Poisonous Pleasure (27 page)

Marcella slammed the door in their faces and stalked back to the bed. The guys looked at each other, not sure whether to follow her or stay as still as they could until she fell asleep. Dominic was choosing the latter. The last thing he wanted to do was feel the wrath he almost knew her capable of. Especially, if she was as angry as he guessed. By the look on her face, he’d live happily right here, in the same exact spot, for the next week if that’s how long it took for her to change moods.

Chapter 15

Marcella pushed her temper down and crawled in bed. Damn girls, wanting to take her men to the beach. Ridiculous. She could never see herself going to some stranger’s house. What if Jason’s mother would have answered the door? His mom would have freaked out. Disrespectful kids.

A knock made her sit up and glare toward the wooden divider. Ambrose quickly raised his hand stopping her from getting up. Very wise of him, she thought.

“I’ll take care of it.”

He opened the door and she listened carefully. She stared at Dominic the whole time noticing he refused to take his eyes from the floor.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“Listen, we all love our girlfriend very much, okay. There’s no way in hell I’m leaving this house, so go before she knows you’re back. Trust me, my girl’s got one hell of a temper and I’d really hate to see any trouble.”

Ambrose shut the door and stared out of the peep hole until she assumed they were gone. The guys didn’t move. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure if she should feel guilty or not. One part of her felt extremely bad for the way she acted. What if they did want to go? What if they wanted to have fun?

The other part of her said if they wanted to have fun then they should be asking if
she
wanted to go to the beach. They could all have fun together. These were her men and no one else’s. Hers, forever.

“All right, everyone come to the bed, dammit. Are you all planning to turn into statues or potted plants?”

“I personally was going for the statue look,” Jason said, walking over and plopping down next to her. He rested his head in her lap while she played with his hair. She felt calmed at having something to keep her occupied from the new feelings taking over her. Damn she couldn’t think straight. Her body was humming with weird sensations.

“I’m sorry I acted that way. Did you two really want to go? I mean, if you want to go with those girls then just tell me. I’ll be okay with it. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

“Marcella, the girls didn’t attract me. I love you. I felt more afraid of what you were going to do than anything. Just promise you won’t blow our cover. I know with your change you’re going to be going through an emotional rollercoaster, but please just try.”

“I concur,” Ambrose said, following Dominic’s suit and sitting down on the bed.

“I promise, no more freaking out for me, okay?”

A knock at the door had a scream echoing off the walls. Marcella looked over angrily at the door and then back at them. They were as rigid as boards. The rage pouring through her proved impossible to control. “I promise, I promise….fuck! You have to be kidding me. Jason, help me. Make them go away. I’m trying my best here.”

“No, prob, babe. I’ll take care of this.”

“No let me.” Dominic rose and swiftly walked to the door pulling it open. “What?” The sound of his voice made
her
jump.

“You never gave us an answer.”

“How about fuck no. Does that work for you? What in the hell is the matter with you girls? Don’t you get the hint? We’re not interested. Did you not see who answered the door the first time? She’s gorgeous, not even on the same level with any girl on the planet. Now go away.”

He slammed the door shut and walked back to the bed. Marcella laughed at the combination of anger and nervousness coming from him. She waved him over while he rolled his eyes, looking aggravated.

“Come here, lover. You’ve been tense since you came home. Tell me what happened on your search. You weren’t gone very long. I don’t see Donavon, so I’m assuming you haven’t found him.”

“No, we rode around trying to see if we felt a pull to anywhere in particular, and nothing. We were wondering if maybe you could summon him.”

Marcella looked at the comforter while she searched for a connection to a man she couldn’t really remember. Something was there, but like with Jason, she couldn’t quite grasp it.

“I’m afraid not. Not yet, anyway. I can feel something, but it’s not enough.”

“Damn, we’ll just have to make a plan and take one town at a time.”

Dominic sighed and curled up on the other side of Marcella. The peace she felt having her boyfriend on one side and her mate on the other wasn’t anywhere near complete until Ambrose lay between her legs and rested his head on her stomach. One more and she’d be whole. How was she going to find Donavon?

While the intensity of her worries increased, she could feel the change eating at her mind. As long as she stayed calm, she’d be able to deal with the multiple personalities trying to take over. The most powerful was none other than herself, her old self. Although she knew she and this former self were similar, Marcianna was ruthless on things she’d have easily let go. Jealously was one of the first things that stood out.

“Rest, love. Samael will be here soon.”

Mindlessly, she curled her finger in Dom’s ringlets while she ran her other hand through Ambrose’s long hair. “I’m resting. Just let me get my emotions in order.”

She wasn’t sure how long she stared straight ahead in a trance before she caught what she’d been doing. Light snores filled the large room and she hadn’t even noticed. If she lost touch with reality, what would happen? Her succubus, her vampire, even things she wasn’t sure truly existed kept pushing to take over, but she managed to hold them off all thanks to her older self, the one she feared the most.

“What a happy little family. How are you feeling, my queen?”

Marcella jumped to her feet on the bed, leaving the sleeping guys falling off of her. Anger pounded against her insides as she looked at Samael. Enough games.

“Where’s Donavon? I need my men complete. I can’t think without all of us being together. You bring him to me now!”

“Whoa! Calm down,” Samael said, walking over to the bed. “There’s no reason to get upset. You know where he is, just try to remember.”

“What the hell do you think I’ve been doing for the last few hours? I can’t. Fuck, I can’t even think passed stopping these…other creatures,” Marcella pointed to her head, “from trying to overpower me. They want to come out and I don’t want them to. How in the hell do I control this? I will not be pushed out of my own body. Not even by Marcianna.”

“Marcella, don’t fight it. Let them come. Once you sate their cravings they’ll leave. They are you, and you are them. Your old self isn’t a separate person from the woman I’m talking to right now.”

“I am not that mean. She’s evil and I’m not! Did you know she killed people? I can still see their faces as my dagger pierces their skin.”

“Do you remember why you killed them?”

“I didn’t kill anyone, she did! I’m not her.”

Samael got quiet and stared up at her, standing on the mattress. She towered over his tall frame and she hated that a part of her enjoyed it.

“I’m going to do something for you even though I’m not supposed to. Lean down to me and put your face even with mine.”

Marcella turned and looked at her men. They stood without her saying a word and walked around to stand on the side of Samael. Dominic got inches from his face looking straight into his eyes.

“If you hurt her, we’ll kill you.”

“Oh, it’s going to hurt, but it won’t be permanent. She’ll recover quickly.”

“Do it.” Marcella stepped off the bed and looked up at him. “If it’ll help me find Donavon, I’ll take it. I need to find him. You don’t understand. We need him.”

“Oh no, this isn’t to help you find your other warrior. This is so you quit being a baby about what you are.”

Large hands cupped her cheeks, wrapping around her head. Her face was jerked forward until all she could see was the deep blue of his eyes. Images exploded into her mind.

Looking around the edge of a door, she could see a woman facing an occupied chair. Her beauty was unmistakable. Flawless skin covered her face, her lips perfectly bow shaped. Leaning down toward Ambrose, she pushed her golden hair over her dark green, silk covered shoulder.

The woman kissed along his bare chest as she wrapped her arms around him. Anger consumed Marcianna, but she stared curious to see what Ambrose would do. The grip of his hand looked to be tight on the woman’s shoulder as he held her attention and shook his head no.

Silver flashed from underneath the girl’s sleeve and Marcianna realized she already had her dagger in her hand. She watched carefully while the girl slowly withdrew it from the underside of her wrist. Without thought, without a grain of guilt, Marcianna pushed the door open wider and sent her dagger flying into the girl’s neck.

Screams broke through the vision as pain rushed into her head. She yelled for Samael to stop, but another vision soon followed this one faster, drowning out her voice. The men all were laughing at their long table. The great hall was completely full of people. She could feel how happy everyone felt. As hard as she could, she tried to bring Donavon’s face into focus, but she couldn’t.

A young man, no older than nineteen began filling her glass, distracting her. Red sloshed around her golden cup. The smell of food seemed so real, a part of her could swear she was truly there. Time slowed, until everything stopped completely. Immediately, she saw herself looking around at an immobile room. Grabbing her dagger from her thigh, movement and sounds swallowed the space as if nothing happened. A second hadn’t gone by when pain erupted on the side of her throat.

Warmth spilling over her hand was the only clue that she’d even raised her weapon. Her eyes turned to Dominic, whose own dagger was buried in the serving boy’s ribs. They stared at each other shocked. Pandemonium broke out as people rushed to her side, screaming about the attack. She knew she would heal within seconds, but the stampede of warriors set her into a panic. Suddenly, the color drained away until all she could see the darkness of Samael’s blurry eyes in front of her.

Fire raced down her throat from screaming. Her energy felt completely gone. The last thing she refused to do though was drop like her body wanted to. Clearing her throat, she fought to focus her eyes, but with the pain in her head it was almost impossible.

“You see! That’s it?” Dominic stared at her unbelievably.

“Yes, I see. They deserved to die. I’d do it again.”

“Well, what the hell happened?”

She opened her mouth, but closed it. Something told her not to tell. Her eyes went back to Samael. The anxiety coursing through him hit her in waves. The more she remembered the more sensitive she became. If she didn’t get him to calm soon her skin would begin to crawl with his concern. “I forgive you for showing me. Stop worrying.”

The dark angel gave her a look as if he didn’t believe her. “When you’re back completely, you better not punish me for that. You asked for it. I’ve never seen you doubt yourself so much and it irritates me. Now, you mentioned not being able to think? Tell me.”

Trying to find the words to describe exactly the problem, she twisted her hands in the material of her dress. “I can’t think. My mind tries to focus and everything ends cut off except the tingling that’s brought on by the voices.”

“I was wondering when it would begin. You need to submit so we can see what happens. Something wants out and you have to let it.”

“Absolutely, not!”

“There’s no other way. You have to, and your men are going to need me here. You may not be anywhere near as powerful as you used to be, but I’m betting even now we’re going to have a hell of a time controlling you.”

“The succubus stays inside. She, I will not release. Not yet.”

Samael rolled his eyes. “Whatever. If it is her trying to come, I’ll help you put her back until you’re ready. There are no guarantees but I’ll try. Marcella, you have to understand what your life will be like. You will always have to release every creature at some point. That’s what the dungeon is for. I don’t think we need it yet, but we will eventually.”

Marcella took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Great. What a thing to look forward to. She’d do this and get it over with. What could possibly go wrong? She might have had a hard time at first with her vampire, but she quickly got control of that one. The others should be a piece of cake.

“Fine, but no succubus.” Cobwebs took over her body. Completely relaxing, she let the energy flow through her. The moment the change reached her chest, she could feel her heart accelerate and fill with rage and hate. Scared, her eyes flew open wide. She tried stopping the progression, but the pushing continued to rise.

“What is this? It’s evil. I don’t like it. Make it stop.”

“I don’t think I can,” Samael said cautiously.

She turned to look at her men. “Please.” Her throat immediately closed. The webs burst through her head and with it, the fire and heat from all the fury residing inside of her. An evil low pitched feminine voice whispered incoherent words. Marcella started shaking her head frantically trying to make them stop.

Noticing her skin, she gasped for air. Gray tinted her flesh giving off the impression of a dead body. She wasn’t sure if it was from the darkness overlapping her vision or if she truly was the awful color. Pains began to push against her shoulder blades setting her into further panic. The scary voice quickly distracted her from her body.

Marcella let out a scream from the hate she felt rush through her. Looking around, desperate to escape away from everyone, she raised her hands and used the energy to push them away. They all flew back a good ten feet landing hard on their backs.

The need to protect them left Marcella sprinting for the front door. They couldn’t see her like this. What if she ended up hurting one of them? It wasn’t worth the risk. How could she do this for the rest of her life? She wasn’t safe.