Embrace the Darkness (3 page)

Shay cursed the shackles that held her bound to the pole.

She cursed Evor, the greedy, remorseless son of a bitch.

She cursed the strange human who smelled of that foul evil she had sensed before.

And most of all she cursed Viper for treating her as no more than an expensive party treat.

Unfortunately the worthless cursing was all she could do as the clearly crazed human waved about his knife.

“She's mine. I must have her.”

The vampire never flinched. In fact, he stood so still that he appeared more dead than alive. Only the cold power surging through the air warned there was something stirring beneath the beautiful façade.

“You intend to battle me with no more than a hexed knife?” he demanded.

The man swallowed. “I cannot defeat a vampire.”

“Ah, you are not quite so stupid as you look.”

The tiny eyes darted about and Shay felt everyone tense. The man was desperate enough to try battling his way through a vampire. When he moved, however, it was not toward Viper but instead toward the gawking Evor. With astonishing skill he had his arm around the troll's neck and the knife pressed into the flabby skin of his throat.

“I will kill him. As long as he holds the Shalott's curse she will die as well.” His gaze remained trained on Viper, no doubt aware he was far more dangerous than any other demon in the room. “She will do you no good if she dies before you can drain her.”

Shay sucked in a sharp breath. She wasn't afraid to die. But, by God, if she were going to her grave she didn't want it to be while she was shackled to a pole and helpless to fight back.

Viper didn't move but his power was filling the room like an icy wave. The air stirred the silver strands of his hair and billowed the velvet cape.

“You will not kill her,” he said in tones that made a shiver run down Shay's spine. “I do not believe your employer would be pleased if she is brought to him as a corpse.”

The man gave a wild laugh. “If she ends up in the hands of another, I'm worse than dead. She might as well go with me.”

“So does your employer desire her, or fear her?” Viper murmured, smoothly moving forward. “Who is he? A demon? A sorcerer?”

“Stop or I will kill her.”

“No.” Viper continued his flowing stride. “You will drop the knife and walk away.”

“You can't glamour me with your eyes. I'm immune to mystical crap.”

“Fine, then I will have to kill you.”

“You can't—” The words of warning were still upon the man's lips when Viper had him by the throat and tossed him into a nearby wall.

For such a small man he managed to make a hell of a racket when he hit the paneling and slid to the floor. Astonishingly, however, he was back on his feet and reaching beneath his baggy coat in the blink of an eye. Clearly he was more than a mere human. No doubt a wizard with enough magical talent to offer some protection.

Lifting his hand, he clutched what looked to be a small rock. Shay frowned. She had lived with the witches long enough to know the crystal held a powerful spell.

“Viper.”

She called out the warning without knowing why. What did it matter who won the battle? Was being nightly drained by a pack of vampires preferable to whatever the unknown monster might have in store for her?

In the end it didn't matter.

Even before his name had tumbled from her lips, Viper was leaping to the side and allowing the blast of black magic to strike the far wall. Flames crawled over the paneling and with cries of panic the wealthy guests began scrambling for the nearest door. Magical fire was the one thing that was as deadly to demons as to humans.

“Get the fire extinguishers, you fools,” Evor cried, flapping his pudgy hands with growing panic. “I'm going to lose everything.”

The mountain trolls reluctantly lumbered to battle the flames, but Shay's attention remained glued to the duel between the vampire and the increasingly desperate man.

Viper was on his feet, his black cloak flowing about him as he stalked in a half circle about the man.

“The spell that protects you will not keep me from ripping out your throat,” he said in silky tones. “Are you that anxious to die?”

“Better my throat ripped out than what my master would do,” the man rasped as he lifted the crystal and released the power toward the vampire.

Once again Viper smoothly moved aside to allow the blast to hit the podium. It burst into flames and Evor squawked in horror.

“Over here. Bring the extinguisher over here,” the troll cried.

There was another blast and Shay fell flat on the floor, only her quick reflexes keeping her from being toast.

A low growl filled the air and Shay lifted her head to watch as Viper launched himself toward the terrified man. The hairs on the back of her neck stirred at the sight of his features honed to a stark, deadly mask and his fangs lengthened to kill.

He was no longer the beautiful angel but a lethal instrument of death.

The man screamed as Viper's teeth sank into his neck. The scream became a gurgle as the blood trickled down the man's throat and dripped onto the ivory carpeting. He was a heartbeat from death, but with futile desperation the man lifted the knife to stab the vampire in the back. Over and over the blade bit into Viper's flesh.

Shay winced. Although the knife couldn't kill a vampire it still had to hurt like a bitch.

There was another ghastly gurgle and Shay deliberately turned her head. A part of her was grateful not to be handed over to the looming evil that still tainted the air, but she preferred not to watch the vampire enjoy his midnight snack.

Especially when she might very well be breakfast.

There was a thump as the man was allowed to drop to the ground then the faint swish of fine velvet.

“I would suggest that you take better care of who you invite to your little auctions, Evor,” the vampire drawled. “Black wizards are never good for business.”

“Yes…yes, certainly.” Dry washing his hands the troll glanced about the room. The flames had been put out, but there was no salvaging the podium or the paneling on the far wall. Or the ivory carpeting that was now stained with blood. The elegant ambiance had taken a definite blow. “I offer my most sincere apologies. I cannot imagine how he managed to get through my security.”

“The question is not how. It is obvious he had help from a very powerful master. The question is who the master might be, and why he was so determined to get his hands upon the Shalott.”

“Ah…well, I don't suppose it matters now.” Evor gave a nervous shrug.

“Unless his master comes to search for him.”

Evor's eyes flashed red. “You think he will?”

“My talents do not include reading the future.”

“I must move the body.” The troll shot a glance toward the lifeless body. “Perhaps I should burn it?”

“Not my problem.” Viper shrugged his indifference. “I will take my property now.”

“Oh, of course. Such confusion.” Nervously searching his pockets Evor at last came up with a small amulet that he held out to the impatient vampire. “Here you are.”

Holding the amulet in his long, slender fingers Viper regarded the troll with a lift of his brows.

“Explain.”

“As long as you hold the amulet the Shalott must come when you call her.”

The midnight gaze slid toward Shay. She stiffened at the smoldering satisfaction that glinted within it.

“So, she cannot escape me?” he murmured.

“No.”

“What else does this do?”

“Nothing. I fear you shall have to control her on your own.” Evor dug in his pockets once again to extract a heavy key that he handed to Viper. “I would suggest you leave the shackles upon her until she is safely locked in a cell.”

Viper's gaze never left Shay's tight expression. “Oh, I do not fear controlling her,” he said softly. “Leave us.”

Evor gave a smooth bow as he motioned toward his goons. “As you will.”

Careful to collect the money still laying on the stage, Evor hustled the trolls before him and left the room. Once alone Viper moved to kneel before Shay who was still crouched beside the pole.

“Well, my pet. We meet again,” he murmured.

Ridiculously Shay felt her breath catch. My God, he was so beautiful. Eyes as dark and beguiling as a velvet night sky. The features chiseled by the hand of a master craftsman. The spill of silver hair that shimmered like the finest satin.

As if he had been created for the sole purpose of pleasuring every fortunate woman who crossed his path.

The urge to reach out and touch those perfect features and discover if they could possibly be real shuddered through her.

Shay discovered her hand actually lifting when she caught herself. Crap. What was wrong with her?

This…treacherous rodent had just bought her lock, stock, and barrel, as Levet would say.

She wanted to stick a stake in his heart, not discover if he could deliver on the pleasure he promised.

“I would say it's a pleasant surprise, but it isn't,” she muttered.

“Not pleasant, or not a surprise?”

The silken words spread over her skin making her shiver in response. Even his voice was created to make a woman climax on the spot.

“Guess,” she gritted.

He arched a brow that was several shades darker than his hair. “I would think you would be a bit more grateful, pet. I did just rescue you from what I suspect was a very grim future.”

“I am not your pet, and my future is hardly less grim with you.”

“You do not yet know my plans for you.”

“You are a vampire. That's all I need to know.”

He reached out a slender hand to touch the curls that had come loose from her braid to trail over her cheek. A cool rush of power swept through her body making her stomach clench with sharp pleasure.

Damn vampire.

“You believe we are all the same?”

“Vampires have been after my blood for a hundred years. Why should you be any different?”

His lips twitched with amusement. “Why indeed.”

She pulled back only to be halted by the shackles that dug painfully into her wrists.

“Did you know I would be here when you came?” she demanded.

There was a momentary pause before he gave a nod. “Yes.”

“And that's why you're here?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Obviously because I wished to have you.”

That pang of disappointment returned to stab through her heart. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Even after I saved your life?”

He tilted his head to one side to allow the long silver hair to trail over his shoulder.

“Saved my life? Perhaps.”

Shay widened her eyes in shock. “What do you mean, perhaps? Edra intended to kill you. I took a spell blast meant for you.”

He shrugged. “Certainly you prevented a nasty wound, but it is impossible to determine if it would have been a killing blow.”

“You jackass,” she breathed, beyond caring that she was now his slave and utterly in his power. “I saved your life and yet you came here to buy me.”

“Was there another among the bidders you would have preferred?”

“I would have preferred to kill you all.”

His soft chuckle floated on the air. “So bloodthirsty.”

“No, I'm sick of being at the mercy of every demon, monster, witch, or freak who has the money to buy me.”

He stilled as the midnight gaze searched her flushed face. “Understandable, I suppose.”

“You understand nothing.”

His faint smile remained, but for the first time Shay noticed the lines of strain around his magnificent eyes.

“Perhaps not, but I do understand that I am in no humor to battle you this evening, pet. I have been injured and I need blood to recover my strength.”

Shay had nearly forgotten the stab wounds he had received during his battle with the man. Not that she particularly cared at the moment.

She didn't like his mention of blood.

“And?”

The amusement returned to his eyes as he easily read her unease. “And while I prefer to escort you to my lair in a civilized manner, I can keep you shackled and drag you there kicking and screaming. The choice is yours.”

She refused to show her relief. It was only a matter of time before she became an unwilling donor.

“Some choice.”

“For the moment it is the only one you have. What is it to be?”

She glared at him before at last sticking out her arms. There was no point in fighting the inevitable. Besides the iron rubbing against her skin was hurting worse than she wanted to admit.