IM01 - Carpe Noctem (26 page)

He removed his pants and underwear, revealing a well-groomed patch of curly hair and his obvious arousal. He stood for a moment, purposefully giving me an eyeful of his manly endowments before tossing aside his garments and turning to test the water that had been filling in the tub.

I flushed with excitement. He was quite a sight, a beautiful specimen of naked man. A wicked little smile crossed my lips.

I wonder how much ‘attending’ to me he is planning to do
.

He turned off the water and waved at me to enter the tub with him. He’d filled the hot water with wonderfully scented oils. I sat down and leaned my head back against the rim. The heat of the water stung my skin at first. It took a moment before I warmed to match the temperature.

The tub was large enough to accommodate three people easily. It had a triangular shape and three seats with jets. Collin got in after me and picked out a soap and sponge. The perfume from the oils was heavenly: a beautiful, clean fragrance that reminded me of ocean spray and sitting on the coast at night.

“Please, relax while I clean you,” he whispered, positioning himself at my knees.

“Yeah, relax. That’s easy for you to say. What exactly do you have planned for me?”

“Nothing more than you wish to happen, Alyssa.” His voice was soothing and hypnotic. He stared into my eyes and for a moment I felt that familiar dizzy sensation.

It took all the concentration I had to shut my eyes before he could take control of my mind.

I heard an impatient sigh from Collin; then I felt the sponge drizzling water down my neck and chest. He rubbed lightly on my breasts, tickling the nipples as he worked the sponge in circular motions. Slowly, he worked his way down to my navel and below to my soft patch of curly hair. My body flushed with sexual energy as he brought the sponge between my legs and washed my thighs. My thoughts turned to the pleasures of my night with Lysander. I wished he were here with me right now.

My lips parted as I let out a peaceful sigh. The smooth pillows of Collin’s lips pressed gently against mine. It startled me and I jerked my head to the side.

“Sorry, no, I-I-I can’t…” I stammered.

“Perhaps another time, then.” I heard disappointment in his voice, but he didn’t stop washing me. He continued to glide the sponge over my body, meticulously cleaning every spot from my face down to my toes before leaving me to soak in a wonderful state of calm and enjoyment of the warm, perfumed water.

When I had soaked for long enough, Collin returned. He wrapped me in a long, fluffy white towel and guided me back into a long hallway filled with doors. I heard low moaning coming from behind one of the closed doors and wondered if it was Jessie. I cursed her name.

Bitch. I bet she is in there fucking some beautiful man as a reward for bringing me in
.

Collin guided me slowly to the last door, pushing it open with his free hand. Inside were racks of clothes lining the walls; a row of four vanity mirrors stood in the center of the room.

“This is our closet, Alyssa.”

My eyes widened in awe of all of the beautiful clothing hanging all around me. Collin disappeared momentarily, allowing me to take in all the treasures of the room.

Well, I guess Kallisto’s coven has one thing going for them
.

Upon his return, I was given a basic black silk kimono robe with a red sash to wear, a disappointment after viewing all of the beautiful clothes around me.

“You will have plenty of time for these things later,” Collin said, noting my disappointment.

“Why is she making me a member of the coven?” I asked.

“Do you not wish to join us?”

“I…uh...yeah, I do. I just don’t understand why she is so willing to accept me.”

I focused my thoughts, trying to block out my mind so he would not be able to read me.
I don’t understand why Kallisto would want to spare me. I am of no real use to her. Unless—yes, of course, that must be it! She only wants me to get to Lysander.

“I have already told you, Alyssa, you are considered beautiful enough to join our ranks. You should feel special.”

Hopefully, my mental block was working. I decided not to press the issue further. There was no use questioning Collin; he was just a servant to Kallisto, and I wasn’t going to get any real answers out of him.

“Thanks,” I said. I smiled and let him help me into the robe. He clipped my hair above my neck and ushered me out into the hallway again. I felt more naked in the robe than I had being led down the hallway in the towel.

“The rest of the coven has been gathered in the great room. Are you ready to be initiated?” he said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

“Sure,” I said weakly. Were they really going to do the whole turning thing again?

“Just relax, and it will be over soon. You already went through the tough part when you were turned,” he said.

Okay, so I’d already done the turning part. What else were they going to do?

“When we are done, you will be brought before Kallisto for an inspection.”

“Okay.” I sighed. Great.

Collin guided me to the open living space. Couches and chaise lounges were now filled with members of the coven waiting to begin the initiation process. I felt all of their eyes watching me. Collin brought me to the center of the room and told me to sit on an ottoman placed in front of the waiting crowd.

He placed his hands on my shoulders as he stood behind me.

“My brothers and sisters, welcome. I present to you Alyssa, who will be initiated into our order.” Collin’s voice echoed in the silent room.

I felt a mix of anticipation and excitement from the members of the coven as they stared at me.

 “We will re-baptize her in our blood and wash away the foul stench of mortality. May the gods of old grant her transcendence above the mortals she once called brothers.”

Crap, they are going to do the whole thing again to me.

He placed his hand on the top of my head and gently leaned it to the left as he bent down and bit into my neck. His teeth felt rough as they pierced my skin. Weakness settled into my limbs as Collin quickly drained my blood. His mouth was like a vacuum on my neck. He cradled my head in his hands as I lost the ability to move it. I felt dizzy and heavy, losing all ability to hold myself upright. I slumped into Collin’s body.

My thoughts turned again to Lysander, remembering how it had been when he had turned me, the tranquility as he gently drained me. Collin wasn’t being so kind. My vision went dark, just as it had before.

Finally, he released me, letting my body rest against his.

A familiar tingle filled my mouth and instinctively I suckled at it, drawing it into me. Immediately, I felt the regenerating effects. I became aware of people queuing up behind me. The members of the coven were lining up to feed on me and share their blood with me.

The initiation went on for what felt like hours. Each member of the coven drained my blood, and before I was too weak to move, returned that blood back to me by allowing me to feed on his or her blood.

*          *          *

When they had all finished with me, I was left lying on the cold marble floor. My head was spinning from all the powerful blood I had been allowed to drink. I was paralyzed in a euphoric state. I could feel sensations all around me. Emotions swam in my head: excitement, fear, lust.

I felt powerful and out of control.

Collin remained by my side as I lay sprawled on the floor. I tried to lift my head, but my disorientation caused it to come crashing down with a painful thud.

“You have done well, Alyssa,” he said cheerfully. “Try not to move yet. It might take a few moments for you to regain control.”

He lifted my arms and slipped something silky down my skin. Chancing another painful head slam, I moved to see what he was doing.

He slipped my arm through one sleeve of the robe; gently pulling me up, he grabbed my other arm.

How the hell did I lose my robe?

My head slowly cleared as Collin helped me fix my robe and hair again.

When I was finally able to get up, he guided me beyond the main common room to a den be-hind the kitchen. Kallisto had created a private throne room there; she sat at the end of the room upon a very tall, cushy, white chair. Edmond stood just behind her, his left arm resting at the top of the high-backed chair.

Collin presented me and bowed low to Kallisto, motioning for me to do the same. I lowered my head and my eyes, looking at the floor.

“Alyssa. Please come join me, my dear.”

I obeyed and walked to Kallisto’s fancy chair.

“How do you like my coven?” she asked.

“It is…nice, Kallisto.”

“From now on, you will address me as mistress.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, what?”

“M-is-tress.”
Wow, really? She wants me to call her mistress now?

“My coven is just nice, is it? It doesn’t sound to me like you really appreciate all that I can offer you. Perhaps I don’t need to keep you around, then.”

Shit, play nice. Lay it on thick
. “Oh, no, mistress, it is beyond words. I’m just tongue tied. It is so…wonderful here.”
I hope she’s buying this.

I could tell by the scowling look on her face that she wasn’t impressed. I wasn’t sure I was capable of blocking my mind well enough to keep her out of my true thoughts.

“I think I must impress upon you the gravity of this situation. We do not tolerate bastards. You are being given a special opportunity.” She waved a hand at her guard, and a moment later, three people came into the room. I recognized one immediately. Jessie! She appeared to have been beaten quite terribly. Her eyes were puffy and splatters of blood covered her clothes. She wasn’t standing on her own. She hung limply from the arms of her escort, barely conscious. The other two people, a pair of blond women who must have been twins, dropped her onto the ground at Kallisto’s feet.

“This little one here is a bastard.” Kallisto sneered and pointed a perfectly manicured red nail at Jessie. “She was not born of this coven. She was given the chance to join us, as you were, but she did not prove herself worthy. Be warned, Alyssa, my tolerance is very thin.”

“You said I could join you,” Jessie gurgled, crawling to Kallisto’s feet, “if I did what you asked. I brought her to you.”

Jessie’s pleas fell on deaf ears. Kallisto kicked hard, knocking Jessie backward onto the floor.

“Take her back to his house and drop her on the doorstep,” Kallisto commanded.

“No!” Jessie screamed. “I did what you asked. Please, no!”

“If you had done what I had asked, you would have brought them both here. Now, go, and don’t forget to tell Lysander where his precious little Alyssa is. We will be waiting for him and his little band of misfits.”

With another wave of Kallisto’s hand, the two women picked up Jessie, turned, and carried her out of the room. Jessie’s cries echoed through the penthouse as they left.

“You see, it’s best to stay in my good graces.” Her voice softened. “Now, you are almost done with your initiation, my child.” Kallisto’s words sent chills down my spine. “I only have one request of you, and I will grant you pardon from your maker’s crime. Then you can become a full member of my coven.”

She stared into my eyes. I felt her peering into my soul as she spoke to me. I tried to remain calm, clearing my mind. I knew Kallisto could read whatever I was thinking, even if I tried to block her out. I had to keep my mind clear. Still, I wondered what else she had in store for me and for Lysander.

“What is your request, Kallisto—I mean, Mistress?” I asked timidly.

“When Lysander comes to claim you with his little band of wanderers, we will destroy them. I want your help with this. Do I have your allegiance?”

My heart sank as I imagined watching Lysander and the others being put to death.

I hoped Jessie’s message would not get to them and they would assume I was dead. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing any of them die.

Kallisto wasn’t happy with my lack of response. An angry scowl wrinkled her perfect mouth. She didn’t tolerate insubordination.

“You will do this, Alyssa, or you will die. I have no use for you otherwise, and it will mean nothing to destroy you. Do not take my generosity lightly. I offer you life or death. You decide.”

Kallisto’s face told me she would require an answer soon or she would kill me herself.

“Why?”

An evil, toothy grin crossed Kallisto’s face. She looked like a madwoman.

“Lysander will suffer for his sins against me. What better way to suffer than to have the things you love stolen away from you and turned against you? What better insult than to be destroyed by the thing you create? There is no victory for me in simply destroying him like a dog. He needs to suffer as he dies, and he will—as you will be the one to kill him.”

I couldn’t speak. A tear streamed down my face as Kallisto cackled madly.

I can’t kill Lysander. I won’t!

Kallisto knew this and was punishing us both, enjoying the mental anguish I was going through.

She waved me off, sending me out of her sight. “Your test will come. Perhaps you need time to think on what you will do. Remember, Alyssa, life or death.”

Collin escorted me back down the long hallway, opening up a door just after the bath. This was a closet-sized room in comparison to the other rooms in the house. There was a simple, twin-sized bed and a table with a lamp. A small, square window offered a view outside.

 “You will sleep here today,” Collin told me as he pushed me inside. “I will be back to get you in the evening.” He quickly locked the door behind me.

CHAPTER 21

* * * * *

A sliver of pink edged the horizon. My eyes were wide as I stared out of the small window.

Dawn was approaching.

A wave of fear struck me. There were no coverings on this window. There was no place to hide in this tiny closet of a room. The sun would be up soon. I had not yet experienced sunlight on my newly immortal skin, but I’d been well warned that burns would occur rather quickly.