“Because I’m trying to protect you,” he said, the frustration apparent in his voice. “If you’re depleted of blood then you’re completely unaware of what is happening around you. It makes you vulnerable, defenseless. This way if something happened to me you would at least stand a fighting chance. I need to know that mentally you’re on your best game, able to think clearly, especially if he is going to require you to do something for him.”
I was shocked into silence. “Oh,” I said softly, touched at his concern. “I’ve never looked at things that way before. But I still don’t like the idea of you taking it from someone else. Damien is ruthless, Vance. He’ll use this to his advantage.”
“Then I intend to be ruthless right back,” he said, getting up and striding away from me. “This discussion is closed, Portia.”
A couple of hours passed, but it seemed much longer since Vance didn’t speak one word to me. It was at the end of this time frame Damien strode back into the room, followed by a bevy of servants, who sat up a different dining table with all new food items.
My traitorous stomach growled at the wonderful sight.
Damien didn’t look any worse for wear, and one would’ve never guessed he’d been so battered prior to this.
He waved a hand of dismissal, and most of the servants disappeared as he sat down with a flourish. Two people did stay in the cavern though, flanking either side of the door. Apparently Damien felt he would be better protected if we were out numbered.
I could feel the satisfaction oozing off Vance. He knew he had gotten to him.
“Shall we try this again?” Damien asked, gesturing to the two seats on either side of him. “Or should I arm myself for battle?” He looked specifically at Vance.
Vance shrugged. “That depends on what you want,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I want to talk.” Damien lifted a linen napkin to place it in his lap. “And I want to eat breakfast with my son and daughter-in-law like a civilized person, if that’s okay with you.”
Vance actually snorted. “Cut the act,” he sneered. “I’m not buying it.”
Damien smiled. “I’m calling in Portia’s promise to me.” He waved his hand at the chairs once again. “Now will you sit down?”
Vance narrowed his eyes to slits, his jaw clenching, but he strode to the table, and I followed, suddenly feeling like maybe eating wasn’t the best thing my stomach could be doing right now.
“Let’s hear it,” Vance said, after we were seated, not making any advances toward the food at all.
“Not until we’ve enjoyed a nice breakfast together,” Damien replied, all charm. “Eat first, and then we will discuss business.”
“I’d prefer my blood from a different source,” Vance spoke, abruptly changing the subject, and Damien looked up in surprise before glancing over to me.
“How do you feel about that, Portia?” He took a bite of food, and regarded me sympathetically.
I just glared at him.
“She needs her strength for whatever it is you have planned,” Vance said. “I can’t keep depleting her. It’s too much.”
“That’s a good point, but you won’t find anyone with stronger blood than her, son.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“I don’t care,” Vance replied, staring at him.
“It’ll be like taking a fine wine and watering it down. Can you handle that?” he asked, having the audacity to look concerned.
“I said I don’t care,” Vance answered hotly. “Just bring me blood from a different source.”
“Fine,” Damien agreed without any further hesitation, and my mouth popped open. He turned to me. “Eat up! You heard him. You need your strength.”
“I don’t feel very hungry all of a sudden.” I stared back at him, before casting my gaze over to Vance angrily.
“That’s beside the point,” Damien replied. “You gave me your word you would help me and that requires you to be at your best, so nourish yourself, or I will consider our bargain null and void.”
I clenched my teeth, grinding them together, but knowing there was nothing I could do about it. I was equally irritated with Vance who seemed to be content to sit there and let Damien tell me what to do.
Picking up my fork, I stabbed a piece of sausage and lifted it to my mouth, taking a bite. It exploded with flavor, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes while I savored it.
Damien chuckled out loud. “See. That wasn’t so bad now, was it?” He looked at Vance. “Your turn.”
Vance begrudgingly picked up his fork and with an exasperated roll of his eyes followed suit.
Damien smiled widely. “See, this is wonderful!” he exclaimed, seeming truly joyful over the situation. He settled back into his chair, sighing contently, as he glanced between both of us. “You know, I can only think of one thing that would make our little family breakfast even better.”
“What’s that?” Vance mumbled, but I could tell he honestly didn’t care one way or another.
Damien ignored him for the moment, motioning toward one of the men standing guard at the entrance to the room.
The man quickly stepped outside, shutting the door behind him, and I had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“What are you up to?” I asked, putting my fork down.
He laughed at me. “Why, nothing for you to worry about, my dear. I was just thinking this family breakfast would be better if we had, well, you know … the whole family.”
The door swung open at precisely that moment, and Krista Mangum was shuttled into the space.
Vance pushed angrily away from the table, standing up to glare at Damien. “You have Mom?” he roared, his eyes flashing red before he turned to go toward the demon who held Krista. “Take your hands off of her!” he ordered the man, his voice flat and hard.
To the credit of the demon, he didn’t budge or flinch with Vance bearing down on him, instead turning to look at Damien.
“Let her go. You’re dismissed,” Damien said with a nod, and he released her, turning to make his way back out of the room.
Krista stood staring at Vance, and I realized she had to be more than a little nervous. She hadn’t been around him since he’d lost the Awakening. He was a much harsher individual than she would be used to now.
“Are you okay, Mom?” Vance asked, his voice growing sensitive, and he reached to hug her, belying the very harshness I was concerned about.
The tension in her body dissolved away, and she wrapped her arms tightly around her son. “I’m fine,” she whispered, and I saw tears shimmering in her eyes. She pulled away slightly, sliding her hands up to place them on his cheeks. “How are you?” She looked him over carefully—sorrow, love, and heartbreak etched clearly there for him to see.
“I’ve been better,” he said through a clenched jaw, wrenching his face from her grasp when he turned to glare at Damien again. “Mom, why don’t you come and eat breakfast with us?”
Krista came to the table, but didn’t go directly to the chair he pulled for her, instead coming over and bending down to give me a hug.
“Hey, sweet girl. How you holding up?” she spoke softly in my ear.
I embraced her back, shaking my head slightly as an answer to her question. Krista moved away with a look of sympathy, giving my shoulder a knowing squeeze before she sat down.
“Well, isn’t this delightful?” Damien grinned at us. “All of my family, finally together at last, just the way we were always meant to be.”
I almost felt like laughing because the situation bordered on being comical. Glancing around the table at the somber stares that met me, it was easy to see that no one present, besides Damien, could find any joy in this outcome what-so-ever. In fact, we all looked as if we were attending a funeral.
The door opened, and a woman in a maid’s uniform hurried in to place a setting in front of Krista, before quickly leaving the room again.
“What do you want, Damien?” Krista asked point blank while she reached out to serve herself from the dishes in the center of the table.
Damien smiled at her in a sickeningly sweet way. “Why, to have breakfast with my family, of course. Is that too much to ask?” He placed a bite of food in his mouth.
“You know what I mean. You most certainly didn’t bring us all here for a little reunion. Now what do you want?”
I had to give Krista credit, she didn’t let Damien rile her the way I did. She kept her voice calm and even, as if this were the most normal conversation in the world.
Damien looked at her appreciatively, and I saw the heat in his gaze as he did. It never occurred to me he might actually still be attracted or care for her in anyway, but maybe he did.
“I have a project under way right now,” Damien replied. “It’s something I’m going to need some assistance with. Having Vance and Sean here, allowed me to secure Portia’s help in this task of mine. Having you and Portia will procure Vance’s promise as well now. So, I guess you could say that you’re … incentive.”
“And what exactly am I promising to do?” Vance piped up, looking at his dad with a tight expression.
“You and Portia are going to help me obtain some artifacts I need—keys actually.”
“Keys?” Vance questioned. “What kind of keys?”
Damien looked at him for a moment before answering. “I’m not ready to reveal that yet. All in due time. But for right now, just know I just need your help in obtaining them.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because these keys are all ancient artifacts that have been enchanted with different spells and curses,” Damien replied.
“So by enchanted you mean they have been protected by someone to keep them from falling into the hands of the wrong people, say, like you,” Vance said.
“Pretty much,” Damien chuckled. “But it isn’t going to stop me, now is it?”
“What happens if we can’t get them?” I wished I could wipe the smug look off his face.
“Then I’ll consider our promise null and void and someone will have to die,” he replied, looking pointedly at me. “Failure is not an option.”
“Damien, let the kids go,” Krista spoke up. “You can put a stop to all of this madness right now. You’ve proven you’re superior to everyone. Why do you need to continue this charade?”
“This is no charade, Krista,” he said, his expression darkening. “I’m fully intent on accomplishing my purpose, and nothing will dissuade me from it. So don’t bother trying. Besides, you’ll all see how right I am when everything is said and done. I’d even wager you’ll wonder why you ever doubted me.”
Silence ensued at the table after that with most of pushing our food around our plates while we were lost in thought. Only Damien appeared to be eating with relish.
“So when do we get to hear the plan,” Vance said finally, and I knew then he had made up his mind we were going to do whatever Damien asked us.
“As soon as you finish eating,” Damien said, determined to force us all to eat our meal.
I took another bite, finding it totally irritating to be such a puppet on a string, but I hurried to finish anyway, wanting to know what my fate would be.
When we were done, Damien leaned back into his chair. “Vance, you, Portia, and myself are all going to be taking a trip very soon. I need you to pack enough things for about three days. We’ll be attending a large charity ball so I will be sending you some evening clothes to choose from. We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.”
“And where exactly are we going?” Vance asked, folding his arms over his chest and staring at Damien with a scowl.
“You’ll find out tomorrow,” Damien smiled, scooting his chair away to stand up. “See that you’re ready to go on time.”
“That’s it? That was your big reveal?” Vance prodded.
“For now it is,” Damien answered smugly.
“What about Mom?” Vance asked.
“She’ll be staying behind, as extra incentive to help you do what you need to do.”
“May I see my dad?” I asked softly, more than nervous.
“No,” Damien said flatly, without even considering it.
“I just want to know you’re still keeping your end of the bargain,” I said, lifting my chin a little.
Damien’s eyes narrowed at me slightly. “I give you my word—he’s no worse off than the last time you saw him.”
That wasn’t very comforting, but I knew it was all I was going to get. I stood and walked over to him.
“See that he stays that way, Damien, because if anyone here has the power to kill you, it’s me, and I would be oh-so-happy to oblige!” I walked away, but I could hear him chuckling after me.
“Portia, Portia,” he said, and I looked at him. “What a woman you are!” His gaze traveled over me, and I felt the irritation burst from Vance as he stepped in between us so Damien couldn’t see me.
“I think it’s time for you to go now,” he said through clenched teeth.
Damien nodded at him curtly. “See to it you’re ready to go on time, son.” He turned to Krista. “Come along my dear. We’ve got some catching up to do.”
“Leave her here,” Vance said, stepping in front of his mother. “She can stay with us.”
Feeling an argument coming, I moved quickly to Vance’s side.
“Your mother will be staying with me,” Damien said firmly. “End of discussion.”
“Over my dead body,” Vance snarled, taking a step toward Damien.
“I’m willing to make that happen if you insist,” Damien said, not backing down an inch.
“Stop it! Both of you!” Krista said, moving forward. “Enough of all this fighting and bickering. You two are worse than kids on a playground who demand everything to be their way.” She turned to Vance, placing her hand against his cheek. “It’s okay. He has had me here for several days, and he has treated me well. I’ll be fine.”
I sensed her lie to him, as I was sure he could. Whatever she’d been through lately hadn’t been pleasant for her, of this I was positive. He may not have damaged her physically, but the emotional scars he’d been inflicting would be running deep.
“I don’t trust him with you,” Vance said, and I felt the concern for her rolling through him.
Krista smiled. “He has no reason to harm me, otherwise he loses your cooperation,” she reminded.