Real Vampires Know Hips Happen (27 page)

I stared at Jerry hard, as if I could
will
that potion to work. His chest rose and fell, like a runner’s after a hard race. Hyperventilating. His fists clenched. What was happening in his mind? Was he watching a movie in his head? Did he see his life unscroll before his eyes? Could he be reliving every single event of the last four hundred years? The good and the bad? I saw him wince, then smile. This went on and on. At one point he moaned, then gritted his teeth. What could have caused that? A chuckle, a sigh of satisfaction. I wanted to read his mind and even tried but I came up empty. I was well and truly blocked out from whatever he was going through.

I sensed someone beside me. Ian, then my mother stood there. Jerry wouldn’t like such an audience. I shooed her away and she went back inside. Of course the doctor wouldn’t budge.

“This is fascinating.”

“And frustrating. I wish he’d wake up.” I leaned forward, desperate to help Jerry through this but able to do nothing, not even to touch him, even though I tried. It was as if the sorcerer had put a shield around him. Any move toward Jerry left my head spinning, like I would pass out. I stopped trying.

“He was mad at you when he left here, wasn’t he? When he headed back to the old country?” Ian sounded happy about that. Bastard.

“When I got to the castle, before he lost his memory, Jerry was glad to see me. He’d forgiven me.” I refused to look at Ian.

“Good for you. Hopefully he’ll remember that part. Of course he may not know everything you were up to after he left. Does he?” Ian pulled up another chair.

“There was no need to bother him with that when he had amnesia, Ian. And you’d better not get into it either.” My stomach leapfrogged into my throat. Ian knew all about my
affair with Ray. Ray was addicted to Ian’s daylight drug and he’d made a special trip over here just so he could clue Ian in to our hookup before I’d left town.

Ian smiled, happy to have some dirt he could use against me. “Relax, Gloriana. I don’t plan to exchange gossip with Blade.” He leaned forward in his chair. “But if he ever asks me about your relationship with Caine, I won’t lie for you.”

I didn’t need to hear this now. Not when Jerry was on the brink of remembering his life. Or at least I hoped he was.

“I get it. Jerry and I will work it out. Just stay out of my business.” I went back to watching Jerry, who was still twitching and making faces. God, what was he going through?

“Blade had better hurry with this rewind. We’ve got less than an hour before dawn. If he stays out here, he’s fried.” Ian looked up at the sky.

“If he’s not done by then, your men will have to drag him inside to a safe place for his death sleep and you know it.” I did finally face Ian. “The feud is over, remember?”

“Of course. I helped save his life tonight, didn’t I? Something I won’t share with my brother. I don’t know what Campbell said to Douglas but it was almost enough for Dougie to call off the truce. Seems this amnesia made your lover into even more of a bastard than usual.” He shook his head. “Care to share, Gloriana?”

“No. Jerry wasn’t himself. When he has his mind back in the present, he’ll realize the truce was for the best. Both of you know it was a ridiculous waste of energy.” I sighed. This was taking too long! “And thank you for what you did. Send Jerry a bill. I assured him this was a business transaction, not a favor.”

“It’s not that simple. I’ll explain it to him when he comes to his senses.” Ian ignored my suspicious look. Then I noticed the cell phone he was holding.

“Are you taking video of this? Right now?”

“It’s for science, Glory. Of course I am. Look at his face. Makes you wonder what’s going on inside his head, doesn’t it?” He’d
been surreptitious; now he held it up for a better shot. “I wish Cornelius would share his formula.”

“This is an invasion of Jerry’s privacy, Ian. He didn’t give you permission to take all these pictures.”

“He was awake when we taped him before and didn’t object. I’m taking that as a tacit agreement. This is priceless. I need this film for my archives. No one will see it except fellow scientists.” He stood. “Look! I think he’s coming out of it. Get ready, Glory. Old Jeremiah or new Jeremy? I hope you know which one you want.”

I hoped I did too. Whichever one I got, I had to be ready to deal with him.

Jerry opened his eyes and looked around. “Where the hell am I?”

Uh-oh. Was this a new onset of amnesia? Had he forgotten what had just happened?

“You’re at Ian MacDonald’s, Jerry. Don’t you remember? You were under a spell. Ian’s a doctor and arranged for a sorcerer to cure you.” I was close by Jerry’s side in an instant. The shield was down and I could touch him.

“Of course.” He rubbed his forehead. “What a night. And, God save me, I’m lying here in Ian’s underwear.” He frowned at the doctor who stood behind me, taking this all in with his camera phone. “What the hell? Put that phone down. What’s that for? Planning to put my picture on the Internet? Make me a laughingstock?”

“No, it’s for my archives.” Ian put the phone away. “Internet? What do you remember, Campbell? Did the new spell work? Are you cured?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Jerry smiled grimly. “Can we get the hell out of here, Gloriana?”

“No! I mean, please answer Ian, Jerry. I have to know the answer too.” I put out my hand when he stood but he shrugged off the help. “What do you remember?”

“Let’s see. I remember you arriving at Castle Campbell, determined to make things up with me.” He pulled me to him. “I was more than ready to let bygones be bygones since I’d
missed the hell out of you.” He dropped a kiss on my lips. “Then I was stabbed. By Mara of all people. I’ve got a bit of a blur there but seems to me you told me your mother arranged that. So I’d forget you. And it worked for a while.”

“God, Jerry!” I threw my arms around him. “You remember. Cornelius!” I looked around for him but both he and Waldo had vanished. “Oh, he’s gone. Anyway, a sorcerer Ian summoned found the cure. For a Hellfire curse and your memory loss.” I couldn’t quit smiling. “Really, you remember everything?”

He suddenly put me from him. “Indeed. What’s
she
doing here?” He stalked over to where my mother stood just inside the terrace doors. “She-devil! How dare you show your face here! Where are my weapons?” Jerry looked around and picked up a heavy metal ashtray.

“Not a wise idea.” My mother lifted her hand and Jerry was frozen. “Gloriana and I have arranged a truce, just as your clan and the MacDonald clan have. I’d advise you to rein in your temper, Jeremiah, before you lose more than your memory this time. I can make your manhood vanish like that vase over there.” She flicked her wrist and a blue and white vase disappeared. We all gasped, even Ian. “How will Gloriana like you then?”

“Mother, release him. And stop with the threats!” I grabbed her arm, sick to my stomach at the thought of what she was capable of. “Give him time to adjust to things.”

“You promised we could have a relationship, Gloriana. If he and I are both to be in your life, then he must learn to respect me.” She threw back her shoulders, not wise when you only have a single button on a jacket. I didn’t bother to tell her she was exposing one of her boobs. Let her embarrass herself. Or not. She still wouldn’t let Jerry move, though the ashtray he’d been holding vanished.

Ian and Melanie just watched. They weren’t stupid, and she was clearly not in a mood to be messed with. I sent them both a mental message that their best move right now was to stay quiet and observe like the good scientists they were.

“Mother, you didn’t cure Jerry, Ian did. I’m not sure there’s a reason you could give me that would allow you a place in my life.” I glared at her. “Now let him go.”

“Not until we work this out.” She smiled at Ian. “I must say thank you, Doctor. I know how these sorcerers conduct their business. You had to promise a future favor to Cornelius for him to work that last spell. I’m sure he doesn’t come cheap.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Ian moved closer. Which showed how much he listened to me. He touched Jerry on the shoulder. “Let the poor bastard go. Hasn’t he suffered enough tonight? Gloriana, I think you’re going to have to let your mother see you occasionally. Can’t you see that she only wants to share in her daughter’s life?” He bowed to her. “Beautiful lady, I’d be more than happy to make my home available if you need a place to stay while in Austin.”

My mother’s eyes sparkled with interest. Great. Now she and Ian were setting up a flirtation. I wasn’t going to bother to warn him anymore. He was a big boy and partied at his own risk.

“Ian, you have no idea what my mother’s idea of sharing is.” I really didn’t need his advice. I was so over this whole scene though and knew Jerry had to be sick of standing there in Ian’s underwear like a damned statue. “Mother, thaw Jerry out and disappear at the same time. I want to take him home. Now. I’ll text you when we can meet again. Is that enough for you?”

“Fine.” Mother smiled at Ian. “I’ll be seeing you, Doctor. I can tell we might have a few things in common. An appreciation for the beautiful and rare.” A priceless antique table appeared where his other one had been burned, the pieces obviously swept away by a servant earlier. “Gloriana, I expect to hear from you soon, very soon. Or I will be dropping by. And it might not be at a time convenient for you. Are we clear?”

“Yes, now go!” I suffered through one of her hugs. She vanished just as Jerry began to move.

“Where are my clothes?”

“In the bathroom.” Ian smiled at Melanie. “Show him.”

“No, I’ll find them myself.” Jerry charged down the hall. In moments we heard a roar. “Where the hell are my knives?”

Ian laughed. “Did he really think I would let him keep a weapon around me? Old Jeremiah Campbell or new Jeremy Blade, I was taking no chances.”

Jerry stormed into the living room, fully dressed. “Well, are you giving them back?”

“They are in your car, Blade. That
is
what you go by these days.” Ian smiled.

“And you’ll send me a bill for tonight. I have no desire to owe you, MacDonald.” Jerry held out his hand, surprisingly steady considering what he’d been through. “Car keys, Gloriana. I am itching to drive again. I can’t believe I was so damned helpless for so long.”

“You hated it.” I dropped the keys in his hand.

“Just a minute.” Ian stepped in front of us when we headed for the door. “You will get a bill, but that’s not all you’ll owe me, Blade. Sorcerers deal in favors as Gloriana’s mother pointed out. Cornelius required a promise of one in order to come here. Then a second one for the restoration of your memory.” Ian’s smile was wolfish. “So you see you’ll still owe me, Blade. When I need a favor, I’ll be calling on you. Never doubt it.”

I saw Jerry’s jaw tighten. This was a matter of honor and, old or new, he always paid his debts. “Very well. I won’t deny the amnesia was driving me mad.” He nodded at Melanie. “Thank you both. Good night.”

At the car he held the door for me but stopped me before I could slide into the seat.

“Gloriana.” He pulled me against him and breathed into my hair.

“Yes, Jerry?” My heart pounded. What was this? The kiss-off as all those memories of my transgressions plus the fact that I had a mother who could make his life disappear added up to reason enough to let me go?

“I know I wasn’t easy to live with these past weeks.”

“Well, I’ll not deny I won’t miss the ancient warrior.” I touched his dark brow with a fingertip. “Over the years, you’d turned into a modern man I admired. A clever businessman, a brilliant lover, I could go on.”

“And wasn’t ancient Jeremiah a brilliant lover as well?”

“I’ll never tell.” I couldn’t stop smiling. This teasing meant all was well, didn’t it? Then he got solemn.

“I will never be able to thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. I remember how difficult I was. How I hurt you. My only excuse is that I lashed out at the person closest to me. The woman I love.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Shit. That’s no excuse. Just please know how sorry I am. You deserve better.” He leaned down and kissed me then. I sighed into his mouth, held on and tried to absorb him into my own skin. He was back. No matter what happened, I had all of him with me now. We would deal with what came next together.

Thirteen

“Your
place or mine?” he asked as he started the car.

“Well, Lily is at yours. She wasn’t too happy the last time we saw her. Remember?” I fastened my seat belt.

“Surprisingly I remember almost everything. Except for when I was shooting fire out of my hands. Did I blast it out of my eyes too or was that a nightmare?” He drove down Ian’s driveway then stopped to wait for the iron gates to open. A pair of guards eyed us but waved us through.

“Nightmare. Mouth and fingers, that’s all. Like some kind of unwilling superhero. FireMan. PyroBlaster. Has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?” I reached over and squeezed his hand.

He laughed and shook his head. “Keep it up, Gloriana, and I just might have to pull over and make you pay for mocking me.”

I smiled, loving his teasing. “If it wasn’t so close to dawn, I’d beg you to.” I sighed and leaned my head against his shoulder. “It’s good to see you driving again, Jerry. You sure you’re up to it? Not that long ago you were laid out in a tub, incoherent.”