Insperatus (48 page)

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Authors: Kelly Varesio

BOOK: Insperatus
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He leaned back on a pillar with his mask in his hand, looking at everybody. “I do hope once is enough,” he said sarcastically, but he looked to her and smiled.
She circled behind him. “You are an incredible dancer,” she murmured. “One might say you used to dance often.”
“
I had to at one point.” He held his head high. “When I was young, before I was turned, I went with Ana often.”
“
Did you never enjoy it?”
He shrugged, “Of course. I could dance and see myself in the ball mirrors at the same time.”
He glanced over and looked at the mirror that was hung on the wall next to him, and neither he nor she was in it. There were mirrors hung all around the fortress.
He was beyond perturbed. She felt the intensity of his discomfort when she looked into his burning eyes, but he was keeping himself calm and attempting to be pleasant for her. Attempting was at least the first step to recovering from his trauma, so she didn’t pester him about it.
Traith looked up above him at the man walking the tightrope. The man lost his balance and fell, plummeting toward Traith. Everyone gasped, and Rein took a few steps back, but the man fell right through Traith. Traith didn’t move a muscle, but closed his eyes when the ghost fell through him. The ghost giggled and stood only to disappear and reappear back on the tightrope. More clapping echoed, and others laughed happily at the stunt. Traith gave a smile devoid of amusement and took a seat in the back after another song began.
Rein had meant to ask him about what had happened and how he had known the man wouldn’t hit him. She had known, too, that he was a ghost, but Traith was beyond apathetic toward the man, as if he had been part of a stunt like that before. Rein was suddenly pulled aside before she could follow Traith back to the lone table.
“
Hello, Rein,” the man said, laughing. “Very nice stunt your fiancé was part of.”
She turned and smiled vacantly. “Good evening, Dr. Campbell.”
“
You look more handsome tonight than I have ever seen you,” he added with a smile, letting his eyes travel the length of her body. She smiled and nodded and attempted to leave his presence, but he began to speak further. “Your hair is done just beautifully, and your dress is the most attractive here. It’s your simplicity!”
She sighed and turned to Traith. He was some distance away, but he was watching her intently, cautiously gazing. She felt his vigilance.
“
Thank you,” she replied. “You look…nice, as well.”
She knew as well as any that Jacques was not a handsome man. His features were bland, and he was so thin that he always looked ill.
“
Traith does not seem to be enjoying this,” Dr. Campbell added with a swoop of his hand over his light brown hair. “And neither do you.”
“
I am trying to enjoy it,” she said, smiling. “Traith isn’t making it too easy, though.”
“
Well, I must tell you that I am forever in debt to you for saving me,” Jacques said on a more serious note. “My life now, in this council, is far better than I thought it could ever be. Why, I even finally tamed the beast, Rein!”
“
Fancy that,” she said vacantly. “I’m glad Traith and I
did
help.”
He laughed and turned his head to face the mirrors next to him. “We make a lovely couple,” he said with a giggle. “You and Harker are the only two vampires here, you know. The only two vampires in the entire council, which makes you the only vampi
ress
!”
She felt Traith tense as he watched.
“
Excuse me,” she mumbled as she turned and walked toward Traith.
“
It was only in jest,” Dr. Campbell called out with a smile, but he turned away, back into the crowd of dancers from whence he had come.
“
I
left
,” she said as she approached the table, a crooked smile glimmering up her face.
“
I didn’t say anything.” His head was cocked when he responded to her, but then as the organ began to play louder, she saw him perk up.
It was a familiar tune to her: it was a song called “Portrait of Romanticism.” It had been one of her favorite songs, but now it pained her to hear it. It was the one Carden had played during the last ball she’d been at—one of the last happy times she had had with Saria, and also when Traith had bitten her lip, and the captain dropped the glass vial of blood…
“
Carden always did play well,” she heard Traith say faintly. “It’s a shame he disappeared.”
Rein looked at him and saw the sadness that he couldn’t hold in anymore. It had been months, and still he hadn’t been the same. His birthday had even come and gone—only a week ago—and he refused to celebrate it at all. He hadn’t even spoken of when they were to have their wedding.
She looked back at the pianist, her voice gentle. “Don’t think about the song. Carden might still be alive somewhere, Traith. He’s a vampire; it would take a lot to kill him.”
He did not reply.
“
Saria liked his playing, too, you know,” she whispered.
Traith turned to her with heavy eyes, but swallowed his sorrow when Mistress began to approach him. He stood and met her at the pillar where he had been before.
“
One moment,” she said and walked aside to speak with someone else. Rein watched in wonder as a beautiful woman approached Traith from

behind. It was Lorena, and she neared with an extremely erotic demeanor. The priestess’s fingers gently crept onto his shoulders, and he turned around in astonishment when he felt her.

To Rein’s relief, he knocked her hands off immediately. “What the devil are you doing, Lorena?”
Rein felt her heart hit her throat.
The seductress held her hand. “Traith, that was
naughty
. I was only playing.”
Traith turned and looked at Rein, who smiled when she heard his silent requests for her to stand near him. She left the table.
“
Ooh,” Lorena murmured, touching her fingertips to her mouth. “That new scar is quite an accent, I must say, Traith.”
Rein saw his eyes narrow. “Thank you,” he replied with a sarcastic bow. “Do you fancy it as much as the others?”
“
Oh, more!” she continued, either oblivious to or ignoring his sarcasm. She laughed and pulled off her mask. “And there she is,” she said, grinning. “Are you still Rein Pierson, as you were? Or have you married yet?”
“
Not yet,” she answered, approaching Traith. “But my last name will be different soon.” She smiled to herself when she felt the woman’s jealousy. “See my ring?”
The beautiful stones and diamonds shone brilliantly in the light of the chandelier as she held up her left hand.
Traith cracked a slight smile, and she felt his hand feel around her waist. That charming deed made Lorena even more envious.
Lorena cleared her throat. “It is dashing, isn’t it? But haven’t I seen that ring before, Traith?”
Rein stiffened.
Traith chuckled at her response. “You wish you had, don’t you?”
In the way his voice was calm and controlled, Rein knew Lorena had never seen the ring. Lying, just to get her to feel like an imposter.
Rein wanted to say something, but she forced herself to keep quiet. Traith had kept quiet while watching Jacques.
“
Lorena, please get away from me,” he finally said, keeping his reserve.
“
You want me to leave?” she snorted. “Bah! Your left hand could be
my
—”
“
Stop being a—”
“
Ah, Traith!”
To Rein’s delight, the Mistress greeted the two of them before Traith could finish his words, and before there was a conflict. Lorena walked away angrily with her mask back on as the Mistress approached.
“
And why haven’t
you
pointed out the newest addition to my collection, yet, by the way?” Traith asked Rein with sarcastic frustration. “The apparently jagged scar I have down my eye that everyone so kindly told me about? You know, soon I’ll have racked up so much scarring on my face that I can only imagine I’ll be quite hard to look at.”
She had to giggle slightly. “Jagged? Traith, I don’t need to point that out. It doesn’t make you look any different. Besides, I like it.”
“
How did it even come back to me, when you took it?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. Must’ve been something in my power.”
Just as his eyebrows rose and he gave a quirky half-smile, Mistress chimed in. “I’m sorry for making you wait,” she said. “A more important matter was brought to my attention.”
“
There’s always a matter more important than me,” Traith commented quietly, crossing his arms tight.
Just when Rein thought the woman was going to make a remark about what he’d said, she sighed softly. “I’m sorry, Harker. Did I interrupt something between you and my mage?”
“
Nothing you would want to hear,” he said indifferently.
“
I know that you’re not happy, Traith. What with the reminiscence of your murders…”
Traith’s reserve collapsed and his face tensed; he swallowed a few times. “I guess you haven’t noticed my attempt to get over that.”
“
You aren’t exactly that
apparent
, you know,” Mistress countered.
“
Oh, thank you! So is this important enough to ruin my night over?” he scoffed hoarsely. “Or for the rest of my life are you going to remind me daily of what I’ve done?”
“
Oh, I’m sorry,” she quickly said. “I just thought that you would like to know that it will get better.”
“
Get better? Are you—?”
“
Slightly
better. I know it will never fully heal.”
He stared at her, waiting for her to continue. “Well?”
“
You will see,” she replied with a smile.
“
What?” he asked. “That’s it? You’re not going to give me even a
hint
about what can make my sorrow better in the midst of your bloody riddle?
God
, I
hate
—”
“
You will see,” she said again.
“
Of course,” he mocked. “It’s always a riddle. Always a damn riddle!”
“
Always,” she repeated him and smiled.
Rein noticed Traith staring past Mistress. His red eyes held a mix of confusion and shock, and he held Mistress’s shoulders and moved her aside in a daze. Both she and Rein watched him with curiosity.
Mistress had been blocking someone different in the crowd, someone who stood out. She didn’t see who it was, but she knew. Something snapped in her head, and she knew…
It was Ana.

 

Chapter 74

 

“
Ana?” Rein whispered.
Mistress walked away, smiling, unnoticed.
“
Yes. It’s Ana.” He answered her distractedly. “She’s crying.” He watched his sister flow through the crowd of dancers.
Rein stared at him. Her head was pulsing.
“
No, not now…
”
Rein could hear Traith’s unspoken fears.
“
I can’t explain to her…”

She was reading his thoughts involuntarily—again! She tried to suppress her panic, but then she could hear more than just Traith’s thoughts. She could hear many more.

“
Rein?” he turned, only half focusing on her.

Rein backed up and leaned against a pillar, and, in pain, she collapsed to the floor. Traith called her again, but she didn’t answer. She could only see his mouth moving. Her mind was screaming at her, but she couldn’t understand why.
My mind is expanding still?
Turning out of Ana’s sight, Traith took Rein’s arm, and in a moment, she felt cool rain tingle her face. Then it all stopped; her mind was silenced.
“
Aw, it’s bloody raining.” He cursed, blinking as the rain hit his eyes. When he spoke again, his voice was gentler. “Are you all right?”
He pulled her up, and she gained her balance as quickly as she had lost it.
He immediately let go of her. “You read my mind,” he said. “Without permission. Why?” He stared deeply at her. “Can you hear me?”
She glanced around. She was on the balcony outside the castle ballroom with no one near her but him. “Yes, now I can,” she said with a shake of her head. “But Ana—”
“
Why did you collapse?”
She didn’t answer quickly enough for him.
“
Is it your head? What’s wrong, Rein?”
She was nearly speechless in shock. “I don’t know. But it stopped. Traith, I think something bad is going to happen. I think that’s why it happened.”
He looked tense as ever. “I wouldn’t doubt it, but please try to stay on your feet and keep clear-headed. Please. I…Ana…she looked right at me, as if she were here to
talk
. I don’t know why she’s here, but I don’t want to talk to her, not now,” he finished in a bewildered manner.

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