Page 15 of Kiss of the Vampire

“What’s your name, miss?” the comedian asked.

“Marissa.”

“Marissa, I want you to watch this crystal sphere, relax, breathe deeply, allow your eyelids to grow heavy, and close.”

After learning the other girl’s name was Chelsea, he had her do the same. Then he walked over to Stasio and said the same.

All three volunteers sat with their eyes closed while the comedian asked the audience, “What should we have them do?”

“Take off their clothes!” a teen guy yelled. The theater exploded with cheers.

“We have to keep it G-rated, folks.” The comedian grinned, then walked over to Marissa. “Isn’t the gentleman seated over there cute? Wouldn’t you like to kiss him? Why don’t you walk over and kiss him?”

The audience sat in silence.

Marissa didn’t move.

The comedian cleared his throat. “Despite what some people would have you believe, you can’t hypnotize someone to do what they don’t want to. Is Marissa’s boyfriend in the audience?”

A guy stood up and whooped.

“See,” the comedian said, pointing at the guy. “That’s what’s causing Marissa’s reluctance. You’ll have to leave the theater.”

Everyone laughed.

The boyfriend smiled, shook his head, and sat back down.

“Okay, well, Marissa will dance with Stasio and, Stasio, you will dance with Marissa. You both may open your eyes and join each other.” The comedian motioned with his hand and a waltz began to play.

Stasio rose from the chair, as wooden as Marissa did.

Levka would have to put a tighter leash on him.

Stasio took Marissa into his arms and danced across the stage, one of the best dancers Levka knew of any time period. But before the music ended, Stasio led her back to her seat and held his hand out to the comedian.

The comedian frowned. “You haven’t finished the dance.”

“Dance with me.”

The audience roared. Levka propped his elbow on the arm of his wheelchair and rested his head in his hand. Arman folded his arms. Ruric grinned.

For a minute, the comedian seemed to resist, then he accepted Stasio’s hand and waltzed around the floor with Stasio for several minutes as graceful as he’d danced two-hundred years earlier. When the music ended, Stasio said, “Now you will dance with the other young lady.”

The comedian did as he was told and once the dance ended, Stasio said, “You may take my chair and continue with your show.” After bowing to the audience, Stasio walked off the stage, while the crowd went wild with cheering.

“Showoff,” Ruric said. “Wish I’d thought of it.”

Stasio retook his seat while Caitlin smiled at him. “You did a great job.”

He gave her a satisfied smile and bowed his head to her, but Levka couldn’t help feeling perturbed. Caitlin would surely assume Stasio was using hypnosis on her foster sister now that she saw his act.

When the show ended, Stasio asked Alicia, “Did you want to take a walk on deck or return to your room?”

Alicia just stared at him.

Stasio tried again. “You’re tired and want to return to your room?”

Alicia nodded.