Page 16 of Obsessed in Blood
Transfixed, I stepped closer, and the closer I got, the more obvious it became that I was staring at myself. The figure stood, picked up a pair of sandals, and walked toward the jungle before disappearing beyond the canvas.
I stumbled back and felt something flatten under my foot. Blood-red roses lay on the carpet—crushed. The woman was still painting.
An odd sound spun me around.
A dark figure loomed. The scene was no longer in black and white, and I wished it had been. It was in stark color, and the first thing that caught my gaze were the pasty-skinned fingers in the shape of claws. It was tall, bulky with muscle, and had a hunched back. Its eyes were a piercing ice blue that caught me in its gaze and didn’t let go. He bent down as if to kiss me, but instead, bit my neck.
I screamed.
I tried to sit up.My dreams felt like nightmares, though I couldn’t remember any details. I wiped my eyes and glanced around. A vamp stood in the far corner, and I pulled the covers up to my chin. He tapped his ear and his lips moved. Telling the master I was awake?
I shook my head, not sure where that thought came from. I’d only just met him, but Lorenzo seemed attentive. He seemed genuinely concerned for my health and welfare. But why?
I tried to remember anything before I woke in this room, but other than my name and recalling Ginger, nothing else came to me. I didn’t even know what I did for a living.
Wait.
Lorenzo said something about being at the House Trelane. Houses were vampire Families. I was there as a Blood Ward. I didn’t know what that was and didn’t think I wanted to.
My leg twinged with a stab of pain. I needed to see the damage but all I wore was a silk nightgown. I didn’t want to know who had dressed me. The gown wasn’t the one they found me in because Lorenzo said that one had been torn.
The vamp hadn’t moved.
“Can I have some privacy? I need to pee.”
He didn’t even look at me. I searched the room and found a thin robe lying on a nearby chair. Irritated, I swung my legs out of bed then froze as the pain shot through me from multiple locations, all on my right side. When the worst of it passed, I stood, reaching for the nightstand and bed as I tested my legs.
Weak but working.
I inched my way to the robe, knowing how flimsy my gown was. Once I was properly covered, I stared at the vamp again.
“Getting a good view?” It was daytime, but I couldn’t guess the time. Sunshine leaked under thick velvet drapes with long gold tassels that ran from ceiling to floor. The vamp ignored me, though he glanced my way, just as he had when I walked to the robe.
“Can you at least tell me where the bathroom is?” When he didn’t respond, I added, “Who do you think will get to clean up the pee? Me or you?”
He nodded toward the far wall. I wandered over, not seeing anything until I was right on top of it. The door all but melted into the wall and was basically invisible unless you were looking for it. That was disturbing for some reason. I opened the door, relieved to see a bathroom, and even more relieved when I noticed the lock.
I slammed the door shut. Or tried. The damn thing was so heavy, only a vamp could slam it with enough force to satisfy. The lock clicked into place, and that was enough. I turned on the lights, and my jaw dropped. The room was enormous.
Twin sinks, an oversized tub with jets, a shower with two showerheads, and a walk-in closet as large as some apartments. A flash of a tiny rundown apartment made me think of Ginger. I shook my head and turned on more lights. A full-size mirror stood in a corner, and I stepped close to review the damage. My right eye was turning into a pretty good shiner. I shifted to the left and discovered a matching dark bruise from my right upper thigh to my shoulder. Something made me think it wasn’t the first time I’d had bruises.
He said I’d been beaten, or at least made it sound that way. The black eye made sense but why beat the right side of my body? I suppose there’s no explanation for someone who abused women.
A knock made me jump. Good grief. Couldn’t I have a few minutes to myself?
“Yes.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Are you alright?” It sounded like Lorenzo.
Can’t a girl pee?
“Just another minute.”
“I had breakfast brought up. You don’t want it to get cold.”
Of course, not. I took the opportunity to relieve my bladder. I hadn’t been lying about that. After splashing water on my face, I wrapped the robe tighter and opened the door.
Lorenzo was sitting at a table by the window. The drapes had been pulled back, filtering the room with golden light. Stalker vamp was serving breakfast. Who knew he’d turn out to be an all-purpose babysitter?
