Page 3 of The Vampire Curse

It has been some time since Elizabeth has sired a new vampire, nearly a century ago if memory serves.

Why send him here where there is a newly claimed human?

Cassius joins my side at the window, but he doesn’t look out. His gaze is locked on me, watching in the reflection on the glass.

“Winter solstice is in two months’ time,” he says quietly. He reaches into the pocket of his vest, pulling out an envelope and handing it to me. The black wax seal on the back holds the symbol of the waning crescent moon with a raven’s feather cutting through it.

The paper is thick and heavy without a single word written on the outside—not even my name. I break the seal and open it.

A formal invitation to the Solstice masquerade on the last day of the year, and to the festivities that will last for two weeks. It is the same invitation as every other year to celebrate a successful claiming season.

Except, this time, the script does not belong to any servant or scribe—it belongs to none other than Elizabeth herself. The faint scent of iron rises up and I inhale. This invitation was not written in ink but in human blood.

There is more meaning behind this unassuming envelope than is apparent at first glance.

After a moment, I raise my eyes to meet Cassius’s. “The post could have delivered this just as easily as one of you. I fail to see the point of this gathering.”

A wicked smile spreads across his lips, but there is no humor in it. “Oh, but we have all come to make sure you and your little pet make it there this time.”

Dread turns my blood cold, but I manage to keep my voice calm. “Message received. You may all leave in the morning.” I start to turn away, stopping after two steps when he chuckles.

“Oh no, my friend. We will be here with you, and we shall personally escort the both of you to Nightwich for the celebration. Elizabeth will be thrilled you have finally decided to act like a real vampire.” He comes around to stand in front of me, fidgeting with my cravat as if to straighten it.

My fists clench at my sides, crumpling the edge of the invitation.

“In fact,” he says quietly. “We areallanxious to meet the human who has managed to capture your interest after all these years.”

Chapter Two

Clara

Something fluttersnear my head and my eyes snap open. I sit up, heart thundering in my chest. It takes me a moment to blink the bleariness of sleep from my vision, but when I do, perched inches from my face is a small black bat watching me sleep.

I suck in a breath to give the beastie a piece of my mind, but a single, loud knock on my door halts my tongue.

Sending a glare in Cherno’s direction, I throw my blankets off, hoping the creature will take the hint and leave.

It doesn’t work. I don’t take my eyes off the little intruder even as I open the door.

“Miss,” Mr. Steward says quietly. There is an unidentifiable note to his voice that is out of place.

I take him in—from his downcast gaze to the slump of his posture that looks uncomfortable and unnatural. In his hands, he holds out a thick bundle.

I step back and motion for him to enter.

Wordlessly, he sets the clothes on the bench at the foot of my bed then crosses the room to stoke the dying fire in the hearth.

Mr. Steward sets the iron poker aside. He stays crouched for a long moment, staring into the flames. “Mrs. Westfield has finished fixing the last of your pockets.”

I start at the words and eye the clothes he’d brought. I suppose my attempts at sewing were even worse than I’d initially assumed.

He stands and heads to the door where he pauses, keeping his back to me. He hasn’t looked in my direction once since he came in. The avoidance bothers me, though I’m not sure why.

“Three more guests arrived late last night. I suggest you keep to your rooms until the sun is high.” And then he leaves, closing the door with a soft click.

I face Cherno, who is still watching me with those large, dark eyes. So many thoughts race through my mind. It has been at least a week since I’ve seen the butler, and now he wakes me up, delivering clothes and a cryptic message.

And these guests…