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“You’d be surprised what you can learn from travelers passing through a town,” he replied. “Especially from a Countess.”
“Oh?” She sat next to him and leaned in closer. “And what exactly have you learned from me?”
“You really love the color red.”
The Countess chuckled and whispered into his ear, “I love it more than you know.”
She ran her fingers through his dark hair before making her way to the strap around the back of his head. Her fingers followed the path to the velvet mask. She could hear his heart beating faster. The blood coursed through his veins.
“Shhh. It’ll be okay,” she said to calm his nerves.
It didn’t work, as she sensed his heart rate increase.
She pulled back to lift the mask above his head. Her heart fluttered in anticipation as the tavern keeper’s rugged face was fully revealed. The Countess held the mask up to the dim light to examine each curve. She studied it for a moment before tossing it behind the couch.
“I don’t think you’ll be needing this any longer,” she said.
Sebastian Savino’s breathing labored. She traced his jawline with the back of her hand down to his chin. She gently placed a finger on Sebastian’s lips.
“Shush,” she said. “It will be over quickly. Enjoy it while you can. Take it all in. Everyone should be as lucky as you.”
The Countess removed her masque and gazed into his brown eyes. Her sapphire blues reestablished their connection to his soul, the same connection they had onthe dance floor. Sylvia’s fingertip traced an invisible path from his lips, down his throat, and over to the place on his neck she had kissed earlier.
She circled the spot continually, like she was committing it to memory. Sebastian gulped. He shifted on the couch. His breathing increased. Each breath was shorter than the last. She paused.
“This is what you want, right?” she asked. “All of this tonight was for you.”
“I do,” he answered. “Countess, I do want it.”
“Excellent,” she said as she leaned in closer. “After tonight, we’ll no longer be a Countess and a tavern keeper. We shall be a King and Queen. The start of a new empire. Do you want that?
“Yes,” he whispered back.
He tilted his head. She kissed his neck again before licking it. Her eyes met Sebastian’s one last time, and she smiled. Two sharp fangs elongated from her mouth.
“After tonight, you’ll never want or need again,” she whispered into his ear. “You’ll awaken into a new world where we’ll be together. Forever. But first . . .”
She leaned in and placed her lips onto his neck. Each fang pierced deep into his neck. His body twisted and contorted in anguish. Her hand moved across his chest in a feeble attempt to soothe him. She repositioned herself, attempting to ease the transition. She moaned with ecstasy as she drank the blood. His blood. Her lover’s blood. Her King’s blood.
He crushed the arm of the couch with his grip. His fingernails jabbed into the wood. She yanked his hand away, wrapping her fingers into his. Their hands clasped tight. Sylvia released her bite, satisfied the transformation would commence. Blood dripped down her chin, bringing back memories of the night they first met.
The last thing Sylvia said before Sebastian blacked out and gave up his former life were the words, “I love you.”
Sylvia opened her eyes,hoping, begging, praying this would only be a nightmare. Hoping she would wake up and find Sebastian waiting for her. For Sebastian to swoop in and help pick her up off this dance floor, where they would continue with their empire. But there was no Sebastian. Only the scattered ashes of his body.
She snarled, elongating her vampire fangs in anger. She stood and marched down the hall toward a doorway. She descended the steps into the basement of the building, followed by a small assortment of vampiric guards. Streaks of black ran down her face as her tears mixed with her mascara. Fury and anger overtook her eyes. The musty odor of the well-aged basement filled her senses as she breathed deeply with an inner rage.
Embedded into the wall was a wooden door with ornate iron fixtures, similar to the one in their basement. She circled a few times in front of the door. She clenched her fists and breathed deeply. She could only think of Sebastian. His ashes scattered to the wind. She would never see her husband, her lover, her confidant, her King again. Her memories were haunted by the horrified expression on his face as they locked eyes one last time. Her heart raced. Adrenaline pulsated through her body.
“Bring me the bottles. Both of them!” she shouted. “Do it now!” Her voice reverberated off the stone walls.
Her accompanying guards entered the wooden door. They hurried back, carrying two bottles and a glass. Sylvia snatched the glass from one of their hands.
“Pour!” she commanded.
They each poured the contents into the glass. Red wine came out of the bottle labeledThe Lovers’ Kiss Hugo & Alice. Blackish red contents poured out of the second bottle labeledBlood From My New Pet. The two liquids sloshed and intermixed until the goblet was nearly full.
Sylvia recited an old, forbidden language, not conjuring the powers of the arcane, but something much darker. She chugged the unholy concoction in one gulp, never stopping for air. Trickles of redliquid dripped down the sides of her mouth. Her eyes dilated. The irises turned red.
