Vampire - Deep Midnight Part 16

"That's your intent anyway, isn't it?" she said softly. She couldn't escape him. Why not enjoy the moment She brushed her knuckles against his cheek.

"Ragnor ..."

He took her hand, forcing her to drop it. She smiled slowly anyway. "Do you think that I ever forget?" she asked.

"Do you think that I ever forget?" he cross-queried harshly. "I'm telling you, Nari, that it stops. I'm warning you. Threatening you, if you like. You could have everything, you have a life here, a beautiful palazzo, a t.i.tle, a position. You-"

"You forget yourself, don't you, Ragnor? I know the legends, that you think yourself so different, but in all honesty, are you so very above us all?"

"All? Many are living-"

"Henpecked. Locked into a world like a cage."

"Being rational and surviving. Nari, look around you-you have everything!"

She studied him for a moment. "No, I don't have everything. But I know what I am."

"There's so much more that you could be."

She rose on tiptoe to whisper in his ear. "I like what I am."

"Last time. Definitely a threat. I could-"

"You could what? Break me here and now? In front of all these people? They'd arrest you, throw you in jail. You could escape of course ... but then, what about your face? You couldn't just wander around all these nice people, then, could you? d.a.m.n me and you d.a.m.n yourself."

"We are already d.a.m.ned," he told her flatly.

"So you haven't!" she marveled. "The truth is what is, and you know it, though, you always thought you were different." He was different She felt a spasm of hunger suddenly that was so violent she could barely contain it She wanted to touch him again. All these years ... he was still Ragnor. Solid, never faltering. Beautiful. The rugged planes of his face, the wall of his chest Old regrets died hard. Well, she had made her decisions and her choices. She had underestimated him. And now, looking into his eyes, she knew it was too late.

"There are laws-"

"Their laws? Our laws? What laws?" she taunted. "The world is in chaos, Ragnor- hadn't you noticed? And we will prevail. Foolish fellow! Don't you know-"

"I know that I can break you-and will."

"Will it be so very easy?" she whispered softly, moving against him.

"Like snapping my fingers."

She moved away. "It's that American girl."

"It's what you're doing."

"You're a liar. You've been watching that girl."

"If I have an interest in the American girl, Nari, you've created it."

Nari smiled. She had at least found his weakness.

"She doesn't like you, you know," she informed him. "She senses that you're not... well, you're just not right at all."

"Why was she among the ... select guests at your party?"

Nari hesitated, then lied. "Can I help it if the foolish creature stumbled into the wrong place?" Was she being dishonest as well? Eventually, he would know the truth. The whole truth.

And that the girl was, indeed, select.

"What you're doing here, the horror you're creating, goes far beyond the American girl. And there are ways around it."

Nari shrugged. "Why? It's estimated that there are perhaps hundreds of serial killers all around the world today. The police continue to search for a majority of them."

"You will bring the fires of h.e.l.l down upon us."

"On you, maybe. We are the fires of h.e.l.l." She suddenly softened her voice, her words damp with a sweet whisper of breath. "Don't you ever ... crave . .. old times? Remember what was, how it could be ..." Again, she spread her fingers over the expanse of his chest.

Again, he removed her hand. She was startled by the fury of his rejection.

"What an a.s.s you are. And as to the American ... I, at least, am friendly with her family.

As a matter of fact... I have plans with her this evening."

His grip tightened with such intensity that she was afraid he would break a bone. She felt her cheeks paling, her power draining.

"If you so much as touch her-"

"And your interest is mere concern for the benefit of mankind?" Nari scoffed. "If I touch her?" Nari started to laugh. "Oh, Ragnor!"

Again, his grip tightened. She gasped with the pain, fighting, struggling to find her own sense of power. "If you think that I'm all that you have to deal with . . ."

"What? What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?" he demanded.

"Ragnor, let go of me! You're hurting me," she cried out. Anyone in the crowd might have heard her. There were carabinieri in the Square. Still, he didn't let go of her; his eyes were a blue fire as he stared at her. She felt again the deep, bitter pain of loss. And a shooting agony of raw, furious, jealousy she'd thought could never touch her again .. .

"Tell me what's going on," he repeated. "What plans do you have? Where are you meeting her tonight? What is it you're talking about?"

"She'll be at Harry's!" Nari gasped out. She had to ease his grip; she couldn't afford to suffer any broken bones right now. "You'd have to kill me before I'd say more now. Yet if you kill me, you'll never know, you'll hunt forever, and your precious little midget of an American would be gone-"

"Don't try that, Nari. I told you that this all stops. It has nothing to do with one person-"

"Good." She relaxed into his hold. "Because if you hurt me now, I'll enjoy her myself!

Every last... lick."

His grip had eased; he stared down at her, eyes still the greatest threat he offered. "All right, Nari, tell me what you're talking about."

She swallowed hard. She forced herself from her fascination with simply being so close after so many years. Once he'd been hers. Raw, lithe, supple, naked, moving.

Raked with scars, torn with conflict, pa.s.sionate and hungry, like lightning in the night.

No. That time was gone. And she could give nothing away, he was destined to pay for being what he was. Bitterly, bitterly, she forced herself to remember only vengeance. Only life, as she knew it. The life she could have. Wild, free, abandoned, savage-a life with freedom to ease the torment inside her, fill the hunger ...

She cursed him suddenly. She'd hit his weakness. He was worrying about the American girl. Well, he'd best worry, because he didn't begin to understand the complexity of what was happening here.

"All right, Ragnor. You'd best worry about her. Because guess what? You're both going to die!"

She saw the anger that tightened his features. Now, here, in the Square-she had to escape him. Had to move, before he touched her again. She had been reckless; she had come so close to ruining everything. She had put him on guard. . .

He would touch her again. And she couldn't allow it She found her strength. Stepping back, she turned into the crowd. She felt him reaching for her, felt the power exuding from him just a breath away. But there were so many people here. And she had her own strengths. Amid a jungle of capes, she disappeared into the coming night.

Her plans for the evening were ruined. And yet...

He couldn't follow her. He couldn't risk it. He had threatened her, but she had warned him. And he did have his weaknesses, no matter how he denied it.

Now, he'd be afraid.

And always, he'd have to be on guard. And while the cat was very, very busy, the mouse could play ...

Upstairs in her room Jordan found a note from Cindy, slid under the door.

Hey, kid!

Where are you? Silly question, if you're reading this now, you're in this mom!

Missed you today; we're meeting at Harry's at 8:00-please be there, or call, or I'll be too worried to pig out on my favorite pasta!

Love, Cindy Smiling, Jordan set the note aside. Harry's was a short walk past the Doge's Palace and along the waterway. Crowded-very crowded at night. She liked Harry's and was in a mood for the crowd that would be there. The bar was always busy, and during Carnevale, she was certain that the wait would be very long, except that Jared would have made reservations, and he knew the people there well. She looked forward to a nice night with her cousin and his wife.

She glanced at her watch; she had plenty of time.

Walking into her bathroom, she filled the tub and added scented bath oil, making sure that the water was very hot Stripping down and slipping into a bathrobe, she called room service for a pot of hot tea.

She threw open the window as she waited, looking out to the bustling calle and ca.n.a.l.

Venice was already coming alive for the night. Turning back into the room, she switched on her television and attempted to watch the news in Italian, trying to find out if there was anything going on in the city that might have upset Sal so much.

She saw a weather map and nothing more. A knock sounded on her door. She absently bade, "Come in!"

A cheerful waiter arrived with her tea. The tray was adorned with little cookies as well.

She thanked the room service man, signed her bill, and made certain to lock her door when he left.

Cup of tea in hand, she went into the bathroom and slipped into the tub. She closed her eyes. The water was hot and wonderful. She thought about rising to look through the vampire book once again.

Why?

It would just get her going again. Tomorrow, with luck, Federal Express would find her and she'd have another book on the subject. Eyes closed, steam misting around her, she relaxed. No costumes tonight. She was going to wear the wicked new heels she'd gotten in Charleston just before leaving, and the backless black c.o.c.ktail dress. She was going to get a little buzzed, maybe. And like Cindy, pig out on pasta.

She was so relaxed that she didn't know what suddenly startled her.

She sat up in the tub, frowning, looking around, wondering what had so suddenly drawn her from her comfortable introspection. Jordan listened.

Nothing ...

She rose from the tub anyway, grabbing her robe. Leaving the bathroom, she walked into the bedroom and saw instantly that she had left the window open. The cool night air was drifting in, battling with the heater. Wind and whispers seemed to stir around her face and hair, chilling her.

She closed the window.

She was still cold.

Jordan gave herself a shake, walking around the room. She looked into the closet, then under the bed, and then felt like a fool. There was no one in the room. Yet she still felt the same sense of unease.

The bath was ruined.

She was definitely not getting back into it.

Nor did she feel comfortable in her room. She was suddenly eager to leave.

Too early to meet Jared and Cindy.

But never too early to take a walk over to Harry's and buy herself a drink.

She dressed quickly, barely touching up her makeup and brushing her hair with no more than a lick and a promise.

When the knocker sounded, Tiff was upstairs. Feeling pleased, she'd filled the Jacuzzi tub with scented crystals, and sank in. She hadn't been expecting anyone, and she considered staying in the tub. She was wonderfully relaxed. And the idea of getting up, toweling off, walking down the stairs and answering the door to just anybody was not pleasing.

The bra.s.s knocker sounded again.

It occurred to Tiff that it might just be him. Her latest obsession.

He'd been cordial enough in the street, even if he had seemed to be in a hurry.