Constricted: Beyond the Brothel Walls (9 page)

“I’m hard to kill.” I smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead. But I didn’t like where this dream was headed. Humans shouldn’t have this much insight into my world. Danger lurked around every corner.

“You wanted to die, and it was my fault.” She added, “In the dream; it was my fault.”

I bit my lip. No, nothing could have been her fault. The blame had always lived with Nicolai and me. But what could I say to that and not lie to her? Nothing unless I confirmed the accuracy, but she’d never love me if she knew I would up and leave her one day. I needed to talk to Tom. “How often do your dreams come true?”

She rolled off me and stood up. “All the time,” she said and walked out my door. Yes, I needed to speak with him tonight.

Chapter Seven

I
grabbed the tatty robe and headed into my bathroom, intent to scrub Petre from my shaky body. Why had he bought me if he didn’t even want me? Why buy a courtesan if he wanted to die? I’ thought giving myself to him would’ve changed his mind, but he didn’t deny anything either. Here, I’d thought God gave me him as a gift. His way of saying, “Hey, sorry Korri, for this shitty life I made and those disgusting men.”

I swiped the tear away. No, this was another form of cruel punishment. Another reminder that I was worthless.

The dream … Sure, it had frightened me. The tremors still rippled through my veins, but I didn’t know it was a glimpse of the future until I had gauged his reaction. Parts of this world I didn’t understand and there remained much for me to learn. Lies though, I’d learned how to spot liars.

He wanted to leave me; Petre wanted to die. “Why?” The word whisked from my lips as I glanced toward his bedroom and sighed.

Why did I think pleasing him, as he had me, would have changed that? As if he would’ve magically fallen to his knees and promised never to leave me. Why had I wanted him to if I hadn’t even loved him? My head ached the more I’d thought about the dream. But I still didn’t wanted Petre to die, nor did I want to become another man’s slave. I placed my hand over my raging heart; was that the reason my heart ached?

In the bathroom, I glanced between the tub and the frosted glass shower stall. Both would’ve painted a gruesome scene, but one was a dream and the other a vision. I chose the dream. The hot water squeaked on, and I stepped in, keeping the cold water turned off. I needed to burn him from my mind, body, and mouth. My tears fell, but I no longer cared the cause. Was it because of Petre or the sweltering heat pelting against my tender skin? I didn’t care; emotions made me weak.

My body slid to the shower stall floor, and I curled my knees to my chest. I wept, shivering in the steam, and staring at the red welts covering my skin. Just as I’d done in my dream. The blade I’d slit my wrists with wasn’t there, but the emotions poured thicker than blood.
Would the whole truth have changed his mind?
In the dream, after Petre had died, I’d taken my own life.

Maybe I didn’t love him now. How could I when I didn’t believe in the notion? But the future me had cared enough and the thought of Petre choosing death over me had sliced through my soul like a rusted nail.

Beneath the icy barriers, originally formed in the walls of the brothel, I’d come alive from his touch. His mouth, all those promises and words he’d spouted, were devoid of truth. In the dream, there was something he needed from me –what I hadn’t known. After he had earned whatever it was, then Petre left me for good.

His darkened soul had decayed into nothing but ashes. What he left behind scattered into the snowy winds of this free country. My legs grew weak in the nightmare, and I’d crumpled onto the wet ground. My hands had grasped at the fragments of Petre’s remains as I wept until I had gasped and wheezed for breath.

“Korri,” Petre said, and the vision dissipated. My mouth dropped to tell him off, but closed as the glass door slid open. His pale hand reached in and turned the water off. My teeth chattered, echoing in the small stall.

“Look at me.” No, I didn’t want to, and I didn’t want to chat either. My lip sandwiched between my teeth, and I bit down. “Damn it, Kor.”

He sighed and stepped into the stall, fully dressed. I chided myself for looking, but his dark snug jeans and tight t-shirt caught my attention. Too casual, even for Petre, and I couldn’t find any adornments or logos. He dressed like a slave.

He squatted down and drilled those grey eyes through me. Petre’s black hair hung half-loose, pieces framing his pale face. “Angel,” he said. That was what he continued to call me now. At first, I’d loved it, but now the meaning was lost in the sea of lies. “I’m not leaving you.”

My eyes rolled even as I bit my lip harder.
Did he think I’d believe him?
Fool me once … Jules used to say to the men that tried to screw with him. “Whatever,” I said. “It doesn’t matter.”

Petre winced at my words and recollected his emotions under the veil he always wore. Well, he tried, but his eyes betrayed him. I glanced away from his silvery gaze and chewed my lip, refusing to give in to the guilt trip. His hand reached toward my face, and I flinched, but he grabbed my cheeks anyway.

“It does matter; you can’t lie to me, remember?”

He was right, and I hated him more for that fact. The venomous words compounded on my tongue and spat into his face. “Why do you want to die? Why bother at all with me.” His chest heaved in a sigh; he dropped his hand and ran it through his hair, dragging it from the messy ponytail. “You want me to trust you? To not lie when you’re not honest with me? I’m here even after your display in the restaurant. Petre, I came back when anyone else would’ve kept running.”

Petre snorted and glanced away. “The contract,” he said.

I laughed, resting my head against the cold tile. “Is that why you think I came back?”

Petre’s dark brows rose. “Isn’t that the real reason you’re here?”

I gaped at him. “I came here because you bought me, yes, but I stayed because, despite my better judgment …” The words tickled my tongue. I whispered, “Because I like you.” A lump formed in my dry throat, and I swallowed hard. “Now stop stalling or maybe I will walk out the door.”

He stared at me, the wheels turning in his brain. Even if he heard my thoughts, it didn’t matter. I would’ve walked out that door and faced whatever came at me. Petre reached out his hand, and I raised my eyebrow, daring him to touch me.

“You’re freezing, Kor,” he said. My teeth chattered louder than an angry squirrel. I’d met my fair share as they’d stolen or destroyed my food. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but I’ll answer one question tonight. You need to rest.”

I stood, ignoring his hand, but took the towel he offered me. The soft fabric was so big it could’ve wrapped around me twice, or maybe I’d just grown thinner. He pushed me toward the closet, and I smacked his hand away, shutting the door in his face. Petre sighed, and I shared his frustration.
Where did we go from here?

There was more to Petre than what I saw on the surface, but I knew little of men aside from the scoundrels who frequented the brothel. I chewed my cheek as I thought about his new offer. Staying would have only delayed the inevitable, but perhaps allowing him time to explain himself was a better idea. Leaving tonight wasn’t smart, even with the falling snow. The benefit of the doubt, I sighed, wondering how soon I’d regret my decision. I grabbed a set of pajamas, after rifling through countless drawers. The silky material was probably the real thing too and in a deep red color trimmed with grey lace.

I swung the closet door open, revealing Petre resting against the wall. His gaze swept over me, and I cleared my throat. “Sorry,” he said as I pushed past him to grab a brush from the bathroom vanity. “Sit.”

My butt fell to the little stool, and he removed the brush from my hand. Gently he raked it through my hair, and I fought the soothing, tingling massage of my scalp. Everything the man did felt good. My eyes met him in the mirror. “What are you?”

“Vampire.” His lips quirked into a half smile, and my heart beat a little faster. I didn’t have many men to compare him with, but to me he was the best-looking man I’d ever laid eyes on. There was a mystery to him, and it drew me in from that first moment on the train. When he spoke, the thick accent had me hanging on every word. Those eyes, steel grey, were surrounded by lush dark lashes. For me, it was like looking at a billboard or a poster. Those men oozed perfection, and that was how I saw Petre.

Unlike those men or the nasty, cheating lowlifes of the brothel, he drank blood and sported a mouthful of sharp fangs. “I don’t know much about vampires; you’ll have to explain it.”

“Most of the mythical creatures in this world are real. Witches, vampires, demons, and even ghosts all exist.” My eyes grew wider with each creature named. He continued to brush my hair even though the knots were out. “There are legends, but my kind made most of them up. Humans are safer, and so are we.”

“What did you mean at the restaurant?” My eyebrow rose, recalling his words. Petre lifted me like a rag doll and cradled me to his chest. His elbow hit the light as we entered the bedroom. I shivered as he laid me in his old bed, but then walked away. Without an answer, he went to the fireplace and clattered around. Moments passed as he cursed, poked, and prodded, but eventually there was a roaring fire.

“I don’t know how to explain it, because I don’t understand it, angel. Humans shouldn’t see certain parts of us unless we want them too.”

“Like how your eyes changed from grey to silver to black?”

Petre spun around. “When were they black?”

“On the train,” I said, pulling the covers back and tucking myself beneath the feathery layers. They almost smelled like him. Almost. “When you sat across from me I noticed they were grey, but then when you caught me lying they were black again.”

“Again …” I patted the bed, wanting him nearby. “That’s not a good idea,” he said and returned to the fire.

My eyes burned at the thought of his hands not wanting to touch me. The whole idea was ridiculous. With Jules, I prayed he wouldn’t touch me, but it was what I wanted from Petre. Wetness drizzled from my eyes, and I couldn’t stop it.
Was this my life now, banished from him?
The tears came on harder, and my body shuddered in a sob. The covers fell away as he slid in, engulfing me with his arms. “I never said I didn’t want to.” He kissed my forehead. “I feel incomplete when I don’t; I’m just afraid I’ll injure you or move too fast.” He lowered his mouth to my lips. “But what’s the use if I hurt you when I don’t.”

He reached over to turn off the light and shifted around until my head lay on his chest. “Your heart doesn’t beat.”

“I’m dead, angel.” I laughed at the thought. Was that why his skin was cold? “For a long time now,” he added. My head turned, gazing up into his fire lit face. Those lips twitched. “You’re not going to leave me alone about it are you?”

My eyes batted. “I don’t know what you mean.” Petre’s grin widened as his arms dragged me closer. “How old are you? Wait, no, let me guess.”

“You want to guess?”

“Yeah,” I said, brushing my lips against his. His head lifted, but I flirted away. “Vampires are usually really old, right?” He chuckled at me as his finger caressed my cheek. “One hundred and fifty years old.” He shook his head. “Older?” Petre nodded.

“Can I tell you so you’ll sleep?” Before I knew what I was doing, I stuck my tongue out at him. He was quick; his tongue touched mine as he leaned forward. My legs fell to either side of his waist, and his manhood pressed into my crotch through his jeans. Heat swelled inside and out as my cheeks warmed. Petre pulled away, grinning wide. “I can’t have enough of you; I’m bad for your health.”

My eyes rolled as I slid over to his side. “You’re silly. If anything you saved my health.”

“At this rate, Mellissa’s going to kill me. She already will when she finds me in here.” He kissed the top of my head. “Did you open your gift yet?”

“No, you put them in the ca—car.” Petre went and came back before I’d finished the sentence. My head hit the pillow as he pounced on me. “I take it you’re super fast too.”

His black hair fell around my face as his lips engulfed mine, parting and pushing his tongue into my mouth. I moaned as the spark reignited, and my arms slung around his neck. The blanket suffocated me, and I kicked it away, dragging Petre on top of me. Our clothing remained the only barrier. His fangs clicked down, and I yipped as they cut my tongue.

Petre sucked my tongue, growling into my mouth. “Mine,” he said, trailing a kiss to my ear. “I want you to be mine.” My eyes met his grey gaze, and I smiled, grabbing his dimpled chin. “You know about my kind. To protect you from them, you belong to me.”

I said okay, not sure why he bothered telling me. By contract, I belonged to him. He handed me the gift box, adding that the gift from Tom the restaurant owner –who gave me the creeps- was in the fridge. The box reminded me of the dress I’d worn except this was black. I lifted the lid as my mouth dropped. Tears burned my eyes at its beauty as my smile cemented onto my face.

“I saw you years ago, walking down the street,” he began. “You didn’t leave the house often, something I noticed after the fact.” I nodded; Jules didn’t allow me out at all, but I snuck away when I could. “Your eyes wandered over the shop windows, but this one piece, you stared at it the longest.”

Petre removed the large yellow pendant, shaped into a teardrop, from the box and put it around my neck. The long chain allowed the glittering piece to rest between my breasts. I opened my mouth to thank him but deny his gift. It was too much, and I couldn’t repay him.

“Don’t you dare,” he said. “You deserve –” I cut him off with a kiss.

“Years, huh?” Mellissa said something similar, but I hadn’t believed her.

“Four … Uncle Jules drove a hard bargain. Hindsight, I should’ve stolen you away and killed him.”