Dark Rapture (39 page)

“No!”

Sebastian looked to her, his face growing weak, and she felt she could no longer contain the anger and hatred growing within her—but there was something amiss. He
winked
at her.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Francesco,” Sebastian said, prompting his opponent to turn back to him and gasp in horror. He pulled the narrow blade from his chest slowly, catching the tip as it left his body. A spot of blood colored his shirt. “Like a fork through Jell-O. But then you’re not familiar with the properties of Jell-O, are you, my ancient friend?” He tossed the sword to the floor. “I think you’ll need a thicker weapon to cause my heart to burst.”

Something clicked inside of Scarlet and she raced forward in defense of her lover. “I’ve got just the thing!” Before Francesco could turn around, Scarlet plunged the stake through his back.

Sebastian stood aghast as Francesco reached down and fingered the thick, bloody point that protruded from the gushing fountain in his chest. He pressed his hand over the stake, trying to push it back out, and then looked at Sebastian, the blood already running from the corners of his eyes and mouth.

“I only wanted what was justly mine.” He choked up streams of thick blood. “You took Serena from me.” He staggered and his foot slipped in the blood pooling at his feet. “Was I so wrong?”

He fell forward and Sebastian caught him under the arms, then lowered him to the floor.

“I’m sorry, Francesco, my friend. You went about it the wrong way.”

Francesco’s body slumped, his eyes closing, and Sebastian set his head on the ground at his feet.

“May your soul find the heavens above.
Au revoir,
Francesco Volierre.”

He looked up to Scarlet. “I—I—can’t believe I did that,” she mumbled. “I k-killed him.” She shuddered, but an ear-piercing scream shattered the stillness. 
 Vince’s legs bent and his body fell to the floor.

Gary bent over Vince while Sebastian stood and received Scarlet in a crushing embrace. He looked her over frantically, smoothing her hair from her face and scanning her features to be sure she was all right.

“I’m so sorry, Scarlet.” He wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her again. “I thought you would be safe. I never wanted things to happen this way.”

“I killed him, Sebastian. I shouldn’t have—I would never—”

He quickly pressed a kiss to her lips, silencing her worries. “You saved my life,
cherie."

Still shaking, she looked down at Francesco’s inert body. “Saved your life? I
did,
didn’t I?” A shudder of pride ran through her veins. “I really did it. I saved the day.”

Behind them, Gary called for help.

“Hold tight, my brave angel, I’ll be right back.” Sebastian rushed to Gary, leaving Scarlet standing alone.

She jittered nervously but it was no longer from the shock of what she had done. “I really did it,” she whispered, feeling the elation build. “Yes!”

“Is Vince going to be all right?” Gary asked as Sebastian knelt next to him.

“I think so. When his master dies, part of him goes too. But hopefully it’s the part that never should have taken him in the first place. The evil part.”

Scarlet joined them and Gary pulled her down into his arms. “I was worried about you, sis. These past few days have been hell.”

“It was a good thing you had that stake.” Sebastian looked over Gary’s shoulder.

“Hey, I’ve had the urge to stake a vampire for a few days now. ’Bout time
someone
got around to doing it.” He laughed nervously. “But don’t worry, after today, I think I'll retire that stake.”

“Whew,” Sebastian said with a grin and the two men embraced Scarlet.

Vince came to with a start. “Where’s Scarlet? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” Gary said. “Everybody is fine, I think,” he said with a glance around the room. At least he hoped so. It was painfully evident that he was the only mortal in the room.

“I never wanted to hurt Scarlet," Vince said. "I can’t believe what I’ve done. It’s as if Francesco had some kind of power over me.”

“Sebastian said that Francesco’s control over you would vanish with his death. Looks like you’re your own man now, Vince. Er, ah, vampire, that is.”

“Hey, Gary.” Vince reached out and Gary clasped his hand. “How do you feel about your best friend being a bloodsucker?”

“Nothing new to me,” Gary said with a defeated sigh. “Kind of starting to get used to you guys. Here, let me help you up.”

The two walked over to Sebastian and Scarlet, and Vince apologized adamantly. But there was no reason. She forgave him, and Sebastian suggested they go home to celebrate.

“What about Francesco?” Vince asked.

The four of them turned to the hearth where Francesco lay. There was nothing but a bloody stake and a pile of ashes where his body had lain. The flames flickered and the breeze pushed the ashes across the floor into the puddle of blood.

“Always wondered if that part was true,” Sebastian said. “If vampires returned to ashes with their true death.”

“Guess that answered your question, huh?” Gary said as he walked over and scuffed the pile of ashes. He got a splatter of blood on the toe of his shoe and scraped it across the floor, making sure he brought no part of Francesco home with him.

“Does he have any control over me now, Sebastian?” Vince asked.

“No,” Sebastian said. "Goodbye, Francesco. I will not forget you."

Sensing his grief, Scarlet pulled him close. “He was once a good man. We will both have our memories of him and he’ll never die in your heart.”

“Then I’d say it’s party time.” Vince let a whoop shatter the silence. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Tossing the bloody stake into the fire, Gary joined in and the foursome headed home.

Epilogue

Clutching the diary against his chest, Vince descended the stairs of the crypt. It was deathly cold but this time the temperature did not bother him. He had told Gary he needed some time to himself after everything that had happened. Taking his friend’s uneasy nod as a sign of acceptance, Vince said he’d be up later.

Standing over the third coffin, in which his own name was carved into stone, Vince wondered about his future. Francesco’s death had coursed through his body like a streak of red flames burning for release and Sebastian had said that Francesco’s control and vicious anger would be gone from him now.

But Vince wasn’t so sure. The empty gnawing inside his body remained. He wanted—no,
needed,
blood. And it had to be the thick rich blood that burst forth as the heart exploded beneath his hands.

But what would Gary think? Or his other friends, and the guys in the band? He couldn’t tell them. At least, he couldn’t let on that he still had murderous cravings. No, he would be the good vampire to them. It wouldn’t be wise to show his true self.

The stone lid slid aside easily under his vampire strength. He reached inside the cool confines, touching dust and bone, which shattered beneath his crushing grip.

“I’ll have to bring the vacuum down here tomorrow,” he muttered and swept the skull and other bones toward the foot of the coffin.

He fingered the yellowed pages of the diary, his mouth watering to read the family secrets that had been kept from him for so long. But it would have to wait, at least until he could have Scarlet translate for him. Placing the diary at the head of the coffin, Vince jumped up and settled inside, pulling the cover shut.

***

“I love you,
cherie."
Sebastian kissed Scarlet.

So strange, she thought, as he grazed her lips with his teeth, that his mouth gave her the utmost pleasure, yet had also hurt so many people.

She pulled him on top of her as they lay in the sweet summer grass behind Vince’s mansion, allowing him free rein over her body as his passions provoked his hands to travel over her stomach and breasts. Her body tingled from his touch but she knew that it was also the intense invigoration she still felt from killing Francesco.

“So what happens now?”

“That depends,” he said. He placed an elbow to either side of her shoulders and hovered over her. “On how you answer the question.”

“What question?”

He gave her a mock pout, pushing out his bottom lip. “Did you forget already? I can’t believe it. I’ve only been waiting for an answer for centuries.”

Scarlet tried to divine what was going on behind the silly grin. What question was he talking about?

“Yes or no?” he persisted.

She shook her head. Was this some kind of test? “What question?”

“Scarlet, centuries ago I proposed to you before you so hastily took your leave of me. I’ve been waiting for an answer. So what’s it going to be? Will you marry me?”

Her heart thudded against Sebastian’s chest when she realized that he still wanted her to be his wife. But wouldn’t it be redundant now? They were already bonded in blood and soul, each being the creator of the other. What good would a marriage vow do when she had already signed her love over to him the night she had let him drink her blood?

“If you remember, Sebastian, you proposed to
Elisabeth.
Besides, what would be the purpose now?”

The shock on his face was a surprise.

“Scarlet? You mean, after all we’ve been through . . . after I have pledged my eternal and undying love to you . . . and we have shared each other’s blood . . .” He jumped to his feet and stepped back, looking past her to the house and up to the sky littered with stars. “How can you possibly jest?”

Scarlet rolled over and pushed up, brushing a few squished blades of grass from her elbows. She had wanted to accept his marriage proposal when she’d known that there was a possibility that she would never see him again. But now everything was different.

She had a vast lifetime ahead of her, an unfathomable amount of time that promised centuries of learning and new experiences. It was as if when Sebastian had given her the vampire’s life, she had somehow been re-born.

There was so much to do and discover now. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to be married. No, she was sure. She couldn’t marry Sebastian. Marriage, and the lifelong dependence on another person, would only ground her before she had a chance to spread her wings.

“We are already married in body and blood.” She caught the shock in his eyes as Sebastian crossed his arms. “I just think it silly to sign a piece of paper. You’ve introduced a whole new world to me, Sebastian. And right now I feel so invigorated. Like there’s nothing I can’t do! I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring.”

She scanned the stars, wanting her life to be as free and unrestrained as the heavens. Sure, she would live with Sebastian. It was unthinkable not to, with the way she felt about him.

She looked back to him, hoping to lift his sinking spirits. “I do love you Sebastian, and I will for all eternity, or . . . for as long as eternity is for us.” She ran a finger along the v-neck of her sweater and batted her lashes, hoping to get him off the subject of marriage. “Can’t you accept that and take me home?”

“But don’t you see?” He took her in his arms. “I want everyone to know. I want our love to be official. Do you actually think that marrying me would keep you from learning and living as you wish? I want you to revel in your new vampire life, Scarlet.”

Though he was trying not to plead she could sense the urgency in his voice.

Eternity was a long time. And a signed marriage contract would certainly tie her down, even if Sebastian didn’t think it would. She knew better. Not that she intended to stray from him . . . but who knew what the future would bring? Could one stay madly in love for
centuries?

“You know, you . . .” Sebastian started carefully. “. . . you are my blood child. And I am your . . .” he faltered looking away.

“My master?” She grasped his chin, forcing him to look at her. “I can’t believe you would say something like that, Sebastian. You, who wants me to revel in my vampirism, and to enjoy all life has to offer?”

“Scarlet—”

"My
master!” She said through gritted teeth, and then stepped toe to toe with him, matching his gaze with a powerful strength. “If you remember correctly, I am also
your
master. It’s a damned unbelievable twist of fate, I’ll grant you that, but the facts are there. And if we’re speaking historically, and chronologically, then that would prove me to be the first master.”

"Cherie"
He held up a placatory hand and shook his head. “I did not mean to imply that—”

“But you brought it up.”

“So I did. I am sorry.
Mon dieu,
is there nothing I can say to prove my love to you?” He walked a few steps away with his hands on his hips, muttering French curses under his breath. But suddenly he stopped, turned, and rushed back to her.

“Scarlet.” He pulled her hand up and pressed it to his chest. “You are my heart. We share the same soul. And so... I ask for nothing more than to possess the love of your heart and soul. But promise me I will never feel the pain of losing your love.” He swallowed. “You are free, my love . . .”

His head dipped and she gently touched his face. “I love you, Sebastian DelaCourte.” He nodded but she had to stand on tiptoe to kiss him, since he wouldn’t look down to her. “So much has happened, but my love will never cease, you must understand you
have
possession of my heart and soul, as I yours.”

Sebastian smiled and patted her hand, but Scarlet saw the tears in his eyes.

“I do understand,
cherie.
” He sighed. “I have given you the moon and the stars. My blood runs through your veins and my life is yours, but you are right. These things are only the beginning of a love that will endure forever. There are many wonders for you to discover.”

He hugged her, lifting her feet from the ground and Scarlet laughed as he twirled her around. “Yes. Let’s do things your way for now.”

"Soul mates," she said.

"Yes, soul mates."

She hugged him as the moon and stars spun above their heads. To new beginnings, she thought. And to life everlasting.