Cin Craven - Wages of Sin Part 2

It was rather annoying that anyone would think I needed guidance. I was not exactly a green girl just out of the schoolroom.

He cleared his throat. "I'm sure that it comes as no surprise to you that I have feelings for you."

"And I count you as one of my very best friends, Sebastian," I lied, patting his hand where it rested atop mine on his sleeve, hoping that would forestall wherever this conversation was going. Sebastian and I had been friends as children but it had been many, many years since I'd thought of him in those terms.

"Yes, well, my feelings for you go rather more deeply than that," he took a deep breath, drew himself up and turned to face me. "I want to marry you, Dulcinea."

Oh d.a.m.n.

He continued, "It isn't right that you're here in this big house all alone, with no family."

"Sebastian, I'm in mourning. I can't possibly even consider marriage for at least a year."

"We can say that your parents had given their consent before their deaths. We can be married in a private ceremony here and live quietly until your year of mourning is over. Even the grande dames of the ton cannot find fault with that. It's entirely more fitting than you living here alone." Oh, double d.a.m.n. Did the man have an answer for everything? He had clearly thought this out.

"Sebastian, I appreciate your offer, truly I do, but there's nothing improper about my living here. It is my house now and I have Mrs. Mackenzie with me."

He scoffed. "A housekeeper is hardly a proper chaperone."

"Perhaps not but she was my nanny when I was a child, not to mention she is my mother's cousin. She's hardly a servant. And my cousin Thomas and his family are less than a day's travel to London. It's not as if I'm stuck out in the back of beyond with only a parlor maid in residence."

He stepped closer, taking my shoulders in his hands. I didn't like that by half.

"We would be good together, Dulcinea."

"Sebastian, I'm flattered by your offer but the matter is closed."

He gave me a small shake and his fingers clenched. "Think of what your parents would want for you, then. They would want you to be settled with a proper husband."

"Actually, Sebastian, the last thing my parents told me was to stay away from you! Now take your hands off me."

He sighed and narrowed his eyes. "That's the way it's to be then?"

"Yes."

He released me and I rubbed my arms, sure there would be bruises there tomorrow. Really, what had gotten into the man?

"Well, that's a pity then. I'd wanted to do this the easy way," his right hand shot out like lightening, so fast I could barely see it, reaching across his body and grabbing my right arm, spinning me around until my back was pressed against him. "But I don't mind doing it the hard way if necessary."

I struggled but he was strong, far stronger than he should have been. "Sebastian, turn me loose or I'll scream."

His voice was soft and deadly calm in my ear, "Go ahead and scream, my dear. Call them all out here. I'll kill them all, your precious Mrs. Mackenzie, Fiona, that impudent stable boy, all of them."

I stopped struggling. There was something in his voice, something new and frightening. A week ago I'd have laughed at such a statement but now I was afraid. Afraid he'd actually do it.

"That's my girl. Now don't worry," he said, unhooking the clasp at my neck and pus.h.i.+ng my cloak down over one shoulder, "this won't hurt. Much."

His breath was behind my ear as he spoke, and then moved lower. His teeth grazed the throbbing pulse at my neck and there was a sharp, white-hot pain as he sank his teeth into my skin. Vampire, some age-old instinct in my brain shouted. I saw it all as if I were watching from somewhere outside my body. I couldn't move, couldn't scream or he'd kill everyone I loved. All I could do was watch.

I watched his dark head bent to my neck. I watched his hand, engulfing mine, pressed against my breast. I watched a small trail of blood run down my white skin and seep into the lace at the neckline of my dress, watched my eyes flutter shut... and something snapped inside me. This was not going to happen. I would, by the G.o.ddess, not allow it.

Reaching up with my free hand, I raked my nails down his face. He hissed, his grip slackening just enough for me to strike backward, hitting him in the throat with my elbow. He turned me loose, one hand reaching up to clutch his throat and then he came at me again. Stop, stop, stop, I thought as I stumbled backward. Raising my hands I called my power and pushed it outward through my palms. As it had in the Winter Garden a week ago, my magic flew free, surrounding Sebastian and holding him. He looked down at his feet, puzzled.

I ran. What I'd just done wasn't a spell, it wasn't any type of magic I'd ever been taught. I'd called it forth from pure emotion and I had no idea how long it would hold him. I had to make it to the kitchen door.

I saw Tim coming up from the stables with the dishes from supper. He saw me running and stopped on the trail. Looking over my shoulder I saw Sebastian struggling. It looked like he was making progress.

"Run!" I screamed to Tim, pointing to the kitchen door. "Run!"

There must have been something in my voice because Tim dropped the plates and bowls and sprinted for the door. I could hear my heels on the stone flags of the garden path, could feel my heart beating frantically. My neck was on fire and I was dimly aware that I was covered in blood. Maybe it had been the blood Tim reacted to. Just as the boy reached the door I felt Sebastian break free of my magic. I didn't need to look back; I could feel him coming. A howl of rage sounded behind me and the wind picked up, scattering the leaves and blowing dust from the path up into my face.

Tim had pushed the door open and was standing there, frozen in fear on the threshold. I didn't slow my pace but put my hands on him and shoved him through the door in front of me. I could almost feel Sebastian's breath on the back of my neck as Tim and I fell through the open doorway and sprawled in an inelegant heap on the stone floor. I heard female screams above my head, Mrs.

Mackenzie and Fiona. Rolling quickly onto my back, I looked up at the doorway, ready to do battle.

Sebastian stood there glaring at me, his fists clenched at his sides, his canine teeth long and wicked sharp. Yet he made no move to cross the threshold. I laughed up at him, faking a bravado I didn't come close to feeling.

"Vampire," I laughed, my voice sounding a little hysterical, even to my own ears. "You can't come in unless I invite you."

The gleaming white teeth retracted to a normal length as Sebastian seemed to gather his composure.

"Yes, well, I was invited in when I was human. I was hoping that would be enough, but no matter," he said, withdrawing a clean white handkerchief from his pocket and dabbing at the blood, my blood, at the corner of his mouth. "You'll have to come out sooner or later, my dear. I can't touch you while the sun s.h.i.+nes but darkness is now my stalking ground. Eventually you will come out after dark, you or one of the others," he said glancing at Tim and the ladies as he neatly folded the handkerchief and returned it to his pocket. "After all, I have nothing but time. I can be patient."

My temper flared at the thought that he would harm one of the others to get to me. He'd come back from Eton a mean-spirited bully and the intervening years apparently hadn't corrected that flaw.

"You're nothing but a weasel, Sebastian!" I yelled. "That's all you've ever been and all you will ever be!"

His form s.h.i.+mmered iridescent gold. He looked down at his hands.

"What the-?" he said and then he was gone. On the flagstones outside the kitchen door now sat a very large, very angry weasel.

"Oops," I squeaked.

"Dulcie, what have you done?" Fiona asked in a breathy whisper. She looked like a younger version of her mother with the same chestnut hair and heart-shaped face, a face that now stared at the snarling weasel in fascination and horror.

"I don't know," I replied. "It's the magic; I can't seem to control it. The day after the funeral I was in my room, crying and tidying up, and I wished that I could burn that horrid black dress and the thing went up in flames all by itself."

Mentally shaking myself I leapt up and grabbed a stick of wood from the pile near the ovens. Wrapping what was possibly a small tablecloth around it and tying it tightly, I lit it from the fire."Tim, take this now and go back to the stables."

Tim was standing now, staring in horror at Sebastian the weasel. I grabbed his arm and shook him gently. "Tim, listen to me."

He flinched and looked at me wide-eyed.

"Don't," I said, my voice cracking on the word, "don't look at me like that. You know me. You know I'd never hurt you."

His face turned red. "No, miss. I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"It's all right. Now listen carefully. Is Lord Montford's carriage and driver in the stable?"

"No miss, I a.s.sumed it was in the drive."

"Good. Now, don't tell the others what you've seen here. Go back to the stables and bar all the doors. Do not open them until sunrise, not for anything or anyone, can you do that?"

He nodded.

"Good lad," I said, handing him the makes.h.i.+ft torch. "Come back up to the house in the morning, well after sunrise mind you, and we'll talk about what's to be done."

"But miss, I can't leave you and the ladies here unprotected!"

"We'll be fine. He can't come in unless we invite him and we certainly aren't going to do that. Now, go quickly!"

Tim moved to the doorway. Sebastian the weasel hissed and snapped at him. Tim thrust the torch at the little fiend and he backed away, allowing Tim to move past and head down the stable path. I watched from the window to make sure that he got there safely.

"Dulcie?" Mrs. Mackenzie said, gesturing toward the weasel. "How did you do that?"

"Like I said, I don't know," I sighed. "The Awakening didn't happen like it was supposed to. It's too much all at one time and I can't seem to control it."

The three of us stood in a semi-circle in front of the open door, staring. Sebastian the weasel paced back and forth, looking at us, at me in particular, and spitting as he paced.

"Do you think you should... de-weasel him, Dulcie?" Fiona said in a small voice.

I shrugged and turned to her. "I don't know how I weaseled him in the first place," I said. "I truly don't even know how I'd go about de-weaseling him. I suppose I could look through Mama's books, perhaps there's a spell of some sort."

"Then again," Mrs. Mackenzie said. "Do we really want to change him back? I mean, being as how it appears that Lord Montford is now a vampire and wishes to kill you, wouldn't it be best to just leave him?"

"Frankly, Mrs. Mac, I couldn't give a badger's a.s.s if Sebastian stays weaseled or not, but you know as well as I do that the first rule of magic is to harm none. I think turning someone into a weasel would be considered doing harm," I pointed out.

"I don't really think that the 'harm none' rule applies to the undead, do you?" Fiona asked. "I mean, they're dead. Aren't they pretty much as... harmed as they're going to get?"

"Good point, my dear," her mother said, patting her shoulder. "Besides, he was trying to harm you first and I think Lord Montford would make a fine weasel. Probably be very happy. And do watch your language, young lady."

I rolled my eyes. "My unwanted suitor has gone evil, I've been attacked in my own garden, I have two holes in my neck, I'm covered in my own blood and there's a snarling weasel on my doorstep. I think the situation calls for a little strong language."

"If you ladies are quite through," a deep male voice said from the doorway.

We all gasped and turned. Sebastian stood there, back in human form. Well, not exactly human, not anymore.

"I guess that's settled, then," I said. In truth I was a little disappointed.

"You think you're so smart," he spat. "You have no idea the power I have now, the things I can do to you now that I've tasted you."

"You've had quite a taste of my own power," I said, c.o.c.king my head to one side. "How did you like it?"

"Oh you'll pay for that, never fear. I've wanted you for years, Dulcinea, and I will have you. We need you and no one can stop us now. Your blood is in me, flowing through me, and there is no chance of escape for you, not anymore. You'll be hearing from me soon."

And with that he was gone.

Chapter Four

We chose the dining room because it was the only room large enough to suit our purposes which didn't have any windows or outside doors. Call me paranoid. Inside of an hour my dining room probably resembled one of the offices in the War Department.

Mrs. Mackenzie and Fiona brought down every book my mother had in her private workroom and piled them on the long mahogany table. I sorted them while Mrs. Mackenzie and Fiona looked through the stacks for any information about vampires.

I couldn't face Sebastian again with legends as my only weapons. Did a wooden stake through the heart really kill a vampire? What about crosses and Holy Water? I had to know for sure because one error in judgment could get us all killed. I placed another book on Mrs. Mackenzie's pile and continued sorting.

Mrs. Mackenzie was actually not a "Mrs." at all. When she was a mere girl she had allowed herself to be seduced by the blacksmith's handsome eldest son. Unfortunately he was already married with two small children of his own and had no more use for her when she came to him to tell him she was with child. The unfortunate situation was further compounded by the fact that she was the vicar's daughter. Her parents, horrified and ashamed, had been rather plain about the fact that she could not stay among their sainted flock and would have to leave Glen Gregor before it became apparent that she had gotten herself in trouble. I'd always cringed at that phrase, gotten herself in trouble, as if there were not two parties involved!

The good vicar had written my mother, a distant cousin, to see if she could secure a place for his daughter in one of the charity homes in London. Apparently Inverness was not far enough away to suit him. Mama had just learned that she was to be a mother herself so she sent the coach to Glen Gregor to collect young Jane Mackenzie. When Jane arrived at Ravenworth Hall Mama introduced her as her cousin, the poor widowed Mrs. Mackenzie whose young husband had been accidentally shot in the head in a hunting mishap. I always thought that both Mama and Mrs. Mackenzie relished the thought of the blacksmith's son being "accidentally" shot in the head. And so the unwed young mother had become Mrs. Mackenzie, first my nanny and later our housekeeper. I'd never known her as the frightened young girl she must have been back then; from my first recollections she'd always been the iron-willed supreme authority over everything that went on in our household. Fiona and I had never been able to get away with even the slightest mischief under her watchful gaze.

I sighed and plopped down in a chair, leafing through a book on protection spells.

"I'm going to have to send John and the boys away," I mused as I turned another page. "I'll have the boys harness Zeus and Bacchus to the old carriage first thing in the morning and take John to his mother's in Ess.e.x. She lives on a little farm by the sea and I think the boys would enjoy a holiday. I can get some lads from the village to come up during the day and care for the other horses."

"I thought they'd be safe out there?" Fiona asked. "Are they not safe, Dulcie?"

"The bunkhouse is in the stables. It's their home and Sebastian can't enter without an invitation. However, if he gets desperate enough there's no reason he can't light the stables on fire to get them to come out."

Fiona looked up at me in horror.

I shrugged. "If I can think of it he will too, eventually. Nothing useful here," I said, tossing the book aside and reaching for another one. "The two of you should go with them. It's not safe here."

Mrs. Mackenzie snorted. "You've never been a stupid girl, Dulcie. Don't start now."

"But it's not safe for either of you. You heard what Sebastian said tonight. He'll use you to get to me if he can."

Mrs. Mackenzie leveled a look at me that brooked no argument. "Your mother, G.o.d rest her soul, saved my life. I'll not abandon her only child and that's the end of it."

"Besides," Fiona said, reaching for another book, "what with you turning vampires into weasels on our kitchen stoop, surely we're safe as houses." She flashed me what I'm sure was meant to be an encouraging smile.

I knew not to argue further and, in truth, a part of me was glad that they were staying. Another part was terrified for them. As unbelievable as it sounded, and I had grown up in a house where the unbelievable was commonplace, a vampire was stalking me and I had no idea how to fight him, how to kill him. My only weapon was a font of powerful magic I couldn't seem to control. Life just couldn't get much worse.

"You'd think in all these books on magic and the arcane there'd be something useful about vampires," I said tossing another book into the discard pile. I'd cleaned the blood off of me and changed my dress but the wounds on my neck were still raw. I ran my fingernails over them absently.

"Dulcie, don't scratch," Mrs. Mackenzie said, without even looking up from her book.

"I can't help it, they itch."

"Maybe we could cleanse them with Holy Water?" Fiona suggested.

I arched a brow at her. "Do you happen to have any Holy Water about you?"