“Your little pet needs to learn somemanners,” Celeste said, giving me a nasty look.
“I’m better at teaching manners thanlearning them.” I could feel the comforting weight of my Glockswinging by my side in the little black purse and I wanted to useit on her so badly I could taste it. Honestly, I’m not usually apsycho murdering bitch. There’s just something about being in thesame room with people who have raped and tortured my best friendthat brings out homicidal tendencies in me.
“Why don’t we simply get on with theproceedings now that we’ve all quenched our thirst?” Corbin said,rising smoothly. “I believe we are here to put you on trial,Celeste, for taking and turning a human against her will.”
“Indeed, we are.” Roderick turned toCeleste. “Celeste, have you knowingly and willingly turned ununwilling human to darkness?”
She nodded, looking contrite. “I have. Butin my defense, she seemed willing at the time.”
“Only because you glamoured her within aninch of her life!” I exclaimed.
“Corbin, control your consort.” Roderickglared at me. “She must learn not to speak in the presence of herbetters.”
“You—” I started but Corbin laid arestraining hand on my arm.
“Addison,” he said warningly.
“Fine.” I clamped my jaw shut and contentedmyself with staring daggers at Roderick.
“Now,” the vampire Inquisitor went on. “Ifwe can proceed without further interruption, Celeste, you are inviolation of our new law and as such you must be punished.”
“Yes, Inquisitor.” Celeste bowed her headsubmissively.
Roderick puffed himself up, lookingimportant. “I pronounced that you must pay a fine of one hundreddollars and swear to never do this again. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Inquisitor.” A small smile curled thecorners of Celeste’s red-lipsticked mouth, making her look like alittle blonde cat that had gotten into the cream.
“Very good then. We’ll consider the matterclosed.” Roderick nodded. Apparently the trial was over.
Despite Corbin’s restraining hand on my arm,I couldn’t be silent anymore.
“What?” I demanded. “You mean that’sit? She ruined my friend’s life and she gets a slap on thewrist? This trial is a joke!”
“Corbin!” Roderick turned to us, his eyescold. “Did I not tell you to control your consort? I willnot tolerate a mere human questioning my judgment.”
“Indeed, Inquisitor.” Corbin’s grip on myarm tightened and he frowned at me. “I apologize and my consortwill also make a full and sincere apology both for the insult sheoffered you tonight and for her actions at our last meeting.”
“Like hell I will!” I knew I had promised toapologize to the vampire Inquisitor but I was fed up with all theundead bullshit going on.
“Addison…” Corbin turned me to face him andlooked into my eyes. “Look at me,” he demanded, when I tried todrop my eyes. “No, look at me, my darling.”
“Fine.” Unwillingly, I raised my eyes tohis. Corbin could try to glamour me if he wanted to but there wasno way I was helping him—he was on his own.
“Addison,” he murmured again and I feltsomething prying at the surface of my thoughts. Unseen fingers weretesting my mental defenses, tugging gently at the invisible shieldI normally wasn’t even aware of around my mind.
I felt myself start to panic. Those fingerswere strong—I could feel their immense strength even thoughhe was trying to be gentle. Corbin’s attempt to get inside me waslike a man who is trying to do a delicate task, like painting avase or fixing the inside of a watch. But if he wanted to, he couldsmash the vase or destroy the fragile clockwork at any moment. Ihad never felt this way when looking into a vampire’s eyes before—God, who knew he had this much power?
“Addison,” he whispered for a third time.“Open to me, darling. Don’t make me force you.”
“I…” I bit my lip. I wanted to say I didn’tknow how to open to him but if I did, Roderick would know we hadn’tdone this before. Instead I said, “I’m trying.”
“Relax…” Corbin stroked my cheek. “I won’thurt you. Just let me in a little.”
I didn’t want to do it—didn’t want to lethim in. But this was part of the agreement and Roderick and Celestewere standing right there, watching. I had no choice—I had to doit.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to let thetension drain out of my body. Tried to imagine the shield around mymind going down, like some kind of force-field from an old sci-fimovie.
Corbin seemed to have a different image inmind.
“Your mind is like a flower, its petalsclosed tight,” he murmured, still stroking my cheek. “Close youreyes and open to me.”
Closing my eyes, I tried to do as he said. Ifelt those iron fingers prying gently around the edges of my mentalshield again and this time I was able to let them in.
“Good,” Corbin breathed. “Now look at me,Addison. I hold your mind in my hand but I would never hurt it, anymore than I would hurt your precious body.”
I opened my eyes and fell into thesilvery-blue depths of his gaze.
Chapter Eleven
Suddenly it seemed like I was swimming in anocean. A deep, cold current was carrying me away and there wasnothing I could do about it but for some reason I didn’t care. Thewaves were taking me farther and farther from shore but up ahead inthe distance, I could see something…no, someone. It was agirl about my age or maybe a little younger standing on a small,rocky island. She had red hair the same shade as mine but her eyeswere blue, a deep, sapphire blue and they were filled with tears.In her arms was a baby—an infant so tiny it looked like it had justbeen born. She clutched it tightly to her chest and cried, thetears running down her cheeks.
Who is she? I wondered, looking atthe girl. Other than the hair she didn’t look much like me but thesadness on her face was heartbreaking. I wanted to put my armsaround her and comfort her, to tell her everything was going to beall right.
She is gone…centuries dead, said adeep
