Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

LOMD Chapter 22 - Hell is Empty Tonight

Chapter 22 

"I CAN'T wait to show you my city," Blake told her back at his cottage in the forest. Vivienne had finally showered and changed. She didn't have any of her things but even before they arrived, the servants had already laid out a set of fresh clothes. After she dressed and studied herself in the full-size mirror in her old room, Vivienne finally realized she was actually planning to go back to Manna City, the place she had so desperately tried to escape from only months before.

She didn't have much to pack. Vivienne hoped Janun would think of some excuse for her disappearance. Maybe, Janun could her parents she ran away with Mathew. It would be hilarious because it would the last thing her family expected from her, poor, boring, bookish Vivienne.

"Don't worry about taking anything with you," he told her as he met at the bottom of the stairs. He had showered and changed too. This suit was black and he was wearing a black shirt underneath. Vivienne noticed a small scrape on his eyebrow he had sustained from Julian's claws. Blake reached out and took her hand. His touch was warmer now. Apparently, while she was showering, he had found some more blood to drink. His fangs had also receded. He placed her hand in the nook of his arm and smiled at her. For once, he didn't have that withholding look in his eyes. Was this what he had been waiting for? For her to finally want to be with him – completely voluntarily – of her own free will?

"As soon as we return to the city, a new wardrobe will be made to your measurements. You will never wear the same outfit twice or people may say I'm having money problems."

Vivienne chuckled at that. "I am getting tired of wearing cardboard shoes and plastic dresses."

"Then we'll have a six-hour meal with fifty courses, not to eat - of course - to look at, reflect on and throw away," Blake chuckled. He was joking, there was a lightness in his speech that she wasn't used to. He was talking a mile a minute like he used to when they were kids and he was excited. He was finally opening up to her, giving her a glimpse of his unguarded self.  "How else would a Manna City lady maintain her figure?"

"You really are a bit of a rich brat aren't you?" Vivienne asked.

"None of it makes me as happy as being with you, right now, right here," Blake said as he pulled her close to his side. Vivienne placed her other hand around his waist and smiled back. His lips approached hers and Vivienne felt him steal the quickest of kisses. There wasn't any blood on his lips now, but his touch was intoxicating all the same. She wanted him to kiss her again, and again, for all of eternity. She could almost forget that she had decided to go back to Manna City to save Allison and not to explore the exotic landscape of Blake Thorne's body.

Just like that though, the moment was interrupted.

"Conall?" Blake asked as he looked up at the butler who was standing by the door.

"Sir," the butler said, keeping his eyes averted. "Mr. Namura is here to see you."

"Namura?" Vivienne snapped as she backed away from Blake. "Julian Namura? What's he doing here?"

Blake sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He tapped his foot in irritation and waved at his butler.

"Let Mr. Namura in, Conall," Blake said and waited until the butler was out of earshot before he turned his attention back to her. "Julian is coming to bring me back to Manna City. If you are having second thoughts there's still time to turn back."

"No," Vivienne said. "After what he did to you, I would like to kill him. That's all."

"If you come back with me, you will be putting yourself in danger. I won't deny that," Blake told her as his hard exterior took over again. "There are monsters in Manna City that are far more deadly than Julian Namura. He's just one of Maglania's henchman."

"I'm not scared," Vivienne hissed back.

"Hey," a voice said from the door. Vivienne looked up and saw a tall, caramel-skinned man in a navy suit that perfectly showed off his broad shoulders. His neck was a raw red and he wore violet sunglasses to hide how deadly pale he was. "Now this I didn't expect. You're bringing her back?"

"Bringing me back? What's going on? I thought you wanted to kill me!" Vivienne snapped.

"No, actually I don't," Julian said and strolled into the room, helping himself to the scotch cabinet. "I couldn't care less about you or your cow of a sister. Everything I did down there, I did as a favor to your boy here."

"What?" Vivienne demanded. "That was all an act?"

"Vivienne," Blake said as he caught her by the arm and held her at arm's length. "I was trying to help you find yourself. Julian wasn't going to hurt your sister."

"See?" Julian said with a sigh and downed a glass of whiskey. He limped closer as though he was still feeling the aftereffects of Vivienne's Segais stake. He shook a finger in front of Vivienne's face. "This is why you need to leave her behind in Remin. Did you tell her what she'll have to face if she goes back to the city with us?"

"No, but I suspect you will," Blake said with a sigh. "Julian, all she wants to do is to save her friend. I don't think that's an impossible task. Allison Devon was never Maglania's first — or even — preferred choice for a host."

"Don't listen to him. He's blinded by his warm and fuzzy feelings for you, honey," Julian said, his face twisting in disgust. "Can I just add — Blake your oneitis for this girl — so gay. So Vivienne — listen up — we're all Maglania's demons, all of the so-called Princes. Just as you were able to bond with both Blake and that useless Henton, she has done that many times over with all of us. We're all under her control, that's why your boy Blake won't run away with you. Because he physically can't. When Maglania gets tired, she has us find some young nimble girl's life force to consume. But in the end, she holds all of our leashes. You and Blake share an ancient bond, one that even she can't break or overcome and that's why Maglania wants to kill you."

"Wants to?" Vivienne said with a chuckle. "Can she? I outsmarted her before."

"Yeah, sort of, your frenemy helped out last time. But this time Maglania Sarastri will be prepared. It's going to take more a girly chitchat about make-up or pantyhose to save your friend."

"I'll take my chances," Vivienne said. "I've lost enough friends in the last couple of days. I'm not leaving Allison back there."

"Very well," Blake said, in agreement. "You can rest easy, Namura. She's my responsibility and mine alone."

"Yeah, yeah, really, that's very comforting," Julian said with a roll of his hazel eyes. "I'm sure this isn't going to end horribly at all. One epic catfight coming right up."

"Just think of how pleased Maglania will be with you when you bring both of us back," Blake said nonchalantly as he started to text away on his phone. Vivienne got the distinct impression he wasn't as anxious about the situation as Julian was. Giving in, Julian approached Vivienne and tossed her a wrinkled envelope. "Now that you're coming with us, I might as well give you this. Maglania said to give you this when I found you."

Vivienne opened the envelope and pulled out the slip of water-stained paper.

It's time to come over to my house, again, Vivienne. This time, bring back what's mine.

The End

This story continues with One True Frenemy.