Frailty: The Darkshine (7 page)

“What?” Helina was surprised that he actually wanted to know.

“The DarkShine that killed your sister, what did he look like?”

“Why?” Confusion was thick within her at his motivations.

“Just… tell… me… Please.”

Helina stared at him as he enunciated each word. She could tell he was furious, but she didn’t know exactly why. “Well, all I remember is that his head was shaved and that he had black tattoos on the sides of his neck.”

“Motherfucker!”

She flinched at the rough tone of his voice and his coarse language.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to speak like that in front of you.” He stood and helped her up, cupping his hands on either side of her face. His eyes kept dipping to her lips and Helina’s heart sped up. She thought he was going to kiss her, and even after everything they had just talked about, she desperately wanted him to.

She held her breath as she waited for that moment when their lips would lock. She could scarcely breathe as she anticipated when she would finally feel his mouth on hers. He suddenly looked around, all attention to her mouth gone.

“We must go. I shouldn’t be distracted. It isn’t safe for you out here, even with me here to protect you.”

She let him lead her away, her whole body still zinging from the near experience she knew could have happened. A dark, very flashy Bentley sat on the stretch of deserted road once they broke through the tree line. He pulled her gently her toward the car, gripping her hand tightly, as if he thought she were about to run. He opened the Bentley’s door for her, all black smooth leather waiting to greet her. He gently helped her in and she instantly sank into the butter-soft leather. He closed the door—nothing more than a soft click next to her ear. As he climbed inside, he gave a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Do you like classical?”

Nodding, Helina smiled as he turned on the stereo. She leaned back in the seat as the soft notes of Bach played through the car. “I love this song.” Helina said it more to herself, but as she looked out the dark tinted window, she could see Gaijryc staring at her, a smile on his face. They drove in silence, nothing more than the classical music filling the silence.

The ride seemed to last forever, but then he turned off onto a small dirt road. “I don’t mean to sound like a child, but are we there yet?” The side of his mouth quirked up and he pulled to a stop in front of a small cabin. It was pitch black outside, only the moon and the Bentley’s headlights showing her much of anything. “Is this where you live?”

“No. It’s where
you
live, now.”

“What?” She turned and looked at him, not even trying to hide her surprise at his words. “What are you talking about?” He got out of the car and walked around to open her door. Helping her out, he led them, hand in hand, toward the front door of the cabin.

“I can’t stand to have you living in that cave. This is safe and secure, I promise you. No one will ever find you here.”

He walked in front of her and opened the door. He held his hand out for her to enter first. Helina was a little apprehensive as she eyed him and then the dark room beyond the door.

“Why are you scared? You should know by now I would never harm you.”

“I trust you.” And Helina did, with everything inside of her, but still it was the unknown. She let him take her hand again as he walked in first, leading the way.

“I promise you this is a safe place.”

He switched on the light and a soft glow illuminated the room. She let go of his hand and felt her eyes grow big. From the outside the cabin looked so quaint and small, but as she walked into the center of the room it was as if she stood in a king’s quarters.

The kitchen sat off to the side, all natural hardwood covering the flooring and counters. The countertops shone brightly under the lighting, and every appliance from big to small reeked of brand new. Stainless steel and chrome showed her reflection as she walked into the kitchen and let her fingers run over everything. Opening the cupboards, she saw every single one of them was filled with food, plates, and cups. She walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room that held a loveseat and couch, both of them soft leather and the color of snow. Off to the left stood a Chinese style screen, also snow white in color, with delicate pink flowers stitched into the screen. Behind that sat a huge bed, petal pink silk sheets and a matching comforter atop it. Everything from the paintings on the walls to the thick rug in the center of the room screamed feminine sophistication. “What is all of this?”

“This is yours, where you live now.”

Helina looked at Gaijryc, not knowing what to say. “I can’t stay here.” The smile on his face fell and she instantly felt bad for saying anything, but there was no way she could stay at the cabin. He turned around and walked to the picture window.

“I’ve made this place safe for you, I promise you that. If you’re worried or frightened about staying here, don’t be. Nothing will harm you; I won’t allow it.”

Helina didn’t move, not knowing what to do or say. She felt weird staying at this place. She was experiencing two completely different creatures. Two beings that acted totally different.

There was the monster that had killed her sister, and then there was Gaijryc—the vampire, the DarkShine creature that had shown her nothing but compassion. She stared at his back, his muscles bunching under his shirt and standing out.

Arousal washed through her at the sight of him. Running her now sweaty hands on her thighs, she willed herself to be calm. The longer she stared at him, the more she felt herself get wet, and the harder her nipples became under the lace of her shirt. As if he knew, as if he had sensed her arousal, he turned toward her, head tilted to the ground, eyes on her. Helina swallowed again and felt her throat tighten with dryness. He walked toward her, stalked her like the predator he was.

“What are you thinking about, Helina?”

Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She couldn’t explain what she was feeling, had never felt the way Gaijryc was making her feel. Before she knew it, he was standing in front of her, so close she could smell the cologne on his body, or maybe it was just
his
smell.

They stood toe to toe, their body heat mixing together and warming the room to a scorching level. She could hear his accelerated breathing, could see his chest rising and falling rapidly. Looking into his eyes, she felt off balanced from her wild emotions. “What’s happening to me, Gaijryc?”

“You know.”

“I don’t. You make me feel something I’ve never felt before.” She said the last words on a whisper, not caring that she had just admitted her feelings to him, to
her
vampire.

“At least I’m not the only one.”

His admission about his feelings warmed her. She closed her eyes as his fingers skimmed along her bare arm, ran along her shoulder, and cupped the side of her neck. Leaning into his caress, she didn’t care about what was going on, or what this might lead to. Opening her eyes, she watched as Gaijryc slowly started to lower his head toward her. She should have stepped away, should have moved to the other side of the cabin, but as Gaijryc pressed his firm lips to hers, all common sense went out of her mind.

Helina let herself sink into the kiss. His mouth moved tentatively over hers as if he wasn’t sure what to do. His tongue stroked over the seam of her lips, not forcing its way in, but coaxing her to participate. Opening her mouth, she instantly tasted the very male essence of him. Their tongues touched, moved against each other as his other hand went to her waist and gripped it gently. She moved her hands to his chest—the first time she had willingly taken the initiative to touch him. Helina didn’t realize it until right then, but she had been terrified of him, terrified of the emotions he invoked in her.

The muscles under his shirt were defined and hard. They flexed beneath her fingers as he moved his hand up her hip and over her rib cage to cover her aching breast. Gasping, she absorbed the delicious feeling he was causing within her. His kiss intensified and his other hand went to her other breast. She moaned again into his mouth and let him take the lead; let him show her what he wanted. He moved her backwards, never once breaking their mouths apart. The edge of the bed hit the back of her knees and she blindly sat down, letting Gaijryc move his body over hers as he pushed her back.

“Helina.”

He said her name on a moan, breaking their kiss and moving his mouth to her collarbone, where he sucked and laved at it. She tilted her head back, felt him grab her wrists and bring them over her head. The position stretched out in front of him, made her vulnerable to whatever he deemed. Shivering at the feel of him sliding his hands down the sides of her breasts, she sucked in air. He continued to work his hands over her body, over the sides of her ribcage, and across her hips.

“Is this okay, Helina? Does this feel good?”

“Oh, yes,” she breathed out, shaking from the intensity of his light touches. He slowly slid his hand under the hem of her shirt and skimmed his fingers over her skin. Slowly opening her eye, she watched him, surprised that his attention was on her face, his eyes on her.

“Wait.”

He instantly stopped and looked at her with concern. Pushing herself onto her elbows, she moved the hair out of her face. Her heart was beating like a freight train—so hard she could feel it slamming against her sternum.

“What is it, Helina? Did I hurt you?” He ran his hands over her body, looking at her with an almost critical eye.

“You didn’t hurt me.”

He stopped checking her over and sat on his heels.

“It’s just that, well.” She was embarrassed to even say it, but she knew he would find out eventually. Sitting up, she leaned against the headboard. “I’m a virgin.” She said it so quickly she didn’t even know if he had understood her.

“What?”

She felt her ears and face become hot and refused to look at him. “I said I’m a virgin. Surely your kind knows what that is.” She looked at him as they sat there in silence for a moment.

“Helina, look at me.”

She waited until the heat in her face subsided before she lifted her head.

“I know you are.”

Confusion coursed through her at his comment. “I don’t understand. How could you know such a thing?”

“Sweet Helina. From the moment I saw you, sensed you, I knew you were the purest thing I had ever encountered. I knew you were completely innocent before I ever saw your lovely face.”

Her throat was dry, no words forming in her brain. She didn’t know what to say.

“I shouldn’t have gone so far with you. I went too fast, and for that I am sorry. I must go now, but I will return in the morning.”

Everything had ended as abruptly as it had started and she felt a little empty. She didn’t fight him on it, though, knowing this was the best thing to do right now. “You’re sure it’s safe?”

“I wouldn’t leave you here if it wasn’t.”

She nodded at his comment. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, and then got up and walked toward the door. When he opened it he didn’t leave right away, but stopped and looked at her again. Helina trusted Gaijryc, but she hoped her trust wouldn’t end up getting her killed.

Undoing

G
aijryc walked through
the mansion’s main doors and made his way to the stairs.

“Gaijryc? Is that you, my son?”

His mother’s voice rang across the first floor like nails on a chalkboard. She knew it was him, had probably sensed him a mile away, yet she called out to him as if she didn’t know—it irritated him.

He didn’t bother answering her back, just made his way into the ballroom. He stood in the entrance, the double oak doors wide open and brightly lit from the chandelier hanging in the center of the room. His mother sat at a marble-top table. She wore an evening gown encrusted with jewels, her chignon perfectly placed with every hair set just right. He swore inside as he saw the female sitting beside his mother. She looked right into his eyes and he felt chills race through his body. Iena was the spitting image of his mother’s true nature. She was cruel and heartless, bringing even the strongest of DarkShine males to their knees.

“Ah, there you are, my son.”

It amazed him that his mother could act so sweet and loving when she was the complete opposite.

“Hello, Mother.” He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. Swatches of fabric covered the table and sketches of dance floor layouts were scattered among them. He stepped back and looked at Iena. “Hello. How are you this evening?”

She smiled suggestively. When he showed no reaction, her face became a scowl that matched her true personality. If his mother had her way, Iena and he would be wed and already have a slew of offspring.

“Sit, please. Iena and I have a lot to ask you about the upcoming ball.”

Castalia patted Iena on the hand as they both looked at each other and smiled. Both of them evil spawns of the same demon.

“Oh, yes. Look at the beautiful sketches we have.”

Iena slid the papers over, her hand purposely brushing against his as he reached for them.