Corin & Angelique (After the Fall of Night) (6 page)

Sheltered under his cape and Stetson, he made a swift dash for the woods.
Reaching the shady folds, he metamorphosed into a wolf and tore off in the direction of the creek, keeping to the cover of the woodland floor for protection from the dwindling light breaking through the shield of trees above him. He knew right where to find her—walking the path that led to the creek where their properties merged.

Making his way through the crowding of trees, he caught sight of another wolf
running parallel with him. A bit to his left, the creature kept in perfect unison. Time slowing to a crawl, he watched as it moved in slow motion. Surmising this was no ordinary wolf, Corin veered toward it. But with his attempt to intercept, the animal suddenly dematerialized, confirming what he feared—another immortal walked the woods.

Why can’t I sense you?

Corin picked up his pace, now more concerned than ever for Angelique’s safety.

Relief suffused his body when he spotted her on the path. Careful not to be
seen, he bypassed her in the woods, reached the creek ahead of her, and waited. He reclaimed his human form, clothes and all, having the exceptional power to shape-shift anything on his person. Fortunately, the sun had finally descended, but for the moment, he kept to the shadows and anticipated her arrival. Her scent carried on the air as she drew close. He inhaled deeply, a subdued groan emerging as he exhaled. Only a few feet away from him now, his gaze fell on her.

“Hello again,” he stepp
ed into view.

“Corin
…hello.” Her lack of reaction led him to believe she must have expected to run into him.

“We’re going to have to stop meeting this way. We wouldn’t want to subject
ourselves to rumors,” Corin’s remark prompted her to laugh.

“Is that so?” Angelique played along
, twirling a strand of hair in her fingers. “And who would ever know? I doubt anyone else is out here, traipsing around these woods.”

“True,” he responded, not able to tell her about the creature he’d just
encountered in the form of a wolf, worried where it might be.

He could have offered to walk her home again, but she was an addiction—a
sensual, dark-haired vision that haunted his every waking hour. Yes, he wanted to protect her, but he also longed to be with her even though he knew he shouldn’t. Conflicted, he invited her to his house for drinks, but silently reprimanded himself for encouraging her affections.

“I’d love to. I never go beyond the creek, stemming back to a promise I made
my father. But I’m not a child anymore, and it would be nice to explore your side for a change. The mansion is so secluded behind that wall. I’ve lived here all my life and have never seen it up close.”

“Well, allow me to escort you
, then.” Corin presented an arm for her to take hold.

The moon provided plenty of light as they made their way across a shallow
area of the creek and through the winding woods. Corin kept a watchful eye out for any unwelcome company, but the trespassing immortal didn’t show himself again.

“You must forgive my brother’s behavior last evening.” Angelique looked into
his shadowed face. “I was so ashamed of his reprehensible conduct.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Considering everything that’s happened, I can’t
blame him for being protective.”

“He’s under a lot of stress. And the sheriff pinning him as a suspect isn’t
helping matters any,” she told him.

“That’s just preposterous. From what I’ve seen, no man could have loved his
wife more.”

“He really did love her. They were a perfect fit. Made for each other,” She
responded in a low, remorseful tone. “They had something special—that once in a lifetime thing—the sort of love most of us spend our whole lives searching for, and few ever find.”

“They were soul mates, and he’ll no doubt grieve for a long time to come.”

“I just hope it doesn’t destroy him. I’m afraid he’s giving up on life.”

“He’s suffered a tremendous loss, but in time, he’ll learn to live again.”

“I pray you’re right.” Angelique suddenly halted as they rounded a corner and a tall stone and mortar wall came into view.

“My uncle was a private man,” Corin guided her to a
solid gate and pulled a keychain from his pocket. Singling out the one required, he unlocked the gate and welcomed her inside. Passing through, the mansion loomed in front of them.

“
Wow. It’s breathtaking. I’ve only seen it once before…a long time ago.”

Corin was pleased with her reaction, almost relieved by her approval. He
couldn’t help fantasizing, envisioning her mistress of von Vadim Estate. He would have loved nothing more than to keep her there with him forever, but for the good of her soul, he would never be so selfish.

“I just see it as home.” He guided her across the well-manicured back grounds
to the house, watching her expressions. At the front of the structure, he motioned toward the entrance. “Shall we take company inside?”

“Listening to you, Corin, I’d think you were from another era.”

He laughed to himself.
If she only knew how right she was.

Past influences often crept into his speech. When living for hundreds of years,
losing track of the changes in times and styles wasn’t hard to do. Over the years, he’d observed the mortals living out their lives around him, rarely attempting to interact with them. He did form associations with a select few, those needed to maintain his personal finances and other necessities of living, finding that there was less chance of discovery that way.

“Maybe I am from another era, or was, in another life,” he told her. Funny
thing was, he spoke the truth.

* * * *

A dark-colored wolf raced across Old Denaud Road and prompted Tomes to stop. He hopped out of his truck and peered into the woods where the animal had darted, but the darkness and underbrush prevented him from seeing very much.

Mournful howls echoed, creating an eerie
atmosphere. It was unusual to hear so many of the animals, and he’d never spotted one so close to the farm before, giving him cause for concern.

“What is going on?”

The idling truck sputtered as he hopped back in. He contemplated going to von Vadim Estate to get Corin’s thoughts, but decided he should first locate Angelique and apprise her of the situation.

“You’re out there in the woods…alone. Even after what happened to Louisa
.” He knew how much his sister enjoyed taking her nightly walk.

Figuring he’d best find her before she ended up face to face with one of the
creatures, he hurried home, parked, and ran to the front door of the house. Stepping inside, he called out, receiving no response. She wasn’t there.

“Da
rn it, Angel.”

On foot, he headed for the woods. Dappled in shadows from the
surrounding trees, the trail he followed wound its way to the creek. He expected to meet up with her at any moment along the way, but he saw no sign of her.

“Where are you?”

Standing next to the water, he looked around and sighed, growing more worried with every passing minute.

“Your cell phone.”

He hurried back to the farm, hoping she had her phone with her. Bolting from the truck, he barreled into the house and dialed her number, expelling a held breath when she answered. He’d never been so glad to hear her voice.

* * * *

Angelique stared up at the massive three-story structure in utter awe. She had seen it before, when she was a child, but only from a distance when Tomes coaxed her into exploring von Vadim land. They were curious about the recluse, Victor von Vadim, and why their father had so adamantly forbade them from tarrying beyond the creek. She recalled how they found a tree overhanging the wall and climbed it, getting a view of the estate house. An unsettling dread befell her when her eyes gazed on the dwelling, as if it were reaching for her, trying to draw her in and capture her in its hold forever. It was so disturbing she never went there again.

Progressing toward the mansion now with Corin, that old eeriness crept back,
but she chalked it up to being warned her whole life to stay away. But with Victor von Vadim deceased, she presumed any threat her father thought existed there was now gone. Thinking of the recluse, she recalled how he’d kept the gate at the main entrance chained, warding off anyone who dared attempt to enter. It had remained that way until Corin inherited the estate a month earlier and removed them.

“Wait.” Angelique, growing disoriented, stopped and reached for Corin.

Suddenly inundated by past memories, she was unable to prevent a flashback, sweeping her back to a brief meeting she’d had with Victor von Vadim when she was eight years old.

Night had just fallen. She sat in the living room of their farmhouse reading a
book when a knock sounded at the door. With everyone else preoccupied in other rooms, she answered, greeted by a tall, older fair-haired gentleman. Clutching her book, she looked up into his face with wide-open eyes, having no inkling of who he was.

“Hello,” she managed to say before her father
, John, appeared in the room behind her. He rushed toward her as if intercepting her from some terrible danger.

“I want you to go to your room, little miss.” He attempted to usher her away,
but the visitor halted his attempt.

“Wait.” The stranger knelt to her level and looked into her face. “What is your
name?”

“Angelique. But my brother, Tomes, he calls me
Angel. I’m no angel though. Just ask my dad.” She looked up at her father.

“I’d wager that he’d disagree,” the man replied with a laugh
, brushing back a length of her long, dark hair that fell across her face. “I certainly couldn’t imagine an angel more lovely, not even in heaven.”

“Who are you?” Angelique
looked into his inky eyes.

“I’m your neighbor. My name is Victor.”

“You own the land next to ours?” She still held tightly to her book.

“Yes, von Vadim Estate
,” he replied, seeming amused by his conversation with her.

“Don’t you like people?” she asked candidly.

“Angelique!” her father interceded. “It’s rude to—”

“No. It’s okay,” Victor assured him. “I may not be the most sociable person in
the world, but I don’t dislike people.”

“Then why do you try so hard to keep us all out? Your gate is always locked up
with those big chains.”

“That’s a very good question, my dear, and all I can say in my defense is that
I’m a very private person. I’ve never been fond of company, although, after talking with you tonight, I might consider leaving the gate open once in a while, especially if I knew I’d be getting a visit from a new friend.”

“You mean me?” Angelique asked with enthusiasm.

“Yes, you.” He tickled her under the chin before rising to greet John who was noticeably agitated by his interaction with the child.

“You’d better scoot on to your room now. Mr. von Vadim and I have business
to discuss,” John instructed, rubbing Angelique’s head and sending her out of the room.

“She’s a very special child,”
von Vadim said.

Angelique heard
the remark from where she lingered just around the corner.

“I consider us friends, Victor, you know that, but there will be no visits to the
estate by my daughter. When it comes to my children, I draw the line.”

“I understand. I’ve overstepped my boundaries, and I apologize.”

Both men grew silent when a thud caught their attention. Angelique, having accidentally dropped her book, quickly scooped it up and rushed to her bedroom. It wasn’t like her to eavesdrop, but something drew her to Victor von Vadim. She just didn’t know exactly what that “something” was.

At that point, the
flashback ended and Angelique blinked several times to clear her vision. Squatting, she rubbed her temples where pressure had built, gathering her bearings. Now remembering Victor von Vadim, she couldn’t help wishing she’d known more about him. She presumed she’d never find the answers to the questions weighing on her mind—why she’d felt drawn to him. The man would forever remain a mystery. And her father. She didn’t understand why he’d forbade her and Tomes from stepping foot on von Vadim land when all the while he spent his days there—the estate overseer. She always suspected that something deceptive was amiss, but since both men had carried their secrets with them to their graves, all she had was suspicion.

“Are you all right?” Corin
bent in front of her, his face showing his concern.

“I’m fine. Just a little dizzy. Perhaps from the long walk,” she lied, afraid he
might think the flashback she’d just experienced was weird. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of it herself.