Dark Enchantment: A Vampire Romance (Immortal Legacy Book 3) Read online

  “But Romania! That’s a bit old school isn’t it?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

  “There is supposed to be an ancient manuscript that has been hidden away there. Allegedly, it tells the story of our species. Alec has gone there to search for it,” Ethan explained.

  “Your father already knows these things. Why are we chasing after old manuscripts?” Dash asked her, narrowing his eyes.

  “Maybe so, but as far as he’s concerned we are not ready to hear about these secrets. My father has no idea that Alec is searching for this book.”

  Again Dash shook his head but this time, he added a whistle. “You two are really out to piss your father off!”

  I gave Dash a shrug and a smile. It was true, my father was furious when he found out that Alec had returned to New Orleans. He was even more enraged when I finally put down my foot on the subject of my love life.

  I’d simply told my father that unless he gave Alec and me his blessing, we would run away and never return. Donovan had given in reluctantly, but not without a promise from Alec that he would always put my safety first.

  “My father believes that the truth of the vampire’s origins would be too destructive, to all species on earth,” I told Dash. “He’s convinced that the world isn’t ready for the truth.”

  “He’s a vampire!” Dash frowned. “Doesn’t he know that it isn’t his duty to worry about the fate of earth’s population?”

  Lifting my shoulders in a shrug, I sighed. “We have other things to worry about right now, like how we are going to find my sister.”

  I couldn’t bear to think of what might happen to this sister if Omar’s assassin got to her before we did.

  Chapter Nine

  Sarah

  When I left Sutter Point, one of the things I would miss the most was the breathtaking view of the sunset from our back porch and the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.

  I wouldn’t miss the strange looks I got whenever I went into town. When my mother dumped me off on Aunt Jeanie and disappeared, I’d had no idea that Beth Fabre was a witch, as was her sister. No one had prepared me for being looked at as a freak by the normal people in town.

  But that’s what growing up in Sutter Point had been like. This was the main reason I wanted to get away. I wanted to be someplace where no one knew about the Fabre witches.

  From behind, I heard Aunt Jeanie clearing her throat. Looking away from the setting sun, I turned my attention to her.

  “Are you done in the greenhouse?” I asked.

  Nodding, she asked, “Are you okay, honey?”

  “Yes, I’m fine, auntie,” I told her, forcing a smile.

  “Well okay.” Jeanie didn’t seem convinced. “Do you feel up to digging some clams for dinner?”

  “Sure. I’ll get on it now,” I promised, taking the metal bucket she was holding.

  Jeanie stared at the sinking sun. “Just hurry. You don’t want to be out after dark.”

  “Okay,” I said. “But why?”

  Jeanie put on a smile. “You know the beach isn’t all that safe after dark.”

  Considering we lived in a small town and no one had ever warned me about the beach before, I took this as more of an excuse than anything. Whatever my aunt was afraid of, she obviously didn’t want to talk about.

  Taking the little trail down to the beach, I kept an eye on the sun. I wasn’t so much worried about being on the beach after dark, but I didn’t want to upset my aunt.

  To get to the clams, I had to get close to the shoreline. As soon as a wave went out, I’d look for the bubbles in the sand and start digging.

  I felt his presence, even before I lifted my eyes to see him standing near the dark, gray cliffs that jutted out toward the water. The breeze played with his wavy brown hair, blowing it into his face to hide those strange alluring eyes.

  I’d been so engrossed in digging clams from the sand that I’d failed to notice how dark it was getting. Now the sun was nothing but an orange sliver over the dark waters of the Pacific.

  Every nerve ending in my body came alive and it suddenly felt as if my hair were standing on end.

  He was definitely watching me and not with good intentions.

  Getting to my feet, I picked up the pail that held the harvested clams and started for the path that wound around the steep cliffs. Aunt Jeanie’s house stood at the top of the cliffs, like some sentry watching over the sea.

  But in that instant, it had never seemed so far away.

  Watching him from the corner of my eye, I picked up the pace, hoping I would get to the cliff path before he could intercept me. So far he hadn’t made a move. He stood in the same place, his eyes taking in my every move.

  Never moving from the shadows, he would glance at the sun every few seconds and then back to me.

  That’s when it dawned on me that he was bound to the shadows and couldn’t move into the light.

  But that wouldn’t last long. The sun would be down in a minute or two. I walked a little faster, trying desperately to reach the path and the top of the cliff before the sun disappeared completely. The sand slowed my progress but if I ran it would only tire me out faster.

  One minute he was standing in the shadows and the next instant he was blocking my path. It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to scream.

  Stopping abruptly so as not to run into him, I lifted my eyes to look at him.

  My breath caught in my throat.

  Could anyone be that perfect and be real?

  Just being near him was enough to send my heart racing. It was simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating.

  “Excuse,” I said when I was finally able to find my voice.

  He didn’t move. In fact, he didn’t even acknowledge my request. He just kept staring at me. I had to force myself to look away to keep from drowning in those hypnotic eyes.

  Still, he didn’t move. Giving up, I stepped to the side so that I could get around him but he blocked my path again.

  “Do you mind?” Now my anger was bubbling to the surface and that was okay. As long as I grabbed a hold of that anger, it would help to keep me from looking into his eyes. Somehow I just knew that looking into his eyes for too long would be a mistake.

  “Sarah; isn’t that your name?” he asked in a silky smooth voice.

  “What do you want?” I asked, refusing to meet his eyes or acknowledge his question about my name.

  It was obvious he already knew it anyway.

  “Just to talk. That’s all.” Placing his fingers below my chin, he forced me to look up at him.

  The hunger I saw in his strange brown eyes sent fear right into my heart. It was like getting splashed in the face with cold water and it snapped me out of whatever daze I was in.

  Gasping, I took a step back.

  For a split second, a look of confusion entered his eyes.

  I knew it would be my only chance and I took it, making a beeline for the cliff path.

  Then he was there, blocking my way again, but this time when he stepped in front of me, I ran into him and was sent sprawling into the sand. The pail flew out of my hands and the clams spilled onto the sand.

  He was lying on top of me, his face only inches from mine. Again, I was pulled into his eyes, but this I didn’t let myself get lost in them. Struggling, I tried to break free of his hold, but it was useless. He was much too strong.

  It was then that he drew back his lips and I saw his fangs. At first, I was too stunned to react. Slowly the truth began to sink in. He wasn’t a man at all, but a vampire.

  Would this really be the way I died?

  Renewing my struggles, I tried to hit him with my fist but he seemed completely immune to the blows.

  I was trapped. Closing my eyes, I waited for his fangs to pierce the artery in my neck. The seconds passed but I felt no fangs and no pain. Slowly, I opened my eyes. He was still staring at me, but his eyes had lost the ravenous look of a moment ago and his fangs were no longer visible.
>
  I was really confused.

  Now his eyes were soft, almost whimsical. Suddenly, I felt his cool lips against mine and stunned that my body responded when his tongue invaded my mouth. His kiss was so demanding, so ravenous that I felt the fear return.

  But what was so strange was that I wanted him to be kissing me. It was if my heart craved his kiss and my soul knew his touch.

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I returned his kiss with a passion that matched his. When he pulled back to look at me, the pain I saw in his eyes, tugged at my heart.

  Abruptly, he jumped to his feet and started walking away. I couldn’t believe it. He was actually going to leave me there, lying in the sand and longing for his touch.

  “Wait a minute!” I called after him. “Who are you?”

  After kissing me like that, the least he could do is tell me his name. The reality of what he was still hadn’t sunk in yet. All I could think about was how I’d felt when I was in his arms.

  He continued walking, refusing to so much as turn and look at me.

  Scrambling to my feet, I ran after him. “Who are you? Why have you been watching me?” I was breathless from running after him.

  Slowing his pace, he gave me a sideward glance. “I came here to kill you.”

  Stopping suddenly, I stared at him in stunned silence.

  Had I heard him right?

  Did he say he’d come here to kill me?

  Turning around, he watched me, as if he was waiting for me to say something but I couldn’t make my tongue work.

  “You need to run Sarah. Run as far away from here as you can get. Run far away from me!” he said.

  “Why didn’t you do it then? Why didn’t you kill me?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” Turning away, he started walking again.

  “At least tell me your name.” I fell into step beside him.

  Stopping, he turned furious dark eyes on me. “Didn’t you hear me? I was sent here to kill you. You should be running away from me. Not following me!”

  He was right. What the hell was wrong with me?

  I watched him walk away without saying another word.

  Maybe I’d gone temporarily insane. Not only was he a vampire but he’d admitted he’d been sent to kill me. Yet, I’d still chased after him.

  Even more bizarre was the fact that I actually wanted him to come back.

  Chapter Ten

  Sarah

  After picking up what clams I was able to save, I took them into the house. Without saying a word to Aunt Jeanie, I dumped the clams into the kitchen sink so they could be cleaned.

  Jeanie watched me with open curiosity. My aunt was a smart woman and had always been good at picking up on the emotions of others. She knew something was wrong as soon as I walked into the house. I’d never been too good at keeping things from her.

  “He came for you again,” Jeanie stated.

  “He’s a vampire,” I said, turning from the sink to look at her.

  “Is that one of the big secrets that I’m not permitted to know? That there are vampires?”

  Jeanie clicked her tongue. “Girl, you do look for the sinister in everything.”

  “I just want to know who he is and why he came here to kill me. That’s what he said, that he came here to kill me.”

  “You do remember that I told you to be back before dark,” Jeanie said, shaking a finger at me.

  “Do you know who he is?”

  Stepping over to the sink, Jeanie started shelling and cleaning the clams. “What did he look like?”

  “He had brown hair about to here,” I said, pointing to the top of my shoulders. “And brown eyes. He was a lot taller than me.”

  “Well, it doesn’t sound like the one I thought it might be.”

  “Who’s that, and what about this vampire thing? I’ve seen some strange things, but vampires? Really?” I was getting impatient waiting for answers.

  My aunt started running cold water over the clams. “There are some things that you just don’t understand yet.”

  When she was done, she dried her hands on a dishtowel and flung it over the towel holder. “Come and let’s have a chat.” Jeanie grabbed my arm and led me to the kitchen table. “How about a nice cup of lavender tea?”

  Without waiting for a reply, Jeanie stepped over to the stove and put the teapot on to cook. When the pot started whistling, she removed it from the stove and poured the tea into two cups and brought them to the table.

  “Sarah, you’ve lived among witches long enough to know that things are not always what they seem.”

  I nodded but said nothing.

  “Though most people can’t see them, there are always spirits around us. Sometimes when that picture falls off of the wall or a glass is knocked from a table, it isn’t just an accident. But you already know this, don’t you?”

  “I know auntie, but vampires?”

  “Like I said, there are many things in this world that you simply aren’t aware of, but that doesn’t make them any less real.”

  “Why do you think he wanted to kill me?” I asked.

  “That’s another question.” Jeanie placed a finger to her cheek. This was a habit of hers whenever she was pondering a problem. “More importantly, why didn’t he kill you?”

  “I asked him that and he said he didn’t know why he didn’t do it. And then he just left.”

  “Vampires! They’re a secretive bunch. You could go through your entire life and never even know they even existed. If you did run across one, you probably wouldn’t live to tell about it, which makes this situation all the more curious.”

  “I want to find out who he is?” I insisted.

  Jeanie narrowed her eyes. “Now tell me, why do you need to know that? I would think you would be more concerned with the why than the who?”

  “There was something about him - something almost familiar.” It was difficult to explain something that I didn’t understand myself.

  “Hmm.” A look of concern clouded her green eyes. “It’s settled. You must join us for Midsummer’s Eve. You will need the protection of the coven.”

  I wasn’t so sure I could reasonably argue with my aunt on this one. Even the vampire had made it plain that I was in danger.

  “Do you remember Clyde, from the fishery?” Jeanie asked, changing the subject abruptly.

  I nodded.

  “Well you know he passed away and his viewing is tonight, right?”

  “I heard that. Are you going?” I asked.

  “The family was wondering that since you were in town, maybe you could come and visit after the viewing? You know, like you would do for some of the people in town when you were younger?”

  Frowning, I turned away. What they wanted was for me to go to the viewing, just in case old Clyde’s ghost decided to show up.

  Through most of my teen years, the locals had recruited me during funerals exactly for this reason. It wasn’t so much that I minded helping grieving loved ones, but most of the time they didn’t really understand how it worked. I couldn’t just call up the dead at will. They chose when, where and even if they would show. What I wanted had nothing to do with it.

  But there was one place you could always count on the recently departed making an appearance and that was their funeral, or in this case, their viewing. The thought of going to a viewing made me physically ill.

  When you touch death too often, it has a way of creeping into your life in unexpected ways. This was why I’d turned my back on the craft and everything paranormal. You never knew when something or someone might come back to haunt you.

  Jeanie reached out and covered my hand with hers. “What happened to Gina was an accident. You know that, don’t you?” Jeanie asked, reading my thoughts.

  Gina had been my best friend growing up. During our first year of high school, we’d gone to a beach party with a few of the locals. That was the night that I came face to face with death in a very personal way.

  Though I tried to t
alk her out of it, Gina went into the water anyway. She wasn’t the only one that went into the water that night, but she was the only one who didn’t come out.

  The town blamed me for it. They said that because I talked to the dead, I brought death to those around me. At school, I’d been teased, mercilessly. I should have hated them for it, but maybe it was true.

  I’d known all day that something was going to happen. I’d gone into the bathroom at school to brush my hair before the next class and that’s when it happened.

  One minute I was seeing my own reflection, and the next I saw Gina, all bloated and gray, staring at me with her dead eyes.

  It was a warning from the other side. I tried to tell Gina that I had a bad feeling about going out that night, but she didn’t want to hear it.

  Jeanie snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Have you been listening to me?”

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I must have been spacing off.”

  “They said it’s really important. Besides, it would give you a chance to brush up on your skills,” Jeanie added.

  I wanted to say no, but Clyde had always been nice to us whenever we’d gone to the docks to buy fish. I would do it for Clyde’s sake. It would give me a chance to say goodbye.

  “Okay,’ I agreed, giving my aunt a weak smile.

  Chapter Eleven

  Darrien

  Hidden in the large oak tree, I watched her through the kitchen windows. Sarah was obviously upset. At least it sure looked that way, judging from the expression on her face. I’d tried several times to get into her head but she seemed to be surrounded by some kind of force that kept me out. I could sense her, but I couldn’t read her thoughts.

  Why hadn’t I killed her earlier?

  It would have been so easy to snuff out her life on the beach. No one was around and she’d been completely under my control.

  I’d come close to sinking my teeth into her artery and drinking of her sweet nectar. Her fear was tantalizing and had inflamed my hunger until it was unbearable, but then the memories were there, haunting me.