Page 43 of Blood Ties
“Of course, but your father doesn’t like them. Jade makes almost all his calls and…”
“And she’s asleep.” I nodded, understanding. “When does he want to see me?”
“Now.”
“Do you know what about?”
Sebastian shrugged. I wanted to ask more questions, to understand why Damien hadn’t just talked to me about whatever it was Saturday, or have Jade call when she woke. What was so important? But for some reason I didn’t. I simply nodded and grabbed my jacket, momentarily forgetting the letter.
Sebastian seemed weary when I hailed a cab. I could have called for John, but I didn’t want to have to wait or so I told myself. Part of me didn’t want to have to explain to Grayson why Sebastian was at the apartment. Grayson always seemed confident, but I glimpsed an ember of jealousy the night we met Sebastian and saw no need to fan it into flames.
“Are you germaphobic?” I joked when he hesitated.
“No, I just don’t trust these contraptions.” He kicked the tire of the yellow taxi and for the first time I caught a glance at his true age. Cars were so common place unless you were from a different time. I did my best to stifle a laugh I felt bubbling up.
“If you didn’t take a cab, how did you get here?”
He grinned crookedly finding humor in my question. “I dissipated. Wanna try it?” He held his hand out to me. I didn’t take it. Instead, I stared blankly at him.Dissipated? As in vanishing.I didn’t think that was possible. Sebastian chuckled then ushered me into the cab. He tried to appear relaxed and carefree, but I could see the discomfort in his eyes from being in the car.
We arrived back at the same building where I had been Saturday. Before I could protest, Sebastian paid the driver then rushed to my side and valiantly opened my door. He held out his hand for me and without thinking I took it, feeling a tingling sensation run up my arm starting where I skin touched. My blood turned to gasoline that was set ablaze. It burned through my body causing my breath to catch. As soon as I was free from the cab I released his hold trying not to make it seem obvious, but touching him made the tether feel stronger.
The moment she spotted Sebastian, the receptionist rushed out from behind her counter, but he waved her off. When he led me to the elevator I took that opportunity to hesitate. I didn’t want to be in close quarters to him with no one around. The way my blood burned near him made me nervous. I didn’t know why my blood reacted to him. It was different than an attraction. It struck me deeply at my very core.
“What?” He seemed amused.
“What if we get stuck?” I blurted. I didn’t know any other reason why I should hesitate.
He chuckled. The sound of it rolled off my skin. “Damien has everything updated with the best technology. His standards are better than code. The elevator is probably newer than the one you have back at your apartment.” Not having any other argument, I entered the elevator. “Did you really just get worried about the elevator stopping?” he grinned.
“Yes.”
“You do know you’re an original vampire, right? You could easily rip the doors open with your bare hands,” he advised watching me. I turned to face the doors urging them to open. Sebastian came up behind me and whispered, “I think you might have been living in the human world to long Gabriella. You’re not bound by the same limitations as they are, or even your fellow vampire.” His words caused chills to run down my spine, but I refused to let him see he had an effect of me.
When we reached the floor, I exited slowly, not to linger there with him, but to prove to myself that I was fine. If it had been Grayson whispering to me, I would have felt a lot more than some chills. My fiancé’s whisper was enough to make my panties wet.
The floor wasn’t quite as quiet as it had been when Grayson and I visited. I could hear the murmurs of a voice, but it was distant even for my hearing. Sebastian’s hand found the small of my back. I did my best not to shiver at the contact, even though I felt my blood scream, and let him usher me forward. We walked down the stairs to the floor below. As we walked, the voice became more distinct and I was able to make it out as Damien.
“Yes, I can offer sanctuary until everything is investigated. I understand, but if she is guilty of what she’s been accused of, make no mistake I will not hesitate to end her,” I heard Damien say before Sebastian opened the cracked door. It explained how I had been able to hear him. I was still in awe of how similar Damien and I looked. He grinned and held up his finger in the universal sign for hold on. Sebastian gestured for me to sit then spun on his heels leaving me alone with my father. I felt a hint of disappointment at his departure, but also relief. “A room will be prepared and we will expect her arrival soon.” Without saying goodbye Damien hung up. “Gabriella,” he grinned. “Good of you to join me. Is Grayson not with you?”
“No, he’s working.”
“Am I to assume the witch’s potion did the trick?” I nodded. “Excellent. Then to the reason why I asked you here.” Asked seemed like the wrong word. Asking implies you have an option to say no. When Sebastian showed up at my door, I definitely didn’t feel like “No” was an option. “I am having a small gathering of close friends and I would like for you and your mate to attend.”
“A gathering?”
He bowed his head unable to look me in the eyes when he spoke. “I know I have not been there for you Gabriella, but I plan on staying in New York and most likely Manhattan for some time. Your mother has given me permission as the Master of the Nest in the area. She hopes, as I do, that you and I can become closer.”
“You want to get to know me?”
“Of course,” he peeked up hesitantly. He looked almost fearful of rejection. Part of me wanted to tell him where he could stick it, but another part, the part that had grown up wondering about her father, wishing he was alive, wanted nothing more than to give the man in front of me a chance.
“I’d like to know more about you. Like why you fell.”
He bit his bottom lip nervously. I didn’t know why my question bothered him. “I’m not evil, Gabriella. I know that is what one is told about fallen angels. That we are evil, therefore God cast us from heaven. I did not fall for a morality issue. I simply did not stop someone that disobeyed the rule.”
“You were cast from heaven for not being nosey?” I found it hard to believe that God lacked forgiveness over a simple slip up.
Damien chuckled. “No, that is not it.” He leaned back resting on the edge of his desk. “Angels have fairly simple rules and one was broken for my account.”
