Dead Perfect (17 page)

Shannah woke late the next morning feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Sitting up, she stretched her arms over her head and smiled. Slipping out of bed, she pulled on her robe and went downstairs, noting, as she did so, that she felt strong again. Odd, how one day she felt as if she was at death’s door and the next she felt like she could run a marathon. She paused on the steps as a sudden recollection of the bizarre conversation she’d had with Ronan the night before jumped to the forefront of her mind.

He was a five hundred year old vampire.

She frowned as she continued on down the stairs. There was something else, something he had told her that she couldn’t quite recall. It suddenly seemed important that she remember what it was.

Going into the kitchen, she turned on the coffeemaker, then sat down at the table, her chin cradled in her palm. What was it that she couldn’t remember? She closed her eyes, her fingertips drumming on the tabletop. They had been talking about what it was like to be a vampire when a sudden weariness had overtaken her. She had told Ronan she was sleepy and the next thing she remembered was waking up in her bed. Why couldn’t she remember what happened between last night and this morning?

Rising, she poured herself a cup of coffee, then put a couple of slices of bread into the toaster. When it was done, she opened the refrigerator to get the butter, and saw a bottle of tomato juice. The contents were red. As red as blood…

And she remembered. He had given her his blood last night. And he had told her that he had given her his blood on other occasions as well, given it to her and then wiped the memory of having done so from her memory. She could hear his voice now, in the back of her mind.

I’m going to give you something to drink,
he had said, his voice low and seductive,
and it’s going to taste good. But you won’t remember drinking it tomorrow.

Frowning, she closed the refrigerator door. Why could she remember what he had said today when she had forgotten it all those other times? How could she ever have forgotten something as gross as drinking someone else’s blood? And a vampire’s blood, at that. She picked up a slice of toast only to find that her appetite was gone. With a shake of her head, she dropped it down the garbage disposal.

A glance at the clock showed it was only a little after eleven. So much for keeping his hours, she thought.

Leaving the kitchen, she wandered through the house, the word “vampire” repeating in her mind over and over again.

After a time, she went into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. She sat at the table, wondering where his lair was. He didn’t seem to have any trouble finding her. He had found her at her apartment. He had found her at the restaurant. He had found her at a hotel after the plane crash. Why couldn’t she find him?

Sitting there, she formed a mental image of Ronan—long black hair, dark eyes, strong masculine features and physique. She imagined a fine wire stretched from her thoughts to his, and then frowned. If he was sleeping the sleep of the dead, or the Undead, he wouldn’t be having any thoughts, would he? She would have to try something else. He had taken her blood and given her his. According to the books he wrote, books she knew now were based on fact, a blood exchange was supposed to form some kind of supernatural bond between the vampire and the one he had shared blood with.

She finished her coffee and put the cup aside, then stood in the middle of the room, her eyes closed, and concentrated on Ronan. She lost track of time as she stood there, waiting, though she wasn’t sure exactly what it was she was waiting for.

Gradually, into her mind came the same image she’d had before, of Ronan lying in a casket. When nothing happened, she conjured a mental image of blood, a deep red river of blood, flowing between them, and as she did so, she felt herself being drawn toward the door in the kitchen that led into the basement.

Opening the door, she turned on the light and went down the stairs, her feet carrying her toward the far wall. She ran her hands over the wall, searching for a secret lever, a break in the stone, something. Anything. But there was nothing there.

With a shake of her head, she was about to turn away when something urged her to try again. Taking a deep breath, all her energy focused on Ronan, she placed her hands against the wall once again. She gasped as something like an electric shock ran up her arms. He was on the other side of the wall. She knew it as surely as she knew he would rise with the setting of the sun.

He was in there, and she would be out here, waiting for him when he awoke.

Ronan came awake as the sun began to set. One minute he was lost in the oblivion of his kind, the next he was awake and aware of everything around him.

Aware that Shannah was waiting for him on the other side of the door.

Rising, he ran a hand through his hair, wondering how she had found him and how long she had been waiting in the basement.

He considered changing his clothes; then, figuring she had waited long enough, he took a deep breath, lifted the heavy iron bar and opened the door.

She was pacing the floor, her back toward him.

“Good evening, Shannah.”

She jumped, startled by the sound of his voice, then whirled around to face him. She started to speak, but the words stuck in her throat when she glanced through the open doorway and saw the coffin beyond.

“It’s true,” she murmured, her face going pale. “It’s all true, isn’t it?”

“I thought we had established that last night.” He frowned. “You’re not going to faint on me, are you?”

“I don’t know.”

He took a cautious step toward her and when she didn’t back away, he slipped his arm around her waist to steady her.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I knew it was true, that you were really a vampire,” she said, her gaze riveted on the casket. “At least I thought I did…”

“It’s just a bed, Shannah.”

She laughed humorlessly. “A bed with a lid.”

“How did you find me?”

“What?” She looked up at him, her eyes wide and scared.

“Are you afraid of me, now?”

She glanced through the open doorway again, then lifted her gaze to his. “I don’t know. Does it matter?”

“It matters to me.”

She searched her heart and then shook her head. “No, I’m not afraid, not of you.”

“Of what I am?”

“Yes,” she murmured, staring at the casket again. “A little.”

He grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifted her face toward him. “How did you find me?”

“I’m not sure. But you always seemed to be able to find me, so I thought…I just focused on you…I’d seen you in my mind once before, you know. Anyway, I focused on you and on the blood we had shared, and it drew me down here and…you’re not going to believe this, but when I touched the wall, I knew you were on the other side.”

“Shannah, calm down. Take a deep breath. That’s right. Nothing’s changed. I’m the same as I’ve always been.”

“I know, I know, but…” She pointed toward the open door and the casket beyond. “It’s just so…I don’t know.” She looked up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. “I don’t want to die!”

“You don’t have to.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to be what you are. I don’t want to sleep in a…in one of those. I don’t want to die every time the sun goes down! I’m afraid, Ronan, I’m so afraid.”

“Shh. There now, love, there’s nothing to fear. Hush, now.” Taking her hand in his, he led her up the stairs and into the kitchen. Closing the door behind him, he took her into the living room. Sitting on the sofa, he drew her onto his lap, one hand slowly stroking her back and her hair. “Don’t cry, love, I won’t let you die.”

“I don’t…”

“My blood will keep you alive, Shannah, just the way it has been since you first came here. If you can’t accept it, I’ll wipe the memory from your mind each time, just as I have before.”

She sniffed. “But it doesn’t work.”

“What doesn’t work?”

“Erasing the memory from my mind. Last night, you told me I wouldn’t remember…” She shuddered. “You told me I wouldn’t remember drinking your blood, but I did.”

He swore softly. That changed things. “Shannah, look at me. Can you read my mind?”

“No, of course not,” she said, then frowned. “You’re thinking that things have changed. You’re wondering why your suggestions aren’t working anymore.” Her eyes widened. “Why can I read your mind?”

“The bond between us must be stronger than I thought.” He erected a mental barrier between them. “Try again.”

She concentrated for several moments, then shook her head. “What did you do?”

“I wanted to see if I could block you.”

“Why? Don’t you want me to know what you’re thinking?”

“It was just a test, love. This is new to me, too.”

“Is it?”

He nodded. “I’ve never bonded with anyone else.”

She didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what to do except rest her head on his shoulder and trust that he would take care of her.

He held her in his arms until she fell asleep and then he carried her up the stairs and put her to bed. He sat beside her, watching her sleep until night gradually turned to day.

As the first faint streaks of light began to steal the darkness from the sky, he brushed a lock of hair away from her brow, acknowledging once again that he was hopelessly, helplessly in love with her.

“I have an idea,” Ronan remarked thoughtfully.

Shannah glanced at him. “What kind of an idea?”

They were sitting in the living room in front of the fireplace. Shannah had finished her dinner and Ronan had just returned from the hunt. Neither had mentioned where he had been or what they had discussed the night before.

“I want to introduce you to some others of my kind.”

“What? Why?” Her expression made it clear she wasn’t at all keen on the idea of meeting other vampires.

He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “Because even I can’t keep you alive forever.”

“Ronan…”

“I want you to get a taste of what it’s like to live as a vampire, to see that, except for the obvious differences, they live like everyone else.”

“I can see that just by living here, with you.”

“No. In the last seventy years or so, I’ve lived like a hermit, staying in this house most of the time, content to concentrate on my books and my writing. It wasn’t until you came along that I realized how much I’ve been missing, how cut off I’ve been from the rest of the world and everything in it.”

“Where are these other vampires?” she asked suspiciously.

“Everywhere, love.”

“Are there more of them here, in North Canyon Creek?”

“No. This is a relatively small town. But in larger cities you’ll find many of them. There are thousands of us throughout the world.”

“And no one knows?” she asked incredulously. “How is that possible?”

“Some know but refuse to believe. Others, like Hewitt, hunt us.”

“He wants to kill you, doesn’t he?”

“He wants to destroy me. There’s a difference.”

“These other vampires you want me to meet, are they your friends?”

“Yes, in a manner of speaking.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means we’re acquainted, but that we’re always cautious around each other. Vampires are not very trusting, not even of their own kind.”

“So you don’t have any friends?”

“Only a very few. I think you’ll like them.”

“Will they be there? Will I get to meet them?”

“Yes. So, what do you say?”

“Will I be safe among them?”

“Yes, love.”

She glanced at their joined hands and then looked at him intently. “Am I, Ronan?”

“Are you what?”

“Your love.”

“Do you doubt it?”

“You’ve never said it.”

“No, I never have.” He drew her gently into his arms and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’ve never said it to any woman, but I love you, Shannah, more than you can imagine.”

“And I love you,” she replied fervently. “So very much.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

“How can I help it, when you’ve been so kind to me, when I…”

“Go on.”

“When I melt every time you kiss me.”

“Do you?”

She nodded, and then she blushed.

Smiling, he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, loving the softness of her skin, the way her breath caught in her throat at his touch, the sudden quickening of her heartbeat.

“So,” he said, his voice husky. “What do you say?”

“I’d go anywhere with you,” she said, and then frowned. “We don’t have to fly, do we?”

“Not this time,” he said with a grin. “How soon can you be ready to leave?”

Since they weren’t flying, Shannah had assumed they would be traveling by car.

She packed a bag and her overnight case and was waiting for Ronan when he appeared shortly before dusk the following evening. As usual, he was clad all in black. As usual, she couldn’t help noticing how well the color suited him, and how handsome he was. He smiled when he saw her.

“Ready?” he asked.

She nodded, and he put his arm around her.

“Wait,” she said, “I need my luggage.”

“Forget it. I’ll buy you a new wardrobe when we get there.”

“Where is there?”

“Las Vegas.”

Her eyes widened. “Las Vegas?”

“My friend is a dealer in one of the casinos.” He flashed her a smile. “He works nights, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Hang on,” Ronan said. “We’ll be there in no time at all.”

She wanted to ask how they were going to get there if they weren’t flying and they weren’t driving, but there was a sudden rushing sound in her ears, the sense of movement though she couldn’t see anything, a feeling of weightlessness.

Some time later, hours or minutes, she couldn’t tell, she found herself standing on the sidewalk beside Ronan in the heart of Las Vegas. She stared at the lights that were so bright, it was almost like daylight even though night had fallen. People crowded the sidewalks, some dressed up for an evening out on the town, some in jeans and T-shirts. The street was an ocean of automobiles and taxis, and they were all in a hurry.

She looked up at Ronan. “How did we get here?” she asked, breathless.

“Vampire transportation. Faster than flying,” he said with a grin. “And safer, too.”

“But how…?”

“I’m not sure how to explain it. I just think of where I want to go, and I’m there.”

“I’m not sure I like it,” she muttered, “but you’re right, it’s better than flying.”

“Come on.” Taking her by the hand, he led her to the entrance of the Diamondback Casino.

It, too, was crowded with people. Ronan spoke to someone at the desk, who gave him a room key and asked how long they would be staying.

“I’m not sure,” Ronan replied with a shrug. “A day or two, perhaps a week or two.”

“Very well, sir,” the clerk said. “Enjoy your stay.”

With a nod, Ronan tucked the key into his pocket. “So,” he said, “what’s your pleasure?”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever been to Vegas before?”

“No.”

He grunted softly. “Well, there are all kinds of games of chance. Poker, blackjack, dice, Keno, the slots, video poker, the wheel of fortune, you name it, they’ve got it. Come on.”

Taking her by the hand, he led her down a short flight of stairs onto the casino floor. More lights. More people. More noise. Bells and whistles rang out, mingling with the sound of laughter and excited voices.

“It’s just like the movie
Ocean’s Eleven
,” she murmured.

Ronan laughed. “Come on, love, let’s try our hand at the slots to begin with.”

He exchanged a fifty dollar bill for fifty dollars’ worth of quarters and led her to a row of slot machines located along the back wall. They found two unoccupied machines that were side by side and sat down.

Shannah dropped four quarters into the slot and pulled the handle, squealed in delight when she hit a jackpot.

That fast, she was hooked.

Ronan fed quarters into his own machine, but it was Shannah who held his attention. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glowed with the same excitement whether she won two dollars or twenty.

An hour later, she had won over three hundred dollars and she was ready to try her hand at something else.

Ronan glanced at his watch. “Let’s hit the blackjack table,” he suggested. “My friend deals at one of them.”

Shannah cashed her winnings in, then followed Ronan toward the blackjack table where Ronan’s friend worked. Three men and an elderly woman were seated at the table.

Ronan sat down and Shannah stood behind him, one hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, Ronan,” the dealer said. “Long time no see.”

“Pete. How’s it going?”

The man’s teeth flashed in a bright smile. “Same as always.”

Ronan placed a five dollar bill on the table in front of him.

Pete dealt a round of cards to the players, face down, and then dealt a card to himself, also face down.

Ronan lifted a corner of his card and Shannah saw that he had a ten of hearts.

She watched as the dealer dealt another round of cards. Ronan’s second card was the ace of spades. Two of the other men at the table won, the other man and the elderly woman lost.

It was a fast game. Ronan played several hands and won most of them.

“I’ve got a break coming up in a few minutes,” Pete said, shuffling the deck. “You gonna be around?”

Ronan nodded. Collecting his winnings, he put the chips in his pants’ pocket. “We’ll wait for you in the coffee shop.”

“Right.”

Shannah ordered a cup of coffee and a slice of lemon meringue pie. Ronan also ordered a cup of coffee.

“For appearance’s sake,” he explained when she looked at him curiously.

Pete arrived a few minutes later. He slid into the booth beside Ronan. “So,” he said, “who’s this pretty lady?”

“Pete, this is Shannah Davis. Shannah, this is Pete Sandoval.”

“Pleased to meet you,” she murmured automatically. She tried not to stare at him. Though she knew he was a vampire, he looked perfectly normal. But then, so did Ronan.

Grinning, Pete leaned forward and whispered, “Wanna see my fangs?”

Shannah’s cheeks grew hot. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.”

“I wanted Shannah to meet a few of us,” Ronan said.

Pete sat back, one arm stretched across the top of the booth. “Any particular reason?”

“I’m trying to convince her to become one of us.”

“No sh…I mean, is that right?”

Ronan nodded.

“So,” Sandoval said, looking at Shannah, “what’s holding you back?”

“Several things,” she replied.

“Well, it is a big decision,” Sandoval remarked. “Most of the vampires I know were brought across against their will.”

“Were you?”

“Oh, yeah.” He shrugged. “I’m not sorry now, but it was a big adjustment in the beginning.” He laughed softly. “My folks had given me to the church. I was supposed to become a priest. One night and one bite put an end to all that.”

“I’m so sorry,” Shannah murmured.

“Hey, it was a long time ago. So, Ronan, my man, how long will you be here?”

“We haven’t decided yet.”

“Well, I’ll probably see you again before you leave. I’ve got to get back.” Sandoval smiled at Shannah. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you.”

Shannah watched Sandoval leave the coffee shop before asking, “How long has he been a vampire?”

“About six hundred years, I think.”

“And I thought you were old,” Shannah muttered dryly.

Ronan laughed. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we going now?”

“To get a cab. There’s a club a few miles from here.”

“What kind of club?”

“A vampire club.”

She looked at him in disbelief. “You have your own club?”

“Come and see.”

The Sarcophagus—she thought it was a horrid name—was located on a dimly lit street in an older part of the city. Graffiti adorned the walls of the building. There were iron bars on the windows and the door. Were the bars to keep mortals out, she wondered morbidly, or to keep them from leaving if they accidentally strayed inside?

A man wearing black slacks, a black T-shirt and a long black cape lined in red satin answered Ronan’s knock. “Is she expecting you?” the man asked.

“No,” Ronan said, “but she’ll be glad to see me.”

“Wait here.”

The door closed in their faces. Moments later, it opened again.

“Come in,” the man said. “She’s waiting for you in her private booth.”

Muttering, “Thanks,” Ronan took Shannah by the hand and walked through the door. They went down a narrow entryway and passed through a curtain of black beads.

It was dark inside the club, so dark that Shannah could scarcely see Ronan even though he was right beside her. Candles provided what little light there was in the room. Several couples were dancing to slow, sultry music provided by a three-piece band. Other couples and singles sat at a long, curved bar, some with drinks in their hands. She wondered, morbidly, if they were drinking blood. Like Ronan and the man who had answered the door, just about everyone in the room wore black.

Still holding Shannah’s hand, Ronan skirted the dance floor until he came to a curtained booth in the back corner of the room.

A softly feminine voice bid them enter.

Shannah wondered how the occupant of the booth had known they were there. Her heart was pounding as Ronan parted the red velvet curtains and ushered her inside.

A young woman sat in the booth. The seat was black leather, the table looked like black marble. But it was the girl who held Shannah’s attention. She was young, no more than fifteen or sixteen, with long yellow hair and dark brown eyes. Her skin was smooth and clear, almost luminous. She wore a tight-fitting red spandex top. Several gold bracelets glittered on her wrists.

“Please, sit down,” the young woman invited.

Shannah slid into the booth.

“Ronan,” the girl said. “It is good to see you here.”

“Valerie, it’s good to see you again.”

The girl held out a slender, well-manicured hand. “It has been far too long since your last visit to my city.”

Taking Valerie’s hand in his, Ronan made a courtly bow, then turned her hand over and kissed her palm.

Valerie smiled, displaying even white teeth. “And who is this?” she asked, glancing in Shannah’s direction.

“Valerie, this is Shannah. She’s a friend of mine,” he said, sliding into the seat beside her.

Valerie inclined her head in Shannah’s direction. “Welcome to the Sarcophagus, friend of Ronan.”

“Thank you.” Shannah clasped her hands in her lap, unnerved by the woman’s unblinking gaze and the unmistakable aura of power that surrounded her.

“So,” Valerie said, turning her gaze on Ronan once more, “what brings you here after such a long absence?”

“A yearning to be among those of my own kind,” he replied easily.

Valerie glanced at Shannah again. “I see. Have you forgotten that mortals are not welcome in this place?”

“No, but Shannah is curious about the way we live.”

“Indeed?” Valerie looked at Shannah more sharply. “And why is that?”

Shannah shrank back against the seat, unable to speak under the weight of the vampire’s gaze. She had no doubt that Valerie could crush her with a thought.

“Valerie, let her alone,” Ronan said.

The young woman waved a graceful hand. “Very well, friend of Ronan, you may stay with my blessing. And you,” she said, speaking to Ronan, “I will expect you to come and see me again before you leave the city.”