Page 108 of Betrayed in Blood
That explained her peaceful appearance.
“I want to check on Simone and April, then I’ll relieve you.”
He shrugged. “No worries.”
I stepped closer and took Mom’s hand. It was warm, and though she didn’t squeeze back, it was enough to see her so serene. She hadn’t had much tranquility over the years, and while Christopher had caused most of her grief, I hadn’t been the best daughter. That was going to change. Starting now.
I was out the door but didn’t know where to go. I stuck my head in the room. “I guess I should ask where Simone and April are.”
“Simone’s on the third floor. Second door on the right.”
“A room without a view?”
“She likes her room dark. I think it’s a holdover from her youth. She won’t say it, but I think the darkness comforts her.” He gave me a steady look before continuing. “April is at the safe house under guard. You’ll need to speak to Devon before going over. It’s for everyone’s safety until they determine how deep the mesmerizing is.”
I frowned. I’d expected as much, but it felt worse when it was confirmed.
“Sorry, I guess you didn’t know.”
“I suspected. I was hoping I was wrong. If I remember correctly from when Lorenzo was mesmerizing me, at some point, the mesmerizing can’t be reversed.” When Jacques appeared to be preparing his statement, I got angry. “Just spit it out. No one needs to tiptoe around me. I can’t prepare myself if people aren’t honest with me.”
He raised in hands in defense. “That doesn’t mean it can’t be phrased gently.”
I ran a hand over my face. “Of course not. I’m sorry.”
“Not a problem. In most cases, it’s extremely difficult to erase long-term mesmerizing. But we don’t know how long or often she’s been mesmerized. Madame Saldano is convinced she’s had some mesmerizing. However, if your sister believed she was doing the right thing, perhaps something her father had convinced her of, it’s possible not much mesmerizing was required. We also don’t know the depth of feelings she has for Jasper, which could explain some of her actions.”
“Affections for Jasper?” I’d assumed it was all mesmerizing.
Jacques laughed. “You’re not judging her for dating a vampire, are you?”
I gave him an exaggerated look with an added eye roll for good measure. “Haha. While my stepfather might have been sleeping around with vamps, somehow, I don’t think he’d approve of April dating one.” A hysterical laugh slipped out. “I can’t imagine what he would have said, or my mother for that matter, with both daughters dating vamps.”
“I know what my father would have said had his sons been dating humans.”
We both chuckled. “Thank you, Jacques. Not just for now, but for taking care of Mom during the mission.”
“We always protect mothers, even vampires.”
I winked before closing the door and racing up the stairs to the third floor.
I wasn’t expectingto see two guards at Simone’s door.
“Mateo.” I nodded to the other guard who I didn’t know. “Is it okay if I go in?”
“Yes. Madame Saldano is with her, but as far as I know, she hasn’t woken yet.”
I nodded solemnly and took a deep breath before entering. The room was as dark as Jacques claimed. The walls were a deep burgundy. That part was easy to tell from the dozens of lit candles scattered around the room. With the mirrors adorning the walls, it seemed more like hundreds. A desk lamp was lit where the healer had laid out her array of colorful potions. Some I recognized, most I didn’t have a clue.
“Am I disturbing you?” I glanced at Madame Saldano, who was lighting more candles. While I was afraid to look at Simone, I couldn’t help it. I became as distraught as I thought I would, unable to pull my gaze away from the vampire in the bed.
It was a queen-sized bed, and though Simone was tall, she appeared diminished. A single silk sheet that matched the color of the walls covered her to her shoulders. A white bandage, thankfully blood-free, had been wrapped around the top of her head.
“No, child. I’m told Simone likes her candles lit while she meditates. I thought it couldn’t hurt.”
“That’s nice. She always told me to select one candle.” I dragged my eyes away from Simone’s still form and took a longer perusal of the room. It wasn’t as stark as I’d expected. There was a table with two chairs, a resting couch against one wall where a floor lamp with a mosaic shade stood behind it, a single dresser, a small walk-in closet, and a bathroom. A couple of wall paintings and several art pieces completed the room.
It was strange to see so many rooms with bathrooms, like some vintage hotel, but the manor had been built by Devon’s father more than a century earlier and was planned to house dozens of vamps. A shared bathroom down the hall wouldn’t have cut it.
