Undying Vengeance (13 page)

K
atrina pulled the
blanket up to her chin. The couch was comfortable enough, but what Victor said to her made her uncomfortable. What kind of request could a vampire possibly ask of her? A human couldn’t do much for a vampire except offer an endless supply of blood or worse, be the one meal before death. Well, she supposed she could end up being his ‘feeding tank’. The thought of being food for a vampire’s existence sent chills down her spine. Maybe he thought of her as something to remind him what it felt like to be human. An accessory, just like furniture, was that what he wanted of her? She was scared to ask him what his request was. He had such a wicked gleam in his eye when he mentioned having a request of her.

Victor watched her from the kitchen. Such a beautiful woman, and she fit perfectly in his life right now. He decided to act as a vampire of chivalry. After all, he forced her to move in and chivalry was by no means an act of love.

“Katrina, would you like something to eat or drink?”

Fear seized her. Was he going to feed her blood? What type of foods could a vampire have stored in his refrigerator or freezer? “No thank you. I’m not hungry or thirsty.” She said and pulled the blanket up to her nose trying to hide from what was happening. Katrina wished that she could disappear under the blankets and wake up in her bed realizing this was all just a bad dream. Curiosity was killing her. “What do you have that a human could eat or drink, Victor?” She asked. Fury at the situation drove her to sit up and face the kitchen where Victor stood. “Are you going to offer me a glass of blood? You will never make me taste blood, Victor!” She screamed and clenched her fists.

Victor watched her, aroused by her feistiness. “I would never make you drink blood, my dear. I was offering to cook food for you or offer you a beverage of your choice. Not blood. Would you like a glass of wine or a cocktail?” He asked, smiling inside. Katrina wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and he loved that about her already. “For dinner I was thinking steak or lobster.” He crossed his arms and stared at her, a warm expression on his face. Mere moments ago he had been ready to kill her, but something about her had calmed him. The monster within was at bay when he was in her presence, but it didn’t mean the monster didn’t exist. Unfortunately, it did and always would.

Victor thought of Donovan. He was with Armani convincing him to cross over. Armani would be a perfect fit for the Dark Ones. Donovan knew his life depended on a successful cross over. Once he had Katrina settled in he was headed over to Armani’s home to check on things and make sure that every thing went as planned. If not, God have mercy on Armani and Donovan’s souls. They would both be destroyed. Victor didn’t have a soft heart when it came to his followers. But, the woman on the couch made his heart feel things it hadn’t in many centuries.

Katrina smiled at Victor reminding herself to play nice. She may have lost the first battle but she would win the war. “You know what. I am a bit hungry, Victor. I’d love a hamburger with onion and mayo only, please. And a glass of red wine sounds wonderful. I could use it after tonight.” She said. “Maybe it will help ease some of this pain in my ankle.”

Victor sensed she was in more pain than she lead him to believe. “Let me get you some ice for the swelling. That will help the pain a little bit as well.” He disappeared and a moment later he was at Katrina’s side with ice wrapped in a towel. He placed it on her ankle. Katrina was lying back staring at the ceiling. Her beauty would never cease to amaze him. “You know what?” He asked. “You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.” He whispered.

Katrina winced. He called her a creature? What man would ever call a woman that? It sounded ridiculous and absurd. She snickered. “I’d like to think of myself as more than just a creature, thank you very much.” She lifted her head and gazed at her ankle, letting out a deep breath. The cold ice chilled her from head to toe. “Could I have another blanket, Victor?”

A blanket appeared out of nowhere and Victor covered her with it and brushed her cheek with his palm. “I would do anything for you.” He smiled.

It was the first real smile Katrina had seen and the first time he seemed happy. Katrina laid her head back, closed her eyes and tried not to think about where she was and how she got here. Let alone, how the hell she was going to get herself out of this situation.

“Don’t worry you will learn to love me and your new home.” Victor said.

Forgetting he had the ability to read her mind, she chastised herself. Many of her thoughts needed to be kept at bay so he wouldn’t eavesdrop on her private thoughts and motives. “I have to ask. How you do that?” She asked.

“Do what, Katrina?” Victor asked his lips turned upward in a crooked smile. “Read your mind?” He laughed. “It’s easy, really, especially for an old vampire such as me.” He walked to the kitchen, stopped and placed his hands on each side of the doorway. “Would you like to learn?” He asked, moving his head from side to side.

“Yes, if it means I get to read your mind.” She stated matter of fact.

Victor faced her, a cold hungry look in his eyes. “I don’t allow people or other vampires to read my mind. That will never happen. I am much too powerful and strong. Even when I find my mate and share blood with her my mind will not be open to her.”

Katrina sat up again. She had so many questions. “You said when you find your mate and share blood with her, your mind and thoughts will remain closed to her. Is it true, then what they say in books about sharing blood with a vampire that it forms an unbreakable bond and connection with the ability to read each others minds?” She asked a puzzled look on her face.

Victor smiled. Katrina was such an innocent mortal. “Yes, that fact is true, but many things they say about us are not true. Fiction, as you know tends to be the imagination of an author. Some facts and reality is mixed in with what the author wants to make up about vampires. Most of the facts written in fiction books that involve vampires are taken from the very first vampire book titled, Dracula. I’m sure you’ve read that one.” Victor ran his hands through his black hair. “I have much to teach you, but right now I want to prepare you a meal. My queen needs to eat and rest.” Victor turned and walked into the kitchen.

Katrina didn’t say a word. The sounds of clanging dishes and Victor whistling reminded her of home. She closed her eyes and imagined she was lying on her own couch.

A kiss on her nose awoke her. Katrina jumped. Victor kneeled beside her, a smile on his face. What if he had decided to pierce her neck with his sharp fangs instead? After all, she assumed death would be the final end result in her stay here. “How long was I sleeping?” She yawned.

Victor stood and held his hand out to her. “Only about thirty minutes. Come with me. Dinner is ready for the two of us.”

Katrina sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. “It sure smells good.” Her stomach growled. “I guess I’m hungrier than I thought,” she grinned and placed her hand in Victor’s and he helped her to her feet.

“How does your ankle feel when you put weight on it?” He asked.

“Much better than I thought it would,” she said amazed it didn’t pain her more.

“Come, dinner is ready,” He said leading her to the kitchen.

She stood in awe and stared at Victor’s kitchen. It was the biggest one she had ever seen in her life. It didn’t even compare to the ones in magazines. The walls were a pale gray, the shiny marble floor was black and red checkered. It was a bit dizzying, but pretty and rich all the same. Three large stainless steel refrigerators lined one wall. A large oven and grill stove sat next to the sink. Two silver dining room tables were placed on each end of the kitchen. A bar sat next to the walk out patio with ten black bar stools surrounding the table. Katrina noticed that there was enough alcohol to stock a small bar.

“Do you drink a lot?” She asked and pointed the bar.

Victor set the food on the table and smiled. “No, my dear, I tend to stay away from alcohol. Once in awhile a glass of wine suits me well.” He gestured for her to sit down. “The bar is for looks and entertainment purposes.”

Katrina walked toward a chair and smiled when she saw a dozen roses in the center of the table. “The flowers are beautiful.” She leaned over and smelled them. She touched the glass vase and noticed how expensive it was. “My God, this is a Tiffany vase.”

Victor stood behind her and pulled the chair out for her to take a seat. “I have expensive tastes and always have.”

Katrina sat and Victor pushed the chair in. “Thank you. You sure are a gentleman, and believe me they are hard to find these days.” She said, unfolded a napkin and placed it on her lap.

“You are most welcome.” Victor hummed while prepping her plate. He floated to the table and set her plate down in front of her. “Enjoy.” He said and sat across from her.

“Aren’t you going to eat? I don’t want to eat alone.”

Victor shook his head. “I’m saving my appetite. I have plans later tonight and will eat then.” The smug expression on his face told her Victor was talking about feeding on a human and drinking blood.

“Ok. I don’t want to hear about it.” Katrina said. Here she was sitting at the dinner table with a vampire. How crazy was this? How crazy was she? She dismissed her thoughts and picked up the burger and took a big bite. “Delicious.” The burger was gone in less than five minutes. She knew it was probably bad manners to eat so fast, but she couldn’t help herself. This would give her strength and help her heal quicker in order to make her escape in the near future. She sipped her wine and stared at Victor. He sat sideways in his chair, looking out the window at the full moon, a hard menacing look on his face.

“Yes, Katrina. Do you have a question?” His expression softened when he returned her gaze.

“You look a thousand miles away. What’s on your mind?” She asked.

Victor shifted in his chair. “I have business to attend to this evening, so I will be leaving you here alone.” He stared at her and added, “So don’t try to escape and run away from me. There’s no way out. The doors and windows will not open for you.” He said an evil glint sparkled in his eye. “Get that thought out of your mind immediately.”

Katrina blushed. “That’s not on my mind. Stop being so paranoid, Victor.” She said with a wave of her hand. “I mean, really, did everyone in your past leave you or something?” She figured she might as well try to get to know him and that started with his past.

Victor’s gaze was cold as ice. “No, not everyone in my past left me, my dear. I left quite a few people myself,” he paused and placed his hands on the table, “dead.” He laughed, his fangs showing. “My past does not concern you. I want you to get to know the ‘me’ that is before you, not the ‘me’ I left behind.” He said. Victor knew it was time to change the subject. One thing he knew was that women, in general were persistent on topics. They wanted answers and wouldn’t stop asking questions until they were satisfied with the specific answer they were searching for. That would be deadly for Katrina and Victor didn’t want to hurt or kill her, so it was best for the subject to change. And fast. “Would you like some more to eat?”

Katrina got the message. “No thanks. I’m stuffed. Maybe later I’ll find something sweet to eat.” She smiled. “What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?” She asked. The thought of being locked up in some small room like a caged animal made her angry. She hoped he would let her roam about the house freely, but she wasn’t sure he would after her last escape attempt. How could she have been so stupid? Waiting until daylight would have made more sense. She shook her head and cursed herself for acting on impulse.

Victor held his hand out to her. “Come with me. I have a wonderful entertainment room that I’m sure you will find amusing.” He said and led her through the house to the basement stairwell.

Awestruck, Katrina followed holding Victor’s cold hand. Every time she walked through the house, she was amazed at the beauty. It was dark with a gothic twist, but so elegant and rich at the same time.

She stopped and looked up. “I love the chandelier,” she said. It was black with red crystal shimmering throughout. The bulbs were placed under small white lampshades that illuminated the walkway with an eerie red color but it was breathtaking.

Victor smiled and allowed her to admire it. “Thank you. I purchased it in England on one of my many trips. It reminded me of Count Dracula.” He laughed. “It was an impulse buy. I knew I had to have it when I saw it.” He tugged her hand and led her toward the basement.

A few minutes later they stood in front of a closed door with a sign posted to it that read, ‘Enter at Your Own Risk.’ Katrina wondered why in the world anyone would put a sign up like that on a door in there own home. She glanced at Victor. Ah yes, a vampire would. But, no one in their right mind would roam through his home. Victor would sense the presence of an intruder and that poor soul wouldn’t live to see another day.

“Why in the world do you have that sign on the door?” She asked puzzled.

Victor pointed at the sign and smiled. “Think about it for a moment. Why do you think I would put that on there?” He asked and studied her face waiting for an answer.

Katrina had no clue. “I asked you the question. If I knew the answer I wouldn’t have asked.”

The door opened and a cold breeze swept over Katrina, covering her body with goose bumps. She rubbed her arms. What the hell was Victor planning on doing to her?

“Magic,” Victor said and placed his cloak around Katrina’s shoulders. “I suppose you want me to explain the sign.” Katrina nodded. “I’m a careful vampire, but there are always the curious who come upon my home and decide it’s their God given right to enter and take a self-guided tour. The sign is to keep them from coming downstairs and forcing me to kill them.” He said and turned the lights on in the basement. “This is where my lair is. Where I sleep and no one is to disturb me. Besides, what would they do if they found me? That’s easy. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill me.” Victor stated answering his own question.

Katrina was confused. “Why do you think they would kill you?” She assumed they would be more scared and run like hell to get away from the house.

“They would because I sleep in a black coffin.” He said. “Either that or they would have every cop in town here and I’d be on the news and have more people after me than you or I could ever dream of.” He dismissed the conversation and took her hand. “Come now.”

She followed but hadn’t forgotten the sign. “Victor, tell me the truth about why the sign is up.”

Victor floated down the stairs, his feet never touching one step. “I’m not a bad vampire.” He said knowing this was not entirely true. Evil dwelt in his heart and soul. It was possible that Katrina could change him, but he didn’t think so. He had answered the question the way he knew she would want to hear it but it was not the whole truth. Victor liked to pick his victims, not the other way around. “I wouldn’t want to kill someone just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, such as my lair. How fair would that be for that innocent soul?” There were humans he didn’t consider innocent and those were the ones he delighted in torturing and killing. The people he considered animals that abused children in horrible ways and deserved the deaths he dealt them.

Katrina swallowed hard. Victor’s eyes glowed red. She turned from him trying not to look scared. He talked about killing like people talked about the weather, as though it was just normal everyday conversation. Regaining her composure she faced him. “That’s nice of you to want to spare the innocent souls. So what do you like doing to the guilty souls?”

This woman was too smart for her own good and much too inquisitive. “Dear Katrina, let’s discuss this another time. I told you at dinner that I don’t want to share my past with you yet.” He smiled and pulled her into his embrace. How easy it would be for him to kill her. She was a small frail woman and he was hungry and thirsty for human blood. The sooner he got out of here and to Armani’s the better off they would both be. He was a powerful vampire and his powers knew no end.

Katrina forgot about their recent conversation and walked around the entertainment room.

“This is amazing. I love it. Do you play pool?” She asked and rubbed the felt green surface.

“Not much. Most of the things in my home are for decoration. I entertain myself in other ways. You’re free to do anything. Let’s just say everything in here is yours now.” He studied Katrina and tried to remember what it was like to be human. It was so many centuries ago and his childhood memories were all painful. Maybe he chose not to remember. When he became a vampire, it suited him well. Loss and sadness were replaced with rage and hate. The older he got the colder his heart and soul became.

Katrina walked around and stopped at a large door. “What’s in here?” She asked and slowly opened the door.

“Seek and ye shall find,” Victor replied.