She shook her head. “Come on, Kismet. Level with me. How could you have lived with someone like Tom? I know he’s handsome, but didn’t he drive you insane?”
I thought for a moment. “Yes. He really did.” I grinned. “But I met him when I was in grad school, and I was young, insecure, and shy. He was already the wunderkind—the golden boy of the psychology department. I was shocked and flattered by his attention. He was so popular; I mostly just trailed around after him, allowing his life to become mine. It took me a while to realize how empty the relationship was. It wasn’t his pomposity that broke us up. It was his infidelity. He just couldn’t resist a pair of perky br**sts.” I laughed. “After we broke up and I stopped pretending not to see the obvious, I actually started to enjoy him. Mostly. He’s much worse when other people are around than when it’s just the two of us. Maybe he doesn’t think I rate the full obnoxious act. Sometimes he can actually be fun to spend time with. But if you ever tell him I said that, I’ll lock you in a room with him!”
We both laughed, then became serious again. “So, what did you want to tell me?”
She scooted a chair to the edge of the bed and sat. “We both know that Devereux—delightful soul that he is—has a tendency to be a little arrogant. It never occurs to him that his view of something might not be universal. He’s convinced that Hallow’s only communications with you have come through your dreams.”
I nodded, recalling the mountaintop scene. “Hallow has been in my dreams.”
She folded her hands on her lap, nodding. “I can’t read your mind as Devereux does, but I have various psychic abilities, and my strongest gift is the same as yours: clairsentience. I simply know things. And sometimes I’m clairvoyant. That’s how I’m aware you’ve had more contact with Hallow than merely through dreams. I saw you on a stage somewhere with him, both of you covered with blood. Then I saw him again in your townhouse. I watched him bite you.” She hesitated, frowning. “That part was very sexual. Despite what Devereux might believe, Hallow seems to have unlimited access to you, no matter how many magic spells and vampire enchantments are involved. Do you remember any of what I described?”
I stared at her. The stage was probably at the amusement park. I definitely remembered that. How could I forget witnessing a murder? But I drew a blank about him being in my house.
“Yes.” I nodded, licking my very-dry lips. Anxiety twisted my stomach and I couldn’t make eye contact with Victoria. “I do remember being in an abandoned building with Hallow. He killed the radio host who’d been so obnoxious that morning. He made me look at the body. He said he’d done it for me.” I raised my gaze to hers. “But I have no memory of him being in my home. Are you sure you saw that? Maybe you were just afraid it might happen and you imagined it?”
“I wish it was my imagination, but unfortunately I’m sure. Do you remember coming to The Crypt last night and being rather … rowdy?”
“What do you mean?” I touched her arm. “Are you saying I came to the club under my own power? Why don’t I remember? Did you come with me?”
“No. I met you on the front stairs. You definitely weren’t your usual self.”
“What did I do? Pick a bar fight? Take off all my clothes?” I cringed and briefly covered my eyes with my hands. “No, wait, I’m not sure I want to know. Just tell me that I didn’t do anything to humiliate myself personally or professionally.”
She shrugged. “No fights. No nudity. You were simply … uninhibited. You did a fair bit of flirting. But there was no harm done. All of Devereux’s employees are aware of Hallow’s presence, and his effect on you.” She paused. “And I need to confess something. Nigel and I were so worried about you that we went to find Devereux and, well, I’m afraid I’m the one who said you were behaving like a hormonal adolescent. He told me he mentioned it to you, although I know you don’t remember anything that happened while you were at the club. But still.” She lowered her gaze and shook her head. “I’m so sorry. I just wanted Devereux to understand that the demon’s influence had caused you to regress to a younger, more primitive part of your consciousness, rather than have him think your normal personality had made those decisions. Do you forgive me?”
I pulled a corner of the blanket up and flipped it over my head, trying to hide from my imagined misbehavior. “Of course I forgive you.” I mumbled through the cloth. “I’m sure the label was accurate. I’m just confused. I don’t know whether to be embarrassed that everyone knows what’s happening to me except me, or happy that I didn’t do any irreparable damage.”
She tugged the blanket away from my face, and squeezed my hand. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.” A slow smile slid across her lips. “You did seem to be enjoying yourself. You’ve got quite a way with men. You were just about to add another boy toy to your collection when Devereux showed up and brought you down here. Then, from what I heard, things got a little … out of hand.”
My heart started to beat faster. A feeling of dread trickled through my body. “Is that what Tom was talking about? Did I actually attack Devereux?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Devereux didn’t tell me everything, but at some point in your … intimacies … you broke a glass vase, cut his skin, and drank his blood. That’s why you were unconscious.”
I sat up like my upper body was spring-loaded. “Holy shit. Did I hurt him?”
“No. He probably healed immediately. But you were knocked out, and Devereux doesn’t know what other effects his blood will have on you. But he did discover that, for some bizarre reason, his blood deepened Hallow’s control over you. Devereux said he could sense an even more powerful presence in your energy field. Maybe it’s because both of them are old and—who knows?—maybe old blood, is old blood.”
I stared at her, frowning, silent for a few seconds. “Is Hallow controlling me now? I don’t feel anything different. I’ve been aware of everything since I woke up a little while ago. Is he just taking a break from making me do inappropriate things?”
She shrugged. “Devereux and the others worked all night to remove as much of Hallow’s influence as possible. Your protection necklace has been strengthened and enhanced. As before, you won’t be able to remove it. It should be harder for Hallow to enter your mind while you’re awake. Unfortunately, I doubt if anyone could restrict him from your dreams. He seems to be a force unlike any other. But, for now, you’re mostly back to being the Kismet you’re familiar with.”
Suddenly anxious, I chewed on my bottom lip. “But why would I want to drink Devereux’s blood? In my right mind, I’d never do such a thing. Maybe that’s the problem. Perhaps Hallow is driving me mad. What if I reach a point where there’s no going back?”
Since neither of us had an answer to that question, we just stared at each other.
A commotion near the entrance drew my attention. Ankh, the cadaverous door vamp, held a struggling Tom aloft by the back of his shirt. “He was trying to crawl out the storage room window. I thought I’d check with you before I disposed of him.”
“Thank you, Ankh.” I laughed. “You can just leave him here.”
“Yes, indeed.” A velvet voice floated through the air a second before a golden-robe-clad Devereux manifested at the foot of my bed. “He wanted my attention. He now has it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ankh lowered Tom slowly to his feet, then bowed to Devereux. “Will there be anything else, Master?”
Devereux smiled at the tall vampire. “No thank you, Ankh. You may return to your post.”
With a tiny pop sound, Ankh vanished.
Ignoring Tom, Devereux nodded at Victoria, gliding over to sit beside me on the bed. He gazed into my eyes a few seconds before speaking. “I am glad you are awake. How are you feeling?”
I blinked a couple of times, waiting for his gaze to trigger the familiar fuzzy sensation in my brain, but it didn’t come. I still felt normal—whatever that was. “I feel fine.”
He smiled. “I am not attempting to alter your consciousness. I was merely scanning to see if your thoughts are still encumbered.” He nodded and reached out to stroke his hand along my cheek. “Your mind remains obstructed, but I am certain I will find a way to clear away the impediments.”
His calm confidence had returned. I wondered how he’d take the news that Hallow had, indeed, gotten through his spells and enchantments. I wasn’t looking forward to that inevitable conversation, so I kept the topic out of my mind as much as possible.
My gaze fell to his ornate golden robe and I grinned.
Devereux usually dressed in high-fashion contemporary clothes. Or his bare skin. I hadn’t ever seen him decked out in such wizardry or Grand Poobah-type raiment. There were no moons or stars on the fabric, but the neckline boasted enough gemstones to finance a small country. He was as gorgeous as ever, but it was certainly a different look for him.
Did he really sleep in such a fussy getup?
He matched my grin. “My robe amuses you?”
I opened my mouth to answer and was distracted by an intrusive, repetitive sound. We all turned toward the noise. Tom had crossed his arms over his chest and was impatiently tapping his foot against the marble tile floor. “I thought you said I had your attention. It would be common courtesy for you to speak with me for a few moments. I have a serious issue to discuss.”
Devereux lifted my hand and kissed the palm. “Excuse me, my love. I must attend to an annoying detail.”
So fast my eyes registered only a blur, Devereux grabbed Tom by the front of his shirt, hefted the shocked man into the air, and locked eyes with him. Tom collapsed into a Dr. Sex rag doll. Devereux growled, his voice low. “You forget yourself, Dr. Radcliffe. You are in my world now and you have no power here. You have been allowed to remain only because you are Kismet’s friend.”
Devereux closed his eyes for a few seconds and Zoë appeared next to him. He acknowledged her arrival and refocused on Tom, speaking very slowly, anger dripping from his words. “Doctor, I have a low tolerance for nonsense, and you are fast becoming a nuisance. My staff tells me you have been frequenting my club every night, asking questions and causing difficulties. Zoë has been ordered to inform you that I no longer transform humans and, even if I did, your ridiculous reason for wanting to join the ranks of the undead would not sway me to your cause. I have also forbidden her from attempting to bring you over herself.”
I was stunned by the rage in Devereux’s voice. I’d completely missed his animosity toward Tom. I wondered what else I’d been oblivious to over the past couple of days. What the hell had happened?
Not sure what I intended to do, but compelled to do something, I leapt out of bed and hurried over to Devereux. I pressed my body against him and slid my arms around his waist, hugging him from behind. I caught Zoë’s frightened eyes. “Devereux, please. Let him go. Don’t hurt him. He’s behaving badly because he’s afraid for his future. He’s not thinking clearly. Please. I’m sure he’ll apologize for whatever he did to upset you.”
We all stood, frozen in our weird tableau for what seemed like eons, but it was really only seconds, then Devereux patted my arm. Releasing the breath I’d been holding, I felt my contracted muscles relax. I surrendered my grip on his midsection and stepped sideways. He lowered the boneless Tom to the floor. His enticing voice whispered, “Sleep,” and Tom closed his eyes, pulled his knees up to his chest like a baby, and followed the instruction.
Devereux turned to Zoë, a sharp edge to his voice. “Take him to Kismet’s townhouse and do not let him out of your sight. I am willing to be tolerant this time, but do not try my patience. He is not to visit my club or show himself in any way. Is that clear?” Zoë nodded, her lips pressed tightly together, her pale skin even whiter than usual. “Do you understand the danger to Dr. Radcliffe if you continue your attempt to transform him? You will not succeed. He will simply die.” She stared at the floor, her shoulders slumped. “Go now.”
Zoë slanted a quick and grateful glance at me, gave a slight nod, then bent to lift Tom into her arms. She mouthed “thank you” before they vanished.
I stepped in front of Devereux. “Are you going to tell me what that was about? And why you told Zoë to take Tom to my house?” I’d never seen him behave so aggressively. Maybe I wasn’t the only one splintering under the heightened stress.
Devereux shifted his gaze to Victoria, who’d waited silently during the impromptu drama. “Victoria, please make sure everything Kismet requires is brought to my penthouse. I will leave all the details in your capable hands.”
Victoria rose, smiled at me, then exited the room.
I poked Devereux in the chest with one finger. “Have I suddenly become invisible, or are you just ignoring me?”
“Come.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me over to the bed, where we both sat. “I am happy to tell you anything you wish to know.” He paused before speaking again. “Your friend has overstepped his bounds and I had to take action—for his sake as much as anyone else’s. I regret that you were distressed by our … disagreement. I had Zoë take Tom to your townhouse because it is a safe haven for him. He will sleep for hours. And, regarding my penthouse, I hope you now see the benefit of living there temporarily. Even though I can cast protective spells at your townhouse again, it is easier for me to take you to a fortified space. You will be even safer there.”