Dark Awakenings (Danse Macabre Book 2) Read online

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  A WEDDING & SOMETHING UNEXPECTED

  PARIS IS BEAUTIFUL IN FEBRUARY. EVERYTHING TAKES ON a romantic, fanciful quality that makes it live up to its hype, or at least it does when you’re there to attend the wedding of your best friend. Leslie and Tristan looked like a caricature of ballet dancer couple. She had moderately long chocolate brown hair, dark eyes and the grace of a feather floating on the breeze. He was slender, with a mop of loose blonde curls and sparkling blue eyes. Standing next to one another they looked like wedding cake toppers, perhaps it even goes without saying that the wedding was picturesque. I was happy for my friend, envious but happy. She got what she wanted. She came, she saw and she conquered. We were both thrust into the world of Vampires at almost the same time. She however was able to use her cunning, wit and assertive nature to get everything she wanted. She had an amazing fiancé and immortality without death. She was also the only human Principal Dancer to tour with the only Vampire Ballet Company.

  So of course the entire ceremony was refined, tasteful and elegant. Everyone who was anyone showed up; in not only Vampire Society but in the dance world as well. Standing in front of a crowd of gathered Vampires; looking out at them from my perch as a bridesmaid it made me realize that my passive nature had cost me everything. I couldn’t even pay attention to the vows as I was struck by how I allowed my life to be hijacked from me. I wasn’t even my best friend’s maid of honor. That position went to Colette; who admittedly looked stunning in the garnet satin, empire waist evening gown that all four of us bridesmaids wore. I was the only one who was not a ballet dancer and so I stood out like a sore thumb, or rather like a chicken amongst swans. I was the only one who the dress made look a little pregnant. As the thought crossed my mind I glanced down the grand staircase they had us perched on and stared down at Elizabeta and the six month old child she held in her arms. Margot still looked nothing like her mother Kendra. The few times I saw the child she acted as sign of everything that was and would never be again.

  The string orchestra started again, and the happy couple filed down the stairs to be followed by each bridesmaid paired with a groomsman. Evan was his best man, so I found myself paired with a vampire whom I didn’t know; one who seemed terrified every time I looked at him for more than a few seconds. Pictures were handled that morning so once we left the atrium we were allowed to disburse and head to our arranged tables in the ballroom for the reception.

  At the reception I felt like a short, wide, little spec of insignificance in a room full of tall graceful males and lithe, waif-like females. I was also overlooked and very much alone. Leslie was glued to Tristan and I didn’t have a date so I spent most of the evening alone watching everyone else on the dance floor. Compounding things was the simple fact that it was also Valentine’s Day and I was still single. Aleksi however was not.

  Since our break up he had been seeing the same woman; a pale, slender blonde who seemed almost colorless. Her hair was white blonde and her eyes were the palest shade of gray. I knew she was a dancer, or rather had been—since hooking up with Aleksi she never seemed to not be at his side so I don’t know who she could maintain rehearsals let alone performances. I had taken up the habit of staring at them when they were together. He really seemed to genuinely care for her, and it broke my heart a little. You’ve stared longer than is polite, look elsewhere! I obeyed Miss Manners and let my gaze drift away from their domestic bliss to the crowd gathered. We were working on a friendship though, and he was helping me with the powers he had helped awaken within me. We would chat via Skype while I tried to force a vision without an aide or when I tried to use my telekinesis and the disaster that seemed to follow it. That was the extent of our friendship through, random skype calls and broken glasses.

  My eyes fell on Evan who was actually making his way over to me with a smile on his face. He had avoided me since I overheard Aleksi threaten him back stage all of those months ago. I was starting to think that Aleksi had threatened all of the Vampires away from me. Everyone who once seemed so interested now avoided me like I was Typhoid Mary.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Evan exclaimed, with a cheerful grin before sitting in the chair next to me.

  “Happy Valentine’s! You, sir, are the first person to wish me it all day.” I smiled at him, looking at Evan just made me smile. There was something about vampirism that brought out the bright copper of his hair and the dusting of freckles on his nose. He was in his thirties when he was turned, but the freckles made him seem so much younger.

  “Not even Aleksi?”

  “No, but he’s been busy with…” I trailed off and let my eyes dance across the room. “Charlotte.” I finished when my eyes reached where Aleksi was still sitting with the little blonde slip of a girl in his lap. Aleksi’s bright, burning electric blue eyes were not focused on her however—they were fixed on me. I closed my eyes and turned my head back towards Evan. “It makes perfect sense that he would… spend time with her. I’m just his servant, and barely a friend.” Change the subject. “It was a lovely ceremony wasn’t it?”

  “It was very romantic, but I hardly expected anything else from them.”

  “Are you still…” I trailed off I couldn’t actually bring myself to say ‘sleeping with them’, let alone the alternative ‘fucking them’. You shouldn’t have even insinuated the question! I turn my eyes to the ceiling and stared at the painted fresco there admiring the color and artistry.

  “Yes, but…never mind. Yes, both Colette and I are. Though…” He trailed off and sighed. “She’s spent the last two months attempting to get Nikolai Zelenko’s petition from Aleksi. So I’m fairly certain I’m going to be replaced the moment he’s brought into the company.” We both frowned together and then I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and a shiver run down my spine. I didn’t even need to turn around to know who was standing behind me. His hands slid over my shoulders and I fought the urge to lean back against him. I would always be Aleksi’s. He would always coax a docile and eager response from my body.

  “My ears were burning, so I thought I’d come over and see what the two of you were conspiring.” Aleksi snickered darkly tracing his thumbs over my shoulders. That is not how you touch someone who is just supposed to be just your friend.

  “We were talking about Nikolai Zelenko.” Evan offered.

  “Everyone’s talking about Nikolai Zelenko.” Aleksi’s eye roll was audible. With a swallow I opened my eyes and sat up straighter. “Which is why I need to ask you a favor.”

  “A favor and not a selfish order? I’m impressed.” The acid in Evan’s tone could have melted the table and the marble around us. I actually gasped. For the brief time I had known Evan I knew him to be like me; passive and submissive. So the interjection of disapproval of Aleksi was shocking.

  “Autumn, I need you to go to Moscow a few days early. Colette just mentioned to me that you were still single. I think getting away from Paris, and Me and Colette—I mean Charlotte—would be good for you. Especially with the room mix up.” Oh the room mix up. How could I forget that whoever booked the rooms for the company in Paris made sure mine was off suite of Aleksi’s. Attempting to go to sleep while the two of them had sex was difficult. Charlotte was a screamer, and even through the ball gag I knew he resorted to muffle her squealed moans I could still hear too much.

  “What about the rooms in Moscow? Are they even ready yet?” I asked craning my neck to look up at him. I looked up just in time to see something flicker in his eyes that I missed seeing, desire for me.

  “No, but that’s another part of the favor. I want you to do the assessment.” His hands stilled on my shoulders and I watched as
his eyes closed for a moment. Was he enjoying the heat of my skin? You’re reading too much into it.

  “I…I don’t know how to do that. Wouldn’t it be better for you to do it? Or Evan? Actually I think Evan is way better suited to it than I am.” I glanced across the table at Evan who was sipping blood out of a wine glass and shaking his head no.

  “Nikolai and I don’t get on.” Evan offered with his lips still on the glass.

  “I have an envelope full of information on him and how to conduct the interview. You also know me better than anyone, Autumn. You’re the only one I’d trust to make the right decision.”

  “Alright, I’ll do it.” That’s the spirit! No more falling to sleep listening to the sex you’re not having—with Aleksi or anyone else.

  “Thank you. This is actually very important to me.”

  “What are friends for.” I smiled up at him. His smile fell with the expression and a sour look slipped over his lips.

  “Well…your flight is in a few hours.” What?

  “It’s over a week until you’re supposed to be in Moscow! What am I supposed to do for a week?”

  “Sightsee, get to know Nikolai.” Aleksi shrugged and I glanced at Evan who seemed equally as shocked as I was.

  “She doesn’t speak Russian, Aleksi.” Evan chimed in again with his face buried in the wine glass.

  “Autumn.” Aleksi closed his hands over my shoulders and I shivered remembering being held captive by him so many times before. “If you think you can’t do it, just say the word and I’ll tell him not to expect you.”

  “No, I’ll be fine.”—I smirked—“When I was sixteen my father took my family to Tokyo on vacation. I was fine then, and I’m sure after a few hours with a language book I’ll be fine in Moscow.” They both stared at me like I had sprouted a second head, or had just devoured a small child in front of them. Aleksi leaned in, his breath caressing my ear and neck; making me tilt my head slightly to the side. I practically presented my throat to him as he whispered to me. “There’s my Autumn.” He quickly pulled away from me and that lack of warmth made me lightheaded. “C’mon, I’ll help you get packed and take you to the airport.”

  “What about Charlotte?” I asked furrowing my brows. My eyes flitted back to Evan who set his glass down.

  “Well I think I’m going to head back to the hotel myself. Have a lovely evening, Autumn, and a safe flight.” Flashing me a smile he stood and walked back into the crowd of people, not giving me a chance to say goodbye. Aleksi stared after Evan for a few moments and then released his hands from my shoulders.

  “She knows you’re my servant and she understands your place of reverence in my life.” He held his hand out to me and I just started at it.

  “I have a place of reverence in your life?”

  “Mhm, you always will Autumn. I was very clear with Charlotte in the beginning. You’re a part of my life and you will always be a part of my life.” That’s mightily presumptuous of him.

  “Oh.” I took his hand and let him lead me through the opera house to the coat check. He draped the faux mink shrug over my shoulders and tied the black ribbon with a pleased smile.

  “She understands. I think that’s part of why I love her.” He smiled softly smoothing the glossy, silken faux fur. My stomach flopped. Change the subject.

  “Have you met Zelenko?” I asked as Aleksi hailed a cab.

  “No, but I’ve heard enough that I think it’s a bad idea. Regardless of what Colette says his reputation alone makes me doubt he could handle the pressure. But Tristan okayed his application, so thy Master’s will be done.” He snickered darkly as the cab pulled up to the curb.

  “His dancing is probably why Tristan okayed him. They compare him to Baryshnikov and Nureyev and Nijinsky constantly. Leslie used to be obsessed with him before he joined the Bolshoi so I know more about him than most.”

  “Ah. Do you find him attractive?” He tilted his head to the side and I blinked at him.

  “I honestly don’t remember what he looks like. It’s been…three almost four years since then. I remember he had amazing energy though. He just made everything look so effortless. But he lacks your technical perfection.”

  “Yes, that’s the new comparison I hear. His performances are reminiscent of mine when I was a mortal. Elizabeta said he has my wildness without my control.” He didn’t seem happy. I couldn’t help but to shake my head as the cab pulled up to the hotel.

  “So everyone is afraid of him replacing them.” That’s…where did this come from?

  “What do you mean?” He asked before he paid and tipped the driver. We slid out of the cab before I answered.

  “Evan thinks he’ll take Colette from him. And you apparently fear losing your ‘world’s greatest’ title.”

  “Evan’s right to worry, but I’m not exactly worried about that.”

  “Worried someone else will be the sex symbol of Du Nuit?” I teased as we walked into the bright glossy lobby of the hotel. He smirked at me as we neared the elevator and pressed the button.

  “No.” He chuckled out as the doors slid open. We stepped on the elevator and he hit the button for our floor. “I know Dr. Young wants you working everyday with your powers, but when you’re in Moscow be very careful where and when you use your telekinesis. It’s not like the States. There is still a lot of distrust of that sort of psychic ability.” I nodded and the doors opened again and we walked along the tastefully decorated corridor. Everything smelled like roses—it was almost like being in a greenhouse. The swish of my dress was the only sound we made heading down the hallway to the suite. With a sigh he unlocked the door and held it open for me.

  While I packed my things he was quiet, I could hear him milling about in the room that shared the wall with mine but no words were said.

  Stripping out of the dress I stood in the room in front of my mostly packed bags in my bra and panties. The door opened and I gasped, covering myself with my hands. Aleksi stood in the doorway, backlit by the sitting room. He had changed already, shedding his tuxedo for his usual skinny jeans and a black tank top. I knew that over the tank top would go that black hooded jacket he was so fond of wearing, and since it was winter he’d also wear black leather fingerless gloves. I knew him too well, and it was the familiarity of that figure casting its long shadow that let me drop my hands. No, cover yourself back up right this instant! I hesitated and then obeyed Miss Manners recovering myself. Aleksi let out an exasperated sigh and stormed into the room closing the door behind him.

  Growling he seized my mouth in a very unexpected kiss and my body melted. My head swam as I clung to him and kissed him back, my tongue caressing his as he probed my mouth desperately. The contact made me forget everything; Charlotte, the break up, going to Moscow. All I cared about in that moment was feeling more of him, touching more of him and having him touch me more. But as abrupt and unexpected as the kiss began, it ended. He traced his nose over the edge of my jaw and laced his fingers in my hair. I presented my neck to him like we hadn’t spent the last almost few months apart.

  He was gentle with me, far gentler than he had ever been before and it made me angry. I wasn’t who he handled like this when he fed. I got a quick yank on my hair and a viper like strike. This was gentle, and sensual, closer to when Evan fed from me than any contact between me and Aleksi. He pulled me against him as he kept my neck taut and sunk his fangs into the scars which had formed over his favorite feeding spot. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as he broke the skin, and rather loud and sobering moan broke my lips. He held me tighter as he fed, the pain a shadow of what it had been before. This is how he feeds from Charlotte. I couldn’t stop myself from frowning as I stared at the tasteful reproduction of Monet’s Water Lilies opposite us. I trembled against him as he lapped at the wound, tapering off his feeding but I still felt sick to the pit of my stomach. After he stopped he kept his arms around me, holding me hostage as he nuzzled against me.

  “I’m sorry.” He breathed into
my ear before gently releasing me. “I shouldn’t have done that.” He shook his head. No, he certainly shouldn’t have.

  “It’s okay, I’m still… I’m still your servant after all.” I offered him a small smile before running my fingers back through my hair and then pulling on my charcoal grey, cashmere, sweater dress. It was almost like my old one, it hugged my drastic curves and hung off my shoulders perfectly. Smoothing the soft knit fabric I sighed and pulled out a pair of knee high brown leather boots, tucked my heels away and then zipped up my suitcase.

  “She’ll never be what you are to me. You’ll always be my other half, Autumn.” His voice was heavy with regret. I knew we were apart because he thought it would keep me safe.

  “Is there anything I need to know?” I asked sitting down on the bed as I slipped on my boots and zipped them.

  “Zelenko will meet you at the airport outside of customs, his number is in the envelope. If he doesn’t bring a sign or something call the number. Everything you need is in the envelope. There’s even extra money—Moscow can be very expensive and they like cash. Oh, and try to wear something of my color every day, the coat’s a good start but you’re my representative while you are there.” I nodded as I pulled on the bright red pea coat and wrapped the long black scarf around my throat. He actually walked back over to me and arranged the scarf to better cover my neck.

  Four hours later I was in Moscow attempting to make my way through the airport. Part of me loved the universality of airports, no matter where you were they all seemed to look almost exactly the same. The language on some of the advertisements might have changed but you could tell they all said the same thing. Buy this watch. Buy these headphones. Eat at this restaurant on concourse D. Most people would have been terrified to be in another country where they didn’t speak a word of the language but I wasn’t. It was somewhat freeing to be blissfully unaware of the foreign chatter around me, when you couldn’t pick out words everything blurred into white noise—at least for me. I made my way to baggage claim following the little universal suitcase sign.