RBC06.50 - Marcella, Vampire Mage (13 page)

As I looked from Luena back to Damien, I was shocked to see he was openly appraising me. Those eyes…could he read my mind? I gasped, for just as I formed the thought, he smiled at me, as if to confirm it!

“Baron Von Dracek! So nice to see you again,” said Damien, offering his hand.

“Damien, Luena this is my daughter, Katrina.”

I curtsied and extended my hand to Damien in greeting. He took hold of it and while still holding my eyes, bent and gave the back of my hand a kiss. I felt what I can only describe as pure energy coming from his lips onto my hand, up my arm and into my heart! I could feel my face heating as he stood and smiled at me.

“Delighted to meet you, Katrina.”

“Come, Damien, we have others to meet,” said Luena taking his arm.

“Yes of course, sister,” he said with a hint of sarcasm. “Please save a dance for me, Katrina.”

Then once more he acknowledged my father.

“Your Lordship.” He turned and gave a slight bow, which my father returned, and then brother and sister were gone.

At least he looked at my face, I thought. Once again I had a strange feeling about him, but what? As for Luena, there was nothing good about the feeling she gave me.

I had never met them before, yet there was something I recognized about Damien, but I couldn’t place it. Not yet.

Next we made a circuit around the room, casually greeting everyone, and I hoped I would somehow be able to remember who was who. Some families would be easier to commit to memory than others of course. Such as the Tantees from Africa, who were tall and elegant, regal with caramel colored skin, high cheek bones, beautiful bodies draped with the most colorful fabric. Chander, who was my age, was a prince. His father MoMar was king of his clan, and he and my father knew each other well. The delegates from the Far East, the Gomon, had beautiful Asian eyes, black short hair, and wore clothing of hand-embroidered silks of red and gold, depicting scenes from their homeland. Hun Lee, Lord      Gomon’s son, spoke seven languages and by all accounts was the most brilliant mind in attendance.

The tall, handsome Vikings also were easy to pick out, with their broad shoulders, long blonde hair, chiseled rugged features. Sven Arenkiel and his son, Axel, both wore full beards and although their hair was blonde their beards appeared to be shaded with red. Their piercing blue eyes were in constant motion and they seemed to be on guard, and ready to fight at a moment’s notice. I smiled as I imagined some smoldering, quiet passion awaiting a lucky girl.

Of course the girls’ fathers we would see often: Duke Ricardo Valdesio, Arletta’s father; Edward Flanery, Eleanor’s father; and Michael DiPalicio, Rosalinda’s father. Everyone seemed exceedingly pleasant, but still an element of caution and apprehension filled the room. I imagined that outside, on the commons and on the walls, there was also a lot of tension. Since news of the attack had spread, everyone’s Watchers were on edge. Tonight we eat and enjoy each other’s company. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Later, Rosa, El, and I sat together discussing fashion. Other than the Council members, it was indeed hard to keep the other royal family members matched.

“I think we should all wear name tags with family crests and have a coordinating list to follow,” grumbled Rosa.

She was particularly attracted to Axel, as were many of the young ladies in attendance. Much to the disappointment of the half-dozen or so girls that surrounded him, he didn’t dance.

“You’re forgiven, Gerhardt,” I said. “We understand, don’t we girls?”

As he left to continue sharing himself with those unfortunate women who hadn’t yet been graced by his presence, we all giggled.

Rosa was asked to dance several times, as was Eleanor. I danced with Demitrie Devorak and an adorable Russian named Nicoli, but was content to watch people and chat with the girls. Finally I stood, ready to make my exit. I visually searched the ballroom for Father. I hoped for a moment alone with Quinn before I rested for tomorrow’s regimen.

“If you’re looking for me, look no further.”

“Damien, you startled me.”

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t had a chance to speak with you this evening. Would you care to dance?”

“No, I’ve danced all I can dance, I’m afraid. I was hoping to find Father and say goodnight.”

“But the night is young, and it would please me if you could stay and talk, at least for a little longer.”

He was even more mesmerizing than earlier, but something was still bothering me about him. Maybe I could figure it out if I stayed and spoke with him for a while.

“All right, you win. But just for a little while. I have training in the morning and as you know, the Council meeting later. What can you tell me, Damien? What’s going on?”

“I am sworn to secrecy, my Lady, and I don’t know very much myself. I would rather talk about you.”

He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand, which sent tingles from my face down my spine. His dark brown eyes had a sparkle in them, which told me he knew and expected that very reaction. I stepped away.

“Damien, I really am tired – Oh, Father, there you are.”

Damien looked deflated. I didn’t think many girls refused his charms.

“Father, I’m very tired. May we go?”

“Of, course Katrina. Damien, goodnight.”

“Lord Von Dracek, Katrina,” said Damien giving a slight bow.

With those acknowledgements, we started to make our way from the hall.

“Quinn is waiting to escort you back,” my father said. “There is still something I must do. I will see you in the morning.”

He gave me a kiss on the forehead and turned to walk away.

“Father?”

“Yes, Katrina?”

“Do I really look like Mother?”

“Yes, yes you do, just as beautiful.”

Then he turned and walked away. His words made me happy and sad at the same time. As I left the hall the cool night air gave me a shiver. Quinn stepped out of the shadows and placed a cape around my shoulders.

“Sarah said you’d get chilled.”

“She was right, as usual. She always knows what I need before I do.”

I looked up at him, then and we both smiled. I was sure he couldn’t tell I was blushing in the dim light of a half moon. I was thinking back to the last time we were together. That kiss was amazing, and although I had nothing with which to compare it, as it was my first kiss, I could not believe anything could match it. However, I was willing to try.

We walked slowly back. I really wanted some more time alone with him. Did he feel the same way, I wondered?

“Maybe we should check on Nulla again,” Quinn proposed.

“Yes, I think you’re right. I want to make sure they changed the dressing and used a fresh poultice.”

He
did
feel the same way, I was sure of it now. We quickened our step, we didn’t dare take too much time; Gunter would figure it out, and that was the last thing we needed.

“You look so beautiful.”

I had to look down. My face was feeling flushed again. My pulse was racing.

“Thank you, again.”

Why couldn’t I think of something to say?

When we arrived at the stable, Nulla’s head was drooping, her eyes closed. Then her nostrils flared as she picked up our scent with her sensitive nose. A low whinny escaped from her throat and she tossed her head as though scolding us for taking so long to get close.

Quinn laughed. “She’s never seen you in a ball gown before.”

“Her dressing looks good, and I can smell the fresh poultice. Are you all right, girl?”

She placed her muzzle into my hands, the soft velvet caressing my palms. Quinn produced a carrot, which she eagerly took from his outstretched palm, and I scratched her neck, then gave her a pat.

“We should probably get back.” A shiver went through me just then, so I pulled my cape closer around me. Quinn came behind me and rubbed my arms up and down to gently warm me. This gave me a shiver of a different kind, one that went from my stomach to my toes, a tingle I’d felt before, when we kissed.

He wrapped his arms around me, then from behind, the same way he had outside my room earlier that day. He kissed my neck just below my ear. I heard a moan and then I realized—it was me! Gently, he turned me to face him. We looked at each other for what seemed like forever, but could have been only seconds.

He began to lean down as I rose up to meet him; he pulled me closer, his arms now around my back. I slid my arms under his and up his back towards his shoulders. At that moment I knew this was right, and no one was going to be able to tell me this was wrong. No one, not even Father. When we broke from the kiss and the one that followed, I knew I would never forget this night. As we left the stable to walk back, we were startled by someone coming out of the shadows. Damien.

“Well, well. Aren’t you two cozy?”

Quinn pulled me behind him placing himself between Damien and me.

“No need to be defensive; I mean you no harm.”

Horrified, we both understood immediately what this conversation with Damien really meant. We had let our guard down, allowed Damien to approach us unaware, which is exactly why relationships between Watchers and their charges were forbidden.

“What brings you to the stables, Damien?” I asked.

“Oh, I was just out for a stroll, trying to relax after such an exciting evening.” He looked past Quinn to address me. “I guess you found your second wind. Before you left the hall you were feigning exhaustion.”

“My horse Nulla was hurt in the attack earlier, and I wanted to check on her, not that it’s any of your business. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be going.”

“Of course, don’t let me keep you. I’ll see you tomorrow. But please be careful on your way back. You never know what lurks in the shadows.”

As I passed Damien, I was overcome by the same sense of knowing something about him that was escaping me, but what?

Quinn and I were silent all the way back, because now we both knew what needed to be done. I would not give him up. I also knew I would not let him give me up. He walked me up the stairs and as we turned to enter the main hall we knew the time had come. The Watcher who had this shift would be in front of my door, so this would be our last chance to be alone.

“I love you, Katrina.”

“I love you, too,” I whispered softly.

He held me and I wished I could hold him forever, but I released him. Then he said what I knew he had to say.

“I’ll speak with Gunter in the morning. Either Simon or Thomas will take my place as your Watcher.”

I nodded. Knowing it was right didn’t make it any easier. We continued around the corner until we knew the other Watcher had seen us. Then Quinn just turned and walked away.

This couldn’t be the end. It was only the beginning.

“Goodnight, Joseph,” I said as I got closer.

“My Lady,” he said as he opened the door for me.

CHAPTER THREE

Once inside, I noticed the table had been prepared with fruit and pastries and a pitcher I assumed contained Crimson. I knew I should be hungry; I was the only one who hadn’t eaten before we went into the Hall to be introduced.

Maybe in a minute I would try to eat something, but now I just wanted to warm myself by the fire. The part of me that needed the warmth, wished that I would hurry to get a little older, for I knew the older I got the less I would feel heat or cold. The aging process also takes away the need to sleep, except when necessary for healing, and we no longer need to eat regular meals to sustain us. Filling my head with these thoughts was keeping me from breaking into tears. We would find a way to see each other, I promised myself.

I sighed and went into my room where I loosened the corseting at my waist, and shrugged the dress off my shoulders. Its sheer weight dragged it off my body and it fell to the floor. I stepped out of the rumpled gown now filling the space in front of the bed and removed the equally constrictive undergarment. I slipped on the simple nightgown laid out for me and crawled in between the two layers of down. In that cradle of softness, I drifted off to sleep.