My Midnight Moonlight Valentine Page 14

  “He just sat there and worked?”

  “It was so damn annoying. The fourth day he came in, I walked over with my coffee pot in hand and said, ‘You are being strange. If it is on my account, stop it, and merely say you like me.’”

  Of course, she would. “And let me guess he just said, “I like you.”

  “Yep.”

  “Just like that?”

  “I liked him. He liked me. I’m not like you. I do not like to play with my men before—”

  “Hey!” I gasped. “I’m not playing with anyone.”

  She rolled her eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t fall out of her head. “Yeah, so you just let him kiss your hand and hang all over you for no reason?”

  I picked up another box of shoes.

  “I thought so. You like him, obviously, so let us go find a pretty silk dress for him to take off of you.”

  “Lucy!”

  Chapter 13

  The president’s mansion was not a mansion; it was a shard-shaped skyscraper in the heart of downtown Montréal. The glass was tinted black, and the flags of Canada, the United States, and Mexico flew outside, along with the Swan flag and the Montréal city flag. Charline a Bonsaint—who had yet to speak a word to either of us, making me still feel as if she were annoyed—led us straight to the front of the building. She parked the car without going through the extra security. Lucy assured me it was simply the way those who worked for the Swan family operated. They were meant to be seen and not heard, anticipating needs before they were asked. We walked without all the bags from our shopping trip because Lucy said someone would bring them to us.

  I didn’t know who they were, but there were a lot of eyes on us as we stepped outside. The Swan skyscraper, as I now called it, felt more like a cross between the United Nation’s building and a fancy hotel. Everything was marble, shiny and rich.

  The floors were a pure cream-colored marble, and the reception desk was a mixture of more black marble and glass. The building was filled with one type of creature. Vampires. Which made sense, but everyone’s gaze was fixed on me…on us. They were curious, but some did their best not to stare. And no one spoke because we could all hear each other.

  “Did anyone order dry cleaning?” A woman laughed, standing at the top of the stairs to our right. She wore a bright red jumpsuit and black Gucci heels, over her shoulder was a raccoon-fur scarf, and her black hair was so long and straight it hit the back of her knees. She was Asian with a round-shaped face and smokey makeup around her black eyes. Her smile was cruel as she stared down at Lucy.

  “Well?” the woman spun to the side to look at her guests. All of whom shook their heads and leered. “Seems as if you are not needed Lucy, you can go.”

  “Is she serious?” I asked, somewhat surprised by her blatant rudeness.

  “Yes, I am,” she replied, walking down the stairs. If it were silent before, then this must have been the world frozen still as she made her way over to me. “You must be Druella, Lord Thorbørn’s mate.”

  “Apparently, who I am is less important than whoever you are that you can just disrespect my friend.” I stepped up to her. Because of her heels, we were eye level.

  “How old are you, young one?”

  That name again. And I hated it more from her red lips than I did Theseus’s.

  “Old enough to demand an apology for my friend,” I replied.

  She laughed like Cruella de Vil on crack; her head even went back. When she stopped, she caressed her fur. “I do not apologize to Lesser bloods, especially one currently ruining my brother’s life.”

  Again, I couldn’t believe she was serious; she was like a cartoon villain. “I haven’t known your brother long, but he seemed quite happy for someone whose life was being ruined. What do you think, Lucy?” I glanced at Lucy, but she kept her face hard and her eyes to the ground.

  “Even she knows her place,” the woman said. “I am Daiyu Swan, first child of President Waban Swan. I welcome you, Druella Monroe to my home, but I ask that you, please uninvite your guest. My father forbids her from stepping foot in our home, and your connection to her puts us all in a troublesome predicament.”

  I didn’t even bother being polite. “That’s unfortunate for you of all. But if my guest can’t stay here, neither will I. Would you like to tell the president yourself, or should I?”

  “If you insist—”

  “I do, very much so, in fact.”

  There was an annoyance in her eyes, but she smiled even more. “I do hope she does not humiliate you during dinner. As you have made it just in time for our fourth brother’s 500th birthday celebration. Charline, please show them to their rooms. I don’t want them to be late. The festivities start at midnight.”

  Irritation flashed in Charline’s eyes for a quick second, but she bowed her head once, moving to make space for us to walk. It was already after ten, and I was hoping I could have a moment to talk to Theseus privately.

  “Is something the matter, young one?” Daiyu asked when I hadn’t gotten any farther.

  “Please, call me, Druella.”

  “Yes, of course, please. I look forward to hearing more about you tonight.” She lifted her hands for me to go.

  The feeling was not mutual. But I moved forward, anyway. I felt her eyes burning a hole in my back as I walked, following Charline to the golden, engraved elevators. Starring at them, I noticed the art etched into the metal. It was Bulino-style work—highly detailed and delicate—engraved into gold. They used it to make a sort of family mural. It flowed throughout all the elevator doors, kind of like the Stations of the Cross. There were six elevators, and the one we stood before was of Taelon. His hair was long, as long as Daiyu’s. Bowing to his right, resting on his shoulder was a long sword; there was another in the waistband of his kimono. He stood on top of a mountain with waves crashing on top of it. I moved closer to inspect it when the doors opened, and I found myself staring at Taelon.

  “I was told you were back.” Taelon said. “Did you both get everything you needed? I apologize I forgot about tonight’s celebration.”

  His gaze shifted to Lucy, but she wasn’t speaking, and her face was cold, causing the smile on his face to drop. He stepped out, going to her.

  “I was just admiring the doors,” I cut in to distract from—well, the present awkwardness. “It’s you, right?”

  “What?” Taelon eyebrows came together before he turned to see the elevator doors as they closed behind him. “Oh yes, my father never wishes for us to forget where we came from.”

  “You were a Samurai?” I asked, causually.

  “Yes and no. Come, Theseus is on the phone with his family. I have it from here, Charline.” Taelon spoke to the woman behind us as he walked inside. When the doors closed, there was a more modern engraving of him with the rest of his family. They all seemed to be walking through the park with Mount Royal behind him.

  “These are really beautiful.” I tried not to touch it. “But are you alright with having your personal history displayed like this?”

  “It barely touches the surface of my history; it merely marks where I began. I was born and raised a Samurai during the Momoyama period in Japan in the Kōzuke Province—excuse me, it is called the Gunma Prefecture now.”

  I had no idea where those places were, but I liked knowing just in case. “So, were you a lone wolf who fought for justice?”

  “Who defines justice?” he questioned earnestly. “Then I was young, just nine. I saw a struggle for power. My birth father, mother, and sisters were murdered by my uncle, so he could be the leader of our clan. Very few knew about it, but it was decided it was best for the clan. My father’s vision for war was wrong; people wanted peace. I grew up watching my uncle fight for that peace. He trained me to fight for this. I was his son, and I would have lived on as such, had I never found out the truth. At twenty-four
, I killed my uncle myself and fled, leaving behind my home and family. A Samurai without a lord or clan is no longer a Samurai but a rōnin…a much rougher and violent life. I ended up working as a sword for gangs, criminals—men much worse than my uncle with a darker of vision for the world. I avenged my family but caused the destruction of more. Looking back, was it foolishness or justice? It was both to me.”

  “You had a bad hand, most of us do,” Lucy spoke. It was sweet how she slowly got back to herself when she was next to him. Though I wouldn’t tell her that.

  “Thank you for sharing. I love history, especially the art behind that history.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.

  “You are mated to an artist that was there. Maybe that’s why you are destined yet are so far apart in age,” Taelon teased, and I wasn’t sure if he realized it or not, but he had just skimmed over something important.

  “Theseus was there?” I questioned with surprise. What was he doing in Japan?

  “I was where?” He spoke just as the door opened, causing me to jump back a bit.

  I didn’t hear him at all. “Mother of Mary,” I cursed. “Why didn’t I hear you?”

  “Everything from here up has noise-canceling for privacy; however, you can hear the elevator to alert you when someone is coming,” Talon explained as he held the doors.

  It opened to a massive luxury penthouse, and as I took a step closer, the view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows stole my breath. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the Japanese décor or each of the elements represented in the space—it was minimalistic, pure, clean, and uncluttered. With walls painted in beautiful watercolor murals all around but one, which had a glass waterfall that rushed down into a pit of open flames, creating steam. The floors were made of beautiful planks of hardwood wood with mats and pillows to sit around. And there were two worn-out, battered swords, hanging over the low bearing bed by the windows.

  “We will be back in two hours.” Taelon nodded to Theseus, and I realized then he and Lucy were not getting off the elevator.

  “It is a room for guests. Wear the dress,” Lucy said, reading my expression and stepping back behind Taelon.

  “Thank you for taking her,” Theseus said to Lucy, and she seemed surprised but nodded, looking to me.

  “What are friends for?”

  “You are calling her a friend? Ms. Monroe, now I must know what your gift is.” Taelon teased, looking between us all. Lucy rolled her eyes and pulled him back into the elevator.

  “Two hours,” she repeated to me as if somehow, I would forget.

  Nodding, I waved to them before turning to find Theseus staring down at me. It was only then that I noticed, he was wearing nothing but silk pajama bottoms and a black V-neck shirt. He looked me over for a second before stretching out his hand. Giving him mine, he took it and kissed it.

  “Did you enjoy shopping?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Though I was in a hurry to get back.”

  “I missed you, too.” He grinned like a schoolboy. His expression and how easily he expressed it to me, took me back a bit.

  Ignoring his statement, I went on. “I wanted to talk to you. So much happened, especially since the plane. It happened again. Or I mean, I did it again. I went back but not as far, and everything repeated.”

  He brought me closer, his hands now on my hips. “Did you change anything?”

  “Yes,” I nodded. “The first time we took off without Lucy, and the second time, I asked for her to come with us. Oh, and the first time was when Taelon told me how he met you. That’s how I knew the second time.”

  I felt like a crazy person talking about the first time and the second time I relived events. However, when I looked into his stunning grey eyes, all I saw was understanding.

  “I thought as much on the plane—” The phone—which I had not noticed but sat on the table by the doors—rang. He let me go, leaving me feeling cold again to walk over to answer it.

  “Lord Thorbørn, would you like us to deliver Ms. Monroe’s things now?” A leaden-sounding voice came from the receiver.

  “Yes.” It was all he said before hanging up and looking at me. “What is this dress Lucy referred to? Is it for Mikhail’s celebration?”

  “Mikhail?” I asked, hearing the elevator come back to life.

  “The fourth son of President Swan,” he answered. “I, personally, do not wish to go, but I also should not be rude as they have taken care of you.”

  I wanted to ask if they had taken care of him when the elevators doors opened to reveal Charline, who carried everything in her arms with ease. She did not step in but placed the bags at Theseus’s feet and stepped back, bowing before closing the door, leaving without any further word. I guessed she figured if either of us wanted anything, we would have already asked.

  Just as quickly as she came, she was gone. It would take me a while to get used to that. But I didn’t comment, and instead, I walked to the bags. “Yes, I got a dress, but it wasn’t for anyone. I just bought it. It’s silk. I think most of the things Lucy asked for were silk. It won’t look right in this weather.” I glanced back to the snow that now fell over the city, blanketing it in white.

  “It will feel better on your skin,” he explained. “My mother and sisters swear by it.”

  At the mention of his family, I glanced back up. “Were you able to speak to them? Did they help explain anything?”

  A frown marred his lips. “Yes, I spoke with my sister-in-law, Melora and my mother, but the more they explained, the more confused I became. I was truly hoping to speak with my father; however, he’s traveling with one of my brothers. President Swan was not much help, either. I was in the process of piecing together more when you arrived.”

  I followed his gaze to the low table, where a few sheets of paper were sprawled out around the desk.

  “May I see?”

  “Please.” He moved for me to walk toward the table as it sat in front of the large windows and to the left of the waterfall and fire. Kneeling in front of it, I saw dates and locations written on a series of maps of all over the world.

  “What is all this?” I questioned, looking down at the map of North America.

  “Would you like to learn some vampire geography?” he questioned, kneeling beside me.

  “Vampire geography?” I repeated, stunned and a bit excited.

  Theseus brought a map from the bottom up to the top, spreading it over the desk. It was of the Balkan Republic Countries: Greece, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and the eastern tip of Turkey, stopping where the Black Sea meets the Marama Sea.

  “To the mortals,” he spoke gently as he drew a line all around the Balkan Republic, “These are all individual nations and people. But vampires have our own boundaries and nations. This one is mine, it is called Ankeiros, and it has been ruled by my family, the Thorbørns since it was established in Greece in the late 850s.”

  “That’s a lot of land,” I whispered.

  “It is less than America.” He moved the second map. “Mortals call this North and South America. But Canada, the United States, Mexico, and all of the islands around it are the Americas for vampires, and they are under the Swan Republic. What you know as South America is actually called Amaresos, and that land is the one divided, into north and south, through Bolivia, specifically from the very tip of Chile. The north is under the control of the Guiomar Republic and the south under the Nanook Family.”

  “And Africa?” I questioned, looking at all the land on the continent, pointing to Nigeria. “I did one of those DNA tests once and found out my family, or mortal family, traces back to the Igbo people of Nigeria.”

  “Really?” he asked, shocked.

  “Why? Do I not look African?”

  “That is not what I am stunned by,” he said. “
One of my sisters-in-law happens to be from the same people, which makes her not only your sister-in-law but your princess.”

  “Princess?” I questioned, confused. “Like how people consider you a prince?”

  He nodded. “But in her own right, not by mating. She is the daughter of King Orie.” He took the pen and drew borders. “All of the western nations of here in Africa, are known as Maduka. Northern Africa from Sahara to Egypt is controlled by the Asnofre Family.”

  “And from beyond? Central Africa?”

  He shook his head. “I do not know who controls it now. There was a massive war beginning last I remembered. Some powerful Wiccans massacred the former families. I do not know what the outcome was or if it is even over.”

  “You mean they could be still fighting? A hundred years later?” I stared wide-eyed at the large scope of land still left.

  “If humans can have a war for a hundred year amongst themselves, we most certainly could.” He frowned at the map. “The Wiccan are dedicated, and their magic is like a memory. It passes through one generation to the next. Even if those who started the war are long since dead, their children or grandchildren shall carry it on.”

  “Wow. So, what does it mean to be rulers of a land as vampires? Stopping or winning wars?” I stared amazed, leaning forward.

  “Yes, it is the same as if you were human. Ruling families control everything within it, and your law is the only law. But most importantly, it is who controls the recourses.”

  Resources. There was only one true resource that vampires would care about. Blood.

  “When you say resources, you mean the human population?” I glanced back at the maps.

  “Yes, long ago, Europe was the height of the world; now other nations like the Americas have the most in population.”

  “So, that would mean the Swan family, and whoever is ruling over India and China, must be very powerful. Yet so far, everyone seems more apprehensive or at least respectful of your family.”