The Key to Erebus (The French Vampire Legend. Book 1) Page 12

  Chapter 10

  Typically, I didn’t see him again for days. Actually I hardly saw a soul, living or otherwise. The ghostly maid kept leaving food at regular intervals but other than that, the only people around were the guards. He was clearly avoiding me.

  I’d tried to strike up a conversation with one or two of the guards but got met with a stony silence and disapproving looks. I guess they thought I was one of Corvus’ girlfriends or something. The only exception was one of the younger guards and while he wasn’t exactly friendly, he did take pity on me and showed me how the TV and the stereo worked.

  I asked him if he’d seen Rodney at all. I was worried as I hadn’t seen him either since that awful night. Eventful for so many reasons. I wondered if he was alright. Quite selfishly I was just desperate to see his friendly face again, in fact anyone who didn’t seem to disapprove of me would have been welcome.

  By the end of the week I was climbing the walls and furious with it. My earlier regret morphed into anger through boredom and frustration. How dare Corvus dump me here and then go off and forget about me. He was basically keeping me a prisoner. I’d tried to leave the premises but the guards wouldn’t let me out. I’d asked nicely, begged, pleaded and eventually yelled at them. I even threatened to call the police, but they just shrugged and said I should speak to Corvus. They had orders and they weren’t about to go against them.

  Speaking to Corvus was definitely top of my list of things to do, along with throwing things and telling him exactly what I thought of him. I remembered with a sick feeling in my stomach, the main reason he was probably avoiding me, but that didn’t mean he could keep me here like this.

  I finally got a chance to escape late on Friday afternoon when the gardener arrived. He was a young guy in his twenties called Marc. We chatted amiably on and off, while he was working. Apparently he was just filling in for his Dad who had hurt his back, and he was none too pleased about it. I got the distinct impression that he felt he was far too cool to be gardening. He had a white van, the sort with no windows in the back, which was crammed full of gardening gear. I reckoned it was my only chance so I gave him some sob story about how my Dad had grounded me and the guards wouldn’t let me leave. He leapt at the bait and agreed to break me out after work. He obviously felt kidnapping was more in his line as he cheered up considerably and told me all about his girlfriend and the band he was in. He made me promise to come and see them play one day and I said I’d love to.

  When the time came, I crouched down in the back of the van where he arranged stuff so I would be hidden if anyone looked. Happily we sailed past the guards with no problems. Marc actually looked sorry that it had been so easy and I felt no more than a twinge of guilt at the trouble the guards were going to be in when Corvus discovered I’d gone.

  I got Marc to drop me off at a café that Claudette and Jean-Pierre and the others often went to at the weekends. I didn’t want to go home as it was already evening and it would be the first place Corvus would look when dusk fell. I tidied myself up as best I could, stuck some make-up on using the little mirror I kept in my bag, and headed into the café.

  Thankfully, my friends were nothing if not predictable and there they were, all together at the same table chatting animatedly. They looked up in surprise as I approached and after the usual kissing and hugging that seemed to be the norm in France, everyone settled down and Claudette fixed me with her turquoise gaze.

  “Alors, Jéhenne, what exactly is going on?”

  I tried my best to look bewildered by the question. “Erm, nothing?”

  She huffed and crossed her arms. “You disappear for days with just a few words about staying with a friend while your Grandmother is away. What friend? Where are you staying and does your Gran know?” She narrowed her eyes at me, dropping her voice to a whisper so the others didn't hear. “It’s a boy isn’t it? That’s why you’ve not said. You don’t trust me to keep quiet.”

  “No Claudette,” I hissed back, feeling bad that she thought that of me “That’s not it … I promise it’s not, it’s …” I searched for a plausible excuse but there was no possible way I could explain what had been happening to me. “It’s complicated.” I finished, knowing just how lame that sounded.

  I looked out of the window to try and find inspiration for a reasonable explanation, when my attention was taken by a sleek black car that had pulled up outside. The boys were practically drooling with envy, muttering about top speeds and torque whilst I was staring in horror at the figure that had just emerged from the driver’s seat. It simply couldn’t be, not yet. I thought I’d be able to evade him for at least a few hours. He met my eyes through the glass and I felt that sinking feeling you get when you know you’re in deep trouble. Corvus was striding over to the door and I heard Annabelle and Claudette give an identical sharp intake of breath at the sight of him.

  I may have been furious with him but I still had to admit it was ridiculous for a man to be that handsome. He was wearing a black leather jacket over a fitted white t-shirt - that completely failed to hide what lay beneath, and petrol-blue jeans.

  I was slightly confused when I saw that he was smiling and then he winked at me, which only compounded my discomfort. He greeted the rest of the group with a husky French accent and then turned to me and switched to English. The others all spoke fairly good English from being taught at school, so they could all understand what was being said.

  “I was worried about you, so I thought I'd come and pick you up.” He narrowed his eyes at me and actually managed to look concerned. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine.” I said, knowing I must look totally bewildered.

  Corvus grinned and turned to speak to my friends. “Jéhenne has moved in with me, while her grandmother is away.”

  Annabelle’s mouth dropped open and Jean-Pierre gaped at him.

  “So you are…?” Claudette asked, sounding a little breathless.

  I jumped in before anyone could reach the wrong conclusion. “He’s just… an old friend of the family.”

  “Oh.” He sat down beside me with a wounded expression and took hold of my hand. “Is that all?” His voice was low and intimate and so damn sexy my cheeks flared as I realised all eyes were on us. I couldn't look away though. He fixed those blue eyes on mine and I felt my insides melt into a puddle. I almost forgot how mad I was … almost. Instead I just sat there, squirming, too stunned to speak and trying to get my head around the fact he was still holding my hand. What was he playing at? Annette giggled, and Phil smirked at my expression but Claudette looked hurt, she obviously thought I’d lied to her. Jean-Pierre meanwhile was frowning and regarding Corvus with undisguised hostility. I pulled my hand from his, uncomfortable about everyone's scrutiny.

  He put his arm around the back of my chair instead. “Are you ready to go?”

  “No, actually I’m not.” I glanced up at him, sitting forward, away from his arm and still wondering what the hell was going on. “You don’t need to stay though,” I said hurriedly. “I’ll make my own way back.” I willed him to leave, so I could try and do some damage limitation with my friends but he just sat there, his eyes on me.

  “You might as well come back now, since I’m here.” He smiled at me but there was a warning note in his voice now that was hard to miss.

  “If she doesn’t want to go yet then she doesn’t have to!” Jean-Pierre blurted out, standing up so suddenly his chair scraped alarmingly on the tiled floor.

  Corvus turned his head slightly and regarded Jean-Pierre with those cool blue eyes. Amusement flickered across the his face, as though the boy was beneath his attention but he'd humour us just this once.. “What Jéhenne does is my business, not yours.” He was perfectly polite but the tone of his voice brooked no argument. Not for anyone with any sense at least.

  Jean-Pierre glared back at him and I shuddered, feeling the static energy that meant Corvus was going to lose patience with him if he didn’t shut up. I looked over at Jean-Pierre a
nd prayed that he’d back off and not say anything else. Yeah right.

  “She doesn’t belong to you. She can do as she pleases.”

  “Is that so?” Corvus smiled at me affectionately and brushed his fingers across my cheek, making my stomach flip and my heart pound. God I was pathetic. “Of course you can do as you please, Jéhenne. I’ll wait for you outside, come when you’re ready, OK?” Then suddenly his voice was in my head, “Tacitus has been seen in the area, you must come with me.” I could hear his anxiety even though the words hadn’t been spoken out loud. I looked at him in shock, not least because I didn’t know he could do that.

  “You’re sure?” I asked, my voice faint.

  Suddenly I felt cold all over. Something that looked like concern flickered in his eyes and he leaned towards me and kissed me full on the mouth, lingering long enough to brush his lips tenderly over mine. “I’m sure.” He looked at me steadily, before getting up and walking back outside. I watched him go with my heart pounding and feeling utterly wretched. Would he really use the fact that I clearly fancied him to manipulate me? That was obviously what he was doing. The way he'd walked away from me after I kissed him had made it clear that he thought it was a mistake. Not something that he wanted. If he'd told me about Tacitus straight away I would have gone with him without all the theatrics. There was no need to humiliate me in front of my friends.

  As I turned back to the table I found all four faces staring at me with their mouths open. Two were just gaping in amazement, the other two I didn’t want to think about.

  “I’m sorry.” I said, feeling incredibly embarrassed. “I have to go.”

  Jean-Pierre, came over to me and laid his hand on my arm,

  “Jéhenne, you don’t have to go with him if you don’t want to.” His young face was full of concern for me and I felt so guilty and angry I didn’t know what to say to him. I glanced at Claudette who was also looking at me, the worry clear on her face too.

  “Jéhenne, what’s going on? Please tell us! You can trust us, surely you know that?”

  I tried to smile but I felt worn down, how could I have friends when I could never tell them the truth? “Yes I know I can trust you. You’ve been good friends to me, but I do have to go. I--I just can’t explain, I’m sorry.”

  “He’s your boyfriend then?” said Jean-Pierre, his hands balled into fists.

  I hesitated, Corvus obviously wasn’t my boyfriend but how else could I explain how he had behaved. I was so furious with him for putting me in this position I just couldn't think straight.

  “Not exactly.” More than anything I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me, “I ... I have to go.” I grabbed my bag and ran out of the café feeling like a liar and a fool. I was on the pavement outside when Jean-Pierre caught me up and grabbed my arm.

  “He’s got some hold on you hasn’t he? Tell me, Jéhenne, I won’t let him hurt you.”

  “Let go of her,” said a cold voice from behind me.

  “You think you’re tough don’t you?” Jean-Pierre turned to Corvus, eyes blazing. Corvus meanwhile was looking at him as though he’d crawled out from under something.

  “This is none of your concern.” Corvus spoke with the assurance of someone used to absolute obedience and I couldn’t help but admire Jean-Pierre’s courage, or possibly stupidity, as he swore and stepped closer, clenching his fist and pulling it back.

  “Don’t!” I yelled, moving quickly in front of Corvus terrified of what the vampire might do to him if he was attacked. Jean-Pierre was caught off guard and the fist he’d been aiming at Corvus grazed the side of my face. Phil, Claudette and Annabelle had come out to see what was going on and they gasped audibly. It didn’t really hurt, but Corvus was watching Jean-Pierre with an murderous intensity that made me shiver. I spun around to face him, but he was standing right behind me so I ended up staring at his chest. He looked totally under control but the energy stinging my skin told another story.

  “Are you hurt?” he demanded, his voice full of fury.

  “No, I'm fine, it was an accident.”

  “Get the boy to leave Jéhenne, he begins to irritate me,” said the voice in my head.

  “Move,” I told Jean-Pierre, who looked a bit disconcerted but stayed stubbornly where he was.

  “He’s a bully, Jéhenne; you need to stand up to him.”

  I tried a reassuring smile. “Jean-Pierre, it’s OK, it’s not like that. Corvus really is looking out for me and I need you to let this go … now.”

  I turned back to Corvus. “Back off!” I hissed and pushed at his chest ineffectually, it was like trying to move the Eiffel Tower. He looked down at me. “He’s the one that hit you,” he observed with cool condescension as one eyebrow rose.

  “Maybe, but it was your fault!” I pushed him again, harder, but only succeeded in hurting my hands.

  I turned back to the others. Annabelle, Phil and Claudette were standing watching awkwardly. I felt completely humiliated as I had no idea how I’d ever explain this. I knew they thought the worst of Corvus - and me. Right now I didn’t feel much like defending him. Jean-Pierre cleared his throat and apologised for hitting me, asking if I was alright with concern in his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, Jéhenne.”

  “I’m fine.” I assured him, trying hard to smile. “I think I should probably go home now though.” Before anybody dies.

  Jean-Pierre muttered something and I gave him a warning glance not to start again. Waving an apologetic goodbye to everyone I walked over to the car. Corvus had moved away and stood impatiently by the door, holding it open for me. I climbed in and slammed it shut.

  I folded my arms across my chest and waited until he’d driven out of hearing range of my friends - then I started to yell.