Page 7 of The Vampire Debt
He says the words as though he’s some kind of savior who rescued me from that fate, and like I’m not his daughter.
The coppery taste of blood touches my tongue. My teeth cut the inside of my cheek. There will be a bruise by morning. My face burns from his hand but I refuse to touch it with my own to see if it’s already swelling. I only pivot and head into the room I share with my sister.
Kitty sits up a little straighter in bed when she sees me enter the room. A smile brightens her face until it’s stolen by a cough.
“Come, sit,” she says, holding out her hands and beckoning me to her side. “Tell me, is that strange man gone?”
I sit next to her and brush her hair back behind her ear. “And what do you know of him?” I ask.
“Well…” She clasps her hands together and leans forward, whispering in a hushed voice even though we are the only ones in the room. “I know he’s been here all day. He showed up shortly after you left—of course he brought a chill in with him so I had to excuse myself to rest—but from what I’ve gathered, he is in town for business that must be of a demon’s making because he would not speak a word of it to Father.”
I smile and pat her leg. “Don’t go getting yourself riled up. He’s gone and I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again.”
The grin I wear strains across my face, and I hope she can’t tell. Her superstitions about demons playing a role in people’s everyday lives are going to get her worked up until she falls ill again.
Standing, I head to the small armoire we share and riffle through it for fresh clothes to change into—ones not covered in a layer of dust and mud.
“Clara,” she scolds gently. “What aren’t you telling me? How much did Father lose this time?” Her words are as bitter as I feel.
“I don’t know.” I slowly turn to face her. “Enough that Mr. Devereaux will be back in a few days to settle.”
Her pale cheeks turn pink, then red. “We will never be married at this rate if he continues to spend every penny! What dowry does he expect to give?”
Marriage is our only escape from this hell, the only way we can ever be well and truly safe away from Father’s wrath and senseless spending. I think about the stash of money I have hidden under the floorboards. It will take a while yet to obtain what I need for us both.
I must plan this just right. First Xander must obtain his family’s blessing, then I can find a suitable match for Kitty immediately. Perhaps we could even have a double wedding. She would love that.
“Do not stress yourself over this. You’ll make yourself sick.” I cross over to her and cup her cheek. “I will take care of you. Never forget that.”
Once we are away from here, Kathrine will finally have a chance at living her life as a true lady, just like she deserves.
Chapter Four
Alaric
In a stroke of luck,my carriage pulls up just as I step over the threshold of that dilapidated hovel that the man had the gall to act as though it were a palace. A second later Mr. Valmont’s gruff voice rings out. All of the false pleasantries he’d used during my visit are now gone.
“Close the door, girl. You’re letting the heat—” he snarls, his words cut off as the door slams shut.
The carriage opens, and Lawrence Harkstead smiles from within, practically lounging on his side. Without a word I climb in and close the door, sitting across from my old friend just as the horses take off.
I shudder, glad to be out of that horrid place. “Perfect timing, as usual,” I say.
Lawrence scoffs and looks out the window to the rapidly vanishing dwelling. He wrinkles his nose, his voice full of distain as he asks, “What in the depths of the Otherworld were you doing in such a rundown shack? Have you grown so bored with life that you are befriending peasants now?”
He lounges back, his long blond hair slightly mussed, his waistcoat remains straight, his shirt immaculate, though his tailcoat lay crumpled in a heap next to him. He has been feeding, and by the look of that smug grin on his face, feeding well. This visit has reminded me exactly why I don’t partake in this ritual.
“I will be leaving tomorrow and taking Rosalie with me back to Windbury,” I say, ignoring his goading questions.
“What?Beforethe claiming? You arrive a day early and leave the day it begins. I was under the impression you were finally going to relax and join us in the festivities.”
I rest my head against the back and stare unseeing at the black material of the ceiling. “I have no wish to claim any of these humans. Besides, you know how Rosalie feels about it.”
That horrid girl’s face flashes in my mind's eye. Her entrance had managed to surprise me when so little does anymore. The man had failed to mention he had a second daughter. Not that it would have changed anything. I had no interest in the lot of them.
My anger flares again at remembering the faint scent of vampire blood that lingered somewhere on her person. Had that been of her doing? I scoff inwardly.
She’s slight of build and doesn't seem to have anything extraordinary about her that would enable her to pull off such a feat. Chances were the human had brushed up against the real slayer while doing whatever it is that her ilk did with their days.