Eternal Ever After Read online

  “Is that what you’ve been doing all day? Looking for Katarina?”

  “I told you, Holly. I want to find her before anyone else gets hurt.”

  “Why? So you can reason with her? I don’t think you can just run her out of town. She has some sort of jealous vendetta against you.”

  “Maybe so.”

  “It’s absolutely pointless trying to convince a crazy person with logic and reason.”

  Arie looked away. I wish I knew what he was thinking. Although I had a pretty good idea that one word could sum up the direction of his thoughts. Guilt. Plain and simple.

  “Perhaps. Still, her sense of self-preservation may prevail.”

  I smiled. I loved listening to his use of language and the cadence of his speech. He spoke eloquently and sometimes formally. At other times it seemed like he spoke like anyone else I’d met, but it seemed like he had to make a real effort to remember to sound that way. Just like when he forgot himself and his mannerisms betrayed his age.

  “Just let me leave a note for Marshall and lock up.”

  I grabbed a napkin from a dispenser on one of the tables and found a pen in my satchel. Arie leaned over my shoulder as I scrawled a quick note reading two simple words on it: I Quit.

  He laughed. “You’re not going to give him any notice.”

  “He has other people he can abuse. Besides, he pays me peanuts and he’s a brutish pig of a man. And he scheduled me to work the night of the gala. I can’t get Trina to switch with me. So he’ll just fire me anyway.”

  “Are you sure you want to do this? You just had quite a scare.”

  “Tessa is paying me to help Victoria. We never discussed how much, but it’s better than dealing with Marshall. You’re determined not to turn me. So I’m a sitting duck unless you want to go back to drinking coffee and sitting here while I work. You’d get awfully bored if you had to sit here for my whole shift… I know I do.”

  Arie frowned. “No, I’ve been scouring our network for leads on Katarina.”

  “Good. It’s settled then,” I said with a smile. “Besides, it’s been in the making for a long time. I’ve put up with his bullshit for far too long.”

  I walked back to Marshall’s office and left the napkin on his desk, using his ashtray as a paperweight. It felt empowering letting go of something that was sucking the life out of me.

  CHAPTER 22

  The evening passed uneventfully as I helped Arie cook dinner. My cooking consisted of things that came in boxes or containers that I could nuke in the microwave. He seemed to enjoy cooking, and with my ineptitude in the kitchen, I felt grateful that he took over the task. After dinner I flipped through a tabloid paper I’d picked up to look for any evidence of Katarina terrorizing the outskirts of Chicago. I could feel bile rise in my throat when a particular headline came into focus. The headline read: Vampire Strikes Again?

  An article about the suspicious death of a homeless woman caught my attention. Her body had been found relatively close to the neighborhood where Peggy Johnson had been attacked. I wondered if this could be the prostitute from my vision, or if she’d struck again, killing someone else. The medical examiner was unwilling to comment without an autopsy as to whether foul play had been involved or whether exposure to the cold weather and alcohol had caused her death. It seemed like the reporter tried to form a link between the two and the examiner didn’t want to jump to conclusions, even when asked about the significant loss of blood.

  Significant loss of blood.

  Reading the words a second time made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I had a very bad feeling about this. A homeless woman would be an easy target. It seemed strange to me now that Peggy had been attacked in her home. I could see a connection. Prostitutes, a homeless woman, and the gang leader’s young niece—she seemed to target people out in the open. The girl had probably been playing outside. She picked people who were outside and doing their normal routine. I wondered if vampires had to be invited in or whether it was just another myth the Legacy proliferated. But if it were true, then it would make them vulnerable and it would be easier for her to target people not ensconced within the safety of their homes. Perhaps she attacked Peggy because she desperately needed to feed. Peggy did say she had invited Katarina. I couldn’t think of any other logical explanation as to why she broke the pattern.

  “Arie, you should look at this.” I turned to Arie who was doing something on his laptop.

  He joined me on the sofa, leaning over me as he read the article that I pointed to. The very nearness of Arie sitting next to me on the sofa made me feel safe. Although, he swirled the blood that he’d been drinking in a tumbler, as he kept his refrigerator well-stocked. When I’d asked where it came from he told me that Tessa had a connection at a local blood bank. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it. So I tried not to analyze it too much and ignored the swish of burgundy liquid, pretending instead that he held a glass of merlot.

  “I think we can assume Katarina is responsible for this,” he said, his mouth set into a grim line.

  “But why is she doing this?”

  Arie ran a hand through his hair. “Why do serial killers kill, Holly? Everyone experiences rage. Our conscience and morals act as a cage that locks up the urge to act on our baser emotions. Becoming a vampire makes everything more intense, including emotions. I don’t think Katarina ever learned how not to let loose the monster within. I’m not sure if she ever wanted to.

  Hearing him talk like this, so matter-of-fact, trying to rationalize something so brutal, made my blood run cold.

  “I don’t know if it’s because her visions got worse when I turned her, or if maybe she had been a washerwoman in that castle for too long. Maybe it was too late by the time I met her. It’s easy to spot lunacy, to sidestep the disheveled and unshaven who rant or sing songs that don’t make sense. Katarina was beautiful, intelligent, and charming,” he said.

  I wanted to comfort him but didn’t know how. He looked haunted and vulnerable. Nothing I could do or say could erase the past. “Arie, you can’t go on blaming yourself. She seemed to be civilized and rational. From what you’ve told me, there’s no way you could have known she’d go insane.”

  “Oh, I’m not blaming myself. I’m thinking that I should have killed her in London. The only difference between me and her is that I hold back all the darkness in my imagination,” Arie said with a cold smile.

  I shivered and rose from the sofa. “I think I’m going to read in bed for a bit.” Arie didn’t answer. He continued to swirl his tumbler for a moment before guzzling it down. I didn’t like to see him this way. “Will you come to bed? I would feel better with you in it.”

  “I’ll be up after a while.”

  I nodded.

  I went upstairs and propped myself up with pillows. The book lay open across my knees, which were pulled up in front of me, but I couldn’t seem to focus on the words. Maybe Arie didn’t think he blamed himself or that he felt any guilt, but I knew better. I wouldn’t wish that kind of pain on anyone. Still, if he could feel so much sorrow it meant he could love, and I could make him love again. This time it wouldn’t cause him grief.

  He didn’t lose Katarina all at once; he’d lost her in pieces over a century. He had entrenched himself in his guilt and the weight of his grief held him in place like an anchor. They say that time heals all wounds, but that doesn’t account for the infinity of immortality. Sometimes I thought immortality gave away too much time that someone could use to drive themselves crazy.

  ***

  My cell phone rang and vibrated across the bedside table. I slid out from under the weight of Arie’s arm as I reached for it.

  “Hello.”

  “I have your pay. Stop by my office before you start and I’ll give it to you. Victoria will be auditioning acts for the gala today,” Tessa said. “You can help her with that.”

  “But I only worked one day, highlighting some flyers.”

  “Okay. So you don’t
want the money?”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll come by your office.”

  “Holly, did you get a dress for the gala yet?

  “Yes.”

  “Bring it with you.”

  I couldn’t imagine why she would want me to bring the dress but I didn’t argue or ask. “Um… Tessa?”

  “Yes, pet?”

  “Do you think I can get one of those key cards so I don’t have to keep bothering Victoria?”

  “I’ll stick one in the envelope with your pay.”

  “Thank y–” She hung up on me. Her habit of doing that irked me to no end.

  When I rolled over Arie was lying on his side smiling sardonically.

  “Is something amusing?” I asked.

  Arie laughed. “I’ve known Tessa a long time. I don’t know why I even bother. You’d think after centuries of dealing with you creatures I’d know when to just let you have your way.”

  “Creatures?”

  “Women. You’re all the same. You tell them not to do something and it only makes it more inevitable. I told her I didn’t want you working for her. I told you the same thing. I might as well have wrapped you in a bow the first time I took you to the club. Maybe then you’d have sense enough to listen to me.”

  I laughed. I was glad to see his dark mood had lifted. “I’m just helping Victoria with the gala. It’s only temporary—until I can find something else.” I should have told him the reason that Tessa featured me as part of the royal court was to lure Katarina. But I knew he’d be against it and I figured I’d be safe enough with him and Victoria. If Arie trusted Victoria, I did too.

  “You’re lying to me or to yourself. But either way, nothing is temporary with Tessa.”

  I laughed. “I can see how that could be true.”

  Leaning forward I planted a chaste kiss on his lips. He pulled me toward him and held me close to his pale chest. I could get used to his cold, hard skin next to mine. Love always required sacrifices, and I always suspected with Arie they’d be monumental. Except just now I didn’t want to think about it. I’d be happy with him holding me and not think about having two kids, a dog, and a house in the ’burbs. I looked over at the clock. Almost eleven. I’d have to get moving. I wriggled free from Arie, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.

  He grabbed my hand. “What’s the rush?”

  “That sleepy, sexy voice isn’t going to work.”

  “Oh, but I can be very persuasive.” He smiled up at me.

  “Don’t you dare try to dazzle me.” I pulled my hand away. “You’re relentless. Unlike you, I don’t have forever. I’ve got things to do.”

  “I never pictured you as a party planner,” Arie said with a smirk. “I really should investigate the attack on the homeless woman this morning. I’m sure I can trust you and Victoria not to get into too much trouble.”

  “Victoria is the party planner. I’m just her assistant. But I need to grab a shower before I head over to the club.”

  It seemed like there was a joke in there somewhere but without coffee I couldn’t wrap my mind around the punch line. But I knew it would start with: A vampire and a witch walked into a club. I laughed.

  Arie arched an eyebrow at me. “Make sure you eat some breakfast and lock up on your way out.”

  “This is good. This is progress. You trust me enough that you’re not going to chauffeur me over there,” I said with a smile.

  Before I could take another step toward the bathroom he was out of bed and by my side. He pressed a cool kiss to my brow. “You lead me to ignore the instinct of cold reason that has served me well. Don’t make me regret it, Holly. You are too precious to me now. If anything happened to you I would unreservedly regret it.”

  I felt myself blush all the way to my toes. His articulate and formal way of speaking when he forgot himself was incredibly sexy. I would unreservedly regret it. Even if he couldn’t say the words, he’d said he loved me in actions and expressions that revealed his weakness for me. The simplicity and truth in his touch, in his look, meant more to me than if he’d told me he’d loved me outright.

  I smiled at Arie, standing on tip-toe to kiss him. “In time you’ll see that I’m not going anywhere. This is it for me. I want take risks, and you’re worth the risk. I’m not going to pretend any different even if it’s not what you want to hear.”

  “Call me when you get to the club,” he said, brushing a hair away from my cheek before heading toward the walk-in closet to get dressed.

  Heading off to the bathroom, I quickly showered and dressed. I clasped my locket around my neck and threw on my coat. Before I left I made sure Mystic had water and put food in his bowl. I scratched him behind his ears. Then I almost made it out the door before I remembered that I needed to bring my dress for the gala. My cell phone rang as I drove over to the club.

  “Hello.”

  “Girl, I can’t believe you quit,” Trina said. “Did you get a new job or something? You didn’t even tell me you were leaving.”

  I smiled. “Hey, Trina. I’m sorry. It was unexpected, but I took a job planning a gala.”

  “I’m going to miss you around here.”

  “Maybe I’ll stop by for coffee sometime.”

  “You’d better.”

  I laughed. “Okay, I will, Trina. I’m sorry if this made things harder for you. Is Marshall going to hire someone else?” I felt bad if Trina had to pick up the slack. There were others, but none as hardworking or dedicated as her.

  “Marshall was pretty mad when you quit. He muttered that if you want something done right you ought to do it yourself. I told the man… I can’t change my hours. I’ll help out and pitch in extra when I can but I made it clear that I needed off for my baby girl’s winter formal. I think he gets it.”

  “You were always better at dealing with him. Maybe it’ll be good for him to get more involved in the business. It can’t be good for him to be cooped up in his office staring at the same four walls all day.”

  I didn’t say what I really thought. I didn’t envy her having to work more directly with him. It would be unbearable if it were me. But the two of them communicated on a different level. They seemed to have an unspoken connection since Trina lost her mom to breast cancer. Trina had a friendly but no-nonsense way of dealing with him that he responded to. I wished I could be more like her.

  “You may have a point there. Maybe the best way for him to get over the grief is to get busy. He just sits in his office watching TV all day. But I’m going to miss talking to you,” Trina said.

  “Me too. You can call me anytime.”

  “Well, it was good chatting with you. We’ll have to get together sometime.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks for calling. Bye, Trina.”

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  By the time I hung up with Trina I was almost at the club. Arie didn’t live too far from HFC. I parked the BMW and grabbed my dress out of the backseat. My boots made a squeaking sound as I made my way across the back marble, heading toward the bar. Victoria had her laptop open on top of the bar and scribbled away on a white legal pad next to her. She looked up from her writing and nodded at me as I approached.

  “Hey, Victoria. I need your key card. I’m supposed to meet Tessa.”

  “Oh, right. The photo shoot. I almost forgot,” Victoria said as she slid the key card out of her pocket.

  “Photo shoot? What photo shoot?”

  “Tessa didn’t tell you? It’s for an advertisement she wants you in to promote the gala.”

  Suddenly, I felt self-conscious and smoothed back my hair. Victoria handed me the key card. I set off for the elevator with my dress swung over one arm. When I reached Tessa’s office the vampire guarding her door waved me past. Inside her office were two people, one holding an expensive-looking camera and a woman with a large silver case and a canvas bag at her feet.

  Tessa regarded me with a curt nod, looking instead at the dress. “This is our model,” she said to the man holding the came
ra on his lap.

  “What am I modeling for?” I asked.

  “A billboard advertisement for the gala, as I discussed with you on the phone. Making you part of the royal court will lure our intended audience.”

  It took me a second to catch the meaning that she intended only for me. “Should I go change into my dress then?”

  “No. Lori is going to do your hair and make-up first,” Tessa said, gesturing to the woman with the silver case. “There’s a vanity in the bathroom at the end of the hall.”

  The stylist and I exited her office, heading to the bathroom. It looked more like a dormitory bathroom and across from a shower stall stood a wide counter with a lighted mirror that ran its length. Lori placed the aluminum case and her bag on the counter. She pulled out hair picks, bobby pins, hair spray, and a curling iron from her canvas bag.

  “Have a seat,” she said, gesturing to the stool in front of the counter.

  Taking a seat on the padded stool, I fiddled with my locket. This whole thing made me really nervous. The stylist plugged in the curling iron before pulling my hair out of the bun I had swept it into and combing it out.

  “You don’t strike me as a model,” she said. “Is this your first photo shoot?”

  “Yeah. How can you tell?”

  “Because you look like you could pass out.”

  I frowned. “I’m not really a model. I only found out about it this morning.”

  “Well you’re pretty enough to model, but shorter than they like. That doesn’t really matter for an ad campaign or when you’re going to be plastered on a billboard. But what do I know? I just do hair and make-up.”

  All the while she curled my hair, pinning the curls in place.

  I smiled. “Thanks for saying so but I’m not really sexy enough to model.”

  “Relax. You’ll be fine. And when I get done with your hair and make-up you won’t even recognize yourself.”

  She moved behind me, taming my hair into smooth curls. By the time she finished pinning the last curl into place, she had looped my chestnut mass into an elegant up-do.