Dark Melody: A Vampire Romance (Immortal Legacy Book 1) (2 page)

Nicole

I was confused when Ethan pulled up to the curb in front of the Lafayette Cemetery. He was fidgety and seemed a little on edge. My boss was acting like he was on his way to what he knew would be a particularly nasty dentist appointment.

“What are we doing here?” I asked. “I thought we were going to meet Alec Norwood.”

After killing the engine, he switched off the headlights. In the faint moonlight, the entrance to the cemetery looked even eerier than usual.

The Lafayette Cemetery was old, and its age showed in the cracking brick walls that surrounded it.

Leaning over the car’s center console, Ethan opened the dash box and pulled out a flashlight. “We
are
meeting him. This is where he likes to have our meetings. Alec figures no one will notice us here.”

“Okay, I’m lost,” I told him, shaking my head. “Why can’t anyone know?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” A secretive smile touched his lips. “If I tell you right now, you won’t believe me.”

Drawing my brows together, I started to ask another question but Ethan shoved the flashlight at me. “Here, take this, but don’t turn it on unless I tell you.”

I was somewhat hesitant to follow when Ethan got out of the car.

What kind of mess was he getting us into this time?

There was no question about it. Working with Ethan had been an adventure from the start. When I’d first hired on with his agency, he’d told me that I would be doing detective work, but not like any kind of detective work I’d ever seen.

I have a tendency to be over-optimistic, so I let the warning go in one ear and out the other. My actual job description was an assistant.

I mean, how hard could it be?

Assisting a detective couldn’t be too complicated. All I’d have to do is some paperwork and filing.

Why would he hire me for anything else? It wasn’t like I was a
real
detective.

Besides, any job was better than my last one.

Before going to work for Ethan, I’d been a cashier at Jud’s Mini Mart. In some ways, it had been the ideal job. Although cashiering didn’t pay worth a darn, Jud’s was located just down the street from my apartment, so it was easy to get to.

Now I had a new job and a new life. There was no disputing the fact that working for Ethan paid much better, but it had its strange moments.

Hesitating, I stared at the huge wrought iron gate that led to the cemetery. This was too weird.

Ethan Lamont wasn’t your average everyday boss. For one, he didn’t look anything like a detective; at least he didn’t look anything like the ones on TV. With his black suits, neatly cut dark hair, and wire-rimmed glasses, Ethan reminded me more of an FBI agent or an accountant.

And there were lots of other things that were really odd about Ethan, though I didn’t notice those things at first. When I first met him, I’d been too busy thwarting a robbery to pay a lot of attention.

The night I met Ethan, I’d been working late. Most nights I got off at 11:00, but on this night my employer talked me into staying late. The nightshift guy called in to tell us he was going to be late, and my manager had a hot date he didn’t want to miss.

I always try to be sympathetic, so I agreed to work late.

Working nights tends to make me a little nervous, especially when strange guys come in the store, but that wasn’t the case with Ethan. He looked way too normal to be a threat.

Smiling, Ethan placed some money on the counter to pay for his fuel. As I was ringing him up, a masked gunman burst through the door and demanded I empty the register.

It is incredibly stupid to argue with someone holding a 45 Glock, but my first thought wasn’t for my life. As crazy as it sounds, I was more worried about losing my job. If I didn’t have a job, I would have no money to pay rent. This meant I’d be out on the street.

Instead of opening the register, I did the stupidest thing imaginable. I grabbed the baseball bat the manager kept hidden beneath the counter.

The guy with the gun wasn’t expecting me to fight back, and I used his lack of foresight to my advantage, swinging the bat at his head. Startled, he lost his grip on the gun and it fell to the floor, making a loud clanking noise when it hit. In that instant, there was an explosive crack. When I saw the hole in the cooler’s glass doors, I realized what happened. The gun had gone off when it hit the floor.

Ethan knew enough to take advantage of the guy’s confusion. He tackled him to the floor and held him down while I called the police.

No doubt grabbing the bat was a dumb move, and after the excitement died down and the police left, Ethan didn’t have any qualms about telling me just how stupid it was. But on a positive note, he did offer me a job that night.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that Ethan wasn’t your average private investigator. He worked closely with the police and was always closed-mouthed about those cases.

And then there was that first case we worked together, as a team. The job involved tracking down a psychic who was getting into people’s heads to steal their financial information. That case had really boggled my mind, but it was just a taste of what it was that Ethan actually did.

His jobs were strange, which was exactly why I was worried by the fact that we were meeting someone in a cemetery.

Ethan was standing outside the car with his arms folded. This meant he was getting impatient.

Sighing, I got out of the car and followed him to the gate. “They lock these gates before dark. How are we supposed to get in?” I asked.

Taking a quick glanced up and down the street, Ethan put on a big dumb smile and pushed the gate open.

My mouth fell open. “How?”

Ethan shrugged. “I know someone who works here. He leaves it open for us.”

After we slipped inside, Ethan shut the gate so that nothing would appear to have been disturbed. Without saying a word, he motioned for me to follow.

With only the moon for light, the shadows seemed to be reaching out for us, as if to pull us into one of the crypts.

I was officially creeped out.

Cemeteries didn’t usually bother me, but then again, it wasn’t as if I made a habit of traipsing through the City of the Dead after the sun went down.

I kept my eyes focused on the ground so I wouldn’t trip over a piece of cracked cement. The path had bulging cement coming up everywhere.

I stopped abruptly when I heard a noise nearby. It seemed to be coming from one of the crumbling crypts. There shouldn’t be any noise. The cemetery was closed and there shouldn’t have been anyone else around.

There it was again, but this time, the rustling noise was accompanied by a whisper.

Nicole

Holding my breath, I waited to hear the whisper again, but there was nothing but silence.

“Nicole,” Ethan called in a hushed voice.

When I looked up, I saw that he was already well ahead of me. Since I wasn’t exactly kosher with roaming around an old cemetery at night, especially one as spooky as the Lafayette Cemetery, I ran to catch up with him.

To me, it seemed as if we were wandering aimlessly through the narrow crypt-lined lanes, but I assumed Ethan must know where he was going.

Finally, he stopped in front of a massive white tomb with marble columns. The carvings on the tomb were beautiful, attesting to the status of whoever rested within. On top of the tomb, there was an angel with outspread arms to welcome the deceased to the afterlife.

In spite of the warm breeze, I felt a sudden chill rush over me.

A gate of wrought iron protected the door to the tomb. My heart skipped a beat when Ethan reached up and pulled the gate open. He didn’t stop there. Next, he pushed the inner door open until it creaked open.

“What are you doing?” I gasped.

Instead of giving me an answer, he motioned for me to follow him.

I tried, but I couldn’t move. My feet were rooted to the ground. When he noticed I wasn’t behind him, he turned back.

“Hurry,” he urged.

I was in one of those positions again. It was either do what the boss wanted or lose my job. Living under a bridge wasn’t an option, so I forced my legs to move.

Stepping from the hot humid air of the New Orleans night into the dank and moldy domain of the dead was a shock to my respiratory system. I was torn between the urge to gulp in more oxygen and holding my breath. It didn’t take long to decide that a little mold was probably better than passing out from lack of oxygen.

It was completely dark, with the exception of the faint glow of light that spilled through the door from a distant streetlight. All I could make out were shadows.

Sensing movement nearby, I grabbed Ethan’s arm. “What the hell was that?”

Ethan chuckled as he was pushing the heavy door shut. “You can go ahead and flip on that flashlight now.”

When I did, I found myself in some kind of entrance room. There was an arched doorway that led to the main crypt. On each side of the doorway, there were black marble statues of winged reapers.

They were beautiful but chilling. Pulling my eyes from the reapers, I noticed flickering light beyond the doorway. That light hadn’t been there a moment ago. I was sure of it.

When I glanced at Ethan, there must have been questions in my eyes. He held up his hand. “You’ll understand soon.”

Ethan stepped through the doorway and into the inner chamber of the crypt. It was too late to turn back now so I took the plunge and followed my boss.

The crypt was large enough for multiple burials but I only saw one tomb, and Alec Norwood was sitting on top to of it.

What a strange place to have a meeting!

Not only did he have weird taste in his choice of rendezvous spots, but he also had some nerve to be sitting on someone’s tomb.

Just being in a place like this had my stomach in knots. Death was a subject I just couldn’t handle. I would never again be able to look at a coffin or a grave without remembering the one thing that I couldn’t bear to think about.

Forcing the thought aside, I focused on Alec and immediately wished I’d shifted my attention to something else. Anything else.

Why did he have to be so damn sexy?

He was so strange - so exotic. It was as if he existed apart from everyone around him, like some kind of dark god. Before I had a chance to look away, his eyes locked with mine and once again I found myself drowning in their icy blue depths.

The spell was broken when he turned his attention to Ethan. “Well, if it isn’t the one who’s out to save all the creatures of the night.” His voice practically dripped sarcasm.

Ethan was good-natured, so it didn’t surprise me when he met Alec’s sarcasm with a smile.

“It’s good to see you again, Alec.”

There was no smile in return. I wasn’t sure if it was anger or irritation that I saw on Alec’s face. Either way, he didn’t seem too happy to see Ethan.

“What is so important that you had to contact me, regardless of the fact that I told you to never do that?” Alec asked.

Ethan’s smile vanished. “There’s been a murder in the Quarter. A tourist was found with his throat ripped out. They’ve managed to keep it out of the news, but this case has vampire written all over it.”

I was so stunned that I wasn’t even sure I’d heard him right. It sounded like he’d said
vampire
.

Was Ethan totally out of his mind?

“And you want what from me? Alec asked.

“I need you to find out if it was any of your people. This can’t be happening. We’ll have vampire hunters all over the place,” Ethan warned.

Neither of them was paying me any attention. That was a good thing because I probably looked pretty silly with my mouth hanging open.

Alec’s smile was so dark that it was almost sadistic. “You can’t seriously believe that I can do something about every wayward vampire that steps over the line?”

I’d heard enough. Now it was time to say something. “Are you both crazy or just freebasing?”

My gaze traveled from Ethan to Alec. “Vampires? Get real already! Maybe there is some psycho out there that thinks he’s a vampire, so he’s killing people. That’s possible, but now I’m hearing about vampire hunters. You can’t seriously think you’re dealing with
real
vampires.”

Alec laughed. “I take it your assistant hasn’t a clue to your true nature.”

My eyes strayed to the door. Maybe it was time to get away from these guys. It was obvious they’d completely lost it.

A frown pulled at the corners of Ethan’s mouth. “I haven’t gotten around to telling her yet.”

Sliding off the tomb, Alec sauntered over to where I stood. “Well let me have the honor of instructing her on the nature of true darkness.”

I took a step back, which gave Ethan just enough room to step between Alec and me.

“I wanted to let her down gently,” Ethan said, suddenly alarmed.

Every nerve in my body felt as if it were connected to a live wire.

What the hell was I doing?

I couldn’t believe I was having a meeting in a cemetery with two guys who actually believed that vampires were real. This was a long way from ringing up coffee and donuts and Jud’s.

“I think I’ll wait outside,” I murmured.

“That’s not a good idea.” Alec stepped in front of the door to block my escape.

“Excuse me?” I lifted one brow. His arrogance continued to surprise me.

“Cemetery … night,” he pointed out as if it should have been obvious. “There are all sorts of dangers lurking in these old cemeteries after dark. Haven’t you heard the warning to stay out of the New Orleans cemeteries at night?”

“Ethan!” I cried, looking to him for help. Alec’s behavior was beyond strange now. It was truly frightening.

How was it that he could draw me in one minute and scare the hell out of me the next?

Ethan came to my rescue. “Alec, I’ll explain the situation to her later, but right now there is something you need to know.”

Alec turned his attention back to Ethan. “And that is?”

“Someone came to see me a few nights ago. He gave me some interesting information,” Ethan paused.

“Go on,” Alec urged.

“He said that Omar knows the secret for the curse and that he has always known. He has kept the knowledge hidden.”

Alec waved away Ethan’s words. “Stories, that’s all. There is no secret. We are what we are.”

“Yeah.” Ethan nodded. “That seems to be a common opinion, but Alec, this guy was one of the wolves. He also claims that Omar is gathering an army. He intends to take control of the underworld.”

Now Ethan had Alec’s full attention.

“Is that so?” Alec smiled. “I thought the wolves were extinct.”

As I listened to their conversation, I suddenly felt like I was in some kind of nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from.

“That isn’t all. Omar also knows how the vampire can live in the light … without the side effect of an agonizing death,” Ethan explained.

Alec’s laughter echoed through the tomb. “Even if there is any truth to these claims, I doubt we are going to convince Omar to share this information.”

“There is supposed to be something that will prove he’s kept the truth hidden,” Ethan replied.

Once again, the two of them were so caught up in their conversation it was like I wasn’t even there. If Alec weren’t standing in front of the door, this would be the perfect opportunity to sneak out, but he gave no indication he was ready to move.

“Omar has something that will prove he’s kept the truth hidden.”

“Now I see.” Alec stepped away from the doorway and placed his arm around Ethan’s shoulder. “You are trying to entice me into joining the Light Seekers.”

I had no idea who this Omar character was and I’d never even heard of the Light Seekers. I did know that none of it concerned me. Alec was no longer blocking the doorway, which meant I might be able to make a run for it.

Exhaling loudly, Ethan said, “You can get close to him. We can’t.”

Digging my teeth into my bottom lip, I glanced at the door, wondering if I manage to make it out of the crypt, what the odds were of actually escaping these two crazy guys.

Before I could even complete the thought, Alec was watching me. It was almost as if he had sensed my intention.

Our gaze locked and it was impossible to look away.

“Why is she involved in this? Perhaps she has a death wish.” Alec’s sinister smile added an extra layer of darkness to his words.

A dark shiver of panic made its way up my spine.

How could he see what was buried so deeply inside of me that most of the time, I didn’t even know it was there?

How could he be aware of my desire to know what lies beyond the last breath – that last beat of the heart?

“Nicole can help us. There’s something about her that’s different,” Ethan explained. “I sensed it from the first time I met her, and you sense it too Alec. Admit it.”

“You forget friend, I am not a Light Seeker. It doesn’t matter to me if she is the elusive savior you’ve been searching for.”

Ethan rolled his eyes, which meant he was losing patience. “I don’t believe you.”

“Do not come looking for me again,” Alec said. There was now an icy edge to his voice. “It is too dangerous for both of us. Omar knows that your loyalty isn’t with him, and he knows what you are.”

Suddenly, Alec turned to look at me and I felt the air rush from my lungs. His arctic eyes were pulling me into their depths. There was an instantaneous pain inside my head that was so intense as to be almost blinding. I imagined this must be what it felt like to have your brain dissected.

As quickly as the pain had descended on me, it was gone.

Without warning, Alec closed the distance between us and wrapped one arm around my waist. His lips brushed mine with a feather-light kiss. It happened so fast that I had no time to stop it.

The kiss was brief, but as soon as our lips made contact, I was again bombarded with images of sleek naked bodies coming together in a mating frenzy.

I froze. Even if I tried, I couldn’t have moved a single muscle. By the time my brain cells were working again and I realized what had just happened, Alec was gone.