismet, do not move yet. My blood had a seriously debilitating effect on you — you have been unconscious. We have discovered the situation is much worse than I had feared. Drinking from me has somehow deepened Hallow’s influence over you, which is why he commanded you to do it. We have been attempting to remove some of the psychic tendrils he thrust into your aura, but he is more powerful than I ever imagined. I have called every master vampire, healer and wizard available to assist. They are still arriving and we will work through the night.
I will not let him have you
.”

“Have me? What happened? Why do I feel so terrible? I drank your blood?” My voice sounded feeble.

He frowned. “What is the last thing you remember?”

I tried to concentrate through the fuzz in my head. “I was at home, getting ready to do some paperwork. I’d decided to spend a quiet evening there. How did I get to the Crypt?” I glanced down again. “Where are my clothes?”

Devereux gazed at me with such tenderness that it frightened me. It was almost as if he pitied me, or was avoiding telling me an unpleasant fact I needed to know.

Panic overwhelmed me and I tried to wiggle out from under his restraining hand. “Why are you staring at me like that? Tell me what happened. Am I dying?”

He gave a gentle smile and stroked his hand along my hair. “No, you are not dying. I will not let anything bad happen to you, but this is a serious situation and it is best if you return to sleep for a few more hours.”

What did he mean, a few
more
hours? Was he saying I’d already been out that long? I opened my mouth to argue and met his eyes. He spoke some odd-sounding but strangely familiar words and I drifted away.

***

I’m in a hazy, surreal, sunset-tinted landscape, standing in a structure surrounded by many white columns high on a mountaintop. A fragrant breeze blows through the open building, causing my white filmy gown to mold itself to my body. I stare out at the expansive horizon, mesmerized by the ethereal, magical view, breathing in the rarified air. I am light — free.

Sensing a presence, I shift my gaze away from the stunning scenery and turn to the handsome figure lounging against a column.

“Ah, there you are, Doctor. It took me a while to break through all your savior’s spells and incantations. I must tell you, this adventure is turning out to be even more exciting than I expected. I had no idea Devereux had become so powerful. What a treat for me to defeat and control such a vampire. It’s almost a shame he isn’t the one I’ve come to harvest.”

“Hallow? Where am I?”

He ambles toward me, smiling, his long hair fanning out in the wind. “Mount Olympus, of course. The home of the gods. Or at least one god.”

“You’re a god?”

His smile spreads wider. “Unavoidably.”

“Why am I here?”

He saunters in a circle. “I’m preparing you to be my next lýtle.”

Wary, I turn to follow his motion. “Your what?”

“Lýtle. It’s an Old English word. It translates as female slave, but I’ve given it much richer meaning over the centuries.”

I shake my head. “This can’t really be happening. I’m not going to be anybody’s slave. This is a delusion — a dream, right?”

He stops moving and stands in front of me. “Let’s just say it’s a dream dimension. The actual explanation would raise too many questions, and I must return you to your body before you become too attached to this reality. It isn’t your time to transition yet, but I couldn’t resist claiming you again, just to confound the magicians. And speaking of your knight in shining armor, I have masked your memories from our time together. He will not find them.”

He steps close, pulls me against his body and stares at me with his shimmering silver eyes. “I am perplexed by my unexpected interest in you. I had not anticipated I’d find you so intriguing. It appears that I desire more than your blood and obedience and that makes me curious. My reactions to you are odd. It isn’t often that anything surprises me.”

“Don’t you already have a harem of women who do whatever you order? Why would you want someone who would rather die than willingly submit to you?”

He laughs. “That is no doubt one cause for the fascination. It will be exciting to break you.”

He cocks his head and lowers his mouth to my neck. The sharp points of his fangs slice through my skin and I groan, my muscles melting. He wraps me more tightly in his arms and as he sucks blood from my vein a full-body orgasm radiates through me. I writhe in his arms, gasping. He raises his mouth from the punctures and brings his soft, warm lips to mine. They taste of my own blood, and that excites me. My heart pounds madly, my breath comes in rapid pants.

He releases me and I stumble, grabbing onto a column to steady myself. A depraved smile quirks his lips. “I’m afraid I’m spoiling you for anyone else, my dear doctor. Fantasy sex is definitely in our future, and it will be long and slow — but, alas, not today. Go back now. Return to your body. And remember my touch. Yearn for it.”

***

I opened my eyes feeling like I’d dived into deep water, then fought my way back to the surface. It only took a few seconds to recognize I was wearing a bright red satin nightgown and lying on the oversize bed in Devereux’s room. Soft light glowed from candles hovering in the air. I would have assumed I was still dreaming — or insane — if I hadn’t seen a similar impossibility previously at vampire rituals.

Remnants of the odd dream flickered across my inner movie screen. In my mind’s eye I could still see the achingly beautiful colors flowing, one into another, along the celestial canvas. My body remembered the caress of the soft breeze against my skin, my eyes had memorized the brilliant white of the marble columns. And my soul yearned for... what?
Hallow?
How could I yearn for him? No. That couldn’t be possible. Even the thought of desiring the beautiful demon filled me with shame. What had the murdering psychopath done to me?

Raised voices — familiar voices — floated into my awareness, jarring me out of my reverie. I lifted myself onto my elbows and watched Dr. Sex pace back and forth in front of Victoria, who sat in the large, throne-like chair Devereux had once claimed was almost as old as he was.

Since the room was apparently vampire-free, that meant the sun was up. I had no idea how long I’d been sleeping, or what day it was. I had a full schedule of clients for Monday, and I was worried I’d neglected them.

“It wouldn’t hurt him to listen to me for a few minutes. This is very important. I’m certain if he lets me explain my situation, we could come to a mutually beneficial outcome. I’m not used to being dismissed that way,” Tom ranted.

Victoria tried to whisper, but her anger made her voice louder than she had probably intended. “You’re lucky he even let you stay here while Zoë sleeps. If I hadn’t convinced Devereux that despite your complete and utter self-absorption, you’re Kismet’s friend, you’d have had your memory altered and be on your way back to Los Angeles. Count yourself lucky that I was here to speak for your pitiful self.”

Tom flicked his hair behind his shoulder and adopted his most pompous tone. “I’m not self-absorbed. I’m focused. There’s a difference.” He paused, planting his fists on his hips. “And why the hell can’t I get out of this dungeon? All the vampires are dead to the world, even the one everybody is afraid of. Why are there guards on the doors? What good are human guards going to be, anyway?”

Victoria stood and faced him. “Has anyone ever told you that you have an annoying habit of talking when you have no knowledge to back up your words? You ramble endlessly and pointlessly. It’s very irritating.” She stepped closer into his much-cherished personal space. “The guards are on the doors for Kismet’s protection, you idiot. The grotesque vampire in question doesn’t follow any rules, including being unable to function during the daylight hours. There is no limit to what he can do. He can crawl into her mind and make her behave in ways she ordinarily wouldn’t. She could try to leave and from what I’ve seen, she might even attempt to overpower us. We’re here to protect her.” She poked her finger into his chest and he swatted her hand away.

“Don’t touch me!” He scowled.

“Of course,” she said, “the idea of doing something for someone else is probably a foreign concept to you, but if you want to go through with your absurd plan, you should probably pay attention to what Devereux says. No matter who turns you, you’ll still start out at the bottom of the undead totem pole, and that means you’ll be somebody’s flunky, for at least a little while. I suspect that will be a humbling blow to your astronomical ego.” She shook her finger in his face. “I barely know you and I’ve already been tempted to turn you into various different barnyard animals. I certainly don’t understand how Kismet tolerates you. Or Zoë.”

“You don’t know me well enough to speak to me that way.” Tom’s voice rose in pitch. “You’re just a receptionist, aren’t you? Where do you get off—?”

Their argument was getting old. It was time to press the
pause
button. I lifted my head. “You two are going to wake the dead.”

Both their heads swiveled toward me, and Victoria scurried to my bedside.

“Kismet!” She wrapped her fingers around one of my hands. “Thank the Goddess you’re awake! We were all so frightened. Nobody knew what the psycho had done to you. How do you feel?”

Tom peeked around Victoria, stealing little glances at my face.

“I’m fine. I don’t understand why I’m in Devereux’s bed instead of my own.” Tom still hadn’t moved any closer to me. “What are you doing, Tom? You’re behaving even more eccentrically than usual. Why are you hiding?”

He sidled next to Victoria, frowning. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to attack anyone else like you did Devereux.”

“What?” I glared at him. “I didn’t attack anyone, especially not Devereux. Victoria, what’s he talking about?”

She cast a frosty gaze at Tom. “As usual, he’s just yapping to hear the sound of his own voice.”

“She
did
attack him! Are you going to lie to her?”

I sighed. Their quasi-sibling rivalry was making my head hurt. I fell back onto the pillow. “Okay,
stop
. Please. Victoria, just tell me. I don’t remember anything. Did I have some kind of breakdown? Did someone spike my coffee? Did Devereux bring me here? What day is it?”

She paused, a conflicted expression on her face. “It’s Sunday, late afternoon. You’re probably afraid you missed your client appointments but don’t worry, you didn’t. Everything’s fine. Besides, even if you had, I would’ve contacted all of them to reschedule.”

Relief washed over me. I patted her hand and smiled. “Thank you for being such a good friend. So, what about the rest of my questions?”

“I don’t know how much I should tell you.” She frowned. “I don’t want to upset you or make things worse. All I know is what Devereux told me.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Well?”

“Do you remember Devereux saying that Hallow had already begun influencing you? That you weren’t... yourself?”

“Yes. I remember he said that, but it didn’t make any sense. Are you saying that’s what happened? Lyren Hallow has been controlling me?”

“My theory is that he began entrancing you when he called the radio show. Devereux agrees with me.” A thoughtful expression crossed her face. She pursed her lips and asked Tom, “Dr. Radcliffe, would you mind telling the guards at the door that we need human food and drink down here? Ask one of them to go upstairs with you and bring supplies.”

He raised his nose into the air. “You don’t give the orders around here. Why don’t
you
go?”

Victoria shifted her eyes in my direction, then to Tom and receiving her unspoken message, I said, “Come on, Tom — help me out here. I really am thirsty.” I gave him my best puppy-dog look.

“Yeah, sure. Don’t think I’m buying that story for one minute. I know you want to talk about me when I’m gone, but I’m used to that. I often inspire jealousy.” He stomped off toward the door.