Viola Grace - Saguinary Seduction, page 45
“Well?” Eric asked. “I’ll let you pick the one you want.”
She shook her head. “I’m just going to feed.” She moved to the bed. One of the women began to stir. She opened her eyes in time to see Gabriella’s sharp teeth moving toward her. A 411
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shrill scream erupted from her throat as Gabriella sank her teeth into her neck. When she was finished, she looked at Eric.
“I’ll help you take care of the bodies when you’re done.”
He mumbled something incoherent as his naked body crawled on top of the other still unconscious woman.
Gabriella walked to the kitchen. “Please know that I do love you, Jordan, but I can’t condemn you to this life,” she mournfully whispered as she wiped the still-dripping blood from her lips.
* * * *
Gabriella’s gaze swept the nearly empty room. Mondays were always slow. She took a week off because she couldn’t bear facing Jordan. Her boss told her that Jordan had been in several times looking for her, but the past two nights she hadn’t shown. Would she come tonight? If she did, would she lash out at Gabriella in anger or would she cry, further shredding Gabriella’s already tortured heart. Maybe she already went back to Boston. She wiped down the bar and glanced at the TV. A special bulletin flashed across the screen announcing the disappearance of two women a week ago Saturday night. They flashed the photos and Gabriella recognized them as the women Eric said had come to the house.
“Could I talk to you for a minute?”
Startled, Gabriella’s heart pounded at the sound of Jordan’s voice. Her eyes misted as she turned around and looked into Jordan’s pale face. Faint circles were visible under her eyes.
“Please…just for a minute,” she pleaded.
Gabriella swallowed hard. “I’m sorry if I hurt you…I never meant to.” She struggled to keep her voice under control. It broke her heart to see the tears brimming in Jordan’s eyes. She moved to the front of the bar, took Jordan’s elbow and led her to a secluded table.
After they sat, Jordan’s tears trickled from her eyes. “Why?”
she whispered in a broken voice. “Is there someone else?”
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Gabriella grabbed her hands. “No, please believe me. It’s not you…it’s me. I love you so much, but it’s not fair of me to ask you to be with me. I should have never let it start. We’ll never be able to be together.” She rapidly blinked, fighting to keep her own emotions in check. “If only things were different I’d spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Are you sick?” Jordan painfully asked.
Gabriella was quiet for a minute. “Yes, but it’s a sickness that I can’t explain. I have no right to put you through it.”
“What is it? Cancer… Aids? It doesn’t matter. I love you and I’ll take care of you,” she sobbed.
Gabriella’s heart ached as she listened to her. How easy it would be to take her forever. She fought the urge. “It’s better this way,” she said in a trembling voice as she struggled to keep her own tears at bay. “Just forget you ever met me. It’s for the best.” She quickly got up and hurried toward the bar before Jordan could see the tears that were falling from her eyes. She waited a few minutes and then glanced at the table where she had left Jordan. It was empty. Her heart shattered.
* * * *
Gabriella sat in the living room, but she long ago quit listening to Eric’s complaints about her lack of concern for him because she refused to go out and find a woman for him. “Then go, Eric! Let them catch you! Let them drive a stake through your miserable black heart!” she finally yelled in exasperation. “I don’t care anymore.” He laughed a long evil laugh. “Come now, Gabby, I’ve been doing some research. No one in this day and age truly believes that the living dead dwell among them.”
“There will always be someone out there who believes.”
“Nonsense!”
She was about to make a rebuttal when a knock sounded on the door. She looked curiously at her brother.
He gleefully clapped his hands. “Just like the other night.
How lucky is that?”
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She opened the door a crack, then stood speechless. “How did you find me?”
“I convinced my friends to follow you home the other night, but I was too afraid to come to the door. Tonight, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. They dropped me off a few minutes ago and I sent them on their way.” She shrugged.
“You’re stuck with me. Please, Gabriella, don’t turn me away.”
Her lips trembled. “I love you.”
Gabriella wanted to pull her into her arms and feel her soft flesh against her own. No. She had to send her away before Eric saw her. “Let me get my keys and I’ll drive you home.”
“No! I’m staying with you, Gabriella. I love you!” she cried.
“Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“I love you, too, Jordan,” she hoarsely replied. She ran a hand through her hair. “God, I wish things were different, but they’re not. We can’t be together now or ever.”
“Well, well, well,” Eric said as he walked up behind Gabriella and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. “Who do we have here? Won’t you please come in?”
“Thank you,” Jordan said as she walked inside past Gabriella.
Gabriella closed the door, then turned and glared at Eric, seeing the hunger in his eyes as they swept over Jordan. His hunger was raw. He’d have his way with her, then drain the blood from her body, leaving her to die. She couldn’t let that happen. “Leave now, Jordan!” she demanded. “Just go! Forget you ever knew me.”
“Please forgive my sister’s rudeness. She hasn’t been herself lately. I’m Eric.” He offered his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Eric,” she replied, extending a hand.
“I’m Jordan.”
Gabriella watched the heat in her brother’s eyes mount as he touched Jordan’s hand. “Eric, I need to speak to you privately…in the kitchen.” She glanced at Jordan. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
Once inside the kitchen, she whirled on her brother. “Stay away from her! I mean it, Eric!” she hissed.
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He warily eyed her. “You haven’t brought me anyone for two days. I’m growing weak.” He leaned against the counter, staring thoughtfully at her. “Wait a minute! This is the woman you’ve fallen in love with, isn’t it?” He grinned. “I have to hand it to you, Gabby, you do have good taste. But you know, my dear sister, you can’t have her forever unless you turn her.”
“No! I refuse to make her live like this!”
He threw his hands up. “It doesn’t matter. You’ve been very selfish and now I intend to have her for myself.”
“Stay away from her!” Gabriella shrieked.
He pushed her aside and headed for the kitchen door. She grabbed a knife from the knife rack and stood behind him.
“Eric, stop! I’m warning you!”
“You’re warning me?” he mocked as he turned around to face her.
Before he could say another word, she plunged the knife deep into his heart, then quickly pulled it out. He screamed as he slumped to the floor. “Why?” he moaned. He tried to get up, but she kicked at him. Weak, he laid back. “This is wrong, Gabby,” he groaned.
She smashed a chair and grabbed one of the wooden legs.
She looked down into his tortured face and plunged it into his heart. For a brief moment, she saw the old Eric, the brother from long ago she had loved so much before Roberto destroyed their lives. She dropped to the floor next to his body. “I’m sorry, Eric,” she sobbed as she picked up the knife and slashed at his neck until she decapitated him. The house shook as his life energy left him, releasing him to his final death.
Screaming hysterically, Jordan rushed into the kitchen. She froze as her hand flew to her mouth. “Gabriella…”
Gabriella saw the horror in her eyes. She stood up. “I had to do it, my love. You shouldn’t have come here. He was going to kill you.”
Jordan’s body shook convulsively. “I don’t understand.”
Tears streamed down Gabriella’s cheeks. “This is why we can’t be together. Just walk out the door now and forget that 415
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you ever knew me.”
“No…God, just tell me what’s going on!” Jordan shrieked.
“This doesn’t make sense! You just murdered your brother!”
Gabriella looked at Jordan’s horror-struck face. “We can’t be together because of this!” She opened her mouth. Her long fangs were razor sharp.
Jordan gasped. “You mean—”
“Yes, to be with me, you would have to become immortal.
I won’t do that to you. I can’t live without you either. Please go so I can end my miserable existence.” She pointed the knife at her chest.
“No!” Jordan screamed. “I want to be with you! I don’t want to live without you. Please make me immortal…if you take your life, then I’ll do the same. Don’t do it, Gabriella,” she begged. “Please remember the love we shared.”
Gabriella peered into Jordan’s eyes. “It’s not an easy, glamorous life like the movies would have you believe.”
“I don’t care. Just being with you forever is all I want.
Please, Gabriella. If you truly love me, you’ll do it. You’ll never be alone again. We’ll always be together.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Please.”
Gabriella peered into her eyes and saw the love in them for her. She shuddered as she lowered the knife and quickly made a small cut on her hand. “Drink from my blood.”
Jordan smiled at her as she moved to her and gently took Gabriella’s hand, bringing it to her lips.
When she finished, Gabriella enclosed her in her arms and kissed her deeply. “Together forever, my love.” She pushed Jordan’s hair back and hungrily stared at the throbbing vein, then sank her teeth in.
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