Immortal Maestro: Immortal Keeper Vampire Paranormal Romance Series, page 1
Contents
Immortal Maestro
Dedication
Note from the Author
Prologue
1. Nova
2. Vincenzo
3. Nova
4. Vincenzo
5. Nova
6. Vincenzo
7. Nova
8. Vincenzo
9. Nova
10. Vincenzo
11. Nova
12. Vincenzo
13. Nova
14. Vincenzo
15. Nova
16. Vincenzo
17. Nova
18. Vincenzo
19. Nova
20. Vincenzo
21. Nova
22. Vincenzo
23. Nova
24. Vincenzo
25. Nova
26. Vincenzo
27. Nova
28. Nova
29. Vincenzo
30. Nova
31. Vincenzo
32. Nova
33. Vincenzo
34. Nova
35. Vincenzo
36. Nova
37. Vincenzo
38. Nova
39. Vince
40. Nova
41. Vince
Chapter 42
43. Vincenzo
44. Nova
45. Vincenzo
46. Nova
47. Vincenzo
48. Nova
49. Vincenzo
50. Nova
51. Vincenzo
52. Nova
53. Vincenzo
54. Nova
55. Vincenzo
56. Nova
57. Vincenzo
58. Nova
59. Vincenzo
60. Nova
61. Vincenzo
62. Nova
63. Vincenzo
64. Nova
Epilogue
Quick Note
Other books by Charli B Rose
About the Author
Let’s Keep in Touch
Acknowledgments
Immortal Maestro
Immortal Keeper Vampire Paranormal Romance Series
Charli B. Rose
Cover design by Lia Davis
Edited by Silvia Curry &
Nathanie Serrano
Copyright © 2021. Charli B. Rose.
First Edition. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referred to in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
charlirosewriter.wixsite.com/website
Created with Vellum
To all the readers willing to take a chance on an unknown author.
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination, and life to everything.
~Plato
About the Book
He wants to play her body like a symphony.
NOVA
Vincenzo was some sort of musical genius and apparently one of my parents’ closest friends. But as far as I was concerned he was a selfish jerk without a heart. An incredibly sexy, but completely infuriating, immortal a-hole. I was counting the days until I’d be free of his criticisms and no-nonsense attitude, even if his guidance did make my music better and his rare smiles made my heart leap. Who cared if my soul woke just being near him? Having a crush on the vampire who was my guardian was all kinds of wrong. Right?
VINCENZO
Nova was a complication I didn’t need and a brat through and through. Why her parents appointed me her guardian, I’ll never understand. She was a musical prodigy, content to squander her gift. I was determined to hone her skills. But she was equally determined to push my buttons, to tempt me to cross all my carefully constructed boundaries. For years, I’d been making decisions designed to keep her safe from the dangers of my life. Now, not only were they knocking on her door, but it also turned out I may be the biggest danger of all. Because she didn’t want me to just be her guardian and her teacher, she wanted me to be her maestro in every way.
She just might become the master of the maestro’s heart.
Note from the Author
Reading has always been my favorite source of escape. Now, I get to create worlds for others to escape into. It’s something I never imagined before I wrote my first story. When a pair of characters starts to talk to me, they invade my thoughts, my dreams, my spare time. They make me feel their triumphs and their heartaches. And I want that for you too when you read. Part of submerging you in their world is creating what amounts to as a soundtrack for the story. Many scenes in this story were inspired by song lyrics. Other songs were selected based on the feelings they elicited in me as I created this book. You can listen to the integrated playlist as you read. Songs from all walks of life and all ages have touched this story in one way or another. In addition to a link for my Spotify playlist, there are little music notes ♪ scattered throughout the book. In the e-book version of the book, if you click on the song next to the music note, you’ll be taken to the official YouTube video or the Spotify link for a song that’s relevant to the scene it’s in. (If you’re reading the paperback, obviously the notes aren’t clickable, but next to the music notes, I’ve listed the title of the song and the artist in case you want to check them out.) In this particular novel, there are times when a second link is listed because not only did I want to pay tribute to the musician(s) who holds the rights to the song, I wanted you to be able to hear the violin version of the song as well. Those songs are labeled as “instrumental version”. In some instances, I was unable to find a violin version, so you’ll have to use your imagination. I do not own the rights to any of these songs. They’re added merely for reader enjoyment.
Prologue
Nova
♪ How Does a Moment Last Forever by Celine Dion
Ten years ago …
“Tell me the story, Mama,” I begged, hugging my stuffed bear close.
“What story would that be, my little love?” she asked as she tucked me in beneath my Beauty and the Beast comforter.
“You know the one,” I huffed. “The one about the handsome knight who saved me when I was still in your tummy.”
Mama laughed as she sat on the edge of my bed. Around her, the air glowed with a faint mixture of bright yellow and green—my favorite mix. “I do suppose it’s about time to tell you again. I think it’s been a whole month since the last time.”
It was my favorite story, even more than how Daddy and Mama met. I’d tried to tell my best friend, Grace, about the man who’d saved me, but she didn’t believe me. It was OK. The story would be my special secret, just me and Snuggie Bear. Grace didn’t understand about the colors either.
“Well, it was close to Christmas time—”
“And Daddy was going to take you to the big tree after work,” I interrupted.
“That’s right. Your daddy and I always go to Rockefeller Center around Christmas.”
“He always holds your hand when you ice skate. But you wasn’t gonna be able to skate that year ‘cuz I was in your belly. And if you fell down, you might have ‘quished me.” I mashed my hands together like a pancake.
“That’s right. On that day, we were going to watch the other skaters while we ate cookies and drank hot chocolate.”
“But you didn’t get to go ‘cuz of the accident,” I piped up.
“Maybe I should let you tell the story, little one.”
“I’ll be quiet.” I used my fingers to zip my lips shut.
“Close your eyes.” Mama waited until I squeezed them shut before she started again, “Back then, your daddy and I played violin in an orchestra. Daddy was the concertmaster, which means he was the best violinist out of thirty. I was the principal violinist. That particular night, we were performing our Christmas concert. The stage had twinkle lights and hanging ornaments. It was beautiful.”
I cracked my eyelids open and peeked at her. She grinned at me, then dragged her palm over my eyes so I’d shut them again.
“Anyway, we were playing ‘Carol of the Bells’. Our conductor, Vince, was beaming at us because we were flawless. The crowd was captivated. Over top of the song came this unnatural creaking noise.” Mom made the sound.
I pulled my blanket up tighter under my chin, knowing what happened next.
“I glanced up from my music stand. The metal rigging that held the stage lights was swaying. With a sickening screech, the cables holding it snapped. I tried to scream. The huge framework was falling right over my head. I dropped my bow and jumped up out of my chair. Everyone around me was screaming and trying to get out of the way. I heard your daddy call my name, but I couldn’t see him. There was so much chaos. I couldn’t get out of my row. I was so scared. Something hit my back, knocking me to the floor. I just knew I was going to be crushed. And then Vince was there next to me. His arm was stretched up over me, somehow keeping the framework from squishing me. It barely scratched my back. I always knew Vince was strong, but I didn’t know he was that strong.”
“Like Beast?” I asked.
“Yeah, like Beast.” Mama laughed. “The twisted metal landed on Vince’s body too, but he didn’t even notice. He was just trying to protect me. And then when I wrapped my arms around my stomach because it hurt from my fall, Vince laid his hand on my belly and pressed his ear to it. When he looked up at me, he said, ‘She’s going to be all right. Her energy is so bright and happy, like a supernova.’”
“And that’s why you named me Nova.”
“That’s right, pretty girl. Vince was right. You are such a bright light in mine and Daddy’s lives. Now, it’s time for sleep.” She gave me that look that meant I shouldn’t argue for more stories.
Mama kissed my forehead and turned off the light, leaving me to dream about the knight who’d saved me.
1
Nova
♪ Here’s to the Night by Eve 6
Present day
My phone rang. I slipped it out of my pocket as Grace turned off the car’s engine where we were parked along the street. The driveway was already filled with people who’d arrived at the party before us.
Mom’s face lit up my screen.
“You go on in. I need to take this. It’s my mom.” I waved Grace on.
I swiped the screen to accept the call as I stepped down the sidewalk, away from the thumping bass of the party. I pressed the phone tightly to my ear, praying she wouldn’t hear the tell-tale sounds of the party. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, sweetie. Your dad and I were just getting ready to head out to dinner and then a show, so I wanted to check in.”
I rolled my eyes. “Things are fine. You haven’t even been gone for twenty-four hours yet.”
“I know. Your dad was teasing me.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “But he wanted me to call too.”
“You guys shouldn’t even be thinking about me. You’re supposed to be celebrating your anniversary. Go enjoy yourselves and don’t worry about me.”
“You know it’s not our anniversary yet. But we will go enjoy ourselves. I just wanted to let you know that things looked promising with The Cadence Academy. And we got a message from the board at Julliard requesting another video. Plus, one of the mentors at Harmony Institute reached out again to see if you’d consider them for next year.”
“That’s good,” I answered, only half-listening.
“I know we gave you a hard time when you decided not to do early admission to any of the schools. We worried it would affect your acceptance, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.” She sounded relieved.
We’d argued a lot about me not wanting to leave high school early. But my parents had finally come around. I’d been praying my decision to wait wouldn’t come back to bite me in the ass. Looked like it was paying off.
Collin stepped onto the porch and waved me closer. An intense red energy buzzed around him, and the air around me crackled in response.
“Mom, I’ve gotta go. Grace is waiting.”
“Have fun, sweetie. We love you, and we’ll see you next week.”
“Love you too,” I said absentmindedly as Collin sauntered over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and tucking his hands into my back pockets.
I slipped my hands inside his leather jacket, pressing my palms to his back. I inhaled in a deep breath of his cologne and relaxed against him.
“Glad you’re here,” he murmured as he lowered his mouth to mine.
I allowed myself to get lost in his kiss for several long moments. Eventually, the chilly November air made me shiver in his embrace.
He eased back, peering down at me mischievously. “Come on. Let’s get you inside and warmed up. I know something that’s sure to get you heated up.” He waggled his eyebrows at me suggestively.
My cheeks heated at his tone. I dropped my forehead to the center of his chest. Collin and I had been dating for over six months now. We’d been skirting closer and closer to crossing the line, but something kept me from stepping over it. Thankfully, he was patient, reminding me I was worth the wait.
He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “I’ll fix you something to drink. Then, we can dance. How does that sound?”
“OK.” I allowed him to steer me inside.
As soon as we entered the house, the throb of the music vibrated my insides. A chaotic swirl of colors filled the air, pulsing to the rhythm of the music. People were clustered everywhere I looked. Collin led me to the kitchen.
I leaned up on my tiptoes so I could speak in his ear, “I can’t believe your parents let you throw a party this size while they’re gone.”
He chuckled. “They’re too wrapped up in their own stuff to worry about me. They trust the cleaning crew to make sure no evidence remains. So, you want me to mix you a drink? I also have special punch or soda?”
“Soda for now.” Maybe I’d be brave enough to try the punch later.
Cold drinks in hand, we made our way to the living room where the music was the loudest. Bodies gyrated everywhere. Collin wasted no time pulling me close and moving our bodies almost to the rhythm of the music. I resisted his lead for half a second, subtly forcing him to match the tempo of the song. He wasn’t a terrible dancer; he just didn’t have music in his blood like me.
When the song changed, he took my half-empty soda can and set it along with his on a nearby end table. Then he pulled me back to him and tried to find the cadence of the new song. After a few measures, we were moving in sync. I glanced around at the couples filling the space around us. The air was thick with lust. Some of my classmates glared at me as Collin kissed my neck. I searched for Grace and finally saw her chatting with one of the basketball players from our chemistry class.
As Collin’s hands began to roam my body more boldly, I grew more self-conscious. I tried to redirect his wandering touch.
“God, I want you so much, Nova,” he panted in my ear.
“I know. I want you too. I’m … just not quite ready yet,” I admitted and stared at the logo on his shirt.
“Hey,” Collin said, tipping my chin up. “I wasn’t saying we had to go upstairs to my room right now. Though I wouldn’t turn you down if you wanted to. I just want you to know how crazy you make me. Besides, I’m planning something special for our first time.”
His words surprised me.
“You are?”
“Of course. I love you. I want all of our firsts to be special and memorable,” he said smoothly.
The red haze around him now had threads of lime green and yellow with a hint of black. I couldn’t think about what the change might mean. I was too busy freaking out. He’d just said the L-word.
